The most fun you can have on Logan Martin Lake all year
Story by Roxann Edsall Submitted Photos
It’s grown faster than kudzu on an abandoned hillside, but this growth has been far more welcome. Boo Bash on Logan Martin, the annual dockside trick-or-treating event, has exploded in popularity since its inception in 2022.
From 140 little goblins and their adults the first year to last year’s impressive 2,300 trick-or-treaters, it is clear the event is one people don’t want to miss. Mark your calendars now for Oct. 3from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
There have been a few changes since the first year, and still more are in store for next month’s event. There will be trophies this year for first, second and third place in the pier decorating contest and for the costume contest.
Ghostbusters to the rescue
Each pier will be assigned a number at registration to display on their pier or dock so that judges will be able to record their evaluations. “Angie Henson, who is the owner of Bikini Buddies is donating the trophies, said organizer Kelli Lasseter. “I’ve seen her concepts, and they’re really cool.”
The boat decorating contest from last year will be back again by popular demand. Once again, boats will need to register for that competition. Judging will be held at Lakeside Park.
This year, a costume contest will be held following Boo Bash at an after party at Tiki Hut, which will host a live band. Tiki Hut, which normally closes for the season after Labor Day, will be decorated for the event with a 28-foot pumpkin perfect for photo ops. “We get a lot of families coming in after Boo Bash,” said Michael Emerick, Tiki Hut manager. “Many of the kids have come out of their costumes by then and go swimming or to the play area.”
In their third year as title sponsor for the event, Tiki Hut helps to promote the event and its mission to help fund lake safety measures through Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA). “It’s a good way to give back to the lake,” adds Emerick. “It gets families together to do something different on the lake and makes the lake a safer place with the LMLPA donation.”
Through sponsorships, Lasseter, co-organizer Sonya Hubbard and their “Boo Crew” are able to make significant contributions to LMLPA, which the organization uses to purchase lighted buoys to place in shallow or hazardous spots in the lake. Last year, Boo Bash presented LMLPA a check for $12,000 for their lighted buoy program.
The partnership with LMLPA began in 2024 after Lasseter met Blair Goodgame. “Blair was just phenomenal in helping us to come up with a solid marketing plan and how to partner with the city.” Goodgame connected Lasseter and Hubbard to Jeff Thompson, Pell City’s Community Engagement and Special Projects manager.
From that meeting came the addition of the Boo Slough at Lakeside Park, enabling those who either don’t want to get on the water or do not have access to a boat the chance to participate in Boo Bash. “Pell City really puts their resources into supporting Boo Bash and LMLPA,” said Lasseter.
The idea that developed into Boo Bash began five years ago when Lasseter and Hubbard were reminiscing about fun times they’d had years ago at a large neighborhood Halloween event in Leeds. They wondered if such a thing might work on the lake. “We were like, I wonder if people would want to do that by boat and maybe decorate their piers,” explained Lasseter.
After floating the idea on Facebook and getting a positive response, they got to work planning. Boo Bash was an instant hit. “I’ve heard of people bringing groups out on their boats to participate,” said Lasseter. “I’ve been told stories of families coming in from out of state for this and to spend the weekend with their family. There are some places that have community piers and potlucks.”
Community is why the Boo Crew works so hard to put on Boo Bash and it’s the very reason it works. “I think people up here enjoy a fun time on the water,” Lasseter adds. “They enjoy being around each other. I think we’re all about community. It’s part of the culture of Logan Martin Lake.”
Floating tiki bar
It takes many in the community to make Boo Bash happen. Lasseter credits the many pier hosts, sponsors, and volunteers who make it work. Volunteers, she emphasized, are the only way they were able to make it past year two. “Without them, we would have had to stop,” she admits. “We have so much gratitude for everyone who is providing their resources out of pocket to bring this event to the community.”
“And when you hear a child say something like ‘this is the absolute best day of my life,” that’s not because of Kelli Lasseter or Sonya Hubbard or LMLPA or the city,” says Lasseter. “That’s because of our pier hosts creating such a memorable event.”
Pier hosts decorate their boathouses or docks in a Halloween theme and hand out treats to children on visiting boats. Often there are treats for boat dogs and for adults onboard. Getting the treats onto the boat takes a particular skill set or a specially designed “conveyance device” like a long-handled pool net.
There were 80 pier hosts for last year, down slightly from the year before. Two volunteers are specifically working on increasing the number of pier hosts, particularly in the upper end of the lake closer to Riverside and Lincoln. In response to feedback from pier hosts, the event time has been condensed to three hours, rather than four.
As with any event on the water, safety is a huge concern. Organizers have requested additional presence from ALEA to patrol the waters during the event. “Safety is absolutely number one,” stresses Lasseter. “If something happened connected to this event, there’d be no more Boo Bash and, you know, it would be devastating.”
The Boo Crew is excited to put the final touches on Boo Bash 2026. As it grows, Lasseter stresses that they want to maintain the integrity and spirit of the event – creating a joyous event for children, families and pets. It’s a chance to have fun with lake community and to enjoy a “last hurrah” for the lake season.
Dale and Ronnye Kendrick failed at downsizing. When they moved to Neely Henry Lake from Memphis eight years ago, the plan was to get something smaller than the 3,800-square-foot home with two levels that they were leaving. But the minute Ronnye stepped foot into the house in the Lake Forest subdivision in Southside that they eventually bought, Dale knew their plan was out the window.
“As soon as Ronnye walked into the foyer, she started saying, ‘Oh, I love this house,’” Dale said. “I told her she hadn’t even seen the house – we had just walked through the front door. We were trying to downsize, and we didn’t need all this space.”
Now that they have it, though – all 5,300 square feet and three stories – neither one of them could imagine being anywhere else. They’ve filled their home with family mementos, treasures from all over the world, and their very own indoor golf course.
