Contest Rules | Best of the Ohio Valley Readers' Choice 2024 (Wheeling)

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BEST OF THE OHIO VALLEY READER’S CHOICE

Final Voting Round

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ODDS OF WINNING WILL DEPEND ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE ENTRIES RECEIVED. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

ELIGIBILITY: The Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the United States, including its commonwealths, territories, and possessions (the “Eligible Territory”), who are eighteen (18) years of age (except in the case of residents of jurisdictions where the legal age of majority is greater than eighteen (18) years, such legal age of majority) or older at the time of entry. Employees, officers, and directors of The Ogden Newspapers, Inc. (“Sponsor”). The Times Leader and Wheeling Newspapers (“Administrator”),] and each of their affiliates, distributors, suppliers, printers, retailers, licensees, advertisers, and promotional agencies, and any other entity associated with the Sweepstakes (collectively, the “Sponsor Parties”), and members of their immediate family or persons living in the same household, are not eligible to participate or win a prize. The Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Void outside the Eligible Territory and where prohibited or restricted by law, rule, or regulation.

ENTRY PERIOD: The Sweepstakes entry period begins at 12:01 am Eastern Time on October 3, 2024 and ends at 11:59 pmET on October 9, 2024.

HOW TO ENTER: You may enter the Sweepstakes via online entry form. No other method of entry will be accepted. Limit one (1) entry per person/email address/household. Additional entries beyond the specified limit will be void. To enter online, go to www.theintelligencer.net/best or www.timesleaderonline.com and click on the Sweepstakes banners, buttons, and/or links to access the online entry form for the Sweepstakes. Entrants must fully complete and submit all non-optional data requested on the entry form to be eligible. Incomplete and/or inaccurate entries are void. All information submitted online by entrants is subject to, and will be treated in a manner consistent with, Sponsor’s Privacy Policy accessible at 1500 Main St., Wheeling, WV. By successfully transmitting a completed online entry form during the Entry Period, you will be entered in the Sweepstakes. All online entries must include a valid email address for the entrant. Entrants may be given the option to receive commercial email and/or mobile text messages and updates from Sponsor; however, eligibility to participate in the Sweepstakes is not dependent upon entrant’s consent to receive such emails and/or mobile text messages and updates and consenting to receive such emails and/or mobile text messages and updates will not impact any entrant’s chances of winning. Standard messaging rates apply to mobile text messages and updates.

Entries generated by a script, macro, or other mechanical or automated means will be disqualified. In the event of dispute as to the identity or eligibility of any potential winner based on email address, the winning entry will be declared made by the Authorized Account Holder of the email address submitted at the time of entry, provided he/she is eligible according to these Official Rules. The “Authorized Account Holder” is the natural person to whom the applicable ISP or other organization (such as a business or educational institution) has assigned the submitted email address for the domain associated with such email address.

RANDOM DRAWING; ODDS: On or about October 11, 2024, potential winners will be selected by random drawing from among all eligible entries received. Subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules, the potential winners will be declared the official winners of the Sweepstakes. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received. Limit one (1) prize per person, family, or household.

PRIZE: 3 Prizes Will Be Awarded. Each winner will receive $100.00 check. The Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of each price is $100.00 and the total ARV of all prizes is $300.00. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any prize (or any portion thereof) with a prize of comparable or greater value at its sole and absolute discretion.

PRIZE CONDITIONS: All prize details shall be determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion. Each winner is fully responsible for any and all applicable taxes (including income and withholding taxes). All costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use which are not specifically included in the prize description above, including, but not limited to, transportation, lodging, meals, gratuities, insurance, and other expenses, are the sole responsibility of the winner. The prize is non-transferable and non-assignable, with no cash redemptions except at Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion.

NOTIFICATION: Each potential winner will be notified at the email address, postal address, and/or telephone number (as determined by Sponsor) provided at the time of entry (the “Prize Notification”). In the event that any potential winner does not respond to the Prize Notification within three (3) days or declines the prize for any reason, a disqualification will result, the prize will be forfeited and, at Sponsor’s sole discretion and time permitting, an alternate potential winner may be randomly selected from among all remaining eligible entries. Each potential winner may be required to submit his/her valid social security number and/or other identification to Sponsor and may receive an IRS Form 1099 for any prize valued at $600 or greater. Each potential winner may be required to execute, have notarized, and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release of Liability and, unless prohibited by law, a Release of Publicity, within five (5) days of the date of issuance. Failure to submit any identification required by Sponsor or to return any required documents within five (5) days of request therefore, noncompliance with these Official Rules, or the return of the Prize Notification or of the prize (or any portion thereof) as non-deliverable may result in the potential winner’s disqualification and prize forfeiture and, at Sponsor’s sole discretion and time permitting, may cause an alternate potential winner to be randomly selected from among all remaining eligible entries.

