Cherokee Ledger Monthly - September 2025

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FROM THE EDITOR

September brings fall festival season to Cherokee County

Welcome back to another issue of the Cherokee Ledger. Fall is a special time of year in the South, when even people from places far away come to visit to see the trees showing off their colors this season.

Here in Cherokee, September means the start of fall festivals, and we have special events throughout the county promising food, music and family fun.

The biggest one of these festivals for our area and the region is our cover story in this issue: the Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival, expected to draw over 25,000 visitors over two days. This year’s event is set to have 150-plus vendors showcasing unique art and handmade goods of makers from across the region, live music performances, foods, and a whole host of kid and family-friendly activities.

Visitors to this event pay just a $7 donation (it’s free for kids 10 and under) — knowing their admission fee goes to a good cause. The event is organized by the Service League of Cherokee County, and proceeds go to support their programs to help children in need in the community with things like food, rent and medical costs.

By September, election season will be over, but readers will start getting this issue just before the Aug. 26 special elections. For election coverage, special Voter Guide content including candidate Q&As, and for results when they come out, please check out our website.

In this issue, learn about Ball Ground Mayor Rick Roberts’ recent big announcement and his nearly 40-year career in public service, and hear from other city officials about how he’s helped shape the town.

You can also get caught up on Canton’s plans to redevelop part of the Sunnyside community, new fire stations coming to Woodstock, what’s next for the Holly Springs Town Center project and more.

This issue’s Dining section is highlighting the restaurant Vingenzo’s and its partners operating Meals for Woodstock. The program started during the pandemic and has distributed thousands of hot, fresh meals to families in need over the past five years.

In Sports, there’s what’s going on at local swim club Chattahoochee Gold, college commitments from some of Cherokee’s athletes, and baseball players from our area who are going pro with MLB teams.

For even more local news, you can check out the Cherokee Tribune, our website www. tribuneledgernews.com, and the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger podcast.

Shannon Ballew Managing Editor

Publisher Lee b g Arrett

Managing Editor ShAnnon bALLeW

VP of Content Jk mUrphy

Writers

JoSeph bennett grIFFIn CALLAghAn ethAn JohnSon mIke LLoyd dr. JyotI mAnekAr kAthLeen StUrgeon

VP of Advertising bob mCCrAy

Circulation Director dAVe goSSett

VP of Production doUg CroW

Photographers

LArry bLASe

ryLee hoLLAnd AngIe mArtIn

robIn rAyne greg SpeLL

Anthony StALCUp

Layout & Design

JUStIn grIFFIn, JennIFer broWn, phILIp CLementS

On the Cover

Anthony Stalcup photographed Service League members ahead of riverfest. Complete Ids are on page 8.

Volume 2, Issue 9

The Cherokee Ledger Monthly 521 E. Main St., Canton, Ga 30114 • (770) 479-1441

Cherokee Ledger-News, published monthly by Times-Journal Inc., 521 E. Main St., Canton, GA 30114-9998. Periodicals postage paid at Monroe, GA and addition post offices. USPS 021-137. Postmaster: Please send address changes to The Cherokee Ledger-News, 521 E. Main St., Canton, GA 30114.

Community News

♦ Ball Ground Mayor to retire, 4

♦ Shopping center to be demolished, 6

♦ News in Brief, 7

♦ Improvements coming to Ga. 140,Univeter Road intersection, 16

♦ Cherokee Classical Academy welcomes over 500 students, 20

♦ Cherokee, Canton join forces on North Street redevelopment, 25

♦ Cherokee County schools show Milestones improvements, 28

♦ Downtown Ball Ground building lost to fire, 36

Cover Story

♦ Riverfest back for its 41st edition, 8

Opinion

♦ Perspectives, 11

♦ Letters to the Editor, 12

♦ Soapbox, 13

Dining

♦ Meals for Woodstock celebrates five years, 14

Entertainment & Community Events

♦ Taste of Woodstock returns Sept. 4, 17

♦ Calendar, 18,19

Sports

♦ Chattahoochee Gold transferring to new owner, 21

♦ Lomas headed to Georgia Southern, 22

♦ Chiefs QB to extend baseball career at Georgia Tech, 23

♦ Cherokee County’s draftees sign pro deals, 24

Health

♦ Study: GLP-1s show promise for migraines, 27

Cherokee Social Scene

♦ BridgeMill Farmers Market, 29

♦ 1000s gather for 10,000 Maniacs, 30

♦ Endless Summerfest draws crowd, 31

Gardening

♦ About Daylillies, 32

Puzzles

♦ Crossword and Sudoku, 33

Business

♦ Service Directory, 34

Ballew

Ball Ground Mayor Rick Roberts to retire after nearly four decades

By Ethan Johnson ejohnson@ledgernews.com

Ball Ground Mayor Rick Roberts says he feels it’s time to retire after spending almost half of his life serving the city and its residents.

Roberts recently announced that he is stepping down from his role as mayor at the end of the year, after almost 40 years in office.

He was elected mayor in 1990. Before that, he served on the Ball Ground City Council from 1986 to 1988, when John Segars was mayor, and was mayor pro tempore.

He said he decided to run for a seat on the city council in 1985 after some encouragement from friends.

Roberts and Segars were both re-elected in 1988, though shortly after, Roberts recalls that he became the acting mayor of Ball Ground because Segars decided to run for county probate judge.

“Under the city charter at that time, the mayor pro tem became the mayor until next election. I did run for mayor in 1990 and was elected,” Roberts said, adding that the city had two-year terms until changing to fouryear terms in the late 1990s.

“I was surprised to become mayor but have loved it, and I will definitely miss it,” he said.

Roberts said that some of his proudest accomplishments during his time as mayor include:

♦ The creation of the city’s public library in the downtown area.

♦ The citywide sanitary sewer system and expansion of water capacity.

♦ Ball Ground City Hall.

♦ A new Ball Ground Elementary School.

♦ Extending Valley Street by a mile to connect to Ball Ground Road, which leads to Interstate 575.

“I also worked to obtain property to create Calvin Farmer Park, which is a nice park that has been expanded to over 35 acres,” he said.

“Another thing I advocated for was putting a city manager on staff for the city, and I am so proud that I reached out to Eric Wilmarth to consider taking this job. He has been an outstanding city manager for 25 years now.”

He added that he is also proud to have worked with his fellow city council members, some of whom have been on the city council for many years.

“Also serving on the boards of Georgia Municipal Association and Atlanta Regional Commission, I feel like I helped many other elected officials to learn favorably about Ball Ground,” he said.

A REVIVED DOWNTOWN AREA

Wilmarth credits Roberts’ vision for Ball Ground when he was elected for helping shape the city into what it is today.

“To say the city of Ball Ground had died would be an understatement — the majority of our downtown buildings were dormant. Compounding the problem, is that due to failed septic and minimal property to contain adequate leach fields, the buildings were not able to be used, even if they were available,” Wilmarth said. “The two small restaurants downtown were limited by the health department to the number of seatings and hours each day as they both had near failing septic systems on their small lots. Additionally, there was no stormwater system in the Gilmer Ferry downtown corridor, making development a real challenge. Sidewalks were covered with marble storage. We were on life support. Most homes in the downtown district discharged their gray water directly to ditches or elsewhere on their own property.”

Wilmarth said Roberts’ initial goal was to bring sewer to the city to allow for environmental improvements and economic development. These improvements and development would then lead to the city’s downtown businesses and downtown district becoming viable.

“Mayor Roberts went through two engineering firms stating that sewer could not be built effectively in Ball Ground — but he kept pushing until finding a firm that was up to the challenge,” Wilmarth said. “Retrofitting an older city with sewer was no easy task, but he made it happen.”

Wilmarth said that Roberts also insisted that this project be accomplished while forbidding the use of eminent domain to seize private property.

“Where challenges or opposition existed, he found other avenues to success,” Wilmarth said.

After the sewer system was installed, Roberts looked to revamp the downtown area to attract businesses and customers.

“The next task was to obtain over a million dollars in grant funding to install an inviting downtown streetscape, while at the same time resolving the storm water issues that plagued this corridor,” Wilmarth said. “The final step in the downtown redevelopment phase was Mayor Roberts coining, then trademarking his slogan for downtown of ‘Where We Roll Out the Red Carpet, not the Red Tape.’”

‘SECOND TO NONE’

Wilmarth also said Roberts helped with the retention of a U.S. Post Office in the downtown area; continued expansion of the city sidewalk system; the addition of almost 100 acres of park land to the city’s inventory, with another 50 acres negotiated and likely to be deeded to the city within the next several months; acquired and preserved Ball Ground City Gym, which was part of the

In

2023

former Ball Ground Elementary School; worked with Universal Alloy to leverage funding with Georgia Power to develop an internal power grid within the city, as well as create a secondary power connection; and worked with city council members to increase the wage and benefit packages for city employees.

“Mayor Roberts also worked diligently with a goal to achieve a 24/7 police department, as well as a department that was state certified,” Wilmarth said in an email in early August. “Next week our department will undergo their final review for State Certification, and just last month funds were appropriated to grow our department by two additional officers, drawing us ever closer to 24/7 coverage for our residents. As a retired soldier I have had the privilege of working under tremendous leaders. Mayor Roberts is second to none.”

Councilman Dennis Nelson, who was elected in 2021 and serves as mayor pro tempore, described Roberts as a visionary for the city.

“The population has more than tripled while he’s been mayor. He had a great vision of making the town walkable and made sure that sidewalks were put into place that connect almost every living area to downtown. Still not 100%, but very close. He wanted to make sure people and families had alternative ways of travel, like walking to downtown to spend money at some of the businesses there,” Nelson said. “There is also good expansion of the parks and additional outdoor events — all of this came under his leadership.”

He added: “He’s been a fixture for Ball Ground who has helped us connect to other communities in Cherokee County while keeping a small town charm to the city.”

Though he is proud of how the city has grown and continues to grow, Roberts said that he is disappointed that the city’s Ball Ground Bypass project was delayed for many years. He said he is happy, though, that construction recently started on a roundabout at the intersection of Ball Ground Highway and Howell Bridge Road, that the Georgia Department of Transportation has required for the bypass.

The roundabout is expected to take about a year to complete.

“The roundabout is part of the bypass, so getting that completed will benefit our city greatly to improve our downtown so it will no longer be a truck route, which it is now, with many big trucks daily,” Roberts said.

Though he is stepping down from his role of mayor at the end of the year, Roberts said he still plans to provide guidance and advice if and when needed.

Shannon ballew

this

photo, Ball Ground Mayor Rick Roberts welcomes guests and discusses the new police headquarters.

Canton shopping center to be demolished to make way for redevelopment projects

By Ethan Johnson ejohnson@ledgernews.com

The Canton Village Shopping Center is slated to be demolished this fall for road improvements in the area, and tenants have been told they have until Sept. 30 to vacate the building.

The Canton Downtown Development Authority bought the property in December 2023 for the transportation projects and for redevelopment.

Canton City Manager Billy Peppers said that, over the last year and a half, city staff have spoken with tenants individually as they have requested regarding the demolition of the city-owned building.

Peppers also said that, on June 24, tenants received a letter by certified mail notifying them that the month-to-month leases would not be renewed past Sept. 30 and the premises would nee d to be vacated.

Action Church Pastor Gary Lamb says that while he knew his church would have to leave the shopping center eventually, he wishes he had received earlier notice of the official deadline.

Lamb said he never heard an update from anyone with the city regarding the demolition until this letter. He also said he did not receive that letter until he reached out to the city.

“The city mentioned long-term plans for the area and that we would receive plenty of notice — at the end of the day, it’s their building and their right. I don’t love that the building is being demolished, but they have long-term plans, which I don’t really have an issue with,” Lamb said. “My big issue is the lack of communication. I would run into people with the city and ask about updates on the building. They said they’d give plenty of notice.”

Lamb added that it was a surprise when The Salvation Army and other tenants of the building received those letters, but he didn’t.

“My issue is, for a city that says they care about people and takes great pride in saying that the warming shelter we provide is the city’s warming shelter and all of the stuff we do is so great, I just feel like there could be better communication,” Lamb said. “It’s a slap in the face.”

Peppers said that purchasing right-ofway for projects can be a lengthy process, adding that the city did not want to use eminent domain to do so.

“The last two parcels necessary for the road and bridge projects were put under contract by the DDA earlier this summer. A second certified letter with more information about city contacts to assist with relocation and other information was sent to businesses through certified mail and hand-delivered last week,” Peppers said. “The city has spoken with several of the tenants over the past few weeks since the first letters were delivered.”

The shopping center, which has been at

251 Marietta Road for over 45 years, will be demolished starting in October to make way for various road projects, including a replacement bridge for vehicle traffic and a separate pedestrian bridge, according to the city. The demolition may be completed by the end of the year.

These projects are part of the city’s Transportation Master Plan, adopted in early 2023.