A front view of their lakeside home
As much as they love the inside, they both agree that the best feature is just outside the window. “The first thing I do in the morning is walk straight to the windows and look at the lake,” Ronnye said. “It’s just beautiful.”
Tucked below the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Neely Henry has been a balm for their souls, especially when they were battling cancer at the same time about seven years ago. The beautiful view brought a sense of peace and helped to ground them each day. “We get the most beautiful sunsets right over those mountains,” Dale said. “And when we get a full moon, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen.”
Joining forces
Although this is the first time either has lived on the water full time, Dale and Ronnye are not strangers to lake life. Dale grew up on Old Coal City Road, about halfway between Coal City and Pell City, home to Logan Martin Lake. Ronnye’s family had a lake house in Mississippi when she was growing up.
Dale left home at 18 after finding work with a railroad company in Georgia, and he worked most of his tenure there in sales. The bulk of his career was with a transportation logistics company, and his job eventually took him to Memphis, where he met Ronnye.
They each had two children, and Dale’s daughter, Sonya, and Ronnye’s daughter, Jodi, went to school together and became great friends. At some point, the girls arranged for Sonya to spend the weekend with Jodi at her grandparents’ house, and Dale called Ronnye “to make sure nobody was pulling my leg.”
They began dating shortly after the phone call, when the kids were 14,15, 16 and 17, and Ronnye and Dale married five years later. Now they’ve celebrated their 33rd anniversary, and the kids are grown with families of their own and are scattered all over the South.
Jodi is in Milton, Florida, and Ronnye’s daughter, Mindy, lives in Clarksville, Tennessee. Sonya lives in Lake Wylie, South Carolina, while Dale’s son, also named Dale, is in Knoxville. Although the house is larger than they were looking for, Dale and Ronnye said it’s great to have plenty of space when the whole family comes to visit.
Ronnye and Dale break out their favorite family recipes when they come or whenever there’s a neighborhood cookout. Everyone loves Ronnye’s Frozen Cranberry Cups, and a recipe for baked beans they got from a dear friend is always a hit. “Even people who say they don’t like baked beans love them,” Dale said. He has a rice dish that earns rave reviews, as well. Sometimes he serves it as a side dish, and sometimes he adds chicken or shrimp to it to make it a main dish.
Treasure trove
Recipes aren’t the only things that are special. A number of the treasures in the Kendricks’ home were collected by Ronnye’s parents, Murray and Edye Reiter, on some of their many travels. Her father owned a travel agency and art gallery, so many of the paintings adorning the walls have special meaning.
Handmade porcelain Lladro from Spain
Ronnye followed in her father’s footsteps and worked in the travel industry for 47 years, and she owned her own travel agency for 13 of them. “She’s planned all of my guilt trips,” Dale quipped.
A porcelain Lladro elephant from Spain has a place of honor in the foyer while a huge teak elephant from Thailand takes up residence in Dale’s office. Hand-carved from one piece of wood, the statue is so heavy, it’s nearly impossible to slide it across the floor.
“Her father told me, ‘I’d love for you to have something of mine,’” Dale recalled. “We were just dating at the time, but I told him if he was serious, I would love to have this elephant. I am just amazed at the detail.”
Among one of Ronnye’s most treasured collections is her assortment of decorative ostrich eggs. The hinged eggs are hand-decorated and feature ornate carvings, velvet linings, jewels and crystals. “Every time I really messed up, I had to buy her one,” Dale said with a laugh.
Figuring out where to display their collections seemed daunting at first. The weekend after their furniture and all their boxes were delivered from Memphis, Ronnye and Dale had to leave town for their grandson’s college graduation. The thought of coming back to their unorganized home seemed overwhelming.
Paula Robertson, owner of Twigs and Roses Homeplace in Gadsden, came to their rescue. She had helped the Kendricks select some new furniture for their home, and she wanted to help. “Paula told us to leave her a key, and she’d unpack everything and put it away,” Ronnye said.
They came home to a perfectly-styled home, organized kitchen, artwork that was hung, and linens on all the beds. “We owe everything to her,” Ronnye said. Paula hung two of Ronnye’s favorite pieces in bathrooms – one in the powder room and another over the tub in the primary bath. “I never would have thought to put them there, but to me, they’re just perfect.”
Paula also found two large egret prints that she hung on the stairwell, and Dale bought Ronnye a painting of a heron for her birthday that is displayed in their bedroom. “Since we moved here, one of our favorite things is the birds,” Ronnye said. They especially love the pelicans that show up at Neely Henry each spring. “They’re fascinating to watch,” Dale said.
A matter of course
Moving to the lake was especially fun for Dale, who loves to fish. About four years ago, though, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and his doctor told him he didn’t need to be out in a boat by himself anymore.
Tasked with finding a new hobby, Dale built a putting course that’s 21 feet by 16 feet in one of the garages. Ronnye already had a “she shed,” a room where she wraps presents and stores all of her decorations for various holidays, so Dale decided to fix up a spot of his own. “When I started building it, I had no drawings and no plans,” Dale said, adding that he figured it out as he went along.
Enjoying a round of miniature golf on course they built
He decided to put three holes on each end of the green. He knew he didn’t want it to be completely flat, so he fashioned an incline from 2-by-12 boards that he shaved down at an angle on both sides. He was nearly finished with the construction when he realized it would be necessary to drill through the concrete floor to make the holes. That was a headache Dale didn’t want, so he built each end of the course up about 4 inches with wood to accommodate the holes.
“Every morning, we play three rounds of Hollywood Gin (a card game similar to gin rummy), and then we come here and play 18 holes,” Dale said. He explained that he and Ronnye putt from each hole on one end of the course to all three holes on the other end, which makes 9 holes. Then they cross to the other side of the course and do it all over again, making a total of 18 holes.
