Oh Sherri Island Pub

New dining by the water options for Logan Martin and Neely Henry lakes

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Mackenzie Free

Lake residents often claim that if you live on Logan Martin, you’re lucky enough. Now residents and visitors alike can claim the luck of the Irish, too, as they celebrate the grand opening of a brand-new eatery pub establishment on Coosa Island.

In the location of the former Porky Pirates BBQ and Lakeside Grill, Oh Sherri Island Pub opened its doors just over a month ago. It is the second Oh Sherri location for owners Joel and Diana Wallace, whose original Moody location has been open for four years. A third location is set to open in Ohatchee in the next few weeks.

Blending the traditions of Irish cuisine and libations with the culture of the lakeside community, the new pub establishment will feature community-centered events, live Irish music and dance, and a variety of music by local artists from different genres.

Play games with friends while you wait for your food

“We will have essentially the same menu as our original location but will add a couple of specials for the lake, like shrimp, oysters or crab boil. And we’ll do Shepherd’s Pie, pulled pork sliders and Chicago or New York style hotdogs for boaters who want to get in and out fast,” says Joel. “We also plan to have a steam table with a hot bar where we can get you out quick, if that’s what you want.”

But the real beauty of a traditional Irish pub, the Wallaces say, is the no-rush atmosphere. “We want an atmosphere that if you want to you can just hang out,” says Joel.

Diana, a professor and director of first-year engineering curriculum at UAB, adds that they want their pub to be a place where you come to “decelerate from your day, meet new people, and go back to human interactions. Some restaurants want you to come in, eat, and go. We want you to spend time here.”

Maybe not everyone will know your name, but the Moody location regulars know they are welcome to stay, swap stories, relax and make new friends. New friendships created in the four years that location has been in business have resulted in four couples getting married after meeting each other there.

While that isn’t the model the Wallaces are necessarily going for, it speaks to their emphasis on relationship building through community and conversation.

The pub, which is accessible by water, offers a family-friendly atmosphere during the day and early evening, encouraging friends and families to play board games and cards around the table. Later evening hours are all about relaxing and enjoying the music with friends old and new. “It’s a place where you can come and relax and enjoy each other’s company,” says Joel.

The Wallaces are leasing the Coosa Island property from Matthew Kronen, who also owns the docks. The docks, which can accommodate 21 boats, are in the final stages of being completely rebuilt.

Owners Joel and Diana Wallace on deck at Oh Sherri’s

“We’ve fabricated the steel frames, added new wood and new posts,” says Kronen. “We’ve probably over-engineered it. But it should be ready well before the water comes up.” They’ve also simplified the docking process by removing the large boats and yachts that had previously been moored at the docks.

The Wallaces have renovated the inside, removed the oversized picnic tables and exchanged them for smaller, more intimate and flexible table arrangements. With a small army of volunteers and staff, they’ve redone the walls, seating areas and ceilings, making it feel warmer and more intimate.  “We had a lot of help from a lot of people,” Joel said, adding that the goal was to create an authentic Irish pub feel.

Opening an Irish pub was the dream Joel’s dad, Frank Wallace, shared with him. Growing up in Chicago, Joel was close to his father and shared a love of sports, particularly the Chicago Bears. Having lost a sister when she was three years old and before he was born, Joel grew up hearing stories about Sherri, never having known her. When father and son talked about opening a pub, the plan was always to call it Oh Sherri (a nod to her impetuous behavior to which her parents would frequently respond with an exasperated “Oh, Sherri…”)

After coaching men’s soccer for 30 years, Joel opened the Moody pub and named it for his sister. “We’ve always believed that Sherri was our guardian angel,” Joel says. “Her picture will be on the wall of each of our locations.”

Because of his coaching background, Joel admits to running his businesses like a sports team. “We want to be organized and disciplined,” he says. “If things don’t go just right, you adjust as necessary and do the best you can. Honestly, it’s about just being really organized and being honest.”

Joel and Diana have a lot of practice being organized, as a blended family of 12. They have 10 children between them, with four grandchildren under the age of 6. “Speaking of family, we want to be a family-friendly, respectful place,” Joel says. “We know we’ll have to adjust our closing times for the lake. We put family first.”

The Ohatchee pub will be half a mile from Neely Henry dam at the corner of Highway 144 and Highway 77 at the former River Grill location. All three locations will be running St. Patrick’s Day specials throughout March.

A noted Irish Proverb says, “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough.”  This month, or any month for that matter, we can all be lucky enough to support the new pub on the lake. You can follow them on Facebook at Ohsherriislandpub.a lot of other folks, learn who they are and who their businesses are. If they haven’t been here before, come check us out. If they have, come back and see what’s new this year.”

Logan Martin Lakefest and Boat Show 2026

Lake’s biggest party returns for 16th year

Story by Paul South
Submitted photos

What may be the biggest lake party in Alabama returns for its 16th edition Mother’s Day weekend.

