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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/01/best-april-fools-pranks-history/7171249001/
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History's greatest April Fools' Day pranks — from Sidd Finch to Great Spaghetti Harvest
Not many people know just how long April Fools' Day has been around.
Officially, it began in 1700 in England, though it is speculated that its origin could be traced as far back as 1582, according to history.com.
Related:On the old year and the new
That's at least 300-plus years of pranks that have been played, so obviously there's been a doozy here and there. Here are a few of the most memorable April Fools' Day pranks ever played.
The Great Spaghetti Harvest
Seemingly cited online more than any other prank as the best, the story behind the Great Spaghetti Harvest began with the reputable and (usually) serious British Broadcasting Corporation.
The network reported April 1, 1957, that a region in Switzerland was having a bountiful spaghetti crop that year, according to history.com. Spaghetti wasn't a common food in Britain at the time.
The story even showed people picking spaghetti strands from trees. This led to a mountain of calls to the BBC as to how people could grow their own spaghetti trees. The network milked the joke for a while before coming clean.
Sidd Finch
This one's generally considered the best April Fools' Day prank ever in the sports world. The April 1, 1985, edition of Sports Illustrated arrived in folks' mailboxes with a story on an unknown New York Mets prospect named Sidd Finch.
Related:JIMMY SMOTHERS: April Fools’: No gifts, no time off, just fun and laughs
The story went like this: Finch allegedly could throw a baseball 168 miles per hour (more than 60 mph faster than the fastest pitch ever thrown, even today), play the French horn, only wore one shoe and generally was considered wildly eccentric. Mets players and coaches went along with the ruse. There even were pics of "Sidd Finch."
Fans and news outlets heavily followed the story until the magazine finally admitted to the hoax 15 days after the article ran.
Jovian–Plutonian Gravitational Effect
The BBC strikes again, this time looking beyond the bounds of Earth to pull a fast one.
According to enacademic.com, the BBC radio network reported that on April 1, 1976, at 9:47 a.m., the alignment of Pluto and Jupiter would lead to a powerful gravity combination that briefly would decrease gravity on Earth. Listeners were told that if they jumped at the right moment, they would get a floating sensation.
Though the BBC got calls from hundreds reporting the unique effects, the story quickly was revealed as false.
Nixon For President ... Again
Richard Nixon is one of the most reviled U.S. presidents because of Watergate, but according to National Public Radio's "Talk of the Nation" on April 1, 1992, he announced he was running for president 18 years after resigning in disgrace.
There even were (doctored) audio clips of Nixon saying, "I never did anything wrong, and I won't do it again" in his announcement speech, according to hoaxes.org.
The response was immediate and highly negative, from listeners to political pundits. But the second half of the program revealed the prank.
Prankster in a Bottle
This one goes back to the earlier days of April Fools' Day, occurring in 1749.
An ad in a London newspaper advertised an event where a man would squeeze himself into a wine bottle and sing inside it, among other tricks, according to history.com. The legend is that two men had a bet over whether people would show up to watch something impossible.
Show up they did, filling the house. However, no performer ever showed up onstage. The audience, realizing they'd been hoodwinked, rioted.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/01/etowah-fires-blazes-keener-area-attalla-scorch-some-386-acres/7229193001/
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Winds, days of dry weather made Wednesday a bad day for fires in Etowah County
The rain overnight Wednesday was extremely welcome across the state, where dry conditions had turned much of the state into a tinderbox.
The Alabama Forestry Commission's wildland firefighters worked to suppress 376 wildfires in the last month, the commission reported Tuesday, involving 12,277 cases across the state.
Winds, combined with dry, warm conditions, exacerbated fire worries in recent days.
The state was not under any kind of no-burn order — that will go into effect for the summer and early fall months — but some of the agencies that have to deal with fires had cautioned people against any kind of outdoor burning.
Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency Public Information Officer Breonna Cole said the public needs to be better educated about conditions that make it unsafe to burn trash or brush.
Dry conditions, especially on a day like Wednesday when winds were obviously quite high, should be prompt people to question themselves: Is it safe to light a fire?
Sometimes seeing the risk, Cole said, should be a matter of common sense.
Forester Robert Brown agreed recent days have been bad ones to burn, and bad ones for fires in the state.
He said the AFC worked with local firefighters to battle two blazes in Etowah County — a fire in the Keener community that started burning Saturday and, while contained, may still be burning within the boundaries plowed by forestry workers.
That fire kept local fire departments and the forestry commission busy through the weekend, Brown said. It burned 368 acres, according to the AFC website.
A smaller fire burned off Alabama Highway 77 in Attalla Wednesday, claiming 18 acres, according to the AFC.
A number of volunteer departments assisted Attalla and Ivalee fire departments at the scene. Had the effects of the storm been worse, Cole said, many of the responders who normally help with those situations were tied up with the fire, reported at about 1 p.m. Wednesday. The blaze was contained and under control at about 6:53 p.m. Wednesday.
Brown said it's believed that a truck might have thrown off some sparks, igniting the fire, which flared in the dry grass and brush and spread as a result of windy conditions.
By the time the AFC was on the scene with a tractor, Attalla firefighters and volunteer departments had the fire pretty much under control.
"The rain was a big help," Brown said, in curbing the conditions that allowed the fire to spread.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/01/extension-service-sets-4-h-pig-squeal-show-sale/7231080001/
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EXTENSION CORNER: Support 4-H students, get some good pork at Pig Squeal show, sale
This week has been a busy one at the Etowah County Extension Office. I’ve been making home visits to participants in our 4-H Pig Squeal project.
During these visits, I’ve been accompanied by our new 4-H agent, Jennifer Strawn. We’re checking in on these students and their pigs to check and see how the project is doing and help make sure that they are on track to bring healthy, high-quality pigs to the upcoming show and auction. I can confirm that these participants are doing a fantastic job raising their pigs.
The Pig Squeal project focuses on the swine commodity group and teaches young people responsibility, managerial skills and entrepreneurship. Each participant receives two feeder hogs in January and raises these animals for around 100 days. They are then asked to bring their best hog to a show and auction.
This project has a fantastic community support element. You can come to the show and support Etowah County 4-H participants and fill your freezer full of local pork products. Join us April 23 at the Sand Rock Livestock Arena located behind The Rock grocery store at 1715 Sand Rock Ave. The Northeast Alabama 4-H Pig Squeal show starts at 11 a.m. and the auction will follow at 1 p.m.
Bidders will not have to take possession of a live hog. Processors will be on hand to haul the purchased hogs; processing fees are an addition to the auction price.
For more information on this or other Extension programs, please reach out or stop by our office at 3200A W. Meighan Blvd., or visit us on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3otwUdl or online at https://bit.ly/3yniPCx.
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Everyone is welcome! Please let us know if you have accessibility needs.
Eric Wright is extension coordinator for the Etowah County Extension Office.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/01/united-ways-annual-meeting-april-7/7231428001/
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United Way of Etowah County's annual meeting is April 7
The United Way of Etowah County’s annual meeting is set for April 7 at The Venue at Coosa Landing.
Slated to receive recognition at the meeting are the organization’s Major Gifts Society, Leadership Givers, agencies, board of directors and Loyal Contributors for 2021.
The Standard of Excellence, Rising Star, Tom McKenzie and Joanne Hightower Loyal Contributor awards for 2021 will also be presented. The meeting will feature the passing of the gavel and another special award and presentation.
KeSean Williams will speak on how the resources from United Way and the Boys & Girls Club have impacted his life.
A lunch catered by Local Joe’s is set for 11:30 a.m.; the cost is $15. The meeting will begin at noon.
The public is invited. RSVP to Linda Hale at 256-547-2581 or adminassistant@uwoec.org.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/01/cherokee-crash-fatal-georgia-woman-car-hit-downed-tree-left-road/7249475001/
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Woman dies after Cherokee County crash, possibly caused by downed tree
A Buford, Georgia, woman died after a single-vehicle crash Thursday morning.
The car she was a passenger in hit a downed tree and went off the road on U.S. Highway 278 in Cherokee County, WEIS radio reported.
Christine Ki Yoon, 62 was a passenger in a 2018 Toyota Camry traveling at about 5:20 a.m. on U.S. 278 at about 6 miles east of Piedmont, according to Alabama State Troopers.
She and the driver, Scott Moon Soo Yoon, 65, were both taken to a Gadsden hospital where she died from her injuries. Information on the driver's condition was not available.
According to WEIS Radio, a number of trees had been reported down in the area because of high winds and saturated ground from a strong line of storms that passed through the area late Wednesday and early Thursday.
Troopers continue to investigate the crash.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/01/frank-helderman-jr-obituary/7234326001/
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Former Gadsden Times Publisher Frank Helderman Jr. dies at 82
Frank Helderman Jr., former publisher of The Gadsden Times, died on Thursday in Atlanta, according to family members. He was 82.
A native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Helderman moved to Gadsden in 1952 and entered seventh grade at Disque Junior High School after his father, Frank Helderman Sr., became publisher of The Times.
He was a 1957 graduate of Gadsden High School, where he served as drum major for four years. He also played basketball and was business manager of the school newspaper, The Magnavox, amid other activities.
Helderman graduated from the University of Alabama, needing only three years to complete a B.S. in business with a minor in journalism. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and the Sigma Delta Chi honor society (now the Society of Professional Journalists).
He returned to Gadsden to work full-time at The Times (where he’d worked during the summers while he was in high school and college).
Helderman’s family owned several small newspaper properties in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. A multi-engine and instrument-rated pilot, he piloted the company plane on site visits.
He was named The Times’ publisher in 1985, succeeding his father, following the newspaper’s purchase by the New York Times Co. He served in that role until 1994, when he took over as publisher of another NYT paper, the TimesDaily in Florence.
“Mr. Helderman was committed to his community, and to journalism and The Gadsden Times,” said Managing Editor Greg Bailey, a member of The Times’ staff during Helderman’s years as publisher. “He expected excellence from all aspects of the newspaper’s operations.”
During his time in Gadsden, Helderman was part of numerous civic and social organizations and served on a variety of boards, including Rotary, the Boys & Girls Club and the Gadsden Country Club. He also worked behind the scenes to acquire funding for various service organizations, and to promote a new bridge over the Coosa River to connect Rainbow City and Southside.
He served as president of BIGMEN —Business/Industry in Gadsden Means Entertainment Now — a group formed to promote entertainment and recreation activities, during its efforts to restore the Mort Glosser Amphitheatre.
Helderman received the Alabama Council of the Arts’ 1989 Governor’s Award for his efforts to promote the arts, and later served on the council.
He served two terms as president of the Alabama Press Association; was part of Leadership Alabama; and served on the board of the Alabama School for the Deaf and Blind. He was active in an effort to place a statue of Alabama native Helen Keller in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall.
A founding member of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Helderman chaired the building committee for the present church building.
Helderman is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jennie Miller Helderman (they met at a Saturday matinee at the Princess Theatre); son, Frank Helderman III; daughter, Catherine Helderman Markwalter; and three grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/01/gadsden-humane-society-pet-rescue-and-adoption-center-hosting-full-house-frenzy-weekend-sale-dogs/7244673001/
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One weekend only! Adopt a dog from Humane Society shelter for only $20
Retail stores often have flash sales, and the Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center is adapting that strategy to try to reduce an overload of dogs.
Today through Sunday, the adoption fee (which includes spaying and neutering) for all dogs over 25 pounds will be only $20. The HSPRAC has dubbed the sale “Full House Frenzy.”
PET OF THE WEEK:Cheerio loves to play, but is also a cuddly lap dog
According to its Facebook page, the shelter has space for just 50 dogs but is currently housing 106.
More:Your Gadsden Times subscription includes digital copy: How to access the E-Edition
“We want to get more dogs off the street, but have to get some of our amazing pups into their new homes first,” it said in a post.
Available dogs can be seen at https://hsprac.com/available-dogs.
The HSPRAC is also in need of fosters (register at https://hsprac.com/foster) and volunteers (sign up at https://hsprac.com/volunteer).
The shelter is located at 4200 Brooke Ave.. Call 256-442-1347 for more information.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/sports/college/baseball/2022/04/01/college-baseball-eastern-kentucky-end-jacksonville-states-winning-streak/7245276001/
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Jacksonville State baseball: Grand slam by Logan Thomason leads Eastern Kentucky to 10-5 win
JACKSONVILLE — Riding high off a victory over Auburn, Jacksonville State baseball could not build on its four-game winning streak.
Eastern Kentucky handed the Gamecocks their first ASUN Conference loss of the season in a 10-5 contest at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
A grand slam in the top of the fourth inning by the Colonels' Logan Thomason pushed the lead to five runs.
Jacksonville State (12-12, 6-1) is now tied with Eastern Kentucky (19-8, 6-1) atop the West Division standings. The Colonels have won six straight, including a 6-3 win over Kentucky on Tuesday.
The 10 runs were the most allowed by JSU since a 14-6 loss to Troy on March 9.
Thomason also added an RBI infield single in the sixth inning and Ron Franklin had a two-run double in the seventh.
Isaac Alexander hit a solo home run, Carson Crowe was 3-for-4 with an RBI and Alex Carignan was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Gamecocks.
"Tonight was a night I thought everything went their way," JSU coach Jim Case said. "That happens sometimes."
JSU opened the season with six straight losses, including an opening weekend sweep at the hand of Kentucky. Following a 4-10 start, it had won eight of its last 10 coming into Friday's contest.
Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky will play two more games in the series, with the winner of the series likely coming out with the lead in the division.
"The Saturday game is usually important, no matter what," Case said. "Now it becomes even bigger. Because we have to find a way to get back in the series to give ourselves a chance."
TJ Reeves led the team with a .366 batting average, four home runs, 17 RBIs and six stolen bases coming into Friday. Alex Strachan and Carson Crowe each have added four home runs as well.
The Gamecocks have seven remaining ASUN series and play host to both Auburn (April 26) and Alabama (May 10) ahead of the conference tournament scheduled for May 25-28 in Fort Meyers, Florida.
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/sports/college/football/2022/04/01/rich-rodriguez-players-looking-forward-jacksonville-state-spring-football/7168526001/
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Jacksonville State football: Rich Rodriguez looking forward to first spring game in 3 years
JACKSONVILLE — Excitement is in the air in the Jacksonville State football program heading into the first spring game for the program in three years.
The 2020 spring game was canceled due to COVID and the Gamecocks played during the spring last year.
With Rich Rodriguez in his first season as coach and the move to Conference USA in the near future, Rodriguez stressed the importance of next Saturday's spring game.
'A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER':Jacksonville State football players on first Rich Rodriguez practice
QB TRANSFER:Jacksonville State football lands 4-star QB prospect Aaron McLaughlin from NC State
NEW CONFERENCE:Q&A with Jacksonville State AD on move to Conference USA: 'It moved at lightning speed'
"If you’re a JSU football fan, please come out on the 9th and support our guys,” Rodriguez said. “It should be a nice day. Weather is going to be great. The cost is great, because there is no cost. It should be fun. I want our guys to feel a little bit of pressure with some fans here to feel like what the game will be.”
Rodriguez added the band and cheerleaders will be there, just like a regular game. He added there could also be some special fan interactions.
"It will be fun,” Rodriguez said. “It will be entertaining. We might even try to do a couple of things, like let the fans call a couple of plays. I've done that in the past. Got in the stands, razzled them a little and let them call a play and see if they have any success.”
The players share their new coaches excitement about spring football and the future of the football program.
“It’s a whole new culture,” JSU defensive lineman Jackson Luttrell said. “Just exciting times. Lot of new players are coming in, new facilities are being built. It's a big time for Jacksonville State football right now.”
Luttrell, a former star for Hokes Bluff, is entering his fourth season with the Gamecocks. He will be a junior this year, due to the COVID year.
This will however be his first spring game.
"I am looking forward to it,” he said. “I have enjoyed having an offseason for the first time in my four years of being here. I have enjoyed the ball and workouts being intermixed and being able to come out here and work on my craft and get better everyday.”
Luttrell said practices under Rodriguez have been different than ones under former coach John Grass.
"He brings a lot more higher energy,” Luttrell said. “He is quick to chew out if you mess up, but he runs a tight ship and he expects a lot out of us. We should work hard and give it to him.
"There’s no way we see an offense faster than we see in practice. Half the time, if you look to the sideline and don’t get call and lineup immediately you won't be ready to play the snap.”
Rodriguez, who was hired at the end of November, is still in the process of learning his roster and will sprinkle in his first recruits class during the summer and fall.
This will be a chance for some of the players already with the team to prove themselves.
“I want to see how our guys compete without coaches being behind them and telling them what to do and all that,” Rodriguez said. “It’s pretty much all on their own. I want to see how they handle the atmosphere. We have a lot of young guys who have never played and might be nervous.”
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/opinion/columns/2022/04/02/taxpayers-need-answers-airport/7210362001/
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JOHN F. FLOYD: Taxpayers deserve to know details of airport's finances
I appreciate Lance Koury sending me the latest financial data concerning the Gadsden Airport Authority’s expenditures for outside legal counsel. According to the numbers he provided, attorney’s fees for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2021, were $67,258.74. Attorney’s fees for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 were $218,647.35, making a grand total of $285,906.09.
Charges have not been released for January, February and March of 2022, but since the attorneys' fees for 2021 and the first quarter of fiscal 2022 were in the quarter-million-dollar range, it can be assumed the charges will be comparable. This is an estimate, but attorneys' fees borne by the taxpayers of Gadsden will be in the $500,000 range.
If my calculations are wrong — and they very well could be since I am not an accountant — perhaps the city’s finance director, or someone else at City Hall, could correct me and, at the same time, inform Gadsden’s taxpayers about the line item in the city’s budget in which these attorneys' fees are covered. That is assuming the city is responsible for those charges incurred by the GAA.
