Third grader Emily Fowler (center) was named the 2011 Crothersville Red, White & Blue Festival Princess during Thursday’s opening night events at the town’s 36th annual festival.
She is the daughter of Jason and Marinda Fowler.
First runner-up is Piper Hensley (left) daughter of Kevin & Tanita Hensley.
Second runner up was Maddie Riley (right) daughter of Bobbie & Suzie Riley.
All princesss contestants combined to raise $3,478.01 for the Phi Beta Psi which is split between Cancer research and the RWB Festival.
What began as a small community bicentenniel celebration has continued for 36 years in Crothersville when the Red, White & Blue Festival opened its annual flag waving celebration last Thursday.
During the opening ceremonies, members of the Crothersville Veterans of Foreign Wars color guard and Ladies Auxiliary presented the flags and conducted a flag-raising to pay tribute to veterans missing in action.
Two area veterans, Montie J. Mount, who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and Asberry Riley, who also served in Korea as a member of the U.S. Navy, were honored.
Another veteran honored was Richard “Dick” Schlueter, a charter member of the Red, White and Blue Festival Committee. Schlueter died Dec. 4, 2010, at the age of 83. A special plaque was presented to his family for his service both to the festival and as a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
“He dedicated his life to this community,” festival director Sherry Bridges said.
Emily Fowler, 9-year old daughter of Jason & Marinda Fowler, was named this year’s Red, White & Blue Festival Princess sponsored by the Phi Beta Psi sorority.
First runner-up was Piper Hensley daughter of Kevin & Tanita Hensley; 2nd runner-up was Maddie Riley, daughter of Bobbie & Susie Riley.
The contest is judged by how much money each contestant raises for the sorority’s cancer research fund. Collection cans featuring the girls’ pictures were placed at businesses around the community and each cent donated counted as one vote.
Together, the field of contestants collected $3,478.01.
In a related fundraiser, Bayleigh North, who has a family member battling cancer, independently raised $346.04 to go to Cancer Research.
Saturday’s Red, White & Blue Festival Pie Contest was a big hit with 20 entries.
Winners were:
Fruit— Lonavene Johnson, Peach Raspberry
Cream— Lonavene Johnson, Mr. Goodbar
Cobbler— Nina Harris, Peach
Your Speciality— Katie Keith, Japanese Fruit
Best of Show— Lonavene Johnson, Mr. Goodbar
