Canton Police Department Welcomes New Chief City Manager Billy Peppers has named Martin P. Ferrell as the next leader of Canton’s Police Department. The hire comes after former Chief Stephen Merrifield’s retirement last December. Mercer Group Associates conducted a national recruitment effort in December and early January to assist Peppers with narrowing the applicant pool to a selection of candidates for formal review. Mercer Group utilized stakeholder feedback from the department to assist in developing the recruitment brochure for the position.Chief Ferrell joins Canton Police following a career with the City of Marietta Police Department. Ferrell began his law enforcement career as an officer with Marietta Police in 1990, eventually serving in narcotics and as a departmental training officer. Rising through the department, he became a lieutenant in 1999, leading a variety of programs including criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, crime interdiction, Police Explorers, drug education, SWAT, and the City of Marietta’s school resource officer program.In 2005, Ferrell was promoted to major, leading outreach, uniform patrol, administrative services, and homeland security, among other duties. He served as deputy chief of the department from 2013 to 2022. During that time, he established a pastor’s academy for community outreach, introduced the department’s body warn camera technology, incorporated the agency’s crisis intervention team for officer support, and filled in in the absence of the chief. He attained the office of chief of police with Marietta PD in 2022, serving until he retired from that local government at the end of 2023.In addition to his work experience, Ferrell holds post-secondary degrees in criminal justice administration from Columbia Southern University. He is a graduate of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Chief Executive Training Program, International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Police Organizations, Senior Management Institute of Police, Police Executive Research Forum, Carl Vinson Institute of Government Management Program at the University of Georgia, FBI National Academy, Dale Carnegie Management Program, and the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy. The Canton Police Department includes 61 employees, both sworn law enforcement personnel and civilian administrative staff. Canton Police Department is a State Certified Law Enforcement Agency.
City of Canton Proposes Historic District Expansion and Adoption of Residential Design Guidelines The historic district will double in size under the newly proposed expansion, and if adopted, homes within this area will go under Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) review for any future exterior work. An open house was held on March 4 for public discussion on the expansion and guidelines, which was followed by an HPC meeting. A public hearing will be held at the April 4 Canton City Council meeting at 6:00pm, with discussion and possible action on the expansion and guidelines at their meeting on April 18 at 6:00pm.If you have any questions, please reach out to Community Development Director Kevin Turner at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Cherokee County Purchases Former Buffington School Site The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved purchasing the former Buffington ES site from the Cherokee County School District for $1.2 million. The 9.8-acre site paired with the adjacent nearly 3.2-acre site the county already owns is slated to house a replacement for Fire Station 29 and possibly a future site for the Fire Safety and Education Village and Fire & Emergency Services Headquarters.During a work session discussion, Chairman Harry Johnston confirmed with fire officials that the county’s intention is to preserve the original building and its historic look.
Resurfacing To Begin on I-575 in Cherokee Interstate 575 is about to get a major makeover. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) recently awarded C.W. Matthews, Inc. a $56 million contract to resurface approximately 20 miles of I-575 from I-75 in Cobb County to the Etowah River in Cherokee County.Resurfacing is expected to get started in the next few months. Along with the highway, all the on- and off-ramps will also be resurfaced. Motorists can expect lane closures during the project. However, there will be no lane closures between 6:00am and 6:00pm. The resurfacing is slated to be completed by December 31, 2024.
CATS Launches Micro-Transit, Rebrands Cherokee Area Transit Service (CATS) has undergone changes including a more efficient service for riders, a new look, and an updated name. Previously, CATS offered Fixed Route and Demand Response services. Fixed Route ran on a standard schedule, while Demand Response allowed riders to schedule their transportation ahead of time.“The traditional fixed route system is being replaced with micro-transit, which translates to shorter wait times and a larger service area for our riders. While this is a pilot program to replace the former fixed route system in Canton, the plan is to further expand micro-transit to other areas of the county in the future,” said Transit Director Greg Powell.The current micro-transit service area expanded on the area previously served by the former Canton fixed routes. It is generally in the Canton area with the northernmost point being the Chattahoochee Tech campus on Bluffs Parkway extending south to the Holly Springs Walmart at Exit 14. It stretches from the Canton Marketplace shopping center to Knox Elementary on Highway 20 west of Canton. The service area includes downtown Canton, the Laurel Canyon Village shopping center on Reinhardt College Parkway, the Riverstone Parkway area, Northside Hospital Cherokee, Empower Cherokee, the Cherokee County Senior Center, the Cherokee County Health Department, and the Cherokee County DFCS office on Univeter Road.Fares will remain unchanged from the October 2023 update. General fare is $2 per person for 0-5 miles and an additional $1 for more than 5 miles. Reduced fares, which apply to seniors ages 60 and older, veterans, and Medicare/Medicaid cardholders, are $1 per person per trip for up to 5 miles and an additional $1 for anything over 5 miles. Children ages 15 and younger ride free.Cherokee County partnered with Ecolane USA last September to purchase the software for both micro-transit and Demand Response, which services all of Cherokee County. The CATS micro-transit app operates much like private rideshare company models but for public transit systems. The Board of Commissioners approved the purchase, totaling $487,058 over five years. The Federal Transit Authority pays 80%, and the county pays 20% for the first year. For the following four years, the cost is split 50-50.Micro-transit not only streamlines the process for riders, but it also gives them access to the GPS location of their bus, so they will be less likely to miss their ride. Additionally, trip reminder notifications will provide a friendly nudge for people to cancel their rides if they no longer need them, and residents can schedule their rides even if the CATS dispatch office is closed for the day.Residents can download the app from the App Store and Google Play store. Simply search “Cherokee Area Transit Service.”In addition to the launch of micro-transit, CATS is getting a new look and an updated name to better reflect the operation. Over the next several months, riders will begin to see the new look on the CATS fleet and signage.For more information, call (770) 345-6238 Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm.
