Treasure hunt wrap up

Saturday was a terrific day to award the prize for the annual silver treasure hunt to Steve and Julie. We met at the telephone pole they found the medallion on for a picture fest. The sun was shining down on us but the wind was blowing at about 15 miles an hour and the temperature was struggling to get above 20*. We were not dismayed though and the picture taking was accomplished without delay and we proceeded to Russell&Ballards Jewelry showroom for the prize itself: A box of money and other accessories to accompany the engraved winner's mug everyone wants to have sitting on their mantle. Steve and Julie brought their entire family along and I have to say that I have not met a more enjoyable group of people. Smart, supportive, fun and friendly pretty much sums them up. I can certainly see why they were able to persevere and win the game. It was my great pleasure to join them in their celebration. Good job guys!

According to all the mail and comments I've received: The new, faster pace of the clue announcements seem to be a hit as well as beginning the hunt after the holiday season. A large, younger crowd joined in using some of the new technology they are so familiar with and sped up the transmission of ideas back and forth almost instantaneously. As it was, at least this time, the tried and true method of trial and error on foot proved to be effective. It is fascinating to observe the use of things not even in existence only a few short years ago. To me it is fascinating, to those that grew up with that stuff it is simply commonplace and will probably be outdated in less than a decade.

I had fun, a lot of other people had fun and the 31st silver treasure hunt is in the history books. I look forward to seeing and hearing from you all next year. I have to learn more about the passing on of information because the newspapers and other audio or video media are changing by the day and aren't a reliable source for the riddle and clues any more. Matt VandeBunte from the press did an excellent job this year and the Advance newspaper did too until their printing schedule changed. Like I said, I have to learn more as time goes on. We used to be able to count the participants by the amount of riddle requests we received in the mail because it was not published in the papers but it got so popular I couldn't keep up with it and the papers and TV announced them. Our highest count has been over 40,000 hunters. With the news exposure even more are aware of it. I take satisfaction from that fact because each person that becomes acquainted with the treasure hunt has an opportunity to learn more about the danger of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. A subject many people don't want to talk about. Kind of like a ghost: You can't see it, you can't smell it, you can't taste it so it's scary to discuss. The game makes it more fun than scary. We all win!

Later...............................Joe

Invitation to you to see the prize awarded

This year's winners, Steve Kreiner and his sister Julie Jacomel will be claiming their hard won prize on Saturday February 18th at 10:30 am at Russell& Ballards Jewelry showroom: 5715-Byron Center Ave. S.W. Wyoming Michigan just across the street from Metro Hospital. Anyone wishing to see and participate is welcome. Steve and Julie deserve a little congratulations don't you think? They will exchange the metal medallion at that time and be off with their reward to do what they please.

The coveted, priceless, engraved silver winner's Mug
A box overflowing with money
Two votive table candle lights
Three sparkling bracelets
Other stuff

They persevered where others did not and tracked down the medallion through good weather and bad. Veterans of the annual hunt for over 23 years they knew it was not an easy task and still they left the warmth and comfort of home to carry on their efforts. Hundreds and thousands of others competed against each other and I applaud them all. Each and every one has had the opportunity to learn more about the danger of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and had some fun and mental as well as physical challenges while being a part of this decades old community event.

Thank you to every one that makes this a worth while story...............Joe

Wyoming Riddler/Winner

And The winner's are?
A brother and sister team from Jenison Michigan,
Steve Kreiner and Julie Jacamel

Tuesday night they correctly deciphered the riddle and clues of the 31st Silver Treasure hunt

The coordinates being was 44th Street which is the 126th Infantry Memorial Drive at that particular point and was again 44th, Michael which is an archangel or (arch and jelly why or not) Milan which is 1760 yards and what? Illinois which is a bad sound and Infantry memorial so you remember them and that they walk. But the memorial drive is short. That's most of how they arrived at their destination. The medallion was on the telephone pole on the south side of the road at the entrance to the ball field parking lot. Steve and Julie retrieved it sometime last night. Up to that point scores of people had looked that area over but didn't quite locate it.

Congratulations Steve and Julie. The treasure located at Russell&Ballards Jewelry will be exchanged for the medallion sometime this week. I'll let you know as soon as I know for sure....Joe

Medallion disturbed

This morning I found that the metal medallion has been disturbed. To what degree I was not able to ascertain because of the popularity of the hiding spot at that particular time. I will keep you updated as to any further information.

When I visited Russell&Ballards Jewelry showroom on Byron Center Road last night to drop off the new clue I was again struck by the beauty of the treasure in the box and the feeling of fun connected with the riddle treasure hunt. I did find myself apologizing to a bunch of people this morning that left messages on my machine berating me for the clue not appearing in Tuesday's delivery of the Grand Rapids Press. I am sorry for that. I really have no control over the news media. Except for a few times they have over the years covered the treasure hunt faithfully as a public service. I appreciate all that they have done. The article yesterday by Matt VandeBunte on Mlive.com was very informative but those that depend on the news being delivered on the front porch missed out. The Press has changed and when change comes there are always losers. We will try to find some way to address that. Meanwhile, the sun will be rising in a new day soon and I am anxious to see what that day brings. I need to get some work done quickly just in case of some sort of surprise.

