Georgia News

Review by Chef Jae Gruber,

During the month of September, I had the opportunity to visit The Chef's Garden and the Culinary Vegetable Institute in Huron, Ohio through a scholarship I received from Women Chefs and Restaurateurs , a professional association of which I am a member.

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- The Cobb County grand jury has indicted a former teacher on one count of sexual assault.

Steven Parkman, 32, was the orchestra director at Harrison High School in Kennesaw.

Parkman’s charged with having sexual contact with a 17-year-old student. Officials told Channel 2's Ross Cavitt that the case against Parkman is not a rape case.

"If you look at the definition by code section of sexual assault, a person commits that crime when such person has supervisory or disciplinary authority over another person. So because she was a student at the school and he was a teacher, it makes that the appropriate charge," said Officer Cassie Reece with the Cobb County Police Department.

Parkman resigned from his job at Harrison High School after the allegations came to light in April.

In addition to being the former director of the orchestra at Harrison High, he was also the chairman of the Fine Arts department at the school and was named the STAR Teacher for the 2007-2008 school year.

There is no word yet on his next court date.

(Lawrenceville, Ga., Oct. 15, 2008

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation was recognized as the number one park agency in the nation as it received the coveted Grand Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA).

“This award validates what we already knew,” said Lois Allen, Chair of the Gwinnett County Recreation Authority. “The winners are Gwinnettians whose lives are enriched because they have spent time in Gwinnett County’s parks.” Ms. Allen was on-hand to accept the award at NRPA’s 2008 Congress and Exposition in Baltimore this morning.

In May, GCPR was named one of four finalists for the award in the Class I (population 250,000-up) category, along with Ft. Worth Parks and Community Services Dept., TX, BREC, Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, LA, and the City of Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services, NV. Finalists then submitted master/strategic plans and 11-minute videos featuring their agency and achievements. The 2008 Gold Medal judging committee determined the Gold Medal winners in each category.

“I am proud to receive this national award on behalf of the citizens of Gwinnett who support and recognize the importance of quality of life including recreation opportunities in the County, and for the dedicated county parks and recreation staff who work hard everyday to provide both young and old a world class parks and recreation department,” said Operations Director Sharon Plunkett, who also accepted the award.

The most prestigious award of its kind, the Gold Medal honors park systems and communities throughout the United States that demonstrate excellence in citizen involvement and support systems, long-range planning, fiscal resource management, environmental stewardship, preservation, technological integration, program planning and assessment, professional development, agency recognition and services for special populations.

"This is literally the gold standard in national recognition for our outstanding parks and recreation division and for all the people who work so hard every day to make our facilities and programs absolutely top-notch,” said Commission Chairman Charles Bannister.

A former Ohio medical school administrator has been hired to head up the new Athens campus of the Medical College of Georgia.

The financial turmoil that has devastated the stock market is also battering Republicans in congressional races, giving Democrats a chance to topple GOP incumbents once considered safe and wrest seats in pivotal districts and states.

Voters' deepening anxiety about the economy following the enactment of a $700 billion financial industry bailout has created the conditions, just over three weeks from the Nov. 4 election, for an anti-Republican tide that could hand Democrats insurmountable majorities on both sides of the Capitol, according to lawmakers and strategists in both parties.

A Georgia man sentenced to death for the execution of a police officer is scheduled to be put to death on Oct.

Black voters have made up a disproportionately high percentage of early voters, accounting for 37 percent of Georgia's early voters.

The U.S. Justice Department has received Georgia's response to a challenge of the state's voter identity and citizenship verification system.

Retail gasoline prices across Georgia remain above the national average. But according to AAA, prices at the pumps are tumbling.

The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that 56,652 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits in September, an increase of 76.3 percent from September of 2007.

This central-Georgia military town outside Robins Air Force Base should be a cakewalk on Election Day for Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss. But ask people here if they support him and one finds surprising ambivalence, even hostility.

'I think everybody is just so totally dissatisfied with what's going on in Washington now that we feel like you probably can't get much worse, so you might as well try somebody new,' said Jean Hammock, a longtime Republican who listens daily to conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.

YAHOO! Story published at magicvalley.com on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Last modified on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 1:45 PM MDT This photo released by the Georgia Department of Corrections shows death row inmate ...

Clemson football head coach has been fired.After an unacceptable season at Clemson,Tommy Bowden will be trying to discover a new continent like Christopher Columbus.

by S. Wilburn,

As November election gets closer the nation's true colors are starting to show.Are we Americans this sick?Let's send a message to the world that we are not this shallow.

No matter what go out and VOTE !!!

( Pictured man on motorcycle wearing a t-shirt "Nig_er Please !!! Its a White House )

The final presidential debate is this Wednesday, October 15th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

It's the last chance for undecided voters to see Barack and John McCain side-by-side and determine who will bring the change this country needs.

