Sudoku provides fun alternative Published April 20, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Anne Gathua 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The library was buzzing with activity April 16 as contestants gathered for the wing's first Sudoku challenge at 7 p.m. Sudoku is a puzzle comprised of 81 squares, nine across and nine down. Players use numbers one to nine to fill each square, but they can't duplicate a number in any row or column. "Several numbers are already in place to help get started," said Ms. Cindy Tews, 17th Force Support Squadron, base librarian. "The rest is up to them." Crowned as the "Goodfellow Sudoku Master" was 2nd Lt. Zac Kovarik, 315th Training Squadron, who also received a Sudoku Master stein and a t-shirt. Other winners were all second lieutenants from 315 TRS: Chad Brandl, Yoo-Na Hwang, Katy Horner and Tim Ramig. "Friday's challenge was a success and people are looking forward to the next one," said Ms. Tews. "We had a friendly competition." Lieutenant Kovarik, who had only played the game once before, said he enjoyed participating and would do it again in future. "The rules had to be explained to me at the beginning of the game so it surprised me when I won," he added. "I had a good time with friends, a fun way to spend my evening." Ms. Tews urged servicemembers to participate in future events because it's a fun and challenging alternative to going to the bars on a Friday night and it could ignite interest if unfamiliar with Sudoku. "There're great prizes to be won, too," she said. Some library programs coming up soon are Monthly Late Night at the Library and the Summer Reading program. There is also a Pre-School Story Time on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. For more information call 325-654-3232.
