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‘Duck Dynasty’ star visits for autographs, fundraiser

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

The stars of “Duck Dynasty,” the hit A&E reality TV show, get about 200 request for speaking engagements every day, said Phil Robertson.

If there’s an emperor in the “Duck Dynasty,” it would be Phil – creator of the Duck Commander duck call that forged the family fortune and the led to the television show that features three

ECSO trains officers to increase its motorcycle unit

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

The Etowah County Sheriff Office is completing two weeks of training that will get an additional pair of deputies road ready for the motorcycle unit.

Training was conducted at the old steel plant parking lot, where dozens of traffic cones were placed to create a course for the motorcycle riders to maneuver through.

Deputy Brian Smith trained through

Free benefit concert slated July 27 for Sandy’s Place

By Donna Thornton/News Editor You are invited to a free afternoon and evening of music, fun, food and fellowship, all for a good cause July 27 at Noccalula Falls Campground. A benefit concert to benefit Sandy’s Place, a transitional home for women, also features vendors, door prizes and a raffle for a Washburn electric guitar […]

Commission, DPS seek new license office location

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

The Etowah County Commission is working with the Alabama Department of Public Safety to find a new location for driver’s license testing.

Currently, the people seeking permits and licenses go to the DPS facility in Glencoe.

Alabama State Trooper Corporal Darryl Zuchelli said nothing is set in stone, however, the department is considering closing the Glencoe facility because of

Gadsden hosts Mahjongg tournament, raises money for orchestra

By Donna Thornton/News Editor

At least 98 people from across Alabama and several surrounding states were in Gadsden July 17 for the Southeast Regional Mahjongg tournament, ready to match their tiles for a title.

While Mahjongg may not be a familiar game to many, it seems to be gaining in popularity locally. It is a very old Chinese game, using figured tiles.

Tournamnet

Carey Forrest “Bill” Elton Part Two

This week the Vagabond continues a little-known history of the local Alabama 167th Infantry known as the Rainbow Division, a unit that Rainbow Drive and Rainbow City were named after.

Robert Elton, Carey Forrest “Bill” Elton’s son, donated a yearbook about the Alabama 167th Infantry during 1938 to the Etowah Historical Society. We will be showing this yearbook and more about

What makes America great

Last week, in recognition of Independence Day, I wrote about freedom and democracy and how these are both a right and a privilege. Freedom and democracy are what makes this country great. They are the reason that people are willing to risk their lives to come to this country.

But freedom and democracy are not the only the reasons why this

Get with the program(s)

By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent I’ve had a longtime hobby of collecting football programs, from the first high school games I attended to the rarer Rose Bowl programs that featured my beloved Alabama Crimson Tide. The earliest high school games I attended usually were Emma Sansom against either Gadsden High or Etowah High during the early […]

GCHS to host sports seminar

Leaders at Jacksonville State University are coming together with the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, National Athletic Trainers’ Association, National Strength and Conditioning Association and Safe Kids USA to promote the STOP Sports Injuries campaign.

The campaign’s inaugural event will take place on Thursday, July