Dale and Ronnye aren’t the only ones who enjoy a good game of garage golf. It’s a big draw whenever they entertain family or friends. “We even had scorecards printed up,” Ronnye said. “Everybody loves to play.”
These days, though, Dale is back to splitting time between golf and fishing. His health has improved, and his doctor gave him the OK to fish again earlier this year. That meant he was on the hunt for the perfect boat.
“I knew I wanted a boat with stick steering so I could go to a fishing spot, push the lever down and put the poles up,” Dale said. “I’d never even have to get out of the seat.” The boats he looked at cost more than he wanted to spend, though. “At my age, I didn’t think I’d get that amount of use out of it,” he said.
He eventually met a young man who had inherited a boat from his grandfather. The boat was just what Dale was looking for, but the man didn’t want to part with it. Dale offered to lease it, fix it up, and one day return it to their family.
When the man learned that Dale was a Vietnam veteran affected by Agent Orange, he decided that no money would be exchanged. “His grandfather was in Vietnam and was also disabled from Agent Orange. “He told me he and his wife had talked about it, and they thought his grandfather would want me to have this boat,” Dale said. “It was heartwarming.”
Dale added a new electric trolling motor and will eventually return the boat in great condition. Until then, he’s enjoying every minute of being back in the water, reeling them in. “I have hundreds of crappie stake beds out there,” he said. “I call them crappie condos. The bait fish come in, and the crappie and bass follow.”
In sickness and in health
Ronnye and Dale in their beautiful home
Dale always knew he wanted to move back to Alabama when he retired, but leaving Ronnye’s family and the friends they made in Memphis was difficult. Ronnye’s father passed away shortly before they were married, and Dale made a promise to his mother-in-law, whom he loved dearly, when she was in her mid-70s. “I promised I would never take Ronnye away from her,” he said, adding that they were blessed that she lived to be 99.
Although Ronnye knew Dale wanted to return home, and she was fully on board with the plan, leaving Memphis was harder than she imagined. “I cried every day for two months, but I started loving it after that,” she said.
Much of the reason is because of their neighbors, friends, and the sense of community they’ve found in Southside. That became more important than they’d ever imagined one day in March 2019.
“We found out she had breast cancer, and about an hour later, we found out I had lung cancer,” Dale said. “At the time, we had been married about 27 years, but this really brought us closer together. It was a terrible time, but she knew I was here for her, and I knew she was here for me. The only thing we had was each other.”
While it was one of the most trying times they faced, their family and friends made it easier. “All of the neighbors started bringing food and checking in on us,” Dale said. “One woman we’d never seen in our lives showed up at the door with food. She told us, ‘You don’t know me, but my daughter is your neighbor, and she told me about the problems you’ve been having.’ ”
Although Ronnye and Dale both recovered, they will never forget the kindness they were shown by friends who have become family. “They are here for you,” Ronnye said. “I don’t ever want to live anywhere else.”
Joy’s Best Baked Beans
1 28-ounce can Bush’s Maple and Cured Bacon Baked Beans
½ bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, diced
½ bottle of barbecue sauce
½ pound cooked bacon
½ pound of ground beef, cooked
8 ounces of brown sugar
A touch of honey (2-3 squeezes of the bottle)
Mix all ingredients together. Cook in slow cooker for one hour in high and then cook it at least 4-6 hours on low.
Frozen Cranberry Cups
16-ounce can jellied cranberry sauce
14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
8-ounce Cool Whip, thawed
8-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
Pecan chips
Line muffin pan with 12 paper cupcake liners. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well with an electric mixer. Spoon mixture into muffin cups, filling very high, and freeze. Cover with foil. Remove cups as needed and allow to thaw about 5 minutes before serving.
Dale’s Rice
1 ¼ cup long-grained white rice
1 can beef consommé
1 can French onion soup
1 stick butter
1 ounce sherry
1 small can of sliced mushrooms, drained
Parsley for garnish
Mix rice, soup and mushrooms. Cover with pats of butter and sprinkle with parsley. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 50 minutes. You can also add canned or cooked chicken or shrimp to the dish.
Sadie’s Noodle Kugel
1 can apricot or apple pie filling
12 eggs
2 cups sugar
12 ounces wide noodles
1 ½ lemons
¾ pound cream cheese, softened
½ cup butter, melted
Cook noodles and drain. Beat eggs. Add softened cream cheese (cut in chunks), butter, sugar and juice from lemons. Butter a 13×15-inch dish and line with noodles. Pour half the batter in dish, and spread the pie filling over that. Top with remaining half of batter. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes.
A new sentinel stands watch over the waters of Logan Martin Lake. Weighing in at just over 100 pounds, this guardian of the waters illuminates a danger lurking below the surface, a danger that could put lives and property at risk.
This new harbinger of hazards is the 100th lighted buoy installed by members of Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA).
In a 2024 report, the most recent statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard show collision with a fixed object, above or below the surface of the water was the number one reason for boating accidents nationwide, with grounding being third on the list.
Buoy 100 is marked July 7, 2026 with all the signatures underneath that
The report showed there were 17 incidents of collision with a fixed object and 12 grounding incidents in Alabama. Because of statistics like these and wanting to make every effort to increase safety on Logan Martin, members of LMLPA began working on a project to replace old safety buoys with lighted ones that could be seen both day and night.
The project began in 2019 as members began raising money to purchase the buoys, solar light kits, cables, hardware and cement anchors. Their goal was to raise enough cash to install 100 lighted buoys. The process has been lengthy, and the costs have risen each year. It costs LMLPA almost $800 per buoy installed.
“We have been fortunate to have a lot of these buoys sponsored by individuals, groups, or grants to help us cover the cost,” said LMLPA President Neal Stephenson. “People can sponsor a buoy online at www.lmlpa.org. Click on the dropdown ‘What We Do’ tab and go to buoy installation to donate.”
