County kids spell their way to success |
February 5, 2012 |
By Mike Weland
Publsiher
A passel of county kids are reading Bonners
Books tomes after demonstrating their prowess at
spelling after competing in the Boundary County
Spelling Bee, held January 21 at Free Methodist
Church.
They'll be competing at North Idaho College
March 17 for the right to represent Idaho in our
nation's capitol in June.
Zach Dennis, Boundary County Middle School, took
top honors in the eighth grade division,
followed by Wyatt Bennett. Seventh grade winners
were David Cossairt, first, and Amy Holman,
second.
Reece Bell took took top honors in the sixth
grade, followed by Tyler Beezer.
In the elementary school division, Ashlynn
Rushing, Valley View, took top honors, and
Lindsey Christoperson, Mount Hall, finished
second. Katie Clairmont won the fourth grade
division, Braden Hershberger, Mount Hall, took
second, and in the third grade division, Lily
Blackmore took first, followed by Nora Kusler.
All first and second place winners were awarded
gift certificates from Bonners Books; $25 for
the top finishers, $15 for second place.
The event, sponsored by the Bonners Ferry Rotary
Club, also provided this years judges; Dave
Walter, Therese Osborne and Dave Gray.
The all important announcers; Amy Anderson,
Linda Cromwell and Martha Jones, pronounced and
defined the words.
"Inaugurate."
That was the word that cost me the chance to
move ahead in the second round of the Junction
City, Kansas, spelling bee of 1969.
After I won the school event, my teacher, Mrs.
Peppard, spent countless hours after class,
helping me to prepare me for the next level, and
I cried when I let her and my Mom, both in the
audience, down, by failing to spell that second
word.
Amazingly, years later, I was privileged with a
job at the Spokesman Review ... of 20
candidates, all but me college trained, I did
best on the spelling test, and I got the job.
While I'm a bit late this year, I'd like to
notify the Rotary Club that next year News
Bonners Ferry is going to contribure a $100 cash
prize to the winner of Boundary County's Eighth
Grade Spelling Bee ... $50 to the seventh grade
winner, $25 to the sixth grade winner and $5 to
each student who finishes in the top two.
Geeks need love to.
Too ... two ... whatever! |
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