Opelika Observer 01-08-2020 E-edition

pelika Observer O

Wednesday, Jan. 08, 2020

Vol. 12, No. 14

Opelika, Alabama

February 14, 2020

“By local people, for local people.”

Opelika pianist travels to Washington D.C. to perform for White House employees

By Morgan Bryce Editor Last month, Opelika resident Christi Gibson checked one item off her bucket list: performing on a Steinway piano inside the White House.

As a part of the White House’s month-long “Spirit of America” Christmas celebration, Christi was selected to go on Dec. 18 to perform two hours of Christmas classics on the same Steinway used by rock-and-roll legend Elton John years earlier.

“I felt like I was in a dream. I wasn’t absorbing everything around me really, not knowing what to expect,” Christi said.

Christi’s path to a White House performance began by volunteering with thencandidate Donald Trump’s bid for the presidency be-

cause she said she was “in agreement with all of his platforms.” Between starting as a volunteer in 2015 and helping see Trump win the Hawkeye State by 11 percentage points during the Feb. 1, 2016 caucus, she was persuaded by fellow volunteers and friends to use her musical talents and perform the National Anthem at several campaign rallies.

“Those were amazing opportunities that I will never forget,” Christi reflected.

Since moving to Alabama with her husband Keith, Christi has maintained strong ties with individuals she served with on Trump’s presidential campaign. One of those friends who first encouraged her to perform at the

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Jim Bob’s Chicken Fingers on First Avenue to soon reopen under new ownership

By Morgan Bryce Editor

See Gibson, page A2

Photos submitted to the Opelika Observer

OHS graduate, Atlanta-based filmmaker T.W. Ballew releases trio of short films

By Morgan Bryce Editor

See Jim Bob’s, page A3

Country legend Travis Tritt to perform in Auburn on Jan. 26 Special to the Opelika Observer

Four years of hard work has finally paid off for Opelika High School graduate and Atlanta filmmaker T.W. Ballew, who released a trio of short films on Vimeo in late December.

Five minutes each in duration, the film’s titles “Mes belles,” “Mindha Herdeira” and “mi mujer” reflect the blossoming relationship between Ballew and his now-wife Laura, who starred in the trilogy.

While she was a main but not primary character in Mes belles, he said she grew into the protagonist role for the last two films.

“I discovered her several years ago and thought she had great talent and See Trilogy, page A3

Jim Bob’s Chicken Fingers on First Avenue in downtown Opelika will reopen later this month under new ownership.

Timothy and Suzanne Lowery, owners and operators of Susie K’s restaurant on Second Avenue, assumed ownership of the nearly 30-year-old chicken finger establishment

Photos submitted to the Opelika Observer

Index

OPINION.....................................A4 SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY..............A9 RELIGION..............................A13 CALENDAR..................................A14

Enjoy an evening with the legendary Travis Tritt at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center on Jan. 26.

Tritt is an American country music singer, songwriter and actor. He signed to Warner Bros.

Records in 1989, releasing seven studio albums and a Greatest Hits package for the label between then and 1999. In the 2000s, he released three studio albums on Columbia Records and one for the now defunct Category 5 Records.

COMICS.....................................A16 SPORTS..................................B1 POLITICS...................................B7 PUBLIC NOTICES............................B9

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer

Seven of his albums (counting the Greatest Hits) are certified platinum or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America; the highest-certified is 1991's It's All About

to Change, which is certified tripleplatinum.

Tritt has also charted more than 40 times on the Hot Country Songs charts, including

pelika O Observer.com

See Tritt, page A3

pelika O Observer

A2 Jan. 08, 2020

Gibson, from A1 Iowa rallies informed her

of the Spirit of America event and encouraged her to apply.

Christi selected Opelika videographer Rex Roach to capture her piano-playing

skills for her entry into the applicant pool, filming a performance on a Steinway piano at Opelika’s Southside Center for the Performing Arts.

That video, along with a

Gibsons ate dinner at the Trump International Hotel, where Christi was recognized by several diners for her White House performance.

Christi said she hopes her experience can show others that no internal and external factors can or should prevent them from striving to accomplish something.

“You’re never too old or young or too anything to dream big and realize those dreams at some point in your life,” Christi said.

House, she said “friendly and helpful” Secret Service agents helped guide her to where she needed to go for the performance.

For nearly two hours, Christi performed a number of Christmas classics, wowing the gathered audience.

While the President and Vice President were not in attendance, she was able to perform in front of a number of White House staff and their families as well as visitors.

Following the event, the

clip of her performance of the National Anthem from a Trump rally, is what Christi submitted for consideration. In mid-October, she received word that she had been selected to perform on Dec. 18.

Keith accompanied Christi on her trip to Washington D.C. for moral support.

Once arriving at the White

Subscribe to the Opelika Observer Today!

Name: Address: City:

State:

ZIP:

Phone number: Email address: Payment Type (circle one): Check / Credit Card Visa or Master Card # Exp. Date:

/

Security Code:

Amount Paid:

• $32 for 1 year (inside Lee County) $42 for 1 year (outside of Lee County) •

Elliott & Associates Insurance Agency Opelika - (334) 745-0888 elliottinsuranceagents.com

Return to: Opelika Observer, 216 S. 8th St. / Opelika, AL 36801 Please do not send cash through the mail.

pelika Observer

Publisher: Michelle Key Editor: Morgan Bryce Marketing: Doug Horn and Woody Ross Photojournalist: Robert Noles Phone: 334.749.8003 editor@opelikaobserver.com Sports Writers: Rick Lanier and Michelle@opelikaobserver.com D. Mark Mitchell

O

w w w. o p e l i k a o b s e r v e r . c o m 216 S. 8th Street, Opelika, AL 36801 Copyright 2009. All right reserved. Opelika Observer is published weekly by Opelika Observer, 216 S 8th St. Opelika, AL 36801. Periodicals postage is paid at Opelika, AL. USPS #025104 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Opelika Observer, 216 S. 8th Street, Opelika, AL 36801

CORRECTIONS The Opelika Observer will correct any errors, omissions or inaccuracies deemed to be substantive. Corrections may be requested by contacting the Editor at (334) 749-8003.

pelika O Observer

A3 Jan. 08, 2020

Lee County Sheriff’s Office held personal safety and protection course on Friday

By Morgan Bryce Editor In response to the recent slew of violence seen recently in East Alabama, the Lee County Sheriff's Office offered its second personal safety last Friday.

Open to anyone aged 13 and above, the course was the second that the sheriff's office has hosted in the last month. According to information provided by the sheriff's office, prioritized topics were “personal, home and

online safety along with risk reduction strategy.”

“The course (taught) students about risk reduction, risk awareness, and risk avoidance strategies to aid them in protecting themselves at home, work, and when they are out and about.

This course (gave) guidance about security while at home, in your vehicle or out in the community,” said Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones in a media statement.

For more informa-

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

tion or updates on future Lee County Sher-

iff's Office events, call 334-749-5651 or visit

25th Annual Beekeeping Symposium set for Feb. 1 Special to the Opelika Observer

A lot of people are buzzing about the 25th Annual Beekeeping Symposium. At this year’s symposium, beekeepers with all levels of expertise have the chance to expand their knowledge.

Registration The symposium is Feb. 1 from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center in Clanton.

The cost to attend the workshop is $40 until Jan. 18. After this, registration will be at the door only and will increase to $60.

To complete early registration, visit the

Alabama Extension Store online or print and complete the mail in registration form. The printed form should be mailed to: Lindsey Tramel, ACES 107 Comer Hall Auburn University, Alabama 36849-5635 Speakers The symposium will feature many speakers, including two keynote speakers, Meghan Milbrath and Jennifer Tsuruda.

Milbrath is a Michigan State Extension academic specialist and will discuss anatomical adaptions of honeybees. She will also provide up-to-date information on swarm biology and management.

Tsuruda is a University of Tennessee Extension

apiculturist and will speak on using photography to improve inspection, the basics of honey bee nutrition and responsible beekeeping.

Throughout the day, other extension specialists, graduate students, assistant professors, beekeepers and more will present a variety of information on producing, running and managing a bee operation.

Beginner Beekeeper Program The symposium also includes a program for beginning beekeepers to learn how to successfully start a bee operation.

Members of the Alabama Beekeepers Association and master beekeepers will present informa-

Trilogy, from A1 great range. These three films are really character studies to explore her range as an actor,” Ballew said. “In the first film, she is one of three main characters, but by the second (film), she is fully front and center as the protagonist.”

Starting with Mes belles, which was filmed in Birmingham in 2015, Ballew moved to Chicago and later New York, which serve as the locations for the last two films.

Ballew, a full-time pianist, oversaw nearly every aspect of making these films in his spare time.

He released the films in late December on his film company’s Vimeo page, Turnaround Pictures, LLC. “I hope people who like movies with deep stories

Ballew and several possible interpretations will find and like my work and unlock these films like a puzzle ... see how they correlate or differ and piece it all together,” Ballew said.

While Ballew did discover his passion and knack for filmmaking in college, he credits a

large part of his storytelling knowledge to his time spent under Revel Gholston of the Opelika High School Theatre Society. Ballew originally came to the school as a concert pianist before deciding he wanted to try his hand at acting.

“Revel teaches a num-

tion to help beginning beekeepers best develop their skills and their operations.

• What Should I Expect During My First Year?– Scott Lucas • What Tools Do I Need?– Allyson Andrews • What Equipment Do I Need?– Damon Wallace • How Long Do Bees Live?– Troy Latham • What Is Making My Bees Sick?– Keith Fletcher • What Mistakes Will I Make?– Kate Pugh More Information For more information, contact Tramel at lat0025@auburn.edu. or visit the Alabama Beekeepers Association website.

ber of theatre courses, including technical theatre as well as creative writing for theatre, that helped me learn the ins and outs of production. I feel like I had a holistic, theatrical study while I was there at OHS,” Ballew said.

Next on Ballew’s radar is finishing a featurelength film project titled “Quiet Nights,” which he has been working on since his senior year at OHS in 2010. It will be a coming-of-age story about a composer who goes to a summer music camp and falls in love.

“For me, film is just a thing that I love and care so deeply about. It exists separately from my concern for my livelihood,” Ballew said. “I’ve been able to pay the bills with piano and set aside time on my own to hash out these passion projects.”

To view these films, search “Turnaround Pictures” on Vimeo. They cost $3 to rent and watch.

www.leecountysheriff. org. The sheriff's of-

Tritt, from A1 five number ones "Help Me Hold On," "Anymore," "Can I Trust You with My Heart," "Foolish Pride" and "Best of Intentions" — and 15 additional top-10 singles. His musical style is defined by mainstream country and Southern rock influences.

He has received two Grammy Awards, both for Best Country Collaboration with

Jim Bob’s, from A1 from Opelika businessman John Marsh on New Year’s Day, which has been closed the last few weeks for renovations.

Since opening Susie K’s in August 2017 in the former home of Sara Jay’s, the Lowery’s said they had been discussing the possibility of future expansion. However, when Marsh presented them with the idea of taking over the downtown Jim Bob’s location, it proved to be an opportunity too good to turn down.

“Before we did or decided on anything, we prayed about it.

And as time moved on, more and more things started to line up, which led us to pursue this,” Suzanne said.

Along with the changes in ownership will be a remodeling of the store’s interior decor and theme, as well as a rebranded restaurant logo and revamped menu, which Suzanne said will still heavily feature the store's namesake food item chicken. The existing drive-thru will remain unchanged.

Some concepts from Susie K's will carry over to Jim Bob's, including meat-andthree plates featuring chicken. There will be

fice is located at 1900 Frederick Road.

Vocals: in 1992 for "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'," a duet with Marty Stuart, and again in 1998 for "Same Old Train," a collaboration with Stuart and nine other artists.

In addition, he has received four awards from the Country Music Association, and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1992.

Tickets range in cost from $45 to $95 and can be purchased via goguecentertickets.auburn. edu. a rotation of homemade cakes available during the week.

Suzanne said she is most excited to provide downtown Opelika with a breakfast option throughout the week.

"Saturday breakfast is one of our favorite days at Susie K's, so why would we not include that at Jim Bob's? We think that will really benefit everybody that works close to downtown," Suzanne said.

The grand reopening event is slated to take place the week of Jan. 20, which is when Timothy is projected to return home from his yearlong military deployment.

"Like it was opening Susie K's, there's the anxiety about whether this is going to work and how everybody's going to respond to it. But, we hope that we're making positive changes that everybody will like," Suzanne said.

"It used to be place where people wanted to come and hang out in the past, and that's definitely the kind of atmosphere that we want to bring back."

For more information and updates on the restaurant's reopening, like and follow "Jim Bob's Chicken Fingers" on Facebook or visit www.jimbobsopelika. com. The restaurant is located at 1006 First Ave.

pelika O Opinion

A4 Jan. 08, 2020

N

The Old Year

ew Year’s Eve always reminds me of an elderly man in town who everyone called “Bug.” He was bad to drink, but nobody ever called Bug a drunk. Our parents simply warned us not to light a match within two feet of old Bug. Whenever you’d see him out and about, redfaced, he’d always be the happiest guy you ever met. His claim to fame was that he had already chosen his life’s last words so that when he was on his deathbed he wouldn’t say something stupid.

Almost everyone in beer joints between here and the county line tried to coax Bug to reveal these words. Some even offered to pay big bucks.

But nobody could make Bug say it.

One New Year’s Day, after Bug had been out all night celebrating—and this is how I heard it—Bug started having chest pains. His wife drove him to the emergency room. They hooked him up to wires and tubes.

Bug was in the bed, moaning in pain, and when his final moment

came, he motioned for his wife to come close.

He whispered his last words, which would become locally famous: “They say you only live once, but believe me, it’s a great ‘once.’”

Thus satisfied with himself, Bug closed his eyes. They say he smiled.

And a few moments later, doctors told Bug that he was only suffering from gas pains and he would be perfectly fine once he pooped.

Bug opened his eyes, cussed the doctor, and lived 20 more years.

I wish I had something clever to say like Bug. In fact, I’ve been thinking about what to write all night. But I just can’t find anything. Because I’ve never been good under pressure.

Do you remember when you were a kid and everyone would play highly pressurized backyard games like football,

hide and seek, or Pin The Tail on the Redhead?

Do you remember when the team captain would choose teams using the same high-pressure looks often worn by SEC National Championship coaches?

Well, I was never chosen first for a team.

Never. There were two reasons for this: (a) I choke under pressure, and (b) I was built like a buttermilk biscuit.

But this all changed one Fourth of July.

Several kids got together to participate in an activity that is a cherished part of American life. A pastime that is considered by many historians to be the most important contribution our civilization has made to the world. I am of course talking about Red Rover.

In this game, children form two lines, hands linked together, standing about thirty feet apart.

Then they shout: “RED ROVER! RED ROVER! SEND CHARLIE RIGHT OVER!” Then, little Charlie bolts from one line to the other, knowing full well that his entire boy-

J

ust after I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1980, I got a temporary job as a security guard.

I was assigned to Gorham Jewelry Foundry in Providence, Rhode Island. The company was founded in 1831 and is heralded world over for its sterling silver. So, we were always on our toes on the late shift at such an esteemed place.

But, one vehicle we gladly admitted into the complex: the milk truck, which we always heard coming from a half-mile away. In a bit of tender mercy, the milkman always placed surprise drinks near our shack before rambling back into the night.

One night, we might receive small cartons of chocolate milk, the next night--maybe orange juice.

Goodbye to all that— local milkmen have been eclipsed by the supermarket. Business Insider noted last year that “the milkman who brought milk from the local dairy was a vener-

See Dietrich, page A6

By Greg Markley able tradition. (He) would put glass bottles in an insulated box on your porch. You’d leave the empties for him to pick up on delivery day” - not anymore.

Has anyone seen an exclusively video store clerk at Tiger Town lately? Why not? Below, I mention three more jobs that don’t exist now. I show how microwave ovens became ubiquitous.

The first video store opened its doors in 1977 in Los Angeles. It was a huge innovation for people’s movie-watching. By 2010, Blockbuster was bankrupt. Dead at age 33. Reason: it could not compete with the immediacy of stream-

ing video on Netflix.

As of 2018, just one store remains according to Business Insider—in Bend, Oregon.

Imagine a product that was in 25% of U.S. households in 1986, but by 1997 was in 90% of households. That item is the microwave oven. It works fast to heat foods, which in our busy society is a blessing. Also, it heats throughout very well, that is, evenly. Microwave ovens were first used by the public in January 1947 in a vending machine in Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, New York City. The first commercial microwave oven also appeared in 1947.

“The radiation left over from the Big Bang is the same as that in your microwave oven but very much less powerful. It would heat your pizza only to minus 271.3*C - not much good for defrosting the pizza, let alone cooking it.” So said the late physicist Dr. Stephen Hawking.

See Markley, page A6

Bring in the New Year

H

appy New Year y’all.

Or ya’ll if that is the way you spell it.

I go with “y’all” but a minister friend insists it should be “ya’ll,” and who am I to disagree?

On spelling, as on many other things, I am like the young minister who was being interviewed by the deacons at a church he hoped would employ him.

The deacons were a dour bunch - gloomy, serious, almost sullen. They seemed to challenge him with their

I

By Sean Dietrich

Can you imagine life without a microwave oven? And who the heck were cobblers?

questions, looking for theological shortcomings like a surgeon probing for a lump.

