Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Athens News Courier · Boaz, AL
Nearby: Boaz, ALAthens and Tanner saw their respective flag football seasons come to an end this week. The Golden Eagles, which defeated Pell City 12-6 in the opening round, fell to Boaz by a score of 27-6 on Tuesday. Athens finished its season at 9-5. The Rattlers, meanwhile, lost to Moody 40-0 on Tuesday after earning a 31-0 win over Sipsey Valley in the first round. Tanner finishes its season at 6-6.
Advertiser-Gleam · Snead, AL
Nearby: Snead, ALDr. Kenneth Vandervoort is today a husband, father and dentist, with his newly opened Patriot Dental in Scant City and a sister Patriot Dental in Snead in Blount County.
The Cullman Times · Holly Pond, AL
Nearby: Holly Pond, ALThe town of Holly Pond may soon be looking to have more control over the types of businesses that are allowed to operate within its town limits. Mayor Carla Hart asked the members of the Holly Pond Town Council if they would be open to considering a type of ordinance that would prohibit what she described as “offensive” businesses from obtaining a business license during the council’s meeting on Monday, Nov. 2. Hart said, at the moment, said that she wasn’t aware of any rumors about any individual business looking to open up shop in Holly Pond and that she didn’t want to limit entire industries other than to say she felt that prohibiting “places that might have pictures with nudity and things in their window” would be in the town’s best interest. “I’m not going to name anything in particular because I’m not that prejudiced against things, but I do think there are some things that shouldn’t be around children,” Hart said.
Gadsden Messenger · Gadsden, AL
Nearby: Gadsden, ALBy Craig Scott, Director of Gadsden Public Library One of the things I’ve learned throughout my career is that no matter how long you’ve been doing something, there’s always something new to learn. Sometimes the best ideas don’t come from sitting behind your desk. They come from stepping outside your surroundings, listening to others and discovering how different communities approach the same challenges we face here in Gadsden and Etowah County. That’s precisely why I recently traveled to Winter Park, Florida, to participate in the 2026 Library Journal Directors’ Summit. I was honored to be selected as one of 100 public library directors invited to this national gathering. The opportunity to exchange ideas with fellow library leaders, hear from respected voices in our profession, and reflect on the future of public libraries was both rewarding and thought-provoking. But perhaps the most important part of attending isn’t what you learn while you’re there.
Gadsden Messenger · Gadsden, AL
Nearby: Gadsden, ALBy Danny Crownover [The Vagabond] Gadsden’s first public well was located at what is now Broad and First Streets — on the bluff overlooking the Coosa River — according to the legend handed down by the earliest settlers here. The well was sunk there in order to provide water for both man and beast, long before there was much of a village in the area or any thought of such a place as Gadsden. Six stage lines ran through here from Atlanta, GA and Jacksonville, AL, and the small acreage on the bluff known as Emma Sansom Park was used as a hitching and camping ground. Later, a log hotel was built by General D.C. Turrentine at the corner of First and Broad; it was the accommodation of travelers in those pioneer days. In the late 1830s and early 1840s — and in fact, in later years, too — that first public well was the central point around which the village began to grow.
The Spectator · Huntsville, AL
Nearby: Huntsville, ALTahmira Fryson, Sports Reporter The Blazers are packing up their bags and hitting the highway to battle in the 2026 Gulf South Conference Volleyball Tournament. VSU will travel to Huntsville, Alabama, to face the University of Montevallo in Thursday’s postseason game. Heading into the tournament, the Blazers hold a 16-14 overall record and a 10-8 record in Gulf South Conference play. In their previous meeting, VSU claimed the first two sets, winning 26-24 and 25-22. However, Montevallo responded by capturing the final three sets, including a close 17-15 victory in the deciding fifth set. This gives the Blazers the opportunity to make a comeback and continue their pursuit of the GSC championship. Outside hitter Eva LaRochelle enters the tournament with 266 kills this season and averages 3.91 kills per set. LaRochelle plays an important role in the Blazers’ offensive production, consistently creating scoring opportunities and helping the team maintain its momentum.
Brookhaven Daily Leader · Huntsville, AL
Nearby: Huntsville, ALMississippi college students have until Nov. 30 to apply for the Fall 2026 Space to Succeed Scholarship from The Storage Center, which operates six facilities in the state across the Jackson metro and the Gulf Coast. Three students nationwide will each receive a $5,000 award in recognition of measurable, self-initiated community leadership. Now in its fourth cycle, the Space to Succeed Scholarship has granted $45,000 to nine students since launching in spring 2025. Past recipients include a Texas A&M student who has collected more than 9,500 coats for families in need, an LSU Eunice nursing student and mother of four, and a University of Alabama in Huntsville student whose stroke-awareness initiative has raised more than $10,000 and helped save six lives. The Spring 2026 cycle drew more than 2,000 applications from across the country.
The Spectator · Huntsville, AL
Nearby: Huntsville, ALBy Tahmira Fryson, Sports Reporter As the season opener nears, the VSU men’s basketball team is putting the final adjustments on their game plan. The Blazers will hit the hardwood on Nov. 9 at The Complex against Thomas University. Valdosta State men’s basketball enters into the oncoming game after going 18-11 overall in the 2025-26 campaign. Last season, the Blazers finished with a 13-9 record in the Gulf South Conference play and earned a support in the conference tournament. However, they lost their quarterfinal match to the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Still, the team returns with thirteen players ready to take on the action and bring the heat. Senior standout Blaise Wallace enters the matchup averaging 13.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game as one of the only two returning players on the roster. On the defensive end, he also contributed 32 steals and 13 blocks while recording 47 assists throughout the season.
