Opelika Observer 8-22-18 E-Edition

pelika O Observer

Vol. 10, No. 46

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Opelika, Alabama

Turn to B10 for photos from Saturday’s “I Run Opelika” in downtown Opelika

“By local people, for local people.”

EAMC launches drug take-back program

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Big love for ‘BigHouse Foundation’ Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Hospital and law enforcement officials were present at a press conference at East Alabama Medical Center last week for the announcement of the hospital’s drug take-back program. Pictured from left-to-right: incoming EAMC CEO Laura Grill, Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones, EAMC Director of Pharmacy Services Chuck Beams, EAMC Support Services Director Randy Causey, Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes, Opelika Police Department Chief John McEachern and Auburn Police Chief Paul Register.

By Morgan Bryce Associate Editor Through a partnership with healthcare technology giant Inmar, East Alabama Medical Center announced the launch of a drug takeback program last week to combat the ongoing opioid crisis that exists in Alabama.

During a press conference held Aug. 13, EAMC Director of Pharmacy Services Chuck Beams said the initiative is the result of a growing demand for such a program in the OpelikaAuburn area.

“We’ve been receiving (a lot of) requests in the last year as the opioid crisis

has grown, to take back medications, whether it be controlled substances or non-controlled substances,” Beams said. “We wanted to provide an avenue for that, so we registered with the DEA and we’re now able to take drugs back on site.”

The hospital has placed a bright-green receptacle in its main lobby to serve as a safe drop-off spot for patrons. There, people can drop off their “leftover, unused and out-of-date prescription and overthe-counter medications,” except for inhalers and needles.

Beams added that another box will be placed at See EAMC page A11

Opelika-based nonprofit receives $10k donation during Cornerstone Chiropractic’s annual ‘Back 2 School Bash’ held Friday in Auburn

By Michelle Key Editor The rain may have cut the festivities short when a summer thunderstorm rolled in around 6

p.m. Friday night, but it did not dampen the spirit of the event.

The 8th Annual Back 2 School Bash hosted by Cornerstone Family

Chiropractic drew a crowd of more than 2000 people.

At the end of the event, a check for $10,594.67 was presented to Blake and Micah Melnick,

founders of the BigHouse Foundation.

More than 60 businesses helped to sponsor the event, making this year’s version the biggest in its history.

10,000 Hz Records to hold grand opening party Friday

By Morgan Bryce Associate Editor Vintage turntables, hundreds of vinyl records and space for broadening one’s musical horizons are all features of downtown Opelika’s “10,000 Hz Records,” which is set to hold its grand opening celebration this Friday.

Owned and operated

by Russell and Hannah Baggett, the brick-andmortar storefront at 717 1st Ave. is a first for the business, which began as a pop-up last year.

“It’s nice not to have to haul all those records around anymore, but for sure, it’s been different.

See Vinyl, page A2

Baggett

Opelika’s Walmart Distribution Center, city celebrate fleet safety success Special to the Opelika Observer The Opelika Walmart Distribution Center Fleet Crew recently celebrated reaching the highest safety level within Walmart’s Worker Safety Program. Drivers received a ring at a safety ceremony on Aug. 14-15.

“Safety is an important value at Walmart.

We focus on safety, health and environmental compliance in our operations. We want to get our employees back to their family each and every day the same way they came to us,” said Keith Windham, General Transportation Manager at the Opelika

Walmart Distribution Center.

According to Windham, it is rare for a group of drivers to reach the highest safety level (Level 10).

His team of nearly 40 drivers surpassed the mandatory requirements for reaching the top. Drivers must perform 5.2 million driving miles with no

accidents. From January 5, 2017 to July 10, 2018, his team logged 5.9 million miles with no accidents.

“This is something to be proud of,” said Lori Huguley, Opelika Economic Development Director. “These drivers are faced with significant chalSee Walmart, page A2

Index OPINION.....................................A4 COUNTY NEWS............................A5 SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY..............A7 CALENDAR................................A10

SPORTS.......................................B1 RELIGION..............................B3 LEGALS ......................................B5 ENTERTAINMENT......................B12

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

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A2 August 22, 2018

Walmart, from A1

this milestone.”

City Council President Eddie Smith and Councilman David Canon attended the celebration, along with Huguley.

For more information, please contact Keith Windham, General Transportation Manager at Walmart Distribution Center at 334-705-2840.

lenges as they navigate through heavy metropolitan areas like Atlanta. We are extremely impressed with this accomplishment and congratulate Walmart and their drivers on reaching

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Vinyl,

from A1 Special to the Opelika Observer

being here, people are reaching us and finding out who we are that

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probably never would have under the previous format,” Russell said.

Starting with 120 records, Russell said customer demand allowed for expansions to his inventory, which now contains more than 1,000 releases. Contained with the selection of records is a diverse array of music, with representation from the electric, folk, funk, rock and soul genres.

“We’re not trying to carry every single thing that has come out or every issue on vinyl … we’re focused on carrying stuff that we like for the most part. And if we don’t like it, we believe that someone else will,”

Baggett said.

Other features of the shop include a lounge area with speakers and a projector for customers to enjoy listening to records or watch music documentaries, merchandise space with shop shirts, stereo gear and modern/ vintage turntables and seating for customers to drink soon-to-be-served beverages and soak in the atmosphere.

Opening July 31, 10,000 Hz joins Mama Mocha’s Coffee Emporium as the second newest business to open on 1st Avenue. As one of the key components to Richard Patton’s planned entertainment hub in that area, Russell said he

pelika Observer

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Phone: 334.749.8003 Fax: 334.749.8009 editor@opelikaobserver.com

is glad to contribute to the community’s efforts of making downtown Opelika a local destination for all.

“I think a year from now, there are going to be a lot more people wanting to come this way from Auburn and other towns and checking out what there is to offer.

Hopefully we’re playing a part to get people to come over here, and ultimately, live here and stick around,” Russell said.

10,000 Hz’s official grand opening celebration will begin at 5 p.m.

The event will feature live music from the Auburn-based “alternative dream pop” band Dogwood Lung, door prizes and ticket giveaways to see St. Paul and the Broken Bones at “concourse/south” and more.

Currently, the business’s hours are 1-6 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday, but Russell said will soon shift to 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. TuesdayFriday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Saturdays and noon - 5 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information or updates, like and follow the business on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or call 334-748-9074.

Editor: Michelle Key Associate Editor: Morgan Bryce Marketing: Woody Ross, Doug Horn and Emily Key Photographer: Robert Noles

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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inaccuracies deemed to be substantive. Corrections may be re-

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quested by contacting the Editor at (334) 749-8003.

pelika O Observer

A3 August 22, 2018

Observer welcomes new interns for fall semester Internship interview: Arnecia Walker

By Vanessa Poulson For the Opelika Observer Arnecia Walker, born in Anniston, Alabama, and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a senior at Auburn University, majoring in Communication and minoring in Leadership Studies.

She has spent the past two years working for Auburn Athletics as a recruiter and public relations representative. Auburn has been Walker’s dream school since she was younger, but she is excited to be graduating this December.

Her favorite hobbies include online shopping, with Forever 21 be-

ing her favorite store to purchase clothes from, as well as hanging out with her friends.

She enjoys watching YouTube vlogs and clothing haul videos.

Her favorite food is pasta, in any of its wonderful different forms, but she also loves Asian food, especially Hibachi.

From this internship, Walker hopes to gain insight on the communications trade and to strengthen her writing ability.

In her future endeavors, she hopes to one day become a director of communications at a large company in a city like Dallas or Atlanta.

Internship interview: Vanessa Poulson

By Arnecia Walker For the Opelika Observer Vanessa Poulson was born in the state of Massachusetts but would call herself a native of the home of Walt Disney, Orlando, Florida.

She is currently a sophomore at The Pennsylvania State University, studying Journalism and Digital Media, with hopes to land a career working in a newsroom in large cities such as Phoenix, Portland or Seattle.

Poulson loves to read and says her favorite book is “Save Me the Waltz” by Zelda Fitzgerald. In her leisure, Poulson loves to rock

climb, watch The Office and travel.

Her favorite places that she has traveled are Alaska and Toledo, Spain.

Poulson is also an avid coffee drinker and prefers Dunkin’ Donuts rather than Starbucks. Her drink of choice would be a black cold brew with two shots of espresso.

Poulson has not been in the beautiful Opelika/Auburn area long but has already given Pannie George’s the title of her favorite restaurant around town.

With this internship, Poulson hopes to gain valuable writing experience and to add new communications skills to her expertise.

we need your help Getting on the road to good health

Helping others is what we do in Opelika. The City of Opelika, East Alabama Medical Center, Auburn University and the Casey Family Programs are partnering to provide a mobile wellness clinic for under-served citizens in Opelika. In order to make this dream a reality, we need to raise funds to convert the bus into a clinic. Our goal is to provide free preventative, supportive services to those in need. To help us get on the road to good health, call 334-705-5150, or visit www.eamcfoundation.org and click the donate button.

DONATE TODAY! Our mobile wellness clinic will: • Offer easy-access healthcare • Identity needs in the community • Improve social & health outcomes • Build relationships • Reduce need for foster care • Support children and families • Promote disease prevention

CITY OF

OPELIKA

labam

ADMINISTRATION 334-705-5150 www.opelika-al.gov

pelika O Opinion Tastes like Chicken A4

August 22, 2018

F

to keep clear of the ishing. A hot wind barb, we put it in was blowing up from the bucket and I the south (“wind settled down with a from the south, you catch beer to consider just ‘em in the mouth” never how I would prereally worked for me.) pare it for our table.

So off we went. Three Members of the men. Five boys.

By Hardy Jackson wedding party Off to Eden. drifted in.

Eden is a Florida state “You got another beer?” one park at Point Washington. guy asked me.

A beautiful old home built by a He was grumbling about it betimber baron long ago, located up in a cove on Choctawhatchee Bay, ing the only “dry” wedding he had ever attended when one of our it has been the site for many an kids told him about the stingray. “event,” but for us it was a small So, he went over to see, and pier from which to fish and crab. saw, and hollered to a friend and We arrived just in time for the the friend hollered to another and wedding. pretty soon the bucket was surThey had chairs set up so that rounded by folks who obviously the house would be the backdrop. weren’t from around there.

The bride was radiant. I didn’t “In Tennessee, we pay money to see the groom, but a fellow who touch those things.” looked like somebody’s father “Is that what killed the Crocowas there in a tux, pink tie, and flip flops – the Florida side of the dile Hunter?”

“Naw, that was in Australia.” family.

So, we showed them the barb By the pavilion where they were and explained that they do not getting ready for the reception.

The deejay checked out the sound “shoot out” at you and that you pretty much had to step on one to system. “Tequila Makes Her get hurt but if it did get you, then Clothes Fall Off” boomed across you were in a world of pain. the lawn.

“What you gonna do with it?”

I got to thinking I’d fish through someone asked. the ceremony but drop in when “Cook it,” I replied. the dancing started.

And they all stepped back and And the eating. It was being looked at me the way folks look at catered by Bob’s Barbeque. folks they aren’t real sure about.

We eased on down to the dock.

“And eat it,” I added.

I baited the crab line – we don’t And they moved back a little use traps. No sport to that. We more. prefer smelly chicken parts on a I knew that our lovely wives string and a net for scooping when had ordered steamed shrimp for you pull ‘em in. supper. I figured when we arrived Then, we started fishing and I’d fire up the grill and do what crabbing. . any Southern man would do under Meanwhile, the wedding went the circumstances – have another on. beer and play stingray chef.

And about the time the bride Stingray and shrimp. Don’t get and groom were pledging their troth under the live oaks, my pole no better.

As the music got cranked up, started scooting across the dock, we packed up. Then to the strains where I had laid it while I was of “Down in Mississippi and Up baiting another hook.

To No Good,” we drove off in a One of the guys caught it and cloud of dust. the struggle began.

At home, everyone gathered Then whatever it was broke the round while the barb was removed tip off the rod. and set out to dry, and the wings So, I grabbed the line, and in were put on the grill. my best “Old Man and the Sea” And that evening, as a prelude imitation, pulled the monster to the edge of the pier, where my son to the shrimp and corn and new potatoes, fisher and non-fisher netted it. alike tried the new delicacy.

It was a stingray.

“What’cha think?” I asked my A big ‘un. daughter.

Now I do not belong to the “Tastes like chicken.” “catch and release” school of fishWhich made me happy. ing. If what is caught can be used, She likes chicken.

I use it – which is what I intended Harvey H. (“Hardy”) Jackson to do with the stingray. is Professor Emeritus of History Not many people know, but at Jacksonville State University. the wings of a ray cook up real He can be reached a hjackson@ good. So, after inspection by the cableone.net. kids and warning by the daddies

T

Last Stop

leads them to a small hey stand behind place called the “intercaged doors. They view room.” look at you when Jace is pure energy. you walk by. They bark Rip is no spring chick. like their lives depend on Furthermore, Rip apit. pears to know he’s not Some have barked so going to be adopted. It’s hard they’ve lost their

By Sean Dietrich the same old story: voices.

They play with you, they toss a They miss running more than anything. I’m talking about all-out, ball, they talk sweet. They put you back in the kennel. wide-open, honest-to-goodness Jace tosses a ball. Rip thinks running. Their legs were made for about this for a moment. Should this, but they can’t do it. Not in he chase it? After all what would here. be the point? It won’t do any good.

The old dogs don’t even bother barking anymore. They know what This kid isn’t going to adopt an old awaits. One day a woman in scrubs hound just because he plays fetch.

Rip retrieves the ball anyway. and rubber gloves will lead them It’s in his nature. Jace laughs. They away, and they won’t come back. play for several minutes. Rip starts Jack, the Labrador for instance, to get into the spirit. They are havhe was ten years old, reddish coling a big time. ored. Nobody wanted him because They return Rip to his kennel. of the white on his snout. He went And Jace walks out of the animal to Heaven yesterday. shelter, holding his mother’s hand.

