When Louise Smith of Brookhaven placed her name in a HometownChristmas entry box at Millane’s Gifts and Bridal Registryrecently, she never thought it would bring her $500 in HometownBucks.

Now she’s looking for ways to spend her “bucks” with the localmerchants who participated in The DAILY LEADER event to encourageshopping in Brookhaven.

“I’m going to have to get busy with this,” said Smith as she washanded her reward. “I really don’t know what I’m going to do, butI’ll do a lot of good things.”

Smith plans to buy a few last minute Christmas presents forfamily and friends, but she hopes to also treat herself to somenice gifts. She already had her eye on a lamp at Millane’s andplanned to make it one of her first purchases.

She has spent most of her shopping days in Brookhaven this year,looking for the perfect gifts for loved ones.

“I shop here when I can because I think we have some goodbusinesses,” she said.

Her Hometown Bucks can be spent at participating merchants:Sisters By Design, Shipps Flowers, Brookwood Gifts and Antiques,Millane’s Gifts and Bridal Registry, Rushing Boots, T.H. PerkinsFurniture Co., and The Posey Place.

Also participating in the six weeks of $100 drawings and thegrand prize drawing were State Bank and Trust, Trustmark Bank andBank of Brookhaven.

“I do appreciate all of them. I think it’s real nice. It makesyou want to be sure you shop at home,” said Smith.

Her recent good fortune taught her that people can have a changeof luck, so never pass up an opportunity to drop an entry form intoa box.

“I was kind of shocked, because I have never won anythingbefore,” said Smith. “When I put my name in the box, I thought, ‘Itwon’t do any good.'”

Her name was drawn from a collection of all the other entriesfrom throughout the seven-week promotion. She called that in itself”unbelievable” luck.

Smith said she’s glad she made the decision to spend her moneyon Christmas gifts with local merchants, which improves the areaeconomy.