By Angel Perkins Staff Writer
BOURBON — Triton's 2009 Junior Miss program turned the Triton Jr.-Sr. High School auditorium into a cheery yet chilly scene this weekend.
With glittering decorations, cotton snow, twinkling lights, even reindeer and snowmen, it was easy for spectators to find themselves engulfed in the theme of this year's program, “winter wonderland,” as Morgan McClarnon snagged the title of Triton Junior Miss.

Last year's Triton Jr. Miss Taryn Cooper opened the show with brother Travis in song followed by the contestants for this year's program and their mini mentors, the kindergarten through third grade girls of Triton Elementary School, who sang and danced before they got to giggling during an aluminum foil snowball fight.
Kevin Boyer once again entertained and informed the crowd as emcee for this, the school's 46th such event, and spoke on the great support the six contestants for this year had for one another. Wearing evening gowns the individual contestants answered in turn the self-expression question, “What two things would you put in a time capsule to be opened in 2060?”
For the first time, contestants' parents were asked during the annual Parent Tea to put their funniest or fondest memories of their daughters on paper and those recollections were read to the audience gathered Saturday night. Then the contestants took the stage to perform a peppy fitness routine for the judges to consider them for.
For the program, each contestant was judged in five categories: scholastic achievement, talent, interview, fitness and self-expression. Before the show, a panel of judges determined scores based on each contestant’s GPA, SAT scores and level of class difficulty and then a separate panel of judges scored the other four categories.
Also during the program, the contestants each performed a 90-second routine for the talent portion of the competition. Alissa Clemens performed a jazz dance routine to “Falling Down” by Selena Gomez followed by Morgan McClarnon who played drums to “Were-wolves of London” by Warren Zevon.
Sandra Rocha performed a hip-hop dance to “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black-Eyed Peas and Riley Carswell sang “Stupid Cupid” by Mandy Moore from the movie “Princess Diaries.”
Kaitlyn Rock performed a color guard routine to the tune “Be True To Your School” by the Beach Boys and Lacey George danced a ballet routine to “Hopelessly Devoted to You” by Olivia Newton John.
While the young ladies changed attire the entertainment continued with Coop-er singing and speaking on her memories from competing at the state Junior Miss contest.
She said her view of what the Junior Miss program was all about was in “finding yourself” and encouraged future contestants to “not be afraid to try something new.”
Other entertainment in-volved the senior boys in the Junior Mister competition which usually involves slapstick humor provided by the boys when vying for the title and this year — though a little different — was no exception.
They were instructed to play musical chairs to determine a winner but as the song used for them to dance and then circle the chairs to turned out to be “The Chicken Dance,” the game became even more entertaining to the audience, some laughing, others crying, until Daniel Snyder conquered the chair to win as Junior Mister.
Regality came back to the stage as the nervous ladies returned in their glamour to hear the results of the scores.
In the end, preliminary awards and their scholarships were given to Morgan McClarnon for fitness ($300) and Self-Expression ($300); Riley Carswell for Scholastic Achievement ($300); Lacey George for Talent ($300) and Sandra Rocha for Spirit of Junior Miss ($100), an award rated by the contestants to select the one they feel most projects the qualities of the program.
Scholarships of $50 were awarded to the contestants that didn't receive a finalist or preliminary award.
Second runner-up ($300) went to Lacey George; first runner-up ($700) went to Riley Carswell and the 2010 Triton Junior Miss title ($1,100) went to Morgan McClarnon. McClarnon also received a plaque, roses and will be ushered to Indiana’s Junior Miss in Frankfort,  which takes place Feb. 26, 27 and 28.
When asked how she felt when she heard her contest number and name called for the title McClarnon said, “I was really shocked. I didn't expect I would be the winner and at first I didn't think I even wanted to be in it.”
Director of the event and president of the board of directors for the Triton program, Tammy Sauer, said that when she was canvassing senior girls to be involved in the program she had asked the girls what it would take to draw them to the first practice. “She (McClarnon) asked, 'Will there be food'? She came for the pizza.”