Opelika Observer 03-06-19 E-Edition

pelika O bserver O Vol. 11, No. 22

Wednesday, March 06, 2019

Opelika, Alabama

2 Chronicles 32:7

“By local people, for local people.”

Photo by Emily Key for the Opelika Observer

Death toll from Sunday’s tornadoes remains at 23 people, according to Coroner Bill Harris

By Morgan Bryce Editor

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Local and state officials updated the public on the damage and death toll caused by two tornadoes that struck Lee County yesterday, part of a larger outbreak of severe weather which affected portions of Alabama and Georgia.

In a press conference held this afternoon at Beauregard High School, Chris Darden of the National Weather Service confirmed that one of the tornadoes that hit Beauregard was a .87 miles wide EF-4

with winds of nearly 170 mph that traveled along a 24-mile path.

The tornado was the deadliest since the Moore, Oklahoma tornado in May 2013, and the most significant natural disaster in Lee County history, according to Lee County Emergency Management Agency director Kathy Carson. “(This information) was based on our findings at County Road 39, which is nearby. There are two other tornado tracks that we’re assessing right now ... and the See Tornado, page A4

Stories of survival: Dorothy Wilborn, Lorenzo blessed in midst of destruction

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

By Michelle Key and Robert Noles Dorothy Wilborn

lost her home to Sunday’s storm but managed to escape with only mnor cuts from

LCHS receives $50K donation from Petco Foundation Special to the Opelika Observer The Lee County Humane Society announced that it has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Petco Foundation to support its work to reduce pet overpopulation and ensure the safe return of lost pets to their owners.

The Petco Foundation investment will help to increase availability of low cost spay and neuter services, encourage microchipping and expand the humane society’s Trap Neuter Release Program.

“This grant will open up so many opportunities for our organization to assist our community not only with reuniting lost pets, but also help reduce pet overpopulation. We will also be able to alleviate some of the stress owners feel over not having the means or resources to provide veterinary care for their pet.,” said T.J. McCullough, shelter director.

The Lee County Humane Society is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to See LCHS, page A3

broken glass.

She was home with family members when the storm hit.

As Wilborn, her son and daughter-in-law See Wilborn, page A2

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

By Michelle Key and Robert Noles As the tornado ap-

proached Lorenzo’s property, he was outside feeding his chickens. He See Lorenzo, page A2

Opelika Animal Hospital turns 40 Saturday

By Morgan Bryce Editor Saturday will mark 40 years in business for the Opelika Animal Hospital, which was opened by Dr. Jere and Judy Colley on March 10, 1979.

Fresh out of college and looking for a place to settle down, the Colleys initially started searching in their adopted hometown. One afternoon while riding down Second Avenue, Jere noticed a for-sale sign on the lot that housed Central Baptist Church’s pastorium, and decided to place $800 earnest money payment

Index

OPINION.....................................A4 RELIGION..............................A5 COUNTY NEWS............................A7 SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY..............A9

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

on the property.

Following a nervewracked week of waiting, the client accepted their offer. Despite naysayers citing the relative closeness of Auburn University’s

SPORTS................................B1 CALENDAR....................................B5 LEGALS ......................................B6 ENTERTAINMENT......................B12

veterinary clinic, the couple said the support they received from civic leaders including Billy Hitchcock, Buck Rice, Yetta Samford and Henry Stern encouraged them to follow their

dreams.

“We did believe that we could do it, but when they were designing it, he (Jere) had them construct it at an angle so that if it didn’t make it as a vet clinic it could easily be turned into a zippy mart,” Judy said laughingly.

Without additional staff, Jere said he and Judy handled the daily operations of the business, resulting in latenight calls and missed meals together.

“We were open 24/7 back then. Sometimes we’d be getting ready to sit down to eat sup-

pelika O Observer.com

See OAH, page A3

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A2 March 06, 2019

Small business tax deadline is approaching

Wilborn,

from A1

huddled in the hallway, the EF-4 tornado stripped away the roof from her brick house leaving the interior exposed to the rain and cold.

She said her fam-

The due date for Partnerships and S-Corporations is March 15

By Justin Smith For the Opelika Observer

Many people own and operate small businesses, either as their full-time job or as a side hustle in the current gig economy. While your sole proprietorship (reported on Schedule C of Form 1040) is due on April 15 with your individual tax return, businesses that are organized as partnerships and S corporations have a much shorter deadline. You may file for an automatic six-month extension, but it must be filed before March 15 to avoid late filing penalties.

LLCs Do Not Automatically Obtain Tax Preference Taxpayers often organize Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) with their state to obtain limited liability, separate business and personal activities, and often to establish a brand for their business. The act of organizing the LLC does not create a tax benefit. LLCs are primarily designed to protect your personal assets in the event of a lawsuit against your business. In Alabama, you must typically pay for the privilege of creating and maintaining an LLC by paying a minimum $100 Business Privilege Tax every year.

The tax is due by March 15. While you can extend the deadline to file your annual Business Privilege Tax return, the payment date cannot be extended, and results in a minimum $50 penalty for missing the deadline.

Self-Employment Taxes One of the advantages to being

Smith self-employed is the opportunity to deduct business expenses that employees of companies cannot take. For example, self-employed business owners can deduct business expenses such as cell phone service, Internet service, marketing & advertising expenses and office supplies. However, some expenses such as cell phone services are only deductible to the extent that they are directly related to the business. In many cases, small business owners use their personal cell phone for business, so it cannot be fully deducted as a business expense.

Taxpayers who experience growth and financial success in their self-employment or side gig should beware! Self-employment taxes (15.3% of your profits) cover Social Security and Medicare. Employees only pay half of this tax from their paychecks; their employers pay the other half (or, more correctly, simply provide lower wages to employees knowing that they must pay this tax). However, when you work for yourself, you have the burden of paying that entire tax. Many firsttime self-employed taxpayers get a

terrible sticker shock when they file their tax return.

One of the nice aspects of having a self-employed sole proprietor is the relative ease of tax reporting.

You simply prepare Schedule C, which attaches to Form 1040, and your business tax return is handled.

Partnerships and S Corporations Businesses that are not sole proprietorships are classified as partnerships. S corporations are another business structure that provide certain tax benefits to taxpayers. One of the complications of partnerships and S corporations is that they require entirely separate tax returns in addition to your personal tax return. Partnerships require taxpayers to file Form 1065, and S corporation returns must be filed on Form 1120S. Because both of these types of corporate entities stand alone from the individual taxpayers, they provide a report (Schedule K-1) that must be reported on the individual taxpayer’s return. While there are advantages to this, the level of complexity rises dramatically when you operate a small business using one of the entity structures.

Make sure to file your return or extension soon and pay your privilege tax!

Justin Smith is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Opelika, specializing in individual and small business tax and accounting. He can be contacted at 251-209-2579 or Justin@JSmithCPA.net. His Website is www.jsmithcpa.net.

Lorenzo,

from A1

felt the wind pick up and looked over and saw the tornado. He ran to his pickup truck and jumped in but the wind grabbed the door and prevented him from closing it.

Lorenzo laid down in the truck and rode out the storm. His truck battered by the winds and debris

ily is there and she will be ok with them.

Wilborn’s family was able to salvage some pieces of her furniture and other belongings.

“You have got to live it, so that you know how strong and dangerous it is,” Wilborn said about surviving the storm.

“We just prayed,” Wilborn said.

was slammed against other debris and came to a stop.

When he exited the truck and looked around, he realized that the storm had demolished both his mother’s home that she had lived in up until her death a few months ago, and his daughter’s house.

“I am blessed,” Lorenzo said as he glanced back at the damage left behind. “I’ve never felt anything like that wind before,” he said.

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pelika Observer

O

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

Publisher: Michelle Key Editor: Morgan Bryce Marketing: Doug Horn and Woody Ross Photojournalist: Robert Noles Sports Writer: Rick Lanier & D. Mark Mitchell

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216 S. 8th Street, Opelika, AL 36801 Copyright 2009. All right reserved. Opelika Observer is published weekly by Opelika Observer, 216 S 8th St. Opelika, AL 36801. Periodicals postage is paid at Opelika, AL. USPS #025104 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Opelika Observer, 216 S. 8th Street, Opelika, AL 36801

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pelika O Observer

Cakeitecture Bakery preps for grand opening later this month

By Morgan Bryce Editor Breakfast, desserts and confectionary treats can be found at downtown Opelika’s Cakeitecture Bakery, which is slated to hold its grand opening festivities later this month.

Last July, the Observer was first to report the bakery’s intended move from Auburn to downtown Opelika. Since officially opening at its new location at 124 S. 8th St. in early January, owner Carrie Tindill said that the increased visibility of her new shop has made for a smooth transition.

“One of the best things about this move is having people be able to walk past our shop. Where we were in Auburn for three and a half years, we’d constantly (hear) ‘oh gosh, I had no idea you were here,’” Tindill said.

With the move comes an upgrade in space, from 850 to 2,900 square feet, as well as the ability to sell items to walk-in customers. Though a set breakfast menu is still under development, Tindill said that items like bacon cheddar buttermilk biscuits and French macaron cookies with Swiss butter cream filling paired with a cup of Mama Mocha’s coffee or espresso have been well received. Tables and a bar-seating area up front along with free WiFi access are available for customers to sit and savor their meal.

“Having a place like this is also a great

LCHS,

from A1 advance humane treatment and responsible ownership of companion animals through community education, animal sheltering and adoption and alleviation of animal suffering serving Auburn and Opelika. Since 1974, the Lee County Humane Society has

marketing strategy, because it allows people to take stuff from here and walk away with it, with product stickers, stamps and other things on it. People also know that they’ll be able to purchase a great cup of coffee and a chocolate chip cookie or whatever else is in our display case that morning,” Tindill said.

An architect by trade, Tindill’s inability to find an architectural science teaching position in Olympia, Washington led her to follow her passion for baking full time in fall 2010. Through many trials and errors, she eventually cultivated a loyal customer and Cakeitecture would soon become the Pacific Northwest’s sweet-tooth destination, winning the “Best Dessert Award” from South Sound Magazine in 2014.

An Auburn native, Tindill and her husband Anthony returned home to be closer to family and pursue an exclusive partnership with Auburn University. Through meetings and numerous creations of schoolthemed baked goods, she secured a partnership with the school’s Office of Trademark Management and Licensing, which allows her to use pictures and images symbolic of Auburn in her culinary creations.

In Opelika, Tindill and her seven fellow Cakeitects will continue making her Auburnthemed creations and operating her customorder business, which

is extremely popular with patrons in Lee County and beyond.

“Last year, we were booked up for Auburn’s spring graduation ceremonies in March, and this year, it was by mid-February.

We stay pretty booked up,” Tindill said.

Those interested in purchasing custommade items are asked to call no sooner than two weeks before the intended pick-up date.

Cakeitecture’s grand-opening festivities will be held March 22-23. No additional details have been confirmed.

For more information, to see samples of Tindill’s and her team’s work or view their weekly schedule, like and follow their social media pages or visit www.cakeitecture.com.

worked to meet the needs of homeless companion animals in the community through adoption and education programs.

The Lee County Humane Society manages an open admission shelter for Auburn and Opelika that serves nearly 3,000 animals a year and boasts a liverelease rate of more than 90 percent.

For more information about the Lee County Humane Soci-

ety visit leecountyhumane.org. For more on the Petco Foundation, visit www.petcofoundation.org and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by using the hashtag #PetcoFamily.

About Lee County Humane Society The Lee County Humane Society was developed in 1974 as the solution to the growing problem of stray animals in our community. A group

of hard-working and concerned volunteers took animals into their homes to foster, love, and try to find forever homes. LCHS acquired property 1976 and the shelter found its home.

Through donations and a community effort, the volunteer-run organization hired staff and began adding on to the facility; eventually moving our shelter to our current location in 1990.

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

A3 March 06, 2019

Colley,

from A1 per and get a call from someone saying that their animal had this or that going on … it was tough, but in order to grow and get our name out there, you had to be accessible and show people that you cared,” Jere said.

Three arduous months later, the clinic turned a profit and they hired their first employee.

Nearly four years after opening, Opelika native Dr. Gary Hunt joined the clinic and became a 50-percent owner of the business as the Colleys pursued a two-year spiritual calling to the mission field in Bangladesh.

Initially, Opelika Animal Hospital provided services for both large and small animals but eventually moved to small only. Monkeys, snakes and wallabies are a few of the unique animals that Colley, Hunt and their team have treated during the last 40 years.

Through its care of animals and treatment of their customers, the clinic has become an Opelika institution, winning the “Best Veterinary Clinic” award 18-straight years in the Opelika-Auburn News’s annual Reader’s Choice Awards contest, offerering free boarding services for pets whose owners were displaced and are looking to relocate and a place for Auburn University veterinary students to gain

experience.

Following is a full list of the services they provide: • Adoption • Bath and dips • Diagnostic • Grooming • Holding • Medical • Spay and neuter • Surgical.

Jere and Gary, along with associate veterans Dr. Lybbi Epperson and Dr. Andy Wagner, are the clinic’s primary veterinarians. Judy no longer serves as office manager but actively promotes the business within the community.

Both leading veterinarians shared their thoughts on the impact and meaning of their careers and what it has meant to them personally.

“What has and will keep me going is being able to heal and take care of someone’s pets, there’s just nothing like it,” Hunt said.

Jere expressed his gratitude to the AuburnOpelika area for their unwavering support during the last four decades.

“Without a doubt, veterinary medicine is the best profession in the world. And Opelika has been incredibly good to our family and a great place to live, work and worship,” Jere said.

Located at 1615 Second Ave., the clinic is open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

For more information, call 334-749-2025, like and follow their Facebook page or visit www. opelikaanimalhospital. com.

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

pelika O Opinion

A4 March 06, 2019

F

Laugh and Live

or us seniors, it seems like yesterday when we were wide-eyed and happy as we looked at 1964 Mary Poppins’ character Uncle Albert floating to the top of the ceiling while singing “I Love to Laugh.”

Laughing is definitely “a spoonful of sugar” in the routine of our senior days. It is contagious among the young and old and across culture lines.

Laughter and a sense humor can yield many health benefits.

A good, hearty laugh relaxes the whole body by releasing physical tension and stress. When sharing jokes and funny times in our lives in sit-and-chat groups, it is noticed that the

Tornado,

from A1

(one in Macon County) probably crossed the track of the EF-4 in some spots, and will be an EF-1 most likely,” Darden said.

Sheriff Jay Jones and coroner Bill Harris confirmed that the death toll currently sits at 23 people, with three of those being children ages six, nine and 10. While search-and-rescue efforts continue, Jones encourages concerned citizens to wait patiently as first responders perform their duties.

Carson said storm preparations began as early as last Thursday morning, part of a concerted effort to make citizens aware of the weather threats faced on Sunday.

“We knew ahead of time and we took it seriously and were able to ramp up our warnings to the public and get their attention and help them know that they needed to go ahead and figure out what they needed to do,” Carson said.

The extent of damage stretched beyond Beauregard into eastern portions of Lee County, including the Salem community and Smiths Station. Smiths Station Mayor Bubba Copeland verified that there were two people injured and 24 people rendered homeless in his city because of the storm.

Sunday’s events did not go unnoticed, as state and national media have provided coverage on the storms.

President Donald Trump tweeted his support and called Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Monday morning to personally offer his support and express his concern for those affected.

“This morning (Monday) at 8:15 a.m., President Trump called my cell phone and wanted to know about the devastation. I told that we certainly had a tragic loss of (lives) and lot of property damage,” Ivey said. “He asked what he could do, and I said, ‘Mr. President, we are working with FEMA. Could you pass (along) the request for (an) expedited disaster recovery declaration?’ He responded immediately

By Beth Pinyerd

complaints of pain are reduced and there is an overall sense of well being.

Medical research has shown that laughter protects the heart by improving the function of blood vessels and strengthens the blood flow.

Laughing is good cardiovascular exercise.

Laughing helps the heart like brisk walking, light running or jogging would. What a joyful benefit for we seniors!

The ability to laugh and said of course you’ll have my support for a state I love.”

Ivey added that she learned earlier today that affected areas will receive “A Plus treatment” from FEMA following her conversation with the President.

Waves of support have flooded into Lee County during the last 24 hours. In some cases, crews of volunteers arrived on the scene to clean and clear roads for first responders.

“The responses we’ve received to this is (incredible).

We’re very fortunate to be in Lee County in the state of Alabama ... we are eternally grateful for all the outside support we’ve received,” Jones said. “The folks in Beauregard are resilient people. They’re community oriented and you will not find a stronger group of people anywhere.”

Among the national organizations present are the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Samaritan’s Purse.

Providence Baptist Church in Beauregard will serve as the main recovery operations center while First Baptist Church Opelika is an auxiliary.

Other details and findings will be announced tomorrow in a press conference scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow.

“We will overcome this loss. We’ve done it before, we can do it again and we will do it together,” Ivey said.

Storm victims with pressing needs are encouraged to call 211 for help finding and receiving local services.

Tuesday Press Conference A second press conference was held Tuesday morning at Beauregard High School to provide updates from Monday’s search-and-rescue efforts and confirm the identity of the 23 victims.

Following is the list of victim’s names and ages: Armondo (AJ) Hernandez, 6 Charlotte Ann Miller, 59 David Dean, 53 Emmanuiel Jones, 53 Eric Jamal Stenson, 38 Felicia Woodall, 22 Florel Tate Stenson, 63 Henry Lewis Stenson, 65 Irma Gomez-Moran 41 James Henry Tate, 86 Jimmy Lee Jones, 89 Jonathan Marquez

promotes a positive outlook on life. Joy, zest to live, relieving anxiety and fear as well as mood improvement are the mental health benefits of laughter.

Genuine laughter is infectious and a key ingredient in promoting many social benefits. Relationships are strengthened and group bonding is promoted in senior groups by laughter.

Conflicts are reduced by sharing a good laugh.

How do humor and growing old go hand in hand? So many of our favorite and popular jokes by comedians, programs, books focus on the process See Pinyerd, page A12 Bowen, 9 Maggie Delight Robinson, 57 Mamie Roberts Koon, 68 Marshall Lynn Grimes, 59 Mary Louise Jones, 83 Mykala Waldon, 8 Raymond Robinson Jr., 63 Ryan Pence, 22 Sheila Creech, 59 Taylor Thornton, 10 Tresia Robinson, 62 Vicki Braswell, 69.

According to Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones, those efforts are expected to continue today and tomorrow as they attempt to find the remaining seven or eight victims.

