🌱 Dallas Native's Leading Baseball Stats + Medical Cannabis In GA

Good morning, friends. It's Tuesday in Dallas-Hiram and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening locally, including news about:

• Dallas native leads the ASUN Conference in triples, OBP, and walks.
• Acworth closes the School Street rail crossing permanently due to safety concerns.
• Medical cannabis sales in Georgia are set to begin in late May.

But first, today's weather: Today, expect sunshine and clouds with a high near 70 and winds ENE at 5-10 mph. Tonight, there will be partly cloudy skies in the evening with more clouds later at night and a slight chance of a rain shower. The low will be around 52 with light and variable winds.

Business owners and marketers in Dallas-Hiram: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top stories today in Dallas-Hiram:

1. Dallas native Nick Colina, a senior on the Kennesaw State baseball team, currently leads the ASUN Conference in three categories: triples, OBP, and walks. Colina and his teammates will conclude a four-game road trip with a game against the Clemson Tigers on April 25. Kennesaw State will be looking to split the season series with a win and earn their first-ever victory against Clemson. Junior Brayden Eidson, who pitched six innings and hit a home run in their previous matchup with Clemson, will be a key player to watch. (Kennesaw State Athletics)
2. The School Street rail crossing in downtown Acworth is closing permanently after a train collided with a trailer stuck on the tracks. The city decided to close the crossing due to safety concerns and the high number of incidents of vehicles getting stuck on the tracks since 2018. The city also mentioned the possibility of a hazardous materials derailment, which could result in a public health event. Despite receiving public feedback, the city concluded that it has little influence over the railroad's operations and has exhausted all efforts to identify alternate crossing locations. (11Alive)
3. Douglasville native Zharia Nubia Lankford was part of the Stillman College team that won the 2023 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) National Championship, America's premier academic competition for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The tournament took place in-person for the first time in four years at the American Honda corporate campus in Torrance, California. More than 200 HBCU students, along with their coaches, participated in this year's HCASC National Championship Tournament, where Stillman College emerged victorious over 64 other teams. (Honda News)
4. Deputies in Douglas County were forced to use deadly force on a man who attempted to attack a woman with a knife on Sunday evening, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Responding to a call just before 10 p.m., deputies arrived at a home on Brooks Street to find a woman covered in blood attempting to flee from the man who was armed with a knife inside the home. Despite commands to drop the knife, the man charged at the woman next to the deputies, resulting in one of the deputies fatally shooting the man, identified as 39-year-old Robernard Benjamin of Lithia Springs. An autopsy will be performed and the GBI is conducting an independent investigation into the incident. (Fox5)
5. Almost eight years after lawmakers approved a medicinal marijuana program, Georgia is nearing the start of medical cannabis sales. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, medical marijuana dispensaries in the state might begin as early as late May. Georgia is one of 40 states and the District of Columbia that have a medical market program, and the state has registered over 26,000 MMJ patients and 19,000 caregivers. However, only "low THC oil" with a THC content of less than 5 milligrams is permitted for use, with flower, edibles, and vape cartridges prohibited under the MMJ program. (MJBizDaily)

Today in Dallas-Hiram:

• Free Adult Pickleball Lessons — Mt. Tabor Park (10:00 AM)
• Storytime — Dallas Public Library (10:30 AM)
• Storytime — Maude P Ragsdale Hiram Library (11:30 AM)
• After School Book Club — New Georgia Public Library (4:30 PM)
• After Hours Mix & Mingle — Bucking Goat Brewing Company (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• New Georgia Public Library: In honor of National Library Week, several local coffee shops are offering a discount to customers who present their library card. So, why not celebrate this week by enjoying a warm cup of coffee while reading a good book from your local library? Cozy up and take advantage of this offer. (New Georgia Public Library via Facebook)
• Crossroads Public Library: During National Library Week, residents of Paulding can take advantage of an exciting opportunity to win a Dual/Family membership to the renowned High Museum of Art for six months. To participate, all you need to do is follow the four county libraries on Facebook or Instagram. And if you follow on both platforms, you can enter the contest twice. After following, you need to private message your home library with your phone number. One lucky winner will be selected from Facebook, and another from Instagram. Don't miss out on this chance to experience the amazing exhibits and collections at the High Museum of Art. (Crossroads Public Library via Facebook)
• Paulding County School District: Summer break is approaching soon, and if you want your PCSD students to have fun while continuing to learn, here are some exciting summer camp options for you to consider. Check out these flyers and see if any of these STEM camps suit your family's needs. Please feel free to share this information with anyone who might be interested. (Paulding County School District via Facebook)

That's it for today. I'll see you around!

— Linda Marlow

About me: Linda Marlow is an experienced writer and communications professional with a diverse background in industries such as healthcare, education, publishing, and performing arts. She is a Dallas resident who is passionate about sharing the latest news and events happening in Paulding County through her writing. Linda is currently serving as a contributing writer for the Dallas-Hiram Patch newsletter, where she continues to use her storytelling skills to inform and engage the local community.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Dallas-Hiram Patch newsletter? Contact me at Dallas-Hiram@Patch.com