Page 4A – THE WAKULLA NEWS, Thursday, October 29, 2015 www.thewakullanews.com
The Opinion Page David Miller is deserving of Distinguished Citizen Award
William Snowden editor@thewakullanews.net
T
here are cer tain people who have a profound influence on a community. David Miller, Wakulla’s former Superintendent of Schools, is one of those people. Next week, on Thursday, Nov. 5, he will be honored at a Distinguished Citizens Banquet by the Rotary Club of Wakulla. In the interest of full disclosure, I am president of the Rotary Club this year. David Miller worked i n Wa k u l l a C o u n t y Schools beginning in 1973, working as a coach, teacher and principal, and for the last 17-and-a-half years as superintendent of schools. He oversaw a period of recognized excellence for local schools – earning A grades and being recognized as an “Academically High Performing School District.” He oversaw the planning and construction of new schools, including the Medart, Crawfordville and Riversink elementary schools, Riversprings Middle School, and the renovation of old Crawfordville School into district offices – and much of that construction at little or no cost to local taxpayers. Other accomplishments include serving as president of the Florida Association of Dis-
trict School Superintendents in 2002, chair of the Small School District Council Consortium representing 38 counties, serving on the Board of Directors of Workforce Development of the Big Bend and the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, and being named Superintendent of the Year for the State of Florida. Much of the growth o f Wa k u l l a C o u n t y was due to the excellent reputation of the schools, and much of the credit for that belongs to David Miller. He will humbly deflect that, pointing to the groundwork lain by his predecessor as superintendent, Roger Stokley. He also will say that the best thing he did was surround himself with good people. But David Miller was a leader, and well-regarded by educators and listened-to by legislators because he knew his business. School Board Chairman Greg Thomas signed a proclamation on Oct. 19, and the county commission is scheduled to take up
a proclamation at their meeting on Nov. 2 to declare Nov. 5 as David Miller Day in Wakulla County. As Distinguished Citizen, he joins a list that has included Betty Green, Anita Townsend, Noah Posey, and R.H. Carter. Wakulla County without those people would be very different place. Please consider joining us at the banquet on Thursday, Nov. 5 at the R.H. Carter Senior Citizen Center beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50, a table sponsor is $500 and an event sponsor is $1,000. Bob Myhre will serve as master of ceremonies, and speakers will include current Superintendent of Schools Bobby Pearce, former Sheriff David Harvey, and state Sen. Bill Montford. All of the money raised goes towards a Rotary scholarship to be named in honor of David Miller.
William Snowden is the editor of The Wakulla News.
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More on the oyster class controversy: Moore didn’t take a seat from anyone
Editor, The News:
I attended the Wakulla County Commission meeting on Oct. 19. I had read in the Oct. 15 Wakulla News about an “Oyster Class Controversy.” I thought that the story showed it was a settled matter. But a “Citizen to be Heard” stated that it seemed unfair that Commissioner Jerry Moore was taking one of only 38 leases that are available. As a champion oyster eater, I decided to learn more. I arranged to meet with WEI Director Bob Ballard to become better educated about the Institute and the Oyster Classes. My, what a pleasurable learning experience! There is a lot of space for students in the class. If I were physically able, had access to a boat and could pay the $15,400 for the program, I could join the very next class, and I think I would. If I needed a “microloan,” I’d have to go onto a very long waiting list. I learned that oysters, unlike clams, grow best at least six inches above the bottom of the water. Ballard, with the assistance of a knowledgeable citizen managed to “open up the water column,” meaning to allow the oysters to grow where they grow best. They accomplished this change in regulations by meeting with the Governor and the Cabinet. It is a fascinating business. A single oyster filters and cleans fifty gallons of water a day, resulting in environmental benefits from the oyster ranching. Birds and sea life abound around the leases.
