Holmen Courier - News: "Former Miss America to host Holmen pageant

By RANDY ERICKSON/Editor
The emcee for this year's Miss Holmen Pageant cost a little more than usual, but pageant director Kim Jackson figured it's worth a little extra money to get Cash.

Jackson first met Kellye Cash when Jackson was Miss Holmen 1987 and Cash had won the 1987 Miss America title. They met at the Miss La Crosse Oktoberfest Pageant, and last year Jackson thought it was time to bring Cash back to the area.

Cash, who is the great-niece of music legend Johnny Cash, had agreed to emcee the Miss Holmen Pageant last year, but then ran into a conflict. She also had agreed to serve as a judge in the Miss America Pageant, which was a problem because she would have been working with Miss Wisconsin at the Holmen pageant. Miss America judges aren't allowed to have contact with the state pageant winners before the Miss America Pageant.

This year, though, all systems are go for Cash to emcee the Holmen pageant, which also will feature Miss Wisconsin Tracy Gest, who plays piano, and Holmen High School junior Brian Schroeder, who also performed on piano and vocals at last year's pageant.

The reigning Miss Holmen, Jamie Bettesworth, who finished in the top 10 at the recent Miss Wisconsin Pageant, also will perform.

Cash is an accomplished singer who has released three CDs of contemporary Christian music, the latest of which is called 'Real Life.' She also has performed in numerous regional theatrical productions, most recently playing Patsy Cline in the Cumberland County Playhouse production of 'Always ... Patsy Cline.'

Jackson said she is not sure what songs Cash will perform, but she noted that the pageant theme is 'Luck Be a Lady.'

This year's Miss Holmen Pageant, which is Aug. 12, will feature six contestants. Two of this year's entries - Kristina Smaby and Melissa Schmitz - competed in last year's pageant. The other four - Gabriel Horstman, Anna Pedretti, Hannah Rock and Jessica Scheller - are all seniors at Holmen High School.
The Holmen pageant is part of the Miss America Scholarship Pageant Program, and the Miss Holmen winner will receive at least $2,000 in scholarship money.

The contestants will compete in interview, swimsuit, evening gown and talent, and Jackson noted that this year's talent selections are more diverse than usual. In addition to two vocal performances, there will be a dramatic monologue, a baton twirling exhibition, a ballet performance, a jazz dance number and a piano performance.

'I think it'll be a great show,' Jackson said.

Tickets are $12 and reservations will be taken by phone - 526-3159 -from Aug. 3-10, with any remaining tickets available at the door.

With the high-profile emcee and relatively large field of contestants, Jackson said people would be well-advised to call ahead for tickets as there might be very few if any left at the door.

'I would think there would be a little bit left, but I can't guarantee anything,' Jackson said.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: 2005 Miss Holmen Pageant

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12

WHERE: Holmen High School Fine Arts Center

EMCEE: Kellye Cash, winner of 1987 Miss America title and great-niece of the late Johnny Cash.

CONTESTANTS: Gabriel Horstman, Anna Pedretti, Hannah Rock, Jessica Scheller, Melissa Schmitz and Kristina Smaby.

TICKETS: Admission is $12. Tickets can be reserved Aug. 3-10 by phone at 526-3159. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door the night of the pageant.

ON THE WEB: Learn more about emcee Kellye Cash at www.kellyecash.com."

German Fest Photo Gallery is UP!

The German Fest photo gallery is now up!

We've collected photos from the arrivals of German Fest's acts from Germany along with shots throughout the festival. All on our website and exclusive through the Stimmung Stunde.

Each night, our team of journalists upload the photos with captions of what you are looking at. If you can't make it to German Fest, this is truly the next best thing!

Check out all the photos at the German Fest photo gallery!

Sauerkraut Awareness Classes

German Fest has yet to announce the location on the grounds for the Sauerkraut Awareness classes. They are to be held on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. but the location has not yet been set. They need to have access to a 200 psi water hose and some singing parakeets, so the venue is just as important as the message in this case.

Stay tuned for updates.

Turn For the Judges: MISS WISCONSIN


TRACY ANN GEST
Miss Wisconsin 2004
Photo courtesy of Miss Wisconsin Org..

She may have one of the shortest names of any Miss Wisconsin titleholder, however the Badger State's newest queen makes up for in a lengthy pageant resume and credentials.

Miss New Berlin, Tracy Ann Gest, 19, was crowned Miss Wisconsin 2005 on Saturday evening, June 25, 2005 at the conclusion of the 2005 Miss Wisconsin pageant. The pageant was held at the Alberta Kimball Auditorium at Oshkosh West High School in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where its been staged since 1963.

Gest, who succeeds Miss Wisconsin 2004, Molly Jean McGrath, 23, of Wisconsin Rapids, is currently a student at Carroll College, Waukesha, majoring in communications and public relations. Her pageant platform, 'Keys to a Cure', is a Diabetes Awareness program dedicated to her father, Edward, who has had the ailment for 38 years. Gest has produced a CD of ten piano selections which includes her Miss Wisconsin talent selection from Rachmaninoff, Disney songs, and also 'Seasons of Love' from the musical 'Rent'. The CD, titled “Keys to a Cure”, helps to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association and it can be purchased a: http://www.diabetesawareness.blogspot.com .

