Heading back Heading back to schoolto school
A look at how teachers A look at how teachers spend their summer spend their summer
New Phil Campbell High New Phil Campbell High School nearing completionSchool nearing completion
August 2014 Vol. 4 Issue No. 7
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20A new chapter
New Phil Campbell High School nears completion
25 A year of firsts
Students discuss big mile-stones in their school careers
36A teacher’s summer
Teachers talk about what they really do during summer break
8 What To Do
12The grass is greener
RHS Marching Hundred unveils new grass practice fieldRu
16 Wellness
18 What’s Hot
30 Cooking with Sam
33 Classifieds
40 Looking Back
42 Parting Shot
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P.O. Box 1088 • Russellville, AL 35653256-332-1881 • fax: 256-332-1883
www.franklincountytimes.com
General Manager Nicole PellManaging Editor Kellie Singleton Sales Peggy HydeCirculation Geraldine BondsEditorial/Photography
Franklin Living is published monthly by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc. Copyright 2011 by Franklin County
Newspapers, Inc.
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t doesn’t seem like we should already be using phrases like “back to school”, but as sad as that may be for some, the real-ity is that students and teachers will indeed be heading back to school in just a few short weeks.
When I was young, I loved summertime. It was always excit-ing to pass the hurdle of the “last day of school” and finally make it to those care-free days of sleeping late, playing outside, going to the pool and having slumber parties with friends on weeknights.
But, seeing as though I have pretty much been a nerd my whole life and have come to embrace my nerdiness to its full, somewhere after the Fourth of July, I would start to get restless and ready to head back to school with my friends. I would get excited when the stores would start putting out the “back to school” supplies, and I would make my infamous lists, marking down each and every school supply I needed, and then hound my mother until she would let me go ahead and purchase my color-coded folders, notebooks, pencils and erasers.
Now, I’m sure not every child will be as excited to start back to school as I used to be, but with the two excellent school systems we have here in Franklin County, there is certainly a lot to look forward to in the coming school year.
In this issue of Franklin Living, we explored several school-related topics.
One of the stories that hit close to home for me is the story on the RHS Marching Hundred’s new grass practice field that they will be able to use for the very first time this month. I can remember vividly all five burning hot and ridiculously humid Alabama sum-mers spent at band and color guard camp because I don’t think I will ever be as hot as I was during those few weeks. But after years of planning, the Marching Hundred has a grass practice field that is all their own for the first time in its history, and across the county toward the end of July, you should be able to hear these students rejoicing at the difference it makes.
This issue also features a look at what most teachers actually do during their summer break (and contrary to what many people think, it doesn’t include lying on a couch watching soap operas all day, every day). It takes a lot of planning and work for a teacher’s classroom to look great on that first day, and it takes a lot of time spent in workshops and continuing education classes for teachers to stay on top of the latest technology and educational tools.
We also have four different profiles on local students who will be celebrating some milestone “firsts” this year as they head off to kindergarten, middle school, high school, and college for the first time.
And finally, the town of Phil Campbell has been waiting anx-iously for the grand opening of their brand new, state-of-the-art high school that has been in the construction phase since January 2013. The school, like much of the town, had to be rebuilt after the devastating tornado came through the area on April 27, 2011. Even though the school won’t be completed until after Labor Day, it is already a breath-taking sight for this community that has had to overcome so much in the past three years.
Even though there are still several weeks left of pool parties, bar-becues, and summer fun, we hope this issue of Franklin Living gets you excited about heading back to school.
FCNI managing editor Kellie Singleton with her husband, David, and their dog, Phoebe.
IFROM THE EDITOR
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WHAT TO DORussellville Youth Basketball CampJuly 15-17The 5th Annual Russellville Youth Basketball Camp will start July 15 and go through July 17 at Russellville High School and Russellville Middle School. The camp will be from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day. You can register at the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department now through July 14. The registration fee is $25 per camper.
Vina pre-k registrationJuly 17Vina School now has Pre–K. Alabama’s nationally recognized First Class Pre–K is now accepting applications for the 2014-2015 school year at Vina High School. Enrollment is open to all children who are residents of the State of Alabama regardless of fam-ily income. Applications will be available on Thursday, July 17, 2014, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Vina High School. You will need their birth certificate, blue card, proof of residency (utility bill), social security card, and the name of Medical Insurance Carrier and Policy Number. The random selection drawing will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. Acceptance to the program is through a random selection process. The registered applicant must meet residency requirements
and complete the essential docu-ments set forth by the program. Children will not be denied par-ticipation on the basis of income, sex, race, color, national origin, or disability.
Watermelon Beauty Pageant July 19The 2014 Watermelon Festival Beauty Pageant will be Saturday, July 19, at the Russellville City Schools Auditorium. Applications are available at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce or at www.franklincountychamber.org. For questions, please call 256-332-1760.