The young man thought he was doing okay until the most dour, gloomy, sullen deacon in the bunch asked, “do you believe in the nine gifts of the holy spirit?”

The candidate was caught. He could not remember what the nine gifts were, much less how church orthodoxy interpreted them. Realizing he had a 50-50 chance to be right or wrong he decided to go with the positive.

By Hardy Jackson

“Yes, I do,” he replied.

The deacons frowned.

One shook his head.

Recovering quickly, the young man added, “But I can preach it either way.”

I am like that about a lot of things – especially spelling.

As Winnie-the-Pooh reportedly said, “I get the letters right, it is the order that bothers me.”

Or as my buddy Tolliver observed, “it’s a might poor man that can’t spell a word two ways.”

But I digress.

Today, as 2020 begins, my thoughts turn naturally to what has been going on in years past – historians have a habit of doing things like that.

In particular, I recalled events that occurred in 2013.

2020 Bucket List

am not a New Year’s resolution gal. I may have made a few here and there in adulthood but nothing ever stuck or was realistic.

I feel like we can change and mold and find new truths for ourselves any time of year.

Why hold a standard to January? Why not train ourselves into new habits in spaces that need tweaking any time of year?

Learning to be better but offering ourselves grace upon failing. Everyday is a new day to learn and grow. We begin when we are ready, no matter the date.

My “tweaking” is planning. I have not had an annual plan in years.

I’m more of a fly-bythe-seat-of-my-pants style person. Although this is fun and always exciting it can ripple into outside stress and chaos.

However, I like adventure. I like wiggle room. I like to be able to stop dead in my tracks and serve people as needed. I like to be open to opportunity. So

it somewhere you will see it regularly. Share it with your family. Maybe even ask your kids what they would like to add to the bucket list . It may be something simple that

By Bradley Robertson takes place in the backhow does one learn the art yard, or something wild to work towards for later. of strategic planning but Be creative. Have fun with a side of freedom? with it! My favorite part My answer? The of the bucket list is its Bucket List! ability to rollover into the It’s a tentative plan. years to come. Don’t be One that sets the course afraid to dream. The time but has a little room to is now to seek the horizon move. and begin your bucket list.

It’s aiming for fun, Robertson Family without losing focus and Bucket List 2020 giving space to plan the • Take friends ice skatadventure. ing (Sissy) For me, its’s setting a • Clean out my entire goal and then working house backwards to get there.

• Travel to Colorado to A bucket list can be see my sister vacations, hometown ac• Sturgill Simpson tivities, family hangouts, pretty much anything. It’s concert • Attend a symphony pinpointing specific things • Nashville, Tennessee we want to do, in action, (Braxton) for 2020?

• Deep-sea fishing (the Make it simple or make Farmer) it big. Your bucket list can • Great Wolf Lodge be whatever in your world (Shep) you want it to be.

• Visit Mobile area for Write it down and post spring break

• Return to Cuba • Missions with my kids (both local and foreign) • Continue Alabama Bucket List this summer • Run a half-marathon • Run a marathon • See the play “To Kill a Mockingbird” in Monroeville • Hot air balloon ride • Begin plans with my Dad for our farmhouse • Annual family beach trip • Mentone, Alabama • Watch Shep play little league baseball • Go to a concert with my dad • Take Braxton on a personal trip • More picnics at the farm • Lake days Will we check these all off this year? Probably not. But we are aiming high and crossing things off as we go. Learning to plan, working towards our goals and having fun along the way!

Cheers to 2020 friends!

What’s on your bucket list?

That was the year when family patriarch Phil got suspended from “Duck Dynasty” for saying what the executives at A&E should have known he would say if they watched the show, which apparently they don’t.

What followed was a fire-storm of charges and counter charges – conservatives claimed that liberals were all in favor of denying Phil’s right to speak freely, liberals claimed that conservatives were all in favor of denying folks who likely

have never watched “Duck Dynasty” the rights enjoyed by regular watchers.

Following this debate to its logical, or maybe illogical, conclusion, I could not help but wonder what would happen if this sort of thing becomes the norm?

Censorship is a slippery slope, and once you start sliding down it, it is hard to stop.

On the other hand, you gotta have standards.

I can preach it either way.

While pondering this, I See Jackson, page A6

Resolve to explore

B

etween holiday festivities, I’ve spent the final days of this year penning pages, retracing steps and connecting an extensive volume of unexpected “dots.”

What began as a simple writing in retrospect, intended to cast light upon varied events in recent years of my life, rapidly evolved into an epiphany characterized by these “dots” as they’ve aligned.

I didn’t see, at all before, these events which so clearly mark my life’s course. They are the things that we would only attribute fictitious works have spun. Yet, unassumingly, I’ve found myself flung into a place where life is far stranger than any novel I have read.

The charted course, the plans and the lists all dim by the light cast by those who influence the current through which you live. One book, one song, one thought is all that somebody might ever need to embark upon the next fateful path and be transformed.

Roads cross and rivers converge; archives pile high with manuscripts, paintings,

By Sarah West drawings and life. This confluence of people, events and experiences define who we are and what we’ve chosen to do with the last 365.

In mere days, a new chapter unfolds. It is a time when new beginnings call; when we desire to reinvent, resolve and can transform our world. Many take to avenues of greater health, adventure and rediscovered self-worth.

Some will embark upon new forms of exploration and pick up the paintbrush. January dawns. The paint is mixed upon palette. New brushstrokes reveal the journey to renewed, newly discovered, and all together, unexpected paths toward accomplishment. There is always opportunity for those who resolve to embrace the currents which define one’s course.

pelika O Observer

A5 Jan. 08, 2020

‘Little Free Pantry of Beulah’ opened in late December to meet the needs of the community

By Morgan Bryce Editor Spotting a need in her community, Beulah resident Grace Spain decided to create and open a “Little Free Pantry” last month in front of Pine Grove Church.

Stocked with nonperishable food and toiletry items, the pantry is a place where people can take what they need in times of want and leave or donate items in times of plenty, according to Spain.

Spain said her idea for the pantry comes from the Little Free Pantry movement launched in 2016, which derives inspiration from the Little Free Library concept.

“The goal is to fill in the gaps where people do not necessarily need food stamps or help from a food bank, but they need a little help to make it to

the next paycheck. I think that food hunger is a really taboo subject,” Spain said. “I know personally I hate to ask for help, and the pantry is completely anonymous because no one is there. You never have to fill out paperwork or talk about how much or how little money you make. It’s just available whenever it is needed. I just wanted to make an easy way for people to receive food.”

Currently, Spain keeps the pantry stocked herself, but said donations have already been made. Her goal is to stock enough supplies so that it eventually becomes self-sustaining.

Examples of food items kept in the pantry include canned fruits and meats, juices, pasta and rice. Toiletry items already in stock range from deodorant and diapers to feminine items and shampoo. Dur-

ing the summer months, Spain said that she will be accepting donations of school supplies.

“My family has been very blessed when we have needed help in the past, and I wanted to pass the blessings on. This felt like the right thing to do because it was so simple

but yet so effective,” Spain added.

For more information about the movement or to view a full directory of other Little Free Pantry locations, visit www. littlefreepantry.org.

Pine Grove Church is located at 7235 U.S. Highway 29.

Photos submitted to the Opelika Observer

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Girl Scout ‘Cookie Season’ opens Jan. 17 Special to the Opelika Observer Never fear Cookie Season is here! Soon Girl Scouts will be hitting the neighborhoods, bringing with them order sheets for Lemonades, Thin Mints, Caramel deLites and many more of their famous cookies.

Girl Scouts refreshed cookie packaging (with the same great taste!) continues to emphasize what the cookie program is all about, and the updated images feature current Girl Scouts taking part in a diverse range of experiences available to members—from adventurepacked camping and canoeing, to exploring space science and designing robots, to taking action to improve their communities.

This year’s cookie line-up includes Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Shortbread, Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lot, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwich, S’mores and the gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip. This year will also be the last year to purchase yummy Thanks-

A-Lots, so be sure to stock your freezers full.

Returning this year, Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama will pay for half of your shipping when you purchase between five to 12 boxes from a Girl Scout online. Gift boxes of cookies for a special someone will be available again online as well.

Not only are the cookies delicious, but it also teaches the girls financial literacy. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the nation’s largest girl-led business and the leading financial literacy program for girls. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls learn five essential skills to leadership: goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

From Jan. 17 until March 1, you can find Girl Scouts showing off their cookieselling skills by participating in booth sales and cookie drive-thrus at local retail locations. The more cookies girls sell, the more earnings they have to power impactful community projects and personal enrichment experiences,

such as STEM activities and traveling.

Even better is that 100% of the net revenue of cookies stays local.

To learn more about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, and to find out where Girl Scouts are selling near you, visit girlscoutssa.org.

About Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama serves more than 5,000 girls, ages 5 to 17, and 2,500 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Gogetter, Innovator, Risktaker, Leader) to change the world. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls and have been for more than 100 years and a recent recipient of the Montgomery Impact Maker Award.

With programming across 30 counties, GSSA offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate or join call 800-239-6636 or visit www.girlscoutssa. org.

Photo by Michelle Key/Opelika Observer Ella Carlson, a local member of Girl Scout Troop 7018, visited the Opelika Observer last week to share information about the upcoming ‘Cookie Season’ that begins Jan. 17.

Visitation restrictions are now housewide at EAMC and EAMC-Lanier because of high levels of flu activity Special to the Opelika Observer In the last week, a total of 233 confirmed cases of the flu have been seen in the EAMC and EAMC-Lanier Emergency Departments. Plus, a total of 26 patients with flu or flu-like symptoms are currently hospitalized at the two hospitals. As a result, East Alabama

Medical Center officials have made the decision to put visitor restrictions in place at both hospitals, effective immediately.

Visitors to either hospital are asked to follow these guidelines: Anyone displaying flu-like symptoms should not visit anywhere in the hospital.

Visitation is restricted to healthy immedi-

ate family members who are age 12 and older.

Visitation in the Emergency Department (ED) is also limited— only one healthy family member (ages 12 and up) per patient and the length of visits may be limited.

To reach an EAMC patient by hospital phone, dial 334-528 and the patient’s room

number (example: 334528-7777). At EAMCLanier, dial 334-710-0 and the patient’s room number (example: 334710-0999). If the patient’s room number is not known, the EAMC hospital operator can be reached at 334-7493411. The operator at EAMC-Lanier can be reached at 334-7569180 and then choosing option 2.

Brooke Bailey, EAMC’s Infection Prevention Director, said using other forms of communication may be best during this time.

“We understand the importance of visitation, and we usually encourage it. However, unless the patient needs help from a family member, relying on Facetime, texting and other methods of

communicating could be beneficial to both the patient and the visitor. Our goal in putting these restrictions in place is to slow the spread of the flu and protect our patients who are vulnerable,” Bailey said.

Based on prior years, the restrictions will likely remain in place into the month of See EAMC, page A6

pelika O Opinion

A6 Jan. 08, 2020

Alabama Rural Ministry to hold weekend of events later this month in Tuskegee Special to the Opelika Observer Alabama Rural Ministry will be celebrating MLK Day 2020 through community worship, home repair ministry and children’s event the weekend of the Jan. 17.

The community-wide worship service on Jan. 17 at Tuskegee United Methodist Church will last from 6 to 8 p.m., featuring a sermon delivered by Rev. Richard Williams of Metropolitan UMC in Montgomery. It will also feature performances from gospel choirs and other community programs as well as a time of community prayer. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.

On Jan. 18 and 20, there will be two service opportunities available: 1) volunteers can serve with us through home

Dietrich, from A4 hood reputation rests upon this pivotal moment. If Charlie breaks through the kid-chain, his future is sealed, it’s Ivy League schools for him. But if Charlie cannot break the chain, he can expect to clean porta-johns for a living.

That Fourth of July was hot and humid. The mosquitoes were out.

And somehow, call it divine intervention, call it dumb luck, I was chosen first by our team captain.

It was the greatest honor of my life.

The captain was Larry Walters. Larry was like the Joe Namath of the second grade. He was taller than everyone else, wider, and more experienced. If you were to line up the entire second-grade class sideby-side, Larry would look like Mark Spitz towering over a bunch Cabbage Patch dolls.

Rumor had it that on weekends, Larry dated college girls.

Looking back, I realize that Larry chose me because, when it came to Red Rover, a chubby kid had the advantage.

So we all linked hands

repair ministry and 2) children ages 6 to 11 can attend their MLKidz event.

Individuals, churches, or organizations interested in volunteering with them on Jan. 18 and 20 are encouraged to register by contacting Whit Heath by email at Whit@ arm-al.org or by phone at 334-501-4276 ext.100.

Registration is required.

Volunteers will gather for breakfast and devotion at 7:30 a.m. before serving with families at various homes throughout Lee and Macon counties. Service will include various home repair tasks and will be completed by 4 p.m. More details will be available upon registration.

Children ages 6 to 11 in the Tuskegee area are invited to join them for the “MLKidz” event on Jan. 18. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. and the event

will last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a free event that will include a Bible lesson, arts and crafts and activities that will help children learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. A hot lunch will also be served.

For more information, contact Katrina Love by email at Katrina@arm-al. org or by phone at 334610-1601 to learn more about this opportunity for children or register at www.arm-al.org/mlkidsblockparty.

Also present for that weekend’s events will be an appearance from the Stars of HOPE bus, an organization that has grown into a global art movement of hope and healing that has lifted the spirits of millions of disaster survivors in 270 communities and 26 countries. To learn more, visit www.starsofhopeusa.org.

and formed our respective lines. The opposing side shouted, “RED ROVER RED ROVER, SEND SEAN RIGHT OVER!” Me. Time stood still. I ran like the wind. My feet kicked up dirt clods, my lungs were burning. This was my moment. Some men wait a lifetime to get their moment. Many never get it at all. But this was mine.

And I could see my future lying beyond the horizon. They would celebrate me for years to come if I played my cards right. Maybe even a bronze statue.

My strategy was to aim for the weakest link.

Sara Gilliland and Hattie Rogers. Two girls.

Girls! What a plan!

Girls wouldn’t stand a chance against my speed and agility.

My body launched toward Hattie and Sara like a derailed Amtrak car. I only prayed that I didn’t cripple them for life because I was running hard. When I reached them, I rammed my body against their clasped hands as hard as I could and…

They decapitated me.

I’ve met cinder block walls that were more

forgiving than Sara Gilliland and Hattie Rogers. I fell onto the grass and almost went unconscious. And while I was lying there, staring at the sky, I realized something important.

Namely, you do not mess with girls.

I also realized that life doesn’t always work the way I want. And sometimes it downright hurts.

But even though it’s hard sometimes, even though it looks bad, even though it stings, I’m still here. And if you’re reading this, you are too.

Larry Walters stood over me and said, “Oh, no, I think he’s dead.”

Hattie said, “Speak to us, Sean!”

To which I said, “They say you only live once, but believe me, it’s a great ‘once.’”

Because I believe old Bug was right.

Sean Dietrich is a columnist, and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Southern Living, the Tallahassee Democrat, Southern Magazine, Yellowhammer News, the Bitter Southerner, the Mobile Press Register and he has authored seven books.

Markley, from A4 Remember the movie projectionists of old? In the 1970s, movie goers were forced to sit idly by as a projectionist (also called operator) threaded reels of celluloid film onto projectors and at the appropriate time switched to the next reel. Now, with the projection job digital, one person can keep all the theaters in a multiplex advancing the movies.

This is how jobs in this specialty have become rarer. Also, largely a thing of the past are “ushers,” which when I was a kid were men about my current age who were semi-retired and could keep control. It’s sad realizing I am now old enough to be such an usher, and cannot be!

This last job perished as a result of the Internet. The job is encyclopedia salesman. They

Jackson, from A4 flashed back to another event that same year, 2013, when Mobile Mardi Gras organizers uninvited a local group that had been invited to participate in their annual “Moon Pie over Mobile” parade.

Why? Because organizers discovered that an organization that called itself the “Prancing Elites” intended to “prance.”

Yessir.

Pause for a moment and consider.

Mardi Gras. A celebration where young women expose their charm in return for beads thrown by masked men riding on floats.

When you set the bar that low, you wouldn’t think “prancing” would even raise an eyebrow.

But it did.

Apparently, the invitation committee did not pay close attention to who

Flu, from A5 March.

Bailey said the following tips listed below will further help everyone in preventing the spread of the flu, especially as people head back to

would knock on some doors several times a day, tugging heavy volumes. You could pay in installments, or buy the volumes one a week or on some installment scheme. This is how Funk & Wagnalls succeeded. Encyclopedia Britannica stopped selling door-to-door in the 1990s and ended their print edition in 2011.

In the early 1970s, I was in junior high school and asked the long-time neighborhood cobbler when he expected to retire. He said something like, “For years, I thought it would be 10 years from now. But this business has changed and I may be the last cobbler you know personally, Greg.”

I was shocked. He explained that his occupation was being subsumed by the shoe stores at a mall a few miles away. “They can buy new shoes at a lower price than they can get from a shoe repairer, or cobbler, like

me.” Those stores had lower prices because they sold in volume, and as a one-man shop he could only work on one shoe at a time. But now, almost 50 years later, the hard workers and valuable citizens listed above deserve to be remembered.

