Franklin County, News, Z - News Main, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Lauren Wester Published 
8:31 am Friday, October 26, 2018

Morrow supports Tharptown Elementary robotics program

Tharptown Elementary School’s robotics students are finally going to be able to program and use their Mission 100 robots they received earlier this year, thanks to a donation from State Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow.

Oct. 17 Morrow visited TES to hand deliver a personal check for $1,000 for the program.

“We need to make investments in our public education,” Morrow said.

Robotics instructor Jake Ward said TES will use the money to help purchase laptops for the school. The school has Chromebooks, but those can’t be used to program the M100 robots.

“We’ve already started assembling them, but we need the devices to program them with,” Ward said.

About 30 students are participating in the robotics program this year at different ability levels. Some are returning members, and some are new.

“We’ve actually been letting the older students help the younger ones learn, and it’s been going well,” Ward said.

Morrow said he noticed Tharptown’s potential and growth at an awards ceremony last year, and he wants to continue to encourage them.

“I’m so proud of them. They’re showing what they can do,” Morrow said.

Also on Franklin County Times
The sky turned black, and he lived to tell it
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
By Brady Petree, Addie Broadfoot For the FCT 
April 29, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — By the time April 27, 2011, arrived, Rodney Smith had already grown accustomed to the warnings. For days, sirens had gone off across F...
EMA warns: Don’t rely on storm sirens
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 29, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County EMA Director Mary Glass said outdoor warning sirens should not be residents’ primary alert system during severe weather...
Ex-principal recalls lost students, teacher
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
SEARED IN THEIR MEMORIES
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
April 29, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — On the morning of April 27, 2011, Phil Campbell Elementary School (PCES) Principal Jackie Ergle was aware of the threat of severe weat...
West Elementary hosts Careers on Wheels
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 29, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — West Elementary students climbed into concrete trucks, explored emergency vehicles, and learned about skilled trades during the school’...
Cultura Garden Club spotlights pollinators
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
April 29, 2026
Bees, butterflies and plenty of garden talk filled the room as Cultura Garden Club members gathered at North Highlands Church of Christ in Russellvill...
State should broaden its readiness definition
Columnists, Opinion
April 29, 2026
Families across Alabama are asking hard and necessary questions about what’s next for their high school students. What’s the right path for my child? ...
Local group seeks to help veterans
Franklin County, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 29, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Veterans in Franklin County who need help with groceries, transportation, meals, wellness checks and caregiver support may not always k...
Free CPR, home safety programs offered
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
April 29, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Russellville Fire Department is offering free CPR classes, smoke detector installation and home safety inspections as part of an ex...

Leave a Reply

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