Opelika Observer 03-31-2021 E-edition

Vol. 13, No. 26

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

pelika Observer O

Opelika, Alabama Turn to A9 for photos from the 2021 Azalea and Dogwood Trail

“An award-winning publication for local people, by local people.”

Opelika's Mayor Gary Fuller gives annual address

'These heroes persevered'

Photos by Josh Fisher / For the Opelika Observer

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

Photos contributed by the Chamber of Commerce

By Hannah Lester

hlester@opelikaobserver.com

Despite a hard year, Opelika is still thriving after 2020. Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller touted that fact in his seventh annual Mayoral Address last Friday.

“2020 was a challenging [year] that stretched our comfort zones, tested our faith, forced us to find creative ways to live, worship, work and play,” Fuller said.

The city always has plans in place for the year — for the budgets, for projects — but a global pandemic threw a wrench in things.

“When COVID hit us, we did what most communities did, we asked our department heads to spend less, cut out travel and focus on necessities, and they did that,” Fuller said.

Despite the pandemic, Opelika had a surplus of revenue in 2020. The city was expected to bring in $128.7 million in taxes, but instead saw $133 million.

Additionally, Fuller

said Opelika has brought in 1.15 billion in capital investments over the last 10 years, and created 2,380 jobs – 183 this year.

“Last year, I, along with the city council and the Opelika Industrial Development Authority, were able to announce the creation of 183 new jobs with an additional investment of 74.2 million dollars,” he said. “These jobs and investment come from existing industries.”

Coupled with capital investment, the city also annexed 1,300 acres of land in 2020, including the property of the potential Opelika quarry, which was fought by both the city and residents in the county.

Institutions like the Opelika Parks and Rec and Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library were not deterred by social-distancing and quarantines either, Fuller said.

Opelika Parks and Rec was able to complete renovation on the Covington Rec Center, install a new playground

in town, add restrooms at two parks and build a fence at Ray Ward Park.

“Parks and Rec also created a buzz in tourism industry by hosting several tournaments,” Fuller said. “Rumble on the Rails with 50 teams, Paddles at the Plex with 300 plus participants, two USA swim meets and the sixth annual Frostbite Open with 95 players in eight states.”

The Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library continued to provide services to residents, even as preparing for the opening of their new building this upcoming fall.

“Rosanna McGinnis and her staff had to pivot but they did so and were able to provide new digital services to their patrons through curbside checkout, e-book, e-audio book … virtual story time and programs for patrons young and old,” Fuller said.

As the places in Opelika adapted and grew, so did the people.

Not only does Opelika have a new police chief and fire chief, but

four new city council members too, Fuller said.

And although he wanted to highlight what Opelika has accomplished in the past, the city is also looking to its future, Fuller said.

“We live in an everchanging world,” he added. “What works now, may not always work. We have to be intentional about decisions, about plans and about initiatives that we put in place today. We have to continue to look at innovative ways to improve the processes that help citizens better engage and communicate with each other.”

Ultimately, a longrange plan is in the works for the city, Fuller said, which he hopes will include help from citizens.

The city has already used diversity and inclusion listening sessions, leadership trainings and the Opelika Police Department’s ambassador program to create plans for moving forward.

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

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

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. . . . . A7

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

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

PUBLIC NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . B11

COMICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A16

CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B13

There are those who walked away from East Alabama Medical Center after surviving COVID-19 and there are those who took their final breaths behind the doors.

EAMC held a remembrance event on the front lawn to honor those the community lost over the last year due to COVID-19.

“I can certainly say this has been one of the most devastating and heartbreaking things that any of us have ever experienced,” said Laura Grill, EAMC president and CEO. “So many lives have been impacted. So many stories of tragedy and triumph and bravery and perseverance.”

Many families came and went at EAMC See HEROES, page A3

Smiths Station to hold Clock Tower dedication April 2 Contributed by the city of Smiths Station The city of Smiths Station will hold a Clock Tower Dedication Ceremony on April 2 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

Located in front of the Smiths Station Government Center, the clock tower was installed to honor the legacy of the city’s first Mayor, LaFaye Dellinger, who served from the city’s incorporation in 2001 until 2016.

Dellinger’s daughter Melissa Gauntt successfully applied for a grant from the

Alabama Power Foundation last year for this project, which nearly covered the entire cost of the project. Later this year, the city’s Historical Commission will launch a fundraiser to help purchase benches to place on both sides of the clock tower.

The Smiths Station City Council and Mayor F. L. “Bubba” Copeland, along with other local officials, will attend this event.

The Smiths Station Government Center is located at 2336 Panther Parkway (Lee Road 430) in downtown Smiths Station.

A2 March 31, 2021

OPS recognized, honored with national award for outstanding safety practices Contributed by the city of Opelika Opelika Power Services received recognition and an award from the American Public Power Association (APPA) during its annual Engineering and Operations conference.

Recognition – Opelika Power Services (OPS) has earned a ‘Diamond’ Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) ® designation (the highest of three categories) from the American Public Power Association for providing reliable and safe electric service.

The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recog-

nizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and an utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. Opelika Power Services joins more than 270 public power utilities nationwide that hold the RP3 designation.

“I think over the last year or so, we’ve seen

the vital importance of running a reliable and safe utility,” said Aaron Haderle, chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel and manager of transmission and distribution operations at Kissimmee Utility Authority, Florida.

“The utilities receiving the RP3 designation have proven that they are committed to running a top-notch public power utility by implementing industry best practices.”

“We couldn’t be prouder to be honored with this designa-

continuing to look for ways to improve our operations and service to our customers.”

The American Public Power Association has offered the RP3 designation for 16 years now. APPA is the voice of notfor-profit, commu-

tion,” said Derek Lee, director of Opelika Power Services. “This is the culmination of a lot of work from a lot of people who really care about powering our community. But this designation is not a final destination.

We are committed to

nity-owned utilities that power 49 million people in 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.

APPA advocates and advises on electricity policy, technology, trends, training and operations.

See POWER, page A5

Auburn Chamber of Commerce celebrates new businesses

Photos contributed by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce The Auburn Chamber of Commerce held ribbon cuttings last week for Wire Nutrition (left) and Dunkin' (right), located at 539 Lee Road, Suite 3 and 171 N. College St., respectively.

pelika Observer

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

Publisher: Michelle Key Associate Editor: Hannah Lester Marketing: Woody Ross Photojournalist: Robert Noles Associate Sports Editor: Wil Crews Sports Writers: Rick Lanier, D. Mark Mitchell

www.opelikaobserver.com

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

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A3 March 31, 2021

Kyle Bugg named FCM Vice President Contributed by First Community Mortgage First Community Mortgage (FCM) has named Kyle Bugg as vice president in its Auburn branch. While most of his borrowers hail from East and Central Alabama, he can originate mortgages for consumers in the many markets in which FCM is licensed across the country.

“Kyle is a strong finance professional who is well versed in all loan products, which means he can easily flex based on

HEROES

>>

FROM A1

but the nurses, and the doctors, of the medical center returned each day to do their job, and do it despite the tears and pain.

“These heroes persevered, they fought the good fight day after day, week after week and month after month after month,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller.

Wendy Morgan, a respiratory therapist in the ICU, said she was originally skeptical of the dangers of COVID-19, but soon realized how deadly the pandemic would become.

“To sit down, recall all that has happened this past year, all that we have seen and experienced, all the many roles we’ve played, all the changes we’ve made, the sacrifices, the tears we’ve cried, the hands we’ve held, the laughter, the joy, the moments of immense tragedy and elevated celebration, the things that we’ve learned, practices that we’ve changed, all the scrub hats worn, all the bonds we’ve formed,” said Courtney Sutton, a RN in the ICU. Morgan credited the leadership at EAMC to educating employees for the seriousness of the disease.

Dr. Ricardo Maldonado, EAMC’s infectious disease

his customers’ needs,” said Dan Smith, president of First Community Mortgage. “Plus, he is easy to work with because he is one of those people who gets along with everyone, which is an excellent quality for someone who helps shepherd people through the mortgage process.”

Bugg has a demonstrated history of adeptly working with all types of financing, including conventional, jumbo, FHA and VA loans and others and working hard to help match his borrowers with the loan

product that is best for their individual needs and goals. He also has worked hard to build relationships with business partners like homebuilders and realtors, which adds value to the assistance he can provide his customers.

“My promise to my clients is to help them have the best mortgage experience possible, no matter their challenges or goals and pride myself on minimizing surprises and getting them to the closing table quickly and with the least stress possible, Bugg said.

specialist, said he was often checking in on his employees, making sure they were taking care of themselves and taking breaks.

“They would ask me when I would take a break,” he said.

“But my answer was always the same. My answer was, ‘don’t worry about me. I was trained for this.’”

One day, Maldonado was asked if he had actually trained for this — a global pandemic. And he said, no, no one was truly trained for COVID-19.

“I knew from the very beginning that COVID-19 would test me as a human being, not only as a physician,” he said.

Fuller said that there were times his faith was tested over the past year in a pandemic. Sutton said quite the opposite.

“It was in these moments, it was in this year I found myself closer to Jesus and growing in my faith, possibly more than ever before,” she said.

“And I would venture to say a lot of my ICU family can say the same.”

EAMC is a family, Sutton said.

A family that was tested, but triumphed.

The EAMC staff became family to patients who could not see their loved ones due to restrictions.

“In this year, death and dying has not looked like it ever has

before,” Sutton said.

“This is where it gets harder. As a nurse in the ICU, we train to try to save a life, and when we can’t, we do all that we can to make passing from this life bearable. Without pain or struggle, and allowing the patient this time with their family that is dignified without chaos. That offers some sense of closure hopefully.

“These moments were difficult to create this year. In the beginning, as the patient was dying, we could be the only ones present with them.”

Morgan said that they hold onto all the hope they could, but there came a point when they knew a patient would not make it.

“When all hope was gone and we realized that another sweet soul would transition from this world to the next, we turned our focus to the comfort and dignity of our patients,” she said. “They would not die alone … We held their hands, we talked, we sang, we prayed and when their journey was complete, we cried.”

When patients did complete their journey, they left behind family members.

Maggie Lawrence’s husband, Johnny Lawrence, passed from COVID-19 in July 2020.

“2020, it left scars on each of us,” Maggie said. “And for

Bugg Away from work, he enjoys spending quality time with his family, outdoor activities including hunting and fishing

some of us, they are not scars. They are, but rather open, gaping wounds on our souls that are not visible to the eyes of others. That is me, that is my daughter.”

Johnny was active in the community — as a Lee County Commissioner and former city of Auburn fire fighter.

“I want you to now that my family believed with all of our hearts that everyone involved in Johnny’s care were doing everything possible to restore his health and send him home to us,” Maggie said.

“My faith in your skill and care was strong in July as you helped him fight this terrible disease. It remains strong today in each of you and your commitment to your patients.”

Maggie said that if Johnny were still here, he would have asked each of the doctors and nurses to reflect

and supporting Auburn Tiger sports. He is an Auburn graduate, with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, focusing on finance. Bugg is also a member of Opelika Rotary, the Opelika Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County Realtor Association, and previously coached the Opelika Baseball Club.

Bugg (NMLS# 1090733) can be reached at 334-3196126 or Kyle.Bugg@ FCMhomeloans.com About First Community Mortgage

First Community Mortgage, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Community Bank of Tennessee, and includes Wholesale, Correspondent and Retail divisions.

FCM is a FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA seller/servicer and offers mortgage solutions to consumers and financial institutions. It funded over $3.5 billion in home loans in 2020. First Community Mortgage is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS ID 629700. www.FirstCommunityMortgage. com

and take time for themselves.

“He would not talk to you about protocols and procedures,” she said. “He would ask you these questions: ‘How are you doing?

Is it well with your soul? Are you practicing mindfulness and self care?’ Johnny understood intimately how the challenges of patient care can devastate someone’s mental well-being.”

But there were those who could stand at EAMC, *healed from COVID-19 and thank the staff themselves like State Senator Randy Price.

Price was hospitalized in 2020 with COVID-19 and many wondered if he would leave EAMC healthy.

“I owe so many thanks to so many people that are standing here and behind me and out front,” he said. “ … I was one of the fortunate ones because I survived, but it was not without a fight. But a fight that I did not fight by myself, but with the warriors right here at this hospital. The doctors, the nurses, the support staff and most importantly, God.” Throughout the year, not only did EAMC support the

community, but the community supported EAMC. There were many restaurants and businesses who donated food to EAMC, especially during the beginning of the pandemic, Auburn Mayor Ron Anders said.

Too, there were the organized events where many came and prayed in their cars at the top of the East Alabama Medical Center parking deck, with headlights turned to the hospital for healthcare workers to see.

“These prayer groups replaced a sense of helplessness with hope and help for a lifetime,” Price said.

There were those too from out of state, who came to pray over the patients and healthcare workers at EAMC. Price said that when he was released, COVID-free, he joined those in prayer on the parking deck.

“This has been a most painful experience for so many and I know that the folks here at the hospital on the front lines have felt the pain continuously over the past year,” Fuller said.

“We cannot thank you enough for your service, your effort, your courage and your sacrifice.”

A4 March 31, 2021

“W

ill the room please settle down before the dance begins?!” says Gary to the elderly crowd in the nursing home cafeteria. “Simmer down, please!”

Gary is an old man with a saxophone dangling from his neck.

He speaks over a microphone, addressing old folks who are all wearing their dancing shoes. These residents need a little fun tonight. It’s been a very long year.

“People, hush!” says Gary.

Someone goes: “SSSSSSHHHHHH!” The murmuring stops.

“Let’s do this in an orderly fashion!” says Gary. “I need two groups! I want my men dancers over HERE! I want my lady dancers over on THAT side!”

Soon, the room is reorganizing itself like the final round of a livestock auction. It’s a downright mess.

“Quickly, people!” says Gary. “We haven’t got all night!”

It’s a good night for

I

began making sourdough bread over five years ago.

It was a hit with my family from day one, especially the cinnamon rolls on Saturday mornings. I would roll them in butter, cinnamon and sugar on Friday night to rise for the following morning; children awaking to fresh warm doughy sweet goodness.

When we later opened George’s Farmers Market, I sold sourdough on the weekends and folks would drive distances to purchase a loaf to take home to their table.

As tasty as the bread was, it was the process of making the bread, hands to dough and dough to oven, that kept me coming back to make it again and again.

Making bread became

I

know a girl who is very brave. She is a friend of my best friend’s daughter. Her voice is quiet, not because she doesn’t have anything to say, but because she is unaccustomed to the sound of her own voice. Or maybe she’s just not used to someone hearing her.

She is petite with a shy smile, and for several months she spent a great deal of her time at my best friend’s house.

Between eating meals together and driving the girls to and from school (and all over town), I got to know her very well. We all did.

The Dance a dance. There has been an 82 percent drop in COVID cases among U.S. nursing homes since the vaccine, and these people need something joyous.

Gary says, “Alright!

I want healthy dancers to the front of the line.

Quiet please! Orderly fashion! Healthy knees and good tickers up front! Anyone who’s only upper-body dancing tonight, you’re at the back of the line!”

The people in the cafeteria once again reorganize. Ladies on one side; men on the other. Even nurses and cafeteria workers are present for the fun, watching this clambake from the outskirts in case someone overdoes it.

“Okay,” announces Gary. “Ladies and gentleman, it gives me great pleasure to introduce TONIGHT’S BAND!” Everyone claps. You would never believe a nursing home could produce so much applause. But as I said, it’s been a long year.

Each person within

By Sean Dietrich this cafeteria knows someone who has died from COVID-19. Each person bears the scars of a pandemic. Thankfully, everyone here tonight is healthy (knock on wood).

There are four musicians in tonight’s community band: Lonnie (Pacific Grove, California) playing electric bass.

Lonnie can’t feel his fingertips because of neuropathy, but he can still play.

Jennifer (a staff nurse, originally from Tampa) on upright spinet.

Thomas (Sioux Falls, South Dakota), on the drum kit, holding his sticks like Gene Krupa.

And of course Gary (Lansing, Michigan) on alto sax and vocals.

“Everyone ready?”

Gary says. Then he counts off a tempo. “And a’one, and a’two, and a’one, two, three…”

The band launches into “Somewhere Beyond the Sea.” People come unglued. The whole facility suddenly becomes ten shades happier.

By the first chorus, the cafeteria dancefloor is already crowded with eight men and 14 women.

Bashful smiles.

Weathered hands clasping other weathered hands. Feet shuffling. A few women

are dancing with other women since there aren’t enough men to go around.

One old man wraps his arms around a woman’s waist. They are barely moving.

This non-aerobic dance style is what’s commonly known as “Prom Dance.”

Another athletic couple is doing light twirls and they’re both smiling – literally – to beat the band.

The tune ends. The band plays “When You’re Smiling.”

Gary is now singing like Louis Armstrong, and the heck of it is, they say Gary does an excellent imitation.

Fifty years ago Gary used to be in a band in Orlando. His group used to play this tune every night at closing time.

People are moving stiffly on the dancefloor, wobbling about as gracefully as the decades of osteoarthritis will allow. Onlookers seated in wheelchairs are singing, clapping in all the wrong places.

The next tune is Cole Porter. “You Do Some-

thing To Me.” Medium swing. This one really gets them cranked.

