Local youth will write the final chapter of the Allen County Young Authors program this week after 19 years and 14,319 books.
The program, which encourages students in grades first through sixth to write, illustrate and publish books, comes to an end with the final events Friday and Saturday.
Organizers say the program is ending because funding is being reduced and teachers are too busy with standardized tests to devote time to the Young Authors program. Two of five participating schools dropped the program this year.