Newsletter
Mayor Betterton's Weekly Update
September 9, 2021
Mayor's Message To Our High School Students
Do You Have Questions About The Covid Vaccine?
Recycling Is Rocking! The Alabama Department of Environmental Management Presented a Check for $171,470 To Enhance Recycling!
ADEM presented a check to Florence Recycling for $171,470.00 for funds awarded through the Alabama Recycling Fund Grant. This funding will increase efficiency at the Florence Recycle Center. It will also strengthen recycling in local schools and at UNA as well as community programs in Lauderdale County, Rogersville, Killen, and St. Florian.
Florence Recycling began in 1988 and has served Florence and surrounding communities and municipalities for over thirty years! Beginning small, the Florence Recycling Program has steadily worked to improve efficiency and production. In 2009, the Alabama Recycling Fund began to inject funding into the program bringing the automation needed to expand recycling opportunities to surrounding communities. The success of the Florence Recycling Program combines the efforts of state and local leadership, our residents, school systems, and businesses. This cooperation has built a successful recycling program that supplies local manufacturers with raw materials supporting our local economy.
Mayor Betterton Declares September 5-11 National Suicide Prevention Week
- Suicide remains the 10th leading cause of death in the US and the 2nd leading cause of death in people between 10 to 34.
- More than 47,000 people died by suicide in the US in 2019 (Centers for Disease Control).
- Suicide rates have increased 30% over the last two decades until finally decreasing 2.1% between 2018 and 2019.
- In 2019, there were an estimated 1.38 million suicide attempts.
- Over 90% of the people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and treatable mental health condition that is often not recognized.
- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide through research, education, advocacy, and resources for those who have lost someone to suicide.
2021 Tennessee River Litter Tournament
Join Keep The Shoals Beautiful, Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, TVA & Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful for the 6th Annual Tennessee River Litter Tournament beginning 8 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 25, at McFarland Park, Florence. Fish for litter in the water or on the shoreline & enter 13-gallon trash bags of litter to compete for multiple cash prizes. Get ready to put on your free T-shirt & keep the Shoals beautiful!
To reserve a spot on the Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful boat, click...
THE FLORENCE CYCLE CLUB: 1890’S STYLE
The attached photograph of the Florence Cycle Club was made in Wilson Park in downtown Florence on a Sunday afternoon in 1893. The newspaper article in which the photograph appeared actually identified each person in the photograph by name. In the background is the bandstand that was located near where the fountain is today. Also visible in the background are two houses that sat where the public library now enjoys the same space. Note the mixture of styles of the bicycles – some are quite similar to the basic style of bicycles today; others have the oversize front wheels characteristic of the time. Note, too, that the club seems to have been exclusively for adults; there are no young people in the picture. Of interest, as well, is that the club was made up of both men and women. Given the era in which the photograph was made, a mixed-gender cycling club probably did not exist in many small towns at that time. Regardless, one can easily imagine this congenial group setting off at a predetermined time on a predetermined route and enjoying themselves immensely as they moved around the city and, perhaps, returned to the park for light refreshments.
--Billy Warren, City Historian
Check out the list of upcoming events...
A little laugh...
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting on
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
4:00 p.m. Work Session
5:00 p.m. Council Meeting
City Auditorium
103 South Pine Street
How to Submit Your Event, News, or Announcement:
- Public and community events or announcements can be submitted by attaching an email, Word document, PDF, or JPG file suitable for viewing on the web. Include graphics in JPG or PNG if possible.
- Along with your information, include your name, phone number, event name, location, date and time, and a brief description.
- IMPORTANT: Please submit your information no later than Tuesday of each week (preferably sooner). Submissions after the deadline will be added to the next week's publication. The newsletter is posted on Thursday afternoon.
- Send your information to rmansell@florenceal.org or call Rachel Koonce with questions at 256-760-6494.
Connect with Us!
Email: abetterton@florenceal.org
Website: florenceal.org
Location: 110 West College Street, Florence, AL, USA
Phone: (256)760-6400