FOURTEEN REPRESENT THEIR TOWNS AT HOMECOMERS' QUEEN CONTEST

JACKSON -- The annual Homecomers Queen Contest will be held Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on the courthouse stage in Jackson.

Thirteen contestants will vie for the title. Each contestant represents her hometown.

The contest is a traditional part of Jackson's Homecomers event, which starts Tuesday and will continue through Saturday in the downtown area.

Homecomer's is sponsored by the American Legion Post 548. The queen contest is arranged by the Ladies Auxiliary.

The contestants include:

ST. MARYS: Sara DeGenova is a student at Valle High School in Ste. Genevieve where she is involved in choir, pep club, campus ministry and serves as the senior class secretary. She is a varsity cheerleader and is in track. She is the daughter of Mary and Mark DeGenova of St. Mary.

WEINGARTEN: Beth Tlapek is from Ste. Genevieve and attends Valle High School. She is involved in track, cheerleading, volleyball, and campus ministry. She also is president of the pep club. She belongs to the Parish Youth Council. Her parents are William and Elaine Tlapek.

STE. GENEVIEVE: Amy Koetting attends Valle High School in Ste. Genevieve where she is involved in varsity volleyball, track, cheerleading, campus ministry, and pep club. She also is a member of Parish Youth Council and the Pro-Life Youth Group. She is the daughter of Jerry and Bonnie Koetting.

WAPPAPELLO: Melissa Bonta is a student at Puxico High School and is involved in French club, FFA club, Beta Club, Honor Society, basketball, band and is co-captain of the flag corps. She works part-time at Fishermen's Net in Wappapello. She is the daughter of Paul and Cheryl Kester.

LONGTOWN: Julie Zoellner graduated from St. Vincent High School in Perryville the past year where she was involved in National Honor Society, SADD, Sodality, pep club, Quill and Scroll, Spanish club, and newspaper staff where she was assistant editor and feature editor. Her parents are Larry and Donna Zoellner of Perryville.

PERRYVILLE: Jennifer Paulus graduated with salutatorian honors from St. Vincent High School in Perryville this past June where she was involved in student council, volleyball, SADD, Sodality, pep club, Spanish club, and was a foreign exchange student to Germany. She is the daughter of Kathleen Paulus.

POCAHONTAS: Erika Reppen graduated from Jackson High School this past year where she was co-captain of the tennis team. She attended the state tennis tournament in her junior year. She is part-time organist for St. John's and Zion Lutheran Churches in Pocahontas. She is the daughter of Nancy and Jary Reppen of Jackson.

MILLERSVILLE: Andrea Mouser attends Jackson High School where she was involved in cheerleading, FBLA, student council and French club. She is student body president for the upcoming year. She attends First Baptist Church in Millersville. She is the daughter of Milton Mouser of Millersville.

FRUITLAND: Crystal Jones attends Jackson High School where she is involved in SADD, FBLA, pep club, and tennis. She is an ice skating instructor at The Ice at Plaza Galleria. She belongs to the youth group at First Baptist Church in Jackson. She is the daughter of Tom and Vanita Jones of Jackson.

JACKSON: Carrie Clippard graduated from Jackson High School this year. She was a varsity cheerleader, captain her senior year. She was also involved in FBLA, FTA, photography club, SADD, pep club, French club, and track. She is a member of the youth group at First Baptist Church in Jackson. She is the daughter of Mike and Kathleen Clippard.

DEXTER: Jessica Parris attends Dexter High School where she was involved in girls state, choir, and varsity tennis. She also is a member of the speech and debate team. She shows Appaloosa horses and is currently ranked eighth in the nation. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Connie Parrish.

CAPE GIRARDEAU: Christy Staley graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School this year where she was involved in volleyball, Spanish club, Red Dagger and pep club. She was also fall Homecoming Queen last year. She is the daughter of Diane Kelpe and Jerry Staley of Cape Girardeau.

BENTON: Amanda Lomax attends Scott City High School where she is involved in National Honor Society, student council, FBLA, FHA, and pep club. She was Junior class president the past year. She has been in 4-H for nine years and has been a Special Olympics volunteer. She is the daughter of Mike and Cheryl Lomax of Benton.

MARBLE HILL: Ruthie Tipton attends Woodland High School where she is involved in pep club, pep band, FHA, WASTED, and band where she also is twirler for the marching band. Through her church she is a junior counselor for girls camp and an assistant teacher for vacation Bible school. She is the daughter of Lynn and Linda Tipton of Marble Hill.

Little Miss Homecomer is Jacie Hartle. She is seven years old and will be in the second grade. She is a member of Brownie Troop #306 and attends New McKendree United Methodist Church. Jacie captured first place in overall performance at the National Dance Competition in Orlando, Florida this summer. Jacie is the daughter of Chad and Geneva Hartle of Jackson.

Little Mr. Homecomer is Derrick Biri of Jackson. Derrick will be in second grade this year at Orchard Elementary School. He participated in the Class A baseball league this summer and will again participate in soccer this fall where he was selected for the first and second grade all-star team this spring. He also wrestles in the Jackson Youth Wrestling Program. His parents are Jim and Lisa Biri.

Hostesses are Shauna Cook and Laura Sides.

Cook attends Jackson High School and is involved in varsity basketball, softball, student council, FBLA, SADD, pep club, Jocks, National Honor Society, J-Club, and Silver Arrow. She is a member of First Baptist Church in Jackson and in its youth group. She officiates at Optimist basketball and softball games. She is employed at McDonald's in Jackson. She is the daughter of Ron and Sandra Cook of Whitewater.

Sides attends Jackson High School where she plays tennis, is in J-Club, National Honor Society, speech team, symphonic band, and choir. She was selected for Who's Who Among American High School Students three years. She played in a national piano competition this summer. She is the daughter of Harold and Nelda Sides of Millersville.

Escorts are Daniel Statler and Jon Marke Milde.

Statler attends Jackson High School where he is involved in student council. He works at Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Pete and Judy Statler of Jackson. Milde also attends Jackson High School where he is involved in FBLA, National Honor Society, French club, Silver Arrow. He will be student body vice president this year. He is the son of Mark and Cheryl Milde.