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Lost & Found
Lost and Found
I wish there was some way of having a holding area for stuff people find.  I know that some of my belongings were found on Davis Avenue and I am sure that I have other people's stuff in my yard.  Maybe you could start something like that?  Amy Steiner
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To: <Jaime.Benavides@dhs.gov>
Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 14:57:38 -0500
Subject: Lost Coins
Dear Mr. Benavides,
I just read you letter to Dan Ellis in Pass Christian, MS. where I lived before Katrina hit. My home was at 1010 W. Beach Blvd. which is between Sherman St. and Elliot St. on Hwy 90. Most of my lost possessions (that I was able to find) were in my own lot and to the west and northwest of my lot which would be between Elliot and Boisdore Streets. Our lot was next to one of the few houses that survived the storm- an old 2-story concrete house that many people refer to as "the castle house".
I lost many coins that my father and his father had collected over many years. I had placed all these coins in a bag to take with me when I evacuated, but in the panic of packing up and leaving, I left the bag on the floor of my bedroom. I have actually found some of them, but very few. The ones you found may not be the ones I lost, as you mentioned they were packaged "in a distinctive manner that only the owner would know". The coins I lost were not packaged in such a distinctive fashion. Some of my coins were 1st issue coins that were in clear plastic holders. Each holder contained a coin of each denomination. The bag had a blue stripe on the top and bottom of the bag. The others coins were very old silver dollars, fifty-cent pieces, and quarters (silver). Some of them were wrapped in paper rolls and were then placed in a plastic bag. There may have been some in a small leather box with a rubber band holding it closed. There was also one old gold-piece (I think it was a $5 coin). If the coins were found in the areas described above (the west end of Pass Christian), and have not been claimed, could I make arrangements to see them -just to be certain that they are not mine?
My family, including my husband and I, my sister, my brother, and my parents lost everything. We lost all the heirlooms and family history handed down from 5 generations. Many of the items I was able to salvage and left on my property to pick up later were looted. And most of what was left from the looters was bulldozed by the Army Corp of Engineers. My parents' and brother's house was one block away from me on the corner of Boisdore St. and Hwy. 90. My sister's house was in Bay St. Louis. None of us are able to live on the coast now, but plan to rebuild in the future.
Thank you so very much for everything you did for all of us on the coast. You were wonderful to volunteer to help us, and to take so much care to be sure the things you found were inventoried and a police report filed. We are very grateful for your help. You sound like the kind of person the world needs more of.
Very truly yours,
Dena Fair Daly

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 From: "Benavides, Jaime L" <Jaime.Benavides@dhs.gov>
To: <dan@passchristian.net>, <danellis3@juno.com>
Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 13:14:30 -0400
Subject: FOUND: RARE COINS
Dan,
I was a federal volunteer last September during the initial recovery efforts and was assigned to help in the Pass. I, and another volunteer friend, found a bag with dozens of old coins and delivered them to the Police Department. At first they said thanks and that they would find the owner. I insisted on a police report and that they conduct a complete inventory. The inventory took at least three hours. FYI, the police report was filed on 09/22/05 and the Case Number is "05-19". I still have a copy of the hand receipt.
To give you an idea of the type of coins, several, if not most were from the early 1800's to the mid 1800's. The police officers who took the report and conducted the inventory said that they contacted the city attorney and that the plan was to place a lost and found, found being the operative word, ad in the local paper. Not sure if it ever happened or not. I'm hoping it did and that the heirlooms were reunited with their rightful owner. I'm sure it would be at least some form of comfort for someone who undoubtedly lost everything.
BTW, the coins were packaged in a distinctive manner that only the true owner will be able to describe. I don't believe I, or my volunteer friend, told the police this bit of information. We were exhausted and excited at the possibility of reuniting something that could be a family heirloom with the rightful owner that not all the details spilled out of us. Anyway, if there is any question, we could verify the owner by their description of the packaging.
As a personal observation: I will forever be awed and feel honored to have been in the presence of the human resolve, dignity, and high character displayed by Pass Christian survivor citizens. Like the destruction, it (resolve, character, and dignity) can never be explained in words. One had to be around it to feel it and truly appreciate its power. I don't think Pass Christian can ever be considered a city again, it has become a family.
Jaime L. Benavides
Fraud Detection and National Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20529
(202) 272-8595 Desk
(202) 345-0313 Mobile
Jaime.Benavides@DHS.GOV


