The Big Bash Photo Contest Winners Are Announced

Gina Raymer Browning is the first winner of the Big Brownsville Bash Photo Contest.

Darren Doyle, story: photos submitted by Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce:
The Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce has announced the first-ever winner of the Big Brownsville Bash Online Photo Contest, which is Gina Raymer Browning from the Lindseyville Community.

Her photo, "Knocking on Heaven's Door," took first place honors.

There were over 250 entries to the contest, which were submitted to the Chamber's Facebook Page.

Chamber Vice President and owner of C&C Firearms and Outdoors Josh Casey oversaw the contest.

"Being the first year, we didn't know if we'd have one entry or a hundred," he said. "Once we started sharing the first few, they came pouring in. It was great to see so many beautiful photos of our community. It was extremely difficult to narrow them down."

The entries were narrowed down to 12 and then the Chamber Board members voted on their favorites without knowing the name of the photographers.

Melissa Meinhardt took second place with "Front Porch Sunrise."

Second place was awarded to Melissa Meinhardt of Chalybeate, with a simple sunrise photo from her front porch.

Third place went to Arial Brandon, who took this photo of a tree root system in her back yard.

Third place was awarded to Arial Brandon for her shot of "Tree Hand," a tree's root system that appears as though it's a giant hand stretching out into the water, which was taken in her own back yard.

Casey said the goal for next year's contest is to be bigger with more entries.

"The Chamber feels that the Big Brownsville Bash is needed for our community and this is just one of the many ways we are trying to bring positive activities for Edmonson County and our local business activities," he said. "Hopefully, next year we'll have many more entries. Congratulations to this year's winners."

All the entries can be seen on the Edmonson County Chamber Facebook Page.

The Big Brownsville Bash is scheduled to run this Thursday through Saturday in Brownsville and the surrounding area.