The smiles lit up for the cameras as young women from around the area competed in the 2012 Miss Black Diamond Days pageant Friday evening at 6:00pm.
Held at the Gillespie Civic Center in Gillespie, 12 contestants competed in front of more than 250 friends and family members.
Miss Kortney Carr was crowned Miss Black Diamond Days queen while first runner up went to Kaci Petri. Kortney is the daughter of Dana & Bob Carr of Wilsonville. She will be a senior at Gillespie High School next year and is very active in cheerleading.
She also received awards for People’s Choice and Most Photogenic. Carr was among 3 other candidates and hundreds of people who quietly awaited the announcement of who would wear the crown. “It’s such a surprise,” Carr said. Miss Congeniality went to Mikayla Tarro.
Nina Moutrie, Jr. Miss Black Diamond Days.
Miss Nina Moutrie was crowned Jr. Miss Black Diamond Days 2012. Nina will be a freshman at Gillespie High School and is very active in her church and loves playing soccer. First runner up and most photogenic went to Reese Marshall while Kirsten Sherman received Miss Congeniality and Maya Marcacci received the People’s Choice award.
Before ending her reign, Miss Kylie Frensko expressed her gratitude for the experience, and encouraged her successor to, “Enjoy every moment because the experience goes by fast.” She struggled through her speech as she thanked her family and close friends for helping her with the multiple tasks she needed.
She spent the most time on her twin, identical sister Kaily. “You are my twin, literally, and I want to thank you for putting up with me,” Kylie sobbed. “Thank you for not stealing my crown when you threatened me you were going to.”
The Jr. Miss will be able to advance to the next level and compete at the Macoupin County Fair, but the queen will not due to new rules added this year. According to pageant directors, Gillespie would not have any representation if Miss Black Diamond Days would win Miss Macoupin County. Gillespie is the first town in the area to add this restriction.
During the weeks leading up to the June 1st pageant, 4 young women between the ages of 16 and 20, and 8 girls between the ages of 12 and 15, met with pageant organizers Sonya Levie and Courtney Ostendorf who helped prepare the girls for the event.
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“Some of the girls get nervous,” said Courtney. “We help them with their nerves and how to present their self.”
As former Miss Black Diamond Days, Miss Macoupin County, and first runner up to Miss Illinois, Courtney understands what the contestants are facing as they interview with the judges and appear on stage to answer questions.
Unlike other pageants, which critique contestants largely on their looks and talents, the Miss and Little Miss Black Diamond Days pageant scores the girls and young women on their overall appearance and how they present themselves in front of the judges as well as the private interview.
Jamie L. Whitford, 49 of Alton, is charged with violation of an order of protection in connection with an August 17 incident.
Sarah J. Crays, 39 of Virden, is charged with aggravated fleeing/damage to property (>$300), aggravated fleeing police/21 mph over the limit, and driving on a suspended license in connection with an August 18 incident.
Eric J. Trump, 33 of Carlinville, is charged with aggravated battery/great bodily harm in connection with an August 17 incident.
Henry D. Wilson, 37 of Mt. Olive, is charged with possession of methamphetamine (<5 grams) in connection with an August 19 incident.
Nicholas A. Williams, 31 of Staunton, is charged with possession of methamphetamine (<5 grams) in connection with a May 19 incident.
Holly A. Messerly, 38 of Bunker Hill, is charged with possession of methamphetamine (<5 grams)in connection with a May 5 incident.
Garret A. Brown, 22 of Springfield, is charged with aggravated battery/peace officer, criminal damage to government property (<$500), possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of alcohol, and canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with an August 19 incident.
Andrew K. Ridens, 36 of Staunton, is charged with possession of methamphetamine (<5 grams), driving on a revoked license, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a July 21 incident.
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MISDEMEANORS
Tarina S. Slaughter, 46 of Girard, is charged with resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee in connection with an August 17 incident.
Joseph W. Reiniesch, 40 of Gillespie, is charged with aggravated assault/public property in connection with an August 16 incident.
TRAFFIC
Dallis E. Houseman, 56 of Modesto, is charged with drivers license expired more than a year and failure to obey police officer in connection with an August 18 incident.
Jameson E. Anderson, 35 of Shipman, is charged with improper use of registration/title, unlicensed, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with an August 11 incident.
Jordan A. Abner, 18 of Godfrey, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with an August 13 incident.
Amanda R. Bianco, 44 of Staunton, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with an August 7 incident.
Hunter J. Kapp, 18 of Highland, is charged with speeding 35+ mph over the limit in connection with an August 15 incident.
