MORE: 2023 Year in Review. See pages A2, B6.
Don’t miss Franklin Living Bridal Edition. See page A4.
Kids Page. See page A6.
50¢ | Vol. 144, No. 1
Hometown Newspaper of James W. Whitlock — Est. 1879 | Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Elect
Jason
2023 REVIEW
ote
Barry Moore
Miller PROBATE JUDGE
PROBATE JUDGE PD. POL. ADV. BY BARRY MOORE, 399 HIGH PINE DRIVE, RUSSELLVILLE, AL 35654
Pd.Pol.Adv.by Jason Miller, 605 Elm Circle, Russellville, AL 35653
Variety of news stories shape Franklin County
By María Camp maria.camp@ franklincountytimes.com
From business to schools to community events, city news and more, here are some of the headlines from 2023. JANUARY 2023 County observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day The Franklin County branch of the nonprofit Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship committee held its annual commemoration march and related events Jan. 16, this year taking place in downtown Russellville. New district attorney swears in Je f f r e y Wa d e Barksdale, Franklin County’s assistant district attorney since 2014, took the oath of office as district attorney Jan. 15 in the upstairs courtroom of the Franklin County courthouse.
FEBRUARY 2023 Downtown Russellville Collective names executive director The Downtown Russellville Collective, formed in 2022, as part of the city’s efforts working toward achieving Main Street Alabama status,
Index
Records ........................ A3 Kids ............................... A5 Worship ........................ A6 Opinion ........................ A8 Sports ........................... B1 Classifieds ................... B4 Akins Funeral Home Our family has been serving Franklin County since 1949.
Offering compassionate service and advice during the most difficult of times. Staff is always available, 24/7 13455 Hwy. 43 – Russellville, Alabama
256-332-1131
announced Ann Epperson McDermitt as its first executive director, effective Feb. 1. MARCH 2023 Franklin County Partnership Awards banquet spotlights county’s best The Franklin County Partnership awards banquet took place March 23 in the A.W. Todd Centre in downtown Russellville. Jointly presented by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and the Franklin County Development Authority, it’s an annual event designed to highlight Franklin County accomplishments. Off-duty Russellville firefighters spot house fire, respond without hesitation Off-duty Russellville Fire Department firefighters Sgt. Shane Mansell and Michael Hall set out around 4:30 a.m. March 21 to head to South Carolina to pick up a bass boat Mansell had purchased. Along the way, they discovered a house fire and stopped to help those trapped inside.
FILE PHOTOS The Franklin County branch of the nonprofit Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship committee holds its annual commemoration march and related events Jan. 16 in downtown Russellville.
Jeffrey Wade Barksdale, Franklin County’s assistant district attorney since 2014, takes the oath of office as district attorney Jan. 15 in the upstairs courtroom of the Franklin County courthouse.
Scholarship committee keeps Chucky Mullins’ memory alive with annual events Classmates of Chucky Mullins and other volunteers continued their work to reflect on and showcase his legacy March 24-25, hosting the 12th
annual golf tournament at Twin Pines Country Club and the third annual youth football camp at the RHS stadium, as well as the second annual Special Olympics Pro Bowl in the RMS gym.
The Downtown Russellville Collective, formed in 2022 as the city pursued Main Street Alabama status, announces Ann Epperson McDermitt as its first executive director, effective Feb. 1.
APRIL 2023 Russellville eighthgraders 3-D print prosthetic arm Ansley Willis, Kloee White and Wendy Barrientos, students in Lee Brownell’s Russellville Middle School STEM class took
See 2023 REVIEW, Page A2
Classmates of Chucky Mullins and other volunteers continue their work to reflect on and showcase his legacy.