101.1 The Pulse

Dante Dashawn Woods, a member of the Bloods gang, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, with the first 12 years to be served without parole for his involvement in a 2019 armed robbery in Woodstock. Woods, along with Jahlen Merritt, took the victim's wallet, iPhone, and a single AirPod, and Merritt used a mobile finance app to transfer money to himself from the victim's bank account. Merritt was sentenced to 20 years, with the first 10 years to serve in prison without parole. The charges also included possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Woods is banned from Cherokee County and prohibited from having contact with criminal street gang members or associates. 

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Sasha Stogniy, a former valedictorian from Woodstock High School, has been granted a full scholarship to attend the Yale School of Medicine. After receiving offers from other medical schools, Stogniy chose Yale to pursue her dream of becoming a medical doctor. She and her family moved to Woodstock from Ukraine in 2005, seeking advanced medical care for her kidney condition. The care she received from her physicians inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. Stogniy graduated from the University of Georgia with honors in biochemistry and Russian literature. She has worked at Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists for the past year and is grateful for the support she has received.

Guilt by Association, a new men's fashion retailer in downtown Woodstock, recently had its official grand opening after a soft opening two weeks ago. The store offers clothing options such as shirts, pants, and hats from brand names such as Onward Reserve, The Normal Brand, Meripex Apparel, Rye 51, and Wander North Georgia, as well as other national and local brands. The store also has a designated women's clothing section. The owners aim to create a place for men to hang out, relax, and shop, with chairs, a couch, a large TV, and future events such as bourbon tasting and cigar rolling. The store is located at 460 Chambers St. Suite B in downtown Woodstock.

Amehre Morrison, former River Ridge running back and current Southeast Missouri State University player, has announced that he is entering the transfer portal. Morrison, who has four years of eligibility remaining, thanked the SEMO staff for the opportunities he was given in a Twitter post. The Redhawks finished the 2022 season with a 9-3 record. Morrison was named Cherokee County Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 after leading the best offense in program history. He committed to SEMO in December 2021 after a senior season riddled with injuries.

The Chick-fil-A Moo've It 5K, hosted by the six Chick-fil-A restaurants in Cherokee County, will take place on August 12 at Etowah River Park. The event aims to raise funds for the Cherokee County Educational Foundation and Cherokee County Special Olympics. The registration fee for the 5K event is $25, and runners that register early will receive a free Chick-fil-A meal with every "early bird" race entry signed up by May 31. The event will feature a family-friendly 5K race, a one-mile "calf run," and a new "nugget roll" for toddlers, as well as music, face painting, and other activities for all ages.

A River Ridge High School student named Ashley McMath won first place in the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for Georgia's 11th Congressional District. The contest also saw Cherokee County students winning second and third place. Rep. Barry Loudermilk announced the results and praised the artistic talent in the district. This year, the competition was held in-person at The Downtown Gallery in Cartersville and featured 32 artworks from eight different schools. An independent panel of judges determined the winner.

The Woodstock City Council has unanimously approved an annexation and rezoning application from Northside Hospital to build a new medical office building at Ragsdale Road and Highway 92. The 37,500 square foot facility will be built on three vacant parcels, two of which were already in the city limits and zoned for office space and institutional use. The company is planning to hire 60-70 employees at this location. The site plan includes two entrances on Ragsdale Road and a full access entrance to the north, subject to a variance, and an increase in parking spaces from 138 to 176 with six electric vehicle charging stations. Additionally, the council approved a conditional use permit for a tattoo shop and piercing business and a private preschool.

Allie Millington, a Woodstock-based author, poet, artist, florist, and educator, is set to release her middle-grade novel, "Olivetti," on March 26, 2024. The book is the first of a two-book deal with Macmillan. "Olivetti" tells the story of a family's typewriter that comes to life to reunite them after a traumatic event. Millington, who discovered textile art during the pandemic lockdown, runs a textile art business, Little Woven Home, and co-founded Floralette Co., a floral design studio. She also works with Marietta Mentoring for Leadership at Marietta Middle School to support youth. For more information, visit her website or Instagram page.

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The G. Cecil Pruett Family YMCA in Canton and other metro Atlanta YMCA locations are celebrating Healthy Kids Day Saturday with free festivals.

The festivals are in partnership with Publix Super Markets Charities.

Additionally, the YMCA will celebrate Community Day and provide free access to YMCA facilities across metro Atlanta for all community members.

“We encourage families to join us on April 29 to enjoy a day of healthy, fun activities and celebrate kids being kids,” said Lauren Koontz, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. “The Y strives to nurture the potential of youth, promote healthy living and foster a sense of social responsibility. We remain committed to building healthy, confident, secure and connected children, families, and communities.”

