Published: June 26, 2008 11:13 pm      

Thunder events roll in Nanty Glo, Ebensburg

NANTY GLO — An Ebensburg woman was crowned Miss Hog Wild 2008 at a swimsuit contest that kicked off the borough’s first Pool ’n Pork festival.

The event was one of two held in the northern part of the county Thursday to attract bikers visiting Thunder in the Valley.

The afternoon event drew a dozen bikini-clad women to Nanty Glo’s park and pool complex to compete in front of a panel of judges.

Leighann Harteis, 25, who wore a teal and white swimsuit, was the judges’ final choice. Judges included Cambria County Commissioner Milan Gjurich, Ebensburg lawyer Robert Petyak, television personality Sherry Stalley and members of the Thunder in the Valley court.

Contestants were judged on poise and appearance.

“I was so nervous,” Harteis said after event organizer Jay Evans gave her a gold sash and $100 cash. “My legs are still shaking.”

She also won a makeover worth $150, a tanning basket and other prizes. Her three co-finalists each took home $50.

“It was a lot of fun,” Harteis said. “There were a lot of pretty girls.”

While 19 women entered the contest, some lost their nerve.

“I don’t know how (the judges) would have decided a winner if all 19 girls had shown up,” Evans said.

The four-day Pool ’n Pork is the borough’s first attempt to help regionalize Thunder in the Valley.

All proceeds will benefit the Nanty Glo ballfields and pool complex. Ten vendors were on site, providing pork-related food products.

Down the road, Ebensburg’s Wheels & Wings was in full gear.

Christine Strugala organized the fourth annual car show and wing-off.

“We had between 5,000 and 6,000 people come through here last year,” Strugala said Thursday. “This year, we spaced things out, and we are expecting more people.”

Strugala said the one-day event is the only Thunder-associated activity with an antique car show. Trophies will be awarded to the 50 best overall vehicles and 25 best overall bikes.

And while visitors were perusing the vehicles, food vendors were serving up their best wings as they competed for top honors.

“It’s become such a big event,” Strugala said of Wheels & Wings and Thunder in the Valley as a whole.

“Each event gets a different crowd,” Strugala added.

“Thunder has to expand, and this is a great way to do it.”