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Ernie Yarbrough has spent more than fifty years doing what he loves best in the world of sports. The long-time assistant executive director and coordinator of officiating for the Georgia High School Association [GHSA], Ernie has also been actively involved in fast-pitch softball for more than half a century as a player, coach, and administrator.
“One of the greatest rewards in what I do, other than making friends, is providing opportunities for kids to reach their dreams, so kids can be successful in life with what they have learned through sports,” Ernie explains of his long, successful career. “I want them to be able to pursue their dreams, reach their dreams, and then use what they have learned from sports to be solid citizens as adults.”
In his second year as a Hickory Flat resident, Ernie says he also loves living in Cherokee County with his family. “We moved to Cherokee County two and a half years ago to be close to family. We bought property here, and shortly after the COVID pandemic we were able to move here,” he points out. “We love the convenience of Cherokee County and being close to everything.”
Ernie officiated basketball at high school and college levels for thirty-two years, including high school championship games in Oklahoma, California, and Georgia. He was also an official for international games prior to the start of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
CANTON RESIDENT LEADING THE WAY IN THE FIELD OF SPORTS
Throughout his twenty-three-year career working full time with GHSA, Ernie’s formal influence in the sports world has included work in the NFL, USA Softball, and the American Basketball League [ABL].
Ernie served as the ABL’s director of officiating from 1996 to 1999 and has remained active in officials’ observation for multiple college conferences, including the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Southern Conference, and the Big South Conference. Ernie also worked in player development for three NFL franchises over a total of thirteen years.
Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Pam Carnes praises Ernie for his leadership qualities: “Flexibility, availability, and courage: these are three attributes of a leader that Ernie Yarbrough shared with attendees at the Chamber’s 2023 Leadership Symposium. I had the good fortune of introducing Mr. Yarbrough as one of the event’s keynote speakers, and within his forty-five minutes of comments, I realized the attributes described him.”
Pam explains,“Although his demanding role is a structured one, flexibility is necessary, just as being available is a must when working with countless groups of people, all while he exhibits courage for the people looking up to him seeking confidence in making decisions that impact their outcomes.”
Good friend and big fan Cherokee County Recreation and Parks Director Jay Worley says, “Coach Ernie is a well-respected and recognized leader not only with Georgia High School athletics, but also across the nation with his involvement in women’s fast-pitch softball.” Jay works with Ernie’s son, Athletics Division Director Shawn Schumacher of Cherokee Parks and Recreation.
This year the National Association of Sports Officials [NASO] chose Ernie as the recipient of the highly prestigious 2024 NASO Mel Narol Medallion Award. The award was presented in Atlanta on July 30 during the Celebrate Officiating Gala, which capped off the 2024 Sports Officiating Summit.
“Ernie Yarbrough has impacted tens of thousands of officials for more than four decades,” NASO President Bill Topp said in a release. “He is a consistent presence for new and veteran officials and has earned the respect of local, state, and national leaders.”
Ernie says he was humbled to receive the award. It came just a week before his scheduled retirement from GHSA. “The Lord blessed me with thirty years of running the court and another twenty-plus trying to give back by creating options and growth for those who have come after me,” he says.
Born in California, Ernie grew up in Owasso, Oklahoma, and began his athletic career at Owasso High School, where he was a four-sport letterman. He went on to be a College Division All-American football player at the University of San Diego in 1973. A Navy veteran, Ernie served during the Vietnam War and describes himself as a “Flag-waving patriot and proud to have served my country.”
Putting Down Roots
“I met my wife, Cindy, while in California, and our two children were born there. Our children were young when we moved to Georgia. We originally moved to Clayton County and were south-metro folks, because that was where [Cindy’s] family was when we first moved to Georgia.” Since his latest move, Ernie adds, “We’ve enjoyed our time in Cherokee County.”
He and Cindy have two children, Shawn and Chelsy, and are the proud grandparents of Hampton, age ten, who plays all sports, but particularly loves golf.
On the Diamond and Beyond
Following his retirement with GHSA on August 5, Ernie continues to serve as the Georgia State and Southeast Regional Junior Olympic Commissioner for USA Softball. “Softball is a passion of mine. I have been involved in fast-pitch softball for fifty years. I enjoy giving back, and being involved with USA Softball is something I really enjoy,” he explains.
Ernie was inducted in the Georgia Softball Hall of Fame in 2016 and coached the Gold Medal USA Softball Girls Junior National Team in the 2019 Pan American Games in Colombia, South America.
He has served as a coordinator for lacrosse and as logistics coordinator overseeing basketball, girls flag football, track and field, soccer, baseball, and golf during his tenure with GHSA state championship events. He created GHSA Contest Officials Handbook and Accountability Program and the GHSA Developmental Camp program for GHSA contest officials and was selected as the Naismith High School Basketball Official of the Year in Georgia for 1995.
Ernie was recently awarded the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Sam Burke Award for his commitment to high school athletics in the state of Georgia and the prestigious NFHS Citation Award for his leadership and contribution to high school athletics.
Date Opponent
8/16 vs River Ridge
8/23 at Sequoyah
8/30 vs pope
9/6 at lambert
9/20 at north paulding
9/27 vs etowah
10/4 at wheeler
10/11 vs walton
10/18 vs north cobb
10/25 at marietta
Tanner Savasir enters his senior year as a three-year starter excited about leading a senior-laden team. The team worked hard in the weight room offseason, and several players, including Tanner, added as much as fifteen to twenty pounds to their frame. A three-sport athlete, he also plays golf and basketball for Cherokee, but hopes to play football in college. Adam Holley, Cherokee’s head coach, was the offensive coordinator at Calhoun last year, and Tanner’s enjoying the added dimensions his new coach has brought to the offense.
Tanner has played organized football for more than a decade and says it is the best preparation for life. He says it teaches confidence and to work hard and effectively with everyone on your team and keep going no matter how challenging the schedule. A.J. Swann, his predecessor at QB now at Louisiana State University, has been a great mentor to Tanner, and they still work out together in the offseason. It’s now Tanner’s turn to mentor the next quarterback. He shares his knowledge with the two young men who will compete for the job next year, telling them it all works out as long as you work your hardest and stay true to who you are.
PLAYER PROFILE BY BRUCE BAKER, CANTON
“I knew once I first started playing football, this was what I wanted to do,” says linebacker Jaysen Pertz-Moye. “I love being a leader on the field because I like helping my teammates learn and get better.” Jaysen obtained his athleticism from his late father, Adrian, who earned a football scholarship to North Carolina A&T, and his mother, Elisabeth, who played sports and studied tae kwon do. She is also his mentor. “She pushes me to be my best,” Jaysen says. “She makes sure I have all A’s and B’s and doesn’t let me slack off. She helped me build my confidence and perseverance and allowed me to strive in everything I do.”
Etowah’s head football coach Matt Kemper says, “Jaysen is a good linebacker due to his instincts in finding the football. He is relentless in his pursuit and constantly tries to improve his fundamentals and master his craft.” Coach Kemper notes that Jaysen approaches his teammates in a mature and respectful manner while holding them accountable to the standards of the eagles program.
Jaysen isn’t yet sure about attending college but would love to play professional football. He thanks his coaches, his mother, and his teammates for allowing him to do what he loves, move forward in life, and be a better person.
PLAYER PROFILE BY CINDY POPE, WOODSTOCK
Date Opponent
8/16 vs etowah
8/23 at woodland
8/30 vs north springs
9/6 at river ridge
9/13 vs lassiter
9/27 at creekview
10/4 vs pope
10/11 at sequoyah
10/25 vs riverwood
11/1 at sprayberry
Drew Burmeister, an inside linebacker for two years, played just about everywhere on the field before settling into the inside linebacker role. Drew’s father, Max Burmeister, says, “To see [Drew] find a home and lead has been a lot of fun.” Drew has spent ten years in the sport of football, but his reign as a renowned inside linebacker at Woodstock High School is ending.