Education Gala Fundraising Success and Alumni of the Year Winners Announced This year’s 70s-themed Cherokee County Education Foundation (CCEF) black tie event drew a record crowd of more than 400 attendees and raised just over $200,000 for Classroom Impact Grants, which benefit students, classrooms, teachers, and staff in the Cherokee County School District (CCSD).The community supported the CCEF through the purchase of tables to attend the event as well as donations for the silent auction, which featured sports memorabilia, jewelry, travel opportunities, and original works of art.The evening began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as well as performances by local musicians Ethan Senger and Kurt Lee Wheeler. Guests were then treated to dinner and a concert by Beatles tribute band the Liverpool Legends. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2024 Alumni of the Year awards to businessman and philanthropist Ken White, Cherokee High School class of 1959, and Dr. Susan Padgett-Harrison, Cherokee High School class of 1970. Both winners have made significant contributions to the Cherokee County community, making it a better place for all to live, work, and play.Retiring Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower was also honored. For more information, visit CherokeeeCountyEducationalFoundation.org.
The Children’s Haven Raises Funds at 70s Prom Event The Children’s Haven recently held their 3rd Annual Adult Prom fundraising event, and this year’s theme was a throwback to the 70s. Nearly 200 guests attended, dressed in groovy costumes from hippie to glam prom wear. The event raises much-needed funds for the nonprofit’s support and prevention programs for children in foster care and families facing challenges in our community. The evening included dancing, a silent auction, a live auction, and a wine pull. Chris and Amber Harden were crowned this year’s Prom King and Queen for helping to raise funds and awareness for the needs and the work of The Children’s Haven. Chad and Rachel Davis and Gregg and Heather Shelton were also on the prom court for providing much-appreciated support. Funds from this year’s event will support these specific Children’s Haven programs: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the WellStar Family Visitation Center, Prevent Child Abuse Cherokee, and the Chin Up mentorship program. To learn more about The Children’s Haven or to get involved, please visit CherokeeChildrensHaven.org.
Commissioners Approve Concept Plan for Future Hickory Flat Park In April 2022, Cherokee County purchased about 40 acres for a future park in Hickory Flat and engaged Lose Design to prepare a concept plan. County officials and Lose Design held three public input meetings and online public engagement during the process, yielding feedback from area residents.The concept for the park, located on East Cherokee Drive in the heart of Hickory Flat, shows plans for an open lawn area, recreation center, concessions and restroom building, a multi-purpose field complex, paved trail network, dog park, playground, interactive fountain, community garden, and 12 pickleball courts with spectator seating. Plans for the recreation center show a gymnasium, indoor walking track, fitness center, classrooms, meeting rooms, and administrative offices. The dog park is expected to feature shaded structures, bench seating, and a water fountain with a dog water bowl. The open lawn is a place for families and friends to gather for picnics and enjoy each other’s company. It will also feature a playground, pavilions, splash pad, ADA loop trail, and a restroom building. The multi-purpose field complex is expected to feature two 300-foot baseball diamonds, four 215-foot baseball diamonds, two rectangular sports fields, pavilions, and restrooms.The project will be phased in in three segments with a total expected cost of $43.3 million. The first phase is estimated at $15.9 million, the second phase at $9.7 million, and the third phase at $17.8 million. The next steps for the project include identifying funding and establishing a development timeline.
