🌱 Former Teacher Pleads Guilty + Animal Shelter Holiday Donations

Welcome back, Canton-Sixes. I'm here in your inbox this morning to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on in town, including updates on...

• A former teacher who pleaded guilty to rape of a student
• A haunted house actor arrested for murder
• Holiday donations for the Cherokee County Animal Shelter

But first, today's weather:

Cool with occasional rain. High: 50 Low: 35.

Our local sponsor has some great stuff to offer:

Behind on mortgage payments and looking to sell in a hurry? Elizabeth Harven of Legacy Property Buyers is a real estate investor who specializes in helping people with homes that are behind on their payments, who need immediate help, or who want to sell their home for any reason. Elizabeth has lived in Cobb County for the past 20 years and has a deep knowledge of the local market. If you have a property that needs to be sold quickly, email Elizabeth to see if she can help you find a buyer today.

Want to see your business featured in this spot? Click here to get started.

Here are the top five stories today in Canton-Sixes:

1. A former teacher at Lyndon Academy has pled guilty to rape charges. Robert Vandel confessed to raping one of his students at the Fulton Academy of Science and Technology in Roswell back in 2020. Vandel has been sentenced to ten years in prison without the possibility of parole. Officials believe there are additional victims in Canton, Holly Springs, Woodstock, Duluth, Valdosta, and Opelika, Alabama. (Yahoo! News)
2. A former actor at a Canton haunted house has been arrested in connection with the death of a man from Cumming. 21-year-old Aaron William Davis was stabbed to death in northwestern Georgia over the weekend. 21-year-old Brandon Risner has been charged with murder, felony obstruction of law enforcement officers, aggravated assault, and concealing a death. (East Idaho News)
3. The Cherokee County Animal Shelter is looking for donations. During the holiday season, the shelter puts together a wish list for the coming year. The list includes necessary items look pet food, water bowls, and even toys. To view the list and make a donation, visit the link. (Cherokee County Animal Shelter via Facebook)
4. Tenth-grade students who live or go to school in Cherokee County can now apply for the Teen Leadership Cherokee program. The program will run for six sessions between January and March of 2023, with all meetings taking place at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce office. Click here to apply. (Cherokee Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
5. Looking for a new career opportunity that connects you with the greater Cherokee County community? Cherokee County is looking to hire for multiple full-time positions, including Bus Driver, Parks Worker, and Truck Driver. Job details and application information can be found at the link. (Cherokee County)

Today in and around Canton-Sixes:

• Farmers Market At River Church (9:00 AM)
• Family Storytime At R. T. Jones Memorial Library (10:30 AM)
• Open Mic Night At MadLife Stage & Studios, Woodstock (6:00 PM)
• American Wines Tasting With Food Pairing at Stem Wine Bar, Marietta (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Avery Elementary School's first-grade classes got to take a fun field trip to the Art Barn last week! They learned about farm animals, art, agriculture, and much more. (Avery Elementary School via Facebook)
• Holly Springs Elementary STEM Academy is looking for volunteers for Thanksgiving! Visit the link to learn more and sign up. (Holly Springs Elementary STEM Academy via Facebook)
• The Warriors may have lost to Milton on Saturday, but they put together one of the best defenses of the year! Visit the link to listen to the full game recap on the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast. (Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Cherokee County Master Gardeners Holiday Wreath Workshop (December 3)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.