A crowd turned out to watch kids compete in the annual Spelling Bee at the Skamokawa Grange on Saturday.

The event is sponsored by the Grays River Grange and the Skamokawa Grange. Several members from the Cathlamet Woman's Club volunteered.

There were eight children participating in the bee, with about 70 people in attendance.

"It was a fun, exciting event," Pearl Blackburn said.

Next year, they may add an adult class.

Fourth grader Jesse Deweber took first and won $75 in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade competition, followed by fifth grader Mercy Schell, who finished in second place and won $50. Rex Stalcup, a fifth grader, took third place and $25.

In the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade competition, sixth grader Moses Schell took first place and $75, seventh grader Logan Wirkkala-Scheller took second and $50, and sixth grader Camdon Graf took third and $25.