All but one of the tenants of Canton Village had month-to-month leases when the ownership changed 20 months ago, Peppers said.

Other tenants in the shopping center include Family Dollar and La Oaxaqueña Bar and Grill.

The shopping center is located within the city’s tax allocation district.

Peppers said the city’s public works department is preparing the request for proposals for the demolition of the structure.

“Without the relocation of the bridge, the current bridge would have to be demolished and a new bridge built in its place, creating a transportation and pedestrian disconnection between the Sunnyside community, exit 16 and downtown Canton for a period of at least 18 months,” Peppers said. “The Sunnyside community is one of Canton’s largest areas of pedestrian traffic.”

Proposed pedestrian improvements in that area, including the pedestrian bridge and sidewalk project, have been funded through a state grant that must be spent before the end of 2026.

Action Church has called the shopping center home for 14 years, offering church services, operating as a warming shelter during cold weather, providing Thanksgiving meals and feeding people in need,

A

shows a

and retail buildings where the current Canton Village Shopping Center is located.

A rendering shows Hickory Flat Highway heading toward its intersection with Marietta Road. Townhomes and sidewalk can be seen in the rendering.

providing a place for Alcoholics Anonymous groups to meet and hosting additional events, Lamb said. The space is also host to the monthly professional wrestling promotion, Southern Honor Wrestling.

Action Church also hosts Bethesda Community Clinic, a mobile health care unit, every Monday to serve residents in need. Peppers said the city is working to relocate the clinic.

Lamb said Action Church will go “portable” for a while until he finds a physical home, with the goal of staying in Cherokee County. He added that some events

and the Southern Honor Wrestling shows will take place elsewhere.

The new bridges are part of what the city calls the “Hickory Flat Highway Gateway Concept Plan,” which looks to revamp the area as a major entrance to Canton from Interstate 575.

Concept plans propose various intersection and road improvements along Marietta Road, as well as the addition of sidewalks, a shared-use path, retail buildings, a mixed-use building, townhomes and two new soccer fields.

ethan Johnson

The Canton Village shopping center includes Action Church, a Salvation Army store, Family Dollar and La Oaxaqueña Bar and Grill.

ethan Johnson

The Canton Village shopping center includes Action Church, a Salvation Army store, Family Dollar and La Oaxaqueña Bar and Grill.

Modern Mobility partners

Modern Mobility partners

rendering

mixed-use building

NEWS AROUND CHEROKEE COUNTY

WOODSTOCK APPROVES CONTRACTS TO BUILD TWO FIRE STATIONS

Woodstock officials have approved construction contracts for two new fire stations, both expected to be completed in 2026.

On Aug. 11, the Woodstock City Council unanimously approved a pair of agreements with Spratlin Construction for the construction of two new Woodstock fire stations: Fire Station 28 and a fire station on Long Drive. Architectural and design services have been completed and plans have been submitted and approved, according to the city.

Fire Station 28 will be 11,000 square feet and will be built at 1009 Ridgewalk Parkway in Woodstock.

The other fire station, which City Manager Jeff Moon said does not yet have a number assigned to it, will also be 11,000 square feet and will be built at 351 Long Drive in Woodstock. Though the fire stations are expected to be the same size, they’ll have different site plans.

Construction on both fire stations is expected to be completed in fall 2026, according to the city.

The new fire stations are in response to rising call volumes as Woodstock has grown, Moon said.

The city currently has two fire stations.

Fire Station 28 is expected to cost $7.4 million. The Long Drive fire station is expected to cost $6.8 million, Moon said. Building the two stations at the same time saves Woodstock $606,000 based on quotes from subcontractors, according to the city.

After the contracts were approved, Mayor Michael Caldwell thanked the city council for its continued support of public safety.

“You’ve just added two new fire stations that will dramatically increase coverage through this city and response times which absolutely will save lives for generations to come,” he said. “You’ve made historic investments in public safety in the last four years. Congratulations.”

HOLLY SPRINGS AMPHITHEATER CONSTRUCTION STARTS IN SEPTEMBER

Holly Springs will break ground on its Town Center amphitheater in September, the city reports.

City Manager Rob Logan said a groundbreaking is set for Sept. 3. The Holly Springs Town Center amphitheater is expected to be built over a nine-month span.

The Holly Springs City Council awarded a $2,388,675 pre-construction and construction services contract to Reeves, Young, LLC on May 19 to build the amphitheater.

Principal work on the project will include the stage, green room and dressing room, as well as public restrooms.

The amphitheater will be near the railroad tracks on the western portion of the Town Center. It will host a variety of community events and concerts including the Holly Springs Harmonies summer concert series.

The overall Holly Springs Town Center project is expected to be completely built out by the end of 2027 or early 2028, according to the city.

For more information and updates on

the Holly Springs Town Center, visit hollyspringstowncenter.com/explore and connect with @HollySpringsTownCenter on Instagram and Facebook.

NEW FREE HOME ELEMENTARY OPENS DOORS TO STUDENTS

Faculty and staff at the new Free Home Elementary School welcomed 301 students through the doors Aug. 1 for the first day of the new school year.

As students started to arrive in the morning, Principal Julie Peppers said she’s eager to see new and familiar faces as the teachers and staff begin the new school year.

“We are so excited to be able to open this new building and continue the traditions and legacy of the Free Home community. A lot of our faculty and staff went to school at Free Home Elementary, so we want to make sure this school remains a pillar of the community. The history and heritage are important.” Peppers said. “We are ex-

cited to continue to soar to excellence and start this new year in this new building.”

The Cherokee County School District held an open house tour of the new Free Home Elementary School building in April.

The Free Home campus moved to its current Ball Ground Road location due to the widening of Highway 20.

The historic Free Home school dates back over 100 years.

In May, the Cherokee County school board voted to sell the former Free Home campus to the Cherokee County government.

UPGRADES COMING TO MAJOR INTERSECTION IN WOODSTOCK

Intersection improvements have been approved for Woodstock’s busy intersection at Highway 92 and Trickum Road.

On Aug. 5, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to award a $4.6 million construction services agreement to Backbone Infra-

ELECTION DAY IS AUG. 26

Election Day is Aug. 26 for Cherokee County’s special elections for Georgia Senate District 21 and for Cherokee County commissioner for District 1. For election coverage and updates, go to https://www.tribuneledgernews. com/local_news/election.

structure, LLC for improvements to the intersection.

The project length is about 0.4 miles along Trickum Road between Gunnin Road to the north of Highway 92 and Sycamore Lane to the south of Highway 92, according to county documents.

The project provides four through lanes from Sycamore Lane to the Publix shopping center, dual left turn lanes onto Highway 92 at both the southbound and northbound approach of Trickum, median access control and an unsignalized “High-T” intersection at Gunnin Road.

Construction is expected to be completed about a year after the notice to proceed is issued to the contractor, according to county documents.

The project will be 80% funded through federal dollars, with the remaining funding coming from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax: 10% from Cherokee County and 10% from the city of Woodstock.

“This is a big project and much needed, and it’s good to get it paid for mostly by federal funds,” Cherokee County Commission Chairman Harry Johnston said.

City of Woodstock

A rendering shows what Fire Station 28 will look like.

Courtesy — City of holly Springs

This rendering shows the Holly Springs Town Center Amphitheatre.

A cultural tradition

Riverfest brings art, crafts and fun to Cherokee County

By Kathleen Sturgeon

For the Cherokee Ledger Monthly

After an actual rain check last year, the Riverfest Arts & Crafts festival returns to Etowah River Park in Canton on Sept. 27-28. The event was canceled last year due to Hurricane Helene.

The annual festival includes 150-plus vendors selling handmade goods, live performances, and a children’s area. Parking is free and a courtesy shuttle service is offered. Admission is a $7 donation, and free for children 10 and under.

Riverfest is hosted by the Service League of Cherokee County and is the organization’s flagship fundraiser. The two-day festival draws over 25,000 patrons, with all proceeds supporting Cherokee County children in need.

In 2023, the event garnered more than $155,000 for the League’s initiatives.

See FEST, 9

Anthony Stalcup

Back row, from left: Service League President Stephanie Barber and Lauren Thomas, Riverfest Arts & Crafts vice chair Front row, from left: Jaimie Sims, Riverfest chair, and Emili Roman, vice chair Special

A child greets a cow at the petting zoo at Riverfest.

Special

A child has her face painted at Riverfest.

COVER STORY

Bil on Business

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The first Riverfest was held in 1985 as a celebration of the Service League’s 50th anniversary.

The League is entirely volunteer-run, and was founded in 1935 by a group of local women who wanted to find a way to help Cherokee County.

Rebecca Johnston was a member of the League during the inaugural Riverfest, and was in charge of concessions that year. The first Chair, Pat Gold, suggested the idea, and the members began researching by attending similar events around metro Atlanta.

“We had no idea how it was going to go,” Johnston said. “We’d done as much publicity as we could find to do in the region. But 5,000 people came that first year. It was considered a huge success.”

Riverfest was a family-affair the first weekend, with many husbands and other family members pitching in to help, Johnston said.

“From that first year we began to have a saying that there was, ‘no tired like

See FEST, 10

A weekly column addressing small-business, answered by Henssler Financial’s business experts. Submit your questions to businessexperts@henssler.com or call 770-422-6180.

William G. Lako Jr., CFP®

PRINCIPAL AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

Short-Term Demands vs. Long-Term Goals: The Fed’s Balancing Act

It seems like every week there’s a headline about the president pressuring the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates—as if a rate cut would solve all our economic problems. While the Fed doesn’t hold all the power, it does have signifcant infuence over the economy, with ripple efects felt around the globe.

At its core, the Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States, established in 1913 with a dual mandate to promote economic stability and maximize employment. It was designed to operate independently from short-term politcal pressures, focusing instead on long-term economic health.

The Fed’s structure is decentralized, consistng of a seven-member Board of Governors, 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks that represent diferent parts of the country, and the Federal Open Market Commitee (FOMC), which sets monetary policy. The FOMC includes all seven governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining regional bank presidents (on a rotatng basis).

When the Fed raises this rate, borrowing becomes more expensive. Corporatons may scale back investments, slow hiring, or freeze wages. Consumers, feeling the pinch, may cut back on spending, slowing economic growth and easing infaton.

The impact trickles down gradually, indirectly infuencing mortgage rates, credit card APRs, auto loans, and savings yields—but the efects aren’t immediate. Stll, these decisions mater. When the Fed cuts rates, it signals concern about slowing growth and a desire to stmulate the economy.

We saw this play out in March 2022, when the Fed began raising rates to curb infaton. Critcs argued the Fed acted too late, allowing infaton to persist longer than expected. When policy lags, the backlash comes from all sides—economists, investors, and yes, the president.

Today, some economists say the economy is slowing and queston why rates haven’t been cut. Others argue the data doesn’t support that view. Meanwhile, President Trump has been vocal in urging Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower rates. Any president would prefer lower interest rates to stmulate short-term economic growth, which can refect positvely during their term in ofce.

One of the Fed’s key responsibilites is controlling infaton. It targets an infaton rate of 2 percent—low enough to avoid economic damage but high enough to support steady growth and job creaton. When infaton rises too quickly, as it did in 2021–2022, the Fed steps in to slow the economy by raising interest rates.

But it’s not as simple as fipping a switch. The Fed infuences monetary policy through three main tools: open market operatons (buying and selling U.S. Treasury securites), the discount rate (what the Fed charges banks to borrow from it), and reserve requirements (the amount banks must keep on hand, currently set at zero).

The most visible lever is the federal funds rate—the benchmark rate for overnight interbank lending. This is the rate the media refers to when reportng on Fed decisions. Banks use this rate to determine what they will charge their customers for loans.

The Fed, however, is tasked with long-term thinking, ofen relying on economic reports, which are released with delay, including the Consumer and Producer Price indices, Personal Consumpton Expenditures Price Index, unemployment rate, Gross Domestc Product, and housing data. It was built to be data-driven and independent—but lately, some critcs argue it’s too focused on lagging data, not looking far enough ahead.

William G. Lako, Jr., CFP®, is a principal at Henssler Financial and a co-host on “Money Talks”—your trusted resource for your money, your future, your life— available on your favorite podcast platform or at HensslerMoneyTalks.com.

Mr. Lako is a Certifed Financial Planner™ professional.

Service League of Cherokee County Families ride the Lions Club Train at Riverfest.

Courtesy of pat gold

A choral group from Reinhardt University performs as part of the entertainment at the first Riverfest in 1985.

Courtesy of pat gold

Rebecca Johnston was among the Service League volunteers at the organization’s first Riverfest in 1985.

COVER STORY

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Riverfest tired,’ because by the end of the weekend we were all exhausted,” she said. “Our families and our kids had been down there all weekend, but it was a real bonding experience.”

Many of the League’s goals remain the same today: buy food, help pay rent or utilities, cover medical appointment costs, provide baby supplies, all for families with children who are in need.

