Top Stories

Gilmer fulfills dream competing on ‘Jeopardy!’
Main, News, Russellville
by María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
October 15, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville native Slade Gilmer fulfilled a lifelong dream when he competed on “Jeopardy!” in an episode that aired Oct. 7.
Read More
Police among state’s first certified departments
News, Russellville, Z - News Main
by María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
October 15, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — The city’s Police Department is one of the first 12 departments to earn professional accreditation through the Alabama Association of C...
Read More
Positive mindset is a key to cancer battles
Main, Z - News Main
by Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
October 8, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Faye Massey was no stranger to breast cancer when she received her own diagnosis around six years ago.
Read More
Jones ends 44-year NACOLG career
Main, Z - News Main
by Russ Corey For the FCT 
October 8, 2025
MUSCLE SHOALS — KeithJonessaidhe’sproud of the legacy of unity he helped establish during his 25-year tenure as director of the Northwest Alabama Coun...
Read More

Ex-day care owner faces 27-count indictment
Main
by Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
October 15, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — The former owner of a Red Bay day care center where a 4-month-old died in March 2022 is now facing a manslaughter charge after a Frankl...
Read More
AI policies stress proper use over prohibition
Main
by Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
October 15, 2025
Sheffield City Schools’ policy regarding student use of artificial intelligence (AI) at the start of the 2025-26 school year limited the use of the so...
Read More
We must break China’s grip on defense supply chains
Columnists
October 15, 2025
China’s Xi Jinping appeared supremely confident at a recent military parade in Beijing with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Xi’...
Read More
DKG international president visits Russellville
Columnists
HERE AND NOW
October 15, 2025
When educators gather, there’s always something to learn, and this month our local Delta Kappa Gamma chapter, Alpha Upsilon, heard directly from the t...
Read More
More than laughs: Improvising for life’s situations
News
by Chelsea Retherford For the FCT 
October 15, 2025
When most people hear the word “improv,” they might think of the quickwitted antics of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” But David Grissom, a veteran comedy ...
Read More
Strong second half lifts RHS over Hatton
News
by Brannon King For the FCT 
October 15, 2025
Russellville’s first trip to Hatton for a varsity football game in the history of the program was a successful one as the Golden Tigers defeated the H...
Read More
UNA follows one drubbing with another
College Sports
by David Glovach For the FCT 
October 15, 2025
FLORENCE — North Alabama followed up one dud with another. After its 29-point loss at Abilene Christian last week, the Lions lost 49-21 to Central Ark...
Read More
Family folklore fuels music festival
News
by Chelsea Retherford For the FCT 
October 15, 2025
In the earliest stages of forming Carver Commodore in 2016, Payton Pruitt and his fellow bandmates had exhausted several ideas for a name before Pruit...
Read More
Project will enlarge culvert, widen creek crossing
News
by Russ Corey For the FCT 
October 15, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — A $120,000 improvement project on a busy city street will not only enlarge the size of the drainage culverts, but also the width of a s...
Read More
Birthdays
October 15, 2025
Birthdays   Oct. 15   Randy Arrington   Magen Sparks     Oct. 16   Anna Byars   Letha McKinney   Rickey Smith   Danny Woods   Marilyn Pierson     Oct....
Read More
Marriages
October 15, 2025
Oct. 3   Skylar Brock Brazil to Reagan Michelle Humphries   Oct. 8   Freddy Dewayne Duncan to Crystal Leeann Pharr   David Allen Gibson to Harleigh Mi...
Read More
Land Transactions
by Griffin Traylor 
October 15, 2025
Aug. 29   Dannette S Grant and Ronald L Grant to Jeremy Campbell, warranty   Peggy H Causey to Andrew Corley and Elizabeth Brooke Corley, survivorship...
Read More
Community Calendar
October 15, 2025
October 18 – Second Chance Canine Advocates meeting: Second Chance Canine Advocates, a nonprofit organization dedicated to animal welfare, will hold i...
Read More
‘Careers on Wheels’ rolls into Vina School
News
by María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
October 15, 2025
VINA — Elementary students at Vina School got an up-close look at a variety of professions Friday during the school’s first “Careers on Wheels” event....
Read More
Goodwin showing how much he’s grown as Russellville’s QB
High School Sports
by David Glovach For the FCT 
October 15, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — There’s a photo that sits on the second shelf of a bookcase behind Dustin Goodwin’s desk, leaned up against the backing, almost at eye ...
Read More
High School Sports
by Bart Moss For the FCT 
October 15, 2025
Volleyball teams begin area tournament play this week with the goal of reaching the Super Regionals in Birmingham.
Read More
RHS beats West Point; clinches 5A season title
High School Sports
by Brannon King For the FCT 
October 15, 2025
The Russellville Golden Tigers had a memorable evening last week on the home volleyball court as the varsity team clinched first place in Class 5A Are...
Read More
Red Bay routs Tharptown 53-0 for Homecoming
High School Sports
by Bart Moss For the FCT 
October 15, 2025
The Red Bay Tigers gave their home crowd plenty to cheer about on Homecoming night, delivering a dominant performance in a 53-0 rout of the Tharptown ...
Read More
Land Transactions
October 8, 2025
Aug. 25 • Linda K Emnace and Raul G Emnace to Francisca Quillen, warranty • Paula K Bullen and Paula K Davis to Brandon Michael Cox and Karli Annison ...
Read More
Main
by Russ Corey For the FCT 
October 8, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County commissioners have approved an $18,534,053 Fiscal Year 2026 budget that includes a 5% base pay raise for General Fund, ...
Read More
$500K grant sought for restoration of old well
Main
by Russ Corey For the FCT 
October 8, 2025
RED BAY — The Red Bay Water & Gas Board has applied for a $500,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant to rehabilitate the existing, inactive Cooper...
Read More
Main
by María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
October 8, 2025
RED BAY — The city council has adopted a vape tax ordinance.
Read More
Toys for Tots annual drive gets underway
News
by Russ Corey For the FCT 
October 8, 2025
SHEFFIELD — Toys for Tots volunteers began distributing dozens of donation boxes Oct. 3 as the annual drive was officially launched.
Read More
Opinion
October 8, 2025
Abreast cancer diagnosis doesn’t affect just the patient. It causes sorrow and fear for all the people who know the mother, grandmother, sister or wif...
Read More
Local newspapers keep their communities strong
Columnists
October 8, 2025
Strong communities don’t just happen. They rely on connection — residents knowing what’s going on, businesses reaching the customers who keep them ope...
Read More
Spring rains delay gathering of crops
Lifestyles
by Russ Corey For the FCT 
October 8, 2025
Colbert County farmer Luther Bishop is familiar with the ups and downs associated with farming and how, when you least expect it, Mother Nature can th...
Read More
Birthdays
October 8, 2025
Oct. 8 Oct. 9 Meagan Gaston Bragwell Dakotah Burleson Brenda Sanchez Brandon Ray Cothrum
Read More