Just picking up some tools and $504,000

This is one strange story in so many ways.

SHIPPINGPORT, Pa. -- Two workers looking for tools set off a security situation at a Beaver County nuclear power plant that drew a response from police and federal investigators, WTAE Channel 4's Paul Van Osdol reported.

State police said the men drove up to the Beaver Valley Power Station in a tractor-trailer on Tuesday night to pick up two large containers of tools for a contractor for whom they worked.

Security guards stopped the men for a routine inspection, but they drove away, police said.The guards became suspicious and called police, who pulled the truck over about a mile from the plant.

A state trooper got a warrant to search the vehicle and found a duffel bag, which he said contained $504,230 in mostly small bills. The driver denied knowing anything about the money or who gave it to him, so the trooper seized it, police said.

(Which is what we're going to make our new operating directive henceforth: see $500,000 in mostly small bills, and seize it if it appears there isn't a strong connection.)

Seriously, you combine a nuclear reactor with a half million Samolians and you have intrigue.

A spokesman for the FBI said they do not think terrorism is involved, which is what they'd probably say even if it were, so that's not very reassuring either.

Wonder if we'll ever hear the rest of the story on this one.