“At this time, we have been able to narrow the searches down to specific areas. These are addresses of individuals that were in the most affected areas,” Jones said.

Those still looking for missing family or friends are asked to call the Lee County Emergency Management Agency at 334749-8161 or visit www. leecoema.com.

As first responders continue searching, Jones added that certain roads will remain closed to the public for safety and victim privacy.

LCEMA executive director Kathryn Carson said county workers will pick up debris that is placed in the right-of-way. She asked that the trash piles be organized and sorted for efficiency’s sake.

Major disaster relief organizations including the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Samaritan’s Purse have arrived and are active in relief recovery.

Providence Baptist Church remains the primary recovery operations center while First Baptist Church Opelika is an auxiliary.

“This has been an ordeal for all of us, but the people here and the people who have come to help us have performed wonderfully throughout this process,” Carson said.

Chris Darden from the Birmingham’s National Weather Service offices said further data confirmed that the previously EF-1 classified tornado was instead an EF-2 based on their findings.

I

’m watching a sunrise through tall Southern pines. It’s making its heavenly climb, and I’m looking right at it, sitting on the hood of my truck.

Last night, I was almost killed. I’m not joking. I was nearly hit head-on by a red truck that was driving in the wrong lane.

It was dark. I was the only one on the road. I saw headlights speeding toward me.

And I mean speeding.

I expected the vehicle would get out of my way. It didn’t. I almost swerved for the ditch.

I closed my eyes. I expected a loud sound, followed by pain, maybe the voice of Charlton Heston.

What I heard was a vehicle scream by fast enough to suck the rust off my hitch.

I pulled over. My heart beat hard enough to crack my sternum.

And I cried.

It’s funny, what you think about in your final moments.

I thought about the old woman from my childhood church. She was white-haired, and balding. She claimed that on the night my father died, she had a vision. She said she saw him laughing in heaven.

For years, I was not happy about her

Good

By Sean Dietrich

unsolicited remarks. I don’t know why.

I don’t feel that way anymore. I’m glad she told me.

During my brief encounter, I also wondered if I’d wake up to abalone gates.

Would I see Granny?

My uncles, my aunts?

My father?

Or: would I wake up as a baby squirrel, high up in a longleaf pine. A mockingbird, tweeting in a nest, maybe? Or a newborn hound, in someone’s barn? Or a hungry raccoon, nosing through garbage for some fresh loaded diapers?

I thought about my wife.

When we first married, I once told her I didn’t want her to remarry if I died. I joked, saying I wanted her to grieve me as a lonely widow. We’d laugh about that.

But last night, I was sorry I ever joked like that. My best friend deserves to be happy, whether I’m breathing or not. When the speeding truck was only inches from my bumper, I said a prayer.

The prayer only lasted a nanosecond, but it was a prayer nonetheless. I prayed for her happiness.

I’m lucky. My God. I am lucky.

I’m lucky to be writing this. I’m lucky to be right here. Right now.

Certainly, I have known bad days, I have known heartache, and I have known sadness—so have you.

But I’ve also known love. Real love. The granite-busting kind.

And it never came from where I thought it would. It came from strangers. People of no blood relation.

I have had good moments in this life. I’ve walked the woods during spring, with a dog and a woman beside me. I’ve floated the Suwannee in a canoe with my wife on her birthday.

I’ve seen my widowed mother learn to love again. I’ve held my redheaded niece and heard her say my name.

I have watched more sunrises than I can count. I never get tired of such glorious, but brief moments. I hope you get to see one today. A good one.

I really do.

We don’t get nearly enough of them.

Of funerals and wills and words to ponder

S

hortly before he died, my Father gave my son this bit of advice: “Pile it all in one place and keep an eye on it.”

It is always good to leave behind words to ponder.

Daddy had some pretty specific instructions for his funeral. The music and who would play and sing it, “in lieu of flowers,” that sorta thing. And he wrote for the preacher to “keep it short.”

How well the preacher pulled that off is a matter of opinion. My Daddy’s view of “short” was, well, “short.”

However, a number of folks came up afterward to tell me what a “nice service” it was and how the preacher said just the right thing. (Which, when you think of it, is sorta like saying he made the best of a bad situation, which I guess that is what preachers do in cases like that.)

One person did mention that he got lost when the preacher went off on sheep in his comments on the 23 rd Psalm which Daddy had wanted read, but I don’t think the complainer had any expe-

By Hardy Jackson

rience with sheep, so there wasn’t much in it for him anyway.

Me, I decided that if I write up instructions for my funeral I am going to want the preacher to tell the mourners assembled: He had a plowman’s strength in his right hand.

He could spot a crow three miles away.

He could dig a ditch and hang a gate and plow as straight as a stone can fall.

And he is dead.

And let them ponder that.

In the days and weeks after the funeral we went through the piles of stuff Daddy left behind – which he piled in one place (the house) where he could keep an eye on it. One of the first things I did was throw away a hundred or so pictures that our dear-departed cousin “Little Mary” took of her cats. An old maid with more than her share of eccentricities, “Little Mary”

kept dozens of cats in a “kitty motel” behind her house, named some after Confederate generals, and took pictures. When she died Daddy got rid of the cats. The pictures got put in the pile. I got rid of the pictures.

Then we had to probate the will.

Daddy left no instructions on that, other than the will itself, which is a pretty straightforward legal document with none of the twists and turns he could have put in it if he had been in the mood.

However, among his papers I found a single photocopy of a will that was filed for probate in 1934.

The author was not identified. I suspect Daddy left it as a warning to me and others of what he might have done with his will if he had a mind to.

Original phrasing and spelling included, it reads: I am writing my will mineself as lawyers ask to many answers about the family. first think I want I don’t want my brother Oscar to get a dam thing I got. he done me out of forty dollar fourteen years See Jackson, page A12

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March 06, 2019

We are at our best when . . .

I went on the BBC website Sunday night and the story at the top of the page was about the 23 people killed by a tornado in Lee County, Alabama. It was weird to see news about the place where we live on the website. The world seemed to know as much about what happened in our back yard a few hours ago as we did.

Sunday afternoon we had experienced the usual weather warnings that we see several times a year.

The weather had been unseasonably warm, so I don’t think anyone was surprised. The storm was intense and fast moving. When it was over, there were some pictures of places damaged by the storm (as there always are) but I didn’t hear any immediate report of fatalities.

writing this Janice (Monday and I drove afternoon), to church a I’ve just little before gotten off 4 p.m. so the phone she could with a participate

By Bruce Green friend who in a wedTeaching Minister at was part of ding show10th Street Church of the dayer. At the Christ in Opelika long search shower she for more learned that victims. Fortunately, an employee who none were found but worked for one of our members had his house he told me he wasn’t sure they were finished destroyed and child killed. Another woman with their search. There are still people who are told me that one of the unaccounted for. ladies she worked with There is a bright side had lost her young girl. to all of this. I’m 62 Our church is about and can’t think of a 200 members, so the time in my life when fact that we had conpeople were more nections to two people responsive to disasters who had died in the then they are now. storm didn’t bode well We’ve had calls from for a low number of all over the country casualties. offering help. Some are By the time we sending things, some arrived home from are giving money, and church, the death total others are coming to was at 14 and it had put feet on the ground. swollen to 23 when I I’m not sure whether went to sleep. As I’m

Church calendar

• Pepperell Baptist is continuing to offer a Wednesday evening program from 6 to 7 p.m. for preschool and elementary children called WOW-Worship on Wednesdays. The evening program of Bible messages for children, crafts, fun activities, and snack is ongoing throughout the year. The youth program meets on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. This is an evening of prayer, Bible Study, and discussion. For more information, contact youth and children’s pastor Ryno Jones if you need more information at 334-745-3108.

• First Baptist Church of

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

ANGLICAN Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd 1311 Second Ave. #758-6749 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Bridge Church 1000 Lee Road 263, Cusseta #742-0144 AME Mount Zion AME Church West Point Hwy #749-3916 St. Luke AME Church 1308 Auburn St. #749-1690 St. Paul AME Church 713 Powledge Ave. #745-6279 Thompson Chapel AME Zion 187 Columbus Pkwy #749-8676 BAPTIST Abundant Life Baptist Church 1220 Fox Run Ave. Suite B #7064421464 Airview Baptist Church 2301 Airport Rd. #745-6670 Antioch Baptist Church 605 W. East Morton Ave #742-0696 Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St. #745-7528 Bethel Baptist Church Hwy. 29 Sasser Rd #745-4865 Central Baptist Church 1611 2nd Ave. #745-2482 Community Baptist Church 154 N. 16th St. #745-6552 Cornerstone Missionary Baptist 500 N. Railroad Ave. #742-2008 Eastview Baptist Church 1208 Spring Dr #749-9595 Farmville Baptist Church 3607 Alabama Hwy N. #887-7361 First Baptist Church of Opelika

Opelika’s Womens Ministry will hold an event titled “A Night to Proclaim II: Salt and Light” March 28 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There will be a salad supper served.

Tickets cost $10. For more information or to register, call 334-745-5715 or visit www.fbcopelika.com.

• Airview Baptist Church offers praise and worship services on Wednesday nights at 6 p.m. and on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m.

Sunday school classes are held at 9:45 a.m.

Fresh Foods...And A Whole Lot More!

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

reminded that we are human before any of our differences, before all of the lines that are drawn to divide us.

And we are reminded that we are at our best when we are part of something bigger than ourselves.”

It’s interesting that the words spoken to commemorate the breaking of barriers in outer space apply equally as well on earth. We are at our best when we are part of something bigger than ourselves.

Lord, please be with the people of these communities as they deal with devastation, bury loved ones and grope for courage to face the future. May your healing hands be present in the people who come to help and share their pain. In the name of Your Son who Himself was no stranger to suffering, Amen.

Verse of the Week “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”

Events can be emailed to the Observer at editor@opelikaobserver.com.

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

we’re more overwhelmed by the generosity or the logistics of trying to coordinate all of these things. After all, who can really prepare for something like this?

Something else happened Sunday. Approximately 250 miles above the earth, the SpaceX capsule (The Crew Dragon), the first American commercial space vehicle designed to carry humans, docked with the International Space Station.

One of the Americans in the space station, Anne McClain, officially welcomed the unmanned capsule with these words: “Our sincere congratulations to all earthlings who have enabled the opening of this next chapter in space exploration. Spaceflight gives us a chance to reflect on the context of our existence. We are

CATHOLIC St. Mary’s Catholic Church 1000 4th Ave. #749-8359 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy #742-9721 10th Street Church of Christ 500 N. 10th St. #745-5181 Southside Church of Christ 405 Carver Ave. #745-6015 Church of Christ 2660 Cunningham Drive #745-6377 CHURCH OF GOD Airview Church of God 3015 Old Opelika Rd #749-9112 Church of God 114 17th Place #7496432 Tabernacle Church of God 3 Oak Court #745-7979 CHURCH OF NAZARENE Opelika Church of Nazarene 1500 Bruce Ave. #749-1302 EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave. #745-2054 HOLINESS Eastside Emmanuel Holiness Church 86 Lee Road 186 Opelika, Ala. 36804 JEWISH Beth Shalom Congregation 134 S. Cary Dr. #826-1050 LATTERDAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints 510 Groce St. #742-9981 METHODIST First United Methodist Church of Opelika 702 Avenue A #745-7604 Hopewell United Methodist 1993 Lee Rd 136 #745-0460

Psalm 27:1 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 8685 AL Hwy. 51 #749-4469 Pepperell United Methodist 200 26th St. #745-9334 Trinity United Methodist Church 800 Second Ave. #745-2632 Wesley Memorial United Methodist 2506 Marvyn Pkwy #745-2841 PENTECOSTAL Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Hwy. 29, PO Box 1691 #741-8675 Gateway Community Church 2715 Frederick Rd #745-6926 PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Opelika 900 2nd Ave. #745-3421 Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Rd #745-4889 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist 1808 S. Long St. #749-3151 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Apostolic Holiness Church 610 Canton St. #749-6759 Auburn Opelika Korean Church 1800 Rocky Brook Rd #749-5386 Beauregard Full Gospel Revival 2089 Lee Road 42 #745-0455 Christ Church International 1311 2nd Ave. #745-0832 Church of the Harvest 2520 Society Hill Rd #745-2247 Church at Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy #705-0505 East Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. #737-1488 Emmanuel Temple of Deliverance 207 S. Railroad Ave. #745-6430 Faith Alliance Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #749-9516 Faith Christian Center 600 S. 8th St. Faith Church 3920 Marvyn Pkwy #707-3922

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

pelika O Observer

A6 March 06, 2019

Study of bereaved military families & friends hopes to offer new resources for grief Special to the Opelika Observer The Stepping Forward in Grief Study tests two evidence-based online application programs created by scientists and clinicians at Uniformed Services University and Columbia University to address grief-related challenges.

These programs were developed in response to earlier research suggesting that griefrelated challenges can occur among bereaved military survivors, even many years following a loss, and that many surviving loved ones desire additional support.

The study is now open to close friends

and family members of those who died before or after Sept. 11, 2001 while serving in the military or as a result of their military service.

For instance, this would include: • Any immediate family member - such as a parent, spouse, sibling or adult child •Any non-immediate family member - such as a cousin, grandparent, uncle, or aunt • Any close friend or battle buddy of an active duty service member who died while serving.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of these two programs, GriefSteps or WellnessSteps, in order

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

to test their ability to support grief adaptation in bereaved military survivors. The study team is hoping to reach and enroll bereaved family

members who continue to struggle with their grief. It is our hope that the results of the study will lead to better resources for the bereaved

in years to come.

Interested potential participants can sign up by going to https:// steppingforwardstudy. org/ and clicking

“Enroll Now,” where participants will be asked to answer some screening questions, fill out an online consent form and complete a 20-minute survey.

Following enrollment, participants will be contacted by study personnel to complete a telephone screening and enrollment. Once enrolled, study participants will have access to the assigned program for six months and will be asked to provide feedback about their experience. For more information, please contact info@steppingforwardstudy.org or check out the website https:// steppingforwardstudy. org.

Community grief support group launches in Opelika, Lee County Special to the Opelika Observer Going through a tunnel of grief after the loss of love ones is like being in a cocoon of healing. Just like a caterpillar grows and changes in the quietness and support of a cocoon to become a butterfly, the same is

true for those of us who have lost love ones. It takes time to heal and it takes the love, care and support from others. Our community is blessed to have Grief Support Resources through support groups.

Community Grief support groups meet the 2nd Wednesday of

every month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST and 4th Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 CST at EAMC Health Resource Center, 2017 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika, Alabama.

Members meet under the guidance and direction of Jenny-Filush Glaze who is certified

in grief and bereavement care.

No reservations are required.

The groups are free and open to anyone who is experiencing loss. Too, family members and friends are invited to be with a love one who is attending.

Grief support groups are powerful and validating to share journeys with others traveling similar paths. The support groups offer bonding and friendship that assists in the healing process.

Both men and women attend.

Yes, there are tears

but there is also a whole lot of laughter.

Grief Support does not mean that “something is wrong with you” or that you are not grieving correctly.”

At the meetings, members learn about new resources available to assist in the healing process.

OBITUARIES Merle Parker Walton Merle Parker Walton, 93, died Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at her home in Opelika.

A native of Lee County, Alabama, Merle began her career as a teller at Farmers National Bank. She later became the bookkeeper for Haynie’s Drug Store in Opelika for 20 years and finished her working career as a bookkeeper for Tiger Parts Company, a family owned business.

In 1946, Merle married her high Carlean Birchfield Funeral service for Ms. Carlean Birchfield, 86, of Opelika is Thursday, February 28, 2019, at 11:00am, at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel. Burial is in Rosemere Cemetery.

Visitation was held Thursday, Febru-

Timothy “Tim” Paul Chambley Timothy "Tim" Paul Chambley of Opelika was born to the late Regina and Richard Chambley in Lee County, Alabama on July 28, 1958 and passed away at

school sweetheart, Quinton Walton.

They adored each other and were married for 73 years.

Merle was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. A highlight of her life was spending time with her many grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Quinton, in November 2018.

She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Alton Parker of Texas and Ralph Parker of Georgia. She is survived by her oldest son, Charles Walton (Virginia) and their

children Suzanne Callahan (Joey) and April Farr (Justin); her son Jimmy Walton (Beth) and their children Courtney Thomas (Earl), Katie Walton, Sarah Friley (Nick), Robbie Cartron (Kim), Michael Cartron (Charis); and daughter Anne Robison (Robbie) and their children Hillary Allen (Patrick), Spencer Norrell (Haylee), Matt Robison and Angela Dunnam (James).

She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Dorothy Mitchell, and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express sincere appreciation to all the caregivers that so lovingly cared for Mrs. Walton over the past few years.

The family requests memorial donations be made to First United Methodist Church of Opelika.

Funeral services were held Saturday, March 2nd at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Visitation was from 1:00-2:00 at Jeffcoat-Trant, followed by the funeral service at 2:00.

Burial was at Mount Olive Cemetery in Opelika.

ary 28, 2019 from 10:00 to 11:00 am at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.

Ms. Birchfield, who died Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at Bethany House was born August 12, 1932, in Adair, Oklahoma.

Ms. Birchfield lived most of her life here

in Opelika. She was a member of Northside Baptist Church.

She loved cooking for her family and anybody who met her loved her. She was a big Alabama fan.

She is survived by her three sons, Kim (Marla) Birchfield, Larry Birchfield,

and Ricky Birchfield all of Opelika; two grandchildren, Mitchell Birchfield and Keri (Shane) McDonald; one great-grandson, Ethan McDonald.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed. www.jeffcoattrant. com

his home on March 3, 2019. He was 60 years old.

He was of the Baptist Faith.

He is survived by his wife, Deeanna L. White; daughters, Kristy Chambley and Marie Chambley; step-children, Court-

ney Yielding (James) and T.J. White (Amber); grandchildren, Jamie Lyn, Jayden, Jordyn, Madison, Jaimeelynne, Karter, Kyleigh, Iden, Tripp, and Finley; brother, David Chambley (Lydia), and numerous nieces, nephews,

cousins, and other family members.

Memorial service will be held Thursday, March 7, 2019 in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home at 3:30 p.m.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home is directing.

Hunter Plott Hunter Plott, 77, went to his heavenly home on February 28, 2019. Visitation was held Sunday at 1:00 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika with the funeral immediately afterwards at 2:00 p.m.

