GwinnettForum | Number 23.44 | June 4, 2024
HEADED FOR ANNAPOLIS: Mamie Pridgen, a recent graduate of Wesleyan School, has won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, and leaves at the end of the month to begin her plebe years. For more on how she got into the Naval Academy, read Elliott Brack’s Perspective below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Put Trump verdict into real perspective
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Wesleyan grad wins Naval Academy appointment
SPOTLIGHT: Georgia Banking Company
FEEDBACK: Likes Bernard’s take on immigration
UPCOMING: Six races pending in June 18 primary runoff
NOTABLE: Fosque in new slot for Gwinnett Women’s Chamber
RECOMMENDED: Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Church bishop was controversial slave owner
MYSTERY PHOTO: House with distinctive history is today’s mystery
CALENDAR: Peach Fuzz Zine Fest in Duluth on June 9
Put Trump verdict into real perspective
Via Pixabay.
By Andy Brack
Editor and publisher, Charleston City Paper
CHARLESTON, S.C. | Now that Donald Trump has become the first former president convicted of crimes, it’s safe to say America’s political polarization may be at a tipping point.
Brack
People’s reactions are all over the place. Some are gloating, figuring the bully Trump finally got what he deserved. Some are mad – really mad – because their hero didn’t prevail before a New York jury who heard days of testimony related to politics and a scheme to hush up a hook-up just before the 2016 election.
Some, including our foreign allies, are relieved that the American system of accountability seemed to work and that no one is above the law. And yet others are just sick of it all, not really caring one way or the other about the guy who has sucked the oxygen out of political space for the last decade.
There’s not really any wrong or right reaction, but it would make sense for liberals to back off gloating and conservatives to curb their anger. Otherwise, our off-the-rails country is going to stay politically out of whack.
So regardless of how you feel, maybe there’s a mind exercise for you that can help you get beyond any visceral reaction.
Imagine you have a neighbor – or a business acquaintance, fellow church member, friend, drinking buddy or colleague – who has gotten in some serious trouble. You don’t know if he or she did what they are accused of, but you believe them when they said they didn’t do it.
Months pass. Your neighbor goes to trial. He or she is found guilty by a jury of local people, just as happens countless times across America every week.
So how do you react? Do you gloat? (“I didn’t really like him anyway; I’m not surprised.”) Do you get angry? (“She was railroaded; the system isn’t fair.”)
Or do you move on with your life, perhaps disappointed in your neighbor, but accepting that he or she had a chance to air a version of the case in a court of law where a jury of regular people listened and took a different view?
It’s interesting that many of Trump’s supporters who are local, state and national leaders continue to buy the dishonest narrative that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.
But if you step back and look at that whole notion from 20,000 feet, it is pretty preposterous because of its duplicity. On one hand, they’re saying the voting system corrupted the results of one election, the presidential election. But on the other hand, they’re accepting the results of thousands upon thousands of other elections – including their own that put them into office – and they’re NOT saying those elections were corrupt.
Bottom line: America’s system of governance and judicial review should work the same for everyone, regardless of whom they are.
Trump is just a man, not a demi-god. That’s what the results of the trial showed.
So as you reflect on what’s happening with a case that’s ripping apart America, don’t gloat or get mad. Rather, try to put things in perspective based on your life’s experience. There’s a pretty good chance that the results of this instance of judicial accountability is little different than what everyone else in trouble goes through. This time, Trump lost. He may lose again. But he had his chance in court to make his case.
And then when you head to the polls in November, cast your ballot in a way that will allow the country to adhere to time-proven principles of freedom – or not.
We hope you’ll pick the tenets of democracy in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, not a politically-tailored narrative to give special treatment to anyone.
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Wesleyan grad wins Naval Academy appointment
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
JUNE 4, 2024 | It’s good to see young people achieve their goals.
Mamie Pridgen, 19, a recent graduate of Wesleyan School, had a goal. She wanted to become a U.S. Navy officer, and set a path for achieving that goal. She was hoping to get admitted to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., but if that did not work, she also applied for admission at several colleges which had Naval ROTC programs. She applied to several other schools, and won admission from two of these schools.
