The Journal News

On May 8, Denny Bauman of rural Nokomis returned to his farm home to warm up after being out in the rainy, cold weather all day.

The TV was on but he wasn't paying much attention. As the Wheel of Fortune program was ending, he spotted the first two letters of the Wheel Watchers Spin ID number.

“I told him to watch for the letters J and B,” said his wife, JoAnn. “It should be easy enough for you to remember since those are my initials,” she told him.

He called her into the room and JoAnn knew immediately that she had the winning number. Her hunch was confirmed shortly thereafter when she got on the internet and double checked her winning number.

“For some reason, I thought I had won a camera or a TV,” she said. She was totally shocked to learn several days later that she had in fact won a 2008 Buick Enclave.

Following written guidelines to claim the prize, JoAnn sent her identifying information to the show's headquarters in Los Angeles.

Their new car originated at a dealership in Wheaton, and it was delivered to their home in Nokomis last Thursday.

“I feel that this was a gift from God,” said JoAnn appreciatively. “We're enjoying the use of the car at this point; however, we're looking forward to the opportunity to share our good fortune with others in some way.”

Robert Kiss wrote on Dec 28, 2009 8:56 PM:

" MY family and I have been watching your show over 26 years. I believe your show is a very good family show. The things we are in short supply now a days. Please keep up the good work. And may God be with you all. Thanks again for a great show "

Joseph Genovesi wrote on Sep 11, 2009 9:07 PM:

" We have enjoyed your show for years. Have not won anything yet, but hopeful that some day someone in this Ohio area wins. Hope it is me. Keep up the good work. "

RAY HUNTINGTON wrote on Aug 17, 2009 7:19 PM:

" I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE SHOW FOR 15 YEARS AND STILL ENJOY IT VERY MUCH.
HAVEN'T WON ANYTHING YET, BUT I HAVE LOTS OF PATIENCE. CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW
TO GET A SONY CARD YET , BUT MAYBE
SOMEDAY IT WILL WORK!! KEEP UP THE GREAT SHOW.
RAY HUNTINGTON "

Mamie Jackson wrote on Jul 30, 2009 3:08 PM:

" Pat and Vanna:

I love your show. Loads of fun. Yes, I would enjoy winning a great prize, but if it's not for me, then I'll enjoy seeing and knowing others are winning! Keep on keeping it real!
Mamie "

frgeorge wrote on Jul 16, 2009 6:21 AM:

" Vanna is MY INSPIRATION and the SHOW is lots of fun. I watch it often and compare my Spin ID every time. It's no secret why the show is the favorite of so many: It's wholesome and in this age that's saying something..!! "

MARIAN ANDREWS wrote on Jul 9, 2009 9:17 PM:

" JULY 9,2009

I HAVE WATCHED WHEEL OF FORTUNE FOR 25 YEARS AND I LOVE THE SHOW. I LIKE WATCHING PAT SAJAK & VANNA WHITE AND LOVE THEIR DRESS CODE. VANNA WHITE IS SO DOWN TO EARTH. SHE WOULD BE THE PERSON I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AS A FRIEND. VANNA REMINDS ME OF MYSELF WHEN I HAD MY FIRST CAR IT WAS A "BARACUDA 1968." I WAS THRILLED TO GET MY FIRST CAR FROM MY PARENTS. I COULDN'T AFFORD ONE BECAUSE I WAS WORKING AS A "CARHOP," FOR 64 CENTS AN HOUR. THAT WAS IN 1967. I WAS THRILLED TO HAVE A CAR. "OOPS!" YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS MY AGE. PAT SAJAK IS A COOL GUY I GET A KICK OUT OF HIM WHEN HE JOKES AROUND.PAT & VANNA ARE A LOT OF FUN ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMEONE WINS AT THE BONUS ROUND. PAT RUNS OUT OF THE WAY AND VANNA HUGS THE CONTESTANTS. BY THE WAY I WON HEADPHONES ABOUT 3 YRS AGO WHEN MY SPIN ID CAME OUT. KEEP WATCHIN EVERYONE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL WIN A GREAT PRIZE FROM WOF.I HOPE TO WIN A TRIP TO HAWAII!!!OR PARIS!!! "

