Keep Smilin’ with Rosie – Deeps wells and scary outhouses
By Rosie Preston Growing up with my grandfather Papa (his real name was Jerome Meadows, also known as Shorty) was amazing when I look back on his positive lifestyle habits. He learned so much while growing up on a farm in Collinsville. He was one of 13 children, and I know that his family was […]
The Vagabond – Charlie’s Hart’s barefoot hole-in-one
By Danny Crownover Charles Centerfit Hart posted in the Gadsden High Folks Facebook page about and his hole-in-one experience some 20 years ago. It reads: “On October 4, 2003 at the Gadsden Country Club, my four-iron shot for a hole-in-one on the par three 15th hole, made sans the shoes (after all, this is Alabama, […]
City, YMCA strike deal on property purchase
(Submitted photo) Last Tuesday (April 18), the Gadsden City Council and YMCA of the Coosa Valley Board of Directors approved the sale of the YMCA property at 100 Walnut Street to the city, a deal that will allow the YMCA to satisfy its financial obligations while remaining an active presence in the community. The deal […]
Barrie Center celebrates 20 years of service
Photo: Barrie Center staff display pinwheels in front of the Etowah County Judicial Building each year, serving as a physical representation of the children helped by the center that year. (Emma Kirkemier/Messenger) By Emma Kirkemier, News Editor The James M. Barrie Center for Children, Inc., held a particularly significant pinwheel ceremony this year on April […]
Former Messenger, H-F Insurance owner passes
Chris McCarthy/Messenger Former Messenger newspaper and Hodges-Ford Insurance owner Phil Hodges of Gadsden, 69, passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Born on June 18, 1953 to the late John E. and Marie Hodges, Hodges was a 1971 graduate of Gadsden High School. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in […]
Local YMCA closes one door, set to open another
Photo: Coosa Valley YMCA Executive Director Leroy Falcon displays a pin recognizing his 35-year tenure with the national organization during a meet and greet on April 14 prior to the closing of the facility at 100 Walnut Street in Gadsden. Falcon noted that the Coosa Valley YMCA will continue to serve the community with a […]
Attalla park dedicated to city councilman
Photo: Attalla City Council members gathered for the dedication of the Stowers Hill park to District 3 Councilman Don Oliver (pictured, third from left) on April 17. The new sign bearing his name was a surprise to Oliver until this moment. Pictured, from left: Attalla City Schools Superintendent Jeff Colegrove, District 4 Councilman Joe Hereford, […]
Local Beltone hearing aid specialist shares benefits
(Photo courtesy of Beltone USA) By Emma Kirkemier, News Editor Beltone of Gadsden has long served local citizens experiencing hearing loss, but new research suggests that the use of hearing aids could have benefits beyond the purely auditory scope. Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist Jeff Garth, who sees patients at Beltone’s Gadsden and Trussville locations, is […]
Westbrook brings Neal Wester into the fold
Photo: New Westbrook Christian boys basketball coach Neal Wester addresses his players during a recent meet and greet at the school. (Courtesy of Grant Campbell) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Neal Wester is bringing his 31-year career of coaching experience to 100 Westminster Drive. The longtime high school boys basketball coach last week accepted that position with […]