2017 May/June Franklin Living

May/June 2017 Vol. 7 Issue No. 3

Teaching with tech

Hands on learning A matter of Pride

Contact Russellville City Hall at 256-332-6060

304 Jackson Ave. N Russellville, AL Russellville City Councilmen David Palmer, William Nale, Arthur Elliott, Jamie Harris, Gary Cummings, & Mayor David Grissom

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Teaching with tech

FROM THE MANAGER

Vina school incorporates technology into daily education

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I

A matter of PRIDE RCS showcases tradition of excellence

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Fresh Blueberry Oat Bars Hands-on learning FACS classes reach students at Red Bay

6 Faces of Franklin County 20 What’s Hot 21 Classifieds 25 Wellness 26 Faces of Franklin County 28 Looking Back 30 Parting Shot 4

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n each of the communities we serve, our students and their education and extracurricular activities constitute such a very large part of lives. A large portion of the news we bring to you each week has a lot to do with something going FCNI General Manager Nicole Pell with her husband, Hans. on at school or sports.

I’ve been out of high school for just a few years now, and I am still asked, “Where did you go to school?” They don’t mean college; they mean high school. It just seems to be a way of really getting to know someone, finding out the size of school they went to and the size of town they lived in. Questioners might remember if that school had a great football team one year or some other such detail.

I think we are lucky here in Franklin County to have the quality schools we have, with faculty members who care about their schools and the students.

Russellville High School recently held the second Golden Tiger Pride Night, to show the public everything the school system has to offer and to highlight some of the programs that are not always in the spotlight, like football. What a great way to get up close and personal with RCS programs and get a peek inside the school walls.

Nowadays, technology is very hard to ignore – it is everywhere. We all practically carry computers in our pockets and call them phones. Vina is trying to introduce as much technology to their students as possible.

Principal James Pharr has made it his mission to make sure the students are exposed to technology in several forms.

Of course, regardless of how much computers have advanced, nothing replaces learning a few life skills. FACS classes at Red Bay are teaching students some of the basics that are not always taught these days but you really can’t survive without – such as basic cooking and sewing skills.

If you can read the features in this magazine, please thank a teacher.

Someone took the time to teach you how.

ON THE COVER: Third grader Lane Easterling, fifth grader Kenzlee Bohannon, sixth grader Wyatt Kennedy and fourth grader Cai Lawler are a few of the students who are benefiting from increased technology in Vina school. Check out the story inside this edition of how Vina is putting an increased focus on tech in the classroom.

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Franklin County Where YOU live, work and play!

Events and Activities Phil Campbell Hoedown, June 16 & 17 Jam on Sloss Lake, July 4 Watermelon Festival Beauty Pageant, July 22 Other Attractions

· Bear Creek Lakes · Red Bay Museum · Cypress Cove Farm Bird Trail · Dismals · Roxy Theatre-2nd Sat. of each month · Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park · King Drive In · Bay Tree Council of Performing Arts

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. · 256-332-1760 Website: www.franklincountychamber.org Email: info@franklincountychamber.org

General Manager NICOLE PELL Franklin Living is published monthly

by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc. Copyright 2011 by Franklin County Newspapers, Inc. P.O. Box 1088 • Russellville, AL 35653 256-332-1881 • fax: 256-332-1883 www.franklincountytimes.com

Franklin Living

Managing Editor ALISON JAMES Sales PEGGY HYDE Circulation TOMMY MORRIS 5

FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY In late April, West and Russellville elementary students honored local heroes to cap off their Super Citizen program through Liberty Learning Foundation.

