By JANIE SLAVEN<br>Record Staff Writer
WHITLEY CITY — The 30th annual McCrearyFest kicked off this weekend with the crowning of Miss McCrearyFest and a record-breaking car show.
On Saturday night, 20-year-old Courtney Danielle Cox won the 16-22 division of the annual McCrearyFest pageant held in the McCreary Central High School auditorium. The daughter of Jimmy Cox and Tonya Jones, Cox is a junior at Western Kentucky University and plans to pursue a career in teaching.
This year’s pageant boasted some major prizes in addition to the crown. Earlier this month, Pageant Director Marie Gilreath announced that Union College would provide a $10,000 scholarship for the 2009 Miss McCrearyFest to be divided into four $2,500 awards to be granted each year the winner attends Union College.
The new Miss McCrearyFest will also have her entry fee spon-sored by McCrearyFest for the 2009 Kentucky State Festivals Pageant to be held this November.
In addition, four annual $1,500 awards—a total $6,000 scholarship —will be granted to the 1st runner-up in the “Miss McCrearyFest” division by Union College. Kristen Paige Caudill was named 1st run-ner-up.
Gilreath also said that Lindsey Wilson College will provide a free three-credit-hour course — a $2,205 value — for the 2nd runner-up in the division, Chelsea Smith.
With heavy rains marring much of the weekend, the clouds rolled back on Sunday long enough for a large turnout at the McCrearyFest/VFW Post 5127 "Harvest Homecoming" Car Show. Organizer Derek Jones reported 109 registered vehicles and 130 assorted classic vehicles, with over 200 people attending.
Festivities resume Thursday with a chili supper sponsored by the McCreary Central High School cheerleaders and silent auction sponsored by McCrearyFest starting at 6:00 p.m. at McCreary County Middle School. The Friday Night Street Concert on the courthouse steps in Whitley City starts at 5:30 p.m. with the Rebos Project, Nashville recording artist Rex Norton, and local youth rock band The Addiction.
Harvest Homecoming Day is set for Saturday, October 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Whitley City. Among those activities will be the traditional parade at 11:00 a.m., food vendors, craft vendors and demonstrations, Native American displays and demonstrations in Jackson Heritage Park, children’s section in the parking lot across from the bank, cook-off contests in the Gathering Place, art show in the former Repeat Boutique storefront, and farmer’s market in the parking lot just north of the former KU building.
More information is available in this week’s edition. Those interested in learning more may also call the McCreary County Tourism office at 376-3008 or visit:
www.mccrearyfest.com
