Bama Bucks deer farm thrives in Lion country
By Gene Stanley/Staff Correspondent In 1998, Terry Turk saw a dream fulfilled when he bought a captive whitetail deer. ‘A,’ as in one. Today, Turk’s Bama Bucks farm contains over 250 deer along with three kangaroos, three elk and a pair of peafowl on his Sardis City farm. And that only counts the outdoor animals. […]
Youth find mission field close to home
By Donna Thornton/News Editor
More than 40 young people worked in the Ohatchee-Southside area the week of July 8-12, weeding flower beds, building a walking trail, cleaning in and around schools and conducting cheerleading and football camps, as part of a Southside Baptist Church mission trip.
Their goal was two-fold: getting a lot of needed work done and showing people the way
ECSO hosts gun bill training sessions
By Donna Thornton/News Editor
Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin vocally opposed a proposed gun bill that would have made drastic changes in the ability of business owners to limit firearms on their property, in his office to restrict gun permits, and the authority of law enforcement officers to question someone carrying a gun.
Revisions were made to the bill – which became
Miracle League game back in RBC
By Josh Price/ Special to the Messenger
Baseball diamonds were not designed with wheelchairs and crutches in mind. Natural grass and crushed red brick are barriers for special needs children.
Toward that end, Baseball Players Association and Alabama Xtreme Travelball will host the second annual charity baseball tournament benefiting the Miracle League on Aug. 2-4 at the Vivian Lee Maddox Sports Complex
1938 Co. 167 Infantry, Gadsden Part three
This week the Vagabond continues a little-known history of the local Gadsden Alabama 167th Infantry. Known as the Rainbow Division, it was the unit that Rainbow Drive and Rainbow City were named after.
Robert Elton, Carey Forrest “Bill” Elton’s son, recently donated to the Etowah Historical Society a yearbook about the Alabama 167th Infantry during 1938. We will be showing this
Why we must inspire our children to public service
Earlier this month, a new Gallop poll was released showing that sixty-four percent of Americans do not want their children to pursue a career in politics.
While I understand why Americans feel this way, I am also deeply disappointed by the results of the poll.
Certainly, politics has earned a bad reputation. There’s no shortage of stories about corrupt politicians
Wilson earned medals, holds honor of troops
By Donna Thornton/News Editor
Walnut Grove native Jerry Wilson wasn’t a wet-behind-the-ears teenager when he served in Vietnam.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956. During the conflict in Vietnam, though still a young man himself, he was a leader to even younger, less experienced soldiers.
Wilson remained in the Army until 1982 and during his lengthy service he earned a number
Johnson leaves behind more than namesake store
By Laura Ann Tipps/Staff correspondent
Johnson’s Giant Food stores have been fixtures of the Etowah County landscape for almost 40 years.
On July 4, the stores’ founder and owner, William “Bill” Johnson, passed away at the age of 77. Although Bill’s weekly visits to all three area Johnson grocery stores will be missed, his three kids, Diane, Lynn, and Mack, are
Home for Garmons, National 9/11 Flag celebrated in Boaz
By Donna Thornton/News Editor
Many people in northeast Alabama and beyond have been awed and humbled by the story of Corey Garmon, a Sardis City native, who was seriously injured while serving as a cavalry scout in Afghanistan, and how he has battled back from his injuries.
Garmon was among those in awe July 16 in Boaz, as the National 9/11 Flag