Logan Martin Lakefest and Boat Show will once again generate funds for charity, while at the same time cooking up a greater sense of community. Over the years, the festival has raised some $500,000 for good causes across St. Clair County.

LakeFest is set for May 8-10 at Pell City’s Lakeside Park. And while there will be some new wrinkles for festival goers this year, the family friendly recipe remains the same – hot live music, tasty food and drink, sleek new boats and a variety of vendors.

Bass boats, personal watercraft, ATVs and more on display

A patriotic spirit flows through the event annually, particularly in this, America’s 250th year. A Friday night fireworks display will honor veterans from the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home.

“Me and the other event producers are just blessed,” said Lakefest Director Eric Housh. “The support we get from the (Pell City) Fire Department, Police Department and the city itself and our wonderful core group of sponsors and other businesses in the community, I won’t say it’s easy to pull off, but it’s not as a difficult as it used to be.”

In cities and towns across the country, festivals come and go. But there’s a secret sauce that’s kept LakeFest rocking for nearly two decades.

“I think from the start, our mission and our purpose was to bring the community together and do something good for the community,” Housh said. “I  think once you have a purpose that all your sponsors and everybody affiliated with the event can really buy into, it kind of serves as your North Star.”

As it has been from day one, Lakefest admission is free. For Housh, the event  serves as the unofficial kickoff of the summer, prime time on Logan Martin.

“People come out, and they’ve got their lake houses ready. They’ve got their boats ready,” he said. “They’re ready to engage with some vendors and boat dealers and maybe spend a little money and get ready for the summer season.”

For years now, Lakefest has been drawing huge crowds to Logan Martin

Dozens of vendors are expected, including artists and sellers of home goods, apparel, home services and more, tailored to the lake lifestyle. A small fleet of gourmet food trucks are part of the festivities with offerings from popular spots like Moody’s Carpenetti’s New York Style Pizza, Down South BBQ and local taco trucks.

Snacks like fresh boiled peanuts, lemonade  and D&W Kettle Corn are just part of the food lineup.

Throughout the festival’s history, the community has always come first. And it has responded. Some 50-60,000 people turned out for last year’s event.

“The community has always been our focus, “ Housh said.  “I think that serves us well.  Our crowds have always been fantastic and increase every year. We try to do something new and different to keep crowds coming back every year.”

Housh praised the small army of volunteers, led by Judy Carr, Justin Hogeland and Kasey Flurry.

“We’ve just got a good team of folks that have done the event so much,” Housh said. “We know what to look out for. We know how to  do different things to keep the public coming back and keep them happy.”

This year, Moms at the festival will get a special Mother’s Day treat – a Sunday mimosa.

The event kicks off  on  Friday, May 8 at 2 p.m., and continues until 9 that night. The fireworks show will be the culmination of the opening night. Fun resumes Saturday. Gates open at 10 and the festival lasts until 9 p.m. On Mother’s Day, festival hours are from noon until 5 p.m.

A drone’s eye view of festivities at Logan Martin Lakeside Park in Pell City

A Saturday feature is a children’s parade sponsored by  Visit St. Clair, where kids dressed as mermaids and pirates can join the fun. Face painting and other fun are in store, too. The “Mermaids and Mateys” parade, patterned after New Orleans’ famous second line jazz parades, is co-sponsored by Coosa Riverkeeper. It will also provide environmental education for the kids.

Live music is a Lakefest tradition, but the lineup of bands – and some other surprises this year – were still being worked out at this writing.

“We’re still kind of cooking that up for this year,” Housh said. “You’ll see some familiar faces this year and probably some new acts as well.”

Lakefest began as a community fundraiser. Back then, the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association was raising funds for a wetlands boardwalk. The LMLPA asked local businessmen Jerry Woods, Lee Holmes, Joe Paul Abbott and Fred  Casey if they could help. The men came up with the idea for Lakefest and asked Housh, then a member of the LMLPA board, to help.

“I had some event exposure,” Housh said. “I wouldn’t call it expertise at all. I’d done events before, so they brought me in and let me run with it.”

That inaugural event covered what was needed for the boardwalk and the rest is history.

The first couple of years were held at Horizons, downriver from where the event is now. The festival moved to its current location a couple of years later. Because it was in the Pell City limits, local police and fire were able to pitch in. That made a huge difference.

“That just kicked it into another gear,” Housh said.

Not only is it the largest festival  on the lake. Lakefest may be the biggest in-water boat show in the state, if not the Southeast, Housh said.

“As far as pure attendance, I don’t know if there’s a bigger event on the lake in Alabama.”

Despite the large numbers, the festival doesn’t feel crowded.

“Even though it may seem a bit overwhelming, it doesn’t seem crowded at all,” Housh said.

Has the success of the festival been a surprise?

“If you had asked me 16 years ago if I thought I would be doing it in 16 years, I probably would have  said no,” Housh said. “I would have  thought this is something we would do for four or five years, raise a little money and let the event run its course. But early on, seeing the response of the community, local businesses and entrepreneurs and the city leaders, it became clear to us that this was an event that people valued and wanted to see succeed,”

Housh refuses to take credit for the event’s success. “The success of Lakefest is completely attributable to the buy-in in this community and by the folks that have been our sponsors for the last 16 years.”

