Opelika Observer 05-01-19 E-edition

pelika Observer O Vol. 11, No. 30

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

Opelika, Alabama

Turn to A6 for more photos from Friday’s ceremony renaming the Lee County Meeting Center in honor of Opelika’s Bennie Adkins

“By local people, for local people.”

Local organizations partnering to build three homes in a week for Beauregard residents displaced by March 3 tornadoes

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

By Morgan Bryce Editor In only a week’s time, three homes are being built in areas of the Beauregard community hardest hit by the March 3 tornadoes thanks to the efforts of volunteers and aid from two local “communityfirst” organizations.

The project is a collaborative effort of the Chattahoochee Fuller Center Project and East Alabama Medical Center’s Cornerstone Foundation, marking the second occasion the two organizations have come together to

provide shelter for those in need.

“Our focus area is here in Lannett, Valley and West Point, and where we worked with the foundation previously. But, after seeing and hearing of the damage in the Beauregard community, we knew we had to go down there and do something to help,” said CFCP Executive Director Kim Roberts.

Last Saturday, the organizations brought together local volunteers and athletes from Auburn University and the University of Alabama to construct the walls of the homes on

Saturday at Providence Baptist Church. The walls were later moved to the sites on Lee roads 36 and 166 where the homes are being built.

Cornerstone Foundation Manager Lisa Ruffin said each homes her organization is sponsoring will be built for individuals with ties to the hospital, including the brother of EAMC nurse Maggie Robinson, who lost her life during the March 3 storms.

“The foundation was started in 1991 to assist an employee whose home was lost in a fire. And

since then, it’s grown to be an organization that goes out into the community to help others,” Ruffin said. “It’s part of our DNA here at EAMC to help each other out in a time of trouble or crises.”

The homes are expected to be completed by this Saturday. Roberts added that they plan to return this fall and construct eight more homes.

For more information on the organizations, visit www.eacmfoundation. org and www.fullercenter.org. Turn to A10 for more photos from Saturday’s event.

CyberZone now hosting Esports events for gamers

By Austin Gibson For the Opelika Observer A new form of competition is emerging, and CyberZone Entertainment Center is one among a few businesses in the nation to embrace it. It’s called esports, and its popularity is exploding worldwide. For a fee, gamers can play their favorite game on a high-caliber computer equipped with a gaming monitor, mouse, keyboard, and headset. This enables any gamer to compete at the

highest level with exceptionally smooth gameplay and minimal delay. The esports stadium officially opened for testing on April 26 and is still under development, but the future is bright.

What is this rapidly growing industry called esports? An Esport is “a multiplayer video game played competitively for spectators, typically by professional gamers.” Examples include Fortnite, League of Legends, and See Esports, page A3

Nature Made, Feed the Children Opelika’s Alsobrook Law Group to to distribute food to 800 local reopen today in former home of families on May 11 in Auburn Greenhouse Restaurant on 9th Street Special to the Opelika Observer

By Morgan Bryce Editor Members of Nature Made, manufactured at Opelika’s Pharmavite facility, are teaming up with the national nonprofit Feed the Children to provide food and aid to 800 local families May 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Frankie B. King Center in Auburn.

According to a Nature Made press release, “each participating family will

Photo special to the Opelika Observer receive a 25-pound box of shelf-stable food, a 15-pound box of essentials, including personal hygiene products and Nature Made children’s

chewable multivitamins.”

Pharmavite Communications Manager Grace Kang said they hope to See Distribution, page A3

Index

OPINION.....................................A4 SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY..............A7 RELIGION..............................A12 CALENDAR..................................A14

Alsobrook Law Group, an Opelikabased law firm, has relocated and will open today in the building that was once the historic Greenhouse Restaurant at 114 N. 9th St. “We have been dedicated to serving the community within Opelika, Auburn, and the surrounding communities for several

SPORTS................................B1 LEGALS.................................B5 POLITICS.......................................B9 ENTERTAINMENT......................B12

Photo by Morgan Bryce/Editor years,” said Attorney Zach D. Alsobrook, a senior partner in the

firm. “But we have See Alsobrook, page A3

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A2 May 01, 2019

Terry’s of Smiths Station readying for 50th anniversary

By Morgan Bryce Editor Nearly 50 years ago, Richard Terry recalls his initial impressions of the heart of the Smiths Station community, the site his father Lonnie chose to relocate his grocery business to from the hustling-and-bustling city of Columbus across the Chattahoochee River.

“There was nothing but fields of sage and a couple of houses nearby. It was very rural,” Richard said.

Now, Terry’s Grocery sits in the middle of one of the area’s fastest growing communities and is deeply woven into the fabric and everyday lives of Smiths Station residents, according to

Richard’s wife Beverly.

“This business is just a part of Smiths Station. When I came here, Terry’s was already a big part of the community,” Beverly said. “It’s hard to really think about doing business anywhere else.”

Terry’s Roots Business was slow for Lonnie and wife Mary Lou at first, but grew with time. In the mid-1970s, Richard inherited the store from his parents and helped it turn into a profitable venture during the next decade.

In 1984, Richard met Beverly on a blind date, and were married within two years.

While Beverly was pregnant with their first child Carley in

1989, Richard oversaw the construction of the modern home of Terry’s and swapped the locations of his convenience and hardware stores. Today, the Terry family has expanded their business reach and own multiple gas stations, climate-controlled storage facilities, multiple rental properties and trailer park.

Terry’s cornerstones When discussing the reasons behind the success of his businesses, particularly Terry’s Grocery, Richard attributed it to their emphasis on going above and beyond for their customers.

“We really try to take care of our customers because they take care of us. Cus-

employees have been with the company for multiple years.

Through times of transition and adjustments to new procedures or technologies, Richard’s son Dillon said his family’s employees “are extremely adaptable and patient through the process,” which has helped them stay competitive with local and national competition that operates in the area.

Last year, an electrical fire forced the closure of the business.

Jones and her store employees helped move the entire store’s inventory so repairs could be made. Within two weeks, the store was open again, a feat that would not have been possible without the “great people who work here,” according to Richard.

Fifty and Beyond Although the official 50th anniversary date is in mid-August, the

long Smiths Station resident and Terry’s office manager for the last 26 years Deborah Bradshaw, the store’s meats and produce have never lacked in quality.

“My whole family shops at Terry’s, because the quality of the products offered here is so high. Right after I got my driver’s license at 16 years old, I’d come shop and buy groceries here,” Bradshaw said. “My dad said he would only eat meat from Terry’s and from nowhere else. If momma came home with meat from somewhere else, he’d have a fit and get her to go it from Terry’s.”

Employees also make up a huge chunk of the business’s success, according to Richard.

Bradshaw, Jones and Meat Department Manager Keith Veasey have spent a combined 62 years working for the Terry family. Several other

tomer service is our top priority,” Richard said. “Another thing we rely on is their input, whether it’s items they can’t find or something we can do better ourselves.”

Store Manager Mary Jones, who has been with Terry’s Grocery for the last 16 years, said she is on a first-name basis with the majority of their customers, listens and receives input from them on ways the store can better serve them and even helps purchase groceries for seniors who are physically unable to shop.

“I’ve grown to love everyone around me, including our customers, and the smalltown feeling that this store has,” Jones said.

According to life-

See Terry’s, page A3

Photos by Morgan Bryce/Opelika Observer

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334-364-9993 phone | 334-364-9997 fax 7667 Alabama Hwy 51, Ste. A, Opelika www.beauregarddrugs.com

pelika Observer

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

O

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

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A3 May 01, 2019

14th annual ‘Mayor’s Ball’ held Friday in Auburn

By Morgan Bryce Editor The cities of Auburn and Opelika came together to support the efforts of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County during Friday’s 14th annual Mayor’s Ball.

Held in the Auburn University Airport’s Delta hangar, hundreds of people donned cocktail attire for this year’s event instead of the traditional blue jeans donned in years past. The theme was “Come Fly With Me.” Live music served as precursory entertainment until 15-year-old club member Eliana Woods, Auburn Mayor

Ron Anders and Opelika City Council President Eddie Smith spoke and welcomed those in attendance. Smith filled in for Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller who was traveling on an international business trip.

Opelika resident and club parent Janataka Holmes shared how impactful the club has been on her and the life of her two sons, particularly her oldest child who lives with disabilities.

“I was looking for a positive place for my children to go, and I was very uncertain whether I would allow (my oldest) to attend. But, upon assessing the club and (meet-

ing its staff), I knew that it was a place that all children could feel welcome and could attend,” Holmes said. “It’s been so great to me in so many areas.”

Next, Club President Wanda Lewis presented awards for the board member and volunteer of the year awards, which were won by Carolyn Reed and Auburn University’s Pi Beta Phi sorority, which has contributed more than 1,000 hours of service to the club.

For more information on the club and what services it provides, like and follow its social media pages or visit www.bgcleeco.org.

Photos by Morgan Bryce/Editor Pictured are moments from Friday’s Mayor’s Ball in Auburn, an annual fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County.

Esports, from A1 Overwatch amidst a long list. If fans are unfamiliar with those games, they can watch gameplay of them now on the website Twitch.tv. which broadcasts a variety of streams ranging from individual players to professional leagues in which players compete for millions of dollars. The prize pool of the last League of Legends world championship was $6.45 million, and the publisher of Fortnite issued a $100 million prize pool in 2018.

Esports encourage all of the virtues associated with traditional sports including teamwork, communication, patience, critical thinking, and selfconfidence. This is evidenced by professional teams paying hefty fees for sports psychologists to consult the individual players and improve team cohesion.

Furthermore, colleges including the University of Utah, the University of California-Irvine and Robert Morris University offer scholarships for talented players.

Locally, Smiths Station High School recently recognized Esports as a

Distribution, from A1 address and meet the health needs of families on SNAP or other food-assistance programs during the event with the distribution of 10,000 bottles of vitamins.

“We find that many food-assistance programs, including SNAP, do not cover the cost of multivitamins. Those 10,000 bottles are not filled with leftover vitamins or ones soon to expire, we’re making it specifically for this event,” Kang said.

form of competition and formed an official team to represent the school.

Judging by the consistent growth of the industry during the last few years, this will continue to grow exponentially.

CyberZone Entertainment Center in down town Opelika has just opened an Esports stadium to provide local gamers with a chance to compete without impediment.

The stadium consists of 18 gaming stations, and each station is equipped with an Alienware gaming computer, Alienware monitor, gaming headset, mouse and keyboard.

All of the equipment is specially customized for competitive gamers.

The Alienware gaming computer contains a high-spec NVIDIA graphics card which, when combined with the Alienware monitor with a refresh rate of 244Hz and one ms (millisecond) response time, results in exceptionally smooth gameplay. To maintain the high demands of the computers, CyberZone upgraded their internet to one gigabit speed through fiber optic cables.

Throughout the few days of being open to the public, customers readily notice and comment on the breathtaking graphics At least 100 volunteers from Pharmavite’s Opelika facility, along with Auburn University students and Feed the Children workers, will help help distribute items during the event. A registered dietician will be available to nutritional information and a community partner fair will be held to connect families to education, employment and health resources. Vouchers with assigned distribution pick-up times will be mailed in advance to prevent overcrowding.

In the second year of organizing this event to-

displayed while playing their favorite game. The game library consists of the prominent esports catalog, along with an ever-expanding selection of popular, contemporary computer games. Along with enabling individual players to rival the equipment of professional players, CyberZone is already planning to host local tournaments for prizes and potentially sponsor local teams for national competition.

This is merely one example of the many exciting prospects for the future.

Esports is an undeniably surging industry worldwide, and CyberZone is the first local business to embrace it and to make such a highcaliber investment. By providing gamers with the latest hardware and gaming equipment, they can compete with professional players without hindrance. With a library of popular esports and exciting plans for the future, CyberZone is shaping Opelika to be an attractive destination for gamers worldwide.

For more information, follow their social media pages or visit www. cyberzone334.com. The store is located at 107 N. 9th St. gether, Nature Made and Feed the Children’s goals and mission are the common elements of their successful partnership, according to Kang.

“A lot of these families are on limited income ... and our goals of feeding children and meeting nutrient gaps just make our relationship unique and special. We both want to make a difference in the communities we serve,” Kang said.

For more information, visit www.feedthechildren.org or www.pharmavite.com. The center is located at 950 Shelton Mill Road.

Alsobrook, from A1 simply outgrown our existing space and needed to move to a larger space that would better accommodate our needs and the needs of our clients.”

Alsobrook Law Group practices criminal defense, family law, business law, personal injury, and several other areas. Alsobrook was born and raised in Opelika and is a graduate of Auburn University. After graduating from law school, he practiced in Birmingham before returning to his roots and setting up his practice in Opelika.

Alsobrook has established a successful track record both inside and outside the courtroom. He is a highly skilled negotiator who is very adept at crafting practical and innovative solutions to help his clients avoid costly and protracted litiga-

Terry’s, from A2 Terry’s have already begun celebrating the occasion with commemorative balloons, banners and cups. In the latter portion of August, Beverly said they plan to host a large block party with live music and food to promote the milestone.

From his humble beginnings of biking groceries to his father’s customers in Columbus to becoming one of Smiths Station’s most successful small business owners, Richard said he has been amazed and humbled by the acceptance of his family

tion, and in the case of criminal defense, secure the most favorable outcome possible. He is also a strong litigator who is ready and willing to bring a case to trial when necessary to serve the best interests of his clients.

The firm’s approach of providing strong legal representation with a personal touch has resulted in healthy growth over the years, largely through referrals from satisfied clients.

“I am privileged to work and serve in the community where I grew up,” Alsobrook said. “And I believe our commitment to highly personalized service is one of the major reasons so many of our clients are referred to us from those we have represented in the past. And to help serve everyone better, we are excited to announce our move to what used to be the Greenhouse Restaurant on the corner of 2nd Avenue and North 9th Street.”

The Greenhouse Restaurant was a once-beloved Opelika dining spot that opened in January 1978. It was open for 14 years before falling victim to the 1991 recession and forced to close its doors. The historic property was built in 1900 and contains nearly 5,000 square feet, giving Alsobrook Law Group the space needed to effectively manage their continued growth.

“We know how much the Greenhouse Restaurant meant to the people of Opelika, and we are humbled to be occupying the building where this restaurant was once housed.

From our new location, we will continue to serve the people of our community and work hard to help maintain the history and traditions that have made our community great," Alsobrook said.

For more information on Alsobrook law group, visit https:// www.alsolaw.com/.

into the Smiths Station “family.”

“We’ve fought so many battles since we got here with new stores coming and we’ve just seen those as a new challenge to accept and use as an opportunity to better ourselves. Most of the time it has worked too,” Richard said.

“All I can say is how proud I am of everyone who has helped us get here.”

Dillon, who mostly oversees the day-today operations of his family’s convenience stores, will inherit the family business at some point in the near future. He said he is excited to help continue the family business for a third generation and hopes to build upon the foundation

his father has laid in the process.

“It’s overwhelming, but it’s great to know that I’ll have a steady job as long as everybody hangs with me. I enjoy my job and I feel like I’m a pretty big part of the community through our store, which is an honor,” Dillon said.

“I enjoy being able to work with the community and all the people who work here at our stores. I feel like I have a lot to do though to carry this on.”

For more information or updates on the grocery store’s 50th anniversary, like and follow “Terry’s Grocery” on Facebook or visit www.terrysofsmithsstation.com.

The store is located at 9209 Lee Road 246.

A4 May 01, 2019

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I blushed until I was oreland, Georthe color of a tomato. gia—it is alThen my wife gave most midnight. me a gift-wrapped The stars are out by the book by the aforebillions. I am pumping mentioned author. gas at a filling station, It was a book I had watching them. already read 10 or I like watching stars. I 12 times. Still, I read don’t know why. SomeBy Sean Dietrich it again that same how, they remind me night, in one sitting. that I am never forgotAnd it made me feel like a child ten by this universe. again.

A few hours ago, our plane It reminded me that wishes touched down, and it felt like coming back from the moon. The from 13-year-old boys are not South is my home, and when I’m lost. They float in the universe, waiting for the right moment to gone too long I start to miss it. land.

We’ve been traveling for In fact, a boy’s wish might be seventeen days—most of those the most real there is. More pure days were spent out West, where humidity is a foreign word. And I than the wishes of grown men.

Because a 13-year-old doesn’t missed home something fierce.

We left the airport and I started know what he wants, he only knows what his heart says. He driving southward on a dark speaks without thinking. And highway with windows rolled there is honesty in that. down. I passed kudzu, longleaf On this serene night, I remempine trees, and old barns. ber that boy who once clutched a I drove past trailer homes with book against his chest, looking at lit windows glowing in the dark. a sky through his aunt’s window.

And tiny churches, abandoned The kid didn’t just want to belong ago. I passed a stray dog, come a writer. It was more than wandering the highway in the that. He asked the stars not to dark.

If I had a nickel for every stray forget about him. Because there is nothing worse than feeling on these backroads. forgotten.

And I pulled over here, to fill Tonight, in the humidity of the our tank in Moreland. I still have South, where the highway’s dota long way to travel, but I’m ted yellow lines eventually lead close enough to be excited about to my house in the Panhandle, seeing my front porch.

I see the same stars a boy once There is a gentleman on the other side of the pump, filling his saw.

They hang above Moreland, tank. He drives an ugly truck. He LaGrange, and Columbus. But wears boots. He shows a twothey go farther than that. They finger wave. cross the state line and become I return the favor. the stars of Alabama, the stars He introduces me to the dog in of the Gulf waters, and the stars his front seat. above my Florida home.

“Her name’s Uga,” he says.

The stars connect to swirling “‘Cause I’m a dyed in the wool galaxies inside a big universe. A Georgia Bulldog fan.” universe that doesn’t know the Nobody says things like “dyed difference between losers and in the wool” out West. But they winners because it doesn’t measay it in our part of the world. sure things the way we do.

My favorite writer was from It doesn’t know days, weeks, Moreland. I read every one of his books before I hit age 13, and or years. But it knows other things. Big things. It knows evI silently declared to the Georery man, woman, and dog named gia stars, one summer night on Uga. my aunt’s sleeping porch, that I It cares about each orphaned wanted to do what he did. I didn’t know how it would happen, or if. 13-year-old boy, and it knows where each homesick child beBut that’s what I asked the longs. And I realize something, universe. here in Moreland.

My life has been a long road.

God hasn’t forgotten about me.

I dropped out during the seventh And he won’t forget about you, grade after my father passed. I either. graduated college at age 30. I Sean Dietrich is a columnist, don’t even have the credentials to be well-digger, but somehow I and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American ended up as a writer.

South. His work has appeared in I’ll never forget my college Southern Living, the Tallahassee graduation party, my wife and Democrat, Southern Magazine, friends took me out to a pizza Yellowhammer News, the Bitter joint. Someone told the waiter I Southerner, the Mobile Press had just turned thirty.

Register and he has authored When the waitresses and waiters sang “Happy Birthday” to me, seven books.

Finding and selling Southern genteel culture

A

countries. while back, I got But why? Why has Dixie an e-mail from become big business here a guy named and in lands beyond our Eric Spitznagel who said borders? he was “working on a That, more or less, was the feature story for Bloomquestion he put to me. berg Businessweek about Maybe, I suggested, the the rising popularity of Southern genteel culture.” By Hardy Jackson South is popular because in uncertain times like these, He wanted to interview our region comes off as a me. “calmer, quieter place, and a lot of I was flattered. folks are craving that right now.”

Spitznagel wrote that he was out to Kim Holloway of the blog “Southern examine how “the more sophisticated Stuff People Like” agreed, and added aspects of the South, from the Ken“if you’re out of work, depressed, and tucky Derby to good ol’ fashioned stressed out, caviar and sushi aren’t exPaula Deen family cooking, [were] actly going to stanch the flow of tears. making a big comeback.”

But fried chicken might.”

I didn’t know they went away to Which is why, I suppose, that KFC come back. has around 3,200 outlets in China.

From my line of sight, it seems China! that what passes for “genteel culture” And why Savannah’s Paula Deen around here has always passed for became a food celebrity all the way to “genteel culture.”

Turkey and back.

But knowing I could be wrong, I Then there is music. The Bellamy dashed off an e-mail to a buddy John Brothers, who recently made a small who can pass any gentility test you splash singing about the world seen might devise. He answered my questhrough the eyes of a couple of white, tion with a question – “Have you kept heterosexual, Methodist boys, are playup your subscription to Garden & ing to sold out crowds in South Africa Gun?” and Sri Lanka where it was said they Of course, I thought. Where once are “treated like Elvis.”

Southern Living was the go-to manual From Scandinavia to Hong Kong to for Southerners aspiring to gentility, Brazil music promoters are scrambling now Garden and Gun, which promises to “satisfy the Southern cravings.” As to show you how “appreciating the richness of the South... can enrich one’s for the audiences – young folks think country artists are cool, old folks life,” is challenging Southern Living think they are sweet, rich folks think for a share of the gentility-seeking they are trustworthy. market.

Not a bad combination.

So I took his hint, set myself a-ponBut what about the “genteel dering “Southern genteel culture,” and waited for the call from Mr. Spietnegel culture” Spitznagel first wrote me about?

It came.

It seemed to have gotten lost We talked. somewhere. Though all this global And then I waited for the article to attention was interesting, and for a see just where all this would take us.

Southerner very satisfying, I could Not surprisingly, it took us to the not shake the feeling that Southern marketplace because, remember, this genteel culture was more than food, was Bloomberg Businessweek – emfashion, and a country music frolic. phasis on “Business.” So naturally And thinking this, my mind kept the article focused on how “Southern style and culture is big business beyond wandering back to a passage from Walker Percy’s The the Mason-Dixon line.”

Moviegoer. In it an elderly Aunt To prove this, the author told of how tells her nephew that more than recently “a gaggle of celebrities and anything she wants to pass on to him fashion icons filled Lincoln Center to “the one heritage of the men of our view” a show called “Spooky Savannah” that featured a collection of “mod- family, a certain quality of spirit, a gaiety, a sense of duty, a nobility els in floppy hats and tiered ruffles worn lightly, a sweetness, a gentlewalking the runway” like characters ness with women.” These, she says, out of some low country garden party. are “the only good things the South Southern style and culture for sale. has ever had and the only things that And where are the buyers salivating really matter in this life.” over this stuff?

That, to me, is the genteel culture How about Dubai, and places in of the South. between?

But how would you market it?

Yessir.

Where would you sell it?

According to Spitznagel, around And these days, who would buy it? the world, the South is all the rage.

Harvey H. (“Hardy”) Jackson is In the U.K., sales of bourbon are up Professor Emeritus of History at 25 percent and growing. “AgrarianJacksonville State University. He can chic” has gone global. A Texas-based, be reached at hjackson@cableone. big-hair book club called the “Pulpnet. wood Queens” has 412 chapters in 11

pelika O Observer

Special to the Opelika Observer Join the Food Bank of East Alabama in largest single-day food drive to ‘Help Stamp Out Hunger’ on May 11.

Hunger in the United States? In many ways, America is the land of plenty, but for 1-in-5 people in Alabama, hunger is a reality. Today, approximately 49 million Americans, including 16 million children,

your mailbox. Just leave a bag of non-perishable food where your letter carrier normally delivers your mail on May11.

Your letter carrier will then pick up and deliver the food to the food bank.

All of the food stays to help families in the local community.

Food banks and shelters usually benefit from an upswing in charitable donations during the winter holiday season.

By springtime, how-

struggle with hunger.

These are often hardworking adults, children and seniors who find it challenging to make ends meet and feed their families.

On May 11, letter carriers will conduct the annual ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ food drive across the nation to collect food donations to provide assistance to Americans who struggle with hunger.

Helping Stamp Out Hunger is as close as

New statewide beekeeping program helps raise awareness on bees Special to the Opelika Observer The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is taking steps to assure bees remain a vibrant part of food production.

To ensure that crop pollination is not threatened in the state, Alabama Extension created a new beekeeping program that includes educators from Auburn University and Alabama A&M University.

Pollinators are Important “Bees pollinate about 30% of all food crops so it’s important we support the state’s beekeepers,” said Paul Brown, Alabama Extension associate director.

“A number of stressors, including parasites, disease and pesticides, can impact honeybee colonies.

“Extension’s new apiculture team will provide critical education and support to the state’s beekeepers. Extension professionals working at both Alabama A&M and Auburn universities and an Auburn University faculty member form the team’s core,” Brown said.

Bees provide more than just pollination. According to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, between 14,000 and 16,000 colonies are spread across the state.

USDA’s most recent honey report showed these colonies produced on average more than 52 pounds of honey annually. In 2016, honey production totaled 364,000 pounds in Alabama and was valued at more than $1.25 million.

“We’re excited to serve all Alabama beekeepers, whether they are just getting started or have many years of experience,” said Celvia Stovall, Alabama Extension associate director.

“Our program incorporates the latest apiculture research in Extension learning opportunities.

We offer on-site pest and disease inspection at bee colonies, and pollinator plant recommendations and training.

This will be one of the most robust programs in the nation.”

Hunter McBrayer, the Alabama Farmer’s Federation Director for bee and honey producers, called the Extension commitment to beekeepers exciting.

“The new apiculture team will help improve our bee and honey industry in Alabama,” McBrayer said. “Extension professionals will be a great educational resource while connecting beekeepers to spread knowledge, share successes and gain an understanding of the challenges that face the bee and honey industry

in Alabama.”

Apiculture Team The new team will guide the System’s beekeeping educational efforts. Dr. Geoffrey Williams, an assistant professor in Auburn’s Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, will provide researchbased information on emerging bee topics and will coordinate a portion of his research to support the Extension apiculture program.

Extension agent Jack Rowe, who is affiliated with Auburn, will lead the development of the apiculture education programming, including the annual Bee Symposium.

The symposium boasts the largest attendance of any Extension educational event. More than 600 people attended the most recent one held in February.

Phillip Carter, who is affiliated with Alabama A&M, will inspect colonies for pests and diseases as well as collect honey bee swarms as needed and remove colonies in structures when deemed a health hazard. Carter’s Alabama A&M colleague Allyson Shabel will focus on creating materials to support beginning keepers as well as pollinator plant classes for adult and youth audiences.

For more information, visit www.aces.edu.

ever, their stocks tend to dwindle to critically low levels. Food from this drive helps fill the shelves of local food pantries, shelters, and meal programs across East Alabama.

This year has even more urgency than usual as food banks and food pantries assist families impacted by the March 3 tornadoes.

While one bag of food can seem like a small thing, Stamp Out Hunger

A5 May 01, 2019

makes a huge impact every year thanks to the support of the community.

Examples of non-perishable items include: - Canned soup - Canned meats and fish - Canned vegetables, fruits and juices - Boxed goods (such as cereal) - Pasta and rice - Peanut butter For more information, call 334-821-9006.

Kroger’s Atlanta Division Celebrates 2018 Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Achievements Increases food rescue by more than 33% Special to the Opelika Observer In 2018, Kroger’s Atlanta Division increased the amount of food rescued by more than 33% and donated more than three million meals to local food banks as a part of the company’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative.

“We are extremely proud of our associates in Kroger’s Atlanta Division for their enthusiasm and commitment to Zero Hunger | Zero Waste and tremendously thankful to our customers who generously donate through campaigns, such as Can Hunger and Feeding the Gap,” said Kroger’s Atlanta Division Manager of Corporate Affairs Felix Turner.

“The 2018 achievements benchmark our bold vision to eliminate waste in our company and end hunger in the communities we call home by 2025.”

Kroger’s Atlanta Division, which includes Georgia, Eastern Alabama and South Carolina, achieved significant milestones in 2018, including: - Providing more than three million meals to local food banks.

Across the country,

Kroger provided 316 million meals.

Increased the amount of food rescued in the Atlanta Division by more than 33%.

Nationwide, Kroger rescued 100 million pounds of safe nutritious food that could no longer be sold in its retail stores, or shipped from its distribution centers and manufacturing plants, for Feeding America food banks.

- Won the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s (MAC) 2018 E3 Award in the category of Resilient Communities – an honor that celebrates the companies, organizations and people whose work innovates at the intersection of sustainability and commerce.

Matt Hall, Kroger associate and produce clerk in Canton, Georgia, was honored with the Kroger Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Zero Hero Award, recognizing his commitment to making his community brighter both on and off the job. Along with this recognition, Hall received $1,000 to donate to the charity of his choice. He plans to donate his award to Bethany’s Place, a local women’s shelter in Canton. Hall’s

contribution will help expand the shelter’s food pantry capacity to offer fresh fruit and vegetables.

Nationally, Kroger was named sixth on Fortune magazine's Change the World 2018 list, joining 50 big companies around the world that are also using their resources to solve society's most complex issues. The company also ranked sixth on Forbe’s list – 12 most generous companies.

To follow Kroger’s #ZeroHungerZeroWaste journey, sign up for updates and visit Kroger Stories for the latest videos.

ABOUT KROGER At The Kroger Company, we are dedicated to our purpose: to Feed the Human SpiritTM. The company focuses its charitable efforts on hunger relief, K-12 education, women’s health initiatives and local organizations in the communities it serves.

Kroger’s Atlanta Division is headquartered in Atlanta and is one of the Southeast’s largest retail grocery chains with more than 183 stores, covering Georgia, Eastern Alabama and South Carolina.

Philanthropic Foundation helps Alabama State Parks reach potential Special to the Opelika Observer The Alabama State Parks Foundation was introduced at Oak Mountain State Park last week, promising to raise money for all 21 parks to enhance programming, facilities and parks experiences.

The not-for-profit organization is led by Dan L. Hendricks of Florence, president of the ASPF Board of Directors and former executive director of the University of North

Alabama Foundation. The 15-person volunteer board includes businesspeople and philanthropists from across the state.

Alabama State Parks Director Greg Lein, who serves as treasurer for the board, said he was enthusiastic about the prospects for the new organization.

“The Alabama State Parks Foundation, led by this distinguished board, is a wonderful way for people to get involved with raising game-changing gifts that will enhance our parks for

generations to come,” Lein said. “The Foundation will be the driver for attracting supporters who want to contribute for specific parks and projects that benefit the whole system.”

The foundation also unveiled its “First Friends” program and www.asparksfoundation.org website at last week’s press conference.

“Our First Friends initiative intends to build a network of supporters who are excited about getting in on the ground floor of this

endeavor,” Hendricks said.

“First Friends who give to the Foundation will forever be recognized as Founding Members of the Alabama State Parks Foundation.

Like our founding board of directors, our First Friends are people who are dedicated to building and sustaining a great statewide park system.”

Corporate partners are also supporters of the new Foundation. Buffalo Rock President and Chief Operating Officer Matthew Dent called the Foundation

a perfect opportunity for businesses and industries in the state to show their pride in being part of their communities.

“Buffalo Rock is happy to be a part of this new organization because we know how important the state parks are to our customers and employees as well as all of Alabama’s citizens,” Dent said. “Outdoor entertainment goes hand-in-hand with enjoying our products and I can think of no better place to get that feeling of refreshment than

an Alabama state park.”

The ASPF, a 501(c)3 organization, offers several giving options for the parks, including unrestricted gifts, camp scholarships, and trail- and cabin-building with naming opportunities.

More information about becoming a First Friend and ways to support the parks can be found on www.asparksfoundation.org. Follow news about the Foundation on Twitter @ASParksFdn and on Instagram at AL State Parks Foundation (@ asparksfdn).

pelika O Observer

A6 May 01, 2019

‘Bennie Adkins Meeting Center’ dedicated Friday

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer The Lee County Meeting Center was officially renamed the “Bennie Adkins Meeting Center” during a special ceremony last Friday. Adkins, an Opelika native and Medal of Honor recipient, is pictured left with Auburn University interior design students who helped conceptualize the project.

Right, Adkins shakes hands with Lee County Probate Judge Bill English.

‘Love Lee Day’ to be held May 18 at Opelika Sportsplex

By Morgan Bryce Editor Proceeds from the inaugural “Love Lee Day” May 18 at the Opelika Sportsplex will benefit East Alabama Medical Center’s MEND program and up to 12 Beauregard children affected by the March 3 tornadoes that passed through Lee County.

