Several Pierce Countians participated in the 10th — and final “Dancing with the Southern Stars” held Aug. 9 in Waycross.
The event raised $166,861.70 for the Magnolia House and the Waycross Area Community Theater (WACT). Magnolia House offers shelter and services to victims of family violence.
Father-daughter duo Randy and Aubrey Buck, of Pierce County, won the top prize, Entertainer of the night, and also won third place in community choice, raising $17,880.
Second place went to Pierce Countians Allie Peagler and Scott Mattox. Peagler and Mattox placed second in community choice, raising $20,596.26.
Coming in third in the judges choice were Jordan Waters of Pierce County and James Wood of Ware County.
Fourth place award winner was father-daughter duo Philip and Aubrie Anna Smith of Coffee County. The Smiths also placed fourth in community choice, raising $16,870.
Ivy Kratzer and Jackson Hobbs, both of Ware County, placed fifth in the judges choice and first in the community choice with $22,950.11 raised.
Rounding out the top five in community choice were Jane Ansley Jones and Jason White, both of Brantley County. The pair raised $14,817.10 and they also won “best dressed” dancers for the night.
This year’s final Dancing with the Southern Stars featured 13 teams.
Team members dressed up in costumes and showed off their best dance moves to popular tunes during the event.
There were special performances by John Glosson and Golden Isles Belly Dance. The event was emceed by Clay Thomas and Lori McNease and judged by Michael Smith, chief executive office of Greater Valdosta United Way, Blake Smith, area sales manager for BSN Sports, Kecia Strickland, president and chief executive officer of Qwiksite and Stephanie Roberts, executive director of College Advancement at Coastal Pines Technical College.