During my examination of the authority’s Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Change in Net Position, Budget and Actual, for the one month and three months ended Dec. 31, 2021, a couple of things other than the attorney’s fees got my attention.
The line item for insurance year to date showed a budget of $8,000, but an expenditure of $27,241. This could be because of timing, but it should be explained so that taxpayers understand.
Net operating income for fiscal year 2021 was a loss of $536,676.15. Net operating income for the first three months of fiscal 2022 showed a loss of $347,385.98. Who is covering these losses and by how much? What is being done to mitigate these losses?
The only income shown in the fiscal year 2021 financial report is hangar rent at $49,825.00, hardly enough to cover operating income losses.
A question that has been brought to my attention numerous times by Gadsden residents: “With two lawyers on the Gadsden Airport Authority board, why does the GAA need outside counsel and did the outside counsel support executive sessions to conduct airport business as charged in Koury’s lawsuit?”
And that brings up another question: “Did Pilgrim’s Pride pay any part of the outside attorneys' fees?”
These are all pertinent questions that should be answered by the GAA for Gadsden and Etowah County residents and taxpayers, especially the latter because they have no idea how their hard-earned dollars are being appropriated.
Where are the City Council and the mayor on the issue of subsidizing airport operations? The City of Gadsden is funding the service on the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport’s 2004 bond issue, about $500,000, and subsidizing the airport’s deficit, another $500,000, while taking a hands-off to supervising the facility. This approach would be commendable if the airport was not fundamentally bankrupt.
The Gadsden airport could be a cash generator and not a funnel for taxpayer money, but there has to be a plan. The GAA board should consist of men and women with an entrepreneurial spirit — professional aviation managers and industrial development experts. But most of all, GAA board members should have a vision of what the Gadsden airport could be and not what it is, a non-performing asset.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat him as he could be, and he will become what he should be.”
Substitute the Gadsden airport in this adage and you have a perfect vision for saving it. Treat the Gadsden airport as it is, and it will remain as it is. Treat the Gadsden Airport as it could be, and it will become what it should be.
John F. Floyd is a Gadsden native who graduated from Gadsden High School in 1954. He formerly was director of United Kingdom manufacturing, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., vice president of manufacturing and international operations, General Tire & Rubber Co., and director of manufacturing, Chrysler Corp. He can be reached at johnfloyd538@gmail.com. The opinions reflected are his own.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/sports/2022/04/02/gadsdens-mathis-earns-spot-softball-hof/7251894001/
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Gadsden's Salli Mathis inducted into Alabama ASA Hall of Fame
Salli Mathis of Gadsden is among the latest inductees into the Alabama Amateur Softball Association’s Hall of Fame.
Mathis was inducted as a fastpitch player in a ceremony on March 26 at the Belk Activity Center in Tuscaloosa, where the Hall of Fame is housed.
Mathis played in the local youth leagues, then joined the Gadsden Tomboys, who won seven consecutive Alabama ASA championships in the 1970s, advancing to the region tournament in each of those years. She’s the sixth member of the Tomboys to earn HoF honors; their coach, L.H. “Greasy” Thornton, is also a member.
A solid all-around player on offense and defense, Mathis earned All-State and MVP honors during her years with the team.
She attended Auburn University, where she played slowpitch softball and was team MVP, and continued to play slowpitch afterward, playing on Class A and B state championship teams. She also umpired in the Alabama ASA.
Also inducted on March 26 were:
• Fastpitch: John Ed Belvin, Robert Mills and Donald Ryan, all of Tuscaloosa.
• Slowpitch: Gene Allen, Tallassee; Rusty Burroughs, Anniston; Paul Hardin, Pelham; and Phil White, Oxford.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/02/hokes-bluff-structure-fire-friday-brings-out-multiple-fire-departments/7255609001/
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Multiple fire departments battle Hokes Bluff blaze
Donna Thornton
The Gadsden Times
Hokes Bluff, Ballplay Bend, Glencoe, and Gadsden fire departments responded to a large structure fire Friday night, along with other surrounding departments.
The structure, located on Centre Road near Mays Crossroad, had been a grocery store and antique store in the past.
Gadsden Fire responded with three vehicles, including a ladder truck.
The building suffered heavy damage or total loss from the blaze. No injuries were reported.
Traffic was redirected from the area for hours Friday night, and first responders cautioned people served by Ford's Valley Water Cooperative that they might experience low water pressure as a result of the fire.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/03/gadsden-partners-rescue-group-add-space-stray-animals/7216611001/
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Agreement with rescue intended to help with Gadsden's stray animal overflow
In the ongoing effort to deal with stray animals throughout Gadsden, the City Council on Tuesday voted to establish a holding facility for animals picked up by animal control officers when there is no room at the Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center.
The city will lease the old transportation building in the 1700 block of Chestnut Street to Carol Huckaby for the nominal fee of $1 a year.
Huckaby operates Huckaby's Hope for Paws animal rescue. The organization has been a 501(c)3 nonprofit since 2020, and she works to care for and adopt as many animals as possible.
Huckaby sent out 1,200 animals across the country last year, according to Public Safety Committee Chairman Ben Reed said.
Reed said she's agreed to provide a "holding tank" for animals than cannot be taken in immediately by the HSPRAC. The city contracts with the HSPRAC to taken in animals that are picked up, but the large numbers of strays in the area keep the shelter full
"We're taking up the slack ourselves," Reed said, through this agreement with Huckaby's Hope for Paws.
"We try to help as many as we can," Huckaby said. She and Mitchell Chastain talked to the council about their effort, and the ongoing problem of unwanted dogs and cats in the city.
Both had nothing but praise for the HSPRAC and its new director, Mike Jeffcoat, but Chastain said, "They're just overwhelmed."
Huckaby said the spacious building will allow the rescue to house animals and hold the city's pick-ups to get more animals off the streets.
The most important step may be the one taken before animals are released, no matter where they go.
Huckaby said all animals are spayed and neutered, given all shots and released with a health certificate, and that's whether someone is paying to have the animal flown to Wyoming or New York, or is adopting locally.
Chastain said there is a man who makes a route from Vermont across the country, picking up animals from rescues such as Huckaby's and taking them to other parts of the country where people are anxious to adopt them.
Unfortunately, he said, Gadsden is near the end of the animal advocate's route.
The arrangement will help both Huckaby's rescue and the city in dealing with animals. Reed pointed out the numbers adopted from Huckaby's organization and added that some 200 animals were adopted from the HSPRAC last year.
But Huckaby said — as HSPRAC personnel have for ages — spaying and neutering pets is the key to curbing the problem of stray animals.
"We can't rescue our way out of this," she said, noting that working with local veterinarians to make sure animals are "fixed" before they are adopted is crucial.
Even when animals adopted are too young to be spayed or neutered before leaving the rescue, she said, adopters pledge to have the procedure done — and she checks up on them.
Huckaby's rescue effort depends on donations and needs volunteers. They have to pay to feed and house all those rescued animals, and they have vet bills for care. "We've been getting a lot of animals that are sick," she said, and the vet bills are an ongoing problem.
Huckaby said they have pets at vet's offices now — a puppy with parvo, and a dog that will lose a leg. "It all costs money," she said.
Council members asked about the cost of cages that would be needed to contain animals at the Chestnut Street location; Chastain said they didn't really know. They make a lot of the cages they use themselves and haven't been buying them.
The building lease starts April 1. For more information, or to donate to Huckaby's rescue, visit its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/HuckabysHopeForPaws.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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Spring is the time for religious observances
Easter may be the most widely known holidays of the spring — it has broad secular appeal, in addition to its great meaning for Christians — but it is only one of the religious holidays in this season of renewal. Here are some of the religious holidays observed by people of different faiths during the spring of 2022.
Lent: March 2-April 16
Many Christians observe Lent, marking 40 days before Easter. The idea of giving up something for Lent is meant to mirror the sacrifice of Jesus Christ during His 40 days in the wilderness. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, continues through the observance of Good Friday, the day of Jesus' crucifixion and Easter Sunday, the day of His resurrection.
Ramadan: April 2-May 1 (approximate)
Ramadan is observed during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar through fasting from dawn until sunset. According to The Aspen Institute, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and use the month to re-center on their faith through self-restraint and good deeds.
Vaisakhi - April 13
Sikhs commemorate the creation in1699 of the Khalsa Panth, an order of initiated Sikhs devoted to serving the One Creator and humanity. Before 1699, it was celebrated as a harvest festival in the Punjab region, and many observe it as a cultural and religious holiday.
Passover: April 15-23
Passover is one of the most important of Jewish holidays — an eight-day festival celebrating the Jews' liberation from captivity in Egypt. Observances include abstaining from leavened foods, marking days of rest and retelling the story of the exodus from Egypt. Seder, the traditional Passover meal, is held after nightfall on the first and second nights of Passover.
Easter: April 17
For Christians, Christmas and Easter are the most important religious holidays: the celebration of Jesus' birth and His resurrection, three days after His crucifixion. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox. It is observed with church services and traditional meals. The holiday is a cause for celebration in the commercial sector through sales of Easter fashions, Easter baskets and chocolate bunnies.
Vesak Day (Buddha Day): May 15
Vesak Day commemorates the birth, enlightenment, death and passage into parinirvana of Siddhartha Gautama. It's called Buddha Day because it marks milestones of the Buddha's life and spiritual journey. Like many religious holidays, the date of its observance is determined by a solar and lunar calendar, and varies from year to year.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2022/04/03/david-murdocks-tales-front-porch/7217284001/
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DAVID MURDOCK COLUMN: Tales From the Front Porch — April 2022
It’s been a long time since I updated y’all on the view from the Front Porch, so here goes.
This morning, I noticed a house wren with nesting material in its beak kept perching over on the railing farthest away from me. Every time I looked over at it, it looked away as if it were trying to hide what it was doing. Finally, I saw it drop the fluff it was carrying into the top of a plastic watering can tilting precariously on top of a clay flowerpot on top of a wire mesh corner stand.
That watering can has had quite the history as a nursery. I tossed it up there late last year because the spout was clogged with mud deposited by a dirt dauber, and I intended to clean it out this spring. When the wren flew away, I crept over and looked down into it — there’s a nest with about six little wren eggs in it.
Well, so much for cleaning it out just now. I suppose the watering can isn’t as precarious as I thought. Come to think of it, we’ve had some stiff winds out here lately, and it hasn’t budged. Now, I’ll just have to keep an eye on the nest. I hope mama wren is willing to share the porch!
Now, I get up very early in the morning. I’m usually settled into my chair and working by 4 a.m., and I’ve had some coffee before I get that far. That gives me about two solid hours of writing and reading before I have to get ready for work. Those two hours are usually my best of the day for creative work.
If those are my best hours of the day for writing and reading, they’re also Simi Kat’s best hours for lap-sitting. As soon as she sees me pull a pillow across my lap — I write on a clipboard on top of it — she jumps up on the pillow and stretches out. Jealous of my pens and pencils, she swats at them until I fulfill my petting quotient for the morning. After a few minutes of being a general nuisance, she usually sacks out, which is a bother.
Anyone ever try to write on a clipboard “around” a dozing cat? It’s a challenge. I’m sure she thinks that the writing is a bother and a challenge to her dozing, so we cancel each other out.
Anyway, I was writing and Simi was dozing, and all of a sudden, there was a ruckus outside — it woke her right up to “alert status.” It sounded almost like a horse whinnying, but it wasn’t. There is a horse in a nearby pasture, but unless the horse was right outside the window, that wasn’t it. Besides, there was a sharper edge to the sound than whinnying has. And … Simi Kat had “alerted” — ears moving, scruff up, slight snorting. She doesn’t do that for horses.
I grabbed a strong flashlight and went outside. Whatever it was wasn’t nearby. Someone spotted a big coyote out here the other morning, and I figured that it was that coyote yipping, but I’m still not sure. Coyotes make a wide range of vocalizations, and I’ve never heard one make quite that sound before. Could have been a fox. Sasquatch, maybe? Who knows?
This last one, I wasn’t on the porch but driving into town. It was right before sunup, in that gray-ish, right-before-dawn light, and I was on Third Street, and I saw a really thin figure about 4 feet tall crossing the road in front of me. Since I couldn’t tell what it was yet because it was just out of the range of my headlights, I slowed down to almost a crawl. It was weird-looking, let me tell y’all. It couldn’t have been a human, but who knows what odd critters stalk the pre-dawn light?
When the figure entered the cone of my headlights, I almost gasped at what it turned out to be. It was a great blue heron!
Now, that’s one of the more familiar birds around here. I love to watch them wade in the shallows of the river and catch fish. They’ll stalk creeks, too, and the only time I see them out this way is when they’re flying overhead — they have a very distinctive flight silhouette — so I’m assuming they’re flying between Big Wills Creek and Little Wills Creek. According to the Audubon website, herons will sometimes hunt small mammals in meadows.
I had no idea. All of them I’ve ever seen were either flying or wading. Until that morning, I’d never seen one on dry ground, much less pavement. The heron was heading toward a spring-fed branch with lots of opportunities for hunting the kinds of small animals it eats, and I guess it just thought that it wasn’t worth the flight. Very stately walk, by the way.
Lots of lizards again this year, and the green anoles are already displaying their mating behaviors. I saw the first lightning bug of the year last night, so I’m sure we’re about to see all the wildlife come out.
David Murdock is an English instructor at Gadsden State Community College. He can be contacted at murdockcolumn@yahoo.com. The opinions reflected are his own.
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ELAINE HARRIS SPEARMAN: Anyone touting 'constitutional right to vote' amid gun talk?
Just about anybody that you speak with remembers Kermit the Frog’s lament. “It's not easy being green.”
It is not easy, nor does it bring any sense of contentment or hope, to write about a majority of the members of the Alabama Legislature.
Yes, I do realize there are many people who support the members and the legislation they pass. There are also a great many people who do not support their legislative agenda.
I think the “constitutional carry” legislation is one of the worst pieces of legislation to ever see the light of day. The premise of the gun bill was clearly stated by an activist with the National Association for Gun Rights. D.J. Parten said, “If someone can legally possess a firearm, they should be able to carry that firearm without being forced to pay a fee or get a government permit.”
There are many sheriffs in Alabama who back “constitutional carry” and are not concerned about the loss of the permit fee. There are others who are concerned that ending the permit requirement will be a serious blow to sheriff’s budgets across the state.
Some claim the real beef is “having to pay to exercise a constitutional right.”
One lone Republican to speak out against the bill, Rep. Allen Farley, R-McCalla, said, “The sheriffs use this (money) for school resource officers, patrol officers, radios, computers, cars, automatic defibrillators, extradition of felons from other states, DARE programs and children’s advocacy.”
The first thing we can start with is to decline to call carrying a gun without a permit a “constitutional carry.” The Second Amendment to the Constitution states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” (Ratified 1791)
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights because they lay out Americans’ fundamental rights and freedoms. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, which were ratified after the Civil War ended, changed America’s history. Slavery was ended, civil rights were affirmed and the right to vote was extended.
Now it is obvious that the amendments are cherry picked by those who have questionable motives.
When is the last time you have heard of any legislature giving a rallying cry to a “constitutional right to vote?” You are, in fact, seeing superhuman effort being put forth in states across this country to curtail that right.
There are a great many things that are government regulated, with the issuance of permits. The greatest interest is the health, safety and welfare of every citizen of the United States. As a concealed carry permit holder, I heartily support the issuance of permits for people who own or have access to an instrument that is designed to hurt or harm another human being.
The permit process, with a background check, attempts to provide some assurance regarding the permitee, although nothing is guaranteed.
Shootings and gun deaths are on the rise. It is not always the bad guys who are killed. We are witnessing innocent women and children being murdered by gunshots. Most law-abiding citizens who possess a gun have no issue with the permit process. Permitless carry will increase the number of guns on the streets carried by people who do not intend to be accountable.
Gun violence is assailing every community across the country. Let’s face it. A great deal of gun violence is found either within the African American community, or in places such as shopping malls or on public streets, with African American shooters. This is not to ignore “Walmart shooters,” or those who travel distances to rallies to maim and kill; those who invade schools and churches killing innocent people; and those who kill all or part of their families.
All of these acts of violence make the entire community unsafe. The first response is always that parents bear a great deal of responsibility regarding their offspring’s behavior. I have in fact met a parent who has dealt with serious gun violence, who gave the young man a curfew that was more that reasonable and advised him that if he did not abide by it, stay where he was.
Many young people do not have that kind of guidance. So, what is the community responsibility to address the violence that disturbs us all? What is the root cause of violent acts?
Law enforcement has a vested interest in curbing gun violence. With limited forces and budgets, senseless shootings strain resources that could otherwise be deployed.
I would daresay communities across Alabama are faced with escalating gun violence, and the new gun legislation does nothing to help the situation.
As many of these communities look at electing new mayors, presumably they have an interest in making their cities safer and more livable.
Perhaps one step could be a violence summit comprised of church and local community leaders, educators, council members from most affected districts, law enforcement and others to develop concrete solutions after exploring why disputes or disagreements must end with gunfire.
Elaine Harris Spearman, Esq., a Gadsden native, is an attorney and is the retired legal advisor to the comptroller of the City of St. Louis. The opinions reflected are her own.
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Crossville teen dies in crash; authorities seek help finding 2nd vehicle involved
J.J. Hicks
The Gadsden Times
A Crossville teen was killed Saturday in a crash involving a second vehicle that authorities currently are seeking assistance from the public in finding.
According to senior state trooper Justin O'Neil, at approximately 10:20 p.m. Saturday, the 14-year-old's 2003 Honda CH-80 motorcycle was struck from behind by an unknown vehicle.
The youth was pronounced dead at the scene, located on Alabama Highway 75 near the 68-mile marker, about three miles south of Geraldine.
No more information was available, as troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate the matter.
If anyone has information regarding the incident or the second vehicle involved, please call 256-353-0631.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/04/pet-week-april-4/7247344001/
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PET OF THE WEEK: Speculous full of energy, loves attention
Staff Report
Meet Speculous, the Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center’s Pet of the Week for April 4.
Shelter officials say she’s about 6 months old, and is full of energy. She loves to run and play outside, and also loves attention.
Speculous can be seen at the HSPRAC, 4200 Brooke Ave., Gadsden. Her adoption fee is $50.
The shelter is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Tuesday, when it is closed to help facilitate its S.N.Y.P. (Spay and Neuter Your Pet) program. For more information, call 256-442-1347.
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One dead in Attalla house fire; incident remains under investigation
A young man died Monday morning in what appears to be an electrical fire at an Attalla residence, according to Fire Chief Chris Correll. At least two other people were in the home, but were not injured.
Etowah County Deputy Coroner Dantez Robinson said the man was pronounced dead at the scene. He later was identified as Charles George Page IV, 26
The fire was reported at 5:53 a.m. Monday, as a structure fire at 412 Fourth Ave. NW. Several Attalla fire trucks responded, and Gadsden firefighters were called to assist.
Correll said the fire started in the bedroom where the man died. He said it appeared to be an electrical fire; the Attalla Fire Department and the state fire marshal's office continue to investigate.
It was a somber scene, as firefighters cleared hoses and equipment from the scene, while Attalla police kept traffic from the area. From the outside, there were little signs of the fire that burned inside.
Correll said it started in the bedroom and spread into the attic of the house. He said he understood the man killed in the fire was a friend of the family residing there.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/05/etowah-county-animals-lana-bellew-seeks-spay-and-neuter-help/7178343001/
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Volunteers seek answers on county animal problem, say spay & neuter is key
For years, Lana Bellew has made it her mission to help animals in the area.
Bellew has been involved in animal rescue with a like-minded group of volunteers for about seven years. She has no formal training, but is very passionate about the work.
Over the years, Bellew has helped foster homeless animals, paid for medical care for animals in need and even once paid to have a dog boarded for nine weeks at a veterinary office, taking it out of there every day before taking it back at night in order to allow it to get some socialization and exercise.
"When there's a dog on the side of the road and no one knows what to do with it, or it is running down the middle of the highway, or someone finds one at their house, they don't know who to call," she explained. "I get tags on Facebook or calls (about animals needing help), and I guess the community just knows who those people are who are into volunteer rescue.
Missing pet?:What are the protocols if they wind up at a shelter?
People to watch:Humane Society Director Jeffcoat aiming to make difference for animals
"We've rescued so many animals over the past seven years," she continued. "There's people who have done so much more than I have. We're just a community of rescuers that have it on our heart that we love animals."
Bellew said she and her fellow rescuers work with a number of nonprofit organizations that help animals, including Huckaby's Hope, Fagin Animal Rescue, the Etowah County Humane Society, Second Chance Shelter, Two By Two Animal Rescue and the Rainbow City Animal Shelter.
As she went about her work, Bellew began to realize that there are two big problems in Etowah County — the need for a more central location in the county for people to bring unwanted animals and curbing overpopulation.
"I began to question, 'Where's the animal control?'" she said. "So I had to get involved to find out. It was very discouraging to me because there's really no one to call on weekends or at night. And all of the facilities are so full.
"It kills our hearts," she continued. "We can't keep up. So many animals are losing their lives."
Recently, Bellew and a few fellow rescuers met with Etowah County commissioners Johnny Grant and Tim Ramsey to seek a way to get their goals accomplished.
Animals:County shelter sees surge in animal population
Vet:Dr. Bruce Hutchinson reflects on 50th anniversary as veterinarian in local area
Bellew said both were very receptive to the ideas she and the her fellow volunteers proposed.
"It was a very amicable meeting," she said. "They had an open mind and let us talk and listened. These commissioners are listening to us and I appreciate that somebody took the time."
According to Bellew, only one option isn't just a Band-Aid on the matter.
"We've got to get to the root of the problem — we've got to spay and neuter," she emphasized.
Bellew came up with a plan she explained in the meeting.
"'Can we at least try and spay and neuter 100 to 150 dogs with a Snip-It Ticket?'" she said she asked Grant and Ramsey. "What that means is, if you have a dog and you can't afford to have it spayed or neutered or you're not going to and you keep it outside, to keep it from multiplying the County Commission can pay a portion of the (spay and neuter) fee.
"We were tasked with trying to partner with a nonprofit organization, people who can come up and do the spay and neuter at a discounted rate, and they (the county commission) are going to try and come up with discretionary funding to help get the dogs spayed or neutered," she added.
Bellew believes one of the biggest reasons animals end up in these situations is the location of the Etowah County Animal Shelter, which is on the edge of the county and has a Piedmont address, along with many in western Etowah County having a veterinarian no closer than Oneonta.
"If a person in Altoona finds a dog, they're not going to drive it to the Etowah County facility – if you're not an animal lover, especially," she said. "Look at gas prices. The logistics make zero sense."
But Bellew believes she may have an idea to help with this.
"We said, 'We need y'all to consider having a midway point,'" she said. "We're not asking for additional funds. We're asking for the funds that have been set aside to be redistributed where they can contract with a temporary place somewhere in the middle (of the county) where they can hold the animals (that have nowhere else to go)."
Bellew stressed that the employees at the Etowah County Animal Shelter are not at fault, pointing out that a lack of staff means too few people already have too much to do there, let alone going out all over the community to get strays.
When everything comes together and gets organized, Bellew said she and her fellow advocates will be posting for volunteers in every local community for anyone interested in helping.
"But right now, we're just trying to get people aware," she said.
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Top performers: Mallory Brooks, Eli Edge earn medalist honors at Gadsden Area Golf Tournament
Here are the top performers in the Gadsden area in high school sports for the first full week of April. This list will be updated throughout the week.
To submit high school scores, statistics, records, leaders and other items at any time, email ekassim@gannett.com or sports@gadsdentimes.com.
Please submit before 11 p.m. on Friday in order to be included in print.
Baseball
Monday
Glencoe's Nolan Fairley doubled and drove in two runs in a 18-8 loss to Pleasant Valley.
Glencoe's Trent Rowell added two RBIs.
Jacksonville's Jae Taj Morris tripled and drove in a run in a 11-1 win over Fyffe.
Piedmont's Jack Hayes hit two home runs, doubled and scored two runs in a 21-3 win over Ohatchee.
Piedmont's Austin Estes doubled and drove in two runs.
Oxford's Carter Johnson tripled and drove in a pair of runs in a 11-5 win over Pell City.
Oxford's Sam Robertson was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Sardis' Carson Gillilan went 3-for-3 with two doubles and six RBIs in a 16-0 win over Douglas.
Sardis' Brody Samples struck out nine in five one-hit innings.
Westbrook Christian's Jackson Bryant doubled twice and drove in three runs in a 17-0 win over Gaston.
Westbrook Christian's Brodie Self struck out 13, walked two and allowed one hit in five shutout innings.
Saturday
Glencoe's Nolan Fairley doubled twice and drove in four runs in a 15-4 win over Jacksonville.
Glencoe's Grayson Kellett doubled drove in two runs and scored three times.
Sardis' Landon Carroll doubled twice and scored two times in a 8-7 loss to Eagleville.
Sardis' Carson Gillilan also added two RBIs.
Softball
Monday
Boaz's Alana Calvert went 3-for-4 and scored three runs in a 8-3 win over Locust Fork.
Boaz's Brayley Barr added two RBIs.
Collinsville's Destiney Jones hit a home run and had two RBIs in a 4-1 win over Ider.
Coosa Christian's Kaitlyn Clough went 3-for-3 with five RBIs and scored five runs in a 21-4 win over Gaston.
Coosa Christian's Ally Pruitt scored four times and had two RBIs.
Etowah's Laura Wood hit a two run home run in a 7-3 win over Oneonta.
Etowah's Abbi Martin doubled, tripled and scored twice.
Fort Payne's Lydia Crane hit a solo home run in a 3-0 win over Geraldine.
Fort Payne's AJ Kramer struck out 15, allowing three hits in a shutout.
Piedmont's Emma Grace Todd doubled, drove in two runs and scored times in a 9-4 win over Jacksonville.
Piedmont's Savannah Smith added a double, walked twice, drove in and scored a run.
Oxford's Berkley Mooney struck out nine in five no-hit innings in a 11-0 win over Wellborn. She also added a home run and drove in three runs.
Oxford's Abbie Mitchell added a double and two RBIs against Wellborn.
Oxford's Kaelyn Crossley pitched a no-hitter in a 14-0 win over Jacksonville Christian Academy.
Oxford's Ashlyn Burns added three doubles, scored twice and had two RBIs against JCA.
Sardis' Maddie Harris doubled twice, driving in two runs and scoring three times in a 10-4 win over Arab.
Sardis' Jayda Lacks added two hits and three RBIs.
Southside's Macey Herren hit a two-run home run in a 4-3 loss to Cherokee County.
West End's Payten Canady went 3-for-5 with a home run, double, three runs scored and three RBIs in a 12-10 win over Southeastern.
West End's McKinley Chaviers also added three RBIs.
Saturday
Boaz's Emmorie Burke homered and drove in three runs in a 8-5 win over Sylvania.
Boaz's Ava Rhoden scored three runs.
Collinsville's Sophia Wills was 3-for-4 with five RBIs and scored twice in a 15-9 win over Sand Rock.
Collinsville's Tyla Tatum added a double, scoring four runs and had three RBIs.
Fort Payne's AJ Kramer homered twice and drove in five runs in a 8-4 win over Leeds.
Fort Payne's AJ Kramer doubled, hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in a 12-6 win over Leeds.
Fort Payne's Abby Phillips added a double and two RBIs in the second win over Leeds.
Glencoe's Abi Bunt hit a solo home run in a 4-3 win over Ider.
Glencoe's Abi Bunt hit two home runs and drove in five runs in a 10-6 win over Wellborn.
Glencoe's Kaylee Higdon added a double and two RBIs against Wellborn.
Sand Rock's Jadyn Foster homered and drove in two runs in a 15-9 loss to Collinsville.
Sand Rock's Emma Sipsy added two RBIs.
Boys golf
Monday
Westbrook Christian's Eli Edge shot a 74 to win the Gadsden Area Golf Tournament at Twin Bridges Golf Club.
Gadsden City's Judd Malone finished second with a score of 78.
Southside's Logan McLendon finished third, shooting a 79. The Panthers won the team title with a score of 336, edging out Westbrook Christian (342).
Girls Golf
Monday
Southside's Mallory Brooks shot a 74 winning medalist honors at the Gadsden Area Golf Tournament at Twin Bridges Golf Club. The Panthers scored a 248 to edge out Westbrook Christian (273) for the team title.
Southside's Shelby Hughes shot a 78 to finish second.
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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Poll: Vote for the Gadsden-area female athlete of the week for first week of April
Another week of high school basketball is in the books, leading into the first week of April. It's time to vote for the top athlete in the Gadsden area in the past week.
This week's candidates six softball players. The vote closes at noon on Friday, April 8.
Southside's Macey Herren won the honors last week.
TOP PERFORMERS:Mallory Brooks, Eli Edge medalist honors at Gadsden Area Golf Tournament
PLAYERS TO WATCH:22 in 2022: Here are the top Etowah County high school softball players to watch
To submit items and to report high school athletics results with scores, records and leaders, email ekassim@gannett.com or sports@gadsdentimes.com.
Do not send votes to this email address.
Here are the candidates this week:
Bailey Houston, Southside softball
Tripled, doubled and drive in three runs in a 14-3 win over Central Magnet and added a triple in a 4-1 win over Oakland.
Abbi Martin, Etowah softball
Hit a two-run walk-off home run for a 7-5 win over Oak Grove.
Abi Bunt, Glencoe softball
Hit three home runs over the weekend in wins over Ider and Wellborn and doubled and scored a run in a 4-0 win over Sylvania.
Kayla Traylor, Hokes Bluff softball
Hit a double and picked up two RBIs in a 6-3 win over Lawrence County, picked up three RBIs, including a walk-off hit-by-pitch, in a 7-6 win over Athens Bible and added a triple and an RBI in a 7-2 win over Homewood.
AJ Kramer, Fort Payne softball
Struck out 17 and walked one in a one-hit shutout 7-0 win over Cleburne County, following it up with three home runs in two games against Leeds in a tournament.
Helena Ingram, Spring Garden softball
Went 4-of-4 with a double and a run scored in a 8-2 win over Ragland and added a doubled and two RBIs in a 15-0 win over Gaylesville.
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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Vote for the Gadsden-area male athlete of the week for first week of April
Another week of high school basketball is in the books, leading into the first week of April. It's time to vote for the top athlete in the Gadsden area in the past week.
This week's candidates six baseball players. The vote closes at noon on Friday, April 8.
Glencoe's Aiden Cornutt won the honors last week.
TOP PERFORMERS:Mallory Brooks, Eli Edge medalist honors at Gadsden Area Golf Tournament
TAKING OVER:Hugh Windle taking over ace reigns from LSU's Samuel Dutton for Westbrook Christian baseball
PLAYERS TO WATCH:22 in 2022: Here are the top Etowah County high school baseball players to watch
To submit items and to report high school athletics results with scores, records and leaders, email ekassim@gannett.com or sports@gadsdentimes.com.
Do not send votes to this email address.
Here are the candidates this week:
Kyle Haney, Gadsden City baseball
Had two hits, including two doubles, and picked up three RBIs in a 7-6 win over Calera.
Drew McBurnett, Southside baseball
Hit a double and a home run, scoring and scored three time in a 8-1 win over St. Michael Catholic.
Brody Samples, Sardis baseball
Went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs in a 11-0 win over Chattanooga Central. He also struck out 14, allowing just one hit in a complete game effort.
Jameson Scissum, Etowah baseball
Allowed one run in a complete game, racking up six strikeouts.
Yahir Balcazar, Fyffe baseball
Hit a home run and drove in four runs in a 10-4 win over Pisgah and added a home run and drove in three runs in a 7-6 eight inning win over Ider.
Cooper Harcrow, Fort Payne baseball
Hit two home runs and drove in six runs in a 14-2 win over Section and added a solo home run in a 9-2 win over Fyffe.
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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Southside girls basketball coach Kim Nails announces retirement after 31 years
Long-time Etowah County girls basketball coach Kim Nails announced her retirement Monday.
Nails coached for 31 years in the county, including stops at Gadsden High School, Gadsden State Community College and Southside High.
Nails posted a 471-235 record (.667 winning percentage) in her two stints as a high school coach at Gadsden (1990-2001) and Southside (2007-22).
She won 147 games from 2001-07 at the community college level, which includes two finishes as ACCC State Champions in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
MORE:Fruits of Cardinals, Nails' hard work being reaped Selling the program Recruiting Success
HALL OF FAMER:Nails inducted into Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame
HIRED:Southside hires Nails; Yancey resigns
Nails won ACCC Coach of the Year honors in three consecutive seasons from 2001-04 and won NJCC District Coach of the Year honors in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
Gadsden State played in the NJCC National Championship Tournament in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
Nails started her high school coaching career in 1990 with Gadsden High. In her 11 seasons, the Tigers went 257-76.
Gadsden finished as the runners-up in 5A in the AHSAA state championship in 1998. She guided the Tigers to eight area championships, made five AHSAA state tournament appearances, winning four regionals and four Final Four appearances.
At Southside, Nails took over in 2007. She led the Panthers to a 214-159 record.
Under Nails, Southside won five area championships, made two appearances at the North Regionals and won the 2018 Etowah County tournament. All were firsts in program history.
In 1997, Nails was the first coach of the AHSAA North All-Star Team. She won both games as coach of the North All-Star Team.
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/06/singing-honor-gospel-promoter-satterfield/7250572001/
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Klaudt Family member plans tribute to longtime local gospel music promoter Satterfield
Memories run deep, and 90-year-old Melvin Klaudt has never forgotten Gadsden’s Frank Satterfield — auto mechanic, hay farmer, singing school teacher and promoter of gospel music concerts.
So, he’s organized the Frank Satterfield Memorial Singing on April 9 at Mount Bethel Baptist Church in Collinsville, the place where the famed Kloudt Indian Family singing group — he’s the surviving son — performed for the first time in the South more than 50 years ago.
The Klaudt ministry began in the late 1920s with R.H. and Lillian Klaudt on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
As the family grew, the Klaudts began to travel as evangelists and musicians with their children Vernon, Ramona, Melvin, Raymond and Kenneth. They traveled nationally over the years before retiring from their ministry in the early 1980s.
Dressed in traditional costumes, the Klaudts were popular performers – from churches to concert halls to records to guest spots on national television to having their own TV show.
Their show varied from family-style close harmony quartet singing to solos. and their talented instrumentation varied from guitar, piano, organ and bass to saxophone and trombone.
The Klaudts had never been to Alabama until Wally Fowler of All-Nite Gospel Singing fame suggested them to Satterfield, who promoted gospel singing programs in a five-county area surrounding Etowah County.
“It was in the late 1940s when Mr. Satterfield first brought us to this area,” Klaudt said in a telephone interview. “We went to Mount Bethel Baptist Church, near Collinsville; that was the beginning of our family coming to Alabama.”
Satterfield was a gospel music icon in the Gadsden area and across Central Alabama from the 1930s to the 1960s. His daughters were schooled in the rudiments of the genre and were prolific gospel piano players. He taught gospel singing schools and promoted annual convention singings. His singings featured top gospel groups, including the Klaudts.
