GwinnettForum | Number 23.52 | July 2, 2024
DEE CAMERIO OF LILBURN has been recognized as being the outstanding Georgia Daughters of the American Revolution member for honoring Vietnam veterans in Georgia in 2023. This recognition came at the 133rd National Society of the DAR in Washington recently. She is shown with her husband, Lou Camerio.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Large, invasive snail found at Lake Lanier
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Bulk of Americans can see through Trump’s lies
SPOTLIGHT: Georgia Banking Company
ANOTHER VIEW: Makes decision on who he is supporting for president
FEEDBACK: U.S. mail caused major delays on absentee ballots
UPCOMING: Dog park in Lawrenceville to open in August
RECOMMENDED: The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates
GEORGIA TIDBIT: “Venerable Dr. Dagg” was early Baptist leader
MYSTERY PHOTO: Not only where’s today’s mystery, but also what
LAGNIAPPE: DAR chapter holds Flag Day celebration
CALENDAR: See a Clydesdale horse on Friday in downtown Norcross
Large, invasive snails found at Lake Lanier
(Editor’s note: The following information is from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, sent by the Lake Lanier Association.)
LAKE LANIER ISLANDS, Ga. | A new species of snails has been found in Lake Lanier that could be detrimental to the lake’s environment. Be on the lookout for them, and report any you find to the Department of Natural Resources.
The new species of mystery snails are fairly easy to distinguish from most native snails. Adults [mystery snails] are typically 2-3 inches long. None of the native species get much larger than one inch. There are a few native snails that look similar to these non-native mystery snails, however, so some care should be taken. The new species are olive green as adults and, like other members of their family, have an operculum or “trap door” that they can close when they pull in their foot.
Juveniles look quite different in that their spire is much lower and they appear clear or light green, sometimes with a dark band. At that stage they are very fragile and can appear transparent. They grow quickly and usually occur in large numbers where found.
Mystery snails are great invaders partially because their habitat requirements are not very specific. They can thrive in muddy or sandy bottoms as well as on hard surfaces like rip rap and bedrock. Typically they seem to prefer a mix of silty sand with cobble/boulder areas, similar to the abundant habitats in Lake Lanier. The only aspect limiting their ability to colonize the lake is depths that lack oxygen.
In regards to removal, there is little that can be done once they are established. Methods that would eliminate them would also eliminate native mollusks and other native aquatic invertebrates. Adults and juveniles are capable of burrowing and are very effective at hiding in hard to reach places. They are also capable of surviving out of water for up to two weeks in a cool humid environment and “clamming up” and waiting out unfavorable conditions or chemical treatments so they are quite resilient.
The current primary concern over this species is the potential for parasites that could be detrimental to other wildlife and in some cases humans. The Department is currently collaborating with Dr. Tyler Achatz at Middle Georgia State College to assess the parasites present in the various new populations of invasive mystery snails in Georgia.
As to guidance on what to do as a landowner, there isn’t a whole lot that can or should be done. Reporting new sightings to DNR would be the most useful action so that the Department can monitor the impact of the invasion as it progresses. Certainly, don’t collect, transport, or eat the snails as they could potentially carry some unpleasant parasites that can transfer to humans. Additionally, they were added to the prohibited animals list last year in Georgia, so it is currently unlawful to possess them. This was done in an effort to prevent their continued spread around the state and avoid this scenario from occurring in other places.
Note the size of these photos. Report sighting of this invasive species to the Department’s regional supervisor, Anthony Rabern, at Anthony.Rabern@dnr.ga.gov. Give him your name, address, phone and email, and if possible, send a photo of the snail, and the GPS coordinates or some landmark or reference point.
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Bulk of Americans can see through Trump debate lies
By Robert Ariail, courtesy Charleston City Paper.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JULY 2, 2024 | Watching presidential debates is not high on my agenda. Most years, these debates do little for real news, and serve mostly as arguments between the vying candidates.
But for 2024, I sat for nearly two hours and listened to Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
From the debate, here are two major thoughts:
- Donald Trump was as unbelievable as I thought he would be.
