By Staff
NILES - Get ready for the Four Flags Apple Festival 2005! This is the 33rd year for the Apple Festival.
Opening ceremonies are at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Niles High School just prior to the Miss Apple Festival and Miss Junior Apple Festival pagent. There is also a Senior King and Queen presented at that time.
This event is open to the public but seating is limited so you might want to get your tickets in advance.
Candidates for the Miss Apple Festival include:
Dana Lorraine Vorrath
Dana Lorraine Vorrath, of Rynearson Road, Buchanan, 16, is the daughter of Randy and Sandra Vorrath and is a junior at Buchanan High School.
After graduation she plans to attend Saint Mary's College for four years to study pre-dental. She is planning on minoring in dance.
She has been a varsity cheerleader for three years, has been on the varsity soccer team for three years and is co-captain of the Color Guard. She is a member of the band and is a member of the Spanish Club. She was honorable mention inthe Lakeland All Conference for Soccer. She has academic high honors and was a Berrien County pie baking champion for two years. She has also a National Federation of Music Club with eight consecutive superior ratings in piano study.
Dana's hobbies are playing the piano, flute and piccolo. She is a church organist and pianist. She participates in ballet and is a hockey referee and a runner.
Dana was second runner-up in the 1996 Blossomtime Bud Princess contest, first runner up in the 1997 Blossomtime Bud Princess contest and Queen in the 2002 Jr. Miss Apple Festival contest.
Rachel Wetzel
Rachel Wetzel, of Main Street, Buchanan, 17, daughter of Karen and Dale Wetzel, is in the 12th grade at Buchanan High School.
After graduation she plans to attend Western Michigan University to obtain a bachelors degree in mathematics.
Rachel is on the student council, is in National Honor Society, on the Red Bud Chorale, in the marching band, and Head Matmaid on the wrestling team.
She has been teaching handicap children to ride horses as a teen volunteer for the 4-H Club.
Rachel's hobbies are working with horses, hanging out with friends and babysitting.
Jessica Read
Jessica Read, of Broadway Street, Niles, 16, daughter of Barbara Read, is in the 11th grade at Brandywine High School. After high hchool she plans to attend IUSB to pursue a nursing degree.
Jessica is involved in cheerleading, and is first place in the softball standing at a summer league. Her hobbies are spending time with her family and friends, shopping, sports and talking on the phone.
She was in the top 10 in the 2004 Jr. Miss Apple Festival contest. She works at the Prime Table in Niles.
Elizabeth Moyer
Elizabeth Moyer, of Oak Street, Niles, 18, daughter of Scott and Brenda Moyer, is a senior at Niles High School. In July, she plans to go over seas to do mission work. She is leader of D.O.C. (bible study), and is on the honor roll. Her hobbies are camping, youth group, and she loves to be with children. She was in the 2004 Apple Festival Contest and was a runner up. She has been working for Gurley Leep.
Briana "Bree" Kaye Donohue
Briana "Bree" Kaye Donohue, of North 17th Street, Niles, 16, daughter of Brian and Julie Donohue, is in the 10th grade at Niles High School. After graduation she plans to attend a four year college leading to a career as a buyer for a major fashion retailer.
She is involved in soccer and will join the Drug Free Players Club and DECCA. She is on the honor roll, the Academic Excellence Award, has received the President's Education Award and Physical Fitness Award. Her hobbies are cooking, shopping, playing soccer, church youth activities, decorating, and spending time with friends.
She was Miss Congeniality is the 2002 Jr. Miss Apple Festival, and placed in the top 20 out 95 contestants in the National American Miss Contest in 2003. She works at Rana's New Generation as a receptionist.
Kristen Low
Kristen Low, of East Bertrand Street, Niles, 16, is the daughter of Dawn Vaughn and Chris Low, is in the 11th grade at Brandywine High School. After graduation she plans to attend college at IUSB to become a teacher.
She is involved in football and basketball cheerleading and plans on playing softball. She has softball and cheerleading trophies.
She loves to play softball and write poems. She also enjoys hanging out with her friends. She works at D&B plumbing.
She was in the 2004 Jr. Miss Apple Festival.
Kacey Renae Gogley
Kacey Renae Gogley, of Spansail Drive, Niles, 16, is the daughter of Leah Frazier and David Gogley, is in the 11th grade at Niles High School. She plans to attend the University of Michigan to become a physician.
She has participated in softball, basketball, volleyball, spanish, student council, band and is academically talented. She has received the President's Awards, numerous math awards, softball awards, outstanding achievement awards, and MEAP awards. Her hobbies are N.B.G.S.A. summer softball for 10 years, collecting Sponge Bob, elephants, U of M and horse things, and shopping for shoes. She works for McDonalds in Buchanan.
She has entered the Jr. Miss Apple Festival Contest for three years and in 2002 won Miss Congeniality.
Alexandra Paige Wesner
Alexandra Paige Wesner, of Wagner Road, Buchanan, 16, daughter of Allen and Annette Wesner, is in the 11th grade at Buchanan High School.
After graduation she plans to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College to pursue her dream of becoming a dental hygienist. She is involved in softball, the float building committee, and in the student council. She also received a special achievement award for Civitan. Her hobbies are softball and showing cows, pigs, and turkeys at the Berrien County Youth Fair.
She participated in the Jr. Miss Apple Festival in 2003 and placed in the top 10. She works at Sonny's Lounge.
Jessica Ottinger
Jessica Ottinger, of Leet Road, Niles, 17, daughter of Las and Lori Ottinger, is in the 12th grade at Edwardsburg High School. After graduation she would like to join the Marines and after serving our country, she will be going to school for massage therapy and wants to own her own spa. She is involved in choir, art, and drama. She is in the Girl Guards, and is a Fancy Shawl dancer. Her hobbies are dancing, singing, playing guitar, modeling, writing to our troops and spending time with her family and friends.
She works at the Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon. She was in the Jr. Miss Apple Festival Contest in 2003 and 2004.
Chenai Marker
Chenai Marker, of West Fourth Street, Buchanan, 17, the daughter of Al and Mary Marker, is in the 12th grade at Buchanan High School. After graduation she plans to attend Southwestern Michigan College for a year and then transferring to Western Michigan University to earn a teaching degree.
She is involved in varsity softball, JV tennis, Student Council, S.A.D.D., marching band, color-guard, drama club, holiday band, festival band, and the Red Bud Chorale.
She has received the "loved by everyone" award in band, and is the "Imbodiment of the game" for softball and the "Most Improved" award for tennis. Her hobbies are playing softball, shopping, traveling, youth group, rollerblading, swimming and walking around Wal-Mart with friends, when there is nothing to do.