Chloe Andrus was crowned the 42nd Miss Pine River with a court consisting of Tiara Crannell as First Princess and Miss Congeniality and Mara Adams selected as Second Princess.

In a tearful display, Rausie Cummings, who died Sept. 10, 2020, in an automobile collision was named honorary princess for the year.

The Miss Pine River Scholarship Pageant was held Saturday, June 5, in the high school gym.

Andrus gave a brief but grateful statement at the end of the event.

"I feel very surprised and grateful for my whole group for Miss Pine River," she said. "I'm grateful and I'm thankful that everybody came today."

Speech was a popular talent for the contest with both Adams and Crannell giving speeches, titled "Aspects of an Anxiety Disorder" and "Hope," respectively. Contestants Emma Pflugshaupt and Abby Schaefer both gave speeches as well.

Andrus and Chloe Beavers were musical performers in the talent portion of the contest, with Andrus performing "Gavotte" on flute and Beavers performing on saxophone.

Seniors Malachi Wipper and Kade Schneider were escorts, and the audience was treated to a dramatization of what the past year could have looked like for the 2020 court (2020 Miss Pine River Rylee Norman, First Princess/Miss Congeniality Jordan Cunningham and Second Princess Madison Burnard) if not for the coronavirus. They enacted what it would have looked like to attend parades, to crown duck race winners and to attend nearby scholarship pageants with help from visiting royalty.

There was a special, emotional presentation of a photo book containing kind words from Miss Pine River court members for the past 20 years, which was given to former committee chair Barb Klocke who has been at the helm of the program for two decades.

The event began with a dance routine by all candidates, followed by introduction of the master of ceremonies, the judges, escorts and visiting royalty.

The candidates competed in front of the crowd in business casual wear, talent and evening gown. Candidates participated before the event in an interview with pageant judges Jan Roers, Diane Peters and Vicki Randal. The judges considered all the competitions and interviews in awarding the winners.

Miss Pine River won a $1,000 scholarship. First Princess won a scholarship worth $500, and Second Princess got a $400 scholarship. Miss Congeniality received $100.

The court will spend much of the summer riding in local parades, attending area pageants and participating in Pine River Chamber of Commerce events. Traditionally, the court would also do the crowning for the weekly duck races in Pine River; however, with the dam under construction those races aren't being held.

Travis Grimler is a staff writer for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@pineandlakes.com.

1/2: Miss Pine River Candidates look on as Chloe Andrus is crowned Miss Pine River at the annual scholarship pageant Saturday, June 5. Pictured are Emma Pflugshaupt, Abby Schaefer along with first princess/miss congeniality Tiara Crannell, Chloe Beavers and second princess Mara Adams. Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

2/2: At the Saturday, June 5 Miss Pine River pageant Chloe Andrus was crowned Miss Pine River alongside first princess and miss congeniality Tiara Crannell and second princess Mara Adams. Travis Grimler / Echo Journal