On Sunday, November 7, 2010 Officer Ryan Bonaminio (pictured at right) was shot and killed in Fairmount Park in Riverside, CA.  Early the next morning, we received a call from the Riverside Police Department (RPD) requesting our immediate assistance to mobilize community volunteers to help locate evidence associated with this case.  Calls were made to various members in the area, resulting in six Club members (Gregg Bicknell, Bob Bowes, Jim Fuller, Gabe Hanna, Chris Moore,  John Scott) and one former member (Rick Avery) heading out to help in the search for five to six hours each and may have located some important items.   Although we cannot go into any details at the moment, we'd like to thank those folks who took time to go out on short notice to help as community volunteers.  Special thanks also goes to Rudy Toporsh who took the original call and began calling members, as well as Ken Vargas who contacted key persons as well. 

The Club offers our condolences to the officer's family and his fellow officers.  We are pleased to report that a suspect has been captured and I've also been told that the missing gun has been recovered.  Please see the RPD press release at the following website: http://www.riversideca.gov/rpd/.

 

With permission from the Sheriff's Department, Club Secretary Chris Moore (pictured at left during an interview with KTLA) and member Bob Bowes spoke briefly with media representatives about the assistance they provided.  We plan to provide additional photos within the next few weeks.  For now, please click on the following links to access videos and articles involving Club members:

 

 

 

 
KTLA Channel 5: http://www.ktla.com/ktla-riverside-officer-killed,0,4510637.story

KABC Channel 7: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=7771157

KTTV Channel 11: http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/local/riverside-officer-shot-killed-during-chase-20101109

Los Angeles Daily News: http://www.dailynews.com/crime/ci_16551633?source=email

 

Group photo at the completion of volunteer service:

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RTHC Member Jeffery Charles "Marathon Man" Lepgold

It is with great sadness that I'm writing to inform you of the passing of Jeff Charles this morning. As many of you are aware, Jeff bravely fought cancer for a long time, but succumbed to an opportunistic infection in the end. For those who don't know, Jeff was usually the man behind the camera filming episodes of "Finders Keepers 2" (with our very own Leo Aranza in front of the camera) and can often be heard narrating and providing color commentary during episodes.

Following is a photo of Jeff for folks that don't know him, and I put a link to Leo's YouTube page below the photo so you can watch some FK2 videos and hear Jeff in action.

Jeff Charles with science-fiction author George Clayton Johnson (L)

Jeff Charles with Andy Sell (R)

http://www.youtube.com/user/leoaranza

Jeff attended several Club meetings last year, including his final meeting with us in November 2010. Jeff, Leo and a bunch of others filmed a couple of episodes with Club members late last year at the Seccombe Lots in San Bernardino.

I didn't know Jeff as well as others did, but I was fortunate to have a chance to talk with him at the lots during filming and was impressed by his fortitude and positive attitude. I don't have any information on specific funeral arrangements yet, but I will post it here when I hear something. Please pass this information on to anyone else that you feel might want to know.

UPDATED 02/13/11: Hello all: I spoke with Jeff's wife, Crystal Lepgold, last night by e-mail. She said that Jeff's funeral would be a small, private event for family only. She asked me to pass on an address should anyone wish to send a card:

Crystal Lepgold, P.O. Box 5126, Hemet, CA 92544

Finally, she asked me to pass on a final message from Jeff: "Jeff would love for everyone to KEEP ON METAL DETECTING!!!! He loved it so very much!!"

Jerry Myers
2011 RTHC President

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SPECIAL REPORT: JERRY HOBBS, PUBLIC LANDS FOR THE PEOPLE

Club Historian Bob Crompton Ca special presentation for our June 2010 general membership meeting.  Bob invited Jerry Hobbs, founder and president of the rights-preservation group Public Lands for the People (PLP) to speak to our members. 

Jerry began his presentation talking about how prospectors were thrown out of the East Fork by the United States Forest Service (USFS) despite their efforts to keep the area clean and to work with local officials in a positive manner.  As a result of the way the prospectors were treated, Jerry said their efforts to help were then turned to fighting the USFS,  the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and similar agencies to preserve the rights of the public to access and use public lands in a responsible manner.  Currently, PLP has two attorneys on staff and various researchers in several states (including Washington and Nevada).  The issues facing those living in the eastern side of the United States differ from those in the western side.

Most of the current issues faced by PLP relate to mining, but they have dealt with a number of metal detecting problems in the past which resulted in the re-establishment of access for metal detecting County parks in San Bernardino about 14 years ago, as well as more recently in Whittier and Culver City.  One of the biggest challenges, he said, was reversing the closure of the entire city of San Augustine, FL by its city council.

Jerry said that about 90% time, people are actually not breaking the law and that agents are simply trying to impose their will upon the person, right or wrong.  “People in authority have a tendency to impose their will, rather than the law, on people.”

PLP prints and hands out orange “challenge cards” to assist detectorists and prospectors with collecting information when they make contact with an agency official.  These cards, which Jerry had with him, provide spaces for documenting the name and badge number of the agent, their affiliation, the rules claimed to be broken, and how the official treated the person.  These cards are intended to be returned to PLP for inclusion in an active contact database.

Jerry then takes that information, determines whether a law was being broken, and contacts the agent and/or their supervisor in an attempt to educate them and straighten things out.  According to Jerry, PLP only takes on legal cases that have a broad impact on “a whole lot of people.”

Jerry also said that his organization would also like to know about positive agency contacts.  He said that if you have a good experience with an agent, they’ll call up that person’s boss and tell them “what a good job that person’s doing.”