Hunter was a devoted husband and father, who exuded dignity and selfless love to all his friends and family. He loved the Lord and served His church for many years both as deacon and Sunday School teacher for special adults. He was much beloved and will

Hilt “Hank” B. Davis Hilt "Hank" B. Davis of Opelika was born in Clay County, Alabama to the late Lonnie and Kate Warren Davis on May 22, 1925 and passed away at his home surrounded by family on February 25, 2019. He was 93 years old.

He was a Member of Milltown Baptist Church, and American Legion Post 18.

Hank Proudly served in WWII as a Army Paratrooper, loved his music, picking and grinning in 5 points every Thursday.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Floyd, Ewart, Billy Davis; sisters, Minnie

be dearly missed.

He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Claire; daughter Dawn (Jared) Wingard; son Chris (Allison) Plott; grandchildren Rachel, Noah, Isaac, Joel, and Tallie Wingard and Aiden Stark and Mary Claire Plott; sister Frances Nabors; brother Tom (Fran) Plott; and many more precious family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Hospital or the Joy Department of First Baptist Opelika.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.

Florence Davis Weldon, Bert Gillen, Betty Jo Brooks.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Janie Davis; children, Tammy Morris, Buddy Davis, Melvin Buchanan (Judy), Mark Davis (Donna), and Amanda Sheppard (Jeremy); 13 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members.

Memorial service was held Friday, March 1, 2019 in the Chapel at FrederickDean Funeral Home at 5:30 p.m. CST with Pastor Jeremy Sheppard and Reverend Roger Hammett officiating.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.

pelika O Observer

Around Lee County

A7 March 06, 2019

Smiths Station City Council recognize Local SAR chapter hosts guest speakers local Eagle Scout during meeting

By Morgan Bryce Editor Local student Austin Elliott was recognized for achieving Eagle Scout status during last Tuesday’s City of Smiths Station city council meeting.

For his Eagle Scout project, Elliott selected to beautify Smiths Station High School’s softball fields and plant a Japanese maple near the dugout in honor of classmate and former athlete Lexi Webb.

During the meeting, Mayor Bubba Copeland read a proclamation citing Elliott’s accomplishments and gifted him with a city challenge coin and replica of the Alabama state flag.

“We thank you and we’re very proud of you for not only representing the Boy Scouts of America and the City of Smiths Station. I personally am very proud of you too,” Copeland said.

Photo by Morgan Bryce/Opelika Observer

An ordinance lowering the speed limits from 45 to 35 mph on Lee roads 248 and 430 and 35 to 30 mph 296 was passed by the council to address issues of speeding and safety within the city limits.

Place 2 Councilman Morris Jackson also expressed his gratitude to council members and Smiths Station citizens for their efforts during last Saturday’s MLK Clean Up Day, which yielded more than

3,000 pounds of trash collected.

In other business, the council: approved a resolution allowing electronic business transaction fees for municipal services to be passed to consumers. The city recently upgraded its payment systems allowing for customers to pay with credit and debit cards.

The Smiths Station City Council meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each

month. During the coming months, the first Tuesday’s work session will begin at 5 p.m. E.S.T., second Tuesday’s will begin at 5:30 p.m. E.S.T., followed by their regular meeting at 6 p.m.

E.S.T. Meetings are held in the council chambers of the Smiths Station Government Center, which is located at 2336 Lee Road 430. For more information, call 334297-8771 or visit www. smithsstational.gov.

Auburn sailor serves aboard U.S. Navy ship honoring women’s history icon

By Brian T. Glunt Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Navy Office of Community Outreach There’s a U.S. Navy ship unlike most floating in the waters of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. It’s a Navy warship that honors the name of a female who has set the standard of excellence for those who have followed.

During this women’s history month of March, an Auburn sailor and 2015 Auburn High School graduate is serving aboard USS Hopper, named for Rear Adm. Grace Hopper.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam Furman has served in the Navy for two years and works as a Navy dam-

age controlman, serving aboard the Pearl Harborbased guided-missile destroyer.

Furman credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Auburn.

“Everyone back home is super polite and I learned to always treat people as you want to be treated,” Furman said. “When my family was moving in to our new house all of our neighbors either brought over food or helped us move all of our things in. Seeing people go out of their way like that has rubbed off on me. In the Navy, I always try to display that hospitality by going out of my way to See Service, page A13

Photo special to the Opelika Observer The Richard Henry Lee SAR Chapter welcomed Dr. Adam Jortner, associate professor in Auburn University History’s Department, as the speaker at their meeting on Jan. 25. Jortner presented a very informative program on “New Historical Writing About the Revolution.”

Pictured left to right are Vice President Richard Guthrie, Jortner and President Bob Harris.

Photo special to the Opelika Observer Michael Megelsh, with the Auburn University History Department, presented an interesting program on “Alabama in the Revolutionary War Era” at the Feb. 22 Richard Henry Lee Chapter Meeting. Pictured from left to right are Vice President Richard Guthrie, Megelsh and President Bob Harris.

Nostalgia rides into Auburn on St. Patrick’s Day

By Tyler Roush For the Opelika Observer

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rusty Pang

Furman

Buying or Selling?

Monarch Estates, located at 1550 E. University Drive, will be holding a St. Patrick’s Day Cruise-In hosted by the East Alabama Old Car Club on March 16. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude around 1 p.m.

Amanda Baker, the resident experience coordinator at Monarch Estates, said that the cruise-in provides a fun opportunity for the assisted-living residents.

“Our people love when the old cars

come,” Baker said. “I think it kind of brings back a little bit of nostalgia for them.”

Though the event is hosted within the retirement community, the cruise-in is free and open to the public.

Snacks will be provided, including popcorn and cotton candy, along with drinks, Baker said.

Compared to a car show, a cruise-in is an exhibition of vintage cars where spectators can learn about the car or sit inside, with some car owners providing rides down the road.

David Pascoe, president of the East See Cars, page A12

Call:

Lisa Thrift (334) 444-8099 “I can get you where you want to be...Home” lthrift1984@gmail.com

www.thedensongroup.com

Best lunch in town . . . any town

Just $5.95 includes a drink

917 So. Railroad Ave. Opelika, AL 36801 334-787-5989

1151 Opelika Road Auburn, AL 36830 334-821-3118

www.niffersplace.com dine in only, Mon-Fri 11-2

pelika O Observer

A8 March 06, 2019

Perry Garden Club meet at Grace United Methodist in February

Special to the Opelika Observer The Perry Garden Club held their February meeting at Grace United Methodist Church. They Celebrated Arbor Day and planted an Emerald Green Arborvitae evergreen tree in honor and memory of Donald Sirois. Pictured left to right: Carolyn Coker, Shan Rumps, Peggy Mitchell, Sue Retzlaff, Carolyn Ann Carr, Garlan Walker, Anne Miller and Sue Daniel.

Mobility worldwide representative speaks to Opelika Lions Club

Photos special to the Opelika Observer Sam Singer, left, volunteer for Mobility Worldwide, a project which seeks to reflect the love of God by bringing mobility and dignity to those in developing countries who are unable to walk, was a recent guest of the Opelika Lions Club. The Mobility Cart is a sturdy, three-wheeled vehicle propelled by hand-crank or pull handle which can be operated by a man, woman or child who is mobility impaired. For more information on this project go to www. giveawheel.org. Mr. Singer was introduced by Lion Ernie Gazaway, right.

Lee County Extension office to host events in March Special to the Opelika Observer The following list

are events sponsored throught the Lee County Extension office.

• March 9 - VA Home Loan Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lee

County Extension office. The instructor will be Jericho Wilson, CFP, MSF from Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Call 334-749-3353 to register.

This event is free.

• March 9, 23 and 30 - LCMGA Mulch Sale- The Lee County Master Gardener’s will be doing a fundraiser; selling pine bark mulch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The sale will be held at the Lawrence Farm which is located at 3327 Moores Mill Rd. in Auburn. (from Auburn, one mile east of Publix on the left). The pine bark, purchased from a local lumber mill, is excellent for soil amendment or topdressing. The price, cash or check, is $25 per cubic yard for coarse and $35 for fine. There is a frontend loader tractor available for loading trucks or trailers.

There will be Master Gardener’s available to answer any questions. If Saturday is a rainy day, the sale will be rescheduled.

• March 12 - Join Farm City at 7:30 a.m. at the Lee County Extension Office located at 600 S. 7th St. in Opelika,

for breakfast and the meeting.

Afterwards, carpool to the Charles C. Miller Jr. Poultry Research and Education building for a tour. If unable to make it to the meeting, the group will meet at the center at 9:30 a.m. They will leave from the extension office about 9 a.m. Join them there for the tour. Everyone is welcome.

• March 12, 19, 26 and April 2 - ‘Right Bite, Diabetic or Portion Control Classes’ from 10 a.m. to noon at Lee County Extension Office which is located at 600 S. 7th St. in Opelika. The cost is $10 for four classes. Learn: • good carbohydrate choices • choosing the right fats • know your numbers • how to read a food label • recipe sampling.

Call the Lee County Extension Office to register or for more information.

• March 14 - The Lee County 4-H Wildlife/Forestry Club presents ‘Outdoors Day’ from 1 to 4 p.m. C.S.T. The event will be held at Darlin Farms, which

is located at 3356 County Road 83 in Cusseta. This is an outdoors day and will be an opportunity for youth to experience and learn new things in an outdoor setting.

Planned workshops will consist of plant and tree identification, orienteering, and others. Hopefully, one will leave with a new knowledge and appreciation of natural resources.

This is a free event open to any interested person. Target ages are nine to 13, but all youth and their parents are welcome.

Youth under nine years old must be accompanied by an adult. Participants should wear closed toed shoes and long pants. Bring any items you may need such as bug spray, sunscreen, and water.

• The 2019 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series is back. Please join us for this webinar series for information you can use about good and bad insects. We used your feedback to bring topics that you suggested. We will discuss troublesome insects such as fire ants and landscape pests as well as other animals like arachnids and bats!

Remember, the majority of insects are not pests. Let’s talk about the good guys too and a wealth of other topics. Webinars will be on the first Friday of each month at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

Visit the website for the entire schedule: www.articles.extension.org/ pages/74786/2019all-bugs-good-andbad-webinar-series.

Opelika E vents, Society, & Food

UPCOMING EVENTS: March 9 - Second saturday at pioneer park march 22 - bo porter, matt prater at the sound wall april 2 - tine thing helseth and her orchestra at opac

Downsizing provides time for Dee Dee Harper to return to love of cooking Photo by Ann Cipperly Dee Dee Harper has downsized her business, Ellis-Harper Marketing, after decades of working long hours.

She now has time to return to her roots cooking her grandmother’s recipes and offering hospitality. Dee Dee enjoys setting her dining room table with lovely china and cut-crystal.

Ann Cipperly’s

Southern

Hospitality

A

fter decades at a busy career, Dee Dee Harper downsized and has returned to her first love of cooking. With less work, she now has time to prepare her grandmother Nonnie’s dishes, experiment with new recipes, to entertain and help with food donations for events and fundraisers.

Dee Dee’s business, Ellis-Harper Advertising, which she formed in 1981, was the first advertising agency in East Alabama and among few womanowned businesses.

When Dee Dee was

five years old, her mother passed away.

Her father was a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force and was transferred to England at the same time as her mother’s passing. Since Dee Dee’s maternal grandmother “Nonnie” did not want her to leave the states, she was moved to Gadsden to live with her.

Dee Dee grew up with Nonnie and spent time in the kitchen helping her cook. She would roll out pie crusts and assist her grandmother in baking her famous coconut

cakes for gifts during the Christmas season.

Since her grandmother could not drive in her later years, “the moms” included Dee Dee in the car pool to and from school. At Christmas, Nonnie and Dee Dee baked luscious coconut cakes with lemon curd filling to give as a thank you to those in the car pool. “There would always be a cake for the minister too,” Dee Dee remembered.

One Christmas while trying to remove fresh coconut from the shell for the cakes, the knife slipped, causing a

‘Second Saturday’ features gardens, dolls, outdoor cooking, chair caning Special to the Opelika Observer ‘Second Saturday’ activities at Pioneer Park in Loachapoka on March 9 will include something for everyone. Weather permitting, welcome the first daffodils of spring and the last camellias of winter with an early spring ‘Garden Walk ‘n Talk’ with local master gardeners. The Walk ‘n Talk will begin at 9 a.m. at Grandma’s Garden.

A class will be taught in the textiles room upstairs in the Trade Center Museum. Large cloth dolls (nearly 16 inches in height) will be available to each participant for “stuffing.”

There will also be clothes patterns stamped on cloth for the dolls. These clothes may be made and decorated simply with hot glue or may be sewn. What a great addition to any teenager’s bedroom or what a nice gift for a grandchild or child.

All participants must be 13 years of age or older. This class will be taught by Mary Dulaney, Lee County Historical Society’s textile center coordinator. It will begin at 9 a.m. All materials will be provided and there will not be a fee.

Weather permitting, there will be a special class in outdoor cooking beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Learn techniques that our pioneer foremothers and fathers used for cooking over an open fire using iron cookware. Class begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be taught by a group of men from the LCHS. They will include preparation and cleaning of the cookware, as well as preparation of a variety of foods.

Because of popular demand, the chair caning class will be taught again on Saturday. Please bring a chair to cane (or Pioneer Park may have one to learn on). All needed supplies will be provided to those that bring a chair, and participants will take their chair home

small cut in the center of one hand. Now, the tiny scar reminds her of the happy days in her grandmother’s kitchen.

Her grandmother was a charter member of the Book Review Club, and when it was her turn to host a meeting, Dee Dee helped her prepare homemade chicken salad and banana bread that she cut into thin slices for making small

sandwiches filled with cream cheese.

The chicken salad was made with lots of finely chopped celery and small chunks of chicken combined with homemade mayonnaise or Duke’s mayonnaise, chopped chives, lots of pepper and lemon juice. The chicken salad was accompanied with fresh fruit.

Except for cakes and breads, Nonnie

cooked without recipes, which is how Dee Dee learned to cook.

Both she and Nonnie were “intuitive cooks.”

She often doesn’t measure, which makes it difficult to share recipes. “When it’s good, I can’t tell people exactly how to make something,” she laughed, “but when it’s not good, I don’t know how to keep See Recipes, page A11

New health and wellness studio opens on Avenue D in Opelika Special to the Opelika Observer The future of wellness has arrived in Opelika through THE7FLOW, a new business which recently opened in its first studio at 705 Ave. D. The 7FLOW will serve as a parent company for THE7FLOW OPK, which offers a comprehensive array of wellness classes to the public, private 1-on-1 sessions and laboratory for product develop-

ment.

The studio’s goal is to relieve the discord and disconnection people are experiencing while living in this fast paced digital age.

THE7FLOW is for all

people regardless of age, gender or religious beliefs. All classes involve recalibrating one’s energy to the level of the heart. The result is a feeling of lightness and harmony in one’s body and increased ability to handle stress with ease.

Started on the West Coast by businesswoman Aubrey Nicole, it was a one-woman operation before Opelika resident and former InSee 7Flow, page A10

See Park, page A10

Monday-Tuesday 11 AM - 3 PM Wednesday-Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM

pelika O Observer

A10 March 06, 2019

Tine Thing Helseth, orchestra visiting OPAC April 2 Special to the Opelika Observer Acclaimed Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth and her 10-piece, all-female brass ensemble will perform at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts April 2.

Following a 2013 appearance on a BBC television show, Helseth has rapidly estab-

lished herself as one of the world’s foremost trumpet soloists, garnering praise for her soulful, lyrical sound and collaborative approach to music-making. She has worked with some of the world’s leading orchestras and chamber orchestra to date, including the Bamberger Symphoniker, NDR Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Gürzenich-Or-

Helseth chester Cologne, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, SWR Symphonieorchester

Stuttgart and Zurich Chamber, among others.

Helseth and her group tour extensively across the world and have performed at some of Europe’s biggest music festivals, including Beethoven Bonn, Gstaad, MDR Musiksommer and the Thüringer Bachwochen. In the United States, the group have made appearances in Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

Tickets are now available for this event, which can be purchased by calling the East Alabama Arts box office at 334-749-8105 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit www. eastalabamaarts.org and www.tinethinghelseth. com.

The venue is located at 1700 Lafayette Parkway.

Bo Porter, Matt Prater to perform at The Sound Wall March 22 Special to the Opelika Observer The Sound Wall will host "An Evening with Bo Porter and Matt Prater" March 22 beginning at 7 p.m.

Following is a background on each artist and explanation of their musical backgrounds: Porter - With more than 40 years of musical history, talent and experience, Porter has had the honor of playing with some of the best names in the industry. He worked for years at Dollywood as

Park

from A9 with a brand new bottom.

The fee will be $25 to cover supplies. The class will begin at 9 a.m. in the pavilion or the trade center, depending on the weather. For more information or to register for the chair caning class, contact Mike Thurman (bigscout@email. com).

The museum and all buildings at Pioneer Park are open to the public on the second Saturday of each month.

Blacksmiths are working at the forge, the textile center is alive

a singer and entertainer.

Mark Chestnut, Wayne "The Train" Hancock, Loretta Lynn, Tim McGraw and Diamond Rio are some of the talents he has collaborated and opened for during his career. His latest accomplishment is being one of eight participants to be selected the Texas Songwriters University in 2016.

Prater - 10 years, thousands of live shows and four recording projects ago, Prater wrote his first song. A singer-songwriter, he is the perfect blend of country, folk and

with artisans spinning and weaving homemade fabrics, the gardens are open and special activities are planned monthly.

Stay for lunch at noon. Someone is always cooking up a traditional Southern lunch in the Cook House based on recipes from our past.

Pioneer Park is a project of the Lee County Historical Society, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation and presentation of the history of Lee County and East Alabama.

Check out the website at www. leecountyhistoricalsociety.org/ or find us on Facebook.

Porter bluegrass and remains relevant to all generations.

He has been surrounded by music and musicians his entire life, but only started writing and per-

7Flow,

from A9 ner Sunshine Yoga owner Kalyani Sotelo contacted Aubrey Nicole about the training.

Through weekly online meetings the two bonded over a shared devotion to to help elevate people and to relieve the dullness and disconnection they were seeing in the people around them.

After Kalyani completed the eight-week course, the two keep up their weekly meetings and eventually decided it would be best to join forces. In January 2018, Nicole and Sotelo officially became business partners despite having never met in person.

During the next year, Sotelo added her input and updated the training manual. She also worked closely with DJ Taz Rashid, a Chicago-based

forming live in 2006.

