Opelika Observer 01-27-2021 E-edition

VOL. 13, NO. 17

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

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"CashMob" hits O Town

Photo by Josh Fisher / Opelika Observer A newly formed group called Opelika CashMob, organized by Rosanna McGinnis, hit O Town on Saturday, filling the local ice cream drive-thru and eatery with patrons. O Town owner Angela George said that they had more than 250 customers during the day.

Good Ol' Boys to reopen

By Kayla Evans for the Opelika Observer Good Ol’ Boys is coming back to life in Auburn. Dan and Gwen Adams purchased the building on Jan. 13 and are hoping to open the restaurant by March 1.

The Adams are planning a family-friendly music venue with a Texas twist. When they were living in Texas, they spent a night under the stars in a place that had a band playing, children laughing, See GOOD OL' BOYS, page A3

Lucy’s named Emerging Small Business of the Year

Contributed by The Business Council of Alabama The Business Council of Alabama (BCA)

and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama (CCAA) announced Lucy’s as See LUCY'S, page A2

Safer-At-Home order extended through March 5

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

Photo contributed to Opelika Observer

Opelika, Alabama

Gov. Kay Ivey held a press conference Thursday and announced that Alabama will continue with the current “safer-athome” order.

The order was set to expire on Friday but will now expire on March 5 with no other changes. The mask ordinance is still in place.

Ivey added her 20th

supplemental state of emergency in December, which extended the “safer-at-home” order and the public health emergency. The public health emergency will continue until March 8.

The governor said that this should not come as a surprise given the current COVID-19 case rates.

“Even as we continue practicing social responsibility, ya’ll,

I also want to urge patience,” she said.

Ivey also addressed the vaccine concerns.

Alabama is currently vaccinating those 75 and above, first responders (police and fire) and medical personnel.

State Health Officer Scott Harris said that the state has reached an agreement with Walmart to begin administering vaccines See SAFER, page A2

Contents OPINION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4

SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. . . . . . . .A7

POLITICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B9

RELIGION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A13

PUBLIC NOTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . B10

COMICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A14

CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B11

To nd out more and to stay up to date with developments sign up for the mailing list at protectbeulahstopthequarry@gmail.com

A2 January 27, 2021

SAFER

>>

FROM A1

soon. Additionally, the state is in talks with another large pharmacy, he said, that the state hopes to announce soon.

A website will launch within the next few days that will allow people to make appointments for vaccinations, Harris said.

“I certainly understand the frustration of

LUCY'S >> FROM A1

the Gold Award recipient in the Emerging Small Business category during the Small Business of the Year Awards. The awards took place on Dec. 4, 2020, during The Partnership’s 2020 Annual Meeting.

Lucy’s is a neighborhood eatery located in Auburn, and it has quickly become a staple in the community. Its motto is, “Good Vibes Only,” and the restaurant strives to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all.

“We at Lucy’s are absolutely thrilled to have won the Gold level award in the Emerging Small Business Category,” said Lisa van Der Reijden, owner of Lucy’s.

the people who look at other states and see giant vaccination clinics going on,” Harris said.

“I would say those are certainly a trade-off.

Many of those sites have had their own problems as well.”

Harris said that Alabama will have larger vaccination sites in the future, too, but doesn’t have the amount of vaccines needed for that right now.

“We are expecting

changes from the new presidential administration today,” he said. “A document was published this morning that we had heard about and had mentioned to you before that makes some recommendations about expanding priority groups.”

So far, the state has administered 202,643 vaccines, Harris said, which is different from the number federally reported. The state health

officer said that this is just a problem with reporting numbers.

“Alabama’s stream of vaccine is not affected by how many doses have been given or haven’t been given,” he said.

“That story circulated this week, but in fact that’s not correct. We receive an allocation based on what our population is.”

Harris said many of the doses Alabama currently has are second doses for

patients who are set to receive them.

“It’s ultimately determined that a group of Alabamians 65 and older should be in the next eligibility group,” he said.

“That’s about 500,000 people in Alabama. So, half a million more people are going to hear the message that it’s time for them to get the vaccine and of course, they’re absolutely deserving. And we will get it to them as quickly as possible and

yet, the amount we’re getting in the state each week is not going to change.

“Our allotment is between 50,000 and 60,000 doses a week. We’ve been told that’s not going to change anytime soon.

And so, it’ll be challenging to communicate that message to people that ‘We want you to come in, it’s your time to get it and yet, we still aren’t going to have enough to go around.’”

“We are humbled and encouraged to continue to serve our community and guests from the heart.”

Lucy’s was nominated by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce.

“The Auburn Chamber was thrilled to see Lucy’s honored as the top emerging small business in our state,” said Lolly Steiner, president of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce.

“Lucy’s is a unique aspect of Auburn and we encourage you to stop by for an amazing experience whenever you are in town. Even through the unknowns of 2020, we watched the team at Lucy’s be resilient and creative.

We celebrate this award with Lisa and her team!”

“Small business is the heartbeat of our communities,” said Katie Boyd Britt,

president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama. “Each and every business nominated for the Small Business of the Year Awards provides innumerable contributions to the success of our state. I am overjoyed to recognize these incredible businesses and celebrate their many accomplishments.”

Forty-four businesses were chosen as finalists for the prestigious Small Business of the Year Awards.

The finalists were reviewed by a panel of out-of-state judges in areas including community involvement, chamber participation, business success and overall deservedness.

There were four award categories with three winners in each. The employers in the Emerging Small Business category had to

have been in existence for fewer than five years.

“We all know that small businesses provide the most jobs and make the most economic impact, especially in Alabama,” said Jeremy Arthur, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama. “The partnership is thrilled to highlight and showcase the ‘best of the best’ in small business across our great state.”

The Silver Award in Emerging Small Business category went to Bama in a Box of Troy.

The Bronze Award recipient was Market Shoppes of Wetumpka.

The remaining finalists for the Emerging Small Business Award were BC Fitness of Bay Minette, Coastal Alabama Insurance & Financial Services,

LLC of Gulf Shores, Coles’s Ice Cream & Coffee of Monroeville, Family Home Furniture of Millbrook, Kids First Pediatric Urgent Care, LLC of Florence, River Towne Real Estate Group of Gadsden, Session Bar of Tuscaloosa, Stacey Little Media of Prattville, Trailwares of Sylacauga and Wyndy of Birmingham.

Alabama’s foremost voice for business. The BCA is a non-partisan, statewide business association representing the interests and concerns of nearly one million working Alabamians through its member companies and its partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama. The BCA is Alabama’s exclusive affiliate to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.

pelika Observer

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Phone: 334.749.8003 editor@opelikaobserver.com Michelle@opelikaobserver.com

Publisher: Michelle Key Associate Editors: Will Fairless and Hannah Lester Marketing: Woody Ross Photojournalist: Robert Noles Associate Sports Editors: Wil Crews, Rick Lanier and D. Mark Mitchell

www.opelikaobserver.com 207 N. 3rd St. Unit B, Opelika, AL 36801 Copyright 2009. All right reserved. Opelika Observer is published weekly

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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.

About the Business Council of Alabama The Business Council of Alabama is

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A3 January 27, 2021

Volunteers with ARM provide a Weekend of Service Contributed By Alabama Rural Ministry Alabama Rural Ministry recognizes the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday as a “day on, not day off� opportunity for service. ARM and the Macon County Ministers’ Council partnered together and spent two days of the weekend cleaning up and rebuilding neighborhoods and homes in the local communities of Tuskegee and across Lee County.

The MLK Weekend of Service opened with a Zoom conversation open to the public on Friday, Jan. 15. The event, “A Virtual Conversation: Surviving and Thriving While Becoming the Beloved Community During COVID-19,� gave panelists a platform to discuss their struggles and the challenges regarding COVID-19.

The panelists for the event included Dr. Jaqueline Brooks (Superintendent of Macon

Volunteers with the St. Michael’s Catholic Youth Organization work to replace a rotted porch at a home in Valley.

County Schools), Dr. David Hodge (Tuskegee University Center for Bio-Ethics), Rev. Sheila Austin-Dansou (Pastor & Counselor) and Joe Davis (Auburn UMC Outreach Director). A recording of the event is available online at www.arm-al. org/belovedcommunity.

Volunteers came together for community service on Saturday, Jan. 16 and Monday, Jan. 18. Sixty-one volunteers provided substantial assistance at seven different sites, including the Macon County Food Bank, the ARM’s Tuskegee Mission Hub and warehouse and a torna-

do-damaged home in Beauregard, despite the challenges of working in the COVID-19 environment.

Volunteers also worked at the homes of families whose financial situations leave them unable to easily make basic repairs. “We are volunteering to make homes

safe, warm and dry,� said Fred Callahan, an ARM board member and workday volunteer.

Volunteers included teams from the Auburn Wesley Foundation, a youth group from Bethel United Methodist Church in Ozark, AL, Auburn Christian Fellowship, St. Michael’s Catholic Youth Organization, Auburn United Methodist Church’s Living Stones Sunday School Class and alumni members of Auburn University’s Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. These volunteers installed new roofing, painted, replaced rotten decking, installed new flooring, cleaned and landscaped homes, organized food for distribution at the food bank and organized warehouse space to accommodate mission projects in the future.

About ARM ARM hosts the MLK Weekend of Service

annually to fulfill its vision of transforming rural communities with sustainable homes, strong families and strategic community partnerships for the glory of God. ARM values its partnerships with the Macon County churches and organizations. Tuskegee was the center of the voting rights movement, and partnering in service to others is an awesome way for us to continue healing the wounds of racial brokenness.

Alabama Rural Ministry is committed to discovering, developing and deploying spiritual leaders who, as disciples of Jesus Christ, minister with rural and under-resourced communities to create sustainable homes, strengthen families and build strategic community partnerships for the glory of God. More information about ARM and its programs is found at www.arm-al. org.

City of Opelika offers no-contact system for business license renewals Contributed by the city of Opelika The city of Opelika is requesting businesses use its no-contact system for business license renewals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

GOOD OL' BOYS >> FROM A1

the company of good friends and delicious food. That night, their dream was to spread this venue concept to the Auburn area. “I really love that concept of including your family and the enjoyment of music,�

Gwen said. “It just makes it special.�

The plans are to refresh the dining room but keep the chuckwagon salad bar and rocking horses. The backyard will have a stage, picnic tables, a children’s play area, seating around a fire

The deadline for regular business license renewals is Feb. 15, 2021. Business license renewals processed after this date will be subject to a late penalty and/or interest payment.

Revenue Director

Lillie Finley requests that businesses pay renewals online with credit or debit cards, or send personal checks, cashier’s checks or money orders. • To pay online, please register at tinyurl. com/OpelikaBusi-

pit, yard games and lights strung around.

Beer and wine will be served while also keeping it family-friendly.

Live music from local musicians and songwriters will be provided. Some nights the local musicians will be joined by bands from Nashville and Texas. Gospel music will be played on Sunday with Good Ol’ Boys’ legendary bluegrass played on Tuesdays. There are also hints of dancing out back. “Looking forward to beautiful nights under the stars with family and friends, yummy food and great musicians,� Gwen said. “We

think everyone will soon agree that this is what heaven feels like on Saturday nights.�

Following the health guidelines, there will be plenty of outdoor space added with lots of room for people to spread out.

The Adams are adding a Good Ol’ Boys market inside the restaurant. They are creating a place for local people to put their products up for sale.

There will be photography and paintings on the walls for sale from local artists. They are also going to incorporate food from local farmers into their menu, and local jellies, honey and pickles will be for

1 OUT OF 10 ELDERLY PERSONS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE BEING:

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ADULT ABUSE HOTLINE at 1-800-458-7214

HELP STOP THE ABUSE IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT

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ELDER ABUSE “This project was supported by Subgrant #18-VA-VS-050 #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.�

nessPortal. • Checks and money orders must be made payable to the city of Opelika and mailed to P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 36803-0390. • If business owners are not paying online

sale.

Everything in the backyard will be locally made and available to purchase. Chris Posey, a local welder, is making the fire pits.

There will be fire pits to burn, but also some that people can buy.

with a debit or credit card, please complete the renewal form and email it to revenue@opelika-al.gov or fax it to 334-705-5163. Once received, the city’s revenue division will contact the business

to obtain and process the debit or credit card information. No service fee will be charged.

For more information, please call the city of Opelika Revenue Department at 334-7055160 or 334-705-5162.

To celebrate the purchasing and reopening of the restaurant, a private event is taking place on Feb. 13. “Valentines and Troubadours� is from 7 to 10 p.m., and tickets are $5. Dan, Dallas Dorsey and Posey will

be performing. The three singers/songwriters have been playing together for years.

As a singer-songwriter, Dan has been playing in the Auburn area since the late ‘90s. Dan and his wife moved to Texas, which sparked the idea of this restaurant. While in Texas, they wrote a song about the venue they were at called “Live Oaks and Lights.�

Dallas Dorsey has released on five-song coutnry album, which can be found, along with more information, on his website (www. dallasdorsey.com).

The restaurant is located at 1843 Sandhill Road in Auburn.

A4 January 27, 2021

Another year, another liquor referendum From time to time, Alabama towns vote on whether or not to allow liquor to be sold on Sunday.

Honestly, I have no opinion, one way or the other.

But some people do, and because they do, a lot of Alabamians have spent a lot of time and energy prohibiting Sunday liquor, while others have spent a lot of time and energy finding ways to get around the ban.

Used to be, down in Baldwin County, establishments bypassed no-liquor-on-Sunday laws by declaring

themselves private clubs then welcoming as a member anyone who might walk or crawl though the door — probably the only private club that would ever let me join. That worked fine until the state Alcoholic Beverage Control folks sent word that they wanted to examine the membership rolls, check the books to see if dues were collected, and all that sorta legal stuff.

Now that promised to be a whole lot of trouble to which the “clubs” didn’t want to go, and for a split second it looked like

By Hardy Jackson Sunday sales were done for.

Then someone came up with a bright idea — “let’s put it to a vote.”

Then someone came up with an even brighter idea — “let’s put it to a lot of votes.”

And that’s what they did.

Our legislature, always in favor of democracy (except where calling a constitutional convention is concerned) decided to let every Baldwin County municipality that was inclined and qualified to hold a referendum to hold one, and let voters declare whether they wanted Sunday to be wet or dry. And that’s what they did.

And, predictably, the coastal areas where tourism never takes a Sunday off, voted to sell the stuff, while parts of the county

where tourists never tread voted no.

Which is why, in this state today, you need a GPS to find liquor or avoid it.

From time-to-time other towns and cities line up to vote.

And when they do, the old, ancient enemies line up to do battle.

While folks like me are pulling up chairs to watch.

Now for those of you who are not sure where you stand on this issue, let me offer a piece of advice, the same advice given to a timid Mississippi legislature

back in the early 1950s, when members refused to come to grips with what they called, with a fine feeling for words, “the question.”

Tired of his fellow legislators pussy-footing around, Rep. Noah S. “Soggy” Sweat rose and in 312 famous words brought the matter clearly into focus.

“My friends,” he began.

“I did not intend to discuss this controversial subject at this particular time. However, I want you to know that I do not shun controSee JACKSON, page A5

Enjoy a favorite book, but be careful what you get from it

O

ne often hears the phrase, “the power of words” applied to books, fiction and nonfiction. Often the lessons derived from books (including digital) inspire and educate. Other books are either inherently negative or give some readers wrong and awful ideas.

“Oh, I just want what we all want: a comfortable couch, a nice beverage, a weekend of no distractions and a book that will stop time, lift me out of my quotidian existence and alter my thinking forever,” wrote Elizabeth Gilbert, author of “Eat, Pray, Love.”

Below I give examples where good, bad or ugly purposes came from reading. In 1990, I became acutely aware of the power of words. As a journalist at Fort McClellan, Alabama, I wrote a very positive story

A

t sunrise, the Great Smoky Mountains are so majestic their beauty could kill you.

So are the Rockies, and the Sierra Nevadas at sundown.

The same goes for the Tetons, the Blue Ridge, the Bighorns, the Elks, the Adirondacks and the Appalachians, which were carved by the pocketknife of God. Oh, and the Missouri River, when seen from 34,000 feet above, it will break your heart with its glory. The Missouri moves like liquid silver across a green patchwork of American farmland. So do the Mississippi, the Rio Grande, the meandering Columbia, the Ohio, the Arkansas, the Tennessee, the Colorado, the Youghiogheny, the Chattahoochee and the boisterous Potomac.

But then, you can also

about the only military policeman who died in the Panama invasion.

When the private’s father came to the fort, he said he knew about my article and wanted to read it. I had one and gave it to him, saying, “I hope this captures the essence of your son.”

He was pleased with the story and thanked me. So I truly knew a newspaper could touch someone through its power of words. As far as a good book that inspires, I have met several judges and lawyers who agree on the fiction book that most affected them: “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Many lawyers say the character in Harper Lee’s book that resonates with them is Atticus Finch, a courageous and impeccably honest lawyer. In a related book by Lee, “Go Set a Watchman,” published in 2015, At-

By Greg Markley ticus makes comments favoring segregation that the Atticus in “To Kill…” would never.

