LaFollette woman's chemistry with 'The Bachelor' heats up

LaFollette native Ella Nolan of "The Bachelor"

LaFollette native Ella Nolan of "The Bachelor"

LaFollette's Ella Nolan pushed to the front of the pack of contenders on "The Bachelor" Monday night.

The 29-year-old hairstylist scored a coveted one-on-one date with Jake Pavelka, a 31-year-old pilot. They rode a helicopter to Sea World, where he surprised Nolan with a visit from her 7-year-old son, Ethan. Pavelka called the visit a belated birthday gift for Nolan. (Last week he presented her a cupcake with a candle in it).

Nolan called Pavelka an "amazing, honest, incredible man."

After discussing Ethan - whom Pavelka said is, "really smart. I like him" - and finding out Nolan wanted to have more children, the pilot said to her, "What do you think about being engaged at the end of this process?"

Nolan said, "I feel an unbelievable connection to Jake."

Pavelka gave her a rose at the end of the date - fast-forwarding her to the next round and sparing her the show-ending rose ceremony in which he cuts contestants.

She said, "I'm here for the long haul."

Also during Monday night's show, Vienna Girardi, a 23-year-old marketing representative from Florida, likewise received an advance rose at the end of her one-on-one date with Pavelka, much to the dismay of most other contestants, who don't like Girardi.

Meanwhile, intense contestant Michelle Kujawa, frustrated at her lack of progress making inroads with Pavelka, essentially took herself out of the competition by asking him if she should leave. He sent her packing.

During the rose ceremony, Pavelka cut two more contestants, reducing the pool of contenders to nine women.

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