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Volunteers made cleanup a success
Keep Liberty Beautiful
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Volunteers who donated their time to the 2008 Great American Cleanup received thank-you awards — gold litter pickers — Thursday at an awards dinner. - photo by Phgoto by Patty Leon
During the 2008 spring Great American Cleanup, I am happy to report that we had 948 dedicated volunteers, who shared 3,131 hours of their time to improve our community. These volunteers cleaned up almost eight tons of litter and debris from our roads and waterways, planted 412 plants and trees, collected more than five tons of electronics and other household items to recycle, and collected 6.2 tons of plastics to recycle as part of the Return the Warmth project.
Volunteers cleaned 43 miles of roads, beaches, trails, parks and neighborhoods. Volunteers also helped with education projects, like storm-water pollution programs in our schools, an Earth Day event in the park, distributing and using 10,000 educational placemats on litter and water pollution, and passing out 2,500 church bulletin inserts on Earth Day stewardship.  
A variety of businesses and groups helped make the 43 cleanups and awareness events possible.  Particularly, we want to thank Target Distribution Center, Wal-Mart, the City of Gumbranch, the Liberty County Department of Family and Children Services, the Liberty County Board of Commissioners, the Kiwanis Club of Liberty County and the Rotary Club of Hinesville for their standout efforts in getting volunteers involved in Clean Community Challenge events. KLCB also would like to recognize several groups and businesses that made events possible through significant sponsorships and contributions. These include the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program and the Liberty County Health Department, Georgia Power Company, Coastal Electric Cooperative, Canoochee EMC, the City of Hinesville, the City of Flemington, Prevent Child Abuse Liberty, The Heritage Bank, the Georgia Forestry Commission, the United Way of the Coastal Empire, McDonalds Restaurants, The Coastal Courier and, certainly, the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, who co-sponsored the Clean Community Challenge.
I wish I could name all of the groups and businesses who have participated here but we will soon hold a public thank you for all of them. This mighty army of litter war volunteers included 23 businesses, 22 civic and community service organizations, six neighborhoods, 13 schools and youth organizations, and six municipalities along with the Liberty County government. There also are some specific individuals who I must mention. Pascal Brewer helps make it possible for us to have numerous tree seedlings for planting at Arbor Day. Terri Willett and our KLCB advisory council members are dedicated to making each event happen. I am fortunate to work with these caring citizens. Dave Sapp and the Liberty County Solid Waste staff help again and again at each cleanup to make sure that the tons of litter are disposed of properly. Laura Troutman and Bob Sprinkle at the county office have been wonderful in helping to promote the cleanup events in-house. I cannot thank Commissioner Connie Thrift enough for her efforts in getting the ball rolling with the fantastic effort with the City of Gumbranch cleanup and in spearheading the challenge efforts with the Liberty County Board of Commissioners. And last but certainly not least, a big thanks goes to Leah Poole, our chairman for the Great American Cleanup for 2008. Thank you, Leah, for a magnificent job!
Just think — if this many from our community can do this much, what would happen if all of us committed time to making a difference?  We can all do something to make the world — our world — a cleaner and brighter place to live. Thanks again to each of you — groups, businesses, and individuals for making our world and our community a priority.

Current Keep Liberty Beautiful projects that need your involvement:
Through Aug. 29: Cigarette Litter Prevention Project. Do you hate to see that nasty cigarette butts trashing our sidewalks and roadways? If so, then call to get involved in this awareness project to get those “butts” off the street. Contact Sara Swida at Keep Liberty County Beautiful or Vickie Davis at the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority.
Liberty County: Home of the World’s Largest Crayon. Please help us make this Guinness Book of World Records project a reality by calling 368-4888 or e-mailing biglibertycrayon@yahoo.com. We have almost 700 crayons now, but we need your help as we collect even more used crayons to create a giant crayon this fall.
For more information on Keep Liberty County Beautiful programs, contact Sara Ann Swida at 368-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com.
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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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