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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

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

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: 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

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.

Photo: Pictured above, an artist’s rendering details the soccer portion of the Etowah County Mega Sports Complex located in Rainbow City and Gadsden after completion. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer After Craig Ford was elected to the state legislature in the early 2000s, an idea formed to research the attainable concept of a sports complex

Photo: Pictured above, Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton serves his community. Photo courtesy of Etowah County Sheriff’s Office. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer On Jan. 14, 2019, Jonathon Horton assumed the role of Etowah County Sheriff. From the moment of his election, Horton pledged to serve his community, creating a safe, pleasant and prosperous environment for

Photo: Pictured above, Gadsden City High School students participate in GCHS’ annual Black History Month Program. Photo courtesy of Gadsden City High School. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer Since Gadsden City High School’s establishment in 2006, each year the school celebrates Black History Month with a program dedicated to African American traditions, achievements and contributions to

Photo: Pictured from left, Gadsden City High School Assistant Principal Brent Morgan, Alabama Power Community Relations Manager Spencer Williams, Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Tony Reddick and Director of Career Technical Education Dr. David Asbury gather for a photo during the Alabama Power check presentation on Feb. 19.  By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer On Feb. 19,

Pictured above, a bride creates a fun look with props during one of the games played at the bridal show. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer While wedding planning proves a stressful, time-consuming task for some brides, Chic Occasions strives to eliminate the anxiety before the big day. Established in Atlanta, Chic Occasions traveled to Gadsden

Photo: Pictured above, Jairo Vargas serves as the CEO of Latino News. Photo courtesy of Birmingham Business Journal. In 1996, Jairo Vargas visited Alabama to attend his sons’ college graduation and discovered he faced a dire decision. An engineer in Columbia, Vargas could return to a country battling cartels and rebels or remain in the

Photo: Pictured above, Alaco Pharmacy located at 544 West Main Street in Glencoe near Big Chief undergoes renovations to its original building to better serve its customers. Alaco plans to reopen in April. Alaco Pharmacy opened in Glencoe in 1979 when Buy Wise Pharmacy was purchased and changed its name to Alaco Pharmacy. Alaco stands

Photo: Pictured above, Joyce Morris (left), Laniyah Williams (center) and Erica Williams smile for a photo after enjoying delicious pancakes at Gadsden Kiwanis Club’s 62nd annual Pancake Day held on Feb. 15 at The Venue at Coosa Landing. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer  The Gadsden Kiwanis Club’s 62nd annual Pancake Day was held on Feb.

Photo: Pictured above and left, Glencoe High School cheerleaders and coach Lexy Humphrey smile and pose with their medals and trophy after winning third place at the UCA Nationals finals in the Small Varsity Division II Game Day category. Pictured above and right, the Sardis High School cheerleaders and coaches pose with their white jackets,

Photo: Pictured above, Nancy Gardner (left) opens her arms to embrace a child while her sister Missy Stephens (right) shares a hug with another child at Music n’ Me. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer When Nancy Gardner and Missy Stephens were children, they discovered a love for music. Inspired by their experiences as elementary educators

Photo: Pictured above, Rainbow City Fly Fishing Club members Jim Dawson (left) and Terry Lester (right) release rainbow trout into Black Creek at Noccalula Falls. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer In November 2019, the Rainbow City Fly Fishing Club stocked 1,000 rainbow trout into Black Creek at Noccalula Falls. On the chilly morning of Feb.

Photo: Pictured above, Victory author Colin Edwards (right) stands beside his father Robby (left) as Robby delivers a sermon at church. Photo courtesy of Colin Edwards. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer On Feb. 5, Etowah County native Colin Edwards released his published novel Victory to readers worldwide. A culmination of God’s work in Edwards’ heart as

Photo: Pictured above, local film star Wes Weems smiles with his Oscar in Theater 14 at Gadsden Premiere Cinemas. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer Wes Weems fell in love with movies on the back of a firetruck. In 1980, Interplanetary Productions and Osmond Communications joined with director James Goldstone to film Mayday, Kent State, a

Where were you born and raised? I was born and raised in Gadsden. What is your occupation? I am a dentist/owner at Riverbend Family Dentistry What made you decide to work in your field? Oddly enough, as far back as kindergarten I have always wanted to be a dentist. Tell us about your family and

2016 Gadsden City High School graduate and Auburn University senior Laura Minton recently earned the biochemistry award at the 52nd Annual Southeastern Undergraduate Research Conference for her research on “The Effect of a ph-Dependent Arginine Switch on Protein-based Cofactor Formation in Catalase-peroxidase (KatG).” College undergraduate students from colleges across the southeast presented their research during