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TODAY'S ISSUE
Today marks 229th anniversary of death of Button Gwinnett
By Harvey H. Jackson
Professor of History, Jacksonville (Ala.) State University
Special to GwinnettForum

MAY 16, 2006 -- Today is the 229th anniversary of the duel of Button Gwinnett, which claimed his life three days later.

Button Gwinnett is not a household name. Neither is Lachlan McIntosh, the man who shot Gwinnett, killed him deader than a beef.

But 229 years ago both men were important. McIntosh was a Coastal Georgia rice planter, land speculator, and slaveholder. Prosperous, socially and politically well connected, proud even (some would say) arrogant, when the American Revolution began he hesitated, for he had a lot to lose if he joined the wrong side. But finally he threw his lot with the patriots and was chosen to command the Continental Army on the Southern frontier.

Gwinnett came to the Revolution by a different route. A failed merchant with a history of "questionable" business dealings, a failed planter, he had succeeded only (and briefly) as a politician. But he was charming, persuasive, and possessing little regard for the truth, he could make people happy by telling them what they wanted to hear.

About the only thing the two of them had in common was their absolute conviction that whatever they did was right and that they were justified in removing anyone who stood in their way.

Standing in McIntosh's way were the British. Between Gwinnett and greatness were the British and men like McIntosh. So, while McIntosh was fighting one enemy, Gwinnett was fighting two.

McIntosh rose through the ranks, became a general, fought well with limited resources, and didn't mess much with politics.

Gwinnett was all political. A natural campaigner he rallied those who wanted power as much as he did, fashioned them into a party of sorts, and got himself elected to the Continental Congress, where he signed the Declaration of Independence. Then he returned to Georgia and became president of the Georgia Council of Safety, which was responsible for the civilian side of the war.

All that remained between Gwinnett and total control of the state was Gen. Lachlan McIntosh. So the president went after the general, tried to discredit him and have him removed from office, spread the word that he was an incompetent commander, accused his family of treason. Which McIntosh endured for just so long and then snapped.

One day, after listening to Gwinnett catalog what he claimed were the general's failings, McIntosh publicly denounced his accuser as "a scoundrel and lying rascal."

That put Gwinnett on the spot. To let the insult pass would be a permanent stain on his honor and render him unworthy in the eyes of others. He had no choice. He sent the note and challenged McIntosh to meet him at dawn the next day to settle the matter.

On the morning of May 16, 1777, the two met, with pistols, in a pasture outside Savannah. When the seconds asked what distance they should stand apart, McIntosh suggested three paces, about nine feet. He did not want to miss.

The seconds protested, added another pace, then the men took their posts, stood ready, and when the word was given, fired. Both men aimed for the thickest part of the body and the vital organs. Both men shot low.

McIntosh was hit in the flesh of his thigh, but remained standing. Gwinnett fell, his leg broken.

McIntosh suggested they take another shot. Gwinnett agreed, if someone would hold him up. But the seconds intervened and declared that both men had done their duty as gentlemen. The wounded shook hands and it was over.

McIntosh soon recovered. Gwinnett didn't. In the low country heat "a mortification came on," and after three days of suffering, Button Gwinnett died. And being dead, he didn't put his name on any more documents. So his signature is the rarest of the Declaration's signers - last one sold brought more than $250,000. Not bad for a guy whose name wasn't worth the paper it was written on before the Revolution.

As for McIntosh, though he served bravely (and some say ably) for the rest of the conflict, he returned home to find his plantation in ruins, his slaves gone, and his reputation tattered. He spent most of his post-war years trying to rebuild what the conflict swept away. He never did.

The powerful, ambitious, overconfident, self-centered and self-assured, those who believe they have all the right answers and run roughshod over those who oppose them, they no longer end up as these men did.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Lilburn veteran gains much more at sight re-hab facility
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

MAY 16, 2006 -- Talk to George Morris, 82, of Lilburn, who is legally blind. First thing you know, he'll want to tell you about a center in Birmingham where he spent 11 weeks, and gained help with his sight, but something else, too.

He was at the Southeastern Blind Rehabilitation Center. George has macular degeneration in his right-eye sight since 1997, some 38 years after retirement from the Air Force. His left eye is only slightly better, but still only 20/200.

A wartime pilot training accident may be the reason for losing his sight. George's canvass flight helmet buckle flew back and hit him in his right eye. At first, doctors said he would never regain sight to stay in pilot training, though surprisingly after a few months, his sight returned.

Morris grew up in Norcross, enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and was sent to Miami Beach for basic training. Then, as George says, he "worked his way up the Florida peninsula" for most of the war. He finished training and became an officer and pilot, concentrating on single engine fighters. He spent the rest of his wartime mostly in various bases in Florida and a short time in Utah. He was about to be shipped overseas when the war ended.

George remained in service, retiring after 20 years. He was in the Philippines and in Germany, in counter-intelligence. After military duty, he joined the Postal Service, and also retired there after 20 years. He's lived in Lilburn since 1977 with his wife, Helen.

