Opelika Observer 04-08-2021 E-edition

Vol. 13, No. 26

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Opelika, Alabama

pelika Observer O

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

City of Opelika designates OTown Jake Day

Botanic:

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY BOTANIC LLC

PHOTO BY MICHELLE KEY / OPELIKA OBSERVER

A new experience coming to Opelika

By Lofton Wheeles For the Opelika Observer

OPD Sgt. Jonathan Whaley reads a proclamation declaring April 1, 2021, as OTown Jake Day in honor of Opelikian Jake Helms.

See JAKE, page A2

TMD turns 21!

By Lofton Wheeles For the Opelika Observer Taylor Made Designs is celebrating its 21st anniversary in its downtown Opelika location on South 8th Street April 15-17.

Taylor Made Designs is a locallyowned business that specializes in creating handmade jewelry and special gift items. The business has been open since 1991 as a home-based business in Alexander City, but the storefront has been in the downtown area since 2000, according to Managing Director Taylor Sumrall.

“We moved to Opelika in 2000 and that’s when

From the creators of Crepe Myrtle Café, Blooming Colors and Chicken Salad Chick comes a new place that will plant fresh memories and

experiences within the community.

Botanic is a new business founded by husband-and-wife duo King Braswell and Stacy Brown that will be located at the old Cock of the Walk building near Tiger See BOTANIC, page A3

YES! Opelika program is back Contributed by the city of Opelika

[my mom Lynn] decided she wanted to open the store in downtown Opelika,” she said. “Downtown was a very different place 21 years ago … So I mean our hours have changed, downtown has changed in 21 years, but we’re still able

to offer really unique products."

Taylor Made Designs has served the Opelika community for 21 years and is a staple for the downtown area due to its longevity. Sumrall has many favorite See TMD, page A5

Mayor Gary Fuller and the city council are excited to announce that the YES! Opelika program is back in 2021.

The summer youth employment program, YES! Opelika (Youth. Employment. Success.), is an opportunity for 16-to-19-year-olds to earn money and gain meaningful work experience. Due to COVID, the city was unable to offer the program in 2020.

However, this year, the city is seeking to employ approximately 20 to 25 youth in various positions throughout the city.

“We hope that

the YES! Opelika program will provide students with the necessary tools and work-related experiences that can prepare them to succeed in the workforce. Having

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

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

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. . . . . A7

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

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

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

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

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

For more photos turn to A9.

good social skills, communications and critical thinking abilities, understanding real-world labor expectations, money management and See PROGRAM, page A5

A2 April 8, 2021

Girls’ STEPS, Inc. hosts career expo for middle and high school girls

By Kayla Evans For the Opelika Observer Girls’ STEPS, Inc. is hosting a career expo and luncheon for middle and high school girls on April 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National, the girls will hear about career experiences from many women and current college students.

“I am really excited about the event, and I want our girls to start

FROM A1

By Michelle Key Publisher Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller issued a proclamation last week designating April 1, 2021, as “OTown Jake Day,” honoring Opelikian Jake Helms.

Helms, age 21, has autism, and he and his family have spent the past 10 years bringing autism awareness and acceptance to Opelika through “Going Blue for Autism” events during the month of April each year.

Helms was diagnosed with autism in 2002 and while he is considered non-ver-

two-year colleges versus four-year colleges and Greek life.

“They will also just be sharing their experiences and maybe some barriers that they had to overcome just by being women,” Gibson-Pitts said. “LaToya Cantrell is the first African American female to be mayor of New Orleans.”

The last hour of the event, there will be women from many different careers to answer questions from the girls.

“It will be set up similar to a college fair to

“They can ask them salary,” Gibson-Pitts said. “They can ask them what route they took. We have people there who did not even go to college, and they are successful. We will have females there who had a career in the military. We have realtors.

We have doctors. We have lawyers. We have judges. So, we have a variety of careers for women that are going to be there to address their questions.”

For more information, visit www.gstepsinc.org.

where we are looking at all 16 clusters,” Gibson-Pitts said. “Career clusters that are identified by the Alabama Department of Education. I have representatives from all 16 career clusters. So, regardless of what those girls want to be when they get older, they can speak with someone who is in that particular area.”

The girls will be able to walk up to any women with a career that they are interested in to get more information and ask questions.

bal, he does have a lot to say. He often communicates with an augmentative communication device.

In spite of the communication challenges that Helms faces every day, he enjoys volunteering around the city of Opelika. Keep Opelika Beautiful is one organization that Helms volunteers for with the Adopt-a-Mile program. He helps keep that mile and others clean throughout the year. Recently, he helped raise money for a sensory project at Storybook Farm and also for the Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama with a Purple Pumpkin project last fall.

pelika Observer

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Judge Tiffany Johnson-Cole, Dr. Paula Walker King, Angela George and Chastity Stevenson Westry, JD, MBA. Along with the TED Talks, there will also be two panels. The virtual panel will consist of Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans, Louisiana, Yesenia Acosta and Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran of San Antonio, Texas. There will also be a college panel with students talking about the different routes they took after high school,

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

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PHOTO BY MICHELLE KEY / OPELIKA OBSERVER

JAKE >>

thinking outside of the box, because we truly believe that if they can see it, they’ll believe it, and ultimately achieve it,” said Girls' STEP, Inc. CEO Tiffany Gibson-Pitts.

The keynote speaker for the event is Dr. Kara White. She is a pharmacist over a neo-natal unit in an Atlanta hospital, Gibson-Pitts said.

From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., there will be four speakers who will be conducting TED Talks.

The TED Talk speakers for the morning are

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A3 April 8, 2021

Opelika Giving Day selects nonprofits to spotlight Contributed by CFEA The Community Foundation of East Alabama has selected 11 nonprofit organizations to highlight for its third annual Opelika Giving Day, to be held on May 5, 2021. Opelika Giving Day is a program of the Community Foundation of East Alabama and is designed to spotlight Opelika’s nonprofits that work to serve and improve the community.

Todd Rauch, the vice president of the Community Foundation said, “Opelika Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising challenge based online which provides a safe and easy way for participants to give their support.” The nonprofit organizations selected for Opelika Giving Day 2021 are: - Alabama Rural Ministries - Arts Association of East Alabama - Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lee County

BOTANIC >>

FROM A1

Town.

The building will function as a garden retail center, entertainment area and a farm-to-table restaurant featuring Southern cuisine.

“I think Botanic really in a nutshell is an embodiment of the passions of a lot of people that are building this place and that are going to work here afterward,” Braswell said. “[These are] passions that they believe in that will ultimately serve others and create life experiences for people who work here and the people that visit here. And I think that, basically, service is an embodiment of what we do.”

Brown also discussed her thoughts on how the vision for Botanic came to be. .

“It’s actually COVID that kind of pushed our ideas into fruition,” she said.

“It became so apparent that we were all craving experiences and connection and

- Creekline Trails of Opelika - Flags for Vets - Friends of the Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library - Museum of East Alabama - Opelika Bicycle Advisory Committee - Opelika Theatre Company - Reach Out & Read Alabama - Women’s Hope Ministries.

In the weeks leading up to the Opelika Giving Day, organizations will go through a “Nonprofit Boot Camp” where they will receive organizational training through the Community Foundation of East

Alabama.

“We want every organization that is a part of Opelika Giving Day to meet their target goals,” Rauch said. “We also want nonprofits to be successful during the other 364 days of the year. We provide them with the tools to do that.”

Posts, updates and informational stories will be shared on the Opelika Giving Day Facebook page for potential donors to become familiar with the partnering organizations and their projects.

On May 5, donors can visit the Opelika Giving Day website

within the 24-hour period to donate and track the progress of the organizations and their projects. Last year, Opelika Giving Day spotlighted 12 nonprofits and helped raise over $40,000 for the organizations in Opelika.

After Opelika Giving Day is over, the Community Foundation encourages participants to remain engaged with the organizations and the projects they helped support to inspire a new culture of giving within our community.

“We can’t forget that nonprofit organizations in Opelika have been heavily affected by the COVID-19 crisis,"

Rauch said. “I hope we can come together as a community on May 5 and shine a spotlight on 11 amazing organizations that are making a difference in the Opelika Community.”

For more information, visit www. opelikagivingday. org or email at info@ opelikagivingday.org.

About the Community Foundation of East Alabama The Community Foundation of East Alabama was incorporated in 2007 as a 501 (c)(3) taxexempt organization.

As a local center for philanthropy, the Community Foundation

works with individuals, families, corporations, private foundations and nonprofit organizations to help them carry out their charitable objectives and address emerging community issues. Donors to the Community Foundation also benefit from the Foundation’s combined assets which greatly reduce investment and administrative fees. Our five-county region includes Lee, Chambers, Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa Counties. Our Community Foundation is administered by a governing body of East Alabama citizens committed to building a vibrant community foundation. Through the generosity of people in East Alabama, our community foundation will continue to grow.

Through grant making, we look forward to a brighter future by giving back to the place we call home. Visit www.cfeastalabama. org for additional information.

things that technology cannot replace because we were all forced to be in our homes and we really depended on technology so much to continue on with our daily lives and it really showed the need and the void for what we hope to provide here.”

Both founders have had experience under their belts when opening and operating businesses. However, according to Brown, Botanic is a bit different from their previous business ventures.

“Chicken Salad Chick was geared for a very focused day part … so it was just very focused,” she said.

“I’m glad in hindsight that it was a smaller, focused area, because I have this experience behind me in building a business, then King has his 20-plus years of experience in his industry. It still gives me the same butterflies about opening a new business and this one is a much larger scope of a business.

“So, it’s still a firsttime situation just like Chicken Salad Chick

was … but we have much more experience behind us this time around in creating this kind of business and it’s so much fun.

I love to create, and King loves to create, so we’re having a blast coming up with the different things we want to offer.”

Braswell, whose passion is all things horticulture and service, described Botanic as “a dream come true."

“It has all the elements that I could ever have wanted for a full circle horticultural business that embodies all of the elements of horticulture that I think are relevant,” he said. “Horticulture, which is my chosen path at Auburn University, embodies a lot of things that people really don’t even understand. If it weren’t for horticulture, you wouldn’t have fruit production, vegetable production, flower production and plant production.”

The two are repurposing and bringing new life into the

building that formerly housed Cock of the Walk.

“We’re embracing a lot of the wonderful things that people remember about this place and then we’re bringing it back to life in a new way,” she said. “One thing that’s been really great as we’ve been building [is that] people have come in just curious about what’s going on here and they drive in, look around and some come in wanting to talk and a lot of people have shared with us about the memories that they had here when it was Cock of the Walk and how special it was to them and they would come here on special occasions.

“So we want to revitalize the property but also continue to be a place where people come to make memories so we will have a lot of geared activities to experiences and that the kids will be able to come feed the fish and the turtles and listen to music under the tree and there are experiences for every-

body whether it’s kids, families or a groups of friends, there will be something for everyone.”

While the revitalization has had some challenges along the way, the two have learned to make the best of the work there is to be done.

“Preserving the wonderful things about [the old building] and figuring out how to work in the new brings its own challenges, but it’s fun to figure all of those things out,” Brown said. “King is extremely creative and I’m a creative person, so our ideas build off of each other and spur on new thoughts and the entire project has been an evolution of thought and it seems to evolve daily.”

The two also strive to create an incomparable experience for the Auburn-Opelika community in several ways with Botanic.

“I think the entire visit will be a unique experience from the guest service, from the facility, from our outdoor garden dining with a retractable roof and from dining over the pond, so that’s unique,” Brown said. “Also, the fact you can come in and while you wait for a table, you can enjoy a cocktail, you can shop, you can listen to music, you can do the activities that we’ve

provided for outside [that are] all things that families can join in and do together while they wait on their dining experience to begin.

“And there are things to do when you’re finished so if you want to continue to listen to music outside, we have lots of fun things planned that people can make plans to attend.”

Overall, the two said they are excited for several aspects regarding Botanic, but there is one that Braswell keeps coming back to: the memories.

“I’m really just mostly excited that we can hopefully give lots of people a great experience that they can take with them to savor and lots of memories,” he said. “That’s really what this place is all about, creating memories with your family.”

While the business does not have a concrete opening date, Braswell stated that “every day that we complete our work here is one day closer to opening.”

Brown also wanted to reassure fans of the now defunct Cock of the Walk that “the turtles are OK and thriving.”

To get updates on Botanic, head on over to its Facebook page facebook.com/shopbotanic.

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“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.”

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.

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A4 April 8, 2021

The Rose

T

he house where I was born was trimmed in roses.

It was a clapboard home, previously owned by a retired World War II veteran. The old soldier was crazy for roses.

The story goes that after returning from the War, the soldier spent weeks turning his humble yard into a Victory Garden. Over time the backyard became a veritable explosion of reds, pinks, whites and vivid colors.

The central attractions of the Victory Garden were, without doubt, the “Peace” roses. Ivory white with crimson fringe. They were heart stopping.

And it was among these roses where I took my first infant steps.

My mother was deadheading flowers. It was summer. And I was hobbling beneath dappled sunlight, surrounded by an old soldier’s Peace roses.

Of course I don’t

remember much from this early period of life, except that I habitually filled my onesies with poop. But for some odd reason, I do recall Peace roses.

There are some things you just don’t forget.

The earliest fossilized evidence of roses dates back to the Cenozoic Era. Your high-school biology textbook will tell you roses are 35 million years old. These flowers predate nearly everything, including the Cascade Mountains, the dinosaurs and “Gunsmoke.”

Roses were a big deal in ancient China, ancient Greece and pretty much everywhere else too. In ancient Rome, they were the flowers of the gods, a concept later inherited by ancient Christians. There’s a reason they call it “praying the Rosary.”

I tell you all this not to bore you until you experience brain death, but because this particu-

By Sean Dietrich lar flower is intertwined with the history of our species.

Americans have been obsessed with roses for generations. When colonists came to these shores, one of the few luxuries many immigrant women brought with them were clippings from heirloom roses back home.

Although, those colonists were in for a treat because this continent was already doing just fine in the rose department.

There are more than

20 roses native to North America, such as, California roses, woods rose, Carolina roses, prairie roses, swamp roses and my personal favorite, the breath-stealing Virginia rose.

The flowers were a minor part of our national fabric. General Washington, for example, grew roses. John Adams planted them on the White House lawn.

Thomas Jefferson was a rose freak who bred Gallicas, Noisettes and Sweetbriars.

The world’s most popular rose variety, however, is the one I want to tell you about, and the reason for this column.

I promise, this will only take nine seconds.

Ten at the most.

The year was 1935.

In a turbulent pre-war France, horticulturist Francis Meilland used seedling eyes grafted into rootstock to produce ivory flowers with pink tinged petals. He named the rose after his mother.

At first glance, the rose was just a modest tea rose hybrid. Nothing fancy. But the flower’s resistance to disease and its superior growth made it a modern marvel. This was no ordinary rose. This was a really good rose.

But here’s the thing.

Meilland’s rose had little hope for survival during an oncoming global war. Only four years after he bred the thing, the whole world

went to hell.

France was about to be occupied by Nazis.

People were already dying right and left. Meilland knew his nursery would be seized and his flowerbeds destroyed.

So Meilland smuggled his roses out of the country. He sent one of his roses on a plane out of France, shortly before the German occupation. The bud wood arrived in the United States where a horticulturist named Robert Pyle raised the flower in a Pennsylvania nursery and helped save it from oblivion.

I realize I’m throwing more cranial numbing history at you. But I’m almost done.

In the summer of 1944, France was liberated. The War was ending. Almost immediately, a single postcard left West Grove, Pennsylvania, bound for France, telling Mellian See DIETRICH, page A5

Remember the Tender Words

By Walt Albritton Since my wife Dean died, I have enjoyed reading again some of things she had written – talks, Sunday School lessons, testimonies, poems and stories about her family, especially her mother.

Recently, I came across an insightful piece that she had written about my father.

It is not uncommon for harsh words to be uttered in heated family conversations. In the Bible, James reminds us though “praise and cursing come out of the same mouth ... this should not be.” But James admits that we all “stumble,” for “anyone who is never at fault in what he says” would be “a perfect

T

his has been a rough week. My best friend, who is solid and steady, has really been through the wringer. He has a stressful job in the midst of a pandemic. He’s having work done on his house, so there are plumbers and painters and contractors coming in and out every day of the week. He’s a parent with three teenage girls.

Need I say more? Don’t get me wrong, his girls are sweet and lovely and fun. But they are also a bundle of hormones and drama and challenges.

And, as all kids do, they are testing his authority and pushing to see how far his limits will stretch. There have been some sleepless nights lately.

So on this Friday night, my best friend

man.” And none of us are perfect.

As I reflect on my own “stumbling,” uttering hardhearted words, I wish I had embraced much sooner the wisdom of Solomon: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

Most of us can recall having to apologize for words we should not have spoken. And, like many of us, my Dad was sometimes blunt and abrasive.

