“Adopt a Veteran” in Cherokee County This Christmas 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.
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
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.
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.
History Cherokee Announces Historic Preservation Awards History Cherokee (HC) honored preservation successes in Cherokee County during its annual Preservation Awards banquet. Keynote speaker Victoria Lemos of the Archive Atlanta podcast delivered a compelling talk on how important it is to use nontraditional tools for preservation advocacy. During the evening, HC honored the following historic sites with preservation awards: Goshen Baptist Church in Salacoa, The Grande Tea Room in Ball Ground, the Hickory Flat Gym in Canton, Bennett’s Store in Waleska, Conns Creek Baptist Church and School in Ball Ground, and the Grogan-Holcomb-McNeal Home in Woodstock. Conns Creek has been on HC’s sites worth saving list, showing just how far preservation work can go with the right level of awareness and advocacy.“The award winners this year represent a diverse type of historic properties found throughout Cherokee County. Four properties are all community landmarks — churches, a country store, and school gym. The other two were built 30 years apart but exhibit the same craftsmanship found in many historic residential buildings such as the tongue-and-groove walls,” said HC Executive Director Stefanie Joyner.Additionally, HC presented two individual awards to community members who have volunteered their time and resources to furthering HC’s mission of collecting, preserving, and sharing Cherokee County history. City Councilwoman and long-time community figure JoEllen Wilson received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her work on the capital campaign to help build the new Cherokee County History Center (opening in November) and for current volunteer work on HC’s development committee. HC’s prestigious Judson W. Roberts Lifetime Service Award was presented to Rebecca Johnston. “Rebecca has been a treasured volunteer for over a decade and has worked tirelessly to preserve Cherokee County’s history. In addition to publishing numerous history books, she has led our capital campaign efforts to build the new History Center. Under her leadership, we were able to raise over 4.3 million dollars,” said Joyner.History Cherokee will continue to support historic preservation in our community through the annual Preservation Awards banquet. To learn how you can get involved, visit HistoryCherokee.org/support.
Cherokee County School District Announcements New School Board MembersThe Cherokee County School Board approved Matthew Shettle’s appointment as a director for capital improvements and Mark Johnson’s appointment as school nutrition coordinator, which includes dietitian responsibilities. Shettle’s position was added for this school year to assist with major projects such as the upcoming construction of new campuses for Cherokee HS and Free Home ES. Shettle has 23 years of experience, including most recently serving as Cobb County Schools’ Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax construction and program manager, and has led more than 40 major school renovation projects. Johnson has 17 years of experience, including most recently serving as nutrition coordinator for Atlanta Public Schools’ school food service provider, and is a registered and licensed dietitian.CCSD 2022 Volunteer of the Year AnnouncedPatti Tressler received CCSD’s 2022 Volunteer of the Year award for her outstanding service with ACE Academy. Tressler was thanked for her giving spirit, providing appreciation treats and meals for support staff, bus drivers, and the school nurse. She is also active with the Transition Academy by providing treats and helping teachers with specials needs students. Creekview HS Student Places in National Academic CompetitionsThis past school year, freshman Abigail Moore qualified at regional contests for the International Academic Competition’s (IAC) Humanities, National (World) History, U.S. History, and general Academic Bees. During the IAC Nationals held in Orlando, Moore advanced to the quarterfinals of the National History Bee and the semifinals of the U.S. History and Academic Bees. She also placed 13th in the nation during the competition on the IAC’s physical science test. IAC organizes academic competitions for primary and secondary students in more than 50 countries around the world with a mission of “rewarding academic excellence by bringing innovative, stimulating, fair, and relevant competition opportunities to students around the world.”Indian Knoll and Liberty Elementary Schools Celebrate National Character Education AwardThese schools have been honored with Promising Practices Awards by Character.org, a national nonprofit organization that promotes developing positive character among students. Only 152 schools were honored nationwide including four in Georgia. Indian Knoll earned an award for its “Core Values Cultivate a Culture of Caring” initiative, through which students completed service-learning projects. Liberty won two awards; one for its Adopt a Grandparent for