Rick and Susan Waits have lived in Cherokee County for 37 years. Their kids grew up here, and Susan taught at Johnson, Woodstock and Hickory Flat elementary schools. In addition to raising their kids here, the Woodstock couple reared River, a 5-year-old German shepherd who won Best of Breed and first place in the herding group, beating more than 456 dogs, at the 146th … [Read more...]

Deputy Director of Community Development Tell us about your promotion. In March, I was promoted from senior city planner to the new position of deputy director of community development. While maintaining my former position’s planning duties, like managing the planning team and overseeing long-range plans and initiatives for the city, as deputy director I have been tasked with … [Read more...]

One of the most exciting developments in Cherokee County this year will be when the new History Cherokee facility opens to the public. (At press time, it was expected to open in November. Check for updates at https://historycherokee.org.) Let’s start with a brief summary of the organization's history. Originally named the Cherokee County Historical Society, it has operated … [Read more...]

On June 17, William G. Long Senior Center staff hosted a Father’s Day luncheon, catered by J.D.'s Bar-B-Que, with a car show and live music for senior center members to enjoy. One member, Richard Olson, right, is a part of the American Jammers, a group of musicians who entertained the crowd. Photos by Christopher Thornton … [Read more...]

Woodstock Police Department Public Information Officer and Crime Analyst What is your background? As public information officer, I serve as a centralized source of information for the media, community, businesses and organizations. I work to plan media releases, special events, engage citizen participation, advertising and community outreach. I also administer the … [Read more...]