Adam L. Bray, 43 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a revoked license, canceled/revoked/suspended registration, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with an August 16 incident.
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Kaelan N. Ramos, 34 of Shiloh, is charged with speeding 35+ mph over the limit and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with an August 15 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
Justin Robert Bickel versus Melissa Ann Bickel
Jennifer Miller versus Matthew Miller
Ryan T. Bloomfield versus Cheyenne M. Bloomfield
Angela K. Greenwalt versus Jay A. Greenwalt
Val Leffers versus Karen Leffers
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Jeremy Wayne Pride and Brandi Marie Hatzel, both of Shipman
Jacob Patrick Millard and Jenna Frances Wernsing, both of Carlinville
Dustin Eugene Bauman and Miriam Susan Jenkins, both of Virden
Jeremy Dale Canoy and Samantha Elaine Goyke, both of Girard
Bryan Edward Woodward and Jake Marie Cain, both of Shipman
Glen Alexander Mcelyea and Candice Dawn Herin, both of Shipman
Jacob R. Morgan, 38 of Staunton, is charged with burglary and theft/control/intent ($500<10k) in connection with a July 28 incident.
TRAFFIC
Justin C. Grider, 41 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with an August 14 incident.
Chynasyl B. Chynybaev, 38 of Kent, WA, is charged with CDL not obtained and no fee paid/over registration weight in connection with an August 20 incident.
Clinton D. Coleman, 34 of Springfield, is charged with driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with an August 22 incident.
Gary L. Cunningham, 61 of Staunton, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with an August 23 incident.
Christopher J. Moreland, 38 of Staunton, is charged with DL expired more than a year, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and driving/operating a non-highway vehicle.
Matthew W. Stoops, 32 of Bunker Hill, is charged with DL expired more than a year and no valid registration in connection with an August 19 incident.
Jordan T. Trimm, 33 of Benld, is charged with improper use of registration/title, unlicensed, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
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Cole Y. Waugh, 41 of Gillespie, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with an August 16 incident.
Jessie J. Waugh, 44 of Gillespie, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with an August 15 incident.
Austin D. Guiliacci, 25 of Staunton, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with an August 20 incident.
Matthew D. Knick, 20 of Mount Olive, is charged with driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with an August 25 incident.
Kirstain S. Harris, 29 of Memphis, TN, is charged with driving on a suspended license and speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with an August 24 incident.
Devin Berry, 36 of Blue Island, is charged with driving on a suspended license and driving 15-20 mph above the limit in connection with an August 24 incident.
Rudolph H. Jackson, 60 of Gillespie, is charged with driving on a revoked license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and no valid registration in connection with an August 24 incident.
Sean M. Rogerson, 50 of Palmyra, is charged with driving on a revoked license in connection with an August 27 incident.
A football game pitting the Gillespie Miners against the Staunton Bulldogs, a parade and the second annual induction ceremony for newly named members of the Gillespie High School Athletic Hall of Fame will highlight Homecoming next month.
The theme of this year’s celebration is The Roaring Twenties.
The parade will kick off on South Macoupin Street at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25. The parade will march to the high school where a pep rally is scheduled for 7 p.m., followed by the coronation of the Homecoming King and Queen at 7:15 p.m. There will be a Powder Puff Game/Cheer Section competition at 7:30 p.m., also on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
There will be a meet and greet with newly named members of the Athletic Hall of Fame at 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27, followed by the Homecoming football game at 7 p.m. Hall of Fame inductees include Mike Viano, Jack Genet, Dennis Best, Barbella Magus, Sam Stewart, William & Florence Schmidt and Family, and Deb Olson and the ’93, ’94 and ’95 GHS softball teams. New members will be inducted during a 2 p.m. reception on Sunday, Sept. 29, in the high school gym.
The annual Homecoming dance is set for 7-9 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28 at the high school gym.
For GHS students, Homecoming activities will start well in advance of the Homecoming weekend festivities. Students from all four high school classes will work on building parade floats from 6-9 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19, Monday, Sept. 23, and Tuesday, Sept. 24. Students will decorate hallways for Homecoming from 3-5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20, and 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Saturday, Sept 21.
Monday, Sept. 23 will kick off a week of “dress-up” days for students. For Monday, the theme is Boas and Bowties. Tuesday, Sept. 24 will feature Glitz and Glitter. Wednesday, Sept. 25 is Rhyme Without Reason Day, and Thursday, Sept. 26, will feature Gangsters vs. Flappers. The dress-up theme for Friday, Sept. 27 will be School Spirit.
In addition to Wednesday’s pep rally following the parade, there will be a game-day pep rally at 1:15 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27.