The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • JF16

Filename: JF16-WCOBB-FZON0622-WCOBB created: Jun 21 2006 Username: SPEED4 FZON0622 Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 WCOBB 1 6JF FZON 1 6 JF Cyan Magenta Yellow Black JF1 6 Thursday, June 22, 2006 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ajc.com 1 6 JF Cyan Magenta Yellow Black FZON Filename: JF16-WCOBB-FZON0622-WCOBB created: Jun 21 2006 Username: SPEED4 Cobb Opinions COBB OPINIONS APPEARS EVERY THURSDAY. EDITOR: CARLA CALDWELL, NOTABLE QUOTE THIS WEEK: really glad they listened to ordinary people who use the Anne Rutz, acting co-chairwoman of the East Cobb Dog Park Action Committee, on the County decision to spend $50,000 for a dog park at Sweat Mountain Park. YOUR THOUGHTS E-mail, mail or fax your opinions to us. Letters should be 250 or fewer words and may be edited. Letters or columns may be published at ajc.com or in other formats.

Include your full name and a daytime phone number for Send to TO CONTACT US E-mail: Fax: 404-526-3160 Mail: Cobb Reader Opinions, The Atlanta Journal- Constitution, 72 Marietta Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-526-2789 A hawk (above) will be the mascot of Cobb new Hillgrove High opening in August. A replica of the mascot, right, of the McEachern Indians football team towers over their WHAT DO YOU THINK? Ehrhart should step down for abuse of power or be impeached State Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs) should step down or be impeached for his obvious abuse of power and using his neighbors as pawns to get what he wanted. He used his power to push House Bill 1068 through so he could blackmail the Cobb County school board into pushing a map through, and then once he gets what he wants and his white neighbors are happy, he scrubs the legislation so no one else can abuse it to their own I am embarrassed to be a white parent today. Where is the NAACP in all of this? J.J.

WILCOX Powder Springs note: Ehrhart wrote House Bill 1068 prohibiting the Cobb school district from considering race as a factor. The school board last week approved a districting map it had earlier rejected with a written agreement from Ehrhart that he would try to have the bill repealed in next legislative session. Cobb school have adopted a race-neutral boundary map they earlier rejected for Hillgrove High, ensuring the new school will open on time in August and appeasing parents who sued the system. Under court order to redraw lines for the school, the board was facing the dilemma of starting over and delaying opening of the new school or adopting a map it had previously rejected. The new map, adopted in a 4-2-1 vote, extends attendance zone westward to the Paulding County line, taking in largely white Echo Mill subdivision and surrounding neighborhoods.

Residents said their area had been exclud ed from the new high school to keep white enrollment numbers up at McEachern. Those students roughly 300 will go to Hillgrove. A group of west Cobb parents excluded from Hillgrove successfully sued the district to block implementation of a plan they said was based on race. One parent who brought suit, an Amberton subdivision resident, said one of the most troubling aspects of the map approved in April was that it left McEachern nearly at capacity while Hillgrove would have opened with many empty classrooms. 10 who suit acting under own thinking I it interesting that the schools were good enough for their kids when they moved to Echo Mill, but now that there is a racial imbalance, no longer good enough.

These select 10 homeowners a lawsuit to overturn the districting feel entitled to go wherever they see because of their own thinking and sense of entitlement. What kind of example is that for your children? PATRICK THOMAS Powder Springs Cobb boundary map WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SCHOOL DECISION? SEAN DRAKES Special Question: Cobb commissioners want more parks. Commission Chairman Sam Olens says the county could spend $40 million through a bond referendum to buy land without raising property taxes. But he said there must be grass-roots support for him to support a November vote. a touchy issue even though most people seem to think the county needs more parks.

Cobb voters rejected a proposed 1 percent special sales tax to buy parkland in 2000 after some supporters of the proposal began squabbling over how to use the land. At land prices, the county could purchase 100-acre plots in north, south and west Cobb, Olens says. East Cobb has few if any 100-acre plots, but there is a 50-acre plot next to Fullers Park that the county could buy. Olens questions about how the land would be developed, but he said he would be happy if the property remained undeveloped for 25 years. Should the county spend the money? READERS RESPOND Yes.

Cobb County should spend $40 million to buy land for parks. The land should be set aside for undisturbed green space, with limited natural surface trails for running, biking and hiking. I would prefer to see a linear-type park, running parallel to a creek for example. I think we need more soccer or ballparks. Cobb: Take a look at the City of Big Creek bike park and their Greenway.

