Well aren't you just Mr. Positive

Don't forget the two big refrigerators and some lawn chairs for visitors.

hahahaha!! no doubt.

So, now we have a homeless man possibly prone to intoxication, buying himself a vehicle. I see the possibility of a DUI in his future? I hope not, but the pessimist in me is saying this man will just piss it away. I hope he doesn't and he realizes that he has been given the chance to change his life if he wants to.

rigth on my luck friend, you found it you was in the right place at the rigth time, so it should be giving to you. hope it makes your life better. (enjoy).

Let's hope he doesn't shorten his life or another's by driving drunk.

I hope it changes his life for the better but I honestly doubt he has the skills to use it to his benefit. If star athletes can earn hundreds of millions of dollars and be broke a few years later, I give this guy a few months at best before he is broke again.

No, they like the hard stuff. It's easier to move from box to alley to shelter.

So having wet bills is reason to have the police called eh?

yeah i know, i liked the part where the bank teller played fbi instead of doing her damn job. better be careful folks your bank teller,walmart cashier will turn you in for whatever reason they want

Actually the bank teller did his or her job. When someone comes in with a large amount of cash, they have to document and report it. I am sure he didn't have an account at the bank so that is a huge tip off. Anyway, I hope someone get a hold of him and give him some counseling, so he doesn't blow this chance at starting over.

I think it's fantasic, and if that is what he wants to do with his $$, well....it's his $$. Go for it dude. Enjoy

Actually, it is not a teller's job to call the local police. It was not a police matter, it was found money. The bank has a responsibility to report large cash transfers and deposits to the FEDERAL govt, but not to the local police. What crime occurred that allowed them to place the money into "evidence"? Evidence of what? Just as in that incident in the midwest when the waitress was given a large cash tip and foolishly called the police, this is not a police matter. (The cops in that case tried to keep her money by claiming it had drug residue on it). At least both incidents turned out as they should...

The picture gave me giggles. He needs a good life coach; someone he can relate to. Someone should step up and try to help...it'll probably just be Dr. Phil.... (Sorry, purists, but "to whom he can relate" just sounds so pretentious...)

I think it's sad that he didn't do the right thing and call the police... rewarding people for doing the wrong thing leads me to believe that he won't change. Most homeless have psychiatric issues and I bet he'll be in the same position a year from now. He needs to talk to Earl Hickey.

I'd put money on it that he will be homeless, in jail, or dead 5 years out. :-(

A discouraging number of 'street" people are there by choice. I predict he will be either 'robbed' or 'murdered' or possibly emmersed in 'relatives' who suddenly recognize his picture. :)

Might not be much to you but If i ahd $77k (Lets say $50k after taxes) I can rent a 1br apt for 2 years for $24k, get everything needed to furnish the place for $10k and still have $15k left over. At that point it would be easy to look for a job and make a better life for yourself.

Why would you want to get a job. Why work. Get real.

Sam

Yeah, there are plenty of jobs out there for a 46 year old guy. (/sarc)

Who knows, he might be an engineer who hit bad luck.

btw, I wonder what ever happened to the homeless radio dj that was "rediscovered"?

Will he file a tax return?

... funny you should think of "the man with the golden voice"

Ted Williams did relapse a few times, and hopefully has now gotten straight. But in his favor, he does have "professional skills" which are still in demand as well as the strong support of family and many caring individuals.

Not knowing the full circumstances of this "homeless man", we can only hope that he also has some good support and the desire to improve his current situation. Otherwise, I see lots of new best friends in his future ... at least until the money runs out.

Alcoholism is a downhill spiraling disease which a person has to want to conquer. Sadly easier said than done for too many.

Here's hoping that "this" homeless person uses the money for a better future.

do a search of Ted Williams "the man with the golden voice" ... msn doesn't want to post their own links?! May 14, 2012

Sad thing is, 77,000 dollars is not that much.

I disagree, unless you are Mitt Romney. The average household income in the US is about $63k.

For someone not working and homeless $77,000 will not last long. That money is not income, once it's gone it's gone.

I don't know where you two live but 77K is about three and a half years salary for me so hell, it would be a wonderful find. As a single mother who busted her butt to get through college, I haven't been able to make more than 23K a year since graduation...hell, I get excited if I find a dollar on the street!

You and me both DarthMom, I found what looked like a childs wallet after walking around my apt complex knocking on doors to see if any of the kids lost a wallet and posting picture on our mail box ,after about 30 days , I felt fine about keeping the 300 buck's inside of the wallet .

You can rent a 900 sq ft home in Bastrop TX for $650/mo, all utilities included:

Assuming he doesn't piss it all away on alcohol, a reasonable human being can eat for $300 per month in a suburb in Texas. Throw in about $200 per month for miscellaneous expenses, clothing, food, sundries, etc, and you've got total living expenses of $1150 per month. That $77,000 could last him five and a half years. Not bad for a guy who was going to wash his feet in the Colorado River last week.

Good story except that if not for the telller someone like you or I may have been out $77,000. The first thing he will buy is a cold beerr and some crack.. The court should have assigned him a financial guardian or the state medicaid office should have taken the money..He will costs taxpayers millions in his lifetime..

Let me guess, you're a Republican?

You are so rude bigal59. The medicaid office should have taken the money? Really? wow. I hope to God nothing happens to your job and you have to get medical assistance or you lose your job and cant pay your bills and end up homeless. Its that easy. Dont you get that? And I really hope that you or your family dont have to suffer the disease of addiction. Since 1 in 10 people do chances are someone close to you does.

64$ for a cheap meal? Where at?

Dollar menu, baby!

He didn't steal it why should he turn it in?

Larry, because maybe someone dropped it.

