Cherokee native Chris Byess has joined the Cherokee Tribune as a sports writer.

In making the announcement Thursday, Managing Editor Rebecca Johnston said the newspaper is pleased to have Byess joining the award-winning Tribune sports department.

“We are dedicated to providing the best in local sports coverage for our subscribers, and with the addition of Chris, who has deep ties to the community, we know our readers will find our sports pages even more informative,” Johnston said.

As a resident of the county for the first 18 years of his life, Byess attended Macedonia Elementary and Teasley Middle schools before graduating from Cherokee High School in 2007.

Byess graduated from the University of Georgia in December with a bachelor’s degree from the Grady School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

“I am thrilled that I was chosen to be the newest member of the Cherokee Tribune team. As a Canton native, I could not think of a better place than Cherokee County, covering the local sports teams that I grew up watching, to begin my career,” Byess said.

Byess said he is looking forward to providing more local coverage of all high school teams in the county, as well as county sports at all levels.

The community is invited to stop by the Tribune’s office at 521 East Main St. in Canton to share sports news or story ideas and to welcome Byess to the Tribune’s staff. Byess can be reached by phone at (770) 479-1441, ext. 625.