oddly enough

oddly enough

Widow places diamond ring in Salvation Army kettle

BOSTON

The Salvation Army found an unusual surprise inside one of its red donation kettles: a diamond engagement ring given by a widow in honor of her late husband.

The charity said Monday the anonymous benefactor placed the diamond ring — valued at $1,850 — and her wedding band in one of the kettles placed outside Boston’s North Station last week.

It says the rings were accompanied by a note in which the woman said she hoped they would be sold and the money used to buy toys for needy children. She said her husband always had a giving spirit — especially at Christmastime.

“To honor his memory, I donate this ring. I’m hoping there’s someone out there who made lots of money this year and will buy the ring for 10 times its worth. After all, there’s no price on love or the sentimental value of this ring. But money will help the kids. May everyone have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!” her note read.

Salvation Army Major David Davis said Monday the “incredible” donation warmed the hearts of bell-ringers and other volunteers.

“We’re so moved and incredibly grateful to the generous individual who made such a loving and kind donation,” Davis said. “This heartwarming gift boosts all of our staff, bell-ringers and volunteers.”

The Salvation Army says the red kettles date to 1891, when Salvation Army Capt. Joseph McFee wanted to help feed the needy in San Francisco.

The containers were modeled after those McFee saw at ferry landings in Liverpool, England, where people would sit with small kettles and collect spare change from travelers.

Cops: Woman drops bag of cocaine in police station

UNIONTOWN, Pa.

Authorities say a woman being cited for public drunkenness in Pennsylvania accidentally dropped a small plastic bag of crack cocaine on the police-station floor.

Uniontown police say 23-year-old Savannah Turachak of Lemont Furnace was patted down for weapons but not otherwise searched when she was brought to the station recently. That’s because police were just citing and releasing her.

But police say Turachak returned moments later to report being harassed by someone and, in the process, fluffed her shirt to straighten it out — and the drugs fell out.

Surveillance video shows she tried to pick up the bag but instead left it when three other people walked in. Police found it a short time later and charged her.

Online court records don’t list an attorney for Turachak.

Associated Press