The festival’s ability to bring the community together is important, said St. Clair Tourism Coordinator Blair Goodgame. Also, the festival highlights the lake lifestyle.

“Anything  where we are able to do to gather our community together is huge,” Goodgame said. “The volunteers, businesses, civic groups, families, when all of those people are  coming together, it really  shows how special the area is and how special Pell City is.”

She added, (the festival) is one that people just rally around. It creates a shared sense of pride which is what we always want in tourism. We want our locals to tell others where they are and how proud they are about it.”

The proceeds go to helping local charities in Pell City and St. Clair County

Housh and his team earned high marks.

“They do a fantastic job promoting the event,” Goodgame said. “They make sure it’s promoted beyond St. Clair County. What they’ve been able to give back to the community and to local charities is outstanding.”

The attendance and backing combined with the positive feedback affirm that the work is worth it. The nonprofit event benefits charities in the area.

“That’s incredibly rewarding,” Housh said. “When we cut checks, a lot of the charities we help don’t know they’re getting the money. It’s really a blessing to be able to bless those that are giving so much back to our community.”

For Housh, one word best describes the importance of Lakefest: Community.

“A lot of folks will move all around their whole life and never really find a really good supportive community. In the 16 years, we’ve never had a (negative) incident out there. You think about it: We’re running 50,000 people in and out of a confined space, and the public’s never acted up. We’ve never had to arrest anybody or escort anybody out, or had any safety issues. It’s just a really great community.”

What does he love best about LakeFest? “I love throwing the biggest party on the lake. I love supporting local charities. I  love showing some love to our veterans. And as sadistic as this sounds, I love the grind of  putting this thing together every year and having the satisfaction of seeing this happen.

“If I had to boil it down to one thing, it’s just this community and what it means to me and what it means to everybody who lives here.”

 For newcomers to Lakefest, Housh made a point. It’s about community.

“This is a safe, free, family friendly event. It’s basically the more the merrier. If you go out there, you’re going to see the best people in our community. Our vendors have the best art and clothes and house stuff, and there are folks representing  home services,” Housh said.

 “If you come out, you’re going to meet a lot of other folks, learn who they are and who their businesses are. If they haven’t been here before, come check us out. If they have, come back and see what’s new this year.”

Keeping the Coosa clean

Logan Martin Lake Protection Association effort slated for April this year

When Logan Martin Lake Protection Association first formed in the 1980s, its mission was to protect the lake through advocacy during the so-called “water wars” with Georgia.

That state was trying to divert water upstream to a burgeoning Atlanta population before it crossed the line into Alabama and made it into the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake.

Today, protection is still at the heart of its mission, but it has evolved well beyond the advocacy role.

Young volunteers get in on the cleanup action

From water testing to preserving wetlands to installing lighted buoys, LMLPA brings together a lake community to protect, promote and preserve this place they call home.

One of LMLPA’s major initiatives is an annual partnership with Renew Our Rivers and Alabama Power Co. to clean up the lake and keep it clean. The 2026 clean-up is set for April 11-18, when volunteers will head to the lake to clean up their shorelines in an organized effort.

On April 11 and April 18, LMLPA volunteers will be handing out bags, gloves and a free T-shirt from 8 a.m. to noon at six locations – Blue Eye Creek, Clear Creek Harbor, Lakeside Park, Woods Surfside Marina, Coosa Island Marina and Riverside Landing. Dumpsters will be located at those sites for deposits throughout the clean-up period.

“We’ve gotten really good response,” said LMLPA President Neal Stephenson. Tracking the success, he noted that 11 tons were collected two years ago. In 2025? It was 20 tons as more volunteers joined the effort.

He encouraged lake residents to participate in LMLPA, suggesting it as a means of supporting efforts to improve the lake and connect with others.

Upcoming is a member social slated for April 9 at 6 p.m. at St. Simon Peter Episcopal Church in Pell City. The public is invited.

Editor’s Note: For more on LMLPA or to join, go to lmlpa.org.

Smoke on the Falls

BBQ cooking event returns to Gadsden area

Where there’s smoke, there’s championship barbecue. At least that’s the menu for April 3-4 at Smoke on the Falls Noccalula Barbecue Competition weekend.

Smoke on the Falls is back at the Noccalula Falls Campground in 2026 with the Kansas City Barbecue Society-certified barbecue contests pitting 60 plus teams through the Professional and Backyard division.

A children’s division is also a part of the competition.

It will be held at Noccalula Campground and is earning a national reputation  through its affiliation with KCBS.

Catchin’ the Coosa March 2026

Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett

Logan Martin

Days are getting longer and bass are on the move. Warmer and longer days these two months have the fish on the move from their wintertime homes.

