Don’t want to lose recycling service
Editor, The Sun:
I am among those who are opposed to stopping our recycling service. Like many of my neighbors, we put out our recycling bins nearly every week. I put out my garbage can once a month at most.
Plastics are being recycled more frequently with ongoing research. Recycled plastics are made into benches, bottles, carpeting and much, much more. A little less in the mainstream of garbage is GOOD for our environment and our lives and saves space.
Since Wakulla County has decided to discontinue the process of recycling and therefore causing individuals to waste fuel making a trip to the landfill, when will we see a decrease in the Waste Pro funds we pay?
I am sure never since our Commissioners have yet to figure out a way to decrease what we pay for services, even if we don’t continue to receive them.
Val LaHart
Ochlockonee Bay
Unresponsive elected officials
Editor, The Sun:
The perceptions of every member of Congress are legendary and mostly true. Our elected officials insulate themselves, from their constituents, unless they need a check to get re-elected.
You don’t think so? Try calling one of Senator Rick Scott’s 10 Florida offices. Try it. If you get a live person on the phone, they state they will refer you to someone else. Don’t hold your breath waiting. Instead, try filling out the online request and you’ll receive a Privacy Consent form.
I don’t mean to pick on the Senator so I attempted to call my Congressperson. Same thing. I called my congressional representative’s one of three offices. Lovely person answered the call at the Tallahassee office who referred me to a Washington, DC office. Called that number and I received an email address to share my concerns. I’m certain the same routine will occur. Another Privacy Consent form.
My point is the culture in DC, of all federal elected officials, is to insulate themselves from the very constituents they are supposed to serve because we elected them. Unless you have a check with a minimum of three zeros, I can bet you won’t get very far.
My issue is not with Social Security, I don’t want a flag or an appointment to a military academy. My issue is that I want to make aware that a sub-agency of the Department of War (formerly known as DOD) flaunts U.S. federal law and chooses not to be in compliance.
So, the crux of the matter boils down to these two points: bureaucrats supersede federal law with policies (very backward) and at the end of the day, no one in DC cares.
And we wonder why our government is in such disarray.
Robert Franco
Ochlockonee Bay
The value of Wakulla 4-H
By LAILA BROWN
4-H Member
My name is Laila Brown. I have been involved with 4-H for three years and it keeps getting better every year.
I started out joining the shotgun club. Our club met at the sheriff’s shooting range. We learned about gun safety, how to handle a shotgun and shooting. We wore safety gear which included bright orange vest, safety glasses and ear muffs to muffle the sound of the shotgun which was very loud. I was shooting clays in the air and shattering them. The club was awesome!
The second year I joined the air rifle club. We learned about gun safety, wearing protective googles for shooting and different ways to shoot. I learned to shoot sitting down, lying prone and standing. It was definitely one of my favorite clubs at 4-H.
This past summer I attended 4-H Camp Timpoochee in Niceville, Florida. It was the first time I have attended a sleep away camp. I made a lot of new friends that I keep in touch with daily. The week I choose to go to camp was to learning about survival skills. I learned how to properly build a fire, setup a tent, how to kayak, we went bird watching and we made pickles. I am really looking forward to going back next summer!
I took a grilling class at the Wakulla 4-H Extension Office. We learned how to grill on a charcoal grill. We learned about grilling safety and not to leave the grill unattended. We made chicken, steak, pork, and shrimp. We made sides to go with our protein. The sides we made were potato salad and pasta salad. It all tasted delicious! Two weeks after our grilling class I represented Wakulla at the District Tailgate Grilling Competition. I learned a lot and will be looking forward to representing Wakulla next year.
This year in 4-H I am in the following clubs: Pet Pals, Food Challenge, Art Lab, Clay Makers, Rabbit Club, Communications, Voice & Vision and FLOW, which is short for Future Leaders of Wakulla. Now I will tell you a little about some of the 4-H clubs.
In Pet Pals we are learning how to properly care for pets. We also learned about the animal shelter and how to become a volunteer. It could be cleaning up after the animals, feeding them, playing with the animals and making sure they get exercise. Also, donations are always welcome and needed to help these animals out. Whether it is food, blankets, toys, medicine or monetary donations. They are all greatly appreciated.
In the Food Challenge Cooking Club we have been preparing a dish as a team. Each of us take a task of prepping, preparing, creating a recipe, cooking, and presenting our finished work. We must pick out items to go with our surprise ingredient to make our culinary ensemble. Team work, presentation and all team members have to tell a little about the process of how we made our dish. What ingredients we used and what food groups are represented and what we made in our presentation of our plate. We will be having a cooking challenge coming up to see what teams will be going to the North Florida Fair to compete against other counties.
Communication, Voice & Vision we work on podcast, speeches and finding our voice.
The last club I am going to tell you about is FLOW which stands for Future Leaders of Wakulla. On Monday, Oct. 13th, Wakulla 4-H will host a teen leadership summit at the Wakulla Extension Office.
Open to ages 11-18 no membership is required and only $15. You will learn leadership, communication, financial skills and more. Lunch and snacks are included. If you have a youth that is interested in joining the teen leadership summit you can register at 4-Hflowleadership.4honline.com come join in the fun!
We are the future and want to learn the necessary skills to be productive citizens of our great county! In conclusion I appreciate the time you have allowed me to represent our Wakulla 4-H youth and thank you for supporting our Wakulla 4-H.
