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Snellville doctor says be careful this summer with your health
By Earl Grubbs, MD
Medical Director of the Emergency Department
Emory Eastside Medical Center
Special to GwinnettForum.com

SNELLVILLE, Ga., June 27, 2008 -- Here are some tips for safety since it's summertime. With time to spend outside, at the pool or beach, or maybe at summer camp, summer is also a time to take extra measures to make sure the fun doesn't lead to a medical emergency.

Heat illness or heat stroke is a common problem when the temperatures begin to rise. Staying hydrated is the key to prevention. Heat illness is primarily a dehydration problem. When playing or working outdoors in the summer, you should drink plenty of water or other beverages with electrolytes, and if you feel at all overheated, get into the shade or a cool place as quickly as possible. Stay away from caffeinated drinks and alcohol, which are hydrators.

Water safety measures are so important. Hundreds of people drown every year or have other serious water related injuries. Even great swimmers can drown. Never leave a child unattended, and likewise adults are wise to not swim alone. Never dive into a pool unless the water is at least nine feet deep, and never dive into water when the depth or contour of the bottom is unknown.

Even something as simple as a mosquito or other insect bite can result in serious medical problems. Scratching mosquito bites is never a good idea. There are more and more cases of MRSA, a form of staph bacteria that is resistant to antibiotic treatment, in the community. Scratching bug bites can make you or your children more vulnerable to this type of staph infection. I can recommend using bug repellants to avoid the bites in the first place, and use of a topical anti-itch cream when bites do occur.

Two additional summertime activities, picnics and wheeled sports (bikes, skates, and skateboards) can be a lot of fun, but must be treated with respect. Be aware also of food poisoning, which can be the result of "improperly prepared or stored foods, resulting in an unpleasant ending to an otherwise successful picnic. Make sure picnic foods are properly prepared and stored. In other words, "When in doubt, throw it out."

Make sure your child wears a helmet when participating in biking or skating activities. The best way for parents to encourage this behavior is to set the right example by wearing theirs. The brain is the most delicate organ in our bodies and doesn't tolerate trauma. Helmet use saves lives and significantly decreases long-term disability from head injuries.

Most of these safety tips take just a little extra time and thought. With just a few simple precautions, you and your family can have a fun and safe summer season.

For more information about programs and services at Emory Eastside Medical Center, call MedlineSM at 770-972-7570 or visit emoryeastside.com.

Another of "Greatest Generation," Buford's Tom Moss, dies
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher

JUNE 27, 2008 -- Another of the "greatest generation" has passed. We refer to the Tom Moss Jr., 82, who for years was the operator of Moss Equipment Company of Buford.

You can tell by the wry smile on the photograph of Tom Moss that he looked at the world a little differently. He had a sly sense of humor, and enjoyed hearing and telling good stories. He also was a little skeptical of a person, a little wary, until that person proved otherwise. He saw the world, not through rose-colored glass, but with a clear reality, knowing that usually there was more to everything than meets the eye.

Born in Forsyth County, he graduated from high school in Gainesville, and attended North Georgia College. Soon he was a seaman in the U.S. Navy while a teenager. His military service as a Naval medic attached to the Marines in the Pacific, took him to some of the harshest fighting of World War II -- the invasion of Okinawa. He earned two purple hearts and a Presidential Military Citation during his time of military service.

Returning home after his service, he joined a company in Buford that his father had started in 1944. Running it initially in the years when the business in Gwinnett was primarily an agricultural-based one, he saw the business change through the years to concentrate on sales to companies specializing in suburban landscaping .

Meanwhile, Mr. Moss was serving his city and county. He served one term (1957-58) representing Gwinnett County in the House of Representatives of the Georgia legislature and was as a member of the Buford school board from 1969 to 1974. (His wife, Martha, would serve on the board from 1976-81.)

He was also active in civic affairs, as a director of the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce, director of the Bank of Duluth, president of the Buford Kiwanis Club, and director of the Georgia Farm Equipment Dealer's Association. He was also one of Gwinnett's citizens who helped form the Gwinnett County Fair Association.

Through it all, Tom Moss maintained a relatively calm and quiet demeanor, listening patiently to customers and friends, quietly going about his job, and serving his fellow citizens.

He is survived by Martha, his wife of 58 years; a son, Mark, of Gainesville; a daughter, Lisa Perez of Alexandria, Va.; a sister, Mrs. Dan (Margie) McGill; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Mr. Moss was buried at Broadlawn Memorial Gardens in Buford from Junior Flanigan Funeral Home.

