Merrick County hosted its annual Spelling Bee contest for 5th-8th graders, witnessing the rise of new champions who spelled their way to victory amidst tough competition.

In the 5th-6th grade category, the bee saw a tense and thrilling competition, running through six oral rounds to determine the winner. Emerging as the county’s top young speller was Owen Shotkoski, a 6th grader from Palmer Public …