INDEMNIFICATION/WAIVER OF LIABILITY/PUBLICITY RELEASE: By entering the Sweepstakes, each entrant agrees to (a) be bound by these Official Rules, including all entry requirements, and (b) indemnify, hold harmless and fully release the Sponsor Parties and each of their respective shareholders, partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents, and representatives from any and all claims, demands, losses, promises, causes of action, and/or liabilities for any injury, damage, or loss of any kind caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from participation in the Sweepstakes, receipt or use of any prize (or any portion thereof), or any travel or activity related thereto. By entering the Sweepstakes, each entrant gives his/her express permission to be contacted by Sponsor by telephone, email, and/or postal mail for Sweepstakes purposes. Each winner, by acceptance of the prize, grants to Sponsor and each of its designees the right to publicize his/her name, city and state of residence, prize information, photograph, voice, statements, and/or other likeness for advertising, promotional, trade, and any other purpose, in any media or format now known or hereafter devised, throughout the world, in perpetuity, without limitation and without further compensation, consideration, permission, or notification, unless prohibited by law.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: The decisions of Sponsor are final and binding on all matters relating to the Sweepstakes. The Sponsor Parties are not responsible for late, incomplete, incorrect, misdirected, lost, delayed, undelivered, damaged, scrambled, or garbled entries, transmissions, email, or mail; an entrant’s failure to receive prize notices due to entrant’s spam, junk e-mail, or other security settings or for entrant’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information; technical, hardware, or software malfunctions, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete, garbled, or delayed electronic communications, whether caused by the sender or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or used in the Sweepstakes; printing, typographical, or other errors appearing within these Official Rules, in any Sweepstakes-related advertisements, or other materials; or any other errors, problems, or difficulties of any kind, whether human, mechanical, electronic, or other, relating to the Sweepstakes.The Sponsor Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users (e.g., hacking) or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes. The Sponsor Parties are also not responsible for injury or damage to entrant’s or to any other person’s computer and/or wireless device related to or resulting from participating in the Sweepstakes or downloading materials from or use of the Sweepstakes website. Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Sweepstakes or website; attempt to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes by cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices; intend to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other entrant or any representative of Sponsor; or who are in violation of these Official Rules or any applicable laws, as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion, will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void. Any attempt to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil laws and Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages (including attorneys’ fees) and other remedies from any person(s) responsible for the attempt to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Sponsor Parties (a) make no warranty, guaranty, or representation of any kind concerning any prize (or any portion thereof) and (b) disclaim any implied warranty. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, suspend, extend, or cancel the Sweepstakes (or any portion thereof) in the event Sponsor is prevented from executing the Sweepstakes as contemplated herein by any event beyond Sponsor’s control, including, but not limited, to: fire; flood; earthquake; explosion; public health epidemic or crisis; labor dispute or strike; act of God or public enemy; network or equipment failure; riot or civil disturbance; terrorist threat or activity; war (declared or undeclared); court order; or federal, state, or local government law, order, or regulation. Sponsor also reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, suspend, extend, or cancel the Sweepstakes (or any portion thereof) should virus, bugs, unauthorized human intervention, or other causes or events corrupt the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper operation of the Sweepstakes. In the event of cancellation, Sponsor may elect to identify the winners and award the prizes by way of random drawing from among all non-suspect, eligible entries received up to the time of cancellation. Sponsor also reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify these Official Rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Sweepstakes.

ARBITRATION; CLASS ACTION WAIVER: As a condition of entering Sweepstakes, each entrant agrees that (a) any and all disputes, claims, controversies, or causes of action arising out of or relating to this Sweepstakes or any prizes awarded (each, a “Claim”) shall be (i) arbitrated on an individual basis only and shall not be consolidated or joined with or in any arbitration or other proceeding involving a Claim of any other party and (ii) settled by binding arbitration in Wheeling, WV , before a single arbitrator appointed by JAMS in accordance with its then governing rules and procedures, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof; and (b) under no circumstance will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, consequential, or any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, except where prohibited by law. These Official Rules shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of West Virginia, without giving effect to any conflict of laws provisions thereof.

WINNER LIST: For the winners’ names, mail a request and a self-addressed stamped envelope to be received no later than ninety (90) days after the Drawing Date to: Wheeling Newspapers Winner List, c/o The Ogden Newspapers, 1500 Main Street, Wheeling, WV.

OFFICIAL RULES: For a copy of these Official Rules, mail a request and a self-addressed stamped envelope to be received no later than ninety (90) days after the Drawing Date to: Official Rules, c/o The Ogden Newspapers, 1500 Main Street, Wheeling, WV.

SPONSOR: The Sponsor of the Sweepstakes is The Ogden Newspapers, 1500 Main Street, Wheeling, WV. [ADMINISTRATOR: The Administrator of the Sweepstakes is The Times Leader Newspaper in Martins Ferry, OH and Wheeling Newspapers in Wheeling, WV.