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Canton Obituaries and Death Notices

May 17, 2013, 2:30 am
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Local obituaries.

The following funeral arrangements and/or death notices were published by Darby Funeral Home:

The following funeral arrangements and/or death notices were published by Sosebee Funeral Home:

The following funeral arrangements and/or death notices were published by South Canton Funeral Home & Chapel:

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Morning Briefing: Woman Held for Allegedly Killing Father

May 17, 2013, 2:58 am
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Andrea Blanton remains held without bond and charged with killing her father.

1. Weather: The National Weather Service is predicting a 20 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms for the Canton area after 9 a.m. Friday. Look for a high temperature today of roughly 81 degrees, followed tonight by a low temperature of about 63 degrees.

2. In Case You Missed It: A woman in Ball Ground has been charged with the murder of her father. Canton-Sixes Patch has details on the investigation, including what piece of evidence that clued authorities in on foul play.

3. Happening Now: Our friends at Indian Knoll Elementary School in Holly Springs need your help to earn a visit from an NFL player! Learn more about the contest they are involved in and how you can vote for them. The voting ends today, so don't wait to cast your ballot!

4. Looking Ahead: Come back at noon to discuss the recent decision by Angelina Jolie to undergo a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of getting breast cancer. Would you consider the same operation if you were in her shoes? 

5. On This Date in History: On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court hands down its landmark decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. The Supreme Court rules that "seperate but equal" facilities for white and black people, including schools, were unequal by their very existence.

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Get Out: Festival of the Arts, Heritage Day

May 17, 2013, 6:00 am
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Cancer and Angelina Jolie's Big Decision

May 17, 2013, 9:00 am
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Angelina Jolie


Actress Angelina Jolie announced Tuesday in a New York Times op-ed piece that she recently underwent a double mastectomy to cut her chances of developing breast cancer after discovering she carries the "faulty" gene, BRCA1.

Jolie wrote she decided to receive genetic testing since she was at a higher risk of breast cancer — her mother fought the disease for almost a decade before dying at age 56 — and because she wanted to make sure she would be there for her children, according to her New York Times column.

Patch caught up with Selvi Palaniappan, MS, CGC Coordinator at Northside Hospital Hereditary Cancer Program, to learn more about these cancer genes.

P: What are the BRCA genes?

SP: They are two different genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2. Everybody has two copies of each of these genes (one from their mother and one from their father). So everyone has two copies of BRCA1 and two copies of BRCA2. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene are thought to be involved in DNA repair during cell division and regeneration. When you inherit a mutation in one of these genes you are at an increased risk for developing breast and/or ovarian cancer. Men who inherit a mutation in either of these genes are at an increased risk for prostate and/or male breast cancer.

P: What is the percentage of a woman developing breast cancer if she carries the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene? What about ovarian cancer?

SP: If a woman inherits a mutation in either BRCA1 or BRCA2 your lifetime risk for developing breast cancer is up to 50-85 percent. The ovarian cancer risk depends on which gene has the mutation: the risk is higher if it is BRCA1 mutation – up to 40 percent lifetime risk. The BRCA2 mutation is associated with a lifetime risk of up to 20 percent. Remember that the general population risk for breast cancer is 12 percent and 1.5 percent for ovarian cancer. So a woman who inherits a mutation in either BRCA1 or BRCA2 has a much higher risk for developing breast and/or ovarian cancer, but not a 100 percent. There are many options for screening and prevention available for these cancers.

P: If a woman has a mastectomy or double mastectomy - does her risk of developing breast cancer decreases, by how much?

SP: If a woman who has inherited a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene has a bilateral or double mastectomy she will reduce her risk of developing breast cancer to less than 5 percent.

P: Tell us about BRCA testing?

