Try something new in Franklin County
EDITORIAL -- FEATURE SPOT, Editorials, Opinion, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Staff Reports Published 
10:34 am Monday, January 29, 2024

Try something new in Franklin County

With the onset of a new year often comes the commitment to new things. For many folks, these come in the form of “New Year’s Resolutions.” Even for people who eschew the concept of resolutions – for whatever reason – the start of a new year still presents itself as an auspicious time to make plans, set goals and find ways to add a little extra spice to life.

Maybe you’re trying a new workout routine. Maybe you’ve opened a new savings account or set a new career goal.

Whether or not you’re making these kinds of changes in your life, we want you to make this the year you try something new right here in our county.

Franklin County has so much to offer, and none of us can say we’ve embraced every bit of it. There’s always something new to try.

There are new restaurants to dine at, new programs to sign up for, new shops to patronize, new people to meet. Additionally, what about those places or opportunities that aren’t new in the county but are nevertheless new to you?

Have you ever hiked through Dismals Canyon? Gone to a Rockin’ at the Roxy show? Cheered on a high school volleyball team? Played pickle ball at the Red Bay Rec Center?

Maybe you’ve never seen a production by the Bay Tree Council or by the RHS Fine Arts students. Maybe you’ve never watched a Marching Hundred halftime show. Maybe, even though you’ve lived here your whole life, you’ve never competed in a contest at the Franklin County Watermelon Festival.

When you live and work in a smaller, mostly rural county like ours, it’s easy to sometimes feel like you’ve done and seen it all – but we’d challenge you to set that notion aside and seek out those new opportunities you’ve never pursued before.

Visit the Red Bay Farmers Market or the Northwest-Shoals Library. Watch the fireworks at Sloss Lake or in Vina this July. Dance in the street at Spruce Pine Day. Schedule a hunting weekend at a local lodge.

Sign your children up for Russellville Public Library’s summer reading program. Develop your own fried pie recipe to enter at the Red Bay Founders Day contest.

Join your volunteer fire department. Become a foster parent. Help with animal rescue. Become a familiar face at your city council or school board meetings.

If you need some more ideas, hit us up for suggestions. We’re all about promoting all the great things about Franklin County, and there is always something new to enjoy.

Also on Franklin County Times
Successful paving plan draws Florence’s interest
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Pondering whether Florenceshouldestablish its own paving department, officials only had to look about 20 miles south to see the benefit...
Mills named principal at West Elementary
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Gayla Mills is beginning her 31st year in education and her first as West Elementary’s principal. Mills taught third grade when that gr...
Disciplinary point system gets ‘amped up’
Main, News, Russellville
By Ella Seaton For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — As Alabama students head back to school, there is a new incentive for staying out of trouble. This school year, school disciplinary pro...
Wright is new RES principal
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Channing Wright, former Russellville Elementary assistant principal, will begin the new school year in a new role, that of principal. N...
Motorists reminded of bus safety rules
Franklin County, News
By Ella Seaton For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
As school buses begin returning to roads across northwest Alabama this week, transportation officials remind parents, students and motorists the impor...
Gym artifact finds new home at PCHS
High School Sports, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 5, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Fifteen years after the April 27, 2011, tornado destroyed Phil Campbell High School, a preserved piece of the old gym has found a perm...
Vina man may have his bond revoked after messaging a minor
Franklin County, News, Z - News Main
By Kevin Taylor For FCT 
July 30, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A Vina man, who was arrested and charged in 2024 with electronic solicitation of a child, could have his bond revoked after allegedly t...
City OKs ‘Women of True Grit’ agreement
A: Main, Franklin County, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 29, 2026
REDBAY–The city council has approved a $12,000 agreement with Hand in Hand Entertainment and Promotions for a one-year “Edie Hand: Women of True Grit”...

Leave a Reply

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