An extra $100 in Hometown Bucks for the holidays is just whatPansy Foster Channell of Strong Hope needed to help finish off someChristmas shopping.

“There’s a lamp that I’m wanting to buy someone, so I might justspend it all right here,” said Channell, after receiving the”bucks” at Brookwood Gifts and Antiques this week.

She became the sixth winner in THE DAILY LEADER’s HometownChristmas promotion after her daughter, Sue Bowlin, put her name inthe entry box at Brookwood.

“We had been shopping in here and we were getting our giftswrapped and Suzie registered both of us, but I ended up winning. Itwas just luck,” said Channell.

She believes it was time for her to win the “wonderful” prize of$100 in Hometown Bucks.

“I’m 78 years old and I’ve never won anything before,” she said.”I couldn’t believe it. I thought someone was playing a prank onme.”

Channell quickly realized it was no joke when she was handed theHometown Bucks and told about the many places she could spendthem.

She has done most of her shopping in Brookhaven since movingback to Mississippi from Chicago in 1981 to help take care of hergrandchildren.

Hometown Bucks can be spent at the participating businesses,including Sisters By Design, Shipps Flowers, Brookwood Gifts andAntiques, Millane’s Gifts and Bridal Registry, Rushing Boots, T.H.Perkins Furniture Co., and The Posey Place.

Shoppers can register at those businesses as well as State Bankand Trust, Trustmark and Bank of Brookhaven.

This Friday will be the final drawing in the Hometown Christmaspromotion. All the names that have registered throughout thepromotion will be put in the drawing for the $500 in Hometown Bucksgrand prize.

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.