Pahokee fights to keep artifacts

PALM BEACH, Fla., July 9 (UPI) -- The Florida town of Pahokee is trying to keep artifacts discovered in Lake Okeechobee, although they technically are owned by the state.

Mayor J.P. Sasser believes the community should be able to hold onto some of the artifacts discovered while the lake bed was exposed by drought, the Palm Beach Post reported Monday.

The Historical Society of Palm Beach County currently is in negotiations with the state to keep some of the pieces, which include Indian relics, as well as parts of a dock and boats from the 1900.

"I think we ought to have first shot because it's our history and our heritage. It's unique to us," said Sasser. "We certainly would have a first-class museum. It's not going to be some small-town 'we'll put them right next to the jackalope' kind of thing."

"There are going to be hundreds, if not thousands, of artifacts discovered out there, and we are only interested in five to 10 pieces," added Steven Erdmann, the historical society's curator of collections and special exhibits.