Last week was a big week for the Town of Vina, so we had to take a minute to share our well wishes for everything happening in that part of the county.

At Vina High School, big change is on the horizon. With the demolition begun on the old band and science hall, the damage done by the 2016 EF-0 tornado will soon be just a memory for Vina students and teachers. We’re sure the student body and faculty are in for a challenging fall semester as they navigate the ongoing construction project, but it will all be worth it when the new building is unveiled.

That’s not the only change for Vina High School. Students, faculty and staff will be welcoming a new leader in Brent Gillespie, who is taking the principal’s chair at Vina. Brent comes to us from a lengthy tenure at Hatton High School, and we wish him all the best as he settles in at Vina and works for continued success for these students.

Outside the school system, Vina recently celebrated the accomplishments of a man who has worked almost 20 years for the best interests of his town: Mayor D.W. Franklin. Mayor Franklin is currently serving his fifth term in this leadership role, and he has stated that he will not run for re-election when his term of service is complete.

Many changes have taken place over the years under Mayor Franklin’s leadership, and we must congratulate him on the job he has done – and continues to do. He well-deserves the congratulations and celebration in honor of his many accomplishments.

Frequently, Russellville dominates the headlines in the Franklin County Times, and Red Bay and Phil Campbell take their share of spotlight. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like there is as much going on in our smaller communities – but last week, Vina proved that notion wrong.

We join with Vina in celebrating everything this town has to offer and add our sincere best wishes for continued growth and development in this community.