Mawhorter competing at Indiana Junior Miss this week in Frankfort
(Talk of the Town file photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Whitley County Junior Miss Kara Mawhorter is competing this week at the Indiana Junior Miss competition in Frankfort. Mawhorter is shown below after winning her title in October, surrounded by her parents, Rita and Michael Mawhorter.
By Pamela Thompson
Preliminary performances for the Indiana Junior Miss (IJM) program are Thursday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Frankfort High School in Frankfort, Indiana. 
Eight contestants will be selected to participate in the final night performance on Saturday at 7 p.m. A winner’s reception follows immediately after the performance where relatives and friends can visit the contestant representing their program area. Admission for each of the preliminary nights is $10 and $15 for the final night performance. Tickets should be available at the door. On Friday night two contestants will be announced as overall winners in the on stage categories of talent, fitness and self expression.
There are 25 participants with 22 contestants representing local programs including Whitley County Junior Miss. Kara Mawhorter, Whitley County’s Junior Miss is the 44th Junior Miss from this community to participate in IJM. IJM is celebrating its 50th program year.
A reception is being planned for Mawhorter when she returns home to Columbia City on Sunday, February 22 from 4-6 p.m. in the boardroom of the Whitley County Community Foundation. The public is invited to attend.
Mawhorter left for IJM on Sunday, prepared for a week filled with public appearances at the Frankfort elementary schools, nursing homes and various philanthropic groups in Frankfort.
While appearing at the schools the Junior Miss contestants will present the Be Your Best Self (BYBS) program to the students. The BYBS program emphasizes positive choices children can make as well as good physical and nutritional choices.
The IJM week begins with the Mayor’s reception at the Frankfort Country Club where each contestant is introduced to the Frankfort community present. On Monday the contestants gave the BYBS presentations and then ate lunch with the school children. Today began the rehearsal schedule and the learning of the fitness routine as well as the self expression routine. Rehearsals continue tomorrow and on Thursday the contestants have the opportunity to set their talent performance.
Each contestant will have her 10-minute panel interview with the five judges and one alternate judge on Thursday.
Mawhorter’s is contestant number three. She will perform her talent on Thursday night and fitness and self expression on Friday night.
Anyone wishing to send flowers; balloons and etc. to Kara for Thursday, Friday and Saturday of IJM can contact 244-7467.