Winners have been announced for the first Rainelle American Spirit Fourth of July Decorating Contest organized by the Rainelle Volunteer Fire Department.
The first place home decorating award went to Shelly Lewis, Gary Harris and family of West Greenbrier Avenue for their patriotic display.
New Rainelle business, Bryant’s, located on Main Street, won the first place business decoration award.
“At both places, you could tell they wanted to participate,” said contest organizer and Rainelle firefighter Michael McGuire. “They went all out.”
Rainelle Volunteer Fire Department members judged the displays throughout Rainelle, Lilly Park and the Osborne Addition. About 10-15 homeowners and 4-5 businesses participated.
Next year, McGuire hopes to make the contest bigger and better.
“We hope to have better prizes, like fishing poles or something to get more people interested,” McGuire said. “We will also advertise more.”
This year, awards included a $25 gift card for Ace Hardware, a $10 gift card to the West End Coffee Shop and a trophy.
Additionally, the Rainelle Fire Department won the Best in Show award for emergency vehicles during the Alderson Fourth of July parade.
McGuire said they drove a 2007 International tanker and their newest truck, a 2016 ladder truck, in the parade.
“It was nice of them to give us that,” McGuire said of the parade judges. “We always enjoy going over there. It was a good day.”