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We The People is an organization committed to educating Americans about their fundamental rights, power of the Constitution, and the essential principles of liberty. www.givemeliberty.org

They have taken on an initiative to exercise Constitutional "right of redress", a process by which citizens can formally articulate their grievances with government and request a response.

On June 30, 2008, 1,200 Americans will begin exercising the right by formally serving a Legal Notice and Demand for Redress upon the President, Attorney General and every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Demanding an official response within 40 days, the notice includes seven petitions for redress of grievances regarding substantial violations of the Constitution:

The Aurora Theatre and Lawrenceville Tourism and Trade Association will present Crazy for You at Lawrenceville's fourth annual Prelude to the Fourth celebration to be held on the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse lawn. The event kicks off Gwinnett's two days of Fourth of July festivities in downtown Lawrenceville.

The one-time-only presentation of Crazy for You on Thursday, July 3 will begin at 7:30 p.m. Prelude to the Fourth is a free outdoor lawn event but reserved seating (tables for six) can be purchased for $150 by contacting the LTTA at 678-226-2639.

As attendees listen to the music on the eve of Independence Day, families and friends can order catering packages from local restaurants. This concert version of Crazy for You will be performed with a full orchestra in this outdoor setting. The event is open for picnic dinners and lawn seating at 5:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7:30 p.m.

An adaptation of the George and Ira Gershwin's 1930 hit Girl Crazy, Crazy for You is crammed with favorites like I Got Rhythm and Embraceable You. Come delight in the adventures of a stage-struck playboy in a Nevada mining town -- where love, mistaken identities, and show-stopping musical numbers all add up to irresistible fun.

Immediately following the concert will be a tribute to America featuring a fireworks display accompanied by a live singing of Stars and Stripes. Make sure you come back on Friday for the annual Gwinnett County's fireworks event "Gwinnett Glows."

For more information about Prelude to the Fourth and other event information, visit www.visitlawrenceville.com or contact Rebekah Cline at Rebekah@visitlawrenceville.com or (678) 226-2639.

Gwinnett County's annual Fourth of July celebration will take place throughout downtown Lawrenceville again this year. All activities will get underway at 5 p.m.

Radio station 95.5 The Beat will broadcast live from Historic Courthouse Square. Live entertainment will again feature Tim Purcell and the Mustangs on the outdoor stage. Inside the Historic Courthouse, there will be a Piccadilly Puppets show at 5:30 p.m., Carey Henderson's Magic Show at 6:30 p.m. and Steel Drums with Scott Douglas at 7:30 p.m.

Other free kid's activities on the square include a rock-climbing wall, small Ferris wheel, petting zoo, crazy copters, and a play zone for kids under 6.
Activities along Perry Street south of the Square will include the Georgia Force Street Team, midway games, temporary tattoos, and face-painting. First aid will be available at Fire Station 15 on Perry Street, and at the lost kids stations on the square and in the back of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center (GJAC) parking lot.

The GJAC parking lot will feature pony rides, dance exhibitions, an extreme bungee trampoline, American Express trains and Buccaneer Ship giant slide. The fireworks show, sponsored by local businesses, will again be fired from the Nash Street parking lot behind GJAC and will be visible all over the downtown area. Portable restroom facilities will be available both adjacent to the square and at GJAC.

There will be limited parking in the main GJAC lot with space in the back rows reserved for fireworks spectators. A short trail near the Fallen Heroes Memorial connects pedestrians to downtown. Parts of Luckie Street, Constitution Boulevard, Perry Street, Crogan Street, Culver Street and Nash Street will be closed to vehicular traffic on the day of the event.

A wide variety of food concessions will be for sale throughout the area including sandwiches of barbecue, chicken, hot dogs, corn dogs, fish, and turkey. Sweets include frozen custard, ice cream and Italian ice, cotton candy, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, French fries, funnel cakes, and fried candy. For more information and photos of last year's event are on the County's website at www.gwinnettcounty.com.

Learn about Suniva Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of high-efficiency solar power generation, at the July 15 Gwinnett Technology Forum. Suniva's world class team has decades of power voltage industry experience and a unique development approach that enables them to deliver leading-edge solar cell performance while dramatically cutting the cost of PV-generated electricity. It has just been announced that Suniva is relocating and expanding to Norcross within this coming year.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 a.m. at Scientific-Atlanta Auditorium in the Busbee Center at Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.

The City of Norcross Police Department is considering hosting another Citizens Police Academy towards the end of summer. The requirement is for at least 20 people to participate. The Academy would last from 6 to 10 weeks, and meet one day a week from 7 to 9 p.m.