So when Hurricane Helene caused an unheard-of cancellation last year, the League was concerned with how to recoup funds.

This issue especially concerned Riverfest Chair, Jaimie Sims, who is the chair again this year. A member since 2017, Sims said last year was difficult. “We did everything we could in our power to have that festival last year,” she said. “We were meeting with county officials. We even went to the emergency command center for the county. The weather report that was coming from the National Weather Service projector of the hurricane was supposed to go right through Cherokee County, which would’ve been the worst kind of possible track for the hurricane to take in our case. And we knew at that point we were going to cancel the festival, which has never been done in that scenario that I’m aware of other than COVID, but it’s never been kind of canceled the week of. We just knew with the weather report as bad as it was, they were predicting over 100 MPH winds, there was no

way we could safely have a festival.”

The hurricane did take a different path and went through Atlanta, but the city still saw some effects including Etowah River Park flooding.

“We still made the right choice,” Sims said. “We just knew that the Lord was gonna provide for us honestly, and he did, and we still were able to find all of our casework needs this past year.”

Without the funds from Riverest, the League still ended up profiting about $60,000 with all of the sponsorships, even after offering a refund which most of the vendors took. Some donated their fees to the cause, and the community supported the group.

“Community support just poured in and there were lots of businesses that opened up to our vendors that weekend for them to still come and sell their items, especially the ones who had perishable items,” she

said. “We just got a lot of love and support, and we got a lot of donations.

I think all of it was kind of meant to be in a sense. As devastating as it was in that moment, in hindsight, I think it was a little bit of a blessing at the same time. It brought us as a League closer together cause we had to work very hard to undo in 24-48 hours what we spent a whole year planning.”

“I’m [looking forward to us] as a League coming together after the devastation last year, and pulling this off in a whole new way,” she said. “Then hopefully having such a huge comeback and raising even more so we can support even more needs than we ever have before as a League.”

That should be an easy feat for the League and Riverfest, according to Johnston.

“There’s no question why somebody who has never been should go because there truly is something for everyone, and it makes for a wonderful experience,” she said. “It’s well run and you’re giving back to your community in various ways, you’re helping the children of Cherokee County, but you’re also helping the economy of Cherokee County.”

The 41st Riverfest Arts & Crafts Festival is set to take place at Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28. Admission is a $7 donation at the door, with free entry for children 10 and under. To learn more, visit serviceleague.net/fundraisers/riverfest.

Service League of Cherokee County

A child examines a rooster at the Riverfest petting zoo.

Service League of Cherokee County

In this 2023 photo, Ransom Griggs performs at the Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival.

Service League of Cherokee County Emmy Young at Riverfest.

COLUMNIST|JUANITA HUGHES

An icon, the Herb that Woodstock knew

When I sat down to write about Herb Priest, I quickly realized that his Woodstock story could not be well-told in just one column. So this is a very short version. Lots of folks in Woodstock have their own Herb stories. We were only slightly aware that he had a life elsewhere, but we were blessed with his presence on Woodstock’s Main Street daily. We probably took him for granted.

When Homer and I moved our family to Woodstock in 1965, Priest Homefurnishings was just up the street. It had not been open very long, but we didn’t know that. A few months later when we moved into our new “forever” home, we headed there, and Herb Sr. did a splendid salesman job! I was hooked. Over the decades I came to know Herb Jr.’s mother, Evelyn. What a woman! She was the store’s bookkeeper. For many years she met me and Sara Morgan for breakfast at one of the many fast food spots in town. Occasionally there would be others, Mary Lois Dooley, Edgel Mulkey. After an hour of gossip and news, we would all go our separate ways to jobs in town. I’ll take this opportunity to enlighten the burglar who stole a few items from our home once. The little footstool that “you” stole was one

COLUMNIST|LYNN GENDUSA

Katherine Turner Farr was born in Atlanta twenty-one years ago. She was the first of five children, who would include three brothers and one sister. The doctors, nurses, and the family realized something was wrong from the very beginning of her life… Katherine was born with Cerebral Palsy.

Every hour, a baby is born with cerebral palsy (CP). In the United States, one million people are affected by this condition, and worldwide, eighteen million individuals share this diagnosis. Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, and posture. It results from damage to the brain that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth. It’s important to note that CP is not a disease; rather, it encompasses various conditions that affect motor skills. The extent and range of symptoms can vary widely due to damage in different areas of the brain.

Katherine must have understood from the beginning that she needed to push herself to achieve all that

of my Priest treasures. When I told Evelyn about the theft, she promptly gave me a new footstool. (I never knew if she told Herb.)

Billy Peppers came to Woodstock as the head honcho of the newly-formed development authority in 2005. (He’s in exile now in Canton.) He offered these memories. “Herb Priest served faithfully on the Woodstock Downtown Development Authority for over a decade. Even as the downtown grew, he would tell others that when he stepped outside of his store, what he could see to the right and to the left, that was downtown to him. In 2012 as the city completed a streetscape project, a new crossing was added to the downtown to help pedestrians go over the railroad tracks from the new to the old. It was dedicated in his honor, the Herb Priest Crossing.”

That was a special day in other ways as well, and I found in the files at the visitor center a flyer about that event. The restaurant that was located in the Historic Depot at the time, Freight Kitchen and Tap, was celebrating the centennial of the Depot, the only structure in Woodstock on the National Register of Historic Places. The headline on the announcement about the event made us

sit up and take notice: “Please join in the fun of celebrating two Downtown Woodstock ICONS, the historic train depot and Herbert M. Priest, Jr.” A note at the bottom of the page told the rest of the story. “And it’s Herb’s birthday … shhh.”

Billy also recalled that “Herb was a champion for those that had seen Woodstock when it was simpler and everyone was a neighbor. He fought for façade grants, for beautification projects, for parking and for his downtown. He never knew a stranger downtown. He wanted to furnish every home and on every budget. Before money was available for streetscape projects, Herb championed for concrete planters that were set up and planted by volunteers. He was known to add corn, tomatoes, and peppers to the planters in his block just south of Oak Street.”

Kyle Bennett, Woodstock’s tourism manager, has special memories also. In his first venture into furnishing his new apartment on credit, “Herb told me just to pay what I could afford each month, if I needed to skip a month’s payment that was fine. He trusted me to pay for my purchase over time.” Kyle learned later that others had the same ex-

perience. “I’m not sure if Herb knew how much this gesture impacted my life. I will treasure my friendship with Herb and the role he played in mentoring me as I started my professional career in Woodstock.”

It was during my years at the Woodstock Visitors Center in the historic Dean’s Store that I saw Herb as someone other than a furniture store owner. With the establishment of the Development Authority amidst the tsunami of growth that was occurring, he was often behind the scenes, nourishing the idea of a true business community. He had that unique sense of wanting each and every business to succeed, that goal of working together with and for each other. He believed that would mean success for all. He was often the glue, the Velcro, the common-sense voice that we needed.

My last purchase at Priest’s was a recliner. I was retiring, and it was time to rest from my labors. I still have it, but I have retired a few more times since then. Still, it comes in handy. Herb knew what I needed. And he knew what Woodstock needed. He left quite a footprint.

Columnist Juanita Hughes is retired head of the Woodstock public library and a local historian.

Meet the heroine of hope

she would do in the days, weeks, and years to come. From day one, it was apparent that ‘no’ would not be a word used often in her future. Katherine’s loving but concerned family faced each day together. As the years passed and hurdles were conquered, Katherine’s remarkable resolve was simply to be one of the kids. She made friends easily, and with enormous support, she turned a disability into mighty triumphs.

With all her siblings and parents being athletic, it’s no surprise that she is too. In middle school, she joined the track team. When asked why she wanted to participate, her response was, “Well, everybody else is doing it!” Despite using a walker, her indomitable spirit allowed her to eventually surpass other competitors in the track’s ambulatory division and win four state titles. Her “why not?” attitude not only helps her win races but also inspires everyone who runs in life with her.

I interviewed Kat, as she prefers to be called, two days before her 21st birthday. Initially, I found it challenging to understand her speech because of CP. However, after a while, I began to grasp her words, and trust me, you definitely want to hear what she has to say.

As I sat with her at her breakfast table, I couldn’t help but be captivated by her beauty and joy. Her long, dark hair framed a face that radiated happiness. Her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes only added to her mesmerizing presence.

“What do you wish more people understood about living with cerebral palsy or mobility issues?” I asked.

“We are not fragile, nor are we mentally incompetent. We have feelings, goals, and desires just like everyone else,” Kat replied.

Knowing Kat’s faith is strong, I inquired, “ Was there a time when

you drew closer to God?”

“When COVID first arrived, everything changed. School was different, and so were people. As individuals began to voice hurtful opinions on social media and express their anger, I felt overwhelmed by a wave of depression. I turned to prayer and leaned on God for support, hoping to help myself and others rise above the sadness.”

Somewhere in her answer, there is a profound lesson: those of us who appear normal can act abnormally and affect the happiness of many.

“Kat, what are your goals going forward?”

She replied, “Completing my academic journey at the University of Georgia. I want to continue building relationships with my Tri Delt sorority sisters and pursuing a career in marketing, public relations, and journalism. I am hopeful that I will be accepted into Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism.”

“Then after that, what would you like to achieve? Marriage and children?” I questioned.

Her delightful answer, “I want it all!”

Country Music is her passion. She laughs at the time her disability put her in the front row of a Luke Bryan concert. The music

star saw her and came off stage to hug her. It’s not a stretch; anybody would walk away from a song to meet Kat.

Heroes come in all types and ages. We see them on the battlefield or on a big screen telling their stories. However, some are just around the corner. They may stumble, speak slowly, and require assistance throughout the day. But when nothing stops a human being from being the best they can be, they are champions.

We understand inspiration through observing how others live. Their contagious attitudes can motivate us to achieve the greatness they represent.

“What message would you give to those who hesitate to embrace or pursue their dreams because of perceived limitations?”

Kat replied thoughtfully, and I understood her words clearly: “If God places a dream in your heart, you will find a way to achieve it.”

There is no greater representative of hope than Katherine Turner Farr.

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

Hughes

Gendusa

Special

Kat Farr running.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Planning for Cherokee County’s growth

DEAR EDITOR:

While historically rural, Cherokee County is now in the metro Atlanta region and will continue to experience higher-thannormal growth regardless of zoning regulations, anti-developer commissioners and public antipathy. “Remaining rural” is a great idea but economically impossible. Why?

Demographics. In the metro region, the only locality that has successfully remained quasi-rural is Milton in Fulton County. They have remained rural simply because the majority of property owners are wealthy enough to resist selling to developers. Cherokee County is not blessed with this kind of demographic. We have become a suburban county with a large percentage

of available, developable land, and a strong growth demand for new housing. The median income is now $100,000 (US Census Bureau), which will encourage more development. The economic force behind this growth is incredibly strong and will overcome the resistance over time.

I believe our best option is to channel the growth in the most desirable manner.

I lived in Roswell for 28 years, was a member of the Alpharetta Rotary Club for 22 of those years and witnessed the incredible growth of both municipalities. Roswell was consistently anti-development while Alpharetta adopted a growth-guiding agenda. As a result, Roswell’s tax base is 70% residential and 30% commercial while Alpharetta’s tax base is 45% residential and 55% commercial.

A major factor in the Cherokee County’s growth is the existence of I-575. It will drive growth for the foreseeable future just as GA400 drove growth through North Fulton and into Forsyth. Declaring that you want to remain “rural” is a nice idea but unrealistic in the face of the economic forces at work. What do we want as a county? How do we want to share the burden of county improvements between homeowners and commercial properties?

My opinion is that we need to balance commercial and residential development, guided in ways that are beneficial to all. Fewer small strip malls and more larger, mixed-use developments along with balanced growth in single-family homes. Fewer apartments or “affordable” housing (we already have enough) and more

mid-to-upper income subdivisions. More “destination” dining and entertainment. The operating reality is that developers will seek to build what the market demands, and most of the time are more finely attuned to it than the local governments.

As you consider who to vote for as county commissioners (and for state senator) look for insight and rational planning rather than simple, trite answers like “I want to improve roads”. Simply throwing around phrases like “backroom deals” feeds antidevelopment animosity but doesn’t show any insight or solve any problems. It exhibits a lack of comprehension of how to guide the county’s growth.

Hickory Flat residents ignored by planning commission

DEAR EDITOR:

I have been a 50+ year resident of Cherokee County, specifically the Hickory Flat Community. I have seen many changes over the years from the 2 way stop at the crossroads to what East Cherokee and Hwy. 140 have become.

