Senior spellers compete in regional

St. Charles resident John Wohlert had no trouble spelling the word “cloisonné” to win Monday's Regional Illinois State Senior Spelling Bee at the Sedgebrook Senior Living Community in Lincolnshire.

Seven contestants went to the microphone to spell words including characteristic, leniency and phlegm and fuscous at this year's contest sponsored by State Rep. Carol Sente, Sedgebrook and the Illinois Department of Aging.

“This is the third time for the senior spelling bee. We do it at Sedgebrook because we look for a senior facility that was interested in hosting this,” Sente said. “I think it is so amazing. It is stage three and extremely challenging and I am very impressed how ever far they go. They are very good spellers.”

The regional competition featured the first and second place contestants from area spelling bees. Wohlert and Brian Sullivan of St. Charles now advance to the state finals at the 2016 Illinois State Fair in August.

“This is my third one. I was never at a spelling bee in my life and never won anything in my life like this. To come in first (in a previous contest) in this whole place was shocking,” Sedgebrook resident Rhoda Zdeblick said before stepping out to compete. She eventually stumbled on the word “phlegm.”

Sente provided a brief legislative update after the spelling bee concerning the latest developments in Springfield and efforts to end the state's ongoing budget crisis.