Fall has begun, so it's time to head out and watch the leaves turn colors. Georgia State Parks will give you a hand with Leaf Watch 2012, which begins updates on Oct. 1.

So before you pull out your camera and your hiking boots check out Leaf Watch 2012 for advice on where and when to find the best color in Georgia state parks, whether you plan to hike, bike or drive on country roads.

Northern Georgia typically peaks in late October, though color can be seen as early as September and as late as mid-November.

Leaf Watch 2012 provides updates from park rangers, safety tips for hiking and event calendars. Last-minute availability for cabins, yurts, campsites and lodge rooms in state parks also will be posted.

Whether hiking, biking or simply driving country roads, travelers can check Leaf Watch 2012 for advice on where and when to find the best color in Georgia’s state parks. They can read updates from park rangers, get safety tips for hiking, and browse event calendars. Last-minute availability for cabins, yurts, campsites and lodge rooms in the state parks will also be posted.

“Fall is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy Mother Nature’s handiwork,” said State Park Director Becky Kelley. “We have short nature trails that are good for kids, and longer trails that are perfect for experienced hikers. We even have roadside overlooks that make it easy to enjoy the view during a road trip.”

State officials recently announced Georgia’s top ten state parks for leaf watching, which included:

• Amicalola Falls,
• Black Rock Mountain,
• Cloudland Canyon,
• Fort Mountain,
• Moccasin Creek,
• James H. Sloppy Floyd,
• Smithgall Woods,
• Tallulah Gorge,
• Unicoi
• Vogel.

Georgia’s newest state park, Chattahoochee Bend, features thick hardwoods reflecting off the winding river. Beautiful maples and oaks can be found on the Pine Mountain Trail at F.D. Roosevelt State Park.

1. Weather: According to the National Weather Service, the high temperature in Canton today will be 77 degrees. Expect sunny skies during the day, and a low temperature of around 52 degrees tonight.

2. In Case You Missed It: Canton's high school football teams went 0-2 on Friday. Cherokee was beaten by Lassiter, and Creekview lost a heartbreaker to Kell. 

Canton's seniors can breathe a sigh as relief, as the city decided against raising their garbage rates. Although the $7.50 fee for seniors and the permanently disabled is lower than the regular $16.50 fee, many seniors spoke out against the proposed rate hike.

3. Happening Now: The Cherokee County Humane Society is preparing for a fundraiser early next month. Find out how you can help and enjoy a lovely dinner that goes to helping a great cause.

4. Looking Ahead: A local church is looking to expand its facilities to a nearby locale. Find out what church and where they're looking to build a new facility at noon!

5. On This Date in History: On Sept. 24, 1964, the Warren Commission released their final report, stating that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 

The class of 2012 taking the SAT garnered the Cherokee County School District the highest scores in its history.

The district on Monday released its SAT scores for the 2011-12 school year and students performed better on the exam than their state and national peers.

All five district schools that had a senior class also saw gains over the previous school year's scores.

The district's average was 1,547, higher than the state's average of 1,452 and the national average of 1,498. Scores included 2012 graduates of five of the county's six traditional high schools. River Ridge High School did not have a senior class during the 2011-12 school year.

Total averages for each of the district's schools are: 

Cherokee High School 

• Total average: 1,597
• Critical reading: 542
• Math: 536
• Writing: 519

Creekview High School

• Total average: 1,593
• Critical reading: 530
• Math: 537
• Writing: 526

Etowah High School

• Total average: 1,615
• Critical reading: 542
• Math: 547
• Writing: 526

Sequoyah High School

• Total average: 1,570
• Critical reading: 527
• Math: 530
• Writing: 513

Woodstock High School

• Total average: 1,576
• Critical reading: 527
• Math: 533
• Writing: 516

"The status quo in the Cherokee County School District is continuous improvement and outstanding academic achievement, and these stellar SAT results are clear evidence that we remain on the right track for ensuring every student reaches his or her potential in our schools and in higher education," Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo said in a statement. "These scores are a testament to the diligence and dedication of our students, teachers and administrators and the strong support from our school board, parents and the community at large for our schools, our expanding academic options and our goal of college and career readiness success for every student."

