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Rangers find, return wallet
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Last October, Roger Varela of Tucson took a motorcycle trip to Tombstone to enjoy Helldorado Days. After working all week in Mesa as a crane operator, Varela was looking forward to a leisurely ride with his friends.
But during a stop in Benson on their way back to Tucson, Varela realized his wallet was missing. "We stopped for gas and that's when I realized the wallet was gone," recalls Varela. "I had put it in my vest pocket thinking it would be okay there but I was wrong."
On two occasions he and friends searched the shoulder of Highway 80 between Tombstone and Benson to no avail. Over the next few months Varela obtained a new drivers license, credit cards, and social security card. He also had to replace his crane operator's license and insurance cards.
But what bothered him most was the constant worry that someone would find his wallet and take on his identity.
That worry came to an end Father's Day when Marshall Gillette and Lindsey Jackson of the Arizona Rangers' Benson Company presented Varela with his long-lost wallet. The slightly mildewed wallet had been discovered along the shoulder of Highway 80 between Tombstone and St. David during a roadside cleanup the Rangers do every few months.
Although Varela had already replaced his official documents and credit cards, he was grateful to get back several family photos and the cash that were also in the wallet. He was especially appreciative of the efforts the Rangers made in locating him, given the 47 "Varela" listings in the Tucson phone book.
"What you guys did was great," said Varela, who made the trip to Benson with his wife and son to get the wallet. His offer of a reward was refused by Gillette, who coordinates the roadside cleanup for the Rangers.
"We're here for the community, and it feels good to see a happy ending," said Gillette. The only payback the Rangers want, explained Gillette, is for Varela to do a good deed for someone in need when the opportunity arises.
"That I will certainly do," promised Varela.
The Rangers are scheduled to clean up their stretch of Highway 80 again in October.
But during a stop in Benson on their way back to Tucson, Varela realized his wallet was missing. "We stopped for gas and that's when I realized the wallet was gone," recalls Varela. "I had put it in my vest pocket thinking it would be okay there but I was wrong."
On two occasions he and friends searched the shoulder of Highway 80 between Tombstone and Benson to no avail. Over the next few months Varela obtained a new drivers license, credit cards, and social security card. He also had to replace his crane operator's license and insurance cards.
But what bothered him most was the constant worry that someone would find his wallet and take on his identity.
That worry came to an end Father's Day when Marshall Gillette and Lindsey Jackson of the Arizona Rangers' Benson Company presented Varela with his long-lost wallet. The slightly mildewed wallet had been discovered along the shoulder of Highway 80 between Tombstone and St. David during a roadside cleanup the Rangers do every few months.
Although Varela had already replaced his official documents and credit cards, he was grateful to get back several family photos and the cash that were also in the wallet. He was especially appreciative of the efforts the Rangers made in locating him, given the 47 "Varela" listings in the Tucson phone book.
"What you guys did was great," said Varela, who made the trip to Benson with his wife and son to get the wallet. His offer of a reward was refused by Gillette, who coordinates the roadside cleanup for the Rangers.
"We're here for the community, and it feels good to see a happy ending," said Gillette. The only payback the Rangers want, explained Gillette, is for Varela to do a good deed for someone in need when the opportunity arises.
"That I will certainly do," promised Varela.
The Rangers are scheduled to clean up their stretch of Highway 80 again in October.
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HJackson wrote on Jun 24, 2009 9:51 AM: