Students at Thompson Falls Elementary School recently completed the Running Start program, sponsored by the GFWC Thompson Falls Woman's Club. Kids completed logs of their reading through the month of April. Each sheet filled with chapters or books read entered the student into a drawing. Collectively the students read 3,511 books or chapters during April. Cory Kump's fourth grade class topped the list with 756 books or chapters read.

Prizes for the event and an ice cream party to close out the month were sponsored by Thompson Falls Masonic Lodge, First Security Bank and Valley. Karen Gustavsen with the Woman's Club said the main goal of Running Start is to create readers for the 21st century – a new generation of readers who eagerly turn to books for both information and enjoyment.