Paul Humphreys, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 12 of 12

Missing Wedding Band at Egg Harbor, Wisconsin—FOUND!

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)

 

 

 

July 4th weekend was supposed to be a family holiday, a fun time.  But for Phil & Becky Saubetin of Madison, Wisconsin, the day ended on a sad note.  Missing, was Phil’s wedding band.  It went astray at Egg Harbor Beach on the Door County peninsula.

Becky wrote, “No matter how much I tried to tell myself that it was just a token of our marriage…a thing…it’s not.”  She remembered the gold-band’s inscription, “FOR MY PRINCE CHARMING LOVE B.”  Adding to the frustration was the fact that they had glimpsed the ring momentarily in the water.  But as they tried to reach it, the currents of Lake Michigan pushed it out of sight into the sandy silt. Despite their best search efforts and those of strangers who came to their rescue, including one with SCUBA gear, the ring seemed destined to be lost forever, as if swallowed by a sinister monster.

A search on the internet raised the Saubetin’s hopes when they discovered TheRingFinders.com and Metal Detecting Specialist, Paul Humphreys. He lived 3 ½ hours away in Waukesha, WI. Would he even consider helping them?  Yes, he would.  But on the day he and his wife, Kathleen met with Phil and Becky on location at Egg Harbor, the waves were unusually high, whipping the lake’s bottom into a swirl.  The water quickly washed over Paul’s equipment and despite protective measures, the moisture silenced his machine. But Paul was more determined than ever.  He promised to continue the hunt another day armed with underwater equipment.  And he did  just that, returning in the wee small hours of August 4th, exactly one month later.

After nearly two hours, a “loud and proud” bark from his Minelab Excalibur detector was like a trumpet blast announcing an important event.  As sand filtered out from Paul’s stainless-steel scoop, early morning rays reflected off a gold wedding band.  Was it Phil’s?  This question was answered immediately when Paul caught sight of one of the words inscribed inside the band, “CHARMING.”

That night, Phil received an email from Paul.  Its subject line read, “Prince Charming Rides Again!”  And the photos attached bore tangible evidence of what Phil and Becky thought was lost forever.

Early this morning the Saubetin’s arrived at our home to collect their precious token. Phil placed it on his finger amidst family smiles that made the whole room sparkle.  Then their youngest daughter put her arms around her Daddy’s neck, squeezed tightly and asked, “Do you feel married again, Daddy?”  His answer; a mile-wide grin!

Lost Sentimental Ring – Pike Lake, Wisconsin – Recovered!

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)

 

 

 

 

A sentimental and heavy custom-made gold ring originating from India seemed to be lost forever in Pike Lake near Hartford, Wisconsin, USA.  The beautifully sculpted and cherished heirloom went missing on July 10th while its owner, Anurag Thakur, was swimming with his youngest son.

The loss was made more difficult by the fact that metal detecting in any body of water or river in Wisconsin is strictly prohibited by the State’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). These laws discourage would-be metal detectorists from taking up the hobby, a recreational activity enjoyed by families elsewhere across the country and around the world.

But when Anurag contacted Paul Humphreys at TheRingFinders.com, Paul made arrangements with DNR Head Ranger, Joe Sieweger, to receive a special Metal Detecting User Permit. The cooperation, understanding and support of Ranger Sieweger made it legal for Paul to enter the hallowed State waters with a Minelab Excalibur ll detector.

It took four searches before Paul’s detector barked out a ring-type signal in chest-deep water.  Amidst the gravelly contents of the first scoop, Anurag’s ring glinted brightly as though happy to see sunshine once again.  The ring was easily identified by its owner and upon permission from the DNR, Paul was authorized to return the lost personal property to its rightful and delighted owner.

Thanks, Wisconsin DNR, for the help and cooperation received and that helped to make this happy return happen!

 

Lost diamond ring Bradford Beach, Milwaukee… FOUND!

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)

 

 

 

An innocent  flip of a beach towel catapulted Pamela’s precious ring into the abyss of endless loose sand.  Despite her best search efforts, and those of her friends, the ring seemed destined to never to grace her finger again.  And its story might well have ended were it not for the phone call Pamela made to a Wisconsin member of The Ring Finders.–Paul Humphreys.  After hearing Pamela’s story, Paul arranged to meet her the next afternoon at Bradford Beach on the shores of Lake Michigan near downtown Milwaukee.  Pamela pointed out a living-room sized area close to the water’s edge whee she believed the highly sentimental token made its fatal leap.  After only 10-minutes of searching with his Whites XLT Metal Detector, the ring’s hiding place was no match for the detector and Paul’s skills.  What a joy to present yet another lost ring to its overjoyed owner!  And as his practice, 25% of the reward he received, is donated to the Waukesha Memorial Hospital, the medical  facility that helped Paul return to his love of metal detecting after battling serious cancer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lost Diamond Ring in Durham, Ontario…Found! The Woodpile Ring

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)

A lady in Durham, Ontario, Canada lost her ring while retrieving firewood from a woodpile beside her home. The ring was purchased for her by her husband while overseas and so it had special sentimental value. She knew it was lost somewhere between the woodpile and her backdoor but exactly where it came off her finger was not clear. She frantically retraced her steps looking for the precious keepsake, but to no avail. The ground was covered in a mixture of maple leaves and bark chips and so it seemed hopeless that she would ever see her ring again.

My wife and I happened to stop by for a visit and soon learned about the loss. I had my Whites XLT Spectrum metal detector in the car (it usually travels with us) and so I asked the distraught woman some questions and then began a grid search retracing her steps between the house and the woodpile. I was barely 30 minutes into my search when the detector gave out what we metal detecting specialists call, “a loud and proud” signal. There, hidden from view beneath a golden maple leaf, the ring appeared where it had fallen.

It was a great feeling to be able to present the ring to its owner again. She was ecstatic! It was especially meaningful to me to find that ring and return it since it belonged to none other than my sister, Linda! In fact she and her husband visited us just the other day. And she was still wearing her “woodpile” ring—tangible evidence of yet another “Happy Return!”