Georgia Power Presents Check to Reinhardt Rod Drake, area manager for Georgia Power, recently presented a $3,000 check to Dr. J. Thomas Isherwood, Reinhardt president, and Dale Scarlett Morrissey, director of fund raising campaigns and church relations. The goal for this years A DAY campaign is $100,000, and currently $61,315 has been raised toward the goal. Reinhardt appreciates the support from businesses like Georgia Power, said Morrissey. This allows students to benefit with scholarships from the monies raised. Without these types of donations and support it would not be possible for many of our students to continue their educational endeavors. The satisfaction is realizing that you have helped a student with their educational goal.
Towne Lake Optimist Club Presents Check Cheryl Anderson, TurnAround Ministries was presented a check by Towne Lake Optimist Club to purchase a mobile cafeteria table for the childrens home. TurnAround Ministries is a non-profit organization that relies on private donations. Their mission is accomplished in a family environment of nurturing relationships through a holistic approach, addressing the childrens spiritual, physical, nutritional, academy and psychological health, utilizing groups and independent counseling, spiritual and devotional instruction, classroom and hands-on education, outreach and exit strategy. To learn more go to: turnaroundkids.com. If interested in helping, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a list of immediate needs.
Reinhardt Professor Selected GMTA Teach of the Year Reinhardt University associate professor of music, Susan Naylor, was selected as the Georgia Music Teachers Association (GMTA) Teacher of the Year for 2014-15. The award was presented to her at the GMTA State Conference at Clayton State University last November. Her name and supporting documentation will be submitted to the selection committee of Music Teachers National Association as a candidate for National Teacher of the Year, to be announced in March, 2015. Ms. Naylor was nominated by Linda Lokey from Cherokee Music Teachers Association, and letters of support came from her colleagues Dr. Dennis McIntire and Dr. Paula Thomas-Lee, and students Lily Freeman Bowman, Ashley Craig-Diaz, and Jessica Little Conklin. Judges were LaNelle Nash of Roswell, Dr. Martha Thomas of Athens, and David Watkins of Atlanta. As part of the honor of being chosen Teacher of the Year, Ms. Naylor submits Teaching Tips that are distributed to the members of GMTA at the State Conference and can be found, along with her bio, on the GMTA website at http://www.georgiamta.org/memberHonors-TOTY.php.
Northside-Cherokees First 2015 Baby At 12:36 a.m. on January 1, Megan Key and fianc Aaron Morris of Canton welcomed their first child into the world. Baby Elanor Elizabeth Key weighed in at 6 lbs, 2 oz, and was 20.5 inches long. She wasnt due until January 7. According to the parents, Megan visited her doctors office on Wednesday and her blood pressure was a little high. Her doctor decided to go ahead and admit Megan to the hospital and induce labor. Once contractions started, everything went very quickly; there wasnt even time for an epidural. While she was having her contractions, we were watching the ball drop and then sure enough about 36 minutes later we got blessed with a little, said Aaron. I guess we kinda watched a different ball drop on that one. Its amazing, said Megan about how it feels to be a new mom and seeing her baby for the first time. God truly blessed me with her being healthy; I couldnt have asked for anything better. When asked about how this new year stacks up to previous ones, Megan said, Its the best one Ive ever had.
Cobb EMC To Award 14 Scholarships Cobb EMC is proud to offer the newly established Cobb EMC Community Foundation Scholarship. The fourteen scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each will be awarded to eligible high school seniors with a primary residence served by Cobb EMC. There are two types of scholarships available: College/University and Vocational/Technical College. The annual scholarships are funded and will be administered by the Cobb EMC Community Foundation Board in May. Learn more at www.cobbemc.com/content/cobb-emc-community-foundation-scholarship.
Greenprints Alliance Names Gary Moore as Executive Director Greenprints Alliance board of directors has announced the appointment of Gary Moore as the organization's new executive director. "Moore has the passion, trail management experience, and operational skills that Greenprints Alliance is looking for, plus a strong connection to the Woodstock mountain biking trail community," said David Potts, chairman of the board for Greenprints Alliance. "His high standards and experience will help move the organization forward to implement the next phase of trail development." Moore will succeed Jennifer Stockton, who served as the organization's volunteer executive director for the past three years. Moore brings to the position his experience as a nonprofit board member with the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) and Southern Off Road Bike Association (SORBA) Woodstock Chapter, where he currently serves as trail director for the highly regarded Blankets Creek Mountain Biking Trails and Woodstock's Taylor Randahl Memorial Mountain Biking Trails. Moore was commissioned to design and build the Dupree Park Family Mountain Biking Trails in Woodstock last summer and is an inaugural member of the volunteer-based Woodstock Trail Watch Program.
