Newspaper Page Text
Page 4A, The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Georgia Forestry
cBBHlssifflReBort
Georgia Forestry
Crews Tame
Cumberland Wildfire
Georgia Forestry Commis
sion personnel are helping
bring a 17-day firefight
ing operation to a close on
Cumberland Island. They are
part of a national, specially
trained incident manage
ment team overseeing crews
who have battled lightning-
sparked blazes since June 22.
“Our Global Positioning
Satellite reports 2,551 acres
were burned,” said Tom
Lambert, Lee County Chief
Ranger. “Fortunately, no one
was injured and no structures
were impacted.” Lambert
said emergency crews will
remain on the island until the
end of this week, securing
fire containment lines, ensur
ing all embers are extin
guished, and removing land
scape hazards. Evacuated
residents are now permitted
to return to the island via air
and water, as the main roads
remain closed to traffic.
Cumberland Island is 18
miles long and three miles
wide at its widest point, with
a total land size of 39,000
acres. The burned acre
age on the northern part of
the island is classified as
“maritime forest.” It contains
a native mix of wetlands and
vegetation, including live
Tom Lambert
oak and other hardwoods,
along with loblolly, slash and
longleaf pines.
“The fire had no significant
impact on wildlife,” said
Lambert, “and the Cumber
land Island horses left the
area and were not affected.”
Lambert said the lightning-
sparked fire is a “natural
process” that is “beneficial
to the area’s forest ecology.”
Among other benefits, fire
is known to control insects
and disease, improve wildlife
habitat, and help manage
competing vegetation.
Several agencies worked
together to fight the fire in
a unified “Type 2” National
Incident Management Team.
Cooperators with the Geor
gia Forestry Commission
included the National Park
Service, LT.S. Forest Service,
Georgia National Guard,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Okefenokee
Wildlife Refuge, and
hand crews from
Puerto Rico, Ken
tucky, Arkansas and
Oklahoma.
Facts About Masonry
By J.M. Rhodes
Member of Chehaw Lodge 701
Leesburg, Georgia
SOME HISTORY OF
FREEMASONRY
Freemasonry originated
with the guilds of medieval
stonemasons, the organiza
tion became an honorary
society in the 17th and 18th
century, adopting the rites
and trappings of ancient
religious orders and chival-
ric brotherhoods. The first
association of lodges, the
Grand Lodge, was founded
in England in 1717, and
freemasonry soon spread to
other countries in the Brit
ish Empire, Freemasonry
took an active role in the
American Revolution and
later in U.S politics, and
in the 19th century popu
lar fears of their influence
led to the Anti-Masonic
Movement. Membership
is extended only to adult
males willing to express
belief in a Supreme Being
and the immortality of the
soul. In Latin countries, the
lodges have often attracted
freethinkers and anticleri
cal types; in Anglo-Saxon
nations, membership has
mostly been drawn from
white Protestants. Freema
sonry has also given rise to
social organizations such as
the Ancient Arabic Order
of Noble Mystic Shrine, or
Shriners
French Masons compared
with its British counter
part, the French Masonic
movement has always been
reforming and anticlerical,
though it was also linked in
the 18th and 19th century
with various mystical or
illuminist currents. It was
supposed by many to have
been one of the influences
preparing the way for the
Revolution, and in the 19th
century it became strongly
associated with republican
ism. As a result, reactionar
ies have often denounced
freemasons, along with the
Jews, Protestants, and other
supposedly alien elements,
as enemies of true French
nationhood. Linder the Oc
cupation of 1940-4 Masons
were subjected to severe
harassment.
There are three Masonic
organizations in France; the
Grand Orient, the Grande
Loge de France, and the
Grande Loge Nationale
Francaise. The last of these
founded in 1913, is recog
nized by masons of Britain
and other countries.
The LeS County Ledger
Established August 24,1978
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P.0. Box 715 (124 4th Street) Leesburg, Georgia 31763
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Official Organ of Lee County
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at Leesburg, GA. POST MASTER: Send address changes
on Form 3579 to, P.O. 715, Leesburg, GA31763.
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MEMBER OF GEORGIA
PRESS ASSOCIATION
Letters to the Editor
Hello Lee County
I’m back, our vacation was
wonderful, went back to
my hometown, Charleston,
South Carolina. The weather
was beautiful, and there was
always a nice ocean breeze.
Gas was 20 cents a gallon
cheaper.
Those of you who missed
the Jamboree Saturday night,
we’re back and will be back
in full swing this Saturday
night. Don’t forget Ms. Betty
Stroud will be there. I heard
from a lot of you that you re
ally missed us last Saturday
night and to all of you, we
missed you, too.
