Lunatic: Suffering from lunacy; insane.
That was the winning word at the annual Knox County Spelling Bee held on Monday, February 14, at the Knox County Board of Education Annex.
Alexis Hammons, an 8th grade student at Barbourville Independent, correctly spelled the word during the 7th round of the bee before being named the county winner.
Second place finisher, Grace Moses, a 6th grade student from St. Camillus Academy, incorrectly spelled “theorem” after Hammons during the same round.
Third place finisher Katelyn Combs, an 8th grade student at Knox County Middle, incorrectly spelled “timpani” prior to Hammons correctly spelling her word.
Other student finalists in the Knox County Spelling Bee included:
| Barbourville Independent | Cameron McHargue | Alexis Hammons |
| Central Elementary | Jenna Davis | Caden Melendez |
| Dewitt Elementary | Malloree Walker | Dylan Bingham |
| Flat Lick Elementary | Savanna Gray | Kennith Barrett |
| Girdler Elementary | Braden Isom | Cherokee Bowling |
| GR Hampton Elementary | Libby Kate Vaughn | Tucker Holland |
| Lay Elementary | Cara Mills | Brett Messer |
| Lynn Camp Elementary | Lauren Tipton | William Brandenburg |
| Knox County Middle | Katelyn Combs | Cody Lockard |
| Lynn Camp Middle | Melissa Smith | Tiana Simpson |
| St. Camillus Academy | Christopher Newquist | Grace Moses |
The first place winner, or alternate second place winner, will now represent Knox County at the Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee scheduled for March 19 at Papa John’s Stadium in Louisville.
The Knox County Board of Education is the primary sponsor of the annual county spelling bee. The GFWC/KFWC Barbourville Junior Woman’s Study Club provided lunch for those in attendance, and Kentucky Farm Bureau, Knox County office (Scott Payne), provided a gift for each student participant.