Katelyn Beshears of Demopolis was crowned Miss Junior Christmas on the River, selected out of 34 contestants at the Miss Junior Christmas on the River Pageant at the Demopolis Civic Center last night. Pageant contestants were in the sixth through eighth grade.

The 2008 Miss Junior Christmas on the River court includes Alexandra Ann Poole, first alternate, Demopolis; Victoria Lindsey Webb, second alternate, Demopolis; Ashlyn Whitley Hamilton, third alternate, Greensboro; and Anna Stuart Cramer, fourth alternate, Demopolis.

Others taking part in the pageant included Jacqueline Victoria Banks, Taylor Lynn Barley, Morgan Leigh Barrett, Regan Blair, Amanda Taylor Brace, Marti Lynn Breckenridge, Carla Callicott, Asia Chancelor, Sutherlyn Clifford, Kayla Shae Cochran, LizAnne Espy, Hannah Gordon, Emilee Griffin, Paige Hall, Haley Danielle Haney, Reesa Renee Holifield, Summer Lynn Horshak, Mary Howerton, Erin James, Elizabeth Jade Johnson, Madison Elizabeth Jones, Verneshia Jones, Dacota Jordan, Addison Lambert, Ja’Kendra Maiden, Sydney Pettis, Anna Morgan Reynolds, Paige Jessica Shroeder, Porsha Jata Thomas, Leslie Kaitlyn Waldrop and Victoria Elizabeth Washburn.

While most participants were from Demopolis, other contestants came from Greensboro, Sweet Water and Thomasville.

Beshears was crowned by 2007 Miss Junior Christmas on the River Devin Taylor. Rebecca Hasty was the pageant chair, and the pageant was emceed by Van Kelley.

The series of Christmas on the River pageants continues this week, as the Young Miss Christmas on the River pageant will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m, and the Little Miss Christmas on the River pageant will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. Both pageants will be held at the Demopolis Civic Center. Alexa Beech was crowned Miss Christmas on the River on Saturday, and will be the spokesperson for the festival.