Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Robertson Forest Festival Queen

Kimberly Robertson is the 1998 Forest Festival Queen.

Robertson was crowned, with three other new queens, at the annual Forest Festival Pageant Saturday, Oct. 24, in the old Gurdon High School Auditorium.

Pretty much a packed house was on hand to see which four of the 35 young ladies would go home with a crown atop their tresses.

Chad Cornelius acted as master of ceremonies for the event, getting things underway by singing "Butterfly Kisses," the pageant's theme.

The young ladies, in four divisions, paraded on a stage decorated with gold palm trees and multi-colored butterflies. The only competition for the night was in evening gowns.

Each of the four outgoing queens made their final appearance and said their last farewells, thanking all for the chance to represent Gurdon as Forest Festival queen.

The fun began with the Tiny Miss contestants making their trip around the stage. However, a mistake was made by the judges as the competition drew to a close.

When Cornelius was reading off the winners, the judges had inadvertently written down the number of one contestant and the name of another for first runner up.

This was quickly worked out, with the proper young lady getting the trophy.

Devan Jester was tabbed as most photogenic, while Kaitlyn Reid was the second runner up. Emily Alexander was named first runner up in the division.

This year's Tiny Miss queen is Morgan Watson.

Next up was Little Miss, with Jesi Woolf taking home the crown. Kandyce Jones was named first runner up, with Brittney Dickerson second runner up. Kayla Caldwell was selected as most photogenic.

This was followed by the Princess division, with Callie King going home with the crown. Natalie Tarpley was the first runner up, Jill Plyler the second runner up and Carolanne Duke most photogenic.

A total of 13 young ladies competed for the title of Forest Festival Queen.

These young ladies had competed in an interview competition before parading around the stage in their evening gowns.

When all was said and done, Kimberly Robertson went home with the interview title as well as the crown.

Valerie Swayze, the Clark County Fair Queen, was first runner up.

Emily Louise Thomas was named second runner up and most photogenic.

In the midst of things, Freddie Horne gave the audience an update on plans for the festival.

He said plenty of entertainment has been lined up for those visiting Gurdon for the festival.

So far, about 114 arts and crafts booths have signed up, along with seven food vendors.

This year's festival will have mini-train rides along with pony rides and the usual carnival- style rides.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AG&FC) will have its traveling aquarium on hand. This aquarium displays many of the fresh water fish found in the state.

Some of the streets will be blocked off Friday afternoon, Oct. 30, Horne said, and there will be a bit of traffic congestion because of this.

But, the festival will kick off early Saturday, 7 a.m., with the Rotary Club's Pancake Breakfast at the Senior Adult Center.

The arts and crafts booths will open at 8 a.m., with registration for the antique car show starting at 9.

Things will slow down at 10 o'clock for the parade, but will pick up as entertainment takes center stage at 10:30.

Logging games will begin at 11 a.m., with the grand opening speeches slated for noon. Horne said several politicians are scheduled to speak at the event.

The Gurdon High School Marching Go-Devil Band will perform as will plenty of local talent.

Entertainment will stop at 4 p.m. when the Community Development and Entertainment Club holds its annual auction.

This will be followed at 5 by the annual costume contest for the kiddies. Also at 5, the Senior Adult Center is hosting a fish fry, which will get visitors ready for the street dance, starting at 7:30 p.m.

The festival concludes again this year with the street cleaning contest. Horne said all contestants will receive free garbage bags to help them in the race.