“People just don’t want elderly His mother has decided that Rip is dogs,” a staff worker tells me. “It too old. breaks your heart, I won’t lie.”

Another day, another rejection.

And Ophelia. She’s a beagle.

Three days pass. A woman enters She’s an old woman. So is ‘Bama, Rip’s kennel. She is wearing rubPistol Pete, Chocolate, Bradley, ber gloves and scrubs. Rip is afraid and Miss Daisy. of her. She leads him to a white Abandoned dogs. Lost animals. room. He’s panting and nervous.

This is their last stop on the bus Rip is no dummy. He knows what ride of life. happens to old dogs in this place.

Through the doors walks Jace.

She leads him through a narrow Jace is a seven-year-old boy with hallway. The dogs scream when rosy face and blonde hair. His Rip walks by. parents are divorced. They live in They howl. But Rip is brave, a two-bedroom apartment, with no because Heaven made him a dog. neighbor kids. Jace gets lonely.

And all dogs are brave.

“My son needs a friend,” his She takes him to the front of the mother explains. shelter. She unclicks his leash. Rip Jace walks the long corridor and is confused. He’s too old to underlooks for a pal. He sees Rip—a stand what’s going on. basset hound with so many skin He is scared. He’s trying to be wrinkles he ought to win an award. courageous, but his old bladder His face is long, his ears touch the gets the best of him. He makes floor. Rip is nine. water on the floor.

Jace pokes his hand through the Then he hears his name. bars.

“Here, Rip!” says Jace. “C’mon, “We ain’t supposed to let people Rip!” touch the cages,” a staff worker Rip sees the boy. A blonde child whispers to me. “But Rip’s a whose mother just paid a few sweetheart.”

Rip wanders to the door. He licks bucks to bring Rip home forever.

And even though Rip’s joints hurt, Jace. he runs to Jace. He licks him.

“Mom!” says Jace. “He licked Rip forgot how good it feels to me!” run. He forgot how good it feels to Rip stares at Jace. In dog years, Rip is older than this boy. And he’s be loved.

But thanks to Jace, he will never smart, too. You can see this in his forget these feelings again. eyes.

Sean Dietrich is a columnist, and I’ve been writing a long time, novelist, known for his commentary but I can’t find a good sentence to convey the way a dog looks at you. on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Southern They know something we don’t.

“Can I play with him?” says Jace. Living, the Tallahassee Democrat, Southern Magazine, Yellowhammer “Isn’t he a little old?” says his mother. “Don’t you want a younger News, the Bitter Southerner, the Mobile Press Register and he has dog?” authored seven books.

“Please?”

The worker opens the cage, then

Sinkholes And Serial Killers – Part I

M

y grandmother, Gussie Coxwell, used to say, “Dreams are where our brain gets rid of all the junk we pour into it every day.” Gussie was one smart woman. When I was a child, I dreamed of flying and being a mermaid. Somewhere around the age of family and responsibility, those dreams began to change.

My nighttime imaginings took a turn towards the darker side.

When little children were my focus, I had terrible nightmares of being trapped in a sinking car, unable to get the children out. I would wake with panic coursing through my veins. Then they began dating, and well…. the nightmares did not improve. I spent

many nights with visions of boys with twelve hands and no brain racing around my head.

Now that my kids are grown, you would think I’d revert back to flying and mermaids…. But I’ve seen way too many news stories and true crime shows to let my brain relax that much. For some time now, when I am asleep, a parade of my deepest fears plays out like a double feature in the Big D theater in Tiger Town. Wendy’s Worst Nightmare: Featuring Sinkholes and Serial Killers.

I blame Keith Morrison and Dateline NBC. This last Saturday, after another restless night, I took myself on a day trip. I cranked up the country music station,

By Wendy Hodge

rolled down the windows, and let the fresh air bring me back to life. The sky was absolutely incredible ... this ever-changing masterpiece hanging right above our heads, just begging to be marveled at. I was alone on the country road a few miles this side of Providence Canyon, when I crossed a bridge and had to stop. Right in the middle of the road.

The view literally made me gasp. Not a sinkhole in sight.

Once I reached the state park, I was ready to hike.

Inside the gift shop, I registered as a lone hiker.

The lady behind the counter, who was at least my age if not older, looked me up and down and said, “Are you sure you want to do this, honey?”

I chose to smile as I said, “Yes, ma’am.

Indeed I do.”

I took my bottled water and headed out the door.

The trail head was a just a few yards away, and I started down the slope into the canyon, taking my time and admiring the view. Ahead of me were two older gentlemen who were deep in conversation. I slowed my pace a bit because I cannot resist eavesdropping. And these two men did not disappoint. Turns out they were friends from high school who

had not seen each other in over 40 years. Both had ridden their motorcycles from separate parts of the country and met at Providence Canyon on that Saturday to catch up. Just listening to the easy way they laughed and remembered good times, I could tell they had picked up right where they left off.

At one point, they stopped to rest, and I passed by them. They smiled at me, and it was a lovely thing to see. As I rounded the corner ahead of them, I heard one say to the other, “Brother, today I’m 18 again.”

When the 100 degree heat had just about done me in, I returned to the shop to sign out. My friend behind the counter was all smiles. In a tone reserved for the feeble

minded, she said, “Well, look at you!

You made it!”

Miracles never cease.

The air conditioning inside the car was heavenly, and I drove with the windows up for a while, headed… north, I think…

A few miles down the road, I passed through Lumpkin. On the corner of the main street, stands a Victorian house that is a delicate shade of lavender. And the wraparound front porch has sheer white curtains hanging from the railings, blowing lazily in the breeze. I had the strongest urge to go sit on that porch and just watch the day happen.

On the next block, there was a lemonade stand with two boys eagerly waiting for a customer. I See Hodge, page A10

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Around Lee County

A5 August 22, 2018

Lee County Commission 8th annual ‘Ride to Remember’ for addresses road concerns James Anderson scheduled for Sept. 23

By Michelle Key Editor

During the Aug. 13 meeting of the Lee County Commission, county residents Terry Lamb and Rob Young addressed the commission concerning Lee Road 79. Lamb questioned the commission on whether or not the county had relinquished authority of the road to a neighboring land owner Jim Cook. The road crosses through Cook's property into the property owned by the Lambs.

Lamb explained that this was disclosed to her in the course of preparations to sell, cut and remove timber from her property.

County maintenance

stops before reaching Lamb's property. Lamb explained to the commission that they have been told that they are not allowed to improve the road on Cook's property. These improvements are needed in order for the timber company to be able to access the land and remove the timber.

Judge Bill English responded that Lee County has never owned that road.

"We have what is called a prescriptive right-of-way. It has been more than 30 years since the county has worked the portion of the road in question,” English said.

Young addressed the commission regarding this matter as well

stating that he does not want to see the road abandoned because he too will have timber that will need to be removed in the future.

During the discussion, Robert Ham, Commissioner of District 4, requested that Justin Hardee, Lee County Engineer, work up estimates of costs to maintain the road past the 1.168 miles of dirt road currently maintained.

The commission also received an update on the Animal Control Citizen's Advisory Panel. Dr. Elizabeth Yorke made a recommendation that the county's animal control department a undergo a

By Morgan Bryce Associate Editor

Remembering the legacy and service of the late Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy James Anderson will be the focal point of the 8th annual “Ride to Remember” event in his honor Sept. 23.

Organized by LCSO members Javier Bermudez and Adalberto

Anderson

Rosa, the ride is open to family, friends, colleagues and the general public who want to celebrate the life of

a man who gave his life while in the line of duty.

“He was a carpenter, and pretty much a jack of all trades. He was also a jokester and a prankster … he had a great sense of humor,” Rosa recalled. “But more than anything, he was reliable - if you ever needed something, he would try to do what he could for

See Anderson, page A8

See Commission, page A8

Smiths Station City Council approves paving project

By Morgan Bryce Associate Editor Plans to add additional parking spaces and greater access to Smiths Station’s Government Center and soon-to-be-opened Jones Store Museum took a step forward during their Aug. 14 city council meeting.

The council approved a resolution authorizing Allen Asphalt Services to complete the project, which Mayor Bubba Copeland explained in further detail during the meeting.

“When we originally paved in the front of (the Govern-

ment Center), we didn’t complete the back, so this is the second part of that.

It will square off the parking lot and add about 10 more parking spaces, which will

also give us spaces at the museum complex,” Copeland said.

“There will also be handicap-accessible parking in front of the (museum). This

project will also entail striping, roadbed maintenance, and a four-inches thick layer of asphalt.”

The council also passed a regulation stipulating rules on the specific type of artwork that can be displayed inside or outside of the Government Center.

“We need to make sure that we maintain the integrity of this building. We don’t anyone putting signs inside or outside (of the Government Center) that is not appeasing to the total brand of the city of Smiths Station,” See Council, page A8

Special to the Opelika Observer Pictured above is the grave of the late Dep. James Anderson, who was struck and killed during a routine traffic stop on Sept. 24, 2009.

Jack O’Lantern Lane offers fall fun, memories for guests

By Morgan Bryce Associate Editor Pumpkin patches and hayrides are just a few of the fall-themed activities offered at Lafayette’s “Jack O’Lantern Lane Pumpkin Patch,” which will open next month.

Owned and operated

by Glenn and Tammy Morgan, the farm is entering its 12th official year of operation.

“It’s a lot of time and a labor of love that goes into it, but as my husband likes to say, the reward is in seeing the smile on the faces of children who come here. There’s nothing else that compares,” Tammy said.

Following a field trip with her daughter Ab-

bie and kindergarten classmates to a pumpkin patch in far-away Clanton, Tammy said she and Glenn began to discuss the idea of opening their own.

“We had the idea, with encouragement from friends and family, that our location might be a good potential location for a pumpkin patch. We decided to take a year and think about it,” Tammy said. “The next year, we decided to host some students from Chambers Academy for a mock pumpkin patch, then a church group came. From there, it has just continued to grow.”

The farm’s strong following now draws people from all across Alabama, the Southeast and country,

which is boosted by home Auburn University football games and its solid local reputation.

“We enjoy and love seeing families come back year after year, and seeing how their kids have grown. Last year, we even had a young man who used to come to the patch bring his wife and newborn … it’s neat to see that this is being passed down to a second generaSee Fall, page A8

BEAUREGARD DRUGS

Let Tucker Simmons and the staff at Beauregard Drugs help you manage your seasonal allergies.

pelika O Observer

A6 August 22, 2018

Opelika Chamber of Commerce welcomes new members Special to the Opelika Observer The Opelika Chamber of Commerce recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for Davis Direct and Percfect Place Coffee. According to the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, "Davis Direct" is a commercial printer located at 1006 Opelika Road. Percfect Place, located 2701 Frederick Road in the Tiger Square Shopping Center, is a coffee bar with full-fledged menu featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner options, as well as dessert. Visit www.opelikachamber.com for more information and full calendar of events.

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

Located in Historic Downtown Opelika

334-745-4618

We protect it.

You live it.

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

Drake Martin, Agent 907 2nd Avenue Suite A Opelika, AL 36801 Bus: 334-745-6304 www.drakemartin.net

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

YD WA TE GA

Kroger

I’m here to help life go right – so you can enjoy it, while I help protect it. Let’s talk about your life insurance options.

CALL ME TODAY.

Our New Location Lowe’s

R.

Visit us here: www.auburnbank.com MEMBER FDIC

I-85

1851 Frederick Road Opelika

Equal Housing Lender

334-275-9600

State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI) State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI) 1601487 Bloomington, IL

™

Opelika E vents, Society, & Food

U PC OM I NG EVENT S: • FARMER’S MARKETS • THE GREAT AFFAIRS • ODD ALICE • SILENT SKY • ACOUSTIC CONCERT • NWTF FUNDRAISER

Create scrumptious treats while fresh fruits are in season Ann Cipperly’s

Southern

Hospitality

W

hile fresh fruits are wonderful by themselves, they become sublime when baked in pastry or cakes, or simply mixed with a dressing to bring out their natural flavors.

Create a special treat for your family while fresh fruit is in abundance before the season ends.

As we were driving through Georgia last week on the way to Tampa, FL, to visit family, road side stands and markets were brimming with just-picked luscious peaches. With the late summer crop, prepare peach pies, cobblers, ice cream, or add fresh peaches to salads to pro-

vide a sweet flavor.

When we travel, we seek out farmers’ markets and specialty food markets. This can also lead to discovering new recipes. Early this week we visited the “Nature’s Food Patch” that had just opened in downtown Dunedin, Florida.

The market is nestled in a small shopping strip across from the Dunedin Brewing Company.

The market offers an array of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with packages of dried fruits, nuts and organic packaged foods. Sometimes in these stores you can find unique items to try.

We had spent the day before in St. Petersburg,

Florida, at the Locale Market and Mazarro’s Italian Market. We took a large cooler for taking our food finds back to Tampa for dinner. Chef owned Locale Market is a foodie’s delight with fresh seafood, meats, produce, baked items, cheese shop, artisanal foods and every herb or seasoning you would need to prepare a special meal.

A variety of food to sample or for dining is available, including Asian bowls, burgers and salads. There is also a restaurant upstairs.

We often find ideas for creating or garnishing baked items at this upscale culinary market.

Presents

Photo by Ann Cipperly Fresh Fruit Tart can be prepared in a tart pan, pie pan or pizza pan.

Decorate the top with assorted fresh fruits. Before the season ends, prepare a special fresh fruit dish this coming week.

On this trip, I was really interested in seeing fresh fruit desserts. Mazarro’s Italian Market is also a treasure for foodies. Their desserts include fancy to rustic Italian creations.

