thesylvaniatimes.com
The Sylvania Times
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 - Page 13
-F arm and Land-
Watson Mill
Bridge State
Park
Well, I say, it's spring, no it's not spring,
oh yes, it is spring....and so on....however,
it is suppose to be spring. You cannot tell
it, can you? But, it is, and it is time to
fish. Spring break is coming up and it is
definitely time for a family vacation and
time to get away for at least a week.
What a better way to celebrate, than to
go on a fishing trip with the family! Yep,
take the kids and just enjoy a weekend or
a week away from all the hustle and bustle
of work, yard work, driving here and there.
Go ahead and put down the cell phone and
just relax, fish, and camp.
One of my most favorite parks and
fishing areas is Watson Mill Bridge State
Park. It has everything for a family to do
and more.
One of the most picturesque state parks
in Georgia, Watson Mill Bridge contains
the longest covered bridge in the state,
spanning 229 feet across the South Fork
River. Built in 1885 by Washington
(W.W.) King, son of freed slave and
famous covered-bridge builder Horace
King, the bridge is supported by a town
lattice truss system held firmly together
with tree nails. At one time, Georgia had
more than 200 covered bridges; today, less
than 20 remain.
The park is an ideal spot for an afternoon
picnic or overnight stay in the quiet
campground. Hiking, biking and horseback
riding trails allow visitors to enjoy the
thick forest and river. During summer,
visitors often play in the cool river shoals
just below the bridge. Watson Mill Bridge
has become a popular destination for horse
owners who have their own camping area
near stalls along with 22 Horse Stables.
The park offers many
other ammentities, such
as, 21 Tent & Trailer & RV
Campsites, 11 Equestrian
Campsites, 1 Buddy
Equestrian Campsite, 3
Log Cabin Bunkhouses
,1 Group Shelter (Call
for reservations),3
Picnic Shelters, 3
Pioneer Campsites and a
playground.
The park offers Biking
on 5 miles of trails, of
course, great fishing,
Horseback Riiding,
Muddy Spokes Club
Paddling, Picnicking,
Photography, Weddings
— park approval required
and Kayak & Canoe Rentals.
I am telling you, it is a family's dream
place to go for Spring or Summer vacation.
And the fishing is great! Last time I was
there, bass, catfish were biting great. The
weather on the river was perfect! I sure
hope you and your family have a wonderful
trip to Watson Mill Bridge State Park!
Happy Trails to you!
Mowing Season Has Begun
It’s mowing season and the County began April 1. The Commissioners would like to
remind everyone that any signs located on the County Right-of-Way will be removed by
the Contractor and dropped off at the Roads & Bridges Department. Any lost or damaged
signs will not be the responsibility of the County or the Contractor.
CADDA Expands Rural Loan
Program to Include Screven
County
-Special to The Times
The Coastal Area District Development
Authority, Inc. (CADDA) has announced
the addition of Screven County in its
Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program.
This expansion is a testament to CADDA's
commitment to providing economic
development lending programs to small
businesses and industries across Georgia,
north Florida, and the low country of
South Carolina.
CADDA, established in 1976 as a non
profit corporation, has a rich history of
providing financial support to businesses
in need. The organization was initially
created to administer a $5 million grant
from the United States Department of
Commerce Economic Development
Administration (EDA) that allowed
a seafood processing plant to remain
operational in the community. The funds
from these grants and loan repayments
have since been used to create the first and
largest rural RLF in the United States.
The RLF program is administered
by the United States Department of
Commerce EDA and is an integral part
of their economic development strategy.
The program is designed to support local
economic development initiatives by
providing capital to businesses that are
unable to secure traditional bank financing.
The RLF program is a financial assistance
tool designed to provide loans to small
businesses and industries in rural areas.
RLF loans can be used for a variety of
purposes, including the acquisition of real
estate, machinery, and equipment, and
working capital. The funds can also be
used for construction, rehabilitation, or
expansion of existing business facilities.
In addition to providing capital, RLFs
offer a variety of benefits to businesses,
including lower interest rates and longer
loan terms compared to traditional bank
financing. RLFs also provide a more
personalized approach to lending, with
local decision-making that is responsive to
the unique needs of rural businesses.
"Our mission is to provide economic
development lending programs to small
businesses and industries in our service
area, and we are excited to extend this
mission to Screven County," said Terrence
Louk, CADDA’s CEO. "We look forward
to working with businesses in Screven
County to help them achieve their growth
goals and contribute to the economic
vitality of the region."
With the addition of Screven County
in the RLF program, CADDA continues
to demonstrate its dedication to fostering
economic growth and job creation in rural
areas. For more information on this and
other lending programs, visit www.cadda-
sba.org.
Saturday, April 27,2024 at 5:30 pm
Location: Freeman Family Farms
■ Buffet provided by Fish Eye Grill
■ Silent and live Auction items
■ Entertainment by Maggie’s Academy of Dance
Individual Tickets $50
Sponsorship Tickets
(Table for 8) $500
706-526-8686
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Georgia Cotton Commission
Approves 2025 Research
Perry, GA - The Georgia Cotton
Commission Board of Directors approved
$675,340 in research for the 2025 crop
year during the March board meeting. The
money will fund seventeen projects that
will be conducted by University of Georgia
researchers and extension specialists.
Projects range from funding for the UGA
cotton team to research on resistant weeds,
soil management practices, evaluating the
economics of conservation production,
irrigation management and many more.
The goal of this producer-funded research
is to help cotton producers by conducting
research that can either raise yields,
promote efficiency or open new markets.
All projects are vetted by both the
commission board of directors and State
Support Committee, made up of cotton
producers from across the state, and the
commission’s research review committee,
which is made up of researchers, crop
consultants and local UGA Extension
Agriculture/Natural Resource agents.
GCC Chairman Bart Davis, a cotton
farmer from Colquitt County, said, “I
and the other producers on our board
understand that due to high inputs and
low markets, times are extremely hard on
the farm, and we are committed to being
good stewards of producers’ money by
funding research projects that promote
efficiency, increases yield, and ensures
long-term sustainability for family farms
in Georgia.”
The Georgia Cotton Commission is a
producer-funded organization located in
Perry. The commission began its work
in 1965. Georgia cotton producers pay
an assessment enabling the commission
to invest in programs of research,
promotion and education on behalf of all
cotton producers of Georgia. For more
information about the Georgia Cotton
Commission, call (478) 988-4235 or go to
the www.georgiacottoncommission.org.
CHAMPION i
STEER
SYLVANIA, GA.
2018
613 Ogeechee Street
Sylvania, Georgia 30467
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