(Another hero found lacking!)

In the case of Christopher McCandless, as shown in the popular movie “Into the Wild,” he was bright and courageous. But he was not practical in preparing or executing his solo trip into the harsh winter in Alaska.

After graduating from Emory University, he enjoyed his independence and idealism for more than a year. Yet

he tragically starved to death.

McCandless was energized by books of idealists such as Henry David Thoreau, who had isolated himself at Walden Pond, Massachusetts, for several years. After McCandless died, many travelers tried to access the bus in rough terrain, which resulted in injuries and rescues. The New York Daily News reported that, after deaths and injuries to climbers, Alaska officials moved the bus in 2020. They are said to be looking for a spot that is safer and that is in Fairbanks.

Ironically, I spent three days with old friends from my undergrad college in May, 2018, but was not interested in seeing the “death” bus. Even a journalist has limits!

There was one death in that area in 2010 and another in 2019, a year after my trip. The bus

was removed by military helicopter and is reportedly now at the Museum of the North in Fairbanks.

Emile Hirsch, portraying McCandless in Into the Wild: “The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”

That’s an idealistic approach, and a worthy one. Yet, I recommend highly: bring water and a fully charged cell phone.

An ugly aspect of troubled people reading is that the intent of the writing is twisted for corrupt purposes.

For example, Mark David Chapman, now 65, murdered former Beatle John Lennon 40

years ago. At the crime scene, Chapman read J.D. Salinger’s angst novel The Catcher in the Rye until police came. He sought to replicate Holden Caulfield, in the book, who was very emotional and called people “phonies.”

In a parole hearing last August, before being denied parole again, Chapman said “I haven’t heard or read that (Catcher in the Rye) for years — this guy wants to save the world. In my twisted way at that time … I’m thinking maybe there’s something I can do now that’s important, and this is my heart. This was my horrible, evil self.” The problem lies not with the authors, but in the malleability of readers’ minds.

When a person’s life can be improved by a novel itself, or by a protagonist, or a See MARKLEY, page A5

Dear America feel this wonder in other places. Like when the Gulf of Mexico reflects the colors of dusk.

Or when you gaze across the Chesapeake Bay. Past the river reeds and gray water. When you listen to the geese overhead, honking their chipper hellos.

You get this same feeling when standing on Ellis Island. You begin to visualize the hundreds of thousands of congregated Germans, Norwegians, Chinese, Dutch, Sicilians, Hungarians, Polish, Jewish, Danish and Swedish, all dressed in drab rags, holding tight to their entire lives crammed into duffle bags. And it all makes sense, why your old man was such a tightwad when it came to buying your Little League uniform.

I visited Ellis Island once, I could swear I almost saw my Scots-

By Sean Dietrich Irish ancestors waiting in line. I could practically feel their breath on my neck.

You experience this same feeling in Savannah, within Trustee’s Garden, when an expensive tour guide reminds you that this was where

the first seeds of American cotton, apples, coffee and wheat were experimentally grown.

And when you walk Savannah’s streets to Oglethorpe Avenue, you feel a similar awe inside the home of Juliette Gordon Low;

a girl who was deaf in both ears, who founded a humble youth organization in 1915.

Her all-female club was built upon the idea of empowering girls, and teaching compassion and kindness.

She called them “Girl

Scouts.” And although they were laughed at by high-society snobs of their day, this group would predate the American woman’s right to vote.

The great feeling I speak of can be found when you stand on the grass of Mount Vernon, Virginia, overlooking the whitewater, enjoying the same view General Washington loved to watch while sipping his tepid beer.

And in Moab, Utah, within the mysterious Arches National Park, where ancient remnants of time stand like archaic ruins.

You sense this same reverence high upon the south rim of the Grand Canyon, when staring at an itty-bitty, mercury-like river, miles beneath you, just before a 12-year-old tourist See DIETRICH, page A5

A5 January 27, 2021

Letter to the Editor America’s Truckers are an Important Line of Defense Against Human Trafficking

By Mark Colson On any given day, there are tens of thousands of people being trafficked into and within the U.S. A large percentage of the victims are minors, often young females, who are brutally forced to perform commercial acts of sex or labor against their will.

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. At its core, this month is about raising awareness for a crime that far too often goes undetected.

The trucking industry has stepped up. Professional truck drivers are the eyes and ears of America’s roadways, serving a vital role in ending modern-day slavery. Over the past decade, the trucking industry has placed itself on the frontlines of this important fight and has made meaningful contributions in the comprehensive effort to identify the victims and perpetrators of this heinous act.

The Alabama Trucking Association is a partner with Truckers

JACKSON >> FROM A4

versy. On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time, regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be. You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. All right, here is how I feel about whiskey.

“If when you say

MARKLEY >> FROM A4

situation, or an idea — it makes for an enlightened reader and a

DIETRICH >> FROM A4

almost knocks you over the edge because he is playing tag with his sister.

You gaze over the canyon at the pancake-stacked rock formations of redwall limestone, bright angel shale and Coconino sandstone, and you sigh a quiet but heartfelt, “Whoa.”

You will find this sacredness within the Navajo Nation, the largest land area still retained by an American indigenous tribe, covering 17,544,400 acres, an

er’s name (often found on the victim’s neck); a van or RV that seems out of place or a vehicle dropping someone off and picking them up after 15 or 20 minutes.

All individuals who believe they have witnessed or are aware of human trafficking should call the National Human Trafficking hotline at 888-373-7888.

We urge you to join the trucking industry in the fight against human trafficking. The victim you save could be somebody’s daughter or son, niece or nephew or a next-door neighbor.

Mark Colson is president and CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association, which supports and promotes Alabama’s trucking industry through advocacy, training, and the successful implementation of programs including the ATA Comp Fund, Safety & Maintenance Management Council, TRUK PAC, and the ATA Foundation. He can reach be reached at mcolson@ alabamatrucking.org.

Against Trafficking, a nonprofit organization that trains professional truck drivers on best practices in recognizing and reporting the red flags of human trafficking.

Through our work and support for TAT, our industry has served as an effective and powerful ally and an asset to law enforcement who seek to identify and prosecute these crimes. To date, at least 708 likely human trafficking cases have been generated by truck drivers who witnessed suspicious activity and reported

it. Truck drivers have identified 1,296 human trafficking victims and made nearly 2,700 calls to the national hotline after noticing questionable activity while out in the field.

Because of the oppressive nature of human trafficking, perpetrators often commit their crimes during broad daylight, out in the open and undetected by the general public. It is necessary that our communities recognize the subtle signs of the crime and know how to report it. America is fortunate that truck

drivers, the professionals who spend the most time on the road, are so committed to this cause, helping law enforcement catch these criminals, and saving the lives of innocent people.

While January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the American public must remain vigilant and committed year-round to battling the human trafficking crisis that plagues our communities and destroys lives.

Despite the trucking industry making outstanding strides this last decade, there

is a limit to how far individual drivers can carry this progress on their own. We need all Americans to join the fight.

Warning signs that all people should be aware of include an individual not knowing their whereabouts or control of their identifications; restricted and controlled communications or not being allowed to speak for himself or herself; CB radio chatter about “commercial company” or flashing lights that signal a buyer location; signs of branding or tattooing of a traffick-

whiskey you mean the devil’s brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righ-

teous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it.”

“But: “If when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts

a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in an old gentleman’s step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, to forget, if

only for a little while, life’s great tragedies, and heartaches and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blink, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools,

that certainly I am for it,” “This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise.”

And he didn’t.

I don’t.

better world. But when someone like Chris McCandless takes the idealism of novels far away from reality, tragedy can occur. And

when a gullible soul such as Mark David Chapman can’t separate fiction from real life, bad things can happen. The solution:

Be hopeful and careful, both. But continue to read!

Greg Markley first moved to Lee County in 1996. He has

master’s degrees in education and history.

He taught politics as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama. An award-winning writer

in the Army and civilian life, he has contributed to the Observer for 8 years. He can be reched at gm.markley@charter.net

area larger than 10 U.S. states.

And in Atlanta, on 501 Auburn Avenue, inside the two-story Queen Anne home where a young boy named Michael King Jr. grew up, before later renaming himself Martin Luther King Jr. You will feel wonder in Montanna, where North America’s first dinosaur specimen was found in 1854. Where 50 years later, the first Tyrannosaurus Rex was discovered in Hell Creek.

And in the serenity of the Great Plains of Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota,

South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. The remains of North America’s ancient interior sea, which covers approximately 1,125,000 square miles, roughly one third of the United States. An area slightly bigger than Disney World.

The lowlands of the Mississippi Delta. The wilds of Alaska. The Great Lakes. The deserts of Nevada, which can cause a man to feel fear, awe, and gratefulness for his GPS. The Ozarks. Yosemite.

Yellowstone. Mount Shasta. And of course, Cracker Barrel.

And in Adams County, Pennsylvania, where a battle was once fought near the borough of Gettysburg, where an estimated 48,000 men fell. Our men. Our brothers.

Also, in Saint Augustine, Florida, where in 1565 Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and his 800 colonists ate supper with the indigenous Timucua, and held the first Catholic mass on future U.S. soil.

This good feeling is in every truck-stop cafe. Every beer joint.

In Boston’s Fenway Park. At Busch Stadium. Yankee Field.

Talladega Superspeed-

way. Burger joints. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The American Royal Barbecue Competition. Wednesday night church meetings.

Pinewood derbies.

Bunco night. And every backyard game of hide and seek.

In the ornate finery of the U.S. Capitol building, which has survived 228 years of turbulence.

In the vacant dust of Death Valley. In the suffocating swamps of the Everglades. And in the nightmarish hellscape that is LaGuardia Airport.

Nothing can take this feeling from us.

Because — don’t you

see? — this feeling IS us. It is not a sensation we experience privately, but it is felt within our common bond. We belong to us.

So no matter how the flames of discord burn; no matter how the fires of time threaten to consume our fabric; no matter how badly our nation’s brothers disagree; today I just want you to know that I love you. I truly do.

Not only because we are American. But because we are human beings whose ancestors were bold enough to call themselves by such an ambitious and inspiring name.

Harvey H. (“Hardy”) Jackson is Professor Emeritus of History at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hhjackson43@gmail.com.

A6 January 27, 2021

Observer, Live Lee welcome four interns Josh Fisher

Lofton Wheeles

By Lofton Wheeles for the Opelika Observer

By Josh Fisher for the Opelika Observer

Joshua Fisher, one of the four interns working with the Opelika Observer this spring semester, is a senior majoring in media studies with a minor in political science.

Fisher is originally from Fort Hood, Texas, but he moved to Auburn from Fairbanks, Alaska, after moving around a lot in his youth as a result of being in a military family.

“I will be taking pictures for both the Opelika Observer and the Live Lee Magazine,” Fisher said. “For those publications, I will be covering local community events and other events of note.”

Fisher said that his hobbies include hiking, reading and cooking.

Since Fisher’s passion is photography, he also loves to take pictures in his free time, especially of the great outdoors and all the beauty that

Lofton Wheeles, one of four interns working for the Opelika Observer and Live Lee this spring semesterm, is a senior majoring in communications with a minor in business at Auburn University.

For his internship, he will be helping produce Live Lee magazine and helping produce content for the Observer. After graduating this May, he plans to pursue a career in either public relations or journalism.

Along with this internship, Lofton is taking his final two classes at Auburn.

Originally from Opelika, Alabama, he grew up a fan of Auburn University. In his free time, Lofton enjoys thrift shopping and watching TV. His favorite TV shows are Lizzie McGuire and Law &

resides within it.

Fisher also loves movies, and he said that his favorite movie is “The Martian,” starring Matt Damon.

Outside of interning with the Opelika Observer, Fisher is also currently completing photography work for Auburn Student Affairs and working for the Auburn Plainsman, the stu-

dent newspaper for Auburn University.

In five years, Fisher envisions himself working as a photographer for a sports team or for a smallto-medium-sized newspaper.

Fisher will be graduating this upcoming May at the end of the semester, and the Observer staff is excited to have him on board.

spending time with his friends and playing video games. He also enjoys listening to music to help him relax at the end of the day.

JD McCarthy

Kayla Evans

By Kayla Evans for the Opelika Observer

By JD McCarthy For the Opelika Observer Kayla Evans, one of four interns working at the Opelika Observer this spring semester, is a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in marketing at Auburn University.

After graduating in December, she plans to attend law school for either sports and entertainment or media law.

She plans on applying to Ole Miss and Florida State for law school.

"I have always loved writing, and I think that law school will set me up to reach my goals and help me become a better writer,” Evans said. “I am interested in sports and entertainment law or media law and am excited to learn more about it."

Order SVU. When he is not thrifting or watching TV, Lofton enjoys spending his time hiking all around the Auburn/Opelika area,

She is originally from Memphis, Tennessee, and came to Auburn to live in a different place.

She toured 10 different schools before she visited The Plains and realized this was the best place for her.

When she is not studying for the LSAT, she likes to hang out with her friends or go running, something she

was doing in preparation for a half marathon before she broke her foot. She has just recently been able to take up running again.

Her favorite memories of her time at Auburn include when Auburn won the 2019 Iron Bowl and the men’s basketball run to the Final Four in 2019.

JD McCarthy is one of four interns this spring. As a senior majoring in journalism, he will graduate in May 2021. After graduating, he wants to find a job covering sports and is open to moving anywhere.

“I have always loved local sports, and I look forward to writing about the high school teams in the Opelika area,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy is from Niceville, Florida, and came to Auburn because it felt like home.

He and his family agreed that it was the best place for him.

In his free time, McCarthy likes to play video games with his friends and watch sports. His favorite

baseball team is the Braves, and he has been to a few of their games with friends the past couple of seasons.

One of his favorite memories while being at Auburn was the Final Four run that

Bruce Pearl’s team had in 2019. The Auburn Arena had a viewing party where he and his friends watched the game.

A fun fact about McCarthy is that he is allergic to the cold.

Opelika E vents, Society & Food

UPCOMING EVENTS Opelika Theatre Company presents: Arsenic and Old Lace Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.

Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets on sale now

Busy mom teaches daughter how to cook as part of homeschooling ANN CIPPERLY

Southern

Hospitality

J

ennifer Rezek has a love of cooking and staying organized in the kitchen for her family. With the oldest two of her four children grown, Jennifer took on homeschooling the youngest daughter, Ansley Joy, and began teaching her how to cook and grocery shop as part of the math class.

She also taught her how to cook international dishes.

Jennifer is the wife of the Rev. Sean Rezek, senior minister of Trinity United Methodist Church, and a pastor herself, serving at two churches. She preaches at Hatchechubbee United Methodist Church on the first and third Sundays

and at Pittsview United Methodist Church on the second and fourth Sundays.

The Rezeks have four children: Christian Rezek, who is a freelance welder; Juliana, a student at Auburn University majoring in agriculture; Emily Grace Rezek, a sophomore at Opelika High School; and Ansley Joy, who is 10 years old.

“Although I had never homeschooled any of our children, Sean and I were considering homeschooling Ansley Joy for various reasons last school year,” Jennifer said. “One being she got sick every month for about two or three days, and she would miss

school for one to two weeks with the flu. After prayer and weighing everything, we felt it was best to give homeschool a try.

“When it comes to home school, there are many ways and styles.

After researching many ways to homeschool, I have learned there is not a one style fits all or a right and wrong way. I chose what works best with Ansley Joy. I use the Charlotte Mason’s style along with units.

“This means I use everyday practical life living to teach, as well as chapters or units in a subject. A small example of daily practical living is when we cut an orange in half for breakfast, we

Ballet Academy in Opelika in danger of closing Contributed by Claudia Curiel, GoFundMe Ballet Academy in Opelika has been a place where young dancers have been able to learn ballet and make strong relationships with teachers and fellow students. Sadly, like

many small businesses, the academy has been affected by the pandemic due to the initial shutdown in the spring as well as decreased enrollment.

They are now in danger of shutting down and have started a GoFundMe in the hopes of saving

yet another small business from closing during the pandemic and keep the arts alive in Opelika.

"Please consider supporting the arts, specifically classical ballet in our area as it encourages both physical and mental fortitude in these See BALLET, page A10

Photo special to the Observer Ansley Joy Rezek, who is 10 years old, enjoyed learning to cook as part of her math class in homeschooling. She also learned how to shop for groceries and about foods from around the world. Ansley Joy is the daughter of the Rev. Sean Rezek, senior minister at Trinity United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Jennifer Rezek, who serves at Hatchechubbee United Methodist Church and Pittsview United Methodist Church.

create two segments; then, she counts the dif-

ferent sections, which transitions her math

See CIPPERLY, page A8

Waitr expands footprint in Alabama Popular food delivery service looking for 100 additional workers Contributed by Waitr Waitr has made its way back to Auburn and Opelika with two months of free delivery. Not only is the app looking to save you money, but maybe a chance to earn some extra cash as well. Waitr is looking to hire 100 new contract drivers for

the area.

