WALTON EMC COMMUNICATORS Savannah Chandler and Greg Brooks proudly display their coveted Cooperative Communicators Association Communications Contest trophies at a recent meeting in Fort Worth, Tex. This year’s contest had 610 entries representing 58 different companies. Awards were presented in the categories of writing, photography, programs and projects, and publications. For more details, see Notable below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Dacula Attorney Addresses World Forum on Drugs in Sweden
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Orderly World Is So Predictable, Giving Us Hope and Comfort
SPOTLIGHT: Hayes Family Automobile Group
FEEDBACK: What Did Our Nation Get from Summit in Singapore?
UPCOMING: Snellville July 4 Holiday Features Gigantic Fireworks Show
NOTABLE: 34th Leadership Gwinnett Announces 40 Selectees for 2018-19 Program
RECOMMENDED: Movie: Greenfingers (2001)
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Wilson’s Southern Drive Faces Diminished Opposition
MYSTERY PHOTO: Figure Out Where This Beautiful and Uncrowded Beach Is
CALENDAR: Disentangling Truth in the Digital Age Workshop Coming Soon
Dacula attorney addresses World Forum on drugs in Sweden
Boyce delivers a speech in Sweden. Photo provided.
(Editor’s Note: Recently Gwinnett Attorney Peter F. Boyce of Dacula made a presentation to an international conference in Gotenberg, Sweden. He addressed The World Forum Against Drugs, composed of 400 representatives from 60 nations. Here is a brief summary of his remarks. –eeb)
By Peter Boyce
DACULA, Ga. | The National Narcotics Officers Association Coalition (NNOAC) was organized in the United States more than 20 years ago by a group of senior Drug Enforcement Officers to mobilize law enforcement throughout the U.S. and then to educate, train, and equip law enforcement to combat illegal drugs. Today our organization is composed of the top narcotics officers from throughout the U.S. We work together to focus our efforts on what is best for law abiding, tax paying citizens, and to make public safety a priority.
Boyce
The NNOAC always has been, is, and will be against the legalization and/or the decriminalization of any controlled substance including marijuana. Rather than harm reduction, we seek harm elimination. Marijuana is not legal on the Federal level but nearly 26 states have crafted state laws to allow for legalization, decriminalization or medical marijuana.
The NNOAC is opposed to medical marijuana and supports our FDA, which bases its approval of any drug on strict medical guidelines, not on heart wrenching stories of kids with rare medical conditions.
Pot legalization has been a disaster. There has been a dramatic increase in drug use and addiction. States like Colorado have seen more drugged driving deaths, drug related crime and emergency room admissions that are directly related to legalization.
While powerful, well-funded proponents emphasize tax revenue that comes to each state that legalizes pot, they never mention the tremendous cost to the states who adopt legalization. States that have legalized pot have found that the benefit of tax revenue does not come close to the real cost incurred by these states in social services, medical costs, increased crime, plus the necessity of funding more law enforcement and rehab services.
The black market is thriving and much of the marijuana produced in states that have legalized pot is being distributed to other states throughout the U.S.
Also the potency of marijuana has increased dramatically. Children are becoming addicts because of kid friendly, edible pot products like gummy bears, cookies and candy.
We must reduce the supply to cut the addiction issue. We must all work together to stop this growing threat to our world community.
The NNOAC and the NNOAC Foundation are also working to combat another real problem in the U.S., the Opioid Crisis. More than 64,000 people in the U.S. died last year because of opioid and other drug overdoses.
Opioid addiction is a real threat in the U.S. Law enforcement, the medical community and governments must work together to combat this growing international concern. We must educate the public about the transnational criminal organizations that make billions of dollars each year distributing opioids and other similar illegal, addictive substances to our citizens. We have to be funded to combat this growing international problem. I suggest to you that the U.S. may be one of a few countries with an opioid crisis today but many of your countries will soon find it at your borders if not stopped now.