Quiz answers for last week’s questions (Dec. 27) 1.) I accidentally had Auburn Engineering on both—I meant to have one as UA Engineering. So everyone gets this one correct.

2.) Opelika-Auburn News 3.) Latest on Fire (Dec. 5, 2019) 4.) ScanTron.Com 5.) WOW Offers $74.99 Monthly TV Bundles Greg Markley has lived in Lee County for 18 of the last 23 years.

An award-winning journalist, he has masters’ degrees in education and history.

He has taught as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama.

they were inviting. They were local folks. What could go wrong?

Then someone pointed out that the “prancing” would be done by an “all male, gender bending, dance team” that pranced in hot-pants, bare midriffs and skimpy tops.

Shocked, the parade organizers took back the invitation they had earlier extended. The Elites, according to the group’s captain, were just “crushed.”

Now folks, let me say this about all that.

Just as A&E shoulda known what Phil would say if asked, the Moon Pie over Mobile organizers shoulda checked to find out who were these Elites that were gonna be prancing in their parade.

But fear not. Once again, the power of public opinion came to the rescue.

Phil returned to the show, and Duck Dynasty” products were more popular than ever.

Meanwhile, the Pranc-

ing Elites were “shaking it all over YouTube” as the social media took up their cause. Pledges of more than $15,000 came in to help the Elites secure a “safe practice space” along with “new costumes and shoes.” Parade organizers in Milwaukee, Chicago and even Boston contacted the group, and the Big Easy Roller Girls over in New Orleans invited them to appear at halftime at one of their matches And to top it off, the Pink Box Burlesque of Tuscaloosa (Roll Tide) asked the Elites to join them on stage next season.

All’s well that ends well. The only thing that would make it better would be if Duck Dynasty invited the Elites to prance in camo.

But that might be asking too much.

Harvey H. (“Hardy”) Jackson is Professor Emeritus of History at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hjackson@cableone.net.

work and school following the holidays.

Tips for preventing and/or controlling the spread on influenza: • Wash your hands thoroughly (and often) with soap and warm water.

• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve if a tissue is not available.

• Use hand sanitizer to clean your hands in public places.

• Use sanitizer wipes to clean surfaces (such as grocery cart handles) in public places.

If you have the flu or flu-like symptoms, isolate yourself at home; do not go to work or school.

pelika O Observer

A7 Jan. 08, 2020

Lee County Historical Society to host ‘Second Saturday’ and ‘Winter meeting’ this weekend ‘Second Saturday’ at Pioneer Park features baskets and crafts Special to the Opelika Observer

Special to the Opelika Observer

Jan. 11 will begin a new year of activities at Pioneer Park in Loachapoka during the “Second Saturday” event. The “Basket Cases,” a group of folks who enjoy making baskets the old-fashioned way, will begin a new class in pine needle baskets. The new classes will meet weekly in the Trade Center Museum at Pioneer Park.

Contact Mike Thurman by email at bigscout@ email.com for more information.

A craft class for children and adults will enjoy making novel wooden photo holders from old spools of tread. This class will be led by Andrea Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer Making pine needle baskets at Pioneer Park is a favorite Second Saturday Crowder. activity.

If you are willing to brave a January House or outdoors over pate, contact Crowder by Saturday morning in an open fire. email at amchomemakthe gardens, join Dr. The Trade Center er@yahoo.com or call Charles Mitchell for a 9 Museum and other 706-518-3609. a.m. garden walk ‘n talk museums are open on Pioneer Park and about winter gardens Second Saturdays, and Second Saturdays are in the Auburn-Opelika the Whistle Stop Pickhosted by the Lee County area. ers gather to practice Historical Society, a On the second Sattheir dulcimers at 1 non-profit organization urday of every month, p.m. What a great opdedicated to the preservolunteers and re-enac- portunity for visitors to vation, presentation, and tors gather at Pioneer explore the museum and education about local Park to demonstrate enjoy a period meal from history. their arts and crafts.

More information the Cook House at noon.

Blacksmiths are usually Special events and craft can be found at www. working at the forge, workshops are scheduled leecountyhistoricalsocispinners and weavers ety.org/. whenever possible. are upstairs in the Trade The park is located If you have ideas for Center, and someone at 6500 Stage Road in Second Saturday events is always cooking up a or would like to particiLoachapoka. period meal in the Cook

Lee County Humane Society hosting clearthe-shelter event with ‘Name Your Own Price’ adoption special Special to the Opelika Observer The Lee County Humane Society (LCHS) needs the community’s help clearing the shelter, as it is operating at maximum capacity and its kennels are completely full.

For the first time in LCHS history, the shelter will be offering a “Name Your Own Price” adoption fee special for adoption-ready animals during this four-day special.

All adoption-ready animals are altered, vaccinated, heartworm and/or felv/ fiv tested, dewormed and more.

If animals are not

Winter meeting of Lee County Historical Society to be held Jan. 12

already altered, there will be a $50 non-refundable fee to hold or reserve the pet or adoption until it can be spayed or neutered.

There are currently more than 100 pets available for adoption - 11 of which have been in LCHS care for more than 100 days. Meet and greets with the entire family and other pets is recommended. Some adoptable animals are in foster care, so call ahead to schedule a meet and greet if you are interested in a specific animal.

All available pets can be viewed

online at www. leecountyhumane. org/adopt.

All dogs are required to leave the shelter with a leash and collar. All cats are required to leave the shelter in a cat carrier. The shelter has leashes, collars and cat carriers available for purchase to anyone who does not bring their own.

The shelter is open for adoptions from noon to 5 p.m.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, the shelter will be open Tuesday through Sunday and is closed on Mondays. It is located at 1140 Ware Drive.

The winter meeting of the Lee County Historical Society will be on Jan. 12 at 2:30 p.m. at the Trade Center Museum in Loachapoka. The public is invited to attend. The guest speaker will be Bill Consoletti, a retired forester, former U.S. history teacher and historian for Southeastern Society of American Foresters (SESAF) since 2003. He will speak on “Managing Forests for Naval Stores,” once a huge Southeastern U.S. industry that is almost gone today. The term naval stores is derived from the practice of storing barrels of pitch and tar on the wooden ships of the great navies of Europe. Naval stores are the products of pine trees in the United States. The products--pitch, tar, rosin and turpentine---were made from the resin from these trees. Pitch and tar were used to seal the planks of the vessels and for water-proofing ropes and sails. Naval stores were manufactured in the American colonies starting in the 17th century and, by the second half of the 19th century, were a major forest industry in the coastal area of the Southeast.

Consoletti is a native of Massachusetts and earned a master

Consoletti

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer In the early days of the naval stores industry, woodsmen chipped cavities or “boxes” into the base of pine trees to collect the gum that exuded from the wounds or “catfaces” that were carved into the trunk. The boxes shortened the lives of the trees. Photo courtesy of the Forest History Society.

of forestry degree at Duke University and a masters degree in American History from the Catholic University of America. His forestry career was spent at North Carolina State University and working for private industry in

Georgia. As a historian for SESAF, his interest in Naval Stores has enabled him to capture stories and images from this uniquely Southeastern forest industry. He will share these stories and images at the meeting.

Lee County Humane Society receives $1,000 Spay and Neuter Grant from BISSELL Pet Foundation to reduce the homeless pet population Special to the Opelika Observer The Lee County Humane Society is proud to announce it has been awarded a $1,000 grant from BISSELL Pet Foundation for spay and neuter procedures. The organization hopes to address overcrowding in shelters and rescues by preventing unwanted litters of cats and dogs.

"Through no fault of their own, wonderful pets end up in the shelter, said Cathy Bissell, founder of the BISSELL Pet Foundation. “It's a heartbreaking reality that BPF works to prevent through funding for

spay and neuter. We are committed to helping our partners save lives."

This grant will provide financial support to residents of Lee County through the LCHS’s low-cost spay-neuter programs.

With a mission to find every pet a home, BPF focuses their efforts on adoption, spay/neuter, microchipping and emergency support.

For more information, visit www. leecountyhumane.org/ low-cost-spay-neuter.

About BISSELL Pet Foundation: BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce

the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter programs, microchipping and emergency support. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, the BPF is an extension of her longstanding love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 4,800 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes.

The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Homecare, Inc where every purchase saves pets. For more information, visit www. bissellpetfoundation. org.

pelika O Opinion Empty Bowls event slated for Feb. 1 in Opelika A8

Jan. 08, 2020

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

By Morgan Bryce Editor The “Empty Bowls Event” will be held Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to

2 p.m. at the Denson Drive Recreation Center in Opelika.

Following a highly successful Empty Bowls pre-sale in November and December, there will be more handcrafted bowls made by the Potters of Rocky Brook and Dean Road Recreation Center available for sale during the event, with some of the nicer pieces available as

raffle items. There will also be pottery-making demonstrations.

Bow and Arrow, Cafe 123, Chicken Salad Chick, I Love Juice Bar, Niffer’s On the Tracks and Zazu Gastropub are among the already confirmed vendors, with others expected to confirm in the days leading up to the event. Jim Bob’s Chicken Fingers on First Avenue is donat-

& Flea Mall

SANTA DECOR GET HOLIDAY READY FROM ANGEL’S!

9 0 0 C O L U M B U S P K W Y, O P E L I K A 3 6 8 0 1 O P E N E V E R Y D AY 1 0 - 7 & S U N 1 - 5 ( 3 3 4 ) 7 4 5 - 3 2 2 1 • W W W. A N G E L S A N T I Q U E A N D F L E A M A L L . C O M

ing chicken.

One-hundred percent of the proceeds from this event will benefit the work of the Food Bank of East Alabama which serves seven nearby counties, including Lee. “With every dollar that we receive in funding, we are able to distribute the equivalent of seven meals, and so it has a pretty tremendous impact on our ability to acquire food and distribute it to people in need,” said Food Bank of East Alabama executive director Martha Henk in a 2017 interview with the Observer.

“I love the concept of an empty bowl …

I’m literally reminded everyday that somebody in my community has an empty bowl that needs filling, but also that there is something very concrete that can be done about making sure people have enough to eat. I’m very mindful of the fact that every one of those bowls, someone has handmade, put their time into creating the bowl, and through this event, are able to fill other people’s bowls.”

Those who purchased tickets during the pre-sale were given tickets to this event.

Bowls will cost $10 on the day of the event.

Raffle tickets will be available but cost separately.

For more information, call the Denson Drive Recreation Center 334-705-5558 or 334-705-5547.

“Our Mission is Your Health”

Beauregard Drugs We do wellness screenings for local & state employees.

Call 334-364-9993 for details p 334-364-9993 | f 334-364-9997 7667 Alabama Hwy 51, Ste. A, Opelika www.beauregarddrugs.com

334-528-6191

www.eamcfoundation.org

Contact: Amy Thomas Amy.Thomas@eamc.org

Opelika E vents, Society, & Food

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: • Jan. 17 - ‘Established’ at The Bottling Plant Event Center • Jan. 18 - BacktheBadge Lee County’s ‘Winter Wonderland’ event • Jan. 25 - Jason Ringenberg at The Standard Deluxe • Feb. 1 - J.W. Darden Foundation’s ‘Black Tie Legacy Gala’ • Feb 8 - Haddie’s Home Dessert Tasing

Beat winter blues with brunch get togethers featuring recipes from Southern inns Ann Cipperly’s

Southern

Hospitality

I

f one of your New Year resolutions is to offer more hospitality to family and friends in the coming year, consider serving brunch for winter get togethers. Brunch is one of the most economical and easiest ways to offer hospitality. You can have all of the dishes prepared ahead and invite friends over for brunch after church.

Over the years, I have collected a wide range of brunch recipes. I have found some special dishes served at bed and breakfast inns. Generally, the innkeepers are willing to share. If the

innkeepers have a cook or chef preparing breakfast or brunch, I find they are also kind to provide recipes. A time or two, I have found a handwritten recipe slipped under our door.

On a trip last fall to Stockbridge Lakes Bed and Breakfast Inn, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast prepared by Chef Connie Baptiste. For a first course, she served fresh fruit followed by Gouda Grits, Shirred Eggs and Honey Glazed Bacon.

A blueberry muffin was crumbled into a small bowl and topped with whipped cream to

complete the meal.

Chef Connie shared her story of learning to cook from her grandmother. While she was in the military, Connie cooked for fellow soldiers who loved her cooking.

It sparked an interest in becoming a chef. Later, Connie graduated from culinary school at the Atlanta Technical College.

She cooks every morning for the inn and serves her wonderful recipes.

Located in Stockbridge, Georgia, the inn serves cheese and their special Raspberry Passion Fruit Mint Tea in the afternoon.

BacktheBadge Lee County hosting ‘Winter Wonderland’ event Jan. 18

By Morgan Bryce Editor BacktheBadge Lee County is organizing its inaugural “Winter Wonderland” event on Jan. 18 at The Greystone Mansion in Auburn, part of the organization’s effort to continue building solid relationships between the public and local first responder and law enforcement agencies.

According to a Facebook event description provided by BacktheBadge Director Vickie McLeroy, there will be “games, art work, activities and all the interactions you can imagine with our local police, deputies, investigators and fire fighters with our citizens of all ages.”

“This (event) will be focused on building relationships, having fun, and simply getting to know each other between our community youth and the dadges of Lee County, (both) law and fire,” McLeroy said.

Also scheduled to take place during the event is the unveiling of the organization’s new logo.

Tickets are available for purchase via www. eventbrite.com. Individual tickets are $5 each and $20 for family admission (up to six members).

Volunteers are still needed for this event.

Those interested can message the “Backthe-

Photo by Ann Cipperly Break/brunch served at the Stockbridge Lakes Bed and Breakfast Inn includes Gouda Grits, Honey Glazed Bacon and Shirred Eggs prepared by Chef Connie Baptiste. Select recipes from southern inns for brunch get togethers to chase winter blues. Brunch is one of the most economical and easiest ways to offer hospitality.

Many in our area enjoy going to Highlands, North Carolina, in the summer, where the mountaintop town is cooler, or in the fall to view leaves. The Inn at Half-Mile Farm, part of the Old Edwards Inn Hospitality Group, is a great place to stay. The inn has been renovated with rooms decorated in antiques and high-end fabrics.

A gourmet breakfast/ brunch is served in the

dining room each morning, including delectable dishes such as breakfast pot pie prepared with scrambled eggs and sausage in cream cheese topped with puff pastry.

In the afternoons, appetizers are served with wine for relaxing in the parlor or on the spacious porch overlooking the lake.

At the historic Ashton’s Inn in New Orleans, innkeeper Patrick Ashton is up early preparing

a delectable breakfast/ brunch for guests, including his specialty Banana Foster Waffles or Italian Sausage and Egg Casserole embellished with sun-dried tomatoes. It is served with toast and fresh fruit.

I have fond memories of being at Ashton’s Inn as Nancy Parker Boyd came over to see us. I will never forget seeing See Cipperly, page A11

Lee County Literacy Coalition’s eighth annual ‘Reading Between the Wines’ event slated for Feb. 27

By Morgan Bryce Editor Twenty-One Acres in Auburn will be the site of the Lee County Literacy Coalition’s eighth annual “Reading Between the Wines” event on Feb. 27.

Featuring food, live jazz music and wine tastings, the highlight of the event will be a presentation from a yet-tobe-named local author and organizational

The Greystone Mansion Badge Lee County” Facebook page or call McLeroy at 334-787-

See Read, page A15

0252.

The venue is located at 434 E. Magnolia Ave.

Monday-Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM

pelika Observer O Haddie’s Home to host inaugural dessert tasting event on Feb. 8 A10

Jan. 08, 2020

By Morgan Bryce Editor Thirteen area restaurants and pastry chefs will participate in the inaugural “Hearts for Haddie’s” event on Feb. 8.

Serving as a fundraiser for Haddie’s, it will feature dessert-tasting experiences and silent auction to benefit the organization’s efforts to provide a safe haven for young girls. The names of the 13 participating vendors will be released on the organization’s website and social media pages.

Sponsorships are still available. Those interested in that opportunity are asked to send email to info@haddies.org.

Tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased through www. eventbrite.com. Day-of tickets will cost $25.

For more information, call 334-744-9680, like and follow the organization’s Facebook pages or visit www. haddieshome.com. The event will be held at 1451 Andrews Road.

About Haddie’s Home: “Haddie’s exists to give girls in crisis ages 12 to 18 a home where they are safe, loved and protected; provide an environment where the love of Christ is real and known; build on the strengths of each child, helping them grow to be the people God created them to be;

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer provide a place of healing from emotional and psychological wounds, teach practical skills

for successful transition into adulthood; create a family community existing as a vital part of

the larger community; living out a reciprocal relationship of giving in service and participat-

ing in action and end the generational cycle of neglect and abuse in our community.”

Bob Beach, David Jacobs-Strain to perform at The Sound Wall on Jan. 26 Special to the Opelika Observer Jan. 26 at The Sound Wall in downtown Opelika will be a night full of rock and folk jams with David Jacobs-Strain and Bob Beach.

Jacobs-Strain is a fierce slide guitar player, and a song poet from Oregon.

He is known for both his virtuosity and spirit of emotional abandon, displaying a range that ties him to his own generation and to guitar-slinger troubadours

like Robert Johnson and Jackson Browne.

