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Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Thursday, September 20, 2007

Miss Winona: Out and about in the community

By Katie Drazkowski | Miss Winona

Summertime means parades, community events and getting together with family and friends.

I am Katie Drazkowski, Miss Winona 2007. Since being crowned June 7, I have been actively helping and participating in our community.

My attendants and I began our official reign at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Steamboat Days. From there, we helped with the kiddie’s tractor pull contest. It was then off to Gabrych Park, where the Winona Chiefs were scheduled to play ball. I was invited to throw out the first pitch.

How did I do?

Wouldn’t you know, the base umpire called it a strike!

Thursday took us to Lake Park and the kids’ fishing contest. Ana, Molly, Sara and I had a lot of fun fishing with the kids. Big fish, little fish, cute fish, ugliest fish, most fish and youngest fisherman were some of the categories the kids could win prizes for. We fished too but didn’t catch a thing — only seaweed.

We participated in the kiddies parade Friday and helped award prizes to the winners. We also assisted at Winona National Bank’s Concert in the Park at Lake Park. Later that evening, we helped the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors at their brat booth.

We were off to Merchants Bank on Saturday morning to help serve their pancake breakfast. In the afternoon, I attended the car show at Lake Park and chose my favorite car. At the same time, Ana was at the boat races to sing the national anthem at the opening ceremonies. Later that evening, my attendants went to the bugle corps group at Winona Senior High School while I went to the Miss Minnesota pageant to watch Karissa Kujak, the outgoing Miss Winona, compete.

Prior to the grand parade Sunday, we welcomed visiting royalty from neighboring communities who were participating in the Steamboat Days parade. Then it was off to work the brat booth again with the ambassadors.

We had a little time to take in the carnival and ride the carousel before we headed off to broadcast the fireworks atop the Kensington with Winona Radio’s Paul Lundquist. What a beautiful site and a fun time with Paul.

The four days of Steamboat Days seems like a whirlwind when I look back on everything we did. It is hard to believe we did all those things in such a short time. I met a lot of wonderful people, had so much fun and enjoyed it immensely.

I continue to keep busy. With my attendants, I went to Lakeview Drive-Inn for one of their Cruise Nights, where we visited with antique car owners and awarded prizes to winners in attendance.

I attended a ribbon cutting with the chamber ambassadors for the new business, Inspire Health and Wellness owned by Cherry Eddy. My court and I took time to assist and play bingo with the residents at Sauer Memorial Nursing Home.

On July 4, I was invited to the fly-in at the Winona Airport. I introduced my platform, “Stand together stand strong: Support families fighting cancer,” to the community while enjoying an amazing air show.

All of my appearances have been enjoyable. However, if I had to choose one, I would have to say it was the opportunity to sing with the Gate City Jazz Band at the annual jazz festival in July.

I am a dancer, my first runner-up Ana Goodwill is a singer (and a beautiful one at that), and the Spirit Award winner, Sara Welch, is a trombone player. We tried to think of ways to work with all of our different talents, but we decided to sing together as a group. With the help of Margaret Cassidy, the lead singer of the Gate City Jazz group, she advised us to sing two beautiful songs, “Amazing Grace” and “Down to the River to Pray.” And, beautiful they were. I am so glad we had that opportunity.

In August, I was invited to Shopko to help with the flood victims. My uncle was a flood victim, and I was there at his home to help clean up the mud and sewage left behind from the flood. One does not realize what all of these families have gone through until they have actually seen the disaster firsthand. It is overwhelming, and I know I will never forget.

Overall, all the Miss Winona royalty has been actively making a difference in our community. Thank you Winona for giving us this opportunity.