It's time to vote for the Gadsden area boys and girls athlete of the week from action from April 28 to May 2 That stretch includes the Elite Eight round of the AHSAA baseball and soccer playoffs the first two days of the state track and field meets and sectional golf tournaments on the boys side Hokes Bluff's Haylan Stanley won with 58% of the vote after three goals in an area win over New Hope He earned the win over Etowah's Damon Devine who earned 38% of the vote after he had eight strikeouts in a playoff win over New Hope Sardis' Callie Rae Bonds won 48% of the vote after an impressive state tennis tournament where she earned no 1 doubles state title as the Lions won the team title Glencoe's Kenzi Landers earned 37% of the vote after three RBIs and two runs scored Nominees for athlete of the week come from the top performers of the week before. To nominate a top performer, have your coach email sports@gadsdentimes.com GASTON: Gaston's Kodie Bogle chasing dreams of state record with legacy already defined with Bulldogs Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person The City of Gadsden is hosting The Amp's summer Tribute Series Concerts 7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience Purple Madness: The Ultimate Prince Tribute Grab your tickets by clicking the link Theatre of Gadsden presents courtroom classic 'Inherit the Wind'Theatre of GadsdenTheatre of Gadsden’s latest production is one of America’s great courtroom dramas where the trial of a man becomes one of ideas "Inherit the Wind" will be performed May 9-11 and 16-18 Shows on Fridays and Saturdays will take place at 7 p.m. It’s been an even century since the events of the celebrated Scopes “Monkey” trial in Dayton Scopes was tried for teaching evolution in public schools but isn’t an exact portrayal of the historical event the real Scopes never spent a night in jail and the people of Dayton didn’t hang Scopes in effigy but welcomed the media circus that accompanied the trial But the main action of "Inherit the Wind" action comes from the courtroom clash of titans — the presidential candidate Matthew Harrison Brady More: Have a fiesta of flavors on Cinco de Mayo | LOST RECIPES the play investigates everything from free speech and education an unsuccessful three-time presidential candidate who rolls into the fictional town of Hillsboro to press the case against evolution and Brady puts all his chips on this one case “I think some people would simplify it and say he’s the villain of the piece,” Hinton said “But a villain never thinks he’s a villain he was a pretty heroic figure in terms of women’s rights (and) child labor I see him as somewhat of an admirable figure and he sees himself as riding this media event back into power.” puts Brady on the witness stand in one of the play’s climactic scenes He also has to face off against the unrelenting hostility of the Hillsboro courtroom While the play examines the role of religion in civic life “There are times when I get caught up in the dialogue and want to say more but I have to stick to the script,” he said “The argumentative side comes easily to me Seeing the whole town against me sort of eggs me on There’s so much great dialogue that you can use it in real life if you’re arguing with someone.” a character who is in love with the teacher Her character serves as a bridge between the two sides in the play She was familiar with "Inherit the Wind" because it was a favorite of her aunt “It’s important that I not make a caricature of her,” she said “I have traditional and non-traditional family members Here is a list of some of the Gadsden area's top high school performances for the week of April 19-25 Coaches: To nominate a top performer email them to MDonaldson@gannett.com and sports@gadsdentimes.com by Friday at 10 p.m Etowah's Damon Devine struck out six batters in a 2-1 win over Central Jameson Scissum scored a run with Bennett Reeves adding an RBI Etowah's Jameson Scissum struck out five batters in a five-shutout 2-0 win over Central Bennett Reeves and Dayton Porter each had two RBIs SoftballGlencoe's Evelyn Nowak was named offensive MVP at the AHSAA 3A Area 11 tournament where her play included a .615 batting average with two doubles and eight RBIs Kynsley Freeman's tournament included a .385 batting average with two RBIs and a 2-1 pitching record that included a no hitter against Westbrook Christian Freeman struck out 10 batters in the tournament and produced a .933 ERA Fyffe's Sam Galloway hit 2-for-3 with two runs scored a double and a triple in a 4-1 win against Geraldine Madelyn Hawkins hit 2-for-4 against Collinsville with a run scored Boaz's Grier Maples struck out 8 batters with an RBI and Bailey Lusk hit a three-RBI home run in a 6-5 win over Sardis Fyffe's Kendra Fay hit 3-for-5 and scored a run in a 3-2 Brindlee Walston went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored Sam Galloway hit a double in her one time at bat and scored a run in an 18-2 loss to Collinsville Sardis' Jaeda Epperson hit a homerun and had three RBIs as Halle Haynes struck out 6 in a 6-5 loss to Boaz Glencoe's Isabella Romano had four RBIs with Evelyn Nowak adding three more in win over Westbrook Christian Glencoe's Adyson Owens scored four RBIs in a 12-2 win over Piedmont Collinsville's Aaron Herrera scored four goals in a 6-1 win over Tanner Jan Segura had two goals and two assists as Jinen Shukal made 19 saves Southside's Camren Thompson scored three times in a 5-3 win over Gadsden City Trek Gardner had an assist and a goal with Hayes Cosby making seven saves made nine saves in a 2-1 win against White Plains Karson Bruce and Lucy Davenport scored the team's goals Southside's Kinsey Carter scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Fort Payne Albertville's Cooper Scott placed second in high jump Ashville's JB Potter tied for fourth in high jump Coosa Christian's Kylen Johnson placed second in the 110-meter hurdles Jacksonville Tyshaun Cameron won the state title in 400 Sand Rock's Caleb Yoder placed second in 1600-meter run Westbrook Chrsitian's Brodey Wood placed second in the javelin with a throw of 171-07 Boaz's Ty Sullivan placed fifth in javelin Hokes Bluff's Conner Wellingham placed second in discus and javelin Guntersville's Rickey Wisdom placed third in shot put Jacksonville's Quinn Weaver took third in the 1600-meter Aaron Nixon finished second in triple jump Ashville's Maddie Sanders placed second in discus Cherokee County's Deannia Starr placed fourth in discus Shamiya McElrath placed fifth in 400-meter Fort Payne's Hadlee Powell placed fourth in shot put Guntersville's Cesleigh Martin and Sophia Wood placed top-three in javelin Pisgah's Ashton Childress placed third in javelin Ashville's Allie Cone finished second in the 1600-meter finals with a time of 5:22 Lydia Northam finished fourth in high jump Etowah's Brylee Watts finished six in long jump Fort Payne's Cooper Garrett won javelin throw with a 150-04 throw Guntersville's Madeleine Wharton won the pole vault as Ava Hammond and Morgan Jones placed top-five Southside's Rylann Shaw placed third in the javelin throw Cherokee County's Sam Dreps shot a 79 as Warriors placed third Geraldine's Ryan Hunter shot an 83 to lead Bulldogs to a fourth-place