COLUMNS--FEATURE SPOT
 By  Kellie Singleton Published 
3:13 pm Saturday, August 6, 2011

Best part of the job? The people

In my job, I get to meet all kinds of people, and I always get excited when I meet outstanding people who are definitely an inspiration.

Tom and Ruth Ann Smith from Missouri are two of those people.

They immediately sprang into action after the deadly tornadoes tore through Alabama and found a way they could offer aid that someone else might not be able to offer and in turn, they were a major help to Phil Campbell Elementary School’s teachers.

The school supplies the Smiths donated will be used by teachers all over the school and will help so many kids receive that little extra something when they are learning this coming school year.

When I talked to them about their donation, they were just so humble about it.

They were simply glad to do their part and weren’t interested in making a big fuss about it.

But bringing a whole U-Haul full of school supplies all the way from Missouri to people you don’t even know is worthy of a big fuss, and the school officials who were there to unload the supplies made sure the Smiths knew how much it was appreciated.

Even though I don’t live in Phil Campbell and I don’t have an affiliation with Phil Campbell Elementary, I have been in the town non-stop since the tornadoes came through and have seen the countless number of people who have donated their time, money or supplies to help complete strangers.

When looking at all the bad news in the world today, you can sometimes feel like all the decent people in society have disappeared, but generosity shown by the Smiths and other people like them make you realize there are still good people willing to put others first and make a difference.

Also on Franklin County Times
Safety, appearance shape cleanup operation
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 11, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE -- City crews have started working through a list of 11 unsightly properties as part of a cleanup and code-compliance effort. Mayor David...
NWSCC launches first nursing apprenticeship
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 11, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Northwest Shoals Community College has launched a paid nursing apprenticeship program with Decatur Morgan Hospital. The partnership co...
HB67 clears House
Main, News, Russellville
February 11, 2026
Rep. Jamie Kiel’s bill to prohibit the state from selling voters’ phone numbers for comm ercial purposes moved a step closer last week to final passag...
Clubs support American Heart Month
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
February 11, 2026
Most of us can name a family member or friend who heart disease has touched. I can. That is why heart health does not feel abstract to me. It does not...
Health care reform starts with insurers
Columnists, Opinion
February 11, 2026
Every president promises to fix health care, but the system rarely seems to change for the better. Even when so-called reforms pass, prices remain unp...
Community honors Army veteran Weidman
Franklin County, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 11, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Veterans and community members gathered Feb. 2 at Pinkard Funeral Home to honor John Weidman, a U.S. Army veteran who retired as a staf...
Newspaper dresses create walk through fashion history
News, Phil Campbell, Phil Campbell Bobcats
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 11, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Students in Aleah Harris’ fashion classes created dresses from newspapers with each group picking a different decade. Senior Ava Hall ...

Leave a Reply

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