CTL Script/ Top Stories of December 21st 

Publish Date: December 21st 

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 21st and Happy Birthday to Samuel L Jackson  

***12.22.24 - BIRTHDAY – SAMUEL L JACKSON*** 

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

1.  Cherokee County Asks Lawmakers to Consider Sales Tax Referendum 
2. Etowah Teacher Earns National Career Education Award 
3. Cherokee Schools Announces REACH Georgia Scholars 

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 Asks Lawmakers to Consider Sales Tax Referendum 

Cherokee County commissioners are urging the legislative delegation to propose a Homestead Option Sales Tax (HOST) referendum, aiming for a 1% sales tax to eliminate property taxes for homeowners and fund road improvements. The Board of Commissioners approved a resolution for this, seeking a November 2025 ballot inclusion. The proposed HOST would allocate 75% of proceeds to reduce property taxes and 25% for capital projects, primarily roads. A 10-year sunset clause is suggested, allowing voters to decide on its continuation. The initiative aims to benefit both residents and visitors, with a quick implementation if approved. 

STORY 2: Etowah Teacher Earns National Career Education Award 

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Stephen Bergey, a career education teacher at Etowah High School, has been recognized as the Region II New Teacher of the Year by the National Association of Career and Technical Education. This award honors outstanding CTE teachers who demonstrate classroom innovation and dedication. Bergey, with a 20-year military and diplomatic background, has led Etowah's JROTC program to numerous accolades, including the 2024 Distinguished Unit Award. He holds multiple advanced degrees and has been elected president-elect of the Georgia Association of Career and Technical Education. 

STORY 3:  Cherokee Schools Announces REACH Georgia Scholars 

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating its new class of REACH Georgia Scholars, a program offering mentorship and college scholarships to promising middle and high school students. This year, four eighth-graders—Sara Chance, Farrah Fascitelli, Fernanda Hernandez, and Leila Morris—were selected. The district held a signing day-style reception to honor them, followed by recognition from the school board and Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis. REACH Scholars who meet program requirements can receive up to $10,000 in scholarships for eligible Georgia universities or technical colleges. 

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Back in a moment  

Break: Drake Realty (Cherokee County) 

STORY 4:  Cherokee County Theater Programs Earn Honors at Regional Contest 

Cherokee County School District theater programs excelled at regional One Act Play competitions. Etowah High School won the Region 5-6A championship with "Eurydice," while Sequoyah High School won the Region 6-5A championship with "Little Shop of Horrors," also placing third in the 5A state competition. Sequoyah's production will perform at the Georgia Thespian Conference. Both schools received individual honors for acting and technical roles. Cherokee High's Brandon Mears and River Ridge High's Tripp Scurlock earned Best Actor awards in their respective regions, with additional All-Star Cast recognitions for students from both schools. 

STORY 5: Brooke Ice Tapped as Lead Advisor for Cherokee Fire Explorers 

Brooke Ice has been appointed as the new lead advisor for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services' Explorer program, succeeding Capt. Michael Sims, who led the program for 17 years. Sims, a former Explorer himself, guided the program to numerous successes, including many first-place trophies at competitions and helping over 50 former Explorers pursue careers in public safety. Ice, also a former Explorer, brings extensive experience and passion to her new role, aiming to maintain high standards while introducing new initiatives. Sims will continue to support the program as Committee Chair, ensuring its continued success. 

Commercial: 12.14.24 FALANY DEC_FINAL 

STORY 6: Cherokee Commissioners Approve 85 Townhomes on Bells Ferry 

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a rezoning request for an 85-unit townhome development on 10.66 acres at 6355 Bells Ferry Road. The development, by David Pearson Communities, will feature owner-occupied townhomes with two-car garages, a pool, and a clubhouse. The project includes 2.25 acres of open space for a pedestrian path. Initially proposed at 102 units, the plan was revised to 85 units after density concerns. The development will have a density of 7.97 units per acre, aligning with county standards. Despite some local opposition, the project was seen as a responsible use of the property. 

STORY 7: Cherokee County School Board Appoints New Chief Academic Officer 

The Cherokee County school board appointed Joshua Heath as the new chief academic officer on December 12. Heath, who joined the district in July as the executive director for accountability, succeeds the previous officer who retired earlier this year. With 12 years of educational experience, Heath is also a CCSD parent and spouse of a district teacher. During the board's work session, he presented reports on student performance in AP, SAT, and ACT exams, as well as the district's performance on the state's CCRPI. 

We’ll have closing comments after this.  

COMMERCIAL: Ingles Markets 5 

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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Produced by the BG Podcast Network 

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