“Big Bucks Bingo” always a big hit

Wonderful food aromas permeated the air at the fairgrounds Oct. 12 as Helpmate Crisis Center’s annual fund raising event, Big Bucks Bingo, got underway. The doors were open at 12:30 for lunch, and patrons were eagerly buying chili, hotdogs, chilidogs, sloppy joes, chips, desserts and drinks. Popcorn was also available throughout the afternoon.

Once lunch had been served, it was time for 20 games of bingo. Willie Wilcox took up position at the podium to call the bingo numbers as he has for several years now. Wilcox always makes a good presentation with his wonderful sense of humor. His partner in crime this year, pulling the numbers from the tumbler, was Cary Gill. The Lusk Elks Lodge #1797 again donated the use of their bingo board for this event.

Games one through nine were worth $25 each. The winners were 1-Abbey Larson, 2-Des Cummins, Carol Schroeder (split), 3-Sandy Dobson, 4-Chuck Smith, Ruth Boner (split), 5-Jeff Cummins, 6-Shauna Rowley, Donna Adams (split), 7-Randy Kraft, 8-Laree Ann Kraft, and 9-Bob Orr. Winner of game 10 and the $250 was Darlene Morgan. Games 11 through 19 were also worth $25 each. Winners were 11-Shirley Wasson, 12-Dave Madvig, Phillip Walduck (split), 13-Randy Kraft, Karen Hogan, Fran Davis (split), 14-Mary James, 15-Lynnea Fullmer, 16-Barb Lendeman, 17-Candice Fitzwater, 18-Gayle Johnson, and 19-Jerry Tollman. Game #20 was worth $500 and was won and split by Rona Bruegger and Mary James.

Between each game, a drawing was held for one of 20 door prizes. The winners of the door prize drawings were Gail Mahnke, Sandy Smith (twice), Bev Miller Sue Johnson, Helen Fulk, Jackie Bredthauer, Megan Mathews, Kerrie Thompson, Monika Davies, Polly Boner, Leona Mason, Lola Dobson, Bev Bonsell, Dick Chopping, JoAnne Greenough, Drew Hester, Ruth Boner, Winnie Bryant, and Donna Parmely.

There were also two other raffles during the course of the afternoon. One was the annual Split-The-Pot, in which Candy Dooper won $112. The other drawing was for an antler wind chime, made by Carol Schroeder, which was won by Larree Ann Kraft.

Helpmate raised approximately $2000 from this event. Donations are accepted year round and can be mailed to Helpmate Crisis Center, PO Box 89, Lusk, WY 82225, or dropped off at the Helpmate office in the northeast corner of the Ranger building.