Cherokee Ledger Monthly - November 2024

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Changes all around

Welcome to the new Cherokee Ledger Monthly.

As of this writing, it’s only just started to get chilly in the mornings and evenings, but fall is in full swing, with fall festivals, pumpkin patches and more. Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away — pass the pumpkin pie, please — and the holidays are around the corner.

In this November issue, you’ll see community news about what’s going on at Adair Park in Woodstock, how the Cherokee County School District’s Class of 2024 did on the ACT exams, the Holly Springs Town Center that’s in development and more.

You’ll also hear from Cherokee County’s own Bryce Leatherwood, who I recently had a conversation with to find out what he’s been up to since winning Season 22 of “The Voice,” and when local fans might be able to see him again in concert. (Sadly, Cherokee isn’t on his tour schedule for this year, but there’s one Georgia stop before his season comes to a close this month.)

While the publication schedule

and the look and feel of this paper are different, I hope you’ll find much of what you love about the Ledger is the same — community news, features on local people, things to do in Cherokee County, and opinion including the Soapbox, where readers anonymously share what’s on their minds. And most importantly, the Ledger will continue to be free for readers.

For even more local news, the Cherokee Tribune is continuing to publish three days per week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and all of our content is available online daily at www.tribuneledgernews.com. If you like to get your news through podcasts, the Cherokee TribuneLedger Podcast releases episodes Tuesdays and Saturdays, available on our website and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Shannon Ballew Managing Editor

LEDGER

Publisher Lee b. g ArreTT

Managing Editor ShANNoN bALLeW

VP of Content Jk mUrPhy

Writers

eThAN JohNSoN rebeCCA JohNSToN grIFFIN CALLAghAN

dr. AdAm LANd

VP of Advertising bob mCCrAy

Circulation Director dAve goSSeTT

VP of Production doUg CroW

Photographers

JACk TUSZyNSkI

robIN rAyNe

CeCIL CoPeLANd

ANThoNy STALCUP

JACky CheNg

JAmeS eUbANkS

Layout & Design

PhILIP CLemeNTS, JUSTIN grIFFIN

On the Cover

evan harney took this photo of Cherokee County’s bryce Leatherwood, who has become a force in Country music

Volume 1, Issue 1

The Cherokee Ledger Monthly 521 E. Main St., Canton, Ga 30114 • 770-928-0708

♦ New additions at Adair Park, 4

Schools hire extra security, 6

♦ The meteoric rise of local country star Bryce Leatherwood, 8

Soapbox, 13

Perspectives, 11 ♦ Letters to the Editor, 12

♦ A Fiesta of Flavors, 14 ♦ What’s happening in local food, 15

♦ Thanksgiving in Cherokee, 17

Community events, 18

Out and about, 29

THE CHEROKEE

Ballew

The Cherokee Ledger-News, published monthly by Times-Journal Inc.,

Periodicals postage paid at Monroe, GA and addition post offices.

New restaurants and businesses coming to Adair Park

By Ethan Johnson ejohnson@ledgernews.com

The Adair Park development in downtown Woodstock continues to take shape as new businesses are set to open in the coming months.

The mixed-use commercial and residential development currently includes Starbucks, Roberto’s Deluxe, HealthSprout Chiropractic and Wellness, Apricot Lane Boutique, and Collaborate.

Adair Park developer and HealthSprout owner Eric Richards said Roberto’s “very quickly earned their way into the top five most reserved restaurants in Cherokee County on Open Table.”

“It is a great coastal menu of oysters (fresh daily), and fish and seafood options,” he said. “Open for lunch Friday through Sunday, and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.”

Another restaurant within Adair Park, Kale Me Crazy, is under construction and

is expected to open in February, Richards said.

Next door, Project Optical is expected to open in March.

Additionally, two restaurants owned by the same chef are planned: Paloma Tequila and Tacos expected to open in the spring and Isabella’s Mediterranean, expected for sometime next year, Richards said.

These two restaurant concepts are from Chef Roberto Trevino, who competed on “Iron Chef.”

Oishii Sushi Noodle Bar has also been approved, with construction expected to start soon. Oishii, which will be Succulent Hospitality’s third Woodstock restaurant, is expected to open in the spring.

Italian restaurant Catalina Cucina is under construction. It is expected to open by early 2025.

Next door to Catalina Cucina will be a new breakfast/brunch concept that will be announced short-

ly, Richards said. Catalina Cucina and the new breakfast/brunch concept will sit on property across from Chattahoochee Technical College known as the Adair Park Marketplace.

4Ever Young, a franchise that focuses on wellness, hormone therapy and other longevity treatments, opened at the marketplace site earlier this month.

Also, Skin MD, a medical spa, is set to open in Adair Park this month, Richards said.

Adair Park will also feature Prime Nail Lounge, which is expected to open in the coming weeks.

A Whit’s Frozen Custard is also coming to Adair Park next year, he said.

Adair Park is located at 8256 Main St. in downtown Woodstock.

For more information and updates on the various businesses, restaurants, and housing options in Adair Park, visit www. adairparkwoodstock.com.

Special

Starbucks Plaza in Adair Park.

Cherokee County School District hiring 4 police officers

Staff reports

The Cherokee County School District is adding four officers to its police department to work at elementary schools.

The Cherokee County school board unanimously approved plans to add more officers to the CCSD Police Department Oct. 17.

The four police officers will be hired as soon as possible, according to CCSD.

Before the vote, Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis gave a report on the state of safety and security in the school district, where she reviewed recent activities by CCSD to foster community conversation about school safety.

These activities began last month, with the sharing at the school board meeting of a new video that gives a comprehensive overview of the daily efforts, commitments, and school board investments in place to keep students and staff in CCSD safe each day.

This video can be found in the updated Safety and Security section of the CCSD website at www.cherokeek12.net/divisions/ safety-security.

Davis hosted a community forum on safety and security earlier this month that was open to all parents and employees. After

HOLLY SPRINGS

a panel discussion, CCSD staff facilitated small group discussions and collected recommendations about advancing safety and security practices in schools.

A video recording of the panel presentation is online at tinyurl.com/4ujtyjvn.

CCSD also received feedback through an online form.

CCSD Police Chief Buster Cushing and Davis reviewed the feedback collected at both the meeting and through the online form and later presented it at a roundtable of local law enforcement and public safety officials for their review.

This group included the sheriff, city police chiefs, county fire chief, emergency management agency director and members of their leadership teams, as well as leaders from Cherokee E-911, the marshal’s office, district attorney’s office and Georgia State Patrol.

This process culminated in Davis’s recommendation that the school board approve the authorization of $675,000 to be used to fund the four new police officer positions, including salaries, benefits and equipment.

Each CCSD high school and middle school has at least one officer dedicated to its campus. Larger high schools have two officers. The ACTIVE Academies campus, which

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

See how Cherokee County students’ ACT scores compare statewide and nationally, Page 34.

includes CCSD’s alternative school, has its own officer.

CCSD elementary schools share officers at a ratio of one officer assigned to three clustered schools. With the additional four officers approved Oct. 17, that ratio will increase to one officer assigned to two elementary schools.

She also detailed additional investments now underway including the installation of security film on more school doors and windows, expansion of security camera system capabilities, improvement of CCSD police communication system interoperability with county and city agencies’ systems, and increased parent and community communication and educational programs to raise awareness of CCSD’s safety and security measures.

Davis said the next steps include further studying other recommendations, observing how effectively they function in other settings, and seeking and relying upon the professional insights of the community’s law enforcement professionals to ensure future investments don’t unintentionally expose CCSD to new risks or hazards.

Davis said the consensus of those law enforcement professionals is valuing “presence over products.”

“Presence,” she said, “is made possible by people, and that does include increasing our police force.”

School board members voiced their support for the continued expansion of the police force.

School board member Patsy Jordan asked to hear more about the numerous job responsibilities of CCSD police officers.

Davis said their responsibilities range from daily morning safety huddle meetings with administrators to checking for locked doors and monitoring hallways to ensuring safety of students, staff and visitors during both the regular school day, special events and athletic competitions.

“We are very fortunate in Cherokee County to have our own police officers,” Jordan said. “They’re just amazing.”

School board member Susan PadgettHarrison served as the principal at Cherokee High School in 1999 when CCSD established its school police department.

She spoke of the vision and commitment of past school board members and superintendents to invest in safety and security, and the determination of the current school board members and Davis to build upon that legacy.

“We don’t just talk the talk — we want to walk the walk,” she said.

Find your spot: More parking on its way to Town Center

By Ethan Johnson ejohnson@ledgernews.com

Construction of the Holly Springs Town Center parking deck is in the final stages of development.

On Oct. 7, the Holly Springs City Council voted 3-0 to approve a $861,309.90 change order from Vertical Earth, Inc. for work on the Holly Springs Town Center Parking Deck.

Councilmembers Michael Zenchuk and Dee Phillips were absent from the meeting.

The work includes completing earthwork, rock removal, knee walls and modular walls.

The city council also unanimously approved an $82,353 quote from Plumbing On Purpose LLC for plumbing services in the Holly Springs Town Center parking deck, as well as a $10,323 quote from Plumbing On Purposes LLC for storm drains in the parking deck.

The costs for the work on the parking deck are part of the Holly Springs Town Center parking deck budget, funded as part of the Urban Redevelopment Agency Series 2023 bond, according to city documents.

The town center’s parking deck will be the first structure completed on the northern portion of the site. The deck is expected to be completed later this year.

This additional approved work is needed to complete the deck, as well as additional paving and connectivity from Hickory Road to the parking deck.

The $8,039,555 parking deck will have three levels, with 323 parking spaces.

Stonecrest Homes President and CEO Charles Heiser, master developer for the Holly Springs Town Center, provided updates on the project’s development to the

city council Sept. 23.

The next phase of development in the Town Center — the amphitheater and the new city hall — are both in

the design drawing phase. The drawings are expected to be completed in the coming weeks, with construction bids expected to go out in the fall to early winter.

File/ethan Johnson

The Holly Springs Town Center parking deck.

Mary Elizabeth Davis Chief Buster Cushing

CHEROKEE COUNTY COMMUNITY NEWS

REINHARDT UNIVERSITY AWARDED $1M FEDERAL GRANT

The U.S. Department of Education will award Reinhardt University $1,025,887 over a five-year period to “strengthen the areas of academic quality, fiscal stability, student services and outcomes, and the quality of institutional management,” the university announced.

With these funds, Reinhardt plans to increase first-year retention, graduation rates, post-graduation job placement, and graduate program admission rates, according to the university.

Comprehensive and integrated support services for undergraduate students will include academic advising, enhanced tutoring, career planning, first-year support, peer mentoring, a summer bridge program for a group of incoming firstyear students and other academic support programs will be funded by the grant, according to the university.

ROUNDABOUT COMING TO TRICKUM RD. AT LITTLE RIVER PARK

A roundabout is coming to Trickum Road at the site of the future Little River Park, through an agreement between Cherokee County and the city of Woodstock.

One Oct. 15, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 approve a memorandum of understanding with Woodstock for improvements to the intersection of Trickum Road and Nocatee Trail.

The roundabout is planned to be the entrance to the future 100-acre Little River Park, Woodstock spokesperson Stacy Brown told the Ledger.

Woodstock will fully fund the design phase of the project and the right-of-way phase. The county will contribute up to $900,000 or 50% of the construction cost, whichever is less, toward the project. The county will reimburse the city for the amount of work actually completed, per unit prices provided by the contractor.

Woodstock began advertising for con-

struction bids for segments of the project in September.

Construction is expected to be completed within two years.

CHEROKEE COUNTY LOOKS TO IMPROVE OLD HIGHWAY 5

Cherokee County, Holly Springs, and Woodstock leaders are working together to plan for road improvements to Old Highway 5.

On Oct. 15, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to approve an intergovernmental agreement between Holly Springs and Woodstock for concept planning for Old Highway 5/Main Street/Holly Springs Parkway from its intersection with Ridgewalk Parkway to East Cherokee Drive, according to county documents.

Per the agreement, Cherokee County agrees to contract and manage a consultant chosen for this planning. The county agrees to be responsible for the total cost of the traffic counts: $13,275.

Holly Springs and Woodstock have agreed to provide one or more city staff members to participate in meetings throughout the process.

The county, Holly Springs, and Woodstock have each agreed to be responsible for one-third of the of the total cost of the traffic engineering report and the concept layouts: $19,718.33.

MORE RETAIL, DAYCARE COMING TO CHEROKEE

Retail space with offices and a daycare are coming to the intersection of Highway 20 and Wheeler Martin Drive east of Canton.

