Contestants prepare for Milan Indian Summer Festival pageant

By Kristina Gleeson, Dispatch/Argus Staff writer

MILAN -- Six women are vying for the title of Milan Indian Summer Festival Queen.

The queen pageant is just one of the activities planned for the Aug. 30-Sept. 2 festival, now in its 45th year.

The festival will fun from 6 p.m. to midnight Aug. 30, from 10:30 a.m. to midnight Aug. 31, noon until midnight Sept. 1, and noon until 6 p.m. Sept. 2.

Carnival rides, a food fair and beer garden, and bingo will be offered each day at Dickson Park.

On Saturday, Aug. 31, the streets of downtown Milan will become a parade route. Floats, marchers and other attractions will step off at 10:30 a.m. The rain date is noon Sept. 1.

The Western Illinois Wildcats, a cheerleading, tumbling, and trampoline group, will perform from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 31. Live bands Dani Lynn Howe and Royal Rockers will play from 8 p.m. to midnight on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

Milan Foursquare Church will host music and children's activities from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 1.

On Sept. 2 at 4 p.m., parade awards will be given, and the winners of the baby contest will be announced.

One of the festival's most-anticipated events, the queen pageant, will span two nights. Aug. 31, contestants will perform in the talent competition and personal interview. The following night, they'll be judged on their evening gown and an on-stage interview. The pageant starts at 7 p.m. both nights.

Andrea Weeks, the 2001 Milan Indian Summer Festival Queen, will crown the winner Sept. 1.

The queen will receive $500 and a $250 clothing stipend. Along with a trophy, the first place winner receives $100, second place $75, third place $50.

The contestants vote among themselves for Miss Congeniality, who receives a trophy and $50.

The competition actually began in June, when contestants were required to sell at least 400 raffle tickets to qualify. Tickets entered buyers into drawings for $300, $200, and $100 prizes.

This year's queen pageant contestants are:

-- Carla Turner, 15, of Rock Island, a sophomore at Rock Island High School. She is sponsored by Suburban Construction Inc. Her parents are Lea and Earl Turner.

-- Ashley Tallman, 15, of East Moline, is a sophomore at United Township High School. She is sponsored by Western Illinois Tumbling and Trampoline. Her parents are Timothy and Penny Tallman.

-- Heather Mandle, 17, of Milan, is a senior at Rockridge High School and sponsored by Quad-City Gymnastics Academy. Her parents are Norman and Judy Mandle.

-- Kathleen Johnson, 15, of Milan, is a sophomore at Rock Island High School and is sponsored by Narby Homes. Her parents are Van and Carole Johnson.

-- Amanda Duffield, 16, Taylor Ridge, is a junior at Rockridge High School. SHe is sponsored by Donnelly Construction. Her parents are Daniel and Cynthia Duffield.

-- Marquita Buckley, 17, of Milan, is a senior at Rock Island High School and is sponsored by Pythian Sisters of Milan. Her parents are Stuart and Barbara Shuck, and Steven Buckley.

Staff writer Kristina Gleeson can be reached at 786-6441, Ext. 298, or by e-mail at kgleeson@qconline.com.