On Thursday, June 23, during the previous two evenings of preliminary competition, Tracy performed a classical piano selection of Sergei Rachmaninoff's enduring signature 'Polichinelle in F-Sharp Minor'. Wearing a cardinal red two-piece swimsuit, she won the Friday preliminary swimsuit award over eleven other candidates in her preliminary group.

After placing first runner-up in the January 8th Miss Milwaukee pageant, Gest was crowned Miss New Berlin on Februay 5, besting three other contestants for the third annual title.

Prior to her two Miss America local pageants this year, Gest has an assortment of titles and various placements in competitions she has taken part in since she was a young teen. In 2000, she held the title of Miss Wisconsin American Junior Teen. A year later, she was Miss Wisconsin Junior National Teenager 2001.

During her senior year at Sussex-Hamilton High School, Gest was chosen as a member of 'Students of the Month' and was named Menomonee Falls' Junior Miss in June of 2002. Later that year in November, she was selected as first runner-up to Wisconsin's Junior Miss 2003. In the summer of 2003 while competing at the national Beauties of America contest in Bloomington, Minn. she was named the Fitness and over-all 2003 Teen winner. Last June, Gest was crowned as Miss PolishFest Milwaukee 2004-2005, during the annual PolishFest. Ironically, while Gest was having fun and signing autographs in Oshkosh at the Miss Wisconsin pageant, the 2005 PolishFest was being beld at the Henry Meier Festival Park in Milwaukee, and she did not get to crown her Miss PolishFest successor.

As the new Miss Wisconsin, Gest will advance to the 2006 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, NJ scheduled for January. She will attempt to become the state's second Miss America. Terry Anne Meeuwsen of DePere won the Miss Wisconsin title on her second attempt and became Miss America 1973 in September of 1972.

Gest is the second woman from Menomonee Falls to wear the Miss Wisconsin crown. Judith (Judy) Hieke of Menomonee Falls, located in Waukesha County, was named Miss Wisconsin 1973 and placed first runner-up to Miss America 1974, almost succeeding Wisconsin's Meeuwsen as Miss America."

www.weather.com - Tenday Forecast: Have you checked out the Milwaukee forecast? German Fest is going to have some GREAT weather!!!

Camille Anderson comes to show

Have you seen Wedding Crashers? Well, do it if you haven't yet. It's great. And a featured actor in the movie, Camille Anderson, will be on July 30th's program!

Jackie Hart has her own website

Did you know that reigning Miss Galaxy 2006, Jackie Hart, has her own website?

Indeed.

Go to http://www.jackiehart.com and see for yourself.

Then, tune in on August 20, 2005 for our exclusive interview with the stunning Miss Galaxy herself, Jackie Hart!

ABC News: Miss America Hopes for Rejuvenation on Cable: "OSHKOSH, Wis., July 17, 2005 — Over the course of 84 years, the Miss America pageant transformed itself from an obscure tourist attraction in New Jersey into an American institution.

But the spotlight has been getting smaller.


The state queens crowned in such places as Woonsocket, R.I., Derry, N.H. and Oshkosh, Wis., may have thought they'd be headed to the annual network extravaganza that's been a television staple every September for 50 years.

Well, they were wrong.

Going Cable

Jilted by the networks because of poor ratings, Miss America has been forced to go cable. Country Music Television has ridden to the rescue. It bought the show and plans to stage it, not in September, but in January at a location to be determined.

'We have a niche audience that will follow us,' said Robert Arnhym, executive director of the Miss California organization. 'No matter where we are, they will find us.'

Maybe. But back in 1988, the show had 33 million viewers. Last year, it pulled in only nine million — quite a comedown. And CMT typically has an audience of just 300,000 in prime time.

'Nobody wants to see baton-twirling,' said Jarrod Moses, CEO of Alliance, an entertainment marketing agency. 'Nobody wants to see a full-length bathing suit from the 1960s.'

While there's talk of a more authentic approach to the next pageant, with plenty of unrehearsed backstage vignettes for viewers to savor, not everyone likes the idea.

'The contestants are too savvy,' said Kate Shindle, Miss America 1998. 'They're not gonna trash-talk each other. They're not going to, you know, say nasty things about Miss Oklahoma's evening gown just because you've got a camera backstage.'

Additionally, there has been considerable concern within the Miss America"

Miss Wisconsin Homecoming

Photos from today's Miss Wisconsin Homecoming and the crowning of Lisa Nelson as the new Miss New Berlin are now out on Webshots. Follow this link: Tracy Gest - Miss Wisconsin 2005 gallery

Lovely Jackie Hart sends us new photos!

Miss Galaxy 2006, the gorgeous Jackie Hart, sent us some new photos to put out on our webpage. Look for the story on our home page and follow the links to her webshots gallery!!! Or go directly to her gallery: Miss Galaxy 2006, Jackie Hart gallery

Remember to check out our new photos!

Here's Bianca of the Schaefers reading her IDs that we've been playing on the Stimmung Stunde.