But she went farther, and got nominations to the Academy from both Georgia senators, Rafael Warnock and John Ossoff, and also from Rep. Lucy McBath. She learned of her acceptance to the Academy by email on January 29.
So at the end of June, she’ll be heading to Annapolis to start the Academy’s summer of plebe (first-year) training. “I know we’ll be working hard and will spend time on the water, and also know that I won’t be home at all until Thanksgiving. We’ll start the academic year at the Naval Academy in late August. For freshmen, you don’t get much time away from the academy. They call that liberty, and freshmen have only Saturday afternoons for liberty. But when you are a senior, you have much more liberty.”
Pridgen
She’s the daughter of Amy and Franklin Pridgen of Peachtree Corners, and was born at Piedmont Hospital. Her father is the football coach at Wesleyan and her mother is a pediatric physical therapist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Mamie has been surprised at the reception her nomination got her. “Once I was committed to the Naval Academy, people rallied around me. Contacts there and graduates reached out to me. I was also impressed as the Wesleyan and Peachtree Corners communities set me up for success.”
Why a military academy? Mamie says: “My brother was in the ROTC program at Furman University, and is now a platoon leader in the Signal Corps in Germany. That opened up the idea for me of military service. Once I looked into that possibility at the Academy, I realized it would not be easy, but through hard work, and surrounded by others helping me, I was lucky to get the nomination.”
Naval midshipmen have a rigid course of instruction the first year, all studying the same basic courses of math, science and English. At the end of the year, she’ll determine her course major.
She recognizes the summer training won’t be easy, but she has been preparing for it. “It’ll be physically tough, but I’ve been training for plebe summer, having a cardio plan, running a lot and doing my sit-ups and push-ups. I want to be in good shape to prepare myself to be equipped to succeed in the next few months.”
She says of her future in the service: “Naval aviation interests me. I have a couple of other interests. We’ll see what develops.”
The Naval Academy will be getting a well-rounded freshman in Mamie Pridgen. She had top grades at Wesleyan, scoring a grade of 30 on the ACT test. (Top-tier colleges often look for ACT scores in the 27-32 range.) Mamie was president of the senior class, on the Honor Council, was editor-in-chief of the Wesleyan Literary magazine, and was on both the volleyball and lacrosse teams. “You have to play a sport at the Academy, either intramural or varsity. I might find another field, maybe pickleball.”
Mamie Pridgen set a high goal, and achieved it, and now looks to become an Academy-trained Naval officer!
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Georgia Banking Company
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Empowering Communities: Georgia Banking Company’s Commitment to Community Banking. In an era of mega-banks and digital finance, community banks play a vital role in fostering local economic growth and providing personalized financial services. Georgia Banking Company (GBC) stands out as a champion of community banking with a deep-rooted commitment to the people and businesses of Georgia. We believe in going beyond traditional banking transactions. That’s why GBC actively participates in community events, supports local charities, and collaborates with small businesses. By being an integral part of the fabric of the communities we serve, we become more than just a financial institution; we strive to be a trusted partner and neighbor. Our dedication to community banking sets us apart. We prioritize building relationships, supporting local initiatives, and fostering economic growth. We understand that when our communities thrive, we all succeed. To learn more about why GBC is The Bank of Choice, visit www.GeorgiaBanking.com. Discover the personalized banking experiences, tailored financial solutions, and commitment to local economic growth that make us the preferred choice for individuals and businesses. Member FDIC.
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Likes Bernard’s take on immigration
Editor, the Forum
The immigration issue has been an issue for years in our country. I just hope voters in Gwinnett take the opportunity to read Mr. Bernard’s article. Hopefully it will open some eyes to the reality of the situation. Well said Mr. Bernard.
– Barbara Knox Luckhurst, Duluth
Never dreamed there would be 34 guilty counts
Editor, the Forum:
Never would I have dreamed this country would lose its way so far as to be capable of (locally) finding the 45th President guilty of 34 counts of unrevealed crimes during the trial. Not one jury member has the intestinal fortitude to understand and voice the meaning of reasonable doubt?
