State of Mississippi Judiciary

Judge Brewer awards prizes to three young readers

May 27, 2005

Madison County Court Judge Cynthia Brewer presented $100 prizes to three young reading enthusiasts last week to reward them for reading the most books during a five-month contest.

Winners of the Madison County Library System Reading Incentive Program were:

• Mallie Hannah File, 11, of Canton who read 24 books from the Canton Public Library;
• Timothy Crook, 13, or Ridgeland, who read 12 books from the Ridgeland Public Library;
• Stormy Speaks, 14, of Madison, who read 20 books from the Madison Public Library.

Judge Brewer presented each of the three students with a $100 bill in meetings at the Canton, Madison and Ridgeland libraries last week.

Judge Brewer, working in conjunction with the Madison County Library System, offered the rewards as an incentive to encourage children to read and to attract them to the library. Judge Brewer, who also sits as one of two Youth Court judges for Madison County, said she wants to open children’s eyes and imaginations to the worlds which await them through the doors of libraries and within the pages of books. Reading is an essential part of building a better education.

Judge Brewer said, “As an elected officer of Madison County Court, I feel that it is essential to work within our public service organizations. The public library is a haven for all ages. The joy and ability to read must be encouraged by private citizens and public servants.

My husband, Charles, and I decided to create the reading contest to encourage our young citizens to physically get into their neighborhood library. I am so very proud of each of our winners and want to thank their respective parents for taking their child to the neighborhood library.”

Martha Womack, Youth Services Coordinator for the Madison County Library System, said, “I am just so awed when I find someone who shares my love for reading and wants to share that in the community.”

Readers were free to choose their own selections. Their choices included biographies, classics, mysteries and science fiction. They wrote about each book, answering a series of questions.

The contest period ran from Dec. 1, 2004, through April 30, 2005.

Judge Brewer, who personally paid the prizes, said she plans to offer rewards again in a reading program which will run from September through December. Entry forms will be posted in public library branches in Camden, Canton, Flora, Madison and Ridgeland.

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