The Independent-News, Volume 121, Number 26, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 9 November 1995 — Page 4

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- INDEPENDENT NEWS — NOV. 9, 1995

Spell Bowl Team To Compete At State Finals ral 1X ^ ohn ■■ Senior speller Debbie Lichtenbarger raises her hand to signal that she spelled her word correctly at Regional. For the 10th consecutive year, Indianapolis is again the final destination for the John Glenn High School Spell Bowl Team as they qualified for the state competition at Warren Central High School, on Saturday, Nov. 11. In Regional competition on Oct. 16, the team earned a score of 76 points out of a possible 90 points to post the second highest score of the 63 teams in the state in their Division 3 enrollment. Garrett High School scored an 80 to post the highest score in Division 3 at Regionals. The JG teams have now qualified for State competition as one of the top eight in Div. 3 the last ten years in a row in the 11th year history of the Spell Bowl. At Regional, the JG team posted the highest score of all 13 teams in all four enrollment divisions and was awarded the “Overall Regional Winner” trophy. Os other teams in Div. 3 at the Regional, Bremen had a score of 68 and Rochester a 57. The overall runner-up to the JG team in the Regional held at Glenn was Div. 1 Penn’s score of 74. Four JG team members, Kari Kissinger, Kristy Marks, Sarah Martin and Stephanie Holderread had individual perfect scores of nine. Debbie Lichtenbarger and Gail Ferency each had only one miss. The Spell Bowl Team members are Debbie Lichtenbarger, Sarah Martin, Kristy Marks, Stephanie Holderread, Ruth Cleveland, Yvonne Schmeltz, Kari Kissinger, Gail Ferency, Mellisa Lung and Holly Gouker. Alternates are Mary Pflugshaupt, Rhen Taylor, Andy Schmeltz, Casey Butler and Shawn Alspaugh. The team is coached by Paul Hernandez. As for heading to State Finals, Yvonne Schmeltz said, “I think it’s awesome, and I’m really excited.” Mellisa Lung added, “I think we deserve goirg to State because we’ve worked hard. Every little bit counts.” However, State can also mean more pressure, as Holly Gouker noted, “I’m glad we’re going, but I also know when the day comes, I’ll probably be pretty nervous.” The team members see different reasons for the team’s success and chances at State. Holly Gouker credits “a lot of determination to succeed,” while Kristy Marks thinks the reason the team performs well “is due to the dedication and hard work” of all its members. Kari Kissinger is optimistic about the team’s chances because “we’ve worked hard since Regionals and have pulled together as a team.” Yvonne Schmeltz sees the team as on a mission: “I think it scared everyone when we thought we weren’t going to State, and when we found out we were, I think we all had something to prove to ourselves, so we’ve stepped it up a notch at practices.” The Div. 3 state Championship begins at 12 noon, this Saturday in Indianapolis. The other seven state finalist teams competing against Glenn are Garrett, Austin, Forest Park, Brownstown Central, Gibson Southern, Mater Dei, and Northwestern.

Dayna Fry To Compete In Teen Pageant Dayna Fry, daughter of Linda and Steve Bella, 2347 N. Union Road, Walkerton and Dusty Fry, of Walkerton, has been selected as an entrant in the : 1996 Indiana’s Perfect Teen Pageant. The pageant is

presented by a Carvern Production at the Ramada Inn Airport Hotel, in Indianapolis, on Nov. 18 and 19. The state pageant will select a representative who will then go on to the national America’s Perfect Teen Pageant that will be held in Orlando, Florida. Miss Fry was selected as an entrant-at-large and will be competing with girls from all over the state.

g flal JK3IL fl' W | fl B fl - o * nr fll H. Miss Fry is a student at Urey Middle School and she has participated in band, choir, basketball, 4-H and the Voyager Club. Her activities include swimming, dancing, singing, horse back | riding, poetry and she has worked as a server at Swan Lake. Sponsors for Miss Fry include Linda’s Hair-Way to Heaven, Mahoney Chevrolet - Oldsmobile, GEO, Larry’s Quick Mart, D.J.’s Pools & Supplies, Howard Penrod & Co., Un-tra-Manufacturing, Inc., South Bend Centerless, Welco Truck Stop, Inc., Preferred Auto Parts, Jim Blunt’s Auto Salvage, Teachers Credit Union, Little Joe’s Pizzeria, Success Realty, Inc., Mr. Tee’s Restaurant, Sunshine Holiday Laundromat & Dry Cleaners, Jack’s Citgo, Walkerton’s Subway and the Plymouth Pizza Hut as well as family and friends. NOTICE The IBM (Windows) Computer class for adults at John Glenn High School is postponed until the J.G.E.A. teachers receive a contract for 1995-96. Education Week Nov. 12-18 In America The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary of Orville Easterday 189 has a long standing interest and commitment to American education. We believe a strong education is important and significant in maintaining American traditions and instilling in our young people a sense of personal obligation and responsibility. The schools represent a major investment in our community. Our teachers are a most important part of our community’s leadership. Schools represent the best possible avenue of improving the quality of life in our country. And involved citizenry provide a most important facet in the community schools. There is a need for better communication and a more cooperative relationship between professional educators and the community. The American

... ... Bhjfl ^^fl The members of the Spell Bowl Team react to the correct spelling of a word by one of their teammates. Urey Finishes Second In Spell Bowl 10l

For the second time in three years, the Urey Spell Bowl team missed qualifying for the state finals by just one word. The Urey Middle School Spell Bowl team participated in the annual Hoosier Spell Bowl on Tuesday, October 24 at Bremen Middle School. Eight of the fifteen students on the team spelled nine words each for a team score of 53 correct words out of 72 possible. This earned them an overall second place out of the ten schools at the Bremen regional and

fflO Legion and Auxiliary urge all citizens to reaffirm their commitment to improving and supporting education at all levels, and translate this commitment into action by visiting our schools during American Education Week November 12 - 18. The American Legion and Auxiliary believes a strong America need a strong educational base. That is why this year’s theme, “Good Schools Are A Great Investment” is more

an unofficial tenth place finish out of more than eighty division two teams in the state. The Spell Bowl team began practicing in early September and is open to any intrested Urey student. The team is coached by Andy Stegemiller. The 1995 team included the following students: Luke Batman, Nate Bealor, Claudia Bell, Miranda Day, Toni Frazier, Sarah Heiter, Michael Hensler, Betsy Hummel, Jennifer Kemble, Tim Larsen, Chris Long, Ben Swank, Jennifer Urgonski and Chelsea Wait.

than just a slogan. Join with us and visit your local school and then become involved. Submitted by The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 189 SB