News Bulletins

Fourth-Graders with idea for Paul Anderson Park Honored - March 31, 2008

Some former local students receive an honor for work they started years ago. State Senator Nancy Schaefer introduced a resolution recently, one passed by the State Senate, honoring the work of the class that began the idea for the Paul Anderson Park nearing completion now in Toccoa. That class, in fourth grade at the time, was honored last week at the state capitol for their work.

One of those students is Danielle Wisotzke, who is now a freshman at Georgia Tech. Wisotzke says the honor is greatly appreciated. "It was a wonderful experience," says Wisotzke. "It was a great honor. It was really great to see Paula Anderson Schaefer there and also the boys of the Vidalia Youth Home that Paul Anderson started were all there, so that was really great."

The idea started back in 1999, when Wisotzke’s fourth grade class came up with the idea to honor a local citizen. They focused in on Paul Anderson and came up with the idea for the park. Wisotzke says back then, they did not really grasp how big it has become. "I mean, really and truly, as fourth graders, you just think, ‘Oh, we are going to go clean up a park and we are going to make it look pretty, but we really wanted to do something to honor him, something really special, and Ms. Cynthia Sanders just took this idea and she used our original plans and she just went with it and she has done an amazing job," adds Wisotzke.

Wisotzke also thanks Betsey Hodges for her efforts as president of the park’s foundation. She says the students stay involved as much as possible along with their other responsibilities. Work on Paul Anderson Park continues.