🌱Dallas Student Wins Biochemistry Award + Local Fire Chief Terminated

Welcome back, Dallas-Hiram! I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town. In today's issue, you'll get updates on...

• Douglas County fire chief has been terminated due to questionable hiring practices.
• Dallas student wins the Biochemistry Award at Shorter University's award ceremony.
• Georgia's costly investment in electric vehicle maker Rivian may face financial collapse.

But first, today's weather: Rain likely throughout the day, with high of 64 and chance of rain at 90 percent. Night will see showers and thunderstorms with a low of 57 and chance of rain at 90 percent.

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. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) will honor nine of its alumni, including Wayne Jones of Dallas, during its annual Alumni Association awards luncheon on Friday, April 14. The event, held as part of the school's homecoming celebration, recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to the college and their communities. Jones, a Shorter College graduate who joined the ABAC faculty in 1989, will receive the Honorary Alumnus Award. (The Tifton Gazette)
2. The Douglas County fire chief, Roderick Jolivette, has been terminated after the department's questionable hiring practices were exposed by an investigation in February 2023. The investigation found that the department had hired a firefighter who had several run-ins with the law, and that Jolivette had failed to conduct thorough background checks on him. Jolivette was initially placed on paid administrative leave in 2022, but the county later decided to terminate him, and his termination will go into effect on May 1. Deputy Fire Chief Miles Allen will continue to serve as interim fire chief until a permanent replacement is found. (11Alive)
3. Emma Novis of Dallas was among the students awarded at an event celebrating Shorter University's commitment to Christ-honoring excellence. Dr. Clint Helms, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, presented Novis with the Biochemistry Award, which was one of the awards of distinction presented to seniors who excelled in their academic studies and achieved top honors in each academic discipline. The event was attended by Shorter University students, faculty, and staff, who recognized the university's significant accomplishments and bright future under the leadership of President Dr. Don Dowless. (The Christian Index)
4. Taurus Investment Holdings has acquired a fully leased five-building, 581,750-square-foot industrial portfolio known as the I-20 West Portfolio in southwest Atlanta from EverWest Real Estate Investors for $50 million. The portfolio, which includes two buildings within the Lithia Springs I-20 West/Douglasville submarket, provides strategic access to Interstates 20, 285 and 85. The asset is fully leased to seven tenants, including Steelcase Inc., Bonded Services and Heritage Crystal Clean, and has exceeded the expectations for performance, stabilized through long-term leases with high-quality tenants, according to John Maurer, senior managing director and head of Portfolio Management at EverWest. (DC Velocity)
5. In 2021, Georgia made an expensive bet on electric vehicle maker Rivian, which could be headed for financial catastrophe. The company's proposed $5 billion factory was the largest economic development project in state history, and Georgia approved an economic development agreement that likely constituted the largest incentive package in state history. The economic development agreement authorized up to $1.5 billion in incentives, including state tax credits, development grants, and acquiring and clearing land for the factory. However, Rivian has failed to hit vehicle production targets, scaled back expectations, and lost billions of dollars, with no clear end in sight to the losses. If Rivian does face insolvency, Georgia would be stuck with a factory built to a defunct company's specifications. (Reason)

Today in Dallas-Hiram:

• Baby Time — Maude P Ragsdale Hiram Library (10:30 AM)
• Read With Love Book Club — New Georgia Public Library (11:00 AM)
• Bingo — Dallas Public Library (1:00 PM)
• Free Chess Event — The Dallas Markets (5:00 PM)
• Sean Bennett & Friends Acoustic — BB's Sports Bar & Grill (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Patch Real Estate News: To assist homebuyers in getting a sense of a house before making a commitment, Patch Real Estate News has put together a list of five recently listed open houses in the Dallas-Hiram area. The list includes properties with a variety of prices and bedroom/bath information, including a $465,000 house in the Dallas area with four bedrooms and three baths and a $280,000 house in the Dallas area with three bedrooms and two baths. Additional pictures and information can be found by clicking on any of the addresses. (Patch Real Estate News)
• Maude P. Ragsdale Hiram Library: The STEAM Engine is making a stop at the library Monday, April 24 at 4:30 p.m., for Engineering Hour. There will be building toys and activities to play and learn. (Maude P. Ragsdale Hiram Library via Facebook)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, The Park at Cedarcrest: Cleaning company in the business for 10 years. Free estimate on housecleaning. Call or Text 678-860-1414. Santos Cleaning & more. (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Miles for Moms 5K & Family Fun Festival (April 15)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today! 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