Russellville Middle School registrationJuly 21-24The Russellville Middle School reg-istration dates will be July 21 – 24. The sixth grade will register on July 21, from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. The seventh grade registration will be on July 22, from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. The eighth grade registra-tion will be on July 23, from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. The new student reg-istration will be on July 24, from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m.
Vina July FestJuly 26The annual Vina July Fest attracts
visitors from all over he area. Come out and enjoy games, crafts, and giveaways.
Teachers start back to schoolAugust 4 Russellville City School SystemFranklin County School System
First day of school for studentsAugust 7 Russellville City School SystemAugust 8Franklin County School System
Rockinʼ at the RoxyAugust 9The Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council hosts the Rockin’ at the Roxy concert series the second Saturday each month.
Watermelon FestivalAugust 15-16Come enjoy a good time in down-town Russellville this August at the Franklin County Watermelon Festival, hosted by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. The Watermelon Festival has been recognized as one of the top attractions in the state of Alabama each August. The two-day festival includes concerts, games, crafts, vendors, and all the watermelon you can eat.
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OUT & ABOUT
FCCDC representative Kathy Hall presents checks to Brianne Hester, Leah Borden, Lindsey Stancil, Brittany Garner, and Blanca Aquirre for the Tharptown High School cheer-leaders.
FCCDC representative Kathy Hall presents checks to Meaghan Hardy, Brooklyn Scott, Courtney Baker, and Chloe Brown for the Phil Campbell High School cheerleaders.
FCCDC representative Kathy Hall presents checks to Stanley Champion for the Union Community Center playground equipment and storm shelter expenses.
FCCDC representative Kathy Hall presents checks to Brianne Hester for chair purchases for the Tharptown High School gymnasium.
FCCDC representative Kathy Hall presents checks to Brett Thomas for the Phil Campbell boys’ and girls’ basketball programs.
The following groups were recently awarded grants through the Franklin County Community Development Commission, which is an entity set up through the efforts of Sen. Roger Bedford, Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, and other members of the Tennessee Valley caucus who worked to make sure TVA in-lieu of tax funds were being re-distrib-uted in the counties where the money was generat-ed. The committee consists of two appointed mem-bers, Brad Bolton and Kathy Hall, and a chairman, which rotates between the mayors of Russellville and Red Bay every two years. Currently Red Bay Mayor David Tiffin serves as the chairman. Funds are used to promote economic development, edu-cation, and recreation in the area.
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The grass is greener...
STORY BY KELLIE SINGLETON
PHOTOS BY KELLIE SINGLETON
igh school students from around the county who are involved in their school’s marching band spend many hours during the summer battling the heat and humidity to make sure their performances for the
upcoming football and competition seasons are top notch. Most local band programs have what’s
called “band camp,” where students work on marching basics, drill, sets and music for their new halftime show.
For the Russellville High School Marching Hundred, their band camps have garnered quite a reputation, especially among current
students and alumni, for being some of the hottest and most brutal days of a student’s high school career.
And this is due in large part to one specific reason – the asphalt driver’s education range that has been the Marching Hundred’s practice “field” for more than 40 years.
Summer after summer, Marching Hundred members have sweltered on the hot parking lot that features striping and markings that mimic those on the football field they perform on each Friday night in the fall.
The blistering heat that has forced current band director
Gary McNutt and several band directors before him to banish practices in the heat of mid-day has been a problem for a long time.
Because of this, McNutt had an idea several years ago for the Marching Hundred to have their very own grass practice field behind the RCS Fine Arts Building – a place his band students could practice without literally melting the soles of their ten-nis shoes.
And this summer, that idea has finally become a reality.Behind the RCS Auditorium now stretches a 60-yard plot of
thick, green grass that will soon boast yard lines and a smaller version of the band tower that now sits in the driver’s ed park-ing lot.
“The idea of a grass practice field has been kicked around for several years, but the actual concept started coming together between 2009 and 2010,” McNutt said.
“We knew we had available space behind the fine arts build-ing and the auditorium, but you can’t just clear it off and it be suitable for a practice field. There were many different factors that had to be considered before we could get to this point.”
Once the plans were created and the positioning of the field was nailed down, McNutt said the land had to be cleared and
H
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graded to receive the best drainage, overseed-ed with grass seed, and all the electrical lines and the fiber optic lines had to be buried.
“We really appreciate the Russellville Electric Department for all of their help getting the area ready,” McNutt said, “and we appreciated [superintendent] Rex Mayfield and the school board for their support of this project as well. It is going to be a huge benefit to our students and our program.”
One of the obvious benefits will be the break from the scorching heat of the asphalt parking lot.
“Moving to a grass practice field will cut the temperature by 20 to 25 degrees,” McNutt said.
“After all the years of enduring the heat and wondering how hot it actually was out there on the parking lot, two years ago we measured the surface temperature during band camp and it was 128 degrees on the lot and 139 degrees on the black yard lines.
“We have actually seen it melt the rubber on the soles of tennis shoes before. That just makes for some miserable practice conditions, especially in the hottest part of the summer.”
