Very Influential Artist Winners Announced Tranquility Fine Arts recently announced its Very Influential Artist winners for 2022. The award ceremony can be viewed on the Tranquility Fine Arts’ YouTube channel. Visual Arts – Paintings / Drawings / SculpturePatty Delvalle, Kimberly Egarian, Varini Kadakia, Steven Lester, Karen Martin, Vesta Paquin, Dan Robertson, Adam Sensel, Travis Walker, and Marlan Yoder Written ArtsGwen Brague – Amazon Best Selling Author Performing Arts - SingingJoey Mangum performed “Someone To Fall Back On,” written by Jason Robert Brown
“Adopt a Veteran” in Cherokee County This Christmas (2) The Cherokee County Homeless Veteran Program and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 45 are coordinating the 8th annual Cherokee County “Adopt a Veteran” program. If you know of a veteran family in need or an elderly veteran who lives alone, or if you or your group would like to support the “Adopt a Veteran” program, please contact Jim Lindenmayer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 678-983-7590. You can also call or text Betty Lewis of the American Legion Post 45 Auxiliary at 770-318-6451.
Taste of Woodstock Breaks Ticket Sales Record At the close of this year’s Taste of Woodstock, Visit Woodstock GA presented the Woodstock HS Marching Band with a check for $10,000, after a record-breaking 50,000 tickets were sold. Visit Woodstock GA produces the event, which is also presented by Chrysler, Dodge Jeep, Ram Woodstock. Other sponsors included Southern Phoenix Services, Guide to 575, School of Rock Woodstock, and the Highlight Reel.
Cherokee County School District Announcements Indian Knoll ES Named Microsoft Showcase SchoolFor the second consecutive year, Indian Knoll ES has earned a global honor recognizing its dedication to using technology for teaching and learning. Only 43 U.S. schools were selected as 2022-23 Microsoft Showcase Schools, and only two Georgia schools were named to the list.Indian Knoll ES PE Teacher Wins Top State AwardThe Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance honored Jason Bermudez of Indian Knoll ES as the Georgia Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Each year, one Georgia PE elementary, middle, and high school teacher is recognized as PE Teacher of the Year. The award honors excellence in ensuring students receive a complete and diverse PE education. Additionally, the three teachers who make up the PE department for Liberty ES, Jose Lago, Rick Myers, and Lucy Pence, together earned the association’s Award of Excellence in Physical Education.CCSD Earns International Recognition for Excellence in Education CCSD is one of only 38 school districts in the world to be named a 2022 Cognia School System of Distinction by the international accreditation organization. The recognition honors school districts that “exemplify excellence in education and service to learners.” Students Honored With National College Board AwardsThrough National Recognition Programs awards, the College Board has honored 88 CCSD students, including 16 from high schools in Woodstock. To be considered for recognition, students must meet guidelines, have a GPA of at least 3.5, and have either exceptional test scores placing them in the top 10% in their state on the 2021 PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 or scores of 3 or higher on two or more 2022 Advanced Placement (AP) exams. The programs are designed by the College Board to provide recognition opportunities for high school seniors and juniors in underrepresented groups. Students may apply for the National African American Recognition Award, National Hispanic Recognition Award, National Indigenous Recognition Award, and National Rural and Small Town Recognition Award. Students can earn multiple recognitions.National Indigenous Recognition Program AwardCREEKVIEW HSDavis ViningNational African American Recognition AwardSEQUOYAH HSCayla JohnsonCHEROKEE HSSummer McRoyJoanna OjoMikalah QuillenAddae Spaulding-BurfordEtowah HSJordan GrahamRiver Ridge HSJoel AgodioArianna DunkleyStephen FarmerAnna FreemanWoodstock HSIsabella Bailey James SowNational Hispanic Recognition AwardSEQUOYAH HSOscar ParedesJennifer Ramos- HernandezSophia RodriguezCHEROKEE HSGabriel AcaBrighton CuxDiana Hilario-CoronelElida Pablo-RaymundoYael Reyes-CortesRenzo ZapataEtowah HSMiranda CrespoRiver Ridge HSNatalia Faure Madison Gonzalez Heidi Juarez Enrique MoradoWoodstock HSIsabella Bailey Briana Castaneda Dania Gonzalez Paola Tlaseca Ruby BarreraNational Rural and Small Town AwardSEQUOYAH HSTeagan DurhamBrock FreemanPeyton FreminKellyn GilliganAvery GloverZachary HowellEmma JiraCayla JohnsonKathryn KlucsaritsJake KosterDanielle KremerTaryn MareauDmitri MorrisWilliam MurphySunny NguyenAnna Louise PanhorstOscar ParedesSophia SchipskeLandon SipeEfrosyni SouliosAva TiltCHEROKEE HSGabriel AcaAnsley AkinGriffen BonNatalia BroomeJuliana BrownAnna CarrollRemy CharlestonLaney ClineBraden FlournoyBryce LongstaffAshley LyenSummer McRoyJoanna OjoWeston OldsKayley OwensElida Pablo-RaymundoAlexa PaveseMikalah QuillenHaley RobersonIsabella StewartPeyton WhiteAnna WielerRenzo ZapataSophia ZellerCREEKVIEW HSMichael AbdinoorSophia ChengCooper CherryNoah ClaryOwen ClaryJames CorraoLauren DenereazMakena DuboisCamdyn GatesLaura HandLana HoustonNora KharratKristen MacLeodLuke PayneChristian RichardsMakenna ShapiroEmerson ShiKinley SikesHayden TiptonDavis Vining
