Going, going, gone

Items auctioned for Santa Bucks

MOSES LAKE — U.S. currency was unnecessary Saturday when nearly 120 items were auctioned off at the Moses Lake Convention Center.

The community spent Santa Bucks, clipped from the Columbia Basin Herald or handed out at C&V Auto, Moses Lake Family Auto, Discovery Ford, and other businesses. The auction was standing-room only.

The crowd, including 148 bidders, spent a total of approximately $11 million.

"The crowd was really nice, very friendly to each other, kind of a party-atmosphere," Columbia Basin Herald Publisher Harlan Beagley said.

People showed up as early as 5:10 p.m., and the auction lasted until 10:30 p.m., Beagley said. He thanked the Moses Lake Convention Center for use of the facility.

The prize of the night was a 50-inch big-screen television valued at roughly $2,000. Moses Lake resident Larry Dagnon took it home for $800,000 in Santa Bucks. He said he had plenty of Santa Bucks left over, but he didn't want to disclose how much. His old television is 20 inches.

"I've got a friend who wanted the big screen," Dagnon said. "I'll just give him the rest of the Santa Bucks."

Despite the amount of money Dagnon brought in, he said he did not expect to win, especially after reading an article in Friday's newspaper about the auction.

Dagnon is a school teacher in Warden. He and his wife both collected Santa Bucks from students in exchange for candy.

Other items up for bid included leather furniture, engagement photos, hotel packages, a full season golf pass and a Caribbean cruise. A golf basket went for $550,000, and a river cruise for eight on St. Joe in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho went for $460,000.

A leather recliner went for $250,000.

Warden resident Yvonne DeLeon was surprised in the middle of the auction when a few strangers handed her their Santa Bucks. She came in with about $8,000 in Santa Bucks. The first person walked up to her and handed her another $44,000. Then, another person handed her $16,000 more. Someone else gave her an additional $104,000 in Santa Bucks.

"Oh my gosh, we better start bidding," DeLeon said. "Can you believe this?"

DeLeon said she was going to let her 9-year-old daughter choose the items she would bid on.

Ephrata resident Cassie Roloff said people began pooling their dollars together to afford items. She and her husband bid on the first item they could afford, a set of boxes for $50,000. Their family helped gather Santa Bucks during Christmas.

Beagley said with the success of the event this year, he would like to look at expanding the auction next year to include participation from more businesses.

"The whole thing's a tribute to shopping local, keeping our money here," Beagley said.