Thrilled, excited and elated are just some of the words used todescribe the feelings Becky Stoner of Brookhaven had as the firstwinner of THE DAILY LEADER’S Hometown Christmas promotion.

“I was jumping up and down. I was really excited about it,” saidStoner of her reaction to the news that she had been selected fromthe hundreds of entries in the first week’s drawing.

Since moving to Brookhaven three years ago to join in a familyrestaurant business, Stoner has entered the contest every year inhopes of winning some “Hometown Bucks” to spend at local businessesduring the holiday season.

Her name was drawn from Sisters By Design, a store she frequentsquite often as it is in walking distance from the familyrestaurant.

“I shop and visit almost every day,” she said.

Her regular visits to the store have given her plenty of time topick out a bundle of gifts for her family for Christmas.

“I’m sure I’ll spend it all at Sisters By Design,” said Stoneras she was awarded her $100 in Hometown Bucks.

She expressed her gratitude toward the businesses participatingin the annual shopping promotion.

“Christmas is just around the corner, so it couldn’t have comeat a better time,” she said.

Hometown Bucks can be spent at participating businesses:

* Sisters By Design

* Shipps Flowers

* Brookwood Gifts and Antiques

* Millane’s Gifts and Bridal Registry

* Rushing Boots

* T.H. Perkins Furniture Co.

* The Posey Place.

Shoppers can register for the weekly drawings at thosebusinesses as well as State Bank and Trust, Trustmark and Bank ofBrookhaven.

Hometown Bucks are given away each Friday as an incentive toencourage local residents to shop in Brookhaven.

Each Friday one name will be drawn from the participatingmerchants, then the winner will be drawn from those names, with agrand prize drawing for $500 in Hometown Bucks on Dec. 13.

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Employees of THE DAILY LEADER and their families are noteligible to win. Employees of participating merchants may notregister at their respective business, but they may register at anyof the other participating business.