"We saved lives today," Paul Harper said.

On an overcast and drizzly day, the participants in the Homewood Redd-Up had recovened in the Baxter Parklet after 3 hours of stuffing trash and debris into plastic bags. Mr. Harper, of Highland Park, was reporting on a discovery by his crew.

He is scoutmaster for Troop 379 of the Boy Scouts of America, a troop that operates out of St. James A.M.E. church in Lincoln-Larimer. More than a dozen troop members had turned out for the Redd-Up. In this process of clearing a vacant lot, they found, half-buried and covered with debris, a case of live ammunition. The case was latched, but not locked.

The scouts called Mr. Harper over. He identified the the 30-caliber shells as "soft-points" -- the kind that might make a small hole in your chest when they enter, but "blow out your whole back" when they exit.

The case contained 9 boxes of 50 rounds each.

Aliyah Durham, of Operation Better Block, called the police, who took charge of the find. And the power of some party or parties unknown to dispense death was curtailed.

Thanks, Mr. Harper. Thanks, Troop 379.

From the Inbox:

I believe the Redd-Up is a semi-annual event, and that the next one will be in the fall. But if you're coming in July, an informal redd-up would be easy to put together -- just let us know when you'll be here :)