Floyd student winning speller

PORTALES - A "refugee" was big news on the campus of Eastern New Mexico University on Friday.

Just ask Brock Fowler.

The Floyd youngster spelled the word correctly to win the Roosevelt County Spelling Bee.

It took 12 rounds - the last five with Brock and Dora's Susana Klassen matching skills - before Brock took the title and earned the right to represent Roosevelt County at the New Mexico State Spelling Bee in Albuquerque in March.

Roosevelt County Spelling Bee Director Carol Erwin also presented Brock with a $500 scholarship to be held on account for him at ENMU.

It was "dugong," a medium-sized water mammal related to the manatee, that sank Susana during the finals.

Brock correctly spelled "sarcasm," before wrapping up the crown with "refugee."

Eight students competed in the senior division, including the winner and runner-up from the junior division competition held immediately ahead of that.

Maggie Wooldridge from Lindsey-Steiner spelled "prescription" and "chinchilla" correctly after Rietta Stephens of Floyd missed "mizzle," meaning a light rain or drizzle, in the junior division finals.

Local media consultant Pam Atherton was the pronouncer for the event.