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Visit some covered bridges in Georgia
Limerick Plantation
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Caps off to handicapped: I’ve seen our local handicapped guys and gals cleaning up our convenience center at Limerick Road and I have been totally impressed with their enthusiasm and politeness. They cut grass and weeds, sweep, shovel, haul, etc., and they always have smiles on their faces. So many times they have greeted me with a smile and a “good morning.” I just hope the county is paying these angels a good salary. They deserve it.

Coming events:  
Aug. 30-31:
• Catfish Festival in Kingsland
• Arts and Crafts Show in St. Simons Island
• Historic Bike Ride in Savannah, sponsored by BRAG.
Sept. 6: Big yard sale at PoJo’s in Midway
Sept. 13: Big flea market at Woodland Lakes
Sept. 20: Bass tournament in Appling County
Sept. 27:
• Altamaha River fall canoe paddle in Appling County
• Rivers Alive Clean Up in Wayne County

Georgia’s covered bridges: Now that gas prices are coming down, it is time to tour Georgia and visit it’s 15 covered bridges.
Auchumpkee Creek Covered Bridge is in Thomaston. The year of construction is unknown. It is 96 feet long.
Big Cloud Creek Covered Bridge is in Lexington.  Built in 1905, it is 168 feet long.
Callaway Gardens Covered Bridge is in Pine Mountain and was built in 1870.
Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge is in Blakely and was built in 1891.  
Concord Covered Bridge is in Smyrna and was built in 1872.  
Cromer’s Mill Covered Bridge is in Carnesville, is 132 feet long and was built in 1906.  
Elder’s Mill Covered Bridge is in Watkinsville, is 100 feet long and was built in 1897.  
Euharlee Covered Bridge is in Cartersville, is 138 feet long and was built in 1886.  
Haralson Mill Covered Bridge is in Conyers, is 150 feet long and was built in 1997.  
Lula Covered Bridge is in Gainesville, is 34 feet long and was built in 1915.  
Pool’s Mill Covered Bridge is in Cumming, is 95 feet long and was built in 1906.  
Big Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge is in Woodbury, is 253 feet long and was built in 1840.  
Stone Mountain Park Covered Bridge is 151 feet long and was built in 1891.  
Stovall Mill Covered Bridge is in Helen, is 37 feet long and was built in 1895.  
Watson Mill Covered Bridge is in Comer, is 229 feet long and was built in 1885.  
Only six of these bridges are open to traffic. All of them are certainly worth the trip to see.

Garden report: Today I want to share with you a plant that is slowly disappearing in the south, thanks to home construction and clearing of land for businesses. I was fortunate to spot a mayhaw plant along Highway 30 near Guyton, about 12 years ago. I carefully dug it up and brought it home, hoping it would survive. It did. Right now, it’s loaded with tiny little “apples,” which will eventually turn yellow. When you search the Internet for information on this wonderful plant, you will see mostly pictures of “red” haws. Mine happens to be yellow. It resembles a small crabapple and is in the Rosacea family. They grow mainly in bogs and swamps, however, mine is growing in my front yard in a plant quadrant.  I’ve never tried to grow one from a seed, but this fall I am going to give it a try. There’s nothing more beautiful than mayhaw jelly. I can remember my grandmother cutting a branch from a mayhaw and placing gumdrops on the spikes that it bears. Once the fruit turns yellow, you can eat it right off the plant, which I do before the birds get to it. Surf the Internet and explore this wonderful plant. Who knows, maybe you’ll spot one along the highway to “rescue” and relocate to your yard.
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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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