Government staff decks the halls and doors

SEBRING From a gingerbread house to a ski slope to the North Pole with Santa Clause, its looking like Christmas time at the Highlands County Courthouse and Government Center.

This year marks the third anniversary of a holiday door decorating contest that has grown to include the Highlands County Property Appraisers Office, Highlands County Supervisor of Elections Office and the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners office.

A total of 24 doors, including some hallways, were decorated for the holiday.

The first-place trophy was awarded to the Clerk of Courts Civil Division for its manger scene.

Court clerk Lisa Osha created a 4-foot high silhouette of one of the wise men and other figures for the manger scene.

Asha said her husband assisted her and she gave credit to her fellow civil division workers, Toni Kopp and Miranda Freeman.

Osha said Freeman did the labor-intensive work of putting everything on the wall, and Kopp created the white lettering and stars.

Second place was awarded to the Clerk of Courts administration for its depiction of the North Pole, and third-place went to the Clerk of Courts accounts payable and receivable for its winter wonderland with a ski slope and ice skating rink with cutout photos of the departments staff in skating poses.

The Supervisor of Elections Office received an honorable mention for its gingerbread house decorating scheme that covered a door and part of the hallway. It was made with brown construction paper and adorned with plenty of candy canes.

Santa Clause, wrapped in Christmas lights, covered the door for judges Dale Durrance and Olin Shinholser. Photos of the judges faces were placed on the bodies of elves.

More here:
Government staff decks the halls and doors