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Photo: Pictured above, Jairo Vargas serves as the CEO of Latino News. Photo courtesy of Birmingham Business Journal. In 1996, Jairo Vargas visited Alabama to attend his sons’ college graduation and discovered he faced a dire decision. An engineer in Columbia, Vargas could return to a country battling cartels and rebels or remain in the

Photo: Pictured above, Alaco Pharmacy located at 544 West Main Street in Glencoe near Big Chief undergoes renovations to its original building to better serve its customers. Alaco plans to reopen in April. Alaco Pharmacy opened in Glencoe in 1979 when Buy Wise Pharmacy was purchased and changed its name to Alaco Pharmacy. Alaco stands

Photo: Pictured above, Joyce Morris (left), Laniyah Williams (center) and Erica Williams smile for a photo after enjoying delicious pancakes at Gadsden Kiwanis Club’s 62nd annual Pancake Day held on Feb. 15 at The Venue at Coosa Landing. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer  The Gadsden Kiwanis Club’s 62nd annual Pancake Day was held on Feb.

Photo: Pictured above and left, Glencoe High School cheerleaders and coach Lexy Humphrey smile and pose with their medals and trophy after winning third place at the UCA Nationals finals in the Small Varsity Division II Game Day category. Pictured above and right, the Sardis High School cheerleaders and coaches pose with their white jackets,

Photo: Pictured above, Nancy Gardner (left) opens her arms to embrace a child while her sister Missy Stephens (right) shares a hug with another child at Music n’ Me. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer When Nancy Gardner and Missy Stephens were children, they discovered a love for music. Inspired by their experiences as elementary educators

Photo: Pictured above, Rainbow City Fly Fishing Club members Jim Dawson (left) and Terry Lester (right) release rainbow trout into Black Creek at Noccalula Falls. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer In November 2019, the Rainbow City Fly Fishing Club stocked 1,000 rainbow trout into Black Creek at Noccalula Falls. On the chilly morning of Feb.

Photo: Pictured above, Victory author Colin Edwards (right) stands beside his father Robby (left) as Robby delivers a sermon at church. Photo courtesy of Colin Edwards. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer On Feb. 5, Etowah County native Colin Edwards released his published novel Victory to readers worldwide. A culmination of God’s work in Edwards’ heart as

Photo: Pictured above, local film star Wes Weems smiles with his Oscar in Theater 14 at Gadsden Premiere Cinemas. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer Wes Weems fell in love with movies on the back of a firetruck. In 1980, Interplanetary Productions and Osmond Communications joined with director James Goldstone to film Mayday, Kent State, a

Where were you born and raised? I was born and raised in Gadsden. What is your occupation? I am a dentist/owner at Riverbend Family Dentistry What made you decide to work in your field? Oddly enough, as far back as kindergarten I have always wanted to be a dentist. Tell us about your family and

2016 Gadsden City High School graduate and Auburn University senior Laura Minton recently earned the biochemistry award at the 52nd Annual Southeastern Undergraduate Research Conference for her research on “The Effect of a ph-Dependent Arginine Switch on Protein-based Cofactor Formation in Catalase-peroxidase (KatG).” College undergraduate students from colleges across the southeast presented their research during

Photo: Pictured above, Tigers for Tomorrow’s Amala and Creed show that despite their young age, their love for each other is strong. Photo courtesy of Tigers for Tomorrow. Tigers for Tomorrow is setting out to help everyone enjoy Valentine’s Day as never before. In honor of St. Valentine, TFT is offering visitors a buy one, get

Photo: Pictured above, Glencoe High School Principal Wendy Tinker stands and smiles with her students in the school’s library, where she served as librarian for several years.  By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer In early January, Glencoe High School welcomed Wendy Tinker as its new principal. As the school’s former librarian and assistant principal, Tinker adopts

Photo: Pictured above, troop leader Carolyn Jester’s local Girl Scout group smiles for a photo after raising goods for a food drive to support the community. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer On Jan. 7, the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama launched their 2020 Girl Scout Cookie Season, officially beginning cookie sales for the new year. 

Photo: Pictured above, family surrounds Heart & Soul owner Debra Draper as she holds the blue ribbon at her official opening in downtown Attalla. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer The Chamber of Gadsden and Etowah County hosted a ribbon cutting for Heart & Soul at 413 4th Street Northwest in downtown Attalla on Jan 31.