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he U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Allatoona announced Wednesday that it will increase its price for hunting permits for the 2023/2024 season.

USACE hunting permits will increase from $20 to $25. The total number of permits available will increase to 500 permits, up from 400 last season.

Applicants will be able to access the permit website at www.recreation.gov/permits/5161616 on May 1. Permits will be issued on a first come basis until the available allotment is filled.

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Downtown Canton's first "Taste of Canton" has been postponed due to expected inclement weather.

The city was set to present the first-time feature event Thursday. The new date for the event is now May 11, organizers announced.

The event, which will host 28 restaurants, will take place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 11 at the Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway in Canton.

The event will showcase local food and drink vendors like Bananas + Beehives, Bizarre Coffee, Four 41 South BBQ, Goin’ Coastal Seafood, Joe’s Lonestar Tacos, Piezano’s Pizza and more.

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At a Cherokee County school board meeting, parents called for action after board member Robert Rechsteiner was accused of making derogatory comments towards a transgender wrestler at an event in California. Rechsteiner has not responded to media inquiries or made any public statements about the allegations. Parents called for Rechsteiner to be punished or admonished, for all board members to receive training on LGBTQ plus and gender inclusion, and for a hearing to determine whether Rechsteiner violated the school board's code of ethics. The school board has not yet commented on the allegations or the calls for action.

Two suspects have been arrested by Cherokee County authorities after a 17-pound seizure of fentanyl-laced meth was found at a house near Holly Springs. The seizure is said to have an estimated street value of over $750,000. James Aldred and Lynnette De Becker were arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including trafficking and manufacturing both methamphetamine and fentanyl, and the sale of Schedule 1 Narcotic. The investigation into the drug trafficking organization responsible for meth distribution and sales in Cherokee County is ongoing.

Cherokee High School in Cherokee County will have a new principal starting this fall. The current principal, Rodney Larrotta, has been promoted to executive director of administrative leadership for elementary schools. The new principal, Andy Hall, is currently serving as the principal of the ACTIVE Academies Campus. Hall has previously served as an assistant principal at River Ridge with a focus on curriculum and has been a teacher and coach in Cherokee and Woodstock High School. Larrotta has previously been principal at Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy and worked as a teacher and coach at Woodstock High School.

Six Cherokee County School District students were awarded in the 2023 Atlanta American Institute of Architects High School Design Competition. Etowah High School students, Megan Reed and Mikayla Parks, placed second in the advanced level contest. Sequoyah High School students, Olivia Power, Wyatt Rock, Rylee Trusner, and David Paliotta, won first, second, third place, and honorable mention respectively in the food kiosk design challenge. All six students are involved in the Career Pathway for Architectural Drafting and Design at their high schools. Their wins set a new school and district record for recognition.

Woodstock's baseball team began their playoff campaign with a resounding victory over South Paulding, winning both games at home. In Game 1, the Wolverines scored seven runs in the first inning and continued to pile on runs, winning 15-3 in five innings. In Game 2, the Spartans held Woodstock to a 4-1 lead until Mylon Uribe's bases-clearing double gave the Wolverines a comfortable lead. Coogan Bombard pitched the first four innings and Kevin Maurer pitched the final two, allowing only one run between them. Woodstock advances to the second round of the playoffs and will host the winner of Apalachee and Pope.

Canton officials and staff held an open house to present a potential site plan for a new park in the south area of the city. Proposed amenities in the plan include a playground, dog parks, food truck area, a band stand, and a ropes course, among others. Citizens were invited to give feedback on the plan, with the kid's play area, dog parks, and tree ropes course receiving the most support. Some residents expressed concerns about traffic and property values. TSW, the designer for the project, will incorporate community feedback before presenting a proposed concept to the city council in the future.

Etowah's baseball team dominated Newnan on their home field, winning both games and advancing to the second round of the Class AAAAAA state playoffs. The Eagles scored double-digit runs in both games, while limiting the Cougars to just four runs across both games. The Eagles' Game 2 win marked head coach Robinson's 300th win since taking over 16 seasons ago. The team will now face North Forsyth in the next round, having won six of their last seven games. Robinson said, "This is the time to be playing your best baseball," and is pleased to have "a couple of tough wins on the road."

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Two suspects have been arrested by Cherokee County authorities after a 17-pound seizure of fentanyl-laced meth was found at a house near Holly Springs. The seizure is said to have an estimated street value of over $750,000. James Aldred and Lynnette De Becker were arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including trafficking and manufacturing both methamphetamine and fentanyl, and the sale of Schedule 1 Narcotic. The investigation into the drug trafficking organization responsible for meth distribution and sales in Cherokee County is ongoing.

