Over 6 Million Pages Served

The winner of Wednesday’s Upshur County Spelling Bee, Lila Wright, works to spell the winning words, ‘crayon’ and ‘cowlick.’ Lila said she is excited to ‘bee’ the top speller. Lila said she comes from a spelling family – her brother won the Upshur County Spelling Bee two times when he was younger and mom, Daya and her team have been top spellers at the Upshur County Community Spelling Bee for the last two years. Lila is in sixth grade at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School.

Spelling is a family affair for Upshur County Spelling Bee champ Lila Wright

TENNERTON — The sixth-grade winner of Wednesday’s 32nd annual Upshur County Bee knows a thing or two about words.

Lila Wright, who correctly spelled the words ‘crayon’ and ‘cowlick’ to capture the winning title said her older brother won the spelling bee twice when he was younger. In fact, her mom, Daya Wright, and her team ‘Highway to Spell’ have claimed the top spot in the Upshur County Arts Alliance’s now-annual adult spelling bee for the past two years.

The adult spelling bee is set for 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, Jan. 24 and the Event Center at Brushy Fork. Will Highway to Spell dominate the field for the third consecutive year? That’s yet to be determined, but s-t-a-y t-u-n-e-d.

In the meantime, Wednesday’s top five spellers (plus one alternate) will advance on to the regional spelling bee in March at Fairmont State University.

The winners and an alternate will go on to represent Upshur County at the regional spelling bee held in March at Fairmont State University. Those spellers who ‘buzzed’ to the top include first place, Lila Wright, sixth grade, B-UMS; second place, Kari Gay, eighth grade, B-UMS; third place, Gracelynn Rowan, fifth grade, Washington District; fourth place, Kaylee Cornell, eighth grade, B-UMS; fifth place Rebecca Pastorius, fifth grade, Union; and alternate Jackson Shepherd, fourth grade, Union (not pictured).
Top spellers from Upshur County elementary and middle schools spelled their way to victory on Wednesday evening at Buckhannon-Upshur High School. The top 20 spellers in the 32nd Annual Upshur County Spelling Bee, sponsored by Upshur County Schools, The Record Delta and the Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur include fourth-graders Landon Cole of Buckhannon Academy, Kenton Stump of French Creek, Kaidin Wagner of Hodgesville, Samuel Beckner of Rock Cave, Bella Snyder of Tennerton, Jackson Shepherd of Union and Matthew Hawkins of Washington District. Fifth-grade spellers in Wednesday’s competition include Bailee Lowther of Buckhannon Academy, Sylas Knight of French Creek, Brooks Triplett of Hodgesville, Kallie Perry of Rock Cave, Kaleb Kowalkoski of Tennerton, Rebecca Pastorius of Union and Gracelynn Rowan of Washington District. Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School spellers include Domenick Castillo and Lila Wright, sixth grade; Amelia Griffith and Braiden McKisic, seventh grade; and Kaylee Cornell and Kari Gay, eighth grade.
Participant Amelia Griffith, a seventh-grader at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School, selects her number as she registers. Bee organizer Cynthia Nesselroade, Upshur County Schools Nutrition Director, welcomes the 20 spellers. Each Upshur County elementary school sent their winners to compete for the top five spots, plus one alternate, at the regional spelling bee which will take place in March at Fairmont State University.

Featured

SHOPS & SERVICES

Latest

Buckhannon man held on $100,000 bail after being arrested on multiple drug charges

BUCKHANNON – A Buckhannon man was arrested Saturday after several illegal substances were allegedly found in his residence. Bryan Shaw, 41, of Buckhannon, was arrested for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with […]



  • Subscribe Today

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!



JOIN TODAY



ALREADY A MEMBER? LOGIN HERE

Monica Zalaznik March 20, 2023

Buckhannon City Council approves $6.5 million-dollar budget prioritizing public safety, infrastructure

BUCKHANNON – City council passed the largest budget in Buckhannon’s history Tuesday, with the two largest allocations once again earmarked for public safety operations and infrastructure maintenance, respectively. At its March 14 meeting – rescheduled from March 16 due to […]



  • Subscribe Today

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!



JOIN TODAY



ALREADY A MEMBER? LOGIN HERE

Katie Kuba March 19, 2023

Police arrest man they say was the driver in 2022 pursuit that ended in a wreck with two people ejected

BUCKHANNON – A Rock Cave man was arrested for allegedly fleeing from police officers in a vehicle, injuring himself and a passenger. Elijah Carpenter, 27, of Rock Cave was arrested Thursday for fleeing from an officer and fleeing or attempting […]



  • Subscribe Today

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!



JOIN TODAY



ALREADY A MEMBER? LOGIN HERE

Monica Zalaznik March 17, 2023

obituaries

SHOPS & SERVICES

Sports

Softball Lady Bucs get one-hit by Lincoln’s Haller in debut in 10-0 setback

TENNERTON – For their season opener, the Buckhannon-Upshur softball Lady Bucs ran into one of the top pitchers in the state in Lincoln’s Delaney Haller. Haller was the Big 10 Conference Pitcher of the Year last season and was captain […]



  • Subscribe Today

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!



JOIN TODAY



ALREADY A MEMBER? LOGIN HERE

Sports Release March 20, 2023

Baseball ‘Cats get home doubleheader split with ABU

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan baseball team split with the Alderson Broaddus Battlers Monday, winning 7-2 in the first game and losing 7-0 in the second game. The bats were alive in Game

Sports Release March 20, 2023

Inexperienced tennis Bucs fall in first two outings of 2023 season

BRIDGEPORT – The Buckhannon-Upshur tennis Buccaneers dropped their first two outings of the year last week. They opened their season at home last Thursday with a 7-0 setback to Robert C. Byrd and then went to Bridgeport Saturday and dropped […]



  • Subscribe Today

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!



JOIN TODAY



ALREADY A MEMBER? LOGIN HERE

Duane Carpenter March 20, 2023

Lady Buc netters open season with win over Robert C. Byrd and narrow loss to John Marshall

BRIDGEPORT – The Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Buc tennis team is off to a 1-1 start to the season and was just an eyelash away from being a perfect 2-0. The Lady Bucs hosted Robert C. Byrd last Thursday and won a […]



  • Subscribe Today

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!



JOIN TODAY



ALREADY A MEMBER? LOGIN HERE

Duane Carpenter March 20, 2023

SHOPS & SERVICES

Community

Working in service: WVU research reaches all of West Virginia

Breakthroughs and research expertise nurtured at West Virginia University extend far beyond its labs, experimental sites and classrooms. In fact, WVU research efforts are unique compared to most universities, according to Vice President for Research Fred King. “While

News Release March 20, 2023

Fairmont State University selects 2023 Presidential Scholarship winners

Three incoming Fairmont State University freshmen have been selected as the recipients of Fairmont State’s premier academic scholarship, the Charles J. McClain Presidential Scholarship. Sophie Stuart from Jefferson High School (Charles town, W.VA), Hailey Jordan

News Release March 20, 2023

WVDEP hosting students on World Water Day

CHARLESTON, WV – In an effort to enrich students’ understanding of the importance of clean water, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) is hosting a water education event for area grade schools on

News Release March 20, 2023

Keep In Touch

Facebook-f Instagram Twitter

Privacy Policy * Terms & Conditions * Contest Rules

Copyright 2023 – My Town WV LLC