Just last week, our First Lady, Melania Trump, put combating opioid addiction as one of the priorities she intends to address.
The NNOAC is committed to telling the U.S. and the world the truth about legalization and drug abuse. We are committed to working with your organizations to fight this international battle. We are committed to keeping our citizens safe. The health and well-being of our respective countries is at risk.
The success of your country’s future depends upon our joint efforts.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Orderly world is so predictable, giving us home and comfort
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
JUNE 19, 2018 | One thing people around the entire world can count on: the world is orderly. We don’t have a playful God that lets the sun rise on one side today, and then on the other side tomorrow. Our physical world is predictable, unsurprising and stable.
No matter where you live, people smarter than I am can determine exactly what time the sun is going to rise in a particular area, and what time it will set. That’s wonderful! It means to me that indeed, the world is orderly. And that gives me solace and comfort.
That’s why I look forward to the summer solstice, when I see, feel and relish this world right down the street where I live.
It happens as I get up early to walk our dog, Hercules. (Ok, so he walks me!) As we move northeasterly up the street, the rising sun shines directly in our eyes down our street in Norcross. If we get up shortly past 6:30 a.m., we don’t get the full effect of that bright sunshine beaming directly down the street. At that time, and for a few minutes, the sun is directly bright on a sunny day, burning orange in our eyes. And then in less than a minute, the sun starts its southern direction, eventually moving in more than half a circle to settle in the southwest.
Of course, the summer solstice is the time with longest daylight of the year, the sun officially rising in Atlanta at 6:27 a.m., and setting at 8:51 p.m. That’s 14 hours and 23.58 minutes between sunrise and sundown that day.
By the compass on June 21, the sun is shining bright at 61 degrees northeasterly when rising, then moves clockwise until it sets at 299 degrees toward the west. Note how wide an arc that is, 238 degrees difference between morning and night!
At the spring and fall solstice, the variation between morning and night is near even. The spring solstice had 12.07 hours of daylight, and the fall solstice (September 22) will have 12:08 hours of daylight. Interestingly, the sun moves in about a half circle, traveling in March just 181 degrees, and in September 182 degrees.
Look at the winter solstice: On December 21, the sun will rise at 7:39 a.m. here, and go down at 5:32 p.m. That’s only 9 hours and 54.33 minutes of sunlight, or a total of 4.5 hours less sun hours than on the longest day. And yes, that is our shortest day.
All in all, or world is so predictable! That creates the comfort for me.
- Want to know more about all this? Go to “Time and Date”.
Trick question: when is the longest day? No, it’s not really on June 21, which has the longest amount of sunshine. Remember Daylight Savings Time? That means that the extra hour we get this year on November 4 when we “Fall Back” to Standard Time will mean that this one day will be 25 hours long.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Hayes Family Automobile Group
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s sponsor is Hayes Family Automotive Group with Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC. Mike, Tim and Ted Hayes of Lawrenceville and Gainesville with Terry Hayes of Baldwin invite you into their showrooms to look over their line-up of automobiles and trucks. Hayes has been in the automotive business for over 40 years, and is North Georgia’s oldest family-owned dealerships. The family is the winner of the 2002 Georgia Family Business of the Year Award. We know that you have high expectations, and as a car dealer we enjoy the challenge of meeting and exceeding those standards each and every time. Allow us to demonstrate our commitment to excellence!
- Check the web sites at: www.hayeschrysler.com or www.hayeschevrolet.com or www.hayesgmcars.com.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
- For a list of other underwriters of this forum, go to: Our underwriters.
What did our nation get from summit in Singapore?
Editor, the Forum:
I hate to break it to you, but what exactly did President Trump get in return from that summit in Shanghai?
Our military are no longer able to have “war games” in preparation with our Allies: Japan and South Korea, in the event North Korea and maybe China misbehave. It’s okay for Kim Jong-un to continue torturing his people to fall in line with his murderous regime. He still has his nuclear weapons for the time being and do you seriously think this dictator is going to really give up that power?
