🌱 GA Senate Bill 69 Advances + Drive-Thru Tree Giveaway In Dallas

Good morning, everybody! Sean Peek here with your fresh copy of the Dallas-Hiram Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about what's happening locally, including updates on:

• Bill to install statue of Justice Clarence Thomas advances in the state Senate
• U.S. Census Bureau releases 14th District Data
• Plant a tree for free for Arbor Day

But first, today's weather:

Cloudy, a shower in the p.m.. High: 71 Low: 48.

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Here are the top five stories in Dallas-Hiram today:

1. The Georgia State Senate voted 32-20 on Tuesday to mandate the installation of a statue of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on the state's Capitol grounds. Minority Democrats tried to amend the measure to also require a statue of late Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, before eventually pulling back the amendment. Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) said on the bill, “There are citizens, probably members of this body, that take issue with his policies when he was governor or president, but we respect history." The bill, known as Senate Bill 69, will now move to the state House for further debate. (WJCL News Savannah)
2. The U.S. Census Bureau released data for each of the country's congressional districts — including the 14th Congressional District, which includes Paulding County and much of Northwest Georgia. The 14th District has a total population of 778,342, with 704,147 over the age of 18. Data also shows the district to be more heavily white and rural than the 9th Congressional District, which also includes some of Northwest Georgia. Additional statistics can be found at the link. (Northwest Georgia News)
3. Keep Paulding Beautiful, in partnership with the Paulding County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers, is hosting a drive-thru tree giveaway this afternoon (Thursday, Feb. 16) in celebration of Arbor Day. Those who wish to participate can drive to the front of the Paulding County Extension Office in Dallas between 12:30-4 p.m. We can't wait to see your trees grow! (Paulding County, Georgia via Facebook)
4. Local businesses are a cornerstone of our community. If you want to support them, there's no shortage of upcoming events with the Paulding Chamber of Commerce next month. Highlights include the GreyStone Power Luncheon on Thursday, Mar. 2, and the 62nd Annual Awards Gala on Saturday, Mar. 4. Visit the Chamber website for the complete list of upcoming Chamber and member events. (Paulding Chamber of Commerce)
5. When it comes to doling out municipal fines and fees, Georgia ranks fourth in the nation. According to an analysis of 2020 Census Bureau data, the Reason Foundation found that Peach State cities collected nearly $377 million in fines and fees from residents across the state that year. That’s about $35.16 per person, compared to the national average of $27 per resident. (The Center Square)

Coming up in Dallas-Hiram:

Friday, February 17

• Jacob Wilson Live At The Box Sports Bar & Grill (7:00 PM)

Sunday, February 19

• Children Of The Promise At Hiram First Baptist Church (11:00 AM)
• Bucking Goat Bingo At Bucking Goat Brewing Company (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Though a Georgia resident won $10,000 in the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday, no one has won the $67 million prize, according to the Georgia Lottery. The next drawing will take place tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 17). (Georgia Patch)
• Looking for a new home in the Dallas-Hiram area? There's an open house this Sunday, Feb. 19 for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom on Hawthorne Ridge Circle in Dallas. (Dallas-Hiram Patch)
• The Hiram Police Department (HPD) thanked the community for spreading the love with "Cookies for Cops." In a Facebook post, HPD said, "We appreciate each and every one of our citizens and the support you show for our department." (Hiram Police Department via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• College Planning and Financial Aid Webinar (February 21)
• BJ's Wholesale Club Pre-opening Limited-time Offer (February 23)
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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.