Perry getting ready for Dogwood Festival
Preparations are already underway for the 28th annual Dogwood Festival held in Perry each year. This year's festival is scheduled for Friday and Saturday and will include things ranging from arts and crafts to hot air balloons. Reigning over all the festivities will be the newly crowned Miss Dogwood queens.
The 2016 Dogwood Festival queens were crowned March 12 at Perry High School.
Cali Grace Williamson was crowned Tiny Miss Dogwood Queen. First runner-up was Millie McKenzie, second runner-up was Emerson Preast and third runner-up was Emma Riggin.
Olivia Rozell was crowned Little Miss Dogwood. First runner-up was Kameron Griffith, second runner-up was Abigail Daniels and third runner-up was Aubrie Pope.
Tyler Anne Pope was crowned Junior Miss Dogwood. First runner-up was Lexi Hardy, second runner-up was Lilly Barfield and third runner-up was Lillian Baker.
Mary Helen Hartman was crowned Pre-Teen Miss Dogwood. First runner-up was Elizabeth Driggers, second runner-up was Raegan Stellaand third runner-up was Ellie Angley.
Emily Rowland was crowned Teen Miss Dogwood. First runner-up was Annabelle Smith, second runner-up was Charley Lollis and third runner-up was Sidney Street.
The Miss Congeniality winners were Pre-Teen winner, Mary Helen Hartman; Teen winner, Madison Lamontagne; and Miss winner, Allianna Malloy. The interview category winners were Pre-Teen winner, Elizabeth Driggers; Teen winner, Annabelle Smith; and Miss winner, Michaela Heide.
Melanie Wood was crowned Miss Dogwood 2016. First runner-up was Michaela Heide, second runner-up was Gillian Pritchett and third runner-up was Emily Bowlin.
Wood attends Northside High School and is a junior in the Honors and Advanced Placement programs. She is the reigning Miss Northside High School. Wood has participated in one act plays for the past three years and received the Regional All-Star Cast Award this past year for her role as Shelley in "Hairspray." Melanie also is a member of the BETA Club, Junior Projects Committee, Thespian Troupe 2892, Partners Club, Junior Optimist Octagon International, the State Upperclassman Representative for Troupe 2892 and an Eagle Ambassador.
Wood was recently recognized as a Class of 2017 Georgia Certificate of Merit winner. She is an aspiring musician who studies both classical and contemporary voice.
Wood hopes to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she will major in both vocal performance and music therapy.
This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 9:52 PM with the headline "Perry getting ready for Dogwood Festival ."