Zoo animals visit library

Blank Park Zoo educator Kaylee displays Pigwidgeon the Screech Owl during a presentation Tuesday at the Newton Public Library. The owl is missing his left wing and was rescued by a raptor recovery center. Kaylee also displayed a 7-year-old American alligator and Peeta the ferret, one of the animals from the Blank Park Zoo Education Department. More than 200 children attended to learn about animals during the program, which was titled "Home Sweet Burrow" and was part of the Summer Reading Program's "Dig Into Reading" theme. Children may participate all summer long in the reading program, which is free. Participants received coupons from Culver's and McDonald's and, upon completion of the program, will receive a child's ticket to Blank Park Zoo and a ticket to the pizza and pool party on Aug. 2 at Maytag Pool with pizza provided by Domino's. Readers also receive a ticket for a child and one for an adult to attend an Iowa Cubs game on Aug. 11.