PC students celebrate unique accomplishments
PHOTOS BY LAUREN WESTER
News, Phil Campbell
 By  Lauren Wester Published 
9:59 am Wednesday, October 4, 2017

PC students celebrate unique accomplishments

Usually, children look up to adults for inspiration, but lately in Phil Campbell those roles have been reversed. Jackie Ergle, Phil Campbell Elementary principal, said she is in awe of the outstanding character and achievements that her students have shown. Luke Gerrard, Blake McCullogh and Reid Jackson are just a few those students.

Luke did something Ergle said she has never had happen before: he walked up to her out of the blue one day and handed her a $100 bill to donate to the school.

“Something like this just doesn’t happen every day. I think it shows real leadership and character,” Ergle said.

Luke ultimately decided he wants the money to go toward a new Chromebook for the school –which Ergle said is what she assumed he would choose when she asked him.

“I want everyone to have one,” Luke said.

And while one more Chromebook won’t reach that goal, it is certainly a step in the right direction.

“With children like Luke and donations from other people as well, we’ll reach our goal of having at least one cart of Chromebooks per grade,” Ergle said.

Blake was chosen this year to attend Camp Courage in Tuscumbia because of his hearing impairment, Ergle said. The goal of Camp Courage is to inspire visually- or hearing-impaired children learn to use their abilities to change the world.

At the three-day camp, Blake said he got to visit Helen Keller’s birthplace, go fishing, visit Cypress Cove Farm and attend an end-of-camp celebration. Aside from learning to read and write braille, Blake said one of his favorite parts of the camp was getting to meet new friends, some all the way from West Virginia.

“I learned not to judge other people because everyone is different, and that’s OK,” Blake said.

At the Watermelon Festival, Reid displayed his talent for growing watermelons. He won the award for largest watermelon with his 181-pound melon that he said took four men to carry.

“We watered it and fed it a lot,” Jackson explained.

A real point of pride for Reid is that he beat his big brother in the competition and that Piggly Wiggly displayed his winning watermelon.

Also on Franklin County Times
Warming stations in the Shoals
News, Z - News Main
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
January 23, 2026
FLORENCE — Several warming centers and emergency shelters are operating across Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties in preparation for freezing t...
What to know about hypothermia
News, Z - News Main
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
January 23, 2026
FLORENCE — While Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties are facing a ice storm warning starting at midnight, several homes and residents may lose p...
Sheriff: Contraband is constant battle in jails
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said the county jail is not immune to the problem jail officials everywhere face: Inmates coming...
Oliver, Shackelford qualify for sheriff
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver will have to hit the campaign trail to seek a fifth term this year. Oliver, a Republican and Fra...
New welding shop a plus for students
Franklin County, Main, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A new welding shop inside the Russellville High School’s remodeled career tech building offers students more time and space to learn th...
Vina seniors tour NWSCC campuses
News, Vina Red Devils
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
VINA — Vina High School seniors toured the Phil Campbell and Muscle Shoals campuses of Northwest Shoals Community College as part of career planning a...
Can the US solve its electricity crisis?
Columnists, Opinion
January 21, 2026
As America embraces a new year 2026, consumers are looking for relief from an ongoing “affordability crisis.” While prices for some key items have mer...

Leave a Reply

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