I witnessed something on July 24 2025 at the Holly Springs Planning and Zoning Commission meeting that I still cannot believe. They discussed one case: the annexation of the property at the corner of Union Hill Rd. and East Cherokee in Hickory Flat. The developers had tried to rezone

this property for 92 town homes on 21 acres with the Cherokee County Board where they were denied. So, they went to Holly Springs where they knew they would pass it. I have always believed that the government existed at the will of the people. This is not the case

for this commission. The meeting began with Mr. Dekker announcing that he held over 200 letters, emails and calls from people opposed to this annexation. Also, there was a petition entered with over 600 signatures in opposition. Yet the commission passed it without regard to the will of

the people. Who’s will are they serving? Clearly the developers. I am saddened that there is so little regard for the citizens of the county and the increasingly irresponsible growth.

Flat

Instead of new taxes, developers should pay for infrastructure

DEAR EDITOR:

After several years of nonstop approvals for new developments and increased congestion in Cherokee County, now the Commissioners want to get approval for another SPLOST on its citizens. We didn’t vote for the increased population or increased congestion, you forced it on us. Now you want us to pay more to fix the mess you gave us. We complained about the highways, you gave us a 1 lane toll road.

Where is all the increased tax revenue from the new developed homes?

Why not have the developers pay for the road improvements BEFORE they develop, they’ll pass that on to the new owners anyway. Now that the congestion is about 24/7 you’ll be asking for our vote to approve another tax again. Next, mark my words, will be the sob story for

more funding to pay for new schools due to their congestion too. Enough with the taxes, stop the development and use the funds from all the new taxpayers that just moved in.

Chris Mielnicki

Tell Cherokee what you think

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

Shelley Knappenberger Hickory

Woodstock

Mike Lowry Canton

SOAPBOX

♦ Our state politicians are considering eliminating the state income tax. I hope they’re not going to raise our property taxes to make up the difference. Us homeowners are already heavily burdened with the school taxes.

♦ Ball Ground is getting to be no longer a desirable place to go, because of all the apartments and townhouses being built and going to be built, no one will want to go and walk through the street. It’s going to be another Woodstock and Atlanta.

♦ The despicable practice of robocalling has made a nuisance of the telephone, one of the greatest inventions of our time. I will never sell nor buy anything, nor even talk to anyone who invades my privacy in such a rude manner.

♦ In Cherokee County, Woodstock, Holly Springs, Canton, etc. Why don’t your red lights have motion detectors?

I’m getting tired of pulling up to a red light and there’s no cross traffic, but I’m sitting there because the light’s red. This is ridiculous in 2025.

♦ Whatever candidate is sending out hit pieces on Dickerson in the State Senate election, you’ve done it. You’ve convinced me to vote for him. I hate your despicable ads.

♦ Anyone associated with the Holly Springs city government should be fired for what they have allowed to take place in this county. Especially the Hickory Flat Community. They have expanded the city limits in every direction possible catering to the request of the developers and their big money. What they have allowed to happen at the corner of East Cherokee and Hickory Road, which is at least six miles from HS, is a disgrace and they should be ashamed. Why is there no control over them being able to extend the city limits anywhere they want to?

♦ Since when has deployment of important resources such as our military solved the real problems of homelessness, unemployment, addiction, and poverty — they seem to aggravate them more than anything else — and this administration wants to be a Nobel one?

♦ I parked in the Woodstock parking deck for the first time yesterday, rode the elevator. It was nasty. Has the city cleaned it since it opened?

♦ A quarter million dollars of taxpayer money to install a traffic synchronization system along Towne Lake Parkway, yet the traffic is worse now than ever. Every traffic light seems to be red and backs up traffic at every intersection. The lights need to be synchronized to give us green lights to enhance the flow of traffic. When is that going to happen?

♦ The Farm Bureau and Chamber of Commerce could’ve saved us a lot of time at the Candidate Forum by asking the last question first. When the MAGA State Senate candidates proudly and predictably pledged their blind loyalty to Donald Trump, everything they said

before — about issues, conscience, and constituents — became meaningless. They made it clear: they’ll run Georgia exactly like Trump is running the country — straight off a cliff and into the ground.

♦ Perhaps if Cherokee County and the municipalities like City of Canton and City of Woodstock would stop approving all of these additional apartments and residential areas, we wouldn’t need to have another SPLOST, which means Stupid People Letting Others Spend Taxes.

♦ Trump has given many impromptu news conferences as he prepares to board his helicopter to be shuttled to his jet for a trip to Ireland or Scotland or somewhere needing attention, this weekend, as always, he is somewhere to negotiate some type of deal. His impromptu speeches are full of rationale and “common sense” explanation of his plans, something the Democrats just can’t do as they are tied up with their deceitful and fake messaging containing so many lies and hateful comments, the public now finds distortions of the truth unbelievable.

♦ Trump has weaponized many parts of the government to go after Biden and his administration. Trump has hurt financially and emotionally millions of Americans, many of them who voted for him, but not for what he’s doing. Trump is friendly with Putin, no tariffs, no actions against him, while at the same time destroying relationships we’ve had with our allies for decades. Embarrassing Zelenskyy in the Oval Office is a sin.

The Ukrainians are fighting and dying in Europe so Americans don’t have to fight and die for freedom. A question to all MAGA supporters, is Donald Trump a role model for your children and your grandchildren?

♦ The new parking fees that have been implemented by Woodstock city are absurd. A day should be set aside, a Saturday where no one shows up to protest the absurd rules and regulations that they have implemented.

♦ I told you from the start, putting in these sidewalks out here by Sequoyah High School on Hickory Road was going to do nothing but cause trouble. We needed turning lanes. No, you want to put in sidewalks. Now it took me 30 minutes, 30 minutes to get from East Cherokee Drive red light all the way past the high school. This is uncalled for. This is ridiculous.

♦ If there was anything in the Epstein

files that would have implicated Trump in any criminal activity, Democrats would have used it to put Trump in jail.

♦ MSNBC and Fox News, both corporate media, are desperately doing their best to gin up manufactured outrage at the “others”. Why? Because like virtually all media, they work for the same wealthy, Ivy League elites who benefit from a divided middle class. One batch of elites gets voted out and another takes over, while they all laugh to themselves. We Americans fail to realize that workers, left, right and middle have much more in common with each other than with our rulers. We are losing our economy, our liberties and our futures at a rapid pace. We are being fleeced. Open your eyes, turn off the media, and think.

♦ Just saw Roswell Fire Department spraying water on a power line. So I guess it’s not just Cherokee that are morons.

Editor’s note: the Soapbox is a forum for residents to sound off about topics of interest. All comments are those of the callers and do not reflect the views of the newspaper. We welcome the contributions of our readers and encourage respectful and lively debate. the Ledger-news reserves the right not to publish Soapbox items based on libel or other considerations the editor and publisher deem valid. Comments may be edited for brevity. please keep comments as brief as possible. Lengthy opinions should be addressed in a letter to the editor. to submit a Soapbox, call 770928-1055 or email editor@ledgernews.com.

DINING

Meals for Woodstock celebrates five years of free dinners for families in need

By Joseph Bennett

For the Cherokee Ledger Monthly

Vingenzo’s restaurant in downtown Woodstock is not open for business on Tuesdays, but twice a month on that day, cars line up outside its East Main Street location, and people drive away with hot, fresh-cooked meals.

On Aug. 19, Meals for Woodstock celebrated five years of providing free meals to families in need every first and third Tuesday. Vingenzo’s staff and volunteers provide an estimated 250 meals between 4 and 6 p.m. on each of those Tuesdays. Five years of that add up to about 30,000 dinners served to people who might otherwise go hungry.

Meals for Woodstock began in 2020, partially in response to the COVID crisis, but Vingenzo’s executive chef/owner Michael Bologna and co-owner Nikkie Say have no plans to discontinue the program, which they carry out in partnership with several area churches and the city of Woodstock.

Bologna explains that he and Say were inspired when need met opportunity: “Five years ago, we had dinner with a chef who worked for a big company, and he mentioned that there was a lot of food in storage that was going to be wasted because it was going to be outdated. On the way home Nikkie and I started talking about what could be done with this food, and that’s how the whole thing started.”

“They were going to throw it

out,” Say said, “and a lot of people were in need.”

The surplus food lasted about six months, Bologna said. In effect, it primed the pump, but the free meals have continued to flow.

The source? “Us,” Bologna said. The source is us.”

Vingenzo’s gets some help from the city of Woodstock, which promotes the program and encourages donors and volunteers on its website (https://www.woodstockga.gov/about/outreach.php).

Woodstock police also provide traffic control while meals are being picked up. Say and Bologna credit Ron Anspaugh, police chaplain at the time, with encouraging police cooperation.

Three Woodstock churches — First Baptist, Allen Temple AME and The Way — are most active in supporting Meals for Woodstock, Bologna said.

Doug Whitney, pastor of gath-

erings at First Baptist and the current police chaplain, helps with coordinating volunteers, who assist in Vingenzo’s kitchen, assemble meals and hand them out on distribution days.

Whitney says Bologna approached him in June 2020 about involving churches in Meals for Woodstock. He credits Vingenzo’s for initiating the program and providing primary support.

“If I ask chef Michael what this is costing him, his answer is always, ‘Don’t worry about it,’” Whitney says.

The original intent, Whitney says, was to include multiple restaurants in Meals for Woodstock. No others are involved, although the city’s website still invites participation.

Bologna prepares the menus for all meals which vary but typically include a protein, a green

vegetable and a carbohydrate. He says it takes the Vingenzo’s staff and about 10 volunteers approximately five hours to prepare and distribute food on meal days.

Besides the city website, Whitney says, people learn about the availability of meals through retailers, schools, churches and word of mouth. There are no restrictions on who can receive food or on how much, but the understanding is to provide one meal for each family member.

There is minimal waste in Meals for Woodstock. Occasionally food is left over, and it’s donated to charity outlets. On rare Tuesdays,

Vingenzo’s runs out of meals, and when that happens, families receive gift cards for local restaurants.

In addition to Meals for Woodstock, Vingenzo’s staff and volunteers make sandwiches weekly for the USO to provide to active military personnel. The restaurant also sends turkeys, hams and other traditional foods to the USO on holidays.

Bologna says Meals for Woodstock will go on as long as he’s alive and cooking.

“Everyone has it in them to give,” he adds. “They just need to look inside themselves.”

Courtesy of First baptist Church of Woodstock

Volunteers for Meals for Woodstock outside Vingenzo’s. The program has been serving meals for families in need since 2020.

Joseph bennett

Vingenzo’s executive chef/owner

Michael Bologna and co-owner Nikkie Say.

Courtesy of First baptist Church of Woodstock

Volunteers assemble meals inside Vingenzo’s. Meals for Woodstock gives out free food from the restaurant the first and third Tuesday of every month.

Courtesy of First baptist Church of Woodstock Staff and volunteers have been preparing and distributing meals from the Vingenzo’s kitchen for five years.

Improvements coming to Ga. 140,Univeter Road intersection

By Ethan Johnson ejohnson@ledgernews.com

Cherokee County is a step closer to making improvements to the intersection of Highway 140 and Univeter Road.

On July 15, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a request from the county SPLOST/Roadway Department to transfer 0.104 acres of right-of-way, 0.112 acres of permanent construction easement and 0.011 acres of temporary construction easement from countyowned property at 3624 Hickory Flat Highway (old Fire Station 3) to the Georgia Department of Transportation for improvements to the intersection of Highway 140 and Univeter Road.

The county reports that the old fire station building on the site, which is being used for storage, will not be affected by construction.

This project includes installing dual left-turn lanes from Highway 140 onto Univeter Road and associated widening on both Highway 140 and Univeter Road through the intersection.

Since the improvements will be made to the state route, the right-of-way needs to be dedicated to GDOT. The project will be 80% funded by GDOT, accord -

ing to the county.

The right-of-way and easement transfers come after commissioners received additional federal funding for the project’s design phase through the Atlanta Regional Commission. Cherokee County received $223,726 from the ARC, with a county match of an additional $55,931.50.

The total funding is now $1,189,726 in federal funding through ARC for the project, and a county local match of $297,431.50 for the design phase.

Acquiring the necessary right-of-way and easements will run concurrently with the engineering of the project, so that any potential changes or conditions of the acquisitions can be implemented in the final design, according to the county.

The county estimates that final plans will be completed in May 2026. Construction could start in fall 2026 and is expected to be completed by late spring or early summer 2028, according to the county.

A 2019 study of the corridor identified this intersection as one of 10 projects the county could undertake to keep Highway 140 functioning until the state can widen it to four lanes, according to the county.

Best Deal in TOWN!

Canton named among safest suburbs in the U.S.

By Ethan Johnson ejohnson@ledgernews.com

The city of Canton has been named the 20th safest suburb in the U.S. in a recent study.

The study, completed by SmartAsset, was based on various data points comparing 360 places that are within 15 to 45 minutes of the 100 largest U.S. cities by car that have at least 5,000 residents.

Metrics used included violent crime rate, property crime rate, vehicular mortality rate, drug poisoning mortality rate and percentage of the population engaging in excessive drinking. These data points were based on the number of crimes and deaths per 100,000 residents, as well as adults who report binge or heavy drinking.

