2021 Franklin Living March-April

CHARLIE NELSON | AMY GUNDERMAN | PHILIP GOAD

March/April 2021 Vol. 12 Issue No. 2

104 years of life well-lived Feed taste for travel with Joyous Adventures

HEALING TOUCH

Veterinarian soothes pet pain with chiropractic and acupuncture

Everything Franklin County all year long CALL 256-332-1881

For information on how you can promote YOUR business in Franklin Living.

Editorial ALISON JAMES CIERA HUGHES

Contributors PHILIP GOAD HEATH GRIMES EMILY MAYS

Marketing SHELLEY OZBIRN

Administrative SOMMER MORRIS ____________________

Features 4 5 6 11 15 19 23 24 25 26

Letter from the Editor Money Matters Taste of Franklin Well lived, well loved Joyous Adventures Healing hands Education Corner Faith Focus Faces of Franklin County Why I Love Franklin County

Franklin Living is published bi-monthly

by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc. Copyright 2020 by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc. P.O. Box 1088 Russellville, AL 35653 256-332-1881 fax: 256-332-1883 www.franklincountytimes.com

ON THE COVER: Dr. Emily Beason has been a veterinarian for several years but in the past couple of years has expanded her practice to include chiropractic and acupuncture. To read her story, turn to page 19.

Franklin Living

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H

appy International Women’s Day!

Although we perhaps most often think of the women we love in May, International Women’s Day provides another opportunity – March 8 of each year – to celebrate the “social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women,” according to the observance’s website. With its roots dating back to the early 1900s, International Women’s Day is a long-standing tradition in America and around the world.

This edition of Franklin Living turns the spotlight on three local women.

Elva Lou Stidham is most certainly one of the oldest matriarchs in Franklin County. Turning 104 this month, Elva Lou and her daughter Jane share the story of a life well-lived and well-loved.

Among career women in Franklin we find Cassie Goodwin – an English teacher by day and a travel agent by night. Goodwin discovered her passion in planning trips for friends and family with her business, Joyous Adventures.

Out on the farm, East Franklin’s Emily Beason is putting her medical education to work carrying for horses and pets in need, but it’s not typical veterinary work that’s her calling. Beason performs animal acupuncture and chiropractic, and she shares why these two medical practices, while perhaps less common, can be so beneficial for the animals we love.

Of course, along with these features, this issue of Franklin Living brings all your usual favorite departments, with timely advice from our columnists and a few tantalizing springtime recipes from Amy Gunderman.

Remember to honor the women in your life, and enjoy this edition of Franklin Living.

Alison James 4

Franklin Living

MONEY MATTERS

Rebuild bad credit and fulfill home ownership dream

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uying a home is probably one of the most exciting and fulfilling events we get to experience.

It can also be one of the most terrifying – especially if you are starting out with bad credit. Don’t lose hope; there are steps you can take to help with the challenges of securing a loan and working toward rebuilding your credit.

Can you get a mortgage loan if you have “bad credit”? Many times, the answer is yes, but you will have some trade-offs.

The thing about bad credit is, no two people are the same.

There are many varying factors.

Securing a loan might depend on how much you have for a down payment, what your debt load looks like, your income and whether you have any debts in collections.

You will likely also pay a higher rate than a conventional mortgage. The lender you use will play a factor because all lenders have different requirements. Be prepared for a higher monthly payment because of the higher interest rate, but working to get your credit in shape will allow you to refinance your mortgage at better terms later on.

Do your research on loan options to see what type of loan will work best for you, and you might even choose to hold off on buying until you have a chance to repair your credit.

So, how do you rebuild your credit? Begin by working on

your credit score and credit standing. Nobody likes to hear this because it takes time and patience, but raising your score and improving your financial situation will give you better loan options.

• Improve your payment history – The saying “pay your bills on time” is essential because your history can account for 35 percent of your score. Make this a top priority!

• Don’t max out your available credit – The amount of your credit you are using matters. Work to start applying extra payments to debts to begin working those balances down sooner. Having fewer or reduced monthly debt payments helps your debt-to-income ratio.

• Increase your income – Getting a second job or asking for that raise might be necessary if you want to speed up debt pay-off. Bonus: The extra income also helps your DTI ratio! Further, having at least a two-year job history is important for loan qualification.