The Burmeister legacy will continue, though. In his senior season Drew gets the rare opportunity to play varsity football with his younger brother, sophomore starting quarterback Graham Burmeister. Drew reports that he’s excited to play on the same field as his brother.
Date Opponent
8/16 at woodstock
8/23 vs sprayberry
8/30 at campbell
9/6 vs chapel hill
9/13 vs marietta
9/27 at cherokee
10/4 vs north paulding
10/11 at wheeler
10/18 at walton
10/25 vs north cobb
Woodstock’s football team has watched this graduating group of boys grow through the junior program and become vital aspects of the starting lineup. Drew says he feels connected to the group and nothing will top “beating Lassiter and then dancing in their away locker room, everyone being really excited together.” He is saddened to see his Woodstock days drawing to a close, but with offers from both Columbia University and Davidson College, he’s eager to see where his football career takes him.
PLAYER PROFILE BY TAYLOR HAYMORE, CANTON
“Football is the best sport in the world,” says Ethan Spector, senior quarterback for the River Ridge Knights. “Football is the true team sport because every component has to work together.” Playing quarterback provides Ethan with a leadership role where he sets an example and commands the entire offense. He enjoys helping teammates reach goals, advising them how to play their best. Ethan also studies seasoned players to mimic their styles, constantly learning. Ethan says of his “second family,” “All my teammates are brothers. It’s a place I can be me, be free, and play the game I love.”
He’s also dedicated to his real family. “If I’m not playing sports, it’s family time,” whether he is dining with his parents, from whom he gets his athleticism, or playing around with his younger brother, Hudson. The Spector family is supportive of Ethan’s dream to play professionally and started him playing football at age six. Ethan says of his parents, “They are trying their best to get me in the best possible position to play ball.” He plans to attend a college that offers football and a major in business management, but he hasn’t decided which college. “I’d prefer to stay close to home, but wherever I’m offered to play, I’m going.”
PLAYER PROFILE BY CINDY POPE, WOODSTOCK
Date Opponent
8/16 at denmark
8/23 vs cherokee
8/30 at kell
9/6 vs riverwood
9/13 at sprayberry
9/27 vs river ridge
10/4 at lassiter
10/11 vs woodstock
10/25 at pope
11/1 vs creekview
After falling in and out of love with football, Ean Marria has found his place on the Sequoyah Chiefs team. game from both sides, as a running back and a defensive end, granting him the chance to lead in multiple ways on and off the field.
At the start of his senior year, Ean makes the most of every opportunity as a player, leader, teammate, and friend. His athletic abilities expand beyond the football field, as he also excels in baseball. Described by his coach as one of the school’s top football and baseball players, Ean has football offers from multiple Division One schools. Ean is unsure whether he wants to pursue either football or baseball, though.
Date Opponent
8/16 at Cherokee
8/23 vs denmark
8/30 vs allatoona
9/6 vs woodstock
9/13 vs pope
9/27 at sequoyah
10/4 vs riverwood
10/11 at sprayberry
10/25 at creekview
11/1 vs lassiter
A pickleball enthusiast and avid fisher, Ean balances his sports and social life and supports undergraduates in finding ways to grow. With his abundance of accomplishments as a teammate, Ean continues to be a role model for newcomers. He says his favorite accomplishment on the field as a Chief was “last year in the Alpharetta game—the first playoff game—when I ran, rushed, and threw a touchdown all in the same game.” In his final high-school season, Ean plans to embrace his leadership role and find success in the region.
PLAYER PROFILE BY TAYLOR HAYMORE, CANTON
Photo Credit: Amber Moreno Photography
Photo Credit: Noah Popp
Senior Austin Guest will quarterback the Grizzlies for the third year in a row and intends to keep playing behind center in college. A member of Creekview’s football and golf teams, he loves to compete. He credits coach Trevor Williams with teaching him a great deal about leadership, handling expectations, and dealing with pressure—life skills that go well beyond football. Austin says the team’s weight room is the heartbeat of the Grizzlies’ Football program. It’s where teammates push and encourage each other and commit to work together to accomplish their goals. In his limited free time Austin enjoys bass fishing and pheasant hunting.
A dual-threat quarterback, Austin led the team in rushing and passing last season, but his favorite moment was against the talented North Forsyth team. It was a back-and-forth game that required a late score followed by a critical stop by the defense. It was a win possible only because the entire team played its best, which made it special. This year Austin looks forward to the road game at Sequoyah, a rematch of one of only three regular-season losses last year.
PLAYER PROFILE BY BRUCE BAKER, CANTON
DATE
OPPONENT
8/16 vs calhoun
8/23 vs North Forsyth
8/30 at cambridge
9/6 vs lassiter
9/13 at riverwood
9/27 vs woodstock
10/4 at sprayberry
10/11 at pope
10/25 VS River ridge
11/1 AT SEQUOYAH
STEP INTO THE STORY INSIDE THE NEW HICKORY FLAT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Bookworms, assemble! It’s easy to get caught up in our busy lives. We often forget to take time for ourselves and allow ourselves a much-needed break. Visit the newly renovated Hickory Flat Public Library for your next reading fix, because you and your TBR List deserve it. A branch conveniently located for Canton, Holly Springs, and Woodstock residents, the reimagined space has much to offer on its shelves and beyond.
“This grand reopening is a community celebration,” says Angela Cortellino, executive director of the Sequoyah Regional Library System [SRLS], which serves Cherokee, Pickens, and Gilmer counties.
“People think that libraries are no longer relevant. That’s not true for our libraries!” From 2022 to 2023, the SRLS circulated 1,079,739 items and greeted more than 388,575 visitors across its tri-county region, helping engage visitors through literacy, technology, and community.
A World of Imagination
Filled with bright colors and a warm, cozy atmosphere, Hickory Flat Public Library encourages all guests to find excitement in a world of books.
Board
STORY BY
Abigail Hayman, Canton
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Rori Owen
As you first walk into this inviting space, look to your right to find the Friends of the Library nonprofit bookstore. “There are so many ways to support our community,” says Sarah Childers, SRLS marketing manager. “This October we’ll highlight different ways to support the library by celebrating Support Your Library Month.
The Friends of the Library is a group of volunteers who support our library. Any individual can donate to Friends of the Library and support the library.”
Libraries are designed to engage the local community and provide a space to linger and find comfort when the world gets too busy. Beyond the second set of doors, you will find a new feature—the Third Space. Designed to be seen as a “third home” for patrons, the room offers a safe space apart from home and office where visitors can work, collaborate, and rest. With plenty of places to recharge your electronics and recharge yourself, like the coffee machine, the room is perfect for all ages. It is meant for the community, a space that gives back joy in the form of knowledge.
ABOVE A peek inside Hickory Flat Public Library’s new Third Space
RIGHT Cherokee County Board of Commissioners
Vice Chair Richard Weatherby, SRLS Executive Director Angela Cortellino, SRLS Board Chair Tom Hill, and Cherokee Library
Secretary Carmen Slaughter joyfully celebrate the library’s ribbon cutting.
A special feature for teens is the newly added Teen Room. A cozy space, the room features vibrant colors and seating that feels modern and relaxed for its young adult audience. The perfect space to hang out after school or for a study session, teens can enjoy an assortment of books and technology and, most importantly, find solace as a community. Four individual study rooms are also available within the library space, an excellent choice for professionals, creative people, and students.
“After renovation, I got this feeling of excitement and a happy place when I walked in for the first time,” says Laurie Darrow, branch manager. “I hope that our guests can experience that too.”