A few wheelchairs scuttle to the dancefloor, accompanied by enthusiastic nurses who are performing upper-body dance moves with non-mobile patients. This is already the best day of the entire year.

Gary plays saxophone solo after solo.

People do foxtrot after foxtrot. Everyone is glowing.

When the party winds to a close Gary takes the microphone and makes his final speech. He gives the dancers a chance to catch their breath while he uses a serious voice.

“I’d like to dedicate this song,” he begins, “to everyone who has lost someone this year.” His voice breaks when he says it.

The nurses and staff bow their heads.

Gary whips up the band. The musicians begin to play “What a Wonderful World” at a ballad tempo. The whole room comes See DIETRICH, page A5

Breaking Bread ... holy. It was time where I would think about God and I felt as though God was thinking of me.

I would often look out my kitchen window into the darkest of night skies and feel so small and unknown, but by placing my hands in the dough, bread for life, I would begin to feel seen and held as if God was standing in my very own kitchen.

I would stay up into the night, kids and house asleep, rolling dough on my counter.

I would think and ponder and worship and pray. I would cry and I would laugh, never knowing what was to come in our time together.

It was this tangible

and ancient thing that brought me much truth and life to the words of the Bible. For when you have pressed your fingers into dough there is new meaning behind, “take and eat, this is my body.”

And when you actually break that loaf of bread for your family, your eyes are opened, and you begin to see.

The breaking of the bread, ordinary, but honest in the breaking of everyday life, but then to take and eat, that is satisfaction of here and now.

One act that is severed, followed by one moment savored.

I think we can all agree that there has been a lot of broken in the last 12 months, but were we always guaran-

By Bradley Robertson teed happiness?

That’s an easy no. So if we know this to be true, why do we often dwell in broken places when there is always bread to nourish?

It’s the middle space where we often get stuck, the space between broken and satisfied.

“Jesus took bread and broke it, and upon giving thanks he said, ‘take this and eat it, this is my body.'"

True fulfillment rests in the thanksgiving. The gratitude, our gratitude.

If our heart can not be fully thankful we cannot accept being fully fed.

When my hands were moving in motion over flour and dough with summer heat on dark nights, it was an act of forever thankfulness.

Thank you God for home.

Thank you God for bread.

Thank you God for children.

Thank you God for bed.

Thank you God for family.

Thank you God for

rest.

Thank you God for your Son. Thank you God for saving all of us.

We have an open opportunity daily to accept the bread of life, to be sustained by the only factor that can nourish every inch us body and soul. Jesus is who He says He is.

He is the bread of life.

For this, all we must simply say is “thank you.”

I pray you break bread with your family today and tomorrow and often. I pray you speak your thankful into existence. It is this act of doing that brings us to the knowing that God is here today.

Happy Easter to all of you!

-Bradley

sibling who was still at home. She played the video for me. Children were crying and screaming, facing the wall with their arms outstretched, waiting as their father counted down before striking them ... over and over ... while hurling obscenities, calling his children names that I wouldn’t call a rabid dog. All because someone had misplaced something.

It took everything I had not to get sick, not to rush to that house and save them all, not to hurt that man. Instead I told her I would

help her, whatever that involved. The police were called to the house where her siblings were hoping someone would rescue them. When they arrived, they spoke to the father, who assured them all was well.

When the children were questioned, they did what they have always done – whatever it took to survive. They told the policemen they were fine.

So a plan was made.

The next morning, I would take my best friend’s daughter and her scared friend to

Brave One night, a few weeks ago, I got a phone call in the middle of the night. It was the same sweet girl. She was at a sleepover at my best friend’s house, and she needed someone to talk to. She was crying. We switched to video messenger so I could see her face. And she told me the truth – about her home, her father and the nightmare she had been living.

I watched her struggle to find the words.

She spoke haltingly at first, but with every sentence she found strength. Her father is an alcoholic. He has

a temper. Her mother drifts in and out of her life, bringing nothing good with her. Her siblings (and there are several) and she share a small house and a couple of bedrooms and a history of abuse. The house, like the children, bear the scars left behind by adults who were never meant to be parents. This father’s and mother’s legacy is this: a broken window, bruises in the shape of hands, empty kitchen cupboards, a crescent-shaped scar on a child’s forehead, sheets sagging from windows, stomachs that rumble

WENDY HODGE with hunger, a mistrust that may take a lifetime to overcome... and fear.

Ever present, insidious, life-altering fear.

On this night, when this brave girl called me for help, she had been sent a video by a

See HODGE, page A5

A5 March 31, 2021

POWER

>>

FROM A1

Award - Opelika Power Services has earned the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2020. The utility earned the first place award in the category for utilities with 60,000 – 109,999 worker-hours of annual worker exposure.

“Utilities that receive an APPA Safety Award have demonstrated that they have made the health and safety of their employees a core value,” said Brandon Wylie, chair of APPA’s Safety Committee and

DIETRICH >>

FROM A4

alive because everyone on planet Earth recognizes this song.

Dozens of elderly voices are soon bellowing in wrong keys, but each mouth sings the correct lyrics. Even the employees are howling along with Gary.

Because everyone here knows that Gary has had one of the hardest years among those here. His wife died from COVID last year. He’s playing this

HODGE >>

FROM A4

the police station. She wanted to be the one to break the silence and tell the truth. Nobody slept that night. When morning finally came, we drove downtown and parked. I asked if she was ready, and she answered, “Yes, ma’am.” The three of us stood on the sidewalk looking up at the emblem above the door – protection For All. I reached out to open the door, but the brave girl stopped me and said, “Can we all pray together?” Her words stunned me. Of all the things racing through my head, praying was not one of them. But it should have been.

We bowed our heads, and she asked God to protect us all and make us brave. One of us already is, I thought,

director of training and safety at Electric Cities of Georgia.

“Designing and maintaining a top-notch utility safety program takes a lot of hard work and commitment. These utilities and their communities should be very proud.”

Three hundred and twenty-nine utilities from across the country entered the annual Safety Awards.

Entrants were placed in categories according to their number of worker-hours and ranked based on the most incident-free records during 2020.

The incidence rate, used to judge entries, is based on the num-

ber of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2020, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“Opelika Power Services values employee safety above all else,” said Lee. “We all recognize the importance of going home to our families each day; this is what drives our dedication to safety.” The Safety Awards have been held annually for the last 65 years. APPA is the voice of notfor-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.

number for her.

Gary brings the saxophone to his lips and begins to play, but he is interrupted. In the middle of his solo a nurse approaches the stage and asks Gary if he’d like to dance with her.

Gary turns red.

“Gosh, it’s been a long time, I don’t think so...”

Too late.

The nurse ignores his remark. She forces Gary to discard his saxophone and join her while the band plays.

Pretty soon the two of them are on the dancefloor.

The nurse rests her head upon Gary’s bony shoulder while they sway in rhythm. She can hear him sniffing loudly. After a few moments, they stop dancing and simply embrace on the dancefloor. The nurse rubs Gary’s back while he weeps.

And later that evening, when that nurse recounts this entire story to me in an email, I find myself doing the same thing.

Because, it really has been a long year.

while I looked up at her face as she spoke.

Over the next couple of hours, this brave girl told her story to a detective, a police sergeant and to a social worker. She played the video, and I had to turn away. Every single person in that room cried silent tears.

Even the social worker was speechless for a moment. And then, everyone got busy.

Reports were filled out, numbers and names and dates and events logged detail by detail and a new plan was made.

The children would be separated from the father and interviewed separately by someone who was trained to elicit the truth. We went home to await the fallout.

I wish I could say there is a happy ending to this story, but real life rarely ties everything up in a neat

package with a pretty bow. That day, when a girl was brave enough to speak out and do what was right for herself and her brothers and sisters, was the day they all entered the child welfare system. It is a train with wobbly wheels that runs on a winding track whose conductor means well but whose hands are tied behind his back.

And the passengers are children who just want to go home - whatever that may mean to them.

My best friend and I, along with his children who are loved and fed and praised and unafraid of the adults in their lives, do all that we can do. We stand by and watch as the train rolls on and hope that, like the broken windows in that sad house, her spirit can be mended and she will always be brave.

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

Thereʼs no excuse for

ELDER ABUSE

“This project was supported by Subgrant #18-VA-VS-050 #16-VA-VS-076 awarded by the Law Enforcement / Traffic Safety Division of ADECA and the U.S. Department of Justice.” The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice or grant-making component.”

Ghee — and its health benefits — are found inside The Well

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

Have you picked up a batch of ghee in the store before? Do you know what ghee is?

Ghee is a form of clarified butter that, according to Gauri Deshpande, a local who makes ghee herself, has been gaining popularity because of its health benefits.

“Honestly, I had myself never made ghee at home but I looked around and saw that it was gaining so much popularity for its numerous health benefits,” Deshpande said. “However, the ghee that is sold in grocery stores was not the ‘authentic’ kind which reminded me of my home in India where my mom used to make ghee every two weeks.

And when I made that at home over here for the first time, I loved it and so did my family.”

Now, Deshpande is making ghee not just for her family, but for anyone interested in trying it.

About a year ago, she started a business, The Sage Way, to sell her ghee, which has found a home in The Well.

The Well is Opelika’s newest venture — incorporating women-run businesses and products into one inclusive experience on Avenue A.

Protect with 3! ✔ Tdap ✔ HPV ✔ MCV4 Protect your patients against vaccine preventable diseases.

As healthcare professionals, it is up to you to ensure your patients remain up to date with their vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) recommend the following vaccines for adolescents: • • • •

Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis Human papillomavirus Meningococcal disease Influenza

For more information, please visit alabamapublichealth.gov/imm

GAURI DESHPANDE “I remember meeting Rachel, who is now a co-owner of The Well, at a community event and we happened to chat briefly about what we do,” Deshpande said. “I am glad she remembered me and my business and gave me a call. After meeting her and seeing the space they are operating, I was plain grateful to be considered as a vendor.”

Including ghee in the menu at The Well was a way to encourage the community to try the product, Deshpande

said.

“The Sage Way is a business that wants to bring honest products to the market,” she said. “I want the ghee to nourish the mind and body as it is meant to and it will only happen when it is made the way our mothers and grandmothers made it when we were growing up.”

The health benefits of ghee? It includes short-chain-fatty-acids, butyric acid, omega 3 fatty acids and lonleic acid, all of which are See GHEE, page A6

Alabama Department of Public Health Announces...

CALL FOR PROPOSALS DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 31ST For coronavirus vaccine activities to support broad-based distribution access and vaccine coverage for high risk and underserved populations including racial and ethnic minority populations and rural communities.

TARGET POPULATIONS: AFRICAN AMERICANS, HISPANICS AND TRIBAL NATIONS Each proposal must be submitted in Times New Roman or Arial font, 12 font size, 1.5 paragraph spacing and include: ✔ Cover Sheet ✔ Scope of Work and Activities ✔ Rationale ✔ Program Evaluation and Measurement Plan ✔ Budget

Proposals must be submitted online no later than Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at ImmProposals@adph.state.al.us

For more information visit https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/immunization/call-for-proposals.html

A6 March 31, 2021

Keep Opelika Beautiful to host Recycle & Shred Day Contributed by Keep Opelika Beautiful Keep Opelika Beautiful will host a free Recycle & Shred Day on Saturday, April 17, 2021. The event will be from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Northside Recycle Center located at 600 Eighth Ave. in Opelika. This is the site of the former fire station

and is one block from the Opelika Municipal Park.

All shredding for this event will be done onsite. Paper clips and staples do not have to be taken out, but paper will need to be removed from binders. There is a 10 box limit. This event is only open to residents of Lee Coun-

ty. No documents from businesses will be accepted for shredding. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendees are asked to remain in their vehicle and allow volunteers to unload documents.

Other items accepted at the Northside Recycle Center include electron-

ics, aluminum cans, cardboard, newspaper, plastic and steel cans.

This recycling center is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, contact Keep Opelika Beautiful at (334) 749-4970 or tipi@keepopelikabeautiful.com.

Photos from last fall's Shred Day and were contributed by Keep Opelika Beautiful.

GHEE

>>

FROM A5

beneficial to the body.

“The ancient doctors said that Ghee is the best food to improve memory and mental functions,” Deshpande said. “Ghee imparts beautiful glow to the skin. It is considered one of the best fats to nourish the fat tissue.”

The Well is located at

824 Ave. A, Opelika and is open: Monday: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Tuesdays - Thursday: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Friday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

This is the third in a series of articles on the different businesses that are located inside The Well.

Don’t be an ‘Ope-loser’ Contributed by the city of Opelika The city of Opelika is excited to announce a new anti-litter campaign and event. In April, the city will launch the “Don’t Be An Ope-loser!” campaign in an effort to encourage visitors and citizens to keep the community clean. The campaign leads up to a new Spring community clean-up event called Slam Dunk the Junk.

Locals will begin seeing brightly painted trash cans throughout the city with bold, educational messages about anti-littering.

“Litter continues to be

JOIN US FOR SLAM DUNK THE JUNK

A community wide clean up and

fun day!

TRASH PICK-UP, FOLLOWED BY: FREE THROW COMPETITION SLAM DUNK CONTEST

COVINGTON CENTER

APRIL 24, 2021 9 a.m.

Pick up your supplies 9- 11 a.m. Litter/Trash pick-up 11:30 a.m. Return to Covington with trash and unused supplies 12- 2 p.m. Free Throw & Slam Dunk competitions

itter...

sers L Only Lo

An e B t ’ n Do r! e s o l e Op

Prizes include an autographed basketball from AU Coach Bruce Pearl and various gift cards.

Hotdog, Chips & Drink : $5 Proceeds go to Keep Opelika Beautiful.

3 Ways to Register: • • •

Online at www.opelika-al.gov Fill out form on back of flier and return to lkrehling@opelika-al.gov Show up day of event

SEE WEBSITE FOR RULES.

e thJUNK

a huge issue in Opelika.

It’s sad to look around our city and see trash along the roadways, in parking lots and in our creeks. Litter is harmful to human health, safety, welfare, the environment and it has a negative effect on economic development,” said Mayor Gary Fuller.

The Slam Dunk the Junk event will be on April 24, 2021 and will begin at Covington Recreation Center at 9 a.m.

Participants will pick up their supplies, provided

by Keep Opelika Beautiful, at the recreation center and will be given a list of locations to pick up litter. This is a great

opportunity for friends and family to give back to the community.

After the clean-up, participants are encouraged to come back to Covington by 11:30 a.m. for a friendly free throw and slam dunk competition, food, fun and prizes! Register on the city website (www. opelika-al.gov) to secure your spot in the competition and see rules.

“As a part of the campaign, we are asking that if you see trash on the ground, pick it up. It is a matter of civic pride to keep Opelika clean and beautiful.

We need our community to be part of the solution, not the problem,” said Leigh Krehling, community relations officer for the city of Opelika.

Opelika E vents, Society & Food

April 2, 3 OTC presents Godspell 1103 Glenn Street, Opelika

Celebrate Easter with traditional favorites, festive desserts Ann Cipperly

Southern

Hospitality

A

s Easter morning dawns, sunrise services are being held to begin a glorious day of church services and celebrations. Plan to celebrate the good news of Easter as the main focus for the day.

Keep the celebration festive with a scrumptious meal to serve after church services with dishes prepared ahead, allowing you to relax and enjoy the day.

For most of us, Easter brings back happy memories of childhood, getting new clothes for church service and coloring eggs. Mom would always have a tender ham in the oven, and fresh spring vegetables would be simmering

on the stove. A beautiful cake would be waiting on the counter, or a yummy dessert would be chilling in the refrigerator to cap the celebratory lunch.

Then, more eggs would be hidden for one last egg hunt.

While ham is still popular for Easter (Several ham recipes ran last Easter. E-mail me if you need a recipe), some of us will be serving a pork loin roast or lamb. I never tried lamb until Don and I were married.

It was a popular dish at his house growing up. His Mother would serve a leg of lamb at Easter and other times.

I didn’t like the taste of lamb immediately, but after trying it a few times, I was hooked.

It is easier to find lamb chops locally than a leg of lamb.

The chops cook in just a few minutes and are nice to serve for Easter if you have a small group. Chef Eron Bass and Carol Duncan both have recipes for marinating lamb.

If you are baking a ham, use the instructions on the label.

Whatever meat you are serving, be sure to wait 10 to 15 minutes after cooking before slicing to allow the juices to set. Otherwise, when you slice the meat, the juices will run out, making the meat dry and tough.

Lemon desserts are refreshing at Easter.

A few years ago, I worked on creating a lemon and raspberry

Cops on Top event held to support Special Olympics

By Kayla Evans For the Opelika Observer The local law enforcement will be having their annual fundraiser to support the Alabama Special Olympics on April 9.

From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Opelika Police Department will be fundraising at the Tiger Town Kroger and the Auburn Police Depart-

ment will be at the Kroger on Dean Road. The Lee County Sherriff’s Department will also be helping out. The kicker of this event — when you head up to Kroger to shop, you’ll see officers on the roof.

Other officers will be outside the entrance with Special Olympics athletes to accept donations.

“The purpose of the

fundraiser is to raise awareness for Special Olympics, especially for the Special Olympics in Lee County which is where all of the dollars raised right here in our program,” said Elizabeth Kauffman, Lee County Special Olympics Director.

