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
Housing authority PILOT is waived
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
March 11, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — City councilmembers recently voted to waive a payment in lieu of taxes, often called PILOT, from the Russellville Housing Authority. Pu...
Playground safety concerns are addressed
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
March 11, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — City officials say steps are being taken to improve safety at the playground in City Lake Park after parents raised concerns about dama...
Petition: Accountability sought from AHSAA
High School Sports, Main, Red Bay Tigers, ...
By Brady Petree and Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
March 11, 2026
RED BAY — A petition created by a Red Bay man calls for the Alabama High School Athletic Association to replay six state semifinal basketball games af...
State’s positive CWD cases nearly doubles
Franklin County, News
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
March 11, 2026
The total number of positive cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) found in white-tailed deer almost doubled in Alabama following the end of the 2025...
Pace crowned Miss RHS
News, Russellville
By María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimew.com 
March 11, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Lily Cate Pace was crowned the new Miss RHS during the 44th annual Miss RHS Pageant. Pace, a senior at Russellville High School who is ...
Scholars Bowl team competes at nationals
News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
March 11, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Snow and ice kept the Northwest Shoals Community College Scholars Bowl team from attending a January qualifying tournament, but it sti...
The gimmick that became a calling
News
Chelsea Rutherford For the FCT 
March 11, 2026
Rick Revel was just 15 when he stood backstage at the Grand Ole Opry and received career-shaping advice from country icon Roy Acuff — if you want to m...
Read Across America celebrated
Franklin County, News
In the Community
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
March 11, 2026
Elementary schools throughout the county marked Read Across America Week with activities. At Vina Elementary School, firefighter Justin Epperson and E...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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