🌱 NP Baseball Team In Final Four + West Ridge Pastor Appointed VP

Good morning, neighbors. It's Saturday in Dallas-Hiram and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town, including news on...

• Senior pastor of West Ridge Church named vice president of Multiplication Strategies.
• Douglas County investigating a social media threat shared across multiple school districts.
• North Paulding Wolfpack Baseball team is Final Four bound.

But first, the weekend weather: Saturday will be partly overcast with a chance of showers or thunderstorms, with a high of 76 and a low of 61. Sunday will be partly cloudy in the morning and cloudy in the afternoon, with a high approaching 80 degrees. There will be sporadic thunderstorms later Sunday, mostly before midnight, with a low of 63 and a 40 percent chance of rain.

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Here are the top stories in Dallas-Hiram today:

1. The founding and senior pastor at West Ridge Church in Dallas, Brian Bloye, has been appointed as the vice president of Multiplication Strategies for Send Network, according to reports presented at the recent North American Mission Board (NAMB) trustee meeting in Las Vegas. The meeting also celebrated the planting of more than 10,000 churches by Southern Baptists since 2010, with 745 church plants added in 2022. Trustees had the opportunity to visit church plants and compassion ministry missionaries in Las Vegas, including Hope Church, which has started 82 churches, and the Lovewell Center, which shares the Gospel and meets the needs of homeless people. (Kentucky Today)
2. Former Paulding District Attorney Dick Donovan, who temporarily remained in office while fighting bribery charges involving a female staffer before stepping down, is one of the examples invoked by supporters of a new measure that Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to sign on Friday. The legislation creates a state commission with powers to investigate, sanction, or remove local prosecutors, part of a Republican-led effort to punish district attorneys they see as soft on crime. The move is one of several new tough-on-crime measures adopted as part of broader Republican-endorsed public safety proposals, which include a crackdown on low-level drug offenders and anti-abortion violations. (Free: MSN Subscription: AJC)
3. Douglas County officials are investigating a social media threat that has been shared across multiple school districts in the Atlanta metro area. The threat was reportedly initiated by a student on social media and directed towards Lithia Springs High School. Despite the investigation revealing that there is no actual threat towards the school, safety measures have been put in place and the school is currently operating on a delayed opening. Similar threats have also been reported in the Floyd County School District, with officials working with local and state partners to gather more information. (Fox 5)
4. Atlanta is one of the three cities where life sciences are booming, alongside Nashville and Dallas/Fort Worth, according to CBRE. Atlanta is particularly attractive to investors due to the $708.1 million in National Institutes of Health funding it received in Q2 2019, with the largest amount going to Emory University. The city has experienced some of the fastest life sciences industry growth in any U.S. metro area, thanks to institutional funding and venture capital activity. In Q2 2022, Atlanta's bioscience sector experienced 20 percent employment growth, compared to the national average of 13.7 percent. (Globe St.)

Today in Dallas-Hiram:

• Volunteers Annual Plant Sale — Paulding UGA Extension (8:00 AM)
• Slow Flow Yoga — Bee Humble Studio (10:00 AM)
• How to Play Dungeons & Dragons (18+) — The Dallas Markets (2:00 PM)
• Karaoke Night — The Box Sports Bar and Grill (7:30 PM)
• Kentucky Derby Day — Bucking Goat Brewing Company (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Hiram Police Department: The Hiram Police Department announced multiple promotions, awards, and additions to their team. After his 20-year career with the department, Mike Wilson was promoted to captain. Tyler Third was also promoted to lieutenant, while Tyler O'Connor and Alexandra Simpkins were promoted to sergeant. Aundrea Wardlaw received the Officer of the Year award and Alexis Vasquez was promoted to officer after completing basic mandate, while Si' Aayni Dillard joined the department as the public safety ambassador. The department congratulated and welcomed these officers. (Hiram Police Department via Facebook)
• Paulding County School District: The PCSD Family is celebrating the NP Wolfpack Baseball team's victory on Thursday night in a double header against Walton High. With this win, the team is now Final Four bound. The PCSD is proud of their accomplishment and congratulates the team on their success. (Paulding County School District via Facebook)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Asbury Woods: Desmond automotive. 15 years' experience, ASE Certified. Diagnostics, brakes, oil changes, general maintenance. Call for availability 470-914-4261. (Nextdoor)

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Featured events:

• Ride Ro Rescue Run and Dog Walk (May 6)
• May Market at Rose Lawn (May 6)
• CHRIS WILLIS a Jazzy Mother's Day, BRUNCH and SHOW, Sunday, May 14th (May 14)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next 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