🌱 The County Gets A Huge Win + Board Of Elections News + Pet Dangers

Hello, neighbors! Nina here with your fresh copy of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter, filled with all the things you need to know about what's going on locally. In today's newsletter, we'll cover these stories and more...

• There was a massive heroin bust in town.
• The board of elections gets a shakeup.
• Cold-weather warnings for pets.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and warmer. High: 54 Low: 31.

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Here are the top three stories in Woodstock-Towne Lake today:

1. In a competition nobody wants to be in, a Woodstock man was charged and sentenced in what officials call the largest heroin bust in Cherokee County to date. In addition to the winning title, Edward "Jay" Lionel Ball received a 60-year sentence with 45 years to be served in prison and 15 years served on probation afterward. Ball was sentenced as a reoffender, making him ineligible for parole during the 45-year prison stint. Ball was arrested in 2019 when agents performing a search found over 245 grams of heroin in the home, the law only requiring 28 grams for the highest trafficking charge. Agents also found methamphetamine, scales and baggies, handguns and ammunition. There were two others sentenced in relation to the crimes, each was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 10 to be spent in prison. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
2. House Bill 644 and House Bill 642 were passed last week in the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Senate, replacing the current method of appointing elections board members. Until now, the Republican and Democratic parties appointed two members from each side, but a lawsuit against the Cherokee County Board of Elections questioned the process and the procedure of private organizations having a hand in it instead of a public entity. Assuming the lawsuit would likely be won against the board, the bills were passed to dissolve the current board and instead, local parties will nominate candidates, with the board of commissioners then choosing. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)
3. The Cherokee County Animal Shelter posted some important information from the ASPCA on their Facebook page. The cold weather is extremely dangerous to animals, even though they have fur. Please contact law enforcement if you see a dog outside without proper shelter in extreme temperatures, note the time, date and location of the animal with as many details as you can write down. Be sure to follow up in a few days if the animal is still outside with no changes. Knock the hood of your car before you start it up on a cold day, animals often climb inside the engine compartment to keep warm. Another great one, keep your dog's paws covered and moisturized during the cold weather. Not only can it injure their feet, salt, anti-freeze and ice-melting chemicals can be very harmful to them through contact or licking. (Cherokee County Animal Shelter via Facebook)

Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• Community Yoga: the free class is open to all fitness levels and takes place every Monday morning and Tuesday evening. Please bring your own mat. You can sign up here for the class at The WREC, 7545 Main Street, Building 200. (10 - 11 a.m.)
• Farm Bureau Storytime - Plants: for children of all ages, though children must be accompanied by an adult. Learn about the parts of plants, how to care for them and more during the special storytime at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
• Intro to Nature Journaling: for ages 13 and up, learn to start your own nature journal. Please bring a blank journal and supplies for art and writing, though supplies may be available for those without. Please register here for the event at the Woodstock Library, 7735 Main Street. (4 - 5 p.m.)
• Hot Vinyasa: all levels are welcome, though some prior experience is helpful to the class held at Ember Hot Yoga, 330 Chambers Street. (6:30 - 7:45 p.m.)
• Trivia Night with Lights Up! Entertainment: every Monday at Truck & Tap, 8640 Main Street. (7:30 - 10 p.m.)
• DJ Trivia: the top three teams win cash prizes, every Monday at Guston's Grille, 12195 Highway 92, Suite 156. (7:30 - 10:30 p.m.)
• "X-Files" Trivia: play alone or with a team, the top three winners get prizes. There's a full bar, and admission includes unlimited gaming until midnight at The Blue Ghost Arcade, 164 Towne Lake Parkway. (8 p.m.)
• Senior Center Programs - most classes and events are held at the William G. Long Senior Center (WGLSC), 223 Arnold Mill Road
  • Walking Club - every Monday and Wednesday at the Dupree Park walking/running track, 513 Neese Road. (8 - 9 a.m.)
  • Beginner Bridge Instruction - every Monday in the WGLSC Multi-Purpose & Meeting Room. (9 - 10 a.m.)
  • Line Dancing - every Monday and Thursday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (9:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
  • Adult Coloring Club - every Monday and Thursday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
  • Nimble Fingers Sewing Club - for all skill levels, learn to knit, crochet or cross-stitch every Monday and Thursday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• FoxTale Book Shoppe is holding three in-person events this week. The meet and greet events are free, but you can order hand-signed copies of the authors' books online here, with the option of pick-up or delivery. The book shop is located at 105 E. Main Street, Suite 138.
  • Thursday: Lauren Willig, author of "Two Wars and a Wedding," in Conversation with Piper Huguley (6:30 - 8 p.m.)
  • Saturday: "The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise" launch party, for this event, a book order is your ticket to the party (5 - 7 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Barry Pencek will be discussing his memoir "Operation Tailwind" (2 - 4 p.m.)
• The Easter Hiking Scavenger Hunt, presented by Cherokee Recreation & Parks, is happening on Wednesday, March 29. From 6 p.m. - midnight, you'll hike the trails of Lewis Park in Woodstock while hunting for Easter-themed items. The event is for all ages, but children must be accompanied by an adult. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
• Another fun event from Cherokee Recreation & Parks, the Flashlight Egg Hunt event is going to be held on Friday, March 31, at Cherokee Veterans Park in Canton. The kids can meet the Easter Bunny, have fun in the Kid Zone, make crafts, dance and get their face painted, and the parents will love the craft and food vendors! The event starts at 6 p.m., and the egg hunt starts at 8:30 p.m. There is a $10-per-child entry fee, and they will only accept cash at the event. If you'd like more information, please reach out to Jessica Ascenzo at 770-924-7768 or jnascenzo@cherokeega.com (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Olde Heritage: "My moms Maltese-Yorkie got out of the house around noon today without anyone noticing. - No collar. It’s so cold and she is an indoor dog. If found please call 404-697-0873 or PM me. She is chipped. We live in RiverChase Woodstock" (Nextdoor)

