Hurricane Middle School eighth grader Daniel Johnson, Putnam                                 County’s reigning                                   Spelling Bee champion,                              won the annual                                         Putnam County                                      Spelling Bee for a                                 second time. Johnson                               went head-to-head                                         with Winfield Middle’s                                Mary Jorgensen to win                                     in the 27th round.                                 Joanna Johnston came                                  in third.

Both Johnson and                                  Jorgensen will                                   represent Putnam                                 County in regional                                competition in                                   Charleston, where they                               will compete for a chance to attend the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D. C., in May.

All county elementary and middle schools were represented in the bee. The following fourth through eighth graders represented their schools in competition: Buffalo Elementary – Abigail Foster; Confidence Elementary – Ara Arthur; Conner Street Elementary – Joanna Johnston; Eastbrook Elementary – Morgan Ross; George Washington Elementary – Raven Akers; Hometown Elementary – Tyler Casto; Hurricane Town Elementary – Joanna Blood; Lakeside Elementary – Dustin Bennett; Poca Elementary – Mariah Cook; Rock Branch Elementary – Melody Pickens; Scott Teays Elementary – Jarren Tay; Teays Valley Christian Elementary– Noah Kessler; West Teays Elementary – Sarah Frydrych; Winfield Elementary – Kaylee Kirkpatrick; George Washington Middle – Tyler Woody; Hurricane Middle – Daniel Johnson; Poca Middle – George Hamrick; Teays Valley Christian Middle – Jonah Samples; Winfield Middle – Mary Jorgensen.