The numbers come from the FBI’s 2023 Uniform Crime Reporting Database and are supplemented by NeighborhoodScout.com, as well as 2025 County Health Rankings.

The median monthly housing costs and median household income were also considered, based on the Census Bureau’s 5-year American Community Survey from 2023.

Per the study, Canton’s rates and numbers are as follows:

♦ Violent crime per capita: 0.0069

♦ Property crime per capita: 0.0141

♦ Number of traffic deaths per 100,000 people: 8.3363

♦ Number of drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people: 20.4587

♦ Percentage of adults reporting excessive drinking: 18.43%

♦ Median monthly housing costs: $1,499

♦ Median household income: $81,642

“I’m incredibly proud that Canton has been recognized among the top 5% and named the 20th safest suburb in the United States. This honor is a direct reflection of the outstanding work by our Canton Police Department and the dedicated leadership across our city,” Canton Mayor Bill Grant said. “Together, we remain committed to enhancing the quality of life for all residents through continued investment in public safety, infrastructure and responsible growth as guided by our citizens’ Roadmap for Success.”

Grant added that, as the city moves forward with a tax cut in the upcoming fiscal year, it’s especially rewarding to see the city’s collective efforts recognized on a national scale.

“We are advancing Canton in thoughtful and meaningful ways,” he said.

For more information on the study, as well as what other suburbs made the list, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/americas-safest-suburbs-2025.

Bill Grant

File — Margaret Waage

Canton City Hall.

Woodstock Arts gets state grant for its local arts programs

By Joseph Bennett

For the Cherokee Ledger Monthly

Woodstock Arts started its 2025-26 fiscal year on Aug. 1 with a $10,000 boost, courtesy of the Georgia Council for the Arts, and the nonprofit organization is launching an elevated membership program to build on that momentum.

Christopher Brazelton, executive director of Woodstock Arts said the state grant, announced in mid-July, is for general operations and will be divided equally among his organization’s visual arts, theater and concert programs.

“We’re grateful for any support we receive,” he said, “and I’m especially thankful that the GCA’s grant program has been so helpful in recent years.”

Brazelton said Woodstock Arts is looking to launch a new membership program, described as One Membership: Unlimited Experiences. It will offer patrons who commit to a monthly donation unlimited admission to all programming, as well as priority seating, access to member-only events and discounts on art and mer -

chandise purchases.

“A membership like this will make it easy to access anything we have to offer,” Brazelton said. Existing member -

ship and donation programs will not be affected, he said.

Woodstock Arts plans to offer more than 540 events during the year.

Taste of Woodstock returning Sept. 4

Staff reports

Taste of Woodstock returns for its 14th year in September, inviting residents to try bites from some of the city’s most beloved restaurants.

This year’s event is set for 5 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 4 at the Woodstock Arts Event Green, 111 Elm St. in Woodstock.

There is a projected recordbreaking number of local res -

taurants preparing their samples this year.

Presented by Visit Woodstock GA, the event proceeds benefit the Woodstock High School Band Boosters, which raises funding for the band program.

“Taste of Woodstock began as a fundraiser for the local band program, and has gradually transitioned into what it is today — A showcase of our incredible culinary scene here in the city,” said Sylvia

Breitbart, program manager with Visit Woodstock GA. “We’ve had such positive feedback from restaurant owners across the city who find this event to be one of the best ways to connect directly with the community.”

Guests will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite dish of the night in the coveted People’s Choice Award category.

A panel of judges will also select winners in categories for Best Appe-

Brazelton said his organization has three major venues in downtown Woodstock: the Woodstock Arts Theatre, the Woodstock Arts Event Green and the Reeves House Visual Arts Center. At these venues, the organization produces plays, hosts various concerts and events, implements rotating art exhibits, hosts art classes and more.

Woodstock Arts also features an education program, through which students can enroll in classes, as well as take part in camps and a spotlight program.

Although memberships, private donations and corporate partnerships are critical, Brazelton said he expects earned revenue — including ticket and merchandise sales and fees for educational programs — to account for 83 percent of the Woodstock Arts fiscal year budget.

“We have something to be proud of,” he said. “A successful multidisciplinary arts center is not something you usually find in small communities.”

Woodstock Arts’ $10,000 grant is one of 177, totaling $1.3 million awarded by the Georgia Council for Arts to organizations in 49 counties.

this

up

Tasting tickets available in advance or onsite

tizer, Best Entrée and Best Dessert.

All award winners will be announced on the main stage during the event itself.

Also on the main stage, there will be live music throughout the evening from the Woodstock High School Band and other local performers.

Admission to Taste of Woodstock is free, though tasting tickets are required to sample restaurant offerings.

Advance tickets will be available

beginning Aug. 18 from the Woodstock Visitors Center, 8588 Main St., and onsite the day of the event. The event’s gold sponsors are LGE Community Credit Union, Southern Phoenix Services, Pritchard Injury Law Firm and Sara Hagen Photography.

For further information about the event, including participating restaurants, visit https:// visitwoodstockga.com/taste-ofwoodstock.

Christopher Brazelton

Chris keil/Woodstock Arts

Woodstock Arts presented the musical ‘Anything Goes’ in August. Cast members pictured, from left to right: Ciara Pysczynski, Heather Lamboy, Kyra Opdyke and Meghan Rillamas.

Clay goswick photography

Eden Smoothies’ bites at the 2024 Taste of Woodstock.

Clay goswick photography

In

2024 photo, D’Floridian serves

small bites at Taste of Woodstock.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

EVENTS AROUND CHEROKEE COUNTY

SEPT. 4

TASTE OF WOODSTOCK

Taste of Woodstock returns for its 14th year from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 4 at the Woodstock Arts Event Green, 111 Elm St. in Woodstock.

Presented by Visit Woodstock GA, the event proceeds benefit the Woodstock High School Band Boosters, which raises funding for the band program.

Admission is free, though tasting tickets are required to sample restaurant offerings.

There will be live music from the Woodstock High School Band and other local performers.

Tickets are available in advance from the Woodstock Visitors Center, 8588 Main St., and onsite the day of the event.

For more information including participating restaurants, visit https://visitwoodstockga.com/taste-of-woodstock.

SEPT. 5

FIRST FRIDAY WITH ON THE BORDER

Canton’s First Friday returns 6-9 p.m. Sept. 5, with a concert from Eagles tribute band On the Border.

The concert is free to attend.

There will be late night shopping, restaurants, a kids zone, food and beverage vendors along Main Street and a cruise-in.

SEPT. 6-7

ART ON MAIN

Art on Main is returning to downtown Ball Ground from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 6 and 7. This event celebrates artists and creatives from across North Georgia. Check out work from painters, potters, woodworkers and more throughout the downtown, where there will also be live music performances each day.

Admission is free.

This event is hosted by Black Sheep Promotions, Menagerie on Main and Downtown Ball Ground.

For event updates, go to the “Art on

Main” event page on Facebook.

SEPT. 13-14

TASTE & BREWS FESTIVAL

Taste & Brews Festival returns for its fifth year Sept. 13 and 14, offering a range of Southern cuisine options, craft beer, live music and more.

The free-to-attend event is set for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 13-14 at Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton.

A farmers market will also be set up, offering locally made seasonings, sauces,

jams, jellies and honey, as well as an arts and crafts market and a children’s activity area with games and entertainment.

For more information on the event, visit https://tasteandbrews.com.

SEPT. 13

INTERSTELLAR ECHOES

Interstellar Echoes, a Pink Floyd tribute band, is closing out this year’s Woodstock Summer Concert Series at the September show.

The concert is 7:30-10 p.m. Sept. 13 at

the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater, 101 Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock. The concert is free to attend. For rules and more information, visit https://www.woodstockconcertseries.com.

SEPT. 19

FACULTY LOUNGE

Woodstock Arts’ Reeves House art exhibition “Faculty Lounge:Art Beyond Office Hours” opening Sept. 19 features curated

robin rayne

In this 2024 photo, Vu Ho, owner of Flames and Skewers, bastes grilled ribeye steak kabobs at Taste & Brews Fall Festival in Canton.

Interstellar Echoes

File/ethan Johnson

The Reeves House Visual Arts Center

EVENTS AROUND CHEROKEE COUNTY

Retired educators invited to CREA

From the Cherokee Retired Educators Association

The Cherokee Retired Educators Association (CREA) invites all retirees associated with education to join.

Membership is $15/year and free for first year retirees.

The meetings will be held in the Simms Room, Gordy Dining Hall at Reinhardt University with parking available in the

Gordy Hall parking lot across the street and shuttles provided to the dining hall. Upcoming meetings will be Sept. 3, Oct. 1, Dec. 3, 2025, Feb. 3, March 4, and April 29.

Following the principles of the Georgia Retired Educators Association for fellowship, service, and support our meetings include a program relative to retirees, a lunch buffet, service projects impacting education, and a brief business portion.

Outback Deck Inc. hosting Woodstock Home Show Sept. 13

A free event in September aims to connect Woodstock area residents with home improvement professionals from around north metro Atlanta.

The Woodstock Home Show is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sept. 13 at 111 Elm St. in Woodstock, adjacent to the weekly farmers market in the downtown area.

From 18

works by some of the most accomplished faculty in metro Atlanta.

Faculty Lounge asks: What happens when the teachers teach themselves again? What unfolds when creative expression no longer serves a curriculum, but a calling?

Throughout the run of the exhibit, featured faculty will also step beyond the gallery walls, offering exclusive workshops and artist-led sessions that invite the public into their process.

An opening reception is set for 6-8 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Reeves House Visual Arts Center, 734 Reeves St. in downtown Woodstock.

This exhibition runs until Nov. 1.

Admission is free, and drinks will be available to purchase.

For more information about the exhibit, visit https://woodstockarts.org/events/ exhibition-faculty-lounge-art-beyond-office-hours.

SEPT. 20

HOLLY SPRINGS HARMONIES WITH NASHVILLE NATION

The Holly Springs Town Center is hosting a free Holly Springs Harmonies event from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 20 at the historic Train

Bingo event raising money for Creekview FFA students EVENTS

Staff reports

The Cherokee County Farm Bureau is hosting a bingo game night in October to raise money for Creekview High School’s Future Farmers of America chapter.

The Fall Bingo Night starts at 6 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Hickory Flat Gym, 4835 Hickory Road near Canton. Doors open at 5 p.m.

This is a cash only event. Pizza, popcorn and drinks will be available to purchase.

Every child who comes in a Halloween costume will receive a prize.

Depot, 164 Hickory Road in Holly Springs.

This event features a concert from Nashville Nation.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a camping or tailgating chair. No tents, umbrellas, grills or fuel containers. Small coolers are allowed but no outside alcohol is permitted.

SEPT. 26-27

NORTH GEORGIA PLAY FESTIVAL

The North Georgia Play Festival is set for Sept. 26-28 at the Woodstock Arts Theatre, 8534 Main St. in Woodstock.

Hosted by Woodstock Arts, North Georgia New Play Festival will feature staged readings of five original plays, chosen from a pool of submissions.

Performances will be staged readings, presented with actors on stage, minimal blocking, and music stands (provided by Woodstock Arts). There will be a brief talkback session//Q&A with the audience following the readings.

Tickets are $10 for a single show or $18 for a festival pass.

To buy tickets or for more information about the selected plays, visit https://woodstockarts.org/events/north-georgia-newplay-festival.

SEPT. 27-28

RIVERFEST ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL

The annual Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival is back Sept. 27-28 at Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. This event attracts arts and crafts vendors, concessionaires, entertainers and visiting tourists to Canton. More than 25,000 patrons are expected to visit Riverfest to shop, sample food and enjoy the entertainment.

People also come for the scarecrow tradition; scarecrows are created by local businesses, schools and other organizations.

Riverfest is the flagship fundraiser for the Service League of Cherokee County, and proceeds support the league’s programs to help children in need in the community.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28.

Admission is a $7 donation at the door, with free entry for children 10 and under.

For more information, visit https://serviceleague.net/fundraisers/riverfest.

For more information, visit https://www.outbackdeck. net/blog/the-woodstockhome-show.

The event, hosted by Woodstock-based Outback Deck, Inc., will feature an assortment of home improvement services and companies in the area.

File/ethan Johnson

The Holly Springs Train Depot.

Cherokee Classical Academy welcomes over 500 students

By Ethan Johnson ejohnson@ledgernews.com

CANTON — Cherokee Classical Academy has officially opened its doors for the school’s first academic year.

The new public charter school in the Liberty Classical Schools network welcomed 528 students for the first day of school Aug. 6. Parents were also invited to visit the cafeteria to eat, talk and ask staff members questions.

The tuition-free public charter school serves residents of Cherokee, Cobb, Bartow, Fulton, Pickens and Paulding counties and the cities of Marietta, Cartersville and Atlanta.

Cherokee Classical Academy is on Sixes Road at the site of the former Cherokee Charter Academy, which closed last year after the State Charter Schools Commission voted not to renew its charter.

