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TODAY'S ISSUE
Team sets mark by walking under Lake Lanier
By Conrad Gelot
Gwinnett Public Utilities
Special to GwinnettForum.com

FEB. 18, 2003 - - While there is nothing unusual about floating atop Lake Lanier in a fishing boat, historic steps were taken recently when human beings walked underneath the lake - without the aid of SCUBA gear.

The intrepid team of explorers were actually project managers and workers who recently completed construction of a tunnel drilled in solid rock underneath the lake floor to allow water to flow to Gwinnett County's new water treatment plant.

The tunnel and its below-ground pumping station and intake are just part of a group of inter-related infrastructure projects being constructed to ensure Gwinnett County citizens enjoy a safe, reliable drinking water supply for today and tomorrow. Given the name LANCOOL (LANier COmmunity Outreach and Liaison Project), the projects include the new Shoal Creek Filter Plant, the new intake and pumping station, associated water lines, and a raw water distribution center to manage flow of lake water (also called raw water) between the facilities.

These projects will add significant redundancy to the existing water system, ensuring that water will keep flowing in the event of an unforeseen outage at the existing facilities. They will also help meet the Gwinnett's projected demand for drinking water through the year 2050 with the Shoal Creek Filter Plant working in unison with the existing Lanier Filter Plant to expand the county's water treatment capacity from 150 million gallons per day (mgd) to 300 mgd.

Unique in its size and scope, the tunnel effort in particular is a testament to solid engineering and ingenuity. Designed to be as unobtrusive and environmentally sensitive to the surrounding area as possible, the massive undertaking first involved construction of an 80-foot diameter vertical shaft, followed by a 20-foot diameter shaft, reaching deep into the earth where construction next involved tunneling out horizontally underneath the lake itself.

The excavated 20-foot diameter shaft, which begins at elevation 1,112 and extends down to elevation 930, is supported by concrete poured into forms mounted along the walls. The tunnel under the lake is 12 feet in diameter and stretches for 627 feet. Simultaneous to this work, crews located in a stabilized barge on the lake drilled down to meet the tunnel as it extended into the lake. A cylinder was lowered into the lake shaft, and when opened, will allow raw water from the lake to flow into a pumping station for transport to the new Shoal Creek Filter Plant. There it will be treated and distributed as drinking water to thousands of Gwinnett County residents.

Work is also progressing well at the Shoal Creek Filter Plant site, with eight of the ten buildings planned for the site now under construction. The pipeline corridor between the new Shoal Creek plant and the existing Lanier Filter Plant is in the easement acquisition phase.

Although the LANCOOL projects have been underway for nearly two years, interest among the public remains high. Recently more than 30 residents turned out for a community meeting providing updates on the projects, and allowing citizens to speak directly with Gwinnett County project leaders. Interested residents may also visit the project website, www.lancool.com for more information.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Louise Cooper quite an asset in Lawrenceville
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

FEB. 18, 2003 -- One of my favorite persons in Gwinnett was Louise Cooper of Lawrenceville, who died last year at age 90.

We first meet Louise when she was working with us at Gwinnett Daily News, years ago. She was dynamite at getting people to talk about themselves, and to subscribe to the newspaper.

Later we remember her working at civic projects around Lawrenceville, sprucing up the city parks. Then one day she realized that the city cemetery was in awful shape, and presto! She was soon in action, convincing the town fathers. Soon she was virtually directing local prisoners in cleaning the cemetery. She was a sight.

A friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, wrote this piece for us to give you more of the flavor of Louise Cooper.

Louise Malloy Cooper was a multi-faceted woman, much like her April birthstone, the diamond.

She was a much loved teacher of children who became war veterans, a persuader and inspirationist who touched many lives. Louise was a visionary and taught school for over 20+ years.

Retirement was not for her. After leaving the teaching field, she worked several jobs and used her spare time very wisely. She was never idle, and had lot of stamina and energy for a petite woman with a bad back.

She appreciated beauty. As soon as spring arrived, she would herself spring into action with her yard man in tow. When a spot in her flower garden needed a bit of brick and mortar, she rolled up her sleeves, put on her shorts, and old pair of 'flats" and mixed up the mortar herself!

Louise loved having friends drop by and enjoyed the opportunity to tour her grounds with friends. With the help of her gardener, Roy Avery, she constantly reviewed each "room" in her yard, and sometimes every other month made a lot of changes if the temperature allowed. Roy probably moved the oversized concrete urns every month! It was quite an achievement for one man.

