Canton Resident Wins National Award for Child Advocacy CASA for Children presented Millie Bush of Canton with its 2014 G.F. Bettineski Child Advocate of the Year award during its National CASA Annual Conference, held recently in Grapevine, Texas. Bush was selected from more than 75,000 CASA volunteers nationwide. In 11 years of volunteer service with CASA for Children of Canton, she has worked with 49 children and 30 families. The majority of her work has involved helping children find a loving home with family members. In one case, her unwavering support of a struggling mother helped the mother realize that she needed to turn her life around for her children; after moving into safe, stable housing and getting a job, the mother and children were reunified. Millie Bush embodies the attributes needed in juvenile court: a dedicated professional who works hard and knows the families and children; is dedicated to the goal of a safe and permanent home; respects the opinions of others; and ensures her thoughts are known, says Judge John Sumner, presiding judge of the Juvenile Court of Cherokee County. She has been a blessing to our court for more than a decade, and I can only hope that she will continue to help the judges in the difficult decisions we make on a daily basis. In recognition of her award, Bush was honored with a special celebration in July at the Cherokee County Courthouse in downtown Canton.
Service League of Cherokee County Awards Local Scholarships The Service League of Cherokee County awarded $24,000 in scholarships to 19 deserving seniors who graduated recently from local Cherokee County high schools. Students receiving the scholarships included: Emily Huffman, Henry (Luke) Neese and John Bowling, River Ridge High School; and Evan Ezell, James (J.F.) Harris and Devon Higgins, Sequoyah High School. The Service League also made a $1,000 contribution to the High School Credit Recovery Class Scholarship program administered by the Cherokee County School District (CCSD). In addition, last fall the Service League awarded $1,000 in scholarship funds to Reinhardt University student Virginia Hutton as part of Reinhardt University's "A DAY for Reinhardt" program. Sherry Wallace, who serves as chair of the Service League's 2014 Scholarship Committee, said, "As parents, we want our children to receive the message: 'You have worth.' The Service League scholarship program is one of many venues we use to support and invest in local teens. Scholarship recipients represent an array of talents and accomplishments, and we want to champion them on to greater achievements. Then, hopefully someday, when given the opportunity, they will be conscientious about offering a helping hand and serving others in need."
Winners Selected in Farm Bureau Contests Cherokee County Farm Bureau sponsored a coloring contest for first-grade students and an art contest for high school students recently. More than 3,000 students from 22 elementary schools participated in the contest by coloring a picture of "My Plate is Georgia Grown," which included facts about healthy eating. The 1st and 2nd place winners from each school, and their families, were invited to Cagle's Family Farm to enjoy a free day on the farm that included a hayride tour, a plant to take home, and pizza and cupcakes. Leigh Ruff from Cherokee High School was among the 33 entries for Cherokee County Farm Bureau's high school art contest, designed to promote agriculture. Also selected as the overall winner for the county, Ruff received a check and certificate at Cherokee High School Awards Night.
Volunteers Needed for Food Ministry Timothy's Cupboard food ministry is seeking volunteers to help distribute boxes of food to local families in need. Volunteers are needed on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m., and must be able to lift and carry boxes weighing 30-60 pounds. Volunteer time can be credited toward community service. Timothy's Cupboard is located at 556 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. Call 770-591-5155 or visit TimothysCupboard.org for more information.
Local Club Donates Stuffed Animals for Children The Cherokee County Teen Republicans collected and distributed more than 220 stuffed animals to the Woodstock Police Dept., Canton Police Dept., Holly Springs Police Dept., Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, and the Anna Crawford Center recently. The stuffed animals were donated to the different agencies to give to children when they must be removed from their homes under extreme circumstances. Cherokee County Teen Republicans hope the stuffed animals will serve as a "friend" to the children and help them through tough situations.
