Cove Creek wordsmiths

take adult spelling bee
By Scott Nicholson

It could have been “disastrous,” but the shiny “fluorescent” lights illuminated the best and brightest during the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce’s 8th Annual Grown-Up Spelling Bee Tuesday.

In the end, it was the sad and lonely call of the “whippoorwill” that laid the competition to rest, with only Cove Creek Elementary School spelling the word correctly and earning the bee crown as the county’s spelling champ.

Beekeeper Chuck Watkins might have developed a case of “laryngitis” in running down the long list of challenging dictionary entries. Other words that staggered the 23 participating teams were “diphthong” and “paparazzo,” though the judges hardly displayed “munificence” in passing judgment on recalcitrant scribblers.

Participants were able to buy “Bee Bucks” to pay for their lexicological transgressions, with three rounds held to eliminate the ineffective, though all efforts will benefit the future spellers of Watauga County.

Money raised through the annual fundraiser will be distributed for classroom projects in local schools, with an application process added this year open to private as well as public schools. Last year, more than $1,100 was raised for the Watauga Education Foundation.

School board members Lowell Younce and Deborah Miller, Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson, and Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute writing instructor Tom Hearron served as judges.

Winning the Best Costume prize were the Watauga County Library Hunny Bees, who pooh-poohed the Whos by dressing as characters from A.A. Milne’s classic childrens’ book series starring Winnie the Pooh.

The Best Table Decoration prize went to Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living for its “Dear in the Headlights” theme.

The event was hosted by High Country Bank, with additional sponsors including Blue Horse Promotions, Bella’s Restaurant, Char Restaurant, Pepper’s Restaurant, Sew Bee It and Woodland’s BBQ.

Participating teams included AF Financial Group, Appalachian Brian Estates, Appalachian Home Care, Avery-Watauga Association of Realtors, Bandana’s Bar B Que & Grill, Blowing Rock School, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, Chetola Resort, Cove Creek School, Creekside Electronics, Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living, First Citizens Bank, Grand Old Broads, Grandfather Mountain, Hardin Park School, High Country Bank, High Country Women’s Fund, Kiwanis of Boone, Makoto Seafood & Steakhouse, Mast General Store, Wachovia Bank and Watauga County Library.

The event was held at the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center in Boone.