Returning veterans are now facing a new enemy at home--long wait times for their disability claims.

The waiting times started increasing in 2010 when U.S. troops were withdrawn from Iraq causing a dramatic uptick in first-time filers, according to the Center for Investigative Reporting.

The data found that in most regional VA offices, not only did waiting times increase, but they vary dramatically with location: about a year and five months in Baltimore, Maryland compared to four months in Fargo, North Dakota. The national average now stands at about eleven months, which is dramatically higher than in 2009 when it was four months.

In Metro Atlanta, the wait of 11 months is slightly less than the national average. The wait in 2009 was about 4½ months. It actually dropped to approximately four months a year later, before rising dramatically in the months that followed.

The backlog has also partly been blamed on the VA still using paper to process their claims. In 2011, the Department started implementing a computerized system in several of its regional offices. However, despite spending $537 million on the new program and employing 3,300 claims processors, 97 percent of veterans’ claims are still on paper.

Still, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki pledged back in March that the VA will end the enormous backlog by 2015.

While Memorial Day, which is celebrated this Monday, is officially a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, in practice it's often a day to recognize living veterans locally. 

The data above was obtained by The Center for Investigative Reporting from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and is updated weekly. 

If you're on a mobile device, click here to view the map.

When you're done getting gas and packing the car, check out the live results from MapQuest above to see what's standing between you and your Memorial Day plans.

Mapquest scans for parade routes, ongoing construction, block parties and traffic jams. If your route is green, your good. If it's red, you may be headed into a line of rubbernecking fools. Good luck!

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.

As usual, the Canton Police Department had a busy week fighting crime and keeping the residents of the city safe from criminals.

In order to help keep residents safe and raise awareness of local crime, the department has gone digital and lists the locations where crimes have been reported in their jurisdiction online.

According to CrimeReports.com, the following crimes took place in Canton between Saturday, May 18 and Friday, May 24:

• On May 18 at 10:25 a.m., a theft by taking was reported on East Main Street.
• On May 18 at 11:38 a.m.,a theft of lost or mislaid property was reported in the 2000 block of Cumming Highway.
• On May 18 at 2:26 p.m., a battery (Family Violence Act) was reported in the 1 block of Jefferson Circle.
• On May 19 at 4:34 a.m., a financial transaction card fraud was reported in the 1100 block of Marietta Highway.
• On May 19 at 4:34 a.m., a theft by receiving stolen property was reported in the 1100 block of Marietta Highway.
• On May 20 at 6:20 a.m., a forcible entry commercial burglary was reported in the 2000 block of Cumming Highway.
• On May 20 at 4:41 p.m., a simple assault was reported on Marietta Highway.
• On May 20 at 5:15 p.m., an armed robbery was reported in the 500 block of Riverstone Parkway.
• On May 20 at 5:15 p.m., a simple battery was reported in the 500 block of Riverstone Parkway.
• On May 20 at 5:17 p.m., a theft by shoplifting was reported in the 2000 block of Cumming Highway.
• On May 21 at 9:03 p.m., a public indecency was reported in the 100 block of Heritage Drive.
• On May 22 at 10:00 a.m., a theft by taking was reported in the 100 block of Generals Place.
• On May 22 at 3:06 p.m., a theft by taking (auto) was reported on East Marietta Street.
• On May 23 at 1:47 p.m., a simple assault (Family Violence Act) was reported in the 500 block of Misty Creek.
• On May 23 at 1:47 p.m., a theft by taking was reported in the 500 block of Misty Creek.
• On May 23 at 6:48 p.m., an aggravated assault with a knife was reported in the 8100 block of Walden Crossing Drive.
• On May 24 at 7:45 p.m., a theft by shoplifting was reported in the 1500 block of Riverstone Parkway.
• On May 24 at 9:34 p.m., a battery was reported in the 3600 block of Cherokee Overlook Drive.

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.

All across Canton and the rest of the United States, grills are being fired up, music is being blasted, and people of all walks of life are celebrating the start of summer by heading out to the lake, the beach, or any other number of fun places.

Sure, Memorial Day is fun and a great long weekend for everyone to soak up the summer sun they've been missing for months, but is that really what the whole day is about?

Since 1775, over 1.3 million American soldiers have given their lives so you and I can enjoy boating on the lake and grilling outside.

Memorial Day was first established after the American Civil War, to give people a day to reflect on those killed on both sides of the conflict. Since then, the day has expanded to give thanks and remember our fallen soldiers from all wars.

