Man finds $8,000, turns it in

BLOOMFIELD, N.Y., July 11 (UPI) -- The owner of a New York state farm market said an honest man who found $8,000 on the side of the road returned it to the market.

Chip White, owner of White's Farm Market in Bloomfield, said Nick Optis of Mendon discovered the cash Monday morning in a bag at the side of Route 64, about a half mile from the market, and brought the money to him after finding checks made out to the business in the bag, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported Wednesday.

"He won't talk to the media. He's too humble," White said of Optis.

The owner said the employee who was supposed to take the bag of cash to the bank apparently dropped it when he stopped on Route 64 to determine the cause of an open door light on his dashboard.

The employee realized the cash was missing when he arrived at the bank and Optis had returned the cash by the time the worker returned to the market.

White said the employee was not punished.

"It was a learning mistake," White said.

The owner said he is planning to give Optis a $100 reward for his honesty.

"It was just a wonderful thing he did," White said.