SP: This testing is not recommended for the general population. It is recommended if you have had breast cancer at a young age or if you have had ovarian cancer at any age or if you have more than two family members with early onset breast and/or ovarian cancer on either your mother or your father’s side. It is always important to have an evaluation with a genetic counselor. A genetic counselor will take a detailed family history and evaluate whether there may be a hereditary component to the cancers in your family and guide you and your family through the genetic testing process. During the consultation the genetic counselor will discuss including detailed information about genetic test, how it affects you and your family as well as the options for screening and prevention. 

For more information about genetic testing or Northside Hospital’s Hereditary Cancer Program, call 404-851-6284 or visit the website.

What do you think about Jolie's decision and announcement? Let us know in the comments section.


Judy Davids and Amie Schaenzer contributed to this article.

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Powerball Jackpot Climbs to $600M

May 17, 2013, 3:00 am
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Saturday’s Powerball jackpot has reached $600 million, the highest jackpot in the game’s history.

The announcement was made Friday afternoon, just a few days after strong sales prompted lottery officials to bump Saturday’s Powerball jackpot from $475 million to $550 million.

Not only is the current $600 million jackpot the largest in Powerball history, it is the second largest jackpot in U.S. history.

The Powerball winner can opt to receive 30 graduated payments over 29 years or collect a $376 million cash payout.

Powerball tickets are $2.

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Council Talks Dirt, Compensation

May 17, 2013, 11:00 am
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The Canton City Council looked at two controversial issues during their Thursday evening meeting at City Hall, including a potential problem with the site chosen for the Laurel Canyon fire station.

The meeting saw a first reading of a motion brought forth by Councilman John Beresford to increase the compensation paid to the mayor and council members. The city council had previously voted to approve the compensation increase, but the measure was vetoed by Mayor Gene Hobgood.

“I haven't made a secret of how I feel about this,” said Hobgood. He reiterated his position that an increase at this time was inappropriate, especially considering that city employees have not seen raises for at least six years.

“I feel it sends the wrong message for council to approve itself an increase when our employees have been denied increases,” he said.

Beresford agreed with the mayor that city employees should be given raises, but said that the two issues were unrelated. Beresford then challenged Hobgood to make a "photo-op" statement that he would not take the proposed $10,000 salary he would get in the compensation increase package and instead accept a dollar a year in salary.

Councilman Glen Cummins said he supported the increase in compensation in principle but would not vote to raise his own salary. He suggested that there be an effective start date of Jan. 1, 2016 for the compensation increases so that no current council member would see a raise.

Councilman Bill Bryan expressed concern at the delay, feeling that it would discourage younger people and people who are still in the working world from attempting to run for office due to the low compensation. 

Councilman Hooky Huffman reminded council that the recent cost-cutting measure to discontinue the pension plan for future mayors and council members has saved the city tens of thousands of dollars that could be put towards employee raises. He said he felt it necessary to approve the compensation increase for the mayor and council to, "create an incentive to encourage people to give to the city."

City Manager Scott Wood then discussed the problem of the terrain at the proposed site for the Laurel Canyon fire station, and reminded council that roughly 50,000 cubic yards of dirt still needed to be removed from the property to make it suitable for construction.

Estimates provided by Wood indicated that it could cost up to $300,000 to move the dirt. 

According to Wood and City Engineer Joby West, negotiations with the owners of the neighboring plots of land to the fire station site regarding dirt relocation have met with little progress.

"We have been negotiating with our neighbors for five years," said Councilman Bob Rush. "Who are they? North Korea?"

Wood told council that if they wanted the dirt moved, it could be moved, but the main issue was money.

Cummins said that the city had still not decided on the best way to provide fire services for its residents, so any work on the Laurel Canyon site would be putting the cart before the horse.

To see the video of Thursday's meeting, please follow this link. The agenda for the meeting is also attached to this article.

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Blog About Local High School Sports on Canton-Sixes Patch

May 17, 2013, 1:00 pm
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Warrants Issued in Child Abduction; Man Charged With Faking Kidnapping

May 17, 2013, 2:00 pm
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Suspect Zeb Lockett

Arrest Warrants Issued in Sandy Springs Child Abduction - Sandy Springs Patch

Arrests warrants have been issued for Zeb Lockett for Kidnapping, Aggravated Stalking, and Theft of Motor Vehicle.