Today, I am remembering my great grand uncle Max Polak, who was killed in Action in the Bois du Chene Sec near the Argonne Forest on Oct. 5, 1918. 

Uncle Max was a machine gunner with Company K of the 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On Oct. 5, his platoon was in a shell hole holding out against German counter attacks when Max was hit in the head by a machine gun bullet. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his bravery in defending his post.

Fortunately, none of my other family members have been killed in combat, though many have served from the Civil War to World War II and beyond. I consider it a great blessing that my family has served proudly to defend our country.

While you're out on Lake Allatoona, or at Stone Mountain, or just having a nice barbeque in the backyard today, don't forget about Uncle Max, or your family members who have been lost in the service of our country.

If you see a veteran, thank him or her for his service, and for the buddies he or she had to leave behind. If you are a veteran, thank you for what you and your comrades have done and what you have gone through to protect the freedoms and values we hold so dear. We can only hope to live lives worthy of those who died for us, and died for their pals in the foxholes of France, the Pacific, Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East.

Enjoy the beautiful weather, eat some delicious food, make lasting memories. But don't forget why it's called Memorial Day.

Do you have a veteran in your family you'd like to publicly thank for his or her service? Thank them in the comments or click the "Upload Photos and Videos" button!

Watching movies is my favorite new family ritual. Now that my 5-year-old daughter spends her days running through neighbors’ backyards until dinner, television time has lost that guilty edge. In fact, in our multi-generational home, it’s the only moment when my parents, husband, 5- and 2-year-olds, and I are silent. (Well, not the 2-year-old so much. “That’s a bad guy, Momma?” “Yes, honey.” “Why, Momma, why that’s a bad guy? I want snack.”… You get the picture.)

Really there’s nothing quite as charming as Grandpa sharing his beloved Peter Pan with his Tinker Bell-obsessed granddaughter, and explaining to her that Captain Hook was quite clever to make Tink jealous so she’d give up Peter Pan’s location.

And now, here comes Planes—another Disney special, as always, perfectly attuned to kids’ imaginations and parents’ need for acknowledgement, with a believable bit of indulgence. It reunites Goose and Iceman (Yes, of Top Gun fame), and for the kids, tells the story of a plane who’s afraid of heights. My daughter’s first summer movie is perfectly timed for her first-day-of-kindergarten jitters because its tagline is “All the Courage in the World.”

Moms, here’s what you need to know: Dane Cook voices the unlikely hero Dusty Crophopper, a crop duster who dreams of flying with the big guys in spite of his fear of heights and inadequate frame. The big guys are none other than Val Kilmer and Anthony Edwards, invoking their Top Gun legacy as Echo and Bravo, respectively.

So let’s pause here a moment of reflection on Top Gun. It was the ‘80s movie I was too young to watch but did—over and over and over—dreaming of being THAT girl in the bar (no-go). The staggered electric keyboard beats and guitar riffs that make you feel a part of the machinery running those slick planes is right there in the Planes trailer. It transports you instantly back to the 8th grade sleepover party where you ogled Tom Cruise on his motorcycle for the first time. Well done, Disney. Well done.

Iceman and Goose are good too. Disney’s done Broadway, but now we get a take on the ‘80s good vs. evil. Back then, it was unabashedly bad bad guys with cocked heads facing off against arrogant good guys with toothy smiles—and perfectly shaved faces for all! Not to mention one of the greatest movie lines of all time: “Son, your ego is writing checks your body can’t cash.” Bring it, Planes!

While I fully expect the first viewing of Planes to be an awesome big-kid moment for my daughter, it’s the repetition that counts. When Planes makes it into our home, I know our 2-year-old—who just asked me, “I can’t go in sky, right, Momma?”—will see that anything is possible. Again and again and again.

Planes is coming to theaters August 9.

Milton Celebrates Memorial Day, Remembers Fallen Vets

Retired U.S. Army Col. Michael D. Steele and sixth grade student Byron Lee of Hopewell Middle School in Milton both shared a message about the price some soldiers pay to keep the rest of the nation free.

Read more:Alpharetta-Milton Patch

Roswell Remembers on Memorial Day

Thousands of area residents gathered at Roswell City Hall for the annual Roswell Remembers Memorial Day ceremony.
Read more:Roswell Patch

Deal Visits Ga National Cemetery, Remembers Service Members

Gov. Nathan Deal visited the Georgia National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24 to honor the state's fallen veterans. He posed the question, ‘What does freedom really cost?’ I want to suggest that you go and look at a headstone. A headstone is the ticket price of freedom."
Read more:Cherokee Tribune

Add your Memorial Day photos, videos and remembrances to this article.

