Schools get $6,500 in support from businesses
RUSSELLVILLE — Several Franklin County schools are starting the year with added support after donations totaling $6,500 courtesy of grants The gifts combined contributions from ExxonMobil, Citgo Petroleum and local businesses, including Yogi’s Mart.
Tharptown High School’s rocketry team received $1,000 through a $500 ExxonMobil Education Alliance grant, nominated by Yogi’s Mart, and a $500 match from the business.
Principal Tyler Berryman said contributions like this keep nonrevenue programs such as rocketry alive.
“It’s absolutely necessary, and we couldn’t make it without the support of our local businesses,” Berryman said. “We cherish every single dollar that we get from the businesses that surroundourcommunity.”
Berryman said Tharptown’s team has built a reputation as one of the nation’s strongest rocketry teams with multiple top 10 finishes and a second-place showing in the world competition.
• Russellville High School received $2,000 through the Citgo Spirit Pump program at Ideal Mart on Waterloo Road. The program designates a pump, tracks gallons sold, and donates based on that total. The $1,000 contribution from Citgo Petroleum was matched by the dealer, Gopi Gopagari.
• Phil Campbell High School received $2,000 through the Spirit Pump at Spruce Pine Citgo, with $1,000 from Citgo Petroleum matched by owners Alf and Mark “Yogi” Welborn.
• In Russellville, Yogi’s Mart also gave $1,000 to the Russellville cheerleading squad and $500 to the school.
Berryman said the community’s investment in students shows them they are valued.
“It definitely shows the students that the community supports the things that we do here at Tharptown and supports them as students as well,” he said. “The community wants these students to be successful.”
WANT TO GO?
The Quad Cities AWF Cook-off is hosted by the Alabama Wildlife Federation and Rival Feed & Seed Outdoors. The annual cook-off is returning to the Shoals after a five-year hiatus. It’s a chance for cooks to show off their skills, and for guests to taste some of the best wild game recipes from their region.
WHEN: 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4
WHERE: Rival Feed & Seed Outdoors, 613 Fairground Road in Muscle Shoals
COST: Admission is $50 for up to two adults and includes complimentary food tastings and one-year AWF Membership for you or your guest. The event is free to cook teams and youth under 15.
INFORMATION: Go to the Quad Cities AWF Cook-Off page on Facebook or https://bit.ly/AWFcookoff.
