CORDELE — Easter came early for 18 lucky winners in the Cordele Main Street and Downtown Business Organization’s 2007 Jelly Bean Contest.

Renee Fraser, president of the DBO, said jars filled with jelly beans were placed at 17 downtown businesses, and participants were asked to guess the number of jelly beans in the jar. Those closest to the right number, won a prize donated by the business.

“The prizes can be anything from a giant Easter basket to service for your car, to just about anything the business wants to donate,” said Fraser.This year’s sponsors, winners, and their prizes include:

• Cordele-Crisp Carnegie Library - Bubba Allen and Heather Goldinger - an Easter bunny and chocolate candy

• Crisp County Power - Minor E. Wright - $100 off power bill

• Hurt & Associates - Melanie Latham - a will

• Hurt Motor Company - Jocelyn Davis - basket of toys and candy

• PlantersFIRST - Nolan McLemore - jelly beans and an Easter basket filled with goodies

• Mike Fraser’s Auto Repair - Chuck Gordon - Easter bunny, basket of goodies and prize egg

• Cordele Properties - Henry Gaines - $25 Wal-Mart Gift Card

• GTC Fitness - Diane McGahee - bottle of vitamins

• Regions Bank - John Barker - $25 cash

• Gold & Gallery - Laura Leigh Hurt - basket of silver jewelry, jewelry cleaner, and candy

• Hatcher’s Feed & Seed - Theresa Wyatt - basket with assorted items