Page 6 - Dresden Buzz 01/23/2026
P. 6
PAGE 6 | LOCAL NEWS JANUARY 23 - FEBRUARY 5, 2026
Mark Your Calendar: Muskingum 250 Tri-Valley spellers take on
SUBMITTED annual District Bee
America’s 250th birthday is here,and • June 17 | 5:30 PM
Muskingum County is not missing out AN EVENING WITH MR. MADISON BY LYNETTE DOTSON | DRESDEN BUZZ
on the fun. @ Putnam Presbyterian Church
As part of nationwide and statewide
celebrations, Muskingum County His- • July 4 | 10 AM
tory has been leading a dedicated com- TRAILBLAZERS & FOUNDERS
mittee of historians, educators, and MEMORIAL DEDICATION
@ Confluence Park
community members to bring our local
stories to life during this monumental • July 4 | 12 PM
anniversary year. A full calendar of en- MUSKINGUM 250 CELEBRATION
gaging programs that celebrate Ameri-
can independence and the unique role • July 8 | 6 PM
Muskingum County has played in shap- MEET GEORGE & MARTHA
ing our nation. WASHINGTON: A LOVE STORY
@ Putnam Presbyterian Church
Muskingum 250 Events: • August 19 | 6 PM
DAVID ZEISBERGER &
• February 18 | 6 PM SCHOENBRUNN: OHIO’S FIRST
FORT LAURENS: THE ONLY SETTLEMENT
REVOLUTIONARY FORT IN OHIO @ Dresden Library
@ Dresden Library
• September 16 | 6 PM
• March 18 | 6 PM “MAD” ANTHONY WAYNE & THE
MOLLY PITCHER: BATTLE FOR AMERICA Tri-Valley District Spelling Bee runner-up Ellie Lavery (left) and winner Ryan Strouse (middle) pictured
REVOLUTIONARY HEROINE @ John McIntire Library with District Spelling Bee Coordinator Wendy Fernburg. Lynette Dotson
@ Putnam
Presbyterian Church • October 21 | 6 PM
WHY THE WEST WENT TO WAR Tri-Valley students in grades four ner and runner-up. Brittney DeBoard
• April 14 | 6 PM IN 1812 through eight advanced to compete was on hand to represent Park National
PEGGY SHIPPEN ARNOLD AND @ Ohio University Zanesville in the annual District Spelling Bee on Bank and award the winner and runner-
REVOLUTIONARY AMERICA January 14, 2026, held at Dresden up, Ryan Strouse (winner), a sixth grader
@ Ohio University • November 18 | 6 PM Elementary. 30 Students qualified from Nashport Elementary, and Ellie
Zanesville THE LIFE & LEGACY OF JOHN MCINTIRE and were comprised of spellers from Lavery (runner-up), a sixth grader from
@ John McIntire Library
• May 17 | 1 & 3 PM Adamsville, Dresden, Frazeysburg, Dresden Elementary. Both Ryan and El-
GREENWOOD CEMETERY TOURS This is a once-in-a-generation celebra- and Nashport elementary schools, as lie have been competing for three years.
(Registration required) tion and an incredible opportunity to ex- well as seven middle school students. Last year's winners were Hilary
perience the people, places, and stories The top 30 were determined af- Stirling, who came in first place, and
• June 17 | 4 PM that shaped Muskingum County and our ter students went through two other Bryan Jiang, who was the runner-up.
FOUNDING WORDS: A KIDS’ HOUR country. stages: a written bee to qualify, and The annual Spelling Bee is one of
WITH JAMES MADISON an oral bee at each participating build- many academic competitions that are
@ John McIntire Library Learn more and plan which events ing, where 131 competed. The final available to students at Tri-Valley. Other
you’ll attend: muskingumcountyhistory. roster of spellers that competed at the opportunities include the Ohio History
org/muskingum-250 district level consisted of the top five Day Competition, Robotics Competi-
to seven qualifiers from each building. tions, Math Club, Battle of the Books,
Spellers who made it to the district bee Math Counts Competition, and an Accel-
were Abe Byers, Kyleigh Curtis, Parker erated Reader Non-fiction Competition.
Messina, Leanne Reed, Kendal Spiker,
Baylor Bell, Scarlett Bryan, Knox Drum-
monds, Vera Gregorich, Ellie Lavery, Ria
Thornton, Paxton Foughty, Colt Moore,
Sophia Patterson, Brooks Rothenstine,
Melody Rule, Rosalie Green, Alex Hur-
low, Holden Lowe, Nahaiwa Osborn,
Ryan Strouse, Cayla Tang, Karter Tay-
lor, Owen Garrett, Gavin Hindel, Timo-
thy Hogue, Terelle Jamison, Rowan
Kemp, Aiden Miller, and Hilary Stirling.
"As AI tools and spellcheck become
more widely used, the importance of
understanding word structure can be
diminished. Students still need mean-
ingful opportunities to expand their Judge Martin, the pronouncer for the 2026 TV
vocabulary and strengthen their writ- District Bee with the winner and runner up.
ing skills. The spelling bee provides Lynette Dotson
this opportunity, while also allowing
academically gifted students to apply
their knowledge and build confidence
in public speaking in a fun yet challeng-
ing environment," stated District Spell-
ing Bee Coordinator Wendy Fernburg.
The pronouncer for the Spell-
ing Bee was Judge Martin. Judg-
es were Amy Baughman, Michelle
Hill, Laura Gatten, and Jessica
Ogle. Kate Wright was the recorder.
"Each of these students has spent
countless hours preparing for the com-
petitions; they are a true testament
to the dedication, determination, and Brittney DeBoard of Park National Bank with the
goal-oriented mindset of the students winner and runner-up. Lynette Dotson
here at Tri-Valley," Fernburg said. "We
encourage all students to become in-
volved in school events, clubs, competi-
tions, and sports—not only to build their
academic skills, but also to meet new FOLLOW THE BUZZ
people and gain valuable life skills." @DRESDENBUZZ
The competition follows the rules
of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Park National Bank sponsored a $100
and a $50 savings account for the win-
