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CNN Live Today

Wedding Ring Lost and Found Following Nebraska Tornado

Aired August 20, 2001 - 13:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Today is another day of cleanup in Jackson, Nebraska. The tiny town was devastated by a tornado Friday night. Ten homes, several business, and the town's elementary school all were destroyed.

Three people were hurt, but all of them are recovering. Over the weekend -- this is the good side of this story -- 300 volunteers doubled the town's population, Lou, of 230, as they came to help people out. How about that?

LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: That's nice.

Part of the debris belonged to Hallie Salmen, who lives in Jackson -- was on vacation when the tornado hit. I have Hallie on the phone right now.

As I understand it, Hallie, you lost your wedding ring when the tornado hit your home. Tell us about that.

HALLIE SALMEN, LOST WEDDING RING IN TORNADO: My husband and I had left our rings at home so that we wouldn't lose them on vacation. And just shortly after we received the phone call that our house was destroyed, it dawned on me that I didn't have my ring on.

And that crushed me, of course. But I was determined that I was going to find my rings. And we combed and combed the ground on Saturday and didn't find it. But I came back on Sunday with that being my goal, to find the ring. And within a half an hour, someone who was a stranger to me found my wedding ring on top of a car radiator.

WATERS: On top of a car radiator.

Most folks, when they lose their home, they think about their photographs or their kids' toys or something. You went right to the wedding ring.

SALMEN: Well, it was one of my precious memories that was in my house.

WATERS: And why was it home in the first place?

SALMEN: We were vacationing at a lake, and we didn't -- we knew we wouldn't wear them when we were swimming. So we had left them behind so we wouldn't forget them.

WATERS: What if you go to the lake next time? What are you going to...

SALMEN: I am never taking it off again.

(LAUGHTER)

WATERS: You have it on right now.

SALMEN: It's waiting -- I am going to have it checked out. I want to make sure all the settings are fine before I start wearing it around.

WATERS: I have a wire story here. It says a woman helping with the cleanup found a diamond wedding set sitting in perfect condition on a car radiator.

Was it a wedding set?

SALMEN: Yes. It was my engagement and wedding ring soldered together.

WATERS: Oh, I see.

SALMEN: Several diamonds.

WATERS: It was a unit. OK. So you got your ring back. How about your house? What's happening with that?

SALMEN: Well, my house was completely destroyed. And it's gone now. They cleared all the debris out. And they're still working on it. But what actually was my house has been cleared away now.

WATERS: Well, we wish you all the best -- some good news and bad news there. But you have got your wedding ring. And that's all that counts for now.

SALMEN: That's right. Thank you.

WATERS: OK, Hallie Salmen, on the line from Jackson.

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