Check out this photo, and many more, from my parents' trip to the Vaterland last week. Lots of great photos with top celebrities in Germany.

My Mother Done Went Crazy!

Yes, I know. No surprise there. She has just returned from her trip to Germany and she's uploaded tons of photos on our photo gallery. Of particular note, are her pictures in the
Marta Kretschmann - Interviewer of the German Superstars,
Singing Stars - Feldberger,
Singing Stars - Ladiner,
Singing Stars - Marc Pircher, and
Singing Stars - Schaefers. Enjoy!!!

We know SHE had a blast!

German Fest tickets

If you would like to win German Fest tickets, check out the home page and look for the hidden article!

Feel free to enter as many times as you wish.

JS Online: Golden twirlers: "The reigning Miss Milwaukee, Meghan Coffey, 21, learned that lesson. She joined the Debutantes at age 5. Now a Marquette University student majoring in biomedical engineering, she plans to graduate next year, go to law school and become a patent lawyer.

'It's been so much a part of my life,' she said. 'It's taught me all these values, and I could never let it go. There would be a part of me missing if I left it.'"

The Capital Times: "Miss Wisconsin is from New Berlin

By The Associated Press
June 27, 2005


Newly selected Miss Wisconsin Tracy Gest, 20, a communications major at Carroll College in Waukesha.
Newly selected Miss Wisconsin Tracy Gest, 20, a communications major at Carroll College in Waukesha. (Photo by Laura May/Oshkosh Northwestern)

OSHKOSH - Miss New Berlin, Tracy Gest, played a piece by Chopin on the piano and won the swimsuit competition to win the crown as Miss Wisconsin 2005.

Gest, 20, a communications major at Carroll College, will receive a $10,000 scholarship and a trip to compete in the 2005 Miss America pageant this fall in Atlantic City, N.J., after winning the statewide contest Saturday night.

'It's just unbelievable to live this dream,' she said Sunday. 'My childhood dream came true.'

She plans to promote diabetes awareness during her yearlong position. Her father has suffered from juvenile diabetes for 38 years, she said.

Gest succeeds Molly Jean McGrath, 23, of Wisconsin Rapids.
Advertisement:

Alexandra Kealey, Miss Wisconsin West, was named first runner-up and Miss St. Francis, Michelle Smukowski, was named second runner-up. Miss Madison didn't place.

Contestants vied for several awards over four days of event in Oshkosh, including a downtown parade.

Gest said the year spent as a state representative will give her important real-world experience to prepare her for a career in public relations.

'This is perfect timing,' said Gest. 'Winning is really going to put me out there and will give me a better outlook about how to be a PR person. I believe in hands-on experience.'

Published: 10:03 AM 6/27/05"

Star-Telegram.com | 07/02/2005 | Miss Texas hopefuls gearing up: "It was announced last week that Country Music Television would broadcast Miss America, but not in September, as has been done in the past. Instead, Miss America will be broadcast from Atlantic City in January.

'Everyone has been very much aware here for some time that it was very unlikely that September would be in the forecast,' said Jean Magness, the Miss Texas Pageant's executive director, referring to the show's timing. 'Then with the announcement this week of the pending January telecast, it takes fall out of the forecast, too.'
"

This is the first mention I've seen of Atlantic City. I think this particular author didn't do his homework. Atlantic City is not mentioned in the actual Press Release.

Would Miss America look good in overalls? - Sunday, 07/03/05: "Would Miss America look good in overalls?

Miss America's gone country.

The ailing iconic 'scholarship' pageant will be shown on Nashville-based Country Music Television for at least the next two years, according to an announcement last week.


After the ratings continued to tank — even after both the bathing suits and show length were made smaller — all the big networks
fled.

Mum's the word about whether the show itself will come to Nashville. It's been an Atlantic City staple since city officials there created it in 1921 to extend the tourism season past Labor Day." ...more...

Can Miss America get in touch with reality? - 07/01/05: "Can Miss America get in touch with reality?

Classic pageant looks to Country Music Television to revive it after being dropped by ABC.

By Roxanne Roberts and Vanessa De La Torre / Washington Post
Image
Miss America Organization

Deidre Downs was crowned Miss America 2005 in September's pageant, which received such low TV ratings it was dropped by ABC.

Pop quiz: Name the current Miss America.

Surely you know Carrie Underwood is the newest 'American Idol.' Betcha you'd recognize Paris Hilton and her little dog, too. But ever hear of Deidre Downs?

Downs was crowned Miss America 2005 last September in a two-hour pageant that received such low TV ratings ABC dropped it -- and no other broadcast network picked it up. No show, no sponsors, no scholarship money.

There she goes, Miss America.

That's why the 84-year-old pageant is desperately trying to reinvent itself once again with a new look, a new date and a new deal on Country Music Television. The show will be more reality than rhinestone, and move from September to January. Is this a glamorous extreme makeover or the death knell of the scholarship-beauty-talent competition?" ...more...

Onalaska Community Life - News: "Miss Berlin Tracy Gest topped a field of 23 contestants to earn the title of Miss Wisconsin."