No Miss Reardan program this year

REARDAN — The Reardan-Edwall area won’t have a Miss representative this year. Miss Reardan-Edwall 2024 was canceled after no one applied, according to program organizers.

Organizer Gretchen Neal, who has overseen the program since 1999, said a flyer was placed at Reardan High School with anyone interested asked to meet organizers at the downtown fire station one Sunday in February.

No one showed up, Neal said.

A lack of funds after no fundraising since the COVID-19 pandemic is another factor in the program’s way, Neal said.

Holdover funds helped the program crown a Miss Reardan-Edwall in 2022 and 2023, but organizers have accepted there won’t be a Miss Reardan-Edwall this year, she said.

Neal suggested that royalty be crowned on a countywide-basis, or at least in a partnership with Davenport, instead of by individual town.

The Celebrate Davenport committee has similarly struggled to pull multiple applicants for Miss Davenport in recent years.

The Harrington Homemakers Association also didn’t receive many applicants for Miss Harrington this year, but is expected to hold a coronation Sunday, April 14. Look for more in next week’s paper.