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Published November 07, 2012, 12:00 AM

PHOTO GALLERY: American Legion Bingo


About 130 people attended American Legion bingo last Friday night. In its second full year, Friday night bingo averages about 95-265 people in attendance -- the numbers depend on the payout for the progressive game held at the end of the evening, which is posted on the electric sign outside of the Legion hall, 710 N. Main Street.

  • About 130 people attended American Legion bingo last Friday night. In its second full year, Friday night bingo averages about 95-265 people in attendance -- the numbers depend on the payout for the progressive game held at the end of the evening, which is posted on the electric sign outside of the Legion hall, 710 N. Main Street.
  • Mother and daughter, Marcia (left) and Juanita (right) Hei, use bingo dabbers -- which are sold at the Legion hall -- to mark the numbers on the bingo card that have been called. Each game requires players to mark off their bingo card in certain designs -- an information sheet is provided -- to win the pot, which varies based on the game and attendance.
  • Used as a fundraiser for American Legion programs, bingo nights typically net an average of $1,600. Pictured are Wayne Svoboda (left) and Larry Larson (right), who took turns calling out the numbers drawn from the ball hopper.
  • Bingo at the American Legion Fletcher-Pechacek Post 121, 710 N. Main Street, is held at 7 p.m. the first and third Fridays of the month except June, July and August. There is a special bingo held on the Friday of River Falls Days. Last Friday, Nov. 2, Faye Haugerud (standing to the left) bought bingo cards, including the early bird and progressive play cards, from Ed Miller (sitting on the left) and Galen Gregerson.
  • Young bingo winner, Madi Hildebrandt, celebrates her victory on Friday, Nov. 2. In January Hildebrandt won $6,099 in the progressive game -- which is an ongoing game with a jackpot that increases if nobody wins the previous time. During the game the entire bingo card must be filled within a set amount of balls. The jackpot starts with a $500 minimum and then 50% o the sales of the night are added. If it is not won then the prize continues to climb.
  • Throughout the evening there are multiple intermissions where bingo players can get snacks from the American Legion Post 121 Auxiliary Unit-run snack bar featuring pies, candy, chips, nachos, pretzels, lemonade, coffee and more. There is also a lounge in the Legion hall that opens at 4 p.m. and serves drinks and snacks.
  • American Legion bingo is open to adults and children -- state law allows those under 18 to play if a relative is present. During last Friday night’s bingo game, UWRF students tried their luck at the jackpots, which range from $35 to $85 dollars -- excluding the progressive pot. Upcoming bingo nights include Nov. 16, Dec. 2 and 21, Jan. 4 and 18, Feb. 1 and 15, March 1 and 15, April 5 and 19, May 3 and July 13.
  • Once a bingo game player has established the pattern for the game, for example four corners, they must yell out ‘BINGO.’ Last Friday night Peg Steinmetz of River Falls won and celebrated with the group of ladies she was playing with. After a player calls ‘bingo,’ on-duty Legion members check the numbers to see if the bingo is good, and then pay out the money won.