When Dean wrote her memories of Dad, after his death, she chose not to remember his insensitive words but only his tender and comforting words. I hope my family will be that kind to me one day. Perhaps these

memories of her fatherin-law’s words, written when she was 85, will bless you as they did me: “The man we came to call ‘Papa’ was a man of few words, but when he spoke sometimes his words touched my heart. Some of his words remain etched in my memory.

“On Christmas Eve, in 1951, Walter gave me an engagement ring. I could not wait to show it to our families. When we arrived at the Albritton home, everyone was in the kitchen. I rushed in to show them my ring. Papa looked at us and said, “I hope you will always be as happy as you are tonight.” He knew we would not always

be that happy, but I thought it a lovely way to welcome me into his family.

“Within three months of marriage, I knew that I was going to have a baby. I was scared and, as I got heavy with child, I felt like I didn’t look very good. One day Papa said to me, ‘Dean, you have never looked prettier than you look now. Mothers-to-be always have the most beautiful skin.’” That made me feel so good that I began to believe him.

“Our son David was born during a terrible storm. It was already storming when Walter drove me to the hospital. Within an hour, tornadoes swept through Auburn and Opelika

destroying many homes and businesses.

Our home on Lakeview Drive in Auburn suffered severe damage. Papa and Grandmama drove through that frightening storm, eager to see their first grandchild. Papa’s words were precious: ‘It was worth the trip to see David.’

“Money was tight, so we decided that I should get a job. Papa wrote few letters but in one to me he said, ‘Dean, I think it will be fine for you to work. The change in environment will be worth more than money. David will do well in nursery school and, mark my word, you will be glad that you are working.’ Even though David was a

baby, he wrote David a note and told him about all the things he was doing on the farm. His words encouraged me.

“When we found out that David had leukemia, Papa said, ‘We must not give up; there is always hope.’

The doctor said David had only a short time to live, but Papa did not want to believe it. When Papa and I stood beside each other at David’s grave, I saw a man filled with grief because he had lost his only grandchild.

When our second son was born, I saw that man come to life again.

Years later, I told that son, ‘Matt, you were loved more that you will ever know by your

else, in some other room?

I listen for the water running and know she’s begun her transformation from sleeping child to lovely high school senior. There will be the hum of the blow dryer, the spritzing and spraying of hair products and the subtle swish of makeup brushes.

As the clock ticks on, there will be a crescendo of movement ... searching for the book from last night’s latenight studying, the bang of a pair of shoes being rejected and thrown back into the depths of the closet and the dragging of an always heavy backpack from floor to bed.

There is a constant background of music to our mornings. The songs change from

week to month, a revolving soundtrack of her changing perspectives. Her voice blends in occasionally, and it never fails to make even the dogs stop and listen.

Her voice is a lovely voice.

Just as soon as I’m certain she’ll be late for school, her door will open. The smell of honeysuckle shampoo and sweet perfume will drift behind her as she stops for a quick hug and a “Love you” thrown over her shoulder. The front door will click, and the silence will be back. Silence has a sound too, all its own.

If there was a huge scoreboard in the air with tally marks on the left showing the number of ordinary,

See ALBRITTON, page A5

Blooms and I sit on the couch and stare at the TV, exhausted. Changing the channel is about all we have the strength to handle. I don’t think we really tasted our dinner.

And then the phone rings, and it is my daughter. She has called to tell me about her day at work, her plans for the summer and about her car trouble. She graduates from college in just over a month.

We talk for a bit. When I hang up, my best friend is smiling at me.

“How is she?” he asks.

“She’s fine,” I answer. “Busy. I can’t believe she is graduating from college soon.”

My best friend is quiet, and I know he is pondering the future and his own children’s path to adulthood.

Later I am exhausted, but sleep won’t come.

In a trunk under the bed is a collection of thoughts and memories and stories that I have written down over the last decades. I search until I find this – it is dated exactly four years earlier.

Today is not a special day. It is a Tuesday. It’s raining, but I’m told the sun will be out later.

Like countless other mornings, I awake to the quiet of a small apartment, two dogs breathing in my ear. If I move, they will be up and ready to charge into the day. I wait, enjoying the stillness, and I just listen as other noises filter in. The shower running in the apartment above ... the Today Show on down below ... a muffled cough from

WENDY HODGE the neighbor next door.

Soon my daughter will stir. I’ll hear her feet, in her fuzzy striped socks, shuffle into the kitchen. She’ll stand before the toaster, still in a fog of unfinished sleep, and wait for a bagel or a piece of toast ... my bread-loving, sweetly beautiful, on the verge of adulthood girl child.

My Abbey.

How many more mornings before her days start somewhere

See HODGE, page A5

A5 April 8, 2021

Pure Barre offers workouts for everyone Ashley Caldwell took a chance, a risk and tried something new, and it completely changed her life.

Back in 2014, Caldwell was a general manager working in retail, looking for a way to mix things up. She started selling jewelry online, working out of her home and selling in shows.

This meant she spent a lot of time in the house, however, and was not very active.

“I was at home, all day, ever day, with nobody and I was just going bonkers,” she said.

So, she gave Pure Barre workouts a try.

“I had the biggest misconception about it for the longest time,” she said. “I really thought that it was rooted in ballet and dance and you couldn’t get a real workout from it.”

Her first class was in Birmingham in 2012

TMD >>

FROM A1

parts about running the shop over the years, however it’s seeing and meeting new people that brings her the most joy.

“I could probably talk to a wall, but it’s much more fun when people stop in even if they don’t find something they like,” she said. “It’s nice to have the interaction with people and you get to have a lot of interesting conversations. We’re really lucky that Opelika is kind of becoming a really cool place to visit even if you don’t live here. So, you get to meet some really cool people that way, that travel and end up in our little town from all over the place. That’s

or 2013, she said, and by 2014, she was teaching the classes herself.

“One of my friends drug me to a class and I honestly got bit by a bug and here I am now.”

Another reason she wanted to try Pure Barre was that the at-home workouts she was doing were not yielding any progress.

Caldwell found Pure Barre to be the challenge she needed.

Pure Barre combines elements of a lot of workouts: cardio, pilates, intervals, resistance bands, weights and more.

“It is a highintensity but lowimpact workout that targets just about every muscle in your body,” she said. “… It’s just a really cool workout that challenges you mentally and physically.”

Pure Barre combines elements of a lot of workouts: cardio, pilates, intervals, resistance bands, weights and more.

become a nice thing to say.”

However, things have not always been easy over the years. The pandemic has been a time that Sumrall calls “not fun” for local businesses, but Taylor Made Designs has kept a positive outlook of an unprecedented situation.

“We kind of had to shut down for six weeks which was terrifying not knowing what those six weeks were going to look like and then nothing’s been normal,” she said.

“So we celebrate the small wins. We were here for Christmas and people have been supporting us during holidays and we were extremely grateful for everyone that did their local shopping.

“It’s definitely a

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY ASHLEY CALDWELL

By Hannah Lester hlester@ opelikaobserver.com

Of course, things weren’t peachy right at the start. Caldwell said she didn’t enjoy the first class because she wasn’t good at it.

However, she let go of those insecurities and signed up for a twomonth package.

It wasn’t long before she was approached gratifying experience to know that people still support you and things like that. We’ve become very creative.

We had to start doing Facebook Live so people could see more of what we were doing without coming in physically in the store.

It’s a little more work in a pandemic, but [when] you’re a small business owner, you kind of get used to lots of hard work and putting all your eggs in a basket.”

Taylor Made Designs’ 21st birthday party will be a threeday event to prevent overcrowding in the shop. The party will also make up for not being able to celebrate the 20th anniversary last year due to statewide COVID-19 restrictions at the time.

“We’ll probably

by the owners of Pure Barre, who asked her if she’d like to take some training courses.

She jumped at the opportunity and has taken all the training courses she can.

Caldwell learned that the Pure Barre owners were looking to sell and she approached do a late shopping day Thursday with some snacks and refreshments and then we’re going to have some swag bags for customers and then we’re going to do giveaways every day – some really fun things partnered with other businesses,” she said.

“Then, we always have a few new lines that we have saved that won’t launch until the week of our birthday party … We just want to have a good time and thank everybody for supporting us for 21 years.”

To get updates on the event, go to facebook.com/ events/ 3800502350041624.

And to look at what Taylor Made Designs has to offer, head over to its Facebook page facebook.com/ tmdopelika.

them to ask about taking it over.

“When I knew that that was an opportunity, I felt like that was a door that was opened for me and so I kept walking through those doors,” she said.

From never having tried Pure Barre, to owner of the Auburn studio, Caldwell changed her own life.

Of course, now, she’s changing not only her own life, but others.

The classes are for everyone.

“It’s a workout that just about anybody can do,” Caldwell said. “It’s completely customizable and modifiable.”

One of the Auburn class members, Elizabeth Rodgers was looking for a way to continue exercising safely, since she’s now reached her 60s.

“It really works for me; it’s such a variety of classes that I can do cardio,” Rodgers said.

“We have a new class called reform, it’s a lot of pilates.”

Rodgers said the

classes do not only benefit her physically, but mentally.

“I’m older, and I’ve got to concentrate and I’ve got to think about what I’m doing,” she said.

She’s noticed changes since she started classes.

The ability to hold a pose even just a few seconds longer, for instance, means Rodgers is building strength in her muscles.

A pandemic can’t stop this studio — classes are offered by livestream in addition to in person.

The Pure Barre studio is located at 2415 Moores Mill Road Suite 240 in Auburn.

The Pure Barre studio is located at 2415 Moores Mill Rd Suite 240 in Auburn.

To schedule a class, visit the studio’s facebook page at www.facebook.com/ purebarreauburnal/, instagram at www. instagram.com/ purebarreauburn or call 334-887-0007.

PROGRAM >>

The YES! Opelika program will do just that. Teach them to show up on time, work hard and reap the rewards.”

Those interested in applying or who knows someone who fits the criteria, please email the city of Opelika Human Resources Department at HumanResources@opelika-al. gov or call 334-7055130. Applications must be turned in by April 23. No resume or reference letter required.

For more information, or to download an application, visit www.opelika-al.gov or email the Human Resources office at the address above.

FROM A1

career pathways are critical assets for our youth to have,” Fuller said.

The YES! Opelika program is open to Opelika residents who are students between the ages of 16 to 19, a legal resident of the United States and must be enrolled in high school. They must be available to work for eight weeks between June 7 and July 30.

Mayor Fuller added, “As adults, we understand the value of having a good work ethic and how it feels to have a little spending money in our pockets.

ALBRITTON >>

FROM A4

DIETRICH >>

FROM A4

that his exceptional rose was still alive, and that his flower would be renamed “Peace” at the ‘45 Rose Parade in Pasadena.

And it was all downhill from there. When the War was finally over it was a worldwide hoedown. Pretty soon everybody and their mother’s brother’s cousin’s house cat wanted a Peace rose in their backyard.

Not just because of the rose’s resilience, but because of what the flower stood for. This simple rose represented the end of hard times.

And so the Peace rose became the most

popular cultivated rose of all time. Septillions of plants were distributed worldwide. Soon, people from Toulouse to Wichita were celebrating the end of the worst era in modern history by planting roses. Of all things.

This is why lately I find myself visualizing roses a lot. I close my eyes and see an infant, unsure of his own steps, chubby-legged and uncoordinated, learning to walk among a backdrop of roses. The peaceful flowers fill the Earth with perfume and color, and constantly remind me that, despite how bad things appear, as long as there are babies and roses, we’re going to make it.

I think the old soldier would have liked that.

HODGE >>

FROM A4

already-spent mornings and marks the right, showing the mornings remaining before there is a new ordinary without the symphony of Abbey, the right side would be more than I could bear.

So I won’t count them, those unwrapped mornings.

I will open each one slowly, attentively and with the gratitude that such a singular, profoundly lovely “ordinariness” deserves.

It’s raining now, but I’m told the sun will be out later.

The next day, I show this to my best

friend as we stand in the backyard looking at the daylilies that we know are almost ready to bloom. We have cared for those lilies. We’ve watered and fed and protected and loved them. And the days since we first planted them have raced by in such a flash.

He takes my hand and says, “One day soon, we’ll walk out here and they’ll be beautiful, growing just like they should be.” I know he’s right and that we’re not talking about lilies anymore.

“Aren’t we lucky to be here for it all?”

I ask.

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” is his reply.

grandfather.’

“As the years have taken their toll on me, I understand better now what Papa went through as he aged. His hearing was gone. Walking was difficult. There was a sadness about him as he saw his life coming to an end at age 93. I wish I could tell him now that I am understanding more and more how he felt. He was a brave, strong man who didn’t always speak as kindly as he should have, but I chose not to remember those words. Instead I remember with gratitude the tender words that were a comfort to me so many times.”

The world would be

a better place if more of us chose to follow Dean’s example.

Walter Albritton is Pastor Emeritus of Saint James United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. A graduate of Auburn University and Emory University, he lives in the Cabin near Wetumpka, Alabama. Author of several books, some of his most popular are When You Lose Someone You Love; Life’s Greatest Adventure – Serving Jesus Christ; God is Not Done with You and Living in Christ – the Only Way to Live. His latest book, is Changing Your World, is available on Kindle or in paperback from Amazon. You can contact him at walteralbritton7@gmail.com.

A6 April 8, 2021

Grief Share helps the community deal with loss When a person loses a loved one in their life, to have someone just spend time with them is such an encouragement. That is what Grief Share is all about. It is having friends be with you as God moves you toward hope.

The three aspects of Grief Share are video seminar — helpful information on grief-related topics; group discussion — facilitated small group discussion time; personal, individual application of

concepts presented to help a person who has experienced loss move toward hope and healing.

Grief Share meets every Wednesday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, Opelika, in Room 201.

The topics for future sessions include: April 7 — Grief and Your Relationships April 14 — “Why”: Why the Death of a Love One April 21 — Guilt and Anger over the loss of a love one April 28 — Com-

plication Factors May 5 — Stuck in Grief May 12 and 19 — Lessons of Grief, Coping with Grief During the Holiday Season May 26 — Heaven and What Do I Live For Now? If you would like to come to any of these meetings, Grief Share invites you to attend. For more information you can contact Melinda Jackson, coordinator of Grief Share at Trinity United Methodist Church at 334-7452632.

Celebrate Spring at Pioneer Park Contributed by Charles Mitchell The Second Saturday in April, April 10, at Pioneer Park in Loachapoka will celebrate spring. Come early and enjoy a garden walk ‘n talk with Dr. Charles Mitchell at 9 a.m. and discover all the amazing things you can grow in your East Alabama garden. Andrea Crowder will help young people decorate real, hardboiled chicken eggs that they gather themselves from the hens at Pioneer Park. At 10 a.m., a new Mountain Dulcimer class will continue. Loaner

instruments are available. Class will meet every Saturday for the next five weeks. Contact Deborah McCord at 334-703-3646 if you are interested.

Class limited to 10 people.

About Second Saturday On the second Saturday of every month, volunteers and re-enactors gather at Pioneer Park to demonstrate their arts and crafts. Historical Society volunteers will prepare a traditional, Alabama lunch in the Cook House at noon for all visitors to enjoy.

Blacksmiths are usually working at the forge, spin-

ners and weavers are upstairs in the Trade Center, and all the museums and historical buildings are open to the public from 9 a.m. until mid-afternoon.

Pioneer Park and Second Saturdays are hosted by the Lee County Historical Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, presentation and education about local history. All visitors are urged to wear masks and a keep social distance.

Most activities will be outdoors, weather permitting. More information can be found at www. leecountyhistoricalsociety.org/.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY SAMFORD COMMUNITY OUTREACH GROUP

Contributed by Beth Pinyerd

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. honored during event

The Samford Community Outreach Group hosted the third annual 'Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.' day last weekend. Community members and the sanitation workers of Memphis, Tennessee gathered on April 3. The event was hosted by Pastor Carolyn Morton and the OpelikaAuburn Moms Demand Action group. Speakers included Dr. Adia Winfrey from Tallapoosa, Alabama and Dr. Herbert Denmark from Auburn. The Samford Youth Group, honored Dr. King by reading poems. Guests included the Opelika Fire Department firefighter Roy Collier and Opelika Police Department Capt. Tony Amberson. The group honored Dr. King and sanitation workers from Memphis, Tennessee with a victory faith unity walk for their humanity work.

First On 1st Block Party to be held this weekend Contributed by Opelika Main Street The businesses of Opelika’s 1st Avenue will be hosting a block party from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday to celebrate the street’s reopening.

Coordinated by local developer Richard Patton and Opelika Main Street, the event will feature live music, food, drinks, art vendors and specials from area merchants.

The event is the

culmination of a multi-year process of enhancing the infrastructure and appearance of portions of 1st Avenue.

Recent improvements to the area include drainage enhancements, larger sidewalks, updated landscaping, water line repairs and the paving of several surrounding streets.

