101.1 The Pulse

A man and woman have been indicted by a Cherokee County grand jury on charges related to the death of their infant child in 2021.

According to an indictment filed Jan. 10, Railey Smelley, 24, of Dallas, Georgia, and Conor Catalan, 23, of Woodstock are each charged with felony counts of second degree murder, second degree cruelty to children and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Smelley is charged with causing the infant to die of asphyxiation, per the indictment.

In an arrest warrant filed by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, authorities say she rolled over the child while under the influence of illegal drugs in October 2021 in a Cherokee County apartment.

When he died, the baby was only about six weeks old, according to the sheriff’s office.

Catalan, is charged with transferring custody of the infant to Smelley, knowing she was under the influence of drugs.

Smelley and Catalan were arrested in March after they turned themselves in, according to the sheriff’s office.

Overnight in late October, a fire broke out in the ceiling of the dry storage room at Williamson Brothers Bar-B-Q in Canton, causing the temporary closing of a beloved restaurant.

After almost four months of repairs, the restaurant’s owners expect to open its doors sometime between mid-February and March 1. The plan to reopen the restaurant marks a happy occasion for the restaurant’s owners, staff and customers. Although the restaurant was damaged, the spirit and optimism of the staff was not. The fire is said to have started in the dry storage room due to wiring in the ceiling, Morales said. As the fire grew stronger, the smoke made its way throughout the restaurant, damaging walls and rooms in the rest of the building.

After receiving the call, Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services dispatched firefighters to the restaurant at 1:01 a.m. October 23, according to the fire department. While there may be some minor changes to the restaurant due to repairs, the overall look and feel of Williamson Brothers will remain the same as it was before the fire.

Si Woo Kim of South Korea birdied his final two holes to fire his second straight 6-under 64 and win the Sony Open on Sunday in Honolulu.

Kim's eight birdies and two bogeys helped him finish the week with an 18-under 262, beating third-round leader Hayden Buckley by a stroke.

The key moment came at the par-3 17th, where Kim's tee shot missed the green. He chipped in from about 28 feet away for a birdie that proved pivotal. Kim said that before hitting his chip, he heard a crowd roar in the distance that told him Buckley had made a birdie at the hole behind him. Etowah grad Chris Kirk finished in third at 15 under. Kirk led after Friday but was unable to hold on to the lead. The tour resumes this weekend with the American Express in La Quinta, California.

Private First Class Silas John Bisbee from Woodstock, has graduated from the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island.

Bisbee successfully completed 13 weeks of basic training as one of 72 recruits in Platoon 4044 and graduated in November. While in recruit training Bisbee was recognized as an expert shooter, squad leader and honor platoon along with the squad. After 10 days leave he reported to Camp Geiger for Marine Corps combat training.

Bisbee is a graduate of Woodstock High School.

Four finalists have been selected for the Service League of Cherokee County's annual Heritage of Hope Award, the organization announced.

After receiving nominations from across community members, the Service League has selected Josh Bagby, Julie Darnell, Juvenile Court Judge Jennifer Davis, and Michele Prance as finalists for the award.

The Heritage of Hope Award was established by the Service League to honor a person who is making significant contributions to children in the Cherokee County community through their time, actions, talents and dedication.

According to the Service League, the four finalists have consistently demonstrated qualities of compassion and service to either one organization or a variety of volunteer activities that benefit children. They also serve as role models for compassion and service to children in need and strive to make Cherokee County a better place.

Cherokee and North Cobb went back and forth for three quarters on Friday night in Kennesaw, but it was Cherokee that built a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and held on through the final buzzer for a 75-61 win.

Cherokee held an 11-point advantage at halftime despite five lead changes in the second quarter alone. It scored 13 unanswered points before halftime, with Lawrence Sanford and Tayden Owens leading the charge.

North Cobb came out of halftime with a purpose and, led by Evan Daniel’s seven straight points, it cut Cherokee’s lead to single digits. It cut the deficit to just two points at 49-47 after Jalan Johnson was fouled on a 3-pointer and converted all three free throws.

