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503 West Main Street Tuscumbia, AL 35674 www.bethanyellisonmalone.com • Wills • Probate • Estate Planning • General Practice

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2022

Community support bolsters start of new school year

Now that we are settling into the new school year, I have had time to reflect on what a great start to the school year we had. Many were involved in getting this year off to a good start in August, but I’ve been especially reflecting on the role our community played and how their continued support really does make a difference.

Before school officially started, we had a grand opening for the new addition to Russellville High School that was well-attended by the community. We received so many compliments and encouragement from those who came to look around that day and have received many positive comments since then from people who are excited about the opportunities this new building brings for our students and staff.

The Sunday before school started, our community showed up once again to support RCS by having a community-sponsored prayer walk around our campus. I was there and had the privilege of praying for our schools, our teachers, our students and all the different aspects of school life. I was so encouraged to see so many in our community come out to do the same thing. It was a wonderful sight to see these people walking around our campus and through our hallways praying for us to all have a great year.

And then, as has been the tradition for the past several years, our city and utility employees showed up on the first day of school to welcome us all back in a big way with bucket trucks in the air, American flags flying, lights flashing on the fire trucks and police cars and smiling city workers holding up signs with encouraging messages, waving and cheering for us. You can’t have a bad start to the school year with that kind of community support behind you!

Russellville is a special place when it comes to community support, especially for our schools. All of us here at RCS appreciate it so much. Now that we’re getting into football season and our athletics and extracurriculars are back in full swing, we hope to see that same Russellville spirit and support we know and love at our events throughout the rest of the year!

Heath Grimes is the superintendent of Russellville City Schools. He and his wife Amy have three daughters: Leah, Halle and Erin.

APPLE OF MY EYE

Info from KATERNIA COLE COFFEY, Extension director

As fall approaches, one favorite fruit starts getting a little more attention that it does the rest of the year: the humble apple.

Rich with history and folklore, apples were a favorite food of Europeans who settled in the New World. No other fruit is so widely grown around the world than the apple. Numerous books have been written about apples, such as the story about Johnny Appleseed, which mentions more than 4,000 varieties.

Apples are heterozygous: A new variety is born each time a seed is germinated and developed into a bearing tree. Although hundreds of varieties exist, 10-20 are seen by consumers in grocery stores.

APPLE FACTS

1. Two thirds of the apple crop grown in the U.S. is used to eat. The other one third is used for apple juice, apple sauce, apple butter and packaged apple slices. 2. The most-grown apple variety is the Red Delicious. 3. The top 10 apple-producing states are Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Virginia, North Carolina, Oregon, Ohio and Idaho. 4. Apples are a great source of fiber. The apple skin and flesh help lower blood cholesterol and support a healthy gut. 5. Apple trees produce fruit in one of two ways: Spur-bearers produce fruit on the small, thorn-shaped branches that extend off the main tree branch, while tip-bearers produce fruit on the tips of the branches from the previous year.

AN APPLE A DAY

Wondering what variety is best suited different types of recipes? Here’s an easy cheat sheet: • Fuji: fresh eating, salads, baking, applesauce, pies, freezing • Gala: fresh eating, salads, applesauce, baking, pies • Ginger gold: fresh eating, salads, applesauce, pies • Golden Delicious: fresh eating, salads, applesauce, baking, pies, desserts, freezing • Granny Smith: fresh eating, sautéing, applesauce, baking, pies, juice, freezing • Mutsu: fresh eating, applesauce, pies, desserts, juice • Ozark Gold: fresh eating, applesauce, cooking, baking, pies • Red Delicious: fresh eating, salads, applesauce

GET GROWING

What is needed to grow apples? Pick an area where apple trees will be in the sun all or most of the day. Morning sun dries dew from leaves, reducing diseases, and sunlight helps to increase fruit production.

Apple trees will not grow in soil that drains poorly; roots will die, resulting in stunted growth and death of the tree. Deep soil with a sandy loom to a sandy clay is a good choice.

When it comes to purchasing trees, buy them from a reliable resource. Here are some tips to keep in mind: • A small tree with a good root system is a better choice than a large tree with a poor root system. • 1-year-old trees grow better. • Do not purchase trees that are insect-ridden, diseased or injured, stunted or poorly grown. • Check trees for the desired variety and root stock. • Trees should feel firm and not spongy or brittle. If you cut through the roots, they should reveal a tissue that is white to creamy in color. Tan or brown indicates that the roots are damaged or dying. • While some apples are adaptable, make sure you choose an apple variety suitable for the zone area in which you live in.

Before planting, prepare the soil thoroughly by plowing or spading followed by disking or raking to smooth the surface. Check the pH of the soil, which should be 6.5, and ;ime the soil. Keep weeds out of a 3x3 area so they will not compete for moisture and nutrients.

When fertilizing, nitrogen is the most important nutrient needed. Phosphorus and potassium should be applied before planting.