According to Amy Walters, one of the event’s organizers, the event is a way for the community to gather for a fun-filled, family-friendly event and strengthen its bonds.

“Our goal through all of this is to bring the community to-

gether. We want people in Beauregard and Smiths Station to know that we stand behind them as a county and that we will be with them as they go through the process of recovery and restoration of what was lost,” Walters said. “Another important aspect is that we want people, especially tornado victims, to have a fun day and step away from the chaos and be able to enjoy themselves.”

The event will be “hosted” by Walter’s organization “Beauregard Birthdays,” which is working to provide gifts or necessary items to children who were affected

or displaced by the storms.

Included in that day’s festivities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. are entertainment, food and music.

Classic rock cover group 8-Track Rewind will perform, and there will be appearances from Auburn University mascot Aubie and Disney princesses. There will be a dunk tank, inflatables and a Nerf Gun battle area.

Food trucks from Crepe Myrtle Cafe, Kona Ice and Philly Connection will be on site to provide food and refreshments.

A silent auction featuring more than 30 special items donated

by local businesses will also take place during the event, a solution “to help them find a way to be involved and give back to tornado relief efforts,” according to

Walters.

Event admission is free, but donations for both Beauregard Birthdays and MEND (the hospital’s newly formed disaster coordination group) will

be accepted throughout the event.

For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page. The Sportsplex is located at 1001 Andrews Road.

Goodwill Week offers individuals events, opportunities to connect with future employers and advance careers Special to the Opelika Observer

Every year during the first full week of May, Goodwill organizations across the United States and Canada celebrate “Goodwill Week” to highlight the defining principle of our mission — transforming lives through the power of work.

This year, Goodwill

Week runs May 6 to 10. Throughout the week, GoodwillSR will host special events like job and resource fairs, career boot camps and career center tours for the surrounding community.

Our career centers in Columbus, Phenix City and Opelika will celebrate by hosting the following events: Columbus Midtown

Career Center – 2601 Cross Country Drive Building B Multi-Employer Job and Resource Fair - May 9 from 3 to 7 p.m. E.S.T Sixty employers are expected to attend.

Phenix City Career Center – 3605 US Highway 431 North Career Boot Camp - May 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. E.S.T Attendees will pre-

pare for upcoming job fairs through resume development and interviewing skills.

Multi-Employer Job Fair - May 7 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

E.S.T. Popeye’s Job Fair May 9 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. E.S.T This hiring event will feature the new Popeye’s restaurant opening soon across the street from Good-

will in Phenix City.

Opelika Career Center – 3740 Pepperrell Parkway Multi-Employer Job Fair: May 7 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. CST While the United States unemployment rate has hit record lows in recent months, many communities still struggle with poverty, homelessness and lack of access to good-paying

jobs.

GoodwillSR is dedicated to equipping people to find employment, advance their careers and care for themselves and their families.

Visit www.goodwillsr.org to view the Goodwill Week calendar where one will find more details on job fairs and events at the nearest Goodwill Career Center.

‘A Father’s Voice Matters’ seeks to help area fathers deepen connections with children, become better leaders

By Tyler Roush For the Opelika Observer Churmell Mitchell believes there are five questions to bring a father closer to a child.

As the founder of the nonprofit organization A Father’s Voice Matters, Mitchell’s goal is to bring awareness to men about the importance of their voice when raising a child. Though the organization seeks to help fathers, it will also connect children without fathers to a father figure.

“I started this non-

profit because I had a passion to bring awareness to the men in our community and over the world how important your voice is needed present to a child,” Mitchell said. “It’s one thing to call, but it’s a huge difference to be directly in front of them.”

Mitchell, a 27-yearold single father with a son and daughter, currently works at Creekside Elementary as its after-school director.

With a strong passion for the youth, Mitchell said that he asks his children five questions each morning to cre-

ate a stronger bond between the parent and child.

“What is your favorite food? What if your favorite song? What is your favorite color?

What is your favorite thing to do? What is your favorite movie?”

Mitchel recounted.

Mitchell maintains the importance of a father’s role in a child’s life, adding that children with present fathers tend to have less behavioral problems.

A father’s voice matters just as much as the mother’s.

“Research indicates that fathers are as

important as mothers in their respective roles as caregivers, protectors, financial supporters and most importantly, models for social and emotional behavior,” Mitchell said. “We believe we can raise up a generation of leaders one child at a time, by encouraging one father at a time.”

Not only is the organization working to build the voice of the father with the child, it also works to build confidence among men who may be as motivated. Sometimes, Mitchell said, it may help to ask the five questions to

your father and not the children.

Building relationships among the family, and bridging the generational gap, can allow men to fill in the role they are needed for.

“We hope to create a safe place for men to connect and encourage one another,” Mitchell said.

“To help men be the best fathers they can be through empowerment, motivation, and connections with other fathers to help create and maintain a positive mindset.”

A Father’s Voice Matters will be holding

a car wash on May 11 to support the family of Kayla Grimes and her family following their losses in the March tornadoes. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Grimes family.

Anyone wishing to donate to the event or attend may contact Mitchell at 256-5662479 or at afathersvoicematters@gmail. com.

Additional information for the nonprofit can be found on its Facebook page, where more event postings will be listed in the future.

Opelika E vents, Society, & Food

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: • May 1, 2 - Lee County Water Festival • May 1 - Lee County Master Gardener’s Plant Swap • May 2 - National Day of Prayer • May 10 - Southside Speakeasy • May 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 - Auburn Area Community Theatre • May 24-26 - Opelika Songwriter’s Festival

Serve attractive strawberry desserts, salads for spring entertaining Ann Cipperly’s

Southern

Hospitality

N

ow that spring has arrived with warm breezes, thoughts turn to cleaning patio furniture, gardening and serving delicious springtime desserts and salads with fresh strawberries.

Strawberries are probably everyone’s favorite fruit.

They are a good source of vitamin C and low in calories.

When purchasing strawberries, select ones with a natural shine and fresh look, with a green cap. Check the bottom of the container for red stains indicating deteriorating berries. When washing strawberries, rinse them quickly in a colander

under cold water. Never soak them.

Although no one knows where strawberries received their name, one version tells of Anglo-Saxon children stringing berries on straws and selling them.

Roman writers mention the consumption of wild strawberries. In the late 16th century, strawberries were noted as a dessert to be eaten with cream or wine.

In America, Native Americans were fans of the Virginia strawberry. The Natchez Native Americans designated “strawberry moon” as one of the 13 months in their calendar year. Widespread

Photo by Ann Cipperly cultivation of strawberries Strawberry shortcake in a martini glass is easy and elegant to serve for spring and sumin America did not occur mer entertaining. It can be prepared ahead and stored in refrigerator until ready to serve. until the mid-18th century The strawberry shortcake is also attractive served in other glasses, bowls or dessert plates. when the Erie Railroad tious at Acre. I especially in loaf pans and freeze store it in the refrigerator began operating. It was enjoyed it served with his to have one available for until ready to serve. reported that 80,000 bassalmon. making this dessert.

The strawberry shortkets of strawberries were The strawberry and You can also slice cake is a good recipe to delivered to New York orange salad from Mary a pound cake or angel have on hand when you City in 1847.

Counts of Pannie-George’s food cake and fill it with need a dessert that looks Carol Duncan’s Strawwhipped cream and berries Kitchen is also excellent. berry Shortcake served in a festive, and is quick and Whether you relish for the springtime strawmartini glass is an easy, at- easy to prepare. strawberries in salads, berry and cream cake.

The strawberry trifle is tractive dessert to serve for pies, cakes or other treats, The strawberries filled also made with a pound entertaining. If you don’t serve strawberries for have time to bake a pound cake or an angel food cake. with cream and cheesecake filled strawberries are family meals and when These can be homemade cake, this recipe works entertaining this spring and nice additions for a tea or or purchased and will well with one purchased summer. shower. work well. This is one of from the grocery store.

Ann Cipperly can be One of the best salads my daughter-in-law, AJ’s, The strawberry sauce and reached at recipes@cipis Chef David Bancroft’s favorite, and I always try whipped cream can be perly.com strawberry-walnut salad. to have one in the refrigerprepared ahead. You can ator ready when she visits. While you can try making assemble the dessert in a it at home, it is scrumpI will bake pound cakes dish of your choice and Turn to recipes, page A9

Harpeth Rising to perform at the Opelika Songwriters Festival Special to the Opelika Observer Harpeth Rising will headline the opening night of the Opelika Songwriters Festival on May 24.

There will be a wide range of local to international touring musicians performing in six unique venues around historic downtown Opelika.

Single-day, two-day and three-day passes are available online at www. opelikasongwritersfestival.com. The Opelika Songwriters Festival is a production of the Sound Wall. A portion of net proceeds will go toward the Arts Association of East Alabama.

Harpeth Rising was selected for the State Department’s cross-cultural exchange program, American Music Abroad.

Out of 300 applicants,15 ensembles were chosen to travel in a series of performances globally.

The Block will be Harpeth Rising’s first performance back in America after touring Cambodia and Singapore with American Music Abroad.

Chamberfolk: Three classically trained musicians playing original music, as intricately arranged as a string quartet, lyrically rooted in the singer/songwriter tradition and wrapped in three-part vocal harmonies reminis-

cent of both Appalachia and Medieval Europe.

Building from the tonal depth of the cello, layer in the shimmering sounds of a violin and the strikingly natural addition of banjo to create a sound at once familiar and impossible to categorize.

Unapologetic genrebenders, Harpeth Rising fuses folk, newgrass, rock and classical into something organically unique.

The three musicians each hold classical performance degrees from some of the most venerated schools in the world: Indiana University, Oberlin and Eastman School of Music.

Hallmarks of their music include expansive three-

Harpeth Rising part harmonies, consummate musicianship and a deft, yet soulful, lyrical perspective.

“Against All Tides”, Harpeth Rising’s sophomore album as a trio, is proof that authenticity and complexity can live in harmony. It is an exploration of spirituality in place of

fundamentalism, uncertainty as philosophy, and an unwavering declaration that human connection is the ultimate force for good in the universe. The songs, crafted lyrically by Jordana Greenberg and arranged by all three members of the trio - Maria Di Meglio, Michelle Younger

and Greenberg - do not intend to distract from the social and political atmosphere. Altogether, they present a picture of determined optimism: Things are not as they should be, but we will push back, against all tides.

Their previous release, “SHIFTED,” debuted at number one on the FolkDJ charts, and gained them international exposure, leading to headlining slots at festivals including Kerrville Folk Festival (Texas), The National Folk Festival (Australia), Brevard Music Festival (North Carolina), Musicport Festival (England) and Costa Del Folk (Portugal).

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pelika Observer O

A8 May 01, 2019

Annual ‘Relay for Life’ event held last Friday at Courthouse Square in downtown Opelika

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Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Hundreds of people attended the seventh annual “Relay for Life” event last Friday in downtown Opelika, which featured food, fun and recognitions of those who are or have fought the courageous battle against cancer. Proceeds from the event are used to benefit the research of the American Cancer Society in their fight to eliminate the disease.

pelika O Observer Recipes,

from A7 Strawberry Shortcake Served in a Martini Glass Carol Duncan 3 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, sliced 1/3 cup sugar (or more to taste depending upon sweetness of strawberries) 1/3 cup fresh orange juice 2 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 3 Tbsp. sugar 1/2 Tbsp. vanilla 1 loaf of good quality pound cake (homemade or Sara Lee) Fresh mint leaves for garnish Mix 1 cup of strawberries with 1/3 cup sugar, orange juice, 2 tsp. vanilla and 2 tsp. lemon juice and pulse in food processor.

Slice remaining strawberries into 4ths and mix with the strawberry/vanilla, juice mixture. Keep refrigerated if using later. Slice pound cake in to 3/4 inch slices and then cube. Whip heavy cream, 3 Tbsp. sugar and ½ Tbsp. vanilla in a mixing bowl until soft peaks form. To assemble: Layer pound cake cubes in martini glass then top with about 2 Tbsp. of strawberry mixture; top with whipped cream and garnish with mint sprig.

Strawberry-Walnut Salad Chef David Bancroft Salad 6 oz. bag baby spinach 1½ cups candied walnuts 6 strips crispy bacon 1 cup bleu cheese crumbles 1½ cups sliced strawberries 8 oz sherry-honey vinaigrette Sherry-Honey Vinaigrette 1/8 cup sherry vinegar ¼ cup honey 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil ½ Tbsp. white truffle oil 1 tsp. cracked black pepper Add all ingredients for vinaigrette to mixing bowl and whisk together well before serving (or blend in food processor). Arrange plates according to desired serving size and portion spinach equally. Portion each salad topping evenly amongst your plates in layers. Last, make sure vinaigrette is emulsified, and drizzle evenly over salad. Serve immediately and offer fresh cracked pepper!

Serves 4 to 6.

1/2 cup sugar 1 pound cake or angel food cake, cut in cubes 2 1/2 cups vanilla pudding (can use instant pudding mix) 1 cup heavy cream, whipped and sweetened with 2 Tbsp. sugar or more Wash strawberries; save 6 or 8 to garnish. Hull remaining strawberries, slice; add sugar and refrigerate 30 minutes. Place one cake layer in a one quart glass bowl. Pour half the berries over cake, then pour half of the pudding and half of the whipped cream. Repeat layers.

Cover; refrigerate until ready to serve. Before serving garnish with strawberries.

Strawberry and Orange Salad Mary Counts Pannie-George’s Kitchen Dressing 1/3 cup raspberry vinegar ¾ cup sugar 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 1 tsp. salt 1 cup vegetable oil ½ small red onion, finely minced 1 ½ Tbsp. poppy seeds 1 tsp. dry mustard ½ tsp. paprika Salad 1 1/2 lb. fresh spinach and 1 ½ lb. arugula,

Strawberry Trifle 1 quart strawberries

A9 May 01, 2019

washed and torn into pieces Note: May substitute mesclun mix or add watercress. May also add fresh herbs such as mint or tarragon.

1 can water chestnuts, drained and chopped 2 cups strawberries, stemmed and sliced 2 cups orange segments 1 cup toasted pecans or walnuts For dressing, combine vinegar, sugar, lemon juice and salt in a saucepan and heat until sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. Cool to room temperature. Whisk in oil, onion, poppy seeds, dry mustard and paprika; set aside. Combine greens, water chestnuts, strawberries, oranges, and nuts in a salad bowl.

Add a little of the dressing at serving time; toss gently. Serve the remaining dressing on the side for those who want extra dressing. Note: May prepare dressing a day ahead and refrigerate.

Be sure to whisk well before using. Dressing keeps for about a week in the refrigerator. Salad serves 12.

2 cups whipping cream or Cool Whip ½ cup sugar if using whipping cream Slice pound cake or angel food cake. Slice half of strawberries.

Beat heavy cream until stiff; add ½ cup sugar.

Spread half of whipped cream over cake; spread sliced strawberries over cream. Add top layer; cover top with whipped cream. Garnish top with whole berries. Chill until ready to serve.

Strawberry, Candied Walnut and Feta Salad 1 bunch romaine lettuce or pkg. spring mix or spinach 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled 2 cups strawberries, sliced Balsamic Vinaigrette Candied walnuts In large bowl, combine lettuce with strawberries, feta cheese and candied walnuts. Add dressing to taste and toss or serve on the side.

Candied Walnuts 1½ cups walnuts 1 stick butter 2 cups brown sugar Melt butter in saucepan or sauté pan over low heat. As butter begins to soften, add brown sugar, stirring constantly.

When brown sugar begins to bubble on medium heat, continue stirring for two more minutes. Add walnuts and stir until coated with sugar. Pour sugared walnuts onto waxed paper.

Allow to cool completely. Break walnuts apart before adding to salad.

Balsamic Vinaigrette 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 3 Tbsp. honey 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 tsp. salt 1 cup extra virgin olive oil Place ingredients in a small bowl except for olive oil. Whisk ingredients and slowly whisk in olive oil. Store in refrigerator.

See Recipes, page A11

Springtime Strawberry and Cream Cake Homemade or storebought pound cake or angel food cake 1 qt. strawberries

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pelika Observer O

A10 May 01, 2019

Construction of three new homes underway for Beauregard residents displaced by March 3 tornadoes

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Hundreds of local volunteers, along with Auburn University and University of Alabama athletes, came together last Saturday to construct the walls for three homes that are being built in the Beauregard community for individuals displaced by the March 3 tornadoes.

