By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Cities gear up for area cleanups
Keep Liberty Beautiful
Placeholder Image
In the next few weeks, volunteers with Keep Liberty County Beautiful will participate in a number of events as part of the annual Great American Cleanup for 2010. We will partner with cities in Liberty County to host citywide cleanups in Midway, Flemington, Walthourville, Gum Branch and Hinesville.
The key to making these events successful is getting local residents involved in changing and improving their communities. Of course we’ll remove trash and debris from roads and green spaces during the cleanups, but we’ll also take a stand against litter and those who create it.
The cleanup date for Flemington, Walthourville, Gum Branch and Midway is Saturday, April 17, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Participants will meet at each community’s city hall to receive instructions and cleanup supplies. The city of Hinesville cleanup is from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24. Participants will meet at Bradwell Park for supplies and cleanup assignments. All volunteers will receive 2010 Great American Cleanup T-shirts and lunch afterward.
So far this spring, many volunteers have planted trees and others helped with beautification projects. We have conducted campus cleanups at area schools and neighborhood cleanups in several communities. The city of Riceboro had its cleanup last Saturday, and we tidied up several highways and an illegal tire dump a few weeks ago. At this point, KLCB volunteers have collected more than two tons of trash. Unfortunately, we have a few more tons to go, and we need your help.
If you are troubled by the trash and debris others toss from their vehicles, you need to get involved. If you are concerned about your community’s appearance, you need to get involved. If you are worried about the negative, long-term effects of litter on wildlife, bodies of water and human health, you need to get involved. Take a stand if you care. That’s the only way to stop litter in its tracks.
I believe the litter-haters far outnumber the litter-creators, but we have to show those who carelessly damage our communities that we are fed up with their wasteful ways. It is not hard to use a trash bag or a cigarette pocket ashtray. It doesn’t take much effort to gather up the trash in your car and put it in a wastebasket.
So, if it matters to you, I invite you to spend a few hours taking a stand against litter. We will have cleaner, better communities if we rally together and take action.

Upcoming KLB events:
• April 10 and May 1: Neighborhoods and challenge cleanups
• April 17,  8:30  a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Cities of Gum Branch, Flemington, Midway and Walthourville
• April 22, 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Earth Day celebration, “The Green Scene”
• April 24, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: City of Hinesville cleanup
• May 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Recycle it! Fair for electronics and HHW items.
For more information, call 880-4888 or e-mail klcb@coastalnow.net.

Plan now to volunteer and make a difference where you live. For more information, call 880-4888 or e-mail klcb@coastalnow.net.
Sign up for our e-newsletters
Visit with children a real eye-opener
Placeholder Image

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

Latest Obituaries