By Staff Writer Leonard Gray

ST. ROSE – The starry gleam of crowns and smiles lit up the Palmetto Restaurant at St. Rose Travel Center Tuesday evening, as the “Queens of the River Parishes” enjoyed a reception in their honor.

On hand were the Louisiana State Sugar Queen, Crissy Michel, of Paulina; her successsor as St. James Parish Sugar Queen, Trista Seiber of Paulina; St. John the Baptist Parish Sugar Queen Jenny Edwards of LaPlace; and St. Charles Parish Festival Queen Kimberly Bleakley of Montz.

Also on hand was the St. Charles Parish Festival Junior Queen, Chelsea Troxler of Luling, 14, the daughter of Charlotte and Lee Troxler of Luling, and a student at Hahnville High School.

Their host for the evening was Glen Smith of St. Rose Travel Center, who was joined by the Louisiana Sugar Festival’s King Sucrose, Charles Melancon.

Crissy Michel, 19, is the daughter of Edie and Mark Michel. She is a graduate of Lutcher High School, and is now a student at Southeastern Louisiana University in nursing. She hopes for a career as a labor and delivery nurse.

Trista Sieber, 19, is the daughter of Regaina and Emery Forsythe. She is now a student at Louisiana State University, majoring in mass communications with a public relations emphasis. She hopes to work in public relations or in lobbying for education, health care and welfare.

Jenny Edwards, 21, is the daughter of Kelly and Rick Edwards. She is a student at Loyola University in English literature with an emphasis in classical studies. She is pursuing a professorship in medieval literature.

Kimberly Bleakley, 18, is the daughter of Caroline and Cliff Bleakley. She is a student at Nicholls State University pursing a business degree, after which she plans to study mortuary science at Delgado. She plans to open her own funeral home business.

Michel, Bleakley and Edwards each received $1,000 toward their education, plus a pearl bracelet and matching earrings.

Their parents and friends enjoyed a buffet supper, as Smith noted the unusual nature of the three River Parishes sugar festival queens taking the top three positions at this year’s state pageant. Michel is the queen, with Edwards as first runnerup and Bleakley as second runnerup.

“Not only do we have something unique here with our sense of community, but we’re the good-looking-est around here,” Smith commented.