CASA Volunteer Appreciation The Children’s Haven recently held its Annual CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Volunteer Appreciation event, which is sponsored by the Cobb EMC Foundation and honors Cherokee County CASAs who advocate for the best interests of children who are experiencing abuse and neglect. In 2021, 130 CASAs served 305 children to ensure that each child has a safe, permanent home and the opportunity to succeed. During the event, CASAs were recognized for their dedication and years of service, ranging from new volunteers to those with 15 years of service. Dana Zajac, Foster Parent Association president, recognized the CASAs for their collaboration with foster parents. Attorney Barbara Nye shared her appreciation of the partnership between the CASAs and attorneys. Jennifer Davis and Rick Jones, Cherokee County Juvenile Court judges, recognized the difference that CASA volunteers make in the lives of the children as well as in the cases they serve. Michelle Meek, director of Community Engagement, was also recognized for her eight years of impact on the CASA organization before transitioning to her new role with The Children’s Haven earlier this year.
Cherokee Top 10 in 10 Announced The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Enjoy Cherokee magazine, recently announced its 2022 Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch, which is an initiative designed to showcase local residents under age 40 who are considered to be the county’s up and coming leaders over the next 10 years. Cherokee County’s Top 10 in 10 includes (front row, L-R): Sandi Harrison, principal, Liberty ES, Cherokee County School District; Sarah Bowen, pharmacy operations supervisor, Northside Hospital Cherokee; Bethany Watson, city engineer, City of Canton; Marcie Smith, executive director, The Children’s Haven. (back row, L-R): Brady Cornelison, captain and paramedic, Cherokee Fire & Emergency Services; Rajpal Sagoo, managing partner, MDD Holdings; Jacob Sluder, owner and dentist, Dentistry of Olde Towne; Alyssa Rumsey Sheehan, senior project manager, Center of Innovation for Manufacturing/Georgia Department of Economic Development; Andy Smith, attorney, Flint, Connolly & Walker, LLP. Not pictured: Kyle Bennett, tourism manager, City of Woodstock.
Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office Join Forces to Create SWAT Medic Team Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services has joined forces with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office (CSO) to create a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Medic Team.The SWAT Medic Team is composed of five firefighter/paramedics who are also members of the Cherokee County Multi-Agency SWAT Team. The team goes through extensive training in tactical medicine as well as tactical operations. Every medic on the team is certified through the state of Georgia as paramedics and has certifications in Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Technical Emergency Casualty Care, and Tactical Medical Provider just to name a few.These medics are the first line for care for any team member, citizen, or victim within a SWAT operation. They are often utilized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal and local agencies for high-risk warrant services to provide emergency medicine if needed. “The SWAT medic must be capable of reacting with speed and composure under high stress conditions while exercising judgment in determining what life saving actions to take. Tactical medicine is a specialized, highly dangerous endeavor, which requires intensive training, discipline, and a unique relationship with law enforcement," said CSO Lt. Billy Mitchell.Whenever the CSO SWAT Team is called to a scene, the Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services SWAT Medic Team will be deployed to provide life-saving services.“Our partnerships with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and other local jurisdictions are outstanding and help to ensure that Cherokee County will have all the needed resources to respond to a mass shooting/attack event. I have the highest level of confidence that our community will receive the most aggressive and appropriate response in the event of a terrorist attack, whether it be foreign or domestic,” said Cherokee County Fire Chief Eddie Robinson.
New Optimist Club Empowers Special Needs Adults Established in Woodstock on February 24, 2022, with 36 members, the Born to Shine Optimist Club is the first club in the GATEway District to be chartered for adults with special needs. Born to Shine empowers special needs adults by serving the community while living by the Optimist Creed, which is “To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.”Since its charter, the Club has made Easter baskets for Goshen Valley foster homes, judged the Hickory Flat Optimist Club’s visual arts contest, handed out water at the Agricultural Expo, and supported special needs friends at Limitless Disability with a 5K team. Most recently, members helped the Canton Rotary pack 2,500 bags of food for MUST Ministries, which serves the children of Cherokee County.For more information about how you can get involved with Born to Shine, please visit their Facebook page (Born to Shine Optimist Club, Cherokee County, GA), email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 765-277-0006.
