Event Information
WELCOME DISTINGUISHED JUDGES
Celebrity judges will vote for best tasting chili and best decorated restaurant booth. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three winners and the first place winner will also receive a traveling trophy to keep in their respective restaurant for the year.
Our distinguished judges for this year’s event are:
Judge Diane Cagle—Greenville County Chief Magistrate
The Honorable Diane D. Cagle has served as Summary Court Judge for 25 years and as Chief Summary court Judge for the past 23 years. Judge Cagle attended and has taught at National Judicial College in Nevada.
Chief Meteorologist John Cessarich first became fascinated by the weather as a child growing up in Kansas. He was a volunteer tornado spotter and chaser for eight years before earning his degree from the University of Kansas, where he had a triple major in Meteorology, Geography and Radio-TV-Film. John’s broadcast career took him from Chicago, where he worked as a national weather reporter on radio, to his first TV job in Palm Springs, Calif. He also worked at stations in Albany, N.Y., and Atlanta before coming to Greenville in 1991.
During his time with WYFF News 4, John has had the opportunity to broadcast live from the South Carolina coast during three hurricanes ... Bertha, Fran and Bonnie. He even flew through the eye of Hurricane Emily with the Hurricane Hunters in 1993. John’s forecast can be seen on WYFF News 4 each weeknight at 5, 5:30, 6 and 11. One of the most popular features on WYFF News 4 is the weekly "John on the Road" each Thursday evening, when John broadcasts live from area events and activities.
John’s work has earned him numerous awards and recognition. He is a six time winner of the Southeast Regional Emmy for Best Weathercaster. In addition, the South Carolina Broadcaster’s Association has named him Television Personality of the Year seven times and Best Weathercaster three times. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society and received the prestigious AMS television seal of approval in 1987.
John and his wife Connie live in Greenville with their two children. He is very committed to volunteer work and makes numerous special appearances in the community each month.
Rick Danner—Mayor, City of GreerThe Honorable Rick Danner is currently serving his third term as the mayor of the City of Greer. Since his election in 2000 he has overseen one of the most explosive periods of growth in Greer’s history. Averaging over 400 home starts a year Greer’s population has more than doubled in the past 7 years to its current population of 23,000. Greer’s budget has experienced similar growth with a current budget of 17 million dollars. To deal with facility needs the City is currently building a new City Hall, public meeting space, recreational facilities, a new Court House and Police Administration building as well as a 12 acre park to encompass the project. The 20 million dollar project which will include space for mixed use development will be located in downtown Greer.
Mayor Danner is the Vice President of Human Resources and Security for Greer State Bank and is active in a number of local boards and initiatives. He is currently First Vice President of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. Mayor Danner is a graduate of Clemson University and was self employed in the landscape industry for over 20 years. Mayor Danner and his wife Rita have two sons and reside in downtown Greer.
Leisure Suit Larry—106.3 Charlie FMLeisure Suit Larry is a true South Carolina original, born & raised in the Upstate so many years ago, the candles on his cake would set off a fire alarm. He brought his wit & wisdom to The All New 106.3 CHARLIE FM in the late summer of ’07. This after a successful career in the telecommunications industry. Which is funny to say, especially because Larry is such a poor telecommunicator. Just try to reach him on his cell phone after hours. Go ahead I dare you.
But seriously, folks. Larry put the um in denim. And on top of that he drives a Harley,. when Mrs. Leisure Suit let’s him out of the house.
Although no one has actually SEEN him, Larry at least knows where CHARLIE lives. He once parked cars at a party that CHARLIE was throwing for his best buddies. Thanks Lar!
Kristen Smith, Miss Cherokee County
Miss Kristen Smith was crowned Miss Cherokee County 2008. In July of this year, she will be competing with the best of the best in the state at the Miss South Carolina Pageant. Currently, she works to promote awareness of domestic violence and the Safe Harbor Megan Project.
Miss Smith attends Greenville Technical College and she plans to transfer to Clemson or University of Central Florida in Fall 2008. Her goal is to participate on one of their collegiate cheerleading squads by trying out in the Spring. She is majoring in Communications and looks forward to the day where she can have her own talk show. Smith also is employed at Foothills Gymnastics & Dance Center in Easley.
Brittany Rose Sweeney—Miss Greenville CountyBrittany Rose Sweeney is the 23-year-old daughter of Cornell and Shelby Sweeney of Simpsonville, SC. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism. Outside of her university earned honors, Brittany was named Miss Simpsonville 2002.
Brittany is currently working as a licensed sales associate at the Cornell Sweeney Agency of Allstate Insurance. She also works part-time for Three Generations Boutique as sales associate, is a hostess for University of South Carolina football games, a member of the Upstate Executive Women’s Network and is vice-president of membership for the Golden Strip Business Network.
Kyrsti Vaught—Miss Greenwood
Kyrsti Vaught is the 20 year old daughter of Allen and Tammy Vaught of Galivants Ferry, SC. She is a student at Clemson University where she is studying Psychology. After attending graduate school for Forensic Psychology, she hopes to one day become a criminal profiler for the FBI.
Kyrsti is currently Miss Greenwood 2008 and will be competing in the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Pageant in July. When she is not at school, Kyrsti is working on a psychology research team, promoting her platform of Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention, or working at her part time job.
Linda Weiss—South Carolina Homes & Gardens Magazine food editor and cook book authorLinda Weiss is the food editor for South Carolina Homes & Gardens Magazine. Linda attended Le Cordon Bleu of Paris, and is a member of The James Beard Foundation in New York and the Southern Foodways Alliance at Ole Miss.
Linda has taught cooking classes in the Greenville area for more than 6 years. Along with cooking classes, she has appeared on cooking shows on local CBS and on WGGS 16 in the local area as wells as PBS television shows in the Western US.
Linda Weiss is the author of the recently published cook book, Memories From Home, Cooking with Family & Friends.
