Franklin County, News, Russellville
 By  Alison James Published 
10:15 am Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Cruisers give big bucks to better community

Ray Smelser of the Cotton Flats Cruisers Car Club presents a $500 donation to the automotive technology program at Russellville High School. The Cruisers have been donating throughout the community to a number of causes.

Ray Smelser of the Cotton Flats Cruisers Car Club presents a $500 donation to the automotive technology program at Russellville High School. The Cruisers have been donating throughout the community to a number of causes.

Civic involvement is alive and well in Franklin County – particular when it comes to the Cotton Flats Cruisers Car Club.

The club is well-known for its classic car shows, but what might or might not be well known is the club’s willing donations to different organizations and groups throughout the community – most recently, a $500 gift for the Helping Santa gift collection program, coordinated by the Russellville Fire Department.

In a resolution approved at the Nov. 16 Russellville City Council meeting, the council thanked the car club for the donation, which will help provide gifts for Christmas for children in need in Russellville and Franklin County.

“That’s the type of people who make this program work,” said Fire Chief Joe Mansell. “If it wasn’t for people like that, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. We appreciate what they’ve done.”

The club also donated recently to the automotive technology program at Russellville High School and makes annual donations to the American Cancer Society.

Also on Franklin County Times
Russellville to host MLK march on Monday
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Franklin County Martin Luther King Memorial Scholarship Committee is planning its annual commemoration march, which this year will ...
Career tech programs return to remodeled RHS building
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Students at Russellville High School returned from winter break last week to a newly remodeled and expanded Career Technical Education ...
Dowdy sentence delayed
Main, News, Russellville
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The sentencing of Brandy Dowdy will have to wait until another day after her defense attorney suffered a “medical emergency.” Dowdy’s s...
MLK march is about ‘keeping the dream alive’
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Rev. B.J. Bonner was 11 years old in the summer of 1963 when the civil rights movement reshaped the South and communities across Al...
FCREA finalizes 2025, looks ahead to 2026
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 14, 2026
There are moments in our meetings that stay with you long after the chairs are folded and the dishes are washed. One of those moments came in November...
This year, let’s resolve to be more involved
Columnists, Opinion
January 14, 2026
Stop eating desserts. Go to the gym every day. Read 50 books this year. Learn a language. Start my retirement savings. Every year we make our resoluti...
RHS track looks ahead to state meet
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville High School track athletes have posted multiple top 10 and top 20 section finishes this season, along with podium performa...
Vote of Red Bay budget delayed until February
News, Red Bay
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RED BAY — City councilmembers will vote next month on the 20025–26 fiscal year budget. Mayor Mike Shewbart told the council last week the budget was n...

Leave a Reply

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