GwinnettForum | Number 25.97 | Dec.16, 2025
WHAT DOES IT TAKE to complete your college journey, earn your degree and receive your diploma? According to Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) president Dr. Jann L. Joseph, it takes grit, growth and greatness—a message woven throughout both commencement ceremonies held in the Convocation Center on December 12. More than 500 graduates proved that grit, growth and greatness lead to remarkable achievement as they crossed the stage to receive their diplomas. Keynote speaker, Dr. Deep Shah, vice chair-elect of the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents, told the graduates they are leaving with more than one degree. He said the first degree is FIO, figure it out. “Employers want you to use what you’ve learned here in order to solve problems,” he said.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Lawrenceville named a Georgia PlanFirst community
EEB PERSPECTIVE: UGA getting closer to offering M.D. degree
SPOTLIGHT: Law Office of J. Michael Levengood, LLC.
FEEDBACK: Bernard insults intelligence of all races
UPCOMING: P’tree Corners plans Open House on Crooked Creek Trail
NOTABLE: Jackson EMC offering $1,000 Harrison Scholarships
RECOMMENDED: Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
OBITUARY: Raymond Palmer Wilbanks
GEORGIA TIDBIT: AAA helps out farmers in later 1930s
MYSTERY PHOTO: Familiar name but not located near here
CALENDAR: Holiday Quilt Exhibit in Norcross through Dec. 31
Lawrenceville named a Georgia PlanFirst community
By Melissa Hardegree
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | The City of Lawrenceville has been officially designated as a PlanFirst community by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), recognizing the city’s long-standing commitment to planning and consistent implementation of its comprehensive plan.
As part of the recognition, Daniel Gaddis from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs attended a recent City Council Meeting to present the designation.
Mayor David Still says: “Being named a PlanFirst community is an honor for our city, since it reflects years of coordinated work across departments and our commitment to planning that supports long-term growth and quality of life for the people of Lawrenceville.”
Through this designation, Lawrenceville will receive statewide recognition from DCA, including placement on the agency’s website, outreach materials, and presentations. As a PlanFirst community, Lawrenceville becomes eligible for several benefits, including:
- Additional bonus points on qualifying Housing Tax Credit applications;
• Annual eligibility for state-administered Community Development Block Grants;
• Interest rate reductions on eligible loans through the Employment Incentive Program, Redevelopment Fund, and Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund; and
• Referral to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for reduced interest rates on certain state loans.
The City of Lawrenceville is one of only 14 communities in the state to achieve the PlanFirst designation for the 2026-2028 timeframe,” said Daniel Gaddis, Planning Outreach Coordinator for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. “The public, staff, and leadership of this community have shown outstanding commitment to a successful comprehensive plan implementation and Lawrenceville is now recognized as a model PlanFirst community in the state of Georgia.”
As part of the agreement, Lawrenceville will continue advancing best practices in comprehensive planning, participate in PlanFirst program activities, submit annual success stories when requested, and maintain its Qualified Local Government status.
- To learn more about the City of Lawrenceville, visit lawrencevillega.org.
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
UGA getting closer to offering M.D. degree
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
DEC. 16, 2025 | The University of Georgia offers education in many fields, yet ever since its founding, it has not had its own medical school. That is about to change, as the final beam of the college’s medical education and research building was set in place in November.
The 93,000 square foot building on the Health Sciences Campus will serve as the primary educational building for the School of Medicine. Included in the design are large, active-learning classroom spaces, an anatomy lab, a simulation center, a clinical skills center, individual and group study options, a student lounge and well-being spaces. Nearly one-third of the building’s space will be dedicated to biomedical research. Completion of the building is scheduled for December 2026.
With the opening of its medical school, the University of Georgia will offer a complete doctor of medicine for the first time, making it a more comprehensive university.
This all started in 2007, with the recommendation of a UGA partnership with the Medical College of Georgia, citing a growing doctor shortage in the state. In 2008, the General Assembly invested $2.8 million to expand medical school capacity, and in 2009, the Board of Regents approved a medical partnership between UGA and Augusta University, where the medical college is housed.
