Franklin County, FRONT PAGE FEATURED, News, RSS Facebook, RSS General, RSS Twitter, Russellville
 By  Nathan Strickland Published 
1:05 pm Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Pollen creating a mess for most

James and Isaac Bird wash off a pollen covered vehicle at Promise Car Wash, located beside Kieth's Automotive near downtown Russellville. | Nathan Strickland/FCT

Mother Nature must have issued an “Emancipation Pollenation” whenever springtime was established because pollen seems to be covering just about everything around this time every year.

Outside stairwells, patio furniture, lakes and automobiles are among several things that are unable to escape the tiny egg-shaped powdery grains released from flowering plants, which are carried by the wind or insects, and serve to cross-pollinate other plants of the same type for reproductive purposes.

According to weather.com, pollen counts have reached very high levels 9 out of 13 days this April and continue to stay persistent through the rest of the month.

Reports show Franklin County in the red for very high pollen activity and specify oak trees to be the number one contributor in the pollen explosion.

Weather.com Meteorologist Tim Ballisty said the reason behind the sudden burst of pollen is due to the extended winter climate.

“The extended cold winter in many parts of the U.S. during the month of March kept trees from pollinating during their usual time,” he said. “When April began, a large ridge of high pressure dominated the eastern 2/3 of the country and temperatures soared to record-breaking levels and, instead of a staggered, gradual process of pollination, the sudden burst of record warmth triggered an absolute explosion of pollen from trees and plants of every variety.”

The extreme pollen counts has continuously sent people to local retailers, clearing the shelves of that “sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, so you can rest” medicines.

Dr. Yves Morissette, ear, nose and throat specialist and owner of The Morissette Clinic in Russellville, said the people who are most in danger are the ones who suffer from allergic asthma. He believes those people should pay close attention to their symptoms and be careful during this time of year.

Morissette said there are two types of allergies in the springtime, grass and trees, and it just so happens that the tree allergies are in full force right now.

“Once all the trees have pollinated then symptoms should stabilize, but after that happens some people will still have to worry about the grass allergy,” he said.

Morissette said the pollen that affects people is not the yellow pollen, but another type of pollen that is not visible to the naked eye.

“It isn’t the yellow pollen that affects people because it is to heavy,” he said. “It’s the light pollen that maple, oak and hickory tree distribute to the air and flies into the nose.”

Morissette suggests people should opt for over-the-counter antihistamines before seeing a physician, but warns men who are over the age of 50 to ask for the more modern antihistamines versus the older generic ones because of the increased risk of urinary retention and complications.

“If a person is unable to suppress their symptoms with over-the-counter medication in a couple of days then they should see a physician to either get a steroid shot or a better antihistamine,” he said. “This will help suppress symptoms of irritation during this allergy season.”

Promise Car Wash, located on Lawrence Street near Downtown Russellville and proudly owned and operated by Priscilla Graham, has been hand-washing and waxing several cars covered in pollen for many weeks now and don’t expect the pollen to go away anytime soon.

Wash-hand at Promise Car Wash Frank Graham said some customers are just going to wait it out.

“Me and my customers have been talking about it and they have been trying to hold off getting their vehicle cleaned for a little while longer,” he said. “I got regular customers mostly and we work together to figure out the best time to get a wash. I tell them it is fine with me if they want to wait, just bring it down or we will come get the car when the customer gets ready.”

Graham said the pollen has really had an impact on his business because lots of people will use the machine car washes.

“We do a lot of detail work at our car wash,” he said. “We like to clean the car inside and out so people can get their money’s worth. As far as the pollen goes, It hasn’t helped business because with pollen being the way it is, people will choose to insert some money into those mechanical car washes, let it spray off the pollen and head back home. Pollen isn’t that hard to spray off so people choose that route cause it is quicker.”

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

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

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025