Shanezo, It's irrelevant whether he went to the bank to exchange it or not. He found the money. It was turned in and since no one stepped forward to claim it, it was rightfully his. From a legal standpoint, the matter was handled correctly.

Still, the town of Bastrop ought to get God's blessing for the next 100 years for allowing him [a man totally powerless, without influence or friends to support him] to keep the money. Of all the towns throughout America, make that the world, I wonder just how many city councils would have made that same ruling and allowed this to happen?

We have the same law here in Florida. What's wrong with it?

He will blow it, continue drinking/drugging and stay on welfare with medicaid/taxpayers keeping him alive for a long time. I was a social worker and saw it happen time and time again. One time welfare man I knew sued and got $88,000. He told me.."never give $88,000 to a man that never had nothing. He don't know how to spend it". He was so right. It was gone in 4 months and he still had nothing, even the old car he bought blew up.

You're making a number of assumptions, none of which you know to be true. This man is a drinker, that's all we know. His Medicaid/Medicare status is unknown.

Actually the Medicaid/Medicare status is NOT "unknown".........anytime this homeless man needs medical attention its NOT "free"....taxpayers are paying for it, meaning, he IS likely on Medicare or Medicaid, and IF NOT...."free medical" to HIM .......still means taxpayers are paying the bill , so it MAY AS WELL BE .......Medicaid at least, cause people DO pay into Medicare and he likely paid in NOTHING.

He drinks, he is homeless on the streets and he isnt young.......this means, there HAVE been times he has had medical care, NO DOUBT.....perhaps thru the shelters/clinics but, still "free" to him with taxpayers paying the bills .......

I think ALL public assistance, "free health care" , ect SHOULD be PAID BACK if one has the means later to do so .......AT LEAST SOME OF IT ........SOMETHING !!!! A percentage perhaps......People would THEN be more responsible it USING resources that are meant to help those in need, instead of MISUSING THEM and ABUSING them at OTHERS EXPENSE. But then , of course, most of those people would NEVER "do better" so they wouldn't have to pay a dime cause alot of them ...LIKE and ENJOY living off other people who are barely making ends meet themselves .............

OMG first off Bigal59 I already commented to something you posted above and didnt even realize it was you posting again so it looks like you just want to spread your hate around. THANK GOD you are not a social worker anymore. They dont need people like you. and Charin Ohio I love one of your comments " But then , of course, most of those people would NEVER "do better" so they wouldn't have to pay a dime cause alot of them ...LIKE and ENJOY living off other people who are barely making ends meet themselves ............." who HOMELESS PEOPLE enjoy being homeless acording to you!!

Have you ever been homeless? Have you ever khad to spend one night on the streets. Have you ever had to walk all day long for miles and had no where to go. Have you ever been outside in a snow storm without a coat? Of course not so dont make assumptions that you no nothing about.

And also do you know how hard it is for an adult male to get medical assistance? Its extremely hard. People know so little yet say things thkat are so wrong. I know you wouldnt feel the same way if tomorrow you lost your job and couldnt get another one. And lost your house and then developed diabetes or something equally bad. No money no health insurance and no home. Dont you realixe that anyone can go from being comfortable to being homeless? Do you think you are exepmt? You begrudge others while you sit in front of your computer screen in your ac house. Whatever. I feel sorry for you.

I wonder if those that are so upset that the state couldn't take the money on the possibility that someday this homeless man might be on the dole would be as understanding if they ever needed some government help and the government kept a tab on them confiscating what they earned in the future? Or maybe they should just take a few thousand from them just in case. It certainly wouldn't be fair for the government to treat people down on their luck differently from anyone else.

doubt it.

Unless he gets a job, he will not be able to maintain a mobile home, car etc.

Yo Andy Roman

" Am i the only person bothered by the part where the teller calls the police? "

I don't know. Are you bothered?

Myself I find this interesting. It's the kind of story I think shows there is hope. One persons loss can be anothers treasure.

Hey sur-ra sur-ra. whatever to be to be. It could happen to me. Hey sur-ra sur-ra.

Life goes on.

it's actually que sera sera whatever will be will be - but hey who's keeping tabs ;-)

reminds me of that funny tv commercial where everyone is singing the words to songs all wrong (lol for real)

as to the teller - she was just doing her job, which she no doubt wants to keep - and as a low person on the totem pole, she would have had to have approval from the bank manager to "exchange the Kugerrands" - and he was probably the one to actually call the police

but you have to wonder what "the rest of the story" is ... of the "original owner or owners"

(and hopefully this posts in the right place!)

YES! I am bothered by that. If bank tellers have the authority to do as they will and turn anyone in for whatever we are in deep crap

If I am the bank teller and a homeless guy shows up with a bag full of tens of thousands in wet money and South African gold coins, hell yes I will call the cops. As a rule, homeless people don't have money. When a homeless person, smelling of booze shows up with enough cash to buy a house, anyone should be suspicious.

Fran, how often do people walk into a bank with 77K cash? and no account to put it in. Sounds really fishy to me.

If a corpse is found, what then? Could the money be taken with?

It's a done deal, this gentleman has the money and it's rightfully his. It cannot be taken back.

I agree. Too many mentally ill who won't/don't take their meds and choose to "self medicate" instead. From the looks of that guys pict., he self-medicates.

I doubt he files.

I agree- he would clean up well. I hope he somehow reads all the comments on here that doubt his ability to overcome so that he will be even more inspired to show everyone he CAN do it! What a great opportunity for a fresh start!

I don't know. If I were homeless and found that much money, I would celebrate also.

Give the guy a break, at least until he proves not worthy.

Meanwhile, I'll just be jealous.

To the point of being arrested for public intoxication? That's over celebrating, surely.