European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 11, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Story and photos by Gary Pomeroy stall writer y of re talking a lot of big numbers when you talk about serious Bingo players especially Veronica Higgins. Labor Day weekend she shelved an 1b mile training run to drive 60 Miles to pay $ Ico to play the game at 6.45pm that sunday a 37" was called and Higgins put $20,000 in her Pockel. Destination what else the nearest Auto dealer to put Down some Cash on a Mercedes 190e. Higgins was one of 232 members of the us military Community in Europe who travelled irom across West Germany the Netherlands and Belgium to pay $150 to play Bingo at Benjamin Franklin Village sports Arena in Mannheim West Germany. Bingo is big in the military Community overseas and it was a l part of Mannheim s labor Day fun weekend but there was a certain irony in All those people driving such Long distances to play ii was intended to keep people at least those frown Mannheim at Home said Bob , acting chief of Mannheim s morale. Welfare and recreation operations division the attraction of playing the game in Mannheim was in the big numbers jackpots in 31 gamer preceding Higgins Bonanza ranged from $75 10 $5.000. It was More than Worth Illo Higgins who did t exactly drive across the Street to be in arc she lives in Stuttgart but had already driven 120 Miles to lands Uhl on saturday to visit tier need Bonita Hassell then they drove another 40 Miles together to Mannheim All this time on the Road caused Higgins who s training for an october Marathon in Frankfurt to skip her regular sunday workout she runs 50 Miles a week. But the Deridder la. Native gives the impression the Wou d run Hal far to play Bingo an where the f a i  she a d. The $20.000 adrenalin i i a still very evident in her Demeanour she never played h Ngo in the Stales bul has been hooked Anco moving to Germany Wilh her husband army sol Kelvin Higgins. Live Yea s ago t to most she had won previously was $2.700. Bui one does l need to play b Ngo to be fascinated by it army master sol  l Jackson has been the Bingo supervisor and caller Lor the top Hal no club in Mannheim since moving to Worms seven years ago the Sli logic gym Ini planner with the 5th signal  p cd rce i by for a decade Belore hat 11 Romance  Bingo began at a drive in movie while Home on leave in Pei Tny. A. Alter Basic training he won $50 Hal Lisl Ghl the equivalent of a week s pay. He advanced to a Point where he was playing six times a week paying $50 per session the attraction is a How of adrenalin a sense of Etc lenient of by Sci one or two numbers Wilhm   the big pol he said. His big win  v3 000at the co club at fort Braco n c and although a Doorn t play it was t Rosita Lee s Lucky Day concentration on Bingo game sheets at Mannheim West Germany. Anymore re d Rivos a great Deal of satisfaction lion being in  that control is most noticeable in the Pace he uses to Call the games. Every so often he polled Iho crowd sunday to co in his Pace  going Loo last. When the by Bucis Bingo session beg anal 3 pen Ever one seemed pleased  i Pace. As time passed Frustis Luu.  j  impatience Crealor macj.1,31 in those  orc l winning hurry up some would shout Lei s go others exhorted Zuur ngg jhhh1" others moaned not having a Good Day was Rosila Lee. She and her Mother Elli Reed drove irom Ansbach. West Germany to play Lee plays twice each week at military clubs in Ansbach and three times a week in Nurnberg hat she was not having fun Hal sunday not Mcva her Ca Lornia Raisin Good Luck Charm As helping the quiet Trust ration on her lace betrayed the act caller Edward l Jackson in  anywhere they play i go Veronica Higgins she once won $3,000 doing this. In another part of the sports Arena Hig Giris was methodically marking numbers on her Bingo sheets. Impending Bingo doom was looming Lor Reed and Lee i wish he would hurry up Reed muttered As another number failed to show up on her sheets. Moments later the shout of Bingo filled the Hall and Higgins adorned in a dress with 20,000 Green squiggles Rose from her scat and waved her arms for All to see. Alter Bingo floor Walker Don Nelson verified her numbers Wilh Jackson the sports Arena emptied in Rush for the exits As though Higgins had yelled "fire1" breathlessly waiting in line to collect Wilh winners of other games. Higgins recalled the final seconds of the  i needed three numbers i crossed my lingers my legs everything i  i started praying said Hassell. I had a feeling she would  among the non ack pol winners in the Mannheim throng was Chiel master sol Larry Bois he and his Wile Chareon. And daughter Janice drove 300 plus Miles from Soe Lerberg a. Netherlands to play Bois was philosophical about his wide world of Bingo. I play Lor the thrill of the Victory and the thrill of the  monday september 11, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 13