Peabody-Burns Elemen?tary School had its annual school spelling bee Wednes?day, Jan. 15. Twenty students from fourth and fifth grades earned the right to represent their classrooms in the spelling bee.
The contestants were Gavin Andres, Bekah Davis, Daniel Hammann, Chance Johnson, Kaete Johnson, Miles Rickard, Emma Schroeder, Amber Cubbage-Williams, Aries Baldwin, Alex Caldwell, Taryn Coon, Kaleb Ehrlich, Johnathan Glover, Kwenton Harms, McKayla Hauck, Anthony Huls, Jake Partridge, Blake Percival, Noal Reynolds and Sarah Spencer.
After almost 90 minutes and 13 rounds of competition, Taryn Coon spelled the word ?behavior? correctly to become the champion speller. Blake Percival placed second and the third-place winner was Kwenton Harms.
The top two spellers will represent PBES in the Marion County Spelling Bee. The alternate will participate if one of the others is unable to do so.
The Marion County Spelling Bee will be Wednesday, Feb. 5, in the Hillsboro auditorium. The public is invited to attend.