Ring returned to good Samaritan

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Todd Ondell knew there would be more than fruit and nuts in one of the holiday baskets he packed this year for the Downtown Rotary, and now he knows he was right.

The business owner lost his gold wedding band as he was packaging one of the group's 240 holiday baskets Dec. 12.

Ondell had hand-wrapped the red baskets in cellophane, with a twist, and he figured at some point the ring fell off.

He searched his house, his car and his coffee shop. His fellow Rotarians helped check the floor, pallets, cracks and concrete in the area where the baskets were assembled.

Ondell made a public plea for recipients to check the inside and bottom cellophane of the baskets for the gold ring.

Jeff Rood of La Crescent, Minn., found it in the bottom of a fruit basket even though he hadn't heard about Ondell's loss. He mentioned the find to his father, who had heard the story and informed his son about it.

The ring was returned at Thursday's Rotary Club meeting.

In honor of Rood and the person who bought the fruit basket for his family, Ondell made a donation to the Rotary Club.