🌱 Douglas County EMTs Stretched Thin + National Night Out Tomorrow

Good morning, everybody! It's Monday in Douglasville and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening in the community today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy with a thunderstorm. High: 86 Low: 71.

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Here are the top five stories today in Douglasville:

1. Non-emergency 911 calls and high hospital volumes are stretching metro Atlanta ambulances thin, including those here in Douglasville. Data from Douglas County shows that ambulances have had to wait at area hospitals for at least 30 minutes more than 500 times in both May and June 2022. Local ambulances have reportedly responded this week to a variety of non-emergency calls, including insomnia, sunburn, and UTIs, which prompted a public service announcement from the County asking people only to call 911 for emergencies. "If you have a situation that’s non-emergency that you’re using an ambulance for, that ambulance is not available for the other citizens in Douglas County," Douglas County EMT and firefighter Jordan Reid told 11Alive. (11Alive.com WXIA)
2. Douglasville's National Night Out 2022 is happening tomorrow (Aug. 2) at Hunter Park from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Douglasville Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office have partnered with the community to host this free event, where you'll have the opportunity to ask questions and get to know your local law enforcement. Attendees will enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers, kids' activities, giveaways, a Touch-a-Truck event, live music, and more. Contact Sgt. Shannon Dean at 678-293-1621 or deans@douglasvillega.gov for more information. (Douglasville Police Department via Facebook)
3. The Boundary Waters Aquatic Center in Douglasville will be closed today, Aug. 1, as it begins installing three brand-new hot water heaters for the facility’s showers, sinks, and toilets. Because the facility will not have hot water running to these critical areas, it will remain closed for the entire day. The Center expects to reopen tomorrow, Aug. 2, at its regularly scheduled time. (Douglas County Georgia)
4. On Friday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced an additional $125 teacher supplement to offset classroom costs, on top of the $125 grant offered back in January 2022. The supplement, which comes just in time for the start of the 2022-23 school year, is meant to help offset the average of $750 teachers spend out of pocket on classroom supplies. "Any kind of grant or help to cushion what we already pour into our classrooms from our personal funds is always super exciting," Katie Winslett, a fourth-grade teacher at Holly Springs Elementary in Douglasville, told CBS. (CBS 46)
5. Douglasville native Kasen Weisman is on Florida State University's radar as its quarterback board expands. The South Paulding High School student told 247Sports that he came to this weekend's Seminoles Showcase event with a singular purpose in mind: Show out for FSU's coaches. He is currently ranked as the country’s No. 62 overall quarterback and holds offers from Go5 programs like Appalachian State, Middle Tennessee, Arkansas State, and others. However, Weisman says he's "holding out hope that some Power Five programs emerge as well," such as FSU. (247sports.com)

Today in Douglasville:

• Grab & Go Coloring Calendar At Douglas County Public Library (10:00 AM)
• Baby/Toddler Storytime At Douglas County Public Library (10:30 AM)
• City Council Regular (Voting) Meeting At Douglasville Conference Center (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Did you know that the Pilot Club of Sweetwater donates books throughout the year to the four Little Free Library book boxes and various shelters in Douglas County? Check out these photos of one of their book drive events from this weekend. (Pilot Club of Sweetwater - Douglasville, GA via Facebook)
• The next Church Street Farmers Market will be held tomorrow, Aug. 2, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Old PD Parking Lot on 6730 Church Street. (City of Douglasville)
• Tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., the Douglas County Public Library is hosting a Library Resources 101 session to help the community learn about its new digital app, Libby, and other digital offerings. The library encourages community members to bring their own digital devices for hands-on help. (West Georgia Regional Library System)

You're all caught up for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update!

— 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.