Georgia’s State Charter School Commission approved Liberty Classical Schools’ charter contract for Cherokee Classical Academy in August 2024.

Liberty Classical Schools also includes Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta and Northwest Classical Academy in Kennesaw.

Cherokee Classical Academy, which employs 64 staff members, currently serves students in grades K-6, though there are plans to expand up to 12th grade in the future, said Matthew Kirby, CEO and superintendent of Liberty Classical Schools.

“We will grow to become a full K-12 school, adding a grade each year over the next six to seven years. We will eventually have just under 1,000 students enrolled,” he said. “We are thrilled to be here to serve the kids and families in the region. Our mission is to form knowledgeable and virtuous citizens. We do that through a K-12 American classical curriculum that emphasizes virtuous living, traditional learning and civic responsibilities. It’s the beginning of a new school year and the beginning of a brand-new academy.”

Head of School Matt Stone added that the academy is intentional with building relationships with students and parents.

“Feel free to reach out to us and communicate with us to let us know how we can help you and support your children,” he said. “We know that they are your most important priority. We want to honor that with how we interact in school with them, what we teach them in class and how we help them develop.”

The school is accepting enrollment applications. The waitlist is currently at 429 stu-

dents, according to school representatives.

Enrollment in the school is determined by a lottery system. Any student is eligible to apply, but students who are offered seats must live in the attendance zone to attend.

The school operates with a strict no-cell phone policy and limited technology use, something that Joe Cianciolo, a parent of two kids at the school, says he likes.

“A lot of schools are, unfortunately, very tech heavy — this is much more personal, and the kids are encouraged more to have face-to-face interaction. You can tell there is a lot of energy in the building and the teachers are excited,” he said. “It’s a new option for the county that I think is a really good addition. My kids have never been excited to go to school, but they were excited today.”

Dannielle Bergmaier said she is excited to have her son, who is in kindergarten, attend the academy. She added that her son was on the waitlist all summer and was able to get in right before the start of the school year.

“I love how excited the staff seem to be about the new year, and it really feels like everyone wants to be here,” she said. “I am expecting my child to love it and learn a lot.”

Cherokee Classical Academy is located at 2126 Sixes Road near Canton. For more information, visit www.cherokeeclassicalacademy.org.

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ethan Johnson

Cherokee Classical Academy.

Chattahoochee Gold transferring to new owner

By Griffin Callaghan gcallaghan@ledgernews.com

The Chattahoochee Gold swim club is under new ownership.

Former coach Mike Wardwell purchased the local club from founders Pat and Beth Murphy, who started it 33 years ago, in 1992. Wardwell was with the Chattahoochee Gold since 2011 before recently taking time off, and now he slides into the driver’s seat.

“I’m incredibly honored and energized to lead Chattahoochee Gold into its next chapter, building on the extraordinary legacy that Pat and Beth have established,” Wardwell said. “With

deep respect for our past and bold vision for the future, I’m committed to elevating our athletes and program to even greater heights.”

The Chattahoochee Gold began with 35 swimmers in Marietta, though it quickly grew as the city of Woodstock offered up an acre to build a 50-meter pool in 1995. That move came after the Atlanta Committee for Olympic Games requested such a facility for visiting countries to use prior to the opening of the Olympic Village.

Belarus’ Olympic team trained there for three weeks in 1996.

Twelve years later, the Gold had its first 18U national champion and Olym -

pic trial qualifier.

Chattahoochee’s footprint only continued to grow as club standout Micah Sumrall competed for Team USA in the 2012 London Olympics. Twelve Gold swimmers went to the Team USA Olympic trials in 2016, including four from Woodstock, and two made the finals.

In 2021, Sumrall won Gold at the US National Championships and the Pan Pacific Championship in Tokyo.

Chattahoochee added a new expansion site in 2025 in Peachtree City, putting it among the largest teams in the nation. The Gold has training sites in Marietta (Mountain View Aquatic Center), Forsyth County (Cumming Aquatic

Center) and now Peachtree City.

As the Murphys step back, Pat expects the team to have a new flavor with Wardwell, and he said the club will climb to new heights under its new leadership.

“After 45 years in coaching, Pat and Beth Murphy, longtime Woodstock residents, are happy to turn the team over to new leadership,” Pat Murphy said. “Like all businesses, it took a lot of energy to get the team off the ground. When Beth and I step back today, we’re grateful for the many people and coaches who supported us along the way, especially Coach Mark Schilling’s steady hand at the Woodstock site.”

Larry blase

Chattahoochee Gold swimmer Lauren Halderman competes at the 2025 senior state championship meet.

SPORTS

Lomas headed to Georgia Southern

By Griffin Callaghan gcallaghan@ledgernews.com

Sequoyah sharpshooter Cade Lomas has announced his commitment to Georgia Southern, making him the latest Cherokee County hoops standout headed to the ranks of college basketball.

Lomas, a 6-foot-3 combo guard, averaged 18.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3 assists per game while shooting 40% from behind the 3-point line.

The future Eagle was already accepted into the school, but he earned himself a walk-on spot following a private workout in front of the Georgia Southern coaching staff.

“He got in there academically, and then he really took the initiative on himself,” Sequoyah coach Mike Saxton said. “He was contacting the coaches over there, staying in contact with their assistant coaches

and having several conversations. They scheduled a workout for the other day, and then after his workout, they gave an offer to be a walk-on. It was just all him taking the initiative.”

Lomas took initiative on the court, too, during his senior season with the Chiefs. He handled point guard duties and ran the offense alongside Kennesaw State signee and all-county first-teamer Brendan Tousignaut.

As easily one of Cherokee County’s top perimeter shooters, Saxton expects Lomas’ game to translate seamlessly to the collegiate level as he works toward earning a spot in the rotation.

That shooting prowess played an integral role in Sequoyah’s Region 6AAAAA championship in 2024-25 in Saxton’s first season with the program. The Chiefs finished 20-9 overall and 10-4 in region play

while beating out JR Leonard and Riverwood for the region crown.

“One thing college coaches are always looking for is shooters,” Saxton said. “The great equalizer is the 3-point shot, and he does that better than anybody. He’s a guy they could definitely use in practice, and he can replicate that on the scout team. I think with his work ethic and the increased athleticism he has shown over the years, there might be a day a couple years down the line where you’re seeing him on the court playing meaningful minutes for them.”

Georgia Southern finished just above .500 last season at 17-16 and 8-10 in the Sun Belt Conference. Since then, the Eagles had notable turnover both on the roster and within head coach Charlie Henry’s staff.

They brought in transfers Jefferson Kou-

libaly, Aiden Applewhite, Khayri Dunn and Shainen Carter, among others. Assistant coach Kente Hart was promoted from assistant to associate head coach and George Neilson earned an assistant coach position.

After a high school career in a program accustomed to winning, Lomas now gears up for his first season in Statesboro as Georgia Southern looks to separate itself from the pack. Even in his short time with Saxton, Lomas left a lasting impression.

“He was obviously a key piece to us winning a region championship, no doubt about it,” Saxton said. “He was our point guard, so he was kind of the engine that made us go. He was a huge piece of what I was trying to build here, Year 1, and he helped, along with the rest of the seniors this past year, to build a foundation for the future of Sequoyah basketball.”

greg Spell

Cade Lomas looks to split the gap

Chiefs QB to extend baseball career at Georgia Tech

By Griffin Callaghan gcallaghan@ledgernews.com

Sequoyah’s senior quarterback, Kolby Martin, will take his baseball career into college following his commitment to Georgia Tech on July 19.

Martin, a soon-to-be four-year starter on the Chiefs’ football team, had offers to play both sports at the next level, but when the Yellow Jackets came calling, he felt it was the right fit. The offer came in just a few days before Martin announced his decision.

“They have been watching me throughout the summer and everything, and I’ve had a great relationship with Coach (James) Ramsey,” Martin said. “Not only him, but the rest of the staff, too, I’ve been talking to them for a while. When they made the offer, it just felt like a perfect fit, being able to play ACC baseball at a great academic school, 30 minutes away from home.”

Martin excelled at both sports, even leading Sequoyah’s historic Class AAAAA quarterfinals run on the football field last year. It was the Chiefs’ second time ever reaching that point, and Martin led the most productive offense in program history.

He threw for 2,392 yards, 24 touchdowns and three interceptions, with another 257 rushing yards and two more scores.

On the baseball field, Martin played multiple roles for Sequoyah. He finished

Kolby Martin is headed to Georgia Tech to continue his baseball career.

the 2025 season hitting .350 with 28 hits, 24 runs scored, 20 stolen bases, 15 RBIs and two home runs.

His decision between the two sports simply came down to the best fit.

Anthony Stalcup

“Everyone always talks about following your passion, but truly, I’ve been doing them both since I was five years old,” Martin said. “I literally don’t prefer one over the other. I’ve had a passion for

both since I was a little kid, so, honestly, I would have been fine playing one or the other in college. I just had to choose what I felt would be the perfect fit.”

Martin expects his versatility on the diamond to be his calling card at the next level.

“As a utility player and a switch hitter, I have a lot of versatility that I provide and bring to the table,” Martin said. “Whether I have to play infield, outfield, hit from one side or the other, I think that versatility is unique and it can help this team win baseball games.”

Georgia Tech finished its latest season with a 41-19 overall record. At 19-11 in conference play, the Yellow Jackets topped the ACC, ahead of Florida State (42-16, 17-10) and North Carolina (46-15, 18-11).

Martin said Ramsey, Georgia Tech’s new coach, helped steer him toward the program. Ramsey became the school’s 13th head coach in June after seven years as an assistant. Martin will team up with former Etowah pitcher Dimitri Angelakos in Atlanta following the conclusion of his high school career.

“They have a great young staff,” Martin said. “They are very organized in everything they are doing, and they just work super well. They were super transparent about everything the whole time during their recruiting process, so I really enjoyed connecting with the staff, and I’ll enjoy it for the next four years.”

SPORTS

Cherokee County’s draftees sign pro deals

By Griffin Callaghan gcallaghan@ledgernews.com

All three Cherokee County baseball alumni signed with their respective organizations following the 2025 MLB draft. Reid Worley (Cherokee), Kameron Douglas (Woodstock) and Robert Phelps (Reinhardt) all officially inked their deals before the July 28 deadline and can immediately join the ranks of professional baseball.

Worley was the first to sign on July 20.

The San Francisco Giants went over slot to sign Worley for $747,500, according to MLBPipeline reporter Jim Callis. The former Warriors pitcher caught the eye of MLB scouts with his spin rate leading up to the draft. He was selected in the ninth round, 266 overall.

Worley, who will forgo his college career at Kennesaw State, clocked 3,000 rpm on his low-80s slider, with his fast -

ball up to 93 miles per hour. Cherokee coach Josh Thomas said teams were very interested in that, as well as his frame, which he expects to fill out as he navigates the minor league system.

“I think that’s why pro teams have been on him, really over the last year,” Thomas said. “...He’s got great makeup, he’s a worker and he’s a good kid. He comes from a great family, and physically, you’re talking about a kid that’s just going to fill out over the next few years. I think it will be pretty special down the line.”

Worley finished the 2025 high school season with a 1.32 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 77 strikeouts across 42 1/3 innings. He helped lead the Warriors to a 16-17 overall record (10-8 Region 5AAAAAA), while taking state runner-up Lowndes to Game 3 in the postseason’s opening round.

The next Cherokee County alum taken in the draft was Reinhardt shortstop

Robert Phelps, picked by the Philadelphia Phillies in Round 19 (581 overall). He signed his deal on July 23, as reported by MLBPipeline’s Jonathan Mayo. Phelps signed with the Phillies for $75,000.

The former Eagle helped his club win the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) regular-season championship with a 24-6 league record and a 43-13 mark overall. Reinhardt made the opening round of the NAIA tournament before falling to Loyola and Ave Maria.

Phelps hit .350 this past season, ranking third behind Nash Crowell (.395) and Jacob Mantooth (.365). Phelps added 47 RBIs, 17 doubles and 11 home runs, while recording 75 putouts and assisting on 151 outs in the field.

Douglas was the County’s final draftee in Round 20, 609 overall, and he inked his deal with the Detroit Tigers on July 22. He began his college baseball career

with Georgia State before playing at Alabama State in 2025.

He signed for $150,000, according to Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo.

With the Hornets, Douglas made 59 appearances, hitting .335 and slugging .639 with 65 RBIs, 50 runs scored, 17 home runs and 16 doubles. He led Alabama State to a 31-29 overall record and 21-9 mark in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

Douglas was part of Woodstock’s 2022 Class AAAAAAA state championship team, which beat archrival Etowah for the title at Truist Park.

‘It’s really exciting,” Woodstock coach Jeff Brown said. “Kameron was an awesome player for us — a four-year starter on varsity — and he’s just a really hard worker and a really humble kid. For him to get to see his name called, it’s just an awesome opportunity. It’s the hard work at that level paying off.”