Sandy Springs Police say the stalking charge stems from a Temporary Protective Order issued against Lockett. Sandy Springs Patch has more on this story. 

Johns Creek Man Charged With Faking Own Kidnapping - Johns Creek Patch

A Johns Creek man who was initially reporting missing has been charged with faking his own kidnapping. 

Aftab Aslam, 19, on Thursday was arrested and charged charged with one misdemeanor count of false report of a crime, three felony counts of false statements, three felony counts of tampering with evidence and three felony counts of terroristic threats. Johns Creek Patch has more on this story. 

Domestic Dispute Turns Deadly On Martin Luther King Drive - Cascade Patch

According to Atlanta Police Department, a man has died from his injuries he sustained after attempting to break into the home of his children's mother on Martin Luther King Drive during the early hours of Friday morning. 

Police are calling this a domestic dispute, because the residents and the deceased knew each other, though the man does not live in the house. Cascade Patch has more on this story. 

Human Remains Belong To Jmaal Keyes - South Cobb Patch

DNA testing has confirmed that human remains found last week in Hawkinsville belong to Jmaal Malik Keyes, the missing college student from Austell.

"The identification of Keyes was obtained through DNA parentage testing with Keyes’ biological parents," GBI spokeswoman Sherry Lang told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. South Cobb Patch has more on this story. 

State Rep. Tyrone Brooks Indicted For Misappropriating Nearly $1 Million - Midtown Patch

State Representative Tyrone Brooks of House District 55, which covers a sliver of midtown Atlanta near Ansley Mall and stretches down to a larger portion of southwest Atlanta, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday.

According to a CBS Atlanta report, "Brooks, 67, of Atlanta, was charged by a federal grand jury in a 30-count indictment that includes charges of mail, wire and tax fraud."Midtown Patch has more on this story. 

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Cherokee County Mug Shots

May 17, 2013, 3:00 pm
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Williams Ignacio-Benitez of Acworth, arrested on May 9 for DUI and following too closely.

The Cherokee County Adult Detention Center supplied Patch with the mug shots and booking reports of the inmates who appear here. At the time of reporting, none of them has been convicted of the listed charges, and all should be presumed innocent.

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Cherokee Schools To Reduce Furlough Days

May 17, 2013, 4:00 pm
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Patch is bringing you updates from the school board meeting.

An additional two classroom instruction days will soon return to the Cherokee County School District.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo announced during Thursday's work session that the district will restore two days to its calendar for the 2013-14 school year.

Petruzielo said the district was able to perform the restoration due to the increase in the county's tax digest. 

That would get the district's instructional calendar from 175 days to 177 for students. Before furlough days, the district operated on a 180 day calendar for students.

The tax digest increased by 2.8 percent for school portion of tax assessments. The entire digest increased by 3 percent.  

After exemptions and appeals are applied, the school district is expected to see an overall increase of 2.6 percent.

Candler Howell, assistant superintendent for financial management, said that amounts to roughly $2.8 million more for the district's maintenance and operations budget.

Petruzielo cautioned the school board, noting there's a "danger" in treating this money like "it's going to save the world." He noted the district is still grappling with losing over $50 million in state and local funding between 2009 and 2012. 

Even with the additional money from the increased digest, CCSD will still have to trim $7 million from its fiscal year 2013-14 budget, which was spelled out in a status report on the compilation of the proposed budget. 

The cuts are necessary, the superintendent writes, "in light of anticipated funding shortfalls due to federal sequestration, state austerity budget cuts of $24.6 million and significantly increased cost shifted from the state to CCSD for continued participation of non-certified/classified employees in the State Health Benefit Plan." 

