Mr. Peacock’s garden will be in full bloom Friday night when six Selah High School girls compete for Miss Selah, garnering the honor of representing the City of Selah.

Mr. Peacock’s Garden is this year’s pageant and Community Days theme.

The competition begins at 7 p.m., at the Selah High gym.

The audience will be welcomed by Tammy Allan, director of the Miss Selah Pageant, Miss Selah 2007, Emily Luke, and Community Days Association President, Jerry Henry.

MCs for the evening will be Thane and Tom from 92.9 The Bull.

Contestants are Hannah Younie, Breeanna Fouts, Bethannie Ratliff, Karem Escalante, Alea Thorne, and Erica Poole. The contestants will demonstrate a fitness routine, model everyday clothes and evening gowns, and answer onstage questions. A slide show will present 2007 Miss Selah and Little Miss Selah royalty.

The Selah Gym Kids will provide entertainment.

The contestants:
Hannah Younie is a senior and has played varsity soccer. She is social director for the FBLA club, member of the Yakima Ski-Benders Snowmobile Club and volunteers for different groups and organizations. She is also a sophomore at Yakima Valley Community College through the Running Start program. Her parents are Paul and Ronna Younie and Debbie Younie.

Hannah’s philosophy is, “You attract more flies with honey than vinegar.” She would like to be Miss Selah because in her role as 2007 princess she said she has had wonderful experiences.

“I made many friends on the court last year and hope to be Miss Selah to continue experiencing new things,” she said. “As Miss Selah 2008 I would look forward to having more responsibility within the court organizing community service projects to get Selah’s youth more involved in volunteer opportunities. I look forward to being a role model for young girls.”

Breeanna Fouts is a sophomore and actively involved in bowling, volunteering in the schools’ kitchen and with her youth group. She is the daughter of Jason and Tracy Ratliff and Marty Fouts.

“The best thing about living in Selah is its small community where most people are generous,” she said.

Breeanna said her best asset is friendship.

“I am a loyal friend and if asked for help I can solve most problems,” she said. “I believe that representing Selah would be a new start for me. It would give me the opportunity to go new places, meet new people, and have new adventures.”

Bethannie Ratliff is a freshman and actively involved in basketball and fastpitch. She dances for footlights and plays on the GYGSA fastpitch team in Selah. She is the daughter of Jason and Tracy Ratliff.

Bethannie said the best thing about living in Selah is “knowing how much I can trust people and show them the same respect they give me.”

“My best asset is the way and how I treat people, also showing people that I never give up,” she said.

Bethannie said she would like to be Miss Selah because she enjoys meeting new people and traveling.

“I would love to be a role model for Selah and the younger girls,” she said.

Karem Escalante is a sophomore and actively involved as ASB president, member of the drama club, GSA, FCCLA, and plays on the bowling and tennis team. She is the daughter of Eva Chavez.

Karem said her philosophy is “If you can’t please yourself, you’re never going to be able to please anyone else because there won’t be enough of yourself to give away.”

Her best asset, she said, is to be open-minded.

“I’m not judgmental and I treat people as equal regardless of their culture,” she said.

Karem said she would like to be Miss Selah because, “it will be a great experience to meet new people and practice leadership and to represent the qualities of a good teenager.”

Alea Thorne is a junior and is actively involved in FCCLA and her youth group at Peace Lutheran Church. She is the daughter of Janay and Curtis Thorne.

“The best thing about living in Selah is knowing that you are in a safe community and that the town is small enough to have a homey feeling and know just about everybody,” she said.

Her best asset is the ability to make people feel happy when they are down or sad, or by using humor or listening skills.

“I would like to be Miss Selah because I want to give back to this community and serve as a good role model to younger kids,” she said.

Erica Poole is a junior and is actively involved with Young Life, concert band, pep band, and marching band. She is the daughter of Tammy and James Poole.

“Never be afraid of getting involved and striving to make the world a better place,” she said. “Enjoy life and make the most of it without being selfish.”

Her best asset, she said, is her ability to adapt to any given situation and devote herself to everything she sets out to accomplish.

Erica said she would like to be Miss Selah because the position would give her the opportunity to be a positive role model for today’s youth.

“I would share my voice in leadership, stressing that as teenagers we really do have an influence on what happens in our community,” she said.