On the next two possessions, though, Cherokee converted on back-to-back 3-pointers from Sanford and Cameron Pope, pushing its lead back up to eight points.

Cherokee led 60-49 at the end of the third quarter and outscored North Cobb 15-12 over the final frame to finish off a sixth straight win.

Cherokee’s win streak continued, and momentum is on its side after knocking off Walton for the second time on Tuesday. It improved to 14-2 overall and 2-0 in the region, with another region matchup against Kennesaw Mountain coming on tonight.

#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          

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The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. Register Here for your essential digital news.            

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

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.

 Overnight in late October, a fire broke out in the ceiling of the dry storage room at Williamson Brothers Bar-B-Q in Canton, causing the temporary closing of a beloved restaurant.

After almost four months of repairs, the restaurant’s owners expect to open its doors sometime between mid-February and March 1.

#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          

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The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. Register Here for your essential digital news.            

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

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.

A former teacher at Cherokee Charter Academy and her husband were recently arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on charges of sexual exploitation of children, the GBI announced.

On December 29, William Sandridge, 42, and Allyn Sandridge of Gordon County, were arrested and each charged with eight counts of sexual exploitation of children by the GBI's Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit.

Allyn Sandridge was formerly a teacher at Cherokee Charter Academy near Holly Springs. According to the GBI, the agency's CEACC Unit and Homeland Security Investigations began a joint investigation into the Sandridges' online activity after receiving a report in reference to their online activity. This investigation led to a search warrant of the Sandridges’ home and their subsequent arrests.

The Sandridges were taken to the Gordon County Jail upon their arrest. As of Thursday, they remained in custody, according to the jail's website.

A spokesperson for the charter school said that Allyn Sandridge is no longer an employee there, but declined to comment further.

The Office of Cherokee County Elections and Voter Registration has been honored by the Georgia Secretary of State’s office with the 2023 Foundation Builders Award. This is the very first year that this award has been given out. The Office of Cherokee County Election and Voter Registration received the award in front of 300 of their counterparts January 4 while attending the Georgia Registered Voter Information System conference in Athens. For more information on Cherokee County Elections and Voter Registration, visit cherokeegavotes.com

Georgia’s second straight CFP National Championship win, a 65-7 victory over TCU, brought plenty of excitement to the residents of Cherokee County, many of which made the trip to SoFi Stadium to see the action in person.

The Bulldogs became the first team to repeat as national champions since the College Football Playoff era began in 2014.

Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace was among the area’s residents to venture to Inglewood, California, for Monday night’s title game. She went with her husband, Kyle, and enjoyed every minute. Kyle Wallace took in a moment of history as Georgia throttled TCU on college football’s biggest stage. Two Woodstock residents and Georgia graduates, Bill and Alicia Bishop knew they had to see the Bulldogs play in their second straight title game, hoping to witness another special college football moment. They flew from Atlanta to Phoenix, and then drove another six hours to LA for the game. For Tom Sheehan, Monday’s game was more than just a national championship.

Sheehan’s son, Drew, is a junior tight end for Georgia, so it was about seeing his son experience the pinnacle of college football. Drew played for Woodstock, coached by Brent Budde, and walked onto the Bulldogs’ roster last season, and Tom said the last two years have been life-changing. The Bulldogs will be hosting a championship parade and celebration today in Athens, where certainly many more Cherokee Countians will make the trip to revel in the victory.

The Atlanta Regional Commission has recognized Cherokee County as a certified silver level Green Community.

In metro Atlanta, 16 other local governments comprised of 11 cities and five counties have received a Green Community distinction. At the silver level, Cherokee County has amassed more than 229 points by implementing changes that reduce the environmental impact of the county, according to ARC.

Cherokee County was Energy Star Certified after renovations to county facilities, including the marshal's office and public works buildings. Officials also worked toward expediting solar permits for residential projects, permitting over 100 solar energy projects in the last four years.

According to ARC, the county's fire training center has saved 150,000 gallons per week by reusing water during fire suppression training procedures. The practice has saved $3,000 a month.

In addition, the county purchased three propane-fueled buses for the Cherokee Area Transportation System as part of a program exploring alternative fuel use. 

A glass pulverizer purchased in 2021 for the Cherokee County Recycling Center has saved over $11,000 by using the repurposed material for infrastructure projects.

Four points were the difference on Wednesday as the Reinhardt men’s basketball team got back on track in the AAC. The Eagles outlasted Milligan 83-79, finishing a second straight win after knocking off Tennessee Wesleyan last Saturday.

It’s been a season of ups and downs for Reinhardt, but following the two straight wins, it moved to 8-6 in conference play and is one game away from the .500 mark for the season at 8-9 overall.

Wednesday’s game was a rare moment where the Eagles were outshot by Milligan but managed to still escape with the win. Reinhardt shot 42.2 percent overall compared to the opposition’s 54.3 percent and 47.4 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Milligan shot 63.6 percent in the second half yet only outscored Reinhardt 48-47. The Eagles’ defense made a difference in the first half, finishing with an 8-4 advantage in steals while hauling in eight offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive.

Four Reinhardt players finished Wednesday’s win in double figures. Tafari Thomas led the way with 20 points while nearing a double-double with nine rebounds. Nate Louis was right behind him with 18 points, including a perfect 11-11 from the free throw line. Reinhardt will look to win a third straight game Saturday afternoon as it hits the road for Kentucky Christian. If the Eagles can beat the 4-14 Knights, they will even their overall record and move three games over .500 in AAC play.

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will hold special called meetings on January 19 and 20 for its annual planning retreat.

Meetings will be in the events central conference room at the Mill on Etowah, on Reformation Parkway in Canton.

Topics include, but may not be limited to, departmental updates and long-term needs; package liquor regulations, tax assessment issues, sales taxes, court parking and expansion, and build-to-rent regulations.

The meetings are open to the public as follows:

On Thursday, January 19th:

Public sessions begin at 9 a.m. and are scheduled to end at about 5 p.m.

Sessions will break for lunch from about noon to 1:15 p.m.

On Friday, January 20th:

Public sessions begin at 9 a.m. and are scheduled to end at about 3 p.m.

Sessions will break for lunch from about noon to 1:15 p.m.

#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          

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The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. Register Here for your essential digital news.            

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

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.

The Atlanta Regional Commission has recognized Cherokee County as a certified silver level Green Community.

In metro Atlanta, 16 other local governments comprised of 11 cities and five counties have received a Green Community distinction. At the silver level, Cherokee County has amassed more than 229 points by implementing changes that reduce the environmental impact of the county, according to ARC.

Cherokee County was Energy Star Certified after renovations to county facilities, including the marshal's office and public works buildings. Officials also worked toward expediting solar permits for residential projects, permitting over 100 solar energy projects in the last four years.

#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          

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The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. Register Here for your essential digital news.            

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

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.

Andres Munevar, a civil engineering senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, had a fairly ordinary childhood: grew up in a suburb, went to public school. But as a first-generation American raised by a single mother — his family is from Colombia — he saw struggle firsthand, and it worked to sharpen his focus.

“Growing up, resources were limited and money was sparse,” he said. “But no matter what, my mother never let me go hungry, go without shelter or go without at least one Christmas present.”

Instead, she modeled perseverance, making a life for them in an unfamiliar country where she didn’t speak the language. Her strength became his inspiration.

#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          

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The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. Register Here for your essential digital news.            

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

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.

Etowah went on the road and dominated Sequoyah 74-55 at the War Lodge on Tuesday night. The Eagles built a comfortable lead in the first quarter and kept their foot on the gas.

A 14-1 run to end the first quarter set the tone for Etowah’s weeknight intra-county showing. The Eagles remained perfect in Region 6AAAAAA at 5-0 while handing the Chiefs their first region loss of the year.

#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          

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The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. Register Here for your essential digital news.            

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

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.

A Canton man has been sentenced to prison after he was convicted of embezzling over $300,000 from the Roswell restaurant he worked at, using a company card for visits to adult entertainment clubs.

Scott Spilberg, of Canton, was sentenced December 20 to two years and six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after he was convicted of wire fraud, court documents show. Spilberg was also ordered to pay $300,533.78 in restitution.

Spilberg was convicted September 19, after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Georgia announced. According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Spilberg was hired as the manager at Houck’s Grille in August 2020. Starting in October 2020, Spilberg began using his company issued debit card to pay for his visits to two adult entertainment clubs. Over 11 months, he visited the clubs over 50 times, charging over $300,000 to the company debit card.

The restaurant, which had 40 employees, was forced to borrow COVID relief funds to stay in business, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistant of the Roswell Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber prosecuted the case.

Cherokee Parks and Recreation and Empower Cherokee are now accepting donations for Project Valentine, a yearly program that provides individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with gifts for Valentine's Day.

From January  9 to February 8, the organization is seeking lip balm, lotions, sticky notes, pens, markers, word searches, any art or music activities, candy (sugar-free and regular) and any holiday-related items for donation. Donations may be dropped off at the Cherokee County Recreation Center on 7545 Main Street #200, in Woodstock.

More information may be found at Play Cherokee dot org.

 Creekview added more hardware to its trophy case on Saturday, defeating Sequoyah 52-15 for the Region 6AAAAAA championship at Etowah High School.

The Grizzlies took control early in the title-clinching match and never looked back. They continue to build on last season’s success when eight wrestlers became Class AAAAAA traditional state champions, and the team finished fourth overall in the state duals tournament.

Following Sequoyah in the runner-up spot, River Ridge finished third, Etowah was fourth, Woodstock earned fifth place, with Allatoona and Rome, respectively, taking the bottom two spots.

Creekview earned a first-round bye and downed River Ridge in its initial match 66-10. Add in the decisive 52-15 win over Sequoyah, and the Grizzlies outscored their opponents 118-25 overall.

Weston Wilkie, Gabe Peterman, Jackson Locke and Isaac Hubert were also big-time contributors on Saturday, according to Cravens. Wilkie, a freshman, had to wrestle up in weight class for Creekview, while Peterman, a senior, added a momentum-shifting pin to his day.

Georgia’s River Network is hosting Paddle-A-Thon 2023, an initiative offering prizes to get Georgians to explore and protect the state’s extensive river system through September 6.

Participants in the event may compete for prizes in categories such as most trash removed, most miles paddled and most miles paddled with your pet across 220 miles of expanding water trail. The respective prizes are a $500 gift certificate from Public Lands in Kennesaw, a $500 gift certificate from Cedar Creek Outdoor Center in Hiram and a $250 gift certificate from Nestle-Purina.

The grand prize, a $1,000 gift certificate from Cedar Creek Outdoor Center, is among an array of additional prizes that will be available for the top 10 individuals that raise the most money for the protection of the river systems. Listed individual and team prizes are available at might cause dot com.

Since starting the season 1-7, the Woodstock girls basketball team has turned the tide to go 6-4 after opening the new year with a win over county rival Creekview.

Three of the Wolverines’ wins since December came against Region 6AAAAAA opponents. It has Woodstock well-positioned for a late-season surge, and with seniors Karson Martin and Casey Miller returning to the floor, coach Regina Tate-Leslie is confident the pace is sustainable.

After Woodstock fell to Pope in its first game of December, Martin and Miller helped lead the Wolverines to three straight victories over Rome, Etowah and Lambert by a combined 30 points. During those three games, Martin averaged 15.7 points per game, while Miller tallied 17.7.

Martin neared a triple-double in the 52-32 win over Lambert with 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, while Miller finished with a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Woodstock has plenty of help for its two leading producers in Annika Gay and Katherine Blackwell. Through 13 games, Blackwell has provided a scoring lift at 8.9 points per game and a team-best 33 3-pointers made. Gay averaged 3.3 points through 13 games and was a valuable presence inside with 7.5 rebounds per game, with 2.7 on the offensive end.

After the graduation of Cherokee County Player of the Year Bridget Utberg, who averaged 20.2 points per game last season, Woodstock has five freshmen and three sophomores, with all seeing the floor and many playing vital roles. The Wolverines are on the upswing at the perfect time. Following Wednesday’s win over Creekview, they moved into second place in the region behind only River Ridge.

Woodstock Arts has announced plans for the first annual Woodstock Arts Film Festival, which will be accepting submissions in late January.

The event is open to all submissions from eligible filmmakers from any level. Each group will have 48 hours to write, film and edit a short film with a randomized prompt. An email will be sent out on January 21 at 12 p.m. listing a theme, a line of dialogue and a prop that must be included in the film. Completed works must be submitted by noon Jan. 23.

An event showcase will take place on March 18 at the Woodstock Arts Event Green on Elm Street in Woodstock. Select films will also receive awards recognized by a panel of judges. There is a $50 fee for groups to enroll in the festival. Students receive a discounted rate of $40 for their group. Payments can be made online at Woodstock Arts dot org.

#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          

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The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. Register Here for your essential digital news.            

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

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.

Cherokee Parks and Recreation and Empower Cherokee are now accepting donations for Project Valentine, a yearly program that provides individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with gifts for Valentine's Day.

From Jan. 9 to Feb. 8, the organization is seeking lip balm, lotions, sticky notes, pens, markers, word searches, any art or music activities, candy (sugar-free and regular) and any holiday-related items for donation. 

#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          

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The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. Register Here for your essential digital news.            

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

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.

Anna Crawford, a therapist and longtime advocate for children in Cherokee County, has died at 80 after a battle with cancer.

Crawford, the founder of The Anna Crawford Children's Center and Cherokee Counseling and Psychological Associates, both in Woodstock, died December 15 at her home in Mississippi.

Crawford dedicated her life to serving and helping children, women and families in need in her community, said Barbara Thomason, her partner of 28 years.

Crawford founded Cherokee Counseling and Psychological Associates in downtown Woodstock in 1985. The multidisciplinary team of professionals continues to provide therapeutic services to individuals and families.

Warren Kaplan was part of the group of people who helped Crawford open the counseling center.

Crawford, who worked for years with children who have been abused, was also one of the original founders of the Cherokee Council on Child Abuse Inc. in 1990, later known as the Cherokee Child Advocacy Center. This would eventually be renamed The Anna Crawford Children’s Center in the mid-1990s, Thomason said.

Amy Economopoulos, executive director of the Anna Crawford Children's Center, said Crawford interviewed her in 2000 for a therapist and forensic interviewer position at the center.

Amy described Crawford as "an art lover, elegant, kind, compassionate, giving, and a strong female role model who brought beauty wherever she went." In addition to her work with children, Crawford also served on the board of directors for the Cobb County Young Women's Christian Association, The Cherokee Family Violence Center, The Georgia Council and Task Force on Domestic Violence and was a trainer and supervisor for the Cobb and Cherokee Battered Women’s shelters.

Crawford had expertise knowledge in rape crisis, battering, abuse and family disfunction, which led to her appointment by former Georgia Governor  Zell Miller to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell will present the 2023 State of the City Address at two events in January, the city announced.

In the address, the mayor will outline the city' accomplishments of 2022 and provide a preview of where Woodstock is heading in 2023.

IN WDSTK will host the State of the City Breakfast January 20 in the Woodstock Arts City Center Theater. Registration and a networking breakfast is scheduled to start at 7:45 a.m. and the program will begin at 8:15 a.m.

Mayor Caldwell will deliver the address again to the Woodstock City Council at the mayor and council meeting at 7 p.m. January 23 at the Chambers at City Center. For tickets to the IN WDSTK event, visit inwdstk.org/events. IN WDSTK investors will receive a complimentary ticket by logging into their account. Guest tickets are $15.

A bulldog that calls Cherokee County home is now the “Best in Show.”

Star, a three-and-a-half-year-old bulldog, earned this honor as the winner of the 22nd American Kennel Club National Championship competition December 18 in Orlando. The show aired on New Year’s Day on ABC.

Star’s owners, the Mason family of Woodstock, Alaina Moulton of Pensacola and Star’s handler, Dennis O’Connor of Glen Rose, Texas, received a $50,000 check, while Star was named “Best in Show” against 5,300 other dogs. This was Star’s first time competing in this show. This was also the first time a bulldog has ever won this AKC National Championship. As part of the competition, Star and the other dogs were judged “on a standard of what that dog or breed should look like. Star travels with her handler, Dennis O’Connor, to compete in these competitions, winning 18 “best in show” titles so far, including the AKC show. Star and O’Connor work together before shows to prepare for upcoming competitions. Some of the shows that Star competes in are against bulldogs, while others such as the AKC National Championship are against dogs of all breeds. When the time comes to settle down into retirement, Natalie Mason said Star will come home and live with the Mason family permanently in Woodstock.

A Canton man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was found guilty of molesting a child, the Cherokee County District Attorney's office announced.

David Blackburn of Canton, was found guilty of child molestation and cruelty to children in the first degree.

Senior Judge Jack Partain sentenced Blackburn on October 6 to 20 years, with the first 10 years to be served in confinement and the remainder to be served on probation.

According to the district attorney's office, Canton police began investigating Blackburn in December 2019 after a child reported that she was being sexually abused by a member of her family. In a forensic interview at the Anna Crawford Children’s Center, the child provided detailed accounts of acts of sexual abuse that occurred from 2014 through 2019. “For years, this child tried to tell individuals in her life that Mr. Blackburn was touching her in inappropriate and sexual ways. Instead of believing her, they insisted that she was mistaken and confused about his intentions,” said Assistant District Attorney Rachel Hines of the Special Victims Unit, who prosecuted the case. “This case divided a family and forced a child to choose between telling the truth or lying to appease family members. The victim in this case showed amazing strength throughout the investigation and prosecution of this crime.”

At the conclusion of the four-day trial, the jury convicted Blackburn of three counts of child molestation and one count of cruelty to children in the first degree.

 Woodstock resident Barry Pencek is holding a book signing in Acworth today on his memoir of a 1970 top-secret raid in Laos.

"Operation Tailwind: Memoirs of a Secret Battle in a Secret War" is a memoir of a top-secret raid in Laos conducted in 1970 in support of a CIA operation there. The book takes the reader from the jungles of Laos to the boardrooms of CNN, to the East Room of the White House. The book signing is at 1 p.m. this afternoon at Acworth Bookstore & Coffee Shop. For more information about the "Operation Tailwind" memoir, visit Barry Pencek dot com.

A new women’s soccer team will be competing in Canton this spring and summer, with the Georgia Impact set to play its inaugural game in the Women’s Premier Soccer League in May.
The WPSL, comprised of college players seeking a playing outlet before their college seasons begin in the fall, features more than 135 teams in 35 states across the country. The Georgia Impact will compete in the Southeast division with Alabama FC, Chattanooga FC, Nashville Rhythm FC, North Alabama SC and TN Force FC.
The National Premier Soccer League, the WPSL’s counterpart for men’s players, expanded into the area last year with Apotheos FC, which played its games at North Cobb Christian School in Kennesaw. Georgia Impact will host its five matches at Tommy Baker Field on the Cherokee High School campus.

#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          

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The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. Register Here for your essential digital news.            

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

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.

Those donating blood at The Red Cross blood drive in Canton Jan. 6 will have a chance of receiving tickets for two to a Super Bowl LVII getaway in Arizona.

The blood drive will take place in Canton City Hall at 110 Academy Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donation time slots are available every 15 minutes to donate blood normally or to complete a Power Red donation, which allows donors to give two regular units of blood in one appointment but still keep their plasma and platelets.

Regular blood donations usually accumulate one pint per person and take one hour. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.

#CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews          

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The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. Register Here for your essential digital news.            

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

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

 https://cuofga.org/ 

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