GwinnettForum | Number 26.16 | Feb. 20, 2026
MORE AWARDS: Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful keeps winning awards, for litter and waste reduction, plus implementing several greening programs. At the state Capitol, Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation Executive Director Natalie Johnston-Russell presenting the Governor’s Circle Award to GC&B Executive Director Schelly Marlatt and Environmental Outreach Coordinator Garret Dufty. For more details, see upcoming below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: GACS begins construction on new athletic field house
EEB PERSPECTIVE: After primary, Jackson’s fortune will be wasted
SPOTLIGHT: The Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
ANOTHER VIEW: Consistent small habits can keep your home clean
FEEDBACK: Clyde again doesn’t get his facts correct
UPCOMING: GC&B wins for greening and litter and waste reduction
NOTABLE: GGC marks 10th consecutive semester of growth
RECOMMENDED: Two books by Ryan Holiday
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Knight was founder of Georgia Archives
MYSTERY PHOTO: Can you identify this amazing feat of engineering?
CALENDAR: Gwinnett Symphony concert is Sunday in Tucker
GACS begins construction on new athletic field house
By Annie Wells
NORCROSS, Ga. | Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) officially broke ground on its new Athletic Field House recently, marking a significant new construction project for student athletes joining the existing Hoover Field House, Naik Athletic Complex, and the Darius Slayton Performance Center.
The Athletic Field House is a two-story brick facility totaling 13,642 square feet. With an investment of $4.1 million, the building intentionally brings together team spaces, training areas, and game-day operations in one centralized location while aligning with the architectural character of GAC’s campus.
The new field house was made possible through the $33M Light the Way Campaign, a multi-year capital campaign, and will be the new home for GAC Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Soccer, and Flag Football teams.
The new Athletic Field House will include:
- Dedicated locker rooms for soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, and girls flag football teams;
- A centralized meeting room, training room, and coaches’ offices in close proximity to athletic venues;
- Enhanced facilities to support student-athletes and elevate game-day operations, including concession;
- New indoor batting and pitching cages; and
- A safe, indoor shelter for players and spectators during inclement weather.
Construction on the Athletic Field House is expected to be completed by January 2027, further advancing GAC’s commitment to providing exceptional facilities that support the development of the whole student through social, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth.
In addition to the Athletic Field House, the Light the Way Campaign will continue to expand and enhance GAC Athletics through future facility projects, including the construction of a 50-meter outdoor swimming pool and new tennis courts. Together, these initiatives reflect GAC’s long-term commitment to providing championship-level resources that support student-athlete development, community engagement, and excellence across all athletic programs.
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After the primary, Jackson’s fortune will be wasted
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
FEB. 20, 2026 | Will Georgians in 2026 hail one of their own kind, and vote for a Republican health care millionaire to win the primary for governor?
Judging by the reaction in Georgia elections in the last 80 years, the answer is no.
The new wealthy entrant in the race is Rick Jackson, the founder of Jackson Healthcare of Alpharetta.
He follows another wealthy Republican who entered the governor’s race four years ago. Remember U.S. Sen. David Perdue’s primary challenge to Gov. Brian Kemp? That effort floundered rather badly for Perdue, who limped home to Sea Island and hasn’t been heard from much since.
Now Jackson, 71, wants Georgians to elect him, he who has absolutely no experience in public office, who has only concentrated on piling up his fortune. He wants us to think of him as a “conservative,” similar to the ways a lot of Republicans think President Trump is a conservative. Many people bristle at the thoughts of President Trump in that manner, more thinking that he is an autocratic would-be king.
Jackson grew up poor, living for a time at Techwood Homes in downtown Atlanta. He also was for a time in foster care, and today devotes time to trying to improve that system.
We found little biographical information on Jackson, such as information on his parents, where he went to school, how he achieved such success in the health industry, or what his beliefs are. As a private businessman, he may want to control those tidbits of information, but voters will want to know more, far more.
Jackson, as a rich man wanting to become governor, reminds one of the 1946 governor’s race, which was then decided in the Democratic Primary. That year, Jimmy Carmichael of Marietta, was a candidate against Herman Talmadge for governor.
