Columnists, EDITORIAL -- FEATURE SPOT, J.R. Tidwell, Opinion
 By  J.R. Tidwell Published 
6:00 am Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Raindrops keep falling on my head

I found myself in Birmingham last Friday evening. I was at the BJCC covering Red Bay’s basketball game.

When I was done there I had a big decision to make; I could drive back to Russellville or go to my mom’s house in Jasper.

The sky over Birmingham betrayed little of the storms that would soon hit the state, so I decided that I might try to head back to Franklin County.

I changed my mind by the time I got to my car.

I had brought some overnight stuff just in case I needed to stay somewhere other than my apartment, so heading to my mom’s house wouldn’t be a big deal.

It was 30 miles closer, anyway.

By the time I made it into Walker County I could see some really awesome lightning striking ground well north of my location of I-22.

It barely rained on me during the hour-long trip, and the road was even mostly dry as I headed north.

I made it to Jasper without a hitch, and my mom’s house was just a few more miles away. The lightning was as present as it had been miles down the road, but it still wasn’t over my head.

The wind started to pick up as I walked up the steps at the place where I was raised.

My stepdad had the weather on the TV, and I could see for the first time since I left Russellville earlier that Friday morning hat the weather map looked like.

The word I would use to describe it would be bad. Franklin County, and more specifically Russellville, seemed to be in the worst part of the storm north of Walker County.

If I had tried to drive all the way back that night, I would have been in for some foul weather up Highway 43.

I was immediately glad that I went to Jasper instead of up here.

Incidentally the weather struck a few hours after my arrival at my mom’s, but I was so tired that I fell asleep and missed the worst of it.

I didn’t know that we’d had any bad weather at all.

Also on Franklin County Times
Sorrell wants second term
Main, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
February 4, 2026
MONTGOMERY — State Auditor Andrew Sorrell, a graduate of Muscle Shoals High School and the University of North Alabama, said his desire to continue se...
Winter’s first storm was a chilling reminder …
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 4, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Area utilities officials said local electrical infrastructure help up well overall during the area’s first winter blast, but they remin...
2 nominated for Bryant-Jordan Awards
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 4, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville High School seniors Lakin Derrick and Bryson Cooper have been nominated for Bryant-Jordan Awards, a statewide program that...
Blaze destroys home, family of 4 displaced
News, Russellville
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
February 4, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – A family of four has been displaced after their home was destroyed by fire Sunday night on the 4400 block of County Road 36. At least 3...
Belgreen elementary celebrates 100th day
Belgreen Bulldogs, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 4, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE Elementary students at Belgreen High School celebrated the 100th day of school by dressing up as 100 year olds. “The 100th day of school ...
RPD, FCSO compete in basketball game
News, Russellville
February 4, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The fourth annual basketball game between the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Russellville Police Department took place Jan. 24 at...
Phil Campbell High School dismisses early due to water leak
News, Phil Campbell, Phil Campbell Bobcats
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
February 2, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL – Student and faculty were sent home early Monday morning as a result of the high school facilities being without water. A post to the o...
Rural hospitals face challenges: New state tax credit could help
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County’s two hospitals face the same financial pressures confronting rural health care across Alabama even as they remain esse...

Leave a Reply

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