Rotary Club Of Canton Honors Public Safety Heroes

Press release from the Rotary Club Of Canton:

Sept. 28, 2022

The Rotary Club of Canton on Tuesday honored community heroes at its Fifth Annual Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon.

The luncheon has not been held for the past two years due to the pandemic, but returned with a full house at the Northside Cherokee Conference Center at The Bluffs in Canton.

“Thank you for all you do in our community to keep everyone safe,” Club President Nicole Lawson said during her remarks honoring the law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders present. “We are so grateful.”

The program included the presentation of awards for service, leadership and valor, as well as a keynote speech by Kevin Williams, franchisee/operator of Canton Chick-fil-A’s three locations and author of “Irrational Kindness.” “Your work matters,” Mr. Williams said during his speech. “We’re all on the same team. I’m grateful for this community and all you do.”

Cherokee County Chief Marshal Jamie Gianfala, a member of the club who helped establish the annual event, served as the program emcee.

“We call upon those honored today as heroes. They step into scenes of chaos only thinking of who they can help,” Chief Gianfala said during his remarks. “You make the community a better and safer place. Thank you for your loyalty and thank you for your service to our community.”

The Rotary Club presented a Posthumous Public Safety Medal of Valor, the highest honor presented at the event, to the late Officer Joseph “Joe” Burson of the Holly Springs Police Department, who died last year in the line of duty. His award was accepted by the police department.

The Colonel George Bailey Distinguished Leadership Award, named for the late Rotarian and community leader, was presented to four public safety employees to recognize their leadership within their agency and in the community. The honorees are: Sgt. Randy Fifield of Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services; John Haile of the Woodstock Police Department; Sgt. Travis Palmer of the Holly Springs Police Department; and Terrance Stallings of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office.

The event included the presentation of Public Safety Employee of the Year Awards to at least one representative from each community agency. The honorees are: of Canton Police Department, Officer Carlos Henao and Sgt. Tiffanie Cromer; Cherokee County E-911, Heather Bradberry and Penny Daniels; Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services, Chad Huff; Cherokee County Marshal's Office, Lt. Richard Ricketts; Cherokee County School District Police Department, Officer Keith McGraw; Holly Springs Police Department, Cpl. Jay Burns; Woodstock Police Department, Officer Josh Collie.

Public Safety Business Partner of the Year Awards were presented to three businesses in recognition of their contributions to public safety agencies: Allegro Business Products, Autowise Collision Inc. and Deadline Apparel.

Sponsorships fund the cost of the event and help the club raise money for charitable activities in the community. This year’s sponsors are, Title Sponsor: Northside Hospital Cherokee; Platinum Sponsors: Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds, City of Canton; Gold Sponsors: Center Cut Catering, Cherokee Impact Soccer, Cherokee Tribune, Drug Free Cherokee, Friends of Holly Springs Police Foundation, Gleichman Law Firm, In Harmony Pediatric Therapy, Jason T. Dickerson Family Foundation; Silver Sponsors: District Attorney Shannon Wallace, MUST Ministries, South State Bank; Bronze Sponsors: Barbara and Michael Jacoby, Buddy Bennett, Cherokee County Commission Chairman Harry Johnston, Cherokee County Solicitor General Todd Hayes, Dr. Susan Padgett-Harrison, Foundation Financial Insurance & Wealth Management, Goshen Valley, Jerry and Sherry Cooper, New Vision Partners, State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, State Rep. Brad Thomas.

Billy Hayes, CEO of Northside Hospital Cherokee, made title sponsor remarks.

“We are honored to be here today to honor you as pillars in our community,” he said. “Thank you for everything you do. What you do every day, the sacrifices you make, that your families make -- is tremendous.”

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This press release was produced by the Rotary Club Of Canton. The views expressed here are the author's own.