Here are some events coming up this week that require a ticket purchase or registration in advance:

• MadLife Stage & Studios, 8722 Main Street
  • Wednesday: Songwriters & Storytellers, A Night of Songwriters in the Round - featuring CJ Prather, Carter Horne, Wilkes and Clay Duke (7:30 p.m.)
  • Thursday: Laugh-Lines & Stretch-Marks - Comedy for Women, Moms and Couples (8 p.m.)
  • Friday: Karen Waldrup - Top Charting Nashville Country Star (7 p.m.)
  • Friday: Dueling Pianos with The Andrews Brothers (10 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Dead Letter Office - R.E.M. Tribute (7 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Synchronicity - Tribute to The Police (10 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Big Band Jazz - Performing the Classics of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & More (1:30 p.m.)
• Rootstock, 8558 Main Street
  • Wednesday: Saini Vineyards Wine Dinner - a 5-course wine pairing dinner (7 - 10 p.m.)
  • Thursday: Georgia Hands & Voices Fundraising Gala - a 3-course wine pairing dinner with live music and stories from people impacted by the work of Georgia Hands & Voices, an organization that supports families of children that are deaf or hard of hearing. (6:30 - 9 p.m.)
• Leaning Ladder, 105 East Main Street
  • Friday: Beef Pho with Chef Sunisa - demonstration and hands-on class (7 - 9 p.m.)
• Made Mercantile, 8636 Main Street
  • Friday: Bracelets, Beads & Bevvies with bamabelle - for ages 12 and up, create three bracelets. (7 - 9 p.m.)
• The Gifted Ferret, 1910 Eagle Drive, Suite 400
  • Saturday: Artisan Wine Tasting - enjoy some fine wines (5 - 7 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Wine Tasting Bingo - all supplies will be provided (3 - 5 p.m.)
• Woodstock Parks and Recreation
  
  • Saturday: Essential Gardening, Container Gardens: The Cherokee County Master Gardeners and the UGA Cherokee County Extension Office will teach you the container garden basics, including plant and container selection, garden design principles and plant combinations. Participants will go home with a plant or seeds. The talk is open to all and will be held at the William G. Long Senior Center Expansion, 223 Arnold Mill Road. (10 - 11:30 a.m.)
  • Saturday: Woodstock Community Garden Volunteer Workday - help spruce up the garden and prep the site for the spring season. A new Donation Garden is also going to be installed at the garden, located at 311 Arnold Mill Road. (2 - 4 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Discovering Disc Golf - learn a basic level of the sport, play a round and take home a disc from the class at the Prodigy Par 2 Disc Golf Course at Dupree Park, 513 Neese Road. (2 - 3:30 p.m.)
• Cherokee Recreation & Parks
  • Tuesday: Community Yoga - the free class is open to all fitness levels and takes place every Monday morning and Tuesday evening. Please bring your own mat. You can sign up here for the class at The WREC, 7545 Main Street, Building 200. (5:30 - 6:30 p.m.)
  • Friday: Parent's Night Out - drop the kids off at the Aquatic Center this Friday, and while you are out and about, the kids will be enjoying a swim, dinner, crafts, games and a movie. (5:15 - 10 p.m.)
• Woodstock Arts
  • Tuesday: Tie-in Talk, The Science and Art of Roasting Coffee - featuring Tim Whitson, Director of Coffee at Firelight Coffee, and his thoughts on the method and art of coffee roasting. The event is free and will be held in the Gallery or on the Front Porch of the Reeves House (weather depending) at 734 Reeves Street. Please RSVP at the link. (Woodstock Arts)
  • Friday, Saturday and Sunday: "Company" - catch a performance of the play at the Woodstock Arts Theatre, 8534 Main Street. (Various Times)
  • Saturday: the Huntertones are playing as part of the Lantern Series on the Event Green downtown. Be sure to check into subscriptions to the series. Their sound is described as "horn driven jazz," you can check their music out here. (7:30 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Auditions, A Year with Frog and Toad - please note, video auditions will be accepted until March 26 at 6:30 p.m., and you can send those to zach@woodstockarts.org. Please see the listing for important audition and rehearsal schedule information. (3 - 8 p.m.)
• Sequoyah Regional Library System
  
