DAYTON–The Christmas season was made merrier for five lucky winners of the Dayton Chronicle's 42nd Annual Holiday Shopping Spree.

The yearly shop-local promotion, sponsored by two dozen local businesses, concluded December 17 with the drawing of five names for the $100 Grand Prize and four $50 shopping scrip prizes.

Rebecca Hill of Dayton filled out an entry slip at Dingle's of Dayton and was the lucky winner of the $100 Grand Prize scrip. "I've never won anything before in my life!" she exclaimed. Hill and her husband intend to donate the scrip to someone whose need is greater than theirs.

Joanne Goldsmith of Dayton won $50 in shopping scrip. "Wow! Cool! What a nice surprise!" Goldsmith said upon learning she was a winner. Goldsmith put in entry forms at Dingle's of Dayton, the Wenaha Gallery and at Dayton Mercantile.

-Chronicle photo

$50 Winner Joanne Goldsmith

David Bickler of Dayton said he'll probably use the $50 scrip to get a few Christmas presents. "Oh, thank you!," Bickler said. "Oh, awesome!" Bickler put his name on the winning ticket at Dayton Mercantile.

Chris Klein of Dayton put her name on a slip in Dayton's PFI Mart, and won $50 in shopping scrip. The extra spending money will come in handy, Klein indicated, adding that her daughter already had designs on what they might buy.

Andrew Fouts of Kennewick was visiting over the holidays and entered the drawing while in the Wenaha Gallery.

The promotion urges local shopping by awarding scrip that can only be redeemed at participating merchants listed on the back of the scrip. Local stores treat the scrip as cash and redeem it for cash at the Dayton Chronicle office. Participants must be at least 18 years of age and the scrip cannot be redeemed for alcohol, tobacco or lottery tickets.