The popular food delivery app announced today it is once again delivering from Auburn and Opelika restaurants right to your door – even giving its customers a no-contact delivery option. Waitr kicks off its return with unlimited free delivery for the next

two months – any time you use the app through March 21, you can get your food delivered free by using the promo code “AUBURN” at checkout.

In addition, Waitr announced today it is looking to for an additional 100 workers in the area.

See FOOD, page A10

A8 January 27, 2021

CIPPERLY

>>

FROM A7

skills into fractions.

“We talk about why an orange is a citrus fruit and how the acid makes a small cut on your hand sting. Therefore, we just had a science lesson.

The smell of an orange is strong which leads in to reinforcing the importance of our five senses and how some people cannot smell due to COVID-19, that lesson sets up an anatomy lesson for another day.”

After they used an orange for breakfast, Jennifer talked about how an orange can start a compost and the benefits it can have on our environment. When they are out of the kitchen, Ansley Joy uses the notes she took and will write a paper on “What we can learn from an orange.”

Jennifer’s sister, Wendy, sent Ansley the

American Girl cookbook “Around the World.”

Jennifer uses cooking foods from other countries to teach about history, geography, culture and art.

“Ansley Joy and I are not chefs,” she said.

“We do not create new recipes, but we almost always alter what we are making. It is not a surprise for Ansley to taste a roux and say it needs more salt, but instead of adding salt, we may add a pinch or squeeze of mustard depending on the meat we are eating it with.

“I think the best thing about using our kitchen as a classroom is it gives room for mistakes with confidence. If we do not like what we made, or if we burn something, we just start over and make it better the next time.”

Some things Ansley has learned from having the classroom in the kitchen include: math,

science, reading, history, reasoning, comprehension, patience, hardwork, creativity, confidence and organization.

“Not to be a perfectionist, but effort and hard work can make it perfect in your eyes,” Jennifer said. “Don’t stress; it is what it is.”

Jennifer cooks a little extra since some foods taste better the next day, and she enjoys surprising a neighbor with a dish that could make a difference in their day.

“Most of all, the kitchen as my daughter’s classroom has created a fun, educational environment where priceless memories and an abundance of love is shared,” she said.

The Rezek family moved to Opelika from Graceville, Florida, two and a half years ago.

Both Jennifer and Sean are from Pensacola, Florida, where they met in high school.

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When Jennifer was growing up, she was influenced by her grandmother’s love of cooking and baking. Her grandmother lived outside Pensacola, where the family would visit her on Sundays and holidays.

She would make fried chicken with little pieces of flour balls and serve it with creamed corn and other vegetables from her garden.

As a busy mom, Jennifer does a lot of meal prep and prefers doing as much ahead as possible.

She will prepare spaghetti sauce and chili ahead to freeze.

She makes bread in a bread machine and pulls out the dough for making individual pizzas. She will precook sausage and hamburger meat to save time.

Jennifer works on a budget for dinners. For prepping dinner, she will cook enough cube steak for three meals.

They will eat one that night and freeze two.

She plans menus ahead and has a theme for every night to keep it easy.

For instance, Monday

night she will prepare an Italian dish and tacos on Tuesdays.

Jennifer relies on a crock-pot for busy weeknights and Sunday meals.

While Ansley recently started back to school for the new semester in January, she is still cooking one night a week and on weekends. She enjoys using the mixer and mixing all of the ingredients together. She asked for a blender this past Christmas.

“I have enjoyed learn-

ing how to cook and I think it has given me more confidence in making decisions in other situations not related to cooking,” said Ansley Joy. “My favorite thing to make is oversized popsicles for my horse Dusty.”

On page A11 are homeschool recipes Ansley Joy has been cooking, along with family favorites and crock-pot recipes for Sundays.

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

A9 January 27, 2021

RECIPES

>>

ITALIAN: Bechamel A basic Italian white sauce for Emily Grace, who does not like red sauce.

Linguine noodles 1 lb. ground Italian sausage ½ cup butter 1 tsp. minced garlic 3-4 Tbsp. flour 1 cup heavy cream 3 Tbsp. parmigiana, grated 1 oz. prosciutto (finely sliced then shredded, optional 1 dash salt Grated Parmesan cheese Cook linguine noodles as directed.

Cook sausage until no longer pink and thoroughly done; set aside.

Bechamel Sauce: Melt butter in saucepan; add garlic and sauté over low to medium heat, stirring for about 5 minutes (do not burn).

Add flour and stir until the butter and flour are well combined.

Pour in cream and add remaining ingredients, stirring constantly as it thickens.

Add more cream or flour depending on desired consistency.

Add the sausage into the Bechamel Sauce and serve over linguine noodles.

JAMAICA Jamaica Beef Patties (Sean and I first ate these in Jamaica 23 years ago) 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ tsp. curry powder 1 dash salt ¼ cup margarine ¼ cup shortening 1/3 cup water 2 Tbsp. margarine 1 lb. ground beef 1 small onion, finely diced 1 tsp. curry powder 1 tsp. dried thyme 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. pepper ½ cup beef broth ½ cup dry breadcrumbs 1 egg, beaten Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine flour, 1 1/2 tsp. curry powder, and

pinch of salt. Cut in 1/4 cup margarine and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Shape dough into a log and cut into 10 equal sections. Roll each section into a six inch circle (approximately 1/8 inch thick). Set aside.

Melt margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion until soft and translucent. Stir in ground beef. Season with 1 tsp. curry powder, thyme, 1 tsp. salt, and pepper.

Cook until beef is evenly brown, stirring constantly.

Stir in beef broth and breadcrumbs.

Simmer until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.

Spoon equal amounts of filling into each pastry circle. Fold over and press edges together, making a half circle.

Use a fork to press edges and brush the top of each patty with beaten egg.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

ANSLEY JOY’S UNITED STATES RECIPES: Hawaii Smoothie 1/2 cup mango, fresh or frozen 1/2 cup cantaloupe, fresh or frozen 1 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen 1 cup pineapple juice (or more to thin) Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for 10 seconds or until smooth.

Smoothie Ansley Joy’s Way Strawberries Half of a banana A scoop of peanut butter A splash of pineapple juice Use and mixer and mix until you like the thickness, add more pineapple juice to thin or add milk to cut the citrus if you wish.

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES 1 cup unsalted

butter, room temperature 1 cup crunchy peanut butter 1 cup white sugar 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 eggs 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt 1 ½ tsp. baking soda Cream butter, peanut butter, and sugars together in a bowl; beat in eggs.

In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; stir into butter mixture.

Put dough in refrigerator for 1 hour.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls and put on baking sheets.

Flatten each ball with a fork, making a crisscross pattern.

Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for about 10 minutes or until cookies begin to brown.

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE ½ cup butter 16 oz. pkg. brown sugar ½ cup milk ¾ cup peanut butter 1 tsp. vanilla extract 3 ½ cups confectioners' sugar Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Stir in brown sugar and milk. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.

Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth; pour into an 8x8 inch dish. Chill until firm and cut into squares.

PIZZA BAGELS Bagels Pepperoni Mozzarella Marinara sauce Half the bagel and toast lightly in a toaster.

Heat marinara sauce, then add the sauce to both sides of the toasted bagel,

add pepperoni, and top with mozzarella cheese. Place bagels in the oven on 350 for approximately 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Shhh No One Will Know Brownies Buy store bought tiny brownies.

Place them on a cookie sheet and place in the oven on 200 for 5 minutes or just enough to get them warm.

Sprinkle a heavy amount (but not too thick) of powder sugar over the top. Serve them in the living room or wherever a conversation is taking place.

We like it home made, which means foods made in our home, altered a bit, and served with love.

MIDDLE EAST: Grilled chicken strips Oregano Roman lettuce Tomato Red onion Pita Bread Tahini Sauce 1/2 cup tahini 3 cloves garlic (crushed) 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 tsp. parsley , finely chopped Season chicken with pepper and oregano.

Grill on a George Forman grill or similar tabletop grill.

(Great and safer for children to learn on) Tahini sauce Mix all ingredients together and set in the refrigerator about 2 hours for best taste.

Make It. Use Tahini sauce as a sauce on the inside of the pita bread or drizzle over the top.

Then stuff pita sauce with the grilled chicken and vegetables.

I like to sauté my tomato and red onion before adding them into the pita sandwich.

FAMILY FAVORITES: Salsa ½ can petite diced tomatoes, well

drained 1 can (8 3/4 oz.) whole kernel corn, well drained 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 tsp. chili pepper 1/4 tsp. salt Mix all ingredients in medium bowl.

Cover.

Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Serve with tortilla chips.

CUBE STEAK 2-3 eggs All-purpose flour Creole seasoning Dale sauce White onion Bell pepper Wax paper Oil Cube steak (venison or beef) For venison set in cold fresh water every 30 minutes for 3 cycles.

Mix egg and dale sauce together in one bowl.

Mix flour and creole seasonings in one bowl.

Dip cube steak in egg and then in flour (repeat and double breading).

Place a layer of cube steak in the Pyrex dish; place wax paper down, and then add the rest of the cube steak on top.

Place in the refrigerator for about an hour.

On medium heat, add oil to a skillet and sauté slices of onion and bell pepper. Discard onion and bell pepper.

Cook cube steak about 3 minutes on each side. Serve.

CROCK-POT SUNDAYS: Baked Potatoes 6-8 potatoes Butter Sea salt Tin foil Optional Toppings: Sour cream Shredded cheese Creole seasoning Salt and pepper Barbecue chicken or pork Wash potatoes.

Use fork to poke holes or break skin of potatoes. Cover potatoes with butter and sea salt. Wrap in tin foil; place into crockpot, cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 (Never open the lid of a crock pot until the cooking time is finished).

Mix the creole seasoning with the sour cream and add it to potatoes or sprinkle seasoning on top.

CROCK-POT CREAMY CHICKEN TACOS 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 can Rotel tomatoes 4 oz. (half of pkg.) cream cheese Tortilla shells Rinse off chicken.

Place chicken into the crock-pot. Add Rotel tomatoes on top.

Cook 6 to 8 hours depending on thickness of chicken. Thirty minutes before it is done open the lid and use forks to shred the chicken. The chicken should shred easily at this point.

Then add cream cheese. Don’t stir cheese into the chicken at this point, just leave it for the remainder of the 30 minutes.

When final timer goes off, stir softened cream cheese and chicken together.

Serve the creamy chicken in a soft taco shell and enjoy.

CROCK-POT CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 2 Tbsp. butter 2 (10.75-oz.) cans condensed cream of chicken soup ½ onion, chopped in chunks (optional) 2 (10-oz.) packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn into pieces Salt and pepper to taste Place chicken, butter, soup and onion in a crock-pot and fill with enough water to cover.

Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on high.

About 30 minutes before serving, add torn biscuit dough.

Cook until dough is no longer raw in center.

Start planning now for spring gardens Contributed by the Lee County Extension Office Written by Mary Leigh Oliver While experiencing the cold winter weather, some of the many things people look forward to are the luscious spring gardens.

It is never too early to start planning. Now is the time for gardeners to begin prepping their

gardens for the spring growing season.

Below are some tips to help one have a successful spring garden: Getting Started: Before taking any steps toward growing a spring garden, it is essential to first remove all the plants and weeds from the previous season.

Starting from a clean slate will give the garden a clean, organized appearance, as well

as healthy, fresh soil.

The most important step when beginning to prep a garden is to conduct a soil test. Based on the results of the soil test, gardeners may have to add nutrients to adjust the pH of the soil in order for it to best suit the plants. Soil that is overly acidic may be harmful to some plants.

It is important to keep a constant eye on soil pH levels to ensure they

remain within the 6 to 7 range.

“You might want to plant a cover crop if you have poor soil,” said Rhonda Britton, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System home grounds, gardens and home pests regional agent. “This will help build up organic matter in the soil.” Also, it is important to determine whether the proposed garden plot receives

at least six hours of full sunlight. Without the adequate amount of sunlight, the plants would not be able to thrive.

Plan Out the Garden: To have a successful spring garden, Britton suggests keeping a notebook for gardeners to plan what they are going to plant. In the same notebook, people can plan the potential layout and dates and

times for planting. Getting ahead and staying on top of a gardening routine will ensure a successful, flourishing garden.

Britton said that at the beginning of the planning process it is important for people to decide whether they want to buy transplants or plant their own seeds inside, starting in the winter.

See GARDENS, page A10

A10 January 27, 2021

Lee County Extension Office announces events Contributed by Tara Barr – Lee County Extension Office 4-H Camp: June 2 to 4. ($175) There are only 24 spots, so register ASAP. Must have total payment and all paperwork to be added to the list. Deadline to register is Feb. 19. Call 334-749-3353 for more information.

East Alabama 4-H Poultry Project 2021: You must be in 4-H online and between the ages of 9 and 18. Call Lee County Extension office at 334-7493353 or email Deborah Stewart at dhs000@auburn.edu. Cost is $35; check and registration form must be turned

GARDENS

>>

FROM A9

“Some plants, such as squash, cucumber, corn and beans, do better with direct seeding,” Britton said.

“Plants that do better as transplants are tomatoes and peppers.”

If people plan to plant seeds, they should be-

BALLET

>>

FROM A7

challenging times," said the Campaign Organizer Angela White. "We are desperate to keep

FOOD

>>

FROM A7

Once activated, drivers will be able to start immediately. Requirements for applicants include a valid driver’s license, proof of auto insurance and a smart phone. You must also be 18 years or older to be eligible. Those interested can apply at waitrapp.com.

Chris Barnes, head of Driver Operations, says flexible schedules are available for drivers and earnings could be considerable. “One local manager told me a driver made over $9,500 last month alone,” he said.

The Waitr app is simple to use. After creating an account, you choose a restaurant, browse the fully customizable menu,

in by Feb. 26. Register early due to there only being a few spots. No late registrations.

Land Use Enterprises Webinar: Extension agents and specialists will discuss some profitable options that landowners might wish to consider or use on their property.

Target audience is landowners, farmers, investors and absentee landowners. Enterprises to be addressed are: Livestock and Forages, Forestry & Wildlife, Plant-Based Enterprises, Traditional Row Crops, Hemp Enterprises, Agritourism Opportunities and Beekeeping Products.

Online Registration is

required at www.aces. edu/event/land-use-enterprises-webinar.

Webinar link will be emailed upon registration. For assistance, contact the Tallapoosa County Extension Office at 256-825-1050.

ServSafe Class: Lee County ServSafe Class will be at the Hubbard CASIC Building on Auburn Campus. The Class will be Feb. 22 and 23 starting at 9 a.m. Register at www. aces.edu/go/servsafe.

For more information call 334-749-3353.

Cottage Food Certification: Visit www. aces.edu/go/cottagefoodbusiness, where you can watch four videos and then register

for the exam. Cost is $25.

Get Outside with Alabama Smart Yards Webinar Series: Every Wednesday at 1 p.m.

The Zoom room is a new room and everyone will have to reregister at auburn.zoom. us/j/82398811386.

The 26th Annual Alabama Beekeeping Symposium will be Feb. 6 and 7 this year.

This virtual symposium is only $20. Check out the agenda and register at the website (www.aces.edu/blog/ topics/lawn-garden/alabama-beekeeping-symposium/).

Free Virtual Cotton and Rice Conference.

Earn CEU Credit for

60 Educational Videos.

(Available for three years.) Videos will be available on Feb. 10 with more than 100 speakers. Register for free today at www. nctd.net or www.mafg. net.

Private Pesticide Applicator Training Class for Lee County: Feb. 16 at 8:30 a.m.

You must call 334749-3353 to register.

This class is designed for the farmers who need to take the private pesticide applicator test in order to purchase restricted use products.

However, the class will be discussing chemical safety and sprayer calibration, so anyone who sprays pesticides

on a large scale will benefit from this training, even if a restricted pesticide license is not needed. A fee of $20 will be charged for this training and testing.

An additional licensing fee of $25 will be sent to the Department of Agriculture and Industries by the applicant.

The licensing fee is not included in the training and testing fee. Please plan to pay with a check made out the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) in the amount of $20 or with the correct cash amount.

Participants must bring and wear a facemask in accordance with COVID guidelines.

gin searching through seed catalogs now to purchase their desired seed. Having the plants or seed planned out before the spring season will allow for a quick and efficient growing season.

Regional Conditions: Lastly, depending on the region, it is important to identify and keep note of the differ-

ent weather conditions.

For example, depending on where gardeners live in Alabama, certain areas can begin planting before others.

The warm temperatures in south Alabama would allow people to begin planting much sooner than the cooler temperatures in north Alabama do.

Britton recommends

downloading the Alabama Extension SOW app. This application includes recommended dates for planting based on the region or county the person is located in. Knowing the specific conditions for the area is crucial for a long-lasting spring garden season. Visit the Alabama Extension content piece SOW–A

Planting Companion (www.aces.edu/blog/ topics/products-programs-lawn-garden/ sow-planting-companion/) for more information on downloading the SOW app.

More Information: With the dull colors and cold weather dragging on, it is thrilling to get to plan for the warm, bright

colors of the season to come. Don’t let the winter blues get you down; start planning for your spring garden before you’re too late.

