Broadcaster Press 09 February 17, 2015 www.broadcasteronline.com G-A-M-E Faces By Sarah Wetzel For the Plain Talk Editor’s Note: Releases were signed by parents of the children participating in the spelling bee and last names were publicly viewable on the program. Last names will be used in this article; however The Plain Talk will continue to use only first names of children in future articles. It was hard to tell who was more high-strung, the spelling-bee participants or their family members in the audience of last Saturday’s Regional Spelling Bee. Sure, Vermillion’s Owen Dudley came out on top as the top speller and champion, but the day’s journey to get there is a story in itself. “It’s always hardest on the parents to watch their child onstage because you want to do everything for them and they’re in a situation up there where you can’t,” said Cheryl Havermann, organizer of the event. “They’re on their own up there. I think the parents feel it more than the contestants most of the time.” Students grades 1-8 fidgeted in their seats under the spotlights during the rounds as parents, friends and relatives held their breath. Quiet was insisted upon so as to not distract the participants so for the most part one could hear a pin drop in Aalfs Auditorium. Occasionally murmurs of impressed audience members echoed through the hall and directions such as, “Focus and spell it right,” came from spectators. Needless to say, everyone seemed to be on the edge of their seats. It isn’t any wonder that ESPN has covered the National Spelling Bee for decades. “I’ll admit that I’m a little bit relieved this is his last year because it is a lot of studying,” said Judy Zwolak, mother of the bee winning Owen before the event. “We want to make sure he’s not too stressed out. He’s really excited about it. He really wants to move on. “We stress that we just want him to work hard and do his best and be a gracious winner or loser whatever happens and be happy with his achievements.” Darla Hamm, mother of fifth-grade contestant Austin Hamm from St. Agnes School agrees with Zwolak’s attitude. “The accomplishment is getting here,” she said. “It’s have fun and do your best.” Before the oral bee took place, all contestants were taken to a room for a 25word vocabulary test. Afterwards the students sat in numerical order on the stage in Aalfs Auditorium and the oral bee began. Round 1 Almost half of the contestants misspelled their words on the first round including fifthgrader Teo Kim from Jolley, third-grader Debbie Campbell from St. Agnes School and second-grader Ryleigh Sherlock also from St. Agnes School. “It was scary and amazing being up there,” Sherlock said afterwards. Kim, Campbell and Sherlock were given the words bona fide, devotee and ancillary, respectively. There was no shame in these stalwart students missing their first word. Students of all grades missed words on the first round including two eighth graders. The youngest contestants including one first grader, two second graders, and two third graders were also eliminated with words like indulgent (given to firstgrader Anica Reimer from Dakota Valley Elementary). Round 2 CHAMBER BUSINESS MONDAY, FEB. 16 Round 3 Round 4 Only one student was eliminated as the numbers dwindled. The remaining four Vermillion students stayed in the running. Round 9 After four rounds with no eliminations, Martinez misspelled the word rhetoric, having correctly spelled guffaw, epoch, panacea, epee, adumbrate, machiavellian, roughhewn and troika. Round 10 Competition remained stiff as the competition ended for Gregg with the word contrapuntal. Gregg correctly spelled foible, ballyhoo, noxious, steppe, zeitgeist, cordillera, langosta, magnanimous, and maelstrom. By the end of round 10, the top-three contestants who would be moving on to the state competition were determined, (Kadarkaraisamy, Dudley and fifth-grader Nana Addo from Dakota Valley Middle School). All that was left to determine was the first, second and third-place winners. Vermillion Owen Dudley won the Regional Spelling Bee held at the Aalfs Auditorium on the Universitry of South Dakota campus last weekend. The competition showed just how much this event means to a lot of people. THOMAS HATZENBUHLER / FOR THE PLAIN TALK After a few more rounds, Dudley missed again with the word remittance. Kadarkaraisamy correctly spelled his word, winning the round but missed the champion word, appositive which put Dudley back in the running. “Think of the championship word as another round,” Havermann said. “You have to win your round and spell your championship word correctly otherwise we keep going back and forth which we did.” “They went off the list of words that those kids had memorized,” Zwolak said. “That’s when you’d notice they started getting things wrong. There’s more to just memorizing the list. You’ve got to start thinking about etymology and word origins. That’s the kind of thing that we’ve got to start working on.” Finally after 27 grueling rounds, Dudley secured first place with the word frabjous meaning “joyous.” He had correctly spelled notoriety, benison, cheveng, wunderkind, domiciled, dilapidated, physique, tachometer, susceptible, azimuth, forsythia, basmati, soliloquy, infinitesimal, trattoria, gopak, hollandaise, gnathonic, renaissance, braggadocio, expurgate, hibernal, and Keane and Associates A financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 325 West 7th Street Sioux City, IA 51103-5417 712.258.8600 michael.f.keane@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/ michael.f.keane Round 13 Rounds 14-on Spirit Mound Township Annual Meeting Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015 • 1:30 p.m. Clay County Extension Office 515 High St. • Vermillion Curt Brodsky, Clerk artisanal. Kadarkaraisamy did not go down without a fight, correctly spelling brethren, ukulele, latke, chintzy, pusillanimous, hyacinth, topography, geranium, bellicose, mikado, detente, archipelago, asthmogenic, philately, fusillade, misogynist, comandante, romaji, weimaraner, coati, precautionary and venerate. The top three winners all received a certificate and a trophy. Winners of the written vocabulary test, including Addo and Kadarkaraisamy, also received trophies. Zwolak said that the rigorous studying routine will now continue in preparation for the state competition. As far as specific studying techniques, Dudley said he would rather not share. “They’re kind of my secret methods,” he said. Whatever the method, it worked for Dudley “He was very happy and very surprised,” Zwolak said. “Frabjous is such a crazy word.” According to dictionary.reference.com, frabjous was coined by Lewis Carroll in his book Through the LookingGlass in 1872. “It’s a made-up word but it’s in the dictionary so they can use it,” Zwolak said. “I thought he had spelled it wrong and I Mike Keane, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC® Financial Advisor Certified Financial Planner™ practicioner After a few rounds back and forth, Addo was eliminated in round 13 leaving Dudley and Kadarkaraisamy to vie for first and second place. Things got intense as the two went back and forth for 10 more rounds until Dudley misspelled incessant but was saved from being eliminated by Kadarkaraisamy missing disquietude. “It got to be a real nailbiter towards the end,” Havermann said. and did so well,” she said. “He was very happy about it. He said ‘Mom, this is the best day of my life.’” The State Spelling Bee will be held March 21 from 10-11 am in Farber hall on USD campus. The champion of the state level bee will be sponsored by USD to attend the national competition in Washington D.C. scheduled for May. CHAMBER CHAT Six more contestants were eliminated after the second round including Austin Hamm from St. Agnes School who misspelled dromedary after correctly spelling fragile in the first round. Pressure mounted as four more contestants were eliminated including fifth-grader Anna Armbrust who missed grandeur after correctly spelling squirrely and prescient. The bee happened to fall on her brother’s birthday so the whole family was there to celebrate including her grandparents. “We were so excited,” said Margarete Cook, Arbrust’s grandmother. “We live in Wisconsin and don’t come out very often.” Cook and her husband were passing through for their grandson’s birthday and were delighted when the spelling bee happened to be on that date. “I’m just impressed kids at this age know how to spell these words,” she said. Dudley, seventh-grader Logan Gregg from Vermillion Middle School, fifth-grader Hari Kadarkaraisamy from Jolley Elementary, and seventh-grader Brady Martinez from Vermillion school remained along with four students from other schools in the region. think Owen did too so we were all surprised when she said it was correct.” Kadarkaraisamy’s parents were also pleased. “We were very happy for him,” said Priya, his mother. “Last year he got second place and we were hoping he would get first but we recognized he was competing against an eighth grader so were were just seeing how far he would get. “We’re very proud of him because he’s so young • Presidents Day: The VCDC office will be closed Mon., Feb. 16 WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25 • Mobile Apps for Business Seminar: Mobile Apps for Smart Phones and tablet devices are changing the way we do business. Of the millions of Mobile Apps for sale in App stores, thousands of them are designed specifically to help business professionals, like you, be more efficient and effective in their day to day jobs. You will have the opportunity to learn about these business oriented Mobile Apps from the experts! The VCDC invites you to join us for a hot breakfast and "Mobile Apps for Business", presented by WorkSmart Seminars on Wed., Feb. 25 at the Vermillion Event Center, 912 N. Dakota St. from 8:30 to 10:30 am. All attendees will receive a free booklet containing detailed info about every Mobile Apps discussed. Vermillion NEXT member cost: $40; Chamber member cost: $45.00; non-member cost: $55. For more information and to register by Feb. 20 go to www.worksmartseminars.com or contact the VCDC at 624-5571. SATURDAY, FEB. 28 • Cracker Barrel session with our Legislators will be held Sat., Feb. 28 from 10 am to noon at the City Hall Council Chambers at 25 Center St. Please join our District 17 Legislators, Senator Art Rusch and House Representatives Nancy Rasmussen and Ray Ring for an update on the 90th Legislative Session. Open to the public and everyone is encouraged to join us for some great discussion. Refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the VFW Auxiliary, Clay County Democrats, Clay County Republicans, and the VCDC Legislative Affairs Committee. • Business after Hours: Are you looking for an opportunity to showcase your business and network with your peers? Sign up to host a Business After Hours event! These events generally run from 5:00-7:00 pm on a weeknight and the hosting business provides hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. If interested, please contact Ann at: annb@vermillionchamber.com or at 624-5571. THIS WEEKS HAPPENINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS: • The Clay-Union Foundation is offering a $500 community service scholarship to graduating high school seniors from Vermillion or Elk PointJefferson high school. The board has also added a new $500 community service scholarship to a graduating senior from Dakota Valley High School. Applications are online at www.clay-unionfoundation.org or contact the school counselors. This is the 4th year the scholarship has been offered; the applications are due by March 20th. The scholarships are supported totally by donations, the half marathon, and bike ride. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 665, Elk Point, SD 57025. Contact John Gille at 605-421-5050 for further information, or the school guidance counselors. • The Clay-Union Foundation made its 140th long term match last week, and is seeking more youth age 5-17 and volunteers throughout both counties.  Three girls and one boy seek mentors in Vermillion.  Donations to support the foundation may be sent to P.O. Box 665, Elk Point, SD 57025.  The foundation is a 501c3 relief agency, and its mission is to help youth. Go to www.clay-unionfoundation.org  for more information or call John Gille at 605-421-5050.  • Joseph Mahowald, lyric-baritone, is Artist-in-Residence at USD Dept. of Theatre • 28th Annual Stilwell Student Juried Exhibition now through Feb. 27 at John A. Day Gallery, Warren M. Lee Center for Fine Arts. • Vermillion Area Community Foundation (VACF) updated grant application information: Beginning this year, there are only two grant periods: The second Thursday in April and the second Thursday in October. Grant guidelines can be found at: http://vermillion.sdcommunityfoundation.org or applications can be picked up at the VCDC, 116 Market Street. FRIDAY, FEB. 13 • State Gymnastics Meet @ Watertown, Fri. & Sat., Feb. 13-14 @ 11:00 am • Bowling: Harrisburg (H @ Yankton Family Fun Center), Fri., Feb. 13 @ 4:00 pm SATURDAY, FEB. 14 • Overeaters Anonymous: Sat., Feb. 14 @ 9:00 am. Location: Newman Center-USD Campus, 320 E. Cherry, across from the MUC at the corner of Rose & Cherry St. (West Door-straight through double glass doors on left & first door on left, North Door-down hall to left & first door on left). Description: Overeaters Anonymous is a 12 step program for people with eating disorders & struggles. • Wrestling: Dakota 12 Conference Tournament @ Dell Rapids, Sat., Feb. 14 @ 10:00 am • The Clay County Historical Society is hosting an open house at the Austin-Whittemore House on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. This event will feature Valentine cards that were sent from Maurice Severson to his sweetheart and wife Annabelle from 1956 to 2014. Coffee and cookies will be served and there will be a drawing for a box of Valentine candy. Please join us for a day of loving memories and how Valentine’s Day has been celebrated through the years. The Valentines will be on display through the month of February. Regular hours for the Austin-Whittemore House are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. • Art Story time for ages 4-6 at Vermillion Public Library, Sat., Feb. 14 @ 10:15 am • Movement Story time for ages birth to 3 with adult at Vermillion Public Library, Sat., Feb. 14 @ 11:15 am • Valentines Winemakers Dinner at Valiant Vineyards, 1500 W. Main St., Sat., Feb. 14. Seating at 7:00 pm. For reservations, call, 624-4500. NEXT WEEKS HAPPENINGS MONDAY, FEB. 16 • No classes at USD & Vermillion Public School – President’s Day, Mon., Feb. 16 • Al-anon meeting at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Mon., Feb. 16 @ 7:30 pm. For more information, call 624-9764. TUESDAY, FEB. 17 • Movement Story time for ages birth to 3 with adult at Vermillion Public Library, Tues., Feb. 17 @ 10:15 am • Vermillion Rotary Club meeting, Tues., Feb. 17 @ 12:00 pm in the Al Neuharth Media Center conference room. For more information, visit: www.vermillionrotaryclub.org WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18 • Art Story time for ages 4-6 at Vermillion Public Library, Wed., Feb. 18 @ 11:00 am • Fine Fiction Book Club presents The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd, Wed., Feb. 18 @ 7:00 pm and Thurs., Feb. 19 @ 4:00 pm at Vermillion Public Library Kozak Community Room. Books available for check-out at Circulation Desk. THURSDAY, FEB. 19 • The USD Theatre Dept. hosts guest artists Native Voices at the Autry (nationally renowned equity theatre company), Thurs., Feb. 19-21 @ 7:30 pm and Sun., Feb. 22 @ 2:00 pm • Cancer Support Group meeting, Thurs., Feb. 19 @ 2:30 pm, Sletwold Room at Trinity Lutheran, 816 E. Clark St. For more information, call Marcy at 624-8706. • Vermillion Lions Club meeting, Thurs., Feb. 19 @ 6:00 pm at W. H. Over Museum in Sletwold Hall Vermillion Annual Township Meeting The Citizens of the Township of Vermillion in the county of Clay, South Dakota and who are qualified to vote at Township elections, are hereby notified that the Annual Township Meeting will be held at Clay County 4-H Center, 515 High Street, on TUESDAY, March 3rd, 2015, at 7:00 o’clock P.M. for the following purposes: Election of officers, opening bids and any other business proper to be done when convened. To let bids for snow removal, road maintenance and gravel for township roads for the upcoming year. 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