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Norcross resident part of replay crew
for Super Bowl
By
Jim Grant
Special to GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's Note: Jim Grant of Norcross has been
an NFL Instant Replay Official for the past nine years. This year
he was selected to work at Super Bowl XLII. His wife, Denise,
and adult children, daughter, Katie and son, Bryan, joined him
at the game.)
NORCROSS, Ga., Feb. 12, 2008 -- Super Bowls are big games and the
people who officiate them, selected based on their performance throughout
the season, know that a lot is on the line. It's an honor to be
chosen and a thrill to work the game. While preparation for the
game is similar to any other NFL contest, Super Bowls comes with
a number of perks. We arrived in Phoenix on Thursday and were treated
to a wonderful dinner that evening honoring the officiating crew.
Grant at Super Bowl |
Friday was a partial workday as the crew visited the stadium for
a rehearsal of the coin toss. Friday night was the Commissioner's
Party at the Phoenix Air Museum, which included food, music and
an opportunity to see and visit NFL friends. The Super Bowl, is,
you see, a big family affair for people who work the regular season
games.
Saturday, the crew held our pre-game meeting. We watched an Instant
Replay training tape with plays from previous playoff games, saw
video of both offense and defense of the Patriots and the Giants,
and heard two officiating supervisors discuss playing tendencies
of both teams. Referee Mike Carey then walked the crew through operating
procedures for the game.
Saturday night my family and I visited the NFL Experience, which
is like a world's fair of football.
Sunday morning the crew boarded our bus for the stadium. We even
had a police escort. Our families rode separate buses and attended
the Tailgate Party. Once at the stadium we quickly moved into our
normal pre-game routines. My partner in the Replay Booth, Ken Baker,
and I, tested the equipment used to signal challenges and send video
to the field. We checked radios and pagers and both monitors on
the sidelines. For this game, the Replay Booth contained a full
set of backup equipment which was also tested.
Game time. The plays started and we watched carefully in case a
play was challenged. We use the video everyone sees at home. No
special cameras or camera angles. In the case of a challenge, we
select the best replays available and set them up to show the referee.
In this game there was only one coach's challenge when the Patriots
believed that the Giants had 12 men on the field during a fourth
down punt. We located two video images that indeed showed the 12
men and, while I played the video for the referee to see, my partner
talked to him about the resulting penalty on the Giants and the
first down it gave the Patriots.
During the two-minute warning periods, we have to confirm all of
the rulings on the field. If we can't, and it's a big enough play,
we must stop the game and try to confirm the ruling, always trying
not to give a team an advantage with an extra time out. And while
millions of fans watched the final minutes of this remarkable game,
we verified each and every call, without having to stop the game.
Our job done, we joined our families and friends for a relaxing
After Party at the Phoenix Convention Center.
So, a Super Bowl is just like any other NFL game, except for the
fact that it's being watched by over 100 million people.
Lumpkin County benefits from concept of Brit's
Bailey Bridge
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
FEB. 12, 2008 -- World War II gave us so many innovations that
still benefit us today. We saw one this past weekend which came
out of that great war.
Brack |
It was a "Bailey Bridge," which Lumpkin County recently
completed over the early reaches of the Chestatee River off Edwards
Parkway above Turner's Corner. The county had to replace a concrete-steel-timber
bridge that inspection by the Department of Transportation found
unsafe. In doing so, Lumpkin County got a tremendous bargain.
Lumpkin County Manager Stan Kelley says the county might have $3-5,000
in the bridge, noting a normal replacement bridge "usually
cost $200-300,000. We saved a lot of money using a Bailey Bridge."
It wasn't the first time that Lumpkin County had used Bailey Bridges.
They have built several others, including three at the Yahoola Creek
Reservoir, and had on hand some component parts. "We were notified
by Georgia DOT that we had to do something immediately to replace
the bridge. We put a lookout, and the Florida DOT had some parts
we needed. It took about a week to get them in, and we installed
the bridge in less than a week."
