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Dave named Miss Ebenezer Middle School 2010
0219 Miss EMS
Rajvi Dave, center, was crowned as Miss EMS 2010. Left is first runner up Abigail Johnson and right is second runner up Chandler Pate. - photo by Photo provided

Rajvi Dave, daughter of Yogeshkumar and Sumita Dave of Rincon, was crowned Miss Ebenezer Middle School 2010 on Feb. 6. Dave is an 8th grader at EMS.

First runner up was Abigail Johnson, also an eighth grader and daughter of Eddie and Stephanie Johnson of Rincon. She also earned the highest GPA award and was voted Most Photogenic by the judges. The second runner up was Chandler Pate, an eighth grader and daughter of Lonnie and Kristin Pate of Springfield.

Miss Congeniality, voted on by the contestants at dress rehearsal, was Khylia Davis-Stapleton, an eighth grader and daughter of Tiffany Davis of Rincon. Taylor Johnson, a seventh grader and daughter of Jackie Johnson and Alice Mazurek of Rincon, earned the Highest Accelerated Reading Award.

This year’s pageant theme was “Groovin’ to the Beat.” The 26 contestants, dressed in outfits of their choice from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, performed a dance number to “Let’s Groove” to open the pageant production.   

Pageant coordinators were teachers Brenda Reid, Shawn Baker, Lori Parker and Katie Helmly.   

Effingham School Board Approves $203M budget with Potential Property Tax Increase
2026 budget
This chart illustrates how the Effingham County School District’s $203 million general fund is allocated for fiscal year 2026, including spending on salaries, benefits, transportation, health services, and safety and security. (Courtesy of Effingham School District)
The Effingham County Board of Education approved a $203 million fiscal year 2026 budget Thursday night, reflecting an 11% increase over last year. The rise is largely due to an $8 million spike in health and retirement benefit costs for employees. To help cover the shortfall, the district may raise the property tax millage rate, potentially increasing homeowners’ taxes by up to 12 percent.
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