On January 19, Canyon Lake Middle School held its 10th annual spelling bee. After 26 rounds, Canyon Lake resident Ashlynn Dowell, 11, spelled her way into 1st place. Ashlynn and Jay Vidal, 12, the runner-up, represented CLMS at the district-wide spelling bee, held January 25 at the Lakeside High School Rotary Theater.

Ashlynn is a triplet and says that both of her brothers won spelling bees in elementary school, but this is the first time she has won. She says she is very proud that all three have represented their schools at the district level. Ashlynn is in 6th grade and Jay in 7th. Jay is a resident of Lake Elsinore.