FL Arkies Against 'American Diggers'

"'American Digger,' the TV show featuring a former pro wrestler and his team digging up historical treasures is entertainment, says the show’s spokeswoman.

'We don’t encourage any digging on federal or state lands,' said spokeswoman Shana Tepper for Spike TV, the producers of the show. 'It is only on private property' and done within the boundaries of the law, including the site in downtown St. Augustine that will be featured in an upcoming show.

'If you watch the show, you’ll see (host) Ric (Savage) going from door-to-door getting permission,' she added."

Read more HERE.

On a side note, at the end of the article it outlines many of the laws regarding our hobby in FL, in particular the St. Augustine area.

How do you feel about the ethics in the show and how they portray folks in the like-mind?

Under the Sand of St. Augustine

"Bob Spratley has a lot of secrets.

He knows where to find 20 shipwrecks around St. Augustine, he can find gold and silver buried beneath the sands of local beaches, and he discovered one of the sites of the nation’s most notorious slaughters.

'He found the Matanzas site, the massacre site,' said John Powell, living history interpreter at the Fountain of Youth. 'Bob is beyond a metal detectorist. Bob is touched by God.'"

Read more HERE.

Image Credit: Daron Dean / The St. Augustine Record

FL Man Denied Pursuit of Treasure

"A would-be treasure hunter searching for pirate gold can't dig at a Palm Beach County park, county officials decided Thursday.

Concerns about disturbing a historic site — and the possibility of metal detector-wielding copycats flocking to county parks wanting to dig — prompted the county to quash plans for the dig at DuBois Park in Jupiter.

Just last week, the county was working on a proceeds-sharing deal with a local man who proposed a small dig to find out what was setting off his metal detectors at the park.

The size and location of the unknown buried object, as well as the history of the area, convinced him it was a chest of riches, possibly buried hundreds of years ago by shipwreck survivors or even pirates passing the Palm Beach County coast."

Read more HERE.

FL Pirates Out After Irene

 "Hurricane Irene brought a treasure trove of waves for surfers last week, but Flagler Beach resident Eric Nierstedt was looking for a different kind of treasure.


He was combing the beach, with a shovel slung over his left shoulder and a metal detector in his right hand. Neither the rain nor the waves dissuaded him.

'I haven't found anything, yet,' he said just before 10 a.m. 'The tide is still pretty high, though.'"

Read more HERE.

Image Credit: Julie Murphy \ The Daytona News Journal

Beach Hobbyists and Their 'Treasure'

"Most people heading to the seashore bring along sunscreen, colorful towels and a big umbrella. For others, the ultimate beach accessory is a metal detector.

You've probably seen them during your trips to any coast -- sweeping the gadget back and forth along the water, ears covered by big headphones, eyes scanning the sand -- and wondered what exactly they're looking for.

Meet the detectorists, as the community of hobbyists is known."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Tim Higginbotham via CNN.com

Hey Tim, if you view the site, leave a message!

PA Class Ring Returned from FL

"A local family couldn't believe it when they heard from someone at Ford City High School telling them that a class ring that had been missing for more than 40 years had been found in Florida and returned to the school.

The plain gold ring with a picture of the high school building engraved on top belonged to a 1934 graduate of the school, Samuel Saloum. Mr. Saloum died in 1979.

'The family was very excited,' said Jennifer Hrabovsky of Ford City, a teacher at Elderton Elementary School and Samuel's niece. 'It was a nice surprise for everyone.'"

Read more HERE.

Great Spring Break Pic

"'I don't know what it is, but there's something right under here that's driving my gauges crazy.'

No, not really. It's just part of some innocent Spring Break hijinks on the beach in Fort Lauderdale.

It actually sounds too good to be true.

Jerry Calabrese was making his regular sandy rounds with a trusty metal detector the other day, looking for misplace coins or whatever. Then 21-year-old Nicole Ruggiero of New Jersey asked him to pose for a goofy photo of him scanning her sunbathing body.

It worked."

Commentary from the LA Times.

Alleged Florida Shipwreck Found

"Claims by a local treasure hunter that there is a century-old shipwreck off our shores got a boost from a former diver in the area.

“I’ve seen that wreck,” said Joe Mecko, of Madeira Beach, after reading a story on the subject in the Beach Beacon.

The article told about Jim Leatherwood’s discovery of shipwreck artifacts while metal detecting on the beach in Indian Rocks Beach..."

Read more HERE.

Florida Police Use MD in Wake of Shooting

"...

Sheriff's investigators spent much of the overnight hours looking for clues into the Tuesday night death at the corner of Washington and Oak streets in the Mission City unincorporated enclave near New Smyrna Beach's west side.

Sheriff's officials are not releasing the victim's name, saying they were waiting until her family had been notified.

Neighbors living within sight of the crime scene said hearing gunfire in the neighborhood is not unusual."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Mark I. Johnson / Daytona Beach News Journal

St. Augustine Divers MD For Evidence

"...

Divers said the pond was at least 40 feet deep and were seen repeatedly clearing long green weeds off the tether rope as well as a metal detector being used to search for more weapons. The search was continuing Tuesday afternoon in the same section of the pond.

The Jacksonville and St. Johns County Sheriff's Offices would only confirm they were helping in a joint investigation."

Read more HERE.

Image Credit: Bob Self/Morris News Service

Polk County Rules Aimed at Hobbyists

"County park visitors face a longer list of rules under an ordinance approved 3-2 on Wednesday by the County Commission.

The rules, the first major rewrite of the county ordinance since the original ordinance was passed in 1977, are designed to reduce user conflicts, to prevent damage to public facilities and to improve safety. They are effective immediately.

Most of the discussion involved the use of metal detectors, which Mike Callender, parks and recreation manager, said can result in holes that can cause safety problems."

Read more HERE.
Another article HERE.

WSAS Club Beach Hunt

"...

The West State Archaeological Society is a fancy name for a group of 45 members who simply call themselves treasure hunters. They meet every month to show off and discuss the history of their finds around Tampa Bay. The club started in the early 1970s. Most members are men and their wives who ended up joining, too.

"Pretty pathetic, ain't it?" jokes Barry Inman, 56, the club's vice president. 'A bunch of old geezers trying to fight over stuff.'"

Read more HERE.

FL T'Hunter Digs History Looking for Shipwreck

"Jim Leatherwood is convinced there is an as-yet-undiscovered shipwreck just off our shores. The treasure hunter from Largo backs his claim with dozens of ship-related artifacts, discovered while beachcombing with a metal detector.

His finds include large keel pins, used in building wooden ships. They connect the wood and keep the ship together. He shows a heavy pin that is bent, evidence it has been under stress. “That tells you it has been in a wreck,” said Leatherwood.

Weighty spikes, bolts and wedges were all part of a ship’s outfitting, and further indications of a nearby shipwreck, according to Leatherwood. A brass nail would have tacked down the metal sheeting on a boat, while a pulley was connected to the rigging."

Read more HERE.
Another article about Jim HERE.

Image Credit: Bayview News 9