Each year, the reigning Miss Arkansas measures the success of her year of service by whether she is ready for it to end.

Miss Arkansas 2008 Ashlen Batson, who will crown her successor this weekend, is not prepared for the exhilarating whirlwind to subside, according to Rick Pruitt, executive director of Miss Arkansas Pageant Organization.

“Ashlen enjoyed her year and she was good at it,” Pruitt told The Sentinel-Record in a telephone interview.

As her year as official hostess for the state winds down, Batson will welcome a new group of contestants who will a...

Log-In to view full story or view our Registration Guide.