"Things Have Really Changed Here"

The Canton Police Department has instituted sweeping changes in the wake of the Jorelys Rivera tragedy.

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 …

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In Pictures: Canton Celebrates Jorelys Rivera

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 …

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Top 11 Stories from 2011

Lists of 10 are so last year.

The top 11 news stories from Holly Springs Patch, in no particular order, are: 1. Snowpocolypse 2011: In January, the Atlanta area was hit with massive ice, snow, slippery streets and power outages. We were stuck in our homes for days. The streets of Holly Springs were little more than an ice-skating rink and everyone and their dog tried to drive. 2. School spokesman Mike McGowan was arrested on his fourth DUI. During the aforementioned snowstorm, he was pulled over and allegedly said he was wearing the sheriff's pants. 3. High school graduations stay at First Baptist Woodstock. In a passionate meeting, the school board voted to keep all graduations at the large church even though they were being threatened with a law suit from an outside …

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PatchCast: Murder Arrest; Fake Cop; Jorelys Probe; Deck the House Winner

Here's your roundup of top stories from Cobb, Cherokee, Paulding, Douglas and Bartow counties for Dec. 30.

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PatchCast

Remembering Jorelys, Stabbing in Cartersville

Here's your roundup of major headlines from across the area.

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PatchCast: Brunn Will Plead Not Guilty; Residents Worry About Soccer Noise

Here are some of the highlights from Holly Springs-Hickory Flat and nearby Patches for Dec. 9.

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PatchCast: Ryan Brunn, Vehicular Homicide Suspect Appear in Court

Here are today's top headlines from Holly Springs-Hickory Flat Patch and beyond.

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Sorrow Hits Cherokee

Yesterday was a sad day for locals.

A happy, upbeat column feels wrong today. Like we should have one more day of mourning for Jorelys Rivera. I help out at some charities as a Spanish translator, so I regularly speak to anyone who will talk to me in Spanish, even if they’re in the store or at events I’m covering. I don’t even know if the little girl spoke Spanish, but I can’t help wondering if I spoke to her over the past year I’ve been here. Maybe it's just because she reminds me so much of a little girl I met in Panama once. Coincidentally, her name was Jordy.  That’s just my thoughts, though. I know it's AP style to go by the last name on second reference, but calling her Rivera just doesn't sound like it fits.  I'm keeping a running list of the memorials, funds and …

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Funeral Set for Jorelys Rivera

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Vigils, memorials and funds are being set up for the slain girl.

Funeral set Funeral arrangements have been set for Jorelys Rivera. A public viewing is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Darby funeral home, while a public service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Canton. Rivera's remains will be flown to Puerto Rico for burial after a private service for family members, WSB-TV reported Tuesday night. Pink and green ribbons Later this week, Rivera's school, Canton Elementary School, will be displaying pink and green ribbons outside the school. Wear a black ribbon A Twitter group is requesting that people wear a black ribbon today through Friday in honor of Jorelys Rivera.  Candlelight Vigils Both candlelight vigils have been combine and will now be on Friday at 6 p.m. at Heritage Park  in…

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Jessie Gable

9:10 pm on Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Tina, they aren't being deleted on purpose. Is anyone else having this problem?   more ›