Queen Elizabeth reigns over fair

[AUG. 2, 2000]  "This is incredible," Kathryn Stoll exclaimed about her sister Elizabeth being crowned the 57th Miss Logan County Fair. "It has to be because of her nails and eyelashes; that’s what I did," she joked. It was definitely more than manicured nails and perfectly plucked eyebrows which placed the crown atop Elizabeth’s head. This Mount Pulaski High School graduate captured the vote of the judges and the support of the crowd at last night’s pageant.

 

Earlier in the day all 11 contestants participated in the interviewing process. Once at the fairgrounds, each young woman was escorted into the grandstand area in a convertible. The swimsuit competition followed, being judged on beauty and physique. Each contestant answered a "pop" question after modeling in her evening gown and being judged on overall stage presence. One-minute prepared speeches on each contestant’s most influential person or most memorable moment concluded the competition.

In the excitement and chaos after being crowned, Queen Elizabeth took a few moments to answer these questions:

 

 

Q: What did you do to prepare for this pageant?

A: I walked around in heels a lot. I practiced in the garage with a broken screwdriver as my microphone and a watch to time myself for the speech. My mom would give me questions too. I also attended each practice, which helped a lot.

(For Elizabeth’s speech, she told of her most memorable moment: going hunting with her father for the very first time. This was nothing she had ever experienced before. For three days she sat in a deer stand waiting. On the final day she heard rustling and knew the deer was approaching. Her father yelled, "Stop." With that Elizabeth pulled the trigger. She looked and the deer was still standing right in front of her. She shot again. This time she hit the deer. Elizabeth was so excited, what she didn’t realize at first glance was that the deer was an 11-point buck.)

 

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Q: What was the most nerve-wracking part of tonight?

A: The question. You never know what they are going to ask. I didn’t have any problem with the interview. My FFA experience has helped me with that.

(This year’s question was, "If you were going to be on ‘Survivor,’ what one possession would you take with you?" Answers ranged from family photographs and the Bible to taking mom and bringing clean underwear!)

Q: What are you looking forward to at this week’s fair?

A: Handing out the ribbons. I’m so excited about that.

Queen Elizabeth’s court includes first runner-up Amanda Frioli. She is the 17-year-old daughter of Gene and Melissa Frioli of Lincoln. Amanda is attending Illinois State University, where she is majoring in political science and forensics.

Lincoln native Lindsay Perring was chosen second runner-up and Miss Congeniality. She is the 20-year-old daughter of David and Marsha Perring. Lindsay is majoring in Spanish education at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Elizabeth is the 19-year-old daughter of Kenton and Marcia Stoll of Chestnut. She attends Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., where she is majoring in plant biology. She has two younger sisters, Kathryn and Christina, and a younger brother, Bradley.

 

 

[LDN]

(Click here for pictures of all the contestants.)


In the aftermath of a mock tornado

Emergency agencies evaluate drill

[JULY 31, 2000]  Just like in a real disaster, multiple emergency agencies worked together to face several challenges created by a mock tornado in Latham and Atlanta on Saturday. Participants in the drill learned that they had a lot of strong suits, but still some deficiencies.

In particular, they had a problem in the communications department. "If we had 20 other drills, there would still be communications difficulties to work out," said Logan County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA) Director Dan Fulscher. Participants needed to learn to speak quickly and informatively, then clear the channel.

 

 

 

Approximately 125 volunteers used the event to practice their skills and be evaluated by county and state emergency management agencies.

 

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Two representatives from Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) were present Saturday to evaluate the performances. Both people said that they would "certainly feel safe in the communities of Atlanta or Latham if a disaster struck."

With tornadoes and many other disasters possible at any time, it is good to know that there are trained rescue workers ready to come to the aid of Logan County residents.

 


Eleven compete for queen title

[JULY 31, 2000]  Tomorrow is the opening day for the 64th annual Logan County Fair. This year the fair opens the grandstand with the Miss Logan County Fair queen pageant. Eleven local women are vying for the distinguished title. The queen will reign over the entire week of the Logan County Fair and represent her county at the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs’ Miss Illinois County Fair queen pageant in January. She will also visit other county fairs, attend parades and make appearances as she represents the fair for one year.