“I try to make art that you can dance to, but I love that darker place, where in my mind, Skip James, Nick Drake, and maybe Elliot Smith blur together,” Jacobs-Strain said.

Beach’s career has spanned more than 45 years. With his roots in blues, rock and folk, his innate feel for music transcends genre, and can be integrated into everything from hip hop to bluegrass to See Concert, page A15

Check Out Our New Tiger Town Location Across from Lowe’s, another convenient location to serve our customers

Avoid common mistakes the average investor makes

AuburnBank’s Tiger Town Kroger location has moved to a new, full-service location on Frederick Road in front of Lowe’s. Under the leadership of City President Eddie Smith, our new location provides three drive-up windows, a drive-up ATM, a night deposit drop, safe deposit boxes, consumer and commercial loans in addition to all our checking accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts,

Eddie Smith

• Do you have a written market downturn plan?

CITY PRESIDENT

certificates of deposit and numerous electronic products and services.

• Have your investments been run through and passed a stress test?

We look forward to serving you at the new Tiger Town Branch.

ICK RD.

FREDER

Tiger Town

Serving Retirees • families • small business Owners • Nonprofits • Individuals

Lowe’s

R.

YD WA

TE GA

Kroger

Our New Location

www.auburnbank.com MEMBER FDIC

I-85

1851 Frederick Road Opelika

Financial Planning Services for today, for tomorrow, for life.

Visit us here:

Equal Housing Lender

334-275-9600

208 South 8th Street Opelika, AL 36801 www.investopelika.com Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James FiFi nancial Services Advisors, Inc. Railroad Investment group is not a registered broker dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities and advisory services offered though LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC

Owners, RIG BLAKE HENRY LAUREL CALLAWAY Financial Advisors, LPL Financial.

Office - 334-748-9999 Fax - 334-748-9998

Call us today to discuss your charitable giving strategy Raymond James financial advisors do not render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professionals.

pelika O Observer Cipperly, from A9 Nancy’s sweet smiling face as she was running up the steps of the inn. We had a wonderful visit and

Recipes Breakfast Enchiladas Inn at Half Mile Farm Highlands, North Carolina Cheese Sauce 1/3 cup butter 1/3 cup flour 3 cups whole milk 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1 can Rotel, drained ½ tsp. Kosher salt Melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook stirring constantly for 3 to 4 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk and continue cooking and whisking until the sauce thickens.

Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until the cheese has melted.

Cover the sauce with plastic wrap, placing the wrap directly on the surface and reserve.

Enchiladas 1 lb. hot ground pork sausage 2 Tbsp. butter 4 green onions, thinly sliced 2 Tbsp. cilantro, finely chopped 14 eggs, beaten ¾ tsp. Kosher salt ½ tsp. pepper 8 eight inch flour tortillas 1 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Cook the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring until it is crumbly and fully cooked.

Remove the sausage from the pan and drain well. Melt the butter in the skillet and add the green onions and cilantro and sauté for one minute. Add the eggs, salt and pepper arid cook without stirring for a few minutes. Using a spatula, stir the eggs until they are very soft scrambled. Remove from the heat and stir in the sausage and 1½ cups of the cheese sauce.

Spoon about ½ cup of the egg mixture down the side of each tortilla and roll up. Place them, seam side down in the baking dish and pour the rest of the cheese sauce evenly over the tortillas. Sprinkle the top with the Monterey Jack cheese and bake for 30 minutes.

Toppings ¼ cup very thinly sliced jalapeno peppers ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes ¼ cup chopped parsley ¼ cup finely sliced green onions - white and green parts 1 cup sour cream Prepare the toppings and place in individual bowls and allow the guests to top their own enchiladas.

Smoked Gouda Grits Chef Connie Baptiste Stockbridge Lakes Bed and Breakfast 1/2 lb. Delia’s Chicken Sausage or your favorite chicken or pork sausage 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil ½ cup of onion, red, yellow and green bell pepper, finely chopped

took photos.

The innkeeper was excited to see Nancy as well, saying she never missed her television show.

Nancy was such an important part of New Orleans that I don’t think I can go back. It would not

2 tsp. kosher salt 1 1/2 cups uncooked quick-cooking grits 1/2 cup shredded Smoked Gouda cheese Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add salt to taste and a tsp. of butter (more if you like). Once your water is boiling, gradually stir in grits, (remember to stir/whisk for the first couple minutes to get all the lumps out).

Add the shredded smoked Gouda cheese.

Reduce heat to low, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until thickened.

While grits are cooking, in a medium frying pan over high heat add the 3 Tbsp. oil and sausage to brown.

Once the sausage is browned remove from pan and place on a paper towel to drain.

Pour off half of the oil and sausage drippings. In same pan add onion and peppers; sauté 3 to 5 minutes or until tender. While the peppers are cooking crumble the sausage and add half the sausage back to the peppers and onion mixture.

Stir in the pepper, onion and sausage into the grits. Let the grits simmer for 5 minutes.

Serve grits topped with the remaining sausages.

Spinach Quiche Bites Inn at Half Mile Farm Highlands, North Carolina 10 eggs ½ cup flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained ¼ cup butter, melted 2 (4 oz.) cans green chilies, drained, seeded and chopped 2 cups small curd cottage cheese 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 3 quart rectangular baking dish.

Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Make sure the spinach is very dry with all moisture removed.

Add the flour and baking powder and mix well. Stir in the spinach, melted butter, green chilies, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese.

Pour the mixture into the prepared dish and bake for 15 minutes. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes or until the center is set. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 15 minutes. Cut into bite size squares and serve.

Shirred Eggs Chef Connie Baptiste Stockbridge Lakes Bed and Breakfast Inn

A11 Jan. 08, 2020

be the same.

We are still making trips to Houston and often stay in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Once we opted to stay at the Stockade Bed and Breakfast. The owner had been a caterer before becoming an innkeeper.

The Upside Down Banana Coffee Cake was yummy.

Look over the following recipes from southern inns and assemble a menu. In order to spend more time with guests and keep the kitchen free of clutter, prepare brunch dishes ahead

and store in the refrigerator or freeze. This keeps the mornings stress-free when most of the dishes are prepared.

With many of these recipes prepared in advance, it saves time in the morning, making hospitality easier

to offer. Treat your family and friends to a brunch on a Saturday morning before heading to activities or for a relaxing leisurely brunch after church on Sundays.

Ann Cipperly can be reached at recipes@cipperly.com.

This is close to a soufflé, so it will rise during cooking, but will slowly deflate as it cools. These eggs go perfectly with our Smoked Gouda Grits.

6 eggs 1 tsp. salt and pepper 1 tsp. garlic powder ¼ cup heavy whipping cream This is a no fuss alternative to scrambled eggs. You’ll need four 4oz. individual dishes to bake the eggs in. Butter the inside of the baking dish. Set oven on 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, crack the eggs, add salt, pepper and garlic. Slowly whip in the heavy cream into the eggs, whisk for 3 more minutes.

Pour the mixture into the dishes. Place on the bottom rack and bake for 20 minutes. If you want softer eggs remove at 15 minutes.

This recipe is very versatile; you can add sautéed vegetables and cheese to the mixture.

medium heat until brown and cooked through, breaking up with the back of a fork into small pieces, about 10 minutes.

Add tomatoes and reserved oil, onions, peppers, celery, parsley and garlic. Sauté another 3 to 5 minutes.

Remove sausage mixture from heat; drain off oil. Spread sausage mixture in bottom of baking dish.

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over sausage; then sprinkle mozzarella or Swiss cheese over top (can be made to this point one day ahead, cover and refrigerate).

Whisk eggs, half and half, cream and salt in large bowl; blend well.

Pour mixture over sausage mixture in dish.

Bake until top of casserole is golden brown and knife inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serves 6 to 9.

3/4 granulated sugar 3/4 cup milk 1/2 cup sour cream 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose baking mix (Bisquick) 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake pecans in a single layer 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring once.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in a lightly greased 10-inch cast-iron skillet over low heat.

Remove from heat; pour maple syrup in.

Do not stir.

Cut bananas diagonally into 1/4-inchthick slices; arrange in concentric circles over maple syrup. Sprinkle pecans over bananas.

Beat granulated sugar and remaining 1/4 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

Add milk and next 2 ingredients; beat just until blended. Beat in baking mix and cinnamon until blended.

(Batter will be slightly lumpy.) Pour batter over mixture in skillet.

Place skillet on a foillined jelly-roll pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in skillet on a wire rack 10 minutes.

Run a knife around edge to loosen. Invert onto a serving plate, spooning any topping in skillet over cake.

Serve with maple syrup.

can be prepared ahead and frozen, baked or unbaked. Place the baked sausage balls on a pan and partially freeze. Place in a freezer bag & use as needed. To heat, wrap in foil and heat slowly in the oven (about 30 minutes on 250 degrees).

Apple Cheese Sausage Balls From Flint Street Inn in Asheville, North Carolina 2 lb. bulk sausage 8 oz. grated sharp Cheddar cheese 1 egg 1 pkg. unseasoned breadcrumbs (or make your own using 4 slices of toasted bread) 4 small apples, cored and cut into bite sized pieces Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Using an ice cream scoop as a measure, form into 2-inch balls. Place on greased baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees until done, about 30 to 45 minutes. Makes about 24 balls.

Note: This recipe

Easy Baked Eggs with Salsa From the former 4 ½ Street Inn - Highlands, North Carolina 1½ cups salsa 8 eggs 1/3 cup milk 1/2 cup self-rising flour 1/2 tsp. salt 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese Coat 2 quart casserole dish with nonstick spray.

Pour salsa into dish.

Break eggs into large bowl; beat until yolks are blended. Add milk, flour and salt; beat until fluffy. Add cheese and blend. Pour over salsa.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden and firm.

Change the recipe by using different salsas and types of cheese.

Bananas Foster Waffles Ashton’s Bed and Breakfast Inn New Orleans, Louisiana ¼ cup unsalted butter 1 cup brown sugar ¼ cup banana liqueur 2 bananas, quartered ½ tsp. cinnamon ¼ cup rum Belgian waffles Heat and stir butter, sugar and liqueur in a pan until melted. Add banana quarters and sprinkle cinnamon over top; cook until bananas are softened.

Turn off heat: carefully add rum. Ignite rum to flame (optional).

Serve over hot Belgian waffles.

Italian Sausage and Egg Casserole Ashton’s Bed and Breakfast Inn New Orleans, Louisiana 1 lb. Italian sweet sausage, casing removed ½ cup chopped onions ½ cup chopped bell peppers ½ cup chopped celery ½ cup chopped fresh parsley 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 small jar oilpacked sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped (reserve oil) 5 large eggs 3 large egg yolks 1 cup half and half 1 cup heavy whipping cream 2 cups grated mozzarella or Swiss cheese 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese ½ tsp. salt Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

Sauté sausage over

Apricot French Toast Inn at Half Mile Farm Highlands, North Carolina Filling 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 tsp. vanilla ½ cup chopped almonds In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese and vanilla and whip until fluffy. Stir in the nuts.

French Toast 1 loaf unsliced French bread 5 eggs 1 cup heavy cream 1 tsp. vanilla ½ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg Preheat a griddle to medium. Cut the bread into thick slices, ½ inch thick or more, then slice again halfway through to make a pocket in each slice.

Fill the pocket with a rounded tablespoon of the cheese filling. Beat the eggs, cream, vanilla and nutmeg in a bowl and pour into pie plate.

Dip each bread slice into the egg mixture and lay on a lightly greased griddle. Cook until golden brown on each side. Serve with maple syrup or apricot sauce.

Apricot Sauce ½ tsp. nutmeg 1 (16 oz.) jar apricot preserves and chopped 1 (16 oz.) can apricots, drained Add all ingredients to a saucepan. Stir and heat until bubbling.

Drizzle over the cooked toast. Makes 10 to 12 pieces of French Toast.

Banana Upside-Down Coffee Cake The Stockade Bed and Breakfast Inn Baton Rouge, Louisana 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup butter, softened and divided 2 ripe bananas, chopped 1/2 cup maple syrup 2 large eggs

Raspberry Passion Fruit Mint Tea Chef Connie Baptiste Stockbridge Lakes Bed and Breakfast Inn When life doesn’t give you time to make traditional sweet tea here’s a quick and easy recipe, but don’t tell your friends you didn’t brew it. ½ gallon of your favorite Raspberry Sweet Tea ½ gallon Welch’s Passion Fruit Juice Handful of fresh mint leaves In your favorite container muddle the mint leaves; add equal parts of the Raspberry Tea and the Passion Fruit Juice.

Serve over ice and garnish with mint leaves and lemon wedges.

Farmhouse Biscuits Inn at Serenbe Palmetto, Georgia 2 cups Lily White Selfrising Flour 1 cup sour cream 2 sticks melted butter ¼ cup chopped chives, optional Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt butter. In a bowl, combine flour, sour cream, chives and melted butter. Stir gently until combined.

Put ¼ cup mixture into greased muffin tins.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden brown.

Makes approximately 12 biscuits.

Food Ratings Chickchickporkpork Grill 3810 Pepperell Parkway Opelika Score: 100

Wendy’s 1002 2nd Ave. Opelika Score: 97

Chuck’s Bar-B-Que 905 Short Ave. Opelika Score: 100

Western Sizzlin’ 920 Columbus Parkway Opelika Score: 96

Famous Wok 1627 Opelika Road Auburn Score: 98

McDonald’s 2900 Pepperell Parkway Opelika Score: 94

pelika O Observer

A12 Jan. 08, 2020

OBITUARIES Jim Gilchrist A celebration of life service for Jim Gilchrist will was held Sunday, December 29, 2019 at 2 PM at Jeffcoat Trant Funeral Home with John Treadwell, Dr. Tom McClendon, and Bud Passmore officiating. The family received friends prior to the service at 1 PM. Jim was born on February 29, 1956 in Opelika, AL and went to be with the Lord on December 27, 2019. He was a Randolf Allen Cannon Randolf Allen Cannon of Hurtsboro, Alabama, passed away December 30th, 2019, at age 63.

Randy was born in Century, Florida to Dorris Bowman and Ronald Cannon.

He was known for his helpful advice to his customers at Lowe’s, his loyalty to his neighbors and friends and his devotion to his family. His empathy and compassion for unwanted and abused animals led him to buy his farm in the country.

There he was able to rescue as many abandoned animals as he wanted. His patience Malcolm Webster On Dec. 27, 2019, we lost our dear friend Malcolm Webster. As a community, we're devastated and already miss his kindness, sweetness, sparkling intelligence and lightning-quick sense of humor. He was a joy to know in life and the loss we feel is immense.

Auburn Area Community Theatre was an artistic home to Malcolm for over a decade, and he's been an integral part of the organization as a performer, designer, and administrator with a hand in pretty much every show we've ever put up since we've known him.

Perhaps you were lucky enough to

graduate of Opelika High School, then attended Southern Union Community College before he transferred to Auburn University where he received a BS in Education.

Jim worked many years in the insurance business but the majority of his career was at Auburn University in Facilities where he worked for over 22 years.

Jim was an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves but his love of Auburn Football, Baseball, and Basketball was his greatest past time. to rehabilitate unruly animals was unsurpassed.

Randy is survived by his wife, Shelly, his mother, Doris, his sons Jake, Adam, and Chris, his daughters Alicia and Virginia, a multitude of extended family and more friends than you can shake a stick at.

A visitation was held at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home Saturday, January 4th, from 3:00 until 5:00.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to Piedmont Fertilizer for pet and animal feed for Randy’s many animals.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.

watch Malcolm on stage in shows like Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, Blythe Spirit, The Secret Garden and many others. Maybe you saw shows that benefitted from his quick wit and wisdom as a director or assistant director - he put up hilarious shows in this year's Summer Shorts and was behind the desk for crowd favorites like Red Velvet Cake Wars and The Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens, among many others.

More importantly, perhaps, you were lucky enough to know and work with Malcolm and know that he was an absolute giant in spirit and energy with a

AUCTION OF ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES IN HISTORIC MARION ALABAMA Saturday January 18th 2020 @ 10AM Preview 8 am day of Auction To be held at the Old Marion Train Depot 1293 South Washington Street Marion, AL 36756 Garrett & Garrett Auction Company W.J. Garrett AB# 2107 AU# 2727 • A/A # 1947

850-461-6517

13% Buyers Premium - 3% Discount for Cash or Checks

He enjoyed working security detail for anything associated with Auburn Athletics.

Jim will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor and loyal friendship to so many.

Jim was an active member of Farmville Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday School teacher and Brotherhood Director.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James and Glenice Gilchrist of Opelika, and grandparents Wilson and

Millie Bailey of Opelika and Alvin and Estelle Gilchrist of Opp. He is survived by his sister Pam (Gary) Kenney of Opelika, brother Jeff (Lisa) Gilchrist of LaGrange, GA, nephews Jacob (Rachel) Kenney of Opelika, Jonathan (Lydia) Kenney of Smith Station, niece Anna Kenney of Birmingham and great nephew Caleb Kenney of Opelika.

Donations may be made to Farmville Baptist Church in Auburn or the charity of your choice.

Diane Elizabeth Norrell Diane Elizabeth Norrell passed away peacefully at her residence on Dec. 29, 2019 at the age of 69.

Diane was born on Jan. 22, 1950 in Opelika Alabama. She was known and most loved for her kindness and generosity to everyone who knew her.

