Honored for a good deed
BRIAN WALKER/bwalker@cdapress.com | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 7 months AGO
<p>Nick Martin, center, who lost his wallet with $782 inside, rewarded Post Falls 11-year-olds Zachary Endreson, left, and Michael Williams $50 each for making sure his wallet was returned with all the money inside. Martin had forgotten he left his wallet and cellphone on top of a car after swimming at Black Bay Park.</p>
POST FALLS - Doing the right thing can have its rewards.
Just ask Zachary Endreson and Michael Williams, the Post Falls 11-year-olds who found a wallet last week on Third Avenue with $782 inside and helped make sure it was returned to the owner with all of the money and credit cards.
Nick Martin, the wallet's owner, rewarded the boys with $50 each over ice cream treats at Dairy Queen in Post Falls on Sunday.
"He wanted to show them that being honest does have its rewards," said Patty Matthews, Martin's mom. "It's amazing that the wallet was turned in with all the money inside.
"Nick wanted to thank the boys in person and tell their parents that they've done a great job of raising them."
Matthews said her 24-year-old son thought about giving each of the boys $100, but she gently reminded him that he has bills to pay.
Matthews attempted to give police some money to give to the boys when a sergeant returned the wallet to her, but the sergeant didn't feel comfortable accepting the money from Martin's wallet.
Matthews said Martin had always intended to reward the boys, but he works a construction job with long hours and it took a few days to get connected to the boys through the police.
Martin couldn't be reached for comment on Monday.
The boys and their parents said they weren't expecting a reward for doing the right thing. Post Falls Police said it also plans to honor the boys for their good deed.
Matthews said Martin had left his wallet and cellphone on top of a vehicle after swimming at Black Bay Park. He found the cell phone in three pieces after hearing it fall off the car at the Interstate 90 on-ramp at Highway 41.
After he realized that his wallet was also left on top of the car, Martin searched along Bay Street from the park to Third Avenue with a flashlight.
The boys said they found the wallet on Third just before it turned dark. Endreson's father, Jeff, then contacted police about the wallet, which was returned to Matthews early the next morning.
Matthews said the experience has deepened her son's faith after he turned his life around.
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