By Marsha Cornelius

So, what exactly does friendship have to do with your smile? Plenty — if you’ve ever dealt with a surly staff or an indifferent worker who has treated you impersonally. If you have ever walked into a doctor’s office, a restaurant, or any business establishment where no one looked up to acknowledge and greet you, you understand how frustrating it can be. Everyone wants to be around people they like and people they are comfortable enough to be friends

By Julie Senger

Since the temps will only continue to rise as the official first day of summer approaches, the last thing most of us want to do is increase the heat (or the electricity bill) inside our homes by preparing a meal on the stove top or in the oven, but we still gotta eat! While using an outdoor grill can be a great option, sometimes it might be raining, or you might want to stay in the air conditioning to avoid flies and mosquitoes. Here are some recipes you can

By Sheriff Frank Reynolds

If you have been to one of our county parks over the last couple of years, you may have seen a new addition: the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office (CSO) Inmate Workforce. Dressed in a traditional black and white uniform, they are distinctly visible against the landscape while mowing the grass and picking up trash.

A few years ago, the Cherokee Board of Commissioners (BOC) signed a parks and recreation bond to enhance the quality of life for our

By Sheriff Frank Reynolds

I’ll just be honest; I don’t like funerals. Funerals are usually filled with grief and sorrow, especially if the passing was due to a tragedy. Having said that, there is one part of the funeral process that I enjoy — the procession to the final resting place.

The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and municipal police departments often provide a police escort from the funeral service to the cemetery. When my dad passed away a few years ago, I

By Julie Senger

Are you concerned about the ingredients that make up your furry family member’s treats? Well, worry no more! Try one of the following recipes, all made with healthy items, most of which you likely already have in your kitchen. Choose from a variety of options to accommodate senior dogs, puppies, and middle-aged pets alike. There’s even a no-bake option if you need something in a hurry.

No-Bake Honey-Oat Peanut Butter Treats

1 cup quick

Finding magic on the Other End of the Mic

By John Midkiff

Tom Knight has a colorful history in show business. As a drummer, Knight has performed in packed venues all over the world with bands such as TLC, Monica, and Stevie Nicks. His voice-over talents have been utilized by companies such as Disney, Walmart, Crown Royal, and many luxury car brands, and he can be heard on several movie trailers like Running on the Sun: The Badwater 135. Knight won an Emmy for his

By Farris Yawn

Studying the Bible can be intimidating for many people. Some will pick it up and start reading, while others will seek out study guides or classes.

During her years as a Sunday school teacher, Wanda Erbse found the most effective way to teach the Bible, particularly to children, was to make it fun. She created quizzes, puzzles, riddles, and games to help her students better understand and remember the stories and lessons from the good book....

Could Your Furry, Feathered, or Scaly Friend Be a Star?

By Julie Senger

Many of us have admired the clever animals we’ve seen in our favorite shows and movies, and with the booming film and television industry we now have in Georgia, you may be wondering how your pet can get in on the “action.” Here’s some basic information for you to “chew on” when deciding if you’d like your pet to try and “fetch” a part in front of the

By Maria Klouda

Three years ago, Jody Wheeler and Chad Woodall combined their long-standing friendship, resources, and previous business experiences to form Mosquito-Free. They set out to make Mosquito-Free the No. 1 choice for mosquito control solutions. Through some heartfelt prayers and a great deal of hard work, they are well on their way to accomplishing that feat.

As lifelong residents of Cherokee County, Wheeler and Woodall are excited to grow their business

By Stephanie Landry

In 2009, still living in New Jersey, I experienced the most devastating event of my life: the loss of my full-term unborn daughter. I was 41 weeks pregnant — four days past my due date and three days before I was scheduled to be induced. There were no warning signs. I was healthy and having a “typical pregnancy” according to my OB team. Yet, on this April morning, everything changed. My OB told me he couldn’t find her heartbeat. She was gone. I still

Taking Lawn Care Service to the Next Level

By Cyndi Braun

Do you dream of a healthy lawn, with no brown patches, grubs, or fire ants? A place where your family can play and enjoy a lush turf? If so, it’s time to call GrassRoots.

GrassRoots technicians will transform your yard into the beautiful lawn of your dreams.

It all starts with lawn treatments tailored to each property’s unique needs, taking into account the grass type, topographical

By Joshua Fuder

If you remember back to elementary school science, you’ll remember that pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts of the same or a different flower. Some plants, like grasses and pine trees, rely on wind, gravity, a sheer quantity of pollen, and a little luck for pollination and viable fertilization to occur. Pollination causes many people to be riddled with allergy problems this time of year and leaves a

By Family Life Publications Staff

With spring break coming up (and summer break hot on its heels), many families will be hitting the road to travel to fun vacation destinations. To help make sure your brood is road-trip ready, the Family Life fam would like to share some valuable packing, prepping, and travel tips we’ve learned along our way.

Protect Your Finances
Mandy Marger, Graphic Artist

•    To prevent

Restoring Lives and Families

The Joy House ministry was born in the hearts of Steve and Wendy Lowe and Rick and Mary Bell in the 1990s while they were working with teens through a local church in North Georgia. The Lord blessed them to share their lives with troubled and hurting teens, and through this experience, they came to realize that many of them needed more than what could be offered through their positions in the church.

After discovering other successful

Master of Marquetry

By Hannah Olson

A dragonfly rests pensively on a reed. A tree frog prepares to leap. Both are captured with stunning detail in Jane Burke’s unique portraits, but not the way you may anticipate. Most artists utilize paintbrushes and pencils to create lifelike portraits. Burke’s medium of choice is maple and koa. Her method is marquetry, the art of creating detailed pictures using wood veneers from many different tree species.   ...

by Jessica Asbell

Ten years ago, a murder took place during one of the biggest horse races in England, the Black Ascot. A jealous man tampered with the car belonging to the woman he loved and her husband. Thus, on a straight and narrow road, on a bright sunny day, the life of Blanche Fletcher-Munro ended, and her husband became crippled for life.

Alan Barrington, the suspected murderer, goes on the run. After 10 years with no leads, Scotland Yard Inspector Ian

By Sheriff Frank Reynolds

As we move into warmer weather, property crimes, namely thefts and burglaries, increase. There are a few reasons why this is true, so let’s explore some ways you can minimize your chances of becoming a victim of theft.     

When the trees begin to sprout new leaves and the flowers bloom, thieves use the landscape to conceal their movement when approaching and leaving a target location. This is also true as to where

By Sheriff Frank Reynolds

It is not the badge that makes the person, but rather it is the person who makes the badge.

I am often inspired by the amazing men and women I get to work with at the Sheriff’s Office. These people make a difference in the lives of so many others, on and off duty. This month, I would like to tell you about Sergeant Scott Ryder. Although he is an outstanding law enforcement officer, it is his character that inspires me to be a better

Making Outdoor Living Extraordinary

By Cyndi Braun

Imagine entertaining friends on a beautiful custom-built deck with wrought iron railings, drinking coffee in the shade of your screened-in porch, or warming your hands in front of a built-in stone fireplace on your backyard patio. Beautiful outdoor living spaces like these transform the average into the extraordinary and make backyard living more fun.

When it’s time to create that outdoor space you’re

Music. Animals. Community.

Rock for Rescues showcases Atlanta-based homegrown, original music to benefit local animal welfare charities. Events are offered throughout the year, with a season-ending festival held on April 27 in Milton.

Discovering Local Music
A program of the Vox Artium Foundation, Rock for Rescues curates an annual list of the best Georgia-based bands that write and perform their own original music. Many music venues in the metro