Prove Your Minnesota Pride: Vote and South Metro Schools Could Win $100,000

To Burnsville Patch Readers: I don't often make space on the site for news from outside city limits, but in this case I've made a special dispensation. A neighboring school district is in the running for a $100,000 gift from Patch — no small change in these times of perpetual budgetary turmoil (remember the shutdown?).

The Mendota Heights home of Dan and Sue Wills was selected from hundreds of entries as one of 24 national finalists in the Patch Deck the House contest. If they win, the family will receive a cash prize toward their December electrical bill for the handsome display of holiday cheer at their home on South Freeway Road.

If successful, the Wills' entry will also win $100,000 for the .

The top vote-getter wins the prize for their local schools.

Right now, a house from Davis, California is in the top spot, which kind of offends my Minnesota pride.

Help us out! The deadline for voting is Jan. 8, 2012, and you can find the Wills home entry at this link. You can vote every day! There are no resident restrictions for voting.

We’re the only entry from Minnesota to be chosen as a finalist, so let’s rally our friends and neighbors as well for their support.

A big thank-you goes out to the Wills family for their entry, and of course, the beautiful holiday eye candy they provide on their property year after year.

Vote for the Mendota Heights Deck the House entry here.

are available on Patch.com.