That a judge be allowed to play the role of infamous Judge Roy Bean and have our Judicial System, (apparently broken in NYC), and in turn, Democrats cheer at the thought.
Advice to any business in NYC: one errant notation, by a simple bookkeeper can foster so many false claims and a kangaroo trial that your future is severely at risk. Be wise.
The Socialist Marxist movement supported by the Dems, in Congress and tolerance of the bias, and accompanying weaponization allows this puppet president, to continue to destroy our nation.
That there cannot be just a case of coincidence; multiple contrived court cases, and then numerous attempts by the Secretary of State to remove Trump from the national ballot in the Dem states. Election Interference by the DNC!
That county DA can decide to continually classify crimes like attempted murder, to a misdemeanor, and change expired potential misdemeanors to multiple felonies.
Same county DA allowed to try alleged federal election infractions, which the federal government called no case?
All attempts by the Deep State were surprisingly unveiled almost immediately following Trump’s announcement as a candidate. At what point do the crimes of the left come knocking, that they so fear his attempt to “Make America Great Again?”
The other world leaders will push our current feeble and incompetent example of a president, further and further, and take advantage, (even more than they have), of a ceremonial president who can’t find his way off a stage, and worse.
And never would I have dreamed it was past due to fly my U.S. Flag upside down!
– Ron Baker, Stone Mountain
Not unusual, Charleston sees matters differently
Editor, the Forum:
People in South Carolina would not agree with your column about Memorial Day, as it is thought to have started here in 1865. Here are a couple of pictures of historical markers at Hampton Park in Charleston.
– Andrew C. Brack, Charleston, S.C.
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Six races pending in June 18 primary runoff
There are six remaining political races to be determined in the June 18, 2024 primary runoff. Meanwhile early voting has begun, and will continue through June 14 at several locations in Gwinnett.
There is only one county-wide race to be determined, that of a Superior Court judgeship, therefore all Gwinnettians are eligible to vote on the runoff date of June 14. The five other runoff races are district races for either the House, Senate or School Board.
There is only one Republican primary runoff.
For State Senate in District 7, Fred Clayton faces Gregory Howard. In the voting, Howard led in the first vote with 35 percent of the balloting (2,017 votes) while Clayton had 30 percent (1,761 votes).
Democrats have two races to decide.
For State Senate in District 55, Randal Mangham and Iris Knight-Hamilton are in the runoff. Mangham led in the first voting, with 31 percent of the vote, while Hamilton was second with 23 percent of the vote.
For House District 96, Arlene Beckles faces Sonia Lopez for that nomination. Beckles led in the first vote, with 39 percent of the vote (506 votes), while Lopez polled 31 percent (394 votes.) With no Republican opponent in the General Election, whoever wins this race will get a seat in the House.
There are three non-partisan races still to be decided.
The only judicial race not yet determined is for a Superior Court position to succeed Karen Beyers. Regina Matthews faces Tuwanda Rush Williams for that position. In the May 21 primary, Matthews got 45 percent (31,257) of the votes, while Williams won 30 percent with 21,620 votes.
Two seats on the Gwinnett Board of Education will be elected to office in the non-partisan voting on June 18.
For Board of Education, District 1, Rachel Stone faces Karen Mulzac Watkins. For the May 21 voting, Watkins got 42 percent (7,771) of the first vote, compared with Stone’s 31 percent (5,684 votes).
For the Board of Education, District 3, Steve Gasper and Shana V. White are opponents. Gasper scored 36 percent of the first primary (5,556 votes), while White had 3,283 votes, or 21 percent.
Lawrenceville stage presents Irving Berlin journey
Embark on a musical journey Sunday, June 16, at 2:30 p.m., celebrating Broadway composer Irving Berlin and the birth of American popular song! Join Atlanta’s top musical theater artists for an unforgettable performance of Berlin’s timeless classics, from “Blue Skies” to “God Bless America.”
Discover the remarkable story of this Russian immigrant turned legendary songwriter who penned over 1,250 songs, including 25 chart-toppers, and crafted 17 Broadway musical scores. This show is part of the Molly Blank Concert Series at The Breman, presented by The Flying Carpet Theatre Company, but will be showcased in Gwinnett at the Lawrenceville Arts Center main stage. For tickets, click here.
