Tharptown schools receives $20K in grants

RUSSELLVILLE – Tharptown schools received $20,000 in grants last week – $15,000 for football equipment for the high school and $5,000 for the elementary school gym.

The grants were from the Northwest Alabama Resource Conservation and Development Council, which funds educational and general fund projects in Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale, Marion and Winston counties.

THS head football coach John Johnson said the $15,000 was used to purchase home and away uniforms, purchase some new helmets and pay for other helmets to be reconditioned, something that must be done each year – as well as to buy a new piece of practice equipment, a tackling sled.

The purchases were made before last fall’s football season.

“The kids were excited,” Johnson said of the new uniforms. “It’s the first time they’ve had new uniforms in several years. We didn’t have the kind of season we hoped we could have, but the kids are excited to get those new uniforms.”

Johnson said the state requires that any helmet used during the season has to be sent to a factory for reconditioning – a process where someone goes through and inspects it and makes sure there’s no cracks or loose hardware. Additionally, Jones explained each helmet has a 10-year lifespan and can’t be used after that because of safety concerns.

“The helmet issues and the uniform issues are what led to me to reach out to Northwest Alabama RC&D since we didn’t have the money to pay for those things,” Johnson explained. “We would have been short several helmets if we hadn’t been selected for this grant.”

Johnson said around 15 new helmets were purchased and around 30 were reconditioned. Forty home uniforms and 40 away uniforms were purchased.

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – Tharptown High School football coach John Johnson talks about the grant money that made new football equipment possible. Listening are members of the football team, who are wearing the new home and away uniforms.

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – Luis Dircio gets ready to practice with the new tackling sled purchases with lefover RC&D grant money as teammates Luis Dircio, Christjin Willoughby and Coach John Johnson watch.

“We had just enough money left over to buy the tackling sled,” Johnson added. “We appreciate Rep. (Jamie) Kiel and Sen. (Larry) Stutts and the Cosby Company. I thank Northwest Alabama RC&D for providing those grants because we wouldn’t be able to do things like this without them.”

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – Rep. Jamie Kiel talks to students, faculty and government officials about the RC&D grants received for Tharptown’s high school and elementary school.

“We’re happy to be able to help with the grants for both Tharptown High School and Tharptown Elementary,” said Northwest Alabama RC&D Executive Director Lauranne James.

“I know the football equipment was needed. Rep. Jamie Kiel reached out and was very much involved in the assistance with both grants, as well as Sen. Larry Stutts. They are our legislators that we partner with, and they are very supportive of RC&D and the projects that we’re able to assist with throughout northwest Alabama.”

Kiel was happy to help the schools out.

“I am pleased to be able to help with the grants at both schools,” he said. “The Alabama Legislature funds grants through RC&D with the goal of assisting schools like Tharptown in rural Alabama. I know that the teachers and students at Tharptown will benefit from these projects, and I’m grateful to have been part of making this happen.

“This does not complete the project, but it does do a good bit in starting the project,” Kiel said.

“We used the $5,000 to help purchase acoustic tiles to reduce the sound reverberation during PE classes, basketball games and school assemblies,” said Tharptown Elementary Principal Molly King. “Our gym was constructed in the early 1960s and has served the school and community well. We look forward to the addition of the acoustic tiles making our gym a more enjoyable space for our school and our community.”

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – Franklin County commissioners Greg Hovater and Michael Murray listen to Sen. Larry Stutts make remarks during the official grant announcements for Tharptown high school and elementary school.