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Issue 9.45| Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 | Forward to your friends! |
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McLEMORE'S
WORLD ARCHIVE FEEDBACK UPCOMING NOTABLE ALSO INSIDE _::
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Meet a sponsor |
ABOUT US GwinnettForum.com is a twice-weekly online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA. Contact us today. NOW ON TWITTER! SEARCH GWINNETT FORUM |
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TODAY'S
FOCUS NORCROSS,
Ga., Sept. 4, 2009 -- Gwinnett Village's Community Improvement District
has partnered with Gwinnett County to submit the replacement of the Jimmy
Carter Boulevard/Interstate 85 bridge for federal stimulus funding.
Gwinnett
County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister says: "On behalf of
the Board of Commissioners, we are pleased to partner with the Gwinnett
Village CID in applying for federal stimulus dollars to replace the Jimmy
Carter Boulevard bridge over I-85. The bridge has long been a primary
gateway to Gwinnett County. Rebuilding the bridge and increasing its functionality,
efficiency and attractiveness will not only boost mobility in the area,
it will give visitors a great first impression upon entering our community.
I feel confident it will be a contender to receive funding under the TIGER
Grant Program." Gwinnett County already is the recipient of $120
million in funds designated by the American Reinvestment and Recovery
Act. EEB
PERSPECTIVE SEPT. 4, 2009 -- Wayne Shackelford, in public and private life, served very much as the conscience of Gwinnett. A "straight arrow," he held his principles, and kept the county going ever-forward. People respected his values. He was good for the county, tremendously influencing our government, business and civic life. People knew they could get a straight answer from him, and that he would never waver. He was a true anchor.
In many ways, Wayne Shackelford was a mentor for so many, including me, in Gwinnett. Like others, I learned a tremendous amount from him. He would stage his answers with intricate details from his photographic memory. It was a day in late summer of 1974 that Wayne started teaching me about the county. He volunteered to show this newcomer the county, picking me up after lunch, and heading south of Lawrenceville on then two-lane U.S. Highway 29. We turned right onto Pleasant Hill Road, then left on Burns Road. When we got to Indian Trail-Lilburn Road, a picture vividly comes to mind. This road was being widened with heavy equipment tearing into the red clay of the soon-to-be four lane. Wayne said: "Soon this road will be a key feeder route to Interstate 85, and that's why it needs to be four-laned." How true that became! We kept driving around the county that day on what was my first Tour of Gwinnett. Later on Wayne and I would inaugurate a semi-annual tour, inviting at first mostly people from outside Gwinnett to come for a bus trip to see what was going on in the fast-growing county. Wayne narrated those initial tours, sponsored at first by Gwinnett Daily News, and later by the AJC. Today the tours continue, now under the sponsorship of Gwinnett Village CID, with the 80th semi-annual tour set for September 24.
On these initial tours, I started picking up bits of history about Gwinnett. When Wayne left county government, others helped me with the tour. Today Jim Steele of the school system and I narrate the tours. Wayne Shackelford gave behind-the-scenes leadership for Gwinnett (and later open leadership for Georgia) always with aplomb, his water-tight mind, guided by his conscience, through his booming baritone voice. (He need no microphone.) And he kept the discussion at a high level, teaming with others to accomplish great matters. As an example, Emory Morsberger put it this way: 'The spark that led to the creation of CID's in Gwinnett came from Wayne, as did much of the plan for the revitalization of Lawrenceville. Wayne put his church, his family and his community before himself---always. I believe that he considered his talent to be a gift from God and I believe that his incredible leadership was his way of serving God. We sure could use a lot more leaders like him!" Wayne represented us well in all his ramifications and deliberations. We won't see the likes of him to come around any time soon, and we will sorely miss him. He fought a courageous fight to the very end. My last visit with him was about three weeks ago, the same day that Ray Gunnin and Wayne's long-time assistant, Joy Still, were also visiting. He kept us peppered with ideas and questions, being most expansive and alert. Wayne Shackelford: 1933-2009: may you rest in peace. * * * * * The funeral for Wayne Shackelford will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville. ABOUT
OUR SPONSORS
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's underwriter is Precision Planning, Inc., a multi-disciplined design firm based in Lawrenceville, Georgia with a 26-year history of successful projects. In-house capabilities include Architecture; LEED® Project Management; Civil, Transportation and Structural Engineering; Water Resources Engineering; Landscape Architecture; Interior Design; Land and City Planning; Land Surveying; and Grant Administration. PPI has worked diligently to improve the quality of life for Georgia communities through creative, innovative planned developments, through the design of essential infrastructure and public buildings, and through promoting good planning and development principles. Employees and principals are involved in numerous civic, charitable and community based efforts in and around Gwinnett County. For more information, visit our website at www.ppi.us or call 770-338-8103.