“It is also to raise awareness that our local See OLYMPICS, page A11

Photo by Ann Cipperly Lemon Cream Cake with Lemon-Raspberry Filling and Cream Cheese Frosting makes a lovely cake for Easter. The Lemon Soaking Syrup makes a super moist cake.

The raspberry jam can be omitted for a lemon cake. For an easier version of a Lemon Raspberry Cake, check out Margaret Walker’s recipe, which also makes a beautiful cake.

cake for an occasion. I used a favorite pound cake recipe with a lemon syrup drizzle to make the layers super moist. For the filling, I prepared half of a lemon cream recipe from Margaret Walker, then spread raspberry jam over the layers.

I thought about using whipped cream to cover the cake, but decided my family would prefer a rich cream cheese frosting. The cake was garnished around the base with sliced lemon halves

and fresh raspberries.

I am also including Margaret’s recipe for her Easy Lemon Raspberry Cake. Her recipe is easier and uses a cake mix for the layers. The raspberry jam can be omitted for a Lemon Cream Cake. When I made Margaret’s delicious cake, I decorated the top with lemon slices and fresh raspberries, then use sliced lemons and raspberries for garnishing the base of the cake.

Margaret is a for-

mer faculty member in the Department of Nutrition and Foods at Auburn University.

She enjoys cooking and keeps her freezer and pantry stocked for preparing meals quickly. Margaret and her husband, George, have one son, Jim, who is married to Kristen Horn. George’s father was Dr. James Walker, a well- known physician in Opelika for many years.

Either one of the See CIPPERLY, page A10

Poppin’ tags and helping out: New thrift shop gives back to community

By Lofton Wheeles For the Opelika Observer A new thrift store in the Beauregard area is now open and ready to serve the community. Beauregard Thrift opened in February and store owner Brenda Claridy is looking to give back after being inspired by events that rocked two communities forever.

“Back when the

tornado hit Beauregard, my fiancée was a member of the volunteer fire department as a trainee,” she said. “He was not supposed to go out into the field yet for something like that; however, because of [the fire department] being so short-handed and the huge devastation that tornado caused, he was thrown out into the field.

Many of the bodies that he found and many of the

injured people he found he knew and he grew up with, so it touched him and it caused him to not be able to continue on the fire department because it hurt him so deeply.

“Last month when the tornado hit Fultondale, Alabama, he insisted we go up there and help. So, I agreed and we went.

However, when we got there, they were turning our donations away See THRIFT, page A12

A8 March 31, 2021

I LOVE JUICE BAR LAUNCHES BLUE MAJIK JUICE FOR LIMITED TIME Contributed by I Love Juice Bar Superfood ingredient blue majik has landed on I Love Juice Bar’s menu for a limited time only.

The plant-based spirulina extract, known for its bright blue coloring and many health benefits, is a key ingredient in I Love Juice Bar’s Early Riser juice that is now available through May 16 at all locations.

Rachel Layton, I Love Juice Bar managing partner, said blue majik was first made popular with Juice Bar guests last year, and there has been great interest in bringing it

The limited time offer is available at all 32 Juice Bar locations across the southeast, including the Auburn store located at 109 N. College St. Online ordering and curbside pickup is available at each location.

I Love Juice Bar is also preparing to roll out a new loyalty program in early April, where guests can earn stars with each purchase to use toward rewards such as a free add-on item, five dollars off one item and even free smoothies.

ABOUT I LOVE JUICE BAR I Love Juice Bar is a brand that was founded

back to the menu.

“Our blue majik smoothie swirls were a huge hit in 2020, and we quickly noted our guests’ obsession with food that is not only healthy, but bright and beautiful,” Layton said. “We are always innovating our recipes based on our guests’ feedback, and we can’t wait to hear what they think about the Early Riser.”

The Early Riser juice is high in protein and low in calories, featuring cucumber, cayenne and lemon with the blue majik and offering anti-inflammatory and energizing properties and antioxidants.

to make nutrition and nourishment accessible to anyone, anywhere. Its smoothies, juices, shots and acai bowls are crafted with approachable flavor profiles made from only wholesome ingredients without added sugars, dairy, syrups or artificial ingredients like ice.

I Love Juice Bar has 32 locations across the country, spanning Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. To learn more about I Love Juice Bar, go to www. ilovejuicebar.com.

Making the Grade - Buck’s

By Stacey Patton Wallace

D

o you have a favorite restaurant in your hometown where you grew up, eating there with your family? For me, that restaurant would be Buck’s Dairy Quick on Highway 22 in Alexander City. (Or again, “Eleck City” to the locals.)

Buck Daniels opened the restaurant in 1961, the year before I was born. I wish I had a dollar for every chicken snack, cheeseburger basket and hamburger steak plate I’ve had there in my lifetime; I could have retired even earlier than I did.

When I became old enough to drive, I would call in my family’s order to Buck’s and pick it up. Buck’s (everyone shortens the title to this) was and is very popular, so you sometimes have to keep dialing because the line is often busy.

Also, you know you’re a regular customer when you walk in the door, and an employee calls out, “Patton’s here.”

After Mr. Buck

retired, his son Paul ran the restaurant.

Unfortunately, in 2014, Buck’s caught fire and sustained a great deal of damage. Word got out that the restaurant would be closing for good. No more Buck’s?

I couldn’t believe that such an Alex. City icon was closing. After all, Buck’s is to Alex. City as Mrs. Story’s Dairy Bar is to Opelika.

Thankfully, the cavalry arrived. Lynn Patterson, an Alex. City native, saved our beloved Buck’s. Patterson owns several businesses in Alex. City, including Who’s Diner, the Huddle House, Papa John’s, Scooter’s Coffee and the movie theater, among others.

According to Patterson, three elderly ladies came in to eat one day and told him, “You can’t let Buck’s close.”

He couldn’t bear to see that happen either, so he bought Buck’s and reopened it. Hearts were happy again in the Patton family and all over Alex. City.

My brother Mike, an avid Buck’s fan, once asked his wife Sandi for an unusual favor. They

live in Texas, and Sandi, who is from Opelika, had come home to visit her family. Since Mike couldn’t get off work for the visit, he asked Sandi to get him a hamburger steak plate from Buck’s and bring it to him in Texas.

Sandi refused. She told him, “I’m not taking a hamburger steak plate to the Birmingham Airport and on that plane!” Probably wise.

The amazing smell of that hamburger steak with gravy and onions would have driven the other passengers wild. I salivate now just thinking about it.

Recently, my husband Mike, Mama and I ate at Buck’s. That day, Mama chose her regular order: chicken fingers, slaw and French fries.

Although I am a chicken addict, I chose the 6-ounce hamburger steak with gravy and onions, slaw and French fries, as did Mike.

As usual, our meal was terrific. Unlike fast food franchises, Buck’s food is prepared fresh as you order. Mama’s chicken fingers were large, lightly breaded and delicious. Our

Photo by Mike Wallace

hamburger steaks were tender and the flavor was enhanced by the onions and gravy. Now, I am really a salad woman instead of a cold slaw one; however, I really like Buck’s slaw. In fact, the slaw is so popular, many people order it by the carton to take home.

Also, the prices are great for the economically challenged; our plates were just $6.95 each.

In addition, Buck’s followed COVID-19 safety protocols very well. There was plexiglass between their

booths. Also, all employees wore masks. Adam, our waiter, was terrific.

After he brought our food, he came back and brought all three of us fresh fries because he didn’t like the way ours looked. Also, as we were leaving, he ran outside to give me my forgotten umbrella. That’s amazing customer service in 2021.

Incidentally, Mr. Patterson said that he plans to bring Scooter’s Coffee to both Auburn and Opelika in the future. I requested that he also

open up another Buck’s in our area.

Buck’s makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Pooh-sized” people NEVER lie about food.

Enjoy!

Stacey Patton Wallace, who retired from teaching language arts for 30 years, is a professional diner. Her column, “Making the Grade,” will appear each week in the Observer.

Stacey may be reached at retiredlangartsteacher2020@gmail.com.

Call me for all your real estate needs!

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A9 March 31, 2021

OPELIKA'S AZAELA & DOGWOOD TRAIL

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER

A10 March 31, 2021

CIPPERLY >>

FROM A7

raspberry lemon cakes would be lovely for Easter, and they can both be prepared a day ahead.

Another choice for an Easter dessert is Beverly Corley’s yummy Carrot Cake Trifle. Beverly enjoys cooking, so I contact her from time to time to see what new recipes she is making.

This sounds so good, and it can also be made ahead.

RECIPES

>>

STUFFED EGGS 6 large eggs 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 tsp. Dijon mustard Salt and pepper to taste Pickled okra, sliced, optional Chopped fresh parsley, paprika for garnish, optional Place eggs in a single layer in a saucepan and fill with enough water to cover. Add a little baking soda to make it easier to peel the eggs.

Heat on high until water comes to a full boil. Cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 15 minutes, then rinse under cold water.

Crack eggshells and peel under running water. Pat dry with paper towels. Slice eggs in half lengthwise, removing yolks.

Mash yolks with mayonnaise, mustard and salt and pepper to taste.

Pile egg yolks into egg halves. Garnish with a slice of pickled okra, chopped parsley or paprika, if desired.

BRINED HERB ROASTED PORK LOIN Beverly Corley Brine: 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary 2 Tbsp. kosher salt 1 Tbsp. loosely packed lemon zest 1 Tbsp. light brown sugar 3 garlic cloves, pressed 2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 tsp. finely crushed coriander seeds 1 tsp. dry mustard ¼ tsp. dried crushed red pepper Pork: 1 (2 ½-3 lb.) boneless pork loin 3 Tbsp. olive oil Vegetable cooking spray Combine first 10 ingredients in a small bowl. Rub over pork.

Chill, uncovered, 8 to 12 hours.

Let pork stand at room temperature 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400. Cook pork in oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 2 minutes on each side

Children will enjoy helping to make Natalie’s Warren’s Egg Nests while they are coloring eggs.

Easter morning can be hectic getting everyone dressed for church. Plan ahead and set the table the day before. Colored eggs can create a celebratory centerpiece, and the eggs can be hidden after lunch.

Another quick centerpiece is placing maidenhair ferns with spring flowers in baskets or urns

and using crosses for accent down the table.

After this past year being home and so much going on in our country, the meaning of Easter gives us hope. It is the perfect time to turn the page for a fresh start.

Following is a variety of springtime recipes for assembling a delectable Easter menu. In the season of rebirth, may this Easter be a time of renewed faith and hope for your family.

or until browned.

Lightly grease a wire rack with cooking spray. Place pork on rack in a roasting pan.

Bake at 400 for 35 to 40 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 135 degrees. Remove from oven and let stand 15 minutes before slicing.

2 cups brown sugar Melt butter in saucepan or sauté pan over low heat. As butter begins to soften, add brown sugar, stirring constantly.

When brown sugar begins to bubble on medium heat, continue stirring for two more minutes.

Add walnuts and stir until coated with sugar. Pour sugared walnuts onto waxed paper. Allow to cool completely.

Break walnuts apart before adding to salad.

GRILLED LAMB KABOBS Chef Eron Bass 1 ½ lb. lamb, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes 6-8 fresh rosemary sticks, leave tops and remove lower leaves 2 red onions, peeled and quartered 2 red peppers, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces Marinade: 1 Tbsp. paprika ½ tsp. cumin 2 tsp. coriander Kosher salt Black pepper Olive oil Mix all marinade spices in mixing bowl or food processor while slowly adding oil until it makes a paste. Place lamb in a bowl; cover with marinade.

Refrigerate for an hour or longer.

Use rosemary sticks as skewers.

May need to use a knife to get meat started attaching to skewers. Alternate meat with peppers and onions. Grill for about 5 to 8 minutes, turning as needed. Once you get a nice char, remove and let rest.

Strawberry, Walnut and Feta Salad Janice Ryan 12 cups romaine lettuce 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled 2 cups strawberries, sliced Balsamic vinegar dressing 1½ cups sugared walnuts (recipe follows) In large bowl, combine romaine lettuce with strawberries, feta cheese and sugared walnuts. Add balsamic vinegar dressing and toss.

Sugared Walnuts: 1½ cups walnuts 1 stick butter

ROASTED ASPARAGUS Susan Ballard 1 lb. asparagus spears 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced Kosher salt Freshly grated black pepper Lemon juice Grated Parmesan cheese Preheat oven 400.

Clean asparagus and break tough ends off. Lay in single layer in baking dish or roasting pan.

Drizzle olive oil over spears; roll asparagus back and forth until coated with oil. Sprinkle minced garlic, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese over top.

Cook 8 to 10 minutes until desired doneness. Drizzle with lemon juice, if desired. Serves 4.

ROSEMARY, THYME AND DIJON MARINADE FOR RACK OF LAMB Carol Duncan 2 racks of lamb Marinade: 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, minced ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 5 Tbsp. red wine vinegar 1 ½ Tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 tsp. dried thyme ½ tsp. kosher salt ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper Mix ingredients together and place in a zip lock bag. Let

lamb marinate overnight. Grill or roast to desired doneness.

ROASTED RED POTATOES Janine Simmons Can prepare a day ahead Mesh bag of small red potatoes Lemon pepper 1 stick butter Boil potatoes 20 minutes until tender; drain. Slice in half. Place butter sliced in bottom of roasting pan. Add potatoes. Sprinkle a generous amount of lemon pepper over potatoes. Can be prepared the day before.

Place in a 350 degree oven to heat through for about 20 minutes. I watch the butter when it starts to bubble.

Then I turn the oven down if I need to keep them warm until dinner is ready.

NO KNEAD YEAST MUFFINS 1 pkg. yeast 2 cups warm water 1 ½ sticks butter or margarine, melted ¼ cup sugar 1 egg, beaten 4 cups self-rising flour Place yeast in warm water. Cream melted butter with sugar; add beaten egg. Add yeast and water, then flour.

Drop batter into greased muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Can be stored tightly covered in refrigerator up to a week.

LEMON CREAM CAKE WITH LEMONRASPBERRY FILLING AND CREAM CHEESE FROSTING I created this cake for a special spring occasion. It makes a lovely dessert for Easter. The Lemon Soaking Syrup makes a. super moist cake. Can omit the raspberry jam for a lemon cake.Ann Cipperly Cake 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

3 cups sugar 3 cups flour 6 eggs 1 cup whipping cream 1 tsp. vanilla Lemon Soaking Syrup, optional Lemon Filling 1 jar seedless raspberry jam Cream Cheese Frosting Lemon slices and fresh raspberries for garnish Cream butter and sugar well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.

Add flour and cream alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla.

Pour battered into three greased cake pans. Bake at 300 degrees for 40 minutes or until test done. Cool in pans before removing.

Lemon Soaking Syrup: 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 1/3 cup granulated sugar In a small saucepan, combine lemon juice and sugar; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves, about two minutes. Place cake layer on plate.

With a toothpick, poke holes in cake; drizzle syrup over top. Let sit a few minutes before adding filling and another layer.

Lemon Filling: 3/4 cup sugar 3 Tbsp. cornstarch 1/4 tsp. salt 3/4 cup water 1/3 cup lemon juice 2 Tbsp. grated lemon peel 1 Tbsp. butter 8 oz. container whipped topping (can use 1 cup heavy cream, whipped and sweetened)

Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt in saucepan. Gradually stir in water and lemon juice; add lemon zest. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.

Boil and stir 2 minutes or until thickened.

Remove from heat.

Stir in butter. Cool completely. Fold in whipped topping.

Cream Cheese Frosting: 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 2 Tbsp. butter, softened 3 cups powdered sugar Beat cream cheese and butter; add sugar.

Beat until smooth.

Assemble: Spread 1/3 cup raspberry jam on each layer. Top with 1 cup or more Lemon Filling. Cover cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Store in refrigerator. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh raspberries, if desired.

EASY LEMON RASPBERRY CREAM CAKE Margaret Walker Raspberry jam can be omitted for a Lemon Cream Cake.

1 box white cake mix 1½ cups sugar 6 Tbsp. cornstarch 1/2 tsp. salt 1½ cups water 2/3 cup lemon juice 4 Tbsp. grated lemon peel 2 Tbsp. butter 16 oz. container whipped topping 1 jar seedless raspberry jam Lemon slices and raspberries for garnish, optional Bake cake mix according to package instructions. Cool.

When ready to frost, split layers in half crosswise to make four layers (or bake in four layers).

Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt in

See RECIPES page A12

A11 March 31, 2021

Photo contributed

by Alabama Farmers Federation

Local youth earn recognition for Showmanship at JBE

The Senior Showmanship Contest of the Alabama Jr. Beef Expo (JBE) was held March 18 at the Teague Arena in Montgomery. Winners are pictured with Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell. From left are Parnell; Jewel Thompson of Opelika in Lee County, champion; Walker Johnson of Cullman in Cullman County, reserve champion; Audra Graves of Cleveland in Blount County, third; Trace Strock of Marbury in Autauga County, fourth; and Heather Gladney of Buhl in Tuscaloosa County, fifth.

The JBE Showmanship Contest, coordinated by the Alabama Farmers Federation and presented by Alfa Insurance, encourages responsibility, stewardship and poise in youth across the state.

