News

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Tuesday, April 30, the YMCA of the Coosa Valley held its 26th annual Youth in Government Day. Gadsden City High School students were invited to Gadsden City Hall to learn about how government works with an inside look into the process. “The mission of our Youth in Government Day is

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Saturday May 4, the 2019 Gadsden Heart Walk will be held at the Gadsden Mall at 8 a.m. The walk starts at 9 a.m. Participants will be walking in the James D. Martin Wildlife Park. The Gadsden Heart Walk is a free event that aims to raise funds for the

Name: Tom Banks Where were you born and raised? “Besides college, I’ve spent my entire life in Gadsden.” What is your occupation? “I’m the deputy director of the Gadsden Cultural Arts Foundation, overseeing the Foundation’s programs and projects, including the Hardin Center for Cultural Arts, Imagination Place Children’s Museum, the Etowah Youth Orchestras, and the

By Kaitlin Fleming, Staff Correspondent Local city mayors are indignant over an advertised “home rule” bill that would allow the Etowah County Commission to raise taxes without the consent of municipalities. State Senator Andrew Jones from Cherokee County advertised the bill that would grant the county the authority to levy taxes, abate nuisances and impose late

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Art on the Rocks began as a project of the Gadsden Woman’s Club in 1958, when the club decided to do an summer art show. The first art show featured over 100 artists and their works at Noccalula Falls. This art show sparked the Gadsden Art Association. The art association sponsored

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor The City of Attalla is proud to debut new loft apartments in the downtown area. The city owns the buildings the lofts are located in and have been working for several months to refurbish them. Located above The Cozy Nest, the apartments are accessed from the rear of the building. The

Name: Ron Daugherty Where were you born and raised? “I was born and raised in Hokes Bluff.” What is your occupation? “Teacher/Coach.” What made you decide to work in your field? “The teachers and coaches that I had.” Tell us about your family and pets. “I have three children, Greyson (21), Reece (9) and Raynlee

Former Circuit Court Judge David Kimberley (pictured above) recently joined Cusimano, Roberts & Mills, a Gadsden-based law firm known for its personal injury and consumer litigation work in Alabama and across the country. Prior to winning his seat on the bench in 2006, Kimberley practiced law for more than 20 years with the Cusimano firm.

By Madison Cannon, Staff Correspondent This past Sunday (Apr. 14), a life was remembered for being ahead of his time and mourned for being forgotten for so many years. The Keener Community along with the Keener Baptist Church held a ceremony for Mr. William L. Moore, a U.S. postman who made the decision to march from

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor A set of triplets is graduating all three receiving academic honors and impressive extracurricular achievements from Hokes Bluff High School this spring. David Vest is graduating fifth in his class with a full scholarship to attend the University of Alabama in the fall, where he hopes to pursue a business degree.

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Southside junior Kyler Smith recently received a perfect 36 score on the ACT. Smith said that the score did not come as a big surprise because he had scored a 35 last time. He is graduating fifth in his class and is applying to University of Alabama-Huntsville and the Massachusetts Institute

Name: Glen Williams Where were you born and raised? “I was born and raised in Etowah County and Hokes Bluff.” What is your occupation? “Marketing, advertising and now real estate.” Tell us about your family and pets. “My wife of 27 year, Felicia, is a cosmetologist. My son Jason has one child named Lana. My

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On April 8, the James M. Barrie Center for Children held its annual Pinwheel Ceremony during which staff presented the center’s annual report to the community. The Barrie Center works collaboratively with law enforcement to investigate instances of child abuse. The staff provides forensic interviews, evaluations and therapy for children who

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Monday, April 9, the Etowah County Mega Sports Complex Authority held a meeting inviting legislators and the community to weigh in on a proposed bill that will dissolve the authority. In addition to authority members, the Etowah County Tourism Board, members of the Rainbow City Council, members of the Etowah

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On April 9, the Gadsden City School Board election was held, electing several new councilmen and electing several board members that had previously been appointed. On Tuesday, January 22, Gadsden voters decided to take the city’s school board from appointed members to elected members. The Gadsden City Council certified incumbent Z’Andre

