Douglas County businesses bowl-off against each other to help eliminate student illiteracy

Bowl 1259.jpg — 33 teams of Douglas County businesses faced off against each other to promote reading at the annual Strike Out Illiteracy event. (Thalen Zimmerman / Alexandria Echo Press)

By Thalen Zimmerman

September 22, 2021 at 1:11 PM

The Strikeout Illiteracy Bowling Tournament was held on Sept. 21 at the Garden Center lanes in Alexandria.

Bowling 1030.jpg — Kellie Thomas, left, from Alexandria Eye Associates, focuses on her roll as another team looks on in anticipation. (Thalen Zimmerman / Alexandria Echo Press)

Thirty-three teams made up of local businesses faced off in a three-game tournament to raise money and promote literacy for students.

Sun Opta took first place, followed by Alexandria Kiwanis in second, and Alexandria Area USBCA Bakers in third.

Proceeds from the event will go to NIE, Newspapers in Education. A program to help combat illiteracy in students by providing newspapers and educational activities for local teachers to use teaching tools in their classrooms.

Gallery: Strike Out Illiteracy

Bowl 1602.jpg — The Echo Press presented Strikeout Illiteracy at the Garden Center Lanes in Alexandria to raise money and help children improve their reading skills. (Thalen Zimmerman / Alexandria Echo Press)

By Thalen Zimmerman

Thalen Zimmerman of Alexandria joined the Echo Press team as a full-time reporter in Aug. 2021, after graduating from Bemidji State University with a bachelor of science degree in mass communication in May of 2021.

Douglas County businesses bowl-off against each other to help eliminate student illiteracy

The Echo Press presented the 21st annual Strikeout Illiteracy on Tue. Sept. 21 at the Garden Center Lanes in Alexandria to raise money and help children improve their reading skills.