This is the third year in partnership with Boo Bash on Logan Martin. Since 2024, the organizers of Boo Bash have made LMLPA the beneficiary of the sponsorship funds that exceeded the cost of putting on Boo Bash, giving the lake protection association a much-needed financial shot in the arm.
“Our partnership with Boo Bash has been a great experience, and it provides an opportunity to support our programs at LMLPA while having fun trick-or-treating on the lake,” said Stephenson. “The event has sponsored thousands of dollars for the buoy program.”
Dee Parsons and David Carboni were on the crew to set buoy number one and again on number 100. Carboni believes it’s the most instrumental thing being done for lake safety. “Before this, people were just dropping pins and sharing locations of dangerous places on the lake,” said Carboni. “Now we have these lighted safety buoys with GPS locations.”
Parsons echoes the appreciation for GPS locating, as it makes the buoys easier to reposition when they drift away from the hazard they were intended to mark. He’s grateful to have been a part of the process from the beginning. “It makes me happy to have been involved in all 100,” said Parsons. “It has boosted morale [for LMLPA] because members are excited about what’s going on.”
Randy Sparks is the buoy boat captain and oversees the program for LMLPA. He describes the process involved in getting new buoys ready to launch. “All have to be drilled and fitted for lights. We add the lights and get them on the boat and take them to the predetermined place,” Sparks said. “Then we measure the depth of the water there and cut a piece of stainless-steel cable to fit that depth with a foot extra for each end and an extra five feet of cable to make sure it doesn’t float off.
“We attach it to a five-gallon bucket of concrete provided by Alabama Power with a stainless-steel eye bolt,” he added. “Then we drop the buoy and anchor bucket together off the side of the boat. We get the GPS coordinates, so we know exactly where it is located, and we log them into Navionics, and we let the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) know where they are.”
For hazard buoy locations, the LMLPA team identifies a hazard using personal experiences, feedback from boaters and property owners, and direction from ALEA. Those hazards could be old roadbeds, subsurface rocks, boulders or shallow places or points that come out into the lake. “When we identify these,” explained Stephenson, “we drop those buoys to let boaters know of the hazard, so they won’t get hurt or damage their boats.”
They put out both hazard buoys and no-wake buoys, but the second type is strictly regulated by ALEA. “We always have everyone wanting us to put no-wake buoys out, but we can’t do that unless ALEA directs that,” Sparks noted. Those wanting no-wake buoys need to contact ALEA to get that approval. If approved, LMLPA can put that location on the list for future buoy placement.
Sparks also explained why having launched 100 buoys, there are actually fewer than that in the water right now. “Some of the older ones have had to be pulled out because they are no longer functioning. Sometimes they float off or get damaged.
“We just ask that people be respectful of the buoys,” he added. “We’re a nonprofit, and we’re trying to make the money raised go as far as possible. We have a phone number on each buoy, so if something happens to damage it and someone finds it, they can call us and we can get it back. Then we evaluate it to see if we can fix it or reuse it or if it just needs to be replaced.”
Bud Kitchin is a former LMLPA president and has been involved in the buoy project since its inception. “The thing I’ve learned since starting this project,” said Kitchin, “is that the lifespan of a buoy is not five years like we originally thought. It’s more like two to three years. LMLPA will always be raising funds to support this program and keep Logan Martin Lake safe.”
Bridge marker project underway, too
In addition to replacing buoys and adding new ones, LMLPA has added another safety-inspired project this year. They are installing reflective bridge caution signs on the pilings for all the bridges that go over Logan Martin Lake. Their goal is to get signs on all of the bridge pilings in the next couple of years, a goal that will require them to purchase and install 100 signs.
In 2017, two people were seriously injured when their boat struck the piling of Riverside’s railroad bridge in the dark of night. Protecting boaters from just such nighttime dangers is the reason LMLPA is making the bridge safety sign project a priority. “Safety is our primary mission,” Stephenson said. “These signs are fluorescent yellow and are reflective in low-light conditions. We want to make the lake safer for all.”
The signs will be placed on the upstream and downstream sides of the Riverside Railroad Bridge, Highway 78 Bridge, Stemley Bridge, Renfroe Road, Choccolocco Creek and Poor House. The cost of $80 per sign takes care of materials needed for installation. The labor is provided by volunteers, who plan installation runs every two weeks.
Installing the bridge signs comes with an interesting challenge, according to Parsons. “The problem is that the current runs. So, on one side, it’s easy. On the other side you’re constantly having to push away from the piling.”
In addition to the lighted buoy and bridge reflector sign programs, LMLPA runs a water testing program to monitor the safety of the lake and runs the annual lake cleanup effort each spring. They also offer educational and community outreach programs.
Membership in the organization helps pay for projects and provides additional hands to manage those projects. For more information, check them out at www.lmlpa.org.
A day of fun and entertainment on Logan Martin Lake
Playing for the crowd
When the gates open at Pell City Lakeside Park Sept. 19, Lakeside Live will welcome thousands to a brand new year and a fun-filled, music-packed day on the shores of Logan Martin Lake. It’s actually a host of events all rolled into one special day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
It’s a music festival featuring all genres. It’s a massive car show. It’s rides and games for the kids. And it’s a classic competition pitting police against firefighters in Battle of the Badges. Food trucks and vendors of all types line the grounds of the park offering their specialties for all to take their pick and enjoy.
Lakeside Live has become a Logan Martin tradition created by the Five19 Foundation and presented this year by Union State Bank and dozens of other sponsors.
So, join the fun. It’s free admission and a family friendly day to remember.
Pedestrian bridge and more as work continues on Gadsden’s waterfront project
Story by Paul South Submitted Photos
Two projects aimed at transforming the Coosa Riverfront and making Etowah County’s largest city into a destination locale are inching closer to completion after clearing regulatory hurdles.
