Franklin County has lots to love
Franklin County has lots to love
Franklin County, News, Z - News Main, Z - TOP HOME
 By  María Camp Published 
10:57 am Saturday, February 10, 2024

Franklin County has lots to love

❤️ What do you love about Franklin County? From lakes to sports, camping, the people and more, Franklin County folks recently shared what they love. 

❤️ For Patrick Adams, a highlight is the Christmas lights in Red Bay. Sarah Graham Adams shared her love for the Russellville High School band, which she explains “has always been amazing.”

❤️ Dennis Sherer said what he loves is the “friendly people” and “the Bear Creek lakes.”

❤️ “It’s a county blessed with folks that work hard and set great examples for their children,” explained Johnny Bowen. “We are blessed with great schools, plenty of lakes and beautiful scenery, as well as some rich musical heritage and some of the most giving folks you will ever meet. I’m proud to be a lifelong resident.”  

❤️ Blake Mason said what he loves is seeing how many serve the community through working to help protect it through volunteer fire service as well as those who serve it though other careers. “Some of the best people in the world live in Franklin County,” said Michael Hester. Judy West echoed his sentiments, noting it has “lots of good people.”  

❤️ For Jacob Landers, it’s about the sense of community. “The people who build up each community is what I love,” he explained. “The communities of Franklin County share a bond of love no other county has.”

❤️ Beverly Smith Childers named “beautiful lakes and mountains,” as well as the “way each community in Franklin County supports their local schools.” She also noted the “wide variety of churches one can choose from to go worship.”  

❤️ For Denisha Blackwell, it’s the “natural beauty of the hills and valleys.”

❤️ Andrew Hester said he loves the “down home feeling” and “all the beautiful lakes and woods to hunt and fish.”  

❤️ Susan Brooks said there’s “no more beauty on earth than driving down Spruce Pine Mountain,” noting the “lush green trees that turn the color of fire” and the “snowfall blanketed winter.”  

❤️ Kathy Saint Williams said while she no longer lives in Franklin County, what she loves from growing up here is the Bear Creek Lakes – Little Bear, Horseshoe Bend and Cedar Creek Lake.

❤️ “I love Franklin County,” said Judy Ergle, who described it as a “beautiful place” with “loving, kind neighbors,” a sentiment echoed by Evan M. Tidwell, who said he’s proud to call Russellville his birthplace. “I love that folks are always nice to you, and they speak when you meet them out somewhere.”  

❤️ Melissa Scott Clemons said she loves “how the members of the community all look out for each other,” adding it’s “so beautiful to drive through the country roads.”

❤️ Bonnie Bragwell said she loves the “school systems” and “the ability to live in the country with good neighbors.”  

❤️ Connie Garrison Maggerise said she loves “the country life, small stores and friendly people,” adding she enjoys going to Walmart to “spend time seeing people I know, stop and talk awhile,” as well as “the way we come together in crisis, like after the big tornado a few years ago when we all stepped up and worked to help others,” adding she also loves “the beauty of the mountain I was raised on and the valley I live in, with its lakes and great fishing areas. I was born here, and don’t plan to leave again.”  

❤️ Caleb Beason said Franklin County “provides the whole package, for both residents and visitors alike” through “beautiful natural resources, rich history, sought after agricultural land and the fine people showing both Southern hospitality and generosity toward others.” 

❤️ “We moved here from Pennsylvania four years ago, and while there are times we miss the convenience of ‘Northern City Life,’ we wouldn’t ever change the decision to move here,” explained Leigh Wilcox Mayer. “Russellville City Schools have been phenomenal, the community more than welcoming and we love the ability to just slow down and enjoy the day to day. Never take for granted what you have here in Franklin County because it truly is something special.”  

Also on Franklin County Times
Russellville to host MLK march on Monday
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Franklin County Martin Luther King Memorial Scholarship Committee is planning its annual commemoration march, which this year will ...
Career tech programs return to remodeled RHS building
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Students at Russellville High School returned from winter break last week to a newly remodeled and expanded Career Technical Education ...
Dowdy sentence delayed
Main, News, Russellville
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The sentencing of Brandy Dowdy will have to wait until another day after her defense attorney suffered a “medical emergency.” Dowdy’s s...
MLK march is about ‘keeping the dream alive’
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Rev. B.J. Bonner was 11 years old in the summer of 1963 when the civil rights movement reshaped the South and communities across Al...
FCREA finalizes 2025, looks ahead to 2026
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 14, 2026
There are moments in our meetings that stay with you long after the chairs are folded and the dishes are washed. One of those moments came in November...
This year, let’s resolve to be more involved
Columnists, Opinion
January 14, 2026
Stop eating desserts. Go to the gym every day. Read 50 books this year. Learn a language. Start my retirement savings. Every year we make our resoluti...
RHS track looks ahead to state meet
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville High School track athletes have posted multiple top 10 and top 20 section finishes this season, along with podium performa...
Vote of Red Bay budget delayed until February
News, Red Bay
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RED BAY — City councilmembers will vote next month on the 20025–26 fiscal year budget. Mayor Mike Shewbart told the council last week the budget was n...

Leave a Reply

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