Local News

County Gets New Parks Division Director

Stephen Shrout is the new parks division director for the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency. He has served Cherokee County for the past four years in various roles, including parks Stephen Shrout crew leader, county arborist and parks manager.

Shrout has a bachelor’s of science degree in forest resources and conservation from the University of Florida, as well as numerous certifications, including Certified Parks and Recreation Professional from the National Recreation and Parks Association, Certified Master Trail Builder from the Professional TrailBuilders Association and Certified Arborist from the International Society of Arboriculture. Shrout’s work history includes eight years at Arlington National Cemetery, where he served as a turf applications supervisor.

The parks division manages the daily operations and maintenance of the county’s greenspace, trails and park grounds, in addition to supervising the administration of local, state and federal permits as they pertain to park greenspace, trails and natural resources. crisis, and providing direct access to groceries and other necessities reduces stress on the parent(s), improving the families’ chances for long-term stability. This project builds on the success of MUST’s Neighborhood Pantry program, supplying food pantries serving at-risk students from 100 schools in area communities. MUST also will extend the food services through the mobile pantry to neighborhoods already served by MUST’s Summer Lunch program, as well as others it has not yet been able to serve. The bus contains 2,500 pounds of food for 50 families per distribution. In the first full year of operating the Mobile Pantry, MUST plans to distribute food to 6,500 families (16,250 individuals based on 2.5 persons per family). Each family served will receive 50 pounds of fresh, healthy food (including meats and produce) once per week.

Three Parks to Get New Pavilions

Cherokee County’s Board of Commissioners approved constructing pavilions at Richard “Hunkey” Mauldin Sports Complex, Cherokee Veterans Park near the playground, and Patriots Park near the playground. The pavilions will be built one at a time in a six-month period, with the first to be at the Hunkey Complex, which has a small window for construction due to scheduled activities. The pavilions will be available for rent, and when not reserved, they can be used on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Pavilions at our local parks allow families to enjoy shaded lunches and have outdoor birthday parties, and youth athletic organizations can host events like end-ofthe-season parties,” said Recreation and Parks Director Jay Worley. “We believe pavilions will be great additions to these parks.”

The bus carries 2,500 pounds of food for 50 families per trip in the local communities.

Mobile Food Pantry on the Road in Cherokee

MUST Ministries’ newest project, a mobile pantry unlike anything in the region, is on the road serving Cherokee, Cobb and Fulton county residents in need. It’s designed to reach our hungry neighbors who have little to no access to healthy food.

On a weekly basis, the farmer’s market-style bus takes fresh produce, meats and other healthy foods to schools, churches, apartment complexes, extended stays, parks - anywhere people need help. The pantry will serve people who may not have reliable transportation, work different shifts or work multiple jobs to support a family. Bringing food directly to “food desert neighborhoods” eliminates the transportation issues or minimizes the commute and gas use. It also frees up grocery money that can be spent on other essential items, such as shelter, utilities, healthcare or other critical bills. The families served also are at risk for

Bonebrake, New E 9-1-1 Director

A highly decorated officer, paramedic and veteran has taken the helm of Cherokee E 9-1-1. Shane Bonebrake, who recently retired from the Woodstock Police Department, was named the new E 9-1-1 director. “I chose Shane Bonebrake for this position because he Shane Bonebrake is a leader who leads by example,” said Public Services Agency Director Dana Martin. “He has earned an impressive reputation working in various public safety roles in this community, consistently demonstrating high standards of integrity, professionalism and dedication to service.”

Bonebrake’s extensive background spans more than three decades in public service: he has served as the director of EMS Services for Six Flags White Water; narcotics and vice officer for the New Orleans Police Department; chief international flight medic for Worldwide Transport Services; a firefighter/ paramedic for Rockdale County; a Rockdale County 911 dispatcher; Cherokee County firefighter/paramedic; a soldier in the U.S. Army (field, flight and ER medic) and several roles with the Woodstock Police Department.

Bonebrake views this opportunity as a way to expand his service to Cherokee County. He has a heart for public service, and his professional background exemplifies that.

“I’ve spent my entire adult life in the streets and wanted more,” Bonebrake said. “I want to be part of a team that helps all aspects of public safety, and 911 is the heartbeat of the public safety system.”

Chamber Chooses New Board Members

The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce has a new board of directors. Seven members recently were elected to serve three-year terms beginning January 2022 through December 2024.

The new members are: Neil Blackman, Corblu Ecology Group, LLC; Mark Goddard, Cobb EMC; Brandon Hartley, AT&T Georgia; Eric Rein, Renasant Bank; Jeff Rusbridge, Dyer & Rusbridge, P.C.; Jennifer Stanley, Northside Hospital Cherokee, and Jay Street, Automated Solutions Consulting Group, Inc.

“I look forward to working with these new board members, as well those who will be continuing to serve the Chamber, as we work collaboratively to meet the Chamber’s mission,” said Brian Stevens, chief operating officer, FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Woodstock, who will serve as 2022 Chamber Chairman.

Above, the girls held a ribbon cutting ceremony for their project. From left, Lena C., Julia C., Megan F., Callie C., Madeleine O. and Nova R.

Left, girl Scouts Lena C., Madeleine O., Megan F. and Nova R. paint bee hotels they created to go in their garden.

Local Scouts Help Protect Threatened Monarchs

This is the year of the Monarch, which turned out to be the perfect year for local Girl Scout Troop 1721, six girls from Woodstock and Acworth, to do their Bronze Award Project, the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. The girls chose to create a Certified Monarch Way Station in Dupree Park, after learning that the number of Monarch butterflies has diminished from more than a billion in 1990 to 200,000 currently.

A Bronze Award project requires a minimum of 20 hours of work toward something that has a global or large-scale, measurable impact. Troop members created a garden design with buckets, and cardboard Girl Scout cookie boxes were used to layout where milkweed, annuals and perennials would go. They named it, “The Wing Stop: A Monarch Park and Pollinator Playground.”

After months of research and hard work, the girls spotted their first Monarch caterpillars, crawling throughout the milkweed in their way station. This is the global impact that they hoped for as the caterpillars will transform into adult Monarchs, and those that survive will continue the migration to the forests of Mexico for the winter.