Columnists, COLUMNS--FEATURE SPOT, Opinion
 By  Staff Reports Published 
11:06 am Monday, April 8, 2019

Homefolks U.S.A.

Hi folks,

It’s always good to see and visit with great friends, and last week was no exception. Several of my old buddies from years gone by came in the store, and we reminisced about the years that have passed and recalled great times from many years ago.

My Tennessee friend from Columbia has been sick but is feeling some better. They are all looking forward to this coming Saturday when the town will be celebrating “Mule Day.”

This event was started many years ago, and more than 100,000 have paid a visit to Columbia each year. This event is kind of like the Watermelon Festival that is held here in Russellville. It draws a lot of folks, and many return year after year.

Last year at the Watermelon Festival we had some folks from Walnut Grove, Miss., to visit us at Bolton’s, and they carried a few collectibles back home with them.

I like big crowds, whether it be a festival, church or a family gathering. Everyone has a story, and we all like to share our stories with anyone who will listen.

The state is celebrating its 200-year anniversary, and Franklin County has several events that will be taking place in the following months. It would be nice if many of those who have gone on could return and see the many changes that have taken place. This is true with every town in our state. Time brings changes, and many times, a lot of us of us do not like change – but it happens, so we must make the best of change and continue to carry on.

I recently saw a picture of the Russellville Civitan Club from many years ago. All of them have gone on, but the good memory of each continues to carry on. Some of the people in the picture were Dr. Clayton, Mr. Amos Hester, Abe Abbort, Woodie Underwood and Mr. Victor Wood – this is just to name a few. I have a copy of this picture, and one is on display at the Franklin County Archives.

I hope people will take an interest of things that are taking place throughout our state and record these events for those who are coming up in our county today. We can’t really appreciate the future without knowing and appreciating the past. Good memories, influence, a good report and the love we have for one another are things that death cannot destroy.

Keep reading Homefolks U.S.A., and I will do my best to share great stories each week in the days that lie ahead.

Till next time,

Your friend,

Bobby

P.S. – Our stories appear on Facebook each week, and a lot of people have made positive remarks. Many thanks, always.

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 *