Big Stone FD “Chase the Ace” Winners Split $146,000 Pot

The luck of the draw can make or break you in a card game, but onTuesday, October 1, three players increased their chances of going home with a big stack  of cash. The prize would be a 60 percent share of the pot given away in the Big Stone City Fire Department’s Chase the Ace game. Only three cards remained and the pot had grown to $243,326, including the nearly $50,000 that was added just minutes before the drawing was held at the Big Stone American Legion. The fire department would receive a 40 percent share of the pot. The rest was going home with one lucky winner.

Big Stone City firefighter Jason Mielitz, said, “Big Stone Firefighters had started the promotion with a goal of raising $15,000 to purchase a Hovercraft to use during water rescues.” Chase the Ace caught on, though, and spread like wildfire. Firefighters received $73,000 after expenses – enough to fund the Hovercraft and pay to upgrade other equipment. 

At 4 p.m., when the doors opened at the Legion, a crowd had already started forming. By 7 p.m., cars jammed the side of the road and filled the parking lot and a nearby field. It looked like it was going to be a full house. 

Usually, one card was drawn at each event, but because this was the last night, three lucky people were chosen to play. Each selected an envelope – one contained the six of clubs worth $1000, one contained a joker worth $2000, and one held the ace of diamonds symbolizing the jackpot. Who held the big one? Was it Michele Dufrane of Big Stone City? Kevin Backstrand of Ortonville? Or Amy Davis of Milbank?  All that was left to do was open the envelopes and reveal which one would ace out the other two . But wait!  Was that a nod? Yes. Yes, it was three nods. You gotta hand it to them, the players had decided to make the best bet of all. They decided to share the pot. It was a good deal with three big winners!  Each of them will cash out for nearly $49,000. 

Just for fun, the trio opened their envelopes. The ace was nestled inside Amy’s. Kevin had the six of clubs. Michele’s held the joker. What will they do with their winnings? Amy said she had no idea. She was still too stunned to even think.

Top Photo: The Big Stone City Fire Department with the winners.