By Staff
Jonathan Willis
We live in a time that is so much different than any other in world history.
This is a day and age that is full of constant change, almost to the point where we can't keep up.
Nowhere is change more prevalent than in the way we get our information. Wouldn't you know that I would go to college for four years and get a degree in a field that changes almost daily?
For years we have been able to flip on the television to catch a local or national news broadcast of some big breaking event. We have all seen war coverage, storm coverage and even crimes. Who will ever forget seeing O.J. Simpson riding down the interstate with hordes of police cars right behind him?
And in recent years, the Internet has changed the way we all find information. We can just click one button and find out something that may have happened only a minute or two before.
But the one constant news source that's been around for generations is the newspaper. There is still something about having that paper in your hand to help you find the information you want to know about.
Here at the Franklin County Times, we want to make sure that newspapers continue to be a part of your day. That's why we take part in a worthwhile program known as Newspapers in Education.
Simply put, NIE is a program where we provide free newspapers to our schools. We currently give more than 1,000 newspapers to classrooms all across Franklin County each week.
Any teacher who wants to become a part of the program and receive free papers can make one simple call to our circulation manager, Charles Pounders, and have them sent right to your classroom at no charge.
We have heard all kinds of feedback from teachers who use the papers for different purposes. They are good for reading lessons, civics lessons and keeping up with current events.
Some teachers use sale ads for math lessons. For example, the full page Big Star ad that will be part of the FCT each week can be used to help figure sales tax amounts and other math equations.
NIE is a program that we are proud and excited to be a part of, but we want to see it grow.
The lifeline of our NIE program comes from donations, which help cover the cost of printing. From time to time we do promotions and fundraisers to help raise money for NIE. That's why we have planned a Community Bazaar on Saturday, May 31 at the Ralph C. Bishop Community Center in Russellville.
The bazaar will feature several local businesses, as well as individuals from around the county, who will have booths set up with items for sale. Audrey's Gifts, the Lily Pad, Second Chance, a Tastefully Simple representative, monogramming and jewelry sales vendors have all committed to the bazaar.
But the best part is that it is open to anyone. If anyone has thought about having a yard sale or garage sale, it is a perfect opportunity to set up and be part of the bazaar.
Booth spaces cost $20 and there is a $1 admission fee to the public, with all money raised going to the NIE program to make sure that newspapers go into as many classrooms as possible.
Anyone interested should call the FCT office at 332-1881.
Currently we depend on a dedicated group of sponsors who support the NIE program.
We want to thank Morgan Chiropractic, Laura Johnson – Nationwide Insurance, Lanny Norris – State Farm, Russellville Financial, Inc., There's a Way Inc., T.C. Tire &Wrecker Service, State Sen. Roger Bedford, Russellville Gas Board, Russellville Pharmacy, District Attorney Joey Rushing, State Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, Sheriff Larry Plott, Hometown Pharmacy, Timothy Malone and all of the generous FCT subscribers who graciously give.