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TODAY'S ISSUE
Telephone calls from sons in Iraq make father's two days
By Ralph Byrd
Special to GwinnettForum

LAWRENCEVILLE, July 14, 2006 -- I had a really great July 4th this year. That morning I ran the Peachtree with my friend, Jim Hood. My first. His 24th. That evening, my wife, Theresa, my daughter Jaclyn, and I grilled steaks, ate homemade peach cobbler, and watched fireworks.

But the best part of the day was a long phone call from my son, Justin. We talked about NASCAR and the October trip we have planned. We're going to the races in Talladega along with my other son, James. I'm especially looking forward to that trip because both sons, now in Iraq, will be home for a while.

James, the youngest, was first to enlist and first to deploy. He's with the Army's 1st Armored Division, in Iraq since February 9. Justin arrived 12 days later. He's with the Marines 2nd ANGLICO. (These are small Marine teams assigned to other military forces to coordinate artillery, naval gunfire, and close air support.) He was proud of his brother for enlisting and that had much to do with his decision.

Justin says they are working hard and running a lot of "missions". Their missions are mostly on foot, occasionally in Humvees, and sometimes at night. The missions are sometimes intelligence based, specifically targeting bad guys known to be in a certain area. Other times they're just "point of presence". The missions last 2-5 hours and they run one or two a day, occasionally three. They encounter insurgents almost every time out. But, that's necessary for success.

He talked about how much is being accomplished. He's irritated at those who say the Iraqis aren't doing enough for themselves. He works directly with IAF (Iraqi Armed Forces) and says they are highly motivated and, in fact, doing most of the dirty work. He says young Iraqi men join the IAF in "busloads" and are tough soldiers. They want to be in the army and to get things under Iraqi control as soon as possible. When on patrol, snipers are more likely to target Iraqis than Americans. Still, Iraqi men keep joining in droves. They have immense pride, patriotism, and desire to secure their country for their families.

He talked about the Iraqi people and the poverty. Few have electricity or running water. Yet they constantly give American soldiers gifts. His team recently bought watermelons at a local market. The owner wanted to give them to the Marines but the Marines insisted on paying. When one of the Marines gave the man a five dollar bill, he got so excited he closed his shop and ran through the streets waving the bill over his head like a flag.

I've had similar conversations with James. Both boys tell me that, since being in Iraq, they are more convinced than ever that we are doing the right thing. They speak of how badly the Iraqi people need us. They're tired and homesick but proud of what the U.S. is doing.

Prayers please. Last week, insurgents launched a grenade into Justin's group as they were walking through a rural orchard yet no one was hurt. Prayers work.

And James called Thursday so I had a really great July 6th too.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Having no party registration gives Georgians more freedom
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

JULY 14, 2006 -- You newcomers to Georgia may not be aware of just how free you will be should you cast a ballot in the Georgia Primary on Tuesday.

It's not like the person the other day, who started out a sentence, "As a registered Georgia Democrat……"

Whoa! The statement was wrong already. You see, there is no party registration in Georgia. When you go into the polls to vote in Tuesday's primary, by not having party registration, each voter is free to vote in either primary they may choose, whether for Republican or Democrat.

That is a tremendous choice, not having to declare your allegiance in advance! Granted, you may not vote in both primaries, but must choose one party or another. That is a good choice to have to make.

Voters this year will not find a confusing element in their choices that was present in 2004. That year the voters were faced with selecting their judges in a separate non-partisan vote during the primary. It caused consternation and confusion. State lawmakers had the good sense to move election of judges to the General Election. So at least this confusion is not facing you on the primary ballot in 2006.

Right now Gwinnett has 360,000 people registered to vote….the most ever. Yet you should not have to worry about long lines on the primary date, since far fewer people vote in primaries than in the General Election. Elections Supervisor Lynn Ledford estimates that no more than 35 per cent of the voters---if that many---will cast ballots in the primary in Gwinnett this year.

Let's look at past turnouts: in 2002, in that year's primary, only 37.38 per cent of people registered actually voted. In that year's General Election, 57.54 per cent voted. That year there was a governor's race at the top of the ticket, as it is this year.

In 2004, a presidential year, voter turnout was higher in the General Election, where 82.8 per cent of people voted, a whopping figure. (But only 27.8 per cent voted in the primary that year.)

Elections officials can use more help during Tuesday's primary. If you are available, call Robin White at 770 822 8787 to work at the polls on Tuesday.

Ms. Ledford says that there have been several deaths among the long-time elections workers, causing vacancies. And with more polls this year than ever, that creates more jobs. "We've had a hard time replacing those who once worked with us," she laments.

