The Southern

The winners of the weekly Shop Southern Illinois promotion were announced before the State of the City luncheon in Carbondale Tuesday.

Shop Southern Illinois is an effort by The Southern Illinoisan and Southern Illinois Regional Chambers of Commerce and Connect SI to promote local business during the holiday season.

Jo Ann Morgan of Royalton and Kelli Price of Energy won this week's drawing. Each earned $500 they can spend at any member businesses of the participating Chambers of Commerce, which are Carbondale, Carterville, Murphysboro, Marion, Herrin, West Frankfort and Saline County.

Morgan said she's still got a lot of gifts to buy for Christmas, so she'll be putting the money to quick use.

"I am really excited," she said. "Of course I am going to spend it on Christmas, but I haven't decided what I'll be buying.

Together, the participating Chambers of Commerce are laying out $5,000 in backing for Shop Southern Illinois.

The prize money for the next two drawings in the campaign will double and feature one $1,000 winner each. The drawings will be held on Dec. 16 in Murphysboro and Dec. 23 in Marion.

Readers must re-enter for each weekly drawing, either by sending in a completed printed form from Sunday's newspaper or from the thesouthern.com/shopsouthernillinois.