State’s attorney hopes metal detection club helps area kids find more than just treasure

Nine youngsters, each armed with a $150 metal detector purchased by the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office – courtesy of drug forfeiture money – set out to hunt for hidden treasure at Kankakee’s Bird Park on a glorious early autumn Tuesday evening recently.With the devices chirping throughout the area near the Don Palzer Bandshell, the Kankakee County area youth carefully using the metal-seeking wands may not have known it, but they were being exposed to a potential lifelong hobby.Tagging along and offering any assistance and guidance were State’s Attorney Jim Rowe, along with Carrie Stewart, chief of the state’s attorney’s community division; David Bickel, Kankakee County assistant state’s attorney; and Grant Park Mayor Ben Detloff.The sponsors, of course, were not entirely interested in finding lost treasures, rare coins or jewelry. Instead, they are presenting an idea that could turn into a lifelong passion, or simply an activity for their free time.“We want them to start a n