Some of the proposed cuts include reducing teaching staff through attrition, reducing support and paraprofessional staff, increasing fees for the Before and After School programs, re-aligning transportation routes and eliminating the district's contribution towards dental benefits and basic long-term disability benefits. 

Petruzielo said preliminary data they've received in response to a request for proposals note the district could save $100,000 if grounds services were privatized, which would impact eight employees in the district. 

The board will review proposals to consider during its June 13 meeting, which would go into effect for the 2013-14 school year if approved.

The superintendent said preliminary data from responses to the district's call for requests for proposals also show "substantial" cost reductions from possibly privatizing its custodial services beginning on Jan. 1, 2014. He noted staff is reviewing other alternatives that would allow some or all employees to retained in the district. 

Three options they are reviewing include privatization; a model where the district would change the employment model and working hours of custodians; and a hybrid model in which some employees would remain full-time and other would be part-time. 

Don’t miss any of the local news you care about. Subscribe to Canton-Sixes Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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School Board Members Spar Over Proposed Policy Changes

May 18, 2013, 2:58 am
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Three policy changes proponents say would strengthen the Cherokee County School Board's governance were the subject of a lengthy debate during the board's meeting on Thursday. 

The board spent roughly an hour hashing out three proposals that would reiterate a current policy, and add two more regulations for the board to abide by. 

The first reading of two policies, which spell out the job descriptions and responsibilities of the school board chair and vice chair and stipulates the superintendent of schools is responsible for establishing ad hoc committees, were approved 4-3, with members Michael Geist, Kelly Marlow and Rob Usher rejecting. 

Board members could not come to an agreement on the third proposed change, which states school board members must submit agenda items to the board chair to be placed on the agenda and outlines the protocol for that process.

The board rejected an amended version of the policy. The amendment, proposed by Marlow, would have removed the stipulation that the board chair and the superintendent would decide if an item will be placed on a board agenda for discussion.

Three members of the public spoke on the proposed changes. Both Thomas Hart and Chris Knowles said they opposed the changes, while Carol Taylor said she was in favor of the change.

Board member Michael Geist said he opposed the changes because he felt the board was trying to legislate behavior that hadn't occurred yet. He noted it was "unfair" to paint the current board with the same brush as the school board that was in place 15 years ago.

That's when the district was placed on accreditation probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 

He also added he was opposed to the changes related to the ad hoc committees, noting he was "uncomfortable" with saying the board couldn't establish committees if there had been no precedent to gauge how the process turned out.

"We’ve created policies that restrict the representatives of the people while not restricting in any way, even in an equal measure, the representatives of the government or the school system," he added, comparing what the superintendent and board members were allowed to do. 

Read noted the changes prevent board members from serving on committees because a board member's presence could "stifle" the thoughts or actions of those serving on the committee. She said some members of a certain committee could feel intimidated by a board member's presence. 

Read added the changes state each board member is welcome to hold monthly town hall meetings to get feedback from the public, and noted Marlow has done so on a regular basis.

The proposed changes were drafted by Cherokee County School District staff at the request from Board Chair Janet Read, who said the changes were recommended by Zenda Bowie of the Georgia School Boards Association during an April 25 training session she conducted with the board.

They were designed to ensure the board is in full compliance with SACS and would not endanger the district's accreditation. 

The issue of ad hoc committees was hotly debated during the May 2 board meeting when Marlow asked if the board would establish a citizens committee to review Common Core standards. 

The board will consider the final reading of the two proposed policies during its June 13 meeting. 

Board members also unanimously approved a proposal from Headley Construction to make renovations to an existing classroom to build a video broadcast room at Sequoyah High School and voted 6-1, with Marlow opposing, to award a bid to Williamson & Company to perform the district's audit for fiscal years 2011-12 and 2012-13. 

Headley is proposing to do the work for $296,700. The district set aside $400,000 for the project, which is authorized in the district's five-year facilities plan. 

Williamson & Company will perform the audits for $82,900. 

