Reign ending

~New Miss Missouri USA crowned Sunday

POPLAR BLUFF - Oran native Amber Seyer, the reigning Miss Missouri USA 2007, will give up her crown at the conclusion of this weekend's Miss Missouri USA and Miss Missouri Teen USA pageants 2008 competitions. The event will be at the Black River Coliseum.

Seyer, 21, is a senior at Lindenwood University studying international management and marketing. Her parents are Sherry and Tom Seyer of Oran.

Although Seyer is leaving the competition behind, several area teens are among the 94 contestants.

Among the 46 Miss Missouri Teen USA contestants are Taylor DeWitt, 16, of Essex, Black River Festival Teen USA; Heather Beggs, 16, of Benton, Heartland Teen USA; Megan Hall, 15, New Madrid County Teen USA; and Cassie Graviett, 17, of Oran, Scott County Teen USA.

Chelsie Clubb, 18, of Puxico will compete for the Miss Missouri USA title. The competition begins with the presentation show at 7 p.m. Saturday. This is where the judges get their first look at each contestant in the evening gown and swimsuit competitions.

Personal interviews are scheduled for Sunday morning, and these three categories are scored equally to narrow the field down to 10 to 15 semifinalists in the two age divisions.

The coronation show is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday.

The winners in the "Miss" and "Teen" competitions will advance to the NBC-

televised Miss USA Pageant in the spring and the Miss Teen USA Pageant in the summer.

To purchase tickets for these events, call 573-686-8001. If the event is not sold-out, tickets will be sold at the theater ticket office immediately preceding each night's show.