Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The stage is set to determine who the best speller is in Kosciusko County.
Twenty-nine students will compete in the countywide spelling bee Monday through Wednesday in Warsaw. These students advanced to the county bee after becoming the spelling champions at their schools.
The event begins at 7 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church with the spelldown for 22 elementary pupils. Seven middle school students will face off at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church. The top spellers from Monday and Tuesday will meet to determine the county champ at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the downtown office of WRSW. The finals match will be broadcast live on WRSW-AM and WRSW-FM.
The elementary winner and the middle school winner will each receive the $2,500 Richard R. Long Scholarship, which is sponsored by the International Palace of Sports Foundation in North Webster.
The winner of the county spelling bee will advance to the regional bee, set for March 22 at the Anthis Career Center in downtown Fort Wayne.
Milford School principal Cindy Kaiser is chairwoman of this year's event. Pronouncer will be Tim Yeager, with Bob Cockburn, Debbi Collins, Robin Eger, Gayle Harris, Jodi Pearl and Kathy Deck serving as judges.
Following are the spelling champions and runners-up from county schools. Should any champion be unable to compete in next week's bee, the alternate would take his place. Elementary
Akron Elementary - Mark Weber, Akron, fifth-grader, son of David and Susan Weber; alternate: Sam Vanlaningham, Rochester, fifth-grader, son of Mark and Melanie Vanlaningham.
Atwood Elementary - Anthony Smith, Leesburg, fifth-grader, son of Julie and Kevin Smith; alternate: Trent Templin, Leesburg, sixth-grader, son of Amy and Scott Templin.
Burket Elementary - Justin Ellis, Warsaw, fifth-grader, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Ellis; alternate: Zach Shambaugh, Warsaw, fifth-grader, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Shambaugh.
Claypool Elementary - Erin Nichols, Claypool, sixth-grader, daughter of William Nichols and Kelly Nichols; alternate: John Salmons II, Claypool, fifth-grader, son of John Salmons and Chris Richey.
Eisenhower Elementary - Austin Arnett, Winona Lake, sixth-grader, son of Teri and Bob Arnett; alternate: Jessica Gaisford, Warsaw, sixth-grader, daughter of LuAnn and Tim Gaisford.
Harrison Elementary - David Summe, Warsaw, sixth-grader, son of Mitchell Summe; alternate: Rachael Datzman, Warsaw, sixth-grader, daughter of Matt and Barb Datzman.
Home School Friends - Tyler Petty, Warsaw, sixth-grader, son of Kirsten and Gordon Petty; alternate: Jasmine Orr, Warsaw, sixth-grader, daughter of Tamra and Joseph Orr.
Jefferson Elementary - Joshua Bonham, Winona Lake, sixth-grader, son of Bruce and Ardith Bonham; alternate: Aaron Wishart, Winona Lake, sixth-grader, son of Steve and Lauren Wishart.
Leesburg Elementary - Anna Cornell, Leesburg, fifth-grader, daughter of Gene and Mary Cornell; alternate: Jeremy Lursen, Leesburg, sixth-grader, son of Brent and Kathy Lursen.
Lincoln Elementary - Lisa Frankowski, Warsaw, sixth-grader, daughter of Sally Frankowski; alternate: Rosalyn Nguyen, Warsaw, sixth-grader, daughter of Sam Nguyen.
Madison Elementary - Kim Busz, Warsaw, fifth-grader, daughter of Darwin and Rita Busz; alternate: Stefani Castle, Warsaw, fifth-grader, daughter of Frank and Donna Castle.
Mentone School - Melinda Dye, Mentone, fifth-grader, daughter of Linda and Rod May; alternate: Cory Vanlaningham, Mentone, fifth-grader, son of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Vanlaningham.
Milford School - Stephanie Heskith, Milford, fifth-grader, daughter of William and Norene Heskith; alternate: Kate Plew, Milford, fifth-grader, daughter of Jane Plew.
North Webster Elementary - Becky Phoun, Leesburg, fifth-grader, daughter of Lo Phoun and Wen Torng; alternate: Kristina Garman, Syracuse, fifth-grader, daughter of Devon and Deborah Garman.
Pierceton Elementary - Matt Keplinger, Pierceton, fifth-grader, son of Robin and Robert Keplinger; alternate: Alicia Burelison, Pierceton, fifth-grader, daughter of Timothy and Mary Burelison.
Redeemer Lutheran School - Gregory Enterline, Warsaw, sixth-grader, son of Don and Kathy Enterline; alternate: Lynn Enterline, Warsaw, fifth-grader, daughter of Don and Kathy Enterline.
Sacred Heart Catholic School - Bobby Venekamp, Warsaw, sixth-grader, son of Robert and Loryn Venekamp; alternate: Michael Thallemer, Warsaw, sixth-grader, son of Joe and Jill Thallemer.
Silver Lake Elementary - Cody Williams, Silver Lake, sixth-grader, son of David and Rene Williams; alternate: Amber Keel, Silver Lake, sixth-grader, daughter of Diane Keel.
South Whitley Elementary - Michael Holler, South Whitley, fifth-grader, son of Randall and Patricia Holler; alternate: Nicholas Smith, South Whitley, fifth-grader, son of Jeff and Melissa Smith.
Syracuse Elementary - Joseph Judy, Syracuse, fifth-grader, son of Dwight and Ruth Judy; alternate: Travis Blackburn, Syracuse, fifth-grader, son of Carolyn and Randy Blackburn.
Triton Elementary - Josh Nifong, Etna Green, sixth-grader, son of Everett and Bobbi Nifong; alternate: Andy Stenstrom, Etna Green, sixth-grader, son of Melanie and William Stenstrom.
Washington Elementary - Sean Brady, Warsaw, sixth-grader, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bud Brady; alternate: Ashley Wireman, Warsaw, fifth-grader, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Greg Wireman. Junior High/Middle School
Edgewood Middle School - Jason Walker, Winona Lake, eighth-grader, son of Rich and Catharine Walker; alternate: Kelsi Foreman, Winona Lake, eighth-grader, daughter of Randy and Darla Foreman.
Lakeview Middle School - Pauline Campbell, Warsaw, seventh-grader, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Campbell; alternate: Chris Nycz, Warsaw, seventh-grader, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Nycz.
Milford School - Sarah Rule, Milford, eighth-grader, daughter of James and Karen Rule; alternate: Aimee Niles, Milford, seventh-grader, daughter of Bruce and Brenda Niles.
Tippecanoe Valley Middle School - Elizabeth Thompson, Akron, sixth-grader, daughter of Theresa Thompson; alternate: Jeremiah Haney, Akron, eighth-grader, son of Kevin Haney.
Triton Jr.-Sr. High School - Donald D. Burkhart III, Tippecanoe, eighth-grader, son of Jeri and Donald Burkhart; alternate: Christopher Kauffman, Bourbon, seventh-grader, son of Ruth and Roger Kauffman.
Wawasee Middle School - Christopher Ousley, Leesburg, sixth-grader, son of Loretta and Mitchell Ousley; alternate: Nick Houze, Leesburg, seventh-grader, son of Debra and Michael Houze.
Whitko Middle School - Amy Gingery, South Whitley, eighth-grader, daughter of Sally and Anthony Gingery; alternate: Miranda Krider, Columbia City, sixth-grader, daughter of Marcia and Dennis Krider.