“When we left the reservation in North Dakota, we had no idea what or where we wanted to go and even before we came south, a call came to us to come sing in the Gadsden area,” Melvin Klaudt said. “Frank Satterfield made that call. We owe much of our success as a singing family to him and his sister (Evie Satterfield Driskill of Hokes Bluff).”
He said their commitment to gospel singing made a lasting impression, which is why he’s organized the April 9 tribute to Satterfield. The event is free to the public.
Activities will begin with a singing and piano school from 10 a.m. to noon, led by Cameron Holloway, past president of the State of Georgia Singing Convention, and pianist John WIll Martin.
Crandall Woodson, past national president of Gospel Musing Singing Conventions, will direct a convention singing from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Activities will conclude with a concert from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring New Ground, Mercy’s Touch, the Scrap Iron Quartet and a special appearance by Jack Clark, a Southern Gospel Hall of Fame pianist.
Frankie Satterfield Stewart, Satterfield’s daughter, thanked Kloudt on behalf of her family. “Whether it was after a day’s work in his garage or an afternoon of baling hay, he was always ready for a night of music teaching or presenting a concert," she said. “We do so appreciate this special honor.”
Mount Bethel Baptist is located at 4025 Route 1 in Collinsville. The church contact is Dewitt Cox, 256-526-8272.
The event is hosted by the Klaudt Indian Memorial Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/06/etowah-area-schools-close-1-30-p-m-because-weather-threat/9486128002/
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Schools dismiss early because of threatening weather
Donna Thornton
The Gadsden Times
Because of the threat of severe weather this afternoon, school systems in Etowah County are releasing students early.
Etowah County Schools, Attalla City Schools, Gadsden City Schools, Holy Comforter Episcopal Day School and Coosa Christian School will dismiss at 1:30 p.m.
Westbrook Christian School will dismiss elementary schools students at 1 p.m., middle school students at 1:15 p.m. and high school students at 1:30 p.m.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/06/girl-7-killed-atv-crash-near-boaz-adult-injured/9482349002/
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Child killed, adult injured in ATV crash near Boaz
A 7-year-old girl was killed in an ATV crash Tuesday night near Boaz, and an adult was injured, according to Marshall County Coroner Cody Nugent.
The coroner's office was notified at about 7:30 p.m. and responded to the crash on Brock Road. The adult was taken to hospital; the child was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Alabama State Troopers are investigating to determine the cause of the crash. According to troopers, the child was killed when the Polaris all-terrain vehicle she was a passenger on left the roadway and overturned.
Patricia D. Johnson, 28, of Boaz, was driving the ATV. She was transported by helicopter to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The crash occurred on Brock Road near Miller Road, about 5 miles west of Boaz.
The Marshall County Sheriff's Office, Douglas Police Department, Douglas Fire Department, and Marshall County Health Systems Emergency Medical Service responded, Nugent said in a Facebook post. He said he appreciated the assistance of those agencies, and Marshall County 911.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/sports/college/softball/2022/04/06/college-softball-alabama-jacksonville-state-softball-canceled/9483634002/
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Alabama, Jacksonville State softball game canceled due to severe weather
The threat of severe weather put a damper on the Sand Mountain Showdown between Alabama and Jacksonville State for the second straight week. This time the impact will be stronger.
Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater officials ,along with officials from the University of Alabama and Jacksonville State University, canceled the softball game that was scheduled for Wednesday at American Fields in Albertville due to the threat of inclement weather in the area. The game was scheduled to be played at 6 p.m.
The matchup would have been the 18th between the Crimson Tide (31-5) and Gamecocks (20-15). In a press release on Twitter, the schools announced they would seek a common date in the fall of 2022 "as no mutual date is available for both teams this spring."
Ticket holders may request a refund on this link.
Alabama defeated JSU 10-3 in 2016 in the last matchup between the schools, where seven different Crimson Tide players collected at least one RBI.
JSU also postponed a contest against Alabama State in Montgomery on Tuesday due to severe weather. No makeup date has been announced, with the two schools are looking at alternate dates.
The Crimson Tide is scheduled to play at No. 6 Florida in Gainesville this weekend. The Gamecocks are scheduled to play host to Eastern Kentucky, starting with a doubleheader Saturday.
The softball facility in Albertville opened with tournaments in the fall of 2020, and the grand opening was in April of 2021. The AHSAA East Regionals high school playoffs are also scheduled to be played at the Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater in May.
NEW FIELDS, BIG GAME: New softball fields at Sand Mountain Park draws Alabama-Jacksonville State game
'A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER': Jacksonville State football players on first Rich Rodriguez practice
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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Mail order fees for tags could potentially increase after commission's action
Etowah County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution that could potentially increase the mail order fee for new vehicle tags from the county’s revenue department.
The move would reflect increased costs from the U.S. Post Office.
The mail order fee for tags would increase to not more than $5 per piece; the fee for decals would remain $2.
“This is in accordance with Section 45-28-241.26 in the Code of Alabama,” explained Chief Administrative Officer Shane Ellison.
That allows county revenue officials to charge a fee to cover mailing costs.
Revenue Commissioner Becky Nordgren on Wednesday said the problem is that the USPS is now insisting that actual license plates be treated as packages, which carry higher postage costs, instead of mail.
But while the resolution was passed, there is a chance that the increase may not have to take effect.
“The tag office is working with the post office for some discussion of handling it the way they have previously,” Ellison said. “This would mean that the price would not change. We have this in place in the event that they cannot get the agreement to work out.”
Commissioners also approved finalized plans for the Mobile Crisis Assistance Team, awarding a contract to River Region Psychiatry Associates for community mental health officer services.
“This is still pending final review by the county attorney,” Ellison said. “We were almost through and had just a couple of changes. We just have to run them by our attorney and we should have that ready to go by May 1. It’s been a long time coming.”
The MCAT is a crisis response team for “individuals identified as suffering from a serious mental illness and poses a danger to self or others,” as explained by Probate Judge Scott Hassell in October 2021. The team’s goal is to help provide compassionate, humanistic care to support individuals who often go underserved and unsupported.
The team also will be used to create and identify resources needed in the community and provide education on the matter. It has another responsibility in assisting mental health providers by monitoring and providing support for individuals under outpatient commitment of the court.
“We have a really strong contract in place with them, and I feel really good about it,” Hassell said during last week’s work session.
Commissioner Craig Inzer said, “I know this is still in the making of what we are trying to accomplish but I really do believe that this could change some of the mental health issues that we have. I know that this is dealing with a lot here, but I think it’ll help not only the probate judge’s court but also in general.”
Commissioners recognized Gadsden State Community College and its president, Dr. Kathy Murphy, as April is National Community College Month.
As she accepted the commission’s proclamation, Murphy hinted at potential announcements to be made by the college in coming days.
“I’m very excited about two real possibilities on the horizon for us,” she said, “I hope to make those official announcements in short order within the next couple of weeks. We’re excited about what’s happening at Gadsden State.”
Ellison, reading from the proclamation, said, “Alabama’s public community college system is the state’s single-largest system of higher education and is Alabama’s most affordable and accessible system of higher education.”
Commissioners approved the appointment of Margarette Fuhrman to the Etowah County Department of Human Resources board. She will replace Jean Foster, who resigned.
They also approved a final reading for an alcoholic beverage license for Ahava Springs Winery, which will be located at 954 Sumatanga Road in Gallant. and a final renewal of a contract for maintenance on the ArcGIS Enterprise Desktop Software; it will expire on March 31, 2023.
Commissioners ended the meeting in an executive session to discuss business and commerce and good name and character. No action was taken afterward
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/06/have-you-seen-missing-girl-etowah-sheriffs-office-wants-know/9492940002/
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ECSO seeking information on missing juvenile
The Gadsden Times
The Etowah County Sheriff's Office is looking for a missing juvenile.
Madison Grace Hollingsworth, 12, left 4600 Egypt Road at about 4 p.m. Wednesday. She's described as 5 feet, 2 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds. She has brown hair and she was last seen wearing a gray shirt with a red vinyl lion's head on the front and a smiley face on the right shoulder on the back of the shirt, and light gray yoga style pants with pink designs on them.
Anyone with information about the missing girl is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 256-546-2825.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/06/sylvania-man-charged-fatal-hit-and-run-crash-near-geraldine/9491734002/
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DeKalb man charged in connection with hit-and-run crash
A 22-year-old Sylvania man is charged with manslaughter and felony leaving the scene of an accident in connection with a crash Saturday that killed a 14-year-old near Geraldine.
Tyler Blaise Wilbanks was arrested at about 5:40 a.m. Wednesday in Pell City, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Highway Patrol Division.
Troopers say Wilbanks was the driver of a 2016 Chevy Equinox that struck a motorcycle at about 10:20 p.m. Saturday.
The teen was identified by family members on social media as Harley Lasseter, a freshman at Geraldine High School.
The DeKalb County DA’s Office, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, Rainsville Police Department, Albertville Police Department, Fort Payne Police Department, Geraldine Police Department and The Center for Applied Forensics assisted in the arrest, troopers said.
Troopers continue to investigate the crash.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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Hokes Bluff police investigate report that man impersonating officer stopped vehicle
Hokes Bluff police caution motorists after an incident Tuesday night when a man apparently trying to pose as a law enforcement officer stopped a vehicle on U.S. Highway 278 East.
Chief Tyler Roe said a white SUV with red and blue dash mounted lights and a red stripe down the side stopped a driver, possibly with a Georgia tag.
"We're currently working the case and ask the public to call the Hokes Bluff City Hall with any information that they may have regarding this SUV or its driver," he said.
"The safety of our citizens is our number one priority," Roe said. "If any citizen feels unsafe stopping for a vehicle presenting itself as a law enforcement vehicle 'flashing red-blue or solid blue lights' they should turn on their flashers to acknowledge the officer."
More crime news:West marks 25 years on death row; what is status of other local cases?
'Bombshell':ICE's decision to remove detainees from Etowah jail surprises sheriff
Then they should drive to a location where they feel comfortable stopping, the chief said, — at a gas station, the police department, etc. They also could call 911 and give their location to dispatchers to confirm it is an officer trying to stop them.
"All our traffic stops are radioed in to dispatch, and they will be able to give the citizen that information immediately," Roe said.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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Southside first responders, school officials drive home drunk driving message with drama
The wreck and its aftermath — one dead, two injured and one arrested for DUI — were carefully staged, but Southside police and high school officials hope it the impression it makes on students will be real, and lasting.
Southside police and fire departments worked with Southside High School officials, A Med ambulance service, Rainbow City Police and the Etowah County Coroner's Office to stage the response to a serious crash, caused by a driver under the influence.
It included members of the school’s drama team, acting as those involved in the wreck.
Southside Police Capt. Jay Freeman said the event was timed to be on students’ minds during preparations for prom, which is Friday night. He said the police department works with the school and others in a safety exercise of this kind every three or four years, so that all students will experience it.
Retirement:Southside girls basketball coach Kim Nails announces retirement after 31 years
When he was school resource officer at the high school, he said he was gratified to have a student tell him the drama "changed my decision making."
Freeman and others shared events that made an impression on them.
He said he made a bad decision when he was 18, and he got picked up for drinking and driving. "I don't want you in that same boat," he told students.
Freeman said his grandfather once told him: "You have freedom of choice, you don't have freedom from the consequences."
Etowah County Commissioner Tim Ramsey told students his 30 years as a Gadsden firefighter and paramedic had brought home the dangers of bad decisions and driving. He recalled an incident involving a friend of his daughter's. A young man had been drinking, a friend warned him not to drive and eventually got out of the vehicle. A mile down the road, the driver flipped the Jeep, and he didn't survive.
"The kid who wanted out, he's probably still thinking 'I wish I'd taken the keys,'" Ramsey said.
"I want you to be that bold," he said — willing to intervene in a friend's bad decisions.
Sheriff Jonathon Horton told students that he also is a licensed mortician, as is his father. About three days before he turned 16, he said his father took him into Crestwood Funeral Home where he worked at the time. He said there was a 17-year-old there, dead after a crash.
"Once you make a decision that gets you on that table," Horton's father told him, "you'll never get off it."
Horton said according to the National Transportation Safety Board, more than 1,000 fatalities each year are related to prom season. He urged students not to make a bad decision that cannot be reversed.
Southside Police Chief Blake Ragsdale told students not to put substances into their bodies that alter their mindset. "If you make that bad decision," he said, "don't make another by getting behind the wheel."
Students Alana Morton and Ziniah Hardy heard the speakers and went outside to witness the wreck response re-enactment. Both said seeing fellow students in the roles of wreck victims and an arrestee made them think about how a good time can end in tragedy.
"It makes you think, what if it was you or your friend in that situation," Morton said.
"It really does open your eyes," Hardy added.
Freeman said Southside High SRO Eric Hawkins and Southside Elementary SRO Jeremy Johnson worked to help organize the safety event, and Tony's Towing supplied the two wrecked vehicles — one of which firefighters dismantled with Hurst tools to free an actor portraying a trapped passenger.
Drama students portrayed the drivers and passengers: drunk driver, Yash Patel; the traffic fatality, McKenzie Agnew; and injured passengers, Trevor Wheat and Tyler Trichell.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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Annual Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition to be held Saturday at Noccalula Falls Park
The annual Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition will be held Saturday at Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden.
The event, in its 13th consecutive year, will begin at 10 a.m., with an awards ceremony scheduled for 4:30 p.m. A cook's meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the center pavilion of the Falls campground.
All ages are eligible to compete. This year's categories will be professional and backyard; there also will be a firefighter challenge.
More than $14,000 in prize money will be awarded from the event, along with trophies, ribbons and gift packages and cards from local restaurants and businesses.
Related:Food Network to feature 'Smoke on the Falls' in new show; celebrity chef Symon to appear
Previous coverage:Registration open for Smoke on the Falls
The event is free to the public, although Gadsden Parks and Recreation Event Supervisor Janet Tarrance said anyone attending can't drive into the campground, where it is being held. Instead, people will have to park in the lot and walk to the event.
"People can walk around and they (the competitors) may give free samples, but they're here to compete," Tarrance said.
This year's event will not have vendors or entertainment, which instead will be found at the Art on the Rocks at the Falls event, which is being held the same day as Smoke on the Falls and will be located in the park.
"We're excited about everything," Tarrance said. "We have 98 competitors, it's the biggest we've ever had. There are people from all over. There will be 115 KCSB (Kansas City Barbecue Society) certified judges from all over also, from as far as Colorado."
For more information, visit the Smoke on the Falls Facebook page at https://bit.ly/3ugMSMb or the Gadsden Recreation website at https://bit.ly/3rbKnZT.
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Albertville police investigate fatal shooting
UPDATE: Albertville police have taken one person into custody in connection with the fatal shooting Thursday afternoon. Assistant Chief John Amos said no other suspects are sought, and there is no threat to the public in relation to the incident.
Albertville police are investigating a shooting incident that killed a man on Highpoint Road Thursday afternoon, according to Assistant Chief John Amos.
Albertville police and fire departments responded to a reported shooting at about 4:40 p.m. Thursday at 3939 Highpoint Road. When they arrived, they found an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The man was taken to a local hospital, where he died later from his injuries.
Efforts continued to notify the victim's family; authorities will release his name when notification is complete.
According to Amos, the shooting is being investigated as a homicide. No arrests have been made.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2022/04/08/galilees-robinson-mark-milestones/9477157002/
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Robinson to mark career, pastoral milestones at Galilee Missionary Baptist
The Rev. Dr. G.E. Robinson and his wife, Sister Evelyn Robinson, will celebrate his 66 years in the pulpit and 49 years at the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday.
The service at Galilee Missionary Baptist, 904 S. 16th St., is at 11 a.m. Those who have been a part of Robinson’s ministry, and the community, are invited.
The second born of 10 children, Robinson knew as a teenager that he had been called to preach.
He recalled, “I grew up in the church; it has been a big portion of my life. A pastor’s job, however, over the past two years has not been an easy one. I am so thankful for the support and dedication of my congregation.
“Many have left their churches since the start of the pandemic in 2020 and have not returned, but Galilee has held on to so many of its faithful members. I have been both encouraged and nurtured over the years by some of my oldest and most dedicated members, including Chairman of the Deacon Board Thomas Graham, Church Administrative Assistant Sister Raynell Collins and loyal member Sister Lorraine Moore.”
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Aderholt: Inconsistencies in reasons given for removing ICE detainees from Etowah jail
One lasting concern for Etowah County officials after news that Immigration and Customs Enforcement would stop sending detainees to the county jail was the reason the agency gave for the change.
Both Sheriff Jonathon Horton and Chief Administrative Officer Shane Ellison said they were surprised that ICE cited a long history of serious deficiencies during inspections as an apparent reason for the agreement's end.
Horton and Ellison said the jail has never failed an inspection from the agencies that oversee its housing of detainees.
Horton was particularly bothered by the statement because of the negative implication about the jail staff. He said he reached out to Rep. Robert Aderholt about the reasons for the removal of detainees.
The sheriff said Aderholt, R-Haleyville, had been in touch with ICE officials, and indicated it was part of a plan to eventually move detainees to a Pennsylvania facility. Initially, they are being removed to a location in Louisiana.
Aderholt's press secretary Carson Clark, said according to Acting ICE Director Tae Johnson, "The agency decided not to renew their contract with the Etowah County Detention Facility due to various factors, emphasizing the overall lack of operational need for the facility as it is not near the southern border."
