Coronavirus fears shrink jackpot for Alaska's guessing game

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Sunday, May 24th, 2020 9:00am

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NENANA, Alaska (AP) — Alaska’s favorite guessing game has taken a hit because of the coronavirus.

There were five entries that correctly guessed that a tripod set up on the frozen Tanana River in Nenana, Alaska, would tip over at 12: 56 p.m. on Monday, April 27, as the ice broke up in the spring thaw.

Nenana Ice Classic Manager Cherrie Forness said this year’s jackpot was $125,000.

That’s way below last year’s jackpot of $311,000.

She said it’s because people didn’t want to venture away from home to buy entries at businesses across the state over fears of the virus.

Each ticket is worth a fifth of the jackpot, minus 20 percent for federal withholdings.

That means each will receive $18,000.

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