Besides the respite from the heat, McNutt said other advantages to the long-awaited and much-anticipated grass practice field include being in closer proximity to the band room and practicing on a surface more similar to the field the band actually performs on.
“Marching on asphalt is a lot different than marching on grass,” he said.
“This field will give us a truer feel for what the
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students will be performing on.“And being closer to the band room will be a great benefit,
not just because we’re closer to bathrooms and air condi-tioning and equipment, but because we’re closer to shelter.
“There have been many times when a storm would come up quick and we’d have to rush the kids off the parking lot and back up to the band room and it would already be pouring down rain or lightning by the time we could get all the equipment loaded and have everyone back at the band room.
“The benefits of this field are just endless, and we’re excited to finally have it near completion.”
The Marching Hundred’s auxiliaries, including the color
guard, majorettes and dance line, have already been doing conditioning practices, but the full band will gather in July to begin going over the music for this upcoming season and learning their new sets.
“We’re all looking forward to our first band camp on the grass,” McNutt said.
“I’ve heard from some of the alumni who have expressed concern that the students won’t get the full ‘Marching Hundred experience’ by not practicing on the asphalt, but we’ve told them not to worry – we’ll still be practicing on the parking lot in the evenings and in the fall, but thanks to the new field, we just won’t have to do it when it feels like it’s 130 degrees out there.”
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WELLNESSWhether students purchase lunch from school or bring lunch from home, there are ways to guarantee a more diverse offering and better nutrition. Here are some guidelines to follow.
A Offer nutrient-dense foods. Foods should contribute to the daily recommended amounts of protein, iron, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Provide a selection of foods, such as lean protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, that will give children the nutri-ents they need. Nutrient-dense foods also help kids feel fuller, longer.
b Limit fat intake. Avoid foods that do not get their fat from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Saturated fats can lead to obesity and clogged arteries. The American Heart Association recommends kids get no more than 25 to 35 percent of their calories from fat. Fish, nuts and olives are healthy fat sources.
c Let kids choose some of their food. Allow kids to pick some of the healthy foods they will be eating. Giving kids a say in their diets will make them more likely to enjoy their lunches and cut back on snack foods. Eating meals regularly will keep energy levels up during school and make kids less likely to reach for unhealthy snacks to fill hunger gaps.
d Make small changes that add up. Switching from white bread to whole grain breads, and opting for low-fat dairy products instead of full-fat dairy products can make a world of difference. Kids may not notice a change in texture or flavor, and many of kids’ favorite foods, such as chicken nuggets, pizza and macaroni and cheese, can be made with healthier ingredients.
e Remember, beverages count, too. Giving children a healthy lunch and then packing a sugar-filled, high-calorie drink negates your efforts. Calories from beverages can quickly add up. Water is always the best option for a healthy drink. Low-fat milk and real fruit juice consumed in moderation also make healthy alternatives to sugary beverages.
he benefits of a healthy diet are clear and well docu-mented. In addition to providing the nutrients a grow-ing body needs, consuming a balanced diet helps children maintain a healthy weight. Obesity continues to be a growing problem among school-aged children
and can contribute to the onset of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and many other adverse medical conditions.Children attending school will eat at least one meal away from home each day. A healthy lunch provides sound nutri-tion to give students energy to do well in school and for the rest of the day. Children who do not eat well at lunch may have difficulty concentrating, while others may feel sluggish or tired.As part of the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the United States National School Lunch Program was revised to guaran-tee healthy, nutritionally sound choices, as established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for lunch. America’s school menus were altered to be healthier than ever, including more fruits and vegetables while limiting calories. Despite some controversy through the years, including some students saying the smaller portions and food choices aren’t always satisfying, states suffering from high child obesity rates have seen marked improvements.
T
The ABC’s of The ABC’s of making school making school lunch healthierlunch healthier
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WHAT’S HOT
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A new chapter for PCHSor more than a year, construction crews have been working round the clock on the new Phil Campbell High School, and within a few weeks time, the shiny new doors will open wide to welcome a whole new generation of students ready to learn and grow.
The community has been buzzing about the new school ever since con-struction officially began on Jan. 3, 2013.
Citizens and students have watched with excitement as, slowly but surely, bricks were laid, walls went up, a roof went on, and the new school finally began to take shape.
And for a close-knit community like Phil Campbell whose hub has always been the local high school, this has been a great sight to see.
“The town of Phil Campbell was devastated by the torna-do in April 2011 and it was sad for many in the community when the old Phil Campbell High School was damaged beyond repair,” Franklin County Schools Superintendent
Gary Williams said.“For a long time, the old school stood there as a con-
stant reminder of what the people of Phil Campbell had endured.
“When the old school finally came down, it was sad but it was also a special part of the rebuilding process for the town.
“Seeing how far we have come and how soon we will actually be welcoming students and faculty into the school is exciting for everyone.”
