Cherokee Rodeo Team Riding Strong Members of Cherokee Rodeo Team, a club team sponsored by the Future Farmers of America program at Cherokee high schools, are celebrating a successful start to the season. Based on the team's first Georgia High School Rodeo Association competition, Clay Pannell, a senior from Cherokee High School (CHS), leads the state with a score of 84. Lucas Jones, a junior at CHS, took down his first calf to lead the state in steer wrestling. Claire Alexander, also a junior at CHS, completed a 15-second run to finish second in the competition and sixth in the state. Cherokee Rodeo Team features riders from Cherokee High School and River Ridge High School, as well as nearby Paulding and Pickens schools. Participants must meet academic requirements to compete. The next competition is the Madison Rodeo, October 17-18, at Madison Agricultural Center.
Arts Center Hosts Annual Fall Ball The Cherokee County Arts Center has announced plans for its annual fall ball, "Fire & Ice," at 7:00-11:00 p.m., October 18, at The Rock Barn, 658 Marietta Hwy., Canton. Members of The Cherokee County Arts Center, as well as the public, are invited to attend; tickets are available through the arts center. The "Fire & Ice" fall ball will feature an evening of hors d'oeuvres, dancing and a silent auction. The event serves as the premier fundraiser for the Cherokee County Arts Center, a 503(C) nonprofit organization. All proceeds will support programs and services of the arts center,and all donations are tax-deductible. 770-704-6244, CherokeeArts.org
Former Cherokee Firefighter Honored on Public Safety Memorial Wall Former Cherokee County firefighter Douglas Clark Waters Jr., who passed away in 2003, has been approved for inclusion on the Georgia Public Safety Memorial Wall, located at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. At the time of his death, Waters was a firefighter, EMT, and member of the Cherokee County Rescue Dive Team. He was also a member of the Cherokee County Firefighters Association and a sergeant with Cherokee County since January 1999. Waters also served on the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department and served as a senior structural fire instructor with the Georgia Fire Academy. In addition, Waters was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. "Waters was a dedicated member of Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services and was an inspiration and great example to others in the fire profession," said Cherokee County Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Robinson. The 2014 Georgia Firefighter Memorial Service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., September 6, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center Auditorium, located at 1000 Indian Springs Drive in Forsyth.
Local Cub Scouts Raise Flag at Ft. Sumter During a recent trip, members of Holly Springs Cub Scout Pack 125 had the privilege of raising the U.S. flag at Ft. Sumter. The trip to Ft. Sumter was part of a two-night "campout" aboard the World War II Aircraft Carrier Yorktown in Charleston Harbor.
CMS Wins $3,000 Grant Creekland Middle School has won a $3,000 grant from Archer Daniels Midland Company. The grant was given through ADM Cares, a social investment program that directs funds to initiatives and organizations that drive meaningful social, economic and environmental progress worldwide. The program comprises three distinct focus areas: supporting the responsible development of agriculture; improving the quality of life in ADM communities; and fostering employee giving and volunteer activities. The grant will be used to purchase chorus rail risers to enhance the safety of students during choral performances. The Creekland Middle School community greatly appreciates this grant and thanks ADM for its investment in our students education, said Principal Deborah Wiseman.
Rotary Club of Canton Dedicates Local Park The Rotary Club of Canton held a special dedication ceremony for the official naming of Canton Rotary Park, located between the Cherokee County Justice Center and Cherokee County Historical Courthouse in downtown Canton. The Canton Rotary marked its 75th anniversary last year by burying a time capsule there and also built a Public Safety Memorial at the site in 2006. The Canton Rotary Park dedication was part of a recent monthly Rotary luncheon meeting that included the installation of new officers. Kim Loesing, outgoing club president, passed the gavel to the new club president, Hugh Beavers, and his leadership team. In addition, Barbara Jacoby was honored with the Avenues of Service Citation. Lois Zellman, on behalf of outgoing District Governor Anton Zellman, received a special plaque in recognition of Canton Rotary having achieved GRSP #1 Per Capita Giving status. State Rep. Mandi Ballinger, District 23, also was honored for her role in sponsoring House Bill 911. The keynote speaker for the event was State Senator Brandon Beach, District 21. Senator Beach praised the Rotary Club of Canton for its commitment to community service and also shared his ideas to help lead Cherokee County as a community with high quality of life, jobs training, technology infrastructure, and transportation.
