08/14/2026
The O’Kelly Memorial Library was named the winner of the inaugural Mayor’s Reading Cup Challenge, a summer literacy competition organized through the Walton 250 celebration in partnership with the Azalea Regional Library System. Shane Short presented the award to Loganville Mayor Branden Whitfield on behalf of the Walton 250 Committee at the Loganville City Council August meeting Thursday night. The challenge encouraged students and adults throughout Walton County to read books, submit book reviews and complete library activities. O’Kelly Memorial Library emerged as the overall champion with 375 student participants and 105 adult participants earning 480 total points, more than twice the total of the next closest library. O’Kelly also recorded the highest number of books logged, the most book reviews submitted and the highest overall participation in the challenge.
Pictured (L-R): Ruth Colquitt (Library Trustee), Stacy Brown (Executive Director, AZRLS), Robin Dill (Library Trustee), Shane Short (CEO, Walton County Development Authority), Avion Brisbane (Manager, O’Kelly Memorial Library), Lisa Plyler-Luttrell (Library Trustee), and Loganville Mayor Branden Whitfield.