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TODAY'S ISSUE
Warm Springs ceremony Saturday kicks off fund-raising
By Frankie Mewborn
Manager, Little White House State Historic Site
Warm Springs, Georgia
Special to GwinnettForum.com

APRIL 4, 2003 - - Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only U.S. President elected to serve four terms. His incredible leadership during some of the most difficult times of the 20th century transcended political lines, helping him to unite our country in a common cause against despair and enemies of freedom around the world.

FDR's ability to undertake such an extraordinary task was due in no small measure to the restorative visits he made to the tiny hamlet of Warm Springs, Georgia. Known for the healing power of the mineral springs located there, FDR would spend extended periods of time rehabilitating after being stricken with polio, experiencing such rejuvenation that he was able to recommit himself to his political career.

Eventually, he built a small, simple structure-the only home he ever owned-that became known as the Little White House (LWH). In fact, he died at his Little White House on April 12, 1945, during his fourth term as president.

The Warm Springs Foundation preserved the site after his death and the LWH became a memorial to the remarkable life and legacy of FDR. Management of the site was turned over to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in 1980. The LWH has evolved into the most visited state historic site in Georgia, hosting more than 110,000 visitors from across the country and around the world each year.

Now, almost 60 years after his death, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has undertaken an effort to construct a new $6 million museum and visitor's center that will allow the remarkable story of FDR to be told to future generations. This facility for the 21st century will allow young people with no personal recollection of the Great Depression, the New Deal, or World War II to relive the 1920's, 30's and 40's in a context that is meaningful to their everyday experience.

Visitors will also learn about the impact FDR continues to make today, both politically and as a humanitarian. Most importantly, this new facility will bring FDR to life, giving those who come a deeper understanding of one of our country's greatest leaders. The new museum is expected to double the annual visitation at the site to 250,000.

A fundraising campaign for the new museum and visitor's center has succeeded in raising $5 million in lead gifts from corporations, foundations and individuals. The final $1 million is anticipated to be raised during a public campaign to be launched on this April 12th, 2003. As part of the 58th Annual Commemoration of FDR's death at his Little White House, a ceremony will be held to launch the public campaign and to break ground for the new museum.

DNR has selected Batson-Cook of West Point, Georgia, as the contractor; Hecht, Burdeshaw, Johnson, Kidd & Clark of Columbus, Georgia, as the architects; and Lord Cultural Resources and Planning, of Ontario, Canada, as the exhibit designers.

Some examples of notable projects in which these firms have been involved include: the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans; facilities at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, such as the Day Butterfly Center and the Sibley Horticulture Center; the Fuqua Conservatory at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens; and the National Museum of Civil War Naval History in Columbus, Ga.

Persons wishing to "Help Make History Come Alive" by donating to this worthwhile cause, should call 706-655-5870 to request a brochure with more information and a donation form, or visit www.fdr-littlewhitehouse.org.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Baseball can tell you a lot about a city and area
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

We in Gwinnett particularly know that, as change has become the by-word in our fast growth mode. That same change is going on in most of North Georgia, though at not quite the same clip as Gwinnett.

Baseball is part of change. For instance, just opening up this week in Rome, is a Class A South Atlantic League farm team of the Atlanta Braves. The Rome Braves opened the season last night (April 3) in Savannah, and will play their first home opener April 11 in their just-being-completed State Mutual Stadium, seating 5,000.

While Rome was gaining the Sally League team, another Georgia city was going through a different type of change. The Braves' team that is now located in Rome played last year as the minor league affiliate in Macon.

Growing up in Macon, going to see professional baseball at Luther Williams Field, was fun for me. Today it is the third oldest baseball park in the country, having been opened by Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis in 1929. It is a storied field, with lots of baseball's greatest stars playing either for Macon, or against Macon, in the South Atlantic League. I remember seeing a young Hank Aaron playing second base for the Jacksonville team at the park.

(Recently a group in Macon announced that indeed, baseball would continue in Macon. However, it won't be another minor league affiliation of major league teams, but this time as a member of an "Independent" league. At least baseball will continue to be a summer pastime for some in Macon. And happily for Macon, the team will get its old name back, the "Macon Peaches.")

