News

In the News: Russellville City Council approves 4 new storm shelters for the city

Photo Credit: WHNT

Originally published by WHNT. 

In just a few months, it will be the fifth  anniversary of the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak. Since that time, communities continue to find ways to protect their citizens in case that ever happens again.

There are images of devastation in Phil Campbell and Hackleburg burned into the mind of Russellville Mayor David Grissom. Seeing the destruction first hand was life changing.

In the News: Russellville council adding more safe rooms in city

Originally published in the Times Daily.

Since the deadly tornadoes swept through the region in April 2011, the City Council has been working toward providing shelters for residents.

“We have just completed two safe rooms, which brings the total to four we have in the city right now,” Russellville Mayor David Grissom said. He said each can hold 96 people.

In the News: Work could begin soon on flooded ballfields

Originally published in the Times Daily. 

Mayor David Grissom said with any luck, work could begin on renovations to the Hal Kirby Jr. Ballpark within the next couple of months.

“We had wanted to have the ballfields ready to play on this spring and summer, but that’s not going to happen,” Grissom said. “Now, we’re hoping to get things moving as soon as we can, and have them finished and open by the fall.”

In the News: Downtown Redevelopment

Photo Credit: Franklin County Times

Originally published in the Franklin County Times. 

The times, they are a-changin’. With a new year comes a renewed focus on a longterm project: the redevelopment of downtown Russellville.

“This is something we’ve been talking about for some time,” said Mayor David Grissom, who is spearheading the downtown revitalization. It’s been a goal, he said, ever since he came into office.

In the News: Downtown Revitalization Committee set to hold first meeting Thursday

Originally published in the Franklin Free Press. 

What began as a vacation last year for Russellville mayor David Grissom and his family became a work in progress as Grissom met and visited with Charleston, S.C. mayor Joe Riley and the Charleston City Council about their city’s downtown redevelopment project.

Merry Christmas!

In the News: Russellville receives $250K to restore ballpark

Originally published by Times Daily. 

City leaders said a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant will go a long way in making repairs at the Hal Kirby Jr. Ballpark that was damaged during the flash flooding May 27.

Mayor David Grissom said he received word this week from Gov. Robert Bentley the city received conditional approval of the CDBG Community Enhancement grant.

In the New: Mayor, council, city officials visit RES

Originally published in the Franklin County Times. 

Oct. 14 the mayor of Russellville, David Grissom, and member of the city council, along with Fire Chief Joe Mansell, Fire Marshal Justin Green, Russellville Police Lieutenant Scotty Lowery and Russellville Parks and Recreation Director Chad Sears, came to speak to Russellville Elementary School to talk to fifth graders about each of their departments.

In the News: RES students win fire safety poster contest

Originally published by the Franklin County Times. 

“Hear the beep where you sleep.”

That was the campaign slogan for Russellville Fire Department’s annual Fire Safety Poster Contest, open to all Russellville Elementary School students.

“It gets the kids who are older than the age we normally do the fire safety house with involved in and thinking about fire prevention and fire safety,” explained Fire Marshal Justin Green. “We don’t want them to forget about any of this stuff.”

In the News: City gets $250K for Hal Kirby Park

Originally published by the Franklin County Times.  

Russellville Mayor David Grissom found out Friday, and announced Monday, that the city has been awarded a $250,000 grant to rehabilitate Hal Kirby Jr. Park.

Following citywide flooding in June, the park was perhaps Russellville’s area of greatest damage. Swirling floodwaters tore down fences and damaged the ballfields, which were damaged to the point of being unable to be used for any summer or fall sports.