• Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices
    • Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices

Franklin County Times
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries
  • Records
  • Subscribe
  • Services
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Policies
  • Terms of use
  • Submit a news tip
  • Submit a photo
  • Birth Announcement
  • Birthday announcement
  • Engagement announcement
  • Wedding announcement
  • Submit a Classified Ad
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Classifieds
  • Public Notices
    Franklin County Times
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
    OPINION: My Thoughts
    FILE PHOTO - Bart Moss is a freelance writer and photographer for the Franklin County Times and principal of Phil Campbell High School.
    Bart Moss, He Says, My Thoughts, Opinion, Z - TOP HOME
    By Bart Moss
     By By Bart Moss  
    Published 7:04 pm Tuesday, March 18, 2025

    OPINION: My Thoughts

    He Says

    This week marked the fifth anniversary of the world shutting down and COVID-19 taking over our lives for well over a year. What happened during that time can never be allowed to happen again. I firmly believe it was a crime against humanity by a select few.

    We allowed local, state and federal governments and global entities unchecked power to ruin lives in the name of public health. Many young people will never recover from the learning loss that resulted from some of the insane decisions and directives that came down from on high. Never again …

    I remember when it became real. When the NBA and March Madness shut down, life as we knew it was over. Then schools began to shut down. High school sports shut down. Graduations were cancelled or postponed. Children had to return to school in the fall in masks, walking in single file lines down hallway highways. Never again …

    We drew circles on the ground outside to make sure we stayed six feet apart. Governments decided who was essential and non-essential. They decided what businesses could stay open and which ones had to close. Governments picked the winners and losers. Big box stores could open but mom-and-pop shops had to close. Never again …

    Auburn and Alabama both made semifinal exits from the SEC tournament in Nashville, Tennessee. Auburn lost to Tennessee. Alabama lost to Florida. The Gators went on to beat the Volunteers in the SEC tournament finals on Saturday. Florida may be the best team in the country right now. It would be hard to find a team that is nearly as good as the Gators …

    Worker productivity is about to plummet. The NCAA men’s basketball tournament, aka March Madness, begins this week. Games will be televised from noon to midnight for four days beginning on Thursday. The state of Alabama will be well represented. The Auburn Tigers are overall No. 1 seed for the first time ever. No team in the country had a better resume than Auburn, and it wasn’t even close. Auburn may play Alabama State (No. 16) in the second round in the South Region in Lexington, Kentucky …

    The Hornets play Saint Francis in the play-in games on Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio. Alabama (No. 2) is in the East Region and will play Robert Morris in Cleveland, Ohio. Troy University (No. 14) will play Kentucky in Milwaukee. Also, 14 teams from the SEC made the tournament — a record. Let the madness begin …

    Severe storms were forecast for Saturday from early in the morning until late at night. Weather forecasters predicted several long-track destructive tornadoes. Luckily, none of that happened. There were several warnings in the area but mostly it was heavy rain, some flooding and a lot of lightning. There were some people mad that the forecast was entirely correct. Imagine someone being mad because a massive tornado outbreak DIDN’T happen …

    There were several tornadoes. They were mostly in Mississippi. A few touched down in Alabama, but not many. But, as one weather forecaster noted, all it takes is one hitting your house or your neighborhood for it to be the worst …

    Have a great week this week. Spring is here.

