The River Ridge girls will play for the Class AAAAAA state championship.

The Knights beat Langston Hughes 60-46 in Saturday night's semifinal at the University of West Georgia, bolstered by a lockdown performance on the defensive end and a 21-point game from Sophia Pearl.

#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          

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This podcast was produced and published for the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger and TribuneLedgerNews.com by BG Ad Group  



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The River Ridge girls will play for the Class AAAAAA state championship.
The Knights beat Langston Hughes 60-46 in Saturday night's semifinal at the University of West Georgia, bolstered by a lockdown performance on the defensive end and a 21-point game from Sophia Pearl.
#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          
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The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. <a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/users/signup/?referer_url=https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/users/admin/mailinglist/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Register Here</a> for your essential digital news.            
This podcast was produced and published for the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger and TribuneLedgerNews.com by BG Ad Group  
 
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This podcast is produced by BG Ad Group

 

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For more information be sure to visit https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/

Get the news for Woodstock, Canton, Holly Springs, and all of Cherokee County.
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This podcast is produced by BG Ad Group
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Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast

News Minute: River Ridge girls to play for State Championship

CTL Script/ Top Stories of January 16th 

Publish Date: January 16th 

  

Pre-Roll:  

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

 

Today is Friday, January 16th and Happy Birthday to Albert Pujols 

 

I’m Chris Culwell and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Times Journal 
Woodstock elected officials sworn in to serve new terms
Kemp to build roads, bridges during final year as Georgia governor
Canton man charged in Christmas shopping center fire

Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on raw milk 

 

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: INGLES 1 

STORY 1: Woodstock elected officials sworn in to serve new terms 

Woodstock kicked off the week with a swearing-in ceremony on Monday, welcoming back familiar faces and appointing new ones to key boards. 

Municipal Court Judge Robert Tidwell swore in Mayor Michael Caldwell and Council Members Warren Johnson (Ward 1), Colin Ake (Ward 3), and Brian Wolfe (Ward 5)—all re-elected in November. 

Caldwell also administered oaths to Lisa Morton, Spencer Nix, and Melissa Madigan for the Downtown Development Authority, and Rob Hogan, Ali Najafi, and Chase Roth for the Planning Commission. 

“Public trust is no small thing,” Caldwell said. “Congratulations to everyone stepping up to serve.” 

The council also made appointments to the Ethics Board and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. 

STORY 2: Kemp to build roads, bridges during final year as Georgia governor 

 Gov. Brian Kemp isn’t coasting through his final year in office. Nope, he’s dropping over $2 billion into highway upgrades south and east of Atlanta—part of a $6 billion infrastructure push during his tenure. 

Speaking at the Georgia Chamber’s Eggs and Issues event Wednesday, Kemp credited “conservative budgeting” for making it all possible. “While some politicians just talk about affordability,” he said, “we’re actually doing something.” 

Big-ticket items? $1.8 billion for express lanes on I-75 in Henry County, $200 million to overhaul Georgia 316, and $250 million for local road grants. Oh, and $50 million to tackle homelessness ahead of the World Cup. 

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and House Speaker Jon Burns are laser-focused on taxes—property, income, you name it. Burns even floated eliminating homestead property taxes statewide. 

It’s a busy year for Georgia politics, to say the least. 

STORY 3: Canton man charged in Christmas shopping center fire 

 A Canton teenager is facing serious charges after allegedly setting fire to a vacant shopping center on Christmas Day. 

Firefighters were called to the Canton Village shopping center on Marietta Road around 3:15 p.m., finding smoke pouring from the roof and flames inside. Crews worked quickly—hoses out, building searched—but thankfully, no one was inside, and no injuries were reported. 

After an investigation involving fire officials, Canton Police, and the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, 19-year-old Blake Louis Bishop was arrested Tuesday. He’s charged with first-degree arson, second-degree criminal damage, and loitering. 

The city-owned shopping center, set for demolition, required 30 firefighters and hours to fully extinguish the blaze. 

We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.  

  

We’ll be right back. 

 

Break: INGLES 2 

 

 

STORY 4: Morales breaks record, Gold returns for New Years Kickoff meet 

At the New Year’s Kickoff swim meet, held Jan. 9-11 at UGA’s Ramsey Center, Mila Morales of Chattahoochee Gold shattered a 19-year-old club record in the girls’ 8U 50-yard freestyle. Her time? A blazing 30.95 seconds, dethroning Lauren Case’s long-standing mark. 

The meet wasn’t scored—more of a post-holiday tune-up—but Chattahoochee Gold swimmers still made waves. 

Ava Gana stole the show with five wins, including the 12U 400 IM (4:56.31) and 200 backstroke (2:20.22). Meanwhile, Ella Malave snagged gold in the 13+ 100 breaststroke (1:05.96), and Bryston Burks dropped six seconds to win the 12U 200 breaststroke (2:48.08). 

Plenty of top-10 finishes, too—this team’s on fire. 

FALCONS: The Atlanta Falcons officially introduced Matt Ryan as their new president of football on Tuesday, and honestly, it feels like a full-circle moment. 

At the press conference in Flowery Branch, Ryan—who spent 14 seasons as the face of the franchise—spoke about his “unfinished business” with the team. “Since I was drafted, my mission’s been the same: help this organization win championships. We came close, had some success, but I believe we’ll get there,” he said. 

After retiring and working as a CBS Sports analyst, Ryan said he wasn’t looking for a new job—unless it was with the Falcons. Now, he’ll report directly to owner Arthur Blank, focusing on hiring a head coach and GM who share a unified vision. 

STORY 5: Georgia GOP senators target Raffensperger over voter registration lists 

 A group of Georgia Republican senators is pressuring Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to hand over the state’s unredacted voter registration list to the Trump administration—a move Raffensperger flatly opposes. 

His reasoning? State law. Sharing private voter details like Social Security numbers, birthdates, and driver’s license info is a no-go, he says. 

The DOJ, meanwhile, has been requesting voter lists from all 50 states, claiming it’s about ensuring accuracy. They even sued Georgia last month over the issue. 

The Senate resolution, led by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ allies, is mostly symbolic. But it accuses Raffensperger of “obstruction” for only providing a public version of the list. 

Raffensperger’s office fired back, saying he’s already complied as far as state law allows. “He won’t break the law or risk voters’ private information,” his office said. 

The DOJ’s lawsuit heads to federal court in Macon later this month. 

 

And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on raw milk 

Commercial:  

 

We’ll have closing comments after this.  

 

 COMMERCIAL: INGLES 3 

  

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

Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Produced by the BG Podcast Network 

  

Show Sponsors: 
www.ingles-markets.com   

CTL Script/&nbsp;Top Stories of&nbsp;January&nbsp;16th&nbsp;
Publish Date:&nbsp;January&nbsp;16th&nbsp;
 &nbsp;
Pre-Roll:&nbsp;&nbsp;
From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Today is Friday,&nbsp;January&nbsp;16th&nbsp;and Happy Birthday to&nbsp;Albert Pujols&nbsp;
&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m&nbsp;Chris Culwell&nbsp;and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by&nbsp;Times Journal&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Woodstock elected officials sworn in to serve new terms</li>
<li>Kemp to build roads, bridges during final year as Georgia governor</li>
<li>Canton man charged in Christmas shopping center fire</li>
</ol>
Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on&nbsp;raw milk&nbsp;
&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe! &nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Commercial:&nbsp;INGLES&nbsp;1&nbsp;
STORY 1:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/woodstock-elected-officials-sworn-in-to-serve-new-terms/article_e3d83d16-7932-408b-ae2f-dc738c7538d8.html">Woodstock elected officials sworn in to serve new terms</a>&nbsp;
Woodstock kicked off the week with a swearing-in ceremony on Monday, welcoming back familiar faces and appointing new ones to&nbsp;key boards.&nbsp;
Municipal Court Judge Robert Tidwell swore in Mayor Michael Caldwell and Council Members Warren Johnson (Ward 1), Colin Ake (Ward 3), and Brian Wolfe (Ward 5)&mdash;all re-elected in November.&nbsp;
Caldwell also administered oaths to Lisa Morton, Spencer Nix, and Melissa Madigan for the Downtown Development Authority, and Rob Hogan, Ali Najafi, and Chase Roth for the Planning Commission.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Public trust is no small thing,&rdquo; Caldwell said. &ldquo;Congratulations to everyone stepping up to serve.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The council also made appointments&nbsp;to&nbsp;the Ethics Board and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.&nbsp;
STORY 2:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/state_and_national/kemp-to-build-roads-bridges-during-final-year-as-georgia-governor/article_d088e299-58bd-559f-8ccc-d38dc4f37635.html">Kemp to build roads, bridges during final year as Georgia governor</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;Gov. Brian Kemp&nbsp;isn&rsquo;t&nbsp;coasting through his final year in office. Nope,&nbsp;he&rsquo;s&nbsp;dropping&nbsp;over&nbsp;$2 billion&nbsp;into highway upgrades south and east of Atlanta&mdash;part of a&nbsp;$6 billion&nbsp;infrastructure push during his tenure.&nbsp;
Speaking at the Georgia Chamber&rsquo;s Eggs and Issues event Wednesday, Kemp credited &ldquo;conservative budgeting&rdquo; for making it all possible. &ldquo;While some politicians just talk about affordability,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;we&rsquo;re actually doing something.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Big-ticket&nbsp;items?&nbsp;$1.8 billion&nbsp;for express lanes on I-75 in Henry County, $200 million to overhaul Georgia 316, and $250 million for local road grants. Oh, and $50 million to tackle homelessness ahead of the World Cup.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and House Speaker Jon Burns are laser-focused on taxes&mdash;property,&nbsp;income,&nbsp;you name it. Burns even&nbsp;floated&nbsp;eliminating&nbsp;homestead property taxes statewide.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s&nbsp;a busy year for Georgia politics, to say the least.&nbsp;
STORY 3:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/crime/canton-man-charged-in-christmas-shopping-center-fire/article_cb683148-98ef-40b6-aaf2-d908237fbf46.html">Canton man charged in Christmas shopping center fire</a>&nbsp;
 A Canton teenager is facing serious charges after allegedly setting fire to a vacant shopping center on Christmas Day.&nbsp;
Firefighters were called to the Canton Village shopping center on Marietta Road around 3:15 p.m., finding smoke pouring from the roof and flames inside. Crews worked quickly&mdash;hoses&nbsp;out,&nbsp;building searched&mdash;but thankfully, no one was inside, and no injuries were reported.&nbsp;
After an investigation involving fire officials, Canton Police, and the Cherokee Sheriff&rsquo;s Office, 19-year-old Blake Louis Bishop was arrested Tuesday.&nbsp;He&rsquo;s&nbsp;charged with first-degree arson, second-degree criminal damage, and loitering.&nbsp;
The city-owned shopping center, set for demolition,&nbsp;required&nbsp;30 firefighters and hours to fully extinguish the blaze.&nbsp;
We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. &nbsp;
 &nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;be right back.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Break:&nbsp;INGLES&nbsp;2&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
STORY 4:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/sports/morales-breaks-record-gold-returns-for-new-years-kickoff-meet/article_013947d9-0ba1-4319-9e23-6cee2d99a43c.html">Morales breaks record, Gold returns for New Years Kickoff meet</a>&nbsp;
At the New Year&rsquo;s Kickoff swim meet, held Jan. 9-11 at UGA&rsquo;s Ramsey Center, Mila Morales of Chattahoochee Gold shattered a 19-year-old club record in the girls&rsquo; 8U 50-yard freestyle. Her time? A blazing 30.95 seconds, dethroning Lauren Case&rsquo;s long-standing mark.&nbsp;
The meet&nbsp;wasn&rsquo;t&nbsp;scored&mdash;more of a post-holiday tune-up&mdash;but Chattahoochee Gold swimmers still made waves.&nbsp;
Ava Gana stole the show with five wins, including the 12U 400 IM (4:56.31) and 200 backstroke (2:20.22). Meanwhile, Ella Malave snagged gold in the 13+ 100 breaststroke (1:05.96), and Bryston Burks dropped six seconds to win the 12U 200 breaststroke (2:48.08).&nbsp;
Plenty of&nbsp;top-10&nbsp;finishes, too&mdash;this&nbsp;team&rsquo;s&nbsp;on fire.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/matt-ryan-has-unfinished-business-his-new-role-falcons-president-football/EYDCERH4LVCD3FCVJB426UI7II/">FALCONS:</a>&nbsp;The Atlanta Falcons officially introduced Matt Ryan as their new president of football on Tuesday, and honestly, it feels like a full-circle moment.&nbsp;
At the press conference in Flowery Branch, Ryan&mdash;who spent 14 seasons as the face of the franchise&mdash;spoke about his &ldquo;unfinished business&rdquo; with the team. &ldquo;Since I was drafted, my mission&rsquo;s been the same: help this organization win championships. We came close, had some success, but&nbsp;I believe we&rsquo;ll&nbsp;get there,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;
After retiring and working as a CBS Sports analyst, Ryan said he&nbsp;wasn&rsquo;t&nbsp;looking for a new job&mdash;unless it was with the Falcons. Now,&nbsp;he&rsquo;ll&nbsp;report directly to owner Arthur Blank, focusing on hiring a head coach and GM who share a unified vision.&nbsp;
STORY 5:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/state_and_national/georgia-gop-senators-target-raffensperger-over-voter-registration-lists/article_0f14affc-033e-505c-b523-f682302c9bde.html">Georgia GOP senators target Raffensperger over voter registration lists</a>&nbsp;
 A group of Georgia Republican senators is pressuring Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to hand over the state&rsquo;s unredacted voter registration list to the Trump administration&mdash;a move Raffensperger flatly opposes.&nbsp;
His reasoning? State law. Sharing private voter details like Social Security numbers, birthdates, and driver&rsquo;s license info is a no-go, he says.&nbsp;
The DOJ, meanwhile, has been requesting voter lists from all 50 states, claiming&nbsp;it&rsquo;s&nbsp;about ensuring accuracy. They even sued Georgia last month over the issue.&nbsp;
The Senate resolution, led by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones&rsquo; allies, is mostly symbolic. But it accuses Raffensperger of &ldquo;obstruction&rdquo; for only providing a public version of the list.&nbsp;
Raffensperger&rsquo;s office fired back, saying&nbsp;he&rsquo;s&nbsp;already complied as far as state law allows. &ldquo;He won&rsquo;t break the law or risk voters&rsquo; private information,&rdquo; his office said.&nbsp;
The DOJ&rsquo;s lawsuit heads to federal court in Macon later this month.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets&nbsp;on&nbsp;raw milk&nbsp;
Commercial:&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;have closing comments after this. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
 COMMERCIAL:&nbsp;INGLES&nbsp;3&nbsp;
 &nbsp;
SIGN OFF &ndash;  &nbsp;
Thanks again for hanging out with us on today&rsquo;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
Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
<a href="https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/">Produced by the BG Podcast Network</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
Show Sponsors:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ingles-markets.com/">www.ingles-markets.com</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Woodstock elected officials sworn in to serve new terms | Kemp to build roads, bridges during final year as Georgia governor | Canton man charged in Christmas shopping center fire

CTL Script/ Top Stories of January 9th 

Publish Date: January 9th 

  

Pre-Roll:  

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

 

Today is Friday, January 9th and Happy Birthday to Jimmy Page 

 

I’m Chris Culwell and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Times Journal 
Fincher wins runoff for Cherokee County’s state House seat
Farm Bureau seeks entries for High School Art Contest
Georgia Republicans move to scrap state income tax by 2032 despite concerns

Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on saturated fats 

 

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: INGLES 10 

STORY 1: Fincher wins runoff for Cherokee County’s state House seat 

Republican Bill Fincher is poised to take the Georgia House District 23 seat, according to unofficial results. With all precincts reporting by 8:57 p.m. Tuesday, Fincher secured 71.38% of the vote—4,345 ballots—against Democrat Scott Sanders, who pulled in 1,742 votes. 

Fincher, a retired assistant DA and RV park owner, thanked supporters on Facebook: “To everyone who voted, knocked doors, prayed, or just believed—thank you. I’m humbled and ready to get to work.” 

Sanders, meanwhile, called his campaign a success, saying, “We hit every goal and laid the groundwork for 2026. No more uncontested elections.” 

The seat, left vacant after Rep. Mandi Ballinger’s passing, saw six candidates in the Dec. 9 special election. Fincher and Sanders advanced to the runoff. 

Turnout was low—just 13.75%—with most votes cast on Election Day. Results will be certified Friday after the elections board reviews one provisional ballot. 

STORY 2: Farm Bureau seeks entries for High School Art Contest 

 Hey, high school artists—this one’s for you! The 2026 Georgia Farm Bureau High School Art Contest is here, and there’s cash on the line. The state winner gets $250, and 10 district winners snag $100 each. Not bad, right? 

It’s open to all 9th–12th graders (public, private, or homeschool). The rules? Create your masterpiece on 8.5 x 11-inch white paper using black, white, and gray. Use whatever works—charcoal, graphite, pen, chalk, mixed media, you name it. Just one entry per person, though. 

Deadline? Feb. 6. Drop your entry at the Cherokee County Farm Bureau office. Questions? Call 770-479-1481. Let’s see what you’ve got! 

STORY 3: Georgia Republicans move to scrap state income tax by 2032 despite concerns 

 Cutting state income taxes sounds great, right? But here’s the catch: how do you replace billions in lost revenue without gutting schools, health care, or public safety—or jacking up other taxes? That’s the question Georgia Republicans are wrestling with as they push to eliminate the state’s personal income tax by 2032. 

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, eyeing the governor’s mansion in 2026, is leading the charge, with State Sen. Blake Tillery backing him up. Their plan? Start by exempting the first $50,000 of income for singles ($100,000 for couples) in 2027. Sounds nice, but it’d cost the state $3.8 billion in year one alone. 

Tillery says they’ll cover it with surplus funds and borrowing for infrastructure, but critics—Democrats and even some Republicans—aren’t sold.  

For now, the debate rages on. 

We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.  

  

We’ll be right back. 

 

Break: INGLES 1 

 

 

STORY 4: Prep Roundup: Hamby, Bass have record-setting nights 

Creekview’s Kailyn Hamby had a night to remember, shattering both the single-game and all-time scoring records as the Grizzlies rolled past Sprayberry, 62-35. Hamby dropped 33 points, grabbed six boards, and helped Creekview climb to 13-1 overall and 4-0 in Region 6AAAAA. They’re now neck-and-neck with River Ridge for the top spot. Next up? A Friday showdown at Pope. 

Meanwhile, River Ridge stayed unbeaten in region play, edging Pope 70-60 behind Finley Parker’s 28 points and Makayla Roberson’s 25. 

Elsewhere, North Paulding handled Etowah 56-46, and Sequoyah crushed Woodstock 78-50 with a dominant third-quarter run. Cherokee also outlasted Wheeler, 41-34. 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Will Rajecki. If you’ve followed Cherokee County football these past few years, you know the name. It’s only fitting he caps off his high school career as the 2025 Cherokee County Offensive Player of the Year. 

Records? He smashed them. Flashy stats? Oh, plenty. Rajecki was the heart of Sequoyah’s offense, leading the Chiefs to their first region title since 2003 and back-to-back state quarterfinals for the first time ever. 

The numbers are wild: 4,049 career rushing yards (a school record), 66 all-purpose touchdowns, and a jaw-dropping seven-touchdown game against Sprayberry that landed him third in state history. 

This season alone, he racked up 1,974 rushing yards, 30 touchdowns, and helped Sequoyah to a 35-14 record over his four varsity years. 

Now? He’s weighing offers from Arkansas, Oregon State, and Georgia after decommitting from Memphis. Wherever he lands, one thing’s clear: Rajecki’s story is just getting started. 

STORY 5: Cagle names appointee to Cherokee County T-SPLOST committee 

 Cherokee County just named the first three members of its new T-SPLOST Citizens Review Committee, a group tasked with keeping an eye on how the county spends its transportation sales tax dollars. 

On Tuesday, Commissioner Will Cagle appointed Jack Norton, a Canton resident, Marine Corps vet, and small business owner with a background in transportation.  

Norton joins Ashley Holcomb, appointed by Chairman Harry Johnston, and Tom Teague, chosen by Commissioner Benny Carter. Two spots are still open, but Johnston isn’t worried.  

The 1% T-SPLOST, approved by voters in November, kicks off April 1 and is expected to bring in $445 million over six years. The committee’s job? Make sure the funds are spent responsibly and projects stay on track. They’ll review reports, offer recommendations, and keep the public informed—but they can’t change the project list. 

Meetings will be open to the public, with the 2026 schedule set at the first session. 

 

And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on saturated fats 

Commercial:  

 

We’ll have closing comments after this.  

 

 COMMERCIAL: INGLES 2 

  

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 

 

Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

Produced by the BG Podcast Network 

  

Show Sponsors: 
www.ingles-markets.com 

CTL Script/&nbsp;Top Stories of&nbsp;January&nbsp;9th&nbsp;
Publish Date:&nbsp;January&nbsp;9th&nbsp;
 &nbsp;
Pre-Roll:&nbsp;&nbsp;
From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Today is Friday,&nbsp;January&nbsp;9th&nbsp;and Happy Birthday to&nbsp;Jimmy Page&nbsp;
&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m&nbsp;Chris Culwell&nbsp;and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by&nbsp;Times Journal&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Fincher wins runoff for Cherokee County&rsquo;s state House seat</li>
<li>Farm Bureau seeks entries for High School Art Contest</li>
<li>Georgia Republicans move to scrap state income tax by 2032 despite concerns</li>
</ol>
Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on&nbsp;saturated fats&nbsp;
&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe! &nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Commercial:&nbsp;INGLES&nbsp;10&nbsp;
STORY 1:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/election/fincher-wins-runoff-for-cherokee-county-s-state-house-seat/article_79147490-55d8-4283-9d04-09d6d21b6340.html">Fincher wins runoff for Cherokee County&rsquo;s state House seat</a>&nbsp;
Republican Bill Fincher is poised to take the Georgia House District 23 seat, according to unofficial results. With all precincts reporting by 8:57 p.m. Tuesday, Fincher secured 71.38% of the vote&mdash;4,345 ballots&mdash;against Democrat Scott Sanders, who pulled in 1,742 votes.&nbsp;
Fincher, a retired assistant DA and RV park owner, thanked supporters on Facebook: &ldquo;To everyone who voted,&nbsp;knocked&nbsp;doors, prayed, or just believed&mdash;thank you.&nbsp;I&rsquo;m&nbsp;humbled and ready to get to work.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Sanders, meanwhile, called his campaign a success, saying, &ldquo;We hit every goal and laid the groundwork for 2026. No more uncontested elections.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The seat, left vacant after Rep. Mandi Ballinger&rsquo;s passing, saw six candidates in the Dec. 9 special election. Fincher and Sanders advanced to the runoff.&nbsp;
Turnout was low&mdash;just 13.75%&mdash;with most votes cast on Election Day. Results will be certified Friday after the elections board reviews one provisional ballot.&nbsp;
STORY 2:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/education/farm-bureau-seeks-entries-for-high-school-art-contest/article_611b12f0-b7af-4f42-88f1-241fbaf91a67.html">Farm Bureau seeks entries for High School Art Contest</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;Hey, high school artists&mdash;this&nbsp;one&rsquo;s&nbsp;for you! The 2026 Georgia Farm Bureau High School Art Contest is here, and there&rsquo;s cash on the line. The state winner gets $250, and 10 district winners snag $100 each. Not bad, right?&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s&nbsp;open to all 9th&ndash;12th graders (public, private, or homeschool). The rules? Create your masterpiece on 8.5 x 11-inch white paper using black, white, and gray. Use whatever works&mdash;charcoal, graphite, pen, chalk, mixed&nbsp;media,&nbsp;you name it. Just one entry per person, though.&nbsp;
Deadline? Feb. 6. Drop your entry at the Cherokee County Farm Bureau office. Questions? Call 770-479-1481.&nbsp;Let&rsquo;s&nbsp;see what&nbsp;you&rsquo;ve got!&nbsp;
STORY 3:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/state_and_national/georgia-republicans-move-to-scrap-state-income-tax-by-2032-despite-concerns/article_b4e03bfc-038f-5d62-9ea2-12c4d5b8ff96.html">Georgia Republicans move to scrap state income tax by 2032 despite concerns</a>&nbsp;
 Cutting state income taxes sounds great, right? But&nbsp;here&rsquo;s&nbsp;the catch: how do you replace billions in lost revenue without gutting schools, health care, or public safety&mdash;or jacking up other taxes?&nbsp;That&rsquo;s&nbsp;the question Georgia Republicans are wrestling with as they push to&nbsp;eliminate&nbsp;the state&rsquo;s personal income tax by 2032.&nbsp;
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, eyeing the governor&rsquo;s mansion in 2026, is leading the charge, with State Sen. Blake Tillery backing him up. Their plan? Start by exempting the first $50,000 of income for singles ($100,000 for couples) in 2027. Sounds nice, but&nbsp;it&rsquo;d&nbsp;cost the state&nbsp;$3.8 billion&nbsp;in year one alone.&nbsp;
Tillery says&nbsp;they&rsquo;ll&nbsp;cover it with surplus funds and borrowing for infrastructure, but critics&mdash;Democrats and even some Republicans&mdash;aren&rsquo;t&nbsp;sold.&nbsp;&nbsp;
For now, the debate rages on.&nbsp;
We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. &nbsp;
 &nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;be right back.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Break:&nbsp;INGLES&nbsp;1&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
STORY 4:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/sports/prep-roundup-hamby-bass-have-record-setting-nights/article_8d7e1f4d-7534-4ac2-b54a-e77b3b65c562.html">Prep Roundup: Hamby, Bass have record-setting nights</a>&nbsp;
Creekview&rsquo;s Kailyn Hamby had a night to remember, shattering both the single-game and all-time scoring records as the Grizzlies rolled past Sprayberry, 62-35. Hamby dropped 33 points, grabbed six boards, and helped Creekview climb to 13-1 overall and 4-0 in&nbsp;Region&nbsp;6AAAAA.&nbsp;They&rsquo;re&nbsp;now neck-and-neck&nbsp;with River Ridge for the top spot. Next up? A Friday showdown at Pope.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, River Ridge stayed unbeaten in region play, edging Pope 70-60 behind Finley Parker&rsquo;s 28 points and Makayla Roberson&rsquo;s 25.&nbsp;
Elsewhere, North Paulding handled Etowah 56-46, and Sequoyah crushed Woodstock 78-50 with a dominant third-quarter run. Cherokee also outlasted Wheeler, 41-34.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/sports/football-offensive-player-of-the-year-will-rajecki-sequoyah/article_a9aa7c5b-ecc1-4c89-a76e-911c3fe80008.html">PLAYER OF THE YEAR:</a>&nbsp;Will&nbsp;Rajecki. If&nbsp;you&rsquo;ve&nbsp;followed Cherokee County football these past few years, you know the name.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s&nbsp;only fitting he caps off his high school career as the 2025 Cherokee County Offensive Player of the Year.&nbsp;
Records? He smashed them. Flashy stats? Oh, plenty.&nbsp;Rajecki&nbsp;was the heart of Sequoyah&rsquo;s offense, leading the Chiefs to their first region title since 2003 and back-to-back state quarterfinals for the first time ever.&nbsp;
The numbers are wild: 4,049 career rushing yards (a school record), 66 all-purpose touchdowns, and a jaw-dropping seven-touchdown game against Sprayberry that landed him third in state history.&nbsp;
This season alone, he racked up 1,974 rushing yards, 30 touchdowns, and helped Sequoyah to a 35-14 record over his four varsity years.&nbsp;
Now?&nbsp;He&rsquo;s&nbsp;weighing offers from Arkansas, Oregon State, and Georgia after decommitting from Memphis. Wherever he lands, one&nbsp;thing&rsquo;s&nbsp;clear:&nbsp;Rajecki&rsquo;s&nbsp;story is just getting started.&nbsp;
STORY 5:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/cagle-names-appointee-to-cherokee-county-t-splost-committee/article_59a6e769-4683-483a-a410-4f75faadf3ce.html">Cagle names appointee to Cherokee County T-SPLOST committee</a>&nbsp;
 Cherokee County just named the first three members of its new T-SPLOST Citizens Review Committee, a group tasked with keeping an eye on how the county spends its transportation sales tax dollars.&nbsp;
On Tuesday, Commissioner Will Cagle appointed Jack Norton, a Canton resident, Marine Corps vet, and small business owner with a background in transportation.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Norton joins Ashley Holcomb, appointed by&nbsp;Chairman&nbsp;Harry Johnston, and Tom Teague, chosen by Commissioner Benny Carter. Two spots are still open, but Johnston&nbsp;isn&rsquo;t&nbsp;worried.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The 1% T-SPLOST, approved by voters in November, kicks off April 1 and is expected to bring in $445 million over six years. The committee&rsquo;s job? Make sure the funds are spent&nbsp;responsibly&nbsp;and projects stay on track.&nbsp;They&rsquo;ll&nbsp;review reports, offer recommendations, and keep the public informed&mdash;but they&nbsp;can&rsquo;t&nbsp;change the project list.&nbsp;
Meetings will be open to the public, with the 2026 schedule set at the first session.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets&nbsp;on&nbsp;saturated fats&nbsp;
Commercial:&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;have closing comments after this. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
 COMMERCIAL:&nbsp;INGLES&nbsp;2&nbsp;
 &nbsp;
SIGN OFF &ndash;  &nbsp;
Thanks again for hanging out with us on today&rsquo;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&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling&nbsp;great stories&nbsp;are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or&nbsp;your Google&nbsp;Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/">Produced by the BG Podcast Network</a>&nbsp;
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Show Sponsors:&nbsp;
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Fincher wins runoff for Cherokee County’s state House seat | Farm Bureau seeks entries for High School Art Contest | Georgia Republicans move to scrap state income tax by 2032 despite concerns

CTL Script/ Top Stories of January 2nd 

Publish Date: January 2nd 

  

Pre-Roll:  

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

 

Today is Friday, January 2nd and Happy Birthday to Cuba Gooding Jr. 

 

I’m Chris Culwell and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Times Journal 
Cherokee County’s Development Service Center going cashless 
Cherokee County musician Kurt Lee Wheeler performs in movie 
MLK Day Unity Breakfast returning to Canton after hiatus 

Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on breads 

 

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: INGLES 9 

STORY 1: Cherokee County’s Development Service Center going cashless 

The Cherokee County Development Service Center is now cashless—no more bills or coins at the counter. 

If you’re handling business licenses, building permits, alcohol licenses, or even motorized cart registrations, you’ll need to pay with a card, check, money order, or online. The office, located on the ground floor of the county’s admin building in Canton, says this change will speed things up and make transactions more secure. 

So, plan ahead—no cash, no exceptions. Got questions? Call 770-721-7810 or email dsc@cherokeecountyga.gov. 

And hey, for more details, check out their website. 

STORY 2: Cherokee County musician Kurt Lee Wheeler performs in movie 

 Kurt Lee Wheeler’s had plenty to smile about this holiday season. By day, he’s teaching at Creekland Middle School in Canton—a job he loves. But outside the classroom? He’s been busy releasing a new album and making his movie debut. 

After hearing his music, producer and actress Roberta Sparta invited Wheeler to perform in The Secret Life of a Good Wife, a Lifetime movie that premiered Thanksgiving Day. In a scene shot in Acworth, Wheeler and his band played during an outdoor gathering.  

Wheeler’s new album, Lathemtown, features some of the best bluegrass talent around, including Aaron Ramsey and Jake Stargel. A Cherokee County favorite, Wheeler’s also known for writing the county’s official song and performing at countless local events. 

With retirement from teaching on the horizon this May, Wheeler’s looking forward to traveling, spending time with his new grandchild, and, of course, making more music. 

STORY 3: MLK Day Unity Breakfast returning to Canton after hiatus 

 The MLK Day Unity Breakfast is making its long-awaited return to Canton on Jan. 19 after a six-year break. 

This free event kicks off at 8 a.m. with breakfast at the Cherokee County Conference Center (1130 Bluffs Parkway), followed by a program at 9 a.m. honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of equality, justice, and service.  

The keynote speaker? Canton native and weather-climate expert Dr. James Marshall Shepherd, a Cherokee High valedictorian who’s advised NASA, Congress, and even the White House. The program will also feature local leaders, a community choir, creative dance, and the CFCC Unity Award Presentation. 

For more info or to donate, visit cfergusoncc.org. 

We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.  

  

We’ll be right back. 

 

Break: INGLES 10 

 

 

STORY 4: Johns Creek holds off Cherokee 

Cherokee had its shot—literally—but couldn’t quite close the deal, falling 69-63 to Johns Creek in Monday’s Lemon Street Classic at Marietta High. 

Down two with 33 seconds left, Polk Corben’s steal and layup gave Cherokee life. Then Johns Creek missed two free throws, leaving the door wide open. But Braylon Luster’s potential game-tying shot? Off the mark. Forced to foul, Cherokee watched the Gladiators ice it with four free throws. 

Tatum Holmes led the Gladiators with 25 points, while Kaysan Brock added 13. For Cherokee, Sean Williams and Braylon Luster each dropped 21, with Luster sparking a furious fourth-quarter rally. 

Trailing 58-46 after three, Cherokee clawed back with a 10-2 run, cutting the lead to one. But Brock’s clutch three-pointer with 1:33 left sealed the Gladiators’ win. 

It was a back-and-forth battle early. Cherokee’s hot start from deep gave them a 9-2 lead, but Johns Creek answered with a 12-4 run, fueled by three triples. By halftime, the Gladiators clung to a 30-28 edge. 

In the end, Cherokee’s fight wasn’t enough. 

FALCONS: The Falcons’ season, a rollercoaster of confusion and chaos, somehow got even weirder Monday night. Already eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago, Atlanta (7-9) pulled off a dramatic 27-24 win over the Rams, their third straight victory in a season that’s been equal parts frustrating and baffling. 

Zane Gonzalez nailed a 51-yard field goal with 21 seconds left, capping a game where Atlanta blew a 21-point lead but still managed to hang on. It’s been that kind of year—beating Super Bowl contenders like Buffalo and L.A., but losing to teams like the Jets and Panthers. Go figure. 

Bijan Robinson was unstoppable, racking up 195 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and a highlight-reel 93-yard run that left jaws on the floor.  

But let’s not sugarcoat it—this season’s been a mess. Special teams? A disaster, with yet another blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. The Cousins signing? A head-scratcher. And yet, somehow, the Falcons are ending the year on a high note, showing flashes of the potential fans expected back in August. 

For now, though, they’ll be watching the playoffs from the couch—again. 

I’m Keith Ippolito and this is your tribune ledger sports minute. 

STORY 5: New laws will address professional services, homeowner protections, car owners and politicians 

 While most laws from this year’s legislative session kicked in back in July, a few big ones kicked off on New Year’s Day. They tackle everything from dentist shortages to car tags, with a little campaign finance reform thrown in for good measure. 

Take House Bill 148, for example. Rep. John Carson, a CPA from Cobb, is trying to fix Georgia’s accountant shortage. His bill updates a 30-year-old licensing system, making it easier to become a CPA and letting out-of-state firms work here without opening an office. 

Then there’s House Bill 567, aimed at solving the dentist drought. Rep. Katie Dempsey’s bill allows licensed dentists to practice online—yes, teledentistry is now a thing—and ensures dental plans cover it.  

Homeowners get a win, too. Senate Bill 35 doubles the notice period for nonrenewal of certain insurance policies to 60 days. And Senate Bill 112 makes HVAC warranties transferable to new buyers and bans those annoying “register your product or lose your warranty” rules. 

Campaign finance? Senate Bill 199 tightens the rules, requiring PACs to keep detailed bank records and file disclosures with the State Ethics Commission. Oh, and candidates can’t be investigated within 60 days of an election. 

And for the patriotic crowd, there’s Senate Bill 291. It introduces a new license plate with the American flag and “America First” slogan. Proceeds go to the state’s general fund. 

 

And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on breads 

Commercial:  

 

We’ll have closing comments after this.  

 

 COMMERCIAL: INGLES 1 

  

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 

 

Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

Produced by the BG Podcast Network 

  

Show Sponsors: 
www.ingles-markets.com   

CTL Script/&nbsp;Top Stories of&nbsp;January 2nd&nbsp;
Publish Date:&nbsp;January 2nd&nbsp;
 &nbsp;
Pre-Roll:&nbsp;&nbsp;
From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Today is Friday,&nbsp;January&nbsp;2nd&nbsp;and Happy Birthday to&nbsp;Cuba Gooding Jr.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m&nbsp;Chris Culwell&nbsp;and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by&nbsp;Times Journal&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Cherokee County&rsquo;s Development Service Center going cashless&nbsp;</li>
<li>Cherokee County musician Kurt Lee Wheeler performs in movie&nbsp;</li>
<li>MLK Day Unity Breakfast returning to Canton after hiatus&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on&nbsp;breads&nbsp;
&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe! &nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Commercial:&nbsp;INGLES&nbsp;9&nbsp;
STORY 1:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/cherokee-county-s-development-service-center-going-cashless/article_f6832da9-7f8a-4d46-8a07-4b01e28140ed.html">Cherokee County&rsquo;s Development Service Center going cashless</a>&nbsp;
The Cherokee County Development Service Center is&nbsp;now&nbsp;cashless&mdash;no more bills or coins at the counter.&nbsp;
If&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;handling business licenses, building permits, alcohol licenses, or even motorized cart registrations,&nbsp;you&rsquo;ll&nbsp;need to pay with a card, check, money order, or online. The office,&nbsp;located&nbsp;on the ground floor of the county&rsquo;s admin building in Canton, says this change will speed things up and make transactions more secure.&nbsp;
So,&nbsp;plan ahead&mdash;no cash, no exceptions. Got questions? Call 770-721-7810 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dsc@cherokeecountyga.gov">dsc@cherokeecountyga.gov</a>.&nbsp;
And hey, for more details, check out their website.&nbsp;
STORY 2:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/cherokee-county-musician-kurt-lee-wheeler-performs-in-movie/article_48278130-6159-4abb-8f5a-31629af9a87d.html">Cherokee County musician Kurt Lee Wheeler performs in movie</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;Kurt Lee&nbsp;Wheeler&rsquo;s&nbsp;had&nbsp;plenty to smile about this holiday season. By day,&nbsp;he&rsquo;s&nbsp;teaching at&nbsp;Creekland&nbsp;Middle School in Canton&mdash;a job he loves. But outside the classroom?&nbsp;He&rsquo;s&nbsp;been busy releasing a new album&nbsp;and&nbsp;making his movie debut.&nbsp;
After hearing his music, producer and&nbsp;actress&nbsp;Roberta Sparta invited Wheeler to perform in&nbsp;The Secret Life of a Good Wife, a Lifetime movie that premiered Thanksgiving Day. In a scene shot in Acworth, Wheeler and his band played during an outdoor gathering.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Wheeler&rsquo;s new album,&nbsp;Lathemtown, features some of the best bluegrass talent around, including Aaron Ramsey and Jake Stargel. A Cherokee County favorite,&nbsp;Wheeler&rsquo;s&nbsp;also known for writing the county&rsquo;s official song and performing at countless local events.&nbsp;
With retirement from teaching on the horizon this May,&nbsp;Wheeler&rsquo;s&nbsp;looking forward to traveling, spending time with his new grandchild, and, of course, making more music.&nbsp;
STORY 3:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/mlk-day-unity-breakfast-returning-to-canton-after-hiatus/article_ec23c602-7d95-4fac-b228-076c1855be4a.html">MLK Day Unity Breakfast returning to Canton after hiatus</a>&nbsp;
 The MLK Day Unity Breakfast is making its long-awaited return to Canton on Jan. 19 after a six-year break.&nbsp;
This free event kicks off at 8 a.m. with breakfast at the Cherokee County Conference Center (1130 Bluffs Parkway), followed by a program at 9 a.m. honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.&rsquo;s legacy of equality, justice, and service.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The keynote speaker? Canton native and weather-climate expert Dr. James Marshall Shepherd, a Cherokee High valedictorian&nbsp;who&rsquo;s&nbsp;advised&nbsp;NASA, Congress, and even the White House. The program will also feature local leaders,&nbsp;a community&nbsp;choir, creative dance, and the CFCC Unity Award Presentation.&nbsp;
For more info or to donate, visit cfergusoncc.org.&nbsp;
We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. &nbsp;
 &nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;be right back.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Break:&nbsp;INGLES&nbsp;10&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
STORY 4:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/sports/johns-creek-holds-off-cherokee/article_4c2f6c46-d700-454f-a46f-878f9d2a871f.html">Johns Creek holds off Cherokee</a>&nbsp;
Cherokee had its shot&mdash;literally&mdash;but&nbsp;couldn&rsquo;t&nbsp;quite close the deal, falling 69-63 to Johns Creek in Monday&rsquo;s Lemon Street Classic at Marietta High.&nbsp;
Down two with 33 seconds left, Polk Corben&rsquo;s steal and layup gave Cherokee life. Then Johns Creek missed two free throws, leaving the door wide open. But Braylon Luster&rsquo;s potential game-tying shot? Off the mark. Forced to foul, Cherokee watched the Gladiators ice it with four free throws.&nbsp;
Tatum Holmes led the Gladiators with 25 points, while Kaysan Brock added 13. For Cherokee, Sean&nbsp;Williams&nbsp;and Braylon Luster each dropped 21, with Luster sparking a furious fourth-quarter rally.&nbsp;
Trailing 58-46 after three, Cherokee clawed back with a 10-2 run, cutting the lead to one. But Brock&rsquo;s clutch three-pointer with 1:33 left sealed the Gladiators&rsquo; win.&nbsp;
It was a back-and-forth battle early. Cherokee&rsquo;s hot start from deep gave them a 9-2 lead, but Johns Creek answered with a 12-4 run, fueled by three triples. By halftime, the Gladiators clung to a 30-28 edge.&nbsp;
In the end, Cherokee&rsquo;s fight&nbsp;wasn&rsquo;t&nbsp;enough.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/atlanta-falcons-show-potential-again-in-up-and-down-season/article_f63e2752-3859-4fe6-a0d7-71b4d317024c.html">FALCONS:</a>&nbsp;The Falcons&rsquo; season, a rollercoaster of confusion and chaos, somehow got even weirder Monday night. Already eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago, Atlanta (7-9) pulled off a dramatic 27-24 win over the Rams, their third straight victory in a season&nbsp;that&rsquo;s&nbsp;been equal parts frustrating and baffling.&nbsp;
Zane Gonzalez nailed a 51-yard field goal with 21 seconds left, capping a game where Atlanta blew a 21-point lead but still managed to hang on.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s&nbsp;been that kind of year&mdash;beating Super Bowl contenders like Buffalo and&nbsp;L.A., but&nbsp;losing to teams like the Jets and Panthers. Go figure.&nbsp;
Bijan Robinson was unstoppable, racking up 195 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and a highlight-reel 93-yard run that left jaws on the floor.&nbsp;&nbsp;
But&nbsp;let&rsquo;s&nbsp;not sugarcoat it&mdash;this season&rsquo;s been a mess. Special teams? A disaster, with yet another blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. The Cousins signing? A&nbsp;head-scratcher. And yet, somehow, the Falcons are ending the year on a high note, showing flashes of the potential fans expected back in August.&nbsp;
For now, though,&nbsp;they&rsquo;ll&nbsp;be watching the playoffs from the couch&mdash;again.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m&nbsp;Keith Ippolito and this is&nbsp;your tribune ledger sports minute.&nbsp;
STORY 5:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/local_news/state_and_national/new-laws-will-address-professional-services-homeowner-protections-car-owners-and-politicians/article_c31d76bd-8a92-5e48-adb7-02f92012ad54.html">New laws will address professional services, homeowner protections, car owners and politicians</a>&nbsp;
 While most laws from this year&rsquo;s legislative session kicked in back in July, a few big ones&nbsp;kicked off&nbsp;on New Year&rsquo;s Day. They tackle everything from dentist shortages to car tags, with a little&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;finance reform thrown in for good measure.&nbsp;
Take House Bill 148, for example. Rep. John Carson, a CPA from Cobb, is trying to fix Georgia&rsquo;s accountant shortage. His bill updates a 30-year-old licensing system, making it easier to become a CPA and letting out-of-state firms work here without opening an office.&nbsp;
Then there&rsquo;s House Bill 567, aimed at solving the&nbsp;dentist&nbsp;drought. Rep. Katie Dempsey&rsquo;s bill allows licensed dentists to practice online&mdash;yes,&nbsp;teledentistry&nbsp;is now a thing&mdash;and ensures dental plans cover it.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Homeowners get a win, too. Senate Bill 35 doubles the notice period for nonrenewal of certain insurance policies to&nbsp;60 days. And Senate Bill 112 makes HVAC warranties transferable to new buyers and bans those annoying &ldquo;register your product or lose your warranty&rdquo; rules.&nbsp;
Campaign finance? Senate Bill 199 tightens the rules, requiring PACs to keep detailed bank records and file disclosures with the State Ethics Commission. Oh, and candidates&nbsp;can&rsquo;t&nbsp;be investigated within&nbsp;60 days&nbsp;of an election.&nbsp;
And for the patriotic crowd, there&rsquo;s Senate Bill 291. It introduces a new license plate with the American flag and &ldquo;America First&rdquo; slogan. Proceeds go to the state&rsquo;s general fund.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets&nbsp;on&nbsp;breads&nbsp;
Commercial:&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;have closing comments after this. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
 COMMERCIAL:&nbsp;INGLES 1&nbsp;
 &nbsp;
SIGN OFF &ndash;  &nbsp;
Thanks again for hanging out with us on today&rsquo;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&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling&nbsp;great stories&nbsp;are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or&nbsp;your Google&nbsp;Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/">Produced by the BG Podcast Network</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;
Show Sponsors:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ingles-markets.com/">www.ingles-markets.com</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Cherokee County’s Development Service Center going cashless  | Cherokee County musician Kurt Lee Wheeler performs in movie | MLK Day Unity Breakfast returning to Canton after hiatus 

News Minute: River Ridge girls to play for State Championship

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