County 'Bee' Next Week

Forget the Olympics - for true drama, joy and heartbreak, go watch the Kosciusko County Spelling Bee, which will take place at Lakeview Middle School over three evenings next week.

Coordinated this year by Shannun Reed, administrative intern at Pierceton Elementary School, competition will begin each night at 7 p.m. The elementary bee, for fifth- and sixth-graders, will be Tuesday; the middle school contest, with seventh- and eighth-graders, will be Wednesday; and the finals are scheduled for Thursday.

Pronouncer this year will be Dr. Paulette Sauders of Grace College. Judges are Caroline Nye, Michelle Ball, Tina Wuthrich and Patti Goldsmith, all teachers at Pierceton Elementary, and Carol Vosberg, Grace College.

As usual, scholarships are provided by the Homer Shoop Foundation, and trophies and ribbons were purchased with a donation from Lake City Bank.

This year's contestants, listed by school, are:

• Akron Elementary - Joshua Andrejko, 10, grade 5, son of Sandra and John Andrejko, Claypool. Runner-up - Samantha Shell, 10, grade 5, daughter of Mary Shepherd, Claypool.

• Atwood Elementary - Brooklynne Slabaugh, 11, grade 5, daughter of Pam and Mark Slabaugh, Leesburg. Runner-up - Jamie Doyle, 11, grade 5, son of Sharon and John Doyle, Warsaw.

• Burket School - Laila Hepburn, grade 5, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hepburn, Warsaw. Runner-up - Katana Quillen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Sheets, Claypool.

• Claypool Elementary - Jaclyn Amiss, 12, grade 6, daughter of Rebecca and Shanon Amiss, Claypool. Runner-up - Terry Kreft II, 11, grade 5, son of Deborah and Terry Kreft, Claypool.

• Edgewood Middle School - Joseph Ahlersmeyer, 12, grade 7, son of Shelley and David Ahlersmeyer, Warsaw. Runner-up - Bryce Burgin, 12, grade 7, son of Susan and Robert Durgin, Winona Lake.

• Eisenhower Elementary - Nathan Lafountain, 12, grade 6, son of Lee Ann and Keith Lafountain, Warsaw. Runner-up - Christopher Hamman, 12, grade 6, son of Pam and Michael Hamman, Warsaw.

• Harrison Elementary - Tamanna Ranadive, 12, grade 6, daughter of Priti and Miland Ranadive, Warsaw. Runner-up - Erin Mills, 12, grade 6, daughter of Kirsten and Russell Mills, Warsaw.

• HELPS Homeschoolers - Stephanie R. Henning, 11, grade 6, daughter of Jenny L. and Paul E. Henning. Runner-up - Matthew Christy, 11, grade 6, son of Wendy and Ronald Christy, Warsaw.

• HELPS Homeschoolers - Joshua Lawrence, 12, grade 7, son of Carol Lawrence, Warsaw. Runner-up - Isaac Meadows, 12, grade 7, son of Kay and Tim Meadows, Warsaw.

• Jefferson Elementary - Jared Boze, 11, grade 5, son of Mike and Rosemary Boze, Winona Lake. Runner-up - Megan George, 11, grade 6, daughter of Jon and June George, Winona Lake.

• Lakeview Middle School - Courtney Woodward, 12, grade 7, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Bryan, Winona Lake. Runner-up - Adam Lenon, 14, grade 8, son of Patti and Perry Lenon, Warsaw.

• Leesburg Elementary - TiKayla Gilliam, 11, grade 5, daughter of Jenelle Gilliam, Warsaw. Runner-up - Jessica Kelly, 11, grade 6, daughter of Sandra Lykes, Warsaw.

• Lincoln Elementary - Ashley Poe, 12, grade 6, daughter of Christie and Jody Poe, Warsaw. Runner-up - Krysta Miller, 11, grade 6, daughter of Deb and Randy Miller, Warsaw.

• Madison Elementary - Samantha Danner, 12, grade 6, daughter of Juanita and Gale Danner, Warsaw. Runner-up - Lewis Bennington, 11, grade 5, son of Lisa and Lewis Bennington, Warsaw.

• Mentone Elementary - Eugene Bodin, 10, grade 5, son of Dora Bodin, Warsaw. Runner-up - Joshua Walerko, 11, grade 5, son of Christy and Mark Walerko, Mentone.

• Milford Elementary - Angela Beer, 12, grade 6, daughter of Ronda and John Beer, Milford. Runner-up - Caitlin Conley, 12, grade 6, daughter of Maureen and Tim Conley, Syracuse.

• Milford Middle School - Glen Clipfell, 13, grade 7, son of Nicole and Scott McLaughlin, Milford. Runner-up - Jennifer Earnhart, 13, grade 8, daughter of Diana and Randall Earnhart, Milford.

• North Webster Elementary - Paige Geer, 11, grade 5, daughter of Connie and William Geer, Syracuse. Runner-up - Lacy Mroz, 10, grade 5, daughter of Julie and Anthony Mroz, Syracuse.

• Pierceton Elementary - Kellie Detwiler, 10, grade 5, daughter of Debbie and Stacey Detwiler, Pierceton. Runner-up - Simon Espinoza, 10, grade 5, son of Sarah and Armando Espinoza, Pierceton.

• Redeemer Lutheran School - Elizabeth S. Tinkey, 10, grade 5, daughter of Linda and James Tinkey, Warsaw. Runner-up - Aimee Wilson, 12, grade 6, daughter of Janet and Rockey Wilson, Warsaw.

• Sacred Heart School - David Blakemore, 11, grade 5, son of Cheryl and David Blakemore, Warsaw. Runner-up - Kyle Parker, 11, grade 6, son of Vicky and Gary Parker, Warsaw.

• Silver Lake School - Danielle Workman, 11, grade 5, Silver Lake, daughter of Cindy Rentas and Scott Workman. Runner-up - Tim Jayne, 12, grade 6, Silver Lake, son of Jodi Pruitt and Steve Jayne.

• South Whitley Elementary - Michael Gerard, 11, grade 5, son of Lora and Blaine Gerard, South Whitley. Runner-up - Tisha Kyler, 10, grade 5, daughter of Tamara and Timothy Kyler, Larwill.

• Syracuse Elementary - Makayla Cygan, 11, grade 5, daughter of Shannon and Joel Cygan, Syracuse. Runner-up - Skyler Miller, 11, grade 5, Syracuse, daughter of Laura Losse and Kim Miller.

• Tippecanoe Valley Middle School - Sharresa Rose, 14, grade 8, Mentone, daughter of Bobbie Roszak and Tom Rose. Runner-up - Robby Hamman, 14, grade 8, son of Sherill and Rod Hamman, Etna Green.

• Triton Elementary - Joel Meister, 11, grade 5, son of Carmen and Ryan Meister, Bourbon. Runner-up - James Burkholder, 12, grade 6, son of Dora and Norman Burkholder, Bourbon.

• Washington Elementary - Andrew Quella, 13, grade 6, son of Carol and Edward Quella, Warsaw. Runner-up - Taylor Stahly, 10, grade 5, daughter of Pam and Michael Stahly, Warsaw.

• Wawasee Middle School - Aaron Phillippe, 14, grade 8, son of Niki and Robert Phillippe, North Webster.

• Whitko Middle School - Antimony "Timi" Grant, 13, grade 7, daughter of Denise and Kevin Grant, South Whitley.