Thanks to Kim Bednarek, Executive Director of the Okefenokee Swamp Park, we now know the answer to what puzzled the Clinch County Commission when they reserved $50,000 for cash match for a Dark Sky Observatory: where will it be?
![[Dark Sky Observatory, Cultural and Natural History around the Okefenokee Swamp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2023-10-19--okefenokee-world-heritage-site-bid/many.jpg)
Dark Sky Observatory, Cultural and Natural History around the Okefenokee Swamp
The answer is: to the left of Eco Lodge Drive, as you approach the Suwannee River Eco-Lodge, north of Fargo on US 441. Continue reading
There was a surprising amount of consensus on things that needed to be added to the Charlton County Comprehensive Plan, at the first Workshop conducted by Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC).
I’ll leave it to SGRC’s Elizabeth Backe to summarize that meeting. For now, suffice it to say that I think I did get them to mention the Suwannee River in many places where it previously was not, and I think also water trails and Suwannee Riverkeeper.
The next Charlton County Comprehensive Plan Update Workshop will be:
When: 2-4 PM, Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Where: Charlton County Administrative Offices, 68 Kingsland Dr. Suite B, Folkston, GA.
What: “We will be discussing the Policies and Community Work Program and Report of Accomplishments sections (5 and 6) of the Comprehensive Plan. If you are not able to attend this workshop, please feel free to send me any suggestions or comments by email.” –Elizabeth Backe, ebacke@sgrc.us
At the first Workshop, Ms. Backe used an initial discussion on Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) to motivate the detailed walk-through of part of the planning document. Continue reading
Flying over the affected area appears to have made at least one elected official think harder about whether the supposed titanium mining jobs could be more important than the effects on the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, both its economic importance and the potential environmental detriments to the swamp, to the Suwannee and St. Mary’s Rivers, and to the Floridan Aquifer. You can still write to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asking for denial or at least an Environmental Impact Statement.
Gordon Jackson, The Brunswick News, 28 August 2019, Getting the aerial perspective on a titanium mining project,
![[WC6170, 22:40:34]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-24--jim-tatum-southwings-okefenokee-tpm/WC6170.jpg)
Photo: Jim Tatum, of the Chemours North Maxville Mine, Baker County, Florida.
This is the mine pictured in the Brunswick News article.
…The mining company Twin Pines Minerals, LLC [(TPM)], said it plans to employ 150 people, but [Georgia State Representative John] Corbett acknowledged most of the employees will not come from Charlton County.
Corbett went on a two-hour flight Saturday Continue reading
Three people came up from Baker County, Florida, to get another copy of the mine application from Twin Pines Minerals (it matches the earlier copy) and then had to leave early. Emily Jones of Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) came from Savannah. Suwannee Riverkeeper (I) asked the Charlton County Commissioners to consider asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to extend the application comment date. The Chair of St. Mary’s Riverkeeper spoke. The miners’ lobbyist sat silent.
![[Attorney?, County Administrator Hampton Raulerson, Absent Jesse Crews (3), Vice Chair Alphya Benefield (1), Chair James E. Everett (2), , Drew Jones (4), Luke Gowen (5), County Clerk Jenifer Nobles, Finance Coordinator Rebecca Harden]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-07-18--charlton-bocc/20190718_175920.jpg)
Thanks for hospitality to Attorney?, County Administrator Hampton Raulerson, Absent Jesse Crews (3), Vice Chair Alphya Benefield (1), Chair James E. Everett (2), , Drew Jones (4), Luke Gowen (5), County Clerk Jenifer Nobles, Finance Coordinator Rebecca Harden.
Since we learned that Twin Pines Minerals still has a hydrogelogical study in process with some unknown completion date, the thirty-day extension GPB announced the next day does not seem adequate, since a key study is missing. Remember to comment on the Corps’ and GA DNR dockets, and see below for the dates, times, and locations of upcoming meetings in Charlton County.
There was nothing on the agenda about the mine, so everything about it was in Continue reading
![[Clockwise from left: Ouida Johnson, Homeland Mayor; Pender Lloyd, Folkston City Manager; Hampton Raulerson, Charlton County Administrator; Elizabeth Backe, SGRC; Laura Early, Satilla Riverkeeper; John S. Quarterman (hat), Suwannee Riverkeeper; Blair Nixon, Homeland City Council Post 4.]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-27--charlton-co-comp-plan-workshop/20190827_105334.jpg)