Lake County Spelling Bee champion advances to state
Karen Peterson
Eighth-grader John Paca of Ronan holds his winning trophy for the Lake County Spelling Bee on Tuesday.
Karen Peterson
Lake County Spelling Bee Judges Gale Decker, Paula Holle, and Michelle Wood
Karen Peterson
Students from schools all across Lake County participate in the 2018 Lake County Spelling Bee until three were left.
Karen Peterson
Winners hold their trophies. They include, from left, Taleah Hernandez, third place; Molly Kate Sullivan, second place; and John Paca, first place.
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
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RONAN – A type of cheese helped decide the 53rd annual Lake County Spelling Bee on Tuesday evening as a word duel wrapped up between eighth-graders John Paca of Ronan and Molly Kate Sullivan of Charlo.
During the final rounds, John stood on stage at the Ronan Performing Arts Center and correctly spelled toboggan. Molly was up next and happened to draw the word for a cheese she loves to eat on salad. Pronouncer Daniel Stiffarm asked her to spell Parmesan. The letters she chose didn’t quit add up to the correct spelling, and unfortunately, Molly was out.
As the last speller left standing, John went back to the microphone and spelled toucan correctly. He then sealed the win with abdicate as his final word.
John was given a first place trophy and a $500 grant from the Lower Flathead Valley Community Foundation for travel expenses so he can get to the state spelling bee in Billings on March 17.
Molly also received a travel grant to attend the state spelling bee as the second place winner. Third place winner Taleah Hernandez is the alternate if either of the other two spellers can’t make the trip. The top three spellers were each given trophies provided by Kelly and Tami Morrison of Ronan Auto Parts.
While holding his first place trophy after the event, John explained that it took a lot of practice to become the county champion. He said he read the dictionary before he went to bed at night, and in the morning, his parents quizzed him on different words. He said it wasn’t that big of a chore because he likes words.
Molly was in good spirits and laughed a little about a cheese tripping her up in the final round. Her advice for future contestants: “Take your time and think about the words.” She said remembering how to spell while in front of an audience of people can be difficult.
Taleah said she was happy to take third place. She has competed in spelling bees since she was in fifth grade. As an eighth grader, this is the last year she is eligible for the contest. She has previously won the county spelling bee twice - when she was in fifth grade in 2015 and again in sixth grade.
Taleah said competing at the state level was a lot like the county bee with an audience full of people and a stage full of students from different schools and grades. “It’s like this but more people,” she said.
Before the bee got started, Carolyn Hall stood on the stage as the Master of Ceremonies to organize the students, and she thanked everyone for attending the bee saying cold weather and icy roads kept about a dozen spellers from attending the event.
The judges this year were Paula Holle, Gale Decker and Michelle Wood. Carolyn Hall and Beth Rowley were the bee directors. Kate Ike and Mary McCarley worked as the clerks recording information from the event.