Special photo: Alabama State

Woodstock alum Kameron Douglas signs his contract with the Detroit Tigers following the MLB Draft.

Cherokee, Canton join forces on North Street redevelopment

By Ethan Johnson ejohnson@ledgernews.com

Cherokee County, the city of Canton and the Canton Downtown Development Authority are working together to bring a new proposed county annex and mixed-use development to downtown Canton.

On July 15, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement between the city of Canton, Canton DDA and Cherokee County for a new proposed county annex, parking deck and mixed-use project along North Street.

The DDA approved the IGA in June.

The Canton City Council approved the IGA July 3, on the condition that the county agrees to allow Tax Allocation District funds to serve as one of the funding sources for this project. Commissioners voted to allow this through a separate IGA that was approved July 15.

In a TAD, any new property tax revenues above a set rate, presumably from higher valuation after redevelopment, are dedicated to redeveloping the area. This is primarily done through bonds.

“What this effectively does — for the purposes of our county M&O tax — is freezes the value of all of these properties in the area of the TAD. Any growth in those values, whether by inflation or new construction, the tax on that growth of the value goes toward paying the bonds that are taken out under this TAD, which in turn funds the North Street development,” Commission Chairman Harry Johnston said. “We’re not giving up anything now, but we do give up, for 20 years, the growth in value of these properties to make it possible to build this project.”

The tax allocation district includes the downtown Canton area and the Etowah River corridor, according to county documents.

Canton City Manager Billy Peppers has said that the TAD can be used as a funding source, but a large chunk of the project costs will be county Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds for the county annex and the parking deck. The TAD can be used to supplement the project cost.

The city will use the TAD to fund other portions of the North Street project beyond the county’s SPLOST, Peppers said, adding that the city also has its own SPLOST and impact fees that can be used toward portions of the projects involved. He also said the project will eventually house private entities, and some project costs will also be paid for with leases and potential land-sales.

Canton Mayor Bill Grant said July 3 that this agreement allows the city and county to drive the design and make sure it fits within the character of downtown Canton.

The IGA “encompasses the collective vision and direction of the various stakeholders and is the product of many discussions and reviews between those parties,” according to county documents.

The IGA says the county, city and DDA will work together to create a master plan for both present and future phases of this project, as well as develop funding

sources and identify development roles and responsibilities.

Under the agreement, the county is responsible for engaging its own architect/engineer on the annex building, as well as providing all necessary reviews, permits and inspections of the Justice Center annex.

The city is responsible for transferring a portion of the property to the county for the Justice Center expansion; participating in the selection and collaborating with a qualified civil engineer contracted by the DDA, who will provide the design and engineering services necessary to construct the project; providing all necessary reviews, permits and inspections; and providing legal and financial assistance.

Part of the IGA requires the city to build the county annex and the parking deck with at least 600 spaces (additional 200 spaces to serve the mixed-use building), which is what the county is funding.

“This is essential to our much-needed expansion of the Justice Center,” Johnston said.

Per the agreement, the Canton DDA will offer the county right of first refusal to purchase additional property from the DDA for future expansion of the Justice Center campus beyond the needs; assist the county in funding a yet-to-be-determined portion of the Justice Center annex above what SPLOST can deliver; and participate with parties to create a master management plan and provide monthly updates on the project to the parties involved.

The overall project is proposed to include a new county government annex and two mixed-use buildings with about 20 one to two-bedroom apartment units above office, commercial and retail space. Behind those two buildings will be the proposed 180,000 square-foot parking deck, which would be five or more stories and feature 800 spaces.

On the east side of the development by Brown Street, the plan shows a roughly 80unit, 54,000 square-foot boutique hotel that would also have about 10,000 square

feet of retail space and 3,000 square feet of event space for about 300 guests.

On the west side would be an office building.

Proposals for the property show about 120,000 square feet of office space and about 16,800 square feet of retail space. The apartments would total about 47,200 square feet.

There will be opportunities for residents to give input throughout the planning of this development. Those interested can also provide input by emailing northstreetproject@cantonga.gov.

The plan and renderings are available online on the city’s website, tinyurl. com/4uruxb86.

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A concept rendering shows what this proposed development could look like.

Northside Hospital Cherokee CEO Hayes elected to Georgia Hospital Association Board of Trustees

From Northside Hospital Cherokee

Northside Hospital Cherokee CEO Billy Hayes has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Hospital Association.

The association announced him as a board member July 11 at its annual meeting.

Hayes will serve as an at-large trustee, where his duties will include working with the board to develop strategies for GHA hospital members, advocating for the highest quality care for patients, and supporting adequate reimbursement for hospitals.

Hayes has more than 25 years of healthcare experience and has served in his current role since 2004. Under his leadership, the hospital has expanded healthcare services over the years, culminating in the opening of a new hospital in May 2017. According to Northside, Hayes achieved a 10-year expansion plan in just four years, significantly enhancing service lines and more than tripling the number of physicians on staff.

Future projects under Hayes’ management include a new hospital entrance, a modern parking deck, a new medical office building, and a state-of-the-art sixstory tower that will be built to accommodate four additional floors to support future growth.

Prior to serving as CEO, Hayes served as administrator of what was then Baptist Hospital Worth County in Sylvester, Georgia.

“Billy Hayes is a visionary leader who continually evaluates and works to meet the evolving healthcare needs of his community,” said GHA President and CEO Caylee Noggle. “He has a strong commitment to improving community wellness, and his experience will serve our Board well. We look forward to his service.”

Hayes is the board chair of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation and serves on the board of directors of Chattahoochee Technical College and United Community Bank. He serves as a board member of the Development Authority of Cherokee County, Kennesaw State University, and Highland Rivers Foundation. He earned his undergraduate degree in accounting and finance from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, and an executive Master of Business Administration from Kennesaw State University.

Northside Hospital announces new providers in Cherokee

Staff reports

Northside Hospital recently announced several new providers in and around metro Atlanta.

Here are new providers in the

Northside Hospital Cherokee network: Board-certified family nurse practitioner Rikki Little, MSN, has joined the Canton location of Medical Associates of North Georgia. She specializes in same-

day care and has a background in emergency medicine. For more information, visit medassoc.com.

Northside Cherokee Surgical Associates welcomes Colby LaGarmon, PA-C, MSPA, a nationally

certified physician assistant with a background in cardiology and post-surgical care. She sees patients in Acworth and Woodstock. For more information, visit ncsurgicalassociates.com.

northside hospital

Billy Hayes has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Hospital Association. The association announced him as a board member July 11 at its annual meeting.

Colby LaGarmon Rikki Little

Study finds GLP-1s could show promise for migraines

In recent years, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists — more commonly known as GLP-1 medications — have dominated headlines for their success in managing blood sugar levels and significantly reducing weight. However, a new study shows GLP1s could have another benefit: treating migraines.

In a new pilot study presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress, results showed that after taking GLP-1s, people who suffer from migraines reduced the number of days per month with symptoms by almost half.

The study included 31 adults — 26 women and five men — with a median age of 44, all of whom reported experiencing headaches about 20 days each month. For 12 weeks, participants received daily injections of liraglutide (Saxenda). All also met the criteria for obesity and continued taking their current migraine medications during the study.

After 12 weeks, the average number of migraine days dropped to roughly 11 per month. Participants’ weight remained stable throughout the trial, suggesting the headache reductions were not tied to weight loss.

In a recent Q&A, Dr. Jyoti Manekar, family and obesity medicine specialist at Northside Hospital, shared her professional insights on the study — and why migraine patients shouldn’t get too excited just yet.

Q: Have you heard of GLP-1s being used to treat chronic migraines? What are your thoughts on this particular use?

A: GLP-1s are primarily known for diabetes and weight loss but their role in migraines is a newer and promising area.

Liraglutide is the only GLP-1 studied clinically for this, and the nearly 50% reduction in migraine days — even with minimal weight loss — is intriguing. It suggests a mechanism beyond weight loss, possibly involving intracranial pressure regulation.

It’s an exciting lead but I am cautiously approaching it until larger randomized controlled trials confirm these effects.

Q: Was anything in this study surprising to you?

A: Yes, the fact that migraine reduction occurred even with minimal weight loss does stand out. It suggests a more direct neurological or vascular effect of GLP-1s, possibly through lowering intracranial pressure, which aligns with

some preclinical and idiopathic intracranial hypertension findings. Also surprising is how understudied this area still is despite the popularity of GLP-1 drugs.

Q: In your opinion, what are the limitations of this study?

A: First, the study has a small sample size — only 31 people — which limits the statistical power and generalizability of the findings. The open-label design does not include a placebo or blinding so placebo effects or participant expectations could have influenced results.

Additionally, the specific population of participants had both chronic migraines and obesity so it’s unclear if the findings apply to people with a normal BMI or episodic migraines. Also, the duration of the study and the longterm sustainability of migraine relief weren’t fully explored.

Finally, there is no active control involved. Without comparison to other migraine therapies, it’s hard to assess relative effectiveness.

Q: What should people keep in mind as they read this kind of information?

A: People should remember that liraglutide is not approved for migraine

treatment and these results are based on one small early-stage study. Anecdotal reports do not mean clinical evidence. Though drugs like semaglutide have generated a lot of buzz there have been no controlled trials yet for migraines. Patients should be wary of media hype or anecdotal posts that suggest GLP-1s are a cure-all for migraines.

If you have chronic migraines and obesity this may be a relevant topic to discuss with a specialist — but only as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

However, patients should not selfprescribe GLP-1 drugs for migraines. They are expensive, require medical supervision and have specific indications. GLP-1s can also have side effects including gastrointestinal issues and other rare but serious risks so it’s important to talk to your doctor before taking these types of drugs.

The field is rapidly evolving and more robust data — especially on semaglutide or dulaglutide — could be coming soon. GLP-1 drugs are a hope on the horizon, but more research is still needed.

Dr. Jyoti Manekar is a board-certified family and obesity medicine specialist with Northside Hospital. She sees patients at Bariatric Innovations & General Surgery — Cherokee in Canton. Visit northside.com to learn more.

Dr. Jyoti Manekar

Cherokee County schools show Milestones improvements

Staff reports

The Cherokee County School District showed improvements in most subject areas over last year on the Georgia Milestones, and continued to outperform state averages, assessment results show.

CCSD saw an increase in 19 out of 27 performance areas compared to 2024, and scored above the state average in all tested areas for the 10th consecutive year.

According to state Milestones data for CCSD:

♦ In Mathematics, six out of seven categories showed improvement over 2024 (fourth through eighth grades and Algebra);

♦ In English Language Arts, three out of seven categories showed an improvement over 2024 (fourth, sixth and seventh grades);

♦ In Reading, five out of seven categories showed an improvement over 2024 (third, fourth, sixth and seventh grades and American Literature);

♦ In Science, four out of four categories showed improvement over 2024 (fifth and eighth grades, Physical Science, and Biology); and,

♦ In Social Studies, one out of two categories showed improvement (eighth grade).

“As the chair of the Cherokee County School Board, I wanted to share how impressed and pleased I am with the most

recent Milestones scores for our students,” School Board Chair Janet Read Welch said in a statement. “As school board members, we make sure our students are learning and growing each year, and this year showed us we are on the right track. These goals were reached because our students studied, our teachers focused on teaching every student, and parents encouraged and supported their students at home as well. Thank you to everyone who made sure our students were successful!”

During the past school year, the school board for the first time set clear improvement targets in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Reading.

Another change made last school year was requiring student cell phones to be stored and out of sight during instruction, a model that has since been adopted statewide.

Here are some Milestones highlights from the school district:

MATHEMATICS

♦ Increases in students scoring proficient and above compared to 2024 in every tested grade level except third grade, where the decline is less than a quarter of a percentage point.

♦ Significant increases were noted in fifth grade (+3.7%), seventh grade (+3.6%), eighth grade (+6.3%) and Algebra I (+7.4%).

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

♦ Increases in students scoring proficient and above compared to 2024 in three grade levels (fourth, sixth and seventh grades)

♦ The largest increases were in fourth grade (+4.7%) and seventh grade (+2.5%).

READING

♦ Increases in students reading at or above grade level compared to 2024 in five out of seven grade levels (third, fourth, sixth and seventh grades, and American Literature).

♦ Significant increase in the percentage of students reading at or above grade level in sixth grade (+3.3%).

SCIENCE

♦ Increases in the percentage of students scoring at the proficient and above levels compared to 2024 in all four tested areas (fifth and eighth grades, Physical Science and Biology).

♦ Significant increases were noted in fifth grade (+5.4%), eighth grade (+7.7%) and Biology (+4.0%).

SOCIAL STUDIES

♦ Significant increase in the percentage of students scoring proficient and above in ei♦ ghth grade (+7.6%).