Beauregard tornado survivor returns home last week

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

By Robert Noles Opelika Observer Family, friends and neighbors gathered at 998 Lee County Road 39 last Saturday, where the only thing left of a home was its foundation and a prayer closet in one corner.

Seventy-two year old Earnestine Reese survived the March 3 tornadoes that hit her house. Saturday was the first time Reese was able to visit since the storm. Her daugh-

ter Renee has done most of the work because of her mother’s health.

Her friends and neighbors had set up tents, tables, flowers and chairs in preparation of her arrival. A large yellow bow had been placed around the prayer closet and everyone was encouraged to sign the wall which will remain as the house is rebuilt.

Yellow bows were placed everywhere at the event to welcome Reese home. Gifts

had filled several tables to help restart housekeeping. Food was being cooked for a meal later in the day.

Reese was receiving hugs from everyone as she sat under the huge white tent with tables and chairs. Music from a band was playing and prayers were raised up for her and others affected by the tornadoes.

Rep. Jeremey Gray, who was unable to attend the event, had sponsored Resolu-

tion HR166 to recognize Reese Rebound Day, a celebration to recover, rebuild and rebound. Kingston Frazier, Reese’s grandson, Opelika High School graduate and former Opelika basketball player, read the resolution to the crowd.

Renee Reese Frazier addressed the group and expressed her thanks, her blessings and announced that the “Eight Days of Hope” helped clean the lot and the group

also had placed a carved cross near the front of the yard. She also showed the Tshirt that was signed by group volunteers and given to Reese.

Laura Leadilner presented one of Reese’s television tables back to her. As Leadilner was delivering food to victims and workers after the storm, she saw the table in the pile of rubble and asked Frazier if she could take the table and have it engraved with the picture of a

tree with roots and the words “Family” above and “Forever” below.

In the middle are the words “Is a circle of Strength, Founded on Faith, Joined in Love, Kept by God, Together.”

Reese said there was nothing she could do but pray. Despite the destruction caused to her home, she said she remained faithful throughout tough situations because she knows that God is there and will intercede on one’s behalf.

pelika O Observer

A11 May 01, 2019

Alabama Extension System promoting state’s ongoing strawberry season Special to the Opelika Observer Strawberry season is underway in Alabama.

Known for their bright colors and sweet taste, strawberries play a special part in the Alabama’s economy and culture.

A Sweet Business Kevin Burkett, an Alabama Extension regional agent, said strawberries are one of the top commercial fruits for Alabama.

“In Alabama, strawberries rank in the top three of commercial fruit produced,” Burkett said. “Also, strawberries are the fourth most valuable fruit produced in the

Recipes,

from A9 Glazed Strawberry Pie 1 qt. strawberries 1 cup sugar ¼ tsp. salt 2 Tbsp. cornstarch ½ cup boiling water 1 baked pie crust Whipped cream Mash enough berries to make 1 cup. Mix crushed berries with sugar, salt, cornstarch and boiling water; cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Cool. Arrange remaining whole berries in pie crust.

Pour sauce over berries.

Serve with whipped cream.

Strawberries Filled with Cream Peg Weiss 16-18 large strawberries 1/3 cup mascarpone cheese 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream 2-3 Tbsp. sugar ½ tsp. vanilla Cut the green stems off strawberries so they will stand upright when placed on serving tray.

With a small sharp knife, cut an “X” in each strawberry, cutting almost to the bottom. The cut should be such that the strawberry will open up but not fall apart.

Make the filling by whipping mascarpone cheese and whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add sugar and vanilla and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Pipe or spoon the filling in the strawberries. If not serving immediately, cover and place in refrigerator until serving time.

Cheesecake Filled Strawberries 1 lb. large strawberries 8 oz. cream cheese, softened (can use 1/3 less fat) 3-4 Tbsp. powdered sugar (4 tbsp for a

United States.”

Dr. Edgar Vinson, an Alabama Extension commercial horticulture specialist, said most Alabama grown strawberries are sold directly from the producer to the consumer.

“Producers often sell Alabama strawberries at roadside stands, farmers markets as well as right off the farm,” Vinson said.

“Some farmers have a U-pick system in place to sell their strawberries. This adds a certain unique quality to Alabama strawberries.”

Alabama Strawberry Production There are two com-

mon varieties of strawberries that producers grow in Alabama: Camarosa and Chandler. Strawberries are an early season crop in Alabama. The growing season typically runs from March until late May or early June.

Vinson said all of Alabama’s commercial growers use the annual hill plasticulture system to plant.

“Strawberry plasticulture is a hill training system where freshly dug bare-root plants or plugs are planted in late summer to early fall,” Vinson said. “When using this planting method, growers need special equipment to make

sweeter filling) 1 tsp. vanilla extract Graham cracker crumbs Rinse strawberries and cut around the top of the strawberry.

Remove the top and clean out with a paring knife, if necessary (some may already be hollow inside). Prep all strawberries and set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add cream cheese mix to a piping bag or plastic bag with the corner snipped off.

Fill strawberries with cheesecake mixture.

Once strawberries are filled, dip the top in graham cracker crumbs. If not serving immediately, refrigerate until serving.

pecans, optional Filling: 1 cup whipping cream ¼ cup sugar 1 qt. strawberries, sliced To make crust, beat egg whites until stiff.

Add sugar; mix. Fold in vanilla, crushed crackers and pecans.

Bake in a greased pie pan in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Cool. Beat cream until stiff; add sugar.

Sweeten strawberries if desired. Fold into cream. Pour into cooled crust. Chill two hours or a day ahead.

Fresh Strawberry Bread Lindsey Beno 2 cups chopped fresh strawberries 3 cups flour 1¼ cup sugar 4 ½ tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 4 eggs 2/3 cup canola oil 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 Tbsp. lemon zest In one bowl add flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Mix together. In another bowl whisk together eggs, canola oil, vanilla extract and lemon zest. Gently add strawberries.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Place batter in two greased 4 x 8-inch baking pans in 350-degree oven for one hour or until done.

Strawberry Pie with Meringue Crust Crust: 3 egg whites 1 cup sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 23 Ritz crackers, crushed 1 cup chopped

Double Crust Strawberry Pie 2 refrigerated rolled piecrusts 2 cups strawberries, sliced ¾ cup sugar ¼ cup flour ½ stick butter Dash of cinnamon Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, optional Place one piecrust in pie plate. Place berries in crust. Mix sugar and flour; sprinkle over berries.

Dot with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon. Place other piecrust on top and seal edges. Brush with egg white if desired and slit crust for venting. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes until golden brown. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.

Strawberry Tart Cookie crust: 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 2 egg yolks 2 cups all-purpose flour Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar; add egg yolks. Slowly mix in flour. Pat dough into the bottom of a tart pan, pie pan or pizza

Strawberry Brochure Alabama Extension designed a brochure that highlights several aspects of strawberry production. Burkett said these brochures are located at all the welcome center across the state. They are also in several major cities’ visitor centers such as Montgomery and Birmingham. Any business or farmer that would like copies of the publication may Photo special to the Observer request them through extension. season is different for the 8-inch-deep raised For more informadifferent areas of the beds that are covered tion on strawberry prostate. The general rule with black plastic duction in Alabama, of thumb is the furmulch.” visit www.aces.edu or ther south you are, the contact your county Most growers will earlier the strawberries Extension office. harvest for a six week will ripen. period. The ripening

pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool.

Shortcut: Use 1 roll sugar cookie dough.

Slice and pat into pan.

Topping 2 1/2 cups sweetened whipped cream or Cool Whip 1 cup sour cream Strawberries Combine whipped cream and sour cream; spread over cooled cookie crust.

Arrange whole strawberries over filling.

Strawberry Cheesecake 20 graham crackers, crushed ¼ cup sugar ½ cup butter, melted Filling Three 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 ½ cups sugar 4 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla Topping 2 cups sour cream ¼ cup sugar 2 tsp. vanilla Strawberries Combine cracker crumbs, sugar and butter; press into bottom of springform pan. Chill.

Beat cream cheese; add sugar and beat in eggs one at a time.

Fold in vanilla. Pour into crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes or until center is set. Cool 15 minutes. Prepare topping.

Combine sour cream, sugar and vanilla; spread over cheesecake. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes until set.

Chill. Cover top with strawberries.

Strawberry Poppy Seed Cake with White Chocolate Frosting 3 cups cake flour 2 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt 2 cups sugar 1 cup butter, softened 1 Tbsp. grated lemon rind 4 eggs 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 1 ½ tsp. vanilla 2 Tbsp. poppy seeds 1 cup buttermilk 2 cups sliced strawberries Whole berries for garnish Frosting ¾ cup sugar, divided 2 eggs 6 Tbsp. lemon juice 8 oz. white chocolate, chopped 3 cups whipping cream 1 tsp. vanilla Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine first four ingredients in medium bowl; set aside.

Beat butter, sugar and lemon rind until smooth; add eggs one at a time. Add lemon juice and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk. Do not overbeat. Stir in poppy seeds. Pour into three greased cake pans. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until tests done. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans. Prepare frosting. Combine ½ cup sugar, eggs and lemon juice over double boiler, whisking until thick, about five minutes.

Add white chocolate; stir to melt. Set aside to cool. Beat cream with remaining ¼ cup sugar until stiff; add vanilla.

Fold into chocolate mixture.

Place one layer on cake plate. Spread with 1 cup frosting; top with 1 cup sliced strawberries and ½ cup frosting. Repeat with second layer.

Top with third layer.

Frost cake.

Garnish with whole berries.

Food Ratings The Waverly Local 1465 Patrick St. Waverly Score: 100 Ampersand Wine Bar 817 S. Railroad Ave. Opelika Score: 100 Guthrie’s Tigertown, LLC 1700A Capps Landing Opelika Score: 100 Popeye’s Kitchen 1999 Opelika Road Auburn Score: 100 Pannie George’s 2328 S. College St. Auburn Score: 100 The Cook Out 1601 Opelika Road Auburn Score: 99 Eighth and Rail 807 S. Railroad Ave. Opelika Score: 99 Robert’s Frozen Delight 2801 Watson St. Opelika Score: 99

Opelika

A12

Family & Religion

May 01, 2019

Exodus on a cosmic scale

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

n Exodus, Pharaoh is more than Pharaoh.

That is to say, he is more than the ruler of Egypt, an intermediary between the gods and the people or the oppressor of Israel. If we’re seeing Exodus from the perspective of Genesis, he is the one opposing the creation purposes of God (to bless man by giving him fullness of life and love anchored in rich fellowship with Him). In light of this, the exodus story takes on cosmic significance and Pharaoh is more than Pharaoh. (Even though there are two pharaohs in Exodus, they represent a single unity.

As Fretheim (who I’m leaning on heavily in this piece) points out, this is seen in the fact that the first pharaoh’s attempt to kill Moses through drowning provides the fate for the second pharaoh—14:28).

Pharaoh is mentioned

107 times in Exodus.

Fretheim tells us, “the focus is placed on him, not simply as a historical figure, but as a symbol for the anti-creation forces of death which take on the God of life . . . This is no minor subversion, having only local effects; it is a threat to undo God’s creation.”

Pharaoh wants to curse what God has blessed and by doing so return the world to the chaos that existed before God set everything in order (Genesis 1:2).

For all of Pharaoh’s posturing and fear-mongering, he’s no match for Yahweh. This is seen in the way that God thwarts Pharaoh’s plans. In the preliminary part of the story, the first pharaoh is dispatched by five women and a baby.

The second pharaoh goes head-to-head with Moses (an equally powerless person who has been herding sheep in

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

the desert for his fatherin-law for the last forty years). Pharaoh is overcome by ten plagues that usher in a new world for Israel in a manner similar to the way the creative “let” spoken ten times in Genesis 1 brought the world into being.

That we're to see the coming Christ in Moses (mentioned 273 x’s in the book) is easy to see by those of us who look backward. The birth story of Moses and Pharaoh mirrors the birth story of Jesus and Herod and is presented by Matthew in that way—right down to

Church calendar

• Pepperell Baptist is continuing to offer a Wednesday evening program from 6 to 7 p.m. for preschool and elementary children called WOW-Worship on Wednesdays. The evening program of Bible messages for children, crafts, fun activities, and snack is ongoing throughout the year.

The youth program meets on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. This is an evening of prayer, Bible Study, and discussion. For more information, contact youth and children’s pastor Ryno Jones if you need more information at 334-745-3108.

• Registration for Farmville Baptist Church’s First Steps Preschool program for fall 2019 is now open to the

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

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

public. For more information or to register, call 334887-7361 or visit them at 3607 Alabama Highway 147 N. in Auburn.

• May 18 - Watoola United Methodist Church Annual BBQ - Saturday, May 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

1370 Lee Road 38, Opelika Chicken or Pork Plates $9 - Baked Goods Also Available for Purchase Please come out and help us raise funds to rebuild our church sanctuary and to help out the community around us that was so greatly impacted by the March tornadoes.

Fresh Foods...And A Whole Lot More!

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

the chaos imposed by Pharaoh and into a new existence aligned with His creation purposes.

This is what Noah did (Genesis 9:1,7). By the way, there's water everywhere in Exodus and the God who separated the water from the water at creation (Genesis 1:6) has no problem saving Moses by separating him from the water and later separating the waters of the Red Sea so Israel might pass through (McGuiggan).

All of this encourages us to think about Exodus on a larger scale than a Jewish story of reversal (which it is). It is the perfect complement to Genesis because we see the major themes of that book taken up and applied to Israel in the exodus and later in the wilderness.

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

Verse of the Week “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

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

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

Him being called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15).

Moses rescued Israel from their slavery in Egypt as Christ rescues us from our bondage to sin. They were baptized into Moses (1 Corinthians 10:2); we’re baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). And while Moses would have pointed to Christ a more general way for Israel (see Deuteronomy 18:15ff), he might have been more quickly linked with Noah.

The word for the basket Moses is placed in is the same word that is used for the ark Noah built. Moses’ mother saw that he was a “fine” child (2:2). This is the same word translated as "good" in Genesis 1 where it is repeatedly used by God in reference to His creation (Fretheim). God created someone good in Moses who would bring Israel (and the world) out of

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

Habakkuk 2:3 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 8685 AL Hwy. 51 #749-4469 Pepperell United Methodist 200 26th St. #745-9334 Trinity United Methodist Church 800 Second Ave. #745-2632 Wesley Memorial United Methodist 2506 Marvyn Pkwy #745-2841 PENTECOSTAL Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Hwy. 29, PO Box 1691 #741-8675 Gateway Community Church 2715 Frederick Rd #745-6926 PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Opelika 900 2nd Ave. #745-3421 Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Rd #745-4889 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist 1808 S. Long St. #749-3151 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Apostolic Holiness Church 610 Canton St. #749-6759 Auburn Opelika Korean Church 1800 Rocky Brook Rd #749-5386 Beauregard Full Gospel Revival 2089 Lee Road 42 #745-0455 Christ Church International 1311 2nd Ave. #745-0832 Church of the Harvest 2520 Society Hill Rd #745-2247 Church at Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy #705-0505 East Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. #737-1488 Emmanuel Temple of Deliverance 207 S. Railroad Ave. #745-6430 Faith Alliance Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #749-9516 Faith Christian Center 600 S. 8th St. Faith Church 3920 Marvyn Pkwy #707-3922

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

pelika O Observer The quiet gift that truly counts

A13

May 01, 2019

T

omorrow, May 2, is the observance of National Day of Prayer.

This is celebrated each year on the first Thursday of May. This is designated by the United States Congress for people “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.”

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is to pray for them and recall past answered prayers.

As a family, this can be done by writing down your prayer needs in a simple inexpensive notebook called journals.

Choose a time each year, whether at your

childrens’ birthdays, Christmas, or New Year’s and review your prayer journals to witness how God has answered your prayers as a family. What a joy it is to see how God has answered a family’s prayers. This evidence of answered prayers builds a child’s faith. As a teacher I had a prayer box on my desk.

Children would slip their prayer requests in the box. Each day I would meet with my individual students whether it be in class up at my desk or out on the playground and together we would pray upon

By Beth Pinyerd

their requests.

