CTL Script/ Top Stories of October 10th  Publish Date: October 10th     Pre-Roll:   From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast     Today is Friday, October 10th and Happy Birthday to Van Halen    I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Times Journal  Work to start this month on Canton Creek pedestrian bridge Cherokee County leaders OK $5M contract for CATS building Cherokee County adopts $438 million budget for 2026 Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on budgeting    We’ll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if you’re looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!     Commercial: Ingles Markets 7    STORY 1: Work to start this month on Canton Creek pedestrian bridge  Big changes are coming to the Sunnyside community this month, starting with a new pedestrian bridge over Canton Creek. The city says the project will make the area safer for its many walkers and cyclists—something that’s been a long time coming.  Thanks to a $2.2 million grant from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, funded by the American Rescue Plan, Canton can finally kick off improvements in this busy corridor along Hickory Flat Highway and Marietta Road.  The new bridge? A 160-foot weathering steel beauty, built just for pedestrians. No cars, no chaos—just a safe, scenic crossing. Meanwhile, the old bridge will stay open for vehicles until a replacement is built.  Construction starts soon, and the city’s already acquired nearby properties to make way for the upgrades. Sunnyside’s future? Looking bright.  STORY 2: Cherokee County leaders OK $5M contract for CATS building   Cherokee County is moving forward with a long-awaited upgrade for its transit system. On Oct. 7, commissioners approved a $5.1 million contract with Place Services, Inc. to build the new Cherokee Area Transit Service (CATS) headquarters at Univeter and Pinecrest roads.  The new facility? It’s a big deal—offices, dispatch, a driver training room, parking for 50 buses, and even a propane fueling station. The current space is bursting at the seams, so this project is designed to handle CATS’ needs for the next 20 years.  Construction starts soon and should wrap up in about a year. Most of the funding—80%—comes from a Federal Transit Administration grant, with the rest covered by local SPLOST funds.  This is phase two of the project. Phase one, which included site prep and stormwater work, wrapped up in September.  STORY 3: Cherokee County adopts $438 million budget for 2026  Cherokee County just locked in its 2026 budget—$438.6 million. Sounds massive, right? But according to Chairman Harry Johnston, it’s as lean as it gets. Here is Cherokee County Commission Chair Harry Johnston on the budget.   CHAIRMAN HARRY JOHNSTON CLIP.  The only big addition? A $1.4 million incentive program for sheriff’s deputies to reward education and certifications—an effort to keep them long-term.  Public safety eats up over half the general fund, with $73.6 million going to the sheriff’s office alone. Other highlights? $59.3 million for fire services, $9.8 million for parks, and $2.9 million for senior services.  SPLOST funds will cover big projects like courthouse expansion, road improvements, and even an airport runway extension. And here’s the kicker: no tax hikes.  For the full 511-page breakdown, check out cherokeecountyga.gov.    We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.      We’ll be right back.    Break: INGLES 7       STORY 4: Canton council to vote on contract to build new park   Canton’s South Canton Park is one step closer to reality, with city leaders set to vote on a construction contract Oct. 16. The bids are in—eight of them, ranging from $7.6 million to over $12 million—and, as Mayor Bill Grant put it, “It’s state of the art... and not cheap.”  The park, planned for 2939 Marietta Highway (near Dairy Queen), will be packed with features: two playgrounds (one for little ones, one for bigger kids), dog parks with splash pads, a boardwalk, walking trails, a small amphitheater, and even a “listen and chill lawn.” Food trucks? Yep, there’s space for those too.  The city snagged a $2.2 million state grant to help fund the project, with the rest coming from SPLOST and impact fees. Residents weighed in on the design last spring, and while the original concept included a zipline, that’s been scrapped.  Once the contract’s signed, the city will finalize the timeline. Stay tuned—this park’s going to be a game-changer.    STORY 5: Cherokee County Football Power Rankings - Week 9   The Cherokee County football power rankings are heating up as we head into Week 9. Here’s where things stand:  River Ridge (6-1, 3-1)The Knights came off their bye week swinging, shutting out Riverwood 35-0. Camden Cox? A beast—102 rushing yards and a TD on just 11 carries. Add in turnovers from Sam Vincent (INT) and Harris Deriso (forced fumble), and this team looks sharp. They host Sprayberry this week in what could be a region-deciding showdown. Sequoyah (6-1, 3-1)No Rajecki? No problem. The Chiefs crushed Lassiter 32-0, with QB Kolby Martin throwing for 259 yards and 3 TDs. Brooks Darling and Jack Ripley stepped up big. They face Woodstock next, a team they’ve beaten four straight times. Woodstock (5-2, 3-1)The Wolverines barely escaped Pope, winning 20-14 behind QB Graham Burmeister, who’s been lights out all season (1,420 yards, 15 TDs). They’ll need him at his best against Sequoyah this week. Creekview (3-4, 3-1)Don’t sleep on the Grizzlies. They nearly upset Sprayberry in OT last week and have clawed their way back after an 0-3 start. With Pope up next, they’re poised to stay in the playoff hunt. Etowah (3-4, 1-2)The Eagles fell to North Paulding but showed flashes, especially QB Zeke Douglass (91 rushing yards) and WR Walker Hughes (118 receiving yards). They’ll look to rebound against Wheeler. Cherokee (1-6, 0-3)It’s been a tough season for the Warriors, but Brandon Hamilton continues to shine, rushing past 1,000 yards on the year. With Walton and North Cobb looming, the road ahead doesn’t get any easier.     And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on budgeting      Commercial:       We’ll have closing comments after this.      COMMERCIAL: Ingles Markets 7     SIGN OFF –    Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. about all our stories and get other great content at www.tribuneledgernews.com    Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. 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