When it comes to dabbling in Scrabbling, Cincinnati ranks among the best in the state and pretty high nationally.

The top four Scrabble board game players in the state can be found right here.

Phyllis Prather, a speech pathologist with the Princeton School District, is ranked the No. 1 women's Scrabble player in the state and 13th woman in the country by the National Scrabble Association. The association, founded in 1978, is the official organization of North America's 10,000 tournament Scrabble players. It maintains a rating system of players.

Prather recently bested her playing partner, Jean Carol, a retired string instrument teacher. "We were just in a Scrabble tournament last week in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee,'' Prather said. "Jean has been the top woman in Scrabble for a long time. It changes pretty quickly.''

The best men and women Scrabble players in Ohio meet regularly on Fridays. They are Bob DeTore (from left), Steven Krieger, Jean Carol and Phyllis Prather. The Cincinnati Enquirer/ERNEST COLEMAN

Prather of Wyoming and Carol of Springdale are sharpening their skills to take on Scrabble players from around the nation in August in New Orleans.

"The top two men Scrabble players are also from here. The four of us play together every Friday night,'' Carol said.

The state's top men's Scrabble players are retired insurance underwriter Bob DeTore of Westwood and Steve Krieger of Sharonville, owner of Gabbard Private Schools.

Athletes with good grades

Two students honored by the Anthony Munoz Foundation as athletes of the year also excel in the classroom.

Andy Rhodenbaugh of Talawanda High School carries a 4.167 GPA as he heads to the University of Kentucky next school year. He earned 10 varsity letters, competing in cross-country, track, basketball and soccer.

Beth Drewes, Colerain High School, is ranked No. 1 in her class of 425 students. She carries a 4.0 GPA. She competed in basketball, track, cross country and tennis. On the tennis court, Drewes established a school record with 56 career matches and 34 victories.

'Read to Feed' program

Students at Queen of Angels Montessori, Anderson Place, just completed a "Read to Feed'' program to raise money for Heifer International, a worldwide animal refuge. The agency helps struggling families become self-reliant by providing food- and income-producing animals.

Maryanne Burns Harsh, a parent volunteer at the school, said the students asked for pledges and read books, collecting money for four weeks.

"They raised enough money to purchase a water buffalo and a sheep for Heifer International,'' Harsh said.

Everybody's mom

On this Mother's Day, the lady who has become known as Mother Marsh - everybody's mother - by listeners of radio station WZIP is lavished with cards, letters and radio messages. She is Martha Milton of East Walnut Hills, mother of Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Melba Marsh.