Miss Missouri to host pageant

Miss Missouri Sydney Friar will be the featured entertainment at the Miss Cedar County/Miss Southwest Missouri Pageant, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, in the El Dorado Springs Middle School gym. The pageants' theme, "Dream On" is taken from Sydney's Miss America talent presentation, "Dream On" by Aerosmith. The Miss Cedar County Pageant last crowned a winner in 2007. Friar won that pageant and competed in the Miss Missouri Pageant for the first time that year. The Miss Southwest Missouri Pageant was added to attract contestants from other parts of the state. Winners of each pageant will compete for the title of Miss Missouri in June. Two former Miss Cedar County winners, Tiffany Esry McGuirk, 2004; and Emily McConnaughey Shinn, 2006; also will entertain as will the El Dorado Springs High School Dance Team. El Dorado Springs native Kathie Truitt, who was Mrs. Missouri 1996, will join Friar in the lobby during intermission -- Truitt to sell her latest novel, "The Hillbilly Debutante Café" and Miss Missouri to autograph pictures. Tickets are available at Mid-Missouri Bank, Heritage State Bank, Liberty Bank Community Bank, Foundation 81 and Alli's Floral Creations all in El Dorado Springs. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door for floor seats and $3 in advance and $4 at the door for bleacher seats. For more information contact Kimball Long at (417) 876-3841.