For more information on planning for spring gardens or other topics, visit the Alabama Extension website (www. aces.edu) or contact your county Extension office.

the studio open and classical ballet thriving, but need your help to persevere during such an unprecedentedly difficult time."

GoFundMe made the following state-

ment on small businesses: "We have seen an immense amount of global support on GoFundMe as communities band together across the globe to fundraise

for the most vulnerable. Approximately 60% of fundraisers started in the US between March and August were for small businesses.

Through these last ten months, we

have continued to see an increase in GoFundMe campaigns for small businesses and their staff. Everyone has been affected by the pandemic to varying degrees. It’s

been inspiring to see how people are still lifting each other up through giving.”

To view the GoFundMe for Ballet Academy in Opelika, visit: gf.me/v/c/9yfq/ save-ballet-academy

select your items, and tap to submit the order with a credit card. The app can also be used for carryout orders. In addition, ordering is also available online at waitrapp.com.

Waitr is an online food-ordering platform, providing delivery, carryout and dine-in options.

Waitr, along with Bite Squad, connects local restaurants and grocery stores to diners in underserved U.S. markets.

Together they are a convenient way to discover, order and receive great food from local restaurants, national chains and grocery stores. As of Sept.

30, 2020, Waitr and Bite Squad operated in small and medium-sized markets in the United States in over 700 cities.

A11 January 27, 2021

J

esus said in John 10:35 that “the Scripture cannot be set aside.”

What does this mean?

It means the Scripture is true. When we examine the biblical witness in the context in which it was written, it is completely authentic, genuine and of absolute veracity. When Christ was confronted by the materialistic Sadducees and their question concerning the resurrection, He starkly told them, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). To Jesus, it was a simple matter. If they had

Church Calendar • Church of Christ at Cunningham - meeting at their building at 9:30 a.m. for Bible class, 10:30 a.m. for worship, 5 p.m. for evening worship and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

• St. Marys Catholic Church/ St. Michael’s Church SMCC is having Daily Mass on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 a.m. and on weekends they are distributing holy Communion on Sundays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. A Mass is also held on Sundays at 12:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Church over in Auburn. For more information people can call the office at 334-749-8359 or go to the parish website: stmarysopelika.org.

• Union Grove Baptist Church In-person gathering with social distancing. Masks are available.

Sunday worship is at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Wednesday worship is at 6:30 p.m.

Services are streamed live on Facebook — the page is UGBChurch • First Baptist Church Opelika The following are held in-person and online on Sundays.

8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship and Message at The Worship Center 9:45 a.m. Sunday School Hour 11 a.m. Contemporary Service at The 3:16 Center 6 p.m. Evening Worship and Message at The Worship Center 6:30 p.m. Church on Chadwick at Chadwick Lane in Auburn To watch services online, go to fbcopelika.com/media

Set Aside known the Scripture’s teaching, they would have known they the truth of the matter and not tied themselves up in the theological knots they brought to Him to unravel.

It means the Scripture is trustworthy. Something can be true but not trustworthy. We probably all know someone who will tell us everything that is on their mind, but that doesn’t mean we would necessarily want them to watch our children. The biblical witness is true in what it says and trustworthy in terms of its “character.” Scripture is a faithful, loyal guide to life that has our best

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

interest in mind. We see this in Jesus’ life when He was tempted in the wilderness and each time He responded with “It is written.” His confidence in the Scripture was absolute.

It means the Scripture is transcendent.

God’s word applies to

all people everywhere.

The west is currently plagued by a ridiculous relativism that tells us all that matters is you live out “your truth” while I live out “my truth.” For the most part, it’s little more than the assertion of a prideful individualism that doesn’t want to be subject to anyone or anything else. We want our freedom—even if it destroys us! Christ walked into the synagogue at Nazareth and was handed an Isaiah scroll. Isaiah wrote over seven centuries before Jesus. He read the text and then told His audience, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your

ABOUT BRUCE GREEN

hearing” (Luke 4:21).

God’s word is “alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12).

The Scripture cannot be set aside. It is relevant, not relative. It is absolute, not obsolete. When we choose to set it aside, we don’t break it—it breaks us!

We don’t worship the word—we worship the God who gives the word and recognize in the truth of Scripture we have God making His presence known and felt (McGuiggan).

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

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

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

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers."

— Psalm 1:1

Church Directory APOSTOLIC HOLINESS God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 HIghland Ave., Opelika 334-749-9672 True Deliverance Holiness Church 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700 BAPTIST Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506

ANGLICAN Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd 2312 Center Drive Unit D 334-758-6749 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Bridge Church 1000 Lee Road 263, Cusseta 334-742-0144 AME Mount Zion AME Church West Point Hwy 334-749-3916 St. Luke AME Church 1308 Auburn St. 334-749-1690 St. Paul AME Church 713 Powledge Ave. 334-745-6279 Thompson Chapel AME Zion 187 Columbus Pkwy 334-749-8676 BAPTIST Abundant Life Baptist Church 1220 Fox Run Ave. Suite B 706-4421464 Airview Baptist Church 2301 Airport Rd. 334-444-5148 Antioch Baptist Church 605 W. East Morton Ave 334-742-0696 Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St. 334-745-7528 Bethel Baptist Church Hwy. 29 Sasser Rd 334-745-4865 Central Baptist Church 1611 2nd Ave. 334-745-2482 Community Baptist Church 154 N. 16th St. 334-745-6552 Cornerstone Missionary Baptist 500 N. Railroad Ave. 334-742-2008 Eastview Baptist Church 1208 Spring Dr 334-749-9595 Farmville Baptist Church 3607 Alabama Hwy N. 334-887-7361 First Baptist Church of Opelika 314 S. 9th St. 334-745-6143

Green Chapel Missionary Baptist 390 Lee Road 106, Auburn (334) 749-4184 Lakeview Baptist Church 1600 E. Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-7094 Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108 Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608 Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at First Baptist Church 301 S. 8th St. 334-745-5715 First Baptist Church Impact 709 Avenue E 334-741-0624 First Freewill Baptist Church 103 19th St. 334-703-3333 Friendship Missionary Baptist 432 Maple Avenue 334-742-0105 Greater Peace Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave. 334-749-9487 Heritage Baptist Church 1103 Glenn St. 334-363-8943 High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 Love Freewill Baptist Church 1113 Frederick Ave. 334-745-2905 Ridge Grove Missionary Baptist Church 1098 Lee Road 155 - 334-745-3600 Northside Baptist Church 3001 Lafayette Hwy 334-745-5340 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Uniroyal Rd 334-749-2773 Purpose Baptist Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #704-0302 St. James Baptist Church 1335 Auburn St. 334-745-3224 Union Grove Missionary Baptist 908 Huguley Rd 334-741-7770 BUDDHIST Buddha Heart Village 3170 Sandhill Rd. 334-821-7238 CATHOLIC St. Mary’s Catholic Church 1000 4th Ave. 334-749-8359 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy 334-742-9721 Southside Church of Christ 405 Carver Ave. 334-745-6015 CHURCH OF GOD

Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika 10th Street Church of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika 334-745-5181 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Changing Hearts of Destiny Ministry 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700

Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148 St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319

METHODIST Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800 Beulah United Methodist

PRESBYTERIAN Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889

Airview Church of God 3015 Old Opelika Rd 334-749-9112 Church of God 114 17th Place 334-749-6432 Tabernacle Church of God 3 Oak Court 334-745-7979 CHURCH OF NAZARENE Opelika Church of Nazarene 1500 Bruce Ave. 334-749-1302 EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave. 334-745-2054 HOLINESS Eastside Emmanuel Holiness Church 86 Lee Road 186 JEWISH Beth Shalom Congregation 134 S. Cary Dr. 334-826-1050 LATTERDAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints 510 Groce St. 334-742-9981 METHODIST First United Methodist Church of Opelika 702 Avenue A 334-745-7604 Hopewell United Methodist 1993 Lee Rd 136 334-745-0460 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 8685 AL Hwy. 51 334-749-4469 Pepperell United Methodist 200 26th St. 334-745-9334 Trinity United Methodist Church 800 Second Ave. 334-745-2632 Wesley Memorial United Methodist 2506 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-2841 PENTECOSTAL Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Hwy. 29, PO Box 1691 334-7418675 Gateway Community Church 2715 Frederick Rd 334-745-6926 PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Opelika 900 2nd Ave. 334-745-3421

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist 1808 S. Long St. 334-749-3151 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Apostolic Holiness Church 610 Canton St. 334-749-6759 Auburn Opelika Korean Church 1800 Rocky Brook Rd 334-7495386 Beauregard Full Gospel Revival 2089 Lee Road 42 334-745-0455 Christ Church International 1311 2nd Ave. 334-745-0832 Fellowship Bible Church 2202 Hamilton Rd 334-749-1445 Ferguson Chapel Church 310 S. 4th St. 334-745-2913 First Assembly of God Church 510 Simmons St. 334- 749-3722 Garden of Gethsemane Fellowship 915 Old Columbus Rd #745-2686 Grace Heritage Church Opelika #559-0846 Holy Deliverance Church 831 S. Railroad 334-749-5682 Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. 334-737-1488 Living Way Ministries 1100 Old Columbus Rd 334-749-6241 Move of God Fellowship Church 1119 Old Columbus Rd 334-7411006 Connect Church 2900 Waverly Pkwy 334-749-3916 New Life Christian Center 2051 West Point Pkwy 334-741-7373 New Life Independent Church 10 Meadowview Estates Trailer 334-741-9001 Opelika’s First Seventh Day 2011 Columbus Pkwy 334-737-3222 Power of Praise, Inc. Church 3811 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-6136 Shady Grove Christian Church West Point Hwy 334-745-7770

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

A12 January 27, 2021

OBITUARIES Hoyt Michael Treadwell

Hoyt Michael Treadwell of Camp Hill, Alabama was born to the late Hoyt Welton Treadwell and Frances Duaine Slay on Aug. 28, 1954, and passed away on Jan. 20, 2021, at his home.

He was 66 years old.

Mr. Treadwell was a former resident of Macon County and attended Macon Academy. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he returned to Alabama where he resided for many years in Tallapoosa County.

Mr. Treadwell is also preceded in death by his late wife, Judith Treadwell.

Mr. Treadwell is survived by his wife, Kristie Treadwell; his daughter, Sydney Treadwell, and grandchildren, Kolby and Jayden Reardon.

He is survived by several step-children: stepson, Khristopher Reid; stepdaughters, Somer Bass (Tim), Aly Bass, and Gina Langley (Lynn); and stepson, Richie Smith. He is also survived by Aly Bass’

son, Jameson Anglin; and Tim and Somer Bass’ son, Josh Bass (Haley).

Mr. Treadwell is also survived by several siblings: Tina Baker; James Treadwell; Dean Aldridge; Roger Treadwell (Elizabeth); and Stanley Treadwell (Joyce). He had many nieces and nephews.

Graveside service was held at Garden Hills Cemetery in Opelika on Jan. 23, 2021, at 2 p.m.

Curtis Thomas Rudd 1935-2021 In the afternoon of Jan. 18, 2021, Curtis Thomas Rudd left this earthly world doing one of the things he loved most-he had just shot his last deer. We are sure he thanked Jesus when he got to Heaven for letting him get in one last hunt. We will miss him so much! He was born in Opelika to Ira Houston and Mattie Kittrell Rudd on May 27, 1935. He was the baby of nine children.

Curtis was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He put God and his family first and loved his dear Joyce and provided for her always. He was one of the most honest and trustworthy men that you would ever meet. He never met a

stranger and helping others was his most accomplished feat.

He was an excellent carpenter and salesman and worked hard all his life.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ira H. Rudd; mother, Mattie Kittrell Rudd; brothers, Jack (Susie) Rudd, Clarence Rudd, Jimmy (Irene) Rudd; sisters, Mattie Lee (Vernon) Brewer, Mary Smith, Bertha (Ed) May, and Ruth Rudd; father-in-law, Joe D. Allen; mother-in-law, Evie Jennings Allen; brother-in-law, Charles Allen.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Joyce Allen Rudd; sons, Wayne (Donna) Rudd, Steve Rudd, Don (Mary) Rudd, Darren (Rhonda) Rudd; daughters, Judy (Hal) Sellers and Rose (Mark) Price; grandchildren, Jeremy Sellers, Brittany (Matt) Evans, Gary (Amy) Rudd, Emily (Jordan) Davidson, Josh (Crystal) Rudd, Adam Rudd, Wesley Rudd, Curt (Amanda) Rudd, Justin (Dakota) Rudd, Lori (Jordan) Strickland, Jordan (Kyra) Price, and Steadman Rudd; 23 great-grandchildren; his best friend, Jerry (Lee Ann) Pinkard; brother, Robert (Bessie) Rudd; sister-in-law, Elvene Rudd; sistersin-law, Terry (Harry) Biering, Laverne (Johnny) Manning, Phyllis Vinson, Judy

Kay Allen; brothersin-law, Billy (Sandra) Allen and Phillip Allen, as well as numerous nieces and nephews he loved.

A funeral service was held in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home on Jan. 22, 2021 at 11 a.m. with Reverend Vance McCollum officiating. Interment followed at Garden Hills Cemetery.

Donations can be made in Curtis’ name to: Lakeside Church of God 3295 Lee Road 54 in Opelika A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1

grandchildren, Lilly Marsh, Tristian Estes, Taylor Estes, Chase Tucker, Sarah Grace Tucker, Joshua Marsh, and Nelson Marsh.

The family held a private visitation and funeral service on Jan. 23, 2021.

Orrie Ann Garrett Lawler

Orrie Ann Garrett Lawler, 73, of Opelika, passed away Jan. 17 at Tallassee Health & Rehab. A Anna Lois Tucker graveside service was 1929-2021 held on Jan. 20 at Garden Hills CemeAnna Lois Tucker tery with Dr. Rusty of Opelika was born to the late James and Sowell officiating.

She was born in Lee Arnice Dudley Ingram on Nov. 6, 1929 County and was a Pepperell kid her and passed away at entire life.

Bethany House on Mrs. Lawler was Jan. 17, 2021. She preceded in death was 91 years old. by her parents J.B. Anna was precedand Orrie Garrett; ed in death by her husband Jerry Ruhusband, Fred B. fus Lawler. Left to Tucker. cherish her memory She is survived are Paul & Tammie by her son, Gary Mary, Little Paul, F. Tucker (Kathy); Joan Thompson; daughter, Barbara sister Bobbie of Alford (Jimmy); grandchildren, David Florida; stepdaughter: Teresa (Larry) Estes (Fiancé Tracy Thompson; sister-inHenderson Pritchlaw: Faye (David) ett), Robert Alford, Ashley Marsh (John), Amorosa; and numerous nieces and and Jason Tucknephews. er (Melissa); great

Ella Mae Fullerton 1944 -2021 Ella Fullerton was born to the late James Calvin Welch and Annie Mae Arwood Welch on December 21, 1944 and passed away on Jan. 25, 2021. She was 76 years old.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Fullerton; brother, John Henry Dawson.

She is survived by her sons, John C. Morris, Jr. (Sonia), James Rayford Morris (Christina); daughters, Christina Thrash (David), Lisa L. Burkett (David); step daughters, Alicia Fullerton, Amy Fullerton, and Crystal Fullerton; grandchildren, Jona Price, Nathan Morris, Jakob Morris, Briar Morris, Hannah Thrash, Ryan Thrash, Taylor Burkett, Owen Burkett, April Tyson, and Gary Tyson; great grandchild, Madyson Price; sister-in-law, Cora Reams.

Pallbearers will be, J.R. Morris, John C. Morris, David Burkett, David Thrash, Jakob Morris, and Briar Morris Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 29, 2021 in the Parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home from Noon until 1 p.m.

Graveside service will follow the visitation at 2 p.m. in the Fairview Cemetery.

A13 January 27, 2021

Mobile clinic to be in Smiths Station Jan. 29 Contributed by the city of Smiths Station The Heart Center of Auburn will hold a kickoff event for their new Mobile Clinic on Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon EST in the front parking lot of the Smiths Station Government Center, located at 2336 Lee Road 430.

Kelly Henderson, a certified registered nurse practitioner with The Heart Center of Auburn who has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare

field, said the mobile clinic will be staffed with a nurse practitioner, administrative staff and medical assistant. They will make scheduled stops in Smiths Station, Dadeville, Roanoke and Ashland as a part of the mobile clinic’s initial route. Henderson said they are working on adding additional sites to this list for those who are unable to drive to Auburn for these services.

“It’s just like going to any medical office, except we bring the care to the patients,” Henderson said.

Services offered by the mobile clinic will include blood pressure checks, medical prescriptions and diagnostic testing as necessary for individualized cardiac care.

No appointment is needed to be seen at the mobile clinic. Referrals from primary care providers are not required, but they are preferred.

The public is welcome to attend, and media are invited to cover this event.

For more information, call the clinic at 334-321-3700.

