Lauren Burke crowned Stanton's Santa Lucia queen

STANTON — Saturday night, the Stanton community celebrated its Swedish heritage with good-natured fun, “unbelievable talent,” Christmas music, and the crowning of its 2009 Santa Lucia queen.

Officially, Mayor Kirk Requist welcomed the community to its 58th celebrations of the Santa Lucia Festival of Lights and coronation of the Santa Lucia queen. He announced three “Christmas lights” winners, Brian and Jacque Bates, Glen Benskin and newcomers, the Tom Johnsons, and also invited people to area Christmas activities.

Unofficially, those filling the gymnasium also counted on an enjoyable evening with neighbors. They weren’t disappointed.

Stanton senior, Lauren Burke, daughter of Dennis and Jennifer Burke, reigned as the community’s choice for their 58th Santa Lucia queen. Throughout Saturday, contestants did service projects, including providing parents’ breakfasts.

High school girls lit the coronation pathway and children Avery and Owen McCunn, Emma Kay McClain and Alyssa Resh were Christmas elves and dolls. Seniors Matthew Osher and Dilan Druivenga also assisted Kayla Dittmer, Jordan Sorensen, Heather Swanson, Chelsea Hebb, Daize Coddington, and Shelby Wagg up the steps to the stage where they reigned as brides in Queen Burke’s court.

The evening’s themed entertainment, written by Dale and Sharmyn Brockshus, Mike and Stephanie Burke and Mark and Leanne Johnson, was “American Idol Comes to Stanton.”

Emcee Jake Nimrod portrayed Ryan Seacrest. Judges to determine who in Stanton would be invited to have a career in Hollywood were Kevin Hallquist as Simon, Becky Poen as Paula and Jeff Sandin as Randy.

Hollywood shoo-ins were the elementary dancers and singers, directed by Marla Nelson, and John Schultz’s “Skona Maj Singers.”

Contestant Jeff Sallach, claiming his wife’s status as a former Santa Lucia queen overshadows him, tried to earn his place as a rock star. He was unsuccessful, but his curly blonde hair, also styled by his wife, earned extra stage time and introduced former queens.

Jeannie Fritscher began offering what she claimed was a Swedish song before judges stopped her. Nimrod graciously convinced the over-confident Swedish singer with trailing toilet paper, her stage time was over.

Hollywood-bound Gail Ernst “wowed” the audience as the heretofore undiscovered Susan Boyle. The judges admitted they were “captivated” by Ernst’s “obvious feel for the music” before the lights dimmed for the coronation ceremony.

Stacy Kutzli and Kim Truka narrated Stanton’s version of Santa Lucia, the devout maiden whose Christian faith was tested in the catacombs of Rome.