The Milestones results point to several areas where the district will need to focus improvement efforts including the following:

MATHEMATICS

♦ Slight decrease in students scoring proficient and above compared to 2024 in third grade (-0.2%).

♦ English Language Arts

♦ Decreases in students scoring proficient and above compared to 2024 in third, fifth and eighth grades, and American Literature; with the largest decrease in fifth grade (-8.3%).

READING

♦ Decreases in students scoring proficient and above compared to 2024 in fifth grade (-1.8%) and eighth grade (-0.2%).

♦ Fourth grade increased compared to 2024 but continues to be our lowest scoring grade level by percentage.

SOCIAL STUDIES

♦ U.S. History decreased slightly (-0.7%), but less than 60% of students are scoring proficient and above and will be a focus moving forward for social studies.

“I see measured and positive progress in student achievement and applaud our teachers for their work in ensuring CCSD is the best place to learn,” Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis said. “We are on a mission in this district to ensure students learn more, grow more, and achieve more in a CCSD classroom than they could anywhere else. This year’s Milestones results are just the momentum we need. We can celebrate where we see growth and we can focus our efforts to continue improving.”

More details and school-by-school data will be posted on the district’s Accountability page on its website at https://www. cherokeek12.net/divisions/curriculuminstruction/accountability.

More Milestones information is available online at https://www.cherokeek12. net and https://gadoe.org.

SINCE 1875

Home of the Brumby® Rocker

Cherokee County School district

Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis speaks at the ribbon cutting for Free Home Elementary School’s new campus.

Janet Read Welch

Families shop food, art and more at BridgeMill Farmers Market

Snacks, King of Pops popsicles, jellies and jams, art, jewelry and more were on sale July 23 at the BridgeMill Farmers Market. The BridgeMill Farmers Market is held

from 9 to 1 p.m. Wednesdays through October in the parking lot of BridgeMill Athletic Club, 1190 Bridge Mill Ave. near Canton. The market is open to the public.

r ylee holland

From left to right: Dainus Silver, Brandy Adair, Carla Adair and Barbara Silver bought King of Pops popsicles at the farmers market.

r ylee holland

Katelyn and Taylor Edge show their jewelry and art at the farmers market.

r ylee holland

Families get popsicles from King of Pops.

r ylee holland

Lucretia, Stephen and Cayla Armstrong with Kashazi Spa.

r ylee holland

Sgt. Peppers Farm shows their pepper jellies and other products for sale.

r ylee holland

Diane and Larry Digllen, owners of Save My Seat, display some of their products at the market.

CHEROKEE SCENE

Concertgoers gather for 10,000 Maniacs in Woodstock

Thousands of concertgoers gathered at Woodstock’s Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater Aug. 9 to rock out to the tunes of 10,000 Maniacs.

An estimated 8,700 people attended the concert, the city reported.

The Woodstock Summer Concert Series features a free show once a month at the amphitheater from May through September. The September show will be headlined by Interstellar Echoes. For rules and more information, visit https://www. woodstockconcertseries.com.

Angie Martin

David Hall, Sue Menze, Ron Menze and Shelly Fay of Woodstock stand near the stage at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater.

Angie Martin

Concertgoers shop from food and drink vendors at the amphitheater.

Angie Martin Kayla Hall from Acworth was among the attendees at the Aug. 9 show.

Angie Martin

Cathy Miller from Ringgold attended the concert Aug. 9.

Angie Martin

Concertgoers enjoy the music at Woodstock’s August summer concert.

Angie Martin

Melissa Maida from Woodstock, right, brought her family to the Aug. 9 concert.

Angie Martin Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell speaks to the audience at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater.

Angie Martin

10,000 Maniacs performs at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater in Woodstock Aug. 9.

Festivalgoers rock out at Endless Summerfest

MORE ONLINE

Visit our website to see more photos from the Endless Summerfest event.

Families enjoyed music, shopping and more at Endless Summerfest July 26 at the Mill on Etowah in Canton. Six bands performed at the festival, including headliner Pandora’s Box, an Aerosmith tribute band.

The event, hosted by Goin’ Social Events and The Mill, accepted donations for local nonprofit The Children’s Haven.

Anthony Stalcup

Aerosmith tribute band Pandora’s Box was the headline act during Endless Summerfest at The Mill on Etowah Saturday. Six bands performed at the festival.

Anthony Stalcup

Ten-year-old Skylar Edwards and Kamiyah Willis take the plunge down one of the inflatables at Endless Summerfest at The Mill on Etowah Saturday in Canton.

Anthony Stalcup

Fans enjoy the Aerosmith tribute band Pandora’s Box at Endless Summerfest at The Mill on Etowah.

GARDENING

GARDENING WITH THE MASTERS|

MIke LLoyd

Dividing daylilies in fall

Ihave been a daylily grower and lover for many decades. They have always appealed to me not only because of their beautiful and colorful flowers but also because they are extremely easy to grow. We brought hundreds of my favorite hybrids to Georgia when we moved here from Arkansas about 12 years ago. They were all bare-rooted plants and were piled high inside empty honeybee hive boxes in the bed of my pickup truck.

I’m sure it looked like a scene out of the Beverly Hillbillies. From that start, we now have a landscape full of mature plants. In June when they bloom, they light up our yard. And, for me, they’re not only beautiful, but each one is like an old friend who pays a visit each year.

As I mentioned, they are really easy to grow. They are tolerant of most conditions, are relatively free of diseases, and only have a few minor insect issues. The aphids and thrips which often show up in Spring are

relatively easy to control. They grow best in sunny moist locations with soil that is rich in humus. I recommend fertilizing if you want them to really perform. In the early Spring, they benefit from the application of a nitrogen-enriched balanced fertilizer (like 15-10-10); this will get the foliage up and growing. In late Spring, a second application of balanced fertilizer (like, 10-10-10) will further encourage foliage growth

but will also power up the flower scapes. In the Summer, I allow my plants to coast into dormancy, in the hot and usually dry months of summer. In the Fall, a low nitrogen fertilizer is recommended (like, 5-10-10). If you don’t have or don’t want to mix or buy these fertilizer mixes, just use a balanced fertilizer. As far as how much to apply: I handful of fertilizer on each mature plant, sprinkled near the base

of the plant; use a smaller amount on new or small plants. It is not really rocket science. If you have deer issues, I find that using Milorganite (6-4-0) is a good alternative fertilizer, especially if applied weekly in small doses in lieu of other fertilizer applications. It has a stinky smell, since it is made from sewerage; this smell seems to deter deer who are attracted to daylilies in the spring as they emerge and later when they bloom.

After blooming, I let my daylilies go dormant. I remove all seed pods that may have formed and later remove the dried flower scapes. The former will prevent the seeds from dropping to the ground and inadvertently growing, eventually competing with the parent plant. You can plant them in another bed if you want to try your hand at growing your own hybrids. Removing the scapes will make the plants look tidier.

If you want to increase your daylilies, Fall is a great time to divide them. This is best done in late September though early October. To do this, if it is dry, water the plant to be divided a few days before

starting. Then, lift the plant up out of the ground using a steel spading fork. Generally, it is best to go round and round the clump several times to loosen it out. Once out of the ground, the plant should be divided. For some daylily hybrids, it is easy to separate the crowns by pulling them apart by hand. For other hybrids, their roots are tightly weaved together; this makes it difficult to separate the roots. Water helps. But, if all else fails, a knife always works. After separating, simply plant the multiple root clumps and in a few years, you’ll have lots more plants. If you want a beautiful and easy plant for your garden, grow daylilies. Happy Gardening!!!

Mike Lloyd is one of many UGA Master Gardener Extension Volunteers of Cherokee County. For more information or questions contact the Cherokee County Extension Office at 770-7217803 or for upcoming seminars follow us at www.facebook.com/ cherokeemastergardeners or at cherokeemastergardeners.com.

ClemsonUextension

If you want to increase your daylilies, late September is a great time to divide them.

Lloyd

Anne norman/Wikimedia Commons

Striped Daylillies

CROSSWORD ANSWER

CROSSWORD

• Fractures, Sprains, Strains and Dislocations

• Painful, Swollen or Injured Joints

• Back and Neck Pain

Woodstock 1505 Stone Bridge Pkwy. Suite 200 Woodstock, GA 30189 Monday – Friday, 8am - 4pm

Downtown Ball Ground building lost to fire

By Shannon Ballew and Ethan Johnson sballew@ledgernews.com ejohnson@ledgernews.com

The inside of a vacant commercial building in downtown Ball Ground was destroyed in a fire Aug. 10, Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services reports.

According to the fire department, firefighters were dispatched shortly after 3:30 a.m. Aug. 10 to a report of a structure fire on Gilmer Ferry Road.

Crews found heavy smoke and visible flames coming through the roof of a vacant commercial building.

Firefighters quickly deployed multiple hose lines and used elevated master streams from two ladder trucks to bring the fire under control.

The building has been determined to be a “complete loss,” Cherokee Fire spokesperson and Battalion Chief Michael Sims said. The exterior walls remain standing.

bought by the current owner, the building was locally known as the “Haithcock Building” and owned by Richard Haithcock. He operated Haithcock Well Drilling, servicing wells across North Georgia including Ball Ground.

The building was recently purchased by Woody Snell, who had plans to restore it to its original flat roof design, Wilmarth said. The plan was to gut the interior of the building, which was determined to be unsafe by the Cherokee County Fire Marshal, rebuild the interior and replace the roof.

Snell did not respond to a request for comment.

The building was previously home to Haithcock Well Drilling. As of press time, the cause of the fire remained under investigation.

worked to suppress the fire.

Ball Ground Police Department, Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies were credited with helping manage the scene and control traffic while crews

According to History Cherokee, the building has served as a hardware store, a furniture store, an appliance store and a blanket factory before it was

Haithcock Supply in 1973. The owner had planned to restore the building to its original configuration.

Ball Ground City Manager Eric Wilmarth said before it was

Where To Find

THE CHEROKEE LEDGER MONTHLY

CANTON

h Texaco, 180 Butterworth Rd, Canton 30114

h Shell, 3550 Marietta Hwy, Canton 30114

h Chevron, 4129 Marietta Hwy, Canton, 30114

h Exxon, 2619 Holly Springs Pkwy, Canton, 30114

h Union 76, 900 Waleska Rd, Canton, 30114

h Marathon,14 Mill St, Canton, 30114

h Chevron, 111 Mountain Vista Blvd, Canton, 30114

h Johnny’s New York Style Pizza, 559 Riverstone Pkwy, Canton, 30114

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

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

h Kroger, 4045 Marietta Hwy, Canton, 30114

h Kroger, 6766 Hickory Flat Hwy, Canton, 30115

h Publix, 15 Laurel Canyon Village, Canton, 30114

h Publix, 1451 Riverstone Pkwy, Canton, 30114

h Publix, 6175 Hickory Flat Hwy, Canton, 30115

h YMCA, 151 Waleska St, Canton, 30114

h Bojangles, 1665 Ball Ground Hwy, Canton, 30114

h Georgian Hills Restaurant, 69 Waleska St, Canton, 30114

h Cherokee Courthouse, 90 North Street, Canton 30114

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

h RT Jones Library, 116 Brown Industrial Pkwy, Canton, 30114

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

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

h Post Ofce, 2400 Riverstone Pkwy, Canton, 30114

WOODSTOCK

h JD’s Bar-B-Que, 6426 Bells Ferry Rd, Woodstock, 30189

h Family Tradition Restaurant, 4379 Towne Lake Pkwy, Woodstock, 30189

h Family Tradition Restaurant, 7830 Hickory Flatt Hwy, Woodstock, 30188

h Circle K, 12155 Hwy 92, Woodstock, 30188

“We would like to express our gratitude to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Fire Department, city of Ball Ground Police Department and city of Ball Ground Water Department for their combined efforts in not only combating the fire, but keeping traffic flowing around the city as our main arterial, SR 372, was closed for four hours,” Wilmarth said in an email.

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

h Family Tradition Restaurant, 4379 Towne Lake Pkwy, Woodstock, 30189

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

h Kroger, 12050 Hwy 92, Woodstock, 30188

h Citgo, 6790 Bells Ferry Rd, Woodstock, 30189

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

h Texaco, 6790 Bells Ferry, Woodstock, 30189

h Texaco, 6511 Bells Ferry, Woodstock, 30189

h Village Burger, 9550 Main St, Woodstock, 30188

h Bizarre Cofee, 440 Chambers St, Woodstock, 30188

h Woodstock Library, 7735 Main Street, Woodstock, 30188

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

HOLLY SPRINGS

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

h Kroger, 5341 Old Hwy 5, Holly Springs, 30188

ACWORTH

h Food Depot, 5530 Bells Ferry Rd, Acworth, 30102

h Mapco, 1530 Kellogg Creek Rd, Acworth, 30102

ethan Johnson

The Haithcock building in downtown Ball Ground was boarded up Aug. 11 after a fire broke out there Aug. 10. No injuries were reported.