On Oct. 1, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a request from Maya Radovic representing Hani Narmani to rezone 4.25 acres from agricultural and estates residential to neighborhood commercial to develop a multi-use commercial and office lot.

The 9.14-acre site, which is undevel-

oped, is adjacent to Garrison’s Furniture and Appliance.

The development will include a onestory 15,000 square-foot mixed retail space with offices, a 3,000 square-foot daycare and office space, a recreational/ green/septic area, and 67 parking spaces, county documents show.

The remaining 4.85 acres will remain agriculturally zoned to potentially be developed as a residential property, according to county documents.

The only access to the property will be from Highway 20. There will be no access from Wheeler Martin Drive.

PICKLEBALL, SPLASHPAD ON CANTON PARKS WISHLIST

The city of Canton officially has a Parks and Recreation Master Plan to help guide the city when making decisions about future parks and recreation projects and programs.

The Canton City Council voted to approve the plan Oct. 3, after discussing it in September.

The city’s first comprehensive parks and recreation master plan began in October 2023 when the city hired Brandstetter Carroll Inc., who developed it with guidance from a steering committee and input from city leaders and community members.

The city is planning the new South Canton Park which will include an amphitheater, playground, walking path and dog park.

The plan also identifies “priority investment areas,” that include areas surrounding the core of the city, areas around Reinhardt College Parkway and Waleska Road, as well as neighborhoods near the Canton Golf Club and around the Marietta Highway and Knox Bridge Highway intersection.

Among other initiatives, the master plan recommendations include:

♦ Continue to develop trails that connect to parks, schools, and commercial areas — Lake Canton, Etowah River Trail

♦ Restore and upgrade Tippens Gym as a community recreation center, preserving a portion of the property (the elementary school building location) for future development

♦ Acquire land/develop new fields and community parks as population grows — consider additional artificial turf multipurpose fields

♦ Develop new neighborhood and pocket parks in priority investment/underserved areas

♦ Improve access to Etowah River (canoe/kayak launches and fishing)

♦ Develop downtown amphitheater

♦ Develop a splash pad

♦ Add pickleball courts at a city park

♦ The plan also notes that the Canton Paw Park could be replaced with a new dog park in another location; the current dog park is in “poor condition” and parking is limited, and could be turned into a neighborhood park.

The full 147-page plan can be found on the Oct. 3 city council agenda under item 11. For the agenda, visit canton.legistar. com/Calendar.aspx.

Residents will be able to find the plan at the city’s “Planning and Development Resources” page at tinyurl.com/fasyz5vx.

MORE ONLINE

For election coverage on Cherokee County’s local races, check us out online at: tribuneledgernews.com

File/mariam Janad

A roundabout coming to Trickum Road at Nocatee Trail is planned to be the entrance of Little River Park.

File/Anthony Stalcup

In this September photo, a young boy plays games at a festival held at Harmon Park.

COVER STORY

By Shannon Ballew | Sballew@Ledgernews.com

When Bryce Leatherwood decided to audition for “The Voice” over two years ago, he did it on a whim, not knowing that later he would become a fan favorite on national television.

Backed by country music star Blake Shelton, Leatherwood advanced through the show to the finals, winning the competition in December 2022.

Since then, he’s been in Nashville, writing, recording and producing several country singles.

Leatherwood, 24, grew up in Cherokee County’s Hickory Flat community, where he attended Hickory Flat Elementary School, Dean Rusk Middle School and Sequoyah High School, where he graduated in 2018. At Sequoyah, Leatherwood played for the school’s wrestling team, competing in the state tournament in 2018 in the 132-pound bracket and finishing fifth.

He grew up close to his grandfather — he worked summers on his grandfather’s farm in Macon — and

he has credited his grandfather with helping introduce him to music.

Leatherwood says he has a range of musical influences: country greats including Eric Church, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, rock musicians like Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and also Curtis Mayfield and Ray Charles.

“I’m a music nut. I’m almost more of a fan than I am a singer,” he said.

He’s been performing from a young age: in seventh grade, he won his middle school’s talent show.

“Growing up, I grabbed a microphone any chance

Livin’ the dream

I could. It was always trying to be on some kind of stage. I think it was to get attention, I don’t know,” he said. “But really what made me want to do it was…I felt like I made people happy. I felt like it made my parents happy, it made my friends happy. And I really kind of discovered it in college down at Georgia Southern that I could do this and really, I didn’t know what I wanted to do after college. So I decided to sign up for ‘The Voice’ on a whim to hopefully get a leg up in Nashville, and it worked pretty well, I think.” When he auditioned for the show, Leatherwood

Bryce Leatherwood — Cherokee County’s rising country music star

Michael Loizou/City of Canton

In this July photo, Bryce Leatherwood performs at the River Rock Music Fest in Canton.

DREAM

From 8

was living in Statesboro, where he had graduated from Georgia Southern University that spring. He was performing shows with a band as The Bryce Leatherwood Band around the Southeast, including at MadLife Stage and Studios in Woodstock.

In the episode with Leatherwood’s blind audition, viewers watched the judges’ first introduction to his voice, singing “Goodbye Time” by Conway Twitty.

They also saw Shelton react to his name: “Has there ever been a country-er name than Leatherwood?”

While Gwen Stefani and John Legend also wanted to mentor him, he chose Shelton as his coach.

As he advanced each episode to the next round, his hometown and the rest of Cherokee County cheered him on.

During his performance at the show’s finals that aired Dec. 12, 2022, locals gathered at a watch party on the Woodstock Arts Event Green to see him perform Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes” and Travis Tritt’s “T-R-O-U-B-LE.” The next day, the results were announced, and Leatherwood was named the winner.

In August 2023, he received a warm

See DREAM, 10

“

That was the best day of my life, for sure. That was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, to get to make your debut and have a standing ovation, and, you know, get to experience that stage. It’s the biggest stage in country music. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a true joy.”

Chris hollo

Bryce Leatherwood performs at the Grand Ole Opry.

Bryce Leatherwood on playing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville

DREAM

From 9

hometown welcome as a packed Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater saw him perform a concert in Woodstock.

He recalls being nervous for his homecoming show: although he’d played for crowds as large as 30,000, this crowd of about 5,000 was all there to see him.

“Getting in front of 5,000 people who are there to see you…you gotta show up. That was the most nervous I’ve ever been for a show,” he said. “But once I got on stage, I felt right at home. And that was another highlight in my career, was playing for my hometown. I can’t wait to do it again. Hopefully we’ll be back very soon.”

He was back in Cherokee County again this summer, July 26, headlining the River Rock Music Fest that night at Etowah River Park in Canton.

Since then, he’s spent a lot of time in the studio and touring. Earlier this year, Leatherwood’s Neon Does tour included Georgia stops in Decatur, Athens, Statesboro and Tifton, and outof-state performances included Birmingham, Chicago and Indianapolis. More recently, he’s performed in Denver and Arrow Rock, Mo.

And, Sept. 14, he made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

“That was the best day of my life, for sure. That was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, to get to make your debut and have a standing ovation,

and, you know, get to experience that stage. It’s the biggest stage in country music,” he said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a true joy.”

His single, “Hung Up on You” was released Sept. 6, and shortly after that it was the No. 1 added song at country radio.

As of a few weeks after the song was released, Leatherwood said that it’s his favorite single so far. He heard the song when he first moved to Nashville and knew then that he wanted to sing it and record it.

The result is a s ong that has a different feel from the rest of the singles he’s recorded, he said. “It turns heads, for sure.”

“To me, it stands for so many cool things musically…Eric Church, Allman Brothers, that kind of unique sound that, really, you don’t hear right now,” he said. “I gotta make a splash somehow. And I think that song’s gonna do it for me.”

Leatherwood said he and his team are working on plans for next year, including concert performances and music releases, saying it will be “a big year.”

“Hopefully we have something for y’all early next year. I think we’ve got a big debut album coming up,” he said.

Leatherwood attributes much of his success to the support he’s received from the local community in Cherokee County.

“I wouldn’t have been able to win that show and be where I’m at now, if it wasn’t for my town. Everyone really rallied behind me, and they continue to do so, which is so incredibly cool,” he said.

i t a n T i d i n g s

Special — City of Woodstock

In this 2023 photo, Bryce Leatherwood performs at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater in downtown Woodstock.

Where to go to meet ‘the right kind of man’

Back in the 1940s, my dad would go to Sparta and buy a copy of the “Augusta Chronicle” on Sunday mornings. As a pre-teen, I would read almost every word with special attention to my horoscope and advice to the lovelorn.

While I do not remember any predictions of my future, I remember very clearly where readers were told to go to meet the “right kind of man.” The answer was simple. “Go to church.”

Although I have gone to church all of my life, I did not meet any of my few boyfriends or my late husband there. However, I met one of the most honorable people I ever met at a church. In fact, I have met an abundance of honorable people in church.

But this was Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. As described by that advice to the lovelorn columnist in the “Augusta Chronicle” many years ago, he was the “right kind of man.”

That man was James Earl (Jimmy) Carter. Like others there on that Sunday morning, I was attending his Sunday School class. As he did long before he became the leader of the free world, he was teaching Sunday School.

I had retired as Cherokee County’s School Superintendent and was working as a private consultant. A few weeks earlier, I had been asked to meet with a

COLUMNIST|LYNN GENDUSA

For Grandpa, Nancy Melissa Sparks Pugh (1897-1994)

Nine years ago, when I began my second career as a columnist, one of my early stories was “Her Name Was Grandpa!” I authored two books and started each with the same story to introduce my grandmother with the funny name. Grandpa is integral to the books’ chapters and my life.

The original story about Grandpa spread across the country, and countless columns about this angel would follow. When they do, I receive many of the same questions, “Why is your grandmother called Grandpa?” Then, I explain or send them the initial story, which I keep on my web page.

For those of you who are still asking, here is the answer:

My brother, John, was 3 and watching his favorite grandmother prepare biscuits. When the flour hit the dough board, it dusted the air. She was talking to him the entire time and laughed as the white powder settled on his dark eyelashes.

John had trouble with her name, “Grandma.” He would quickly get them confused since he was born with six grandmothers. He was blessed with two grandmothers, two great-grandmothers, and two greatgreat-grandmothers. They all were alive

school board in deep South Georgia for a weekend out-of-town retreat.

They were having some differences of opinion and my role was to be a moderator. In other words, most likely there would be a verbal fight. I would be the referee. I agreed to accept the job.

Cline

I made a reservation at the Windsor Hotel in Americus. It was in the general vicinity of the area where the meeting was to be held. I drove down on Friday afternoon and prepared for my work on Saturday and Sunday.

It was one of the easiest, and most disappointing, consulting jobs ever.

Half of the board members were “noshows.” After waiting until almost noon, the frustrated Chairman of that Board of Education said that he saw no reason to meet again that afternoon or the next day without the full board involved. I decided to go back to Americus, check out of the hotel and get home a day early. Then I remembered something my son had told me a few years before.

John, his friends Cliff Owen, Jeff Rusbridge and Keith Blackwell had gone to an event somewhere in South Georgia. Enroute, they had gone to Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains and the Sunday School Class where Former President Jimmy Carter was the teacher. I changed my plan. I stayed overnight

in Americus again. The next morning, I drove to nearby Plains and Maranatha Baptist Church. Since President and Mrs. Carter traveled over the world doing humanitarian work, I was not sure he would be teaching on that Sunday.

After arriving quite early, I joined others who were going into the church. Very soon, it was overflowing with people standing around the walls. I was quite comfortable until the minister went to the pulpit.

Rev. Dan Ariail reminded us of what he called one of the Beatitudes. “Blessed is he who scoots to the middle of the pew.” After we scooted, those around the walls joined us in the pews. Then, others waiting outside came in and stood around the walls.

After welcoming us, Rev. Ariail, made some comments. First, other than the musicians and the ushers, the congregation of the church was not there. They gave their seats to the many visitors who came on Sunday mornings and the regular congregation came on Sunday nights. We were reminded that we were in a house of worship. No pictures were to be taken during the service. We were invited to join President and Mrs. Carter outside after the service to meet them and those who wanted to could take pictures then.

Yes, Her Name Was Grandpa

and well, living in the same small Tennessee mountain town of 2,000 folks. Plus, they all preferred to be called “Grandma.” However, only one living grandfather was married to his favorite.

Suddenly, while he and his granddaddy watched the biscuits being rolled and cut, he thought the solution would be to rename his favored grandmother, making her extra special.

His coal-brown eyes opened wide as he tugged his grandmother’s apron. “You’re gonna be Grandpa!” he shouted.

“John, I am Grandma, and he is your Granddaddy,” she laughed as she pointed to her smiling husband.

