• 64°
franklin county times
Homecoming parades, like this one in Red Bay from a past year, just weren't meant to be in 2020 thanks to COVID-19.

Homecoming parades fall victim to COVID-19

Homecoming is a favorite time of year for many during high school football season, but this year it will look different in Franklin County and Russellville City Schools because of COVID-19.

FCS Superintendent Greg Hamilton said homecomings are one of the many traditions COVID-19 has changed, but the system is working to keep things as close to normal as possible.

“All of the parades have been eliminated, but we are trying to keep as much as we can where we can social distance,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said with as much time as students spend in close proximity together working on floats, there was no way to monitor social distancing.

Red Bay and Phil Campbell’s homecoming games were this past week, Tharptown’s has already taken place and Vina’s is still to come, Oct. 9.

RCS will also not hold a homecoming parade this year after consulting with the Alabama Department of Public Health. The homecoming game is set for Oct. 16.

“While I know this is disappointing, this decision was made in an effort to continue to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our city and in our schools,” said RCS Superintendent Heath Grimes. “If we were to have an outbreak because of students being in close proximity building floats the week of homecoming, and then students, parents and community members being in close proximity at the actual parade, it could result in our schools having to shut down for multiple weeks.”

The homecoming pep rally will be different for RCS as well, being held at the football stadium for grades nine through 12.

Parents and community members will be allowed to attend the pep rally but must socially distance on the visitor side. Middle school and elementary school will not be attending the pep rally.

Hamilton said FCS pep rallies will also be held outside with social distancing required.

Hamilton said it is each principal’s call whether the school chooses to hold a bonfire as a pep rally, but social distancing will still be enforced.

“We are trying to do everything we can to keep the kids safe while also having sustained academics, athletics and extracurricular activities,” Hamilton said.

“In a year when so many things have been changed or altered,” add Grimes, “I hope our students, parents, faculty, staff and community know that the decisions made at RCS are always made with the students’ safety and best interests in mind.”

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x