Concept Plans for Woodstock City Center Released The City of Woodstock has released concept plans for the first phase of its City Center project in downtown. This phase of the project includes the redevelopment of a 4-acre site at the southeast corner of East Main Street and Arnold Mill Road, which includes the former site of Morgan’s Ace Hardware and other vacant parcels owned by the City and the Downtown Development Authority. The concept plans show improvements for public infrastructure to include realignment of Chambers Street and the elimination of a portion of East Main Street to improve access in and out of the existing commercial district. The site will also feature a six-level, 647-car parking deck with entrances on three separate levels, allowing for efficiencies in access and circulation within the structure. The private development partner, Morris and Fellows, was selected through a request for qualifications in 2015 for the entirety of City Center. The firm was the original commercial partner in the adjoining Woodstock Downtown mixed-use project developed in the early 2000s. Morris and Fellows agreed to a letter of intent in February and will manage construction of the public infrastructure and build privately owned buildings that feature additional retail, restaurant, and office opportunities as well as a boutique hotel with community event space. The privately held land will be purchased from the city for $1.5 million. The City is in various stages of other projects that will improve vehicular and pedestrian access, including the Hub Transformation project and the Arnold Mill Streetscape project. The CIty Council decided to take the lead on the vision for this site due to development proposals that were incompatible with the existing fabric of downtown. The City closed on the 2.2-acre Morgan’s Ace Hardware property following the store’s relocation in late 2021 for $3.8 million. Portions of the infrastructure related to City Center are anticipated to begin in the next six months with project completion to take three years. The City will be releasing a website for information on this project, which will include leasing information and project updates. To learn more about the City of Woodstock, visit WoodstockGa.gov.
City of Woodstock Awarded LCI Grant by Atlanta Regional Commission The Atlanta Regional Commission awarded a Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) grant to Woodstock and nine other metro Atlanta communities. Woodstock was awarded $200,000 for the Woodstock Downtown Noonday Creek and Rubes Creek Trail plan. The grants are designed to help communities become more vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide improved access to jobs and services for all residents. Upon completion of the studies, communities will be eligible to apply for federal transportation funding for projects such as sidewalks, multi-use trails, and smart corridor improvements that help implement their plans. The Woodstock Downtown Noonday Creek and Rubes Creek Trail plan will outline options for developing a trail loop linking the Noonday Creek and Rubes Creek trails, providing east-west connections between the existing trails that will promote pedestrian connectivity throughout downtown Woodstock. To learn more about the LCI program and the impact it has had on the Atlanta region, visit AtlantaRegional.com/lci. For more information about the City of Woodstock, visit WoodstockGa.gov.
Lemonade Day Student Entrepreneurship Program The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce announced that a national youth entrepreneurship program known as Lemonade Day is coming to Cherokee County. The program teaches leadership and business skills by encouraging students to launch a lemonade business in their community. Since 2007, more than 1 million students have learned about business ownership by participating in this event. Lemonade Day is planned for August 6, 11:00am-2:00pm at Cherokee Recreation and Parks (7545 Main Street, Woodstock). Rising third through fifth grade students are encouraged to participate, and advance registration is required. To learn more, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit LemonadeDay.org/Cherokee-County.
4th Annual Cherokee Student Film Festival Winners Announced (2) The Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED), in partnership with the Cherokee County School District’s (CCSD) Audio/Video Technology and Film (AVTF) educators, recently announced the winners of the fourth annual Cherokee Student Film Festival as part of a live screening and awards presentation hosted at Sequoyah HS’s Skip Pope Stadium.Student films were screened on the Jumbotron, as 175 audience members cheered on 19 groups of student filmmakers from across the county. With strict parameters designed to simulate production requirements, 10 groups of students met criteria for judging. Qualifying submissions were judged by regional post-secondary film instructors Dr. Jay Hamilton (University of Georgia), Steven Hames (Berry College), Meredith Muse (Chattahoochee Technical College), Etowah Film Festival Founder Brent Lambert-Zaffino, and Media Producer Justin Webb. Awards were issued based on the judges’ total scores. 2022 Cherokee Student Film Festival WinnersBest of Show and Best CinematographySecret Agent Annie Mills | Sequoyah HSCreated by Justin Clark, Ava Roberts, Hailey Thompson, and Lauren TurnageAudience Choice Award (Qualifying Entry)Unconscious | Sequoyah HSCreated by Andrew Kennedy, Tyler Sandt, and Gabe SquillaceAudience Choice Award (Participating Entry)I Miss You | Sequoyah HSCreated by Donovan Victorino, Robyn Walker, and Ben WillisonBest Use of PropWanna Hear a Scary Story | Etowah HSCreated by Sophia Berry, Marissa Migneco, and Kaili PhillipsBest Sound QualityLucid Dream | Cherokee HSCreated by Hunter Schwartz, Hunter Tadin, Felisa Vasquez, and Riley WatkinsBest Use of Line Security Breach | Woodstock HSCreated by Taylor Collins, Alex Manser, Riley McCall, and Brody Yot
Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services Announces New Medical Director (2) Dr. Jon Allen was recently named the new medical director for Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services. Dr. Allen replaces Dr. Jill Mabley who is now medical director of the Training Division.After graduating from Indiana University School of Medicine in 2004, Dr. Allen completed an emergency medicine residency at the Medical College of Georgia in 2007 with a focus on tactical, disaster, and prehospital medicine. He has extensive operational medicine experience, gained both through his residency and during his career as an emergency physician. Dr. Allen previously served as a medical director for several public safety agencies in Georgia and Tennessee. He also served as a flight surgeon and medical director of the McGhee-Tyson ANG Base Fire Department with the 134th Medical Group of the Tennessee Air National Guard.
