Trio takes first place
Gnadenhutten residents, Mila Ridgway, left, and Ezrah McMorrow, with Briella Moody of Uhrichsville, all 3 years old, took first place at the Fireworks Festival Talent Show on July 2 with their dance to “The Floor Is Lava.”
A dancing trio of 3-year-olds, Mila Ridgway and Ezrah McMorrow of Gnadenhutten and Briella Moody of Uhrichsville, took first place at the Gnadenhutten Fireworks Festival Talent Show on July 2 with their dance to “The Floor Is Lava.” They won $100 for their efforts.
It was the girls’ first time to enter a talent show. They completed their first year of dance lessons at Legacy Dance Studio in Uhrichsville. Dancing is something they enjoy very much.
“They can’t wait until next year,” said Danielle Ridgway, the mother of Mila.
McMorrow is the daughter of Savannah and Blaze McMorrow, and Moody is the daughter of Destiny and Ryan Moody.
They are not shy about getting on stage and dancing in front of a crowd. The girls also performed the routine at a recent recital at the Performing Arts Center in New Philadelphia.
Taking second place was Tieg Malcolm, 17, of New Philadelphia and Laney Barger, 18, of Gnadenhutten. Barger sang “Blackbird” by the Beatles while accompanied by Malcolm on the guitar. They received $75.
Dancer Layla Coventry, 8, of Dennison took third place with her hip hop routine to “When I Grow Up” by Kidz Bop. She won $50.
Ellelynie McKibben, 9, of Tippecanoe took fourth place and $25 with her gymnastics performance.
Others performing in the talent show were Emily Lewis of Gnadenhutten, who sang while accompanying herself on the ukulele. Ethan Collins of Newcomerstown sang “Good Ones.”
Anniston McKibben of Tippecanoe performed a gymnastics routine.
Judges for the event were Wendy Beamer and Shane Tobin-Flowers, both of Gnadenhutten, and Tracey Sprowl of Port Washington.
Mariah Abel, 16, of Tuscarawas was named Gnadenhutten Fireworks Festival 2021 queen, and Olivia Ford, 14, of Midvale was named attendant on Wednesday, June 30 prior to the festival.
Abel is the daughter of Paulalynn and Mike Abel. Ford is the daughter of Paula and Jim Ford.
The event was held in the auditorium at the Indian Valley High School and hosted by Sami Krocker, 2017 Fireworks Festival queen. Krocker asked both queen contestants several more impromptu questions in the pageant after the judges felt the two were equal.
During the questioning it was apparent both girls liked helping others. For Abel, if she were president for a day, she would make helping homeless veterans a priority.
“My father is actually my role model because he served 14 years in the service, and I almost lost him twice,” Abel said.
Abel’s hobbies include marching band, choir, writing and reading all genres including sci-fi.
“I really love singing, and I really love painting and the T-County Critters 4-H Club,” Abel said.
Both Abel and Ford will visit other festivals throughout the year to promote the Fireworks Festival.
Emersyn Vosick, 6, of New Philadelphia was selected as Little Miss Firecracker. She will be a first-grade student at Port Washington Elementary. Her parents are Brittany and Justin Vosick.
Other contestants for Little Miss Firecracker were Evelyn Eggerton, 5, of Roswell, the daughter of Sarah and Justin Eggerton and to attend kindergarten, and Ava Plumly, 6, of Port Washington, daughter of Chelsea and Corey Plumly and to be a first-grader at Port Washington Elementary.
McKenzie Waller, 10, of New Philadelphia was named Junior Miss Firecracker. She is the daughter of Melissa and Todd Waller and will be in the fifth grade at Midvale Elementary.
Allyson Stukey, 8, of Port Washington also competed. She is the daughter of Stephanie and Doug Stukey and will be in the third grade at Port Washington Elementary.
Each winner and contestant received a gift bag for participating in the pageant. Sponsors of the pageant were the Village Gift Shoppe, Ricardo’s Party Center, First National Bank of Dennison in Gnadenhutten, Six Bucket Farms and the queen’s court committee.
Winners of the Jr. Parade Marshall and cutest baby contest were announced on Friday night prior to the talent show. The contest raised more than $3,800 in donations to the festival. Holden Welch, 4, of the Gnadenhutten area and Braelyn Vosick, 4, of Tuscarawas were name Jr. Parade Marshall winners. Cutest baby award winners are Beau Reichman, 20 months, in first place and Otto Porter, 3 months, second place.
At the crock auction on Saturday evening, the No. 1 plate went to Brotherhood HVAC for $250. Other crock buyers were Rich Gilmore, $100; Bryan Braun, $50; Gilmore, $55; Cronebaugh Auction, $50; Steve Pasquinelli, $50; Steve Wagner, $380; Tom and Sharon Frank, $60; Steve Carlisle, $70; and Cheryl Foote, $200. The total earned to support the festival was $1,265.
Organizer Hope Johnson declared the festival a huge success.
“This year we had many new food vendors and activities,” Johnson said. “The 5K race was the biggest ever. The parade was bigger even though we asked for a $20 entry fee.”