Fleet Reserve Association Sponsors Wreaths Across America Since 1924, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) has worked to preserve and protect benefits and quality-of-life programs for Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel. In north Georgia, local FRA Branch 089 has been serving veterans since 1944. Every year, Branch 089 takes part in Wreaths Across America (WAA) by placing wreaths on the gravesites of veterans at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton. WAA will take place on December 18, 2021. With more than 22,000 gravesites at the Georgia National Cemetery, you can help ensure that sufficient wreaths are available. Please visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/GA0056P and click on “Sponsor Wreaths.” Note that “FIVE wreaths” is preselected, but you may change it to the number you wish to sponsor. For full disclosure, FRA Branch 089 does receive a small portion of what is donated.Veterans wishing to join FRA can visit FRA.org to learn about the organization and join online. However, it may be beneficial to call either Wayne Barron (678-689-7921) or Ernie Rose (770-993-6680) to receive available discounts.
NE Cherokee County Parks Plan Residents provided input and viewed potential opportunities in a recent virtual meeting for the Northeast Cherokee Parks Master Plans project.The Board of Commissioners earlier approved an agreement with TSW to create the plan for three parcels in northeast Cherokee County. The sites include a 102-acre parcel in Free Home for the E.W. and Edith Cochran Park, a 538-acre parcel on Yellow Creek Road along the Etowah River, and a 23-acre parcel on Ball Ground Road now called the Long Swamp Creek Recreation Area.At the meeting, residents participated in several surveys, allowing them to provide input on park amenities. Participants selected a kayak/canoe launch as the top amenity preferred at Long Swamp Creek Recreation Area and hiking and mountain biking trails as the most desired amenity at the Yellow Creek parcel. An online Zoom meeting will be held on November 10 at 7:00pm. Preregistration is required. TSW.MySocialPinPoint.com/ne-cc-parks-plan. An outdoor informational workshop will be on November 13 at 10:00am at Cherokee Veterans Park.
Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Approves Fiscal Year 2022 Budget The $340.3 million approved budget includes 5% cost-of-living increases for public safety employees and 4% cost-of-living increases for other county employees, completing a two-year plan to catch pay level up with surrounding jurisdictions. New positions include nine for the Sheriff’s Office, six for EMS, three for Court Administration, two for IT, two for the Tax Commissioner’s Office, 13 for the Fire Department, one for Juvenile Court, one for the Coroner’s Office, one for Senior Services, one for Property Management, one for Recreation & Parks, and one for the District Attorney’s Office. The budget also includes a one-time $2.1 million payment for early payoff of the 2007 Series A bonds that leads to a $400,000 savings for the county.
Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Approves Fiscal Year 2022 Budget The $340.3 million approved budget includes 5% cost-of-living increases for public safety employees and 4% cost-of-living increases for other county employees, completing a two-year plan to catch pay level up with surrounding jurisdictions. New positions include nine for the Sheriff’s Office, six for EMS, three for Court Administration, two for IT, two for the Tax Commissioner’s Office, 13 for the Fire Department, one for Juvenile Court, one for the Coroner’s Office, one for Senior Services, one for Property Management, one for Recreation & Parks, and one for the District Attorney’s Office. The budget also includes a one-time $2.1 million payment for early payoff of the 2007 Series A bonds that leads to a $400,000 savings for the county.
Your Input Is Needed for Cherokee County’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan Due to continued population growth, Cherokee County is updating its Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) to assess how transportation demands have shifted across the region. The CTP will identify infrastructure improvement investments that meet the long-term needs of the county. Public feedback will provide a framework to ensure local transportation expectations are aligned with the prioritization of projects. An online survey has launched to allow those who live, work, or travel in Cherokee County to weigh in on priorities. The survey is available at CherokeeMoves.com or SurveyMonkey.com/r/CJQLZNG.
Bonebrake Named E 9-1-1 Director Shane Bonebrake, who recently retired from Woodstock Police, has been named Cherokee County’s new E 9-1-1 director. Bonebrake’s public service background spans more than 30 years. He has served as the director of EMS Services for Six Flags White Water, narcotics and vice officer for New Orleans Police, chief international flight medic for Worldwide Transport Services, Rockdale County firefighter/paramedic, Rockdale County 911 dispatcher, Cherokee County firefighter/paramedic, U.S. Army soldier (field, flight, and ER medic), and several roles with Woodstock Police.According to Cherokee County Public Services Agency Director Dana Martin, Bonebrake’s experience “has given him the understanding and appreciation for the important work our E 9-1-1 communication officers do every day.”Cherokee County E 9-1-1 is the call center hub that dispatches all emergency calls for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee Fire & Emergency Services, Cherokee Marshal’s Office, Woodstock Police, Woodstock Fire & Rescue, Canton Police, Ball Ground Police, and Holly Springs Police.
Canton Police Unite Community at Inaugural Multicultural Festival Last month, the Canton Police Department and the United Pentecostal Church invited the community to the first Multicultural Festival at Etowah River Park. The free event celebrated diversity and multiculturalism through music, dress, food, games, and entertainment from different cultures.The idea for a multicultural event originated last year when Canton Police assisted with the collection and delivery of the Hurricane Relief Drive (for those in need in Honduras and Nicaragua) and a food drive to support MUST Ministries. During those collection drives, police officers witnessed different cultures and races collaborating to help others. The department developed relationships with diverse groups of people from the Canton community and wanted to build on those connections. They partnered with United Pentecostal Church to conceptualize how to continue to reach out to others, and the multicultural event was born.The goal of the Festival was to encourage unity by bringing together diverse groups of people who coexist in Canton while promoting cultural awareness, overcoming stereotypes, and discouraging racism.