After the Washington Post first reported that immigration detention in Etowah County would end, ICE issued a statement:
"ICE will discontinue use of the Etowah County Detention Center as soon as possible, consistent with the 30-day termination notice requirement and any legal obligations. The Etowah County Detention Center has a long history of serious deficiencies identified during facility inspections and is of limited operational significance to the agency."
In speaking with Aderholt, Clark said while the ICE director did cite a history of concerns, including conditions/deficiencies, "those were not the driving factor for the decision.
"The information provided some clarity; however, it seems that there are still some inconsistencies with how this contract renewal has been handled and the reasons provided to the press compared to reasons provided to Congress," Clark said.
Because of that inconsistency, he said, Aderholt's office plans to continue to seek answers from ICE about how this situation developed without sufficient warning to Etowah County officials, and to ensure that there is accountability and transparency.
According to report published April 5 by The Advocate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at least 11 detainees seeking asylum had already been moved to a Louisiana facility.
Horton said ICE had indicated it would remove detainees by April 30; he said he's asked that the agency remove them by April 15.
The sheriff said last week that the jail would be able to replace ICE detainees — that at least three other agencies had contacted him about the possibility of using that jail space.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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EXTENSION CORNER: Spring is perfect time to start gaining benefits from walking
Did you know that the first Wednesday of April each year is National Walking Day? What a great time of year to celebrate.
Our team at the Etowah County Extension Office was excited to celebrate. Our SNAP-Ed educator, Torie Ennis, had a great idea for taking part. She had us all bring walking shoes, and we took a lap around the parking lot.
Spring is a great time to build a walking habit. Did you know that there are tremendous health benefits to getting in your steps each day? Walking can help decrease the risk of many serious health issues. Walking can help lower your blood pressure, improve your cholesterol and even boost your energy.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that we try to hit 10,000 steps each day. While that seems like a lot, you can get them in a bit at a time.
Whether it is taking the steps at work, parking your car at the back of the parking lot or just taking a break from sitting to walk around the block, every step counts. A fun and engaging way to get some activity is to grab a couple of friends or family members and go for a walk and talk together.
Even if you missed the celebration of National Walking Day on Wednesday, try to make walking a priority this month and enjoy some of those wonderful health boosts as you get active and take a walk.
For more information on walking or any Extension programs, please reach out or stop by our office at 3200A W. Meighan Blvd., or visit us on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3otwUdl or online at https://bit.ly/3yniPCx.
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Everyone is welcome! Please let us know if you have accessibility needs.
Eric Wright is extension coordinator for the Etowah County Extension Office.
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Four Southside soccer players fasting during Ramadan: 'It's challenging sometimes'
SOUTHSIDE — Fifteen minutes into Thursdays action, a couple of members on the Southside boys soccer team were more focused on eating dates and drinking water than the game.
For a quartet of Panthers players, 7:15 p.m. was the first time since sunrise that they were able to eat or drink.
"I'll be so happy,” Southside senior Said Toumiba said of the time he could break his fast. “Just like I need to be hydrated. The (dates) help as well. It gives more energy during the game.”
TOP PERFORMERS:Top performers: Mallory Brooks, Eli Edge earn medalist honors at Gadsden Area Golf Tournament
PLAYERS TO WATCH:16 Etowah County boys soccer players to watch during the 2022 season
RETIRED:Southside girls basketball coach Kim Nails announces retirement after 31 years
The four players — Toumiba, Ariq Chandra and cousins Waleed Abbassi and Abdullah Alabbasi — are all fasting from sunrise to sundown for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
"It's all right, but it’s challenging sometimes,” Chandra said “Especially when I am working out. But it's more of a mental thing than physically difficult. I have been fasting since around when I was 8. So by now I'm kind of used to it.
"The only challenge is the mental thing, especially when everyone is eating around me in school, it makes it hard. The smell. Things smell a lot better when fasting."
Not only do the players not eat, they can also not drink liquids.
"It's very hard to not drink water, but it is very nice at the same time,” Abbassi said. “It’s all in the mind. It’s hard to not drink water, but I have to go through it and keep on going.”
The month of Ramadan started April 2 and runs through May 2. The Panthers defeated Springville 2-0 on Thursday and will play two more area games next week. They will likely play a playoff game or two during Ramadan.
To ensure the safety of his players, Southside coach Randy Vice has emphasized one thing.
"Communication,” Vice said. “I have guys on the sideline with an app that tells us when the fast ends. When that happens, I communicate with the other coach that I'm not doing anything crazy when I bring a kid over to the sideline and give them a date. We have dates in bags on the sideline. Dates are a fruit that rehydrates you very quickly.”
The players come from unique backgrounds. Toumiba's family is from Togo, a country in South Africa, Chandra's family comes from Indonesia; Abbassi and Alabbasi are from Jordan.
Chandra was on the field in his normal center back position when Toumiba and Alabbasi were eating dates and drinking water. Alabbasi is out with a hip injury, and Toumiba was taking one of his breaks to help maintain his endurance.
"It is something we need to keep up with for the sake of their health,” Vice said. “We want to make sure we don't put them in a position where they get dehydrated. It's mainly like any other thing as a coach, you just manage it.
"I'm really proud of them for the kids of being devout in beliefs. We will do whatever we can do to facilitate that.”
Along with support from the coaches and the school, the players said having one another helps to get through the day.
"It helps to have other people and not just be by yourself," Alabbasi said. "A lot of people ask (about the fasting), but I tell them I do it for religious reasons."
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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Albertville man charged following shooting and death of Horton man
Albertville police continue to search for the motive in a shooting that left one man dead Thursday afternoon and sent another to jail.
Brandon Charles Bennett, 30, of Horton, died at a local hospital after Albertville police and firefighters responded to a reported shooting at about 4:40 p.m. Thursday at a location on Highpoint Road, within the Albertville police jurisdiction.
They found Bennett, suffering a gunshot wound to the chest, according to Albertville Assistant Chief John Amos. Albertville Fire and Recuse transported him to Marshall Medical Center South in Boaz, where he was pronounced dead.
Patrol officers and investigators spoke to several witnesses and quickly developed a suspect, Amos said. At about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, officers found the man in the parking lot of an Albertville business and took him into custody.
Related:Albertville police investigate fatal shooting
More:Hokes Bluff police investigate report that man impersonating officer stopped vehicle
Michael Wayne Childress, 24, is charged with murder in Bennett's death. Amos said there are no other suspects.
Amos credited the cooperation of several agencies in making the quick arrest possible. Members of the Marshall County Sheriff's Office, District Attorney's Office, Drug Task Force and Coroner's Office, and officers with the Arab, Boaz, Douglas and Guntersville police departments assisted in the response and investigation.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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Looking for something to do in the Gadsden area? Here are five things this weekend
Springtime events on tap this weekend in the Gadsden area:
Art on the Rocks at the Falls
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at Noccalula Falls Park
More than 90 vendors will bring their arts, crafts, etc, to the park, with Noccalula Falls — a work of art in itself — as a backdrop for this spring craft fair. Organizers say it's the place to shop for Easter and Mother's Day gifts.
Smoke of the Falls BBQ Competition
10 a.m. Saturday, Noccalula Falls Park
There won't the be the entertainment and vendors that have marked Smoke on the Falls in year's past, as this year's event will focus the fierce competition for prizes and bragging rights.
More:Annual Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition to be held Saturday at Noccalula Falls Park
Easter Egg Hunts
Here are just a few of the Easter Egg Hunts scheduled this weekend; check social media for more
- Ivalee Baptist Church Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2020 Gallant Road
- Glencoe Easter Egg Hunt: Toddlers, 5 p.m. at the soccer field; K-1st grade, 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the softball field past the tennis courts; 2nd-4th grade, 6:30 p.m. at the girls softball field at the park; and 5th grade and up glow hunt on the little league field. There will be mini-donuts for sale (cash only) and Christian music at 6 p.m., provided by North Glencoe Baptist Church, and music, TBA at 7 p.m.
- Southside Baptist Church Easter Egg Hunt, at 10 a.m. Saturday, at 3975 Alabama Highway 77; there will be separate fields for preschoolers, and K-6th grade students.
- Union No. 3 Baptist Easter Egg Hunt, 10 a.m. to noon, birth-5th grade, at 8765 Centre Road, Gadsden
Lonestar Rodeo Renegade Tour 2022
Two shows, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Blount County Agri-Business Center in Oneonta
The rodeo, sponsored by the Blount County Sheriff's Department, features sanctioned contest events: bareback bronc riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, cowgirls breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping, cowgirls barrel racing, Brahma bull riding, along with best dressed cowboy/cowgirl contest for kids under 10, and more.
Mensa & Intertel Crossroads Brunch
9 a.m. to 11:59 a.m. Saturday, Western Sizzlin, Oxford, underneath a yellow balloon
"Membership in Mensa is open to persons who have attained a score within the upper 2% of the general population. Intertel is the top 1%," event organizers say, but nobody has to pass a test to join this group for brunch.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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Camryn Davis, Alana Morton leading No. 2 Southside girls soccer before heading to Jacksonville State
SOUTHSIDE — Runner-up, semifinals, COVID and semifinals.
Camryn Davis and Alana Morton have been on the cusp of making history for Etowah County when it comes to girls soccer, but haven't been able to get past the threshold.
The two Panthers seniors and Jacksonville State-bound soccer players are making the most of their final opportunity at an AHSAA state championship.
The two seniors don't want any more heartbreak.
"It's just tough losing,” Morton said. “It always hurts more and more. We don't want to feel like that again. We want to win for us, (coach Tiffany Cargrill) and young ones. We want them to have the same drive when we leave.”
FASTING:Four Southside soccer players fasting during Ramadan: 'It's challenging sometimes'
PLAYERS TO WATCH:16 Etowah County girls soccer players to watch during the 2022 season
RETIRED:Southside girls basketball coach Kim Nails announces retirement after 31 years
Since the AHSAA started started sponsoring soccer in 1991, no girls team from Etowah County has won a state championship.
The Gadsden High boys won four state championships from 1991-93 and 1995 and remain the only Etowah County team with a state title.
That means no active school in Etowah County has ever won a soccer state championship.
Southside also finished as runner-up in 2017.
"It would be great for Southside soccer and women’s soccer in general," Davis said. "Coach has built this team, and we want to win it for her. We want to go out and hopefully come out on top and make a name for Southside soccer.”
Heading into the final two weeks of the high school soccer season, Southside is the No. 2-ranked team in Class 6A. The No. 1 team is Homewood.
"At the beginning of the season, we were struggling a little (and they beat us),” Morton said. "We have a chip on our shoulder. They put us out last year (in the semifinals). We’ll be ready to play them again when the time comes.”
Homewood defeated Southside 3-0 in the semifinals last year and 5-0 on Feb. 15. The loss dropped the Panthers to 4-2.
They have gone 9-1-2 since, including a perfect 4-0 mark in Section 13 play.
"It’s constantly on our minds,” Davis said. “It's really what we’re training for and working for. Our biggest goal is to compete. We want to come back and work as hard as possible, preparing mentally and everything to make it to the state game and meet them in the semifinals.”
Both players are playing their best to help the Panthers position themselves for a chance at state.
Morton leads the team with 13 goals and has seven assists, while Davis has 11 goals and eight assists.
"They were coming in as eighth-graders and playing integral roles," Cargrill said. "Not only do they bring skill and ability, but they bring a genuine love of game of soccer. It permeates throughout the team. The way they play, the aspirations others have."
The decision to play together at the next level was not something that was planned out.
Davis and Madison Ashley each scored two goals and had an assist, while Morton added another goal and two assists in a 5-0 win over Springville on Thursday.
TOP PERFORMERS:Top performers: Mallory Brooks, Eli Edge earn medalist honors at Gadsden Area Golf Tournament
The performance came in front of Jacksonville State soccer coach Neil Macdonald.
"(The signings) were separate,” Morton said. “Her signing was before mine. Once I got an offer, it made it easy. We have played together since literally we were 5 years old. To continue playing with her means a lot."
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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EXTENSION CORNER: Spring is perfect time to start gaining benefits from walking
Did you know that the first Wednesday of April each year is National Walking Day? What a great time of year to celebrate.
Our team at the Etowah County Extension Office was excited to celebrate. Our SNAP-Ed educator, Torie Ennis, had a great idea for taking part. She had us all bring walking shoes, and we took a lap around the parking lot.
Spring is a great time to build a walking habit. Did you know that there are tremendous health benefits to getting in your steps each day? Walking can help decrease the risk of many serious health issues. Walking can help lower your blood pressure, improve your cholesterol and even boost your energy.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that we try to hit 10,000 steps each day. While that seems like a lot, you can get them in a bit at a time.
Whether it is taking the steps at work, parking your car at the back of the parking lot or just taking a break from sitting to walk around the block, every step counts. A fun and engaging way to get some activity is to grab a couple of friends or family members and go for a walk and talk together.
Even if you missed the celebration of National Walking Day on Wednesday, try to make walking a priority this month and enjoy some of those wonderful health boosts as you get active and take a walk.
For more information on walking or any Extension programs, please reach out or stop by our office at 3200A W. Meighan Blvd., or visit us on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3otwUdl or online at https://bit.ly/3yniPCx.
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Everyone is welcome! Please let us know if you have accessibility needs.
Eric Wright is extension coordinator for the Etowah County Extension Office.
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'If the bag is there, we’re going to try and get it': Etowah baseball has 126 stolen bases
ATTALLA — Winning the running game is a cliché usually involved with football.
The Etowah baseball team is taking that path on the baseball diamond this season, running out to the No. 4 ranking in Class 4A with a 20-9 record.
The Blue Devils demonstrated their base-stealing prowess again Friday in a 4-3 walk-off victory over Madison Academy, the No. 8-ranked team in 5A.
Etowah, led by base-stealing leader Caleb Smith, stole five bases in six attempts.
TAKING THE REIGNS:Hugh Windle taking over ace reigns from LSU's Samuel Dutton for Westbrook Christian baseball
PLAYERS TO WATCH:22 in 2022: Here are the top Etowah County high school baseball players to watch
FASTING:Four Southside soccer players fasting during Ramadan: 'It's challenging sometimes'
"It really puts pressure on them, makes them make plays," Smith said. "It's a momentum-changer when we can run around like that."
The Blue Devils have stolen 126 bases at an efficient 83.44% success rate for the season.
On the other hand, the team has hit just nine home runs in 29 games, with Briggs Freeman and Hunter Humphries leading the team with two.
Etowah junior Andrew Pierce said the team doesn't have power bats, so it compensates on the bases.
"We just work on that in practice," Pierce said. "We work on getting bunts down, reading pitchers, getting down on the bases. We just run with our head down and run hard."
Pierce walked in the game-winning run in the eighth inning against Madison Academy on Friday. While the Blue Devils did not have a steal in the extra inning, the players said the steals earlier made the Mustangs play tight.
It was the sixth win in seven games for the Blue Devils
Etowah coach Blake Bone said just about everyone in the lineup has the green light to run.
AT HOME?:Blake Bone has spent at lot of time at Etowah's Larry Foster Field. Now he'll be in the home dugout.
“One of our biggest attributes is our speed,” Bone said. “We can run from top to bottom. The more pressure you can apply to the defense, to the catcher, it benefits our team greatly. Whether the defender has to get the ball out quicker or the catcher and pitcher are thinking about it, it all plays off each other.”
Smith leads the team with 33 steals on the year. He is just seven steals away from the school record of 40 steals set by Tommy Worthy in 1994.
Worthy, fittingly, is on the coaching staff.
"That's great following him and trying to pass him," Smith said. "It would be crazy. He was a great player and that's big passing him."
Two weeks ago, Smith went 15-for-16 in stealing. The 15 bases would likely be a great season for some players. For Smith, it was a great week.
"Just running around putting pressure on people feels great," Smith said. "We played a bunch of games and that helped a lot. I was just stealing like crazy."
Pierce is second on the team with stolen bases. Caleb Freeman has added 19, while Humphries has added 11 and Trace Thompson eight.
The Blue Devils don't discriminate between stealing second or even third base.
"If the bag is there, we’re going to try and get it," Bone said. "These guys have bought into what we do. They got a good understanding of situations and when to go and when not to go.”
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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Auburn signee Alex Wade seeking to lead Madison Academy to state championship in final year
ATTALLA — Alex Wade has been a varsity baseball player for Madison Academy since his eighth-grade season.
Now as a senior, the Auburn signee has one more goal he would like to accomplish in his high school career: winning a state title.
"Winning state is the main goal,” Wade said. “The past two years we lost in the semifinals. We have gotten pretty close. I would like to close out with a championship.”
TAKING THE REIGNS:Hugh Windle taking over ace reigns from LSU's Samuel Dutton for Westbrook Christian baseball
FASTING:Four Southside soccer players fasting during Ramadan: 'It's challenging sometimes'
PLAYERS TO WATCH:22 in 2022: Here are the top Etowah County high school baseball players to watch
The 6-foot-3 outfielder earned a spot on the 2021 AWSA all-state first team last season as a junior.
He committed to the Tigers during his sophomore season. He signed to play in Auburn on signing day in December.
"I liked the coaches honestly," he said. "I also felt like I was home there. The people are welcoming and it's very close to home."
Madison Academy (19-12) is ranked No. 8 in 5A following the fourth AWSA poll of the season.
Wade knocked in the game-tying run against Etowah in the fifth inning, but the Mustangs fell to the Blue Devils 4-3 in extra innings.
Wade is hitting .521 with 14 doubles, six home runs 42 RBIs and has also stolen 15 bases this season.
“For the last two years he’s been a cog in the middle of our lineup," MA pitching coach Troy Mitchell said. "Just what he brings every day, the work ethic, all those guys see that and guys follow him.
"He has the whole package. He has the speed, he has the power. He’s been great in our program.”
