Highland wins chamber's car raffle </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 6:41 PM on Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Highland wins chamber's car raffle

By McKibben Jackinsky

With an even 500 tickets sold in the Homer Chamber of Commerce's 12th annual car raffle, the last ticket drawn was purchased by Roberta Highland, leaving Highland with the choice of $25,000 toward a new Ford automobile or $15,000 cash to buy well, whatever she wants.

First, however, the chamber had to contact Highland after 22 prize-winning tickets were drawn at the Best Western Bidarka Inn Nov. 5. That, as it turned out, was no small task.

Photos provided

Chamber Executive Director Tina Day, far left, congratulates winner Roberta Highland

"We called and left a message, but did not tell her she'd won," said Sharon Ford, the chamber's visitor service manager. "We asked her to call before 9 p.m. or at the chamber as soon as we opened Friday."

Although chamber personnel didn't leave Highland a hint why they were calling, Ford said she figured the background noise was a clue.

"I'm sure she heard the commotion from the event because everyone was making noise," Ford said.

As it turned out, it wasn't until Friday that Highland got the good news.

"It's pretty darned exciting," Highland told the Homer News.

As it turned out, she'd missed Ford's phone call because she and a friend were repairing a flat tire on Highland's '98 Subaru.

"The phone rang and it was (Ford), but I didn't answer the phone because I didn't figure it was too important," Highland said. "I knew there were a lot of prizes, but I never dreamed I'd be the grand prize winner. Wow. Tell me some more good news."

Highland has her heart set on a new Ford, an Escape hybrid, to be exact.

"I really am a person who believes in a small carbon footprint, so I'm leaning heavily toward a hybrid," she said. "I really feel like if each one of us does our part, we can make a difference."

Topping her list of considerations is a Ford Escape, which has a four-cylinder engine and gets 41 miles to the gallon. The only problem is approximately a four-month wait to get the car she wants. Then there's the issue of sharing her earnings with Uncle Sam.

"You end up with $11,250 if you want cash or $18,800 towards a new car," Highland said.

For selling Highland the winning ticket, Marcia Akresh won $1,000.

Deni Charron might not have won the new car, but she did go home with some new wheels. Charron was the winner of the ATV raffle. For selling Charron the winning ticket, Donna Bondioli won $100.

The raffle is co-sponsored by Stanley Ford of Soldotna, Wells Fargo and All Seasons Honda. Prizes and winning tickets ranged from a Homer-Anchorage round trip ticket with Grant Aviation for the first ticket drawn, to $499 from Wells Fargo for the 499th ticket drawn.

Tickets went on sale July 4, for $100 a ticket. New this year was the opportunity to win a four-wheeler valued at $6,000; tickets for the ATV sold for $30 each.

Chris Story of Story Real Estate kept the action going as the evening's emcee.

"He's just a hoot," Ford said.

The biggest hoot for Highland, however, is holding the winning ticket.

"This is very cool," she said.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.