About Opelika Main Street: Founded in 1987, Opelika Main Street

helps assist in the revitalization of historic downtown Opelika through facade grants, beatification projects, economic development efforts, business professional development programs and various community events. Learn more about Opelika Main Street by going to opelikamainstreet.org or by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Opelika E vents, Society & Food

April 10 - First on 1st Block party from 6 to 9 p.m.

April 16, 17, 18 - Cinderella at OPAC April 17 - OTC Spring Showcase at SportsPlex Amphitheater at 3 p.m.

Martha Henk enjoys offering hospitality at lunch meetings Ann Cipperly

Southern

Hospitality

T

he executive director of the Food Bank of East Alabama since 1995, Martha Henk has had a heart for helping others from a young age. She is constantly working to help families lacking a reliable source of food. While she doesn’t have much time for relaxing, Martha finds time to offer hospitality and cooks lunch to serve at meetings for members of the Food Bank Board of Directors.

Martha said she has benefited from having a mother, sister and sister-in-law who are great cooks. She enjoys cooking home-style dishes for her family and for offering hospitality when she has time from her busy schedule.

Her amazing mother, Ruth Henk, is 98 years old and recently came through a bout with COVID. “While Mom has always been proud of her Norwegian heritage,” she said, “that country isn’t known for its cuisine. Most of the recipes handed down through her family start with one pound of butter and a cup of full cream!”

The food Martha’s missionary family ate in the Congo was quite different from what they ate when they returned to the United States.

Meat meals generally involved goat or antelope rather than beef.

They enjoyed a wonderful variety of tropical fruits, including a papaya tree by their back door and a pineapple

field in the backyard.

Martha has enjoyed preparing lunch for members of the board for the Food Bank.

“The Food Bank has great leadership from our board of directors,” she said. “This group meets each month over the noon hour, so I’ve always provided a lunch for the meetings.

Cooking for 25 isn’t too different from cooking for five people, it just involves tripling or quadrupling the recipes.”

She plans a menu that doesn’t involve dishes that are messy, difficult to serve or eat. “Since the Food Bank focuses on healthy and nutritious food,” Martha said, “it’s important to me that good food is associated with the Food Bank.”

OTC and O-Grows to offer collaborative camp

By Hannah Lester hlester@ opelikaobserver.com Camps are back on this summer and the Opelika Theatre Company and O-Grows are offering their own collaborative summer camp this year.

“Theatre Buds” will offer children a chance to experience

both the theatre and gardening in one camp, offered for two weeks in June, said a release from Marty Moore, Opelika Theatre Company artistic director.

“Campers will learn how theatre, gardens and nature can all tie in together,” Moore said. “Campers will write the script, music, edit, build their

own sets and props, act, sing, dance and tech the performance that will culminate with a special production for parents and guests, socially distanced, of course.”

The camp is for children ages five through 17 and will be held from June 7-11 and again from June 14-18 at the See GROWS, page A11

Photo special to the Observer Martha Henk, the executive director of the Food Bank of East Alabama, is the daughter of missionary parents who influenced her to be committed to helping others. She takes time from her busy schedule to offer hospitality by serving lunch to members of the Food Bank Board.

Of course, Food Bank products are not used for these meals, and board members pass a “hat” to cover the cost of purchasing this food.

Board members look forward to Martha’s delicious meals. It is a wonderful time to share before they get down to the serious business of the Food Bank having the resources to feed the hungry in our community.

“The ongoing corona-

virus pandemic continues to impact those struggling with hunger,” Martha said. “The Food Bank is gathering every possible resource to provide food and supplies to all who need it.

Those who were already struggling now face even greater challenges – not only to be fed, but to stay healthy.

“Before this pandemic, every community in the United States was home to people facing

food insecurity,” she added. “Covid gave us all an understanding of what it is like to live with uncertainty, including not knowing when you’ll be able to get toilet paper or when you can go out safely. Not being able to plan for your future is what food insecurity is like. The environment is often chaotic and unstable.”

Long before Martha became executive direcSee CIPPERLY, page A10

Gogue Center reopens with outdoor performances April 18 Contributed by the Gogue Center Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University will reopen in April 2021 with outdoor concerts at its amphitheater at the City of Auburn Lawn and Porch, following a 13-month hiatus in live, in-person performances.

The center, adhering to

strict safety guidelines, including the use of physically distanced seating, will present a series of six sold-out performances from its inaugural and second seasons that had been postponed due to public health concerns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Artists featured in the Gogue Center’s Spring 2021 performance lineup

include: - Zakir Hussain & Masters of Percussion...

April 18; 7:30 p.m.

- Jazz at Lincoln Center Septet with Wynton Marsalis, April 21 and, April 22; 7:30 p.m.

- Dover Quartet and Bridget Kibbey, May 7; 7:30 p.m.

- The Legendary Count See CENTER, page A14

A8 April 8, 2021

By Stacey Patton Wallace I have had a close, loving relationship with pizza since childhood.

When I was in single digits, I enjoyed the hamburger, cheese, pepper and onion pizza that Mama made. Later, I even learned to make it myself; however, as I’ve said before, I love to eat but not cook.

Therefore, cooking pizza is not nearly as fun as eating it at a restaurant is.

When I was in my teens, I frequented Alex City’s local Pizza Hut with my friends Amelia and Leigh Ann. After we finished eating, we would ask the poor employee who had to check us out to “please split the bill three ways.” I’m sure the folks who worked at the Hut were glad to see us go off to college.

Awhile back, Jim Sikes, noted chef, writer and food expert, invited my husband Mike and me to his home in Opelika for a fun, unique experience: a pizza-tasting party.

Chef Jim and his wife Amy were delightful, gracious hosts. He had

chosen eight people of various ages and backgrounds to evaluate pizzas from four area restaurants: Johnny Brusco’s, Fratelli’s, Little Italy’s and Dough Pizzeria.

The pizzas had cheese and tomato sauce with no other toppings.

Using a rubric, we evaluated each of them on seven or eight criteria, ranging from appearance to would we eat the pizza again.

This was a new experience for me, and I incorrectly thought that we would be given just a bite or two of each pizza. However, Chef Jim gave us generous slices. Trying to be a “good diabetic,” I asked him to cut my slices in half.

By the time we got to the last pizza, which was from Dough, I told Chef Jim that I wish I hadn’t made that request. Although he told me to go back for more, I managed to decline.

All eight of the participants ranked Dough as the best overall pizza.

It had plenty of mouthwatering cheese, and life is too short not

to have as much cheese as possible. Also, it had a delicious flavor; it was so hard not to go back and devour more slices. Mike and I agree that we would DEFINITELY eat Dough's pizza again.

Dough is located on 8th Street in Opelika.

As I have previously stated, I LOVE the small town charm of downtown Opelika, not to mention its plentiful free parking; therefore, Dough gets extra points from me for being in one of my favorite areas to dine.

One pleasant evening, Mike and I joined our friends Jack and William for supper at Dough.

The restaurant’s building is lovely, utilizing the original old bricks, and pretty, decorative light fixtures hang from the ceiling. Dough follows COVID-19 safety protocols. All employees wore masks, and social distancing was observed.

Hobson, our waiter, was a delight, being thoughtful and patient.

See PIZZERIA, page A11

Piedmont Fertilizer Co. Inc. 201 2nd Ave. • Opelika, AL SINCE 1910

Nothing better for your lawn exists

APRIL 17, 2021

http://give.childrensal.org/Piedmontskeet

PHOTO BY MIKE WALLACE

Making the Grade: Dough Pizzeria

A9 April 8, 2021

Children hop into action during Easter on the Square

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER

A10 April 8, 2021

CIPPERLY

>>

FROM A7

tor of the Food Bank, she had seen the effects of hunger on children when she was growing up in the Congo.

The daughter of missionary parents, Martha developed a heart of caring at an early age, seeing children with enlarged stomachs and hair turned red from lack of nutrition. When she came to America, she learned hunger has a different look and is not as obvious, but the problem of hunger is no less.

Martha’s parents were missionaries in the Congo for 17 years and were the biggest influence on her life. She grew up watching her parents being committed to helping people in need.

While Martha’s childhood was filled with unusual experiences as she traveled throughout Africa, at times her family’s life in Congo was dramatic. Bands of soldiers would take over the mission station and hold them at gunpoint.

RECIPES

>>

BLACK BEAN WRAPS 2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese ½ cup sour cream 1 tsp. onion salt 2 (15 oz.) cans black beans, rinsed and drained ¼ cup salsa 12 (8 inch) flour tortillas 1 (10 oz.) pkg. fresh spinach 2 (7 oz.) jars roasted sweet red peppers, drained, and chopped, optional Shredded carrots Beat first four ingredients in a large bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer until thoroughly blended. Set cheese mixture aside.

Process beans and salsa in a food processor or blender until smooth.

Spread cheese mixture over tortillas.

Soldiers ransacked their home looking for anything to connect them to Belgium and would take what they wanted.

Her family was evacuated from Congo under gunfire. Snipers at the airport fired at them as they waited for the UN plane.

Martha was 16 years old when her family moved from Africa to America. Her father became a Methodist minister in Minnesota until he retired.

After marriage, Martha lived in Delaware a few years where her three children were born. Her family moved to Auburn in 1982 with her parents and sister soon following.

Martha worked with the Presbyterian Community Ministry for five years. Then a friend called about the position with the Food Bank.

“That really clicked with me because it was understanding the immediate importance of food. It affirmed to me that the work was right for me.”

When Martha went to work at the Food Bank

in 1995, she was told they could teach food handling but couldn’t teach having a heart for it. “I knew that was the one part I could bring to this,” she said.

“I feel that the work that I am involved in now is mission work just like the mission work my parents did,” she added. “Work on the mission field is responding to a certain need just as I am responding to a need. To whom much is given, much is required, and I have been blessed in my life. I have a responsibility to give back.

“It is not glamorous work, but it is always challenging and very satisfying. There is always a sense that it is answering the call God puts on us to care for those in need.”

Martha received a call from a school when a child stood up and food fell out of his pockets.

He started crying, and said he was trying to take food home so his mother would have something to eat. They verified that the only way the family was get-

ting by was the school lunch. The child would eat a little and take the rest home.

Senior citizens are also in need. One in four seniors in Alabama live below the poverty level.

Martha sees needs everywhere. After eating at a food court with family, they pushed plates aside as they talked. A young man approached their table, pointed to the food, and asked, “Are you done with that?” They assumed he was part of the cleanup crew, and said they would clean up. His shoulders sank as he replied, “I needed it for myself.” They watched in stunned silence as he walked to a corner of the food court, sat down and started to eat their leftover food.

“We have people in our midst who are in need, and we rarely are aware of them,” Martha said. “My leftovers, my surplus, became someone else’s meal. That’s a great illustration of what the Food Bank does. It tries to find the surplus and extra food

and make it available to people in need.

“In Africa, we saw hunger from droughts,” said Martha. “It is hard to understand why we have hunger in this country when we have phenomenal resources.

It is more comfortable to think of hunger being somewhere else, not here.”

The Food Bank of East Alabama is a notfor-profit distribution center committed to efficiently distributing donated and purchased food through 225 qualified agencies. Every dollar given to the Food Bank enables them to distribute the equivalent of seven meals to people in need.

“In Lee County alone, more than 24,680 of our neighbors are food insecure and lack a reliable source of food,” Martha said.

“We know that alone, none of us can defeat hunger. Every day, thousands of pounds of food are shipped to helping agencies and churches; hundreds of meals are prepared for elderly, the homeless,

Spread bean mixture over this and add several leaves of spinach and carrots.

Roll tortillas tightly and chill. Serve with additional salsa for dipping. Makes 12 servings.

Softened butter Mix margarine, salt, and sugar. Boil 1 cup of water and pour over this mixture. Dissolve yeast in warm water and allow to stand for ten minutes.

Add to above, then add 2 beaten eggs.

Add flour gradually.

Cover and leave in the refrigerator overnight.

The next day knead the dough and roll out on a floured surface. For filling, mix brown sugar with white sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.

Spread softened butter over rolledout dough and then sprinkle sugar/cinnamon mixture over the dough. Roll up and cut cinnamon rolls.

Place on a baking sheet and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Bake at 350 degrees until browned.

If frosting is desired, mix together 14 cup softened butter with enough powdered sugar and milk to be

smooth. Add about ½ tsp. vanilla. Spread on warm rolls.

beans into a 2-quart casserole dish. Spread the onions in a layer over the green beans.

Layer bacon pieces over the casserole.

Sprinkle almonds over the top.

Heat the bacon drippings over medium heat. Stir in vinegar and sugar, heating just until the sugar is dissolved; drizzle over everything in the dish.

Cover and chill for at least one hour, but overnight is best.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes until the onions are tender and the almonds are toasted. Check after 30 minutes and cover with foil if necessary.

REFRIGERATOR CINNAMON ROLLS These always turn out very moist--they can be frosted or eaten plain without frosting. This is probably my most requested recipe.

1 cup margarine or butter 1 Tbsp. salt 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 cup water 2 pkg. dry yeast 1 cup warm (not hot) water 2 slightly beaten eggs 6 cups white flour Filling: 2 tsp. cinnamon ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup brown sugar

MARINATED GREEN BEANS Prepare the night before and marinate overnight for the best results 12 slices bacon, cut up 2 lbs. of green beans, trimmed and snapped (or the equivalent in canned beans) 1 medium onion, chopped 6 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar 6 Tbsp. white sugar ½ cup blanched slivered almonds Cook bacon over medium heat until evenly browned. Remove bacon to paper towels and reserve drippings in the pan.

If using fresh green beans, cook beans until tender, drain. If using canned beans, drain the water.

Place the green

COMPANY CHICKEN CASSEROLE 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 cup chicken broth 2 cloves garlic 2 wedges of onion

women and children in crisis and those in rehab for addictions or mental illness; and kids receive extra food for the weekend, all because someone gives money, time or goods to help.”

While Martha is thankful for seeing some sense of normalcy on the horizon from the pandemic, the Food Bank still has its needs. “A full economic recovery takes a long time – years in fact as we learned from the 2008 recession,” she said.” The Food Bank is in this for the long haul, and we’re so grateful to have strong community support in the fight to end hunger.”

To learn how you can support the work of the Food Bank, visit www. foodbankofeastalabama. com Following is a selection of Martha’s recipes, including ones she serves members of the board for the Food Bank.

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

4 cups Pepperidge Farms Herb seasoned stuffing mix 1/2 cup butter 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 pint sour cream 8 oz. frozen broccoli cuts, thawed, optional Place chicken breasts, garlic and onion in a skillet with water and bring just to a boil over medium heat, cover and simmer until pink is gone.

Remove the chicken, shred with a fork, and set aside. Reserve the broth (this should equal about 1 cup, but if it does not, add enough canned broth to equal a cup.)

Melt butter and pour over stuffing mix in a mixing bowl and whisk with a fork to blend.

Spread half of the stuffing/butter mix in a large casserole dish or 9 x 13 pan.

Blend the soup, sour cream, and reserved broth together with a wire whisk.

See RECIPES page A12

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

• Licensed, Bonded, and Insured • 30% OFF First responders and military active and retired.

• No weekend service or after hours markups.

Regular weekly rates any day.

A11 April 8, 2021

Alabama Cottage Food Law: The Do’s and Don’t’s Contributed by Mary Leigh Oliver Auburn University ACES From jams and jellies to muffins and cookies, selling certain food items from the home is an option for many Alabama residents. However, the process may be more complicated than people expect. For home business owners, there are several precautions they must take in order to legally sell their products. These precautions are known as Cottage Food Law. Cottage Food Law According to Alabama Extension Food

Safety and Quality Regional Agent Janet Johnson, the Cottage Food Law protects home businesses selling perishable food and goods. These laws vary for each state.

“For Alabama, the law allows individuals to sell certain non-hazardous foods prepared in their home to the public,” Johnson said.

Owners must have a business license and pay sales taxes. The law also limits the producer’s sales to $20,000 per year. Prior to the law, the sale of homemade food was only acceptable at farmers markets. Now, the enforcement of the

current law in 2014 allows home business to thrive, while keeping consumers safe.

Permitted and Prohibited While the Cottage Food Law allows producers to sell goods from the home, the law only permits certain food items. The cottage foods include baked goods, candles, jams, jellies, dry herbs and dry herb mixes.

“Any food that requires temperature control is not permitted under the law,” Johnson said.

Other prohibited goods include meats, popcorn, pickles, canned fruits and

vegetables, milk products or juices. For the full list of prohibited foods, visit the Alabama Cottage Food Law Rules and Regulations page on the Alabama Extension website.

Labeling Along with food limitations, there are strict rules about proper labeling for the goods. The Alabama Cottage Food Law requires each label to include the following: Name of the product (highly recommended but not required) Name of the individual or business Address of the individual or business

Statement declaring: THIS FOOD IS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. People can submit labels, along with a copy of a certification, to the local county health department for approval.

Certification In order for the Cottage Food Law to protect a home business, the producer must have a valid food safety certification. The Alabama Department of Public Health accepts several different certifications, such as the National Registry, ServSafe and various

restaurant food safety certifications.

