Cindy DiFazio – Staff Writer

Anticipation grew as the drum roll sounded and the queen and her court for 2006 was named. Amanda Harmeyer, a recent graduate of Jac-Cen-Del, was sashed and crowned by outgoing queen Jessica Geisler at the pageant Saturday evening at the Hopewell Baptist Church auditorium. With the facility packed with family and well-wishers, the “Wish Upon A Star” Miss Ripley County 2006 pageant was a hive of excitement.

Fourth runner-up was Daniele Wiedeman of East Central; third runner-up went to Alica Batta, a graduate of East Central now attending Purdue University; second runner-up went to Elizabeth Record of East Central and first runner-up was Kaitlin Hughes of Jac-Cen-Del High School. Ashley Carpenter took the Miss Congeniality title for the “most friendly and outgoing contestant.”

Promptly at 6:30 p.m. the stage lights came lit up to the tune of “On Broadway.” Co-hostesses of the evening’s event, Vonda Miller and 2005 Miss Ripley County, Jessica Geisler ascended to the platform to introduce the 2006 contestants and to explain the judging procedure. Judging was based on a 100-point system. Earlier in the day each contestant participated in a private interview with the three judges. These interviews carried a point value of up to 50. The other 50 points would be awarded in the categories of professional (business) attire and evening wear. The three judges were all seasoned pageant participants.

Contestants first took the stage individually wearing their choice of professional clothing. Co-hostesses, Miller and Geisler, took turns sharing each girl’s bio as she took her lone walk across the stage.
They were, in order of their appearance, Emily Schmaltz, Summer Yelton, Angela Hildebrand, Amanda Hartman, Elizabeth Record, Ashley Carpenter, Alicia Batta, Natalie Neal, Amanda Harmeyer, Sabrina Walker, Brittany Boles, Junelle Sarringhaus, Steph Miller, Shaina Keck, Kaitlin Hughes, Daniele Wiedeman, Brandy Lanham, Kendra Walker, Brittany Spencer-King and Bethany Vaughn. After each girl was introduced to the judges and crowd, all 20 returned to pose together. They received a rousing ovation from the audience.

The next portion of the competition featured the contestants modeling evening wear. In this segment, the young women also were required to answer an on-stage question each girl picked at random from folded slips of paper.

Brandy Lanham, of South Ripley High School, got a warm response to her question, “Nike’s slogan is Just Do It. What is your personal slogan and why?” Lanham responded wittily, “Life is a garden, so dig it!” She went on to explain, “You have to have fun in your life.”

When Steph Miller, also of Ripley County High School was asked, “Are celebrities good role models for today’s teenagers? Why or why not?” Miller answered thoughtfully, “It can be both. When someone like Angelina Jolie adopts children from other countries, that is being a good role model. Some other celebrities are not so good.”

Following a brief intermission, time was taken to thank all of the folks who sponsored the pageant and the pageant committee who worked so hard to make it happen.

Reigning queen, Jessica Geisler, then presented a slide show depicting her year as Miss Ripley County. Geisler, who will be a junior at Purdue University this fall, related her experiences with humor and warmth. She recalled that at the very beginning of her reign, she broke a toe at the Ripley County 4-H Fair. Ironically, Geisler recently suffered a broken leg in a fall from a pageant stage. She was on crutches for Saturday night’s festivities, but bore the pain and inconvenience with grace and a winner’s smile. Vonda Miller commented, “We are so blessed to have had Jessica represent Ripley County this year.” Geisler complimented this year’s contestants on their beauty, brains and personalities observing, “I wouldn’t want to have those judges job this year.”

It was noted that this year’s participants represented more Ripley County schools than previously. Each year new activities have also been added. For the first time in 2006, the girls got together for a cook-out and pitch-in dinner over the July 4th holiday. The party was hosted at the Geisler’s home. Jessica quipped, “Mom didn’t know about it until it was announced a few days before.” Attendees were treated to a picnic and swimming followed by a viewing of the 2005 pageant video.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of deliberation, the judges emerged from behind closed doors and the winners were announced.

Before naming the queen’s court and the queen, several other awards were bestowed by Geisler. The first was the People’s Choice Award which was decided by hand-written ballots cast by audience members as they entered the auditorium. Natalie Neal was thrilled to be chosen for the award. Her unique hobbies include racing 4-wheelers and riding bulls. She attends cosmetology school. The next award went to Ashley Carpenter for Best Professional Wear, followed by Bethany Vaughn for Best Evening Gown.

Many contestants agreed that the best thing about competing in this pageant was making new friends. Summer Yelton, when asked why she had returned to compete a second year, enthused “Last year I made so many new friends. I saw this as an opportunity to make more friends.” Geisler agreed, sharing that with girls competing from so many different schools she had gotten to know people she would otherwise have never met. “Now I’ll know people when I go to different schools for football and basketball games,” she laughed. Steph Miller was asked, “What has been your favorite part of the competition?” Miller replied without hesitation, “Meeting and becoming friends with all these girls. I wish I’d done it sooner.”

CINDY DIFAZIO PHOTO 2005 Miss Ripley County Jessica Geisler crowns this year's Miss Ripley County Amanda Harmeyer. The pageant was held Saturday night at the Hopewell Baptist Church activity center. Ashley Carpenter was named Miss Congeniality with fourth runner-up going to Daniele Wiedeman, third runner-up Alicia Batta, second runner-up Elizabeth Record and first runner-up Kaitlin Hughes.