In the meantime our president disrespects our other Allies at the G-7 summit. Some day we may need their help and they will come despite of this president. It’s a shame the president doesn’t see that. I really don’t see Russia and now his new found friend, North Korea, coming to our aide.
Being someone who has leanings to the left, our economy was beginning to recover when Mr. Obama was still in office, so that argument falls flat. As for the stock market, I wouldn’t put any of my money into it because it goes into a tailspin every other day (I exaggerate). As for impeachment, our president still has two more years in office (give or take a few months) and if the Democrats get the majority this fall, it could get very dicey for him.
One more thing, what is the reason for breaking up families while being detained for immigration admission? Where is the compassion, the “Give me your tired and your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”? There is grumbling about looking at “naturalized U.S. citizens” for deportation. What about that for “Yes, I can”?
— Sara Rawlins, Lawrenceville
Recent Houston article was her “best article so far”
Editor, the Forum:
The article by Debra Houston recently was right on target! She nailed this one in such a delightful way that makes me proud to be an American. I think it is her best article so far. I always look forward to reading her relevant and entertaining ideas.
Thank you so much for providing us with your Forum twice a week. I look forward to every issue.
— Donna “Marie” McDaniel, Marietta
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. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: elliott@brack.net
Snellville July 4 holiday features gigantic fireworks show
The popular Star Spangled Snellville event, featuring one of the major firework shows in the Southeast, is set for July 4.
The Snellville Tourism and Trade Association will present the Fourth of July experience. It will be in the heart of Snellville from 4-10 p.m. on the Towne Green.
The event begins with family friendly entertainment, including the tastes and smells of favorite festival foods, along with a large playground of inflatables, the big Kahuna water slide, train rides and bungee jump. Ride as often as you like with an all-day arm band for only $10.
The Contagious Band will take the stage at 5 p.m. followed by Rhythm Nation at 7:30 p.m. The fireworks display will begin when the sky becomes dark, approximately 9:30 p.m.
- For information on concert tables, please contact Kelly McAloon at kelmca@comcast.net. For more information on other upcoming events visit www.snellvilletourism.com
Snellville budget increases 4.6 percent for coming year
A Fiscal Year 2019 balanced budget of $13,426,874 was approved by the Snellville council recently.
Net Fiscal Year 2019 spending is projected to increase by 4.6 percent or $520,254, City Manager Butch Sanders says. Three non-discretionary reasons for the increase include $45,000 in new funding for maintaining aging facilities, $46,000 for the cost of living adjustment in the city’s sanitation contract and $30,000 in planning and development which can be accounted for through the Comprehensive Plan update, the Unified Development Ordinance project and inspection costs.
A total of $696,000 is budgeted for street resurfacing and $650,000 in stormwater projects helping to maintain important city infrastructure. Salary increases for police and labor and maintenance crews will help to keep the city competitive with other local governments.
Positive local economic growth is exhibited in several strong city revenue items including: occupational tax, five years of positive growth; building permits, which have increased four-fold in Fiscal Year 2018; and recreation programs, which are up more than 25 percent in the last three years.
Peter Yarrow of Peter Paul and Mary coming to Temple Beth David
Remember those beloved folk songs, Puff the Magic Dragon, Light One Candle and The Great Mandala? Their creator, Peter Yarrow, will be on stage to share his music and stories in a special, live concert at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, June 26 at Temple Beth David in Snellville.
Yarrow first achieved fame as a member of the renowned musical trio Peter, Paul and Mary. His gift for song writing produced some of the most memorable songs in folk music history. Perhaps his most meaningful undertaking, Operation Respect, was launched in 1999. Themed by the song Don’t Laugh at Me, it focuses on creating a positive, safe, bully-free school atmosphere for children, and has been adopted by more than 22,000 schools in the U.S. and abroad.
