Elliott Brack’s Perspective
BRACK: Gwinnett to lose its most senior government official soon
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | Gwinnett will soon lose its highest ranking Federal official, as Judge William C. O’Kelley and his wife are moving their residence from Norcross to their farm in Murrayville, in Hall County. Actually, Judge O’Kelley is the highest Federal official in Georgia, and possibly the Southeast.
BRACK: Highway routings, political forums and a Jackson EMC promotion
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | Gwinnett motorists going into Atlanta will have to find new routing after a portion of the Interstate 85 collapsed last Thursday from a fire under the bridge. It drastically affected Express bus routes originating from Gwinnett.
GC Transit says that all Express bus routes from Gwinnett will not operated via I-85 to I-295 to I-20, with return buses running in the opposite direction. Plan extra time for all Express trips.
BRACK: Much more diverse board structure in Gwinnett on way
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | For years now, there has been debate on how many county and school board districts Gwinnett needs to best govern ourselves.
Currently there are five school board districts, and four county commission districts. Each board has five members. However, there are only four county commission districts since the chairman is elected on a county-wide basis, and makes up the fifth board member.
BRACK: Crumbling buildings in rural south Georgia can depress you
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | Returning from South Georgia after attending a funeral this week, we got off the Interstates for a while, and enjoyed the less stressful driving on the back roads. All in all, it‘s much more enjoyable, too, as you see how the crops are doing (the Vidalias are green topped and ready for harvest), check out the small communities, and see Georgia in a way as it was in the past.
BRACK: Circle drive around Gwinnett shows continued vibrant activity
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | At least two times a year, we make a circular tour of Gwinnett County, to keep up with the continued change in the landscape. Every time we travel this route, we find new activity.
This week we found some overnight activity: a Tuesday night storm inflicted tree damage all around the county, as we encountered Georgia Power and Jackson EMC (and surely Walton EMC) crews around Gwinnett repairing damage from the storm. The damage was scattered, but seen through much of Gwinnett.
BRACK: The Piedmont Bank expanding into Northeast Georgia with merger
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | A Peachtree Corners bank is expanding into three additional Northeast Georgia communities by acquiring the Mountain Valley Community Bank of Cleveland.
The Piedmont Bank, for which Piedmont Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company, has entered into an agreement with Mountain Valley Bancshares Inc., the holding company for Mountain Valley Community Bank, with a plan to merge the two companies. It is expected that the merger will be completed in the third quarter of 2017.
BRACK: Oppose proposed bill to allow elected local school superintendents
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | In a constitutional republic where new legislation is constantly being pushed by many elements, all citizens must be vigilant.
For every time you gain a victory, that doesn’t mean that the victory will last. You may have to go all-out to insure that the victory remains in place, since there are usually major opponents to almost every bit of legislation.
BRACK: Here’s why some people say to me: You haven’t changed a bit!”
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | There’s a new mug shot looking out at you today. And there’s a story behind that.
It goes back years ago to my days publishing a weekly newspaper in South Georgia. During the political season, many of the candidates would come in for the editor to help them in writing their “political announcement,” which would be a paid advertisement for the candidate in the newspaper up until the election.
BRACK: Three Georgians inducted in Women of Achievement Hall of Fame
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher, Macon, Ga. | We ventured “back home” to Macon Thursday at Wesleyan College to be present for three prominent Georgia women, all now deceased, who were inducted in the Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame.
One who was a particular friend is Carolyn MacKenzie Carter of Moultrie, the first female photographer for The Atlanta Constitution. The other two are Clermont Huger Lee, one of Georgia’s first female landscape architects; and Lucile Nix, the first library head for the state of Georgia who led significant library expansion across the state.
Gwinnett Forum | Aug. 23, 2024
“Never tell anyone that you’re writing a book, going on a diet, exercising, taking a course, or quitting smoking. They’ll encourage you to death.”
– Comic Artist Lynn Johnston (“For Better or Worse”) (1947 – ).
Recent deaths
DULUTH FALL FESTIVAL
The family-friendly event, Duluth Fall Festival, will take place on September 28-29. This is the 41st year, and the Festival has consistently been voted one of the top festivals in the entire area, including “Best Large Festival in the Southeast’” by national publications.
There will be more than 300 arts, crafts and food booths, a huge parade, entertainment at two venues, a 5K road race, and much more. If you would like more information, are interested in volunteering, etc., go to the Festival website:
Continuing objectives
Gwinnett Forum publisher Elliott Brack suggests that Gwinnett County needs a long-range list of continuing objectives for improving the county. His list:
- Move statewide non-partisan judge and school board elections to the General Election.
- Adoption of the 2023 Transit Plan for Gwinnett.
- More creative efforts to support the arts in Gwinnett.
- Advancement and expansion of city historical societies.
- Require establishments that serve alcoholic beverages to halt sales of such products at 1 a.m., and close by 2 a.m.
- Require the Georgia Legislature to meet only once every two years.
- 21st century salary for the Gwinnett County Commission members.
- Remove chewing gum on sidewalks at entrances of post offices and other governmental buildings.
- Eliminate single-use plastic packaging and straws in Gwinnett and require instead the use of paper products.
- Condos instead of apartments for Gwinnett.
Interested in Gwinnett history?
Now re-printed in its third edition, Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta, the award-winning history of Gwinnett County, is once again available for purchase. It sold out of its first two printings. The book won the 2010 Award of Excellence in Documenting Georgia History from the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board. The book is available at Old Town Antiques at 93 Main Street in Lilburn.
- The history of Gwinnett is also available as an e-book from Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $9.95.
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