Who will be the next Putnam County Star?

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Back again after two successful years, the Putnam County Star competition at the Putnam County Fair again features 12 talented vocalists.

The competition will be a bit different this year, as each contestant will perform two songs every night of the competition, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 19 on the Dixie Chopper free stage east of Harris Hall.

The performances will continue on Monday and Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. on the free stage.

Wednesday will be the big night that one of the 12 will join 2013 champion Melissa Claycomb Warner and 2014 champion Cord Watkins. The finale also takes place at 7 p.m. on the free stage.

The 2014 winner Watkins will be host the competition each evening and introduce the 12 acts.

The winner of the contest will receive $500, prizes and ultimately the title of 2015 Putnam County Star.

The 12 contestants already got their first taste of performing for a Putnam County Fair audience, harmonizing in three different groups during the Putnam County Fair Queen Contest last Saturday.


Marin Nally, 15, Greencastle, is a sophomore at Greencastle High School.

She plays basketball, is a member of Latin Club and a football manager for Greencastle.

Her hobbies include basketball, singing (obviously), hunting, fishing and hanging with friends

"I like to perform up-beat pop music, something I can get into on stage and bring the crowd along with me," Nally said. "I like country music, but it's not the 'go-to.'"

This is Nally's third Putnam County Star competition.

"I have done this three years now, and I really feel that this could be the year," she said. "I always love meeting new people and seeing old friends from the competition.]

"Also, I'm 15 and getting my license is coming up, only problem is I don't have a car so $500 would definitely help."


Phoebe Migliano, 27, Indianapolis, is the interlibrary loan manager at DePauw University Libraries.

Her activities include working and upgrading and customizing her family's new home.

Migliano's hobbies include running, training for a marathon, playing piano and reading.

"I like to perform anything and everything that I can put some feeling behind, but especially rock," Migliano said.

Asked why she wants to be Putnam County Star, Migliano said she simply enjoys sharing her talent.

"I want to share my love of music with the community and have a great time doing it."


James Robbins, 30, Monrovia, works at Toric Engineering in Danville.

His interests include singing with wife Shelley (another PC Star competitor) at local churches, tetherball, chess, pottery, bird watcher, chess, famous alphabetizer, coin collector, vintage air guitar collector, and "gymnast, obviously."

Robbins enjoys singing Christian acoustic music.

Robbins joked about what prompted him to join the competition.

"My wife made me. Our marriage depended on it," he said, before getting to the real reason.

"In all seriousness I have never done a competition before and she knew it was something I would be interested in. My dad is a musician so music has always been a big influence in my life."


Anthony Patrick, 22, Cloverdale, is a 2011 graduate of Indiana School for the Blind who went on to attend some college and work at Central Elementary.

His activities include spending time with his dog, friends and girlfriend as well as being outside and being social.

Patrick's hobbies are singing, songwriting, mascot performance, card collecting and his YouTube channel.

Patrick said her performs "all music styles that expresses emotion and inspiration."

He hopes to inspire people by becoming Putnam County Star.

"I want to inspire people not only through the power of music but by not allowing a disability to hinder me," Patrick said.


Shelley Robbins, 26, Greencastle, went to South Putnam High School and Ball State University. She now works at Greencastle Hometown Dental.

She enjoys singing with husband James at churches. She has also performed in a couple of singing competitions, most recently Country Showdown in Terre Haute.

Robbins' hobby is karaoke.

"I love to sing karaoke. It was actually James and my first date," she said. "I also love just being silly and goofy with him and my daughter. We all love to sing together.

"Of course it's a given that I love country music," Robbins said. "Recently I have been trying to branch out and try different genres of music. Anything that I feel like I can relate to. I think everyone's music taste can change as you get older. It maybe a song everyone knows or a song no one knows, if it moves you. That is all that matters."

A three-year PC Star participant, Robbins enjoys the competition and camaraderie.

"This will be my third year in this competition and all though ultimately this is a competition I love performing and seeing everyone grow," Robbins said. "I truly miss everyone when the week of the fair ends. I would love to win but I also love just being around some pretty talented people.