The small fruit tarts are jewel-like, coated with a shiny glaze. The gelato bar is almost irresistible, especially on a hot day.

Our basket was filled with a pepper coated goat cheese from the cheese room, a loaf of country Italian bread, freshly made ravioli, as well as meatballs and marinara sauce. Our

menu was complete with fresh strawberries in a green salad with balsamic vinegar dressing, and watermelon for an easy dessert. There were also blueberry muffins leftover from breakfast.

Our family has been visiting to the Suncoast region of Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Tampa for over 35 years. When my husband Don’s father retired, his parents moved from New York to the Clearwater area.

Our children grew up with us visiting often and loved the area. A few years ago, our son,

Robert, and his wife, AJ, moved to Clearwater Beach. When they lived on Clearwater Beach, it was my favorite place to visit, enjoying walks on the beach where the gentle rhythm of waves rolling onto the sand was restful and peaceful.

However, it was not convenient for them with their busy careers.

They moved to a highrise condo in downtown Tampa where Robert has easy access to the expressway for his job as director of food ser See Cipperly, page A9

The Sound Wall to host acoustic concert Sept. 1

Wilder Adkins

Jacob Blount

Martha’s Trouble

By Morgan Bryce Associate Editor

in downtown Opelika.

The event will bring together some of the South’s foremost folk singer/songwriters for a night of “fantastic acoustic music” and fellowship.

Martha’s Trouble, an

Opelika-based indie/folk act, is comprised of the husband-and-wife team of Rob and Jen Slocumb.

Their work has received national recognition, including featured appearances on several major

“An Acoustic Evening with Martha’s Trouble, Wilder Adkins and Jacob Blount” will be held Sept. 1 from 7:30 - 11:30 p.m. at The Sound Wall

See Sound Wall, page A10

Bottling Plant Event Center to host NWTF fundraising banquet Sept. 27

By Morgan Bryce Associate Editor

August 17,18, 23, 24, 25 at 7 pm August 19 and 26 at 2pm Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center Tickets: $12 Adult, $10 Seniors and Students Purchase Tickets at www.Auburnact.org

The Bottling Plant Event Center in downtown Opelika will host a fundraising banquet Sept. 27 for the East Alabama Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

During the event, patrons can expect an evening full of food, fun and entertainment, as

well as tables of hunting gear and accessories for purchase. Attendees who purchase tickets are automatically entered into a 7-gun drawing contest.

Headquartered in Edgefield, South Carolina, the NWTF is a “private, non-profit conservation and education organization founded in 1973 with a mission dedicated to conserving wild turkeys and preserving

our hunting heritage,” according to a post on its website. The group has more than 250,000 members in 16 different countries worldwide.

Individual tickets are $75 each, and there are other ticketing options that will be available for the event.

For more information, contact Marc Holmes at 334-329-1116 or Chris Warren at 334-321-7719.

pelika O Observer

A8 August 22, 2018

Commission,

Fall, from A5

tion,” Tammy said.

Besides hayrides and an extensive pumpkin patch, Tammy said there is a country store, full-fledged concession stand, inflatables, miniature train, petting zoo, pony rides and more for people to do during their weekend visit.

The farm is open by reservation only Monday-Friday, often hosting classes of children from local schools and senior citizen groups. During the week, Tammy said the focus is on exposing students to farm life, including a first-hand look at how cornmeal is made.

“We have a tractordriven mill that grinds corn … and we offer a lot of classroom-type instruction. A lot of them have no clue where grits or corn come from, so Glenn works a lot with that and shows them how everything works so that they can get an idea of how it’s all done,” Tammy said.

Opening Sept. 29, the farm will stay open daily until Oct. 31, offering patrons a full month to “come and experience what Jack O’Lantern has to offer,” according to Tammy.

The farm, located at

from A5 "Target ZERO" assessment. She explained that the assessment is free, non-binding and provides recommended strategies to decrease shelter intake and increase live release rates to achieve a 90 plus percent shelter save rate. Commissioner Shelia Eckman put forth a motion for the county to apply for this assessment but there was no second of that motion.

Further discussion showed that the majority of commissioners felt like they needed to understand the program before applying for the free assessment. Yorke asked that all the commissioners look at the TargetZero website before the next meeting.

Yorke also asked

Council,

Special to the Opelika Observer 18151 Veterans Memorial Parkway, is open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturdays and noon - 6 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information

and full list of ticketing options, visit www. jackolanternlane.com, call Tammy at 334-869554 or email jackolanternlane@gmail.com.

from A5

Copeland said. “At this point and time, we don’t have a leg to stand on, because this is a public place. So anyone could come and place a vulgar sign out front, there’s nothing we could do about it legally besides take it down.

This will be able

Anderson,

from A5

Tuesday - Friday 128 Columbus Parkway

you, no matter what. He was just a great to work and be friends with.”

Anderson was struck and killed during a routine traffic stop on Sept.

24, 2009.

Bermudez organized the first ride in 2010 as a way to pay tribute to his fallen comrade, which has seen a spike in attendance each year.

People with vehicles

more detailed quarterly reports be provided from animal control on the specific intake and outcome data and she also requested that yearly basic outcome data be posted on the animal control website.

In other business, the commission: • approved claims and procurement card transactions from July • heard the first reading of two positions on the Lee County Youth Development Board.

Dianne Carlton of Opelika and Richard Key II of Smiths Station submitted citizen interest forms for the LCYD board.

• approved a federal aid agreement for Lee Road 11 • approved a preliminary plat approval for Deerfield Oaks Subdivision • approved a maintenance acceptance for The Villages at Beauregard Subdivision

• approved a FY2017-18 Highway Reference Guide • approved the job re-classification for traffic control technician • gave a report on the recent trip to Washington D.C. • received a report from Kathy Carson from the Emergency Management Agency regarding the LeeCo Alerts System. Carson urges all citizens to sign up for alerts by visiting the EMA website and accessing the link at: www. leecoema.com After the regular session, the commission held a budget work session.

The Lee County Commission meet on the second and last Mondays of each month at the Lee County Courthouse.

For more information, visit www.leeco. us.

to help us regulate things like that.”

In other business, the council: - Approved and adopted the general and environmental fund budgets for FY2019 - Entered into a contract with the Lee County Highway Department for a resurfacing of Lee Road 298 - Discussed the progress of the city’s planned veterans memorial and devel-

opment of an updated employee handbook.

The Smiths Station City Council meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, with their work session beginning at 5:30 p.m.

EST and their regular meeting at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www. smithsstation.gov or call 334-297-8771.

The Government Center is located at 2336 Lee Road 240.

or motorcycles are welcome to participate in the ride, which begins in the Smiths Station Junior High School parking lot and ends at Opelika’s Garden Hill Cemetery.

At the cemetery, Rosa said there will be a ceremony featuring music, brief message and remembrances of Anderson from those in attendance.

The event is free, with no registration or sign-up required.

T-shirts made specifically for the ride can

be purchased by calling Leann Bolt at 334-5200038. Sizes S-XL are $7, XXL for $9,3 XL for $10 and 4XL for $11.

The ride is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. EST, so participants are asked to arrive early.

For more information or updates, follow the “Annual ‘Ride to Remember’ Deputy James Anderson’s Memorial Ride” event page on Facebook.

The school is located at 1100 Lee Road 298 in Smiths Station.

How to Feel Great at EAMC.

Volunteer!

AUXILIARY

334-528-5923 • www.eamc.org

Contact: Victoria Beasley

Volunteer Coordinator Victoria.Beasley@eamc.org

pelika O Observer Cipperly,

from A7

vices. AJ, who is national director of memory care for a chain of assisted livings, also needed easy entry to the expressway and airport to fly across the country.

Now, it takes planning to visit when they are in town.

When we visit, it is still a wonderful time. Instead of walking out the door to the beach, it is stepping onto a balcony with stunning night views of downtown Tampa.

We make the rounds to favorite restaurants for grouper sandwiches and visit the farmers’ markets throughout the area, gathering fresh vegetables and fruits. AJ is a good cook and prepares delectable brunches on weekends, while I am in the kitchen on her busy days cooking up fare from the farmers’ markets.

Fresh fruit is a nutrious snack to have on hand for any time of day or to embellish an array of dishes.

At breakfast, sprinkle blueberries, blackberries or strawberries over cereals, and add color and flavor to salads at lunch.

Start dinner with cheese and fruit or cap the meal with a fresh fruit dessert.

A favorite fruit dessert at our house is a Fresh Fruit Tart. Over the years I have prepared this in different size tart pans from individual to extra-large, pie pans and pizza tins.

Sometimes I make the crust a day or two ahead, while other times I add the filling and store in the refrigerator until the day I am going to serve it.

An assortment of fresh fruit provides an attractive topping. If grandchildren are here, I let them decorate the top. Sometimes each wants to make their own.

The tart can also be prepared a couple of days ahead. I generally don’t add a glaze, but if you are serving it for a dinner party, the glaze gives it the look of a fancy French tart, gleaming with an array of just-picked summer gems.

Before the season ends, gather an assortment of fresh fruits to enhance meals for your family this coming week.

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

Blueberry Bread Pudding Pat Randle 3 Tbsp. butter, softened ¾ cup sugar 3 eggs 2 tsp. vanilla 3½ cups milk 8 cups day old sourdough bread cubes 2 cups blueberries 2 Tbsp. sugar ½ tsp. cinnamon Golden Dessert Sauce 3 Tbsp. Butter ½ cup sugar 1 cup whipping cream In a medium saucepan, combine butter and sugar.

Cook and stir over low heat until butter is melted. Stir in whipping cream.

Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently uncovered for 5-10 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from heat.

Cover with plastic wrap; set

aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until well combined. Add eggs and vanilla; beat 2-3 minutes or until fluffy. Slowly stir in milk.

Place bread cubes in a large bowl; pour milk mixture over bread. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir blueberries into bread mixture; transfer to the ungreased 3-quart baking dish.

Combine sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle unevenly over the bread mixture.

Drizzle 1/3 cup of the Golden Dessert Sauce over the top. Bake approximately 35 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Serve warm with the remaining Golden Dessert Sauce.

Homemade Peach Ice Cream Ann Renfro Smith 2 quarts milk 3 cups peaches, blended ½ pint half and half 1 can Eagle Brand Milk 3 cups sugar

Mix ingredients in large bowl and pour into ice cream freezer.

Freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.

FOOD RATINGS No. 1 Restaurant 1451 Fox Run Pkwy Opelika Score: 100

Guthrie’s 3704 Pepperell Pkwy Opelika Score: 99

Momma Goldberg’s 133 W. Longleaf Dr. Auburn Score: 100

Heart of the South Restaurant 1702 Frederick Road Opelika Score: 98

Butcher Paper BBQ 128 Columbus Pkwy Opelika Score: 99 Live Oaks Restaurant 201 N. College St. Auburn Score: 99

O’Wingz 3810 Pepperell Pkwy Opelika Score: 98 Subway at Flint’s Crossing 1550 Opelika Road Opelika Score: 98

Fresh Fruit Tart 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar; slowly mix in flour until just blended. Pat dough into the bottom of a tart pan or pie pan, which has been sprayed with Pam. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool.

Filling: 2 cups whipping cream ½ cup sugar 1 cup sour cream Whip cream; add sugar. Fold in sour cream. Spread over cooled crust. Chill. Tart can be prepared two days ahead.

Topping: Assorted fresh fruit (I like strawberries, kiwi and blueberries.)

Arrange fresh fruit over filling. Serve as is or brush on glaze.

Fruit Glaze (optional) 1/2 cup sugar 2 Tbsp. cornstarch 3/4 cup orange juice 2 Tbsp. lemon juice Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

Cool.

Brush over fruit.

Crustless Pear Tart 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 6 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. grated lemon zest (2 lemons) 1/4 tsp. kosher salt 2 to 3 firm but ripe Bartlett pears Whipped cream or ice cream Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Butter a large round baking dish and sprinkle the bottom and sides with 1 tablespoon sugar.

Beat eggs and 1⁄3 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. On low speed, mix in the flour, cream, vanilla extract, lemon zest and salt. Set aside for 10 minutes.

Peel, quarter, core, and slice pears.

Arrange slices in a single layer, slightly fanned out, in the baking dish. Pour batter over pears and bake until the top is golden brown and the custard is firm, 35 to 40 minutes.

Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream or ice cream, if desired.

Easy Blueberry Cobbler Pat Randle 2 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour 1 cup sugar (or can use Sucanat) 1 ½ tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt ¼ cup melted butter or salad oil ¾ cup milk 1 egg 2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen Place first seven ingredients in large bowl; blend well. Gently fold in blueberries. Pour into a greased two-quart casserole.

Topping 1 cup sugar 4 Tbsp. butter, softened 2 tsp. cinnamon Mix ingredients together; sprinkle over batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for to 45 minutes.

Good served warm with peach ice cream.

A9 August 22, 2018 Chef Caleb Fischer’s Homemade Peach Pies Caleb shared his recipe for peach pies several years ago. He created the recipe for the Trinity Lutheran Church’s Peach Festival where he would bake 200 pies. Since then, the chef, who enjoys baking, was in the final three on Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship.

A native of Smith Station, the chef de cuisine at Acre will be the executive chef/pit master at the new Bow & Arrow restaurant.

12 oz. all-purpose flour 8 oz. solid fat shortening 4 oz. ice water 1 pinch salt 1 pinch sugar Method of Production 1. Cut the shortening into the flour until the shortening forms small, pea-sized balls.

2. Slowly add water to combine to make a semi-firm dough.

3. Knead the dough for 30-45 seconds.

4. Wrap and let rest in refrigerator for an hour.

5. Once rested, divide the dough into two equal portions and roll out to ¼ inch thickness.

6. Place one pie crust into a pie plate and parbake at 375 until lightly

golden.

