Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Canton's Amy Turcotte has helped and prayed for many in Cherokee County in their time of need.
Amy Turcotte says she's a "jack of all trades, master of none." But there are many in Cherokee County who would disagree with her. Anytime there is a need, be it a death, tragic accident or just a troubled soul, Turcotte is involved in some way helping those in need. "God has put certain people in my path," said Turcotte, who works for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Through that and her many contacts, Turcotte is able to reach out to people. In 2009, 18-year-old Matthew Blaylock dove into shallow water and woke up with no feeling from the neck down. "I helped him get his story out," Turcotte said. "I started working with him and now he goes to different events and banquets." Blaylock shares his story of drinking that night and the …
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The Canton Police Department has instituted sweeping changes in the wake of the Jorelys Rivera tragedy.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Justin Ove
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012
A year ago today, the body of Jorelys Rivera was found in a dumpster at her River Ridge apartment complex after she was abducted, sexually assaulted and stabbed by maintenance man Ryan Brunn three days prior. The handling of the case by the Canton Police Department was seen as an organizational failure, starting with the lax attitude of the department from the top down in their efforts to find the girl. "[I]t reflects poorly on the department that neither the Chief nor the assistant chief were immediately informed and that neither of them was on the scene post haste," wrote Councilman Bob Rush to Mayor Gene Hobgood and City Manager Scott Wood in a January e-mail. "The assumption that this was only a runaway was initially valid but no one …
Monday, December 3, 2012
The celebration of life was accompanied by heart-stirring speeches and music from Canton's residents.
Photographs, song and the spoken word were used to remember and celebrate the life of Jorelys Rivera on the one year anniversary of the grisly murder that shook Canton to its very core. Those assembled at the Pruett YMCA building in Canton Sunday night chose to remember not how the seven-year-old died, but how she lived. Remembered as a beautiful vivacious girl who loved life, Jorelys was memorialized in a sermon by Mt. Zion Church's Pastor Eloisa Gonzalez. "God is preparing a banquet for us when we die," Gonzalez said. "And I know when it is time for my banquet, Jorelys will be sitting right next to me." Jorelys' mother Josilenne Rivera told Gonzalez that Jorelys came to her in a dream as a butterfly. Gonzalez interpreted the dream as …
Sunday, December 2, 2012
The one year anniversary of the 7-year-old's murder will be marked with "a celebration of life."
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Here's what's going on in Canton this Monday.
1. Weather: Sometimes you have to love the South. According to the National Weather Service, after the fog burns off around 9 a.m. we are going to see a high temperature today of 71 degrees. Folks, it's December. Tonight's low should be around 48 degrees. 2. In Case You Missed It: Last night people from all walks of life came to the Pruett YMCA to remember the life of Jorelys Rivera, who was murdered on Dec. 2, 2011. If you were unable to make it to the service, check out Patch's photo gallery and leave a message for Jorelys. This weekend, Santa took some time off from his busy schedule to drop by Cannon Park to be a part of the Annual Christmas Parade! Browse Patch's photos of the fun and add your own if you're so inclined! 3. Happening …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The one year anniversary of the 7-year-old's murder will be marked with "a celebration of life."
A candlelight vigil will be held on Sunday to mark the one year anniversary of the brutal murder of a seven-year-old Canton girl. Canton Elementary School student Jorelys Rivera was abducted and killed by maintenance worker Ryan Brunn in her apartment complex on Dec. 2, 2011. Brunn pleaded guilty to the murder and hanged himself in his jail cell shortly after receiving a life sentence for the crime. The vigil, however, will focus on the memory of Jorelys as a happy, loving young girl with the world at her feet. “The theme is going to be a celebration of life,” Bianca Cummings, local child safety advocate and organizer of the vigil said to The Marietta Daily Journal. According to Cummings, Jorelys' mother Joselinne Rivera-Ruiz asked her to…
Monday, August 6, 2012
"It is my understanding that the City Manager had no input or role in deciding to terminate Mr. Vande Zande, and therefore the purported basis for any legal claim would not be true," the city attorney said.
Todd Vande Zande, who temporarily took the helm of the Canton Police Department after the agency faced widespread criticism for its role in the search of 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera, was fired today. "I have confirmed that Todd Vande Zande’s employment was terminated today," city attorney Bobby Dyer wrote in an email to Canton-Sixes Patch. Vande Zande had until the close of business today to resign or face termination, Atlanta lawyer Lance J. LoRusso said in a letter to the mayor, the city manager, the new police chief and all six members of the Canton City Council. Dyer said he has received a copy of the letter and refuted LoRusso's claim that Vande Zande's ouster was retaliation for his failure to comply with several requests from City …
Todd Vande Zande, who was charged with stabilizing the Canton Police Department after the Jorelys Rivera case, must resign today or be fired, his lawyer said.
The man tasked with stabilizing the Canton Police Department after the brutal abduction and murder of 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera must resign today or be fired, his attorney said. New police Chief Bob Merchant on Friday "advised (assistant police chief Todd) Vande Zande that his employment would be terminated on Monday if Vande Zande did not voluntarily resign his position by close of business on Monday," Atlanta lawyer Lance J. LoRusso wrote in a letter to Merchant, the mayor, the city manager and all six members of the Canton City Council. In the letter, LoRusso introduced himself as Vande Zande's attorney, demanded "the City of Canton immediately cease its harassment and retaliatory actions," asked that Merchant and the city manager take …
Saturday, June 23, 2012
The self defense class will be held at the Best Western Inn.
Children will get the opportunity to learn self defense and how to prevent being abducted at a class being offered today in Canton. Revved Up Kids will hold a class geared toward children ages 6-10 at the Best Western Inn on Transit Avenue. The Alpharetta-based Revved Up Kids teaches parents how to start the conversation. It also uses a video-based training component to teach children appropriate safety behaviors and self-defense skills that they can use as safety mechanisms. Although the class has a capacity for 16 children, only eight had registered. Revved Up Kids Co-Founder Allison Neal said that's likely because of vacations, camps and other activities associated with summer. "We tend to run slower in the summer than we do the rest of…
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Joselinne Rivera-Ruiz, whose daughter's brutal murder made national headlines in December and rocked this city of nearly 23,000, was arrested on Monday.
Patricia Saye
11:08 am on Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Amy back on January 16 of this year I had to have a complete hysterectomy and on the morning my doctor dismiss me from the hospital she came in and talk to me, and one of the things she told me, is that God has a special plan for me in life, but she does not know what the plan is , will you please pray about this and let me know if God reveal my special plan to you? more ›