Sikeston couple wins Mustang in Humane Society raffle

Jim and Cindy Brown of Sikeston, Mo., were winners of a 2005 red Ford Mustang in the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri's third annual automobile raffle.

The couple had entered the drawing because they felt the $100 donation was for a good organization. Earlier in the year they had adopted a cat from the Humane Society.

However, the raffle fell short of the 300 ticket sales required to give away the car. Each ticket sold states that in the event that sales do not meet the mark, the raffle becomes a 50/50 drawing.

Because of dishonest raffles that have occurred, the Humane Society board of directors felt it was important to give the car away this year despite the lack of profit realized. "We feel it was very important for people to know ours is and will continue to be an honest raffle," said events coordinator Cheryle Dillon. "What a lot of people do not realize is the car we raffle off is not donated, we bargain for it."

Plans for the Humane Society's fourth annual car raffle are underway, Dillon said, and people are already beginning to ask what next year's car is. "I personally would like to see something different -- maybe something that is not sold in this area," she said. "There are a lot of cars out there, so the search is on for the best deal."