Nineteen Ohio County residents participated in the inaugural Light Up Ohio County Holiday Decorating Contest. The event was sponsored by the Ohio County Convention, Tourism and Visitors Commission (Rising Sun/Ohio County Tourism) with grant assistance from the City of Rising Sun and the Ohio County Community Foundation.
“This was a new event that the tourism organization wanted to try this year,” said executive director Kendal Miller. “The board and staff wanted to offer something that all county residents could participate in if they so desired.”
With Rising Star Casino continuing to hold their Christmas Casino during the holiday season, tourism wanted to expand on the holiday décor placed by the City of Rising Sun by adding additional displays at Visitors Center and at places in downtown Rising Sun. Rising Sun Main Street also added to the seasonal décor by having wooden box “presents” made by the local shop students and placed on Main Street.
Adding the “Light Up” contest was a way to get the locals involved in making Rising Sun/Ohio County more festive. There was no entry fees for participants and lenient guidelines placed on the participants. Only entrants within the Ohio County limits were allowed, with judging taking place from a street.
“We appreciate people participating,” said Jim McDaniel, Commission board president. “We hope we’ll have even more entries next year. The contest added another festive element to Ohio County’s holiday season.”
The following residents were recognized as having the top decorated homes in Ohio County:
Lyle Cochran, First Place ($250); 7248 Poor House Hill Road, Rising Sun
Jerry Pflum, Second Place ($175), 4341 Salem Ridge Road, Aurora
Sandy Kinzer, Third Place ($100), 100 South Mulberry, Rising Sun
Honorable Mentions ($50 each) were given to:
Mark Abplanalp, 121 North High Street, Rising Sun
Judy Sherman, 515 Lincoln Street, Rising Sun
The first place winner displayed a Traditional Christmas with the majority of the items in the display created and built by Cochran.
Pflum’s runner-up show had Multiple Themes which he has decorating for 25 years but skipped the last two years because his wife Lena passed away and she loved Christmas. The inside of the house is decorated just as much as the outside. Jerry and his family decorated this year in memory of Lena and for the great grand kids.
Other homes entered are located at:
216 Second Street, Rising Sun
401 South Walnut Street, Rising Sun
420 South Walnut Street, Rising Sun
600 South Walnut Street, Rising Sun
334 South Mulberry Street, Rising Sun
310 Main Street, Rising Sun
131 North Poplar Street, Rising Sun
614 Fourth Street, Rising Sun
509 Fifth Street, Rising Sun
6532 State Road 56N, Rising Sun
3945 Salem Ridge Road, Rising Sun
6677 Taylor Road, Rising Sun
6463 Pleasant Ridge Road, Rising Sun
5970 Woods Ridge Road, Dillsboro