Battle Ground surplus books bound for Ghana

Battle Ground — Enough surplus math texts, workbooks and related materials to fill an ocean-going container were loaded into an 18-wheeler March 26 and hauled away on the first leg of a trip that will end in Ghana, West Africa. In all, Battle Ground Public School’s donated books filled 39 pallets weighing 38,500 pounds. They will fill a 40-foot shipping container, join a second container from Oregon libraries and schools, and leave Seattle for the three-month journey to Ghana. It’s part of Rotary International’s Books for the World program. The K-8 materials had been used since the 2004-05 academic year and were replaced this year. They were supposed to be recycled, but schools warehouse manager Kathy Berecek and warehousemen Bill Olson and Glenn Haag made the connection with Books for the World instead.