Atascosa County, Texas A Texas man's long-time desk ornament was recently revealed to be a live Civil War-era UXO. For several years, Steve Martin had been using a 20-pound artillery shell as a paperweight and conversation piece after his son recovered it during a fishing trip.

The true nature of the artifact came to light last month when a visiting truck driver with a military background saw the object and warned Martin that it appeared to be a live munition. Recognizing the potential danger, Martin contacted the Atascosa County Sheriff's Office.

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Devon, England The Brunel Road Recycling Centre was evacuated after a suspected grenade was discovered among the refuse. This has the Devon County Council imploring citizens to stop disposing of ordnance at its centers.

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, cabinet member responsible for waste services, said the "avoidable incident" wasted time, reminding everyone that "flares, fireworks or ammunition must never be brought to our recycling centers."

Ivybridge Recycling Centre was also forced to evacuate earlier this year after a tank shell was located. The most recent incident, as well that one, required emergency services responses and disrupted staff and residents who use the facilities.

The council is urging people to think before taking potentially explosive devices to recycling centers, particularly any items that are "old, unlabeled, or could be mistaken for something hazardous."

"Taking simple precautions helps keep everyone safe," Hodgson said.

East Ridge, Tennessee In a concerning breach of standard UXO safety protocols, an employee at a local Goodwill discovered a grenade in a donation pile and subsequently drove the explosive device to a nearby police station.

The incident occurred at the Goodwill facility on Ringgold Road. While processing recent donations, the employee located the munition. Rather than leaving the item untouched, clearing the immediate area, and calling 911, the individual placed the hazard in their vehicle and transported it directly to the East Ridge Fire and Police Department.

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Palm Springs, California A U.S. Marine was detained at Palm Springs International Airport on after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel discovered a live munition in his checked bag, according to a statement from the Palm Springs Police Department.

The Marine reportedly told police that he found the round "in the field" about a year ago and kept it because he did not believe it was live. It was later confirmed to be a live 25 mm explosive round.

In a statement police said, "Due to extensive rust and corrosion, the round's original identifying paint markings were no longer visible, making it difficult to determine whether it was an inert training munition or a live explosive device."

The Riverside County bomb squad was called in to X-ray the device which was deemed live and not a training round. The ordnance was taken to a remote area for disposal and no injuries were reported.

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Toulouse, France Bomb disposal units responded to a French hospital to defuse a WWI-era munition stuck in a man's rectum. Medics discovered the eight-inch shell dating back to 1918 during surgery, prompting a mass evacuation of Rangueil Hospital.

Police and firefighters were also called in while bomb technicians successfully rendered the munition safe. The unidentified man is still recovering from surgery and could possibly be charged for violating France's weapons legislation.

A police spokesperson said, "He was in a state of extreme discomfort, having inserted a large object up his rectum. Emergency surgery was carried out, and the object was found to be an artillery shell dating back to the First World War."

"Worse still, it had not exploded and so bomb disposal experts had to be called to defuse the shell, with the fire brigade standing by."

The 37mm brass-and-copper shell was used by the Imperial German Army near the end of WWI. The man is scheduled to be interviewed by police pending a potential charge for handling "category A munitions", according to police.

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Hemet, California The Riverside County Sheriff's Bomb Squad disposed of a man's military ordnance collection after his widow requested help removing it from her home. Nearby homes were evacuated as police transported several large projectiles and canisters to a nearby field for a controlled detonation.

Bomb squad technicians decided to destroy the devices nearby instead of risking transporting them for disposal because of their age and inconclusive X-ray results, according to Sgt. Robert Martinez, a sheriff's spokesman.

City employees dug a hole in a nearby field, where the ordnance was covered with dirt to limit fragmentation. The Sheriff's Department declined to say how the devices were destroyed, but in his statement, Martinez said, "The exact render-safe procedures used are confidential and will not be released. Any remaining fragments are collected and disposed of."

Ocean Pines, Maryland

Bomb squad units and the United States Air Force EOD team from Dover Air Force Base responded and identified the munitions as M29A1 Practice Rockets.

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St. Lucie, Florida The St. Lucie County bomb squad was called to Pepper Park Beach after a civilian discovered a WWII mortar in shallow water. Tom Gramlich, who was looking for lobsters, recognized the 12-pound munition as he had reportedly "found other bombs in the area."

Gramlich picked up the device and laid it at the edge of the water, before asking a fellow beachgoer to call the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. He also notified the lifeguard on duty.

Deputies responded and evacuated the beach in a 300-yard radius. The mortar was safely removed for proper disposal.

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Palatka, FL A donation processing center required an emergency EOD response after a live hand grenade was identified within a donation bin at a Goodwill facility. An employee discovered the munition near the intake door of the store, located approximately 50 miles south of Jacksonville. The Palatka Police Department immediately secured the facility, establishing a cordon and evacuating staff and patrons.

Local authorities requested aid from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad. Upon confirmation that the grenade was live, the Bomb Squad successfully retrieved the munition. It was transported to a secure, remote location where it was neutralized via controlled detonation.

Fort Pierce, Florida A live grenade was discovered among donated items at a Goodwill store in Fort Pierce, leading to a prompt evacuation and response from the bomb squad. The Fort Pierce Police Department was called to the Sabal Palm Plaza store after a suspicious object was reported.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Bomb Disposal Unit safely removed the device without incident, and authorities quickly determined there was no ongoing threat to public safety. The source of the grenade is currently under investigation, though officers do not believe there was any malicious intent.

The Goodwill organization and law enforcement officials in certain regions have described these incidents as "oddly common" or happening "about every 9 months or so at one of our stores," often involving World War II-era memorabilia.