BEDFORD – February 2025 was a month of stark contrasts for Bedford, marked by incredible personal achievements and a somber reminder of life’s fragility. The community celebrated the success of its students and honored the legacy of its graduates, even as it mourned the loss of a firefighter.
A Fifth-Grader’s Victory
The community was buzzing after fifth-grader Michael Allbright of St. Vincent De Paul achieved an impressive and rare feat.
Competing against older students at the WBIW Lawrence County Spelling Bee, Michael claimed the overall championship. The competition, held at Schafer Auditorium in Bedford Middle School, saw Michael outlast nine middle school champions, becoming one of the youngest winners in the event’s history. His victory was sealed after he correctly spelled “spaghetti,” a moment of triumph that captivated the crowd.
Honoring a Legacy of Excellence
Bedford North Lawrence High School celebrated two of its most accomplished alumni, inducting Brandon Buck and Jarrod Lents into the prestigious BNL Alumni Wall of Fame. The ceremony, held during the halftime of a boys’ varsity basketball game, recognized the outstanding contributions of both men.
Brandon Buck, a 1996 graduate, was honored for his distinguished career as an educator, coach, and leadership consultant. As a high school baseball coach, he developed a highly successful program, and as the founder of Infinite Strengths, he has worked with Fortune 500 companies. For Buck, the honor was deeply personal, as he expressed how special it was to be recognized in the place where his journey began.
Jarrod Lents, a 1999 graduate, was celebrated for his heroic and dedicated service as an Indiana State Police Master Trooper. Lents was recognized for his extraordinary bravery, having been shot multiple times while responding to a robbery and still managing to stop the suspect. His heroism earned him the Combat Action Award and the Purple Heart. In 2022, he was named Indiana State Police Trooper of the Year. Lents expressed his gratitude, noting that the recognition was particularly special as he had been “pretty anonymous” during his time at the school.
A Community Mourns
The month ended on a somber note with the tragic loss of a firefighter.
Leroy Terrell, of Bedford, was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Monroe County.
The preliminary investigation indicated that slick road conditions contributed to the accident. The Monroe County Coroner’s Office pronounced him deceased at the scene, leaving the community to mourn his passing.
