District Officials: Insurance Rate Hike Not Our Call

Paulding County School System employees will pay higher health insurance premiums next year, but teachers and staff in the county aren’t the only ones being hit by those higher rates.

That’s one thing district leaders want employees to know as open enrollment in the state health plan approaches—those employed by the school system are a part of Georgia’s health benefit plan, as are those employed by other government agencies across the state.

Read more on Dallas-Hiram Patch.

Woodstock Man Drowns Off Gulf Coast

A Woodstock man drowned late Sunday morning in the Gulf of Mexico, according to local media reports.

The Star newspaper reports Danny Dee Dickens of Woodstock drowned while swimming in the waters off the Gulf County, Florida coast.

Read more on Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch.  

Lap Dances, Other Violations Cause Gipson's Bar and Grill to Close

Gipson's Bar and Grill permanently closed at 5 p.m. Monday in anticipation of the City of Douglasville revoking the restaurant's alcohol retail sales license. Owners of Gibson's preempted a public hearing on the matter, scheduled for Monday evening's City Council meeting, by writing a letter (attached) to the Mayor and City Council voluntarily surrendering their alcohol retail sales license. The letter also notified the Council of the bar's closing.

Read more on Douglasville Patch.

Mom Gets Cop, Police Dog to Search Daughter's Room

When four juveniles who skipped school on Sept. 13 were caught by Milton police, one of the youth's mothers used the opportunity to get help searching her daughter's room for drugs.

Read more on Alpharetta-Milton Patch.

School Brawl Leaves One Injured, Four Suspended

Four students have been suspended from Tucker High School after a fight last week that injured an employee who tried to intervene.

The brawl started after school last Wednesday behind the main building, according to WSB-TV. School security officer Jarvis Brown and other members of staff attempted to break up the ruckus, resulting in broken bones in Brown's right ankle that required surgery in hospital.

Read more on Tucker Patch.