A Bailey Bridge in France |
Bailey Bridges carry the name of their inventor, a civil servant
in the British War Office, Donald Bailey. His engineering hobby
was tinkering with model bridges and their assembly. He devised
something like a man-sized Erector Set to build bridges of variable
sizes, able to handle tremendous loads. These were needed in the
war to allow equipment and vehicles, like 50 tons tanks, to cross
ravines or rivers. The bridges were made with prefabricated sections
that were interchangeable and, with steel pins, could be assembled
without complicated equipment.
The characteristics of the Bailey bridge were standardization and
simplicity of panels, readiness of assembly in the field, capacity
for additional strengthening by doubling or tripling the truss girders,
and adaptability to long spans with the aid of pontoons. A Bailey
pontoon bridge over the Maas River in The Netherlands spanned 4,000
feet.
Another element of the Bailey Bridge: it is easily transportable,
had to fit on standard Army trucks, and could be erected by simple
manpower with simple tools.
Sketch of structure of Bailey bridge |
The basic component is a steel lattice-work truss of about 10 feet,
weighing about 600 pounds, able to be lifted by several men. Pins
connecting lugs at each corner allowed for the panels to be assembled
into any length, and even stacked on top of one another for added
strength.
People familiar with Bailey Bridges like to say that you first
assemble a section, counter-balance it, then several men slide all
this over well-greased rollers with "lots of grunting."
One of the key features which makes Bailey Bridges so important
in the engineering world is the speed by which they can be assembled.
For instance, when Interstate 95 had a bridge failure in Greenwich,
Conn. in 1984, within two weeks, traffic was flowing smoothly again
after the erection of a temporary Bailey Bridge. A permanent replacement
would have taken a minimum of eight months.
The Brit who came up with this bridge idea in 1940, Donald Bailey,
earlier was a civil engineer for a railroad. He joined the War Office
in 1928 with the Experimental Bridging Establishment of the Ministry
of Supply. For his contribution to the war effort, he was awarded
the Order of the British Empire in 1944, and was knighted by King
George VI in 1946. He was appointed dean of the Royal Military College
of Science at Shrivenham in 1962 and retired in 1966.
Sir Donald Coleman Bailey, 1901-1985: now even Lumpkin County thanks
you.
 The
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to you at no cost to readers. Today's featured sponsor is Gwinnett
Community Bank of Duluth, Member, FDIC. Tom Martin is the CEO
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at 3463 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road in Suwanee. The phone number
for the Suwanee branch is 770-497-5252. Gwinnett Community Bank
also just opened a third branch at 2715 Hamilton Mill Road in Buford
(770 271 2715.) The web site is http://www.gwinnettcommunitybank.com.
Yet
another pronunciation of Dacula is put forward
Editor, the Forum:
The discussion about how to properly pronounce Dacula left out one
important variation: DAK-u-la!
It took me forever to stop thinking DAK-u-la and remember Da-COO-la;
when I first arrived last year, I fancifully imagined that the town
would have bats carved on its "Welcome to" sign and maybe
sponsor a special Halloween-themed city festival. At the very least,
the city stationery should use black and orange, don't you think?
It is just impossible for me to see Dacula and not think Dracula!
-- Kelly Olson, Suwanee
How about each county
contributing a little to Grady?
Editor, the Forum:
Has anyone "on the board" with intelligence or authority
thought about this for a solution to improve money woes at Grady
Hospital?
How about EVERY county in Georgia paying a small percent of every
person's bill from their county that is being treated at Grady "FREE"?
It could be easily added up and send the counties a monthly bill
...... That really sounds fair.
