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Macon's Crossroad Writers' Conference set for Oct. 4
By Kelly Whiddon
Special to GwinnettForum

MACON, Ga., Sept. 23, 2008----The same streets strode by Little Richard and Otis Redding, James Brown, the Allman Brothers, Jason Aldean, and Young Jeezy have likewise been walked by Flannery O'Connor, Tennessee Williams, John Oliver Killens, and Sidney Lanier. The same small, Southern city where Miller Williams was encouraged to pursue poetry left a sizeable impression on his daughter, musician Lucinda Williams, which is obvious in her hit song "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road ." These are but a few of the creative lives affected by the strangely inspirational and enigmatic attractions of Macon, Georgia.

On Saturday, October 4, Macon welcomes writers to the Crossroads Writers' Conference. Held in the historic downtown district as a living tribute to the city's rich literary history, the conference brings together some of the finest talents in the country to guide writers young in the craft as they face their career crossroads.

Author Stanley Booth, the conference's honored guest, moved with his family to Macon before embarking on a career that made him a confidant of the Rolling Stones, a friend to fellow Waycross-native Gram Parsons, and witness to Otis Redding as he and Steve Cropper penned Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay. Twice included as a fictionalized version of himself most recently in Neal Pollack's rock novel Never Mind the Pollacks, Booth is a noted music writer whose striking prose centers on the humanity of his subjects. "I don't write about music; I write about people," he says.

Celebrated novelist Joshilyn Jackson, whose work has been praised by The New York Times, Boston Post, USA Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, People Magazine and Entertainment Weekly, heads the list of featured panelists. She's joined by Ad Hudler, whose upcoming Man of the House continues his humorous exploration of gender role reversal at home and its psychological fallout. Of Macon, Hudler says, "It was living in this beautiful, quirky city that first inspired me to write fiction."

The conference also proudly hosts two very distinguished poets. Ezra Pound Poetry Award-winner Alice Friman, author of The Book of the Rotten Daughter, Zoo, and Inverted Fire, will travel from Milledgeville where she is the Poet-in-Residence at Georgia College and State University . Fresh off the recent publication of Cities of Flesh and The Dead, Diann Blakely comes to the conference with three books and the Alice Fay Di Castagnola Award from the Poetry Society of America.

Coming the most distance to Macon is Carlo Rotella, who serves as the director of the American Studies Program at Boston College . His work garnered him Guggenheim, Howard and Du Bois fellowships, the L.L. Winship/PEN New England Award and placement in The Best American Essays collection. Author Jeffrey Vasseur and poet Marty Williams round out the list of traveling panelists.

For a complete list of panels and a schedule of all events related to the Crossroads Writers' Conference, please visit the Website, www.CrossroadsCon.org.

The Crossroads Writers' Conference is organized by volunteers in a unique
partnership among Macon State College, the 11th Hour, Georgia College and
State University, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Macon-Bibb Convention & Visitors Bureau, and NewTown Macon.

Upcoming SPLOST program deserves passage by voters
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher

SEPT. 23, 2008 -- It's always gratifying every four years to see the big turnout for the Presidential Election. Though we sometimes wonder how much input a president has on our country, it's still good to see as big a number of people as possible voting their choice of our nation's leader.

Another key question that Gwinnett voters will decide in the General Election is the future of the local Special Local Optional Sales Tax for country infrastructure. Voters will be asked to continue the penny sales tax, which is anticipated to bring in $850 million over five years.

What? "Over five years?" That's right. It's regrettable that the county commission decided to allow the added penny sales tax commission over a five year period. In doing so, the county got it wrong. They could have proposed the sunsetted SPLOST program for four, five or six years. They chose five, and we feel, got it wrong.

That means that in five years, at a time when there is not a general election, the next SPLOST tax vote will come up. With it a special purpose election, fewer people will turn out, meaning that the chance always rises that such a tax could be defeated. We feel the SPLOST program is a good move, but always feel that such a vote should only come in General Elections when the greatest voter turnout will take place. That goes along with our philosophy of "Trust the people." Getting out the most people for such a vote is one way to trust the people. Requiring a vote at an off-election year time is no way to trust the people.

We urge Gwinnett voters to approve the five year SPLOST on November 4. Not only will they be voting for perhaps the best way to fund vitally-needed buildings and roads, but by allowing a sales tax for these project, Gwinnett effectively taxes visitors to the county who are purchasing goods here to help pay for the infrastructure that the visitors and locals routinely use. That's a big aspect, since it is estimated that 40 percent of sales in Gwinnett is to out-of-county residents.

Of particular interest in the 2008 vote for the continuation of the SPLOST program is that it anticipates that $95 million will be used for an expansion of the county's state and superior court areas. While the design is not finished for this project, it is expected that the expansion will take place on the East Wing of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center (G-JAC).

When you remember that the funding for the G-JAC building came in 1986, and then recognize that the wing for the court space has not essentially been expanded in these 22 years, when the county has gone from 274,000 to today's nearly 800,000 people, you can imagine the impact this has had on our court system. It's facilities are overcrowded, and vitally need additional space.

