The DAILY LEADER’s Hometown Christmas Bucks promotion continuedinto its second week of brightening the lives of avid, localshoppers as drawings rewarded Clyde Ellzey and Fannie Lewis with alittle extra money for the holidays.

Ellzey, a frequent customer at the UPS Store, credited one ofthe employees for encouraging him to register for the HometownBucks as he was dropping off a package for his grandchildrenCameron and Dylan in Virginia.

He was not expecting to win anything and was surprised to findout that he won the extra $75 DAILY LEADER dollars. Ellzey hadforgotten that he had even registered when he heard the news.

“I was really proud,” he said.

He plans to buy his daughter, Kristi, her Christmas present withhis bucks. The 50-year Brookhaven resident said he thinks theincentive behind the sweepstakes program is great.

“It gives people a little money to spend around Christmas, whichis a good thing since the economy is so tight,” Ellzey said.

Fannie Lewis also found out she was a winner just two days afterher trip to The Finishing Touch on Nov. 8.

Lewis spent her money right then and there in the store when shebought a new Christmas tree. She said she didn’t register all overthe place, just at Finishing Touch this year while making a recentpurchase.

Finishing Touch owner Ladonna Carrollo was happy to have acustomer from her store win Hometown Bucks. This was the store’sthird year of participating in the promotion.

“It is nice to see your customers use the bucks in your storeand (to see) the smile on their face,” Carollo said.

Lewis said she doesn’t understand why anyone would ever travelout of town to do their shopping.

“(There’s) no place like Brookhaven to shop. I don’t know whyanyone would go anywhere else,” she said.

Chances to enter for Hometown Bucks ends on Dec. 16. Employeesfrom The DAILY LEADER and their families are ineligible toparticipate, and those who are interested in signing up for thedrawing must be 18 years old or older.

There are 21 businesses participating in the sweepstakes duringthis holiday season. They include: Sisters by the Design, LegacyToyota, Bebe’s, Macy Taylor, The UPS store, Growin’ GreenLandscape, The Finishing Touch, Vendor’s Emporium, Snap Fitness,Blue Heaven, Smith Jewelry, Brookhaven Honda, J.Jams, Ables, Bankof Brookhaven, Furniture Factory Outlet, Gad’s, Betty Ann’s, T.H.Perkins Furniture Co., Trustmark National Bank and BerthaFlowers.

DAILY LEADER employees and their families are ineligible toenter.