Carmichael was prominent in the state, having been general manager of the Bell Aircraft plant during World War II. He had been a two-term legislator in the 1930s, and was the candidate in what was referred to as the progressive (read in those days Republican) element of the Democratic Party.
Like Jackson today, his image was that of a well-oiled and financially strong candidate. Carmichael is credited with being part of a team from Marietta that in 1941 built the Cobb County Airport, called Rickenbacker Field, which later was Dobbins Air Base, which attracted the Army Air Corps and a branch of Bell Aircraft Corporation to the area. Soon Carmichael was general manager of the Bell Bomber plant, which eventually had 28,000 employees. It was at this plant that turned out 662 airplanes, including the famous B-29, a key airplane in winning the war, particularly against the Japanese. The Bell plant was proud to deliver all of its B-29 production on time and without a single crash.
That’s how Carmichael was a major candidate against Herman Talmadge in 1946. In the primary, Carmichael won the popular vote, getting 45 percent against 43 percent for Talmadge.
But Georgia’s politics in those days operated under the County Unit System to elect statewide officers. Talmadge got 91 unit votes and won; Carmichael had 21 unit votes; and others got nine units. Talmadge began his first full term as governor. His previous term was for two years, but that’s another story, as is the county-unit system for Georgia newcomers.
So here’s Rick Jackson trying to edge himself into the Republican primary, trying to bank roll his case with $40 million.
We suspect that money will be frittered away by the time the primary is over. Rick Jackson will still be on the sidelines of politics, looking in.
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Consistent small habits can keep your home clean
By Charnell Williams
White Glove Director, Clean Corp.
VININGS, Ga. | Between work, school drop-offs, activities, and everything else life throws at us, keeping a home consistently clean can feel overwhelming. The good news? A cleaner home doesn’t come from marathon cleaning sessions, it comes from a few small habits done consistently.
Here are some simple, realistic habits that make a big difference, especially for busy families.
- Create a “drop zone” at the door: Most mess enters the home before you even realize it. Shoes, backpacks, sports gear, and mail tend to pile up fast. Setting up a small drop zone with hooks, baskets, or a bench near the entryway helps stop clutter from spreading through the house. Shoes off at the door alone can drastically reduce dirt and dust tracking inside.
- Do a 10-minute nightly reset: Instead of waiting for the weekend, try a short reset each evening. Set a timer for 10 minutes and focus on quick wins: loading the dishwasher, wiping counters, returning items to their place. It’s amazing how much calmer mornings feel when you wake up to a reset space.
- Wipe high-use surfaces daily: Kitchen counters, dining tables, bathroom sinks, and coffee stations get constant use. A quick wipe once a day prevents buildup and makes deeper cleaning easier later. Keep cleaning wipes or spray where you use them, it removes friction and increases consistency.
- Laundry doesn’t have to be a whole-day event: Laundry overwhelm usually comes from letting it pile up. One load a day (or every other day) keeps it manageable and prevents those all-day folding marathons. Even just washing and drying daily, folding later, is a win.
- Tackle messes when they’re small: Spills, crumbs, and splatters are easiest to clean right away. Waiting turns a two-minute task into a much bigger one. A quick wipe now saves time and frustration later, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Use the “one-touch rule” for clutter: When you pick something up, try to put it where it belongs instead of setting it down “for now.” Mail gets sorted immediately. Shoes go in the closet. Toys return to their bin. This habit alone can dramatically cut down clutter.
- Do one focused task per day: Instead of cleaning the whole house, assign one small task each day, wipe baseboards, clean out the fridge, vacuum one room. Over the course of the week, everything gets attention without feeling overwhelming.
- Give yourself grace: A lived-in home is a loved-in home. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s creating a space that feels comfortable, healthy, and manageable for your family.
Small habits, done consistently, keep homes cleaner longer and make life just a little easier. And for busy families, that’s a win worth celebrating.
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Clyde again doesn’t get his facts correct
Editor, the Forum:
U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde does it again. He doesn’t seem to get his facts right.