• Wait it out – This is definitely the most challenging part. Necessary changes to your credit score will not happen overnight; you have to let time work its magic. Setting small, incremental goals will help keep you on track and help you see the progress you’re making.

Enjoy those small victories.

Every bit of progress is getting you closer to your goals!

Emily Mays is vice president/chief administrative officer at Community Spirit Bank in Red Bay, working in finance for 15 years. She is an enthusiastic social media marketer, financial literacy advocate and go-local supporter. She lives in East Franklin and has one daughter, Lola.

Franklin Living

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Franklin Living

Seasonal recipes make for scrumptious springtime Recipes and photos by AMY GUNDERMAN

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my Gunderman has always loved Easter, but she had never cooked a special family meal for the holiday until this past year. The coronavirus kept Gunderman and her daughters from spending the day with their extended family, so she set out to make sure the holiday was still a special occasion with a few favorite dishes.

“As a Christian, Easter is a very special day that offers hope to us all,” Gunderman said. “I also love bunnies and spring. I had bunnies as a child, and my girls have also had pet rabbits. I also love hiding and dyeing eggs with my girls every year.”

Whether hosting Easter brunch or just looking for something new to serve anytime, here are some of Gunderman’s favorite dishes for springtime.

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Ingredients •

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2 cans Pillsbury orange rolls 3 eggs 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 tbsp. real butter, melted 1 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions

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1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Chop each orange roll into six pieces.

3. Place all of the orange roll pieces in a 2-quart casserole dish. Set aside the icing container.

4. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, cream, butter and vanilla; whisk until combined.

5. Pour the egg mixture over the orange rolls and shake the dish slightly so it settles evenly.

6. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the casserole is done all the way through.

7. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes.

8. Drizzle the icing that comes with the rolls over the top and serve warm.

9. Garnish glasses with fruit slices.

Note: You can prepare this the night before. Wrap tightly and refrigerate. Allow 5-10 more minutes of cooking time.

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64 oz. no-pulp orange juice 64 oz. white grape juice 1 liter 7UP Lemon, lime and orange slices, for garnishing

Instructions 1. Combine orange juice and white grape juice into a large container or punch bowl and stir.

2. Add in 1 liter of 7UP. 3. Chill.

4. Garnish glasses with fruit slices.

Franklin Living

SPINACH QUICHE Ingredients • • • • • • • • •

1 refrigerated pie crust 1 tbsp. real butter 1/2 cup diced sweet onion 4 large eggs 1 1/4 cups heavy cream 3/4 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 cup (8 oz.) finelyshredded cheese 10 oz. package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed free of water

Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and set a rack in the middle position.

2. Place pie crust in 9-inch glass pie plate as directed on box for one-crust filled pie. Prick the bottom and sides all over with a fork, pricking about an inch apart.

3. Bake until fully cooked and lightly golden, 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on it; if it puffs up while cooking, gently prick it with a fork so it will deflate.

4. Set aside and turn oven down to 325 degrees.

5. Heat butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the onions until soft and translucent, about eight minutes. Do not brown. Set aside to cool.

6. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, salt and cayenne pepper.

7. Place the cooked pie crust on a baking sheet; this makes it easy to move in and out of oven.

8. Spread the onions over the bottom of the cooked crust.

9. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the onions.

10. Scatter the spinach evenly over the cheese, breaking up the clumps as best you can.

11. Pour the egg and cream mixture over top.

12. Bake at 325 degrees for 50-55 minutes until the custard is set and top is lightly golden.

13. Serve hot or warm.

Note: I usually defrost the frozen spinach quickly by placing it in a fine mesh strainer and running hot water over it. I then gather the spinach into a ball and squeeze it dry. The spinach should be completely dry; otherwise, your quiche will be watery.

Franklin Living

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GRANDMA PEGGY’S FRUIT SALAD My Grandma Peggy always made this for our Easter dinners.

It was my childhood favorite.

Ingredients • • • • • • • •

1 package vanilla instant pudding 20 oz can pineapple chunks; drain and reserve juice 1 can of diced peaches, drained 2 cups strawberries, sliced 2 large bananas, sliced 1 cup drained maraschino cherries 2 large green apples, diced 1 cup sliced purple grapes

Instructions 1. Whisk instant pudding into pineapple juice. Allow to dissolve and thicken. If you want the mixture to be thinner, add the juice from the peaches.