Prater keeps a full schedule independently touring songwriter showcases, music venues, festivals, such as the Frank Brown International Songwriter Festival and radio shows. He has been included in songwriter rounds with hit writers and top-shelf performers and has opened shows featuring artists such as Mo Pitney, Colt Ford, The Henningsens and Shenandoah. Prater makes regular performances at venues across the Southeast includ-

music producer with a global presence to produce original music.

Based on the core tenants of THE7FLOW’s mission of accessibly, universality and efficiency, Sotelo set out to create short but effective fitness classes. Many people told Sotelo that they were afraid to try yoga or did not have time practice it.

However, these classes have their roots in yoga and are meticulous about positive alignment but are different from yoga practiced today.

“Forget about extreme flexibility too, it’s not necessary. The classes offered at THE7FLOW OPK are all about feeling good, aligning with love, and aim to keep you highly functional in all aspects of your life,” Sotelo said.

“Anyone of any fitness level can easily participate because by design it’s adaptable.”

“What we have is a comprehensive wellness system from movement

Prater ing Muscle Shoals and Nashville.

Tickets cost $15 until March 21, and $20 on the day of the show. They can be purchased in advance

to stillness to weight management that is time efficient and free of complications, beliefs and extremely fun. Anyone can participate, and our methods have been scientifically proven to give more benefits and faster results than traditional forms of exercise, yoga and weightless programs.

This is the future of fitness and wellness and we’re building in our laboratory here in Opelika,” Sotelo added.

All classes are 28 minutes long. To round out the wellness program, Sotelo designed 7nourish, a fat-loss program that does not involve meal plans, shakes or calorie restriction.

Currently, classes are being offered at the studio at a deeply reduced rate to give their newly trained guides an opportunity to refine their skills. 7flow teacher’s training is available online. THE7FLOW is also in the process of building a platform to

through www.eventbrite. com.

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

offer all classes online as well.

“We believe this is in alignment with our core values in making these life elevating classes available to everyone regardless of location or financial income levels. The small fee for the online classes will be very affordable,” Sotelo said.

Sotelo is also developing a fitness program for those suffering from neurological diseases such as parkinson's and multiple sclerosis using functional movements. The classes are free but a commitment of being there twice a week is required. Based on preliminary results of this test group, the studio will be seeking to partner with universities to develop a research project to measure outcomes of the program.

A grand-opening celebration is slated for March 30.

For more information, contact Sotelo by email at kalyani@the7flow.com.

pelika O Observer Recipes,

from A9 from repeating it.”

After high school, Dee Dee graduated from Auburn University with degrees in journalism and Spanish. For her internship, she worked as editor of Alabama Living, the magazine for the Rural Electric Association, for the electric co-op system of Alabama.

She then went to work for an advertising agency in Montgomery. After a year there, she had an opportunity at a large agency in Birmingham where she became copy director.

After marrying and moving back to Auburn, Dee Dee became director of marketing for Opelika National Bank.

She was active in the early days of the Opelika Arts Association, now the Arts Association of East Alabama, a member of the First United Methodist Church of Opelika and was active in many civic and charitable organization.

She left her position at the bank, which was then owned by AmSouth, in order to have a more flexible schedule when her daughter, Katy, was born.

Dee Dee opened Ellis-Harper in the early 80s, with her maiden name “Ellis” because of her advertising career in Birmingham. The business grew rapidly and the pace became “frantic.” It employed 10 staff members and as many freelancers. At one point they handled the advertising for 13 banks across the Southeast, among other businesses, including Bonnie Plants nationally until it was sold to Miracle Gro. The business received many awards over the years.

Shrimp Pasta This is my go-to dish, and it is quick.

Portions are approximate, since there is not much you can do to mess it up!

You’ll end up adding your own touches, like sherry or white wine, Parmesan or even the tiniest little pinch of tarragon.

4-5 servings linguine, angel hair or spaghetti noodles ½ large red bell pepper, chopped ½ small green bell pepper, chopped 3 Tbsp. olive oil 3 cloves minced garlic (or California blend garlic powder) 1 large Vidalia onion, coarse chopped 1 lb. fresh or frozen medium or large shrimp, raw, peeled, deveined ½ can chicken stock or broth

“I worked so hard for decades,” Dee Dee said. “I gave up much of my ‘fun’ cooking over those years. I still loved to cook, but just didn’t have time to try many new things and stuck to my intuitive cooking since that comes naturally to me. It was just faster.”

Now with more time, she has pulled out her notebook with menus and Nonnie’s recipes to enjoy cooking once again.

She prints recipes from online to try.

She has grouped them together with clothes pins and has written the category on each pin to keep them organized.

While holidays are favorite times to cook and use her china and crystal, she enjoys offering hospitality. She is savoring a slower lifestyle. A member of the War Eagle Garden Club, she is a master gardener and grows fresh herbs.

Dee Dee was married to the late Judge Robert M. Harper.

Their daughter, Kathryn “Katy” Caddell Harper, is married to Alex Doss. They live in Auburn and have one child, Robert, who is six years old.

Katy followed in her mother’s footsteps with her own web, social and creative marketing agency, Here Molly Girl, named after their beloved dog.

With her black and white cat perched on the porch, Dee Dee enjoys looking over her worn notebook filled with treasured recipes, as she plans menus to prepare for family and friends, taking each day without the frantic pace.

“I’m now able to do work for clients I love and cook for the people I love,” she said, “and I enjoy that immensely.”

Ann Cipperly can be reached at recipes@cipperly.com

Chives, coarse chopped ¾ cup half and half ½ stick butter Cook pasta in salted water 10-14 minutes to desired consistency. Drain and set aside, keeping warm.

Sauté bell peppers and garlic in olive oil, adding onions after 2 minutes.

Cook until onions are transparent. Add broth and shrimp, cooking only until shrimp start to turn pink.

Add cream and green onions, stirring until shrimp are cooked through and mixture is creamy.

Stir in chives and butter.

May be served over individual portions of pasta or mixed with pasta for buffet.

Impossible Lemon Pie 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk 1 cup water 1/2 cup lemon juice ½ cup Bisquick 3 eggs 1/4 cup butter, softened 1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract 1 cup coconut Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In blender, combine all ingredients except coconut. Blend on low for 3 minutes. Pour into greased 10-inch pie plate. Let stand 5 minutes.

Sprinkle coconut over top. Bake 35-40 minutes until knife inserted near edge comes out clean. Allow to cool and set.

Nonnie’s Banana Bread For parties, Nonnie would thinly slice the bread and make small sandwiches filled with cream cheese. ¾ cup white sugar ¾ cup brown sugar ½ cup shortening 2 eggs, slightly beaten 3 mashed ripe bananas 1 tsp. vanilla 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 level tsp. soda Chopped pecans, optional Cream together sugars and shortening. Add eggs.

Then add remaining ingredients and mix together.

Pour into greased loaf pan. Bake one hour at 350 degrees or until tests done by inserting a toothpick near the center.

Party Seafood Mold One of my favorites. I hope for leftovers, so I can make a sandwich!

1 can tomato soup 3 envelopes Knox unflavored gelatin Water 2-3 cans shrimp and/ or crab, drained, picked, rinsed (can use frozen, salad shrimp mashed, fresh crab) 8 oz. cream cheese, softened and whipped 1 cup Hellman’s or Duke’s mayonnaise 1 1/2 cups finely chopped celery ½ cup finely chopped onion 1 jar chopped pimiento, drained Tabasco or cayenne to taste Dissolve gelatin in water per package directions.

Bring soup to low boil, stirring to avoid scorching.

Remove from heat.

When gelatin is completely dissolved, add to soup. Stir in cream cheese.

Add remaining ingredients except seafood and pimiento. Pour into blender or food processor for a short pulse. (Do not puree.)

I sometimes just use a mixer.) Stir in seafood and pimiento. Pour into a 4 cup mold greased with mayonnaise. Refrigerate 4-5 hours until firm.

Unmold onto platter, “frost” top with mayonnaise and decorate with paprika and parsley.

Serve with crackers as an hors d’oeuvre or on lettuce as a luncheon entrée. Can double for 3 qt. mold.

Mushroom Sandwiches Helen (Mrs. Marshall) Connor Amazingly good to be so simple. I had to beg Helen for the recipe!

1 large can mushroom stems and pieces, drained well and chopped

½ small onion, grated Good mayonnaise to mix to spreading consistency ¼ cup chopped parsley Mix all and let sit to blend for a few minutes.

Makes spread for 6 whole sandwiches, crusts trimmed – 18 finger sandwiches, 3 per whole sandwich.

Cracker Salad Brown Torbert, Saugahatchee Country Club ca.

1975.

This has become my “signature” summer dish.

I had the beloved Johnny McEachern cater it for an Opelika National Bank picnic. He added some extras like cheese and celery, and it was wonderful too. This is the original.

Spread fresh tomatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces, over the bottom of serving dish about 2 inches deep.

Add layer of chopped Vidalia onion, about ½ inch deep. Then add ½ inch layer of chopped green bell pepper.

Salt and pepper well.

Seal with Miracle Whip or Hellman’s mayonnaise. Be sure to cover edge to edge.

Chunky-crush Ritz Crackers for a generous layer on top.

Refrigerate 1-2 hours but not overnight.

Andy’s Restaurant’s Famous Peanut Butter Pie Marie Crimm and Roz Stern Baked 9-inch pie shell Blend with hands or pastry blender: 1 cup confectioner’s sugar 1 cup crunchy peanut butter Put half of mixture in bottom of pie shell.

In saucepan, mix: 2 egg yokes 2 cup milk ½ stick butter or margarine Dash salt Cook until thick. Add ½ tsp. vanilla.

Cool. Add remaining peanut butter mix and pour into shell.

Cover with whipped cream.

Fresh Apple Cake I love this! So moist. I leave it a wee bit underdone for an almost gooey inside.

1 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup white granulated sugar 2 eggs, beaten 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 cup vegetable oil 3 diced apples (can leave peel on) 1 cup chopped nuts (also raisins, if you like) 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon For topping: 1/2 pkg. butterscotch chips, optional Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x13-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, mix sugars, eggs, vanilla and oil.

Add dry ingredients. Mix well by hand.

Batter will be stiff. Fold in chopped apples and nuts.

Spread batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle butterscotch chips on top, if desired.

Bake until toothpick inserted into cake comes

A11 March 06, 2019 out clean, 40 to 50 minutes.

Glaze while still hot.

Glaze 1 1/4 cups brown sugar 1/3 cup milk or half & half ½ cup butter In saucepan, combine brown sugar, cream and butter. Bring to a boil and continue cooking for 2 1/2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Pour over warm cake.

Chess Cake 1 stick butter, softened 4 eggs, divided 1 box of yellow cake mix 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature Box of confectioners’ sugar Combine butter, 1 egg and cake mix and spread in bottom of greased 10 by 13 inch pan.

Cream together cream cheese and 3 eggs, adding one at a time. Blend in the powdered sugar. Spread over base layer. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Cool well before serving.

Sad Cake This is a dense, moist cake. This one is, sadly, like a cake that wants to be a chewy bar.

2 cups Bisquick 2 ¼ cups packed brown sugar 4 eggs, slightly beaten ½ cup vegetable oil 1 cup flaked coconut 1 cup chopped pecans 1 tsp. vanilla Grease and flour a 9 by 13 inch pan. Preheat oven to 350.

Thoroughly mix all ingredients. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes.

Allow to cool before cutting.

Mushroom “Tartels” 1 Tbsp. butter ½ cup chive and onion cream cheese spread 1 can refrigerated crescent rolls 8 oz. pkg. fresh mushrooms, finely chopped ¼ cup grated Parmesan 2 tsp. fresh chopped parsley Preheat oven to 350. Melt butter in skillet on medium heat. Add mushrooms and sauté for 5 minutes or until tender, stirring often.

Add cream cheese spread and Parmesan. Cook and stir until cream cheese is melted. Remove from heat and set aside.

Unroll dough into 2 long rectangles, pressing perforations and seams together to seal. Cut each rectangle into 12 squares. Place 1 square in each of 24 mini muffin cups with corners extending over rims. Firmly press dough on bottom and up sides of each cup. Spoon about 1 ½ tsp. mushroom mixture into each cup.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Sprinkle with parsley. Cool in pan 5 minutes before serving.

Bechamel Sauce for Creamed Spinach Dee Dee serves Creamed Spinach in a chafing dish with small pastry shells on the side.

5 Tbsp. butter 5 Tbsp. flour 2 ½ cups warmed cream or milk Frozen spinach, cooked Garlic to taste

Salt and pepper to taste In saucepan, cook flour and butter on low until thickened but not browned.

Add warm cream and stir until shiny and thickened.

Add spinach, garlic and seasonings.

Note: Creamed sauce can be used for creating other dishes.

Chicken and Orzo I just make this without measuring, and it’s always turned out fine. So, if you’re a measurer, you better come by my house when I’m making it!

Simmer at least 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts with onion and celery coarse cut pieces and salt and pepper in water to cover for 25 minutes. Set aside chicken breasts.

Bring the stock with vegetables to boil, then add orzo pasta (4-5 cups stock and one-third of a 1-lb. box of orzo). Reduce heat to simmer. Stir occasionally to keep from sticking.

Boil on medium until all the stock is absorbed.

Remove from heat.

Before serving, add butter, cream or milk and coarse cut garlic powder to warm orzo. Add anything else you like, such as oregano, rosemary, even Velveeta. Serve as side dish to the chicken.

Hot Vidalia Dip It’s easy and delicious.

1 large Vidalia Onion, coarsely chopped 7 oz. pkg. shredded Italian three-cheese blend 1 cup good mayonnaise (light or regular) 1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix first 3 ingredients. Spread mixture into 9- inch pie plate.

Sprinkle with Parmesan.

Bake 45 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

Serve warm with crackers, pita chips or Fritos Dippers.

Poached Eggs Don’t laugh. It’s hard to get poached eggs consistently perfect.

4 large eggs 1 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar Salt and pepper Bring 6 cups water to boil in Dutch oven over high heat. Meanwhile, crack eggs, one at a time, into colander. Let stand until loose, watery whites drain away from eggs, 30 seconds.

Gently transfer eggs to 2-cup liquid measuring cup.

Add vinegar and 1 tsp. salt to boiling water. With lip of measuring cup just above surface of water, gently tip eggs into water, one at a time, leaving space between them.

Cover pot, remove from heat, and let stand until whites closest to yolks are just set and opaque, about 3 minutes.

If after 3 minutes whites are not set, let stand in water, checking every 30 seconds, until eggs reach desired doneness. (For medium-cooked yolks, let eggs sit in pot, covered, for 4 minutes, then begin checking for doneness.)

Using slotted spoon, carefully lift and drain each egg over Dutch oven. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

See Recipes, page A13

pelika O Observer

A12 March 06, 2019

CFEA establishes Lee County Tornado Recovery Fund Special to the Opelika Observer Our hearts and prayers are with all those impacted by the devastating tornados that hit parts of Lee County on Sunday, March 3.

In order to help

those affected, the Community Foundation of East Alabama (CFEA), Inc. has established a Lee County Tornado Recovery Fund.

The recovery fund has been set up for donors seeking an official conduit to

contribute monetarily to the recovery effort. The Community Foundation of East Alabama will receive, hold, and disperse monies contributed to this fund in a manner deemed appropriate by the CFEA Board of Directors with input from the Lee

County Emergency Management Agency, and members of a Tornado Recovery Committee.

All distributions will help local entities serve the needs of the Lee County residents who were affected by this disaster.

Contributions may be

made on the Community Foundation of East Alabama website www. cfeastalabama.org or by mail to: Community Foundation of East Alabama P. O. Box 165 Opelika, Alabama 36803-0165.

Please make checks

payable to the CFEA for LCTRF. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law.

For additional information, please contact Barbara Patton at 334-744-1020 or email info@cfeastalabama. org.

Local volunteers, Girl Scouts plant trees at Courthouse Square Saturday

Special to the Opelika Observer Last Saturday, local volunteers and girl scouts helped plant trees around Courthouse Square to enhance and beautify the area. This is part of the city's commitment toward "effective urban forest management" which landed them a 2018 Tree City USA recognition.

Jackson,

from A4 since.

I want it that Hilda my sister she gets the north sixtie akers where i am homing it now. i bet she don’t get that loafer husband of her to brake twentie akers next plowing, she cant have it if she lets Oscar live on it. i want i should have it back if she does.

Tell moma that six hundred dollars she has been looking for for ten years is berried from the bakhouse behind about ten feet down. she better little frederick do the digging and count it when he comes up.

Pastor lucknitz can have three hundred dollars if he kisses the book he wont preach no more dumhead talks about politiks. He should a roof put on the meeting house with and the elders should the bills look at.

Mom should the rest

get but i want it so that Adolph should tell her what not she should do so no more slick irishers sell her vaken cleaners. they make noise like hell and a broom don’t cost so much.

I want it that mine brother Adolph be execter and i want it that the judge should please make adolph plenty bond put up and watch him like hell. Adolph is a good bisness man but only a dumkopl would trust him with a busted penny.

I want darn sure that Oscar don’t nothing got.

Tell Adolph he can have a hundred dollars if he prove judge Oscar don’t got nothing. That dam sure fix Oscar.

It is always good to leave behind words to ponder.

Daddy did.

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

Pinyerd,

from A4

of aging. Joking and kidding over age-related changes can ease a lot of anxiety because we are growing old together. This is so true in senior groups when clean, wholesome jokes are shared.

Often, seniors make fun of themselves with other seniors as we walk down the lane of aging together.

Too, laughter and optimism improve resiliency in the way we cope with everyday life and its challenges.

Laughter and humor are also being shown to be natural, powerful medicines for chronic, degenerative conditions like dementia, alzheimer’s and parkinson’s. As an activity volunteer with seniors, I have seen the benefits of laughter first hand.

While promoting laughing and a sense of humor in the facilities where I volunteer, I check out DVDs

from our local library with comedy shows from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Our local newspapers in certain editorials and columns promote conversation starters.

Senior adults love to get their newspapers. The same kind of resources can be gathered to outreach to individual elderly people who are being cared for by a family or caregiver in their homes too. Certain websites provide generational jokes from certain eras that can be downloaded and printed.

And last but not least, seniors love to share funny memories of their families, friends and themselves.

Let’s take it from our senior friends, “Take time to laugh.”

