(Editor's note: Gwinnett has looked at this issue in detail. The question that keeps coming up is, should Gwinnett penalize/punish the victim of graffiti vandals? However, there is no silver bullet that will solve this issue. It will take a combination of education, eradication and enforcement to rid our county of this problem. Therefore, Gwinnett does not believe that this type of legislation is the answer. Meanwhile, there is work ongoing between the legislative delegation and county commission to have legislation put into place that would allow Gwinnett to use inmates or county resources to remove the graffiti on private property under certain guidelines. Until this legislation passes, there is no current legislation to address what you suggest. -eeb)

4/11: Amazed how far you travel per second (in feet) at 70 mph

Editor, the Forum:

I read with interest Ms. Liberatore's letter and the trouble she was having getting her teen's driver's license. I didn't know that Driver's Education was not taught anymore at the state's high schools!

I think it should be required, judging from what I am observing on our streets and highways around here. Tailgating, cutting across lanes on four lane traffic, and just general discourtesy shown by drivers of all ages.

I'll bet the average driver and your readers cannot tell you how many feet per second one is traveling at 70 mph. ! I'll make it easy; at 70 m.p.h. your car is traveling at 102.7 feet per second!

Figure this, when on the interstate at this speed, and you are four car lengths behind a car and that car suddenly has to brake to avoid an accident. By the time you get your foot off the accelerator, and you engage your brakes, you have traveled over 200 feet. Then you have to stop. I shudder every time I have to drive through Atlanta. Of course, nobody drives 70 mph in Atlanta! More like 80!

-- David Earl Tyre, Jesup

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

4/1: Remembers Louise Cooper as sweet person

Editor, the Forum

I was sorry to read in the Forum recently that Louise Cooper had passed away. What a sweet, bright woman she was!

Louise Cooper

One fond memory I have is the time she brought in an antique walnut clock with one of the decorative side panels broken off. I told her I thought I could carve a replacement and she was delighted.

I obtained a piece of matching walnut from John Herndon (I think I am right), who was a mayor of Suwanee. He maintained a huge junkyard in his barn, basement and around his house and had a lot of wood left from his career in the furniture manufacturing business.

I was able to carve a design to match the other side pretty quickly, and I should have let it go at that. Instead, I kept fooling with it until the replacement side looked much better than the original side.

Fortunately, Louise was pleased with it anyway.

Thanks for bringing back memories of Louise back so well.

-- Myles Godfrey, Winder

4/1: Liked item remembering Louise Cooper

Editor, the Forum:

I want to thank you for such a nice article on Louise Cooper, a member of the Gwinnett County Retired Educators Association until her death.

-- Ralph Greene, Snellville, president, Gwinnett Retired Educator's Association

4/1: Surely it is true that moving limbs causes wind to blow

Editor, the Forum:

Listening to the arguments by anti-war protestors is sort of like listening to a child's explanation that the moving limbs of trees are what are causing the wind to blow.

-- Allan Hytowitz, Norcross