Cherokee County School District Announcements The STAR, or Student Teacher Achievement Recognition, student honor is awarded to the high school senior from each Georgia public and private high school with the highest score on any single test date of the SAT and who also ranks in the top 10% or top 10 students of his or her class based on grade point average. Each honored student is invited to select his or her favorite teacher to be named that school’s STAR Teacher. An overall CCSD winner additionally is recognized for earning the highest eligible SAT score of all the STAR Students, and this year’s honoree is Kinley Sikes of Creekview HS, who also is among only 5,000 students selected as a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program from the more than three million graduating seniors in the nation’s Class of 2024. Only 207 students from Georgia were named candidates in the prestigious recognition program.This year’s STAR honorees are Finnegan Sheldon (student) and Wesley Queen (teacher), Cherokee HS; Kinley Sikes (student) and Jason Hardin (teacher), Creekview HS; Anvita Rautray (student) and Eric Burton (teacher), Etowah HS; Olivia Emling (student) and Heather Craighead (teacher), i-Grad Virtual Academy; Adrianna Musser (student) and Beckie Lee (teacher), River Ridge HS; Will Murphy (student) and Tabitha Evans (teacher), Sequoyah HS; Xavier Olsen (student) and Kellie Baglio (teacher), Woodstock HS.Three Seniors Earn Top JROTC ScholarshipsDavis Clanton of Etowah HS (top), Savannah Mouritsen of Sequoyah HS (middle), and Sydney Watson of Cherokee HS (bottom) are among only 100 students worldwide to earn the Air Force JROTC J-100 Character-in-Leadership Scholarship. This elite four-year scholarship pays full college tuition and fees at any public or private institution with an Air Force ROTC program and provides a $10,000 annual university housing allowance. Recipients are selected based on overall excellence as students and as JROTC, school, and community leaders along with their plans to pursue a service career with the U.S. Air Force or Space Force.Student Selected for All-State Art CompetitionWoodstock HS junior Kate Bean was one of only 50 Georgia high school student artists selected for the All-State Art Symposium, recently held at Columbus State University. More than 2,000 entries from students statewide were entered into the competition. She currently is studying painting as a student of Woodstock HS visual arts teacher Lori Thompson. The title of her award-winning painting is Still Life.Superintendent Presents Game Changer AwardsThe 2024 Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools’ Game Changer Award for Instructional Excellence honored Etowah HS’s media specialist Hal Funderburk in recognition of his work to support more effective use of instructional technology. The 2024 Game Changer Award for Instructional Advocacy was presented to Gwen Freeman, CCSD’s family and community services facilitator who currently leads family and community engagement for the district’s recently opened International Welcome Center after many successful years as a school-based parent engagement facilitator.Teacher Inducted Into State Coaching Hall of FameSequoyah HS teacher Matt Bartula recently was named to the new class of members of the Georgia Forensics Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. The honor is bestowed upon educators for “excellence in speech and debate and their support of high school speech and debate activities in the state,” according to the organization. Bartula, who joined CCSD in 1999, teaches advanced placement history and social studies classes and coaches the school’s nationally recognized speech and debate team.Director of Bands Earns Regional Music Teacher of the Year AwardSequoyah HS Director of Bands Casey Eubanks is the Georgia Music Educators Association’s District 9 Music Educator of the Year, which was announced at the organization’s annual conference recently held in Athens, Georgia. Eubanks was nominated by his fellow District 9 music educators.
Mayor Bill Grant’s 2024 State of the City Address Highlights In his 2024 State of the City Address, Mayor Bill Grant highlighted the many accomplishments from the past year and previewed the upcoming projects and initiatives for this year.2023 Accomplishments:• Completed the Citywide Transportation Master Plan and prioritized projects for implementation• Completed the Public Art Master Plan• Began Downtown Parking Deck solar canopy to power EV charging stations and offset energy needs for City Hall• Continued construction on the Water Pollution Control Plant, and the new 3,000 sq. ft. administration building was completed and opened• Issued over 175 new business licenses last year• Launched Explore Canton, the City’s tourism initiative• Collected $1 million annually in Hotel Motel taxes for the first time last year• Renovated and reopened the historic Jones Mercantile Building • Received $4.4 million in grant awards for the South Canton Park and Marietta Road Pedestrian Improvement Projects• Retained Horwath HTL to market sites for both a potential high quality boutique hotel in downtown and a luxury resort and small conference center on Lake Canton on the property the City purchased at The Bluffs• Hosted the Georgia Downtown Conference • Opened a new inclusive playground at Heritage Park• Completed a $4.3 million renovation and expansion of Harmon Park and added a mini-pitch soccer field with the assistance of the first state grant from the Atlanta United Foundation• Became home to the Georgia Impact Women's Professional Soccer League team• Initiated a comprehensive update to the City Charter and Municipal Code, which was adopted by City Council in late 2023New Projects and Initiatives for 2024:• Complete the Parks and Recreation Master Plan to further connect citizens to Canton’s parks and trails• Conduct a ribbon cutting and grand opening for the newly expanded and renovated Harmon Park• Install a mural across from Harmon Park in the Sunnyside Community• Complete the design plans for the new South Canton Park, and issue an RFP for construction• Complete the design and issue of an RFP for construction for the new Etowah River Pedestrian Bridge• Begin phases 2-5 of the expansion of the Water Pollution Control Plant• Issue an RFP for the new traffic signal at Reinhardt College Parkway and Reservoir Drive• Complete a Master Plan for the Hickory Flat/Marietta Road Gateway into downtown Canton• Continue sustainability projects in City Hall and the Public Safety Building• Complete and adopt a new Downtown Master Plan • Issue an RFP for construction of the West Main pedestrian improvements to connect The Mill on Etowah and downtown Canton• Welcome a new Police Chief in spring 2024• Implement the new K9 program for Canton Police Department • Continue spring, summer, and fall events in and around Canton