Noteworthy

This sign was unveiled by Mark Boggs, Amber’s father, from the bucket of Truck 11. He was accompanied by FAO Tyler Davidson and Lt. David Miller, friends of Justin and Amber Hicks.

Hicks Family Honored at Fire Training Center

To honor the legacy of Justin Hicks, a firefighter who was killed last year, Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) recently revealed new street signs at the Cherokee County Fire Training Complex in Holly Springs. The unveiling ceremony took place during the fire department’s first live fire training exercise for a new incident command system known as Blue Card Command.

The street signs honor Justin and his wife Amber, who tragically were killed last year in their Cobb County home. Their son Jacob was found unharmed. Justin began serving as a firefighter with Cherokee County in 2015 and held the rank of fire apparatus operator/paramedic. The new street names are Justin Walk, Hicks Circle, Amber Walk and Jacob Avenue. The buildings on the training grounds will be numbered with significant dates from Justin and Amber’s lives, such as their birthdays and wedding anniversary. The street signs and building numbers will be used to dispatch training incidents around the training complex for years to come.

Over the past two years, CCFES has been training its members on the Blue Card Command system, which standardizes local incident operations. This system helps incident commanders with communications on the fireground, and helps them to make better decisions, in an organized fashion, for the safety of citizens and firefighters.

The exercises at the training facility allowed lieutenants, captains and chiefs who have been certified in Blue Card Command to implement what they’ve learned in a hands-on, live fire scenario.

Watch Etowah’s Garden Grow, Thanks to Grant

The Woodstock Lions Club, Lions Club International Foundation and Anthem Insurance Co. have given a $2,000 grant to Etowah High to make it possible for employees of Anthem to volunteer to work in the school’s vegetable garden.

Anthem Volunteer Days is a program that connects Anthem employee volunteers with Lions Clubs for the purpose of serving and improving their communities. The Woodstock Lions Club has been working with Ashley Rivers, Future Farmers of America Adviser at Etowah, for more than three years, helping with labor and equipment at the school’s vegetable garden.

Recently, club members learned the garden needed labor for repair and replacement of wooden boards in some of the raised beds, new soil to fill all of the beds and help with planting. It seemed like a perfect project for Anthem Volunteer Days.

On Oct. 15, 15 Anthem employees and several Woodstock Lions Club volunteers will meet at the garden to weed, remove old plants and soil, repair the boards, put in new soil and help plant fall crops.

The garden has 18 raised beds (four are handicapped-accessible), and grows warm and cool season crops. Students enrolled in agriculture courses help in the garden. All produce (approximately 250 pounds per season) is donated to the Heritage Presbyterian Church food pantry, which serves 90 families weekly.

Devon Bledsoe, center, with Glenn and Diane Keen. Scott and Trent Ferrell.

More than 32 teams, countless bystanders, 14 sponsors and an amazing turnout of community support led to the fundraiser’s success. Photos courtesy of Bronson Kurtz.

Cornhole Tourney a Successful Fundraiser

In late August, Circle of Friends held its second annual cornhole tournament on the Woodstock Arts Event Green. Community support was strong; the nonprofit raised more than $16,000 that day. More than 32 teams, countless bystanders, 14 sponsors, community contributions, merchandise sales and vendor donations were essential in making the event a success.

Next up for Circle of Friends is its inaugural gala, planned for Nov. 4 at His Hands Church. Organizers also are working toward opening a second Cherokee County location: Flourish Cafe — a place to gather and grow. Currently, their Coffee With a Purpose cafe is open inside The Circuit, on the Chattahoochee Tech campus at One Innovation Way in Woodstock.

Circle of Friends was founded in 2019 to provide opportunities for young adults living with disabilities to make friends and build healthy relationships with others in the community. For more information on the gala and Circle of Friends’ mission, visit https://circleoffriendsinc.org.

Events to Raise Awareness of Domestic Violence

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Several events in Cherokee County are planned.

For more details, visit https://cfvc.org/events.

• The 2022 BRAVe Motorcycle Charity Ride, sponsored by the Hathaway Agency, takes place Oct. 1, starting at Reformation Brewery in Canton. Donations will support families affected by domestic violence.

• The fifth annual Tina’s Cat Run kicks off Oct. 15 at the Ball Ground Community Center at 250 Civic Drive. The event is live and virtual; proceeds will benefit the Cherokee Family Violence Center and the North Georgia Mountain Crisis Network.

• A Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 at Cannon Park in Canton.