In 2010, the first 40 medical students began studies at UGA. They would study there for two years before transferring to the Augusta campus of the Medical College in Augusta for their final two years, which would award them their degree. In 2021, the number of UGA medical students was capped out at 60 per class.
In 2023, a feasibility study concluded that UGA could support an independent medical school. In November 2024, the Board of Regents approved UGA granting a doctor of medicine degree!
In 2025, the General Assembly approved $50 million for design and construction of a medical school building in Athens, matched by institutional funds. Construction began in May 2025, and topping out was in November.
Today the University is awaiting hearing on its accreditation application, which is underway, and means that it can soon start accepting students for its initial class wholly trained in Athens.
That would give Georgia its second public medical school.
Meanwhile, the state has four private medical schools. They are Emory University School of Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, and Morehouse School of Medicine, plus the Osteopathic (DO) program at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwanee and Moultrie. These offer MD degrees, while PCOM Georgia offers a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, providing diverse options for medical training in the state.
Georgia ranks No. 8 as the most populous state, with 11 million people. Georgia currently ranks 39th in the nation for the number of active patient care physicians per capita and 41st for the number of public medical students per capita. At the same time, Georgia’s population is aging, as are its physicians, with about one-third nearing retirement age.
All of this has created a shortage of doctors in Georgia. It’s anticipated that when the new UGA medical college opens, it will help meet the shortages of medical doctors within the boundaries of the state.
So, hurrah and congratulations, President Jere Morehead. Soon UGA will be able to offer its own doctor of medicine degree!
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Law Office of J. Michael Levengood, LLC
The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s underwriter is the Law Office of J. Michael Levengood, LLC. Before relocating his general civil practice eleven years ago to Lawrenceville, Mike Levengood practiced law as a partner in an Atlanta firm for almost 34 years, handling a wide variety of commercial and litigation matters for business clients. Mike is a community leader in Gwinnett County where he serves on several non-profit boards, serving as the past chair of the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia and as past president of the Northeast Georgia Council, Boy Scouts of Boy Scouts of America. He welcomes the opportunity to counsel you with your estate planning or estate administration needs.
- Visit this supporter’s web site at https://www.levengoodlaw.com\
Bernard insults intelligence of all races
Editor, the Forum:
It makes me sad to see a column dealing with racism in the way Jack Bernard has done. He managed to insult the intelligence of all races.
It pains me to see the persisting attitude that continues to separate us into victims and abusers. His belief seems to be that blacks need to always feel bad about themselves and cannot achieve and move forward because they were historically denied equal opportunities.
Simultaneously, whites need to feel guilty because they are racists, but don’t even know they are! How does that contribute to good race relationships? We have very talented and accomplished leadership in our county of all races. Let’s move forward and continue to advance the human race, recognizing hard work and achievements of all people. We will all be better off for it.
– Elaine Still, Braselton
Believes all should be taught black history
Editor, the Forum:
Let me wholeheartedly agree with Jack Bernard. I’m a retired teacher and belonged to the only white church in Birmingham, Ala. that worked for Civil Rights in the 60’s and 70’s.
Our young people need to know how instrumental our black brothers and sisters were in making the colonies successful. Their support during times of war and their contributions to science, medicine, literature and government is amazing.
But they also need to know about the ordinary people, men, women and children, who bravely faced Sheriff Bull Connor and his police dogs, fire hoses and Billy clubs on the streets of B’ham. Several years ago, I talked to one African American grandmother who was concerned because her grandson did not (or did not want to) believe the struggle was that bad. So, yes, in my opinion, everyone needs to be taught Black American History.
– Ardie Brackett, Lilburn
One of reasons they moved: bad traffic
Editor, the Forum:
Please, enough with the Georgia Tech road designs. Look at so many of the road “improvements” in the area and see the Georgia Tech name somewhere behind them. This is the seventh worst traffic in the country, enough said. One of the reasons we moved.
– Dan Mackaben, Crystal Lake, Ill.
