Ashley Basel is Miss Rogers City 2007

by Richard Lamb– Advance Editor

?It was one of those fake moments, when you hear your name called and you aren?t really there, like an out-of-body experience when my name was called. I was looking around and thinking ?me??? said Ashley Basel after hearing her name called as the new Miss Rogers City. When master of ceremonies Art Ross said ?contestant number five? Ashley said, ?I looked down to check my number.? Ashley, the daughter of Terry and Anne Basel, was crowned at the pageant Friday at RCHS. She won the talent portion with a graceful and athletic dance to “Soar” and was the top ticket seller.

First runner-up was Morgan Schuiteman, daughter of Dr. Jay and Debora Schuiteman, who also won evening gown and coordination awards. She performed a beautiful dance to ?Gravity.?

Second runner-up was Sasha Gapczynski who earned the congeniality award. She is the daughter of Lee and Joan Gapczynski, who entertained the audience with an original monologue telling about sensational advertisements in national magazines.

Nicole Hayner, the daughter of Kathy and Bill LaLonde of Rogers City and John and Lisa Hayner of Gaylord, danced to the Four Tops? classic ?Sugar Pie Honey Bun.? Regina Andre, the daughter of Mark Andre and Marcia Peltz, sang the rocker ?Barracuda,? made popular by the group Heart.

Keri Wilson, the daughter of Sue and Gary Wilson, played Beethoven?s ?Moonlight Sonata? on the piano. Additional entertainment came from last year?s talent winner, Miss Rogers City 2006 Brittney Hoffman, also Anna Kamyszek, second runner-up in 2006, and a vocal presentation by pageant director Pennie Kelly.

KELLY, WHO directed the pageant for the 11th consecutive year, paid tribute on stage to Cathy Wisniewski, who with her husband Dan, are grand marshals for the grand parade Sunday. Cathy directed the Miss Rogers City pageant for 18 years, including the year Kelly was selected Miss Rogers City. Kelly praised Wisniewski for setting the standards high for the pageant; a mark Kelly has maintained each year since by producing a well-run pageant.

Later, Kelly said after 11 years as director, there are many lessons to be learned. ?Some things are easier, some things are harder,? she said. ?I know what to do now. It is just a matter of getting it done

. This year, the girls were good, the crew was fabulous, and the weather cooperated. It wasn?t as hot as we thought.? Meghan Harp and Anna Kamyszek served as choreographers of the event with Harp directing the opening number ?Steppin? to the Bad Side? and Kamyszek directing the evening gown presentation.

Mike Klann kept the production flowing seamlessly as the sound engineer for the pageant. Ross kept the audience entertained between acts by pointing out interesting things coming up at the Nautical City Festival and adding humor to the evening. The event marked Ross?s tenth consecutive year hosting the event.

THE PAGEANT CREW consisted of Mike Idalski on lights, Pennie Kelly and Angie Asam, stage crew, Marsha Schulwitz, ticket sales, and make-up by Mary Kay provided by Liz Geyer and Samantha Kelly, dressing room helpers were Amanda Schulwitz and Bernice Kelly, while Julie Smolinski, of Elite Salon and Spa, assisted contestants with their hair. The new Miss Rogers City received a $500 scholarship from the Nautical City Festival, Inc., and a $250 scholarship from other sponsors. The first runner-up received a $250 scholarship from the festival, and $150 from other sponsors. The second runner-up received a $100 scholarship. The contestants share in gifts and certificates donated by area businesses and individuals.

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