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Westbrook ace signs with Georgia Highlands

By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent

A large group of friends, teammates, school administrators and coaches gathered at Westbrook Christian School on June 21 as Warrior senior pitcher/outfielder Mikhail Cazenave signed a baseball scholarship with Georgia Highlands Community College located in Rome, Ga.

Cazenave attended a baseball camp at the school’s Cartersville campus in June.

“I loved the atmosphere there and I felt at

Southeastern Conference 2012-13 year in review

The 2012-2013 Southeastern Conference sports season came to a close last week when Mississippi State fell to UCLA in the finals of the NCAA College World Series. The SEC posted another highly successful season across the board, winning a total of seven national championships in all sports.

In men’s indoor track, Arkansas won its 20th national championship. The Hogs have dominated

Freedom and Democracy: a privilege and responsibility

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. It is a special time each year when we celebrate our nation’s birthday (this year is our 237th birthday) with fun, food, fireworks, family and friends.

But it should also be a time when we reflect on what it means to be free and to have democracy.

Thousands of Americans have given

Carey Forrest “Bill” Elton Part One

Some time ago, the Messenger published a photo of the Gadsden National Guard band at Camp Blanding in Florida, which is located west of Jacksonville. The photo also appeared on Facebook some time back. Bill Elton was one of the few people who had his own car at Blanding, so he would sometimes loan the car to some of the

Croyle to take the reins at Big Oak Ranch

By Gene Stanley/Correspondent

Brodie Croyle thought he was in trouble right after he told his wife of his life plans.

However, it wasn’t tears of anger that Kelli Schutz Croyle was shedding – they were tears of joy.

“She told me that she had been waiting for the announcement for five years,” Brodie said. “She said that she and Dad (John Croyle) had

Attalla plans event on Second Saturday

The city of Attalla plans its monthly street festival for the Second Saturday for the second straight month.

Last month, the festival — previously held on the first Saturday of each month — was moved to the second weekend in the month to avoid conflict with Gasden’s Riverfest.

For the month of July, city leaders elected to have the event on the

Jelks presents second annual Kid’s Day event

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

Last summer Gene Jelks made his first effort to give back to the Gadsden Community with Kid’s Day, bringing entertainment and inspiration to young people in the city where he grew up.

Jelks’ Above Ground Ministries is presenting the 2nd Annual Kid’s Day Event July 13 at Gadsden City Stadium. The event will feature a football clinic from

Gadsden, Southside church youth spend week in service

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

Many people think of mission work as something that takes place in a foreign field, but young people from First United Methodist Church of Gadsden and Southside United Methodist Church recently worked on a Service Week largely within walking distance of the Gadsden church.

Youth Minister Andy Yarnell said it is the third year the youth group at

Local growers, fresh produce lovers, find meeting place

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

As the early summer harvests of fresh vegetables began to come in this month, local municipalities provided a place for farmers and customers to come together.

Farmer’s Markets throughout Etowah County give growers a place to sell their goods and local canners and cooks a place to turn for the freshest produce around, if they don’t grow it