Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER - Annette Lamb was crowned Queen of the Lakes Saturday to reign over the 59th Mermaid Festival. The pageant included 17 contestants and was sponsored by the North Webster Lioness Club.
Lamb, 20, is the daughter of Bruce and Beth Lamb, Milford. The "Miss Waubee Lake" Purdue University student has brown hair, blue eyes and is 5 feet, 8 inches tall. Lamb wore a strapless red gown of chiffon and silk during the evening gown portion of the pageant and a coral, one-piece bathing suit for the first half of the event.
Katie Millar, 21, daughter of Randy and Denise Millar, Syracuse, was first runner-up. Megan Medlock, 18, the daughter of Chuck and Lynne Medlock, Syracuse, was second runner-up. Third runner-up was Christy Wilson, 19, daughter of Tim and Rosalie Wilson, North Webster.
Queens' scholarships are provided by the Palace of Sports Foundation. The queen receives $2,000; first runner-up, $1,500; second runner-up, $1,000; and third runner-up, $500.
Tara Eberhart, 19, daughter of Dennis and Cheryl Eberhart, South Whitley, was presented the Lioness Club Community Service Award - an engraved silver tray and monetary prize.
The event was moved to the new North Webster Community Center gymnasium from the North Webster Lions Club's merchant's building. The center is an elementary school reclaimed by the community to house activities sponsored by a variety of organizations. The pageant had been in the gym years ago, moved to Counting House Bank, then to the festival grounds.
Caylyne DeGood, the 2003 Queen of the Lakes, and 2003 Cutie King and Queen, Dominic Pecoraro and Brooklyn McCulloch, shared a seat during the second half of the pageant. A bench for the cuties was missing from the star-studded stage.
Steve Ward was master of ceremonies. Jim White provided music during the pageant. Ushers were Nick Richcreek and Brandon Richcreek.
"Hollywood Nights - A Night at the Movies" is this year's festival theme, which will be followed during the cutie parade at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and the festival parade at 4 p.m. Saturday. The cutie king and queen contest is 6:30 p.m. Friday.
On the Net: www.northwebsterlions.com