Name: Jared Brown Where were you born and raised? “I was born and raised in Gadsden, East Gadsden to be specific.” What is your occupation? “My current title is Assistant Director of Technical Operations in the Jacksonville State University Financial Aid Office.” What made you decide to work in your field? “God placed me in

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Noccalula Falls’ Smoke on the Falls will celebrate its 10-year anniversary this year. The barbeque competition will be held on April 12 and 13. This event is sanctioned by the Kansas Barbeque Society. Admission will be free on Friday, April 12. Gates will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. A

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Tommy Goodman was binge-watching a series on Facebook called Returning the Favor, hosted by Mike Rowe, well-known for his television show Dirty Jobs, when he encountered something that inspired him. Returning the Favor features do-gooders looking to make a difference in their communities, and one of the featured organizations was Sleep

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Tuesday, January 22, Gadsden voters decided to take the city’s school board from appointed members to elected members. The vote for school board members will be held on April 9. If necessary the run-off election will be held May 21. “I am hopeful and prayerful that an elected school board

Name: Tena King-Morgan Where were you born and raised? “I was born and raised in Anniston.” What is your occupation? “I am the owner of King’s Olive Oil Company.” What made you decide to work in your field? “I was attracted to the extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar business for the health benefits.

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Tuesday, March 26, the Gadsden Rainbow Fly Fishing Club gathered at Noccalula Falls to stock Black Creek Falls with 1,000 Coppernose Bluegill. Club members threw the fish in at the top of Noccalula Falls. State Representative Craig Lipscomb, a member of Gadsden Rainbow Fly Fishing Club, said that the stocking

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Last year, Gadsden Public Library Director Craig Scott filled out an application to become a “giving partner” with Bombas socks, where the company would send socks for the homeless to the library for distribution. “They said it might take a while, so I had almost forgotten about it,” said Scott. On

Name: Charles Edward Gough Where were you born and raised? “I was born and raised in Mobile.” What is your occupation? “I am the owner and president at Charles Gough Insurance and Financial Services Inc., which is a full service insurance and financial services agency.” What made you decide to work in your field? “I

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Tigers for Tomorrow is starting a new tradition. On March 30, the wildlife preserve, located at 708 County Road 345 in Attalla, will host Art on the Wild Side. Although this is the first year Tigers for Tomorrow has hosted the event, the preserve is planning to make this an annual

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Duck Springs Elementary School started its Robotics Club this school year, and it is off to an awesome start. At the VEX IQ Robotics District Competition, five teams of fourth through sixth graders competed and qualified to attend the state competition, where all five teams made it to the finals. The

Name: Tara Gibson Leeth Where were you born and raised? “I was born and raised in Gadsden.” What is your occupation? “I work at WinSouth Cre-dit Union, where I implement and oversee all of the marketing and advertising strategies. This past February marked my fifth year working at WinSouth!” What made you decide to work

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Tuesday, March 12, Governor Kay Ivey signed the proposed 10-cent gas tax raise into law after the bill passed in the state House and Senate. The current tax is 18 cents a gallon for gasoline and 19 cents a gallon for diesel. This bill will incrementally increase the tax over

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor The City of Gadsden will officially reopen Moragne Park on March 16. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. City officials broke ground on the year-long renovation project in May of 2018. Boatner Construction Company, Inc., of Rainbow City was contracted to do the park’s renovation at a

Name: Shirley du Pont Where were you born and raised? “I grew up in Etowah County.”  What is your occupation? “I am working at being retired. I spent 30 years with the telephone company. I retired and worked another eight years as a contract employee.” What made you decide to work in your field? “When

By Sarrah Peters/News Editor On Tuesday, February 26, students enrolled in Etowah High School held an open house for its Career Tech programs and students attended a career fair. Students are enrolled in courses on Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Education and Training, Health Science, Government and Public Administration and Human Services. Work-based learning, where