Library team spells its way to championship

When it comes to spelling, the Racine Public Library rules. Must be all those dictionaries in the Reference section.

The Library's spelling bee team, the Dakota Bees, are champions again, winning The BUZZ, the Adult Spelling Bee that celebrated its 15th anniversary last week.

Competing against seven other teams, the Dakota Bees won the nerve-wracking, four-hour contest when Syzygy, the team from Sturino Funeral Home, tripped up on "verglas," a thin film of ice on a rock.

It was all in good fun, a fund-raiser for the Racine Literacy Council.

Dakota Bees are Craig Corson, Steve Calalghan and Star Lopez. Syzygy members are Darryl Sturino, Walter Hermanns and Jeff Barrow.

Other teams included: M&I Bank, Gateway Tech, Literacy Council, CNH-New Holland, Horlick High School, the Johnson Foundation and Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church.

Between rounds, the crowd talked with Miss Racine 2009 Sha-Nita Rhea, enjoyed Roma Lodge's buffet, Night Wing's music and a silent auction. Event co-chairs were Peggy Groth and Cindy Strathman, who was also the pronouncer.