New Driving Tour Explores Cherokee County’s Black History History Cherokee invites residents and visitors on a new driving tour to 19 sites in Canton and Woodstock that shed light on the contributions of the Black community in shaping the cultural and historical landscape of Cherokee County. The selected sites span decades and showcase the resilience, creativity, and perseverance of communities and individuals who have left an indelible mark on Cherokee County. The tour was developed by History Cherokee’s Black History Committee, and it aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving and celebrating Black history by uncovering the stories of the past, which can foster a deeper understanding of our shared heritage and promote inclusivity. While some sites may be on private property, no longer standing, or not conducive to walking tours, the driving aspect of this experience allows for a safe and accessible exploration of the Black history of Cherokee County. Participants are encouraged to respect private property and exercise caution at sites that may pose safety concerns.The driving tour is currently available at Georgia-Humanities.OpenTour.site/cherokee-county-black-history. A print version is available at the Cherokee County History Center.
New Website Design Launch for Visit Woodstock GA Visit Woodstock GA is pleased to announce the official launch of a new website design for their primary website at VisitWoodstockGa.com. Through the use of updated content, videos, and photography, the new website has been carefully designed to share the vibrant stories and energy of the city.The video stories are some of the key elements setting the website apart from others within the travel industry. The stories have an intentional focus on Woodstock citizens and business owners, allowing the site to speak to visitors through the direct experiences of the city’s residents. The new site design also highlights events, places, and happenings within the city, ensuring that it will act as a useful resource for everyone.
District Attorney Treadaway Appointed to Georgia Board of Public Safety Gov. Brian P. Kemp has appointed District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway to the Georgia Board of Public Safety. Last month, Gov. Kemp swore in Treadaway during a ceremony at the Capitol. Those in attendance included state senators, other state officials, and representatives from law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s Office.The Board of Public Safety plays a crucial role in maintaining the safety and security of all Georgians through comprehensive oversight of public safety, including law enforcement and transportation safety. The Board is also tasked with direct oversight of the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Public Safety to ensure that these state agencies operate efficiently and effectively by adhering to the highest standards of law enforcement and public safety, which includes overseeing training standards for officers, the enforcement of laws and regulations, and the implementation of initiatives designed to enhance the safety and security of the public as well as outreach programs.
Woodstock Fire Chief Selected for Fire Service Executive Development Institute After competing with new fire chiefs from across the United States and Canada, Woodstock Fire Chief Shane Dobson has been accepted into the Fire Service Executive Development Institute. The year-long leadership development program, implemented by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, provides new chiefs with the tools needed for successful and productive tenures. The 2024 cohort will meet four times this year, once at the Fire Rescue International Conference in Dallas, Texas. Chief Dobson began his career as a City of Woodstock Firefighter in 1993. After obtaining 30 years of experience with the City of Roswell Fire Department and Dekalb Fire and Rescue, he returned to Woodstock as chief in April 2023. Chief Dobson has a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management and Leadership from Reinhardt University. He earned an associate degree in fire science technology from West Georgia Technical College and an Intermediate Emergency Medical Technician Certificate from Chattahoochee Technical College. He is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association, and the Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association. Woodstock Fire Department has an Insurance Services Office rating of 1, the highest rating, indicating the measure of how well a community is protected from the threat of fire.
Chamber of Commerce Announces Accolades Reyes Morales was recently named the 49th recipient of the First Citizen of Cherokee County Award by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. The award is bestowed upon a Cherokee County resident who has lived in the county for a minimum of five years and has shown significant meritorious service to the community through family, civic, and/or religious involvement. Over the past 23 years, Morales has donated much of his time, his business, and his resources to individuals, families, local nonprofit organizations, and public safety officials out of the goodness of his heart.In addition, the Chamber also selected the 35th Anniversary Leadership Cherokee Class of 2024. The class was chosen following participation in an application and interview process of local business professionals who were nominated by their peers. Over the next several months, the class will participate in a range of sessions that will focus on topics such as economic development, infrastructure, government, justice, education, recreation, tourism, public safety, healthcare, and social/human services.The Chamber also selected its 23rd Annual Teen Leadership Cherokee Class. Applicants, all high school sophomores who live in Cherokee County, were asked to submit an in-depth application detailing their school and community involvement as well as a video answering the question, “Why should I be selected for Teen Leadership Cherokee?” The applications and videos were reviewed by local business leaders who selected the class. The mission of Teen Leadership Cherokee is for participants to lead, engage, aspire, and drive so that they may confidently become the community’s next generation of pioneers.
