Avery Elementary School earned its second consecutive Gold Award, Holly Springs Elementary School STEM Academy won Silver, and Sequoyah High School won Bronze in the Greatest Gains ratings announced by Governor Brian Kemp. These awards honor only 130 schools statewide that earned a three-year average CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance Index) Progress Score ranking in at least the 93rd percentile.

For the second consecutive year, Bascomb Elementary earned a Silver Award in the Highest Performance ratings, which recognize only 105 schools statewide that have earned a three-year average CCRPI Content Mastery Score ranking in at least the 93rd percentile. This is the fourth year in a row Bascomb has been honored with an award.

Congratulations to the educators whose hard work guided students to the academic success recognized by these honors, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. Its outstanding to see schools across our district celebrated, as it highlights our school boards dedication to ensuring equity and access for all students to learn, achieve, and thrive.

Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency (CRPA) recently named Jay Worley as its new agency director. Worley previously served as athletic division director, recreation manager, and recreation supervisor for CRPA. Prior to his work in Cherokee County, Worley was a program athletic coordinator for Gainesville Parks and Recreation Agency.

In 1998, Worley graduated from the University of West Georgia with a Bachelor's degree in recreation and a minor in business economics. While in college, he worked in the Intramural and Recreation Services Department as a student manager for the intramural leagues. After graduation, he worked at Southwire Wellness Center in Carrollton, Georgia, as a recreation coordinator and taught middle school physical education as a long-term substitute teacher.

Worley is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional and a Certified Youth Sports Administrator. He is an active member of both the National Recreation & Parks Association and the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA). Worley is a graduate of GRPA Leadership I and II as well as a graduate of the George Harris Executive Management Institute at the University of Georgia.

Danny West, who served as the Division Chief of Support Services and the EMS Chief over medical operations, retired on December 27, 2019. Chief West began serving the community when he was 12 years old with the junior firefighter program at Hickory Flat Volunteer Fire Department. After graduating from high school in 1990, West was hired by Oak Grove Fire Department as a firefighter/EMT. In 1994, Chief West attended paramedic school, becoming one of very few paramedics within the agency.

Battalion Chief Gary Vaughan retired from the fire department on December 27, 2019. He was hired as a career firefighter on June 14, 1999.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Robinson, Gary Vaughan was one of the founding members of the Holbrook Campground Volunteer Fire Department and also served as the departments fire chief for some time.

Both Chiefs had more than 50 years of combined career service as career firefighters, plus numerous years as volunteer firefighters.

Cantons Victoria Hill recently competed as Miss Georgia in the 2020 Miss America Scholarship Competition, placing first runner-up.

The 51 contestants experienced two preliminary rounds before the final televised round. Hill walked into the televised portion of the competition with two preliminary wins, one in talent and the other from speaking on her social impact cause.

The re-branded Miss America 2.0 competition tests young women on their leadership, talent, communication skills, and knowledge. During her time on the national stage, Hill interviewed for the job of Miss America, showed her opera performance skills in the talent round, and spoke on Flipping the Script on Foster Care.

The team placed first in numerous regional competitions, third at the State Championships, and sixth at Raider Nationals. JROTC teacher First Sgt. Greg Anderson serves as the team coach.

The U.S. Army Raider Nationals competition included obstacle courses, grueling fitness assessments, teamwork gauntlets, 5K runs, strength events, and constructing and crossing a one-rope bridge over the Flint River. Fifty-one schools from 19 states competed in the three divisions: male, female, and mixed.

Each year, the Beat Out Cancer Club at Cherokee High School brings premiere talent from all over Georgia to the stage at the Georgia Has Talent event. To date, the group has raised over $60,000 for cancer research.

Mark your calendars the 9th annual Georgia Has Talent show is on March 7 at Cherokee High School.

Special guest talent will include up-and-coming pop artist Erin Kirby, Miss Georgia USA Alyssa Beasley, Caroline Reilly and Andrew Jannakos fresh off The Voice, Belle Gray from American Idol, American Hope from Americas Most Musical Family, rising YouTube and film star Simone Lockhart, actress Erica Gehring, and scores of competitors.

The event also brings in sponsorships from over 100 local and national businesses for a shoppers paradise silent auction.

Tickets are available at GeorgiaHasTalent.com.

The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Going Green Committee will host a Leap Year Shredding Event Sponsored by Corblu Ecology Group, Cherokees experienced environmental and ecological professionals. This free event will be held on Friday, February 28, from 9:30am-12:30pm at the Chamber office (3605 Marietta Highway, Canton). 

Collections during this rain or shine event will include documents for shredding, and vehicles will be limited to five legal/letter sized boxes. The event will last for three hours or until the shredding trucks are full. For more information, including restrictions and acceptable items, please visit CherokeeChamber.com.

The mission of the Chamber's Going Green initiative is to encourage the community to implement green practices that conserve resources while helping businesses thrive. To learn more about the Chamber's Going Green efforts, or to participate in upcoming events, visit CherokeeChamber.com, call 770-345-0400, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that participants for the 19th Annual Teen Leadership Cherokee (TLC) Class have been selected. Applicants, all Cherokee County high school sophomores, were asked to submit a formal application and participated in a personal interview with local business leaders.

The TLC Class has already attended an orientation with their parents and a retreat, which was held on January 11 at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. Over the next three months, the 18 class members will participate in four class sessions and complete an individual project, all of which will address topics such as community involvement, economic and educational responsibility, personal development, and team building. A graduation ceremony and dinner will be held in late March to honor the class.

The mission of Teen Leadership Cherokee is to develop the knowledge and leadership skills of young people in Cherokee County, so they may confidently become our leaders of tomorrow. For more information on the Chamber and its programs, visit CherokeeChamber.com.