Free Lecture at h2u Wednesday
June 23, 2008
Orthopedic surgeon, Craig Mines, is scheduled to speak about joint replacement and injury prevention at the h2u (health, happiness, you) organization at Emory Eastside Medical Center on Wednesday. The lecture is free and will take place at 2pm at the Senior Center at 2350 Oak Road.
For information, call the h2u office, 770-982-2358, or visit www.emoryeastside.com.
Snellville Home to Unusual Sport
June 19, 2008
Sepak takraw, better known as kick volleyball, is a national sport played in Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Now, it is coming to Gwinnett County and the city of Snellville.
Combining the elements of soccer and volleyball, it is a sport played with three players on each side of the net and a ball made of synthetic fiber or one woven layer. Allowed to only use your head, feet, knees and chest to score points, the most skilled perform acrobatic feats which include such tricks as bicycle kicks.
Amphone Sengchanh, 42, learned the sport in his hometown Vientiane in central Laos and while playing it in a refugee camp in Thailand. He came to the US at the age of 12. “I still remember watching the tournaments inside a temple near my house in Vientiane and playing my first game when I was 10 while living in the refugee camp.” Now he is one ofabout 20 fellow countrymen who play Sepak takraw at a Snellville-based Buddhist temple Monday through Friday.
Sengchanh states, “It is a sport played primarily by those from my Laos and other Southeast Asian countries … But my goal is to introduce this sport to more Americans and more cultures. People who watch us play are amazed by what they see.”
BOC Asking for Proposals for Ronald Reagan Parkway to I-85
June 19, 2008
The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners is asking businesses for proposals to connect Ronald Reagan Parkway to I-85. The board seeks a public-private partnership to develop the project that could be financed privately through tolls or user fees.
Entailing the planning and building of new interchanges at Pleasant Hill Road and at I-85 plus about three miles of four-lane roadway, the developer could use a toll-collection system to pay for the new roadway improvements instead of traditional taxpayer funding. Under this proposal, there would be no toll charges for the use of the existing roadway.
Ronald Reagan Parkway is a limited-access, four-lane road divided by a median. The major east-west thoroughfare currently extends from Scenic Highway/SR-124 in Snellville to Pleasant Hill Road northeast of Lilburn.
“We’re looking for private businesses capable of designing, building, financing, operating, and maintaining this much-needed road extension,” said Gwinnett County Administrator Jock Connell.
The County will hold a pre-proposal conference for potential partners in July with proposals to be due in August. For more information on the process, please call Debra Parmer in Gwinnett County Purchasing at (770) 822-8720.
City Council Approves Tax Increase
June 19, 2008
In a 4-2 vote on Monday city officials approved the one-half point mileage increase in taxes for city property owners. The increase will cost the average Snellville home owner $20 per $100,000 assessed value.
Snellville residents voiced their opinions about the city taxes in public held hearings. Like the split vote, some residents are in favor of the increase, while others are opposed.
Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer urged the council to support the tax increase which would help compensate for a revenue shortfall.
Councilwoman Kelly Kautz refused to vote, expressing concern about the process. Kautz was concerned the mayor had not appointed a city manager until last week, meaning that the city manager was not in place in time to help balance the budget. Under Snellville charter, however, abstention counts as an affirmative vote.
Likewise, Councilman Robert Jenkins said he didn’t feel confident voting on a budget that was not overseen by a city manager.
Only Jenkins and Mayor Pro Tem Warren Auld voted against the increase.
Feeling there was no alternative due to revenue shortfall, Councilman Tod Warner voted for the tax. Speaking in favor of his vote, Warner stated, “People may think we are ‘tax and spend’ politicians, but we’re far from it … It’s not something we do lightly.”
Councilwoman Barbara Bender agreed and also voted for mileage increase. Expressing the difficulty she had in making the vote because of the hard economic times we are currently seeing, Bender stated that she also found her affirmative vote necessary.
Although residents won’t see the increase until the fall when Gwinnett County circulates the tax bill, the property tax increase is estimated to generate $595,000 for the city.
Snellville Man in Jail After Email Threats
June 19, 2008
Jerome Vento Jr., 39. is accused of sending threatening emails to members of the Gwinnett County Police and Sheriff’s department.
Vento allegedly sent an email to the Georgia National Guard in which he accused Gwinnett law enforcement of poisoning him and other county residents with what he claimed to be a nuclear pesticide called “Pulmo”. According to Gwinnett Police spokeswoman Cpl. Illana Spellman, “Pulmo” does not exist, however.
Spellman also claims that Vento stated he was a general in all branches of the armed forces and claimed to have worked for the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, CIA and Department of Natural Resources in an interview with police on June 12th.
Handling any situation involving threats against the police department seriously, the Gwinnett County Police Homeland Security Joint Terrorist Task Force investigated the case and brought criminal charges against him.