We are really looking for
ward to Saturday night and
being back with all of our
friends again.
We have a lead on a
larger building but the rent
is double what we are paying
now. Although everything is
free at the Jamboree, except
the tickets we sell for prize
give-a-ways. Donations are
always welcome.
Good times, good music,
good food, no alcohol. Lee
Kounty Jamboree Saturday
nights 7 p.m. until. See all of
you good folks there.
We love you,
Delores and William Hall
Lee Kounty Jamboree
Letter Home
From A Solider
The following was taken
from a letter sent to his
mother, Donna Windham, of
Smithville, by Christopher
O’Neal U.S. Army Wednes
day, June 18,
Mom, I have had a lot of
time to think about various
things in the world. I have
some questions to ask the
people of America.
1. What does the flag
mean to you when you see
it at first glance or do you
just see a flag? To me, I see
freedom, maybe too much
freedom. Lots of people died
for that flag, the freedom to
be something in life.
2. Have you even stopped
to pay tribute to the flag of
our country? I am saddened
because I see it so much,
I take it for granted. Like
when colors is done in the
morning and at night, people
run inside so the do not have
to stop what they are doing,
which is sad.
3. Why did the schools
across America stop saying
the Pledge of Allegiance?
That is an example of too
much freedom. We are a free
country. Just like the ones
who fought to ban it, we can
fight to bring it back.
4. Why is it we only pay
tribute to fallen service men
and women and those who
have served only once a
year? This is how our coun
try was formed. Not that I
am asking for more support,
just wondering why. We re
ceive great support now but
what about those who fought
in other wars.
5. When was the last time
you helped a veteran or said
thank you? Not just soldiers
who are fighting now but
those that fought other wars.
6. Not to pick on the
Obama family but how
can somebody say they are
happy to be an American
for the first time? There
are many people who think
this. Me, I believe if you are
not happy, make a change
starting with yourself. I
have been to many countries
in the world and seen how
they live, their opportunity
in life and how the Govern
ment controls everything.
Not in America, we have
so many opportunities we
forget about them or take it
for granted. So do not blame
America for your problems,
blame yourself for not taking
advantage of it.
7. Have we became too lib
eral? I think yes. Watch the
news and see for yourself.
8. Speaking of the news,
notice how the news changed
the way we fight wars? War
is not a pretty thing. WW
II was not on the news, you
only heard good news most
of the time but that war is
probably the last war that the
U.S. truly won. Sad to say
that. The media got involved
and starting showing the
public what our men and
women were going through
and forced the government
to change how we fight.
Americans are supporting
troops more and more as
this conflict goes on. I say
thank you for your support.
I guess we learned a hard
lesson from the Vietnam war
when the troops did not get
as much support.
Mom, if you think about
this ask someone one of
these question and see the
response you get, it may
surprise you or scare you.
What the Pledge of Al
legiance stands for.
I Pledge Allegiance
meaning; I Promise to be
faithful and true (prom
ise my loyalty) to the flag
meaning; to the emblem that
stands for and represents of
the United States, meaning;
all 50 states, each of them
individual, and individually
represented on the flag of
America meaning; formed
into a union of one Nation.
and to the Republic mean
ing; and I also pledge my
loyalty to the Government
that is itself a Republic form
of government where the
people are sovereign, for
which it stands meaning;
this government also being
represented by the Flag to
which I promise loyalty.
one Nation under God,
meaning; These 50 indi
vidual states are united as
a single Republic under
the Divine providence of
God, “our most powerful
resource” (according to the
words of President Eisen
hower)
Indivisible meaning; and
can not be separated. (This
part of the original version
of the pledge was writ
ten just 50 years after the
beginning of the Civil War
and demonstrates the unity
sought in the years after
that divisive period in our
history)
with Liberty meaning;
The people of this Nation
being afforded the freedom
to pursue “life, liberty, and
happiness”,
and Justice meaning;
And each person entitled to
be treated justly, fairly, and
according to proper law and
principle,
for All meaning; And
these principles afforded
to every American, regard
less of race, religion, color,
creed, or any other criteria.
Just as the flag represents 50
individual states that can not
be divided or separated, this
Nation represents millions
of people who can not be
separated or divided.