McLEMORE'S
WORLD
FEEDBACK Editor, the Forum: Recently,
it has come to my attention that House
Bill 714, a measure I introduced for the Norcross City Council, contains
provisions that go beyond their desired outcome. Specifically, the law,
as it currently reads, changes the city charter to candidates elected
by plurality as opposed to majority vote. As well, the bill does not call
for a referendum in order to extend political terms from two years to
four years. There has been much discussion about how this misunderstanding
could have occurred. In order to provide some clarity on the issue I want
to comment on what transpired. More important, I hope to begin a dialogue
that will establish a process of assuring that legislation introduced
is indeed reflective of local government intentions.
Early in
2009 I was approached by the Norcross City Council to sponsor a bill that
would amend the city charter. I was given several documents including
a sample version of a bill which later became HB 714. The documents were
given to legal counsel for purposes of drafting legislation, upon which,
after its completion was distributed to the Norcross City Council for
review and approval. The Council was in possession of the proposed statute
for 10 days, which they approved for introduction. As well, the measure
was reviewed by members of the Gwinnett County Legislative Delegation
with every member giving their assent. Second,
I suggest we outline a plan where requests for legislative action by local
governments to the Gwinnett County Legislative Delegation be conducted
in a more transparent and accountable manner. There should be a process
where local governments attest that proposed bills do represent desired
outcomes.
Appreciates Ted Kennedy for his votes about civil rights Editor, the Forum: Thanks for your balanced article on Ted Kennedy. As a Black American who grew up during the height of the civil rights movement, I will forever be grateful to Senator Kennedy for always being on the right side of civil rights legislation, most notably the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act and the vote to establish a national holiday honoring Martin Luther King. It's unfortunate that the folks on the opposite side on those civil rights issues were Southern Christians.
Art Linkletter said it often: Out of the mouths of babes! Editor, the Forum: This was so good I nearly laughed out loud! Last week I came across a family with a toddler in the stroller. The dad was on his cell phone, the mom was on hers, two other children were trying to keep up. The toddler had one hand over her ear and with the fingers from her other hand was strumming her lips saying, "Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!" Like they say, get them young and teach them right!
UPCOMING The new
Gwinnett County administrator is Glenn P. Stephens. He succeeds Jock Connell,
who is retiring at the end of this year. Stephens' appointment is effective
immediately.