See the attached press release for more details on the district's scores, including a breakdown of how the district and each school have performed over the last three years and a comparison of how many students were tested.

More people leave Cherokee for work than any other county in metro Atlanta. Do you want to work closer to home?

R & D Mechanical Services, Inc. is looking for an HVAC Technician in the Holly Springs area. Applicants must have clean MVR and must pass drug screening and background check. A minimum of 5 years residential and/or light commercial experience required, and NATE Certification is a plus.

Qualified candidates are asked to send resumes to the following e-mail addresses: sheena@randdmechanical.net and heath@randdmechanical.net

To peruse the Canton-Sixes Patch classifieds, click here.

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.

A Canton church is mulling the possibility of building a permanent home in Woodstock. 

Watermarke Church, which holds worship services at Cherokee Charter Academy on Sixes Road, is exploring the option of constructing a new facility on 32.5 acres in the Ridgewalk area. 

The church is in negotiations to purchase the property.

The city last week submitted a Developments of Regional Impact application to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs on behalf of Alpharetta-based North Point Ministries, which is affiliated with Watermarke Church.

According to the application, the church would like to construct 250,000 square feet of buildings, which would include about 2,400 parking spaces. The church would be built in the same vicinity where the first phase of the Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta is underway.

Gavin Adams, lead pastor at Watermarke Church, said the church likes the Woodstock area as it’s more of a central location for many of its members, some of which he said drive an hour to attend their church services.

“We are in position to where we can move forward with permanent property,” he said.

Adams said the building will sit between 2,000 and 3,000 people. The church averages about 3,300 people for its weekend services, he added.

Community Development Director Richard McLeod, who submitted the application, said he hopes to hear back from the state in the next 60 days. However, McLeod said the company would need to petition the city to rezone the land for its proposed usage. 

Also, excluding the outlet mall project, McLeod noted the city has a moratorium in place that halts development in the area. 

"Currently, no one including the church can move forward until the moratorium is lifted," he added. 

He added the DRI process would need to be completed first before anything further could happen.

Developments of Regional Impact are described as large-scale projects that would have ripple effects beyond the jurisdictional boundaries in which they reside.

DCA's process requires each of these developments to be reviewed by the regional commission district it falls in, which in this case would be the Atlanta Regional Commission. The process also calls for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to review the project's scope.

The process weighs the impact a project would have on land use, transportation, water supply, waste water disposal, stormwater disposal and the environment.

Projects could be labeled as being in the best interest of the region or state or not. 

Adams said the church is well aware of the impact its proposal could have on traffic in the area. He notes the traffic to and from the church will occur mostly on Sunday mornings, which he noted will not be a peak time for the outlet mall.

He added the church will work with law enforcement agencies and also have police on site to help with traffic flow and mitigation.

Adams said the church has no concrete deadline, but he said the school’s capacity is no match for its swelling membership. Along with its traditional Sunday morning service, the church also has an evening service to accommodate all its members.

Adams noted that while Cherokee Charter Academy has been a “great” meeting location, the church would like to move forward as soon as possible on getting its own home.

“We’re going to need to move forward quickly, but we will be patient in knowing it will take time to build a facility that large,” he added.

An unidentified "community partner" is donating $45,000 to Clayton Elementary School, according to a statement from the Cherokee County School District.

The school's PTA is raising money to install a new playground at the school, district spokeswoman Barbara Jacoby said.

The presentation will be made at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 25 at Clayton Elementary. Executives and board members from the donating organization are expected to join school officials at the presentation.

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.

1. Weather: Sunny skies await us in the Canton area today, according to the National Weather Service. Expect a high temperature of 81 degrees today and a low of 57 tonight.

2. In Case You Missed It: Cherokee County Schools surpassed the state and national average in SAT scores. The report released yesterday details the average score of all county high schools. Etowah High School had the best scores in the county, followed by Cherokee and Creekview.

