News

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor FLD Garden Shop offers everything you would expect in a garden shop, from plants and planters, to fountains, wind chimes and garden signs. But the shop features more than just supplies for the garden; it also offers workshops for new gardening projects. Located at 2290 Cedar Bend Road North in Southside,

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On  Saturday, September 9, the Sixth Street Pool’s grand reopening welcomed the Sixth Street community, City of Gadsden officials, Coach George Baker and his family and the family of Coach L.C. Presley to see the pool’s new facilities. Constance Bostick opened the event with a rendition of the National Anthem. Floyd

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor The 78th Annual Etowah County Fair is coming to town. The event will be held September 19 through 23 at the Etowah County Fairgrounds,  located at 31 Griffin Street Southeast in Attalla. The fairgrounds open at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday and at 12 p.m. on Saturdays. The fair costs

Name: Dr. Cynthia Toles Where were you born and raised? “I was born, raised and educated in Gadsden, Alabama.” What is your occupation? “My occupation is teacher, tutor, mentor and administrator (educator).” What made you decide to work in your field? “I had many role models at the elementary, high school level and church.  Individuals

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor The Gadsden-Etowah County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) are working together with other Etowah County nonprofit organizations to provide supplies to hurricane Harvey victims in Texas. The EMA and VOAD wanted to help an affected city that had not gotten the coverage that Houston did

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor All summer, the Fifth Street Market in downtown Gadsden has been offering produce, homemade crafts and more to the public. Now the market is gearing up for fall, offering produce with more fall-based items, such as mums and apples. The Fifth Street Market opened its doors in 2016 and originally just

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor At the August 29 Gadsden City Council meeting, council members announced  that the Sixth Street Pool will reopen on Saturday, September 2.  YMCA Director Leroy Falcon said that because school is now in session, the pool will only be open on the weekends. It will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor The Turtle Island Native American Association’s 4th Annual Noccalula Falls Pow Wow will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2 and 3, at Noccalula Falls Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for an adult, $10 for a family, $3 for seniors 65 or older and children age 6 through 14.

Name: Willie Brown Where were you born and raised? “Raised in Gadsden. Born in Elmore County.”  What is your occupation?  “Retired from Uncle Sam. I was a mechanic for Etowah County from 1963 to 1997. I was president of the local union from 1963 to 1985. I was shop supervisor for District 2 of Etowah County.

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Monday, August 21, people across the United States looked towards the sky to view the first solar eclipse in North America since 1979. Etowah County joined in with businesses, schools and individuals taking time out of their days to view the astronomical event. The Gadsden Public Library, always prepared to

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Friday, August 18, the Hokes Bluff Library welcomed new author Ralph E. Jarells for a book signing of his debut novel “Ill Gotten Gains.” Jarells sold and signed advanced copies of the book, which is set to be officially released in October by publisher Wordcrafts Press. Twenty-five percent of the

Name: Martha G. Lavender, PhD, RN, FAAN Where were you born and raised? “I was born and have lived in Etowah County all my life. My father’s family lived in Hokes Bluff and my parents moved from Gadsden to Hokes Bluff while I was still in elementary school.” What is your occupation? “I am a

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Michelle Buck was out to dinner at Ruby Tuesday when she found her first painted rock sitting on a bench. It said “Hope.” Buck had been having a challenging time, and the rock’s message resonated with her. “I got goosebumps,” said Buck. “It just gave me that little uplift I needed.

