🌱 Summer Lake Road House Fire + DCSS Scholastic Chess Tournament

Hello again, friends! I'm back with your fresh edition of the Douglasville Patch newsletter. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town today, including...

• House fire on Summer Lake Road displaces local family
• Douglas County students win big at annual chess tournament
• Next Rising Men of Douglasville meeting this Monday

But first, today's weather:

Sun mixing with clouds. High: 49 Low: 33.

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Here are the top five stories today in Douglasville:

1. A house fire on Summer Lake Road has displaced a local family, according to Douglas County fire officials. On Wednesday afternoon, crews responded to the blaze, which cause extensive damage to the single-family home. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, and the family will be receiving aid from the American Red Cross. As of Friday afternoon, the cause of the fire is unknown. (Douglasville Patch)
2. Last Saturday, Jan. 28, over 70 Douglas County School Systems students competed in the Douglas County Scholastic Chess Tournament. Participants from grades 2 through 12 were divided into age groups to compete at either the team or individual level. First-place team trophies went to Winston Elementary, Chapel Hill Middle, and Lithia Springs High. In the individual tournaments, William Lieu (Chapel Hill Elementary), De'Andre Turner (Chapel Hill Middle), and Steven Linn (Lithia Springs High) took home the gold. (Douglas County School System)
3. The next "Rising Men of Douglasville" meeting will take place this Monday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. The Douglas County Emergency Management Agency will be on hand to provide information on Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. Anyone interested in attending is welcome to join the group at the police department's Community Room. (Douglasville Police Department via Facebook)
4. A local athlete has announced his next move to continue his football career. Douglas County High's own Monte Gooden signed with Albany State on National Signing Day. In 2022, the running back was named 1st Team All-Region, as well as Specialist of the Year. (HBCU Gameday)
5. Looking for some hands-on crafting with a focus on wellness? Kimberly Taylor will be hosting The Declaration Bracelet Bar tomorrow, Feb. 5, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Participants will select beads to represent declarations, then assemble them into a beautiful keepsake designed to remind wearers to "intentionally live out chosen declarations as a personal commitment to living a harmonious life." Tickets are available for purchase at the link, running $35 for Cultural Arts Council (CAC) members and $38 for non-members. (Cultural Arts Council Douglasville/Douglas County)

Today in and around Douglasville:

• Express Yourself: Mini African Drum Making At Dallas Public Library (10:00 AM)
• Dungeons And Dragons Drop-In At Ruth Holder Public Library, Temple (11:00 AM)
• Douglas County Chamber Winter Ball & Annual Community Awards At Douglasville Conference Center (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• In case you missed it yesterday, there's still time to let the City of Douglasville know which movies you want to see in this year's Screen on the Green series! Take the City of Douglasville's brief online survey and make your voice heard. (Patch)
• Calling all Douglas County School System parents: DCSS Board of Education member Michelle Simmons will host a "Community Gathers" event on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The event will take place at Mirror Lake Elementary and begin at 6:00 p.m. (Press Release Desk)
• Alexander High School's special needs class recently attended a comprehensive tour of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. After viewing multiple rooms, including the interview and polygraph room as well as fourth-floor cell blocks (without inmates), students met the Sheriff. (Douglas County Sheriff's Office (Georgia) via Facebook)

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Events:

• College Planning and Financial Aid Webinar (February 7)
• A Night on Broadway (February 10)
• Crossing Over With Psychic Medium John Edward (Live)! (February 23)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday. I'll be in your inbox soon with 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.