CullmanTimes.com - Cullman, Alabama

Top News

Discussion

January 26, 2010

Fairview boy named top speller

By Trent Moore The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — On Monday night, Fairview Elementary School fifth grader Kane Smith found himself in a tough spot, standing front and center on the Fairview High School auditorium.

It was the final round of the Cullman County Spelling Bee, and Smith had to spell the word “aria” for the win.

The problem? He wasn’t sure how.

“I couldn’t remember it, so I kind of just guessed,” Smith said after the Bee with a laugh. “I’ve been studying hard for a couple of months.”

Lucky for Smith, all of his studying paid off and he guessed right — winning the 2010 county-wide competition.

“I think this will make (my school) proud,” Smith said.

Smith beat out 25 other students from various Cullman County schools, Cullman City Schools and local private schools.

Kane’s father Gary Smith said his son’s victory came as no surprise to him.

“I knew he would win,” he said. “He’s been studying every night and working really hard.”

Amy Smith, Kane’s mother, said she is extremely proud of her son.

“We’re just really excited,” she said.

Kane will now represent Cullman County in the statewide spelling bee on March 6 in Oak Mountain.

Ryan Wallace, a West Point Middle School eighth grader, was the runner-up in the competition. He spelled “Panzer” to clinch his place in a spell-off for second place.

“I’ve participated for a few years now,” Wallace said. “I studied a lot to prepare myself.”

Kane and Wallace faced some stiff competition in the Bee, as just eight students were eliminated in the first round. But, only eight contestants remained after round two.

By the fourth round, only Kane, Wallace, Cold Springs Elementary student Kolton Nichols and Good Hope Elementary student Elita Simmons remained.

Cullman County Board of Education Superintendent Hank Allen said he was proud of everyone involved with the Bee.

“It was a job well done by the students, parents and staff,” he said.

Denise Schuman, CCBOE elementary curriculum coordinator, said it was one of the best Bees ever.

“This was a very professional spelling bee,” she said. “This year was just perfect.”

The 2009 contest was judged by Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce President Kirk Mancer, Cullman City Schools Media Specialist Janice Cook and Cullman County Board of Education Federal Programs Director Don McPherson.



Treat Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.

Text Only
Top News
  • NARCOG board stalls in effort to revise bylaws

    No action was taken on the revisions of the North-central Alabama Regional Council of Government’s (NARCOG) bylaws during an emergency meeting Friday morning.

    February 4, 2012

  • FAA bill should provide airport funding for next 4 years

    A new federal bill should provide a stable source of funding for airports nationwide, and local officials are excited about what it could mean for the Cullman Regional Airport.

    February 4, 2012

  • County commission moves to resolve chronic water issue at Harmony School

    The Cullman County Commission signed off on a pair of upgrades to the county’s water infrastructure at its regular meeting, both intended to finally solve a chronic lack of adequate water pressure at Harmony School.

    February 3, 2012

  • audi.jpg Sneak peek at this year's hottest Super Bowl ads

    The Super Bowl is a must-watch TV event, if not for the outcome of the biggest football game of the year, then at least for the multi-million dollar commercials that run throughout. And this year’s buzzworthy spots include celebrity appearances, homages to movies and lots of humor.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Jerry Waters Waters enters race for circuit clerk as Democrat

    Local businessman and lifelong Cullman County resident Jerry Mack Waters has announced he will seek the office of Cullman County circuit clerk as the Democratic nominee in the November general election.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • NARCOG to revisit bylaws, address personnel issue

    An emergency meeting is scheduled this morning at the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments office in Decatur to discuss the revision of the organization’s bylaws and a personnel issue.

    February 3, 2012

  • WSCC breaks ground on new nursing center ‘Crown jewel’: WSCC breaks ground on new nursing center

    Not even a tornado that wrecked nearly half the buildings on campus could keep Wallace State down for long.

    February 2, 2012 2 Photos

  • Steve Cummings Cummings enters race for circuit clerk

    Local businessman Steve Cummings has announced he will seek the Republican nomination for Cullman County circuit clerk in the March 13 primary election.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • City to form 10-year plan Good Hope embarks on effort to form 10-year plan

    The city of Good Hope has three months to form a clearer picture of what it wants to become over the next 10 years.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • ‘One person at a time’ ‘One person at a time’

    As the old adage goes: Every vote counts. The Cullman County Board of Education kicked off the first of a dozen community meetings about the proposed countywide half-cent sales tax for education Tuesday night to a relatively sparse crowd at the central office.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo