Three People You Should Know
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The Wakulla Chamber luncheon held See Page 10 news HOUSE FIRE REPORTED See Page 9 PPublishedublished WWeekly,eekly, Our 117th Year, 1st Issue Thursday, January 5, 2012 OOnene SSectionection RReadead DDailyaily Serving Wakulla County For More Than A Century 7755 CCentsents Three People You Should Know The idea was pretty simple: Who are The only restriction was that it should the people you should know in Wakulla not be a person in political offi ce. County? Who are the people who are busy These are three people The News doing things to improve the community staff unanimously choose as People You and, if you just came here, are the fi rst Should Know. people you should meet? We hope to do some more of these Dozens of names were scribbled on profi les in the future as an ongoing feature. pages of paper and hung up in the news Do you know of someone who’s making a office. Names were added, scratched difference in the community? through, debated, more names added, Send it to us, at editor@thewakul- marked out. lanews.net. R.H. CARTER: Senior Center R.H. Carter was the busi- to be a solvent enterprise, alone. County employees ness director for Wakulla providing services to the learned of her plight with County Schools from 1963 community. Carter says he lack of water and, on their to 1993, when he retired. sees his job as providing own time, were taking Later, he was approached the tools the staff needs water and groceries to the by Anita Townsend about to do their job. “My pri- woman every day. Carter taking over the job as mary responsibility is to was contacted by a county executive director of the make sure we have the staffer about whether senior center – but he money to do what we do,” the senior center could told her he really wasn’t he says, while giving staff help, and he made calls, looking for a job. the latitude to run their working his way up the Townsend convinced departments. ladder at Talquin. On a AMY GEIGER: Community activity him, though, and he took But the rewards of the Thursday, he made contact The president of Capital City Bank Twenty years later, she has the per- the post in April 1997, job for Carter are obvi- with someone who could Wakulla, Amy Geiger says she first spective that community involvement is and helped spearhead ously the human connec- make a decision, and a wa- started doing community work when important because of the social support the growth of the center tion, and the effect the ter line was put in at the she fi rst went to work at the bank in it provides. with a new facility, which center has on the people woman’s home on Friday. 1991 – “right out of school” – where it “There is so much hurt out there and opened in 2002, as well it touches. Carter called a plumber, was encouraged. so much need,” she says. “I was brought as senior apartments next He tells the story of who donated his work The employees were told to find up that way, you help other people.” door. The center manages a local woman whose to connect the woman’s something they were passionate about As a parent, as well, she says, it’s a Before and After School well had collapsed. She home, and she had water and do it, and she began by volunteering important to be a role model for your program that’s become a couldn’t work because on Saturday. with March of Dimes. children, for them to see you helping in moneymaker. she was the caretaker for “A government agency Later, she joined some organizations the community and involved – because It’s Carter’s skill as a her son, who suffered couldn’t have done that,” and got involved because of the busi- it’s the right thing to do. fi nancial manager that has from a severe mental ill- Carter says. ness networking opportunities. Continued on Page 16 enabled the senior center ness and couldn’t be left Continued on Page 16 Scott Joyner took over operation of the Wakulla County Public Library in 2007 when former OBITUARIES Library Director Doug Jones became director of John Floyd Brown Sr. Public Services, which encompasses the library, as well as other departments. Joyner learned all he Betty Antill Gatlin could from Jones before he retired last April. Thelma Langston Grimes “He was nothing but a great mentor,” Joyner Janie Ruth Robb says. After earning his degree in political science, Joyner says he saw the job opening for library services coordinator. He was hired by Jones and INDEX moved to Wakulla County in December 2007. This job incorporates his love of books and Public Notices ..............................................Page 2 reading, but is also “more than just books,” he Comment & Opinion ....................................Page 3 says. Church..........................................................Page 4 He is able to use his degree during budget School ..........................................................Page 5 time when politics come into play and the state legislation decides