7. Set aside to cool.

8. Reserve the other crust for the top.

Peach Pie Filling 1-quart peaches ½ cup sugar 1 tbsp lemon juice 4 tbsp cornstarch Method of Production 1. Peel fresh peaches and slice into large sized pieces (5-6 pieces per peach).

2. Combine fresh peaches with sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan and place over medium heat to slowly bring the peaches up to a simmer. (As the peaches cook, the peach juice will start to accumulate in the pot.)

3. Mix just enough water into the cornstarch to make a thick slurry.

4. Slowly pour the slurry into the peach mixture, whisking constantly.

5. Boil for one minute until thickened.

For Assembly: 1. Fill the par-baked pie shell with warm filling.

2. Cover the pie with the remaining crust.

3. Crimp the edges.

4. Cut three to four small slits in the top crust to allow for venting.

5. Place in a 400-degree oven until thoroughly golden.

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

Blueberry Buckle Deborah Broughton 2 cups flour 2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking powder 1 egg 2 tsp. salt ½ cup milk ¼ cup butter ¾ cup sugar 2 cups blueberries Crumb Topping: 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup flour 1/2 tsp. cinnamon Mix flour, baking powder and salt

together; set aside.

Cream butter and sugar until light. Add egg and beat well.

Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating until smooth.

Fold in blueberries. Pour mixture in a greased 9x9x2-inch pan.

Mix Crumb Topping ingredients, stirring until well mixed and add on top of mixture in pan.

Bake for 35 minutes at 375 degrees in preheated oven.

Pear Preserves Paula Harris 1½ gallons water 2 Tbsp. vinegar 1 Tbsp. salt Pears, peeled Sugar Mix together water,

vinegar and salt. Drop peeled pears into this mixture.

Core and thinly slice 4 cups pears from the water mixture and put into cooking container.

Cover with 2 cups

sugar. Repeat layers.

Use no more than 10 cups of pears for each batch.

Let set about 30 minutes.

Bring to rolling boil; boil over medium heat

20 minutes. Remove from heat. Let set again about 12 hours.

Boil again, third time, 20 minutes. Immediately put in jars and seal.

Fresh Fruit Trifle Squares Vera Ellen Scott 1 (12 oz.) pound cake, cut into 10 slices 3 Tbsp. orange juice 4 cups fresh berries (halved strawberries, whole blueberries,

raspberries, etc.)

2 Tbsp. sugar 2½ cups cold milk 2 small pkgs. French vanilla instant pudding 8 oz. or larger sized Cool Whip Arrange cake slices on bottom of 9x13-

inch dish. Drizzle with orange juice. Top with berries. Sprinkle with sugar.

Make pudding. Pour milk in large bowl, add both pkgs. of pudding mixes, whisk for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup

Cool Whip.

Spread pudding mixture over berries.

Top with remaining Cool Whip (now or before serving). Refrigerate. Cut into squares.

Garnish if desired and serve.

pelika O Observer

A10 August 22, 2018

Community Calendar: Events around town

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 8876659 or at 256-307-1449.

Mondays: • “Gimme A Break” Support Group for parents whose children have autism will be held from 9-11 a.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center, 2027 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika. This is a monthly event on the first Monday of each month for parents to connect with each other.

• The John Powell American Legion Post 18 and Auxiliary meets the third Monday at 7 p.m. at

Hodge,

from A4 couldn’t resist. They did cartwheels when I pulled over. I bought a cup of the worst lemonade I’ve ever had in my life and somehow managed to smile through it and drink the whole thing.

They watched, grinning.

Then I bought two cookies of questionable origin and told them I’d save them for later. As I pulled away, they called out, “Thank you!”

The road took me through Richland where there is a house with a

910 West Point Parkway in Opelika.

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

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

• The Lee County Voters League meets the first Monday of every month at St. James Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1335 Auburn St. in Opelika.

• 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 5:30–6:30 p.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center. No reservations are necessary; everyone is welcome.

For more information call 826-1899 or 5020216.

• T.O.P.S (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), a weight loss support group, meets every Monday night from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Covington Recreation Center, 213

Carver Ave., Opelika.

For more info contact Mary Johnson, 749-1584.

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

• The Commercial Horticulture Extension 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 bugdoc-

white concrete building behind it painted with enormous sunflowers. I smiled out loud as I pictured someone dipping their paintbrush in huge buckets of bright yellow happiness.

Right next door is a house with a magnificent blue tin roof and seven rocking chairs, in the same shade of blue, all lined up in a row. I could almost hear fat raindrops hitting that roof.

Imagine spending the day curled up in one of those blue seats with a good book and a thunderstorm!

As I drove on through the sunshine, the radio interrupted the music to tell us all about the latest disappearance of a college student and how all evidence

tor@auburn.edu.

Tuesdays: • Ballroom Dance Classes at the Opelika Sportsplex from 7-8 p.m. every Tuesday. Instructor is Cody Wayne Foote.

For more info call Diane at 749-6320.

• A monthly educational program on topics for autism parents, caregivers and teachers will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at Trinity United Methodist Church, 800 2nd Ave., Opelika from 6-7:30 p.m.

Childcare is provided, but reservations need to be made by contacting Maria Gutierrez at mariag@leecountyautism. com to make sure there are enough volunteers.

• 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 6:30-6:45 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 6–8 p.m. 8685 AL Highway 51.

• A Grief Support Group meets at Oak Bowery United Methodist Church Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. for anyone dealing with the pain of loss and feeling the need for support on their journey as they attempt to bring order and wholeness back into their life.

Attendance and participation is strictly voluntary for any and all sessions. There are no fees or charges involved. The church is located on U.S. Highway 431 – eight miles north from Southern Union State Community College and Opelika High School. For more information contact Bill Parker at 459-0214 or 706-518-9122.

• The Auburn Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol meets

pointed to one man being responsible for a string of homicides in the Midwest. I turned off the radio.

Where will I end up driving? Will a serial killer ruin my lovely Saturday? The powers that be tell me I’m at my word count limit, so join me here in a couple of weeks and we’ll finish this adventure together.

Wendy Hodge is an Opelika native, an empty nester and lover of all things Opelika. She previously had a column titled A Word or Ten, which was featured in the Tennessee Star Journal and is currently awaiting release of her first novel with Harper Collins Publishing Company.

every Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:30 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 10-11 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 - 8 p.m.

Thursdays: • 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.

• TNT – Teens N Transition is a monthly program for teens and young adults ages 14 and up. The group uses this time to learn social skills as well as connect with others on the autism spectrum. They have enjoyed cooking, bowling, laser tag, movies and game nights. This event is held the third Thursday of each month. Visit leecountyautism.com for more information.

• 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

Sound Wall,

from A7

network television shows and movies, as well as a Billboard Magazine “Top 10 Cover Songs of the Year” award for their cover of the Starship classic, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.” Inspired by poets like Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver and folk music pioneers Bruce Cockburn and Richard Thompson, Adkins blends those influences with his Southern upbring-

ing to create music “steeped in natural imagery (that) frequently touches upon the subjects of faith, doubt ... hope and sorrow.” He was most recently a featured performer in the ASCAP Foundation’s 2017 “Songwriters: The Next Generation” showcase.

Blount has extensive experience as a lead guitarist, most notably with the Alabama-based contemporary Christian act “Rush of Fools” and their breakout 2008 single “Undo,” which received the ASCAP “Song of the Year”

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

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

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

• 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.

• Auburn/Opelika MOPS & MOMS next Summer Play Dates • August 30: Meet us at George’s Farmers Market for a fun day on the farm.

• The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art in Smiths Station is now offering summer studio art classes. The weekly classes are open to all skill levels, and cost of registration covers the cost of art supplies. For more information, call 334-480-2008.

• The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art holds evening and after-school studio art classes yearround. Open to all skill levels, art supplies are included with the cost of registration. Call 334480-2008.

Early enrollment for after-school art classes taught by Michele and Sarah West of the Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art are now open for the 2018-19 school year. The course is available and open to all skill levels, and art supplies are provided. For more information, call 334-480-2008.

• Aug. 23-26 - ACCT’s production of “Silent Sky” at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center in Auburn. Visit www.

AuburnACT.org or cal 334-332-0881 for more information.

Email editor@opelikaobserver.com to place your community events.

award. Blount left the band in 2012, and has pursued a full-time career as a solo act and “producing music for commercial clients across the Southeast.”

This is a bringyour-own-beer event.

Because of limited seating capacity, those interested are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance through eventbrite. com. General admission tickets cost $15.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

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

pelika O Observer

Lee County Horse Judging Team excels at recent state meet

Photos special to the Opelika Observer Pictured top, the State 4-H Horse Judging Team from Lee County, Hannah Grace McHugh, and Faith P’Pool, along with Junior Division Team member Jayden P’Pool, turned in a strong performance at the State 4-H Horse Judging Contest and finished first in the overall high team. Faith placed first in the High Individual Overall and Oral Reasons. Jayden placed second in the High Individual Overall and Oral Reasons. Hannah Grace placed first in the High Individual Overall in Placings.

Grey Parks, an instructor in the Auburn University Department of Animal Sciences, assisted with the 2018 State 4-H Horse Show. Bottom: Local Youth state champion Hannah Grace McHugh, an East Samford 7th grader, recently competed for the first time in the Alabama State 4H Horse Show in Rainsville, Alabama. McHugh and her horse, Graydog, won the Junior Champion Ranch Trail division and Junior Champion Hunt Seat Trail division contests. McHugh also competed in the horse judging competition, scoring first in her placings of two classes of horses. She is a Lee County 4H member and competes on the Lee County Livestock Judging team.

EAMC,

from A1 EAMC’s Valley campus, Lanier Hospital.

Representatives from local law enforcement agencies were present at the event, including Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes, Sheriff Jay Jones and Opelika Police Department Chief John McEachern.

Hughes and Jones shared their thoughts on the program and what

A11 August 22, 2018 value it serves for the community at-large.

“When people ask me about how this stuff is on the street, I tell them that I have yet to prosecute a pharmacy burglary, which tells me that these drugs are getting out there legally,” Hughes said. “It’s certainly not going to put an end to this thing, but I believe it has the ability to put a dent into it.” “(The opioid crisis) is not an issue that we deal with everyday, but it is a problem. There’s no denying that,” Jones

said. “We’re seeing it across the country, and in some areas, it’s become an epidemic. We want to try to prevent that here, and with initiatives like this, we’re working to address it and keep it from becoming too much of a problem.”

Jones added that the Smiths Station Government Center has its own take-back receptacle, which is located at 2336 Lee Road 430.

For more information, visit www.eamc.org.

The Opelika campus is located at 2000 Pepperell Parkway.

Career Discovery 2018 CAREER EXPO

September 13 - 14, 2018

A fun, educational, hands-on experience!

A chance to get an overview of career opportunities available in the area, showcased in 11 career clusters!

Agriculture

Architecture & Construction

Communications & Information Technology

Education & Training

Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation

Manufacturing

Automotive Manufacturing

Healthcare

T

Public Service

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Energy & Utilities

Open to all 8th grade students in Region 5. (public, private, home school, etc. in Autauga, Bullock, Chambers, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Perry, Russell, and Tallapoosa counties.)

Hosted on the Opelika campus of:

Southern Union State Community College

September 13-14, 2018 Thank You to our Platinum Sponsors!

For more information, visit:

www.career-discovery.org

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

Turn to B9 for photos from Opelika’s ”Food Day for United Way”

Trinity Christian School Laughter, tears, love says it celebrates 40-year mark all on the first day of school

By Morgan Bryce Associate Editor For 40 years, Opelika’s Trinity Christian School has sought to provide its students with a classicalstyle, Christ-centered approach to education and learning.

An extension of Trinity Presbyterian Church, the school has seen exponential growth since its founding in 1978.

Following is a brief history and details of the school as it enters its 41st year of operation.

“Teaching all subjects in the light of God’s Word” According to TCS Principal Larry Cornelius, the school was the idea of the church’s charter members, who wanted to provide an educational outlet

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer lot, computer lab, playfor parents who wanted their children to receive a ground, and soccer facility,” according to a post quality education taught on the school’s website. through a Biblical basis The “trivium” and worldview.

Cornelius, the school’s During the next five years, plans came together band teacher and principal since 2014, said that and the school officially the school’s teaching opened its doors in 1978. methods are based off Starting with one the “trivium” method, teacher, four rooms and a three-part curricula a handful of students, the school saw steady growth that is broken down into three parts: grammar, and eventually served logic and rhetoric. Comchildren from kindergarmonly found in medieval ten to the 8th grade. As demand increased, careful universities, the trivium method was used to teach prayer and consideration led the school administra- the “great thinkers and artists of the Renaistion to add a high school, sance, Reformation, and which was established in early American historical 2001. periods.”

From 2005-2007, TCS Adopted by the school “celebrated the dedication in the early 2000s, the of a new eight classroom method has been a very addition and state-of-theeffective learning mechaart science lab, and ... dedicated a new parking See Trinity, page B11

Lee County School Board tackles parent concerns

By Michelle Key Editor During last week's meeting of the Lee County School Board, members of the board heard from concerned parent, Dawn Lockhart, regarding malfunctioning air conditioners at East Smiths Station Elementary School. Lockhart

addressed the board with her concerns that the lack of air conditioning in several classrooms presented a health issue for the children, especially children with breathing disorders such as asthma that can be exacerbated by hot, humid air.

After Lockhart had addressed her concerns,

Marcus Fuller, the assistant superintendent of operations, spoke up explaining that the school had been struck by lightning during a storm the first week of August which had caused damage to approximately 20 of the air conditioning units within the building. Fuller explained that See Lee County, page B11

By Michelle Key Editor The Observer’s 2018 “Back to School Photo Contest” winners were announced on our Facebook page last Friday.