That same case of "vitally needed" goes for other capital improvements needs, for roads, recreational, public safety, libraries and for infrastructure improvements in all 15 cities.

While we lament that the commission decided to based its 2008 SPLOST program on a five year collection period, it's still a vital and necessary proposal that will face the voters on November 4. We urge its passage.

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is Graphic Communications Corporation of Lawrenceville, a dynamic full-service print, large-format inkjet and photographic output, fulfillment, point-of-purchase and multi-media communications company. The firm has a digital media and graphic design department for both print and Internet use. Graphic Communications has been awarded the Chain of Custody certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Only a select group of printers in Georgia can provide eco-conscious customers with paper with the FSC logo, which ensures that the paper is from a well-managed, certified, sustainable forest and that the chain of custody-from forest to pulp and to paper manufacturer to merchant---has not been broken. Graphic Communications' biggest strength is its ability to meet tight deadlines along with the ever-present demands for high quality and attention to detail. This ability makes the printing process seamless for its clients. Three of its greatest competitive advantages are: 1) listening, 2) being organized for speed, and 3) being detail fanatics. All of its associates are committed to giving customers exactly what they want, when they want it. Simply, at Graphic Communications, the customer's needs are the driving forces behind everything it does, from investment in technology to the friendly voices that still answer the telephone. For more information, go to http://www.gccprint.com.

A campaign exposing and calling for a halt of a merger of Canada and Mexico has been organized. This news was not reported by either the mainstream media or by conservative talk radio hosts, but the 2008 Republican Platform specifically states official party opposition to a North American Union (NAU) and a common "North American currency!" This is a sign of progress for those of us who hope to expose and halt these New World Order schemes dead in their tracks.

John McCain thus far has said nothing about the NAU. A mere mention of the NAU and a North American currency will not make this a major issue in the 2008 presidential debates or in the next Congress. And nothing in the Platform calls for a halt on construction of the NAFTA Superhighway. Visit the NAU War Room and read more about the Republican Party's rejection of the NAU and a common North American currency in its official 2008 Party Platform.

Gwinnett County Government is seeking public input on transportation projects that could be funded by the 2009 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

The County has mailed out more than 1,200 letters inviting residents to attend a September 30 organizational meeting for a Citizen's Project Selection Committee. This committee will help pick and prioritize transportation projects that could be funded by the sales tax extension, which will come up for a vote in the General Election on November 4.

The letters are just one part of the plan to receive public input, according to County Administrator Jock Connell. "We hope to generate a great deal of interest and assure diverse representation on the committee, so we're sending letters, talking to the media and putting information on the County's website," said Connell.

The meeting is to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the auditorium of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, located at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.

Brian Allen, the county's transportation director, says that the purpose of the meeting is to select committee members and alternates to represent six major interest groups. Three members will represent Gwinnett homeowners and there will be one representative each for the following: business leaders, environmentalists, developers, schools and civic leaders.

"The attendees will split into groups and self-select their representatives," Allen said. "The meeting will be facilitated by Dr. Jim Feldt, who has worked in this area of moving meetings along for more than 25 years."

The committee's immediate role will be to review and prioritize the prospective project categories and to share information with the constituent interest groups. This committee will help maintain open lines of communication between the County and the public and help maximize the benefits of the sales tax proceeds, according to Allen.

Additional information is available online at www.gwinnettcounty.com or by calling the Gwinnett Department of Transportation at (770) 822-7400.

Randall Bramblett concludes Lawrenceville series

Friday, September 26, Lawrenceville will host Athens'/ Atlanta's own Randall Bramblett Band for final Moonlight and Music concert of 2008!

Chuck Leavell of The Rolling Stones and The Allman Brothers Band, has called Bramblett "In my opinion the most gifted and talented southern singer-songwriter musician of the past several decades."

The Randall Bramblett Band is a rare combination of songwriting and musicianship. Throughout the years, they have created a tremendous buzz and rave reviews wherever they perform. For more information on the Randall Bramblett Band you can visit them online at www.randallbramblett.com.

The concerts and lawn seating are free to the public. Reserved tables are sold out! The concerts will be held on the Historic Courthouse lawn at 8 p.m. Bring a picnic or dine at one of the restaurants on the Square.

Acclaimed author Garrison Keillor, host of A Prairie Home Companion, a radio and live performance series, will be at the Atlanta History Center's Margaret Mitchell House on Friday, September 26.

There will be a reception at 6 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m. Lois Reitzes, of WABE's will introduce Mr. Keillor. He is also the author of more than ten books, including The Lake Wobegon Days, Pontoon, and News from Lake Wobegon. Keillor lives in New York City and Saint Paul, Minn, with his wife and daughter.