Later.....................Joe

Free game clue #3

It took quite a while this morning to check and make sure the medallion is still awaiting discovery. So many people!

Clue #3
"As bad as the sound is, remember they are supposed to walk. But only a short distance here, back to what it was again."

The entire rules, the eiddle and all the clues are available in the Grand Rapids Press, www.Mlive.com and Greg will post it all soon on his sight www.wyomingriddler.com

Find the oval metal medallion with distinctive markings and claim your valuable prize and the priceless winners mug. You will stand out amongst the 40,000 or so seekers from around the world. Kind of has a nice ring to it doesn't it?

Good luck!..................Joe

Spare time, what to do with it?

Here it is, Saturday morning. For many it is the start of a weekend of rest and relaxation or perhaps recreation. The daily grind of working to earn a living is ended for a full two days and let the fun begin. Two day weekends are mostly a mystery to me. Duty to work calls a full 6 days a week and sometimes 7. When the rare Saturday dawns without going to work I am usually so filled with thoughts of all I can accomplish, I get stalled on which to do first and often pass the entire day without anything to show for it. Kind of like going fishing once a year and not catching anything for lack of knowledge. I lack knowledge regarding time off. Today I woke up early, all excited and full of energy, came in to work and with all that energy completed an entire days work in just a few hours. The dawn will break without any required tasks for me. What to do? What to do? Where is my list? What is most important? The weather is fantastic, should I go for a mid-winter bicycle ride? How about if I visit a sporting goods store all filled with stuff guys like? Take the clubs out and practice my golf swing in the back yard? Go have a leisurely two hour breakfast with the guys talking about sports, cars, golf and fishing? Sit in the sunroom, hunker down and read the book I bought nine months ago? Maybe I should act responsibly and finish my taxes and send them in? Pull the furniture out of the music room so it's can be painted and carpeted? Clean out my closets and throw away the clothes I never wear? Go visit a friend I've neglected and see his new apartment? Drive to the organic farm and pick up some fresh eggs, cheese and a few grass fed beef steaks? Oh my! Just thinking about all those choices makes my head spin. How does anyone else decide on what to do with spare time. Would it be any easier if I had time off more often like they do? This spare time thing is almost bothersome. I'm just plain not used to it. There is a lesson to be learned here isn't there? I run a business. It's based on scheduling and timing and quality and organization and experience. I am very successful in running my business. I do it every day. I am lousy at using that formula to make use of my spare time. I have to change that. I have to get back to that list, organize it, schedule my activities and attack one thing at a time, just like at work.

But first, I need to get used to the idea of really, really having some spare time. That will take at least two eggs, sausage, toast, orange juice, one donut and a cup of coffee. Now, if I can only find a page of daily comic strips I haven't read yet. No one has found the medallion yet! The treasure box of money is still awaiting the winner in the jewelry store showcase. It sure is fun to look at.
www.wyomingriddler.com

Comical addiction

Is addiction ever comical? Most times, certainly not! Drugs, food, alcohol, gambling addictions and stuff like that are serious matters and require immediate action. Not funny at all. I, however have found myself to have an addiction that some may consider to be comical. When it comes to this I guess I have no control. I can't seem to limit myself and lose myself in the process. It is an eye opening experience because normally I do not have an addictive personality. This situation came as a total and complete surprise.





Our local newspaper here in the Greater Grand Rapids area has made some changes in publishing frequency in order to survive in an increasingly electronic media dominated age. They now publish a home delivery hard copy of the paper only three days a week instead of the seven days they have since, like forever. I guess I'm in favor of whatever they need to do to survive. Any inconvenience on my part will be gotten over in time. It's a sign of the times and progress. Over my lifetime, it has been my personal choice to read the comic section of the daily newspaper every morning. I feel it is an excellent way of starting off the day with humor and setting the standard of not taking life far too seriously. It's worked for me for the most part. Not a bad ambition really. But now I am left with those comics only being delivered three times a week. The Press, in an effort to accommodate those of us who live and die with the comics include three full days of comics in each copy. All in chronological order of course. Cool! I thought. Simply read one page each morning until the next copy is on my doorstep. Great idea, I am totally unable to accomplish it. When I found three full days of comics in my hands my mind went all giddy and I read all three days in one setting. Now I ask you, just what do I do for the next two days?





So there my friends is the core of my "comical" addiction. I used them all up and I crave more already. I am tempted to go to the convenience store and purchase an out of city newspaper from another supplier. One I have no faith or trust in. The desire is almost overwhelming and it's only the first day. It's simply the thought of not having a fresh, new comic section in my hands tomorrow morning. The ones that were supposed to be for tomorrow are already "used." Whatever will I do? How will I survive? Odd of me to think that way don't you think? Rather comical actually.