SEALE, Ala. - Russell County will hold its Veterans Day parade and ceremony at the Russell County Veterans Memorial in Seale at 10 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, Nov. 11, according to a notice on the county's website. County buildings will be closed that day, and the commission will open bids two days later on a fire alarm system for the historic old post office. The county is also still collecting resident input through an online survey for its Comprehensive Plan 2050.

Nothing in this report is a new vote. The dates below come from the county's own notices and from the Citizen of East Alabama's account of the commission's Oct. 14 regular meeting, which are the most recent public records available as of Sunday, Nov. 8. Here is what residents of Russell County, which includes Phenix City, can mark on the calendar.

The Seale parade and ceremony, Nov. 11

The county's announcement describes a parade followed by a ceremony at the Russell County Veterans Memorial, 65 Silver Run Drive, Seale. The banner on the notice is titled "2026 Veterans Day - Russell County Veterans Memorial Parade & Ceremony." The page does not list a program, speakers or a parade route, so anyone planning to attend may want to call ahead.

The Russell County Commission Office, at 334-298-6426, is the contact listed. The office is on the second floor of 1000 Broad Street in Phenix City and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, according to the county. Those hours do not apply on Nov. 11, when the county has said its buildings will be closed.

The memorial has been growing in recent years. In April 2025, WRBL reported that the Russell County Commission voted unanimously to approve a $15,000 POW/MIA monument for the site. Memorial director Jerry Simmons, a Vietnam veteran, told the station that when he came home, MIAs and POWs were nearly forgotten and he vowed they would not be. The goal, according to that report, was to have the monument installed by Veterans Day of 2025.

County offices closed Nov. 11

At its Oct. 14 meeting, the commission agreed that county buildings will be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day, according to the Citizen of East Alabama. The commission also adopted a measure to automatically observe future holiday closures declared by the governor through 2027. The report did not describe how emergency services will be staffed on the holiday.

Bids open Nov. 13 for old post office fire alarm

The same meeting authorized bids for a fire alarm system at the historic old post office, and the report says those bids open Friday, Nov. 13. The commission also approved a $56,722 contract with Boyd Windows of Spring Mill, Mo., for historic replica windows at the building, which is on the National Historic Register. In addition, bidding was authorized for audiovisual equipment at the new Emergency Management Agency building.

Other Oct. 14 decisions

The commission approved several other items at the Oct. 14 meeting, according to the Citizen of East Alabama. The votes the newspaper described as unanimous were the two opioid settlement agreements. For the other items, the report did not give vote counts.

Commission Chairman Chance Corbett said of the mental health facility the opioid funds will help support, "That is something that's going to be very good for this county." The report also says the commission authorized the Sheriff's Office to use remaining Atoka funds for two patrol vehicles, though the amount was not reported. Jail food and supply contracts went to Southern Foodservice Management and Flowers Bakery, with no dollar amounts given.

The Comprehensive Plan 2050 survey

Separately, the county has been asking residents how they want Russell County to grow over the next 15 to 20 years. A notice on the county website, posted Sept. 8, invites responses online at PlanRussellCounty2050.com. The notice does not list a deadline in the text available online, so residents who want to weigh in should check the county page or call the commission office.

WTVM reported on Sept. 10 that the commission held the second of three "Comprehensive Plan 20-50" meetings in Crawford, drawing about 50 residents. A planning firm, Matrix, gave the presentation, and attendees filled out questionnaires about possible development and where they want improvements. Topics included protecting rural and agricultural character while making room for industry and jobs, and steering industry toward major corridors.

Corbett told WTVM the county wants resident input and does not want to work "in a vacuum." The station reported that more meetings would follow in February, without giving dates or locations. The plan is meant to guide long-term decisions on land use, housing, infrastructure, economic development and public services.

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