Copper Basin News

The 2015 Pioneer Day Queen contestants have been hard at work for several weeks earning points to see who will earn the crowns.

Along with selling raffle tickets, the girls will compete in a fashion show and speech contest during the Women’s Expo.

Although there is just one contestant entered this year in the Jr. Queen division, Emily Rutter, she is still required to adhere to the rules of the contest to earn her crown. Meanwhile, five young ladies are competing for the Sr. Queen crown and include Taylor Ashby, Alicia Ballejos, Jessica Garcia, Ashley Rutter and Chloe Sepko.

Emily is the granddaughter of Allan and Kathy Rutter of Kearny. She is 13 and is a seventh grader at Ray Jr. High.

She is a honor roll student, participates in track, basketball and volleyball and is active with Fellowship Baptist Church.

In addition to sports she also likes to bake, play card games with her family and hanging out with her friends.

She said she decided to enter the contest because she likes “messing around with clothes” and is looking forward to the fashion show.

After she finishes school Emily would like to attend ASU with the goal of becoming a teacher.

Taylor, the daughter of Jackie Ashby and Doug Ashby of Kearny, is 17 and is a sophomore at Ray High School.

She is active in ROTC, dance, and is a member of the RHS track team with the shot put and discus as her specialty. She has also spent the last two summers working as a life guard at the Kearny Pool.

Her community service includes collecting for Toys for Tots and the annual ROTC food drive. She has also been active with Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church as an altar server and has helped with the Catechism program.

According to Taylor, her main interest outside of school is dirt. “I am a dirt track chick,” she said. “I love going and watching dirt track racing. If it’s on dirt, I’ll love it!” She added that she is also a racer and has raced Go-Carts, on dirt of course, since the seventh grade. “I fell in love with racing when I climbed into a Go-Cart and raced for her first time. She added that the Go-Cart season lasts from April to September at Gila County Fairgrounds and if you go, please remember her number is 15.

After high school Taylor plans on enlisting in the U.S. Air Force with plans for a career in Military Police.

Taylor said she decided to enter the contest because “running for queen runs in my family, both my Aunt Beverly and my mom ran for queen .”

Alycia is the daughter Veronica Rios and Pedro Estrada. She lives in Indian Hill, is 14 and a freshman at Ray High School.

She is a PFC in JROTC at RHS and has done community service at Rosalia’s Restaurant.

Her hobbies include listening to music, preferably Country and 50’s Rock and she envisions her future as a photographer. She also plays the piano, harmonica, flute and trumpet.

Alycia said she wanted to enter the contest because she thought it was a good opportunity to have some fun and be competitive.

Jessica is the daughter of Armida and Jose Garcia. She is 15 and is in the ninth grade at RHS where she participates in band.

Her hobbies include riding horses and playing video games.

After high school, Alycia would like to move to Japan to attend a university to major in media and animation or go to ASU and major in English.

She wanted to run for Pioneer Days queen because she thought it would boost her self confidence and get her out of her shell.

Ashley, 15, is a sophomore at RHS and lives with her grandparents Allan and Kathy Rutter in Kearny.

She is a honor roll student and participates in cheer, basketball and track. She is also a member of the Bearcat Band and the Jr. Chamber of Commerce.

Her hobbies include playing basketball, listening to country music, drawing, track and running.

After high school Ashley hopes for the future includes attending a community college and then transferring to a university to pursue a masters degree in psychology.

She said she entered the race because, “I see the contestants in the parade and Pioneer Days every year and they seem to enjoy themselves.” She added that she has friends that have ran in the past and they said it was a lot of fun, “So why not try something new.”

Chloe is the daughter of Jessica Sepko and Darrell Sepko. She is 15, lives in Kearny and is a sophomore at RHS.

She is a honor roll student and was in band last semester. Last year she also was in a video game designing class/business where she was one of the artists.

She also participated in the Relay for Life where she walked for breast cancer awareness.

In her spare time Chloe likes to listen to music, play the piano and guitar, spend time with family, play video games, and be with friends. She also likes to go on walks and be out in nature.

Her hopes for the future includes attending Cal Arts in California and is considering a variety of career goals such as a photographer, animator, or kindergarten/elementary teacher. She is also interested in something having to do with comedy or art.

Chole decided to run for queen because she thought it would give her a good chance to out of her shell, try something new, make new friends and do something fun.

These girls need the support of the community, so if you see them out and about please purchase a ticket or two. The Queen Crowning and cash drawing is scheduled for Thursday, Mar. 12..

Vicki Clark (49 Posts)

Vicki started her career in the journalism field while attending Ray High School in Kearny with an excellent teacher who took her by the hand and guided her. She worked on the school newspaper and as a senior was a co-editor. Her dream was to go on to college to study journalism and eventually to travel the world reporting the news. This dream was interrupted by life circumstances. She stayed in Kearny and went to work for the Copper Basin News in 1964 as a typesetter. Her editor was Ira Q. Toler and he also was a good teacher. After marrying and having children, her desires to again work in the newspaper field surfaced. She responded to an ad for a position in advertising for the Copper Basin News which included selling, lay-out and design. She was hired on the spot. The business has greatly changed with technology and the introduction of desktop publishing. She was fortunate enough to be a part of it. She has now worked for Copper Area News Publishers on and off for over 30 years, starting when John Seater was the publisher. She has held many positions over the years, but is most proud to be named a reporter. She loves to write and is so grateful for being given that chance.

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