“Nope, you Grandpa and he Granddaddy!” John emphatically stated again before stomping away.

“Is he serious, honey?” Granddaddy responded to his wife, “Of course not; he’s only 3. This too shall pass.”

Our grandmother lived for 97 years. After John, eight more grandchildren were born, and eventually, she would know and love 18 great-grandchildren, countless nieces and nephews, and the town’s kids. And we all cherished the woman we only knew as “Grandpa.”

After I had written the original story, memories and dreams flooded my mind with all I had learned from Grandpa. I

began writing them down, and notes became another column, then another. Letters arrived from readers telling me, “I just love Grandpa!”

When I was young, she and I would drive into town to the dime store. She would head to the candy counter while I went for the paper dolls. When I found the right ones, I yelled, “Grandpa, come here!”

Folks started looking around for a man until the Grandpa woman showed up to see what I found. The truth is, it was so funny that, later, we would do it on purpose just to see the look on customers’ faces.

Grandpa is now famous. Readers and editors love “Grandpa stories.” She still teaches from heaven that what we are called has nothing to do with who we are. She gave up Grandma to be Grandpa because she loved a little boy more than a title. Her pride was not in her name but in the grandchild who named her. Her humor could transform her into a kid of any age. Her kindness could heal a broken heart, and her relationship with God could put anyone on their knees because you could see him within her. I wanted to grow up and be like Grandpa, but I quickly realized that only one could wear such an illustrious crown.

The Carters and their security agents arrived through a side door. After asking everyone where home was for them and making a few comments, he began the class. People were there from many states and a few other countries.

Many years have passed since then. The Carters continued to serve the neediest around the world. Rosalynn Carter has left us and Jimmy Carter is now 100 years old.

In elementary school my teachers instilled honesty and character in their students using Presidents of the United States as examples.

Over eight decades later, I remember, “George Washington could not tell a lie. He cut down the cherry tree.” “Abraham Lincoln walked six miles to return a few pennies when he overcharged a customer.”

If I were teaching little children today, I would use the life and work of President Jimmy Carter as an example of humility and greatness.

In retrospect, I know I was in the presence of greatness twice that Sunday morning. First and foremost, I was in the House of my Creator. Then, I shook hands and talked with one of most selfless humanitarians God ever created.

Marguerite Cline is a retired superintendent of Cherokee County schools and a former mayor of Waleska.

When my granddaughter was born, I let her call me whatever she wanted my name to be. I quickly became Grandma. While my friends have all kinds of cute names they selected for the grandchildren to use, I have the one Grandpa gave up out of love. It seems pretty appropriate.

What is in a name? Does it represent fame, money, power, inheritance, or prestige? Or does it represent honor, humility, and love beyond measure?

When I think of my brother today, I see him in heaven sitting at a table with Grandpa, eating her famous biscuits that no one could emulate, and trying to explain how his sister is telling America about her.

Grandpa shakes her head and smiles, “Lordy, that child always was a talkin’!” Yes, Grandpa, I am talking, and I will continue sharing those lessons you taught us all by the way you lived and the life you led. I keep your memory alive because you were one of those rare folks everyone needs to know. You taught us about love, sacrifice, leadership, and the true meaning of a name.

What’s in a name? Sometimes everything.

Lynn Gendusa’s latest book is “Southern Comfort: Stories of Family, Friendship, Fiery Trials, and Faith.” She can be reached at www.lynngendusa.com.

Gendusa

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

When All Else Fails: Ham radios get the message out

DEAR EDITOR:

“When All Else Fails” is a motto from the American Radio Relay League, ham radio. It illustrates the resilience of ham radio operators to be able to provide emergency plus health and welfare communication during times of national disaster. Cell phones crash, public service trunked radio systems go down which police, fire, and EMS rely on. Power lines go down. Roads are washed out. A ham radio operator with their radio, battery, and wire antenna may be the only communication service available in and out

of disaster-stricken areas.

Some people have said ham radio is old fashioned and no longer necessary and these modern communication systems will take over.

Then we have tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes and calamities that pushes those systems past the breaking point. What’s left? Ham radio. Hurricane Sandy not only took down cellular phone service it also took down the public service radio system.

Hams stepped in to provide critical communication until these systems were repaired and back on line. During

Paying their fair share

DEAR EDITOR:

Pay their fair share! Pay their fair share… same old rhetoric repeated over and over from the Democrat candidate for President Kamala Harris. Democrats have been using this slogan for decades, pretending to be the champion of the middle class. The Democrats’ way of division, dividing people into different classes, this time by income instead of race.

The latest numbers from the IRS — based on data from 2019 tax returns — show what it takes to be among the top 1% of income earners: At least $546,434 of adjusted gross income (AGI).

That’s $6,425 more than it took to buy into this rarefied status a year earlier. The 1.5 million or so returns reporting this elite income status accounted for approximately 20% of the total AGI reported on 2019 returns. This same group paid 39% of Federal Income Tax” According to the IRS 2020 stats, the top 1 % of taxpayers about 1.5 million paid $722 billion in income taxes which accounts for 42.3% of all income taxes paid.

In contrast, “90% paid a combined total of $450 billion in income taxes.” In 2020 1% of taxpayers earned 22% of all Adjusted Gross Income, which means their 42.3% income tax is twice the share of the national income. Whereas the bottom 90% earned 50.5% of the national income but paid roughly 26.3% of income tax.

So the rich really do pay “their fair share” of taxes, don’t let the “misinformation” that Kamala is trying to feed you fool you with her rhetoric about the “bad’ rich people “into paying their fair share” These “bad” rich people have built the factories and shops that employ the roughly 167 million people in the United States according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. She should thank the overachievers in this country, some who took great personal risks, that build these businesses, The American Dream come true.

Gary Seraydarian Canton

and after Hurricanes Helene and Milton people could not get any message out except using ham radio. Imagine families getting a message saying I’m OK, everyone’s fine, don’t worry. That offers comfort to families not knowing what happened to loved ones.

Hams are often portrayed as reclusive socially isolated people in television shows and nothing could be further from the truth. Hams are a very outgoing helpful people who love the amateur radio hobby. Ham radio operators are communicators by nature. They study the subject of radio and pass

test to obtain a license from the Federal Communication Commission to operate an amateur radio station. Importantly they will volunteer their time and personal equipment to help in emergencies. If you are interested in becoming a ham radio operator or just want to find out more about it visit the American Radio Relay League at ARRL.org for more information. Hopefully I will see you on the air, 73, (Best Wishes) from amateur radio station W4EK.

Include your pets in disaster plans

DEAR EDITOR:

Hurricanes Helene and Milton are heartbreaking reminders that disaster preparedness saves lives. American Humane is urging pet owners to take a few simple steps today to ensure you and your animal companions are ready when the next catastrophe strikes.

First, develop a pet-specific disaster plan, including a list of safe places that could house your pets in a crisis. Pet-friendly hotels, emergency shelters, and friends or relatives in another area are good places to start.

Second, make an evacuation kit with essential supplies, including enough water and nonperishable pet food for several days, an extra leash or harness, a comfortable pet carrier or crate, a week-long supply of any medications your pet requires (stored in a waterproof container), copies of your pet’s medical records and vaccinations, and recent photos of your pet.

Third, ensure your pet always wears a collar with up-to-date contact information, including a cell phone number, in case of a power

outage. American Humane also recommends microchipping your pet. However, remember that microchips aren’t GPS trackers: The devices simply store emergency contact information, which owners are responsible for providing and keeping up-to-date.

Finally, recall the most important rule of all: If you’re forced to evacuate, don’t leave pets behind.

Dr. Robin Ganzert American Humane president & CEO

Tell Cherokee what you think

Letters to the editor may be submitted by email to editor@ledgernews.com, or by mail to 521 e. Main St., Canton, g A 30114. All letters must be typed and include a phone number to verify authenticity. We reserve the right to reject publication. We reserve the right to edit for libel and brevity. The editor and publisher reserve the right to publish a sampling of letters that reflect an accurate representation of those submitted on the same subject. The content and accuracy of all information contained in a letter to the editor is the responsibility of the letter-writer. Letters must not exceed 450 words.

Raleigh Morgan Canton

Editor’s note: The Soapbox is a forum for residents to sound off about topics of interest. All comments are those of the callers and do not reflect the views of the newspaper. We welcome the contributions of our readers and encourage respectful and lively debate. The Ledger-News reserves the right not to publish Soapbox items based on libel or other considerations the editor and publisher deem valid. Comments may be edited for brevity. Please keep comments as brief as possible. Lengthy opinions should be addressed in a letter to the editor. To submit a Soapbox, call 770- 928-1055 or email editor@ledgernews.com.

♦ There isn’t an apparent complex the county commissioners don’t like. Yet the county isn’t building more schools or building more roads. Every county commissioner should be voted out!

♦ I would like to say SHAME ON THE CITY OF HOLLY SPRINGS for tearing down multiple trees…especially the very large one closest to East Cherokee Rd. That tree had to be OVER 100 years old and it is a disgrace that it was torn down to build a park! A park that will have trees! We will never see a tree that large in our lifetime growing in that park. I hope they were fined for tearing it down.

♦ Kamala Harris keeps saying that she and the Biden administration had a border deal all put together but Trump made some phone calls and killed it. If Trump could just make some phone calls and kill it, if the man is that powerful, then why not just elect him as the president? Because even if she wins, she’ll be inept, if that’s truly what she believes. This is just more lies from Kamala Harris to try to shift the blame on the abysmal border job she has done.

♦ My vote for president will go to the person committed to: the constitution and rule of law for all persons; addressing the unfairness in our current tax system that’s resulted in shifting wealth from the bottom 50% to the top 10%; working with other democratic nations to support Ukraine and oppose authoritarian leaders seeking to exercise their will on other nations; addressing the common good for all persons, not just the wealthy; accepting the 2024 election results and supporting a successful transition of power. Trump has not committed to any of these, so Harris has received my vote.

♦ So Kamala has an ad running saying all these former representatives, generals and high level government people don’t recommend Trump even getting near the White House, they’re against him. Probably because he’s fired most of them, and General Milley should have been fired, because he was in charge of the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, where 13 servicemen were killed, and he had no consequences.

SOAPBOX

♦ A friend told me she voted for Obama to prove she was not a racist. Apparently many others did likewise. By the way, she had “buyer remorse” later. Now we have a half Black woman (Ms. Giggles) running for president. Hopefully, most voters will not do the same as my friend. The only real Black woman qualified to be President is Condolezza Rice; but she will not run for office.

♦ I want to comment on the letters to the editor from Duke Yaguchi and Kim Guinn. I want to thank you for those letters, they were wonderful. They were so true and very well worded. Thank you so much for putting those in there. God bless.

♦ When an evil murderer should get the death penalty, the liberal Democrats claim that life is precious — unless it is a fetus.

♦ To the person that posted that Brian Kemp is the best governor we’ve ever had, my response is: the best thing about Brian Kemp is that he’s term limited.

♦ Was out of town when Mr. Lampru’s Letter to the Editor was published; sorry for the delay. It is so refreshing to see that he has come full circle to suggest “Vote MAGA”. Yes, who doesn’t want to “Make America Great Again” after the past 3+ years. Go Paul!

♦ More evidence of how Trumpers look at the election and what’s going on: Cherokee Democrats placed Kamala signs around Cherokee County on Sunday. On Monday, Trumpers were all over the place pulling those signs up and replacing them with Trump signs. Still have no way of having a decent conversation. That’s typical of Trump and the Trumpers that are around.

♦ When the DNC anointed Kamala as their nominee, they told me as a Democratic voter that my voice was irrelevant. So I’m voting against Harris in protest.

♦ Are you ready to pledge your vote to JD or whatever his name is, or to the Speaker

of the House, when Donald’s mental and physical health run out?

♦ Way to go Paul Lampru. By using Trump and his fellow democracy bashers’ own words to make a strong point.

♦ Yesterday I received the following in an email soliciting donations for the Trump/ Vance campaign: “I’m reaching out to you over anyone else in your hometown... My team tells me we haven’t heard from you... I can only afford to keep your personal census link live until MIDNIGHT TONIGHT! You have my word that your responses will be kept out of Comrade Kamala’s filthy hands.” Sounds like unjustified fear tactics which might be used in autocratic Hungary, or Turkey or even Russia, fear tactics which have no place in our beloved America.

♦ I really feel sorry for all those people who have storm damage in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, especially North Carolina. Biden and Harris didn’t do a thing for those people. I heard people on television saying they were turned down for $750, but they can sure give those foreign countries all kinds of money. They are the two sorriest people I’ve ever seen in my life. Anybody who votes for Harris is crazy.

