Jeffers woman wins talent show

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Nothing wows 'em like Judy Garland.

It was a rendition of one of the singer and film star's songs that won Megan Hubley of Jeffers the first-place prize at the first KEYC Star Search at Heritagefest Friday evening.

A total of nine contestants were chosen from a batch of tapes sent into the Mankato television station. All of them performed Friday night.

The music ranged from pop to modern rock to folk to heavy metal to country to opera to Judy Garland songs. Many of the songs were written by the contestants who sang them.

The show was held in the Civic Center Fest Halle on what used to be the Edelweiss tent stage. It was taped by KEYC and emceed by sportscaster Eric Lind.

Many of the people were from the New Ulm area and performed solo with just a CD of backing music to help them along. Others chose to accompany themselves on guitar. One singer, Kim Sunday from New Ulm, brought along a keyboardist and a backing singer. Mankato rock band Dominion was the only group to perform in the show.

The winners were chosen by a panel of six judges, a couple of whom are on the Heritagefest board. Like the network T.V. show, the judges tabulated scores based on appearance and performance, keeping them secret until all nine contestants finished.

Laura Fog, from Emmetsburg, Iowa, won the third place prize of a mountain bike. Second-place winner Leann Wellman of Lamberton received a 25-inch color TV-VCR for singing "A Broken Wing". Hubley's version of Garland's "Zing With The String Of My Heart" earned her $1,000, which she said she plans to use for college.

Hubley, 21, said she started singing when she was in fourth grade. She said her family listened to music instead of watching television.

Hubley said she chose to sing one of Garland's songs because she likes musicals and enjoys Broadway production numbers "and Judy Garland is one of the best."