🌱 Douglas County Rabid Raccoon Attacks Dogs + Burn Ban Begins May 1

Morning, neighbors! Linda Marlow here with your fresh copy of the Dallas-Hiram Patch newsletter, full of everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Today you'll read about these stories and more:

• Paulding County outdoor burn ban will commence on May 1 and last until Sept. 30.
• Douglasville mother arrested for sending threatening messages to 150 school students.
• Raccoon caught by Douglas County after attacking two dogs tested positive for rabies.

But first, the weekend weather: This weekend will start with a mix of sun and clouds on Saturday and a high of 78, then rain showers followed by thundershowers overnight with a low of 55. Sunday morning will see the end of the rain, and mostly sunny skies with possible thunderstorms later in the day. The high temperature will be around 68, with a low of 44 at night.

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Here are the top stories today in Dallas-Hiram:

1. Paulding is one of the 54 counties included in the outdoor burn ban that will commence on May 1 and last until Sept. 30. The ban primarily affects counties located in the northern half of Georgia due to concerns over the negative impact of smoke from burning yard and land clearing debris on air quality. These adverse effects on air quality have been linked to various health issues such as heart and lung diseases. To mitigate the risk of wildfires and protect Georgians and their property, the Georgia Forestry Commission will be closely monitoring fire weather and activity during this period. (AllOnGeorgia)
2. A raccoon apprehended by Douglas County Animal Control after attacking two dogs in Lithia Springs tested positive for rabies. Following the confirmation of the test results, the animal control department began notifying residents of the positive case and urging them to vaccinate their unvaccinated pets as soon as possible. Rabies is a viral disease distributed by wild animals such as bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons that is conveyed in the saliva of an infected animal through bites. The sickness, however, is fully avoidable by vaccination. (Fox5)
3. A Douglasville mother was arrested by local police after reportedly sending a threatening message to 150 middle-school students via Instagram. The message followed a fight that occurred between her daughter and another student at a local park on April 15. After reviewing surveillance footage of the incident, authorities confirmed that Quantisha Wilson and her daughter were involved in the altercation. Wilson allegedly instructed the other student to apologize to her daughter, or her daughter would beat her up again. Wilson is now facing charges including misdemeanor terrorist threats and felony cruelty to minors. (WSB-TV)
4. Gov. Brian Kemp has signed a bill to establish a cold case unit within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The legislation will provide $5.4 million to create the unit and also mandates that law enforcement across the state report accurate counts of unsolved homicide cases to the bureau. Additionally, it will enable families to receive timely death certificates in such cases. The bill, called the Coleman-Baker Act, is named after Rhonda Sue Coleman, an 18 year old killed in her hometown of Hazelhurst, and Tara Baker, a University of Georgia law school student killed in her Athens home. Both cases remain unsolved. (U.S.News)

Today in Dallas-Hiram:

• Slow Flow Yoga — Bee Humble Studio (10:00 AM)
• Storywalk — Veteran's Memorial Park at Paulding County Courthouse (10:00 AM)
• Spring Festival — Nebo Baptist Church (11:00 AM)
• 1 Year Anniversary Disco Party — Vintage Wine Bar (7:00 PM)
• Karaoke Night — The Box Sports Bar & Grill (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Hiram High School: On April 27, HHS celebrated its Top 40 students, which comprised the highest-ranking 10 students from each of the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes. Congratulations were extended to all of these accomplished students for their dedicated efforts. (Hiram High School via Facebook)
• City of Hiram: According to the 2021 Revised Census, the population of the City of Hiram is 5,080. To make a difference, individuals are encouraged to participate in local government. Information about the upcoming Mayor and City Council election in the City of Hiram can be found on their website. (City of Hiram via Facebook)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Nebo Rd: Twisted Trunks Tree Services can be reached via phone or text at 706-703-3577. The company understands that money doesn't grow on trees and thus works with any budget. Individuals in need of tree services can contact Twisted Trunks to learn more about their affordable options. (Nextdoor)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— 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