Actually, early voting has already begun at three sites in the county. The first day, less than 100 persons votes at the three combined sites. Besides the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, the other two places where you can vote early (through Monday) are at the Singleton Road Activities building near Norcross and at the Centerville Community Center on Bethany Church Road.

What timing: Here a week before the primary, suddenly we have an Indian tribe bring the issue to the forefront even more by bringing a lawsuit against Ralph Reed.

The guy who denies even blood on his hand won't be able to say he's not being sued, no matter how hard he makes up accusations. Let's just hope it convinces a lot of voters, including his Christian Coalition, that where there is fire, there's enough smoke to raise serious questions on whether he should be the lieutenant governor nominee of the Republican (or any) party.

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. From answering your questions and providing a host of useful information, to promoting growth in our county, there are people working every day to help make Gwinnett a place where businesses thrive and success lives. For more detail, go to www.gwinnettchamber.org.

Here we go again with this guy trying still to get a seat on the Federal Appeals Court

William Haynes has already been denied an important seat once because the American people, who are pretty smart when they have the truth, raised a fuss. It seems that Mr. Haynes thinks that torture is an OK thing and that the executive branch should have powers bordering on the dictatorial. The people of the USA don't think either of those things are worth a flip, and we shouldn't be frightened into supporting them. Recently it has come to light that Mr. Haynes may have deceived the Navy's general council, withthe help of John Yoo, to obstruct attempts at greater oversight of Gulag Guantanamo. Not good.

I find the recent complaining from Ralph Reed about so called attacks on his character as something less than honorable, unbelievable to the point of a guffaw.

WHAT!! Mr. Reed thinks that after years of hypocrisy in politics and using Karl Rove's character assassination tactics against many political rivals of all stripes (Red, White and Blue), he should now be given a break to discuss issues and not character? Sure, let's tackle the issue of accepting gambling money and working hand in hand with Jack Abramoff while being one of the political leaders of the Republican Party and the Christian Coalition.

Ralph seems to be showing us all his true character. Lying and cheating when no one is looking, then whining when someone shines a light on his despicable and hypocritical behavior. My vote will be for Mr.Cagle. I'm looking for honesty and integrity from any party this election. It is very hard to find, and is not present in the likes of Ralph Reed.

By the way, I liked the commentary in last Friday's Forum on the upcoming elections.

I would like to add that my vote will go for Mr. Woodruff on the 18th. It should be noted that Mr. Cox makes his living by "clearing" up court dockets, the manner by which is questionable at best.

When folks are hit with fines that they cannot afford to pay, Mr. Cox's firm PPS, offers them a chance to avoid jail time by paying the fines for them, and setting a payment plan for $35 a month. Sounds real nice on its face. Dig deeper and you'll learn that the monthly fee is at an 85 percent interest rate. According to the City of Decatur, Mr. Cox's firm raked in about $1.4 million last year alone.

Meanwhile, Woody Woodruff has earned his money the old fashioned way, by working for living.

Career Fest 2006 will be held on Thursday, July 20 at 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Victory World Church. Career Fest is sponsored by the Norcross Cooperative Ministry, Hope for the Future, Gwinnett Coalition, and the Georgia Department of Labor. Nearly 50 places of employment will be featured at this year‚s Career Fest.

Leslie Buchanan, Job Services Coordinator for the Norcross Cooperative Ministry, says: "We're thrilled to be a part of bringing Career Fest to Gwinnett County and expect a great turnout on the 20th. There are so many people in Gwinnett County who need a job or need a better job and their attendance at Career Fest will be a great first step for them. We are grateful for the companies and organizations attending this year's event."

Victory World Church is located at 5905 Brook Hollow Parkway in Norcross. For more information please contact the Norcross Cooperative Ministry, 770.263.0013.

The Braselton Town Council appointed Ernie Graham as its acting town manager during the impending absence of Jennifer Scott.

Graham, 54, lives in Winder. For 27 years, he was employed by the City of Winder as an administrator. Since 2002, he has been a part-time consultant and project manager in the public sector.

A graduate of the University of Georgia with bachelor's and master's degrees, he is a member of the Georgia and International City Managers' Associations and the Municipal Clerk's Association. Active in the Winder Rotary Club, he also co-chairs the Fort Yargo Friends of the Park.

Graham may be reached at the Braselton Town Hall at 706.654-3915 or via e-mail egraham@braselton.net.

Gwinnett County 2006 property tax bills will be mailed in August, 2006. As in the past, this billing will be the only one mailed. It will include two payment coupons and two reply envelopes for both installment payments. Taxpayers should mail the payment coupons with their payments.

