King Richard's Raffle Battle

       A hot spot for people across Central Illinois is in question.  A man raised concerns about whether Paxton's raffle house is operating legally.  The city says it doesn't know and will look into the allegations.  The manager of "King Richard's Raffle House" says he's done nothing wrong.  He says his place is bringing people into town, and money into local charities.  The city says it wants two months to look into questions about the raffle house.  It'll stay open during that time.

    The man who raised the questions says he'll stay in the city's ear about the issue.  Scott Stocking says he won't stop fighting until the raffle house is out of town. He' one man on a mission and he's putting everything he has into it.

      Stocking spends about two to three hours a day researching laws..just to prove the raffle house is operating illegally. His passion is taking over part of his days...and his life too.

    He comes to city meetings well researched and ready to fight for what he believes in.  He says the raffle house will tear the community apart. He's taken time away from his everyday life to get documents with the Freedom of Information Act; he's written to Attorney General; and he's researched laws on gambling.  All of this, to get the raffle house out of town.

"People gamble often times because their desperate, or think it's fun to do. Then they get hooked on it and can't get off of it.  So I'd just like to see it go away," says Stocking.

But people who love the game say it's not like that at all.  Marilyn Stack, Thawville, says, "we don't feel we're wasting our money.  It's the only enjoyment that we have.  We're retired and it's not hurting us."

Stocking has been fighting for a couple months now.  And his personal life is taking a hit.  In fact, he says it's cost him his job.  And he knows his family is getting frustrated too.  But it's those few pats on the back that keep him going.

"I went to church in town yesterday.  The congregation applauded me for what I was doing.  And I got a card today from someone I don't even know saying good job keep up he work," says Stocking.

He plans to continue, despite what he hears from the manager and others at the raffle house.

"Anybody I talk to, they tell me he's crazy," says Richard Schwarz, Manager, "I'm not gonna give up."

And even though the city decided to push off the matter for two months, Stocking still says he's made some significant headway. And he says he'll be back to talk to the city in August.