A.J. and Genesis Harvis took home a Niffer’s gift card for their photo which was selected as the “Best Display Photos special to the Opelika Observer

See Photos, page B11

Panthers look to rebound in year one of Mike Glisson era

By Morgan Bryce Associate Editor Seeking to grow and improve daily is the goal of first-year Smiths Station High School Coach Mike Glisson and his Panther football team.

Hired Jan. 23, Glisson said and his mostly new-look staff are looking to revitalize a struggling program that finished 0-10 last season.

“A lot of times when you step into a situation like this, it’s two steps forward and one step back. There’s a lot of things I like: the kids are working hard and they’re hungry, plus they want to win,” Glisson said.

“But you gotta teach them how to win. And in order to do that, you have to a lot of things right, which is our main focus right now.

Following is a unit-by-unit

Glisson breakdown of the Panthers, with information on starts and potential newcomers to watch during the coming season.

Offense Finding the endzone was a struggle for the Panthers last season, managing two offensive touchdowns all year and finishing with 3.7 points-per-game average.

Behind what Glisson calls an “overall good and talented offensive line,” the Panthers’ See Panthers, page B11

pelika O Observer

B2 August 22, 2018

Girl Scouts helps girls find their inner EACB gears for Christmas shows go getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader

Special to the Opelika Observer

By Morgan Bryce Associate Editor

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer Special to the Opelika Observer As parents and caregivers start preparing for the school year, Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama (GSSA) is inviting girls starting kindergarten-12th grade to discover their inner G.I.R.L.: go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, and leader by joining a local Girl Scout Troop.

Girl Scouts gives girls a supportive all-girl, girl-led space to take chances, try new things, and learn to succeed through failure—improving all aspects of their lives.

The Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) found that the variety of activities offered through Girl Scouts—from planning and leading projects to participating in community service, STEM, and outdoor expeditions—allows girls to gain skills and confidence that also help them do well in school.

“It’s not just a girl’s confidence and attitude that improve through Girl Scoutsthey also become better students,” said CEO of GSSA Karlyn Edmonds. “Through Girl Scouts, girls learn

not to avoid difficult tasks and they become stronger challengeseekers who are more likely to feel academically engaged and competent as a result.”

GSRI reports that at least 75 percent of girls who experience the fun of “learning by doing” and are part of a girl-led program become better at conflict resolution, problemsolving, team building and cooperation, and developing self-confidence.

For more information on how to join or volunteer, visit girlscoutssa.org or text GIRL to 33222.

The East Alabama Community Ballet group held auditions Sunday in preparation for their annual performance of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 1416 at the Telfair Peet Theater in Auburn.

Founded in 1995, the group is the area’s only nonprofit, community ballet company and is an umbrella program of the Community Foundation of East Alabama.

According to company member Allie Dyleski, the group invites dancers from local schools or dance studios

to participate and enhance their productions with a goal of “promoting the art of ballet in East Alabama.”

“We are a unique, service-oriented ballet company, and we believe that our mission is best accomplished through partnerships with others in our community. One facet of our mission is integrating arts and education by bringing classical ballet to those who might not otherwise be able to participate in or experience it,” Dyleski said.

To complement local talent, Dyleski said guest artists have been a part of their

Nutcracker performances, including members of the Georgia Ballet Company.

The company’s other main event is annual benefit performance called “Turn Out, Reach Out,” a collective performance staged by members from local dance studios. Proceeds from last year’s event were donated to the Food Bank of East Alabama’s “Backpack Program.”

For more information about the company, visit www. eacballet.com.

Their offices are located at 1103 Glenn St., inside the Southside Center for the Performing Arts.

Opelika

Family & R

B3 August 22, 2018

eligion

Life is worth dying to see P Hunley Group Lambert Transfer & Storage An Interstate Agent for North American Van Lines 1102 Fox Trail Opelika, AL 36803 745-5706

aul will tell the disciples in Rome they are to count themselves “dead to sin but alive to God” (6:11).

He has previously spoken of baptism as being the place where they “died to sin” (v. 2) and were “baptized into His death” (v. 3)—that is, the death of Jesus. How so? Jesus’ death (and subsequent resurrection) resulted in a new life for Him—one that was different from His earthly life where He came to be a sacrifice for sin.

In His new life, that connection with sin is severed (v. 10; Hebrews 9:28). In the same way, as Jesus’ disciples we have severed our connection with sin. It’s not that we don’t ever sin because we do, but we have severed our commitment to willingly follow after it.

The death that we died to sin was a onetime act that is pictured in our baptism. Yet, we must renew this com-

destructive mitment on desires. Paul a regular will speak basis. In of this as that regard, “being led by it’s not unthe Spirit of like marGod” (v. 14). riage. We

By Bruce Green This is a go through Teaching Minister at glorious and a wedding 10th Street Church of powerful ceremony Christ in Opelika truth that can and exbe developed change in a number of direcvows once. Yet in healthy marriages those tions. What I’m interested in is the last three vows are renewed on words of v. 13 –“you a regular basis in our will live.” The promise minds and hearts. In is that as we, via the the same way, we are Spirit’s agency, put to continually regard ourselves as “dead to sin to death the misdeeds of the flesh, we find but alive to God.” life. That’s true in the In chapter 8 Paul ultimate sense of finding builds on this dislife when our earthly cussion. He tells the existence is over, but disciples “For if you Paul’s point has to do live according to the with the more immediflesh, you will die; but ate sense. As we die to if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of sin we open ourselves up to experiencing life the body, you will live” in a richer, more pro(v. 13). Here we learn found way than we have we have divine aid in previously known. our efforts to live for There is so much in God. It is through the life that is beautiful: Spirit we are to put to a child’s innocence, death the flesh and its

Church calendar

• Trinity United Methodist Church will host their next membership class on Aug. 26 at 5 p.m.

•First Baptist Church of Opelika will host “DivorceCare” each Wednesday this fall. The weekly seminar/support group will focus on helping members heal from the hurt in a warm, caring environment. The first session will be held Aug. 22 from 6-7:30 p.m. in Room AE-203 (two-story red brick building across) from the sanctuary. Workbooks are $15.

For more information, call 334745-5715. FBCO is located at 301 S. 8th St. • The popular contemporary Christian group Big Daddy Weave will perform at First Baptist Church of Opelika Sept. 14 as a part of their “Jesus, I Believe”

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

tour. Brandon Heath will serve as the show opener. Visit ticketfly. com for tickets or call 334-7455715.

• Pepperell Baptist is offering a Wednesday evening ministry program from 5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for preschool and elementary Children called “Wow-Worship cn Wednesday.” The evening program of music, Bible messages for children, crafts, fun activities, and snack begins on Sept. 5. Registration forms are filled out on the first evening. Contact Ryno Jones Childrens, Youth Minister, or Beth Pinyerd at 334-745-3108.

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

a golden sunset, the commitment of a husband and wife to each other, the willingness of people to help others— the list is as long as our ability to see. Years ago (well, decades actually), Ray Stevens recorded a song with the title “Everything is Beautiful.”

The song begins with children singing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” and then a steady piano chord leads into these words: “Everything is beautiful in its own way.

Like a starry summer night or snow covered winter day.

And everybody’s beautiful in their own way.

Under God’s heaven the world’s gonna find the way.”

Sentimental smatterings? Perhaps. But what if life really is a battle to see what is beautiful?

After all, every day we’re bombarded with ugly, painful, unpleasant realities that come as

the result of living in a fallen world distorted by rebellion and sin. Nonetheless, God has not left us without beauty if we have the eyes (and heart) to see it. And what Paul is telling us is that a critical element for experiencing life in all of its beauty is counting ourselves “dead to sin but alive to God.” This is the essence of the life principle we find announced in the gospels by Jesus where we learn that in order to live we must die (Matthew 16:24ff). We must die to pursuing the fake, phony and gratuitous so we can live for what is true, right and good. If we are up to it, and willing to say no to these things, there is a world of beauty God has that is just waiting for us.

It's worth dying to see.

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

Verse of the Week “For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it,”

2 Corinthians 12:10

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

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

Fresh Foods...And A Whole Lot More!

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

The Jeffcoat Trant Funeral Home Gospel Train Sunday mornings from 6-10 a.m.

pelika Observer O

B4 August 22, 2018

Four Corner Ministries ‘Every Tribe Banquet’ to be held tomorrow

By Michelle Key Editor

the good news of salvation through Jesus.

We believe we can reach the unreached tribes of Northern Uganda and South Sudan by sending missionaries, training pastors and working with local churches to plant churches," Carpenter said. "We care for widows and orphans through our Women’s Refuge Center, Child Development Program, Life Beads Ministry, Living Stones Christian School, Refugee

Four Corners Ministries' 8th annual “Every Tribe Banquet” will be held tomorrow night at the Bottling Plant Event Center in downtown Opelika.

This event is the largest fundraising effort every year, according to FCM's Board Chairman Yancey Carpenter.

"Four Corners Ministries exists to reach hard-to-reach people groups with

Camp Outreach and Living Stones Church at Abaana’s Hope in Northern Uganda."

About Four Corners Ministry The organization began in 2003 in Wadley, Alabama by Jimmy Sprayberry, Pastor of Mountain Springs Baptist Church and Paul Wilson, Pastor of Wadley Baptist Church and foster parent for WinShape Homes.

They had a mission to equip and empower believers to show

and tell the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hardto-reach people. To accomplish this Four Corners works in four ways: go, show, tell and teach.

Go: One can assist FCM as a full-time missionary or can join one of the many short-term teams that provide support to the mission work across the world.

Show: FCM strives to show the love of God to people in need throughout the world in order to cre

sate opportunities for both the full-time and short-term missionaries to share the Gospel of Christ.

Tell: Their work is centered around the telling of the story of Jesus Teach: FCM asserts that the bible directs believers to teach one another. Part of their mission is to teach children about God and His creation. Living Stones Christian School is a part of this work.

The organization

moved their offices to Opelika in 2010.

Speakers for this year's event include Kris Mobbs, FCM President, Missionary Jamie Payton and First Baptist Church Opelika Children’s Minister Taylor Teel.

The event begins at 6 p.m. and tickets are still available. Contact Sarah@fourcorners. org for more information.

Four Corners Ministries offices are located at 202 S. 8th.

Street in Opelika.

OBITUARIES David Lee Smith

Betty Ann Jones Mrs. Betty Ann Jones, 77, of Opelika, passed away Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at Oak Park Nursing Home. Memorial services for Mrs. Jones were held Saturday, August 18, 2018 at Pepperell Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m.. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Reverend Mike Newman officiated.

John Alexander Whatley On July 8, 2018, Mamsie was sitting on the newly constructed porch with her six-yearold granddaughter Kate.

Papa had built the porch two years prior. Kate, with her wide eyes and new six-year-old front teeth, asked, “Mamsie, when is Papa going to get better?” Mamsie thought for a moment and replied, “I don’t know if Papa will get better.”

Kate then said, “If Papa doesn’t get better, he gets to go live with God, and that is better.” On August 18, 2018, Alex Whatley went to live with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and he is better.

John Alexander Whatley was born on May 1, 1953, to Walter Alexander and Annie Bess McKenzie Whatley. He grew up in Opelika, attending the Opelika City Judy Diane Bentley Judy Diane Bentley of Opelika, AL born June 11th 1951 found peace surrounded by her loved ones, August 19th 2018 at 67 years of age.

She is preceded in death by her father, Wallace Garrett, mother, Pauline Garrett, husband, Willard Lee (Charles) Bentley, her two sons James W. Bentley and Jack D. Sellers.

She is survived by her daughter, Tonya (Michael Varney) Lacy; daughter-inlaw, April Bentley; brother, Terry (Linda) Garrett; sister, Polly (William) Spraggins; nine grandchildren,

Funeral services for David Lee Smith, of Opelika, were held at 11:00am Friday, August 17, 2018 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home, burial followed at Garden Hills Cemetery.

Reverend Steve Pettis and Reverend Ben Hewitt will be officiating.

Visitation was held Thursday, August 16, 2018 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home beginning at 5:00pm

Schools and graduated from Auburn University in 1976 with a degree in Building Science.

On Valentine’s Day 1976, he met Debra Stone of Pine Apple, Alabama, on a blind date, and they were married in 1978. In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Libby (Mike) Burch, Edward (Elizabeth) Whatley, Mary Kathryn Whatley, and Walter Whatley. He is also survived by his granddaughters, Kate, Anne Stephens, and Margaret Whatley, all of whom he adored; his sister, Mary Ann (Cliff) Davenport, and his mother-in-law, Marileta Stone.

Alex enjoyed a wonderful life. He bought a Hobie catamaran sailboat when he was eighteen years old, taught himself to sail at Lake Martin, and enjoyed sailing in

nine great grandchildren and numerous family and friends.

She will be forever remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend.

Funeral services for Mrs. Bentley will be held Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at JeffcoatTrant Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 p.m.

A visitation was held the evening prior on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Interment followed the service at Garden Hills Cemetery.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.

until 7:00pm. Mr. Smith passed away Monday, August 13, 2018 at East Alabama Medical Center, he was born November 3, 1960.

David Smith was a member of First Assembly of God Church in Opelika.

He was a Gideon, a loyal friend, and a lay minister who touched many people’s lives.

He was an avid outdoorsman, who loved to fish, hunt, and camp.

He enjoyed life’s simple pleasures like sitting on the deck listening to the crickets or spending time with his beloved pets and family.

