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FUNDRAISER BLING FOUND IN BOOT DONATION RINGS A LITTLE TOO TRUE

Firefighters find an unexpected piece of gold among the silver and dollar bills in their collection boot

Date published: 9/7/2007

By CATHY DYSON

Someone threw a little too much gold into the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Association's "Fill the Boot" campaign last week.

A man's wedding ring ended up among the dollar bills and coins, safety pins, hair ties and fake fingernails that get tossed into the collection boot.

"It was a little surprising to look down and see it," said firefighter Eric Haas, who found the ring when he went through his donations. "I wouldn't want to be that person when he got home that night. I know my wife wouldn't be happy."

The 14-karat plain gold band--with no inscription--was tossed into the fireman's boot on Friday at the Falmouth light, at the corner of U.S. 1 and 17.

Stafford firefighters were collecting for the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association campaign and netted $24,065.

Donors typically reach into their ashtrays or cup holders for spare change when the firefighters come around, Haas said. Maybe someone took the ring off earlier because it was so hot and forgot he had put it in a pocket or container.

"We hope it wasn't on purpose," said Cathy Riddle, Stafford spokeswoman.

The firefighters immediately contacted local fire stations, in case someone came looking for the ring.

No one has.

The ring is in a safe at the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Headquarters. To claim it, contact Stephanie Woodson at 540/658-7200.

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Date published: 9/7/2007

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