Fourth-grade Atlanta twins Xylinda and Xylonda Collins reached new heights this year after reading nearly 500 books in the Accelerated Reader (AR) Program at the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf.
Stacey Shapiro, a teacher who works in the library coordinating the AR program, says the 11-year-old girls love—and hate—to read R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” series. “They love them because they are fun and scary,” Shapiro says, “then they come to school complaining that they had bad dreams.”
The girls were not dreaming, however, on May 17, when they were treated to a high-flying adventure in a vintage bi-plane to reward their reading success. The flight was donated by Lee Kluger, the owner of Bi-Plane Adventures in Kennesaw.
The AR program, now in its third year, honored all of the top readers, but the Collins sisters far surpassed their classmates in number of books read.
—Erin Chupp
Hearing-impaired twins Xylinda and Xylonda Collins received a thrilling bi-plane ride from pilot Lee Kluger as a reward for reading nearly 500 books in their school’s Accelerated Reader Program.
What a catch!
While fishing on the Altamaha River, two anglers, Billy Maddox and Clay McDaniel, both of Thomaston, landed an 85-pound catfish, shown here. The catch was not eligible for a state record because it was not caught by rod and reel (it was caught on a baited hook and line attached to the riverbank), but according to the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), this is one of the largest catfish ever caught in the state. WRD Fisheries biologists estimate that the current state-record catfish—a whopping 67 pounds, 8 ounces—could be broken this year by anglers on the Altamaha River.
Did You Know?
Forty-eight million visitors traveled to and through Georgia in 2003, up 2.9 percent from 46.6 million in 2002. Most visitors came to the state between July and September.
—Source: “Economic Impact of Travel on Georgia: 2003 Profile” from the Travel Industry Association of America
‘Green’ center educates visitors
Just west of the Okefenokee Swamp in Fargo, backed by oaks draped with Spanish moss, you’ll find the state’s new $2 million, energy-efficient Suwannee River Visitor Center, the latest project of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
 Inside, visitors learn environmental education through animal displays, a short film and exhibits. Visitors will view the black water river bend that the center overlooks and discover that tannic acid, produced by decaying vegetation, is what gives the river its “tea” color.
The state plans to seek Leadership
in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) gold certification for the visitor center. A third of the building materials was made from recycled content: decking from plastics, insulation from newspaper and a retaining wall from old dashboards and electrical cables. The center even has the latest composting toilets and a rainwater-collection system.
“This new visitor center is economic development and tourism promotion at their best,” says DNR Commissioner Lonice Barrett.
The 7,000-square-foot center, off of Highway 441 at the Suwannee River bridge, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s not only environmentally friendly, it’s wallet friendly—a free learning experience!
—Erin Chupp
Home-run Georgians
Five Georgia youths were recently chosen for the roster of the 2004 AFLAC All-American High School Baseball team. Jonathan Egan of Hepzibah, P.J. Phillips of Stone Mountain, Buster Posey of Leesburg, Miers Quigley of Roswell and Iain Sebastian of Columbus will join the other 35 team members, chosen from among the top-ranked high school players from across the United States.
The All-American team will play Aug. 6 at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Md.; proceeds from the game will benefit the Division of Pediatric Oncology at the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore, Md.
Miers Quigley, right, a pitcher at Roswell High in Roswell, celebrates with his coach, Mike Powell, after accepting his AFLAC All-American team jersey and a spot on the roster for a charity game this month in Maryland.
Georgia Glimpses
• Back-to-school shoppers could benefit from Georgia’s sales tax holiday, which takes place July 29-Aug. 1. Local and state sales tax will not apply to purchases of clothing, personal computers or school supplies. For more information on the tax holiday and exempt items, visit www.gatax.org, e-mail salestaxholiday@gatax.org or call (404) 417-6601.
• Skip Caray and Pete Van Wieren, two longtime broadcasters for the Atlanta Braves, will be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame Aug. 13 at Turner Field in Atlanta. Two former Boston Braves players, Charles Augustus “Kid” Nichols, a pitcher (1890-1901), and Tommy Holmes, a center- and right-fielder (1942-51), will also be honored at the ceremony. The four inductees join 11 other personalities, including Hank Aaron, Ernie Johnson and Phil Niekro, who are already members of the Braves Hall of Fame. Tickets for the Braves Hall of Fame luncheon and induction ceremony are available; call (404) 614-2310.
• The Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism changed its name last month to the Georgia Department of Economic Development to better incorporate all of the department’s missions, providing the organization with a name that is more commonly used by state economic development agencies across the country.
• Fans of Southern literature are celebrating the opening of Andalusia, home of Georgia author Flannery O’Connor, in Milledgeville. Walk-up tours of the 544-acre estate, where O’Connor penned her published works from 1951 until her death in 1964, are available Tuesdays and Saturdays, or by appointment. For more information, visit www.andalusiafarm.org or call (478) 454-4029.
• Doug Marchand, executive director for the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) in Savannah, was recently named the 2004 Industrial Person of the Year. The honor, awarded by the Manufacturers Council of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, recognizes Marchand’s 10 years of service, during which he steered the GPA from eleventh to fifth position in the nation. The GPA generates more than $35 billion in sales in Georgia and provides 275,968 jobs.
• The HOPE Program of the Methodist Home for Children and Youth is seeking families to provide foster and adoptive homes for children ages 6 to 18. For more information on how you can help a child in need, please contact Beth Tillery at (478) 464-3013. | 