3. Happening Now: There will be a forum to discuss a proposed sales tax for Cherokee County that will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot at 8 a.m. at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center. If the sales tax passes, the current M&O property taxes will be phased out.

4. Looking Ahead: Unfortunately, we jumped the gun yesterday on the church expansion story. We will definitely have it today, and you can read all about the newest developments at 8 a.m.!

5. On This Date in History: On Sept. 25, 1775, patriot Ethan Allen attempted to capture Montreal from British forces during the Revolutionary War. Allen's attack was unsuccessful. 

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and whether you love to shop, attend events, walk or run, there are tons of different ways to support the cause. Check out the list below of opportunities to go pink in Canton and beyond:

The "Miss Pink" Breast Cancer Awareness Natural Beauty Pageant will be held on Oct. 27 at Liberty Hill United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. Contestants will participate in honor of, in support for, or in memory of a friend or family member, many of whom will be allowed on stage.

Contestants will be raising money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. There will be a special prize for the contestant that raises the most money!

Free-Flite Bicycles will be hosting the 2012 Trek Women Breast Cancer Awareness Ride at its Marietta location on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. all money raised goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

Futher afield, North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville will team up with Susan G. Komen For The Cure to support breast cancer awareness, research and treatment programs. Customers of the outlet mall can visit the Information Center on-site and donate $10 towards the cause. In return, customers will receive 25 percent off one item in select stores. 

The Pink Ribbons program in Atlanta, GA, is organizing its annual fashion show and luncheon. The event is a great way to discover what’s in style this season and to raise money for breast cancer awareness. This event also features a fashion show where breast cancer survivors strut down the runway.

There are even more ways to spread breast cancer awareness this month by supporting national organizations that are fighting for a cure.

Research centers like Susan G. Komen for the Cure are selling pink ribbon merchandise and it’s a twofer — retail therapy and donating to a cause that affects millions.

You can also support breast cancer research by affixing a special stamp to your mail. The U.S. Postal Service has been selling a stamp commemorating breast cancer awareness for the past 15 years. The agency has raised $75 million so far for research programs at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.

The American Cancer Society’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk is organized nationwide and so far more than 8 million people have walked for this cause and raised about $460 million.

And you can join people from four continents in a Race for the Cure event organized by Susan G. Komen For The Cure, or an Avon Walk For Breast Cancer event organized by the Avon Foundation for Women.

TELL US: Is there a special event you participate in to support breast cancer research? Share your stories and thoughts with us by adding them to the comments sections of this article. Also, be sure to add photos of you and your friends supporting the cause to the photo gallery above.

You might be able to find help fighting breast cancer and other types of cancers at your local grocery store and fitness centers, according to the research findings of Dr. Marian Neuhouser, Ph.D, RD. 

Dr. Neuhouser is a nutritional epidemiologist with a background in nutritional sciences. She is an investigator at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Her research is focused on lifestyle factors such as nutrition and physical activity. Some factors may prevent breast and prostate cancer and improve survivorship in those diagnosed with cancer.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year, more than 200,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 American women will die from breast cancer.

Dr. Neuhouser’s research has found that for postmenopausal women in particular, being overweight or obese may increase the risk for breast cancer.

Dr. Neuhouser explains, “After menopause, estrogens are synthesized by adipose tissue—the more adipose a woman has, the more estrogen she will make. Adipose cells also synthesize inflammatory factors, which have been linked to breast cancer.”

One of the most important things a woman at risk for breast cancer can do, says Dr. Neuhouser, is to “maintain a healthy weight."  

Given what the research indicates, Dr. Neuhouser says, “One of the most important things is that if a woman is overweight or obese, she should be advised to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. Daily physical activity and following healthy eating habits with plentiful fruits and vegetables and minimal empty calories and fried foods will help achieve these goals.”

Dr. Neuhouser says while it can be challenging to lose weight, “Small changes can add up and make a big difference."