Photos contributed by Liberty Learning Foundation

Eric, Jonathan, Allison, Matthew, Lily Cate and Haylee

Brandon James and Chloe

Mildred Young and Chloe

Brett Evans and Mya

Terry Stockton and Peyton

Linda Gable and Emily

Kennley, Jason and Patricia Thorn and grandson Dylan

Pedro Francisco, Jackson and Sam

Matt Cooper and Madi

Shane Mansell and Jemma

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Franklin Living

FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY

Jonathan Copeland and Ella

Cassie Medley and Ansley

Larry Greenhill and Hannah

Kelli Dodd and Kimberly

Bernice Bolton and Nancy

JoAnn Pearson and Emmy

Bonnie Bendall and Aidyn Kate

Father Vincent Bresowar and Naylin

Kelli Dodd and Ruby

William Stone and Raney

RCS Superintendent Heath Grimes, CB&S Bank Matt Cooper, Alfa Barrett Gilbert, Liberty Learning Foundation’s Tricia Bobo and Sunny the Squirrel

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Teaching with tech

Vina school incorporates Chromebooks, clickers and more into daily education

Story and photos

by ALISON JAMES

W

hatever the future of education holds, one fact is almost certain: it will include technology. And despite the way technology changes in the blink of an eye, Vina elementary and high school classes are racing along with innovation to provide the level of education their students deserve.

When James Pharr took the principal’s role at Vina High School in 2003, he put an immediate focus on bringing more technology into the classroom.

“He was very pro-technology. The first thing he did was to start making sure all classrooms had computers in them. There were classrooms here that didn’t have a computer, and there Chris Sparks, Shaya Gaudet and Sarah Hill enjoy time on the Chromebooks in Deborah were some that weren’t working,” Townsend’s kindergarten class.

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explained library media specialist Patti Swinney.

“After that, we started building from there.”

In the library, where there were once only five computers, there are now enough for a full class to utilize. A converted home economics lab houses a computer lab. It doesn’t stop there. A point of pride for Pharr is that technology – in a variety of forms – is in use across every grade in the school.

New this year, kindergarteners are on the Chromebooks every day, where they get to learn through a number of different alphabetbased games. Kindergarten teacher Deborah Townsend said the Chromebooks have made all the difference. “We are living in a technology age. I think the younger you can start them the better,” Townsend said. “They think it’s fun, but they are learning so much.”

Title I funds, Franklin County Community Development Commission grants and other sources of funding are continuously leveraged to bring the newest technology to the classroom. Students’ education incorporates myriad hardware and software, from noisecanceling headphones to aid in verbal quizzes and Accelerated Reader tests to interactive clickers that provide immediate feedback – which are a staple of many classrooms – along with everything from online educational games to apps and other programs.

From top: Brayden Schooler, Mason Tedford and Layla Hester use technology to aid in classroom lessons at Vina.

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Using green screen technology, children in Shea Miller’s Pre-K class see themselves transformed into butterflies, incuding Adalynn Pharr.

Vina teachers Jamie Payne, Bryna Lawler and Leigh Burks, along with all their colleagues, are enthusiastic about the role technology can play in the classroom.

In the Pre-K class, students’ pictures, videos and drawings go into an online journal that parents can access through an app. “It’s a great parent involvement tool for us,” said Pre-K teacher Shea Miller. “It’s a great way for parents to see what they are up to.” Pre-K students have also recently been enjoying green screen technology.

In Jamie Payne’s fourth through sixth grade science classes, students get to watch educational videos and then take quizzes with their clickers.

“It sticks with them,” she explained. Payne uses a digital slate as she walks around the room, which she said helps her with classroom management.

In Jessica Hamilton’s English classes, she utilizes a paperless classroom, with all assignments posted – and submitted – through the schoology website.

In Coach Richie Hester’s history, geography and science classes, technology also plays a part, including GPS, digital scales, drones and PowerPoint.

“Our world is run by technology,” Hester pointed out. “We must teach our students to use technology in a beneficial and successful way, not just for a toy … Without current technology in our schools, we

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Clicker technology provides immediate feedback, beneficial for students and teachers alike.

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Nylah Allison works on an Accelerated Reader test.

would fall behind the advanced countries of the world and might not be able to keep our freedom and other benefits we take for granted.”

It’s important, Swinney agreed, for Vina students to be competitive in terms of educational pursuits – with their contemporaries across the county as well as beyond. “We want them to have the same experiences as other students,” Swinney said. “No matter what you do, you’re going to have to use technology. If we didn’t have it here, our kids would really – I don’t what they would do.”

