Riverfest features local talent, vendors

Friday, May 17, 2013 by Chris McCarthy

Anna Solomonik, Taylor Jackson, Cassidy King and Xana Solomonik, member of the vocal group Harmonics will perform June 1 at Riverfest.

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

While 2013 Riverfest will bring in the big acts from well out of town, it also will give a hometown feel, with local performers and local merchants bringing their talents and trade to the banks of the Coosa May 31 and June 1.

Alabama Entertainers’ “Harmonics” have been added to the list of Riverfest performers. The quartet, made up of Xana and Anna Solomonik, Taylor Jackson and Cassidy King, will perform the national anthem and the song “Boondocks,” which has won them honors at competitions across the southeast.

Alabama Entertainers Director Deanna Duke said the girls will open performances June 1.

RiverfestDuke said the girls also perform as solo artists, in Alabama Entertainers larger performance group. Another local performer, Southside’s Kate Falcon also takes the stage June 1, followed by the Jeremy Jackson Band, Corey Smith and headliner Kenny Rogers.

For the first night of Riverfest, St. Paul and the Broken Bones will lead off the night’s entertainment, followed by the Reluctant Saints and 1980s rock greats Styx.

In addition to showcasing some outstanding local talent, Riverfest 2013 brings several local vendors to be a part of the festival – something Chamber President Heather New would like to see grow in years to come.

“We hope to grow local participation each year, and eventually, when folks visit Riverfest, they (will) get a true “sample” of what Gadsden and Etowah County has to offer in restaurants and retailers,” New said.

This push to incorporate as much local participation as possible is reflective of The Chamber’s mission and commitment to their members, New explained.

A few of the local retailers that have already committed include Pretty Plus Clothing, Local Joe’s Trading Post, Flowers By Rita Custom Framing and Back Forty Beer Company. New said it is not too late for local vendors to be included this year. Chamber members receive a discount. Interested businesses can call 256-543-3472 for more information.

In keeping with keeping things local, Back Forty’s Truck Stop Honey will be available in the beer garden, dubbed the Riverfest Pub, along with an even wider variety of Supreme Beverage products. Hours for the beer garden have been extended to match festival hours, as well.

‘We were grateful to see that the public that requested this amenity treated it responsibly and there were no negative issues within the pub last year,” New said.

The pub will offer local live music June 1 starting at 11 a.m. Performers will include Trading Faces, The Shane Givens Band and Wes Barnes.

Music will carry through the opening of the main stage, which will be about 4:30.

‘We have tried to incorporate the significant local talent into the festival and hope to make that a standard,” New said. “We have a wealth of amazing musicians in our area, and it would be an honor for the festival to possibly be a springboard for their careers.

“We saw last year’s country night opening act Drake White hit the charts this year and we hope that his exposure at Riverfest helped introduce him to even more of his hometown,” New added. White, who lives in Nashville, is from Hokes Bluff. He performed May 11 at Glencoe’s Celebration in the Park.

In other developments, New said ticket buyers can now make their purchases online through The Chamber’s website www.gadsdenriverfest.com. It’s the first year online sales have been available, and if all works well New said she expects to operate and online box office next year.

Tickets are available now at all vendor locals as well as at The Chamber office, or people may purchase a “print at home” ticket that can be scanned at the gate.

This new service, a partnership with Birmingham-based TicketBiscuit.com, will greatly enhance customer service by allowing credit card and debit card sales from any Internet device, as well as at the gate, New explained. Single day passes only will he available for purchase at the gate, but weekend passes can be purchased through Friday online.

New reminded that festivalgoers should bring lawn chairs or blankets. Lawn chairs will be allowed in the beer garden, but no coolers are allowed. New said law enforcement will be present at all gates and anyone attempting to enter the festival intoxicated will risk not only ejection from the festival, but also whatever response deemed necessary by the gate officer.

“We were pleased to see how the addition of law enforcement as security last year helped ensure the festival reminds family friendly,” New said. “They did a phenomenal job ensuring the safety and good time of all who attended.”

New said this year the children’s area will include significantly more inflatables and rides and will be operated by trained and certified staff of the rental company to ensure the utmost of safety for the children. There will be a ticket booth within the

children’s area for these rides. Tickets will be inexpensive and all park equipment will remain free for use.

Demolition work is underway on the Noojin Building on Chestnut Street.