- Joe Biden stumbled at first, but consistently came up with an amazing variety of facts that were spot-on, and showed his mind is alert. It was amazing that he could remember all that!
One way to look at the debate is to fact check what the candidates said. We found that CNN produced a thorough fact check of this debate. In it, CNN scored it 30-9, as Donald Trump misspoke on 30 occasions and Joe Biden was off-base with his facts nine times.
Some key points in the CNN analysis:
Trump’s repeated falsehoods included his assertions that:
- Some Democratic-led states allow babies to be executed after birth,
- Every legal scholar and everybody in general wanted Roe v. Wade overturned,
- There were no terror attacks during his presidency,
- Iran didn’t fund terror groups during his presidency,
- The US has provided more aid to Ukraine than Europe has, that Biden for years referred to Black people as “super predators,”
- Biden is planning to quadruple people’s taxes,
- Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned down 10,000 National Guard troops for the US Capitol on January 6, 2021,
- Americans don’t pay the cost of his tariffs on China and other countries,
- Europe accepts no American cars,
- He is the president who got the Veterans Choice program through Congress, and
- Fraud marred the results of the 2020 election.
Biden made at least nine false or misleading claims in the debate. He:
- Used false numbers while describing two of his key Medicare policies,
- Falsely claimed that no US troops had been killed on his watch,
- Repeated his usual misleading figure about billionaires’ tax rates,
- Baselessly claimed that Trump wants to eliminate Social Security,
- Falsely said that the unemployment rate was 15 percent when he took office,
- Inaccurately said that the Border Patrol union had endorsed him before clarifying that he was talking about agents’ support for the border bill he had backed, and
- Exaggerated Trump’s 2020 comments about the possibility of treating Covid-19 by injecting disinfectant.
For details of this analysis, go to this link.
But what have we seen? The Eastern-packed media, and many Democrats, suddenly panicked after Biden’s early stumbling. It’s as if they were already waiting to call Joe aside and say “Don’t run,” with the debate giving them their chance. Even the august New York Times, and the suddenly-finding-its-voice Atlanta Journal Constitution, were calling for Joe Biden to get out of the race. Unmitigated panic!
Why should Joe Biden get out of the race? We have enough faith in the American people to feel that the bulk of Americans in this country who see through the bombast and blunder of Donald Trump and his threatening to become a dictator. Joe Biden has continued to guide this country as the preeminent economic and military power in the entire world, and it’s going to remain that way. The people of the United States have our problems, but we are not a failing nation because of the current leadership.
A majority of Americans are smart enough to realize this, and will bring our country back in line by rejecting the Trump lies, philosophy and his return. So, settle down America, and hold on for a wild ride.
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Georgia Banking Company
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Makes decision on who he is supporting for president
By Joe Briggs
SENOIA, Ga. | Recently Dr. David Felsen asks in the GwinnettForum readers how the debate influenced our voting decisions. This debate helped me clarify what has been another “who will do the least damage” election.
Briggs
My concerns are a world war, which we are dangerously close to, the horrific genocide in Gaza, special interests controlling our government, the border, and the U.S. economy.
In his first term, Donald Trump did not hesitate to fly around the world and walk across the DMZ to meet and diffuse a tense situation with the North Korean leader. In the debate, he asserted his commitment to reach an agreement between Ukraine and Russia. That’s a refreshing break from the arrogance and dangerous provocations of the Biden State Department.
Neither Biden, Trump nor Kennedy has shown any break with Israel to end the Palestinian suffering until Thursday night when Trump stated without hesitation that he would be receptive to a two-state proposal.
Both Kennedy and Trump have expressed solid commitment to throttle the border. The influx of economic immigrants has and will be a tremendous strain on our social and healthcare spending. For every child who has crossed, there is a 12 year, $10,000-$16,000 per year school commitment, as well as a strain on already tight affordable
housing. Add this to the $10,000+ per year per family for healthcare. We are going to feel this for a very long time.
