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Concerts, crowns close 81st Belpre Homecoming

BELPRE – Another Belpre Homecoming Festival is in the books, despite rain in the morning and a repeat shower in the late afternoon on the festival’s final day.

Kathy Lott-Gramkow, homecoming chairwoman and Belpre Chamber of Commerce first vice president, said Saturday’s festivities began with a parade and ended with the crowning of the 2013 Miss Teen Belpre and Miss Belpre, followed by concerts from local groups Jinxd and Titus Canbe.

Between the two concerts, the festival held its Duck Pluck fundraiser at the Belpre Municipal Pool next to Civitan Park.

“We had a good Thursday and Friday night and tonight (Saturday) looks good,” Lott-Gramkow said early Saturday evening. “We hope the rain has not deterred anyone from coming during that time when they decided what they will do for the night.”

Lott-Gramkow said last year, Homecoming dealt with temperatures in the 90s and last dealt with rain during the 2010 and 2011 festivals. She said vendors reported they did well at this year’s Homecoming.

“They had a good run,” she said. “A lot of the food vendors have been rained out at a lot of festivals and haven’t made money.

“They did have two good nights.”

Saturday was also the final night of pageants for the Belpre Homecoming Festival.

Winning the title of Miss Belpre was Sarah Walker, of Belpre, daughter of Randy and Shannon Walker of Belpre. Miss Teen Belpre was Lacey Green, of Belpre, daughter of Pam Green of Belpre and Jerry Green and Dawn Fox of Coolville.

Walker said the win as Miss Belpre was exciting.

“I didn’t expect to win it,” she said. “I’m so excited. I’ve been in the pageant before, but I’ve never won.”

A graduate of Belpre High School in May, Walker plans to attend West Liberty University to study dental hygiene.

Green said the win for her as Miss Teen Belpre was still sinking in for her.

“It’s kind of like a shocking feeling,” she said. “I’m excited to be here and with Sarah and all the others and take part in community activities.

“I want to share my love for Belpre.”

Green won the Junior Miss Belpre in 2008. She will be a senior at Belpre High School this year and plans to go to college to study to be an obstetrics nurse.

First runner-up in the Miss Belpre pageant was Mckenzie Hapeny, of Little Hocking, and Miss Congeniality was Chelsea Carpenter, of Belpre.

Emma Christine Williams, of Belpre, was Miss Photogenic in the Teen pageant and Tori Sydenstricker, of Belpre, was named Miss Teen Photogenic.

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