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Nick Robertson was at the convenience store on Dequeen Boulevard and Gulfway Drive when The Port Arthur News caught his eye.

“I saw the newspaper, was scrolling through it and said, ‘oh wait, they are doing another turkey picking contest,’” Robertson recalled. “So I said, ‘let me take a chance, buy it and see if I can get the number right.’”

It wasn’t the first time Robertson participated in the annual contest, which published this year in the Nov. 25 edition of The Port Arthur News.

Readers were asked to scan the newspaper’s advertisements and count up the number of turkey images. The total amount was supposed to be recorded and turned back into the News within two weeks.

More than 100 entries were turned in, and Robertson guessed correct with 48 turkeys.

All the correct entries were put into a hat, and a lucky winner was drawn to receive $250 in holiday cash.

“I was hoping for the luck, yeah,” Robertson said when asked if he felt good about his chances. “I certainly appreciated it and needed it a little bit. I tried last year but I missed out.”

All entries besides Robertson’s winner were put into another hat for a consolation drawing for $50.

That lucky winner was Elizabeth Toliver, a longtime Port Arthur subscriber.

She joked that she counted up the turkeys last year but never turned in her entry form. She also said she is generally unlucky as someone who has never before won a contest or raffle

At least this year her Christmas comes with an extra $50 stocking stuffer.

The Port Arthur News thanks its advertisers and readers who made this year’s Holiday Giveaway a great success and we look forward to bringing the contest back in 2024.