Enjoy Cherokee Magazine - Sep/Oct 2020 by Enjoy Cherokee Magazine

VOL. 8 | ISSUE 5 | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

[feature articles]

Features

Spooktackular Scarecrow Invasion

Snake Whisperer Saves Slithering Serpents

Bat Woman Works to Save The Environment

From the 1995 novel and the 1998 movie The Horse Whisperer, millions of people learned about horse trainers who use psychology to handle horses gently. Well, Cherokee County has a snake whisperer, according to many people.

No creature has been more feared, misunderstood, and mythologized than the bat. Most people associate these fluttering foes with old wivesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tales and vampire movies, but the truth about the tiny mammals is that they are crucial to our ecosystem.

[special feature]

6 Historic Cemetery

Historic Cemetery A Treasure Trove of Tales

A Treasure Trove of Tales

A quiet stroll through historic Riverview Cemetery in downtown Canton produces plenty of tales of days gone by and even a few scary stories. u This photo and the cover photo are pieces of artwork from Jennifer Griffin Studios of Woodstock. Jennifer designs and sews each costume, photographs her subjects, and enhances each with spectacular computer graphics. Enjoy Cherokee Magazine is honored to include Jenniferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artwork in our publications.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

J. Thompson Ross Investments: “Long Term” Requires Patience Legendary investor Warren Buffett is famous for his long-term perspective. Buffett has said that he likes to make investments he would be comfortable holding even if the market shut down for 10 years. It can be challenging to have Buffett-like patience during periods such as 2000-2002 when the stock market fell for three years in a row; or 2008, which was the worst year for the Standard & Poor’s 500 since the Depression-era. Times like those can frazzle the nerves of any investor, even the pros. Having an investing strategy is only half the battle; the other half is sticking to it.

Just what is “long term?” Your definition of “long term” is most important and will depend in part on your individual financial goals and when you want to achieve them. Your strategy should take into account that the market will not go in one direction forever—up or down.

The Benefits of Patience.

Historically, the shorter your holding period, the greater the chance of experiencing a loss. Trying to second-guess the market can be challenging at best; even professionals often have trouble. According to “Behavioral Patterns and Pitfalls of U.S. Investors,” a 2010 Library of Congress report prepared for the Securities and Exchange Commission, excessive trading often causes investors to underperform the market.

Keep Yourself on Track

Have strategies in place that can help improve your financial and psychological readiness to take a longterm approach.

Have a game plan against panic Remember that everything's relative Current performance may not reflect past results Consider playing defense Use cash to help manage your mindset Know what you own and why you own it Tell yourself "tomorrow is another day" Be willing to learn from your mistakes

Data source: Refinitiv, 2020. S&P composite total return for the period December 31, 1979 to December 31, 2019. Ranges consider the 40 one-year periods, 36 five-year periods, and 31 ten-year periods from 1980 to 2019. Note: Though past performance is no guarantee of future results, the odds of achieving a positive return in the stock market have been much higher over a 5- or 10-year period than for a single year.

This information, developed by an independent third party, has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. The information contained in this report does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. Investments mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. The material is general in nature. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. does not provide advice on tax, legal, or mortgage issues. These matters should be discussed with the appropriate professional. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. J. Thompson Ross Investments is not a registered broker/ dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. JThompsonRoss Investments, 3201 S. Cherokee Lane #340, Woodstock, GA 30188. 770/345-8008 Copyright 2020.

[table of contents]

Contents

Connectivity Trailblazer

Ghost Sightings in Woodstock

NXTCOMM... Changing How We Connect

Deathly ill children, an anguished mother, a gentle servant, and a caring doctor are a few of the ghostly encounters reported during an October 2011 paranormal investigation of the Dean house in Woodstock. Photo Credit: Cherokee County Historical Society

Fire Prevention Avoids Tragedy

Cherokee County High School Football Friday Night Lights

Almost all cooks have had a kitchen fire or fiasco at some time in their lives. Most of the incidents are minor and become an amusing anecdote to share with friends.

Live play-by-play coverage with Dave Garner and Larry Prather. High School Football game schedule September through December, 2020.

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Live Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14/15 Mack Aaronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Apple House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Cartecay Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Magnetize.ME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Masseria Kitchen Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Medicare and Other Red Tape, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Mileshko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Northside Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside front cover Olde Silos Art & Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Southeastern Neurosurgical Specialists Northside Hospital Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26/27 The Mill on Etowah Free Events, BBQ, Brews & Boos; Back to the 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s . . . . . . . . . . 37 THRIVE I Coworking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20/21 [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Historic Cemetery

history

A Treasure Trove of Tales by Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

A quiet stroll through historic

Riverview Cemetery

in downtown Canton produces plenty of tales of days gone by and even a few scary stories.

uuu

Photo Credit: Jennifer Griffin Studios [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Cherokee Native American This stacked-stone gravesite is believed to be the resting place of a Cherokee Native American chief, according to the Cherokee County Historical Society. Reportedly the burial would have happened before or at the time of the removal of the Indians in 1838 and before Riverview was an established cemetery.

he cemetery opened in 1844 when Judge Joseph Donaldson donated land high above the Etowah River. The judge, one of the founding fathers of Canton, had also donated adjacent land for a Methodist church, although the cemetery was not part of the church.

The cemetery has about 850 gravesites. The nonprofit Riverview Cemetery Association, which is dedicated to the preservation of the historic cemetery, owns and maintains it.

Susan Moss, infant daughter of Felix and Eady Moss, whose birth date is unknown, died in May 1844 and appears to be the first documented person buried in Riverview, according to the Cherokee County Historical Society. Mary Dickerson is the next recorded burial in July 1844, supporting the claim that Judge Donaldson donated the property for the cemetery that year.

Among the historically significant graves is that of a captain from the War of 1812 who unfortunately later assisted in the removal of the Cherokee native Americans who lived at Fort Buffington during the dark days leading to the Trail of Tears. Nearby is the grave of what is believed to be a Cherokee chieftain. Other significant graves include an early settler believed to be a descendant of George Washington and a man who was the youngest drummer in the Civil War.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Riverview Cemetery is an important historic asset to the community, offering almost a chronological progression of the history of Canton and Cherokee County,â&#x20AC;? Stefanie Joyner, executive director of the Cherokee County Historical Society, notes.

Ties to the Civil War are evident on many graves, leading to stories of sightings of the ghost of a Confederate soldier wandering the grounds. Legend also has it that a man in a tattered uniform has wandered the halls of the old church, as well as a vision of a young girl in a long white gown.

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lion of atlanta

In the 1890s, Thomas Brady was commissioned to create a monument to honor unknown Confederate soldiers buried in Atlantaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Oakland Cemetery. The monument continues to draw thousands of visitors annually, although it is not in Riverview Cemetery.

Photo C

redit: O a

kland C emetery

Brady Monument

The Thomas M. Brady family burial site in Riverview Cemetery is graced with a large marble angel who looks out over the graves and is one of the most notable carvings in the cemetery. Brady was a renowned sculptor and prominent citizen of Canton. Some observers say the eyes of the angel seem to follow movements of visitors to the site.

One of the most noticeable graves is that of the Brady family, where an elegant marble angel and a towering cross stand sentinel over the family members buried there like something out of Thomas Wolfeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s literary masterpiece, Look Homeward Angel.

Local legend also says that those who visit the site at the stroke of midnight can see the eyes of the angel come alive. The patriarch of the Brady family of Canton was Thomas M. Brady, born in Boston in 1849. In 1892 he came to Canton and established Georgia Marble Finishing Works in Canton, one of the first marble-finishing works in Cherokee County. Brady quickly established himself as a master marble finisher with a stellar reputation for his carvings on stone from neighboring Pickens County. Among his best-known work is the Lion of Atlanta, a Confederate memorial at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta that was dedicated in 1894. At the time it was the largest piece of sculpture made from a single block of marble. uuu [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Ramsey James Ramsey is one of at least six people buried in Riverview Cemetery in downtown Canton who was born in the eighteenth century.