Typically, in March, I still believe the bass are in their pre-spawn mood. They are feeding up and fattening up, preparing to move into their bedding areas to get ready to spawn. Usually, I’ll target most of these fish in 10 feet of water or less this time of year. 

Fish love to stage on points that lead into spawning bays. Also, brush and shallow docks are great places to look for fish making a pit stop before they spawn.

A few lures I typically reach for would be a bladed jig, square bill crank bait or a topwater walking bait. If the water is still in the mid-50s,  I reach mainly for the bladed jig and squarebill and cover as much water as possible.

I mainly target creeks on the lower end of the lake. Generally, this is where the fish will try and spawn first. I also like to target windy banks if possible.

Once the water temp reaches the 60-degree mark, that’s when I reach for the topwater walking bait. I do this especially on cloudy windy days. The fish will usually be one to three feet deep on points, and do not be afraid to throw it at midday if the conditions are right. This is my favorite technique to catch these fish, especially in April.

Usually, if we have our normal weather pattern, you will really start to see the largemouth bass lock on their beds. This is the time to get the spinning rods out and get on the finesse gear.

The tried-and-true wacky rigged senko is an awesome way to get these bedding largemouth bass to commit.

Now, I do switch gears when it comes to fishing for spotted bass. Spotted bass tend to spawn in shallow bays and flats in a little deeper water. An effective way to cover water and efficiently pick these more broader areas apart is with a Carolina Rig. I use about a 2-foot leader with a ½ oz. tungsten sinker.

One of my favorite baits to use is a Menace Grub from Strike King Lure Company in green pumpkin or chartreuse pepper. I typically want a smaller bait. That way, once you drag it across their bed, they can easily just pick it up and hold on to it longer.

This a great way to catch those big ole Coosa River Spotted Bass later on in the month once the fish really start to lock down on bed. 

Neely Henry

These two months are when Neely Henry can really shine and produce some big fish. Just like Logan, these fish are on the move once the days start getting longer and warmer.

Neely Henry bass love to live shallow this time of year. My approach is a little different, though, on this lake. I like to target mid-lake areas this time of year.

My favorite places to find these fish are creeks mouths and small river pockets. Neely has a lot of bank grass and wood to offer in these short pockets. These pockets also have a lot of shallow docks that fish like to stage on before the spawn.

My three favorite baits to use are frog, swim jig and stick bait. In early March, I fish with the swim jig a lot more than the other two baits because the water temperature is usually still on the cooler side.

Another great way to find fish on Neely Henry this early in the spawn is on riprap banks. These banks hold heat and tend to hold fish any time of day.

A squarebill crankbait is usually what I will start with on the riprap banks. I normally have to play with a number of colors to find the right one! If the bass do not seem to want the crankbait, I’ll slowly fish down the riprap with a jig especially if it’s a very slick, calm day.

Just like Logan Martin you can also catch fish around shallow docks. Typically, the docks in five feet or less tend to be the best. If the fish seem to be active, I start out with a bladed jig. The bladed jig allows me to make more cast in, and in turn, I am able to present the bait to more fish.

Just like the riprap talked about earlier, sometimes on slick calm days, the jig will outperform any bait on the docks. Once the water temp reaches the 60-degree mark, that’s when I’ll pick up the frog. The frog and swim jig combo is something I can stick with all day.

Once we get into the month of April, that’s when I will start adding in the stick bait. And just like on Logan Martin, you can’t forget about the trusted senko-type bait. I generally texas rig the senko on light 5/16 oz. weight.

I really reach for this bait when I feel like the fish are full blown spawning mood. I’ll pitch this bait around stumps and docks or wherever I feel like a fish might be spawning. You might not be able to physically see the fish since Neely is generally pretty dirty water.

Just fish slow inside pockets and really pick everything apart. This is the best way to get bit while the fish are really locked on beds.

The bass are in big time transition during these two months, however, these months can offer up some of the most rewarding fish catches for the entire year.

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.

Ready, Set, Cast!

Looking for free kids events this Spring? Look no further! Coosa Riverkeeper and our partners at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve are kicking off 2026 spawning season with Take a Kid Fishing Day.

We’re excited to be introducing both beginner and intermediate classes for ages 5-18. So whether your kids are seasoned anglers or wanting to start their journey, this event is for you and your kids to enjoy quality time on the water (stocked pond). Learn how to bait your hooks, cast, catch and more during Take a Kid Fishing Day.

Join us at Big Springs Park in Springville on March 28, by 10 a.m. for fishing fun. Registration is not required, but it helps us know how many fishing poles are needed. Visit TinyURL.com/BigSpringsFFC to register.

All of the required materials are provided by Coosa Riverkeeper.

Volunteer Appreciation Week and Earth Day are within the same week, and we would love to see folks on the water, making waves! Volunteers can participate at events, help river cleanup and restoration efforts, and more. Sign up for our volunteer list to make an impact this Spring by visiting our website below.

Want to join us as we protect, restore, and promote the Coosa? Visit CoosaRiver.org to sign up for our email list or check us out on Facebook & Instagram.

