For 66 years, the Brookhaven Lions Club has been sponsoring abeauty pageant for young girls of Brookhaven and Lincoln County,and as the times have changed, pageant organizers are adapting aswell.

Brookhaven Noon Lions Club President Korey White said one majorchange the club instituted is letting the girls take part in thefun before the event by letting them participate in the ad sales.He said the club tried out the idea last year and brought it backthis year based upon its success.

In the past, the ads had all been sold by Lions Club members, andthe switch seems to be a successful one. White said sometimes it’shard for Lions Club members to know where to look for familymembers who are interested in wishing their relatives well in thepageant.

“They sell to the local businesses, and that’s the major part ofit,” he said. “But this way if their parents or grandparents wantto wish them well, we don’t miss them in the shuffle.”

Proceeds from the pageant, which takes place at the Lincoln CountyMulti-Purpose Building on Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m., go to the LionsClub’s sight and hearing program, which is their biggestphilanthropy cause.

“This is one of the only two big fundraisers we do,” White said ofthe pageant, adding that the other one is the pecan sale that takesplace during the holiday season.

And the pageant contestants can win awards not only based on theirbeauty and poise and other pageant criteria, White said, but alsobased on their ad sales. This makes the project not only helpful tothe fundraiser, but also a fun competition for the girls.

The entrant that sells the most ads in excess of $750 wins a $250cash prize. The prizes for second and third place in the ad salescompetition are $125 and $100, respectively.

White said the absolute deadline on the ad sales is July 30 at 5p.m.

Meanwhile, the deadline for early entry in the pageant itself wasJune 30, but entries will be taken with a late fee until Aug. 13,at 5 p.m. The fee is $45 to enter, with a $10 late fee.

The first place winner will receive $750, with $250 for secondplace and $150 for third place in the oldest category. All othercategories will receive trophies.

Age categories range from 1 year olds to 17 and over, and allentrants must reside in Lincoln County. In addition, they must befull-time students, not previously or presently married, withoutchildren, and have not reached their 21st birthday.

White also said contestants will be asked to attend a rehearsal onAug. 14, just to put the final touches on the production.

“We just need to have them there to practice to make sure we getthem numbered and that we’re not overloaded in a certain category,and things like that,” he said. “Especially the little kids,they’re the main group that needs it. But it’s a good idea foreveryone to have a run-through.”

Entry forms may be picked up at Headquarters Beauty Salon, Susan’sShoppe, LizBeth and Beyond the Rainbow, as well as by contactingmembers of the Lions Club.