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..
Local News
Junior Miss concludes tonight
- Local News
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Local law enforcement officials honored
State Rep. Greg Snowden said he remembered as a child looking up to those "men in blue."
He said police officers in uniform were larger than life, riding in their patrol cars and carrying guns to protect and serve the population. Today, he said he is still in great admiration of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day so that citizens can feel safe. -
MPD probes vehicle crash
Evidence of a mother's desperate attempt to save her children from harm were spread all over a car lot — and could be seen on her as well in the form of bruises, cuts and scrapes.
Tuesday night, a vehicle with three children inside crashed through a plate glass showroom floor window damaging four new cars and totaling the vehicle the children were in. -
Skeleton found in residence
Members of the forensics team of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) were called to a dilapidated home in Chunky to probe the discovery of a skeleton.
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Police search for robbery suspects
Two men who reportedly robbed a woman at gunpoint in the parking lot of a local bank are still being sought.
Mike Vick, public information officer with the Meridian Police Department, said the two men approached a woman about 8 p.m. Tuesday at the ATM of Regions Bank on North Hills Street. Vick said one of the suspects was armed with a handgun and after taking an undetermined amount of cash and the victim's car keys, the two suspects fled on foot. -
City cuts payment to Watkins
The Meridian City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to cut their monthly payment to David Watkins, project developer of Meridian's new police station, by $9,999 until work resumes on the project.
The order, made during the Meridian City Council meeting Tuesday morning, included a mutual agreement between the councilmen and Watkins to reduce the project developer's monthly consultant fee of $10,000 to $1, effective Tuesday. -
Crews work on gasoline pipeline
If you hear a loud, booming sound early today, between 4 a.m.-10 a.m., there is no cause for alarm.
Workers with Plantation Pipeline will be performing maintenance work on their 30-foot gasoline pipeline in the Meridian area to accommodate the widening of Highway 493. The location of the work activity will be at Highway 493 North and Oak Hill Baptist Church, just inside the city limits. -
Team Spirit
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High Honor
The flowers and balloons Crestwood Elementary School Principal Kimberly Kendrick received at school Monday were not an early Valentines' Day gift.
Kendrick has been named Meridian Public School District's 2012 Administrator of the Year – an announcement that both surprised and wowed the 17-year veteran educator when made by MPSD Superintendent Dr. Alvin Taylor. -
Master Dance Class
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Digital system promises better communication
Hopefully in the near future you won't hear someone in the emergency services ask over the radio, "Can you hear me now?"
A digital communications system, one which is being pushed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), is a few months away and, in some cases, is already in the testing phase in Lauderdale County. - More Local News Headlines
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