Nelda Winkle, left, with the Downtown Business Alliance, presents the first prize award to City National Bank,
on Tuesday morning. Members of the CNB staff include: left to right, Linda Johnston, Leota Cone, Karen Bailey,
Verna Van Gerwen, and John Sellers.

 

City National Bank Captures First Prize
in Downtown Decorating Contest

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

Karen Bailey, of City National Bank, was "overwhelmed" at being named the
winner of this year's contest!!!

 

 

It was an excited group from City National Bank that accepted First Prize in the Downtown Business Alliance Decorating Contest, on Wednesday morning, as they were named the winners. "We attempted to 'get in the spirit' of things and decorated our entrances with the kind of autumn decor that we liked, and just hoped that everyone else would like it too!" exclaimed those responsible for decorating the bank. "We're excited about winning the top prize and feel that everyone in the community benefits when everyone downtown has done such a great job of decorating!"

Second prize in the contest was awarded to Joy Wilson and her staff at the Millennium Shopper. "We're pleased to accept the award!" expressed a jubilant Joy Wilson. "An an added benefit of us spending the time to decorate was that an artist from Cypress Springs came on Monday and liked our display so well, that she painted a picture of it. And, we were able to get one of the paintings. So, that just goes to show that people do notice the decorations and that those from out of town do enjoy the efforts that we make. The decorating contest has definitely attracted business and adds so much to our downtown area!"

 

Joy Wilson, of The Millennium Shopper, is awarded 2nd Prize in the contest, by Nelda Winkle.

 

 

 

Awarded third prize in the contest was the beautiful display at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Building. "We used a number of items and decided that our location on the corner of the street, lent itself to a great and visible place to create something that would add to the beauty of the downtown area," commented Debbie Swingle, as she accepted the award, on Wednesday morning.

 

 

 

 

Debbie Swingle, with the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, accepts the third prize in this year's
contest from Perry Altenbaumer, Nelda Winkle, and John Sellers.

 

 

 

"Beautiful autumn displays are located throughout Sulphur Springs," advised Perry Altenbaumer, President of the Downtown Business Alliance. "And, we want to thank everyone that participated. It makes our community so much more attractive and shows those visiting the pride that we have in our community!"

Cited as Honorable Mention displays were: Everything Unique, Professional Land and Title Company, and Farmer's Electric Coop.

 

 

 

 

First Prize will receive a 1/4 Page ad in The Millennium Shopper and spots on KSST Radio. Second prize will receive free advertizing on Front Porch News Texas.com; and third prize will receive a gift certificate from Hampton House Gifts.

Having the hard decision of deciding who to award the prizes to were judges, Paula Rorie and Wanda Winfrey, both very qualified judges, with loads of decorating experience.

 

 

This is a "shot" of the winning City National Bank display, from the corner of Connally Street and the downtown square.

 

 

Congratulations, to the Winners!!!!

 

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