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December 2, 2011

Cities offer holiday giveaways

By Cathy Spaulding Phoenix Staff Writer

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A white Christmas could mean plenty of green for five fortunate Eufaula shoppers.

The Eufaula Chamber of Commerce could divide $25,000 among five lucky ticket holders through its 2011 White Christmas celebration, Eufaula Chamber Director Jimmie Phelan said.

“They each get $5,000 if it snows at least one inch on Christmas Day,” Phelan said. “If it does not snow, they each get $500.”

Eufaula’s celebration is one of several ways smaller area communities hope to entice people to shop their hometowns this December.

Tahlequah plans to distribute up to $10,000 with its “Shop Tahlequah First: A Homegrown Christmas” giveaway. Gore plans a $2,500 giveaway. Checotah’s Chamber will distribute holiday vouchers for local businesses starting Saturday.

Area retailers say such giveaways do help business.

“Overall, it’s really effective for us because it generates traffic,” said Don Carter, owner of Gore True Value Hardware Store. “I know people would have a better chance of winning the $2,500 here in Gore than the $10,000 in Muskogee.”

Erin Bridges, owner of Erin Marie Home Furnishings in Eufaula, said she hopes the White Christmas giveaway could help her new business. She said she took over, renamed and remodeled her father-in-law’s old furniture and appliance business in October.

“I hope it gets everyone to shop locally,” she said. Bridges said shoppers have expressed an interest in the chamber’s giveaway.

Shoppers bring receipts from participating merchants to the Eufaula Chamber office, 321 N. Main St. to redeem them for tickets, Phelan said. A ticket will be given for every $10 spent, she said. Drawing will be held 6 p.m. Dec. 19. The five winning ticket holders will get their initial $500, Phelan said.

If it snows at least one inch on Christmas Day, each winner can get the rest of the $5,000, she said.

Tahlequah’s Chamber of Commerce will offer $1,000 each day starting Dec. 19 to winning ticket holders. The chamber will offer $5,000 to a winning ticket holder on Dec. 23. Each day the money goes unclaimed, it will be added to the next day’s winnings, said Chamber Executive Director David Moore. This means that if each $1,000 ticket goes unclaimed Dec. 19 through 23, the $5,000 could get to a total of $10,000, Moore said.

Each day’s winning ticket will be announced on Lakes Country 102.1 FM radio station, Moore said.

Moore said Tahlequah has offered a giveaway since 1996 and now has 74 merchants participating.

Checotah will start its giveaway from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Pocket Park, said Checotah Chamber Director Lloyd Jernigan. He said the chamber will give away $250 “Checotah Bucks,” which can be spent at participating merchants over the next few weeks, Jernigan said. The giveaway will be part of an afternoon of festivities, including gift certificate giveaways from 2 to 4 p.m. and Christmas Parade at 4 p.m.

“We’re just hoping people shop Checotah this year,” he said.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at (918) 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogeephoenix.com.

 

Area holiday giveaways



• Muskogee — $500 weekly giveaways through Dec., 7; Drawing for $10,000, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Arrowhead Mall. Information: www.muskogeechamber.org.

• Gore — $2,500 giveaway. Tickets available from Gore merchants. Drawing, 2 p.m. Dec. 16, Armstrong Bank, Gore. Information: Gore Chamber website, www.goreok.net or e-mail goreokchamber@yahoo.com.

• Eufaula — 2011 White Christmas celebration, $5,000 to five ticket holders if snow falls on Christmas Day. Preliminary drawing, 6 p.m. Dec. 19 at Foley and Main streets. Information: (918) 689-2791. Must be present to win.

• Tahlequah — Shop Tahlequah First: A Homegrown Christmas. Winning $1,000 ticket numbers announced daily from Dec. 19 to 23 over Lakes Country Radio, 102.1. A $5,000 ticket will be drawn Dec. 23. Information: (918) 456-3742.

• Checotah — Pick up gift certificates between 2 and 4 p.m. and Checotah Bucks between 5 and 6 p.m. Saturday at Checotah’s Pocket Park. Information: (918) 473-2070.

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