Some 50/50 prizes remain unclaimed

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Bessemer - Those who bought tickets in the various Fourth of July 50/50 drawings across the Gogebic Range should check their numbers, because while the biggest jackpot in Bessemer has been claimed, the winners of several other local drawings have yet to come forward.

Tom Miskovich, who was born and raised in Bessemer but now lives in Wausau, Wis., was the lucky person in possession of ticket No. 06330 that took the $34,861 prize in Bessemer.

Miskovich said he went in with a group of three others to buy more than 230 tickets.

Miskovich said the group - which also includes Robert Miskovich III, Clare Scarbeary and Elliotte Johnson - was ecstatic at winning the prize.

"We were screaming, jumping, couldn't believe it," Tom Miskovich said. "We were in shock, because we were joking if we won we were going to get 50/50 tattoos and we ended up winning, so we may have to hold true to that now."

He said the four of them were planning to take a vacation, before paying some bills and saving the rest.

"We're going to get away and do something, we know that," Miskovich said.

He joked some of the cash will undoubtedly be saved to buy tickets next year.

While each member of the group lives in Wausau, Miskovich said the 50/50 is part of the tradition of attending Fourth of July in Bessemer.

"We've been buying them every year since we've been coming up here, and just got lucky this time," he said.

The winning ticket was likely bought on Sophie Street, less than half an hour before the end of ticket sales, Miskovich said.

"We only had 20 (tickets) going into it before the parade started, and we ended up just pooling a bunch of money and buying 232 of them," he said. "... And one of them was the lucky one."

Mark Malmberg, who is the chairman of the Bessemer 50/50 raffle, said this year's prize is the largest ever - continuing the trend of breaking the past year's high water mark.

"We're very pleased with the amount (of tickets sold). Having the Fourth of July on a Tuesday, there's always an uncertainty regarding how many people will be in the area - and that of course will affect our raffle sales," Malmberg said. "To see a number this high - yet again another record year for us - is always very pleasing."

He said the ticket sellers always try to set a sales record, and the community's participation in the various 50/50 raffles really sets the Gogebic Range celebrations apart from holiday festivities elsewhere in the country.

As of Wednesday afternoon, at least three other 50/50 prizes have remained unclaimed.

Wakefield

In Wakefield, ticket No. 23126 was chosen as the winner of the $20,716 prize. Instructions on claiming the prize from the Wakefield Fireworks Committee are on the ticket, or can be found on the Wakefield Fireworks Facebook page.

Ramsay

Whoever has winning ticket No. 5161 will win the $8,852 in the Bessemer Township/Ramsay drawing.

Hurley

A red ticket, numbered 979, was chosen as the winner of the Hurley 50/50, with the drawing's prize at $4,025.

Mercer

While these three communities await to see who will have a bit more cash in their pockets, the Mercer Chamber of Commerce also has had someone claim the prize.

Tracy Price, of Ironwood, bought ticket No. 1383 to win the $548 prize in the chamber's 50/50 raffle.