AJC > NorthSide > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 10
Friday, November 10, 2006
Ga. 400: To travel or not to travel?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With yesterday’s announcement that nine officers would be heavily patrolling I-285 and Ga. 400 today and last-minute construction on new northbound lanes along Ga. 400, starting tonight, will anyone dare to travel the thoroughfare?
Sandy Springs Police Chief Gene Wilson said yesterday that his crackdown was “not about [creating] revenue” but “about slowing people down.”
GDOT has said it will close lanes, shift traffic and, at times, stop traffic all weekend long on the six-mile stretch of highway from Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell northward to Windward Parkway in attempts to put finishing touches on the new lanes, slated to open Monday morning.
So, what do you think about the crackdown —did you see the officers this morning, NorthSide.Talk didn’t? Will you avoid Ga. 400 at all costs this weekend?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Sandy Springs
How are you observing Veterans Day?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you work for the government, Veterans Day is today, Friday, a holiday for many government offices. The traditional holiday is tomorrow, Nov. 11.
If you’re a northsider, you can choose from parades in Marietta, downtown Atlanta, and observances/celebrations in Dawsonville, Suwanee and Acworth.
Here’s a link to find more Veterans Day events. (Or if you like maps, here’s a link where you can see where the events are, at a glance.
If you know of an event that’s not listed above, you can post it under the comments section. This is also a place where you can offer your thoughts about this Veterans Day 2006.
Meanwhile, the Northside staff has compiled a special report for Veterans Day, telling the stories of three veterans in their own words.
You can start with a multimedia photo gallery telling the veterans stories.
Here’s a excerpt from the text of the story told by Ken Turner, a Vietnam veteran from Smyrna:
(Photo by Andy Sharp/AJC)
Branch of service: U.S. Army
I served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict. I entered as a buck sergeant and retired as a staff sergeant. I went to Vietnam in August 1968 and served five months and eight days before I was seriously wounded. I have two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.
A few years ago, one of the men in my platoon looked for my name on a traveling exhibit of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He figured that I had died. When he didn’t see my name, he called 10 Ken Turners around the country until he found me. We now get together in Kansas once a year for a platoon reunion.
I was running an operation as platoon sergeant on Jan. 11, 1969, when we went through a mine field. Three of my men were killed and 13 wounded. I was the most severely wounded without being dead.
I lost both legs, one above the knee and one below. Both of my arms and my guts were messed up. They wanted to amputate my right arm, but I wouldn’t let them. It was harder to learn to write with my left hand than to learn to walk on prosthetic legs.
I met my wife, Lana, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Atlanta where she was a nurse and I was doing rehabilitation. I was discharged after 21 months in the hospital.
Read the full story, see pictures and listen to audio.
