Judy Martens, the chamber’s executive vice president, said Sallisaw merchants have donated $4,000 to the Shop Sallisaw campaign, and that money will be given away to seven shoppers at noon on Dec. 13 on the lawn at Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library in downtown Sallisaw.
The Shop Sallisaw campaign, designed to entice shoppers to buy their Christmas gifts and holiday necessities in Sallisaw, will award $1,200 for first place; $850 for second; $700 for third; $600 for fourth; $350 for fifth; $200 for sixth; and $100 for seventh.
It’s easy to get a ticket, Martens said. Shoppers ask for a ticket every time they make a purchase in Sallisaw or conduct a transaction at a Sallisaw bank or other business. The shopper keeps half the ticket and the store or business keeps the other half. At Walmart, shoppers are advised to take their receipt to the greeters at the doors, who will then give them their green ticket for the drawing. The campaign runs through mid-afternoon on Dec. 12 when all the businesses turn their tickets into the chamber.
The shoppers must be present at the drawing, and have their half of the winning ticket to collect the prize, Martens said.
The participating merchants are ABC Cleaners, A-OK Printing, Armstrong Bank, Aroma’s, Arvest Bank, Basin Oil, Blue Ribbon Auto, Brown Tire Co., Cazadore’s, Charlie’s Chicken, the City of Sallisaw, Clif’s Pharmacy, Cookson Hills Electric, Cox’s Corner, DiamondNet, Fillin Station, First National Bank, Karen’s Krafts and Gifts, Maria’s, Mazzio’s, Mobile MC, Mr. Jiff, Napa Auto Parts, National Bank of Sallisaw, Ole’ South Restaurant, Perry’s Office Supply, Pit Stop, Sallisaw Ford, Sallisaw Lumber Co., Sallisaw True Value Hardware, Sequoyah County Times, Sharp’s Department Store, Simple Simon’s, Sonic Drive-In, State Farm Insurance, Taylor Rental, Tractor Supply, Walmart and Western Sizzlin.
Christmas Parade entries
The chamber will be accepting entries for the annual Sallisaw Christmas Parade through Dec. 10, Martens said. Entry forms are available at the chamber and should be returned to the chamber office at the corner of Cherokee and Wheeler.
The parade will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 13, with line-up at 5:30 p.m.
Martens said, “We invite all bands to join our parade.”
The chamber will also be giving cash prizes for the best floats in the parade, in three categories — schools and school organizations, non-profit organizations and churches, and businesses.
First place in each category will receive $200, second will receive $100 and third will receive $75. Chamber members donating the prize money for the floats are the Cherokee Casino, Peters Agency Care Management, BHC Insurance, and the Sequoyah County Times.
Martens said the theme of this year’s parade is “Rekindle the Spirit of Christmas.”
Chamber members will be giving away bags of old-fashioned goodies at the gazebo on the library lawn. The first 200 children will each receive a bag of fruit, nuts and candy. The bags will be given to children ages 5 through 10.
Parade participants are asked not to throw candy during the parade, for the safety of parade watchers. They may hand out candy as they pass by, Martens said.
The U.S. Coast Guard will be the color guard for the parade, and this year’s parade marshals are Stanley Collins and Jim Hope, both veterans of the Korean War.
Martens also announced the winners of the gift baskets given away after the Christmas Open House in Sallisaw last month. The gift baskets, provided by chamber members, were filled with merchandise and gift certificates worth at last $200 per basket.
The winners are Sharon Barnett, Carol Rutherford and Reta Rogers, all of Sallisaw, and Julie Freas of Muldrow.