- Tickets will be sold only online at https://bit.ly/2J2PTsG. Seating is limited. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
34th Leadership Gwinnett announces 40 selectees for 2018-19 program
Forty people have been selected to Leadership Gwinnett, Gwinnett’s community leadership program for business, civic, and community leaders.
Executive Director Lisa Zaken says: “Selection of these top candidates requires a balance of occupation, qualifications and a representation that reflects a cross sectio
n of the county. Over the coming year, this diverse group will gain an understanding of the people and issues shaping our community’s future – and more importantly, how they can impact those issues.”
These 40 leaders for the 34th class have been selected because of their influence, commitment, and dedication in their field of expertise. Since 1985, Leadership Gwinnett has graduated nearly 1,200 alumni, a powerhouse of influence and networking, who continue to champion the betterment of Gwinnett County.
The 2019 Leadership Gwinnett program kicks off in August with an orientation, an opening retreat, seven learning days, monthly study groups, tours and hands-on experiences within the county and a closing retreat. Through these efforts, the Class of 2019 will explore critical community issues, evaluate themselves as leaders, and build lasting relationships.
The Class of 2019 includes:
- Audrey Arona, Medical Director, GNR Department;
- Mary Beth Bender, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works, Utilities & Parks;
- Gray Brantley, Attorney, Andersen, Tate and Carr, P.C.;
- Gene Byce, Jr., President, Jireh Supplies, Inc.;
- Andrew Carnes, Sr. Director of Economic Development, Partnership Gwinnett;
- Fred Cephas, Assistant Chief, Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services;
- Meagan Cook, Key Account Manager, Scholastic Images/Balfour;
- Lisa D’Addieco, Director of Housing, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – GA Campus;
- Cherish De la Cruz, Founding Partner, Cherish De la Cruz Law, LLC;
- Doug Doblar, Teacher of the Year, R.D. Head Elementary, Gwinnett County Public Schools;
- Jose Doyague, Senior Account Executive, Red Hat, Inc.;
- Kara Dutton, Principal, Jackson Elementary, Gwinnett County Public Schools;
- Laura Gourley, Chief Financial Officer, Annandale at Suwanee, Inc.;
- Victoria Hawkins, Marketing & Communications Director, Explore Gwinnett;
- Jim Hollandsworth, Executive Director, Path Project;
- Sloan Jones, Associate Vice President of Communications, Georgia Gwinnett College;
- Bryon Letourneau, Director of Transportation Design, Pond and Company;
- Jun Lin, CEO, Forest Development Group, Inc.;
- Renee Liverpool, Regional Trainer – East Georgia, Weight Watchers, International;
- Galen Martin, Vice President, Technology and Operations, Gwinnett Technical College;
- John Moss, President, Interactive Business Technologies;
- Curtis Northrup, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Sugar Hill;
- Dana Pagan, Deputy Chief Assistant Solicitor-General, Gwinnett County Solicitor’s Office;
- Nish Patel, VP and Administrator, Gwinnett Medical Center – Duluth;
- Tyler Phillips, Senior Vice President, Quantum National Bank;
- Debra Potter, Director of Community Outreach, Perimeter Church;
- Bob Rodgers, CEO, Street Grace;
- Phil Sadd, Senior Account Executive, Finastra, Peachtree Corners City Council;
- Heather Sawyer, Deputy Communications Director, Gwinnett County Government;
- Jeff Smith, Police Captain, City of Lawrenceville;
- Courtney Spicer Adkins, Senior Assistant District Attorney, Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office;
- Shawn Still, President and CEO, Olympic Pool Plastering & Shotcrete;
- Linda Stratton, Mortgage Broker, Brand Mortgage;
- Nathan Umberg, AVP Commercial Relationship Manager;
- Belinda Walker, Property and Casualty Underwriter, State Farm Insurance Company;
- Wanda Weegar, Vice President/Branch Manager, Brand Bank;
- Amy Wheeler, Chief Financial Officer, Eastside Medical Center
- Garrett Wiley, Commercial and Industrial Marketing Representative, Jackson EMC; and
- Karen Winger, Transit Division Director, Gwinnett County Department of Transportation.