Cherokee County School District Announcements (3) Two First-Place Winners at State Technology CompetitionDavid Holbrook of Woodstock MS (Mobile Apps category) and Marissa Migneco of Etowah HS (Graphic Design category) won first-place state honors at this year’s Georgia Student Technology Competition, which offers students in grades 3-12 the opportunity to showcase their skills through 16 categories and vie for honors at regional and state fairs. Student Wins Award at State Science and Engineering Fair E.T. Booth MS 7th-grader Pradhyumna Vasishta earned first place in the junior division at the state fair and won a Broadcom Masters nomination. The Broadcom competition, sponsored by the Society for Science & the Public, is the nation’s premier science fair competition for middle school students.Senior Wins $25,000 Local ScholarshipThis year’s Jason T. Dickerson Family Foundation scholarship was limited to students planning a career in veterinary medicine. Keira McHugh of River Ridge HS is the Class of 2022 scholarship recipient. She plans to pursue a career as a veterinarian in a rural area and will use the funds toward her education at UGA.Creekview HS Senior Named U.S. Presidential ScholarTy Hubert has been named a U.S. Presidential Scholar. Only 161 of the more than 3 million graduating seniors in the nation’s Class of 2022 earn this prestigious title, and he is one of only three in Georgia. Hubert will receive an invitation to an all-expenses paid trip to the White House as part of the honor. He will be attending the U.S. Air Force Academy in the fall to further his education. Cherokee HS Senior Earns Georgia Award of ExcellenceClass of 2022’s Sarah Liebert earned the award presented by the Georgia Department of Education to recognize graduating seniors who have overcome special needs to achieve academic and/or extracurricular accomplishments.Liebert, who is legally blind, is ranked in the top 16% of her class and is an honors and advanced placement student. A talented musician, she is a member of the school chorus and marching band’s color guard. During her junior year, she was selected as a vocal finalist for the Georgia Governor’s Honors program. She plans to study music education at Berry College and has earned more than $29,000 in scholarships.Students Earn State Literary HonorsTome Literacy Society is a national organization dedicated to promoting reading among 4th-12th-grade students through club activities, community service, and competition. Students work all year on projects and papers to submit for the Tome literary competition based on books read from an “It List” of 20 books. Creekview HS senior Asha-Lee Smith (top) earned first place in Theme Essay, won the $500 Dale Pratt Memorial Scholarship, and was inducted into the Tau Omicron Mu Epsilon Honor Society. Teasley MS’s Aisha Garcia (bottom) placed first in the Fan Art competition. Creekview HS Senior Earns National Merit ScholarshipJustin Bolsen is among the top 2,500 seniors in the U.S. to earn the $2,500 scholarship awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. He was selected from more than 15,000 outstanding finalists who made it through the initial rigorous selection process for the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Merit Scholars are selected based on their accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Bolsen plans to study education at Brown University.Creekview HS Teacher Wins Statewide Hero AwardGrace Ed Technologies has named Savannah Porter as one of the three winners of its 2022 Teacher Heroes Awards. The education technology company accepted nominations statewide of K-12 teachers who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, effort, character, and ability over the past school year. One hundred highly qualified teachers were nominated, with 15 finalists selected and then narrowed to the three winners. Each winner will receive a $1,000 award.Students Earn State Honors at Georgia PTA Reflections Fine Arts ContestThe annual competition offers students in all grades and abilities the opportunity to create original works of art in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. This year's theme was “I Will Change the World By...” Nine CCSD students won first-place awards, and five of those were named the overall state winner in their category: - Zachary Gonzalez, Etowah HS, Grade 9, Photography *Overall State Winner - Rachel Lee, River Ridge HS, Grade 9, Visual Arts *Overall State Winner - Ava Matthews, Johnston ES, Grade 2, Dance *Overall State Winner- Caitlien Nguyen, Creekview HS, Grade 12, Music *Overall State Winner - Afton Sheldon, Knox ES STEM Academy, Grade 5, Dance- Pranav Vasishta, Clark Creek ES STEM Academy, Grade 3, Photography *Overall State Winner - Megan Weber, Bascomb ES, Grade 4, Photography- Ryan Weber, Etowah HS, Special Artist, Photography *Overall State Winner - Tessa Wieland, Little River ES, Kindergarten, Literature