In this episode of the Paulding County News Podcast, your hosts Melissa Carter and Doug Harding bring you the latest happenings from around the county, alongside a special feature interview that could influence the future of our local education system.
Episode Highlights:
A Tragic Loss in Our Community: We begin with a grim update as the GBI has arrested 18-year-old Osman Sesay Jr. in connection to the heart-wrenching fatal shooting of 11-year-old Zander Whatley in Hiram. This ongoing investigation seeks justice for a young life cut tragically short. Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward.
A Beam of Hope: In lighter news, we share the touching story of 3-year-old Nathaniel Van Dam, a brave little warrior fighting cancer. With the support of Make-A-Wish Foundation and Good 2 Grow, Nathaniel and his family are set to make unforgettable memories at Disney World. A beautiful reminder of the power of community and hope.
Mother's Day Miracle: In an inspiring Mother's Day story, Melissia Boynton, a resilient mother from Dallas, Georgia, received a heart transplant, offering her a new lease on life. This momentous occasion highlights the importance of organ donation and the miracles it can bring to families.
Special Feature Interview with Cynthia Starke-Jones: Amidst these stories of tragedy, hope, and miracles, we turn our focus to a pivotal upcoming event in Paulding County – the school board elections. Cynthia Starke-Jones, a Democratic candidate running for an at-large seat on the Paulding County School District board, joins us to discuss her campaign, her unique perspective, and her vision for the future of education in our county. With the Democratic primary just around the corner on May 21, 2024, Cynthia shares why she believes she's the fresh voice our schools need.
Whether it's her stance on educational policies, her innovative ideas for student success, or her commitment to the community, this is one conversation voters won't want to miss.
Join Melissa Carter and Doug Harding as they explore these compelling stories and sit down with a candidate who could play a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape of Paulding County.
Tune in to the Paulding County News Podcast – where local news meets depth, heart, and the voices of our community.
Your thoughts and engagement make our discussions richer. We invite you to share your perspectives and join us in making a difference in Paulding County.
From the BG Podcast Network Studios. This is your Paulding County News podcast, bringing our stories to life with news, events and what we're talking about in Paulding County. Like, follow and subscribe to hear the latest news from the Paulding County News Podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. And here's what you're talking about.
Welcome to your Paulding County News podcast. I'm Melissa Carter, along with Doug Harding. Cynthia Starke Jones is running for the Paulding County School Board at large, and she thinks she brings something very unique to the table. It may seem like common sense, but it is unique. She's going to tell you what that is coming up. But first, let's take a look at our top stories. The GBI has arrested 18 year old Osman Sassy Junior of Hyrum, in connection with the fatal shooting of an 11 year old last month. Paulding County Sheriff's deputies responded to reports of multiple shots fired on Ruth Way. Zandra Whatley was struck by a bullet and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Sassy was apprehended during a traffic stop and is currently held in North Carolina awaiting extradition to Georgia. The investigation remains active, with murder warrants issued for all Hamid Khayat and Nasir Anderson. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Paulding County Sheriff's Office at (770) 443-3047. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling one 800 597 Tips this from the GBI.
We have a couple of feel good stories for you today. First, in Hiram, a special day was made possible for three year old Nathaniel Van Dam, who is battling cancer thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Nathaniel discovered he and his twin sister, along with their family, will be going to Disney World. Make-A-Wish Georgia along with Vinings business Good to Grow organized a heartfelt going away party for Nathaniel last week. Diagnosed at age two, Nathaniel has endured extensive treatments. Now, the family looks forward to creating joyful memories at Disney World thanks to the generosity and support from the community. This from WSB.
In a heartwarming Mother's Day miracle, Melissa Boynton, a 47 year old mother of three from Dallas, received a life saving heart transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Diagnosed with congestive heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy last August, Boynton had been on a transplant list in Atlanta and joined Vanderbilt's list in April. To her surprise, Boynton was a match with a donor on Mother's Day. I now have a guardian angel, a 23 year old female who saved my life, Boynton shared. Her surgeon noted the significance of the timing, calling it a wonderful thing. Boynton is ahead of her recovery and will stay in Nashville for 6 to 8 weeks to remain close to the hospital. This from News Channel five.
Oh, your weather is going to have showers this morning with a high of 82. And Hyrum in Dallas. Lows in the lower 60s, so that's going to be nice and comfortable to sleep. Partly cloudy tomorrow with a high of 81 in Hyrum and Dallas. Lows in the lower 60s. And looking ahead to Tuesday. Mostly sunny skies and we'll have highs in the mid 80s.