When it comes to getting active, Dr. Neuhouser says, "If someone is not used to physical activity, try a five to ten minute walk and gradually increase the time. Having physical activity partners or walking partners always helps. I know my soccer team will be waiting for me on the field, so even if I am tired or busy, I still show up."

In Canton, Rockout Fitness has fun, friendly classes that will challenge you physically and get you into weight-losing mode. If running is more your thing, check out the Foothills Running Club. The group typically runs together on Saturdays, and leaves the Canton YMCA parking lot at 6:30 a.m.

When it comes to food, Dr. Neuhouser says, "Start with making one new food change each week. Instead of eating two cookies, eat just one.”

If you are concerned about your weight, Dr. Neuhouser suggests getting the support you need by asking your doctor for “ a referral to a reputable weight loss program.” For nutrition advice, Dr. Neuhouser recommends asking for a referral to a registered dietitian.

Locally, you can find support managing your weight through programs at the Shefa Wellness Center and registered dieticians such as Kathleen Atkins, RD LD, who may be reached at (678) 386-7094 or Jackie Busch, RD at (770) 479-5535.

Woodstock Economic Services Director Billy Peppers has been named vice president of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation. 

The foundation, organized at the request of Cherokee County School Board vice chair Janet Read, advocates for Cherokee County School district teachers and staff "by promoting teaching and learning and celebrating achievements," according to a press release issued by the school district. 

The foundation will raise money and seek out resources to enhance the educational experiences in the school district.

Other officers include: Attorney Billy Hasty Jr. of Ball Ground, president; retired educator Anne Coffman of Canton, secretary; school district parent Doug Barnes of Waleska, treasurer; community volunteer Peggy Moore of Canton, assistant secretary; and Credit Union of Georgia employee Amanda Arnold of Woodstock, assistant treasurer. Kevin Williams of Canton, manager of Chick-Fil-A, was also tapped as fundraising committee chairman.

Arnold will also serve as chair of the awareness committee and Peppers will also serve as compliance committee chair. Barnes will also double as finance committee chairman.

Other board members are: Canton resident Rod Drake of Georgia Power; Woodstock resident Brian Evola of Waste Management; Canton resident Billy Hayes, CEO of Northside Hospital-Cherokee; and Woodstock resident Debi Radcliff, community volunteer. 

Peppers said he's looking forward to the new role and is anxious to continue to make education "the number one reason families choose to move to Cherokee County."

"Having the top SAT scores in the state, along with great communities make Cherokee a wise investment for people and businesses," he said. "Working with other community leaders to assure that the school district offers top-notch programming is a no-brainer.  I look forward to helping the Foundation secure partners to ensure even better opportunities for Cherokee County students and teachers."

Along with electing officers and committee chairpersons, the foundation’s board last month also adopted its bylaws. It also has incorporated and is registered as a nonprofit corporation with the state of Georgia and will apply for 501(3)(c) status. 

The board comprises of 16 members, including five ex-official and non-voting members (the then-serving chair and vice chair of the Cherokee County Board of Education, which are currently Mike Chapman and Janet Read of Towne Lake respectively; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo or his designee; Assistant Superintendent for Financial Management Candler Howell; and the Cherokee County Council of PTA President Adam Belanger).

The 11 charter voting members are community leaders who were chosen based on their backgrounds and support of the school district. Future members will be chosen by lead principals in the district's innovation zones on a rotating basis.

Peppers, 30, graduated from the University of Georgia in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Peppers has been employed with the city since 2005 as the executive director of the Downtown Development Authority and was chosen the city’s director of economic services in 2008. 

He lives just outside of Canton with wife Julie Peppers and their son Turner. Both he and his wife are members of the Cherokee County Historical Society. He is a member of the Cherokee County Development Authority and the president of the Georgia Downtown Association. 

It's part Frankentstein, part Lassie but somehow director Tim Burton makes it work in this stop-motion animation simply called "Frankenweenie."

It's the story of a young boy (Frankenstein) who uses all of his talents to bring back his beloved dead dog. There are a lot of references to old horror movies all wrapped up in a heartwarming boy-and-his-dog film the whole family should enjoy.

Several celebrities lend their voices to this film that should appeal most to mom and dad. Fans of Boris Karloff will also enjoy this. It's strange in a Tim Burton kind of way but, in my opinion, some of his best work in a long, long time.

The characters are all pretty amusing and Victor Frankenstein is a suitable hero for this family-friendly horror film with Sparky, his patched up dog, stealing nearly every scene he's in. Creepy and weird? Sure… but it's just the right amount.

Take the whole family to see this one. Frankenweenie is a 'wiener.' The flick-o-meter gives Frankenweenie a five out of five. This odd little story of a boy and his dog shows that Tim Burton still has that wonderful weirdness that brings magic to the big screen.

Let me know what you think. Head to my Facebook fanpage, it's called TheBrettside, and click like.

One of the world's biggest companies will build its fourth store in Cherokee County. 

Walmart plans to build a 180,000-square-feet store and fuel center along Holly Springs Parkway near Interstate 575 at Exit 14. City Manager Rob Logan said the store will be located on the west side of Holly Springs Parkway, north of Pinecrest Road, and will be bordered by I-575 on the west.

The site, which is 30 acres, will also contain 30,000 square feet of retail space for businesses and additional stores, according to a press release from the city. Construction on the space will begin in spring 2013 and the facility could open sometime in 2014. Between 250 and 300 jobs are expected to come to the area.

"This is a very exciting announcement for our community," Mayor Tim Downing said in a statement. "Not only will it bring badly-needed jobs, but it will spur additional investment in nearby businesses." 

The store will have its traditional line-up of items to offer customers, including general merchandise, groceries stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables, a bakery and deli, a pharmacy and a section on health-related products.

"Walmart has been a fixture in Georgia for over 30 years and is consistently recognized as a valued community partner," Downing continued. "The store will provide residents with an affordable and convenient place to shop and will be wildly popular. The timing of this project is perfectly timed and we are happy to welcome Walmart as our neighbor."

Walmart has three locations in Cherokee County: Bells Ferry Road in Towne Lake, on Highway 92 in Woodstock and on Ball Ground Highway in Canton.

Highways across the metro Atlanta area are undergoing weekend construction projects, and Cherokee County isn't exempt from the proceedings.

The right lane of Insterstate 575 is closed at Sixes Road until 5 a.m. Monday. The construction began at 7 p.m. on Friday.

If you have to take 575 in the Sixes Road area this weekend and want to make sure traffic is acceptable, check out Canton-Sixes Patch's real time traffic map.

Cherokee County residents wishing to burn leaves and other natural debris must acquire outdoor burning permits, although the outdoor burning ban was lifted on Oct. 1.

Residential burning permits are good for one day at one location, and will only be issued for hand-piled natural vegetation such as leaves or branches. Permits will not be issued for burning construction debris, tires or other man-made material.

How residents acquire permits depends on where they live. Below is a list of Cherokee locales and how those residents acquire burn permits:

• Unincorportated Cherokee: Get a permit from the Georgia Forestry Commission. On their website, select "Cherokee" in the drop-down menu and follow the menus to get the permit.
• Within Waleska, Ball Ground, Nelson or Holly Springs City Limits: Obtain a burn permit from the Cherokee County Fire Department's website.
• Canton: Contact Fire Marshal Dean Floyd at (770) 479-7287.
• Woodstock: Obtain a permit on the fire department's web site. Woodstock allows only residential burning.

All fires must be extinguished an hour before dark.

The setting was a dimly lit Woodstock football field and Homecoming gowns for this firday night game.  Woodstock took advantage of Cherokee Warriors turnovers for a 28-0 victory.  

Both teams have next friday night off.  Cherokee Warriors (1-5) next play Etowah (3-3) on Oct. 19th.  Woodstock (1-5) faces Roswell (1-5) also on 10/19.  

Churchgoers on Sunday will be joining with their Christian bretheren of all denominations to celebrate World Communion Sunday.

This "Special Sunday," created in the 1930s by the Presbyterian Church has since spread to multiple denominations and promotes Christian unity and inter-denominational cooperation.

The United Methodist Church also uses World Communion Sunday as a day to raise money for the World Communion Sunday Scholarship, which provides for racial and ethnic minority students to make a positive impact in their church and in their world.

If you are interested in attending a new church to join with your fellow Christians to celebrate World Communion Sunday, please look at Canton-Sixes Patch's directory.

The Grizzly Den was not a pleasant place to be for the Sequoyah Chiefs in this intense annual rivalry. Although the first quarter was a battle of the defenses, the Grizzlies quickly scored on QB Hayden Hall’s (6) 3 yard pass to RB Will Kirby (26) to go up 7-0.  The Chiefs immediately responded
with a 50+ yard run by Stewart Glassic to score six.  The extra point was no good and the score of 7-6 Grizzlies carried the contest to halftime.

With about 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, Creekview was on the move again. From just outside the red zone, RB Chandler Wold (18) went 20 yards to score the TD.  Kicker Connor Frasier (36) put up the extra point for a 14-6 Grizzly advantage.  He eventually went three for three on the
night.

A huge Hayden Hall pass to WR Hunter Udall (21) set up the keeper for Hall on the next play and six more on the board.  Connor Frasier, once again pushed through the extra point to make it 21-6.

The majority of the 4th quarter continued the defensive battle, with the ball changing hands frequently.  With just outside of two minutes on the clock, however, the Chiefs had almost completed a big drive that had them on the 1 yard line of Creekview. The defense began an incredible goal line stand that cost the Chief’s a loss of yardage on tackles from DL Chris Mata (57), LB  Connor Dulmage (5) and DT Joseph Sorrentino (38).  Any thoughts of a touchdown and an onside kick to tie up the game, were put to bed by a Joseph Sorrentino fumble recovery just inside the 10 on the next play.  Hayden Hall ran out the remaining time on the clock, which ended the game with Creekview victorious.

Even though this game was dominated by defense, there was plenty of offensive excitement.  Connor Dulmage, Will Kirby, RB Isaiah Rodgers (27) and Chandler Wold all had success with the run. In addition to the deep threat in the passing game with Hunter Udall, Dulmage, Kirby and Wold  all shared in the air assault as well.

The Grizzlies improve to 4-1.

Creekview travels to Northview High School next Friday

A Canton man who was firing a .45 caliber handgun outside his home and involved in a domestic dispute was shot and killed by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office deputies Saturday.

Three deputies who were involved in the shooting have been put on paid administrative leave, and an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now underway.

Deputies were responding to a domestic dispute call that included threats of suicide, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The home on Hideaway Acres has been listed for sale at $249,500 and includes four bedrooms on a one-acre lot.

1. Weather: There is a 40 percent chance of showers in our area from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. The high temperature today will be 62 degrees, and tonight's low will be 46 degrees.

2. In Case You Missed It: A Canton man who was involved in a domestic dispute and threatening suicide was shot and killed by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office deputies after he refused to drop his weapon. 

In local high school football action from Friday, Creekview defeated rival Sequoyah but Cherokee was bested by Woodstock.

3. Happening Now: Today is Columbus Day. Banks will be closed and the Postal Service will not be running today. However, Cherokee County Schools are in session.

The seasonal outdoor burning ban was lifted at the start of the month. Cherokee County residents who wish to burn hand-gathered natural vegetation will be allowed to do so after they acquire a burn permit. Please read this article to learn more about getting a permit.

4. Looking Ahead: The Cherokee County School District's newest school got the official ribbon-cutting treatment on Thursday. Find out what's so special about this new school and when Canton can expect to bust out the big scissors at 7 a.m.!

5. On This Date in History: On Oct. 8, 1982, the Broadway musical Cats made its debut. The show ran for 18 years and is regarded as one of the greatest musicals of all time.