The process of prayer comes so naturally to children.

They are fresh from heaven, they understand that God is love and that love is unselfish. Prayer is submitting ourselves to seeking God’s Will, trusting that His will for us is good. Children understand the importance of praying for their family, friends,

teachers, leaders, the weak, sick, and themselves.

How can parents pray for their children?

1. Pray that nothing hinders your children from accepting Christ as their personal Savior.

2. Pray that they will learn to know God and have a deep desire to do His will.

Pray that they will mature to be men or women of solid faith.

3. Pray that they will develop a keen sense of right and wrong and that they will truly abhor evil and cling to that which is good.

4. Pray that they

hear stories from the Bible that they will be a basis for their decisions throughout life.

5. Pray that they will increase in wisdom (intellectually), in favor with God ( spiritually), and in favor with people (socially) ( Luke 2:52.

Let your children know that we can take everything to God. No request is too big or too small.

Childrens’ worries and concerns change with age.

But what a stable truth we can provide for our children that God loves to hear our prayers.

OBITUARIES Audrey Norris Robinson Audrey Norris Robinson passed from this life to her eternal home in Heaven on April 20, 2019 at Clinton Place Nursing home in Clinton, KY. She had resided at Brighton Cornerstone Health Care in Madisonville, KY for a number of years until recent weeks.

She was born on February 2, 1942 on a farm near Troy, AL (Pike County) to the late Aubrey and Minnie Bell Stevens Norris. She was very close to her maternal grandparents, Von and Eva Stevens.

Audrey married Charles Porter Robinson in 1969 and they resided in Modesto and Sacramento, CA and Reno, NV for nineteen years before relocating to Opelika, AL to be near Mr. Robinson’s family.

Teddy Ray Birchfield Teddy Ray Birchfield 87, of Opelika, Al passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019.

Ted was born on February 26, 1932 in Columbus, Georgia, the son of James Perry Birchfield and Blanche Sybil Godwin Birchfield on February 26, 1932. He was a 1950 graduate of Opelika High School. Ted served in the U. S. Air Force from 1950-1954.

After basic training he was assigned to North Western State College in Louisiana for Administrative training. After completion of assignment he was transferred to Patrick Air Force base in Cocoa Beach, Florida. He served two years in Korea and then was reassigned back to Patrick Air Force base in Florida where he completed his tour of service with the rank of staff Sargent. Early

She was of the Pentecostal faith.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles P. Robinson; and her step-daughters, Diana Robinson Flurry and Linda Robinson Smith.

Survivors include her stepsons, Charles P. and Scott C. Robinson of Dallas, TX. A graveside service was held at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2019 at Garden Hill Cemetery in Opelika, AL where she was buried next to her husband.

Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville and Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika, AL are in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.harrisfuneralinc.com.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.

in his career he was employed by Orr Radio Corporation, which later became Ampex Corporation. He retired from Ampex after 43 years of service.

Ted was a member of Bass Master Fishing Club and was an avid fisherman. Ted loved the Lord, his family, fishing and his church.

Ted was a lifetime member of Trinity Presbyterian Church and served for many years as a Deacon. He was also a member of American Legion Post #152.

Ted was a loving husband for 63 years to Voncile Cole Birchfield. He is survived by his wife, Voncile, son Steve (Dory) of Moody, AL, seven grandchildren, Tara Petar, Michael Birchfield, Jamie (Dalton) Pridmore, Chase Birchfield, Matthew (Maddee) Gaught, Kathryn Birchfield and Jennifer Birchfield, and three great-grandchildren,

Mary Frances Milam Mary Frances Milam, 90 of Opelika, Alabama went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 22, 2019.

She was born in Anniston, Alabama on April 8, 1929.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Opelika and was a faithful believer. She helped begin the Joy Sunday School Department at First Baptist and sang in the choir for many years. She loved gardening, playing bridge, and spending time with her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Wallace and Dera Mallard; husband, James Howard Milam.

She is survived by her daughters, Angela C. Mi-

Gage Petar, Evelynn Pridmore and Teagan Birchfield. He is also survived by his brother Fred (Nancy) Birchfield of Tullahoma, TN and many nieces, nephews and cousins that were special to him.

He was predeceased by daughter Sherry Birchfield Gaught, sonin-law Rick Gaught, his parents, J.P. and Blanche Birchfield and his brother Harold Birchfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Trinity Presbyterian Church Building fund in honor of Teddy R. Birchfield would be appreciated.

Funeral services were held Thursday, April 25, 2019 at Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Chris Duncan officiated. Visitation was held Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at JeffcoatTrant Funeral Home beginning at 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.

lam, Tracy Milam Perry (Garry), James Wesley Milam(Diana); granddaughters, Megan Milam, Kasi Milam and grandson, Logan Milam, James Eric Perry; she also has 4 great grandchildren, Brynlee, Braden, Ava, Kamree.

Funeral service was held Thursday, April 25, 2019 in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. with Dr. Mike King officiating. Visitation was held one hour prior to the Funeral service.

In lieu of flowers the family ask donations to be made to First Baptist Church Opelika or to the Charity of your choice.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.

Mitchell L. Underwood Funeral service for Mitchell L. Underwood, of Opelika, Alabama was Monday, April 29, 2019, at 11:00 am, at Central Baptist Church. Burial was at Garden Hills Cemetery with Opelika. Reverend Larry Doster officiating.

Visitation was Sunday, April 28, 2019 from 5-7 pm, at JeffcoatTrant Funeral Home.

Mr. Underwood, who died Friday, April 26, 2019, at Bethany House, was born December 15, 1952 in Valley, Alabama. He served in the US Army during the Vietnam Era. He attended South Union State Community College and Auburn University. He was a member of Central Baptist Church and served as a deacon for over 40 years at both Airview Baptist and Central Baptist.

Mr. Underwood was preceded in death by his parents John Lewis Underwood and Dorothy Mae Mitchell Underwood of Fairfax, Alabama.

Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Lynda Shaver Underwood, their daughter Amy Spain (Jim), an identical twin brother Fletcher Underwood, all of Opelika, a sister-in-law Carol Shaver Stephens, of LaFayette, nephew Phil Stephens (Lisa), nephew Brent Stephens (Kesha), niece Chloe Underwood, and several greatnieces/nephew, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made in his memory to Central Baptist Church, 1611 2nd Ave, Opelika, AL 36801.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER “LOVE ONE ANOTHER, JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU” JOHN 13:34 68TH NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 12 noon Lee County Courthouse Square Rain site - First Baptist Church located at 8th Street Broadcast live on Halleluiah 910AM NON DENOMINATIONAL PRAYER & PRAISE GATHERING ALL ARE INVITED

pelika Observer O

A14 May 01, 2019

Community Calendar: Events around town

• April 24 - Ribbon Cutting - FetchMe Delivery - 4 p.m.

• April 25 - Ribbon Cutting - Griff Goods - 3:45 p.m.

• April 25 - Ribbon Cutting - Resting Pulse Brewery - 4 p.m.

•April 30 - Ribbon Cutting - O Town Ice Cream - 10 a.m.

• May 17 - Application Deadline for Fall 2019 20 Under 40 Ongoing: • Village Friends/Village Values is a nonprofit organization that supports seniors who prefer to stay in their own homes as they grow older. For info or to schedule a presentation to your group, call 334-209-4641. For the website, Google “village friends village values.”

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

The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR Chapter regularly visits veterans living in assisted living, the homeless domiciliary and psych (trauma) ward in Tuskegee. Donations are tax deductible and will be much appreciated. Pick up is provided. Please call Linda Shabo at 887-6659 or at 256-307-1449.

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

• The Opelika Community Band practices from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in

• May 1 - The Lee County Master Gardeners will be hosting a Plant Swap at the Harris Center, 425 Perry St., Auburn at 12:30 p.m. The public is invited. Plant swaps are a great way to add new plants to your home or garden. To participate, simply bring a plant(s) you’re willing to trade, potted or bare root. The cardinal rule is plants must be healthy and pest-free. You might be asked to contribute interesting or favorite stories you may have about your plant, even one you just found at the store. Unusual or trendy plants always make for the best trade.

Visit LeeMG.org.

• May 1, 2 - Lee County Water Festival • May 2 - National Day of Prayer at Court-

the Auburn High School band room. Everyone is welcome, amateurs and professionals alike.

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

• The Touched by Suicide Support Group meets the first Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the East Alabama Medical Center Health Resource Center, 2027 Pepperell Parkway. For more information, contact Deborah Owen, EAMC’s director of Psychiatric Services at 334-528-4197 or deborahowen@eamc. org.

• The fourth Monday of each month a Community Grief Support Group meets from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center. No reservations are necessary; everyone is welcome. For more information call 826-1899 or 502-0216.

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

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

• The Commercial Hor-

house Square at noon • May 4 - Odd Alice back at Eighth and Rail at 8 p.m.

• May 6 - The Lee County Voters League meeting will be at 6 p.m. at Bethesda Baptist Church which is located at 201 South 4th St. in Opelika. We plan to move forward on Voters League efforts to allow streamlined voter processing [a.k.a., electronic poll book Sect. Merrill addressed at last month’s meeting] in Lee County.

President Bickerstaff will also request more members regularly attend County Commission Meetings to be a larger, more informed presence in our County.

• May 10 - Southside Speakeasy • May 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 - Auburn Area

ticulture Extension Team organizes webinars to provide quick updates for producers on various topics of interest. Whether you are interested in the proper way to plant fruit trees or have questions in turf management, these webinars cover a wide range of subjects. Webinars are streamed live via Panopto on the last Monday of every month starting in January and ending in November. During the presentation, participants can send questions via email. The webinars also are recorded and stored in the archive on the Beginning Farmer website. Webinar topics include: trap cropping for reducing squash insect pests, cowpea curculio updates, nutsedge control, introduction to potting mixes in ornamental container production, dealing with drought in commercial horticulture crops, and many more.

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

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

Diane at 749-6320.

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

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

Meetings are preceded by non-voting work sessions that typically begin about 6:30 to 6:45 p.m.

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

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

• A Grief Support Group meets at Oak Bowery United Methodist Church Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. for anyone dealing with the pain of loss and feeling the need for support on their journey as they attempt to bring order and wholeness back into their life. Attendance and participation is strictly voluntary for any and all sessions. There are no fees or charges involved. The church is located on U.S. Highway 431 – eight miles north from Southern Union State Community College and Opelika High School.

For more information contact Bill Parker at 4590214 or 706-518-9122.

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

more information visit www.auburncap.org or find the organization on Facebook.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Opelika-Auburn Newcomers’ Club provides a variety of programs for the betterment of the Auburn/Opelika community to assist women transitioning into the area or to help women adjust to recent lifestyle changes. The club meets on the third Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. for a luncheon at various local restaurants. Please call or email Cheri Paradice at 334-737-5215 or cheri.paradice@gmail. com for more information or luncheon location of the month.

• T.O.U.C.H. Cancer

Support Group meets the third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at EAMC’s Health Resource Center. This is a support group for people living with any type of cancer or their families and friends.

Call 334-528-1076 for more information.

•After School Art Classes for Children & Youth Weekly Studio Classes featuring Drawing, Painting & More.. *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today- 334-480-2008 •Afternoon Art Classes for Adults featuring Studio Drawing, Painting & More.. *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided Thursdays at 3 p.m.

Eastern Standard Time The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today- 334-480-2008 • Evening Art Classes for Adults Fundamental Drawing Studio - Every Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today- 334-480-2008 • Portrait Drawing Studio - portrait drawing classes for beginners, Every Wednesday 2 p.m.

EST *all fine art supplies are provided The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today- 334-480-2008 • Senior Studio Art Classes Every Wednesday 11 a.m. EST *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided - Enroll Today- 334-480-2008 Email editor@opelikaobserver.com to place your community events.

New Events Community Theatre’s production of ‘Last Round-up of the Guacamole Queens • May 6 - The Lee County Voters League meeting will be at 6 p.m. at Bethesda Baptist Church which is located at 201 South 4th St. in Opelika. We plan to move forward on Voters League efforts to allow streamlined voter processing [a.k.a., electronic poll book Sect. Merrill addressed at last month’s meeting] in Lee County. President Bickerstaff will also request more members regularly attend County Commission Meetings to be a larger, more informed presence in our County.

• May 24-26 - Opelika Songwriters Festival

First Baptist Church Opelika to host Rabbi Yehuda Glick on Sunday Special to the Opelika Observer The Friends 2 Israel group will present their spring program this Sunday at 6 p.m. in the 3:16 Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church Opelika featuring a discussion from Member of the Knesset (Israelia Parliament) Yehuda Glick.

Friends 2 Israel is a local Christian group sponsoring bi-annual events to teach the importance of Biblical support for Israel and assist programs that build relationships with the Jewish people.

Glick is an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi and politician who campaigns for expanding the access of all faiths to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. The Temple Mount is the historical site of Biblical Abraham’s obedient offering of his son Isaac to God, the location of

the threshing floor King David purchased to make a sacrifice to end God’s plague on the people of Israel and the site of Israel’s First and Second Temples.

Rabbi Glick founded the Temple Institute, which works to secure the articles to furnish the Third Temple described in the Bible.

Glick’s visit is an amazing opportunity to learn about events happening in Israel today and to learn more about the Temple Mount and the opportunity for religious freedom there. All area residents who love Israel or want to know more about Glick and his work with the Temple Institute and the Biblical role of Israel are invited to attend and extend him their kindest Southern hospitality.

For more information, call the church at 334-745-5715. The church is located at 301 S. 8th St.

pelika Observer O

14th Annual Garden in the Park set for May 6 Special to the Opelika Observer Keep Opelika Beautiful is excited to host the 14th annual Garden in the Park on May 4. Garden in the Park is Opelika’s annual festival featuring handmade and homegrown art. It will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Opelika Municipal Park.

Throughout the day, a variety of vendors, children’s activities and live entertainment will be showcased. Items for sale will include handmade jewelry, bags, paintings, plants, personalized items, children’s clothing and pottery. Children will be able to participate in activities such as inflatables, Rocky Brook Rocket rides, environmental education activities and Home Depot building kits.

Farmer Brown’s Petting Zoo will have a camel, donkey, kangaroo, tortoise and more for

children to enjoy. Don’t miss an introduction to the animals at 12:45 p.m.

The Lee County Extension Service’s Master Gardeners and Saugahatchee Bee Keepers Association will also be displaying their exhibits. Live entertainment will be provided

by Jeter and Carver Singers, West Forest Singers, Southview Singers and Northside Singers. Also on stage will be Opelika High School Chamber Choir, Opelika Middle School Sensations, Make Your Move and Opelika Parks & Rec baton class.

Food vendors will be selling barbecue, hotdogs, fish, cakes, pies, smoothies and more.

“Garden in the Park is a wonderful family event in our lovely park.

One asset to this event is that every item sold has been created, painted, planted or built by the person selling the item.

Many of our artist come

back year after year and people start developing a bond with the artist.” said Keep Opelika Beautiful Director Tipi Miller.

There is no charge for admissions into Garden in the Park. Food donations will be collected for the East Alabama Food Bank. Garden in the Park is a rain or shine event. Attendees are asked to leave their personal pets at home.

Keep Opelika Beautiful thanks the following sponsors for their support of Garden in the Park: Opelika Auburn News, City of Opelika City Council Members, Glynn Smith Chevrolet, Buick & GMC, Alfa agent Drake Martin and ESG Operations.

For more information about Garden in the Park, contact Keep Opelika Beautiful at 334-749-4970 or send email to tipi@keepopelikabeautiful.com.

8am-3pm Opelika Municipal Park Free Event, Rain or Shine Patsy Jones Tiffany Gibson-Pitts Eddie Smith Dozier SmithT David Canon

Drake Martin

Please leave all pets at home Garden in the Park is a project of Keep Opelika Beautiful

May 01, 2019

Lee County Master Gardeners receive grant from Alabama Master Gardeners, Keep Opelika Beautiful last week

Photo special to the Opelika Observer Lee County Master Gardeners received a $500 grant from the Alabama Master Gardeners based on a match from Keep Opelika Beautiful. The grant was written for planting materials to landscape the two corners of south east and south west side at the intersection of South Long Street and Frederick Road. Volunteers from Master Gardeners, O Grows Community Garden and KOB met on April 25 to plant eight crepe myrtles, 30 decorative grasses along with black-eyed susans.