Canton Breaks Ground on Harmon Park Renovations City leaders, local officials, representatives from recreation partners Cherokee Impact Soccer and Canton Dizzy Dean, and community members broke ground September 2 to kick off the renovation to Harmon Park. The $4.3M project is slated to take approximately one year to complete. “The groundbreaking celebration of our renovation and additions to Harmon Park marks a significant milestone in Canton’s efforts to revitalize the historic Sunnyside community and fulfills several of the primary goals of our Roadmap for Success,” Mayor Bill Grant said. “As one of our oldest city parks, Harmon has not been updated or brought up to the standards of excellence of our newer green spaces. Our significant investment in a complete renovation to the park indicates our long-term commitment to elevating the quality of life for every resident in our great city.”Renovations will include a new mini-pitch soccer field, pavilion, resurfaced basketball court, new batting cages, baseball field upgrades, connecting sidewalks, a continuous park drive, and additional parking. Long-term goals and future additions to the park will include public art installations by the Canton Cultural Arts Commission, riverside landscaping, and a bridge crossing and trail connection to Boling, Heritage, and Etowah River Parks.
Cherokee County SPLOST Renewal The decision to extend the one cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax will move to the voters in November. In July, the Board of Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement with all seven of Cherokee’s cities and a resolution to call for the November 8 referendum.“The referendum on the ballot in November is a request to continue an existing one cent sales tax. With the approval, Cherokee will remain one of just four Georgia counties with a total 6% sales tax rate. All others have 7% or more,” said Commission Chairman. “Projects funded with SPLOST dollars are essential including local road improvements, public safety equipment, and facilities. Without SPLOST, those expenses would have to shift and be paid for using property tax revenues, which would equal about 5 mills to garner the same amount of revenue.”The current SPLOST will not expire until June 2024, however, the Board of Commissioners opted to call for the referendum a year early to avoid a special election, which would be an additional cost. The SPLOST renewal is expected to bring in a total of $438.2 million. The Courthouse Annex project will be allocated first as a Tier 1 project, estimated to cost about $74 million. The remaining $364.2 million will be divided among all jurisdictions based on 2022 population and a 5% growth in receipts. Cherokee County’s allotment would be $238.1 million, and the cities would divide $126.1 million for their projects.
Street Signs Unveiled in Honor of Justin and Amber Hicks Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services revealed new street signs at the Cherokee County Fire Training Complex in Holly Springs. The unveiling ceremony took place during the fire department’s first live fire training exercise for a new incident command system known as Blue Card Command.The street signs honor the legacy of Justin and Amber Hicks who were tragically killed last year in their Cobb County home. Justin began serving as a firefighter with Cherokee County in 2015 and held the rank of Fire Apparatus Operator/Paramedic. The new street names include Justin Walk, Hicks Circle, Amber Walk, and Jacob Avenue. Additionally, the buildings on the training grounds will be numbered with significant dates from their lives. The street signs and building numbers will be used to dispatch training incidents across the complex.“We are excited to finally unveil these signs and begin dispatching training scenarios using them,” said Fire Chief Eddie Robinson. “I look forward to what the fire department has in store for the future, and I can assure you that Justin, Amber, and Jacob will never, ever, be forgotten by the members of this organization.”The sign was unveiled by Mark Boggs, Amber’s father, from the bucket of Truck 11. He was accompanied by FAO Tyler Davidson and Lt. David Miller, friends of the Hicks.The live fire training exercise that took place was the first of its kind in Cherokee County. Over the past two years, CCFES has been training its members on the Blue Card Command system, which standardizes local incident operations. This system helps incident commanders with communications on the fireground, so that they can make better decisions, in an organized fashion, for the safety of citizens and firefighters.
Lions Club Collaboration Benefits Etowah HS Vegetable Garden The Woodstock Lions Club, Lions Club International Foundation, and Anthem Insurance Company have collaborated to benefit the Etowah HS Vegetable Garden. As part of Anthem Volunteer Days, the garden will receive a $2,000 grant from Lions Club International Foundation, and Anthem employees will volunteer to work in the garden. Anthem Volunteer Days is a program that “connects Anthem employee volunteers with Lions Clubs for the purpose of serving and improving their communities.” The Woodstock Lions Club has worked with Ashley Rivers, Future Farmers of America advisor at Etowah HS, for more than three years, helping with labor and equipment at the school’s vegetable garden. Recently, the Club learned that the garden needed funds and labor for repairs. It seemed like a perfect project for Anthem Volunteer Days, so the Woodstock Lions Club submitted a detailed proposal for the $2,000 grant. Due to grant approval, 15 Anthem employees and several Woodstock Lions Club volunteers will meet at the garden this month to help with labor, repairs, and planting. The garden has 18 raised beds (4 are handicapped accessible) and grows both warm and cool season crops. Students enrolled in agriculture courses at the high school help in the garden along with Woodstock Lions Club and other community volunteer groups.Anthem Volunteer Days highlights one of the five global initiatives of the Lions Club International Foundation, addressing hunger. The Etowah High School Vegetable Garden donates all produce, approximately 250 pounds per season, to the Heritage Presbyterian Church Pantry. Every week, the Pantry serves 90 families who otherwise would not be able to afford fresh produce.