  • Tuesday: Dungeon Explorers Roleplaying Adventure - a simplified version of Dungeons & Dragons, ideal for those in 3rd-grade and up. Characters, supplies and snacks will be provided. Please register here, children under 9 must be accompanied by an adult to the event at the Rose Creek Library, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway. (5 - 6 p.m.)
  • Wednesday: Reading Dog - for children of all ages. Sign up here for a 15-minute spot for your child to read to Zoey the Reading Dog at the Rose Creek Library, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway. (4:30 - 5:30 a.m.)
• IN WDSTK - open to non-members
  • Thursday: YPOW AM - join the Young Professionals of Woodstock every Thursday morning for coffee, networking and an informal chat with a local leader at The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way. (7:30 - 8:30 a.m.)
• Senior Center Programs - most classes and events are held at the William G. Long Senior Center (WGLSC), 223 Arnold Mill Road
  • Tuesday: Woodcarving Club - every Tuesday in the WGLSC Multi-Purpose & Meeting Room. (9 - 10 a.m.)
  • Tuesday: Book Lover's Club - every 2nd Tuesday of the month in the WGLSC Multi-Purpose & Meeting Room. (10 - 11 a.m.)
  • Wednesday and Friday: Fit Over 50 - stretch and exercise with chair yoga, balance, bands, weights and core strength work every Wednesday and Friday at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion. (9:30 - 10:30 a.m.)
  • Thursday: Duplicate Bridge - every Thursday in the WGLSC Multi-Purpose & Meeting Room. (12:30 - 3:30 p.m.)
  • Friday: Nutrition 2023 - every Friday at the William G. Long Senior Center. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
• Other
  • Tuesday: American Red Cross Community Blood Drive - donors will receive a $10 prepaid Visa card and will be entered to win a $3,000 prepaid Visa card. You can make an appointment at the link for the blood drive at Cherokee Presbyterian Church, 1498 Johnson Brady Road in Canton. (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
  • Tuesday: RPG Night - new players are welcome. Please make a reservation on their Meetup page to ensure your spot. Mason and Noah will lead the evening, and the admission fee includes unlimited gaming until midnight at The Blue Ghost Arcade, 164 Towne Lake Parkway. (8 - 11 p.m.)
  • Wednesday: The Greatest Murder, A Murder Mystery - The Blue Ghost Arcade is hosting a murder mystery night this week, but you must be 18 and up to join. The circus theme sounds so fun! You can grab your tickets here, and included in the purchase is unlimited gaming until midnight. (8 p.m.)
  • Thursday: City of Woodstock LifeSouth Community Blood Drive - sign up here for a donation spot for the drive at The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main Street. (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Paint and Chat Professional Art Classes - for all skill levels, all supplies will be provided for the painting class at Tranquility Fine Arts, 9194 Main Street. (2 - 4 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Battle of the Brews, featuring ales - take part in a blind tasting of ales this Saturday, rank your favorites and enjoy some great food at The Daily Draft, 8594 Main Street. Guess the brewery of each tasted beer to be entered to win a grand prize. (2 - 4 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Family D&D Night - for all ages, "learn how to build a character and participate in a one-shot adventure from an experienced dungeon master" at The Blue Ghost Arcade, 164 Towne Lake Parkway. (4 - 8 p.m.)

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Featured events:

• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Chattahoochee Technical College - Woodstock Campus (March 22)
• Easter Egg Hunt (March 25)
• Kidstuf! (March 25)
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• Receiving - kitting person (Details)
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That's it for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update!

— Nina Lightcap

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter? Contact me at Woodstock@Patch.com