$1.25
your homegrown newspaper February 25, 2026
Vol. 22, No. 25
Bigfork fifth grader named 2026 spelling bee champion By Summer Goddard Valley Journal
Candidacy announced pg. 2
DREAM Scholar pg. 5
FLIC Awards pg. 6
CHARLO — Lake County’s best spellers battled it out last week for the title of spelling bee champion and the opportunity to compete at the state level next month. Eighteen students from St. Ignatius, Arlee, Charlo, Salmon Prairie, Bigfork and Valley View schools participated in the annual spelling bee held at the Charlo gymnasium on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Words such as silhouette, chassis, mosque, squalor, colossus, cheddar and magnanimous tripped up most competitors in the first couple rounds. Heidi Huber, a fifth grader from Bigfork, was ultimately victorious when she spelled the word “husk” right in the 7th round. Seventh grader Aubree Blevins and eighth grader Addison Hogue, both from Charlo, took second and third places respectively during a spell off in the eighth round.
SUMMER GODDARD / VALLEY JOURNAL PHOTOS
As the first place winner Huber will compete at the state spelling bee in Bozeman on Saturday, March 21. Blevins were serve as alternate in the event Huber is unable to attend. Top: Heidi Huber from Bigfork spells the word "husk" correctly to win this year's annual spelling bee. Right: first, second and third place spelling bee winners Huber, Aubree Blevins and Addison Hogue pose for a photo after the competiton.
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