When losing his eyesight, George was also losing his confidence, and was getting depressed. "I was spending more time in the rocker virtually on top of the TV set," George remembers.

But in Birmingham, "They help not only with sight problems, but with living skills, so that a person can be independent. It took me a little while to re-build my confidence, but by the time I left, I was going to the wood shop, cutting boards, and building a Lazy Susan for the kitchen table.

"Before, I had quit such things as going by myself to the store. But once back home after Birmingham, I had to grocery shop, since Helen had broken her ankle. She drove to the store, but I went inside to shop, with a magnifying glass, if needed. I had no hesitation to ask for help. I was surprised at how much people would bend over backwards to help."

He emphasizes: "What I got mainly out of the time in Birmingham was re-gaining my confidence."

A chance meeting with a volunteer at the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta led George to Birmingham. "I only know his first name, Richard, who asked if I was a veteran. He told Helen and me about the Birmingham center."

A basic course, with one-on-one instruction, is six to nine weeks. George also took a computer course. There's no cost to most veterans for the rehabilitation, nor for the extensive computer they gave him. George says: "It talks back to you" and can magnify for reading books or newspaper.

"The Center is a magnificent program. I would like to get the word out to other veterans who might benefit from it," he says enthusiastically.

George feels that not many veterans appreciate what the Southeastern Blind Rehabilitation Center can do for those losing their sight. "Why, I even get on my riding lawn mower and cut the grass now." That's confidence for someone legally blind.

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today we welcome a new sponsor. It is Anderson Insurance of Lawrenceville, Ga., which has provided quality insurance products and programs since 1946. Anderson Insurance offers a wide range of insurance services designed to meet any need a client may have. Representing hundreds of highly rated carriers, the agency provides complete solutions to meet any business's needs, from professional liability and property coverage to employee benefits and 401K plans. Anderson also protects individuals and families with products such as home and auto insurance, long term care coverage, life insurance and annuities. Anderson Insurance's motto: "You should expect more than just a policy from your insurance professional." For more information, please visit our website at www.andersonins.com or call 770-962-4111.

I understand the Board of Commissioners (BOC) will vote Tuesday to divert funds from the 1997 and 2001 SPLOST programs to build the Sugarloaf Extension. Many worthwhile projects that were approved by the 1997 and 2001 Citizens‚ Project Selection Committees (CPSC) and the then BOC have not been built and are not opposed by neighborhoods.

Gwinnett Department of Transportation is still operating under the Hill administration directives of providing as limited information to the public as possible. It is time for the new BOC to provide guidance to bring this department into the information age.

I don't know how many projects there are in the 1997 and 2001 SPLOST that have not been built, but here are three off the top of my head.

The CPSC idea was hatched after the voters of Gwinnett County refused to give the BOC a blank check, by defeating the 1995 SPLOST. The first CPSC was formed for the 1996 SPLOST vote. Basically it created a covenant between the BOC and people. The people approved this optional self-tax, and the BOC agreed it would abide by the recommendations of the CPSC.

Many citizens worked countless hours on the 1997 and 2001 SPLOST CPSCs. I think we need to insure that all the recommended projects in these programs are completed before any money is re-allocated to a new development road project.

On May 25, the East Metro Health District, which includes Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale Counties, will conduct the first of a series of community meetings centered on a Pandemic Flu Response Plan Summit. This first conference will involve, primarily, organizations and agencies from both the public and private sectors and the need for strengthening links among them..

Public Health's strategic plan will be discussed with an emphasis on the tactical preparations communities and families might need to employ during a pandemic. Tactical plans for businesses, churches, and other groups would include, for example, preparing to operate with a significant absence of workers. A family tactical plan would involve the stockpiling of food and personal protective equipment for a period of self-isolation. Future meetings will include tabletop exercises, round table discussions, and the like.

The conference will be held at Gwinnett Tech, 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, in Building 100, Room 401. The session begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration and will begin at 9 a.m. and is expected to last two hours.

Hopewell Baptist Church welcomes nationally-recognized fibroid expert Dr. John Lipman on Saturday, May 20. Dr. Lipman will discuss treatment options and breakthroughs for Uterine Fibroids beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the church's Education Wing. A continental breakfast serving begins at 9 a.m.

Doctors says that up to 50 percent of women of childbearing age are affected with fibroids. Find out when treatment is necessary, and what kind of treatments are available. Many women are not aware there is a non-surgical, outpatient procedure that will treat their fibroid symptoms!

Dr. Lipman is a pioneer in the development of the non-surgical treatment of uterine fibroids. He has the largest experience in the Southeast in treating fibroid patients, and his Center was recently awarded the status of "Fibroid Center of Excellence". As Director of the Center for Minimally Invasive Services for WellStar Windy Hill Hospital, he focuses on minimally invasive techniques that are performed on an outpatient basis.

For additional information, please check the website www.atlii.com, or contact Dr. Lipman's office at (770) 953-2600. Registration is recommended: call 770-448-5475 ext 222

The City of Snellville wants input in shaping the design of the Town Center. The first public meeting for the LCI (Livable Centers Initiative) Streetscape Implementation project will be held on Thursday, May 18 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.