Taxpayers making installment payments must pay at least the first installment amount indicated on the bill by Oct. 15, 2006, or they may pay the entire amount by this date. The second installment is due Nov. 15, 2006.

Installments not paid by the stated due dates will have a five percent penalty added to the installment amount. In addition, interest will begin to accrue at the rate of one percent per month beginning on Nov. 16.

For assistance, taxpayers should call the Tax Commissioner's Tax Talk 24 line at (770) 822-8800, or e-mail the Tax Commissioner's Property Tax Department at propertytax@gwinnettcounty.com.

Property owners may file for a 2007 homestead exemption from now through March 1, 2007. Homestead exemptions can offer tax savings to property owners who own and occupy a property as of Jan. 1 of the tax year for which the exemption is filed.

Property owners who already receive an exemption and had no ownership changes to their deed do not need to reapply. They will continue to receive their current exemption on property taxes.

The Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner collects property taxes for the cities of Berkeley Lake, Dacula, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Snellville, and Sugar Hill. Property owners residing in these cities' limits and who apply for a county exemption will also receive applicable city exemptions to which they may be entitled.

For more information regarding available exemptions, contact the Department of Property Tax. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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Georgia Gwinnett College hires first faculty member

Dr. Spero C. Peppas, professor of marketing and international business, has been selected as Georgia Gwinnett College's first faculty member. Peppas was formerly the director for the Center for International Business Relations and professor of international business and marketing at Mercer University in Atlanta.

Dr. Victoria Johnson, dean of the school of business, says: "GGC's goal is to hire faculty who meet the highest standards of academic excellence, and it is a milestone for this new college to welcome its first faculty member. I can think of no one who embodies the vision of Georgia Gwinnett College more than Dr. Peppas."

Peppas holds a doctorate of business administration in international business and a master of business administration in marketing from Georgia State University. He holds a bachelor of business administration in marketing from Emory University. He has served as a marketing specialist for the United Nations and the International Labor Organization, and was named researcher of the year in 2003 by Mercer's Stetson School of Business and Economics.

Georgia Gwinnett College is now accepting applications for fall 2006, its inaugural class. Current college students with at least 45 college credit hours who are interested in completing a bachelor's degree in biology, psychology or business should apply online at www.ggc.usg.edu or www.gacollege411.org. Classes for freshman begin fall 2007.

Georgia Gwinnett College is a four-year, high-tech state college serving the higher educational needs of Gwinnett County and the northeast region of Georgia. Leading advancements in education through innovation and technology, the mission of GGC is to develop versatile, creative and critical thinkers who can adapt to the intellectual, professional, and ethical challenges that will confront them throughout their lives.

GEORGIA TIDBIT
Native plants and animals In Georgia In danger of extinction

Georgia is home to more than 4,000 species of native or naturalized vascular plants and vertebrate animals. At least 10 percent of these species are in danger of extinction. The chief factor in the loss of biodiversity in Georgia is loss or deterioration of habitat.

Conservation biologists indicate that as many as half of the earth's plants and animals may be in danger of becoming extinct by the 22nd century. They estimate that for every new species that emerges from the process of evolution, thousands become extinct. This rate of extinction is thought to be even greater than that of 65 million years ago, during the period in which dinosaurs disappeared from the planet.

Of Georgia's more than 4,000 species of native or naturalized vascular plants and vertebrate animals, 32 species are known to be endemic to the state (i.e., restricted in their range of distribution to Georgia alone). Examples of species endemic to Georgia include: (1) the Etowah darter (Etheostoma etowahae), a fish restricted to the upper reaches of the Etowah River (Coosa River basin) in Georgia; (2) hairy rattleweed (Baptisia arachnifera), a plant in the legume family found in pine flatwoods habitats in scattered locations in Wayne and Brantley counties; and (3) the Pigeon Mountain salamander (Plethodon petraeus), found only on the eastern slopes of Pigeon Mountain in northwestern Georgia.

Approximately 440 species of vascular plants and vertebrate animals in Georgia are considered to be of critical conservation concern. In addition, 60 species of invertebrate animals and 12 species of nonvascular plants tracked by the Georgia Natural Heritage Program (a program of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources) are considered imperiled..

Species previously found in Georgia and known to be extinct today include the Carolina parakeet and the passenger pigeon. Species considered close to extinction or possibly extinct include two birds (the ivory-billed woodpecker and Bachman's warbler), several freshwater mussels (the upland combshell, Ochlockonee arcmussel, fine-lined pocketbook, winged spike, and southern acornshell), and a number of plants (the roundleaf leafy liverwort, Porter's goldenrod, and Georgia beaksedge). Many more species are presumed extirpated from the state

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Look what Can happen when a person starts placing blame

"A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else."

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