OPINION: My Thoughts
BART MOSS
News
7:04 pm Tuesday, March 25, 2025

OPINION: My Thoughts

He Says

It has been a busy week around my space. We are in the final stages of planning our annual trip to New York City with some of Phil Campbell High School’s seniors. We get asked often, like once a week, for tips and recommendations on traveling to the Big Apple. That may be a column in and of itself soon.

We love traveling to New York. There is no better big city in the world. And it is not even close to what is portrayed on the news … I had the honor of emceeing my second Phil Campbell High School Dream Girl pageant at the Phil Campbell campus of Northwest Shoals Community College Friday night.

I didn’t know that was part of the job description. However, I loved doing it. It is great to see all the young ladies have the courage to step out on that stage. Legend has it, my dad, Bill Moss, started the Dream Girl pageant back in 1968 as a fundraiser. I was told that every girl in school was called to the gym and told they would be in a pageant. I can’t imagine doing that today. I would be Facebook famous in a heartbeat. Different day and time … Speaking of the pageants, congratulations to the winners.

The three I know of –Miss RHS (Russellville) winner Ella Grace Goggans, Dream Girl (Phil Campbell) winner Lydia Garrison and Miss Bulldog (Belgreen) winner Dacota Green … Donald Trump signed an executive order eliminating the Department of Education last week.

It would take an act of Congress to eliminate the department, but he can effectively neuter it by laying off employees, discontinuing many of its functions, or moving critical functions to other departments. The doomsday effect that Democrats want people to believe will never happen. The department has only served as an indoctrination platform for social engineering.

The only thing that has gone up since the department’s inception is the cost of college and reckless spending. Student test scores have plummeted. Send the money to the states. Good riddance …

March Madness has begun, and there hasn’t been much madness at all this year. There have been no major upsets, and no Cinderella stories have emerged. In fact, the biggest upset has to be Arkansas beating St. Johns.

I mean Arkansas has a Hall of Fame coach and a couple of NBA prospects. The top seeds are living up to their seeding this year. Seven SEC teams are going to advance to the Sweet Sixteen (Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Ole Miss). Amazing! Auburn will play in Atlanta. Alabama will play in Newark, New Jersey … Have a great week!

Also on Franklin County Times
State rankings | Red Bay rises, hits first poll since 2020
High School Sports, Red Bay Tigers, Sports
By A. Stacy Long For the FCT 
October 29, 2025
Red Bay has pulled into the state rankings for the first time in five years. The Tigers are 10th in the latest Alabama Sports Writers Association Clas...
Principals honored by city’s school board
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
October 29, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — The City Schools Board of Education recognized the system’s principals during its Oct. 21 meeting. Superintendent Dr. Tim Guinn describ...
Rickman: ‘I don’t sweat the small stuff anymore’
Main, News, Z - News Main
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
October 29, 2025
TUSCUMBIA — When Carrie Rickman felt something unusual during a routine self-check in June 2018, she trusted her instincts. “I was just taking a showe...
Cultura Garden Club hosts district meeting
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
October 29, 2025
The Cultura Garden Club hosted the Garden Clubs of Alabama District 1 meeting at North Highlands Church of Christ. The theme of the meeting was “Roots...
Medicare Advantage helps preserve choice for seniors
Columnists, Opinion
October 29, 2025
In every corner of Alabama, one concern comes up repeatedly with family health care. Seniors worry about keeping it affordable. People with disabiliti...
Honoring his mother on Día de los Muertos
News, Russellville
Chelsea Retherford For the FCT 
October 29, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — When José Figueroa-Cifuentes lights a candle, he’s not just illuminating a wick — he’s keeping his mother’s legacy alive. A signature l...
Students respond to lure of competitive fishing
Belgreen Bulldogs, Phil Campbell Bobcats, Red Bay Tigers, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
October 29, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — A new countywide fishing team is giving more Franklin County students the chance to cast a line and compete. The Franklin County Angler...
UNA can’t figure out how to win on the road
Sports
David Glovach For the FCT 
October 29, 2025
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — The setting was different — the town, the stadium, the opposing team. The scene facing North Alabama, however, was the same leavi...

Leave a Reply

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