While guests of the Scotland County Literacy Council last weekend trotted out their sleuthing skills, the literacy council will be adding a new service to its own repertoire.

The literacy council, which provides tutoring in basic adult education, GED and WorkKeys preparation, and ESL tutoring to Scotland County residents, is branching out to help dyslexic children and adults.

“Dyslexic people are not any less intelligent, they just need to learn a different way than the traditional way you learn in school,” said Diana Altman, chair of the literacy council’s board of directors.

Dyslexic learners who have not been adequately served by their schools in the past likely contribute to Scotland County’s 30 percent functional illiteracy rate, according to Altman.

“Many of them will drop out of school because they’re not learning; they are marginalized because people think they’re the dumb ones,” she said.

Mystery dinner

The council also held its biannual murder mystery dinner last week, raising about $1,000 for general operating expenses.

The tableau, entitled “Gobble, Gobble, Death, and Trouble,” was directed by Rick Hodges. The six suspects who tried to exonerate themselves of the murder of a famous turkey chef were played by local actors David Blackmon, Jaclyn Blackmon, John Troutman, Kitty Baum, Renee Portorsnok Jones, and Rick Clancy.

About 45 people participated in the dinner, evaluating the suspects’ stories as well as clues revealed throughout the meal. A prime rib dinner was catered by Jerry’s Deli.

Diners at each table worked as a team. Of seven tables, six correctly guessed the identity of the murderer.

“People were really engaged, they really thought about it, they really discussed it,” said Altman. “We want to thank everybody who came.”

Anyone interested in volunteering to tutor or in being trained to tutor those with dyslexia should contact the literacy council at 276-7007.