Follow Coosa Riverkeeper on Facebook & Instagram @CoosaRiverkeeper
For more information, swim over to www.CoosaRiver.org.

Gotta get to Gadsden

Rolling out the welcome mat

Story by Paul South
Submitted photos

A new campaign celebrating this city’s big-city feel and small town charm is up and running. Its message? “Gotta Get to Gadsden.”

The social media and advertising blitz, funded through a $20,000 grant from the Innovate Alabama Network makes the pitch that the combination of modern technology and Gadsden’s proximity to Birmingham, Atlanta, Huntsville and Chattanooga make Gadsden an ideal place to work and live.

The genesis of the campaign took root during a City Hall brainstorming session in John Moore’s office. Moore serves as Gadsden’s director of economic development. Gotta Get to Gadsden is a joint effort by the city and the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority.

“We were looking at branding the city, but then we turned it into an industrial development campaign that we could use on a regional basis,” Moore said. “At that point, Tina King wrote the grant application to Innovate Alabama for website development and commercial creation.”

The target audience for the media effort are workers in the Southeast to areas an easy commute from Gadsden.

 “Right now, we’re targeting the Southeast region, those people who possibly live in  Atlanta, where they’re paying $2,500-$3,000 a month to work from home. We’re asking them to come to Gadsden, where the cost of living is a third of what they would pay in these big cities.”

He added, “We have the amenities  of the Coosa River, Noccalula Falls and our cool downtown. That’s what the commercials focus on.”

For now, the social media reach of the campaign will focus on a specific slice of the regional pie. “Right now, we’ll probably target through social media, and we’ll be very specific on age groups and the type of demographics that we target in social media. We’ll be looking at within 200 miles of Gadsden with a higher income. And we’re going to want to have the outdoor enthusiasts.”

Why not? “If you think about it, if we can recruit 200 stay-at-home workers to come to Gadsden, that’s just like landing a plant that employs 200 workers. Our question is, if you could live anywhere, why would you not live here?”

The campaign will have a seasonal bent. Right now, with all the holiday-related events going on in Gadsden, that’s a natural fit. The campaign will re-emerge in the spring, with the Coosa River and recreation taking center stage.

The campaign comes at a time when Gadsden is on the move. “We’re growing. We’re growing fast. But we’re growing in the right way,” said Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford. “We’re bringing in the right people.”

Gadsden’s predecessors left Ford and the City Council with a large pool of undesignated funds. “We were able to do a lot of economic projects  we started  then it was post COVID … and we started breaking ground everywhere and everybody started noticing Gadsden,” Ford said. “We’ve got a river that runs right through. We’ve got the mountains. We’ve got two hospitals. It’s a great economic sector.”

From 8 to 5 every day, “our population triples. People come from places like Rainbow City to work, then they go back home. We’re growing, and we’re not landlocked because we’re trying to annex everywhere we can.”

Gadsden also faces a housing shortage.

“It’s not just low-income housing,” Ford said. “It’s the $500,000-$700,000 homes that would be $1 million to $1.5 million homes in Birmingham. So, we’re working with our real estate people, our homebuilders. I was born and raised here, and I’ve never seen growth like we have now in Gadsden.”

But the Gotta Get To Gadsden campaign isn’t just aimed at remote workers. It also serves as a reminder to folks who already call the city and surrounding areas home, Moore said.

“Sometimes it’s just good to remind people of the good things going on in your city,” he said. “You sometimes have to remind people of how good they really have it.”

He called it “a twofold system where you’re targeting remote workers. But you’re also branding and reminding everyone that Gadsden is a great place to live.”

When Ford took office, people were leaving the city, Moore said. Now, surrounding areas are trying to be annexed in, Moore said.

“It’s crazy,” Moore said.

 Ford put it simply. “Life in Gadsden promises a high quality of life. Gadsden is a great place to visit and once you get here, you won’t leave. You’ll love it. People’s quality of life will improve 10 times by moving to Gadsden,” he said

“You gotta get to Gadsden. That’s the most important thing.”

Editor’s Note: For more on Gotta Get to Gadsden, visit its website, GottaGetToGadsden.com

Let the good times roll

Gadsden tops off Chili Cookoff with a Mardi Gras parade

Story by Roxann Edsall
Submitted Photos

There’s a party going on next month in the streets of Gadsden.  Call it a cultural fusion, if you will.  A newly formed Mardi Gras krewe will be celebrating the end of Carnival season by leading a parade of floats through the downtown area on Feb. 7, shortly after the winners of the annual chili cookoff are announced.

An unlikely pairing, perhaps, but both Chili and Mardi Gras share a history of beginnings in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama.  Steeped in cultural heritage, both are seasoned with spice and community.  Chili originated in Texas, but is infused with a blend of Spanish, Native American and Mexican influences.  Mardi Gras, with origins in pagan spring festivals, later became known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, and is a unique blend of local influence and tradition. 

