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Suspected World War I Mortar Round Found In River Raisin

MONROE (WWJ/AP) - Authorities say a mortar round believed to be from World War I that at first was thought to be a car part turned up in a Monroe County river during a construction project.

Police cordoned off a section of C.D. Cappuccilli Park on E. Elm Avenue in Monroe, while a state police bomb squad responded to the River Raisin Wednesday.

Officials say an examination determined the two-foot long mortar had been fired but never detonated.

John Wievand is a project foreman who dug up the round while placing rocks in the river as part of a project to help salmon swim up the river, about 35 miles southwest of Detroit.

Wievand told the Monroe Evening News that he "thought it was a muffler at first, an old tailpipe" but called police after spotting the word "Winchester" on it.

The mortar round is expected to be taken to Central Records where it will be destroyed.

TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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