MISS JACKSON SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT 1998 SUNDAY

JACKSON -- Little Miss Snowball contestant Mary Bauer received two third-place medals in the Ice Skating Institute World Figure Skating Championships last summer. Miss Holly participant Emily Lewis has pen pals in Ireland, Australia and South Africa. Miss Christmas entrant Sierra Ma-Rae Jones tutored disabled students at her school in sign language. And Miss Jackson hopefuls Jana Mahurin and Gina Vermillion are both dancers for the St. Louis Ambush professional soccer team.

They will be among the girls and young women who will be on stage Saturday at the Jackson High School Auditorium during the Miss Jackson Scholarship Pageant 1998.

The Little Miss Snowflake, Little Miss Snowball, Miss Holly and Junior Miss Christmas pageants will begin at 2 p.m. The Miss Christmas Pageant and Miss Jackson Scholarship Pageants are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The annual pageant sponsored by the American Business Women's Association is a qualifier for the Miss Missouri pageant. The 1996 Miss Jackson, Stephanie Hammersmith, was the runner-up to Miss Missouri that year. And former Miss Jackson Kim Massaro-Brinegar went on to become Miss Missouri, though she was representing a different city that year.

Massaro-Brinegar will be present along with last year's Miss Missouri, Michele Eise, and the current Miss Jackson, Autumn White.

The seven judges include one who is affiliated with the Miss Missouri pageant. Marybeth Williams has supervised the pageant for the past seven years, and entertainment will be provided by Robyn Hosp.

Nine young women are vying for the title of Miss Jackson this year. Their competition is the only one Saturday in which contestants will be judged on the same basis as Miss America contestants are: on talent, swimsuit and evening gown competitions and an interview.

Miss Jackson will receive a scholarship of $2,000, an amount which is often matched by the recipient's university. Winners of the other contests and runners-up receive gifts and savings bonds.

This year's contestants include four University of Missouri students. The contestants are: Cora Zweifel, 19, of Kahoka; Jessica L. Parris, 21, of Dexter; Melissa Payne, 18, of Hazelwood; Michelle Ann Davidson, 21, of St. Louis; Christina M. Heckenkamp, 20, of Kirksville; Jana Mahurin, 19, of O'Fallon; Gina Vermillion, 19, of Kirkwood; Malia Mae Jones, 18, of Portageville; and Michelle Detwiler, 22, of El Dorado Springs.

Miss Christmas contestants are: Sierra Ma-Rae Jones, 16, daughter of Jimmie D. and Kathryn E. Jones of Portageville; Ashley Nicole Estes, 15, daughter of Alan and Nancy Estes of Jackson; Ashley Nicole Booker, 14, daughter of Dee Kesterson-Booker of Jackson; Devon Lea, 15, daughter of Alesa Lea of Senath; Amy McBride, 18, daughter of Barry and Susie McBride of Vanduser; and Laura Beck, 18, daughter of Ralph and Angela Beck of Jackson.

Junior Miss Christmas contestants are: Staci Dawn Cook, 13, daughter of Steven and Teresa Cook of Cape Girardeau; Amy Wichern, 12, daughter of Dennis and Wanda Wichern of Jackson; Carrie Bell, 13, daughter of Connie Griffith of Jackson; Natalie Faye Trankler, 11, daughter of Frank and Debbie Trankler of Jackson; Ashley Ellen Foeste, 11, daughter of Mark Foeste and Julie Platz of Jackson; and Kara Bollinger, 11, daughter of Jeff and Dawn Bollinger of Millersville.

Miss Holly contestants are: Casey Marie Hinkebein, 11, daughter of Ennis William and Janell Hinkebein II of Jackson; Brittany Lang, 11, daughter or Rick and Connie Lang of Jackson; Emily Lewis, 11, daughter of Howard and Ellen Lewis of Jackson; Kelsey Nicole Powell, 10, daughter of Chris and Tammy Schabbing and Mike Powell of Jackson; and Rachel Marie Kahle, 9, daughter of Michael and Terralyn Kahle of Jackson.

Little Miss Snowball contestants are: Mary Bauer, 7, daughter of Bob and Teresa Bauer of Cape Girardeau; Markie Kaylin Sharrock, 7, daughter of Mark and Cynde Sharrock of Oak Ridge; Karly Michelle Hinkebein, 9, daughter of Ennis William and Janell Hinkebein II of Jackson; Bailey Jean Duncan, 8, daughter of Sam and Melanie Duncan of Jackson; Whitney Green, 6, daughter of Mike and Leigh Ann Green of Sedgewickville; Alexis Paige Ulrich, 8, daughter of Mark and Sandy Hosler and Randy Ulrich of Jackson; Kyndle Blake Brown, 7, daughter of Ron and Donna Brown of Jackson; Vanessa Ayers, 8, daughter of Van and Nancy Caldwell Ayers of Cape Girardeau; and Cassie Lynn Simpher, 6, daughter of Bradley and Carmen Simpher of Jackson.

Little Miss Snowflake contestants are: Rachel Taylor Hodo, 6, daughter of Robert and Kim Hodo of Jackson; Layne Lawrence Finnegan, 4, daughter of Michael and Annie Finnegan of Jackson; Elise Wheaton, 6, daughter of Rudy and Janet Wheaten of Jonesboro, Ill.; Victoria Camden Hosler, 4, daughter of Mark and Sandy Hosler of Jackson; Kaitlynn Elizabeth Baldwin, 4, daughter of Rick and Kim Baldwin of New Wells; Liza Lynn Gray, 4, daughter of Scott and Ginger Gray of Advance; Alicia Ticer, 5, daughter of Connie and Norman Ticer of Kelso; Bailey Dawn McDowell, 6, daughter of Todd and Shelly McDowell of Jackson; and Brianna Danielle Lueders, 4, daughter of Stan and Tammy Lueders of Jackson.