For Pharr, the need for robust technology at Vina is certain and painfully apparent.

“Go down the highway, and these kids don’t have Internet service. They don’t have anything.

Your phone will go out if you ride down the road,” Pharr said. “But this is a place where they can gain … A kid in podunk Alabama can go on a computer and, if they don’t how to manipulate percentages, a Youtube video will show them. They can learn anything. They can use it for good. I know there’s bad, but they can use it for good.”

Technology use, Pharr asserted, is non-negotiable “if you’re going to advance in education. And now,” he added, “it’s in skilled trade and everything. Even

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Nicholas Athey, Matthew Patterson and Miranda King use tech during their reading class.

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to fill out an application, you better know how to use a computer.”

He’s not blind to the reality that keeping up with technology in a small rural town like Alabama has more than its fair share of challenges. “There’s no money,” Pharr said. But despite the poverty rate and other barriers, Pharr said technology remains – must remain – a priority. “It’s the future,” he said. “It’s just a great way for kids to get a head start.” He foresees a future in education where not just one teacher’s classroom will be paperless, but a whole school, filled with virtual reality headsets, Nooks, iPads and tablets of all sorts and devoid of textbooks and library paperbacks and scribbled sheets of ruled loose leaf paper.

“I just want our kids to have a great chance because a lot of kids don’t,” Pharr said. “With the right guidance, the sky is the limit for them.”

Kaley Attaway, fifth grade, discusses a science quiz question with her group before selecting an answer via clicker in Jamie Payne’s science class.

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A matter of PRIDE

RCS showcases tradition of excellence Story and photos by ALISON JAMES

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n Russellville City Schools, Superintendent Heath Grimes and the Board of Education wanted to find a way to highlight everything the system had to offer – from Pre-K through 12th grade, from academics to athletics, from the nutrition program to fine arts to the newly-developed Academies.

What came to be was Golden Tiger Pride Night.

“We wanted to remind parents and community members what our school system had to offer,” explained Cindy Coan, who teaches family and consumer science courses at Russellville High School. She serves as one representative on the five-member committee put together by Grimes to coordinate the exhibition night. “We are a system of traditions; a system of excellence; and I think we had not taken the time in a long time to put that out there to the community. I think we had gotten closed in. A lot of people, when they see Russellville City Schools, they only see the athletics. They don’t see robotics; they don’t see career tech; they don’t see AP; they don’t see ACT scores; they don’t see all the things our elementary schools are doing.

“We had a lot to offer – we just hadn’t put that out there.”

The first Golden Tiger Pride night was held in 2016 and invited Golden Tiger fans to come on campus and enjoy a night of free admission to watch Golden Tiger baseball, a free hotdog, and a large-scale presentation in the RCS auditorium featuring booths from each school highlighting different RCS 14programs.

Champ is portrayed by Jax Greenhill, and he brings spirit to RHS athletic events.

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ABOVE: The Child Nutrition Program at Russellville City Schools disseminated information and breakfast treats at Pride Night. BELOW: Hannah and Lilliana Figueroa flip through a yearbook at one school’s booth. BOTTOM: RCS student ambassadors hand out copies of the strategic plan.

The response was beyond what anyone expected.

“I had no idea it would be such a big night,” said Grimes, who conceived the showcase at the end of his first year as superintendent. “What I envisioned was being able to showcase some of the programs and some of the things happening in our school system. I know parents don’t always see the good things we have going on. It was a way to communicate the programs and exciting things happening in our school system.’”

Grimes said when he organized the committee to begin discussing a showcase night, it quickly went from a very small event to something that was anything but – owing in large part to the passion of the committee members.

“They were the perfect people to serve on that committee because they love this school system,” Grimes said.

The first-year committee included instructional tech Monica Moon and teachers Patrice Smith and Stephanie Mayfield, in addition to Coan – one teacher from each school. Mayfield described the 2016 program as “electric.”

“You could just feel everybody’s positive vibes,” said Mayfield, who represented the elementary school and, as cheerleading coach, coordinated the cheerleaders’ efforts in service to the night. “It was such a mammoth crowd.”

