Corey Wangsness, seated on the right, was one of the lucky winners of a door prize during Saturday night turkey bingo.
By KATHY PAULSON
Contributing writer
Marty Johnson welcomed a crowd of more than 150 residents to Geneva’s annual fire department turkey bingo night Saturday, November 20 at the community center.
Marty reminded everyone to call out BINGO if they were successful. Lucky winners were able to take home a Thanksgiving turkey.
Geneva firemen served fresh popcorn and provided hot coffee, all free of charge.
Special “thank yous’’ were extended to Victor Mrotz, who once again donated a couple of boxes of ‘that great Hope Butter,’ so that the firemen could use the pound boxes of butter as consolation prizes for those who lost the “draw of the card” when multiple bingos were called.
The Geneva firemen once again generously donated a great assortment of pies and other goodies, which were used for mini auctions held over the course of the night.
Marty then got busy and called out the first numbers of the night as the first of 40 games of bingo began.
Some of the bingo games went fast, while at other times a large number of calls had to be made before people were successful in getting bingo.
In the event of more than one person calling out bingo at the same time, a deck of cards was used to determine who would win their thanksgiving turkey.
After the first five games of bingo had been called, former Fire Chief Greg Bartsch was called upon to auction off a variety of pies. Sharon Johnson also donated several dozen homemade lefse in memory of her husband, Gale, who had been a member of the Geneva Fire Department years ago.
A total of $1,200 was raised from the mini auction and it was decided this year to donate half of the money raised from the pie auction to Stacy Bailey to help her with the purchase of a handicap van for her son. The remainder of the money would be used for equipment for the department.
At the halfway mark in the night's activities, the firemen awarded the first of two $50 gift certificates for Geneva Meats and Deans’ Smoke Shack. Ryan Green was the lucky winner of the first door prize. Corey Wangsness won the second door prize.
Before the evening came to a close, Marty Johnson asked everyone to offer a big THANK YOU to the local firemen, and to all the great supporters who turned out for turkey bingo this year.
The Geneva Fire Department, which currently includes 21 members, also offered their thanks to everyone for their continued support.
Currently the Geneva Fire Department includes Fire Chief Curt Boswell; Assistant Chief Jon Bartsch; Secretary Treasurer Alex Beenken; and Alex, along with Chris Stangel, serves as Training Officers/Captains.
The remainder of the Geneva Fire Department includes: Steve Bailey, Greg Bartsch, Lonny Bartsch, Dale Boverhuis, Jim Beenken, Craig Christensen, Chris George, Garry Gordinier, Wyatt Gross, Levi Hanson, Daryl Paulsen, Tyler Peterson, Justin Stieglbauer, David Thompson, Jon Warnke, Taff Worrell and Shannon Wobschall.
Curt Boswell, Garry Gordinier and Chris Stangel also serve as EMT's and six members of the Geneva Fire Department, including Greg Bartsch, Lonny Bartsch, Alex Beenken, Travis Broskoff, Chris George, and Justin Stieglbauer are trained as First Responders.
The Geneva Fire Department, which is one of 15 fire departments in Freeborn County, is pleased to have a pumper, a tanker, a grass rig, a utility pickup and an ambulance in their fire barn ready to be used when they are called.
“A big THANK YOU is extended to the Geneva Fire Department for the many things they do for the residents of Geneva and surrounding area,” local resident and attendee Kathy Paulson said. “It is a relief to know that we have a fire department as well as first responders on call to help in times of need.”
Greg Bartsch wished everyone a blessed Thanksgiving, and announced that the annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Central Park in downtown Geneva would be held on Saturday, November 27 at 6:30 p.m. It is hoped that many will attend and help kick off a great Christmas season in Geneva.