SCHULTZ STUDENT PLACES 11TH IN RECENT REGIONAL SPELL BEE

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Tina McCloskey, a seventh grader from L.J. Schultz Middle School, finished 11th among 58 district spelling champions at the Regional Spelling Bee in St. Louis April 6.

Kelly Lasiter, an eighth grader from Coolige Junior High in Granite City, won the bee in her fourth year of spelling in the regional competition.

This year's bee, held at the St. Louis Art Museum, lasted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with top spellers surviving round after round of words to remain in the oral competition.

Just over 80 counties in Missouri and Illinois and approximately 800 schools were represented by district winners at the regional bee.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch sponsors the annual competition throughout this area.