    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Also on Franklin County Times
    Rural Acres Garden Club celebrates 50 years
    Lifestyles, Opinion
    HERE AND NOW
    Rural Acres Garden Club celebrates 50 years
    June 4, 2025
    The Waco Rural Acres Garden Club was established in the fall of 1974. There were 16 charter members. Agnes Sugg served as its first president. Doris B...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    28-year veteran educator retires from RMS
    News, Russellville
    28-year veteran educator retires from RMS
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 4, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE Longtime educator Diane Townley has retired after 28 years with Russellville City Schools. Her primary teaching focus was mathematics, mo...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    ‘Seamless Summer’ feeds all Franklin County students
    A: Main, Z - News Main
    ‘Seamless Summer’ feeds all Franklin County students
    By Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
    June 4, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE — The Franklin County School district will feed breakfast and lunch to all kids aged 18 and under this summer, whether they are affiliate...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Celebrating a century: Mildred Hood turns 100 years old
    Birthdays, Lifestyles
    Celebrating a century: Mildred Hood turns 100 years old
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 4, 2025
    Mildred Hood, a resident of Terrace Manor in Russellville, was born May 20, 1925. She turned 100 years old on May 20, 2025. She went to school in Wigg...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Students test their skills in carpentry challenge
    News, Z - News Main
    Students test their skills in carpentry challenge
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 4, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE – A hands-on carpentry competition recently gave building construction students from Franklin County Career Technical Center and Russellv...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Lawsuit abuse reform must be a top priority in 2026
    Columnists, News, Opinion
    Lawsuit abuse reform must be a top priority in 2026
    June 4, 2025
    As someone who had the honor of serving in the Alabama Legislature, I’ve seen firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing our great state. Alaba...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Goggans signs cheer scholarship with UNA
    High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
    Goggans signs cheer scholarship with UNA
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 4, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE Russellville High School graduate Ella Goggans will continue her cheerleading journey beyond high school, thanks to a scholarship from th...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Students benefit from Golden Tiger Bigs mentoring
    News, Z - News Main
    Students benefit from Golden Tiger Bigs mentoring
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 4, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE – The Golden Tiger Bigs program matched three younger students with three older volunteers during the justcompleted spring semester. Part...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    ❮ ❯
    Latest Local News
    28-year veteran educator retires from RMS
    28-year veteran educator retires from RMS
    RUSSELLVILLE Longtime educator Diane Townley has retired after 28 years with Russellville City Schools. Her primary teaching focus was mathematics, mo...
    June 4, 2025
    Students test their skills in carpentry challenge
    Students test their skills in carpentry challenge
    RUSSELLVILLE – A hands-on carpentry competition recently gave building construction students from Franklin County Career Technical Center and Russellv...
    June 4, 2025
    Lawsuit abuse reform must be a top priority in 2026
    Lawsuit abuse reform must be a top priority in 2026
    As someone who had the honor of serving in the Alabama Legislature, I’ve seen firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing our great state. Alaba...
    June 4, 2025
    Calendar Of Events
    June 6-8 -- “Annie” at the Roxy: The Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council will present the musical “Annie” June 6-8 at the Historic Roxy Theatr...
    June 4, 2025
    Car wash to include old FCT building
    RUSSELLVILLE The former Franklin County Times building on Highway 43, which was most recently a daycare called Kidz Korner, is undergoing some changes...
    June 4, 2025

    More Local News

    Latest Stories
    Answering call for children in need
    Answering call for children in need
    RUSSELLVILLE Before she became a foster parent last year, Hillary Malone Hall had volunteered for several years as a Sunday school teacher at her chur...
    June 4, 2025
    Calendar Of Events
    June 6-8 -- “Annie” at the Roxy: The Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council will present the musical “Annie” June 6-8 at the Historic Roxy Theatr...
    June 4, 2025
    Car wash to include old FCT building
    RUSSELLVILLE The former Franklin County Times building on Highway 43, which was most recently a daycare called Kidz Korner, is undergoing some changes...
    June 4, 2025
    Obituaries
    Floyd Richard Partain May 28, 2025 Floyd Richard Partain, 88, of Russellville, passed away May 28. Visitation was held June 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at...
    June 4, 2025
    Birthdays
    June 4 Katie Hester Jim Sibley Callie Compton Harley Stevens June 5 Ruby Allen Woodburn Mercedes Howard Cooper Horner Richie Malone Shelia Woods Casey...
    June 4, 2025
    Latest Sports
    Goggans signs cheer scholarship with UNA
    Goggans signs cheer scholarship with UNA
    RUSSELLVILLE Russellville High School graduate Ella Goggans will continue her cheerleading journey beyond high school, thanks to a scholarship from th...
    June 4, 2025
    4 honored duringRHS Performing Arts Signing Day
    4 honored duringRHS Performing Arts Signing Day
    RUSSELLVILLE - Four Russellville High School graduates were honored during the annual Performing Arts Signing Day. Just as student-athletes commit to ...
    May 28, 2025
    Longtime Russellville coach Tim Townley retires
    Longtime Russellville coach Tim Townley retires
    RUSSELLVILLE -- VILLE - Tim Townley is getting ready to start a new chapter of life. After 38 years in the Russellville City School system as a coachf...
    May 28, 2025
    Belgreen hopes state playoff run ‘builds confidence’ for future
    Belgreen hopes state playoff run ‘builds confidence’ for future
    OXFORD — The tears started when Belgreen gathered for the handshake line. They continued when the Bulldogs gathered their things and exited the dugout...
    May 21, 2025
    Bulldogs’ inspired run comes to end against Pisgah
    Bulldogs’ inspired run comes to end against Pisgah
    The Belgreen Bulldogs’ inspired run through the Class 2A state softball tournament came to an end in the Final Four last week, marking the culmination...
    May 21, 2025

    More Sports Stories

    x

    Sections

    • Home
    • News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyles
    • Obits
    • Special Sections
    • Sponsored Content
      • Home
      • News
      • Sports
      • Opinion
      • Lifestyles
      • Obits
      • Special Sections
      • Sponsored Content

    Services

    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise With Us
    • Policies
    • Terms of use
    • Submit a news tip
    • Submit a photo
    • Birth announcement
    • Birthday announcement
    • Engagement announcement
    • Wedding announcement
    • Submit a Classified Ad
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise With Us
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter

    Follow Us

    Copyright

    © , Franklin County Times