A letter was sent to the Miller County Board of Commissioners on October 5, 2006, from the United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerning work recently done in Spring Creek. The letter was to inform Miller County that the work conducted in Spring Creek was not authorized since there were shinyrayed pocketbook mussel and oval pigtoe mussels known to be in Spring Creek. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, (EPD) has sent a list of logs and trees that must be placed back into Spring Creek (see list).
A draft Consent Order was sent after a meeting with some of the commissioners on what the county has done and what can be done to the county if it does not comply. A list of design professionals were sent from EPD in Albany for the county to hire to make sure that the county does the restoration work properly.
The commissioners were told that they should have issued themselves a permit to perform the work on the creek.
In speaking to some of the county, state and federal officials, they were in agreement that although the county may not have done it like the “mussel lovers” would have liked, it is all a bunch of bureaucratic garbage. It seems that the county and volunteer groups have been the only ones interested in saving Spring Creek in this area. If it is left as is without clearing some of the logs, fallen trees and debris, Spring Creek will be like all the other creeks in this area, wet weather streams.
One local environmentalist stated, “I wonder where all these agencies were when Spring Creek dried completely up just a short time back? I didn’t see one person gathering up the mussels to take them to Warm Springs for safekeeping as they did a while back,” he continued.
“This could cost the county not only a sizeable amount in fines (local tax monies), but in work and expenses putting the mess back into Spring Creek that was taken out in an effort to help, not to mention that this will be the end of county involvement in trying to save Spring Creek. I just doesn’t make much sense to try to fight someone who loves a mussel more than they do people trying to save a once beautiful natural resource like Spring Creek,” a citizen of the county stated.
The best offer at this time, is a fine reduced from $12,500.00 to $6,250.00, if the county does all the restoration and repairs as stipulated and hire “professional engineers” to police the project.
(Please see citation, letters and demands on page 19 to understand what the federal and state agencies require)

Colquitt - A ceremonial “big check” for $225,000 was presented Monday evening to officials from Golden Triangle Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council, Inc., by F. Stone Workman, state director of USDA-Rural Development, at an annual meeting of the RC&D councils.
“This grant allows the Georgia Cooperative Development Center to continue serving new and existing cooperatives throughout the state,” Workman said. Golden Triangle RC&D is a nonprofit covering nine counties in Southwest Georgia and is serving as the coordinator of this project. They serve Baker, Decatur, Early, Miller, Seminole, Calhoun, Dougherty, Grady and Mitchell counties.
“The Cooperative Development Center has had and will continue to have a tremendous impact on the economy of rural Georgia. Having each of the state RC&D’s involved and promoting the cooperative business structure can only be a positive for our agricultural community,” said Craig Scroggs, the cooperative development specialist for USDA Rural Development. The grant is available through Rural Development’s Rural Cooperative Development Grant program and is available to non-profit groups including institutions of higher education. Grants provided under this program are to establish and operate centers for cooperative development. The ultimate goal is to improve economic conditions by developing or improving cooperatives.
Golden Triangle RC&D received a grant in FY 2001 and established the Southwest Georgia Cooperative Development Center. They subsequently received funding in each of the past three years.
Golden Triangle RC&D contracts with the University of Georgia’s Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development to provide the technical assistance and training to interested cooperative groups. County Extension Agents are trained in the cooperative business structure so that they can serve as meeting facilitators and informational conduits.
Dr. William Thomas, UGA Cooperative specialist, stated, “The unique aspect of this partnership has allowed numerous groups from across the state to receive assistance that potentially would have been missed. With so many people aware of the program and its impact, we are able to look at different projects that have impacted numerous communities.”
Projects being worked on now include a bio-diesel plant, cotton gin trash as cattle feed, several ag-tourism projects, two chicken litter compo sting projects, and a sweet corn growers coop. During the past three years, the Center has worked with nearly 20 different groups across the state with over 500 jobs being impacted.
The economic impact on the local communities is estimated to exceed $105,000,000. Golden Triangle and the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development continue to work closely with USDA Rural Development.
More information on the Georgia Cooperative Development center is available at their website at http://www.gacoop.com/. Information on Rural Development programs is available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ga/ . Information on forming a cooperative can be obtained by contacting Craig Scroggs at craig.scroggs@ga.usda.f!,ov or by calling 770-267-1413, ext. 113.

Plans are continually shaping up for Colquitt’s 150th birthday celebration to be held November 10 and 11 on the town square.
The fun will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday as the Talent Search gets underway to find the most talented person or groups in this area. A few spots are still open, so if you think you might have a chance, go ahead and enter. Who knows, you just might be the winner of the $1000.00 cash prize to be given to the winner! The top five will be announced at the end of the night and will compete for the title on Saturday morning beginning at 11:15 a.m. Also a performance of Mayhaw, Colquitt’s own version of Hee-Haw, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday night in Cotton Hall.
On Saturday morning, the square will be filled with exhibitors of all kinds. Marlin Gibson will be stacking peanuts the old fashioned way; Mark Dixon from the Georgia Agrirama in Tifton will be demonstrating turpentine production.
The vendors will open their booths at 10:00 a.m. with their homemade goods, immediately following the opening ceremony. There will be something for everyone to enjoy and some of the best cooking you’ll find anywhere around!
And, men, you don’t want to forget to register to enter the beard contest. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. for the beard contest, country fair, and swamp gravy cook-off. You still have time to register by calling 758-2400.
There will be inflatables for all the children to enjoy as well as a train. The all-time favorite rock climbing will also be a hit for the children to test their skills.
The entertainment planned for the day’s event will be something you want won’t to miss. The Singing Echoes from Cleveland, Tennessee, and COMMONPLACE from Jacksonville, Florida, will be entertaining the crowd during the afternoon. Regrettably, Bainbridge British Band will be unable to attend.
If you haven’t gotten your tickets for Mayhaw, there are still a few left. There will be two shows on November 11 at 2:30 and 7:30. You can get tickets by calling 758-5450.

