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ORA NELSON

Fleeta Junior High eighth-grader William Baxley walked away as champion of this year’s County Spelling Bee.

A representative from each county school — including from Opp and Andalusia City Schools— competed against each other for the opportunity to continue on to the Alabama State Spelling Bee later on in the year. The eight representatives then show off their skills in front of both judges and their peers.

Baxley’s win came with a shiny trophy, after successfully spelling the word “foothills.”

Teresa Richardson, coordinator of the spelling bee and a Red Level Elementary School teacher, said about 50 students from her school competed to be the representative for their school.

“There’s about 30-50 at each school that has to be boiled down to just one to compete here [County Spelling Bee]. Almost 400 has to be narrowed down to just eight.”

“We [Red Level Schools] had a great time hosting it [the spelling bee],” said Richardson. “I actually volunteered to host it this year and hope that we can host it again soon.”

The County Spelling Bee was previously hosted in the train depot in Opp, Ala. for several years.

The annual event will be held again early next year and will be hosted by a school selected by the spelling bee’s committee.