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Paducah's Own Colonel J.D. Wilkes One of Two Authors Visiting WKCTC Next Week

Paducah, KY (10/19/2017) — Paducah's own Colonel J.D. Wilkes, probably best known as the founder of the Legendary Shack Shakers, has yet another successful avenue for his creativity - author.

Wilkes, who received his title after being named an official Kentucky Colonel, will read from his first book The Vine that Ate the South at West Kentucky Community and Technical College October 23 from 11 a.m. to noon in the college's Matheson Library. He will also present an additional reading and book signing in Matheson Library that evening at 7 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

A perfect complement to the spooky, yet fun, Halloween season, Wilkes' book, brings the Japanese Kudzu devouring plant to life that leaves the skeletons of an elderly couple who are discovered in haunted woods - all in his unique and recognized Kentucky hillbilly style.

On October 24 at 7 p.m., author Alexander Weinstein will read from his book Children of the New World in the Bill Ford Gallery at WKCTC's Paducah School of Art and Design 2D and Graphic Design Building at 905 Harrison Street.

Children of the New World is a collection of stories that introduces readers to a near-future world of social media implants, memory manufacturers, dangerously immersive virtual reality games, and frighteningly intuitive robots ­that change the lives of the book's characters forever.

The media is encouraged to attend.

For more information about the Wilkes presentation, contact Kim Russell, WKCTC English program coordinator and event coordinator, at kim.russell@kctcs.edu or (270) 534-3203. For details about the Weinstein presentation, contact Britton Shurley, WKCTC dean of Humanities, Fine Arts, & Social Sciences and associate professor of English at britton.shurley@kctcs.edu or (270) 534-3243.

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West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) has been recognized four consecutive times by The Aspen Institute as one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation for providing students with strong job training and continuing higher education opportunity, for achieving high completion and transfer rates, and for providing strong employment results for its graduates.

Media Attachments

Paducah’s Own Colonel J.D. Wilkes to Present Book Reading at WKCTC's Matheson Library October 23.

Alexander Weinstein to Present Book Reading at WKCTC's Paducah School of Art and Design October 24.

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