David was an assistant vice-president at Auburn University Federal Credit Union, and had been employed there for twentyseven years.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife Jennie H. Smith of Opelika; mother-in-law, Robbie Spicer of Opelika; nephew, Matthew Trumbull

and Mary Nelson (fiancée) both of Auburn; brotherin-law, Rodney Trumbull of Opelika; brother-in-law, Cecil Hart of Auburn; nephew, Levi Hart of Auburn; sister-in-law, Cheri Hart of Auburn; unofficial “adopted” daughter, Kari McIntosh of Opelika; along with many friends including some very special hunting and fishing buddies.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.

the Gulf of Mexico until recently.

He enjoyed tailgating at Auburn games, cooking whole pigs pitstyle and taking them to campus for the Arkansas game, cooking a low country boil for LSU, and cooking hot dogs for the Georgia game.

If Winn-Dixie on Fox Run Parkway had sold elephant meat, he would have enjoyed cooking it too!

Alex loved his family with a passion. Not only did he love Debra and the children, he also loved his extended family and enjoyed seeing them on many occasions, including weddings, holidays, and the Whatley reunion.

His favorite family event was the Whatley Christmas Eve celebration in Beauregard, which he never missed during his sixty-five years.

He also took delight in shooting fireworks for friends and family and entertaining them by a fire made with logs that he cut and split and kindlin that he gathered and split with a hatchet.

In July 1982, Alex and Debra started Whatley Construction Company in their dining room with a 1978 Ford F-150 that cost $4,500.

He drove an F-150 until he died. He loved constructing buildings and working with the owners, architects, subcontractors, and employees on his projects.

He started the company with two employees.

Many of his employees worked with Whatley Construction for twenty plus years. An architect described him as having a “common sense and hard work approach to every project.”

Alex was a member of

Trinity United Methodist Church his whole life. He and Debra were instrumental in starting the Believers Sunday School class in 1979.

He was treasurer of the class for thirty-nine years.

One of his favorite things to do was host the Believers’ Christmas party and greet everyone in his red plaid pants.

Alex served on many committees at Trinity throughout the years.

While Alex squeezed a nickel until the buffalo squealed, he was generous with people who were less fortunate than he.

Not only would he be embarrassed by all these accolades, he would also fuss about how much it cost to publish this obituary.

In memorium, please direct gifts to the Gladys Whatley Blanton Nurs-

ing Scholarship at East Alabama Medical Center.

Alex was president of the Whatley Reunion when this scholarship was established.

“Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes shall see and not another.” –Job 19:26-27 Visitation was held in the parlor of FrederickDean Funeral Home on Monday, August 20, 2018 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. CST. Funeral services were held in the sanctuary of Trinity United Methodist Church on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 10 a.m. CST. Reverend Earl Ballard officiated. Interment followed at Garden Hills Cemetery.

Frederick-Dean funeral home directed.

Faye Sheppard

will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was an avid golfer, loved to travel and camp, and enjoyed visiting shut-ins at the area nursing homes.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Ralph S. Sheppard; and brothers, James Riddle and Roy Riddle.

She is survived by her daughters, Julia Thomas (Randall), Sherrie Bankston (Robert), and Phyllis Mullis (Willie);

grandchildren, Amanda Long (Phillip), Brandon Thomas, Dustin Martin, Hayley Walters (Scott) and Kaitlyn Mullis; great grandchildren, Clayton Thomas, Jesse Bayer, Jacob and Kale Long, and Weston Walters; sister, Dorothy Reynolds of Macon, GA; brother, Robert Riddle; and a special niece and caregiver, Wanda Dodge.

Visitation was held in the Parlor at Frederick-

Dean Funeral Home on Monday, August 20, 2018 from 1:00 p.m.

CST until the funeral hour at 2:00 p.m. Reverend Russell DeLee officiated. Interment followed at Garden Hills Cemetery. The family would like to thank Kim Norrell, R.N. and the rest of the staff of Hospice Compassus for their loving care.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.

death by the mother of his children, Carolyn Purser; brother, Clarence L. Purser, Jr.; sisters, Delores Phillips, Mary Smith; daughter-in-law, Lynn Guthrie Purser.

He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Purser (Frank); sons, Mike Purser, Mark Purser, and

David Syphurs; grandchildren, Meagan Selby (Jonathan), Michael Purser; sister, Carolyn Hyde; constant companion, Janeta Cornett; Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in the Parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home from 11:00 a.m.

until 12:45 p.m.

Funeral service will be held in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. with Dr. Shirley Dempsey, Chaplain officiating. Interment will follow at Garden Hills Cemetery.

Faye Sheppard of Opelika, Alabama was born to the late William and Ethel Riddle on July 19, 1936 and passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on August 17, 2018. She was 82 years old.

She was a member of Central Baptist Church of Opelika. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend who D.A. “Cotton” Purser D.A. "Cotton" Purser of Opelika was born on June 21, 1938 to the late Clarence L. and Nellie Ruth Purser and passed away on August 18, 2018. He was 80 years old.

He was preceded in

pelika O Observer SYNOPSIS OF ZONING NOTICE The City Council of the City of Opelika will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 204 S. 7 th Street, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map of the City of Opelika by rezoning or redistricting the parcel of land hereinafter described so as to change such parcel from one class of district to another class of district, as follows: From a R-3 District (LowDensity Residential District) to a Planned Unit Development (“PUD”) entitled “Hidden Lakes Subdivision South PUD”, the parcel of land hereinafter described: A tract or parcel of land containing 205.84 acres located partly in Section 4, Township 19 North, Range 27 East and partly in Section 33, Township 20 North, Range 27 East, Lee County, Alabama, and being more particularly described as follows: Commence at the southwest corner of said Section 33; thence N87°53’57”E 294.89 feet to the point of beginning; thence N88°22’05”E 1919.36 feet; thence N22°53’11”E 989.57 feet; thence N00°54’33”W 395.00 feet to the south right-ofway limit of Sportsplex Road; thence along said right-of-way limit N89°09’39”E 377.01 feet; thence continue along said rightof-way limit S00°50’21”E 25.00 feet; thence continue along said right-of-way limit N89°09’39”E 250.00 feet; thence continue along said right-of-way limit N00°50’21”W 25.00 feet; thence continue along said right-of-way limit N89°09’39”E 244.65 feet; thence southeasterly along said right-of- way limit along a curve to the right having a radius of 4940.00 feet, an arc length of 568.50 feet, and a chord bearing and distance of S87°32’32”E 568.19 feet; thence continue along said right-of-way limit S05°45’17”W 25.00 feet; thence southeasterly along said right-of-way limit along a curve to the right having a radius of 4915.00 feet, an arc length of 80.00 feet, and a chord bearing and distance of S83°46’45”E 80.00 feet; thence continue along said right-of-way limit N06°41’14”E 25.00 feet; thence southeasterly along said rightof-way limit along a curve to the right having a radius of 4940.00 feet, an arc length of 293.24 feet, and a chord bearing and distance of S81°36’44”E 293.20 feet; thence continue along said right-of-way limit S79°54’42”E 567.98 feet; thence southeasterly along said right-of-way limit along a curve to the right having a radius of 1940.00 feet, an arc length of 300.56 feet, and a chord bearing and distance of S75°28’24”E 300.25 feet; thence leaving said Sportsplex Road right-ofway S01°08’10”E 695.49 feet; thence S29°02’36”W 363.82 feet; thence S20°07’40”E 300.26 feet to the north right-ofway limit of West Point Parkway; thence along said right-ofway limit S55°28’34”W 103.42 feet; thence continue along said right-of-way limit S34°59’51”E 9.76 feet; thence continue along said right-of-way limit S55°02’47”W 360.33 feet; thence southwesterly along said right-of-way limit along a curve to the right having a radius of 3234.00 feet, an arc length of 582.51 feet, and a chord bearing and distance of S61°32’22”W 581.72 feet; thence continue along said right-of-way limit S66°39’57”W 1815.47 feet;

thence leaving said right-of-way limit N00°15’13”W 215.42 feet; thence S69°16’30”W 81.27 feet; thence S71°03’53”W 80.20 feet; thence S72°13’04”W 62.82 feet; thence S73°51’57”W 78.95 feet; thence S75°17’41”W 78.35 feet; thence S00°32’02”W 15.51 feet; thence S77°27’08”W 81.62 feet; thence S78°49’18”W 81.23 feet; thence S80°48’37”W 81.31 feet; thence S81°21’42”W 80.11 feet; thence S83°30’09”W 80.40 feet; thence S85°09’22”W 88.21 feet; thence S86°28’53”W 60.34 feet; thence S88°23’10”W 87.88 feet; thence N01°57’55”W 59.99 feet; thence S88°08’27”W 199.70 feet; thence N01°42’37”W 399.93 feet; thence S88°11’51”W 316.33 feet; thence S87°55’54”W 343.45 feet; thence S01°38’20”E 659.51 feet to the north right- of-way limit of West Point Parkway; thence along said right-of-way limit S88°03’50”W 78.02 feet; thence N76°02’11”W 235.15 feet; thence N66°03’10”W 88.33 feet; thence N01°16’21”W 1517.23 feet to the point of beginning.

The above-described property is located on the south side of Sportsplex Drive and north of West Point Parkway.

The property described above will be developed as a unified mixed residential and commercial development consisting of 351 single-family lots, 42 townhouse lots/units, a commercial support component and a chapel/event center.

Public Notice of this public hearing with insertion of the proposed ordinance was first published on August 15, 2018 in the Opelika Observer. This notice is given pursuant to Section 11-52-78 Code of Alabama (1975).

THIS NOTICE is given under my hand this the 22 nd day of August, 2018. /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA LEGAL RUN 8/22/2018

ORDINANCE NO. 014-18 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING DIVISION 2, DOOR-TODOOR SOLICITATION, OF ARTICLE IX OF CHAPTER 14 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING SECTIONS 14-167 AND 14-182 AND ADDING NEW SECTION 14-183 BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council (the “City Council”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) as follows: Section 1. Amendment to section 14-167. That Section 14167 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Opelika, Alabama, shall be amended to read as follows: Sec. 14-167 Application for Certificate (a) The City shall provide a standard form for use for registration of solicitors. The applicant for the certificate shall state upon his/her oath or affirmation that the information is truthfully provided to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.

The applicant shall supply upon the form the following information: (1) Applicant’s true, correct, and legal name, including the name of any organization or business for which applicant will be soliciting.

(2) If the soliciting is to be done for a business, the taxpayer control number showing proof of the purchase of a valid City of Opelika business license.

(3) Address of applicant’s home and applicant’s headquarters or place of corporate contact.

(4) The purpose for which

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soliciting will be done.

(5) A brief description of the method of presentation that will be made.

(6) The dates for which soliciting is planned.

(7) Whether a permit, license, or certificate of registration in connection with soliciting has ever been revoked, explaining the circumstances.

(8) Names and addresses of applicant’s officers and managers, if any. (b) When applying for a certificate of registration, the applicant shall, at the applicant’s expense, obtain a comprehensive criminal background check from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

The report shall include a list of all misdemeanors or felonies for which the applicant has been convicted, the names and locations of the courts in which, and the date on which, such convictions were issued and the penalties. (c) Before a certificate of registration is issued, the applicant shall pay to the City the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) as a permit fee and the sum of fifty cents ($0.50) for each facsimile copy of the certificate that is desired. (d) Any material omission, untrue or misleading information contained in or left out of an application for a certificate of registration under this division shall be cause for denial thereof and if a certificate has been issued under these circumstances, such shall be cause for the revocation of the certificate.

Section 2. Amendment to section 14-182. That Section 14-182 of Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Opelika, Alabama, shall be amended to read as follows: Sec. 14-182 Disqualifying Factors The following shall be considered factors which disqualify an applicant from obtaining a solicitor’s certificate of registration: (a) A person has been criminally convicted of (which includes any disposition of a criminal case resulting in the imposition of a fine, probation, incarceration, or other adverse sentence of a punitive nature, whether or not the person has been formally adjudicated guilty, unless the conviction has been set aside on appeal or pursuant to a writ of habeas corpus) or have criminal charges currently pending against them for: homicide or manslaughter of any type, class, or degree; physically abusing, sexually abusing, or exploiting a minor; the sale or distribution of controlled substances; sexual assault of any type, class, or degree; or theft, robbery, burglary, or assault of any type, class, or degree. (b) A person has been criminally convicted of (which includes any disposition of a criminal case resulting in the imposition of a fine, probation, incarceration, or other adverse sentence of a punitive nature, whether or not formally adjudicated guilty, unless the conviction has been set aside on appeal or pursuant to a writ of habeas corpus) for a felony in the last ten years. (c) A person has been confined or imprisoned in a federal or state prison within the last ten (10) years. (d) A person is currently on parole or probation to any court, penal institution, or governmental entity, which include being under house arrest or subject to a tracking device; (e) A person has an outstanding warrant from any jurisdiction; or (f) A person is currently subject to a protective order, based on physical or sexual abuse, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction Section 3. Addition of Section 14-183. That Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances of the

City of Opelika, Alabama, is hereby amended by adding a section to be numbered 14-183, which said section shall read as follows: Sec. 14-183. Penalties.

Any person who violates any provision of this division shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months, or by both fine and [imprisonment.

Section 4. Remaining sections of Chapter 14 to remain in full force and effect. The remaining sections of Chapter 14 shall remain in full force and effect, notwithstanding the foregoing amendments.

Section 5. Repealer Clause.

All former ordinances or parts thereof conflicting or inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are repealed.

Section 6. Severability. If any section, clause, provision or portion of this Ordinance shall be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any Court of any competent jurisdiction, said holding shall not affect any other section, clause, provision or portion of this Ordinance which is not in or of itself invalid or unconstitutional.

Section 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its adoption and publication as required by law.

