2014 Mesabi Daily News Medallion Hunt

(Play” is a reference to playground. “Work out” refers to the neighboring Mesabi Family YMCA. Technically, kids playing on a playground are getting a “work out.” “Takes home,” is a subtle reference to the song, “Country Roads, Take me Home,” a tune about West Virginia. “Home” also refers to home plate; a baseball field is located at the West Virginia park/playground.

“In these parts” is meant to narrow down a location. “Iron Rangers” — a reference to Mountain Iron, both by the word “Iron” and the reference to the Mountain Iron-Buhl “Rangers.” Additionally, “piled heaping and high” is meant to get readers thinking the word “mountain.

“Roses” and “violets” are meant to get participants thinking about flowers. The street names in West Virginia are flowers. “Piecing two and two” is actually meant to get readers thinking the number four; four like “quad” — meaning it is somewhere in the Quad Cities. But the clue writers were one-upped by the winning family, who thought it referenced arithmetic, thus thinking the medallion was near a school. As it turns out, the old West Virginia elementary school was once located near the medallion’s hiding spot. Good job! We did not even realize this. Additionally, in this clue, “taken this walk” is subtle reference to “walk in the park,” especially when paired with the “get easier” from the previous line. A “walk in the park” is an easy thing to do. Maybe not so a medallion hunt. Unless, of course, you are Maddie and her family.

“Toys” refers to the playground “toys.” “Girls and boys” — well, children play at a playground. “Tiring,” as the winning family surmised, is a reference to a tire; the medallion was hiding inside a tire.

“Looking over our shoulder” is a reference to the nearby Dairy Queen. Someone standing near the medallion could look over his or her shoulder to the treat shop that serves “Blizzards.” The third to fifth lines are again references are to the green and white street signs which contain the names of flowers in the West Virginia area.