Crystal Albright, a seventh-grader at Harrison Central Junior-Senior High School, placed first in the Harrison Hills City School District Spelling Bee held Jan. 21 in the school’s auditorium. Albright correctly spelled “diverge,” a verb meaning to move or extend in different directions from a common point, to claim the win. Taking part in the awards ceremony were, from left, front, Albright; Wyatt Zeroski, a seventh-grader at Harrison Central Junior-Senior High School, second; Alden Cochran, a fifth-grader at Harrison Central Elementary School, third; Lucas Wood, a seventh-grader at Harrison Central Junior-Senior High School, fourth; Keenan Gotschall, a sixth-grader at Harrison Central Elementary School, fifth; and Lilyannah Blythe, a fifth-grader at Harrison Central Elementary School, alternate. Standing are Amanda Sliva, left, and Madison Taylor, bee coordinators. The top five spellers and alternate will advance to the Jefferson-Harrison County Regional Spelling Bee, presented by the Herald-Star, at 11 a.m. March 14 at Buckeye North Elementary School in Brilliant.

— Ross Gallabrese