Congratulations to top students, athletes
COLUMNS--FEATURE SPOT, Opinion, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Staff Reports Published 
8:04 am Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Congratulations to top students, athletes

Some people think media outlets only look for the bad. At the Franklin County Times, we’ll cover the bad news that needs to be covered – but we love to look for the good. 

There was plenty of good news in this past week’s FCT, and we’d like to congratulate two groups that made headlines: the Belgreen High School Scholars Bowl team and the Russellville High School tennis program.

If you picked up a copy of the April 26 newspaper, you know the BHS senior Scholars Bowl team is the Class 1A state champion for the second year after a winning performance at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham April 14. The 2022 state title was a first for Belgreen – and here those Bulldogs are again, just a year later, achieving the same remarkable feat. 

We’d like to join their sponsor, Mary Motes, along with well-wishers throughout the community in congratulating these standout students. We know there is a high value placed on education across Franklin County, but these students took their studying and intellect beyond the classroom to accomplish something even more than good grades or test scores. They put forth an effort toward academic achievement to satisfy a hunger for learning that will serve them well throughout life. Well done!

We are also proud of the RHS girls’ and boys’ tennis teams, each of which took first place in the AHSAA Class 4A-5A Section 8 tournament to advance to the state tournament in Mobile. With this feat, the teams accomplished a first in school history: The first-place sectional finishes by both RHS squads were accomplished in the same year for the first time.

RCS prides itself on a tradition of excellence, as well it should. The tennis program is adding to that tradition; maybe next year will make two in a row for this tennis triumph. 

On the editorial pages of this paper, we must seek to be unbiased, sharing the facts as they stand as well as the stated opinions of others. On this page, however, we have the freedom to share our feelings about the stories we report. We have the opportunity to praise that which deserves to be praised.

These two student groups certainly fall in that category, and we’re glad to devote this week’s editorial in their honor. Congratulations to all involved in these wonderful success stories!

Also on Franklin County Times
$5M is secured for I-22 connector studies
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
June 3, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — A $5 million federal earmark has been secured for engineering and environmental studies tied to the long-discussed Haleyville bypass p...
Ayers hired as RCS assistant superintendent
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
June 3, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The city schools board of education has hired Nate Ayers as the system’s next assistant superintendent. Ayers’ hiring was approved by b...
Reserve deputies provide manpower where needed
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Addi Broadfoot Staff Writer 
June 3, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A group of volunteers dedicating their time to help local law enforcement is playing crucial roles ranging from courthouse security to ...
Search for executive director begins soon
Franklin County, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
June 3, 2026
TUSCUMBIA — The board overseeing the Alabama Music Hall of Fame has established procedures for selecting a new executive director. The position has be...
Cultura Garden Club celebrates America 250
Editorials, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
June 3, 2026
Cultura Garden Club members gathered in red, white and blue for their May meeting at the scenic home of Ann Marie Bucholtz in Phil Campbell, and welco...
The world needs some family values
Columnists, Opinion
June 3, 2026
Far out in Colbert County in an area near Cherokee called Freedom Hills, my parents, Dewey and Lillie Mae Denton, scratched out a life from a small cr...
Tharptown names Burkett baseball coach
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
June 3, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Becoming Tharptown High’s head baseball coach is the culmination of a goal that was years in the making for Michael Burkett. Burkett jo...

Leave a Reply

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