Section 8. Publication. The City Clerk of the City of Opelika is hereby authorized and directed to cause a copy of this Ordinance to be published one (1) time in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Opelika, Alabama.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED this the 21st day of August, 2018. /s/ Eddie Smith PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA ATTEST: /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK TRANSMITTED TO MAYOR this the 22nd day of August, 2018. /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK ACTION BY MAYOR APPROVED this the 22nd day of August, 2018. /s/ Gary Fuller MAYOR ATTEST: /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK Legal Run 8/22/2018

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA FAMILY COURT DIVISION: DOMESTIC RELATIONS CASE NO. DR 2018-900249 IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF: WHA MING WANG, Plaintiff, VS. GIA WANG, Defendant.

NOTICE OF ACTION Notice is hereby given that Gia Wang, whose whereabouts are unknown, must answer the Complaint for Divorce of Wha Ming Wang within thirty (30) days of the date of the last publication of this notice, or, thereafter, a judgment by default may be rendered against her in Case No. DR-18-900249, Circuit Court of LEE County.

Legal Run 8/15, 8/22, 8/29 & 9/5/2018

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF SAM ENLOE SCHUESSLER, 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 13th day of August, 2018, 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

B5 August 22, 2018

present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

STACY MARET SCHUESSLER Personal Representative Adam Leavitt Sanders Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 8/15, 8/22 & 8/29/2018

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH P. BOYD, 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 10 th day of August, 2018, 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.

TIMOTHY A. BOYD Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 8/15, 8/22 & 8/29/2018

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF RAYMOND ROBINSON, SR., Deceased PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY CASE NO.: 2018-B-068 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of the Estate of RAYMOND ROBINSON, SR., deceased having been granted to Raymond Robinson, Jr., on the 2nd day of August, 2018, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Raymond Robinson, Jr., Legal Run 8/8/18, 8/15/18 & 8/22/18

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO.: 2018-B-103 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF VIRGIL SANDERS, DECEASED/ NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of the Estate of VIRGIL SANDERS, deceased having been granted to BETTY JOYNER on the 31st day of July, 2018, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

BETTY JOYNER Legal Run 8/8/18, 8/15/18 & 8/22/18

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF SUSAN S. HOPSON, 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 1st day of August, 2018, 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.

CLIFTON HOPSON, JR. Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 8/8/18, 8/15/18, & 8/22/18

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE WHEREAS, default has been made in the terms of the mortgage executed on the 1st day of March, 2014, by Leigh Jones, as Mortgagor in favor of Hardwood, LLC, as Mortgagee, as recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, in Mortgage Book No. 2387, at Page No. 186, and said default continuing, the mortgagee, under power of sale contained in said mortgage will sell at auction for cash to the highest bidder on the steps of the Lee County Courthouse in Opelika, Alabama, on the Friday, the 7th day of September, 2018, during the legal hours of sale, the following described real estate embraced in said mortgage, situated in Lee County, Alabama, to-wit: Lot 46, Beauregard Estates, Phase II, as shown on the recorded Plat 23-112, located in Section 6, Township 17 North, Range 27 East. More commonly known as 107 Lee Road 2101, Opelika, AL 36804.

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

Notice to: Leigh Jones 107 Lee Road 2101, Opelika, AL 36804 Mortgagee reserves the right to bid on the subject property. Said mortgage is a first mortgage and is not junior to another mortgage of record. Said sale is also subject to unpaid taxes or assessments whether of record or not.

Hardwood, LLC Mortgagee P.O. Box 2262 Opelika, AL 36803 Legal Notice Run 8/8, 8/15 & 8/22/2018

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA. ESTATE NO. 20180B137 IN RE: ESTATE OF IVIE LEE MESSER, DECEASED PETITION TO PROBATE WILL NOTICE Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of IVIE LEE MESSER, deceased, having been granted to the RICHARD E. MESSER, on the 30th day of July, 2018, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. s/Raymond L. Jackson, Jr./ Raymond L. Jackson, Jr. Attorney for RICHARD E. MESSER Executor of the Estate of IVIE LEE MESSER Legal Run 08/08/18, 08/15/18 & 08/22/2018

See Legals, B6

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pelika O Observer

B6 August 22, 2018

Legals

from B5 NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE SALE To be held on Monday, September 10, 2018, at 10 a.m. at Best 4 Less at 2509 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801.

1NXBR12E52Z616149 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA 1G3WH52MXVF349901 1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 2FABP74F8JX177268 1988 FORD CROWN VIC LEGAL RUN 8/15 & 8/22

NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE SALE To be held on TUESDAY, September 11, 2018, at 10 a.m. at Best 4 Less at 2509 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801.

JT2BF22K4Y0255238 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY LEGAL RUN 8/15 & 8/22

NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE SALE To be held on WEDNESDAY, September 12, 2018, at 10 a.m. at Best 4 Less at 2509 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801.

1FTNX21L11EB69356 2001 FORD F250 LEGAL RUN 8/15 & 8/22

NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE SALE To be held on WEDNESDAY, September 19, 2018, at 10 a.m. at Best 4 Less at 2509 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801.

1G4HD57278U142132 - 2008 BUICK LUCERNE 1N4AB41D7WC730430 - 1998 NISSAN SENTRA LEGAL RUN 8/22 & 8/29

ORDINANCE NO. 015-18 ORDINANCE ADJUSTING AND ESTABLISHING THE COMPENSATION

OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS (EFFECTIVE ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF NOVEMBER 2020) BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council (the “City Council”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) as follows: Section 1. FINDINGS. The City Council has ascertained and does hereby find, determine and declare as follows: (a) The laws of the State of Alabama authorize the City Council to fix the compensation of the Mayor and each Council member prior to the commencement of the term to which the Mayor and Council members have been elected. (b) The salaries of the Mayor and City Council members must be fixed by the Council not less than six months prior to each general municipal election. (c) The salaries and compensation of the Mayor and Council members may not be increased nor decreased during the term for which they have been elected. (d) The salaries of the Mayor and City Council members were last adjusted on February 19, 2008. (e) The compensation for the Mayor and Council members should be fair and adequate with respect to the scope and complexity of their responsibilities. (f) The Mayor’s salary should be on par with the salaries of City employees or elected officials in other jurisdictions with comparable workload, responsibilities and obligations. (g) The compensation of the Mayor and Council members should be appropriately compatible by local living standards so that qualified citizens are not deterred from running for offices because of economic considerations. (h) Currently the salaries of the elected officials in Opelika are:.

• Mayor -- $72,000 • President of the City Council -- $13,200 • Council Member -- $12,000 (i) The responsibilities of the Mayor have increased and are not on par with the salaries of City employees or officials in other jurisdictions with compa-

rable workload, responsibilities and obligations. (j) The office of Mayor is undercompensated and a substantial salary increase is needed to create a competitive and equitable compensation package. (k) The City Council desires to adjust the compensation of the Mayor and City Council members before the next general municipal election in 2020.

Section 2. COMPENSATION OF MAYOR. (a) The salary of the Mayor of the City of Opelika shall be and the same is hereby fixed at the sum of $120,000 annually to be paid in twenty-six (26) biweekly installments in the same manner as compensation is paid to all full-time employees of the City. (b) The Mayor shall be entitled to any benefits normally accruing to any full-time employee of the City, except for participation in the State of Alabama Employee’s Retirement System. (c) The Mayor shall be entitled to the use of an automobile at City expense.

Section 3. COMPENSATION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS. (a) The salary of each City Council member, other than the President of the City Council, shall be and the same is hereby fixed at the sum of $13,200 annually to be paid in twentysix (26) bi-weekly installments in the same manner as compensation is paid to all full-time employees of the City. (b) The salary of the President of the City Council shall be and the same is hereby fixed at the sum of $14,400 annually to be paid in twenty-six (26) biweekly installments in the same manner as compensation is paid to all full-time employees of the City. (c) Each City Council member shall be allowed to participate in all group health insurance plans provided by the City to its employees provided each participating Council member pays all of the costs associated with his or her participation in said group insurance policies. A City Council member may select either single coverage for himself or herself or family coverage to include his or her eli-

gible dependents. Coverages and benefits for each participating Council member shall be subject to the provisions and requirements of each plan as stated in the specific policy providing such coverage and benefits. The participating Council member shall pay all premiums for his or her medical, hospitalization, dental and vision coverages and shall pay all costs associated with his or her said participation in said group insurance policies.

Premium payments shall be made to the City on or before the first day of each month, payable one (1) month’s premium in advance. The City shall not pay the premiums for the participating Council member. The participating Council member shall be responsible for the cost associated with single or family coverage.

Section 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall become effective on the first Monday of November, 2020, and shall continue in full force and effect until repealed by action of the City Council.

Section 5. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. The provisions of this Ordinance are declared severable. If any portion of this Ordinance shall be held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such ruling shall not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance.

Section 6. PUBLICATION. The City Clerk is hereby authorized, directed and empowered to cause this Ordinance to be published one (1) time in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Opelika, Alabama.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED this the 21 st day of August, 2018. /s/ Eddie Smith PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA ATTEST: /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK TRANSMITTED TO MAYOR on this the 22 nd day of August, 2018. /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK ACTION BY MAYOR APPROVED this the 22 nd day

of August, 2018. /s/ Gary Fuller MAYOR ATTEST: /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK LEGAL RUN 8/22/2018

STATE OF ALABAMA CASE NO: 2018-B-174 LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT ESTATE OF JOYCE P. MARTIN, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said Joyce P. Martin, deceased, having been granted to Joy Martin Samford, this 16 th day of August 2018, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred.

Joy Martin Samford, Personal Representative Jeffery A. Hilyer 334-745-2564 Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, Alabama 36803-0030.

Legal Run 8/22/18, 8/29/18 & 9/5/18

NOTICE OF COURT PROCEEDING IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO. 2018-B-178 IN THE ESTATE OF LADARREN KEITH OLIVER, DECEASED Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office by Dashona Moore Oliver on August 17, 2018, pursuant to Section 43-2-690, Code of Alabama and that 30 days after the notice of publication hereof and pursuant to law the Court shall be requested to enter an Order directing Summary Distribution of the estate of said decedent.

BILL ENGLISH, PROBATE JUDGE Legal Run 8/22/2018

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF PEGGY J. TAYLOR, An Incapacitated person Case no. 15-B-166 NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that Marol Hornsby, Conservator of Peggy J. Taylor, an incapacitated person has filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama her accounts, vouchers and statements for a Final Settlement of the Conservatorship of Peggy J. Taylor.

A hearing has been set for the 17th day of September, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., Central Time, in the Court Room of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama.

Done this the 16th day of August 2018.

Bill English Judge of Probate Lee County, Alabama Legal Run 8/22, 8/29 & 9/5 IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF PEGGY J. TAYLOR, An Incapacitated person Case no. 15-B-166 NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that Marol Hornsby, Conservator of Peggy J. Taylor, an incapacitated person has filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama her accounts, vouchers and statements for a Final Settlement of the Conservatorship of Peggy J. Taylor.

A hearing has been set for the 17th day of September, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., Central Time, in the Court Room of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama.

Done this the 16th day of August 2018.

Bill English Judge of Probate Lee County, Alabama Legal Run 8/22, 8/29 & 9/5

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Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Opelika’s Mallory Hagan: ‘Our children are still vulnerable’ Special to the Opelika Observer

Inside the Statehouse

R

By Steve Flowers

ecently, I wrote about Alfa’s influence in Alabama politics. In my Aug. 8 column, I said the Alabama Farmers Federation still controls the Legislature.

They use to play in the Governor’s Race. However, they got burned badly by Bob Riley when they helped him get elected and the first thing he did was stab them in the back. However, they have slipped around this year and will not only own the Legislature, they will probably have a good friend in the Governor’s office.

The day before the Primary, Kay Ivey was put on Jimmy Ranes’ jet to fly around the state.

Boarding with her was Beth Chapman, Alfa’s political consultant. The next night when she came off the platform after giving her appreciation speech, guess who was helping her off the stage and holding her arm so that she would not fall?

Jimmy Parnell, the Farmer’s Federation President.

Well, I get a note from Debbee Hancock, an Ivey campaign spokesperson, yes, that is right, it is spelled Debbee. She informed me that Beth Chapman was not actually on-board Jimmy Ranes’ plane that day when they flew Kay around the state. I politely told her that in watching the television footage, it looked to me like Beth was in a finite group of people walking beside Kay to the plane.

Even Brent Buchanan, the Governor’s campaign manager, concurred with my assessment.

He told me, “I was there with Beth and saw it on TV after. I totally see how you could have thought she was headed to the plane when the Governor exited that way.”

I told young Debbee that I would clarify that Beth did not actually board the plane, it just looked like she did.

However, I told them that they should not be so sensitive about or ashamed of the Farmers’ friendship. Also told them that they should have given them a place on the plane.

Most people assume that the Farmers’ would be for the Republican nominee for governor.

However, Debbee did not dispute the second part of my August 8 comments where I said that Jimmy Parnell, like the gentleman that he is, was helping Kay off the stage the next night. I advised both Deb-

bee and Brent that they really should not allow her to go out alone and be expected to maneuver stage steps.

Recently, one of Kay’s people called me and told me I said Kay was senile. I told them that was a blasphemous lie. I said, “She just looked senile.”

I appear on numerous radio talk shows and television stations around the state. I am getting up in age and sometimes I do not remember everything I say. I obviously have become quite uninhibited in my observations and ramblings.

Walt Maddox has been doing his best to coax Kay’s folks into letting her debate. Folks, you can bet your bottom dollar, Kay Ivey ain’t going to debate Walt Maddox.

My observation is that Kay cannot debate. I do not believe that she has the stamina to physically stand up for an hour or two, much less answer questions.

It would be political suicide for her handlers to put her in that trap. She would become befuddled and anxious. She would be prone to putting on a show worse than Big Jim Folsom’s appearance on TV in 1962. It would be a good show.

All Kay has to do is run out the clock. She needs to continue to say nothing or do nothing.

