Promotions From Holly Springs The City of Holly Springs recently promoted two employees to key positions. City Manager Robert H. Logan promoted Denise Lamazares to finance director. Lamazares has been employed by Holly Springs since 2010, when she was hired as an accountant. Previously, she served as budget analyst at the City of Pembroke Pines, Florida. Over the years, Denise has continually worked to increase her responsibilities without compromising the quality of work that she produces, said Logan. Police Chief Michael Carswell promoted Mike Hales to the rank of lieutenant. Lt. Hales possesses 19 years of law enforcement experience. He has served the City of Holly Springs since 2014, and quickly rose through the ranks, most recently serving as sergeant. Prior to joining the Holly Springs Police Department, Lt. Hales worked for 13 years at the Canton Police Department, ending his career there as the lieutenant commander of the Uniform Patrol Division. He served as a field training officer as well as program coordinator. Lt. Hales began his career in law enforcement as a communications officer at the Georgia State Patrol Headquarters.
CCSD Celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day More than 700 female athletes from Cherokee Countys six high schools participated in the CCSDs annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), held last month at Cherokee High School. NGWSD recognizes the contributions of female athletes, acknowledges the challenges they have overcome, and celebrates the positive influence of sports for girls and women, as well as the impact of Title IX legislation that guarantees equal access to athletics for females. NGWSD is celebrated in all 50 states. National Girls and Women in Sports Day continues to honor the many ways sports push girls and women to achieve excellence and realize their boundless potential, said Tonya Sebring, event coordinator and administrator on special assignment for student activities and athletics. This years theme is a continuation of the charge, Lead her Forward.During the NGWSD program, Lorri Little of Sequoyah HS was honored for her contributions and support of female athletes. Sebring also presented the Trailblazer Award to the Sequoyah Girls Flag Football team and recognized all the Cherokee County athletes who took on the challenge of starting one of the first flag football programs in Georgia this year. Each school also honored an alumna, an athlete of the year, and a team of the year: Etowah High School honored alumna Taylor Kimber; Athlete of the Year, Savannah Bray; and Team of the Year, Fast Pitch Softball. River Ridge HS honored alumna Bayleigh Lott; Athlete of the Year, Gabbi Phillips; and Teams of the Year, Softball and Volleyball. Woodstock HS honored alumna Ashton Sutton; Athlete of the Year, Haley Roe; and Team of the Year, the Wolverines Competition Cheer squad.
YMCA Honors Cherokee County Volunteer and Teen Leader of the Year G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA recently recognized a volunteer and teen leader at the YMCA of Metro Atlantas Celebration of Community Champions: 2020 Vision event. Volunteer of the Year Desi Frazier has been involved with the G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA for 15 years. Most recently, Desi has assisted with coaching basketball and t-ball teams.Teen Leader of the Year Matthew Crosbys first involvement with the YMCA was through summer camp 10 years ago. Besides serving as assistant counselor and lifeguard, Crosby is involved with the Advanced Leadership Academy.
2020 Leadership Cherokee Class Selected The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce recently selected the Leadership Cherokee Class of 2020. Members of the 32nd class were chosen after a nomination, application, and interview process. Over the next nine months, the Leadership Cherokee Class will participate in sessions on topics including economic development, infrastructure, government, justice, education, recreation, tourism, public safety, healthcare, and social/human services. The program concludes with a graduation ceremony in September. Members of the Leadership Cherokee Class of 2020 include: Alexandra Morris, Rosemary Mburu, Rachel Geoghagan, Paige Reid, Amanda Rostin, Angie King, Holli White, Mariela Perez, Lisa Grisham, Sherry Lowe-Cooke, Michael Cicero, Frankie Sanders, Stacy Sabaka, Jodi Drinkard, Lindsay Bowley, Bobby DeCoux, Jay Hutchins, Courtney Putnam, Alexander Bryant, Thomas Pinyan, Walter Jones, and Dean Floyd.
Four CCSD Schools Recognized for Academic Success and Progress 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 Welcomes New Director 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.
Two Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services Chiefs Retire 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 Places First Runner-Up at Miss America 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.
Creekview HS Army JROTC Female Raider Team Ranked No. 6 in Nation 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.
Georgia Has Talent To Raise Funds for Cancer Research 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.
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