Creativity Thrives
Step into a real-life storybook when you venture to the left side of the library, where the children’s area thrives. Books for preschool, elementary, and middle-grade students fill the space of this welcoming spot, complete with cozy seating for children and families. Its warm and inviting colors welcome children to step into a world of imagination.
Families can also benefit from library events this month, including storytimes and literacy building with Beau the Reading Dog on September 5, part of the CAREing Paws Reading Education Assistance Dogs program.
A Beacon of Discovery
The Sequoyah Regional Library System is all about connection, which is why there are several nods to the Sequoyah brand throughout the library. Imprints of the green leaves in the SRLS logo can be found in the children’s area as well as in several of the rooms within the library, hidden treasures for the community to explore. The library has reopened with the creative concept that it is for everyone, a space people in the community can identify with and find comfort. “It’s a space everyone can connect with,” says Laurie Darrow.
‘‘ After renovation, I got this feeling of excitement and a happy place when I walked in for the first time.”
— Laurie Darrow, branch manager
Walk into the Flex Room across from the children’s area, and you will find plenty of high-rise tables for library programs and activities. Stroll outside, and discover a playground designed for children—interactive, fun, and magical—with bright colors and a safe, open environment for children to run around. It’s perfect for moms and dads needing entertainment for their children, and what better place to learn the importance of play and creativity than at the library?
Adjacent to the children’s area is a Community Room, which can be reserved for events and workshops. Shades of teal and blue plus bright lighting invite guests to explore their creative side or connect with like-minded professionals in their community. Guests can use the accessible technology and resources, including the room’s whiteboards, projector, coffee machine, and cozy seating. The space is designed for Cherokee County residents to brainstorm, collaborate, and find new ways to connect.
The Hickory Flat Public Library first opened in 1993 and was open for thirty years before closing for renovation in late 2022. Renovation began in January 2023 with a groundbreaking ceremony. Since then all those involved have worked hard to create a library that serves as a beacon of discovery. “Whether you’re browsing our collection, attending a program, hosting a meeting, or simply relaxing, we are excited to officially welcome you to the Hickory Flat Public Library,” says Sarah Childers.
Beyond The Shelves
While working on this project, architect Chad Smith designed the library from the inside out. “Renovation was a challenge, but we responded with determination,” says the president of CAS Architecture. “We used roof pop-ups to allow natural light into the building and into the adult, children, and teen areas, bringing a sense of joy to the library’s design. We wanted there to be an openness for visitors to be bold and playful.” Through the windows, residents can see what makes the library unique. Much like a crystal geode, a world of color awaits visitors of the Hickory Flat Public Library.
Core memories can be made in the new and exciting space, where sharpening minds can find meaning beyond the shelves. The Hickory Flat Public Library is not just a home for books; it’s a space for people in the community to grow with each other. Hope lives in every corner of the library for all of Cherokee to see and experience. Libraries like the Hickory Flat Public Library continue to help our vibrant county flourish and allow our imaginations to take flight through literature. When in need of community and inspiration, consider visiting the Hickory Flat Public Library, a community gem.
National Library Card Sign-Up Month
This September highlights an exciting event: National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Any Cherokee County resident can receive a library card. It takes only a few minutes to sign up, and library cards can be used at any of SRLS’s seven branches. For parents and educators eager to encourage children to read, SRLS offers a program where all Cherokee County School District students in grades K-12 can use their lunch card to check out up to five books, without fees. Parents can opt-in for the feature, also known as EZ Student Access, during the school district’s enrollment season. In previous years 80 percent of Cherokee County students enrolled in the library system. “Community members who sign up for a card in September will receive a Discovery Passport with discounts for local businesses inside. We hope to increase awareness of everything you can do with a library card, so we can continue to welcome new patrons to our library,” SRLS marketing manager Sarah Childers shares.
Shelley’s Fight Continues:
STORY BY Rebecca Johnston, Canton
CANCER SUCKS 5K RACING TO HELP PATIENTS, FAMILIES
The inaugural Cancer Sucks 5K Run/Walk at Etowah River Park in Canton offers participants a path to give hope and help to those in our community and beyond battling the debilitating disease.
Set for September 21, the Cancer Sucks 5K will benefit The Shelley Foundation, established to help others battling the disease in memory of Dallie “Shelley” Shalane Turner Williams of Ball Ground, who died in May at the age of fifty-three from stage-four colon cancer.
Shelley’s husband, Chip Williams, and her brother, Chris Turner, formed The Shelley Foundation in response to Shelley’s diagnosis in February 2022. Despite initial prognoses giving her only three months to live, Shelley persevered for more than two years, demonstrating incredible strength and resilience.
Chris says, “Inspired by her journey, we established this foundation to channel our energies into raising funds and providing support for individuals and families navigating the hardships of cancer. Through our collective efforts, we aim to bring hope, resources, and community to those who need it most, standing together in the fight against cancer.”
Chip explains that during her last hospital stay, Shelley asked the question, “What do people do that don’t have the quality of health insurance that I have… or any at all?”
“Prior to her question, Chris and I were thinking that we would donate the proceeds of the race and any donations to cancer research. But that question made us both realize that donating directly to patients and families would have a far greater impact on a more personal level,” Chip offers. “I also spoke to her oncologist, Dr. Walid Shaib at Wellstar, and he mentioned that while many patients are covered for their treatments, they don’t have the transportation to get to them. Being able to help patients in this manner just seemed like such an easy way to make such a big difference in patients and families’ lives.”
Chris plans to unite other foundations and organizations to work together in the fight against cancer and to help victims and their families. “There is such a monstrously large community in Cherokee County suffering from cancer and its effects. We have four other foundations we are partnering with and are working to find more. We will be creating a sort of Chamber of Commerce for cancer foundations in the area. We can share volunteers, help each other spread the
word on specific needs, and more. I don’t know of anyone who isn’t directly touched or one degree separated from the devastating effects of cancer. If we can make just a few individuals and families less devastated, we will have done something amazing,” he says.
Shelley, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, was a licensed clinical social worker in California with a twenty-seven-year career at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Her family says her determination to provide the highest quality support even while she managed her chemotherapy treatments during her two years of critical illness demonstrates her perseverance to support children at risk and the employees who served them.
The Cancer Sucks 5K begins and ends at Etowah River Park in Canton with the entire course taking runners and walkers along the scenic greenway of the Etowah River. Participants take off at 9:00 a.m. Participation fee for runners is $35 and for walkers, $25. For more information visit TheShelleyFoundation.org.
Chip & Shelley Williams
Shelley Williams
A Horse is a Horse, Of Course, Of Course
Horse-Related Terms You Might Not Know
Dressage—a trained horse’s execution of precision movements in response to barely perceptible signals from its rider.
Equine—of, relating to, or resembling a horse or the horse family.
Equitation—the act or art of riding on horseback.
Hippotherapy—therapy to treat neurological, physical, cognitive, or communication deficits in which a patient (such as one affected by cerebral palsy, stroke, autism, or multiple sclerosis) sits or lies on the back of a horse for the therapeutic effect of the horse’s movement.
Natural horsemanship—a collective term for a variety of horse-training techniques that have seen rapid growth in popularity in the last forty years. Techniques vary in their precise tenets but generally share principles of a “kinder and gentler cowboy” to develop a rapport with horses, using methods said to be derived from observation of the natural behavior of freeroaming horses.
Cherokee County Horses Lead the Way
STORY BY Angela Chambers, Canton
FROM LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING TO THERAPY, HORSES ARE HITTING A STRIDE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY
Since its establishment in 1831, Cherokee County has had a long equine history. Long before we were a popular destination to live, work, and play, farmers and others owned and worked with horses in Cherokee County. These days the equine community is finding new ways to reach out to and support the local community.
