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Distinctive way to offer Bible studies for high schoolers
By Jamie Denty
Special to GwinnettForum.com

MAY 18, 2007 -- When I graduated from high school in 1954, I had earned two elective credits, one in Old Testament and one in New Testament, from the Dallas, Texas Independent School District. They were two of the most important courses I ever took and certainly prepared me well for my major studies in religion at Southern Methodist University.

The recent news about Muskogee County, Georgia being the first to implement the newly state-certified course in the study of Bible as History and Literature certainly brought back fond memories for me. Several other counties will implement the course next year.

I would have enjoyed teaching such a course. However, those who voice strong concern about the difficulty in separating fact from faith in a public school classroom setting have legitimate concerns. Although I know of several teachers who would excel in teaching this course, I can also think of a number of people I would not like attempting this task with my children. And Biblical scholars must ask themselves: How in the world do you teach Biblical facts without their implications for living today? I see lawsuits on the horizon.

I think the Dallas School System displayed the wisdom of Solomon in its offering of these studies years ago. The school system prepared the textbook with specific facts---name the books of the Bible in order, name the 12 disciples, identify these Biblical sites on the map. The system also administered and monitored the final exam based entirely on the lessons in the textbook.

Every student then went to one locale in the city one Saturday morning to take this final exam, much in the same way school systems today administer the SAT. The system contracted the high schools as to which students would receive the credit.

Here's the kicker, though. All of the classes were taught on Sundays at a variety of church denominations throughout the city. Churches registered with the school system to offer the course. The classes were publicized through the schools, but it was up to the students to go to the church of their choice to sign up for the class and to attend each week.

Although churches selected their own teachers, the school system certified the results based on the score they earned on a system-wide test prior to starting the class. Each teacher had to maintain strict attendance rolls. No student was eligible to take the final if he had not attended class regularly.

The school system specified the historical and literary information that it wanted the students to become proficient in; each church presented the factual information in keeping with its own doctrine.

Both years, my class filled the classroom. And while most participants were members of our large church, several students came from churches not offering the class or those who didn't attend any church regularly.

Because most of us were Methodists in a Methodist church, our class discussions were lively. No question was off limits because of separation of church and state laws. Our teacher felt free to explore the faith issues each fact raised.

Many eyes across the country will be watching these first schools as they attempt to walk a very fine line. Some will be too eager to pounce if they falter or stumble. Others will constantly nag the system to introduce more doctrine as they see it than Biblical fact, a death trap for sure. While I hope the students in these experimental classes come away with a fine body of knowledge, I also wish that they too could have had the best of both worlds as I did.

Problems have closed Snellville food co-op since July 2006
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

MAY 18, 2007 -- A growing county like Gwinnett continually gets new ventures, commercial, public, and charitable. One of the most beneficial to develop in the last 25 years has been the various community co-ops serving the less fortunate people.

Food ministries, under different names, are operating in Norcross, Lilburn, Duluth, Lawrenceville and North Gwinnett/Buford. However, at present, the Southeast Gwinnett Food Co-Op in Snellville is not operating as it once was.

A series of changes, dropped balls, perhaps some bureaucratic bungling, and plain misfortunes have caused the Co-op virtually to be closed, since July 2006. In the meantime, the 8,000-plus people it served (for the last full year), have no source of emergency assistance.

The Co-op, which started in 1992, was operating out of a building owned by the First United Methodist Church in Snellville. The land of that building was swapped to the City of Snellville, and the co-op had to move last July.

The Co-op found a welcoming reception from the Vision Board of Community of Grace Lutheran Church, located on U.S. Highway 78, just outside the Snellville city limits. The co-op purchased two mobile units to be located on the five acre church property….but ran into difficulties.

Apparently no building permit was secured when the trailers were placed. The church was to lease the property to the Co-op for a sum of $10 for three years, but its insurance policy required both a contract and building occupancy permit.

The trailers were delivered in July, 2006, yet still today, have no certificate of occupancy. The last contact with the Gwinnett Dept. of Planning and Zoning, which issues the permits, was in January, when the county found the footings were not poured properly.

Meanwhile, the Co-op employed the Lawrenceville firm of Macon Gooch Building Consultants to help with the problem. Mr. Macon Gooch of the engineering firm said that they found problems with the two trailers, including not having a permanent foundation. The Gooch firm is presently at work to design the foundation, and talking with the firm which installed the trailers to get the work complete. No indication of a timetable for this work to be finished has been established.

A few facts: Don Ashworth of Loganville was the director of the Co-op for more than 11 years. A retired Forest Service employee, he had also headed the Lawrenceville Housing Authority for six years before being approached by four Snellville area churches to found the co-op in 1992. Those initial churches included the Snellville First Baptist, Evangel Community Church, Anniston Road Baptist and Snellville United Methodist. Eventually 29 churches were part of the Co-op. It was thriving.

