Cherokee County School District Announcements • CCSD Earns State’s Highest HonorThe Cherokee County School District has earned the State’s highest honor for leadership and dedication to providing the best education possible to every child. The Georgia School Boards Association awards the Governance Team of the Year to the school board and superintendent of one Georgia school district in each of the three size categories (small, medium, and large). CCSD earned the honor for large districts, which are those with more than 10,000 students.This prestigious award requires school districts’ governance teams to meet stringent requirements encompassing all duties: teaching and learning resources; governance, leadership, and accountability; human and organizational capital; teaching, learning, and assessment; climate, culture, and stakeholder engagement; school finance; communications and messaging; and early learning and student success.• School Board Earns State Award for Social and Emotional Learning InitiativeFor the third consecutive year, the Georgia School Boards Association awarded the Cherokee County School Board its Leading Edge Award in the Culture, Climate, and Organizational Efficacy category. The awards, presented in seven categories, recognize innovative practices by school boards and school districts that make a significant and positive impact on students. This year, the districtwide Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative earned the honor.• Mill Creek MS Teacher Named Georgia STEM ScholarThe Georgia Youth Science & Technology Centers honored Ann-Margaret Somers as a Georgia STEM Scholar. Somers is an eighth grade science and physical science teacher at Mill Creek MS, where she also serves as the school’s science department chair. Only about two dozen elementary and middle school teachers are recognized each year as STEM Scholars. Honored educators are selected for their excellence and innovative integration in teaching students about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Each honoree receives free admission to attend the organization’s Summer STEM Institute professional development program in 2022 as well as $500 to purchase classroom STEM supplies.
Drop-Off Recycling for Canton Residents City residents can bring glass recycling to the Canton Collection Site at 2525 Ridge Road, from 7:00am-1:00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.All colors of glass containers are accepted. Please be sure items are clean, with labels and tops/caps removed if possible. For more information, call 770-720-7674.
Cherokee County Progress Report New Park PavilionsHunkey Mauldin Sports Complex, Cherokee Veterans Park, and Patriots Park will each get a new pavilion. Funding for the structure at Hunkey Mauldin Sports Complex comes from a grant from Pilgrims, and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) dollars will pay for the other two pavilions.The pavilions are expected to be built during a six-month period, beginning with Hunkey Mauldin Sports Complex. The structures will be available for rent for parties and banquets.Former Fire Station To Become New Community CenterOnce renovations are completed, former Fire Station No. 9 in north Canton will become the Charlie Ferguson Community Center. Ferguson was the original chairman of the North Canton Volunteer Fire Association, which was previously housed in the building. Owned by the nonprofit Charlie Ferguson Community Center, LLC, the community center will serve the residents of north Canton and the Pea Ridge community. The cost for the work is $685,215 with a county-controlled contingency of $100,000. Most of the funding is coming from a Community Development Block Grant. Cherokee Recreation & Parks Selects New Parks Division DirectorStephen Shrout has been selected to lead Cherokee Recreation & Parks as its parks division director. He has served Cherokee County for the past four years as parks crew leader, county arborist, and parks manager. Shrout holds a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida, as well as numerous certifications that include Certified Parks and Recreation Professional from the National Recreation and Parks Association, Certified Master Trail Builder from the Professional TrailBuilders Association, and Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture.
2021 Canton Moose Lodge Public Safety Awards During the Canton Moose Lodge’s annual Public Safety Service Awards Banquet, the following public safety employees were honored:Ball Ground Police DepartmentOfficer Matt YoungCanton Police DepartmentUniform Patrol Officer of the Year - Courtney RogersCriminal Investigator of the Year - Detective Taina CruzCherokee County Public Safety DepartmentsPublic Service Agency Employee of the Year - Jason Jenkins, Radio Technology DepartmentAnimal Control Officer of the Year Tyler BallewDeputy Marshal/Code Enforcement Officer of the Year - Renee GogginsProbation Services Employee of the Year - Elisa Stewart911 Communication Officer of the Year - Communications Training Officer Erin Schorr911 Administration Employee of the Year - Accreditation Manager Aaron SchwabCherokee County School Police DepartmentOfficer Mike DamesCherokee Sheriff’s OfficeOak Grove Precinct - Deputy Harley MyersUniform Patrol Division - William GarnerHeadquarters Operations - Joe PopadicsAdult Detention Center - Sheila Jackson Traffic Enforcement Unit - Terrance StallingsInvestigator of the Year - Investigator Eric HackardLegion of Merit - Chief Deputy Ken BallCherokee County Solicitor General’s OfficeVictim/Witness Advocate of the Year - Anna Bridges Georgia State Patrol Post 28Cpl. C.J. DavenportHolly Springs Police DepartmentOfficer Brendan Creegan Woodstock Fire DepartmentFirefighter of the Year - Matt DavisWoodstock Police DepartmentRookie of the Year - Officer Justin IsmachSupervisor of the Year - Sergeant Gary CowanOfficer of the Year - Corporal Dennis HornesCivilian of the Year - Patti BehrendVolunteer of the Year - Billy Doby
MUST Ministries Launches Mobile Food Pantry MUST Ministries is celebrating 50 years of serving those in poverty by launching one of the region’s most innovative mobile food pantries to help address food insecurity in metro Atlanta. The mobile pantry will deliver healthy produce, meats, and other goods directly to areas most affected by poverty including schools, churches, apartment complexes, extended stays, parks, and anywhere that people need the most help. This program will provide fresh food to “food desert neighborhoods” by eliminating transportation issues. It will also free up grocery money that can be spent on other essential items such as shelter, utilities, health care, or other critical bills.MUST provides nearly 3.5 tons of food a day to those in need in seven counties. Each year, the organization serves more than 45,800 clients with food, housing, health care, workforce development, and clothing.
