CTL Script/ Top Stories of October 12th Publish Date: October 12th From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast Today is Saturday, October 12th and Happy heavenly Birthday to Sam Moore. ***10.12.24 – BIRTHDAY – SAM MOORE*** I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia. 1. Cherokee County Farm Bureau Hosting Legislative Breakfast 2. Gary Farris' Son Testifies in Cherokee County Murder Trial 3. Hot Dog Luncheon Raises Nearly $1,000 For Cherokee County Seniors 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: CU of GA (06.26.24 CU OF GA FREE CHECKING_REV_FINAL) STORY 1: Cherokee County Farm Bureau Hosting Legislative Breakfast The Cherokee County Farm Bureau is hosting its annual Legislative Breakfast on Oct. 18 from 8-11 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church near Canton. The event, featuring Georgia Farm Bureau's Tom McCall and other local officials, is free but requires an RSVP. Attendees will enjoy a Chick-fil-A breakfast and can tour the House of Hope and Cox Arboretum and Garden afterward. RSVP by Oct. 17 via email at dbforward@gfbco.org or call 770-479-1481. STORY 2: Gary Farris' Son Testifies in Cherokee County Murder Trial Chris and Scott Farris discovered their father's remains on a burn pile on July 5, 2018. Melody Walker Farris is accused of murdering her husband, Gary Farris, and burning his body. She faces multiple charges but has pleaded not guilty. Chris testified about his parents' marital issues, including suspicions of an affair and financial disputes. He also mentioned his father's belief that Melody was poisoning him. Witnesses included a neighbor who knew of Melody's affair and a police officer who found no struggle signs at the crime scene. The trial, which began Monday, is expected to last three to four weeks. STORY 3: Hot Dog Luncheon Raises Nearly $1,000 For Cherokee County Seniors Cherokee County Senior Services and Stand Up For Seniors raised $995 for local seniors at their hot dog fundraising luncheon on Oct. 3, rescheduled due to Hurricane Helene. The event, held at the Cherokee County Senior Center, exceeded expectations with around 200 attendees. Funds will be used to purchase heaters for seniors before winter. The luncheon supported the Last Stop Program, aiding seniors with rent, utilities, and medical expenses. Tim Morris, Senior Services Director, praised the community's dedication. Stand Up For Seniors partners with donors and businesses to assist low-income seniors and veterans. More info is available on their websites. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. Back in a moment Break: DRAKE (Drake Realty (Cherokee County) – The Mill (09.26.24 THE MILL ON ETOWAH REV 2 30_FINAL) STORY 4: CCSD Police Department Renews Accreditation and Earns State Award The Cherokee County School District Police Department has renewed its status as a certified agency by Georgia's Law Enforcement Certification Program, earning a Silver Award for 15 years of accreditation. Led by Chief Buster Cushing, it's one of only five school police departments in Georgia to achieve this status. The certification, requiring recertification every three years, ensures high professionalism and effective law enforcement. The process involves a comprehensive onsite assessment by state assessors. Key contributors to the reaccreditation were Mary Henson and Capt. Richie Rich. The department will be honored at the October school board meeting. STORY 5: Julia Roberts and Stacey Abrams Rally for Harris in Canton Julia Roberts and Stacey Abrams visited downtown Canton to support Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign. They emphasized the importance of voting for Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, and advocated for abortion rights. Abrams highlighted Georgia's role in shaping the future and defending rights, while Roberts encouraged unity and dialogue among voters. Lisa Brooks and Debra Shigley also spoke, urging support for Harris against Donald Trump's policies. The event coincided with the opening of the Harris-Walz campaign office in Canton, marking a significant push for voter engagement in Georgia. Commercial: Ingles Markets (Nutrition Questions) 5 STORY 6: Cherokee County Students Selected for All-State Theatre Program Four Cherokee County School District students have been selected for the All-State Theatre Program. Cherokee High seniors Kayleigh Coda and Samantha Geer, along with Sequoyah High seniors Noah Popp and Ava Grace Roberts, will perform at the 2025 Georgia Thespian Conference. Coda, Geer, and Roberts were cast for the opening and closing performances, with Roberts and Popp being selected for the second consecutive year. Popp will design and ...