People interested in submitting a picture for the 2008 Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce ornament will have until Friday to do so.

Each person entering the contest can submit up to two scenic Albert Lea or Freeborn County pictures.

Then, from Sept. 29 through Oct. 3, the pictures will be posted in the chamber office, and residents can stop in and vote for their favorite. They can also vote online through a link on www.albertlea.org.

The picture chosen by the most residents will be the photo on this year’s ornament. The person submitting the winning photo will win a gift basket of donated items from businesses in Albert Lea and Freeborn County.

Chamber Operations Manager Tami Riecke said submissions have started coming in this week and so far she has received 10 entries.

“They’re all really nice this year,” Riecke said.

Entries submitted so far include photos of the flowering crab trees around Fountain Lake, some sunsets over Fountain Lake, Katherine Island during the winter, the Pelican Breeze II, and some pumpkins and gourds at the Albert Lea Farmers Market, to name a few.

The winning photo for the 2007 chamber ornament was taken by Teresa Kauffmann, and it featured downtown Albert Lea with American flags and hanging flower baskets.

The first year’s ornament featured the Fountain Lake fountains. The second had the gazebo at Fountain Lake Park, and the third had Pickerel Lake.

Three-by-five inch pictures can be dropped off or mailed to the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce office at 701 Marshall St. or e-mailed to operations@albertlea.org. No photos of people will be accepted. Pictures will not be returned and may be used for other publications. 

To reserve a 2008 Christmas ornament, call the chamber office at 373-3938. The chamber also has a limited supply of the 2005, 2006 and 2007 ornaments for purchase.