Fosque in new slot for Gwinnett Women’s Chamber
Fosque
Former Gwinnett County Commissioner Marlene Fosque is the new director of economic development for the Gwinnett Women’s Chamber of Commerce. This strategic move signifies the Chamber’s commitment to fostering an environment where women entrepreneurs and business leaders can thrive and contribute significantly to the economic prosperity of Gwinnett County.
In her new role at the Gwinnett Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Fosque will lead efforts to drive economic development with a focus on enhancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Her responsibilities will include developing strategic partnerships, advocating for policies that support women in business, and launching innovative programs designed to accelerate business growth and development within the county.
Audrey Bell-Kearney, president of the Gwinnett Women’s Chamber of Commerce, says: “We are confident that her leadership will propel the Chamber to new heights and significantly boost our efforts to support women-led businesses in Gwinnett County.”
Gift from the Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
This paperback edition is small, less than a half inch thick. It is only 140 pages, even with its larger, easy-to-read type. And it is a treasure, sure to please almost all readers as Lindbergh takes you to a small, secluded island, where she walks or relaxes on the beach, finding all sorts of shells to charm her, and let her mind work. First published in 1955, it remains fresh even today, as the small book lets your mind wander wider and wider. There is something relaxing and peaceful on an island, where the beach calls and tantalizes and rests you. Some think of this as a woman’s book, yet it opens up depths of thought that anyone, man or woman, can appreciate. The author takes you on a journey that allows you to think and enjoy and appreciate the awe of this world. Go read slowly and enjoy.—eeb
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Church bishop was controversial slave owner
James Osgood Andrew was a 19th-century Methodist Episcopal Church bishop whose possession of enslaved people generated controversy within the denomination. Andrew became the symbol of the slavery issue that divided the church in 1844 and instigated the separation of northern and southern Methodist Episcopalians the following year.
James Osgood Andrew was born in Wilkes County on May 3, 1794. In 1789 his father became the first native Georgian to enter the Methodist ministry. Young Andrew was licensed to preach by the South Carolina Conference in 1812. The first 20 years of his ministry included the Salt Ketcher Circuit in South Carolina, Bladen Circuit in North Carolina, and the Augusta and Savannah circuits in Georgia.
In 1824 he was appointed presiding elder of the Edisto district, which included Charleston, S.C. From 1820 to 1832, he was elected delegate to the quadrennial General Conferences, and in 1832 he was chosen bishop. Andrew moved from Augusta to Newton County in 1836 to be near the Methodist Manual Labor School, of which he was a trustee. This institution later became Emory College at Oxford. His Episcopal assignments took him to annual conferences throughout the south and west.
The details surrounding Andrew’s status as a slave owner, and particularly the way in which he acquired them, are the subject of some debate. According to most published accounts, Andrew never bought or sold an enslaved person; rather he had become a slave owner through his wives. In 1816 Andrew married Ann Amelia MacFarlane, with whom he had six children. Upon her death in 1842, she bequeathed him an enslaved person. Andrew’s second wife, Leonora Greenwood, whom he married in 1844, was also a slave owner. When she died in 1854, he married Emily Sims Childers.
Andrew College in Cuthbert
Some evidence exists, however, to suggest that Andrew may have first acquired enslaved people earlier than 1842. A man named James Osgood Andrew is listed on the 1830 Athens census as the owner of two enslaved persons, although this man may not have been the bishop. The U.S. census of 1840, taken four years after Andrew is known to have moved to Newton County, lists him as a resident of that county and the owner of 13 enslaved persons.
Andrew’s status as an enslaver, by whatever means, was contrary to Episcopal custom. A growing abolitionist movement was evident within Methodist ranks at the General Conference of 1844. The real issue was whether the Methodist Episcopal Church would accept or disapprove of slavery. Northern delegates sponsored a resolution asking Andrew to ”desist” from exercising the Episcopal office as long as he owned enslaved people. Southern delegates countered that the church would be destroyed in states that prohibited emancipation. The resolution passed by a vote of 110 to 69. A Plan of Separation between northern and southern Methodist Episcopalians resulted, and the next year representatives of the Southern Annual Conferences met in Louisville, Kentucky, to organize their own church. The first General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, assembled in Petersburg, Va., in 1846, and Andrew was invited to preside.