Opelika Parks and Rec to host annual Easter event

By Lofton Wheeles For the Opelika Observer Opelika Parks and Recreation is hosting its annual Easter on the Square event this Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m.

Easter on the Square is the organization’s annual Easter event. However, the event will be a bit different than from years past due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Opelika Parks and Recreation Public Relations Coordinator Laura Leigh Chesser detailed what it’s like to plan this event due to that reason.

“It’s required a lot of creativity,” she said.

“We’ve had to pivot a few times. We didn’t have this event last year because COVID-19 hit right before we [were supposed to have] our event and so we had to take last year off.

“So, we’ve had a year to learn and, along with everyone else, figure this thing out and, a lot of times, think of how to offer these events in a safe atmosphere for everyone in a safe environment.

It’s not ideal, and we hate that we can’t do all of the stuff that we normally love doing, but we figure that most people would rather have something than nothing at all and so we’re going offer what we can and hope for the best.”

This event is Opelika Parks and Recreation’s first big event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Chesser.

“We’re really excited to getting back to doing [big events],” she said. “It’s still not ideal and it’s still not exactly how we want it, but just to be able to do something to provide for the community because

we know right now it’s so needed.

“A lot of kids especially have had a tough year, especially if you have young kids. They don’t remember not being in a house, they don’t remember not being able to go places and do things. So, to provide a new experience for them and the ones that are little bit older [and] provide something that lets them get out, interact and have fun while being safe, that’s really good and our goal is to provide recreation and fun for the community and knowing that we get to do that again is really exciting for us.”

Some parts of previous Easter on the Square events were nixed for this year to adhere to social distancing guidelines to keep the attendees safe.

“We’re just trying to

OLYMPICS >>

FROM A7

law enforcement supports Special Olympics with their law enforcement torch run.”

Social distancing and masks will be required at the event. CDC guidelines will be mandated and enforced in order to attend.

In the past without COVID, the law enforcement races the Special Olympics torch into the state game. From Birmingham to Montgom-

ery, the law enforcement runs different lengths of the race and at the state games in Troy, Kauffman said.

“That’s always really special and fun,” Kauffman said. “It’s exciting to have that support from them.”

The Lee County Special Olympics chapter supports over 300 athletes. Most of the athletes are local, but some live in Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa counties.

“In total, we have our 300 athletes that par-

ticipate in 10 different sports,” Kauffman said.

“We have a variety of practices throughout the season, different scrimmages that we go to and then we’ve got our local games, bowling tournament and track meets that normally happen in the spring. We have our state tournaments that happen throughout the season as well and we always end in state games.”

For more information, visit www. facebook. com/ vents/ 1364502143920508.

See PARKS, page A12

Phone 334-476-1595 AL#18086 AL#53314

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A12 March 31, 2021

'Embrace a lifestyle of thriving'

PARKS >>

FROM A11

decrease the crowd and the traffic as much as possible so we can still provide a safe atmosphere for everyone who wishes to attend,” Chesser said. “It is just going to be the egg hunt and that’s going to look a little bit different too. Typically, we have three different hunt areas for three different age groups and they all happen at the same time, but this year we’re going

THRIFT >>

FROM A7

By Hannah Lester

hlester@ opelikaobserver.com

Circles Opelika is empowering residents in the city to look at their finances and make concrete changes to improve their financial situations.

“Our goal is to get families to at least 200% of the federal poverty guideline,” said Regina Meadows, director of Circles Opelika Circles is a national program that Opelika decided to embrace in the city, Meadows said.

It was developed from the youth education and family task force, a group from the Envision Opelika Foundation.

The model for Opelika’s chapter, however, was based on Troup County’s existing organization, Meadows said.

Originally the group had trouble recruiting members.

“I think the problem was we were going out and we were saying ‘this is a povertyprevention program’ or a ‘povertyreduction program’ and poverty, I think the word ‘poverty’ itself was really deafening to

RECIPES >>

FROM A10

saucepan. Gradually stir in water and lemon juice; add lemon zest. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 2 minutes or until thickened.

Remove from heat.

Stir in butter. Cool completely. Fold in whipped topping.

Spread 1/3 cup raspberry jam on each layer. Top with 1 cup or more frosting.

Cover cake with remaining frosting.

Store in refrigerator.

Garnish with lemon slices and raspberries, if desired.

CARROT CAKE TRIFLE Beverly Corley Cake 1 (15.25 oz.) pkg. carrot cake mix 1 cup water

people,” Meadows said. “Because everybody interprets poverty differently.”

So, instead of referring to the group with the word ‘poverty,’ Meadows said instead it was referred to with numbers.

“People don’t always associate themselves with that term,” she said. “…

So, when you start talking numbers then it becomes more real because, ‘I can associate myself with a number vs. the term, because I don’t look like what I think poverty looks like.’”

The first group to attend, and graduate from, Circles Opelika included 17 women and one man.

One of the graduates, Valerie Canady, said she attended the program so she could learn more about it and recommend it to others.

However, upon taking it, she said she learned more about what poverty really means.

“I ended up getting blessed by understanding what poverty was all about,” Canady said. “My concept of poverty wasn’t what 2/3 cup vegetable oil 3 eggs Filling 2 ½ cups milk 5 oz. pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 8 oz. container frozen whipped topping, thawed Topping: 1 cup almonds 1 cup shredded coconut 1 cup toffee baking bits Preheat oven to 350 degrees, Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

Beat cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs together in a bowl using an electric mixer on low speed about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and beat until batter is evenly mixed, scraping sides of bowl as needed.

Pour batter into

Photos contributed by Regine Meadows

I thought it was.”

She said she is now a different person than she was before Circles Opelika.

An Average Meeting: Every time participants come to a Circles meeting, a meal is provided.

Not only that, but so is childcare.

After eating, group members participate in ‘New and Good,’ Meadows said.

“If you’re in a certain income and you’re working day-in, day-out, you just kind of get inundated with things you have to do,” she said. “And so you don’t really stop a lot of times and focus on some of the good things that are happening in your life … what has happened new?

What has happened good? And we celebrate those new and good. And sometimes it can be something as simple as, ‘I made it to work on time.’”

Following ‘New and Good,’ is the actual Circles program. Many times this includes members in the community, such as a career center expert or a dietician.

Not every discussion is based

solely around finance — eating healthy for instance, is included in the program.

“It’s a totalholistic approach,” Meadows said. “…

It’s all relative. It’s really a behavioral change. We want you to think about your whole life.”

The program incorporates allies.

Allies are those in the community who live above the federal poverty guideline who can help families below the guideline through the program.

The goal is to have people graduate from Circles and return as allies, Meadows said.

Barbara Griffin is a recent graduate of the Circles Opelika program who hopes to become an ally in the future.

“The program was more than helpful,” Griffin said. “I learned more in that program, I feel like, than I have my entire life.”

Canady has also returned as an ally.

“What do you have to lose,” she said.

“Because where you are now, you’re just surviving. You want to embrace a lifestyle of thriving.”

[because] they had far too many used clothes and didn’t want to accept anything other than new.

They told us to take it to Goodwill or to the Salvation Army and we started to, but then we got to thinking about it. Our community, the community of Beauregard as well as Opelika and most of Lee County, are the ones who donated the clothes that we still had that were being turned away. My fiancée and I thought on it for a little while and then I told him ‘instead of taking this stuff to the Salvation Army or Goodwill, why not take it back home, open a thrift store and put it back into our community?"

One of the biggest hopes that Claridy said she has for Beauregard Thrift is that the store will give people in the Lee County community a bit of a boost when overcoming any burdens in their life.

“This store is here to help the community,” she said. “For example, if someone was to have a house fire, all we ask is that they bring us a fire report and we will help them with clothing, dishes or anything else in our store that we can help them with to get back on their feet free of charge.

Once we have enough funds, if someone comes to us and tells us they can’t afford their utility bills for the month, as long as it’s a legitimate reason like they were laid off due to the coronavi-

to do those one at a time to kind of just help with the crowding.”

Each wave will be in the 30-minute increments, according to Chesser. The toddler age group will hunt at 10 a.m., the four-year-old to kindergarten age group will hunt at 10:30 a.m. and the first and second grade age group will hunt at 11 a.m.

For more information about the event, call Laura Leigh Chesser at (334) 7055567. rus, they were injured and couldn’t work or sick and couldn’t work, we will try to help them with paying their utility bills.”

However, there have been some hardships with opening the new store.

“All I want to do is be able to help the community,” Claridy said.

“However, as hard as I’ve tried, I’ve really haven’t been able to help anyone. I went on the fire department’s website and looked for house fires and asked for the families to get in touch with me so I can help them and have had no response.”

Claridy also wants the public to know that Beauregard Thrift is available, wants to help out those in the community in need and that, as she put it, “if it were not for [the community], this store wouldn’t even exist.”

“Like I’ve told my followers on Facebook this is not my store,” she said. “I might own it and I might run it, but this store belongs to the community. So if there is anybody out there in the Lee County area that needs help whether you’ve had a house fire, whether you’ve been laid off of work or whatever the case may be, please come on down and see us because that’s what we’re here for.”

Beauregard Thrift Store is located at 48 County Road 400 Beauregard, in Alabama, 36804.

For more information on the business, please visit its Facebook page facebook.com/ Beaureguard-Thrift-106 708571457850 serving.

prepared dish.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 31 to 36 minutes. Cool cake for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Keep oven at 350 degrees.

Spread almonds and coconut onto a baking sheet. Bake until toasted and fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes.

Beat milk and pudding mix together until evenly combined

and thickened; beat in cream cheese until filling is smooth, Fold in whipped topping.

Cut cake into bite sized pieces; spread one layer into a trifle dish or glass bowl. Spoon a layer of filling, about same depth as cake layer, over cake layer. Sprinkle a layer of almonds, coconut and toffee bits over filling.

Repeat layering with remaining ingredients. Chill until ready to serve.

EASTER NESTS Natalie Warren 17 oz. jar marshmallow cream ¼ cup creamy peanut butter 2 Tbsp. butter, melted 15 oz. can chow mein noodles 1 cup chopped M &M’s Robin Egg candies Mix marshmallow cream, peanut butter and butter together until well blended. Add noodles and M&Ms and toss until well coated.

Drop in 1/3 cup mounds on greased cookie sheet and shape with greased fingers into small nests. Let stand until firm.

Dust the bottoms of the nests lightly with powdered sugar; then fill with egg candies before

GOAT CHEESE SALAD WITH STRAWBERRIES Dressings: 16 oz. bottle Paul Newman’s Balsamic vinaigrette 1/3 cup honey 1/3 cup Dijon mustard Salad: 6 cups mixed baby lettuces or spring mix greens ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans or almonds, toasted 1 ½ cups sliced strawberries 6 oz. goat cheese, cut into ¼ inch slice Combine vinaigrette with honey and Dijon mustard; mix well.

Toss lettuce with nuts, and strawberries. Arrange lettuce mixture and goat cheese slices on individual salad plates. Pass dressing.

Makes 6 servings.

A13 March 31, 2021

I

f you want to have some fun, ask a husband and wife to tell you about something memorable— their wedding, the birth of a child, a vacation story, etc. Then just back away and enjoy the moment. It doesn’t matter who starts telling the story, they won’t get too far before the other breaks in to say something. It’s not that what the first person is reciting is incorrect—it just doesn’t represent to the satisfaction of the other person what they experienced. And so it goes.

I suppose it’s understandable that with something as earthshakingly important as the resurrection of Jesus, some would like total uniformity from the gospel accounts without any deviation whatsoev-

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

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

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

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

Wednesday worship is at 6:30 p.m.

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

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

Life at the Tomb er. Still, how consistent is it to allow the writers to share their unique perspectives about Jesus and then at the very end demand they say everything exactly the same way? And if they did

By Bruce Green that, wouldn’t it actually Teaching Minister at 10th work the opposite way Street Church of Christ and make us suspicious in Opelika about their testimony rather than assured?

John wants to show his readers more than the presentation of Jesus and these stories provide resurrected Jesus—he powerful testimony to wants them to see indiconvince, convict and viduals embracing the risen Christ so they might convert anyone to the life that is in Jesus. do the same. So, what After all, that’s John’s does he offer us? He purpose.

His ultimate shows himself being congoal isn’t for people vinced by the evidence simply believe in Jesus. (v. 6-7), Mary Magdalene hears her name spo- He told us at the very beginning of the book that ken and meets her Lord (v. 16), and Thomas gets the person who believed his proof (v. 27-28). This has “the right to become” a child of God—but they section is the crowning must exercise that right! part of John’s overall

They must be moved to act upon what they believe and be “born again of water and Spirit” and become part of the kingdom under Christ’s reign (John 3:5). Only then do they experience life.

He points us toward this again at the close of his gospel. He lets us know he’s interested in proclaiming Christ—but he wants to proclaim Him is such a way that people experience the life Jesus came to give us (10:10, 17:3). He’s not interested in people reading his gospel, nodding their heads in assent and then getting on with their lives as before. He wants them to have life in all its fullness and grandeur (20:30-31).

That means we believe in life after death, but it also means that because of Jesus, we believe in

ABOUT BRUCE GREEN

life before death.

For many of us, that means, like Lazarus, we need to remove the rags and remnants of grave clothes we have clinging to us. Some of us have been carrying them around for years.

We need to get rid of the grave clothes of doubt, fear, guilt, shame and regret and replace them with the new look of peace, hope, joy, faith and love. That’s the wardrobe that reflects the new life we’ve been given through Jesus and will serve us for the adventure of faith He calls us to.

As strange as it sounds, there’s life at the tomb.

Bruce has written an entry level book on Revelation called The Thrill of Hope. It is available through Amazon.

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

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

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. — Romans 8:26-27

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

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

Church Directory

Green Chapel Missionary Baptist 390 Lee Road 106, Auburn (334) 749-4184 Lakeview Baptist Church 1600 E. Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-7094 Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108 Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608 Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at

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

Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika 10th Street Church of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika 334-745-5181 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Changing Hearts of Destiny Ministry 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700 METHODIST Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800 Beulah United Methodist

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

Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148 St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319 PRESBYTERIAN Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889

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

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A14 March 31, 2021

OBITUARIES John D. Godwin John D. Godwin, 85, died peacefully surrounded by his family on March 25, 2021 at Arbor Springs.

He was born on April 30, 1935 in Tallassee, Alabama, to the proud parents of John R. and Irene Pierce Godwin.

Mr. Godwin graduated from Tallassee High School, then went on to further his education at Southern Union State Community College.

After serving two years for the U.S. Army as Military Police stationed in Germany, John returned home to marry his love, Bessie Lee Griggs in 1958.

He then went on to work for AMPEX, and retired from there after 31 years of dedicated work.

Mr. Godwin is preceded in death by his parents, John R. Godwin and Irene Pierce Godwin; five of his sisters, Ruth Grumm, Annie Laura Melton, Mary White, June Denning, and Jean McVay. His two children, Melody L. Thrower and Stanley D. Godwin.

He is survived in death also by his wife of 62 years, Bessie Lee Godwin; his sister Margaret Parrett; his daughter-in-law, Kathleen Godwin; his grandchildren, Jonathan Dawson, and his wife Jessica, Trent Thrower, and his wife, Rachael, Saragrace Godwin, Pierce Godwin and his wife Anna, and Mary Elizabeth Fitts and her husband Matt; his great-grandchildren, Savannah and Sawyer Dawson, Keller Thrower, and John Orus Fitts (Sept. 2021).

John D. Godwin was

a faithful servant and patron of First Baptist Church of Opelika, and sought every day to make the world a better place. He was a man of kindness, generosity, and unconditional love.

A service of “Celebration of Life” was held, March 28, 2021 at FBCO Chapel at 2 p.m. CST. In lieu of flowers, the family asking for donations to be made to First Baptist Church of Opelika in his memory.

Amber Marie Morris Taylor Amber Marie Morris Taylor passed away unexpectedly Monday, March 22. She will leave behind a legacy of beauty and love. She loved her children more than anything in the world and they continue to return that love.

Amber is preceded in death by her greatgrandparents: Preston and Betty Dollar; great-grandmother: Othell Morris; Uncle: Kirby Dollar Jr. She is survived by her husband Charles Taylor “CJ”; children: Madison Grace Taylor, Brayden Thomas Taylor; mother: Carol (Michael) Hasson Sr.; father: Michael (Mandy) Morris; Siblings: CJ Cotton, Michael Hasson Jr, Cassidy (Addison) Morris, Garret (Julia) Morris, Amelia Morris; maternal grandparents: Kirby (Rose) Dollar, Cheryl (Rick) Jacquin; paternal grandparents: Royce (Barbara) Morris; as well as many, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Visitation was held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday, at JeffcoatTrant Funeral Home with a memorial service

immediately following.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is directing.

Mark Wesley Mattheis Mark Wesley Mattheis, 62, passed away March 22, 2021 after an extended battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

Mark was born April 15, 1958 in Atlanta, Georgia, to Orin and Barbara Mattheis. He spent his childhood in Raeford, North Carolina, and Columbus, Georgia, where he had fond memories of spending time with his cousins at his grandparents’ cabin on the river. Most of his career was in dedicated service to Global Payments, Inc. and his coworkers were like family. His happiest times were spent with his children at the ball field, enjoying live music and laughing with his family. He would want all of those who loved him to spend their days in laughter.

He was preceded in death by his father Orin and sister Marsha. He is survived by his wife of 39 years Jane May Mattheis, his daughter Miranda (Brad), son Sean (Melissa) and granddaughter Teagan, who was the light of his life. He is also survived by his brother Michael (Laurie) and nephews Justin and Collin.

As a longtime supporter of the United Way and a regular blood donor to the American Red Cross, Mark was someone who wanted to make a difference for others - those he loved and those he had never met. His family chose to continue that legacy in death by having his brain tissue donated to

the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank. This donation will allow research to be conducted to help understand Lewy Body Dementia, assist in early and accurate diagnosis, and find treatments.

The family hopes this research can lead to a cure for Lewy Body Dementia.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Mayo Clinic and designated to the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank in Mark’s memory.

Gifts can be made at <https://philanthropy. mayoclinic.org/>.

Alternatively, gifts can also be made in his memory to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at www. lbda.org/donate/.

A service is not being planned at this time.

Nancy P. McKemie Nancy P. McKemie of Opelika was born in LaGrange, Georgia to the late Morgan and Willie Poolos on June 2, 1944 and passed away at East Alabama Medical Center on March 22, 2021. She was 76 years old.

Nancy was a long time member of the VFW, and was a beloved Mom and Maw-Maw. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Virgil McKemie; brother, Emmett Poolos.

Nancy is survived by her children, Tanya Norris, Rhonda Ann McKemie, and Tara McKemie; grandchildren, Leighann Sims (Joshua), Jessie Morgan McKemie, and Justin Robert McKemie; great grandchild, Amia Faith Sims; sister, Patricia Davis; brother, Edward Poolos

(Georgianna), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members and close friends Visitation was held in the Parlor at FrederickDean Funeral Home from 10 until 11:30 a.m.

A graveside service followed at Hopewell United Methodist Church Cemetery at noon with Reverend Drue Tubbs officiating.

James Porter Hannahan, DMD Nov. 7, 1978 – March 22, 2021, Auburn, Alabama. James Porter (Jim) Hannahan, loving husband, cherished father and caring endodontist, died on March 22.

Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Jim graduated from UMSWright, completed his undergraduate degree at Birmingham-Southern College in 2001, and later earned his Doctorate of Dentistry from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in 2005 before completing the school’s highly competitive residency program in Endodontics in 2008. Guided by the lessons he learned from his endodontist father, Richard Patrick Hannahan, who preceded him in death, Jim served the residents of East Alabama with compassion and care.

In treating his patients, Jim held himself to the highest professional standards and created an environment of excellence for all who worked with him.

Jim’s dedication to his patients was surpassed only by his devotion to his family: his wife of almost 19 years Dorsey Staples Hannahan, whom he first met while

both were students at Rhodes College in Memphis, and their daughter Elizabeth Dorsey “Ellie” Hannahan. Whether making gourmet meals, building elaborate structures on their farm or cheering Ellie on in her gymnastics meets, Jim never did anything halfway.

His quiet demeanor masked a razor-sharp wit, a genuine interest in the world around him and relentless creative energy. He loved to retreat to the country where he indulged his passions of hunting, carpentry, land conservation and spending time with his family. In everything he did, Jim was committed to being the best version of himself.

Jim is survived by Dorsey, Ellie, his mother Catherine Porter Hannahan of Mobile, Alabama; brothers Pat Hannahan (Lindsey),Tommy Hannahan (Bridget), of Mobile, Alabama, and Robert Hannahan (Missy), of Enterprise, Alabama; father- and mother-in-law Chuck and Betsy Staples of Columbus, Georgia; brother-in-law Charlie Staples (Sylvia) of James Island, South Carolina and sisterin-law Carter Jackson (Ryan) of Decatur, Georgia; nieces and nephews Mary Lindsey Hannahan, Claudia Hannahan, Grace Hannahan, Erin Hannahan, Thomas Hannahan, Virginia Hannahan, Catherine Hannahan, Melissa Hannahan, Mac Staples, Wynn Staples, and Mercer Jackson; and a large, loving extended family and many friends and professional colleagues.

A visitation was held

Christ Is Alive Community Sunrise Service Easter Sunday, April 4th Garden Hills Cemetery 6:15 AM CDT 1218 Frederick Road, Opelika

Message From: Dr. George Mathison

Pastor Emeritus, Auburn United Methodist Church

Special Music and Congregational Singing Free Refreshments Served Before and After the Service

Social Distancing and Masks Required Handicapped Parking Available Sponsored by The Kiwanis Club of Opelika

With Assistance from the Lee County Interdenominational Ministers Alliance, City of Opelika Parks & Recreation, City of Opelika Public Works Cemetery and other areas, ESG, A-O Emblem Club, Pilot Club of Lee County, Frederick-Dean Funeral Home, Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home, Opelika-Auburn News, iHeart Media, Inc., Opelika Observer, Tom Beard, Trinity United Methodist Church and other local groups.

A15 March 31, 2021

OBITUARIES Friday, March 26 at noon at Auburn United Methodist Church, 137 South Gay Street in Auburn. A memorial service celebrating Jim’s life followed at 1 p.m.

A private family burial was held subsequently at Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alabama Coastal Foundation

P.O. Box 1073 Mobile, Alabama 36633 or South Alabama Land Trust 11401 US Hwy 98 Fairhope, Alabama 36532.

Leah Land Teel Leah Teel of Opelika, Alabama and formerly of Panama City, Florida, passed away

Thursday March 25, 2021. She was 93 years old.

Leah was born on Feb. 22, 1928, in Montgomery. She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-four years, Willis “Aubrey” Teel Sr., as well as her parents Frank and Leah Land, her brothers Clark and Joe Land and sister Frances Land Hill.

Those left to cherish her memory are her Son

Stephen (Dianna) Teel, daughter Alice (Robbie) Noles, son Willis (Pam) Teel.

Also left behind are seven grand children: Jonathan ( Meghan) Teel, Anna (Ian) Boyd, Andrew (Ashley) Noles, Adam (Bethany) Noles, Drew (Elizabeth) Teel, Brent (Tara) Teel and Reed (Elizabeth) Teel.

Thirteen greatgrandchildren: Asher, Ezra, Joel and Malachi

Teel, Jeremiah, Carson, Becca, Evelyn and Eden Noles, Cali Ann, Jack, William and Emma Kate Teel.

Leah was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Her children call her blessed.

The funeral was Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at the Tenth Street church of Christ.

500 N 10th street in

APRIL 17, 2021

http://give.childrensal.org/Piedmontskeet

Opelika. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. to noon.

The service will be at noon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Baxter Institute in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Checks should be made to Memorial Road church of Christ 2221 E. Memorial Road Edmond, Oklahoma 73013.

The pall bearers are her six grandsons.

A16 March 31, 2021

COMICS

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

S

S

School Board meetings Lee County: April 13 at 6 p.m. at 2410 Society Hill Road in Opelika

INSIDE • OPELIKA SCHOOLS • LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS • COMMUNITY SPORTS

Auburn: April 13 at 6:00 p.m. at 405 S Dean Rd. in Auburn

Opelika High’s McGuire signs with Huntington basketball

By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

OHS Boys’ tennis picks up two wins

T

he OHS girls’ and boys’ tennis teams played three matches apiece over the last two weeks.

The boys opened the week by shutting out Smiths Station 9-0, before being shut out by Hillcrest 9-0 and ended the week with an 8-1 win over Cullman.

Winners versus SSHS were Connor Mullins, Andrew Hudson, Max Caldwell, Will Fuller, Jake Walters and Charles Gagliano.

Double’s winners: Hudson/Caldwell, Fuller/Roman Gagliano and Mullins/Jack O’Quinn.

Opelika’s girls team lost to Hillcrest Tuscaloosa 9-1, Smiths Station 5-4 and Cullman 9-0.

Emma Hankins won the singles match against the Patriots.

Against Smiths Station, Laura Tyson Daffin, Vera Smith, Emma Brown and the doubles team of Daffin/Mctier all picked up victories.

SOCCER The OHS girls’ and boys’ soccer team played Brookstone in Columbus, Georgia, last week.

Opelika’s Lady Dogs lost a tough 2-3 match

against Brookstone.

Eleanor Wilson scored the first goal, assisted

by Abby Noon. The second goal was scored

by Amiya Brown and was set up by some nifty footwork by Morgan Watts.

The girls ended the week with a 5-2-2 record.

The boys’ team was down 3-2, when sophomore George Meyers scored the game tying goal with less than 40 seconds in regulation, the goal was his second of the match after he scored his first goal with less than seven minutes left in the game. Saìd Rujauna scored the Bulldogs first goal with an assist from Luke Roberts.

Coach Derek Hovell’s team is 6-2-2 overall.

BASEBALL Opelika’s varsity baseball team (7-11) beat Dadeville 9-3, at Bulldog Park last Saturday.

The Dogs used five pitchers to get the win.

Brantley Davis started the game, throwing 3.0 innings of scoreless baseball with two strikeouts. Kydylan Ligon, JT McArdle and Harrison Long pitched the final 4.0 innings.

See SPORTS , page B4

Opelika High School senior Ant McGuire signed a basketball scholarship with Huntington College on Thursday.

The 6-foot-1-inch shooting guard averaged 17 points, four assist and four rebounds per game for OHS in 2020-21, according to ncsasports.org.

“He’s put in his work, so I’m very proud of him,” said McGuire’s mom.

McGuire, who is also a talented track athlete for OHS, received a thunderous ovation from his peers when he officially signed for the Hawks.

“It means everything,” McGuire said of that moment. “I wasn’t expecting to be here, but it was a long grind.”

Opelika Varsity Boys’ interim head coach Wesley Button was “super proud” of

Photo by Josh Fisher / For the Opelika Observer McGuire and spoke on what kind of leader and teammate he has been for the Bulldogs.

“The adversity that this team had to go through this year with COVID and you know different coaching changes and things like that, he was one of the leaders who everyone looked to when we really didn’t know what was going to happen as far as our season goes,”

Button said. “He stayed consistent the whole year; he was our rock on defense; and he’s just a fantastic kid.”

Button continued to praise McGuire for the tangible skillset that he possesses as a player.

“He’s going to play extremely hard every possession — defensively, he’s fantastic,” Button added. “He’s one of the best on-ball defenders we’ve had in

a long time and he can really shoot the ball.

He’s just a high energy guy. He’s going to give you all that he’s got all the time.”

A man of few words, McGuire was humble in receiving his wellearned recognition.

When explaining what Huntington fans should expect to be getting from him, McGuire said in a straightforward tone, “a lot.”

AHS cross country coach earns statewide recognition

By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com Photo submitted by Daniel Chesser.

Last week, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named Auburn High School track & field and cross country coach, Olivia Tofani, the 2020 High School Cross Country Coach of the Year for the state of Alabama.

“This recognition

TOFANI

is incredibly special for me because it represents a season that required each of my runners and me to navigate the unknown together as a unified team,” Tofani said. “Despite many factors that could have proven to be detrimental to our team, my girls’ success at the championship race is a true reflection of the hard work, See COACH , page B4

B2 March 31, 2021

ASMS leading the way for Party like it's ... 2021 high school STEM education

By Kayla Evans For the Opelika Observer

A special time for juniors and seniors every spring is prom.

Students love to get dressed up in dresses and suits and go to the event with their dates.

A big question for all high school students this year was if they were going to get prom.

Prom is looking very Contributed by Alabama School of Mathematics and Science

The Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS) is now one of the only STEM-certified high schools in Alabama.

ASMS has been preparing for Cognia STEM Certification since the fall of 2020, and last week a Cognia review team completed an official evaluation of the school. According to Cognia, STEM Certification facilitates “organizational improvement that results in future readiness for all learners," and is based on research and evidence-based practices.

“As the Alabama legislature emphasizes strengthening STEM education and supporting STEM educators in our state, ASMS is dedicated to doing the same,” said President of ASMS, Dr. John Hoyle.

“The landscape of education and career readiness is changing rapidly, so STEM excellence is no longer just about having strong science, technology, engineering and math programs.

Becoming a Cognia STEM-certified school validates ASMS’s holistic approach to student success while illuminating the innovative approaches we need to keep our students at the forefront of their fields.”

ASMS had to demonstrate their performance in 16 standards within separate Cognia frameworks. The STEM

Certification review team for Cognia evaluated more than 300 pages of information prepared by the school, including longitudinal data, survey results, projects, programs, plans, anecdotes, photos and videos. In addition, 56 ASMS school community members participated in interviews with the review team.

“My greatest take away from the Cognia STEM Certification process is that being an excellent STEM school extends beyond the traditional definition of STEM,” said Director of ASMS Admissions and Outreach, Ken Robinson. “It means we are progressing in areas like creating a pipeline from K-12 to STEM careers, exposing students to college content and environments, engaging underrepresented students, challenging students with complex and conceptual content and much more. In other words, STEM is part of everything we do here at ASMS.” In the final feedback meeting with the school, Cognia director of STEM Services who oversees the national STEM

Certification program, Scott Davidson, noted that he had reviewed 80 plus schools throughout his career, and ASMS is a school that will always stand out in his mind as high performing with approaches that other schools or systems can incorporate to benefit their own educational objectives.

About ASMS: The Alabama School of Mathematics and Science is the state's only fully public and residential high school for sophomores, juniors and seniors seeking advanced studies in math, science, computer science and the humanities. ASMS is a research-focused learning community committed to innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and diversity with an aim to empower motivated Alabama students to improve their community, state and nation. Tuition, room and board are free. Learn more at asms.net.

different for every high school this year, but many schools are still trying to find a way to provide a memorable night for their students.

Opelika High School is having a movie premiere on Friday in place of prom.

The school planned a red-carpet event at AMC Theatres Tiger 13 in Opelika. Each student is allowed a date.

“We evaluated where we are with the current

health order and tried to find a safe, responsible event that we could have a fun night at,” Opelika High School principal Dr. Farrell Seymore said.

The school rented out the entire theatre for the evening. Students have the opportunity to choose from a number of different movies: some old, some brand new and some not even See PROM, page B5

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B3 March 31, 2021

Laughing to the Bright Side Of Life

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

T

he month of April starts out with reasons to laugh.

April Fool’s Day is April 1 and has been celebrated for many centuries with practical jokes being played out everywhere – including the early childhood classroom, as well as at home when young children begin to understand what they can do to be funny on the annual April Fool’s Day. Teachers and parents, be on the lookout for young children to pull April Fool’s jokes on you. Whether it’s being

kidded that you have a bug or spider on your back – which I do fall for every year – or a joke that the young child makes up, absolutely nothing gives me more joy and warms my heart than to hear children giggle and laugh. Their genuine laughing is truly contagious and other children and adults can join in the joy of laughter.

Also, April 1 is “Reading Is Funny Day.” There are so many fun books that you and your child can enjoy together.

This, too, is a wonderful way to encourage children

to engage in the joy of reading. Young children who can read love riddle and joke books. Our local librarians do an excellent job in taking time in guiding families to age and content appropriate books.

Laughter not only brings joy, but many health benefits for the young and old. Free medicine? Right! Have you noticed when sharing jokes and funny times with young children that the complaints are reduced? This applies to older people too when gathering in social fellowships when sharing funny experiences. Too, have you ever noticed a good hearty laugh relaxes the whole body by releasing physical tension and stress. 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. This is a "win-win" for the young and old. Mental health benefits of laughter are joy, zest to live, relieving

anxiety, fear and mood improvement.

Another laughing event that starts on April 1 and goes through April 7 is “Laugh At Work Week.”

This was founded by Randall Munson and is celebrated around the world. This is so good for a business in building communication, less stress and good relationships. This builds a sense of team playing in working together. So, even after April Fool's Day, you have the opportunity of laughing and having fun for the next six days.

How can we as teachers and parents encourage children to laugh and have a good sense of humor? Young children learn better when they are happy. In the classroom and the home, we have to set up understood rules for children.

But too, we can have a happy and relaxed climate which promotes creative learning. Too, as I have mentioned in previous articles, play is a child’s work. It is so important for young children to have free play so they can laugh, pretend play, create and learn.

As a teacher, I love

seeing parents being playful with their children and laughing together. From playing hide and seek, chase, pretend play with dolls and stuffed animals, etc., taking time to play with a child or children bring on a good sense of humor and build good memories. Children love to see their parents laugh and use a sense of humor in addressing daily problems in living.

Parents’ actions can promote a warm, loving and supportive environment where children have the freedom to express themselves which encourages a sense of humor.

Praising a child for who they are in life, in little accomplishments, as well as big accomplishments builds their self-esteem. When a child feels confident for who they are, they sense a freedom of expressing themselves through creativity and a sense of humor. As parents and teachers, it is so rewarding to see and hear children laugh.

As I end this article on laughter, I want to share a funny time in my life at Easter. Every

year, growing up in Opelika, I eagerly awaited the Easter Egg Hunt at Rocky Brook Park.

Every year, I ran out with the other egg hunters, but many years in a row, I never found any Easter eggs. I watched as other egg hunters won prizes for finding the most eggs, golden or silver and my parents always said, “well, there is next year.” Finally, my year came to be honored at the community Easter Egg hunt. Again, that year I ran out with the other egg hunters but still did not have any eggs in my basket. When announcing the prizes, the first division to be called for a prize was the egg hunter who had found no eggs.

