Bob Kneaskern's wife and daughter had talked about participating in The Citizen's 2006 Treasure Hunt. But it was Kneaskern who found the clear plastic medallion - and he wasn't even looking for it.

Kneaskern, 40, of Union Springs, stumbled onto the medallion by “pure, pure luck,” he said Thursday, a day after he located the hidden item at Frontenac Park in Union Springs. The medallion, which earns Kneaskern a $1,000 check and a $75 gas card, was in the grass near a big willow tree, about 30 feet from Cayuga Lake, he said.

Kneaskern, the Union Springs public works superintendent since 1997, had come close to winning The Citizen's annual treasure hunt contest Tuesday afternoon, when he mowed that same area.

“I'm surprised I didn't hit it with the lawn mower,” he said.

He received a second chance around 9 a.m. Wednesday, when a meeting with an engineer for the village's sewer project got switched from the public works office to Frontenac after Kneaskern got tied up installing docks at the boat launch.

As he was walking to a picnic table to sit down, the medallion, which is three inches in diameter, caught his eye.

“I picked it up and go, ‘Oh my God! What's the chances of this?'” recalled Kneaskern, who had seen Sunday's clue but hadn't really been following the game. “I'm still stunned I'm lucky enough to come across it.”

The treasure hunt was scheduled for Sunday, May 21, through Thursday, June 1 (or until someone found the medallion).

Clues were published daily to help readers figure out the medallion's location; the rules state that it is to be hidden within The Citizen's circulation area.

A winning subscriber receives $1,500, while non-subscribers win $1,000.

The flabbergasted Kneaskern isn't sure what he'll do with the money, though the new grandpa is sure his family will have plans for it.

And though he doesn't usually win things, after finding the medallion Wednesday, he decided to press his luck and play the lottery. (We'll let you know if he's that lucky).

Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net