The pyramids of Egypt are "Great." Muhammad Ali and Alice Kramden are "The Greatest." Spider-man, Green Lantern and the Powerpuff Girls are "Super." The USA is "No. 1." We dispute none of this. But when it comes to being called "The Best," we put it up for a vote.

News-Sentinel readers voted in 100 categories to bestow the title of East Tennessee's Best to businesses, entities and individuals throughout the region. Almost 4,000 ballots were counted to come up with the winners.

Everyone who voted in at least half the categories was entered in our cash prize drawing.

The $750 grand prize went to Erin Henderlight of Powell.

The $500 prize went to Rodney Lynch of Corryton.

The $250 prize went to Kimberly White of Knoxville.

The East Tennessee's Best Readers Poll is divided into three categories: Dining & Food, Shopping & Services and Pastimes.

One category – Best Category We Missed – doesn't have a winner. Instead, we've listed the top readers' suggestion for what should be included on next year's ballot.

The other 100 categories include a list of runners-up. Some categories only have one runner-up while others have several. Only those with a significant amount of votes made the list. The runners-up are listed alphabetically and not in the order of the number of votes received.

East Tennessee's Best winners and runners-up were honored on Oct. 18 with an awards banquet at the Knoxville Convention Center.