News, Russellville, Top News Stories FRONT PAGE, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Alison James Published 
3:33 pm Thursday, July 11, 2019

Local author brings children’s story to RPL

“Big Ben is the type of bully every kid fears: he’s big, mean and gets away with everything. No one at school is safe. After years of coping, watching and suffering, Jimmy Clofton has to take a stand – one that changes everything.”

July 27 readers can find out more when “Kids on Patrol” author John Cantrell visits Russellville Public Library at 1 p.m.

A Russellville native and Vina High School graduate, Cantrell has his own stories of being bullied as a child. Now as a Littleville police officer, Cantrell was inspired one night to write a children’s story of dealing with and overcoming bullying – a prevalent topic today.

“The library always likes to work with local authors and hear their stories,” said RPL director Ashley Cummins. “We particularly love hearing what motivates our citizens to write stories. John is an active member of the community, a library patron and a local police officer. We are thrilled to host him and hope to have a wonderful turnout.”

Cantrell wrote the book in fall 2017 and said he was excited to have it picked up by a publisher, Mascot Books, in early 2018. He said he hopes the story will spread a message to young people to step out of cliques, make new friends and be kind to one another.

“It was my way of trying to encourage kids to be vigilant and stand up for those who might be affected by bullying or might be too afraid to stand up and speak for themselves,” Cantrell said. “It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t been directly or indirectly affected by bullying” – including himself. “When I was a young kid, 9 or 10 years old, I was the overweight, big kid. So I dealt with it. I just remember what it felt like … The people who did it didn’t care, and the people around, even those who I thought were my friends, would laugh.” Cantrell said he became more popular and athletic as he grew older, and he made it a point to talk to everyone – and to try to stand up for anyone being picked on.

Those experiences as a child might have even been part of the catalyst for his career choice in law enforcement. “There’s a lot of injustice in the world, and we try to help as many people as much we can,” he said.

When Cantrell graduated from Vina in 2004, he said he first aspired to be a teacher and football coach, but after a year of schooling toward that end, something happened to push him in a different direction.

“I was going fishing one summer and a car came around on the wrong side of the road and hit another car head on. I watched it happen,” Cantrell said. “That was a life-changer for me.”

The offending driver was under the influence at the time, and Cantrell remembers the anger he felt at the situation. The 19-year-old took a job with the Alabama Department of Corrections for two years before moving on to serve as a deputy in the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office. Over the course of several years he obtained his associate’s degree in criminal justice, and he has been at the Littleville Police Department for the past 10 years.

Cantrell said he has always enjoyed reading, but a passion for writing developed out of the essays and assignments he completed during his work for his degree. “Kids on Patrol” took him two days to write. With the support of his family – wife Regina and children Landon, 12, Xander, 7, and Freya, 5, who are all students at Belgreen – he pursued publication and was pleased when the “yes” finally came.

“I was ecstatic – probably shocked,” Cantrell said. “I’m just a police officer – and I consider myself a country boy.”

He received the first printed copy of his book the day before Father’s Day. “To hear from someone else that it’s great and they actually want to publish it, it’s a humbling experience.”

Copies of “Kids on Patrol” will be available July 27 at RPL.

I think it’s very relatable to kids that have went to public school,” Cummins added. “Bullying is a problem that we have all dealt with at some point in our lives, and he approached the subject in a teachable way.”

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