🌱 Dallas Ranks 19th Safest In GA + Local School Briefly Locked Down

Morning, everybody! It's me, Linda Marlow, your host of the Dallas-Hiram Patch newsletter — here to impart everything you need to know about what's happening in our community. Today you'll read about:

• Local high school briefly locked down due to nearby police activity.
• SafeWise's 9th annual Safest Cities report ranks Dallas No. 19 in GA.
• Wells Fargo faces predatory lending lawsuit in Georgia.

But first, today's weather: Sunny throughout the day with a high of 73 and light winds. The night will also be clear with light winds and a low of 53.

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Here are the top stories in Dallas-Hiram today:

1. SafeWise has released its Safest Cities report for the ninth year in a row, and Dallas is ranked No. 19 on the list. The report features the top 10 safest cities in Georgia for 2023, and Holly Springs has taken the number one spot. Although the report states that Georgia's crime rates for violent and property crimes are similar to national averages, the State of Safety survey found that Georgians expressed high levels of worry and had firsthand experience with crime. Additionally, the report includes information about natural disasters in Georgia, preparations, and experiences, as well as a breakdown of crime concerns, both real and perceived. (SafeWise)
2. New Manchester High School in Douglasville was on lockdown for a brief period on Wednesday afternoon, as a result of police activity in the surrounding neighborhood. According to school officials, all students were safe, and no shooting occurred on the campus. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office will release an official statement on the matter, but little information is currently available. (Patch Crime & Safety)
3. Democratic U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath from Georgia's 7th congressional district has renewed calls for an assault weapons ban following the recent mass shooting in a private school in Nashville. McBath joined her Democratic colleagues in asking Republican House leaders to vote on the ban. However, gun shops like Adventure Outdoors in Cobb County anticipate a surge in sales due to such a plan, as past experience suggests that such discussions create fear among customers, leading them to buy more guns. While Democrats could not pass the ban during their tenure, McBath remains committed to reforming gun laws. (Fox5 Atlanta)
4. The first race of the Savage Pro Series was held in Dallas and readers can access interviews with top male and female athletes from the event. The full results of the Savage Race Spring Georgia can also be found by clicking on the provided link. The podcast featuring coverage of the race was sponsored by VJ Shoes, Rugged Maniac, and Mythic Race, with links available to access the podcast and support ORM through Patreon. (Obstacle Racing Media)
5. A federal judge in Georgia has permitted a lawsuit under the Fair Housing Act against Wells Fargo to proceed, claiming the bank engaged in a broad predatory lending scheme that targeted minority residents in Cobb, DeKalb, and Fulton counties. The lawsuit alleges that Wells Fargo originated high-cost loans to minorities at a rate 2.3 times higher than non-minorities and forced borrowers to pay higher costs and improper fees. The bank has been accused of discriminatory lending practices in the past and has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1.7 billion in late 2022 to settle multiple consent orders. (Housing Wire)

Today in Dallas-Hiram:

• Baby Time — Dallas Public Library (10:30 AM)
• Home School Hangout — Maude P Ragsdale Hiram Library (1:00 PM)
• LEGO Club — New Georgia Public Library (5:00 PM)
• Karaoke/Open Mic — Fiesta Azteca (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• United Community Bank Press Release: United Community Banks, Inc.'s new logo represents a more modern look while retaining the same message the bank has had for more than 70 years: "We are United to serve our communities." The refreshed logo reflects the bank's legacy and history of serving its customers with excellence, as well as its enthusiastic and adaptive approach toward the future. There are several UCBI branches nearby including in Villa Rica, Douglasville, and Powder Springs. (United Community Bank Press Release)
• City of Hiram: The Easter Scavenger Hunt organized in Hiram is ready with the prizes packed and twice as many eggs per location due to the generous donations from Affextionate Cuizine and other local businesses. The event will be held from April 3-6, with each location having exclusive prize eggs for participants. Families are encouraged to join in early to increase their chances of getting a prize egg, with a limit of one prize per person. (City of Hiram via Facebook)
• Maude P. Ragsdale Hiram Library: April Anime Club dates are April 11 and 25 at 5:30. Call or message the library to register. Ages 13 - 18. (Maude P. Ragsdale Hiram Library via Facebook)
• Paulding County School District: The Alcohol Drug Awareness Program at South Paulding Middle School was a success, with students learning important life lessons and having fun exploring service vehicles, with the K-9 dogs stealing the show. The theme of the day was "make good decisions," and everyone involved in making the event possible was thanked. The event was a perfect combination of learning and fun, and the school was proud of the students' participation in the program. A video/slideshow showcasing the activities of the day was also made available. (Paulding County School District via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you soon!

— 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