And it will be the final time before election night to come together in this way with your friends, family, and fellow supporters.

Make the most of this opportunity by signing up to host a Debate Watch Party -- or attend one near you.

If you've joined us for an event before, you know how powerful they can be to help build support and grow our movement.

If you haven't, it's a terrific way to connect with fellow supporters and folks who may just be making up their minds.

If you can host an event, we'll make sure you have everything you need to make it a success. We're having a special conference call for Debate Watch Party hosts on Tuesday, when we'll give you ideas for how to get your guests involved in the rest of the campaign.

In these final weeks, each of us needs to do whatever we can to keep strengthening this campaign and encourage undecided voters to cast their votes for change.

Sign up to host or attend a Debate Watch Party now:

http://my.barackobama.com/debate-watch-party Thanks, Jon

Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America

What is the primary purpose of your business?

There are three other physicians in our practice besides myself, Reginald Strother, M.D., Richard Campbell, M.D. and Braxton Turner, M.D.

We all treat acute and chronic pain and the complications of pain. We also educate individuals and their families about the various treatment options available to them.

What is your business background?

I attended Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta and completed my residency program at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. I trained in anesthesiology and had advanced training in interventional pain management techniques. All of our physicians are board certified in anesthesia and pain management.

Why did you start this particular business?

Most people don’t realize that the families suffer as well when a person they love is in pain. I started this medical practice because I am committed to helping patients, and their families, who suffer from pain to improve their quality of life.

What makes your business unique?

We are anesthesia trained physicians that have a subspecialty in pain management. We are experts at diagnosing why you are having pain as well as treating the pain itself.

We combine the skills of board certified physicians, licensed physical therapists, nationally certified massage therapists, registered nurses and various other professionals - all with expertise and interests in managing acute and chronic pain.

Phones are ringing off the hook at Georgia's violence crisis centers as the tough economy translates into more reports of abuse in cash-strapped homes.

A "MUST HAVE" BOOK

"Having an interest in Gwinnett County history, particularly since 1950, Elliott Brack's book, Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta, is a must have.

"Informative and enlightening, it gives the origin and development of the all the major governmental agencies and a picture of the business community as well a highlighting those persons who made it happen.

Elliott's book, containing little known facts and long forgotten stories, explaining the phenomenal growth of one of the fastest growing counties in the nation will be read and quoted for years to come." Lawrenceville attorney Jones Webb

Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta did not start out to become a thick reference book.

Author Elliott Brack started to write a 100-page book about Gwinnett that people could send to friends to tell about the county…..but it grew and grew. (See Contents)

The book is essentially a history of one of the fastest growing counties in the nation since 1950, with emphasis on how the fast growth took place, who directed it and the consequences. In the meantime, Gwinnett has developed into the second biggest county in the state, and the most diverse.

The book is crammed with statistics with more than 125 tables in the Appendix that detail lists of public officials, to schools, service clubs, miles of roads and honorees of various organizations. There must be more than 5,000 names in the Appendix.

And what happens when in Gwinnett? You can determine when it's best to hold an event by checking out the only up-to-date annual calendar of events in the county.

You'll find Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta captures the lives and the stories behind many significant people of the county, while giving insights into the amazing growth and development of this fascinating county. Buy the book.

THE AUTHOR

Elliott Brack is a native Georgian and veteran newspaperman at three different levels.

He published the weekly Wayne County Press for 12 years; was for 13 years the vice president and general manager of Gwinnett Daily News, and for 13 years was associate publisher of the Gwinnett section of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. He now publishes, in retirement, two Web sites on Gwinnett and Georgia news.

He lives with his wife of 51 years in Norcross. They have three children and two grandchildren.

http://gwinnettforum.c.topica.com/maamlwtabK6MDb9MsIsbaehn2L/

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Now you can find out what's going on in your local neighborhood from people who work and live there.

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Georgia Mountain Fall Festival Sorry, NO PETS ALLOWED Tickets: $9.00 Parking Fee: $2.00

Look forward to the annual Georgia Mountain Fall Festival.

With first class musical performances, unique attractions and a glimpse into North Georgia’s rich history and culture, the Fall Festival provides something for every member of the family.

Don't miss our fantastic new 2008 attractions including Brett Marshall bicycle stunt Show and Glen McLean broom making demonstration.

Our festival also has a great music performance lineup with groups such as Tracy Byrd, Helen Cornelius, Ronnie McDowell, Connie Smith, Sammy Kershaw, John Conlee, Janie Fricke, T.G. Sheppard, And Many More.

Please visit for more info below: http://www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/fallfestival2008.php