In addition to all other indications of success, a 12-minute video highlighting RCS programs garnered 14K online views.

With all the positive response, Grimes and his committee knew Pride Night would become a repeat event.

In 2017, with Mayfield transferred to the high school, the committee added Michelle Murray to continue to have an elementary school representative. Grimes said she jumped right

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in with the same fervor, and the committee began to revamp Pride Night for 2017 – “a night of celebration,” Mayfield said, “for the community and the schools.”

“I’m the biggest cheerleader for my school system,” Coan added. In addition to showcasing RCS to parents and the community, “it’s a pep rally for the faculty and staff.” It’s also, committee members agreed, a way to remind faculty members, just as much as the committee, all the things that are taking place and resources that are being provided campus-wide.

“When you consider a school system like ours and all that we have going on, it's difficult to know what is happening, what is being offered and what opportunities are available,” said Smith. “That's why I think Pride Night is so important. This is the

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RCS Tiger Pride Night Committee members are Michelle Murray, Monica Moon, Cindy Coan, Patrice Smith, Stephanie Mayfield and Heath Grimes.

Miss RHS Hailey Peters sings the National Anthem at Pride Night.

one night that our entire system comes together to celebrate everything we do and everything our students do. This is a night to stop and see what we have accomplished and what we are in the process of accomplishing.”

In 2017 the committee found a way to streamline and focus the event. Organizers opted to have the booths set up at the pressbox outside the stadium, where Golden Tiger fans enjoyed free entry to girls and boys soccer games, with softball also offering free admission just across campus.

“It was a family and community night,” Moon said. “It was about getting to experience what a night on Russellville City Schools campus is, with all the lights on and everybody’s in.

“It’s interaction with our student body and community members who might not have students here having that opportunity to come in and see.”

The system also used Pride Night 2017 – held April 20 – to formally launch the RCS strategic plan, which details the focus and goals for the system, designed based on input from last year’s stakeholder survey. With baseball, soccer and softball wins, combined with the dissemination of crucial information, “there were a lot of things to celebrate that night,” Grimes said.

He said he hoped community members were able to get a full, holistic picture of everything RCS has to offer. “I want them to understand the value of Russellville city schools. We’re not just a system with nice buildings and great athletic programs. Children are getting a quality, well-rounded education. It very well might be the most well-rounded school system in the state of Alabama.”

For Grimes, that means not just great academics, nor just great athletics, but also a focus on building good character, good work ethic, strong school spirit and all the intangibles that turn children into successful adults. “I want people to see that we have a strong, well-rounded school system. It’s not all about

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just producing a highly-intelligent or highly-academic student; it’s about educating them on how to treat people.” That holistic approach is “what Pride Night is all about.”

“I think it’s a great way to end the school year on a positive note,” Mayfield added. “It can only build our communities. I think it’s just going to get bigger every year.”

“It's about our Golden Tiger Family, parents, students, community members, friends, graduates, faculty and staff,” Smith agreed. “It brings our hard work and successes full circle.”

Grimes highly commended his committee for their efforts in putting the showcase together.

“Those five women are selfless, and they work really hard,” Grimes said. “They have excellence, and they bleed black and gold. It’s very evident in what they do. It’s a pleasure to work with them.”

Mayfield credited Grimes for his vision for event. “He wants to celebrate everything that is good about RCS. He wants everyone to buy into that and be a part of it,” said Mayfield. “He’s very excited about everything he does, and it’s contagious. He is pumped up all the time.” Administrative assistant and former high school principal Tim Guinn, Mayfield added, has also been crucial. “He is the solid foundation. He is such a supporter of everything.”

Members of the organizing committee said they heard only positive feedback about the 2017 event. “I think it was a complete success. We had a great turnout,” Moon said. “I was able to talk to some parents, and they were nothing but complimentary of our system and the facilities.”

“I am so thankful to be part of the planning process of this night,” Smith said. “I feel like I am able to have a very small part of something wonderful and authentic to our system. We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for here at RCS. That's what this night is about.”

