Villa Park man finds last prize in medallion search

The moment he saw the photo clue for the sixth - and final - medallion in the DuPage County Forest Preserve's Centennial Medallion Search, Michael Mast knew exactly where to go.

There was just one problem.

The photograph showed a bridge at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve near Glen Ellyn. But when Mast went to the site first thing Tuesday morning, the bridge was underwater.

"I thought, 'Oh boy,'" the Villa Park resident said, "because the bridge was the only thing shown in the picture. So I was pretty sure the medallion was supposed to be on the bridge."

Fortunately, forest preserve officials anticipated the flooding.

Mast found the medallion in one of the limbs of a tree near the bridge. The tree itself was slightly underwater, and Mast had to get his feet wet.

Still, he had his prize.

Mast and another winner, Brianna Pecora, will receive running packages that each include a pair of running shoes and insoles.

Meanwhile, Mast's discovery marks the end of a contest that celebrated the 100th anniversary of the forest preserve district.

"The contest was a tremendous success," said Beth Schirott, a marketing specialist for the district.

As part of the contest, residents used clues that appeared in the print and online versions of the Daily Herald to determine the locations of the six medallions that were hidden at district sites around the county.

Depending on which medallion they found, contestants won running shoes, bikes, a fly-fishing package or the $2,500 grand prize.

Peter Geldes of St. Charles found the $2,500 medallion on June 10 at Mallard Lake Forest Preserve near Hanover Park.

"People were really canvassing the area, and that's how it was located," Schirott said.

Francesca Becker and Mike Swaney won bike packages that each include one adult and one child bike and two helmets. Their medallions were hidden at York Woods near Oak Brook and Waterfall Glen near Darien.

Meanwhile, Sarah Stout of Carpentersville won a fly fishing package that includes a one-hour casting clinic for two and an assortment of lures. Stout found her medallion Sunday morning at Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve near Wood Dale.

Schirott said the medallion search was a success, in part, because it helped connect residents to nature. "We had people that were unfamiliar with the forest preserves get involved," she said.

So will there be another search sometime in the future?

"It's been discussed," Schirott said. "There have been discussions about trying to offer another one."