So I had been fluctuating between Trump and Kennedy, but after last night I am leaning more Trump.
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U.S. mail caused major delays on absentee ballots
Editor, the Forum:
Why don’t more people vote? From my perspective, you must factor in the voting results issue with absentee voting ballots. Both of my ballots were sent by U.S. mail. The first arrived after the May election. The second the day of the June election. I use absentee ballots for a reason, but the delivery and the return continues to be an issue, and an important element of the future of voting results.
When did I ask for the absentee ballot? The first time this year (as last year’s requests didn’t carry over to 2024), I honestly don’t remember. I do remember I had to have a couple of conversations with the elections office, as my ballot request wasn’t totally completed (i.e., I’d neglected to add the date of the next election), but I wasn’t too late or I wouldn’t have gotten the ballots for May.
– Rebecca Wolary, Loganville (Gwinnett)
Feels Democrats need a new candidate
Editor, the Forum:
The Democrats need a new candidate. Our current president is not mentally competent anymore as seen last night. Most Americans saw this Thursday night.
– Stew Ogilvie, Lawrenceville
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 by to: ebrack2@gmail.com.
Dog park in Lawrenceville to open August 9
Members of the Lawrenceville Police Canine Unit are from left Officers John Heart, Patrick Rose, Sean O’Brien, Kaitlynn Wallace and Jeffrey Krueger.
A new urban dog park in Lawrenceville will be named HYRO Park (pronounced Hero) in honor of former K9 Officer HYRO, who served the Lawrenceville Police Department with distinction for seven years. HYRO Park, located adjacent to the Lawrenceville Lawn, will officially open to the public on August 9, 2024.
Hyro
Mayor David Still says: “After the loss of K9 HYRO, it seemed most natural to name the park after him. It is our hope that our citizens will remember our brave K9 officer for many years as they enjoy the park that bears his name – HYRO Park.”
Chief John Mullin revealed the park’s name, which had been kept secret until today’s ceremony. He says: It’s not just a safe place for people to come play with their dogs. It’s a place to bring the community together. It sends a message from the city that we believe in community and are focused on bringing people together.”
Officer Sean O’Brien, K9 HYRO’s handler, and his wife, Nikki, unveiled the memorial plaque at the park. The plaque commemorates K9 HYRO’s dedicated service from 2016 to 2023 and his remarkable contributions to public safety. It reads:
In memory of his service
K9 HYRO
2016 – 2023
Love Loyalty Obedience
Czech-born K9 HYRO joined the Lawrenceville Police Department on January 6, 2018. He had 233 missions resulting in 87 arrests, $15,000 seized, and 10kg meth, 24kg marijuana, 20g heroin, 60kg cocaine, and 14g fentanyl confiscated. Not just a dog, HYRO was Ofc. Sean O’Brien’s unwavering partner, displaying loyalty by keeping a watchful eye during duty. HYRO was a cherished member of both the O’Brien family and the Lawrenceville Police Department and is missed by all.
HYRO Park is located in a passive area of Lawrenceville Lawn at the corner of Jackson and Luckie Streets. The 0.41-acre park features separate areas for large and small dogs, each enclosed by decorative security fencing and connected by an eight-foot-wide concrete pathway. Double-gated entrances ensure the safety of all visitors.
HYRO Park features an artificial turf surface equipped with an automatic irrigation system, promoting a sanitary environment. It also features dog waste bins. HYRO Park is equipped with shade structures and benches, recognizing the importance of amenities for dogs and their owners and ensuring comfort for visitors. Additionally, visitors will find open areas and agility equipment for dogs and water fountains to keep dogs hydrated.
The HYRO Park project, constructed by Zaveri Enterprises, Inc., was paid for with $677,899.60 in SPLOST funds. Construction began in early spring. HYRO Park will be open during daylight hours beginning August 9, aligning with the operating hours of the Lawrenceville Lawn.
