LaGRANGE —The late December flooding that damaged dozens of roads, plus several properties, homes and businesses throughout the community also ruined a part of the Troup High School Fine Arts Auditorium.

The news was shocking to Judy Neighbors, director of the Miss Troup County Scholarship Pageant, who was scheduled to use the facility next weekend for the big event.

“They (school officials) called me on Monday and said due to the storm damage and rain, they weren’t going to be able to get it ready in time. It wouldn’t be usable by next weekend,” Neighbors said. “They were very nice about it … and very apologetic.”

John Radcliffe, assistant superintendent of maintenance and operations with the Troup County School System confirmed portions of the auditorium were damaged by flood waters over the holiday break.

“As you enter into the Fine Arts hall, the front lobby area and main entrance have damaged walls,” Radcliffe explained via email. “The glass area near the main entrance is also in need of repair. We have already started removing drywall to begin restoring the building for future use.”

He added while the auditorium would not be ready for the Miss Troup pageant on Jan. 16, the repairs to the building should be completed by the end of the month.

While the news put a damper on Neighbors’ pageant plans, school officials helped her secure another venue for the competition on the same night.

The Miss Troup County, Miss Troup County Outstanding Teen and Little Miss Troup will now take place in the auditorium at LaGrange High School.

“We are very excited and ready to go,” Neighbors said. “It’s going to be a great show. We have some talented, gorgeous young ladies … very much community-service oriented. That is part of Miss America’s four points of the crown program: service, scholarship, success and style … and all these girls believe in it.”

The competition’s 2015 winners, Miss Troup County Brooke Doss and Miss Troup County Outstanding Teen Elizabeth Edwards, will return to crown their successors on Saturday.

The special guest emcee for the 41st annual Miss Troup County pageant will be the newly crowned Miss Georgia, Adeline Kenerly, who took over for Betty Cantrell when she won the Miss America competition in September.

The pageant will start 7 p.m. Jan. 16 inside the LaGrange High School auditorium.

Tickets will be sold at the door. The cost is $15 for adults, $10 for children and students with an ID.

The Little Miss Troup program will be 10 a.m., also in the LHS auditorium.

People may still enter toddlers in that competition. There will be a meeting Sunday in the Chamber of Commerce building on Bull Street at 2 p.m.

Neighbors said the competition is open to children up to 12 years old.

Anyone interested in learning more about any of the Miss Troup Scholarship pageants or Little Miss Troup program can visit www.misstroupcounty.org.