Dr. John Lewis

Dr. John Washington Lewis was born in 1801 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and his gravesite is enclosed in an iron fence. In 1838 Dr. Lewis and his family moved to Canton and established a plantation located off Brown Industrial Parkway that is known today as the Brown Farm. In 1847 he erected an iron furnace on Stamp Creek. He served in the senate and helped establish the Supreme Court of Georgia. Reportedly he is a distant relative of George Washington.

uuu Thomas’s son, Thomas Brady, Jr., who is buried in the family plot at Riverview, was the first person from Cherokee County killed in World War I, and the local American Legion Post is named in his honor.

Near the Brady site you’ll find the simple grave of John D. Attaway. Born in 1848, he was one of the youngest drummer boys and Civil War veterans on record. He joined the Georgia Reserves in 1864 at the age of sixteen. He survived the war to die at age fifty-nine and is buried with his father, sister Julia, and brother Judson. Dr. John M. Turk, buried near the old church, was born in 1834. He joined the Confederate Army and served as company surgeon from 1862 to 1865. In 1868 he moved to Canton and set up a prominent medical practice. He also served as mayor and city councilman. After the death of his first wife, Florine Shockley, he married Marcia Aubrey Crane of Tate in 1908. He is buried along with two children who died at early ages as well as his wife and parents.

to Cherokee County, where he operated a 350-acre estate, Crescent Farm, which included the Rock Barn and the land where Cherokee High School is now located. Coggins married Daisy Ryman, the daughter of Captain T. G. Ryman, who spearheaded the building of the famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the original home of the Grand Old Opry. Coggins owned racehorses and other livestock and was known for hiring black workers at the time, which may have been what led to several of his barns having mysteriously burned. Later the bank he owned was shuttered, and people with deposits in the bank were not able to get their money, according to some accounts. He left Cherokee County, but before his death, his daughter brought him back to Canton. He is buried in the family plot with his brother and his brother’s wife. Daisy Ryman Coggins is not buried with her husband and was taken back to Nashville for burial.

Nehemiah Garrison, born in 1776, served as a captain in the War of 1812. He is one of about six people buried in the cemetery who was born in the eighteenth century. His son, Major Jeremiah J. Garrison, served in both the Mexican War and Civil War and is buried there also.

The Historical Society offers a self-guided walking tour of Riverview Cemetery, an informative way to see firsthand the history there. The society’s free brochure lists locations of many notable graves. Pick up your copy at the Cherokee County History Museum and Visitors Center in Downtown Canton at 221 East Marietta Street. The Historical Society website is RockBarn.org, where even more information is available.

One of the more interesting burial plots is that of Augustus “Gus” Coggins. Born in 1868, he moved

For additional information about Riverview Cemetery visit RiverviewCemeteryCanton.org.

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fall event

by Leana Conway, Woodstock Resident

Get ready, Cherokee County folks; the wildly popular Scarecrow Invasion is marching in. Sound menacing? Not at all. For the Scarecrow Invasion local businesses and organizations assemble creative scarecrows and line Downtown Woodstock streets with them. Visitors enjoy viewing them for free, and if they wish, they can pay a dollar at the Woodstock Visitors Center to vote for their favorite scarecrow.

2008 a group of Downtown Woodstock volunteers working In on neighborhood dĂŠcor were looking for a way to ramp up the

Dance for His Glory/D4HG Judgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2019 choice award â&#x20AC;&#x153;most creativeâ&#x20AC;? for Woodstockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Scarecrow Invasion!

autumnal flavor of the town. Volunteer Diane Geeslin had a bright idea: Encourage local businesses and organizations to compete in a scarecrow competition and let residents vote for their favorites. Sure, the other volunteers thought, why not? Fifteen scarecrows â&#x20AC;&#x153;invadedâ&#x20AC;? Downtown Woodstock the first year. As the years passed the Scarecrow Invasion turned into what Woodstock Tourism Manager Kyle Bennett calls a phenomenon. In 2019 enthusiastic participants arrived at the Visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center as early as 5:30 in the morning to secure a prime spot in the registration queue. By the time the doors opened at seven, the line snaked around the block. In total more than 180 businesses and organizations registered to display a scarecrow in Downtown Woodstock last year, which raised $15,000 for Downtown Woodstock beautification. Kyle says,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Nobody expected the great success of the Scarecrow Invasion. The staff at the Woodstock Visitors Center gets the pleasure of meeting many visitors from around Georgia during the Invasion. For the first time in 2019, the staff was pleased to welcome visitors from Florida who had traveled to Georgia specifically to see all the scarecrows.

â&#x20AC;?

During October the Scarecrow Invasion brings thousands of gawkers to Downtown Woodstock. Naturally all the extra foot traffic has a positive impact on local businesses. Many downtown businesses report that October is one of their best months for business, and in some cases October is their absolute best month. The Scarecrow Invasion is especially popular with families with young children. During the more refreshing, mellow days of fall, children lollygag after their parents or grandparents laughing and having their pictures taken with their favorite scarecrows. Amid the herd of scarecrows, a variety of businesses in Downtown Woodstock offer hamburgers, pizza, pasta, ice cream, gelato, and almost anything else family members may crave on a lazy autumn day. All money raised from the Scarecrow Invasion is donated to INSeason, the design committee for IN WDSTK. Visually appealing projects such as the art benches and a new city Christmas tree are the works of these city groups. Fall would be incomplete without a trip to the Scarecrow Invasion in Downtown Woodstock. Some scarecrows are sweet, some are fascinating, some are creepy, and they are all fun. Enjoy the spooky season, Cherokee!

2020

Online Registration â&#x20AC;˘ No Lines â&#x20AC;˘ No Early Morning Crowds â&#x20AC;˘ No Hassle

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love the Scarecrow Invasion. It brings thousands of people downtown, some who might not have come.Â Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wonderful to see families and little children enjoying the displays.Â I wish my grandchildren lived here, so we could enjoy the Scarecrow Invasion together.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques Where to submit your $1 vote for the best scarecrow: Woodstock Visitors Center 8588 Main Street Woodstock, Georgia

2020 Scarecrow Invasion Í´Í˛Í´Í˛ Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2026;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2122; Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x192;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Online Â&#x2021;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013;Â&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â?Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â?Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Online Registration Information

No Lines!

No Early Morning Crowds! Â&#x2018; Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Ç¨ Â&#x2018; Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â?Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x201D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2022;Ç¨ Â&#x2018; Â&#x192;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Ç¨

No Hassles!

â&#x20AC;˘ Registration for the 2020 Scarecrow Invasion will take

place online beginning September 1. Only 175 sites are Â&#x2021;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013;Â&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D; Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2021; Í´Í˛Í´Í˛ Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2026;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2122; Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x192;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2122;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D; Â&#x2013;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2021; Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2021; available, so act quickly! Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022; Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021; Â&#x192;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x192;Â&#x201E;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2021;ÇĄ Â&#x2022;Â&#x2018; Â&#x192;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2013; Â&#x201C;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2026;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Ç¨

â&#x20AC;˘ After all sites have been claimed, registered participants will Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D; Â&#x192;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D; Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022; Â&#x160;Â&#x192;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;Â? Â&#x2026;Â&#x17D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x2020;ÇĄ Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2020; Â&#x2019;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2013;Â&#x2022; Â&#x2122;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2021; Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039; be notified by email as to their randomly assigned location. Â&#x192;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2030;Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x2020; Â&#x17D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â?Ç¤ Â?Â&#x2013;Â&#x201D;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022; Â&#x2122;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2021; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2020; Â&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D; Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022; Â&#x160;Â&#x192;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;Â? Entry fees will be billed after the sites have been assigned. Í&#x201E;ÍśÍ˛ Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D; Â&#x192; Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ÇŚÂ&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013; Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2030;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x153;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2022;ÇĄ Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2020;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2014;Â&#x192;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;ÇĄ Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Ç¤ Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022; Registration costs are $40 for a nonprofit organizations, Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2021; Â&#x17D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D; Í&#x201E;Í¸Í˛ Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D; Â&#x192; Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ÇŚÂ&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2021; Â&#x17D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â?Ç¤ individuals, and families. Businesses will be charged $100

for a prime location or $60 for a non-prime location. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s make the 2020 Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2021; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013; Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2026;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2122; Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x192;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2021;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Ç¨ Â&#x2021;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2019; Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2019; Â&#x2018; â&#x20AC;˘ Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s make the 2020 the best Scarecrow Invasion ever! Â&#x2020;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D; Â&#x192;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;Â? Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2014;Â?Ç¤

Help keep Downtown Woodstock a regional destination for Halloween fun.

Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2021; Â&#x2021;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013;Â&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2019;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2022;ÇŁ Online Registration Opens:

September 1, 2020 â&#x20AC;˘ 10:00 a.m. Â&#x2021;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x201E;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D; ÍłÇĄ Í´Í˛Í´Í˛ Registration here:

ÍłÍ˛ÇŁÍ˛Í˛ Â&#x192;Ç¤Â?Ç¤ www.visitwoodstockga.com/scarecrow-invasiond

Â&#x2021;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013;Â&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x160;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;ÇŁ Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Ç¤Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2026;Â?Â&#x2030;Â&#x192;Ç¤Â&#x2026;Â&#x2018;Â?Č&#x20AC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2026;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2122;ÇŚÂ&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x192;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Point your camera here.

For more information contact the Woodstock Visitors Center: 770.924.0406 â&#x20AC;˘ kbennett@woodstockga.gov

Â&#x2018;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2013; Â&#x203A;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D; Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x192; Â&#x160;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Ç¤

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Bathroom cleaning includes the sanitization

of all tile walls, shower doors, bathtubs, toilets, vanities, and sink areas. Mirrors will sparkle! Your floors will be vacuumed and mopped.

Kitchen countertops, stovetops, sinks, floors, and the inside of the microwave will be sanitized. The exterior of all appliances will be cleaned, and polished. Your cabinet faces will be maintained.

Trim cleaning includes every nook and cranny

of your light switches, stair rails, door handles/knobs, and other high-use areas.

Trash is collected throughout the house and placed in your trash bins.

Floors are cleaned with special attention to

tile, laminate, and hard wood. Carpets are vacuumed with professional equipment to ensure a deep sweep.

Glass on entry doors is polished clean—inside

and out.

Cobwebs will be removed from every corner. Bedrooms are dusted, vacuumed, and organized. We’ll even change bed linens upon request. [www.EnjoyCherokee.com] 15

Life passion

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

by Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident

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Yes, ask many residents of Canton who they would call if they saw a snake, and the answer is Captain Jay Baker, who is also the director of Communications and Community Relations in the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. uuu While most of us instinctively avoid the reptiles, Jay is drawn to the creatures. “Whether you love snakes or hate them, almost everyone is intrigued at the sighting of a snake. For me it is an adrenaline rush. If I see a snake, I get an uncontrollable urge to catch it,” he admits.

A Canton native, Jay has been hooked on snakes since childhood. “When I was young my grandmother Baker, ‘Mimi,’ took me to her friends’ home near Brown Park in Canton. They had a garden and had installed black mats around it to prevent weeds,” Jay recollects. “Every time we visited, the old man who lived there that I called Jerry Snake took me to the garden to hunt for snakes under those mats. I was hooked at a very young age.” Jay’s longtime obsession leads him on numerous adventures during the warmweather months when snakes are most active. He catches and relocates them and even competes with his children to see who can capture the most serpents. Long practice has helped him refine his technique for catching the slithering creatures, and it may seem as if snakes naturally gravitate to Jay, which may be why some folks to dub him the snake whisperer. “I get several calls during the summer from people who want snakes taken off their property. I carry the snakes to an unpopulated location and release them. I prefer not to kill venomous snakes. I typically relocate them to an extremely remote location in an attempt to ensure they won’t encounter humans again,” Jay says. “I use various techniques when catching or relocating snakes. Some snakes are relaxed and docile, and I simply slowly pick them up near the middle of their body,” he says. “If a snake seems agitated or is venomous, I secure its head before picking it up.” Folks on social media regularly contact Jay to identify a snake through photos. Family members and friends often call on Jay to remove a snake or rescue one from a tight place. People who do not want to get so up close and personal with the scaly creatures often call him.

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The man says he is not scared by snakes, but he has a healthy respect for them. “Snakes don’t scare me, but there is definitely some excitement involved whenever I see one, regardless of what kind or size it is. The more dangerous the snake, the more careful I am around it,” he explains. Jay’s scariest encounter with a snake happened at Canton Creek behind his house several years ago. “My son and his friend were with me, and of course we were snake hunting. We saw a water snake on a tree near the water. As I approached the water snake I almost stepped on a copperhead. The snakes I don’t see are always the scariest,” he says. Copperheads are common in Cherokee County, along with a few other poisonous snakes and many non-venomous ones.

“In Cherokee County the most common snakes are rat snakes, king snakes, DeKay’s brownsnakes, garter snakes, ring-necked snakes, and of course the venomous copperhead. We also have Timber rattlesnakes in Cherokee County, but not in huge numbers,” he says.

Grayson, eighteen; Max four; and Sophie, three. Wife Paige was listed in the official count at zero. “I have two sons and a daughter. We have always enjoyed spending time outdoors, and they learned from an early age to respect but not to fear snakes, Jay says. “My wife, on the other hand, thinks we are all nuts for handling snakes. I haven’t been able to convince her to catch one yet.” Although Paige may not tangle with spooky snakes, she gets the whole family in on the act of celebrating the spookiest season, Halloween. “Paige gets all the credit when it comes to our home decorations and the costumes each year,” Jay points out. “She has always loved Halloween and seems to push the envelope each year. Our favorite tradition is taking our family portrait wearing our costumes on our front porch steps every Halloween.” When asked about his favorite snake story, Jay recalls one of the many times a friend asked for help. “I have a friend who raises snakes, very large snakes. Once he was out of town and I got a call from his wife that one of his snakes had escaped its enclosure, and she asked if I could come catch it. It was extremely large, about a nine-foot, python. I was able to catch it without getting bitten, but I recall being quite nervous during the process.”

Jay’s advice to people who encounter a snake outdoors is to leave it alone. “Most snakes are harmless, and they play an important role in our ecosystem,” he explains. If, however, someone discovers a snake in the house, often the Cherokee County Animal Control can assist in removing it. Regardless of the encounter, Jay encourages taking great care around these elongated reptiles. “For the people like me who simply can’t resist catching snakes, my advice is to use caution, recognize there is a chance you could be bitten, and don’t injure the snake,” he urges.

A longtime Cherokee County resident, after graduating from Cherokee High School, Jay attended the University of Georgia, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice before beginning his career with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office. He has a master’s degree from Columbus State University.

Nowadays Jay’s three teenaged children are all involved with their dad’s passion, getting in on the fun and keeping count of who catches the most snakes. By late July the 2020 Snake Count was Jay, nineteen;

Jay is now responsible for dealing with media and public requests for information. He also manages the agency’s social media, to include Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Jay has worked for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office more than twenty-six years. Prior to becoming the agency’s public information officer, he worked in the Adult Detention Center, Uniform Patrol Division, the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, and in Criminal Investigations.

A walk in the woods with Jay Baker can be interesting, to say the least. Some people collect pineconesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Jay collects friends with fangs.

Sophie Baker, age sixteen, is already catching up with her older brothers on capturing snakes, the family pastime.

Grayson Baker loves getting in on the action, and the nineteen-year-old catches almost as many snakes with ease as his father, Jay Baker, does.

Jay Baker and his wife, Paige, love Halloween, and each year Paige plans outfits and themes for the family for the spooky holiday. Paige, however, has nothing to do with capturing snakes. Pictured here are Jay, Paige, and their three children, Grayson, Sophie, and Max. [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

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ecosystem

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by Shannon Sickmon, Woodstock Resident

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The tri-colored bat is so named because each strand of hair contains three different colors.

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mily Ferrall, a graduate of Cherokee High School, is a wildlife technician for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). She stumbled into her career path through a circuitous route. Emily attended the University of Georgia with intentions of becoming a veterinarian. In one of her orientation sessions Emily came upon an exhibit featuring snakes and turtles. Curious, she inquired about them and discovered the excellent wildlife program that UGA offered. Emily changed her focus from veterinary medicine to wildlife science. The renowned wildlife program at UGA was diverse and fascinating for Emily. She studied wildlife management, rare species, conservation, biology, and ecosystem and habitat management. She completed internships with the DNR and with the university. After a class in mammalogy, she decided to center her studies on mammals in general and bats in particular. She became interested in bats after she completed her first internship with the DNR. In this internship, she worked with biologists who were experts in a variety of species. She got her feet wet—both literally and figuratively— doing survey work. She surveyed hellbender salamanders in the streams of north Georgia. She measured rare pitcher plant bogs. She worked with skunks, and in one memorable summer she worked with the head bat biologist and crew of DNR capturing bats.

Emily shares with us a sweet little hoary bat. This tiny creature can have a wingspan of more than fifteen inches.

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Tri-colored bats like to roost in caves, mines, rock crevices, culverts, and tree foliage. They eat mostly flying insects.

In her final internship she learned about bats’ fascinating variety of acoustics. She studied the sixteen species of bats that call Georgia home. She acquired a lifelong appreciation for the diverse flying mammals. Emily explains bats’ importance to the ecosystem. “Bats are an efficient means of natural pest control. One small bat can eat a thousand insects in an hour.” Fruit-eating bats are imperative for pollination and seed dispersal. Some of the fruits we love the most depend on bats for pollination, including mangoes, avocados, dates, figs, and bananas. One plant species will not sprout until it passes through a bat’s digestive tract, and the seeds that the bats throw away from the fruit can form new trees. Emily notes that bat waste also provides nutrient-rich natural fertilizer called guano. Scientists are even studying vampire bat saliva as a possible use for blood clot prevention in humans. Emily warns that the minute mammals face serious threats. Besides habitat loss, North American bats have their own nasty pandemic wiping out 90 percent of roosting colonies. White-nose syndrome, which was first documented in Georgia in 2013, is a fungus that grows on the noses and skin of affected bats. It has already killed millions of bats in the United States.

Bats serve such a vital role in pest control and pollination that their loss would be devastating, notes our local bat woman. For example, bats save farmers about $23 billion in agricultural losses by eating massive amounts of insect pests. Cherokee County residents and others can reduce the loss of the vital creatures, according to Emily. “The easiest way is to avoid disturbing hibernating bats. Stay out of closed caves and leave dead or decaying trees for natural roosting sites.” You can also erect a bat house in your yard, avoid using pesticides, and cultivate native plants to attract more insects and provide more food for bats. If having bats living in your property gives you the willies, you can instead help by buying a wildlife license plate or donating to the DNR. Bats don’t deserve their creepy reputation, Emily remarks, yet persistent fallacies about bats persist. Like most wild animals, bats can get rabies, but less than one percent of bats have the disease. They won’t fly into your hair—indeed, bats actively avoid human contact. They don’t suck blood, either. Vampire bats lap it from small cuts made on animals that are barely noticeable. Even the blood-lapping bats feed mostly on cattle and other large mammals. We need bats. They serve a vital role in preserving our ecosystem, and their loss would cause irreversible damage. Emily and the folks at Georgia Department of Natural Resources hope you will learn to appreciate the furry little guys and work with the DNR and local wildlife programs to conserve Georgia bats. For more about the DNR, visit GAdnr.org.

• T here are more than 1400 different bat species around the world. • Baby bats are called pups. •A group of bats is called a colony. • Some bats can fly as fast as 100 miles per hour. • Bats, like cats, groom themselves and sometimes each other. • T hree species of vampire bats feed solely on blood.

Bats Make Tequila

Bats are the sole pollinator of the agave plant. That’s right—without bats, our world would be without the primary ingredient found in tequila—agave. Other tropical plants that depend on bats for pollination include bananas, mangoes, and avocados. (Source: Bat Conservation International, batcon.org)

Bat Houses Spread Love

Bat houses—tall, narrow, and flat— provide our flying friends with a home that replicates the space between the bark and the trunk of a tree. This tight space offers a comfortable place for bats to hang out during the day. When night falls, the bats leave the house to pollinate and fertilize your garden and neighborhood. (Source: Bat Conservation International, batcon.org)

Plants for Our Bats

More than sixty native plants in Georgia attract moths and insects that make scrumptious meals for bats. Consider cultivating the following to help increase our bat population: a. Black-Eyed Susan b. Culver’s Root c. Goldenrods d. Wild Onion e. White Wild Indigo (Source: georgiawildlife.com/Conservation/Bats)

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BACK PAIN Did you know up to 80% of the population will experience some kind of back pain in life? Back pain can be a result of surrounding muscle strain, disc degeneration, nerve conditions, or other complex spinal conditions. Ranging from

MEET THE DOCTOR Dr. Steven Spitz Southeastern Neurosurgical Specialists Dr. Steven Spitz is a Neurosurgeon specializing in minimally disruptive surgeries. A noted author and

mild to severe, this pain can be caused by a variety of factors such as age, genetics, weight, and lifestyle choices. Today, advanced technologies and minimally invasive techniques can help provide relief to patients experiencing back pain.

recipient of numerous academic awards, Dr. Spitz is internationally recognized for his contributions to his field. Dr. Spitz isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. “You truly have to commit and love what you do in order to make it through this field,” says Spitz. “Within neurosurgery, minimally invasive techniques are my passion,” he says, “when I was

Listen to

ASK THE DOCTOR on WLJA 101.1 FM First & Third Wednesday of each month at 5:15 pm

an assistant professor, I taught these techniques to aspiring neurosurgeons.” Dr. Spitz continues to teach these techniques across the country at various conferences. When it comes to his patients, he believes listening is a vital role in the relationship. “I was very ill as a child, and my mother took me to several doctors, all of whom brushed off her concerns,” says Spitz, “I have learned from this to always take my patient’s stories seriously and take care to listen to the small details.”

Now accepting new patients.

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Southeastern Neurosurgical Specialists 470 Northside Cherokee Blvd, Suite 375 Canton, GA 30115 | (770) 422-0444

ASK THE DOCTOR

Herniated Disks: what do you get asked the most about these?

The biggest contributing factors causing degenerative disc disease are age, obesity, tobacco use, injury, and poor posture. Conditions arising from spinal deformation, infection, and tumors can all cause back pain but usually have little to do with lifestyle choices.

Herniated discs are one of the most common findings on MRIs. Many will shrink in size over time. The goal of conservative treatment is to decrease discomfort and pain while the disc heals. Typically, this will take six weeks. Other herniated discs can persist, and symptoms may last despite conservative measures. In these cases, surgery is a great option and will likely lead to a faster recovery to baseline.

When should I go to the doctor about back pain?

Do back braces (and similar DME) really help with heavy lifting and back pain?

If the pain persists for at least six weeks with no improvement, or if the pain travels down your arms or legs, you should schedule an appointment. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re experiencing difficulty with balance and hand dexterity; fever; history of cancer; history of infection; recent trauma; or new and/or worsening numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, it is recommended to seek more immediate medical attention.

Braces and other durable medical equipment can help in that they physically limit your range of motion. They are great after fusion surgeries in that they indicate where a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s limitations begin. However, such items can never really cure any progressive underlying spinal disorder. If they are worn too long, there is a possibility of weakening the muscular support structures of the spine.

What is the leading cause of back pain?

