Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The 2006 Miss Kosciusko County Fair Queen is Krystalle Johnson, daughter of Pattie and Rick Marlow and David Johnson, all of Syracuse.
She is 18, a 2006 graduate of Wawasee High School, and attends ITT Technical Institute. She was crowned by Megan Medlock, 2005 Miss Kosciusko County Fair Queen. The new queen will receive a $1,000 college scholarship, several miscellaneous gifts and the entry fee for the Indiana State Fair and State Festival pageants.
The first runner-up, Erika Wilson, 20, is the daughter of Dave and Nancy Wilson, Warsaw. She is a 2004 graduate of Warsaw Community High School and will be a junior at Butler University. She received a $700 scholarship and other gifts.
The second runner-up was Courtney Woodward, 17, daughter of Jeff and Cheri Bryan and Bruce Woodward, all of Winona Lake. She received a $500 scholarship and will be a senior at WCHS.
Third runner-up was Shelby May,17, daughter of Jim and Luanne May, Warsaw, who received a $300 scholarship. She will be a senior at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
Miss Congeniality was Sarah Wilson, 17, daughter of Timothy and Sharon Wilson, Warsaw. Hannah Hutchinson, 16, daughter of Bill and Tammy Hutchinson, Syracuse, was selected as the non-finalist interview winner. Both received $100 scholarships.
Other contestants were Litasha Blair, Claypool; Stacey Hatfield, Winona Lake; Alisha Henry, North Webster; Sarah Pitt, Warsaw; Miriah Reyes, Mentone; Katie Richardson, Pierceton; Crystal Sands, Milford; and Kayla Vaughn, Syracuse.
Bailey Reigh Hoover, 2005 Indiana State Fair Queen, told of her activities and memories of the past year.
Medlock provided her "year in review."
Jennifer Jackson, a pianist with Christian Performing Artists and MasterWorks, presented several piano solos as the scores were being tallied. The musical interlude included memorable songs from a variety of past years, starting with a Broadway medley and finishing with "Somewhere Over The Rainbow."
The emcee for the event was Glenn Hall. Judges were: Mark Merkel, Adams County, and Joy Thomas, DeKalb County; a third judge was unable to participate due to a family emergency.
The contestants were judged based upon individual interviews (55 percent), held in the afternoon to judge professionalism and poise; professional wear (15 percent), modeling and overall first impression; sportswear (5 percent), no swimsuits - just modeling sports-related, informal outfits; formal wear and on-stage question (25 percent). The on-stage question was the same for all contestants. The question was, "What is the college degree you plan to pursue in college, and why?"
This year's sponsors were: Beta Sigma Phi, DePuy, Grossnickle Eye Center, Dr. Thomas and Zoe Thomas Howard, Lake City Bank, Lavender & Bauer PC, Medtronic Sofamor Danek, NEW Plumbing & Heating Inc., Penguin Point, Reinholt's Town Square Furniture, Royal Crown Limited, Woodward Realty and Zimmer.
The 2006 queen will represent Kosciusko County at the Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant in Indianapolis and at the Indiana State Festivals Queen Pageant.
The pageant committee, headed by directors Stephanie Boyd and Danielle Rich, included Caylyne DeGood, Adam Goshert, Sue Goshert, Megan Medlock, Steven R. Trump and Alyssa VanVactor.
The pageant motto, from William Shakespeare, is "My crown is in my heart, not on my head; Not decked with diamonds and Indian Stones, nor to be seen. My crown is called 'Content.' A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy."
