For the second year in a row, a Madison-Plains Middle School student won the Madison County Spelling Bee. This year, seventh-grader Anthony Arnold (third from left) took the title, but not until after an 18-round battle against runner-up David Harris (second from left), a sixth-grader from St. Patrick School. The winning word was “gelid,” which means extremely cold or icy. The other top spellers, by grade level, in the oral spelldown were fifth-grader Rebecca Breen (far left) of Madison Rural Elementary and eighth-grader Nick Beachy (far right) of Jonathan Alder Junior High.

The top spellers, by grade level, in the written round were: (from left) John Bollinger, fifth grade, Mount Sterling Elementary; David Harris, sixth grade, St. Patrick School; Emily Harden, seventh grade, West Jefferson Middle School; and Poorva Patel, eighth grade, Madison-Plains Middle School. The bee took place March 9 at Tolles Career and Technical Center.