The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Breaking News

Today's Front Page

March 17, 2013

Area students spell well in Bee

Greenbrier fifth grader takes third

By Sarah Plummer Register-Herald Reporter

CHARLESTON — A fifth-grader from Greenbrier County earned her stripes and placed third in the Gazette-Mail Regional Spelling Bee Saturday at Capital High School in Charleston.

Su Su Wai, from Rainelle Elementary, just barely edged out Raleigh County’s seventh-grader Abby Stimson for the third position and a $75 cash prize.

Wai, who added a “d” to “delineate,” and Stimson, who misspelled “solicitous,” both left the competition in round 11 and later went head-to-head for third place.

During their sudden death round, Stimson correctly spelled “bronchitis” but left one “t” out of “acquittal.” Wai, who had already confidently rattled off “chauvinism” and “anomaly,” beat out the Raleigh County student from Victory Baptist Academy with “tangential” and “inauguration.”

Wai said she felt nervous during the bee but not from stage fright.

The hardest part of the bee was having such strong competitors, she added.

She said she feels good about her ranking and plans to continue to compete in the years to come, although her mother said she would need to devote more time to studying in the coming years.

As a fifth-grader, she potentially has three more years to try her hand at winning.

Wai is familiar in Greenbrier County competitions, participating in Math Field Day, the Geography Bee, and Battle of the Books.

Both Stimson and Wai were runners-up in their county bees.

Nikki Zinzuwadia, winner of the Raleigh County bee, hung in until round 6, spelling “contiguous” and “mayonnaise” correctly before leaving the stage.

Taking first and second place during round 15 in the bee were Lauren Coccari, from Kanawha County, and Teresa Riffle, from Jackson County, respectively.

Coccari took home a $2,500 Smart 529 College Savings Bond and Riffle took home $150 in cash.

Coccari will head to Washington, D.C., May 26-June 1 to represent West Virginia in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Southern West Virginia made a strong showing Saturday with six of the top 10 and three of the top five hailing from the lower part of the state.

— E-mail: splummer@register-herald.com

 

Spelling Bee, top 10

1st Place — Lauren Coccari, Kanawha County

2nd Place — Teresa Riffle, Jackson County

3rd Place — Su Su Wai, Greenbrier County

4th Place — Abby Stimson, Raleigh County

5th Place — Michael Fox, Fayette County

6th Place — Kathryn Wantlin, Kanawha County

7th Place — Alex Lowe, Jackson County

8th Place — Breanna D. Mills, Wyoming County

9th Place — Amiri Bartley, Logan County

10th Place —Caroline Smith, Nicholas County

Text Only
Today's Front Page
  • Beckley Council will take no further action against Pugh

    After seeking outside legal guidance to determine whether Beckley Common Council could remove Mayor Emmett Pugh from office, Councilmen-at-Large Tim Berry and Cedric Robertson have recommended that no further action should be taken against the mayor, according to Councilman Chris Hall.

    June 18, 2013

  • Miley officially takes gavel as Speaker of the House

    Judiciary chairman Tim Miley was elected speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates Tuesday in a strictly party line vote over Tim Armstead. Miley collected 53 votes and Armstead, D-Kanawha, 44. Three delegates were absent.

    June 18, 2013

  • Heavy rains cause flooding issues around Raleigh County

    Every time a heavy rain comes to the area, Jerry Fox and Dollie Stilton’s home on Ewart Avenue floods, the couple said Tuesday.
    Heavy rains in the area Monday night and steady showers throughout the region Tuesday morning caused a nearby creek to rise and water from run-off to flow into their backyard.

    June 18, 2013

  • parkway First 1.36 miles of New River Parkway completed

    U.S. Rep. Nick Joe Rahall, D-W.Va., was in Summers County Monday morning to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of the New River Parkway.

    June 18, 2013 2 Photos

  • Trap Hill teacher fired by BOE for alleged sexual text messages

    The Raleigh County Board of Education voted unanimously Monday morning to fire a Trap Hill Middle School teacher accused of sending inappropriate texts to her student.

    June 18, 2013

  • Mingo sheriff murder suspect denied bail

    A West Virginia man accused of gunning down Mingo County Sheriff Eugene Crum was denied bail Monday prior to his first-degree murder trial, even as defense lawyers questioned whether evidence showed the killing was planned.

    June 18, 2013

  • Man arrested in alleged sex assault of hospital patient

    A Fayette County man was lodged in Southern Regional Jail Monday for the alleged sexual assault of a female patient at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital, Beckley Police said.

    June 18, 2013

  • Delegates to pick speaker of the House today at noon

    Minority Leader Tim Armstead considers Tim Miley a good friend but is openly skeptical that the incoming Democratic speaker of the House can move legislation needed to reform taxes, the legal climate and education.

    June 18, 2013

  • You can still call us while we’re in temporary offices

    As Beckley Newspapers continues its transition into another location during the temporary closure of our plant at 801 North Kanawha Street we are asking that those needing to get in contact with our various departments please call the following numbers and leave a message with a return telephone number. We will return your calls as soon as

    June 18, 2013

  • BOE votes unanimously to fire Trap Hill teacher

    The Raleigh County Board of Education voted unanimously Monday morning to fire a Trap Hill Middle School teacher accused of sending inappropriate texts to her student.
    Lori Lester, the teacher, did not attend the meeting, which she had requested prior to last Tuesday's regular BOE meeting.

    June 17, 2013