Oakdale woman finds medallion in Como Park

ST. PAUL (AP) -- The hunt for the Winter Carnival medallion is over.

An Oakdale woman found the treasure Monday in a remote spot in Como Park to claim the $10,000 prize.

Cathi Hogan had been digging for 90 minutes when she found the prized disc. She clutched the medallion, hidden in an Iron Man sports sock and tucked into a Dove soap box, to her chest as tears of joy began falling, she said.

"I said, 'Oh my God, Oh my God,"' Hogan said. "This nice woman walked by and asked if I was OK. I said, 'I think I just found the medallion.' I think she thought I was nuts."

The part-time teacher at White Bear Lake said she will share the prize with a friend. The two have hunted for the medallion together for the past three years.

In past years, she has thought about what she would do with the money, but this year gave it little thought, which she said brought her luck.

She also thought some good fortune rubbed off Sunday, when she bumped into winners of the 1969, 1988 and 1998 treasure hunts.

The Saint Paul Pioneer Press created the Treasure Hunt in 1952.