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Holthouse makes Willard history

By AARON KRAUSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Friday June 26 2009, 12:07pm

WILLARD - Willard Fire & Rescue has been able to boast about a local Miss Flame.

_{AARON KRAUSE/REFLECTOR
Willard High School senior Katherine Holthouse is joined by Chris Karl, Willard Fire and Rescue firefighter/emergency medical technician in celebrating her crowning as the Northwest Ohio Volunteer Fireman’s Association Queen. BUY PHOTO}

But, at least as far current firefighters know, the department has never turned out a Northwest Ohio Volunteer Fireman's Association (NOVFA) Queen until now.

Incoming Willard High School senior Katherine Holthouse is the first contestant to represent The City of Blossoms in NOVFA, a volunteer firefighter regional pageant.

Holthouse beat out about four contestants in October for the local Miss Flame honor. She followed in the footsteps of her mother, Robin, who earned the same title in the late 1970s.

Most recently, Holthouse beat out about 20 contestants to be crowned queen in the NOVFA competition. She will attend fire department-related events and appear at festivals and fairs, representing not only Willard Fire & Rescue, but those fire departments in the northwest region.

Holthouse also received a $200 savings bond for earning the Miss Flame title and a $500 scholarship for the regional honor. Willard Mayor Todd Shininger read a proclamation in Holthouse's honor Tuesday at the fire station.

For the local and regional rounds, contestants must participate in an interview and answer a randomly-picked question.

"What is the best quality a parent should pass down to their child?" was Holthouse's question.

Her answer: Empathy.

It is something Holthouse said one of her siblings could use. Her younger sister has learning disabilities. Perhaps as a result, Holthouse said, her sister's peers tend to exclude her from activities.

"So I try to be a good sister," said Holthouse, who helps her younger sibling with piano lessons and homework.

Her sister, who has attended Celeryville Christian School, will be a freshman at Willard High School in the fall. Holthouse said she is glad she'll be in the same school, so her younger sister will at least know somebody.

Holthouse found herself in unfamiliar territory at the NOVFA contest.

She said she was nervous, but was able to focus on the challenges, which helped block out her nerves. The keys, she said, are to have confidence, think before you speak and be composed.

"It means a lot," Holthouse said about being crowned queen.

"I feel honored to represent firemen because they are willing to rescue people who they've never met before and risk their life for people they don't even know.

"I think firefighters are one of the most important members of society and they are very underappreciated," she said.

Holthouse and her family can appreciate what firefighters do. A couple years ago, the family's vegetable farm suffered $1 million in damage from a fire caused by lightning. Nobody was on the farm at the time, but a number of fire departments responded and firefighters were able to save some structures.

That experience was one of the main reasons Holthouse said she tried out for Miss Flame. She said her mother also encouraged her to try out.

Holthouse hoped to at least be a runner-up in the regional contest, but was surprised to be crowned NOVFA queen.

By earning that honor, Holthouse made Willard history.