finish Guntersville's Ty Hester shot a 67 as Wildcats placed second Peidmont's Caden Wood and Noah Farmer shot a 77 to lead Bulldogs to third-place finish Pisgah's Bryant Burgess shot an 80 to lead the Eagles to a third place sectional finish Westbrook Christian's JD Berdnt shot a 78 as Warriors placed fourth Boaz's Emma Jones shot an 83 as Pirates placed fourth Geraldine's Jaycee Berrong shot a 79 to place second as an individual Hokes Bluff's Makayla Bearden shot an 84 to place third as an individual Piedmont's Reece Kirkpatrick shot a 95 as Bulldogs placed third Westbrook Christian's Hadley Hilgers shot a 90 to place fourth as an individual The Chargers made their first trade of the draft, sending Nos. 181 and 209 (both sixth-rounders) to Philadelphia for No. 165 and selecting tight end Oronde Gadsden II in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft Get all of your Bolts draft news at the Chargers 2025 Draft Hub Here are five things to know about the Syracuse tight end: Syracuse never saw a more productive player at the tight end position than Gadsden The tight end rewrote the school's record books setting new marks for receptions and yards by a tight end after 141 catches for 1,970 yards across in 28 games He also boasts the program's top two individual seasons for receptions Gadsden ended his career sixth in Syracuse history overall in career receiving yards per game averaging 55.3 per game and fifth in career receptions Gadsden's final season with the Orange was his best he earned Third Team All-American honors after a Syracuse tight end single season record of 73 receptions The mark was good for fourth-most by a tight end in the nation He took those receptions for 934 yards and seven touchdowns as he ranked sixth among FBS tight ends with at least 50 targets in Pro Football Focus offense grade with a 82.6 (best in ACC) Take a look through some photos of the Chargers selection at No.165 in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Tight End Oronde Gadsden II from the Syracuse University Syracuse wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II runs with the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue in Syracuse Syracuse wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II (19) runs on the field during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia on Friday Syracuse wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II (19) runs on the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia on Friday Syracuse wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II (19) and wide receiver Courtney Jackson (9) run on the field during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia on Friday Syracuse wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II (19) makes a touchdown catch as North Carolina State cornerback Derrek Pitts Jr (24) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday Syracuse wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II (19) makes a touchdown catch during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II (19) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Colgate in Syracuse Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II (19) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Western Michigan in Syracuse Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II (19) on the sidelines during an NCAA college football game between Purdue and Syracuse in West Lafayette FILE - Syracuse wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II scores a touchdown against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse Gadsden's season-ending injury was picked as the biggest injury for the first half of the season in the Atlantic Coast Conference in The Associated Press' midseason report Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II (19) celebrates after scoring during the first half of an NCAA football game against Ohio on Saturday Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II (19) runs on the field during the second half of an NCAA football game against Stanford on Friday Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II (19) is congratulated by tight end Maximilian Mang (0) after scoring a touchdown during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game against Washington State Friday Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis Gadsden might look like a natural at tight end but it was his second position in college football He was recruited and spent his first season at Syracuse as a wide receiver before switching to tight end ahead of the 2022 season as he exploded in the offense catching 61 passes for 969 yards and six touchdowns leading all tight ends nationally in receiving yardage He even earned First-Team All-ACC honors in his first season at the position setting the single-season record for receptions by a tight end Attending American Heritage School in Florida Gadsden spent his prep career as a wide receiver And he was coached former NFL All-Pro Patrick Surtain who was the head coach during his time at the school Gadsden worked his way to becoming a three-star prospect and was a two-time state champion in Florida Gadsden is now the second person in his family to make it to the pros played six seasons in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins from 1998 to 2003 The elder Gadsden caught 227 career passes for 3,252 yards and 22 touchdowns and most notably caught Hall of Famer Dan Marino's final touchdown pass Gadsden's Pop Warner team featured former Dolphins players Sam Madison (head coach) Dan Marino (offensive coordinator) and Jason Taylor (defensive coordinator) The Chargers 2025 schedule will be released May 14 The Chargers Head Coach joined 'The Rich Eisen Show' last week and talked about his star quarterback The Chargers star safety was also awarded an honorary degree from the school AL — The Cardinal Foundation at Gadsden State Community College hosted its annual scholarship dinner on April 22 bringing together donors and student recipients in a celebration of generosity and academic achievement Held to honor both the individuals and organizations who make student scholarships possible and the outstanding students selected to receive them the event highlighted the vital impact of community support across Calhoun work tirelessly to fund our scholarships throughout the year,” said Hillary Folsom director of advancement and alumni relations for Gadsden State “The dinner is a celebration of our donors’ commitment to supporting the students… It’s also a time to recognize the academic excellence of current and future students.” a Gadsden State graduate and the current Northeast Alabama field representative for U.S served as the evening’s keynote speaker She praised the institution for offering both quality education and flexibility both academically and financially,” Battles said “Students receive a quality education while receiving support and the flexibility to balance work and school It’s a win-win situation for everyone I am truly honored to be chosen as your speaker for this event.” the following scholarships and recipients were recognized: Benjamin Steinberg Nursing Scholarship: Rosita Zendejas (Nursing) Boys & Girls Club of Gadsden/Etowah County Career Academy