[Line ’em up. Outgoing Logan County Fair Queen Lanie Reinhart gives some words of advice to the 11 contestants vying for her title.]

 

Pageant director Penny Kilhoffer, who has been involved with the pageant for 14 years, says that she has seen changes over the years, the most noticeable being the styles of the gowns and hairdos. At one time, there were up to 18 contestants competing to reign over the fair. Kilhoffer says the numbers have gone down over the past few years because "girls are involved in so many things – sports, summer school, working two and three jobs to pay for college."

There is one thing that hasn’t changed over the years: the amount of hard work and dedication that goes into preparing the contestants.

 

 

 

Kilhoffer credits her crew for helping make the pageant a success. This year’s crew members include Rochelle Johnson, Georgia Nutt and Nina Westen. As pageant director, it is Kilhoffer’s responsibility to begin the recruiting process. Looking for contestants begins in the spring. Area high school teachers and counselors nominate individual students to be contacted as potential candidates. Kilhoffer adds that even if a young woman is not nominated, everyone who complies with the general rules of the contest is "more than welcome to participate."

 


[Miss Logan County Fair 2000 contestants, from left to right: Staci Hieronymus, Tara Albertin, Amy Smith, Amanda Frioli, Ashleigh Ray, Elizabeth Stoll, Lindsay Perring, Amy Miller, Nichole Fink, Heather Holmes and Renee Carvalho.]

 

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Once the contestants have consented to compete, they have the option to attend other area county fair queen competitions. "It gives them an idea of what to expect," Kilhoffer says. During the summer, three workshops are held where contestants are advised on wardrobe, modeling and stage presence techniques, and interviewing skills. About 10 days before the actual competition, contestants begin rehearsing on stage at the Logan County Fair. There are three mandatory rehearsals at the fairgrounds to become accustomed to the lights and staging.

 


[Rehearsing for only the second time at the fairgrounds, contestants mark their places for giving their speech.]

 

Visiting with the contestants at last Thursday night’s rehearsal, I found out that they are learning many skills which they believe will help them in the future. One contestant said, "The interviewing skills will help when I start looking for a job." Others added, "I’ve learned how to accept constructive criticism and how to present myself." "Mannerisms, posture and learning how to smile for so long," was another response. But most importantly, adds one contestant, "I’ve learned to conquer my fear of being in front of large groups of people."

 

 

 

[Natalie Jeckel]

 


Contestants for 2000 Miss Logan County Fair

(Click here for pictures of the contestants.)

Name: Tara Albertin
Age: 18
Hometown: Atlanta
Parents: Marc and Jeanne Albertin
High School: Olympia
College: Western Illinois University
Major: Public relations

Name: Renee Carvalho
Age: 20
Hometown: Lincoln
Parents: Gordon and Debbie Carvalho
High School: New Wine Christian
College: Lincoln College
Major: Pre-medicine

Name: Nichole Fink
Age: 18
Hometown: Beason
Parents: Mike and Brenda Fink
High School: Lincoln Community
College: Southern Illinois University
Major: Mortuary science

Name: Amanda Frioli
Age: 17
Hometown: Lincoln
Parents: Gene and Melissa Frioli
High School: Lincoln Community
College: Illinois State University
Major: Political science and forensics

 

 

Name: Staci Hieronymus
Age: 18
Hometown: Atlanta
Parents: Kent and Carolyn Hieronymus
High School: Olympia
College: Millikin University
Major: plans to become a chiropractor

Name: Heather Holmes
Age: 18
Hometown: New Holland
Parents: Rick and Jamie Holmes
High School: Lincoln Community
College: Southern Illinois University
Major: Pre-medicine

 

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Name: Amy Miller
Age: 18
Hometown: Lawndale
Parents: Marvin Miller and Doris Burge
High School: Lincoln Community
College: Illinois State University
Major: Nursing

Name: Lindsay Perring
Age: 20
Hometown: Lincoln
Parents: David and Marsh Perring
High School: Lincoln Community
College: University of Illinois-Champaign
Major: Spanish education

