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  • Lexie Scrivner, 10, and Kadi Petersen, 9, hug after Petersen’s pinewood derby car won a heat. The Girl Scouts of Jefferson County in Mt. Vernon held a Powderpuff Derby for the first time Saturday. RORYE O’CONNOR/REGISTER-NEWS

    Girl Scouts derby
November 8, 2010

Girl Scouts hold inaugural derby

By RORYE O’CONNOR rorye.oconnor@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — With everything from a crayon box to a replica Volkswagen Beetle, the Girl Scouts’ creativity showed Saturday in their efforts to build pinewood derby cars.

The Girl Scouts of Jefferson County held the first-ever Powderpuff Derby Saturday at the St. Mary Parish Center.

Sheila Jolly Scrivner, a troop leader and Jefferson County service unit director, said she decided to start it up because as a boy scout leader, she saw how enjoyable it was.

“We had a lot of fun with it in Cub Scouts,” she said. “I thought it would be a really great experience for dads and daughters.”

While creating their pinewood derby cars, the girls learned craftmanship, sportsmanship and patience, Scrivner said.

About 45 cars raced in randomly selected heats, and the winners were those with the most wins after the rounds were completed.

Brianna and Brittany McGehee, both 8, worked on their Powderpuff Derby cars with their dad, Gary.

Brianna’s car was shaped to look like a pencil, she said.

“The hardest part was to make the point of it,” she said.

Her sister’s car was shaped like a box of crayons.

“I think it’s a lot of fun,” Gary said. “I think it’s good for the girls. I helped them quite a bit.”

Shae Sears, 7, had the fastest car, a sleek pink and glittery creation that took her about six days to finish, she said.

“It wasn’t hard,” she said. “I had some help from my dad.”

Sears said her inspiration for her derby car’s paint job came from a car she saw online.

Ross Otey, the father of Girl Scout Kristen Otey, 12, said working with his daughter on the #4A car brought back memories of his time as a Boy Scout.

“I think it’s neat,” he said. “It’s good for them; it will teach them a few things.”

Scrivner said the Jefferson County Girl Scouts are contemplating a race-off with the Jefferson County Boy Scouts in January.

“I think that might be kind of cool,” she said.

Winners received a trophy and a tiara.

Shae Sears, a Brownie in Troop #8875, won first place with her #22 car; second place went to Danielle Morgan, a Brownie with Troop #8826 for car #12A; third place was Kassidee Harrah; Jenna Morder won the “Best Fuel Economy” award for her Conestoga Wagon derby car; Dorothy Huffman, a Junior Scout in Troop #8643 won the “Best Use of Imagination” award for her box of crayons car; and Amber Stewart, a Brownie in Troop #8875, won Best of Show for her car.

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TESA GLASS/REGISTER-NEWS
Mt. Vernon Police blocked a portion of North Ninth Street Wednesday morning about 11 a.m. after reports the brick facade of the apartment building at the corner of Ninth and Maple streets was falling to the ground. The bricks took out cable lines, awnings and were landing on the street.