Vento is currently being held without bond at the Gwinnett jail, where he is housed alone in a maximum security cell.
His defense attorney, Scott King, stated his client has “delusional issues,” but also insisted that Vento is harmless.
There will be a probable cause hearing Friday morning in Gwinnett County Magistrate Court. King hopes that the charges will be dismissed at the hearing.
United Methodist Church Marks its 125th Anniversary
June 19, 2008
Established in 1883, Snellville’s United Methodist Church celebrates its 125th anniversary this July. In celebration, the church will host a Homecoming series, beginning July 13, “Celebrating the Past - Looking Forward to the Future”. Events include guest pastors, a celebration for members active for 50 years or more, and a reunion choir. Click here to visit their web-site.
Dr. Richard Hunter, Senior Pastor
2428 Main Street East,
Snellville, GA 30078
(770)972-9360
For more information, please contact Christie Williams, Director of Communications, at (678)430-6002.
Treadway Nominated for Snellville City Manager Position
June 11, 2008
Mayors Oberholtzer and Mayor Pro Tem Auld have come to a decision and are planning to officially nominate Russell G. Treadway of Elizabetheton, Tenn. during a special City Council meeting this morning. The council is expected to unanimously confirm the nomination.
Treadway has over 25 years experience in top-level management in local government. Oberholtzer and his staff are very impressed with him.
Mayor Pro Term Auld, who interviewed Treadway over lunch on Friday, is thrilled to have Treadway as Snellville’s new City Manager. “I believe he is the type of individual who will be a credit to Snellville,” Auld said. “He’s a very calm individual and comes into this job well aware there is occasional friction on the council.” Auld was also impressed with his exceptional résumé, which includes extensive experience in finance and economic development.
Treadway is one of nearly 60 candidates who applied for the job. City Council members interviewed the final four and asked the final two to return for follow-up interviews.
Residents Comment on Tax Hike Proposal
June 10, 2008
The proposed tax hike drew comment from residents during morning and night public hearings at City Hall on Monday, June 9th.
Although Cathryn Creasy is on a fixed income and dislikes government waste, she spoke in favor of the half-point millage increase, which would cost property owners an additional $20 per $100,000 of the assessed value of their homes.
In her opinion, the proposed tax hike is a better option than the cuts that may take place if the proposal does not go through. The cuts that have been discussed as other options include eliminating police overtime, cutting up to six officers from the force, and reducing raises and benefits of all city employees. Additionally, there has been discussion of charging residents to dump recycling items at the recycling center, which is now free.
Two residents opposed to the tax hike also talked at the Monday night meeting. Both are facing a difficult time already with raising gas and food prices.
Speaking at the morning meeting, Dennis Lawton said he and his neighbors’ homes were reassessed this year and that with the tax hike, it would be a double-whammy for them. When it was reassessed, his home went up 20%.
Lawton also expressed his concern about the lack of a city manager, who should be overseeing the budget process. Although he acknowledged that a budget increase may be justified, he urged council members to carefully evaluate the budget first.
Residents will have one final opportunity to speak for or against the tax hike proposal during a public hearing at 7:30 pm next Monday, June 16th at Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.
Emory Eastside Holds Health Screening June 19th
June 10, 2008
Emory Eastside will hold a health Screening on June 19th from 8-10am. Screenings will take place in classrooms 1 & 2 at 1700 Medical Way, Snellville. Screenings include fasting blood sugar for $3.80, cholesterol for $5 and total lipid profile - including cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and cardiac risk factors for $17.80. Fasting must take place prior to screenings with nothing eaten and no more than a sip of water with medication past 8pm the previous day.
Free blood pressure checks and free stroke assessments and information will also be available. No appointment is necessary, but Social Security numbers and physician’s name, address and ZIP code should be provided. Participants must be at least 18. A copy of the results will be mailed directly to participants and physicians. For more information, call the h2u Office, 770-982-2358, or visit emoryeastside.com.
Charity Concert in Gainesville Features Snellville’s DeGarmo
June 9, 2008
The 2nd annual June Jam charity concert was held on Saturday at Brenau University’s amphitheater in Gainesville, GA. The concert also included other local musicians, Peggie Hoskins & the Vertigo Band, the Allen Nicens Band, and the American Flyers and benefited Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Greater Purpose.
Greater Purpose was established by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle to give financial support to the economically challenged children of single parents. Scholarships range from $500 to $1,000 and may be applied to activities such as camps, sports, or music programs to enrich the lives of children of single parents.
CASA is an organization that provides volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in criminal proceedings.
Organizers of the event, Mitch Farmer and Chad Black were said to have set a goal of raising $100,000 and almost half of the goal was reached through ticket sales and donations prior to the event.