JOB CORPS For the third year in a row, students and staff from Muhlenberg Job Corps volunteered to make the Read to Lead event for Muhlenberg County a huge success
Students set the mood for the March 1st event by dressing as Dr. Seuss characters and interacting with community members and area youngsters. Student volunteers Abraham Wrigley, Kayla Sharpenberg, Natalie Rolley, Tiarra Talley, Anatoliy Sweet, Catalaya Ramirez, Joshua Kimbrew, Destiny Douglas, Paris Balford, Darious Sharps and Elijah Taybron were joined by Muhlenberg Job Corps Business Community Liaison Brian Hancock and Academic Instructor Ashley Thompson. Hancock said students enjoyed seeing the children running up, wanting their picture taken with their favorite Dr. Seuss characters.
The annual Read to Lead event was organized by Vicki Yonts, program manager of the Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation for Muhlenberg County, and supported by area businesses and community leaders to emphasize the importance of reading for children and adults alike.
The event coincided with Dr. Seuss’ birthday and was part of the national Read Across America event to promote children’s love of reading. The Muhlenberg event started with Dr. Seuss characters Thing One and Thing 2 (aka Muhlenberg Job Corps students) reading “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” at Depot Gifts & Corner Fashions in Central City. The main event took place at the Muhlenberg County Courthouse where the Lorax, Cat in the Hat, Horton, Thing One and Thing 2 stood in front of the courthouse, welcoming the community inside for books and treats. Once inside, children visited each community leader’s office for a free book and a treat. The offices that participated were the offices of Judge Executive Curtis McGehee, Sheriff Ricki Allen, Mayor Jan Yonts, County Clerk Crystal Smith, County Attorney Ryan Rice, Coroner Larry Vincent, and Property Valuation Administrator Belinda McKinney.
The Muhlenberg Read to Lead event attracted 206 adults and 277 children and gave away nearly 1,700 books. Event sponsors SOAR, Lu-Ray Park, Pennyroyal Prevention Center, First Steps Head Start, Muhlenberg County Health Department/Hands, Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital, UK Extension Office, Depot Gifts & Corner Fashions and Muhlenberg County Library.