What should I look for when selecting an MD to see about my back pain? You should look for someone who possesses additional specialized training of the spine, such as a fellowship. Many orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons may be capable of performing the same procedures, but second opinions always help patients who are unsure of a recommended course of action. It is advantageous to look for someone who has mastery of both traditional and contemporary techniques, such as minimally invasive surgery.

What can be expected for recovery from back surgery? Typically, one can go back to sedentary jobs between one to two weeks. It takes approximately three months or more to return to heavier duty jobs such as construction or farming. Unless otherwise specified, it is recommended to walk immediately after surgery, as it lessens the chances of dangerous blood clots, wound infections, and pneumonia. Typically, pain is experienced in the first four to six weeks post-operatively.

What should I expect if I see an MD about back pain?

If I have spinal surgery, will it lead to another one down the road?

Typically, a primary care physician will suggest physical therapy or spinal injections through a pain management physician. If the pain persists for longer than six weeks, an MRI is usually ordered. This allows the specialist to visualize your spine and determine if surgery is needed. A spine specialist may order more specific tests depending on the results of the MRI.

One spinal surgery does not always beget another. This is truer when the original surgery was done properly with attention given to the global spinal alignment matched with the pelvic anatomy. Spinal anatomy is very complex and is made up of 33 vertebrae, over 120 muscles, and 220 ligaments. Typically, as one area is treated, it is possible for other areas to degenerate.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

technology

Connectivity Changing How We Connect David Horton

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Constance Higgins

Cherokee resident Constance Higgins loves to travel and likes to stay entertained in flight. Before COVID-19 halted air travel, the pediatric pharmacist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta frequently visited friends and explored new places, downloading her favorite shows and movies on her iPad before boarding her flight. She never paid for in-cabin inflight connectivity: the cost did not translate to value, in her opinion. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to be able to stream my favorite shows or even a live Grand Slam tennis tournament while in the air. It would be incredible,” Constance says. Her wish may become a reality soon, according to David Horton, cofounder and CEO of NXT Communications, also known as NXTCOMM. Along with cofounder Tim Morton, David formed the company in 2017. In June 2020, the company officially launched by doing the following: • A nnouncing its R&D partnership with Georgia Tech Research Institute to develop an antenna to meet worldwide demand for affordable mobile broad band connectivity • Completing its first antenna design, AeroMax, to solve the airline connectivity challenge • Opening a new 10,000-square-foot production facility in Ball Ground, Georgia, and announcing plans to hire fifty employees in the next eighteen months

Trailblazer by Anne Wainscott-Sargent

Already flight-proven in defense applications, NXTCOMM technology promises to transform how Cherokee County residents as well as people all over the world stay connected. Air travelers are not the only group who will benefit from NXTCOMM innovation. The antenna technology could also ensure first responders remain in constant contact when responding to 911 emergencies, even in the case of spotty cell coverage. David, the son of an emergency-room doctor, knows a great deal about first-responder needs. He explains, “Our satellite antennas, when installed on vehicles, give users a near-desktop-quality connection with limited signal interruption and offers a back-up solution to cellular networks.” He points out that Cherokee County EMS workers, like many first responders, often find themselves with spotty cell coverage in rural areas. “When EMS teams have a reliable satellite link to emergency-room doctors, lives will be saved,” David says. uuu [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

over-the-air tests on aircraft later this year. The performance data will prove what the NXTCOMM executives already are seeing in Georgia Tech labs: a breakthrough in antenna performance that will transform the industry and help cash-strapped airlines be more profitable. With faster, more reliable, and affordable broadband, airlines will enhance passengers’ inflight experiences and unlock new revenue opportunities.

uuu Starting NXTCOMM is the culmination of a more than two-decade career for David, a career in which he’s held key roles at several prominent aerospace connectivity and satellite manufacturing firms.

Love of Aviation and Spaceflight A ten-year U.S. Air Force veteran, David grew up in Sylvania, just outside of Toledo, Ohio. His father, an ER physician, wanted him to become a doctor. “I was not dead set on becoming a doctor. I was in love with aircraft and space flight. I grew up in the 1960s. It was an incredible time with NASA launching Project Gemini and the Apollo missions and the introduction of jet aircraft and their evolution coming out of World War II and Vietnam.” David spent a decade in the U.S. Air Force and the Reserves and eventually landed at Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Georgia. He next joined Norcross-based EMS Technologies, serving as the first director of sales and business development in the early 2000s. He oversaw antenna sales for LiveTV and Panasonic Avionics, including Panasonic’s $150M investment in the firstever inflight connectivity broadband antenna for commercial aero use that launched the IFC industry. Honeywell Avionics bought EMS in 2011. “There was passion at EMS when I joined. It was a very inspirational time in my career,” he recalls. “I developed a deep and true respect for what engineering does.” David moved on to other senior roles at Panasonic Avionics, TECOM, and Orbit Communication Systems but never lost touch with the mentors and colleagues he encountered along the way. As CEO of NXTCOMM, David has brought together a veteran team of strategic advisors and managers from those relationships, including CTO Carl Novello, whom he met at Panasonic; CCO Stephen Newell, a former EMS Technologies colleague; and Gene Joles, the former president of TECOM Industries. Another EMS alum, Dr. Wyman Williams, chief of the Space Systems Program Office at GTRI, previously served as the EMS chief engineer and now spearheads the NXTCOMM antenna design work at Georgia Tech. “We’ve brought together a seasoned team that can get it done,” says David of the collective effort of the talented team at NXTCOMM and Georgia Tech to develop the world’s first affordable and mass producible electronically steered antenna for fixed and mobility markets.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Collaboration is Key

NXTCOMM’s antennas are small but mighty.

A Different Kind of Antenna Until NXTCOMM announced its first completed design, the AeroMax antenna, only the military had widely used electronically steered antennas, because of their expense. The secret sauce is in Georgia Tech’s fragmented aperture technology, David explains. Current mechanically steered antennas on aircraft reside under a sixteeninch-high radome (radar and dome) on the plane fuselage. These antennas tend to fail, and their weight and size cause drag that affects fuel efficiency. In contrast, NXTCOMM’s AeroMax antenna measures under two inches, makes better use of the space under the radome, and is completely electronically controlled. Because it has no moving parts, it has a high reliability and works with low-earth orbit, mediumearth orbit, and geosynchronous-orbit satellite constellations. The NXTCOMM design is also smart. “We use a small panel with an integrated printed circuit board. It acts like a LEGO brick, where you need only to add more LEGO blocks to scale the technology to fit an application,” David explains. “Our antennas can be mounted onto aircraft, vehicles, tractor-trailers, trains, boats, or oil and gas rigs. Soldiers can even use our antennas in a manpack, so they can quickly set up secure communications on the move,” says David. NXTCOMM founders anticipate that its antennas one day may be used on civilian cars and homes, but today the focus is on military and commercial applications.

Tapping into Cherokee Regional Airport Being one mile from Cherokee Regional Airport is another plus for the company, says David, since NXTCOMM plans to conduct

NXTCOMM is already growing its potential employee base. “We will prepare future workers on the NXTCOMM antenna production line by developing specialized training courses at Chattahoochee Technical College,” says David. The company has also teamed up with the Cherokee Economic Development Authority and other area engineering schools to grow its workforce locally.

“

We plan to hire fifty people, including more than half in technical roles such as engineering, in the next eighteen months, says David.

”

He wants to replicate the way Lockheed Martin, his previous employer, worked with area technical schools to develop curricula to prepare graduates for Lockheed positions.

