A small safe unearthed in a troublesome hallway at the Sacramento County elections office yielded a bit of excitement this week – followed by a dose of disappointment.
"Well, we didn't find jewels," said facility manager Paula Burris.
Alas, the safe held nothing but water.
Employees bustling down a hallway connecting the registrar's lobby and the Sheriff's Department substation at 7000 65th St. had complained about uneven tiles and hollow sounds coming from below, said Brad Buyse, a spokesman for the county elections office.
Workers had ripped up the floor before, and at first believed a pipe was the culprit. This time around, buckling tiles revealed a safe.
Imaginations went into overdrive.
"It created quite a bit of stir in the office, with everyone wondering what could be in the safe," Buyse said. It was the biggest buzz to hit the elections office since, well, the primary election in March.
Among the guesses?
"The remains of Jimmy Hoffa, diamonds and jewels, and money," Burris said.
The opening of the safe turned out to be less dramatic.
Workers were able to peer through a 1-inch hole at the top where the locking mechanism had once been and get a glimpse of – nothing.
By Friday, employees were over their disappointment and looking forward to having the floor fixed once and for all.
Call The Bee's Kim Minugh, (916) 321-1038.