2. Combine fruit in a large bowl.

3. Pour pudding mixture over fruit and gently stir to combine.

4. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Note: This does not do well to make the day before, as the apples and bananas will brown. You may also use blueberries, raspberries or blackberries. You can also use sugar-free pudding or decrease the amount of pudding you use to make this less sweet.

QUICK AND EASY QUICHE Ingredients • • • • • • • • •

1 refrigerated pie crust 1 cup half-and-half or milk 4 eggs, slightly beaten 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 8 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled (3/4 cup) 1 cup shredded Swiss or cheddar cheese (4 oz.)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 tbsp. chopped green onion, if desired to add color

Instructions 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Place pie crust in 9-inch glass pie plate as directed on box for one-crust filled pie.

3. In a medium bowl, mix half-and-half, eggs, salt and pepper and set aside.

4. Layer bacon, cheeses and onion in crust-lined plate.

5. Pour egg mixture over top.

6. Bake 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

7. Let stand five minutes; cut into wedges.

Amy Gunderman is a graduate of Phil Campbell and the University of Montevallo, and she has been in the Franklin County Schools system since 2008. She has three daughters, Leah, Anna Beth and Lara.

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Franklin Living

Franklin County native Elva Lou Stidham is about to celebrate her 104th birthday.

Well-lived, well-loved Phil Campbell’s Elva Lou Stidham marks 104 years Story by ALISON JAMES Photos by ALISON JAMES AND CONTRIBUTED

Franklin Living

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A photo from an unknown year shows Elva Lou and her husband Henry Stidham.

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or more than a century, Elva Lou Stidham has called Franklin County home.

The loving farmwife and mother has spent decades caring for her family. Although she entered a nursing home in 2019, when the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020, she had one request of her daughter, Jane: to return home to Phil Campbell.

Jane and husband Tommy Lynn live in Scottsboro, technically, but when her mother asked to return home, to the house where she’d lived for almost 50 years, they couldn’t say no. “She called me

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one day, and she was crying. She said, ‘I just want to ask one thing,’” Jane said. “She said, ‘Would you please come get me and take me home and let me die at home? I’ll only be there three days. I’m so ready to go home. I just want to die at home.”

Jane and Tommy did the only thing a loving daughter and son-in-law could do: They brought their mother home. That was almost a year ago now. “I have not been home since,” Jane said. “I’m just thankful the Lord gave me that opportunity – to be available to come and take care of her. I just keep praying he gives me the strength.”

Franklin Living

A 2004 photo shows Stidham at age 87.

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in her chair or in bed. She’s grown hard of hearing, and her memory comes and goes – Jane said sometimes her mother knows who Jane is, and sometimes she doesn’t. But whether her mother remembers or not, Jane has her own clear memories, from the stories she has been told and the moments she lived herself.

“They had a hard life. She was one of 10 kids, and they are all gone now, except her,” Jane said. The daughter of

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Before transitioning to the nursing home at age 102, Stidham had maintained her independence, living at home by herself until she was 98. In the intervening years, Jane and her brother Frank took turns staying with their mother a week at a time. Now, as Jane stays with her around the clock, she said she can see her mother’s life is becoming more fragile. Stidham can no longer walk, debilitating arthritis keeping her

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Tencie and Thomas Kennedy, Stidham was one of the middle children of her big family. They lived on a family farm in the Hodges area.

Jane remembers family gatherings with her late aunts and uncles; Mother’s Day was always a family-centered occasion, with a houseful coming together for a big dinner. “Mother did most of the cooking,” Jane said – and Stidham would make everyone’s favorites, like poke salad and eggs for Tommy. “She would always make a special effort.” Desserts were a favorite for Stidham to prepare, like “a lane cake for Christmas – she got the recipe out of The Progressive Farmer magazine years ago. It was so good because it was totally from scratch.”

Cooking from scratch has been a lifelong labor of love for Stidham. She and husband Henry – whom she married in 1936 – had nearly everything they needed on their family farm. “We lived on a farm, and we raised everything,” Stidham said. “We had cows and things like that.”

“We raised our own hogs and cows and had our own beef and sausage,” Jane added, remembering her and her siblings’ youth, helping tend the farm. “We raised everything – all of our food. She even had lard made out of the hogs. The only thing we ever really had to buy was meal and flour. Daddy would go down to the gristmill in Hackleburg and buy meal. We raised everything else.”

Cooking for her family was a constant in Stidham’s life – except for each Sunday. “She said that was the the Lord’s Day, and she wouldn’t cook,” Jane said. “She’d always cook her Sunday dinner on Saturday. She was an avid church-goer.” The family went to Phil Campbell Baptist Church, where Stidham was a Sunday School teacher and continued to attend until her later years, when she could no longer walk – and then church members would come to visit her in her home. “Three from church have been very good to come and visit,” Jane said. One of those special friends would often

bring Stidham fresh flowers. “Mother’s always had flowers everywhere.”

Sarah Nix is one of many friends and neighbors who cherish memories with Stidham. “I moved there in 1961, and we built a small house next door to them,” explained Nix, who was the same age as Stidham’s oldest daughter, Nancy. “She was just like a second mother to me. Her daughter and I finished school together.”

When Nix later adopted a son, Stidham was on hand with plenty of parenting advice and a home-cooked meal now and again.

“She was a wonderful, wonderful woman,” said Nix, adding that Stidham was also a mentor to other younger church members.

Church member Ruth Nix describes Stidham as a “godly, precious lady.” “When my children were little, she was so precious to them. She was their Sunday School teacher,” Nix said. Nix added she would often thank Stidham for teaching her children about God, and “she would say, ‘You had such sweet children.’ She was good to everybody.”

In addition to managing the family farm, Henry Stidham worked on the alloys side at Reynolds Metals Company, east of Sheffield. “It was about the biggest plant around, when I was growing up,” Jane said. “It was good if you had a job at Reynolds.

He had good insurance. She still uses his insurance.” Henry passed away in 1982 from lung cancer. “They had a good life. They made it on their love,” Jane said. “And they have always taught us love – to love one another and do for one another.”

Jane, 75, is the youngest of Elva Lou and Henry’s four children.

Older brother Frank lives across the street in Phil Campbell; older siblings Nancy and Bill have passed away. In addition to her four children, Stidham’s many years have yielded eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. She will celebrate her 104th birthday March 20, 2021. As Jane puts it, “Mother has had a really good life … She’s the strongest-willed woman I have ever known.”

A collage of photos made by Stidham’s granddaughter show the many people who have been an important part of her life.

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Franklin Living

Joyous Adventures Franklin Living

Traveling passion leads to side career for Cassie Goodwin

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Goodwin enjoys a trip to Universal Studios.

Cassie Goodwin visits Disney’s Polynesian Villas.

Story and photos by ALISON JAMES

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nce upon a time – that’s how all the great classics begin, and it’s how Cassie Goodwin’s story of becoming a travel agent begins, too.

Once upon a time, Cassie Goodwin was a middle school English teacher with no thoughts of having any sort of side business. A Moulton native, Goodwin and her family had moved to Russellville when husband Jason was named assistant principal at the high school in 2015.

It was when planning a family vacation to Disney World that Goodwin decided to seek the services of a travel agent. She was referred to Jennifer Casselman, owner of Joyous Adventures out of Tuscaloosa. “She planned the whole thing, down to our dining and Fast Passes, to a T,” Goodwin said. It was a magical way to begin their vacation at the “Most Magical Place on Earth.” “It just saved me time and hassle. Any question I had, she was right there to answer it for me or tell me where to go to find it. She was there literally every step of the way.”

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They say a satisfied customer is the best advertisement, and Goodwin began to prove that idea. After her own positive experience, she said she was referring everyone to Joyous Adventures for vacation planning – and Casselman soon approached Goodwin about becoming a travel agent herself.

“I love to travel and see new places and things, but I never dreamed this would be a side job of mine,” Goodwin said. It was July 2020. She was stunned at the offer but also immediately enthused. She went through 18 hours of rigorous training over a twoday period and learned everything there was to know about popular vacation packages, including Disney, Universal and cruises. It was information overload – “I’m still learning” – but it provided the foundation she needed to start planning joyous adventures. “It’s just blown up from there,” Goodwin said. “People are so ready to travel right now because they have been home for almost a year.”

Goodwin started by organizing a family trip to Universal Studios over fall break in September. Since then she has planned

Franklin Living

The Goodwins take in Universal as a family.

