Deanna Dimick named ‘Miss Rogers City’

A night of elegance and grace ended with the crowning of Deanna Dimick as Miss Rogers City. The daughter of Don and Marilyn Dimick also won the coordination award at Friday?s pageant in earning the title held last year by Kristyn Blackmer. First runner-up was Katy Fryske, daughter of Rose and Phil Fryske, while second runner-up went to Jessica Hempel, daughter of Chris and Krista Hempel. The new queen signed autographs for the audience and enjoyed the limelight after the crowning.

?I?m actually really shocked and really excited. I?m having one of the best summers of my life. Now as a court we will go everywhere and have lots of fun,? Dimick said. The queen and her court have a busy week ahead of them with dinners and events to attend each day of the Nautical City Festival. After that, they will represent the city throughout the year by riding the festival float in parades throughout northern Michigan.

DIMICK PERFORMED a hilarious monologue about shopping, her love of sales, and the thrill of a bargain. Dressed in an ?I Love to Shop? T-shirt, she entertained the audience with an enthusiastic talk she called ?Sale!? for her talent presentation. The final question, posed by master of ceremonies Art Ross, was ?who is your favorite superhero and why?? Dimick?s answer was ?Wonder Woman.?

Fryske?s talent presentation was an energetic dance to ?Hollaback Girl,? and she also answered ?Wonder Woman? to the final question. She won the evening gown portion of the pageant. Hempel, who performed a beautiful flute solo to a Celtic piece titled ?Crawley?s Reel,? told Ross ?Superman? is her favorite superhero.

Nicole Grulke, daughter of Randy and Bonnie Grulke, won the talent award with a touching vocal and guitar performance of a song she wrote titled ?Back Home.? She also won the award for most tickets sold to the event. Sara Belusar, daughter of David and Carol Belusar, impressed the audience with a marvelous performance on the piano of the classic ?Tarantella.? The contestants rigged the congeniality award so each candidate received one vote, thus sharing the honor.

PENNIE KELLY, in her ninth year as director of the pageant, presided over a smooth-running and entertaining production. ?I?m very happy with the way things went this evening. I told all five girls that any one of them could have won and the committee would be happy with that. They are all wonderful representatives of our community,? Kelly said. Kelly also performed a song dedicated to the contestants. Morgan Suszek, who choreographed the opening routine, entertained while the final scores were being tabulated by singing ?Lean On Me,? then dancing to ?Let?s Get It Started.?

THE PAGEANT staff incl

uded Marsha Schulwitz and Samantha Kelly, assistants to the director, audio technician Mike Klann, Mike Idalski and Danielle Carter on lights, stage crew of Emily McLean and Samantha Kelly, Liz Geyer providing make-up by Mary Kay, Kathy Noffze of Eclips Salon providing hair styling, photographer Richard Lamb, and the dressing room staff of Amanda Schulwitz and Bernice Kelly. Marsha Schulwitz was in charge of ticket sales and Deb Stiller was the ticket chair. Jerome W. Kieliszewski, CPA, was the auditor. Judges were Cyndi Maitner-Vincent of Grand Rapids, Brandy Wolfgram of Cheboygan, and Lynn Golinski of Gaylord.

FOr photos from the event, see “Pictures” on this website.