Commissioners Approve Resolution on Voter Ballots The Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a resolution, calling upon the Georgia General Assembly, Secretary of State, and State Elections Board to remove QR codes from ballots and instead utilize a system that allows the voter to view a readable ballot before it is cast.In recent months, Cherokee County citizens have expressed concern with security, vulnerabilities, accuracy of vote tabulation, and the ability of voters to verify their selections in a readable format in accordance with OCGA 21-2-300(a)(2). County Attorney Angela Davis advised the Board of Commissioners it did not have the clear unilateral authority to change the way elections are handled nor how ballots are cast at the local level, but it could request assistance from state officials by way of resolution.“This Board is an advocate for election integrity. We generally trust the system, especially as administered in Cherokee County, but we recognize that many people do not. While we are legally bound to utilize the state-wide voting system, the Board is compelled on behalf of its citizens to respectfully urge the General Assembly, the Secretary of State, and the State Election Board to immediately pursue changes to the voting system in Georgia in order to restore faith in our system,” Cherokee County Board of Commissioners said in an official statement.Dates To Remember• October 11 is the last day for a person to register and be eligible to vote in the November 2022 General Election (O.C.G.A 21-2-224(a)).• October 28 is the last day to submit an absentee ballot application for the November 2022 General Election (O.C.G.A 21-2-381(a)(1)(a)).
Cherokee County School District Announcements Woodstock HS Senior Places in National Career Skills CompetitionMadeline Ambery earned fifth place in the U.S. Technology Student Association (TSA) national competition held this past summer in Texas. She earned the national honor in the communications technology – children’s stories category, which followed her first place Georgia TSA statewide competition win in the same category. Her entry for the competition was a STEM focused children’s book entitled, The Adventures of Hopper and the Evil Space Cat, which she wrote, illustrated, and produced. 35 Educators Recognized as Instructional Technology ExpertsThirty-five teachers and staff have been named to the 2022-23 class of Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts (MIEE). The technology company selected only 830 educators, support staff, and school and school district leaders nationwide, considered among the best at understanding how technology can improve learning, for this elite recognition. CCSD leads the way with the most MIEE of any Georgia school district. Experts receive access to new instructional resources and an exclusive online network for sharing best practices. In addition to being named an Expert, CCSD Instructional Technology Specialist Merry Hofmeister (for the second consecutive year) also is one of only 33 educators in the U.S. and four in Georgia to be named a Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow. This recognition honors demonstrated leadership and excellence by MIEE through coaching, mentoring, leading professional development, and presenting at conferences. Fellows, considered by their peers as the best among all Experts at technology integration, are called upon to share their knowledge with other educators.School Board Meets New Student DelegatesA student advisor position has been included on the School Board since 1999, and for the past 11 years a student delegate from each high school has also been selected. These outstanding seniors serve for one year to give input and feedback to the Board and to the superintendent and his senior staff. The advisor role, which includes the opportunity to sit on the dais with the Board, is rotated among the district’s high schools.Etowah HS Celebrates Latest Class of AP Capstone Graduates AP Capstone is a two-year project-based learning program designed to help students develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are crucial to academic success. The elite program, which was developed by the College Board in partnership with colleges and universities, is offered in select high schools nationwide, with Etowah graduating its first class in 2019.Only 14,100 students nationwide earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 9,200 earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. Instead of a single end-of-year exam, the interdisciplinary AP Seminar and AP Research courses assess students’ knowledge mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays throughout the year. In 2022, 13 Etowah graduates completed the AP Capstone diploma: Kelsey Cleveland, Ella Daugherty, Lillian Derenthal, Jolina Dorgan, Zachary Griffin, Christopher Haswell, Lily Hovenac, Danielle LaDuca, Ivy McKinney, Alyssa Pearson, Amelia Ryan, Claire Williams, and Anna Zharikov. Four graduates received the AP Seminar and Research Certificate: Joshua Hughes, Kiersten James, Laurel O’Brien, and Reese Patterson.Cherokee HS Student Completes Air Force JROTC Flight AcademyCherokee HS senior and Air Force JROTC Cadet Col. Lexi Ly completed the Air Force JROTC Flight Academy with “flying colors,” according to instructors. Through the summer program at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida, Ly earned her private pilot’s certificate, continuing her path toward becoming a military pilot. She also earned one of the fastest oral exam times in the program’s history. The Flight Academy is an eight-week summer program designed for Air Force JROTC cadets to improve the recruitment, retention, and diversity of the Air Force and aviation industry.