In his most recent e-mail, he justifies the Save America Act that requires complicated voting documentation by stating that there are numerous cases of non-citizens voting. However, the data provided by the Cato Institute indicates less than 0.0001 percent of non-citizens have voted in American elections.
Again, Andrew Clyde supports the Trump Administration’s seriously questionable policies.
– Alan Schneiberg, Sugar Hill
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GC&B wins for greening and litter and waste reduction
Keep America Beautiful has presented Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful with a Governor’s Circle Award, honoring affiliates for their outstanding achievements in community beautification and environmental sustainability. GC&B was recognized for its exemplary performance in litter reduction, waste minimization, and community greening.
Natalie Johnston-Russell, executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, says: “Across Georgia, we’re focused on creating clean, green, and beautiful communities for everyone to enjoy. This year’s award recipients exemplify what’s possible when passion meets action, and we’re proud to recognize their outstanding contributions.”
As far as GC&B’s contributions go, over the course of 2025, the Lawrenceville-based, eco-focused nonprofit:
- Grew its Adopt-A-Stream program dramatically – thanks to the dedication of 30 volunteers who contributed more than 500 hours of service.
- Experienced the ongoing success of its Adopt-A-Road program, resulting in 2,922 volunteers spending 24,829 hours removing 175,527 pounds of litter and 2,175 illegal signs from Gwinnett County roadways.
- Hosted 12 public volunteer events and welcomed more than 600 volunteers ready to make a difference. From signature events like Earth Day, Great Gwinnett Wetlands, and Great Days of Service to new hands-on projects like streambank stabilization and erosion control, there was no shortage of volunteer impact.
- Diverted 17,687 gallons of latex and oil-based paints, 38 tons of shredded paper, 39 tons of electronics, 37 tons of tires, and 3,709 lbs. of textiles from local landfills with the help of 210 volunteers who donated 1,050 service hours and served 3,300 cars during America Recycles Day and Earth Day events.
- Collected 87 tons of Household Hazardous Waste from 2,236 vehicles with the help of volunteers who donated a total of 500 volunteer hours over the course of two Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days.
- Was awarded a $25K grant from the Georgia Beverage Association’s Made to Be Remade Program to install a reversible vending machine at Brookwood High School.
- Expanded the County’s glass recycling initiative to 13 drop-off locations in partnership with Solid Waste and Ripple Glass through the EPD’s Recycling, Waste Reduction, and Diversion Grant. To date, more than 1.7 million pounds of glass have been recovered and diverted from landfills.
- Recognized as Best of Gwinnett in the Charitable Organizations category for the eighth year in a row!
GGC marks 10th consecutive semester of growth
Spring enrollment at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) continues its upward momentum, marking the 10th consecutive semester of growth. Preliminary figures for the spring semester reached 11,737 students, with nearly 86 percent enrolled full time.
Kimberly Jordan, vice president for enrollment management, says: “Typically, more than 60 percent of a college’s student body attends full time, so we’re especially pleased to see such a high percentage of students fully committed to pursuing their degrees. Many of our students are not only taking classes full time but are also balancing work and family responsibilities.”
The spring semester also brought increases in the number of first-generation students and students eligible for Pell Grants. Additionally, GGC experienced growth in international student enrollment and dual enrollment — high school students taking college-level courses. For the spring semester, GGC welcomed 667 freshmen.
“These trends reflect GGC’s commitment to access, affordability and student success,” said Jordan. “We’re proud to serve a global and growing student population and to support students at every stage of their educational journey, from high school dual enrollment to degree completion.”
Among the college’s five schools, the School of Science and Technology leads with 3,162 students, followed by the School of Liberal Arts, the School of Business, the School of Health Sciences and the School of Education.
“Strong enrollment across all five schools shows that students are seeking programs that align with their academic interests and career goals,” said Jordan. “It also reflects GGC’s ability to respond to workforce needs while maintaining a broad, high-quality academic offering.”