Williams said construction has been steady, and even though there have been some weather-related setbacks, crews are set to finish up six months before the original projected date.
“Feb. 15, 2015 was the projected date for us to com-pletely finish up this project,” Williams said, “but we always hoped we could get in the school in time to start the 2014-2015 school year.
“We’re going to be a few weeks off from what we hoped, but the students should be able to be in the new school right after Labor Day.”
FSTORY BY
KELLIE SINGLETON
PHOTOS BY KELLIE SINGLETON
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The 105,000 sq. ft. facility houses five distinct sections – the main building, the media center, the career tech building, the band room, and the gym/auditorium.
“Having a combination gym and auditorium was something we had to compromise on because there wasn’t enough funding to have a separate auditorium,” Williams said.
“We hated to have to do that, but now that we see the almost finished product, I think this will be a great option for PCHS.”
Williams said the gym/auditorium is similar to the one at nearby Northwest-Shoals Community College which could house 1,300 people.
“We have it set up so that there is a basketball court that runs the length of the gym, but the gym is wide enough to have two full courts running horizontally so there can be two separate practices or games going on a once,” he said.
“There is also a concession stand that can be used for
games or used during the school day to get state-approved snacks.”
Near the gym/auditorium is a section of the school that will put many students’ and parents’ minds at ease – the school features four safety rooms with a hallway and bathrooms that have been reinforced with concrete and steel to with-stand winds of up to 300 mph.
“These four rooms will be utilized as classroom space, a place for our cheerleaders and for a weight room for our student athletes, but they can hold 1,000 people if we ever need them for a tornado warning,” Williams said.
“With everything that happened three years ago, this was something our par-ents, students and faculty really wanted to see. These rooms will also be open to the
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public after school hours.”The band room features an office, a shower, storage, and
22-ft. ceilings that will allow the band as well as the auxilia-ries to practice indoors.
The wide-open media center will have a place for books as well as a computer lab for research.
The career tech building will feature an ag shop as well as a home economics classroom and lab.
The two-story main building will house all the academic classrooms, two computer labs, a science lab, teacher work rooms, the nurse’s station, and the main office.
And all of the sections of the school surround a courtyard area that students can use during the school day.
“We can’t wait for the students and teachers to finally get into the school and begin utilizing all of the new features and resources,” assistant superintendent Donald Borden said.
“This school is truly something the community can be proud of for years to come.”
For the Franklin County School System, students start back to school on August 8, so Williams said that would mean the students would be displaced for a few weeks until the project is completely finished after Labor Day.
“Northwest-Shoals Community College has offered to let our Phil Campbell High School students have class on their Phil Campbell campus from August 8 through August 15,” Williams said.
“After that, we’re still looking into a few options until the new school is ready after Labor Day.”
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A year of FIRSTS
ew backpack? Check.New lunchbox? Check.Advice from older sister about school? Check.Tissues for mom and dad when their baby starts
kindergarten? Check.Max Wright, son of Chris and Leslie Wright, will begin kin-
dergarten at Red Bay High School on August 8. This day is definitely one filled with excitement, but Max
has one thing he is especially looking forward to on that first day of school.
“I can’t wait to play on the play-ground,” Max said.
“I like the slides the best and the playground is going to be the most fun.”
Most parents look upon the first day of kindergarten with mixed emotions.
It is exciting to see them start the adventure of school, but at the same time, kindergarten marks yet another milestone that lets parents know their baby is growing up.
“I would say we feel bittersweet about Max starting kindergar-ten,” Max’s mom, Leslie, said.
“We are happy and sad at the same time.”While they may be a little sad about Max starting kindergarten,
the Wrights have been trying their best to help prepare him for that first year of school.
Leslie said Max has been preparing for kindergarten by going to Ms. Rhonda’s pre-school located in Red Bay.
“Max has been going to Ms. Rhonda’s preschool since he was three years old,” Wright said.
“While in her class, he was able to visit the kindergarten classes and eat in the school lunchroom. They also had the opportunity to play on the school playground and he is very excited about that.
“He is also looking forward to making new friends.”Along with attending preschool, Max also has an advantage
some children starting kindergarten might not have – an older sibling who will be starting the sixth grade this year.
Max’s sister, Lily, has offered advice to her younger brother about starting kindergarten.
“She said the best advice she could give him was to listen to the teacher,” Leslie said.
One of Red Bay High School’s three kindergarten teachers, Dawn Wilemon, also has valuable advice to offer to parents of kindergarten students.
“As a kindergarten teacher beginning my 19th year and a mother of two children, the best advice I can give parents with a
child beginning school is to be involved,” Wilemon said.“When your child sees the importance we as parents place on
education, it helps establish a firm foundation on which to build each year.”
Max also says that along with the playground, he is looking forward to eating in the lunchroom.
“I want to eat pizza in the lunchroom and drink chocolate milk,” he said.
While excitement is the biggest emotion Max will feel on the first day of kindergarten, his Mom said he is also a little nervous, which is natural on such a big day.