This project includes the installation of street furniture, decorative lights, and street trees along Wisteria Drive, Clower Street, and Oak Road, as well as transportation improvements in that area. The project is being funded with a $2.2 million grant the City has received from the Atlanta Regional Commission for implementation of its LCI Study.

During the meeting, residents and business owners will have the opportunity to meet with the City's consultants for the design of this project to provide their input on the design. For questions or more information, please contact Planning & Development Director Jessica Roth at 770-985-3509 or jroth@snellville.org.

"Protect your Neighborhood from Bad Development" is the subject of the May's meeting of the Gwinnett Sierra Club. This will be a panel discussion of homeowners and those with experience in opposing harmful and damaging development in their neighborhoods and vicinity.

The meeting will be May 18 at 7 p.m. at the Willowrun Condos Clubhouse off Club Drive. For more information, visit http://georgia.sierraclub.org/gwinnett/ or phone 770 921 0242.

Botanical garden hosting internationally-reknowned artist

Experience the unique work of world-renowned Niki de Saint Phalle during an unprecedented exhibition of her work at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, April 29 through Oct. 31, 2006. This exhibition, Niki in the Garden, will be the largest ever presented of internationally-renowned artist's outdoor sculptures.

Saint Phalle's magical works will be placed through the Garden including her famous enormous animals, mythical figures, totems, sports heroes and her signature Nanas - oversized, often dancing, powerful women celebrating life. These sculptures are brilliantly embellished with mirrors, glass, semi-precious stones and ceramic mosaics that come to life in all kinds of light. Massive in scale, some pieces reach as high as 18 feet. To complement the family-friendly environment created at the Garden, many of the sculptures will invite sitting, climbing or crawling through secret passages.

Niki in the Garden falls on the heels of the successful Chihuly in the Garden exhibition which tripled annual attendance at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Opening weekend for Niki in the Garden exceeded attendance numbers for opening weekend for Chihuly in the Garden by more than 30 percent.

Gwinnett's own Stiefel Laboratories is a finalist for the "Deal of the Year" award -- to be presented at the fifth annual Eagle Star Awards Gala, May 23, 2006. The awards are presented by the The American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Region.

Stiefel Laboratories, the world's largest independent pharmaceutical company specializing in dermatology, has a major subsidiary in Duluth.

Ness Ziona, Israel-based Foamix has developed an aerosol foam to treat scabies, a painful skin condition that affects more than one million annually in the U.S. and 300 million worldwide. Technology breakthrough is in the delivery system's ability to spread easily on large skin areas with immediate absorption in comparison to traditional treatments.

Under the terms of the relationship, Foamix will develop the formulations, and Stiefel will conduct clinical trials and the commercialization of the product in the U.S.

Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner Katherine Sherrington's website provides taxpayers with an option to find information that will help determine if they may be due a refund.

The option, called "Unclaimed Refunds," can be found at www.GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com. The site provides a current listing of outstanding unclaimed refunds and overpayments. Anyone who finds his or her name on the list should e-mail Lisa St.Clair in the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner's Office, or write to lisa.stclair@gwinnettcounty.com.

Perimeter College gets $275,000 for nursing program

Georgia Perimeter College's nursing program will receive more than $275,000 over a two-year period starting in July 2007 under a grant funded by the Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP). The funds were approved in April as part of a $5 million Board of Regents initiative to address the statewide nursing shortage.

ICAPP funds will be used to create a mobile extension to GPC's Flexible Weekend/Evening LPN to RN Bridge program, partially funded by a $1.5 million grant from the United States Department of Labor. The ICAPP grant will increase the Bridge enrollment to 130 students, allow GPC to purchase and equip a mobile practice laboratory clinic dubbed Care-A-Van and establish a state-of-the-art clinical tech laboratory. Scholarships and tutor training are also included.

GPC plans to work closely with DeKalb Technical College to promote a career track for current LPN students who need to work while increasing their career opportunities

For further information, contact Dr. Jean Mistretta via email at jmistret@gpc.edu or by phone at 770-274-5300.

There are at present 535 cities and towns in Georgia. Each possesses a charter of municipal incorporation approved by the Georgia General Assembly. Because municipalities are creatures of the state legislature, their boundaries, their structure, and even their existence can be altered or abolished by the state.

In many states there are significant legal differences among the designations city, town, village, and hamlet. Georgia law, however, makes no distinction among cities, towns, and municipalities. Accordingly, the only legal difference between the city of Claxton and the town of Tyrone is that Claxton was incorporated as a city and Tyrone was incorporated as a town.

A municipal charter is a written document that provides a municipality with the authority to exist and function. The charter is a city's fundamental law. In this respect it is similar to a national or state constitution.

Each municipality in Georgia has a charter that establishes its basic governmental structure, form of government, corporate boundaries, and municipal powers. A city's municipal powers may include, but are not limited to, appropriations and expenditures, contracts, emergencies, environmental protection, nuisance abatement, planning and zoning, police and fire protection, public transportation, sanitation collection and disposal, streets and roads, taxes, and water and sewer services.

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