That was me! Instead of tears, that year there was laughter. I can still remember receiving the big chocolate egg for my no find. After all these years, memories of a community who honored children in all activities still brings on a smile and a laugh of appreciation. I pray each of the readers has a wonderful week of JOY and a Happy Easter!

Classroom Observer, Beth Pinyerd

OPS, AMEA announces 2021scholarship winners Contributed by the city of Opelika

Opelika Power Services and the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority (AMEA) are pleased to announce the local winners of the 2021 AMEA Scholarship.

Each year, AMEA helps 40 high school seniors across the state who plan to enroll in a four-year college/university, community college and/or vocational school in Alabama.

Each of the 40 scholarship recipients will receive a $2,500 scholarship for a total of

$100,000 awarded in this year’s program.

AMEA received 178 scholarship applications in the 2021 program. “I truly appreciate AMEA for supporting our local students. This scholarship will take some financial pressure off of students and parents, as well as instill a sense of motivation.

I’m proud of the success and amazing results that come out of Opelika High School,” said Mayor Gary Fuller.

This year’s AMEA Academic Scholarship recipients from Opelika include:

– Laura Tyson Daffin, Opelika High School, Opelika – Nicholas Garrett Fitzwater, Opelika High School, Opelika – Braxton Asenath Harris, Opelika High School, Opelika – Leighanna Virginia Howell, Opelika High School, Opelika.

Since 1992, AMEA and its members have provided over $2.5 million in scholarships to

Hunley Group Lambert Transfer and Storage An Interstate Agent for North American Van Lines 1102 Fox Trail Opelika, Alabama 36801 334-745-5706

the graduating high school seniors who receive their electric service from AMEA Members.

To be eligible for the AMEA scholarships, a student’s family must receive electric service from an AMEA Member city electric utility and the student must attend an Alabama college/university or vocational school.

“We take our role as a good corporate citizen seriously,” said Fred D. Clark

Jr., AMEA president and CEO. “That’s why we, along with our members, support education initiatives, like the AMEA cholarship Program, that contribute to making our state economically competitive.

We congratulate this year’s scholarship winners.”

About AMEA AMEA, a joint

action agency formed in 1981, is the wholesale power provider for 11 public power utilities in Alabama, which serve approximately 350,000 customers in the cities of Alexander City, Dothan, Fairhope, Foley, LaFayette, Lanett, Luverne, Opelika, Piedmont, Sylacauga and Tuskegee.

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B4 March 31, 2021

Beulah nearing regional title

took the lead in the sixth inning on a Phillips double.

Despite the close score, Morris turned in another gem, going seven innings with two unearned runs allowed and striking out eight batters. The offense was led by freshman Abrianna Green who went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, a RBI and scored two runs.

Clements had two doubles, a RBI and scored one run.

“Savanna Clements is just a solid ball player for us,” Pepper

said of the sophomore.

The Lady Bobcats did not have long to cherish the victory as they faced off with a familiar opponent in Smiths Station on Wednesday, March 24. The game was the fourth time the two teams have met this season and for the third time, Beulah lost to Smiths Station, falling 3-2 and seeing its nine-game winning streak snapped by the team that has given them their last three losses.

Despite the loss, Morris had another great game in the circle, allowing just three runs over seven innings and striking out nine batters.

While the Beulah offence had nine hits, they were never able to get the final hit needed to plate just a few more runs.

Phillips and Morgan each had two hits and scored a run with a triple and double, respectively.

Now, with the playoffs in sight, Pepper wants his team to just focus on improving every day as a person.

“I just want to see us improving every day,” he said.

“Individually becoming a better teammate.

Individually becoming a better offensive and defensive player.

Overall, just becoming a better person.”

herself, knows the sacrifices an athlete has to make in the name of competition.

However, Tofani said this season was especially challenging, and that she was most proud of the pandemic-related sacrifices that her runners made in order to compete at the highest level.

“Training in a pandemic was challenging for a variety of reasons, but asking teenagers to make social sacrifices was an area I know many coaches were concerned about,” Tofani said. “However, the passion my girls have for the sport and the willingness to put their team before self was astonishing. They each had to think through decisions they made outside of practice and how those could impact the team, especially if they were to put themselves in a situation of possible exposure. They made those sacrifices and kept in mind the big picture for the team, of making it to the state meet together.”

Tofani will receive a trophy from USTFCCCA recognizing her achievements, and the winners from each state are in consideration for the association’s

National High School Cross Country Coach of the Year award. A winner for boys coach and girls coach will be selected by a panel of experts and announced in the coming weeks.

As for how Tofani plans to build on her success … it all starts with relationships.

“I’ve learned that more than anything, in both teaching and coaching, relationships are necessary for success,” Tofani said. “Building relationships with each of my runners establishes trust, and giving my athletes opportunities to build relationships with one another creates loyalty. Together, these relationships not only allow me to encourage and motivate my runners, but they empower my runners take ownership of their team and lift one another up at each practice and meet. I watched girls at the state championship meet go above and beyond what they ever imagined at the beginning of the season. They are the hardest working group of athletes, but more than that, their success is in large part due to their friendships and desire to push one another to be their best.”

By JD McCarthy For the Opelika Observer

Beulah softball head coach Stan Pepper knew his team was young but thought the future of the program looked bright. That future may have already arrived, however, as they just rattled off nine-straight wins and will have a chance to win the region on Wednesday.

One of the reasons for their success has been the development of the offense that started out slow but has come alive lately.

“We’re actually solid one through nine in our lineup,” Pepper said. “I don’t feel that we have any weaknesses anywhere.”

Pepper was confident in the top half of his lineup, but it has been the bottom that has helped them win their last couple games he explained.

One of those games was their 4-0 win over Dadeville on Friday, March 19.

With the Lady Bobcats held to just three hits, Katie Morris and Kyleigh Morgan were each able to get on base and score runs from the last spots in the lineup.

Morris’s good work wasn’t limited to the plate as she turned in another dominant

SPORTS >>

FROM B1

Offensively, Jackson Harris, Julian Duke and Jacob Smith had two hits apiece. Long, Smith and Antonio Grilliott recorded singles.

OHS will host Russell Country in a doubleheader Thursday at Bulldog Park.

SOFTBALL The Lady Bulldogs finished 1-2 last week.

Opelika started the week with a 7-3 win over Valley before losing to Auburn High 15-0 and Benjamin Russell 7-2.

McKay Yountz did it all against the Rams, striking out 10 Valley batters and allowing only two hits over 7.0 innings of work. She also went 4-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBI and a run scored.

Nylen Thomas added three hits while Sanai Stringer, Daysla Jones and Ta’lia Griffin added singles In the loss to Auburn, Daysia Thomas and Leah Bakes recorded the only hits for Opelika.

Yountz pitched a complete game in the loss to Benjamin Russel. She allowed four earned runs and struck out seven Lady Tigers. Leah and Raalee Barnes recorded the

Photo by Josh Fisher / For the Opelika Observer pitching performance, pitching a complete game shutout and allowing just two hits and striking out 15 batters.

The Lady Bobcats had a much more comfortable win against Wadley on Monday, March 22, pounding the Bulldogs 11-0.

Morris once again shined, striking out 10 batters over four innings and going 2-for-3 with a home run, triple and four RBI at the plate. She wasn’t alone in her big day as eight different only hits for Opelika.

OHS BASKETBALL Opelika High is currently looking for a head basketball coach.

According to multiple sources, OHS is eyeing Robert E. Lee head coach Bryant Johnson.

Nothing official from the administration, but Johnson has ties to AD Mike Pugh.

Stay tuned.

DIXIE BOYS BASEBALL Anyone ages 13 through 15 can register to play Dixie Boys baseball at the Opelika Sportsplex. Registration will last through April 16 and cost $45 for Opelika residents and $50 for those outside the city limits.

Registration fee covers the players jersey and cap. All players will be on a team. The league’s All-Star team will be in the State Tournament which will start on July 9 at West Ridge. For more details, contact D. Mark Mitchell at Foxonthemark@yahoo.com or call 334-787-1514.

D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeart Media, host of “On The Mark” on Fox Sports the Game 910-1310, Co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state coordinator.

hitters recorded hits and every batter either scored a run or recorded an RBI. “She’s been doing an outstanding job, as she always does,” Pepper said of Morris.

“She has become a really dominant pitcher. I was very happy to see her be in rare form earlier in the season than normal.

We are really excited about the way she is pitching the ball. She usually starts off a little slow, but I’ve been really impressed with the fact that she’s been starting strong

COACH>>

FROM B1

diligence and trust they put forth this season.”

Tofani and other state-by-state winners were selected based on their teams’ performances throughout the 2020 cross country season.

Among the factors taken into consideration were team score and placement at the state championships, margin of victory, performance against rankings if available, individual championships and how their teams’ performances stacked up to previous years.

The AHS Cross County girls team has won the AHSAA Class 7A state title the past four years in a row, 2019 and 2020 under Tofani’s leadership. After losing five seniors from last year’s team – all of whom are competing at the Division 1 level now – and the added reality of training and competing during a global pandemic, Tofani credits this season’s success to her runners’ dedication.

“We knew this season would have its challenges with the change in team dynamics and the

and finishing even stronger.”

In four games for the Lady Bobcats, she’s pitched 25 innings, allowed five runs and struck out 42 batters.

It is a team game after all, however.

Beulah had to show their ability to come from behind on Tuesday, March 23, overcoming a tworun first inning by Beauregard on their way to a 4-2 win. The Lady Bobcats tied things up in the third inning on a Savanna Clements double and new set of obstacles COVID-19 presented,” Tofani said.

“However, my girls approached each challenge with gratitude, so happy to even have the opportunity to run and race this season.

Going into the state meet, half of my team was competing in their first ever championship race, but I was so impressed by the way those younger runners confidently stepped up to this level of competition guided by the leadership of their more seasoned teammates.

They trusted their training and raced for one another throughout the season but truly exemplified this dedication at the state meet.

“Most people assumed this would be a 'rebuilding year' for our team, and for most of the season, my girls were not in the conversation of being a team that could win the state meet,” Tofani added. “Racing is as much of a mental feat as it is a physical one, and instead of counting themselves out, the girls on my team stepped up confidently. I give all the credit to my girls.”

Tofani, an accomplished high school track & field athlete

B5 March 31, 2021

Lee-Scott girls’ soccer aims to Lee-Scott shows off depth with two area wins peak at right time

By JD McCarthy For the Opelika Observer

Photo by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer

By JD McCarthy For the Opelika Observer

The Lee-Scott girls’ soccer team has been focused on the postseason all year, hoping to play its best soccer when the games mean the most.

“I’ve told them all season, the season doesn’t matter, we’re going to be in the playoffs. We want to be ready to play those last three games of the playoffs, those are the only games that matter, the season doesn’t matter,” said head coach Eric Faison.

The goals for the regular season for Faision were to figure out his teams’ chemistry and be physically strong for the postseason, something that has hurt his team before, and he wanted to prevent it by pacing his team during the season. While he planned to do this anyway, the Warriors have only been able to play five games because of poor weather and COVID-19 protocols.

“We don’t have a lot of depth, so it’s been good to just figure out the pieces,” he said. “The secret has been trying to figure out where everybody is going to play to make the team play the best, so I think I’ve just about figured that out.”

Part of the reason that is so important is that the Warriors have a young roster that does not have a ton of experience but is brimming with potential.

“We have potential to

PROM>>

FROM B2

released yet.

“It will be a red-carpet premiere event in that we will have a red carpet and a DJ to announce the student’s and their guest’s names coming in,” Seymore said.

The start time is determined by the movie that the student chooses, and the school is asking the students to wear a mask when not eating and to observe social distance guidelines.

“Well, a lot of us were disappointed that we weren’t going to have a traditional prom, but it’s still something we can

be as strong as we have been in the past but we’re so young I’m just not sure how it will play out,” he said.

While the Warriors have five seniors and four juniors on their roster, it is actually the younger players who have more experience, since they are the one who play soccer year-round.

“Our eighth and ninth graders are players that play year-round. So, they’re good but they’re young. Our upperclassmen are new to soccer and so they are ok,” Faison said.

Some of the young players that have stepped up are eighth graders Scarlett Wood and Sam Sharma, as well as freshman Colee Shepp.

“Our starting defense, our two center backs and the center-defensive mid are two eighth graders and a ninth grader but are pretty solid,” Faison said of his defense.

One of the veterans for the Warriors who has experience is senior Emily Heartstill. She leads the team with six goals and is one of the team’s “key pieces” according to Faison. “[She’s been] critical, she’s a senior that’s played her whole life that’s really good,” he said. “She’s the oldest one with the most experience so naturally she’s going to perform.”

Another senior who has been critical is goalkeeper Abbie Starr, who started playing soccer just three years ago but has picked it remember and attend,” Taylor Smith, senior at Opelika High School, said. “It’s better than having nothing to go to so I’m happy to have it, and I think it’ll be fun.”

The event is free to the students and open to all juniors and seniors.

“It is a formal event in that we are encouraging the kids to dress up and to make it a fun night,” Seymore said. “It will be just like a movie premiere if you will. That’s what we want to do to make it an exciting night, something different and memorable.”

On March 19, LeeScott Academy had a prom dinner for the junior and senior class.

up “really quickly” and is “really strong,” according to Faison.

“She doesn’t have the experience, but she picked it up really quick and she’s got the gifts to play goalkeeper. She’s just really quick and athletic,” he said.

Faison also picked Starr as one of the leaders of the team with another senior Mary Helen Miller.

“Mary Helen Miller and Abbie Starr are both seniors, they may not be the best players on the team, but they are leading the team vocally.

Encouraging them, bringing the team together, unifying them, doing a really good job of that,” Faison said.

Despite having only played five games, the Warriors have a chance to clinch the one seed in the playoffs. All the Warriors need to do is beat Glenwood in their season finale on April 14 – something Faison is “humbly confident” his girls are capable of doing and will help a potential playoff run. A run from the two seed will be “twice as difficult” to him.

This could be a deciding factor is just how far the Warriors go in the playoffs as their youth and lack of games has Faison unsure about their fate.

“We are really young and have a lot of potential, but we’ve played so few games it could go either way,” he said. “We could go all the way, or it could be a building year.”

The event was held at Legacy at Serenity Farms. Each couple in attendance was announced to the parents and others in attendance. At the end, the prom king and queen was announced.

“After I announced each couple, we allowed the parents time to take pictures,” Lee-Scott Academy principal Donna Lloyd said.

“Students then sat at a table socially distanced and had a dinner catered by Long Pine Hospitality of prime rib or chicken, salad, vegetables and finished with cheesecake.”

At the end of the dinner, the Lee-Scott

Depth is one of the most important characteristics of a good team and the Lee-Scott boys’ soccer team showed theirs in wins over Southern Prep and Pike last week.

The Warriors were without starting midfielder Austin Marlin against Southern Prep on Thursday and were forced to make “a lot of adjustments” to cover for him.

The moves were enough for the Warriors to pick up the win but head coach Missy Martin thought the team could have played better.

“We didn’t play well at all. We started the game very poorly; we couldn’t hold the ball,” she said. “We did not play well, so it was fantastic to get the win.”

The poor start Martin referenced had the Warriors trailing 2-0 at half before they started battling back in the second half.

They were able to score in the first minute of the second half but gave up another goal right after to keep the deficit at two goals.

That’s when Jackson Curry moved to attacking midfield, which sparked the offence as he netted a goal to make it 3-2.

The score was the same with just over 10 minutes to play when a

a win.

The Warriors wasted no time in pressing their advantage as Walker Fisher scored a “brilliant” goal to tie the game with just minutes left to play. Fisher is just a freshman and has previously relied on his athletic ability but has started to figure “it” out according to Martin.

Then, as he has all season Brandon “Oak” Wiersman stepped up and made sure the Warriors got the victory.

With just over two minutes to play, Wiersman was able to get in front of the goal and perfectly opened up his body and kicked the ball to the outside post – but the keeper was there to make a great save.

However, the keeper was unable to secure the shot which proved to be a costly blunder. The ball made it back to Oak and this time, his shot found the back of the net and his team had secured the 4-3 lead – and the win.

While the Warriors needed a dramatic finish to beat Southern Prep, the game against Pike was never in doubt as the shorthanded Lee-Scott won 7-1.

That was despite missing a few key players due to contact tracing.

The warriors were down both of their goalkeepers and were still without Marlin.

Southern Prep player was given a red card, sent off, and all of a sudden, the Warriors were up a man and had a chance to steal Academy parents sponsored a dance for the students.

Auburn High School is hosting “A Night Amidst the Stars” on April 10 in the Auburn

Nevertheless, it was once again Oak who came to the rescue, sliding into the goal against an area opponent.

Oak, who is a starting midfielder and team captain, was a goalkeeper as a freshman and played goalie in the shortened 2020 season but the move left them down two starting midfielders.

That proved to be no problem as the offense exploded behind Aiden Duff’s hat trick.

Seth Roarke, Curry, Junior Epiphano and Brooks McFadden each scored one goal apiece.

With the win, the Warriors improved to 8-3 overall and 4-3 in region play.

