Eli Jefferis, left, and Natalie Showalter finish first and second, respectively, in the Barnesville Middle School Spelling Bee on Tuesday evening. Both advance to the 2025-26 Belmont County Spelling Bee, scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at the ECO Center on the campus of Ohio University Eastern, St. Clairsville. The county bee is sponsored by The Times Leader, Belmont Savings Bank, Wilson Furniture, Wilson Funeral Homes, LED Transportations, Uniglobe Ohio Valley Travel, East Central Ohio Educational Service Center and the Martins Ferry Elks.