“Love Like Lexi Project” presented to local officials Contributed by the city of Smiths Station Andrea Mills, mother of the late Smiths Station High School student Lexi Webb, introduced the “Love Like Lexi Project” to city and county officials on Jan. 19 during a meeting held at the Smiths Station Government Center.

Since Lexi took her life nearly two years ago, Mills has been

on a mission to understand the “why” of her daughter’s death. The answer came in the form of a curriculum

to be implemented within the Chattahoochee Valley area, with hopes that Smiths Station High School

will serve as the pilot school for this program.

Mills said that since 2016 there have been five Smiths Station student suicides from the ages of 13 to 18 years old.

“One is too many, two is an epidemic, and folks, we have an epidemic,” said Michele Graham, who is an organizer for the Love Like Lexi Proj-

ect.

Officials who attended the meeting included Lee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mac McCoy, Smiths Station High School Principal Dr. Brad Cook, Sheriff Jay Jones, Mayor F. L. “Bubba” Copeland, Lee County EMA Director Rita Smith and East Alabama Medical Center’s Curtis Carlton and Laura Eason,

among others.

The project will be unveiled to the public during a memorial event scheduled for Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. EST that will be held at The Junction Pavilion on the Smiths Station Government Center campus.

For more information call 334-569-9798 or send an email to LoveLikeLexiProject@gmail.com.

Residents clean up Smiths Station

Photos by Morgan Bryce / City of Smiths Station

A14 January 27, 2021

COMICS

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

S

S

Inside • Opelika schools • Lee County schools • community sports

School Board meetings Opelika: Jan. 26 at 4:30 p.m. at 700 Jeter Ave. Lee County: Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. at 2410 Society Hill Road

Lee-Scott senior named Alabama Distinguished Young Woman Contributed to the Opelika Observer

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

OHS Wrestling continues to improve

T

he Opelika Wrestling team participated in the “Smiths Station High Duels Tournament” along with Prattville, Enterprise and SSHS this weekend.

Opelika beat Prattville 42-36 but lost to Enterprise (2145) and Smiths Station (12-66).

The Bulldogs’ top performers were: Jack Pritchard, 195 lbs., with three wins, no losses and three pins, totaling 18 points, Ari Brogdon, 182 lbs., two wins, totaling 12 points, Brayden Wilson, 120 lbs., two wins, one loss, for 12 points and T’harra Brunson, 160 lbs., two wins, one loss, with a pin for a total of 12 points.

Opelika Head Wrestling Coach Jim Davis made a point to emphasize: “We had six other Bulldog grapplers that may not have scored points but wrestled hard and continue to improve.”

OHS hosted Prattville and Reeletown Tuesday night. One senior, Adam Phillips, was honored for being the lone senior on the team. The

“Senior Night” ceremony took place prior to the start of the matches.

BASKETBALL The OHS Girls’ basketball team finished the week with one win and one loss.

The Lady Bulldogs (8-8) lost a close game with area foe Eufaula, 55-51 last Tuesday night in the OHS Mainstreet gym. The EHS Lady Tigers won the area with the win over OHS. Eufaula girls won the area regular season championship, finishing 6-0 in area competition.

Opelika’s Kaitlyn Bryant led the bulldogs on offense with 16 points. Ladajah Huguley and Ashanti Thomas added 13 and 10 points, respectively.

OHS Girls’ Сoach Devin Booth’s team finished the week with a 55-35 blowout win over Russell County. Bryant and Haley Sanders led Opelika on offense by scoring 14 points apiece.

The Opelika Boys went 0-2 last week.

Eufala beat Opelika 68-66 at the buzzer last Tuesday in the Mainstreet gym. Ja Carr led the Bulldogs on See SPORTS , page B5

Lee-Scott senior Mary Helen Miller was named the 2021 Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama at the state competition on Jan. 23. Miller was a "Be Your Best Self" Essay Winner, Interview Winner and Scholastic Winner in addition to the state title. Through a virtual presentation and program, a first time for our state, Miller represented the Lee County area in a manner of excellence.

The Lee County DYW Board could not be more pleased of her outstanding accomplishment and her representation of all the talented young ladies that competed locally. The local DYW Board includes Sarah Armstrong, Ashley Powell, Jacque Middleton, Jennifer Stone, Beth Hoven, Laruen Beasley, Hannah Holladay, Christine Welbaum, Becky Anders, Brooke

MILLER

See DYW , page B5

LSA Girls win in 2OT, Boys rusty after layoff

By Wil Crews sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com

The regular seasons of high school basketball teams across Alabama are nearing an end, and the Lee-Scott Academy Varsity Boys and Girls teams are shaping up for AISA

Class AAA postseason play.

The varsity boys returned from a 13-day coronavirus-induced quarantine to lose 7250 at Glenwood on Monday night. The rust definitely showed early as LSA fell into a 14-0 hole in the first quarter.

After that, however, LSA played with Glenwood and was outscored by only eight for the rest of the contest. The loss means the Warriors are no longer undefeated in area play and puts Glenwood in pole position for the No.1 seed in the area.

The good news is LSA has a chance to avenge its loss on Thursday as the two teams meet again, this time at LeeScott. The Warriors played Chambers Academy in an out-ofarea contest on Tuesday See GIRLS, page B4

B2 January 27, 2021

AHS mountain biking ready for 2021 season

By JD McCarthy for the Opelika Observer

Students at Auburn High School can take the traditional route and play football or basketball, but they also have the opportunity to compete in a sport not many schools have: mountain biking.

Auburn, and several other Alabama high schools, formed the Alabama Interscholastic Cycling League in 2015 to provide mountain biking programs for students in grades 6 to 12.

The team, which consists of about 50 riders, is open to students of any experience level.

“We’ve had individuals who have never ridden a bike before to people who are good mountain bike riders and everywhere between,” said the Director of the Auburn High School Mountain Bike Team Brian Prowell.

He is also a coach for the Lee County Composite team, which is for students who do not attend Auburn but still wish to compete.

“Some have good fitness and no skill, some have good skill and no

Photo contributed by Ray Colley may come in with diffitness, and some are a ferent levels of skill, combination of both,” they tend to leave as he said. champions.

The most important Since competing skill when competing in 2015, the Auburn in a race is the ability team has won two state to turn well, Prowell championships (2016 explained, due to the and 2018) and has finfrequent twisting and ished second in the othturning of the trails. er three.

Other skills include They were on their the ability to ride over way to winning a third obstacles such as roots and rocks, maintaining before COVID-19 caused the 2020 season your balance and the ability to know when to to grind to a halt. This has the team eagerly speed up and when to awaiting the start of the slow down.

2021 season.

And while students

“We are expected to have a full race season,” Prowell said.

“Particularly with it being outdoors and once they get out on the trail and are spread out its relatively safe.”

The season, which consists of five races and a time trial, will start on Feb. 20-21, with the time trail at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.

One of the biggest advantages Auburn has for mountain biking is

Chewacla State Park, which is not only a site of one of the races but also has 20 trails that provide a challenge for riders of every skill level.

“It’s close to most everyone on the team to come and ride and it gives us a really diverse range of trails to practice on,” Prowell said.

It also provides a way to keep mountain biking fun by changing up the trails they ride and connecting them to make each ride seem

Jacob Blackmon inks baseball scholarship

Photo contributed to the Opelika Observer / Smiths Station senior Jacob Blackmon signed a baseball scholarship with Northwest Florida earlier this month. Pictured above are Blackmon and his parents, Keith and Lorraine Blackmon.

like a new experience even if they rode that trail the week before.

The skills can be practiced on actual trails, but they can also be simulated to provide a safer learning experience. That is why the team meets at Duck Samford Park twice a week. This allows them to set up cones, so riders can practice making turns at speed and if they lose control, they hit a cone and not a tree.

While races are open to grades 6 through 12, only the results from the high schoolers count toward the team score. There are also individual awards given for freshman, sophomore, junior varsity and varsity boys and girls. The results are scored similarly to cross country, with first-place varsity being the most and fewer points awarded for freshman finishes.

Despite planning for a full season, they have several contingency plans in case of any potential outbreaks, and Prowell believes they will be able to play the full season, one way or another.

“It should be an interesting year,” he said.

DYW >> FROM B1 Daniels and Kimble Eastman.

The upcoming Lee County DYW program will be held this summer. An informational meeting will be held on March 2 at 6 p.m. at the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce.

Participants, rising senior women, interested should attend for more information.

Donations for the scholarship program can be submitted to Lee County DYW for the upcoming year.

B3 January 27, 2021

Winter Ushers In Fun Family Activities!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1.

I

t’s hard to believe January, 2021, with Jack Frost, is blowing away on Sunday and Feb. 1 arrives on Monday. As a teacher, I always look forward to Feb. 2.

Yes, this is Groundhog’s Day. Groundhog’s Day is celebrated every year on Feb. 2. The official groundhog lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. His name is Punxsutawney Phil.

According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow (the day is bright and sunny) there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow

(the day is overcast), there will be an early spring.

Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his burrow at Gobbler’s Knob-in front of thousands of followers from all over the world to predict the weather for the rest of the season.

One thing young children love to do is be amateur meteorologists. Have children as young as three look outside and to predict what they think the weather will be like that day. This can make for early-morning-conversational learning and using appropriate thinking skills as children

take what they have learned to decide what clothes they need to wear that day or do I need an umbrella?

Young children at home and in the classroom love to be weather helpers. They love to look outside and draw what the weather looks like. Children love to study the different shapes of clouds, such as cumulus which look like cotton candy, cirrus clouds which look feathery and stratus clouds which are black and gray. An all time favorite for young children is to make out shapes out of clouds. You would be surprised at how creative your little one is.

Young children love to observe and learn about different kinds of precipitation of rain, sleet, snow and hail.

Children love to do experiments with evaporation by wetting a surface like a blackboard and watch the water disappear. They wonder where the water goes.

This gives the parents the opportunity to talk about the water cycle in which water drops evaporate in the air and go up into clouds to make different forms of evaporation, which falls back to the earth.

Grading Harsin’s Auburn Staff, Part 2: Defense

By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com

As of last Thursday, it appeared that Bryan Harsin had completely filled out his coaching staff. That was before what is probably the shortest coaching tenure in Auburn University history unfolded, when Auburn alum and newly hired Defensive Line Coach Tracy Rocker decided to renege on his alma mater and coach in the NFL. Now, there remains only one on-field

assistant coaching job open. However, Harsin has entered the next phase of expanding Auburn’s staff with the hiring of more specialized assistants and analysts.

Comprising Boise State staffers, familiar coaches of opposing Mountain West teams and guys with Auburn and SEC connections, Harsin’s staff is shaping u to be a good one.

The following is a breakdown of each new hire to Harsin’s defensive staff and what

they could bring to The Plains.

Defensive Coordinator — Derek Mason: For the five years that Kevin Steele was at Auburn, the Tigers’ defensive units were consistently ranked among the best in the SEC, sometimes the nation.

When Steele was fired, Harsin was always going to be hard pressed finding a replacement of equal or higher esteem to lead his defense.

See DEFENSE , page B5

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Outside thermometers are valuable teaching tools of how cold or hot it is in degrees.

Going back to our groundhogs, you can explain hibernation. Ask your young child what they like to do when winter comes and weather becomes really cold? We go on with our business despite how cold it is outside, but many animals choose to stay home and sleep through the entire season. We call this hibernation. Bears, groundhogs, frogs, turtles, bats, snakes, etc. all hibernate.

We all need an incentive to go outside and enjoy God’s World when it is so very cold.

Too, this is an activity that we truly can enjoy just looking out our windows. This winter activity that includes nature is “The Greater Backyard Bird Count” from Feb. 12-15. This is so much fun and educational and includes the whole family. This is a wonderful intergenerational activity to have with grandparents.

Too, the world comes to our doors because the world engages in this annual activity in bird watching.

Click on to GBBC (Greater Backyard bird Count) site. This

is a free, exciting, fun event so you just register and sign in to engage and broaden your understanding of the bird populations.

Instructions are very clear on how to get started. Participating bird watchers are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes or as long as they wish on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online and other options listed on GBBC for entering your bird lists.

Beginning bird watchers and seasoned bird watchers can participate from their home, backyard or anywhere in the world.

The checklists that are submitted during the GBBC helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society to learn more about how birds are doing and how to protect them and the environment we share.

I would like to share this verse from the Bible: Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow or reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

This is a Bible truth that you can teach your

young children as you begin the bird count.

Infants and toddlers are very observant of their surroundings.

Parents of younger children can hang an inexpensive bird feeder outside of a window where they can observe birds coming and going to the feeder. Young children scream with joy and delight when they observe birds coming and going to feed.

With your younger children and older children you can buy an inexpensive bird guide or check out different books on birds from the library. If the weather is nice, you can take your children to a park, a wide open space or a pond or lake. Birds with colors such as Blue Jays, Cardinals and Green Mallards are ones that your child can quickly see and identify them by color and sounds.

Readers let’s be on the look out to see if the Ground Hog sees his shadow this coming Tuesday, Feb. 2 and too start to find those binoculars, find some simple bird feeders and happy bird watching! Hey, Classroom Observer, will be engaging in these fun activities as well!

Beth Pinyerd, Classroom Observer

Examining Auburn’s needs one week from National Signing Day

By JD McCarthy for the Opelika Observer

Brian Harsin and his staff have been working tirelessly over the past month to close strongly on his first recruiting class.

Their work is nearly done.

National Signing Day is next Wednesday, Feb. 3, and the remaining recruits will be able to sign with the schools. Auburn signed 11 players back in December: one quarterback, one tight end, one offensive guard, three defensive tackles,

one defensive end, two cornerbacks and one safety.

Those 11 players are the foundation of the class, but Auburn has plenty of room for improvement.

Harsin is clearly at a disadvantage in recruiting, having only been on the job for a month, but he knows that this is a process that takes time and one that cannot be done overnight.

With signing day just one week away, here is a look at their biggest needs.

Offensive line This unit has been

one of the biggest weakness for Auburn over the last several seasons and needs to be addressed for Harsin to have a successful tenure.

The Tigers signed three-star guard Garner Langlo in December but missed out on several other recruits, including four-star guard Jaeden Roberts, who flipped and signed with Alabama. This was the group that interim Head Coach Kevin Steele said suffered the most after Auburn fired See SIGNING DAY , page B5

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B4 January 27, 2021

Smiths Station basketball off to hot start

By JD McCarthy for the Opelika Observer

This is the most fun Steven Davis said he has ever had as a coach.

The Smiths Station boys’ varsity head coach has enjoyed the 2021 basketball season more than any others despite the team’s struggles with COVID-19 and it is all due to his players.

“When they play hard and put in the work it is great as a coach,” he said.

It probably does not hurt that his team has a 14-1 record and has won

two tournaments.

The Panthers picked up their latest win Saturday in comeback fashion, defeating Central 57-48.

After heading into halftime tied at 23 the Panthers needed a 22-point fourth quarter to complete the comeback.

“Everybody played well and was locked in the entire night,” Davis said. “Everybody stayed locked in and we fought through a lot of adversity but pulled it out in the end. I’m extremely proud of the guys for toughing it out.”

The Panthers were led by Zay Madden who played “extremely well” and had a teamhigh 15 points and nine rebounds.

Ahmari Peabody made just two baskets on the night but both were critical, he made a 3-pointer to give the Panther a lead in the fourth and made a layup the next time down to add on.

Tre’quan Turner came through on both ends of the floor, scoring 14 points and playing good defense throughout the game.

Dre Weathers also

scored 10 points and snagged six rebounds.

Donovan Pearman also filled up the box score and perfectly played the role of a “floor general,” finishing with nine points, five rebounds, four assists and five steals.

After suffering their first loss of the season to Auburn 79-56 on Jan. 12, the Panthers have bounced back with back-to-back wins and will have a chance to avenge their loss when the host Auburn on Tuesday.

Making the hot start even more impressive,

the Panthers have been shut down twice due to COVID-19.

They started the season by winning the Lafayette Tip Off Tournament and raced to a perfect 12-0 record before falling to Auburn for their first loss of the season.

Making their hot start even more impressive is that they have already had to shut down due to COVID-19 twice.

The first was from Dec. 11-21 and forced the Panthers to reschedule several of their games and the Lee

County Tournament, which they won before being forced to quarantine the next day on Dec. 31, just a day after winning the tournament.

The Panthers are being led by Pearman and Weathers. Pearman, the team’s point guard, just joined the 1,000-point club and is averaging 18 points a game as a senior. Weathers, a forward, is averaging 10 points and nine rebounds as a junior.

The results of their matchup with Auburn were not available at press time.

Auburn Volleyball cancels spring season Courtesy of AU Athletics 2020-21 season. Auburn,

Due to the result of opt-outs and injuries, the Auburn volleyball program will not compete during the spring semester portion of the

which played eight competitions in the fall under first-year head coach Brent Crouch, will fall below the minimum threshold required to compete this spring due

to the number of total participants and available front row players.

Auburn Director of Athletics Allen Greene “While it is disappointing that the circumstances do not allow

us to participate in the spring volleyball season, the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes will always be our top priority.”

