Solomon wins Big $500 gas giveaway

When Shirley Solomon found a message on her phone to call the Times-Gazette, she was puzzled.

"I figured it was either about my subscription or the $500 gas card," she said. "I didn't expect to win. I really didn't think it could be the gas, but I knew it wasn't time to renew my subscription."

It was the gas card -- Shirley is the winner of the Big $500 Gas Give-Away contest, sponsored by Kroger and the T-G.

In a special section in the July 18 edition, a secret number of "Big 500" logos were hidden throughout the advertising messages of local merchants.

Contestants had to find the correct number of logos, then submit their answers. There were 19 hidden logos. The winning name was drawn from 906 correct entries; there were 1,152 total entries.

Kroger relief manager Jane Story drew Shirley's entry out of a box containing all 906 correct entries at the Shelbyville Kroger on North Main Street Friday morning.

"I'm thrilled so many readers searched through the advertising messages so carefully to find the correct number of logos," said T-G publisher Hugh Jones. "Congratulations to Shirley, and thanks to everyone who participated."

Shirley, a Shelbyville resident and part-time worker at South Central Human Resources Agency, wasn't the only one who had a hard time believing her luck. When she called her co-workers, they were a little skeptical.

"They didn't believe me at all," Shirley said, laughing. "It's been crazy down there, we're getting ready for a commodities give-away next week."

In fact, when she went to the T-G offices to pick up her prize, co-worker Carrie Holt stuck her head in the door.

"She came down to see for herself," said Shirley.

She spends part of her day as a receptionist and Title V clerk for the SCHRA, trying to help people in need and supplementing her otherwise fixed income. Being on the receiving end had her somewhat flustered, but definitely pleased.

A native of St. Louis, Shirley has lived in Bedford County for about 30 years now. One son, Perry Walchshauser, lives here, and another, Gary Walchshauser, lives in Knoxville.

"I'll be able to go see him more often," she said.

Other than that, and a few road trips to area towns, she doesn't anticipate using up the gas card very quickly.

"My car only goes two miles a day," she said. "A mile to work and a mile home."