The Fayette Tribune, Oak Hill, W.Va.

Local News

January 23, 2013

BOE honors spelling bee winners

By C.V. Moore The Register-Herald

FAYETTEVILLE — The Fayette County Board of Education honored spelling bee winners and heard about upcoming programs at a new museum in Mount Hope at its Tuesday board meeting.

“A lot of work goes into winning a spelling bee,” Dale Arrington told the board as he handed out awards to the local winners.

Michael Fox of Valley Middle School placed first, making him eligible to represent Fayette County at the regional spelling bee in Charleston on March 16.

Carson Cochran of Ansted Middle and Tate Mauzy of Collins Middle took 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.

Elementary winners included Colby Atkins of Gauley Bridge Elementary with first place; Bradley Lokant of New River Elementary with second; and Mason Young at New River Elementary with third.

“The challenge for Colby is to come back next year in the 5th grade (...) and claim the championship again,” said Arrington. “That’s a big challenge, but if you start now, you’ll get there.”

Jean Evansmore, president of DuBois on Main in Mount Hope, invited the board, superintendent, staff, students, teachers, and “all who may be remotely connected to or interested in Fayette County” to several programs she is offering in February.

DuBois on Main is a museum and community center dedicated to the heritage of DuBois High School, Fayette County’s all black high school from 1919 to 1956.

Its classrooms produced many accomplished alumni. For example, the class of 1956 included “at least 3 Ph.Ds, one Lt. Colonel and 1 square dance champion,” according to Evansmore. The list goes on.

On Feb. 2 from 1 to 3 p.m., the “History on Main” event will focus on DuBois’s students, who “‘attended school’ in stores, temporary buildings and churches over a three and a half year period, walking from one building to the other and expected by their teachers to be there on time,” said Evansmore. “The expectation level was never lowered and the students met the challenge.”

Two weeks later on Feb. 16, Danny Wright — a historian, former school board member, and board member at DuBois on Main — will talk about four black legislators from Fayette County who served in the House of Delegates from 1896 to 1918.

Finally, an exhibit on “The Bowles Family” will round out the month’s events on Feb. 23.

“I appreciate what you’re doing for the history of the area,” said board member Leon Ivey.

Superintendent Keith Butcher did not present a report to the board.

— E-mail: cmoore@register-herald.com

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