BERNARD L. RANDOLPH wrote on May 28, 2009 2:03 PM:

" HI FRIENDS AT WHEEL OF FORTUNE, I WATCH THE WHEEL JUST ABOUT EVERYDAY AT 6:30 CENTRAL TIME. LOVE THAT GAME! MAYBE ONE DAY I'LL GET TO COME THERE AND BE ON THE SHOW. I NEVER TRAVAL, OR BEEN OUTSIDE OF TEXAS IN OVER 20 YEARS. NOW I'M 43 YEARS OLD. I NEED A REAL VACATION AND A HONEYMOON WITH MY WIFE OF 13 YEARS. WE HAVE TWO SONS (13 & 7) YEARS OLD. THANKS IN ADVANCE. "

Deb Groethe wrote on May 25, 2009 10:12 AM:

" Im 50 thank GOD been watching 4 ever it seems everyone knows what I'm talking about when I say "my show" thank you 4 making my life easier "

Deidre wrote on May 18, 2009 11:15 PM:

" I'm 43. and been warchin for as long as can remember. And i still LOVE it!! Hav'nt won with my spin id yet, but i have patience. Some day i'll win. It's fun and its free so what do u got to lose! When my kids go to bed @ night i go on line 2 play wheel n shop around 2 rack up my reward points. It relax's me. I love u Pat n Vanna, Keep up the good work. One day i dream of bein on ur show, but i guess playin on line's the closest i'll get. thats kool "

Joyce Greenwood wrote on May 16, 2009 6:14 PM:

" Pat, Love to watch you and vanna, and the show. I have a spin ID, hope to win sometime. If I don't Ill keeping anyway. "

james wrote on May 7, 2009 9:21 PM:

" love the show,from a little ole town in preble co. eaton oh.always look forward as to what pat's gonna say at the end of show..love it..see you guy's.JR "

lily wrote on May 4, 2009 5:33 PM:

" I wish I can win at least once "

mary alexander wrote on Apr 24, 2009 8:21 PM:

" I love to watch wheel each night at 7pm and I want to become acontestant. Isigned up on the entry on the web site.I have a spin number on the site of my husbands name allen alexander. "

Sonja Okesene wrote on Apr 9, 2009 6:42 PM:

" Whatever I do, I make sure my TV is on Wheel of Fortune @ 7pm and my family knows that too. I always tend to guess
the words right and my kids always tell
me to go and play. Sometimes I guess the last word and wish I was the one playing. I watched Wheels for so many years and truly love it. Hopefully someday I would be a contestant. "

Lyn wrote on Mar 18, 2009 10:19 PM:

" I enjoy watching Wheel. My husband watches Two and a Half Men most of the time it is on at the same time, so luckily we have two tv's. Sometimes he will watch wheel with me, we like to solve the puzzles if we can. "

v russo wrote on Mar 1, 2009 12:23 PM:

" love the show "

Ivan Stilp wrote on Jan 30, 2009 5:53 AM:

" Did I ever win? My Spin ID is IS01124. "

Janice Amelung wrote on Jan 10, 2009 1:27 PM:

" I just joined a few days ago and I have faith that I will eventually win.I work 2nd shift and I watch Wheel of Fortune on my 6:30 Supper break.I try to guess the phrase and sometimes I win and sometimes I don't but it is fun playing.If the Lord wants me to win then I will.Time will tell.If I were to win I would give my first share to the Church because the Lord is to be paid back since that would be the reason I won in the first place then I would put some towards the paying off of our home. Vanna you are just beautiful.You and Pat are just great.Hurry and call my number. OH,I forgot,I have to be patient and wait on the Lord. "

Diane Key wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:22 PM:

" When my daughter, now 23, was a child the only shows I let her watch on TV were Sesame Street and Wheel of Fortune. Both of them were fun and educational. The Wheel still is. She grew up to become a Notre Dame graduate, is married and will soon be a mother. When I baby sit my grandson I will make sure he watches the Wheel so he can be come just as smart as his mom and grandma and have fun doing it.
Thanks for all the years of educational levity! "

liz nelson wrote on Jan 7, 2009 5:51 PM:

" You win by thinking positive and continue to be a wheel watcher. i just joined not too long ago and I have faith. I will win "

bob wrote on Dec 26, 2008 11:33 AM:

" i have never won !!! "

robin wrote on Dec 22, 2008 7:20 PM:

" i have a question i have one of the older spin id's if it was called and i didn't get a chance to claim it does my spinner id get booted out of the chance to win or does it just get recycled at a chance another chance to win. your answer would be very much apreciated been watching the wheel for over 20 yrs and will never stop you two are the greatest and pat your are funny "

Shairon A wrote on Dec 16, 2008 8:58 AM:

" Just wanted to say I love watching Wheel of Fortune, it is still one of the few shows on TV that is still family oriented. Don't expect to ever win with my spin ID but that's OK too.
Thanks Pat & Vanna for keeping the show fresh and new each day. Just one negitive comment, please ask some of the contestants not to shout into their mike's. Merry Christmas & God Bless you. "

shawn duffy wrote on Dec 4, 2008 6:00 PM:

" Me and my mom watch every night,Jeopardy first then wheel of fortune,We enjoy watching and playing the on line game. Hopefully someday our chance to win will come to be. I know it is just a spin of the wheel that can change alot of things. So we keep the faith that one day it just might happen.. thanks again "

Janice wrote on Dec 2, 2008 9:51 PM:

" Love watching "Wheel of Fortune" and I always play the Wheel of Slot Machines!! Lots of FUN!!!! In my area..Dallas, TX. the program starts at 6:25 instead of 6:30, sometimes I miss the "Prize Puzzle" Spin ID because of this. I think they should keep it on the bottom of the TV or it should scroll by....or perhaps show it again at the end of the show. Thank you, Janice Beard "

ruth sherman wrote on Nov 18, 2008 11:07 AM:

" I have been watching wheel forever! I love the challange of trying to beat the contestants to the answer on the new part of the show where they all get a chance to guess. Love those outfits, Pat, your matching with Vanna is so great. How can you become a contestant? Thanks for years of fun with your show!!! "

James L. Jolliff Jr. wrote on Nov 18, 2008 4:45 AM:

" I have watched the Wheel since it was first broadcast. I am 55 now and hope I can watch the wheel for another 30 to 45 Years. I started watching it before I left Mom & Dads home and got my 1st Apartment. Now if I am going to miss it, I make sure it will be recorded on my DVR. I even play it on-line, It is so much fun. I hope I do win something on the Wheel. I could sure use some cash, I have not been able to work since 2002, it's hard living on Social Security. If I ever win something, I hope it is cash. I would share some of it with my little Sister. Recently she and I were talking together about her condition, and we both are wheel and Power Ball fanatics. You see, three years ago she had a Gastric Bypass done and now has a lot of hanging skin, she told me she feels unattractive and ugly. I told her at once, "Oh nonsense you are the most beautiful woman I've ever known. You just get that out of your head, and vocabulary. And here is something you can count on, I've known how you feel about your appearance since you've lost weight. If I ever win on the Wheel, or Power Ball, 1st thing I am going to do, is pay for you to have the Plastic Surgery to remove that hanging skin." That day my sister learned just how much I care about her. It was a conversation we have each night after the Wheel, or the Power Ball by phone. We love the diversity of the contestants and both think Pat and Vanna are fantastic. The comments made by Tanesha Washington on Aug 10, 2008 3:29 AM touched my heart. So, I'd like her to know this: Thank-God for you, and for adopting children. I hope you will win a trip someday, have faith and continue watching the wheel. Your type of love is very special, always have faith.
Know too you and your girls will always be in my nightly prayers, and I too will always be watching the Wheel of Fortune too. "

