Published: August 23, 2009 06:19 pm      

Girl Scouts present Dancing WIth Our Stars

By ROSALIND WALTERS

Register-News

MT. VERNON — In a ballroom filled with purple, black and silver balloons, the Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council presented a night of Dancing With Our Stars — local residents who created a dance routine and wowed those attending while raising money for the Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council.

Proceeds from the first event of its kind in the area will go toward the healthy lifestyles effort of Girl Scouts, according to event coordinator Amy Newell.

“It’s important, especially at that age, to learn about choosing healthy lifestyles from building healthy relationships, exercise and self-esteem,” Newell said.

Winners for the evening were Sarah and Rob Dyer, who performed a routine to the hit music of Michael Jackson. The competition votes for each routine were determined in the form of donations. Volunteer performers, sponsored by area organizations and businesses were: The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, with a self-sponsored group; Jim and June Evilsizer, who were sponsored by Ron and Paulette Schneider; the YMCA was a self-sponosred group; Cindy Bevis and Rosie Cosens were sponsored by Bevis Real Estate; Kate Renshaw and Carlos Velasquez were sponsored by Betsy and Donald Murphy; Rob and Sarah Dyer were sponsored by Newell Funeral Home; Derrick and Penni Quitsch were sponsored by Southern Illinois Harvest Festival; and Brandon Bullard was sponsored by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to raising funds for the Girl Scouts healthy lifestyles initiative, the funds will go toward additional events for troops within the council.

Judges for the evening included Mary Beth Mezo of Mt. Vernon Township High School, Wendy Rue of Centre Stage Studios and David Lister of WDML Radio. Performances ranged from ballroom dancing to the polka.

“We choreographed it ourselves and we wanted to pick out Michael Jackson songs that were kind of iconic,” Rob Dyer said. “It was so much fun to practice together, though. Every practice was like date night.”

Though the practices and performance was fun for the Dyers, the dancers weren’t the only ones making an night of it.

“It was a wonderful evening — great and unusual entertainment,” said Mt. Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley. “It was a good time for a good cause for our young ladies. It gives them an excellent future.”

Dancing for the fund-raiser, the Dyers won first place on Saturday night, followed closely by the YMCA with Kate Renshaw and Carlos Velasquez as runners up. According to Newell, the evening produced more than $8,000 dollars.

The Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council hope to make the Dancing With Our Stars an annual event. Additional information about the council and area Girl Scout activities is available at 242-5079.