Welcome to Georgia

Georgia was the fourth state to join the Union, in 1788. It is in the Southeast, just north of Florida. This week, The Mini Page learns more about Georgia.

In history

Georgia was named by English settlers for King George II. It is the 24th largest state by area and the 29th largest by population, with about 10.7 million people.

Atlanta, which lies in the northwest of the state, is the capital. About 6 million people live in the city and surrounding communities.

Georgia was one of the original seven states to secede, or split, from the Union before the Civil War.

Geography

Georgia is home to mountains, forests, beaches and natural wonders, including Providence Canyon and the Tallulah Gorge.

The Okefenokee Swamp, which straddles the state line with Florida, is the second-largest swamp in the U.S. Its name comes from a Native American word that means “trembling earth.”

Georgia’s products

Mini Fact: The Cherokee rose is Georgia’s state flower.

soybeans and pecans, along with blueberries and cotton. Factories produce textiles (fabrics), clothing, transportation equipment, paper products and chemicals.

Georgia also attracts many tourists. Visitors to Savannah can see buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries and visit historic homes.

Sports

Georgia’s fans root for professional baseball, football, basketball and soccer teams, in addition to sports teams from several colleges.

Georgia Fact-a-Roonies

• The Appalachian Trail is a walking path of about 2,000 miles. It starts just outside Atlanta and passes through 13 other states, ending in Maine.

• Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin near Savannah. His 1793 invention helped make cotton the leading crop in the South.

• The state fruit is the peach. One of Georgia’s nicknames is “the Peach State.”

• Marble from Georgia was used to build the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

• Golf is an important sport. The Masters

• President Jimmy Carter was born in the farming town of Plains on Oct. 1, 1924. His father was a farmer and businessman. His mother was a registered nurse.

Carter served as governor of Georgia and was elected president in 1976. After his term, he and his wife, Rosalynn, worked to promote peace around the world and helped build houses through Habitat for Humanity.

• Juliette Gordon

Low was born in 1860 in Savannah. Her nickname was “Daisy.” She founded the Girl Scouts of America in her home and started the first Girl Scout troop on March 12, 1912. She believed women should have opportunities outside the home. Daisy died on Jan. 17, 1927.

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta. He was a Black leader in the struggle for equal rights.

Dr. King strongly believed in finding peaceful ways to end segregation, or laws that punished Black people for using the same services as white people.

Resources

On the Web:

• bit.ly/MPGeorgia

At the library: glow created by humans is increasing,

Georgia’s products

Farmers in Georgia grow peanuts, corn,

Try ’n’ Find

• Golf is an important sport. The Masters golf tournament is held in Augusta every year.

Mini Jokes

Words that remind us of Georgia are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

APPALACHIAN, ATLANTA, CARTER, GEORGIA, GORGE, KING, LOW, PEACH, PEANUTS, PECANS, ROSE, SAVANNAH, SCOUT, SECEDE, SOUTHEAST, SWAMP, TEXTILES, TOURIST, UNION, WHITNEY.

Cook’s Corner

Peach Crisp

You’ll need:

• 4 cups fresh or canned peaches, sliced

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 cup rolled oats, uncooked

What to do:

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/2 cup butter, softened making it hard to see stars in a sky that was nearly pitch dark before the invention of electric lights. Observations from tens of thousands of observers around the world show nocturnal sky brightness increased by 7% to 10% each year from 2011 to 2022. Greater light pollution is raising concerns over its impacts on people and nature.

1. Place peaches evenly on bottom of a greased 8-by-8-inch baking pan.

2. In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients except butter. Mix well.

3. Add butter. Mix until crumbly.

4. Cover peaches evenly with crumbly mixture.

5. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. Serves 6.

For later:

President Jimmy Carter, now 98 years old, has been in poor health recently. Look in your newspaper for articles about him and the work of the Carter Center in Atlanta.

Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!

BY DAN THOMPSON

What we do:

How to choose and use a walking

Dear Savvy Senior, I have some hip and back problems and could use a walking cane to help me get around. Is there anything I should know about canes before I buy one?

Limping Linda

Stephen A. Unsworth, Esq.

Wendy

Dear Linda,

When it comes to choosing a cane, most people don’t give it much thought, but they should. Walking canes come in many different styles, shapes and sizes today, so you need to take into account your needs and preferences to ensure you choose one that’s appropriate for you. Here are some tips that can help.

TYPES OF CANES

The first thing you need to consider is how much support you need. That will help you determine the kind of cane you choose. The three basic types of canes you’ll have to choose from include:

1. Straight canes — These are basic, single-point canes that typically incorporate a rounded “crook” handle or L-shaped ergonomic handle. They are usually made of lightweight aluminum or wood. Most of the aluminum

By Jim Miller

models are adjustable in height, and some even fold up.

2. Offset-handle canes — These also are single-point, straight canes but come with a swan neck curve in the upper part of the shaft that puts the user’s weight directly over the cane tip for added stability. These canes are typically aluminum, adjustable in height and come with a flat, soft grip handle that’s easy on the hands.

Some straight canes and offset-handle canes also come with triple or quad-tipped bases that can add gripping support and allow the cane to stand up on its own when you let go, which is very convenient.

Both straight and offset-handle canes are best suited for people with a slight walking impairment.

3. Quad canes — These work best for people who need maximum weight bearing and support.

Quad canes come with four separate tips at the base, usually have an offset flat handle and can stand up on their own.

Fitting The Cane

Once you decide on the type of cane, you need to make sure it has the weight capacity to support you, and that it fits your height. To do this, stand up with your arms hanging straight down at your side. The top of the cane should line up with the crease in your wrist, so your arm is slightly bent at the elbow when you grip the cane.

The cane should also have a rubber tip at the bottom to prevent slipping. A worn or torn rubber tip is dangerous, so check the tip frequently to ensure it’s in good condition and replace it when necessary.

The grip is also very important, so choose one that’s ergonomically designed, or one that has a molded rubber or foam grip that’s comfortable to hold.