North Georgia Titans Win State Championship North Georgia Titans are the new state champions for the AAU 7th Grade Girls division. The team, comprised of 7th-grade girls from Cherokee, Pickens and Gilmer counties, beat out seven other teams in the tournament, held recently in LaGrange, Ga. The North Georgia Titans practice in Cherokee County and play in tournaments around the state. Head coach is Stacey Williams, with Scott Kiser and Teresa Blankinship as assistant coaches.
Race Raises $10,800 to Combat Malaria The "Malaria Bites" 5K Run/Walk, hosted recently by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Woodstock, raised $10,800 for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ECLA) Malaria Campaign. "A child dies from malaria every minute," said Kristin Brenneman, outreach coordinator for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. "In a few short hours, Good Shepherd, and the entire community, was able to raise more than $10,000 for the ELCA Malaria Campaign," she explained, adding the campaign's goal is to raise $15 million by the year 2015. While Good Shepherd Lutheran Church raised $5,400 on or before race day, the total donated to the Malaria Campaign grew to $10,800, thanks to a matching program available through the ELCA. The money will help provide insecticide treatments, test kits, education and treatment for those in danger of contracting the deadly disease. Deaths from malaria have dropped by 25 percent since the ELCA joined the World Health Organization in its effort to eradicate malaria. The fastest runners/walkers in age divisions received a medal. The overall male runner trophy was awarded to Mike Stafford of Marietta, with a time of 17:02:00, while the overall female runner trophy went to Caitlyn Farrell of Canton, with a time of 21:42:00. "The real winners are the women and young children who can now be protected, especially those in Naimibia, where the ELCA hopes to start a program to prevent and treat malaria," Brenneman said.
Farm Bureau Hosts Safety Camp Cherokee County Farm Bureau will host a Safety Day Camp June 18, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., at Lazy D Farm, 848 Bishop Road, Ball Ground, for area youth ages 8-12. The camp will cover ATV, tractor, animal, bike, gun, electricity, fire, water, severe weather, and Internet safety. In addition, children will be provided lunch, a camp T-shirt and goody bag. Safety Day Camp is free, but registration is required by June 9. Call the Cherokee County Farm Bureau office at 770-479-1481, ext. 0, to register.
Local Scout Installs Play Equipment at Dog Park New play equipment installed at Woofstock Park as part of an Eagle Scout project provides dogs there with a fun way to exercise. Jimmy Wilson installed the new agility courses as part of his Eagle Scout project for Boy Scout Troop 639. He has been a member of the troop for six years, and the service project was one of the final requirements to earn the Boy Scouts highest Eagle Scout ranking. The new equipment includes an A-frame platform, two wooden platforms and two up-and-over platforms. The project was completed with the assistance of local volunteers and sponsors, including Family Life Publications, Bark Station in Downtown Woodstock, Crossroads Veterinary Hospital, and North Atlanta Fencing Center.
New Trail Segments Open with Trailfest Race Greenprints Alliance will celebrate the official opening of the new Town to Creek and Noonday Creek Trail segments with a ribbon cutting following the fifth annual Trailfest 5K, sponsored by Natural Strides. The event also will include a 1-mile kids Fun Run (ages 12 and under); live music by The Kurt Thomas Band, The Shetlands, Gavin McCoy Band, and Red White & Blues Band; and food and drinks. All race participants will receive a T-shirt and swag bag. Festivities will begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 8:00 p.m., rain or shine. The Town to Creek and Noonday Creek Trail segments cover approximately 1.5 miles of multi-use concrete trails. The two trails, which merge at Market Street in Downtown Woodstock and connect Woofstock Park to Towne Lake, are open daily for public enjoyment. In other news, Woodstock Downtown Development Authority has announced a new public entertainment and event stage in Downtown Woodstock, on the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village event green near Market Street and the Town to Creek Trail. The new community stage is being developed in partnership with Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, Main Street Woodstock and a financial contribution by Resurgens Orthopaedics. In addition to Elm Street, Main Street Woodstock and other community events, the stage will be available for private event rental. Construction of the stage is expected to be completed in May.