The Messenger-Gadsden

12/05/2025

Claire began formal music training at St. James with music teacher Richey Holcomb, who taught her to recognize notes and rhythms and encouraged her passion for music

Congratulations are in order for 13-year-old St. James Catholic School student Claire Sullivan, who was selected for the Alabama Vocal Association’s 2026 All-State Choir. Sullivan is a member of the Gadsden Youth Chorus and the St. James Church Angels’ Voices Choir. Her mother, Alicia Sullivan, ...

12/04/2025

“Teenagers need not just a community but a family,” Noakers said, adding that students also need a place to turn when they feel out of options. “We are the people they can depend on when times get tough.”

Gaston High School’s Key Club honored military veterans by placing American flags on graves at Crestwood Cemetery. Key Club sponsor, Amy Noakers, said the mission of the Bulldog Key Club is to build a family within the school by teaching leadership and encouraging a sense of responsibility through...

12/04/2025

SALE STARTING TODAY! We are clearing out inventory and getting ready for a new year. Lucky for our readers, we found some old copies of our high school senior tribute magazines!

We have some surplus copies of every edition EXCEPT 2024. If you want a copy from 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, or 2025, you can snag one up during this End of Year Sale. These magazines will be on sale for $5 each, cash only, starting today until January 31, 2026.

Visit our office, Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to take advantage of this sale. Once they are gone, they are gone for good. This is a first come, first serve basis. These copies will not last long, so we suggest coming in soon. This sale is only while supplies last.

12/03/2025

Overall, 27 of Southside’s 32 events advanced to the state competition, set for Dec. 5–6 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Southside High School theatre students, led by director Jason Bozeman, delivered another strong performance at the District 7 Trumbauer Festival on Nov. 1. The Walter Trumbauer Festival, established in 1940, provides Alabama high school theatre students with training and performance opportunities th...

12/02/2025

“Over the course of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work for multiple superintendents and principals, each with their own leadership style,” Talton said. “I’ve learned something valuable from each of them and have taken the strengths I admired to shape the leader I am today.”

Julie Talton, director of elementary curriculum, continuous improvement and testing for Etowah County Schools, has been named the district’s new assistant superintendent. Talton, a Glencoe High School graduate, joined the Etowah County central office last school year. Over her 26-year career, she ...

12/01/2025

The Coosa Christian Conquerors have conquered the attention of Etowah County as they prepare to compete for the AHSSA Super 7 Football State Championship this Friday.

The Coosa Christian Conquerors have conquered the attention of Etowah County as they prepare to compete for the AHSSA Super 7 Football State Championship this Friday. Coosa Christian (12-2), coached by Rush Propst, secured a 44-36 victory over Pisgah (11-3) on Friday, Nov. 28, to clinch a berth in t...

11/26/2025

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Our office will be closed until Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Our emails are still open, though! Enjoy your turkey naps and local holiday shopping!

11/26/2025

As you scoop it from the crockpot this year, I hope your holidays are surrounded by love and family, with laughter echoing around the table and memories being created in every bite.

This week as we go into Thanksgiving, I wanted to focus on the dishes the holiday dishes. These are the dishes we think about all year long, yet we hold them back, saving them for the holidays, as if restraint itself makes them sacred. When I’ve asked people about their favorite foods, dressing al...

11/25/2025

The annual CommUnity Thanksgiving meal may not be happening this year, but that does not mean a warm dinner will not be served to those in need in the community.

Submitted The annual CommUnity Thanksgiving meal may not be happening this year, but that does not mean a warm dinner will not be served to those in need in the community. Many local churches have stepped up to the plate to meet the needs of those in the area. “We thank the CommUnity Thanksgiving ...

11/25/2025

The collection season for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse begins today as nearly 5,000 drop-off locations open across the country.

ALABAMA, Nov. 17, 2025—The collection season for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse begins today as nearly 5,000 drop-off locations open across the country. Individuals, families and groups across Alabama have the opportunity to pack a shoebox gift filled with fun toys, sc...

11/17/2025

The Gaston High School Peer Helpers program received a generous donation from alumnus Jonathan Mason and Inline Electric Supply to help stock the school’s student success center.

The Peer Helpers’ mission is to show students that everyone can make a difference. Members serve as leaders who offer friendship, tutoring and mentorship to peers in need. The Gaston High School Peer Helpers program received a generous donation from alumnus Jonathan Mason and Inline Electric Suppl...

11/16/2025

High school basketball is back in the state of Alabama, which means a handful of local teams began playing this week. Check out how each team performed in their initial matchups:
https://gadsdenmessenger.com/first-game-look-ahead-for-county-basketball-teams

High school basketball is back in the state of Alabama, which means that a handful of local teams began playing this week. Check out how each team performed in their initial matchups: