9 minute read
Local News
Sheriff Reynolds Appointed to Driver Services Board
Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds has been appointed to serve on the Georgia Board of Driver Services. Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan made the appointment, which will run a six-year term, expiring on June 30, 2027.
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“I am very honored to serve on this board, and I appreciate Lt. Gov. Duncan and Director Spencer Moore for giving me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Georgia,” Reynolds said.
The Georgia Board of Driver Services governs the Department of Driver Services (DDS), which is responsible for enforcing and administering state laws and regulations relating to driver’s licenses. The nine-member board will meet monthly to discuss issues related to improving customer service, advancing technology and protecting the safety of the citizens of Georgia.
Barbecue for the Veterans
Cherokee County veterans organizations will host an event to raise money to help veterans in need. The inaugural Red, White and Blue BBQ competition is set for Oct. 29-30.
The event, a Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA)-sanctioned competitive cook-off, allows amateurs and professionals to enter.
“We are looking forward to hosting this event every year around Veterans Day,” said John Bruss, of Canton’s VFW Post 5262. “Cherokee County has over 15,000 veterans and over eight veteran service organizations (VSO) and we are very proud to be part of the larger Cherokee County community.”
The event will take place at the American Legion Post 45, located at 160 McClure St. in Canton. Other features include live music, a classic car show, a veteran-owned business craft fair, children’s entertainment, trick or treating, raffles and barbecue tasting. Tickets are $5 per person, age 5 and older, which includes five tickets for tasting.
This year’s recipients of the proceeds will be the Cherokee County Homeless Veteran Program and Veteran Suicide Awareness, which is part of the Cherokee County Suicide Coalition. The organizations hosting the event are: American Legion Post 45 Canton; American Legion Post 316 Woodstock; Daughters of the American Revolution Hightower Trail Chapter; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 45 Canton; Soleil and Laurel Canyon veterans clubs; VFW Post 5262 Canton, Marine Corps League Detachment 1311 of Woodstock, Wingman Motorcycle Club and Cherokee Veterans Community.
For more information, contact Jim Lindenmayer at 678-983-7590 or email jlindenmayer80@gmail.com. On Facebook.
Chattahoochee Technical College has unveiled a new logo as the college prepares for a robust 2021 fall semester.
“Students will return to a full schedule of in-person classes when fall semester begins on Aug. 16,” said Vice President of Advancement Jennifer Nelson. “The new logo reflects the college’s larger branding initiative to reflect the significant role Chattahoochee Tech has in serving as a place where students can thrive.”
Chattahoochee Tech awards associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in more than 40 programs of study for students to become highly skilled professionals in some of the nation’s fastest-growing, high-demand career fields.
The new logo was designed in-house, replacing the college’s previous logo, which had been in use since 2009, when the college merged with North Metro Technical College and Appalachian Technical College to form one institution. For more information, visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu.
Local News
Plan Now for Early Voting
Early voting times and locations for the Nov. 2 election have been announced by officials with the Cherokee County Elections and Voter Registration office. The biggest changes since the last election include: adding a Saturday, extending voting times on Saturday, and a location change. For more details, visit https:// voter.cherokeega.com
Oct. 12-29 Locations
— Elections Warehouse, 400 E. Main St., Canton. — Elections Office (temporarily moved to the Bluffs Northside Cherokee Conference Center until another building is secured) — South Cherokee Annex, 7545 Main St., Building 200, Woodstock
Hours
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 12-15 and Oct. 18-22 9 am.-5 p.m. Oct. 16 and Oct. 23 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 25-29
Oct. 23-29 Locations
In addition to the previous three: — Ball Ground Public Library 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground — Hickory Flat Public Library 2740 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton — Rose Creek Public Library 4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock
Hours
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 23 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 25-29
Musicians Given Trophies for Their Accomplishments
During the recent Cherokee Music Teachers Association (CMTA) annual awards ceremony, trophies were given to students who had participated in the association’s judged event and accumulated sufficient points. The event took place at Reinhardt’s Falany Performing Arts Center, and featured performances by summer music camp scholarship winners and guest artist Raffi Besalyn.
Students who received trophies were: Kyla Fenn, Maci Hamilton, Nina Forsythe, Logan Dodd, Jordan Battaglia, Julie Tryon, Felicity Jeong, Amonis Godfrey, Luke Griffies, Addie Balboa, Emily Dubuc, Hayden Danneman, Angela Matthews, Jonah Kim, London Kim, Amelia Oliver, Elijah Kotronis, Shaoey Pace, Robert Duffoo, Thomas Duffoo, John Thomas, Uriah Ribley, Allison Sirmon, Elsa Maxwell, Brennen Maxwell, Sophia Maxwell, Julianna Ogden, Noah Powell, Kate Fenn, Davis Fenn, Mckinley Moore, Clair Moore, Jack Dugas, Virginia Battaglia, Henry Dusseault, Joey Dagostino, Nathaneal Anderson, Colt Turner and Kyle Yuzzi.