-- Dr. and Mrs. Donald Dove, Grayson
Dear Doves: You hit upon what elected officials
in surrounding counties particular do not want: to have to pay
for their residents who get treated at Grady. They are politicians;
they think this way, and never consider the unfairness of their
county not paying Grady. Logical straight thinking like yours
is not the order of the day in politics, now, is it? -eeb
Cherishes remembering
time spent with Jubilee Partners
Editor, the Forum:
I spent six months after college as a volunteer with Jubilee Partners
(GwinnettForum,
February 8) in the late 1980s. This was one of the most important
times of my life.
It was the only time I have ever lived in the country, where one
could actually see the Milky Way most nights. It was the only time
I have worked in a garden--and I mean a BIG garden, as in feeding
50-odd people--bringing in produce by the wheelbarrow-load in the
summer.
Most importantly, it broke open the rather restricted world view
of this upper-middle-class white woman in the context of a community
of people who are willing to follow their faith in God into difficult
or controversial situations in order to love their neighbors. I
am grateful for Jubilee's ministry, both to refugees and to volunteers!
I am glad to see the community recognized in GwinnettForum.
-- Carrie Mook Bridgman, Lilburn
Feels new auto license
plate missing key information
Editor, the Forum:
I have started to notice, what I assume is, a new Georgia auto
license plate that I haven't seen before. The new tag is whiter
than the last and is missing a few key information objects and I
wanted to ask what the reason for might be.
New tag: http://motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/plates/images/2004/aa.jpg
Old (familiar) tag: http://motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/plates/images/2004/pr.jpg
You'll notice that the new tag is missing "www" in the
domain name and is missing the month sticker in the lower left hand
corner. (This doesn't bother me, but just looks worse than the whole
thing did on the previous tag.)
The bigger issue (for me) is the month sticker is GONE! While driving
home yesterday it struck me as interesting that the State of Georgia
Tag Department would remove the big monthly sticker from the tag.
This has got to make it more difficult for law enforcement to check
validity of the tag. If I was driving down the road and saw a month
and the wrong color for the year I knew right away the person hadn't
renewed their tag. Surely the law enforcement officers were doing
the same. Without the month being shown it makes their job more
difficult.
I thought at first it was a one off-issue where somebody at the
tag office forgot to give the person the month sticker, but then
I saw two or three more between Lilburn and Dacula.
This morning when I check the tag samples online it appears that
this is the new method for the tags. I notice on my renewal sticker
received in December that the year also has the month on it now,
but it makes so much sense to have the large month sticker on the
lower left hand corner as well as on the label. (Let's be honest,
there are some people that have never figured out how to apply their
tag sticker appropriately so putting the month on the sticker itself
is a great idea).
I'm shocked if this change is/was endorsed by law enforcement as
it would seem to make their job more difficult.
Just an observation and wanted to see what might be out there for
feedback.
-- Eddie Phillips, Dacula
DOT
to begin removal of reversible lanes on U.S. 78
Georgia DOT announces roadway work will begin overnights this week
on the project to remove the reversible lane system and widen U.S.
Highway 78 in Gwinnett County. The project will be in sections.
The work will begin at the west end of the project. The first section
is West Park Place to Stone Drive. Crews will only be working in
this section and will begin overnight Wednesday, February 13 from
7 p.m. overnight to 5 a.m. the next morning.
Thursday morning there will be two lanes headed eastbound and three
headed westbound and a center turning lane in the section from West
Park Place to Stone Drive. As work begins in each section the reversible
lanes will be removed. Once the eastbound work is complete work
will shift to closing the outside westbound lane in this section.
Tree City of Suwanee
to plant trees on Feb. 15
In celebration of Arbor Day, the City of Suwanee will plant up
to a dozen trees Friday, February 15, near the new pedestrian bridge
that links Town Center and the Suwanee Creek Greenway. The 3-to-5-foot
trees, to be planted on the wooded side of the boardwalk bridge
that runs parallel to Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, will include oak,
river birch, and cypress specimens.
Planting will occur at 3 p.m. The public and volunteers are welcome.