The Warriors will return to the pitch on Friday when they play at Fort Dale and are focused on getting everyone back and getting comfortable ahead of the playoffs, something that has taken longer than previous years due to the extensive roster turnover.

The team graduated 11 players last year, had several players transfer in and has been forced to rely on a talented group of freshmen who are gaining valuable experience.

“These are good freshmen, but they also lost their eighth grade/ JV year last year to that experience and getting that confidence,” Martin said.

“I’m excited; I’m still excited about these boys.

I want to

win it for the two seniors but again I think the future is really bright.”

High School courtyard.

The event is for seniors and their dates, and it will feature special prizes throughout the night.

From 7:30 to 9:30, the

students will attend a movie premiere with a red carpet at the school and there will be a dessert café. The event is taking place of a traditional prom.

B6 March 31, 2021

Lee County basketball players named to ASWA All-State Basketball teams

By Wil Crews sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com

The Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 2020-21 All-State Basketball teams and honorable mentions were released Sunday, with a number of area

girls and boys making the cut.

Each of the seven AHSAA classifications and the AISA include a first, second and third team, as well as honorable mentions. Nominees came from statewide basketball coaches and

honorees were voted on by the ASWA prep committee.

Area teams saw plenty of success in 2020-21. The Glenwood girls won the AISA Class AAA state championship and the Auburn High boys and girls played

in the state semifinals in the AHSAA 6A classification.

The Lee County players who made the first team in their respective classification include: Auburn High’s Olivia Porter (Jr., G, 5-8) Glenwood’s Mya Brooks (Sr., F, 5-11),

Jasmyn Burts (Jr., G, 5-5) and Jay Sinclair (Sr., G, 6-2).

Two more players made third team and four were named honorable mentions.

Third team: Auburn High’s Syriah Daniels (Fr., G, 6-0) and Glenwood’s Ethan

Craw (Sr., F, 6-4).

Honorable Mentions: Auburn High’s Jayden Buckley (Jr., G, 5-11), Smiths Station’s Donovan Pearman (Sr., G, 5-9), Loachapoka’s Tayla Murph (So., G, 5-4), and Lee-Scott’s Carson Alexander (Sr., F, 6-4).

Southern Christian Academy making plans for the future

By Wil Crews sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com

Southern Christian Athletics is gearing up for a busy spring.

The class 501c-3 non-profit was started in 2020 with a goal of giving homeschooled junior high and high school students a chance to play sports. They also allow kids who attend private Christian schools to play sports if the school they attend does not offer the sport that the student athlete wants to play.

“Our mission has always been to provide a great place for homeschool kids to play sports and be part of a team,” said SCA Athletic Director Jason Scott.

“We also love that kids from other local private Christian schools can play with us. These schools are doing a great

job educating these students, we are just here to provide a place for their athletes to play the sport they are most passionate about.”

Following a promising fall and winter sports season, and coinciding with the warmer weather, SCA is ready to go full bloom in the upcoming months. To do so, the Patriots have a number of things already planned in 2021.

For starters, SCA will be joining the Alabama Christian Sports Conference this year.

This will allow more for easier and more flexible scheduling – something that cannot be understated after seeing the continued affects the pandemic has had on sports at all levels.

ACSC Chairman Mike Long said he was excited to have Southern Christian coming into the

conference, according to Scott.

Furthermore, registration for fall 8-man football and girls volleyball has already begun and spring training begins in April.

Southern Christian is

also planning a spring football jamboree at Moore Stadium in Opelika on Saturday, April 24. Although still in the final stages of confirming details, Scott said the jamboree will consist of four total

teams, competing with both their JV and Varsity football squads.

Lastly, Southern Christian is planning to offer tennis, baseball, softball and cross country in 2021.

If you home school

and would like your child to play sports for Southern Christian, contact Chastity Scott at patriots.sca@ gmail.com. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ southernchristianpatriots.

Glenwood baseball stutters before break

By Wil Crews sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com “We limped to Spring Break,” said Glenwood Varsity Boys’ baseball coach Tim Fanning.

The Gators entered a week-long hiatus on Tuesday following a bit of a cold streak by their standards, losing two of their last five games.

Glenwood’s most recent game was a 10-0 win on Monday over CEH High School (Louisville, Kentucky) in Panama City Beach, Florida.

The Gators were led by another dominant performance from senior pitcher Trevor Horne. The Auburn University commit threw just 74 pitches in six innings of scoreless work, striking out 16 batters and allowing just one hit. Horne also went 2-for-4 with a home run and 5 RBI. Ty Smith went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs, and Trent Edwards went 2-for-3 with a double.

Before that, however, Glenwood traveled to Social Circle, Georgia, to play a round-robin, fourgame weekend schedule against Social Circle High School and Bremen High School of Bremen, Georgia.

With a f lurry of recent games fatiguing the top of the pitching rotation, Fanning went with an exclusively sophomore rotation over the weekend.

“Horne and Dempsey pitched against Lee-Scott, so the sophomores pitched the whole time,” Fanning said.

“Some good; some bad.”

The first game against Bremen on Friday night falls under the “some bad” category – that’s when the limping began. Jacob Page got the start and kept Glenwood in the game, allowing just three runs in six innings. However, despite the solid performance, Page was removed from

the mound with the Gators trailing 3-2 with one inning remaining in the game. Hunter Deason entered in relief and allowed two more Bremen runs.

That’s where the score would stay as Glenwood suffered its sixth loss of the season, 5-2, with Page taking the loss.

“We left a lot of runners on base against Bremen,” Fanning said. “It wasn’t like we didn’t get runners on, we just did not get them in. That was the bottom line.”

The second game on Friday night was a sign of better things to come. When Glenwood quickly fell behind 4-1 after three innings, sophomore Avery Robinson entered the game to pitch in relief, returning after a three-week injury layoff.

“It was pretty awesome to get him back,” Fanning said.

“We haven’t had him for so long, so to see him come in and respond that way was

phenomenal. We need him down the stretch for sure.”

Robinson was stellar in four innings of work, allowing zero runs on just two hits, striking out seven.

Energized by their pitcher’s command on the mound, the Gators scored one run in sixth and three in the seventh to pull off the comeback 5-4 victory. Garrison McClary went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI; Cam Carpenter went 1-for-2 with two RBI; and Horne went 1-for-3 went a double and one RBI. The Gators didn’t have long to relish in the win, as another game against Bremen was on the docket Saturday. Once again, the Peach State team got the better of Glenwood, downing the Gators 9-3.

Another Sophomore, Jackson Kennon, took the loss on the mound.

“He battled, but he just had too many walks,” Fanning said of Kennon. “I mean, they are a good team,

so they capitalized.”

Fanning had minced words about the poor performance in general, but was most frustrated with his team’s inability to plate runners from scoring positions.

“Again, we had guys on, we just couldn’t get them in,” he said.

The highlights from the hitters were few and far between but Horne, as consistent as ever, went 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI, and Smith went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Finally, the last game of the weekend was a rematch against Social Circle.

Sophomore Tyler Wadkins took the mound and pitched a complete game three hit shutout, leading the Gators to a 6-0 win.

“He was superb,” Fanning said of Wadkins. “And we needed it because we basically didn’t have anybody left.

We were just out of arms because we had played so much …

“He just pounded

the zone and we made a ton of plays. He didn’t strike a ton of guys out but defensively we played extremely well.”

At the plate, Luke Holman led the way, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Chandler Jones followed behind him, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI. Horne had an average day by his standards, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Carpenter added one RBI of his own and Smith had two singles in his two plate appearances.

Fanning was also quick to shout out Smith’s defense from the shortstop position. “He just made play after play after play,” he said. “It was a really good day.”

The Gators’ record now sits at 23-7.

They return to action on April 6 against Springwood.

B7 March 31, 2021

Opelika baseball honors its seniors

Photos by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer Senior Opelika Varsity Boys baseball players were honored at a home game against Dadeville on Saturday. Pictured top left, No. 4 Xander Grilliot, top right, No. 7 Julian Duke.

Opelika boys down Dadeville 9-3

Photos by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer

B8 March 31, 2021

Miss OHS 2021 annouced last week

(L-R) Miss OHS Anna Seymoure, Runner-Up Bennett Harris

Miss Junior Class Sabrina Hansen

Miss Sophmore Class Susannah Couey

Miss Freshman Class Addie Shoemaker

Pictured above are contestants for Miss OHS from each respective class. Photos were contributed by OCS.

Spring training warms up for AU football

Photos by Todd Van Emst / Auburn Athletics

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics

B9

March 31, 2021

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

2022 Big election year as Alabama chooses Shelby’s successor

L

ast week we alerted you to the fact that next year will be a banner year in Alabama politics. The governor, lieutenant governor and all other statewide constitutional offices are up for election. All 140 members of the legislature are up for election and will be running under new lines. Our entire congressional delegation is up for reelection and they too will be running under new lines drawn by the legislature. All 67 sheriffs in the state are also on the ballot.

This slate in and of itself would make this a marquee year. However, what will render this upcoming 2022 election year momentous is that we will have a very important U.S. Senate Seat to fill.

Richard Shelby will retire after 36 years in the United States Senate. It will be impossible to replace Senator Shelby. The amount of federal dollars he has secured for the Heart of Dixie is incomprehensible and irreplaceable. He will be remembered as the greatest senator in Alabama history.

Seniority is paramount in Washington.

It is everything. It took Senator Shelby awaiting 20 years before he became one of the major players in Washington.

Therefore, Senator Shelby would be the first to tell you that it is imperative for Alabama’s future that we elect someone young to be his successor. If you send someone over 60 to the U.S. Senate, they will never have any real power.

The political hierarchy of the senate will recognize that and place our senator on obscure committees. The best thing for us to do is to send a younger person to the Senate, and also one that is not an ideologue demagogue who is more interested in being on Fox News than bringing home the bacon.

First on most lists is Katie Boyd Britt.

She served as Senator Shelby’s chief of staff and is now the CEO of the Business Council of Alabama. She is only 39 years old and she would have the potential to be a power in Washington. Shelby likes her.

Someone who will probably be in the race and will be one of the early frontrunners is Secretary of State John Merrill.

He has served his two four-year terms as Secretary of State and is precluded from running for another term in that office.

Therefore, he has to go somewhere. He is the best retail politician in the state and is the only statewide official with a real grassroots organization. Merrill will be a player and has the acumen and diligence to be an effective senator.

Congressman Robert Aderholt would be the logical favorite to take Senator Shelby’s seat. However, with 24 years seniority in the House, Congressman Aderholt is making the right decision for

Commission will end mask mandate required in courthouse

By Hannah Lester hlester@ opelikaobserver.com

STEVE FLOWERS himself and our state by remaining in his House seat.

PSC President, Twinkle Cavanaugh, would be an excellent person to succeed Shelby. She is popular and still young, but she will probably not be in the race.

Former Trump Ambassador to Slovenia, Lynda Blanchard, has already announced that she will enter the race for Shelby’s U.S. Senate seat in 2022. She is from Montgomery and has come to the table with $5 million.

The person who might run but would not be an effective senator is Huntsville Congressman Mo Brooks. He would be an albatross for our state. During his 10 years in Congress, Brooks has been an obstacle for Senator Shelby and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle as they have worked to build Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal into the Science and Technology Capitol of Alabama and probably the nation.

Brooks’ only mission is to be thought of as a right-wing extremist, who cares more about being a demagogue than representing and helping his district. If Brooks were to replace Shelby, it could be devastating to Alabama’s efforts to attract federal dollars or future economic prospects. It will be hard enough for Shelby’s predecessor to simply maintain everything Shelby has brought to Alabama. However, with Brooks in Shelby’s seat, Alabama might actually lose ground — not only the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, but also UAB in Birmingham, Maxwell-Gunter in Montgomery and Fort Rucker in the Wiregrass.

2022 is going to be a big year in Alabama politics.

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.

The Lee County Courthouse will end some of its COVID-19 personnel policies when Gov. Kay Ivey’s state order ends on April 9, the commission voted Monday night.

The main difference between the updated policy the commissioners voted on, and the previous, is language changed that indicates employees and patrons are "strongly encouraged” to wear a face mask inside the courthouse and other county buildings beginning April 9.

Additionally, the language that read, “refusal to wear a face mask/covering will result in denial of admission to the facility,” was removed.

“I thought we were going to be more restrictive than the governor, but as Mr. Rendleman points out, we are all designated agents of the state and he’s not sure we can go beyond the governor,” said Probate Judge Bill English.

Fiscal Year 2021 The commission also adjusted the Fiscal Year 2021 budget.

“We are now at the halfway point of the current fiscal year,” said a memorandum from County

NOW OPEN

Administrator Roger Rendeman to the commissioners.

“This is the time of the year we typically review how we are performing against the annual adopted budget and consider any adjustments need and/ or opportunities available for which a budget adjustment is needed.”

The adjustment included a rollover from the Fiscal Year 2020 budget of $340,000 to be used for resurfacing, a reimbursement of over $153,000 from the election electronic notepads and a $240,000 reimbursement that will be used “for detention center improvements related to housing state inmates beyond the thirty day requirement associated with the pandemic,” the memorandum said.

There was also a request to move $350,000 into the EMA Expansion Project and another $100,000 placed toward “anticipated legal costs.”

English asked if the costs were the potential rock quarry legal fees, which Rendleman confirmed.

Alabama PALS Spring Cleanup John McDonald, Environmental Services Director, informed the commission of the 2021 Alabama PALS

‘Don’t Drop It On Alabama’ Spring Cleanup taking place in April in Lee County.

“This is a program that they do every year,” McDonald said. “They try to reach out to every county and get everybody to participate. It’s a good way of getting the roadways cleaned up. As we mentioned earlier, they’re in pretty bad shape right now.

We’re getting a good start on them, any help would be appreciated it."

Anyone interested in helping can contact the Environmental Services Office, he said. Supplies, such as bags and safety vests are provided.

Additionally, disposal of full bags can be provided.

“I really think we need a big push on this,” said District 2 Commissioner Sarah Brown.

Other Business: - The Commission approved a retail beer and retail table wine license application for The Store 1.

- The commission approved a bid for radios and equipment installation for SO and EMA. - The commission approved a concession and restrooms bids for Beulah and Beauregard Parks.

- The commission approved a bid for wetland mitigation credits.

Indoor shooting range is open to the public

2195 FIRST AVENUE • OPELIKA

B10 March 31, 2021

T

Voting rights and wrongs: Part 1 – Rigid partisanship leaves no room for gallantry

he Voting Rights Act of 1965 turned the voting rights promised by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution into reality.

This was followed by a long journey which led to an African American president and now the first black U.S. Senator from Georgia. Good things can happen when members in each party agreeing to a bill. This Act passed the House 328-74 and the Senate by 79-18.

Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen wrote the bill and got other Republicans to support it. In 1966, he made a spoken recording called Gallant Men which was very popular. A refrain was “Gallant men have built us a nation/Passed us a torch of flame/Let us hold it high/and light up the sky/with praise of our gallant men.” Where are the gallant men and women who realize that no voting rights bill is perfect, and say so? A good result might surface if rigidity recedes.

The For The People Act is unusual for a major bill in that this Democratic

voting rights package has not drawn any GOP support yet in the Senate.

Neither have Republicans attracted Democrats for alternative approaches to voting rights and election security. Here I evaluate aspects of For The People that I am not happy with and others that have merit. On April 7, I will analyze Republican ideas.

It sounds great if people can register the same day of the election, but what if there are long lines as in the 2008 and 2012 general elections?

People have no tolerance for those crowds, and may walk away or gripe.

This will be doubly true in 2022, when there is no presidential contest and likely light opposition to the Republican nominees for constitutional offices in Alabama.

I don’t know why so many people like early voting; look at the crowds at early voting – at high hours they are longer than on Election Day itself! It is also intellectually bereft in that several federal candidates have died in plane crashes, for example, a week before the election: thus early

voters would have missed a chance to vote for another candidate.

This Democratic bill correctly suggests authorization for 16-and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote in advance of their becoming 18. Learning about civic responsibility and politics in high school is necessary and proper. For these teenagers to actually prefile a year or two ahead to vote hopefully gets them excited enough to actually vote at age 18.

“A 16-year-old in 2021 possesses wisdom and a maturity that comes from 2021 challenges, 2021 hardships and 2021 threats,” said U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D.Boston) arguing for making 16-year olds eligible to vote.

The House dispensed with Congresswoman Pressley’s measure, by 302-125. They were not ready to have 16-yearolds help choose a president or even their local member of Congress. But who’s to say that bright 16-year-olds could not make a good choice; they may even vote more wisely than their parents and

By Greg Markley grandparents.

For The People Act has election security enhancements, such as a voter verified paper ballot provision instituting paper ballots that can be marked by voters by hand or with a ballot marking device. It would be inspected by the voter to allow any errors to be corrected before the ballot is cast.

I think that is OBE (overcome-by-events).

First, in one election my ballot’s circles were not filled in completely and an elections official said I could throw away that ballot and get a new one.

That is what I did, no problem. Second, election officials granted voters the right to photograph

their completed ballot, or even make a “selfie” with it.

John Merrill, Alabama’s secretary of state, sent the U.S. Senate Rules Committee a letter arguing that the Act would negatively impact military voters who want to vote absentee.

Merrill said that at least 32 states allow military and overseas voters to get and send back absentee ballots electronically.