Plans for the newest Mardi Gras parade began less than a year ago, when a handful of Gadsden residents began laying the groundwork for the first such event for their hometown. 

While still small, at roughly a dozen members, the group has made a big impact in their local community already.  Their mission is to help others and to bring joy and excitement to those around them.  They’ve been living out that mission and promoting their new venture while volunteering around Gadsden with tourism initiatives and with the Salvation Army. 

On Feb. 7, beginning at 4 p.m., the Krewe of Rowdy Revelers will certainly bring a smile to parade goers as they guide their Pirates of the Coosa ship down the streets of Gadsden, kicking off the inaugural Mardi Gras parade.  “We will have a contest for the best float,” says Deborah Miller, half of the mother/daughter duo behind the krewe.  “We are hoping to have 100 entries in the parade, either floats or groups walking.  We hope businesses, committees and individuals will get in touch with us, and we’ll get them included.”

Miller’s daughter, Danielle Finch, says the pair have always enjoyed attending Mardi Gras parades in Mobile and hope to bring that level of excitement to Gadsden, along with the resulting infusion of sales for local businesses.  “My favorite float was one I saw in Mobile.  My husband and I love NASCAR, and this was a NASCAR-themed float,” Finch said. “But I like any kind of float with people who are excited and are throwing things!” 

There will, of course, be throws, those traditional necklaces and small items that are the signature of any Mardi Gras parade.  “We do want to stress that it’s family friendly,” says Miller.  “We’re going for good, clean fun.”

“We’re very excited to have the first krewe of Mardi Gras in Gadsden,” says Kay Moore, director of Downtown Gadsden, Inc., the organization co-hosting the event.  “With the parade coming after the chili cookoff, it should keep people downtown to eat and to shop.”  Plans are to finish the cookoff and announce the winners at 2 p.m. and start the parade on 7th Street at 4.  I’ve never been to a Mardi Gras parade before,” adds Moore, “so I’m really interested to see how it goes.” 

Gadsden’s Chili Cookoff has been a crowd favorite for many years.  This is the 18th year for the spicy shindig on the banks of the Coosa River, which serves as a fundraiser for Downtown Gadsden, Inc.  Proceeds from ticket sales are used to fund ongoing downtown improvements.  The winner receives the coveted laser-cut chili cookoff trophy.  There are cash prizes for first, second and third place and a people’s choice award voted by the crowd. 

There wouldn’t even be a chili cookoff if it hadn’t been for the 1893 World’s Fair.  A San Antonio food stand there introduced a spicy, saucy dish called chili.  Its popularity and variety in recipes inspired the competitive spirit that brought about modern-day chili cookoffs. 

When you walk down the streets of Gadsden mid-morning on Feb. 7, the smell of chili and various peppers will be strong, particularly on Broad Street between 4th and 6th Streets.  “We close the streets for two blocks and set up the chili cookers on the sidewalks,” says Moore.  We usually have about 30 teams competing, but we have room for 35.”

Each team is assigned a number and cups with those numbers are filled for the blind tastings by the judges.  “I’m the only one who has the key to what number corresponds with what team,” explains Moore.  “The judges have no clue whose chili they’re tasting.” 

What the judges are looking for is texture, flavor, consistency and aroma.  Specifically, the texture of the meat cannot be tough or mushy, but meat should be permeated with flavor and have a good blend of spices. The chili should be a nice balance of hot and mild, and there should be a smooth combination of meat and gravy and not be too thin or too thick. And there should be a pleasant aroma as dictated by the judges.

People tend to be passionate about their chili recipes.  Chili is a sensory dish, and its flavor profile is as unique as its list of ingredients.  Does the recipe call for beans? Tomato or no tomato?  What type of meat is included – ground chuck, brisket, turkey, sausage, chicken or venison?  

The teams will start cooking early in the morning, with all recipes available for sampling starting at noon.  Tickets for samples are $1 each or 6 for $5.  “Spoons up at noon, then people just wander the streets and eat chili,” Moore says.  “We usually have about a thousand people attend.  It’s a good time.”

Teams can be added on a space-available basis before Feb. 4.  Those wanting to reserve T-shirts will need to sign up two weeks prior to that. 

Wander the streets of Gadsden enjoying different chili recipes, then hang out for the parade a few hours later.  It’s a full day party, and you’re invited.  Let the good times roll, or as the Rowdy Revelers say, “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”

Editor’s Note:  For more information on the Gadsden Chili Cookoff, contact Kay Moore at kay@downtowngadsden.org.  For more information on the Gadsden Mardi Gras Parade, contact Deborah Miller at kreweofrowdyrevelers@gmail.com or deborahmiller72@outlook.com.

Resident Champion

From Logan Martin to the World Series

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

When it comes to Major League Baseball, St. Clair County has made more than a little imprint.

Springville’s Casey Mize, the former No. 1 overall pick in the draft, enjoyed a solid season in 2025 after missing a chunk of last season because of Tommy John surgery. This season, he helped the Detroit Tigers to the playoffs.