Four Cherokee County cities will soon enter a heated competition against one another to determine which city is the most environmentally-friendly.

Beginning June 1, the Mayor's Recycling Challenge will pit the cities of Cherokee County against one another to determine which city can recycle the most material.

The competition, which is sponsored by the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce's Going Green Committee, runs until July 31.

The city that recycles the most material will earn bragging rights and a commemorative plaque denoting their victory in the challenge.

Last year, Canton won the competition with an astounding 240,543 lbs. of recycled material, followed by Ball Ground, Waleska, Holly Springs, and Nelson.

Cherokee's cities recycled 306,260 lbs. of material as part of the 2012 challenge.

In Canton, citizens who use curbside recycling will continue to do so, but additional recycling locations will be set up in the city.

Recycling may be dropped off in the containers located at City Hall or may be left at the collection site at the City of Canton Public Works Department.

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.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Law Enforcement Division has issued its final statistics for the 2013 Memorial Day weekend.

The division is reporting two drownings over the weekend, one in the Augusta Canal on Sunday and another on a private pond in Coffee County.

There were 39 boating under the influence arrests made in 2013. The department also recorded 6 boating incidents, which resulted in 5 boating-related injuries.

On Lake Allatoona, there were no reported drownings between Saturday and Sunday, but there were five Boating under the Influence reports, three of which came on Sunday. New laws have changed the drunk boating limit to be the same as the drunk driving limit.

There was one boating incident reported on Allatoona between Saturday and Sunday, with two boating incident related injuries resulting. Thankfully, there were no boating incident fatalities.

On all waters under the division's watch, there was one reported drowning before Monday, which occurred on Sunday. There were 16 BUIs reported on Sunday, making the pre-Monday total 24.

Two boating incidents were reported on Sunday, bringing the total over the two weekend days to three. Four injuries were reported in the three incidents, two of which came on Sunday. No fatalities were reported.

In 2012, there were two drownings over Memorial Day weekend, including one in the region that serves Lake Allatoona. In our area last year, there were 3 BUIs and one boating incident that did not result in an injury or a fatality.

To learn more about boating and boating safety in Georgia's waters, please visit the Department of Natural Resource's website.

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.

With last week's report from the Georgia Department of Labor that the unemployment rate in Cherokee County is slowly working its way down below six percent, it seems that the economy in the county may finally be returning to "normal."

Further proof of this recovery can be seen in the number of applications for business licenses in the county. Between May 16 and May 24, the county government received 18 business license applications.

Below are the relevant details for the potential new members of the Cherokee County business community.

For more information on new business license applications or new permits and planning applications, please visit the county's CherokeeStatus website.

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.

The Memorial Day holiday may be be over, but the gorgeous weather from this long weekend isn't going anywhere soon.

According to the National Weather Service forecast for Canton, mostly sunny skies with highs in the mid-80s will continue through Saturday, with no significant chance of rain in the forecast until Sunday.

However, the humidity may make the next few mornings a little uncomfortable, with levels above 80 percent, which will go down to around 40 percent in the afternoons.

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.

The American Red Cross will be in the City of Canton next month to collect blood, platelets, and plasma.

The blood drive, which will be held at City Hall on June 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., seeks to bolster the local blood banks so that there will be plenty on hand in case a disaster like a tornado strikes in our area.

Persons with type O negative blood should donate regularly, as their blood can be accepted by anyone who needs a blood transfusion.

Platelets are essential to clotting blood and are useful for people undergoing treatment for cancer. During platelet donation, blood is drawn from your arm, but is returned to the body after the platelets have been filtered out. According to the American Red Cross, Platelet donations can be worth up to 18 regular blood donations.

Plasma donations are similar to platelet donations. Blood plasma can be used to help people with weakened immune systems fight off infections and can help people with blood clotting disorders like hemophilia treat their condition.

To learn more about donating blood, please visit the American Red Cross' website.

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.

East Atlanta Shooting: 'We Will Find Who Did This'- East Atlanta Patch

As the East Atlanta neighborhood rallies to combat crime following a second shooting death in a week, community leaders paused Monday to express their condolences, to the family of victim Patrick Cotrona. East Atlanta Patch has the video.

4 Face Charges After Cumberland Robbery- Smyrna-Vinings Patch

Four people are in jail after police say they rushed into a couple's Cumberland area apartment and demanded money from them. Get the full story on Smyrna-Vinings Patch.

