The Haleyville Rotary Club is hosting the first-ever Miss 9-1-1 preliminary pageant to the Miss Alabama-Miss America pageant system. The pageant will be held Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Haleyville Elementary School cafetorium. The pageant will begin at 3 p.m. and tickets are $10.

The event is being held in celebration of this year being the 50th anniversary of the first 9-1-1 call made in the nation in Haleyville. “This is an opportunity to promote that Haleyville is the birthplace of 9-1-1, an emergency system that is utilized nationwide,” pointed out pageant director Melica Allen.

“We are very excited about the Miss 9-1-1 preliminary. It is possible we could have a Miss America representing Haleyville. Wouldn’t that be tremendous? I hope our local young ladies will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Time is getting close, but they still have an opportunity to register.”

The pageant is open, welcoming contestants from 17 years of age and a senior in high school to 25. The pageant system recently increased the contestant age limit.

“The winner of the Miss 9-1-1 contest will represent Haleyville in June at the Miss Alabama pageant. The pageant will feature the same categories as Miss Alabama and Miss America, including evening gown, swimsuit, talent, and interview. There will be a panel of five judges, four are certified by the pageant system, with a community judge.

“It is taking a group effort to make this come together. I appreciate all of my Rotary members and those who so graciously agreed to serve on the board. I want to especially say a grateful thank you to those who are making donations to the pageant. Without everyone, this would not happen.”

Guest speaker will be Miss Alabama Jessica Proctor. Miss Proctor is a talented and versatile vocalist and speaker. Her platform is “Step Up to the Plate: Decreasing Food Insecurity.”

She was the second runner-up at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2014; Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen 2013; brought Fifth Quarter program and hunger awareness to the international-level philanthropy of Alpha Gamma Delta; University of Alabama Miss Sorority Row first runner-up 2014; 2012 and 2013 Classical Singer National High School Vocal Competition finalist and is a state-level pole vaulter.

She is obtaining a bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in music and communications and a minor in psychology.

“We hope the community will come out to support this event and the contestants who work very hard in preparing for the pageant. It is very exciting for the city of Haleyville and Winston County,” concluded Allen.  Contact Melica Allen for an application or more info: allenmelica@gmail.com.