“One of the eligible certifications is the Alabama Cottage Food online training,” Johnson said. “This program is specifically for Cottage Food certifications from the Alabama Extension Food Safety and Quality Team.”

More Information Before selling any food items, make sure it’s safe and covered by the Cottage Food Law. For more information on the Alabama Cottage Food Law, visit the Alabama Extension website at www. aces.edu.

Kreher Preserve and Nature Center introduces new art and gardening workshop series Contributed by the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center Auburn University’s Kreher Preserve and Nature Center is introducing two new workshop series to its annual program lineup: a nature art workshop series and a gardening workshop series.

“We are so excited to offer these new opportunities to the community,” said Michael Buckman, center manager. “In response to requests we have received over the years, we have been working hard to develop new workshops that offer great education to all ages. We have had a lot of interest in art classes and gardening classes, so when we found two amazing teachers for these topics, we jumped on the opportunity to extend that knowledge to our community with monthly workshops.”

In The Garden With Cyndi is a gardening workshop for adults taught by Cyndi Czerkawski, and that meets every month on a Sunday afternoon. The first class is April 11, from 2 to 4 p.m., and will focus on getting the garden prepped and ready

GROWS

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FROM A7

Southside Center for the Arts.

Each day, campers will arrive at 8:30 a.m. and leave at 4:30 p.m.

Reservations will open on April 5 on the Opelika Theatre Company website (www.opelikatheatrecompany.com/ home) Applications will open April 5 and the cost for the camp is $140 per camper, though

for the spring growing season, including seeds for attendees to take home. In The Garden With Cyndi workshops are $20 per person per class or $150 for a 2021 annual pass to attend all the workshops for this year.

“I believe that gardening should be about the enjoyment of your gardens,” said Czerkawski, In The Garden With Cyndi instructor. “In my workshop series, you’ll get interesting lessons with tons of tips and tricks that make gardening fun and easy. Gardening is a passion for me and my goal is for you to love gardening just as much!”

The second workshop series is the KPNC Nature Art Series with Heather Jackson, a nature-inspired art class for all ages taught by Heather Jackson, and that meets every month on a Saturday. April’s class is April 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. and costs $20 per person, which includes all supplies and materials.

“There is a wide variety of wildlife and plants to see, sketch, and learn about,” said Jackson, KPNC Nature Art

there will be discounted rates available for families, Moore said.

“Non-refundable deposits can be made to reserve campers spot,” she said. “Balance due

by June 3.”

The O-Grows Spring Opening will be held April 10 and more information will be available at that event, Moore said.

For more information, call or text 344-663-2593 or 334-663-4480.

Series instructor. “I have often envisioned bringing community together through creating art in nature, thus the idea for this Nature Art Series was born. I believe that everyone is a creative being and creativity is a wonderful and powerful way to express one’s self. In my workshops, you will learn some fascinating techniques and have fun creating your personal artwork.”

The dates, times and topics for these workshops can be found on the Nature Center’s website.

About Kreher Preserve and Nature Center The Kreher Preserve and Nature Center is a nonprofit, outreach facility of Auburn University’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, providing education, recreation, and leisure resources for local communities and the region. With nearly 120 acres of preserved forest and waterways, the nature center features over 6 miles of shaded hiking and running trails, in addition to a yearround calendar of nature-focused events, workshops, and educational opportunities

PIZZERIA

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FROM A8

He explained the various pizzas and kindly brought me a paper menu since this 20th century woman, who is trapped in the 21st, doesn’t do apps.

Diners may choose from a variety of wood fired Neapolitan pizzas which have thin crusts and are like personal pizzas. In addition, they may select from American style pizzas which have thicker crusts and are more like New York style. Also,

Students with their art creations at KPNC Nature Art Series class in February.

Nature-inspired art creations that students will create in April’s Nature Art workshop.

for all ages. Kreher is open every day of

the year from dawn to dusk. Visit www.

auburn.edu/preserve to learn more.

diners may choose from a list of toppings and build their own pizzas.

Jack chose the Pesto Neapolitan pizza which had house pesto, fresh tomato, fresh mozzarella, olive oil and pecan dust. Mike and I chose an American style pizza with pepperoni, sausage and onion.

William also picked an American style pizza with similar toppings.

Just like at Chef Jim’s, our pizza was fresh, cheesy and outstanding. As usual,

Mike and I didn’t need a box for leftovers – there were none. We now have a favorite new pizza place in Lee County. If you haven’t been to Dough yet, try it soon; you will really enjoy it.

Dough Pizzeria 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

A12 April 8, 2021

Creek Indians study tour planned for June Contributed by Charles Mitchell A Creek Indians in Alabama study tour with the Lee County Historical Society and Chattahoochee Valley Historical Society has been revised for June after several delays due to the pandemic. Final registration is underway for the revised trip dates of June 12-16.

Dr. Charles Mitchell, president of the Lee County Historical Society, encourages those who enjoy historic travel to join this unique bus tour across the state.

This event is sponsored by both the Lee County and Chattahoochee Valley Historical Societies and builds on six previous historical tours.

“This unique opportunity showcases the history of the indigenous people of our state like

RECIPES

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FROM A10

Place shredded chicken over the layer of stuffing mix. If using broccoli, spread this over the chicken.

Pour the soup mixture over the chicken, then top with the remaining stuffing mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

BEST EVER BAR COOKIES- PEACH MELBA SHORTBREAD BARS 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 tsp. salt 1 cup cold butter 1 cup peach preserves 6 tsp. raspberry preserves 1/2 cup sliced almonds Garnish: powdered sugar Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine first 3 ingredients in a medium bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup flour mixture.

Lightly grease an 11 x 17 or 9-inch square pan.

Press remaining flour mixture onto bottom of the pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes until lightly browned.

Spread peach preserves over crust in pan. Dollop raspberry preserves by 1/2 tsp. over peach preserves.

Sprinkle reserved 1 cup flour mixture over preserves. Sprinkle with almonds.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool. Cut into bars.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.

SUPER MOIST CORNBREAD

nothing else,” Mitchell said.

Trip itinerary highlights traditional venues, such as “The Hermitage” estate of Andrew Jackson in Nashville, the state-of-the-art Jones Archaeological Museum at Moundville State Park, as well the Poarch Creek Museum in Atmore.

Tours of re-created forts include Horseshoe Bend, Fort Jackson, Fort Mims and Fort Mitchell. Additionally, this tour includes some of Alabama’s most scenic by-ways, including the remote Tensaw Delta in South Alabama where the Creek War began.

There will be also be rare opportunities to travel upon certain sections of the Old Federal Road as the tour traverses the state.

CVHS President Malinda Powers adds, “Even more than the extraordinary people

1 pkg. (8.5 oz.) corn muffin mix 1 can (11 oz.) Mexican-style corn, drained 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 egg, slightly beaten Preheat oven to 400. Spray 8-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Combine all ingredients in bowl until moistened. Spread evenly into prepared pan.

Bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm or let cool before removing from pan.

BALSAMIC PEA SALAD 1 (16 oz.) pkg. frozen green peas ½ cup chopped almonds ½ cup chopped green onions ½ cup crumbled feta cheese ¾ cup mayonnaise 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar 1 pinch black pepper to taste Place peas in a colander and run warm water over them until they are thawed. Place in a large bowl.

Toast almonds in a skillet over medium heat. Then combine with peas.

Stir in onions, feta cheese, and mayonnaise. Mix in balsamic vinegar, and season with pepper. Cover, and refrigerate. Overnight is best.

PASTA SALAD 6 oz. corkscrew pasta 1/3 cup corn oil ¼ cup wine vinegar Minced clove of garlic 1 ½ tsp. dried basil ½ tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 cups broccoli

The 2019 study tour visited Old Cahawba, the site of the first Capitol of Alabama, in an outdoor tour wagon.

and places of this period in Alabama history, it’s the stories of this time that are unforgettable.

Expert tour guides include several of Alabama’s leading archaeologists, anthropologists

and historians.”

For more information visit www.cvhistoricalsociety.org. Net

10 cherry tomatoes, cut in half 4 oz. mozzarella cheese, cubed ½ green or red pepper, cut up Mix together.

Should be stored in refrigerator for a while to let flavors mix well. I usually double the recipe above.

peeled and cut into ¼-inch thick slices 3 ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges 1 Vidalia or sweet onion, sliced into rings 1/2 cup white vinegar 1/2 cup water 1/3 cup olive oil 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar 1 Tbsp. kosher salt 2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper Place cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion in a large bowl and set aside.

Whisk together vinegar, water, olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until sugar and salt dissolve. Pour dressing over cucumber mixture and toss to coat.

Cover and chill at least 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

white flour and yeast.

Heat water, shortening, brown sugar, and salt until warm. Add to dry mixture and beat at low speed for 1/12 minute while scraping down the sides, and then beat at higher speed for 3 minutes or until smooth.

By hand, stir in whole wheat flour and enough white flour to make a moderately stiff dough.

Knead for 5 to 8 minutes.

Form into a ball and put in a bowl that has been sprayed with non-stick spray, turning over the dough one time. Let rise until double, then punch down.

Form into rolls and put on greased baking sheet. Let rise about 45 minutes.

Bake in preheated oven at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

BAKED SPAGHETTI 1 pkg. (8 oz.) spaghetti, cooked and drained 2 Tbsp. butter 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1 container (24 oz.) ricotta cheese 1 lb. ground beef 1 jar (28 oz.) chunky-style pasta sauce 1 pkg. (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 13 x 9 cake pan with non-stick spray.

Combine hot cooked spaghetti with butter; stir until butter is melted. Add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, stir to coat.

Arrange spaghetti in an even layer in pan.

Spread ricotta cheese over spaghetti.

Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Brown ground beef; drain. Add pasta sauce and spoon over ricotta. Top with remaining Parmesan cheese.

Cover with foil.

Bake 30 minute, then remove foil and continue baking 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.

Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

This can be cut into squares and served like lasagna.

CUCUMBER AND TOMATO SALAD 3 large cucumbers,

CREOLE CARROTS 2 cups diced carrots 1/4 cup chopped onions 1/4 cup melted butter 1/4 cup diced green pepper 1/2 cup tomato juice 1/2 diced celery Dice carrots and boil in salted water until tender. Simmer onion, peppers, and celery in butter until nearly done. Add carrots and pour in tomato juice. Place in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees until done (about 1 hour).

WHOLE WHEAT ROLLS 3 to 3 1/2 cups white flour 1 pkg. yeast 1 3/4 cups water 1/3 cup brown sugar 3 Tbsp. shortening 2 tsp. salt 2 cups whole wheat flour In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of

VEGETABLE BARS 2 tubes (8 count) refrigerated crescent rolls ¾ cup mayonnaise ½ cup sour cream 2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 envelope ranch style dressing mix ¾ cup chopped green pepper ¾ cup diced tomatoes ¾ cup shredded carrots ¾ cup chopped broccoli ¾ cup chopped cauliflower ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese Cover the bottom of an 11 x 17-inch baking sheet with the sheets of crescent roll dough. Pat to fit pan and bake at 350 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes until lightly browned.

Mix dressing, sour cream and cream

proceeds from this tour benefit historic preservation projects in east-central Alabama.

cheese until smooth.

Spread over cooled crust.

Combine vegetables and spread evenly over the cream cheese mixture. Top with cheddar cheese.

Cover with plastic and press vegetables into cheese. Refrigerate covered 3 or 4 hours (or overnight.) Cut into bars and serve. **Of course, you can change vegetables to suit your taste!

CABBAGE/RAMEN NOODLE SALAD 1 pkg. chicken flavored ramen noodles 5 to 8 cups shredded cabbage 1/4 cup green onions 2 Tbsp. sesame seeds 1/2 cup slivered almonds (browned) Dressing: flavor pkg. from noodles 3 tsp. vinegar 2 tsp. sugar 2 tsp. oil 1/2 tsp. pepper Crush noodles slightly, put in colander, and pour 1 cup boiling water over the noodles to soften. Drain well.

Mix all salad ingredients except almonds. In a covered glass bowl, combine dressing ingredients. Shake well and pour over salad. Stir until evenly coated. Add almonds and chill 2 to 3 hours before serving.

BROCCOLI SALAD 1 head broccoli floweret, chopped into bite-sized pieces 1/2 cup sunflower seeds 1/2 cup raisins 2 chopped green onions or Vidalia 2 Tbsp. vinegar 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar 1 cup mayonnaise 5 slices bacon, fried and crumbled Mix and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

A13 April 8, 2021

The Ever Given and the Forgiven

W

ell, that was interesting, wasn’t it?

On Tuesday morning, March 23, the nearly ¼ mile long, 200,000 ton Japanese-owned container vessel, Ever Given, was making its way through the Suez Canal when a blinding sandstorm struck. The ship was turned sideways, and it ended up getting wedged into opposite banks in a narrow portion of the Canal—making it impossible for anything else to get by.

Twelve percent of the world’s international trade and 30% of shipping container freight goes through the Canal.

It connects Asia with Europe and without it, ships must sail around Africa

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

which adds about 2 weeks to their tip. When the Ever Given was finally dislodged almost a week later, there were 420 ships waiting. It had caused major backups in the supply chain and

By Bruce Green was holding up about 9 Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ billion dollars of trade— in Opelika per day!

They had dredged over 30,000 cubic meters of to be a supermoon (a full sand and employed a moon that occurs when fleet of tugboats. The the moon is closest to rudder and propeller were freed, but the rest of the earth) on Sunday. It would produce a king the massive ship hadn’t tide that would raise the budged. Their hopes water level about a footfor refloating the ship weren’t looking good and and-a-half. This would hopefully provide the the alternative was the margin the salvage crews time consuming, costly needed to refloat the ship. process of unloading the And that’s exactly ship’s cargo to reduce its what happened. weight.

Sometimes we can find But they had one more ourselves in a situation chance. There was going

that seems very much like that of the Ever Given. We’re wedged into circumstances that seem inescapable. No matter how hard we try, we can’t extricate ourselves. Like David when Saul was seeking his life, we don’t just need the strength of friends (a good salvage crew and a fleet of tugboats)—we need the strength of God (Someone who can make moon move and the tides rise).

That’s exactly how it worked out for David because in his time of need, he found in Jonathan more than a friend—he found a friend who “helped him find strength in God” (1 Samuel 23:16). What God did with the moon through the natural laws He es-

tablished to free the Ever Given from the sands of the Suez, He has done in a much more direct manner through the intervention of His Son on the cross to free us from the sandbar of sin. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. He has raised us up with Christ to a new life.

We’ll take all of the salvage crews and tugboats we can get in life, but what we really need is the deliverance God gives us through Jesus Christ. The story of the Ever Given is great; but the story of the forgiven is glorious!

You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: a-taste-of-gracewith-bruce-green.com

ABOUT BRUCE GREEN 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

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. — Philippians 4:5

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

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

A14 April 8, 2021

FEMA to provide funding for funeral expenses related to COVID-19

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

The year 2020 was a thief. A thief of time, memories, experiences and life.

Many, both nationally and in the Lee County community, were left with the burden of planning funerals for loved ones.

But, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will now provide assistance to those who incurred funeral expenses in 2020 and 2021.

“At FEMA, our mission is to help

people before, during and after disasters,” said Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton, in a FEMA press release. “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense grief for so many people. Although we cannot change what has happened, we affirm our commitment to help with funeral and burial expenses that many families did not anticipate.”

The financial assistance through FEMA was included in the American Rescue Plan that

was approved on March 11, and was also approved under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.

The assistance will take effect April 12, but will provide retroactive relief for expenses that occurred after Jan. 20, 2020, the release said.

“Additional guidance is being finalized and will be released to potential applicants and community partners as soon as possible,” the FEMA

website said. “In the meantime, people who have COVID-19 funeral expenses are encouraged to keep and gather documentation.”

The necessary documentation includes an official death certificate, funeral expenses documents and proof of funds received from other sources, the release said.

Additionally, to receive funds, the death must have occurred in the United States, which includes the U.S. territories and District

of Columbia. The death certificate must show the death was COVID-19 related If you are requesting funds, you must be a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national or qualified alien, as of Jan. 20, 2020, the site said. However, the deceased does not need to have been a citizen.

“If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should apply under a single application as applicant and co-applicant,” the release said. “FEMA

will also consider documentation from other individuals not listed as the applicant and co-applicant who have incurred funeral expenses as part of the registration for the deceased individual.”

Funding is limited to $9,000 per funeral, the release said, and a total of $35,000 per applicant, meaning applicants can apply for funding for more than one deceased.

To apply for funding, call 884-6846333 anytime Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning April 12.

Sr. and Exie Hilyer Arwood.

OBITUARIES R C Cannon

R C Cannon, 89 of Opelika, passed away March 29 at his residence. Visitation was from noon until 2 p.m. on April 1 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service 2 p.m. at Garden Hills Cemetery with Rev. Scott Roney officiating.

He lived most of his live in Opelika and was a retired building contractor for the area.