“He’s excited about the playground and new friends, but he is also a little nervous about doing homework,” Leslie said.
When asked about any special traditions the Wrights have or will begin for the first day of school, Leslie said she has always taken off for Lily’s first day of school and Max’s first days of pre-school.
“I like to be able to take them and pick them up on their first day, since my husband, Chris, gets to do it every day.”
And that first day will be here in just a few short weeks when Max Wright will put on his new Spiderman backpack and the class of 2028 will begin school.
“It’s sad that he’s growing up, but I’m so happy that he is excited about this new adventure,” Leslie said. “I just hope the teachers are ready for him.”
That’s a sentiment that will probably be shared with many parents across the county, along with tissues, on the first day of kindergarten.
N
STORY BY BRANDI MILLER
PHOTOS BY BRANDI MILLER
Heading off to: KINDERGARTEN
26 FRANKLIN LIVING
oseph Franklin has some older brothers who have been willing to share tips and tricks with him, and his mother is a teacher in the Russellville City School system. But change is always difficult and
sometimes it can be a bit scary.When Franklin starts the sixth grade at Russellville
Middle School this August, he will be entering a new stage in his life – a stage he is both excited and anxious about.
“I’m worried about the exams,” Franklin said. “I’ve heard the exams are going to be really hard.”
Franklin said that he has also heard from some of his friends that there are sometimes fights in middle school.
“I’ve seen a fight before, but I just don’t want to worry about that stuff,” Franklin said.
But like most people were at his age, Franklin is not excited about losing the leisure time that elementary school offered.
“I’m going to miss the recess time and the parties that we had,” he said.
Franklin said he is nervous about changing classes, something that he did a little bit of in fifth grade, and that he might not be able to find his classes.
“I don’t want to get in trouble for being tardy or not being able to find my classes,” Franklin said.
“I’ve heard that if you are late then they will lock you out.”
Franklin said he and his friends will be able to help each other out, though, and that having older brothers be able to share some tips might be an advantage.
“My friends and I can help each other with finding our classes and probably with our homework, too.
“My brothers give me a hard time about it,” Franklin
STORY BY MATT WILSON
PHOTOS BY MATT WILSON
Heading off to:Heading off to: MIDDLE SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL
said, with a wry smile, “but they give me some advice and tell me about the teachers.”
Franklin said he is excited about the new opportunities that come with moving up to middle school and he hopes to be able to try some new things.
“I am interested in the band and want to try and play either the trombone or the drums,” he said.
Franklin said he gets nervous when he thinks about the change, but said he and his friends will figure it out.
“On the first day I will probably compare classes with my friends and see what we have together,” Franklin said.
“I just hope there are no mean teachers.”Joseph’s mother, Trina Wells Franklin, said that she has
seen this transition a few times before.“I’m not nervous for him,” she said. “After the first day, the kids start to understand every-
thing—they start to settle in.“I’ve seen through being a mom and a teacher that as
far as moving up kids, tend to like it better.Franklin said ultimately he is looking forward to the
change and thinks it will be good.“I’m looking forward to having a locker with a combina-
tion on it and being able to sit wherever I want during lunch,” he said.
“I think sixth grade will be fun.”
J
27FRANKLIN LIVING
igh school is a busy time for most students. There are part-time jobs, extracurricular clubs and events, sports and cheerleading, and of course the homework.
And when Bethany Harris hits the hallways at Phil Campbell High School in August she plans on trying to juggle all of those without letting one fall.
“My dad is going to keep me in line for sure,” Harris said.
“He said I have to keep my grades up if I want to keep playing basketball and softball and do cheerleading. I expect to be able to do that because I work hard.”
Harris is moving from East Franklin Junior High School to Phil Campbell High School to start the 10th grade.
Naturally, Harris has an equal amount of worry and excitement about the transition from a small class of 13 kids to the larger halls of high school.
Harris attended pre-school in Phil Campbell before moving to East Franklin for kindergar-ten through ninth grades, so this will definitely be a big change.
“I’m looking forward to there being a bigger group in high school than there was in middle school,” Harris said.
“At the same time, I am going to miss the small school and seeing everyone and knowing everyone.
“I’m worried about finding my classes, too, when I get there. And I have heard that some of the teachers are hard. I’m kind of worried about that.”
Harris’s older brother has been able to pass along some advice and information as well.
“He told me that I will miss East Franklin and that there might be more bullying in high school,” Harris said.
“But I think I can handle all of that.”With the rumors of difficult teachers, borderline impos-
sible math classes, and the expectation of more respon-sibilities, Harris said she knows life is about to get a little harder but also maybe a little more fun, too.
“I practice the sports that I play just about everyday and I work hard,” Harris said.
“I know it is going to be harder to balance out school and sports, but I think it is going to be fun.”
Harris said moving to a bigger school with a larger group is something that she is looking forward to, but there might be a trade off that comes along with that.