Coosa Harbor, a combination residential and commercial complex being developed by Scottsboro developer Patrick Lawler is awaiting Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval for the project.
“I know that Patrick is through with the architectural design and almost ready to take it to bid,” Gadsden’s Director of Commercial Development and Community Affairs. “We’ll be pushing hard on FERC. They’re the ones who permit our shorelines on the Coosa River. After that, we’ll be full speed ahead. I foresee that happening in the next couple of months. I think a fall groundbreaking wouldn’t be out of the question.”
The complex includes waterfront condominiums selling for $500,000, which have already garnered interest in the pre-sale phase, city officials said.
Architectural rendering of the new pedestrian bridge across the Coosa River in Gadsden
A second project, a pedestrian bridge that will traverse the Coosa River is also in the permitting phase. Gadsden has received a $690,000 grant from Innovate Alabama that will pay for engineering and design of the pedestrian bridge, Moore said.
“That’s good because once we get the engineering, we’ll be able to pinpoint how much the project is going to cost,” Moore said. “It’s a $690,000 grant, but the (total) cost is probably somewhere north of $1 million.”
The span will link parks, trails and a planned hotel near the Venue at Coosa Landing. The new bridge will be located at the site of the old Gadsden Police station at the corner of Walnut Street and U.S. 411. The bridge – estimated between 700 and 900 feet long – will end on the other side of the Coosa near Buffalo Wild Wings.
“It will give us some more space and an opportunity to grow that area,” Moore said. “We’re going to start working on a concept design.”
Groundbreaking for the bridge is 24 to 36 months away, Moore said. Construction is expected to take a year.
The pedestrian bridge will dovetail with another major development, construction of a Mariott Tribute hotel that the city announced in early July. The hotel is expected to have at least 100 rooms and a rooftop bar and restaurant.
“We think we’ll be in line with what they’re (Mariott) is doing,” Moore said.
The goal of the bridge?
“I think it’s to make the city more walkable, where you can actually be walking downtown and you can go down and go across the bridge and go to something at The Venue,” Moore said. “Or, if you’re in East Gadsden and you can cross and come to downtown. So it really connects east Gadsden more with our downtown. That really helps our shopping and our eating. It gives a whole other economic driver when it comes to our downtown.”
He added, “It’s a complete economic development plan when it comes together. It opens doors and opportunities for the city.”
At their heart, the projects are part of the ongoing effort by the city to make Gadsden a destination point. The projects, combined with hotel and restaurant developments and family friendly events that once required residents to travel to Birmingham, Atlanta, Huntsville or Chattanooga, are the muscle behind the message. And more people are coming to town from locales within a 100-mile radius.
“We want to try to bring more people to Gadsden,” Moore said. “We have found that in looking at other cities, the one thing they can do is they have walkability,” Moore said. “You can go and stroll … and you can walk from one end of the city to the other without having to get into your car. When that happens, people start wanting to stay in those hotels, and you can do what you want to do without having to get into your car and drive.”
Along with the Mariott Tribute, the city is looking at a second as yet unnamed hotel brand for the riverfront.
While pedestrian bridges and multiuse complexes may not have the splash of events like the Lantern Festival at Noccalula Falls, Christmas season ice skating and bashes like Freedom Fest, America’s 250th birthday celebration, they are just as important, Moore said.
“One thousand percent. At the end of the day, I need Coosa Harbor in Gadsden. I need the condos. I need the hotels. Because at that point, that’s what brings the people to Gadsden. When you have the opportunities and the availability to stay at those hotels and then we build more and more events around that vicinity, that just continues to give people more reasons to come to Gadsden,” Moore said.
City Council President Kent Back agreed.
“What we’re trying to do is to bring things to Gadsden that you normally have to go out of town to experience,” he said. “We want to do things to improve our quality of life in Gadsden and Etowah County. That way, people can stay home and enjoy things that everyone else has enjoyed.”
Across town, the city is building a 200,000 square-foot indoor facility for basketball, volleyball and pickleball. There’s also night golf available in the city, along with the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
Coosa Harbor, the pedestrian bridge, hotels, restaurants and a calendar full of events are fueling a Gadsden renaissance – from a city that a few short decades ago was known for closed plants and shuttered downtown buildings.
World Atlas has taken notice, naming Gadsden as one of the best places in the South to retire.
“I think that Gadsden is going to be one of those places you’re going to enjoy coming and visiting,” Moore said. “If you don’t already, you will. Right now, we’ve got so much between the falls and the river and the mountains and the cool downtown, we have so many people coming to Gadsden already,” Moore said.
“But once we complete these projects in the next 24 to 36 months, Gadsden’s not going to be the same place it was. It’s going to be one of those up-and-coming cities you want to be a part of.”
Coosa Riverkeeper effort targets litter, microplastics across creek watershed
Story by Graham Hadley Photos courtesy of Coosa Riverkeeper
One man’s trash is still another man’s trash – especially along watersheds.
It moves with the water, collecting along banks, lodging in snags, breaking down in the sun and eventually making its way toward the lakes that define much of the Coosa River system.
That connection is at the heart of a new Coosa Riverkeeper effort focused on Choccolocco Creek in Calhoun and Talladega counties. Working in partnership with Auburn University, the organization has received funding for a three-year litter-cleanup program aimed at reducing trash, studying plastic pollution and engaging the people who spend the most time on the water.
Abby Brown, director of community engagement with Coosa Riverkeeper, said the project is designed to do more than remove visible trash. The work is meant to improve water quality and the appearance of the creek while helping people understand how litter affects streams and lakes and the communities around them.
The traps are a key tool to preserving the creek’s natural beauty
The first stage focused on information gathering. Coosa Riverkeeper and Auburn have surveyed anglers about their knowledge of litter and their habits on the water. Brown said the survey was sent to fishing license holders across Alabama to help establish a better understanding of how people view litter and what might encourage them to change their habits.