"Also this is the first year I have convinced my husband to audition and he made it. So I'm really excited for him too."


Ashley Moeller, 29, Coatesville, is a Purdue University graduate who teaches Spanish at North Putnam High School She is also a server at Charbono's in Avon.

Her activities include coaching cheerleading and dance and singing with the praise team at Bartlett Chapel.

Moeller's hobbies include guitar, reading free books on her Kindle and binge watching HGTV shows on Netflix.

"I prefer to perform country music that is a little sassy, but I also enjoy harmonizing to songs at church," Moeller said.

She wants to be the Putnam County Star to be an example to others.

"I love singing and performing and I feel like if I were a Putnam County Star I could encourage and teach people to love singing and performing as much as I do," Moeller said. "I really like that former winners return and give knowledge to current competitors, and I would love to come back and mentor future Putnam County Stars."


Parker Black, 14, Greencastle, is a freshman at Greencastle High School

He plays golf, basketball, guitar, singing and playing piano.

His hobbies include playing golf and basketball with his friends, watching movies, learning new music, hanging out with a group of people and attending open mic nights to play music.

The singer and guitarist has eclectic tastes.

"My musical tastes are pretty diverse, ranging from blues, classic rock and what is popular on the radio today," Black said "But I really enjoy classic rock like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones."

Black looks at the competition as a way to have fun and meet people.

"I love meeting new people and playing music on stage out in the community and I felt that this would be a great opportunity to do both," Black said. "Music is a big part of my life and I am excited to be a part of this year's competition."


Mariah Minnick, 19, Poland, is a student at Indiana State University, pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing. She is a certified nursing assistant who works at Ivy Trace as well as at Lieber State Park as a gate keeper.

She loves hiking and doing anything outdoors. She also travels around to sing at different churches and enjoys spending time with her family.

She performs mostly contemporary Christian music as well as a little bit of country.

Another three-year competitor, Minnick is excited for another year of Putnam County Star.

"Every year is a new experience and a wonderful one at that. To be able to achieve becoming Putnam County Star would be one of my dreams come true," she said. "I've always enjoyed singing and the best thing about singing is having the opportunity to be able to share it with others. I thank God for the many opportunities that he has sent my way and hope that I am able to bring him the glory through my singing.

"Becoming Putnam County Star would be an opportunity that could open many more doors for me and lead me to where God is wanting me to go."


Taylor Strong, 15, Greencastle, is homeschooled.

She enjoys playing softball and basketball, definitely singing and participating in everything she possibly can with her church.

The three-year veterans performs all styles of music.

Asked why she wants to become Putnam County Star, Strong asked, "Who wouldn't?"

"Putnam County is great," she continued, "and I'd love to have the title as Putnam County Star."


Anastasia Shields, 45, is a 1989 North Putnam graduate who has been married to her husband Brian for nine years. She grew up in Brick Chapel.

She describes the most important thing in her life as "spending every moment I can with my grandson Brantley."

Shields also enjoys have her hands in dirt, planting.

"Writing and singing is a very important part of what I'm made of," Shields said. "Being near the like-minded makes me happy."

If she becomes Putnam County Star, Shields hopes to raise awareness about a couple of problems that have afflicted her.

"I suffer from social anxiety and depression and I'd like to be a Putnam County Star to raise awareness and remove the stigma that surrounds both," Shields said. "This is a personal challenge to myself to never give up and to always always follow through once you start."


Lillian Lewellen, 14, Cloverdale, loves to cheer and dance.

Her other hobbies include singing and hanging out with friends and family.

She performs country and pop.

She is competing in the Putnam County Star as a new experience.

"I want to be more confident about my singing and try something new," Lewellen said.


Caitlyn Osborn, 15, is a student at North Putnam High School.

Her activities include cheerleading and hip hop dance.

Her musical genre of choice is pop.

Osborn is looking to grow as a performer through the competition.

"I want to be a Putnam County Star so I can gain experience and learn about myself and how I can improve my voice so I can reach my full potential," Osborn said.

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