Queen

Back in school after Christmas break, Nicky weaved her way through the crowded halls until she reached her locker. Several of her old friends stood nearby, surrounding Claire and Zach as they discussed their holiday. Nicky's face turned slightly crimson as she saw how easily they had forgotten her. Zach especially. She had once believed they were in love, but now she could see the truth of the matter. Zach simply clung to whomever he believed was the most popular girl, and thus he maintained his own popularity.

 Avery Jordan Petrucci was honored Aug. 10 for her reign as the 2010-11 West Virginia State Horticultural Queen during a reception hosted by her parents, Tony and Tana, at their home on Collins Drive in Martinsburg. Avery's final official duty was to crown Jordan Elizabeth Butler as the new 2011-12 West Virginia State Horticultural Queen. Jordan lives in the Martinsburg area with her parents, Gregory and Jennifer Butler, sister, Ashton, and brother, Tyler. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Butler Sr. and the late Mr. and Mrs. Jennings "Dyke" Ashton of Martinsburg.

Alivia Lauren Ayers, 17, of Martinsburg, W.Va., presides as Queen Pomona XXXIII of the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival on Friday night at Apollo Civic Theatre in Martinsburg after being coronated by West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus Douglass. Upon being enthroned, Ayers officially proclaimed the opening of the festival, which began Thursday and continues through Sunday.

Carol DeBaugh of Boonsboro was crowned Ag Expo Queen as the annual weeklong fair got under way Saturday night at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center. Carol, the daughter of Matt and Tammy DeBaugh, will be a sophomore this year at Boonsboro High School, where she is treasurer of the school's Future Farmers of America chapter. She works on her family's dairy farm, where she cares for calves and helps milk the herd of registered Holstein cattle. At the fair, she shows her dairy, swine and market lamb projects.

bonnieb@herald-mail.com McCONNELLSBURG, Pa. - The 2005 Fulton County Fair Queen has short hair not because it's in style, but because 13 inches of it went to make wigs for children who are bald due to medical treatments or disease. As part of her senior-year service project, Kayla Wright, 17, donated her long hair to Locks of Love. Sunday evening, Kayla was crowned queen of the weeklong fair in this small community. Kayla's interest in children with cancer or other medical problems stems from several family members having had the disease, she said.

St. Maria Goretti High School celebrated homecoming weekend Oct. 9 and 10. The 2009 Homecoming Court was introduced during halftime of the varsity boys soccer game, and the king and queen were announced. Hunter Buterbaugh of Fairfield, Pa., was named the 2009 homecoming king, and Sarah Swope of Frederick, Md., was named the 2009 homecoming queen. The 2008 King and Queen, Will Murray and Maggie Espiridion, both from Hagerstown, came home from college to attend the festivities and crown this year's king and queen.

JULY 3, 1952-NOV. 3, 2009 KEEDYSVILLE - Mrs. Niki Marie Queen-Rhoderick, 57, of Keedysville, Md., went to be with Jesus on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. She was the loving wife of Phil Rhoderick. Niki was born in Washington, D.C., on July 3, 1952. She grew up in Rockville, Md., where she attended St. Jude's Catholic School and Perry High School. She was a graduate of the University of Maryland. Niki was an early childhood teacher at Washington County Schools. Niki loved the Lord and served him through all that she accomplished.

dank@herald-mail.com SHARPSBURG - Jamie Weddle knows she'll live on a farm long after her stint as Washington County Farm Bureau queen ends. "I have a feeling that I know I'll need land. When you grow up raising cows and growing corn and growing hay, you feel like it's what you have to do," Weddle said. "There's a family, a community of farmers that all help each other out and I want to stay in that community. " Weddle, 16, is expected to be crowned the next county farm queen at the 2002 Ag Expo on Saturday.

The farm queen is back. One year after the Maryland Farm Bureau dropped the sparkling tiara in favor of a businesslike black blazer for its teenage "agricultural ambassador," directors have restored the royal trappings to the young woman who will reign over this year's state fair. "There were a lot of members that felt that they stood out a lot better when they wore the crowns, and so they made the decision to go back to that," Earl Hance, president of the state organization, said Thursday.