COED Celebrates Second LaunchPad Bootcamp Graduates The Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) awarded over $69,000 in grants to the 14 graduates from the second LaunchPad Bootcamp Series class.The free four-week series is a partnership between COED and Kennesaw State University’s HatchBridge Incubator. It is designed to guide Cherokee’s emerging entrepreneurs to research, refine, and prepare their ventures for launch and help them grow in the community. Graduates leave the series with an idea deck, business model canvas, and go-to market plan.Also, each participant can earn up to $5,000 to advance their venture, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) through the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. All 14 graduates were eligible to apply and were awarded the mini-grant.This program is offered as part of COED’s Fresh Start Cherokee initiative, which aims to create a culture of entrepreneurship in Cherokee County. Visit FreshStartCherokee.com to learn more and view more programs.
Stay Cool in Canton Summer Isn’t Over Yet Mayor Bill Grant would like to remind you that when things get too hot, there’s no better way to cool off than by enjoying recreational activities on the Etowah River and at Lake Canton around the reservoir. All Cherokee County cities have wonderful amenities and activities to experience, but Canton is blessed to have these two water features that provide ample opportunities to raft, kayak, canoe, fish, and hike. Many locals have accessed the Etowah River for years, and they know how special it is to experience the view from the water.The City of Canton and the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority partnered to meet the long-term water supply needs of Canton and the region by constructing the Hickory Log Creek Dam and Reservoir, now known as Lake Canton. This pristine lake is open year-round to the public and can be accessed from the parking area and boat launch at Fate Conn Road and Bluffs Parkway.Canton residents can explore the lake with canoes, kayaks, and electric-powered boats. In addition, the City has designed walking trails and other recreational features around the entire perimeter of the reservoir, and the engineering plans are underway. By purchasing the remaining 300+ acres at The Bluffs, the City’s goal is to protect this beautiful area and sustain Canton’s natural resources for years to come. For more details about accessing Lake Canton, visit CantonGa.gov/government/departments/reservoir.So, enjoy the rest of your summer and visit ExploreCantonGa.com to read about all the events, activities, and opportunities to chill out in the #CoolestSmallTownInAmerica.
Cherokee County School District Announcements 07-24 Congrats to the Class of 2024 Valedictorians and Salutatorians! Cherokee County School District’s Class of 2024 Valedictorians and Salutatorians: (front row, L-R) i-Grad Virtual Academy Salutatorian Chloe Brezinski and Valedictorian S. Raines, Creekview HS Salutatorian Laura Hand and Valedictorian Kinley Sikes, Etowah HS Salutatorian Bella Postel and Valedictorian Cristina Garcia, River Ridge HS Salutatorian Addy Musser, and Sequoyah HS Salutatorian Zach Howell; (back row, L-R) Cherokee HS Valedictorian Sarah Grace Pfanstiel, Sequoyah HS Valedictorian Anna Louise Panhorst, Woodstock HS Valedictorian Xavier Olsen, River Ridge HS Valedictorian Caleb Lewis, Cherokee HS Salutatorian Caleb Christian, and Woodstock HS Salutatorian Vivian Lawrence_______________ Etowah HS Student Named to Statewide Student Council Class of 2025 senior Laika Olwana is one of only 10 high school students statewide selected to serve on the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) Youth Advisory Council.The program allows outstanding Georgia high school students to provide meaningful input to school board members from across the state. The application process opens every March to students statewide.Council members attend a summer retreat, participate in monthly meetings, and speak on behalf of their fellow students as part of panels at the association’s annual conference. Through their service, students not only improve public schools but also enhance their leadership and public speaking skills._______________ River Ridge HS Student Wins First Place in Statewide Art Contest Class of 2024 graduate Ashley McMath won first place in the Georgia Farm Bureau’s annual art contest, and her artwork will be featured in the organization’s annual calendar.After winning first place at the school level, McMath advanced to win the Cherokee County Farm Bureau’s contest to earn the opportunity to compete statewide. She is the first CCSD student to earn this honor in 23 years.McMath was previously honored as the 11th District’s overall winner in the national Congressional Art Competition. Her artwork has been displayed for the past year at the U.S. Capitol. As part of the honor, she received tickets to Washington, D.C., to see her artwork on display and to meet with Congressman Barry Loudermilk, who represents the 11th District.A student in teacher MaryJo Mulvey’s art classes, McMath will attend the University of North Georgia in the fall to study graphic design._______________ E.T. Booth MS