The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Pog< 54--Shaw Media Group 1991 Mr Ouldm People and projects. At pageant helm since 1964 Dorothy Kieckner By Joanne Springman &«ntin«4 staff writer HARVARD - "Lovely tp look at, delightful to know ..." These Cole Porter lyrics are applicable to Mhtity pageant participants everywhere, from " Miss America in Atlantic City to the % Rose Queen in Pasadena to Miss McHenry County in Woodstock. As a matter of fact, Theresa Connor of Mundelein, Miss Illinois 1961 and a visitor to the preliminary Miss McHenry County contest held this month, remarked to general chair- * woman Dorothy Kieckner that judges would have a difficult task in awarding the title because all the contestants are so lovely. Kieckner has worked with more than 200 young lovelies during her tenure as pageant general chairwoman, a post she has held since 1964 when named by then fair President, the late Don Hansen. The pageant itself actually began in 1949, and participants usually represent the county communities of Woodstock, Marengo, Harvard, Ringwood, Fox River Grove, Cary, Hebron, Richmond, Algonquin, McHenry, Wonder Lake, Crystal Lake, Lake In The Hills, Huntley, Union and Alden. This year there are 14 contestants whose average age is 18. Girls in the competition must be age 16 by Aug. 1 of the pageant month and may not be age 22 before Jan. 1 of the following year. Kieckner said her job first begins in March with the selection of judges and the scheduling of radio, television and other personal appearances for the queen candidates. She explained the necessity for securing out-of-county judges who will ensure the integrity of the contest and provide experienced quality judging. For example, the judges for this year's pageant, set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, include: Charles Cecil, director of the Miss Elgin pageant; Stacy Perks, chairwoman of the Miss Winnebago County contest; Bette Landers, Miss Ogle County contest chairwoman; and John Lynn, producer of the Miss Lake County pageant. Kieckner is assisted in her efforts by a hard-working pageant committee, which includes: Ingrid Oost of Har- > veteran of eptest judging; Duval of Algonquin, Linda Borhart of Huntley, Nora feoal of Hebron and Jill Koj^e of Cary, former queen candidates; Lori Weglin of Marengo, a former Harvard Milk Day queen; and Nola Bailey of Harvard, hair stylist and make-up artist. The committee shares tasks and implementation of (dans, such as compiling candidate background fact sheets, preparing the pageant* program, securing advertising for the program, gifts for the queen and candidates, and donations from other pageant patrons, and decorating in accordance with each year's theme, which is "Sweet Summertime" for the 1981 pageant. Two important people who complete the pageant personnel are the emcees for the preliminary and final judging. This year media veteran Van Sells emceed the preliminary contest held at Chapel Hill Country Club in McHenry. Longtime county fair favorite Orion Samuelson, WGN air personality and a vice president, will host the final festivities at the fair. Kieckner explained the girls are interviewed by judges during the preliminary contest, while the final judging includes swimsuit and formal competition and a one-minute speech by each girl about her community. Candidates are scored in each of those categories, plus a score for stage presence and a score for the preliminary interview. The girls with the top five scores become the finalists and appear again in their formals and each is . asked a general question prepared by the committee. From the finalists are chosen the queen and the first runner-up, who acts Continued on page 55 YES-SIREEE QUALITY fe S ^MERCHANDISE 1=E E7 ̂ FAIR PRICES I VISIT V«V ON THE SQUARE FOR YOUR NEXT TV or APPLIANCE • The •tor* where you con buy quality merchandise at a Fair Price. Wo also have a Full Sovlco Department ond work on most brands. V & V TV & APPLIANCE 124 Benton St.Woodstock, 338-0722 ££5 from all of us - to all of you... enjoy yourself at the fair! -- Shaw Media Group