Cherokee County: No Place Like Home For both David and his wife, Tane Watkins, a native of Cherokee County and graduate of Cherokee High School, coming home to Cherokee and being able to work where they live is a dream come true. “I’m proud of what my husband has accomplished and the future of NXTCOMM,” says Tane. She wasn’t enthusiastic about the prospect of moving so often over the years, “However, the success he has had with previous companies led us to where we are now with NXTCOMM. The company has received hundreds of employment inquiries and congratulatory messages. NXTCOMM will be an employer that makes a difference in the lives of Cherokee County residents.” The couple has resided in Union Hill since 2006, though the Watkins family has been in the Cherokee community for six generations and the family has been long-time members of Arbor Hill Church. David says he met his future bride at what was once the Little River Sports Bar & Grill on Bell’s Ferry Road. David laughs when he says, “Even as a Northerner I’ve been integrated into a Southern

(Left to Right) Phil Eberly and Amanda Rostin of Lead family through my wife and have been embraced by everyone in Cherokee County.” Edge Design Group He adds, “I was nobody here in Georgia until with Robert Davies, I was connected to Tane’s family.” Carl Novello, David Horton and his wife, Looking Ahead to a Bright Future Tane. Phil Eberly is the president of Cherokee One thing is already clear: David Horton Office of Economic and the NXTCOMM team choosing Development. Cherokee County as headquarters proves

the county’s appeal as a great place to raise a family as well as find exciting work, and the growing presence of innovative tech firms such as NXTCOMM will further enhance Cherokee’s draw in the future.

“We are excited to have NXTCOMM in Cherokee and look forward to further partnerships and much success as it continues to empower connectivity within the satellite and mobility markets,” says Marshall Day, chairman of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development. To learn more about NXTCOMM, visit nxtcomm.com. Project engineer, Robert Davies David and his wife, Tane Watkins

NXTCOMM’s new headquarters in Ball Ground

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encounters

by Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Photo Credit: Cherokee County Historical Society

Through the years, the Dean house seems to have kept its luster. This photo, taken in 1874, captures a glimpse of the community in downtown Woodstock nearly 150 years ago.

owntown Woodstock calls for a Halloween visit for several reasons, and the building known as the Dean house is one of them. Beware! Here spirits are believed to roam the rooms and inhabit the halls. The dearly departed may duck behind doors or engage you in conversation. One glance at the structure may explain all the paranormal activity. While in the daylight the house appears benign, a reminder of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s storied past, at night the dwelling takes on a different dimension, its silhouette appearing to wear three pointed witch hats. To complete the image, the front porch columns and bay window combine to make the building appear to be grimacing at those passing by. The Cherokee Ledger-News occupied the aging edifice at 103 East Main in Woodstock in October 2011, when a few alarming encounters with apparitions motivated the staff to contact Southern Paranormal Investigations of Atlanta (SPIA) and request an investigation. SPIA is a professional nonprofit paranormal research group based in Woodstock and serving all of Georgia. It offers education and assistance to those who think they may be experiencing paranormal disturbances while it also studies and documents cases of authentic paranormal activity.

Photo Credit: Cherokee County Historical Society

This portrait of the Dr. W. L. Dean family was taken in 1896.

Historians know this much about the Dean house: Dr. George Merritt and his wife, Lucinda (Wheeler) Merritt, built the two-story house in 1875, and in 1884 Dr. W. L. Dean moved into the brick building with his bride, Louella Boring Dean. In the years to follow the couple had six children: Eva, Linton, Will, Hal, Lola, and Villa. For almost one hundred years the prominent Dean family occupied the house. uuu [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

uuu Although the outside of the Dean house looks a bit spooky, especially around Halloween, inside it still has the original heart-of-pine floors as well as the original decorative wood trim. The building sits in the historic district of the city, adding to its eerie appearance.

A news article in The Cherokee Ledger-News following release of the finding from the sevenhour investigation states that SPIA investigators concluded that the house “has intelligent and residual hauntings.” The SPIA website has the full report on the investigation. Notes from the investigation say in part, “Eva felt as if she belonged to the Dean house property, but I had a strong feeling she lived closer to City Park and was drawn to the park just before the investigation began. We came to learn one of the daughters of Dr. W. L. Dean was in fact named Eva.” The notes continue, “Though my contact with Eva could not be ignored, my strongest connection was with a woman named Lou. The Dean house was and still is her home. She continues to take care of the home in death as she did in life. I had many dreams of her standing in the front window waiting for her husband to come home. I felt the grief when she lost an infant and saw her raise her children in her husband’s absence.” Several of the investigators reported seeing or feeling the presence of the mother, Lou, in various rooms of the house, including standing with her hands clasped and looking out the bay window, keeping watch.

Today the Dean house is zoned for commercial use and is currently occupied by AVIN, Inc, one of the Southeast’s leading contractors.

Another strong presence was that of Carl, called a gentle man, who possibly lived in servant quarters behind the house. He seemed to be there to watch over the house. At no time did those involved in the investigation feel a malicious or evil presence. “There is a strong family feel, which persists even after a century and after the many families who have lived here [have left],” the report recalls. During the investigation Dr. W.H. Dean introduced himself formally to one investigator. “He was quite clear that he is the older one and still the head of this family. He felt a deep responsibility to his family during his lifetime as well as in death,” the investigator reports.

Photo Credit: Cherokee County Historical Society

There is a good chance the Dean house is still occupied by the original family, in a friendly spirit way. Is it any wonder?! Nobody ever wants to leave Woodstock.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

During the walk-through, the group received the distinct impression that Dr. Dean used one specific room as his medical office. One investigator reports, “I felt as though this used to be his exam room. I could see the old setup of the room, including four twin-size metal beds and an exam table. There seemed to be a lot of activity in this room, like people were busy and going in and out of the room.”

The report notes that although the team was unable to take definitive photos of the spirits in the house, many of the photos taken outside show strange mists that were not visible to the naked eye. One such photo shows an inexplicable, creepy, and cloud-like cream-colored spiral.

After the SPIA investigators left the house at the end of the investigation, they were all standing out front of the house when the monitor on a computer in the front bay window mysteriously lit up. Visible from the street, it gave the investigators the sense that someone was still in the houseâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the spirits of those who had lived there.

For more information about paranormal investigations and the investigation of the Dean house, the former offices of The Cherokee Ledger-News, visit the SPIA website at Sites.Google.com/view/ southernparanormalatlanta/home.

remembering

A LIFE WELL LIVED...

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Cherokee County

2020 Voters Guide 2020 Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Voting takes place at your polling location only. Find your polling location at www.MVP.sos.ga.gov

7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Early Voting Schedule for Elections October 12–16 Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. –5:00 p.m.

Two Locations: Elections and Voter Registration, 2782 Marietta Hwy., Ste. 100, Canton Cherokee Recreation Center, 7545 Main Street, Bldg. 200, Woodstock

October 19–23 Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Two Locations: Elections and Voter Registration, 2782 Marietta Hwy., Ste. 100, Canton Cherokee Recreation Center, 7545 Main Street, Bldg. 200, Woodstock

October 24 Saturday 9:00 a.m. –4:00 p.m.

Advanced Voting Schedule for Elections

October 26–30 Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Locations: Elections and Voter Registration, 2782 Marietta Hwy., Ste. 100, Canton Cherokee Recreation Center, 7545 Main Street, Bldg. 200, Woodstock Ball Ground Public Library, 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground Rose Creek Public Library, 4476 Towne Lake Pkwy., Woodstock Hickory Flat Public Library, 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton Locations: Elections and Voter Registration, 2782 Marietta Hwy., Ste. 100, Canton Cherokee Recreation Center, 7545 Main Street, Bldg. 200, Woodstock Ball Ground Public Library, 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground Rose Creek Public Library, 4476 Towne Lake Pkwy., Woodstock Hickory Flat Public Library, 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton

www.MVP.sos.ga.gov

tion New Locast 2020 7545 Marietta Hwy., Ste 100 gu as of Au Canton, GA 30114 | (770) 479-0407 36

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Located behind the Tax Assessor’s office next to the ballot drop box. NOTICE: All of this information is subject to change.