“When my life gets busier I might not be able to see my friends as much as I used to,” Harris said. “We’ll just figure it out.”
Harris said she and her friends will help each other out in the transition into high school and that helping juggle all of their activities in the future will be important.
“We will help each other find our classes or with home-work,” Harris said.
“And we will all find time to see each other as much as we can.”
STORY BY MATT WILSON
PHOTOS BY KELLIE SINGLETON
Heading off to: HIGH SCHOOL
H
28 FRANKLIN LIVING
very year in Franklin County roughly 200 gradu-ating seniors will enroll in college.
Change is always hard and takes some getting used to, but for the handful of seniors that will be
leaving home and heading off to a distant college, it can be a source of excitement and a source of anxiety. It will be a time to start a new life, make new friends, and, for lack of a better phrase, grow up.
Two local graduating seniors, Will Hester and Brooke Smith, will be embarking on this new life adven-ture.
Both have been longtime friends and classmates at Russellville High School, and now they are headed in
different directions at rival schools – Hester will be enroll-ing at Auburn University and Smith at the University of Alabama.
It hasn’t hit them yet, but they know they will soon realize how much they miss high school.
“I think I will start to miss high school when I come home to visit and I’m not on the track cheering for the football team,” Smith said, “and when I start to think about all the great memories I had at RHS.”
“I think it will be when classes begin and I look around and see a lot of new faces and none of the people I grew up with,” Hester said.”
But missing high school is a natural part of growing up and moving on to the next chapter in their lives, and both students said they are looking forward to their new life as college students.
“I am most excited about rushing a sorority and going to Bama games as a student,” Smith said.
Hester said his new found independence and a fresh start were the biggest perks for him.
“I really look forward to meeting new people and being out on my own for the first time,” he said.
But of course there are also a lot of unknowns about the college experience, which is cause for some anxiety for any college-bound stu-dent.
“I am actually really excited about moving away because I’m ready to be independent and become more of an adult,” Smith said.
“But even though I’m excited, I am still anx-ious and nervous about doing everything on my own, like doing my laundry and dealing with problems in class.”
And after having help from teachers and fam-ily staying on track during high school, being responsible for those things as a college stu-dent will be a whole different ballgame.
“Time management will be the biggest thing for me,” Hester said.
“I want to be really involved on campus but also make sure I keep up with my assignments and make good grades.
“It will be a challenge, but I’m excited and ready for the new experience.”
Hester said recent experiences have gotten him excited about activities on campus.
“I just came back from Camp War Eagle,” he said.“I attended a lot of informational meetings on clubs
and fraternities while at camp, and I plan on getting involved as soon as I’m settled in.”
Smith agreed.“I have to move to Tuscaloosa a week early to rush for a
sorority, so hopefully I will be involved in the Greek life at the University of Alabama this fall.”
With equal parts of anxiousness and excitement sur-rounding their big move to college, both RHS alums feel they have been adequately prepared for college.
“I took college prep classes all four years of high school, but I also learned a lot about responsibility,” Smith said.
“The main thing that prepared me for this moment was the diligence of my teachers and taking dual enrollment classes my senior year,” Hester added.
But of course, in the state of Alabama, the football rivalry between Alabama and Auburn is paramount all year long, but it is especially apparent in the fall.
With just a few weeks left until the first game of the season, it’s no surprise that both Smith and Hester are excited to see how their first season as students will turn out.
“I am so excited to be in the student section at Alabama,” she said.
“Bama games are so much fun already and I know they will be even better as a student. And of course Alabama will win the Iron Bowl this year. We are the best school and we for sure have the best football team. Auburn is going down.”
“Give me a ‘second’ to think about it,” he said with a smile. “Yeah, Auburn is definitely going to win.”
E
STORY BY BART MOSS
PHOTOS BY BART MOSS
Heading off to: COLLEGE
30 FRANKLIN LIVING
Pound Cake
1 stick of butter, softened3 cup sugarCream together
Add 5 eggs, one at a time.3 cups fl our1 cup milk2 tsp. lemon fl avoring
Start in a cold oven, set to 325 degrees, bake for 30 minutes. Then bake for an additional 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
Cooking with Sam Cooking with Sam Recipes by Sam WarfRecipes by Sam Warf
FOOD
Potato & Spinach Sandwiches
¾ pound spinach leavessalt2 cloves garlic, chopped4 anchovies, fi nely choppedfreshly ground pepper1 medium potatofl our for dusting1 egg, lightly beaten with 1 tsp. waterbread crumbsoil for frying
Wash the spinach & leave damp. Place in a pot, sprinkle with salt, cover and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. In a processor or blender, puree the spinach, garlic, anchovy, salt & pepper. Parboil the potato until soft but not quite done. Peel and cut in 1/8” slices. On half of the slices spread the spinach, then cover with the potato slices. Press gently so they hold together. Dust with fl our, dip the egg, then coat with bread crumbs. Fry in oil until golden brown. Use white bread, French or Italian.