Pinyerd has taught young children in the Early Childhood Classroom for 34 years as well as outreaching to the elderly in intergenerational settings. If you have photos or events you would like to have featured in our education section, please send emails to donnapinyerd@att.net.

Cars,

from A7 Alabama Car Club, said that anyone is able to bring their own vintage car, so long as they communicate with Pascoe in advance to ensure that space is available.

“If you’ve got a vintage car, then bring it,” Pascoe said. “Bring it, we’d be happy to have it.”

The East Alabama Old Car Club was founded in 1974 and will be celebrating its 45th anniversary this year.

To Pascoe, who remembers some residents at Monarch Estates asking for the keys for the cars on exhibition, said that the club tries to make the cars as available to the spectator as possible.

For the residents, it’s about viewing the cars from their youth.

“They love it,” Pascoe said. “It brings back memories for them.”

FRIENDS FAMILY COWORKERS MOTHERS TEACHERS SONS DAUGHTERS NURSES GRANDPARENTS NIECES FATHERS AUNTS UNCLES EMPLOYERS NEIGHBORS COUSINS FAMILY COWORKERS NEPHEWS OPIOID ADDICTION DOCTORS PARENTS FRIENDS We share with our neighbors a common FAMILY ISN'T DEFINED BY COWORKERS MOTHERS TEACHERS goal—the health, education and well-being of SONS SOCIOECONOMIC CLASS. DAUGHTERS NURSES

Looking Ahead.

OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES Poarch provides over 9,000 jobs to Alabamians, WON’T FIX THEMSELVES. pays millions in state taxes each year, and makes GRANDPARENTS NIECES FATHERS AUNTS UNCLES EMPLOYERS people statewide.

LET'S FACE IT. HEAD ON.

charitable contributions reaching nearly NEIGHBORS COUSINS NEPHEWS FIRST RESPONDERS DOCTORS $9 million annually.

PARENTS FRIENDS FAMILY COWORKERS MOTHERS TEACHERS DAUGHTERS NURSES GRANDPARENTS NIECES FATHER

We are proud to be a partner in Alabama’s SONS progress.

ALABAMA NATIVES. ALABAMA NEIGHBORS. PoarchNeighbors.com pci-nsn.gov

SUPPORT GOVERNOR KAY IVEY’S BILL TO REBUILD ALABAMA.

24/7 Helpline 844-307-1760 COURAGEFORALL.COM a message of the Alabama Department of Mental Health

REBUILDALABAMA.COM @REBUILDAL

Paid for by The Business Council of Alabama

pelika O Observer Recipes,

from A11 Grasshopper Pie It’s a classic from the “Leave It to Beaver” era, but I’d forgotten about it until I started looking through recipes.

1 ½ cups finely crushed Oreos or chocolate wafer cookies ¼ cup melted butter OR One ready-made chocolate pie crust Filling: ½ cup evaporated or whole milk 32 large marshmallows ¼ cup green crème de menthe 3 Tbsp. white crème de cacao 1 ½ cups whipping cream Green food coloring Andes mints/dark chocolate curls of chips, optional Preheat oven to 350. In medium bowl, thoroughly stir together crust ingredi-

Service,

from A7 help people in need.”

The sailors’ jobs aboard USS Hopper are highly specialized, requiring dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments keeping the ship mission-ready at all times.

As a Navy damage controlman, Furman is responsible for performing and training first response and damage control to the crew to combat any accident which may occur on the ship while inport and underway.

More than 300 sailors serve aboard the ship named for the pioneering computer scientist who served in the Navy for 43 years.

Though Rear Adm. Hopper joined the Naval Reserves in 1943 after being an associate professor of mathematics at Vassar College, he retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank

334-528-6191

served crumbs. Refrigerate 4 hours until set. Add the dark chocolate curls, chips or a few Andes mints as desired for a pretty presentation. Store covered in refrigerator.

ents. Reserve 2 Tbsp. for garnish. Press remaining crumb mixture evenly onto sides and bottom of 9-inch, preferably glass, pie plate. Bake 10 minutes. Cool on rack at least 15 minutes.

Filling: In 3-quart saucepan, heat milk and marshmallows over low heat, stirring constantly, just until marshmallows are melted. Refrigerate 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon. (If it gets too thick, place the pan in a bowl of warm water and stir until thinner.) Slowly stir in crème de menthe and crème de cacao.

In large chilled bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on low until cream begins to thicken.

Increase speed gradually and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in marshmallow mixture. Add 3-4 drops green food coloring as desired.

Spread mixture in pie crust and sprinkle with re-

Robert DeNiro’s Bloody Mary Recipe John and Trish Lindler came upon DeNiro’s favorite bartender in the bar of the William Randolph Hearst-built hotel near Times Square in New York City. DeNiro suggested the addition of the sherry, and it’s been a classic there ever since.

Makes one large drink.

Bloody Mary mix of your choice 1 jigger sweet sherry 5 shakes Worcestershire sauce 1/3 jigger A1 sauce ½ tsp. horseradish Lemon wedge and lime “Heat” to taste.

1 or more jiggers vodka Combine and mix.

of commander at the end of 1966. She was recalled to active duty in August 1967 for a six-month period that turned into an indefinite assignment. From 1967 to 1977, Hopper served as the director of the Navy Programming Languages Group in the Navy’s Office of Information Systems Planning and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1973. Hopper was promoted to commodore by special Presidential appointment in 1983. In 1985, the rank of commodore was renamed rear admiral lower half. She retired from the Navy on Aug. 14, 1986.

Owing to the breadth of her accomplishments and her naval rank, she is sometimes referred to as “Amazing Grace.”

“It’s been an honor serving onboard,” added Furman. “It’s a pretty surreal experience where you have to adapt to anything that may pop up to complete maintenance and to keep the ship looking good.”

Navy guidedmissile destroyers are multi-mission

ships, equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons systems, that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea.

Being stationed in Pearl Harbor, often referred to as the gateway to the Pacific in defense circles, means Furman is serving in a part of the world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances, and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”

The Pacific is home to more than 50 percent of the world’s population, many of the world’s largest and smallest economies, several of the world’s

www.eamcfoundation.org

Contact: Amy Thomas Amy.Thomas@eamc.org

A13 March 06, 2019

Food Ratings Bow and Arrow 1977 E. Samford Ave. Auburn Score: 100 Acre 210 E. Glenn Ave. Auburn Score: 100 Cakeitecture Bakery 124 S. 8th St. Opelika Score: 99 Tenda Chick 232 N. Dean Rd largest militaries and many U.S. allies. The Navy has been pivotal in helping maintain peace and stability in the Pacific region for decades.

Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Furman is most proud of earning being meritoriously advanced to the rank of petty officer third class.

“I was about to take the third-class exam and the command had a picnic where the leadership told us who was being meritoriously advanced,” Furman said. “I didn’t expect it at all! It was just a nice surprise for the hard work I’ve done.”

Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Furman, who has military ties with family members who have previously served.

Furman is honored to carry on that family tradition.

“My grandfather was in the Air Force and my dad served in the Israeli army,” said Furman. “I always looked up to their work ethic.

Auburn Score: 94 Sonic Drive-In 322 N. Dean Rd. Auburn Score: 94

Restaurant 2089 Frederick Road Opelika Score: 99

Niffer’s Place 1151 Opelika Rd. Auburn Veggie’s To-Go Score: 99 1650 S. College Red Lobster St. 1805 Opelika Rd. Auburn Auburn Score: 92 Score: 98 Burger King Byron’s 415 2nd Ave. Smokehouse Opelika 436 Opelika Rd. Score: 100 Auburn Score: 98 Zaxby’s I want my future children to look up to me the same way I look up to them.”

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Furman and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the

Navy the nation needs.

“I feel like serving in the Navy is like being in a big family full of people who will always be there for you,” added Furman.

“The traditions that we all uphold makes it feel like we have big shoes to fill. It’s really been a great experience.”

A14 March 06, 2019

pelika O Observer

Community shows support for those affected by Sunday’s tornadoes by giving blood, leading area cleanup efforts

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Opelika Schools & Sports Inside • opelika schools • lee county schools • community sports

OPELIKA BASEBALL SCHEDULE March 6 - @ Auburn March 7 - v. Valley March 8 - v. Sylacauga March 9 - @ Northside March 12 - v. Beauregard

Opelika varsity girls lose in state finals versus Hazel Green; fall 55 - 31 to finish 28-6 overall

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

OHS Lady Bulldogs basketball finish runner-up in 6A

H

azel Green defeated Opelika 55-31 in the 6A Championship game at the BJCC Legacy Arena on Saturday.

Opelika could not overcome a slow start offensively, scoring two points in the first quarter and trailing 14-2. The Lady Bulldogs cut the lead to three points in the second quarter before Hazel Green went on a 14-5 run, never looking back.

The Lady Trojans have now won back-to-back 6A basketball championships.

Lone Opelika senior Quala Walton scored a team-high 11 points.

Ananda Hughley added 10 points and joined Walton on the “All-Tournament Team.”

Congratulations to Coach Devin Booth, staff and players on an outstanding season and a runner-up finish! I know it is tough to lose, but only two teams played for the title Saturday, and Opelika was one of those two.

TENNIS Opelika’s girls Tennis team defeated Shades Valley 7-2 last week. Readen Gagliano, Laney McTier, Hope Bearden and Kathlene Trotter won single matches.

The Lady Bulldogs won two doubles matches with

Gagliano/Beardon and Victoria Tufts/LT Daffin.

Shades Valley slipped by the boys 5-4. Dawson Rush, Jack Whatley and Andrew Hudson won matches along with the doubles team, Rush/Jack O’Quinn SOCCER The Opelika girls soccer team beat Smiths Station 4-1 at the W. James Samford Soccer Complex.

Amiya Brown netted two goals while Erica Mathews and Madi Rush added a goal apiece. Molly Randolph led with two assists, while Brown and Abby Noon each recorded an assist.

The Opelika boys were blanked 2-0 by Smiths Station, unable to place many shots on goal.

THE OPELIKA INVITATIONAL TRACK MEET The Opelika Invitational Track Meet was held at the Sam Mason Track last weekend. The meet included 16 varsity girls teams, 12 varsity boys teams along with six girls and boys middle school teams.

VG Auburn captured first place in the girls meet with 177 points. Opelika followed with 105 points See Sports, page B4

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer The Opelika Lady Bulldogs dropped a tough 55-31 contest Hazel Green in Saturday’s 6A State Finals in Birmingham. Senior Quala Walton led all scorers with 11 points. For more photos, turn to B8.

Patrice Lipscomb promoted to assistant director of Opelika’s Parks and Rec

By Tyler Roush For the Opelika Observer Patrice Lipscomb started at the Opelika Sportsplex front desk 10 years ago.

After recently being named the assistant director for Opelika’s Parks and Recreation Department, Lipscomb worked her way from the bottom to become the replacement for Tommie Agee.

Following her time at the front desk, Lipscomb later became the center supervisor at Cov-

ington Recreation Center.

“It’s all worthwhile,” Lipscomb said. “You always have dreams of being an assistant or the head of the department, and to know that with all the hard work from being at the bottom and working your way up, it’s all worth it.”

Originally from Auburn, Lipscomb graduated from both Auburn High School and Auburn University before her time in Opelika, which Lipscomb now calls her second home.

See Lipscomb, page B4

Opelika Sportsplex to host March Madness themed events Special to the Opelika Observer As part of their countdown to their 10th anniversary, the Opelika Sportsplex is hosting three March Madness challenge events this month to encourage Sportsplex members and guests to stay active.

The winners of each of these challenges will receive a signed basketball from Bruce Pearl, coach of the Auburn men’s basketball program.

Opelika Sportsplex members can participate in a “100 Free -Throw Challenge” during March. All

members who complete the challenge will be entered into drawing for one of the signed balls at the end of the month.

The 100 free-throw Challenge is free for all Sportsplex members to participate in.

Members can pickup their free throw logs at the Opelika Sportsplex front desk in order to track their progress.

There will also be a “Sportsplex Members Only Free-Throw Contest” on March 20 beginning at noon.

This challenge is also free for all members to participate in, but See Sportsplex, page B3

pelika O Observer

B2 March 06, 2019

Read Across America festivities take place in Opelika last week

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Covington Recreation Center celebrated “Read Across America” this week. Each day included activities and programs possessing a Dr. Seuss theme.

AG Steve Marshall Extends Applications Deadline for 2018 Safe Schools Initiative Awards of Excellence Applications are now due March 12 Special to the Opelika Obesrver Attorney Gen. Steve Marshall is extending the deadline for applications for the 2018 Safe Schools Initiative Awards of Excellence until March 12.

The attorney general’s office will honor private school winners from North, Central and South Alabama, in addition to the winners from each of the state’s eight public school board districts.

“These awards offer a valuable opportunity to honor schools that are succeeding with outstanding safety plans, to recognize procedures that work well and to encourage implementation of these methods

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

throughout Alabama to keep our children safer,” Marshall said.

Attorney General Marshall plans to visit winning schools this spring to personally present the award in honor of each school’s accomplish-

ment.

More information about criteria for the awards may be found at the Attorney General’s website at www.ago.alabama. gov/Documents/2018SSI-NominationForm.pdf. Please note

that applications are requested to be sent in a digital PDF, if possible, to ssi@ago. state.al.us.

The applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges.

Dr. James “Mac” McCoy Superintendent 334-705-6000 Fax: 334-745-9822 Toll Free: 1-800-652-9770

Lee County Board of Education 2410 Society Hill Road Opelika, AL 36804-4830

A Tradition of Excellence – A Vision for Tomorrow

BOARD MEETING NOTICE Notice is hereby given to all

citizens, press, and any interested parties that

Lee County Board of Education will meet

Tuesday, March 12, 2019 6:00 P.M. CT at the Central Office 2410 Society Hill Road Opelika, AL 36804-4830

This notice is posted on March 1, 2019

by Dr. James E. McCoy, Superintendent of Lee County Schools All Schools Accredited by SACS CASI

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

Eddie Smith CITY PRESIDENT

certificates of deposit and numerous electronic products and services.

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

ICK RD.

FREDER

Tiger Town

Lowe’s

R.

D AY TEW GA

Kroger

Our New Location

Visit us here: www.auburnbank.com MEMBER FDIC

I-85

1851 Frederick Road Opelika

Equal Housing Lender

334-275-9600

Located in Historic Downtown Opelika

334-745-4618

pelika O Observer

B3 March 06, 2019

OLLI at Auburn to host guest speaker Linda Hemmings March 13, will speak on driving safety Special to the Opelika Observer The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University (OLLI at Auburn) will host its lecture series titled ‘Wisdom Wednesday’s’ March 13 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art which is located at 901 S. College St. OLLI members, guests and friends are all invited to learn more about OLLI at Auburn course offerings, social engagements and initiatives.

This week’s lecture series will feature

Sportsplex,

from B1

registration is required.

Members and guests can participate in a free-throw Contest and 3-Point Shoot Out on March 23 at 9 a.m. This

guest, Linda Hemmings providing OLLI at Auburn with her presentation entitled “Road Safety Around 18 Wheelers” focusing on all the information one needs to know about big trucks, along with first-hand information from a truck driver.

Hemmings has vast experience in the field of truck driving.

She graduated truck driving school 1983 and during the course of her career drove five, eight, nine, 10 and 13-speed trucks.

Her first job pulled flatbed trailers to drop deck as well as

low boy and tankers to construction sites. Additionally, she double stacked flatbed trailers on return trips, pulled over width, over length, over height and overweight loads for a span of two years.

With her next truck driving position, she drove nationwide pulling 45, 48 and 53-foot beds and double trailers. Hemmings continued to expand her career in truck driving over the years as she owned a company with her second husband transporting cars.

In addition, she has served as the director of training at two

truck-driving schools and taught more than 200 students to drive.

After retirement, she began teaching AARP Safe Driving courses for three years, followed by an additional truck driving position involved transporting race cars for a professional race team.

Hemmings was born in Czech Republic (Bohemia) and raised in Germany after father’s death. She has lived in Georgia, Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, California, Colorado and Alabama. Currently, she and her husband

remain active in the community and fellowship with friends and her husband who still drives part-time at the age of 82.

OLLI at Auburn offers academic not for credit programs for adults aged 50 years or older through program sites at Auburn University, AUM and Chambers County Public Library in Valley.

Membership includes several benefits such as participation in social engagements, our lecture series, day trips, and other programming initiatives.

OLLI at Auburn is a program of the Office

of the Vice President for University Outreach at Auburn University. OLLI administrative offices and select classes are located at the historic Sunny Slope property which is located at 1031 S. College St. in Auburn.

For more information regarding this event or if you would like to assist the organization as a volunteer faculty member, volunteer service assistant, or sponsor, call Ileeia A. Cobb, Ph.D., OLLI Director, at 334-844-3105, email olli@auburn. edu, or visit www. olliatauburn.org.

event is free for members and only $5 for guests. There will be no daily admission for guest contestants the day of the contest.

Event organizer Bobby Poer said, “We decided to create these events as a part of our 10th anniversary celebration.

It is a great opportunity to celebrate our

members in March, to show off our facilities, and to give members and nonmembers an opportunity for a fun and engaging contest in celebration of March Madness.”

Both free-throw contests and the 3-pointer shoot-out will consist of qualifying stages in which

participants are required to make a certain amount of shots in order to advance to the next round.

The last round will consist of two to four participants going against one another for the championship title.

The winners of each free-throw contest and the winner of

the 3-pointer shootout will each receive a signed basketball at the conclusion of the events. Nobody will go home empty handed, though. All contest registrants will be given a Sportsplex water bottle for their efforts.

“This competition is great for members to engage in friendly

competition and enjoy the Sportsplex throughout the month. Also, it is an opportunity for non-members to see what the Sportsplex and community is all about,” Poer said.

Registration for all three events begin March 1 at the Opelika SportsPlex front desk.

Opelika defeated G.W. Carver last week to advance to Saturday’s finals

Special to the Opelika Observer The Opelika Lady Bulldogs defeated G.W. Carver 61-44 in the semifinals of the AHSAA’s Final 56 tournament held in Birmingham last Wednesday. Senior Quala Walton led with 14 points, while Kaitlyn Bryant, Ananda Hughley and Claire Worth each added 10 points apiece. With the win, Opelika advanced to its first state title game appearance since 1986.

Facing defending 6A champion Hazel Green, a slow offensive start doomed the Lady Bulldogs as they fell 55-31. They finished 28-6 on the season.

