This year’s pageant, sponsored by the Staunton Chamber of Commerce, will be held Fri., June 29 at 7 p.m. Applicants must be 4 or 5 years of age. Applicants must be residents of the Staunton School District. They must be accompanied by a parent/guardian during the entire contest.

All other rules will be those established by the Little Miss/Mister Contest Committee. Parent/Guardian signatures give the Contest Committee permission to use the child’s picture for promotional purposes.

Judging will be based on the following:

1. Cuteness: 30 points

2. Stage Presence: 20 points

3. Charm/Personality: 20 points

4. Posture: 10 points

5. Talent: 20 points

For the talent, bring all necessary items: song/tape, poem, stunt, etc. Karaoke machine will be available with a microphone.

Clothing: Girls - wear a dress with a degree of simplicity or fanciness left to the individual. Boys - wear dress pants/shorts with shirt and tie. Suit or sports coat is optional.

Interview: Each child will be interviewed by the retiring Miss Staunton in the form of simple questions and answers for three-five minutes. For example: Do you have any pets? What is his/her name? What does he/she look like?

Applications need to be filled out and returned by June 16 in order to have enough prizes for all the applicants and to assure a group picture for the newspaper. Group picture for the paper will be on Sat., June 23 at 4 p.m. at the park by the baseball field #4 (across from the fireman’s park). At this time each contestant will pick a number that will be the order of which they will appear on stage.

We will have a practice Thurs., June 28 at 12 p.m. on the stage at the park by the bingo stand.

We will have one Little Miss and one Little Mister (no runner-ups). The chamber would like for the new Little Miss and Little Mister 2006 to be in attendance at the Miss Staunton crowning Sat., June 30. Arrive by 6:30 p.m. at the same stage. If your child is the new Little Miss or Mister and would like to enter the Macoupin County Little Miss or Mister, please call Julie Fischer at (217) 839-2807 for the details.

After the winners are announced please do not let your child leave the stage. They each will receive a medallion for participation and an envelope with prizes.

Usually, parents and the newspaper like to get a group picture. Also, all the children are encouraged to ride the Chamber of Commerce float in the parade Sun., July 1. The parade starts at 5 p.m. and line up is at 4:30 p.m. The float is usually close to Daley’s (you can ask one of the firemen standing at the intersections of the street where the chamber float is located).

All the participants are winners, and we are very proud of all of them. Call if you have any questions. Good luck to all of you!

Kim Baker, 635-2686