NORTH WEBSTER – Studying isn’t “taboo” for Jefferson Elementary sixth-grader Nathan Freeman as it helped him win the elementary division of the county spelling bee Thursday night. “I studied a lot, almost every day,” he said after winning. Nathan, the son of Rich and Jami Freeman, Warsaw, went up against 15 other fifth- and sixth-graders in the first round of the 2013 Kosciusko County Spelling Bee at North Webster Elementary School. Nine students went out in the first round. Three more misspelled in the second round, while one went out in the third round and one in the fourth. In the fifth round, the bee was down to Freeman and Warsaw Christian School sixth-grader Anna Reimink. At first, judges thought Reimink might have misspelled “depravity” in the fifth round, but after listening to the cassette tape, she was cleared. Freeman then correctly spelled “beguile.” In the sixth round, however, Reimink did misspell “monetary” as “monotory.” Freeman then correctly spelled “taboo” and won with the championship word “forensics.” “It’s a really big honor,” he said of winning. “It’s pretty cool.” Freeman now advances to the championship round Tuesday night. The middle school division will start at 6:30 p.m. at North Webster Elementary, with the championship taking place right after that. The winner of Tuesday’s championship bee will advance to the 59th annual regional Journal Gazette Spelling Bee, scheduled for 10 a.m. March 9 at the Auer Auditorium in the IPFW Rhinehart Music Center in Fort Wayne. The winner of the two Kosciusko County grade division spelling bees each receive a $2,500 Richard R. Long Scholarship. The scholarship is given in recognition of Long’s many years of service to the children, teachers and parents of North Webster School and in honor of his work for the International Palace of Sports, now known as the Shoop Sports and Youth Foundation. The Shoop Foundation funds the spelling bee scholarships to help provide future higher education for the spelling bee winners. The other participants in the elementary division of the spelling bee were, fifth grade: Madison Reincke, Leesburg; Gordon Horton, Claypool; Jack Williamson, Eisenhower; Aleisa McCram, Pierceton; Shreya Vuriti, Harrison; Aundreya Wegener, Syracuse; Nathaniel Roberts, Mentone; Logan Hollar, Milford; Evan Coblentz, North Webster; Jessy Weitzel, Akron; sixth grade: Dawson Vilamaa, Sacred Heart; Madelyn Ray, Washington; Kurt Benedict, Madison; and Gavin Hough, Lincoln. Judges for this year’s spelling bee are Doug Hoffert, retired Madison Elementary School teacher; Pam Long, North Webster Community Public Library librarian; and Ann Haffner, North Webster retired teacher. Dr. James Bowling, Grace College, is pronouncer. Kosciusko REMC sponsors the Kosciusko County Spelling Bee and pays for the trophies and participation medals. Sponsors also include the Journal Gazette, Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, IPFW and Barrett & McNagny LLP Attorneys at Law. North Webster Elementary School Principal Kris Woodard serves as this year’s county spelling bee coordinator. North Webster Elementary School is at 5745 N. CR 750E, North Webster.