Auburn Volleyball Head Coach Brent

Crouch “Our guiding mission is to provide for the safety and well-being of our student-athletes and to develop them as Auburn women on and off the court.

Discontinuing play at this time is consistent with this mission. We are grateful for the work of Auburn University and the SEC, which allowed us to play a fall season.”

Auburn baseball announces 2021 schedule Courtesy of AU Athletics

Auburn baseball and head coach Butch Thompson announced the schedule for the 2021 season Friday, more than 10 months since the last college baseball game was played.

Thirty-two games are scheduled to be played at Plainsman Park in 2021, including 12 of the first 16 contests. The Tigers are 87-34 (.719) at home since the start of the 2017 season.

Fifteen of Auburn’s opponents turned in 30-win seasons in 2019, and 16 had winning records when the 2020 season came to an end.

The Tigers will square

off with nine NCAA Regional teams from 2019, including four NCAA Super Regional opponents and two foes who joined the Tigers at the 2019 College World Series. Additionally, six opponents appeared in the top 15 of the D1 Baseball Preseason Poll released earlier this week, including four in the top eight.

Opening Day will take place at Plainsman Park for the seventh straight season as Auburn welcomes Presbyterian to town for a three-game series from Feb. 19-21.

Auburn’s non-conference schedule is highlighted by an appearance in the 2021 Round

GIRLS >> FROM B1 night, but results were not available at press time.

While the LSA boys enjoyed a less-than-triumphant return from their two-week hiatus, the LSA Varsity Girls team has been going through some growing pains. On Jan. 14, the Lady Warriors fell to Glenwood, 58-34 after the Gators stretched their lead to double digits and dominated for most of the second half.

When the two teams met three days later the results were similar.

The Lady Warriors played much better, however, rebounding and defending with more purpose as they fell 39-30. The win secured the area for Glenwood and locked the varsity girls into the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

Next, having already beaten them at home earlier in the season, the Lady Warriors had a rematch against Edgewood on the road last Friday night. The highly contested game went

Rock Classic in Round Rock, Texas, from Feb. 26-28. The Tigers will take on Oklahoma, Baylor and Texas A&M in the event held at Dell Diamond.

Auburn will also host non-conference weekend series against Xavier from Mar. 5-7, including a Saturday doubleheader, and Little Rock from Mar. 12-14.

The team’s midweek schedule prior to the start of the Southeastern Conference season includes home contests against Alabama A&M (Feb. 23-24) and Jacksonville State (Mar. 2) and a road game against UAB at Regions Field. (Mar. 9).

Auburn begins

to double overtime as both teams battled for an edge until the very end. The Lady Warriors came out on top 41-36, to get some much-needed confidence and momentum.

“Our team has grown up so much from the beginning of the year,” LSA Varsity Girl’s Coach Corye Ivatt said. “We are getting better and better and I keep telling them the best is yet to come. We have to continue to work hard and learn from the past games to make improvements in our upcoming games.”

The AISA Class AAA state tournament begins on Feb. 1 for the girls and Feb. 2 for the boys. The LSA Varsity Boys are still vying for the No. 1 seed in the area. If they finish No. 1, LSA will have a bye, placing them directly into the AISA Class AAA Elite Eight on Feb. 9. If they finish No. 2 in the area, LSA will face off against Vallant on Feb. 2. The Varsity Girls are locked into the No. 2 spot in the area but will have a first-round bye and face Clarke Prep on Feb. 8 in the Elite Eight.

SEC play Mar. 19-21 with a trip to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on preseason No. 6 Ole Miss. The team’s road schedule in league play also includes trips to No. 8 Arkansas (Apr. 1-3), Alabama (Apr. 16-18), Georgia (Apr. 30-May 2) and Missouri (May 20-22).

The Tigers welcome Kentucky to the Plains Mar. 26-28 to begin the home SEC schedule. The team will also host No. 7 Mississippi State (Apr. 9-11), No. 1 Florida (Apr. 23-25), No. 13 LSU (May 7-9) and Texas A&M (May 14-16) for conference series.

Auburn’s midweek slate continues during

conference play, beginning with a trip to Montgomery for the Capital City Classic, this time against South Alabama, on Mar. 23. The team hosts Kennesaw State Apr. 6 before traveling to No. 15 Georgia Tech the following week.

Auburn and Samford continue an in-state rivalry that dates back to 1909 with a homeand-home matchup in Auburn on Apr. 20 and at the Hoover Met on May 11. UAB comes to the Plains on May 4, and the midweek slate concludes against North Alabama May 18.

The SEC Tournament is scheduled to take place May 25-30 in

Hoover, Alabama, with NCAA Regionals being played June 4-7, Super Regionals June 11-14 and the College World Series June 19-30.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and dependent upon state and local recommendations, all opponents, dates and times on Auburn’s schedule are subject to change. Dates and times could also change for TV scheduling purposes, which the SEC will announce at a later date.

Additional information related to attendance and safety protocols at Plainsman Park will be announced closer to the start of the season.

B5 January 27, 2021

Fall 2020 Graduates Announced at UA Courtesy of the University of Alabama

The University of Alabama awarded some 2,257 degrees during its fall commencement Dec. 12.

- April Butler of Auburn received a Master of Library & Information Studies - Nora Chandler of Auburn received a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in

SIGNING DAY >> FROM B3 Gus Malzahn.

Harsin and offensive line coach Will Friend have worked hard to bolster this unit, but they are facing an uphill climb.

Not only have they only been recruiting these players recently, but many of the top linemen also signed back in December, and schools are battling for the last few standing.

The Tigers recently offered three-star offensive tackle Colby Smith and three-star junior college

DEFENSE >> FROM B3 Enter former Vanderbilt Head Coach and Stanford Defensive Coordinator Derek Mason.

Before he became the second coach in Vanderbilt history to lead the team to multiple bowl appearances, Mason was the architect of a vaunted Stanford defense that helped the Cardinals dominate the Pac-12 for the better half of a decade.

Stanford’s best defensive season under Mason’s tutelage came in 2013. After facing seven ranked opponents, the Stanford defense ranked third nationally in rushing defense, 10th in scoring defense and fifth in sacks.

Mason’s tactics are proven. His 3-4 system is known for its versatility; it challenges the players with more responsibilities but offers more opportunities in return. He

SPORTS >> FROM B1 offense with 21 points.

Jayden Cooper scored 9 points, and Brandon Howard scored 8 points in the loss. Opelika’s Cooper tied the game at 66-66 with 8 seconds left on a three-pointer, only to have the Tigers score at the buzzer on a shot that rolled around the rim before falling to win by 2 points.

In the second game of the week, Russell County defeated the varsity boys 68-44.

Jayden Cooper led the offense with 11 points, while teammate

Communication Information Sciences - Evan Ferguson of Auburn received a Master of Arts - Michael Fisher of Auburn received a Bachelor of Arts - Wanda Lewis of Opelika received a Bachelor of Arts - Leann Locke of Opelika received a Bachelor of Arts - Jack Martin of Auburn received a

Master of Science in Computer Science - Hiram Rogers of Waverly received a Master of Library & Information Studies - Rachel Sharma of Opelika received a Bachelor of Arts - Christopher SikesMitchell of Smiths Station received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

With a beautiful

campus, dozens of challenging academ-ic programs, expert faculty and numerous opportunities for service and growth, The University of Alabama is a place where legends are made. UA off ers its students a premier educational, cultural and social experience with more than 200 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.

The campus gives students the opportunity to interact with faculty performing cutting-edge research.

The University of Alabama, the state’s oldest and largest public institution of higher education, is a stu-dent-centered research university that draws the best and bright-est to an academic community committed to providing

a premier undergraduate and graduate education.

UA is dedicated to achieving excellence in scholarship, collaboration and intellectual engagement; providing public outreach and service to the state of Alabama and the nation; and nurturing a campus environment that fosters collegiality, respect and inclusivity.

offensive tackle Jordan Moko.

Moko is the top junior college tackle in the country and is from Australia. He named LSU, Texas A&M and Oregon as his top schools back in December but has left his recruitment open and is a priority for Auburn.

Smith, a 6-foot-7, 315-pound tackle from Reidsville, North Carolina, was a Tennessee commit before backing off his pledge after the Volunteers moved on from Jeremy Pruitt.

Smith committed

to Tennessee back when Friend was the Volunteers’ offensive line coach; this could help drive him right onto The Plains.

Running back A season ago, this was one of the deepest positions on Auburn’s roster but that has quickly flipped due to the departures of Harold Joiner and D.J. Williams and the anticipated exit of Mark-Antony Richards, who entered the transfer portal but has not yet announced where he will be transferring.

Auburn still has a star at this position in

Tank Bigsby, and a good backup Shaun Shivers.

But the Tigers need to replenish the depth and build for the future.

After missing out on four-star running back Armoni Goodwin, the Tigers seem to have set their sights on three-star Jarquez Hunter.

Hunter is from Philadelphia, Mississippi, and is expected to join Auburn’s class. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Hunter ran for 1,687 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior.

Even if Auburn lands Hunter, it would make sense for them to target

an experienced running back in the transfer portal, one to add depth behind Bigsby and Shivers but who would not take too many carries from Bigsby.

Others Auburn has other lesser needs but running back and offensive line are the two biggest.

They could look to add an experienced wide receiver through the portal to complement the Tigers’ talented young receivers.

Auburn still has room to sign over 10 players, but they do not have to use them all on high

school recruits. They will have the option of adding players through the transfer portal to address some needs.

“The goal is to sign the right people, to have the right players in this program, to have the right fit for what it is we’re trying to accomplish,” Harsin said. “That goes back to that original question, just making sure that we stick to the plan that we have in place and that we do follow through on getting the right people here and making sure, especially this ‘21 class, that we build it the right way.”

also has connections on both sides of the U.S. that can help facilitate Auburn’s nationwide recruiting ambitions.

Slam dunk hire.

Grade: A Defensive Backs — Zac Etheridge: It’s always a plus when a former Auburn player returns to The Plains to assume a coaching role. Especially if said player was a captain on the 2010 national championship team, like Etheridge.

A relatively inexperienced coach, he spent the last two years coaching at Houston, where the Cougar defense saw improvements from 2019-20 in passing yards allowed, third down conversion defense percentage and tackles for loss.

I hope his playing experience as a starting college safety will outweigh his inexperience coaching at a power-5 program, but, nevertheless, Ethridge is a rising star in this business, and this was a savvy addition by Harsin to infuse

a little more orange and blue blood into his coaching staff.

Grade: B+ Inside Linebackers/ Defensive Run Game Coordinator — Jeff Schmedding: A guy who is following Harsin, Schmedding is taking a step down after serving as defensive coordinator the past two seasons in Boise. He coached inside linebackers for them last season too.

In 2019, Schmedding coached two First Team Mountain West defenders and five who made second team.

Prior to Boise State, he coached at Eastern Washington for 15 seasons (2015-18 as defensive coordinator).

It may take a while for Auburn fans to get over the loss of fan-favorite (former) Linebackers Coach Travis Williams, but what Schmedding lacks in Auburn allure, he gains in coordinator experience and national connections.

Like a lot of Harsin’s guys, however,

recruiting — and how well the Mountain West tactics translate to the SEC — will be the biggest question here.

Grade: B Outside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator — Bert Watts: Watts spent last season as the linebackers coach at Memphis and the previous three seasons in the Mountain West at Fresno State (two as defensive coordinator).

Harsin coached against him in 2018 when Watt’s Bulldog defense ranked in the Top 10 nationally in scoring defense (3rd), red zone defense (1st), passes intercepted (4th), passing efficiency defense (5th) and turnover margin (9th). That same year, Fresno State went 12-2 and won the Mountain West title — besting Harsin’s Boise in the championship game.

The addition of Watts means Harsin has three defensive assistants who

have previously served in a defensive coordinator role (Mason, Schmedding and Watts).

Grade: B Strength & Conditioning — Jeff Pittman: Over the past few seasons, Auburn’s offensive line has struggled mightily. A former walk-on offensive lineman turned two-yearstarter himself, Pittman specializes in the big boys up front and knowing the kind of work it takes to be successful in the trenches.

Pittman followed Harsin from Boise after spending the last eight seasons on his staff (2014-2020 at Boise and Arkansas State 2013).

With three decades of experience and a familiar understanding of what Harsin wants, this is a safe hire that I’d challenge anyone to find a complaint about.

Grade: B Defensive Line: Is it too late to bring back T-Will and make him defensive line coach?

Rocker backed out of the deal and it might be

a good thing given the reports about how he loathed recruiting. If his heart wasn’t in it, then his leaving was probably for the best.

Now, Harsin needs to move quickly to fill this position with national singing day fast approaching on Feb. 3.

Some names to keep an eye out for: Jimmy Brumbaugh (Auburn alum, Tennessee co-defensive coordinator and D-line coach) and Brick Haley (Missouri’s D-line coach 2017-20).

Overall: B, Offense: B, Defense: B+ This grade could jump to a B+ depending on who is hired to be defensive line coach. I think the better hires are on defense, but that makes sense given the holistic handprint that Harsin will have on the offense. The biggest risk: Bobo. The biggest disappointment: losing Travis Williams. The biggest encouragement: the number of former OC/DC’s who took downgraded roles.

Brandon Howard added 10 points.

AHSAA ATHLETIC UPDATE The Alabama High School Athletic Association held a Central Board of Control Meeting last Wednesday in Montgomery. The Board approved numerous modifications to winter playoff schedules.

Basketball seemed to have more modifications, including adding a second sub-regional round at high school campuses. Second- and third-round playoff games are normally at neutral sites. The

regional finals will continue to be held at neutral venues. Class 7A will play the sub-regional on campuses before regional finals at neutral sites.

The regional sites include Jacksonville State, Wallace-Hanceville and Garrett Coliseum.

(Montgomery’s Garrett Coliseum will host two regional finals).

Alabama State University told the AHSAA that due to COVID, they would not host a regional final.

South Alabama and Troy turned down offers to host a regional.

The State Finals will start Feb. 26 instead

of March 1, to help spread the games out more through March 6. AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese, appearing on my sports radio show “On the Mark” (airing on FOX Sports the Game 9101310) Friday, made the following comments.

“Like I told everyone in July, when I announced we would move forward with fall sports… We must be flexible and follow the guidance from the Alabama Department of Health and State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. We’re dealing with an abnormal world, but the kids will be

able to play games and experience a complete season.”

The State Finals will be held in Bill Harris Arena in the Birmingham Crossplex and at Bartow Arena on the UAB campus.

The regular site, BJCC, is undergoing renovations and is unusable for 2021. Both sites will operate at 20% attendance, which translates to 1,000 spectators each at Bill Harris Arena and UAB. The Indoor Track Championship will be held over two days, Feb. 5 and 6, at Birmingham’s Crossplex.

Wrestling Championships will be on separate weekends and will be at three sites. The super sectional meets will be at Montgomery’s Garret Coliseum (Class 1A-4A) and Birmingham’s Bill Harris Arena (7A), Feb. 12-13. The Championships will be held at Huntsville’s Vaun Braun Civic Center Feb. 18-20.

All of the changes were made to help the student-athletes complete winter sports.

For more details on the modifications, go to ahsaa.com.

B6 January 27, 2021

Michael Ray Taylor to speak at Olli Brown Bag Lecture Feb. 10 Contributed by OLLI

Michael Ray Taylor, author and journalism professor at Henderson State University in Arkansas, will present “Hidden Nature: Exploring Caves” at OLLI’s Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture Series on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

His presentation will be streamed live on OLLI at Auburn’s

Facebook page at noon.

Taylor, a seasoned caver and journalist, will guide us on an adventurous photographic tour of the cave-rich region called TAG, an acronym for Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. Highlights of our tour will include Alabama pits hundreds of feet deep, huge hidden chambers,

subterranean rivers, beautiful formations and odd wildlife.

We will learn about the thrill of caving, scientific discoveries underground and ways that the health of Alabama caves affect surface life and the water supply.

Taylor is the author of several books on caves and science. His latest is Hidden Nature: Wild Southern Caves,

from which this talk is adapted, was released in August 2020. He has written for Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, Audubon and many other publications, and he teaches journalism at Henderson State University in Arkansas.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University (OLLI at Auburn) hosts its live Brown

Bag Lunch & Lecture Series from 12 to 1 p.m. on OLLI at Auburn’s Facebook page, www.facebook. com/OLLIatAuburn.

The free program is open to the public.

OLLI at Auburn is a program of the Office of the Vice President for University Outreach. OLLI administrative offices and select classes are located at

the historic Sunny Slope property, 1031 S College St. in Auburn. For more information or to learn about becoming a Volunteer Faculty Member, Volunteer Service Assistant, or Sponsor, contact Shawnee McKee, OLLI Administrative Support, at 334-8443146, olli@auburn. edu, or visit our website at www.olliatauburn.org.

100 Black Men of America, offers stipend to students for Virtual Technology Training Contributed by 100 BMOA Greater Auburn/Opelika Inc.

100 Black Men of America, in partnership with Southern Union State Community College and Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church, will offer Virtual Technology Training for kindergarten- through middle school-age students.

