WINNER - Everyone was a winner in Winner on Tuesday.

At least at the local McDonald's.

Shannelle Armstrong of Oakbrook, Ill., said Winner was a great place to announce winners in McDonald's Monopoly game. Officials with the fast-food giant chose Tuesday to announce some of the newest super winners in its Monopoly game, but people in and around Winner were the ones celebrating.

"It's a good day for Winner," Mayor Richard Lewis said. "Of course, McDonald's put us on the map 18 years ago."

When McDonalds opened, it was rare for the franchise to open in smaller communities, according to Bruce Haines of Mitchell, director of operations for the company.

Monopoly is one of McDonald's most successful promotions, according to Armstrong. In the past three years, more than $23 million in prizes - including two $1 million winners - have been awarded to 350 million winners.

Last week, McDonald's teamed with local radio station KWYR to sponsor a McDonald's and Monopoly trivia contest. Twenty-five people answered questions correctly, which qualified them for a chance to win 30 seconds in a money machine Tuesday at the Winner McDonald's restaurant. From those 25, three names were drawn for a turn in the money machine.

Swirling around in the machine was $20,000 in fake bills in denominations of $100, $50, $20, $5 and $1. Quick hands and concentration were required to catch the cash and stuff them into a collection box attached to the side of the glass-walled machine.

The first to enter the machine was Neal Kramer of Rosebud, who snatched and stuffed $1,350 from the machine. Kramer said he might buy a new gun with his winnings.

Kramer wasn't too nervous when he stepped into the booth, he said.

"Just hold your hands right there and start stuffin'," Kramer advised those waiting for a turn in the booth.

Kim Duran of White River was next. She pulled out $951.

"They need to make the slot bigger," Duran said with a grin after she watched officials count her winnings. "It was really fun."

Duran said her two kids get to help her spend the windfall.

The last winner was Sheri Bolander of Winner, who pulled out $1,020.

Bolander was optimistic that her name would be drawn but didn't waste energy being nervous about her chances.

"I assumed they wouldn't draw me," she said.

With property taxes due at the end of the month, Bolander said the bonus cash will probably find a home at the county courthouse.

"Thank you, McDonald's," Bolander shouted.

Officials with McDonald's said the three would receive a real check equal to their snatch-and-stuff winnings (minus taxes) within two to three weeks.

Also on Tuesday, McDonald's gave away 200 Golden Arch cards, valued at $5 each at the Winner McDonald's.

Managers from regional McDonald's restaurants shared in the excitement, helping serve the customers that piled into the restaurant for lunch.

Georgia Adams and Nancy Hale drove 70 miles from Valentine, Neb., to watch the fun and have lunch.

"We thought it would be interesting to see how they do a big production like this," Hale said while she enjoyed lunch on the McDonald's patio. "It's packed inside," she said.

Haines said the people in Winner and those who came from out of town to support the event all exemplified the philosophy of McDonald's founder, the late Ray Kroc, who frequently said "None of us are as good as all of us!"

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com