News

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.

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