James Youngs from Ringgold is $38,000 richer after being named the Ringgold High School Sports Boosters raffle grand prize winner. Youngs, along with several other top prize recipients, were chosen in a random drawing from a pot of ticket buyers and received their prizes at a ceremony Nov. 9 at the school. Probate judge Gene Lowery officiated.

Aside from Youngs, a first place prize of $1,000 cash was awarded to Ivan Brantham, Ringgold; second place prize of four RHS sports season tickets was won by Kurt Schmissrauter, Chattanooga; and the third prize of two RHS sports season tickets was awarded to Karen Douglas of Ringgold.

Raffle earnings were marked for the Ringgold High School athletic department to aid their Tornado Relief Fund programs. Proceeds of $38,000 were also presented to coach Robert Akins and principal Sharon Vaughn, Nov. 27. Some of the funds will assist in paying for the football field artificial turf installed after the April 2011 tornado destroyed the old grass field and stadium. Other raffle proceeds will be used by the athletic department to benefit both girls and boys programs.

Raffle coordinators originally planned to sell 2,000 tickets, which would enable them to give away a 2013 Corvette, but when sales fell short, they chose to award fifty percent of the net proceeds to the grand prize winner and fifty percent to the RHS Athletic Program.

All raffle expenses were donated by Sponsors Walter Jackson Chevrolet, Ringgold Telephone Company, Keith Cochran CPA, Tri Graphics Printing and raffle organizers.