STAFF REPORTS

CHERRYVILLE - The Miss Gastonia Scholarship Association will sponsor the Miss Merry Christmas Pageant on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at the Cherryville Community Building, 108 S. Jacob St., Cherryville.

The pageant begins at 5:30 p.m. and is an official event of the "Twelve Days of Christmas" celebration sponsored by the Cherryville Chamber of Commerce.

Girls newborn to age 19 are eligible to participate in one of 10 age divisions. The competition includes beauty and photogenic categories. The winners will ride on the Santa Claus float in the Cherryville Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 12 at 10:30 a.m.

Proceeds benefit the Miss Gastonia scholarship fund. For more information and to receive an application, call (704) 827-7277 or visit www.missgastoniapageant.com. Applications also are available at the Cherryville Chamber of Commerce.