The course work would cover subjects from Search and Arrest Warrants, Drugs, Evidence and Property. At least one class would be held at the shooting range.

Those interested in a possible program should contact Sergeant Mary Williford by email at mwilliford@norcrosspd.com or by calling (770) 448-2111.

The Southeastern Railway Museum announces its second annual Trains, Trucks and Tractors event, scheduled to be held July 12-13 at the museum in Duluth.

Among activities anticipated will be rain rides, temporary tattoos, kid's crafts, visiting trucks, tractors and other vehicles for visitors to climb on and explore. There will be food and drink available throughout the day.

The activities will begin at 10 a.m. and last until 5 p.m. on July 12, and be held from noon until 5 p.m. on July 13.

For those wishing to sign up to exhibit a historic truck or tractor, please contact the museum administrator by email at admin@srmduluth.org or by calling (770) 476-2013.

"I picked up The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History by Katherine Ashenburg recently and was instantly fascinated with the vivid descriptions of how standards of personal cleanliness have changed over thousands of years. The cleanliness of the ancient Romans contrasts greatly with the foulness of early Christians and the obsessiveness of today's Americans. Many a Royal during the Middle Ages could count on one crusty hand how many baths they had during a lifetime. Ms. Ashenburg does a wonderful job of putting cleanliness trends into perspective, clearly pointing out that the dirtiness of the people from the 14th through the 18th centuries stemmed from a fear of bubonic plague -- the crustier one was, the 'less likely to get the disease' (whereas, in reality, the dirtiness attracted the fleas that spread the disease). And to find out that, for centuries, putting on a 'fresh linen shirt' constituted 'getting clean.' I'm grateful the book didn't have a scratch-n-sniff section! A thoroughly enjoyable and eye-opening book."

The Georgia Secession Convention of 1861 represents the pinnacle of the state's political sovereignty. With periodic interruptions, the convention met in Milledgeville from January 16 to March 23, 1861, and not only voted to secede the state from the Union but also created Georgia's first new constitution since 1798. Politically the convention was a watershed event that hastened the Civil War (1861-65) and dramatically changed the course of Georgia history.

The idea of state secession emerged in the late 18th century as tensions developed over the interpretations of state versus federal powers as enumerated by the U.S. Constitution. Earlier conventions, including various nullification conventions in the 1830s and the southern conventions surrounding the crisis over slavery in 1850, considered the act of leaving the Union. Still, none adopted an official proclamation until the South Carolina Secession Convention in December 1860.

The escalating sectional crises over slavery in the 1850s contributed to the volatile tensions that arose during the 1860 presidential campaign. Abraham Lincoln's election in November of that year caused a fiery backlash in the southern states, which feared the abolitionist policies of the Republican Party. The result was a series of state conventions across the South, beginning with South Carolina's in December. The fifth such convention occurred in Georgia, a pivotal state in the debate due to its geographic importance to the region, the stature of its congressional delegation as leading voices for southern grievances, and its economic value as a major cotton producer.

On January 2, 1861 Georgia voters went to the polls and selected delegates to a convention that would decide the state's response to Lincoln's election. Their opinions ranged from maintaining a devout Unionism, to desiring a scheme in which the South acted in unison, to advocating a delay of the act of secession. Secessionists finished with a slight majority of delegates.

Once the delegates convened in Milledgeville on January 16, they wasted little time in testing the mood of the convention. Early votes indicated that there might be a close contest: one resolution demonstrated that the split between the immediate secessionists and the cooperationists was as close as 166 to 130 respectively. In the end, however, the final vote on January 19 revealed a major shift in the convention for immediate secession, when the cooperationists failed by a tally of 208 to 89.

The delegates reconvened on January 21 to begin a new phase of the convention-that of writing a new constitution for the state. In many aspects the Georgia Constitution of 1861 resembled that of the Constitution of 1798. There were, nevertheless, some notable differences. The 1861 document made specific provisions for the protection of slavery in the state.

The convention adjourned temporarily to allow a committee time to write the new constitution and to await the outcome of the Confederate Convention at Montgomery, Ala., in February 1861. Reconvened in March, the Georgia Secession Convention, now a constitutional convention, ratified the new Confederate Constitution and voted to submit the new Georgia constitution to the people by ballot in July. The delegates adjourned for the last time on March 23, 1861. Several days later, on April 12, Confederate batteries fired on federal troops at Fort Sumter, and thus began hostilities in the Civil War.

" All murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets."

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