Don’t miss any of the local news you care about. Subscribe to Canton-Sixes Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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'Star Trek Into Darkness' Eclipses 2009 Predecessor

May 18, 2013, 9:00 am
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Watch the trailer for "Star Trek Into Darkness," opening in theaters this weekend.


See the new movie, 'Star Trek Into Darkness' playing at Carmike Riverstone 15 Cinemas in Canton. For more theater information, show times and pricing, click the links above.

The premise, courtesy of the film's official website:

When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis.

With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

Here's what critics are saying:

'Star Trek Into Darkness,' bursting at the seams with enemies, wears its politics, its mettle, its moxie and its heart on its ginormous 3-D sleeve. Director J.J. Abrams and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise try to build a better sequel with action spectacles to get lost in, clever asides to amuse, emotional waves to ride and allusions to terrorism in general and 9/11 specifically. — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
If the 2009 film reintroduced audiences to a crew in the making, this outing plunges them — and us — into the greatly amped action. Amid terrible explosions and fierce fire fights, friendship, loyalty, personal ethics and Starfleet protocol will be tested. There continues to be something touching in the ideal of divergent personalities uniting in — and quibbling throughout — adventures in discovery, of new worlds but also of self. — Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
The plotting is clunky, and the action more relentless and violent than I'd like; there are no pauses for ideas. There are too many self-deflating quips. The movie doesn't hold up to post-viewing scrutiny — which matters if you want to see it again. — David Edelstein, NPR
'Into Darkness' eclipses the first film in a rare occurrence of a sequel one upping its predecessor, though missing are those sensations of grandeur and stargazing as Kirk, Bones and Spock experience space and the Starfleet for the first time. Having all of that already established, Abrams instead fashions a hardboiled action-thriller, putting the film in full-throttle from the get go, grabbing the audience by the jugular and refusing to let go until the end credits roll. — Justin Craig, Fox News
At its best, the second entry in J.J. Abrams' 'Star Trek 2.0' series plunges moviegoers into a visually stunning 23rd century and spends ample time on bro bonding between the brash James T. Kirk and the reticent half-Vulcan known as Spock. — Sharon Eberson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Star Trek Into Darkness" is rated PG-13 for PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence. The movie runs 2 hours and 12 minutes.

Don’t miss any of the local news you care about. Subscribe to Canton-Sixes Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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VIDEO: Day One of the Canton Festival of the Arts

May 19, 2013, 2:58 am
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Brown Park was alive with music, arts, and fun Saturday morning and afternoon due to the Canton Festival of the Arts.

Canton-Sixes Patch was at the scene and recorded for posterity some of the sights and sounds of yesterday's festivites.

If you'd like to take part in the fun, you still have plenty of time! The Festival of the Arts begins anew at 10 this morning at Brown Park! 

Feel free to upload your photos and videos from the Festival of the Arts by clicking the "Upload Photos and Videos" button in this article!

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Cherokee Schools To Reduce Furlough Days

May 19, 2013, 8:59 am
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Learn How To Blog On Canton-Sixes Patch

May 19, 2013, 12:00 pm
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Blog on Patch.


Patch is looking for bloggers who live, work or are interested in something in Canton-Sixes Patch. Anyone may apply.

Let Patch know if you are any of the following, who is looking for a platform and forum to reach the community:

  • Passionate about Canton's core issues
  • An expert craftsman or hobbyist who can share do-it-yourself tips
  • Involved in a community group or sports team
  • A musicians, live music fan, or local artist
  • Cherokee County teacher
  • A parent, grandparent or student in Canton and Sixes
  • A local business owner or expert
  • Fashion, food, crafts, sports, or other type of enthusiast
  • Volunteer or Nonprofit Worker
  • Health and fitness expert
  • A local sports fan
  • Or, if you are someone with a connection to the area who wants to express your thoughts, opinions, rants, raves, jokes, and commentary on topics you are interested in or care about

This isn't a reporting job. It's blogging. You write what you want to say when you want to say it. Do it on your schedule, whether that's posting multiple entries per day or a couple times a month.