Dear Dan: We’re not with you on this one. Think of how bad traffic would be without creative solutions to our road design. Not sure all DOT road design is by Yellow Jackets, but at least we keep seeing improvements from this end. –eeb
- Send us your thoughts: We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum. Please limit comments to 300 words, and include your hometown. The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: ebrack2@gmail.com.
Peachtree Corners plans open house on trail
The City of Peachtree Corners will hold a Public Information Open House on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Peachtree Corners City Hall, 310 Technology Parkway, to discuss the proposed Crooked Creek Trail Project. The event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m.
This project proposes the construction of a 1.3-mile shared use path along Crooked Creek, with an additional 0.6 miles of spurs and loops providing connections to surrounding neighborhoods and communities. The project corridor begins at Spalding Drive, approximately 350 feet southwest of River Exchange Drive (north terminus), and extends to Peachtree Corners Circle, between Elmside Village Lane and Klinect Court (southern terminus).
The purpose of this open house is to provide residents and stakeholders with an opportunity to view the project plans, ask questions, and submit comments regarding the proposed improvements. No formal presentation will be given. Written statements concerning this project will be accepted until January 31, 2026.
Jackson EMC offering $1,000 Harrison Scholarships
Jackson Electric Membership Cooperative is accepting applications for the annual Walter Harrison Scholarship, which provides $1,000 for academic expenses to students pursuing post-secondary education at Georgia colleges and technical schools.
Students currently enrolled or accepted as full or part-time students at accredited two- or four-year universities, colleges or technical institutes in Georgia are eligible. Applicants must also reside in a primary household served by Jackson EMC.
Students are evaluated by Georgia EMC judges on a combination of financial need, academics, SAT/ACT scores, academic standing, scholastic honors, and extracurricular and community involvement. Applicants must complete an application and submit an autobiographical sketch with educational goals and a teacher recommendation.
- The deadline to submit applications is January 31, 2026. Students wishing to apply should visit www.jacksonemc.com/walterharrisonscholarship.
Fall of Giants, by Ken Follett
From Karen J. Harris, Stone Mountain: This is a gripping, and meticulously researched novel about World War One. The fates of the several families are intertwined amidst crumbling of alliances involving England, Russia, Austria, Germany, the Balkans and America. Real historical figures emerge, such as General Joffee, commander and chief of the French forces, and General Gallieni, commander of the French garrison. The reader will quickly be pulled into both the impact of events of the characters, and the demise of reason as the tensions escalate and become a full-fledged war. The scenes of war are full of peril and in many cases very difficult to read. Still, the history of how the war began, reached a fever pitch and eventually resolved for a short time illustrates the magic of Follett’s storytelling. Fall of Giants is the first book in the Century Trilogy. It is followed by The Winter of the World and the Edge of Eternity.
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Raymond Palmer Wilbanks
Raymond Palmer Wilbanks, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully on December 10, 2025, at the age of 82. Born on July 15, 1943, in Atlanta, to the late Sanford David Wilbanks and Clela Stephens Wilbanks, he filled the lives of those around him with love and laughter, leaving behind cherished memories that will forever warm the hearts of his family and friends.
The middle of three boys, Raymond discovered life’s greatest joy when he met the love of his life, Barbara (“Bobbie”) Wilbanks, at a pizza parlor in Alexandria, Virginia. Married for 55 years, they built a devoted and joyful life together in Peachtree Corners where they raised their daughter, Erin, and later welcomed two grandchildren who brought immeasurable pride and happiness into his life.
Raymond graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in southwest Atlanta in 1961 and went on to play college football for two years at the University of Chattanooga before completing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Georgia. Following his education, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving honorably in the Army Corps of Engineers. He later began a successful career in sales within the HVAC industry with Armstrong Air Conditioning, a division of Lennox.
Raymond found joy in coaching his daughter’s softball and basketball teams, golfing with lifelong friends, cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Braves, and supporting his grandchildren in every endeavor they pursued.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, David. He is survived by his loving wife, Bobbie; his daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Casey Masters; his cherished grandchildren, JD and Brooke; his brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Barbara Wilbanks; as well as several nieces and a nephew. His gentle spirit, steady presence, and deep love for his family will be profoundly missed.
