Eads students book it to Pizza Hut

MUNSTER | James B. Eads Elementary School is the top fundraiser in the Lake County Public Library's six-week Read-A-Thon.

A total of 100 students raised $4,978 in pledges for books read, said Jennifer Burnison, marketing manager for the Lake County library system.

Merkley Elementary School in Highland placed second with a total of $4,772 raised and Frank H. Hammond Elementary in Munster placed third with $3,725 raised, she said.

One-third of the proceeds from the Read-A-Thon is awarded to the schools for use in their libraries. The rest is put into an account by the Lake County Public Library Foundation and the interest on the money is used to purchase books or other materials that are not covered by public funding.

Eads school awarded all its participants with either a limo ride to Pizza Hut or a trip to Dairy Queen with Principal Linda Bevil and librarians Nancy Conger and Donna McCullough. The top earner from each of the 11 school districts in the contest is invited with their parents, the principal and school librarian to a breakfast May 19 at The Patio in Merrillville sponsored by the library foundation. The top earners win a trophy and a gift certificate to a local bookstore.