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Burning leaves wastes compost, dirties air
Limerick Plantation
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Puppies need shots:  There's been a lot said in the news lately about the disease parvo. Unless you get your new puppy the proper shots, it could contract this deadly disease. This is why animals taken in by the Humane Shelter are isolated at first. So if you adopt a new puppy, please make sure it gets all the shots required to prevent this disease.

Disaster waiting to happen: I'm glad to know that our local fire department is looking at could happen if a train derailed in Lake George. We have only one way in and out and that is across the railroad tracks. Now, if this happened, our only way out would be from Rec 1 or Rec 2 by boat. I suggested looking into extending Jerico into the Villages of Limerick and maybe making a bridge over the ditch and tracks on Pine into Woodland Lakes. It is reassuring also to know that the Eastern District Fire Department now has a rescue boat.  

Please don't burn: It just saddens me when I see people burning their leaves.  Do they not realize what good compost they make?  I'm thankful my neighbor, Carolyn Cowart saves all hers and shares them with me for my many flowerbeds.  With all the pollen in the air, we surely don't need smoke mixed with it.  I also fill my garden with leaves during the winter and when spring comes and it's time to plant tomatoes, peppers, etc., all I do is push back the leaves, dig a hole, deposit the plant, then pull the leaves back to the plant.  It takes less water, because the leaves hold the moisture. I also use the newspaper trick in my garden. This attracts earthworms, which make the soil rich.  Once again, please don't burn your leaves.

More on the junk situation: I always thought that "junk" on a piece of property was illegal. Apparently not in Liberty County. Just drive around, folks. Do you realize now why no big businesses are coming here and setting up? Obviously Target and Tire Rack don't care about what their truckers have to drive past on the way to their warehouses. I wonder what tourists think when they drive through Liberty County.  What the powers that be don't realize is that Lake George is no longer a fish camp. It is a community of 90 percent caring, law-abiding people and 10 percent who could care less.  That 10 percent are ruining it for the rest of us. Hey, look up "vigilance committee" in the dictionary.  It says, "A volunteer committee of citizens organized to suppress and punish crime summarily, as when the processes of law appear inadequate." What we have here folks, is a failure to communicate.  When my quality of life and the value of my property are tampered with, it definitely is against the law. If junk is not a nuisance, then what is it?  Want to see a dilapidated structure?  Look at the corner of Limerick and Highway 17. How about unlicensed vehicles? There are thousands in this county.

Kudos: I called Animal Control this past week and told them about four dogs running loose and described them. Two days later there are just two of them left. I would like to thank Randy, Richard and Gary for coming to my house and letting me know that they were scanning Lake George to find these dogs.  At least someone working for the county is doing their job.

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Visit with children a real eye-opener
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One of my favorite activities as a state senator is when I get to speak to students at our local schools. This year, I spoke to third-grade students at May Howard Elementary and Marshpoint Elementary in Chatham County and Button Gwinnett Elementary in Liberty County.
The students from each of the schools had been studying civics and were familiar with the three branches of government — executive, judicial and legislative. I explained my role as a senator in the legislative process and told the children how the citizen legislature in the state of Georgia works.
Presenting each of the schools with a Georgia state flag, I explained the three principles for which the state flag stands — wisdom, justice and moderation — and had them recite the pledge to the flag with me. 
The students at all three schools were bright, respectful and well-disciplined — a tribute to their families and especially to their teachers, who had prepared the students for my visit with ideas for great questions.
The students in Ms. Hutchinson’s class at Marshpoint Elementary were impressive in singing the preamble to the Constitution during my visit. What a great way to learn such an important part of our nation’s history — another wonderful example of the great job our teachers are doing.
I was delighted last week to receive thank-you letters from some of the students. Here are excerpts from a few of their letters:
 
Dear Mr. Carter,
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come speak to us. I learned so much! I learned that there are two kinds of Pledge of Allegiances. That is pretty cool.
Do you travel all over the world do you? I really like that you taught me more about the three branches of government.
— Megan
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
Thank you for telling us about your job and your favorite thing about your job. I liked the Georgia state flag. I still have more questions. Do you have to work on Saturday and Sunday? Are you the only one who makes the laws?
Yours truly,
Ryleigh 


Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and letting us have a little bit of your time. I want you to know that I learned something new. The Georgia pledge! Justice, wisdom and modesty! Thanks again!
— Liam
 
Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and helping us learn more about the government and some of your job. Thank you for giving us a Georgia flag. It was fun when you came. Thank you for giving us some questions so we could answer them.
P.S. Did you ride in a limousine? I was going to ask you a question but then I forgot. But now I remember. How many rooms are there where you work? You can send me a note if you can.
Your friend,
Erin
 
I’m uncertain whether the students learned as much from me during my visit as I learned from them. One thing that I was reminded of was the honesty that comes from the innocence of childhood. I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret some of the questions, such as the one asked in this letter:
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
I loved your speech. Thanks for coming to our school. I think my favorite part was when we held the flag. It was so fun! I have a question: How many people voted for you?
Sincerely,
Shelly
 
I also was more than a little concerned about a recurring question in the thank-you notes that was posed to me during one of my visits by a beautiful, brown-eyed girl who, with a very serious look on her face, asked “Did you ever get re-elected be-fore?”


What a great group of young people! My faith and hope in our future has been reassured. What an amazing job our families and teachers are doing on a daily basis to support and encourage our next generation. Thank you for your dedication to teaching our leaders of tomor-row.

Sen. Buddy Carter can be reached at Coverdell Legislative Office Building (C.L.O.B.) Room 301-A, Atlanta, GA, 30334. His Capitol office number is 404-656-5109

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