Sugar Valley takes the Crown

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RENOVO - "Yes I assure you, Sugar Valley does still exist," Cortney Murray told the crowd as she was introduced at the 2008 Flaming Foliage Festival Queen's coronation Sunday afternoon.

About an hour later, the teen beamed with pride as she became Sugar Valley Rural Charter School's first contestant to be named Flaming Foliage Queen on the 60th anniversary of the festival.

"I just can't believe this ... to be the first one from the school is just amazing," Cortney's mother, Carmelle Weaver said as dozens of cameras flashed at her daughter, sitting on the royal throne in the gymnasium at Bucktail Area High School.

"I'm just ecstatic, very proud of her," added her step-father Greg Weaver. Cortney is also the daughter of the late Benjamin Murray.

This wasn't Cortney's first trip to the festival, but it likely will be the most memorable.

"I have been here before. I performed in the parade as a cheerleader and have come in support of past Sugar Valley representatives ... but this is so astounding," she said, excitement in her voice as she tried to comprehend what was happening.

Her escort for the weekend Kurtis Conway said he wasn't surprised.

"I never had a doubt, I've been telling people all weekend that she was going to win," Conway said with conviction.

Cortney is a senior at the Charter School and plans to pursue a career in nursing with a mid-wife's degree after graduation. The FFF crowning will see her come back to Renovo several times, including a trip in a little over a month for the annual Christmas Parade.

Eliza Hall representing Montgomery was named first runner-up, while Alyssa Steimling of Hughesville High School took second runner-up honors.

The coronation was the final moment of what turned out to be a perfect weekend in Renovo. The three-day event saw warm October weather with sunshine and temperatures around 70 degrees.

Along with the 32 contestants this year, 17 former FFF Queens came back to Renovo to celebrate the 60th milestone, including the very first young lady ever crowned queen - Sherrill Rittenmeyer (Hiller).

All of the past queens talked to the contestants, their escorts and family members at the Queens Banquet on Saturday night, where Sherrill, who represented Jersey Shore High School in 1949 at the age of 15, still had the audience in the palm of her hand with stories from six decades ago.

"I was named Queen at a Lock Haven football game one weekend, crowned Queen at the top of Hyner Mountain by Governor Duff the next weekend, and then participated in the parade in Emporium the following week" said Ms. Rittenmeyer of her inaugural crowning.

The former Miss Jersey Shore said that 60 years later, the Renovo people still have a place in her heart.

"As I rode through the parade today someone made me feel great. They yelled 'I hope you win,'" implying that they felt Sherrill could still compete with teenagers today.

All the former queens who spoke at the banquet thanked the Flaming Foliage Committee, realizing as adults the effort the volunteers put in all year to make the weekend a success.

Shelly Watson, who was named the FFF Queen in 1984 representing St. Mary's High School, thanked the current committee as well as members from the past.

"I figured it out and almost 1,600 young ladies have taken part in Flaming Foliage. You have made great impressions and impact on a whole lot of girls," said Watson.

As for the newest queen, she was just anxious to show her four-month-old sister Cheyenne her crown. "Maybe we can do this again in 17 years," said one family member as Cortney held her little sister underneath the lights in Farwell.