BATTLE OF THE BULBS HAS OVER 20 HOMES ENTERED
The Mascot’s 3rd annual “Battle of the Bulbs” Christmas Lighting Contest has 22 homes in and around Minneota, Ghent and Taunton this year.
That number is up from a year ago, but less than the 29 that were entered in the inaugural year.
Judging will be done on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16 and 17. There will be a total of 12 judges this year that will drive around to the various homes and rate each one on a 1-10 scale. Judges will be looking for things such as originality, organization, and if the lights are uniform and in working order.
Each of the judge’s points will then be tabulated and the home with the highest overall score will receive first place worth $500 in prizes. Because of the large number of donated prizes by local businesses in Minneota, Ghent, Taunton and Marshall, we will be awarding prizes to the top five homes again. Second place is worth $250 in prizes, third is $100 in prizes, and fourth and fifth will be $50 each.
The remaining 17 contestants will then have a second chance to win a prize. At least three names will be drawn out of a hat and receive a prize worth $20-$25 in turkeys or hams. Any additional random-drawn winners will depend on the number of prizes remaining.
Each of the past two first-place winners - Austin and Shannon Dritz in 2020 and Matt Devos and Steph Hennen last year - are again competing, as are each of the past two second-place winners - Gus and Mayra Molina in 202 and Mark Sanow last year and third-place winners - Tom and Kim Abraham in 2020 and Dritz’s last year.
Contestants must live within a 10-mile radius of Minneota (as the crow flies). Registration ended on Monday, Dec. 12.
This year’s entrants:
MINNEOTA
Tom & Kim Abraham - 2092 320th St. N.
Todd Boerboom - 400 N. Madison St.
Sue & Tim Buysse - 2092 County Road 10
Jason & Natasha Boe - 209 S. Jefferson St.
Sally Campbell - 101 W. Lyon St.
Matt DeVos/Steph Hennen - 310 N. Madison St.
Paul & Sis Fonteyn - 411 N. Jefferson St.
Omer Laleman - 406 N. Jefferson St.
Gus & Mayra Molina - 504 E. 5th St.
David & Joanne Myrvik - 410 N. Monroe St.
Lynn & Barb Okrina - 109 Golf Course Road
John & Carmen Panka - 601 Kennedy Circle
Mark Sanow - 3158 220th Ave. North
Brenda Swoboda - 208 E. 3rd St.
Chris & Laura Swoboda - 613 N. Madison St.
Joel and Erin Walerius - 508 N. Grant St.
TAUNTON
Dawn Downing - 101 E. 3rd St.
Austin & Shannon Dritz - 3494 Cty Highway 7
Dale & Heidi Fier - 3621 County Highway 8
Jenna Hennen/Jason Vick - 305 N. Main Street
Karen Rae Swedzinski - 500 Garfield St.
GHENT
Chris & Jessica Swedzinski - 1673 Cty Road 8