A pair of local teachers turned an early-morning puzzle into a winning tradition this week, claiming the latest Republic-Monitor Medallion Hunt prize after deciphering a series of military- themed clues.
Laura Heise and Amanda Huber found this week’s hidden medallion Thursday morning, splitting the $100 prize after tracking it down at Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial (MNVM),
The two colleagues, who have participated in the annual Medallion Hunt together for several years, said this week’s clues pointed them in the right direction fairly quickly.
“We got the paper around 5 (a.m.),” Heise said. “The clues were pretty obvious this week. It was like, ‘Oh duh, it has to be here.’”
References to a helicopter and multiple branches of the military helped narrow the search, ultimately leading the pair to MNVM, where the medallion was located near one of the recently installed statues outside the visitor’s center.
After arriving on the scene, it didn’t take long for them to make the discovery.
“It was probably 10 or 15 minutes after we got there,” Heise said.
Despite the quick find, the moment still came with a bit of disbelief.
“It’s so fun. It’s exciting. I almost feel like I’m still in shock,” she said.
The win was especially meaningful for the pair, who have made the Medallion Hunt a yearly tradition, working together to cut out and study clues each week. “
We do this every year — every week,” Heise said.
While this marks their first win together in recent memory, Heise said she did find the medallion once before — about 20 years ago.
After locating the medallion, both women had to head to work, delaying their official claim until later in the day. Huber is a teacher in Perry County School District 32, while Heise is a teacher at St. Vincent. An early-morning phone call to the newspaper office went unanswered before opening hours, and by then, both were back in the classroom teaching.
The Republic-Monitor’s annual Medallion Hunt runs each March, with one medallion hidden each week. Clues are published throughout the newspaper, and each week’s winner receives $100. If multiple winners find the medallion, the prize is split.
Participants are limited to one win per year.
This year’s medallion also features a new design, replacing the thicker version used in past years, which had run out of space for previous winners’ names.
For Heise and Huber, the win was the result of persistence, teamwork — and a little early-morning determination.
And while their students may not fully appreciate the tradition just yet, the two teachers said they’ll be enjoying their victory — and their winnings — together.
