My profession has its perks, that’s for sure

One of the things that makes me like my job so much is the interesting and unusual things I get to do on occasion in my line of work.

I have covered football games from sidelines and press boxes from Fayette County to the other side of Birmingham to down south of Tuscaloosa.

I have been in a media boat on Pickwick Lake, which is part of the Tennessee River, in Florence. If you have never done 60 mph on a bass fishing boat on the wakes of 100-200 boats at 6 a.m. on a cool summer morning, then I cannot adequately describe the experience to you.

I have covered most of the high school/college sports you can think of, and I have travelled with teams across state lines. I have covered championships, regionals and state tournaments.

What I was able to do Tuesday night has been added to my list of unusual but awesome things that only happened due to my job.

I went to cover Cedar Hill Trap Shooting Range. Wade Willingham, one of the two main proprietors of the establishment, told me that he had several teams that won accolades at a state competition.

That was more than enough to get me out there Tuesday night. I joked around with my boss that it sure would be fun if they handed me a shotgun and let me shoot at some clay targets.

Such things have a funny way of coming true in my line of work.

Everyone there was really nice and I got what I needed to write a good story, which will run at a later date. That was when Willingham asked me if I wanted to take a shot (literally) at the course.

I would have been crazy to turn down such an opportunity, having never even fired a shotgun before. James C. King, the other main proprietor of Cedar Hill, was kind enough to instruct me through my 25 shots at flying clay targets.

I hit 11 out of 25 in my first-ever trap-shooting attempt. The course average for a brand new shooter? Six out of 25. Bring it on world.

 

J.R. Tidwell is sports editor for The Franklin County Times. He can be reached at (256) 332-1881, ext. 31.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x