♦ In Trump’s first presidency, at the border he separated thousands of children from their parents. To this very day, there are still 1,400 children who are orphans who do not know where their parents are. In a second administration of Trump, this could only get worse. I’m talking to all parents: How do you feel about this action of separating children from their parents and making them orphans? If you disagree with that, please do not vote for Donald Trump.

♦ Ms. Harris, you are such an advocate for female health and freedom of choice. What are your thoughts on the thousands

of young girls and women who are being sex trafficked resulting directly from your open borders?

♦ To all “The Trumpers” who are removing the Harris- Waltz signs placed legally on private and public property: We know who you are! YOU are the person who in your youth bullied the other children in the playground! YOU are the person who teaches your children and your grandchildren — by your own example — that stealing is OK! YOU are the person who is supporting a known felon, who brags about sexually assaulting women, and who incited a mob to attack the US Capitol and erect a gallows on which to hang Mike Pence!

♦ Hmmm so do I wanna give my tax dollars to billionaires who worked hard for the money at least or my money to murderers to get sex change operation in jail. The fact that Kamala Harris admits that she was pushing that agenda makes me sick. It should make all of us sick.

♦ A Wall Street Journal article reported that economists say that inflation and deficits will be higher under Trump than Harris.

♦ Bob Woodward in his new book, “War”, reports that General Mark Milley said that Trump is a fascist to the core. And that Trump is the greatest danger to our country. General Milley served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Trump administration.

♦ Hillary’s comments on “free speech” says it all as she advocates for federal government to “moderate and monitor” all speech, just what the Democrats have been trying to do for many years so their indoctrination efforts, with help of the media, will be overwhelmingly successful especially with low information voters. If Harris is elected this is what we all get, the end of free speech.

A FIESTA OF FLAVORS

Mexican restaurant opens at The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta

Staff reports

A new Mexican restaurant has opened at The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta in Woodstock.

Cancun Mexican Grill, a 2,244 squarefoot sit-down restaurant features a full bar, indoor dining, and a patio area. It sits at the northeast entrance of the shopping center, next to 50 East Shoes.

A family-owned business, Cancun Mexican Grill features authentic Mexican food, along with a selection of margaritas and wings.

The new eatery is the latest endeavor by Ricky Roman, who is the founder and

owner of the original Cancun Mexican Grill in the Towne Lake community.

“Ricky’s Cancun Mexican Grill will be a fantastic addition to our sit-down dining options here at the center,” said General Manager Todd Chauvin. “They are known for serving delicious food at a great price, and we can’t wait for our customers to experience it.”

The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta is located at 915 Ridgewalk Parkway in Woodstock.

For more information, visit www.TheOutletShoppesAtAtlanta.com or follow The Outlet Shoppes on Facebook and Instagram.

Photos courtesy The outlet Shoppes at Atlanta

DINING NEWS IN AND AROUND CHEROKEE

RISE AND DINE FAMILY RESTAURANT OPENS IN SW CHEROKEE

Rise & Dine Family Restaurant is a new member of the Cherokee County food service community, and owner Alex Espinosa thinks his wide selection of menu options will appeal to customers, whether they’re interested in breakfast, lunch or dinner.

“This is a great community for the food we offer,” Espinosa said. “We prepare fresh-made meals with a country feel. When we make breakfast, we crack every egg right here. We think people appreciate our simple, old-fashioned approach and the care we put into every meal.”

Since opening on Aug. 26, Rise & Dine has done steady business, and it’s getting better, Espinosa says. Located at 5345 Bells Ferry Road near Acworth, just south of Highway 92, the restaurant is open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Espinosa’s menu includes a wide variety of hot and cold meals, salads, sandwiches and desserts. Customers can order a la carte or select a daily special for lunch or dinner, which includes a meat, two side dishes, a bread and dessert for $12.99. Besides omelets, skillets, biscuits and other familiar morning choices, for those in a nostalgic mood, Rise & Dine’s breakfast meat menu includes fried Spam.

More information about Rise & Dine can be found at https://risedinefamilyrestaurant0444.s4shops.com and on their social media pages.

TACOBAR TAQUERIA OPENS IN HOLLY SPRINGS

A new taco restaurant recently opened Highway 140 in Holly Springs, replacing a Mexican eatery that closed at the same location.

Tacobar Taqueria is a new venture by Woodstock resident Jovito Garcia.

The restaurant, at the Highway 140 entrance of the Harmony on the Lakes neighborhood, is replacing Cactus Cantina, which Garcia also owned. He also owns the Cactus Cantina in Alpharetta.

Garcia has remodeled the interior to better suit his new restaurant.

“I made the bar bigger ...” Garcia said. “I remodeled the whole restaurant basically including the kitchen. I also have a simpler menu for this new restaurant. I just want to be able to better serve and impress my customers.”

Garcia described his new menu as a mix of “street” tacos, wings, nachos and burritos. The restaurant will also initially offer breakfast to “see how that works out,” Garcia said ahead of the opening.

Tacobar Taqueria, 402 Argonne Terrace, Suite 200 in Holly Springs, features 15 tables, including some outdoor seating.

FRENCH BAKERY

OPENS IN KENNESAW

A new bakery is open in Kennesaw, giving residents a taste of authentic, French

baked goods.

Bonnin’s Bakery spent three years selling baked goods at farmers markets before raising the funds to open its own location.

The bakery specializes in hand-made desserts and other baked goods authentic to French tradition. Founded in 2020, the Bonnins originally baked their menu items in their home. Morgane Bonnin said this new space allows the couple to separate work from home.

Some of their more popular items so far include their strawberry croissants, complete with a strawberry puree filling, and pastries like their chocolate éclair and fruit tarts. They can also provide customers with specialty cakes for birthdays and weddings.

The sandwich menu offers items like the “Frenchie,” a baguette sandwich with brie, lettuce, tomato and butter, and their croque monsieur, a hot sandwich with ham, cheese and béchamel sauce.

Bonnin’s Bakery, 4200 Wade Green Rd. #136, in Kennesaw, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Info: bonninsbakery.com.

Joseph bennett

Alex Espinosa is the owner of Rise & Dine Family Restaurant on Bells Ferry Road in southwest Cherokee County.

Special

Tacobar Taqueria in Holly Springs.

The Market will be Closed Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 and re-open Saturday Nov 2nd.

NOVEMBER 2- 3

Cherokee Thanksgiving a time to give back

By Rebecca Johnston

For the Cherokee Ledger

Cheryl McBratney gets a big smile on her face when she talks about Cherokee Thanksgiving.

Although this is the 19th year she has volunteered her time as Cherokee Thanksgiving coordinator to make sure everyone in need in Cherokee County gets a Thanksgiving meal, McBratney said the camaraderie and joy of helping others is still what makes the holiday a time of thanks for her.

“I think for a lot of us who volunteer, this is what Thanksgiving is all about. I started out doing it to honor my mom, because Thanksgiving was always her favorite holiday, and now that it is just my son and I, this group of volunteers is a part of my Thanksgiving family,” McBratney said of the event begun in 1992. “I wish that everyone could come participate and feel how rewarding it is.”

This year, the need is greater than ever, and Cherokee Thanksgiving, a massive local volunteer effort funded by donations, is hoping to be able to provide a record 3,000 meals this holiday as the event marks its 32nd anniversary serving the community.

The volunteer organization is working to raise more than $18,000 to fund the effort for 2024.

In recent years Reyes and Sharon Morales, co-owners of Williamson Brothers Bar-B-Q in Canton, have been making a significant impact on Cherokee Thanksgiving by cooking and preparing the meals at their restaurant. Their staff helps to prepare the food and to make it a smoother process.

“Reyes and Sharon came to our rescue during Covid when we could no longer cook the meal at the Canton First Methodist Church, where it began all those years ago,” McBratney explains. “Without them we could not have continued.”

For the Morales, being involved with Cherokee Thanksgiving is about pitching in to help the community and to assist the volunteers who each year give their time and talents to feed thousands of people.

“Thanksgiving is about giving back what you are blessed with all year,” Reyes Morales said. “The community has been so good, and when we can give back it blesses us in return.”

Morales remembers the first year he and his wife got involved. They were making a delivery to the church and saw all the volunteers smoking the hundreds of turkeys outside in the church parking lot in the rain, because the church kitchen was too small to prepare all the food necessary.

“We saw what they were dealing with, and I said, this is something we can do, we can cook for you. The next year, they asked us to cook 50 turkeys. Next year, we cooked it all and took it back to the church,” he recalled. “We are so happy to help.”

Sharon Morales said their motivation to offer their restaurant to handle all the cooking was to see the group of volunteers trying so hard to help so many other people and how committed they are to help others.

“These volunteers were just unbelievable,

and we are just honored to be a part of Cherokee Thanksgiving,” she said.

All the turkeys and several of the side dishes are prepared and cooked at Williams Brothers Bar-B-Q. However, volunteers still make the dressing for the traditional Thanksgiving meal, then transport it to the restaurant where it is cooked.

Volunteers collect dessert items as donations throughout the community. McBratney said the volunteer group begins working on the project in July each year and holds their final meeting in early January to wrap up. One of the key volunteers is Mike Seibert, who McBratney calls her right hand man.

“It is non-stop as we get closer to the event, and Mike and I spend 40 hours each week leading up in preparations. Then Thanksgiving week we are busy as we pick up rolls, coordinate desserts, get the dressing from the church to Williams Brothers, and many other tasks,” she said.

Cherokee Thanksgiving was started by Canton residents Don and Lila Stevens in

1992 after they lost their teenage daughter in a tragic accident and continues now under the direction of McBratney.

“What started as a family’s need to work through the loss of a child and sister has become such a blessing to those in need,” McBratney said.

Don Stevens died in 2021. “It is still so hard not having Don with us. He was literally the wind beneath my wings those first years as this event grew and I fumbled my way along as the coordination. Don was always waiting in the background to help with any issues that came up,” McBratney said.

In October 2022, Williamson Brothers BarB-Q suffered a massive fire that closed the restaurant for almost six months. That year La Catrina restaurant in Canton stepped in to help cook and prepare the meals.

Most meals are now delivered. Reservations are required and open on Oct. 28 for those who would like turkey dinner from Cherokee Thanksgiving.

As many as 250 volunteers are needed to

cook, serve, and deliver the meals. Many of those who will be helping this year started as volunteers with the Stevens.

Flyers are sent to the Canton Housing Authority and to most trailer courts in the county. “Street signs” go up the week before with information regarding ordering meals. MUST Ministries, the Cherokee County School District, and other local nonprofits that assist those in need help spread the word about Cherokee Thanksgiving, McBratney said.

The organization also puts out signs in areas where they know people in need are living to help let people know where to go to sign up.

Meals are also delivered to firefighters and other emergency personnel around the county working on Thanksgiving Day and to the Northside Cherokee Hospital emergency room staff as well.

To donate or sign up visit cherokeethanksgiving.com or get more information at www. facebook.com/cherokeethanksgiving.

Jack Tuszynski

Brooke Cagle, Bill Hamby and Tiffany Goddard. Cherokee Thanksgiving distributes over 2,000 meals every year in Cherokee and Pickens counties.

Jack Tuszynski

From left to right: Marvin Valladares, Jose Francisco, Reyes Morales, Jose Ramirez-Rivera, Silvestre Hernandez of Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q in Canton.

Jack Tuszynski

Sharon Morales and Cheryl McBratney.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN CHEROKEE

NOV 1-2

DENIM FEST

The third annual Denim Fest is 5-9 p.m. Nov. 1 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway in Canton. The event celebrates the mill’s history as a cotton mill that produced denim.

Friday, Nov. 1 is family fun night with trick-or-treating throughout the property, a kids costume contest, vendors and food. Yacht Rock Schooner will perform. The winner of the kids costume contest will receive a $100 gift card. Saturday, Nov. 2 will include SEC football games on the big screen, the annual Denim Fest BBQ cook off, a kids fun zone, pop up bars, and more. The event is free, but tickets are required for the BBQ Cook Off tasting. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Children’s Haven.

For more information or to buy tickets to the barbecue tasting, visit https:// www.etowahmill.com/event/denimfest.

NO V 2-3

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL

Woodstock Arts’ annual Dia De Los Muertos Festival is 2-8 p.m. Nov. 2 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Woodstock Arts Event Green, 111 Elm St. in Woodstock.

Día De Los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead, derives from the Mexican tradition of prayer and remembrance of friends and family members who have died.

The festival will have art, music, food and a community ofrenda. Admission is free.

NOV 2

CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT AND AUTUMN BASH

The Cherokee County 911 Foundation is hosting the 1st Annual Cornhole Tournament & Autumn Bash at 11 a.m. Nov. 2 at Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton.

