Last Saturday night a new Miss Greater Greenville was crowned at the Ritz Theatre.

First, we say thank you to Miss Greater Greeenville 2004, Melinda Toole.

For the last year, this young lady represented all that is good about Greenville.

Although she is not from here, she made it a point to know much more than the norm.

She was a sterling representative of us all and we owe her our thanks.

Now, we have a new Miss Greater Greenville 2005, Christen Clarke.

We wish her a wonderful year ahead and all the best when she competes for Miss Alabama later this year.

We have to remember that the young lady who carries the title of Miss Greater Greenville could carry the title of Miss America by October.

That is something to be excited about.

Now, to the people responsible for this fine event, we say kudos for a job well done.

We have watched you all spend many hours away from home and family making sure everything about this program is above the standard.

As one parent of a contestant said in a letter, the Miss "GG" program is one of the best organized her daughter has participated in.

That says a lot about the level of work you all put into it.

As we have become more involved in coverage about the pageant system, we can say that the fans of the Miss Alabama program and preliminary take it as seriously as others do Auburn and Alabama football.

So when you get an opportunity to meet Miss Greater Greenville, take it.

You may be shaking the hand of the future Miss America and when that happens, Greenville will have national exposure that you won't believe.

Again, good luck to both Melinda and Christen and the Miss "GG" ladies.