Nicole Salaba crowned Miss Lonsdale

Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

With the placing of a crown, Nicole Salaba was named Miss Lonsdale 2007 during that community's annual pageant on Friday, Aug. 4, at the Lonsdale American Legion.

Princesses for the coming year are Andrea Olson and Jennifer Michels, who was also named Miss Congeniality. They were among six contestants vying for the title. Also competing were Allysha Bowers, Meagan Kodada and Joshlyn Smith.

The 2007 court are the successors of Miss Lonsdale 2006 Kayla Skluzacek, Princess Julie Herda and Princess Nicole Smisek. Miss Lonsdale 2007 and the princesses are the ambassadors for the community for the next year.

New additions to the court are Adrianna Montanye and Brookelyn Skluzacek, who are Little Lonsdale Ambassadors 2007. The two girls are the first to hold the titles. For a child to be named they must be in the first or second grade, their parents must live in town or be a businessperson in the community.

As Miss Lonsdale 2007, Salaba was given a $1,500 scholarship and Princesses Olson and Michels each receive a $1,000 scholarship. Montanye and Skluzacek each get a $50 savings bond.

Contestants for Miss Lonsdale were judged in different areas on a scale of one to 10. Judging done before the pageant was based on a personal interview, community involvement and academic work. At the pageant, judges made decisions based on on-stage interviews, on-stage presence and the evening gown competition, which included poise, choice of attire and overall grace.

For the second consecutive year, contestants made presentations under the Legends of Lonsdale, where the six young women had to dress as and make presentations of a person or organization that is considered a legend in the community.

Bowers chose Fritz Vosejpka, who played baseball for many years and then was manager for the Lonsdale Bombers town team. Kodada represented her grandfather Laddie Kodada, a mason who began LA Kodada & Sons, which is still in operation today. Michels was Joy Cihak, the first Miss Lonsdale, who is now married, has children and is working toward becoming a registered nurse. Olson portrayed Martin Bendzick, who helped build Lonsdale's first hotel. Salaba was Fritz Palma, a businessman active in the community who had the first hardware store. Smith was Robert Bull Skluzacek, a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, who, after World War II, worked with cattle in the artificial insemination industry.

During the on-stage interviews the ladies were asked to identify which TV family was most like theirs, what age would they like to be, where would they like to be in five years and then 10 years and why do they think they could represent Lonsdale. Answers for the first question ranged from Everybody Loves Raymond