“I love to travel and see new places and things, but I never dreamed this would be a side job of mine.” more than a dozen trips for clients, even amid obstacles presented by COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions and event capacity limitations. “Anywhere you want to go,” Goodwin added, “we can get you there.”

The biggest misconception about using a travel agent, Goodwin said, is the cost – namely, that there isn’t one, at least not to clients. People who are considering using a travel agent should understand they will not pay any fee to that agent.

“Why not utilize something that’s not costing you any extra money?” Goodwin said. “I try to remind people, my services are free to them. I do get paid, but they don’t pay me.” Instead, travel agents are paid via a commission by the hotels, airlines and resorts with which they book travel. “One of the very first questions somebody asked me was ‘Why should I use a travel agent?’ And I was thinking, ‘Why would you not?’”

Franklin Living

Goodwin said she doesn’t find it difficult to be both an English teacher and a travel agent, although it does require pulling long hours. She will work on planning trips in the early morning and late evening around her school schedule, about 20 hours a week.

Goodwin said she and her fellow travel agents know how find deals and plan a trip that will best suit a client’s needs. Through building relationships with certain vendors and suppliers, travel agents can pin down special discounts for their clients. “It’s a chase for me to try to get the best price, the best location, the best room,” Goodwin explained. “I just enjoy seeing where people are going, and they love to know where other people have gone. It’s a lot of fun.”

Joyous Adventures has eight travel agents across the Southeast, each serving a different geographical area. In addition to serving clients, being a travel agent has stoked Goodwin’s desire to travel.

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Goodwin prepares treat bags with important information and fun extras for all her clients.

“I want to travel more than we do because I feel like people don’t know where to go,” said Goodwin. “A lot of people are still scared to get on a plane right now or scared to fly out of the country.” As COVID-19 restrictions begin to loosen, Goodwin said she hopes travel herself to show other people it’s safe and to be able to give first-hand experience and knowledge about different locations.

Daniell Johnston and husband Robert are among the clients with whom Goodwin has worked, and Johnston said using a travel agent made the planning process so easy, they are already eager to work with Goodwin to plan a second trip – even though their first one isn’t until this summer. The Johnstons will visit St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, returning to a location they have previously visited during a cruise on their honeymoon and for a family vacation.

“Literally in about 20 minutes, she had our whole entire vacation planned – flights booked, hotel booked, transportation booked. It was the easiest process I’ve ever done,” said Johnston, who connected with Goodwin via her Joyous Adventures page on Facebook. “We can’t believe we haven’t used a

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travel agent in the past. It made looking forward to a vacation that much better because we didn’t have the stress of planning it ourselves.”

As a State Farm agent in Moulton, Johnston said she also enjoyed the opportunity to support a small, local business like herself, and she praised Goodwin’s Facebook page for the great opportunities she shares there. “Cassie does a really good job posting deals daily,” Johnston said. “I would see all the things she would post and all the information … She posts vacations that are financially affordable for a lot of families. That’s a big plus.”

As Goodwin continues to grow her business, she said now is a great time to be a travel agent. People are eager to travel after a long year of stay-at-home measures, and they are excited to make memories and have experiences in lieu of purchasing gifts. “It’s the experience. There’s so much to see.”

For more information find Joyous Adventures with Cassie on Facebook or contact her at 256-565-3205 or cassie@joyousadventures.com.

Franklin Living

Healing touch

County veterinarian augments practice with acupuncture, chiropractic for pet pain

Franklin Living

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Acupuncture for horses, like her own Leroy, is one of Beason’s key services.

Story and photos by ALISON JAMES

S

ince 1989 the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association has been credentialing animal chiropractic professionals to expand and promote knowledge and acceptance of the practice. Since 1974 the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society has been the premiere voice certifying veterinarians to offer animal acupuncture.

And since 2019, local veterinarian Dr. Emily Beason has offered these specialized forms of care for clients in north Alabama and beyond.

Beason, who founded and operates New Horizons Integrative Veterinarian Services, earned her veterinary degree from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine about six years ago. She soon found, however, that traditional medicine wasn’t always the best answer for the animals she treated. Adding chiropractic and acupuncture as potential alternatives to traditional treatments like surgery just made good sense.

Although most people have probably heard of chiropractic and acupuncture for humans, the idea of these practices being used to bring relief to animals might be less familiar. Despite the difference in patients, the implementation of each practice is similar no matter the recipient.

