Local News

How to Get Updates on Transportation Plan

Cherokee County residents can sign up to receive announcements related to the Cherokee Transportation Plan (CTP) update at www.CherokeeMoves.com, and participate in an online survey. Residents can weigh in on their priorities concerning transportation needs and initiatives.

The county currently is updating its CTP, which is aimed at identifying current and future transportation opportunities to address the growing population. The CTP will assess enhancements to roadways, pedestrian and bicycle access, transit and freight capacity. Residents, businesses and visitors are encouraged to read more about the CTP on the website.

Drug Free Cherokee, an arm of Cherokee FOCUS, is hosting a contest that encourages young people to compete to win an iPad and case. Middle and high school students are asked to create a 15-second SnapChat Public Service Announcement addressing the following concerns: underage alcohol use; tobacco/ nicotine use; marijuana/THC use; vaping; prescription drug misuse; and why staying drug-free is important.

The winning video will be featured in Drug Free Cherokee’s social media posts and shared with high schools, where they’ll be displayed on Jumbotrons during football games, and in other media. The top five videos will be featured on the Drug Free Cherokee website.

The deadline to submit videos is 5 p.m. Dec. 10. The grand prize winner gets a 10.2-inch iPad 32GB with case. The runner-up gets a $100 gift card. Winners will be selected by the Cherokee FOCUS Board of Directors. For details, email jessica@cherokeefocus.org. www.drugfreecherokee.org.

Warrior Cats take their “Fancy Like” Dance to Applebee’s

A special-abilities dance team performed their rendition of the trending song “Fancy Like“ in front of Woodstock Applebee’s and a crowd that included Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques and state Rep. Charlice Byrd. The Warrior Cats showed off their dance moves to the song that’s become popular, thanks to Applebee’s commercials.

The Warrior Cats are a division of Fitfully Forward, Inc., a 501(c) organization that brings fitness and dance to under-resourced populations. They practice at CRPA with their coaches, Laura Mikszan, founder of Fitfully Forward, Inc. and Gia Nichols.

The instructors are working toward attaining team status under the Special Olympics Cherokee County umbrella.

Education Help for Local Veterans

The Cherokee County Homeless Veteran Program (CCVP) and American Legion Thomas M. Brady Post 45 created a vocational scholarship fund to help veterans in Cherokee County get an education that will lead to a new career.

The scholarship is designed to help pay some of the costs for vocational jobs, such as apprenticeships or internships, as well as some costs associated with the initial 90 days of probation, such as temporary housing and food.

“We want to make sure that we, as a veteran service organization, are looking for ways to help the veterans in our county,” Post 45 Commander Raymond Rollins said.

Vets can enroll in local colleges and universities, such as Kennesaw State University, Chattahoochee Technical College and Reinhardt University. For more information, contact Jim Lindenmayer at jlindenmayer80@gmail.com or 678-983-7590, or Raymond Rollins at 770-479-4405.

Model Railroad Designer Hosts Open House Every fall since 2011, Towne Lake resident Eric Siegel has hosted a free open house for his large O-Scale model railroad. Although the 2020 open house had to go virtual because of the pandemic, the in-person open house is back this year, set for 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 21 at 640 Overhill Drive, Woodstock, GA 30189. His layout, named the Appalachian & Western Railroad, takes up 900 square feet and occupies the entire basement of his home. The layout has been featured in several publications over the years. Visitors can see loads of trains running on the layout, and participate in a question and answer session. Complimentary snacks and beverages will be available for all visitors. Face masks, while not required, are recommended. Admission is free and no RSVP is required. You can visit Siegel’s YouTube channel at www.youtube. com/ericstrains prior to your visit to get familiar with the layout and the trains. For more information, call Eric Siegel’s train layout is called the Appalachian & Western Railroad. 404-400-2993.

Attending the presentation were, from left: Amanda Jones from the insurance commissioner’s office; Cherokee County Fire Chief Tim Prather; Kayleigh Liscio; Lisa Grisham; Fire Apparatus Operator (FAO) Corey Webb; Sgt. Chris George; FAO Michael Hood; Medcon Robert Huff; Lt. Waylon White; and FAO Destiny Labossiere.

Cherokee Fire Wins Fire Prevention Photo Contest

Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) won the second annual Fire Prevention Week Photo Contest, sponsored by the Georgia Office Of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.

Cherokee County was one of four fire departments in Georgia that received a Fire Prevention Week in a Box Value Pack for winning the contest. Each year, Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 3-9) is observed in commemoration of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, which killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

According to Lisa Grisham, senior fire educator for the CCFES, “Destiny LaBossiere and Matt Perry took the lead on this, at my request, and knocked it out of the park. They utilized the theme for Fire Prevention Week, the Sounds of Fire Safety, to come up with the picture, and Ashley Arp helped with the graphic design.”

2021 Car Show for Team Ezra

The second annual car show for Team Ezra, hosted by the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation and presented by Page Relocation, was Oct. 2 at First Baptist Woodstock, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the family of Ezra King. Ezra is 5 years old, and he is battling a brain tumor that was first diagnosed at 18-months old. He recently started a more aggressive treatment plan to battle his cancer. To make a donation, visit www.woodstockpublicsafetyfoundation.square.site.

Ezra congratulates a winner of the car show. Car show contestants line up in the First Baptist Woodstock parking lot.