Report on Opelika Theatre Company’s ‘fabulous production’ from Saturday

By Renee Messing Observer Society Reporter

Saturday, May 4

A15

Mary Burger (as played

by Messing) here, Society Reporter for the Opelika Observer, as promised to guests attending the wedding of the year - “I’m Getting Murdered In The Morning” written by Lee Mueller, directed by Marty Coleman Moore and presented by The Opelika Theatre Company, here’s the dirt on this fabulous production.

Guests arrived to the Southside Center for The Arts at 7 p.m., and after a rather lengthy introduction, we were informed of a delay in the wedding party’s arrival. It seems along with several other details that were left unfinished, or frankly, completely ignored by the wedding director Betty Jean Johnston that there were issues with the limo.

Thank goodness Dr. John Roberts, chef de cuisine, was able to promptly serve a wonderful meal catered by Backwater BBQ.

The bride, Brenda Montugue, wore an interesting design by TJ MAXI in black and white while the wedding party of Harold Montugue - father of the bride, Benny Tutwaider best man and Bunny Kelly - maid of honor, wore various creations of black, red and white. Appropriate for a fourth wedding.

Of note, the mother of the bride Mildred Montugue chose a shocking red ensemble that raised a few eyebrows.

The groom, Eddie Joe Crock, held faithful to his roots and arrived in blue jeans, and the mother of the groom, Shelia Coquette, wore a black minidress that left nothing to the imagination.

One can only assume she herself may have been on the prowl. Her late husband, God rest His soul, must have been turning over in his grave!

Music was provided

by DJ Brian Waldo with the assistance of Neil Niswender of Auburn Audio Visual much to the delight of the wedding guests, as it seemed that

the DJ was preoccupied with some sort of spinacheating contest.

Unfortunately, the festivities were interrupted by the demise of Al Martin, who was shot on the dance floor! Mr. Parker, head of security specializing in damage control, quickly assessed the situation (with my help of course) and the killer was soon discovered to be one of the waiters and was promptly removed from the premises. Soon after, dancin’ and singin’ and movin’ to the groovin’ continued.

The families would like to extend a special thank you to all the guest in attendance for your participation in this most unusual evening.

Until next time, this is Mary Burger, Society Scene reporter for the Observer.

Editor’s note: This fictional article is a summary of Opelika Theatre Company’s Saturday night murder mystery show. No one was injured in the production of this show.

An Annual Affair
 Memorial Day Weekend
 May 24 - 26, 2019 Downtown Opelika, Alabama

opelikasongwritersfestival.com

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

Turn to B4 for a photo of Opelika senior Quala Walton signing her college scholarship Tuesday.

Resolution presented to the Opelika High School Robotics team during school board meeting

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

Lady Bulldogs soccer team advances to state quarterfinals

T

he Opelika Lady Bulldog soccer team (12-6-1) defeated Wetumpka 7-0 in the first round of the AHSAA 6A Soccer playoffs last Friday at the W. James Samford Soccer Complex.

Opelika earned a home game after winning the area Title. Opelika scored four goals in the first half and added three in the second half, while Emily Lux helped hold the Indians scoreless.

Amiya Brown led the scoring with four goals, Estafany Alba, Kaitlyn Goodman and Erica Mathews scored one goal apiece. Alba and Mathews combined for four assists while teammates, Goodman, Abigail Morgan and Motley added one apiece.

On Monday night, the Lady Bulldogs soccer team punched their ticket to the third round of state playoffs after beating Benjamin Russell. Brown and Alba scored a goal each while Erica Matthews and Brown recorded an assist.

Opelika will play the winner of Chelsea v.

Northridge in the 6A

quarterfinals.

Opelika’s boys Soccer team (11-6-5) battled Wetumpka to a 0-0 tie after regulation, but the Indians converted all five penalty kicks to win 1-0 in double overtime. The Bulldogs were peaking at the right time and appeared ready to make a run at a state title. Instead, the loss ended Opelika’s season.

SOFTBALL Opelika softball team (11-13) travelled to Alexander City last night for the area tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs reached the sub-regionals in each of the three prior seasons. Russell County, Benjamin Russell and Opelika are battling for two spots in the AHSAA 6A Softball playoffs.

Opelika softball coach and OCS physical education teacher Tina Deese told school officials that she would retire in June. Deese wanted to give the administration enough time to find the right person to lead the softball program. It appears that school administration hired Roger Belyue as a teacher and new See Sports, page B2

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

By Beth Pinyerd For the Opelika Observer At the April 23 Opelika City School Board meeting, a resolution was presented to O.G.R.E.Opelika’s Greatest Robotics Engineers.

The Opelika Robotics team was established in 2018 under the direction of Brenda Howell and lead mentor Matthew

Zacune. OHS robotics competed in the Georgia Robotics Invitational tournament and Showcase in October 2018 and was selected by the #1 alliance and won first place. In February 2019, the OHS robotics competed in the 2019 FRC Palmetto Regional Tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The team was awarded the Pit

Safety Award and was selected as the #8 alliance advancing to the quarter finals.

In March 2019, the OHS Robotics team competed in the 2019 Rocket City Regional competition in Huntsville and was selected by the #2 Alliance, advanced to the championship round and won first place earning their invita-

tion to the Houston World Championship 2019.

OHS Robotics represented Opelika at the First Robotics World Championship competition in Houston in April 2019 and spent three days competing with teams from all over the world.

The Opelika City School Board of Education recogSee Robotics, page B2

Waitr to honor teachers, nurses

Delivery service shows support with contest; community give back effort Special to the Opelika Observer May 6 kicks off both Teacher Appreciation Week (through May 10) and National Nurses Week (through May 12). In honor of each, on-demand

restaurant delivery app Waitr is accepting nominations for outstanding teachers and nurses to be honored with a $500 Waitr credit. Two winners, one teacher and one nurse, will be announced May 9. Nominations will

be accepted through May 5 and can be submitted via nomination form at http:// waitrapp.com/blog/ teacher-and-nurseappreciation-week.

“Teachers and nurses have extremely demanding jobs and deserve

great appreciation for their dedication to their communities,” said Waitr Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Chris Meaux.

“We hope you’ll take a moment and See Waitr, page B2

pelika Observer O Opelika soccer boots Wetumpka 7-0 Friday B2

May 01, 2019

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Local residents initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Special to the Opelika Observer The following local residents were recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society.

• Otavius Singleton of Opelika was initi-

Sports,

from B1

head softball coach.

Belyue, currently the head softball coach at Calera, is an Opelika graduate with an extensive and impressive resume. Roger guided Wetumpka to the 6A State title in 2015, earning him AHSAA Coach of the Year. His teams won area championships in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017 and won area championships in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. His teams went to the regionals in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Coach Belyue sent seven players to the North/South games, 25

Robotics, from B1

nized Brenda Howell, Mandi Edwards, Matthew Zacune and the 2018-19 OHS robotics Team, for the honor and pride they have brought to themselves, their families, Opelika High School, and our community.

Don Shirley was recognized as 2019 Outstanding Teacher of American History awarded by the Alabama Society of the

ated at University of Alabama at Birmingham.

• David Carpenter II of Opelika was initiated at Auburn University.

• Hannah Rowlett of Opelika was initiated at Auburn University.

• Lauren Speakman of Opelika was initiated at Auburn Univer-

sity.

• Pamela Shirley of Opelika was initiated at Auburn University.

These residents are among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

Membership is by invitation only and

players signed scholarships to play college softball and 11 players won ASWA first-team honorable mention.

Belyue played baseball at Jacksonville State in 1990 and 1991, winning two NCAA National Championships and batted .435.

He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1991 MLB draft.

Belyue has been married to Jennifer McInnis Belyue, for 24 years.

They have two daughters, Sydney who enjoys band and Addison who plays softball.

TRACK The following Opelika girls placed well in the sectional meet.

Haley Sanders won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash.

The Opelika boys

track team won the Sectional meet 197.50 over Homewood at 196.50 by very slim margin.

The two teams travel to Gulf Shores today for the state track and field championships. The meet covers three days, concluding late Saturday.

OHS SPRING FOOTBALL Opelika Coach Erik Speakman will conduct his second spring training as the head coach.

The Bulldogs will practice April 30, May 2, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15 and play Valley in a spring game at 6:30 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium on May 16.

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

Daughters of the American Revolution.

OHS senior Adam Cason was recognized as a National Merit finalist.

Unless otherwise posted, the Opelika City Schools Board of Education meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at the Board of Education office located at 300 Simmons St. For more information, visit www. opelikaschools.org.

requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional

Waitr, from B1

nominate a teacher or nurse who has inspired you or had a positive impact on your life. We want to hear your stories and help you celebrate these tireless individuals.”

To further show appreciation for the hardworking teachers and nurses in the communities the company serves, Waitr employees will visit local schools and hospitals during the week of May 6, delivering sweet treats and snacks to educators and nurses.

This giveback effort will include all Waitr

staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic markets in more than 250 cities in the southeastern United States. Follow these visits on Instagram at @waitrapp using hashtag: #waitrvisit.

To nominate a teacher or nurse in the Waitr National Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week Contest, nominators must provide a nominee’s name and location, contact information, place of work and why they feel the teacher or nurse is deserving of a $500 Waitr credit.

Nominations are open now and close at midnight CST on May 5.

About Waitr Founded in 2013 and based in Lake Charles, Louisiana,

disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

Waitr is a leader in on-demand food ordering and delivery.

Its platforms connect local restaurants to hungry diners in underserved U.S. markets, providing a convenient way for diners to discover, order and receive great food from a wide variety of local restaurants and national chains. As of Dec. 31, 2018, Waitr operated in small and medium-sized markets in the Southeastern United States, spanning more than 250 cities. On Jan. 17, Waitr acquired BiteSquad.com, LLC, expanding its scale and footprint across the United States to more than 600 cities.

Photos special to the Opelika Observer

pelika O Observer

B3 May 01, 2019

Craftsmanship | Natural Construction T he miniature violinist by Eugéne Delacroix, conveys an emotional depiction of the Italian composer Nicolo Paganini.

The celebrity virtuoso emerges from the darkness. Both subject and surrounding space are painted with subtle differentiation between them. A highlight falls upon the toe of a shoe.

With eyes closed, he plays. Light is awash over his historically pale and thin physique. An emotion-bound unity shared by musician and instrument is evident. A triumph in achievement, surely, for the painter.

This small work evokes my recollections of works by painters who undoubtedly followed in Delacroix’s tradition. I stand before this remarkable little portrait and remember the large full-length portraits rendered by Whistler and Eakins at the Met and National Gallery.

I venture further into the museum’s special exhibition wing. Two small figures appear upon a path, bundled in winter coats. Wind

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

By Sarah West tumbles the landscape, and dense clouds above.

I glance to my right.

“Return from School after the Storm by ChaÏm Soutine” 1939. Other works which strike resonant chords with current events both local and global are Henri Rousseau’s “Notre Dame” and the early Matisse, “Studio Quai SaintMichel.” Amid times of turbulence, triumph and even tranquility, it is the artists upon whom we can depend to apprise life pictorially.

European Masterworks, an exhibition hosted by the High Museum of Art, features

75 works of painting and sculpture from the collection of Duncan Phillips, known as the Phillips Collection. This current exhibition is open through July 14. To learn more visit www. high.org Sarah West serves the Opelika Observer as a contributing columnist, with written works of Cultural Arts relevance and prose. She is a preservation, and conservation advocate, activist, and visual artist of American Illustration with a focus on Regional Narrative Painting. She is founder of the Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art,

A Center for Cultural Arts, Smiths Station, Alabama’s premier fine arts destination. She is the appointed Official Artist to the City of Smiths Station, a Lee County syndicated columnist, the director of her art center’s Cultural Arts Outreach Initiative which partners with local schools to make the arts accessible to all.

She also serves a chief curator to the City of Smiths Station, City Hall Art Galleries. She is a founding member of the Smith Station Historic Commission.

She is a member of the Women’s Philanthropy Board- Cary Center,

Auburn University College of Human Science.

She is an elected member of the Society of Illustrators- NYC. She mentors art students of every age through weekly classes

at her studio located in the heart of Smiths Station, Alabama. To learn more about her work and activism visit, www. thesarahwestgalleryoffineart.com.

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

May flowers for May Day

Beth Pinyerd The Classroom Observer

G

ood bye to April showers and welcome in May flowers with May Day! Hey families, Happy May Day! I remember as a young child attending Northside Elementary in the 1960s, our classrooms celebrated May Day. I have taken this tradition into my classrooms of students to celebrate each year! Rainbows come to my mind on the many colors we see around us during this time of year.

In Genesis 9:13, God promises us “I have set my rainbow in the clouds,

and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”

As you come into the Opelika area, you notice beautiful flowers everywhere! Our town, garden clubs and volunteer community associations do an awesome job of keeping up our environments as we welcome tourists from all over the world. Take time to ride and point out our beautiful community to your children.

As a child, I remember the fun and creativity that was put into celebrating May Day in our school as

well as community. May Day has been celebrated in one way or another throughout history and all over the world. It is rich in colorful traditions, beauty , and lore. I used to dream and look forward to making my May Day hat and basket.

This is a tradition I like to transfer over to the students I teach. As each year in many early childhood classrooms you will see many colorful paper plate hats being paraded about.

In Hawaii, their May Day is called Lei Day! Even if your child is not in school yet, you can welcome the beauty of spring during your May Day celebrations at your home.

Simple preparations are needed of brightly colored crepe paper or ribbons.

These are fun ideas that can be done all during the month of May! If you’re inviting your neighbors over to celebrate May Day, just stick a pole which could be a broomstick, metal

pole, or used pipe right into the ground. Also you can use the poles on the swing set, or even use a small tree to fasten long colorful ribbons to the top and let them stream down.

Ribbons can be cut from leftover materials you have at home.

Have all May Day participants grab the end of a streamer and dance in one direction to make a beautiful braid. The children can be divided to dance in opposite directions to make a colorful weave.

Children love to repeat the dancing over and over.

They never tire out. With smaller children toddlers, ones, twos, they could take toilet tissue tubes, paper towel tubes, connect streamers whether it be ribbon, crepe paper, etc..

Let them hold their light little May Poles up and dance around the house.

I know the preschoolers I teach in different programs at church love to keep beat to the music as they twirl around with what I call “Rainbow Music Sticks” in the class-

room and outside.

Simply grab the paper plates to make May Day baskets and May Day hats. This is such a favorite for young hands.

Simply fold a paper plate over, not creasing it but just folding it over as you staple or tape at the top. The children love to make simple construction paper flowers as well as tissue flowers to welcome in May! Paper plates can also be used to make May Day hats by having children simply glue nature items on the tops. Hats can also be made from construction paper strips, brown paper bags cut up into strips and colored, or card stock strips. As a teacher I just grab up what I have at hand and let the children do the rest. It will surprise you at what they will create to fit their little personalities and desires.

From dancing around the poles, to making hats and baskets, you and your child can welcome in spring by celebrating May Day and all the days of

May! Be sure to read and listen out for any May Day celebrations in this area or just get your child, children, or neighborhood together and do one of your own. Welcome in May with a lot of fun, color, and enjoying the simple things of life with your child. Remember they grow up only once!

Savor every moment as you celebrate each season and holiday. I promise they will always remember the time you spent with them!

Pinyerd has taught young children in the early childhood classroom for 34 years as well as outreaching to the elderly in intergenerational settings. She has taught and outreached in the schools in Opelika and Baldwin County. The column is provided to enrich the education of our children, youth, and families.

Classroom Observer welcomes educational news, school news, pictures, and events by e-mailing her at donnapinyerd@att.net.

pelika Observer O

B4 May 01, 2019

M

y sister recently returned from a college tour.

The occurrence of spring break offered the exciting opportunity to crisscross the country, in search of where my teenage sister will spend some of the most foundational years of her life.

A junior, she still has some time before she must make one of the most consequential decisions she will ever have to make.

