The three-day poker event is a benefit for the Jennie Edmundson Hospital Breast Health Center.

Visiting celebrities and local fans faced off in a poker tournament Friday at Harrah's Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel as part of Marg and Alan's Celebrity Weekend.

Alan Rosenberg, Meat Loaf, Willie Garson and Wayne Duvall were were among the stars to ante up for the game, although they didn't have to use real money. Area participants included Steve King, disk jockey for CD-105, a CD-105 listener and three Harrah's patrons, who qualified with their table play at the casino and were picked in a drawing Friday night.

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Other patrons strained to get a glimpse of the celebrities over the partial walls that surround the poker room as an announcer relayed bids to onlookers over a loudspeaker.

The poker tournament, a new activity for the benefit, drew plenty of attention, said Gina Ott, public relations director at Harrah's.

"The way poker has been sweeping the nation, we thought this was the perfect time to hold our first celebrity tournament and tie it in with the Marg and Alan Celebrity Weekend," she said. "People are really into poker right now; and, you add the celebrities to the mix, and it's a big attraction."

The tourney seemed to be a hit with the celebrities, too, said Tara Slevin, volunteer coordinator at Jennie Edmundson.

"I think they enjoy the game," she said.

The top three winners in the tourney were to receive a trip to Las Vegas, $500 and $250; but the real winner was the Breast Health Center. Harrah's presented a $2,500 check to center officials Friday evening.

Slevin expressed her appreciation for the celebrities' support for the event.

"They all come out because of some connection with the disease," she said. "They come for free, and they're here to support the (fight against) the disease, as well as the charity. And certainly they're here to celebrate the survivors."

Source: Tim Johnson, Daily Nornpareil