🌱 Douglasville Gets GMA Grant + Car Chase Leads To School Bus Crash

Hi all. It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Douglasville Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town, including:

• A Safety and Liability grant for Douglasville.
• A Douglas County car chase that resulted in a driver crashing into a school bus.
• CAC's Spring Break Arts Camp registration now open.

But first, today's weather:

A few morning showers; cooler. High: 56 Low: 28.

Shoutout to our premier local sponsor:

Need an experienced attorney on your side? Rutledge Law Firm is focused solely on the needs of clients, providing professional and effective representation for estate planning, elder law, and criminal defense. They’ll put complex legal issues into language you can easily understand, all while giving you the exceptional legal skills, practical solutions, and professional integrity you’d expect. Hire a trusted local firm right here in Douglasville. Visit Rutledge Law Firm here to learn more.

Want to see your business featured in this spot? Click here to get started.

Here are the top five stories in Douglasville today:

1. The City of Douglasville has been awarded a Safety and Liability Management grant from Georgia Municipal Association for the second time. The grant aims to enhance employee safety, reduce insurance claims and provide training, equipment and services for the same. According to a press release, the grant not only benefits the City financially but also reassures employees of their safety in the workplace. (Press Release Desk )
2. Michael Crowder of Atlanta has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses after hitting a school bus while fleeing from Douglas County authorities with a pistol in his car. On Thursday morning, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office attempted to stop the car in the nearby Stone Wood Subdivision when the driver fled from a gas station, leading to a car chase. Crowder was eventually found hiding in a nearby shed after he hit a school bus. No injuries to the bus driver or students aboard the bus were reported. (Douglasville Patch)
3. Registration is now open for the Cultural Arts Council Douglasville and Douglas County Spring Break Arts Camp at the Boundary Waters Activity Center. The camp will run from Apr. 3 through 7, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and is geared toward children aged 7 to 12. The camp will offer four art classes each day, culminating in a final performance and showcase from the week on Friday, Apr. 7. Visit artsdouglas.org for more information. (Press Release Desk)
4. The City of Douglasville is honoring Arbor Day at 2:00 p.m. today, Feb. 17, by showcasing new trees and a shade plan for the Hunter Park ballfields. The city's Tree Board and Parks and Recreation Department have collaborated on the site improvements. As part of the celebration, the Georgia Forestry Commission will provide tree seedlings to attendees. (Douglasville Georgia)
5. The City of Douglasville is hosting a free community event called "Unity In Our Community" tomorrow, Feb. 18, at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Douglasville Police Department. The event aims to encourage the community to work together with the Douglasville Police Department to create unity. Attendees can expect to hear from Chief Sparks and other leaders, and in the event of bad weather, the event will be moved inside the Community Room. (Douglasville Georgia)

Today in and around Douglasville:

• Douglasville Arbor Day Celebration At Hunter Memorial Park (2:00 PM)
• Open Mic Event At Broad Street Station (7:00 PM)
• A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie At The Eastern (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Only In Georgia released its five most recommended BBQ restaurants in the state, and Hudson's Hickory House ranked No. 3 on the list! The restaurant is the oldest full-service restaurant operating in Douglas County and has now been owned by three generations of Hudsons. (Only In Your State)
• Are you looking for a new family member with four paws? Check out the list of adoption-ready pets in the Douglasville area at the link! (Douglasville Patch)
• Douglasville Parks and Recreation is offering a free program that will teach kids how to independently create tasty and nourishing snack options. Learn more and register here. (City of Douglasville - Government via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Hyper Marketz LLC — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• BJ's Wholesale Club Pre-opening Limited-time Offer (February 23)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow for another 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.