31FRANKLIN LIVING
FOOD
3 cups fl our1 tbsp. baking powder1 tsp. salt¼ tsp. cayenne pepper1/8 tsp. black pepper4 oz. cheddar cheese, cut into ¼ inch cubes1 ¼ cup milk¾ cup sour cream3 tbsp. butter melted
1 egg-lightly beaten1 tsp. garlic
Mix fi rst 5 ingredients, stir in cheese until coated, fold in wet mixture. Do not over stir. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes, remove from pan. Allow to cool one hour before serving.
2 cups sugar½ cup butter½ cup shortening½ cup buttemilk3 eggs½ tsp. soda2 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. vanillaFlour suffi cient to make a soft dough
Cream butter and shortening,
add sugar, then beaten eggs. Into one cup fl our sift soda and baking powder. Add this to the sugar mixture. Add milk and vanilla and enough fl our to make a soft dough. Turn onto a fl oured board, knead until smooth. Roll out ¼ inch thick. Cut in any shape. Bake about 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven or until brown.
3 ripe banas½ cup butter1 cup sugar4 tbsp. buttermilk1 tsp. soda2 eggs2 cups fl our½ cup chopped walnuts1/8 tsp. salt
Cream butter and sugar in mixer. Add bananas and mix well. Add eggs and continue mixing. Add soda that has been dissolved in butter-milk. Add with fl our and salt. Fold in nuts. Bake in 1 large or 2 small greased and fl oured loaf pans for 60 min-utes in a 350 degree oven.
Cheese Biscuits
Tea Cakes
Buttermilk Banana Bread
32 FRANKLIN LIVING
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix fl our, baking powder, cinnamon & salt. Mix sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla & pecans until well blended. Add fl our mix-ture, mix. Reserve 1 cup batter for later use. Spread remaining batter into a lightly greased foil-lined 13x9 baking pan. Bake 15 minutes or until fi rm. Microwave caramels and milk until caramels are completely melted, stirring often. Pour over baked layer in pan. Drop reserved batter by spoonfuls over caramel layer. Cut through batter with knife to marbleize. Bake 15 minutes longer or until center is set. Cool completely in pan. Cut into bars.
33FRANKLIN LIVING
34 FRANKLIN LIVING
OUT & ABOUT
FCCDC representative Kathy Hall presents checks to East Franklin Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief Rodney Alexander for a central unit for the new fire station.
Sen. Roger Bedford and FCCDC representa-tive Kathy Hall present checks to Russellville head football coach Mark Heaton for the Spirit Pack Program purchases.
FCCDC representative Brad Bolton, Sen. Roger Bedford, Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Red Bay Mayor David Tiffin present checks to Franklin County EMA director Roy Gober for the Burnout Fire Department parking lot improvements at the storm shelter.
Sen. Roger Bedford and FCCDC representa-tive Kathy Hall present checks to Russellville Middle School coach Larry Gilmer for the RMS football team.
FCCDC representative Brad Bolton, Sen. Roger Bedford, Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Red Bay Mayor David Tiffin present checks to Vina High School principal James Pharr for the VHS awards ceremony.
The following groups were recently awarded grants through the Franklin County Community Development Commission, which is an entity set up through the efforts of Sen. Roger Bedford, Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, and other members of the Tennessee Valley caucus who worked to make sure TVA in-lieu of tax funds were being re-distrib-uted in the counties where the money was generat-ed. The committee consists of two appointed mem-bers, Brad Bolton and Kathy Hall, and a chairman, which rotates between the mayors of Russellville and Red Bay every two years. Currently Red Bay Mayor David Tiffin serves as the chairman. Funds are used to promote economic development, edu-cation, and recreation in the area.
Sen. Roger Bedford, Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Red Bay Mayor David Tiffin present checks to the Red Bay cheerleaders for their cheer camp.
35FRANKLIN LIVING
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OUT & ABOUT
A teacher’s summereachers don’t get paid to be in the classroom during the summer months, but that doesn’t stop them from caring about their students and preparing for the
upcoming school year.No one could blame any teacher for
not wanting to get anywhere near a school during the summer.
However, despite the public percep-tion, many teachers work in their class-rooms or at home during the summer to prepare to provide the best possible educational experience possible for their classes.
They also attend workshops to find out what other teachers are doing to educate children and to enhance their own professional development.
Debra Lawler teaches kindergarten at Russellville’s West Elementary School.
She uses the summer to attend work-shops, prepare lesson plans and prepare her classroom for the upcoming school year.
“I go to workshops that are offered in the summer that will
give me more ideas for the classroom to help my students to be successful,” Lawler said.
“This year we have a new reading series, so we have attended a reading workshop to help prepare us on how to prepare instruction for our students.
“I have also been preparing lesson plans for this new reading program.
“I have started buying classroom sup-plies and getting my room ready for the new school year, too.”
Kristen Headlee, sixth grade teacher at Vina High School, is using her summer to reflect on how she can improve her teaching techniques and use technol-ogy to enhance student learning.