Her life was spent in Opelika in devotion to her family and friends.

She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandkids and was a devoted member of her church at Living Way Ministries.

She is survived by her husband Gary Norrell, her chilwicked sense of humor.

He was a delight to work with (and, let's face it, more of a delight cracking jokes backstage).

Everything already feels smaller, quieter without him.

As we begin a new year, we hope you'll help us honor the precious memory of Malcolm - rolling his eyes, cracking jokes, and holding umbrellas to care for and support many of us individually and as a theatre community for so many years.

The service for Malcolm was sched-

dren; Gary Phillips, Michael Phillips, Shawna Phillips, brother and sister; Gene Shoffeitt, Julia Shoffeitt, brother-inlaw Chris Norrell, 8 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Ollie Shoffeitt.

A very special thanks to the doctors and nurses at EAMC/ Compassus/ Hospice for the outstanding care she received.

Funeral services were held at JeffcoatTrant Funeral Home Jan. 2 with visitation from 12-1:30 p.m.

Burial followed in Garden Hills at 2 p.m.

uled for Jan. 4, 2020, at Resurrection Catholic Church located at 2815 Forbes Rd. in Montgomery.

Viewing began and 10:30 a.m. and the funeral service was held at noon. A graveside service followed at Lucasey Cemetery on Highway 85. A repast followed back at the church.

We are all better people for having known him. He will be sorely missed. We love you, Malcolm.

This tribute was taken from the Auburn Area Community Theatre’s Facebook page.

1 OUT OF 10

ELDERLY PERSONS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE BEING:

Abused, Neglected or Exploited

Robert Frederick Bennett, Jr. Robert Frederick Bennett, Jr., 74, passed away Dec. 25, 2019, at EAMC in Opelika after a 9-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mr. Bennett was born Feb. 28, 1945, in South Bend, Indiana the son of Robert and Maxine Bennett. He was raised in Valparaiso, Indiana and graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1963.

In 1968, he graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and earned a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the Reserve Officer Training Corps.

He served in Vietnam from 1969-70 as an air cavalry platoon leader.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, he worked in business in Valparaiso; Kokomo, Indiana and Newport, Arkansas before returning to Valparaiso in 1980. He married Katrina Jones in 1988. They moved in 2013 to Auburn, where he retired.

Mr. Bennett was active in the choir at Auburn United Methodist Church, a passion he had continued from his David Blomquist, Jr. David Blomquist, Jr., of Salem, Alabama was born to the late David and Charlotte Tremont Blomquist in Brooklyn, New York on January 16, 1943 and passed away at UAB Hospital on December 22, 2019. He was 76 years old.

He was a Member of Living Waters Ministry Center. He served in Vietnam with the Marines then joined the United States Air Force and retired after 20 honorable years of service.

He was preceded

church and choir membership in Valparaiso.

He enjoyed travel, particularly road trips, working on cars with his friends, rooting for the Chicago Cubs and helping people wherever he could.

He is survived by his wife, Katrina Bennett; three sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Tara Bennett, James and Regina Bennett and Paul and Jennifer Bullard; 12 grandchildren; three sisters: Sue Bowlin, Linda Bostick and Sara Clark; a brotherin-law, William Clark and many friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, father and sister, Flo Ann Rice.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m.

Dec. 30 at JeffcoatTrant Funeral Home.

Interment services were held at Fort Mitchell National Military Cemetery, Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org/donate or 1-877-647-VETS (8387), or the Auburn United Methodist Church music ministry program at www. aumc.net/giving/.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed. in death by his wife of 45 years, Diane Blomquist.

He is survived by his wife, Marie Blomquist; son, John Blomquist; five granddaughters, Amber Clark, Kayedina Gill, Tiffany Clark, Maegan Clark, Rachel Blomquist; six step-children, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and step-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held at Garden Hills Cemetery Dec. 26, 2019 at 11 a.m. with Brother Mike McCormick officiating.

HPV VACCINE FACTS:

If you suspect this is happening to someone you know, please report it to Adult Protective Services by contacting your local DHR office or calling the

ADULT ABUSE HOTLINE at 1-800-458-7214

HELP STOP THE ABUSE

IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT

Prevents 90% of HPV Cancers.

Thereʼs no excuse for

ELDER ABUSE

“This project was supported by Subgrant #16-VA-VS-076 awarded by the Law Enforcement / Traffic Safety Division of ADECA and the U.S. Department of Justice.” The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice or grant-making component.”

HPV 4 out of 5 vaccine can people will prevent get HPV in at least 6 their lives. types of cancers.

HPV VACCINE IS CANCER PREVENTION!

alabamapublichealth.gov/imm

To have your loved one’s obituary published in the Opelika Observer, email us at: editor@opelikaobserver.com or call 334-749-8003

Opelika

A13

Family & Religion Place your ad here!

Email: editor@opelika observer.com Call: 334-749-8003

Hunley Group Lambert Transfer & Storage An Interstate Agent for North American Van Lines 1102 Fox Trail Opelika, AL 36803 745-5706

P

eter wrote to “exiles scattered throughout” five Roman provinces.

They lived on a land bridge between Europe and Asia that is known to us today as Turkey.

They were Jewish communities that had been displaced from their homeland of Israel and were referred to as the diaspora (lit., “scattered”).

The Assyrians, Babylonians and Romans all had a part in dispersing the Jewish people over the centuries. More to the point, God had a hand in the matter as well (Deuteronomy 28:25 and other texts).

Life as an exile meant living away from home—you were not where you really wanted to be.

Moreover, where you lived wasn’t your home and you were treated like it. Exiles usually had less rights and privileges than natives. They were outsiders with strange ways and often viewed with suspicion. As a result of this they lived

Living as exiles

with a consciousness of not fully belonging.

There was always a longing and a looking for something more.

In short, they were blessed.

They were blessed because this world is not our home if we belong to Jesus Christ. Paul tells us in Philippians 3:20 that “our citizenship is in heaven” (note the present tense). Those who were forced to live nationally as exiles had a leg up on understanding what it meant to live spiritually as exiles.

It wasn’t as hard for them as it is for us to understand the transitory nature of this life.

It wasn’t as hard for them as it is for us to enjoy all things fully but to nevertheless live with a loose attachment to them.

These things are difficult for us and my guess is the younger you are, the more challenging it is. Experience and years help us to absorb the reality that life here is fleeting and that we should

By Bruce Green Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ in Opelika

live with the eternal in mind.

But they were facing something more— something that went beyond what they experienced as exiles and had to do with how they were treated because they were followers of Jesus. 1 Peter is replete with references to disciples being harassed because of their faith. He uses a wide range of words in speaking of their situation. Descriptors include suffering (7x’s), insult (3x’s), slander (2x’s), and threat (2x’s), while trials, abuse, harsh, pain and maliciously are sprinkled in as well. What was the exact nature of their harassment? They suffered at the hands of Jewish people who

Calendar of Church Events • Jan. 9 - Trinity Lutheran Church will begin hosting its weekly quilt-making class each Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon or 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 334-887-3901.

The church is located at 446 S. Gay St. • Jan. 17 - Auburn United Methodist Church will host Elder Eric and Lady Angela Rowe of Word of Faith Apostolic Church in Opelika as part of the Active Tour on Jan. 17

Catch ‘On the Mark’ with D. Mark Mitchell and Jeff Sasser weekday mornings from 7-9 a.m.

ANGLICAN Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd 2312 Center Drive Unit D #758-6749 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Bridge Church 1000 Lee Road 263, Cusseta #742-0144 AME Mount Zion AME Church West Point Hwy #749-3916 St. Luke AME Church 1308 Auburn St. #749-1690 St. Paul AME Church 713 Powledge Ave. #745-6279 Thompson Chapel AME Zion 187 Columbus Pkwy #749-8676 BAPTIST Abundant Life Baptist Church 1220 Fox Run Ave. Suite B #7064421464 Airview Baptist Church 2301 Airport Rd. #444-5148 Antioch Baptist Church 605 W. East Morton Ave #742-0696 Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St. #745-7528 Bethel Baptist Church Hwy. 29 Sasser Rd #745-4865 Central Baptist Church 1611 2nd Ave. #745-2482 Community Baptist Church 154 N. 16th St. #745-6552 Cornerstone Missionary Baptist 500 N. Railroad Ave. #742-2008 Eastview Baptist Church 1208 Spring Dr #749-9595 Farmville Baptist Church 3607 Alabama Hwy N. #887-7361 First Baptist Church of Opelika

Jan. 08, 2020

and 18. For more information to make reservations, call 334826-8800. The church is located at 137 S. Gay St. • Jan. 18 - St. Ellis Full Gospel Church in Opelika will host the 2020 “I Want to Be Free Women’s Conference: No Runing Back” on Jan. 18. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 334-298-4319.

The church is located at 5267 U.S. Highway 280.

• Jan. 31 - First

Baptist Church of Opelika will host the “True Girl: Pajama Party Tour” on Jan. 31. Designed for quality time for mothers and 7 to 12-yearold daughters, this event will feature an evening full of Bible teaching, games, music and worship. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 334-745-5715 or visit www.fbcopelika. com. The church is located at 301 S. 8th St. in downtown Opelika.

314 S. 9th St. #745-6143 First Baptist Church 301 S. 8th St. #745-5715 First Baptist Church Impact 709 Avenue E #741-0624 First Freewill Baptist Church 103 19th St. #703-3333 Friendship Missionary Baptist 432 Maple Avenue #742-0105 Greater Peace Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave. #749-9487 Heritage Baptist Church 1103 Glenn St. #363-8943 High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 Liberty Baptist Church 2701 West Point Pkwy #749-9632 Love Freewill Baptist Church 1113 Frederick Ave. #745-2905 Ridge Grove Missionary Baptist Church 1098 Lee Road 155 #334-745-3600 Northside Baptist Church 3001 Lafayette Hwy #745-5340 Pepperell Baptist Church 2702 2nd Ave. #745-3108 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Uniroyal Rd #749-2773 Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Rd 166 #745-0807 Purpose Baptist Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #704-0302 St. James Baptist Church 1335 Auburn St. #745-3224 Union Grove Missionary Baptist 908 Huguley Rd #741-7770 BUDDHIST Buddha Heart Village 3170 Sandhill Rd. #821-7238

CATHOLIC St. Mary’s Catholic Church 1000 4th Ave. #749-8359 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy #742-9721 10th Street Church of Christ 500 N. 10th St. #745-5181 Southside Church of Christ 405 Carver Ave. #745-6015 Church of Christ 2660 Cunningham Drive CHURCH OF GOD Airview Church of God 3015 Old Opelika Rd #749-9112 Church of God 114 17th Place #7496432 Tabernacle Church of God 3 Oak Court #745-7979 CHURCH OF NAZARENE Opelika Church of Nazarene 1500 Bruce Ave. #749-1302 EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave. #745-2054 HOLINESS Eastside Emmanuel Holiness Church 86 Lee Road 186 Opelika, Ala. 36804 JEWISH Beth Shalom Congregation 134 S. Cary Dr. #826-1050 LATTERDAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints 510 Groce St. #742-9981 METHODIST First United Methodist Church of Opelika 702 Avenue A #745-7604 Hopewell United Methodist 1993 Lee Rd 136 #745-0460 Pierce Chapel United Methodist

viewed them as apostates and from Gentiles who viewed them as atheists (people who didn’t worship the pantheon of Greek and Roman gods) and who behaved strangely (2:11,15, 4:4 and 3:1516).

I think there is a lot to learn from 1 Peter.

If you’ve been paying attention, you know that our culture has moved farther and farther away from Christian ideals regarding the sanctity of life, gender and gender roles, marriage and sexual norms.

Pornography and gambling, once existing only in the shadows of society, have moved front and center through their presence on the internet. Few people in movies, music or television know how to express themselves without cursing.

People used to pray at schools, ballgames and other public occasions.

Businesses were closed on Sunday and nothing was scheduled on Wednesday night because that was

a church night. All of that is gone and it doesn’t look like it’s coming back anytime soon.

One of the results of this should be that disciples are more aware that they are exiles in this world.

But the truth is, we haven’t always handled society’s slide backwards very well.

Instead of doubling down on our efforts to love, serve and reach out to people with the good news of Jesus, we’ve often stood on the sidelines and engaged in shouting matches with them instead.

We’ve demanded redeemed behavior out of unredeemed people and yelled “persecution” whenever they disagreed with us.

Peter has a lot of helpful things to tell us regarding how to live in a sometimes hostile, harassing world.

Are we listening?

You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: atasteofgracewithbrucegreen. com.

Verse of the Week “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 8685 AL Hwy. 51 #749-4469 Pepperell United Methodist 200 26th St. #745-9334 Trinity United Methodist Church 800 Second Ave. #745-2632 Wesley Memorial United Methodist 2506 Marvyn Pkwy #745-2841 PENTECOSTAL Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Hwy. 29, PO Box 1691 #741-8675 Gateway Community Church 2715 Frederick Rd #745-6926 PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Opelika 900 2nd Ave. #745-3421 Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Rd #745-4889 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist 1808 S. Long St. #749-3151 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Apostolic Holiness Church 610 Canton St. #749-6759 Auburn Opelika Korean Church 1800 Rocky Brook Rd #749-5386 Beauregard Full Gospel Revival 2089 Lee Road 42 #745-0455 Christ Church International 1311 2nd Ave. #745-0832 Church of the Harvest 2520 Society Hill Rd #745-2247 Church at Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy #705-0505 East Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. #737-1488 Emmanuel Temple of Deliverance 207 S. Railroad Ave. #745-6430 Faith Alliance Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #749-9516 Faith Christian Center 600 S. 8th St. Faith Church 3920 Marvyn Pkwy #707-3922 Family Life Christian Center

601 S. 7th St. #741-7013 Father’s House Christian Fellowship 214 Morris Ave. #749-1070 Fellowship Bible Church 2202 Hamilton Rd #749-1445 Ferguson Chapel Church 310 S. 4th St. #745-2913 First Assembly of God Church 510 Simmons St. #749-3722 Garden of Gethsemane Fellowship 915 Old Columbus Rd #745-2686 Grace Heritage Church Opelika #559-0846 Holy Deliverance Church 831 S. Railroad #749-5682 Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. #737-1488 Living Way Ministries 1100 Old Columbus Rd #749-6241 Move of God Fellowship Church 1119 Old Columbus Rd #741-1006 Connect Church 2900 Waverly Pkwy #749-3916 New Life Christian Center 2051 West Point Pkwy #741-7373 New Life Independent Church 10 Meadowview Estates Trailer 741-9001 Opelika’s First Seventh Day 2011 Columbus Pkwy #737-3222 Power of Praise, Inc. Church 3811 Marvyn Pkwy #745-6136 Shady Grove Christian Church West Point Hwy #745-7770

Place your ad here!

Fresh Foods...And A Whole Lot More!

603 Pleasant Pleasant Drive 603 Drive Opelika, Opelika, ALAL 36801 749-1333 Mon- Sat7am 7am-8pm Mon-Sat - 8pm Sun12pm 12pm-6pm Sun - 6pm

Email: editor@opelika observer.com Call: 334-749-8003

pelika Observer O

A14 Jan. 08, 2020

The Rough and Tumble to return to Sundilla on Jan. 10 Special to the Opelika Observer The Rough & Tumble return to Sundilla to kick off the 2020 season on Jan. 10. Showtime at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, located at 450 E. Thach Ave., is set for 7:30 p.m.

Advance tickets are $15 each and can be found at Spicer’s Music, Ross House Coffee and online at sundil-

lamusic.com; admission at the door will be $20 each.

They will provide free coffee, tea, water and food, and attendees are welcome to bring their own favorite food or beverage.

Three years ago, Sundilla brought The Rough & Tumble to town with the prediction that they would “take the stage as unknowns and leave the stage as somebody’s new favorite.”

Since that performance,

the group has only gotten better, and have added two new CDs and a SERFA Official Showcase to their already impressive resume.

The Rough & Tumble are as easy to detect as a stray dog on your doorstep-- and as difficult to send home.

The Americana duo, consisting of Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler, have been hobbling around the country in their 16’ camper since 2015, when their Nashville

landlord left them without heat during an ice storm for 12 days.

"Their Americana music is restorative, their performance highly entertaining, their orchestra of unusual instruments intriguing, and jokes and stories are worthy of an HBO special," said Linda Bolton of Cozy Cabin House Concerts.

For more information, including videos, visit www. sundillamusic.com.

The Rough & Tumble

Community Calendar: Events around town

• Jan. 8 at 8 a.m. - Connections at Newks Eatery • Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. - Himmelwright, Huguley & Boles Business After Hours • Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. - Ribbon Cutting at Day Spring Nature Shop • Jan. 16 at 4 p.m.- AR Workshop Auburn • Jan. 23 at 7:30 a.m. - Business Over Breakfast Ongoing: • Village Friends/Village Values is a nonprofit organization that supports seniors who prefer to stay in their own homes as they grow older. For info or to schedule a presentation to your group, call 334-209-4641. For the website, Google “village friends village values.”

• The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR chapter is appealing for sweaters, jackets, trousers, shirts and socks, women’s clothing, soft soap in individual containers, shaving supplies, disposable razors, denture cleanser, toothpaste and toothbrushes, DVDs, games, books and magazines to take to veterans at the CAVHCS in Tuskegee.

