Slur Published in South Paulding High School Yearbook

Susan Powell, the mother of freshman Dylan Worthen, wants the principal to confiscate the yearbooks and have them reprinted.

Slur Published in South Paulding High School Yearbook

Susan Powell, the mother of freshman Dylan Worthen, wants the principal to confiscate the yearbooks and have them reprinted.

The last day of school in Paulding County is next Friday, and yearbooks were recently distributed at South Paulding High School. But Susan Powell, the mother of freshman Dylan Worthen, wants the principal to confiscate the yearbooks and have them reprinted, according to 11Alive. That's because the word "Freak" is next to her son's name in the caption under a marching band photo. Brian Otott, the spokesman for the school system, told 11Alive that the district is investigating the matter and intends to print a sticker that can be placed over the page. The spokesman said the district has apologized to Worthen and his family.

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SPHS Graduate Completes Basic Training

South Paulding High School graduate Army Pvt. Chase L. Dickerson has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, MO.

Army Pvt. Chase L. Dickerson has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, MO. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship qualification, bayonet combat, chemical warfare, field training and tactical exercises, marches, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions, and core values. Dickerson is the son of Julie Dickerson of Emily Drive, Dallas. He is a 2012 graduate of South Paulding High School, Douglasville.

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Paulding County High Teacher Gets Top Honor

The Paulding Education Foundation recently announced the winner of the 2013 Teacher of the Year.

The 2013 Paulding County School District Teacher of the Year is Marc Pedersen of Paulding County High. The announcement was made during a May 7 luncheon at the Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport. "Every minute that I'm in room 812," Pedersen said, "it does not feel like a job. Keeping the students engaged and keeping the students excited. That's the keyword to me. Every lesson that I have, I will step back and sort of reflect back upon that. And anytime things don't go well, I just feel like it's because the students were not engaged. That's my top priority when I come to the classroom: to get these students fired up about science." This is how the Paulding Education Foundation described Pedersen in a Facebook post: A Master Teacher is …

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Area Prep Sports Roundup

State playoff action continued Tuesday in baseball, soccer, lacrosse and tennis.

Here are scores from Tuesday's action in Georgia High School Association state playoff action involving schools from Paulding, Douglas and Cobb: Baseball 2nd Round Class 6A Also on Thursday, Marietta plays at East Coweta in a quarterfinal series. Girls Soccer 2nd Round Class 6A Lassiter plays at Harrison Saturday in a semifinal game. Class 5A Class 4A Class 3A Class 1A Girls Lacrosse 1st Round Class 6A Class 1A-5A Boys Lacrosse 1st Round Class 5A Girls Tennis Semifinals Class 6A Walton faces Peachtree Ridge Saturday in the state championship match at the Clayton County International Park in Jonesboro. Class 5A Class 1A Private Walker will play Mt. Pisgah for the state title on Saturday in Jonesboro. Boys Tennis Semifinals Class 6A North …

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Dallas Veterans Advocate Honored

Derek Ridings has helped student veterans receive money from the federal government to pay for school.

A Dallas resident who helps veterans transition into college at Kennesaw State University has received the university's first Excellence in Service and Leadership Award. According to the Paulding Neighbor, the KSU Presidential Commission on Veterans Affairs presented the award to Derek Ridings on April 22. For three semesters, the Iraq War veteran has worked at the Kennesaw State University’s Veterans Resource Center. The center is a one-stop shop for veterans as they transition into college, and the first of its kind in Georgia. In addition to his work at the center, Ridings, 28, has served as a student government senator for student veterans and helped them receive money from the federal government to pay for school, according to the …

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State Soccer Playoffs Continue

Girls and boys teams resume action with second-round games.

The Lady Hoyas and Lady Raiders are among 12 girls teams from Cobb, Paulding and Douglas that won last week. In Class 4A, the Alexander girls play at Marist, and in Class 3A, Chapel Hill is at home to Peach County Tuesday when the Georgia High School Association state tournaments swing back into action with second-round games. Walton and Harrison will be playing host to South Forsyth and East Coweta, respectively, in the Class 6A tournament. The boys soccer tournament resumes on Wednesday, with nine Cobb, Paulding and Douglas teams having advanced. Also playing on Tuesday are Hillgrove at Newnan, Douglas County at Lowndes and Lassiter at North Gwinnett. In the 5A tournament, Pope is at Flowery Branch, Northview is at North Paulding and …

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Ragsdale Wins $500 'Green' Grant

Two students have been named Green Team ambassadors.

Two Ragsdale Elementary students have won a $500 grant for their school. Fifth graders Amberley Cross and Kady Ayers have been named Green Team ambassadors through the Green Team Recycling Program, a partnership between the Atlanta Falcons and Novelis that recognizes individuals who motivate children to get excited about the environment and recycling.  More than 50 schools in Georgia participated in the program.

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