Winder Man Arrested After 2-County Chase Ends in Crash that Injured Pregnant Woman - Barrow Patch

A Winder man is facing multiple charges after speeding away from a checkpoint and leading law enforcement officials on a two-county chase. Find all the details on Barrow Patch.

Surprise Marriage Proposal on Stone Mountain Stage - Stone Mountain-Lithonia Patch

A soldier surprised his girlfriend with an on-stage marriage proposal on Sunday in front of an estimated 30,000 people at Stone Mountain Park. See the video on Stone Mountain-Lithonia Patch.

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.

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.

The state of Georgia had 1.8 million reasons to administer a survey to students, but one reason not to.

The Associated Press reports that officials in the Peach State are refusing to participate in a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The survey asks students about their sexual histories, condom use and the number of sexual partners they have had.

For not taking part in the survey, which would have been given to students in seventh grade up through high school, the state will miss out on $1.8 million in funding for initiatives focused on preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

Want to blog about this topic, or any other subject on your mind? Email Community Editor Jon Gargis at jon.gargis@patch.com to find out how you can become a Local Voices blogger on your hometown Patch.

“Georgia has the right to not ask 12-year-olds if they've had more than six sexual partners,” Brian Robinson, a spokesman for Gov. Nathan Deal, told WSB TV. “We don’t think a 12-year-old should be asked ‘When did you start your sexual activity? I think Georgians are going to stand with Gov. Deal in this decision.”

Do you stand with Gov. Deal and the decision of other state leaders—was the state right to opt out of this survey? Or should the state administer the survey so Georgia can receive the funding?

Share what’s on your mind with us, and then return here to see what your neighbors in Cobb, Douglas and Paulding have said.

A Milton resident wants to build a crematorium in eastern Cherokee County.

James Bartley Williams, president and owner of Pleasant Hollow Gardens LLC, would like for the county rezone .5 of 26 acres 10685 East Cherokee Drive from agriculture to office/institutional so he can build a crematorium. 

The entire property is currently utilized as a cemetery. 

The site is located along the stretch of road between State Route 20 and Water Tank Road.

"As the seventh largest (county) and fifth fastest in terms of growth, Cherokee County is without adequate cremation services to handle the needs of the county," Williams wrote in his application letter. 

The case is will be heard by the the Cherokee County Planning Commission on June 4 at 7 p.m. and will go to the Cherokee County Commission for final consideration on June 18 at 6 p.m. 

If approved, he hopes to open the crematorium sometime in August. 

Williams said he's met with residents to answer any questions they may have, and he noted he hopes his answers have addressed their concerns.

"There's always concerns when you're doing something new," he added.  

If William's request is granted, he would be the second crematorium to open in Cherokee County.

In 2012, the Woodstock City Council approved a conditional use permit from Lakeside Funeral Home to operate a crematorium in its facility on Claremore Drive. 

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.

Office Associate - Kmart - Canton

A part-time associate is needed to assist in office functions, including general office and cash office procedures, at Kmart in Canton. Applicants must be over 18 years of age. For more information or to apply, visit the website.

For more Canton-Sixes jobs, click here.

Montessori Primary AMI Teacher - Ivy League Montessori - Cumming

The motessori needs a full-time, experienced, AMI trained primary level teacher for the 2013-2014 school year. The person hired will taking over an established class with help from an experienced assistant. They will also be working with other highly experienced and dedicated teachers, as well as an AMI trained director. Qualified candidates should call Becky at 770-781-5586 or e-mail resumes to, bcarty@ilmsnet.com.

Line Cooks - Vinny's on Windward - Alpharetta

The Sedgwick Restaurant Group is hiring line cooks to work at Vinny's. Applicants should have experience, be energetic, enthusiastic about their work and available to work Saturday and Sunday dinner shifts. For more information, or to apply, call 770-772-4644.

Drivers/Movers, Pair of Guys Movers - Cumming

Pair of Guys Movers are presently hiring Drivers/Movers, no CDL required. Multiple part-time and full-time positions are available. As a Driver/Mover, you’ll partner together with our other experienced movers to provide the same professional customer service experience we’re known for in the handling of each and every one of our customer's possessions. This position provides an opportunity for those looking to display their general labor, marketing, and customer service talents. Candidates should email their work history and skills to Pairofguysmovers@gmail.com for immediate consideration. Applications are by appointment only. To schedule a time to fill out an application for employment, call 770-888-0037 or dial our 24-hour info line at 641-715-3900 Extension 751406#.