The Act would prohibit electronically transmitted ballots, which are speedier and provide better assurance that military personnel’s vote will be accepted quickly.

“Prior to the passage of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, which required timely transmission of ballots to military voters, the ability for military voters to successfully participate in elections was extremely limited,” Merrill said.

“Of the one million absentee ballots sent to military and overseas voters in 2006, only onethird were actually cast or counted. The number of military voters unable to

successfully cast ballots was decreased from 30 percent in 2004 to 17 percent today.”

In his 2007 book, “Where Have all the Leaders Gone?” selfmade businessman Lee Iacocca posed precisely that question. He found many “leaders” were overrated or lost when outside their own perch.

He asked “What is each of us giving back to our country?” “Do we truly love democracy?”

If For The People becomes law, or most of it rejected, we will have half of our citizens crying “fraud” or “voter suppression.” It’s time for DC politicians to be more gallant men and women.

Next week I examine why voting rights bills and bipartisanship no longer go together.

Greg Markley first moved to Lee County in 1996. He has Masters’ in education and history.

He taught politics as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama. An award-winning writer in the Army and civilian life, he has contributed to the Observer for 9 years. gm.markley@charter.net

OCS - Kindergarten Registration 2021-2022 WHAT: 2021-2022 Registration • All students entering kindergarten • Students entering first grade who were not enrolled in the Opelika City Schools System kindergarten WHEN: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, April 5, 6, and 7 Kindergarten registration will be open online on the dates listed above. Links to register are listed below and located on the Opelika City Kinde Schools website. If you prefer to submit your registration documents in person, you are welcome to do so. Please call the school before you go to make sure the appropriate staff is available. If you have any questions about identifying school zones or the registration process, email us at registration@opelikaschools.org or you may call the Board of Education at 334-745-9700.

WHERE: Carver Primary School, 307 Carver Avenue, 334-745-9712 https://forms.gle/FK1sKRFUvAZqaMfE6 Jeter Primary School, 700 Jeter Avenue, 334-745-9723 https://forms.gle/WJEP7tz5Ck2jrcAcA Southview Primary School, 2712 Marvyn Parkway, 334-745-9711 https://forms.gle/99XHmNcrfAmYAtdh6 WHAT YOU WILL NEED: To be enrolled in kindergarten in August, a child must have their fifth (5th) birthday no later than September 2 of the year entering school. To be enrolled in first grade, a child must have their sixth (6th) birthday no later than December 31 of the year entering school. All children must live within the city limits of Opelika and within the school zone in which they are registering.

1.BIRTH CERTIFICATE -Directions for acquiring a birth certificate: a) ALABAMA: Get form and assistance to complete the application from the county health department. It will take 15 to 30 minutes for the certificate to be issued and will cost $15 - $17.05. Certificates will be issued to immediate family members only. b) OUTSIDE ALABAMA: Request certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in the state where the child was born. Along with the application, send name of child, name of father, maiden name of mother, and date and place of child’s birth.

2.CERTIFICATE OF IMMUNIZATION - Bring the child’s blue State of Alabama Certificate of Immunization.

To receive updated immunizations, you will need to make an appointment for your child at the Lee County Health Department (745-5765) or with your child’s physician. It is recommended that appointments be made as soon as possible to avoid delays in completing school registration.

3.CHILD’S SOCIAL SECURITY CARD - A child’s social security card is requested. The SS card is used to copy for placement in the child’s permanent record folder.

4.PROOF OF RESIDENCY - Parent/Guardian must present two (2) current utility bills (electric and gas or water) showing their name and street address.

5.PICTURE ID - Parent/Guardian must present a picture ID (driver’s license, non-driver identification, military ID, etc.)

B11 March 31, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF ELMER L. POTTS, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY Letters of Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 3rd day of March, 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate 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 our hands, and dated this the 3rd day of March, 2021 SALLY LANKFORD Legal Run 03/10/21, 03/17/21 & 03/24/2021 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE:THE ESTATE OF THOMAS PRESTON, DECEASED. TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Barbara Menifield, as Executrix of the Estate of Thomas Preston, deceased, on the 3rd day of March, 2021, 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.

Barbara Menifield, Executrix Of the Estate of Thomas Preston, Deceased Marrell J. McNeal, Attorney at Law, PC PO Box 308 Opelika, AL 36803 334-745-7033 Legal Run 03/10/21, 03/17/21 & 03/24/21 -------------STATE OF ALABAMA CASE NO. 2021-126 LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT ESTATE OF W. J. CASH, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said W. J. Cash, deceased, having been granted to Robert Kevin Cash, this 5th day of March 2021, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred.

Robert Kevin Cash, Personal Representative Jeffery A. Hilyer 334-745-2564 Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, Alabama 368030030.

Legal run 3/17/21, 3/24/21 & 3/31/21 -------------NOTICE OF DOMESTIC RELATIONS ACTION NAPIER CANDICE whose whereabouts is unknown, must answer NAPIER MICHAEL Petition for Contempt by May 8th, 2021 or thereafter, a Judgment by default may be rendered against her in Case No: DR-2015900172.02, in the Circuit Court of Russell County, Alabama.

Done this the 16th day of March, 2021.

JODY SELLERS CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT PUBLICATION DATES: March 17th, 24th, 31st April, 8th 2021 LAST DAY TO ANSWER: May 8th, 2021 -------------Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1242 N. Dean Rd, Auburn, AL 36830 Thursday, April 15th, 2021 at 10:00AM Margo Veal unit #603 707 York Apt 1123 Towson, MD 1204 Boxes,bikes,and garage items The auction will be listed

and advertised on www. storagetreasures.com.

Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Legal Run 03/24/21 & 03/31/21 -------------Notice to Contractors Lee County Project No. LCP 41-RALR-21 Lee County, Alabama Sealed bids will be received by the Lee County Commission at 215 S. 9th Street, Opelika, AL 36801 or mailed to P.O. Box 666, Opelika, AL 36803-0666 until 10:00 AM on April 21, 2021 and at that time publicly opened at the Lee County Courthouse, 215 S. 9th Street, Opelika, AL 36801, for constructing the Full Depth Reclamation, Resurfacing, and Traffic Stripe on various public roads in Lee County, AL. Minimum Length – 8.5 miles.

The Entire Project Shall Be Completed in SixtyFive (65) Working Days.

Plans and Proposals are available online at http:// www.leeco.us/business/ commission_office/ current_bids.php, or at the Lee County Highway Department (ph. 334-7377011), 100 Orr Avenue, Opelika, AL 36803. A Bidding Proposal may be purchased for $5.00.

Plans may be purchased for $2.00 per set. Checks should be made payable to the Lee County Commission. Plans and Proposals will be mailed only upon receipt of remittance.

Cashier’s check or bid bond for 5% of bid (maximum - $10,000.00) made payable to the Lee County Commission must accompany each bid as evidence of good faith. Bids will not be considered unless the bid bond form provided in the proposal is used.

The bracket range is shown only to provide general financial information to contractors and bonding companies concerning the project’s complexity and size.

This Bracket should not be used in preparing a bid, nor will this bracket have any bearing on the decision to award this contract.

The bracket estimate on this project is from $1,632,218.00 to $1,994,933.00.

The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished him or her by the Lee County Highway Department.

Prequalification is not required.

The right to reject any or all bids is reserved by Lee County, AL. Ala. Code § 39-3-5 applies to this project.

In accordance with Ala. Code § 39-3-5(a), “…. preference shall be given to resident contractors, and a nonresident bidder domiciled in a state having laws granting preference to local contractors shall be awarded Alabama public contracts only on the same basis as the nonresident bidder’s state awards contracts to Alabama contractors bidding under similar circumstances; and resident contractors in Alabama, as defined in Section 392-12, be they corporate, individuals, or partnerships, are to be granted preference over nonresidents in awarding of contracts in the same manner and to the same extent as provided by the laws of the state of domicile of the nonresident.”

Legal run 3/24/21 & 04/08/21 -------------In the Probate Court Of Lee County Alabama In Re: The Estate of Johnnie C. Kelly, Sr. Deceased TAKE NOTICE that

Letters Testamentary having been granted to: Johnnie C. Kelly, Jr., as Executrix of the Estate of: Johnnie C. Kelly, Sr., Deceased on the 16th day of February, 2021, by the Honorable Bill English.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against the said Estate are hereby required to present the same with in the time allowed by law of the same will be barred.

JOHNNIE C. KELLY JR. EXECUTOR Legal Run 3/24/21, 3/31/21 & 04/08/21 -------------NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF MARGARET BAUCOM LUCAS, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 19th day of March, 2021, 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 our hands, and dated this the 19th day of March, 2021.

ANDREA LEE LUCAS Legal Run 03/24/21, 03/31/21 & 04/08.21 -------------STATE OF ALABAMA CASE NO. 2021-150 LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT ESTATE OF CHARLES W. PIERCE, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said Charles W. Pierce, deceased, having been granted to Sharon L. Pierce, this 22nd day of March 2021, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred.

Sharon L. Pierce, Personal Representative Jeffery A. Hilyer 334-745-2564 Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, Alabama 368030030.

Legal Run 03/24/21, 03/31/21 & 04/08/21 -------------IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF KENNETH E. EASTERDAY, DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2021-162 Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 22nd day of March, 2021, 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.

NORMAN E. EASTERDAY Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 Legal 03/24/21, 03/31/21, 04/08/21

-------------NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF GEORGE M. JOHNS, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 24thday of March, 2021, 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 our hands, and dated this the 24th day of March, 2021.

RANDALL ALLAN JOHNS Legal Run 3/31/21, 4/8/21 and 4/15/21 -------------IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA SHARON LEE BLACK, Plaintiff, v.

A Parcel of Real Property described as: Lot 5, John Osborn Theney Estate, according to and as shown on map or plat of said subdivision of record in Plat Book 6, at Page 75, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, And Gordon Theney, and/or the unknown heirs Of Gordon Theney, And Fictitious Defendants A, B, C, D, E, F & G, Being Persons, Individuals, Firms, Associations, Partnerships, Corporations or other Entities, Whose names are otherwise unknown to the Plaintiff, but who claim interest in and to the above-captioned parcel of land, and whose correct names and legal identities will be added

by Amendment when ascertained, Defendants.

Case No.: CV-2020900030 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 25th day of January, 2021, a Complaint to Quiet Title was filed in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama, and the following are the names of all parties to the action: Sharon Lee Black, as Plaintiff; A Parcel of Real Property, described below, as Defendant; and unknown persons or entities who cannot be ascertained after the exercise of due diligence, and which are believed to have claimed some right, title, interest or claim in and to the property described as follows: Lot 5, John Osborn Theney Estate, according to and as shown on map or plat of said subdivision of record in Plat Book 6, at Page 75, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama.

All persons having an interest in said lands or any portion thereof, claiming any title thereto or any encumbrance or lien thereon, 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 the 18th day of March, 2021. /s/ Mary Roberson Mary Roberson Circuit Court Clerk, Lee County J. Brandon Rice Of Counsel, Davis, Bingham, Hudson & Buckner, P.C. 324 East Magnolia Avenue Auburn, AL 36830 Legal Run 3/31/21 4/8/21, 4/15/21 & 4/22/21 -------------NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF JAMES ALVIN GILCHRIST, JR. DECEASED PROBATE COURT, LEE COUNTY NOITCE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Jeffrey D.

Gilchrist on the 24th day of March, 2021, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

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

Jeffrey D. Gilchrist Legal Run 03/31/21, 04/08/21 & 04/15/201 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF MICHAEL VANCAMPEN, AN ALLEGED INCAPACITATED PERSON TO: Any relative or interested parties: Lee County DHR has filed a Petition to appoint a Legal Guardian for the person of Michael Vancampen. It is ordered that the 29th day of April, 2021, at 9 a.m. be appointed the day on which to hear such petition, at the Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th St. Opelika, AL at which time all persons interested may file their notice of appearance and contest the said petition if they deem it proper.

Done this the 26th day of MARCH, 2021.

BILL ENGLISH PROBATE JUDGE Margaret A. Mayfied Attorney for Lee County DHR Post Office Box 809 Opelika, AL 36803 (334) 745-0333 Legal Run 3/31/21, 4/8/21 & 4/15/21 -------------CITY OF OPELIKA ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT APRIL 13, 2021 9:00 A.M. MEETING CHAMBERS OPELIKA MUNICIPAL COURT 300 MLK BOULEVARD A. VARIANCE I. Election of Zoning Board of Adjustment Officers (Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Secretary).

II. Approval of the January 12, 2021 Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes.

1. O. D. Curtis, 6400 Lafayette Parkway, Requesting a 11 foot front yard building setback and a 17 foot rear yard variance from the 50 foot front yard setback requirement in the R-1 zoning district.

2. Jack H. Avery, 1796 Morning Glory Drive, Requesting a 2 foot variance from the 10 foot minimum setback requirement to another structure (home) and a 10 foot variance from the 15 foot minimum side yard setback requirement to the property line for a 22’ x 25’ garage (accessory structure).

3. Bobby Meadows, 4505 Anderson Road, Requesting to exceed the 40% maximum limit for an existing (4x8) and proposed (30x40) accessory structure from 40% to 58.64%; the 40% maximum limited is based on the size of the principal structure.

4. Trey Ayers, 1201 South Fox Run Avenue, Requesting a variance from the 20 foot maximum height requirement for a freestanding sign.

5. David Slocum, 304 Fox Run Avenue, Requesting building setback variances for both side yards and the rear yard: Requesting a 10 foot side yard setback variance on the north side and requesting a 30 foot side yard setback variance on the south side from the 30 foot side yard setback requirement. Requesting a 10 foot rear yard setback variance from the 30 foot rear yard setback requirement in the M-1 (manufacturing) zoning district.

NOTE: 1) The City of Opelika complies with the American with Disabilities Acts 2) The City of Opelika

will make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.

3) If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the ADA Coordinator 72 hours prior to the meeting at ADA@opelika-al.gov or (334)705-2083.

Legal Run 3/31/2021 -------------City of Opelika Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Notice and Public Hearing NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND APPLICATION The City of Opelika announces anticipated funding availability under the CDBG Program Year 2021 an estimated $292,864 of Federal grant funds for activities such as Commercial Revitalization, Housing Rehabilitation, and Neighborhood Revitalization projects. A portion of this funding is planned for Public Service sub-recipients such as community groups and non-profits. Applications for funding are available at the Public Works Facility, 700 Fox Trail, Opelika or by contacting the Community Development office at (334) 705-5155. Applications are due at the Community Development Office by 4:00 p.m., Friday, April 30, 2021.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMENTS The City of Opelika invites public comments on actions to be taken with the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funding. Your ideas and suggestions for projects are welcome. This meeting is an opportunity for staff, citizens, and non-profit organizations to express community needs prior to setting the PY2021 budget.

A public hearing will be held on Monday, April 12, 2021 @ 4:00 p.m. in the Municipal Meeting Room, 300 MLK Boulevard. Public comments and questions are invited either in writing or in person and will be accepted until May 12, 2021. Comments may be sent to: Lisa Thrift CDBG Administrator P.O. Box 390 Opelika, AL 36803 or lthrift@opelika-al.gov If special accommodations are needed to participate at the hearing by persons with disabilities, please contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at 334-705-2083 at least fortyeight hours in advance.

LEGAL RUN 3/31/2021 -------------NOTICE OF COURT PROCEEDING CASE NO: 2021-088 IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary Distribution In the Estate of HENRY LANORA ANDREWS., deceased Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE CO UNTY Probate Office by Barbara Brooks on January 12, 2021 pursuant t 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 Distribution of the estate of said decedent.

BILL ENGLISH PROBATE JUDGE Legal Run 03/31/2021 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RICHARD JERRY BROWN, JR. Deceased Case no.: 2021-171 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to Benjamin H. Parr, Personal Representative on the 26th day of March , 2021,

by Honorable Bill Engli sh, Judge of 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.

Benjamin Parr Legal Run 3/31/21, 4/8/21 & 4/15/21

B12 March 31, 2021

Like crossword puzzles? Sudoku?

Play online at www.opelikaobserver.com/puzzles/

B13 March 31, 2021

Letter to the editor

I

have just completed reading the book “Glimmer of Hope”, the account of the March For Our Lives which had an estimated 800,000 peaceful participants in March 2018, after the mass shooting of students at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas

High School in Parkland, Florida. The classmates of the dead students expressed their resolve to confront the issue of gun violence.

With two mass shootings in our country in the last week, this book takes on added significance. The

students who put the march together offered a list of commonsense reforms to reduce gun violence.

These reforms include instituting universal background checks, banning high capacity magazines followed by a buyback program of

guns already owned (President Bush allowed the ban on assault weapons to expire), disarming domestic abusers, instituting a risk protection order to prevent a person at risk from getting a gun, passing federal laws specifically targeting gun

trafficking, funding gun violence research for the CDC as a public health issue and eliminating restrictions which prevent the ATF from digitizing records of gun sales.

These are not outrageous suggestions. A majority of citizens support such laws. It

is up to us to let our senators and representative know that these are important issues to us.

Of course enacting such laws will not stop all gun violence. But I dare say, it will help.

Marilyn Garrett Auburn, Alabama

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B14 March 31, 2021

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This week’s puzzle answers: