🌱 Missing Local Teen + Graduations This Week + Upcoming Traffic Woes

Hey, everybody. I'm here right on time with your fresh copy of the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter, filled with all the things you need to know about what's happening in town. Including updates on...

• A local teen is missing, can you help?
• Graduations this week will slow travel.
• June rail work at Highway 92 and Main Street.

But first, today's weather: Warmer with clouds and sun. High: 80 Low: 52.

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

1. A missing 16-year-old male has prompted the Cherokee Sheriff's Office to ask the public for help. Nathan Palmer was last seen on May 21 around Bells Ferry and Butterworth roads. The missing teen is described as 5-foot-7 inches and 145 pounds with brown eyes and hair. If you've seen Palmer or have information regarding his location, please contact the sheriff at 770-928-0239 or 911. You can reference Case Number SO23-007085. (Cherokee Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
2. There are 3,093 students from the Cherokee County School District (CCSD) getting ready to graduate this week, and we can expect very heavy traffic surrounding First Baptist Church on all sides during the during graduation ceremonies this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There are also pre-graduation activities scheduled at the church before and after each scheduled event, so travel through the area won't be swift. On Thursday, i-Grad, River Ridge and Cherokee high schools will begin ceremonies at 2 p.m., the Sequoyah and Woodstock ceremonies start up at 4 p.m. on Friday, and the graduations for Creekview and Etowah begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Congratulations, seniors! (CCSD News)
3. Your travel may be impacted next weekend if you travel on Highway 92 at night. The Georgia Department of Transportation will be working on the Highway 92 rail crossing during the evening and overnight hours of June 2-4, and the road will be closed at Main Street going eastbound. Those needing to travel in that direction will be detoured through Cobb County via Canton, Piedmont and Sandy Plains roads. There are maps of the work zone and the detour traffic flow at the link, though the nightly shut-down times aren't stated. (Woodstock News Post)
4. There still spots available for the free "Community Preparedness 101" class later this month in Woodstock. The class is hosted by Cherokee Office of Emergency Management and Cherokee E 9-1-1 and will help participants protect their property in cases of severe weather and other disaster situations through topics like different types of weather threats and hazards that occur in our area, the alerts and notifications used in the county, how to create a plan and a "ready kit" and more. Participants will also get a look into how the E 9-1-1 Center works and how calls are handled. You can register here for the class at The Chambers at City Center on May 31, from 6-7:30 p.m. (Cherokee GA Communications Division)
5. All of the kids in Woodstock have made exceptional efforts this school year and deserve exceptional recognition. The efforts of this year's valedictorians and salutatorians and their parents will be honored at the Annual Scholar Recognition Banquet today. The recognized seniors each chose a favorite teacher to receive kudos along with them, and they'll also be celebrated for their work in cultivating these fine students. Congratulations to Etowah, River Ridge, Sequoyah and Woodstock high school Valedictorians Gracye Lamb, Sofia Guadalupe de Lira, Emily Anna Paulson, Julia Allene Sick and Casen Stiber. Amazing job, Salutatorians Ty Phillips, Karla Monserrat Cortes, Paige Lee Falcomata and Salman Aziz. (CCSD News)

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Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• freeCodeCamp: Learn to code for free at the in-person, hybrid and remote study group every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way. (noon - 1 p.m.)
• Reading Dog: For children 6 and up. Sign up here to reserve 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 p.m.)
• Unwind Wednesdays: It's time for "Yoga In The Park" with Michel Delifer from Ember Hot Yoga. The free, family-friendly event will feature food trucks, vendors, music and more at Cherokee Veterans Park, at 7345 Cumming Highway in Canton. Bring your folding chairs and blankets to get comfortable. (5:30 - 8 p.m.)
• Trivia Night with Lights Up! Entertainment: Prizes for first, second and third place teams every Wednesday at Reformation Brewery, 105 Elm St. (7 - 9 p.m.)
• Fight Club Wednesdays: The top three winners in tonight's "Guilty Gear: Strive" tournament will go home with prizes from The Blue Ghost Arcade, 164 Towne Lake Parkway. (8 - 10:30 p.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage - free shows, no ticket needed
  • Top Artists Extended Sets (6 - 9 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios
  • Hope's Anchor - Soulful, Groove-Oriented Rock & Pop Rock Soul (7:30 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• This Thursday is the last day of school for the district. Elementary schools will dismiss at the normal time that day, but there will be no ASP program. In our neck of the woods, ACE Academy dismisses at 11:15 a.m. and Etowah, River Ridge, Sequoyah and Woodstock high schools dismiss at noon. Dean Rusk, E.T. Booth, Mill Creek and Woodstock middle schools are getting out at 12:45 p.m. (CCSD News)
• There are still a few tickets left for the "Woodstock History" walking tour this Thursday. You'll learn about the role the railroad played in the founding of our city, the history of the buildings, influential families and more. The tours depart every half-hour from the Visitors Center, starting at 6 p.m. The tour sizes are relatively small, so be sure to get tickets soon if you'd like to attend. (Visit Woodstock)
• The phones will not be operational over at Cherokee Recreation & Parks after 6 p.m. this Thursday. The phone lines at The WREC, the Aquatic Center and The Buzz will be affected, but they will be operational again on Friday morning. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
• Reminder: Cherokee County Senior Services is holding a paper towel drive until May 31 to help Cherokee County seniors in need. You can bring donations of unused paper towels in the original packaging to the Senior Center, at 1001 Univeter Road in Canton, during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Cherokee County via Facebook)
• The next Coffee with a Cop is next Thursday, June 1, at the Circle of Friends Coffee Shop. It's a nice opportunity to have a nice, informal chat with officers from the Woodstock Police Department and enjoy some great coffee at the same time. The coffee shop is located at 1 Innovation Way, inside The Circuit at Chattahoochee Tech. (Woodstock PD via Facebook)
• If you're looking for a new home these days, take a look at what the Woodstock-Towne Lake area has to offer. There are lots of beautiful homes in town, from homes with acreage to condos along city streets and everything in between. (Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Show of your love for Woodstock and look stylish at the same time! Stop by the Woodstock Visitors Center to check out the various Woodstock themed shirt designs they have available The Visitors Center is located at 8588 Main St. and is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m." (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)
• Service League: "THREE more days for sponsorships! Sponsors are essential to a successful Golfing FORE! the Children Tournament. All sponsorship dollars remain in Cherokee County! We offer various levels of sponsorship for the golf tournament." (Service League via Instagram)

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Featured events:

• Cherokee County Alzheimer's Community Forum (May 25)
• Cherokee County Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale (May 27)
• Aura Reading & Chakra Balancing (May 27)
• Vacation Bible School (June 5)
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You're all caught up for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update.

— Nina Lightcap

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