how much libraries will receive Thinking Outside the Book ..........................Page 6 through state aid. Outdoors .....................................................Page 7 Each year, Joyner says he has to stress to legis- Water Ways ..................................................Page 8 lators how important the library is to small, rural Sheriff’s Report ............................................Page 9 counties, such as Wakulla. Taking Care of Business .............................Page 10 “In smaller communities, the library does serve Spotlight on Business .................................Page 11 if not as the main community center, a branch of Week in Wakulla ........................................Page 12 it,” Joyner says. SCOTT JOYNER: Public Library Classifi eds ..................................................Page 13 Continued on Page 16 Legal Notices .............................................Page 14 Eight chosen school-level Teachers of the Year Special to The News vember, and then nominees pre-k representative on the fourth grade and is in her students. submitted professional and District Teacher Appraisal 15th year of teaching. Superintendent Da- biographical information Advisory Team and on the “I want to create a class- ANGELA SWAIN vid Miller announced the forms for their faculties to District Professional Devel- room environment that is school-level 2012 Teachers read. Faculties then voted opment Council. challenging so that every Angela Swain of Medart of the Year on Dec. 7. for their school’s Teacher of “I believe an effective student meets his or her Elementary has a bachelor’s Surprising the teachers the Year. Selected teachers’ teacher is one who dif- highest potential,” she says. degree in elementary educa- with flowers, candy and names were concealed until ferentiates instruction to “My goal is to demonstrate tion and also is certifi ed in balloons, Miller received en- Miller visited each school. meet the needs of his/her the life skills and values elementary and secondary thusiastic responses from students,” she says. “An students need to become Exceptional Student Educa- students as he entered each SHARI SMITH effective teacher is one productive citizens.” tion. She has been teaching classroom to present the who refl ects daily on his/ Harden demonstrates for nine years and currently honor to their teacher. Shari Smith is a pre-kin- her performance and the her leadership skills in teaches second grade. The eight Teachers of dergarten teacher represent- performance of his/her many ways, including as “Children have a natural the Year for 2012 are Shari ing Wakulla Education Cen- students and seeks out School Improvement co- urge to learn, which offers Smith representing Wakulla ter (WEC) and Sopchoppy resources and professional chair, Grade Level Team unlimited possibilities,” she Education Center and Sop- Education Center. She has development activities to Leader, teacher representa- says. “In order to reach the choppy Education Center; her bachelor’s degree in better their skill set.” tive on the District Profes- full potential of those pos- Holly Harden for Crawford- elementary education with sional Development Coun- sibilities, children need to ville Elementary; Angela endorsements in Reading HOLLY HARDEN cil and as member and be guided through an active Swain for Medart Elemen- and English Speakers of former secretary of Delta exploration of the world, tary; Megan Crombie for Other Languages. She cur- Holly Harden of Craw- Kappa Gamma Society In- instilled with a strong self- Riversink Elementary; Mi- rently is in her third year of fordville Elementary School ternational for women edu- esteem, and nurtured to a chelle Hunter for Shadeville teaching, all at WEC. has her bachelor’s degree cators. love of life.” Elementary; John Kane for She has participated and is certified to teach She is also one of the Swain is a supervising Riversprings Middle; Jeri in trainings for the new grades one through six, plus teachers who works with teacher for college practi- Jump for Wakulla Middle; Teacher Evaluation System; has endorsements in ESOL, students to publish the cum students and interns. and Missy Rudd for Wakulla Using Mimio Technology in Reading and Gifted Studies. school newspaper, assists High School. the Classroom; and Beyond She is also a National Board with EcoAmbassadors and Continued on Page 2 Nominations from each Centers and Circle Time, Certifi ed teacher. is an active parent of two school’s faculty began in No- among others. She is the Harden currently teaches Crawfordville Elementary Page 2 – THE WAKULLA NEWS, Thursday, January 5, 2012 www.thewakullanews.com Eight chosen school-level Teachers of the Year Continued from Page 1 tion. Currently, she teaches Active in his school, he Media Specialist, Middle fourth grade. is Student Council co-chair- Grades Integrated, and has She is currently being “My role as a teacher man, Math Counts coach, the Reading Endorsement.