Catchin’ Up…with Charlie Brown
By Joshua Price/Sports Editor
Charles Brown coached football, basketball and baseball from 1961 to 1990. He began his coaching career at Altoona High School and retired from West End High School after the 1990 school year.
“Charlie” or “Cholley” graduated from Emma Sansom High School in 1953, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball.
Brown played football under Floyd “K.O.” Miller at…
Friendship, legacies etched in stone
By Joshua Price/Sports Editor
West End High School principal Mark Stancil said it best.
“The world is a better place because he lived.”
Stancil was referring to Brent Clifton, who was involved in practically everything at West End for forty years as both an athlete, teacher and coach.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s, Clifton taught science and physical education and coached all sports for…
The Tough Tigers of ’57
By Joshua Price/Sports Editor
This article was originally published in The Messenger on October 28, 2011 as part of the top teams countdown.
Prior to the ’57 season, there was much skepticism as to the expectations of the Gadsden Tigers. Beginning his second year at the helm, head coach Jerry Watford knew he had a few good players returning from a 1-7-2…
Covenant Marriage bill an abuse of governmental authority
A local newspaper recently conducted an online poll to see what readers think about Senator Phil Williams covenant marriage bill that makes it more difficult to get a divorce. More than 75 percent of those who voted in the poll were opposed to covenant marriages. I was not surprised to see how the citizens […]
Early settlers along the bends of the Coosa River – Part Two
The Vagabond has been asked several times about writing about the bends of the Coosa River and whom they were named for. This is what has been found so far:
The Coosa River comes into Etowah County from the west and forms part of the boundary line between Etowah and Cherokee counties. The Coosa forms a total of eleven…
Local Earth Day celebration set for April 21
By Chris McCarthy
Publisher/Editor
Noccalula Falls Park will be greener than normal on April 21.
The Coosa Valley Sierra Club will host the 2012 Earth Day Celebration from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The free event is part of the nationwide 42nd Earth Day.
According to CVSC chairman Steve Garrison, the event most likely is the first public Earth Day celebration…
Ancestor Swap Meet set for April 17-21
By Chris McCarthy
Publisher/Editor
The Northeast Alabama Genealogical Society will host its 13th annual “Ancestor Swap Meet” on Saturday, April 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Senior Activity Center in Gadsden.
The Ancestor Swap Meet is a unique opportunity for genealogical researchers from around the nation to get together and trade research information about various families.
The N.E.A.G.S.…
Local Major Leaguers to headline charity tournament
By Joshua Price/Sports Editor
Local baseball fans will have the rare opportunity to meet former big leaguers when Baseball Players Association, Alabama Xtreme Travelball and NextLvl Sports hosts a charity baseball tournament to benefit The Miracle League.
Former Major League players Steve Shields, Stacy Jones, Brian Doyle and Eddie Priest will meet with fans and interact with the players.
The tournament is slated…
Local artists featured at Plein Air festival
A pair of local oil painters are among several professional artists participating in the Fourth Annual Southeastern Plein Air Invitational from Apr. 9-13 in the Gadsden area. The event is hosted by the Gadsden Museum of Art. Craig Reynolds of Rainbow City and Gina Brown of Glencoe joined 13 other artists painting “en plein […]