A team from Leelanau County won the fourth annual Senior Spelling Bee last Friday at Twin Lakes Gilbert Lodge in Long Lake Township.

The Dog Ears Bookstore team of Leelanau County (Pamela Grath, Trudy Carpenter and Marilyn Zimmerman) survived nine rounds of competition to win the title. After the Traverse City Rotary team (John Dew, Leon Michaels and John McCarthy) incorrectly spelled “lackadaisical,” Dog Ears gave the correct spelling of the word. Then, they spelled “catafalque” – which is a decorated wooden framework for supporting the coffin of a distinguished person at a funeral or while lying in state – to validate their win.

Dog Ears team members each received dinner gift certificates, trophies and a spa gift basket. In addition, a $160 contribution was given to Chris Rice, the regional champion of the National Spelling Bee.

The event was organized by the Traverse City Senior Center and hosted by “Beemaster” Michael Sheehan, a Cedar-area resident and co-host of Words to the Wise on WTCM-AM 580. All contestants had to be at least 50 years of age, and 11 3-member teams participated.