The organization also has used drone imagery to identify litter hotspots along the creek, places where trash and debris are already collecting naturally. Those areas may become locations for trash traps once Coosa Riverkeeper is able to work out access with property owners.
At the same time, the group has completed microplastic sampling on Choccolocco Creek to help establish a baseline for plastic pollution in the watershed.
Microplastics are what remain when larger pieces of plastic break down. Brown described the process as similar to what happens with forever chemicals and other persistent pollutants in that the material does not actually biodegrade over time.
“It just kind of gets smaller and smaller and smaller,” she said.
That can include tiny fragments or visible shards from items such as plastic chairs, coolers, floats and other debris left to weather in the sun and water. Once broken apart, the pieces can affect water quality, aquatic life and the overall condition of the creek.
Brown said the sampling will help Coosa Riverkeeper understand how microplastic levels change with the seasons, how much material is carried downstream and whether concentrations differ between rural and developed areas.
The next phase will focus on public engagement. Coosa Riverkeeper plans to host workshops with anglers and other community members to look at ways to reduce litter and improve cleanup efforts. Later, the program will include angler-led cleanups around Choccolocco Creek, especially near litter hotspots and installed trash traps.
Brown said the angling community is a major part of the effort because people who fish are so often the ones who see problems first.
“They really are our eyes and ears,” she said.
Coosa Riverkeeper is working with people who spend time in the watershed and understand what is happening there. Anglers and hunters often are among the first people out in the morning and the last to leave in the evening. They notice illegal dumping, pollution, trash jams and changing conditions.
“I think everyone has a role to play in this,” Brown said.
The trash traps are intended to capture floating litter before it continues downstream. Brown said the design Coosa Riverkeeper expects to use is a floating system shaped like a V, with a crate at the end. The V helps corral floating trash into the collection area.
Coosa Riverkeeper staff and volunteers plan to clean out the traps, likely monthly at first, while monitoring how quickly they fill. Brown said the schedule can be adjusted depending on how much trash is collected.
The traps float on the surface, she said, and are not expected to impede wildlife or recreation.
Property access remains an important part of the project. Coosa Riverkeeper is still looking for homeowners and landowners along Choccolocco Creek who are willing to allow trash traps to be installed where they can do the most good.
The program also is being shaped through conversations with local leaders and stakeholders, working to connect with people who know the watershed and others already involved in creek and conservation work.
For Brown, one of the larger goals is helping people think about the creek and the lakes as one connected system.
“People often see Neely Henry as Neely Henry, Logan Martin as Logan Martin, and the creek beside their property as simply that creek. But water does not recognize those boundaries,” she said.
Coosa Riverkeeper is working to encourage what she called a downstream-neighbor mindset. “We are all downstream neighbors from somebody,” she said.
That idea is especially important on a creek like Choccolocco, which feeds into the larger Coosa system. Trash left along a road, in a ditch or on a creekbank can move downstream during rain and high water events. What starts as a local problem can become a lake problem.
“Our creeks are feeding the lake,” Brown said.
That is why cleanup work on the creeks matters as much as the larger lake cleanups that draw volunteers each year. Removing visible trash before it breaks down is far easier than trying to deal with it later as microplastic pollution.
Brown said the goal is to be proactive, not simply reactive after the damage has already been done.
The project will continue over the next three years as Coosa Riverkeeper gathers data, installs traps, works with landowners and brings more anglers and residents into the process.
Residents interested in allowing access for a trash trap, joining a cleanup or reporting a problem can find information through Coosa Riverkeeper’s website and social media. Brown said people also can contact the organization if they see a trap that appears full or damaged.
For now, she said, the hope is that the Choccolocco Creek community will connect with the project and help protect a waterway that affects more than one town or county.
The cleaner the creek, the cleaner the water downstream, she said.
Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett
Logan Martin
As the weather starts cooling off, and we move into the fall time of year, a lot of changes start to happen on Logan Martin.
One of the main things that happens every year is the fall turnover. This is where the lake begins to lose oxygen out in deeper water. You can even see the thermocline on your 2D sonar and downscan. You will begin to see shad starting their migration to the backs of the creeks and usually the bass will follow.
This happens especially once the nights begin to get cooler. On top of this, the winter draw down begins to happen on Logan Martin. Last year the water level only dropped three feet compared to the usual five in prior years.
This time of the year can be a very tough time to fish, but hopefully these tips can help you kind of get a jump start to find fish quickly. Typically, I fish predominately shallow water. When I say shallow, I mean anywhere from 10 feet or less of water. I’m usually looking for docks, brush and grass for my three main pieces of cover on Logan.
Usually, I will try to start in the grass, especially in the earlier part of September. First rod I’m going to reach for is a frog. The frog, in my opinion, is probably one of the best ways to get your better than average bite this time of year.
Another good option would be a buzz bait. Once the sun starts to get up, I’ll kind of shift my focus to the docks and brush.
There are a couple of rods I reach for this time of year when I fish docks and brush. When the water temp is still in the 75-degree-plus mark, I’m usually reaching for the neko rig. The fish are still usually pretty finicky this time of year. This is a great option for getting these fish to bite when they’re not in the biting mood.
Once that water temp gets under 75, that’s when I’ll reach for the jig. The jig is a very versatile bait this time of year. You can fish it around brush and docks. I might even flip it in grass and lay downs as well.
The early fall time of year can be some of the toughest times to fish on Logan Martin but can be the most rewarding if you figure them out. Keep it simple this time of year, and you will find success.
Neely Henry
September and October can be a very interesting two months on Neely Henry Lake. The fish are starting to feed up for the winter and especially after the first few cool nights we have.
