The Gadsden Woman’s Club awarded academic scholarships to four local high school students during the club’s luncheon meeting on Tuesday, April 23. Assistant State Superintendent of Education Dr. Melissa Shields was the guest speaker at the event. The following students received this year’s scholarships to be used at the college of their choice: Mary Alice Anglea from Southside plans to attend Auburn University and major in Interior Design. Mary Alice has an exceptional academic record and is the SGA President and an active member of the school’s Key Club, Leo Club, FCCLA, FBLA, ASTRA, Peer Hel ..read more

By Kaitlin Hoskins, News Editor Thanks to the YMCA of the Coosa Valley, high school students from Gadsden City High School got a chance to see city government up close and in action. During the annual Youth in Government Day on Tuesday, April 23, students followed city councilmembers, department heads, library director, police and fire chiefs, superintendent of Gadsden City Schools, city clerk’s office and Mayor Craig Ford as they went about their morning routines. Students also attended both the city council work session and the city council meeting before breaking for lunch and returning to ..read more

The City of Gadsden recently launched a new smart text messaging service through a partnership with technology firm TextMyGov. Local residents will receive important notifications from the city and ultimately can text the city’s phone number to find information quickly. “We are excited about this new way of communicating with residents,” said Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford. “We look forward to sharing essential city updates and information as citizens receive their news in more ways than ever. We see this as just one more tool to help get the word out about what’s going on in Gadsden. Soon, we’ll al ..read more

Gadsden State Community College’s Dual Enrollment Program reached another milestone during the 2023-24 academic year. The program had 1,867 students enrolled in the program during the fall and spring semesters for a 21.4 percent increase over the previous academic year. “We have seen a consistent increase in our numbers as more and more students are realizing the range of benefits to dual enrolling at Gadsden State,” said Dual Enrollment Program Coordinator Tonya Douthitt. “Our program not only offers a cost savings but also offers academic enrichment and accelerated progress.” The program per ..read more

The simulation coordinator at Gadsden State Community College recently earned the international Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator credential from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Dr. Evelyn Lightsey, who has worked in Gadsden State’s Nursing Department for 16 years, passed an exam that assesses the knowledge and understanding of the principles, processes and fundamentals for developing and delivering high-quality healthcare simulation activities. The comprehensive CHSE credential covers educational design and healthcare simulation principles and the application of those princip ..read more

By Kaitlin Hoskins, News Editor When most people think of Gadsden City Hall and Gadsden City Council, they typically think of one woman – City Clerk Iva Nelson. Most people who work for the City of Gadsden all agree that City Hall would not function well without Nelson. Nelson has been a staple at City Hall since she was hired as a typist for the clerk’s office in March of 1984. She served in numerous roles in the clerk’s office until her mentor and predecessor Martha Elrod  retired and told the powers that be that they should appoint Nelson, who was appointed to the role of City Clerk on ..read more

The Etowah County Democratic Women’s Club will soon host a cake auction and raffle to raise money for the club’s efforts in upcoming campaigns. The goal for the club is simple, according to chairwoman Harolyn Morris. “Bringing awareness to voting is important,” she said. “Independents, Republicans and Democrats may not agree on everything, but we can all agree that democracy and voting is important.” The club uses funds raised throughout the year to purchase billboards, yard signs and advertisements for various campaigns. This time around, the club is advertising for the presidential election ..read more

Following a comprehensive reorganization of its website, policies and procedures, the Gadsden Land Bank Authority is continuing to move forward with its goals of meeting the needs of the community. The GLBA recently finished the transition to ePropertyPlus, an industry leader in residential redevelopment software, in a move that has streamlined the application process and allows applicants to select a property and apply for it in one online location. Citizens who apply for a Land Bank lot can expect the process to last roughly 120 to 150 days. The multi-faceted application process involves sev ..read more

Rainbow City Lions Club held its 34th Annual Pancake Day on Saturday, April 6, 2024 with a great turnout. The Lions Club wishes to give a huge shout-out to Mayor Joe Taylor and the Rainbow City Council. local Boy Scout Troop No. 92, the Southside High School Leo Club, Lions Club members, family members and the many dedicated volunteers. Hundreds of people enjoyed a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, biscuits and gravy while supporting a local cause. Proceeds from the event are used to sponsor a local Boy Scout troop; girls softball teams; local students to attend the Lions Youth Leadership Camp a ..read more

Governor Kay Ivey recently awarded grants totaling more than $5.8 million dollars to agencies that help low-income residents lower their energy costs by weatherizing their homes. Just over $1.3 million is going to Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama Inc., an agency that serves Etowah, Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall and St. Clair counties. The grants support Alabama’s Weatherization Assistance Program, which provides funds to improve the energy efficiency and safety of qualifying homes. Priority is given to people with disabilities, the elderly and low-income ho ..read more