Christmas kickoff

By Doug Russell, News Editor

STIGLER, Dec. 3 —Janice Williams hangs up the phone, clicks on her computer to check her e-mail, then picks up the phone again as it begins to ring.
“Stigler-Haskell County Chamber of Commerce, can I help you?”

It’s an every day scene in Williams’ office in the days leading up to Christmas, as she works to organize several events at once; events that begin on different days, end on different days but overlap in one large area. They’re all annual events that kick off the Christmas season in Stigler.

One of those events actually began on Black Friday, when area merchants began handing out rolls of Christmas Cash Giveaway tickets that make shoppers eligible to win cash. Another will be this Friday evening, as two choirs, a jazz band and more officially bring in the season with a tree lighting ceremony near the Chamber office. Yet another will begin — and end — Saturday, when the annual Stigler Christmas Parade winds its way down Main Street. The final event will end the weekend before Christmas, when the final three of nine lucky numbers are drawn to give someone a little extra cash for the holidays.

“It’s hectic, but we’re ready,” Williams said. “At least as ready as we’re going to be.”

Merchants all over Stigler began helping people prepare for Christmas immediately after Thanksgiving, when they started giving out tickets for the first of three annual Christmas Cash Giveaway drawings.

The way it works is pretty simple, actually. A person who shops at a participating merchant receives one ticket for every $10 spent in that merchant’s business during the drawing period, usually a week before the actual drawing is held.

Each week from Dec. 5 to 19 one winner will receive $300, one will receive $150 and one will receive $75.

You must be present at the drawing to win.

The first drawing will be held this Saturday immediately after the annual Christmas parade.

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