Walton EMC pair wins honors at communicators’ conference
Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) communicators Savannah Chandler and Greg Brooks were presented multiple awards during the 2018 Cooperative Communicator Association’s (CCA) Annual Institute in Fort Worth, Texas. The two claimed trophies in the CCA Communications Contest, which evaluates the skills of communicators working for member-owned cooperative businesses from across the nation. Major sectors represented include agriculture, food, telecommunications, energy and banking.
Chandler and Brooks earned these honors:
- First place, Campaigns and Programs, for Walton Gas’s online game Pick the Peach
- First place, Cooperative Education, for the Co-op College employee training program
- Second place, Brochures, Pamphlets and One-time Publications, for Walton EMC’s commercial services brochure
- Second place, Employee Publication, for Walton EMC’s Two-Way Feed
- Third place, Miscellaneous Promotional, for Walton Gas’s Georgia Proud scenic umbrella
In addition to the contest awards, Chandler was presented the Michael Graznak Award, one of the association’s top distinctions for cooperative communicators. This honor symbolizes accomplishments, contributions, competence and promise of young cooperative communicators, and recognizes their sustained excellence, creativity, insight and performance.
Movie: Greenfingers (2001)
Reviewed by Karen Burnette Garner, Dacula: This film starring Clive Owen and Helen Mirren, Greenfingers tells the story of a young man (Owen) who is serving time for the murder of his brother, and his selection to participate in an “open prison” program. While at the progressive prison, he is inspired by his older “lifer” cellmate to cultivate an interest in gardening. As more prisoners join the gardening group, their work comes to the attention of a flashy TV gardening expert (Mirren), and they are ultimately invited to show their gardening skills outside the prison walls at Hampton Court. Based loosely on a true story of prison gardeners in Great Britain, and the achievements they make as they turn their lives around, Greenfingers touches the heart. The film is a humorous, uplifting joy. It is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (100 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. Send to: elliott@brack.net
Wilson’s Southern drive faces diminished opposition
(Continued from previous edition)
As Union Major General James Harrison Wilson swung his troops eastward toward Montgomery, he faced increasingly diminished opposition. Like Selma, Montgomery was an important production center and a vital shipping point for distributing the region’s agricultural goods. Moreover, as Montgomery was the capital of Alabama and a former capital of the Confederacy, its taking carried considerable symbolic weight. As Wilson’s men approached Montgomery, Confederate General Dan Adams’s troops, charged with defending the city, were ordered to Columbus to link up with Howell Cobb‘s Georgia State Troops. Montgomery was left defenseless, and Wilson’s men entered the city facing no resistance. With the war winding down, Wilson stayed in Montgomery two days, sparing the city except for its arsenal and its railroad equipment and depots.
Wilson
Heading into Georgia, Wilson moved against Columbus on April 16, 1865. Columbus, too, was unprepared to defend itself. Many of those tapped to defend the city were taking part in their first combat. Wilson easily routed the Confederates there and took around 1,500 men prisoner. With the fall of Columbus, Wilson had taken “the last great Confederate storehouse.” As Wilson headed for Macon, Confederate General Robert E. Lee had already surrendered at Appomattox, and U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was dead. The war was effectively over.
Wilson organized cavalry patrols to capture fleeing Confederate leaders and to obtain the surrender of any bands of Confederates still roaming Alabama and Georgia. On May 10, 1865, a group of Wilson’s men captured the former president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, at Irwinville in south Georgia. Groups of Wilson’s men also captured or arrested former Confederate vice president Alexander Stephens, Georgia governor Joseph E. Brown, Georgia senator Benjamin Hill, and the infamous Henry Wirz, commandant of Andersonville prison. Wilson’s forces were fully disbanded by early July.