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From: "Amy Steiner" <asteiner@mhg.com>
To: danellis3@juno.com
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 16:08:09 -0600
I lost all of my jewelry in the storm, like most everyone else.
I lived at 309 E. Scenic and my jewelry box (with little in it) was found behind the Whittmann's house on Davis Avenue. The way the storm surge's current was (from the south east) the actual jewelry could be behind any of the places on Davis Avenue. I didn't have a lot of expensive jewelry but I do have a few pieces that have very sentimental value and mean a great deal to me. If anyone finds anything in that area, especially a necklace with a man's gold wedding band on it, (the only thing I had of my father who died when I was 9) please call me at work, 865-3592. Thanks, Amy Steiner
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From: "Karen Clarke" <kclarke@mhg.com>
To: danellis3@juno.com
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 15:45:47 -0600
Subject: Letters found in Timber Ridge
I have found numerous handwritten letters in my backyard, washed up from the storm. I have saved as many letters as I possibly can. I have recovered letters, cards and a thesis on an art related topic.
Our house is on Hackberry Drive (near the Henderson Avenue entrance). I hope to be able to reunite the letters to their owner.
Karen Clarke usa9696@cableone.net or kclarke@mhg.com
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From: <gest@bellsouth.net>
To: <dan@passchristian.net>
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 21:19:02 -0500
Subject: Stolen Antique Truck
Dan,
We live at 102 Sycamore in Timber Ridge. Our home was flooded from Katrina. Every time we return to do work or check on it something happens. First the water dept. turned on the water and flooded our property a second time. Next, we went back and an electrician had done some work to our home without us even knowing and today we went to do some yard work and our 1967 Chevrolet Custom C-10 pickup was gone from underneath our driveway. The truck had to be pulled or trailered out of the subdivision. I wanted to post a notice on the web in case anyone saw it being removed. There are not many trucks around that look like it. There were only 600 made in 1967. The truck is a white 1967 with a small rear window. It has chrome rims. Plates are Ms. Antique Truck plates with 513235 on them. Anyone having any information please contact Pass Christian Police dept. at 452-3300.
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From: "Trey Campbell" <jwc@ccla.com>
To: "Dan Ellis" <danellis3@juno.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2005 10:02:54 -0600
Dan

Our beloved Scout Troop had their trailer stolen from the ScoutMaster's destroyed home's driveway late last week. We've filed a police report, advised the Sheriff and are looking to get the word out for people to help us find it.
We just bought this trailer last year; and the boys use it every month.
Here are some pictures of it. There is a reward if recovered; so if anyone sees it, please report it to the police. For other information,
800-333-2252.
Trey Campbell
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From: "William Vaudry" <jwvaudry@cox.net>
To: <Dan@PassChristian.Net>
Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2005 19:02:18 -0600
Dan,
Bill and I lived at 233 Baywood and while we were surveying our rubble, we drove by Basswood. Someone in that area is asking about a yellow kayak. We saw one over in the Isles in the juncture of Cherry and Parkview. We live in New Orleans and will probably not be back for a few weeks. If you know of anyone that is in the area that can leave a message on the property on Basswood about the yellow kayak I bet those folks would love to go check it out. Thanks June Vaudry
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From: rf kern <rfkern@yahoo.com>
To: Dan@PassChristian.Net
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 16:19:04 -0800 (PST)
I work for an engineering firm in Miami, Florida and was in Pass Christian about two weeks following hurricane Katrina doing damage assessment. In the debris I picked up a child's brown, teddy bear back pack that had some other stuffed toys inside. I didn't want it to get lost in the clean-up, so I brought it back to Florida. I thought I heard of Hurricane Katrina museum where I could send the bear, but can't locate it.
Is there somewhere I can send the bear? I'm sure some child would love to get it back.
Thank you, Richard Kern 786-423-5627
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My husband, Tom Braly, myself and our son, Tomas, have/had a home on Boisdore that was completely vaporized. We were the 4th house from the beach, she survived Camille but not this one. We will rebuild!
Second, when we went back we found a few items partially buried in the sand. Among our items we found part of a Nativity set - amazingly unbroken! So if you are the owner, please email me @ style.list@juno.com. They need to be "home" for Christmas.
Third, only 3 houses appear to have made it thru on the west side of the Pass: the Sherman castle and the Conwell's 2 mini-mansions. Does anyone know how these homes look on the inside? Structurally is there anything there or are all 3 just a shell? What is the elevation on these 3? Just what is it about these three that enabled them to withstand 35 ft wall of water and tremendous winds? The answers could be really valuable information for rebuilding between 90 & the CSX line. So if anyone has info/insight in this, please share.
May everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Martha Torres Braly
San Antonio, TX
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I have a cat living in my empty home w/ a tag saying she belongs to Roy Masson of RR St. Pass Christian w/ of course a non-working ph. number. I have put an ad in classified in Sun Her. and posted on their blog/forum. Any ideas about any other way to track this gentleman down & reunite them? Is there any kind of posting site for the Pass? Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thank you, Katy Criswell, Email Damcoind@aol.com or call228-365-7780.
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From: "Johnny Fridge" <kjohn2@cox.net>
To: <dan@PassChristian.net>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2005 13:08:22 -0500
I know this is trivial compared to some things going on now, but is there a place to post a lost & found request? I lived at 113 Basswood Drive and my home was destroyed. I saved almost nothing. I did, however, have two brand new kayaks that were swept away and are probably in someone’s yard. They were “Ocean Kayaks” brand and the model is “Frenzy”. They are bright orange and have gray seatbacks. Anyone finding them can call me at 800-488-3988 ext708 or 504-722-6000. I would really appreciate it if found. They were Christmas presents we gave each other.
Thanks again.
Johnny Fridge
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From: Jhud42@aol.com
To: Dan@PassChristian.Net
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 15:36:28 EDT
Dan,
Thanks for your site which is our connection to Pass Christian.
Do you have any idea where lost pets from Timber Ridge are taken?
I am looking for a black and white cat with a purple/pink collar.
Thanks for all your help,
Julie Hudson