Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
9:41 pm Wednesday, June 5, 2002

Military Briefs

By Staff
June 5, 2002
Air National Guard Airman William C. Briggs Jr. has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs; performed drill and ceremony marches; and received physical training and special training in human relations.
In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
He is the son of Margaret Scruggs of Lauderdale and grandson of Rose Griffith of Meridian.
Briggs is a 2001 graduate of Northeast High School.
Army Pfc. Claudia D. Loftin has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction and practice in drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, physical fitness, basic first aid and Army history, tradition and core values, along with special training in human relations.
Loftin is the daughter of Gloria Bonner of Meridian.
Army Pvt. Joseph F. Konkle has graduated from the mortuary affairs specialist course at Fort Lee, Petersburg, Va.
The student was trained in search and recovery operations, disinterment, identification, evacuation, and disposition of remains and personal effects; inventory and safeguarding records and personal effects,
and assist in mass casualty burials.
Konkle is the son of Deborah L. and stepson of Jerry L. Taggart of Meridian.
He is a 1997 graduate of Indian Valley High School, Gnadenhatten, Ohio.
Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Nena R. Brown has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and customs; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training and special training in human relations.
In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
She is the daughter of Gizell and William Brown and granddaughter of Orsenia and William Brown, all of Meridian.
Brown is a 2000 graduate of Northeast Lauderdale High School.
Navy Seaman Recruit Frenchie K. Johnson recently began the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Exercise in Brunei while assigned to the guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.
Johnson is one of more than 1,400 sailors, Marines and Coast Guard sailors participating in the bilateral training with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. CARAT is the U.S. Navy's premier exercise that takes place throughout Southeast Asia each May through August.
Johnson is a 2001 graduate of Northeast Lauderdale High School.

Also on Franklin County Times
Roberts pleads not guilty to 106 counts
Main, News, Russellville
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
July 8, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A Georgia woman facing 106 counts ranging from possession of child pornography to first-degree sodomy has pleaded not guilty to the cha...
Ex-mayor Oliver, 82, dies
Franklin County, Main, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 8, 2026
Former Russellville mayor and retired U.S. Army National Guard Major General Troy Oliver, 82, a 1961 graduate of Belgreen High School, died Saturday. ...
Patriotic banner donated to Tharptown VFD
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 8, 2026
R U S S E L L V I L L E — Lottie Coan, who has served as secretary- treasurer for the Tharptown Volunteer Fire Department since 2015, was sitting in h...
Miller Family Dairy opens processing facility
Features, Main, News, ...
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
July 8, 2026
CROOKED OAK — Miller Family Dairy unveiled its new milk processing facility June 30, bringing the business one step closer to bottling its own milk, p...
Great Pretenders take stage July 16
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
July 8, 2026
Each summer, the W.C. Handy Music Festival brings outstanding music and entertainment to communities across the Shoals. For more than four decades, th...
DAR chapter unearths patriot’s story
Franklin County, News
Chelsea Retherford For the FCT 
July 8, 2026
In a forgotten patch of woods on a farm near Cloverdale, history had lain hidden for generations. It took a determined group of local historians, gene...
Hartley shares her ancestor’s legacy
News
By Chelsea Retherford Staff Writer 
July 8, 2026
Patricia Hartley has always felt a strong sense of patriotism and duty to community and family. It was only recently that she discovered those were fa...

Leave a Reply

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