CCWSA Fall Rivers Alive Clean-Up Success Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority (CCWSA) hosted three Rivers Alive Clean-Ups: Little River, Ball Ground Creek, and Etowah River. In total, 137 individuals volunteered more than 400 hours to remove approximately two tons of trash, which included tires, car parts, a mattress, and 300 filled bags.This year’s clean-up efforts would not have been possible without CCWSA’s incredible partnerships with the City of Woodstock, City of Holly Springs, City of Canton, City of Ball Ground, Cherokee County Stormwater, Cherokee County School District, Kristin May - Fathom Realty, and the Upper Etowah River Alliance.
Leadership Cherokee Graduates Class of 2021 Leadership Cherokee, a program of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, graduated its 32nd anniversary class during a recent ceremony. With the completion of this year’s class, the alumni count now totals more than 660 graduates. Members of the Leadership Cherokee Class of 2021 selected two of their peers to receive special recognition. Thomas Pinyan, of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, was awarded the Cristal Stancil Leadership Award for being the group’s outstanding leader. Frankie Sanders, of Cherokee Recreation & Parks, received the Bob Frongillo “Magic Spark Plug” Award for being the best all-round member and for having a high-spirited attitude. The nomination period for the Leadership Cherokee Class of 2022 has closed. For information on the Leadership Cherokee Class of 2023, please call 770-345-0400 or visit CherokeeChamber.com. The Leadership Cherokee Class of 2021 includes first row (L-R): Rachel Geoghagan, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital; Holli White, Northside Hospital Cherokee; Mariela Perez, Georgia Division of Family & Children Services. Second row: Sherry Lowe-Cooke, COACHNWORKS, LLC; Lindsay Bowley, Cherokee County School District; Paige Reid, Limitless Disability Services; Angie King, Killian Automotive; Lisa Grisham, Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services; Alexandra Keene, Cherokee County Clerk of Courts; Frankie Sanders, Cherokee Recreation & Parks. Third row: Jodi Drinkard, WLJA - 101.1 FM/Enjoy Cherokee Magazine; Stacy Sabaka, Goshen Homes; Michael Cicero, Taylor English Duma, LLP; Courtney Putnam, Center for Relational Care; Amanda Rostin, Lead Edge Design Group, Inc.; Rosemary Mburu, Elavon. Fourth row: Bobby DeCoux, Wellstar Health System; Dean Floyd, Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services; Alexander Bryant; Thomas Pinyan, Cherokee Sheriff’s Office; Walter Jones, Cherokee Sheriff’s Office; Jay Hutchins, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital.
Cherokee Swim Champion Represents Team USA in International Competition Grant Davis of Woodstock was among the elite American teen swimmers to be named to the USA Swimming National Junior team, competing at the 2021 FINA Swimming World Cup this fall in Berlin, Germany and Budapest, Hungary. Davis qualified for the World Cup meet by way of being the second fastest 18 and under swimmer in the 800 Freestyle event at the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, this past June. He represented the Woodstock-based Chattahoochee Gold swim club at the Trials. Before accepting a scholarship to swim and study at Auburn University, Davis was Cherokee County’s Swimmer of the Year three times while competing for Sequoyah HS. He was high school state champion in 500 Freestyle his junior year and holds several Cherokee County swim records. Aside from the Olympics, the FINA World Cup is considered one of the top ranked international swimming competitions. At the meet, Davis had two top 10 finishes: 6th place in 1500 Freestyle in Budapest and 9th place in the same event in Berlin. “Knowing that I was not only representing all of my coaches, teammates, and family back home but also my country was such a cool feeling, and definitely one I will never forget,” said Davis.
2021 Preservation Woodstock Citizen of the Year Award The Barbara G. Ingram Citizen of the Year Award is presented annually by Preservation Woodstock, Inc., to a Woodstock area citizen who has made notable contributions toward the preservation of the city’s heritage. The membership of Preservation Woodstock has selected Sean and Anna Daily for this year’s award. “Anna and Sean have devoted their personal and professional lives to Woodstock. They have started several businesses that have greatly impacted the economic development of our vastly growing community. Not only have they invested their money into the future of Woodstock, Anna and Sean can be found any day of the week in our town supporting other small businesses, charities, and volunteer organizations. They are dedicated to the growth and vision of our small town, while respecting its history and preserving its legacy,” said Preservation Woodstock member PerryLove Doubrava in nominating the Dailys for this honor.
BRAVe Ride Raises Funds for CFVC The inaugural Bike Riders Against Violence (BRAVe) ride raised more than $5,000 for the Cherokee Family Violence Center, thanks to tremendous community support. The 2nd annual BRAVe ride is scheduled for October 15, 2022, so mark your calendars now.
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