During his career, Andrew contributed to religious periodicals and published two books, Family Government (1846) and Miscellanies (1854). During the Civil War (1861-65), he resided in Summerfield, Ala. After his retirement in 1866, Andrew continued to conduct church conferences when his health permitted. He died in the home of a daughter and son-in-law, the Reverend and Mrs. J. W. Rush, in Mobile, Ala., in 1871, and was buried in Oxford. Andrew College in Cuthbert, Ga, is named for him.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
House with distinctive history is today’s mystery
Today’s Mystery Photo is of a house that has its own unique history. Perhaps there are clues looking at you that can lead you to discover this history. Once you have an idea of where this is, send your answer to ebrack2@gmail.com, including your hometown.
The last mystery was sent in by Mark Barlow of Duluth. George Graf of Palmyra, Va. recognized the scene as “Perdido Beach Pass, Orange Beach, Ala. Back in the 80’s, my late wife and I took a vacation to Gulf Shores and we went to the Perdido Beach area a few times for dinner. Beautiful white sand back then.”
Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C. told us: “Perdido Pass, in Alabama. It separates Alabama Point from Florida Point. It is the mouth of the Perdido River, and forms a passage connecting Perdido Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.”
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. gave us some interesting tidbits about the area: “Orange Beach (Pop: 8,095) is a resort city in Baldwin County, Alabama. Located along the Gulf of Mexico, it is the easternmost community on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, with Perdido Key, Florida bordering it to the east. Orange Beach has a humid subtropical climate, with mild-to-warm winters, and hot and humid summers. As such, it is a well-known and popular destination for beach goers all year long. However, there are a few lesser-known facts about the area. Did you know that:
- Orange Beach was named after the short-lived success of locals who attempted to grow oranges, grapefruit and satsuma trees on the shores.
- Pirates once hid in Perdido Pass and Perdido Bay, waiting to raid ships, and were rumored to have buried some of their loot in Baldwin County.
- With more than 1,060 miles of artificial reefs off its coast, Alabama boasts the largest artificial reef program in the USA.”
- 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!) Send to: ebrack2@gmail.com and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Peach Fuzz Zine Fest in Duluth on June 9
Snellville Commerce Club will meet Tuesday, June 4, at noon at the City Hall. The program will be presented by Battalion Chief Tommy Rutledge, a native of Snellville, of Gwinnett Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Reservations are required and may be made at this link.
Youth Talent Show for ages 8-18 will be at the Lionheart Theatre on June 8 at 7 p.m. All are welcome. To sign up to perform, email Case196.sc@gmail.com. Tickets are $10 and available at the door. Lionheart is located at 10 College Street in Norcross.
Peach Fuzz Zine Fest will take place at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on June 9 from noon until 6 p.m. The Peach Fuzz Zine Fest is dedicated to showcasing zinesters, artists, writers, and other makers of creative work based in and around the Atlanta Metro area. Artists will sell and trade their zines along with participating in various panels throughout the day.
Author Visit: Bestselling author Omar Tyree will discuss his new psychological thriller, Control. This visit will be on June 11 at 7 p.m. at the Norcross Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Attend a Writers’ Workshop given by the Atlanta Writers Club at the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on June 15 at 1:30 p.m. Learn more about writing, network with other writers, and listen to accomplished authors offer tips to improve your writing.
Hear Author Rhonda McKnight in conversation with Vanessa Riley on June 20 at 7 p.m. at the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. They will discuss McKnight’s new novel, Bitter and Sweet, a dual-timeline tale of family, grief, secrets, and the sweet redemption that lies within the bonds of sisterhood. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Women in Sports Panel Discussion will be held Saturday, June 22 at 2 p.m., at the Norcross Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Calling all sports enthusiasts, aspiring athletes, and supporters of women in sports! Join Atlanta Women in Sports for an inspirational discussion featuring game-changing women.
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