“This year, I’m organizing my class-room library by reading levels so my students can find a book they would like to read based on their level of read-ing,” Headlee said.
“I’ve also spent time reflecting on my teaching techniques and noted the changes I’d like to incorporate this
T
STORY BY BART MOSS
PHOTOS BY BART MOSS &
KELLIE SINGLETON
37FRANKLIN LIVING
upcoming year. In July, I’m attending a workshop on using iPads in the classroom.”
Dawn Wilemon, a kindergarten teacher at Red Bay Elementary School, was in the process of creating decora-tions for her class when contacted for this interview.
“I have been sitting at my table all night cutting birds,” Wilemon said.
“I choose a theme for my room each year and work on decorations all summer. Last year was a circus. This year is birds – ‘Welcome to Mrs. Wilemon’s nest!’
“I work from the middle of July in my classroom placing the decorations I have made and getting our room ready. I also attend workshops to help with planning curriculum.”
Angie Garrison teaches at Tharptown Elementary School. She attends workshops during the summer but also believe it’s important to give her children and family a lot of atten-tion during the summer.
“I attend workshops to learn new techniques to use in my classroom, I search Pinterest for project ideas and fun class-room decorations, I clean out and reorganize my room,” Garrison said.
“But, I also feel it’s important to relax and recharge by
spending time with my family to get ready for the new school year.”
Karen Gilbert, math teacher at Phil Campbell High School, has attended eight days of AMSTI (Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative) training this summer. She says that gives her an opportunity to hone her skills in the classroom.
“These sessions are designed to give teachers new ideas and new classroom tools,” Gilbert said.
Teachers may get the summer off but one thing is clear – they don’t take the summer off.
38 FRANKLIN LIVING
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39FRANKLIN LIVING
LOOKING BACK
40 FRANKLIN LIVING
LOOKING BACK
41FRANKLIN LIVING
42 FRANKLIN LIVING
PARTING SHOT
“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”
- Anthony J. D’Angelo
www.tif nmotorhomes.com
Liz Jones has seen many changes during her 16 years with Tif n Motorhomes.
When she rst began working for the company in 1998, there was no active computer system in the parts department.
“For the rst year or so I was here I just worked on getting de-scriptions of the parts
on to the computer so the salesmen could use them,” said Jones, who grew up in Red Bay and graduated from Red Bay High School.
Over the years, the work grew from parts to putting warranty claim data in the computer and turned into a department of its own, which now includes seven employees.
“My department puts the data in, then the guys at the service center approve the warranties and return them to us and we send out checks,” she said.
Her work encompasses a variety of roles and allows her to in-teract with customers on a daily basis. Jones takes calls from cus-tomers looking for warranty and recall work, but she also works directly with Bob Tif n.
“I take customers’ calls for Bob when he is out of the of ce and try to help answer their questions or get them to the right person who can help them,” said Jones, who worked in production con-trol and purchasing at another area plant prior to coming to work at TMH.
Working and living in Red Bay is certainly nothing new to the Jones family, which includes Liz’s husband of 26 years, Mike, who is a nancial advisor with Edward Jones in Russellville, and their 13 year-old daughter, Abbey.
“I have been in Red Bay all of my life except for the four years that I was at (the University of North Alabama in Florence) and I think I came home every weekend but one then,” she said with a laugh.
While at UNA, Jones triple majored in Accounting and Finance and in Marketing.
And while her career path kept her close to home, there was a time when the couple wasn’t so sure where they would be.
“Mike was in the military when we got married and we spent the rst six or seven months apart,” she said.
Mike, who is a Vina native, was stationed in Biloxi, Miss., at the time so he and Liz commuted on the weekends to see one another.
“He had been working all over the world for short periods of time so we didn’t want to relocate not knowing how long he would be there,” Jones said. “His home base was in Biloxi and after we were married it worked out where he wasn’t traveling anymore.”
So, after settling in and building their careers in Franklin Coun-ty, where both of their extended families still live, the couple now devotes much of their “free” time to their daughter’s activities.
“We do whatever Abbey is doing,” Jones said.
Right now, a good deal of Abbey’s activities revolve
around her role in the Red Bay High School marching band and youth activities with the family’s church, Red Bay Free Will Bap-tist Church. She is on the church’s tic-tac-toe Bible team and com-petes against other youth groups in the denomination.
The family also carves out a little time each fall for something very dear to them – Alabama football.
“Mike loves Alabama football so our fall is full of Alabama football,” Jones said.
“And now that Abbey is in the band, our Fridays are lled with Red Bay football.”
And that’s ne, even for someone who really isn’t that much of a football fan herself.
“We just enjoy doing family activities together and that’s mostly what we do.”
Liz JonesLiz Jones
Tif n Motor HomesTif n Motor Homes105 Second Street NW • Red Bay, AL105 Second Street NW • Red Bay, AL
256-356-8661256-356-8661
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