Scholarship: William Anderson (Industrial Automation) Chad Hawkins Educational Foundation Scholarship: Cheryl Hendrickson (Nursing) Ford Jamboree Scholarship: James Southers (Auto Collision Repair) GRIP Autocross Scholarship: Julian Tapia Lake (Auto Collision Repair) Louis & Elaine Marsalis Scholarship: Tamara Rollins (Nursing) Michael Scott Hatten Memorial Scholarship: Hope Brown (Precision Machining Technology) Michael Joe Wofford Scholarship: Joshua Long (Liberal Arts) Cardinal Foundation Past Presidents’ Honorary Scholarship: Artaevious McCloud (General Studies) Swoop Sprint 5K Technical Scholarship: Kimberly Lopez (Electronics Swoop Sprint 5K Gadsden State Cherokee Scholarship: William Watts (General Studies) Swoop Sprint 5K East Broad/Gadsden Scholarship: Layla Kissic (Paralegal) Swoop Sprint 5K Ayers Campus Scholarship: Dakari Jones (Surgical Operating Room Technician) Swoop Sprint 5K Valley Street Campus Scholarship: Amari Headen (Diagnostic Medical Sonography) The SPA Kathy Brown Memorial Scholarship: Ashley Hawk (Office Administration) The Stephen & April Lafollette Scholarship: Kayleigh Lee Tim & Laura McCartney Career Technical Education Scholarship: Taylor Elrod Jacob Herring (Industrial Automation); Kendal McCants (Precision Machining Technology) Tyler Union Workforce Development Scholarship: Christopher Alvarez Keegan Huff (Industrial Automation); Jared Kyle Griffith (Electronics David Pruitt (Precision Machining Technology) Tyler Union Electrical Technology Scholarship: Justin Waters William Thomas Dawson Family Scholarship: Kimberly Flores (General Studies); Elijah Hammett (Mechanical Design Technology); Damia Steward (Child Development) The evening served as a reminder of the power of education and the community support that drives student success at Gadsden State Paid Advertisement – Click for More Information Copyright © 2025 Calhoun Journal  |  Designed and Managed by JLM Communications The Gadsden Career Center will be partnering in a 2025 Spring Hiring Fair Gadsden – The Gadsden Career Center in collaboration with East Alabama Works will be hosting the Spring Hiring Fair for on March 20th at The Venue at Coosa Landing Employers are seeking to fill hundreds of job openings The job fair will be held on Thursday March 20th  Highschool Juniors and Seniors from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and the General Public will be from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at The Venue at Coosa Landing Those who wish to learn more about the spring hiring fair can contact the Gadsden Career Center or specifically reach out to: Summer Patterson Members of the media needing more information should contact Communications Specialist Jonathan McNair at jonathan.mcnair@labor.alabama.gov  Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities Probation will be Hosting the 3rd Annual Second Chances Job Fair Alabama’s Labor Force Participation Rate Holds Steady at 57.6 Labor Force and Those Counted as Employed Mark New Record Highs Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Deaf, hard-of-hearing, speech-impaired, or deaf-blind customers may contact Alabama Relay: 800-548-2546 (TTY) and 711 (Voice). Equal opportunity is the law. AL – The Gadsden State Community College Police Department is proud to host a free Advanced Women’s Self-Defense Class on Saturday at the Beck Conference Center on the Wallace Drive Campus This empowering and educational course is open to the public for women ages 13 and up and will run from 8 a.m for those wanting to attend the shooting range portion Designed to build confidence and equip participants with valuable tools to protect themselves the class will include hands-on training and cover the following key topics: An optional shooting range session will be available to participants from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m for those who bring a functioning handgun and 50 rounds of ammunition The event is made possible through the support of our exceptional instructors from various agencies and local sponsors “This class is about more than just physical defense—it’s about empowering women with knowledge and a strong sense of preparedness,” said Jay Freeman Chief of Police at Gadsden State Community College “We want every participant to leave feeling stronger and more capable of protecting themselves and those around them.” call 256-549-8276 or email jfreeman@gadsdenstate.edu or efeemster@gadsdenstate.edu Attendees receive hands-on training in a variety of environments from law enforcement professionals Request Info Cardinal Career Explorer Request a Tour Los Angeles waited until Round 5 to go for a tight end which is when they landed Oronde Gadsden II from Syracuse and they could wind up looking brilliant for making the move MORE: Chargers praised for getting one of NFL's biggest overall upgrades during draft Gadsden, whose father played wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, is a pass-catching threat at the position. His skill as a receiver, coupled with the Chargers' need at the position, led to SI.com's Daniel Flick naming him one of the top "impact rookies" from Day 3 Syracuse Orange tight end Oronde Gadsden II catches the ball against Ohio Bobcats cornerback Roman Parodie during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome / Rich Barnes-Imagn Images"The Chargers traded up 16 spots to select Gadsden who has NFL bloodlines and projects favorably as an oversized slot receiver and his catch radius and ball skills make him a friendly target for quarterback Justin Herbert Los Angeles was commonly linked to early-round tight ends but it waited until the fifth round—and Gadsden has the pass-catching skills to produce early." Gadsden had 73 receptions for 934 yards with seven touchdowns needed someone who could serve as a safety valve in the middle of the offense for Herbert Now we just have to see if he can live up to the expectations placed on him — Enjoy free coverage of the Chargers from Los Angeles Chargers on SI — Chargers hailed as landing top-three 2025 NFL draft class Los Angeles Chargers 53-man roster prediction after 2025 NFL draft Chargers predicted to bolster interior defensive line by signing 63-game starter RANDY GURZIRandy Gurzi is a graduate of Arizona State and has focused on NFL coverage since 2014. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER ​​The Chargers traded up to get Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II in Round 5 (No 165 pick) of the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday 181 and 209 (both sixth-rounders) to Philadelphia for No 214 and 256) remaining in the 2025 NFL Draft Gadsden is regarded as a strong prospect in the tight end class And he's fired up the Bolts came up to take him "It gives me a lot of confidence that they're rooting for me and they want me to play a role on this team by the time we get to preseason Game 1," Gadsden said on Saturday during his virtual media session The selection of Gadsden adds a young tight end to the position room alongside Tyler Conkin spent his entire collegiate career at Syracuse Gadsden was a 2024 Third-Team All-American after finishing the season with 73 catches for 934 yards and seven touchdowns He ended his time at Syracuse as their career receptions (141) and yards (1,970) record holder by a tight end as his receiving prowess is something he said he believes makes him stand out "Better on the receiving end and still developing in the run game Gadsden's father played six NFL seasons for the Dolphins He caught 227 career passes for 3,252 yards and 22 touchdowns including the final touchdown of Dan Marino's career (WBMA) — The Gadsden Police Department is actively searching for Christian Rodriguez-Tizapa a 28-year-old man who was last seen in December 2024 at the Dollar General on North 12th Street Authorities expressed concern for Rodriguez-Tizapa's well-being noting that he may be experiencing homelessness "We’re hoping someone in our community has seen him or knows where he might be," said the department "Your help could make all the difference," they said Search IconChange Location7 Day ForecastHourlyMonday72° 52°0%Tuesday77° 59°10%Wednesday72° 62°80%Thursday77° 60°30%Friday76° 52°60%Saturday75° 54°20%Sunday79° 57°20%Interactive RadarLatest WeathercastLATEST FORECAST Birmingham, ALMonday May 5, 2025Forecaster: James Spann COOL START: Temperatures are in the 40s across much of North/Central Alabama just before daybreak... for some places this will most likely be the last morning with temperatures in the 40s until late September or October. Expect a partly to mostly sunny sky today with only isolated showers over the Tennessee Valley this afternoon and early tonight... highs will be in the 70s. Tomorrow will dry for most of the state, but a few showers could creep into the southwest counties by late afternoon. The high tomorrow afternoon will be in the 77-82 degree range. RAIN RETURNS: The latter half of the week will be wet at times. We expect occasional rain Wednesday through Friday as an upper low slowly approaches from the west. Some thunder is possible, but severe storms are not expected. Rain amounts will be in the 1-2 inch range for most of Alabama on these three days, but heavier amounts are possible mainly over the southern part of the state. Highs will remain in the 70s. THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: The upper low will weaken and continue drifting eastward. Alabama's weather trends drier, with a partly sunny sky forecast Saturday and Sunday. Any showers should be widely spaced, and mainly over the southern quarter of the state. Highs will be in the 75-80 degree range both days. And, for now, much of next week looks dry with warmer with highs returning to the 80s Tuesday through Friday. ON THIS DATE IN 1933: Early in the morning of May 5, 1933, a tornado that was at times a third of a mile wide swept through Bibb and Shelby counties. It carved a track 35 miles long, and killed 20 people as they slept. More than 150 people were injured in Helena, where rescue efforts were hampered by the darkness and the heavy rains that followed the twister. Another tornado the same day killed four people at Demopolis. ON THIS DATE IN 1995: A supercell thunderstorms brought torrential rains and large hail up to four inches in diameter to Fort Worth, Texas. This storm also struck a local outdoor festival known as the Fort Worth Mayfest. At the time the storm was the costliest hailstorm in the history of the US, causing more than $2 billion in damage. Gulf Coast region gas prices essentially unchanged from previous week: See how much hereUSA TODAY NetworkRegional gas prices are essentially unchanged the previous week at an average of $2.69 per gallon of regular fuel on April 28 approximately the same as the previous week's price The average fuel price in the Gulf Coast region declined about 4 cents since last month gas prices across the region in the last year have been as low as $2.56 on Dec the average gas price in the Gulf Coast region was 4% higher at $2.80 per gallon >> INTERACTIVE: See how your area's gas prices have changed over the years at data.gadsdentimes.com The average gas price in the United States the previous week was $3.13 making prices in the Gulf Coast region about 14.3% lower than the nation's average The average national gas price is essentially unchanged from the previous week's average of $3.14 per gallon Energy Information Administration's tally of prices in the Gulf Coast states includes Alabama — Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford addressed recent concerns about vandalism at Moragne Park stating that both playground equipment and bathroom facilities have been targeted in recent weeks we’ve experienced vandalism to both the playground equipment and the bathroom facilities over the past few weeks," Ford said He assured residents that steps are being taken to address the issues "Replacement equipment for the playground has been ordered and the bathrooms are currently undergoing a deep clean," he said the city is installing signage and cameras Ford emphasized the importance of community involvement in maintaining the park's safety and welcoming atmosphere "Let’s work collectively to ensure Moragne Park remains a safe and welcoming environment for all," Ford said thanking the community for their continued support and commitment Coccinella septempunctata hunting pea aphids Beneficial Insects: Nature’s Helpers in Your Garden and Landscape This content is reserved for subscribers only Sign up for our newsletter and always get the latest news when it happens SUBSCRIBE The Gadsden County Times has been a part of Gadsden County's future for more than 120 years but covering the news throughout the County Please enter your username or email address to reset your password the University of Alabama will no longer occupy the Gadsden Center on Broad Street and First Street North The University said the decision was made after the city "chose to sue to evict UA." City leadership said rental rates lower than the going rate for the facility were offered but the University turned down the opportunities A social media post was made Tuesday regarding the decision on the University of Alabama Gadsden Center's Facebook account Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford responded with a lengthy post of his own His post detailed the long history of the Gadsden Center which once included hosting hundreds of students for classes Ford said the university "has been divesting its higher education interests in Gadsden/Etowah County for the greater part of the 21st Century." An early learning initiative and after-school program are the current uses for the facility Ford said when the agreement came up for renewal he realized the University was not paying rent for the facility Gadsden City Services Director Tena King Morgan explained Thursday the city evaluated all leases for city-owned buildings as part of a promise made at the beginning of Ford's term to ensure everyone was paying rent everybody was going to pay rent that was located in a city building they were going to pay for some of their maintenance and pay their own utilities He has held true to that," said King Morgan but I can tell you we had more people not paying rent than we had paying rent but we were also paying for utilities and all maintenance on the buildings." "Trying to maintain city buildings for nonprofits really became a daunting task," added King