A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND

Child, 9, doesn’t let heat keep her from 1.53 carat find

The heat wave at the Crater of Diamonds State Park almost caused Grace Houston, 9, to overlook a diamond.

The temperature hovered around 100 degrees Friday, and the National Weather Service had issued a heat advisory.

“The heat wave almost caused Grace’s family to not return to the park July 23 for a second day of searching,” said Betty Coors, a state park spokeswoman.

“Grace was determined to find a diamond and declared she would have come back, even if it meant coming alone. She also had another factor working against her besides the heat— when she found a large diamond at the park, she dropped it and that began a second search,” Coors said.

The trip to the diamond mine near Murfreesboro, Ark., was planned for nearly six months. The family traveled from Missouri.

Grace, who wants to become a geologist, discovered a 1.53 carat white diamond while wet sifting next to her grandmother, Nancy Meli.

Grace wants to keep the diamond in the its natural condition instead of making it into a necklace.

Submitted photos ABOVE: Grace Houston, left, tells her mother, center, and grandmother she found a diamond in the 100-degree heat at the Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, Ark. RIGHT: Grace Houston, left, and her grandmother Nancy Meli registered her...