I really like to focus on docks and grass – just like Logan Martin. Typically, I’ll focus on the back half of the creeks this time of year. You also want to make sure there are baitfish in the area. Most of the time, the baitfish will be up near the surface of the water column. So, make sure you keep an eye out for schoolers this time of the year as well.
The fall turnover is usually right around the corner or is already happening at this point. What that means is the oxygen levels in deeper water are beginning to get very low while the shallow water tends to have a lot more bass activity due to food and oxygen levels. This is why the baitfish tend to be near the surface.
When fishing the docks, I will typically start on the shallower docks. When I say shallow docks, I’m talking any docks five feet or less. Don’t be afraid to try deeper docks as well. The deeper docks will sometimes get overlooked by a lot of fishermen.
This allows fish to use every bit of the water column if they choose too. They can either stay shallow or move deeper if they please. A few baits I like to try in these areas are either the neko rig or jig. These two baits give me options throughout about every depth.
If it is cloudy and windy, I tend to reach for the buzzbait and cover a lot of water. If it’s more of a slick calm, sunny day I like to pitch and flip the jig around wood and docks.
Lastly, another great place to try and find a bigger bite is in the grass. The frog early in the morning is great way to get a bigger than average bite. Once the sun gets high, don’t be afraid to flip the jig as well. You will not get many bites typically doing these techniques, but the ones that do bite will be better than average.
One last tip on grass, do not be afraid to fish super shallow this time of year. Sometimes the fish on Neely Henry get so shallow you can almost see their fins, and the bigger fish will sometimes be in just inches of water.
Give these tips a try and keep your fishing simple this time of year. The fall is all about trying to find activity. Fish tend to move around a lot but don’t let that fool you. Keep your bait selection simple and keep covering water and you will find success.
Zeke Gossett of Zeke Gossett Fishing grew up on the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake. He is a former collegiate champion and is now a professional angler on the B.A.S.S. tour circuit and is a fishing guide. Learn more about Zeke at: zekegossettfishing.com.
The Fall fishing season is upon us and Coosa Riverkeeper is here to give all of our anglers the next tips and tricks, so you can catch your next personal best!
In reservoirs, shad and smaller baitfish will shift from our creeks and skinny water into the main lake where water temperatures are more stable from day to day. Chances are, game fish are not far behind!
When the water temperature drops, slow your roll! Since fish are cold blooded, their metabolism slows as the water temperature drops and they move more slowly. Retrieve steady and slow to more accurately mimic small fish and critters!
Consider fishing for different species! During colder seasons, some fish are more dormant while others become more active.
Once the leaves in the water begin to decompose, the water becomes stained by tannins, making it darker. It is typically best to use your darker colors once this process begins. Rootbeer and pumpkinseed green are going to be a hit this time of year. Darker water makes our darker baits more visible!
Suspending jerkbaits and ned rigs are going to be your friend! Lures like these allow you to slow your roll and stop for brief periods of time to tempt slower moving fish.
Fishing for more info? Our website features information about fish habits, diet, and more! You can view maps to help you find your next fishing spots, marinas, and places to eat! Check it out at CoosaRiver.org/FishGuide to learn more.
Follow Coosa Riverkeeper on Facebook & Instagram @CoosaRiverkeeper For more information, swim over to www.CoosaRiver.org.
Had the Founding Fathers been on the banks of the Coosa River July 3 and 4 for Gadsden’s Freedom Fest celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Republic they created, they would have been blown away.
A flotilla of boats bobbed in the water; their decks filled with happy revelers almost shoulder to shoulder. It was the same story on the riverbank, as the crowd arrived early to get a great view of the fiery illuminations that hours later would light up the nighttime sky.
Flying down the slide
Conservative estimates put the crowd at 15,000, but that number may have been closer to 20,000.
“It was just crazy,” Gadsden’s Director of Commercial Development and Community Affairs John Moore said.
Not far away, adventurous passengers boarded hot air balloons painted every color of the rainbow, the stars of a Hot Air Balloon Festival. Such modes of transportation weren’t seen in America until January 1793, nearly 17 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
In addition to local audiences, Gadsden’s aerial armada of balloons and the city’s fireworks were seen by the nation, broadcast live on the CBS Evening News. Imagine what American revolutionaries would have pondered about television. But that’s another story.
Folks ate and drank and listened to music from the Black Jacket Symphony, tunes the likes of which John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and their fellow citizens could never have busted a move to in their time. Yacht Rock, after all, was nothing like Mozart.
Still, it’s a safe bet that the men who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the new nation would have loved the scene. After all, fireworks exploding into blossoms of fire and light in the night sky, folks of every faith, color and creed speaking with unabashed freedom and delight, was the spark that ignited the flame of liberty in Philadelphia.
Black Jacket Symphony performs at Freedom Fest
Fast forward to July 25-26 on South Third Street near Riverview Regional Medical Center, that same life, liberty and pursuit of happiness would have been wet and wild at Gadsden’s Slide the City Back to School Bash, an event aimed at giving kids and their families another memory to cherish as summer waned and a new school year approached. A 1,000-foot water slide created a huge splash, with 1,400 hitting the slide, a last bit of fun before summer’s end.
“It was a sellout, “Moore said. “It was a huge success.”
What would the Founders think of all these events, not just on Independence Day, but throughout the year in Gadsden?
“I would hope that they would be proud,” Moore said. “I hope that the Founding Fathers would sit back and look and see how the country has progressed over the years. This is beyond anything they would have ever dreamt of at the end of the day.
“They didn’t think about quality of life, or hot air balloon festivals. I doubt that even crossed their minds at the time,” Moore said.
“To come back years later and to see a foundation of what they built and what came about from those signatures they put on that page that day, I hope they’d be proud of what we’ve done.”
