Holmes County expo for affordable homes

Close to 200 visitors attended the first-ever Home Expo held June 7 in Holmes County. Participating companies and offered information for prospective homeowners.

The event included a collection of realtors, insurance companies, contractors, mortgage companies, travel agencies, electric companies and others who offered advice, quotes and seminars on the latest services available to the area.

During his introductory speech Holmes County Commission Chairman Raymon Thomas said, “We can do a lot in our little county as long as we have wonderful people like all of you showing the level of dedication you do. We’re going to do our best to keep this event annual and try to make it even better with each passing year, though, it’s hard to imagine it getting any better than this.”

Out of the 40 vendors that applied, 34 booths were set up.

“We had to turn away booths because we didn’t have enough room to accommodate them all. Next year we will have to find a larger building,” said Michele McDaniel, director of Planning and Zoning.

Door prizes included electronics, home accessories and other items.

Every booth had free items with company logos on them. Several booths had prize drawings and seminars were given every 20 to 30 minutes for advice on anything from septic tank safety tips to refinancing your home.

Booths were decorated with posters submitted by children from Holmes County schools, grades three through eight. The in-kind sponsor for the contest, Pizza Hut, awarded a free pizza to all participating students.

Presley Hobbs, a sixth grader at Bethlehem, won the grand prize, a $100 savings bond from the Bank of Bonifay.  The three runners are: Logan Brookshire, third- and fourth-grade division winner from Ponce de Leon; Destini Wilson, fifth-and sixth-grade division winner from Bethlehem, and Averylin Kriser, seventh- and eighth-grade division winner from Bethlehem. They received a $50 savings bond.
Holmes County Future Farmers of America sold hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks to raise funds for a trip to the State FFA Convention in Orlando.

The event was sponsored by The Bank of Bonifay, Bowen Hardware Company, Landmark Mortgage, Vickery Construction, Personal Home Builders, Tri-County Home Builders Association of Holmes – Washington – Jackson, Panhandle Lumber and Supply, Jerkins Incorporated, Professional Title, West Florida Electric – A Touchstone Energy Cooperative, Pizza Hut, Badcock Home and Furniture & More, Solutions, Wachovia Bank and McGowan’s Unique Realty.