CTL Script/ Top Stories of August 1st Publish Date: August 1st Pre-Roll: From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast Today is Friday, August 1st and Happy Birthday to Coolio I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Times Journal Commissioners threaten lawsuit to stop Hickory Flat annexationCherokee High welcomes Class of 2029 students at open houseRoswell Street Baptist takes step toward merging with Woodstock church Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on GLP-1 Foods We’ll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if you’re looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe! Commercial: Ingles Markets 7 STORY 1: Commissioners threaten lawsuit to stop Hickory Flat annexation Tensions are running high between Cherokee County and the city of Holly Springs over a proposed annexation in Hickory Flat. The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has made it clear: if Holly Springs approves the annexation on Aug. 18, they’re ready to take legal action. The dispute centers on a 20-acre property at Lower Union Hill Road and East Cherokee Drive. Developer Garrard Development, Inc. wants to annex the land into Holly Springs and rezone it for a mix of single-family homes and commercial space. Originally, the plan included 92 townhomes, but those were scrapped after pushback. Residents aren’t thrilled. Over 600 locals have signed a petition opposing the project, citing concerns about traffic, density, and infrastructure strain. County officials argue the annexation violates a 2022 growth boundary agreement meant to guide city-county planning. The Holly Springs Planning Commission narrowly recommended approval, but with conditions—like no drive-thrus and a required privacy fence. Still, the county has flagged procedural issues, including errors in the application and a flawed traffic study. For now, all eyes are on the Holly Springs City Council. Will they approve the annexation or back down? Time will tell. STORY 2: Cherokee High welcomes Class of 2029 students at open house Wednesday was a big day at Cherokee High School. Hundreds of wide-eyed freshmen wandered the halls, clutching schedules and trying to figure out where the heck their classes were. It’s a rite of passage, sure—but this year, it felt different. This is the last group of students to start at the current campus before the school moves to its shiny new location next year. Cherokee High, the oldest high school in the county, has been a fixture on Marietta Highway since 1956. History teacher Erin Forman, a Cherokee alum herself, called it “bittersweet.” Principal Andy Hall, who also happens to be a dad to a freshman this year, said the day was full of smiles—and maybe a few nerves. With 705 freshmen joining the school’s 2,800+ students, Cherokee remains the largest high school in the district. And while the future of the current campus is still up in the air, Assistant Superintendent Rodney Larrotta said a team is working on it. For now, though, the focus is on celebrating the school’s history—and making this final year on the old campus one to remember. STORY 3: Roswell Street Baptist takes step toward merging with Woodstock church Roswell Street Baptist Church, once a thriving hub of faith in Marietta, has voted to merge with First Baptist Church of Woodstock, according to longtime member Joanne Thurston. The decision wasn’t exactly a shock—membership has been shrinking for years, and the church has struggled to find a permanent pastor since 2022. At its peak, Roswell Street was a powerhouse, with 9,200 members in 2014. Now? Weekly attendance hovers around 400. The pandemic didn’t help, but the decline started long before. The church’s 11-acre campus, once bustling, has seen better days. Parts of it have been demolished, and much of the space sits unused. Dan Moran, the transitional pastor, called the merger a partnership, not a takeover. For members like Elizabeth Rhodes, who’s been with the church for over 50 years, the choice is bittersweet. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. Break: HISTORY CHEROKEE STORY 4: Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific merger to create nation's first transcontinental railroad Big news in the world of railroads: Union Pacific and Atlanta-based Norfolk Southern are merging to create the first-ever transcontinental railroad in the U.S. Yep, coast-to-coast. The deal, worth a jaw-dropping $250 billion, still needs federal approval, but if it goes through, it’ll connect 50,000 miles of track across 43 states and link 100 ports. Norfolk Southern’s Mark George echoed the excitement, calling it a “historic moment” for two railroads with deep roots in America’s economy. The combined company will be based in Omaha, but Atlanta ...
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