Newsletter
Mayor Andy Betterton
May 11, 2022
Arts Alive 2022
We're very excited to host many of the region's talented artists for a weekend full of fun, joy, food, and more! We can't wait to see you!
Saturday, May 21 & Sunday, May 22
Wilson Park, Downtown Florence
Read all the details about this year's event here.



Shoals Storytelling Festival
Do TELL! Shoals Storytelling Festival to be held May 19 – 21, 2022.
World-class storytellers, and musicians will be in Florence at the Shoals Theatre on May 19, 20 and 21 to regale expected crowds with tales of heart, humor, and music. The Shoals Storytelling Festival continues with its 11th annual event in the North Alabama area.

Congratulations to our new Fire & Rescue Graduates!

Firefighters Chandler Cole, Joshua Collier, Bradley Mifflin, Max Tsilis, and Jonathan Hill
Thank you for being willing to serve our community!

The Florence Police Department Welcomes New Officers!


Thanks to all who came out for Florence Shred Day!

Touch a Truck—An Amazing Success!

Keep the Shoals Beautiful Awards Waterloo School for Student and Faculty Litter Clean-Up Efforts!
Many schools had exceptionally clean campuses, but Waterloo students pulled ahead when they cleaned their campus, town, boat launch, and along 'The Wall.' One of our area's favorite fishing, camping, and water sports destinations is pristine and ready for summer. Thanks to Ms. Courtney Putman and her students, who put hours of effort into making Waterloo even more beautiful! Thank you, Steve Trash, who awarded Waterloo students with his fantastic show that brings magic to math and science!

4th Annual Food Truck Festival



Colbert County Tree Risk Workshop
This event will be from 8:00-11:00 am at The Roundhouse in Tuscumbia.
Registration information is detailed on the attached flyer.

Young Learner's Series: Sunflowers
The program on Sunflowers will take place Saturday, May 21st at 10 am. The program will focus on sunflowers and their uses by southeastern Indigenous people. Students will learn about the importance of sunflowers and work to create an outdoor exhibit for the Museum. Visit https://www.florencealmuseums.com/young-learners to sign up.
This program is sponsored by the City of Florence Department of Arts and Museums and the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. Call 256-760-6427 for more information.

Shoals Symphony Orchestra's 40th Season
With an amazing roster that includes Michael Bolton and Cirque de la Symphonie among other events, you won’t want to miss out!
NOTE: Single event tickets are not yet on sale.



NOW OPEN: Red Cow Coffee, LLC
Check out soft opening hours to the right.



LAUDERDALE COUNTY’S FIRST COURTHOUSE
In 1818, Florence became a city, and Lauderdale was designated a county the same year. Just four years later, in 1822, the County’s first Courthouse was completed. (See attached photograph.) At a cost of $5,700, this building, located where the City-County Government building is today and constructed in grand Greek Revival style, was three stories high, with a wide portico, ten columns and a tall steeple with a cupola containing a very large clock. Ralph Hughes, a young man from Kentucky, was one of the craftsmen who helped construct the building. He wrote a letter to his brother back in Kentucky in which he described some of his work, of which he was obviously very proud. Here is a short except from the letter (the spelling and grammar are his own): “I am a working on the court house I have had a chance of working on all the best work eaver since you left here I mad two of the court house doors and helped to make the other two The four shutters come to one hundred dollars I made two of the clock faces and got out a good part of the circular cornice and hope to frame all the steeple The steeple will be finished in a few weeks It is thre story and a half high and every storey sixen feet high from the ground to the top is upwards of a hundred feet it is given up to be the best frame in the country all don by the square rule” The letter goes on to talk about the clock that was to be delivered within seven months, which would put the finishing touch on the grand structure. This first Courthouse was replaced by a second one in 1901. That one, located in the exact spot of the first one, was also razed, in 1965, and was replaced by the present Courthouse, exactly one block south of the first two.
--Billy Warren, City Historian



- $14.26 Hourly
- $11.08 Hourly
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Maintenance Worker Park and Recreation Part Time
- $11.08 Hourly
Support Staff Animal Control Part Time
- $11.08 Hourly



A little funny...


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.
