370 YOUNGSTERS PARTICIPATE IN JACKSON PROGRAM

JACKSON - A total of 370 Jackson area children from pre-school through fifth grade flooded the Jackson Public Library this summer to participate in the library's summer reading program, "Read Up a Storm.

Librarian Judy Holmes said the 370 youngsters read 7,968 books between June 1 and Aug. 7. Along with their parents, the children also participated in a variety of activities, including visits by local woodland animals, a model helicopter demonstration, programs on live spiders, the weather and television, a program on lizards and snakes, and a dog obedience demonstration.

Holmes said each child in grades K-5 who completed the Read Up A Storm program received an activity folder or booklet and a certificate signed by the governor, and were eligible for prizes given away during an Aug. 11 drawing.

The grand prize winner for the bicycle in the K-2 division was Steffen Troxel.

The winner of the bicycle in the third- through fifth-grade division was Christy Sappington. The bicycles were donated by the Jackson Noon Optimists and the Jackson Evening Optimists.

There were three categories of other winners. In the boys K-2 division, the winner of the Batcycle was Joshua Busche. In the girls K-2 division, Alisha Soemo won the Perdita 101 Dalmations plush dog.

In the boys third- to fifth-grade division, the winner of the NCAA Rawlins football was Tyler Murphy. In the girls third- to fifth-grade division, the winner of the Soft Expressions teddy bear was Alysse Moore.

In the pre-school division, Sam Sander won the Crayola rubbing art set.

The top readers were Andrea Soemo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Soemo, and Amy and Phillip Wichern, children of Dennis and Wanda Wichern. The three youngsters read 400-plus books during the summer program.

In addition, 176 other children completed the summer reading program and received a certificate.

"We hope the children who participated in the summer reading programs will continue to read up a storm throughout the year and will join us again for next year's summer reading program," Holmes said.