Mr. Cannon is survived by his daughter Tammy Ann (Tim) May; sister Mildred C. Spriggs; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.

Mark Raley Morris

CENTER

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FROM A7

Basie Orchestra Directed

by Scotty Barnhart, May 13; 7:30 p.m.

- Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Monday, June 7; 7:30 p.m.

Like performing arts centers across the country, the Gogue Center’s approach to reopening has been incremental.

The decision to welcome patrons back for live, in-person performances was made once artists resumed touring and the necessary health and safety protocols could be put in place. The center’s current outdoor performance operating protocols call for all Spring 2021 performances to be presented outdoors in the amphitheater at a reduced capacity. The plan has been reviewed and approved by Auburn University.

“Last March, not even a full year into our inaugural 2019-20 season, we made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone performances and programs due to the escalating COVID-19 crisis,” said Christopher Heacox, executive director of the Gogue Center.

“After months of careful

Mark Raley Morris, 28, was reunited with his beloved Gramps on Saturday, March 27, 2021. Raley died of injuries sustained in a car accident in Atlanta, Georgia.

Born in Dothan, Alabama on June 14, 1992, Raley moved with his mother to Opelika in 1997 and graduated from Opelika High School in 2010.

He attended Auburn University where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and earned a degree in biomedical sciences in 2016. He was an original employee for the start-up company FullStory.

Everything was an adventure for – and with – Raley. He loved the finer things in life, had a keen eye for fashion, especially shoes, enjoyed many music genres and in

the past few years, had become a frequent international traveler.

He and his Gramps shared a passion for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Raley was a fiercely loyal friend who loved to laugh and to make others laugh. He was an avid skateboarder for many years and continued to follow the sport, even after hanging up his board.

Raley was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Mark “Gramps” Keirn; paternal grandfather Max Folsom Morris Jr. and his paternal stepgrandfather Jimmy “Paw Paw” DeLamar.

He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Shannon and Jamie DeLamar of Opelika; his father, Max F. Morris III of Dothan; sister Landon DeLamar of Opelika;

and brother Paxton DeLamar of Orlando, Florida; maternal grandmother, Julie “JuJu” Keirn of Opelika (formerly of Ozark); paternal grandmother, Jacquie “Dada” MooreWarren of Dothan; his paternal stepgrandmother Joyce “Nana” DeLamar of Opelika; several aunts, uncles and cousins and his canine sidekick, Remi.

He is also survived by his close childhood friends: Bo Larkin and Matt DuBose of Auburn; Corey Lyerly of Montgomery; Garrett Dagostin of Columbus, Georgia; Joel Alvarado of Opelika; Steven Alvarado of Killeen, Texas; and Anna Asbury Larkin of Atlanta; his godmother, Kate Asbury Larkin; many Sigma Chi fraternity brothers and several friends from

Dothan. A special thank you to Kennethia Holmes and Roderick Clark for stopping at the accident, trying to help Raley, rescuing Remi and staying with Raley until paramedics arrived; they were truly angels among us.

A Celebration of Life service was held at First United Methodist Church in downtown Opelika on April 1 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Tim Thompson officiating.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory handled arrangements.

deliberation and planning, we are confident we have set in place the most effective protocols necessary to ensure the safety of our artists, patrons, staff, volunteers and vendors."

With its expansive, open-air design, the amphitheater is the ideal venue for the center’s return to presenting live, in- person performances. In a recent town hall meeting of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP), of which the Gogue Center is a member organization, Dr. Anthony Fauci, leading immunologist and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that events held outdoors are “much, much safer than indoors.”

For all Spring 2021 performances, patron seating will be organized on the amphitheater lawn in adequately spaced two- and four-person seating areas, or pods, akin to outdoor theatre boxes, and will allow patrons from the same household or party to enjoy performances together while remaining physically distanced from other groups.

Though seating capacity in the amphitheater

will be reduced in order to maintain physical distancing, use of the outdoor venue will enable the Gogue Center to accommodate all patrons who purchased tickets to performances rescheduled for spring 2021.

One performance, the much-anticipated Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis concert, has been split into two engagements in order to accommodate the number of ticketholders. The ensemble, which is currently touring as a septet, will perform on April 21 and April 22.

Ticketholders will be alerted to their assigned performance date starting next week.

The reduction in seating capacity means that all six spring 2021 performances are now officially sold out. No additional tickets will be made available for purchase. New, updated digital tickets — another safety measure implemented to reduce physical touchpoints — will be sent to patrons beginning next week. A print-athome option will also be available.

“We are communicating with all ticketholders to remind them of the performances for which

they currently have tickets and, more importantly, to make sure they understand that their tickets are still valid for admission on rescheduled dates,” Heacox said.

“When you purchase a ticket to a performance at the Gogue Center, your admission will always be honored, no matter when or where we present the performance.”

In addition to moving all Spring 2021 performances to the amphitheater and the implementation of physically distanced seating, the Gogue Center will also enact a number of new protocols and procedures designed to help protect the health and safety of patrons, artists, staff, volunteers and vendors.

These practices include but are not limited to: Outdoor box office stations and entry gates will be configured to reduce congestion in the arrival plaza prior to performances.

Admission into the amphitheater will be staggered with assigned arrival times to maximize space for physical distancing.

To reduce physical touchpoints and eliminate hand-to-hand contact between patrons and staff,

all tickets will be reissued as digital tickets and distributed electronically.

To reduce congestion at concessions areas, food and beverage items will be available for advance purchase only. All concessions will be prepackaged in individual and/or closed containers to help prevent cross- contamination.

All transactions, including ticket handling and concessions ordering, payment and pickup, will be contactless and cashless to reduce physical touchpoints.

Foot traffic patterns will be configured to limit queuing and crowding throughout the amphitheater. Movement within the venue will be directed to minimize congregation and limit physical interaction between patrons from different households/parties.

Face coverings will be required in accordance with Auburn University policy, in light of current CDC guidance, and/ or at the request of the artist. When required, face coverings must be worn by all patrons, staff, volunteers and vendors regardless of vaccination status. Masks must cover both the nose and mouth and be worn at all times

Milford Donald Arwood Donald Arwood of Opelika passed away at the age of 83 years on March 27, 2021 at EAMC. He was born on April 6, 1937 to the late George Martin Arwood

Donald was preceded in death by his son, Tim Arwood; sister, Penny Arwood; two brothers, Douglas Arwood and Preston Arwood.

He leaves behind a son, Craig Arwood (Charlotte). He is survived by sisters Barbara Johnson (John L.) and Nelda Arwood (Michael Skeen); brothers, George Arwood Jr. (June) and James A. Arwood.

Donald served his country faithfully as a member of the United States Marine Corps.

Visitation was held in the Parlor at FrederickDean Funeral Home on March 30, 2021 followed by a graveside service at 11:30 a.m. at Union Grove Church.

except when eating or drinking.

Hand sanitizer stations will be widely available for use throughout the amphitheater.

Outdoor restrooms, including portable toilets, will be fully operational, outfitted with touch-free fixtures (e.g., faucets, toilets, etc.) and adequately stocked with supplies for handwashing.

The Gogue Center’s Spring 2021 performance announcement is the first of three strategically scheduled announcements planned. Future announcements specific to fall 2021 and spring 2022 will be made as new information and details, including featured artists, performance dates and updates to policies and protocols, are confirmed.

For more information on rescheduled Spring 2021 performances, visit the Gogue Center’s website at goguecenter. auburn.edu/spring2021.

Patrons with specific questions or concerns regarding performances, seating or ticketing policies may contact the Gogue Center box office by telephone at 334.844.

TIXS (8497) or via email at gpactickets@auburn. edu.

A15 April 8, 2021

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.

9- 11 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

12- 2 p.m.

Pick up your supplies Litter/Trash pick-up Return to Covington with trash and unused supplies Free Throw & Slam Dunk competitions

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.

... r e t t i L Losers

n A e B Don’t oser!

Ope-l

Only

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

PRIZES INCLUDE: • Autographed basketball from AU Coach Bruce Pearl • Various gift cards

e thJUNK

A16 April 8, 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 Opelika: April 9 at 4 p.m. at 300 Simmons Street in Opelika

INSIDE • OPELIKA SCHOOLS • LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS • COMMUNITY SPORTS

Lee County: April 13 at 6 p.m. at 2410 Society Hill Road in Opelika Auburn: April 13 at 6 p.m. at 405 S. Dean Road in Auburn

Auburn’s Harris is ‘ready to go’

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

OHS baseball hits its stride

T

he OHS baseball team is hot, winning six out of the last seven games. Last week, the Bulldogs beat rival Central 4-3 and won two of three games against area foe Russell County.

Against the Red Devils, the Dogs scored the winning run in the the top of the seventh off a hit from Jonathon Chase.

Luke Murray started on the mound, pitched three complete innings, allowing one earned run off three hits. JT McArdle pitched the fourth inning and Paul Goodman pitched the last three innings to earn the win.

Jacob Smith and Goodman led offensively with two hits apiece. Brooks Bryan, Brantley Davis and Xander Grilliott added hits, too.

Opelika travelled to Seale on Wednesday, for its first area game against Russell County. The Warriors defeated the Dogs 8-2 behind a complete game from pitcher Landon Russell, who struck out 12 and yielded only nine hits.

The Dogs made three costly errors that

led to four Russell County runs.

Chase led OHS with three hits followed by two hits apiece from Jackson Harris and Bryan. Smith and Grilliott added singles.

In game two against the Warriors, Opelika beat Russell County by a score of 8-4.

Davis pitched six innings, allowed three earned runs on four hits while striking out eight batters. Murray pitched the final inning, allowing zero runs while striking out two.

Offensively, Goodman led the Dogs with two hits while Bryan, Smith, Duke, Davis and Grilliott added hits.

Ultimately, the Bulldogs won the series after winning game three, 4-0, behind solid pitching from Murray and Harrison Long. The two combined for a shutout and allowed just three hits.

Offensively, Chase led with two hits; Harris and Grilliott added one hit apiece.

The win leaves OHS 2-1 in area play but earned the series win which is See SPORTS , page B5

Newly hired Auburn Women’s Basketball head coach Johnnie Harris had her first press conference on Monday and explained how she plans to turn the program around.

“Our culture is going to be one of excitement,” Harris said. “Our culture is going to be one of dignity, trust and loyalty. It’s going to be one of hard work.”

For her first ever head-coaching job, Harris walks into a tough situation on The Plains.

The Tigers have missed the NCAA tournament in three of the last four years and are losing senior leader, All-SEC Second Team forward and Auburn’s all-time leading rebounder, Unique Thompson.

PHOTO BY SHANNA LOCKWOOD / AU ATHLETICS

By Wil Crews sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com

However, the Auburn Family, and its proud traditions, are what appealed to Harris and give her hope for the future.

“I definitely see potential in the program,” Harris said. “Auburn has a rich history, teams that have been in the Sweet 16, the Final Four, won a conference championship, tournament

championship, so I definitely saw that.

Again, the family atmosphere. I’m going to fit. I really believe that what we are going to do here is special, and I think it will be something the fans will embrace.”

Harris comes to Auburn with a combined 16 years of coaching experience at Arkansas, Texas

A&M, Mississippi State and Texas.

Harris made the move to Austin last season to continue her work alongside Longhorn head coach Vic Shaeffer, whom she followed to Texas and spent 10 years with at Mississippi State. While in Starkville, Harris See HARRIS, page B4

E-Sports lets more students get involved at Smiths Station

By JD McCarthy For the Opelika Observer

Alabama high schools have a rich tradition in football, basketball and soccer but three years ago they entered one of the fastest growing sports in the country.

The AHSAA partnered with PlayVS to bring esports to Alabama high schools and Smiths Station was one of the first

schools to field a team. According to the AHSAA website PlayVS “is the premier high school esports provider” and “is the single destination where players come together to compete, fans gather to spectate and coaches manage their programs.”

Emma Whitlock is the coach of the team but does not shy away from admitting the players know

more about the games than her.

“I tell people all the time, really, I’m more of the organizer than actual coaching. The kids almost always know more about the games than you do,” she said.

Whitlock, who is a gamer herself, used to joke with her fellow teachers about sponsoring an esports team and when the AHSAA announced the move

she made sure Smiths Station took advantage of the opportunity.

“I’m the kind of person who likes to play video games and I know there are students that really enjoy that and I’m very much about getting students involved in school activities,” she said.

“Esports is another way to get kids involved and it’s something that can also reach those See E-SPORTS , page B5

B2 April 8, 2021

B3 April 8, 2021

No Housework Day, spend time with your pets

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

H

appy No Housework Day! This holiday falls on April 7 every year.

Let’s all take a break from vacuum cleaners, scrubbers, brooms, mops, dusters and all housework. Let’s kick back and do some fun activities with our children. This could include spending time with our pets, as we are celebrating “National Pet Day” this coming Sunday, April 11.

Young children absolutely love pictures of pets, books about pets, movies of pets and having age-appropriate pets of their own. I am sure we can all fondly remember our first pet whether it be a goldfish, rabbit, cat or dog. I warmly remember when my mother, a teacher in Opelika, brought home to her children a

little dog named “Mutt” under her coat after school one day. She wanted to pleasantly surprise her children and she did.

I was three years old when I received my little dog but even today, I still remember the feelings of warmth and love for my first pet.

Pets make people happy. They make people smile. We all like to pet a dog, stroke a cat or take time with a cute little puppy or kitten. From cute, furry, little animals to looking at an aquarium with fish gracefully swimming around, pets are just fun.

The purpose of this article is to share the benefits of having a pet with the young and old.

Pets help us interact with other people.

Walking or carrying a pet

Lee Co. ASU Alumni Association to host meeting April 15 Contributed by Dwight Howard

The Lee County Chapter ASU Alumni Association will meet on Zoom at 6 p.m. CST or 7 p.m. EST on April 15.

April is “financial betterment month”... at the meeting a special guest will speak 5 to 10 minutes on the topic “How Money Works.”

The public is invited

to hear the presentation and join the Lee County Chapter Alabama State University Alumni Association.

The Chapter meets the third Thursday of every month on Zoom.

For Zoom meetings, please contact: Bernice R. Howard, secretary@ 334-745-7293 Dwight E. Howard, president @ dwighteh1@ aol.com.

is a natural conversation starter. Whether it be a dog, cat, rabbit or other soft, cute animals, pets provide a conversation starter. I have met my neighbors by walking my little dog, “Cookie”, every day. She has certainly made new friends for me.

Teaching your children to love, care and respect their pets equips them to care for people in their family and friends. As a classroom teacher, my young students and I have shared the responsibilities of caring for classroom pets. We have enjoyed learning about fish and sea life with salt water aquariums and fresh water animals in fresh water aquariums like a baby duck, Bill, who loved to waddle outside with the children at recess. As Bill grew bigger, we took him to a farm where classes could observe him when they came out for field trips.

Also, my young students have loved observing the life habits of a hermit crab. Some of my team teachers have enjoyed having hamsters as pets where the children are responsible in feeding, cleaning the cage and in some cases allow the hamster to have exercise by having them roll around the classroom in their pet ball.

The retirement village I volunteered in had parrots that sat in bird cages in our hallways. I would love to hear the residents

whom I served on a daily basis talk to the parrots that sat in bird cages.

Too, the residents met new folks who also came along to meet and speak to the parrots.

Pets provide companionship and company.

Man was not meant or made to live alone.

Companionship prevents sickness, while isolation can cause loneliness which leads to depression in many cases. Taking care of a living animal whether it be dogs, cats, fish, etc., encourages one to emotionally feel needed and wanted. It gives one a purpose. We Senior adults as well as children can benefit so much from taking care of a pet.

Be sure to give your young children age-appropriate pet responsibilities. Young children can help you measure out the correct amount of food to feed their pets, fill up the cat or dog bowl with water, exercise their dogs by playing fetch or by taking them on daily walks. Too, under parents’ supervision, children can be assigned the responsibilities of cleaning out a bird cage, a pet kennel or cage or properly cleaning and helping parents change water in aquariums depending on the needs of the pets.

Observing how your children are interacting with their pets may require we as adults to intercede and step in to show them how to

properly care for their pets. For example, spending time with your child to show them how to pet a cat or dog gently. I know with my classroom hermit crab pets, I had to show the students how to gently feed the hermit crab without disturbing the little crab. They listened and adhered to instructions well because they did not want to hurt the little hermit crab.

Children want to take care of their pets. Praise your children when you see them being kind and loving to their pets.

Taking Care of a pet adds schedule, routine and structure to a day.

Pets do require regular feedings. Health requirements of pets need to be met too. I have a dog.

Dogs require a consistent schedule of exercise.

Having a consistent routine of exercise not only keeps your dog calm and balanced but it keeps people calm, balanced and less anxious. This is important for us as we age.

Too, this gets children outside to run and exercise in the fresh air with their dogs.

Having a pet decreases anxiety and provides sensory and stress relief.