Morgan ABC 33/40 reached out to the University of Alabama Wednesday regarding lease negotiations The University's Executive Director of Communications which said the city "chose to sue to evict UA before a new lease agreement could be reached." Ford did not mention legal action for eviction in his social media post King Morgan did not know of any legal action against the University As for early learning and childcare opportunities King Morgan said most elementary schools in the city limits have a 4-K program which was not the case when the early learning program began at the Gadsden Center The city is also working with Gadsden State quality 4-K programs within the city that we are hoping they will expand We have a strong program at Gadsden State that trains people to go to work in that field We are working closely with Dr.Murphy to help that program to put more workers in the field so we could take on more children," said King Morgan The University of Alabama said it remained committed to supporting Gadsden and Etowah County King Morgan said the decision was not related to the planned development of the city's riverfront A $16.6 million bid to renovate the Regions Bank building into the new Gadsden City Hall was approved by city council members Monday The city purchased the 28,000-square-foot building on Broad Street for $2.8 million in July 2023 The bid was awarded to Clements Dean Building Company The project includes renovating the Regions building and a neighboring administrative building The complex will feature new city council chambers "This will complete the entire relocation of city hall from our existing location," said Councilman Jason Wilson during Monday's meeting The city budgeted $7 million for the project in fiscal year 2025 the remainder of the balance will be paid in the fiscal year 2026 budget Mayor Craig Ford said city hall operations would be moved to the Regions building in 18 months "This will be coming from funds we have on hand right now One thing you can say about the previous administration primarily the city council of the previous administration they did such a great job of saving money for this city It is unprecedented for any city in today's world to go out and build a $25 million municipal and city hall complex and pay cash for it," said Wilson "That frees up our ability to go to the bond market to potentially borrow money for other projects in the future that improve our quality of life here in Gadsden for our citizens and obviously increase our economic tax base by creating new businesses and developments that contribute." Ford said the bid was under the amount the city budgeted for the project The current city hall location overlooking the Coosa River will eventually be the home of a hotel The hotel is part of the city's vision for riverfront development "This building was built in the 1950s It's got some issues with asbestos and black mold and it is not ADA-compliant," explained Ford "We will tear down these existing buildings and have the most valuable piece of property in Gadsden overlooking the river." Ford expected to make an official announcement for the hotel in 2025 "It is a part of our GROW master plan It is a part of our riverfront master plan It is part of our relocation of [Highway] 411 and the project we just announced Coosa Harbor Reports of a gunman firing a weapon while walking near South Gadsden Street and East Magnolia Drive were made to Tallahassee Police Department in the early afternoon of April 21 which was on lockdown because of its proximity to reports of shots being fired Miller said police had not located or identified the gunman another police spokesperson said there were "none at this time." This is a breaking news story and will be updated Take a look back at the second week of the Chargers 2025 off-season program in monochrome Chargers fans brought the energy to DOG PPL Club in Santa Monica for an unforgettable Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft From airbrush tattoos and exclusive merch to the always-popular doggy draft and 2025 first-round draft pick Omarion Hampton The Chargers hosted the team's annual Doggy Draft pet adoption event at Santa Monica's DOG PPL Club to continue supporting local animal shelters affected by the LA wildfires Twenty-five adoptable dogs from Pasadena Humane and LA County Animal Care & Control were onsite with all adoption fees covered courtesy of Spruce Check out some photos of the Chargers Phase 1 Week 2 workout of the 2025 off-season program (WBMA) — The Gadsden Police Department is working to locate a person it said is connected with an ongoing homicide investigation Police urged anyone with information on the possible whereabouts of Ka'Mari Montez McClellan to contact Detective Lumpkin at (256) 549-4622 acquiring and maneuvering became something tangible on Dec as the City Council awarded the bid for construction of Gadsden’s new City Hall complex The bid was awarded to Clements Dean Building Co of Wilsonville and the price tag will be $16,689,000 Mayor Craig Ford said that’s well under the $20 million to $22 million range he and Heath Williamson “We were holding our breath,” Ford told council members “We were tickled to death when this bid came in as well as a new building that will connect the two structures That will free up the riverfront property — where the current City Hall and the adjoining police building have sat since 1960 — for commercial development most notably a new hotel that city officials have long been recruiting The hotel would be at the site of the police building Ford said the building will either be repurposed for commercial retail space or torn down Ground will be broken for new City Hall in February the mayor said following the council meeting and the projected completion time for the project is 18 months has committed to use local firms as subcontractors,“.. The city shouldn’t have to borrow any funds to cover the project as roughly half the cost will come from the capital projects funds in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and the remainder will be in the following year’s budget Ford and council members praised the previous administration for leaving the city in a sufficiently strong financial position to do that Council member Jason Wilson said it was “unprecedented for a city to be able to pay cash” for a project of this scope crediting the fact that “we’ve been fiscally responsible with the taxpayers’ money for years and years.” in its undesignated fund balance over the required $20 million baseline to those capital project funds which also receive money from a 1-cent sales tax Council members approved the bid following a unanimous consent vote to take it up on its first reading Ford recalled that during his election campaign in 2022 he talked about “not having government services on the most valuable piece of land” in the city and that council members were in agreement “It’s had its day,” the mayor said of the current City Hall noting that aside from not being Americans with Disabilities Act compliant and having little parking it has “substantial issues” like black mold and asbestos and the elevators are constantly breaking down “This is going to be good for the citizens of Gadsden,” he said