🌱 Teen Missing 3 Months + Yes Votes For Budget + More Union Hill Work

Hey, everybody. It's Friday in Woodstock-Towne Lake and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening in our community today. Today we'll cover:

• Local teen has been missing since February.
• Our 2024 budget passed the city council's first look.
• More slowdowns coming for the Union Hill Road area.

Today's newsletter is sponsored by Michale Pena, Realtor at RB Realty

The Realtor will see you now

Imagine you had a realtor who was as attentive and caring to clients as, say, a great physician’s assistant was to patients in the operating room. The analogy might seem like a stretch, until you meet Michale Pena.

For much of her career, Michale has worked as a Surgical First Assistant to one of our area’s top orthopedic surgeons. It’s a demanding, high-stress job that requires the highest level of attentiveness, precision and service. Along the way, Michale, who has spent her whole life in the Woodstock area, started helping her medical colleagues solve another problem: figuring out where to live in our area’s tight housing market.

These days, Michale is a rising star at RB Realty, offering the same level of attention to detail, responsiveness and service she learned in the operating room to buyers and sellers in our area. Don’t take our word for it. Here’s what a recent client says:

“Michale was fantastic from start to finish. She took all the stress off of us. She is a true professional, and we highly recommend her to anyone who is interested in buying or selling a home.”

In this challenging market, whether buying or selling, work with a realtor with deep local ties, a demanding and satisfied client base and a surgeon’s attention to detail. Contact Michale Pena today, or call her at 678-848-4351.

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

Now, today's weather: Becoming cloudy. High: 80 Low: 57.

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

1. A young teen went missing from the area on Feb. 12 and still hasn't been found. Alyssa Smith, 16, ran away with two other juveniles, and while the other two have been found, Smith is still missing but thought to be in the Atlanta area. Smith is described as a white female with blue eyes and hair that is dyed red or blue. She is 5-foot-2 inches tall and 150 pounds, you can see her picture at the link. If you have any information about Smith's location, please contact the Cherokee Sheriff's Office at 770-928-0239 or 911. You can reference case number SO23-002143. (Cherokee Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
2. Woodstock's proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year was passed unanimously at the city council meeting earlier this week. The $93 million budget will go through a second and final vote on June 12, before the city's fiscal year starts on July 1. Included in the proposed budget is a 3 percent cost of living raise for permanent, full- and part-time city employees and a variable entry-level salary for police officers and firefighters, adjusting upwards to account for any experience and certifications a hire comes into the department with. The city council also voted to award a $70,943.50 contract to Jenjax (Southeast Outdoor Solutions) to build a new bridge climb, tunnel house, jump balance beam, luxury boulder and hill climb for Woofstock Park. (Subscription: Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News)
3. In addition to roundabout work set for May 30-July 31 for the Union Hill Road South and Lower Union Hill Road intersection, the county has advised that another construction project is likely to cause traffic slowdowns and congestion. Starting on May 30 as part of the GDOT Highway 20 widening project, Union Hill Road at Highway 20 will be closed. The work should be done in 90 days, and in the meantime, traffic will be detoured via East Cherokee Drive. There will be detour signs posted, and flaggers will be utilized in spots. (Cherokee County Communications Division)
4. A new restaurant, Sizzling Spices Fine Indian Cuisine, is coming to Downtown Woodstock on June 2. There will be a grand opening ceremony that day, and the first 100 customers will get a free appetizer. Stay to eat a while, the restaurant is offering food specials and samples throughout the day, the ribbon cutting with Mayor Caldwell will be held at 11 a.m. and there will be live music to enjoy while you're at the event. The restaurant is located at 106 Arnold Mill Road, across the street from the Amphitheater. (Downtown Woodstock via Facebook)
5. The deadline to submit artistic pieces for the upcoming "All the Fixins: Artists from the South" exhibit at the Reeves House has been extended to May 30. All types of work will be accepted, and to be considered for the juried exhibit, you must be over 18 and live in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina or Tennessee. You can find the requirements and submission details at the link; the exhibit will be up from June 29 to Aug. 6 in the Reeves House Gallery. (Woodstock Arts)

Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

• Morning INfluence with Woodstock Arts: Woodstock Arts Executive Director Christopher Brazelton and team will be on hand to discuss their plans for the Woodstock Arts 2023-24 season. Non-members are welcome, but an RSVP is required. Breakfast will be served during the networking event at the Woodstock Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main St. (8 - 9 a.m.)
• Friday Flow Yoga: Join instructor Melanie Pineda for an outdoor class at Trefoil Gardens, walk-ins are welcome. Proceeds go to food access initiatives in the community. The class will meet on the deck at the Kingsridge CoOp Meeting Space, 120 Bascomb Drive. (12:30 p.m.)
• Crafters' Club: If you crochet, knit, embroider or craft, bring your project over to the R.T. Jones Memorial Library for some crafting and socialization. The library is located at 116 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. (3 - 5 p.m.)
• Spring Into Summer Fest Talent Show: Hosted by the Therapeutic Recreation program, the evening will feature a ton of talent, raffle prizes, food trucks, crafts, a magician and dance party, a singalong and games at The Buzz, 7345 Cumming Highway in Canton. (5 - 8 p.m.)
• Karaoke Night: The Blue Ghost Arcade is hosting the fun tonight, and admission includes unlimited games until 2 a.m., the arcade address is 164 Towne Lake Parkway. (8 p.m.)
• MadLife Grill Patio Stage - free shows, no ticket needed
  • Mother Legacy (5 - 8 p.m.)
  • Hush Money (8 - 11 p.m.)
• MadLife Stage & Studios
  • Interstellar Echoes - A Tribute to Pink Floyd (7 p.m. and 9:55 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Our fine seniors are graduating again today, here are the times for today's ceremonies. Expect traffic on all sides of First Baptist to be heavier than usual. There are activities taking place at the church before and after each of the ceremonies, so the slowdown may start more than an hour prior to each. Congratulations to the graduating students from Sequoyah High School and Woodstock High School — those ceremonies will start at 4 and 8 p.m. today, respectively. (CCSD News)
• It's Jazz Night! It's the perfect time of day to just relax and enjoy our beautiful city and the live jazz playing from the back porch of the Reeves House. Tables and chairs are set up, and there is a tent in case of rain. The music is free, but the outdoor bar will have dessert and charcuterie boards, wine and beer available for purchase and there are coffee, drinks and snacks inside. The event runs from 6-9 p.m., and the Reeves House address is 734 Reeves St. (Woodstock Arts)
• Reminder: The "Mayor's Summer Fun Challenge" starts today, and it's a fun way for local kids of all ages to earn prizes just by exploring their hometown. You can register your child and download the challenge card here. There's a ton to do here in town, and prizes will be given for those that complete 10, 25 and 40 items. (Woodstock GA News)
• The summer break hasn't even fully started yet, but it's almost time to register the kids for fall sports at Cherokee Recreation & Parks. To mention just one, Cherokee Youth Lacrosse registration is opening on June 5 for boys and girls, kindergarten to eighth grade. You can read about all the department's sports offerings here. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks via Facebook)
• We are all getting outside more and more these days, and Woodstock has some of the best parks and trails around. A new best friend would make those excursions even more special. There are a lot of animals in our local shelters and rescues, puppies and kittens have started showing up in recent weeks, and now's a great time to meet your next family pet. Take a look at some of the latest pets up for adoption in the Woodstock-Towne Lake area. (Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch)
• Downtown Woodstock: "Come celebrate Memorial Day Weekend with Reformation Brewery in their backyard! An all-day event with the release of Liberty Lager, live music from Chad Patterson and Trey Odum, Queenie's BBQ, and veteran-owned vendor booths. End the evening on Woodstock Arts Green with Kurt Wheeler and Trevor Startt. Tickets are $25 with all proceeds going to Shepherds Men and Honor and Remember." (Downtown Woodstock via Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Phoenix Flooring and More — (Visit website)
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Featured events:

• HUGE Memorial Day Sale at Sunny & Ranney (May 26)
• Aura Reading & Chakra Balancing (May 27)
• Vacation Bible School (June 5)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update.

— Nina Lightcap

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