In winter, Louise would redecorate the beautiful rooms in her Lawrenceville home...she wanted to keep as up-to-date as young women. She rarely refused any party or dinner invitation when her health permitted. She loved people.

When she became unable to drive, she especially enjoyed visitors or being invited to accompany a friend for an ice cream treat at the Dairy Queen or have a nice restaurant meal. It gave her pleasure to reciprocate in kind with entertaining those same friends at a local restaurant.

Her love of beautiful watermelon -red Crepe Myrtles inspired her to encourage her Cherokee Garden Club to help convince the city officials of Lawrenceville that summer color was needed all around town. She purchased and planted many Crepe Myrtles all around town. Even Gwinnett County took notice and took on the project.

As a result, prominent signs were erected and the slogan "Lawrenceville, the Crepe Myrtle city" was adopted.

While Louise was still driving, she transported several acquaintances to and from their doctor appointments. She needed to help people. It was just the good teachers qualities coming our in her.

NEWS ITEMS
2/18: Dentists organize to help with smiles, Relay for Life

BY BRUCE CARTER
D.D.S, Lawrencceville

Here is an opportunity for you to "Brighten" your smile and make a lasting impression on the American Cancer Society. For the third year, Gwinnett dentists have organized a tooth whitening campaign: "Brighter Smiles for Brighter Futures", to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Over the past two years the campaign has raised over $45,000. This year 18 Gwinnett dentists have been recruited to participate on the Brighter Smiles team with a goal of $60,000.

Beginning February 1 through May 16, the Gwinnett dentists listed below are offering free professional home tooth bleaching for anyone who donates $200 ($100 per tooth arch) or more to the Cancer Society's "Relay for Life". Donations are tax-deductible. You do not have to be a patient of record to participate. The volunteer dentists will do a free screening exam to insure that bleaching is appropriate for you as an individual. The dentists and their staffs are donating their time to help in this team effort.

With professional tooth bleaching, the patient is custom fitted with a soft tray in which the bleaching agent is placed. Materials used have been found to be safe and effective. Vital tooth bleaching removes stains from deep within the tooth, which insures longevity of the bleaching results.

If you are interested in beautifying your smile and at the same time helping defeat cancer, please call one of the dentists listed below to schedule your appointment. Together we can find a cure and help those suffering from the effects of cancer and have a "Brighter" future.

Brighter Smiles for Brighter Futures Team

Dr. Harry Gentry - Suwanee - 770-945 - 5850
Dr. Sammy Graham - Lawrenceville - 770-963-2424
Dr. Slade Lail - Duluth - 770-476-2400
Dr. Wallace Lail - Duluth - 770-476-5227
Dr. Edward (Chip) Mohme - 770-448-5666
Dr. Eddie Pafford - Lawrenceville - 770-963-4999
Dr. Wayne Tadsen - Lawrenceville - 770- 963 - 4999
Dr. Jim Stevens - Duluth - 770-476-2252
Dr. Robert Towe - Stone Mountain - 770-469-1755
Dr. James R. Williamson - Lilburn - 770-921-5100
Dr. Gloria Stingley-Seals - Norcross - 770- 662 - 5955
Dr. Kenneth Hutchinson - Snellville - 770-979-7923
Dr. Atusha Patel - Snellville - 770 - 979-7923
Dr. Ralph Lehr - Tucker - 770-939-7168
Dr. Jeremy Ward - Dacula - 770-945-4445
Dr. Carey Norton and Dr. Zainab Khan - Dacula - 770-995- 1600
Dr. Bruce E. Carter - Lawrenceville - 770-995-7616

2/18: Park Watch needs volunteers at Jones Bridge

Become a Neighborhood Park Watch volunteer at Jones Bridge Park!

Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation and the Gwinnett County Park Police will hold a three-day class beginning February 25 to train volunteers interested in participating in the Neighborhood Park Watch program at Jones Bridge Park.

The upcoming class at Jones Bridge Park will include two days of instruction on park safety and the park ordinances and a graduation ceremony and class park project. The classes are Tuesday, February 25 at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 29 at 10 a.m.

All three classes will be held at the Good Age Building at Jones Bridge Park, located at 4901 East Jones Bridge Road in Norcross. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and must be able to complete all three classes.

Jones Bridge Park is the second park to participate in the Neighborhood Park Watch program. Yellow River Park in Stone Mountain was selected as the first park to take part in the program last fall.

To sign up as a Neighborhood Park Watch volunteer, please call Kim Joens at (770) 822-8840 or e-mail gwinnettparkwatch@co.gwinnett.ga.us.