Team Members/Management - Jones New York and Kasper - Woodstock

A dynamic store manager and management team members are needed for the new Jones New York and Kasper stores opening soon at the outlets shoppes in Woodstock. The ideal candidates should be results driven, love people and fashion, as well as have direct experience with apparel retail management. To see invididual jobs, visit: http://www.jonesgroupinc.com/careers.

Cashiers/Shift Managers - ALDI - Johns Creek

ALDI will hold a hiring event in Milton this week to find employees for its the new Johns Creek store. The new store will hire cashiers at $10.50 per hour and shift managers at $14.50 per hour. The event will be held at 12990 Highway 9 North, Suite 107 in Milton on Friday, May 31 from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. and again from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. 

Bartenders - PURE Roswell

The Sedgwick Restaurant Group is hiring bartenders for the PURE Roswell location. Applicants should have experience, be energetic and enthusiastic about their work. For more information, or to apply, call 770-817-7873.

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Job Board

Branch Manager/Business Development Officer - Experience Required (770) 831-2605 Quantum National Bank 2905 Bethany Bend, Milton 30004

Maintenance Director (770) 643-1712 CaraVita Home Care 648 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell 30075

Banking Solutions Specialist - Experience Required (770)831-2605 Quantum National Bank 2905 Bethany Bend, Milton 30004

Inside Sales and Recruiting RepresentativeLocumTenens.com 2655 Northwinds Parkway, Alpharetta 30009

SBA Business Development Officer (678) 889-4700 Quantum National Bank 2905 Bethany Bend, Milton 30004

General Labor (770) 649-8889 Labor Ready 825-B Atlanta Street, Roswell 30075

IT Jobs

(Senior) Consultant (f/m) Warehouse Management - Porsche AG - Atlanta

C++/Linux Developer - Crystal Solutions - Buford

Sr. Programmer - Markel Corporation - Kennesaw

IT Help Desk Technical Support - StoneHill Group - Atlanta

Security Analyst-Identity and Access Management - Verizon - Atlanta

Healthcare Jobs

Patient Care Coordinator - Emory Healthcare - Atlanta

Education Coordinator - Fresenius Medical Care - Marietta

Cath Lab Technologist I Full time 1348935 - Piedmont Healthcare - Atlanta

Care Room Coordinator - Owens & Minor - Kennesaw

Cardiac Exercise Specialist - WellStar Health System - Marietta

Before heading out to dinner, check out the most recent restaurant inspection reports compiled by the Cherokee County Environmental Health Department. Violations are included in this report for scores below B. Click on "Last inspection" to see all current violations.

Bruster's Ice Cream
2905 Eagle Drive, Woodstock 30189
Last inspection: May 23, Score: 98, Grade: A

Jersey Mike's Subs
5341 Old Highway 5, Woodstock 30188
Last inspection: May 22, Score: 96, Grade: A

Little River Grill
6979 Bells Ferry Road, Canton 30114
Last inspection: May 24, Score: 90, Grade: A

Monti's Food Express
2340 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock 30189
Last inspection: May 23, Score: 92, Grade: A

Wendy's
5345 Old Highway 5, Woodstock 30188
Last inspection: May 22, Score: 91, Grade: A

For more information about inspection reports, contact the environmental health department at (770) 479-0444.

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.

The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office hosted Hostage Negotiation training on Tuesday at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center at the Bluffs in Canton.

Over 100 officers and deputies representing over 20 agencies across the state of Georgia all descended onto Canton for the training.

Tuesday's training consisted of two separate training sessions.

The morning training session focused on dealing with law enforcement officers in crisis and the afternoon training focus on dealing with suicidal teens.

The training was open to all officers, but mostly those who specialize in negotiations attended the training. The instructor was Debra McMahon, a retired special agent of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division.

Prior to her retirement, Ms. McMahon was an instructor assigned to Operations and Investigations Division, Advanced Law Enforcement Training, U. S. Army Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

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.

With the impending arrival of summer comes farmers markets and a chance for residents to buy fresh goods grown locally.

In Canton, the downtown Farmers Market takes place every Saturday through October.

For the fifth year, the American Farmland Trust is hosting an "I Love My Farmers Market Celebration" to raise awareness for struggling farmers.

The event encourages consumers to pledge online to spend $10 at a local farmers market, with a goal of collecting $1 million in pledges by Sept. 9. The first time a consumer pledges, they will receive a free "No Farms No Food" bumper sticker.

For more information or to pledge, visit www.lovemyfarmersmarket.org.

What is your favorite farmers market purchase? Tell us in the comments!