Just before sunset, Neely Henry Lake begins to settle into its evening rhythm. The water grows still. Pontoon boats drift offshore. Music floats across the lake as families unfold lawn chairs and children eagerly wait for the signal that the fun is about to begin.
At the center of the excitement sits an unusual arena built from hay bales and fencing – a playful reminder that this isn’t an ordinary fall festival.
Then the first tomato flies.
Within seconds, bright red tomatoes arc through the air as laughter erupts across Greensport RV Park and Marina. Children dodge behind hay bales. Teenagers launch playful volleys across the arena. Adults discover they’re just as competitive – and just as willing to laugh at themselves – as the kids.
For one evening each fall, Greensport RV Park and Marina transforms into Alabama’s own version of La Tomatina.
Replenishing artillery
Now entering its third year, Alabama’s Little Tomatina has become one of the region’s most distinctive community events, blending local agriculture, lakeside scenery, live music and family fun into an experience that’s uniquely Alabama.
Its story, however, begins long before the first tomato was ever thrown.
Few visitors realize that Greensport RV Park and Marina is just a small part of a much larger farm that has remained in the same family for eight generations – a legacy recognized through its designation as an Alabama Bicentennial Farm. For owners Dave and Stephanie Evans, preserving that heritage has always been just as important as creating memorable events for the community.
Stephanie recalls that the original spark came from a family conversation.
“My sister-in-law, Beth Evans, was talking about having a tomato festival with our neighboring Chandler Mountain community,” she said.
That idea quickly evolved.
“Dave heard that idea and, of course, had to ‘up the ante,’” Stephanie said. “Between Google searches and Dave’s ever-turning mind, he stumbled upon Spain’s Tomatina Festival. He said, ‘That’s it! We are going to do a Tomatina festival – Alabama style.’”
While Spain may have provided the inspiration, everything else reflects the character of northeast Alabama.
Instead of winding city streets, guests gather on Greensport RV Park and Marina’s island overlooking Neely Henry Lake. Instead of centuries-old buildings, the backdrop is rolling mountains, open water, and brilliant Alabama sunsets. Hay bales surround the throwing arena, creating playful obstacles for participants to duck behind between throws.
“It’s all about trying to intertwine unique events with our family and property roots,” Stephanie said.
That philosophy extends beyond the scenery.
For the third consecutive year, Smith Tomato Farm on nearby Chandler Mountain has donated the tomatoes used during the event, creating another meaningful connection between Greensport RV Park and Marina and one of the area’s best-known agricultural communities.
Special goggles when things get messy
“We are so proud to have Smith Tomato Farm donate all of our throwing tomatoes,” Stephanie said.
Even after the event ends, the tomatoes continue serving a purpose. Those still suitable for cooking are offered to anyone interested in canning or preparing meals. The rest are enjoyed by Greensport RV Park and Marina’s petting zoo animals and local wildlife.
For visitors attending their first Little Tomatina, Ashley Rogers, Greensport RV Park and Marina’s director of public relations, offers one important piece of advice.
“The first thing that newcomers need to expect is that they will get messy!”
Comfortable clothing is encouraged because the evening involves much more than simply tossing tomatoes. Guests can expect running, slipping, sliding, dancing, and plenty of laughter as the tomato battle unfolds.
The festivities begin with live music by Gadsden favorite, Parris, while food trucks provide plenty of opportunities to grab dinner before or during the event. Guests purchase wristbands at the gate – or in advance online – and can also order commemorative event T-shirts before arriving.
When it’s time for the main attraction, participants enter one of three age divisions: children ages 10 and under, teens ages 11 through 17, or adults.
Throwers purchase bags of tomatoes before stepping into the arena.
The rules are intentionally simple.
Tomatoes should be smashed before they’re thrown, making every hit more messy than painful. Some participants wear disposable ponchos or protective eyewear, while others proudly embrace the full experience.
Safe on the sidelines
And if someone finishes the evening covered head to toe in tomato juice?
“The lake is always there,” Ashley said, noting that guests are welcome to rinse off before heading home.
Not everyone participates inside the arena, however.
Many visitors simply enjoy watching the action unfold while relaxing beside the lake. Others come primarily for the music, food and festive atmosphere. Like many successful lake events, Little Tomatina offers something for everyone, whether they’re throwing tomatoes or cheering from the sidelines.
One of the evening’s biggest crowd-pleasers doesn’t involve the arena at all.
“My favorite moment would have to be allowing attendees to pie us in the face with tomato pies,” Stephanie said. “I get the most enjoyment out of seeing other people participate and have fun with their family and friends. This has truly been the most unique and most fun event we put on each year.”
Dave sees something even deeper in the tradition.
“I think my favorite part of the event is knowing the connection to the ag-related fields that we are rooted in,” he said. “I also love seeing the enjoyment people have just from something as simple as throwing a tomato. As a child, we would always throw rotten vegetables at each other and have the most fun. To see others love recreating something similar brings me joy.”
That sense of shared joy appears to resonate with visitors as well.
“Last year’s Tomatina at Greensport was a very entertaining event,” said attendee Owen Whisenant of Blount County. “I enjoyed just being part of the fun and the community.”
As the event enters its third year, the Evans family remains committed to making each festival a little better than the last.
“For us, the most important thing is to continuously improve in every way we can,” Stephanie said. “We want the event to be better and more entertaining each year. Listening to customer feedback and implementing those changes is very important to us. We want to keep it family friendly and affordable for everyone.”
That commitment may explain why Little Tomatina feels less like a novelty and more like a tradition in the making.
It’s an evening where local agriculture meets lake life. Where live music mixes with laughter. Where neighbors become teammates – or friendly targets – for a few unforgettable moments. And where one simple idea has grown into another reason for families to gather along the shores of Neely Henry Lake.
As the last tomatoes are thrown and the music continues into the evening, the mess quickly washes away. The memories, however, have a way of sticking around long after the stains are gone.
