Paulding County Rotary Club held its 14th Annual Pigskin Preview, a public event held with the purpose of providing all Paulding County high school football coaches with the opportunity to showcase their offseason goals, mindsets, and accomplishments, and recognize 3 players for their outstanding performance during summer practices.

Lieutenant Ashley Hill was awarded the “Officer of the Year” award by the Paulding County Rotary Club. Lieutenant Hill was accompanied by Sheriff Gary Gulledge along with her family and supervisors at a luncheon held in her honor.

Paulding County Rotary Club honored Fire Apparatus Operator (FAO), Andy Dale, with its 2022 Firefighter of the Year Award. In 2013, he transferred to PC Fire & Rescue where he quickly earned a reputation as a skilled Firefighter and a great leader. He currently serves at Station 2 in Hiram.

The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, the Paulding County Fire Department, the Paulding County Board of Commissioners, the Paulding County School District, the North Georgia Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and multiple local businesses and churches have come together to bring relief to those who are suffering.

The Paulding County Rotary Club welcomed James Kelly, Mayor of Dallas to our February club meeting. Mayor Kelly, a long-time council member of the City of Dallas recently began his full first elected term as City Mayor. The Paulding Rotary Club has a great history of collaboration with the City of Dallas.

To give a brief history of the event, 8 years or more ago the club put together the idea of having a football season kick-off, to hear from our coaches. A chance for them to tell us what is going on in their programs and mention some of their players. It has been a great program over the years and we were not willing to give it up this year.

Ford Thigpen welcomed the guests to the club meeting and expressed his pride in continuing this event for the ninth year, and gave special thanks to Jason Freeman, Athletic Director for Paulding Schools. Joining us, Coach Van Spence from Paulding High, Coach Billy Shackleford from East Paulding, and joining us for the first time Coach Jason Nash from South Paulding.

The Paulding Rotary Club in an outreach to local Veterans secured two AED Defibrillators. These life-saving devices were donated to American Legion Post 70 and Post 111. Local Veterans of all ages gather regularly at these Legion Halls.

Cops for Kids takes underprivileged children who live in Paulding County and pairs them with a Sheriff's Deputy to go shopping at Christmas. 2019's event took place at the Wal-Mart on Marietta Highway and marked the 21st year for the event. Over the years this has become one of the most successful and positive community outreach programs in the county.

The Paulding Rotary Club is a proud supporter of Paulding's Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Club member Mark Caffery delivers the Rotary's annual donation check to Paulding Area Director, Robbie Finley.

Paulding Rotary Club member John Grant presents Paulding 4H UGA Extension with a $1000 dollars for the club's annual donation.

Unfortunately, the pandemic also affected the Paulding Rotary club meetings and regular interactions with the community. As restrictions subside the club has been quick to schedule meetings and address our annual local contribution obligations. Rotary member Matt Mason presents Ms. Trina Youngblood with the donation check.

Paulding County Rotary Club welcomed Mary Frances Bowley to our March club meeting. Introduced by member John Kueven of Paulding WellStar, Mrs. Bowley is the Executive Director and founder of Wellspring Living. Wellspring Living is a non-profit organization in Atlanta, Georgia that provides domestic sex trafficking victims and those at risk with specialized recovery services through three residential programs and two community-based programs.

The Paulding Rotary welcomed Dr. Kathryn Melton to our club meeting this past week. Dr. Melton is the founder and Director of Shepherd's Rest Ministries. Shepherd's Rest operates the county's women's shelter around the clock, 24 hours and 7 days a week to take and manage crisis calls from women and families need.