Photos by Todd Thompson/RiverCat Photography

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B4 March 06, 2019

Silence in Sunlight A

luminous prism of apricot light slips passed the curtain.

The rising sun draws diagonal patterns across the room as I awaken on a cold late February morning. I pull the curtain back, and the room pulses with light. Mountains reflect in a watercolor landscape hanging opposite the window where I sit to pen down early thoughts.

Traffic slows along Interstate 26 bending and winding north-

bound o’er the blue western North Carolina ridges, while icy currents carry forth at their usual pace caressing the banks of the French Broad River. This is Monday morning rush hour.

I take coffee and a warm croissant with me as I walk through the forest. Stone borders, evergreen boughs, ivy envelopes the largest trees and blankets the earth. I look up before I look down and I wonder

drapery. Silent pathways, empty garden scapes, the pebbles crunch beneath my steps as tulips emerge, lifting new soil and mulch. In just four weeks, they will paint a carpet over their domain. Rose beds are pruned. Secret garden benches are empty. I savor these walks as I meditate amid the winter landscape, still cold and gnarly. From grey branches, buds protrude announcing soon pink and lavender blooms. Yel-

By Sarah West if the tree minds this invasive neighbor, and what toll might this friendship take on the towering centurion, whose branches bend under weighted

low thickets undulate alongside terrace steps and hilly cascades.

The koi at water’s surface nods his head, and lazily opens his mouth as his butterflylike fins flutter about in the dull pond water.

His slippery scales reflect the sky, facets of topaz and violet. A small fish, a streak of cadmium red swims by.

The door creaks as I turn the knob and press with all my might. The heavy door, a century old,

yields and I step inside.

Window panes sweat, and water beads drip and blur the world outside. Conservatory steam warms winter’s chill and provides place for tropical life and those who crave sunlight. Moss of chartreuse, orchids and exotic plant life thrive.

I meander down familiar paths and take the time to explore a few I haven’t known.

Late winter’s hush performs overture for nature’s resurgence.

YOUR DESTINATION for CONTINUED FINE ARTS EDUCATION STUDIO CLASSES | DRAWING, PAINTING & MORE for ALL AGES www.thesarahwestgalleryoffineart.com

Sports,

from B1 to place second, while Wetumpka, Montgomery Academy and Beauregard rounded out the top-5 finishers.

The following girls placed in the top-5: 400 meters: Akishi Williams - second Jasmine Murphy - third Zeriauna Jackson fourth Discus: A’Nyiah Hughley - first, (second in javelin and shot put) Lauren White - second High Jump: Ansley Jackson - first Triple Jump: Ansley Jackson - third VB Auburn scored 177 points to win, Opelika followed with 105 points as Wetumpka, Montgomery Academy and Beauregard rounded out the top-5 finishers.

The following boys placed in the top-5: Brantan Barnett - first in the 100-meter dash and

second in the 200 meters Omar Holloway - third in the 100-meter dash and fourth in the 200 meters Daniel Kindred - second in the 110-meter hurdles and fifth in the 300-meter hurdles Blake Landers - first in the shot put and fifth in the discus.

Corbin Nunn - second in the discus and third in shot put.

LaDamien Rowell third inthe triple jum Jarell Stinson - first in the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes, second in the 100-meter dash Dalen Tolbert - placed fifth in the 500 meters Eric Watts - 2nd in the 300-meter and long jump placed fifth in the 100 meters.

Terrian Battle and Steven Harvey tied for seventh in pole vault.

The OMS Track team chose not to run in the Opelika Invitational due to the early date according to OMS Athletics Director Craig Montel.

“The date (March 3) of the Opelika meet was too early in the season. We

practiced two weeks, plus we have coaches on staff that are still involved in winter sports,” Montel said.

SOFTBALL Opelika’s softball team beat Reeltown 9-4 for the first win of the season.

Opelika scored three runs in the first inning, four runs in the third and two runs in the fourth. Makai Gagliano earned the win, allowing five hits while striking out five Rebel batters.

BASEBALL The Bulldog baseball team hosted Oak Grove and Wetumpka Saturday at Bulldog Park.

The Bulldogs beat Oak Grove 8-2 for the first win of the season. Opelika scored six runs in the bottom of the first and added a run in the fourth and fifth inning to go with nine hits.

Andrew Parr earned the win, allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out five batters with no walks during seven innings. Offensively, Brooks Bryan, Micah Christian and Brody Davis recorded two hits apiece. Parr, Paul Good-

man and Jace Rhodes also recorded hits.

Wetumpka spoiled the doubleheader sweep with a 6-4 win against Opelika. The Indians led 5-0 before Opelika was able to score three runs in the bottom of fourth inning.

Despite battling back, the Indians added a run in the sixth to seal the win.

Christian added two hits (finishing with four on the day) at the plate. Julian Duke, Jackson Harris, Zach Pierce, Rhodes and Brayden Thomas recorded hits. Rhodes pitched four innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits.

Jackson Harris pitched the final three innings.

Opelika (1-8) travels to Auburn High Wednesday with first pitch set for 6 p.m. The Bulldogs will host Valley on March 7 and March 8, and both are slated to start at 6 p.m.

“O DAWGS” TRAVEL BASEBALL The “O Dawgs” travel baseball organization participated in the “Southeastern Spring NIT” at West Ridge Park Saturday and Sunday.

The O Dawgs entered Three teams, one in each of the following ages groups: 7U, 9U and 10U. The 7U team finished third, after winning in the last inning.

The 9U O Dawgs won the championship. The team finished 2-0 Saturday advancing to the finals Sunday. Rain and storms caused the tournament to end midway on Sunday. O-Dawgs advance to the World Series in July.

They are coached

by Nicky Tidwell, Eric Rudd, Matt Woodall and Adam Pilate.

In the 10U division, O Dawgs finished 2-1 and were playing in the semifinals when the storm caused the cancellation.

The team was one win from qualifying to play in the World Series. They were coached by Kurt Branch, Tommy Prince and Jerod Brandon.

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

1 OUT OF 10

ELDERLY PERSONS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE BEING:

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

ADULT ABUSE HOTLINE at 1-800-458-7214

HELP STOP THE ABUSE

IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT

Lipscomb, from B1

During her time with parks and recreation, Lipscomb has helped develop a flag football program, assisted with the preschool run inside Covington Recreation Center and most recently assisted with a motherson blue jean ball.

As the replacement for Agee, a former fullback who played for Auburn and three teams in the NFL, Lipscomb said that she has learned “a lot” from the former athlete.

“You've got to manage your time because there is a lot going on,” Lipscomb said. “But definitely managing your time and making sure that you take care of everyone."

Ten years after initially getting her foot in the door, Lipscomb will be returning to the Sportsplex within the week for her new position.

ASBESTOS LITIGATION If you began working in a

TEXTILE MILL Cotton mill Tire plant Paper mill Steel mill

or any other industrial setting before 1980: You may have a claim against the asbestos manufacturers.

Call now for your free evaluation.

1-888-432-6020

Thereʼs no excuse for

ELDER ABUSE

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

Asbestos Claims, LLC, Jubal L. Hamil Attorney at Law, ARPC7.2.(e) “No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”

pelika O Observer

B5 March 06, 2019

Community Calendar: Events around town

• March 14 - MAX Credit Union Business After Hours • March 26 - Women’s Business Council Expert Series: Bikes • March 28 - Business Over Breakfast - Dr. Joe Sumners • March 28 - Lifestyle Group Business After Hours • April 11 - Genesis Health Business After Hours

Ongoing: • Village Friends/Village Values is a nonprofit organization that supports seniors who prefer to stay in their own homes as they grow older. For info or to schedule a presentation to your group, call 334-2094641. For the website, Google “village friends village values.”

• The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR chapter is appealing for sweaters, jackets, trousers, shirts and socks, women’s clothing, soft soap in individual containers, shaving supplies, disposable razors, denture cleanser, toothpaste and toothbrushes, DVDs, games, books and magazines to take to veterans at the CAVHCS in Tuskegee. The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR Chapter regularly visits veterans living in assisted living, the homeless domiciliary and psych (trauma) ward in Tuskegee.

Donations are tax deductible and will be much appreciated.

Pick up is provided.

Please call Linda Shabo at 887-6659 or at 256-307-1449.

Mondays: • The Lee County Voters League meets the first Mondays of the month at 6 p.m. at Bethesda Baptist Church located at 201 S. 4th Street, Opelika • The John Powell American Legion Post 18 and Auxiliary meets the third Monday at 7 p.m. at 910 West Point Parkway in Opelika.

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

• Smiths Station Military Chapter of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) meets weekly at Mike & Ed’s at 5 p.m. For more information, call 297-5581 or visit www.nonukesforiran. org.

• The Touched

by Suicide Support Group meets

the first Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the East Alabama Medical Center Health Resource Center, 2027 Pepperell Parkway.

For more information, contact Deborah Owen, EAMC’s director of Psychiatric Services at 334-5284197 or deborahowen@eamc.org.

• The fourth Monday of each month a Community Grief Support Group meets from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center. No reservations are necessary; everyone is welcome.

For more information call 826-1899 or 502-0216.

• T.O.P.S (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), a weight loss support group, meets every Monday night from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Covington Recreation Center, 213 Carver Ave., Opelika. For more info contact Mary Johnson, 749-1584.

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

• The Commercial Horticulture Extension Teamorganizes webinars to provide quick updates for producers on various topics of interest.

Whether you are interested in the proper way to plant fruit trees or have questions in turf management, these webinars cover a wide range of subjects. Webinars are streamed live via Panopto on the last Monday of every month starting in January and ending in November.

During the presentation, participants can send questions via email. The webinars also are recorded and stored in the archive on the Beginning Farmer website.

Webinar topics include: trap cropping for reducing squash insect pests, cowpea curculio updates, nutsedge control, introduction to potting mixes in ornamental container production, dealing with drought in commercial hor-

ticulture crops, and many more.

To view the full schedule, please visit www.aces.edu/ anr/beginningfarms/ webinars.php. Please send questions during the presentations to Ann Chambliss, thameae@auburn. edu. For questions regarding the webinar series or for providing suggestions, please email Dr. Ayanava Majumdar at bugdoctor@auburn.edu.

Tuesdays: • Ballroom Dance Classes at the Opelika Sportsplex from 7 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday. Instructor is Cody Wayne Foote. For more info call Diane at 7496320.

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

• The Opelika City Council meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. Meetings are preceded by nonvoting work sessions that typically begin about 6:30 to 6:45 p.m.

• Every second Tuesday, a country, gospel and bluegrass music jam session is held at Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church in Beauregard. The event is free and open to the public. Those who play an instrument should bring it and plan to join in. The jam session is held from 6 to 8 p.m.

8685 AL Highway 51.

• A Grief Support Group meets at Oak Bowery United Methodist Church Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. for anyone dealing with the pain of loss and feeling the need for support on their journey as they attempt to bring order and wholeness back into their life. Attendance and participation is strictly voluntary for any and all sessions. There are no

fees or charges involved. The church is located on U.S. Highway 431 – eight miles north from Southern Union State Community College and Opelika High School. For more information contact Bill Parker at 459-0214 or 706518-9122.

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

• East Alabama Gem & Mineral Society meet the 4th Tuesday of every month at 5:45 p.m.

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

Wednesdays: • The second Wednesday of each month a Community Grief Support Group meets from 10 to 11 a.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center. No reservations are necessary.

For more info call 826-1899 or 5020216.

• The John Powell American Legion Post 18 and Auxiliary hosts Bingo every Wednesday night at 6 p.m.

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

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

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

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

meets on the third Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. for a luncheon at various local restaurants. Please call or email Cheri Paradice at 334-737-5215 or cheri.paradice@ gmail.com for more information or luncheon location of the month.

• The Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group meets at the Health Resource Center at 6 p.m. the first Thursday of each month.

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

New Events • March 10 Unique Le U Productions presents “Fight Back” on March 10 at 4 p.m. at Logan Hall on the campus of Tuskegee University. This play is a compelling and riveting family drama that is explosive and filled with suspense that tackles what children should do when confronted with sexual abuse.

“Fight Back” not only brings awareness to causes that significantly impact our society such as sexual abuse and mental illness, it also displays the exceptional talents of members of our local Tuskegee community and was written by our very own local author and play write, Andrea Foye.

In the United States, approximately, one out of every four girls and one out of every six boys is sexually abused.

For tickets and more information on how you can sponsor this local production, visit: www.uniqueleu.com or call 334552-1825.

• March 12 - The Low Vision Support Group will meet from 2 to 3 p.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center which is located at 2027 Pepperell Parkway in Opelika. For more information, call Shiquita Fulton, M.Ed/Vision Rehab Therapist at 334705-2024.

• April 12 - East Tennessee singer/ songwriter Emi Sunshine will perform at the River Center for the Performing Arts April 12. She is noted for both her vocals and instruments which are deeply rooted in the heritage of Appalachian music. Tickets range in cost from $25-$75

and can be purchased by visiting www.rivercenter.org.

• Wildlife in Watercolor An exhibit featuring local art students will be held at the Smiths Station Government Center.

Exhibition is open daily, is free, family friendly, open to the public • Sketches from Local History An exhibit featuring recent acquisitions by the City of Smiths Station curated by The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art A Center for Cultural Arts At Smiths Station City Hall Art Galleries Exhibition is Open Daily Free, Family Friendly, Open to the Public •After School Art Classes for Children & Youth Weekly Studio Classes featuring Drawing, Painting & More.. *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today334-480-2008 •Afternoon Art Classes for Adults featuring Studio Drawing, Painting & More.. *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided Thursdays at 3 p.m.

Eastern Standard Time The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today334-480-2008 • Evening Art Classes for Adults Fundamental Drawing Studio - Every Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today334-480-2008 • Portrait Drawing Studio - portrait drawing classes for beginners, Every Wednesday 2 p.m.

EST *all fine art supplies are provided The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today334-480-2008 • Senior Studio Art Classes Every Wednesday 11 a.m. EST *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided - Enroll Today334-480-2008 Email editor@opelikaobserver.com to place your community events.

pelika O Observer

B6 March 06, 2019

LEGALS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL March 19, 2019 7:00 P.M. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with §23-4-2, Code of Alabama, 1975, that the City Council of the City of Opelika will conduct a Public Hearing during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Opelika City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 204 S. 7 th Street, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to receive the benefit of public input concerning a proposal to vacate a portion of the southwesterly rightof-way of West Point Parkway (formerly U.S. Highway 29) located at the corner of West Point Parkway and Sportsplex Parkway. All persons interested in the proposed vacation are invited to appear at the public hearing and express their views. Written statements or objections may be submitted to the City Clerk prior to the time of the hearing.

The portion of the right-ofway of West Point Parkway (formerly U.S. Highway 29) proposed to be vacated are more particularly described as follows: A tract or parcel of land containing 0.18 acres located in Section 34, Township 20 North, Range 27 East, Lee County, Alabama, and being more particularly described as follows: Commence at the southwest corner of Section 33, Township 20 North, Range 27 East; thence N83°23’32”E 5950.38 feet to a point on an old highway right-of-way limit, the point of beginning; thence leaving said right-of-way limit N33°02’34”E 74.48 feet to the southwest rightof-way limit of Sportsplex Road; thence along said southwest right-of-way limit S56°57’26”E 23.15 feet; thence continue along said southwest right-of-way limit S13°11’19”E 79.37 feet to the northwest rightof-way limit of West Point Parkway; thence along said northwest right-of-way limit S33°00’10”W 100.00 feet to point on old highway rightof-way limit; thence along said old highway right-ofway limit N11°59’50”W

113.81 feet to the point of beginning.

A copy of the Petition to Vacate and the proposed resolution approving the vacation will be available upon request at the office of the City Clerk, 2nd Floor of City Hall, 204 South 7th Street, Opelika, Alabama.

Please contact Lisa McLeod, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334-705-5131 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to a disability.

DATED this the 20th day of February, 2019. /s/ R. G. Shuman ROBERT G. SHUMAN, CITY CLERK Legal Run 2/20/19, 2/27/19, 03/06/19 & 3/13/19

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA JUVENILE DIVISION J.T.F. a minor child (DOB: 5/27/2009), Case No. JU 15-618.02 NOTICE OF PETITION & SERVICE BY PUBLICATION NOTICE TO: Any alleged or unknown father of J.T.F. born at East Alabama Medical Center on 5/27/2009 to Joanna Foreman., a minor child. The legal Custody of J. T. F. was vested in the Lee County Department of Human Resources on May 16, 2017. Any alleged or unknown father must answer the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of the alleged or unknown father filed in the Juvenile Court of Lee County, Alabama within fourteen (14) days from the last date of Publication of this notice with the Clerk of Court located at 2311 Gateway Drive, Opelika, AL 36801 or thereafter, a final judgment may be entered in Case JU 15-618.02 terminating his parental rights and placing the child for adoption.

Mary Roberson, CIRCUIT CLERK Hon. Harold S. Patrick Attorney for Lee County DHR 223 S. 9th - St., #3 Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 741-0809 Legal Run 2/13/19, 2/20/19, 2/27/19 and 3/6/19

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.

Cuma Wells Emma Welch Legal Run 2/20/19, 2/27/19 & 03/06/19

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF ALICE M. ROBINSON, Deceased PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY CASE NO.: 2017-A-164 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of the Estate of ALICE M. ROBINSON, deceased having been granted to Emma Welch on the 15th day of November, 2017, by the Honorable Bill English,

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL March 19, 2019 7:00 P.M. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with §23-4-2, Code of Alabama, 1975, that the City Council of the City of Opelika will conduct a Public Hearing during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Opelika City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 204 S. 7th Street, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to receive the benefit of public input concerning a proposal to vacate a portion of the northwesterly right-ofway of Anderson Road and a portion of the northwesterly right-of- way of Sportsplex Parkway. All persons interested in the proposed vacation are invited to appear at the public hearing and express their views. Written statements or objections may be submitted to the City Clerk prior to the time of the hearing.

