Scrabbling For Victory

EVENT RAISES $15,000 FOR LITERACY COUNCIL OF BENTON COUNTY

Vicki Ronald, second from left, Literacy Council of Benton County director, gathers with board members Steve Lindsey, from left, Keith Aubele, Andy Gottman and David Wilson at Scrabble Wars on Feb. 4.
Vicki Ronald, second from left, Literacy Council of Benton County director, gathers with board members Steve Lindsey, from left, Keith Aubele, Andy Gottman and David Wilson at Scrabble Wars on Feb. 4.

Two teams won the war of the words Feb. 4 at Scrabble Wars, which raised more than $15,000 for the Literacy Council of Benton County Feb. 4 at Doubletree Suites in Bentonville.

The funds raised at the fi fth annual event will go toward books, educational materials for Literacy Council tutors and students, training and study spaces, assistant director Kathie Chambers said. Kerry Jensen was the emcee for the event, which kicked off the organization’s 40th birthday celebration.

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Mary Louise Harris, front from left, Carolyn Lacey and Mel Redman pause for a photo with Miles Fish and Jean Anderson during Scrabble Wars. They were part of the Altrusa Dictionary Divas team, winner of the “dubious” category.

Twenty-two teams battled against each other to rack up as many points as possible with the words on their Scrabble boards. Teams decided if they wanted to be in the traditional Scrabble category or the “dubious” category. The latter allowed players to bribe the roving judges for more letters or a peek at a dictionary, with the “donations” going to the Literacy Council.

Senser’s Scrabblers won the traditional category with 1,419 points. Team members included Ken and Debra Senser, Jane and Kelley Sears, Ed and Joan Clifford, Bill and Helen Hammond, Ally Gruener and Terri Trotter.

Altrusa Dictionary Divas were on top in the dubious category with about 5 million points. Participants on this team included Susan Ford, Byretta and Miles Fish, Carolyn Lacey, Mary Louise Harris, Dena Kneisel, Tracy Dickson, Stephanie Meyer, Michelle Sell, Jean Anderson and Vicki and Mel Redman.

A silent auction drew in about$5,000, and a live auction for dinner from Tusk & Trotter at the recipient’s home garnered $900, Chambers said. Dick Trammel also led a pledge drive, which raised $4,000 for a new computer lab with four stations for students and one station for a tutor, she said.

Our Town, Pages 18 on 02/12/2012

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