It seems almost unfair to force teenagers to make this decision. A little more life experience might shed new light on what it means to go college, illuminate what’s really important about pursuing higher education. The dangers of going into massive amounts of debt, not to mention whether everyone readily knows exactly what career they would like to pursue, or which degree will readily help them achieve their goals.

A Day in the Life “You go into a quarter of a million dollars in debt, for what?” my mother says, as she reflects upon the trip.

College admissions officers are ready with an answer. They promise “need-based” aid, scholarships, and work-study programs.

They share success stories of recent graduates, offering prospective students hope that they too can achieve their dreams. They appear unruffled by the college debt crisis currently engulfing our nation. Recent estimates reveal student loan debt to be more than $1.5 trillion.

What are the long-term economic implications of such a staggering amount of debt?

“I feel like it’s totally hampering our economy on a bigger level,” my mother says, going on to detail how students saddled with student loan debt are unable to purchase a home. “Homeownership is a huge part of our economy,” she

seemed low, says, speaknearly noning as someexistent. I one who also would obtain happens to be a good job a realtor. post-gradIt will uation, and likely take live the life I a few more

By Samuel Moore- imagined. decades to Sobel Thankparse out the fully, my results, but private institution got recent headlines have in the way. As they covered the plungadjusted my tuition ing birth rates among millennials, along with rate going into my sophomore year, the delay in marriage suddenly the implicaand buying a home. tions began to sink in.

“I can’t do both,” a Without the additional millennial co-worker “need-based” support, just told me recently, I decided to transfer to as she determines what step to take first: a college back home, affording me the abilget married or buy a ity to live at home and house. Perhaps the graduate “debt-free.” rosy picture painted A few years after by colleges is not all graduation, I now see that it seems. Could it the benefits of not be that in many cases, making a student loan students are getting a payment each month raw deal? all the more clearly.

Watching my sister “She doesn’t underwalk this road feels stand the financial imall too familiar. I, too, plications,” my mother bought into the idea says, in reference to that going away to my sister. Perhaps not. college – and incurYet going on a college ring student loan debt trip and looking at the – was a natural part various price tags can of process. The stakes

help shift perspectives, allowing for the possibility of altering plans in an effort to provide for a sound financial future. After all, are massive amounts of debt justified for every student in pursuit of the average career?

NYU may have instituted a groundbreaking solution. A recent “60 Minutes” report highlights the school’s transition to offering medical school students a “tuition-free” education, valued at around $200,000 per student. According to the report, 85% to 86% of medical students graduate with some form of loans. This transition was made possible by donations in the hundreds of millions of dollars, an effort that may come to serve as a model for schools across the nation. In order to attract the best students, the theory goes, other top medical schools will have to emulate NYU. Perhaps this could even be extended to institu-

tions of higher education across the nation, in order to prevent rising tuition costs from saddling a whole new generation of students.

In the meantime, students like my sister will have to decide what path is best for them. Each student in America is unique, and may require a different solution. For some, taking on loans may be a risk worth taking. For others, a more prudent path might alleviate the possibility of long-term stress. Regardless, those of us who have already traveled this road can do our part to share our stories with others. Admittedly, I don’t have all the answers – none of us do.

And, while I certainly have opinions on which path my sister should take, her older brother will be there to support her either way. Whether she likes it or not.

Samuel Moore-Sobel is a freelance writer. To read more of his work, visit www.holdingontohopetoday.com.

Opelika’s Quala Walton inks scholarship with Lee County Commission honors Auburn’s national champion Chattanooga State during signing event

equestrian team on Monday

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Local civic groups donate money to Auburn Public Library, West Smiths Station Elementary for purchasing of new playground equipment

Special to the Opelika Observer The Auburn-Opelika Emblem Club recently made a donation to the Auburn Public Library to further enhance their dedication to improving children's literacy. Pictured left to right: Ava Thorne, A-O member; Kelly Gates, Auburn Public Library representative

Special to the Opelika Observer The Beta Xi chapter of Alabama Alpha Delta Kappa recently gave a monetary donation and a pogo stick to West Smiths Station Elementary School to help replace damaged and lost physical education equipment because of the March 3 tornadoes. Pictured left to right: Stacie Reddish, Assistant Principal; Kay Spriggs, Beta Xi Secretary; Bonnie Short, Principal; Claire Plott, Beta Xi Treasurer and Karen Stillwell, Beta Xi Membership Chairman.

pelika O Observer

B5 May 01, 2019

LEGALS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA FAMILY COURT DIVISION: DOMESTICE RELATIONS AMEE KIVETTE, Plaintiff, v.

TIMOTHY JEROME PASCHAL, Defendant.

CASE NO.: DR-2018900379.00 NOTICE OF ACTION NOTICE OF ACTION To: All Defendants herein, and any heirs or legal representatives of any Defendant herein, whose whereabouts are unknown and which cannot be ascertained after the exercise of reasonable diligence.

You are hereby notified that on the 11th day of December 2018, a complaint to adjudicate parentage of F.K. was filed in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama, and the following are the names of all parties to the action: Amee Kivette, as Plaintiff, Timothy Jerome Paschal, and his unknown heirs or legal representatives as Defendant, whose heirs, executors and/or administrators are unknown and cannot be ascertained after the exercise of due diligence.

All persons having an interest in said case or any portion thereof, claiming any legal right to represent Timothy Jerome Paschal, 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 14th day of February, 2019.

Mary Roberson Circuit Court Clerk, Lee County Benjamin H. Parr Attorney for Plaintiff Rice & Parr 830 Avenue A, Suite A Opelika, Alabama 36801 Legal Run 4/10, 4/17, 4/24 and 5/1/2019

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES ARTHUR MELTON, DECEASED IN THE PROBATE

COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 10th day of April, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

SHIRLEY M. CARTER Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 4/17, 4/24 & 5/1/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARY N. ADKINS, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY,ALABAMA Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 8th day of April, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

BENNIE G. ADKINS Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 4/17, 4/24 & 5/1/19

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: Extra Space Storage 1412 Opelika Road. Auburn AL, 36830 on 05/13/2019 at 2:00 p.m.

Lisa Landreth Unit# G99 1309 Gatewood Dr Apt 404 Auburn, AL 36830 Boxes, totes, furniture, clothing, misc Bradley Richard Reed Unit# J125 11404 HW 51 Opelika, AL 36804

ASBESTOS LITIGATION If you began working in a

TEXTILE MILL Cotton mill Tire plant Paper mill Steel mill

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

Call now for your free evaluation.

1-888-432-6020

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

Looking Ahead.

We share with our neighbors a common goal—the health, education and well-being of people statewide.

Poarch provides over 9,000 jobs to Alabamians, pays millions in state taxes each year, and makes charitable contributions reaching nearly $9 million annually.

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

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

Couch, totes, boxes, clothes Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Legal Run 4/24/19 & 5/1/19

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF CHARLOTTE ANN MILLER, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 11th day of April, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby fiven 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 11th day of April, 2019.

JUSTIN THOMAS MILLER Legal Run 4/17, 4/24 & 5/1/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF DOROTHY W. MITCHELL, Deceased.

CASE NO.: 2019-A-170 NOTICE TO FILE CLAIMS TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary, having been granted to Joanne M. Scarbrough, as Executrix of the Estate of Dorothy W. Mitchell, deceased, on the 10th day of April 2019, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against the said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Legal Run 4/17, 4/24 & 5/1/2019

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO. 2019-A-172

IN RE: The Estate of PHYLLIS MOORE McCAIN, Deceased TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Jack Lamar McCain, as Personal Representaive/Executor of the Estate of Phyllis Moore McCain, deceased on the 10th day of April, 2019, 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 within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. s/ Jack Lamar McCain Jack Lamar McCain Personal Representative/ Executor of the Estate of Phyllis Moore McCain, deceased.

Legal Run 4/24, 5/1 and 5/8/2019.

IN RE:THE ESTATE OF GAYLE M. PRATHER, Deceased.

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO. 2019-A-177 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 11th day of April, 2019, by Hon. Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against the said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

BYRON JACK PRATHER, JR. Executor Legal Notice 4/24, 5/1 and 5/8/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF TERESA ANN ROBINSON, Also known as Treasia Robinson, Deceased.

Case No.: 2019-A-183 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Benjamin H. Parr on the 19th day of April, 2019 by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Ala-

Tuck is a 6-month old, boxer-lab mix, about 45 lbs. He got scared in Tiger Town on Friday (4/26) and ran off into the woods. He was last sighted at the shell gas station on 2nd Ave and 6th St in Opelika on Saturday around 4:30pm. He was wearing a collar and leash, though we believe he either broke free of the leash or chewed through it. He was still wearing his collar when last sighted. He is generally friendly, though may be more skittish after so many days on his own. Any information, please call 405-919-6281.

bama.

Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against the said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. /s/ Benjamin H. Parr OF COUNSEL Legal Run 4/24, 5/1 and 5/8/2019

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE Under and by virtue of an Execution issued out of the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama, Court Action Number CV2018-900086, on a Judgment rendered therein, in which PREFERRED CONTRACTORS, LLC is the Plaintiff and KYLE INGALLS is the Defendant, I, Jay M. Jones, as Sheriff of Lee County, Alabama, will sell to the highest, best and last bidder for cash at public outcry whatever equity the Defendant may possess in and to the real estate described below: DEED BOOK 2268, PAGE 5, PARCEL NO. 43 09 03 07 0 001 072.000 ADDRESS COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 226 ASHETON LANE, AUBURN, LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA 36830 Said sale to be held at 12:00 Noon on the 20th day of MAY 2019, at the Lee County Courthouse in the City of Opelika, State of Alabama. Said sale to be subject to all lawful liens and encumbrances, if any, against said property.

Done this 12TH day of APRIL, 2019. /s/ Jay M. Jones SHERIFF OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Legal Run 4/24, 5/1 & 5/8/19

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE Under and by virtue of an Execution issued out of the Circuit Court of Tallapoosa County, Alabama, Court Action Number CV2009-

64, on a Judgment rendered therein, in which SLOAN J. HARPER is the Plaintiff and ERIC M. NOVELLI, ET AL. is the Defendant, I, Jay M. Jones, as Sheriff of Lee County, Alabama, will sell to the highest, best and last bidder for cash at public outcry whatever equity the Defendant may possess in and to the real estate described below: LOT NUMBER FIFTEEN (#15) OF BRENT CREEK SUBDIVISION, HERITAGE SECTION, IN OPELIKA, LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA, ACCORDING TO AND AS SHOWNBY PLAT OF SURVEY THEREOFMADE BY T.RICHARD FULLER, LICENSED SURVEYOR, ALABAMA REGISTRATION NO. 7384, RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA, IN PLAT BOOK 9, AT PAGE 83. (DEED BOOK 2244 PAGE 146) PROPERTY IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 3906 HAMILTON ROAD, OPELIKA, LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA 36804.

Said sale to be held at 12:00 NOON CST on the 20TH day of MAY 2019, at the Lee County Courthouse in the City of Opelika, State of Alabama.

Sale is subject to all lawful liens and encumbrances, if any, against said property.

Done this 4TH day of APRIL, 2019. /s/ Jay M. Jones SHERIFF OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Legal Run 4/24, 5/1 & 5/8/2019

NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE SALE To be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at 10 a.m. at Best 4 Less at 2509 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801.

5N1AN0NU2AC507270 2010 NISSAN XTERRA Legal Run 4/24/19 & 05/01/19

pelika O Observer

B6 May 01, 2019

Kellie and Blake Buice of EAMC’s Steve Benson speaks to Opelika Rotary Club last week Donate Life Committee visit Opelika Kiwanis Club last week

Special to the Opelika Observer Steve Benson spoke to a recent meeting of the Opelika Rotary Club about a project to help women who are employed, but who temporarily need a place to stay. It’s estimated that there are some 80 local women who find themselves in this situation currently. Friends of the Community, Inc. has an opportunity to purchase property which was previously an assisted living facility, and would lend itself to this purpose. The project would serve residents of Auburn, Opelika and Lee County who are homeless but have a job. Women would be able to stay in the facility for up to six months. Pictured (from left) are: Robert Williams, club member; and Steve Benson.

Special to the Opelika Observer Kellie Hamlet and Blake Buice with EAMC's Donate Life Committee spoke to the Kiwanis Club of Opelika last week. Pictured are Kellie Hamlet, Blake Buice, Joanne Camp, organ donor Carol Dudley and organ recipient Nathan Pucket. Hamlet and Buice reminded the club that April was Organ Donation Month. Nearly 115,000 people are on the organ wait list right now in the United States. The biggest way one can help is to volunteer their organs after death. Sign up with the Alabama organ donor registry by going to alabamalifelegacy.org. For more information about Kiwanis, visit opelikakiwanis.org.

Gwen Taunton from Southern Union Opelika’s Wayne Wommack receives volunteer award addresses Opelika Rotary Club

Special to the Opelika Observer Gwen Taunton, chair of the Business Department at Southern Union State Community College, spoke to the Opelika Rotary Club about a student internship initiative recently implemented at the community college. Local businesses will partner with the school to provide real-world experiences to students approaching graduation. Students are required to interview for prospective intern slots, which are to be in the business, computer information or office administration areas.

SUSCC expects to have 18 students available for internships in the summer term.

Pictured from left are: Club President Nate Kastner and Taunton.

Special to the Opelika Observer Opelika resident Wayne Wommack recently received the Fort Benning Volunteer of Excellence award for his service to the community. Wommack is a military veteran and owner/operator of Backwater BBQ in Salem.

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

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics Wednesday, May 01, 2019

Inside the Statehouse

F

Prison Issue Front/Center

olks, taking care of prisoners is not a popular political issue. However, every so often, Alabama politicians pragmatically have to acquiesce to the mandates of federal judges and grant our transgressing citizens their rights as determined by the courts.

Federal courts have determined that our felons deserve the rights to adequate imprisonment.

You just cannot log them in, lock them up and give them a basic bunk and rations three times a day. Courts want them to have sufficient space and access to mental health care.

Some state prison systems have come under a federal court order and have been given instructions on how to run their prisons and how to treat prisoners without regard to how much it costs. We in Alabama know that all too well. We went

By Steve Flowers down that road a few years ago with Judge Frank Johnson.

We are headed in the same direction again. Alabama, like many states, has prison overcrowding and violence problems. Just as the Legislature began preparing their budgets for the coming year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) in conjunction with all our U.S. Attorneys in concurrence, has sent Alabama a clear message that the state’s overcrowded and understaffed correctional system is in incredibly poor physical shape.

In a precise outline, the justice department

clearly defines the remedies that the state must take to avoid federal intervention. This detailed report focuses on the most acute problems, which are sexual abuse, drug trade and extortion and the lack of adequate mental health for prisoners which is causing a high suicide rate. The federal investigators clearly said that the prisons are so dangerous that there is reasonable cause to believe that the state is in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Their outline clarified to the state that the overcrowding problem will and should be addressed by additional prisons. However, the report further said that new facilities will not resolve the contributing factors to the overall unconstitutional conditions.

Judge Myron Thompson has been overseeing the mental health See Flowers, page B9

Photo by Morgan Bryce/Editor

Sen. Doug Jones visits East Alabama meets with tornado survivors, local leaders on recovery efforts

By Morgan Bryce Editor Sen. Doug Jones visited Smiths Station last Wednesday to meet with tornado survivors and local leaders to discuss ways the state can better address future natural disasters.

Jones met privately with residents affected by the March 3 tornadoes at Smiths Station

Baptist Church’s Studio 4:12 building and received updates on recovery efforts. Later, in a round-table meeting with local dignitaries including District 4 Commissioner Robert Ham and Smiths Station Mayor Bubba Copeland, Jones fielded questions and received input on a number of issues, with the main focus revolving on

long-term assistance in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

“All in all it went very well,” Ham said, who participated in the meeting. “The part of it that went good is the part where we have a guy that’s a U.S. senator, who is listening and has the horsepower to make things See Jones, page B9

Opelika’s Jamie Popwell presents flag found in rubble of March 3 tornadoes to members of Lee County Commission

By Michelle Key Publisher Lee County’s Veterans Resource Officer Jamie Popwell presented a flag to the Lee County Commission during Monday night’s meeting. The flag was found in the immediate aftermath of the March 3 tornadoes and efforts to find the owner were unsuccessful.