The portions of the rightsof-way of Anderson Road and Sportsplex Parkway proposed to be vacated are more particularly described as follows: A tract or parcel of land containing 0.56 acres located in Section 34, Township 20 North, Range 27 East, Lee County, Alabama, and being more particularly described as follows: Com-

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE WHEREAS, default has been made in the terms of the mortgage executed on the st day of May, 2014, by Jimmy Morris, a unmarried man, as mortgagors in favor of Mike Johnson, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company, as mortgagee, as recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, in Mortgage Book No. 4054, at Page No. 54, and said default continuing, the mortgagee, under power of sale contained in said mortgage will sell at auction for cash to the highest bidder on the steps of the Lee County Courthouse in Opelika, Alabama on Monday, the 10th day of April, 2019, during the legal hours of sale, the following described real estate embraced in said mortgage, situated in Lee County, Alabama, to-wit: PARCEL 1: Commence at the intersection of the East Margin of Highway No. 51 with the South section line of Section 12, Township 17 North, Range 26 East, Lee County, Alabama, run thence East for 695 feet to a point, run thence North 7 degrees 00’ West for 1317.2 feet to a point; run thence North 86 degrees 16’ East for 418.36 feet to a point; run thence North 83 degrees 50’ East for 420 feet to a point; run thence North 85 degrees 00’ East for 15 feet to the point of beginning of the parcel of land to be herein described and conveyed: From said point of beginning

mence at the southwest corner of Section 33, Township 20 North, Range 27 East; thence N81°16’14”E 5991.60 feet to a point on an old highway right-of-way limit, the point of beginning; thence along said old highway right-waylimit N32°54’33”E 104.55 feet; thence continue along said old highway right-waylimit S57°23’58”E 112.20 feet; thence continue along said old highway right-waylimit N77°36’02”E 141.42 feet to a point on the northwest right-of-way limit of Anderson Road; thence along said northwest right-of-way limit S33°55’21”W 136.02 feet to the northeast right-of way limit of Sportsplex Road; thence along said northeast right-of-way limit S79°09’19”W 101.25 feet; thence continue along said northeast right-of-way limit N56°57’26”W 136.12 feet to the point of beginning.

A copy of the Petition to Vacate and the proposed resolution approving the vacation will be available upon request at the office of the City Clerk, 2nd Floor of City Hall, 204 South 7th Street, Opelika, Alabama.

Please contact Lisa McLeod, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334-705-5131 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to a disability.

DATED this the 20th day of February, 2019. /s/ R. G. Shuman ROBERT G. SHUMAN, CITY CLERK Legal Run 2/20/19, 2/27/19, 03/06/19 & 3/13/19

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL Mach 19, 2019 7:00 P.M. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with §23-4-2, Code of Alabama, 1975, that the City Council of the City of Opelika will conduct a Public Hearing during the regularly scheduled City Council mee ing on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Opelika City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 204 S. 7 th Street, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to receive the benefit run thence North 85 degrees 0’ East for 200 feet; run thence South 07 degrees 00’ East for 220 feet; run thence South 85 degrees 0’ West for 200 feet; run thence North 7 degrees 00’ West for 220 feet to the point of beginning. Being shown by that certain map or plat of the aforesaid described property prepared by Henry D. Moore, Ala. Reg. No. 2470, a copy of said survey being of record in Deed Book 1031 at page 447 in the office of the Probate Judge of Lee County, Alabama.

Together with any and all improvements thereon and all appurtenances thereunto appertaining. This conveyance and the warranties contained there in a are made subject to any and all restrictions, easements, covenants and rights-of-way of record in the Office of the Probate Judge of Lee County, Alabama affecting said described property.

Being the identical property as conveyed to Ann Malone from Sallie J. Malone and husband, Yarsie Malone, by virtue of warranty deed dated September 26, 1983 of record in Deed Book 1158 at page 247 in the Office of the Probate Judge of Lee County, Alabama and being further conveyed to Joe N. Johnson, individually by Joe N. Johnson, as Administrator of the Estate of Ann Malone Johnson by virtue of Administrator’s Deed filed on January 17, 2003 at Deed Book 2233 page 302 in said Office.

ALSO: One (1) 1979 28x60 Mobile Home.

Said sale is made for the purpose of foreclosing of said mortgage, paying the mortgage debt, the costs and expenses of foreclosure, including a reasonable attorney’s fee.

Mortgagee reserves the right to bid on the subject property. Said mortgage is a first mortgage and is not junior to another mortgage of record.

Said sale is also subject to unpaid taxes or assessments whether of record or not.

of public input concerning a proposal to vacate a portion of the southwesterly right-of-way of Sportsplex Parkway and a portion of the southwesterly right-ofway of West Point Parkway (formerly U.S. Highway 29). All persons interested in the proposed vacation are invited to appear at the public hearing and express their views. Written statements or objections may be submitted to the City Clerk prior to the time of the hearing.

The portions of the rightsof-way of Sportsplex Parkway and West Point Parkway (formerly U.S. Highway 29) proposed to be vacated are more particularly described as follows: A tract or parcel of land containing 0.20 acres located in Section 34, Township 20 North, Range 27 East, Lee County, Alabama, and being more particularly described as follows: Commence at the southwest corner of Section 33, Township 20 North, Range 27 East; thence N83°23’32”E 5950.38 feet to a point on an old highway right-of-way limit, the point of beginning; thence along said old highway right-of-way limit N11°59’50”W 27.61 feet; thence continue along said old highway right-of-way limit N56°59’50”W 93.03 feet; thence continue along said old highway right-of-way limit N32°54’33”E 77.04 feet to the southwest right-of-way limit of Sportsplex Road; thence along said southwest right-of-way limit S56°57’26”E 112.74 feet; thence continue along said southwest right-of-way limit S33°02’34”W 20.00 feet; thence leaving said rightof-way limit S33°02’34”W 74.48 feet to the point of beginning.

A copy of the Petition to Vacate and the proposed resolution approving the vacation will be available upon request at the office of the City Clerk, 2nd Floor of City Hall, 204 South7th Street, Opelika, Alabama.

Please contact Lisa McLeod, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334-705-5131 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require

special accommodations due to a disability.

DATED this the 20th day of February, 2019. /s/ R. G. Shuman ROBERT G. SHUMAN, CITY CLERK Legal Run 2/20/19, 2/27/19, 03/06/19 & 3/13/19

Mike Johnson, LLC Mortgagee J. Brandon Rice Attorney for Mortgagee 830 Avenue A, Suite A Opelika, AL 36801 Legal 2/20/19, 2/27/19, & 3/6/19

10 minutes East, across said road 50 feet to an iron located on the easterly margin of said road; thence continue South 48 degrees 10 minutes East 1183.3 feet to an iron located on the westerly margin of East Spring Valley Road, thence run North 34 degrees 50 minutes East along westerly margin of East Spring Valley Road 539. 1 feet to an iron; thence run South 55 degrees 10 minutes East across said East Spring Valley Road 50 feet to an iron located on the easterly margin of said East Spring Valley Road; thence run North 34 degrees 50 minutes East along easterly margin of said East Spring Valley Road 350.0 feet to an iron marking southwest corner of said Parcel 36 for point of beginning and from said point of beginning run North 34 degrees 59 minutes East along easterly margin of said East Spring Valley Road 176.0 feet to an iron; thence run along easterly margin of said East Spring Valley Road R=460.0’ L=152.8’ to an iron marking Northwest corner of said Parcel 36; thence run South 74 degrees 10 minutes East along line separating said Parcel 36 from Parcel 35, 636.0 to iron located on west bank of Creek; thence run in Southwesterly direction along centerline of said Creek 543.0 feet to iron on West bank of said Creek, thence run North 55 degrees 10 minutes West along line separating said Parcel 36 from Parcel 37, 680.0 feet to iron at point of beginning.

THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, SUBJECT TO ANY EASEMENTS, ENCUMBRANCES, AND EXCEPTIONS REFLECTED IN THE MORTGAGE AND THOSE CONTAINED IN THE RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY IS SITUATED. THIS PROPERTY WILL

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE WHEREAS, default has been made in the terms of the mortgage executed on the 20th day of August, 2015, by Omar and Krista Mendoza, as mortgagor in favor of Jerry W. Medders, as mortgagee, as recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, in Mortgage Book No. 4155, at Page 942, and said default continuing, the mortgagee, under power of sale contained in said mortgage will sell at auction for cash to the highest bidder on the steps of the Lee County Courthouse in Opelika, Alabama on Monday, the 10th day of April, 2019, during the legal hours of sale, the following described real estate embraced in said mortgage, situated in Lee County, Alabama, to-wit: Parcel Numbered Thirty-Six (36) as shown on Plat of Survey of Second Addition to Spring Valley Estates, of lands located partly in Section 2, Township 17N, Range 26E, and partly in Section 35, Township 18N, Range 26E, Lee County Alabama, prepared April 13, 1970 by David H. Miller Land Surveyor, Ala. Reg. No. 6259, more particularly described as follows, to wit: From an iron at found fence corner which marks the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of northwest quarter of said Section 35, run North 89 degrees 12 minutes East 1207.6 feet to an iron located on the westerly margin of West Spring Valley Road; thence run South along the westerly margin of said road R= 201.5’ L= 87.6’ to an iron; thence run South 48 degrees

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL March 19, 2019 7:00 P.M. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with §23-4-2, Code of Alabama, 1975, that the City Council of the City of Opelika will conduct a Public Hearing during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Opelika City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 204 S. 7th Street, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to receive the benefit of public input concerning a proposal to vacate a portion of the easterly right-of-way of Anderson Road and a portion of the northerly rightof-way of U.S. Highway 29 (West Point Parkway).

All persons interested in the proposed vacation are invited to appear at the public hearing and express their views. Written statements or objections may be submitted to the City Clerk prior to the time of the hearing.

The portions of the rightsof-way of Anderson Road and U.S. Highway 29 (West Point Parkway) proposed to be vacated are more particularly described as follows: COMMENCE AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SECTION 34, T-20-N, R-27-E, LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA; THENCE RUN N 00º00’00” W,754.92 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE RUN S 90º00’00” E, 938.10 FEET TO A FOUND CONCRETE MONUMENT LYING AT THE BEGINNING OF A RIGHT OF WAY FLARE AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE EASTERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF ANDERSON ROAD (ROW VARIES) AND THE

NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF U.S. HIGHWAY NO. 29 (300’ ROW); THENCE RUN ALONG SAID FLARE S 11º17’08” E, 140.79 FEET TO A FOUND CONCRETE MONUMENT LYING AT THE END OF SAID RIGHT OF WAY FLARE; THENCE CONTINUE ALONG SAID NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF U.S. HIGHWAY NO. 29 S 57º07’29” E, 224.90 FEET TO A FOUND CONCRETE MONUMENT LYING AT THE BEGINNING OF A RIGHT OF WAY FLARE AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF U.S. HIGHWAY NO. 29 (300’ ROW) AND THE WESTERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF INTERSTATE NO. 85 (ROW VARIES); THENCE LEAVING SAID NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY, RUN S 32º52’31” W, 75.00 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE RUN N 57º07’29” W, 256.61 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE RUN N 11º17’08” W, 95.71 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE RUN N 33º02’19” E, 107.34 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. SAID DESCRIBED PARCEL LYING AND BEING SITUATED IN THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 34, T-20-N, R-27-E, LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA AND CONTAINS 0.618 ACRES (26,925 SF.) MORE OR LESS A copy of the Petition to Vacate and the proposed resolution approving the vacation will be available upon request at the office of the City Clerk, 2nd Floor of City Hall, 204 South 7th Street, Opelika, Alabama.

Please contact Lisa McLeod, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334-705-5131 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to a disability.

DATED this the 20th day of February, 2019. /s/ R. G. Shuman ROBERT G. SHUMAN, CITY CLERK Legal Run 2/20/19, 2/27/19, 03/06/19 & 3/13/19 BE SOLD WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process.

Said sale is made for the purpose of foreclosing of said mortgage, paying the mortgage debt, the costs and expenses of foreclosure, including a reasonable attorney’s fee. Mortgagee reserves the right to bid on the subject property. Said mortgage is a first mortgage and is not junior to another mortgage of record.

Said sale is also subject to unpaid taxes or assessments whether of record or not.

Jerry W. Medders, Mortgagee J. Brandon Rice Attorney for Mortgagee 830 Avenue A, Suite A Opelika, AL 36801 Legal 2/20/19, 2/27/19, & 3/6/19

INVITATION TO BID BID# 19013 Sealed bids for the construction of the City-Wide Roadway Improvements 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 day, March 12, 2019, 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

See Legals, page B11

pelika O Observer

B7 March 06, 2019

Through the eyes of a child

Beth Pinyerd The Classroom Observer

W

ith this year’s longer cold months, we are seeing this platitude ring true with rains and winds.

Schools prepare classrooms for bad weather with tornado drills, etc.

Living on the coast for 30 years, preparing my classroom of children as well as my own child was a challenge as we knew that a hurricane was heading our way!

Being a teacher and

parent, we ask ourselves the question, ‘how can I give my child security in the midst of the storm?’

Children aged one to 12 are trying to assess from their own mental and emotional stages of development: what is happening and what has happened.

With your babies, toddlers and twos, keeping the environment as normal as possible is a high priority at home. They can easily sense emotional upset through facial expression as well as your reactions. To keep your child well physically and emotionally, keep them on a regular schedule of meals and rest when

uncertain weather is approaching.

With your three year olds through kindergarten they will verbalize more what they see and feel. Be ready to really spend time in looking in their eyes and really fully listening to what they are expressing. This is a time that you cannot half listen but fully interact with their thoughts and questions.

With your first through sixth graders, you have to be transparent. They will see insecurities whether you admit them or not.

Do not try to hide your reactions but channel your reactions to a positive response in outreach to

help those who have been hurt by natural disasters.

Our communities are good in coming to the aid of their neighbors when weather disasters hit.

Engage your family in the many volunteer activities in the community such as disaster-relief projects.

Children can participate in folding, sorting and packaging needed items for the victims.

School-age children can draw and write notes of encouragement to victims as well as help the family gather needed items from the home to give to the victims. The main key is listening and letting your child express himself or herself during

this time.

Young children are very sensitive to tone, anxiety and emotions shone. As classroom teachers, we put our students first. Calmness is a No. 1 assignment in taking care of our classroom of students. This is the same with parents in taking care of their children at home.

When storms wipe out communities and homes, there is so much pain.

The way our communities handle helping each other and rebuilding our communities is a life lesson learned for our children to put to heart. Together, we can come through a crisis and rebuild our lives.

Spring weather watch for young meteorologists

By Beth Pinyerd For the Opelika Observer In March, as winter starts to dwindle, families love to go outside to enjoy recreation, relaxation and picnicking.

Spring is such a pleasant time to be outside and is a perfect season to teach your children about how to watch the weather.

What is weather?

Explain to your child that weather is the condition of air here on earth around us.

But we cannot see air.

Guide your child in understanding that air is felt when the wind blows, fan your child in order for them to understand the concept of air. Blow a balloon up to show that air takes up space.

Explain to your child that air is all around us even though we don’t see it.

Tell your child that the sun is responsible for heating up air or the atmosphere, which causes water to evaporate into the air and the air rises. The way I explain evaporation to children is to use a sponge and draw a wet stripe on the board.

It slowly disappears, then I ask my students where the spot went.

Then, we discuss what

they have observed as evaporation. This can be done at home by putting around a quarter of a cup of water outside for several days until you and your child observe that it has evaporated into the atmosphere.

One observation that fascinates the young scientist’s eye is the formation of clouds.

Guide your child’s eye to identify three different kinds of clouds.

Cirrus clouds are feathery clouds that look like they have a curl. I tell young children they look like pulled cotton candy. Usually cirrus clouds are associated with fair weather.

Cumulus clouds are heaping clouds. They look like pillows you can jump on. It’s neat to point out to your child these clouds building up for a summer afternoon shower.

Stratus clouds look like layers or blankets and produce rain and drizzle.

Children love to use their imaginations in making different shapes out of clouds. Fog is something your child can observe draping over outside early in the morning.

Other weather events your child can learn

about are thunderstorms and lightning in which the rules of not being outside, in a swimming pool or under a tree where lightning can strike should be stressed for your child’s safety.

Waterspouts form over bodies of water, drawing up large columns of water .

One doesn’t want to observe tornadoes.

Tornadoes are the most destructive natural phenomena which can reach high speeds.

Dust devils are small tornadoes over land areas. A dust devil draws up dust, leaves and debris. If you find you and your child near one of these, make sure dust or sand doesn’t get in your child’s eyes.

The most beautiful sight to observe on a spring afternoon is an arching rainbow. Explain to your children that rainbows are caused by sunlight penetrating raindrops and is broken into the beautiful bands of color of violet, indigo, red, orange, yellow and green. The neatest sight that I have observed as a teacher is to see little ones try to chase a rainbow outside. So many times if a rainbow is low lying, a child can run into a prism of beautiful colors.

Some simple tools that children can use to measure and observe weather are thermometers to measure temperature and rain gauges to measure rainfall. Thermom-

eters are inexpensive and your child can read how hot or cold it is. A rain gauge could be a bucket that you can use a ruler to measure an amount of rain.

Another family activity is watching a local or national weather station. You would be so surprised at how much your young meteorologist can understand about forecasts and weather events on a map.

So many times, beginning in spring but especially during the

summer when it is hot, a child may asks why the air feels wet. Explain to them that the “wetness” in the air is called humidity. It’s not too big of a word for your little meteorologist to put in their weather vocabulary!

It is hoped this article will help you begin to be happy weather watchers during these spring months which can extend into summer.

It is a fun learning experience that you and your child can enjoy together.

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B8 March 06, 2019

pelika O Observer

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Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics Wednesday, March 06, 2019

Inside the Statehouse State revenues up as legislature prepares for session and crafting of state budgets

T

he governor has been inaugurated and the legislature has had its organizational session. The quadrennium has begun.

Therefore, it is time for our state officials to get to work.

Among the three branches of government, legislative, executive and judicial, our 1901 Alabama Constitution renders our legislative branch as the most powerful.

Some of you who witnessed the Wallace Era may disagree and point to the executive branch.

That was a unique era. Wallace had basically become “King” of Alabama politics from 1963 through 1986 with a couple of interlopers taking four-year residency in Wallace’s governor’s home on Perry Street. They left all of the wheelchair accessibility aspects and Wallace features designed for his paralysis and his cigar smoking bedroom in the mansion alone. They probably assumed he would return after his constitutionally mandated hiatus.

There will never be another politician that will control the reins of state government for five terms like Wallace did. He essentially established himself as “King of Alabama” in pretty much the same way as Frank-

By Steve Flowers lin Delano Roosevelt did as President from 1932 until his death in 1945.

