Simonds wins Poetry Out Loud Competition

RANGELEY — Jacob Simonds, a senior at Rangeley Lakes Regional School, won the Fourth Annual Poetry Out Loud Competition held at the school on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Simonds’ first-place win qualifies him for the Northern Maine Regional Poetry Out Loud Competition, to be held in Belfast in February.

The Poetry Out Loud competition began at RLRS four years ago with the inspiration of teacher Tim Straub. The competition features students reciting poetry, from memory, of poets from the eighteenth century to present day.

RLRS sponsoring Haitian relief fundraiser

RANGELEY — The Rangeley Lakes Regional School is conducting a fund-drive to help alleviate the suffering of the children of Haiti in the wake of the horrific earthquake disaster.

All funds collected in the drive will go to the “Save The Children” International Charity.

The fund-drive is being headed by Shirley Schrader and is being conducted within each of the school’s grades. There is a Haiti Relief collection jar currently being passed around the audiences of each of the Laker basketball games.

RLRS students qualify for county spelling bee

RANGELEY — Four Rangeley Lakes Regional School students qualified for the Franklin County Spelling Bee Competition.

The four students who qualified in recent competition held at the school are: Ross Richards, eighth grade, 1st place; Michaela Shorey, sixth grade, 2nd place; Rachel Lever, seventh grade, 3rd place; and River Roy, seventh grade, 4th place. Tyler Crosby, sixth grade, qualified as an alternate. The Franklin County Spelling Bee Championship will be held in Strong on Thursday, Feb. 4.