Cherokee County

85-year-old Georgia man dies in crash with semi-truck

An 85-year-old Ball Ground man died in a crash when the man's Kia and a semi-truck on Matt Highway in Forsyth County. The crash occurred at about 8:38 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection Matt Highway and Old Federal Road. According to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, a 2012 Kia Soul and was traveling south on Old Federal Road approaching Matt Highway. A 2018 Kenworth semi-truck was traveling westbound on Matt Highway approaching the intersection of Old Federal Road. According to witnesses, the Kia failed to stop for a stop sign and pulled out in the path of the semi-truck. The Kia…

Heavy rains bring flooding and washed out roads to metro Atlanta

Metro Atlanta residents awoke Wednesday morning to flooding brought about by heavy rains Tuesday night. Flash flood warnings were in effect in the early morning hours and many commuters found themselves either unable to leave their homes or having to take alternate routes. Below is a rundown of what happened in the hardest hit areas along with photos. Cobb CountyTuesday's storms knocked out power to the East Cobb Government Center thanks to a lightning strike to a nearby transformer facility. The center, which includes a tag office, will likely be closed for the remainder of the day, though county officials…

Former Roswell charter school teacher charged with child molestation

ROSWELL -- The Roswell Police Department has arrested a former local charter school teacher on rape charges, and is encouraging any additional victims to come forward. On Tuesday, August 31, Roswell Police Officers began an investigation into the sexual assault of a child, reported to have taken place in early 2020 at the Fulton Academy of Science and Technology Charter School located in Roswell. Further investigation has led detectives to charge 63-year-old Robert Vandel of Canton, with the following offenses: RapeAggravated Assault with Intent to Rape a Child Under 14Aggravated Child MolestationSexual Assault by Persons in Supervisory AuthorityEnticing a Child for Indecent PurposesFalse…

Canton man sentenced for zip tying and pistol-whipping his ex-wife

CANTON -- A Canton man was sentenced to 70 years with the first 25 of those years to be served in confinement for an attack on his ex-wife in the early morning hours of New Year's Day. According to the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office, Rodney William Metzer has admitted to 14 charges related to an attack on his ex-wife that included kidnapping, assaulting, threatening her with a handgun, and leaving her bound with homemade zip tie handcuffs. The defendant pled guilty and was sentenced Aug. 4 to 70 years, with the first 25 years to be served in confinement…

All candidates in Woodstock are running unopposed

WOODSTOCK -- When voters head to the polls in November for Woodstock's city elections, they will not have any difficult decisions to make. That's because every candidate will be running unopposed. It may have escaped most residents, but before you can run for office, you have to pay qualifying fees and officially qualify to appear on the ballot. During this week's qualifying period, no one signed up to run against any incumbent, and only one person qualified to run for mayor. Michael Caldwell qualified as Mayoral Candidate. Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques is not seeking an additional term. Incumbent Warren Johnson…

Here are the winners of the Cherokee County School District’s Summer Reading Challenge

Students in Cherokee County's elementary, middle, and high schools were busy reading during the summer, as they took part in the school district's summer reading challenge. The school district announced the winners of the challenge this week and the hours spent reading by each school were impressive, to say the least. E.T. Booth Middle school students logged the most minutes reading, with a whopping 16,602 minutes of reading. For those of you who aren't quite sure of the math on that, it comes to almost 277 hours of reading. Avery Elementary School won in the Elementary School category with 8,934…

Metro Atlanta spa shooter pleads guilty

Metro Atlanta spa shooter Robert Aaron Long pleaded guilty today in a Cherokee County courtroom to killing four people at Young's Asian Massage. The guilty plea is part of a plea bargain with the Cherokee District Attorney's office and covers the charges in Cherokee County's case against Long. The plea bargain prevents Long from getting the death penalty in Cherokee County. Prosecutors are recommending four consecutive life sentences plus 35-years of confinement. Long still faces murder charges in Fulton County, where he could still get the death penalty. All charges are related to three shootings at three asian-owned spas in…

Arrest made in 1988 killing of 8-year-old Roswell boy

ROSWELL -- The mystery surrounding the disappearance and death of an 8-year-old boy in Roswell 33 years ago has been solved using DNA evidence, according to the Roswell Police Department. Police have arrested 56-year-old James Michael Coates, of Woodstock, for the 1988 slaying of 8-year old Joshua Harmon. Coates was taken into custody July 21 and booked into the Fulton County Jail on multiple charges including murder. Roswell detectives arrested Coates after DNA evidence collected from the crime scene linked him to the murder. Police say Coates lived in the same apartment complex as Joshua and his family. Coates The Case: On Sunday,…

Hopebridge will open two new autism therapy locations for Georgia children

As the prevalence of autism increases and the national focus is placed on early identification and intervention, Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers is bringing its innovative mix of multidisciplinary services closer to home for Georgia’s children. One of the largest autism therapy providers in the nation and headquartered in Indiana, Hopebridge is bringing more than a decade of knowledge, experience and care to Conyers and Woodstock beginning in August. Georgia children living with autism will receive a wide range of benefits and services at Hopebridge, including: Diagnostic and applied behavior analysis evaluations – Now SchedulingState-of-the-art facilities designed specifically to enhance pediatric therapy for a spectrum of functioning levelsCenters with approximately 20…

Funeral arrangements announced for Holly Springs Police officer who was dragged by car

The funeral for fallen Holly Springs Police Officer Joe Burson will take place Monday at 2 p.m. at Woodstock First Baptist Church. Following the funeral there will be a procession westbound on Highway 92 to Rolling Hills Cemetery. The services at Woodstock First Baptist are open to the public and all are welcome to view the procession from Highway 92. Police are asking onlookers not to park in the roadway. Expect traffic delays after the funeral departs as Highway 92 will be shut down from Neese Road to Rolling Hills Cemetery. In Case You Missed It: According to the Georgia…

Georgia Police officer killed in line of duty was dragged by suspect’s car

A Holy Springs Police officer and a suspect were both killed last night during a traffic stop. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the officer was dragged by the suspect's car. The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Ansy Dolce. Dolce died after being shot by police. Preliminary information from the GBI indicates that Holly Springs Police officers were conducting a traffic stop for speeding just after 11 p.m. at the intersection of Harmony Lake Drive and Hickory Road. At some point during the traffic stop, police say Dolce attempted to escape in his car. Dolce dragged Holly Springs…

Traffic may be slow on I-575 next week. Here’s why

Motorists traveling on I-575 this weekend and next week may experience some delays. The Georgia Department of Transportation plans to close the right lane in each direction of the Interstate between Ernest W. Barrett Parkway and Highway 92 so it can re-stripe some lanes. The roadwork will begin tonight from 9 p.m. until 10 a.m. and will continue Saturday from 9 p.m. to 12 p.m. From Sunday through Thursday, crews plan to finish up just before the morning rush hour. They will be starting at 9 p.m. and wrapping up work at 5 a.m. Next Friday, they will close the…

Want to know more about Woodstock? Take a downtown tour

WOODSTOCK -- If you want to know more about the history of Woodstock, or just need a reason to go downtown, The Downtown Tour Series offers free guided walking tours exploring various aspects of the area. On the last Thursday of the month from March to September, themed guided tours will be offered. Each month’s tour covers a different topic. Tours will allow you to learn about the history of the area, learn about downtown Woodstock’s plentiful public art, hear about weird and unusual downtown facts, and explore the planning that has gone into making downtown Woodstock one of the…

Police say Georgia massage parlor shootings were not racially motivated

New: Law enforcement officials say three shootings at metro Atlanta massage parlors do not appear to be racially motivated, but were instead motivated by the suspect's alleged sex addiction. "He made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction, and may have frequented some of these places in the past," said Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds. According to Cherokee County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jay Baker, the suspect -- identified as 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, took responsibility for the shootings and also told investigators they were not racially motivated. "He sees these locations as something that allows him to go…

Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Woodstock

Part of Highway 92 in Woodstock is closed down and lined with police cars due to a shooting in the area. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office has confirmed it is investigating a shooting near Bells Ferry Road and Highway 92. According to the Sheriff's Department, two people are dead and three are injured. The suspect in the shooting escaped in a black Hyundai SUV. The Georgia Sun will have more details as this story develops.