🌱 Paulding Dog-Fighting Ring Bust + N. Paulding Loses Playoff Opener

Welcome back, Dallas-Hiram. I'm here in your inbox this morning to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town, including news about...

• A Paulding County dog-fighting ring bust
• North Paulding's loss to Parkview in playoff opener
• The push for answers in a five-year-old Dallas murder

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 54 Low: 40.

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

1. After busting a massive dog fighting operation this week, over 100 dogs were rescued, and a Paulding County man has been arrested. Multiple law enforcement agencies raided a home on Tuesday, where they found 106 dogs in varying states of health. Lemark Burrell, 55, was arrested at the home without incident and was charged with cruelty to animals and dog fighting. The dogs were taken in by various rescue facilities to start their rehabilitation. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
2. On Saturday night, North Paulding lost its home game to the Parkview Panthers in this season's playoff opener. The Panthers entered the contest as an underdog but secured a win. North Paulding started the game strong by scoring just two plays into the game, but after the second quarter, the Panthers took off and didn't surrender the lead from there. The Panthers will next travel to Westlake in the second round after the Lions defeated Valdosta on Saturday. (Scorebook Live)
3. Five years after a Paulding County woman was found dead in her bathroom, her aunt continues to push for answers. Five years ago, Heather Turner's husband called 911 saying he found his wife shot inside their home on Buck Trail in Dallas. Her death remains labeled as "undetermined" and is an open investigation, according to both the Paulding County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Turner's aunt, Cindy Kloch, is pushing for answers as police continue the investigation. (11Alive.com WXIA)
4. Georgia Senate Republicans have made some leadership decisions after the midterm elections last week. Lawmakers have chosen newcomer Jason Anavitarte of Dallas as the new majority caucus chair. They have also promoted Steve Gooch (Dahlonega) from whip to majority leader and replaced him with Randy Robertson of Cataula, and appointed state Senator Matt Brass (Newnan) as vice caucus chairman. In a statement about the new leaders, Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said, "Working together, we're going to create more opportunities that lift up every Georgian and make our state the best place to live, work and raise a family." (WRDW)
5. The second of three Senior Citizens Info Series classes is happening at the New Georgia Public Library this Thursday, Nov. 17, at 2:00 p.m. Attendees will learn about identity theft and fraud, including potential risks they may be taking and how to protect themselves and their family. Registration is required. Interested residents can contact the library at (770) 459-8163 for more details and sign-up information. (West Georgia Regional Library System)

Patch deals of the day:

The Patch Deals team scours the web for deals we think you’ll love. These limited-time offers are worth a look — especially if you’re doing some early holiday shopping.

• AquaSonic Black Series Ultrasonic Whitening Toothbrush + Travel Case (78% off) — This electric toothbrush removes up to ten times more plaque than a manual one.
• Speedy Mag Wireless Charger for iPhone (59% off) — Optimized for iPhone 12 and newer, this fast compact charger is ideal for when you're on the go.
• 8-in-1 Maglight Mini Super Bright Utility Flashlight - 2-Pack (40% off) — This mini flashlight — which doubles as a bottle opener — fits in your pocket and shines 30 times brighter than your phone.
• Gamma Graphene-Infused Heated Jacket + Heated Power Bank Bundle (65% off) — Cold winter ahead? A good heated jacket isn't cheap, but you can nab this one for just under $200.

(Patch may earn a commission on purchases. All deals are as of publication and could change.)

Today in Dallas-Hiram:

• Color Shadowing With Stephanie Williams At Phillips 47 Salon (9:00 AM)
• Thanksgiving Storytime At New Georgia Public Library (10:30 AM)
• Fall-Themed Craft Night For Adults At Dallas Public Library (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Heads up, local house hunters: Lots of new gorgeous properties have just been listed for sale in the Dallas-Hiram area! Check out Patch's latest real estate roundup for details on a three-bed, two-bath Dallas home for $295,000, a four-bed, three-bath Acworth home for $524,731, and more.(Dallas-Hiram Patch)
• Hiram High School gave a shoutout to student Javores "Jay" Boyd Jr. for signing a basketball scholarship with Lincoln Memorial College in Tennessee. Congratulations, Jay! (Hiram High School via Facebook)
• Did you know that a Maude P. Ragsdale Hiram Library card gets you access to an Alliance Theatre pass? Cardholders can check out a pass for seven days with one renewal to receive four free tickets to an upcoming performance. Tickets can be redeemed at alliancetheatre.org for your desired performance, date, and time. Alliance Theatre is currently showing its production of "A Christmas Carol" through Dec. 24, and interested patrons can view other upcoming performances in the library's Facebook post. (Maude P. Ragsdale Hiram Library via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday. I'll see you soon!

— 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.