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The Wakulla News (USPS 664-640) is published weekly at 3119A Crawfordville Hwy., Crawfordville, FL 32327. Periodicals postage paid at P.O. Box 307, Crawfordville, FL 32326-0307. Phone: (850) 926-7102. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Wakulla News, P.O. Box 307, Crawfordville FL 32326-0307. Editor/manager: William Snowden.............................. editor@thewakullanews.net Reporter: Nicole Zema.................................................. nzema@thewakullanews.net Advertising: Lynda Kinsey........................................... lkinsey@thewakullanews.net Advertising/reception: Samantha Tully......................... stully@thewakullanews.net Production Coordinator/IT: Eric Stanton........... advertising@thewakullanews.net Graphic Artist: Morgan Jackson........................... advertising@thewakullanews.net Publisher Emeritus: William M. Phillips Family (1976-2006)
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• Homicide on Cajer Posey Road on Sunday • Birds of a feather • Councilman apologizes for role in incidents • Underwater Wakulla - Octiober 22, 2015 • Marvel at monarchs Saturday • 2015 Sharks & Chablis Gulf Specimen Marine Lab benefit • Is Wakulla County ready for the pickleball phenomenon? • FWC Law Enforcement Report thewakullanews.com
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The Department of Agriculture awards the leases, and Ballard stays ahead of the need for leases by finding ideal locations and getting them approved ahead of time. He foresees 500 leases in Wakulla County over time. Currently most of the class members are retired. The course and the handling of the cages are physically demanding and time consuming. There is no income from the oysters until months after they are placed in the water. It would be difficult for an otherwise fully employed person to meet the demands of the course, which include missing no more than two classes. Unexpected things can happen in any experimental program, but it is going well as of now, in spite of the fact that the “spat” or baby oysters expected in November from an experienced hatchery at Auburn University died. The substitute spat will arrive in March for the current class. Commissioner Moore is not taking a seat or a lease needed by anyone else. When the leases are 500 in number, this will represent a $250,000,000 crop in Wakulla County each year! Wakulla oysters are terrific. The ranchers only have to avoid getting them to market size too quickly, for better tasting oysters. They will be super prime and coveted world wide. So 50 cents per oyster may be a conservative price. I don’t know about you, but I am pleased and amazed by what I learned. Helen Cleaveland Livingston Crawfordville
Moore motivated by self-interest in oysters
Editor, The News:
Former Superintendent of Schools David Miller will be honored at the Rotary Club’s Distinguished Citizen Banquet on Nov. 5.
readers speak out
After watching the last board meeting, it seems that some commissioners are not consistent with what they view as their business. Commissioner Randy Merritt brought up the DOT and the future widening of 319. He said that many were concerned that a traffic turn lane was needed at the Wakulla Christian School, and that even though it was not a county school, input from the BOCC would certainly go a long way. Other commissioners readily agreed, and they decided to have the administrator work on a letter to DOT. Later, Commissioner
Howard Kessler brought up the concerns of local oystermen, and their feelings of being left out of the oyster program being run through Talahassee Community College and the WEI. He suggested a workshop to listen to their concerns and see what solutions were available. This was greeted with silence at first, followed by an expression of this really being none of the BOCC’s business. They did not feel they should interfere in any way with TCC. Commissioner Jerry Moore, who is enrolled in the oyster program, vehemently opposed the suggestion, and accused Commissioner Kessler of being against
TCC, which Moore believes will one day be our county’s biggest employer. Obviously, Moore is very interested in our oyster industry, but not very concerned about our oystermen. It was an ugly exchange. I would love to see a BOCC made up of people concerned with the citizens, not interested in their own best interests or those of their friends. This is not a Republican or Democrat thing, this is crony capitalism as bad as Congress, but on a local level. Keep this in mind when the elections come next year. Jeannie Beck Panacea
Thanks, from St. Marks Stone Crab Festival
Editor, The News:
For all those who attended the St. Marks Stone Crab Festival, we hope you had a wonderful time. This annual family event has been going on for 18 years in St. Marks in celebration of the opening of stone crab season. This is the place to be when stone crab season opens and our fishermen and crabbers bring this delicious delicacy home for us to enjoy. This year was no exception, we dined on lots of fresh local seafood including stone crab claws. We also had a variety of other great food, drinks and snacks. Along with the great food we had lots of handmade arts and crafts of many descriptions. The children attending had lots of entertainment in the Kids Zone, with pony rides, petting zoo, bouncy house, face painting, and other activities put on by Coast Charter School. Thank you Coast Charter School for providing such fun for the children. Parents, and others were able to enjoy the live
entertainment of bands, singers, and dancers that went on all day. At noon everyone enjoyed the Pirate Themed Parade put on by the City of St. Marks. The St. Marks Stone Crab Festival Committee works all year and on the day of to make this festival successful. Thank you committee members for all your work. A special thank you goes out to our sponsors, businesses, organizations and volunteers who make this event possible. Plus, a big THANK YOU to the people who make the trip to St. Marks to share this fun family day with us. Food, fun, history and nature are in abundance in our area and you are invited to come and enjoy “The Ultimate Getaway for 500 Years” – Historic St. Marks at any time. We are sincerely grateful for your support and participation, Mike Pruitt Chairman St. Marks Stone Crab Festival