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and MORE Monahans

Just came across this article from A.P., dated today, Tues 6/9. 
Gregory

______________________________________________________________

Boy in Middle of Meteorite Dispute

By CHRIS NEWTON
.c The Associated Press 

MONAHANS, Texas (AP) - Eleven-year-old Alvaro Lyles says a meteorite that
landed in his front yard belongs to him and his family under one of the oldest
rules in the book: ``finders, keepers.'' 

But city officials are holding on to the soccer ball-sized rock, saying it
actually landed on government property. 

The city council is scheduled to take up the ownership issue at a meeting
tonight. Alvaro's father has threatened to sue the city if the meteorite isn't
returned. 

``The city came out here and pushed us out of the way and took the rock to
make sure it was safe,'' Orlando Lyles said. ``But when we asked for the rock
back, they said, `Too bad. If you want it, get a lawyer.' That's not the way
things are supposed to work.'' 

The white, glowing rock crashed March 22 in the Lyles' front yard in this West
Texas town of 8,000. Alvaro and some pals were playing basketball in the
driveway at the time and heard the shrill whizzing sound and the boom as it
hit. 

Firefighters took the rock, saying it would be returned as long as NASA
determined it was not radioactive. 

The next day, the Lyles received offers from university science departments
wanting to buy the meteorite. One offered as much as $31,000. 

But when family members asked the city to return it, the mayor sent a letter
politely informing them the meteorite was ``city property.'' 

City manager David Mills said the Lyles' front yard, like others, actually
ends several feet from the edge of the street. Drawing the property line there
gives the city room to widen the street if need be, he said. 

``So, technically, it landed on city property and belongs to the city,'' he
said. 

He also said the family was interested only in money. 

``Initially, the city wanted to acknowledge the boys and the event by putting
the rock in a display case in city hall along with pictures of the boys who
found it,'' Mills said. ``That was fine with all of the parties, until people
started talking about the alleged monetary value of meteors. They want to look
at the monetary value over the historic value.'' 

Steve Arnold, a meteorite expert who is advising the Lyles, doesn't buy the
argument that the city owns anything found on public property. There are many
cases in which metal-detector enthusiasts have found valuables on beaches and
been given ownership by courts, he said. 

``It's not unusual for people to find valuable things on public land and keep
them,'' Arnold said. 

AP-NY-06-09-98 0939EDT