Cherokee County 2021 Early Voting Times and Locations Three Locations Open October 12-29 Elections Warehouse, 400 E. Main Street, Canton Elections Office (temporarily moved to Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center), 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton South Cherokee Annex, 7545 Main Street, Building 200, Woodstock Tuesday-Friday, October 12-15 (voting hours 8:30am-5:00pm)Saturday, October 16 (voting hours 9:00am-5:00pm)Monday-Friday, October 18-22 (voting hours 8:30am-5:00pm)Saturday, October 23 (voting hours 9:00am-5:00pm)Monday-Friday, October 25-29 (voting hours 8:30am-7:00pm)Three Additional Locations Open October 23-29 Ball Ground Public Library, 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground Hickory Flat Public Library, 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton Rose Creek Public Library, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock Saturday, October 23 (voting hours 9:00am-5:00pm)Monday-Friday, October 25-29 (voting hours 8:30am-7:00pm)If you miss early voting, you will need to go to your regular polling place on election day. For more information on your polling place, please visit MVP.SOS.Ga.gov.
City of Canton Special Project Updates Downtown Tree Lighting ReplacementThe City has replaced all the decorative tree lights in downtown as part of a new maintenance agreement with a private vendor. The agreement covers the monthly maintenance to keep Canton’s downtown streetscape sparkling, including new types of lights. Check out the new waterfall lights on W. Main Street.Window Replacement at 151 Elizabeth StreetAs part of an efficiency project, the City removed a number of stained glass windows at the 151 Elizabeth Street Complex (Public Safety and Municipal Court) and replaced them with custom energy-efficient windows. The older windows were given to the former building occupant, First Baptist Church of Canton.Automated Meter Reading ProjectThe City’s utility department is working on a project to convert readings to an automated platform. Requests for qualifications were turned in during the summer, and a smaller pool of firms were asked to move forward with full proposals, which were due by the end of September.Old Ball Ground Sewer Expansion and Etowah River Trail ConnectionWork continues on the sewer and trail project that will connect Heritage Park and Boling Park on the north and west sides of the Etowah River. Much of the new sewer line has been installed, and new sod has been planted in portions of Heritage Park.More project update information can be found at CantonGa.gov.
CCSD Announcements School Board Announces 2021-22 Student DelegatesFor the past 11 years, an outstanding senior student from each high school has been selected as a student delegate to serve for one year to give input and feedback to the School Board and to the superintendent of schools and his senior staff. The advisor role, which includes the opportunity to sit on the dais with the School Board, is rotated among the district’s high schools. This year’s student advisor is Jason Adkins of Woodstock HS. This innovative engagement program earned the School Board the Georgia School Boards Association’s 2020 Leading Edge Award.Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower congratulates the School Board Student Delegates for the 2021-22 School Year. Front row (L-R): Elyse Robbins, Sequoyah HS; Lillie Cate Ergle, Cherokee HS; Emily Collins, Etowah HS. Back row (L-R): Ty Hubert, Creekview HS; Brian Bradley, River Ridge HS; and Jason Adkins, Woodstock HS. “Tools for School” Campaign Benefits CCSD FamiliesRepresentatives from Publix Supermarkets recently donated $63,540 in Publix gift cards to CCSD to help families in need. The gift cards are the result of the annual “Tools for School” community outreach fundraiser conducted by Publix, with the proceeds from each store going back to the local community. Customers at nine Cherokee County stores donated funds to support the effort. CCSD social workers will use the cards to assist families that are in economic crisis.(L-R) Dr. Debra Murdock, CCSD chief operations officer; Dr. Brian V. Hightower, superintendent of schools; Bryan Jewell, Publix district manager; and Russell Putnam, Publix assistant store manager.CCSD Police Department Earns State recognitionThe Joint Review Committee of the State of Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program recently renewed the CCSD Police Department’s status as a Certified Agency, a designation the Department first achieved in 2006. This is the highest level of State accreditation that local law enforcement agencies can earn, and it is rare for school police departments to complete the required rigorous review. CCSD’s Department, which is led by Chief Buster Cushing, is one of only five school police departments in Georgia to hold this certification.Special Education Leader Earns National Board CertificationExecutive Director Charlette Green has earned the Board-Certified Specialist in Child Language designation from the American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders. The honor recognizes her expertise in child language and language disorders as well as her significant contributions to the field. The national organization is dedicated to “promoting high-quality services by speech-language pathologists to children and adolescents ages birth through 21 years whose language learning may be characterized as typical, at-risk, or atypical.”Indian Knoll ES Earns Global RecognitionMicrosoft has selected Indian Knoll ES as a 2021-22 Microsoft Showcase School in honor of its successful integration of educational technology in the classroom to benefit students and teachers. Indian Knoll earned this global recognition for its dedication to effectively using technology for teaching and learning. Only 38 schools were selected as Showcase Schools, and Indian Knoll is the only school in Georgia named to the list. This honor will provide Indian Knoll with access to additional Microsoft resources and support, along with the opportunity to share innovative best practices with other top schools.
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