Local News
Adopt a Mile Program Gains Traction
Keep Cherokee Beautiful has begun a new program, Adopt-aMile, that encourages residents and businesses to show community pride by keeping the roadsides free of trash and debris. Cherokee County District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter recently introduced the program at a commission meeting as the first initiative for Keep Cherokee Beautiful. Tom and Ann Earley of the North Georgia Pickleball Club adopted the first road in the program, Water Tank Road. The Earleys collected eight bags of trash, weighing approximately 160 pounds during a roadside cleanup in April. Residents interested in adopting a mile need to identify a section of county road they want to adopt, sign an agreement committing to maintain the section for 12 months, and host a minimum of four roadside cleanups. Waste Management has invested in the beautification of Cherokee County by donating $23,907.76 to the Keep Cherokee Beautiful program. For more information, visit the Keep Cherokee Beautiful page at www.cherokeega.com, or email cleancherokee@gmail.com.
Woodstock Elementary teachers and students involved in the plant stand are, from left: fifth-grader Zoey Boehmer, third-grade teacher Suzy Boehmer, art teacher Maria Londoño, third-grader Kaylee Wolfe and third-grade teacher Melissa Wolfe.
Take a Plant, Leave a Plant A plant exchange stand has been set up at the Noonday Creek Trailhead in downtown Woodstock, beside the Event Green on Market Street. Woodstock Elementary students worked with OM Grown Art to paint and plan the stand, which is fully stocked and operates as a self-monitored station, where local residents can take a plant or leave one for someone else to enjoy.
Retiring County Manager Honored
Members of the North Georgia Pickleball Club are prepared to go on a clean-up mission.
Waste Management presented a check at a recent county commission meeting. From left, Cherokee County Community Services Agency Director Bryan Reynolds, Cherokee County District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter, Keep Cherokee Beautiful Board President Mark Preetorius, Waste Management community relations specialist Marla Prince and Keep Cherokee Beautiful board member Andrew Richard. 8
AROUND WOODSTOCK | July 2021
Cherokee County Manager Jerry Cooper was presented the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia’s Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service Award at his retirement ceremony in May. “It was an honor to receive the Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service Award,” Cooper said. “I have been blessed to have the opportunity to work with outstanding chairmen and commissioners, agency directors, employees and community leaders, who for 20 years have made Cherokee County a great place to live, work, and raise a family.” The award recognizes an individual who has worked toward achieving a lasting positive impact on his or her community. Cooper served as Cherokee County manager for 20 years. Prior to his time with the county government, he served as the city manager for Woodstock. “Jerry has clearly been the best county manager in Georgia,” said Commission Chairman Harry Johnston. “Over the past 20 years, he’s done more than anyone else to make and keep Cherokee the state’s best value for residents and taxpayers. He’s been the common thread throughout that period to build excellent county infrastructure and services, while keeping tax rates among the lowest. And, he’s been an exceptional county leader beyond his role as county manager, leading and raising funds for more civic and charitable organizations than anyone else I know.”