Contact wrogers@suwanee.com
or 770/945-8996 to volunteer or for more information. Seedlings
will be given to each volunteer.
This marks the 18th consecutive year that Suwanee has been designated
a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
Deadline approaching
to apply for homestead exemption
Property owners must apply for a regular homestead or a Gwinnett
County value offset exemption by March 1, 2008, to receive an exemption
for the 2008 tax year.
Several types of homestead exemptions can reduce the burden of
ad valorem taxation for eligible homeowners. These exemptions apply
to property that is owned and occupied by a taxpayer at their legal
residence as of January 1 of the tax year. Also, vehicles owned
by Gwinnett County homeowners must be registered in Gwinnett County
at the time a homestead application is made.
Owners may apply for exemptions in several ways: mail, telephone,
online or by e-mail.
- Visit the web site at www.GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com.
to download and print an application form; or send an e-mail requesting
an application to tax@gwinnettcounty.com
- Telephone: Call the Tax Commissioner's Property Tax Customer
Service line at 770 822-8800 to request an application
- Mail: mail your request for an application to: Gwinnett
County Tax Commissioner, Attn - Property Tax Department, 75 Langley
Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30045
- In person: visit the Tax Commissioner's Property Tax
Department Customer Service office, located in the Gwinnett Justice
and Administration Center at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.
Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Students narrow GGC
mascot down to five choices
After accepting submissions for nearly a month, the Student Government
Association at Georgia Gwinnett College has narrowed 700 submissions
to five potential mascots that GGC students will vote on next week.
The choices are Centurions, Generals, Green Knights, Grizzlies or
Patriots.
Current GGC students will vote for their favorite choice from February
11-15 through the student web portal. The three potential mascots
with the most number of votes from the student body will be forwarded
to President Dan Kaufman for his final selection. GGC plans to announce
the new mascot on February 29.
SGA President William Johnson feels students are fortunate to have
the opportunity to take part in the establishment of the mascot.
"Students have been an integral part in the entire process
and the college administration has been very supportive of that."
The process of narrowing the 700 submissions was a gratefully daunting
one. "We were thrilled with the number of ideas we received
for the mascot," says Johnson. "People really wanted to
get involved with what we are doing here."
The SGA narrowed the submissions in part by removing those that
were already mascots for other Georgia schools, says Johnson. "We
were also looking for ideas that represent strength, pride and endurance.
It takes a lot of strength and endurance to start up a new college
and the students have great pride in the progress we have made in
such a short time."
County sets criteria
for sister community relationship
County commissioners adopted a new policy last week that sets criteria
for any foreign community or local government that wants a "sister
community" relationship with Gwinnett County.
Alfie Meek, director of the County's Economic Analysis division,
says: "We've had several requests for this over past few years
as economic development efforts at both the County and the Gwinnett
Chamber of Commerce have increased."
Commission Chairman Charles Bannister said that he feels it's in
Gwinnett's best interest "to promote cultural interchange and
economic cooperation" with foreign communities, but "we
need to make sure there are economic and social similarities and
citizen commitment to make the relationship a success."
The new policy establishes specific requirements and commitments
necessary for a sister community relationship, such as having similar
population size and concentrations of specific industries. Requirements
also call for lower levels of poverty and unemployment than their
national average, a community wide arts organization, a shared civic
organization, and a group of at least 20 resident volunteers willing
to coordinate activities for at least five years.
Sugar Hill buys central
3.6 acres as part of downtown plan
The City of Sugar Hill has purchased 3.6 acres near downtown for
$1 million. The city will demolish the building, and anticipates
the area will be used for re-building as part of the downtown complex.
The former NuAir plant on the property originally manufactured leather
boots in the early 1940s. In 1950 the plant was expanded to 38,000
square feet and most recently manufactured aluminum window frames
and operated until early 2007. The site is at the corner of West
Broad Street and Temple Avenue and is across from the Sugar Hill
Town Green.