Beth Moffat, the current director, says that in the Co-op's last full year of operation, its monetary contributions were $102,188. Meanwhile it handed out $60,375 in financial assistance; $92,724 in food assistance; $8,238 for in-kind clothing assistance; and $1,949 for school supplies. (All this doesn't all up, since the Co-op receives many in-kind gifts.)

The Rev. Matt Henning, pastor of Grace Church, says his church was excited about the Co-op being on its land. "It provides a great ministry, helping those on the edge of poverty, and networking to find people work, and help with food and housing.

"Lots of little things have held them up, and it's very complicated. We want to do what we can to get their trailers open and the Co-op operating again. "

The Co-op is set up to serve those people in need in four zip codes of Snellville, Loganville and Grayson (30078, 30017, 30052 and 30039). Because the Snellville Co-op is not operating now, this puts additional pressure on the other co-ops in Gwinnett.

Gwinnett has growing needs in many areas, including helping people in dire circumstances. The lack of a Co-op in Snellville is a black mark on Gwinnett, and will be, until bureaucratic wrangling, professional assistance and innovative leadership takes hold and gets the program fully running.

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's featured sponsor 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've been doing a little bit of digging online to see if I can find out what the poles are that I just noticed at several intersections around Gwinnett.

At both Lawrenceville Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, and at Lawrenceville Highway and Indian Trail Road, there are poles not associated with the light system, located just off the intersection. At the top there seems to be a string with a weighted item hanging down. Attached to the pole is a box that I would assume is a computer or communication device of some sort.

I have not noticed them before, but while sitting in some of the wonderful Gwinnett traffic over the last couple of weeks, spotted them at these two intersections.

Do you have any information on these? Sorry, but I do not have a photo of them for reference.

The fourth annual Art on the Historic Square comes May 25-26 this year in Lawrenceville. The Dunwoody Arts and Crafts Guild and the Lawrenceville Tourism and Trade Association coordinate the event.

Works will be displayed by over 40 local and regional artists. This is a free family festival and will include a variety of juried fine arts exhibitors and crafts vendors. Included will be an extensive assortment of paints, prints, pottery, jewelry, glass, and photography.

Hours are 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information contact Rebekah Cline at 678-226-2639 or via e-mail at Rebekah@Visitlawrenceville.com.

Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel will be the speaker on May 24 at the Governmental Affairs of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. The meeting will be Thursday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce building.

Ms. Handel was sworn into office on January 8, as Georgia's first Republican secretary of state. This constitutional office oversees elections, corporations, securities, and professional licensing boards, and also controls the state archives and the Capitol museum.

Previously, in 2003, she was elected chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commission, becoming the first woman chairman for the state's largest and most populous county. She is also credited with passing the strongest ethics laws of any local government, uncovering corruption in the Sheriff's Department, and reforming a badly managed tax assessors department.

This event is free for Chamber members and guests. To RSVP, please contact Demming Bass at 770-232-8807 or via e-mail at demming@gwinnettchamber.org.

Gwinnett County will opened a new Public Health Services facility Tuesday. The building, at 455 Grayson Highway in Lawrenceville, was built for Wal-Mart and also served as a temporary American Red Cross recovery center for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina. About 47,000 square feet in the building will be devoted to public health.

The county health department, also known as the East Metro Health District, will have a 21,000 square-foot clinic plus lab space for dentistry and infectious diseases. The facility will offer screenings for hearing and dental health, immunizations, and children's medical services among others. There will also be program offices for Babies Can't Wait and the Women, Infants and Children program known as WIC.

The $3 million renovation of the building was designed by Lindsay, Pope and Brayfield and built by Hogan Construction Group. The East Metro Health District's Environmental Health Unit is also relocating to the building that already houses the elections office, a records center and storage for various county government departments.

Gwinnett commissioners will lease a house to the City of Norcross for use as a welcome center in the historic downtown area. The house is adjacent to and part of a site that the county bought for a new fire station and fire equipment museum.

The city will lease the 1,380 square-foot house at 2189 Lawrenceville Street for 25 years and has agreed to pay for maintenance and utilities costs and to provide restrooms for visitors to a nearby museum. Norcross will use the building for historical and educational displays or for a welcome center or visitor's bureau office.

After the new expanded fire station is built, the city will buy the site of current Fire Station 1 at 75 College Street, the county's first and oldest fire station, which was opened in 1971. Last December, Gwinnett commissioners awarded a $2.6 million construction contract for the new station to C.P. Richards Construction Co. of Lithonia. Work is expected to be complete by January 31, 2008.

The Duluth Police Department is currently accepting applications from those interested in becoming a Police Explorer.