Wade said he will continue to play in the outfield for the Tigers. He has been a mainstay for the Mustangs in centerfield.
"(Auburn told me) to go out there and do my thing," he said.
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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JOHN F. FLOYD COMMENTARY: Experiencing Augusta National's beauty and mystique
The 86th Masters golf tournament opened on Thursday. I always look forward to the television coverage of this event, and I watch it from the beginning to the very end.
The beauty of the Augusta National Golf Club is beyond description. Having seen the course three ways — as a spectator on the grounds, a television viewer and a player — I can attest to the fact there is no more beautiful venue than Augusta National.
My first adventure with Augusta National was in the mid-1960s, when I would join Goodyear buddies Bob Tinsley, Stan Hollingsworth, Red Partridge and others in renting a house in Augusta and walking the course’s hallowed grounds for four days.
Even then, the rental prices for the houses were high, but when split up among our group, not so much. We did this for several years until the ticket prices became out of reach for us working boys.
But our experience attending the tournament gave us an insight into course layout and individual holes. Consequently, when viewing the competition on television, we knew more than the average bear.
I would not have another direct relationship with Augusta National until the mid-1980s, when I played the course with my best friend. We were the guests of a club member.
Playing Augusta National was one of the most memorable events of my life. I wish every golfer in the United States — no, the world — could have the Augusta experience. I have played most of the famous golf courses in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and there is nothing to compare.
We played Augusta National’s par-3 course the day we arrived, and played the main course the next day. Since my friend and I were guests of Augusta National and staying overnight, our member and host, who was local, was also required to stay on the premises. While onsite, he was required to wear the green jacket that identified him as a member.
After playing the par-3 course, the four of us had a wonderful dinner at the club with a lot of conversation. One of the stories that was told concerned the bridge across No. 12, the notorious par-3 that is guarded by Rae’s Creek.
The hole’s official name is Golden Bell and the famous bridge across Rae’s Creek is known as the Hogan Bridge. Rae’s Creek flows in front of the 12th hole and to a golfer standing on the 12th tee, Rae’s Creek flows from the right to the left. The famous bridge was named after Ben Hogan in a ceremony that took place on April 2, 1958.
There is a story about the bridge and how the present one was designed and built. Sometime back, one of the Augusta members was heard complaining about “that awful looking bridge” that provided a passageway for golfers to reach the No. 12 green. This was before the present bridge was built.
The member was very verbose in his criticism of the bridge. He was so loud his complaint was duly noted by the club president.
About two weeks after his remarks, a construction crew showed up at No. 12. The crew began construction of a temporary bridge to provide passage to the hole while construction of a new bridge took place. The construction crew built a coffer dam to hold the water back from the new construction site. The new bridge was constructed, and it is the beautiful one you see across Rae’s Creek today.
But that is not the end of the story. The member who complained loudly about the old bridge was sent a bill for the construction of the new one. The costs were quite substantial.
And that is still not the end of the story. The complaining member paid the bill for construction of the new bridge.
Is the story true? I believe it is. What member of Augusta National would let a few thousand dollars stand in the way of a membership in the club?
As I mentioned, I have played a lot of famous golf courses. There is only one that I remember every shot on every hole, and that is the Augusta National Golf Club. The course and its mystique are very special.
John F. Floyd is a Gadsden native who graduated from Gadsden High School in 1954. He formerly was director of United Kingdom manufacturing, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., vice president of manufacturing and international operations, General Tire & Rubber Co., and director of manufacturing, Chrysler Corp. He can be reached at johnfloyd538@gmail.com. The opinions reflected are his own.
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Two killed in Dekalb County single-car crash Saturday near Ider
Two people were killed in a single-vehicle crash Saturday morning. The crash occurred on Dekalb County State Route 141, approximately 4 miles north of Ider, in Dekalb County.
Authorities say at 2:20 a.m., Pamela R. Pike, 51, of Henagar and her passenger, Julie W. Lankford, 50, of Ider, were both fatally injured when the 2015 Nissan Sentra driven by Pike left the roadway and struck a tree.
Neither victims were found using a seatbelt and were declared dead on the scene of the crash.
A third passenger, Milian D. Penick, 56, of Henderson, Nevada, was injured. He has been airlifted to to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Nothing further is available as troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
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Dream come true: Gaston senior gets scholarship after sharing story at United Way meeting
Ask people what they wish for, and the answers are often the same. They also tend to include material things like a new car, superhuman abilities and becoming rich.
For Gaston High School senior Ke’Sean Williams, however, the answer was much more personal.
“When I asked Ke’Sean if he (could) wish for anything in the world, what would it be, he gave me two answers,” said Ruth Moffatt, director of United Way of Etowah County. “He said he would wish for a father figure in his life to teach him things he needed to know to be a good man, and to be able to go to college.”
Williams and his advocates shared his story on Thursday at United Way’s annual meeting at The Venue at Coosa Landing.
He discussed how he’s benefited from his involvement with the Boys & Girls Club of Gadsden/Etowah County, which gets support from United Way — and later saw one of his wishes become reality.
Dorothea Rhodes, director of the Boys & Girls Club, said Williams has overcome “a number of adversities” in his life, such as having to become “the patriarch” of his family as his mother’s health has declined and she continues to face unemployment. His family has also taken in two other household members because of the death of his aunt from COVID-19.
“I have overcome a lot of things in my life,” Williams said. “My father passed away at a young age and I watched my mother work day in and day out. We never went without a meal on the table and made sure we had what we needed. I’m very thankful to have her as my mom.”
Despite all of this, Williams continues to thrive “in all aspects of his life,” according to the short introduction page in United Way’s annual report.
While in school, Williams has participated in the “This Way Out Program,” allowing him to work part time at Old Navy while also being a junior staff member at the Boys & Girls Club.
“He thrives in school, making A’s and B’s in the honors classes he takes. He’s also president of the Key Club and a peer leader at his school,” Rhodes said, “He is also the recipient of our 2021 Cardinal Candidate Scholarship for Gadsden State Community College, where he is currently dual enrolled.”
Williams said the Boys & Girls Club has “helped me come so far in life,” adding, “When I was younger, I was really unmotivated to continue to do my work in school. Through the Boys & Girls Club, I learned you could help people just by simply showing up for events.”
Rhodes said, “With the Boys & Girls Club, we are there to help understand and support the issues our kids go through. I, too, know what it’s like to struggle. I know personally how it feels in Ke’Sean’s shoes; (he) has a very similar story to many of the kids we see.”
Williams also volunteers within the community. Most recently, he worked at the Gadsden Kiwanis Club’s annual Pancake Day.
“I stayed there from 6:30 to 2:30 just helping any way I could,” he said. “I think everybody should at least volunteer or try to help out once in their life to see the smile on people’s faces. It brought joy to my heart to be able to help somebody.”
Williams dreams of going to college to study secondary education; Moffatt said he wants to “help make a difference in the life of another child that has gone through many difficulties” like he has.
“After watching the movie ‘Gifted Hands’ about Dr. Ben Carson, I knew that I wanted to help people and I thought becoming a doctor was the only way of doing that,” Williams said, “But I now know that is not the case.”
Moffatt said, “He just wants the simple things out of life. He told me that he never wanted to be a burden on anyone.”
Fred Zachary of WMGJ Radio surprised Williams with a new laptop for school, and a cash gift of $1,000 “to do what he wanted with.”
He told Williams, “I, too, am no stranger to adversity. Keep doing what you are doing and don’t let anyone get you out of focus. Stay with your pure and clear heart.”
And just when it appeared the surprises were over, Gadsden State Community College President Dr. Kathy Murphy stood up in the audience and gave Williams a full, two-year scholarship to the college.
“He is the kind of student we are looking to support. It’s exciting to see what he is already doing,” Murphy said. “It’s a very passionate story and very moving. If our college can help do something and let him achieve his dream, that’s why we exist.”
“This was everything,” Moffatt said. “I’m speechless and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. I really thought I wasn’t going to be able to continue. It really demonstrates what it means to ‘Live United’ and for a community to really rally around a situation to help bring hope come alive.”
Williams said he was “incredibly grateful” for what he’s received, especially the love.
“I’m happy that people were able to listen to me,” he said, “Hopefully more people like me will be able to express themselves in a way like this.”
His mother, Jameika Brasher, said, “It’s a blessing. It’s amazing. I’m shocked. He has been through so much in his life.”
Williams thanked Rhodes, the Boys & Girls Club and United Way for their unwavering support, saying Rhodes has pushed him to succeed.
”She’s the one who got me the job at Old Navy and (pushed me to) get the scholarships and take the classes. She’s an awesome lady,“ he said, ”I’m very grateful for everything, and for everything that will continue to come my way.“
Moffatt said, ”This young man is phenomenal. He is a story of hope, and he is going to bring that hope back home.”
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Jacksonville State football: 5 things learned from first spring game under Rich Rodriguez
JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State football played its first spring game in three years and the first under new coach Rich Rodriguez on Saturday.
The spring game was open to the public, with 2,500 fans in attendance.
No score or stats were kept. Here are five things we learned from the spring game.
Effort lacking
The JSU offense opened with a big play, with quarterback Matthew Caldwell hitting receiver Isaiah Montgomery for a long pass.
Things didn't go quite smoothly after that. Drops and missed passes plagued the offense for much of the day. Rodriguez was not shy about pointing out the issues.
"The pace, the effort, the intensity, the execution, all of that," Rodriguez said "We had made some progress in that regard. I have to watch the film. I don’t know what happened. I don’t know if it was it was something they ate in their biscuits this morning, because it was gross.”
SPRING PRACTICE BEGINS:'A little bit tougher': Jacksonville State football players on first Rich Rodriguez practice
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Defense looks strong
Safety George Steel picked up a pick-six on the second offensive drive for the defense. A few plays later, defensive end Jaylen Swain picked up a sack.
The defense made big play after big play, even as the offense made some plays here and there. Rodriguez said he could not tell if the offense was that bad or if the defense played well.
His players felt a little better about their performance.
"Defensively we flew around,” Steele said “But fundamentally-wise and assignment-wise, we didn’t do too good on that. Overall, I think we did all right; I won’t say we did great.”
QB competition
All four of the quarterbacks — Caldwell, Zion Webb, Hunter Raquet and Chance Newman — took snaps Saturday.
Caldwell and Webb have been the frontrunners for much of camp and played with the first and second teams.
Caldwell put some of the offensive issues upon himself.
"We have a lot of stuff to clean up on offense," he said. "I know it’s early, we’re only 14 practices in. But it’s a lack of leadership on my part. We need to prepare more for practice and not be so lackadaisical. We know what tempo coach Rod wants, and we need to start executing.”
Rodriguez said he has two quarterbacks coming during the summer in signee Te'Sean Smoot and NC state transfer Aaron McLaughlin, who could factor into the position.
"It’s an open competition,” Rodriguez said. “We need to come out of August practice time with at least three guys we think we can win with.”
Black jerseys
Webb and Caldwell were the only two players donning the traditional non-contact jerseys. Both are dealing with knee injuries.
Webb is coming back from a torn ACL he suffered during the spring season in 2021. He said he was feeling 100%, but it was precautionary to avoid contact.
Caldwell said he tore his meniscus last week in practice. He said the doctor said he could play without further damage, but he will get it scoped and have a six-week recovery period.
The kicking show
While the offense struggled, a few offensive drives that started in plus territory helped the kicking game make a big appearance.
Alen Karajic, who was the starter last year, and Brenton King each went 3-for-3.
Karajic hit field goals from 34, 39 and 34 yards out. King connected on kicks of 46, 39 and 50.
“We didn’t not expect that,” King said. “We were expecting one or two each, but we were surprised we got three each. It’s always fun to do things for the game when you don’t always get to do it all the time in practice."
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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Jacksonville State football: Zion Webb, PJ Wells building strong connection in spring
JACKSONVILLE — Trust and timing.
Those are the two biggest keys for a quarterback and receiver to build a strong connection.
It is something Jacksonville State quarterback Zion Webb has worked on with his receivers, especially former Westbrook Christian star PJ Wells.
The strong connection between Wells and Webb was on display during the JSU spring game Saturday, despite an uneven performance from the offense.
Wells hauled in at least five passes from Webb during the hour-long contest.
TOUGHER:'A little bit tougher': Jacksonville State football players on first Rich Rodriguez practice
LOOKING FORWARD:Jacksonville State football: Rich Rodriguez looking forward to first spring game in 3 years
BIG TIME TRANSFER:Jacksonville State football lands 4-star QB prospect Aaron McLaughlin from NC State
"Me and Zion, we have been clicking,” Wells said. “I know he’s one of our leaders, so I have been trying talk to him and get our chemistry down. All in all, he’s been connecting well with everybody. He’s just a savvy quarterback and knows where everyone is.”
Wells caught 37 passes for 574 yards last season as a redshirt freshman. He had just one catch for minus-2 yards in his prior two seasons (fall 2020 and spring 2021) with the Gamecocks.
Webb said he has seen considerable growth from Wells from when the two last took the field together in the spring.
"Just his IQ of the game, knowing where to be and when to be there,” Webb said “He’s grown tremendously and growing into his body and getting into his routes.”
Webb did not play last fall after suffering an ACL tear during the quarterfinals of the 2021 spring season.
"It’s been good, not only just with PJ, but with all of my receivers," Webb said. "We get together throughout the week and throughout the spring. We have been working to get down the timing of our routes."
While Webb showed strong chemistry with Wells on Saturday, he has been working with his other receivers as well. Ahmad Edwards led the team with 45 receptions, 561 yards and five touchdowns last season.
"It’s good seeing him back,” Edwards said. “The leadership from him is great. He knows how to take control of the offense.”
Isaiah Montgomery, who caught nine passes for 67 yards last season, agreed.
"It's good to see Zion back," Montgomery said. "He's been looking very good. He's making reads and good throws. I am proud of him."
Webb played in a non-contact black jersey in Saturday's spring game.
"We’re playing it safe,” he said. "I’m 100%. I’m back and ready to go. We just have to be safe and ready to go for the season."
Webb, who is entering his sixth year with JSU, was playing in his first spring game since 2019.
"It feels good to get out here and compete," he said. "I love to compete."
Webb is in competition with Matthew Caldwell for the starting quarterback job, heading into the summer.
Coach Rich Rodriguez said he has seen improvement from Webb throughout the spring, but there are still things to work on.
Signee Te'Sean Smoot and NC state transfer Aaron McLaughlin could factor into the positional battle during the summer and fall.
"We still have moments where we say we have to get that corrected (with Zion),” Rodriguez said.
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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Qwintin Deaundre Kirby receives life sentence in Gadsden 2016 murder case
Qwintin Deaundre Kirby this week received a life prison sentence for the murder of a 25-year-old man six years ago, and strong words from the judge who imposed it.
Michael Anthony Salster was shot to death Jan. 15, 2016, in Gadsden; Kirby was convicted in January, after a jury deliberated his fate for about two hours.
"This court is deeply troubled by what it perceives in today's culture to be a growing disregard on the part of some individuals for the precious value of human life," Etowah County Presiding Judge George Day told the defendant at sentencing. "You, Mr. Kirby, are one of these individuals.
"Your victim, Michael Salster, was unarmed, and you had a gun," the judge said.
Day said he agreed with the jury's finding — that there was nothing to indicate Kirby had a reasonable cause to believe that Salster might be armed. Yet he made the choice to pull the trigger, the judge said.
FOUND GUILTY:Jury finds Gadsden man guilty in 2016 murder at convenience store
ARRESTED:Man arrested in connection with fatal shooting
“Both you and Michael Salster were only 25 years of age at the time of the murder. He was a son, a grandson and a father, and the court is saddened for his family that his life was cut short," Day said. "Likewise, the court is saddened that by your senseless act, Your own family is placed in the position in which they find themselves today, as evidenced by the testimony of many of them."
The difference, the judge said, is that Kirby's family would have the opportunity to visit him in prison, while Salster's family is left only with memories.
Salster was shot to death in the parking lot of the AGE Fuel Depot on Ewing Avenue, according to a press release from District Attorney Jody Willoughby's office. Testimony indicated Salster approached a vehicle, talked to someone in the front seat, then Kirby rose from a reclining position in the back seat and shot Salster in the throat.
According to the defense, Kirby claimed he'd been threatened repeatedly by the victim, and that Salster acted aggressively that night, opening the back door of the vehicle and lunging at Kirby.
Kirby claimed that he fired his weapon in self-defense and that the shooting was justified. He fled the scene and was arrested the next day.
Gadsden police, led by Sgt. Eric Phillips, investigated the case, collecting physical evidence and video surveillance evidence that proved to be critical, Willoughby said, in the prosecution of the case.
Willoughby thanked the Gadsden Police Department, the state Department of Forensic Science, the jurors who heard the case and Day for the sentence he imposed.
“We feel very strongly that the imposition of the maximum sentence was appropriate in this case. We share the court’s concern about the growing, senseless violence in our community, and hope that sentences such as the one imposed by Judge Day will have the effect of deterring this conduct," he said.
"We see too many heartbroken family members of victims and defendants who will be incarcerated for a substantial portion of their lives because of their tragic choices," he said. "As a community, we have to do all that we can to stop the violence. This sentence is a much-needed step in that direction.”
The case was prosecuted by Willoughby, Chief Deputy District Attorney Marcus Reid and Deputy District Attorney Brynn Crain, who also expressed appreciation for the sentence.
“As one of the defendant’s witnesses said, there are no winners in this case. One young man is dead, and another is sentenced to spend perhaps the rest of his life in prison," Reid said.
"The families of both young men suffer because of this defendant’s choices," he said. "Somewhere along the way, we can only pray that people who look to violence as a first response to conflict will find a way to make different choices. We pray for both of these families, and all who are touched by the consequences of unnecessary violence.”
