ST. HENRY, Ohio -- For the first time ever, a Mercer County woman has been crowned Miss Ohio. She is Erica Gelhaus, 21, of St. Henry.

Erica was one of 24 contestants competing for Miss Ohio 2009 during the contest Saturday night at the Renaissance Theatre in downtown Mansfield.

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Fourth runner-up was Ellen Bryan of Celina, a former Miss Celina Lake Festival Queen.

The new Miss Ohio will represent the Buckeye State at the next Miss America Pageant.

There were four other contestants from the area in the Miss Ohio Pageant this past weekend. They are from Lima, Delphos, Wapakoneta and Celina.