Metal detector enthusiasts combed the Sweet Home Event Center (rodeo grounds) Saturday for a public competition staged by East Linn Treasure Seekers. The goal was to amass as much common coinage, buried in the turf, as possible. An additional event had participants seeking a bar of silver.
Winners in the common coin hunt were Todd Markert of Sweet Home, first place, winning a $40 gift card to All-Star Pizza, and Danny McCubbins of Sweet Home, second, winning an LED work light from South Fork Trading Co. Silver Hunt winners were Larry Orr of Springfield, winning a silver bar and silver round worth $60, and Chapman, second, winning a silver bar worth $22. The event drew 17 participants. In addition to planted treasures, they also located others. Among them Chapman found a 1930s token for a laundry service in Portland, and another person located a military hat pin. They also found bits and pieces from the Sweet Home Rodeo, which was located at the Event Center.