Local grade schoolers compete in spelling bee

Around 200 local elementary school students flexed their brain muscles on Saturday at the annual Fort Scott Youth Spelling Bee.

The spelling competition was sponsored by the Fort Scott Recreation Commission and was conducted at Fort Scott High School.

According to FSRC Director Tom Robertson, preliminary competitions were conducted in the individual classrooms at the various elementary schools in the area.

The top four finishers in each classroom advanced to the youth spelling bee.

The competition is for students in first through fifth grades, and Robertson said that Saturday's contest consisted of around 40 competitors in each grade level.

The first- and second-place finishers in each grade level are, respectively:

* First grade --Micah Self, Fort Scott Christian Heights, and Jake Stetler, FSCH.

* Second grade -- Seth Cross, Eugene Ware Elementary School, and Haley Denton, EWES.

* Third grade -- Hannah Dunn, Winfield Scott Elementary School, and Breanna Primeaux, EWES.

* Fourth grade -- Breanna Bailey, WSES, and Emily Martin, WSES.

* Fifth grade -- Zad Self, FSCH, and Kyler Short, WSES.

Robertson said the first- and second-place finishers received trophies for their accomplishments, while the other competitors received special recognition ribbons.

Robertson said the youth spelling bee is conducted to recognize the young local students who perform well in school.