Taking the Reins
Marietta Stalcup first started riding horses at age eight. Once she made her way to Cherokee County, she rediscovered her love for riding. As founder of Evolu Coaching, Marietta based her career on leadership skills coaching and building holistic leadership programs. The Woodstock resident has taken her love for horses and for helping develop others’ leadership skills to a new level. After discovering the equine-assisted leadership [EAL] movement, Marietta is now developing workshops in our area.
EAL uses the horse-human connection to teach life and leadership skills. Participants are given a series of teamwork challenges that involve a traditionally headstrong team member: a horse. Instead of sitting in classrooms and learning about individual leadership styles, the team works with a large, often intimidating, animal. Not having any experience around horses is actually a plus, as all team members have to rely more on one another to go through the challenges.
Explaining how Evolu Coaching differs from traditional team-building experiences, Marietta shares, “Horses teach you confidence, courage, and emotional intelligence.
Horses are highly sensitive to human emotions and nonverbal cues. They can tell when you are calm or stressed and provide immediate and honest feedback, thus helping leaders become more aware of their behaviors and impact on others. The individuals, like leaders, have to convey confidence and develop a good working relationship with their team as they run through the activities.”
Horses want a strong leader who builds trust by having a vision of the future, utilizes the strengths of the team, and demonstrates the ability to keep them safe. When you develop these skills, the horse will follow you.
After Marietta completed the training to lead EAL workshops, she needed to partner with a farm with qualified horses to participate in the program. Luckily, she didn’t have to look beyond Cherokee County’s borders.
After beginning riding lessons at Revelation Farm in the Free Home community, Marietta connected with farm owner Danielle Perry. Danielle offers dressage and equitation lessons at Revelation Farm and is a dressage judge at competitions. Danielle saw the potential in EAL and provided the farm and several of her horses—including gentle giant Jotspun and pretty mare Striped Lady—for the initial workshops that begin this fall.
In a preview session, I was given the opportunity to join an EAL workshop. Many of us have been to team-building classes, but this one was entirely different from the outset. Even though I was comfortable around horses, a few participants were not. It was clear from the beginning that alleviating fear was part of the process.
LEARN MORE | Scan QR code to visit EvoluCoaching.org to learn more about equine-assisted leadership as well as other programs offered by Evolu Coaching, including leadership development, coaching, and strategic career management solutions.
Participants in the Evolu Equine leadership program at Revelation Farm tackle team-building activities with a nontraditional teammate: a horse. Activities include leading the horse through obstacles while working with teammates to determine the best course of action. For some challenges, participants are blindfolded or wear noise-canceling headphones, pushing them to rely on their teammates for guidance.
[PICTURED, L-R] Cindy
Pope, Derek Smith, Caysa Manning, Jotspun, Jason Walker, and Grace Nicholson at Revelation Farm, located at 9604 Freehome Highway in Canton
We were required to alternate participants in the challenges, so those with inexperience or fear had to overcome those feelings with the support of their team members. At the end of the workshop, we gathered for an assessment of what we learned. Leading a horse through different obstacles as a team produced all the results one would want from a leader: confidence, teamwork, and listening skills. We learned all these things while having fun, being outside, and becoming confident controlling a 1,500-pound “teammate.”
A Horse of a Different Color
At Mariposa Farms in Canton, nonprofit organization BEATS uses hippotherapy to treat children and adults with disabilities. Founder Bethany Nugent always knew she wanted to work in physical therapy. When her mother, Barbara, sent her an article about equine therapy, horse-lover Bethany knew it just made sense. “In the early days, insurance companies were confused and would not pay for this type of therapy. BEATS was originally created to raise awareness.” Barbara was integral to the existence of BEATS and was Bethany’s biggest supporter until her death in 2007.
Bethany explains the reason horses work well for therapy. “They most closely replicate the human gait, so for kids who don’t have a normal gait or cannot walk, the horse’s gait gives intensive therapy by stimulating the whole body.”
Along with therapy, BEATS offers adaptive riding for clients with physical or cognitive disabilities. The organization typically sees sixty riding and therapy students per week. A large part of Bethany’s role is recruiting and retaining volunteers as six volunteers are needed every day to keep the program running.
Horse Whisperer
Long-time Cherokee County resident Betsy Moles is no stranger to horsemanship. She was a founding member of the Georgia Southern University equestrian team. While she had experience riding, she found that she relearned horsemanship when she learned about natural horsemanship. Betsy says the basis of natural horsemanship is “training with the understanding that a horse is a prey animal, and humans are predators.” She explains, “You are training with their fears in mind, and when you overcome those fears and develop trust, you can train and develop a strong relationship with the horse.”
Through her love of natural horsemanship and seeking a challenge, she found herself in the world of wild Mustang rescue. Previously she worked with an organization that partnered with the Bureau of Land Management. Its participants round up wild Mustangs that are temporarily farmed out to trainers who have a certain amount of time to train the horses—sometimes as little as ninety days. After competitions showcasing what the trainers have accomplished, the horses become available for adoption. Rescued horses come to their new owners completely trained, which is a win-win for horse and owner. Betsy’s next adventure involves training in equitation at Wild at Heart Ranch in Canton, currently the only barn in Georgia offering equitation shows. “Equitation is catching on; we needed someone to take the risk to have the shows. It is taking my riding to a new level.”
Lessons in Giving
Sequoyah High School graduate Ashley Miller turned her love of horses into a gift to the community. Ashley created a riding program at Creekside Ranch Rescue in Ball Ground that focuses on children in the foster care system in the county.
She started the program while in high school and developed it over the years after college, marriage, and her job as an elementary teacher. Ashley explains what she loves best about helping children: “Kids love that sense of pride when they learn how to care for and ride a horse. They feel a sense of accomplishment.”
The summer camp program this year included five weeks of camp at no cost to the participants. The program has grown and was lucky enough to obtain private funding to assist with the venture.
Ashley uses rescue horses in her lessons and camps. The process of finding the right horse has also developed over the years. “I try to identify horses that need a second chance and can be used with children, especially inexperienced riders. It is a different kind of rescue.” She is grateful for the equine community in Cherokee County. “It is a very tight-knit community but also massive. If you don’t know something, someone in the community will.”
A Thriving Equine Community
In a once-sprawling agricultural county, residents such as Marietta, Danielle, Bethany, Betsy, and Ashley continue to champion horses and the impact they can have in our own lives through leadership, therapy, and more. Cherokee County offers much more than a place to own horses and ride for fun. These women have created programs to help people in need and foster learning through their shared passion for horses.
WhereLOVEYou LIVE
STORY BY Emma Tyler, Waleska
American Civil Rights Movement activist Coretta Scott King once said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
About a year ago, Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Chair Harry Johnston approached Communications Director Erika Neldner and asked her to develop a campaign for Cherokee County that expresses its greatness. Erika brainstormed with Assistant Communications Director Andrea Barker on several topics, including the fact that Cherokee County has some of the lowest tax rates, lowest expenditures, and lowest debts per capita. They realized that this data is commonly mentioned when comparing counties, but they knew something was missing. Erika explains, “I asked myself, ‘What makes our county so great?’ It’s the people. Why don’t we develop something that really tells their stories? There’s that heart for community in the people here, and you don’t have to look very hard for it.”
The communications team recognized the significance of community and how individuals combine their efforts to make our community a better place. They saw evidence firsthand from their coworkers, who were giving back to their community daily. With this realization in mind, they crafted a campaign titled “Love Where You Live.” The program will launch a new video every other Friday through November 15 on the county’s YouTube channel and social media platforms.
