The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Joplin Metro

Discussion

June 4, 2007

Shriners cashing in bingo

By Mike Dwyer

mdwyer@joplinglobe.com

The Joplin Shrine Club will pull the plug tonight on its Tuesday night bingo game, closing the door on a 21-year tradition.

William “Dub” Haws, Shrine Club rajah and bingo caller, said increased competition from Oklahoma casinos and Internet gambling sites forced the game’s end.

“It was about two years ago,” Haws said. “We started getting more casinos, and we really started losing people. Our crowds went from 260 to 240 to 200. The last couple of weeks, it’s been 41.”

He said the Shrine Club lost $650 on last week’s game. Money from the games normally goes to 22 Shriners Hospitals, which provide free orthopedic care, and treatment for burns and spinal-cord injuries of children. Haws said it costs nearly $1.7 million a day to maintain Shriners Hospitals.

He said the Joplin Shrine Club will look to selling onions, Christmas trees, fruit and candy to make up lost bingo revenue.

The club offered jackpots escalating by $100 weekly, beginning at $500 and capping at $1,199. Haws said tonight’s turnout likely will be good because of a $1,199 jackpot.

“We have a lot of loyal players, but the loyal players have just dropped out more and more and more,” he said. “A lot of people think that bingo is an old person’s game, but it’s not. It’s fun for everybody.”

The club has made $50,000 to $75,000 with its bingo game in some years, Haws said.

He said the Joplin Oriental Band will continue to offer Wednesday night bingo at the Shrine Club, 1040 S. Joplin Ave.

Retha McLaughlin, 85, of Joplin, said she’ll probably stay home on Tuesdays now that the activity she’s enjoyed for 21 years is ending.

“My husband’s deceased, and has been for 10 years, and it just gives me a night out,” she said. “I hate to see them close, but I guess that’s the way it goes.”

Haws said the club’s regular players have become a community. He said when one regular is missing, another will call him or her to check in and give the others a status report.

He said the club started notifying players two weeks ago that tonight would be the last night.

“There’s a lot of them that are heartbroken,” he said. “There’s a lot of tears that have been shed from some of the gals, and two or three of the guys said, ‘Well, what am I going to do now?’”

Text Only
Joplin Metro
  • Ruby-Sapp-obit.jpg Longtime Democrat dies at 81

    Sapp, 81, died Thursday. Funeral services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. A longtime Jasper County Democratic committeewoman and volunteer, Sapp for years was secretary to the county’s central committee.

    August 9, 2010 1 Photo

  • Motivational speaker offers free marriage course

    Presented by Mark Gungor, the course is being offered free to the community. The event is being held to aid in tornado relief. 

    January 12, 2012

  • District sends faculty, administrators on site visits

    With the design phase of several buildings in Joplin Schools ending in May, the district has sent 66 administration, faculty, parents and community members on site visits to 22 schools and two technology company headquarters across the country.

    January 11, 2012

  • 011012 Jop HS mural1_72.jpg Mural depicting Joplin High School dedicated

    A four-paneled mural depicting the recent history of Joplin High School was dedicated at the Memorial 9th- and 10th-grade Center Tuesday morning. The mural will be moved to the new high school when it is completed in 2014.

    January 10, 2012 4 Photos

  • Carl Junction chamber creating new committees

    The Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce is kicking off three new committees this week with meetings scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.

    January 9, 2012

  • Body of missing Joplin man found

    The body of a missing Joplin man was discovered this afternoon inside his home in the Royal Heights neighborhood of Joplin.

    January 3, 2012

  • Wildcat Glades nature center receives $50,000 grant

    The Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center has received a $50,000 TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, which is being provided through an alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota.

    October 21, 2011

  • Joplin shooting victim’s name released

    The Joplin Police Department today released the name of a woman fatally shot in her home early Thursday and acknowledged that the shooting was reported as a suicide attempt.

    October 21, 2011

  • Barry Manilow to deliver donated instruments

    Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments to replace those lost during the May 22 tornado.

    October 21, 2011

  • Extreme Makeover releases names of families

    "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has released more details about the build in the 2400 block of Connor Avenue, including the names of the seven families. They are:

    October 19, 2011