Prior to
his appointment, Stephens headed the county's Planning and Development
department. Before that, he was Senior Assistant County Attorney specializing
in land use, zoning laws and litigation. His 22 years of experience includes
some private practice, but the vast majority of his expertise comes from
representing DeKalb and Gwinnett County governments and several area municipalities. New London Theatre to present premier of Dot.com musical New London Theatre will present the Georgia premier of an original musical, Softwear.com---a musical DotComedy, as a read-through / walk-through / sing-through on Friday, September 11 (Final Dress Rehearsal) and Saturday, September 12 at 8 p.m. New London Theatre actively promotes new works and new opportunities for actors and audiences in the community to learn more about how new works are performed and staged. At these performances, actors will sing, move and read-through the show with scripts and scores in hand. Set in the late 1990s, Softwear.com is an upbeat musical based on the rise and fall of a fashion website run by two clueless entrepreneurs who have to deal with unscrupulous venture capitalists, overbearing marketing vice presidents, underage heads of technology and rebellious software developers on their overly-caffeinated way to a triumphant happy ending. Its book, music and lyrics were written by Dave Schroeder and the show was originally produced off-off-Broadway in New York City in 2004. Softwear.com is being directed by Dave Schroeder and produced by John Berlo. Ticket prices are $5 for Friday and $8 for Saturday evening. Shows are performed at New London Theatre, 2485 East Main Street, Snellville. Gwinnett GOP to hear statewide candidates Saturday morning The Gwinnett Republican Party will have several state statewide candidates at its breakfast on Saturday, September 5, at 8:30 a.m. The breakfast will be at the Sweet Tomatoes restaurant, 3505 Mall Blvd. in Duluth, across from Gwinnett Place Mall. Breakfast service begins at 8 a.m. Sam Olens, chairman of the Cobb County Commission and 2010 candidate for Attorney General; Ray McBerry, 2010 candidate for governor of Georgia; and Gerry Purcell, 2010 candidate for Insurance Commissioner, will be the featured speakers. Party chairman Chuck Efstration says: "With the health care debate in Washington D.C. and candidates for statewide office already running in Georgia, this is such a critical time to get involved with the Gwinnett Republican Party." For more information, visit our web site at www.gwinnettgop.org or send an email to gwinnettrepublicanparty@gmail.com. Sierra Club's Sept. 17 meeting features Art Sheldon The Greater Gwinnett Group of the Sierra Club invites you to join its September meeting featuring, Art Sheldon, resident expert on transportation issues. He will provide updates on transportation challenges and programs in Gwinnett and Georgia. Learn more
about how you can get involved to improve transportation in Gwinnett.
The group meets at Berkmar High School at 7 p.m . For more information,
contact Tom Morrissey at thmorrissey@bellsouth.net
or call (404) 513-4069. NOTABLE The 2009 Suwanee Day celebration on September 19 will serve up all those things that people love most about the festival - the food, arts and crafts, fun stuff for the kids, and all-day entertainment - along with new twists and about 50 special military guests. The event marks the 26th annual Suwanee Day.
Chopper from the Gwinnett Braves and Maximus of the Gwinnett Gladiators exemplify the parade theme: "Root, root, root for the home team." The parade kicks off the annual festival at 10 a.m. This year's "celebration of community," the 26th Suwanee Day festival, takes place from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. at Town Center Park. The festival features more booths than ever, about 200, and includes two dozen food vendors and nearly 100 arts and crafts exhibitors. On-stage entertainment begins at 11 a.m. and ends with the bang and sizzle of fireworks at 10 p.m. The headline performer, Blessid Union of Souls, an alternative rock band, will take the stage at 8 p.m. Two groups at Suwanee Day will offer unique ways in which to enjoy the festival. The Old Town Merchants Association is providing free trolley rides between Town Center and historic Old Town. And, as a fundraiser, the Suwanee Arts Partnership has gathered several pieces created and donated by local artists that will be offered through a drawing at its Suwanee Day booth. Admission to Suwanee Day is free, though attendees are asked to bring canned goods to donate to the North Gwinnett Food Co-op. Drop-off receptacles will be located at the Festival Information booth and near the stage. Off-site parking with free shuttle transportation between designated parking areas and Town Center Park will be available from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.suwaneeday.com. Snellville citizens participate in Can Do for Hunger At the "B at the Movies" event held at T.W. Briscoe Park recently, the City of Snellville collected canned goods as part of the "Can Do for Hunger" initiative sponsored by the Gwinnett Municipal Association. Attendees of the Snellville movie event contributed 105 various food items for the initiative. These items were then donated to the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry located off Highway 78 East at Community of Grace Church. The Southeast Gwinnett Co-op serves people of the Snellville area. Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer had the opportunity to deliver the food and receive a tour of the Co-op's facility from the director, Laura Drake. For more information about the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry, call 770-985-5229.