Work underway to bring down Noojin Building

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

Work was underway this week to tear down the long-vacant Noojin Building in the 500 block of Chestnut Street.

For several years, the building has been vacant, and the last efforts of a developer to renovate the building fell through after he purchased it in 2010.

The City of Gadsden bought the building, with an eye toward removing the

The Rev. Dr. G.E. Robinson

Robinson honored for 50 years in ministry

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

This year, the Rev. G.E. Robinson is celebrating a truly noteworthy anniversary. This year marks his 50th year in the ministry, and his 40th year as pastor at Galilee Baptist Church in Gadsden.

On behalf of City of Gadsden Mayor Sherman Guyton, his Executive Assistant Shane Ellison presented a proclamation to Robinson at the May 14 city council

Sheriff’s office gets go-ahead to seek grant for SRO salaries

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin spoke to the Etowah County Commission during a work session recently about the opportunity to apply for a grant that could pay for 75 percent of salaries for additional school resource officers.

Etowah County Commissioner Jeff Overstreet said after more discussion during a May 14 work session, he believes the commission will give

Players participate in a volleyball tournament to raise money for the Jennings family May 11 at Crystal Springs Lake Park in Jacksonville.

Friends volley to raise money

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

Kayla Jennings lost her husband tragically last August, just months before their daughter Lainy was born. But Heath Jennings left behind a group of friends who want to do what they can to help provide for Lainy’s future.

Those friends put together a volleyball tournament, held May 11 at Crystal Springs, to establish a college fund for the

A group of Goodyear associates attended the Alabama Manufacturer of the Year Awards Luncheon held April 19 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel. Pictured are, from left, Al Phillips, talent manager; Betty Davis, administrative assistant; Keith Lyles, finance manager; Jackie Brehm Edmondson, communications manager; Mark McLenithan, director of manufacturing; and Charlie Skaggs, safety manager. Goodyear was a finalist for Alabama Manufacturer of the Year.

Goodyear named finalists for manufacturing award

For the second year in a row, Goodyear-Gadsden was named a finalist for the Alabama Manufacturer of the Year Award.

The prestigious award is given by the Alabama Technology Network and the Business Council of Alabama.

The award honors individuals and companies that bring “uncompromising excellence to Alabama manufacturing.”

The plant was named a finalist in the Large Manufacturer Division along with Mercedes-Benz

Coosa Christian students gather below Chaplain Deana Thacker and Principal Amanda Justus as they shoot silly string off the school roof.

Coosa Christian staff climbs over students’ fundraising

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

When the K-3 through sixth-graders began a coin challenge to raise money for a variety of mission projects, Coosa Christian Principal Amanda Justus and chapel teacher Deana Thacker made a deal with them.

If the students “raised the roof” for missions by collecting $1,600 or more, the two staffers would take to the roof – spending a day

Be part of ‘Impact’

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

Impact Gadsden grew from a desire to reach out to the community, Sheila Freeman, discipleship and children’s ministry director at First United Methodist Church of Gadsden, said.

“We had wanted to put together a day of outreach and service to the community,” she said. It’s an idea that has grown beyond anything Freeman and FUM Senior Pastor Harvey

Regions Bank will give away a green bike during Relay for Life May 17. Chances are $2.

Relay for Life slated May 17

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life officially gets underway at 6 p.m. May 17, at Crosspoint Community Church, but more than 30 teams of churches, businesses and families/friends have been at work raising money to support the ACS’s patient services and research programs for months in preparation for the event.

Regions Bank Branch Manager Jason Battles is

EYO schedules season, auditions

The Etowah Youth Orchestras has announced its 2013-2014 concert season. The season, titled “Espíritu y Alma (Spirit and Soul),” will feature music composed by Latin American composers and inspired by the Latin American musical sound.

The music from the concert season was selected to correlate with the EYO’s 2014 tour to Puerto Rico.

”We are excited to be visiting Puerto Rico

A photo of the diploma the Pattersons found.

RBC residents find diploma after storm

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

When a major windstorm blew through Etowah and surrounding counties several weeks ago, it left tree debris that many municipalities and individuals are working still to clear away.

But it left more than downed limbs at Donna Patterson’s home in Rainbow City. While she was cleaning up some of the debris behind her house, Patterson said she found

Staff Sgt. Daniel W. Ridgeway

Gadsden native earns Silver Star

By Lance Cpl. Shawn Valosin

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Service members shuffled through the doors and filled rows of seats at the Goettge Memorial Field House April 30, to honor a man who risked his life to save his fellow Marines in Afghanistan in 2011.

The Silver Star Medal, the third highest military decoration for valor, has only been awarded to 40

Drake White will perform May 11 at the City of Glencoe's Celebration in the Park.

Glencoe Celebration in the Park is May 11

The City of Glencoe hosts the annual Celebration in the Park May 11, featuring headliner Drake White and other free entertainment, food and craft vendors, inflatables, antique cars and tractors and a parade to kick off the activities.
The fun begins with the parade, lining up at Glencoe City Hall at 8:30 a.m.. Activities in the park begin at 10 a.m.

Etowah High School senior Braxton Bush received the first scholarship given by the United Way’s Young Leader’s Society, Gadsden-Etowah County, Bush was honored at a luncheon April 26. Pictured above, from left, Etowah High School Counselor Kali Brand, Chamber President Heather New, Braxton Bush, his mother Bernadette Bush, Etowah High School Principal John Serafini and YLS President Jay Hedgspeth.

United Way’s YLS awards scholarship

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

Etowah High School senior Braxton Bush is already a leader in his school, and the members of United Way’s Young Leaders Society, Gadsden, Etowah County, want to help Bush further develop his leadership skills and foster his community involvement.

Bush is the first recipient of an YLS scholarship.

He was selected on the basis of an application filled with

Taking on a monumental repair job

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

May is the month of memory – when cemeteries have traditional days of decoration, when the graves are tended and flowers are placed in honor of those who’ve gone before us.

But sometimes, especially with graves of those long-gone more than weeding and scrubbing of stones is needed. Actual repair work is required.

George White likes to fix things.

J.R., Kelley and Rene Zeringue competed on “The American Bible Challenge,” in a show that aired May 2. The Zeringues are competing for the National Living Donor Assistance Program. In 2010, Kelley donated a kidney to Matt McCallum. Both are healthy now.

Zeringue family takes American Bible Challenge

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

J.R, Kelley and Rene Zeringue tested their Bible knowledge for a nationally televised game show that aired May 2 on the Game Show Network, as a way to raise money and awareness of living organ donation.

The Zeringues’ “Team Hello Kidney” competed on “The American Bible Challenge” for a total purse of $140,000, to go to the National

GSCC schedules spring commencement dates

The Spring Commencement Ceremonies for Gadsden State Community College will be held May 9 at Word Alive International Outreach in Coldwater and May 10 at the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center in Gads-den. Both ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, President of the Alabama Public Service Commission, will address the graduates at the Anniston Commencement Ceremony.

Life Church youth group hits the road to fund church missions

On the weekend of April 26-28, 20 young people from Life Church in Rainbow City took on a challenge that many people would think was strange. The group decided to walk so that missionaries would not have to.

On Friday afternoon, the students started a journey that would raise not only awareness for missions but also to draw a little closer

‘Steps for Stef’ 5K to fund scholarship

Friends of the Southside High School teacher killed earlier this year in a traffic accident have organized a 5K run, “Steps for Stef,” to raise money for a scholarship fund for a Southside High School student.

Stefanie Deru was a graduate of Southside High School. She returned to her alma mater to teach business education.

After her death, a scholarship was established

HSPRAC’s hosts Pawsapalooza May 11

The Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center invites everyone to enjoy music and munchies at Pawsapalooza 2 from 11 a.m. until dark May 11 at the HSPRAC shelter at 4200 Brooke Avenue.

Pawzapalooza features a lineup of local bands who donate their time and talent to help raise money for homeless pets in Etowah County.

This year’s lineup includes Ed Howard

A Pinwheel ceremony in recognition of National Child Abuse Month. A May 4 golf tournament will raise money for the James M. Barrie Center, Etowah County's Children's Advocacy Center.

Golf Classic to raise money for Barrie Center

The Fraternal Order of Police and the Gadsden Water Works are sponsoring the Barrie Center Charity Golf Classic May 4 at Twin Bridges Golf Club, and it’s not too late to be a part of event.

Registration starts at 7 a.m. May 4 with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.

Registration includes a gift bag, breakfast, lunch, a team golf cart and