The annual merchant coloring contest and Christmas party sponsored by the Enterprise and many Oneida County merchants and organizations took place last Thursday evening at the Event Center.  Nearly 300 kids entered the coloring contest this year, and the majority of them and their families filled the Event Center to capacity for a chance to win Christmas prizes, have some food with friends and family, and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The coloring contest took place over the last several weeks.  Over 30 local merchants were represented by unique coloring pages in the yearly coloring book.  After they were completed, kids turned them in to the merchants, who determined their winners.  Some went with everyone who entered (a huge number!), some announced a number of winners among the different ages, and others selected only a few that they saw as the very best.  Everyone who completed an entry was entered into the full drawing for prizes, and everyone went home with something!  Groups of entrants were announced with an order determined by a random number generator, and were able to select a prize from the table devoted to their age group.  The winners were entered into a drawing for the large prizes.  Everyone was included in the drawing for the Nintendo Switch.  Pictures of the winners at the merchants’ businesses will be featured in next week’s edition.

Food was provided by employees of the Drive-In and volunteers in the form of hotdogs and walking tacos.  

Craft tables were set with a variety of ornament decorating options.

Santa himself rode in on the firetruck after the prizes were given out to allow those who wanted to the chance to inform him of their Christmas lists.  Kelly Neal designed and coordinated Santa’s backdrop.  

Almost 300 kids received prizes from the contest, which were ordered randomly in order to be as fair as possible.  Among the winning entries, the large prizes were offered in the order the names were drawn.  Those who were drawn were given their choice of top prizes: Olivia Shandrew won both a drone, as well as the Switch provided by the Dude Ranch (everyone who had already won prizes was re-entered for the Switch drawing).  Leif Ashby selected a TV; Rhyatt Nimer chose a strider bike; Cherysh Brees chose a TV; Makayla Crowther selected a scooter; Rylan Price went with a TV; Rickell Call decided on a bike; Trinity Hodgkin went with a scooter; Ruxin Smith chose the other drone; Hazel Hollingsworth selected a giant Mickey doll; Kymber Maughan chose a tricycle; and Gracelin Monico took a giant Minnie doll. 

Contributing merchants included the Northern Title Company, J Peak Propane, Tiny Tots Daycare and Preschool, City of Malad, Sinclair Central Service, Oneida Family Dental, ATC Communications, Edith’s Collective, the Idaho Enterprise, Ireland Bank, MPI Water Solutions, Tooke and Associates, Hess Pumice Products, Ward’s ACE and Country Store, Idaho Real Estate Group, Oneida Pioneer Museum, Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital, NAPA/Hess Truck Auto Ag, Malad Drive-In, Do It Best Hess Lumber and Home Center, KC Oil RV Park and Ice Cream Shop, KJ’s Superstore, Thomas Market, Allen Drug and Variety, Farm Bureau Insurance, Canyon View Cares, Boot Lane Vintage, Mountain States Insurance, Thomas Electric and Furniture, Family Dollar, the Dude Ranch, Eric Crowther, and the Chamber of Commerce.

The Christmas Coloring Contest is a great example of many entities in the community working together to provide a fun and memorable experience for Oneida County’s kids and their families.  There are a lot of people who helped make this happen behind the scenes, including the many parents who spent time driving their kids around town in the snow to turn in coloring pages, the businesses who promoted the contest and opened their doors, and many others.  Merry Christmas!