The event will be held at the Greater Peace Family Life Center at 650 Jeter Ave. in Opelika from 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 27. A maximum of 30 in-person students will be allowed to participate due to COVID-19 protocol for social distancing. A maximum of 30 online students will be allowed to participate on a first come, first served basis according to registration. All student participants will receive a $25 stipend. Students may register now at the following website (www.100gao.org/register).

Virtual Technology Training Goal: Due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, many school systems have turned to remote school learning across kindergarten and middle school programs.

The 100 Black Men organization has recognized a need to assist students and parents in navigating the technology being used for

remote learning. The Virtual Technology Training event has been established to offer much-needed training and guidance to help both students and parents gain skills, techniques and approaches in how to succeed in use of this new technology that has been thrust upon some of the most vulnerable in our communities. the program/ event Availability This will be the second time offering this training in response to the overwhelming positive feedback received from the first session offered in December 2020. The 100 Black Men organization is so committed to offering this help to our students and families that the 100 is also providing a $25 stipend to encourage students in the value of their education.

For more information on the program/event, visit www.100gao.org.

About 100 Black Men of Greater Auburn/ Opelika The 100 Black Men of Greater Auburn/Opelika is a local chapter of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. The organization specializes in mentoring at-risk, minority and socio-economically disadvantaged youth in communities across the nation and around the globe. The motto of the organization is “What they See is What they will Be…”

B7 January 27, 2021

Smiths Station hosts “High Duels Tournament”

Photos by Josh Fisher / Opelika Observer

B8 January 27, 2021

Opelika and Eufala square off

Photos by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics

B9

January 27, 2021

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Outstanding Class of Freshman State Senators

T

he 2021 Regular Legislative Session begins next week.

Over the years, I have observed some outstanding classes of freshman legislators. Some standout more than others and occasionally you have a very stellar class. My observation is that this freshman class of state senators is a class to remember and watch.

There are two Democrats and 10 Republicans in the freshman class of state senators, who were elected and sworn into office in November 2018. The ten-member class of Republican state senators is a sterling group and includes Sam Givhan of Huntsville, Will Barfoot of Pike Road/Montgomery, Dan Roberts of Mountain Brook/Jefferson/Shelby, Andrew Jones of Cherokee/Etowah, Garlan Gudger of Cullman, Chris Elliott of Baldwin, David Sessions and Jack Williams both of Mobile, and Randy Price of Opelika, along with veteran-state senator Tom Butler who has returned as a freshman after a decade hiatus from politics.

This group may stay together in the Alabama State Senate for years to come. They are wise enough to realize that being one of 35 members of the state Senate is more powerful and has more effect over public policy than aspiring to Congress or a secondary statewide office — especially, if you are one of the 10 Republican senators mentioned above. You are one of 25 who literally can control the mechanizations and budget of Alabama government. The only post more powerful is governor.

One of the leaders of this 10-member Republican freshman state Senate class is Givhan. He is witty and has dubbed the class in football recruiting terminology. According to Givhan, there are seven true freshmen, Barfoot, Roberts, Gudger, Jones, Elliott, Price and he. Two junior college transfers, Williams and Sessions, who moved from the House to the Senate, and one Red Shirt, Tom Butler.

Senator Givhan is a lawyer by profession and served as chairman of the Madison County Republican Party prior to being elected to the Senate.

He could be considered a state Senate legacy. His grandfather, the late Walter Givhan, Sr., was a legendary state senator from the Black Belt in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Senator Will Barfoot won his seat convincingly in 2018. He worked

STEVE FLOWERS his Montgomery/Elmore/Crenshaw district the old-fashioned way with diligent one-on-one politickin. It paid off. He carried every box in his state Senate district. He can stay in that district until the cows come home. He was actually born and raised in Pike Road before it ever dreamed of being the fastest growing town in Alabama.

Will is a lawyer by profession and a dedicated family man. He and his wife, Kathy, have five children.

Senator Dan Roberts of Mountain Brook is personable and honest. He has had a successful career in business and is serving in the state Senate for the right reasons.

Senator Andrew Jones is one of the youngest members of this class. He has tremendous potential and is doing an excellent job. Similar to Barfoot, Andrew really worked his district and knows his constituents well.

Garlan Gudger is also young. He represents Cullman and a large part of northwest Alabama. He knows his folks in Cullman well. He has the potential to be a powerful senator.

Cullman has produced some influential senators over the years, especially the St. John family.

Senator Chris Elliott may have the most promise and ability of this group. The Baldwin County area he represents is very different from the one he grew up in. He knows the needs and problems inherent in representing the fastest growing county in the state. He was a very effective county commissioner in Baldwin County prior to ascending to the senate.

Senator David Sessions, of Grand Bay in Mobile County, was one of the most popular members of the House See FLOWERS, page B11

Commission awards chainsaws

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver. com

The Lee County Commission had a quiet meeting Monday, approving an adopt-a-mile application, speed limit reductions and a purchase request for the Beauregard Volunteer Fire Department.

County Engineer Justin Hardee also presented the local volunteer fire departments with chainsaws Monday night.

Chief Blake Simpkins, president of the Lee County’s Fire Fighters Association, accepted the

seven chainsaws that the county purchased.

“I know how great the programs are,” said District 2 Commissioner Sarah Brown. “… My son is actually a volunteer at the Farmville [program] and has learned so much.

And I just really appreciate all you do. Thank you.”

District 4 Commissioner Gary Long said he knows the programs are tough after trying to volunteer with the Smiths Station volunteer fire department and said he appreciates the work the volunteers do.

“Ya’ll are a rare breed,” he said.

Simpkins said he has been with Beulah Fire Rescue for 12 years and appreciates the commission’s support.

“Over the past couple years, I’ve seen a lot of working together in the county,” he said. “And everybody knows, if you can get everybody on the same page, working together, communication, talking, everything just runs smoothly.”

Beauregard Volunteer Fire: The Beauregard Volunteer Fire Department requested a purchase See LCC, page B11

Opelika City Council considers change to animal ordinance

By Michelle Key Publisher

A motion to change the city’s animal ordinance was introduced for the first reading during Opelika’s city council meeting last week. The change would allow the discharging of firearms within the city limits in order to shoot nuisance animals under strict conditions. The change stems mainly from a flock of turkey vultures that are nesting behind and near the Calhoun Tennis Center and is adjacent to Opelika Middle School. According to a letter from City Attorney Guy Gunter, the vultures are adversely affecting the education setting and may cause problems such as: spreading disease through their droppings, damage to the buildings, offensive odors, noise and may frighten or annoy the children.

Opelika City School

Superintendent Dr. Mark Neighbors has consulted with biologists at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Wildlife Services, which is a program of the USDA, have advised Neighbors that the most effective method of battling flocks of turkey vultures is to hang effigies of the birds upside down but they do not recommend shooting large numbers of the birds. According to the letter from Gunter, only a few of the birds would be shot and the carcasses would be strung high in the trees to frighten the remaining flock away.

These birds are federally protected as a migratory bird and a federal permit would be required to legally shoot them and would only be allowed if the birds have been determined to be a true nuisance to the community.

The proposed

changes to the ordinance would create a new exception to the rule that states it is unlawful to discharge a firearm within the city limits. The shooting of nuisance birds or animals would only be allowed under the supervision of the police department and would only be performed by skilled operators who hold the appropriate permits, licenses and accreditations. All federal, state and municipal rules and regulations must be followed as well. According to Gunter, the proposed ordinance changes will not allow “carte blanche authority” for people to shoot and kill vultures or other animals.

The proposed changes are likely to be voted on at the next city council meeting which will be on Feb. 2.

Also during the council meeting, Mayor Gary Fuller See COUNCIL, page B11

Auburn City Council works toward inclusive park

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver. com

Town Creek Park’s new playground is well underway after Auburn City Council’s Tuesday meeting.

The playground is an inclusive playground that is ADA accessible.

It will include the playground, parking and a new trail.

The council approved a contract with D&J Enterprises, Inc. for construction on the inclusive playground project for over $1.96 million.

The contact includes the cost of labor, equipment and materials.

A parking lot will be constructed, along with storm drain installation,

retaining walls, concrete sidewalks and ramps.

The council also approved a contract with Miracle Recreation Equip. Co. for equipping, surfing and installation for the park for over $1.95 million.

The park will include an “observation area” on a terrace, a play area with multiple ways to access it, play equipment that will support ADA accessibility and a nature study area.

According to the renderings included in the e-packet, the park will include play equipment such as a bouldering wall, swings adapted to suite wheelchairs, slides, play structures and more.

Parks and Recreation

Director Becky Richardson said that the park will be composed of pods of different equipment.

“Each pod will have equipment that fits various physical challenges or needs,” she said.

“There will be equipment that would be good for children with autism, there would be equipment that will be good for down syndrome, there would be things that children that are deaf or blind could play on. And, in addition to people that have those needs, there will also be equipment that would be suitable for other children and the family to play on.

So it’s something that See PARK, page B11

B10 January 27, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed proposals (One Copy) will be received by the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Regional Center located at 432 East Jefferson Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104 until 2:00 p.m. local time on Thursday February 18, 2021, for A New Regional Center for Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Opelika, Alabama at which time they will be publicly opened and read.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 10:00 am. The conference will be held at the site. The site is located at the intersection of Waverly Parkway and Dunlop Drive in Opelika, Alabama. Contractors bidding this project are encouraged to attend the Pre-Bid Meeting and walk the site and examine all existing conditions prior to submitting their Proposal.

A cashier’s check or bid bond payable to the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind in an amount not less than five (5) percent of the amount of the bid, but in no event more than $10,000, must accompany the bidder’s proposal. Performance and Payment Bonds and evidence of insurance required in the bid documents will be required at the signing of the Contract.

The Contract Documents and Plans may be examined at the office of the Architect located at 624 South McDonough Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. Electronic images of the documents are available via the architect’s Drop Box. It will be the Contractor’s, Sub-Contractor’s, Vendors, etc. responsibility to check the BDW Dropbox for Addendums, etc. related to the project. Send all RFI’s and request for the Dropbox link to the attention of Frank McKinnon. Email: fmckinnon@bdwarchitects.com.

Bids must be submitted on proposal forms furnished by the Architect or copies thereof. All bidders bidding in amounts exceeding that established by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors must be licensed under the provisions of Title 34, Chapter 8, Code of Alabama, 1975, and must show evidence of license before bidding or bid will not be received or considered by the Architect; the bidder shall show such evidence by clearly displaying his or her current license number on the outside of the sealed envelope in which the proposal is delivered. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technical errors if, in the Owner’s judgment, the best interests of the Owner will thereby be promoted.

The project is being bid EXCLUDING SALES TAXES and requires the Contractor to comply with the requirements of Act 2013-205 which was signed into law on May 19, 2013.

The Contractor and Owner will be required to apply for Certificates of Exemption with the Alabama Department of Revenue which will handle administration of the Certificates. The Contractor shall account for the tax savings on the Accounting of Sales Tax ABC Form C-3ASales Tax form included in the Specifications behind the Proposal form. Failure of the Contractor to complete this form and include with their Proposal shall render the bid non-responsive.

The Contractor shall be responsible for paying the Alabama Building Commission Building Permit Fee as per the included Alabama Department of Finance Real Property Management

Division of Construction Management Permit Fee Re-Inspection Fee Calculation Worksheet.

Contract Time: Project must be completed within 300 calendar days from the “Notice to Proceed”.

Scope of Work: Work will consist of constructing a new free-standing single-story building consisting of approximately 8,045 square feet of conditioned space.

Awarding Authority: Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind P.0. Box 698 Talladega, Alabama 35160 Architect: Barganier Davis Williams Architects Associated 624 South McDonough Street Montgomery, Alabama Telephone: (334) 834-2038 Legal Run 01/27/2021, 02/03/2021 & 02/10/2021 -------------IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA FAMILY COURT: DOMESTIC RELATIONS IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF: JOHN MARSHALL, JR, Plaintiff vs. NELLIE MARSHALL, Defendant.

Civil Action Number DR2020-900209 NOTICE OF DIVORCE NELLIE KATE MARSHALL, Defendant, whose whereabouts is unknown, must answer JOHN MARSHALL, JR'S complaint for divorce and other relief

by March 05, 2021 or, thereafter, a judgment by default may be rendered against him/her in Case No. DR"2020•900209, Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama.2021'.

Done the 7th Day of January, 2021 Mary B. Roberson, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lee County.

Margaret Y. Brown Attorney for Plaintiff 214 North College Street Auburn, Alabama 36830 (334) 821-6944 Legal Run 01/13/21, 01/20/21, 01/27/21 & 02/03/21 -------------IN RE: MARRIAGE OF STEVEN FARROW, PLAINTIFF VS. LAKESHIA FARROW, DEFENDANT IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO.: DR-2019000030.00 NOTICE OF DIVORCE ACTION LAKESHIA FARROW, Whose whereabouts are unknown, must answer STEVEN FARROW’S Petition for Divorce and other relief by the 12th day of March, 2021, or thereafter judgment by default may be rendered against him in Case No. DR-2019-000030.00, Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama.

DONE this the 10th day of January, 2021.

Mary Roberson, CIRCUIT CLERK, LEE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Legal Run 01/20/21, 01/27/21, 02/03/21 & 02/10/2021.

-------------STATE OF ALABAMA LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT CASE NO. 2021-001 ESTATE OF MELINDA ELIZABETH ROGERS MEALS, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said Melinda Elizabeth Rogers Meals, deceased,

having been granted to John Ryan Meals, this 12th day of January 2021, 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.

John Ryan Meals, Personal Representative Jeffery A. Hilyer Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, Alabama 368030030 334-745-2564 Legal Run 01/20/21, 01/27/21 & 02/03/21 -------------NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF JEROLD EDWARD LANGLEY, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 23rd day of December, 2020, by the Hon. 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 law or the same will barred.

Witness our hands, and dated this the 23rd day of December, 2020.

ANNETTE SUMMERALL LANGLEY Legal Run 01/20/2021, 01/27/2021 & 02/03/2021 -------------INVITATION TO BID 21007 Sealed bids for the construction of the North Uniroyal and Ballard Avenue Culvert Replacement Project shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on February 9, 2021, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend.

Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, 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 §348-1, 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.

Bidders are required to have a State of Alabama General Contractor’s License with a specialty of “Highways and Streets, Clearing and Grubbing, Earthwork, Erosion, Site Work, Grading or Municipal and Utility”.

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 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.

Drawings and Specifications may be examined at the Office of the City Engineer located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama, and phone number: 334-7055450. Bid documents may be obtained from the Office of the City Engineer at no

charge as an electronic file if the bidder supplies a storage drive or as an email attachment or electronic drop box.

The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her 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: North Uniroyal and Ballard Avenue Culvert Replacement Project 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 01/27/2021 & 02/03/2021 -------------NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE Default having been made in the payment of that certain promissory note and the terms of that certain mortgage executed by William Brad Schwarz to CAPITAL CITY BANK, dated the 12th day of April, 2019, which mortgage was recorded in Mortgage Book 4466, Page 982, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, the undersigned CAPITAL CITY BANK, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash before the Courthouse door of the Lee County Courthouse in Opelika, Alabama, on February 23, 2021, or on such later date as circumstances may require, during the legal hours of sale, the following real estate, situated in Lee County, Alabama, to wit:

the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

LEGAL RUN 01/27/2021, 02/03/2021, & 02/10/2021

This being the same property which was conveyed to William Brad Schwarz by deed recorded at Deed Book 2363, Page 786, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama.

--------------

Said property is commonly known as 70 Lee Road 374, Valley, Alabama 36854 (Tax Parcel No. 01-04-19-0000-001.007).

The indebtedness secured by said mortgage has been and is hereby declared due because of default under the terms of said promissory note, and any renewal or extension thereof, and mortgage, including but not limited to the nonpayment of the indebtedness as and when due. The indebtedness remaining in default, this sale will be made for the purpose of paying the same, all expenses of the sale, including a reasonable attorney’s fee, and all other payments provided for under the terms of the promissory note and mortgage.

The mortgagor has been furnished with written notice, mailed by certified mail to the property address at least thirty (30) days prior to the sale date, which notice provides as follows: “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 LAW FIRM IS EN-GAGED IN THE COLLEC-TION OF A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. CAPITAL CITY BANK Mortgagee Donald R. Cleveland P. O. Box 527 West Point, Georgia 31833 706.643.9552 Attorney for Mortgagee Legal Run 01/27/21, 02/03/21 & 02/10/21 --------------

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1412 Opelika Rd, Auburn, AL 36830 Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 10:00AM Jordan Taylor - Unit N162 202 1/2 N 2nd St opelika, AL 36801 couch,dresser,boxes,end table Jamelia Owens 1420 Carolyn Ct Auburn, AL 36830 queenbed and boxes Danielle Jolly 701 Baker Blvd Tuscumbia, AL 35674 3 bedroom home The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Legal Run 01/27/2021 & 02/03/2021

Lot No. 4 of Beulah Heights Subdivision in Section 19, Township 20 North, Range 29 East, Lee County, Alabama, according to and as shown by that map or plat of said subdivision recorded in Town Plat Book 9, Page 118, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama. Subject to all easements and rights of way of record.

