The 24th Annual Kanabec County Treasure Hunt ended July 29 when Gary Bergstadt found and brought in the hidden treasure hunt button after clue six led him to Quamba, winning him $1,000.
The button was hidden under the eve of the outhouse behind Quamba City Hall.
Bergstadt said he hunts for the treasure every year and also found the treasure in 2001.
Sponsored by local businesses, the treasure hunt begins with the hiding of a treasure hunt button somewhere in Kanabec County on public property.
The button is hidden where it can be found without hunters needing to dig or use any tools.
Then 12 clues where to find the treasure are released, once per day until someone finds the button and brings it to Kanabec Publications to claim their prize.
The prize for finding the hidden button is $1,000 if the hunter purchased a 2013 treasure hunt button; the prize is only $500 if the hunter did not purchase a button.
This year’s clues described districts, borders or representatives of districts that would overlap and eventually narrow the hunt down to a small area. The first clue was released July 22.
For example, clue seven mentions Kathi Ellis of the Kanabec County Board of Commissioners. Ellis represents District 4 in the county which is made up of Knife Lake, Whited and Comfort townships.
From that clue hunters could reason the treasure was hidden somewhere within those three townships.
See all the clues below:
- Where the token resides: If the token was in trouble or needed a hand, it would call the Kanabec County Sheriff’s Office because they serve best within Kanabec County lines.
- Where the token resides: If the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency was soliciting residents to keep the Snake River Watershed clean, they would call and ask the token to be mindful of dumping on streets or in nearby lakes and streams.
- Where the token resides: If the token had a question about his school district’s buses passing on his street, it could contact Gary Gauffin.
- Where the token resides: If it were campaign season, a bumper sticker for Knox or Brown wouldn’t make sense, but one for Saumer or Lourey would fit right in.
- Where the token resides: If the token had a political sign on display instead, it would have been for Faust or Wiener.
- Where the token resides: If the token needed to dig a ditch, well or other pit, it would have to consult Gene Carda of his soil and water conservation district.
- Where the token resides: If the token had input for the County Board of Commissioners, it could pass the message on through Kathi Ellis.
- Where the token resides: If township roads were looking lovely, the token could compliment Randy Golly.
- Where the token resides: If the token wanted to write a letter to his mayor, he wouldn’t address it to Ardner, Nilson or Miller.
- Where the token resides: If after a day of work in city hall Gordon Gullixon needed relief, the token might meet him out back.
- Where the token resides: If the token needed to get out of the rain, under the eve of the Quamba City Hall outhouse is where it’s at.
- The token is hidden under the eve of the outhouse behind the Quamba City Hall.
Copyright 2013 Kanabec County Times/PressPubs.