Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

10 year old finds Hurley Winter Medallion

By CHARITY SMITH

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Hurley - Kate Randall, 10, of Hurley is the winner of the fourth annual Winter Medallion scavenger hunt.

Randall said that she found the medallion hidden between two decorative banners, off a light post near the Hurley Clinic on Jan. 24.

The event, sponsored by the Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce working with an anonymous donor, annually asks the public to find a hidden medallion, and offers weekly clues on the chamber's Facebook page.

Rita Franzoi, Hurley Chamber director, said the anonymous person designs the medallion and has it made, then hides it and writes the clues.

Randall said she and her mom thought the medallion was near the Hurley Clinic on the corner of Granite Street and Fifth Avenue in Hurley after reading the three clues that had been posted by Jan. 21.

According to her father, Mike Randall, Kate and her mother, Amy, went to the Hurley Clinic initially and didn't find it; so they went to the North Lakes clinic just a block north on Fifth Avenue, instead. But when they didn't find it there either, they decided to return to take another look around the Hurley Clinic.

"It was in between the two banners held on by magnets. It was really hard to see, but for some reason she spotted it up there," Mike Randall said. "They didn't make it easy. It was hidden pretty good. "

Mike Randall said he heard a lot of people had searched at the Hurley Clinic, because some of the clues were related to COVID, but were unable to find it. The Hurley Clinic houses an Aspirus Clinic and the Iron County Health Department, besides other offices.

This was the first year the Randalls participated in the search for the Winter Medallion. Mike Randall said he thinks they just decided to participate this year out of boredom, as there is not much to do because of the pandemic.

For winning the contest Kate received $250 and got to keep the medallion. Mike Randall said that they put some of the money away in her savings account and with the other part she wants to go shoe shopping.

"She's a typical girl. Loves her shoes," he said.

Franzoi said the purpose of the contest is to get people out and exploring the area. She said in years past it has taken anywhere from one week to two months for someone to find the medallion.

"The clues typically have a lot of history behind them. That gets people to reconnect with the history of the area and to get out and do something outside," she said.

 
 
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