🌱 Firefighter's Home Destroyed + Charges Announced In October Attack

Hello, Woodstock-Towne Lake! I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town. In this issue, you'll find...

• A fire destroyed the home of a local firefighter and his wife.
• Official charges have been announced in a 2021 assault.
• Guns & Hoses 5K early registration is closing soon.

But first, today's weather:

A shower and thunderstorm. High: 68 Low: 39.

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

1. A local firefighter and his family lost their home to a fire on Monday. Joel Saunders, a Woodstock based firefighter with Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services, and his wife were not home at the time of the fire, and thankfully, no injuries were reported. The home was completely destroyed and they lost everything, with only the couple's vehicles spared. The Saunders are currently staying with a friend, and a GoFundMe has been created on their behalf to help them on their road to rebuilding what they've lost. The fundraiser has raised just over half of its projected goal. (WSB-TV)
2. Official charges have been brought against a Cherokee County man accused of several acts of violence that allegedly took place in October of last year. The Canton man is charged with four counts of exploitation and intimidation of a disabled adult, one count of aggravated assault - family violence, one count of battery - family violence and one count of false imprisonment. The suspected acts were outlined in an October 24 warrant, accusing the man of taking his disabled grandmother's cell phone, preventing her from leaving the home for days, strangling, hitting and pinching her and depriving her of medical services. The charged is being held without bond at the Cherokee County Jail. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)
3. Early registration for the 17th annual Guns & Hoses 5K Run/Walk at Hobgood Park is ending this Sunday at noon. After Sunday, the registration cost increases slightly, but you can still register up to and including the day of the run. However, because t-shirt orders will be sent to suppliers after the early registration period, registrants aren't guaranteed their chosen t-shirts if they register after Sunday. The 5K will be on February 11 at 8 a.m., and the charity race is an official qualifying event for the Peachtree Road Race. The charities that will benefit from the 5K were chosen by the Cherokee Sheriff's Office (Guns) and Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services (Hoses) and include Sheriff Frank Reynolds Charities and The Goshen Valley Boys Ranch. You'll pick the team you want to represent when you register. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
4. The Downtown Woodstock Pub Crawl Series is starting up next month with a Mardi Gras Pub Crawl on February 18, from 2 - 6 p.m. The series will feature food and drink specials at restaurants in the downtown area, prizes, music and more. The Sham Rock Pub Crawl is on March 18, there's a Seis de Mayo Pub Crawl on May 6, a WDSTK-Toberfest Pub Crawl on September 30 and the series will end with the Star Spangled Pub Crawl on July 1. Keep an eye on the official Visit Woodstock Facebook page for updates, and I'll be sure to pass on more information as it's released. (Visit Woodstock via Facebook)

Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• YPOW AM (open to non-members): 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.)
• Baby Lap-Sit Storytime: for babies 18 months and younger. Songs, rhymes, books and playtime. Children must be accompanied by an adult to the storytime at the Woodstock Library, 7735 Main Street. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
• Penguin Music and Moves: for ages 0 - 4. Dress like a penguin and have fun dancing, singing, playing games and more at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, 116 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)
• Stores Around the World Evening Storytime: the special storytime is for families with children of all ages, children must be accompanied by an adult. Enjoy stories from around the world, singing, dancing, games and crafts at the Rose Creek Library, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway. (5:30 - 6:30 p.m.)
• Trevor Startt: playing live in The Listening Room at Rootstock, 8558 Main Street. (6 - 9 p.m.)
• SKILLS - Gun Safety: instructed by an officer from the Woodstock Police Department. Learn the essentials of gun safety, including how to store your guns, where to go for training and how and where you can carry your weapon. Participants will earn a certificate once the class is done, please do not bring your firearm to the class. You can register here, the class will be held at the WGLSC Activity Center Expansion, 223 Arnold Mill Road. (6:30 - 7:30 p.m.)
• Third Thursdays with Kurt Wheeler: enjoy live music at Reformation Brewery, 105 Elm Street. (6:30 - 9 p.m.)
• Music Bingo Night: head over to The Daily Draft for on-demand music bingo every Thursday in January at 8594 Main Street. (7 - 10 p.m.)
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Tournament: double-elimination tournament, the entry fee includes access to all arcade, pinball and board games at The Blue Ghost Arcade, 164 Towne Lake Parkway. (8 - 10:30 p.m.)
• DJ Trivia: every Thursday, the top three teams win cash at Guston's Grille, 12195 Highway 92, Suite 156. (8 - 11 p.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage (free shows, no ticket needed):
  • Levi Ransom (5:30 - 9 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios:
  • Laugh-Lines & Stretch-Marks: Comedy for Women, Moms and Couples (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• This weekend will be a great one for book fans! FoxTale Book Shoppe is holding an in-person event on Saturday at 2 p.m. with authors Lauren Denton, Joy Callaway and Kimberly Brock. On Sunday at 2 p.m., the shop presents "Jeffrey Dale Lofton in Conversation with Robert Gwaltney." FoxTale Book Shoppe is located at 105 E. Main Street, Suite 138. (Visit Woodstock)
• Woodstock Beer Market will be the place for pretzels on Saturday as they welcome the Uber Bretzel Pop Up. Grab your Uber Bretzel artisan pretzels and a beer, the shop will be around from 5 - 9 p.m. at 240 Chambers Street. (Visit Woodstock)
• Early registration is ending on Sunday for the Guns & Hoses 5K.
• Downtown Woodstock: "NEW BRUNCH ITEMS at Prime 120 Cinnamon Rolls, Deviled Eggs, Buttermilk Biscuits & More!! Brunch is available Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 3pm. @prime120steaks #woodstockgeorgia #woodstockga #downtownwoodstock #brunch" (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)
• Cherokee County Animal Shelter: "Nothing Bundt Cakes is having a Birthday! They have decided to celebrate their community with some great discounts and freebies. They have also generously dedicated 20% of one days sales (Friday January 20th) to the Cherokee County Animal Shelter!! Thank you Nothing Bundt Cakes!! Happy Birthday" (Cherokee County Animal Shelter via Instagram)

