News

By Katie Bohannon, News Editor Governor Kay Ivey recently honored a local woman posthumously whose efforts and dedication affected the lives of children and families throughout Etowah County for generations. Ivey issued a proclamation recognizing August 17, 2020 as Kathryn Barrett Day, representing an unforgettable impact on a community and a cherished legacy that remains

Photo: Pictured above, Kay Smith-Foster smiles in her new dance studio in Glencoe.  By Katie Bohannon, News Editor When Kay Smith-Foster opened her studio doors on August 4, an outpouring of eager dancers of all ages flooded inside. At 524 West Main Street in Glencoe, the Kay Smith School of Performing Arts welcomes all interested

David Bankson is currently running for Hokes Bluff City Council Place 1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you born and raised? Where did you attend school? I was born in Gadsden and graduated from Gaston High School. What is your profession? Deputy/SRO at Etowah County and Pastor of Cove Creek Baptist Church.

Trey Brinkley is currently running for Rainbow City Council Place 5. Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you born and raised? Where did you attend school? I was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina and raised here in Rainbow City. I graduated from Pathways Academy and currently attend Gadsden State Community College. What is

Photo: Pictured above from left to right, Gadsden Museum of Art’s Exhibits Coordinator Mary Wright, Director Ray Wetzel and Outreach and Education Coordinator Jill Edwards smile for a photo on the museum’s third floor, dedicated to the history and origins of Etowah County. (Katie Bohannon/Messenger) By Katie Bohannon, News Editor Since opening its first exhibit

Photo: Etowah County EMA Director Deborah Gaither delivers a COVID-19 update. (Emma Kirkemier/Messenger) By Emma Kirkemier, Staff Correspondent The coronavirus death toll for Etowah County rose to 28 confirmed deaths this week. Emergency Management Agency Director Deborah Gaither delivered an update on COVID-19 to the Gadsden City Council at its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 4. Gaither

Photo: Mountain Top Flea Market in Attalla recently reopened after closing briefly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Courtesy of Mountain Top Flea Market) By Katie Bohannon, News Editor Over 50 years ago, Mountain Top Flea Market first welcomed dealers and buyers to its location off U.S. Highway 278 West in Attalla. After briefly closing due

Photo: Courtesy of West End High School Matthew Steven McClendon is the son of Steven and Donna McClendon of Gallant and a 2020 graduate of West End High School in Walnut Grove. McClendon is the recipient of the Dianna B. Williams Scholarship from the Gallant Homemakers and Community Leaders. McClendon has a real talent for

Photo courtesy of Monica Dooley By Neal Reid, Auburn University Communications Editor Many people may view serving their community as a noble cause to work into their lives when possible and convenient. For Laura Minton, it has become a way of life. The spring 2020 Auburn graduate is well on her way to dedicating her

Photo courtesy of Chris Pruitt By Katie Bohannon, News Editor As the first day of school approaches for school systems nationwide, Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Tony Reddick specified the plan for students and faculty moving forward. Gadsden City Schools will begin studies on August 17 via remote instruction. Contrary to speculation that remote instruction will

Photo: Pictured above, Schnitzer provides school supplies for Attalla Elementary for the upcoming school year. (Courtesy of Johnny Cross) By Katie Bohannon, News Editor Schnitzer Southeast Steel Industries in Attalla recently implemented a program developed to aid its community. Schnitzer adopted Attalla Elementary to provide the school, faculty and students with supplies and efforts necessary

Photo courtesy of Larry Means By Katie Bohannon, News Editor The City of Attalla recently made national news. In Site Selection Magazine’s 2019 issue, Attalla received multiple accolades for its economic success. In the magazine, Attalla was ranked second for the largest New Industrial Development project in Alabama in 2019. Attalla’s Koch project also qualified

Photo courtesy of Gadsden City Athletics By Katie Bohannon, News Editor With Gadsden City Schools starting remote instruction on August 17, questions regarding extracurricular activities are generating concern. Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Tony Reddick addressed the issue of fall sports at the Gadsden City Council Meeting on Tuesday, July 28. Currently, extracurricular activities like football,

Photo: Pictured above, Board of Directors Chair for the local American Red Cross chapter Kristi Kent (center) joins volunteers to register potential donors at the downtown Gadsden blood drive on Friday July 24. (Emma Kirkemier/Messenger) By Emma Kirkemier, Staff Correspondent American Red Cross hosted two blood drives in the Gadsden/Etowah County area. The first blood

By Katie Bohannon, News Editor Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases throughout the United States, Alabama and Etowah County, Gadsden City Schools will commence studies virtually from August 17 until further notice. After a three-hour deliberation on Friday July 17, Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Tony Reddick noted that while not everyone initially agreed with