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FOOD

Cooking with Sam Recipes by SAM WARF

Fresh Blueberry Oat Bars 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour, divided 1 cup quick-cooking oats 1 2/3 cups sugar, divided 3/4 tsp. baking powder

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2/3 cup salted butter, melted 2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened 4 large eggs 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 cups fresh blueberries 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with baking spray with

flour. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, toss together 1 1/4 cups flour, oats, 2/3 cup sugar, baking powder and butter. Lightly press oat mixture into the bottom of prepared dish. Bake until crust begins to brown around edges, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes on a wire rack.

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3. Reduce oven to 325 degrees.

4. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with a mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add remaining 1 cup sugar and remaining 2 tablespoons flour; beat until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until combined.

Add lemon juice and vanilla. Spread blueberries over cooled crust; pour cream cheese mixture over blueberries.

5. Bake until knife inserted 1 inch from the edge of baking dish comes out clean and the center feels firm when lightly touched, approximately 40 minutes. Let cool for 2 hours on a wire rack.

6. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about three hours. Cut into squares. Garnish with confectioners’ sugar just before serving.

1 tsp. salt 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed 1 large egg 1/2 cup sour cream 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Peach Cobbler Bars 2 cups firmly-packed light brown sugar, divided 3 tbsp. cornstarch 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp. ground ginger 8 cups peeled, pitted and diced fresh peaches (about eight peaches) 1 tbsp. orange zest 2 tbsp. fresh orange juice 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup old-fashioned oats 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Pecan Pie Thumbprint Cookies 4 cups pecan halves 2 tsp. kosher salt, divided 1 tsp. grated fresh nutmeg, divided 2 cups unsalted butter, softened 1 1/3 cups sugar 4 egg yolks 2 tsp. vanilla extract 4 cups all-purpose flour Pecan Pie Filling (recipe on left)

Pecan Pie Filling 3/4 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 dark corn syrup 2 1/2 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted 1 large egg 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/8 tsp. kosher salt

1. In the work bowl of a food processor, combine pecans, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp nutmeg.

Pulse until nuts are finely ground. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl.

2. Beat butter and sugar at medium speed until creamy, three to four minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour,

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9-inch baking pan with foil. Spray with baking spray with flour. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Stir in peaches, orange zest and juice until combined.

3. In another large bowl, whisk together remaining 1 cup brown sugar, flour, oats, baking powder and salt. Using two forks, cut in butter until crumbly. In a small bowl, whisk together egg, sour cream and vanilla until smooth. Add egg mixture to flour mixture, stirring until combined.

4. Using the bottom of a measuring cup, press 3/4 of flour mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Stir peach mixture; spread evenly in pan.

Sprinkle with remaining flour mixture.

5. Bake until browned and set, 40-45 minutes.

1/2 cup chopped nut mixture, remaining 1 tsp. salt and remaining 1/2 tsp nutmeg. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat just until mixture comes together, about two minutes.

Cover and refrigerate for one hour.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper.

4. Using floured hands, roll dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in remaining nut mixture. Place 2 inches apart on prepared pans. Using the back of a spoon, gently make an indentation in center of each.

5. Bake for ten minutes then remove from oven and press down centers again. Bake until lightly browned around the edges. Let cool on pans for two minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks.

6. Spoon 1 tsp. Pecan Pie Filling in center of each cookie. Let stand until filling cools.

In a medium saucepan, stir together pecans, sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, egg, vanilla and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to mediumlow and simmer, stirring constantly until thickened, three to four minutes.

Let cool before using.

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Hands-on learning FACS classes reach students at Red Bay Story and photos by ALISON JAMES

W

hen it comes to high school, much of the interactive education employed in elementary grades goes by the wayside, eclipsed by disciplines like in-depth research and rigorous standardized testing. But in some areas of curricula, hands-on lessons still reign – particularly in family and consumer science classes, such as those at Red Bay High School.