Ego is the Enemy and The Obstacle is the Way, by Ryan Holiday
From Rick Krause, Lilburn: These two books by Ryan Holiday are powerful messages driven by Stoic wisdom. Ego Is the Enemy argues that our greatest threat isn’t external adversity but self, which blinds us to growth. Holiday illustrates how ambition can evolve into entitlement, how success can distort judgment, and how failure can become unbearable when ego is in charge. The Obstacle Is the Way complements this by reframing hardship itself. Drawing from Marcus Aurelius’s idea that ‘the impediment to action advances action,’ Holiday shows how challenges can become catalysts for clarity, resilience, and purpose. Rather than avoiding difficulty, he suggests engaging it using discipline and creativity. I found the books understandable and relatable owing to his use of factual stories—politicians, athletes, generals, artists—who succeeded by employing these methods. The books offer a grounded, practical philosophy for navigating ambition, setbacks, and the unpredictable terrain of modern life. Highly recommend both.
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Knight was founder of Georgia Archives
Lucian Lamar Knight is perhaps best known as an editor for the Atlanta Constitution, and the founder and first director of the Georgia Archives.
Knight was born in Atlanta on February 9, 1868, to Clara Corinne Daniel and George Walton Knight. He attended the University of Georgia and graduated with honors in 1888. He took the bar in 1889 and practiced law in Macon. Dissatisfied with the legal profession, Knight turned to journalism.
In 1892 Knight returned to Atlanta. He married Edith M. Nelson of Atlanta, and they eventually had two daughters. In addition to starting a family and establishing his journalistic career, Knight studied Georgia history and served as a lay pastor in the Presbyterian denomination.
Knight left the Atlanta Constitution in 1902 to attend seminary. He enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N. J. In 1905 Knight was ordained and began serving as associate pastor at Central Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.
The continued stress of an unhappy marriage brought Knight to the verge of a nervous breakdown. Rest was recommended, and during his recovery in 1906, Knight traveled in Europe, alone. Although he tried to reconcile with his wife, they were divorced in 1909. In spite of this personal turmoil, Knight published his first major work, the two volumes of Reminiscences of Famous Georgians, in 1907 and 1908.
Returning to Atlanta and his journalism career, Knight became associate editor of the Atlanta Georgian in 1908, a post he held until 1910. Leaving journalism behind for the last time, he became literary editor and vice president at the Martin and Hoyt Company, where he edited the Library of Southern Literature series with Joel Chandler Harris (although Harris died before any of the volumes were published).
In 1913 Knight was appointed compiler of Georgia state records and began work on volumes 22-26 of Colonial Records; Georgia’s Landmarks, Memorials, and Legends (1913-14), and the six volumes of Standard History of Georgia and Georgians (1917).
In 1917 Knight married Rosa Talbot Reid, who shared his interest in history. The couple was active in the Atlanta social scene. Working with state records convinced Knight of the necessity of preserving Georgia’s legislative and state documents. He lobbied with much zeal for a state archives and achieved his goal after a prolonged and heated political battle.
Even after he was appointed director of the Georgia Department of Archives and History in 1918, he had to fend off political enemies who sought to abolish his office. During his tenure at the state archives, from 1919 through 1924, Knight published the first Statistical Register of Georgia, organized the new department and its holdings, provided proper storage for state records, and left a permanent Georgia archives when he retired in 1925. Knight was deservedly named “state historian emeritus for life” upon his retirement in 1925.
Knight received honorary degrees from the University of Georgia and King College of Bristol, Tenn. In addition to poetry and newspaper writing, Knight was the author of more than 20 books, including the biography Woodrow Wilson, the Dreamer and the Dream (1924) . His papers are part of the Henry W. Grady Collection and the Joel Chandler Harris Collection at Emory University.
Knight died of heart failure on November 19, 1933, in Clearwater, Fla., and was buried at Christ Church on St. Simons Island. His daughter Mary Lamar Knight followed in her father’s footsteps as a journalist and became one of the first female correspondents for United Press International.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Can you identify this amazing feat of engineering?
Today’s mystery is a feat of bridge engineering. Your job is to identify where this bridge is located. There are not many clues, so be selective in what you choose to zoom in on. Send your thoughts to ebrack2@gmail.com.
