Albany residents NANCY MINNICK and her husband, BOB, went sturgeon fishing in the Astoria area with some friends the weekend of July 23. Nancy got the ice chest from the car to put the fish in. In the process of putting it down near the boat, the only set of CAR KEYS SLIPPED INTO THE RIVER, 8 feet down with the tide rising. 

Pictured above, Nancy calling AAA, who gave her the number of RIPS LOCK SERVICE. Owner RICHARD VANWINKLE came out to try to make a new car key, but he needed to take off the steering wheel to reach the ignition switch. But the steering wheel was locked, so he couldnt remove it.

While they waited for a tow truck, Nancy asked Richard if he had a magnet. Yes, he did. He called his son, and told him to bring the magnet and 20 feet of string to the boat dock. 

In the meantime, the tow truck showed up, and long tow home commenced. By the time the group reached Knappa, though, Richard called them to say hed found the keys, and that he was coming to meet them. He gave them the keys, and even made them an extra. After being in the river five hours, even the clicker still worked, Nancy marveled.

We just wanted to thank Mr. VanWinkle in a public way, because he went out of his way to help us, Nancy declared. You have a jewel of a man living in your community … He knew we were vulnerable and he insisted on helping us.

To Richard: Rip, thank you again, she added. You are an awesome man.