Valentine’s Day program and another for its Friends Club – Adaptive PE Helpers initiative.Teasley MS Student Places 2nd in Shot Put at 2022 USATF Junior OlympicsJillian Waterman, a 7th grader at Teasley MS and member of the Cherokee Junior Warriors track team led by Coach Camille Driscoll, recently placed 2nd in the nation in the shot put event at the 2022 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships held at Sacramento State University, in California. Waterman’s winning shot put throw was 12.61 meters. Students Place at State Science OlympiadKaden Patel (1) and Noah Larkin (2) from Little River ES earned first place at the statewide competition in the barge building contest, with Mason Trombley (3) and Lily Juneghani (4) from Hickory Flat ES placing third in the same event. These students qualified for the competition through their performance at the CCSD Science Olympiad held in the spring at River Ridge HS. The competition consists of 18 events including barge building, crime busters, and water rockets contests.Etowah HS Student Earns National Honors in PTA Reflections ContestThe annual PTA Reflections Contest offers students the opportunity to create original works of art in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. Students can earn recognition at the school, district, state, and national levels. This year's theme was “I Will Change the World By...” Sophomore Ryan Weber, who earlier this year was named the overall state winner for the Special Artist – Photography category, advanced this summer to earn a National Award of Merit for his photograph “Dying World.” He is one of only nine honorees from Georgia.School Nurse of the Year Award PresentedSuperintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower presented the 2022 CCSD School Nurse of the Year award to Etowah HS nurse Cathy Alexander. The presentation was made before her colleagues from across the school district at the annual professional development event for school nurses held at Cherokee HS. Alexander received an iPad, $100 gift card, and an engraved plaque and honor banner in acknowledgement of this recognition.Boston ES and Little River ES Honored by the National PTABoston ES and Little River ES were named winners of the National PTA School of Excellence award, a two-year title that recognizes outstanding partnerships between local PTAs and schools “to build an inclusive and welcoming school-community where all families contribute to enriching the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.” These schools are among only 242 nationwide schools and 12 Georgia schools awarded with this recognition. To be considered for this honor, a school and its PTA must commit to working together to set and meet goals for improving family engagement.
Cherokee County’s Todd Hayes Recognized as Georgia Solicitor-General of the Year Solicitor-General Todd Hayes was honored as Solicitor-General of the Year during the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council summer conference. The Georgia Association of Solicitors-General chooses a top prosecutor each year to honor with this award.During the award presentation, Bibb County Solicitor-General Rebecca Grist said that Hayes was the unanimous choice for the Solicitor-General’s Association.“Todd is brilliant, he is kind, he is funny, and he is tireless. In any given year, he probably gives more to the Solicitor-General’s Association and the prosecution profession as a whole than most do in an entire career,” said Grist. “If you ask, he will do, and he will exceed your expectations by a mile. Anything he does is with gusto.”Hayes is serving his first term as Cherokee County’s solicitor-general and running unopposed for a second term to begin in January. During his service in Cobb County as an assistant solicitor-general, he was honored as the 2011 Assistant Solicitor-General of the Year. Todd is a “triple dawg,” having earned his undergraduate degree, MBA, and law degree from the University of Georgia. A 2017 graduate of Leadership Cherokee, Hayes is an active member of the Rotary Club of Canton and the Canton Optimist Club. “This award is really just a testament to the outstanding work my staff does each day for our neighbors and friends here in Cherokee,” said Hayes. “They make me look good every day and, along with my wonderful family, are deserving of the credit for the successes the office has enjoyed over the last 3 1/2 years.”
Georgia House of Representatives Honors Cherokee’s E 9-1-1 Cherokee County’s E 9-1-1 Center was recognized for the role its men and women play in serving the county. State Rep. Charlice Byrd recently visited the E 9-1-1 Center to present a resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives to Director Shane Bonebrake and the Center staff. Byrd visited the Center in April during National Public Safety Communicators Week and was impressed by the operations of the Center and its staff.The resolution highlights the Center’s national accreditation (one of only 52 in the country) and Bonebrake’s professional history and accomplishments including his work as a police officer, in emergency services, and as a flight medic.
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