Touch and movement are natural ways to manage stress. In early childhood education, we teachers learn that young children need movement, hugs and pats on the back for encouragement in order to feel secure and stay calm.

The same is true as we age. Stroking a dog, cat or other pets helps us to feel calmer and less stressed.

Being less stressed lowers blood pressure.

Taking care of pets boost energy and vitality. I love to watch my senior friends engage in playfulness, exercise and happiness with their pets.

This increases energy and is good cardiovascular exercise for the elderly person even if they are sitting down or in a wheelchair. The simple acts of pet-petting, cleaning, brushing and feeding pets provide mild activity which leads to more energy and a better mood.

Young children taking care of pets provide hours of entertainment!

Children don’t get bored and complain when they are taking care or playing with their pets.

Having a pet can increase confidence and self esteem in children and older people.

Children love to talk to their pets and talk about their pets. I know in “Show and Tell” time in preschool, pets are truly the most popular subject they share about with their classmates. Elderly years can be lonely. The unconditional love of a dog, cat, parrot or other pets can stimulate us mentally and renew an interest in living life to the fullest in our senior years.

Beth Pinyerd, Classroom Observer

Lee County Remembrance Project provides scholarship opportunity

By Lofton Wheeles For the Opelika Observer

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) is partnering with the Lee County Remembrance Project (LCRP) to provide a scholarship for public high school students.

This is the first time the scholarship has been offered and the scholarship opportunity

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

asks students to write an essay that looks at the history of racial injustice topic and discuss the legacy that topic has today.

Olivia Nichols and Ashley Brown are the co-founders of the LCRP and according to Brown, the project reflects, commemorates and honors five black men who were victims of racial terror

lynchings and while it does focus on the Jim Crow era, it also focuses on other eras within the African American community where oppression is being faced in the past and in the present. “[We] wanted to better understand these men’s stories and narratives and experiences because all should be aware of what the

trauma they have experienced and their families experienced,” Brown said. “We know that historically there have been voices left out and so focusing on the African American Black population, or individuals rather, we know that historically the traumas and the fullness of experience See PROJECT, page B5

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B4 April 8, 2021

New elementary school in the works for Opelika sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com

The Opelika City School Board met for its regularly scheduled board meeting last Tuesday and discussed early-stage plans to build a new elementary school in the city.

“We don’t really have a timeline yet, but it’s on the fastrack,” said Opelika City Schools Superintendent Mark Neighbors. “We’re meeting this week to look at a timeline of how feasible it is. This will be a new school, and we aren’t talking about grade levels and all that yet until

we finalize it with the board and talk to our teachers, too.”

Following a brief discussion, the board approved a contract with TURNERBASTON Architects, P.C., to design the school.

TURNERBASTON attended last month’s Feb. 9 board meeting to discuss how the design firm could work with school system.

The contract has a tentative budget of $12 million and the scheduled end date of the project is still to be determined.

Neighbors said the decision to build the new school was based off the growing

enrollment numbers in Opelika’s three primary schools. Those numbers are the highest they have been in the last 30 years, he said.

In other business the board: - approved personnel recommendations which totaled 27 resignations/retirements for the dates between April 1 and June 4, 2021, and 12 hires for the dates between April 1 and Aug. 5, 2021.

- heard the presentation of an audit report from Himmel Wright, Hughley Boles, LLC., for the fiscal year ending in Sept. 30, 2020.

- approved a revision

PHOTO BY JOSH FISHER / FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER

By Wil Crews

to the Access to Education Policy which was approved on May 11, 2004.

- approved a memorandum from Assistant

Superintendent of Administration, Kenneth Burton, requesting to add buss 05-2 to the list for surplus sale due to a bad

engine cylinder.

- approved a bid for equipment for the Child Nutrition See SCHOOL , page B5

SUSCC Homecoming Queen, King Crowned Southern Union State Community College crowned its 2021 Homecoming Queen and King on March 23.

Erica Lovvorn was crowned Southern Union’s Homecoming Queen and Brock Young was named Homecoming King.

Lovvorn is the daughter of Eric and Shelia Lovvorn from Ranburne. She attends Southern Union on an athletic scholarship for cheerleading. She serves as the vice president of the Student Government Association for the Wadley Campus, a residence hall assistant and is an active member of the Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, the Global Environmental Organization for Students and Residence Hall

Council. She plans to transfer to Auburn University to pursue a degree in physical therapy.

Young is the son of Bart Young and Michelle Ward from Ranburne. He attends Southern Union on an athletic scholarship for baseball. He serves as the president of the Southern Union Baseball Club, has been a Bison Campus Ministry speaker, served as a Southern Union ambassador at the Career Expo and participated in Clean Home Alabama. He plans to transfer to a four year University pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.

Candidates for the Homecoming Court were nominated by members of the student body.

The queen and king were selected based on popular vote among the students.

Other members of

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY SUSCC

Contributed by Shondae Brown / SUSCC

Pictured with SU President Todd Shackett, (far left) are members of the 2021 SUSCC Homecoming Court: Hyche, Lovvorn, Young, Scaife, Mock and Looney.

the Homecoming Court were: Will Hyche of Phenix City, Camell Looney of Leeds, Ruth Ellen

Mock of Fayetteville, Arkansas and Daleya Scaife of Auburn.

Southern Union State Community

College has campuses located in Wadley, Opelika and Valley.

For more information regarding Student

Life at Southern Union contact Stephanie Railey at 256-395-2211.

SUSCC Technical Division to host Open House Contributed by Shondae Brown and SUSCC

The Technical Education and Workforce Development Division of Southern Union State Community

HARRIS>>

FROM B1

played a central part in helping lead the Bulldogs to a pair of NCAA Championship appearances.

Despite her lack of head coaching experience, Harris explained how her journey thus far – particularly her SEC experience – has prepared her for this moment.

“Well, the one thing that I have been able

College will hold an Open House on April 15 from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Program and admissions information, facility tours and financial aid information will be available in the

Center for Integrated Manufacturing on Southern Union’s Opelika campus.

“We are here to help you explore career options in our eight available programs.

Technical career fields

are really growing, and this is a great time to see just what we have to offer and how it can help jumpstart a career,” said Eric Sewell, director of technical education.

Sewell added that

graduating seniors interested in a technical field or people looking to change careers or advance in his or her career are encouraged to attend. “Our programs prepare students for high-wage,

high-demand jobs in just five semesters,” he said.

The public is invited to attend anytime during the open house. For more details call 334-7456437, ext. 5490.

to do is learn a lot about the coaches in the SEC, so I think that experience will help knowing how physical and smart you have to be because coaches will throw different things at you,” she said.

“So, I think most of these coaches who I have scouted against, I pretty much know what they are going to do or their tendencies so to speak, so I think that helps a lot in terms of preparing to play against them.

I’m prepared; it’s exciting that I get to come back and do it against some of the best coaches in the conference.”

As far as the X’s and O’s go, Harris said she plans to employ a hard, physical and aggressive brand of basketball.

“Well, we always say that we are going to pick them up from the time they get into town and we are going to escort them back out.”

Harris also said a

key to the success of her teams will be recruiting.

“It's all about recruiting, having good players. You could be the best coach in the world, but you have to have the players that fit your system, so we will definitely be looking at that.

“I want to have somebody who’s tough, hard-nosed, physical, aggressive, somebody that when the other opponents come in, they don’t want to have anything

to do with it because they know we’re going to bring it every day.”

Furthermore, Harris expressed her plans to get the players out in the community as much as possible, and how she’s eager to build a brand for the women’s basketball team, something she learned the importance of from her time at Mississippi state.

Her goals for year one are simple. “Be competitive.”

After that, she said expectations are going to be high. Her first and only conversation with the current Auburn players signaled that, together, they are up for the challenge.

“It was a brief conversation but I felt like they are ready to go, they are ready to get back on the f loor and they want to compete at a high level,” Harris said.

“They are ready to go, and I’m ready to go with them.”

B5 April 8, 2021

Rusty or Refreshed?

Beauregard softball returns after spring break

By Wil Crews sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com The Beauregard Varsity Girls’ softball team returned to action this week.

“We’re going to try to ease everybody back into it,” said head coach Scott Meadows.

Winless in area play (0-2) and with an overall record of 8-11, the Hornets need to build momentum through the final 8-game stretch of the regular season.

SPORTS>>

FROM B1

important for playoff purposes. The Dawgs played area foe Eufaula, Tuesday night. (The Dogs lost a nailbittter and were led by Bobby Jones McGee who pitched seven innings to). The Tigers play OHS in a doubleheader Thursday at Bulldog Park. First pitch is at 4:30. Game two will start after the completion of game one.

SOFTBALL The Lady Bulldog Softball team split games last week, losing to Benjamin Russell 9-3 and beating Russell County 14-4.

In the loss to BRHS, McKay Yountz pitched a complete game, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, recording nine strikeouts. At the plate, Raelle Fenn, Daysia Jones, Libby Gaberlavage, Leah Bales and KD Lee added singles for Opelika.

OHS ended the week

PROJECT>>

FROM B3

has been left out of our history classes and other classes.

So with this racial justice high school essay contest that is done through Equal Justice Initiative where Lee County Remembrance Project is supporting these efforts allows for students the opportunity to understand and become more knowledgeable about Black African Americans’ experiences both past and also connect those to present day.”

The contest came

SCHOOL>>

FROM B4

Program for Morris Avenue Intermediate, Carver Primary, Jeter Primary and Opelika Middle in the amount of $66,177.09.

- approved the addition of a non-degree salary schedule for the Federal Program

Before their weeklong hiatus, Beauregard suffered two narrow loses, a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Beulah, and a 4-3 extra-inning nail bitter against Smiths Station.

The Hornets were without three starters against Smiths, perhaps contributing to their struggles, but Meadows said his younger girls stepped up – as they have been doing all season.

However, it was junior Raley Thorn who

made the biggest impact against the Panthers.

Having just returned from an ACL injury, Thorn was on the mound for the Hornets against Smiths, pitching well before being taken out in extra innings.

“She kept them off balance all night and threw a great game,” Meadows said.

Madison Macdonald came in to relieve Thorn. And with ITB (International Tie Breaker) rules giving Smiths a starting runner

on second base for extra innings, it took just one stolen base and a hit to bring the run home and send Beauregard packing.

“We didn’t get it done and they did,” Meadows said. “Those games were good games we just need to hit a little bit better.”

Despite the loses, the on-field play is the least of Meadows’s worries.

“Our team chemistry is not where it needs to be,” he said.

Meadows, his staff

with a 14-4 win over Russell County in Seale. Sania Stringer earned the win in the circle, allowing four runs on 11 hits and striking out nine Warrior batters.

Offensively, Yountz and Fenn led with three hits apiece, followed by two hits from Nylen Thomas, Jones, Gaberlavage and Bales added two hits each.

Stringer and Ta'lia Griffen added one hit apiece.

The Lady Bulldog Softball team host the "Opelika Invitational" Friday and Saturday at West Ridge Park.

The schedule has undergone numerous changes but, as of now, OHS will play Handley, Friday at 5:45 p.m. and Beauregard at 7:15 p.m. On Saturday, the Lady Dawgs will play Vestavia at 11:45 p.m. and Randolph County at 3:30 p.m.

Other teams play each other in the round robin format.

MIKE SPAIN INVITATIONAL

The OHS Track and Field Teams host the annual "Mike Spain Invitational" Saturday at the Sam Mason Track. The meet will start around 9 a.m.

REGISTER FOR DIXIE BOYS BASEBALL Registration is underway for the Opelika Dixie Boys Baseball league, ages 13-15.

Registration is held at the Opelika Sportsplex and cost $50. The fee covers a jersey and cap. Players must furnish pants, glove and bat. All players will be on a team, regardless of talent.

For questions or more information, contact D.Mark Mitchell 334-787-1514 or foxonthemark@yahoo.com 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.

E-SPORTS >>

into fruition as EJI and LRCP wanted to educate and get more involvement within the community. The contest also has significance as far as leaving an impact is concerned, according to contest organizer Sara Demoiny.

“I think that [the contest] is really important to begin doing any kind of racial reconciliation or racial justice work for us to first just tell the truth about what has happened in our history and so this gives students an opportunity to dive into local histories of racial injustices and connect those to

present day happenings that may be happening here in Lee County but also happening in other places in the U.S. to see what are the legacies of these injustices and how has that maybe changed forms, but still exists today,” she said. “The last component of this essay contest is for high school students to think about what they can do to challenge these injustices as they’re seeking a more equitable society and community.

“So they’re really thinking about not only learning about the history that’s happened and connecting that to

what’s happening today but really thinking about what can we do about that and how can I be involved in making those changes.”

Brown also wanted to provide a quote to encourage students to participate in the scholarship opportunity and to encourage students to learn from the past to create a better future.

“We would like to leave students with this quote by Maya Angelou that states: ‘History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived; but if faced with courage, need not to be

lived again.’,” she said.

“In this contest, another hope is that we want students to face these issues, to understand the oppression and the fullness of these injustices and face it with courage so that there can be more conversation [and] discussion.

“They’re our future leaders and it is important that they know what folks have experienced, what marginalized individuals continue to experience so that we can work on ways to dismantle the system.

We hope that they use their voices and that they continue to write

and express these injustices so that we can have a better tomorrow and so that we’re not continuously repeating history.”

The prize for the scholarship Is up to $5000 and the deadline for the scholarship is May 1. There will be an upcoming oral history panel where individuals from the community will share about their own experiences in mid-April as well as a writing workshop, according to Demoiny.

For more information, please visit tinyurl.com/ LeeCountyEssayContest.

Specialist.

- approved a HVAC bid from Bradley Plumbing & Heating Inc. for Jeter Primary School HVAC renovation in the amount of $913,350.

- considered an information item regarding adoption of new math textbooks for K-12. A vote for approval will be taken at

the next meeting.

- discussed the monthly financial report for January and February, both of which have been reconciled.

- discussed the monthly Child Nutrition Report for January and February.

- scheduled a whole board training for Tuesday, April 20.

The final remarks of the meeting centered around the impending end to the statewide health order and the upcoming plans for graduation.

Neighbors spoke on the health order, which is scheduled to end the statewide mask mandate on April 9, and how that may affect Opelika schools.

“We’re hoping to have a more normal graduation, depending on the occupancy and things with the health order,” Neighbord said. “This is one of the smallest groups we’ve had and it’s kind of unusual graduation wise. So, we feel like we can potentially have an old-fashioned graduation with some

modifications, obviously. It is our goal to do that, but it’s not in stone.”

The Opelika City School Board usually meets o the fourth Tuesday of every month. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 27, at 4:30 p.m. in OCS’s central office (300 Simmons St.).

FROM B1

kids, who may not be your athletes, they may not be the ones to join the math club or whatever.”

Unlike traditional sports, eports do not require teams to be in the same physical location so teams would typically meet at the school’s computer lab on match days. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the competitors to adapt and now they log in from “offsite” locations to compete. This has actually helped some of them as they were previously limited by the computers at the computer lab.

Currently four games are offered for teams to compete in, League of Legends, Rocket League, Madden and FIFA. Smiths Station competes in League of Legends and Rocket league with five kids competing in each of the games.

For League of Legends the two teams

and all the players had a will play two games against the opposing team and Rocket League is a best of five series.

The League of Legends team is made up of Anthony Agner, Kate Whitlock, Jack Austin, Cody Brownlee and Jakob Shaw. The Rocket League team actually has two separate teams that compete at two separate levels. The Black team competes at a regional level and plays teams across the country and the regular team competes at a state level. AHSAA rules limit each school to only one team per school so this allows more students to be involved, which is something Emma Whitlock feels strongly about.

“I think it’s all about them having the ability to get involved and do something and then again to meet new people,” she said. “I don’t want to generalize but a lot of times the personalities of these kids that are gamers they

See BEAUREGARD, page B6

stay to themselves a little bit more and they get to be able to meet more people and have a sense of pride just like any team would have.”

The League of Legends team has a 3-3 record, good enough to be ranked 16th in the state and the Rocket League team a 4-6 record and is ranked no.

32 in the state.

The most common response she hears when she tells people she is a coach for an esport team is that it is not a “real sport,” something she understands but strongly disagrees with.

“I get that kind of sentiment from people that it’s not necessarily the most athletic thing, but the kids really do build skills, like communication, like teamwork. And that’s the same thing they would be doing if they were playing a quote unquote ‘real sport.’

It’s just a different way to build those skills, so that’s the biggest thing.”

B6 April 8, 2021

Trinity Christian hungry for a win in its region opener

By JD McCarthy For the Opelika Observer A young Trinity Christian Boys’ soccer team is hoping to pick up their first region victory Thursday when they host undefeated Harvester in their first region game of the season.

Head coach Calvin Kinney knows this game is more important than the other games and believes his team can get the win as long as they are able to finish.

“I’m hoping the boys are thirsty for a win,” he said. “All we need

to do is finish on goal, because we’ve got real close, we just have to be able to finish.”