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUN-TY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ROSIE NELL REESE, DECEASED NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Jacqueline Jordan on the 15th day of January 2021, 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 time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Jacqueline Jordan Legal Run 01/27/2021, 02/03/2021 & 02/10/2021

This being the same property which was conveyed to Norman D. Schwarz and wife, Margaret Schwarz, both of whom are now deceased, as joint tenants with the right of survivorship, as shown by deed recorded in Deed Book 1601, Page 288, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama. Norman D. Schwarz died in or around 1996 predeceasing Margaret Schwarz, who, by virtue of surviving him, succeeded to fee simple ownership of the above-described property. The said Margaret Schwarz died on August 29, 2007, and her last will and testament was duly admitted to probate in

-------------NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF JANIS LEE MARTIN, Deceased PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY LETTERS OF ADMIN-ISTRATION WITH THE WILL ANNEXED of said deceased having been grant-ed to the undersigned on the 20th day of January, 2021 by the Honorable Bill En-glish, Probate Judge 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.

Benjamin H. Parr, Administrator

STORAGE TREASURES AUCTION ONE FACILITY – MULTIPLE UNITS

-------------STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF LEE To Johnathan Gardiner, Asia Hall, Thamani Hall, Tanier Hall, James Stanley, Jovaughn Stanley, Jeffery Meeks, and Jahdyon Ragsdale, last known addresses in or around Acworth, GA, but whose whereabouts are otherwise unknown, and any known or unknown heirs of the Estate of Elmer L. Potts, deceased.

You will please take notice that on the 22nd day of January, 2021 a certain paper in writing, purported to be the Last Will and Testament of Elmer L. Potts was filed in my office for Probate by Sally Lankdord and that the 3rd day of March, 2021 @ 10:00 a.m., CST, was appointed the day and time for the hearing thereof, at which time you can appear and contest the same, if you see proper.

Given under my hand, this the 22nd day of January, 2021.

BILL ENGLISH, Judge of Probate Legal Run 01/27/2021, 02/03/2021 & 02/10/2021 -------------NOTICE OF ADOPTION PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY CASE NO.: 2019-B-211 2019-B-212 TO: Unknown Father Please take notice that a Petition for Adoption was filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama by Yolanda Evett Jackson on September 12, 2019, for the Adoption of A. J.C. and J. K. C. born July 25th, 2019 born to Brittney Nichole Crump. A hearing has been set for the 27th day of April, 2021 at 10 o’clock a.m. central time in the Probate Court, Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama. Should you intend to contest this adoption, you must file a written response within thirty (30) days of the date of the last publication herein, with the Clerk of said Probate Court at 215 S 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama 36801 or appear on the date of the hearing as set above to contest said Petition.

Done this 22nd day of January, 2021.

Bill English, Probate Judge Legal Run 01/27/2021, 02/03/2021, 02/10/2021 & 02/17/2021

B11 January 27, 2021

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PARK >> FROM B9 the whole family and their friends can participate in."

Additionally the park will contain exercise equipment that adults could use while the children play, Richardson said.

“I just really support this project and I just wanted to bring it out and just thank all of the staff that worked on this and getting this to happen and the parks and rec board, of course, for getting this moving as well,” said Ward 5 Council Member Steven Dixon. “I just wanted to basically just thank everybody and I’m looking forward to having this. It’s going to be a great addition to our community where kids can play together no matter what.”

Vaccine: “We had a conference

LCC >> FROM B9 approval of seven pulse oximeters.

The purchase, which was approved, will cost the county $3,782.98.

“The equipment will be used for initial patient contact to determine oxygen saturation levels in possible COVID-19 patients,” the county’s

COUNCIL >> FROM B9 recognized Opelika High School as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Mission: CubeSat National Challenge Finalist. According to information received from OCS the CTE Mission: CubeSat is a national challenge to build technical skills for careers in space and beyond.

The U.S. Department of Education invited high schools across the country to bring space missions to students by designing and building CubeSat prototypes.

Ninety-Four high school teams submitted proposals and only five were picked as finalists. Opelika High School is one of the five finalists and will

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call last week with the leadership of the city of Opelika, as well as the East Alabama Medical Center, to talk about vaccines, vaccine distribution, vaccine opportunities,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders.

City Manager Jim Buston said that the answers to many of the questions residents are asking, such as when they can get the vaccine, is information the city does not have.

However, for those who are currently eligible, the vaccine is being distributed at East Alabama Medical Center, the Lee County Health Department, the Auburn University Medical Clinic, Thomas Pharmacy and Auburn Urgent Care.

Drive-Thru Restaurant: Auburn may soon see a new drive-thru restaurant

on Shug Jordan Parkway.

The Auburn council approved a resolution for conditional use approval for Brett Basquin on behalf of Owens Family Partnership, LLC for the property.

The type of restaurant, which will be located at 1850 Shug Jordan Parkway, was not named.

Buston’s Last Meeting: The meeting was Buston’s last city council meeting as city manager.

“Tonight is Jim’s final meeting, and Jim I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you have done for our city, that you have done personally,” Anders said. “You have been a great source of support, and information and advice to a brand new mayor and Auburn is thankful for everything that you have done to serve

its citizens and to serve all of us. So thank you.

You’ve had a great career and we will miss you.”

Many of the council members, and the mayor included, were new to the council as of two years ago. Although they may not have worked with Buston long, many shared words of thanks.

“You certainly helped me out on numerous occasions being a rookie council member, and that really meant a lot to have that kind of steady guidance there,” said Council Member Bob Parsons. “So, thanks a lot and I really wish you the best with whatever future you decide you want to take. And good luck.”

Mayor Pro Tem Beth Witten said she hopes she can continue to ask advice of Buston after he’s left the

position.

Ward 4 Council Member Brett Smith joked that Buston has left the city prepared against a zombie apocalypse.

“Jim put in a plan for potential zombie apocalypse or Godzilla attack on the city” he said. “I asked and he said we did. He showed me proof of that.”

Megan McGowen Crouch will soon step into Buston’s position. The next meeting will be held on Feb. 2 on Zoom.

Other Business: The council approved a contract with Bodine’s Landscape Services, Inc. to install new trees at the intersection of North College Street and East University Drive for just under $22,000.

The council approved a contract with the Loachapoka Water

Authority for utility relocation/intersection improvements at the roundabout at the intersection of Wire Road and Cox Road for over $133,000.

The council approved a contract with Otto Environmental Systems, LLC for the purchase of 560 recycling carts for over $30,000.

The council approved seven easements and warranty deeds.

The council approved an ordinance to participate in the 2021 Severe Weather Preparedness Tax Holiday.

The council approved an annexation ordinance for a property located at 4989 AL Highway 147 N. The council approved to zone 81 acres as conservation overlay district to a property located in the 1700 block of Pierce Chapel Road.

documents said.

Seventy-five percent of the purchase can be reimbursed through a FEMA claim, which will return $2,837.24 to the county.

The other 25% the fire department board will pay, said Rita Smith, EMA director.

If the FEMA claim is denied, the board will pay the full cost, Smith said.

Beauregard Volunteer

Fire Chief Mike Holden said that having the oximeters is especially pertinent because of COVID-19.

Coronavirus Recovery Project The county was recently allocated $500,000 for use toward COVID-19 recovery by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, said Wendy Swann,

governmental relations.

Swann said that the county is working with the Lee-Russell Council of Governments to find an appropriate project.

“We had hoped initially to work with EAMC on some things that they were doing,” she said.

“In the discussions with EAMC, EMA and LeeRussell, we found out that the CDBG guidelines are

going to apply to these funds.”

Swann said that when a project is finalized it will be brought before the Lee County Commission for approval.

Other Business: The commission approved an adopt-a-mile application for Lee Road 288.

The commission approved an abatement

extension for V2 Composites Corporation.

The commission approved a bid for a dry cleaning and portable restroom trailer.

The commission approved speed limit reductions on Lee Roads 195, 739 and 14.

The commission approved a bid for nitrile gloves for Lee County EMA.

FLOWERS >>

of this class. Tom served for decades in the legislature during the 1980’s and 1990’s.

We served together in the legislature during that era. I have never served with a more diligent and respected member. Tom is a pharmacist by profession and has not aged much over the years.

He looks the same as when we were freshmen together in 1982.

This group of senators is not only outstanding, they are also affable and congenial.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist.

His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers.

He served 16 years in the state legislature.

Steve may be reached at www.stevef lowers.us.

be working in collaboration with Columbus High School in Columbus, Georgia to complete the mission.

Opelika High School CTE/STEM students will have the primary responsibility of building the CubeSat and its subsystems. Columbus High School will lead the payload and launch efforts. In the spring of 2021, OHS will launch the CubeSat on a high-altitude weather balloon to collect the necessary performance data to advance the TRL of these untested magnetometer cores.

OHS Junior Kyler Mitchell was recognized

by Fuller for his participation in the program.

“What we as Opelika High have been challenged to do is to make a CubeSat and prove how effective a magnetometer can be,”

Mitchell said. “We are trying to prove to big companies like NASA, Boeing and SpaceX that the CubeSat is a viable and worthwhile product to use.”

OCS Engineering Robotics teacher Brenda Howell is overseeing the project.

“I knew this would be a wonderful experience, a wonderful opportunity for our Opelika students to get to design, build and fly a satellite model,” Howell said. “I knew that creating experiences like this and what we do with our robotics team are part of the workforce development that we are striving for.”

In other business, the council: - authorized an application for an Alabama Historic Preservation Grant.

- approved the purchase of Okta and BeyondID Cloud Management software/ technology.

- reappointed Angela George, Chris Anthony and Wilbert Payne to the Board of Zoning Adjustments for terms ending Feb. 11, 2024.

The next council meeting will be held on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. in the municipal court building located at 300 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Opelika. A work session will be held prior to the meeting and both the work session and the meeting are open to the public.

Citizens interested in making public comments can do so during the citizens communication part of the meeting. Comments are limited to five minutes or less.

FROM B9 before moving to the Senate. He and his brother operate a successful farming business. He knows his area of Mobile County and represents it well.

Senator Jack Williams of Mobile is quietly effective. He is unassuming and may be the most successful business-wise of this illustrious group of freshmen.

Senator Randy Price of Opelika/Lee County represents a sprawling East Alabama district.

He is a former Lee County commissioner.

His wife, Oline, is the revenue commissioner of Lee County.

Senator Tom Butler from Huntsville is the red shirt member

B12 January 27, 2021

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B13 January 27, 2021

Fifth Annual MLK Jr. Tribute held Jan. 20

Contributed By Carolyn Morton

The Fifth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute — Poetry of His Life And Legacy was held on Jan. 20 in the Samford Community in Opelika.

Pictured above are Pastor Carolyn Morton and Brother Herbert Denmark.

Also present were members of Alabama Moms Demand Action. The event was hosted by Morton and the MLK Jr. Dream Outreach Group.

Sport Clips Haircuts raised more than $1 million to support VFW Check presented for $1,026,105 will help hundreds of veterans Contributed to the Opelika Observer

Sport Clips Haircuts presented a $1,026,105 donation check to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation (VFW) to provide scholarships for service members and veterans.

Even in a pandemic, veterans are returning from active military duty to prepare for civilian careers that often require additional college, graduate and technical degrees and training.

To ease the financial burden of going back to school, Sport Clips and the VFW have teamed up for the past seven years to provide assistance through the Help

A Hero Scholarship program (www.sportclips. com/promotions-partnerships/help-a-hero/ help-a-hero).

“Supporting our nation’s military remains a priority for our veteran-founded business. We are honored to make this donation to the Help A Hero program for those who have given so much through their service,” said Gordon Logan, Air Force veteran, VFW Life member and founder and chairman of Sport Clips. “We’re grateful to our franchisees, team members, clients and product partners who faithfully support these essential scholarships.”

“The pandemic’s impact has been far-reaching, especially for our military and veteran families, and this campaign helps to ensure we continue to provide as many student veterans with scholarships as possible,” said Hal Roesch II, VFW national commander. “I’m proud to announce that we have awarded another 160 student veterans with scholarships totaling nearly $700,000 for the spring 2021 semester.

To date, more than 1,900 military and student veterans have benefitted from the Help A Hero Scholarship program through $8.7 million donated previously

by Sport Clips Haircuts and its generous clients and product partners.»

More than $60,000 of the money was raised this year was from Sport Clips’ own $1 per haircare service donation made on Veterans Day while clients, individual supporters and Sport Clips team members donated the largest portion of

the money raised in stores and through virtual walks. Sport Clips partners Direct Beauty Express, John Paul Mitchell Systems, Nioxin, Sexy Hair, Gibs Grooming, ACTiiV and Darlington Raceway also made substantial contributions.

Help A Hero Scholarship

applications are open now through April 30 for the fall 2021 semester to receive up to $5,000 of assistance per semester, per family for service members and veterans in the rank of E-5 and below. To find out more, visit your local Sport Clips, SportClips. com/hero or VFW.org/ scholarship.

Ranking Member Rogers on providing a waiver for Secretary Of Defense Nominee Lloyd Austin Contributed by the office of Rep. Mike Rogers

Rep. Mike Rogers, House Armed Services Committee ranking member, spoke on the House floor regarding H.R. 335, which would grant a statutory exception to allow retired General Lloyd Austin to serve as the Secretary of Defense.

“I voted for the waiver for General Mattis, and I will vote for the waiver for General Austin. For me, that is fair - a waiver for a Republican president and a Democrat president. But I stand here frustrated with a dysfunctional process,” Rogers said.

Floor remarks as prepared for delivery: Madame/Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I want to take a minute to thank the men and women of the National Guard for the tremendous job they’ve done to keep us all safe over the past two weeks.

I especially want to

thank the 750 men and women of the Alabama National Guard for being here. Once again, these citizen soldiers left their homes, jobs, and families behind to respond to the call of duty. Although it’s unfortunate that we needed them here at all, we certainly appreciate their service.

Madame/Mr. Speaker, I firmly believe that each president deserves the opportunity to fill their cabinet as they see fit.

And I agree it’s important to confirm President Biden’s national security team as soon as possible, especially given the grave threats our nation faces.

Four years ago, this House provided a process to consider a waiver for General Mattis. We were all disappointed when General Mattis did not appear before the Armed Services Committee.

Yet, the Armed Services Committee still convened and held a public markup of the waiver, which passed without a single

vote from my Democrat colleagues. Then, the full House debated and voted on the waiver.

This time around, the Armed Services Committee was excluded from the process by the Democrat leadership of this House.

This was not a decision made by Chairman Smith, who wanted a public hearing as much as I did. There has been no public hearing. No markup of the waiver.

No opportunity for amendments.

Just four years ago, Democrat leadership told us how important it was to follow regular order and allow the Armed Services Committee to consider the Mattis waiver.

Speaker Pelosi said “The American people are entitled to regular order and thoughtful scrutiny of nominees and any potential waivers.”

Majority Leader Hoyer said, “The committee has a right and a

responsibility to inquire of General Mattis why he thinks there ought to be a waiver.”

I guess this time around, they don’t feel the same way.

Madame/Mr. Speaker, Civilian control of the military is a fundamental tenet of our Republic. It’s rooted in our Constitution. The law prohibiting recently retired military from serving as Secretary of Defense was enacted shortly after World War II to uphold this principle.

In nearly 75 years, the law has only been waived twice - for Generals Marshall and Mattis. This will be the third. But it didn’t need to be this way.

There is a strong pool of diverse civilians and former military leaders with the qualifications and experience to serve as Secretary. President Biden could have selected from this talent pool, but he chose not to do so.

I voted for the waiver for General Mattis, and

I will vote for the waiver for General Austin. For me, that is fair - a waiver for a Republican president and a Democrat president. But I stand here frustrated with a dysfunctional process.

President Trump and President Biden forced Congress into these situations, made worse this time around by the Speaker’s decision to ignore regular order.

Congress should not have to entertain these waivers. Presidents need to follow the law as written. They need to stop asking Congress to waive this statute. And we certainly shouldn’t be forced to do so outside of regular order.

If presidents don’t think the law matters, then we need to address this waiver issue in this year’s NDAA. Madame/Mr. Speaker, America faces extraordinary threats from strategic competitors like China and Russia, rogue nations like Iran and

North Korea, as well as terrorists and other transnational enemies.

It is more critical now than ever to strengthen our military, address mounting readiness problems, and modernize our conventional and nuclear forces to defeat these threats.

I believe General Austin understands the threats we face. I believe he respects the principle of civilian control. I believe he will stand up to the efforts of many in the Democrat majority who seek to slash defense funding and rewrite our defense strategy.

I just hope the rest of the Biden Administration shares his commitment to providing our men and women in uniform the resources they need to successfully defend our nation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Publisher’s Note: H.R 335 was passed on Jan. 22.

B14 January 27, 2021

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This week’s puzzle answers: