The Upper Peninsula Spelling Bee took place Thursday

WATERSMEET - The Upper Peninsula Spelling Bee took place Thursday afternoon at Negaunee High School. The event has been going on for almost 40 years. The finals feature a winner and runner up from eight separate U.P Regional competitions. Students were given a list of 200 words they could memorize, but were also given words off a list they have not seen. Organizers say that the competition prepares the students for the future in a variety of ways. Annabelle Besonen of Watersmeet Township Schools in Watersmeet was the winner of Thursday’s event and will go on to the National Finals in Washington, D.C. in mid-May.