The Eagles are coming off of a 1-0 loss to Lee-Scott, where Kinney thought they played well but were unable to get the crucial goal.

“I think the big thing is just being able to finish on goal,” he said.

“Because other than that we played very well, we just weren’t able to finish and take shots on goal as much as we needed to.”

The loss dropped the Eagles to 2-6 on the season but Kinney has

been impressed by how his team has improved throughout the season.

“I think that our communication has gotten a lot better,” Kinney said. “The strategy defensively and offensively has really improved and also, just like, our aggressiveness on the field has really improved.”

The team has been led by Caleb Dean and Daniel Shropshire on defense and Sawyer Waldrip on offense.

“I think those are the big three, that have really stuck out,” Kinney said. He added that Dean and Shropshire

have “really put the defense together.”

They have also benefited from some great plays by their goalie Stephen Shropshire , who is just an eighth grader but has played “phenomenally” all season.

Stephen Shropshire is just one of the young players the Eagles have had to rely on as they have just two seniors on their roster.

The fact they are so young has Kinney hoping they will start playing their best soccer at the end of the season and into the playoffs as they continue to adjust

to the higher level of play that comes with playing varsity soccer.

“I think the big thing is this team has never really worked on strategy as much,” he said.

This is another area they have improved in throughout the season as their youth gets the valuable experience from playing in games.

The Eagles have five games, two of which are against Harvester, remaining in the regular season before the start of the playoffs.

The Eagles are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs but their games against

Harvester will determine who is the GAPPS Division IA Region 1 champion and the better seed.

The winner will be the top seed and will face off with the second seed form Region 2, while whoever finishes in second will have to face the top seed from Region 2.

Despite the importance of the games, Kinney wants his boys to continue to enjoy the games in the final stretch of the season.

“Finishing and just enjoying the game for what it is, those are the two big things.”

Beauregard High School Awarded $20,000 Beauregard High School now has $20,000 in its pocket — thanks to an Alabama Arts Education Initiative grant awarded to the school.

The Performing Arts Center at Beauregard High, The V.E.S.P.A (Venue for Educating Students In The Performing Arts), is in for some upgrades.

Principal Richard Brown said that his predecessor desired a performing arts venue for students at Beauregard 30 years ago.

“One day, when this pandemic is behind us, we’ll be able to officially open this facility to our students and staff and our community and what an exciting day that will be,” Brown said.

Brown approached the Beauregard High School Arts Coordinator John Hillsman, along with other school faculty and staff, and asked them to apply for the state grant.

“It was decided that

BEAUREGARD>>

FROM B5

lengthy meeting before the girls went on spring break last Friday. The goal was to straighten out any off-field problems that seem to be lingering around the bunch.

“I don’t know what it is,” Meadows said.

“But, we’re hoping with that meeting we had last Friday … we gave them the whole week off … you know, hopefully getting away from each other, giving them some rest, things will improve.”

Now that the girls have returned, Meadows is hoping his team can turn a new leaf during

the focus of our application would be to provide equipment to further enhance these facilities, be it furnishings, sound, lighting equipment, whatever,” Hillsman said.

The school found out it had received the grant in February.

“I’ve always had this to say, if you’re an administrator and you’re not offering the arts at your school, then you’re not engaging all the students in your community,” said Andy Meadows, arts education specialists at the Alabama State Department of Education.

The grant is available for three years, and this first year was an award of $20,000. The school can apply again the next two years for $10,000 per year.

The school has three levels of priorities for using the money, each priority assigned to a year of funding. Granted, the school may not receive funding the second or third year, Hillsman said.

The first priority includes risers for the choir and band,

a cyclorama curtain, leg curtain tracks and two follow spot lights.

The second priority, should the school receive second-year funding, will include headset microphones and boundary microphones. The third priority is tools for the scene shop.

“The benefits of these grants have been seen state-wide,”

Meadows said.

In addition to equipment for the facility, 25% of the funding must be used for “staff development opportunities”.

Therefore, there will be training for faculty, staff and students to learn how to use the advanced equipment, Hillsman said.

“It’s just an amazing facility and I

seriously doubt that most people realize what we have,” he said.

Brown said he hopes that Beauregard’s auditorium will be unique and stand out from others in the area, hence the name (V.E.S.P.A.) “Our mascot, an insect, the hornet, belongs to the genus VESPA,” he said.

“And hence, the name of our auditorium.

But, I’m guilty, educators love acronyms.

And so it is also an acronym for the educational purpose of this facility and this is, it is the venue for educating students in performing arts. So, welcome to Beauregard High School. Welcome to the V.E.S.P.A.”

the home-stretch of this season.

To do so, the Hornets will need to lean on some of their leaders, namely juniors Kat Henson and Madison Champion, freshman Katie Wilkerson and senior Madison Macdonald.

Henson is batting .450 with a .615 on-base and .750 slugging percentages. Adding to her stellar play, the first basemen has committed only one error all season.

Champion hits leadoff for the Hornets, her .346 batting average and .460 on-base percentage say she’s doing her part. The numbers never lie.

Then there’s

Wilkerson, a shortstop/ third baseman who plays beyond her years with a .370 batting average and a .500 on-base percentage.

“If I can get her to cut down on her strikeouts a little bit … she’s going to be really good down the road for sure,” Meadows said.

Madison Macdonald is Beauregard’s ace on the mound. The senior has pitched 64.1 innings, recording 86 strikeouts.

That’s 1.34 strikeouts per innings if anyone is counting.

The Hornets played an area game against Brew Tech, a team that is ranked No. 3 in Alabama 5A softball

and beat them 3-2 in their first matchup, on Wednesday.

“Brew Tech, they’re good,” Meadows said.

“But last time we played them, we should have won. We made two routine errors that should have been easy outs and if we make those two plays we win the game.”

Meadows said he planned to throw a couple pitchers against the Rams – not Macdonald – because he doesn’t know “if it’s good to throw your No. 1 against an area opponent twice before the area tournament.”

The results from the game were not available at press time.

Going forward, the Hornets still have two area games against area foe Tallassee. It’s a good chance to see where the Hornets really are. The Tigers, ranked No. 2 in Alabama 5A softball, pose a strong challenge, but if Beauregard comes out on top, like Meadows knows they can, the Hornets just might be able to rally for a strong end-of-season push.

“It’s going to be tough, but if we play to our capability and get out bats going, we can play with them,” Meadows said.

The Hornets will be in action again this weekend in a tournament in Opelika which

features eight teams from across the state.

It’s a chance for the Hornets to play with some teams not in their area or class. However, it’s also a chance – like every game hereafter – to bring the team closer together. That is Meadows’s biggest focus right now.

“If we can get them to buy in, then a good bit of it will take care of itself,” he said. “I’ve told them a thousand times, ‘I’m alright getting beat by somebody, but I’m not alright with not playing to our capabilities and not being team-oriented.’ The team has to come first, and I don’t know no other way.”

PHOTO BY HANNAH LESTER / OPELIKA OBSERVER

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

B7 April 8, 2021

Bulldogs continue hot streak versus Russell County

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER

Trinity, Lee-Scott play on 'Spanish Night'

PHOTOS BY JOSH FISHER / FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER

The Lee-Scott Warriors hosted the Trinity Eagles on Friday for 'Spanish Night'. Since Lee-Scott students are required to take Spanish, the inaugural game, which is announced in fluent Spanish to encourage the school's Spanish program, was first played three years ago.

B8 April 8, 2021

OHS students walk the red carpet

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER Due to COVID-19, Opelika High School replaced the traditional prom dance with a movie premiere, red-carpet event at AMC Theatres Tiger 13 on Friday night.

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics

B9

April 8, 2021

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Inside the Statehouse Wallace: Political Genius and

A

Legislative Master

s the Regular Legislative Session evolves, I recall years past when George Wallace was governor. Gov. Wallace was definitely a political genius and a master of the legislative process. You might say that he was so successful because he had a lot of experience with being governor and dealing with the legislature. That is true, but it went deeper than that. He worked at it.

During my 16 years in the legislature, Wallace was in a league by himself. My first term was 1982 and Wallace was serving his last term as governor. He treated legislators like kings. It did not matter who was in his office, if you were a member of the legislature and you needed to see the governor about something for your district, he would drop everything and usher you into his office and do anything he could to address your concern or district needs.

I had known Wallace since I was a young page. One day I went down unannounced with-

STEVE FLOWERS out an appointment and his secretary told him I was outside. The next thing I knew the door opened and Wallace told me to come in. He had about six Japanese diplomats in his office, who were prospective industrial prospects. He asked if I wanted to ask them to leave so we could meet privately. I said, “No, governor, that’s not necessary, I’ll be glad to come back.” He said, “Okay,” but insisted on my staying while they visited. I sat down and he beSee FLOWERS, page B11

Opelika approves contract to seek services for another roundabout

By Michelle Key Publisher The Opelika City Council voted to approve the engineering department to seek services from Sain Associates Inc. for design for a roundabout at the intersection of Sportsplex Road and West Point Parkway.

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and the council also recognized the OPS/ AMEA Scholarship recipients, members of the All-State band from Opelika High School and OPD officer Montrez Hunter as Central Alabama CrimeStoppers Officer of the Year during the meeting. The council also presented a proclamation declaring April as Sexual Assault

Awareness Month (SAAM) to raise awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it.

SAAM calls attention to the fact that sexual harassment, assault and abuse are widespread and impact every person in the Opelika community.

In other business, the council voted to: - Approve a request

by Opelika Main Street for the First on 1st Avenue Block Party on April 10.

- Approve a request from Keep Opelika Beautiful for Garden in the Park on May 1.

- Approve a request for the 2021 Run It to Win It 5K in downtown Opelika on May 15.

- Held a public hearing regarding the demolition of a

structure located at 108 Ray Avenue. During the public hearing, one of the heirs of the property notified the city that the house has been torn down and the debris is in the process of being removed.

- Approve a bid for printer maintenance contract for the IT department.

- Approve a bid for the parks and recreation management software annual contract for the IT department.

- Approve a bid for the Andrews Road at Unnamed Creek Precast Bridge Construction contract.

- Approve a bid for the Opelika Power Substations One, Two, Three and Six Control House Replacements See OPELIKA, page B13

Auburn City Council resumes in-person meetings; approves townhome uses

By Hannah Lester hlester@ opelikaobserver.com The Auburn City Council met in person for the first time in almost a year Tuesday night in the new council chambers.

Each council member was present, along with members of the public, socially-distanced.

The new council chambers are located in the Public Safety Building at 141 N. Ross St. Suite B. Townhome Subdivision: The council granted conditional use approval for a townhome subdivision at 456 Martin Avenue.

The resolution

NOW OPEN

was postponed from March 16 — Ward 6 Council Member Bob Parsons asked for the item to be postponed so anyone who wanted a chance to voice opinions in the community could do so.

density permitted in the RDD zoning district of 16 dwelling units per acre,” the planning commission comments said.

“Townhome uses are a conditional use in the RDD. No open space is required for

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF AUBURN

The subdivision, Martin Avenue Townhomes, will be located in a redevelopment district zone (RDD). The planning commission recommended denial of the property.

“The proposed density of 8.7 is slightly above the recommended density of 8 dwelling units per acre but remains well below the maximum

townhome lots of four or less.”

However, the council approved the townhome proposal.

The proposal will include three units, the end townhomes with three bedrooms each and the middle unit with four bedrooms, for a total of 10 bedrooms.

Ward 3 Council Member Beth Witten expressed concern See AUBURN, page B13

Indoor shooting range is open to the public

2195 FIRST AVENUE • OPELIKA

B10 April 8, 2021

I

n 1974, I was fascinated as a high school senior about a contest for a state House seat. The primary was several months away and polled as very close. Both candidates had the surname “Arusso” which was confusing.

Voters would have to know candidate’s first names.

Then, one candidate legally changed his name to “AArusso” (this was in RI, not known for its ethical politicians). Yes, the AA man did win, helped by guessers. It’s common for voters who don’t know certain candidates to pick the first name they see on the candidate list.

It helped the AA guy, he won!

The AArusso case shows that many politicians will use whatever tactics and strategy they can.

By cutting access to voting for their opponents’ backers, or by changing laws to benefit themselves, victory becomes more likely for them.

“Every great political campaign rewrites the rules; devising

Voting rights and wrongs: Part 2 a new way to win is what gives campaigns a comparative advantage against their foes.” — John Podhoretz, political writer.

I analyzed the federal For the People Act last week; today I look at a major new Georgia which has its foes and fans.

This law has been signed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

It is most likely a response to key Democratic wins in a state where the GOP dominated politics for decades.

Opponents of the new law are said to be preparing lawsuits against it.

In 2020, Democratic nominee Joe Biden edged out Donald Trump for Georgia’s 16 electoral votes. Later, two Democrats were elected U.S. senators. Enough Republicans heeded President Trump’s call that the Senate election “would be a fraud” so why should GOP voters participate? (The Democrats both won by less than 1% !)

This law is criticized for its potential

to discourage voting, especially for African Americans, as registering and getting to the correct sites in time are more difficult. A person’s registration can be challenged by troublemakers, not only well-meaning souls. In Georgia, Marie Antoinette the Queen of France from the late 18th Century would not be welcome at these lines. No one can give anyone in a voting line water or food and certainly won’t “Let them eat cake!”

Peach State legislators apparently think offering food or water to individuals makes them more likely to stay and vote — my, my, it keeps people’s eyes on the prize — pulling that lever or marking that box. In defense of elections officials, I understand that advocates for candidates must not get too close to the voting site. Here’s a good solution: voters themselves can take a bottle or more of water with them.

As for the new provision allowing for

By Greg Markley unlimited challenges to a voter’s registration, Lauren GrohWargo says “this is just opening an even worse Pandora’s box of race-based, ethnicity-based challenges.”

Wargo is the CEO of Fair Fight, an anti-voter suppression organization based in Atlanta.

I agree with the bill’s sponsors that mail-in voting oversight must be tightened. Voters are now required to provide their driver’s license or state ID number, or a photocopy of their ID. To me, that’s not a show stopper for wannabe voters. Most everyone has an ID with a decent photo. Also, third-party groups cannot send these

applications to voters anymore. These groups may be valid, but people should get their own absentee applications; it’s not that difficult.

Two changes in the law sound like they come from former President Trump’s Playbook, after he failed to convince Georgia officials to find “fraud” where there was none. First, it removes the secretary of state, Georgia’s top elections official, from chairing the state election board, and allows the Legislature to fill a majority of that board’s seats. This makes it possible for the Legislature to control certification of elections and voting rules in the state.

With partisanship rife, it’s best to have the secretary of state certify because he or she is directly accountable and less threatened by legislators or an unruly American president.

Second, the law empowers the state election board to suspend or replace local election officials and delay certification. This

makes it easier for them to corrupt the process and official results. Very bad!

According to TargetSmart, 76% of Georgia voters don’t want the legislature to strip authority from elections officials. And 77% of voters would not prohibit giving food and water to voters on line. “I say from time to time that the vote is precious,” noted voting rights legend John Lewis.

“It’s almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument that we have in a democratic society. And we must use it.” Still, don’t abuse it by changing your name to be topof-the-ballot. I know, I know, it worked for Mr. AArusso.

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

B11 April 8, 2021

Lifetime concealed carry permit legislation passes senate Contributed by the Alabama Senate Republican Caucus

Legislation that would allow Alabamians the opportunity to purchase a lifetime concealed carry firearm permit was today approved by the State Senate. The bill, SB308 sponsored

by Sen. Randy Price (R-Opelika), would establish the Alabama Uniform Concealed Carry Permit Act to

regulate a process where concealed carry permits may be issued by sheriffs and to create a statewide firearm prohibited person database administered by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).

Key highlights of the bill include: Pistol permits would be standardized at one year, five years, or lifetime; The cost of one or five year permits would be

determined by local law.

If there is no law on the subject, $25 per year or $300 for lifetime, or $150 for lifetime if the applicant is more than 60 years of age; A database to be generated by ALEA listing all persons ineligible to possess a firearm by state and federal law; And the courts would be required to forward any conviction or court order that would render one ineligible for firearm

possession to ALEA for entry into the database.

“The United States Constitution affords the American people the right to keep and bear arms, and this is a freedom we must work hard to preserve,” said Price.

“Any Alabamian who can legally purchase a handgun should be able to obtain a lifetime concealed carry permit, but bad actors and individuals deemed prohibited from obtaining

this permit should be registered and flagged as such.

“This new database would consolidate all the information that is currently managed by counties into one system, creating a unified process by which normal citizens can obtain a lifetime permit,” Price continued.

“If an Alabamian has not committed a crime that prohibits them from holding a permit, then

they should be able to purchase a lifetime conceal carry permit instead of returning year after year to make an annual payment and renew that permit.”

This piece of legislation now moves to the Alabama House of Representatives for consideration.

Representative Proncey Robertson (R-Mount Hope) is carrying the companion bill in the House.