(The woes continue for Macon: besides losing the Braves, Macon has also lost its minor league ice hockey team, that wonderfully-named "Macon Whopees.")

Looking at the population of the Macon and Rome area, you wonder why the minor league Braves did not draw fans in Macon. For Macon is actually larger than Rome.

Rome's census in 2000 showed only 34,980 residents. The Floyd County 2000 census counted 90,565 residents, up from 73,742 in 1970. Macon meanwhile has 96,777 population in 2000, down from 106,150 in 1990. Bibb County had 150,137 in 1990, and 153,887 in 2000, a slight growth.)

Rome's six county population is 296,185, compared to Macon's five county area of 319,502. So you wonder....until...

Until you see the projected attendance in Rome for 2003: 280,000 fans. Macon drew only 84,001 last year. Braves' fever is high in Rome. The web site of the Rome News-Tribune is counting the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the opening of play in Rome.

Of course a first-year team, in a new ball park, is expected to draw lots of fans in the initial year. The Sally League teams in Lakewood, New Jersey, and Lexington, Ky. are expected to pull in 450,000 fans in 2003.

Gwinnett baseball fans may be making the hour and half trip to Rome this year, not just for minor league baseball, but to see two local products. Jeff Francoeur of Parkview and Brian McCann, roommates, who will be playing in Rome this year.

One good aspect of minor league baseball: the lower costs for fans. Club level seats are $10; field level $7; box seats $5; and general admission is $4. Says the Braves' web page of the modern park: "There's not a bad seat in the house." Weekday games begin at 7 p.m, and Sunday games are at 2 p.m.

FEEDBACK
4/4: Upset at process to get teen a driver's license

Editor, the Forum:

I would like for someone to explain to me and others the process of getting a driver's license when you are under 18 in the state of Georgia. Something is fishy!

You do not need to have driver's education; however you need to take a "Drug and Alcohol Awareness Class" class that is only offered through commercial driver education companies. The driver education class that is offered at the community schools does not include this.

You can take the class if you take a health class either in the summer, for a fee) or in school if you were lucky enough to get it assigned to you in the Ninth or Tenth Grade.

The web site for the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles states that the "Drug and Alcohol Awareness Class" is available through the local school. I assumed it was in the driver's education course just like the commercial ones. But it is not! After calling the commercial driver's education companies to find out if they offered just the class, they said that they did or could not and that 100 people call each month asking the same question. He told me he did not know who offered it.

After searching and asking for a week I finally found out it is offered at a very few places through Georgia, and only at one place in Gwinnett. It is offered through the Georgia State Patrol through a four hour course. When you go to the web site, it says just show up with a pen and when you have completed the course you will get a certificate.

My son and I took off from work to be at the class for the two nights. Upon arriving at the site where the course was given 30 people were told that the course was full and were thrown out of the building and they said "Better luck next time."

A call from a state patrolman said that the over-crowding condition in Gainesville has happened before. He thought that when this law assumed that all ninth graders would take the course free.

I have written the governor. It seems that someone, probably the commercial driver's education companies, have something to do with this law.

Had I known all the problems that I went through to try a get a driving license, of course I would have taken the commercial course. But it is also very strange that I can teach my child to drive, because a driver's education class is not necessary and yet the state does not think that I am capable of teaching my child about drugs and alcohol!

I would really like some help in finding out who put the "Drug and Awareness Class" on the books and yet did not find the funds to have the programs where people can get to them?????

The Duluth area police told me they use to hold such classes. Each area of the state holds them once a month. It is obvious with what happened at the Gainesville class with them refusing to give the class to 30 people that more people need the classes and they should be holding them in the Duluth section of Gwinnett also.

I need some answers. I am not stopping until I do.

-- Deborah Liberatore, Duluth

NEWS
4/4: Dacula council declares April "Armed Forces Month"

The Mayor and Council of the City of Dacula, Georgia have declared April
2003 as Armed Forces Support Month.

Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks said, "We have citizens in danger. No matter what
you think of the Country's foreign policy, we should provide support of
our young men and women who are doing their duty serving City and
Country. We should help parents, friends, neighbors and acquaintances
in this time of trial".

The Mayor and Council urged Dacula residents to show support for members
of the Armed Forces by displaying yellow ribbons and flying the flag
during April.