My Voter Page www.MVP.sos.ga.gov

What’s This?? Check to see if you’re registered to vote. If not, you can register online. Find your polling locations. View your SAMPLE BALLOT. Check the status of your mail-in ballot. Meet your current elected officials. And more…

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

prevention

by Shannon Sickmon, Woodstock Resident

Almost all cooks have had a kitchen fire or fiasco at some time in their lives. Most of the incidents are minor and become an amusing anecdote to share with friends.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Sobering Fire Facts from the National Fire Protection Association

ooking is the leading cause of home C fires and fire injuries.

“When I was quite

young I decided to surprise my mother by cooking her some French toast. I loaded the pan with oil, turned the burner on high, dipped the bread in egg batter, and splashed the wet bread into the hot oil. The scorching oil caused second-degree burns on my face, and I screamed in agony. A Saturday morning trip to the emergency room wasn’t fun, but the situation could have been far worse,” exclaims Shannon Sickmon, author of this article. Another Cherokee County resident recently escaped near tragedy. The homeowner was cooking fried okra when the grease caught on fire. While she managed to put out the fire quickly, the stove, microwave, and cabinets were damaged, and the house filled with heavy smoke. Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services assisted with ventilating her home to rid it of smoke and turned off the breakers to appliances near the fire. She went to the emergency room, where she was treated for burns to her hand.

T wo out of every five home fires start in the kitchen; of these, they cause 44 percent of home fires and 15 percent of home-fire deaths. Once a fire starts, you have only about thirty to forty-five seconds to put it out before it’s out of your control. ecause of the synthetic building B materials in today’s homes, you have only two to three minutes to escape a house fire. Thirty years ago, the average time to get out was about fourteen to seventeen minutes. F ire testing by Underwriters Laboratories discovered that a home with mostly synthetic furnishings can be entirely engulfed by fire in fewer than four minutes. ccording to Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator A Glenn Gaines, fires kill more Americans every year than all types of natural disasters combined. nsurprisingly, Thanksgiving is the biggest U day for fires with cooking equipment.

uuu

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Every family member must know how to use a fire extinguisher.

Two out of every three fire deaths occur in homes with missing or non-functioning smoke alarms.

uuu In another Cherokee County home fire, the homeowner had an appliance-repair technician perform repair work on a gas stove. Later that evening the homeowner lit a burner to start cooking. To his shock flames shot out of the cabinets above. He immediately turned off the gas and used a fire extinguisher to put the fire out; however, the fire left burn marks on the cabinet door. When Cherokee Fire arrived, the firefighters confirmed that a gas leak had caused the fire. They removed the drawers and pulled the stove out to be sure the fire was suppressed. They used their equipment to look for hidden hot spots and turned off the gas valve under the stove. The homeowner was advised not to turn on any gas in the home until all gas lines and the stove had been repaired. If the buildup of gas had continued, there could have been an explosion.

For both Cherokee County homeowners, their quick thinking and knowledge of fire safety helped alleviate what could have been a devastating and deadly situation. Keeping a clean kitchen and staying alert while you cook can prevent most kitchen accidents, but as more of us are cooking at home during the pandemic, we need to be reminded of kitchen safety. Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy for the National Fire Protection Association, says, “Cooking continues to be a major contributor to the home-fire problem. The good news is that the majority of these fires are highly preventable.”

Every year the National Fire Protection Association and local fire departments sponsor a series of events around Fire Prevention Week. Their goal is to prevent home-fire tragedies through community outreach and education. Fire Prevention Week begins October 4 this year. Cherokee County residents can enjoy a series of entertaining and informative events sponsored by the office of the Cherokee County Fire Marshal. Check out the Touch-A-Truck Event at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Canton on October 3, 2020. For more information see PlayCherokee.org/199/Touch-a-Truck.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

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The Aaron family has been providing friendly, personailzed service for more than 75 years. Bill, John, and Gina welcome ina you to visit, browse, n, and G h Jo l, il B and enjoy the atmosphere.

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LOCAL AUTHORS

Your Favorite

bookmark

Catching Thoughts by Bonnie Clark

In Catching Thoughts, a girl becomes plagued by an unwanted thought. No matter what she does—ignore it, yell at it, cry about it—the thought won’t go away. Frustrated and discouraged, she finally addresses the bad thought and says, “Hello.” At last she finds the ability to notice other, more beautiful, positive thoughts that exist all around her. As she catches hold of new thoughts, the girl discovers she can fill her mind with whatever she chooses.

Bonnie Clark lives in Canton with her husband and three children. She writes picture books that encourage children socially and emotionally, and she would love to visit your school—now virtually. Find out more at BonnieClarkbooks.com.

Fire Truck vs. Dragon by Chris Barton (author) and Shanda McCloskey (illustrator)

Fire Prevention Week begins October 4, and Fire Truck vs. Dragon is a perfect way to introduce this critical topic to youngsters. Can a fire truck and a dragon be friends? It might be the wackiest rivalry ever. Engage your imagination as the fire-breathing ruler of the skies and the fearless fire truck go head to head in an epic battle of fire versus water. Who will emerge victorious? Hold up! Perhaps it’s not a competition after all. Your heart will warm as the rivalry takes unexpected turns when these two unlikely friends face off at a campfire, a birthday party, and more places with surprising results.

Shanda (rhymes with panda) is the award-winning author and illustrator of three children’s books including this one. She lives in downtown Ball Ground and welcomes the opportunity to visit schools. ShandaMc.com.

Interested in submitting recommendations for Your Favorite Bookmark? Contact Jodi@EnjoyCherokee.com. Local authors are encouraged to submit a book summary, personal photo, and book cover image.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Buffington and Macedonia in Days Gone By by W.F. Bell and Marcus L. Beavers

Buffington and Macedonia in Days Gone By is the thrilling history of these close-knit communities in east-central Cherokee County. From the Cherokee natives to hard-working farmers and influential businesses such as Nejasco Farms and Dairy, here is the story of country people dedicated to faith, family, and community. In 1948 William Freeman Bell was born to Edwin and Katie Bell of Buffington. After high school and college, William became a publisher of Christian literature and was the founding editor of Free Grace Broadcaster magazine in 1975. From 1979 to 1982 he owned and operated Bell’s Store and later worked for both Sears and The Home Depot. William passed away in 2018 but left a shining legacy through the book. In 1941 Marcus L. Beavers was born to Lee and Aline Beavers in Atlanta. In 1963 the family moved back to their home community of Macedonia. Marcus worked for the Georgia DOT for ten years (1971–1981) and the Veterans Administration for eighteen years, retiring in 2001. He now devotes most of his time to study, writing, and travel. He and his wife, Myra, continue to live in Macedonia. Buffington and Macedonia in Days Gone By is available at the Cherokee County Historical Society and online at RockBarn.org.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

legend

An America Legend of the Jack-o’-Lantern If you’ve ever wondered where the tradition of carving a jacko’-lantern came from, you’re not alone. Many theories of origin are deep-rooted in the folklore of Ireland, Brittan, and other western European countries. However, there is one theory that finds its roots in nineteenth-century America. During the 1800s, the pumpkin was readily available to youngsters during the autumn harvest. Legend has it that mischievous teenagers would host private, outdoor parties in the dark of night that did not include parents and other adults. To spook any unwanted guests from entering, the youngsters carved scary faces into pumpkins, illuminated each with a candle, and placed them in a circle surrounding the party zone. The lit faces were successful enough to frighten away unwanted nighttime visitors, at least for a while. It wasn’t long before the parents got wise to the ploy and figured out a way to wiggle their way past the jack-o’-lanterns. All it took was a sweet cake, cookies, or even a pumpkin pie to entice the sweettoothed teenagers to invite the adults into the private party. Do you think this may be the beginning of jack-o’-lanterns as we know them?

