CTL Script/ Top Stories of December 14th 

Publish Date: December 14th 

PRE-ROLL: 01.20.25 ETOWAH MILL HOLIDAY SCREEN & RINK_FINAL 

From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast  

Today is Saturday, December 14th and Happy Birthday to Bill Buckner. 

***12.14.24 - BIRTHDAY – BILL BUCKNER*** 

I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia.  

1.  Cherokee County Approves Campground at Garland Mission Park 
2. Creekview Student Earns Second Place in Amicalola EMC Competition 
3. Canton Police Officers Host 'Shop with a Cop' 

We’ll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if you’re looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  

Commercial: 06.26.24 CU OF GA FREE CHECKING_REV_FINAL 

STORY 1:  Cherokee County Approves Campground at Garland Mission Park 

A new 443-acre park, Garland Mission Park, is nearing its opening near Waleska after the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a special use permit for Canton First Baptist Church. The park will feature camping, hiking, mountain biking, and more. The approval included variances for buffer encroachment, street access, and eliminating a deceleration lane. Located on Garland Mountain Way, the park spans the Bartow-Cherokee County border, with Cherokee County handling the campground's 243 acres. The park will include eight campsites, a pavilion, and accessible facilities. Bartow County will oversee development on its side. The church has not provided a construction timeline. 

STORY 2: Creekview Student Earns Second Place in Amicalola EMC Competition 

Amicalola EMC hosted the Sub Area I EMC/FFA Electrification Contest on Nov. 21, where Creekview High School's Aaron Dickson placed second. Sponsored by Georgia's EMCs, the contest is part of the Agriculture Education program by the Georgia Department of Education. It allows students to showcase skills in electrical wiring, critical thinking, and communication, promoting education and safety in electricity. Participants included students from Adairsville, Creekview, Dawson, North Murray, Pickens, Sonoraville, and Southeast Whitfield high schools. Wyatt Richards from Pickens High School won first place, and Slate Jones from Dawson High School took third. 

STORY 3:  Canton Police Officers Host 'Shop with a Cop' 

The Canton Police Department held its annual Shop with a Cop event on Dec. 10 at Walmart Riverstone Parkway, providing Christmas gifts and experiences to 21 local children. The event was funded by $8,900 in community donations from groups like the Lions Club and Laurel Canyon Optimist Club. Support also came from local organizations, including Cherokee 9-1-1 Dispatch and the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office. Walmart hosted the shopping event, offering snacks and drinks. Canton PD expressed gratitude to the community and schools for their support, with Chief Marty Ferrell highlighting the event's role in fostering community bonds. 

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Back in a moment  

Break: Drake Realty (Cherokee County) 

STORY 4:  CCSD Honors Support Staff Employees 

The Cherokee County School District celebrated its seventh annual Support Staff Employees of the Year Awards on Dec. 5, honoring staff from each school and division. Each honoree received a plaque and gifts, including a $200 Visa card. Three overall winners were announced: Kelly Miller from Avery Elementary, Stephanie Weier from Mill Creek Middle, and Patrick Walker from the Central Office. They received additional prizes, including gift cards and a facial treatment. The event highlighted the dedication of support staff, with excerpts from nomination forms shared to emphasize their contributions. Weekly features of winners will appear on CCSD's website and social media. 

STORY 5: Cherokee Youth Girls Flag Football Team Wins Championship 

At the 2024 Georgia Recreation and Parks Association State Championships, held Dec. 6-7, Cherokee Youth Girls Flag Football teams excelled, with the 14U Cyclones winning their division and the 12U Cyclones finishing as runners-up. The program, started in 2021 with support from the Atlanta Falcons and Arthur M. Blank Foundation, has positioned Cherokee County as a leader in girls' flag football. The 14U team achieved a historic victory, dominating their matches, while the 12U team also performed strongly. The event, showcasing talent from across Georgia, highlighted athleticism and sportsmanship in a non-contact sport environment. 

Commercial: 12.14.24 FALANY DEC_FINAL 

STORY 6: Cherokee County and City Leaders Speak to Local State Lawmakers 

Cherokee County leaders met with local legislators on Dec. 11 to discuss requests for the 2025 session. Key topics included school safety funding, with Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis seeking changes to the state's funding formula for permanent support. The county commissioners requested reconsideration of a Homestead Option Sales Tax (HOST) to reduce property taxes, projecting significant savings for homeowners. They also proposed increasing the hotel/motel tax to fund tourism and infrastructure projects. Additionally, $9.1 million in state funding was requested for the Technology Ridge Parkway project. District Attorney Susan Treadaway advocated for stricter bond restrictions for illegal immigrants and longer probation for sexual offenders. 

STORY 7: What's Next for the Old Tippens School Site in Canton? 

Canton leaders are considering renovations to the former Tippens Elementary School gymnasium, with plans to award an $18,850 contract to Keck and Wood for designing two site plans. The gym, built in the 1930s, remains after the main building's demolition. One plan focuses on parks and recreation, while the other includes affordable housing. The design phase will take 4-6 weeks, with concepts expected by February. Mayor Bill Grant supports incorporating housing to meet city needs. The site, valued at $850,000, was allocated funds for development, but a grant for transitional housing was declined by MUST Ministries due to insufficient funding. 

We’ll have closing comments after this.  

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SIGN OFF –   

Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.tribuneledgernews.com 

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