The videos, filmed and edited by multimedia specialist Steve Nicholson, will highlight local residents sharing
their stories of why Cherokee County is a great place to live, a place that fosters strong community and compassionate constituents. The first six featured guests are Jamie Foreman of Menagerie on Main, Millie Hughes with Never Alone Community Food Pantry, Reyes Morales of Williamson Brothers Bar-B-Q, Greg Shaddix of MadLife Stage & Studios, Tannish Welch with Charlie Ferguson Community Center, and Woodstock resident Robin Wright
Greg says he thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and the process was smooth. He joined the initiative because he believes Cherokee County is one of the finest places to reside and work. Greg explains, “Woodstock, Georgia—my home—is a truly unique community. I am deeply embedded in its vibrant music scene, which is at the heart of this community’s identity. I hope this video inspires our community to discover the diverse attractions Cherokee County offers.”
After conducting interviews with video participants, Andrea states, “We’ve discovered that the sense of community and the strong connections among residents are what make Cherokee County unique. Each story highlights the warmth and support that characterize our county.”
The campaign kicks off with six videos, the first of which premieres on Friday, September 6. Erika hopes that the community will want to be involved in this campaign and can relate to the people they see in the videos. She also plans to initiate a nomination program so people can nominate friends, neighbors, and family members to be included in the videos.
‘‘
I agreed to participate in the campaign because I genuinely love where I live. I have fond memories of growing up on Pearidge, and anyone else that did has a love for community and the Pearidge Strong mentality.
Because of our careers, Drew and I have had multiple opportunities to relocate but refused because we wanted to raise our family with a love and appreciation of community. Cherokee County has something for everyone, and I’m grateful to call it home.”
- Tannish Welch
Part of the initiative includes a community giveback where proceeds from t-shirt sales will benefit two selected nonprofit organizations. Shirts will be sold at the Great Pumpkin Fest on Saturday, October 12, at Veterans Park.
Tannish Welch
Greg Shaddix
ACWORTH
Harvest Vendor Market & Grape Stomp
September 14 | Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Qualusi Vineyards, 440 Blossom Trail
Vendor Market, Live Music, Arts & Crafts, Grape Stomping
Taste of Acworth
October 12 | 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Historic Downtown Acworth
Food Tastings, Games, Entertainment Stages FREE ADMISSION
Acworth Halloween JamBOOree
October 19 | 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Logan Farm Park, 4405 Cherokee Street
Carnival Games, Inflatables, Food, Trick or Treating, Costume Contest
BALL GROUND
Art on Main
September 7 | 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Downtown Ball Ground
Fine Arts and Local Makers, Live Music, Specialty Foods, Demonstrations
Ball Ground Rocks Festival
September 27-29 | 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Downtown Ball Ground
Food Trucks, Vendor Market, Live Music, Kids Area FREE ADMISSION
Spooktacular in Downtown Ball Ground
October 25 | 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.
City Park, 177 Old Dawsonville Road
Bounce Houses, Food Trucks, Costume Contest, Candy, Movie Screening
Halloween in the Garden
October 26 | 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Ball Ground Botanical Garden, 215 Valley Street
Games & Activities, Music, Face Painting, Trunk or Treat FREE ADMISSION
BLUE RIDGE
Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Festival
September 21 | 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Downtown Blue Ridge Play Park, East Main Street
Barbecue Tastings, Live Music featuring The Shannon York Band, The Crossroads Band, Tee Dee Young Band, and more
Fall Arts in the Park
October 12-13 | 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Downtown Blue Ridge
Fine Arts, Food, Live Music, National Photography Exhibit
Fall festival season has arrived in Cherokee County and beyond! Our third annual Fall Festival Guide is here to help you save the date for all your favorite autumn events (and new favorites, too!)
From Acworth to Woodstock, discover events to enjoy this beautiful fall season in North Georgia.
BLUE RIDGE (continued)
Halloween Safe Zone
October 31 | 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Downtown Blue Ridge, East Main Street Costume Contest, Trick or Treating, Free Parking
CANTON
Multicultural Festival
September 7 | 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Harmon Park, 161 Harmon Circle
Mayor’s Cup Soccer Tournament, Free Tastings, Interactive Demonstrations, Live Music and Entertainment FREE ADMISSION
Tutti Frutti Music Festival
September 21 | 3:00 to 9:00 p.m.
The Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway Live Music featuring Little Richard’s Band, Buddy Red, and All Talk, Local Vendor Market, Kid-Friendly Activities, Documentary Filming FREE ADMISSION
Second Annual Taste of Canton
September 26 | 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway Food Tastings, Live Music FREE ADMISSION
Riverfest Arts & Crafts Festival
September 28-29 | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Parkway Arts & Crafts Market, Food Trucks, Children’s Area with Petting Zoo, Live Football Broadcasts, Entertainment Stage
Food, Drinks, Farmers Market, Live Music featuring School of Rock Woodstock, Bettin’ on the Mule, Love Wizard, Zion Stovall, and Danielle McLean Band FREE ADMISSION
Richard Wayne Penniman, famously known as Little Richard, was born in Macon, Georgia, in 1932. In 1947, Sister Rosetta Tharpe discovered then-fourteen-year-old Richard singing outside the Macon City Auditorium and invited him to open for her that evening. Thus began Little Richard’s storied career that lasted until his death in 2020. The “Architect of Rock and Roll” was a musical innovator who performed his unique blend of genres on stage and screen and influenced many musicians, including James “Big Jayé” Nelson and Shawn “Swift Andre” Johnson, who joined his stage show in 1990. They traveled with him for almost two decades, performing for audiences worldwide.
When Richard became seriously ill during the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors were restricted from seeing him. Instead, Big Jayé and Swift Andre collaborated on a song in appreciation, but Richard passed away before it was completed. When the duo gathered at his funeral with other surviving band members, they decided to move forward with the song and film their process. The idea evolved into a documentary about how Little Richard’s legacy manifested in the lives of the men who toured with him collectively throughout the years.
Portions of the documentary have already been filmed. On Saturday, September 21, the surviving members of Little Richard’s Band will perform at the Tutti Frutti Music Festival. Big Jayé and Swift Andre hope to have a huge turnout. Big Jayé says, “The festival is a celebration of the life and music of Little Richard as well as [a tribute to] the city of Canton, whose residents and business owners have embraced his band members while we document our story of what it was like to be the men behind the man.”
The family-friendly festival takes place at The Mill on Etowah from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. It will feature vendors, activities, food, drinks, giveaways, and special musical guests. Attendance is free. Plus, audience members will become part of history: concert footage will be included in the film scheduled for worldwide release in 2025.
CANTON (continued)
Jack-o-Lantern Jamboree
October 27 | 2:00 to 9:00 p.m.
The Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway
Costume Contest, Kiddie Train Ride, DJ Drew Thomas, Local Vendors, Hocus Pocus (1993) Movie Screening with Sanderson Sisters Meet and Greet FREE ADMISSION
Third Annual Denim Fest
November 1-2
The Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway
BBQ Cook Off Tasting (Tickets Required), Vendor Market, Live Music, Costume Contest, Trick or Treating, Live Football Broadcasts on the Big Screen FREE ADMISSION
CARTERSVILLE
49th Annual Rose Lawn Arts Festival
September 21 | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
September 22 | Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Rose Lawn House Museum, 224 West Cherokee Avenue
Fine Arts and Heritage Craft Exhibits, Guided Tours
Cartersville Arts in the Park
September 28 | 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Hamilton Crossing Park, 31 Beavers Drive
Arts and Crafts, Live Music, Vendor Market, Concessions
BBQ, Brews, & Boos
October 19 | Noon to 8:00 p.m.