Student Earns National PTA Reflections Honor Cherokee County School District 8th grade student artist Keirthen Titus earned second place in the country for his musical composition entitled "Written" in the National PTA Reflections fine arts contest. The annual competition offers students of all grades and abilities the opportunity to create original works of art in dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts 2D and 3D. Students can earn recognition at the school, district, state, and national levels. This past school year’s theme was “I am Hopeful Because...”School-level winners advance to the district competition, with first-, second-, and third-place awards presented. The first- and second-place district winners advance to the state competition, and the top winners then move on to the national contest. _______________ Cherokee HS Students Earn Honors in National Science CompetitionRising seniors Raphael Aca and Elliana Mathews earned an honorable mention in the prestigious Genes in Space contest. The national science competition annually invites seventh- through 12th-grade students to develop a real-world proposal for a DNA experiment for space. Nationwide, only 30 students were named semifinalists. Of those 30, only 10 received honorable mention, and only five were named finalists to advance in the competition.Aca’s and Mathews’ project, “Investigation on irregular growth patterns during fetal development in space,” was praised by judges for its groundbreaking approach to molecular biology in space exploration. Their proposal focused on the effects of cosmic radiation and microgravity on fetal development to gain a greater understanding of the epigenetic regulation of crucial genes like IGF2 and H19, which are pivotal in mammalian fetal growth and development. The research would advance comprehension of reproductive biology in space, laying the groundwork for future exploration and colonization beyond Earth. Their project advisor was AP and honors biology teacher Lori Pangburn, their teacher for advanced genetics/DNA research this past school year._______________ Indian Knoll ES Students Conduct Successful FundraiserFifth graders Sadie Schaefer and Annabelle Watkins were compelled to make a difference in their community. In the spring, they made a formal fundraising presentation for their principal, Kim Cerasoli. Their idea to sell sentence strips for $1 and form a kindness chain perfectly exemplified the school’s “Kindness Counts” motto. For one week in May, these hardworking students provided their classmates with strips of paper and the means to write out a compliment. After 530 kindness grams were sold and created, Schaefer and Watkins created a work of “heart” outside the cafeteria — a kindness chain. Good Neighbor Shelter was excited to receive the generous $530 donation and later provided the girls with a tour and an explanation of how their facility functions. These young ladies will now actively volunteer to make a difference in the lives of others. _______________ Creekview HS Grads Win National Merit College-Awarded ScholarshipsClass of 2024 graduates Peter Greenwell and Kinley Sikes have been named National Merit University of Georgia Scholarship winners. Both plan to pursue careers in the medical field. Scholarship winners are selected by awarding groups through a review of academic records and college entrance exam scores, leadership and service in their schools and communities, and personal essays and letters of recommendation. Only 15,000 of the nation’s top graduating seniors are named National Merit Finalists becoming eligible for the 2,900 National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. universities and colleges. The scholarships range from $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study._______________ Cherokee HS Student Earns Statewide Positive Athlete Georgia Honor Class of 2024 graduating senior Jeffrey Ambrocio earned Positive Athlete Georgia Boys Soccer Player of the Year Award from the nonprofit organization, which promotes the benefits of positivity to young athletes around the world.Each year, more than 6,800 high school students are nominated as the “most positive” athletes among their peers by coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers, and parents. Awards are presented for each sport at the regional level, with regional winners advancing to state-level competition. Only one student is named the statewide winner for each sport.In addition to demonstrating excellence in their sport, Positive Athletes must show these characteristics: optimistic attitude, teammate encouragement, servant leadership, heart for others, ability to admit imperfections, giving 100% all the time, and realizing the team is more important than the individual.A two-year letterman and a four-year Cherokee HS soccer player, Ambrocio supported the school’s Strive for 23 program and served on the 2023 and 2024 Leadership Councils. Additionally, he has been recognized by the Building Fires community organization for his service, academic, and athletic excellence. A first-generation graduate, Ambrocio currently works as a manager for Walmart and is preparing for a future district manager role with the company.