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

 https://cuofga.org/ 

 https://www.drakerealty.com/ 

 https://www.esogrepair.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MUST Ministries' President and CEO, Dr. Ike Reighard, emphasized the urgent need to help thousands of hungry children in the local community. The Summer Lunch program of MUST Ministries, which has been helping to fill the hunger gap during summer months for 28 years, aims to provide 544,450 meals in just nine weeks for children in eight counties. The program has a significant impact, particularly in the post-pandemic environment, where poverty rates have skyrocketed. Kids' Kits, containing five breakfasts and five lunches, along with drinks and snacks, will be given to children, with entrees being the most critical items. The list of items can be found on the Amazon Wish List or delivered to the MUST Donation Center in Marietta, GA.

Lisa Eisenhart, a Woodstock woman, and her son Eric Munchel, of Nashville, were found guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to the January 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol. The stipulated bench trial found them guilty of charges that included disorderly conduct, disrupting the Congress certification, and carrying plastic handcuffs and a Taser in the Senate Gallery. Prosecutors stated that the defendants were aware of the unlawful nature of their actions and intended to intimidate Congress. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 8. Munchel was found guilty of two additional charges: disorderly conduct with a weapon and unauthorized weapon possession on Capitol grounds.

The city of Woodstock in Georgia will celebrate Georgia Cities Week from April 23 to 29. The week is sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association to recognize the work of city governments around the state. Woodstock will host several local events, including a Greenstock Day recycling event, City-Wide Yard Sale, Touch-A-Truck event, and Downtown Walking Tours. On April 28, Woodstock will host a community networking event, Morning INfluence, to discuss agriculture in Cherokee County. The Woodstock Farm Fresh Market will remain open every Saturday until December 30 this year. The celebrations aim to educate residents about their city government's contributions to the state's economical health, history, and culture.

In a boys’ soccer playoff game between River Ridge and Sprayberry, River Ridge emerged victorious in the second round of the playoffs with a score of 3-1. River Ridge scored their first goal after a tie of 1-1 at halftime, with Matthew Dean scoring on an assist from Anthony Ruiz. Ruiz then scored the second goal at 38:55 in the second half, and Rezin Samstag scored the final goal with 13:27 remaining. Sprayberry struggled to keep up with River Ridge's defense after switching from a 4-4-2 set to a 4-3-3 set in the second half. River Ridge will host Riverwood in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Starting on April 27th, downtown Woodstock is hosting a series of walking tours that will highlight the history, art, and uniqueness of the area. The tours will run on the last Thursday of each month until October and will last between 30 to 45 minutes with start times of 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, and 7:30 pm. Tickets cost $5 per person and can be purchased two weeks before the tour date at the Woodstock Visitors Center, or online through the Downtown Woodstock Facebook or Instagram pages. Tour themes include Weird Woodstock, Historical Woodstock, and Art in Woodstock, and each tour will be themed differently. Top of Form

Cherokee County School District high school students won multiple awards at the Georgia High Schools Association State Literary Championships. Students from Sequoyah, Cherokee, Creekview, and Woodstock high schools won individual top honors in writing, public speaking, acting, and singing competitions. Sequoyah High School won the 6-6A Regions championship and earned second place overall in the 6A state competition. Cherokee High School won the 5-7A Regions championship and earned third place overall in the 7A state competition. Cherokee County school board and superintendent will recognize the state champions and coaches at the April 20 school board meeting.

The River Ridge girls' soccer team lost 2-0 at home to Roswell in the second round of the playoffs. Katie Northenor scored the game's first goal for Roswell from the penalty spot, and the second goal was scored with 15:04 left in the second half. Although River Ridge had a few chances to score, Roswell's defense proved too strong. Coach Lee Whitaker expressed pride in his team's effort and said he loved the journey this season. River Ridge lost 10 seniors from last year's state semifinals squad, including Ines Obradovac, who scored 45 goals and is now playing for Virginia Tech.

And now this week the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution and proclamation Tuesday establishing an official song for the county. For your listening pleasure, here is Kurt Wheeler’s song, Cherokee County.  

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Construction is underway for Rising Hills Church's permanent home, expected to have the first building finished by October, the church announced.

The church will be located at 3693 Hickory Flat Highway in Holly Springs.

Rising Hills broke ground on the project in November.

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A Woodstock woman and her son were convicted Tuesday of felony charges connected with the Jan. 6, 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol.

Lisa Eisenhart, from Woodstock, and her son, Eric Munchel, of Nashville, were found guilty Tuesday by U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth.

Their case was tried in what’s called a stipulated bench trial, in which defendants do not admit guilt to charges, but agree with prosecutors about certain facts and the judge decides the case without a jury.

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