Team registration has closed. For more information visit https://www.cherokeega-911.org/foundation-events.

NOV 10

REINHARDT UNIVERSITY CHOIR FALL CONCERT

The Reinhardt University Choir’s fall concert is 3-5 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Falany Performing Arts Center, 7300 Reinhardt Circle in Waleska. The choir is a select ensemble under the Director of Choral Activities, performing as part of the University performing arts series and in churches and schools throughout Georgia. Admission is free. To reserve a ticket or for more information, visit https:// thefalany.com/event/university-choirfall-concert.

Festivalgoers shop with vendors at

NOV 16

BIZARRE DASH & BASH

The Bizarre Dash & Bash starts at 7:15 a.m. Nov. 16 in downtown Canton, an all-day celebration with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Children’s Haven.

The 3rd Annual Bizarre Bash will have a bounce house, a pasta-eating contest, face painting, 30+ incredible local vendors and small businesses, community art, a DJ and more.

The 2nd annual Bizarre Coffee 5K will start in historic downtown Canton and end near 121 E. Marietta St. Trophies will be awarded to overall top male and female winners, and award medals will be given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd age group winners. Registration is online and is $59.30, including a sign-up fee. For more information visit https:// www.bizarrecoffee.com/pages/bizarre-bash.

See CALENDAR, Next page

Special

Denim Fest at the Mill on Etowah in 2022.

Special — reinhardt University Flint Hall at The Falany Performing Arts Center.

Special

Amber Casagrande with Never Alone Food Pantry holds two lanterns she designed for the 2022 Lantern Parade and Festival.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

CALENDAR

From Previous page

NOV 16

LANTERN PARADE AND FESTIVAL

The Lantern Parade and Festival is Nov. 16 at Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. The event begins with a festival at 3 p.m., followed by a lantern parade at dusk. Lineup for the parade starts at 6:15 p.m. There will be a petting zoo, bounce houses, face painting, spin art, and much more, including activities for adults, and food options available for purchase. Proceeds benefit the Never Alone Community Food Pantry. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. To buy tickets or for more information visit https://www.neveralone.org.

NOV 20

CANTON

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

Canton’s annual Christmas tree lighting event is 6:30-8:30 Nov. 20 at Cannon Park, 130 E Main St. in downtown Canton. There will be music at the park before Santa arrives in the city to kick off the holiday season. Santa and the mayor will light the Christmas tree, and Santa will visit with kids and families.

NOV 23

REFORMATION CHILI COOK-OFF

Reformation Brewery is hosting a Chili Cook-Off from noon to 4 p.m. at its Canton location, 225 Reformation Parkway, Suite 500 in Canton.

Registration as a chili taster is $15 and includes a free beer, and one complimentary tasting from each competitor plus the chance to cast your ballot for the best chili recipe.

Registration to enter the competition is $10 per recipe. There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes plus a “People’s Choice” award,

To register or for more information, visit https://canton.reformationbrewery.com/ event/reformation-chili-cook-off.

NOV 29-30

CHRISTMAS AT THE MILL

The Mill on Etowah is hosting Christmas at the Mill 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 29 and 30 at 225 Reformation Parkway in Canton. There will be ice skating under twinkling lights, over 100 vendor booths, football on the big screen, holiday treats and more. Children can also get photos taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

For more information or to book a reservation with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, visit https://www.etowahmill.com/christmas.

NOV 29

THE RETURN

Beatles tribute band The Return is performing at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at Madlife Stage & Studios, 8722 Main St. in Wood-

stock. Tickets start at $34.50, plus taxes and fees. To buy tickets or for more information visit https://madlifestageandstudios.com.

DEC 6

MARCH OF TOYS

The annual March of the Toys Parade is returning to downtown Ball Ground at 7 p.m. Dec. 6. This is one of the largest Christmas parades in north Georgia. The parade features the Creekview High School Marching Band, dance groups, princesses, superheroes, floats, tractors, antique cars and more. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make a visit to town. Attendees to the parade are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. For more information visit www.marchofthetoysparade.com.

DEC 8

WOODSTOCK CHRISTMAS JUBILEE AND PARADE OF LIGHTS

Woodstock’s annual Christmas parade starts at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 8 in downtown Woodstock, beginning from Woodstock Elementary School on Rope Mill Road, to Main Street and ending at Sam’s Club near State Road 92. After the parade, the Jubilee festival in The Park at City Center will offer shopping, DJ music, free cupcake decorating and other treats, and a reading of the Polar Express. Santa will help light the 30-foot Christmas tree. For more information visit www.woodstockparksandrec.com.

robin rayne

Stella Dockery and sister Palme from Canton visit the city’s 2023 Christmas tree at the annual tree lighting event.

CHRISTMAS AT REINHARDT

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 7:30 pm

Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 7:30 pm

Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 3 pm

Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 3 pm

GOOD SHOT JUDY CHRISTMAS

Monday, Dec. 9, 2024 7:30 pm

CELTIC CHRISTMAS ANGELS

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024 3 pm

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024 7:30 pm

DOO-WAH RIDERS

Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 3 pm

Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 7:30 pm

UPTOWN

Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 3 pm

Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 7:30 pm

THE FOUR C NOTES

Friday, March 21, 2025 3 pm

Friday, March 21, 2025 7:30 pm

2024-25 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW|GIRLS

New season, same expectations for River Ridge

By Griffin Callaghan gcallaghan@ ledgernews.com

The pressure to repeat is off, but championship expectations remain for River Ridge ahead of the 2024-25 basketball season.

After getting ousted by eventual Class AAAAAA state champion Marist in the final four, the Knights return all but one player, including much of the core from their 2022-23 state title team.

River Ridge has won four consecutive region titles, with its historic region win streak up to 60 and counting. In a new region this season, the Knights hope to continue stacking wins behind seniors Sophia Pearl and Kayla Cleaveland.

“That’s been the expectation the last few years,” coach Jason Taylor said. “We lost a great rebounder with Allie (Sweet), along with a tremendous athlete and asset on the defensive side of the floor. I think we have the right players in place to, hopefully, make that run again. That’s the expectation.”

Alongside Pearl and Cleaveland, River Ridge brings back junior Makayla Roberson and sophomore Finley Parker as four of five returning starters. The Knights will see Joy Tchamabe back on the floor after she missed last season due to injury.

Kyla Cantey will play her super sub role again, providing a substantial lift off the bench, with senior Whitley Coleman and freshman Reagan Mulligan also expected to play important roles.

With all the returning talent, chemistry is a strength for this year’s Knights.

“Having the team chemistry that we do this year is definitely going to help,” Taylor said. “Most of them have played together since they were freshmen. We lost to Love-

their AAAAAA State Championship in Macon.

joy in the elite eight their freshman year, and some of them were starters, so we’ve had that same makeup. It’s a huge help.”

One of River Ridge’s biggest challengers for the Region 6AAAAA crown in 202425 will be Sequoyah, an experienced team with an infusion of youth.

The Chiefs graduated three seniors from last season, but they return leading scorer (11.9 points) and rebounder (7.5) Milanni Abdus-Salaam, along with point guard Carly Bass, who was an impact freshman.

“We are coming off a pretty successful season last year, but we are looking to really improve in a couple of areas,” coach Chris Yarbrough said. “We were not as efficient offensively as I wanted to be, so

GIRLS TEAMS AT GLANCE

CHEROKEE

Coach: Sharon Swanson

Last season: 24-7, 10-0 region

5AAAAAAA

Key players: F Summer Smiley (Sr.), F Lyla griffith (Jr.), g madison moody (Jr.), g Alex Whitecliffe (Sr.), g klaire henkle (Sr.)

CREEKVIEW

Coach: eric herrick

Last season: 15-11, 6-6 region 6AAAAAA

Key players: C Amilya Taft (Sr.), g/F Ashlynn bleisath (Sr.), g marissa mason (Sr.), g Callie Cavender (Sr.), g kailyn hamby (Jr.)

ETOWAH

Coach: Jordan Tetley

Last season: 15-14, 5-7 region 6AAAAAA

Key players: g/F Savannah Aparicio (So.), g Taylor davis (Sr.), g Taylor Wills (Sr.), g myla Pesqueira (So.), g marlee Stoeckl (Sr.)

RIVER RIDGE

Coach: Jason Taylor

Last season: 26-5, 12-0 region

6AAAAAA

Key players: g Sophia Pearl (Sr.), F kayla Cleaveland (Sr.), g makayla roberson (Jr.), F Finley Parker (So.), g kyla Cantey (Jr.)

SEQUOYAH

Coach: Chris yarbrough

Last season: 19-10, 8-4 region 6AAAAAA

Key players: F/C milanni Abdus-Salaam (Sr.), g Carly bass (So.), g Ava gray (Sr.), g Addie kate beck (So.), F elle gemberling (So.)

WOODSTOCK

Coach: Tiffany Leak

Last season: 10-17, 4-8 region 6AAAAAA

Key players: g Lily Conkell (Sr.), F morghan Slater (Jr.), g emily Jacobs (Jr.), g bree rogers (Sr.), F Cameron Schlichting (Jr.)

that’s one of the focuses we put toward this season.”

Sequoyah has been a perennial playoff contender, with a Class AAAAAA state

championship appearance in 2021-22 to show for it. In a challenging new Region 6AAAAA this season, Yarbrough said he expects a good basketball team to miss the playoffs.

As the Chiefs attempt to close the gap between themselves and River Ridge, there’s plenty of talent to work with in 2024-25.

“It’s going to be a fun group,” Yarbrough said. “We have players with experience, but I am really excited about our young players. This is probably the most talented lot we’ve had, 1-15 since I’ve been here, so that makes practices better, and hopefully, it will help us out going forward.”

Creekview is the only Cherokee County girls’ team with a new coach this year as Eric Herrick replaces John Domville with the Grizzlies. He joins the program after two seasons at North Hall, where he led the Trojans to a combined 37-18 record, with a 22-8 mark in Region 8AAAA. Upon getting hired, Herrick said he didn’t see Creekview as a rebuild. With a veteran roster and big names like Ashlynn Bleisath (9.6 points, 6.5 rebounds per game in 2023-24) and Amilya Taft (10 points, 9.7 rebounds), the Grizzlies can certainly

Special Cecil Copeland

River Ridge’s Makayla Roberson (14) drives against Lovejoy’s Bryanna Preston (1) during

SPORTS

2024-25 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW|BOYS

Etowah, Woodstock to lead the pack

By Griffin Callaghan gcallaghan@ledgernews.com

After back-to-back 20-win seasons, Etowah heads into the 2024-25 basketball season with some of the highest expectations in Cherokee County.

The Eagles return a talented lineup featuring all-county players Aiden Weaver and Cooper Heller, but they lost 2023-24 Cherokee County Player of the Year Dimitri Angelakos. Still, in a new region and classification, Etowah is ready to make noise.

“New classification, but expectations pretty much stay the same,” Eagles coach Jason Dasinger said. “What they have always been is to compete for a region championship, and then hopefully get a good draw in the state tournament, stay healthy and make a run.”

Etowah went back to the postseason last year following a region title and final four run in 2022-23. It came within one point of a Region 6AAAAAA championship last year.

In Weaver and Heller, the Eagles have a combined 26 points per game returning to the lineup, paired with seniors Colton Etter and Trevor Mwangi. Lee County Transfer Will Myles is also likely to play an important role.

Overall, Etowah takes an experienced core into this season.

“We feel confident with the guys we have because they have been with us for four years and they grow every year,” Dasinger said. “They have embraced the standard we hold them to. They are just great kids that do it the right way.”

Up in the top-level Class AAAAAA with Etowah is Cherokee, a unit with youth and inexperience up and down the roster. The departure of high-scoring guard Lawrence Sanford hurts, but the development of sophomore guard Braylon Luster should help ease that transition for coach

Joe Veihman.

Senior Hayden Darko, a holdover from the 2022-23 state runner-up team, brings a veteran presence to Cherokee, which hopes to return to the postseason after last year’s first-round exit.

Riverwood, especially, has one of the state’s top players in 4-star senior guard JR Leonard, who helped the Raiders take down Alexander in last year’s Class AAAAAA state title game.

“You have some of the best players in the state of Georgia within this region,” Woodstock coach Eric Blair said. “We attacked this summer as if we were the underdogs. We have a lot of respect for what everybody else is bringing back and how well-coached they are.”

The clearest subtraction from the Wolverines’ lineup heading into the season comes at guard, the spot all-county player Jamier Nowell occupied. However, Woodstock brought in Kell transfer Landon Duncan.

