Officials with Atlantic Municipal Utilities, Friday (today) announced the winners of their 15th Annual Holiday Christmas Lighting Contest. The announcement was made at the historic Rock Island Depot on N. Chestnut Street, by AMU General Manager Steve Tjepkes, who explained how they determine who has the prize-worthy displays.

(He say often recruit a young family to drive around and look at all the displays. The only restriction placed on the awards, is not to have duplicate winners.)

Left to right: Ted & Lucinda Goodnber; Linda Conrad, and AMU GM Steve Tjepkes.

Tjepkes said the Third Place winner, with a $50 credit applied toward their utility bill, was Ted & Lucinda Goodner, at 1905 Oak Street.

(Ted Goodner said they would like for their credits to be donated to the family of Steele McLaren.)

Their credits will go to Steele’s mom, Jess Ehrman. As you may know, Steele suffered a traumatic brain injury when he fell out of the back of a pickup truck in late October. He has endured many procedures at two facilities since then, and remains in the hospital today.  Casey & Clairissa Swanson, of 2010 Oak Street, who were the First-Place winners of a $100 credit, said they will also donate his to Steele’s father, Dustin McLaren.

The Second Place winner of the lighting contest, and a $75 AMU credit, was Chris and Linda Conrad, at 1311 Sunnyside Lane.

(Tjepkes said they have a new house with a huge display. All three winners, he said, are neighbors, or at least former neighbors.)

Linda Conrad said she was going to talk to Chris, but they will most likely donate their credit to the Steele McLaren family also.