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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Pinwheels recognize child abuse victims, ceremony thanks those who advocate for them
The blue and silver pinwheels spinning are a jolly sort of symbol for something that just shouldn't be.
The pinwheels represent the number of forensic interviews performed by specially trained personnel at the James M. Barrie Center for Children — Etowah County's child advocacy center — which helps in the investigation of reports of sexual and physical abuse of children.
During National Child Abuse Awareness Month, the center staff places pinwheels on the lawn at the William H. Rhea Judicial Building, to give people a visual representation of the children harmed by abusers each year.
Center Director Patricia Falcon said the number of interviews conducted was up this year, perhaps because children were back in school more, with access to counselors, after the previous COVID-interrupted school year.
Falcon said she believed increased abuse reports, and the violence of those incidents, is related to the availability of pornography on the internet. The center is working to combat abuse through training, with students in social work and other professions, about signs of abuse and mandatory reporting, and through helping parents be empowered to talk to their children about abuse.
The pinwheel ceremony also returned this year, on Tuesday, after the calming of the COVID pandemic. It brought together law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges and others involved in investigating reports of abuse and working to bring perpetrators to justice.
Here are some of the numbers from 2021:
• 236 primary child victim forensic interviews
• 296 forensic interviews, including extended interviews
• 180 secondary victims (non-offending family members) served
• 83% of interviews involved allegations of sexual abuse
• 17% of interviews involved allegations of physical abuse
• 19 children interviewed involved domestic violence
• 13 children interviewed were involved in custody disputes
• 32% male
• 68% female
• 224 interactions with Kuzco, facility dog, with 174 victims
Kuzco is a specially trained dog used at the Barrie Center to comfort children and help give them confidence in talking to interviewers and counselors. The dog's training makes it possible for Kuzco to accompany child abuse victims to court.
"He sits at the feet of children as they testify," Falcon said.
District Attorney Jody Willoughby said he's seen the impact of having Kuzco at the center. He recalled a case when he watched a 5-year-old victim struggling to get the words out, "to find the confidence to be re-victimized and to tell her story."
He said he called Falcon, she had Kuzco there in about six minutes — and the connection between the child and Kuzco was immediate.
"It allowed her the confidence to go forward," Willoughby said.
Several people spoke during the ceremony this week: Judges George Day, Cody Robinson and Joe Nabors; Sheriff Jonathon Horton; Johnna Trafenstedt from the county's Department of Human Resources; and Scott Hindsman from the Barrie Center board of directors.
Falcon said the annual observance is like preaching to the choir: many of the people who are part of the collaborative team that works to help children were present. That collaboration is essential, several members said, and it's something not all counties have.
Children come to the Barrie Center broken, Hindsman said, having suffered unspeakable things. At the center they are made to feel special, and cared for.
"They know they matter," he said. "They have self worth."
The Barrie Center is a United Way agency, and relies in part of support from sponsors and from the public. One of the ways people can support the center is through the Bash in the Bend, a June 4 concert event.
Blue Sunday is another: On April 22, the center staff is asking people of all faiths to pray and demonstrate their support for children and their families who've been victims of abuse, and their appreciation to those who help abused or neglected children.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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ELAINE HARRIS SPEARMAN COMMENTARY: Smith, Rock each have something to think about
It is hardly worth my time to write about anything that occurred at the televised Oscar ceremonies except that it is worth my time when there are life lessons to be learned. The “slap heard around the world” is worth looking at, literally and figuratively.
My mind, along with yours, is still reeling from the live, filmed for all to see, spectacle of “Big” Will Smith striding upon a world stage to slap another man, “Little” Chris Rock.
Try as I might not to, I find the slap as reprehensible as I find it incomprehensible. How many times have you felt like hitting people whom you deem obnoxious or worse, in the face? You didn’t do it, did you? You knew you would suffer some kind of consequences, so you practiced restraint, and managed your temper.
That being said, Chris Rock was a far better person than I, or most people would have been. There are people who want to deem themselves icons. Rock has now become an icon of restraint and temper control. He declined to file a police report and has stated that if the matter is pursued by the Los Angeles Police Department, he will not cooperate. That is yet to be seen. Prosecutors are mulling whether they should go forward because the act was so public.
In the real world, not made for Hollywood, this was assault and battery, for starters. A prosecutor has options with levels that can be applied; simple, aggravated or others. We all saw that pain was in Rock’s face as he reeled backward. This was an act of violence.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has acknowledged that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony. He refused. In the real world, he would have been removed, even if forcibly. The academy has condemned his conduct and is investigating the slapping with a light on punishment. The bright light of punishment includes removal from the Academy to revocation of the Oscar presented to Will Smith.
Smith’s supporters and family rallied around him as he sang, danced, cracked jokes, rapped and clutched his Oscar. His son tweeted out, “And that's how we do it.” Is it really?
So where was Rock’s family and supporters while Smith, at the post-ceremony party, was on full tilt. Do you believe they were telling him to grin and bear it? Reportedly, his brother responded to an interview question with “It’s on.”
For every action there is a reaction. Maybe sooner, maybe later. Is this how long-term rifts and bad blood scenarios are created?
Adults set the example for conflict resolution. Is this how it starts? Your words offend me, so I hit you in your face before the world and God. That shows you the depth of my anger.
Smith did this because he felt that he could. He believed that he would suffer no consequences. After all, he has celebrity status, and it was Hollywood. Stars don’t suffer after committing a violent act following righteous indignation.
Smith could have collared Rock after the show. He could have had Rock on the defendant’s end of a civil lawsuit. He has a gazillion dollars.
The point is he had options.
As for Chris Rock, he is a comedian. He was hired by the academy for that skill. Is this workplace violence? Does it increase costs because of the risk involved in joking about people? Part of what makes comedians funny is their routines are so very close to the truth. We sometimes see ourselves, or someone that we know in sketches.
How far is too far when a comedian is working? Should limits be placed on what can be joked about, or should it be left to the comedian’s sense of morality, respect and fairness?
I, for one, do not wish to hear or engage in the “damsel in distress” rescue discussion. Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have lived their lives out loud. They have publicly discussed their marriage and child rearing practices, which include accepting their son’s choice to wear female clothing and moving into his own $2 million home as a teenager so that he could “live his life.”
Mrs. Smith herself disclosed her battle with alopecia to explain having a bald head and short-cropped hair styles. For those who believe her privacy was invaded, wrong. There is no constitutional right to privacy, although the Supreme Court of the United States has recognized that zones of privacy may be created by specific constitutional guarantees and have imposed certain limitations on governmental power, not private individuals.
It still stands that there was no expectation of privacy regarding a condition that was personally disclosed to the public.
If one accepts the argument being promoted by some of “defense of a damsel in distress,” then you are explaining away behavior that encompasses the Emmet Till case and thousands of other similar cases in American history.
Smith’s action was violent, showed a failure to exercise self-control and was a bad example to young people. In a world where violence has become the rule to resolve differences, rather than the exception, adults bear a responsibility to demonstrate adult behavior in resolving conflicts.
No status should exempt people from being held to account for bad behavior. There must not be a double standard for accountability. Celebrity or political status should produce the same results that the average citizen on the streets has to face.
Both parties have something to think about. One appears to be a downright bully who unleashed his anger on a smaller, more vulnerable person. The other believes that in the name of comedy, everything is fair game without regard for repercussions.
Will Smith should have thought before he acted. Chris Rock should have thought before he spoke. Life lessons learned.
Elaine Harris Spearman, Esq., a Gadsden native, is an attorney and is the retired legal advisor to the comptroller of the City of St. Louis. The opinions reflected are her own.
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DAVID MURDOCK COLUMN: On history and memory (and looking older than I am)
Well, it happened again. At a meeting last night, I told one of the other attendees that I’m 54, evidently much younger than she assumed. Her reaction was, in my experience, predictable: “You’re just a child!”
I’m not sure those were her actual words — I was laughing so when she said it — but some variation on that phrase is what older people usually say when they find out that I’m “only” in my 50s. Something like that or “You’re a baby!” or “You’re joking!” or “Only 54?!?”
That experience has recurred throughout my life — people assuming that I’m about a decade older than I am chronologically.
I’d prefer to think that it’s my mature demeanor, that my outward bearing seems so mature that I seem older, but the “weasel words” in that sentence betray the fact that I’m all too aware of why people make that assumption. I look older than I am. I have looked older than I am since about age 12 or 13.
There are two reasons. First, since about that age, I’ve been bigger than other people my age. I’m still a big guy, but back then, I was HUGE compared to the other kids in my grade at school. I was over 6 feet, 2 inches tall and 220 pounds in seventh grade. I remember that so clearly because we were studying the metric system in our math class and had to convert our height and weight to meters and kilograms. Memory can be a tricky thing, but that one’s clear.
My earliest clear memory that I can date was sometime when I was 3 years old. Mom and I were downtown in Attalla and someone asked me how old I was, and I said, “I’m 3!” and held up three fingers. And that’s about all. I remember other things that happened before that, but nothing clearly enough to put a “time” on it. Memory can be a tricky thing, but that one’s clear.
The main reason has nothing to do with my size, though. I sprouted a beard at around 12 or 13. Mom and Dad insisted I shave until I hit 16 and then let me grow it out. So, I’ve had a beard since then, only shaving it off completely once since then. For the last few years, I’ve let it grow longer than I ever have.
Combine a longish beard with a balding head and gray hair overall … presto! There’s a man who looks older than he really is.
Y’all know how memory can be a tricky thing? Perception can be almost as tricky, if not more!
And there lies the weird little secret in all of this rumination. I feel much younger than I actually am. Y’all know how people say, “I’m too young to feel this old”? My version of that saying is “I’m too old to feel this young.” Although I display some attitudes that people stereotypically associate with older people — many friends observe that I’m a typical, cantankerous old man – I feel young. Every day feels so … new.
Memory and perception deceive us more often than we might care to admit, but the fact that we remember or perceive something a certain way says a lot. That’s why I keep a journal — to have a written record so I don’t have to rely on the tricky twins of memory and perception.
Back to that meeting — it was a meeting of the committee working on the Museum of Attalla project. The context was that we were talking about an event that happened in the late 1960s, and the lady asked me if I remembered it, to which I replied, “No, I’m 54.”
I told that funny story to introduce some requests from the committee. “Group memories” are far less tricky than individual ones, and although we have a variety of people involved on the committee, we’d like some help from current and former Attallans, specifically in the following areas:
If you are a veteran of the armed services, we’d like to hear from you, particularly if you have any memories of Camp Sibert.
We are trying to compile a list of churches in Attalla. If you have any memories of Attalla churches that are no longer active — even just a name — that would be extraordinarily helpful.
We are trying to compile a list of published writers from Attalla, so please let us know if you know of someone who is (or if you are).
Finally — if you have any photographs at all of Attalla from the past, especially street scenes from Downtown Attalla, please contact us.
If you have anything — items or photographs or scrapbooks or journals — that you’d like to donate to the Museum of Attalla, please let us know. If you want to keep the items, please let us know if we can borrow them to look through and possibly make copies of them.
It’s surprising how much information can be gathered from just a photograph, even if it shows things in the background. We’re able to “date” some photographs, for example, by the cars visible in the background. Anything might be helpful.
If you have something that you wish to tell, lend or donate, please contact me via the email address at the end of the column. We’re hoping to hear from y’all soon!
David Murdock is an English instructor at Gadsden State Community College. He can be contacted at murdockcolumn@yahoo.com. The opinions reflected are his own.
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Infrastructure improvements at GSCC will total more than $17 million
Several capital improvement projects have been completed, and many others are underway or in the planning stages at Gadsden State Community College.
According to a news release from the college, more than $17 million will be spent in total on all projects planned through the end of 2022.
“Our students are the main priority for our faculty, staff and administration,” said Dr. Kathy Murphy, Gadsden State’s president. “Aging buildings can pose a risk to student health and safety, so it’s our responsibility to initiate serious updates to our infrastructure as much as possible. Our students deserve to be educated in a comfortable environment that nurtures and promotes learning.”
According to the release, $2,987,975 has been spent since 2020 on capital and public works projects on four of Gadsden State’s five campuses. Projects in progress and those that will get underway this year total an additional $14,381,533.
Murphy said the college is utilizing federal COVID-19 relief dollars as well as tax revenues from Etowah County to fund the projects.
“For several years, these projects have been delayed due to the lack of funding,” she said. “When it was determined that replacing or upgrading HVAC units and renovating existing buildings were acceptable, we put together a master plan to ensure that we are addressing the most pressing issues on our campuses.”
Completed projects include HVAC replacement and interior renovations at Naylor Hall on the Wallace Drive Campus and the demolition of three buildings — Browder Hall, also on the Wallace Drive Campus, as well as Mitchell Hall and the Realtime Reporting Building on the East Broad Campus.
“Those facilities were aging and were very expensive to maintain,” Murphy said. “We no longer needed Browder Hall, which housed our science programs, with the completion of the Science Building on the East Broad Campus in late 2019. Mitchell Hall had not been occupied in years and the Realtime Reporting Program was moved to a more suitable location on the East Broad Campus.”
Repairs and new installation of flooring at all campuses took place in 2021, as well as the installation of water bottle filling stations.
Other completed projects include renovated storage units, restriped parking lot and updated signage at the Valley Street Campus; remodeled resource center and repaired leaking water main and storm drainage at the East Broad Campus; and improvements made to the second floor of Allen Hall at the Wallace Drive Campus.
Projects currently underway or in the planning stages on three of Gadsden State’s campuses include:
Ayers Campus
Repaving parking lots; lowering the roof at the Cain Learning Resource Center; constructing outdoor classrooms for students in Diesel Mechanics and Welding; and installing a generator at the Administration Building.
East Broad Campus
Demolition of Brown Hall and Jarvis Hall and generator installation at the Joe Ford Center.
Wallace Drive Campus
New or upgrade HVAC units at the Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center, Beck Field House, Inzer Hall, Helderman Hall and Bevill Hall; new window walls and student bathroom renovations at Meadows Library; and generator installation at Allen Hall.
“We are so excited about the installation of HVAC in Beck Field House, which is our gymnasium,” Murphy said. “Since its construction, our athletes and fans have had to endure the heat and the cold while participating in sporting events. Now they will be comfortable since we can control the climate indoors.”
She pointed out that the projects are necessary because of the age of the facilities at Gadsden State.
“Gadsden State has been educating and training the people of Northeast Alabama for many decades beginning in 1925 with the founding of the Alabama School of Trades, which is now our East Broad Campus,” she said. “The Valley Street Campus was established in 1960, the Wallace Drive Campus in 1965 and the Ayers Campus in 1966. The ages of the facilities make it necessary for us to focus our maintenance, renovation and repair efforts on these campuses.”
Murphy said other projects are being considered or are in the approval process.
“As we make changes and improvements, we will notify our students, employees and community,” she said. “We plan to see continuous improvement in our facilities and infrastructure.”
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PET OF THE WEEK: Agador's facial expressions will keep you entertained
Staff Report
Meet Agador, the Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center’s Pet of the Week for April 11.
Shelter officials say he’s about 3 years old and has been at the shelter for a couple of months.
They say he’s super animated and that his facial expressions alone will keep his human(s) entertained. They call him a “typical cat” — he likes to play, eat, sleep and judge people.
One caveat: He gets along with other cats, but hasn’t really been around dogs.
Agador can be seen at the HSPRAC, 4200 Brooke Ave., Gadsden. His adoption fee is $50.
The shelter is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Tuesday, when it is closed to help facilitate its S.N.Y.P. (Spay and Neuter Your Pet) program. For more information, call 256-442-1347.
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Remlap man dies in two-vehicle crash in Blount County
A 77-year-old Remlap man was killed in a two-vehicle crash Sunday, according to Alabama State Troopers.
Alvin Lester Presley, 77, died from injuries sustained when the 2014 Ford Focus he was driving failed to yield the right of way and was stuck by a 2004 Cadillac Escalade, driven by a juvenile, troopers said.
Both vehicles left the roadway and struck a ditch. Presley was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. The 17-year-old driver and three juvenile passengers in the Escalade were injured and taken to a hospital for treatment also.
The crash occurred at about 6:53 p.m. Sunday on Alabama Highway 75 near Firefighter Lane, about 8 miles south of Allgood.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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Vote for the Gadsden-area male athlete of the week for second week of April
Another week of high school spring sports is in the books, leading into the second week of April. It's time to vote for the top athlete in the Gadsden area in the past week.
This week's candidates five softball players, and one tennis, soccer and golfer. The vote closes at noon on Thursday, April 14.
Sardis' Brody Samples won the honors last week.
TOP PERFORMERS:Gadsden area top performers for the second week of April
FASTING:Four Southside soccer players fasting during Ramadan: 'It's challenging sometimes'
STEALING WAY TO WINS:'If the bag is there, we’re going to try and get it': Etowah baseball has 126 stolen bases
To submit items and to report high school athletics results with scores, records and leaders, email ekassim@gannett.com. Do not send votes to this email address.
Here are the candidates this week:
Yahir Balcazar, Fyffe baseball
Struck out 12 in a perfect five innings in a 14-0 win over Woodville
Eli Edge, Westbrook Christian golf
Shot 74 to win the Gadsden Area Golf Tournament at Twin Bridges Golf Club. Southside won the team title with a score of 336, edging out Westbrook Christian (342).
Kyle Haney, Gadsden City baseball
Doubled and drove in two runs in a 8-1 win over Hokes Bluff.
Brayson Hayes, Hokes Bluff baseball
Tripled twice and had four RBIs in a 20-2 win over Asbury, drove in two runs in a 12-1 win over Asbury in the nightcap and hit a solo home run in a 8-1 loss to Gadsden City.