A celebration of life will be held on December 20, 2025, at Simpsonwood United Methodist Church in Peachtree Corners with visitation beginning at 1 p.m. and memorial service at 2 p.m. A private burial will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to The Salvation Army-Metro Atlanta Area Command, 1000 Center Place, Norcross, Ga. 30093.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.crowellbrothers.com. Arrangements by Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home, 5051 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree Corners, Ga. 30092.
AAA helps out farmers in later 1930s
The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) was a federal law passed in 1933 as part of U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The law offered farmers subsidies in exchange for limiting their production of certain crops. The subsidies were meant to limit overproduction so that crop prices could increase.
After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the AAA in January 1936, a slightly modified version of the law was passed in 1938. The program was largely successful at raising crop prices, though it had the unintended consequence of inordinately favoring large landowners over sharecroppers.
The Great Depression hit Georgia especially hard, but trouble began for the state’s economy even before the stock market crash of 1929. Many states enjoyed a manufacturing and production boom throughout the 1920s, spurred by an increase in consumer goods and new access to credit. But one of Georgia’s major industries, textiles, was hamstrung in at least three ways.
First, the boll weevil, introduced to the state in 1915, greatly reduced state cotton yields. Georgia’s cotton acreage declined from 5.2 million acres in 1914 to 2.6 million in 1923. These factors combined to push many small family farmers off their land. Many either moved into cities or became sharecroppers.
In addition to the state’s economic challenges, Georgia’s soil was in poor health. The state’s decades-long dependence on cash-crop agriculture encouraged farmers to plant every available acre with cotton, which eventually depleted the soil and led to erosion. By the beginning of the Great Depression, Georgia’s cotton, farmers, and land were all in a poor state.
Roosevelt, familiar with Georgia’s economy through his frequent visits to Warm Springs, proposed the AAA within his first 100 days of office. The act passed both houses of Congress in 1933 with the unanimous support of Georgia senators and representatives. In essence, the law asked farmers to plant only a limited number of crops. If the farmers agreed, then they would receive a federal subsidy.
The AAA successfully increased crop prices. National cotton prices increased from 6.52 cents/pound in 1932 to 12.36 cents/pound in 1936. The price of peanuts, another important Georgia crop, increased from 1.55 cents/pound in 1932 to 3.72 cents/pound in 1936.
These gains were not distributed equally, however, among all Georgia’s farmers. Subsidies were distributed to landowners, not to sharecroppers, who were abundant in Georgia. When the landlords left their fields fallow, the sharecroppers were put out of work. Some landowners, moreover, used the subsidies to buy efficient new farming equipment. This led to even more sharecroppers being put out of work because one tractor, for example, could do the job of many workers.
In 1936 the Supreme Court struck down the AAA, finding that it was illegal to tax one group—the processors—in order to pay another group—the farmers. Despite this setback, the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 had set the stage for nearly a century of federal crop subsidies and crop insurance. In 1936 Congress enacted the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, which helped maintain production controls by offering payment to farmers for trying new crops, such as soybeans. Crop insurance was included in the new Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, which paid subsidies from general tax revenues instead of taxes on producers.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Familiar name but not located near here
The name may be familiar to you, but this sign is not located in Georgia. See if you can figure out where this sign is located. Send your idea to ebrack2@gmail.com, and include your hometown.
Jay Altman of Columbia, S.C., wrote of this Mystery Photo: “This is the Ponce de Leon Inlet Light, a lighthouse and museum located at Ponce de León Inlet in Central Florida. At 175 feet in height, it is the tallest lighthouse in the state and one of the tallest in the United States. It is located between St. Augustine Light and Cape Canaveral Light.” The photo came from Mickey Merkle of Berkeley Lake.