Patch won't own what you post, so you can repost your entries to your other blogs. Patch is providing local bloggers an online platform to have their words seen by a larger audience.

If you'd like to chat about the opportunity to share your voice with our readers, click here ‘Want to blog on Patch?' to get started, or e-mail liz.kennedy@patch.com with questions.

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Council Talks Dirt, Compensation

May 19, 2013, 1:58 pm
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Ball Ground Woman Charged With Killing Father

May 19, 2013, 6:26 pm
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Morning Briefing: When's the Next Job Fair?

May 20, 2013, 2:58 am
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It's good news for Georgia on the jobs front — the state's unemployment rate for April was the lowest since December 2008.

1. Weather: The National Weather Service predicts a 10 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms before 7 a.m., but for the rest of the day sees nothing but mostly sunny skies. Today's high temperature will be 86 degrees, with a low tonight of 65 degrees.

2. In Case You Missed It: The Canton Festival of the Arts was in Brown Park over the weekend, and Canton-Sixes Patch was there with cameras rolling! See the highlights of the festival, and add your photos to our collection!

3. Happening Now: Gov. Nathan deal has signed an executive order that will return Bibles to state parks. We want to hear from you whether you agree with the move or not! Leave a comment and see what other folks are saying about this hot-button issue.

4. Looking Ahead: Come back at 9 a.m. to learn about a talent show coming to Cherokee County in the near future! Make sure you have plenty of time to practice your singing and dancing before the fun begins!

On Thursday, the Georgia Department of Labor will be helping to fill some 500 vacant job positions at the new outlet mall in Woodstock. We told you about this last week, but we're reminding you today to get your resumes in order and interview clothes nice and pretty!

5. On This Date in History: On May 20, 1873, the original blue jean babies Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received a U.S. Patent for their pioneering pantaloons. By the way, those little copper rivets on your jeans aren't just there for show, they're meant to reinforce the most stressed parts of the fabric.

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Should the Drunken Driving Limit Be Lowered?

May 20, 2013, 5:30 am
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drunk driving

The National Transportation Safety Board wants to reduce deaths caused by drunken drivers, and one of its ideas is to change how states measure drunkenness.

The board has proposed reducing the blood-alochol limit to .05 percent, down from the .08 percent states enforce now, according to Fox News.

That limit could mean one drink for a lot of women, and two drinks for a lot of men.

"Our goal is to get to zero deaths because each alcohol-impaired death is preventable," NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said in the Fox story.

Among those who oppose the idea: Groups that sell alcohol.

"Moving from 0.08 to 0.05 would criminalize perfectly responsible behavior," American Beverage Institute Managing Director Sarah Longwell said in a statement quoted by The Hill.

Mothers Against Driving has come out as neutral on the proposal, according The Hill's report.

Is driving after one or two drinks responsible behavior or a potential crime? Should the .08 blood alcohol limit be lowered? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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More Rain Possible This Week, Sunny Skies by Memorial Day Weekend

May 20, 2013, 8:39 am
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After yet another weekend filled with flood warnings and event cancellations throughout the metro area, Canton is in for some sunny skies early this week and this Memorial Day weekend, though rain will be likely on Wednesday.

According to the National Weather Service, the Etowah River in East Cherokee remained above flood stage and was still rising Monday, with minor flooding continuing mostly east of Canton near the I-575 bridge.

A chance of scattered strong showers and thunderstorms continues Monday, with mostly sunny skies and a high of 87, according to the National Weather Service's Canton forecast.

Tuesday will be mostly sunny with a high near 87, and a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Showers are likely Wednesday with a high of 82. Thursday and Friday will see mostly sunny skies with a small chance of thunderstorms.

And, just in time for Memorial Day weekend, mostly sunny skies with highs in the low 80s are expected Saturday and Sunday.

How did this weekend's rain affect you? Tell us in the comments!

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