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Franklin Living

Acupuncture, Beason explained, is an art of inserting needles into specific locations on an animal’s body to elicit different responses. It helps with muscle soreness, pain, arthritis, skin problems and even eye problems. Chinese herbs can be used alongside acupuncture to aid in treatment.

Chiropractic is the art of adjusting areas in the body where there is a lack of motion, causing an impediment of communication to the rest of the body – resulting in motion restoration and a more natural balanced state for the body.

After achieving her AVCA certification following her training at Parker Chiropractic College in Dallas and earning her IVAS certification for acupuncture, Beason was ready to expand her services to animals in need.

“Surgery has its place, but not everyone can afford that,” explained Beason. “This is a natural way to find some pain relief.”

Beason provides some care from her home in East Franklin, but the majority of her practice is based at several nearby clinics. She primarily treats animals with traditional needs as a veterinarian at County Line Veterinary Services in Danville three days a week, while offering her New Horizons services on the side. She focuses on her expertise in acupuncture and chiropractic at North Alabama Animal Hospital in Muscle Shoals, one to two days a month. Beason praised NAAH for its skilled veterinarians, led by

Franklin Living

Dogs like Beason’s Duncan can benefit from chiropractic.

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Emily and Caleb Beason have two children, Eliza Jane, 4, and Everett, 6 months.

Dr. Troy Youngblood, and their commitment to allowing her to offer alternative medicine to clients there. She also recently started offering chiropractic and acupuncture at Animal Medical Clinic in Huntsville, and she crosses the state line to treat horses across west and middle Tennessee.

Horses and dogs are the primary recipients of Beason’s expertise. She said many other animals, like show sheep and show pigs, can also benefit, particularly from chiropractic, but “a lot of my work is horses,” especially show horses and those that compete in barrel racing. She has also treated cows – in fact, helping her mentor with acupuncture for bucking bulls during an externship was one experience that stoked her desire to offer acupuncture herself.

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Back pain, neck pain, bladder issues, arthritis, skin issues – all can potentially be relieved by acupuncture, chiropractic or some combination of the two. Of course, not every ailment or every animal is a candidate for Beason’s services. Cats, for example, are not good acupuncture patients. “They don’t tolerate it as well,” Beason noted. “The needles aren’t as well tolerated.”

When Beason isn’t traveling far and wide to bring her healing touch to animal in need, she’s a part-time stay-at-home mother to Eliza Jane, 4, and Everett, 6 months. She is married to Caleb, who teaches agri-science at Phil Campbell and is past president of the Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association, and they live on their family farm, Star B Cattle and Aussies, just east of the Newburg community on the outskirts of Russellville.

Franklin Living

EDUCATION CORNER

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Spring brings chances for students to shine

t seems like every message I write has something to do with the coronavirus, but those are just the times we’re living in right now. While the coronavirus is affecting just about everything we do, we are still very hopeful that our students will have as normal a spring semester as possible, including our spring sport student-athletes and our students involved in extracurricular activities.

Spring is always an exciting time on campus, with baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, golf and track seasons all in full swing. Last year, with the statewide school shutdown, our spring sport athletes had to miss out on most of their seasons and all the memories and fun times that come with them. We know how devastating that was for these students, coaches and parents, so we are doing all we can to ensure these sports are able to safely continue this spring.

Spring is also an exciting time for our fine arts programs, as the band, drama, show choir and chorus programs prepare for spring shows and concerts that always showcase what talented students we have at RCS. These students also had to miss out on these events this past year, so we are praying

and preparing for ways to safely restore these events this year.

We are thankful for the success we saw in the fall with the sporting events we had and are hoping for the same success this spring.

We would like to encourage our community and others to support our students this spring however you can.

Whether it’s coming to a game, meet, match, concert or performance while wearing masks and social distancing; giving to one of their fundraisers; or just building them up through encouraging words on social media or in the community, there is something everyone can do to support our students as they adjust to a very different spring season than they’re used to.

Don’t forget: The measures we take as a community affect RCS. In addition to the things I previously mentioned, you can also help us have more of a “normal” spring semester by doing your part to limit the spread of the virus. The healthier the community is and the healthier everyone is at home, the easier it will be to help our schools be as germfree as possible.

We appreciate our community and all the ways you support RCS. As always, it’s GREAT to be a Golden Tiger!

