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TODAY'S ISSUE
Tips for if you want to visit best football stadiums in USA
By Paul Sansone
Special to GwinnettForum.com

SEPT. 8, 2006 -- Allrighty, football fans. It's time to officially get excited about the 2006 NFL season.

School has started, Labor Day is upon us and the theme parks are back on their "weekend only" hours. If you are thinking about that perfect football getaway to an NFL stadium of your choice, here are some suggested towns that make my road trip short list, and limited commentary on some teams.

Green Bay: The Packers are extremely tough tickets to get as Lambeau Field is the hallowed ground of the NFL. Check out the Packers' Hall of Fame and Museum across the street from the stadium.

Kansas City: One of the great NFL cities that flies under the radar. The fans are some of the most loyal in the country. Many employers encourage Red Fridays, when workers can dress in their favorite Chief colors. The parking lot that encircles Arrowhead Stadium is packed with tailgaters and Kansas City barbecue.

Cleveland: Go to see the rabid Browns fans barking in the beloved Dawg Pound. You may want to go early in the season to avoid post-Halloween frostbite.

Tampa Bay: One of the best new stadiums in the NFL and with a great party atmosphere. Located behind the North End Zone is Buccaneer Cove, a 20,000 square foot weathered fishing village, complete with pirate ship, crew and a talking parrot.

Charlotte: Beautiful downtown stadium and an easy drive from Atlanta. Check out the leaping panther statues in front of each entrance.

Arizona: You've heard of a few retractable roofs, but how about retractable grass? The new home of the Cardinals is a state of the art facility that actually has the football turf on a 12 million pound tray that slides outside the stadium when not in use for maximum sun exposure. I'm looking into that concept for my front yard, and it would really come in handy when my neighbor is outside mowing.

Falcons: Las Vegas figures that the Falcons will win eight games this year. I say at least nine. During the Michael Vick era, the Birds alternate good seasons in even number years. 2002 was the record setting, wild card playoff win at Green Bay. In 2004, they advanced to the NFC championship game. 2006? Say what you want about Vick's lack of passing statistics, but he is electrifying and wins football games. The doubters will go away if, and only if, he leads a team to the Super Bowl.

Seahawks: Bad news for Seahawks fans: there have only been two NFL teams during the Super Bowl era to raise the Lombardi Trophy the year after losing the Super Bowl. The last team to do it was the 1972 Miami Dolphins (who accomplished the feat with flair, by also steamrolling to the perfect 17-0 season). Perhaps I should just stick to watching the games and eating nachos.

Saints: The New Orleans Saints are going through a transition year in '06, but look for them as playoff contenders in 2007. It all starts with rookie Head Coach Sean Payton getting a year under his belt, Drew Brees getting comfortable with his new receivers and offense, and Reggie Bush and his nine yards per carry in college being welcomed to the NFL. Expect a struggle for New Orleans this season as the NFC South is going to be extremely strong.

Steelers: I'm not sure fans fully appreciate what the Pittsburgh Steelers accomplished in last year's post season. For the first time ever, a team won three straight playoff games on the road and then the big one at a neutral site. Going forward, that streak may be less uncommon than once every 40 years in the new parity based NFL, but it will still be rare.

Dolphins: Running back Ronnie Brown has totaled only 720 carries over the course of the last five seasons in both college and the NFL. If Head Coach Nick Saban and the Fish have it their way, Ronnie will rush the ball around 340-360 times this season, or more than twice his average. Then again, if you were his coaches and were choosing handoffs between Brown and Cadillac Williams or Ricky Williams, you can see why Ronnie had fewer touches.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Trip to Duluth gains treasure trove of Gwinnett history
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

SEPT. 8, 2006 -- Every now and then you get lucky. It was a few years back when we got a telephone call from Minor Corley of Duluth. He had been a farm equipment dealer and later served for eight years on the county commission.

"Come and have lunch with me and my wife (Winnie) at our place in Duluth," he said. That in itself was a treat, for we dined in their home, which is today the Payne-Corley House, a special events place. But back then it was the Corley home, and was beautifully decorated and sparkling. Winnie produced for us a sumptuous southern meal, complete with fresh vegetables and fried chicken. We still remember how good it was!

After lunch, Minor and I sat in their sun-drenched den, an add-on at the back of the house, and talked. He pulled out a liquor box full of personal papers from his days on the county commission. It was obvious that this was a treasure trove of valuable papers from 1958-64 relating to county activities.