CHRIS DUSACK Smyrna Yes. A trail network would be very and welcome in the north-west Cobb area. KRAIG SMITH Acworth Yes. The county should spend the money to build parks, but I think they should only do it if it passes a refer endum. If the people are willing to spend the money, I think be nice to have some green space to enjoy the outdoors, throw a Frisbee, go or whatever you can think of to do outside.

PHILIP HOSKINS Roswell I am totally on board with a vote in November for more park space. SHELIA FREY Marietta Yes. Cobb should spend the money for more parks because Cobb is already too developed. There is too little green space for the residents. MICHAEL LEE Marietta Use that $40 million to buy more parks.

Cobb County is about to 10 years from totally getting built out, so something needs to be done now to acquire land for recreational purposes for future generations. Compared with counties of similar size and population in the West and Northeast, Cobb has a very low park- area per capita population ratio. Now is the time to get more land before it no longer exists or becomes too expensive to buy. The current system of county parks was intended to serve a much smaller population (around 300,000 to The county has not made any major purchases for years, while the county population is pushing 800,000 residents. Money used to purchase park land will make our community more livable, more desirable and more sustainable for years to come.

BRAD FERMANICH Marietta Greener Cobb wanted: Plan to create more parks proves popular note: Cobb Opinions received a number of responses to the Do You question published June 8 Should Cobb spend $40 million to purchase parkland? We received only one letter against the purchase, but the writer did not sign the letter, so we have not included it. Thank you for taking time to send your comments Aviation museum has lofty purpose The Aviation Museum at Marietta was established in 2003 to preserve and remember the remarkable story of aircraft plant and to shape our future by encouraging interest in engineering and technology. The educational opportunity the museum provides is of equal importance to preserving history and may be of greater importance to the survival of the United States as a major world power. Today, our country is facing a great challenge. Our traditional sources of national wealth, exports of agricultural, mineral and low-cost mass-produced products such as automobiles and aircraft, are vanishing.

While for past 100 years the United States has been a traditional world leader in science, engineering and technology, this lead is disappearing. As a member of the National Academy of Engineering, I read with interest one of its reports, Public Awareness of which stated, produces three times the number of engineers the United the European Union nearly twice as many, and Japan about two-thirds Just a few of the other indications: In a survey of science literacy, U.S. students came in 24th among students from 40 countries, tied with Latvia. If present trends continue, 90 percent of all the scientists and engineers will be living in Asia by 2010. Korea is producing as many engineers as we do in the United States.

The National Academy of Engineering report goes on to say, it or not, our national security and economic well-being depend on our technology-driven Other information sources further indicate the need for a new approach to the task of preparing our young people for the challenges they will face. Museum exhibits and programs will be designed to increase the interest of the general public and k-12 students in our engineering capabilities and technological strength. The Aviation educational program will also attempt to develop k-12 critical and analytical thinking skills. The lessons of the aircraft plant and the airplanes designed and produced there are ideal for use in critical thinking modules and exercises. The Aviation Museum in Marietta, in conjunction with Marietta and Cobb County educators, is developing innovative curriculum to teach critical and analytical thinking.

The historical preservation aspects of the museum will function alongside, and in connection with, its educational programs. Neither function can be as productive alone as it can when operated in conjunction with the other. It is a classic case of the collective total being greater than the sum of its individual parts. I know of no other museum or education effort that combines the two in the way envisioned for this museum. In consequence, I know of no other concept that can be as effective in addressing issues that, if not checked, will result in the United becoming a third-world country in the next century.

PROJECT ON RUNWAY Bob Ormsby, head of Lockheed- Georgia Co. (now called Lockheed Martin) from 1975 to 1984, is board president for the Aviation Museum at Marietta. The board is raising $10 million to build an aviation museum and education center with plans to break ground in 2007 and open in 2009 on 15.5 acres at South Cobb Drive and Atlanta Road in Marietta. Ormsby is passionate about the mission to teach children science, math and technology using airplanes as a teaching tool. MY VIEW BOB ORMSBY In addition to showcasing an invaluable portion of U.S.

aviation history, the proposed Aviation Museum at Marietta could play a vital role in encouraging a resurgence in science and engineering education, says former Lockheed president Bob Ormsby, shown with a suit used by the chief test pilot in the 1950s and ANDY SHARP Staff.