Glencoe News

Glencoe Council Meeting Canceled for Safety Concerns

Friday, 10 September 2010 03:46

(Glencoe, AL - August 25, 2010) The Glencoe City Council meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, August 24, 2010 will likely never occur, according to Glencoe, Alabama mayor Charles "Peanut" Gilchrist. He says the meeting was canceled yesterday evening to "protect our people."

According to phone calls received by GadsdenMetro this morning, an incident involving a Glencoe police officer firing his weapon into his girlfriend's vehicle caused the decision to cancel the meeting.

Gilchrist would neither confirm or deny the identity of the individual he would only identify as a "Glencoe employee." He indicated that the employment status of that individual would be under evaluation. He tells GadsdenMetro that the employee discharged a weapon into a vehicle "that incident happened off of city property and no other city employees were in immediate danger," he says.

However, based on things said by the city employee at the time, he and the councilmen felt it would be prudent to cancel last night's council meeting in order to insure the safety of those involved in the meeting.

Gilchrist says the meeting will likely not be rescheduled, but that all of the scheduled business of that meeting would be moved into the next regularly scheduled council meeting.

Two Gadsden Teens Charged with Arson, Burglary

Friday, 10 September 2010 03:46


Jamie Scott Barron, 19, Gadsden Charged with Third Degree Burglary, Second Degree Arson	Jimmy Franklin Vernon, 18, Gadsden Charged with Third Degree Burglary, Second Degree Arson

(Gadsden, AL - August 21, 2010) Alabama Deputy Fire Marshal Ray Cumby is charging two Gadsden teenage boys with third degree burglary and second degree arson according to a press release from Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin's office today.

Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin says the two young males have been arrested and charged following an investigation by the Etowah County Arson Task Force.

According to Cumby, 19 year old Jamie Scott Barron and 18 year old Jimmy Franklin Vernon were arrested and charged with one count each of third degree burglary and second degree arson. Both charges are felonies, he says.

According to the report, the incident occurred on Saturday, August 7th at a home on Juanita Street in Glencoe, Alabama. The report indicates Vernon had been evicted from that residence three weeks earlier. In retaliation, both young men returned to the home and set it on fire.

According to the Sheriff's website, both are being held in the Etowah County Detention Center on $7,500 bond each.

Green Valley Speedway to Host Fourth of July Extravaganza

Friday, 10 September 2010 03:46

(Glencoe, AL - June 4, 2010) The Green Valley Speedway, located on the Glencoe-Southside city line just off of Green Valley Road is making plans for one of the largest Fourth of July spectaculars in recent Etowah County history.

Green Valley Speedway owner, Dennis Harker and his wife are no stranger to assisting local heroes. When al qaeda terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and Pentagon on 9/11, he and his wife were motivated to help raise more than $25,000 for firefighters in their home town of Key West, Florida.

This Fourth of July, Harker and his crew at the Green Valley Speedway will host an extravaganza to benefit Etowah County volunteer firefighters.

Harker says he and his wife are passionate about helping local heroes, "it gives us a good feeling to help those who are here to protect us."

This is Harker's fourth year as owner of the raceway. In those years, he has revitalized the facilities, adding a go-kart track, new concessions building, box seats and upgraded the red clay dirt track, making for more exciting racing.

The improvements have not gone unnoticed. With improved facilities have come increased attendance, and attention from a number of trade magazines.

Harker is expecting to introduce the newest attraction at the racing facility - a mud racing course during the Fourth of July Extravaganza. He says the new track isn't the only surprise he has in store. "We have some pretty big-time racers coming in for the day, and we've brought in a great company to give us a professional fireworks show that night."

District Attorney Jimmie Harp praises the efforts of the Harkers and the Speedway, and encourages everyone to come support the event. Harp says that our firefighters "work tirelessly and are always under-funded." Harp explains that "Money raised from the event will contribute to the safety and well-being of the firefighters as well as the communities they serve."

Grandstand tickets are on sale for $15, and $5 from each sale benefits the Etowah County Volunteer Fire Department. Children 15 and under receive free admission with the purchase of an adult admission. Tickets can be purchased at Green Valley Speedway, or from any volunteer fire department in the county.

“I hope the fans in Etowah County will come out and enjoy the fun,” says Harker, “and support their local heroes at the same time.”

Glencoe Man Killed in Traffic Accident on US 431 Thursday

Friday, 10 September 2010 03:46

(Jacksonville, AL - March 12, 2010) Alabama State Troopers report a Glencoe man was killed in a Thursday afternoon crash on US 431 in Calhoun County.

The troopers' report says 39 year old Glencoe man Patrick Ray Hicks, along with 50 year old Charles Marshall Avery of Weaver were standing next to a Jeep on the side of Highway 431 South of Glencoe.

The initial report says 25 year old Albertville man John Robert Martinez fell asleep while driving and ran off the road, striking a trailer attached to the Jeep. The trailer then hit and killed both Hicks and Avery. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

Martinez was injured and taken to Regional Medical Center in Anniston.

Glencoe Warming Station Closed, Lack of Interest

Friday, 10 September 2010 03:46

(Gadsden, AL - January 7, 2010) Etowah County EMA officials have decided to close the Glencoe Warming Station, located at the George Wallace Senior Center on Hollingsworth Park Lane.

EMA Public Information Officer Michael Amberson says no one was using the center in Glencoe. He says EMA and local officials "went out looking for people who might need the shelter" to determine the potential need for such a center in the Glencoe area, "but there's just no interest right now."

When asked by GadsdenMetro if the potential existed to re-open the Glencoe center, Amberson says that center will remain closed. "But, if someone needs to be transported to one of our other warming centers, they can call us at the Gadsden-Etowah County EMA office."

The phone number for the EMA office is 256 549-4575.

The remaining warming shelters are located at:

Carnes Recreation Center
102 Case Avenue
Attalla, AL 35954

Carver Community Center
1030 Tuscaloosa Avenue
Gadsden, AL 35901

Elliott Community Center
2829 West Meighan Boulevard
Gadsden, AL 35904
256-549-4674

Salvation Army
114 North 11th Street
Gadsden, AL 35901

Southside City Hall
2255 U.S. Highway 77
Southside, AL 35907