Going through the correspondence, resolutions, programs, and other items, it was obvious just how much Gwinnett had changed over the years. For instance, in those days, there were only three county commissioners. Minor told me (from my notes from that meeting) "When citizens wanted something done, I usually got with Clyde Phillips, the warden of the county farm….and we would get it done (usually with prison labor.)"

Mr. Corley also said: "We worked with prisoners, and helped with work ourselves, for in those days, you (as a commissioner) had to do everything. I would surely think you wouldn't find a county commissioner today doing the work, manual labor, we did back then."

He also mentioned that the total budget for Gwinnett County back in that era was approximately $1 million for the entire year. As a comparison, the Gwinnett budget for 2006 is $1.6 billion. That amounts to Gwinnett spending $4.5 million a day in 2006.

Mr. Corley became an Allis Chalmers dealer in 1936. "In those days, if you sold 3-4-5 tractors a year, you did all right. You had a transition changing from mules to machines. Before World War II, we sold the idea of rubber tires, instead of steel spiked wheels, saying you could roll better than you could dig. But then the war came and instead of rubber tires, the wheels went back to spiked steel. Then after the war, we were re-selling the idea of rubber tires all over again. We told farmers it took a certain amount of energy to pull the spikes out of the ground, and that tractors would roll smoothly with rubber tires with the same power." He was an equipment dealer for 47 years.

"When I was a commissioner, my father, A.J. (Jess) Corley, (himself a former county commissioner) helped run the dealership, as did Clinton Garner of Lilburn. Clinton was with me 22 years and ran the dealership better than I did."

Little did I realize that some day I would attempt to write down some of Gwinnett's history. And yes, that liquor box Minor Corley gave to me is coming in mighty handy, as its treasures tell many stories of the days when Gwinnett was first beginning to grow.

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is Wheeler/Kolb Management Co. The company evolved from the name change of Hudgens Management Company in November, 1991. Tom Wheeler and Tom Kolb have been principal owners since 1985. Wheeler/Kolb has offices in Duluth and has 28 employees. More: www.wheelerkolb.com

A recent article about Georgia Quakers from the Georgia Encyclopedia had a few errors which need, a clarification. (GwinnettForum, August 29.)

Its first sentence sounds as if the Religious Society of Friends had changed their name to Quakers. In 1991, the Friends built a new meeting house in Decatur.

I am a member of Atlanta Meeting and a former clerk. I attend Gwinnett Preparative Meeting, which suggests that it may become a meeting in the future. In the Spirit.

Gwinnett police and firemen will be honored at the 2006 Appreciation Day and Olympix on Saturday, September 9 at the Scott Hudgens Park Soccer Fields in River Green in Duluth.

This event will allow the public to honor the professional emergency response personnel. It is open to the public. There is no admission fee.

Teams of officers and emergency personnel will be competing in Olympix games such as Donut Relay, T-Thaw, Hula Discs, Pants on Fire and more. There will be fun games for children at a minimal charge. There will be concession stands and a Silent Auction

The events begin at 9 a.m. Then the game begin, and continue through lunch. The closing ceremony begins at 1:30, with winners announced and awards presented. This event benefits the Foster Children's Foundation.

The Gwinnett Philharmonic begins its new season on September 26 at 8 p.m. with a grand 250th Birthday Party for one of the most beloved composers of all--- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

To celebrate, the Philharmonic will feature one of its principal musicians, Kathy White, who will perform Mozart's legendary Clarinet Concerto. After intermission, the orchestra will play his beloved Symphony No. 41, better known by its nickname, "Jupiter."

Founding Music Director Monte Nichols has great enthusiasm for this concert and the upcoming season. "I think that the audiences will notice some new additions this year that will really enhance the enjoyment of the concert experience, including an I-mag screen above the orchestra that will allow us to see the virtuoso musicians and their instruments up-close. You hear this every year, but I really think that this will be the best season ever and it begins with some of the finest music ever written."

Launching its 12th year, the Gwinnett Philharmonic brings great music to Gwinnett audiences. The season's seven musical events will take place in the intimate surroundings of the acoustically excellent Gwinnett Performing Arts Center at the Gwinnett Center on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.

Season Tickets are available by calling the Philharmonic office at 770-418-1115 or ordering through the web site at www.gwinnettphilharmonic.org.

Tickets for individual concerts can be purchased through Ticketmaster after September 10, 2006 by calling 404-249-6400 or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet or the Gwinnett Center Box Office at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.

