Wrangell’s Police Chief Gene Meek started a new tradition this year: a Christmas Card contest. He opened the contest up for 5- to 11-year-olds in November. Plus, there was an incentive to the contest: $100 from Meek’s own pocket for the winner.
Meek announced the winner at Evergreen Elementary on Dec. 13.
“I got so many really good Christmas cards, so many of them, but we can only have one winner, right? The winner was chosen, and the winner’s in this room today,” he said as children gasped. “I just want to tell you that everybody who submitted a card, they were spectacular.”
Meek said one kept on floating to the top in the selection pile though.
“Who in here thinks they won? I got a lot of people who think they’re the winner, but the winner is Rory Roher,” he said.
The 5-year old didn’t feel comfortable talking about her achievement. Instead she buried her head into her mom, Eva Roher.
“You gotta say it, because it [the recorder] can hear you,” she said to her daughter. “Does it make you happy?”
“I don’t know,” Rory said.
“Oh you’re shy, very shy,” Eva said.
Meek said about 47 Christmas cards were submitted this year. There’s 121 students enrolled in this age group. He said the Christmas card, or any holiday card, will be on a plaque and put up on the wall at the police department. This year is just the beginning, with one plaque, but he said with every contest, all the plaques will be displayed on the wall throughout the year.