Wallace simply owned the state legislature. He was like a dictator and legislators were his puppets. As a young legislator, I watched as Wallace’s lieutenants simply sent the agenda for the day down from the Governor’s office, bypassing the Rules Committee completely. The governor’s budget became the budget. If there was any pork in the budget, it went to Wallace’s loyal legislators. Thankfully, I represented Wallace’s home county of Barbour. Therefore, my district was on the pork list. In essence, during that 20-year Wallace reign, the Legislature was simply an appendage of the governor’s office.

That is not the case today. The egislature has assumed its inherent power.

That power is derived from the power

of the purse. The legislature controls the appropriation of the state’s dollars, the ways and means of state government if you will. It is the most powerful branch because it controls the purse strings. Thus the old political Golden Rule, “Those that control the gold make the rules.”

Gov. Kay Ivey and the state legislature have a golden opportunity to have a successful four years. They are all of the same party and have a close working relationship. As lieutenant governor and presiding officer of the Senate for more than six years, Ivey built an excellent rapport with the Republican leadership in the state Senate. She understands the workings and machinations of the legislature and she has built excellent relationships with members of both the House and Senate. She is especially close to the Senate leaders like Del Marsh, Jabo Waggoner and Greg Reed.

The legislature is overwhelmingly Republican. The Senate has 27 Republicans and only eight Democrats. There is an equally supermajority in the House.

The numbers there See Flowers, page B10

Medicaid expansion would mean a larger, healthier workforce for Alabama

By Robyn Hyden Special to the Opelika Observer People need to be healthy to work, and consistent access to health insurance is vital to staying healthy, but too many people who are sick and suffering in Alabama find themselves caught in a nowin situation: They’re unable to work because of illness, and unable to recover or manage chronic conditions without adequate care.

Without a steady income, how can anyone afford health care?

We’ve heard a lot recently about Alabama’s low unemployment rate. At 3.9 percent, we’re doing well, on par with the national average. But that’s not the whole story. Our state’s labor force participation rate for civilians ages 16 and older is the fourth lowest in the country.

At 57.5 percent, Alabama’s rate is ahead of only Mississippi, South Carolina and West Virginia.

So what should we make of the fact that so many Alabamians are out of the workforce?

Unfortunately, many of them have chronic illnesses or disabilities and find themselves unable to work.

Those who are able to qualify for Alabama’s bare-bones Medicaid program must continue living in poverty to maintain eligibility for coverage.

While disabilities and chronic illnesses keep thousands of Alabamians from entering the workforce, many employers report problems finding enough workers. Raphael Bostic, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, recently addressed this issue at the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama’s annual meeting.

About two-thirds of Alabama firms struggle to hire for jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree, Bostic told attendees. He also shared a remarkable figure: “If Alabama’s

labor force participation rate were closer to the national level, then another 200,000 people would become part of the state’s workforce.”

How can Alabama increase labor force participation and boost its economy? Expand Medicaid to cover those trapped in the state’s coverage gap.

With the right set of early interventions, at least some workers who suffer from untreated and debilitating conditions could remain on the job, Bostic said.

Those words reflect what I’ve heard repeatedly across our state.

Hundreds of thousands of Alabamians could join the workforce if they were healthy.

But Alabama’s underinvestment in work support has left them struggling to make ends meet while unable to access health care.

It doesn’t have to be this way. People who live in one of the 36 states that have expanded Medicaid can See Hyden, page B10

ACCA unveils report on state’s overall infrastructure crisis Special to the Opelika Observer

The Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA) released a 78-page report last Friday detailing the infrastructure crisis occurring across each of Alabama's 67 counties because of decades of compounded inadequate

funding for the maintenance and construction of county roads and bridges.

Titled "The Cost of Doing Nothing: A Report on Alabama's Crumbling County Infrastructure," the report provides a comprehensive look at the role of the county infrastructure system and, from both a statewide and local perspective, the

startling current and potential future condition of county roads and bridges under current funding.

"The numbers in the report paint a painfully clear picture of what happens when a state favors excuses and delays over investing in its future," said ACCA executive See ACCA, page B11

pelika Observer O

B10 March 06, 2019

Congressman Mike Rogers meets with local residents at D.C. office Special to the Opelika Observer Congressman Mike Rogers announced the launch of his new congressional website today, saying that he hoped Third District constituents find the updated site easier to navigate and more informative.

“With everything available on the internet, I hope this new website will be a place folks will come for news, constituent services

Flowers,

from B9

are 77 to 28.

The legislature and governor are also the recipients of outstanding financial news as they begin their first regular legislative session this week. Alabama is seeing the strongest tax growth since the Great Recession a decade ago.

The tax dollars that makeup the Educational Trust Fund have grown by 6.9 percent since 2017.

That is a whopping $428 million more dollars to work with in the crafting of the

and information,” Rogers said. “The site was created to be more user-friendly, so I want folks to let me, or a member of my staff know how we can further improve it.”

Rogers said the website has several new features to allow constituents to sign up for his emailed newsletter and “Mornings with Mike” events in addition to linking to his social media and the House Floor schedule .

“Even when back in

D.C. voting, I always want to be as accessible as I can to the folks of East Alabama. I hope this new website will put my office at your fingertips,” Rogers added.

Rogers serves as a ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and is a senior member of the Armed Services Committee.

To visit the new website, go to http://mikerogers.house.gov.

next fiscal year’s budget. The primary sources for funding the education budget are income and sales tax. Income taxes, the biggest source of school funding, grew by more than $300 million this past year.

It appears that President Trump and the Republican Congress’ passage of a tax-cut package last year has been the stimulus for the growth in revenue for Alabama’s tax coffers. Even the beleaguered general fund budget is in better shape than was first thought.

Our general fund reaps its revenues from different taxes and tends to grow

much more slowly than the education fund revenues.

However, it grew by $76 million. This is a two-percent gain, which puts the General Fund Projection close to $2 billion.

The good news for legislators as they prepare the budgets for next year is that both fund’s revenues have exceeded projections.

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.steveflowers. us.

Photo special to the Opelika Observer Carol Givens (left) and Ashley Powell (right) of Auburn City Schools, visited with Rep Mike Rogers last in his Washington office. They were in town with the Alabama School Nutrition Association.

Hyden,

from B9 enter the workforce and increase their earnings without risking the loss of vital health coverage.

Medicaid expansion has made those states more competitive in education, worker retention, health and economic development, research shows.

I asked Bostic what he thought about Medicaid expansion as a way to ensure fewer people drop out of Alabama’s workforce. He said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has put together a task force to look into that issue. And Bostic said he hopes Gov. Kay Ivey might consider do-

ing so as well.

Ivey took the stage later that day and said Alabama now has more workers than ever before. She also said we’re on track to add 500,000 new highly skilled jobs by 2025. That’s great news.

But reflecting on Alabama’s anemic workforce participation, I have to wonder: Where will we find those workers? And will those jobs lift more people out of poverty, or continue to leave hundreds of thousands of potential workers out of the workforce?

Medicaid expansion supports work. It promotes a healthier workforce, economic growth and stronger communities for everyone. Alabama should

look to the successes of other states that expanded Medicaid, including standout programs like Montana’s HELP-Link, where work supports – not work penalties – helped people get back to work.

The governor and the legislature should consider the pro-work impact of Medicaid expansion. Our state can’t afford to miss an opportunity to help 200,000 Alabamians re-enter the workforce.

Robyn Hyden is executive director of Alabama Arise, a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of congregations, organizations and individuals promoting public policies to improve the lives of low-income Alabamians. Email: robyn@ alarise.org.

pelika O Observer Legals,

from B6 contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor.

No bid will be accepted from anyone except a qualified Contractor licensed by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors.

Principal items of work include but are not limited to: asphalt and concrete removal, excavation, roadbed processing, installation of curb and gutter, installation of sidewalk, installation of storm drainage inlets, and erosion and sediment control. The Opelika Engineering Department will make every effort to have work located, prioritized, schedule, and grouped in order to optimize the mobilization of the contractor. Work shall begin within 10 days of each “Notice to Proceed”. The total contract length shall not exceed 360 calendar days.

Drawings and Specifications may be examined at the Office of the City Engineer located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama. Phone number: 334-705-5450 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, Ope lika, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: CityWide Roadway Improvements Project LILLIE FINLEY- PURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 7055120 Legal Run 02/27/19 & 03/06/19

INVITATION TO BID BID# 19014 Sealed bids for the construction of the City-Wide Intersection ADA Improvements 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 day, March 12, 2019, 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. No bid will be accepted from anyone except a qualified Contractor licensed by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors.

Principal items of work include but are not limited to: removal of existing sidewalk, ramps, storm inlets, and curb sections, preparation of sub-base; installation and finishing of new ADA compliant ramps and sidewalk; installation of storm inlet units and tops; and restoration of adjacent right of way. All work shall meet ADA requirements. Work will be prioritized into four zones and a “Notice to Proceed” will be issued for each zone based on schedule and budget constraints. The final zone is not guaranteed to be ordered under the Contract.

Work shall begin within 10 days of each “Notice to Proceed”. The completion time for each zone is 90 days from the commencement of work. The total contract length shall not exceed 540 calendar days.

Drawings and Specifications may be examined at the Office of the City Engineer located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama. Phone number: 334-705-5450 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, Ope lika, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn; CityWide Intersection ADA Improvements Project LILLIE FINLEY-PURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 7055120 Legal Run 02/27/19 & 03/06/19

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA FAMILY COURT DIVISION: DOMESTIC RELATIONS IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF: KENYETTA LASHAE

FOREMAN,Plaintiff, VS. CASE NO. DR-19-900061 EDDIE LEWIS FOREMAN, Defendant.

NOTICE OF ACTION Notice is hereby given that Eddie Lewis Foreman, whose whereabouts are unknown, must answer the Complaint for Divorce of Kenyetta Lashae Foreman within thirty (30) days of the date of the last publication of this notice, or, thereafter, a judgment by default may be rendered against his in Case No. DR-19-900061, Circuit Court of LEE County.

This notice shall run once per week for four (4) consecutive weeks.

Done the 26th day of February, 2019. /s/Mary Roberson Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lee County Benjamin H. Parr Rice, & Parr 830 Avenue A, Suite A Opelika, Alabama 36801 Legal Run 03/06/19, 3/13/19, 3/20/19, 3/27/19

NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE SALE To be held on Wednesday April 3, 2019 at 10 a.m. at Best 4 Less at 2509 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801.

1N4AL11D25N53104 2005 NISSIAN ALTIMA 1G1JH12F847204605 - 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1G2PG9792GP259047 1986 PONTIAC FIERO 4T1BF18B2WU228811 1998 TOYOTA AVALON LEGAL RUN 03/06/19, 03/13/19

NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE SALE To be held on Friday April 5, 2019 at 10 a.m. at Best 4 Less at 2509 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801.

KMHDN45DX1U035267 - 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LEGAL RUN 03/06/19, 03/13/19

NOTICE PRINTED IN OPELIKA OBSERVER DISSOLUTION OF CORPORATION In accordance with 10A5A-7.05 of the Code of Alabama, notice is hereby given that Brett Hawke Auburn Swim Camps, LLC, was dissolved on February 25, 2019. Any persons with claims against the limited liability company should send written notice to Brett Geoffrey Hawke, 921 Pembroke Place, Auburn, AL 36830.

Such claim should set forth the name of the claimant, the address and telephone number of the claimant, the nature of the claim, including, but not limited to, all facts supporting your claim and the date such claim arose. Any claim against the Corporation will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce the claim is commenced within two years after the publication of this notice.

Legal Run 03/06/19

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March 06, 2019

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA; IN THE MATTER OF PAULA ANN GARNETT RUSSELL, Deceased; Case No.: 2018C-077; NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of said deceased having been granted to KATRINA THOMPSON, personal representative, on the 18th day of December, 2018, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

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

Katrina Thompson Legal Run 3/6, 3/13 & 3/20/19

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO.: CV-2018-900331.00 MIKEL THOMPSON and JENNIFER THOMPSON, Plaintiffs, v.

WILLIE JAMES WATSON, and SHARON D. McFARLEY, and DERRICK BRISKEY, and ENGLAND BRISKEY, and JAMES BRISKEY, and WILBUR WATSON, Defendants.

NOTICE OF ACTION To: All Defendants herein, whose whereabouts are unknown and which cannot be ascertained after the exercise of reasonable diligence.

You are hereby notified that on the 4th day of June, 2018, a Complaint for Easement by Necessity was filed in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama, and the following are the names of all parties to the action: Mikel Thompson and Jennifer Thompson as Plaintiffs; Willie James Watson; and, Sharon D. McFarley; and Derrick Briskey; and England Briskey; and James Briskey; and Wilbur Watson, all as Defendants, whose heirs, executors and/ or administrators, registered agents, successors, and assigns are unknown and cannot be ascertained after the exercise of due diligence All persons having an interest in said case or any portion thereof, are hereby directed to plead, answer, or otherwise respond to the Complaint on or before the expiration of 30 days after the last publication of this notice, or thereafter suffer judgment by default to be rendered against them, it being intended that this notice shall be used to perfect service against all parties who cannot be personally served with a copy of the Complaint.

Done this 28th day of February, 2019.

Mary Roberson Circuit Court Clerk, Lee County J. Brandon Rice Attorney for Plaintiff 830 Avenue A, Suite A Opelika AL 36801 Legal Run 3/6, 3/13, 3/20 & 3/27/2019

ESTATE OF JO ELLEN RICE BROWNING

ALASCAN CLASSIFIEDS AUCTIONS ABSOLUTE AUCTION: Sat. March 9th, 10 AM, Lincoln, AL. Tractors, Hay Equipment, Hand Tools, Crawler Loader 1-256-506-6400, southernprideauctions.com, Ronnie Motes ASL1014

B11

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Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 20th day of February, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estae are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Witness my hand, and dated this the 20th day of February, 2019. GAYLE ELIZABETH BAKER Legal Run 02/27/19, 03/06/19 & 03/13/19

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF EMMA FLEMING FARR COURT OF PROBATE Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 22nd dy of February, 2019, 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 be barred. Witness my hand, and dated this the 22nd day of February, 2019.

MARION WALLACE FARR, JR. Legal Run 02/27/19, 03/06/19 & 03/13/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA BILL ENGLISH JUDGE OF PROBATE IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CHARLIE PAGE, DECEASED CASE NO.: 2016-A-120 NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that Penny Holland, Guardian and Conservator of the Estate of CHARLIE PAGE, deceased, has filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, a Petition for a Final Settlement of the Estate of CHARLIE PAGE. A hearing has been set for the gth day of April, 2019 at 10 o’clock a.m. central time in the Court Room of the Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama.

Done this the 13th day of February, 2019.

Bill English Judge of Probate Legal Run 02/27/19, 03/06/19 & 03/13/19

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF CHARLIE THOMAS PAGE, Deceased PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Penny Lynn Holland on the 17th day of January 2019, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

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

ACCA,

from B9 director Sonny Brasfield.

"The facts are indisputable; Alabama's county roads and bridges are in crisis, and it is time to stop doing nothing."

The association's report was produced to raise awareness about the crumbling condition of county infrastructure and facilitate an increase in Alabama's gasoline tax, which was last raised in 1992 and is the major source of funding for county infrastructure budgets. The report clearly highlights the struggles Alabamians face because statewide revenue for infrastructure has been stagnant since 1992.

Based on data collected in November 2018 from the engineering departments of all 67 counties, the report's

will be barred.

Penny Lynn Holland Legal Run 02/27/19, 03/06/19 & 03/13/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARGARET V. KING, DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 20th day of February, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

MICHAEL ANGUS THOMAS, JR. Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 02/27/19, 03/06/19 & 03/13/19

NOTICE OF COURT PROCEEDING CASE NO. 2019-A-102 IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary Distribution In the Estate of FLORENE M. HILL, deceased Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office by Evelyn Hill Hickman on February 27, 2019, pursuant to Section 43-2690, Code of Alabama and that 30 days after the notice of publication hereof and pursuant to law the Court shall be requested to enter an Order directing Summary Disribution of the estate of said decedent.

BILL ENGLISH, PROBATE JUDGE Legal Run 3/6/2019

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF MARJORIE B. SULLIVAN, DECEASED. TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Tiasha Simone Fuller, f/k/a Tiasha Simone Sullivan, as Executrix of the Estate of Marjorie B. Sullivan, deceased, on the 1st day of March , 2018, by the Honorable Bill English NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against the Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same be barred.

Tiasha Simone Fuller, f/k/a Tiksha Simone Sullivan, Executrix Of the Estate of Marjorie B. Sullivan, Deceased Marrell J. McNeal, Attorney at Law, PC PO Box 308 Opelika, AL 36803 334745-7033 Legal Run 03/06, 3/13, and 3/20/2019

most significant findings reveal: Alabama county roads are on a 114-year resurfacing cycle, as opposed to the safety-recommended 15-year cycle.

More than 45 percent of Alabama county bridges are 50 or more years old, meaning they are near a "deficient" state and in need of replacement.

Over the next 5 years, less than 2 percent of Alabama county bridges will be replaced.

Alabama county governments need $492,668,000 annually to keep county roads on the safety-recommended 15-year resurfacing cycle.

Alabama county governments need $2,365,821,042 to replace the 45 percent of bridges that are 50 years and older.

The ACCA is a statewide organization speaking for all 67 counties with ONE voice.

B12 March 06, 2019

pelika Observer O

Last week’s answers:

2-27 Scramblers Answers: 1. Learn, 2. Amend, 3. Pirate, 4. Serve Solution: DINNER

pelika Observer O

B13 March 06, 2019

COMICS

A good laugh heals a lot of hurts. — Madeleine L’Engle

TOP 5 THINGS NOT TO MISS AT SIP & SAVOR SPRING

March 28 – 31, 2019 Tickets Available at SipandSavorSpring.com

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Callaway Resort & Gardens

Ski Pavilion on Robin Lake

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Over 20,000 varieties of azaleas, tulips, dogwoods and more in bloom! The recently renovated resort boasts scenic beauty at every turn! Garden admissions included with all tickets!

2

Bryan Furman, B’s Cracklin’ BBQ

Friday evening culinary and wine, spirits and beer tasting stations with a souvenir glass

1 TASTINGS UNDER WAFFLE HOUSE SHOWDOWN THE BIG TOP Kicking things off on Saturday at 11:30 am with a lively Waffle House celebrity chef competition, breakfast, Bloody Mary’s & Mimosas included O FFI C I A L S P O N S O RS

M E D I A S P O N S O RS

Saturday afternoon, 2 - 5 pm main event with live music, all you can eat and drink with souvenir glass