The September 19 meeting of the Gwinnett Technology Forum will present Andy Mullins CEO and President of Datapath. The meeting is at 7:30 a.m. at the Scientific Atlanta Auditorium in the Busbee Center at Gwinnett Technical College.

In his role at DataPath, Mr. Mullins is responsible for the creation and implementation of the company's strategic direction and operational programs, as well as for the attainment of its financial goals. Under his leadership, DataPath has introduced new mobile and portable satellite communications networks, expanded its customer base and delivered a 176 percent revenue growth in 2005 over 2004. The firm is located in Duluth on Satellite Boulevard.

Prior to joining DataPath, Mr. Mullins was president and chief operating officer of Candle Corp., one of the world's largest independently owned software and services companies at the time of its acquisition by IBM Corp. in 2004.

DataPath delivers mission-critical connectivity for voice, video and Internet communications. A worldwide systems integrator, DataPath specializes in customized satellite earth terminals and network solutions for governments and businesses.

The Diabetes Association of Atlanta, Inc. is recruiting members to serve on its Gwinnett County Youth Council.

This is a component of a new initiative, entitled Healthy Habits (H2). This program has the mission of teaching and promoting, within middle school youth, healthy habits and lifestyles for the prevention of complications from obesity and diabetes. H2's goal is to make habits of healthy eating and exercise among youth.

The Association is looking for adolescents who can be an active voice for friends while having fun at the same time. The Youth Council will advise the Diabetes Association of Atlanta, Inc. on the H2 program and provide a youthful point of view to the Association's vision.

Students gain experience in public speaking and in producing radio and TV programs regarding healthy habits. They will be trained on health and topics including diabetes and nutrition. Participants will have an opportunity to earn hours of volunteer experience for their school curriculum and gain leadership experience.

Obesity is no longer just an adult problem. According to the latest Georgia Overweight and Obesity Fact Sheet, the number of children who are overweight has more than doubled for youths 12-19 years of age and has more than tripled for youths ages 6 to 11. The report also states that in Georgia, 33 percent of middle school students (ages 11 to 14) are at risk for being overweight or are overweight. Moreover, a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation notes that America's obesity epidemic is getting worse.

Those interested in participating should be middle school students, ages 11 to 14, who have an interest in health, are hardworking, enthusiastic, and creative are invited to join the council. A small stipend and other incentives are also available for members who serve at least a two-year term.

For more information about the Healthy Habits Youth Council, and how to apply please call Leila Bucary, Youth Council Coordinator, at (404) 520-7150 or e-mail LBucary@diabetesatlanta.org.

Go to www.refdesk.com. It is a truly wonderful resource. It is filled with facts and an amazing range of information, including news and trivia and rare tidbits and photos and maps and entertainment and I can use it for just about any type of research and appreciate its breadth and depth.

GEORGIA TIDBIT
Patrick Mell was prominent in university, Baptist circles

Patrick Hues Mell (1814-1888) was one of the most influential educators and ministers in 19th century Georgia

For almost 50 years he served as professor of ancient languages and chief administrator at Mercer University and the University of Georgia, and he also held leadership roles in the Southern Baptist and Georgia Baptist conventions. His greatest influence as a moderator of numerous religious and educational assemblies earned him the designation "prince of parliamentarians."

Born in Liberty County on July 19, 1814, Mell received his education from local academies until his entrance into Amherst College in Massachusetts in 1833. He left Amherst two years later and served as teacher and administrator in various schools in the North before arriving at Emory College (later Emory University), then located in Oxford. In 1841 Mell joined the faculty at Mercer University in Penfield as professor of ancient languages. In 1856 he took a similar position at the University of Georgia in Athens, becoming that school's vice chancellor in 1860. From 1878 to 1888 he was the chancellor of the university.

A lay leader of Georgia Baptists, Mell dominated all aspects of his denomination. As a parliamentarian he was the moderator of the Georgia Baptist Association for 32 years, president of the Georgia Baptist Convention for 30 years, and president of the Southern Baptist Convention for two terms, totaling 15 years. As pastor he served the Baptist church at Greensboro for ten years and led the congregations at Bairdstown (in Greene County) and Antioch (in Oglethorpe County) for 30 and 26 years respectively. He was a book author and wrote articles and tracts on the subjects of slavery, Calvinism, and predestination.

Mell provided brave leadership for the University of Georgia during the Civil War (1861-65) and Sherman's March to the Sea. He died on January 26, 1888, after months of failing health.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
United States' founding is something mighty distinctive

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