Welcome Cherokee County’s New Fire Chief Current Deputy Chief of Support Services Eddie Robinson has been selected as the next fire chief and will begin his new role this month. He is succeeding Chief Tim Prather, who has served Cherokee County for 35 years. “When reviewing the applications and interviewing for the fire chief position, Chief Robinson stood out as a natural successor to Chief Prather,” said County Manager Geoff Morton. “He brings substantial institutional knowledge to the role, having served with Fire and Emergency Services since 1994 including the last 11 years at headquarters.”Robinson began his career with Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services in 1999. He was promoted to safety officer in 2001 and then to administrative captain/safety officer. In 2011, he was promoted to assistant fire chief. Last year, he was named deputy chief of support services. “I have dedicated my life to the American fire service and to the residents of our wonderful county, and I will lead the department to the best of my ability with the help of some of the best men and women that the fire service can have. I want to thank Chief Prather for his support over the years, and Mr. Morton for entrusting me to lead Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services,” Robinson said.In 2020, Robinson earned the distinguished Georgia Fire Chief Certification from the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs. He has attended numerous fire service training opportunities and is an active instructor for fire services throughout the state. Additionally, Robinson is responsible for creating the county’s Patriot Day Ceremony, which is held each September in remembrance of September 11, 2001.
History Cherokee Launches Black History Committee History Cherokee recently launched a new committee dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of Black history in Cherokee County. The goal is to collect personal accounts, images, and artifacts that tell stories about Black people in our area from the earliest settlement to today.“The history of Black people is often overlooked,” said Harvee White, History Cherokee’s education manager. “When it comes to collection and preservation, elements of Black history get disregarded by the institutions that decide whose history gets saved and whose doesn’t, and we want to do our part in changing that in Cherokee County.”History Cherokee has already made exciting headway on this commitment. Currently, staff members are working with a Georgia film crew and local civil rights activists to create a documentary on the integration of the former Canton Theatre. Visitors will find this documentary at the Cherokee County History Center when it opens this summer.To join History Cherokee’s Black History Committee, contact Harvee White at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Bee Excited for CCSD's Top Three Spellers Thirty Cherokee County students recently put their spelling skills to the test in the 2022 CCSD Spelling Bee, which went nine rounds over 90 minutes before a winner was decided. Creekland MS eighth-grader Huck Wallace correctly spelled “reggae” and then “resplendence” to claim the title as the county’s top speller for the second year in a row. Fourth-grader Miller Inthirathvongsy of Clark Creek ES STEM Academy captured second place, and fifth-grader Isabella Melo-Moreira of Arnold Mill ES placed third.All three students will advance to the regional Georgia Association of Educators bee, which will be held at Etowah HS February 26. State winners (March 18 competition) will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee held in Washington, D.C. in June.
City of Canton 2022 Project Goals During a recent meeting, Mayor Bill Grant, Canton City Council, and department heads identified and reviewed more than 200 projects and initiatives they’d like to accomplish this year. Though other priorities may develop along the way, here are a few of the project goals:- Completion of Canton’s primary River Walk trail connector from Heritage to Boling Parks by this summer, linking the city’s three major parks along one multiuse path. Completion of a citywide Transportation Master Plan.- Completion of the Archer Street Parking Deck in downtown Canton by May including a solar canopy to power 10 electric vehicle charging stations and provide significant energy credits for City Hall.- Completion of Harmon Park improvements and expansion including a mini-pitch soccer field.- About 50% completion of the new Wastewater Treatment Plant by the end of the year.- Launch and begin initial funding for Phase One of the new Tax Allocation District, approved by City Council in 2021, to enhance redevelopment from Exit 16/Hickory Flat Highway through other areas in downtown Canton that need revitalization.These are just a few of the larger projects to be addressed in 2022. Canton City Council and staff are aligning all resources and budget allocations with its new strategic plan, which will be executed according to the priorities identified when creating the City's Roadmap.