The plan is for everything housed in the current City Hall to move to the Regions Bank building (Regions will retain a small interior and drive-thru presence.) Ford said the space will be smaller than the current City Hall but it will be “more directional” and easier to navigate The police and fire chiefs and their command staffs will be set up in the Merrill Lynch building (Other police operations will be based at the East Gadsden precinct and dispatch is relocating to the Etowah County 911 headquarters near the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport.) The new connecting building will house the City Council chambers on the second floor while the first floor will be a lobby that will also have areas that the public can rent for events There will also be a lunchroom for employees and exterior decks on the buildings “This is something the public will be proud of,” Ford said adding that it will be a more professional setting for for city employees and Gadsden residents needing to do business there and should also increase property values in the 100 and 200 blocks of Broad Street He noted that the Regions Bank and Merrill Lynch buildings appraised for more than the city paid for them Williams Blackstock of Birmingham is the architect for the project Deborah ThigpenGadsden County News Service Both 5th-round pick Oronde Gadsden II and UDFA Raheim Sanders were both tabbed as “sleepers” by anonymous college football coaches ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg published an article where he spoke with a number of anonymous college football coaches to get their opinions on players in the draft class they believe could be “sleepers” when it’s all said and done Of the 29 players highlighted, the Chargers ended up drafting or signing two of the players and undrafted free agent running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders The Chargers traded back into the fifth round in order to land Gadsden who was essentially the last tight end in that Tier 1.5-2 range before the talent really fell off of a cliff He’s a 6’5 seam-stretcher who ran his 40 in 4.59 seconds during Syracuse’s pro day He possesses a massive catch radius and posted two seasons of 900+ receiving yards (2022 “I thought he was a really talented guy,” an ACC coach said Gadsden will now help round out a room that features incumbent starter Will Dissly and free-agent signing Tyler Conklin Dissly will be the team’s primary run blocker Conklin is expected to be a short to intermediate possession target and Gadsden’s initial role will likely involve being flexed into the slot as a vertical and red zone threat Knowing how Greg Roman used the Ravens’ tight ends during his tenure there you’ll likely see plenty of all three at times throughout the 2025 season I expect this group to be Justin Herbert’s best friend in the year to come Despite being viewed as a fifth or sixth-round pick by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein ahead of the draft Sanders went undrafted despite being a 3,000-yard rusher in the SEC by the end of his collegiate career despite them having just taken Omarion Hampton in the first round it may be one of the best places he could have asked to sign The Chargers are going to run the heck out of the ball Hassan Haskins is likely going to be the team’s third back thanks to his special teams value but Sanders could truly push second-year back Kimaini Vidal for a spot either as the team’s fourth running back or on their practice squad “I still felt like he was still nursing the injury a touch from Arkansas,” an SEC defensive coordinator said “but down the stretch he was killing it when they started rolling a little bit more on offense and he was playing well.” Sanders posted an elite relative athletic score (RAS) after running a 4.47 in the 40 at 6’0 and 217 pounds The kid has some juice and I believe his one-cut style of running will aid him in the Chargers offense he likely won’t see any time on the field unless injuries occur ahead of him he’s an excellent stash for a team with the identity the Chargers are attempting to cement a woman was hit by a car that left the scene in Gadsden Family members are identifying her as Kelli Townsend Sherry Robertson said her daughter was walking to work when she got hit "She's not gonna be able to put weight on that leg for months," explained Robertson and there's no way she could go to work She can't even walk in the hospital room right now." Kelli Townsend was walking near the intersection of Stonewall and Madison Avenue when she was hit by a car A woman rushed to Kelli's rescue and was able to call Robertson and I got the phone call from a lady I didn't even know," she said Townsend was airlifted to UAB Hospital about an hour away for her injuries Robertson had a friend drive her to be able to see her daughter In the video obtained by ABC 33/40 of the incident you can see Townsend walking down the street on her way to work moments later the Jeep hits her and drives off Never stopping to see if Townsend was okay I said please help us with this," said Townsend she said she looked up and the car was right there in front of her everything's gonna be alright," said Robertson She's undergone two surgeries already "From the way they talk about it at the hospital I think the car ran over her foot because the bones were protruding through the skin." There's worry about how long Kelli could not be able to work because of the injuries to her lower leg. That's why her family set up a GoFundMe. "It is scary to think you may not be able to ever work again "We're just praying she doesn't lose the foot I believe that is why they aren't putting the pins in yet." Gadsden Police identified Michael Kelton as a suspect and he turned himself into police hours after Townsend was hit He is charged with leaving the scene of an accident While Robertson is relieved to see someone held responsible why would he hurt someone like that?" The family organized a GoFundMe. You can donate here. Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person, another injured A man was arrested in connection to a hit-and-run in Alabaster Thursday morning. The Gadsden Police Department said 42-year-old Michael Lee Kelton, of Boaz, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, a felony offense. The police department confirmed it located a person of interest in connection to the incident on Stonewall Street and Madison Avenue a couple of hours before Kelton's arrest was announced. The police department said the person was with detectives Thursday evening and the suspected vehicle was also located. "I’m proud of our officers’ hard work and grateful for the community’s support. Together, we make a difference," said Chief Lamar Jaggars. Video obtained by ABC 33/40 through a home video system shows what appears to be an older woman, getting struck by a black vehicle at approximately 9:07 am. The vehicle then sped off without stopping to administer aid. Gadsden Police identified the vehicle as a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The victim who has not yet been identified was airlifted to UAB to be treated for serious injuries sustained in the incident. Her injuries are non-life threatening. : “I am thankful