Photo: Pictured above, Lesa Osborn smiles for the camera after discussing her efforts to prevent litter in the community.  By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer While people often disregard a wrapper tangled in bushes or ignore an empty soda can on the roadside, one local woman refuses to look away. In an effort to eliminate the

Photo: Pictured above, Suzanne (left) and Steve (center) Scharfenberg receive the Impact Award while The Chamber’s VP of Finance and Administration Leslie Stephens (right) smiles. Pictured left, Etowah County Chief Administrative Officer Shane Ellison delivers the keynote speech at The Chamber luncheon. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer The Chamber of Gadsden Etowah County held its

Photo: Pictured above, DKG Mahjong tournament committee members smile for the camera at the Gadsden County Club. Front row seated from left to right: Chair Donna Spraggins, President Nancy Gardner and Susan Davidson. Back row standing from left to right: Jane Reynolds, Gail Spotnitz, Marian Ford, Susan Copeland, Nancy Smith, Barbara Russell and Denise Bearden.

Steel (pictured above, right) is a three-year-old American Bulldog available for adoption. Prior to arriving at the Etowah County Animal Shelter, Steel was abandoned and left in a vacant home. The ECAS staff showered Steel with love and affection, providing him with proper shelter, food and water. After such a difficult journey, Steel is ready to

Photo: Pictured above, Gadsden City School System Superintendent Tony Reddick (right) shares a joyful moment with Dr. Tara Donald Walls (left) before delivering the keynote speech as the Gadsden Inspirational Choir applauds at the 35th annual city-wide observance of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. Day in Gadsden. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer The 35th annual

Photo: Pictured above, local animal advocate Christi Brown (left) partners with Gadsden City Councilman Ben Reed (right) to develop an ordinance to ban inhumane tethering citywide.  Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer An upcoming tethering ordinance will affect Gadsden residents and pets soon, addressing an issue that has afflicted the city for years. The new tethering ordinance

Photos courtesy of Wags to Riches Photography.  While the holidays are often a time where pets are welcomed into new homes following Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the majority of shelters are full. For those seeking to add a new addition to their families, the Etowah County Animal Shelter is featuring pets available for adoption. Hector

Where were you born and raised? I was born in Albertville and raised in Gadsden, where my dad had come to work at Goodyear. What is your occupation?  I am a nutritionist and herbalist and my wife and I own Apple A Day, the local health food store in Gadsden. What made you decide to

By Craig Ford Americans don’t care for monopolies. We value competition and understand that unchecked control can quickly distort the market and the product being delivered. Look no further than what’s happening in the tech industry today. But there is another highly consolidated industry causing harm to the American people. A 2019 GAO study found

Photo: Pictured above, Chairman Washington smiles for the camera after discussing his hopes and goals for Etowah County. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer On Jan. 7, the Etowah County Commission appointed District 5 Commissioner Jeffrey Washington commission chairman. As the gavel was passed to Washington, a new opportunity arose for the 2020 chairman to better

Alabama Power recently named Gadsden native and Rainbow City resident Spencer Williams as the company’s Community Relations Manager. Williams will be responsible for external affairs and community development over Gadsden and Etowah County, effective immediately. Williams, who was born and raised in Gadsden and returned to the area in 2004, has deep roots in the

By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer McGuffey Healthcare & Rehab First honored its longest-serving employee Jan. 10, dedicating a reception to a woman whose compassion and devotion affected countless lives for 54 years. After more than five decades of service, Jewell Dean Garrett entered retirement with recognition and the assurance that as she cared for people,

Photo: Pictured above, Attalla mayor Larry Means (center, holding scissors), Attalla city officials and local business owners join Lookout Mountain Goat Ranch Originals owner Kelly Farley (red jacket) with her goat, Yoga, in support of the art studio and boutique’s grand opening. Photo courtesy of Attalla Information and Development Center Director Debby Carden. By Katie Bohannon,

Photo: Pictured above, Gadsden State Community College faculty, staff and supporters celebrate Allen Hall’s completed renovations with a ribbon cutting to commemorate the event on Jan. 7. By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer   The Chamber of Gadsden and Etowah County hosted a ribbon cutting for Gadsden State Community College’s Allen Hall on the Wallace Drive

Photo: Pictured above, the first baby born in Etowah County, Kiyane, sleeps in the arms of her mother, Tiyane, while members of her delivery team, Dr. Lindsay Frederick of Women’s Health Partners (right) and labor and delivery nurse Sonia Ashley (left) celebrate the baby’s arrival with New Year’s gifts and a door hanger to commemorate

Photo: Pictured above, VA social worker Tom Johnson receives a plaque from the Monday Group commemorating his time working with  veterans.  By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer In the Gadsden Veterans Affairs Clinic located at 206 Rescia Ave, a sign reads “where courage meets compassion.” For those who served the United States military, one man met