Yeah, I still have those windows open at night, so as long as I can do that it's a nice sleep. Nice spring sleep.
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We're back with more of your Paulding County News podcast.
From Wsb's Facebook page. Two Georgia Women. Believe they were targeted by a man who showed them sexually explicit videos on his phone from his car. The incidents occurred in separate locations and were reported to police. Both women reported that the man was inside a Toyota Corolla during the incidents. Police have confirmed the car belongs to a registered sex offender with two previous indecent exposure cases. Melissa X said I need more information. How did these men get these women to look at his phone? Did he say something like, I'm looking for a missing family member? Have you seen them? Does he pull up beside them and hold it out the window? It's already playing. Big piece of puzzle is missing here, Debbie. Tom. You agree? Well, everybody else does too. Debbie Thomas said no. He targeted nosy people. Why would you go look at someone else's phone while they're in their car? Doesn't make sense. And Lisa Hooper said, how does a man in a car show someone a video? Same thing. Everybody's like, why in the world did these women approach this car? And in my view, it's like, oh, how is he still out soliciting people to look at these things when he's got two prior convictions? I'm confused.
Hey, just can't help himself. Gross.
From the Paulding County Uncut Facebook page, Jessica Byrd posted, Since Sam's Club no longer has cookie cakes, I need some ideas where to get one that isn't too expensive. Now this woman is speaking my language. Uh, Sam's Club had them for $20 and that price has spoiled me. Tina Nelson said pretty much any grocery store I don't know about. Any grocery store with a good cookie cake. Uh, Princess Cooper said. Publix and Kroger, Wanda Cooper Burnett said Publix and everything is really delicious. And then Chris Sprinkle said, maybe the new crumbles. Um.
Um, well.
I haven't tried out the crumbles.
Melissa, this is a very important story as, uh, as a big cookie and sugar person here. I need to know where to get the best one. I need it to be nice and soft and chewy.
I will say Publix Bakery is pretty good now. I haven't had their cookie cakes, but their other cakes are delicious. I'm assuming it'll be the same. And then my brother growing up, it wasn't the cookie cake. I keep thinking of the ice cream cakes. Oh yeah, I think Baskin-Robbins.
Is the whale. Oh, yum.
Your weird story of the day comes from Miami, where airport security officers there discovered a surprising find last week. A passenger attempting to smuggle a bag of snakes hidden in his pants. I mean, there's jokes. Rabbi Doug is just writing bad jokes. As in his mind as I continue to talk. Officers at the Miami International Airport detected the concealed reptiles during a checkpoint inspection. TSA released a photo of two small snakes inside what looked like a sunglasses bag. The snakes in your pants. The TSA handed the snakes over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. No, I don't know what happened to the dude. This from the Associated Press.
Well, that's the first time I've heard of snakes in Your pants. I've always heard of ants in your pants. Now he's opening it. One. And I wonder how long those snakes were in his pants for.
And I'm sure he doesn't want me to talk about how small this this snakes were.
And we'll end on that one.
What's happening in Paulding County? We've got you covered.
All right, here's some stuff to get you out of the house. So Tuesday, 7:00 music bingo at the Box Sports Bar and Grill in Dallas. That is right up my alley there. Wednesday at 8:00. Graduations for East Paulding, Paulding County and South Paulding. Thursday at 8:00, graduations for Hiram High and North Paulding. And then May 27th starting at 11 a.m., the Paulding County Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Park in Dallas.
Yeah, congratulations to those graduates. Coming up next, Cynthia Stark Jones joins us. She is running for Paulding County School Board at large. And she says she's got something very unique to bring to the table that isn't currently there. What is it we're going to tell you coming up next.
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Let's meet some of the interesting people in our neighborhood.
Cynthia Stark Jones joins us now. Thank you so much, Cynthia, for your time. I know you're running for school board at large. Yes.
Thank you for having me.
So why the school board? I know that as a parent, I know how important that is. But what has brought you to run for this particular office?
I am a retired teacher from one of the second largest school districts in Georgia, so therefore I am passionate about school and education. I sit on the board of a largest advocacy group for children, so therefore I am passionate about children. So those are the two main reasons I want to be on the board. Because I'm a retired teacher and I have the education and experience I would like to be on the board to bring some diversity to the board.
And I love the fact that you've been in the classroom. You know what the issues may be. First of all, thank you so much for your service as a teacher, because I'm the daughter of a teacher and I think that's an underserved and under celebrated position. So thank you for doing that. But what do you see with, you know, in your time in the classroom and what you bring to the table if elected to the school board at large, you know, what are some of the issues you would like to improve upon in the school system in Paulding County? Oh thank.
