Santa Claus drew the name of Susan Grother as the top winner the “7 Grand in Hand” contest sponsored again this year by the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce.
Grother won a $3,000 gift certificate that can be spent at the many local businesses that participate in the organization’s certificate program.
Randy Smith won a $1,000 gift certificate and Debbie Miller, Sean Thornton and Mrs. Mark Say won $500 certificates.
A complete list of the $100 and $50 winners is listed below.
Flint Hills Music won the window-decorating contest, also held on Tuesday by Emporia Main Street.
Windows were judged on originality and creativity, based on the “A Season to Sparkle” theme of the Christmas parade. Entries were judged by the Emporia Main Street design committee.
The chamber drawing was held at the parade broadcast booth in the 700 block of Commercial Street.
“Sales were good,” said Jeanine McKenna, chamber president, of the “7 Grand” promotion. McKenna said a second phase of the contest, a second-chance drawing will be a new facet of the “shop locally” promotion.
“We’re already getting some of the second-chance stubs back,” McKenna said Wednesday afternoon. “That drawing is going to happen after the first of the year, Jan. 5. That’s when five people will receive $100 each.”
McKenna said that several businesses bought tickets for their employees. Some distributed them directly to employees and others bought tickets in the business’ name to use toward a special event for employees, if a ticket wins.
Award winners at the Christmas parade Tuesday evening were floats chosen by the chamber’s parade committee, according to Tara Freeman, public relations coordinator. The winners and their awards were:
Newman Regional Health, parade marshal’s award; Messiah Lutheran Church, parade committee award; Flint Hills Learning Center, chamber award; and Flint Hills Optimist Club, mayor’s award.
Parade winners received wall plaques donated by Mike’s Sporting Goods, Freeman said.
Members of the parade committee were: Greg Bachman, Karen Brown-Gentz, Fred Harder, Bill Heins, Mary Helmer, Mike Lopez, Linda Markham, Sheri McGuire, Joe Michels, Chris Phillips, Charlotte Pinick and Larie Schoap.
Other drawing winners for chamber gift certificates were Pat Douglas, Brian Dailey, Vivian Prose, Jon Geitz, Jesse Colson, Maxine Horton, Kathy Brady, Donna Scoggin, Jan Utech and James Hill, $100; Donna Scoggin, Darlys Fisher, Philip Cisneros, Don Eusey, Roger Hartsook, Jim Pickert, Ginger Steiner, Gretchen Schreiber, Karen Schell and Dorine Harter, $50.