By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
Some $5,000 in Santa Bucks and gift certificates were awarded to 16 lucky winners Monday night as the Yukon Chamber of Commerce capped off its annual holiday shopping promotion.
One of those Yukon Yuletide Express shoppers, Ricky Skipworth, won five times totaling $1,610 in prizes during Monday night’s “Departure Party” drawing at 10 W Main. Meanwhile, Marlene Webster and Bobbie Owens each won two Santa Bucks’ drawings while Tim Baer claimed three gift certificates.
Several hundred people came out on a chilly night to be entered in the drawing that culminated the Yukon Chamber’s five-week Christmas retail campaign.
Some 40,728 drawing tickets were issued during the 2019 Yukon Yuletide Express, which featured 58 sponsoring businesses.
Shoppers between Nov. 11 and Dec. 12 were eligible to receive one drawing ticket for every $10 spent (up to 500 tickets) at a Yukon Yuletide Express location.
“We appreciate you shopping local and participating in this fun event,” Yuletide Express Departure Party emcee Patrick McClung told the audience.
Shoppers had to be present at Monday night’s Departure Party to win the Santa Bucks and prizes. One attendee reported having collected 1,800 tickets for the drawing.
There were 24 separate tickets drawn.
Santa Claus (Homer Mason), Mrs. Claus (Misty Mason), Chief Elf (Ashley Sprague) and other Yukon Chamber representatives were on hand to congratulate all the lucky winners, which included two non-profits:
- $1,000 Santa Bucks: Brenda Ditmore
- $250 Santa Bucks: Beautiful Day Foundation
- $50 Academy Sports Gift Certificate: Tim Baer
- $500 Santa Bucks: Ricky Skipworth
- $10 McDonald’s Gift Certificate: Tricia Schutter
- $100 Santa Bucks: Carol Condit
- $50 Academy Sports Gift Certificate: Ricky Skipworth
- $100 Santa Bucks: Mary Collins
- $10 McDonald’s Gift Certificate: Tim Baer
- $100 Santa Bucks: Kathy Thompson
- $500 Santa Bucks: Marlene Webster
- $50 Academy Sports Gift Certificate: Julie Howard
- $250 Santa Bucks: Sheila Spangler
- $10 McDonald’s Gift Certificate: Tim Baer
- $250 Santa Bucks: Helena Scott
- $50 Academy Sports Gift Certificate: Vicki Davis
- $250 Santa Bucks: Bobbie Owens
- $10 McDonald’s Gift Certificate: Ricky Skipworth
- $100 Santa Bucks: Marlene Webster
- $50 Academy Sports Gift Certificate: Ricky Skipworth
- $250 Santa Bucks: Santa’s Toy Shoppe
- $10 McDonald’s Gift Certificate: Mary Bley
- $100 Santa Bucks: Bobbie Owens
- $1,000 Santa Bucks: Ricky Skipworth
The 2019 Yuletide Express was designed to encourage Christmas and holiday shoppers to spend money at Yukon-area retailers.
The most a customer spent with a participating merchant, “the better their chance of winning,” according to Yukon Chamber CEO Pam Shelton.
“We appreciate everyone for their willingness to ‘shop local’ this holiday season,” Shelton said. “We urge people to keep their tax dollars here to show that Yukon is a strong community that supports its merchants.”
People who entered the prize drawing were eligible after receiving red Santa Express tickets while visiting 58 Yukon-area merchants during the retail promotion.
The Santa Bucks can be redeemed by Feb. 29, 2020 at any participating Yukon Yuletide Express business.
Yukon Yuletide Express sponsors were home improvement companies, clothing boutiques, restaurants, banks, antique and craft stores, hotels, insurance agencies, medical offices, health clinics, liquor stores, and other retailers.
