Wordy Wednesday 471: Codewords 18 & Wordy Wednesday 472: Hex Pathfinder 28

WORDY WEDNESDAY #469
SPICY GERMAN SAUSAGE 2 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Bonnie Veenschoten **
Cathy Bowen **
Cindy Heisler **
Karen Spencer **
Michael Lebowitz **
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman **
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #470
PENT WORDS 94 (hint)

As of this writing, 14 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH = DOUBLE WORDY WEDNESDAYS!
WORDY WEDNESDAY #471
CODEWORDS 18
(click here for a PDF version)

In the crossword puzzle above, every letter is represented by an integer from 1 through 26. You must decipher the code to reveal the words.

Arrange the letters in the shaded spaces to spell the final answer, an eight-letter word.

WORDY WEDNESDAY #472
HEX PATHFINDER 28
(click here for a PDF version)

This puzzle contains a word suggested by patron Daren Bischel. Support me on Patreon at the Super Fan level ($5/month) and solve the monthly Patron Puzzle for a chance to suggest a seed word for a future puzzle, or at the Ultra Fan level ($20/month) to suggest one seed word every month!

In this puzzle, each answer starts in the correspondingly numbered hexagon and winds through the grid, starting in the indicated direction. When you have finished, every letter will be used in exactly two entries.

Rearrange the letters in the shaded spaces to get the final answer, a 7-letter word.

1SW Fastener on a door (5)

2SE Beat (5)

2SE Old adage promoting eloquence over violent force (28, 7 wds.)

3E Uprising (6)

4SW Speedy (5)

5NW Utah senator Romney (4)

6W Inspirational leader’s quality (8)

7NW Rose feature (5)

8NW 1985 hit for Stevie Wonder (13, 2 wds., hyph.)

9SE Shinbone (5)

10SE Place to watch niche independent films (8, 2 wds.)

11E Won't You Be My ____? (2018 documentary about Mister Rogers) (8)

12E Choice morsel (6)

13E Senseless (5)

14SE Rose feature (5)

15NW Feed the kitty (4)

16SE Band that performed “Blue Monday” (8, 2 wds.)

17SW Keep possession of (6)

18NE He was officially designated the state hero of Connecticut in 1985 (10, 2 wds.)

19NW Device with which to point and click (5)

19SW “____ Tried” (Merle Haggard song) (4)

20SE Flash of lightning (11)

21SE Fill with wonder (5)

22NW Trainee (6)

23NW A sedimentary rock (5)

24NE Common Christmas decoration (6)

25SW Weft’s counterpart (4)

26NW Center (10, 2 wds.)

27NW Family Feud’s Fast Money, for one (10, 2 wds.)

28W Certain crustacean (5)

29W Bird in an Edgar Allan Poe poem (5)

30W Vanessa of Coriolanus (2011) (8)

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* A Codewords!

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!