to the community members who came forward with information about this case. Their willingness to share what they knew allowed us to solve this case quickly," said Mayor Craig Ford. The Gadsden police asks that if anyone has any information on the incident, contact Sgt. Grimes at (256) 549-4625. President Donald Trump makes a major sports announcement. The announcement comes amid reports Washington, D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft. (WBMA) — A man fell through the ceiling of a classroom at Episcopal Day School (EDS) Wednesday morning school leaders said the man was allowed into the school around 8:00 a.m after being thought to be a student's sibling The school said the man entered the office where he was immediately regarded as a stranger He eventually asked about applying for a job and left his name and number with office staff the school said there was a question of whether he actually exited the building A parent told staff members they saw the man leave through a back door The school said staff was still unsure on the man's whereabouts and closets of the downstairs area of the school The man was not located in any of those areas About three hours after the teacher's search the school said the man fell through the ceiling of one of the downstairs classrooms yelled and ran to another classroom where another teacher and students were present The school said the classroom was immediately barricaded and 911 was called The school said the Gadsden Police Department and the Rainbow City Police Department also responded to the school At least 30 officers reportedly entered the school The school said the officers searched the entire building the school said authorities informed it the man was no longer on the premises and is believed to have fled when the teacher screamed and left the room said she plans to press charges against the man The school said it will also be having extra interior door locks installed along with 12 new cameras The school said a lot of concern has been raised about how this man was allowed to enter the school Moorer said new policies will be implemented to prevent a similar incident our office staff was very sure that he was a sibling of a student we have been very careful about who is allowed to enter but when we recognize anyone at the door as a parent we try to be considerate and also friendly with said person and we want all family members to feel appreciated," said Moorer we now know that said policy is not safe enough We have now instituted a "No Entry" policy This means that when a person uses the buzzer to be allowed entry you will be asked to state your name and your business and for that I say that the safety of your children that we love and vow to protect outweighs any extra time spent verifying the identity of anyone asking to enter I'm sure you will agree with this decision." The aroma of fresh-made chili will again draw people to Gadsden’s Broad Street on Feb 1 for the 17th annual Downtown Gadsden Chili Cook-Off The popular event hosted by Downtown Gadsden Inc is a fundraiser for ongoing downtown projects Those projects include a downtown speaker system (and the licensing of the music they play) new banners for Broad Street (they will be color coordinated for each block) planters that line Broad Street following the removal of high-risk trees on Gadsden’s main street and new art projects for the downtown area Teams will set up for the cook-off along Broad Street between Fourth and Sixth streets The chili must be ready for sampling at noon; the public can purchase taste tickets for $1 each or six for $5 who’ll receive a cash prize; the public gets a vote for the “crowd favorite.” Teams can join or obtain more information about the event at downtowngadsden.com or by calling the DGI office at 256-547-8696 (WBMA) — The Gadsden Police Department responded to a call from the Veterans Affairs Hotline about a man experiencing mental distress Tuesday morning Officers were dispatched by Gadsden 911 to de-escalate the situation peacefully barricaded himself inside a residence with a family member and refused further communication prompting the need for additional resources The Etowah County Joint Special Operations Group (JSOG) was activated bringing in members of the SWAT team and the Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) to assist in resolving the standoff Police said negotiators worked diligently and eventually convinced the individual to release the family member unharmed A committal order was issued based on the circumstances and the findings of the on-scene investigation After more than three hours of continued negotiations police said the situation was brought to a safe resolution Police said this incident underscores the importance of mental health resources and crisis intervention The Alabama Crisis Hotline can be reached at 988 offering immediate assistance and support for those in crisis Veterans can also access specialized care through the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1 for confidential help The Gadsden County Sheriff's Office has launched a death investigation after the search for a missing 18-year-old ended in tragedy Almost a week after posting a "missing adult" poster to social media the Tallahassee Police Department announced Monday afternoon that Patrick Kelly Jr he was found deceased," the agency wrote on X "This is now an active death investigation being handled by the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office No further information is available at this time." A Gadsden County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said Kelly was found in the Ochlocknee River Anglie Holmes was not able to provide any other information because the case remains open and active TPD noted he was last seen on Jackson Bluff Road on April 5 "He is reported to have been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and a vision impairment," the agency wrote "Patrick Kelly is also known for operating a motorized scooter and frequents the Thomasville Rd. TPD wrote "no foul play is suspected." Holmes said Monday afternoon it's "too early to tell" what happened Friends and family took to Facebook to mourn Kelly's passing "A mother’s child has gone too soon," one person wrote on Facebook (WBMA) — A Gadsden firefighter was arrested Thursday for assaulting a basketball coach at Gadsden City High School this week The Gadsden Police Department said Gerald Malone was charged following the incident Tuesday Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Keith Blackwell said the coach is an unpaid volunteer Blackwell said the school was accidentally placed on lock down through the school's alert system He added that staff have access to the alert system and notifications can be sent out for various reasons like if a staff member needs help for some reason Blackwell said the notification was sent accidentally Gadsden mayor Craig Ford gave the State of the City Address Tuesday night updating residents and taking questions on current an future city projects The theme of the address was the city's growth "Gadsden's growing and it's our time to grow we're growing and we're ready to grow." We spoke with him in depth about the various updates in his