Alison James, Columnists, COLUMNS--FEATURE SPOT, Opinion
 By  Alison James Published 
12:38 pm Thursday, March 14, 2019

Tornadoes shake but strengthen us

One of my very earliest memories is of being maybe 3 years old, huddled with my family under a large piece of furniture for protection from the threat of a tornado.

We lived in Huntsville at the time, right here in Alabama’s tornado alley. Thankfully that storm turned out – as so many fortunately do – to be not-so-serious, and everyone weathered the weather all right.

Our friends to the south in Beauregard were not so fortunate earlier this month.

Unless you live under a rock, you know all about the deadly EF-4 tornado that took the lives of 23 Lee Countians March 3. I’m not here to recap the details.

I lived in Lee County for seven years – four as a college student at Auburn University and three more while my husband finished his undergrad and then earned a master’s degree. There were plenty of tornado watches and warnings during my time living and working in Lee. Most of the time they fizzled out to nothing. A few power lines down, maybe. Tree branches whipped to the ground, sure.

But nothing, nothing like what Beauregard saw a week and a half ago.

I worked for two years at the Opelika Observer newspaper, which covered all of Lee County, particularly the City of Opelika and the southern and eastern parts of the county. So I’m no stranger to Beauregard.

With it being such a rural area, though, it’s not as familiar to folks outside of Lee County. Friends in north Alabama have asked me, “Oh, is everyone you know in Auburn OK after the tornado?”

Like the difference between Russellville and Phil Campbell, the difference between Auburn and Beauregard is noteworthy.

But if folks had never heard of Beauregard before March 3, 2019, they probably have now. Reminiscent of how the 2011 tornado put Phil Campbell on the map, this tornado has put Beauregard on the map.

It’s a connection Phil Campbell has made, anyway. I couldn’t help but smile when I ran across the photo shared on Phil Campbell High School’s Facebook page, emblazoned at the top: “Let’s pay it forward PC!”

“Our community was blessed with donations in 2011 when the tornado hit our town,” the flier reads. “Now let’s help the victims in Lee County affected by the tornado on Sunday, March 3.”

PCHS’ National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society clubs are accepting donations through March 22 to help our east-central Alabama friends – all kinds of donations, from non-perishable food items, coats and clothing, to toiletries, paper products, pet supplies and, of course, monetary donations.

Doesn’t it make your heart happy to hear of someone paying it forward in this way? It’s like Mr. Fred Rogers’ always told him: Look for the helpers.

If you’ve been looking for a way to be a helper to Beauregard, consider helping Phil Campbell pay it forward.

It’s times like these, when our days seem the darkest, that we remember to turn to each other and lean on each other for support. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.” –Ecclesiastes 4:9

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...
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...
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...
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