Keillor will tell about Clint Bunsen, who for six years has run the Fourth of July parade in Lake Wobegon, Minn., ensuring that bands, fireworks, and 1,000 men and women in red, white and blue make a dazzling spectacle for the townspeople, the governor and CNN. The town is excited, until they hear about Clint's plans to run for Congress. They're embarrassed for him. They know him too well -- his unfortunate episodes with vodka sours, his rocky marriage, and his questionable friendship with a 24-year-old woman. This same young woman is dressed as the Statue of Liberty for the parade, but the rumor is that she's naked underneath her costume and that her torch contains a quart of booze.

Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon Days is the Atlanta Burning Book Club's September pick. Admission to hear Keillor is $15, though Margaret Mitchell House and Atlanta History Center members get in for $10. Prepayment is required; call 770 578 3502 to make a reservation.

Gwinnett Ballet Theatre (GBT) will presents its 27th edition of The Nutcracker for eleven public performances held December 6 through 21. Eight of these performances will be danced to the accompaniment of the live, professional Gwinnett Ballet Theatre Orchestra .

GBT's traditional interpretation of this favorite holiday classic will include classical dancing, a live magician, and colorful sets and costumes. GBT utilitizes the talents of its pre-professional company plus a cast of 80 young students from its non-profit school. The GBT Orchestra conductor, Predrag Gosta, is also the artistic director of Atlanta's highly esteemed New Trinity Baroque Ensemble.

Performances will be given at Gwinnett Performing Arts Center. Dates and times are as follows:

It isn't just the students, professional and pre-professional dancers who get in on the action! For the past three years, GBT has invited some of Gwinnett's most visible business and social personalities to appear onstage as one of our "Celebrity Mother Gingers."

Mother Ginger is a character in the second act, a very tall "woman" with a huge skirt. Underneath the skirt a dozen small dancers, called "Polichinelles," are hiding. Once onstage, they dash out from underneath the costume and entertain the audience with dance and gymnastic feats. Mother Ginger's role is simply to smile and wave.

In reality, the Mother Ginger volunteer enjoys these three minutes of fame at a small "price." A great deal of stage makeup, a big wig, false eyelashes and a false bust are all a part of the package. Mother Ginger stands on a platform and is literally wheeled onstage by stage hands who also keep the apparatus steady. GBT is happy to say that they have never "lost" a Mother Ginger yet.

This year's Celebrity Mother Gingers are still being recruited, but so far the list is impressive: Paige Havens of Spitfire Media Group, Cheryl Gee of Gwinnett Center, Demetrius Jordan of United Way, and Jeffrey Scott Bailey of Suwanee Performing Arts have all agreed to appear. And just to top it off, Atlanta radio's 680 on-air personality John Kincaid has also just signed on to appear as Mother Ginger. A complete list of "CMG's" will be forthcoming.

Tickets for December 6-7 are $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and $10 for groups of 10 or more. Tickets for December 12-21st are $27 for adults, $22 for students and seniors, and $18 for groups of ten or more.

Tickets can be obtained by calling Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400 or by visiting any Ticketmaster location or the Gwinnett Center Box Office.

James M. Smith, a lawyer, Confederate colonel, and Confederate congressman, served as Georgia's governor from 1872 to 1877. Smith rose to the chief executive office on the tide of reaction against Radical Republicanism that toppled Governor Rufus Bullock in 1871. Smith's election marked the end of Reconstruction in Georgia and the beginning of more than a century of Democratic Party rule.

James Milton Smith Jr. was born on October 24, 1823, in Twiggs County. He was educated in Culloden in Monroe County, where his father farmed and preached. Smith worked as a blacksmith studied law, and by the 1850s established himself as an attorney in Thomaston, in Upson County. In January 1861, three weeks before Georgia seceded from the Union, he won the Flint Circuit Superior Court judicial election but opted for Confederate military service with the Upson Volunteers.

After the war, Smith won a Muscogee County state representative seat in the conservative landslide that restored the Georgia General Assembly to Democratic control. When the "Redeemer" legislature was seated in November 1871 in the wake of Governor Bullock's resignation, Smith was elected house speaker. On December 6 a party caucus chose Smith to be the Democratic candidate for governor. Republicans called a boycott of the election, and in what was virtually a no-contest election on December 19, Smith was elected governor with a mere 39,000 votes out of the state's more than 200,000 eligible voters.

In the regular quadrennial general election of 1872, Smith overwhelmed Republican Dawson Walker with a landslide victory of more than 60,000 votes. Smith inherited a poor state that was saddled with debts. The legislature repudiated millions of dollars in bonded debt, and Smith proposed ways for the state to improve economic productivity and increase revenue while reducing expenses

Historians generally identify Smith's administration as furthering the agenda of Georgia's Bourbon Democrats, or "New Departure" Democrats, who aimed Georgia toward a New South economy adapted to the ex-slave society's priorities of white supremacy and rigid control of labor.

Smith suffered a stroke and died after a long period of illness on November 25, 1890. Married twice, to Hester Ann Brown (who died in 1880) and Florida Abercrombie Wellborn, Smith had no children. He was buried in Gainesville's Alta Vista Cemetery beside his first wife.

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