Cherokee County School District Announcements Woodstock HS Classroom Addition A new classroom addition is being constructed for Woodstock HS. The $17.45 million project was funded by the Education SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax). The three-story addition, which includes 22 classrooms, will allow for the removal of portables on the campus and open up the expansion of the Career Pathways program. Woodstock HS is the only CCSD high school not offering the popular Pathway for healthcare science, and the new addition will contain the needed healthcare science lab classroom to do so. The addition is scheduled to open for use in August 2026.——————————————————————Superintendent Presents Two Game Changer AwardsSuperintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower presented his Game Changer Awards for Instructional Support to CCSD Police Chief Buster Cushing and for Instructional Leadership to Dr. Lyn Turnell, CCSD’s director of student assessment.Chief Cushing, who joined CCSD four and a half years ago after a successful career with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, was praised for his work to ensure a safe environment for students and teachers. He has made numerous improvements to the department’s operations including adding elementary school police officers and expanding crisis alert and other security systems.Dr. Hightower praised Dr. Turnell for her leadership in CCSD’s Office of Curriculum & Instruction and her expertise in analyzing student assessment data to improve teaching and learning. She began her career as a teacher before advancing to administrator roles including Etowah HS assistant principal.Four Game Changer awards are presented by Dr. Hightower each year, with awards for Instructional Excellence and Instructional Advocacy to be presented later this winter. ——————————————————————Football National Signing DayCongratulations to three CCSD student-athletes who signed Letters of Intent to play football at the college level. The students were honored with ceremonies at their high schools to celebrate their commitments on National Signing Day, which is the earliest day that high school seniors can sign a binding commitment to play competitive college football. National Signing Day for other college sports, during which 54 CCSD student-athletes signed Letters of Intent, occurred last fall.——————————————————————Freedom MS Welcomes New PrincipalDr. Chad Flatt, who formerly served as an assistant principal at Woodstock MS, began leading Freedom MS after the holiday break. His appointment followed the decision by Principal Whitney Nolan to step down from the role at the semester break, as she approaches her planned retirement. Dr. Flatt was celebrated last year in Washington, D.C. as a National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. A 23-year educator who joined CCSD this school year, Dr. Flatt was named the Georgia winner for the national honor in recognition of his success as principal of Pickens Junior HS.——————————————————————Cherokee HS Gets New Football CoachAdam Holley is the new head football coach for Cherokee HS. Coach Holley, who will also teach PE classes, is a graduate of the University of West Georgia with a master's degree in education. He comes to Cherokee after spending the past two seasons as offensive coordinator at Calhoun HS, with previous stops at Whitewater, Lee County, and Cartersville High Schools. In his time at Calhoun, Coach Holley led one of the most prolific offenses in the state, averaging 38 points per game in 2022. Numerous players received regional and state honors under his leadership.
County Seeks Public Input on Zoning Overlay District Along Highway 20 The Cherokee County Planning and Zoning Department has launched a visual preference survey for the Highway 20 corridor. The survey comes in response to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s State Route 20 Corridor Widening Project.“The visual preference survey is a key element for residents and stakeholders to influenwce the design vision for the corridor,” said Director of Planning & Zoning Margaret Stallings. “The survey will include comparative images, allowing participants to contribute to the area’s potential development. It’s also important to note that the overlay will not modify existing zoning districts but will establish a unique design standard for the corridor.”An online visual preference survey for the east side of Highway 20 from Canton Marketplace to the Forsyth County line will run through February 16. The county will also hold an in-person public input meeting on February 7, from 6:00-7:30pm in Victory Hall of the L.B. “Buzz” Ahrens Recreation Center (7345 Cumming Highway, Canton). Citizens may drop in, take the survey, and ask questions regarding the survey or the overlay.To participate in shaping the future of the State Route 20 Corridor, visit CherokeeGa.com/planning-and-zoning.
Farm Bureau Seeks Entries for 2024 Middle School Bookmark Contest Middle school students are invited to enter the 2024 Georgia Farm Bureau Middle School Bookmark Contest. The state winner will receive $150, and 10 district winners will each receive $100. The Cherokee County Farm Bureau encourages students to enter the contest, which is open to all public, private, and homeschooled students in grades 6-8. Participating students will be given a blank bookmark and asked to draw a picture that depicts some aspect of Georgia agriculture. Students may use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to create their bookmarks. Drawings will be judged on artistic merit as well as how well the artwork represents modern agriculture found in Cherokee County or Georgia. Students may enter the contest in the county in which they live or attend school but not both counties. Only one entry per person. For more information, visit GFB.Ag/contests or call the Cherokee County Farm Bureau at 770-479-1481 for an official entry form and contest rules. All entries must be received at the Cherokee County Farm Bureau office by February 10, 2024.
Fire Department Receives Grant for Car Seats Safe Kids Cherokee County, led by Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES), was awarded the 2024 Car Seat Mini-Grant by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Injury Prevention Program. Through the Mini-Grant, Safe Kids can provide car seats and education to financially eligible families in Cherokee County. This program is funded by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to help ensure Georgia’s children are safe while riding in motor vehicles.Since 2007, the education, car seats, and booster seats provided through the Mini-Grant prevented serious injury or death and saved over 425 of Georgia’s children who were involved in crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce fatal injuries by 71% among infants and by 54% among children ages 1 to 4 years in passenger cars. Car seats offer the best protection for children in the event of a crash, and they are most effective when installed and used correctly. Nearly 3 out of every 4 car seats are not used properly, placing children at unnecessary risk.Safe Kids Cherokee County educates parents and caregivers on how to properly install and use car seats, offers car seat inspections, and provides car seats and booster seats to financially eligible families. For more information about the Safe Kids Cherokee County car seat program, visit CherokeeCountyFire.com.
Noonday Creek Trail Extension Is Underway The Noonday Creek Trail Extension will connect Woodstock’s and Cherokee County's trail systems to Cobb County's trail network. Construction of the new segment of the trail began last month at its southern end near Noonday Park on Shallowford Road in unincorporated Cobb County and will progress northward, eventually continuing under Highway 92 to connect with Woodstock's existing Noonday Creek Trail. "Nine years ago, Woodstock leaders kicked off planning for this project in earnest," said Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell. "We are so excited to finally get to tie into a strong, existing, trail-focused community in Cobb County and become the bridge into the rest of Cherokee County through this connection. It's an exciting day when a city that is as vibrant and lifestyle-focused as Woodstock becomes part of a regional infrastructure network in a significantly larger way," stated Caldwell. "We are making a big impact in both recreational opportunity and transportation infrastructure for the region."Story maps of Woodstock's Noonday Creek Trail and Woodstock's Greenprints Trail System are available in the City's data hub at WoodstockGa.gov/gis.