HIRAM, Ga. — With shovels in hand and plans in motion, leaders of Wellstar Paulding Medical Center officially broke ground Thursday on a $300 million expansion project that will double the hospital’s inpatient capacity and bring new resources to one of Georgia’s fastest-growing regions.

After being gifted a car from an organization as a child, which allowed his mom to work and him to attend school, Ezra knew from a young age that he wanted to continue the gift of giving. Oluwadamilare Ezra Lawal is a senior at Hiram High School.

The Backyard Legends Camp recently raised the bar another level for parks and recreation summer camps. The Paulding County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs summer camp, led by Program Coordinator Zac Tubbs, reached a new park record.

Paulding County Elections is proud to announce that Lacy Dunn, a member of its dedicated team, was officially sworn in as Vice President of the Georgia Association of Registration and Election Officials (GAVREO) on August 13, 2025.

Paulding County Elections is proud to announce that Jessica Lord, a dedicated member of its staff, has been published in the respected Journal of Election Administration, Research and Practice. Her article, "Facebook and Texas School Bond Election," highlights her insightful research into modern electoral practices and voter engagement.

East Paulding High School Raiders football team and Head Coach Van Spence was presented the revolving “Battle” trophy on Friday night. East Paulding came out pumped up and led the entire game. Paulding County High and Head Coach Justin Pressley battled all night and his team played with grit until time expired.

The City of Dallas has been awarded the Outstanding Downtown Promotion Award at the Georgia Downtown Conference, recognizing their exceptional work in developing the most effective public relations piece, promotional campaign, or social media promotion for the city’s Dogs Day Out program.

The Dallas Civic Center was filled with gratitude, fellowship, and hometown pride on Saturday night as neighbors and friends gathered for the inaugural Dr. S.U. Braly Scholarship Fundraiser and Award Dinner to benefit the Wellstar Foundation and Braly Scholarship Fund. The evening celebrated not only the legacy of Dr. S.U. Braly but also the service of two community pillars, while raising more than $15,000 to help local students pursue careers in healthcare.