Peony Queen candidates

Seven of the eight candidates for this year’s Peony Festival Pageant were on hand Sunday afternoon for the Peony Festival Committee’s first meeting with candidates and their parents. Those candidates who participated include (front row, from the left) Ashley Goeltzenleuchter of Wayne Trace, Rachel Gent of Crestview and Elizabeth Thompson of Delphos Jefferson; (back row) Rebecca Adam of Lincolnview, Jena Gasser of Paulding, Rachel Miller of Parkway and Alex Burchfield of Van Wert. Kathryn Kuchefski of Spencerville was unable to attend the meeting. The 2012 Peony Pageant will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 30, at the Marsh Foundation Auditorium. Pageant Director Kylie Mills said tickets for the pageant will go on sale Thursday, March 1, at Derry Drugs on Westwood Drive in Van Wert. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)