The annual Harlan County spelling bee will be held Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the Harlan County High School auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Traditionally, Harlan County Public Schools hosted the local county spelling bee. Last year brought about changes when Scripps Howard decided to charge the host a $100 fee for every school that competed at the local level. This created a burden on local schools, leaving a void. After much consideration, the district decided to sponsor a local spelling bee not associated with the traditional Scripps Howard Spelling Bee.

Anita Tolliver, Title I supervisor, is coordinating the local bee. Sponsors of the event are WHLN, The Bank of Harlan, Commercial Bank, Harlan County Farm Bureau and Harlan County Public Schools.

“I am so thrilled that local businesses have shown interest in this event,” said Tolliver. “All students competing are winners in their own right. We have so many talented, bright students. I am excited to showcase these champion spellers.”

In the primary division competition, there will be an overall winner. In the fourth- through-eighth grade divisions, there will be first-, second- and third-place awards.

School winners advancing to compete include:

Primary first-place school winners: Alyssa Cochran, Black Mountain; Reanna Middleton, Cawood; Morgan Day, Cumberland; Haylie Witt, Evarts; Emma Howard, Green Hills; Kaylea Gross, James A. Cawood; Kaitlyn Ramsey, Rosspoint; and Hayston Saylor, Wallins; and primary second-place school winners: Michael Canterbury, Black Mountain; Jonathan Daniels, Cawood; Sean Hall, Cumberland; Victoria Starrett, Evarts; Tyler Brock, Green Hills; Chris England, James A. Cawood; Benjamin Lewis, Rosspoint; and Adastan Gist, Wallins.

Local school winners from grades 4-8: Josh Foster, Black Mountain; Harold Bargo, Cawood; Sierra Hatfield, Cumberland; Alex Rigney, Evarts; Alexis Lewis, Green Hills; Adam Clem, James A. Cawood; Haley Anderson, Rosspoint; Brianna Bates, Wallins; Tyler Lankford, Harlan; and Noah Hughes, Victory Road Christian Academy.