Downtown Cartersville Square, 1 Friendship Plaza
Barbecue Tastings, Locally Brewed Beer, Live Music, Trick or Treating, Vendor Market
West Fest
October 26 | 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Booth Western Art Museum, 501 Museum Drive
Educational Demonstrations, Train Ride, Petting Zoo, Hayrides, Pony Rides, Food Trucks, Vendor Market, Arts & Crafts, Live Entertainment featuring Ashlie Rae Parker, Catherine Thompson, Ashley Brooks, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Reenactment, and Native American Dancing
CHATSWORTH
Third Annual Fall Arts & Crafts Festival
October 12 | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Murray County Developmental Ctr., 735 West Chestnut Street
Arts & Crafts, Vendor Market, Food Vendors
FREE ADMISSION
Black Bear Festival
October 19-20
Murray County Recreation Dept., 745 West Chestnut Street
Arts & Crafts, Live Music, Food Vendors
Photo Credit: Dan Moore
STORY BY Carmen Slaughter, Canton
CUMMING
Cumming Art Fest
September 21-22 | 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road
Arts & Crafts, Vendor Market, Live Music, Food, Kidz Zone
30th Annual Cumming Country Fair & Festival
October 3-13
Cumming Fairgrounds, 285 Castleberry Road Fair Concessions and Rides, Monster Truck Shows, American Bull Rider Tour, Live Music and Entertainment
CatoberFest
October 12 | 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Fowler Park, 4110 Carolene Way
Food, Artisan and Vendor Market, Silent Auction, Live Music FREE ADMISSION
Second Annual Fall Family Festival
October 19 | Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Fowler Park, 4110 Carolene Way
Live Music, Trick or Treating, Vendor Market, Bounce House, Face Painting, Costume Contest, Barbecue
ELLIJAY
Blue Ridge Mountains Wine & Jazz Festival
September 7 | Noon to 7:00 p.m.
White Path Creek Farms, 1211 Old Northcutt Road
Local and International Wines, Fine Art, Live Music
13th Annual Cartecay Crush Festival
September 21-22 | 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cartecay Vineyards
Grape Stomping, Wine Tastings, Vineyard Tours, Vendor Market, Live Music
Third Annual Ellijay Bacon Fest
September 29 | 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Gilmer County River Park , 1365 South Main Street Bacon Eating Contest, Food Vendors, Arts & Crafts, Canned Goods Drive, Live Music
Georgia Apple Festival
October 12-13, October 19-20
Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 South Main Street
Parade, Car Show, Live Music, Fair Concessions, Handcrafted Goods, Educational Demonstrations, Inflatables, Rock
Climbing, Camel and Pony Rides, Face Painting, Train Ride
HIAWASSEE
Georgia Mountain Fall Festival
October 11-13, October 17-19
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Road
Food, Carnival Rides & Attractions, Live Music, Exhibits, Vendors, Arts & Crafts, Pioneer Village
HIAWASSEE (continued)
Appalachian Brew & Music Festival
October 26 | 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Road
Craft Brews from 60+ Breweries, Food, Arts & Crafts, Live Music, Vendor Market
JASPER
Sheriff’s JeepFest
August 29-September 1 8795 Highway 53 East
Community Fundraiser, Jeep Obstacles, Trail Ride, Show n’ Shine and Cruise-In, Live Music, Vendors, Car Crawl & Auction, Mud Pit Challenge FREE ADMISSION
Georgia Marble Festival
October 5 | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
October 6 | 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Lee Newton Park, 599 Stegall Drive
Arts & Crafts, Live Music and Performances, Vendors, Kids
Zone, Marble Displays, 5K Road Race and 1-Mile Fun Run, Parade, Quarry Tours, Live Demonstrations, Festival Foods
Halloween Art Market
October 26, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Rag & Bone Eclectic Retail, 144 West Church Street
Arts & Crafts Vendors, Costumes Welcome
KENNESAW
Fall-O-Ween Fest
October 19 | 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Swift-Cantrell Park, 3140 Old 41 Highway Candy Trail, Costume Contests, Scavenger Hunt, Crafts, Games, Music, Halloweentown (1998) Movie Screening FREE ADMISSION
MARIETTA
North Georgia State Fair
September 19-29
Jim R. Miller Park & Event Center, 2245 Callaway Road Fair Rides, Food, Live Music and Entertainment, Attractions
Love Out Loud Music Festival
October 12 | 1:00 p.m.
Schoolhouse Brewing, 840 Franklin Court Live Music, Food & Drinks, Raffle Prizes, Vendor Booths FREE ADMISSION
Local Vendors, Crafts, Kids Zone, Coffee Bar, Children’s Boutiques, Cookie Decorating FREE ADMISSION
Cadence Fair
October 25-27
Reformation Brewery, 105 Elm Street
Live Music, Craft Beers, Local Makers
FREE ADMISSION
Halloween Trail of Tricks & Treats
October 31 | 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Rubes Creek Trail, 232 Arnold Mill Road
Trick or Treating, Carnival Games and Activities, DJ, Inflatables, Giant Bubble Making, Crafts
FREE ADMISSION
Día De Los Muertos Festival
November 2 | 2:00 to 8:00 p.m.
November 3 | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Woodstock Arts Event Green, 111 Elm Street
Art, Live Music and Dancing, Food & Drinks
FREE ADMISSION
On a Roll for
WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S
STORY BY Leslie Holland, Guest Contributor
Cassidy Baker of White, Georgia, is one of the top fundraisers each year for the Cherokee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and her strategy may surprise you.
“We don’t like to hit people up for donations and keep asking. Cassidy likes to make it fun and offer people something; make them feel invested,” says Cassidy’s mother, Charise Baker.
So how does she do it? Cassidy, who uses a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy, busily works all year long. To raise money, she sells jewelry she makes with residents in memory care, raffles off gift cards and other items donated by the community, bakes and sells dog treats, organizes car shows, and has even hosted small concerts at her home.
In 2022 she raised more than $8,000, and the team she led raised more than $13,000. In 2023 Cassidy raised more than $9,900. She was the top individual fundraiser for Cherokee County both years.
This year she’s already over the $4,800 mark. At the time of press for this issue, Cassidy was on track to be Cherokee County’s top fundraiser of the year once again and the fifth-highest Walk to End Alzheimer’s campaigner in the state of Georgia.
Cassidy may be in a wheelchair, but that doesn’t slow her down. She says she is driven by a love for people and by the opportunity to honor her grandfather, Joe Balsamo, who had Alzheimer’s. “I know my grandpa would be proud of me putting my heart into fighting this disease,” Cassidy says. “And I love people. It makes me happy to be able to support the fight and support my friends at The Arbor.”
Thirty-year-old Cassidy spends many days at The Arbor at BridgeMill, an assisted-living residence in Canton where her mother, Charise, works. “Cassidy loves to interact with people, and the residents at The Arbor always tell me how her smile is contagious,” Charise says.
Cassidy enjoys taking photographs of the residents while at The Arbor and helping them put together scrapbooks. She also makes bracelets with them, which she sells to raise money for her own Walk to End Alzheimer’s team.
Cassidy says she loves music and goes to as many concerts as possible. She also enjoys bowling and going on vacation. Her mother books hotels that have handicapped-accessible pools, because Cassidy loves to swim.
Cassidy loves to see the culmination of all her work each October when she participates in the Cherokee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s. “My favorite part of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s day is getting to see all the other supporters and how everyone is working together to raise awareness and raise funds to fight this disease. I love being with all the people. It makes me so happy to be a part of it,” she says. And what a part she is!
Dan Phillips, former manager of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, calls Cassidy amazing. “She is inspiring. Despite her own disability, she finds so many ways to raise money and help others. And Cassidy is always smiling. Her happy attitude while doing all of this is infectious,” Dan remarks.
If you would like to donate or join Cassidy and other area supporters at this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit GeorgiaWalk.org.
TO END ALZHEIMER’S takes place on Saturday, October 19, at Etowah River Park in Canton with an opening ceremony at 10:00 a.m.
Cassidy Baker
SCAN QR CODE to learn more about the 2024 Cherokee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Meet Cherokee County E-911
On a mission to be the best 911 facility in Georgia, Shane and the team accomplished this goal on March 27, when during the Georgia Emergency Communications Conference in Athens, Cherokee County E-911 was named the 2024 Call Center of the Year in the state of Georgia.