National PTA Reflections Fine Arts Contest District Winners Announced This annual competition offers students in all grades the opportunity to create original works of art in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts (2D and 3D). This year’s theme was “I Will Change the World By…” Top district winners advance to state competition.Dance Choreography 1st Place WinnersNina Grace Barbaree, Mill Creek MS, Grade 7Carolyn Forrester, River Ridge HS, Grade 11Linnea Goodloe, Bascomb ES, KindergartenAva Matthews, Johnston ES, Grade 2Ellie Grace Adams, Sixes ES, Grade 3Evie Bennett, Macedonia ES, Grade 1 Sophia Geoghagan, Hickory Flat ES, Grade 4Afton Sheldon, Knox ES STEM Academy, Grade 5Lorelei Sheldon, Cherokee HS, Grade 9Film Production 1st Place WinnersTabitha Graves, Boston ES, Grade 5Colin Nicassio, Etowah HS, Grade 12Royce Paris, E.T. Booth MS, Grade 8 Rohan Pandya, E.T. Booth MS, Grade 7Keirthen Titus, E.T. Booth MS, Grade 6Brooke Gilleland, Avery ES, Grade 4Lincoln Rose, Sixes ES, KindergartenHarrison Smock, Liberty ES, Grade 3Nora Starr, Knox ES STEM Academy, Grade 2Literature 1st Place WinnersAahana Karanji, E.T. Booth MS, Grade 8Kendall Lee, Etowah HS, Grade 10Chloe Okoth, E.T. Booth MS, Grade 6Lance Rosser, E.T. Booth MS, Grade 7Sophie Vanderplough, Carmel ES, Grade 3Tessa Wieland, Little River ES, KindergartenLorelai Bird, Knox ES STEM Academy, Grade 5Sarabeth Campbell, Sequoyah HS, Grade 11Maggie Edwards, Hickory Flat ES, Grade 4Emmalyn Epps, Macedonia ES, Grade 2Otis Waddington, Avery ES, Grade 1Music Composition 1st Place WinnersVeer Lamba, Little River ES, Grade 3Chloe Okoth, E.T. Booth MS, Grade 6McKenna Baskett, Sixes ES, Grade 2Anthony Dagostino, Indian Knoll ES, Grade 5Caitlien Nguyen, Creekview HS, Grade 12Photography 1st Place Winners Ixchel Avila, Etowah HS, Grade 10Cooper Crosby, Little River ES, Grade 1Carolyn Forrester, River Ridge HS, Grade 11Zachary Gonzalez, Etowah HS, Grade 9Kevin Halloran, Etowah HS, Grade 12Pradhyumna Vasishta, E.T. Booth MS, Grade 7Pranav Vasishta, Clark Creek ES STEM Academy, Grade 3Megan Weber, Bascomb ES, Grade 4Mady Cooper, Macedonia ES, Grade 2Addison Quarles, Dean Rusk MS, Grace 6Kathryn Rickert, Creekland MS, Grade 8Charli Wallace, Free Home ES, Grade 5Visual Arts 2D 1st Place WinnersAvery Clanton, Johnston ES, Grade 1Hailey El-Nahas, Etowah HS, Grade 11Stella Gilbreath, Woodstock ES, Grade 3Felicia Hughes, River Ridge HS, Grade 12Rohnish Jena, Clark Creek ES STEM Academy, Grade 2 Rachel Lee, River Ridge HS, Grade 9Elena Marin, Arnold Mill ES, Grade 4Cyrus Paris, E.T. Booth MS, Grade 6Royce Paris, E.T. Booth MS, Grade 8Nora Stone, Arnold Mill ES, KindergartenAudri Colquitt, Liberty ES, Grade 5Brooke Jacomine, Sequoyah HS, Grade 10Emily Smith, Creekland MS, Grade 7Visual Arts 3D 1st Place WinnersTatum Bishop, Bascomb ES, Grade 3Taylor Daugherty, Mill Creek MS, Grade 8Maya Ennis, Arnold Mill ES, Grade 5Aria Gray, Little River ES, KindergartenBritain Mabie, Johnston ES, Grade 4Lindsey Davis, Creekland MS, Grade 6Zaine Reinhart, Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy, Grade 2Cassie Shepp, Creekland MS, Grade 7
School Board Member Mike Chapman Will Not Seek Another Term Mike Chapman, who began his tenure in 2002, said he is proud of the many accomplishments achieved by the CCSD during his service. He was elected four times by his fellow board members to serve as chairman and five times to serve as vice chairman. The many educational initiatives implemented due to Chapman’s advocacy include the nationally recognized Cherokee Academies program, developed in response to his call for more educational school choice in our community. The school district’s STEM and Fine Arts Academies provided a model for school districts nationwide and earned state and national recognition. A champion for fiscal conservatism and transparency, Chapman supported the development of the Open CCSD webpage, which provides a one-stop shop for the public to access financial and accountability records.
