John Allen Bennett, a 38-year-old man from Woodstock, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole and life on probation for child sexual abuse. Bennett was convicted of sexually assaulting three children, two of whom shared his home, and fled when he was caught by one of the children's mothers. He was later arrested in Mississippi, where he attempted suicide, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Bennett admitted to all charges, including statutory rape, child molestation, and failure to register as a sex offender. The Cherokee County District Attorney's Office expressed relief that Bennett had been successfully prosecuted and that the community was now safer.

Enan Eliot Stillman, a 46-year-old Atlanta lawyer, has been formally charged with trafficking a minor for the purpose of sexual servitude and prostitution. The Cherokee County grand jury charged Stillman with two counts of trafficking for sexual servitude and one count of pandering for a person under 18, according to the indictment filed on March 14. The charges stem from an incident in December 2019 when Stillman allegedly picked up a 16-year-old girl from a local high school and paid her $500 for sex at a Canton hotel. Stillman turned himself in at the Cherokee County jail in January 2020 and was bonded out. An arraignment is scheduled for April 12.

Nicholas Michael Mimms has been indicted on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for allegedly killing the father of his wife's child in 2021. According to prosecutors, Mimms shot Eduardo Figueroa in August 2021 with a handgun at a home in southwest Cherokee near Acworth, which was the home of Mimms' adoptive parents. Figueroa was the ex-partner of Mimms' wife and the father of her child. Mimms was previously granted bond and released under house arrest. A court hearing is scheduled for April 12.Top of Form

Freight Kitchen and Tap, a popular restaurant in downtown Woodstock for 11 years, has announced its closure. The owners made the announcement on Facebook, expressing gratitude to their customers and employees. The restaurant was located in a historic train depot building on a long-term land lease to the Woodstock Downtown Development Authority. Despite the closure of Freight Kitchen and Tap, the building will remain a part of the city center development, according to Woodstock Economic Development Director Brian Stockton.

The Reeves House Visual Arts Center's latest exhibit "Through the Looking Glass: Art + Science" is showcasing art and science works until April 30th. The exhibit displays various works, including 3D printed sculptures of viruses, crocheted cells, bacteria grown on Petri dishes, images from NASA's Hubble Telescope, and a large "Teslascope." The exhibit aims to showcase human identity and our existence as complex organisms that live symbiotically with microscopic bacteria and other microbes. Admission to the exhibit is free and open to all ages.Top of Form

Bryce Leatherwood, a native of Hickory Flat and winner of NBC’s “The Voice” season 22, will perform at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater on August 25, 2023. The event is free and open to the public. Leatherwood was born and raised in the Woodstock area, where his passion for music began. He was inspired by traditional country music artists and started singing and songwriting. He formed a band while attending Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, and in December 2022, he won NBC’s “The Voice”. The concert will also feature the Whiskey Rose Band as a special guest. Carriage Kia of Woodstock is the presenting sponsor of the concert.

Creekview's boys and Etowah's girls won the Cherokee County track and field championships. Creekview won eight individual events and scored 192.5 points, beating Etowah by 14.5 points. Etowah's girls scored 187.5 points and had six first-place finishes. Creekview finished 44.5 points behind. Both teams had impressive performances, with multiple personal records broken. The next goal for Creekview is to win a region championship, while Etowah hopes to continue their success into the region, section, and state meets.

 Plus, we sit down with Times Journal, Incorporated Sports editor John Bednaroski as he continues to take us on a tour around Augusta National presented by Ingles.