Operations Deputy Director
STORY BY Leana Conway,
Woodstock
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY Caitlin Brown
According to Cherokee County E-911 Director Shane Bonebrake and Deputy Director Linda Miller, here’s the secret sauce to a well-run operation: valued and well-treated workers make great workers. They’ve developed a “fierce rivalry” between Team Shane and Team Linda, all in good humor, and it fuels a camaraderie that binds the group and lightens the atmosphere in the intense and difficult environment.
Linda Miller is a small stick of dynamite; she moves and talks quickly, and you know you are bulletproof when she’s on your side. Linda has worked her way up from dispatch to deputy director. Linda explains, “My job is to get to know my people and what they need. Know what is happening in their lives and what might be hard for them at work.”
If you call 911 in Cherokee County, expect a response in about three minutes from the finest 911 workers in the state.
Who are the people who respond to citizens in our county day and night?
One of the first things employees at the Cherokee Public Safety Facility will tell you while giggling is whether they are Team Shane or Team Linda. Shane and Linda use the team concept to strengthen the bonds of the entire group. It is one of the ways they keep morale high for the fifty-six employees in this stressful, not high-paying job. It is part of the family atmosphere at Cherokee E-911.
Previously a firefighter, flight paramedic, and Woodstock Police officer, Shane Bonebrake has been the E-911 director for three years. He is a force of nature, a whirlwind of action and compassion wrapped up in a handsome package. Shane is funny, but do not be fooled by his lighthearted energy. He takes his job seriously and understands lives are on the line.
Public service is in Shane’s blood, and he is a legacy first responder. In 1978 Shane’s father, Rex, started Iowa’s first flight paramedic program. With no budget for a new helicopter, Rex went to Arizona to obtain an old helicopter that flew in the Vietnam War. He riveted pizza pans over the bullet holes to make it airworthy. Shane was on its first paramedic program flight.
Working with the call center was Linda’s first public safety job. When she began years ago, it was housed in a downtown library. Her approach highlights the importance of resilience and support in a demanding environment, as well as the critical nature of the team’s work. Linda says, “At the beginning, everything is hard for trainees, but I get to be their cheerleader and give them confidence. When they start, it is much more than they expected; it’s multitasking, it’s people cussing you out, it’s everything from people discovering a spouse who has passed away, to a brush fire that has fifty calls coming in.”
Asked about the other team leader, Linda says, “I love [Shane’s] dynamic energy and am always up for the challenge of change.”
Administrative Assistant
Penny Daniels is a self-described troublemaker who has been at the facility for twenty-six years, the longest employee. “You must have a unique personality to work at Emergency 911,”says Penny. “You must understand both sides and not judge; it is the caller’s emergency, and you do not have the back story. You must just get [callers] through it and not lose it while they are on the phone.” When Penny started in 1998 there was a suicide
or shooting call every month for Cherokee E-911. It now happens every week. When asked what makes Cherokee County’s E-911 facility the best in Georgia, she quickly answers, “Good support and good leadership.”
Communications Training Officer
Cassie Early has worked at Cherokee County E-911 for ten years. Cassie says, “This job picks you; you do not pick it, and within the first few weeks of working in this center, you will know.” The job picked Cassie, and she says she loves everything about it.
She reminds her trainees that they speak to callers during their worst moments, and dispatchers must be respectful to each caller—even the center’s “frequent fliers,” regular callers who may not be calling with emergencies. Still, every call to E-911 is taken seriously, investigated, or turned over to the appropriate department.
Cassie is most proud of the crew during a significant event, such as a storm. Her face lights up with excitement as she describes it: “The phones are all buzzing, people are all yelling over each other, connecting departments. Everyone is working together like a well-oiled machine. It is an amazing thing to see.”
Cassie wants the public to know that when you are on the line with dispatchers and they ask questions, it is not to annoy you. “We send someone out as soon as we know what’s going on. We are just getting answers to understand the situation better. Our questions don’t slow down help from coming.”
Communications Officer
Tayla Bills-Morris is attending classes in social work and intends to finish her degree, but this 911 facility has cast its spell on her, and she plans to stay there after graduating. She says, “I feel like everything in my life has led me here, and I feel like this is where I am meant to be.” There seems to be something about working at the Cherokee County 911 call center that wraps its way around your heart and gives you a second home, if you can handle the rigorous year of training. Tayla says it satisfies a need in her. “I like being able to help, and it turns out I am good at calming people down. I am not good at calming myself down. I call my mom for that,” she says with a laugh, “but [working here] is very satisfying.” Tayla has a sweet face, and it is hard to imagine she can be tough enough to handle the kind of calls she deals with. Tayla explains the coping mechanisms she
and many of her colleagues use. “To make it easier, a lot of us disassociate while we are working. I also got some good advice from one of my social work teachers: pick a place where on your way to work you go into work mode, and then on your way back, you go into home mode. It is very helpful.” She waves a hand around herself. “This is where I am in dispatch mode.”
Tayla says working at Cherokee E-911 has made her stronger. When she started training, she had just lost her grandmother, who was very important to her. A year later her grandfather passed away too. She has used those challenging experiences to be compassionate on her calls. Tayla recalls, “Last week I took four calls from people who found either a parent or grandparent who passed. I knew what they were going through, so I could be there for them in a real way.”
Operations Manager Drew Stitt leads the operations section of the E-911 Center and oversees its day-to-day operations. As a Marine, Drew was stationed in various places in the United States as well as in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Mexico City. Drew recounts his path to Cherokee County E-911, “I retired, found the job here, and fell in love with it. I love to serve; this job is more of a community level than the military. The people here are givers; they give so much time and effort to someone they do not know, someone who is having a difficult day, just a citizen, and they give it their all.”
Looking Toward the Future
Drew says the board of commissioners just signed a contract with AT&T to receive Emergency Service Internet Net Protocol. It provides the capability to send and receive video, streams, pictures, and multimedia to first responders and should be in place by December. “We will send a link to the public, and they can share a link to what is happening where they are. We are entering a brave new world in the Emergency 911 system, and it will change many things.” Drew says, “We are excited about the changes and our ability to serve the public better.”
Bonebrake
Phil Holdbrooks and Dr. Mike McCrum met only three years ago, yet they say they are brothers. Two tragedies and one lifesaving rescue with the help of Cherokee County E-911 cemented their connection.
Phil and Mike shared a similar tragedy: they both lost daughters who were in their thirties. Mike’s daughter, Cherith, was on a cruise in the Mediterranean when she lost consciousness. Doctors discovered a large inoperable tumor on her brain stem. She passed in May 2014. Phil’s daughter Ansley Holdbrooks, a graduate of Furman University and Arrhythmia Technologies, knew everything about pacemakers, but tragically passed away in July 2021.
Georgia Tech alum Phil is a boisterous, engaging, and generous man, but when Ansley passed away, he crashed into a deep darkness. Friends and family feared Phil might become suicidal and reached out to intervene. Phil sought counseling but struggled to find the right counselor.
Through mutual friends Phil found Mike, who also had lost a daughter. Phil says, “I was so sick and tired of people telling me they understood how I felt. No, they did not. When I met Mike, he did; he knew exactly how I felt.”
Mike has been pastoring, doing mission work, writing, and counseling worldwide for more than fifty years. He has had his share of trials, and he and his wife’s greatest sorrow is the death of their beloved Cherith. A few years later, Mike and Debbie authored a book titled Finding Joy in the Midst of Sorrow: One Family’s Journey from Tragedy to Triumph… and Purpose. Reading the book set in motion a crucial shift in Phil’s grieving process.
