History Cherokee has announced the grand opening of the new Cherokee County History Center on November 5th. Located at 221 E. Marietta St. in Canton, the Cherokee County History Center will boast 6 galleries covering over 10,000 years of the county’s history. “We can’t wait to share this resource with the community,” states Executive Director, Stefanie Joyner. “The galleries contain both low-tech and high-tech interactives, so we’ve made learning fun.”

To commemorate the grand opening, History Cherokee will host History Heyday, a family-oriented event inspired by the 1958 Denim Days Carnival that took place right in the heart of downtown Canton. “Opening the Cherokee County History Center has been a dream for decades. What better way to celebrate this dream becoming a reality than throwing a fantastic carnival for everyone?” says Meghan Quinlan, chair of the History Heyday committee. From 11:00 am-3:00 pm on November 5th, all are welcome to visit the History Center for free outdoor carnival-themed activities. The History Center will open at 10am and free admission to the galleries for up to 400 guests will be provided by Canton Tourism.

The Cherokee County History Center will be open Wednesdays – Saturdays, 10-5 and Sundays 12-5. Admission for Children (5-14) & Seniors (65+) is $7 and admission for adults (15-64) is $9. To learn more about the History Center and the Hey Day opening day event, visit historycherokee.org.

Oct. 24, 2022 is officially World Polio Day in the city of Woodstock and Cherokee County. The Woodstock City Council and the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners issued proclamations this month at the request of the Rotary Club of Towne Lake to raise awareness about polio and Rotary’s worldwide initiative to end the disease.

The Woodstock City Council issued the proclamation Oct. 10, and the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners issued the proclamation Oct. 18.

President Elect Tiffany Collins, Past President Robin Wright and Rotarian Lori Wright attending the Oct. 10 Woodstock City Council meeting to accept the proclamation from Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell. President Jim Klynman attended the Oct. 18 Board of Commissioners meeting to accept the proclamation from Commission Chairman Harry Johnston.

“I’d like to thank both the city of Woodstock and Cherokee County for proclaiming Oct. 24, 2022 as World Polio Day,” said Klynman. “We appreciate both governing bodies’ continued support of the Rotary Club of Towne Lake and our efforts in the community.”

World Polio Day is an international day of awareness of Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate the disease. Just a few years ago, polio cases were limited to Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to a recent global update, positive cases have now surfaced in Mozambique and Malawi. While most of the positive polio cases are in Africa and the Middle East, wild poliovirus has been detected in New York, the United Kingdom and Israel.

Rotary International has a goal of raising $50 million, which will secure a two to one match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to help get over the finish line of eradicating polio. To learn more or to donate, visit www.endpolio.org.

The Cherokee County Homeless Veteran Program, along with American Legion Auxiliary Unit 45, is pleased to announce a partnership with Arrow Exterminators and the Georgia Pest Vets (3/16 Veteran Support Group) to collect and distribute 5,000 coats to homeless and low income Veterans as well as others in need ahead of this winter’s cold weather.

Last year they collected and distributed nearly 3,500 coats on December 7th, 2021 to various homeless and Veteran organizations in North Georgia to include the VA homeless program, Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program and several other Veteran focused organizations, noted Xavier Cugnon of Arrow Exterminators and head of the GA Pest Vets organization.

This year with the prospect of inflation and rising fuel costs the need to support homeless Veterans and other homeless who may not be Veterans is top of our minds ahead of the coming cold months, added Jim Lindenmayer, Director of Cherokee County Homeless Veterans program. This will be our 8th year of conducting a coat drive and we would not be able to achieve our goals if it were not for our partnership with Arrow Exterminators, their local offices who help collect that many donated coats and those in the community who donate much needed coats to program like ours.

If you have gently used or new coats that you have no longer a need for, please drop them off at the nearest Arrow Exterminator office in your neighborhood.

Cherokee County will put the first propane-powered public transit buses in the state of Georgia in service next week following a ribbon cutting held Tuesday at the Cherokee County Administrative Offices.

Cherokee Area Transportation Service (CATS) purchased three propane-powered buses from Coach and Equipment Bus Sales, Inc. in February to replace aging buses in the fleet. The cost for all three totaled $307,553 with $261,420 paid for with a Federal Transportation Authority grant and $46,132 from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). Two have been received, and the county is awaiting delivery of the third bus.

The new vehicles will replace three aging buses currently in the fleet that provide service for the Fixed Route Service by CATS. The Fixed Route Service offers those in need of transportation assistance a regularly scheduled route for a small fee. CATS also provides a Demand Response Service where residents can schedule their rides for things like doctor’s appointments.

“We are excited to bring in three new vehicles that use a cleaner fuel source and have expected lower maintenance costs,” said Community Services Agency Director Bryan Reynolds. “With the purchase, we were able to secure increased federal transportation support and a Federal Transit Authority fuel subsidy, saving our taxpayers money.”

In partnership with the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, the county unveiled two of the three new buses prior to the Board of Commissioners’ work session, inviting representatives from Roush Clean Tech and the Propane Education and Research Council.

Roush Clean Tech’s Gen 5 propane system was integrated with the Ford 7.3 liter engine. It’s more compact, cleaner and more efficient.

“ROUSH CleanTech’s advanced propane autogas technology is helping states like Georgia tackle their air quality problems and budget challenges by operating economical, emissions-reducing buses,” said Todd Mouw, executive vice president of sales for ROUSH CleanTech.

Steve Whaley, director of autogas business development for the Propane Education & Research Council, talked about the economic and environmental benefits of propane autogas.

Propane autogas vehicles have the lowest total cost-of-ownership due to reduced fuel costs and lower maintenance costs, and their power is comparable to gasoline-fueled vehicles. According to a 2020 survey of fleet end users, respondents identified reduced emissions as one of the primary advantages of propane autogas vehicles with 87 percent reporting equal or better performance compared to diesel and gasoline. Additionally, 90 percent of orders for propane autogas vehicles in 2020 were for transit vehicles, delivery vehicles and school buses.

"We're proud to add Cherokee County to the growing list of paratransit fleets across this country that are operating with propane autogas,” Whaley said. “Cherokee County is prioritizing providing a safe, clean ride for their community while lowering their operating costs. It’s a win for environmental sustainability and a win for their financial sustainability.”

There are advertising opportunities on the three new vehicles with various size and duration options available. The county has partnered with Tri-State Communications to handle sales and design. For more information, contact Bill West at bill@wljaradio.com.

In wrapping up their participation in the National Lemonade Day program, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce honored the top participants during the Chamber's October Good Morning Cherokee networking event. The Strawberry Sisters, best friends Elizabeth McCloskey and Ella Richmond, were named the Cherokee County Lemonade Day 2022 Youth Entrepreneurs of the Year. “The decision to honor Elizabeth and Ella was determined by a panel of judges who reviewed business results from a variety of Lemonade Day student entrepreneurs”, announced Chamber President & CEO Pam Carnes. “The business results included their goals along with how much they spent, saved and shared as well as why they participated and what they learned.”

The Cherokee County Lemonade Day 2022 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award was sponsored by First Horizon Bank. “First Horizon was excited to support the Chamber and National Lemonade Day as financial literacy is extremely important to learn at a young age,” shared Sarah Gaither, First Horizon Bank Vice President, and Branch Manager. The winners have been invited to visit First Horizon for a tour to learn more about banking for their future business endeavors. They also received individual certificates, a team trophy, a cash prize, and bicycles. One bike was provided by the National Lemonade Day organization while an anonymous donor contributed the second since the girls were partners in their business.

A well-established global national youth entrepreneurship program, Lemonade Day taught leadership and business skills by encouraging students to launch a lemonade business in their community. Since 2007, more than 1 million students have learned about business ownership by participating in Lemonade Day.

The Cherokee County Homeless Veteran Program, along with American Legion Auxiliary Unit 45, is pleased to announce the kickoff of the Cherokee County “Adopt a Veteran” program for the 8 th year.

With inflation and the remnants of the COVID situation that has gripped our community and the issues surrounding rental evictions and rental increases, we are glad again to have this program for this holiday season, according to Jim Lindenmayer, Director of the Cherokee County Homeless Veteran program. “Our first focus is on providing for Veterans with families who are financially challenged, disabled, or homeless and our second focus is on our elderly Veterans. It is our goal to make sure that every Veteran has an opportunity to have a great Christmas this year.” The 2021 Adopt a Vet program saw us having to reduce the size and scope of our annual program as we were unable to visit those Veterans who were living in one of the 18 Sr. living facilities in Cherokee County due to COVID. We were, however, able to have our Breakfast with Santa where Veterans in the Adopt a Vet program were able to come and share some Christmas Spirit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. This year we would like to expand our program further so that we can make sure we are reaching the maximum number of Veterans who can be helped through this program, mentioned Betty Lewis President of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 45. We will be working with the counties senior adult living facilities and nursing homes to see what if anything we can do for the Veterans living in these facilities for the holidays as they have been isolated due to COVID. We are still on track to have our Breakfast with Santa event scheduled to be held Saturday, December 3rd from 9:30 to 1 at Canton American Legion Post located at 160 McClure Street in Canton. The breakfast is free and all Veterans are welcome to come and share some holiday cheer with other Veterans and their families.

If you know of a Veteran family that is in need, know of an elderly Veteran living alone, or you or your group would like to support the “Adopt a Veteran” program, please contact Jim Lindenmayer directly at jlindenmayer80@gmail.com or at 678.983.7590. Additionally, you can call or text Betty Lewis, of the American Legion Post 45 Auxiliary, at 770-318-6451.

Cherokee County will break ground for Phase 1 of the Technology Ridge Parkway transportation project Friday, Oct. 7.

The Technology Ridge Parkway transportation project is a collaboration between Cherokee County, the City of Canton, and the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, and a funding partnership with the State Road and Tollway Authority.

In April, Cherokee County was awarded a $1 million grant and a $2.9 million loan through the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank.

The project is expected to spur corporate and industry development bringing more jobs to Cherokee County. The new thoroughfare, when complete, will provide easier access from the airport to the businesses in the area.