Uncategorized Category | Page 473 of 584 | The Ring Finders

I got a call from Alison M. today at 7 am asking me if I could help find her husband of 2 weeks, wedding ring. She tried contacting another Ring Finder, Ken Wilson, but he was recovering from an operation and he recommended me. The ring was lost last night in the shallow water (3′) at the sand dunes of Ludington State Park. Her husband Colton M. was swimming and the ring came off during one of his strokes. After alerting everyone to the loss they started looking for an impossible find due to fine sand that hides items immediately.

I told Alison that we, Dave Boyer and myself, could be there around 1 pm. It was a 2 hour drive to their location. After we arrived we met Alison and Molly, her mother. In order to reach the dunes we had to go across the lake so we loaded up and took off. The water was clear and cool, the sun was shining and the white sandy bottom made it easy to drag our scoops to properly grid the area. After about 20 minutes of searching I got a signal and in the scoop was the new shiny white gold wedding ring. I ask Alison if that was the ring and she lit up like a Christmas tree. Colton was at work and was unable to celebrate with us so I took Alison’s picture and asked her to send me one of Colton when she went to his office to surprise him. “He was all smiles and lots of hugs” when she gave it to him.

We had some time at the dunes to just search for some goodies in the water but found the area was extremely clean for being a weekend gathering place for boaters and swimmers. We found 2 quarters, 3 shotgun shells, 1 pull tab and a few coins.

I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO KEN WILSON FOR THE REFERRAL AND A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY FROM BACK SURGERY.

During the South West Michigan Seek and Search club meeting Tuesday evening, I received a call from Kirstyn P. in a desperate situation over loosing her 3 karat diamond engagement ring. She was at Sanford Lake Park with friends out in the water playing catch with a football. She had her ring on her right throwing hand and discovered it was gone after she got out of the water and dried her hands off. Kirstyn and 20 of her friends combed the beach and the water for hours until she posted her loss on Facebook and got a reply from a woman,  Stephanie Marie, who I had found her ring for her a few years ago.

I made arrangements with her to drive 2 hours to meet her that morning at the park. Dave Boyer, my Ring Finder partner, and I got out to the park at about 9:30 am and after meeting Kristyn and a friend we got our marching orders and headed out to the lake. We usually grid an area with Dave going one direction back and forth and me going the other way up and down. After about an hour, between the marker buoys, Dave went up to check out the beach. I finished my grid and got to the center of about a 100′ X 100′ area and got a good hit. Looking in my scoop was a beautiful engagement ring that I quickly slipped into my glove.

I walked up to the picnic table where everyone was setting and explained that the water was as clean as I have ever seen (no coins, bottle caps or rings) there were several holes where there was an obvious detector out there in the last few days. I reached in my glove and showed Kirstyn the ring and said “but I did find this, is this it?” The look on her face is that which all of us Ring Finders want to see, followed with a big hug. Kirstyn’s future mother in law, Michelle, was there and proceeded to snap off a few pics. This was a real pleasure meeting her friend, uncle, Michelle and a few others. Her Fiance, “Trevorgyver”, was at work but is one happy man. Thank you Michelle for buying our lunch it was a pleasure meeting you.

While attending a wedding reception for a family member I received a call from Drew.  He explained he lost his ring on the beach in Surf City, NC.  He said it was about 30 minutes before finding my name on The Ring Finders.  I tried to keep him posted on my location as I headed home to get my equipment and change clothes.  I arrived about 1 hour before low tide and 2 hours before sunset.  I explained to Drew to try to remember the general area as best as possible and try to mark it with a landmark.  This was a big help as he guided me almost right to the ring after I searched a few areas out of range of where he was at the time of loss.  Here is Drew’s explanation:

“During a family vacation on Topsail Island (going on 35+ years for my in-laws) I lost my wedding band throwing around a football at high tide.  We thought there was NO WAY we’d find the ring in the water / sand.  Enter Steven Ray: he left a wedding reception to come to our location with his metal detecting gear, and within 30 minutes had discovered the ring.  All of my family and friends gave him a standing ovation, and my wife and I are very grateful that he was able to recover a sentimental ring (it was my late father’s wedding band as well).  Thank you Steven”

Tags: Surf City lost , Topsail Island Lost , Wedding Band lost , Metal Detector Rent , Ring lost beach

A bachelor party ended up with a lost Go Pro camera attached to a tripod in about 7 feet of water. A.P. (initials he goes by) called me Monday to tell me how he lost the camera while swimming out to the dock at East Lake Campgrounds in Hopkins, Michigan. He thought it was in deeper water so I called in my backup scuba diver Craig Ziecina who has pulled me out of a couple tough jams lately. While Dave Boyer and myself searched the shallows in the roped off swimming area Craig went deep into the spring fed dark bottom of the swim area. After about 10 minutes the camera was recovered. I attempted to call A.P. and set up a time to return his camera. After some negotiations between a 175 mile distance between us we will be returning it to him soon. Pictures for our book of smiles will be edited into the story soon.