"The Medikal Misphits Team" comprised of Leslie Taylor, Chris Rowback, and Cheryl Pierce are show
with Miss Gail Herman, Pronouncer, as they are proclaimed the 2010 Spelling Bee Champions.

 

"Medikal Misphits" Team Captures Crown
in 5th Annual Rotary Spelling Bee

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

"Is that Vanna White?"

No, it's just John Sellers, trying to raise money for a pretty, little
puppy, during Thursday night's live auction!

 

When the "Medikal Misphits" Team, comprised of Chris Rowback, Leslie Taylor, and Cheryl Pierce, spelled c-o-l-l-o-q-u-y correctly, they became the 2010 Rotary Club Spelling Bee Champions, in the 5th Annual Contest, held Thursday night, in the Sulphur Springs High School Cafeteria. A large group of twelve teams had assembled to see who could spell some of the "most commonly misspelled words" in the English language, and each brought with them their own cheering section, as well as a number of community supporters. "The money raised here tonight is turned around and put back into our community to promote literacy and give scholarships, by the Rotary Club," allowed Rotary Club President, Ruth Ann Crowson. "Spend your money and help our organization to promote literacy in Hopkins County!"

 

Future Speller? This young gentleman was part of the "cheering team"
for Farmers Electric Cooperative's team.

 

 

The evening began with a famous Hopkins County Stew, prepared by Judy Gilreath, as well as those in attendance being able to bid on a bevy of silent auction items. During the evening meal, Justin Jones, a local musician, provided dinner music for the crowd.

 

Local musician and vocalist, Justin Jones, provided
dinner entertainment for Thursday night's event.

 

Crowson introduced John Sellers, Master of Ceremonies for the event, and he in turn introduced Joel Sheffield, Trice Lawrence, and Judge Robert Newsom, who would serve as the judges for the contest. Miss Gail Herman was introduced as the pronouncer, and Judy Tipping and Crowson served as the time keepers and record keepers for the event.

"Let the games begin!" shouted Sellers, as the words began being spelled, by team members.

 

Local auctioneer, Don Sapaugh, conducted the live auction
at Thursday night's event.

 

 

Can you spell? Try f-a-s-c-i-n-a-t-e, o-c-c-a-s-i-o-n-a-l-l-y, d-i-s-p-a-r-a-g-e, s-u-f-f-i-c-i-e-n-t, p-l-a-y-w-r-i-g-h-t, or a-m-a-t-e-u-r, for starters! Yes, they look easy "on paper" but, stand before a crowd of your peers and try to spell them! Things get a little bit harder, and the words became more difficult as the night "wore-on!"

The "Rok Creak Hairtige Spellorz" Team, comprised of Jason Palculict, Joe Saucier, and Brooke Mabry, were the first to leave the contest, when they misspelled p-r-i-v-i-l-e-g-e. They added a "d" in the word, but thanked the Rotary Club for the "privilege" to participate!

"The Symphony Upbeats" Team, comprised of Dwight Corley, Pat Lewis, and Brittany Wilson, was eliminated from the competition, when they failed to spell the word s-e-r-g-e-a-n-t correctly. However, they did know how to spell e-m-b-a-r-r-a-s-s!'

 

Each of the teams brought their own "cheering section" to make
certain that the enthusiam was "kept alive" during the contest.

 

 

 

The "Flow Bees" Team sponsored by Flowserve, with team members Chris Walker, Judy Kitterman, and John Icenhower, were the next team to leave the competition, as they misspelled the word i-n-d-i-s-p-e-n-s-a-b-l-e. And, the "Killer Bees" Team from Pilgrim Bank shortly left, when they failed to spell c-a-m-o-u-f-l-a-g-e. Team members were Lori Blalock, Paola Perez, and Nan Bass, and they will be viewing hunting magazines for the next year, as they practice the word!

The Guaranty Bond Bank Team of Garrett Glass, Kari Potts, and Sarah Plunk, left the stage when they failed to spell s-a-c-r-i-l-e-g-i-o-u-s, correctly. And, shortly thereafter, the defending champions, "The Money Bees," from Alliance Bank, were eliminated when they failed to spell the word p-e-r-i-n-a-t-a-l, correctly. Spelling for Alliance Bank were Ashley Huckabee, Jamie Bird, and Kasey Davis.

 

 

A couple more "heated" rounds of spelling ensued, before the City National Bank "City Bees," were called upon to spell v-i-l-i-f-y, and failed to make the correct "jumble" of the letters, even after calling upon some help from "a friend" in the audience. Team members spelling for City National Bank were Kim Grider, Sheila Boyd, and Professor James Kennon!

In the next round, we found that the "Team Clayton" sponsored by Clayton Homes, are not ardent bird watchers, when they failed to spell the word w-h-i-p-p-o-o-r-w-i-l-l correctly. Ol' Deuce Young, Steve Brady, and Melissa Woodard will be out "birding" for the next year as they try to find that whippoorwill!

 

"Whipper Who?" Deuce Young, seems to be "stumped" on how to spell
w-h-i-p-p-o-o-r-w-i-l-l!

 

With only four teams "left standing" the words began to noticeably get more difficult. It was the "Mother Bees" Team, comprised of Chaney Johnson, D'Anne Chaney, and Leah Connor, sponsored by Kramerica Outdoor Advertising, that was eliminated next, when they failed to spell t-h-a-l-i-d-o-m-i-d-e correctly. However, they quickly pointed-out that they were much too young to know anything about the thalidomide drug and its problems in the 1950's!

 

 

R-a-c-o-n-t-e-u-r proved to be the downfall of "MS. Bee Haven" sponsored by Farmers Electric Cooperative. Team members were Nancy Rulinge, Donna Stottlemeyer, and Maggie Spurrier (who were bound to be good, if they can spell their own last names).

The final round found the Professional Land & Title Company Team, the "Honey Bears," pitted against the "Medikal Misphits," representing Hopkins County Memorial Hospital and sponsored by Bawcum & Preuss CPAs. Both teams misspelled words as the "Honey Bears" failed to spell p-i-t-e-o-u-s and the "Misphits" failed to correctly spell e-x-o-n-e-r-a-t-e. The round went into "sudden death" and it was the spelling of c-o-l-l-o-q-u-y that landed the "Medikal Misphits" in the winner's circle for the championship, for 2010.

 

The "Medikal Misphits" Team was proclaimed the winner!

 

 

 

 

The runner-up Professional Land & Title Company "Honey Bears," comprised of Markeda Fisher, Elizabeth Echols, and Teresa Stalcup, were awarded the "Spirit Award," as their own cheering section was active throughout the contest.

"We're pleased with the over $ 10,000.00  that we made, on tonight's event," expressed Rotary President, Ruth Ann Crowson. "We'll be returning it to the community, as we promote literacy and award scholarships to deserving youth in Hopkins County!"

 

And, who was more qualified to judge the "Spirit Award" than Rotary
Club members and former SSHS Cheerleaders, Amy Smith and Yvonne King.
They selected the "Honey Bears'" cheering section, as the winner!

 

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