Mathews County has two residents who have earned the right to participate in the Regional Spelling Bee on March 5, at the Hampton Convention Center. This bee is a qualifier for the Scripps National Spelling Bee held in Washington, D.C.

Caleb Selph of Cobbs Creek, 13, is an eighth grader at Thomas Hunter Middle School. He won the spelling bee held during the Mathews Market Days in 2010. That local spelling bee was held to benefit Adult Literacy on the Middle Peninsula, Inc., and was sponsored by the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal and Colonial Virginia Bank. Selph, the son of Joy Johnston, is also a member of the Thomas Hunter Quiz Bowl Team and a Star Scout with the Boy Scouts. He participates in Jacob’s Ladder with this summer being the last year as a participant; during ensuing summers, he hopes to assist with the program. In addition to his academic pursuits, Selph is a self-taught piano player.

Baylor Towne of Onemo, also 13, is an eighth grader who will represent th...