Traffic Advisory Due to Downtown Woodstock Parking Deck Construction Through Friday, September 20, 2024, motorists should expect delays when traveling through the downtown Woodstock area, as trucks deliver precast components of the downtown parking deck. Trucks traveling from Metromont Precast Building Solutions in Hiram, Georgia, will deliver sections of the parking deck to the construction site, arriving every 30-60 minutes from 7:00am-4:00pm each weekday. Deliveries may occur on Saturdays as needed, but there will not be deliveries on Woodstock Summer Concert Series Saturdays. The 80-90-foot-long trucks will arrive via I-575 exit 8 and travel east on Towne Lake Parkway through the Mill Street roundabout and the Main Street intersection. Officers from the Woodstock Police Department will be in place to stop traffic on Main Street, and flagmen will be stationed along the route. Trucks will enter the Woodstock City Center construction site via Arnold Mill Road and exit via Hubbard Road. The six-level parking deck will add 635 parking places in the center of downtown Woodstock. The deck is part of the Woodstock City Center project redevelopment of a 4-acre site at the southeast corner of Main Street and Arnold Mill Road. A private development partner is building the privately owned buildings on the site that will feature additional office, retail, and restaurant opportunities in downtown Woodstock. The development will also have a boutique hotel with meeting space. For more information about the City of Woodstock, including information on other transportation and infrastructure projects, visit WoodstockGa.gov.
Major Project Completions Celebrated in Cherokee County Cherokee County, the City of Canton, the Cherokee Office of Economic Development Authority, and the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) recently celebrated the opening of the first phase of Technology Ridge Parkway with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Phase one of the project received Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank funding, which helped to accelerate its completion. This is the first of a five-phase project that will connect the corporate center of The Bluffs to the Cherokee County Regional Airport. The Cherokee County Regional Airport also recently celebrated the completion of an expansion project with a ribbon cutting. The runway widening, taxiway, and lighting improvements increase safety, as the airport welcomes business and recreational traffic daily. For more information about these two projects, visit CherokeeGa.com.
Cherokee's Top 10 in 10 Named The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is honored to announce the 2024 group of Cherokee County's Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch. This recognition program focuses on Cherokee County residents under age 40 who are considered the area’s up-and-coming leaders over the next 10 years. Judging criteria include past professional achievements and awards, five- to 10-year professional goals, and the nominee’s volunteer and community activities. The honorees who will be under the age of 40 on October 1 have also been nominated for the prestigious GeorgiaTrend Magazine 40 Under 40 recognition. Cherokee County’s next generation of community leaders include (front row, L-R) Daylan Greene, attorney/partner, Goodwin Moss & Greene, P.C.; Hillary Nichols, counselor, i-Grad Virtual Academy, Cherokee County School District; Laura Chambers, executive director of marketing, Chick-fil-A Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta; Dr. Neely Bursmith, ambulatory care pharmacist, Medical Associates of North Georgia; Vanna Hernandez, project manager, Cherokee Office of Economic Development; (back row, L-R) Kevin Turner, community development director, City of Canton; Casey Barton, captain, Uniform Patrol Division, Holly Springs Police Department; Chris Luly, director, Planning & Zoning, City of Ball Ground; Casey Belli, assistant principal, Cherokee HS, Cherokee County School District; Jesse Hamilton, police sergeant, Criminal Investigations Division, Canton Police Department
Captain Jeff Tucker Promoted to Deputy Chief The City of Canton Police Department recently promoted Captain Jeff Tucker to deputy chief. With more than three decades of dedicated law enforcement experience, Captain Tucker has exemplified outstanding leadership and commitment to public service."Captain Tucker's promotion to deputy chief is a testament to his unwavering dedication and exceptional leadership within our department. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated a commitment to innovation and excellence, and I have full confidence in his ability to continue serving our community with integrity and professionalism," said Chief Marty Ferrell.
