Hits and misses

St. Francis Project

Thumbs up to Trinity Episcopal Church in Florence for its St. Francis Project. The church hopes to raise $1 million during the next 10 years and give the money to community organizations or individuals who are in need. The project is on track to meet its $100,000 goal for this year.

Thumbs up to cosmetology students and teachers at Central High School for their Survivor Paradise event last week. The school offered facials, manicures, pedicures, hair styling and paraffin waxings to eight breast cancer survivors. It's part of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October.

Thumbs down to whoever shot a Florence woman's dog in her backyard. Leartra Nance said her dog Spirit died after it was shot while chained in her yard. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call authorities at 760-6676 or 386-8635.

Thumbs down to the large corporations that are lobbying Congress to be exempt from the rules and restrictions that could be imposed on others in the pending health care reform bill approved this month by the Senate Finance Committee. It's fine if corporations such as Walmart, Caterpillar and Xerox want to lobby against the bill, but what makes them deserve special treatment that other companies cannot receive?

Thumbs up to everyone involved in establishing the Colbert County FAME Girls Ranch as part of the Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches. Rick Hall, a well-known music producer and FAME Studio owner, donated the first home for the effort. A second home is being built behind the FAME Ranch main home. Together the homes will serve 20 girls.

Thumbs up to sponsors of the recent Stewart Cink homecoming events. Through several events, local residents honored the former Florence resident for his success on the PGA tour. Chris Burns, Cink's first golf instructor at Florence Golf and Country Club, summed up the feelings for many: "He's one of ours."