Also recognizing it were Stewart Ogilvie, Rehobeth, Ala.; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill; Jane Bane of Lawrenceville; and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, who added: “Originally built in 1887, this is actually the third lighthouse built at this location. The first was built in 1835, but was destroyed by a storm soon after it was completed. The second light was also built in 1835, and also destroyed that very same year during the Second Seminole War (aka Florida War). It was not until 1887 that the current structure was completed and has continued to survive the perilous weather in the area. It is, at 175 feet high, the tallest lighthouse in Florida and the third tallest lighthouse in the USA, surpassed only by Cape Hatteras Light in North Carolina (210 feet) and Cape Charles Light in Virginia (191 feet).”
- 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.
Holiday Quilt Exhibit in Norcross through Dec. 31
The Norcross PDC (people drinking coffee) meets each Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. at the 45 South Café in downtown Norcross. Speaking on December 17 will be Matt Yarbrough, director of policy and governmental affairs for the Council for Quality Growth. The event is free and visitors are welcomed.
Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG Norcross Christmas Show is now playing at Lionheart Theatre and will continue through December 21. It is from Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, and directed by Tana Gilmer. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when Dickens’ A Christmas Carol meets the local flavor of Norcross and The Lionheart Theatre Company, then you don’t want to miss this holiday show. Join us for this hilarious mash up of a holiday classic with our own special Lionheart spin. Time for the shows are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sundays. A Saturday, December 20 matinee will be at 2 p.m. Go to lionheartteatre.org for more details.
Snellville City Hall will host the 10th Annual Festival of Trees through December 19. Local businesses, churches, schools or residents showcase their creative side by decorating a tree displayed at Snellville City Hall. Stop by City Hall, enjoy the trees and vote for your favorite by donating money, canned or dried food or toys. Each item placed under the tree of your choice will register a vote for your favorite tree. To make a monetary vote, go to the ExperienceSnellville.com website and vote.
The fourth annual Neighborhood Christmas Train is open on weekends until December 21. Kids learn to run their own Polar Express or Harry Potter Hogwarts Express train in the Engineer Training Center. All kids receive a free Hot Wheel car to drive around the neighborhood and take home. For the first time ever, Lionel and LEGO® play together at the Brick Whistlestop. This massive LEGO® City with eight LEGO® trains was provided courtesy of the North Carolina LEGO User Group. This is at Peachtree Campus, 3135 Reps Miller Road in Norcross. Hours are Saturday evenings from 5-9 p.m., and Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m. Purchase Timed-Entry Advance Tickets: Save $5 Family 4 or Family 5 Packs. Use Promo Code CITY25. More Info: www.NorcrossTrain.com.
A Holiday Quilt Exhibit is ongoing now through December 31. Presented by Spirited Quilters Guild, this colorful showcase runs through Wednesday, December 31 at the Welcome Center and History Museum, 17 College Street, Norcross. Open hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free! Marvel at 15+ holiday-themed quilts featuring a variety of materials, techniques, and patterns. Perfect for a festive outing in Norcross, wander through the creativity of local artists and get inspired by the warmth and whimsy of fiber art.
Gwinnett Reads Jane Austen series: Jane Austen’s Birthday Party. Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday! Enjoy cake and light refreshments while playing games with other fans of Austen. This will be at the Five Forks Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on December 16 at 11 a.m.
The next On Topic event with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce will be on December 17 at 11:30 a.m. Guest speaker Raphael Bostic, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, will share valuable insights on the latest economic updates and trends impacting businesses in the Atlanta area. Register online in advance.
Christ Episcopal Church Players will present The Gift of the Magi on Saturday, December 20 at 5 p.m. at the church at 400 Holcomb Bridge Road in Norcross. The evening will begin with the soaring voices of the Christ Church Choir and the shimmering tones of the St. Cecilia Handbell Choir as they perform a selection of stirring Christmas music. Then, you’ll be transported to early 20th-century New York as the Players present O. Henry’s timeless tale of love, sacrifice, and the true spirit of giving. Because of the expected popularity of this event, please secure your free tickets early at this link.
A solo exhibit of the work of Chitra Ramanathan of Norcross, a teaching artist at Norcross Gallery and Studios, is now going on at the Pinckneyville Park and Recreation Center in Berkeley Lake through January 31, 2026. It is a retrospective, as some early works are included up to current ones, many large in scale.
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