Entries Sought for High School Art and Middle School Bookmark Contests Georgia Farm Bureau High School Art Contest This contest is open to all public, private, and homeschool students in grades 9-12. Finished artwork must be on 8.5 x 11-inch white paper and should be created in the colors black, white, and gray. Contestants may use a variety of media to create artwork including graphite, charcoal, pastels, chalk, colored pencils, pen-and-ink, ballpoint pens, or mixed media appropriate for printing. Only one entry per person. Previous state winners are not eligible. Students may enter the contest either in the county where they live or attend school. Winners will receive cash prizes. The Cherokee County Farm Bureau (CCFB) Art Contest winner will be entered in the Georgia Farm Bureau District 1 Contest. Contact the CCFB for an official entry form and contest rules at 770-479-1481 x0. For additional information, visit GFB.ag/22artcontest. All entries must be received by February 18. CCFB Middle School Bookmark ContestThe CCFB Bookmark Contest is open to all public, private, and homeschool 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 bookmark. Only one entry per person. Interested students should contact the CCFB at 770-479-1481 x0 for an official entry form and contest rules. All entries must be received by February 18.
Cherokee County Farm Bureau Wins State Awards Cherokee County Farm Bureau (CCFB) was honored during the 84th Annual Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Convention. In recognition of efforts to promote agriculture in the local community, CCFB received the GFB McKemie Award in the organization’s large membership division. The McKemie Award, which is the highest honor awarded to a county Farm Bureau, is a memorial to former GFB President W.J. McKemie. CCFB received a $1,500 cash prize for winning the award. The GFB also awarded CCFB the Outstanding Legislative Award, in recognition of efforts to make legislators and public officials aware of issues farmers face. The CCFB Legislative Committee hosted a Legislative Appreciation Breakfast in 2019, which gave local farmers a chance to interact with elected officials or their office representatives. The Committee also held an in-person political forum in 2019 and a virtual forum in 2020 to give political candidates a chance to share their platforms with residents.
Cherokee County Fire Chief Announces Retirement Cherokee County Fire Chief Tim Prather announced that he will be retiring from Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services.“As some of you know, I am now completing 35 years of service with Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services. To put it into perspective, I have served our department over half my entire life. It has really been hard for me to make the decision, identify a retirement date, and have some kind of exit plan. It is bittersweet to announce that the time has come for me to retire from Cherokee County, with the official retirement date of March 11, 2022,” Chief Prather said. Chief Prather has over 47 years of collective experience in fire service, and he is proud to have served the citizens of Cherokee County as well as honored to have worked alongside some of the best and most dedicated personnel in the industry.
Sequoyah Regional Library System New Executive Director Announced The personnel committee of the Sequoyah Regional Library System’s (SRLS) Board of Trustees has selected Angela Cortellino as its new executive director. She has served as deputy director for SRLS since 2016, after joining the system in 2015 as public services director. Prior to joining the SRLS, she worked in public libraries in Hall and Lumpkin counties.Cortellino earned a Master of Science in Information Technology from the University of Tennessee School of Information Science. She is a member of the Georgia Library Association, where she serves as advocacy chair. In 2021, she was awarded the Georgia Library Professional Commendation for Outstanding Service and was honored as one of Cherokee County’s Top 10 Under 40 Professionals to Watch. Cortellino will replace retiring Sequoyah Regional Library Executive Director Anita Summers.
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