$200 CASH Prize on December 31st!

That's right, $200 cash for the winner, along with the title of 2007 GRAND CHAMPION. We'll also have gift certificates for the first two runners-up and audience prizes too. 7 pm, as usual.

20 or under? Come to the kids' Bee at 5:30 pm! All entrants receive a CHAMPION shirt. My 9 year old will certainly be up there competing, and I've even seen younger kids who could spell up a storm - bring them on!

Stay for the party, too - at 9:30, a Cuban band will be playing so you can dance your way into 2008.

This Week's Champion: Egret

And the winning word:

FREESIA.

Congrats to Egret! I certainly hope she'll be back to try for the $200 cash prize at the 2007 Championship.

Here are the words spelled, in no particular order:

DATIVE
EUCHARIST
FURBELOW
EBENEZER
EUGENICS
FIDGETING
DIGRESSION
FLAILING
CULOTTES
ELECTROLYTE
FUSTIGATE
GLITTERING
GITANO
ENCOMIASTIC
EQUESTRIAN
EXEQUIES
ETHYLENE
EQUERRY
GATEADO
FLAGELLATORY
ENATIC
EMBERGOOSE
FESTSCHRIFT
GADARENE
EQUIVOCATION
EXCOGITATE
EMACIATION
DRIZZLE
GLOUCESTER
PARENTAGE
DECATHLON
GLYCERINATED
CULVERT
FRIGID
GADGETRY
ENCHANTED
DIFFUSION
FEARSOME
RETINUE
DROWSILY
DRAGOON
DUBIOUSLY
EXCLUSIVE
ELOQUENT
DOVETAILED
CUBIT
DRAMATIZE
CORPS
DECADENCE
CORRODE
EGYPTIAN
LEVIATHAN