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program reopening, expanding Contributed By Mary Leigh Oliver Auburn University ACES

COVID-19 continues to impact Alabamians and their wallets, especially farmers. To replenish some of the financial loss, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) second Coronavirus Food Assistance Program is reopening for enrollment April 5.

The first Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, or CFAP, began in May 2020

FLOWERS >>

FROM B9

phone.

He would also constantly have legislators out to the governor’s mansion for supper. We would eat supper with the governor more than with the lobbyists. He knew your district, your family and relatives and what committee you served on, and which program and roads you were interested in. The only thing he did not know was what time you went to bed, because he might call you at 6:00 at suppertime or he might call you at midnight when you were asleep.

He knew how to manipulate the legislature better than anyone. One day he had a group of legislators in his office trying to get them to vote with him. His secretary interrupted him to tell him Vice President Mondale was on the phone. The legislators sat quietly while George talked to the vice president for a few minutes and took care of whatever business they had.

Mondale hung up. Wallace pretended to listen a while longer and said, “Look, Mr. Vice President, I’d like to talk to you some more, but I’ve got a group of representatives and

were aware of the program’s details and eligibility. According to Alabama Cooperative Extension System Specialist and Assistant Professor Adam Rabinowitz, some producers received insurance and other disaster loss payments in 2019 that affected their initial eligibility.

“To account for these issues, the program will be reopening to allow new applicants and revised applications,” Rabinowitz said.

Agricultural producers of over 250 senators in here and I really don’t have time.” All the legislators started whispering, “No, governor, don’t do that. Don’t hang up on the Vice President. We can wait.” But George just kept on talking, “I really appreciate your asking for my help, Mr. Vice President,” he said, “but I’m hanging up now. I’ve got enough problems here in the state of Alabama. I just can’t solve the world’s problems for you. I’ve got to talk to these legislators about a problem we’ve got in the legislature.” He then hung up the phone.

By that time, those legislators were so impressed at how they were more important than the vice president of the United States that George could have gotten anything he wanted from them, and he did.

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.

commodities who share in the risk of producing a community are eligible for this program.

CFAP AA In addition to CFAP 2, a new program, CFAP AA, is under review by the USDA for contract growers who were not originally eligible for the CFAP 2 program. This program will provide contract livestock and poultry producers with program benefits. Row crop producers are also eligible for an additional automatic per acre payment.

Registration

Applications will be available online beginning April 5. For producers who do not currently have a relationship with FSA, there will be additional information to complete.

“Applicants should expect to reference their sales, inventory and other farm records,” Rabinowitz said.

The Alabama Extension farm and agribusiness management team will be working closely with FSA offices and USDA Service Centers to guide producers through

the application process.

More Information Rabinowitz recently published an informational page, Agricultural Producers Eligible for Additional COVID-19 Related Assistance, that provides more information on the registration details and eligibility of these programs. For further information about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, visit the Alabama Extension website, www.aces.edu, or contact a member of the farm and agribusiness management team.

Mo'Bay Beignets hosts ribbon cutting PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

gan telling the poor Japanese fellows that I had been a page when I was a little boy and he was in his first term as governor and that now I was his representative since I represented his hometown of Clayton, and he told them who he was kin to in my county and who I was kin to in south Alabama. I’m sure they were amused.

Who couldn’t help but vote with a guy who gave a lowly member of the House that kind of attention and deference?

At other times he would call my home at supper time and talk for about 30 minutes about a certain bill he was interested in. He would continue to talk long after I had already told him I would vote with him on his issue. He would tell me to put my two daughters on the phone; they were little at the time, but in his uncanny ability to remember names, he would call them by name and say, “Steve, let me talk to Ginny and let me say hello to little Allyson.” He was amazing. He loved to talk on the

with 13,386 applicants.

The USDA was able to provide more than $94 million in payments to Alabama producers.

To continue to provide financial compensation to producers across the state, CFAP 2 began later in the fall of 2020.

A total of 13,561 applications were approved in Alabama for payments totaling over $92 million.

CFAP 2 The same CFAP 2 program from last fall will be reopening out of concerns that not all producers

The Auburn Chamber of Commerce celebrated Mo’Bay Beignet with a ribbon cutting last week. The restaurant serves delicious beignets made to order that can be paired with a buttercream or cinnamon sauce.

B12 April 8, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES 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-2015-900172.02, 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 ––––––– 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 Sixty-Five (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

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

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

–––––––

––––––– 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 ––––––– IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA In the Matter of: Dorothy Krejci, an alleged incapacitated person TO: Any relatives or interested parties: Lee County DHR has filed a Petition to appoint a Legal Guardian for the person of Dorothy Krejci. It is ordered that the 3rd day of May, 2021, at 10:00 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 tile their notice of appearance and contest the said petition if they deem it proper.

Done this the 2nd day of April, 2021.

Bill English Probate Judge Margaret A. Mayfield Attorney for Lee County DHR Post Office Box 809 Opelika, AL 36803 (334) 745-0333 Legal Run 04/08/21, 04/15/21 & 04/22/212 ––––––– IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF PENNY P HUNDLEY, DECEASED CASE NO.: 2021-182 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Joey R. Hundley on the 31st day of March, 2021, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Notice is hereby given to 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.

J TUTT BARRETT P.O. Box 231 Opelika, AL 36803-0231 Legal Run 04/8/21, 4/15/21 & 4/22/21 ––––––– INVITATION TO BID 21012 Sealed bids for the construction of the Eastside WWTP Upgrades shall be received at the Purchasing Department, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama until 2:00 pm local time on April 26, 2021. Bids then will be publicly opened and read aloud in Mayor’s Conference Room located on the second floor of City Hall. All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code §34-8-1, et.seq. (1975) and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

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

Work to be done: The work to be completed for the Eastside WWTP Upgrades is described generally as follows: UV Disinfection System A UV system consisting of two lamp banks, control systems, and electrical modifications will be furnished and installed in an existing channel following demolition of existing UV equipment.

Micro Bar Screen A micro bar screen will be furnished and installed in an existing concrete well upstream of existing influent pumps. Site grading and concrete pavement will be required Influent Wet Well Cleaning Settled residuals will be removed from the influent wastewater lift station wet well and hauled to a Cityowned disposal site.

Bidders are required to have a State of Alabama General Contractor’s License with a specialty of “Highways and Streets, Clearing and Grubbing, Earthwork, Erosion, Site Work, Grading or Municipal and Utility”. All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala. Code §34-88(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number.

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

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

Copies of Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the City of Opelika website at https://www.opelikaal.gov/Bids.aspx or obtained from ESG Engineering - contact Margaret Hildebrand at mhildebrand@ esgengineering.com.

Digital documents will be provided at no charge and hard copies will be provided upon nonreimbursable payment of $200.

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

Please note on the proposal form that any addendum issued has been received. Not noting the bid addendum was received may cause you to be disqualified. It is the contractor’s responsibility to check the Owners website regularly to determine if an addendum has been issued.

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

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

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: Eastside WWTP Upgrades LILLIE FINLEYPURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal Run 04/08/2021, 04/15/2021 & 04/22/2021 ––––––– ORDINANCE NO. 007-21 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE LEASING OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1103 GLENN STREET TO ENVISION OPELIKA FOUNDATION, INC. BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Opelika, Alabama as follows: Section 1. It is hereby established and declared that the following described real property of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) is not currently needed for public or municipal purposes, to-wit: Commence at the Northeast Corner of Section 18, Township 19 North, Range 27 East, Lee County, Alabama; Thence run South a distance of 339.80 feet; Thence run South 85 Degrees 13 Minutes 49 Seconds West, a distance of 390.75 feet to a chain link fence corner post and the Point of Beginning for the parcel herein described: Thence run South 03 Degrees 13 Minutes 55 Seconds East along said fence, 377.84 feet to an iron pin and axle at a fence corner; Thence South 85 Degrees 02 Minutes 52 Seconds West along said fence, 377.59 feet to an iron pipe on the East margin of Glenn Street Right-of-Way (formerly South Eighth Street); Thence North 03 Degrees 14 Minutes 20 Seconds West along said street, 379.04 feet to an iron pipe at the intersection of the South margin of West Johnson Avenue Right-of-Way; Thence North 85 Degrees 13 Minutes 49 Seconds East along said Right-of-Way of said West Johnson Avenue, 377.60 feet to the Point of Beginning.

Described parcel containing 3.29 Acres, more or less, and as shown on Plat of Survey entitled Brown/Southside School dated August 2004

by Brady Pollock of the City of Opelika Engineering Department under the direction of Huey W. Morgan, Al. Reg. No. 18384.

Also being described as Lot 5 in Block 226 according to Totten’s Official Real Estate Map of the City of Opelika as recorded in Plat Book 2, at Page 9 in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama.

The City reserves to itself the exclusive use of a portion of the north wing of the building according to and as shown on the drawing of the Opelika Cultural Center, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” (the portion of the north wing shaded in red is reserved to the City).

The City and its employees, guests and invitees shall have unobstructed access to the reserved portion of the north wing through the front entrance and the north corridor of the building.

Section 2. That the City, having received an offer from Envision Opelika Foundation, Inc., to lease said property located at 1103 Glenn Street, Opelika, Alabama, it is hereby declared to be in the best interest of the public and the City, to lease said property to Envision Opelika Foundation, Inc., for a term not to exceed three (3) years.

See PUBLIC NOTICE, page B13

B13 April 8, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE >>

FROM B12

Section 3. That a proposed Lease Agreement to be entered into between the City and Envision Opelika Foundation, Inc., a copy of which is attached as Exhibit “A”, be and the same is hereby approved, authorized, ratified and confirmed in substantially the form submitted to the City Council.

Section 4. Pursuant to the authority granted by §11-4721 of the Code of Alabama, 1975, the Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver said Lease Agreement in the name and on behalf of the City, and the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to attest said Lease Agreement.

Section 5. That this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and publication as required by law.

Section 6. That the City Clerk of the City of Opelika is hereby authorized and directed to cause this ordinance to be published one (1) time in a newspaper published in and of general circulation in the City of Opelika, Alabama.

ADOPTED AND

APPROVED this the 6th day of April, 2021.

hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

LINDA ANNE STANSON SMITH Personal Representative

/s/ Eddie Smith PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA ATTEST: /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK TRANSMITTED TO MAYOR this the 7th day of April, 2021. /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK ACTION BY MAYOR APPROVED this the 7th day of April, 2021. /s/ Gary Fuller MAYOR ATTEST: /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK Legal Run 4/8/2021

Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 Legal Run 4/8/21, 4/15/21 & 4/22/21 ––––––– IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA In the Matter of the Estate of Gloria Jean Finley, Deceased Case No. 2021-102 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ADMINSTRATOR AND NOTICE TO FILE CLAIMS Letters of Administration of the Estate of Gloria Jean Finley deceased, having been granted to the undersigned, Cody W. Foote, on the 2nd day of April, 2021, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate of said County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate, are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law, or the same will be barred.

Cody W. Foote, Administrator,

––––––– IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JANICE ELLEN STANSON, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2021-175 Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 26th 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

Estate of Gloria Jean Finley, Deceased Legal Run 04/08/21, 04/15/21 & 04/22/21 ––––––– IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JOYCE S. VANBENTHUYSEN, DECEASED CASE NO.: 2021- 187 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Melisa V Love and Kristina J Bartsch on the 2nd day of April, 2021, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Notice is hereby given to 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.

J. TUTT BARRETT P.O. Box 231 Opelika, AL 36803-0231 Legal Run 04/8/21, 04/15/21 & 04/22/21 ––––––– NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF ANNIE LEE UNDERWOOD, DECEASED PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Charlene Heard of said deceased having been granted to Charlene Heard on the 8th 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 the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Charlene Heard Legal Run 04/08/21, 04/15/21 & 04/22/21 ––––––– IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA In the Matter of: Florence Smith, an alleged incapacitated person TO: Any relatives or interested parties: Lee County OHR has filed a Petition to appoint a Legal Guardian for the person of Florence Smith. It is ordered that the 3rd day of May, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. be appointed the day on which to hear such petition, at the Loo 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 2nd day of April, 2021.

Bill English Probate Judge Margaret A. Mayfield Attorney for Lee County DHR Post Office Box 809 Opelika, AL 36803 (334) 745-0333 Legal Run 04/08/21, 04/15/21 & 04/22/212 ––––––– NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF WALLACE HENRY GILMORE, DECEASED PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY CASE NO. 2021-194 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Christopher Wallace Gilmore on the 2nd day of April, 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.

Christopher Wallace Gilmore Margaret Mayfield Attorney for Administrator Post Office Box 809 Opekika, AL 36830 (334) 745-0333 Legal Run 4/8/21, 4/15/21 & 4/22/21

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LOCAL CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED Opelika Housing Development, Inc. is currently seeking highly motivated, experienced, and trustworthy candidates to fill the Full-time position of Maintenance Technician for properties in the Opelika, AL. . area.

OPELIKA >>

FROM B9

Project contract for Opelika Power Services.

- Approve a resolution to purchase (624) 96-gallon refuse containers.

- Approve change orders for the furniture contracts related to the new library.

- Approved a request refund of occupational license fees paid in error

by Terry Breaux.

- Approved an agreement with Envision Opelika for the Phase V Renovation Project at South Side Center for the Arts.

- Approve an arrangement letter with Critical Insights Consulting, LLC. - Approve the renewal of existing asphalt resurfacing contract with East Alabama Paving Co. - Approve a sign license agreement with Insure With A Rose, Inc. - Approve an

Duties will include, but not be limited to: Promptly handle unit and facility work orders Complete repairs in a consistent and correct manner Provide excellent customer service Work well with other team members

Willing to clean grounds as needed Be well organized to coordinate and perform unit and site inspections Able to complete makeready of units proficiently Ideal candidates should have at least 3 years of experience in apartment maintenance (or similar

engagement letter with Hand Arendall Harrison Sale.

- Approve an engagement letter with Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C. - Approve a joint resolution opposing changes to the 2010 Standards for Delineating metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area standards which could potentially impact future federal funding.

- Approve a request for an extension of the special use permit with Verizon at 269 Lee Road 711.

- Approve a special appropriation in the amount of $10,000 to A-O Tourism for hosting the AJGA Golf Tournament at Grand National in July 2021.

- Approve a special appropriation in the amount of $2,500 to Reach Out and Read Alabama from each of the five ward’s reserve funds.

- Approve a professional

skills). Candidates should have an understanding of and repair capabilities in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, painting, appliance repair, and/or other tasks related to maintaining the communities in excellent condition. HVAC Certification not required, but preferred. This

services agreement with Skipper Consulting, Inc. for a traffic and intersection study at Gateway Drive and Marvyn Parkway.

- Approve an agreement with Barrett Simpson, Inc. for the design of the Veterans Parkway Extension Phase II. - Approve an agreement with CDG Engineering for the Thomason Drive Extension Phase II Design.

- Approve an Ordinance for the leasing of the property Located at 1103 Glenn St. to Envision Opelika Foundation, Inc. - To reappoint David McCain to the LRCOG MPO Citizen Advisory Committee for a new term ending April 7, 2023.

The next scheduled council meeting will be on April 20 at 7 p.m.

Agendas and agenda packages can be found on the city’s website www. opelika-al.gov.

position will offer competitive pay and benefit package.

Education: High school or equivalent (Required) License or certification: Driver’s License (Required) HVAC Certification (Not required, but

AUBURN >>

FROM B9

over the parking situation for the townhomes.

“Was there any consideration of putting the the ability to park in the rear?” she asked.

Ledge Nettles, who was available to answer questions for the council on the property, said that the owner would prefer to leave the area in the back grassier, to have a backyard type space for those in the townhomes.

Additionally, with the width, parking in the front would be difficult, he said.

“I don’t love this,” Witten said. “And it’s in my ward, but I don’t like the other options either. And so it’s like the lesser of all the options. I don’t want to say evil because housing’s not evil … As the developer, I wish ya’ll would reconsider the intensity of that lot.”

Other Business: - The council approved a tax abatement for CNJ, Inc. in the

preferred) To apply please visit our office, located at 1706 Toomer Street, Opelika, AL 36801 or complete an application on-line at http://www.opelikaha.org/ Default.asp?ID=123&pg=Employment+Opportunities

Auburn Industrial Park.

- The council approved a contract with the Alabama Department of Transportation for a traffic signal operation and maintenance agreement for a traffic signal at the intersection of Alabama Highway 14 and Richland Road Connector.

- The council approved a contract with Hydro Engineering Solutions for the Hamilton Road Improvements Project for over $45,000.

- The council approved a contract for five stop signs and a 25 mph stop sign in the Bridgewater Subdivision.

- The council approved a stop sign in Longleaf Crossing.

- The council approved a lease agreement between The Water Works Board and the city and Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC for a temporary construction letdown and trailer lot next door to the Bailey Alexander Complex.

- The council approved an alcohol beverage license for Dumps Like A Truck Irritable Bao.

B14 April 8, 2021

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B15 April 8, 2021

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B16 April 8, 2021

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This week’s puzzle answers: