CTL Script/ Top Stories of January 23rd
Publish Date: January 23rd
Pre-Roll:
From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast
Today is Friday, January 23rd and Happy Birthday to Earl Falconer
I’m Chris Culwell and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Times Journal
- Former Cherokee County Probate Court judge retires
- New Kilwin's store opens at The Mill on Etowah in Canton
- Cherokee County school board member won’t seek reelection
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 2
STORY 1: Former Cherokee County Probate Court judge retires
After 50 years in the legal world, Kipling “Kip” McVay has officially retired, closing the book on a career that spanned everything from title research to serving as Cherokee County’s probate judge. Her last day? December 4, 2025, when Governor Brian Kemp accepted her resignation.
McVay’s career began in 1973, digging into title research at Sen. Sam Nunn’s old law firm. From there, she wore countless hats: prosecutor, trial attorney, ethics commission director, private practice owner, and eventually, Cherokee County’s first female probate judge. Oh, and she also became the first woman to conduct a jury trial in the county.
Her time as probate judge (1997–2008) was transformative. She modernized the office, introduced mediation to resolve family disputes, and even handpicked her successor, Keith Wood, who’s still serving today.
After stepping down as probate judge, McVay wasn’t done. She served as a senior judge for Georgia’s Probate Courts, taking on cases across the state—sometimes for years at a time. One particularly messy case involved an estate with no will, feuding heirs, and years of unresolved disputes.
Now retired, McVay has traded courtrooms for family time and volunteering at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, where she moved in 2020. “It’s been a good run,” she said, “but I’m enjoying this new chapter.”
STORY 2: New Kilwin's store opens at The Mill on Etowah in Canton
Canton just got a little sweeter—Kilwin’s is now open at The Mill on Etowah, serving up chocolate, fudge, and over 30 flavors of ice cream. The shop, which opened Dec. 18, sits next to Rock N Roll Sushi and shares a building with Campania.
Franchisee Mona Rathore, who also owns the downtown Woodstock location, said Canton was the perfect spot. “We wanted to create a family-friendly space where people could enjoy our sweets. The Mill felt like the heart of the community—it just made sense.”
Kilwin’s menu is a sugar lover’s dream: hand-dipped caramel apples (made fresh in-store), creamy fudge, specialty chocolates, and, of course, their famous ice cream.
So far, the response has been incredible. “We love seeing families stop by after dinner,” Rathore said. “Even though we’re a franchise, we feel like a local business. We live, shop, and eat here—it’s home.”
Kilwin’s Canton is open daily from noon to 8 p.m., with extended hours coming this summer. Online ordering and delivery through DoorDash and Uber Eats are on the way, too.
STORY 3: Cherokee County school board member won’t seek reelection
Cherokee County School Board Member Susan Padgett-Harrison is calling it a career. After decades in education and public service, she’s announced she’ll retire at the end of the year and won’t seek another term.
Padgett-Harrison’s career spans 29 years as a teacher, principal, and district leader before joining the board in 2023. During her tenure, CCSD’s state “report card” score hit a record 87, and the district climbed from 21st to 8th in state rankings. She’s proud of the progress: lower debt, expanded career programs, and rising AP scores.
Three other board seats (Districts 3, 4, and 5) are also up for grabs this year, with elections set for May 19 and Nov. 3.
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We’ll be right back.
Break: INGLES 3
STORY 4: Creekview wins back-to-back duals state titles
Creekview did it again—back-to-back Class AAAAA duals state champs. And this one? It was a nail-biter.
The Grizzlies edged out South Effingham 36-35 in the final, capping off a perfect 4-0 run at Legacy Arena in Douglasville. Wins over Habersham Central, Villa Rica, and Dunwoody set the stage, but the finale? That was something else.
Down 35-6 with five matches left, Creekview pulled off the unthinkable: five straight pins. Aaron Campbell, Pierce Marsh, Weston Wilkie, Logan Pritchett, and Costen Wright stepped up, with Wright sealing the deal at 175 pounds.
Even a loss at 132 pounds by Bo Richardson turned out to be crucial, saving a team point that made the difference.
South Effingham was no pushover—they’d dominated all tournament long, just like Creekview. But the Grizzlies weren’t about to let this one slip.
With the traditional tournament still ahead, Creekview’s not done yet.
BRAVES: Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones are headed to Cooperstown, two center fielders who dominated their eras with a mix of power, speed, and jaw-dropping defense. Born just a day apart in April 1977, they’ll now share the stage at the Hall of Fame induction on July 26.
Beltrán, in his fourth year on the ballot, finally crossed the 75% threshold, earning 84.2% of the vote. Jones, in his ninth year, got 78.4%. Both had to climb uphill—Beltrán’s path clouded by the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, Jones’ by a slow start in Hall voting (just 7.3% in 2018).
Beltrán, a nine-time All-Star, hit .279 with 435 homers and 1,587 RBIs over 20 seasons. He was a postseason monster, batting .307 with 16 homers in 65 playoff games. “The Mets are a big part of my identity,” he said, though his career spanned stints with Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, and others.
Jones, meanwhile, was a defensive wizard, winning 10 Gold Gloves and smashing 434 homers. He’s now the sixth Braves legend from their 1990s dynasty to make the Hall, joining Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Chipper, and McGriff.
STORY 5: Winter storm watch issued for Cherokee County this weekend
Brace yourselves, north Georgia—winter’s about to get messy. The National Weather Service says a storm is rolling in this weekend, and Cherokee County is under a winter storm watch from 1 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Monday. South of Cherokee? No watch, but don’t get too comfortable.
Here’s the deal: expect freezing rain, sleet, and maybe some snow. Saturday starts with rain, but by nightfall, temps drop to 27, and things get icy—literally. Sunday? More freezing rain, highs around 34, and a low of 17. Power outages? Likely. Roads? Treacherous.
If you must travel, pack a winter kit—blankets, water, flashlight, the works. And don’t forget to protect your pets, plants, and pipes.
Need shelter? MUST Ministries’ warming center on Bells Ferry Road opens Saturday, serving dinner at 5 p.m.
Stay safe, stay warm, and keep an eye on updates.
And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on breads
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COMMERCIAL: INGLES 4
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