Columnists, Opinion
 By  Staff Reports Published 
4:22 pm Monday, September 16, 2019

Unity in our community

Sometimes the most complex-looking situation, once examined, turns out to be relatively simple.

Older, long-established community members in Franklin County often ask me questions like these:

– How do all these Latinos find, of all places, Russellville/Franklin County?

– Why do they then come here?

– Why do most of them stay here?

To get answers, I went to the obvious, asking some Latinos who had moved here and stayed.

The simple answer: “Because I have a close friend or cherished family member who came here and found it a very good place to settle.” 

So I asked, “Why did she say it was good, and did it turn out to be true?”

Here is what the answer was:

 – The people in Russellville are friendly and accepting of Latinos.

– The schools are good and accommodating of all children. They have good programs for teaching English.

– The city is a safe place. There is little crime.

– Churches are well attended, and new ones welcome.

– The community is very family-focused and loves children.

– There are jobs available, and better paying work flows naturally for those who work and study hard.

– Living costs are low.

As for why they stayed, they found, in experience, the above to be true. 

Putting it all together gives us a picture of a Latino community that has a special sense of responsibility to each other, along with an urge to keep their community safe and secure by making troublemakers and unsavory elements feel unwelcome.

Because I am the senior coordinator for the Franklin County 2020 Complete Census Count Committee, I am more than pleased to relate the above story to you. 

Our greatest opportunity for our county is to get all Latino residents counted. 

We know many will be reluctant given their previous experiences, disturbing national news and rumors flying around.

But the census is simply not interested in any resident’s legal or illegal status. Interest is solely about who is where and adding up the numbers. They do not reveal names or other personal information. 

However, those numbers result in large or small amounts of money flowing to Alabama and its counties/cities. That amount per person was $1,600 to Alabama in 2013. 

Every year these allocations flow until the next census. That money helps fund schools, medical facilities, roads and more for the whole 10 years between censuses, over and over.

Described another way, if you and your family are not counted, your fellow residents have to take up the slack or the work goes undone or poorly performed.

That is NOT watching your neighbor’s back or assuring a good education for all children – including yours.

Instead, we all yearn for more unity in our community.

The census helps us bring about just that. Plan to do it promptly by internet, phone or paper this coming March or April. You will get notices when the time comes.

Dick Rowland is the senior coordinator for the Complete Census Count Committee 2020, Franklin County.

Also on Franklin County Times
County school board adopts $52M budget
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE Franklin County Schools has adopted a $52 million budget for fiscal year 2026, reflecting a $2.5 million increase over last year. The bud...
Judge denies YO status for Phinizee
Main, News, Z - News Main
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
September 17, 2025
FLORENCE — Youthful offender status was denied Tuesday for a 17-year-old charged with the death of a 13-yearold during what authorities said was a rob...
RCS passes $43.3M budget
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- The city school board has approved a $43.3 million budget for the 2025-26 school year. Chief Financial Officer Lisa Witt said revenues...
Program tackles stress of caregiver burnout
News, Records, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- Many people deal with caregiver burnout. Kids and Kin childcare partner Marquita Wilson presented a program at the Russellville Public...
Flavil Wayne McCaig
Obituaries
September 17, 2025
Flavil Wayne McCaig Sept. 12, 2025   Flavil Wayne McCaig, 82, of Russellville, passed away Sept. 12 at his residence. He was born March 3, 1943, to Au...
Cultura Garden Club begins its year with roses and plans for fall
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
September 17, 2025
The Cultura Garden Club held its first meeting of the year. President Cheri McCain presided. She provided information on projects and programs for the...
We can’t afford to lose electric vehicle industry
Columnists, Opinion
September 17, 2025
In Alabama, we understand what it means to build things that matter. We’ve long been home to builders and winners – our steel won wars and built the s...
Firefighters, cadets honor 9/11 with stair climbs
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Firefighters and RHS JROTC cadets participated in a stair climb in recognition of the 24th anniversary of 9-11. Sgt. Grant Tarascou and...

Leave a Reply

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