address including the city separating from the county's drug enforcement unit to make its own within the city police department Ford said on the new drug enforcement division of Gadsden Police Department "they've already made one big bust and they've already arrested multiple people We made a bust yesterday there's a lot of informants involved in this some stuff we can't talk about but we've got a lot of leads going on they're cleaning up the streets of Gadsden He stands by his decision to pull out of the county's unit saying "we've seen more results in the city of Gadsden when before they were in the county and nothing against that we support them but my job is to worry about the city of Gadsden We're cleaning up the city of Gadsden." SEE ALSO: Gadsden woman and toddler killed in Cherokee County crash; 3-year-old injured SEE ALSO: Family of teen killed in shooting at Tuskegee University files wrongful death lawsuit Next was an update on the eastern connector project connecting I-759 to Highway 431 through Gadsden "we're looking about 2 months away before it's turned back over before we start purchasing property again We're on go we're ready to go so hopefully in the next 18 months we'll see road going right through the east side of Gadsden connecting to 278." "we're waiting on the bids to come back we already have the plans we've been doing this for about 18 months and we're about to break ground on construction" said Ford Ford claims the economic impact of moving city hall to broad street will be significant and is already happening: "from 100 block to the 300 block so much more additional revenue and retail sales and corporations already starting to locate there." Ford also said all of these projects and more are coming because Gadsden is the fastest growing city in Etowah county (WBMA) — The Gadsden Fire Department deployed drones for the first time today to assist in battling a wildfire providing crucial aerial support to firefighters on the ground The drones played a vital role in assessing the fire's spread The department praised the technology for enhancing situational awareness and aiding in containment strategies This successful first use marks a significant step forward in the department’s firefighting capabilities The fire department said it provided assistance to area fire departments as they battled the fast-moving wildfire helped prevent further spread despite challenging conditions The fire department said it will continue to monitor the situation I'm your neighborhood reporter for Quincy and Havana I joined ABC 27 as a reporter in June 2023 I was born and raised in Florida and grew up in Lake Placid it's hard for communities not to feel the pain of what happened on the Florida State Campus I spent the day with neighbors finding a special way to show love and support for Florida State A pain felt across the Big Bend reaches into Gadsden County where hearts are heavy after a tragic shooting that left the Florida State University community hurting is finding a way to show her love and support "I had heard the phrase ‘FSU Strong’ and went ahead and decided to make some bracelets." Karen says all proceeds from the bracelets will go to support the family of one of the victims "One of my cousins knows the Robert Morales family and had really good words to say about him and I knew then—that’s where I wanted the proceeds from this to go." students at Gadsden Elementary Magnet School also paid tribute—wearing Garnet and Gold to honor those affected GEMS Principal Allysun Davis says this gesture is part of a larger show of unity "We want the students and everyone to know we stand with you—our hearts are hurting too If you are interested in buying Karen's bracelets to support the Morales family, here's the link to purchase.  Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website. Like us on Facebook Follow us onInstagramand X. Report a typo We cover stories making an impact in Quincy. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Quincy and why it matters to you and your family. We want to hear from you! Click here and tell us what we should be covering in your neighborhood including a harrowing incident in Gadsden where a tree crashed through the roof of Shane Frost's home while his family was asleep "I turned the light on and there's a huge 12- to 14-inch tree through our bedroom," said Shane Frost recounting the frightening moments early Sunday morning Frost and his wife were jolted awake by the sound of the tree crashing through their roof and I jumped up and started yelling at her to get out The tree branch created a gaping hole in their roof leaving the left side of the house severely damaged "The left side of the house is basically demolished," Frost said "I had a new roof put on the house back in June Frost expressed relief that neither he nor his wife was severely injured God blessed us; he brought us through it," Frost said Frost said their insurance company has arranged for them to stay in a hotel for the night AL (WBMA) — A former Gadsden Police officer is in custody following an alleged domestic violence incident that occurred early Sunday morning According to a release by the Rainbow City Police Department on Sunday morning at approximately 2:00 a.m officers responded to a call of a domestic incident in the 3700 block of Rainbow Drive Officers arrived on the scene and arrested the suspect Strickland was transported to the Etowah County Jail where he is pending charges of assault which authorities say involved a family member Strickland was a former police officer with the Gadsden Police Department Gadsden PD released a statement following Strickland's arrest saying: Now that the NFL Draft is over, we’ll look at the former Syracuse Orange to see how they fit in their new homes First up is tight end Oronde Gadsden, taken with the 165th pick by the Los Angeles Chargers The Chargers and Jim Harbaugh traded two 6th round picks to move up to select the Syracuse tight end which is always a good sign that the team really wanted him Gadsden joins veterans Ty Conklin and Will Dissly in the position group but neither of them offer the downfield threat that Gadsden can Both Conklin and Dissly had 50+ receptions last season but aren’t going to attack defenses down the seam like Gadsden’s able to do LA is looking for players other than Ladd McConkey and Quinten Johnson to help Justin Herbert and the passing game so Gadsden should get a lot of look in passing situations working out of the slot and he could be a favorite target in the red zone The Chargers focused a lot on offense this off-season as they look to surround Herbert with enough weapons to maximize his talent There are still questions about the offensive line so it’s likely that Gadsden will not be an every-down tight end next season His long-term success will hinge on his ability to build a rapport with Herbert If OG can be a reliable target for a franchise QB This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page AL  – Gadsden State Community College is proud to honor Black History Month with two events Both events are free and open to the public and community members to participate in these celebrations of history For more information, please visit gadsdenstate.edu