The ATM was empty except for a fish

Sheriff thinks it was from truck stop or convenience store

By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Sunday, June 1, 2008 5:05 AM CDT

St. Francois County deputies are still trying to find out where the ATM machine that was found in the Big River came from.

Sheriff Dan Bullock said they contacted the manufacturer. He said it is apparently not from a bank or a savings and loan company. He thinks the ATM came from a truck stop or convenience store.

“We’re waiting to hear back,” he said Friday.

He said the ATM had been in the river for quite some time. It was empty except for a fish.

A local stream cleanup team cleaning up a portion of the Big River earlier this month found the ATM machine near Route P in Desloge.

Volunteer, Brad Yoder used his truck and a tow chain to drag it out. Chip Barton called the sheriff’s department and Deputy Jason Rayoum retrieved it while Kary Buckley Towing hauled it back to the jail. Detective Russ Qualls has been assigned to the case.

In addition to the ATM, Stream Team 3550 recovered and removed about two tons of trash from the Big River and its tributaries. This included 48 tires, a clothes dryer, a couch, a swimming pool, 80 full bags of assorted trash and about 300 pounds of metal.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.

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