SPIN ID TS02194 wrote on Nov 4, 2008 8:10 AM:

" I race home each night from work, and pick up my daughter from her after-school program because I'm a single-adotive parent raising my 10-year daughter, get her settled doing her homework and tune into the 5:30PM broadcast of Wheel of Fortune. On Friday, October 24th, I dropped my daughter at her girlfriend's house. They were going to have pizza and go to the movies to celebrate the friend's birthday. Then I settled in to watch Wheel. During the prize puzzle, I paid espcially close attention when the contestant won the trip to Ireland in anticipation of the Spin ID number. You cannot imagine my excitement as the announcer began TS..0..2..1...9 (OMG - I'm gonna' win!)..0 (DRATS!!)I even watched the 7:30PM broadcast to make sure I hadn't misheard. How can you be that close and miss it by the last digit?!? To make matters worse, last night's (11/03/08)SPIN ID was CS20194. It's becoming difficult to watch WHEEL when this happens. "

Lenta wrote on Oct 24, 2008 7:51 AM:

" I have had an I.D. number for quite awhile. It's one of the shorter earlier ones. Maybe it will come up someday. Tried several years ago to become a contestant-(Year Wheel came to Atlanta, GA). Contestants on the show were Olympians but did get a ticket to see the show live. Love the new million dollar slot and was also surprised there was a big winner so early after it was initiated. Have a good day. "

ANGELINA GASPARD wrote on Oct 19, 2008 12:43 AM:

" I JUST HAD A BABY AND I WATCH THE SHOW EVERY NIGHT AND I WOULD LOVE TO WIN A VACATION OR MONEY OR JUST ANYTHING IT WOULD MAKE MY DAY. I WOULD ALSO SAY I LOVE U VANNA STAY YOUNG "

DESHONNE WILLIAMS-RUSSELL wrote on Oct 13, 2008 11:00 PM:

" I have been watching Wheel of Fortune over 20years. I finally got a spin id number and i cant win.But i know i will in time.Just because im not winning is not going to make me stop watchin. I love to see other people win, even though i wish it was me.I love Pat, and Vanna!!!!!!! "

jaisa wrote on Aug 14, 2008 7:12 PM:

" i've been trying for 8 years and to me this thing is a rip off !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL "

Tippy Steevens wrote on Aug 12, 2008 5:21 PM:

" I've been trying to get on Wheel of Fortune for over 20 years. My husband and I watch it every night. I've always wanted to go to Hawaii and you are always giving trips away there. My spin ID is one of the older ones and I'm wondering if it doesn't get called because I don't earn any points because I don't buy anything. I would give anything to be a contestant on Wheel. "

tanesha washington wrote on Aug 10, 2008 3:29 AM:

" i've been wqtching wheel of fortune all my life i watch 6 days a week faithful..but for some reason i can't seem too win i check my ID # on a regular on the show but no luck.. i deserve to win i i've been a full time mother and i adopted 2 little girls about a year ago i would love too win a trip i can't afford one but i diffently need a vaction ... how can i be the next BIG wheel winner? "

adelaide Mc Closkey wrote on Aug 9, 2008 7:42 PM:

" We both watch your your show everynite . It is keeping our brain active, my husband Ted & 1 try to beat the contestants. And some time we do not bad for two 80 year olds. "

Colleen Callahan wrote on Aug 5, 2008 10:56 PM:

" I have been wondering how to get signed
up with your show. Now I have.
I love your show and hope to be a
contestant one day soon. "

Gary Wade wrote on Aug 5, 2008 9:51 PM:

" watch this game show all the time.Even drove to Sacramento and tried to get a chance to be a contestant. Not this time. I would love to get a chance to participate on a live show.
Thank You "

Joan Warters wrote on Jul 30, 2008 6:39 PM:

" My husband and I enjoy watching Wheel most every night and if I have a meeting he makes sure to watch for me. "

robthallisy wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:33 PM:

" How do you win? Been trying for several years. "