Although no one denies the tremendous damage Wilson’s men were able to inflict on the Confederacy’s productive abilities, scholars debate just how much damage Wilson’s troops inflicted on civilians and nonmilitary targets. A group of more than 13,000 men and horses moving through an area, foraging for food and supplies, was bound to cause damage against civilian property, whether or not the intent was malicious. It is certain that some depredations against civilians and civilian property occurred. Wilson’s Raid, however, should not be confused with Sherman’s march to the sea. As devastating as the raid was, its targets were largely military.
Historians have also debated the military necessity of Wilson’s Raid. By the time Wilson took Montgomery and Columbus, the war was effectively over, possibly rendering the damage inflicted on those cities gratuitous. It also will never be known whether any rogue Confederates would have or could have used Georgia, Alabama, or points further west for a last stand had Wilson’s Raid not occurred, although Wilson certainly made that possibility unlikely.
What is known is that in the course of a mere month, Wilson and his men covered hundreds of miles, took more than 6,000 men prisoner, and killed and wounded more than 1,000 Confederates, while having only 99 men killed and 598 wounded. Regardless of the timing that minimized the raid’s significance, this surprisingly deft and mobile force of more than 13,000 cavalrymen effectively destroyed the rail centers, arsenals, mines, and factories at the heart of the Confederacy.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Figure out where this beautiful, uncrowded beach is
Ah, what a beautiful beach. Now figure out where this photo was made, and you will have solved this week’s Mystery Photo. Send your answer to elliott@brack.net and include your hometown.
Only Super Sleuth George Graf of Palmyra, Va. was able to identify the recent Mystery Photo. The photo came from Sandy and Rick Krause of Lilburn. George said it was the “Satevo Mission (aka Lost Mission ) in Batopilas, Mexico. It is known as the ‘Lost Cathedral’ as nearly all of its records were destroyed in a couple of fires so no one knows for sure when it was built or by whom.”
George also told us why he didn’t solve recent Mystery Photos. “On June 12, a lightening strike extremely close to our home burned out two cable TV boxes, fried the cable modem, burned out an HDMI port on my big screen TV, and killed the ethernet and other ports on my primary desktop computer. Electric surge came through the coax cables, not electrical wiring which were protected by surge protectors. So I had to buy a completely new desktop PC and finally got some connectivity, but haven’t yet salvaged any files, emails or contacts from the old machine. Our landline phones are also out, except we can call out but not receive calls. Called phone company in India on June 12 who said they can have someone to my house on June 25. Sounds like the old USSR service!”
Author Mathew Betley will speak at Shiloh Baptist Church on Saturday, June 23 at 7 p.m. The church is located at 5988 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners. The event is free, and books will be available for purchase and signing. Betley is a 10 year Marine officer, whose latest book is Field of Valor, featuring Logan West. The event is hosted by the Gwinnett County Public Library.
Free concert by the Gwinnett Symphony during the International Conductor’s Exchange, to be at Discovery High School, Sunday, June 24 at 5:30 p.m. Music from Beethoven, Barber, Liszt and Strauss will be on the program.
Disentangling Truth in the Digital Age is the focus of this News Literacy Workshop. It will take place Thursday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Suwanee Branch of the Gwinnett Public Library, 361 Main Street In Suwanee. This program will explore the history of disinformation. Come learn how to disentangle the truth and empower yourself in the information age.
Ink, Paint and Steel is a new art exhibit open through July 13 at The Rectory in Norcross. Explore the works of KatheAssociation for this informal talk and QandA photography workshop. The second will be at the Five Forks Library Branch, 2780 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lawrenceville, on June 30, at 2 p.m. The third will brine Linn and Simone Wilson in this new exhibit . Opening night, June 8, is free and open to the public and will include a reception with music, refreshments and the opportunity to meet these extraordinary artists.
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