Andrew Pierce, Etowah baseball
Drove in three runs, including a walk-off walk in the eight inning of a 4-3 win over Madison Academy.
Nitin Nagarajan, Gadsden City tennis
Teamed up with Mithun Rameshkumar defeated Sardis' Lincoln Young and Lyndon Young 9-7 in the No. 1 doubles match. The Titans defeated the Lions 5-4.
Brody Samples, Sardis baseball
Homered and drove in three runs in a 10-0 win over St. Clair County in the nightcap and struck out nine in five one-hit innings in in a 16-0 win over Douglas.
Camren Thompson, Southside soccer
Scored two goals in a 2-0 win over Springville.
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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Poll: Vote for the Gadsden-area female athlete of the week for second week of April
Another week of high school spring sports is in the books, leading into the second week of April. It's time to vote for the top athlete in the Gadsden area in the past week.
This week's candidates five softball players, and one tennis, soccer and golfer. The vote closes at noon on Thursday, April 14.
Glencoe's Abi Bunt won the honors last week.
JSU BOUND:Camryn Davis, Alana Morton leading No. 2 Southside girls soccer before heading to Jacksonville State
TOP PERFORMERS:Gadsden area top performers for the second week of April
FASTING:Four Southside soccer players fasting during Ramadan: 'It's challenging sometimes'
To submit items and to report high school athletics results with scores, records and leaders, email ekassim@gannett.com. Do not send votes to this email address.
Here are the candidates this week:
Mallory Brooks, Southside golf
Shot 74, winning medalist honors at the Gadsden Area Golf Tournament at Twin Bridges Golf Club. The Panthers scored 248 to beat beat Westbrook Christian (273) for the team title.
Abi Bunt, Glencoe softball
Hit a two-run home run in a 5-0 win over Ashville, homered, drove in two runs and scored two runs in a comeback 9-8 victory over Southside and added a double, two walks and scored a run.
Kaitlyn Clough, Coosa Christian softball
Went 3-for-3 with five RBIs and scored five runs in a 21-4 win over Gaston. She also struck out four in the circle to pick up the win.
Camryn Davis, Southside soccer
Scored two goals and added an assist in a 5-0 win over Springville.
AJ Kramer, Fort Payne softball
Struck out 15, allowing three hits in a shutout and added 12 strikeouts, not allowing an earned run in a complete game.
Caroline Johnson, Sardis tennis
Took down Springville's Molly Graben 10-0 in the No. 1 singles match. The Lions swept the match 9-0 and teamed up with McKenzie Williams to take down the No. 1 Springville doubles team of Molly Graben and Mallory Knowles 10-0.
Abby Payne, Hokes Bluff softball
Homered, drove in two runs and scored three times in a 12-0 win over Ashville.
Laura Wood, Etowah softball
Hit a two-run home run in a 7-3 win over Oneonta.
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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500 days of waiting: Liam adoption story shows challenges long-term shelter animals face
Imagine having to wait for something for a short while, like an Amazon package or a food delivery. It isn't that agonizing a wait.
Now imagine having to wait on those things for months, even years at a time. Not as fun of a wait anymore, is it?
That is the reality for long-term shelter animals, like Liam at the Humane Society Pet Rescue Adoption Center in Gadsden.
Fortunately, Liam — more affectionately known by shelter workers and volunteers as “Scooby” — finally found a home on April 8.
Others still wait, however.
A Great Dane mix, Liam had been with the shelter since he was brought in as a stray more than 500 days earlier. He reached that milestone on April 1, according to Casey Champion, HSPRAC shelter manager. “He was brought back twice at no fault of his own,” she said. “It just didn't work out.”
Champion described Liam as “a super great dog” who loves all people and is great with other dogs; staff members often brought him out for play groups with the rest of the shelter dogs
“He grew up here,” she said, “I remember when he was a little bitty thing and now he’s this big dog.”
Champion said Liam’s ideal home was with someone who can spend a lot of time with him. She said he can jump, but is also very gentle around kids. However, he is not a big fan of cats or livestock animals such as chickens.
“He loves to go on hikes with people and is not the type of dog that can be cooped up in a room all day,” she said. “He loves to be around people and go on walks.”
Liam’s story, along with other animals at the shelter, had also gained some virality online. HSPRAC posted a TikTok video of him on its profile, which has garnered more than 600,000 views and over 40,000 likes, with more than 1,000 comments wishing him good luck in finding a home or wanting to look into adopting him themselves.
WATCH:Liam's viral TikTok
Champion said social media has become a vital tool in the shelter’s operations, helping increase their animals’ odds of being adopted.
“Our social media being boosted has been a huge help,” she said, “Volunteers posting our dogs and talking about them allows our long-term dogs to get out faster.”
Their odds of adoption are also improved through working with local rescues and the new foster system in place at HSPRAC.
“We used to not have a foster system, and putting one in place has been a great thing,” Champion said.
However, it was the virality of Liam's video that finally gartered him a new home. The shelter was able to place him with a woman in Chattanooga, who has since started Liam his very own TikTok account to continue to provide people updates on his life.
"He was adopted through the viral post on our page," said Brittany Hicks, one of the shelter workers, "A lady from Chattanooga ... saw his post and drove down here on Friday to come pick him up. The videos she is posting are just really cute."
Long-term stays in a shelter can be “horrible” for an animal’s mental state, reflected Champion, as being cooped up in a kennel for most of the day without interaction from people can be mentally draining.
Maddie's Fund, a grant-based charity that works with animals, says long-term shelter stays can also result in behavioral issues such as separation anxiety and house training regression.
“The inevitable conclusion is that the rehoming experience, especially through an animal shelter, can cause or exacerbate existing behavior problems, and the shelter experience itself then negatively impacts the dog’s adoptability and increases the likelihood of future relinquishment,” according to its website.
However, Hicks reassured that Liam was going to a good home, as his new owner has much experience with rescue dogs that have been in a similar situation as Liam.
"We are absolutely thrilled to see him go to a good home. His new owner has experience with rescue dogs, especially dogs like Liam who have been adopted and brought back," she said, "She has been really good with getting acclimated to a new home and has went above and beyond with providing the necessities to see him thrive."
Champion said when an animal is in a shelter for a long period of time, it is usually because potential adopters are judging the book by its cover.
“Most of the time it’s the look of the dog that gets them ignored,” she said. “There’s also kennel barrier issues and we often have to bring out the dog from their kennel so people can get a much better look at him.”
She said the shelter previously would have a long wait on dogs who were heartworm positive, but that has not been an issue since the implementation of a treatment plan with a local veterinarian.
Champion’s biggest piece of advice for adopters is to spend as much time with the animal as you can before making an official decision on whether to bring them home.
“Bring your kids and other furry friends to make sure they all get along,” she said, “The adoption qualifications vary from animal to animal, as they all have different needs that have to be met.”
Petfinder, a pet adoption website now owned by Purina, also has a checklist for potential adopters to see if an animal would be a good fit.
Those interested in adopting or fostering Liam or any other animal at HSPRAC can visit https://hsprac.com/ or apply in person at 4200 Brooke Ave. The shelter is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Tuesday.
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Planning your Easter meal? Local cooks offer some recipes for Southern favorites
Particularly in the South, Easter is a holiday that rivals Thanksgiving and Christmas from a culinary standpoint.
Here are some Easter dinner ideas from noted local cooks and foodies:
Glazed Ham, from Tanya Baker
For years, Tanya Baker has spearheaded — and done the cooking for — a Thanksgiving and Christmas meal, offered free to the community at Carver Community Center, serving hundreds for each meal.
Its an understatement to say she knows her way around a kitchen, and she knows what she likes for an Easter Sunday meal. It starts with a well-prepared ham. For her, it's simple: a brown sugar and Coca-Cola glaze, and pineapple. While a lot of people add cherries, she does not, and she wraps it all tightly in foil.
"I want it to have the 'done' look," Baker said, "that browned look."
Ingredients are easy:
- Ham (pre-cooked is OK to save time)
- Coca-Cola
- Brown sugar
- Pineapple slices
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Place ham on aluminum foil large enough to surround the ham before it goes into the oven.
Take about a half-cup of brown sugar and mix it with just enough Coca-Cola to make a glaze to coat the ham well, top to bottom, side to side. It won't take much soda, Baker said, to make a glaze that will stick to the ham. "You don't want it sloppy," she said.
Coat it well and then add slices of pineapple to the top and sides of the ham, and wrap it really tight in the foil.
Baker said she prefers to get an uncooked, pre-sliced ham, and it will need to cook for an hour at 350 degrees.
If you buy a pre-cooked ham, it will take 20 to 25 minutes in the oven.
If the ham is not pre-sliced, Baker recommends poking a few holes in it to get let that Coke and brown sugar glaze seep in.
"That's if you like it sweet, like I do," she said.
Sides, from Laura 'Fleur de Lolly' Tolbert
Laura Tolbert, also known as Fleur de Lolly, has been sharing recipes, table décor ideas and advice for fellow foodies and novices on her blog, fleurdelolly.blogspot.com for more than eight years.
She won the Duke Mayonnaise 100th Anniversary nationwide recipe contest for her Alabama White BBQ Sauce. She also is a Kansas City BBQ Society Certified Barbeque Judge.
You can contact her at facebook.com/fleurde.lolly.5, on Instagram and fleurdelolly@yahoo.com.
Her Easter table may look better than yours, but you can give some of her favorite sides a try.
Sour Cream and Chive Potatoes
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced very thin
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 eggs, well beaten
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons chopped chives
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup shredded white Cheddar cheese
Put the potato slices in a large saucepan and cover with water. Add ½ teaspoon salt. Bring to a gentle boil and cook until just tender when pierced with a knife. Drain well. Arrange the potatoes in a buttered, shallow 1 ½-quart baking dish.
Combine the sour cream with the beaten eggs, heavy cream, chives, salt and pepper and cheese. Slowly pour the mixture over the potatoes in the baking dish. Gently stir to make sure all the potatoes are coated. Sprinkle with a little more of the shredded cheese and additional chopped chives, if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.
Springtime Green Pea Salad
- 1 (20 or 24 oz.) package frozen green peas (thawed)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
- 1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup finely chopped ham
- 1/2 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Mix together all ingredients (except for bacon) until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve and top with crumbled bacon just before serving.
Green Beans, from Prudence Hilburn
Here are some recipes for a classic Southern side from a classic Southern cook. The late Prudence Hilburn from Piedmont won more than 30 national cooking awards and wrote several cookbooks, including “Simply Southern and More.”
Hilburn died in 2018. Here are some of her green been recipes, previously published in The Gadsden Times.
Dressed-up Green Bean Bundles
- Canned whole green beans, well drained
- Bacon, 1/3 to 1/2 strip for each bundle
- Catalina or French dressing
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Make small bundles of 5 to 6 whole green beans. Wrap bacon strip around each bundle and place in baking pan. Pour Catalina or French dressing over bundles. Bake until bacon is cooked. Remove from pan and serve immediately.
NOTE: If you want a crisp texture, use fresh green beans instead of canned beans.
Quick and Easy Green Beans
- 2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) cut green beans
- 1 cup sliced smoked sausage (about 1/4-inch-thick slices)
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained (optional)
Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook about 10 minutes.
Old-Fashioned Southern Green Beans
- 1 1/2 to 2 pounds fresh green beans, snapped
- 1 quart water
- 1/4 pound salt pork
- 2 tablespoons oil
- Black pepper, to taste
Combine green beans, water and salt pork in large iron pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook until beans are tender and most of water has cooked out. Add oil and mix. Taste and add black pepper, if needed.
Hummingbird Cake, from Beautiful Rainbow Café
Beautiful Rainbow Café is a beautiful story. The café, located in the Gadsden Public Library, is operated by instructors and Gadsden City High School's special needs students.
The students learn skills that many have used to get jobs in local restaurants, while they work on reading, math and science skills in the kitchen, in this award-winning educational program.
The café's vegetarian recipes use ingredients from local business and farm partners. Here's the recipe for Beautiful Rainbow Hummingbird Cake.
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 ⅓ cups blood orange infused olive oil from King’s Olive Oil Company
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups and 1 tablespoon flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 2 ripe bananas
- 8 oz. crushed pineapple with juice
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Put 2 cups of brown sugar in the mixer.
Add 1 ⅓ cups of blood orange infused olive oil from King’s Olive Oil Company.
Add 3 eggs and mix with a paddle attachment.
Mix until combined. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
In another bowl, mix dry ingredients: 2 cups of flour and 1 tablespoon of flour, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 ½ teaspoons of salt.
Using the back-of-the-hand method, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix.
In another bowl, mix together 2 ripe bananas and one 8-ounce can of crushed pineapple with juice and 1 cup of chopped pecans. Stir this into your batter.
Spray cake pans with nonstick spray and cover the bottoms with parchment paper. Pour the batter into the pans and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350 degrees and cook for another 15 minutes or until the cake is done.
Frosting:
Using a whisk attachment for the mixer, mix together 2 sticks of softened butter, ¾ cup of softened cream cheese, 2 cups of powdered sugar and ½ cup of caramel from Dayspring Dairy. Mix until smooth
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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New Destiny Christian Church and Pastor Smith will give away $10,000 in gas this weekend
A gas giveaway perhaps never has been more timely.
Pastor Steve Smith and New Destiny Christian Church on Saturday will gift a total of $10,000 in free gas to all interested as part of their "Resurrection Weekend Giveaway." You simply have to drive into the station and a roamer will direct your car where it needs to go, Smith said.
With gas prices in the neighborhood of $4 per gallon right now, demand likely will be high.
"You don't need a reservation," Smith said. "Whoever wants it, whoever needs it, all pumps will be open."
Think your fuel costs are bad?:Consider the cost of driving hundreds of kids to school
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The event starts at 10 a.m. and Smith said there isn't a set time for it to end. It is being held at the Chevron station at 936 Rainbow Drive. In addition to the gas, there will be free food and drinks available.
In years previous, the giveaway had been held at New Destiny, but Smith said there is better parking and more room at the Chevron.
New Destiny began giving away free gas in 2014, but hasn't held the event in a few years because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Smith.
Also, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, all 18 lanes at The Alley in the Gadsden Mall will be free to bowl as a part of New Destiny's "Millennial Night."
The idea for giving away gas originally came to Smith from his own pastor.
"I was visiting my pastor, Dr. R.A. Vernon, in Cleveland, Ohio, and he does giveaways every year," Smith explained. "So I got the idea from him. The church is trying to give back to the community."
For more information, visit the New Destiny Christian Church Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/New-Destiny-Christian-Church-122504294451559/.
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One dead in crash near the Marshall/Blount County line
Donna Thornton
The Gadsden Times
One person was killed in a motor vehicle crash at about 11 a.m. Monday, according to the Marshall County Coroner's Office.
The name of the person who died in the crash has not been released pending notification of the family. The crash occurred on Alabama Highway 75 in Horton, near the Marshall/Blount County line.
Douglas fire and police departments, Snead and Albertville fire departments and the Marshall County Sheriff's Office, Marshall Health Systems Emergency Services and Marshall County 911 assisted in the response to the crash.
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Troopers are investigating the crash.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
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Jacksonville State football: 'We're going to have tough conversations with our guys'
JACKSONVILLE — Rich Rodriguez heeded a warning for his Jacksonville State football team.
Following the conclusion of the final spring practice Tuesday, Rodriguez informed players jobs that could be on the line moving forward.
Rodriguez said he would like to be at 125 players on the roster and another 10 on the "RodSquad," a practice squad.
"You have a limited number, I wish we could carry 150 guys," Rodriguez said. "With 40-50 new guys guys coming in and 100 or so guys on the roster now, obviously do the math. There's going to some kind of give and take there."
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With JSU moving up from FBS to FCS, the program will be in transition, adding more scholarship players the next couple of years.
Some of the players coming in are part of Rodriguez's first signing class. Others could arrive from the transfer portal or as additional signees from high school.
Quarterback, speed on the perimeter, offensive lineman, pass rushers, defensive lineman and linebackers are some of the positions Rodriguez listed he wants to add more depth at.
Rodriguez said he wants to have two players he believes he can win with at each position.
"We have some pretty good players," Rodriguez said. "We also need to some competition at some spots.
"We're going to have some tough conversations with our guys in the next couple of weeks. We're going to tell them exactly where they stand, what they need to work on and where we can improve as well."
The final spring practice was a sort of simulation for JSU players for what summer practices will look like when coaches are prohibited from coaching.
The practice ran for an hour, with the players leading and the coaches taking a step back.
"We always like to have the last practice to teach the players to run a player run practice in the summer," Rodriguez said. "That's when you always need the leadership. I've always said, you don't need leadership when the coaches are out there, you need it when they aren't."
Rodriguez was not happy with the effort at the spring scrimmage Saturday.
One player who has stepped into a larger leadership role has been sophomore Jaylen Swain.
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"You get better when people are not in the stands," Swain said. "We have to tell each other what we're doing wrong and right just so we know when get on the field."
Rodriguez also said defensive players have been hitting the weight room with more frequency than the offense.
"I do need to talk to the some of the offensive players," Swain said. "We just need to get better on both sides of the team. We're a team. I need to be a leader all-around, go get the offense. Everyone needs to be in there getting extra work."
Jacksonville State opens its season Aug. 27 against Stephen F. Austin in the Montgomery Kickoff in the Cramton Bowl. The contest is scheduled to be telecast on ESPN.
"It's going to be a great crowd," Rodriguez said. "Our guys are going to be ready to play. That's when they put the work in."
Contact Ehsan Kassim at 256-300-5313 or ekassim@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim.
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