THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 10, 1994 TAG: 9407080268
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Town Talk
SOURCE: - Eric Feber and Stephanie Stoughton
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
A Chesapeake woman did not take the Miss Virginia title at the state preliminary to Miss America held last weekend in Roanoke, but two did take home recognitions.
The title was won by 23-year-old Cullen Johnson, a Norfolk native living in Virginia Beach. She entered the pageant as Miss Central Shenandoah Valley.
But Chesapeake had six good reasons to feel good about its Miss Virginia chances: Melissa Marie Bagwell, Lynne Economou, Beth Howell, Jennifer Marter, Stacey Moseley and Beth Sawyer. All were contestants.
Sawyer went to Roanoke because of her Miss Chesapeake title, while the other five won other open or festival pageants throughout the state.
But two of the six did distinguish themselves at the pageant.
Moseley, Miss Virginia Peanut Festival and the 18-year-old daughter of Garland and Jackie Moseley of Deep Creek, won the pageant's second runner-up title and $1,400 in scholarship money. She also won Thursday night's preliminary talent award for her vocal rendition of the Broadway song, ``I'm Not Through.'' Not bad for the pageant's youngest contestant.
Another of the Chesapeake six, Melissa Bagwell, the 21-year-old daughter of Janet and William Bagwell, made it to the exalted Top-10 Finalists group.
Although the other four didn't win any awards or titles last weekend, they still did themselves, their families and the city proud, said Jeff Bunn, director of the Miss Chesapeake Pageant who was in Roanoke for the pageant.
``All six really did well,'' Bunn said. ``They were bright, talented and all got good comments from the audience. And our Miss Chesapeake, Beth Sawyer, represented Chesapeake well. I kept hearing words like `stunning, striking and drop-dead gorgeous' from the audience when she was on stage.''
Bunn said Moseley's chances for the future look good.
``She is THE top contender for Miss Virginia next year,'' he said.
Water users unconcerned
So, what exactly are the penalties for violating Chesapeake's mandatory water restrictions?
That's what several city residents wanted to know last weekend, when the water restrictions were still in effect. The ban was lifted Wednesday. But to some people, it really didn't make a difference anyway.
``It's not like you'll go to jail or anything,'' said Jim as he hosed off the billowing soapsuds on his black sports car last Sunday. ``Besides, who's going to catch you? Don't police have other things to do?''
Well, you probably wouldn't go to jail. But you might get fined.
Those caught violating the measures are sent letters to remind them. Repeat violations may result in a court summons. If found guilty, the penalties range from $100 to $1,000 fines. Each day of the offense is a separate violation - so those numbers can be higher.
The city also can shut off your water.
Those penalties weren't stiff enough to deter Jim, who didn't want his last name used because, in his words, ``I ain't stupid.''
``Sue me,'' the Greenbrier resident said. ``I pay taxes. No one can tell me I can't use my own water.''
Under the restrictions, water couldn't be used for watering lawns, filling pools, running ornamental fountains and washing cars with more than a 3-gallon bucket of water. Restaurants couldn't serve glasses of water unless customers asked for them.
If you violated the rules last week, keep an eye on your mailbox. You might be getting a note from the city. by CNB