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Keep Your tern Jack-o’-laner Fresh Lovengetagble, so it is prone to moledthanatd

A pumpkin is a we put in all the work to carv to stay r it decay, but afte a jack-o’-lantern, we want to re are in he ie d, gg en tough ve ward that To . le ib ss po rwise fresh as long as your funny, spooky, or othe l. ep ua ke us to s an nger th a few tip n fresh a little lo creative creatio antern, allow n your jack-o’-l next day, ea cl d an e rv ca ght. The After you ol place overni the next page to co y, dr a in sit on it to ly one—option ng more choose one—on n as long as possible. Applyi emical tio enjoy your crea to a pumpkin may create a ch n than one optio e more harm than good. us ca d an n tio ac re

GAF TIMBERLINE

HDZ ARCHITECTURAL SHINGLES

Light It Up Safely

Jack-o’-lanterns on the spooky season decorat doorstep are a requirement for any or. shapes and sizes begin As night falls, pumpkins of all flame in an unstable go to glow. Rather than place an open safer, more creative an urd, though, consider choosing a d convenient option. Gl ow St ic k Make purple, green, or pink your pumpkin stand out with a glo the colors nightly to ca w radiating from the face. Switch pture more attention. typically last between Glo eight and twelve hours w sticks bought in bulk. and can be Sm al l Fl as hl ig inside the cavern of theht Position a small flashlight illumination, line the ins pumpkin. For more powerful ide of the pumpkin wi aluminum foil. th Ch ris tm as Lig ht Christmas lights in a cle s Place a string of outdoor jack-o’-lantern. Carve an glass jar and set it inside the a pumpkin and pull the one-inch hole in the back of the plu hole. Connect to a we g end of the string through the ather-safe extension co fire, do not place a lid rd. To avoid on the glass jar. Ba tt er y- op er at or oval battery-powereded Lig ht s Puck lights—round lights—or flameless tea easy choices when it lights are co of these lights even inc mes to avoiding fire hazards. Some lude timers or remote controls. So la r Lig ht s Th e Internet is filled with how to illuminate your ide jack-o’-lantern with ga as on solar lights. Rigging it up takes a little elbow rden-stake sure to impress friend grease, but it’s s and neighbors.

blespoon ater with one ta es of the w of t ar qu e ac x t u r e Mix on d spray all surf B l e a c h mi mixture in a spray bottle an ula is said to kill off e rm fo ac t it dry. This of bleach. Pl t. liberally and le jack-o’-lantern and mold that can lead to ro ia nic peppermint surface bacter blespoon of orga a spray bottle, ta e on ix M p t so a ixture in P e p p e rmi n ) in a quart of water. Place m and let it dry. Peppermint ly ap al so er e lib til as rn (c te ’-lan soap caying process. es of your jack-o spray all surfac gal herb that will slow the de . un e raw surfaces is a natural antif or olive oil to th hydration. lly je m eu ol tr n Apply pe d prevent de L u bric a t io the fruit hydrated longer an ow down ep ke ts Lubrican hairspray can sl designed ith w es ac rf su w ay Coating the ra oose a hairspr H a irs p r ay ocess. For the best results, ch pr the decaying the ity. the bottom of for anti-humid trance hole in light on the ground en ur yo e rv Ca e le t th B o t t om Ho than the top. You can then se carved pumpkin over it. e er th th e ra , ac in pl pk d m an accumulate pu mable surface pe rather than or other nonflamoach allows moisture to esca pr This simple ap the pumpkin. of om tt bo at the

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Etowah High School

Brock Rechsteiner, Senior

Head Coach: Joshua Shaw

Matt Kemper is the new head coach at Etowah High

county football coaches, has found himself in a new and different coaching arena. He says, “We have really upped our technology game and used Microsoft Teams more than ever. We had a lot of momentum going on last year before the COVID-19 lockdown. Now we are participating in the Corky Kelly Classic and playing some high-caliber teams.”

Excited to be in our area, Matt says, “We are entering a very competitive region, and we are ready to compete. While we are all very excited to be back, we aren’t cutting any corners on the safety guidelines.”

When asked about his players, Josh says, “In my opinion A. J. Swan in the best quarterback in the state in the class of 2022, and he’s only a junior. Braesen Parker is the heartbeat of my defense. He set the school record, and he has a real nose for the ball. The kids were sending me videos of him flipping tractor-trailer tires this summer. You gotta love that.”

As a new coach hired March 19 after the shutdown, Matt did not have the luxury of spring training or summer camp to get to know the players. He says, “I’m trying to learn 120 names right now, but two leaders of the top of my head are Austin Skinner and Lane Cantrell.”

Finally, back to flipping footballs instead of tires, Linebacker Braesen Parker is predicting a great season. “We are excited to be the first game in Georgia and expect to be region champs.”

Creekview @ Forsyth Central @ River Ridge North Forsyth @ North Cobb

10/16 10/23 10/30 11/06 11/20

Roswell @ Milton Cherokee @ Woodstock Alpharetta

C I u I t ir UBL EET Southwest Cherokee V P M Parks & Trails Plan

I 50

Sept. 16 | 7:00 p.m.

Braesen would like his Cherokee High School football legacy to be that he is a man of integrity.

Email BDReynolds@CherokeeGA.com for more information.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

SCHEDULE

2020

Senior Wide Receiver Brock Rechsteiner says, “We are all excited to be back on the field, and the team’s goals are to have a winning record and make the playoffs. My personal goals are to be the all-state receiver, all-region offensive, and defensive player of the year.”

9/04 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/02

Braesen Parker, Junior

Coach Josh Shaw, like all the other Cherokee

School. Matt has felt welcome in Cherokee County and notes there is an excellent camaraderie among all the Cherokee County head coaches.

2020

Head Coach: Matt Kemper

Cherokee High School

9/02 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/02

Carver, Atlanta(D) Sequoyah Rome @ Creekview Cartersville

10/16 10/23 10/30 11/06 11/20

Woodstock @ Roswell @ Etowah @ Alpharetta Milton

REASONS TO COMPLETE

THE U.S. CENSUS

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CENSUS DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 30

Sequoyah High School

Head Coach: James Teter

Jack Blackman, Senior

River Ridge High School

Head Coach: Mike Collins

Cam Cochran, Senior

Coach James Teter says he was excited to get to meet the players in person recently, instead of by Zoom, and he was enthusiastic about getting back to football, but the team faces some challenges. “Because of graduation, we have a lot of holes on the team right now. We don’t even know yet who our quarterback is,” James comments.

Like all the county’s football coaches, Coach Mike Collins expresses how they are all in unchartered territory, with one adjustment after another. Mike also notes, “With the new division, we are moving from a smash-mouth league to more of a finesse league with athletes and space. We have been doing a lot of sevenon-sevens to prepare for this.”

One player coming back is Jack Blackman. James says, “Blackman is a natural leader; everyone follows him.”

What is Mike most looking forward to this year? “I am most excited about this senior class. We have so many terrific kids returning for their senior year. It’s going to be great. Cam Cochran is one of those great senior leaders who do it all by example.”

9/04 9/11 9/18 10/02 10/16

Woodstock @ Cherokee Cass @ Johns Creek Creekview

10/23 10/30 11/06 11/13 11/20

Cambridge @ Chattahoochee @ River Ridge @ Riverwood Centennial

Starting Center Cam Cochran says he could hardly wait to get back with his teammates after such a long break. “It didn’t take long, and our team bond was right back.” As for his legacy, Cam wants to be remembered as a leader on the football team who was a hard worker and able to lead in uncertain times.

SCHEDULE

2020

The players and the coaches are equally excited to see each other. Jack puts it this way: “The situation has taught us to focus on the things that we can control. As a senior I want to be known not just for being a football player, but also for how we responded to the community and how it prepared us for later in life.”

2020

A senior who plays the safety position, Jack Blaman says, “We were on a high going into the shutdown last spring. After everything we all went through, we have come back even tighter than ever.”

9/04 9/11 9/18 10/02 10/16

@ Lassiter Woodstock Etowah @ Chattahoochee @ Riverwood

10/23 10/30 11/06 11/13 11/20

@ Creekview Centennial Sequoyah @ Johns Creek Cambridge

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

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