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Heath Grimes is the superintendent of Russellville City Schools. He and his wife Amy have three daughters: Leah, Halle and Erin.

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h a t a r e you most uncertain about right now?

Perhaps your answer is the moral and political future of our nation. The recent presidential election and the aftermath of unrest are stark reminders that our nation continues to be divided – perhaps more so than it has ever been.

It might be that your greatest uncertainty relates to the pandemic. As we continue to struggle with figuring out how to navigate life in a safe manner, many are having to learn to navigate alone following the loss of a loved one to the virus.

From pandemic-related health concerns to wondering about the moral and political future of our nation, it seems everything around us is changing. Each day seems to bring a new challenge. We continue to talk about returning to normal or a “new normal,” but no one knows when this might occur or what it will look like when it arrives.

In the midst of uncertainty, we desperately need something solid, reliable and unchanging. Thankfully, God’s answer to this need was planned prior to the creation, and his answer never changes.

As the book of Hebrews concludes, the inspired author makes a powerful statement about Jesus. Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the

same yesterday, today, and forever.” Isaiah’s prophecy concerning him states that he would be referred to as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Through prophecy recorded in Psalm 2, God speaks of him as “My King” – one to whom all the kings of the earth will eventually answer.

In other words, an unchanging Jesus is not only God’s answer for us; he is also in control no matter how crazy things are around us. It is worth noting that Psalm 2 concludes with an amazing promise from God for those who have a relationship with his son: “How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” The obvious question becomes, how well do you know Jesus? Do you have a relationship with him? Are you aware of how much he loves you?

Are you aware of what he sacrificed for you? Are you aware of his will and purpose for your life? Are you aware of his promised return?

Allow me to challenge all of us to be more deliberate in spending time in God’s word, for it is there that we meet Jesus. Sit down soon and read through one of the gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.

Better knowing Jesus and our place in his story will help us understand how to navigate the uncertainties of life with a confidence that can only be found in him.

Philip Goad is the minister at North Highlands Church of Christ in Russellville. He is married to Marla, and they have a daughter, Kayla Thorne, who is married to Josh. They also have a son, Preston, and one grandchild, Greyson Thorne.

Franklin Living

FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY A late February snow across Franklin County made for some fun memories in Franklin County.

Photos CONTRIBUTED

Lennox, Makenna, Linlee and Emoree Murray Ty Hester

Greyson Cox

Jaxton

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Franklin Living

25

Why I Love Franklin County

Charlie Nelson

С

harlie Nelson graduated from Russellville High School in 2006 and now works at Tiffin Motorhomes. The Franklin County native is in human resources at the Red Bay company.

1. What does your work at Tiffin Motorhomes entail?

I tell myself I have 1,100 brothers and sisters to keep up with on a daily basis, jokingly. My primary role involves keeping time, maintaining records, carrying out procedures and preparing a variety of complex documents.

“I love this place because it’s my home of 33 years.

The fact that I can go to Walmart or any other local place and have someone call me by name and stand and talk for awhile just means the world to me.”

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2. What do you enjoy about your job?

I chose this job because I love people. Being in HR, you deal with a variety of individuals, and I simply love it because everyone is different in their own way. It means a lot to be able to help someone, and in this position, you get many questions on a daily basis. I’ve always said treating others with respect and helping them is the main purpose of my job.

3. What is your favorite place to visit in Franklin County?

I love our whole county; it’s very dear to me. I know many people

throughout the whole county. I guess my favorite place is Golden Tiger Stadium when I am running.

I have spent many Friday nights there watching Russellville play football, and it takes me back to my school days.

4. What are your favorite Franklin County restaurants, and what do you like about them?

Frosty Inn has the best banana split in the world! Swamp John’s is just good ol’ country cooking at its best.

5. Why do you love Franklin County?

I love this place because it’s my home of 33 years. The fact that I can go to Walmart or any other local place and have someone call me by name and stand and talk for awhile just means the world to me. But I like to talk, and I like people, so that why I like small-town life.

FAST 5 1. Favorite hobbies: Running, basketball and car shopping 2. Favorite food: Smoked chicken 3. Goal or Ambition: To own a funeral home in Franklin County 4. Church: Church of Christ 5. Something people might not know about me is: Andy Griffith is my favorite TV show are Willie’s Roadhouse and Kudzu 104.9.

Franklin Living

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