Georgia Gazette Riddle June 15-20, 2009

Here's our Georgia Gazette riddle. If you answer this riddle correctly, and are the lucky winner, you get a free pass into state parks for a year. This riddle describes a state park:

Named for the mountain that it shelters,
This park—south of Atlanta—prefers
You visit the 100 acre rock this weekend
Where from the trees you will suspend
And stargaze from the forest canopy.

Email your answer to Gazette@gpb.org. You must include your name and address to win. While you are emailing us tell us what you think of Georgia Gazette. Why do you listen? When do you listen? What do you like best? What could we do better? You have until Friday to solve this riddle. We will announce the winner on Friday's show. Good luck.

Closures at 13 state parks and historic sites

Since the state is short on money, it should close up to 6 of its parks and up to 7 of its historic sites. The closures are just some of the recommendations unanimously approved today by the state board of natural resources.

Natural Resources Commissioner Noel Holcomb proposed the reductions. All state agency heads are showing Governor Perdue what they would do with 6, 8 or 10 percent less funding this year. For Holcomb, that means fewer state parks and historic sites, a hiring freeze and layoffs.

"There's no easy way to go about doing this but we're committed to having a balanced budget and still to meet the level of customer expectation that this agency is known and respected for."

Holcomb says it's too early to know which facilities will close. Tom Mills wants them all to stay open. Mills, a board member for Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, wonders if raising attendance fees would help.


"Right now it's only 3 dollars a day. Right now that's less than a gallon of gas."

The state will consider all options. The picture may be clear come October.

New state park planned for Perry-area

Plans for a new state park are on the boards, and the first draft is expected on Thursday. A meeting will be held on that day at the Houston County Board of Education in Perry--a third and final public hearing on the proposal.

Three different concepts have been developed, and officials are asking for the public to choose. The site for the proposed park is an 858-acre property located between Interstate-75 and U.S. 41--just south of Perry. Each of the plans include a multi-use trail, hunting fields and public fishing lake. However, there is a question as to whether funding would be available in the upcoming Legislative session.