The two began counseling sessions at Mike’s house, but in December 2023 things took a turn. Phil arrived for his usual session, knocked, and no one answered. Phil recounts, “I turned to leave, and I swear this is true: I heard Ansley tell me to go back and go in. From that moment on, she told me what to do, even telling me Mike had a pacemaker.”
Phil walked in and discovered Mike unresponsive on his recliner. Phil grabbed the phone and called Cherokee E-911 and spoke to Jennifer Lasenyik, who dispatched an ambulance and then guided Phil on how to perform CPR until paramedics arrived. Mike says, “My doctors are shocked that I lived after such a long V-tach. They told me Phil saved my life, no doubt.” Phil credits Jennifer and Cherokee E-911. Mike believes there is hope in all things, and when there is hope, miracles can happen.
That call to Cherokee County E-911 was just one of thousands of life-and-death calls the facility receives every year.
Ruby Dawn is a female American Staffordshire terrier mix that lives fulltime at the Cherokee County E-911 facility. A Cinderella story, Ruby was found full of heartworms in a dumpster. She was taken to the Cherokee County Animal Shelter, where she was treated for heartworms and stayed for more than one hundred days. Eventually she found her way to the emergency center, where Shane and Linda adopted her. Her permanent home address is the E-911 facility, where she roams, graciously accepts treats and pats, and takes frequent naps on her numerous beds in most of the rooms at the station. As an AKC Registered K9 Good Citizen, Ruby is an essential part of the E-911 family and provides great stress relief for the employees. Nothing can take the edge off an exhausting day like a loving, loyal dog that loves you unconditionally.
STORY BY Taylor Haymore, Canton
When you dial 911 or the nonemergency line, the dispatchers who answer are the true first responders, yet many callers don’t recognize the hard work the job requires from dispatchers, mentally and physically. The recently-founded Cherokee County 911 Foundation is here to change that fact. Formed in April, the foundation advocates for our local call center and provides an opportunity for the community to support the often-unrecognized—yet vital—first responders.
With a proud smile on her face, Foundation President Lori Flink expresses, “We want to be their voice out in the community. The board that we built is very community and public safety oriented.” The foundation uses programs and initiatives to promote public awareness and provide emergency assistance for E-911 employees and other critical support.
The foundation provides dispatchers with supplemental training as well as mental and physical health programs. You may think E-911’s budget is provided by taxes; however, its budget is provided by a $1.50 fee on your monthly phone bill. Cherokee County’s E-911 employees have a demanding job and telling their story helps take on some of the burden and lifts responders’ hearts.
Board member and original advocate for the foundation Alice Fennell explains, “To leave something better than we found it; that is our goal.”
Forming the foundation is a step in the right direction—a step toward increased support, comfort, and recognition for the dispatchers of Cherokee County. To help the foundation provide aid and send love to our first first responders, you can donate to the foundation. Plus, you can attend or sponsor the Cherokee County 911 Foundation’s Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, November 2, at Etowah River Park in Canton.
ART getspersonal PUBLIC
STORY BY Mariama Njie, Canton
Public art is indispensable. It can serve as the foundation of a community, express a community’s livelihood and history, and even deliver a message. Symbiosis, located near the stage at Woodstock Arts Event Green, is a prime example. The stainless-steel sculpture features vibrant yellow “umbrella-like” leaves that cast perfect yellow shadows at certain times of the day. Richard Herzog’s artwork builds a bridge to connect the normal and abnormal while emphasizing mankind’s disconnection from nature.
How
Symbiosis Came to Woodstock
Nicole Lampl, director and curator of the Reeves House Visual Arts Center, explains that she first came across Richard’s work through research. As she dug deeper into his background, she was instantly drawn into how Richard’s work blended in, but not in a way one would expect. “He tries to have artwork that feels organic and yet is artificial—like a tree that looks like it’s made out of blocks and pixels, or one piece that looks like bamboo sheets or some kind of flower that comes out of the ground—it’s made out of unnatural material. With this piece there are the steel poles, and the pieces on top are really cool—I call them mermaid tails, but people have called them umbrellas or fans or fishtails. Everyone has their own interpretation of them.”
Nicole mentions that the sculpture is in the middle of a natural environment, blending the piece with its surroundings; however, when you look closer, you start to notice other factors around it. “I think what’s great about artwork like this is it can alter your perspective. It makes you pay attention to different parts of the environment, like how blue the sky is or how green the grass looks.”
Richard mentions his vision blends synthetic and other materials, and when an outdoor exhibition showcased his work, it caught the eye of the Arts Center. “They liked the piece, so I took it there, and I installed it.”
Photo Credit: Andrew Lowry/ Andrew Rayn Photography Courtesy of Nicole Lampl
About the Artist
While Richard resides in Athens, Georgia, his artwork has been in exhibitions throughout the United States, from New York to Miami. Recently he has focused on public and outdoor work and how to use his sculptures to bring awareness. Richard has focused on working on larger commission pieces for the past five to six years. Within the last year Richard installed four large outdoor commissions and is exploring new ideas for his next piece. “Sometimes it comes with stress, but overall, I’ve just basically been making art, the dream of an artist, which is awesome.”
Bringing Symbiosis to Life
Richard says that, as a kid in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, he was surrounded by brightly colored vinyl and plastic. “These fascinating materials at my house had these weird plastics, vinyl, you know, whether they were textures or colors or things that were being made out of it. It was at that time when it was the premise that these were the next-generation, life-saving, world-changing materials.”
Richard says it was a long journey and process to create Symbiosis. He took his time picking out the colors and the material, as the yellow vinyl featured in many of his projects caught his attention due to its vivid color. With Symbiosis Richard wanted to make sure the piece made viewers do a double-take to see if the piece was indeed a part of nature. He also wanted to make sure that his piece left a message about the infiltration of artificial materials into our everyday lives. “It kind of comes full circle, where a lot of these materials are now [known to be] detrimental to society and have [caused] all the problems in our ultra dependence on plastics and synthetics. As an artist I do not have the answers. I feel my role is more like an activist. I do not create work with a political agenda nor [do I] have a politically motivated view. My role is to bring awareness to the society in which we live and the subjects, objects, and ideas that permeate our culture in a subordinate or subversive manner.”
‘‘ I think what’s great about artwork like this is it can alter your perspective. It makes you pay attention to different parts of the environment, like how blue the sky is or how green the grass looks.”
— Nicole Lampl, director and curator of the Reeves House Visual Arts Center
Taste of Canton September 26
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7 Saturday
2024
Run Fun Coffee Club
Noonday Creek Trailhead
111 Elm Street, Woodstock
6:00 a.m. | Ages 18 and up WoodstockParksAndRec.com
Senior Education Symposium
Presented by Stand Up for Seniors
1 Mission Point, Canton
5:30–8:00 p.m. | FREE VAC-CherokeeGA.org
Animal Happy Hour
Hidden Acres Animal Sanctuary
208 Deer Run, Canton
5:30–8:00 p.m. | Ages 18 and up HiddenAcresAnimalSanctuary.org
Bacteria Day 2024
Water Quality Monitoring Event
8
Sunday
11
Wednesday
12 Thursday
13
Friday
Upper Etowah River Alliance, Canton
8:00 a.m. | Volunteer EtowahRiver.org
Art on Main
FESTIVAL Presented by Menagerie on Main
Downtown Ball Ground
Noon–7:00 p.m. | FREE MenagerieOnMain.com
Fendley Farmstead Annual Soirée
Fendley Farmstead Wedding Venue
1287 Sardis Road, Canton
1:00–4:00 p.m. | FREE FendleyFarmstead.com
Patriot Day Ceremony
Canton Rotary Park
100 North Street, Canton
8:30 a.m. CherokeeGA.org/BOC
Farm Bureau Storytime
Apple-themed story and activities
R.T. Jones Memorial Library, Canton
10:30–11:30 a.m. | All ages SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org
