Christmas Tour committee to plan civic project
An estimated 200 peo- ple went on the Jasper Christmas Tour of Homes, according to Darlene Nolen, president of the Woman's Civic Club, and even more enjoyed the bake sale in the civic club building.

Newsboy photo/ Charles Kerr ALMOST 200 PEOPLE enjoyed the Christmas Tour of Homes sponsored by the Woman's Civic Club of Jasper.

Local artists Bill Wise said, "I've never had so much fun greeting visitors touring our home and hearing positive comments about Jasper."

Nolen said one tourist from Shreveport told her, "The Jasper Tour of Homes was wonderful. It was not a competition of homes, and it expressed the true meaning of Christmas at home."

Those touring the homes did have the opportunity to vote on their favorite, and Estelle Debney's classic home, the oldest in Jasper, won the people's choice award.

Heidi Meaux, chairperson of the Tour of Homes, said the board will meet in January to decide how to spend the proceeds on a community project.

"In all, it was a splendid event," Nolen said. "The winning combination included a group of outstanding homeowners, a dedicated group of Civic Club ladies and other volunteers committed to bringing all the elements together."

The next tour of homes will be 2009, but the bake sale will be repeated next year, according to Nolen.