every day now and come across many
underlined verses that Parker and I
shared while on that trip. I will never
forget that week and how important
it was for me to have a friend like
Parker. I started a new and very
different way of life as a result of that
trip. I still find myself asking what
would Parker do in this situation? The
trip also helped me to understand that
it was important for me to be a friend
to other people and how important it
is to let people know that I am always
there if they need me.
Have you seen more trash in/on the
river this year with school cancelled
and families looking for things to do
during the COVID-19 crisis?
Karl Owens: The water level has been
consistently higher this year and out
of its banks. It’s flooded properties on
the river two or three times in recent
months. Because of the flooding,
there have been a lot of larger items
in the river like refrigerators, water
heaters, dock lumber. A lot of the
shacks and cabins litter their parts
and pieces when the river rises.
Sometimes it’s poor or inadequate
construction. In other cases, it’s
simply people just failing to secure the
contents.
What does participation in the
Parker Waller Ohoopee River
Clean-up Day mean for you?
Karl Owens: For me, cleaning up the
river hopefully means we foster an
appreciation for our rivers and the
other natural resources we've been
blessed with. This is why Parker was
so passionate to participate when
other groups held clean-up days on
the rivers. There is no better way
to remember and honor him than
by keeping events like these going.
We try to take care of the Ohoopee
because it's our "home" river.
Hopefully, there are and will continue
be others to work on ALL other rivers.
Mark Miller: It means honor and
respect for Parker’s friendship and
remembering his love for the river.
Mark Dorsey: The clean-up is a small
way of giving back to the river that
has given me so much pleasure
over the years. If we all do our part
cleaning up the river, no matter how
small it seems, it will make a large
impact that will be noticed in future
generations.
For more information, visit the Parker Waller Ohoopee River Clean-Up Facebook page
or call Ann Owens at the Toombs-Montgomery Chamber of Commerce at 912-537-4466.
118 TOOMBS COUNTY MAGAZINE