The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR Chapter regularly visits veterans living in assisted living, the homeless domiciliary and psych (trauma) ward in Tuskegee. Donations are tax deductible and will be much appreciated. Pick up is provided.

Please call Linda Shabo at 887-6659 or at 256307-1449.

Mondays: • The Lee County Voters League meets the first Mondays of the month at

6 p.m. at Bethesda Baptist Church located at 201 S. 4th St. Opelika • The John Powell American Legion Post 18 and Auxiliary meets the third Monday of every month at 7 p.m. at 910 West Point Parkway in Opelika.

• The Opelika Community Band practices from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Auburn High School band room. Everyone is welcome, amateurs and professionals alike.

• The Touched by Suicide Support Group meets the first Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the East Alabama Medical Center Health Resource Center, 2027 Pepperell Parkway.

For more information, contact Deborah Owen, EAMC’s director of Psychiatric Services at deborahowen@eamc.org.

• The fourth Monday of each month, a community grief support group meets from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center. No reservations are necessary; everyone is welcome.

For more information, call 826-1899 or 5020216.

• T.O.P.S (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), a weight loss support

group, meets every Monday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Covington Recreation Center, 213 Carver Ave., Opelika. For more info contact Mary Johnson, 749-1584.

• The Lee County Commission meets the second and last Mondays of each month at the courthouse beginning at 5 p.m.

• The Commercial Horticulture Extension Team organizes webinars to provide quick updates for producers on various topics of interest. Whether you are interested in the proper way to plant fruit trees or have questions in turf management, these webinars cover a wide range of subjects. Webinars are streamed live via Panopto on the last Monday of every month starting in January and ending in November. During the presentation, participants can send questions via email. The webinars also are recorded and stored in the archive on the Beginning Farmer website.

Webinar topics include: trap cropping for reducing squash insect pests, cowpea curculio updates, nutsedge control, introduction to potting mixes in ornamental

container production, dealing with drought in commercial horticulture crops and many more.

To view the full schedule, please visit www. aces.edu/anr/beginningfarms/webinars.php.

Please send questions during the presentations to Ann Chambliss, thameae@auburn.edu.

For questions regarding the webinar series or for providing suggestions, please email Dr. Ayanava Majumdar at bugdoctor@auburn.edu.

Tuesdays: • Ballroom Dance Classes at the Opelika SportsPlex from 7 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday. Instructor is Cody Wayne Foote. For more info, call Diane at 749-6320.

• The East Alabama Old Car Club meets every first Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Monarch Estates Clubhouse, located at 1550 East University Drive, Auburn. A program of interest to the old car enthusiast is presented. Car ownership is not required.

• The Opelika City Council meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m.

Meetings are preceded by non-voting work sessions that typically begin between 6 and 6:45 p.m.

• Every second Tuesday, a country, gospel and bluegrass music jam session is held at Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church in Beauregard.

The event is free and open to the public. Those who play an instrument should bring it and plan to join in. The jam session is held from 6 to 8 p.m. 8685 Alabama Highway 51.

• A Grief Support Group meets at Oak Bowery United Methodist Church Tuesdays at 2

p.m. and 6 p.m. for anyone dealing with the pain of loss and feeling the need for support on their journey as they attempt to bring order and wholeness back into their life.

Attendance and participation is strictly voluntary for any and all sessions. There are no fees or charges involved. The church is located on U.S. Highway 431 – eight miles north from Southern Union State Community College and Opelika High School. For more information, contact Bill Parker at 459-0214 or 706-518-9122.

• The Auburn Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol meets every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Auburn University Regional Airport. The Civil Air Patrol is a nonprofit organization that is Congressionally chartered to be the civilian auxiliary of the Air Force and focuses on three missions: aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services. For more information visit www.auburncap.org or find the organization on Facebook.

• East Alabama Gem & Mineral Society meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at 5:45 p.m.

Meetings are held at the Covington Rec. Center, located at 213 Carver Ave. in Opelika.

Wednesdays: • The second Wednesday of each month, a Community Grief Support Group meets from 10 to 11 a.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center. No reservations are necessary. For more info call 826-1899 or 502-0216.

• The John Powell American Legion Post 18 and Auxiliary hosts

Bingo every Wednesday at 6 p.m.

• Every Wednesday is Wine Down Wednesday at the Bottling Plant Event Center from 5 to 8 p.m.

Thursdays: • American Legion Auxiliary Unit 152 meets the first Thursday of every month at 11 a.m. at Niffer’s Place, 917 S. Railroad Ave. in Opelika.

• The Teal Magnolias Gynecological Cancer Support Group meets the second Thursday of every third month at 6 p.m. at EAMC Health Resource Center, 2027 Pepperell Parkway. For more information on the Teal Magnolias, email tealmagnoliasAL@yahoo.com or find them on Facebook.

• Opelika-Auburn Newcomers’ Club provides a variety of programs for the betterment of the Auburn/ Opelika community to assist women transitioning into the area or to help women adjust to recent lifestyle changes.

The club meets on the third Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. for a luncheon at various local restaurants. Please call or email Cheri Paradice at 850-212-5364. or cheri. paradice@gmail.com for more information or luncheon location of the month.

• T.O.U.C.H. Cancer Support Group meets the third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at EAMC’s Health Resource Center. This is a support group for people living with any type of cancer or their families and friends. Call 334528-1076 for more information.

Email editor@opelikaobserver.com to place your community events.

GoodwillSR hosting multi-employer job fair in Opelika on Jan. 14 Special to the Opelika Observer Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers, Inc. (GoodwillSR) is hosting a multi-employer job fair on Jan. 14 at the Goodwill Career Center, located at 3740 Pepperell Parkway. Hundreds of positions will be available from 17 of the region’s top employers.

Industries represented range from manufacturing to health care to food service.

Among the com-

panies represented are: Sungchang Autotech; Hellas; Ajin USA; Buffalo Rock; Mando; Sam’s Club; East Alabama Medical Center; Golden State Foods; Afni; T&K Staffing; Alabama Department of Corrections; Easterseals; Stevens Home Health Care; Traveling Angels Nursing Services; Staffing Connections; United States Census 2020 and Waffle House.

The event is free and open to the pub-

lic.

Job seekers should come dressed for success and ready to interview with multiple copies of their resume in-hand. Individuals are also encouraged to visit the nearest Goodwill career center and take advantage of free career readiness classes that include resume building, interview skills and many other skills workshops.

According to a press release, the the purpose of this event is to help “people find sus-

tainable employment is an essential part of GoodwillSR’s mission of ‘Developing People, Building Communities and Changing Lives’. GoodwillSR provides free career readiness and job placement programs and hosts multiple job fairs throughout the year to help people in East Alabama and West Georgia find work.”

For more information please contact the Opelika Career Center at (334) 275-4815.

pelika Observer O

A15 Jan. 08, 2020

Opelika native Kadeem Fuller performed alongside BET comedian Chris Thomas in late December Special to the Opelika Observer Crown of Comedy, an Auburn-based comedy club, hosted Opelika native Kadeem Fuller at a show last month, who performed alongside BET standup comedian Chris Thomas.

Fuller, a Beulah High School graduate, moved to Champaign, Illinois to pursue an education and later career based in political science and higher education. There, he discovered his true comedic talents and began performing at clubs across the state, including the CU Com-

Read, from A9 update from Executive Director Patricia Butts.

Assuming leadership of the LCLC last summer, Butts said fundraisers like this and the Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee help fuel their mission of creating brighter futures for

edy Club.

Fuller was the 2018 comedy competition winner at the Juke Box in Peoria, Illinois. This has led him to open for Chicago’s best young stars and national touring acts. According to Fuller, he “finds humor in everyday life and puts his own take on the world for comedic humor.”

Thomas is a noted impressionist, imitating more than 2,000 noted actors, celebrities, musicians and politicians, including Frank Sinatra and former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Thomas’s success as a stand-up comedian allowed him to expand Lee County residents.

“We are having to adapt to today’s technology and use it to help us in our mission, and we are always striving to make sure that we reach out to more learners and tutors. We want to educate folks about literacy and take away some of the stigma for the learner as they go through the programs we offer,” Butts said

his work into all media outlets. He has experienced success in film,

videos, radio and a host of other mediums.

For more informa-

tion about the Crown of Comedy, like and follow their Facebook

page. It is located at 1655 S. College St. in Auburn.

Fuller in an August 2019 interview with the Observer.

Tickets are $65 each, and can be purchased online at www. leecountyliteracy.org or by calling 334-7050001. Like and follow their Facebook page and visit the website for updates on this event.

Twenty-One Acres is located at 5505 Wire Road.

Rebecca Rice Cell: 334-703-0801 rebecca@johnrice.info

Concert, from A10 kids’ cabaret and more.

The two have been performing together since 2010. They currently perform between 70 and 100 shows a year on both the East and West coasts.

Their live show moves from humorous, subversive blues, to delicate balladry, and then swings back to

Jacobs-Strain and Beach swampy rock and roll.

Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased online via www.eventbrite.com.

For more information, visit www.thesoundwall. com. The venue is located at 605 Ave. B.

A16 Jan. 08, 2020

pelika Observer O

COMICS

“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.” ― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Opelika Schools ports &S Inside • opelika schools • lee county schools • community sports

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

Opelika basketball teams ring in 2020 with big wins

S

tudents returned to class Monday after Christmas break.

Most of the OHS studentathletes spent several days away, but members of the OHS basketball teams and wrestling team competed.

The boys and girls basketball teams played serval games while the wrestlers competed in numerous matches GIRLS BASKETBALL The Lady Bulldog basketball team (15-5) kept busy over the Christmas break, playing in two tournaments and hosting rival Auburn.

Coach Devin Booth scheduled two tournaments during the break, The “Chevron Lady Jag Tournament” and the “BallN Holiday Invitational.” The Lady Bulldogs opened tournament play with a 54-46 win over Mountain Brook. Kaitlyn Bryant and Ananda Hughley led OHS in scoring with 16 and 10 points, respectively.

OHS beat Leflore 43-38 in the second game of the “Lady Jag Invite.” Bryant scored a season-high 24 points in the win.

In the third game, Pleasant Grove beat OHS 68-57.

Bryant continued the hot shooting, scoring 17 points while teammate Hughley also added 17 points.

Opelika opened the tournament with a 53-51

win over Hartselle. Bryant scored 18 points to lead OHS, her fourth straight double digit game.

Spain Park defeated the Lady Bulldogs 71-47 in the final. Bryant scored 20 points to extend her streak of double digits to five games. Claire Worth added 10 points.

The girls returned to the friendly confines of OHS Mainstreet Gym last Friday, beating rival Auburn 61-53 in front of a packed house. Opelika led 12-9 after the first quarter and 23-19 at halftime. The Lady Bulldogs led by two points starting the fourth quarter, 41-39.

Coach Booth’s team outscored points to win 6153. Ananda Hughley led the scoring with 20 points.

LaDajah Hughley and Worth scored 15 and 13, points respectively.

OHS travelled to Seale last night for the area opener against Russell County. The results were not available at press time.

They travel to Alexander City on Friday night for a 6 p.m. game against Benjamin Russell.

BOYS BASKETBALL The OHS boys basketball team played four games over the break, going 2-2 including a win over Auburn.

Opelika started the break by beating Lanett 84-82 in See Sports, page B2

• Jan. 8 - Students at Lee-Scott Academy return to class • Jan. 14 - Lee County School Board Meeting - 2410 Society Hill Road • Jan. 28 - Opelika City School Board Meeting - 300 Simmons St.

Seven Opelika Dawg Pound players selected to play in ‘East v. West All American Games’ in Las Vegas

By Morgan Bryce Editor

Seven members of the Opelika Dawg Pound football team were selected to play in the Diamond Sports Group's "East v. West All American Games" Jan. 17 to 20 in Las Vegas.

Anthony Bryant, Dawg Pound coach and director of the Knee High Foundation, said he is "beyond excited and proud" for his players to receive this recognition.

"These kids have been with our program

since Day 1. They're heavily involved in community service, making a difference, and put a lot of effort into their academics," Bryant said.

Melvin Foley, Skylan Holstick, Dominique Key Jr., Kollin and Kyle King, all rotate positions on the defensive and offensive lines for the Dawg Pound, while Jadontae Jones and Omar Mabson contribute from various skill positions. They all are students within the Auburn and Opelika City School systems.

Several of these

athletes participated in the Diamond Sports Group's "Diamond All American Bowl Week" last year in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Because of the costs tied with a trip to Las Vegas, Bryant is seeking donations to help cover travel expenses.

They can be sent to "kneehighfoundation" via CashApp or thekneehighfoundation@ gmail.com through PayPal. An official fundraiser will be launched on the Opelika Dawg Pound's Facebook page in the next few days.

"Everyone of these

kids who made is on A-B Honor Rolls at their schools, and they just deserve this opportunity. They don't get in any trouble, and it's really a worthwhile investment in our children," Bryant said.

"This is a once-in-alifetime opportunity for most of them and I would like the community to come together and do something for them."

For more information or updates, like and follow the organization's Facebook page or visit www.thekneehighfoundation.org.

Columbus Storm football team set to take center stage this spring Special to the Opelika Observer Loaded with Division I talent and years of experience, the Columbus Storm Football Organization looks to leave a lasting impression this season, which begins in February. The Columbus Storm will take center stage in the APDFL (Amateur Professional Developmental Football League) this spring.

The Storm will open the season at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City against the East Alabama Predators from Opelika, an established team that has been in existence

since 2014.

Marqui Hawkins is a standout receiver

season with experience at the collegiate level. Jamal Stick-

from Carver High School that signed with the University of Florida. Having played against the best of the best, it should not take him long to get started early in the season.

Starting quarterback Tarvaraska Davis comes into the

ney, Teddy Gibson, JoJo Ray, Mike Swann and Marquise Hawkins II all have the potential be damaging in the passing game this Spring.

DJ Moore, Octavius Smith and Sacory James Sr. will take lead in the running game to set the tone

on the ground.

The defensive side of the ball has 5-star recruits across the board. Tjai Bryant is the captain of the defense and his ability to control the box at linebacker will prove to be pivotal with a tough schedule ahead. Travis Jones, TJ Moore and Jalen Taylor can shut down any offensive attack presented. While only giving up only one touchdown the entire preseason, it will be interesting to see how they match up against teams like the Orlando Phantoms, who can strike at any given time.

See Storm, page B2

pelika Observer O

B2 Jan. 08, 2020

City of Smiths Station opens lending libraries last week Special to the Opelika Observer Last Friday, the city of Smiths Station opened its lending libraries to the public.

There are separate libraries for adults and children.

The libraries will be open concurrently with the Smiths Station Government Center

Station and the surrounding community." Individuals who borrow books are asked to return them once finished.

For more information, call 334-2978771 or visit www. smithstational.gov.

The Smiths Station Government Center is located at 2336 Lee Road 430.

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday E.S.T. The libraries will operate on an honor system - no membership or library card is required. The city's goal is "to promote the importance of reading and provide additional resources for literacy ... (it is) open to all residents in Smiths

Photos submitted to the Opelika Observer

Lady Bulldogs slip by Hartselle in ‘BallN Holiday Invitational’

Photos by James Meadows/Hartselle Enquirer During the Christmas break, the Opelika Lady Bulldogs played in the “BallN Holiday Invitational.”

In the first game, the girls played Hartselle, whom they defeated 53-51. Kaitlin Bryant led all scorers with 18 points. The Bulldogs were 15-5 entering Tuesday’s road game against Russell County.

Sports from B1 overtime. Grady Bynum led all scorers with 25 points, followed by 24 points from Brandon Howard and Anthony McGuire added 10 points.

The Bulldogs travelled to Handley for the “Handley Christmas Invitational.” Harris County (49-37) and Handley (63-48) beat OHS. Bynum scored 11 and 21 points in the two games, while Brandon Howard added 13 and 11 points.

Opelika Coach John Wadsworth decided to play in one tournament during the break. He opted to use the extra week to

get his football players in basketball shape, find chemistry and prepare for Auburn.

The plan worked, Opelika beat Auburn 64-60 last Friday in front of the largest crowd to see a basketball game in OHS since the arena was built. (the Mainstreet Gym was much larger when the school was built in the 70’s).

The Bulldogs led 14-7 after the first quarter but trailed 21-13 at halftime.

The third quarter was the difference in the game. Opelika scored 25 points while holding Auburn to 12 points, taking an 11-point lead to the final quarter. The Tigers comeback was not enough as OHS held on for the four-point

victory.

Opelika played at Russell County Tuesday night but the results were not available at press time.

WRESTLING The Opelika wrestlers kept busy over the break, participating in several matches. Coach Jim Davis took seven wrestlers to Pelham for the invitational. James Dawson continued to dominate, going 6-0 to win the heavyweight division. Ben Daughtry finished second with a 5-1 record. A controversial call “cost Daughtry a win,” according to Davis.

Three wrestlers participated in the “Indian Invitational” at Wetumpka High School.

Two OHS wrestlers won championships. James Dawson (6-0) and Ben Daughtry (5-0) finished undefeated to win the heavyweight division and the 195-pound class.

Dawson earned two honors “Most Outstanding Wrestler” and “Best Match Award.”

Four freshman wrestlers participated in the Indian junior varsity meet. Logan Sheridan won four matches and Landon Willis won three matches, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

The final match of the break for Opelika, the “Julian McPhillips Invitational” at St. James Academy in Montgomery. Again, Dawson and Daughtry dominated.

