Pilot has area connection

PEQUOT LAKES -- Penny Colwell, a Nisswa resident and Pequot Lakes business owner, smiled for the first time in nearly two weeks today.

She learned 11 days ago that her nephew, Lt. Shane Osborn, was the commanding pilot on the U.S. spy plane involved with China. The crew was being released today.

"It's been a very frightening ordeal," Colwell said of her Norfolk, Neb., relative. "It's been terrible. I'm still fearful until he's on U.S. soil."

Colwell's brother, Doug Osborn of Rapid City, S.D., is the pilot's father. He was notified by the Pentagon that his son was being held separately from the other 24 crew members because of his command job.

Shane Osborn is 26.

Colwell co-owns the Enchanted Cottage here.