Todd Jones, former closing pitcher for the Tigers, was behind the mike as a broadcaster for Detroit. Jones has a home on Logan Martin Lake.

But when it came to activities around the 2025 World Series, there was another St. Clair footprint — specifically, size 2 in girls’ youth. It belongs to 8-year-old CaylacynSanford, who lives on Logan Martin in Pell City. For the second year in a row, she competed in the World Series in the 7-8 Division of Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit and Run competition. She earned the trip to Toronto to see Game 2 of the Series after winning local and regional honors in Atlanta to advance to win an all-expense paid trip to compete and to see the Blue Jays face the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Caylacyn Sanford sports her Pell City All Stars jersey

The top five highest scores from all 30 team championships go to the Finals. Therefore, five softball and five baseball players from each age division get an all-expense trip to the World Series to compete in the finals. (40 athletes in all).

The World Series trip isn’t her only 2025 honor. In August, she was one of six players nationally to be named Major League Baseball Play Ball Player of the Month, which earned the opportunity for two more of her family members to attend the World Series.

The Sanfords had a bit of excitement even before traveling to the Fall Classic – a mad dash to the passport office in Atlanta after Toronto won the American League title.

“Thankfully, it all worked out,” her mother, Caycyn said.

Indeed it did. In the Pitch, Hit and Run competition, Caylacyn finished first in hitting, first in running and second overall in her age group,

The MLB Play Ball initiative is the league’s signature program when it comes to youth engagement in baseball and softball. The program promotes physical activity and encourages community and family. The program also helps to grow baseball and softball with events around the world.

“It’s a phenomenal program,” Caycyn said. “It has really helped Caylacyn’s confidence and given her opportunities she would have never been able to have.”

The POTM recipients were chosen based on athletic performance, positive attitude, teamwork, community involvement and embodying the Play Ball spirit. She was also interviewed on the MLB Network.

What makes Caylacyn’s showing all the more impressive is that this is only her second year of youth softball.  Last fall, she played on a team with a classic name – Bat Attitude. This fall, she played for a travel team, Shelby Steel. In the spring, it was Aces of Bases.

She began her sports journey competing in cheerleading and gymnastics.  But after taking up softball at her Dad Derek’s suggestion, she was hooked.

“We didn’t know how she would be skill-wise,” Caycyn said. “We just thought it would be a fun game for her. She ended up really taking to it and enjoying it. We even stopped cheer and gymnastics. She’s really focused on softball these days.”

And as far as ability, the kid has mad skills with a disciplined swing usually seen in older, more experienced players. It’s a product of daily practice, sometimes on her own.

“It’s definitely a gift that God has given her,” Caycyn said. “It surprised us as her parents, just how quickly she’s picked up the game.  The Lord really has blessed her with athletic ability. We were surprised that it was softball (where she excelled) because I never played softball. It’s something different for us. But when she started playing last year, we could see that it was something she was good at and excelled at.”

Derek didn’t play competitive ball either. But he and others have noticed his daughter’s ability to swing the bat.

“People have commented and said, ‘Wow, she’s got a pretty swing,’” he said. Caycyn and Derek have worked with her on her skills.  At the World Series, Caylacyn met USA Olympian, Jennie Finch, who also complimented Caylacyn’s swing.

Caylacyn’s success is no surprise to her Dad. “We kind of had a feeling she’d have a knack for it,” he said. And of her back-to-back trips to the World Series? “It’s a pretty unheard-of success for a 7- and 8-year-old to do it twice.”

Diamonds and dolls

When it comes to sports, the softball diamond may be this 8-year-old’s best friend, but Caylacyn is still every bit a little girl, who loves playing with Barbie dolls and Lego blocks and her little sisters, Kenlee and Kellesa. She’s known to put her favorite toys – her “stuffies” she calls them – on the fence by her team’s dugout during games, all while she’s turning double plays and hitting grand slams.

Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch grabs a selfie with Caylacyn. She was All American and Collegiate World Series winner at Arizona

And it’s important to note, Caylacyn experienced a more lasting victory in 2025 – one of an eternal nature. She came to faith in Christ. The family attends Northside Fellowship.

As Crash Davis, the fictional character played by Kevin Costner, noted in the movie, Bull Durham, baseball is a simple game. “You throw the ball; you catch the ball. You hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains.”

Caylacyn seems to have a similar understanding of softball and why she fell in love with the game. “It’s competitive. You get to play with your friends, and you hit,” she said.

For Caycyn and Derek, all of this World Series stuff may have come as a surprise. “What are the odds?,” Caycyn asks. But they want folks to know something more about their daughter.

“We’re just proud, especially of her being humble and her being coachable,” Derek said. “That’s something all of her coaches say about her. We’re super proud that she’s willing to learn while still being humble,” he added.

“She’s a good kid,” Caycyn said. “Softball is just something she does for fun. It doesn’t define who she is. We’re thankful that God has given her this ability. But as her parents, we find more joy in seeing her picking up her teammates when somebody makes a bad play or strikes out. She’s one of the first ones out there to encourage them. She tries her best. But it’s something from within. Being a leader. Being a good friend.”