Public Engagement Set for Safe Streets Program Cherokee County, along with the cities of Ball Ground, Canton, Holly Springs, and Woodstock, has begun the development of a Safety Action Plan in an effort to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on Cherokee County’s roadways.The plan is supported by the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a design services agreement with Pond & Company to prepare the action plan.Built on robust data analysis and public input, the plan will outline strategies for the county, cities, and key partners to work together to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on the roadways throughout Cherokee County.A community survey is open at PlanningAtPond.com/cherokee_ss4a for community members to share their insights to help shape the plan. A map activity also is available on the website, allowing stakeholders to denote where they would like to see roadway safety improvements. The survey and map will remain open through the end of August.In addition to the survey and map activity options, comments can be shared directly with the Safety Action Plan Project Team via the plan website or by contacting Community Development Agency Director Brantley Day at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..The USDOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program includes grant funding for both planning and implementation projects. Action Plan grants assist communities that do not currently have a roadway safety plan in place to reduce roadway fatalities by laying the groundwork for a comprehensive set of actions. Implementation grants provide funding for communities to enact strategies and projects that will reduce or eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries.The Safety Action Plan will be developed through three major project phases. Public meetings will be held later this year coinciding with the completion of Phase 1: Data Collection and Existing Conditions Assessment (anticipated in August 2024) and Phase 2: Develop Action Plan (anticipated in November 2024). The final phase, Phase 3: Plan and Adopt, is expected to be completed in April 2025. Interim planning documents will be posted to the project website to keep the community informed of the process.
Two Unique Local Athletes Gain National Notoriety David Friedberg A record-breaking javelin throw in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) qualified Friedberg for the U.S. Olympic Trials. At the recent Berry Field Day Invitational in Rome, Georgia, he threw 76.08 meters, which equals nearly 250 feet. What’s unique about Friedberg? Until he attended Reinhardt University in Cherokee County (class of 2024), he had never touched a javelin.The 2024 Olympic Trials take place this month in Eugene, Oregon. Whether or not Friedberg makes it to the Paris Games in July, he already has his eye on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and plans to continue training. Debbie Blount On a beautiful morning this past April, Blount teed off in her final collegiate tournament. She competed in three full rounds over two days in the Appalachian Athletic Conference championship. What’s unique about Blount? At age 65, she’s the oldest competitive student-athlete in Reinhardt University's history, and she proudly represented RU on and off campus over the past four years.In her three years as an undergraduate (class of 2023 & 2024), Blount achieved a 4.0 GPA, won the nontraditional Student of the Year Award, and was featured by People magazine, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, NBC, and 3rd Act magazine, to name a few. She humbly notes her proudest accomplishment as being awarded the Kim Moore Spirit Award from the Women's Golf Coaches Association in 2022.
Headliners for Canton’s River Rock Music Fest Announced On July 26 & 27, the City of Canton will take over the gorgeous riverside Etowah River Park for the two-day River Rock Music Fest — a weekend of music, food, and fun! Local country music artist Bryce Leatherwood, the winner of season 22 of The Voice, will hit the stage at 8:00pm on July 26. Popular 90s country music artist Mark Chestnutt will close out the Music Fest on July 27, by taking it back to the classics. Born and raised in Woodstock, Leatherwood competed on the NBC hit television show The Voice and was crowned the Season 22 winner. He has since moved to Nashville where he has been songwriting and recording for a project on Universal Music Group Nashville/Republic Records. His first single, "The Finger," is out now. Leatherwood continues to perform live shows, including opening several tour dates for Dwight Yoakum. Critics have hailed Chesnutt as a classic country singer of the first order. With 14 No. 1 hits, 23 top 10 singles, four platinum albums, and five gold records to his credit, Chesnutt marches on to preserve and honor the splendid works of the genre’s forefathers, George Jones and Waylon Jennings, to bring music from the honky tonks right back to where country music began. For more information or questions about River Rock Music Fest, visit ExploreCantonGA.com.
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