Bessemer Township receives Fourth of July 50-50 winnings

RAMSAY - At its regular meeting of the board Monday, Bessemer Township received a check for $7,500 from the Ramsay 4th of July committee. The funds were obtained from the sale of 50/50 tickets this summer.

The committee sold a total of 15,000 50/50 raffle tickets during the Fourth of July celebrations.

The prize for the winner amounted to $7,500. A drawing was held and no one came forward to claim the prize, said 50/50 chair person Tori Davey. "I called the name and waited for a shout, but none came," she said.

After the required 60-day waiting period, the committee drew another name, she said, and again no one came forward.

After contacting the state's Charitable Gaming Division, the committee received the approval to donate the money to Bessemer Township, said Davey. Although it cannot stipulate what the money will be used for, the group was hoping the donation would go towards the township's ongoing renovation of Memorial Park.

Township Supervisor Jeff Randall said there were two items on the township's priority list for the park: programmable bathroom locks and lights for the tennis and basketball courts.

"If you want us to use it for the lights, that's what we will do," said Randall.

Board member Hope Tarnaski suggested the board send a thank you note to the committee. "They didn't have to do that," she said. "It will make a huge difference."

Davey said the committee hopes to expand the 50/50 raffle to include a second tent next year. The group also hopes to bring back the 4th of July Ramsay parade. A lack of volunteers this summer caused the committee to exclude the parade, she said.

"We're always looking for volunteers," said Davey. "Even if it's just an hour."

More information can be found on the Ramsay/Bessemer Township Fourth of July Committee's Facebook page.