Photo: Dr. Alan Cosby By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor During a specially called meeting last Tuesday (July 21), the Etowah County Schools Board of Education voted to delay the start of the 2020 fall semester one week from August 11 to August 17 in light of COVID-19 concerns. Administrators and teachers will report Aug. 6-7 for

Photo: Pictured above, Will Mackey with The Chamber, Gadsden and Etowah County and Kiwanis Club member reads “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.” The Gadsden Kiwanis Club is partnering with Jillian Reeves at the Gadsden Public Library Children’s Department to provide virtual book readings to children in the Etowah County area during COVID-19. (Photo

Photo courtesy of Etowah County Sheriff By Emma Kirkemier, Staff Correspondent The Etowah County Commission approved the sheriff’s request for hazard duty pay for deputies at its July 21 meeting. Commissioners approved a resolution “To approve the request of Sheriff Jonathan Horton (pictured at right)for hazard duty pay to the deputies, including both road and

Anita Bedwell currently serves the Rainbow City Council as the representative for Place No. 1. She is running for re-election. Where were you born and raised? I was born and raised in Rainbow City. I am a lifelong resident of our town. I’m married to Jeff Bedwell, who is also a lifelong resident of Rainbow

Photo: Pictured above, Tewana and David Croye (center, black t-shirts) celebrate Tewana’s Cafe’s beautification award at 100 East Main Street in Glencoe. Glencoe Mayor Charles Gilchrist, members of Glencoe City Council and Beautification Board join the Croye’s friends and family for the celebration on July 16. (Katie Bohannon/Messenger) By Katie Bohannon, News Editor Inspired to

Photo: Pictured above, the Etowah County Mayors Association endorses representative Becky Nordgren as revenue commissioner on January 21. Pictured, from left: Gadsden Mayor Sherman Guyton, Southside Mayor Wally Burns, Attalla Mayor Larry Means, Revenue Commissioner Becky Nordgren, Glencoe Mayor Charles Gilchrist, Hokes Bluff Mayor Scott Reeves and Reece City Mayor Phil Colegrove. (Katie Bohannon/Messenger) Despite

Photo: Pictured above, Gadsden City Council President Dr. Cynthia Toles addresses the public during a press conference on July 9 concerning wearing face masks throughout the city. (Katie Bohannon/Messenger) By Katie Bohannon, News Editor Governor Kay Ivey implemented a statewide face mask requirement on Thursday, July 16 at 5 p.m. The mask directive will expire

Photo courtesy of Family Success Center By Emma Kirkemier, Staff Correspondent The Etowah County Family Success Center is holding a free event next Saturday, July 25, to encourage families to complete the census, get registered to vote and give blood. The event, which will be held from noon to 3 p.m., is called “Be Counted,

By Emma Kirkemier, Staff Correspondent At its July 14 meeting, the Etowah County Commission discussed a possible stipend for the sheriff’s office that would provide hazard pay to Etowah County sheriff’s deputies as well as to detention depties working at the Etowah County jail. The stipend, which would award each sheriff’s deputy and detention deputy

Photo: Pictured above, Gadsden’s Goodyear plant suffers a hard loss as its doors close in 2020, but a Senator Doug Jones’ new bill might change the fate of its future. (Katie Bohannon/Messenger) By Katie Bohannon, News Editor Gadsden’s Goodyear plant may not sit idle for long. During a virtual legislative update with The Chamber of

Photo: Pictured above, Forrest Cemetery’s chapel at 700 S 15th Street is among the structures discussed at Gadsden City Council work sessions regarding its name. (Katie Bohannon/Messenger) By Katie Bohannon, News Editor No change will come to Gadsden’s Emma Sansom monument or Forrest Cemetery until further notice. On Tuesday, Gadsden City Council majority voted against

Photo: Messenger file photo By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Tony Reddick recently provided an update via video on the district’s reopening plans and policies for the fall semester. Although Reddick (pictured at right) confirmed an opening date of Aug. 11, he added that several nontraditional teaching policies would be implemented in light

By Emma Kirkemier, Staff Correspondent At its July 7 session, the commission addressed the concerns of civil rights groups and possible new training for law enforcement, as well as the purchase of four new buses for Etowah County Rural Transportation. District 5 Commissioner Jeffery Washington described recent meetings with community civil rights groups. Washington and

Photo: Pictured above, Lettermen USA recently hosted a clay target shoot fundraiser at Selwood farm in Alpine. The organization’s “Clays for Heroes” event used the proceeds to benefited honorably discharged U.S. military veterans in need. Pictured, front row, from left: Lettermen USA public relations agent/event planner Elaine Lyda, Tanja Goode, Kerry Goode, event planner Yvonne

Milton Dean Thompson joined his wife Wynette Thompson with the Lord when he passed away on June 21, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. He was born on Jan. 5, 1931 in Alabama City, Alabama to his parents Jesse and Alma Thompson. Dean moved to Lakeland in 1983. He was an engineer who worked in the chemical