🌱 Paulding Mother Demands Change + Trans Artist Killed In Atlanta

Hello, Dallas-Hiram! I'm back with your new edition of the Dallas-Hiram Patch newsletter. Here's all the community news you need to know right now. Today we'll cover:

• Paulding mother demands change and apologies after a controversial school field trip.
• A trans woman and performing artist was shot and killed in Atlanta.
• Thursday's fire in Austell displaced 59 people and affected 20 units.

But first, the weekend weather: This weekend in the area expect some morning rain showers on Saturday with a 50 percent chance of rain, followed by sunny skies and a high of 71 in the afternoon. Saturday night will be mostly clear with a low of 45. On Sunday, it will be sunny with a high of 68 and a few afternoon clouds, with mainly cloudy conditions overnight and a low near 45.

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Here are the top stories in Dallas-Hiram today:

1. A mother from Paulding County is demanding change and apologies from her daughter's school after a controversial field trip. Gladese Cleaves' daughter's class went on a field trip to the Mable House, where a woman portrayed herself as a slave and spoke in "slave talk" to the children. The students were then placed in front of the group as if they were on an auction block, holding a document of a bill of sale to show the cost of a slave compared to today's luxury automobiles. Cleaves wants teachers and staff to undergo training for better inclusion and diversity in the future. (Fox5)
2. A fire at the Lake Crossing Apartments in Austell has left 59 people displaced and 20 units affected. The fire broke out on Thursday night and resulted in a total loss of the apartment building. A resident said that the sprinklers and smoke alarms did not go off, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Red Cross is helping those affected, and firefighters plan to remain at the scene for several more hours to continue monitoring hotspots. (Atlanta News First)
3. Rasheeda Williams, a Black trans woman and performing artist known as Koko Da Doll and Hollywood Koko, was shot and killed in Atlanta on Tuesday. She was 35 years old. While police sources did not confirm Williams' identity, friends and family stated that she was the victim in social media posts. Williams was a rapper who released her first single in 2020 and was also featured in D. Smith's latest documentary "Kokomo City." Her death marks at least the tenth violent killing of a trans person in the U.S. this year. (them)
4. In Atlanta, charitable donations have made a significant impact on essential nonprofit institutions and enduring founder-led initiatives. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, founded by Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank, has granted over $1 billion to more than 3,500 nonprofits in the region since its inception in 1995. The foundation has supported various organizations, including Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, and recently donated $1.04 million to the Westside Future Fund. (NewsBreak)

Today in Dallas-Hiram:

• Earth Day Festival — The Pettit Environmental Preserve (9:00 AM)
• Birding the Day Away — Pickett's Mill Battlefield (10:00 AM)
• Touch a Truck — Veterans Park at the Watson Government Complex (10:00 AM)
• Anniversary Celebration — Three Strands Vineyard and Winery (1:00 PM)
• Spring Market — Bucking Goat Brewing Company (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• City of Hiram: The City of Hiram is looking for a full-time sanitation laborer to be on the ground floor of building a new Sanitation Department for the City of Hiram. This position will support the services provided to the residents of the city. For additional information please visit the city website. (City of Hiram via Facebook)
• City of Dallas: Saturday, April 22, Annual 5K & CityFest. Start with a Peachtree Qualifier 'City of Dallas 5K', come back for the Food Trucks, Vendors, and Free Concerts. Performances by Radio 80s at 6 p.m. and Spin Doctors at 8 p.m. Main Street, Downtown Dallas. (City of Dallas via Facebook)
• Bucking Goat Brewing Company: Spring Plant Exchange. Vegetable, house, succulent, carnivorous, and other plants are all welcome. Free family-friendly entertainment. 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, April 23. (Bucking Goat Brewing Company via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Grove Park Neighborhood Yard Sale 4/22 (April 22)
• The Pettit Environmental Preserve Earth Day Festival (April 22)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop 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