Today’s Focus
FOCUS: Some reasons that newspapers may be declining
By Joe Briggs | While I grieve with Raleigh Perry on the demise of U.S. newspapers, I disagree with his analysis. He states that people who once stayed informed through daily newspapers have shifted to the convenience of the internet. But he then laments the absence of any substance in the nightly broadcasts. So have the consumers lost interest in the news, or have the news providers lost interest in the consumers?
FOCUS: Our democracy may be in trouble with today’s poorer newspapers
By Raleigh Perry | Coming from a family in Chattanooga with a lot of newspaper people in it and having a newspaper on my breakfast and dinner tables, I have an appreciation of the printed media. There were two dailies. The Times in the morning and the Free Press in the afternoon. One leaned left, the other right.
FOCUS: Utah program gets unemployed folks back to work quickly
By Buzz Brockway | Last month I joined two of my colleagues on a trip to Washington, D.C. Our purpose was to meet with Congressman Rick Allen (Ga.-12) and Congressman Burgess Owens (Utah-4) to discuss integrating workforce development programs with safety net delivery. The reception we received was most supportive of this idea. We hope to eventually see federal legislation to allow states to do this.
FOCUS: Morsberger heard air raid sirens on Ukrainian mission trip
By Emory Morsberger | In Ukraine, I spent a few days helping with food distribution, and meeting a number of the refugees. Most of them were people just like us. I mean, you wouldn’t know them from your average American walking down Peachtree Street. They were disrupted and forced out of their homes, under great pressure, and suddenly ended up in all parts of Ukraine.
FOCUS: Gwinnett Tech offers wide array of continuing education
By Cher Brister | At Gwinnett Tech, we aren’t just “Basketweaving 101. You may have heard that Continuing Education is for people pursuing a hobby, or a new craft such as basket weaving, pottery or photography. You will find those classes at your local community centers, but they will not be found at Gwinnett Technical College’s Continuing Education department. At Gwinnett Tech’s CE, you will find that the focus is on jobs, careers and economic development in Gwinnett and North Fulton counties.
FOCUS: Okabashi Brands of Buford to expand production 100%
By Jaclyn Allison | Okabashi Brands Inc., a third-generation family-owned and woman-led shoe company, will renovate their 100,000-square-foot facility, creating approximately 340 new jobs and $20 million in capital investment over the next five years. The facility, located at 4823 Roy Carlson Boulevard in Buford, will accommodate new manufacturing lines, increasing production by 100 percent.
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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