Parade, crowning of Snow Queen kick off Christmas season

Published 10:48 am Thursday, December 12, 2019

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STANFORD — Stanford was a hotbed of activity Saturday evening as throngs of people crowded into Main Street for the Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade.

With downtown Stanford brightened with strands of Christmas lights and business fronts lit up for the season, parade-goers had little trouble finding their way along the Main Street sidewalks.

The “Christmas on the Wilderness Road” themed parade, which Chamber Director Andrea Miller said drew the largest crowd in recent years to Stanford, welcomed in the holiday season with a wide variety of classic cars, floats, ATVs and more to entertain the huge crowd of onlookers.

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Children lining the parade route in anticipation of seeing the man in the red suit were not disappointed, with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus bringing up the rear of the 2-hour parade atop a fire truck.

Dozens of lovely Snow Queen, Snow Countess, Snow Duchess and Snow Princess candidates and their young gentlemen escorts were also scattered out along the parade route.

One of the highlights of the parade came at its conclusion as attention shifted to the steps of the Lincoln County Courthouse for the crowning of winter royals.

Lucy Singleton, who finished as first runner-up in the 2018 Snow Queen contest, was deemed the top candidate this year, selected out of a field of 27 lovely ladies to wear the title of 2019 Snow Queen. Singleton, 16, and a junior at Lincoln County High School, was sponsored by the LCHS Track and Field Team. She is the daughter of Tracy and Eddie Singleton of Waynesburg. Singleton was escorted by Woods Smith, the son of Laura and Hank Smith of Stanford.

Singleton received her crown, roses and cape from last year’s Snow Queen, Nikki Petrey.

Camea Centers, 17, the daughter of Matt and Vivian Sowder, was named the Snow Queen first runner-up. Her sponsor was Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU). Her escort was Justin Bryant, son of Crystal Frederick.

Second runner-up in the contest was Kaylynn Smith, 17, the daughter of Mary and Travis Smith. She was sponsored by the LCHS Softball Team. Her escort was Ethan Lane, son of Heather Lane and Jeffrey Lane.

Karissa McLaren, 17, sponsored by the LCHS Girls Soccer Team, was named the third runner-up. McLaren is the daughter of Bradley and Crissy McLaren. She was escorted by Charles Harmon, the son of Dustin Harmon and Carrie Baugh.

Fourth runner-up was Peyton Ramsey, 15, the daughter of Kim and Andy Powell and Clay and Shelby Ramsey. She was sponsored by the LCHS FCCLA Club and her escort was Jake Sears, the son of Chris and Melanie Sears.

The remaining Snow Queen candidates, their sponsors and escorts were: Madelynn Durham, 18, daughter of Angela Watson and Jeff Durham, LCHS Girls Archery, and Mason Gastineau, son of Rebecca and Derek Gastineau; LaShawna Helm, 17, daughter of Nelsoyna Helm and Stephone Wilkinson, National Honor Society, and Josh Denson, son of Patricia Albritton; LaShanna Helm, 17, daughter of Nelsoyna Helm and Stephone Wilkinson, sponsor Stephone Wilkinson, and Marcus Smith, son of Tony and Mary Gooch; Lindsey Phillips, 16, daughter of Billy and Chasity Phillips, Sheriff Curt Folger, and Deric Hodge, son of Jennifer Hodge and Earl Hodge; Olivia Horn, 17, daughter of Jill and Scott Horn, LCHS Tennis, and Waylon Shields, son of Jennifer Curtsinger and Allen Shields; Laura Ferguson, 17, daughter of Andy and Carol Ann Ferguson, LCHS Beta Club, and Loren Melton, son of Stephanie and Rodney Melton; Hannah Jeffries, 16, daughter of Lorie Munford and Chris Jeffries, LCHS Student Council, and Gavin Fowler, son of Amanda Coffman and Wayne Coffman; Shelbie Mills, 17, daughter of Shawna Warfield and Drew Mills, LCHS Volleyball, and Chase Singleton, son of Tim Singleton and Georgia Singleton; Meshala Rose, 17, daughter of Janet and James Rose, FFA, and Hawk Randall, son of Crystalyn and Troy Randall; Haleigh Releford, 16, daughter of Jamie and Tami Releford, UNITE, and Blake Smith, son of Denny and Amanda Smith; Sarah Bethannie Grimes, 16, daughter of Sammy and Kim Grimes, HOSA, and Aaron Cook, son of Scottie and Christie Cook; Jamica Bryant, 16, daughter of Crystal Frederick and Jamie Bryant, LCHS Cheer, and Nelson Martin, son of Brian and Donna Aldridge; Tinsley Bastin, 16, daughter of James and Amy Bastin, WPBK-FM and LCHS Cheer, and Braxton Cooper, son of Joey and Amy Cooper; Alyceson Angeloff, 16, daughter of June Angeloff and Mike Angeloff, LCHS Varsity Cheer, and Nicholas Harris, son of Andrea Elkins and Gene Harris; Elizabeth Brown, 16, daughter of Amanda Smith, First Priority/FCA, and Daylin Baker, son of Jackie and Jeniffer Baker; Jasmine Steele, 17, daughter of Brian and Amber Coyne, Educators Rising, and Austin Blevins, son of Jeff Blevins and Pam Stephens; Kennedy Kirkpatrick, 18, daughter of William and Michaelena Kirkpatrick, LCHS Swim, and Jacob Napier, son of Angie Napier and William Napier; Savannah Robbins, 16, daughter of Timmy and Missy Robbins, LCHS Softball, and Luke Isaacs, son of Scott Isaacs and Amy Spoonamore; Lydia Rice, 17, daughter of Danie and Vickie Rice, Future Business Leaders of America, and Kade Bandura, son of Kevin and Jennifer Bandura; Trinity Shearer, 17, daughter of Brian and Rebecca Shearer, LCHS Girls Basketball, and Garrett Clem, son of Michael and Connie Clem; Madilyn Faith Clarkson, 16, daughter of Shelli Clarkson and Marty Clarkson, LCHS Boys Archery, and Devin Hodge, son of Jennifer Hodge and Earl Hodge; and Desirae Ellison, 17, daughter of Sonya Miller, LCHS Cross Country, and Calvin Randall, son of Troy Randall and Crystalyn Randall.

The float winners were: Freedom Baptist Church, best non-profit/church; First Southern National Bank Fire Truck, best business float; Skyline Broadband, judge’s choice; and Stanford Lion’s Club, best themed float.

See next week’s IJ for results from the Snow Princess, Snow Duchess and Snow Countess contests.