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4-H makes for busy bees
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4-H Cloverleafs get into the spirit of the Busy Bee Club. - photo by Photo provided

4-H’s Busy Bee Club was created and designed to teach children the skill of beekeeping and the importance of pollination. Faith Jaudon, a University of Georgia-certified beekeeper will be instructing students year round on the lost art of beekeeping. 

The curriculum consists of the study of "A Bee’s Life," endorsed by the National Honey Board, and personal experience gained by Jaudon in her own apiary. She and her husband, DeWayne, operate The Vintage Bee Company, and specialize in swarm removals. 

"Every swarm removal is like opening a package at Christmas," said Faith Jaudon, a 4-H program assistant. "I get the greatest surprises. Not only that, but I get to share with the kids the most amazing stories, which fits nicely with Extension’s 4-H program."

The Bee club is for Cloverleafs (fifth and sixth graders) and meets monthly at the Effingham County Extension Office in Springfield.  For additional information, call 754-8040.

Effingham School Board Approves $203M budget with Potential Property Tax Increase
2026 budget
This chart illustrates how the Effingham County School District’s $203 million general fund is allocated for fiscal year 2026, including spending on salaries, benefits, transportation, health services, and safety and security. (Courtesy of Effingham School District)
The Effingham County Board of Education approved a $203 million fiscal year 2026 budget Thursday night, reflecting an 11% increase over last year. The rise is largely due to an $8 million spike in health and retirement benefit costs for employees. To help cover the shortfall, the district may raise the property tax millage rate, potentially increasing homeowners’ taxes by up to 12 percent.
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