Category Archives: Festival

Lowndes County buys Troupville land for Nature Park and River Camp 2022-12-30

Suwannee Riverkeeper features in the image the Valdosta Daily Times used with the story.

County acquires Troupeville[sic] land for nature reserve, By Malia Thomas, Valdosta Daily Times, Dec 30, 2022,

VALDOSTA — Lowndes County is doing its part to preserve nature with the purchase of 71.47 acres of land between the Little River Confluence and the Withlacoochee River.

[Suwannee Riverkeeper banner at a Troupville cleanup. Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter is second from right, back row. WWALS E.D. Gretchen Quarterman is by the left end of the banner.]
Suwannee Riverkeeper banner at a Troupville cleanup.
Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter is second from right, back row.
WWALS E.D. Gretchen Quarterman is by the left end of the banner.

The county purchased the land from Between the Rivers LLC. for $121,500 with the intention of setting it aside as a nature preserve. The Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Recreation Authority owns the land between that property and Highway 133.

In her letter to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Board of Trustees, sixth generation owner and property seller Helen Tapp spoke of Continue reading

Videos: Troupville Nature Park and River Camp, Trash, Cleanups –Helen Tapp & Suwannee Riverkeeper @ Scott James Radio 2022-12-15

Helen Tapp was still around after Lowndes County bought land from her for a nature preserve, so I asked Scott James to get her on his radio show, in which we talked nature preserve and trash.

[Movie: Thanks --Scott James, Helen Tapp]
Movie: Thanks –Scott James, Helen Tapp

We learned a few new things: the Valdosta YMCA is working on providing Withlacoochee River access just downstream from the railroad bridge and Sugar Creek, with no boardwalk required.

And the Mayor predicts that Valdosta United Way and the City Council will each provide $2,000 towards two additional WaterGoat trash traps.

Helen Tapp discussed that recent purchase to make a nature preserve at the Little River Confluence with the Withlacoochee River. She and Suwaneee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman and Valdosta Mayor Scott James talked about eight miles of river right next to Valdosta, with chainsaw cleanups to make it more accessible down to Troupville River Camp, where the Chairman and Mayor’s Paddle will depart March 4, 2023.

These WWALS videos include the rest of the interview, after a cable provider knocked Talk 92.1 FM off the air for the morning. Including Continue reading

Take Me to the Suwannee –David Rodock @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20

And, finally, the winner of Best Song from Inside the Suwannee River Basin for $50 and First Prize for $300: David Rodock, of Adel, Georgia, with Take Me to the Suwannee.

[Take Me to the Suwannee --David Rodock]
Take Me to the Suwannee –David Rodock

Here’s what he wrote about himself, Continue reading

WWALS at Valdosta Tree Fest 2022-12-03

Come to Valdosta Tree Fest and bid on the WWALS tree, which is decorated with seeds of native plants. Want to replant part of your lawn with native plants? Here’s a start. Or if you just want to start some potted plants.

That’s 10 AM to 5 PM, Saturday, December 3, 2022, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1702 Gornto Road, Valdosta, GA 31601. There is no fee to get in.

[Festival, Tree, Ornaments]
Festival, Tree, Ornaments

Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/508095037732873/

All proceeds go to WWALS, to support our advocacy and activities.

WWALS volunteers will be there to explain the tree and WWALS. Continue reading

Videos: Dirty Bird and the Flu @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20

The second headliner at the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022 was Dirty Bird and the Flu, with a surprise guest appearance by Free Range Strange.

[Rattle that Cage -Dirty Bird and the Flu]

Here’s a WWALS video playlist:


Videos: Dirty Bird and the Flu @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20
https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2022

Thanks for playing, Flu!

And here are links to each video segment, mostly corresponding to songs: Continue reading

Videos: Best Folk for Suwannee River Nights by Kyle Chamberlain @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20

See Kyle “Bird” Chamberlain of Lake Park, Georgia, winning the Best Folk Song plaque for his song “Suwannee River and Me.”

[Suwannee River and Me --Kyle Chamberlain]
Suwannee River and Me –Kyle Chamberlain

Here’s a WWALS video playlist: Continue reading

Pictures: Hahira Veterans Day Parade 2022-11-11

I didn’t know there was a Hahira Veterans Day Parade.

Turns out that’s because there wasn’t one since the 1950s, until Friday. WWALS was invited to participate, so we did.

[Hahira Veterans Day Parade, WWALS Booth, Inside]
Hahira Veterans Day Parade, WWALS Booth, Inside

Among the many WWALS members who are veterans, Vanessa and Nick Kroening rode in the parade with their children Jonah and Primrose. Continue reading

Videos: Suwannee River Nights –Emmett Carlisle @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20

Emmett Carlisle from Gainesville, Florida, won Best Song from Outside the Suwannee River Basin with Suwannee River Nights, at the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest. That came with $50 and a plaque.

[Collage @ LCC 20 August 2022]
Suwannee River Nights by Emmett Carlisle @ LCC 20 August 2022

Thanks for playing, Emmett!

Continue reading

Videos: Judges play, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20

MC Chuck Roberts introduced all three judges, and Kenji Bolden and Joe Smothers each played a song, at the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022.

[Judges Kenji Bolden and Joe Smothers @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, 20 August 2022]
Judges Kenji Bolden and Joe Smothers @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, 20 August 2022

Here’s a WWALS video playlist: Continue reading

WWALS at Hahira Veterans Day Parade 2022-11-11

Update 2022-11-13: Pictures: Hahira Veterans Day Parade 2022-11-11.

WWALS was invited to participate in the annual Hahira Veterans Day Parade. Some WWALS veterans will be in the parade; others are invited to help at the WWALS booth.

All WWALS members are also invited to help at the booth.

When: Gather 8 AM, launch 10 AM, end 11 AM, Friday, November 11, 2022

Put In: Downtown Hahira, between the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers, on the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail.

Event: facebook,

[WWALS at Hahira Veterans Day Parade]
WWALS at Hahira Veterans Day Parade

Continue reading