Spring Creek High senior wins Fire Princess Pageant
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 14, 2013 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
Sarah Casey, right, representing the Elroy Fire Department, gets a hand from pageant director Shari Stewart as she is crowned the 2013 Wayne County Fire Princess on Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre. Also shown is Jade Creel, who represented the Eureka Fire Department.
Sarah Casey took to the stage at the Paramount Theatre Saturday night, wooden spoon in hand and wearing an apron as she embodied the character featured in "Cooking With Julia Child" for her skit in the 39th annual Wayne County Fire Princess Pageant.
She would be preparing "flaming French onion soup," she said. But as the demonstration unfolded, smoke wafted up from the stove and she broke into song -- "This Girl Is On Fire."
The rendition sparked enough votes for the judges to name the 17-year-old Spring Creek High School senior as the 2013 Wayne County Fire Princess.
Sponsored by the county Firefighters Association, the annual event is more than a beauty pageant, organizers said. It is designed to also educate the public about fire safety and fire prevention.
Representing fire districts around the county, 10 contestants participated this year and were judged on the basis of talent and costume, evening gown and on-stage question.
This year's theme was "Prevent Kitchen Fires." Since May, the contestants have been doing research and preparing their talent in the form of a skit centering around the topic.
The program also featured a special tribute to Shari Stewart, who has worked with the contest for the past 31 years -- first as a judge than assistant director and for the past 28 years as director. She recently announced this year would be her last.
Members of the Firefighters' Association presented Mrs. Stewart with her own customized crown, a fireman's hat.
Miss Casey, the daughter of Charles and Cheryl Casey, represented the Elroy Fire Department.
"I did it because my dad is on Elroy Fire Department and to make him proud," she said afterwards. "I'm the first from Elroy to ever be Fire Princess, so that makes me real proud.
"I'm glad I can represent everybody. I'm looking forward to just getting to meet everybody, show all the little girls they can do it."
Others in the court were Meagan Sutton representing the New Hope Fire Department and a senior at Eastern Wayne High School, first runner-up; Janey Jones representing the Mar Mac Volunteer Fire Department, a junior at Southern Wayne High, second runner-up; Katlyn Batts representing the Fremont Volunteer Fire Department, a sophomore at Charles B. Aycock High, third runner-up; and Payton Anders representing the Saulston Volunteer Fire Department, a senior at CBA, fourth-runner-up.
Amanda Kincaid, a senior at CBA and the representative of the Pikeville-Pleasant Grove Volunteer Fire Department, was chosen by her fellow contestants as Miss Congeniality.
A plaque featuring names of winners from 1975 to date will be permanently displayed at the Office of Emergency Services.