Gwinnett Forum.com -- Gwinnett County's community forum and idea exchange

TODAY'S ISSUE
26 Northeast Metro churches set "Unite!" program soon
By Kristen Dullanty
Communications Manager
Perimeter Church
Special to GwinnettForum.com

SEPT. 26, 2003 -- What do fried catfish, collard greens, banana pudding, and a small group of churches have in common? Well, it isn't the ingredients for an annual potluck cook off, but it could be the start of something great.

In the spring and summer of 2003 a small group of churches met weekly at a local country restaurant in northeast metro Atlanta. They talked in depth about what it would look like if they all united together; bridging denominational, racial and cultural divides in the local community. The focus would be on serving the community as one church.

After many lunches and much prayer, the group formed what they call Unite! It is a group of over 26 churches in Northeast Metro Atlanta, whose purpose is to put their faith into action. During the month of October, the churches who are a part of Unite! will join forces to demonstrate through their deeds what they have declared through their words.

"Compassion in Action" is a weekend event. Each church that is involved will spend the weekend of October 4 and 5 serving their neighbors and community by cleaning, gardening, painting, visiting the elderly, helping single moms and that is only naming a few of the projects. The goal is not just to do a good deed for the weekend, but rather to develop relationships between the community and among the different churches.

It doesn't just stop there. After the hammers have been put away and the paint is dry, the same group and hopefully hundreds of the people they served will come together the following weekend, October 12, in the Gwinnett Arena and have a "Heaven on Earth" Celebration. Governor Sonny Purdue is expected to be in attendance.

The "Heaven on Earth"Celebration will include jubilant music and worship, inspiring stories from the "Compassion in Action' weekend, and a presentation of offerings to three influential community organizations within NE metro Atlanta.

>From humble desires over catfish and collards, a passionate group has formed in the churches throughout NE metro Atlanta. It is clear that each person and each church values the other. The vision is bigger than any one church, and that's why they feel so strongly about the impact; it reaches across boundary lines and focuses on what is essential to build a healthy community-love and good deeds.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Couple surprised to hear their own names on Prairie Home
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

SEPT. 26, 2003 -- Beth and Wayne Sikes were getting comment this week, after many people heard Garrison Keillor read their name on "Prairie Home Companion" heard locally on September 18. The message said that Beth had shot her first pheasant, as the Sikes sent a message to family back home through the show.

But the Sikes were not in Minnesota last week for that radio show. Last Saturday's broadcast on WABE-FM was a taped performance, one originally recorded when the Sikes were there back on October 19, 2002. Beth and Wayne, traveling back home from Florida last week, heard the program themselves.

"The original show was preempted in Atlanta and a fund-raiser repeat was aired in its place. Needless-to-say we were disappointed that our kids who were listening at home missed the show. However, the show was aired in Georgia outside Atlanta, and around the country and a number of our friends heard it," Wayne says.

"This Saturday we were in Florida and missed the show (which we almost never do) so on Sunday, driving home we were searching for NPR and caught PHC. After listening for maybe five minutes they went to the mid-show break and when they came back, "boom" we heard our names -- what a surprise!"

If you see either of the Sikes, tell them you are glad to see them back from Minnesota...about a year late!

(To listen to the show (or parts of the show), go to A Prairie Home Companion on the Internet and at "Show Archives" go to "October 2002"- then select 10/19/02. The place where Keillor he reads the Sikes greeting is at 1:04.)

Now that Atlanta is through with the worst of the "bad air" days with the temperature inversions, perhaps you would be interested in this.

While Atlanta has a few days where the smog around the city is bad, you might think Atlanta would be way up there for bad air cities.

Not so, according to the Surface Transportation Policy Project. This group rated cities for bad air, and came up with the 10 cities rated worst. Note that six of them are in California.

Every time you spend money in the United States, you are using coins and currency with the phrase "In God We Trust." Since 1860, that message has appeared on coins.

The person responsible for "In God We Trust" on currency died recently, former Rep. Charles Bennett of Jacksonville, Fla. The long-time Democrat, 92, who contracted polio while in the Army during World War II in the Philippines, got legislation in 1955 to require the phrase on all currency.

We appreciate his move to include this message in our monies, and mark his passing.

Each year we hear stories of people telling us that some drivers do not need inspection of vehicles before getting an auto license plate. That's right, under certain circumstances, Norma H. Holland of the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner's Office tells us.

"You do not have to have vehicles inspected if the vehicle is over 10 years old, you drive less than 5,000 miles a year, and drivers are over 65 years of age. You must qualify in all three instances. If you do not qualify, your vehicle will need emissions inspections each year."

Remember that next time you buy your car tag, if you qualify on all three accounts.

McLEMORE'S WORLD

The latest cartoon from Bill McLemore:

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9/26: Wants ways average citizen can influence telecom area

Editor, the Forum:

Can someone suggest how we average citizens might influence telecommunications regulators? (Forum, Sept.19.) I am delighted to see that at least one other person sees the victims we are! I'd like to do whatever small part I can.

-- Loretta B. Roberts, Suwanee

9/26: Remembers "Joree" term from growing up Southward

Editor, the Forum:

I grew up with my Daddy (who grew up in Chatahoochee, Fla.) saying, "...listen to that old joree." Plus my mama's from Bainbridge. I always like hearing about the Post-Searchlight (like the viewpoint in the AJC last week!) They're good folks down there. Thanks for treating them with respect.

-- Betty Daniels, Atlanta

9/26: Suggests Robins AFB as joint municipal/military field

Editor, the Forum:

A friend of mine passed this idea on to me last week. Why doesn't someone look into making Robins Air Force base a joint municipal/military facility?

Not long ago our politicians were hunting an alternate airport for Atlanta. Each year Robins seems to make the budget "hit" list
Joint will work, especially if the talk is to close it---ala Birmingham airport

High speed rail from the base to Altanta would be potential for passengers and fit current planning. Security could be easily handled at the base. Additional carriers could compete for the growing traffic.

And, finally, Air Force One would have it's own permanent "temporary" facility for use such as was required last week because of the hurricane.

Don't know if Atlanta would want to forfeit all those landing fees though. Just a thought---my friend seems on target

-- Ken Gillespie, Lawrenceville

9/26: Questions FBI visiting libraries about what we are reading

Editor, the Forum:

John Ashcroft, our Inquisitor General, says that the Patriot Act has not been enforced as to libraries and bookstores, and that librarians are needlessly panicked by the prospect of having to report on the reading habits of borrowers. He is adamant that we should all accept the Patriot Act in order to prevent terrorist attacks.

The June 25, 2002 issue of USA Today reported that the FBI had been visiting libraries and bookstores across the country checking the reading records of suspected terrorists and dissidents. The same law that makes these searches legal also makes it a criminal offense for librarians to reveal the details or extent of the contact. According to the Bush Administration, anyone who disagrees with any of its policies is a dissident.

It is obvious that Ashcroft is just as much a liar as Bush and Cheney. Where is this going to stop? They obviously think we are all stupid and willing to cooperate in the destruction of our Constitution and Bill of Rights!

-- Angela Bradshaw, Los Angeles, Calif. 90038

CALENDAR
9/26: SAR chapter to hear from historic preservation expert

The Button Gwinnett Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution will hold their monthly meeting at Ryan's Steakhouse at 419W Pike Street in Lawrenceville on Thursday, October 9, 2003, at 7 p.m. This month's speaker is Ken Thomas, author, genealogy columnist, and historian for the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The topic will be names and nicknames and for whom people are named.