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By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer Gadsden Parks and Recreation Department and Public Works presented precautionary COVID-19 measures to the Gadsden City Council on Tuesday, March 17. Officials from both departments discussed the implemented protocol designed to ensure the health and safety of the Gadsden community. Parks and Recreation Director Jen Weathington updated the council on

Photo: Pictured above, Chamber President and CEO Heather New speaks during a Business After Hours event prior to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on Gadsden and Etowah County. Photo courtesy of The Chamber of Gadsden and Etowah County. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer The Chamber of Gadsden and Etowah County held a COVID-19 Business Update and

Photo: Pictured above, Absolute Fitness trainers and coaches direct gym members on exercises during a group workout session in one of the gym’s training rooms. Photo courtesy of Dawn Gregerson / Absolute Fitness. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer Despite business and school closures disrupting schedules left and right, one local gym strives to maintain a sense

Messenger file photo by Gary Wells By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor A Panther and a Conqueror highlight the 2019-2020 All-Messenger boys and girls basketball teams. Southside’s Chris Lengyel and Coosa Christian’s India Brown were the respective girls and boys Player of the Year for the 2019-20 All-Messenger basketball team. A senior center, Brown averaged 18.5 points and

Photo: Former Gaston High head football coach Swane Morris (pictureed at center) instructs his players during a 7-on-7 scrimmage with Coosa Christian last July. Morris resigned his position last month to take an assistant coaching/teaching position at Pierce County, Ga. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor After 20 years and more than 100 victories as a

Photo: Pictured above, a meeting room in Gadsden State Community College’s newly renovated Allen Hall sits vacant as students and educators prepare to deal with school closures throughout Etowah County in response to COVID-19. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer Following Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s declaration of a state of emergency in regard to the impending

Photo: Pictured above, Gadsden Career Center Business Service Representative Adrienne Reed presents employers with information on Work-Based Learning and On-the-Job Training programs. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer The Chamber of Gadsden and Etowah County invited business owners to attend its Rise and Shine Economic Development Speaker Series on March 13 to learn more about On-the-Job

Photo: Pictured above, Attalla city officials, fire department, friends and C&J’s Crab Shack employees join Corey and Jazmine Winston at their ribbon cutting March 6.  By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer Downtown Gadsden’s C&J’s Crab Shack’s motto is “come in as a stranger and leave feeling like family.” While C&J’s Crab Shack owners Corey and Jazmine

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Southside swept Sardis in a pair of tightly contest games between two Etowah County rivals last Saturday (March 14) at Danny League Field. The Lions (2-8) took a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth before the Panthers (9-7) answered with two runs in

Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Hunter Burke slides into third base as Southside’s Landon Brasher applies the tag during the Eagles’ 9-8 victory in high school baseball last Saturday (March 14) at SHS. (Courtesy of Alex Chaney) By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Hokes Bluff held off a late Southside rally to knock off the Panthers, 9-8, in eight

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Southside softball celebrated an impromptu senior night with a pair of home victories over Etowah and Gadsden City on Saturday, March 14. As of last Tuesday (March 17), all spring athletics in the state of Alabama were postponed until at least April 6 as schools

Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Haleigh Cashman finished first in the long jump event during a track and field meet at Lincoln High School on March 12. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Hokes Bluff girls track and field team took home 10 medals, including three first place gold, on the way to winning the Lincoln Open

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Gadsden City High came away with 18 medals, including eight first place finishes, at the Gadsden City Open Meet No. 2 on March 12. Earning gold for the Titans were Jakari Embry in the boys 110-meter hurdles (14.66) and 300-meter hurdles (42.59); Jeremiah Watts in the

Messenger file photo by Gary Wells A pair of local student-athletes recently were named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 2019-20 All-State girls basketball team. Coosa Christian senior center India Brown (pictured above) was a Class 1A first team selection, while Hokes Bluff senior guard/forward Kristin Shields was named to the Class 4A honorable mention

From Steve Savarese, Executive Director, Alabama High School Athletic Association: Based on the governor’s and the Alabama Slate Department of Education’s (ALSDE) directives to close all schools across the state for a period of 2.5 weeks beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020, all athletic events including, but not limited to, contests, practices, weightlifting and conditioning are

Photo: Southside High’s Grace Ann Clontz signed a bowling scholarship with Springhill College on March 4 at the SHS auditorium. Pictured, sitting, from left: dad David, Grace Ann, SHS bowling coach Zack Blume. Standing, from left: sisters Cora Lee, Jennifer and Jessica; mom Tiffany. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Several Southside High School seniors signed

