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Junior Miss concludes tonight
Friday night, the second set of preliminaries at Mississippi’s Junior Miss 2010, proved to be just as strong as the first.
As with Thursday, the evening began with the girls introducing themselves disco-style and an introduction of the emcee, state Sen. Terry Burton.
Then the actual competition began. The girls in the Sapphire group, having done physical fitness and self-expression the night before, took to the stage in the talent competition.
The Diamond girls, on the other hand, performed in physical fitness and answered the on-stage question "What life lesson has helped you prepare for the Junior Miss competition?"
Answers included heart-felt stories and lessons of perseverance, self-confidence, ambition, determination, and living in each moment.
Special entertainment was provided by Alex Parker, who was second alternate, a double-preliminary winner, and the Beth Finch Spirit of Junior Miss award-winner at Mississippi’s Junior Miss last year.
After two nights of intense competition, however, there was only one thing on the girls’ minds: preliminary awards.
After careful deliberation, 16 preliminary awards totaling $8,000 in scholarships were presented by Sidney Anthony, Mississippi's Junior Miss 2009 and first alternate to America's Junior Miss.
Many girls received multiple preliminaries.
"I feel so blessed ... so honored. I honestly can't believe it," said an ecstatic Katherine Thurber of West Jackson County. Thurber was a triple-preliminary winner.
Double-preliminary winners included: Rachel Burttram, Lowndes County; Morgan Davis, Hinds County; Elizabeth Henry, Rankin County; Neeosha Ruffin, Meridian; and Mallory White, Jones County.
Tonight will wrap up Mississippi's Junior Miss 2010. The program will begin at 8 p.m., and the Top 10 finalists will be announced. These girls will compete again in self-expression, talent, and fitness. The girl who takes the title of Mississippi's Junior Miss 2010 will go on to compete at America's Junior Miss in Mobile, Ala., next summer.
Preliminary Winners:
Self Expression
Morgan Davis, Hinds County. Morgan is the daughter of Rhonda Ford and Jason Davis.
Katherine Thurber, West Jackson County. Katherine is the daughter of George and Patricia Thurber.
Mallory White, Jones County. Mallory is the daughter of Bob and Emily White.
Rachel Burttram, Lowndes County. Rachel is the daughter of Tim and Dawn Burttram.
Talent
Neeosha Ruffin, Meridian. Neeosha is the daughter of James Dubose and Sophia Ruffin.
Anna Beth Higginbotham, Forrest County. Anna Beth is the daughter of Tripp & Sonya Higginbotham
Elizabeth Henry, Rankin County. Elizabeth is the daughter of Mark and Kathy Henry.
Virginia Smith, Clarke County. Virginia is the daughter of JoEtte & Berry Smith.
Scholastics
Elizabeth Henry, Rankin County. Elizabeth is the daughter of Mark and Kathy Henry.
Mallory White, Jones County. Mallory is the daughter of Bob and Emily White.
Rachel Burttram, Lowndes County. Rachel is the daughter of Tim and Dawn Burttram.
Katherine Thurber, West Jackson County. Katherine is the daughter of George and Patricia Thurber.
Fitness
Neeosha Ruffin, Meridian. Neeosha is the daughter of James Dubose and Sophia Ruffin.
Katherine Thurber, West Jackson County. Katherine is the daughter of George and Patricia Thurber.
Nicole Wall, Pascagoula. Nicole is the daughter of Larry and Vicki Wall.
Morgan Davis, Hinds County. Morgan is the daughter of Rhonda Ford and Jason Davis..
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Flying Milestone
T-45 Goshawks from Naval Air Station Meridian were recently part of a flyover of the USS George H.W. Bush in celebration of the jet trainers 1 million flight hours mark.
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County faces fines from MDEQ
At the same time as they are investigated by the state auditor's office, Lauderdale County is facing fines from another state agency — the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
MDEQ is fining the county $12,000 for failure to use sediment control at a county road project, but Road Manager Neal Carson said the sediment controls were there.
According to MDEQ spokesman Robbie Wilbur, MDEQ found that a road project in Toomsuba did not have the proper sediment controls to prevent run-off into Roasted Hog Creek. -
Convicted sex offender arrested
Nothing freezes the blood of a mother more than hearing the cries for help from one of her children.
Monday night, a mother and her 14-year old son allegedly found themselves in a battle against a man who earlier this year pleaded guilty to a sexual crime. Fortunately, the two were able to fight off the man, identified now by authorities of the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department as Christopher Todd Shelton. Shelton, 41, of Toomsuba, is now being held in the Lauderdale County Adult Detention Facility on charges of attempted kidnapping, failure to register as a sex offender non-compliance, and probation violation. -
No time like now
If State Treasurer Tate Reeves was concerned whether or not the fifth grade students at Poplar Springs Elementary School were listening to him, then he was convinced they were judging by the questions the youngsters were peppering him with after he spoke Wednesday morning.
"Boy these are very good questions," said Reeves as he took a minute to collect himself from the barrage. "You people are really testing me but I like that. It shows you are interested in this issue." -
Downtown organizations adopt a common name
Something as simple as a name can cause a lot of confusion. Three different downtown organizations in Meridian have learned that the hard way, and they've decided to do something about it.
What used to be three sister downtown advocacy groups — related, but separate — are now one. What were Meridian Main Street, the Alliance for Downtown Meridian, and the Meridian Downtown Association will now all operate under the Meridian Main Street name. -
MPD and LCSD get grants
Each year the Meridian Police Department and the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department receive a joint grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help pay for upgrading equipment used to fight crime.
Twenty grants worth more than $630,000 have been approved to help city and county law enforcement agencies in Mississippi upgrade law enforcement equipment, according to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). The grants to Mississippi police and sheriffs’ departments represent formula grant funding provided through the DOJ Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. -
Rollover sends one to hospital
Meridian Police Department units responded Tuesday afternoon to a two-vehicle collision in downtown Meridian that sent one person to a local hospital with injuries.
According to officials, the accident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of 12th Street and 18th Avenue next to Rush Foundation Hospital. A black two-door sedan was flipped onto its roof as a result of the impact. -
Aniel back at work 12 days after surgery
At first glance, Pete Aniel doesn't look like someone who recently underwent heart surgery.
"I guess you were expecting me to look all weak, and walking around toting an oxygen tank," said Aniel, smiling broadly and – just 12 days after surgery – is neatly dressed in his work uniform.
"Can you believe this?" he says, still amazed himself at the possibility. "I was riding a bicycle in my neighborhood with my wife and grandson just this past Sunday. I tell everyone if you've got to have heart surgery and you're a candidate for this type of procedure, go for it!" -
Stateley Visit
State Auditor Stacey Pickering spoke to the Kiwanis Club of Meridian on Wednesday, Aug. 25.
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State superintendent tours local schools
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tom Burnham took a day away from his office in Jackson Tuesday to visit several local school districts.
"We don't want to get bogged down in the office in Jackson; when you do, you sometimes will see a lot of frustration," said Burnham, who visited Meridian High School, Clarkdale Attendance Center and Enterprise High School. - More Local News Headlines
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Flying Milestone