The City of Sugar Hill is ready to demolish a building it
recently purchased. From left is Councilman Steve Edwards;
Randall Humphrey of Strategic Land Resources (SLR); Councilman
Nick Thompson; David Kelly of SLR; Councilman Mike Sullivan;
and Bob Hail, city manager. |
The City is in the process of creating a downtown that will include
wide, well-lighted sidewalks, a streetscape with greenery, on-street
parking, new stormwater system; and reducing the building setback
from 35 feet to the back of the new sidewalk.
These changes will present a development plan much like how cities
were built at the turn of the 20th century. This downtown plan is
the result of citizens voicing their desire for a family friendly
Town Center filled with shops and restaurants.
The citizens of Sugar Hill recently passed the Tax Allocation District
(TAD) Referendum. This key and valuable piece of property was purchased
for $1.0 million after several months of negotiations. The previous
owner was Jack Horner. The demolition will be carried out by Strategic
Land Services of Suwanee.
- An invitation: What
Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have
read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus
what book you plan to read next. --eeb
Macon's
Young Stribling makes name for himself as boxer
Macon resident Young
Stribling was a leading boxer in the heavyweight division during
the late 1920s and early 1930s. He was defeated in several world
title bouts, most notably against the German fighter Max Schmeling
in 1931.
Stribling |
William Lawrence "Young" Stribling Jr. was born in Bainbridge
on December 26, 1904. He grew up on the road as part of the Four
Novelty Grahams, a traveling vaudeville company consisting of Stribling,
his parents, and his brother, Herbert. As part of their act the
two children fought each other in oversized gloves while their father
acted as referee. As he grew older Stribling began to take on all-comers
from the audience. At age 16 he had his first professional fight,
in Atlanta. Over the next nine years, he moved through seven weight
divisions before settling as a heavyweight in 1929.
An 18,000-mile barnstorming tour across the country in 1925 earned
Stribling the moniker King of the Canebrakes. Writer Damon Runyon
invented the nickname to reflect Stribling's popularity in rural
areas. Loved across Georgia, Stribling was an exemplary citizen,
serving as an Elk, a Kiwanian, a Mason, and a Bible-class teacher
who worked with disadvantaged children. He was also a lieutenant
in the Army Reserve Air Corps and flew his own airplane to fights
around the country. Black Georgians, though, were less sympathetic
to Stribling, given his refusal to face African American fighters.
Despite a career record of 221 wins that included 125 knockouts
(a record later broken by Archie Moore) and an armory of punches,
including the Stribling Shift, Stribling never fulfilled his potential
as a fighter. Experts from outside Georgia believed that his father
was a poor manager and arranged too many bouts for his son. Indeed,
Stribling participated in 285 professional fights in 12 years,
Stribling was killed in a motorcycle accident at the age of 28,
on October 3, 1933. He was on the way to visit his wife and baby
son in a Macon hospital, when a car hit his motorcycle. The obituary
by Ralph McGill in the Atlanta Constitution stated that "Georgia
ha[d] taken this great young man to her heart, not realizing herself
what a place he held in her heart until he was gone."
Stribling's funeral in Macon further reflected the scale of his
support. Twenty-five thousand mourners walked past his coffin in
the town's auditorium and another 10,000 attended the service at
Riverside Cemetery. Messages of condolence came from the likes of
wealthy New York entrepreneur Cornelius Vanderbilt, golfer Bobby
Jones, and Georgia governor Eugene Talmadge. A year later a group
of prominent boxers, including famed Italian pugilist Primo Carnera,
attended a memorial service for Stribling in Macon.
Stribling was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in
1965 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame, in Canastota, N.Y.
in 1966.
Robert Frost looks
at liberalism a little differently
"A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in
a quarrel."
-- Poet Robert Frost (1874 - 1963)
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
or comments on any issue to Gwinnett
Forum for future publication.
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