County awards jobs for improvements in two areas
Gwinnett commissioners approved the Technology Improvements Project for the Singleton Road corridor that will increase safety, improves efficiency and enhance the overall quality of life for residents and visitors in the area.
This smart technology adapts to real-time conditions, through traffic signals, street and sidewalk lighting and transit bus stops that can detect pedestrian presence. The $1,053,400 million contract is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation grant program and was awarded to 360 Network Solutions, LLC, for completion by April 2025.
In another development, commissioners awarded a $3.3 million contract awarded to GS Construction, Inc., to replace approximately 1.7 miles of existing water mains with 8-inch ductile iron pipe in the Hopkins Mill Subdivision in unincorporated Gwinnett County, east of Norcross.
Improvement projects like this increase the reliability of the water distribution system and minimize future water main breaks. According to Gwinnett Water Resources Director Rebecca Shelton, this project is part of an ongoing program to systematically replace water mains based on age, material type and break history.
The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates
By Karen J. Harris, Stone Mountain: This book presents mysterious and other worldly events which start happening in Princeton, N.J. in the spring of 1905. When Annabel Slade is abducted during her wedding, a ratchet descends upon the community. Slowly and inexorably, odd deaths, and unexpected births begin occurring in women long past childbearing years. There are also ghostly appearances that imperil the mental state of survivors in families in Princeton. The impact of the events also impact the lives of famous personages of this time: Grover Cleveland, Thomas Woodrow Wilson, Upton Sinclair, Jack London, and others who experience unexplained incidents of confusion and peril. Resolution takes place in spring of 1906. The themes of good vs. evil are masterfully handled by the author. The story ends with a thought-provoking confession by a major character which underscores the importance of ethical behavior, which is the foundation of the book’s both spiritual life and public service.
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“Venerable Dr. Dagg” was early Baptist leader
Author, educator, and Baptist clergyman John Leadley Dagg spent the latter part of his career in Georgia, including 12 years as a professor of theology and then president of Mercer University in the 1840s and 1850s. His influential books on theology and ethics established his reputation as the country’s first systematic Baptist theologian.
Dagg was born near Middleburg, Va., on February 13, 1794. He received limited formal education, attending school from 1803 to 1810. In 1817 he married Fanny H. Thornton, with whom he had four children. In 1832 he married Mary Young Davis; they had one child.
After beginning his career as a Baptist pastor and teacher in northern Virginia, Dagg served from 1825 to 1834 as the minister of a prominent Philadelphia church, despite being lame and almost blind. After he lost his voice as well, he resigned his pulpit and became president and professor at Haddington Literary and Theological Institute, near Philadelphia (1834-36), and then at Alabama Female Athenaeum, Tuscaloosa, Ala. (1836-44). In 1843 the University of Alabama awarded him an honorary doctorate of divinity.
As an educator and theologian, Dagg is best known for his work in Georgia between 1844 and 1870. From 1844 to 1856 he was on the faculty of Mercer University, then located in Penfield, as professor of theology and later president of the college. Under his leadership four brick buildings were constructed; the student body almost tripled, to a total of 181; and a three-year program leading to the bachelor of divinity degree was established, with three full-time professors.
His greatest contribution to Baptist life came after his retirement in 1856, when he lived successively in Cuthbert, Madison, and Forsyth with his clergyman son, John Francis Dagg. He prepared A Manual of Theology (1857), A Treatise on Church Order (1858), The Elements of Moral Science (1859), and The Evidences of Christianity (1869). His reputation as a theologian and ethicist rests on these four works. All were used as textbooks and enjoyed wide circulation and commendation into the twentieth century. The first two are still in print.
In 1870 Dagg moved to Alabama, where he lived with a married daughter. He died on June 11, 1884, in Hayneville, Ala. He is buried there in a grave approximately located and marked in 1957 by the Georgia Baptist Convention.
Dagg is perhaps the most representative theological figure among antebellum Baptists in the United States. To his contemporaries he was “the venerable Dr. Dagg,” a man of intellect and piety, of honesty and integrity, of clarity in thought and discourse. His gentleness and courtesy were frequently noted. One person wrote: “If there ever was a great man who did not know it, or knowing, cared not for it, that man is Dr. Dagg.”
