🌱 Douglas Co. Parks & Rec Wins Health Hero Award + Abortion Protests

Hey, friends. It's Friday in Douglasville and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening locally. Today you'll read about:

• Douglas County Parks and Recreation Department wins annual "Health Hero" award
• Abortion protests in the metro Atlanta area
• An international car theft pipeline runs from metro Atlanta to Savannah Seaport

But first, today's weather:

A heavy t-storm in the p.m.. High: 89 Low: 71.

Here are the top five stories in Douglasville today:

1. The Douglas County Parks and Recreation Department was recognized on Wednesday during the Douglas County Chamber’s Small Business Awards Program. The Department was honored with the "Health Hero" award for its innovative health and wellness initiatives, with District 4 Commissioner Mark Alcarez offering remarks on behalf of the County. (Douglas County Happenings via Facebook)
2. A Douglasville resident pleaded guilty to smuggling stolen cars from the metro Atlanta area to Savannah Seaport. According to a federal indictment, throughout 2022, a Douglasville area man worked with a team of associates to steal eight cars from the metro Atlanta area to ultimately smuggle through Savannah Seaport and ship overseas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection found the stolen cars by using a portable X-ray system to scan shipping containers. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
3. On the one-year anniversary of Georgia’s abortion law going into effect, protesters have been targeting clinics in the metro Atlanta area. On Tuesday, more than 100 protesters from the Christian anti-abortion group Operation Save America (OSA) gathered outside A Preferred Women’s Health Center, a clinic down the road in Forest Park, and they are expected to continue protesting across Atlanta until Saturday. Meanwhile, the Georgia Supreme Court is weighing a lawsuit challenging Georgia’s abortion restrictions, and the court could rule anytime between now and November. (WABE 90.1 FM)
4. Alexander High School grad Aaron Casey is preparing for the 2023 college football season as a star linebacker for Indiana University's (IU) Hoosiers. Despite an injury during the 2022 season, Casey earned the honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and was an anchor of the Hoosiers' defense. Casey will finish off his Indiana career as a senior in the 2023 season by helping the Hoosiers defense rebound and bounce back. Prior to playing at IU, Casey had an extremely successful high school career at Alexander High School, where he was an all-state honoree and also lettered in basketball and soccer. (Hoosier Huddle)
5. Former Douglasville resident and rising country music star Niko Moon was tapped to perform a pre-race concert for the highly-anticipated Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Aug. 26, the final race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series regular season. Under the lights of the Daytona International Speedway, Moon will entertain the crowd with his progressive country sound. His musical inspiration largely comes from the music he grew up listening to in Douglasville, such as the hip-hop beats of Atlanta and the classic country sounds of Newnan, Georgia. NASCAR fans traveling to Daytona Beach can see Moon's set up close by purchasing a UNOH Fanzone pass with their race ticket. (Speedway Digest - Home for NASCAR News)

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Today in and around Douglasville:

Friday, July 21

• Yard Sale At 3781 Mason Ridge Drive, Winston (9:00 AM)
• Ladies Night At STARR Food Lounge (7:00 PM)
• Tommy Emmanuel At Variety Playhouse, Atlanta (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• In search of a furry new family member? Douglasville area shelters have many new cats, dogs, and other pets available for adoption now. Purrfect Peaches Cat Rescue and other shelters in the area have lots of new animals waiting for a forever home, and if you need more help in your search, Patch and Petfinder compile a weekly list of all the pets available for adoption in Douglasville. (Douglasville Patch)
• The Douglasville Police Department is hosting "National Night Out 2023" on Tuesday, Aug. 1 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Willing Workers Park. The free event will feature hot dogs, hamburgers, kids activities, giveaway items, touch a truck, music, and more and is a great way to join your local law enforcement for a night of food, fun, and partnership. (Douglasville Police Department via Facebook)
• The back-to-school countdown is on — only 14 days remain until the first day of school! If you have a child entering the Douglas County School System for the first time, you can register now to avoid delays. Registration must be completed by Jul. 21 to guarantee an Aug. 2 school start. (Douglas County Georgia Schools via Facebook)

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• Ben Hill 12th Annual Back to School JAM (July 29)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you around!

— 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.