• Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices
    • Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices

June 5, 2025

Franklin County Times
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries
  • Records
  • Subscribe
  • Services
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Policies
  • Terms of use
  • Submit a news tip
  • Submit a photo
  • Birth Announcement
  • Birthday announcement
  • Engagement announcement
  • Wedding announcement
  • Submit a Classified Ad
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Classifieds
  • Public Notices
    Franklin County Times
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
    Archives
     By  Staff Reports Published 
    5:27 pm Saturday, April 7, 2001

    People, together, save Magnolia tre

    By Staff
    April 1, 2001
    It started as a rumor, grew into a fact. When the orange and white barrels were placed Friday to barricade parking spaces in front of the Lauderdale County Courthouse, it was a sure sign the whine of a chain saw could not be far behind. It was a sure sign a decades-old Magnolia tree was about to come down.
    But, much to the chagrin of politicians who authorized the action, something extraordinary happened. Word went out by radio and telephone and person to person. People were yelling from windows atop the Raymond P. Davis Courthouse Annex. Cars circled the courthouse like sharks looking for a meal.
    In short, people acted.
    It never quite rose to the level of civil disobedience, but it did happen very quickly. It had to there was no advance warning that supervisors had decided to cut down the tree. Their decision evidently was made during morning telephone calls among themselves and their staff.
    The effort to save the tree was launched by Tax Collector Stanley Shannon and others fond of the old Magnolia, which stands in the shadow of the state flag on the courthouse grounds. As a cluster of sheriff's deputies stood by to keep the peace, Shannon and others proclaimed themselves ready to handcuff themselves to the tree's branches if necessary to save it.
    But the demonstration was peaceful.
    The very idea of cutting down a Magnolia tree is unpalatable to most Mississippians. It would be like killing a Mockingbird (the state bird), telling jokes during the playing of "Go, Mississippi" (the state song) or netting the spicebush swallowtail (the state butterfly). It just isn't done.
    After all, the Magnolia was voted by school children in 1900 as the state flower over the cotton blossom and cape jasmine. It was declared the state tree in 1938 after beating out oak, pine and dogwood.
    The sudden outcry may have reminded Lauderdale County supervisors some things are more important than political decisions, even one to cut down a Magnolia tree on the courthouse lawn in the name of beautification. It may also remind them that when it comes to children, dogs and trees, people like to be consulted first.

    Also on Franklin County Times
    ‘Seamless Summer’ feeds all Franklin County students
    A: Main, Z - News Main
    ‘Seamless Summer’ feeds all Franklin County...
    By Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
    June 4, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE — The Franklin County School district will feed breakfast and lunch to all kids aged 18 and under this summer, whether they are affiliate...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Celebrating a century: Mildred Hood turns 100 years old
    Birthdays, Lifestyles
    Celebrating a century: Mildred Hood turns 100 ...
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 4, 2025
    Mildred Hood, a resident of Terrace Manor in Russellville, was born May 20, 1925. She turned 100 years old on May 20, 2025. She went to school in Wigg...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Rural Acres Garden Club celebrates 50 years
    Lifestyles, Opinion
    HERE AND NOW
    Rural Acres Garden Club celebrates 50...
    June 4, 2025
    The Waco Rural Acres Garden Club was established in the fall of 1974. There were 16 charter members. Agnes Sugg served as its first president. Doris B...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    28-year veteran educator retires from RMS
    News, Russellville
    28-year veteran educator retires from RMS
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 4, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE Longtime educator Diane Townley has retired after 28 years with Russellville City Schools. Her primary teaching focus was mathematics, mo...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Students test their skills in carpentry challenge
    News, Z - News Main
    Students test their skills in carpentry challenge
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 4, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE – A hands-on carpentry competition recently gave building construction students from Franklin County Career Technical Center and Russellv...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Lawsuit abuse reform must be a top priority in 2026
    Columnists, News, Opinion
    Lawsuit abuse reform must be a top priority in 2026
    June 4, 2025
    As someone who had the honor of serving in the Alabama Legislature, I’ve seen firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing our great state. Alaba...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Goggans signs cheer scholarship with UNA
    High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
    Goggans signs cheer scholarship with UNA
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 4, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE Russellville High School graduate Ella Goggans will continue her cheerleading journey beyond high school, thanks to a scholarship from th...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Students benefit from Golden Tiger Bigs mentoring
    News, Z - News Main
    Students benefit from Golden Tiger Bigs mentoring
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 4, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE – The Golden Tiger Bigs program matched three younger students with three older volunteers during the justcompleted spring semester. Part...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    ❮❯

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Latest Local News
    28-year veteran educator retires from RMS
    28-year veteran educator retires from RMS
    June 4, 2025
    Students test their skills in carpentry challenge
    Students test their skills in carpentry challenge
    June 4, 2025
    Lawsuit abuse reform must be a top priority in 2026
    Lawsuit abuse reform must be a top priority in 2026
    June 4, 2025
    Car wash to include old FCT building
    June 4, 2025
    Students benefit from Golden Tiger Bigs mentoring
    Students benefit from Golden Tiger Bigs mentoring
    June 4, 2025

    More Local News

    Latest Stories
    Answering call for children in need
    Answering call for children in need
    June 4, 2025
    Calendar Of Events
    June 4, 2025
    Car wash to include old FCT building
    June 4, 2025
    Obituaries
    June 4, 2025
    Birthdays
    June 4, 2025
    Latest Sports
    Goggans signs cheer scholarship with UNA
    Goggans signs cheer scholarship with UNA
    June 4, 2025
    4 honored duringRHS Performing Arts Signing Day
    4 honored duringRHS Performing Arts Signing Day
    May 28, 2025
    Longtime Russellville coach Tim Townley retires
    Longtime Russellville coach Tim Townley retires
    May 28, 2025
    Belgreen hopes state playoff run ‘builds confidence’ for future
    Belgreen hopes state playoff run ‘builds confidence’ for future
    May 21, 2025
    Bulldogs’ inspired run comes to end against Pisgah
    Bulldogs’ inspired run comes to end against Pisgah
    May 21, 2025

    More Sports Stories

    x

    Sections

    • Home
    • News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyles
    • Obits
    • Special Sections
    • Sponsored Content
      • Home
      • News
      • Sports
      • Opinion
      • Lifestyles
      • Obits
      • Special Sections
      • Sponsored Content

    Services

    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise With Us
    • Policies
    • Terms of use
    • Submit a news tip
    • Submit a photo
    • Birth announcement
    • Birthday announcement
    • Engagement announcement
    • Wedding announcement
    • Submit a Classified Ad
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise With Us
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter

    Follow Us

    Copyright

    © 2025, Franklin County Times