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

• MadLife Stage & Studios, 8722 Main Street
  • Friday: Kids in America - 80's Rock & Pop Hits Tribute (7 p.m.)
  • Friday: Baylee Littrell (10 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Hot Licks & Rhetoric - A Steely Dan Tribute (7 p.m.)
  • Saturday: The Purple Madness - A Prince Tribute (10 p.m.)
• Rootstock, 8558 Main Street
  • Friday: Trey Odum - playing live on the Rooftop (7:30 - 10 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Ben Bostick - playing live on the Rooftop (7:30 - 10 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Nashville Songwriters Session In The Listening Room - Matt Rogers and Eric Erdman (6 - 8 p.m.)
• The Gifted Ferret, 1910 Eagle Drive, Suite 400
  • Saturday: Artisan Wine Tasting (3 - 5 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Wine Tasting BINGO (3 - 5 p.m.)
• Made Mercantile, 8636 Main Street
  • Saturday: Build Your Own Earrings with Broken Ankles - create three pairs of earrings (6 - 8 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Planner Party with Moments with B - build a one-month planner (2 - 4 p.m.)
• Woodstock Arts
  • Friday, Saturday and Sunday: "The Lightning Thief" - performed at the Woodstock Arts Theatre, 8534 Main Street. Note: the Saturday afternoon performance is sensory friendly. (Various Showtimes)
  • Saturday: Creative Corner, Beer Can Bouquet - for teens and adults, enjoy the latest Reeves House exhibit, then create a bouquet out of recycled beer cans at the Reeves House Studio, 734 Reeves Street. (10:30 a.m.)
• Sequoyah Regional Library System
  • Friday: American Red Cross Community Blood Drive - for ages 17 and up, 16-year-olds can donate with parental consent. Please make an appointment online here and enter the code "RTJones", or you can sign up by calling 1-800-Red-Cross. The blood drive will be held at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library, located at 116 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
• IN WDSTK (open to non-members)
  • Friday: State of the City Breakfast 2023 - join the IN WDSTK professionals at Mayor Caldwell's State of the City Address at the Chambers at Woodstock Arts City Center Theater. Registration, networking and breakfast start at 7:45 a.m., and the program starts at 8:15 a.m. INvestors can get their complimentary ticket and non-members can get their paid ticket online, an RSVP is required. (7:45 - 9 a.m.)
• Other
  • Saturday: Paint and Chat Professional Art Classes - for all skill levels at Tranquility Fine Arts, 9194 Main Street. (2 - 4 p.m.)

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Events:

• Free Food (January 19)
• Unspoken (January 19)
• Comedy Show (January 21)
• OOH-RAH HA HA Comedy Night with Derrick Tennant! (January 28)
• Intuitive Painting Classes - Ignite the Healing Power of Your Creative Process (January 30)
• Home Buyer Workshop - This is for ANY Buyer - Your First Home or Your Forever Home! (February 11)
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That's it for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Nina Lightcap

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