A popular holiday tradition is back as area shoppers have achance to win some Hometown Bucks.

As part of an annual DAILY LEADER promotion, shoppers atparticipating merchants may register to win $100 in five weeklydrawings and a grand prize of $500.

“The winners will be named every Friday,” said Glynna Broxson,DAILY LEADER retail advertising manager.

Because many area banks participating in the promotion wereclosed Friday for the Veterans Day holiday, the first winner wasscheduled to be drawn today. The grand prize is scheduled to bedrawn Dec. 16.

“A Hometown Christmas encourages citizens to shop locally,” saidDAILY LEADER Publisher Bill Jacobs. “We appreciate our advertisersjoining with us in this fun event.”

Merchants participating in this year’s promotion include:

* Sisters By Design

* Furniture Factory Outlet

* Brookhaven Sports Co.

* Millane’s

* Expectations

* Betty Ann’s

* T.H. Perkins Furniture Co.

* Cellular South

* Repetitions

* Country Fisherman

* Trustmark National Bank

* Bank of Brookhaven

* State Bank and Trust Co.

Forms and boxes have been placed at each merchant location forshoppers to submit entries.

“You can register at the banks,” Broxson said. “You can’t spendthe bucks there.”

Every week during the contest, one name is drawn from eachparticipating merchant. From those, one name is drawn for theweekly $100 prize, Broxson said.

All entry forms are saved, and at the end of the contest, the$500 grand prize winner is drawn from among all entriessubmitted.

DAILY LEADER employees and their families are not eligible towin. Employees of participating merchants may not register at theirrespective businesses but may register at any other participatingmerchant.