$1,000 to be given away at parade

Mike Beneke’s giveaway of 10 $100 prizes during Saturday’s Holly Jolly Christmas originally wasn’t intended to be a drawing.

The money was supposed to pay for carriage rides around Commercial Dr., but the person Beneke had scheduled canceled, and Beneke was left to find an alternative.

“We’re still going to put that money to something useful,” he said. “I think this is useful, there are some people who could use it. Maybe if the winner isn’t in dire need and they know somebody, they can pass it on or give it to their church.”

Registration will be available at a variety of local businesses until Saturday, and Beneke will draw winners just before Holly Jolly Christmas’ parade starts.

“It would be nice to figure out who has the most need but that would be hard to do on this short notice,” he said.

Beneke hopes to see the money spent locally, but he still would have liked to have carriage rides.