You. That's a good question. I already know that there are many people already currently sitting on the board that can handle the sploss and handle the financial part, but the piece that they're missing on the board is someone who's been in the classroom, someone who knows about having overcrowded classrooms, and how it's difficult to teach over 30 students in one classroom. Someone knowing that I've been keeping up with the system and know that reading and math, two subjects that we are low in in Paulding County, and someone who can bring to the table something from working in the second largest school district in Georgia, that I can bring some of our resources that are tried and worked. Maybe they could also work here in Paulding County, bringing those resources to the table and handling things a little bit different for as the reading and math and getting those scores up.
It sounds so bizarre to me that a school board would be made up of people who weren't teachers or weren't in the classroom. Now, that may just be ignorant on my part, but it seems that that is something that you would need if you're going to shape the way that a school system is going to be, I would assume you would need somebody that's actually been in that school system. You would.
Be surprised. I of course, I've been at another school district also, and for the longest they did not have a teacher or a retired teacher on the school board. It was made up of businessmen. Lawyers and engineers, people from different business sectors. They forgot the piece of the educator. You need someone who really been in the school system and who really have some years of experience to know what worked and what didn't work. We know that they are doing a great job and again, the business mind people need to be on the board and included because you need somebody to handle the dollars, but you also need somebody to help with increasing the math scores and the reading scores and knowing that the purpose of these getting more schools built is very important, because it is very difficult to teach and be successful with the room with 30 or more children in it. It was sad to hear the other day when I was at a candidate forum, and to hear a parent saying her child is in the 12th grade and they might graduate. No parent should be in that particular minute where they think their child might graduate. So I want to help change that. We shouldn't be at the last hour trying to figure out if our child will graduate. Any child will graduate or not.
Do you think that having large classrooms causes a situation in which that child, theoretically is not getting personal attention throughout their career, so that they don't get to the point, as a senior, of wondering what's going to happen?
I absolutely believe that. I believe that when you have so many children in a classroom that the teacher is unable to be successful, even if she has the passion, the experience, the education, she can't reach 30 or more students in a classroom. And that is in just the high schools. When you have 30 in elementary school, it is even more difficult because you can't keep your eye on all the children. And if all the children are learning and if somebody is without a pencil or they get kind of lost, you do need to have smaller classes so you can give more attention and you can see who is catching on with the work, not just the students that are raising their hands, but the teacher can look at all the spaces and see who got the material, got the understanding and move on, or who if she need to pause and reteach. And you can't do that with so many students in the classroom, right?
Well, Cynthia, start Joan's running again for Paulding County School Board at large. And, Cynthia, I know you're like me. We're not glass half empty people. We're glass half full people. So I wanted you to take the opportunity to brag a little bit about the Paulding County school system and why it's something you want to serve.
I haven't been here all my life. I have been in Georgia all my life. But I have not been in Paulding. It's been the last nine years. I want to brag on Paulding County. Jane has to go welcome me in. When she found out I was a part of the Paulding Chamber of Commerce, I got introduced to her and she welcomed me in. So being a part of a smaller environment, it make it friendly, make everybody personable, everybody hug. And I like that. And you get to see people in the neighborhood, they get to know you. So I think that that is a great thing. I like that they have partnered up with some people to have Stem classes in a lot of schools. We went to visit as the part of the leadership 34 class with the Paulding Chamber. We got to visit some schools and that was great to see that they had taken off with the Stem program. So Paulding County is doing a lot, and I just want to be a part of the moving and growing in the future of Paulding County.
Well, Cynthia, thank you so much for taking the time and good luck this spring. And again, thank you for being an educator for so long.
And thank you, Melissa, for having me today.
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We're back with more of your Paulding County News podcast.
Here's a look at your sports. So all high school sports is out right now. So because I.
Graduated they're leaving and everybody's.
Didn't they think about us. We need to know more about high school sports.
Play into the summer for us.
But I have an alternative for you Melissa. So summer baseball registration is going on now until May 24th. That is, of course, in Paulding County. Just find out more@paulding.gov. And uh, just heading down 75 southbound from Paulding County. Go see the Braves this weekend. They get a four game stand with the Padres at Truist Park.
And finally, last week, many noticed that flags were flown at half staff in Paulding County and across the United States, leading to questions about the reason behind this observance. Well, the flags were lowered in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day, which falls on May 15th each year and is part of National Police Week and a proclamation signed on May 10th. President Joe Biden called for the lowering of the flags to recognize the incredible courage of our nation's police officers and. To honor the fallen heroes whose ultimate sacrifice we can never repay. So that's why you saw the flags. This from 11 alive.
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