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Not only where’s today’s mystery, but also what is it?
Today’s mystery asks two questions: what is it, and where is it? It may push you to answer these questions. Send your answer to ebrack2@gmail.com, and list your hometown!
Only four readers recognized the last Mystery Photo, a tough one with conflicting clues. Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. gave a complete report:
“Today’s mystery photo may be recognizable by Agatha Christie aficionados, as it is the Princess Gardens located on the seafront of Christie’s home town of Torquay, a coastal town in Devon, England.
The Princess Gardens is a Victorian-style public garden with a lawn surrounded by colorful flower beds laid out using the fleur-de-lys patterns. It has an ornate, three-tiered cast-iron fountain in the center and Torbay palm trees, all imported from New Zealand, scattered about the gardens. First opened in 1894, the gardens were named after Princess Louise (1848 – 1939), the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901).
The foundation stone for the garden was laid by Princess Louise in May 1890, just 4-months before Agatha Christie was born.
Having been born and raised in Torquay, Agatha Christie (1890 – 1976) would frequently visit the Princess Gardens. She even featured the gardens in her acclaimed 1936 fictional mystery book “The ABC Murders” in which Detective Hercule Poirot is racing against time in a cat-and-mouse chase across Britain, trying to stop the serial killer known as “A.B.C.” before the murderer stages his next crime.”
The photo was taken by Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill. Also recognizing the photo were Stew Ogilvie, Lawrenceville; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; and Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.
Catch-Up: The person we failed to mention sending in the previous photo of Juliette, Ga. was Kay Montgomery of Duluth.
- 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.
DAR chapter holds Flag Day celebration
On June 15, citizens and dignitaries from Gwinnett organizations gathered at VFW Post 5255 in Lawrenceville to celebrate the 247th anniversary of the adoption of the “Stars and Stripes” as the official Flag of the United States of America. It was the 13th Annual Gwinnett Flag Day Ceremony, organized by the Philadelphia Winn chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The National Anthem was performed by the Up Front Quartet (far left) while Georgia State Society SAR Color Guard presented colors (center) and Boy Scouts from Troops 50, 81, 231, and 506 (far right) stand at attention and salute the American Flag. (Photo by Boon Vong). Below, Boy Scouts Joshua Stoesen, Aiden Haskell, Caden Kaczenski, Connor Dunn, and Liam Dannemiller demonstrate the proper way to fold the American Flag. (Photos by Boon Vong.)
See a Clydesdale horse Friday in downtown Norcross
Snellville Commerce Club meets July 2 (today) at noon at the City Hall. Speaking will be A.J. Jensen, a professional caricature artist for 12 years. He now manages one of the largest caricature companies on the East Coast – with over 20 dedicated artists as part of the team. The ToonHeadz Team draws and entertains events, festivals, parties, and weddings all around Georgia. His subject will be “Overcoming fear.”
See a Clydesdale horse in Norcross. Get ready for a distinctive event! from 5-7 p.m., on South Peachtree on Friday, July 5. Meet this giant horse, which will be in front of B&W Burgers. As Budweiser and the iconic Clydesdales celebrate 14 years of partnership with Folds of Honor, experience the beauty and grace of this majestic creature up close. Raise a glass in celebration and be part of this legendary experience. Don’t miss out on creating lasting memories! As Budweiser and the iconic Clydesdales celebrate 14 years of partnership with Folds of Honor, experience the beauty and grace of these majestic creatures up close.
Author Talk with Elle Cosimano, New York Times and USA Today best- selling author. This will be Saturday, July 13, at 7 p.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. She will discuss her newest witty mystery, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice. Registration is required.
Braselton 5-K run benefiting the Braselton Police Foundation will be Saturday, July 27, starting at 6:30 a.m. This is a certified run and the time can be used as a qualifier for next year’s AJC Peachtree Road Race. To register, go to this site.
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