Depth plays in the Wolverines’ favor with seniors Joseph Tully and Warren Robinson, along with juniors JJ Feuerstein and Cam Smith. The biggest storyline for Woodstock, though, is the return of sophomore big-man Taj Saragba, who was pivotal in the program’s historic run in Blair’s first season.

“It’s just his maturity in regards to understanding that we are at our best when he is down around the rim posting and running the floor,” Blair said. “Everybody tells him that he needs to face up and do more on the perimeter, but when he’s with us, he understands what he needs to do in order for us to win games.”

Creekview searches for improvement in coach Tyler Whitlock’s second run. The Grizzlies have solid returning talent, led by senior Luke Jack, who averaged 18

See BOYS, 24

BOYS TEAMS AT GLANCE

CHEROKEE

Coach: Joe veihman

Last year: 14-15, 5-5 region 5AAAAAAA

Key players: g braylon Luster (So.), g hayden darko (Sr.), F Sean hamilton (Jr.)

CREEKVIEW

Coach: Tyler Whitlock

Last year: 8-18, 4-8 region 6AAAAAA

Key players: g Luke Jack (Sr.), g griffin Latimer (Sr.), F nick vaccaro (Sr.), F nathan Agyemang (Jr.), F/C Luke godwin (Sr.)

ETOWAH

Coach: Jason dasinger

Last year: 20-7, 11-1 region 6AAAAAA

Key players: F Aiden Weaver (Sr.), g Cooper heller (Sr.), g/F Colton etter (Sr.), g Trevor Mwangi (Sr.), g Will Myles (Jr.)

RIVER RIDGE

Coach: Aaron darling

Last year: 11-15, 3-9 region 6AAAAAA

Key players: F kJ hart (Sr.), g Zeb runion (Sr.), g gavin Farmer (Sr.)

SEQUOYAH

Coach: Mike Saxton

Last year: 18-11, 7-5 region 6AAAAAA

Key players: g Cade Lomas (Sr.), F brendan Tousignaut (Sr.), F noah givens (Sr.), F Matlock gemberling (Sr.), g Paul Przybylek (Sr.)

WOODSTOCK

Coach: eric blair

Last year: 20-10, 9-3 region 6AAAAAA

Key players: F/C Taj Saragba (So.), g JJ Feuerstein (Jr.), g Joseph Tully (Sr.), g Landon duncan (Sr.), g Jamai McClure (Fr.)

Special - Cecil Copeland Etowah vs North Cobb (Lemon Street Classic) — Etowah’s Cooper Heller gets past North Cobb’s Marvin Maina during their consolation game played at Marietta High School.

Special — Anthony Stalcup

Woodstock’s Taj Saragba dunks in Tuesday’s Region 6AAAAAA semifinal against Sequoyah.

Herrick ready to compete, lead Grizzlies

By Griffin Callaghan gcallaghan@ ledgernews.com

Creekview’s new girls’ basketball coach Eric Herrick doesn’t see his new team as a rebuilding project.

In fact, Herrick expects the Grizzlies to compete for a region title in Year 1.

“We are returning all five starters, and this group has great guard play, size and potential,” Herrick said. “This is a very deep team, and I expect to compete right away.”

Creekview went 15-11 overall and 6-6 in Region 6AAAAAA in 2023-24, narrowly missing out on the state tournament. The back-to-back 15-win seasons were the most since 2018-19 when the Grizzlies went 24-6 and won a pair of playoff games.

Herrick joins the program after two seasons at North Hall, where he led the Trojans to a combined 37-18 record, with a 22-8 mark in Region 8AAAA.

“We are excited about Coach Herrick taking over our girls’ basketball program,” Creekview athletic director Chris Bennett said. “He brings exceptional basketball knowledge along with a lot of passion, and he has been extremely successful throughout his career. We look forward to the future success of our girls basketball program.”

Before taking the North Hall job, Herrick spent two seasons at Dawson County and eight years at North Forsyth. With a wealth of experience throughout northeast Georgia, Herrick’s next stop is in Canton.

“I always loved the area,” Herrick said. “When I was at North Forsyth, we would always play Creekview, and I loved Canton. Creekview has always been a place that impressed me, and when that job came open, I jumped on it.”

The Grizzlies reside in an established

GIRLS

From 21

compete for a top-4 spot in Region 6AAAAA. Recently-committed senior guards Marissa Mason and Callie Cavender will also provide a lift.

Woodstock was one of Cherokee County’s youngest teams last season, but the scrappy unit was a tough out during region play. The Wolverines return all five of their top scorers, led by senior Lily Conkell at 13.4 points per game.

Morghan Slater (11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds) and Emily Jacobs (10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds) surrounded Conkell with capable scoring threats, with Slater capping her year off with a 26-point performance against Rome.

If Woodstock can continue that upward trajectory, it’s a unit nobody will want to see in the region tournament.

Cherokee and Etowah are the two county teams in the new highest classification, Class AAAAAA. The Eagles finished above .500 in

county for girls basketball, including 202223 state champs River Ridge. Both Cherokee and the Knights made the 2023-24 semifinals in their respective classifications.

Sequoyah made the 2021-22 Class AAAAAA title game, while Woodstock did the same in 2020-21.

However, Creekview is slated to return almost their entire roster for the upcoming season, including all five starters, with just one senior graduating from the 2023-24 team.

Juniors Amilya Taft and Ashlynn Bleisath led Creekview in scoring this past season, with Taft approaching a doubledouble with 10 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. She posted a 27-point, 17-rebound line in a Jan. 26 win over county rival Woodstock.

Bleisath averaged 9.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 2023-24.

“We’ll tailor our system to the personnel we have,” Herrick said. “We will definitely take advantage of the size we

2024-25 but narrowly missed the playoffs.

They had a mix of veterans and youth, with their two leading scorers, Megan Reed (senior) and Savannah Aparicio (freshman) on the opposite ends of that spectrum.

Aparicio, alongside seniors Taylor Davis and Taylor Wills, makes it three returning starters for second-year coach Jordan Tetley.

The Warriors, coming off a final four berth under first-year coach Sharon Swanson, were powered by seniors Toni Warren and Riley Simmons.

The roster looks a bit different now, though holdovers Madison Moody, Summer Smiley, Alex Whitecliffe and Lyla Griffith all were vital to last year’s run. Swanson saw immediate success after taking the reins from longtime head coach Matt Cates.

Still, the standard is the standard at Cherokee.

“It’s really sad to see our two seniors go — Toni and Riley (Simmons) — when we’re one win away from making the championship game, but we’re Cherokee and it’s always ‘next man up’, so we expect to back here next year,” Swanson said after last year’s final four game.

have, which is something we didn’t have at North Hall.”

Heading into 2024-25, Herrick already has the approval of Cherokee County’s finest.

“They knocked that coaching hire out of the park,” River Ridge coach Jason Taylor said. “They got one of the best in Georgia. Herrick is a great coach. I can’t wait to see what he’ll do with that team. They seemed very much improved this summer.”

gainesville Times — bill murphy

Eric Herrick is taking the reins of Creekview’s girls basketball program after most recently coaching at North Hall.

griffin Callaghan Creekview’s Ashlynn Bleisath averaged 9.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 2023-24

Special - Cecil Copeland Cherokee’s Madison Moody lofts a shot against North Paulding during the 7A semifinals.

SPORTS

2024-25

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SEASON|THE WATCHLIST

Impact players to look out for in Cherokee County

By Griffin Callaghan gcallaghan@ledgernews.com

River Ridge star seniors Sophia Pearl and Kayla Cleaveland are back and ready to lead the Knights to yet another winning season.

Junior Makayla Roberson and sophomore Finley Parker make it four of River Ridge’s starting five returning in 2024-25. All four players averaged over 10 points per game last season for a unit that came within three points of a second consecutive state championship appearance.

Pearl tallied a team-best 14.3 points, 4.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 202324 as the Knights’ primary ball-handler after the departure of Mataya Gayle to Penn. Cleaveland scored a second-best 13.9 points with 7.2 rebounds.

“We definitely want to win another state title next year, and I think we can come back even better,” Pearl said following her commitment to Furman.

For two years now, Roberson has been River Ridge’s best defender, while also providing an offensive boost at 12.2 points per contest. Parker, who’s gaining interest from big-time collegiate programs like Alabama, Georgia and Michigan, tallied 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game

BOYS

From 22

points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game last season.

Size is an advantage for Creekview, beginning with the 6-foot-6 guard, Jack. Forward Nick Vaccaro is 6-foot-5 and Nathan Agyemang checks in at 6-foot-4. Outside of Jack, though, scoring is needed after Will Kline’s graduation.

WATCH LIST 2024-25

GIRLS

G — Sophia Pearl, river ridge (Furman)

G — Makayla roberson, river ridge

F — kayla Cleaveland, river ridge (georgia Southern)

F — Finley Parker, river ridge

F/C — Milanni Abdus-Salaam, Sequoyah

Sixth Player

G — Lily Conkell, Woodstock

BOYS

G — Luke Jack, Creekview

G — Cooper heller, etowah

F — Aiden Weaver, etowah (Alabamahuntsville)

F — brendan Tousignaut, Sequoyah (kennesaw State)

F/C — Taj Saragba, Woodstock

Sixth Man

G/F — Cade Lomas, Sequoyah

as a freshman.

Sequoyah senior Milanni Abdus-Salaam will be the focal point of possibly the most talented team Chris Yarbrough

The Grizzlies search for their first above-.500 record since 2017-18.

For River Ridge, 2023-24 was a down year as it missed the postseason for the first time since 2019-20. The Knights had 11 seniors on the roster, so there will be quite a few new faces on the hardwood this year.

Senior guard Zeb Runion projects to play a major role as a scorer, along with KJ Hart in the paint as River Ridge searches for a playoff return under coach Aaron Darling.

Sequoyah is the lone boys program in Cherokee County to hire a new coach af-

has coached. She was one of two Chiefs to score in double digits last season, leading the way with 11.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Abdus-Salaam is expected to play a featured role in 2024-25.

“A lot of our offense is going to start with Milanni,” Sequoyah coach Chris Yarbrough said. “Her improvement as an all-around player will help us get better. The more attention she gets will help open things up for other players as well.”

Woodstock’s Lily Conkell is the Sixth Player on this year’s watch list, a consistent 3-point threat that led the Wolverines in points (13.4) and assists (3) last season. As a senior, she headlines a young Woodstock team that hopes to challenge for the postseason in the new Region 6AAAAA.

On the boys’ side, Etowah standouts Cooper Heller and Aiden Weaver headline the county watch list as the basketball season approaches.

Weaver, a recent Alabama-Huntsville commit, has been a focal point for the Eagles on both sides of the ball. He helped lead the Eagles to the state tournament the last three years, including a Region 6AAAAAA championship in 2023.

The senior forward averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 1.3 blocks per

ter former lead man Scott Bracco took a collegiate job at Stetson University. The Chiefs turned to assistant Mike Saxton, who inherited a competitive roster in Year 1.

“We have a very senior-heavy group this year with a lot of experience, so we are expecting big things,” Saxton said. “We want to go out there and win every single game. With the group that we have and the talent we have, I think we can go pretty far in the state playoffs, and even win a state championship.”

Tousignaut and Lomas averaged 19 points each, with the former nearly securing a

game last season. His running mate, Heller, scored 12 points with a team-best five assists and 1.5 steals per contest. Weaver and Heller look even better heading into this year.

“Everybody on our team is a lot better because of their work ethic and our coaches’ abilities to make them better,” Etowah coach Jason Dasinger said. “My assistants work on skill development with our guys, and they do a phenomenal job. Sequoyah stars Brendan Tousignaut and Cade Lomas led a dangerous offense in 2023-24, and they project to do it again under first-year coach Mike Saxton. Both of those guys led the Chiefs at 19 points per game, and now they lead a senior-heavy group with serious playoff aspirations.

Sophomore Taj Saragba and senior Luke Jack round out this year’s watch list, with Saragba coming off a high-impact freshman year where he led Woodstock to a Region 6AAAAAA championship.

Saragba averaged a double-double at 12.5 points and 11.2 rebounds a night.

At Creekview, Jack has become one of Cherokee County’s premier scorers, averaging 18 points as a junior. Now a senior, the 6-foot-6 guard will once again be the Grizzlies’ go-to scorer and continue garnering interest from collegiate programs.

double-double with nine rebounds. Seniors Noah Givens, Matlock Gemberling, Paul Przybylek and others fit well next to the standout duo.

Sequoyah’s roster is brimming with experience, and Saxton hopes to see it flourish in 2024-25.

“A lot of these guys have been playing together since middle school, so the chemistry is definitely there,” Saxton said. “The talent is there, too. We just have to put all the pieces together to get us over the hump.”