Photo: Pictured above, Jacksonville State University nursing students and instructors stand in front of a helicopter used to demonstrate transport nursing responsibilities during the school’s interactive program “Innovation Recruitment: Promoting Careers in Nursing” at Gadsden Middle School on March 3. Photo courtesy of Matt Reynolds/Jacksonville State University. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer On March 3, Jacksonville

Photo: Pictured above, Tony Hoffman tells his life story to students at Gadsden City High School on March 3. By Katie Bohannnon, Staff Writer Gadsden City High School hosted the Substance Abuse Prevention Team of CED Mental Health Center’s 2020 Youth Prevention Conference on March 3, inviting juniors and seniors throughout Etowah County to attend.

Photo: West End’s Ty Taylor delivers a pitch during the Patriots’ 14-1 victory over Gaston last Monday (March 9) at GHS. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor West End battered the Gaston pitching staff for 15 hits on the way to a 14-1 victory in five innings last Monday (March 9) at Shinbone Ridge. Eli Pearce

Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy A pair of Gadsden State basketball players recently received postseason honors. For the women’s team, Jalexis Russell (pictured above) was named to the All-Region 22 second team and the All-Alabama Community College Conference All-North Division second team. Corien Frazier was selected to the ACCC All-North Division second team. A

Photo: Pictured above, Emma Sansom Middle School student Kenaji Nelms (left, white shirt) portrays Dizzy Gillespie with Lillian Jamar (right, white dress) who portrays Ella Fitzgerald as the two dance the Lindy Hop. In the background, Cartavious Higgins (left, black shirt) portrays Cab Calloway and dances the Charleston with Jaidence Guyton, who portrays Billie Holiday.

Photo: Pictured above from left to right, Gadsden Pilot Club members Betty Roberts, Iva Patty, Alma Alford, President Carolyn Hammond, Barbara Braun, Sammye Hill, Rebecca Tinker and Sherre McGinnis donate $1,000 to the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office to fund Project Lifesaver transmitters in Etowah County.  By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer On Feb. 27, Gadsden’s Pilot

Three Etowah County natives are among the AASA Softball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020. Tina Rood Hopper and Mike Delozier will be indicted in the Player category, while Clark Livingston is included in the Meritorious category. Collinsville’s Donny Jones will be inducted as a player. The AASA’s 29th induction banquet will be held on

Photo: Jalexis Russell scored 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Gadsden State’s 98-67 victory over Coastal Alabama South last Tuesday (March 3) in the quarterfinal round of the Alabama Community College Conference Tournament at Shelton State in Tuscaloosa. (Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor It was obvious last Tuesday (March 3)

Photo: Members of the Westbrook Christian varsity baseball team gather for a photo during the Etowah County Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ 2020 Media Day on Feb. 23 at Rainbow Presbyterian Church. Pictured, sitting, from left: Andrew Dutton, Brett Vice, Samuel Dutton. Standing: head coach Matt Kennedy. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor A

Photo: Pictured above, Gadsden City School System’s Superintendent Tony Reddick delivers the keynote speech at the 35th annaul city-wide observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in Gadsden. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer Gadsden City School System’s mission is “to prepare and inspire all students to become college and

Pictured above, volunteers prepare delicious pancakes for guests in the “to-go” line during the annual Kiwanis Club Pancake Day at The Venue at Coosa Landing on Feb. 15. For much of the 20th century, Gadsden was an industrial-heavy town highlighted by rubber, textile and steel production. As those industries began to decline, local leaders began

Photo: Pictured above, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey promotes Koch Foods establishing a poultry feed-mill in Attalla at a ceremony in November 2019. The City of Attalla experienced major successes in 2019 that will propel the city into another prosperous year. In November of 2019, Attalla announced the groundbreaking for Koch Foods poultry feed-mill, a 130-acre

Pictured above, remodeling is underway at Glencoe’s Briarmead Shopping Center. The City of Glencoe witnessed several successes in 2019. The public safety building, built to include police and fire in the same building, was completed. The project put the entire public safety department together in a new 12,000 square foot building with improved communications and

Photo: Pictured above, Etowah County Economic Development Director Marilyn Lott smiles in front of the development plans for the Little Canoe Creek Mega-Site and Norfolk Southern Corporation Prime Site. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer In 2008, the Etowah County Commission began acquiring property adjacent to Little Canoe Creek with the goal of generating employment opportunities.