A framed sign underneath the flag read “This flag was found by rescuers buried in debris along Highway 51 near Lee Road 38 in the aftermath of Lee Count’s worst natural disaster on record.

A devastating EF-4 tornado that claimed the lives of 23 people on March 3, 2019. This symbol is dedicated to them, Lee County Strong.”

Commissioner Johnny Lawerence recognized the 40 member equestrian team from Auburn University on their 2019 National Championship win. This is the schools sixth championship title.

County Engineer Justin Hardee informed the commissioners of a request from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) for

Lee County to provide the debris removal along state right-of-ways affected by the March 3 tornadoes. Hardee stated that he has submitted the memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would authorize the county to work on the ALDOT rightof-ways to FEMA for their concurrence that this See LCC, page B10

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

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pelika O Observer

State representatives sponsor legislation to address human trafficking in Alabama Special to the Opelika Observer

hearing in the Health committee and will receive a committee vote next week.

HB260 and HB261 would mandate human trafficking training on victim identification and trauma-centered care for all healthcare professionals and new commercial drivers, respectively.

HB262 and HB264 clarify existing law to ensure that potential victims have the most protection possible.

Coleman and Collins were joined by more than 30 entities involved in combating human trafficking including: FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security,

Rep. Merika Coleman (D-Birmingham), Assistant House Minority Leader, and Rep. Terri Collins (RDecatur), Chair of the Education Policy Committee, passed three of four human trafficking bills out of committee on April 24. HB261, HB262, and HB264 were unanimously passed out of committee.

HB261, HB262, and HB264 received their second reading on the House floor April 25, and will be eligible for debate as early as April 30.

HB260 had a public

Flowers,

from B7

issues in the prisons for several years. The Alabama Legislature has shown Judge Thompson a good faith effort toward remedying our prison shortcomings and Judge Thompson has responded with leniency.

In 2015, the Alabama

SCLC, Alabama Association of District Attorneys, Alabama Trucking Association, and more.

“There are more slaves in the U.S. today than at any other point in our country’s history.

The I- 20 corridor from Atlanta to Birmingham is the most trafficked section of interstate in the entire nation,” said Doug Gilmer, Resident Agent in Charge with U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Press Conference speakers included: Carolyn Potter – Chief Executive Officer, The WellHouse Jan Bell – Executive Director, Children’s

Legislature passed Criminal Justice reform legislation that greatly reduced the number of inmates in Alabama.

Through legislative efforts the state prison population has decreased from nearly 200 percent of capacity to about 160 percent.

First on most wish lists for prisons is increasing our staffing levels and improving the pay scale for correc-

Policy Council of Jefferson County Carrie Hill – Child Trafficking Solutions Project, Family Court of Jefferson County Doug Gilmer – Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Darren Beams – Lieutenant, Tuscaloosa Police Department Barbara Fowler – Owner, Fowler Davis Pat McCay – Chair, Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force It’s estimated that 27 million people worldwide are “Modern Day Slaves.”

Human trafficking is estimated annually at $110 million in Alabama and $150 billion worldwide.

tional officers. Alabama prison guards are the lowest paid in the nation. Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark), who chairs the General Fund Budget Committee dropped an extra $80 million into the budget last year for increased prison personnel spending. Even then, as Clouse told a Dothan Chamber Commerce group in February, “People are not beating down doors to be prison

Check Out Our New Tiger Town Location

B9 May 01, 2019

Jones,

from B7 change. He’s listening not to me as a small-time county commissioner, but he’s listening to the victims. He’s listening to what happened to these individuals, so he can put all of that information together.”

During a press conference with the media, Jones stated that Wednesday’s visit “was focused on meeting with people” but that he plans to return and assess affected areas in the near future. He also praised the efforts of local, state and federal emergency management agencies for their handling of the situation.

“When I was standing here last month, I told folks I wanted to come back and check on things to see how the federal government was doing,” Jones said. “I knew the

guards.”

The Alabama Department of Corrections is asking for a sizeable increase this year to hire additional correctional officers, which will probably be granted.

Gov. Ivey quickly responded to the report by saying she is committed to working with the DOJ to address the problems. The Governor said she is proceeding with her plan to build new prisons, which is expected to cost a billion dollars. This is validation that her initial plan to build new prisons is the right path.

The problem in the Legislature is, “How do you pay for them and where do you put them?”

folks in Lee County locally, the EMA and state folks are doing an amazing job. I felt like the FEMA people were doing their job from what I’ve seen.”

Other speakers included Lee County EMA Director Kathy Carson and State EMA Director Brian Hastings, who explained that they will continue fighting for fewer obstacles and “red tape” to make the future aid, recovery and rebuilding processes easier for victims.

“We have a very close partnership with FEMA … it’s one team, one fight.

But, one of the things we run into is helping them in spite of themselves … it’s not FEMA, it’s just the federal bureaucracy,” Hastings said.

Jones traveled to Auburn later in the day for a town-hall forum with students, with topics ranging from marijuana legalization to prison conditions across the state.

Under any new plan to build or lease new prisons, it must be coupled with prison sentencing reform which is being implemented in a good many states. This reform must include a revised sentencing structure and some inclusion of alternative sentencing options to the state penitentiary system for offenders who pose no threat of violence to society.

A good example is that currently under Alabama Law, the second time a person is caught in possession of marijuana they are charged with a felony, and then under the “three strikes” law you could send someone to prison for

life after three felony violations for smoking marijuana.

Marijuana use should probably not result in a felony conviction unless it is for trafficking.

State Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) has done a yeoman’s job leading Alabama’s Criminal Justice Reform efforts. He will be at the forefront of the prisons working with Governor Ivey.

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.

Across from Lowe’s, another convenient location to serve our customers

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

Eddie Smith CITY PRESIDENT

certificates of deposit and numerous electronic products and services.

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

ICK RD.

FREDER

Tiger Town

Lowe’s

R.

D AY TEW GA

Kroger

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pelika O Observer

B10 May 01, 2019

Alabama hospitals are long overdue for relief from unfair reimbursement rates Special to the Opelika Observer Sen. Doug Jones last week applauded the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a move that could provide badly needed relief for Alabama hospitals. CMS last night proposed a new rule that could help address the unfair Medicare Wage Index reimbursement formula, which has disadvantaged hospitals in Alabama for decades and left them to cover significant costs for

LCC, from B7

work if performed by the county would be eligible for REMA reimbursement.

There are more than 30

uncompensated care. Following up on a meeting that he held with the CMS Administrator Seema Verma, Senator Jones joined the full Alabama congressional delegation last month in sending a bipartisan letter to her urging her agency to provide relief for Alabama hospitals by increasing the reimbursement rate.

Alabama has the lowest wage index according to the Alabama Hospital Association, and approximately 88% of Alabama hospitals are currently operating in

the red and cannot cover the cost of delivering care.

Thirteen hospitals in Alabama have closed their doors since 2011, seven of which were in rural areas.

“As I have traveled across Alabama meeting with health care leaders in both rural and urban communities, I have heard two refrains consistently: fix the Medicare Wage Index formula and expand Medicaid.

The decision by CMS to propose a new reimbursement formula is welcome news and a great first step

for the health care providers across our state who have struggled for years with an inexplicably low reimbursement rate. These hospitals provide care to all Alabamians, regardless of their insurance status, and they have to absorb the costs when that care isn’t reimbursed. That puts the entire system on slippery financial footing and can hurt the broader community if a hospital is forced to close its doors,” Senator Jones said, who is also a member of the Senate

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

“After meeting with Administrator Verma, Senator Shelby, and Congresswoman Sewell last September about this issue, I was very hopeful about the prospects of getting this long-overdue change made. I look forward to continuing to work with CMS to make sure that its final rule reflects what is in the best interests of Alabama, as well as advocating for Alabama to take the next step by finally

expanding Medicaid.”

Senator Jones has been a vocal advocate in favor of reforming the Medicare Wage Index formula as well as expanding Medicaid, both of which would help shore up Alabama hospitals that are facing serious financial challenges. Medicaid expansion would bring an estimated $2 billion of Alabamians’ tax dollars back to the state in just the first year after expanding and provide health coverage to 326,000 Alabamians.

miles of ALDOT roadways in Lee Co. that were impacted by the storms.

The commission decided to postpone a vote on the MOA until further information is received from FEMA and questions pertaining to the MOA can

be clarified byStan Martin, the county attorney.

In other business, the commission: • voted to approved a motion to adopt the Feb. 19 Special Election for the tax renewal for the Lee Co. Board of Education

and the Lee County Youth Development Center • approved a motion to allow the county to request funding through a grant from Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to assist with the repair and

replacement of approximately 50 septic tanks in the areas impacted by the March 3 tornadoes • approved a Plat Approval for the Halawakee Ridge Phase II Subdivision.

Commission meetings

are open to the public and are held the 2nd and last Monday nights of the month in the commission chambers of the Lee County Courthouse.

The next meeting will be held on May 13 at 5 p.m.

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pelika O Observer

B11 May 01, 2019

Smiths Station City Council discusses financial benefits of new partnership with Center for Municipal Services

By Morgan Bryce Editor During last Tuesday’s meeting, members of the Smiths Station City Council discussed the value of their recently approved partnership with the New York-based Center for Municipal Services.

Through their agreement, the center will assume the approval, planning, engineering and construction of new cell towers within city limits.

CMS representative David Andrews explained to the council that the city will collect nonrefundable fees of $2,500 for requests to make repairs or modifica-

K

udos to Sen. Cam Ward [R-Alabaster] head of the Senate Judiciary Committee blocking the ethics bill proposed by Marsh and Albritton. Reported dead in Ward’s committee by Bill Britt [APR 4/18/19] who wrote, “However, since then, the pair have continued to lobby Republican caucus members to climb on board with the measure. Albritton is even suggesting that he and Marsh go around the Judiciary Committee to get the bill to the Senate floor” to circumvent the usual process. Amazing to watch politicians’ acumen and cunning to manipulate toward their own ends.

Most senators privately told APR they don’t want to vote on the bill, in fear of opposing these two powerful politburo members, likely to engage in retribution against those wanting to maintain our unusual gains of the 2010 (back when straight-ticket voters cancelled each other out) ethics legislation.

These hard won impediments to politicians using their office for personal benefit are more easily gutted in our current, less competitive, political environment. Those who understand the corrupt

tions to existing cell towers and $5,000 for new cell tower applications, while his company will retain $8,500 in escrow to cover the costs of their services.

“From here on out, our company will process each application and make sure all federal regulations are followed, make sure that all facilities are brought up to code and that each new one built is up to that code and standard. The city will not be out of pocket for all the technical and engineer reviews and building inspections ... those will be covered in the previously mentioned escrow fee,” Andrews said.

Mayor Bubba Copeland

also commemorated April as “Fair Housing Month” in the city through the reading of a proclamation alongside East Alabama Board of Realtors Association Executive Chris Lammons and member Bea Wallace.

The monthlong celebration serves as a remembrance of the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act signed into law by thenU.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson which “prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, and since 1974, gender; since 1988, the act protects people with dis-

abilities and families with children,” according to the HUD website.

In other business, the council: - approved a pre-zoning of property in the city limits to R-1 residential - approved a resolution for the renewal of a contract with Custom Cutts, LLC, who handles the upkeep of the Smiths Station Sports Complex - heard and approved financial statements for March’s general and environmental fund budgets ready by City Clerk Scott Johnston.

The Smiths Station City Council meet on the second and fourth Tues-

Photo by Morgan Bryce/Editor day of each month with a work session beginning at 5:30 p.m. E.S.T. and regular meeting at 6 p.m.

Their meetings are held within the council cham-

bers of the Smiths Station Government Center that is located at 2336 Lee Road 430. For more information, call 334-297-8771 or visit www.smithsstational.gov.

Kudos to Sen. Cam Ward pawl of ACCA, BCA, et alia still clutching Goat Hill are not surprised at the Marsh and Albritton ‘full court press’ to repeal 2010 ethics laws.

APR will post legislation [promoted by prosecutors Davis & Hart] to address/revise provisions which seemed easy loopholes/too binding soon after the Hubbard convictions. It was signed off by Marsh and McCutcheon 2017 and agreed upon by the ‘big mules’ - i.e., it is worthy of reading and considering as an improvement.

APR further noted, “During the investigation into then-Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, Marsh found himself in front of a grand jury and later as a witness at Hubbard’s trial. As a wealthy businessperson, it may be as simple as Marsh wants to destroy the ethics laws so he will never be forced to appear before a grand jury or be a witness in a public corruption trial.”

In the past, Sen. Ward offered the most pressing question on where the ‘big mules’ would go as powerful BCA members were exiting. Decades ago, Alabama Power/ Southern Company were members of the Auburn Policy Research Center

By John Sophocleus

which was on its way to be advocate for the general welfare of our State until corrupt administrators captured by the Lowder/Hubbard ‘public servant’ gang killed the Center and the successful econ program(s) increasingly attacked by less productive faculty and champions of big goverment. The deleterious spirit of not wanting to compete has grown strong roots on the Plains of Dixie. The two most notable in the fight to block “Billion Dollar Bob’s” Amendment One tax explosion and the ‘new and improved’ BIG Business Council of Alabama were John Rice in the traditional arena and Mark Bodenhausen on the emerging internet scene. Mark is no longer with us and dearly missed by those who remember how well he championed liberty against the big govt. extremists. Is it time for Sen. Ward to rally the ‘old guard’ small government conservatives and

start a new organization in Alabama?

I think most who ‘follow the goats’ would agree Sen. Ward’s most notable ‘yeoman’s work’ in the legislature is prison reform, largely unnoticed/ unappreciated by the uninformed citizen. I was pleasantly surprised to see AG Marshall on the right side of Sen. Ward’s Pardons and Paroles reform legislation. It seems our AG’s office is also moving forward well on final appeals of Hubbard convictions in Judge Walker’s court.

Jake Walker is another unappreciated force for disciplining corruption in our county. “Mr. Boulevard” is long overdue to serve his sentences and pay his fines which appear to be less than his mounting legal expenses while drawing out litigating his wrongdoings these past several years instead of saving taxpayer money and effort pleading guilty as more decent public servants have done.

One may find some actions to disagree with (e.g., one of the smaller BCA ‘moneychanger’ events where Cam Ward donated $1,000 to Beth Rogers; a week later NET PAC donates $2,000 to Cam Ward) and I found

Sen. Ward leaning a little too much on alcohol years ago was driven by the stressful job in general; but the despair of trying to address the prison issue more specifically. As most readers know, our prison system is in crisis once again. I ask all to keep Sen. Ward in prayer once again doing his best to address this difficult problem under our current constraints.

I’ll not spend text on the biggest sources of our capacity problems which are largely generated by an ‘unfunded mandate’ of sorts. Most of our nonviolent offenders are for drug offenses (the federal govt. is not authorized in the Constitution to address) with mandatory federal sentencing guidelines where the federal govt. is not incurring the ‘full freight’ to accomplish. Unlike Byrne, Jones, Roby, Rogers, Sewell, Shelby type ‘public masters’ up in DC (who show little regard for our civil rights, rising debt, etc.) we do have a few public servants who understand this, but I suspect do not have the courage to address in fear of appearing to be ‘soft on crime/drugs.’

While Sen. Ward has been the most informed

and reasonable in the Alabama Senate, Rep. England has been the rising star on this issue in the House. Hope my ‘rookie’ Representative (Jeremy Gray) will consider following this fellow House member instead of those he appears to be seeking as mentors. The incentives/ wealth transfers for BCA, et al architects, contractors, input owners, etc. to build ‘super prisons’ are obvious. Those in play want to make the prison situation as bad as it takes to facilitate redistributions to politically connected recipients of tax dollars.

The anguish and danger they bring to correction officers and prisoners doesn’t matter to them.

The biting observation of Rep. England is simple, under the current proposal, the ‘super prison’ solution will not impact the capacity result triggering the crisis with the DoJ. How will this corporate welfare program in fact help the prison problem?

John Sophocleus is an economist who worked ten years at Ford Motor Company to completely retire after thirty years teaching this year; he’s also an Alabama Gazette monthly columnist since 2009.

B12 May 01, 2019

pelika Observer O

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pelika Observer O

B13 May 01, 2019

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