News

Name: Marlene Holcomb Where were you born and raised? “I was born in Albion, Ohio and lived there until I was 16 years old. I then moved to Gadsden, Alabama.” What is your occupation? “I was a hairdresser, now I am retired.” What made you decide to work in your field? “It was something I

By Sarrah Peters News Editor Locals headed to the polls on Tuesday, June 5 to vote in the local and state primary elections. In Etowah County, about 23,000 of the county’s 70,470 registered voters turned out to make their voices heard, meaning about a third of registered voters turned out. About 83 percent of the

By Sarrah Peters News Editor The Gadsden Public Library is ready for summer, introducing programs during the summer months for children, teens and adults. This year the programs will focus on music and movement. “Being a music lover myself, we thought this would be a really awesome opportunity to explore different types of music,” said

By Sarrah Peters News Editor Gadsden City High School student Braxton Bostick graduated this year with the opportunity to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) in Washington D.C. this summer. The National Youth Leadership Forum consists of five different six-day retreats. Each retreat focuses on exploring different career fields including medicine, engineering and technology,

Name: Kaitlin Fleming Where were you born and raised? “I was born at Riverview hospital in Gadsden but I was raised in Attalla.” What is your occupation? “I am a full time student at Jacksonville State University. I am majoring in communications with a focus in digital journalism. I am currently working as an editorial

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On the Friday before Memorial Day, May 25, “The City of Patriotism” unveiled a new sign that honors veterans. Glencoe unveiled a new sign marking Highway 431 in Glencoe as Veterans Memorial Highway. Glencoe Mayor Charles “Peanut” Gilchrist, City of Glencoe staff and members of Glencoe’s VFW post 10408 attended the

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Westbrook Christian School student Alley Sizemore, an incoming senior, recently was selected to participate in two programs that center around leadership. Sizemore was selected to participate in Jacksonville State University’s Emerging Leaders program. Unfortunately, the program was canceled after the March 19 tornadoes damaged the school’s campus. Sizemore was also chosen

By Kaitlin Fleming, Staff Correspondent Calcean Minerals and Materials LLC is coming to Gadsden and the company is bringing 70 jobs with it. On Tuesday, May 29, the Gadsden City Council voted on the abatement resolution, which passed unanimously. Calcean is a processing company for biogenically renewable high performance mineral known as oolitic aragonite sand. Oolitic

Name: Tabitha Bozeman Where were you born and raised? “I was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, but have lived in Gadsden/Etowah County since I was five years old.” What is your occupation? “Higher Education;I teach English at Gadsden State Community College.” What made you decide to work in your field? “I was always a bookworm growing

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Wednesday, May 23, Noccalula Falls Park celebrated World Turtle Day at its petting zoo. This is the third year Noccalula has hosted the event. Students from local schools visited to take part in the celebration. Visitors were introduced to a new addition to the petting zoo: Bella, a female African

By Kaitlin Fleming, Staff Correspondent America currently faces a drug crisis like never before. In 2016 alone, over 60,000 Americans died from a drug overdose. However, the students at Southside Elementary School are working to fight the drug epidemic in Etowah County. The City of Southside Police Department, Kenny Keenum, Joey Statumn, Becky Nordgren, Morgan Cunningham,

            By Kaitlin Fleming, Staff Correspondent Several Etowah High School seniors received awards and scholarships on May 18. In total, the students received $2.2 million dollars in scholarships. Of all 134 students graduating from Etowah High, six are entering the U.S. military. One of the scholarship recipients was Peyton Laughlin, who

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Cherry Creek Village residents and staff wanted to give back to the community, so the senior living facility recently held a drive to collect items to donate to Etowah Baptist Mission Center. Residents, staff, visitors and even a resident that hadn’t moved in yet donated to the drive. Cherry Creek collected

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor In 2014, the Cove Acre Farms wedding and event venue opened in Hokes Bluff. The 12,000 square foot barn on the picturesque Cove Acre Farms was tranformed into a peaceful, charming space. Cove Acre Farms is now under new ownership. Cindy Johnson and her husband bought the property after falling in

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor **Correction made to reflect the Rainbow City location’s closing. Correction made 5-29-18**  FEMA is still taking registration for disaster relief from the March tornadoes that struck Jacksonville, Southside and parts of Rainbow City. FEMA External Affairs employee Robert Porreca encourages anyone who received damage from the storms to apply for aid.

Name: Iva Nelson Where were you born and raised? “I was born in Gadsden and have lived here my entire life.” What is your occupation? “I am City Clerk for the City of Gadsden.” What made you decide to work in your field? “I was looking for a better job opportunity and a friend asked

By Sarrah Peters/News Editor The American flag was at half-mast behind the Etowah County Law Enforcement Memorial on Tuesday, May 15 when Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin took some time out of his day to remember the local law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Entrekin visited the memorial to

By Sarrah Peters/News Editor The Salvation Army Advisory Board hosted its annual meeting and awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 15 at the Downtown Civic Center. The Salvation Army Ensemble played music as attendees enjoyed dinner. The Gadsden City High School’s ROTC, led by Colonol Carl Harrison, posted the colors. The Gadsden Corps Timbrel Brigade entertained

Name: Kassie Mathis Where were you born and raised? “I was born and raised in Gadsden.” What is your occupation? “I am the director of the Title III Strengthening HBCUs Program on the Valley Street Campus of Gadsden State Community College. Title III is a federally-funded grant program that supports the academic progress of historically

Photo: (Submitted photo) Sara Summerhill and Madison Vaughn at the Etowah County Career Technical Center (ECCTC) in Attalla on May 9. The ECCTC welcomed over 20 companies and over 450 students at an Employment Fair on May 9. On May 9, Etowah County Career Technical Center (ECCTC) hosted an employment fair for its 2018 graduates. The

Name: Deb Reynolds Where were you born and raised? “Calhoun County, near Silver Lakes Golf Course. We later moved to North Gadsden but settled in Camp Sibert in Attalla when I was 13. My parents continued to live there until they passed to their eternal home in heaven.” What is your occupation? “I am an

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Gadsden State Community College hosted Gadsden City Schools’ 16th annual TechBlitz on Friday, April 27. Kindergarteners through high school seniors demonstrated their technological skills through website design; audio/visual production; digital art, 3D design, productivity design and animation; multimedia presentations; and hardware, robotics and programming. After the judges viewed the entries, students

Name: Carl C. Byers, Jr. Where were you born and raised? “I was born in Pell City and raised in Gadsden.” What is your occupation?  “I am currently the campus director for the Valley Street HBCU Campus of Gadsden State Community College. I am also a math instructor and the Job Corps liaison for the

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Tuesday, April 24, John S. Jones Elementary students gathered in the school gymnasium for a special treat. The students and staff were told the treat was for performing well on testing. Earlier this year, The Alabama Department of Education released grades for public schools and school systems statewide, giving each

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor April 30 is is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, and the Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center is ready to celebrate. To encourage people to welcome a shelter pet into the family, every adoption from Saturday, April 28 to Tuesday, May 1 will be half-off. In addition, every adopted

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Saturday, May 12, local postal workers will join postal workers nationwide in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. The drive will collect items for local food banks. To participate, all you have to do is leave non-perishible items at the mailbox. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive began in

Name: Valerie Shannon Where were you born and raised? “I was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. My parents, my brother and I lived in the valley right under Rock City in a town called Flintstone, Georgia. My parents moved to Centre, Alabama, when I was four years old when my father purchased a saw mill in

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor The Council on Aging’s senior transportation program received a new van in 2016, but a fire in UAB Hospital Kirklin Clinic’s parking lot destroyed the vehicle and temporarily shut down the program. The senior transportation program shuttles seniors to out-of-county doctors appointments. The fire broke out during during one of the

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Candidates for state office spoke to locals at The Chamber’s Political Forum on Tuesday, April 17. Each candidate was alloted five minutesto speak to the crowd. The forum provided several questions for each can-didate to answer. Two United States House of Representatives, District 4 candidates addressed the crowd  first. Democratic candidate

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Tracy Walker is the owner of Tracy’s Oils, which aims to provide quality, additive-free essential oils in a wide va-riety of scents. Walker mixes many of her own scents, creating unique essential oil mixes. The skin-safe oils can also be used as perfume or cologne. Walker, with help from her daughter,