The Miller Seminole Forestry Pageant was held October 28, at the Miller County Elementary School. Mrs. Edward Locke from Bainbridge served as the mistress of ceremonies for the pageant which featured 42 young ladies vying for the titles of Baby, Teeny Miss, Tiny Miss, Little Miss, Junior Miss, Teen Miss and Miss Miller Seminole County Forestry.
The 2005-2006 reigning queens were onstage to begin the ceremony, and they were Teeny Miss, Mallory Moulton; Tiny Miss, Mallory Middleton; Junior Miss, Summer Sheffield; Teen Miss, Fallyn Askew; and Miss, Ashley Holt. Fallyn and Ashley served as hostesses for the afternoon.
In the Baby Miss division second runner-up is Victoria Godwin; first runner-up is Miranda Cook, and the new 2006-07 Baby Miss is Allison Robinson. She was sponsored by her parents. Allison is the daughter of Lance and Rebecca Robinson of Iron City. Allison is one year old. Other Baby Miss awards were Photogenic, Allison Robinson; Prettiest Dress, Jayden Hodges; and Prettiest Hair, Baylee Franklin.
In the Teeny Miss division second runner-up is Chloe Ard; first runner-up is Morgan Bridges, and the new 2006-07 Teeny Miss queen is Marissa Cabrera. She was sponsored by Trends Hair Salon and her parents. Marissa is the daughter of Ricardo and Annissa Cabrera of Bainbridge. Annissa is two years old. Other Teeny Miss awards were Photogenic, Annissa Cabrera; Prettiest Dress, Annissa Cabrera; and Prettiest Hair, Annissa Cabrera.
In the Tiny Miss division the first runner-up is Annabelle Gowan, and the new 2006-07 Tiny Miss queen is Harley Shiver. She was sponsored by her parents. Harley is the daughter of John and Leslie Shiver. Harley is five years old. Other Tiny Miss awards were Photogenic, Harley Shiver; Prettiest Dress, Annabelle Gowan; Prettiest Hair, Harley Shiver; and Interview Award, Lulee Hattaway.
In the Little Miss division second runner-up is Johnanna Taylor; first runner-up is Kiley Harden, and the new 2006-07 Little Miss queen is Savannah Hall. She was sponsored by Southern Traditions. Savannah is the daughter of Lamar and Leigh Ann Brand and Bob and Kim Hall of Blakely. Savannah is seven years old. Other Little awards were Photogenic, Johnanna Taylor; Prettiest Dress, Savannah Hall; Prettiest Hair, Savannah Hall; and Interview Award, Johnanna Taylor.
In the Junior Miss division second runner-up is Ansley Phillips; first runner-up is Megan Tharpe, and the new 2006-07 queen is Jordyn Taylor. She was sponsored by her grandmother, Faye Gunn. Jordyn is the daughter of Michael and Patricia Pendelton of Bainbridge. Jordyn is 10 years old. Other Junior Miss awards were Photogenic, Victoria Greene; Prettiest Dress, Jordyn Taylor; Prettiest Hair, Jordyn Taylor; and Interview Award, Jordyn Taylor.
In the Teen Miss Division, first runner-up is Dani Taylor, and the new 2006-07 queen is Amber Pickett, sponsored by Roberts Pharmacy, Bill Cramer Motors and her parents. Amber is the daughter of Shelia Roth and Macky Prickett of Donalsonville. Amber is 16 years old. Other Teen awards were Photogenic, Charlie Hall; Prettiest Dress, Jennifer Stark; Prettiest Hair, Amber Pickett; and Interview Award, Amber Picket.
In the Miss Division second runner-up is Brittany O’Berry; first runner-up is Jennifer Johnson, and the new 2006-07 Miss is Hannah Cox, sponsored by Creek Bank Farms. Hannah is the daughter of Debbie Cox and the late Nicky Cox of Colquitt. Hannah is 18 years old. Other Miss awards were Photogenic, Julie Calhoun; Prettiest Dress, Hannah Cox; Prettiest Hair, Hannah Cox; and Interview Award, Hannah Cox.
These new queens will reign as the local queens. Teeny through Miss will be competing at the State Forestry Pageant. This pageant will be held in Tifton in June.
All the contestants are greatly appreciated as are all of the sponsors and the local forestry unit and rangers. “We would like to give a special thank you to Artistic Flowers for donating the flowers every year for the pageant and one more special thank you to Farm Credit for all of their support each and every year (Thanks, Teddy). Without you this would not be possible. Last but not least, Way to Go, Smokey Bear!” say pageant organizers.

Week of October 29, 2006