The DPD Explorer Program involves all aspects of policing, with classes and tours covering a wide range of experiences. They include:

Each participant will have an opportunity to "ride along" with a Duluth Police Officer on patrol and experience the Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) Training Simulator. The IVR is a 300-degree high-definition use of force firearms training simulator system that will put each participant in the role of a police officer. Participants will have to make split second decisions while reacting to changing scenarios.

The Law Enforcement Exploring Post is designed for young men and women who live in or near the city of Duluth, as a mentoring and training program for teens to become familiar with and involved in Law Enforcement.

For more information contact Officer Scott Parrish at 678-417-3514/ or you can email him at sparrish@duluthpd.com.

Mercer's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Atlanta is currently developing a Physician Assistant program in conjunction with its educational partnership---Piedmont Healthcare of Atlanta. The graduate program is set to matriculate its inaugural class in January, 2008 following successful provisional accreditation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.

Applications for the inaugural class are currently being accepted. Twenty-six students will enroll in a 28-month program that will lead to the Master of Medical Science degree. In addition to the graduate program, Mercer will have a bachelor's degree pre-physician assistant program in the College of Liberal Arts. Undergraduate students successfully completing a minimum of 90 hours of pre-requisite coursework in the program, including all CLA general education requirements and the designated number of hours of direct patient care experience, will be considered for admission into the highly-competitive master's program in Atlanta.

For more information about the program, please check out the website at http://www.mercer.edu/pharmacy/pa.htm, or contact the COPHS Student Affairs and Admissions Office by calling (678) 547-6232 or e-mail paprogram@mercer.edu.

Gwinnett Technical College's spring quarter enrollment increased 11.2 percent over the same period last year. College leaders credit in-demand program offerings, highly flexible class options, and improvements made to ease enrollment procedures, for the increased interest.

Gwinnett Tech led metro Atlanta area technical colleges in enrollment growth this spring quarter, according to the Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE). The Lawrenceville-based college was the second largest of area technical colleges in terms of total enrollment with 4,196 students enrolled for the current quarter.

Gwinnett Tech President Sharon Rigsby credits the growth in enrollment to strong interest in many of the college's newer programs. They include childhood education, coupled with increasing interest in healthcare programs, computer science, commercial construction management and automotive service, programs which correlate to the area's most in-demand job sectors.

Gwinnett Tech has also expanded registration times, simplified enrollment procedures and tailored class schedules that meet the needs of working students. For more information about Gwinnett Tech's more than 45 educational offerings, call 770.962.7580.

I have a friend, Lisa Creedon, who recently published a book entitled, The Women's Survival Guide. Lisa is a Snellville mom, raising two daughters. This book is for any woman, unless of course, you have a full time maid who takes care of these activities. It is stuffed full (neatly so) of practical advice on running your home, becoming organized, being a stay-at-mom and making some money on the side, how to perform basic maintenance on your car, kid/family tested recipes, staying healthy, stretching a dollar, starting a new career, and more. It is a realistic hope for real life problems written with humor and heart. Take a look at her website www.lisacreedon.com for a list of content and for ordering information.

In the 1940s Cagle's was a mom-and-pop poultry shop in downtown Atlanta where customers could choose any live bird and wait until it was processed to order. Today, it is one of the top poultry producers in the world, selling more than 400 million pounds of chicken to supermarkets, food distributors, food-processing companies, fast-food chains, restaurants, and schools since its founding.

By 1945 the company's founder, George L. Cagle, who had dabbled in the north Georgia egg and poultry industry, decided to open his own poultry shop. Armed with $8,000, Cagle opened a store in the Five Points area of downtown Atlanta, which catered to walk-in customers as well as to hotels, hospitals, and restaurants.

As Cagle's grew, George Cagle realized that personal service alone wouldn't keep the company competitive. The business would have to own and raise the birds it was selling in order to cut down on costs to the middleman.

Cagle's contractor-farmers have played a large part in the company's growth by producing 2.6 million eggs each week for Cagle's hatchery. Once the chicks are hatched, the farmers use the feed and any other assistance provided by Cagle's to produce the best birds possible. The company's rigid quality-control standards have also been important, guiding what it will and will not sell to its customers. Cagle's inspectors ensure that sizing conforms to customer wants and that every piece is carefully deboned and free of bruises and blemishes.

Cagle's products have changed as consumers' needs have changed. As more and more women headed into the workplace, Cagle's began selling chicken that was cut up and sold in individually frozen pieces, which could be easily thawed and cooked. The company also sold individually frozen pieces that had been breaded and marinated, which were targeted for busy families or singles. Fast-food companies in search of consistent chicken nuggets turned to Cagle's for ready-to-cook pieces that could be prepared with the same result each time.

In 2004 Cagle's was the 114th-ranked publicly traded company in Georgia, with more than $300 million in revenue. The Cagle family still manages the company and owns more than 60 percent of its stock.

"Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do."

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