The city of Madisonville is hoping to take the next step in 2012. In a 2011 competition for the "Best Town on Earth," Madisonville lost out to Arroye Grande, California. When judges for the 2012 "America in Bloom" contest are in town this week, city officials and residents are hoping some extra efforts they have put in to earn points in the floral category can be the difference in the competition.

Leslie Curneal, customer service director for the city of Madisonville, says a floral committee focused its efforts on downtown, in an effort to make a difference. The judges will be in Madisonville from Wednesday to Friday. In addition to Arroye Grande, Madisonville is also competing with Artesia, California, Holliston, Massachusetts, and Washington, Missouri.