Local Dance Group Performs at Disney World A group of dancers from Applause Performing Arts Conservatory, located in Canton, participated recently in a special performance at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Audrey Holbrook, Lucas Merges, Elizabeth Appleton, and Madelynne Appleton represented Applause Performance Arts Conservatory in a special dance performance that featured students from dance studios all over the country, Mexico and Canada. The dancers from each studio learned and performed together a routine during the parade at the Magic Kingdom. Each studio, including Applause, also performed a separate routine at the Premier Theatre located at Hollywood Studios. At the end of the week-long event, the students were treated to a special gala at Epcot Center.
Canton Resident Wins National Award for Child Advocacy CASA for Children presented Millie Bush of Canton with its 2014 G.F. Bettineski Child Advocate of the Year award during its National CASA Annual Conference, held recently in Grapevine, Texas. Bush was selected from more than 75,000 CASA volunteers nationwide. In 11 years of volunteer service with CASA for Children of Canton, she has worked with 49 children and 30 families. The majority of her work has involved helping children find a loving home with family members. In one case, her unwavering support of a struggling mother helped the mother realize that she needed to turn her life around for her children; after moving into safe, stable housing and getting a job, the mother and children were reunified. Millie Bush embodies the attributes needed in juvenile court: a dedicated professional who works hard and knows the families and children; is dedicated to the goal of a safe and permanent home; respects the opinions of others; and ensures her thoughts are known, says Judge John Sumner, presiding judge of the Juvenile Court of Cherokee County. She has been a blessing to our court for more than a decade, and I can only hope that she will continue to help the judges in the difficult decisions we make on a daily basis. In recognition of her award, Bush was honored with a special celebration in July at the Cherokee County Courthouse in downtown Canton.
Winners Selected in Farm Bureau Contests Cherokee County Farm Bureau sponsored a coloring contest for first-grade students and an art contest for high school students recently. More than 3,000 students from 22 elementary schools participated in the contest by coloring a picture of "My Plate is Georgia Grown," which included facts about healthy eating. The 1st and 2nd place winners from each school, and their families, were invited to Cagle's Family Farm to enjoy a free day on the farm that included a hayride tour, a plant to take home, and pizza and cupcakes. Leigh Ruff from Cherokee High School was among the 33 entries for Cherokee County Farm Bureau's high school art contest, designed to promote agriculture. Also selected as the overall winner for the county, Ruff received a check and certificate at Cherokee High School Awards Night.
Service League of Cherokee County Awards Local Scholarships The Service League of Cherokee County awarded $24,000 in scholarships to 19 deserving seniors who graduated recently from local Cherokee County high schools. Students receiving the scholarships include: Charlotte (Ali) Baker, Jordan Freeman, Ashley Holton, Olivia Nechvatal, Laurel (Kailey) Payne and Logan Witherow, Cherokee High School; Savannah Bakotic, Hudson Graham, Jordan Grassi, Riley Jenkins, Channing Tuell, Victoria Sheffield and Kayla Wright, Creekview High School; and Evan Ezell, James (J.F.) Harris and Devon Higgins, Sequoyah High School. The Service League also made a $1,000 contribution to the High School Credit Recovery Class Scholarship program administered by the Cherokee County School District (CCSD). In addition, last fall the Service League awarded $1,000 in scholarship funds to Reinhardt University student Virginia Hutton as part of Reinhardt University's "A DAY for Reinhardt" program. Sherry Wallace, who serves as chair of the Service League's 2014 Scholarship Committee, said, "As parents, we want our children to receive the message: 'You have worth.' The Service League scholarship program is one of many venues we use to support and invest in local teens. Scholarship recipients represent an array of talents and accomplishments, and we want to champion them on to greater achievements. Then, hopefully someday, when given the opportunity, they will be conscientious about offering a helping hand and serving others in need."