Name: Ashleigh Ray
Age: 18
Hometown: Lincoln
Parents: Keith and Jeaneen Ray
High School: Lincoln Community
College: Lincoln Christian College
Major: Human relations

Name: Amy Smith
Age: 18
Hometown: Elkhart
Parents: Raymond and Beverly Smith
High School: Mount Pulaski
College: University of Illinois-Champaign
Major: Civil engineering

Name: Elizabeth Stoll
Age: 19
Hometown: Chestnut
Parents: Kenton and Marcia Stoll
High School: Mount Pulaski
College: Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.
Major: Plant biology

 

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General rules for Miss Logan County Fair 2000 queen pageant

1.  Contestant must be a U.S. citizen and have been a resident of Logan County, Illinois, for six months prior to the pageant date.

2.  Contestant must be a minimum of 16 years of age by the pageant date and not have reached her 22nd birthday by Jan. 1 of the following year.

3.  Contestant must be single, never have been married, divorced, or had a marriage annulled; contestant can never have been pregnant, and cannot have had a child.

4.  Contestant must not be on probation or have been arrested, incarcerated or convicted of a felony.

5.  Former county fair queens who have competed for the title of Miss Illinois County Fair are not eligible to participate.

6.  Contestant agrees to appear on stage in a one-piece swimsuit and an evening gown, and agrees to be personally interviewed in street dress attire by the judges.

a.  Swimsuit must be one-piece and should fit well. Solid or minimal colored swimsuits with built-in bras or support are preferable. Swimsuits with plunging necklines or too high on the hips are not allowed; pads to increase bust size are not permitted. If the swimsuit is questionable, the contestant will be requested to change it.

 

 

b.  Evening gown; most girls choose a floor-length gown. Long splits in skirts above the knees are not advisable, and pads to increase bust size are not permitted.

7.  No additional contestants will be accepted after the first rehearsal.

8.  Contestants are required to attend all of the rehearsals. Workshops will be held for modeling, hairstyling, makeup and interview skills. Workshops are optional and are not considered rehearsal.

9.  The contestant agrees that the time, manner, and method of conducting and judging the contest shall be solely within the discretion of the officials and that the decision of the judges shall be final.

10.  The queen will be chosen and crowned the night of the pageant. No preliminary contest will be held unless deemed necessary by the pageant director.

11.  The newly selected queen will serve as hostess for the Logan County Fair and represent the fair at the Miss Illinois County Fair Pageant in January the following year and crown the next Miss Logan County Fair Queen.

 

 

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12.  Prerequisites and duties of the newly selected queen will be:

a.  The queen will not partake of alcoholic beverages while representing the Logan County Fair at any function.

b.  It is strongly suggested that the queen refrain from smoking while representing the Logan County Fair at any function.

c.  The queen will not participate in or represent any other judged pageant during her reign, with the exception of the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant.

d.  The queen will represent the Logan County Fair at as many other area pageants and other functions as possible.

e.  The queen will be chaperoned by the pageant director or by a chaperone approved by the director at any time she is representing the Logan County Fair.

f.  The queen must furnish an unframed 8-by-10 vertical picture and registration application for the state pageant to the pageant director before Sept. 15, for the state contest

g.  The queen will present trophies, ribbons, and assist in drawings during the fair. She will appear in appropriate attire (a dress, crown and sash). She will also take part in other public relations activities deemed necessary by the pageant director.

h.  The queen will be required to attend the Central Zone meeting of the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs held in Springfield in November – on a Sunday.

i.  All personal appearances as Miss Logan County Fair shall be approved in advance by the pageant director; as well as any photographic sessions and pictures released in the role of Miss Logan County Fair Queen.

13.  If the newly selected queen cannot fulfill all of the expressed duties or violates any rule set forth for a candidate, she will relinquish her title, crown and all prizes upon the direction of the pageant director. The first runner-up will then be eligible for the title.

14.  Any grievances or objections to the contest will be referred to the pageant director of the Logan County Fair Association and the Logan County Fair Association Board.