It was her own FACS teacher during her high school years at Phil Campbell who inspired Sherry Hutcheson to pursue teaching family and consumer science courses. In a career spanning more than two decades, Hutcheson has taught scores of students how to do everything from measure ingredients and cook on a stovetop to mend their own clothing and sew aprons and quilts.

FACS classes actually begin in seventh grade, with what Hutcheson refers to as her “survival class,” more formally called “Teen Discoveries.”

Students learn how to be home alone without their parents, how to care for a younger sibling or other child in a babysitting situation, a few basic items they can make in the kitchen and other foundational FACS skills. Foundational lessons continue in a course open to ninth through 12th graders that goes more in depth on cooking, sewing and other topics. In a recycling unit, for example, students are challenged to recycle scrap materials into their creative take on houses, producing dollhouse-sized structures out of whatever they have lying around

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Franklin Living

Students are given the freedom to choose a variety of colors and scents to create their own soap.

Students learn to make tie-dyed soap as part of Food Chemistry at Red Bay High School, taught by Sherry Hutcheson.

their homes; the lesson also allow Hutcheson to tie in education on housing, and “it lets them use their imagination. Kids don’t get to use their imaginations anymore. They are on the computer too much.”

A three-course academic path features the ServSafe Certification course, Food Chemistry and Dietetics and earns graduating students a career tech certification.

Most students are drawn to FACS classes, Hutchseon said, “because they like to eat.” Students get the chance to cook and taste a number of dishes, from simpler fare like Rice Krispy treats to – thanks to the Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association’s annual beef donation – beef nachos, a student favorite.

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“I think kids should enjoy school, not hate it and dread it. You’ve got to have some fun in high school, along with all the coursework,” Hutcheson said. “My course is part of the fun.” She loves seeing students come into her classroom motivated about a project. “I like it when they decide, ‘This is what I want to do,’ and they get in here, sit down and go to work – and stay off those phones.”

Hutcheson went to school at Northwest for two years and completed her degree at Auburn University. She later went to the University of North Alabama and earned her teaching degree.

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Franklin Living

Don’t let

sunburn derail summer fun

Many people find it impossible to think about summer without conjuring visions of spending endless hours outdoors from morning until evening, whether beachside, on the open water or even floating in a backyard pool. Although a certain measure of sun exposure is required for some natural functions of the body, it’s well documented that too much time in the sun can be hazardous to one’s health. That’s why summer frolickers need to exercise considerable caution each time they step outside.

Taking sunburn for granted can be a big mistake. Many people wouldn’t risk burns from a hot stove or open fire, but they won’t think twice about being unprotected under the searing rays of the sun. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 30 percent of adults and nearly 70 percent of children admit to suffering from sunburn within the past year.

Depending on the intensity of the sun and the amount of time spent outside, sunburn can be a first- or second-degree burn. In first-degree burns, damage affects the topmost layer of skin.

However, sunburn can even affect deeper layers and cause blistering in addition to redness and pain.

Sunburn also can cause some irreparable damage that goes unseen.

According to WebMD, ultraviolet light from the sun can alter DNA, prematurely aging skin or even contributing to skin cancers. It can take years before symptoms become noticeable. Therefore, it is best for people of all ages to exercise caution when spending time in the sun.

Sunburn is one of the most easily prevented summertime ailments. It’s also important to note that sunburns are not just limited to the hot weather or when it is sunny outside. Ultraviolet damage can occur at any time of the year, and also from artificial UV sources, such as tanning beds.

Preventing sunburn is simple: • The Mayo Clinic says the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so schedule outdoor activities for other

Franklin Living

times of day. Otherwise, limit exposure to the sun and take frequent breaks in the shade.

• Wear protective clothing that covers the arms and legs. Some outdoor gear is designed to offer sun protection. Tightly woven fabrics tend to help the most.

• Apply - and reapply - sunscreen. Look for products that offer SPF 15 or greater.

The American Academy of Dermatology actually recommends SPF 30 or greater.

Make sure the product is broad-spectrum, meaning it protects against UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen thoroughly, paying attention to the tops of feet, hands and

other places that tend to go untreated.