Special - Cecil Copeland

River Ridge’s Sophia Pearl (3) sets for a 3-point shot against Lovejoy during their AAAAAA State Championship in Macon.

Photo - Anthony Stalcup

Sequoyah’s Brendan Tousignaut goes up with the ball in the 6AAAAAA first round region playoff game against Woodstock Tuesday night.

Northside Hospital opens medical office building

Staff reports

Northside Hospital Healthcare System recently celebrated the opening of a new medical office building in Canton.

Northside held a ribbon cutting with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Oct. 8 at the medical office building, 1521 Hickory Flat Highway near Canton.

The healthcare system has two practices at the facility: Northside Hospital Georgia Cancer Specialists — Canton in Suite 100 and Total Joint Surgery Center — Cherokee in Suite 201.

According to Northside, the Total Joint Surgery Center began seeing patients on Oct. 22. The ambulatory surgery center specializes in hip and knee replacement surgery. The two operating room suites have the latest equipment for total knee replacements and hip replacements including anterior total hip replacements.

Georgia Cancer Specialists, which moved in earlier this year, held an open house along with the ribbon cutting.

How to dine out without busting your diet

From Staff Reports

Making smart food choices and watching your portions are hallmarks of many diet plans. While nutritionists often say that losing weight and being healthy involves changing your relationship with food rather than adopting a particular fad diet, even the most carefully designed diets can be derailed when dining out.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-half

of adults tried to lose weight within the last 12 months. In 43 markets surveyed within YouGov Global Profiles, 52 percent of global consumers are usually trying to lose weight.

Once people understand what goes into maintaining healthy diets at home, they can extend those lessons while dining out. The following is a sound approach to making smart food choices when out and about.

Dining out doesn’t have to mean the end of your

Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce

Northside Hospital Healthcare System and the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Northside’s new medical office building in Canton Oct. 8.

CANTON

Northside Hospital Healthcare System and the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Total Joint Surgery Center — Cherokee Oct. 8.

Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce

diet.

Special

Separating fact from fiction on knee arthritis

Osteoarthritis or “wear and tear” arthritis of the knee affects about 20% of Americans older than 45 and is the most prevalent joint disease in the U.S. as well as the most common source of chronic pain and disability.

Arthritis is simply inflammation of the joint.

In the case of osteoarthritis, the inflammation occurs when the soft cartilage that lines the ends of the bones is worn away. The result is painful “bone on bone” contact and often the formation of bone spurs. Though no one knows exactly what triggers osteoarthritis, injury, advancing age and increased body weight play a role.

For those patients ready for a knee replacement, it is important to know what to expect. These procedures are often performed in as little as 30 minutes. In many cases, patients can go home the same day and are allowed to bear their full weight immediately.

There is no “cure” for osteoarthritis, but there are many nonsurgical and surgical options that may help improve quality of life by allowing more activity with less pain. In the early stages of knee osteoarthritis, simply losing some weight or taking part in less high-impact activity.

For more persistent pain, a pain reliever like Tylenol, ibuprofen or naproxen, or physical therapy may be useful. However, as the pain becomes more consistent and the arthritis more advanced, it is a good idea to establish care with an orthopedic surgeon.

Bracing, cortisone injections, and certain prescription medications can all be powerful tools to help reduce pain and restore function without surgery.

Be wary of unproven, expensive options often not covered by insurance. Be sure to consult with a reputable orthopedic surgeon and avoid treatments that sound too good to be true.

For many patients who have failed nonsurgical management, surgery may be recommended. Common options include arthroscopic procedures and partial or total knee replacement. It is essential to make this decision with your orthopedic specialist, as no single procedure is suitable for everyone.

DINING

From 26

♦ Plan ahead. Look at the menu online and see what the offerings are. This way you can map out what you will be eating without feeling pressured or rushed at the restaurant.

♦ Don’t arrive hungry. Eat a small snack before you leave home so you’re not arriving at the restaurant with a growling belly. Choose small, protein-based snacks and whole grains, like some hummus and a slice of whole-wheat toast.

♦ Consider an appetizer. Dieting involves portion control. It can be easy to eat too much when dining out, as portions seemingly get larger and larger. Instead of choosing an entree, opt for an appetizer or even something from the kids’ menu, as those portions are likely to be smaller and more in line with the amount of food diners should be eating.

Knee replacement is the only procedure that will address arthritis and other knee problems (such as meniscus and ligament tears) with a single surgery. With appropriate physical therapy, patients can expect to be walking normally and driving within four weeks and back to work and/or more strenuous activity within 8-12 weeks. However, full recovery may take 8-12 months and some patients achieve their goals faster than others.

Preoperative knee motion and activity level directly influence the time to recovery. More active patients typically recover faster.

Many advances have helped improve patient experience with knee replacement. Better techniques, implants and anesthesia all play a role. However, there is still misleading information. That’s why it is important to consult with a reputable surgeon.

Most experts agree surgeon volume is one of the most important predictors of a successful outcome. As with nonsurgical options, be wary of surgeons who offer “new” procedures that sound too good to be true.

Many of these procedures and techniques are unproven and in the wrong hands can lead to inferior outcomes.

No two patients are the same and the procedure is not right for everyone. If you have knee pain and want to learn more, talk to your orthopedic provider.

Dr. Adam Land is an orthopedic surgeon with the Northside Hospital Orthopedic Institute Total Joint Program in Canton. Visit northside. com for more.

♦ Fill up on salad or vegetables. Salad and vegetables are nutritionally dense but low in calories for their serving sizes. By eating a salad or making the majority of the meal vegetables, it’s possible to eat fewer calories overall.

♦ Practice mindful eating. Mindful eating involves paying full attention to the process of eating. Focus on eating rather than conversation, and try to avoid distractions like watching television while munching, which could compel you to eat too much.

♦ Make healthy choices. Look for menu items that are smart choices, like lean cuts of meat, grilled or baked foods, brothbased soups, and vinegar-based dressings. Anything that says ‘fried’ or ‘creamy’ likely should be avoided.

♦ Skip the buffet. When choosing between a sit-down meal and a buffet line, the sit-down entree may be the smarter choice. The amount of food on the plate will be finite rather than chafing dish after chafing dish of tempting options.

People enjoy local bites at Taste of Canton

About 2,000 people gathered at the Mill on Etowah to try some of the best of Canton’s dining scene at the Taste of Canton Oct. 10.

Attendees bought tickets to exchange for bites and beverages from Canton businesses, and enjoyed music from Whiskey Holler on the event green. The event, hosted by Canton Main Street, was originally scheduled for Sept. 26 but was postponed due to Hurricane Helene.

Jacky Cheng/explore Canton gA

From left: Alexis Young, Thad Suggs, Carrie Oliver and Lee Oliver.

Jacky Cheng/explore Canton gA People picked up small bites from local restaurants at the Taste of Canton.

Jacky Cheng/explore Canton gA A couple dances as Whiskey Holler performs at the Taste of Canton at the Mill on Etowah.

Jacky Cheng/explore Canton gA Sweety’s served ice cream and chicken salad at the Taste of Canton.

Jacky Cheng/explore Canton gA Visitors at the Taste of Canton try bites from local restaurants.

Jacky Cheng/explore Canton gA Raj Mahal served Indian dishes at the Taste of Canton.

Jacky Cheng/explore Canton gA The Little Sober Bar brought its mobile bar to the Taste of Canton.

Taste & Brews Fall Festival in Canton

The Taste & Brews Fall Festival returned to Canton Oct. 12-13 at Etowah River Park, bringing a variety of food offerings, craft beers, live music, children’s activities and more. A portion of proceeds from this annual event benefit Atlanta Fundraising Foundation to support their community service program aimed at keeping impaired drivers off the streets of Atlanta.

Red, White & Blue BBQ in Canton

The Red, White and Blue BBQ returned to the American Legion Fairgrounds in Canton Oct. 11-12, bringing barbecue and other food, live music and family fun.

The event, hosted by the American Legion Post 45 and the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program, is dedicated to raising awareness and support for veteran mental health and domestic violence against female

veterans. Oct. 11 there a pizza cookoff, followed by a cornhole tournament. Oct. 12 saw the annual barbecue competition, and attendees got free barbecue tastings.

319Q from Moultrie was named the grand champion, CCHVP Jim Lindenmayer said.

Food and items at the event were donated to support relief efforts for people affected by the recent hurricanes.

robin rayne

Landyn Pearl, 2, Canton, approves of her new face paint created by artist Bethany McLean at Taste & Brews Fall Festival in Canton.

robin rayne

Vu Ho, owner of Flames and Skewers, bastes grilled ribeye steak kabobs at Taste & Brews Fall Festival in Canton.

Jack Tuszynski Starr and Jim Allan sport some patriotic attire at the Red White & Blue BBQ in Canton.

Jack Tuszynski

Volunteer Penny Clompton prepares a plate at Red White & Blue BBQ in Canton.

Jack Tuszynski

Chef John Wilbert turns ribs at the smoker. He prepared nearly 70 pork butts to be sent for hurricane relief with his son Spencer.

Jack Tuszynski

Festivalgoers visit booths for veterans groups and vendors at the Red White & Blue BBQ.

Next Step Ministries’ Run, Walk or Roll 5K

Next Step Ministries held its 11th annual Run, Walk or Roll 5K Oct. 5 at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, to raise money for its programs serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The 5K had 369 participants and raised nearly $40,000, the nonprofit announced.

Next Step Ministries’ headquarters is located at 7709 Turner Road Woodstock. For more information, visit https://www.nextstepministries.net.

Carol eubanks/Next Step ministries

Next Step Ministries’ annual Run, Walk or Roll 5K had 369 participants this year.

Carol eubanks/Next Step ministries

The Next Step Ministries’ Run, Walk or Roll 5K raised nearly $40,000.

Carol eubanks/Next Step ministries

The Run, Walk or Roll 5K raises money for Next Step Ministries, which offers day programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

James eubanks/Next Step ministries Awards were presented after the 5K was completed by participants.

Carol eubanks/Next Step ministries

Participants ran, walked and rolled in the 5K, which raised money for Next Step Ministries.

James eubanks/Next Step ministries

Participants jump for joy while getting some steps during the Run, Walk or Roll 5K course.

Carol eubanks/Next Step ministries

Participants make their way through the Run, Walk or Roll 5K course around First Baptist Church of Woodstock.

GARDENING

GARDENING

HDetoxifying your house with houseplants

ouseplants bring the beauty of the outdoors inside and add life to room and are once again becoming a source of decor for any room in your home. Besides adding to the beauty to a room, houseplants are also very beneficial to your health. According to NASA’s landmark 1989 Clean Air Study, one 10-inch potted plant can clean up to 100 square feet of air space. Some plants can reduce pollutants by as much as 80 percent in just 24 hours.

Indoor air pollutions are found in formaldehyde carpeting, pressed wood, fiberboard foam insulation, paper products, hydrocarbon vinyl furniture, detergents, fabric softeners, benzene glue, spot remover, paint, varnish and paint stripper, paint lacquer, varnish, and adhesive. All of these air pollutants can be controlled by the use of houseplants. Unlike commercial filters that absorb toxins like a sponge and are discarded in a landfill, plants break toxins apart by sucking air into the soil, where microbes degrade these pollutants.

So, what plants are best for your particular needs? The following is a list of common houseplants and how they can work for you in your home or office.

Boston ferns, areca palm, peace lily and weeping fig are houseplants that reduce aerial concentrations of volatile formaldehyde which can trigger asthma symptoms or eye, nose, and throat irritations. Boston ferns and peace lilies are great in a bathroom since they thrive in shaded areas and like a humid environment.

Have allergies? A rubber plant has a

high humidity content and like a magnet draws in dust and allergens which adhere to the leaves of the plant instead of remaining in the air.

Get headaches often and don’t know why? It could be from paints, ammonia, dry cleaning chemicals, plastics, and cosmetics that you use. Orchids are a great way to clear these toxins from the air in your home. With a cool temperature, medium light and a little water each week, these plants will continue to work daily to keep your air clean.

To increase air quality in general, place

a few snake plants in the corner of each room. These plants work overnight to lower levels of carbon dioxide, which means the oxygen levels are higher during the day. They are almost indestructible and are tolerant of a variety of lighting conditions.

English ivy is a very invasive plant outdoors but did you ever try potting it for ridding any room of potential mold, such as in a musty basement or laundry room. English ivy has been known to eliminate more than 65 percent of airborne mold in a room. These plants thrive in shade, cold, drafts and just about anywhere you

put them. Hanging pots are best with the soil kept damp.

