Editor’s note: The location of a November 13, 2017, Pons fundraiser was incorrect in the Whiteside News Sentinel. Editor Jerry Lindsey requested this reprint.
The 91st Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade will be viewed by millions on NBC, but special local attention will focus on the appearance of five Morrison High School Seniors. Summer camp auditions were followed by invitations to join the festivities surrounding the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The [girls], Avery Bielema, Dannica Connelly, Carissa Ferry, Randi Heusinkveld, and Kelly Pannier, will arrive in New York[, NY,] Saturday, November 18[, 2017,] and start a busy week of site-seeing, rehearsals, tours, and special New York attractions accompanying the parade.
The massive group dance routine will require the girls to attend four three-hour rehearsals and a final dress rehearsal on Wednesday evening[, November 22,] that parents, chaperones, and the public may attend. Each day’s agenda begins early and ends with an 11:00 p.m. room check.
Early morning viewers can [see] the group on the TODAY Show on Tuesday morning, between 6:00 and 9:00 a.m. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® begins at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time) [on Thursday, November 23]. NBC has exclusive rights to their pre-positioned performance routine in Herald Square, so the organizers suggest that you watch the NBC network from 9:00 a.m. to noon (all time zones.)
The Pons have organized fundraisers over the summer to assist the cost of attending. [They] ask the community to support them again as they “waitress” at Pizza Ranch, 3900 E. Lincolnway, in Sterling, IL, on [Monday,] November 13, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. They will receive 10% of the sales, plus any gratuities or donations extended.
Additional donations may be sent to the Morrison Junior High School, attention Kolleen Pannier.
The Senior girls thank the community for [its] support and are thrilled to represent the City of Morrison and Morrison High School. Pictured left-to-right are Kelly Pannier, Avery Bielema, Randi Heusinkveld, Carissa Ferry, and Dannica Connelly.
