Pretty paper, curly ribbon, Christmas sales and deadlines wereatop the lists of recent Hometown Christmas Bucks grand prizewinners Debbie Alexander and Shelton Williams as they did somelast-minute shopping with their $250 DAILY LEADER bucks Monday.

Though winning was an unexpected treat, Alexander, whoregistered at the UPS Store, was reassured that she could finallywrap up all of her Christmas shopping with some money to spare andspend on herself. Alexander put her money toward her family andherself at both Vendor’s Emporium and Gad’s.

As far as luck of the draw, Alexander said she drops by the UPSStore once or twice around this time of year to send offpackages.

The lifelong Brookhaven resident calls the Loyd Star area herhome and when in town and she sees a chance to sign up for asweepstakes, she takes it.

“I fill one out every time I see one,” she said.

Alexander said she prefers to shop locally.

“McComb is as far as I go,” said Alexander, while adding thatshe definitely favors the local shopping atmosphere to thepotential chaos of shopping in McComb or Jackson.

She seldom shops in Jackson unless she just happens to be in thearea, she said.

Alexander also believes that shopping locally is “good for thecommunity. Good for our town. And good for us.”

Alexander, 42, works at Buds and Blooms in Caseyville andattends Heritage Family Church. She has three children, NataliePrather, Anthony Prather and Joel Alexander and a grandson, PeytonPrather.

Williams and his wife, Audrey, are big supporters of thesweepstakes and have been registering for chances to win probablysince its beginning, he said. His winning entry was chosen thisyear after registering at T.H. Perkins.

Williams said his wife signed him up and because of that hebought her a new glider from the furniture store for their home ashis way of sharing the bucks and passing on his appreciation forhis wife.

“(It) fits good in the den,” Williams said. “She wanted me toget something for myself. To tell you the truth, I didn’t reallyneed much.

Williams saidhe was not expecting to win at all. He had toquestion the message he received on his answering machine andthought perhaps The DAILY LEADER had mixed him up with someoneelse.

“Sure enough I was the winner,” Williams said.

He said that for the past few years they have bought furniturefrom Perkins three or four times.

“(We) usually try to shop locally when we can. They (Perkins)have good furniture and they’re nice people. They’ve been here along time,” he said.

Williams said he has been a Brookhaven resident for nearly 82years and was born in Delhi, La., and moved to Brookhaven when hewas 18 months.

As far as the annual sweepstakes goes he thinks it is a goodidea.

“(It ) brings interest to the local merchants,” Williamssaid.

And it encourages people to shop at home, he said, “which Ithink is a good idea, you know.”

Williams has three children, Larry, Melvin and daughter, Lynn.He also has three grandchildren, Sheely, Larry Jr. and Becky.

The 21 participating businesses were Sisters By Design, LegacyToyota, bebe’s, Macy Taylor, The UPS Store, Growin’ GreenLandscape, The Finishing Touch, Vendor’s Emporium, Snap Fitness,Blue Heaven Salon and Spa, Smith Jewelry, Brookhaven Honda, J.Jams, ABLES, Bank of Brookhaven, Furniture Factory Outlet, Gad’sJewelry and Salon, Betty Ann’s, T.H. Perkins Furniture Co.,Trustmark Banking and Financial Solutions, Bertha’s Flowers, LegacyDodge-Chrysler-Jeep.