Bromeliads in the bedroom help you get a better night’s sleep because they give off oxygen during the night instead of during the day as with most plants. They like to be placed by a window for light.

Bamboo plants are probably one of the best plants for air quality. They remove toxins as well as humidify the air. Bamboo is easy to grow and requires bright filtered light and frequent watering.

Harmful indoor air pollutants can cause a host of serious illnesses and air inside homes and offices often have a concentration of these pollutants which can be 100 times higher than in the air outdoors. Plants increase a room’s humidity level, which is helpful in the wintertime with the dry heat in our homes. Decorating with houseplants is an easy, economical way to keep your home safe and pollutant free. For more information on growing houseplants, join Cherokee County Master Gardener Diane Walton and explore the exciting world of houseplants. Learn all about light conditions, watering, fertilizing, how to control those pesky pests and more! A fun, informative and inspiring class for all. Register at cherokeemastergardeners.com/event/houseplants. A $5 fee is required. Happy Gardening!

Diane Walton is one of many UGA Master Gardener Extension Volunteers of Cherokee County. For more information or questions contact the Cherokee County Extension Office at 770-721-7803 or for upcoming seminars follow us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/cherokeemastergardeners or cherokeemastergardeners.com.

WHERE TO FIND THE CHEROKEE LEDGER MONTHLY

Pick up your free copy of The Cherokee Ledger Monthly at these convenient locations:

CANTON

♦ Texaco, 180 Butterworth Rd, Canton 30114

♦ Shell, 3550 Marietta Hwy, Canton 30114

♦ Chevron, 4129 Marietta Hwy, Canton 30114

♦ Exxon, 2619 Holly Springs Pkwy, Canton 30114

♦ Union 76, 900 Waleska Rd, Canton 30114

♦ Marathon, 14 Mill St, Canton 30114

♦ Chevron, 111 Mountain Vista Blvd, Canton, 30114

♦ Johnnys New York Style Pizza, 559 Riverstone Pkwy, Canton, 30114

♦ Cotton Mill Exchange, 225 Reformation Pkwy, Ste 100, Canton, 30114

♦ Bedoe’s Bar & Grille, 6115 Hickory Flat Hwy, Ste 101, Canton, 30115

♦ Kroger 4045 Marietta Hwy, Canton,

30114

♦ Kroger 6766 Hickory Flat Hwy, Canton, 30115

♦ Publix 15 Laurel Canyon Village, Canton, 30114

♦ Publix 1451 Riverstone Pkwy, Canton, 30114

♦ Publix 120 Prominence Point Pkwy, Canton, 30114

♦ Publix 6175 Hickory Flat Hwy, Canton 30115

♦ Ymca, 151 Waleska St, Canton 30114

♦ Bojangles 1665 Ball Ground Hwy, Canton, 30114

♦ Georgian Hills Restaurant, Canton, 30114

♦ Cherokee Courthouse, 90 North Street, Canton, 30114

♦ Cherokee Tribune, 521 E Main St, Canton, 30114

♦ R T Jones Library, 116 Brown Industrial Pkwy, Canton, 30144

♦ Northside Hospital Women’s Center, 450 Northside Cherokee Blvd, Canton, 30114

♦ Northside Hospital Main Entrance, 450 Northside Cherokee Blvd, Canton, 30114

WOODSTOCK

♦ Jd Bbq, 6426 Bells Ferry Rd, Woodstock, 30189

♦ Family Tradition Rest., 4379 Towne Lake Pkwy, Woodstock, 30189

♦ Family Tradition Restaurant, 7830 Hickory Flat Hwy, Woodstock, 30188

♦ Circle K, 12155 Hwy 92, Woodstock, 30188

♦ Kia, 630 Olde Rope Mill Park Rd, Woodstock, 30188

♦ Texaco, 6790 Bells Ferry, Woodstock, 30189

♦ Texaco, 6511 Bells Ferry, Woodstock, 30189

♦ Village Burger, 9550 Main St., Woodstock, 30118

♦ Bizarre Coffee, 440 Chambers St, Woodstock, 30188

♦ Woodstock Library, 7735 Main Street, Woodstock, 30188

♦ Woodstock Visitors Center, 8588 Main St, Woodstock, 30188

♦ Family Tradition Restaurant, 4379 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, 30189

♦ Rose Creek Library, 4476 Towne Lake Pkwy, Woodstock, 30189

♦ Kroger 12050 Hwy 92, Woodstock, 30188

HOLLY SPRINGS

♦ Hop In, 2204 Holly Springs Pkwy, Holly Springs, 30115

♦ Kroger 5341 Old Hwy 5, Holly Springs, 30188

ACWORTH

♦ Food Depot 5530 Bells Ferry Rd, Acworth, 30102

♦ Mapco, 1530 Kellog Creek Rd, Acworth Ga, 30102

LEBANON

♦ Postoffice, 5101 Old Hwy 5, Lebanon, 30146

WITH THE MASTERS|DIANE WALTON

CROSSWORD ANSWER

EDUCATION

Local students’ scores among best in state, nation

Staff reports

The Cherokee County School District’s class of 2024 ACT scores topped national and state averages, earning a 22.5 average.

This average score exceeds Georgia’s 21.2 and the nation’s 19.4 averages on the competitive college entrance and placement examination.

The Georgia Department of Education released ACT scores Oct. 16.

CCSD’s performance continues to rank it in the top 10% school districts statewide, according to the school district.

Students earn a score on a scale of one to 36.

The average CCSD scores by subject on the ACT, used to calculate the overall composite average, were as follows: English — 21.7, math — 21.9, reading — 23.6, and science — 22.6.

The CCSD average dipped slightly

from the class of 2023’s score of 22.9, with state and national scores also decreasing from 21.3 and 19.5.

“Congratulations to the Class of 2024 for achieving this commendable academic success,” Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis said. “This excellent student performance, which mirrors our recent SAT scores, demonstrates our dedication to students learning more, growing more, and achieving more in our classrooms than they could anywhere else. Thank you to our amazing teachers who elevate the excellence each day to increase student learning. Thank you to our School Board for continuing to invest in our students’ future readiness.”

The ACT scores reflect 894 CCSD students taking the exam, down from 1,078 the previous school year.

Scores from CCSD’s high schools all surpassed state and national averages.

Creekview High School’s average

ACT score was 23.7, up from 23.1 — the only school to see an increase, and CCSD’s highest average. The second highest score was Woodstock High School at 22.8, followed by Sequoyah High School at 22.7, Cherokee High School at 22.4, Etowah High School at 22.1, and River Ridge High School at 21.3.

A school score was not provided by ACT for i-Grad Virtual Academy due to participation levels.

The ACT is taken in lieu of or along with the SAT. These ACT scores follow the school district’s top SAT scores.

The district announced in September that CCSD’s class of 2024 earned an average total score of 1083 on the curriculum-based college entrance and placement exam, outscoring the national public school average by 88 points and the state by 53 points.

River Ridge student earns spot on state advisory council

Staff reports

A River Ridge High School student has been named to the State School Superintendent’s 2024-25 Student Advisory Council, the Cherokee County School District announced.

Junior Udi Gitau is among the 74 high school students from across the state selected for the prestigious role. State School Superintendent Richard Woods chose his student advisors based on their applications and answers to essay questions about improving public education.

The group will meet with Woods through-

out the school year starting in November to talk about how state policies affect their schools.

“These young leaders represent the future of Georgia, and their voices are crucial as we continue to shape the direction of education in our state,” Woods said. “I look forward to hearing their ideas, insights, and perspectives as we work together to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.”

As founder and co-captain of River Ridge’s economics team, Gitau became one of 10 state finalists in the Georgia Economic

Challenge, competing at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He also leads as president of the school’s math team, earning second place in the Perennial Math competition, and he has significantly increased team membership through his outreach strategies.

His leadership extends to his role as vice president of finance for DECA, the student organization for future marketing, finance, hospitality and management professionals. He placed fourth at DECA’s State Career Development Conference in the financial consulting competition, and qualified for DECA’s

International Career Development Conference, breaking a school record by competing internationally.

Vice president of both the school Earth Club and National Beta chapter, Gitau has led successful recycling and fundraising initiatives and spearheaded community service events. His summer internship at Interra International provided him with valuable experience including conducting an intercompany audit and collaborating with international offices.

The Cherokee County School Board and Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis will recognize Udi at an upcoming school board

CCSD announces 24-25 season of student theater shows

Staff reports

The Cherokee County School District has announced its new season of student shows this school year.

These shows are presented by all of CCSD’s traditional high schools, as well as select middle and elementary schools and the districtwide Academy Street Theatre Group program for elementary through high school students.

Some shows will have advance ticket sales online. For information about ticket sales, contact the school.

The schedule includes:

♦ Woodstock High School: “Variety Show” at 7 p.m. Nov. 8. Tickets are $8.

♦ Cherokee High School: “A Trip to the Moon” at 7 p.m. Nov. 8, 9. Admission is to be determined.

♦ Creekview High School: “Little Women The Musical” at 7 p.m. Nov. 14, 15, 16 with a 2 p.m. matinee Nov. 16. Tickets are $15.

♦ Woodstock High School: “One Stoplight Town” at 7 p.m. Nov. 14, 15, 16 with a 2 p.m. matinee Nov. 16. Tickets are $10.

♦ Cherokee High School: “Gobble Gobble Toil & Trouble” at 7 p.m. Nov. 15. Admission is by donating a canned good at the door.

♦ Academy Street (at Cherokee High School): “Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at 7 p.m. Nov. 21, 22. Tickets are $5.

♦ Cherokee High School: “Frosty the Snowman Special Education Show” at 7 p.m. Dec. 6. Admission is by donating an unwrapped toy at the door.

♦ River Ridge High School: two one-act plays at 7 and 8 p.m. Dec. 10, 11. Tickets are $10.

♦ Cherokee High School: “Night of Broadway” at 7 p.m. Jan. 10. Admission is to be determined.

♦ River Ridge High School: “We Will Rock You” at 7 p.m. Jan. 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23. Tickets are $15.

♦ Cherokee High School: “Magic Treehouse — Knight Before Dawn” at 7 p.m. Jan. 24, 25. Admission is to be determined.

♦ Woodstock Middle School: to be determined. Show will take place at 6 p.m. Jan. 30, 31. Admission is to be determined.

♦ Dean Rusk Middle School: “Mean Girls

Jr.” at 7 p.m. Feb. 28, March 1 and a 1 p.m. March 1. Tickets are $5.

♦ Avery Elementary School: “Disney’s Aladdin Kids” at a time to be determined March 6, 7, 8. Admission is to be determined.

♦ R.M. Moore Elementary School STEM Academy: “Annie” at 6:30 p.m. March 6, 7, 8 and a 3 p.m. matinee March 8. Admission is to be determined.

♦ Sequoyah High School: “Kiss me Kate” at 7 p.m. March 6, 7, 8, 9. Tickets are $15/$20.

♦ Creekview High School: “Mamma Mia” at 7 p.m. March 13, 14, 15 and a 2 p.m. matinee March 15. Tickets are $15.

♦ Cherokee High School: “Check Please” at 7 p.m. March 14, 15. Tickets are $10.

♦ Creekland Middle School: “Newsies Jr.” at 7 p.m. March 21, 22 and a sensory friendly show at 3:30 p.m. March 22. Tickets are $10.

♦ Mill Creek Middle School: a show to be determined at a time to be determined March 21. Admission is to be determined.

♦ River Ridge High School: two one-act plays at 7 and 8 p.m. March 24, 25. Tickets are $10.

♦ Etowah High School: “Cinderella” at 5 p.m. April 10 and 7 p.m. 11, 12. Admission is $15.

♦ Cherokee High School: “Once Upon a Mattress” at 7 p.m. April 17, 18, 19 and a 2 p.m. matinee April 19. Tickets are $15.

♦ River Ridge High School: “Mean Girls” at 7 p.m. April 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23. Tickets are $15.

♦ Woodstock High School: “Wizard of Oz” at 7 p.m. April 24, 25, 26 and a 2 p.m. matinee April 26. Tickets are $10.

♦ Etowah High School: “The Show True Tale of Robin Hood” at 7 p.m. April 25. Tickets are $12.

♦ Cherokee High School: “A Night of Dolly” at 7 p.m. May 2. Admission is by donation of camp supplies at the door.

♦ Sequoyah High School: “Into the Woods” at a time and date to be determined. Admission is to be determined.

♦ Academy Street (at Cherokee High School): “Anastasia” at 7 p.m. May 29, 30, 31. Tickets are $10.

For more information and updates on these productions, visit tinyurl.com/5cke26rd.

Udi Gitau

Cherokee County School district