Each finished undefeat-

ed, winning their weight classes. Dawson won his second “Most Outstanding Wrestler” title in two meets. Congratulations James!

Opelika travels to Millbrook Thursday for their next meet.

OMS SPORTS Hopefully in the coming weeks, I will have coverage of OMS basketball. If you have scores or information pertaining to Opelika Middle School sports or sports in Opelika, email me (D.Mark Mitchell) at foxonthemark@yahoo. com.

D. Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State Director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.

Storm, from B1 With the support of the community, the Columbus Storm Football Organization looks to bring familyoriented entertainment to the Tri-City area.

Families will be able to bring their kids to the games during pre-game to receive autographs, pictures and face painting with the players.

For more information, visit www. columbusstorm.com.

Garrett-Harrison Stadium is located at the intersection of Summerville and Airport Road in Phenix City.

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Located in Historic Downtown Opelika

334-745-4618

pelika Observer O

B3 Jan. 08, 2020

Area schools should strive to mirror academic calendar of Auburn University’s

D

ear Editor: As planning for the 2020-2021 school year begins, I encourage the school districts of Auburn City, Lee County and Opelika

City to follow the Auburn University academic calendar as closely as possible.

Our communities are intertwined in numerous ways as residents live, work, shop and dine throughout

the area we call home.

When one resides in one district and works in another, coordinating home life is compounded by the different school calendars.

Again, this year,

my family and I will be unable to enjoy a family vacation during spring break due to the three different school calendars for Auburn, Lee County and Opelika. Although our children are older,

there are other parents who must arrange for additional childcare during these incongruent holiday periods.

If you and your family are similarly impacted by these academic calendars, I

encourage you to contact your local school board representative and superintendent.

Respectfully, -Mrs. Lynn McCoy Bailey Opelika

Acts of kindness melt away the winter blues

Beth Pinyerd

I

t was winter 1986. I was a second-grade teacher at Carver Primary in the Opelika City School System. On Jan. 2, 1986, my husband and I became the proud parents of a baby boy, Gus. When I returned to my classroom family in February as a mother as well as a teacher, I had gained a few more responsibilities.

My husband had to get to his job earlier. My first winter challenge would be to scrape the ice off the windows of my car before

dropping off Gus at the babysitter.

When I hurried down the steps to embark on this winter task, the windshield had been cleaned and scraped. I was touched with a warmth of hope and kindness but who had gotten up so early to do this? The next morning in the darkness of the winter morning, I peeked out my window and saw an elderly gentleman scraping off the ice.

It was my neighbor who understood the need of this

young couple. That afternoon when I got home, I went to thank him. Each morning of that winter, this gentleman helped me to scrape the ice off my car windows as well as helping my son and myself to get in the car so I could get to school on time. His humble act of early morning kindness is one that stills warms my heart.

Young children are sensitive to extending random acts of kindness to others.

When acts of kindness are modeled in front of them, they quickly catch on.

Guiding young children to hold the door open for others is such a delightful responsibility for young children. A big grin stretches across their face when they are properly thanked.

I love to hear a young child wish me a good day with no prompting or probing. For we parents, grandparents, and teachers, to receive a child made card of happiness is a child’s way of expressing happiness straight from

their hands and hearts.

One idea that can be adopted to the classroom as well as at home is to keep your artificial Christmas tree up during January and February. Have children to draw and cut out paper snowflakes of kindness during January. In February, the children can draw and cut out hearts of kindness to hang from the tree.

I have even done this with senior citizens in church as well as retirement villages and it keeps the heartbeat of kindness going through the winter months.

A delightful winter story I love to read to young students is “The Mitten,” which is a Ukranian folktale retold by Jan Brett. It’s about a young boy named Nicki.

He loses his mitten in the snow and the mitten becomes a host and home to a lot of different forest animals big and small to keep warm. Of course, the animals have to be considerate of each other as they snuggle into the mitten to keep warm. I use

this book as a winter theme for friendship and kindness with my young students.

There is always room in our hearts and our actions to be kind to others.

Planning kindness projects with your children such as preparing and taking warm meals to a family who have been sick or in need is a wonderful lesson for your children to feel and model kindness.

It may be helping another family by running errands or doing chores.

These acts of kindness not only help the recipients of your help but it also helps you and your child.

As we reflect back on times that we have helped others it brings happiness to our whole being. Practicing acts of kindness for others melts away any kind of winter blues.

Aren’t we so thankful to God, who has been so kind to create a world for us to enjoy during these winter months. We just have to look around and see His hand and his heart.

Pinyerd has taught

young children in the early childhood classroom for 34 years as well as outreaching to the elderly in intergenerational settings. She has taught and outreached in the schools in Opelika and Baldwin County.

She holds a master’s degree in early childhood education as well as a bachelor’s degree in family and child development both from Auburn University. Her husband is the late Carl Pinyerd and she has one son, Gus Pinyerd who has taught her so much about learning. Classroom Observer is here to serve the community in sharing the wonderful teaching programs in our local public schools, private schools, and homeschools. The column is provided to enrich the education of our children, youth, and families. Classroom Observer welcomes educational news, school news, pictures, and events by e-mailing her at donnapinyerd@charter.net.

Tigers show grit in hard-fought losses to Virginia

By Greg Ostendorf Auburn Athletics Department Special to the Opelika Observer The Auburn women suffered a 253-195 loss to No. 3 Virginia while the men nearly rallied in the second session to beat No. 15 Virginia before falling, 235-215.

“To me, it’s all about laying yourself on the line for Auburn,” said Auburn Coach Gary Taylor.

“Regardless of outcome, did you give it everything you had?

Can you look your coaches in the eyes and be proud of your effort and your performance? And I saw a lot of that tonight.

“That’s what I want to see from this Auburn program. We don’t roll over. We don’t quit. We keep fighting. It would have been a really easy day to cash the chips in and call it a day, and they didn’t. I think that’s something that we can continue to build off.”

SESSION I (SHORT COURSE) Sophomore Emily Hetzer earned the first victory of the day for the Tigers with a first-place finish in the 1,000-meter freestyle. Hetzer swam a 9:48.27 in the event, and then turned

around and finished the 500-meter free in 4:44.53 to finish second.

Teammate Sonnele Oeztuerk also picked up a win for the women’s team in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1:56.66.

On the men’s side, sophomore Aryan Makhija won both distance events (500 and 1,000-meter free) to earn 18 points for Auburn. It was also a standout performance from freshman Jack Armstrong, who won the 100-meter free (44.69) and then swam the second leg in the 200 medley relay that took first place.

“Jack put himself in a position to win the 100 by going out the front 50,” Taylor said.

“He fought hard at the end. He may have faded, but he found a way to get his hand on the wall first. And then you saw him respond again in the 200 free relay – those men capping off with a 1-3 finish in the 200 free relay was really big for our teams.”

SESSION II (LONG COURSE) In the second session, Hetzer once again helped the Auburn women start strong with a win in the 600 free. Freshman Abbey Webb fol-

lowed that with a win in the next event, the 200-meter free, as she finished in 2:00.55 on the long course.

The highlight, however, came from senior Julie Meynen who won the 100-meter free (55.53) and also swam on the two relays, the 400-meter medley and the 400-meter free, that both turned in Auburn long-course team records. The 400-meter free relay of Meynen, Claire Fisch, Abbey Webb and Jessica Merritt finished in 3:45.06 to set the program record and earn first place.

Like the women, the Auburn men started fast with wins from Makhija (600-meterfree), Christian Sztolcman (200-meter free) and Santiago Grassi (50-meter free) in the first three individual events of the night.

Two events later, Grassi picked up another win in the 100-meter butterfly, finishing in 54.18, and for the first time in the meet, the Tigers took the lead.

“Santi had a bigtime relay split early and then he wins the 50 free, which started to swing the meet our direction,” Taylor said.

“He gets a big win in the 100 fly, and we actually took the lead at that point.”

Ultimately, Virginia pulled away over the

final five events, but not without another first-place finish from Makhija in the 300mter free, making it four wins in the four distance races.

DIVING The Auburn divers were in Knoxville on Saturday where they competed in what was the second day of the Tennessee Diving Invitational.

Senior Alison Maillard led the way on the women’s side with another third-place finish in the 3-meter event. Maillard, who set a career high with 349.25 points in her last competition, once again scored more than 340 on Saturday with 342.60 points.

For the men, sophomore Conner Pruitt and junior Logan Andrews

both made it to the finals of the 1-meter competition. Pruitt, Friday’s 3-meter champ, scored 304.45 points to finish sixth while Andrews finished in ninth place with a score of 297.20 points.

Swimming will return to the pool next Saturday when both the men’s and women’s team travel to Georgia Tech.

Photos by Anthony Hall/Auburn Athletics Pictured top: Auburn’s Sonnele Oeztuerk competes in the Women 200-meter backstroke.

Pictured bottom: Auburn’s Santiago Grassi competes in the men’s 200-meter butterfly.

B4 Dec. 04, 2019

pelika Observer O

Lee-Scott Academy cheerleader performed in London New Year’s Day parade

Photo special to the Opelika Observer Earlier this month, Lee-Scott Academy student Payton Huguley performed as a UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) All-American cheerleader. The group was composed of hundreds of cheerleaders from across the United States who travelled across the Atlantic for this event. Huguley was chosen for this recognition last summer during the school’s cheerleading camp. In a Jan. 2 Facebook post, the school congratuled her and ended the post with “Way to go, Payton!” For more information about the academy, visit www.leescott.org. The school is located at 1601 Academy Drive in Auburn.

pelika O Observer

B5 Jan. 08, 2020

Lady Bulldogs defeat rival Auburn 61-53, have won eight of last 10 games dating back to December

Opelika boys fend off Auburn 64-60, move to 4-10

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Pictured top, the Opelika Lady Bulldogs defeated rival Auburn 61-53 on Jan. 3. The Lady Bulldogs are on pace to continue their dominant ways, and entered Tuesday’s road game against Russell County 15-5 overall. Pictured bottom, the boys escaped with a narrow 64-60 win over Auburn that followed the girls game that evening. Entering Tuesday’s road contest against Russell County, the boys were 4-10 overall.

B6 Jan. 08, 2020

pelika Observer O

Troy University cheerleaders hosted clinic last Saturday at Denson Recreation Center for Opelika Trampoline and Tumbling program team members

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics Wednesday, Jan. 08, 2020

Inside the Statehouse FarmPAC endorses Jeff Coleman

What does the presidential for 2nd Congressional District seat race look like nationally?

Special to the Opelika Observer

O

ur presidential primary in the Heart of Dixie is less than two months away.

We vote on March 3, 2020. President Donald Trump will be the GOP nominee. It is a foregone conclusion that Trump will carry Alabama in November’s General Election.

One of the most intriguing revelations will be which Democratic presidential candidate will win the Democratic Primary in Alabama in March.

Longtime Democratic kingpin Joe Reed, who heads the Alabama Democratic Conference, will have a lot to say about the outcome. It will be interesting to see how former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s late entry into the Democratic race for president fares.

Bloomberg is one of the wealthiest men in the world. He is much wealthier than Donald Trump.

Inexplicably, Bloomberg chose Alabama as one of the first states that he will run in. It will be interesting to watch what he does in Alabama. This wrinkle will bring national attention to our March 3 Democratic Primary.

President Trump will not only win the GOP Primary in our state on March 3, he will carry Alabama

By Steve Flowers overwhelmingly in the November General Election. Trump carried Alabama with a 63% plurality in 2016. He will more than likely match or exceed those numbers again this year. It may make us one of the most pro-Trump Red Republican states in America.

The Republican presidential nominee, Trump will not only carry Alabama but also the Deep South and the Heartland states of middle America. However, the Democratic nominee for President will win the East and West coasts of our country.

The hay is in the barn in about 40 states because of our Electoral College System where the winner of the state, even if only by one vote, gets all of the electoral votes of that state.

Currently, the Electoral College System favors those of us in smaller Red states. Trump would not have been elected President

otherwise. He did not get the most votes cast. Even with the slight Electoral College advantage, the GOP conservative nominee has an uphill climb to beat a Democratic liberal nominee.

Folks, we have 9 electoral votes.

California has 55 electoral votes. Having said that, even though Trump will be favored to win Alabama in the fall election, he enters the national contest a clear underdog.

The presidential race will be decided in the battleground states of Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. President Trump has to carry all five of these states to win reelection.

Current polling shows that President Trump is behind in all five of these pivotal swing states.

However, let me remind you again that it is not what the entire electorate feels or how they would vote that counts.

What counts is who shows up to vote on Election Day on Nov. 3.

Trump’s campaign will focus on firing up and enthusing his base to get out to vote. That was how he won in 2016, and that is his path to victory in 2020. It is those who vote that See Flowers, page B12

FarmPAC, a political action committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation, endorsed Jeff Coleman for U.S. House of Representatives in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District on Monday.

Federation National Affairs Director Mitt Walker said Coleman’s conservative values, experience operating a family-owned business and status as a political outsider appealed to county Farmers Federation leaders.

“Over the last few months, Jeff Coleman has met with farmers and Federation leaders

across District 2,” Walker said. “His success as a fifth-generation businessman and commitment to growing the economy while protecting individual liberty resonated with our members.”

A political newcomer, Coleman owns Coleman Worldwide Moving, which is ranked as one of Alabama’s 30 largest private companies. He and wife Tiffany live in Dothan and have three daughters.

“I am deeply humbled and grateful to have the endorsement of the Alabama Farmers Federation,” Coleman said.

“Agriculture is the state’s number one industry, and I will be a champion for

the hardworking farmers of this state. As a political outsider with a family business background, I am focused on creating jobs and growing the economy, and agriculture plays a huge rule in our state’s economy. I will work tirelessly to support the men and women of this state who wake up every morning to play their part in feeding and clothing the world.”

Congressional District 2 includes Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties as well as portions of Montgomery County.

Every trial is a pursuit of truth. Will my colleagues in the Senate uphold that?

By Sen. Doug Jones Submitted to the Opelika Observer “Verdict,” from the Latin “veredictum,” means “to say the truth.”

Soon, my colleagues in the Senate and I will be called on to fulfill a solemn constitutional duty: to render verdicts — to say the truth — in the impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump. Our decision will have enormous consequences, not just for President Trump, but for future presidencies and Congresses, and our national security.

For Americans to have confidence in the impeachment process, the Senate must conduct a full, fair and complete trial with all relevant evidence regarding the president’s conduct. I fear, however, that we are headed toward a trial that

NOW OPEN

Sen. Doug Jones is not intended to find the whole truth. For the sake of the country, this must change.

Procedures in prior impeachment trials set no precedents because each is unique to its particular set of facts. Unlike what happened during the investigation of President Bill Clinton, Trump has blocked both the production of virtually all relevant documents and the testimony of witnesses who have firsthand knowledge of the

facts. The evidence we do have may be sufficient to make a judgment, but it is clearly incomplete.

There are four witnesses who could help fill those gaps: the president’s former national security adviser, his acting chief of staff, the senior adviser to his acting chief of staff and a top national security official in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Each has direct knowledge regarding the charges against the president and should testify under oath at a Senate trial.

Let me be clear: I do not know what their answers would be, but I want to hear from them, and so should every senator and every American. We cannot allow the full truth to evade this trial only to be revealed in some future See Jones, page B11

Indoor shooting range is open to the public

2195 FIRST AVENUE • OPELIKA

B8 Jan. 08, 2020

pelika O Observer

Tickets available now!

334.844.TIXS (8497) GOGUECENTER.AUBURN.EDU

pelika O Observer

B9 Jan. 08, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICES STATE OF ALABAMA CASE NO. 2019-C-105 LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT ESTATE OF PETE B. TURNHAM, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said Pete B. Turnham, deceased, having been granted to Timothy N. Turnham, this 10th day of December, 2019, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred.

Timothy N. Turnham, Personal Representative Jeffery A. Hilyer 334-745-2564 Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, Alabama 368030030.

Legal Run 12/18/19, 12/25/19 & 01/01/2020

INVITATION FOR BIDS 20007 Sealed bids, subject to the conditions contained herein, will be received by the City of Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., Local Time, February 3, 2020 and then publicly opened and read at the Office of the Purchasing Agent of the City of Opelika for furnishing all labor and materials and equipment necessary to provide: Right of Way Vegetation Management within the city limits of Opelika, Alabama.

This project consists principally of the following items: The bidder is required to attend the Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting to be held at 2:00 PM on January 7, 2020 the Opelika Power Service Building at 600 Fox Run Pkwy.

No bids will be accepted by a company or vendor that does not attend the meeting All Contracts are to be signed and returned to the City of Opelika Purchasing Department within 10 days of the contract being awarded by City Council. A Contractor’s ability to perform all of the work within the required time shall be a primary consideration in the awarding of the Bid. Copies of the Proposal Documents may be requested from the City of Opelika Purchasing Department, which is located at 204 South 7th Street. Please contact Lillie Finley at (334) 705-5121 for information on obtaining these specifications. Technical questions regarding the proposal may be directed to Mr. Brent Poteet, Opelika Power Services Asst Director, City of Opelika, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama 36803. Phone: (334) 7055570.

