Julia Lewandowski is crowned new county fair queen
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor–
In front of by far the largest crowd in the short four-year history of the Presque Isle County Fair Queen?s Pageant, Julia Lewandowski of Posen was awarded the top honor last Thursday from a field of nine contestants. There was a standing-room-only crowd of people from across Presque Isle County with girls representing Rogers City, Onaway, Millersburg, and Posen. Lewandowski, the daughter of Mark and Denise Lewandowski, won the evening gown competition and was the co-talent winner with her jazz dance routine. The nine contestants held hands as master-of-ceremonies Art Ross announced Lewandowski?s name. It was as if she needed a push forward to receive her sash and crown from 2006 Fair Queen Jessica Ruppert.
?I WAS JUST really surprised, I didn?t see it coming,? said a joy filled Lewandowski, after the show. ?I just really did not know what to do, I was kind of shocked.? While Lewandowski took the top prize, Timory Wilcox, 14, of Onaway claimed the most awards. Her name was announced four consecutive times, including the first category of the evening: ticket sales. She shared the talent award with Lewandowski with her solo performance of ?Lipstick on Your Collar? by Connie Francis. She also claimed the coordination award and was named Miss Congeniality. After Lewandowski received the evening gown award, Wilcox claimed her final prize of the night: second runner-up.
Besides Lewandowski and Wilcox, the only other contestant to have her name announced was Hailey Kimball, 17, of Millersburg, who was first runner-up. ?It went wonderful,? said pageant director Tricia Selke. ? All the girls did a great job.? She said one of the challenges with nine contestants was keeping the show moving. ?That was one of my main goals was to make sure that we weren?t there for three hours,? said Selke. ?I think people in the audience get a bit fidgety if it goes anywhere over an hour, hour-and-a-half.? From an audience standpoint, the show went glitch free. ?And we were without our MC for dress rehearsal. It really went well,? Selke added.
THE SHOW started with an opening dance number choreographed by Lindsey McConnell. The girls then introduced themselves and their sponsors, before Ruppert took the stage to entertain the crowd with a song. That was followed by the talent presentation. Lewandowski was first up with her jazz audition dance to ?Tres Desos.? Contestant number two, Julie LaBar, 14, of Rogers City showed some impressive vocal range on the song ?My Favorite Things.? With an American Flag as a backdrop, Kimball recited a poem/story that she wrote. Contestant number four, Heather Stalker, 17, of Millersburg did a high-energy dance routine to the song ?Pop.?
Jordyn Lamb, 15, of Rogers City kicked up her heels, while tap dancing to the song ?Me Ol? Bam-boo? fr
Jenice Stricker, 15, showed slide pictures of herself, while singing ?Who I Am.? Wilcox, in a poodle dress and white-rimmed glasses, got the crowd behind her as she sang the late 1950s tune. Other entertainment was provided by Cheer America and Toni Wilson. Selke believes with the performance of the young ladies and the huge crowd, the county fair pageant may have hit its stride.
?The board?s already talking about building an entertainment building for next year, hopefully, if things go well,? said Selke, who has directed the last three shows. ?Hopefully, it won?t be in a tent next year.?