Randolph Fire Department fundraiser not a shot in the dark
<p>BY MARY JANE FARMER
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<p>HERALD DEMOCRAT
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<p>RANDOLPH -- A new fund-raising event, spanning the course of a year, is in the works to benefit the Randolph Fire Department and its continual service to the area of Fannin County near there. 
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<p>The fire department's volunteer work is provided by men and women who give hours and hours to the fire service, and who work with a budget that never seems to stretch far enough. This fundraiser will supplement that budget, providing additional funds for fire station and vehicle repairs, fuel, and fire equipment.
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<p>Randolph Fire Chief Rodney Blackerby said that the fire department will be giving away a new gun each week for 52 weeks. There will be 1,000 raffle tickets sold at a price of $50 each. 
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<p>The fundraiser is in cooperation with Gander Mountain in Sherman, where Randolph firefighters will be each Saturday for the next five weeks selling tickets. <br></p><p>They will also be back there Dec. 19 and Jan. 2. They will also sell tickets at Bonham Trade Days on&nbsp; Dec. 12 -13, and Jan. 9 -10. If there are still tickets available following these sale dates, additional dates will be added, Blackerby said.
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<p>Unlike many raffles, a ticket purchaser has multiple chances to win. Even if his ticket is chosen once, it goes back into the pot and can be drawn again; in other words, each ticket is good for all 52 drawings.
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<p>Rules include : The ticket must be brought in person by someone who can show valid picture identification and sign for it, is 18 years or older, and be able to pass the required background check. 
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<p>Numbers of winning tickets will be determined by the Texas Lottery Wednesday night Pick Three drawing. A buyer picks his own numbers to go on his ticket. The fire department will attempt three times to notify the winning player each week. Then, the player must pick up their prize at Gander Mountain, Sherman, and bring ID.<br></p>

<p>Drawings will start the first Wednesday after ticket No. 1,000 is sold.
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<p>Blackerby said that the fire department will make three attempts each week to notify the person who bought the winning ticket. If the winner doesn't particularly want that week's specified prize gun -- they differ each week -- he or she will receive a gift card to Gander Mountain equaling the gun's value.
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<p>The guns being offered each week include Remingtons, Mossbergs, Brownings, and many other brands. 
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<p>For more information, contact Blackerby at (903) 815-8321.</p>