For information on CMTA, contact Linda Lokey at linda@lokey.net.
New Website Enhances Transportation Focus
The latest Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) update has a new website, www.CherokeeMoves.com. The announcement comes as the county prepares for an update to its CTP, 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.
“Transportation demand continues to rise in Cherokee County, and this update is an opportunity to enhance our network,” said County Manager Geoff Morton. “The CTP will identify infrastructure improvements that manage increasing demand, support economic development, minimize environmental impacts and ultimately promote a high quality of life for our communities. This process is key in determining the future of transportation across Cherokee County and ensuring our growth is met with the right transportation investments.”
Residents, businesses and visitors are encouraged to read more about the CTP on the new website. Opportunities for the public to provide input on proposed project plans will be provided later this year. Email cherokeemoves@ cherokeega.com for more information.
Independence Day!
Woodstock showed tons of spirit, in neighborhoods like The Arbors, where children enjoyed low-key celebrations, and along Main Street to cheer on the city’s parade.
History Cherokee
Expansion Offers Space for More Museum Visitors, Community Resources
The new Cherokee County History Center at 221 E. Marietta St. in Canton is slated to open in the spring of 2022. The center will spotlight Cherokee County’s rich history from prehistoric times to the modern days of growth and development. In the Cherokee County History Museum’s former location, at the historic marble courthouse, attendance ranged from 2,000 to 4,000 annual visitors. It is estimated that the new center will welcome 20,000 visitors a year, who will engage with museum exhibits, research resources and quality programming.
Located in downtown Canton’s former police station, which is undergoing renovations and construction, the new history center will be headquarters for History Cherokee, formerly the Cherokee County Historical Society. The center will expand the reach and impact of History Cherokee’s activities by serving as a new cultural asset for the community, with engaging exhibits, enriching educational resources and comprehensive programming. When complete, the center will feature a stateof-the-art museum, with more than 5,000 square feet of exhibit space, as well as a research center and library, for a total of 11,000 square feet.
In late June, History Cherokee announced the official groundbreaking of the new history center. “This project has been years in the making, so we’re excited to begin construction,” Executive Director Stefanie Joyner said. “This expansion will allow us to reach a larger audience and really interact with our community. We can’t wait to open our doors.”
New features within the center will include a large projection wall showing videos chronicling the history and development of the county, tabletop touch screens allowing visitors to explore topics in great detail, and largescale installations highlighting work and home life in Cherokee County over the centuries. The museum will feature educator-friendly resources, including an instructional guide with teaching standards, interactive children’s activities and a classroom for educational programming. It also will be a center for preservation advocacy, allowing for research into architectural history.
The main hall will play host to history programs. The research library will house information about historic buildings and local topics of interest. The climate-controlled archives room will house 120,000 items in the collection safely. The exhibit galleries will offer an engaging and mindful walk through Cherokee County’s history. Overall, the new center will allow History Cherokee to grow and reach a wider and more diverse audience, which will facilitate the preservation of our historic resources and the special places that make Cherokee County a great place to live, work and play.
From January 2020, to June 2021, more than 60 families, individuals, local governments, foundations and organizations made generous investments in the History in the Making Capital Campaign. During those 18 months, the campaign raised $2.5 million, about 90% percent of the initial $2.8M million fundraising goal, and it aims to exceed that mark through additional supporter initiatives.
“The level of community support for this project has been overwhelming and shows the deep commitment of those who live here to honor our history,” said Rebecca Johnston, the campaign co-chair. “This is a project that will benefit all Cherokee County residents, and that fact resonated with our investors. We are indebted to all those who have helped make this project possible.”
Visitors can interact with new features, including tabletop touch screens and a large projection wall showing videos chronicling the history and development of the county.
The lobby leads to the main hall, which will play host to history programs and topics of interest.
How You Can Help
Donations to the capital campaign are welcome. In the future, History Cherokee will need volunteers, researchers, members, patrons and participants to help with public programs and events at the museum. Stay tuned!
If you are interested in being a part in this transformational moment in Cherokee County history, please contact Stefanie Joyner at 770-345-3288, Ext. 1 or at sjoyner@historycherokee.org.