She added, “She’s more than softball.”

Christmas on the Coosa

Gadsden turns riverside park into winter wonderland

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

Folks in Gadsden are crazy about Christmas, and it shows. All you had to do is look no further than the city’s Riverside Park during the holiday season to see yet another way Gadsden rolls out the red carpet for residents and visitors alike.

A 60-by-100-foot ice skating rink, bright lights, fire pits and Alabama’s tallest Christmas tree towering 78 feet tall made this Christmas season merry and bright, not to mention taking the celebration to the next level with food trucks, live music and a breathtaking view of the river.

A newly constructed observation deck allows visitors to watch the skaters and to view the river. The tree was lit on Thanksgiving Eve. You could say the city earned a nickname as North Pole South.

“It’s a very intimate setting,” Janet Tarrance, the city’s director of special events, said. “It gives you the Christmas feel overlooking the Coosa out there that’s absolutely beautiful.”

Bumper boats on the ice

This year’s festivities unwrapped a new gift for revelers, ice bumper cars. The iconic amusement park ride gave riders a chance to work out holiday frustrations. Twelve electrically powered cars scooted around the ice for a stocking full of fun fender benders.

The cars have four wheels and two joysticks for steering. “They are really a lot of fun,” Tarrance said. “Going across that ice feels a lot faster than it actually is. People really enjoyed it. It seems like there were more adults enjoying (the cars) than the kids.”

Ice skating is in its third year. Initially, the rink was a synthetic surface, but now, skaters can slide and glide elegantly on real ice. Ice skating began on Nov.  28 and continued until Dec. 23.  The bumper cars returned and will be available until Jan. 10.

“When we started the skating, Mayor (Craig) Ford said it was like skating on cardboard. Now we have real ice,” Tarrance said.

Bumper car admission is $10 per person for a 10-minute ride. Skating admission is $12 during the week, $15 on weekends. Ice skates are included. Bumper car riders must be at least 42 inches tall and weigh no more than 300 pounds.

“Not everybody can ice skate, but most everybody can do bumper cars,” she said, “They’re super fun.”

Perfect complements

When you think about ice rinks and frosty air, thoughts inevitably turn to hot chocolate, cider and coffee. Local vendors offered a variety of festive food and drink. 3 Crow Coffee served a variety of coffee drinks. DonutNV (cq) cooked up gourmet donuts and folks were even able to watch the sweet, round treats being made.

Attalla’s Chill Spot served its lolly waffles, a deep-fried cake-like dessert with different toppings. And pizza cones were crafted from pizza dough filled with sauce and toppings.

Funkee Franks (cq) tempted hungry visitors with gourmet hot dogs, smashburgers and Cajun fries.

For folks wanting something stronger to fight off the winter chill, they could visit Frosty’s, a city run bar that offered Christmas cocktails, beer, wine and shots.

Celebrating the holidays by Neely Henry Lake

Rounding out the offerings was plenty of swag – sweatshirts, gloves and toboggans available for purchase.

Maintaining an ice rink has had its share of challenges, given an unseasonably warm Alabama November, but crews have worked tirelessly to maintain the rink, Tarrance said. Music was piped in, but on special nights, live music and Santa Claus entertained the crowds

Folks from all around – Etowah County, Anniston, Birmingham, Huntsville and from as far away as Tennessee and Georgia flocked to the city to enjoy the holiday fun.

“It’s another way to attract tourism and bring people to Gadsden, to do the ice skating, to do the bumper cars, to go to Noccalula,” Tarrance said. “We have a lot of things happening in Gadsden. We’re growing and it’s exciting to see. Everybody’s energy is just full force. It’s hard not to get excited.”

Skating and bumper cars aren’t just activities. The attractions are a place for making holiday magic, Tarrance said.

“Really and truly, if you want to make some fun memories that have a big city feel in a small, classy, little town, you need to come to Gadsden, because we are full of Christmas spirit and we have a lot of things that bigger cities have, but we are considered a smaller city.”

 Tarrance added, “If you haven’t been to Gadsden, you will fall in love with it. It is a magical city, especially during Christmas.  I think it’s absolutely wonderful, what we have done.”

Tarrance tells the story of a Birmingham Mom with a disability who came to the rink on a November Sunday with her eight children. The woman was in a wheelchair, but her heart’s desire was to ride in the bumper cars with her kids.

“My employees were able to help her get into a car and make memories with her kids,” Tarrance said. “She wouldn’t have been able to get on the ice otherwise. But my employees wanted to make sure she could do that … Those kids won’t forget that.”

There is a lyric from a popular Christmas tune that calls Christmas, “the time of year when the world falls in love.”

Think about that Birmingham mother, her children and the helping hands and hearts of Gadsden city employees.

That’s love.

And at the end of the day, love is what Christmas is all about, even with a bumper car.