Dateline: December 4, 2008

Late Night Shoppers can spin for $200 this week

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Downtown Clarendon is the place to be Thursday as Late Night Shopping gets underway this week, and $200 in Christmas Cash is up for grabs.

Several merchants on Kearney Street will be staying open until 8 p.m. for your holiday shopping convenience, and prizes from several local businesses will be on the wheel in addition to the $200 jackpot money.

This year there will be two chances to win – two $100 spots on the wheel – waiting for holiday shoppers. The Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Merchants Association are each providing $100 in Christmas Cash each Thursday between now and Christmas. The wheel will be different this year with bells being rung at random times to call people together to spin. A name will be pulled out; and if the person is present, they can spin.

Four lucky winners will be drawn throughout the night; and if no one hits the big money, the pots roll over and will continue to do so until the final night of Late Night Shopping on December 18 when someone will win the money.

Shoppers can register to spin the wheel all day at any participating merchants, and the drawing will be held at various times. You must be 18 years old to register, but no purchase is necessary.

Refreshments will be provided this Thursday night at the Girl Scout Office from 6 to 7 p.m., and there will be Christmas music outside if the weather permits.

Late Night Shopping will continue next Thursday, December 11, with a Chili Challenge Cookoff for adults and kids. Mrs. Boone’s fourth and fifth grade kids will entertain with Christmas music, and Santa Claus will be at the city library for photos. Refreshments next week will be in the Downtown Ministry Center.

Santa, the wheel, more live entertainment, and more refreshments will be back on December 18 to wrap up Late Night Shopping. The showcase of that evening will be a Gingerbread House Competition. Make your plans now and get creative. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the city library for photos, the Friends of the Library will be serving hot chocolate and cookies.

Holiday shopping at home is easy and affordable with all three local banks again teaming up to provide zero-percent interest “Christmas Cash” loans this year. For the 14th year, anyone can make application for a loan up to $3,000 interest free with Pilgrim Bank, the Donley County State Bank, or Herring Bank.

Christmas Cash may be spent like US currency toward new purchases of products and services (excluding Lottery tickets, gasoline, and tobacco products) at all of the participating businesses.

Participating Christmas Cash merchants this year are: Clarendon Auto Sales, Clarendon Outpost, Clarendon Veterinary Hospital, Cornell’s Country Store, Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts, Floyd’s Automotive Supply, Henson’s, J&W Lumber Supply, McKinney Motor Co., Mike’s Pharmacy, Saye’s, Stavenhagen Video, Lowe’s Family Center, Every Nook & Cranny, The Clarendon Enterprise, Clarendon Steakhouse, Sonic Drive-In, Lowe’s Ace Hardware, Bronco Burger, Nuttin’ Fancy Café, The Hitchin’ Post, Brandie’s Mane Place, and White’s Feed & Seed.

Your local merchants support your local schools, youth groups, and charitable organizations. Support the businesses who support your community by shopping at home this holiday season, and watch for their Christmas specials in the pages of the Enterprise.