Letters Policy
The Lee County Ledger welcomes - indeed encourages
- letters from our readers on matters of interest for the
community. Have a complaint? See a problem that needs
correcting? Have the solution to a problem that others
haven’t seen yet? Feel some person or group deserves praise
and isn’t getting it? Please write us and let everyone share in
your viewpoint. We do request that all letters be signed and
accompanied by the writer’s street address and telephone
number. We reserve the right not to print any letter. Letters
not signed will not be printed. Letters must be limited to no
more than two double-spaced sheets. Address your letter to
Editor, The Lee County Ledger, P.O. Box 715, Leesburg,
Georgia 31763 or bring them by our office.
The University of Georgia • Cooperative Extension Service
Asian Soybean Rust Found
Doug Collins, Lee County
Extension Coordinator
Putting knowledge toWork'l
Soybeans are safe from an Asian soybean rust
outbreak at this time.
Asian Soybean Rust Found
Asian soybean rust has
been found in Brooks
County. Do not be alarmed.
No action is called for at this
point.
This incidence of rust was
found in a private research
er’s plot that was irrigated
so as to encourage Asian
soybean rust. Other cultural
practices were also employed
to encourage soybean rust.
University of Georgia
scientists emphasize that this
rust infection would not have
occurred in a commercial
soybean field. It required the
special conditions created in
that research plot to become
established.
Asian soybean rust has not
even been found in LTGA
sentinel plots-plots planted
in early maturing varieties
especially to detect the pres
ence of Asian soybean rust.
At this time, there is no need
to take any extra measures
because of Asian soybean
rust. Just stay informed re
garding any additional move
ment of rust into the area.
For more information, call
the Lee County Extension
Office at 759-6025 or email
me at collinsd@uga.edu.
Home Construction
Special to the Ledger
By David Kelly
Kelly Construction
TERMITES
These critters cause more
damage to homes than
anything else, mostly incon
spicuously until the dam
age is severe enough to be
recognized inside the home.
Presence of water is usually
the reason they are there. In
the south we all should have
a termite bond with a repu
table company but it should
not stop there.
Here are some recommen
dations that will help you
determine their presence or
not in your home.
Any plants such as box
woods that are close to
the foundation should be
trimmed away from it, avoid
climbing plants like ivy’s,
many homes have drip irriga
tion placed at the perimeters
while they are a nice alterna
tive to watering by hand you
should check their flow on
a regular basis these things
can sometimes over water
the areas and can be a source
for foundation failure as well
as termite infestation. On
the foundation wall weather
brick or block look for any
cracks they are an indication
that movement has occurred
at some point. If you see this
the time for action is now
before it gets worse, to repair
foundation failure is labor
intensive and we will have
to dig up your yard adjacent
to these areas so look close
when you inspect.
Go under your crawl space
and look for ANY mois
ture, weather in puddles or
just wet areas, also look for
trails on your piers which
look like dirt trails about
3/4 of an inch wide ascend
ing to the wood floor if you
see any call the extermina
tors. Sometimes a leak in
a shower pan is all it takes
to thoroughly wet an area
so turn on your plumbing
fixtures before entering the
crawl space so you can check
the drains too.
The sentri-con system
helps track the presence of
termites by baiting areas
around your home and is a
good insurance policy for
early detection. These bugs
will eat your house from
the floor to the roof and you
can not detect them until
substantial damage has
occurred, you shouldn’t be
without a bond, early detec
tion is the key.
How To Use Less
Paper At Home
And At Work
(SPM Wire) From grocery
lists to school term papers to
work memos, we all use up
too much paper in our daily
lives.
Yet studies from the
experts at Xerox Corpora
tion show that office workers
throw away 45 percent of
documents within 24 hours of
printing them.
How can you stay produc
tive while using resources
wisely?
Here are some simple tips
from Xerox for smart paper
use;
Use both sides of the paper.
It’s called “duplex printing”
and it’s the single best way to
reduce paper use. So choose
copiers, digital printers and
multifunction devices that
can print on both sides. Add
duplex as your “default”
mode.
Go digital. Save on postage
by sending electronic files
and let recipients decide when
to print them. Replace paper
files with electronic ones
using the scan-to-file option.
Only print what you need
when you need it. Print only
the portion of the report you
need, not every page. Preview
to avoid printing pages with
boilerplate. Don’t stockpile
forms, letterhead, or in
structions that will become
outdated.
Reach for the right paper. A
number of options promote
sound environmental prac
tices. Print on papers certified
through global organizations,
such as the Forest Steward
ship Council or the Pro
gramme for the Endorsement
of Forest Certification. Or use
paper with recycled content.
Collect used paper so the
fiber can be used again. Recy
cling the fiber saves trees,
reduces energy and water use,
requires fewer chemicals, and
keeps paper out of landfills.