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Photos: Pictured above, members of the Ashville High School cross country and outdoor track teams gather for a photo last Monday (May 18) at the Ashville Piggly-Wiggly after shopping with the proceeds from their Miles for Meals Run-A-Thon. Pictured, from left: Kayla Simpson, Meghan McCarthy, Grace Staples, Callie Stewart, Emma Drinkard, Walker Griffith, Joe Stevens,

Photo: Sardis High senior Sadie Ross (right) receives her valedictorian medal from principal Wendy Gibbs during a parade at the school’s campus on May 13. Photo courtesy of Shannon J. Allen/Sand Mtn. Reporter. By Shannon J. Allen, Sand Mountain Reporter What’s believed to be the largest senior class in Sardis High School history at 139 members

With Memorial Day approaching, several local law enforcement officers, officials and supporters laid fresh wreaths down on at the Etowah County Law Enforcement Memorial on the grounds of the Etowah County Courthouse on May 15 to honor local officers who fell in the line of duty. The names of fallen officers from Etowah County inscribed

Ashville High School senior Cesar Segura of Steele recently earned a four-year full academic scholarship to Yale University in New Haven, Conn. Cesar (pictured above) graduated AHS with a 4.396 grade point average and has been ranked No. 1 on the school’s Super Seven for highest GPA for his freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years.

Photo: Pictured above, Duck Springs resident and Back Country Horsemen of America member Chad Jones and his horse Chief get set to clear debris from the equestrian trails at Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City. Photo courtesy of Ponda Jones. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer/Photographer and Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Following the April 19 tornado that

Photo: Pictured above, Alan Dale Howard performs a song during his livestream concert to raise money for Feeding America on Thursday April 23. Photo courtesy of Alan Dale Howard. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer When families nationwide are struggling to overcome the results of COVID-19, one local musician mustered his talent to generate some relief.

Photo: Pictured above, Gaston High School senior Gracie Wood smiles while receiving her cap and gown at Gaston’s drive-through celebration for the Class of 2020 on Friday, May 1. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer When Gaston seniors arrived at their high school on Friday, May 1, they received much more than a cap and gown.

2016 Gadsden City High School graduate Laura Minton (pictured above) will graduate summa cum laude this month from Auburn University with a 4.0 grade point average with a degree in Biomedical Sciences and with the highest University Honors College Scholar Distinction. Laura received a full ride Auburn Presidential academic scholarship, in addition to other leadership,

May 12, 1928 – May 5, 2019 God called your name so softly, that only you could hear And no one heard the footsteps of angels drawing near The golden gates stood open; God saw you needed rest. His garden must be beautiful – He only takes the best. The world changes from year to

By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor After finishing the final semester of high school at home due the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, Westbrook Christian’s 56-member senior class recently returned to the school’s Rainbow City campus and received a collective pat on the back. While picking up graduation their caps and gowns last Tuesday (May 5), WCS seniors were

Photo: Pictured above from left to right, George Wallace Senior Center volunteers Betty Woodward, Faye Moore, Liz Cline and Vicki Scott prepare hot meals for seniors. Photo courtesy of Vicki Scott. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer While local seniors might feel disheartened during a time when their normal routines are turned upside down, the George

By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer and Chris McCarthy, Publisher Ninety-one years ago, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company established a plant in Gadsden that created tremendous economic value for the community and state, providing jobs for thousands of families. Today, with manufacturing suspended due to COVID-19 and under 530 workers, Gadsden’s Goodyear plant drifts into murky

Pictured above, the staff of Ford Insurance Agency in Gadsden practices safe social distancing in light of the current COVID-19 virus. Pictured, from left: Seth Zambrano, Kim Howard, Madison Cannon, Jody Sizemore. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer With the world constantly changing in response to COVID-19, one local insurance agency proves that its efforts to

Photo: Pictured above, Regency Pointe residents and staff members wave to family, friends and community members in cars during the drive-through parade on April 10. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer/Photographer While social distancing serves an essential purpose to protect the health of individuals and others, limited social interaction proves more difficult than it seems. A

Photo: Pictured above, Gadsden attorney Philip E. Miles works to alleviate the stress of COVID-19 through offering legal services to unemployed individuals. Photo courtesy of Philip E. Miles.  By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer During a time when some people might feel prompted to focus on their own safety, Gadsden attorney Philip Miles considers how he

Photo: Pictured above, Amedisys employee Kelley Strain (right) gives a thumbs up to an Oak Landing Assisted Living resident to congratulate her on winning a game of tic tac toe.  By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer Oak Landing Assisted Living in Attalla received a special treat on April 21, when Amedisys home health professionals spread a

Photo: Pictured above, Etowah Baptist Association Disaster Relief Team members Julia Ford (left) and Donna Skaggs (right) practice social distancing while volunteering to help the residents of Reece City who suffered devastation from a tornado on Sunday, April 12. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer Founded 50 years ago after Hurricane Camille devastated the Gulf Coast,

Photo: Pictured above, YMCA of the Coosa Valley President/CEO LeRoy Falcon catches up on some paint work while the facility in downtown Gadsden is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Since closing its doors on March 20 in accordance with Alabama’s “Stay at Home” directive issued by Gov. Kay Ivey,

Photo: District 29 Representative Becky Nordgren (pictured above), District 28 Representative Gil Isbell and District 30 Representative Craig Lipscomb recently update local residents and officials on the most recent COVID-19 developments. Photo courtesy of Rep. Becky Nordgren. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer Local Alabama House Representatives held an online legislative update on Tuesday, April 7.

Photo: Pictured above, local attorney Sam Bone offers free services to healthcare workers to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of Sam Bone. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer When Gadsden attorney Sam Bone first learned that COVID-19 reached Alabama, he understood that it was only a matter of time before the impact spread to

By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer The Etowah County Courthouse amended its operational conditions following Governor Kay Ivey’s proclamation on Friday March 27. Effective March 30, the courthouse is closed to the public until further notice. The closure results from the recent cases of COVID-19 discovered in Etowah County over the past week. While all courthouse

By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer The Downtown Gadsden Civic Center hosted Etowah County’s Third Annual Marigold Market on March 13, drawing vendors from near and far. City of Gadsden Parks and Recreation Department Events Supervisor Janet Tarrance coordinated the event, hoping to sprinkle a bit of joy and luck on a cloudy day. Marigold Market

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.