GEORGIA
ENCYCLOPEDIA Like his father, Cason Jewell Callaway (1894-1961) spent years as a textile manufacturer, a businessman, and a state agricultural leader. He achieved his greatest success in developing Callaway Gardens after retiring from Callaway Mills. A native of LaGrange, Cason attended Bingham Military School in Asheville, N.C., and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville before getting a degree from the Eastman School of Business in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. After finishing school, he returned to Troup County to work in the mills. He developed Valley Waste Mills into a commercial success by refining recycling operations.
During World War I (1917-18) Cason joined the U.S. Navy and worked in the Navy Supply Corps' Bureau of Supplies and Accounts at Navy Headquarters in Washington, D.C. After Cason returned to LaGrange, his father stepped away from active mill management, and Cason began managing the mills. He married Virginia Hollis Hand of Pelham, and the couple had three children, Virginia, Cason Jr., and Howard Hollis (known as "Bo"). Convinced in the 1920s that the national economy was heading for rough times, Fuller advised his two sons to choose one business arena and sell off their other holdings. The brothers sold most of their businesses and created a new corporation, Callaway Mills, which oversaw mill management. One key to Cason's success in mill management proved to be salesmanship, a trait he shared with his father. Cason established relations with General Motors, entered the rug and tire-cord business, and hired managers and salesmen to market mill products. Thanks to careful stewardship and to profits made from selling the other businesses, Callaway Mills survived the Great Depression without closing any plants, while management kept at least one member of every mill family fully employed. In 1934 and 1935 Callaway Mills suffered two employee strikes. Eventually management won out and strikers left the area, but the economic stresses of the decade led Cason to retire. Cason accepted national positions, served on the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and was a director for various national companies. During the 1920s and 1930s, Cason became close friends with Franklin D. Roosevelt, a part-time resident of west Georgia. Roosevelt began visiting Warm Springs in October 1924. He and Cason shared a love of the people, a desire to improve the land, and an interest in farming, even though they disagreed on politics. Following his retirement from the mills, Cason set up an experimental farming operation of 40,000 acres at his Blue Springs Farms near Hamilton, just south of LaGrange. In 1947 Cason had a heart attack. His focus shifted from agriculture to the development of what later became Callaway Gardens, situated on former cotton fields that had been stripped of nutrients by intensive farming. The gardens opened in May 1952. After Cason's death, his son Bo oversaw operations of the gardens for many years. (To be continued) CREDITS GwinnettForum is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday. If you would like to serve as an underwriter, click here to learn more. Send
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>> SPECIAL NOTICE TO GWINNETT Those interested in the history of Gwinnett need to know that the recently published book: Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta, has sold fast, with the first editions about sold out. There are less than 50 books remaining unsold. If you want the book for yourself, or to buy for a present for someone this year, you need to take action. Go to www.elliottbrack.com to order, or buy the book at a local bookstore shown on the site. (In full disclosure, the book is authored by the publisher of this Forum, and this notice is intended not so much to hawk, but to inform, those who have delayed purchase. -eeb) The books are available at these sites:
TODAY'S
QUOTE "Success is how you bounce when you hit bottom."
MORE RECENT COMMENTARY
ON THE BOOKSHELF Here are some other good reads that you might want to consider reading:
FOR CHARITY. You can give "A Gift of Laughter," a great book of cartoons by Bill McLemore, to help raise money for Rainbow Village. At just $20, it's a fun way to help. To order, call 770 840 1003, or 770 446 3800, or email to info@gwinnettforum.com. SISTER PUBLICATIONS We encourage you to check out our sister publications:
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Soldiers
from the 2nd Battalion 69th Armor Division at Fort Benning will serve
as honorary parade grand marshals and as Suwanee Day's special guests.
The unit will be returning soon, for a fourth deployment since 2003, to
the Middle East.
