Shelby County State Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin recently presented a check for $5,000 to the North Shelby Library.

On hand to receive the funds often referred to as &uot;pork&uot; according to McClurkin on Oct. 1, were Alain Gallet, president of the North Shelby Library Board;

Steve Zerkis, a member of the library board of trustees; Carol Farr, associate director of the North Shelby Library; and librarian Darryl Heritage.

The $5,000 was a part of &uot;community grant money&uot; MClurkin gives to schools in Shelby County, according to Jeff

Caddell of the Shelby County Legislative Delegation.

Caddell

pointed out that the money given to North Shelby Library was the only non-school-related grant presented by McClurkin.

&uot;None of the money allocated for (McClurkin’s) distribution has gone to controversial

projects that are questionable,&uot; Caddell said.

He also said that Reps. Mike Hill, Cam Ward and Jimmy Martin all have accounts with the school board that are maintained by the board and audited by the board.

Recent contributions by McClurkin in addition to the North Shelby Library

have included an October $2,000 for Helena Intermediate School to purchase SRA reading materials for at-risk students; $500 in July 2003 for Valley Intermediate; $2,000 in December 2002 for the Valley Intermediate Reading Initiative; $10,000 in September 2002 for Oak Mountain High School to purchase library books and toward a fund-raising goal to keep the school’s library accredited; and $2,000 in June 2002 for the Meadow View Elementary Reading Initiative Program