Reapply every two hours or more frequently, if necessary.

• Base tans do not protect the skin.

Research does not support the habit of getting a tan to prevent subsequent sunburn.

• Protect the face and eyes by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and highly-rated UV protection sunglasses.

The Skin Cancer Foundation says a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns.

Use protection, stay hydrated and play it smart to enjoy summer to the fullest.

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FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY Franklin County turned out despite the weather for the 2017 Relay for Life, held in the First Baptist Church gym in Russellville.

Photos by Alison James

“Mickey Mouse” (Rose Scott) and Belinda and Mike Johnson

Amy and Mousey Brown and Jimmy and Sandy Montgomery

Sandra Stone and Sherry Odeon

Linda Saint and Vicky Brown

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Emily and Lola Mays

Yvonne Lewis, Ruth Smith and Joyce Baker

Brenda Morris and Madylin and Konner Trapp

Lowell and Linda Landers

Victoria Shook and Madison Borden

Franklin Living

FACES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY

Rich and Wendy Dubois

Pat Tice, Randall Tice, Carol Hall, Johnson Leeth and Aiden Hall

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LOOKING BACK

Looking back photos courtesy of the Franklin County Archives.

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Franklin Living

LOOKING BACK

Looking back photos courtesy of the Franklin County Archives.

Franklin Living

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PARTING SHOT

“The goal of education is not to increase the amount of knowledge but to create the possibilities for a child to invent and discover, to create men who are capable of doing new things.”

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~Jean Piaget

Franklin Living

Tifn Motor Homes

105 Second Street NW • Red Bay, AL 256-356-8661 Tifn’s Mark Poole was born in Chicago, Ill., but moved to Belmont, Miss., with his family in 1977, where he graduated from high school.

Before coming to work at Tifn Motorhomes in 2004, Poole rst served his country as both an M60A3 and M1A1 Tank Crew Member, achieving the rank of sergeant (E-5) promotable. He served in Fort Knox, Kentucky, Fort Lewis, Washington, and Berlin Germany. One of his fondest military memories, Poole said, was “being in Berlin the night the Berlin Wall fell. I have two pieces of “The Wall,” one of which has a letter of authenticity signed by the German chancellor of that time.”

Poole started at Tifn working on the production line at station 1, installing LP gas plumbing and lines into the chassis.

“I worked on the line for two years while attending night classes for Drafting, Design, & 3D Modeling Technology,” Poole said. He next joined the Engineering Department in 2006, drawing sidewalls, roofs, slide-out main walls and oors.

He left Tifn for a two-year span but returned in 2013 as a supervisor over the Laser Department. “I was responsible for the programming of both the CNC laser and the press break,” said Poole. He would take 3D CAD models of various parts, produce at patterns of said parts, process them through the laser and “break press specic software for nesting, cutting and bending.” “Rapid prototyping is essential in the fast pace world of engineering, and the department prides itself in being able to produce a prototype part

Mark Poole usually within a few hours,” Poole said.

In February 2015 Poole found himself with the opportunity to serve as the Cargo Door/Laser Shop plant manager – which is the role he remains in today, overseeing the fabrication of 181 cargo doors per day on average, not to include any parts, service and line replacement doors. “We have also recently added the fabrication of cargo doors for the Tifn Motorhomes newly-introduced Wayfarer Class C Motorhome,” Poole added. “The Laser Department, equipped with two Trumpf 3030 Fiber Optic CNC Lasers and two break presses, currently provides an average of 64,190 parts to both the Red Bay

and Wineld warehouses on an annual basis.”

Poole said he enjoys working at Tifn because “there’s never a dull moment, and there’s always something new to learn.

He also enjoys his coworkers and colleagues. “I am truly blessed to work with such amazingly awesome people within both departments at the Door Plant.”

Poole also served in the Mississippi National Guard for three years, serving as tank commander/ platoon sergeant and achieving the rank of staff sergeant (E-6) promotable.

He has three children: Laken Aliah, Tristan Skyler and Lawson Quaid Poole.

www.tifnmotorhomes.com

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