Guarantee will be required with each bid as follows: At least five (5) percent of the amount of bid in the form of a certified check or Bid Bond payable to the City of

Opelika, Alabama. A Contract Bond and Labor and Material Bond shall be required when the Contract is awarded. A copy of the State of Alabama General Contractor license for ADM: NEW ADMINISTRATIVE, HS: HIGHWAYS AND STREETS, MU: MUNICIPAL AND UTILITY The right is reserved, as the interest of the Owner may require, to reject any and all bids and to waive any informality in bids received.

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing Agent, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 36803.

Attn.: Right of Way Vegetation Management.

Attention of bidders is called to the License required by Title 34, Chapter 8, Code of Alabama, 1975, as last amended, relating to the licensing of General Contractors. All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala. Code §34-8-8(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number.

Evidence of this license shall bedocumented on the outside of the sealed bid.

LILLIE FINLEY PURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMALegal Run 12/25/19, 01/01/20 and 01/08/20.

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF NORA LEE JONES, DECEASED, IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO.: 2019-B-238 Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 20 th day of December, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

JOSEPH JONES Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 01/01, 01/08 & 01/15/2020

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARY ROSE CHANDLER, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No.: 2019-C-116 Letters of Administration of said deceased having been

granted to the undersigned on the 19th day of December, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

JONATHAN O’NEAL CHANDLER Administrator Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 Legal Run 01/01, 01/08 & 01/15/2020

NOTICE OF WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a work session will be held by the board of directors of The Utilities Board of the City of Opelika on January 8, 2020 beginning at 12:00 PM, in the board room of the Administrative Building located in the W. Warner Williams Water Resource Park, 4055 Water Street, Opelika, Alabama.

The meeting agenda will be posted as specified in State law.

DATED this the 16th day of December, 2019.

Herbert Slaughter SECRETARY OF THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal Run 01/01/2020

STATE OF ALABAMA CASE NO. 2020-001 LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT ESTATE OF BETTY J. HOLLEY, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said Betty J. Holley, deceased, having been granted to Barbara H. McLain, this 3rd day of January 2020, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred.

Barbara H. McLain, Personal Representative Jeffery A. Hilyer Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, Alabama 368030030 334-745-2564 Legal Run 01/08/20, 01/15/20, 01/22/20

STATE OF ALABAMA CASE NO. 2020-002 LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT ESTATE OF MATTIE LOU AKIN, DECEASED

information purposes: 95 Lee Road 166, Opelika, AL 36804.

THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process.

This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure.

The successful bidder must tender a non-refundable deposit of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) in certified funds made payable to Huff Smith Law, LLC, at the time and place of the sale. The balance of the purchase price must be paid in certified funds by noon of the next business day at the Law Office of Huff Smith Law, LLC at the address indicated below. Huff Smith Law, LLC reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due.

The Mortgagee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate.

This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation.

Auburn Apartments, LLC, Mortgagee Brett A. Smith, Esq. HUFF SMITH LAW, LLC 687 North Dean Road, Suite 200 Auburn, AL 36830 Attorney for Mortgagee Legal Run 01/08/20, 01/15/20, 01/22/20

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said Mattie Lou Akin, deceased, having been granted to James E. Akin, Jr., this 3rd day of January 2020, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred.

Jeffery A. Hilyer Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, Alabama 368030030 334-745-2564 Legal Run 01/08/20, 01/15/20, 01/22/20

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARGARET HUDSON TILL, DECEASED CASE No. 2019. C-127 IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA NOTICE TO CREDITORS TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Eva Till Robertson, on the 31st day of December 2019, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Eva Till Robertson, Executrix Legal Run 01/08/20, 01/15/20, 01/22/20

MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Kristen Sharpe, a single woman, originally in favor of Auburn Apartments, LLC, on the 25th day of June, 2018, said mortgage recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama in Mortgages Book 4399 Page 947; the undersigned Auburn Apartments, LLC as Mortgagee under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, on February 24, 2020, during the legal hours of sale, all of its right, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Lee County, Alabama, to wit: Lot 5, L.C. PARKER SUBDIVISION, according to and as shown by that certain map or plat thereof of record in Town Plat Book 23, at Page 109, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama.

Property street address for

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF SUSANNAH (SUE) DOROTHY YOUNG GODWIN COURT OF PROBATE Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 27th day of December, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claimgs against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Witness my hand, and dated this the 27th day of December, 2019.

ALLEN D. GODWIN Legal Run 01/08/20, 01/15/20, 01/22/20

INVITATION TO BID 20005 Sealed bids for the construction of the New Fire Training Facility shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Monday, February 17, 2020, and then publicly opened and read aloud.

Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. The successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor.

The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code §34-8-1, et. seq. (1975) and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

Bidders must be licensed by the Licensing Board for General Contractors when bids are submitted.

All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license.

State law Ala. Code §348-8(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number.

Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid.

All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/or permits required by applicable law, rule or regulation for the performance of the work.

A mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for 2:00 pm Wednesday, January 22, 2020 prospective bidders. The pre-bid conference will be located inside the City of Opelika Planning Commission Chambers, 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama.

Bid documents may be obtained from the Office of the City Public Works Director located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama at no charge.

The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him by the City of Opelika. All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid.

Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities.

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 368030390. Attn: New Fire Training Facility LILLIE FINLEY- PURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal Run 01/08/20, 01/15/20, 01/22/20, 01/29/20

ALASCAN CLASSIFIEDS SERVICES BEST SATELLITE TV with 2 Year price Guarantee! $59.99/mo. with 190 Channels and 3 months free premium movie channels! Free next day installation!

Call 1-855-943-1314 WANT YOUR ad to be seen in 120 newspapers statewide? Place your ad in our Classified Network for just $210 per week! Make one call to this newspaper (a participating ALASCAN member) or call 1-800-264-7043 to find out how easy it is to

advertise statewide!

INSTRUCTION ONLINE PHARMACY Technician Training New Students Only.

Call & Press 1. Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. 100% Online Courses. Call 1-844-359-2283 INSURANCE AUTO INSURANCE Starting at $49/month!

Call for your Free rate comparison to see how much you can save!

Call: 1-855-408-7970 GET A-RATED Den-

tal Insurance starting at around $1 per day!.

Save 25% on Enrollment Now! No Waiting Periods. 200k+ Providers Nationwide. Everyone is accepted! Call 1-205-666-8226 (M-F 9-5 ET) LOWEST PRICES on Health Insurance. We have the best rates from top companies! See how much you can save, Call Now! 1-844-335-8693.

HEALTH/BEAUTY ATTENTION:VIAGRA and Cialis Users! A cheaper alternative to

high drugstore prices!

50 Pill Special-$99 + Free Shipping! 100% guaranteed. Call Now: 1-855-382-4115 OXYGEN - ANYTIME. Anywhere. No tanks to refill. No deliveries. The All-New Inogen One G4 is only 2.8 pounds! FAA approved! FREE info kit: 1-844-322-9935 FINANCIAL SERVICES DONATE YOUR Car to Charity. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions

accepted. Free pickup.

Call for details. 1-844810-1257 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY BECOME A PUBLISHED Author! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work.

You reap the Rewards!

Call for a Free Author’s Submission Kit: 1-888283-4780 AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE TITLE Problems? We have a solution! Call Jason Steward Enterprises,

We’re Alabama’s #1 Vehicle Title Problem Experts! Free telephone consultation.

North AL 1-256-8500527, Central AL 1-205267-5735, South AL 1-251-342-8538 FOR SALE BATHROOM RENOVATIONS. Easy, One Day updates!

We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers. Call for free in-home consultation: 1-877-730-3876.

pelika O Observer

B10 Jan. 08, 2020

Like crossword puzzles? Sudoku?

Play online at www.opelikaobserver.com/puzzles/

This week’s Scramblers Answers: 1. Return 2. Robust 3. Yield 4. Secret- Today’s Word: LECTURE

Even Exchange Answers 1. Ponder, Powder 2.Dream, Dread 3. Paper, Paler 4. Banter, Barber 5. Debit, Debut

6. Folly, Filly 7. Adapt, Adopt 8. Entire, Entice 9. Grass, Gross 10. Severe, Revere

pelika Observer O Jones, from B7 memoir or committee hearing.

Foremost among these four is former national security adviser John Bolton.

Public testimony under oath revealed that Bolton abruptly ended a meeting with Ukrainian officials concerning withholding congressionally approved military assistance, as well as a White House visit, later characterizing the discussions as a “drug deal” he wanted no part of. He was alarmed enough to order that the top National Security Council lawyer be informed of what acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, were doing.

Anyone truly interested in the truth should demand to hear Bolton’s answers to a number of questions under oath: “Did you call actions of Mulvaney and Sondland and the withholding of a White House meeting and military assistance from Ukraine a ‘drug deal’?

What so alarmed you that you ordered your deputy, Fiona Hill, to report it to the National Security Council’s top lawyer? Or did Dr. Hill get that all wrong?”

Additionally, the existence of the whistleblower complaint became public on Sept. 9. Later that day, Bolton either resigned

or was fired. Regardless, two days later, military assistance to Ukraine was released. Bolton should also answer these questions under oath: “At the time you left the White House, were you still sounding alarms about what was going on with regard to Ukraine?

Were you fired, or did you resign because you raised concerns? Did the public awareness of the whistleblower complaint cause the administration to release the military aid?”

These questions need to be answered now, not later in Bolton’s upcoming book.

The directive to withhold military assistance to Ukraine came from OMB, where Mulvaney pulls double duty as director.

During a news conference, Mulvaney made clear that there was a “quid pro quo” regarding actions taken toward Ukraine, admonishing us to “Get over it” and adding that “We do that all the time.” Within hours, the White House issued a written statement from Mulvaney saying there was “absolutely no quid pro quo.”

Mulvaney should answer a simple question under oath: “Now that you are sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God, which is it?”

What can Mulvaney’s senior national security aide Robert Blair testify to under oath about this?

We now know that 91

minutes after Trump’s July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, senior OMB official Michael Duffey sent emails halting the military aid. Only two people could plausibly sign off on that order: Mulvaney and Trump. Duffey should testify under oath as to who it was and his knowledge of the circumstances surrounding it, which can then be evaluated against Mulvaney’s testimony under oath.

Importantly, to evaluate any testimony, all relevant documents need to be produced. Everyone knows a paper trail exists — one always does — and it will either corroborate or contradict the testimony.

Trump has loudly criticized the House investigation but has said he believes the Senate will provide him a fair trial and that he wants witnesses to testify.

If he chooses to maintain his blockade, however, the Senate needs only a simple bipartisan majority to issue subpoenas for witness testimony and relevant documents.

A full, fair and complete trial demands nothing less.

Every trial is a pursuit of the truth. That’s all I want. It’s all each of us should want.

Now that it’s the Senate’s time to fulfill its duty, my final question is: Will a majority of senators pursue the truth over all else?

B11 Jan. 08, 2020

pelika O Observer

B12 Jan. 08, 2020

MLI Reform to enhance compliance yet ease burden on drivers Special to the Opelika Observer The Alabama Department of Revenue, in accordance with changes made by the Legislature in Act 2019-446, will work to boost the effectiveness of the Mandatory Liability Insurance (MLI) law to provide a clearer and less punitive path to compliance by vehicle owners.

The department’s Motor Vehicle Division, which ad-

ministers MLI law, verifies that all registered vehicles have the minimum motor vehicle liability insurance through an online insurance verification system. Under current law, if insurance cannot be confirmed by the insurer, the registrant has 30 days to provide proof of insurance. If the registrant cannot provide such proof in that time, then their registration is suspended. The first violation requires a $200 reinstatement fee

and proof of insurance. If the registrant commits a second violation within four years, they must pay a $400 reinstatement fee, provide proof of insurance, and their registration is suspended for four months.

Effective Jan. 1, Act 2019-446 amends the MLI statute to reduce punitive penalties for compliant taxpayers by eliminating the mandatory fourmonth suspension.

The suspension of

vehicle registration after the registrant became compliant with the law by providing proof of insurance and paying a $400 reinstatement fee created an undue burden on taxpayers. It prevented compliant taxpayers from driving to work, school, doctor visits, and the like after they became compliant with the law.

Also, the MLI Law revisions provide a one-time option per registration period for a registrant to claim

an exemption by voluntarily surrendering their vehicle registration and associated license plate prior to storing a vehicle. The law provides another option to surrender a license plate within 30 days of receiving an MLI notice, if the vehicle has not been operated since the insurance verification date on the MLI notice.

These revisions provide clear avenues for compliance with the mandatory insurance

law for deployed military personnel who will not be operating their vehicles, individuals with inoperable vehicles, or individuals who cannot operate their vehicle for medical reasons.

Other changes include a reduction of the “look-back” period for second and subsequent violations to three years and a new MLI verification notice in letter format that will replace the current postcard questionnaire.

Methane ‘rollback’ actually reduces emissions

By By Bob Beauprez Submitted to the Opelika Observer President Trump just proposed a small update to methaneemission regulations.

But judging by the Democratic candidates' hyperbolic reactions, you'd think he personally assaulted Mother Earth.

Former congressman Beto O'Rourke attacked the president for rolling back regulations on "one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases."

Sen. Kamala Harris warned the proposed change would be "so bad for our environment."

These worrywarts need to take a few deep breaths. The proposed rule doesn't weaken environmental regulations - it just makes them

Flowers, from B9 counts.

Trump could very well win this year’s election. He is raising more money than all the Democratic candidates.

Under the Electoral College system, this geographic advantage is so strong that he could lose the popular vote by five million and still win.

History is also on Trump’s side. Since World War II, presidents have won a

easier to follow. In fact, the proposal will empower energy companies in Michigan -- and across the country -- to invest in emissions-reducing technology.

Methane is an invisible, odorless gas occasionally released during oil and natural production. It traps more heat in the atmosphere than most other greenhouse gases. "Pound for pound, the comparative impact of [methane] is more than 25 times greater than [carbon dioxide] over a 100year period," according to the EPA. That's why the federal government keeps a close watch on emissions through a rule known as the New Source Performance Standards.

NSPS governs emissions of methane, as

well as gases called "volatile organic compounds," at well sites, natural gas plants and compression stations.

Regulating both methane emissions and volatile organic compounds is redundant, since they're released together.

The president's proposal would eliminate this duplicative red tape by only regulating volatile organic compounds, including methane. It would also trim regulations that duplicate state rules.

The federal government will still regulate oil and gas infrastructure, including storage vessels, wells, and pumps.

It'll just do so in a smarter, less intrusive manner. That'll give energy firms more time to focus

on combating climate change, rather than jumping through bureaucratic hoops.

Already, methane emissions are plummeting thanks to private-sector efforts.

Consider the Environmental Partnership -- a group of 65 energy firms that share best practices on emissions reduction strategies.

Formed in late 2017, the partnership has already conducted 156,000 surveys across 78,000 oil and gas sites, inspecting over 50 million components. Member companies detect and repair 99% of leaks within 60 days.

Over the last few decades, oil and gas firms have spent a combined $356 billion in making rigs, pipelines, and operating sites more

environmentally friendly. That's more than $1,000 per U.S. resident.

These privatesector efforts have paid off. Nationwide, natural gas production spiked 50% over the last three decades.

Meanwhile, industry methane emissions fell 15%.

And this is just the beginning. Michigan's largest utility -- Consumers Energy -- recently pledged to eliminate all methane emissions from its natural gas transmission, distribution, and storage systems by 2030.

Even if the president removed all methane regulations -- which he hasn't -- oil and gas firms would still regulate themselves. Leaks are bad for business, since methane is the

main component in natural gas. As the EPA notes, "the industry has profit incentives to capture and sell" methane."

This financial incentive helps explain why the industry's methane emissions account for just 3% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

President Trump's proposal doesn't gut EPA regulations - it just streamlines them.

Democratic candidates' hysteria is unwarranted.

Beauprez is a former Member of Congress and Republican nominee for Colorado governor. He serves as the chairman of The Western Way, a nonprofit that aims to address environmental and conservation challenges with promarket solutions.

second term unless there was a major economic recession, which is always a crucial ingredient in any presidential race. Trump has been the steward of tremendous economic growth over his tenure.

Indeed, polls indicate that the economy is his ace in the hole. He has overwhelmingly favorable numbers on the handling of the economy. Trump performs poorly on other policy issues as well as honesty, integrity and steadiness.

Again, it is all about turnout. Trump is hanging his hat on a “base strategy” aimed at pleasing his most ardent and passionate followers.

The question becomes, will they hang with him if the economy falters?

They will in Alabama, but will they in Michigan?

Sixty-years ago in the epic 1960 Presidential Race between Republican Richard Nixon and Democrat John Kennedy, there were 40 states in play and 10 predetermined.

Today, the numbers are reversed. There are only 10 swing states that determine the outcome of the Presidential election.

Another significant change is the age of the presidential candidates. President Trump is 73, Joe Biden is 78 and Bernie Sanders is 79. If Michael Bloomberg makes a move, he is 77. When John F. Kennedy was sworn in, he was only 43 years old.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist.

His column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in

the state legislature.

Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers. us.

Tomb N' Groom Crew, LLC ✓ We repair and maintain cemeteries ✓ We manage cemetery restoration projects ✓ We safely clean markers & monuments

Located in Opelika, AL Serving east Alabama & west Georgia 334-744-9809 www.tombgroomcrew.com

This week’s puzzle answers: