Enjoy Cherokee Voices

Cherokee County can now boast a professional hockey player as one of its notable sports figures. Woodstock High School graduate Zach Yoder signed with the Atlanta Gladiators, a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth. Listen in as Zack tells of his childhood shenanigans that helped him become a pro on the ice.

On June 16, 2021, Holly Springs Officer Joe Burson met Jesus. Cherokee County, the State of Georgia, and beyond all mourned the loss of this young man. As a community, we showered prayers and gifts upon his bride and family to show our support. However, many of us never knew Joe Burson personally. Today that changes. Listen in as Joe's wife, Mary-Kate, shares her love story with all of us. You are a part of their story—now they are a part of yours.

Rennie Curran is an award-winning former professional athlete, Georgia Bulldog linebacker, and father who transitioned into a successful entrepreneur and motivational speaker. Taking what he learned about adversity on and off the field, Rennie teaches individuals, teams, and organizations how to create a successful brand through leadership, teamwork, and personal development.

If you're hoping to hear about political stances, candidate platforms, or nitty-gritty policy patrolling—this is not the podcast for you. This interview takes you on a journey to get to know Charlice as the gal next door. She's a teacher at heart, lived in Hong Kong, and may have even dated a Hollywood icon—no joke! 

The Goshen Valley Boys Ranch began with John Blend—a New York native with one foot solidly in the path of Christ and the other foot with a lust for wandering the world. John's life took him on a journey of meeting a menagerie of amazing people from a spectrum of cultures, religions, and social backgrounds. A career in engineering helped position John and his family on a path to establish an award-winning place for struggling youth to beat the odds and cultivate a better future. This is the story of Goshen Valley. 

About fifteen percent of the population in Cherokee County are veterans and more than 350 of these vets suffer from PTSD. Some of these heroes end up homeless. There is hope and help available. Jim Lindenmayer is a veteran with a passion to help these fellow vets get back up on their feet. With his leadership, we can all make a difference. 

October is National Fire Safety Month. On New Year’s Eve, 2006, Tracy and Duffy Hoopingarner invited a small family over to their newly remodeled home to quietly ring in the new year. After the guests left and every candle was blown out, Tracy was mysteriously awakened to find the house engulfed with flames. This is her story.  www.CherokeeCountyFire.org

Chris Purvis, Lead Ranger for the Army Corps of Engineers on Allatoona Lake, explains that Cherokee County is home to the third busiest corps lake in the nation. This beautiful destination hosts more than 9 million visitors annually, shares 270 miles of shoreline with Bartow and Cobb counties, and boasts more than 600 campsites. Linda Hartsfield, Chair of the Lake Allatoona Association, leads our community in cleanup, fundraising, and event efforts throughout the year. Learn why the lake drains in the winter, why the dam was built, and what is really at the bottom of the lake.

The Rotary Club of Canton held a heart-clenching ceremony on Friday, September 10, in Rotary Park. Citizens and dignitaries gathered from all corners of Cherokee County to remember the heroes and horrors of the day our lives changed forever. The keynote speaker took our breath away. Sergeant Major Dan McNeal presented a touching message that every citizen of this great country should hear. He agreed to share that message through this podcast. His words will help many of us never forget. 

Dan's grandmother passed with Alzheimer's and Chris' mother is currently living with Alzheimer's. This conversation walks us through their experiences in dealing with this cruel disease. Dan is the coordinator for the Walk to End Alzheimer's in Cherokee County which will be held at Etowah Park in Canton on October 23. The fundraising goal for this event is $57,000 for 2021 and we're almost there!!