The Antiquities Act in particular has been misused by agents.  In particular, four things are clearly exempt from this Act: rocks, mineral (including gold), bullets, and coins.  However, if agents see you with a metal detector, you might be bothered or have equipment confiscated.  Jerry cited an example in which a lady stopped to ask a Forest Service officer if they could metal detect a certain area and was asked if she had a detector.  When she said “yes” they confiscated the detector, impounded the car, and arrested her.

Others get tickets or get arrested when they accidentally walk into or even near a restricted area, without actually detecting.  The Antiquities Act indicates that such areas are supposed to be clearly marked to prevent accidental violations.  This is not done because agents claim posting signs would actually attract thieves.

PLP is supported by major manufacturers—including the Gold Prospector’s Association of America, White’s Electronics, and Fisher Electronics—memberships (clubs $100, individual $35, and family $50), and raffles.

During the Q&A session, Bob asked Jerry to explain what one should do if an agent “gets in your face.”  Jerry’s response was that you should always deal with them tactfully and never argue or make them angry as they can arrest you if they order you to do something and you don’t they can then arrest you for “violating a lawful order” such as to get in your car and leave.

Jerry also discussed about how members have noted an increased number of school access closures (e.g. fences) primarily due to vandals and thefts, which punishes everyone in effect for the deeds of a few.

Finally, Jerry said he thought our club had the best display of metal detecting finds that he’s ever seen.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

http://www.plp1.org/
http://www.plp2.org/

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HISTORICAL SITES

 This section shows some of the locations where our club has hunted in the past and found historical objects.  Some of these sites are still accessible, though the pickings are slim.  Who knows what's still out there?

 

< THIS SECTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION >

 

 

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 2010 ANNUAL PICNIC/CLUB HUNT & RAFFLE PRIZES

 

White's Prizm III Detector w/950 Coil (QTY 1) .	Bullseye II Pinpointer (QTY 1)	Trash/Treasure Apron (QTY 4)
Dayln Enterprises Digging Tool (QTY 4)	White's Logo Pocket Knife (QTY 15), Pen (QTY 15) and Magnetic Clip (5)	Books (1 ea, total 4)
15" Gold Pan (QTY  4) .	White's T-shirt, 2XL (QTY 1)	White's T-shirt, XL (QTY 1)
Travel Mug (QTY 3) .	White's Ball Cap (QTY 2)	Umbrella (QTY 2)
Koss E-Series Headphones (QTY 1) .	White's Royal GT Headphones (QTY 1)	Calrad Headphones (QTY 1)

 

THE FOLLOWING PRIZES WERE PROVIDED BY GARRETT METAL DETECTORS

Garrett ACE 250 Detector (QTY 1)	Padded Detector Bag (QTY 1)	Easy-Stow Headphones (QTY 3)
Treasure Pouch (QTY 10) .	SS Treasure Trowel (QTY 3) .	Digging Kit (QTY 6) .
Garrett Retriever Tool (QTY 3)	Ball Caps (QTY 10)	T-shirts (QTY 3)
How to Find Lost Treasure (QTY 35)	Texas Twister Tool Kit (QTY 3)	Chip Clips (QTY 35)

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 2009 TREASURE HUNTER-OF-THE-YEAR

ALAN C. COMBS

 

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 RETURN OF THE RINGMASTER: WAYNE & CHERYL'S STORY

At the January 2010 general meeting, club vice-president Wayne Burke told the story about how he found a class ring at a local high school, and with Ken Vargas' help was able to locate its owner, Cheryl Remos, and return it to her.  The ring was lost a long time ago by Cheryl, who did not even go to that school and no longer lives in California.  Coincidentally, the day Wayne called to tell her he found her ring happened to be her birthday. 

Wayne displayed the ring at the meeting for all to see and enjoy, then shipped the ring to Cheryl the very next day.  In response to his touching story, Wayne won Find-of-the-Month 1st Place for his overall presentation.  Please see the February 2010 issue of The Treasure Trove for the complete version of Wayne and Cheryl's story, written by Ken Vargas. 

    

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 LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
RECOGNITION CEREMONY
JANUARY 28, 2010

Ron Gray found an L.A. County Deputy Sheriff's badge and displayed it at our November 2009 meeting (and won for Best Unique Find).  Shortly after that presentation, he returned it to the local San Bernardino Sheriff's Department office in Apple Valley, who forwarded it to L.A.  As a result of returning the badge, the Sheriff Lee Baca of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department issued certificates of recognition to Ron Gray and to our club.  In addition, the Sheriff and his assistant, Sgt. Tracy Di Mello, handed out LACSD challenge coins, cuff links, money clips, and mini-badge pins to club members.  The Sheriff also spent about 10 minutes after the ceremony chatting with club members, where we learned that the badge had been lost about two years ago before being discovered 2 in. deep in South Park by Ron.  Photos of the ceremony and the discussion afterwards appear below.

On behalf of the entire club, I would like to congratulate Ron for his award and thank him for inviting the rest of us to participate as well.

Club members attending the ceremony included guest of honor Ron Gray and his wife, Yvonne, president Jerry Myers, photographer Korry Myers, Sabrina Myers, Board member Jim Fuller, Ernie Scolari, and membership chair Doug Schmitz.  All photography (except Sheriff Baca's official photo) by Korry Myers. 

[Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department: www.lasd.org]

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EVIDENCE LOCATION ASSISTANCE

Our Club assists the Sheriff Department in finding evidence for a case.

 

 

 

 

 

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2008 Treasure-Hunter-of-the-Year!!!

ALAN COMBS

 

Finds-of-the-Year Winners!

Marcus Paulson, Gabe Hanna, Mark Kehl & Ken Vargas

 

 

 

  

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