Life + Culture

Roots, Grit, and Purpose: The Men of Cherokee County

Leaders, fathers, and neighbors share the impact of leading in our local community Article and Photography by Josh Bagby   Agency Principal, Providence Insurance & Founder of Cherokee Connect Growing up here, I watched nonprofits, church families, local businesses, and complete strangers step in to help one another for the common good. When I started thinking through Cherokee Connect, I knew how special this place was. One of the goals was to bring that spirit together at scale. Our...

Local Services

Ready to Activate

Inside the real-time intelligence center keeping Cherokee County's families safer every single day. Article by Commander Lindsay Harris | Photography by Cherokee Sheriff's Office There's a room on Chattin Drive in Canton that most Cherokee County residents will never see. From the outside, it looks like any other county building. But step through those doors, and you'll find something that feels less like North Georgia and a lot more like a scene straight out of CSI Miami. Screens line the...

Life + Culture

The Car That Came Home

A locals' favorite's unforgettable quest to find his dream car. Article and Photography by Joe Gransen If you have been lucky enough to catch Canton's Christmas tree lighting celebration in recent years, chances are you heard his voice before you ever saw his face. Joe Gransden, Atlanta's own jazz trumpeter, vocalist, and Big Band leader, has a genuine gift for making any crowd feel like family. He has performed coast to coast, shared stages with Kenny G, and even played live at the White...

Arts + Culture

The Cut You've Earned

Engine Bay brings community, craft, and a firehouse pride to the Mill on Etowah Article by Canton City Lifestyle | Photography by Practically Perfect Salon and Spa There's a reason the best conversations happen in a barber's chair. Something about the rhythm of the clippers, the real talk, and the mirror that asks you to just sit still for a minute strips away the noise and makes space for something genuine. Brittany Merrion knows that feeling well. For years, she's built exactly that kind of...

Beauty

Jewelry as Art

Brenda Smith transforms personal journeys into extraordinary jewelry, empowering women through artistry, meaning, and design Article by Woodstock City Lifestyle There is a certain power in women who create—not just for beauty, but with purpose. In this year’s Women’s Issue, we celebrate those who are shaping community through vision, resilience, and leadership. For Woodstock-based jewelry designer Brenda Smith, that power is expressed through every piece she brings to life. Her designs are...

Finance + Legal Services

Banking with Purpose

How Coosa Valley Credit Union is empowering members, building wealth, and quietly redefining what a financial institution can mean for a community. Article by Sam Payne | Photography by Coosa Valley Credit Union Q: For someone who has always banked with a large institution, what is the single most compelling reason to take a second look at Coosa Valley Credit Union? A: The answer is simple: here, you are not a customer. You are a member. That distinction changes everything. At the big...

Life + Culture

Voices of Canton: Women Leading the Way

Local leaders share the passion, purpose, and vision shaping Canton's future. Article by Jennifer Elloy Ashley Rowe: Business Development Officer, LGE Community Credit Union As I’ve grown both personally and professionally, I’ve realized that success isn’t about titles or accomplishments; it’s about the ripple effect you create. Women play an essential and dynamic role in shaping the future of Woodstock. We are often the connectors, the ones who build relationships, nurture, and create...

Sports + Recreation

Game. Set. Growth

Colleen Craig: Turning vision, grit, and community purpose into ownership and launch of Atlanta Vibe, Georgia’s groundbreaking entry into Major League Pro Women's Volleyball Article by Brennan Smith On the Court Where a Dream Took Shape On January 24, 2024, inside a roaring Omaha arena, the Atlanta Vibe clinched a fiveset thriller in the firstever Major League Volleyball match. For Colleen Craig, standing amid the noise, tension, and celebration, the moment was more than a win it was...

Local Services

An Investment in Compassion for Cherokee County

One dinner given, one family fed uplifted by SERV International’s Meal a Month initiative. Article by Peter Ryan | Photography by Serv Intervational For more than two decades, SERV International has quietly extended hope from Canton to communities around the globe. What began as a mission to meet both physical and spiritual needs internationally has grown into a steady local presence in Cherokee County, where more than 1,000 food boxes are packed and distributed each month to neighbors...

Life + Culture

Where Stories Land

Film investment shapes Cherokee County’s economy, workforce, and creative future from the ground up. Article and Photography by Cherokee Office of Economic Development The rise of film in Cherokee County is neither accidental nor ornamental. It is the result of a sustained strategy led by the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) and guided by Director of Film Molly Mercer, whose work bridges logistics and long-term vision. Productions such as Ozark and American Made, starring Tom...