Six, maybe seven people will get a little extra jingle in their pocket this year for the holidays, after drawing winning tickets for one of the winning tickets at Saturday’s annual Sapulpa Jingle Bell’s Cash Drawing!
The second year in the rebooted cash bash was met with even more fanfare than the first, thanks to the growing awareness, tolerable weather, and more participation from merchants this year. With the roads closing this morning, it made for easier foot traffic for the families that were wanting to get in a little Christmas shopping in while they were in town.
For the first time in recent memory, the event ended earlier than expected because people were faithful to show up to claim their prize as their ticket was called. Craig Ware won the first $1,000, followed by Gerald Shuler, Doug Hakey, Donette Widdoes, and finally Diana Metcalfe, who raised her hands above her head and was more ecstatic than all the others…”I can’t believe I won!” she exclaimed. It might have been the first time we ever had a straight five winners for the $1,000 prize.
And then came the big one…people took their tickets and held them close as the number was read off…the clock started ticking
And ticking. And ticking. The seconds turned to minutes, and the timer passed…nobody had come to claim the big one! The crowd got excited because they’d just gotten another chance! Everyone held their breath as the second number was drawn…a few groans came from the ones who obviously weren’t holding the winning ticket.
Finally, with just a few of the five minutes left to spare, a woman in a cowboy hat comes running up, waving her arm. She’d won the $10,000 prize! After it was verified, she explained to the crew how the celebration almost didn’t happen: “I just stopped at Farmer’s feed today to buy hay,” she said. She’d drawn the winning ticket that very morning!
The crowd quickly dispersed, going back to their cars, to shops or to get a late lunch. And a few lucky winners went home with a spring in their step and a bit more money in their pocket.
If you didn’t win today, don’t throw your tickets away! There will be one more drawing this Wednesday, December 18th for a final $500 winner! You’ll have until December 26th to claim it. If nobody does, it’ll go into the seed fund for Jingle Bells, 2020!
Craig Ware 
Gerald Shuler 
Doug Hakey 
Donette Widdoes 
Diana Metcalfe