Jay Altman of Columbia, S.C., correctly identified the recent mystery. “It’s the Uncle Remus Museum, located in Eatonton, Ga. The museum is housed in a log cabin constructed from three original slave cabins dating back to the 1800s. It is dedicated to the life and works of Joel Chandler Harris, the author famous for the Uncle Remus tales. The museum features memorabilia, wood carvings, and dioramas depicting scenes from the stories. A wooden sculpture of the character ‘Brer Fox’ stands outside the cabin.” The photo was contributed by Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill.
Several people also recognized this photo. They include Bo O’Kelley, Murrayville; Marlene Ratledge Buchanan, Snellville; Mike Tennant, Duluth; Billy Chism, Toccoa; Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Michelle Morgan, Snellville; Cindy Hall, Canton; Mitzi Hull, Cumming; Paula Cosentino, Duluth; G.M. Wyatt of Alpharetta; and Sara Rawlins of Lawrenceville.
- Share a Mystery Photo: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Click here to send an email and please mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Former governors of Georgia: We ran across this photo recently of Georgia governors from 1947 to 1999. From left are Ernie Vandiver, Zell Miller, George Busbee, Carl Sanders, Jimmy Carter, Joe Frank Harris and Herman Talmadge. Two governors who served during that time are not in the picture. Who are they? (Photo from Georgia Encyclopedia.)
Gwinnett Symphony concert is Sunday in Tucker
Acclaimed author Terah Shelton Harris discusses her newest novel, Where the Wildflowers Grow, a poignant story of survival and redemption that questions what it means to stop existing and start living. This will take place on February 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra will present a concert on Sunday, February 22 at 5 p.m. at the First Christian Church of Atlanta, 4532 LaVista Road in Tucker. This concert features O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen performed for brass choir, and Te Deum by Arvo Pärt performed by Gwinnett Symphony Chamber Singers and Chamber Orchestra with Conductors Rick Smith and Robert Trocina shaping an evening of reverence and inner light.
Award-winning author Denny S. Bryce will discuss her newest historical fiction novel, Where the False Gods Dwell, inspired by choreographer Katherine Dunham’s dance expedition, and the search for destiny that turns into a struggle for survival. This will be at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on February 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Be part of the conversation and stop by the Community Resource Center at Bethany Church Road on Saturday, February 28 for our next Maguire-Livsey Family Big House community event. Join neighbors and community stakeholders between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for lively small-group conversations and interactive stations that invite your voice and vision into the future of the Big House. People of all backgrounds and experiences are welcome. Can’t make it in person? Join us virtually on Tuesday, March 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit GwinnettCounty.com/MaguireLivsey to learn more and register.
Coca-Cola Preseason Party returns to Gwinnett Field on Sunday, March 1. Enjoy hot dogs and drinks, plus self-guided tours during free event at Gwinnett Field in Lawrenceville, where the Gwinnett Stripers play. The rain-or-shine event runs from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free, but fans will need to reserve tickets online in advance.
Property Tax Information Session will be on March 3 at 6 p.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Join the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner’s Office to learn about property taxes and how to apply for exemptions to save money.
Gwinnett will have a chalk fest festival in March. Gas South District, in partnership with Sugarloaf Community Improvement District and the Hudgens Center for Art and Learning, will host Draw the District: A Chalk Arts Festival on Saturday, March 7. It will bring a free, community-wide celebration of art, culture, and creativity to the area.
Irish Fest will take place in downtown Norcross March 7, from noon to 5 p.m. Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style, with lively music, spirited Irish dancing, good food, balloon typing and other events. This is a partnership between the Norcross Business Association and the Drake School of Dancing.
Author Terri Parlato discusses her newest psychological suspense novel, She Thought She Was Safe, where a young woman is reunited with the famous father she never knew. This will take place on March 11 at 6;30 p.m. at the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
A Night at the Hunnicutt Inn will be at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church. This is an original play sharing the history of Mt. Carmel and the Pinckneyville community! Performances are Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 14 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the church at 5100 S. Old Peachtree Road, Norcross. Tickets are $15 and include dessert! Purchase tickets here.
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