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center Shelter Manager Lisa Brackett remembers exactly how rescue dog Lieutenant Dan got his name. She and several staff members were intaking about seven puppies that had come in together into the Humane Society system. While examing one of the puppies, the group found out

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Monday, August 21, the United States  will have its first total eclipse of the sun since 1979. The next North American eclipse won’t happen until April 8, 2024. An eclipse is when the shadow of the moon covers the sun. Etowah County will witness about a 95.5 percent coverage of

Name: James “Jay” Hedgspeth. Where were you born and raised? “I am a native to Gadsden.  Aside from a short spell in Tuscaloosa for school and Indiana for a job, Gadsden has been home.” What is your occupation? “I am a mortgage loan officer with First Federal Mortgage.” What made you decide to work in

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor At the Gadsden City Council meeting on August 8, the council unanimously approved a lease with the Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center for a portion of Kiwanis Island at the James D. Martin Wildlife Park that will be the future home of a dog park. Humane Society Director Christi

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor The Gadsden-Etowah Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 2 is hosting the Hot Pusuit 5K Glow Run on Saturday, August 12 to benefit the James M. Barrie Center for Children. The free community glow party starts at 5 p.m. at the Riverwalk at Coosa Landing. Black lights will be set up

Name: Bobby M. Junkins. Where were you born and raised? “Hokes Bluff for all grades 1-12.” What is your occupation? “Probate judge of Etowah County for 29 years.” What made you decide to work in your field? “I enjoyed working with people all my life, teaching school, adult education and many years with the Gadsden

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Tuesday, August 1, George C. Day, Jr. was sworn in as Etowah County’s newest circuit court judge. Day was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey to fill Judge Allen Millican’s position for the remaining term. Millican’s retirement went into effect only “about 11 hours” before the event. Judge David Kimberley welcomed

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On July 28, about 20 people gathered in the rain at the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport to welcome a police escorted helicopter to Gadsden. According to Patriots Association judge advocate Rick Vaughan, the helicopter is a 1963 Model Huey, also referred to as a UH-1B, that was in the 218th aviation

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Monday, July 31, the Gadsden Public Library was transfigured into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday. Library staff and attendees donned costumes of their favorite Harry Potter characters. The all-day birthday celebrations included a visit to Olivander’s Wand Shop, where attendees could make their own

Name: Marianne Bayer Where were you born and raised? “I was born and raised in Huntsville in an Irish-Italian family.” What is your occupation? “From 1991 to 2013, I supported my husband’s career as an U. S. Air Force Officer and physician. Steve was gone so much that it was a necessary that I stay

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor On Monday, July 24, the Boys and Girls Club of Gadsden/Etowah County hosted the 2017 Hall of Fame Dinner to honor four local supporters of the club. Boys and Girls Club members participated in the program, welcoming everyone to the program and giving the invocation. A group of young girls sang

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor Next week, Lookout Mountain Parkway will host the 30th annual World’s Longest Yard Sale. The yard sale starts on August 3, and will continue through August 6. Gadsden’s Noccalula Falls Park is the “southern point of beginning” for the sale, according to Greater Gadsden Area Tourism Director Hugh Stump. The sale

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor The Family Success Center held its annual Cram the Van school supply drive on Saturday, July 22 at the Walmart stores in Attalla and East Gadsden. The Cram the Van event was inspired by a similar event in Florida. “We were trying to find something to help with back-to-school situations around

Name: Kay Moore Where were you born and raised?  “I am proud to call Gadsden my home. I was born at Holy Name of Jesus Hospital (now Riverview), attended public schools and graduated from Gadsden High School. I began working at Compass Bank after two years at Gadsden State and never felt the desire to

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor A hidden Gadsden treasure is located at the Elliot Community Center at 2829 West Meighan Boulevard. Elliot Community Center is the home of the Etowah Heritage Museum.The museum features Northeast Alabama Heritage and Native American exhibits, including Alabama’s First Trail of Tears Memorial. The museum’s newest exhibit is the National Heritage

By Sarrah Peters, News Editor The Etowah Baptist Mission Center is hosting its 4th annual Hope It Floats Cardboard Boat Race on Saturday, July 22. The races will be held at Rainbow Landing under the Southside Bridge on the Rainbow City side. Racers must bring their boats to Rainbow Landing by 8:30 a.m. for boat inspection,

Name: Christi Brown Where were you born and raised? “Born in Joplin, Missouri and moved to Gadsden at age 3. Gadsden has been home since then.” What is your occupation? “Executive Director, Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center.” What made you decide to work in your field? “After Hurricane Katrina devastated our southern neighbors,