A LABAMA L EDGER
PAGE 3 www.AlabamaLedger.com
MARCH 2023
Guntersville Swimmer Earns National Award Gabe Marsh, a para-
that the foster children in their ministry should be able to swim and provided swimming lessons in their family pool. However, even they didn’t believe Gabe should be in the pool. When Gabe was three years old, Ann was working with other foster children in the pool and left Gabe poolside. Before she could stop him, he dove in the water and swam with one arm to her. From then on, it was clear Gabe belonged in the water. He began swimming competitively at age six and developed into one of the top para-athlete swimmers in Alabama, winning state titles at the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) State Championship and the Alabama Para Olympics. “This is such wonderful news,” said AHSAA Executive Director Alvin
Briggs, who nominated Gabe for the award. “Gabe Marsh inspires us all. He is a perfect example of what the “Spirit of Sport” award is all about. We are so proud of him and are thankful to all those who helped him become the outstanding young man that he is today. We celebrate with Gabe because he has taught each of us so much about perseverance, dedication, faith, and commitment," added Briggs. Gabe is a 2022 graduate of Guntersville High School, where he participated on the school’s swimming team for four years, competing in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. Gabe has competed in various Paralympic events, including the Canada-US Games in 2017 and the 2018 National Championships.
His goal is to qualify for the U.S. Paralympic Team for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. While at Guntersville, Gabe became known as “Mr. Journalism” for his work with the local newspaper and he hopes to become a motivational speaker. “He’s unintentionally been a hero to who knows how many,” Guntersville teacher Matt Holaday told the AHSAA. “He’s not trying to be a hero. He just loves living. He’s one of the finest fellas I’ve ever known, not because he’s overcome so much, but because he’s just a good dude.” Gabe, was also named the Ken and Betty Joy Blankenship Bryant-Jordan Achievement Award state recipient in 2022. He is the second student-athlete in the AHSAA to receive the national award.
athlete swimmer from Guntersville High School, has been selected the 2023 national recipient of the “National High School Spirit of Sport Award” by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The “National High School Spirit of Sport Award” was created by the NFHS to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics. Gabe was born with no legs and only one arm. After his birth mother gave him up, Gabe was adopted at four days of age by Ed and Ann Marsh, a couple that have worked with nearly 50 foster children in their ministry and adopted several with special needs. Ann Marsh believed
Submitted Photo
Gabe Marsh
Alabama Gained 54,100 Jobs in 2022
Governor Kay Ivey recently announced that Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted January unemployment rate is 2.6%, unchanged from December 2022’s revised rate, and also unchanged from January 2022’s rate. January’s rate represents 58,411 unemployed persons compared to 59,986 in December and 60,270 in January 2022. “I’m proud to kick off 2023 with a continuation of Alabama’s unemployment rate holding steady,” said Governor Ivey. “We have been enjoying a period of low unemployment, high wages and high jobs count
for some time now, and I believe that more is yet to come. We will not back down on our commitment to continue to bring quality, high-paying jobs to Alabama.” Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 54,100, with gains in the manufacturing sector (+10,400), the professional and business services sector (+8,700) and the private education and health services sector (+7,500), among others. “Additionally, we’re continuing to see positive increases in our wages, meaning more money in Alabamians’ pockets,” said Alabama Department of
Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “This month, we reached one of our highest average weekly wages in history.” Total private wages increased by $30.12/weekly over the year to $1,008.61 in January, marking the third highest weekly wages in history. Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are: Shelby County at 1.8%, Morgan County at 2.0%, and Marshall, Madison, Limestone and Cullman Counties at 2.1%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are: Wilcox County at 8.8%, Clarke County at 5.9% and Dallas County at 5.4%.
Drug Trafficking Arrest The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention recently joined local and state leaders to present a check in the amount of $1,521,900 to organizations in Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District. The Skills Training Division at Gadsden State Community College was one of those grant recipients. The Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, also known as the Children’s Trust Fund, provides annual funding to programs across the state dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. In addition to Gadsden State, some of the other organizations to receive funding include: Family Success Center of Etowah County, Gadsden City Schools, United Way's Success By 6, Link of Cullman County, United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Alabama, Jasper Area Family Services Center, Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast AL, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Shoals, Inc., Sheffield City School, Hospice of Marshall County Shepherd’s Cove, and Family Services of North Alabama. The check presentation took place at Shepherds Cove Hospice in Albertville. Organizations Receive Funds to Help Child Abuse and Neglect Submitted Photo
One individual has been arrested with drug charges in Etowah County for Drug Trafficking. According to Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton, Kristen Amber Ball, age 30 of Gadsden, has been charged with Four (4) counts of Drug Trafficking (Methamphetamine) and One (1) count of Drug Trafficking Synthetics. On February 21, 2023 The Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit executed a Search Warrant at the residence of Kristen Amber
also a $50,000.00 Surety bond. Authorities said that the investigation in this case is still ongoing and additional state and federal charges could be filed related to this case. The Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit, Etowah County Sheriff's Office, Gadsden Police Department, the FBI North Alabama Criminal Enterprise Task Force, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force participated in the case.
Ball located at 1102 South 10th Street in Gadsden. The Search Warrant followed an investigation that consisted of Drug Sales from the residence. During the course of the investigation The Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit recovered approximately 2.3 pounds of Methamphetamine and over five ounces of Synthetic Marijuana. Ball was arrested and was booked into the Etowah County Detention Center on a $525,000 cash bond and
With the conclusion of the 2022-23 basketball season, we thought it would be a good time to reflect back to the 2001-2002 season with this picture of the Collinsville Girls basketball team. The team members were (Front L-R) Kim Willingham, Yulian Hernandez, Kayla Willingham, Shimika Jelks, and Jessica Barkley; (Back L-R) Anna Clayton, Shea Jones, Tyesse Carter, Kandace Orr, Queena Lawrence and Lisa Lanier.
Burglary and Theft Arrest
A Boaz woman was arrested on February 22, 2023 for burglary and Theft of Property. According to Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton, Allison Freida Johnson, age 42 of Boaz, has been charged with burglary 2nd, and theft of property 4th. An Altoona man was recently arrested on several felony charges. According to Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton. Cody Houston Higdon is charged with 2 counts of Theft of Property 2nd, one count of Criminal Mischief 1st, and 1 count of Domestic Violence 2nd.
The arrest is in connection with a burglary that occurred at a house on Glover Road in the Aurora area, on February 22, 2023. The victim in the case witnessed Johnson removing items from the residence. Johnson left the scene prior to law enforcement's arrival. In addition to the felony Domestic Violence charge, Higdon allegedly borrowed a truck from an acquaintance, and while it was in his possession he sold the attached brush guard, and caused serious damage to the truck, including spray painting it black. The truck was declared a total loss by the
Authorities said that Johnson came back to the scene within a few hours and immediately left. Shortly after her leaving she was taken into custody at a separate location. Johnson was booked into the Etowah County Detention Center with bonds totaling $6,000. victim's insurance company. Higdon also sold a 20 gauge over/under shotgun that did not belong to him. The brush guard and shotgun have both been recovered, and returned to the owner. Higdon was booked into the Etowah County Detention Center on bonds totaling $20,000.
JOE JOLLEY Associate Agent
DIANE PLEDGER Agent/Owner
Auto a Home a Life a Business
Diane Pledger Insurance Agency
10831 US Highway 431 North Albertville, AL 35950 Email: pledgerinsurance@bellsouth.net
Phone: 256-878-5454 Fax: 256-878-5315 Cell: 256-506-3105
Theft and Domestic Violence Arrest
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