Foundation Seeks Donations for Land Purchase for New Childrens Park Remember Georgia's Children Foundation, a 501(3)(c) organization, is seeking donations to help fund the purchase of land for a new Children's Park of Georgia, to be located in Canton. The unique park will be a special place to celebrate the lives of all children, offering areas for natural play and quiet meditation along with opportunities to engrave children's names along the sidewalks and monuments. The Children's Park of Georgia will provide a place for children to play, explore and discover, as well as provide a place for parents to celebrate the lives of children present and lost. The park is being modeled after The Children's Park in Tyler, Texas. Christy Zeigler, executive director of Remember Georgia's Children Foundation, estimates the total cost of the project at $1 million, including approximately $90,800 for the land. The organization is working on purchasing land for the park that is located at Highway 20 near Butterworth Road. Donations through the grassroots fundraising initiative will be accepted through January 31, with the hopes of breaking ground in February. For more information, visit ChildrensParkOfGeorgia.org.
Farm Bureau Hosts Essay Contest Cherokee County students in grades 6-8 are invited to enter the Georgia Farm Bureau Middle School Essay Contest. The essay topic is "Make My Career Agriculture," which is designed to encourage students to study Georgia agriculture and learn how their food is produced and the contributions farming makes to our lives every day as they learn about career possibilities. The 1st Place County Winner of the Cherokee County Farm Bureau Essay Contest will receive a $50 Walmart gift card and the 2nd Place County Winner will receive a $50 Walmart gift card. Each school will also have a 1st and 2nd Place winner, each receiving a $25 Walmart gift card. The Cherokee County Farm Bureau Essay Contest winner will be entered in the Georgia Farm Bureau First District competition. The district winner will receive a cash prize of $100. The 10 district winners will compete for the state prize of $150 cash. Previous state winners are not eligible. Official contest rules and entry forms are available at GFB.org/Programs/AIC, or through the Cherokee County Farm Bureau at 770-479-1481. All entries must be received at the Cherokee County Farm Bureau office by February 20.
Jim Drinkard Named Woodstock Citizen of the Year The membership of Preservation Woodstock Inc. has selected Jim Drinkard as the recipient of the 2014 Barbara G. Ingram Citizen of the Year Award. The Barbara G. Ingram Citizen of the Year Award is presented annually to a Woodstock resident who has made notable contributions toward the preservation of the city's heritage. Juanita Hughes, historian for the City of Woodstock, says Drinkard was chosen for his involvement in Preservation Woodstock, including serving as chairman for this past year and the year ahead. "Jim Drinkard's interest in the preservation of Woodstock's history came naturally to him. As grandson of Linton Dean, he grew up in the shadow of Dean's Store, surrounded by Woodstock's people and landmarks, always aware of his heritage," she says. "He brought fresh, new ideas to the organization and was instrumental in establishing a website. The Preservation Woodstock exhibit of Women in Woodstock's History was made extra special by Jim's generosity in sharing his grandmother's 1915 wedding dress." Drinkard says he feels honored to join the list of Citizen of the Year winners, all of whom have made wonderful contributions to preserving significant aspects of historic Woodstock. "Growing up in a household with a grandfather and parents who themselves added so much to that history and loved Woodstock makes my staying involved with preservation a natural activity to continue," he says. "I am so proud that my grandfather's store, where I spent so much time as a child, has been such a unique visitor's center for the city, and very much enjoyed assisting my aunt in remodeling it several years back so that it could serve that purpose. It is vital that we pass on and maintain the heritage of old Woodstock to future generations." Drinkard will be honored publicly with the Citizen of the Year Award during the Christmas Jubilee celebration at the gazebo at The Park at City Center on December 6.
Local Athletes Support Teammate Battling Leukemia Lyndon Academy Terriers Girls Softball team carried special hand-crafted "Terrier blue" beads for Team Beads of Courage recently in honor of their teammate, Danielle Samsury, who has been diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic preb-cell leukemia. Danielle's family presented 15 sets of beads to the Lyndon Academy Terriers Girls Softball team and coaches. Additional sets will be sent to Team Beads of Courage to encourage other children battling cancer; each set of beads will include a card that reads, "With every swing, throw, and run, we are proud to join our BOC teammate, Danielle, in honoring your treatment journey. We hope this team bead provides you a huge boost of encouragement!" Children battling cancer collect these beads as they fight their way through the treatment process, receiving a bead with each procedure or milestone they reach. At the end of the journey, these young warriors will have a "string of strength" that they can use to remember and share their unique story of courage. Danielle's teammates describe her as having the "heart and tenacity of a Terrier" as she has battled the disease. Danielle currently is in remission.