Smith claims record Bessemer 50-50 raffle prize of $33,490

BESSEMER - Mary Smith, of Kimball, Wis., has a new lucky number, 11622. She is this year's big Bessemer Blast 50-50 raffle winner, worth a prize of $33,490.

Smith is an Iron County native and moved back from San Diego in 2009.

As a kid, Smith said she remembers celebrating Fourth of July with her family in Bessemer. Since moving back home, Smith said she purchases raffle tickets every year and has come come close to the winning number before.

Smith said she didn't make it to the Fourth of July parade Monday evening when the winning ticket number and jackpot was announced.

Early the next morning, Smith said she was scrolling through the Bessemer Blast website on her phone to search for the winning number.

"I pulled the tickets out of my purse ... and there was the number 22 sticking out," she said. "I'm like, 'Holy crap, I think I just won this raffle.' I'm like, 'It's early in the morning, should I wake my husband up?'"

Smith called the raffle officials on Tuesday and met with them on Wednesday to confirm she had the winning ticket and collect her winnings.

With all that money, Smith said she's going to use it wisely.

"I'm going to put in the bank and let it grow. Maybe do some house repairs," she said.

A team of about 50 raffle ticket sellers donated their time to sell tickets for a week until the Fourth of July parade started.

Bessemer 50-50 raffle coordinator Mark Malmberg thanked the team for its hard work.

"I couldn't be more proud of the people that volunteered their time and efforts," he said. "It's a lot of work. It's a lot of dedication. It's a lot of trust. What they do for our community is really amazing."

Smith thanked the volunteers, too.

Since the Bessemer 50-50 raffle began 27 years ago, Malmberg said the jackpot continues to rise every year.

Since 2012, the jackpot has grown from $23,252, to $23,425 in 2013, and $28,338 in 2014. Last year, the jackpot was $30,494.

"The first prize 27 years ago was around $2,500," he said. "I remember when we first hit $15,000. It was a big number. We were like, 'How can we top that?'"

Because the holiday fell on a Monday this year, Malmberg said the Fourth of July Committee was concerned about attendance.

"We didn't know what to expect. The sellers really put in the extra effort throughout the week," he said.

When the committee saw the jackpot amount, Malmberg said they were "proud and in awe of their accomplishment."

Malmberg said the money the committee received will benefit next year's Bessemer Blast.

"We pride ourselves in having events that are, for the most part, free to the public," he said.

The winner of the Mercer, Wis., Fourth of July 50-50 raffle has also been announced Wednesday. The winner is Joan Hujet, of Suamico, Wis. The winning ticket is No. 729, worth $677.

Elsewhere, Hurley's 50-50 raffle jackpot of $3,200 was claimed by Hurley resident Tracy Romanowski with the red ticket No. 1470.