A Republican Governor who looks elderly and has done nothing wrong ethically and who is enjoying the fruits of a great national recovery will beat a young, energetic, highly qualified candidate who is cognizant and well versed on the issues every day of the week and twice on Sunday in Alabama politics. Just the appearance on a debate stage would be dramatic.

Alabamians do not care about a gubernatorial debate or for that matter they do not care much about who is governor.

What they do care about is college football and it starts next week. It will occupy Alabamians for the next three months. The governor’s race will slide under the radar screen.

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.

Over 1,000 children have allegedly been abused by 300 Roman Catholic priests. As it stands, there was no intervention and perhaps widespread cover-up by church officials. This happens entirely too often. From the Catholic Church abuse scandal in Boston, to the athletic department at Penn State, these stories continue to highlight how far we still have to go to make sure our children are safe and their voices are heard. No child should face abuse, neglect, or trauma.

“This is proof that the conversation around “stranger danger” is the least of our worries.

Child abuse happens to children by people they know,” said Mallory Hagan, Democratic nominee for Congress in Alabama’s Third District. “It’s sickening.

Hagan When any of us learn that a child has been taken advantage of or neglected, we have a duty as adults to step in.

Children need stronger voices fighting for them and more citizens looking out for their wellbeing.”

“When a crime is committed or even suspected, it should immediately be investigated.

Our children should always come first. No matter who the perpetrator is, they should be held accountable to the public for their crimes.”

During her time as Miss America, Hagan focused her advocacy work on child abuse prevention. Hagan worked with organizations like

“Stop it Now,” “Safe Horizon” and the “National Children’s Alliance” to protect funding for the nation’s Child Advocacy Centers, places that work to protect and support victims of various forms of abuse and neglect. After the president zero-ed out the $18 million in funding for these centers, Hagan successfully lobbied to reinstate it.

In Alabama, there are more Child Advocacy Centers per capita than any other state in the nation, and we clearly need more programs like these to keep our kids safe from harm and to assist families in the healing process. In the last five years, Hagan has continued to fight for children by working on legislation such as Erin’s Law. In Congress, Hagan will be the stronger voice we need for children and families across Alabama and America.

Gov. Kay Ivey reports successful first year for ‘Strong Start, Strong Finish’ program Special to the Opelika Observer Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday provided a one-year progress report on her Strong Start, Strong Finish (SSSF) education initiative that she announced on July 26, 2017.

Governor Ivey launched Strong Start, Strong Finish to integrate Alabama’s early childhood education, K-12 education and workforce development efforts into a seamless educational journey.

SSSF is composed of three major strategies: Pre through Three; Computer Science for Alabama (CS4AL); and Advanced Training, Better Jobs.

Pre through Three is focused on ensuring the Alabama First Class PreK program is available to all families who choose to participate and ensuring that all of Alabama’s third graders are proficient readers by 2022. CS4AL will ensure that a computer science course is offered at all of Alabama’s middle and high schools by 2022. Advanced Training, Better Jobs will prepare 500,000 more Alabamians to enter the workforce with high-quality postsecondary degrees, certificates or credentials by 2025.

During the last year, Governor Ivey has secured progress toward each of the SSSF goals in the following ways.

Pre through Three - First Class Pre-K Program and the P-3 Pilot Under Governor Ivey’s leadership, investment in First Class Pre-K has grown in one year from $77.5 to $96 million. The $18.5 million increase in 2018 was the largest ever single-year increase in program funding approved by the Legislature.

Looking forward to the 2018-2019 school year, First Class Pre-K will officially break the 1,000 classroom mark with 1,040 classrooms serving 18,720 four-year-olds, which will reach 35 percent of the eligible four-year-old

population.

In December 2017, Governor Ivey announced that Alabama was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to support the launch of the Pre-K-3rd Grade Integrated Approach to Early Learning pilot program (“P-3”), starting with 35 classrooms in 2017-2018. The program will grow to 75 classrooms in the upcoming 2018-2019 school year.

The Alabama Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Governor Ivey empaneled a diverse, 100-member Executive Team to assist in establishing 11 regional councils that will recruit a host of local campaigns for grade-level reading. The Executive Team met for the first time in June 2018, and the team will begin establishing the regional councils and recruiting local campaigns during the fall of 2018.

In the 2018 Legislative Session, Governor Ivey secured a $4 million increase for the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI), which will be used to refocus ARI on grades K-3 and to reinforce the gains produced by the First Class Pre-K program.

During Summer 2018, Governor Ivey established the Alabama Summer Achievement Program (ASAP) for students who are reading below grade level proficiency in grades 1-3.

Governor Ivey created an ASAP pilot program at four elementary schools in Montgomery County, serving hundreds of children, with plans for expansion in Summer 2019.

Computer Science for Alabama (CS4AL) In 2016, only 86 schools in Alabama offered a high-quality computer science course. Today, more than 175 Alabama high schools offer such classes. In September 2017, Governor Ivey established the Governor’s AdviSee Ivey, page B8

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B8 August 22, 2018

Ivey,

from B7 Ivey established the Governor’s Advisory Council for Computer Science Education.

In March 2018, Governor Ivey and the Alabama State Board of Education approved the Alabama Digital Literacy and Computer Science Course of Study and Standards. Currently, only 10 other states in the nation have computer science standards.

Governor Ivey also worked to secure $300,000 for computer science professional development for middle and high school teachers, during the 2018 Legislative Session.

On April 2, 2018, Governor Ivey championed and signed legislation creating the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and

Engineering. Based in Huntsville and scheduled to open during the fall of 2020, the school will be a destination magnet school that will also serve as the hub for computer science professional development in Alabama.

On April 30, 2018, the Attainment Committee issued the Success Plus Plan for post-secondary attainment. Based on those recommendations, Governor Ivey set the statewide post-secondary attainment goal of adding 500,000 highly-skilled Alabamians to the workforce by 2025.

To achieve that goal, and in light of the recent reauthorization of Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, Governor Ivey is working to increase the efficiency of our workforce development programs to meet Alabama’s growing economic demands and to incentivize more private-

sector partners to offer apprenticeships.

Jobs for Alabama’s Graduates (JAG) Expansion The Jobs for Alabama’s Graduates (JAG) program has grown from 23 to 29 programs in 2018 alone.

Governor Ivey worked to secure a $250,000 increase in the state appropriation for JAG, which provided funds for four new programs in Tuscaloosa, Morgan County, Madison County and Wilcox County. Governor Ivey also utilized federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) monies to establish two additional JAG programs in Geneva County and Montgomery County.

Governor Ivey is happy with the progress thus far but plans to further work toward these goals and continue to strive for improvement in Alabama’s education system.

Special to the Opelika Observer

Opelika High School’s new Head Football Coach Erik Speakman was a recent guest of the Opelika Lions Club. He has been an assistant coach at OHS for the past 18 years, and served as Athletic Director last year. He discussed the makeup of this year’s team along with his forecast for the Bulldogs’s coming season. He was introduced by Lion James Morgan, Jr., left.

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Special to the Opelika Observer Jamie Popwell, a Marine veteran and founder of Flags for Vets, talked to the Opelika Rotary club recently. Flags for Vets installs flagpoles and US flags for veterans who request them. The organization is based locally but serves veterans anywhere. They have installed 249 flagp0oles to date, with 51 of those in Lee County. Another 98 vets, in 12 states, are on the list to receive flags. Popwell stated that the organization provides this service as a means to say “thank you for your service to our country.” Pictured, from left, are Nate Kastner, club president, and Popwell.

Special to the Opelika Observer Rachael Riddle, incoming chief in the Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts addressed the Club about some of the different responsibilities of the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

The department is empowered to audit the books, accounts, and records of all state and county offices, officers, bureaus, boards, commissions, corporations, departments, and agencies and to report on expenditures, contracts, or other audit findings found to be in violation of the

law. The Department has the authority to make audits of the accounts of all entities receiving or disbursing public funds.

The Examiners of Public Accounts is empowered to conduct investigations as a result of audits and to assist other governmental officers such as the Attorney General, District Attorneys, and federal agencies, and to certify official acts and require the repayment of amounts of monies and other resources due to the State, County, municipality, or other governmental units from various public officers, their employees, or agents. Administrative hearings are held in an effort to recover monies that are found due in audits. If amounts due are not recovered the audits are certified to the Attorney General or District Attorney and presented to the next Grand Jury. They are prima facie evidence in court proceedings.

Joanne Camp and Rachel Riddle are pictured above.

pelika O Observer ‘Food Day for United Way’ held Saturday

B9

August 22, 2018

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer The “Food Day for United Way” event was held last Saturday at Courthouse Square in downtown Opelika. Featuring local food trucks, games, music and more, the event served as a fundraiser for the Lee County branch of the United Way.

EAST ALABAMA

Signature Chefs A uction NOVEMBER 8, 2018 SIGNATURECHEFS.ORG/EASTALABAMA

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Second annual ‘I Run Opelika’ race held Saturday in downtown Opelika Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Pictured are highlights from last Saturday’s second annual “I Run Opelika” event. Organized by Opelika residents Andre and Greshanda Marcus, the event featured a free, open-to-the-public health expo as well as 1 and 5-mile walk/runs through downtown Opelika.

Through events like this, Marcus said they hope improve the overall health and quality of life for Opelika residents and raise obesity awareness.

pelika O Observer Panthers,

from B1

primary attack will be the run, but with welltimed passing plays to keep opposing secondaries wary.

“If you look at any level of football, all the teams that have success have the ability to run the football. You gotta throw it when you have to, but running the ball is key,” Glisson said.

Opelika High School transfer Jacob Blackmon and Corey Minton will compete for the starting quarterback role, which is currently an even battle, according to Glisson.

Cameron Jones and Chad Strickland, both senior offensive tackles, will be the heart and soul of the offensive line. Tony Bond and Tristin Goble are expected to play at

Trinity,

from B1 nism for students, according to Cornelius.

“For example, kids really love to memorize when they’re young, so we pour lots of facts into them when they’re at that grammar stage, which is very natural for them. We sing, chant and memorize a lot and they love that,” Cornelius said. “They really enjoy and love to show off what they can do.”

Besides providing a stellar education, Cornelius said his faculty and staff strive to instill a deeply rooted appreciation of God’s love and truths into their students.

“The thing I hear most from the community about our school is that we’re fulfilling a common vision for parents in this area, that we’re providing an which they feel comfortable

guard, though Glisson said Bond may seem time at center throughout the season.

The Panthers have an embarrassment of riches at running back, with four solid options vying for carries: Kyran Hall, L.C. Harris, D.J. Moffett and T.J. Morgan.

Newcomers Dre Cooper and Dukes Sterling figure to receive immediate playing time at receiver, along with Sterling Evilsizer and Payton Wiggins.

Defense Before coming to Smiths Station, Glisson served as the defensive coordinator for Beauregard High School for three seasons, building a defense with a reputation for playing aggressive, assignmentsound football aimed at stopping at the run.

“Football is a real simple game: run the ball and stop the run.

If you do that, you’ll sending their child here, and that we’re consistent with our teachings here. We’re not contradicting or giving them mixed messages on God’s truths, which are evident through any history or mathematics lesson they may take,” Cornelius said.

“We believe that the Bible very clearly teaches that education is the responsibility of the parents … we’re not seeking to take the place of parents, but stand in the gap for them.”

“A big family” The atmosphere, experience and people of the school hold deep meaning for TCS alum Gracie Rudd and School Administrator Sharon Williams.

Rudd, a 2017 TCS graduate and the school’s current receptionist, said she values the lessons gleaned from her years as a student.

“All the teachers just want the best for you and want to do everything that they

have a chance to win,” Glisson said. “I’m not a University of Alabama fan, but they’re going for their third (national) championship in four years, and that’s because they are going to run the football and they’re going to stop you from running it.”

Projected starters for the defensive line are Quintarious Broaders, Devyn Harris and Moffett, along with a consistent rotation of offensive linemen to provide depth and fresh legs.

Linebackers figure to be strength of this team, with Harris, Moffett and sophomore middle linebacker Jordan Jones, a player Glisson encourages fans to pay attention to this fall.

“Jordan started as a freshman last season, and he has a chance to be a really bigtime player. He put can for you. It’s not just about teaching a subject for them, they want to get know to you and how they can help you do better in life and grow in your walk (with the Lord),” Rudd said.

Williams, who first joined the school in August 1981, said she has experienced abundant personal and professional growth during her 37year tenure.

“My life has been so enriched by being here. To see and be a part of raising up the generations of young men and women being taught and equipped to go in the world and be a salt and light as Christians (is very meaningful),” Williams said.

Elbow room Expansion is a looming subject for the school, according to Cornelius.

With a student body of 230 and 33 total faculty/staff members, Cornelius said they are in the preplanning stages of the process of making ad-

B11 August 22, 2018

on 31 pounds in the offseason, going from 159 (pounds) to 190 (pounds),” Glisson said. “He can run well and he is just an outstanding player.”

Quintin Ashford, Caleb Coleman, D.J. Miller and Manchez Roberson, all upperclassmen, figure to lead a dynamic and seasoned secondary.

Special teams Taylor Walker, who has a deep soccer background, is the solidified leader in the kicking department. Glisson said he will handle extra points, field goals and kickoffs.

Four players are currently battling for punter, though Jameson Douglas has a slight edge to this point in fall camp.

Both kickoff and punt return will be handled by committee this fall.

Season outlook A member of the

ditions to the school, which will include discussion of building the school’s first-ever gym to host sporting events and physical education classes.

“We’ve had 47 percent enrollment growth during the last five years, so the numbers are hopefully a manifestation or representation maybe of a deeper work that the Lord is doing in the school and allowing us to really partner with these families to raise these children and nurture them for His kingdom,” Cornelius said.

“The book of Jude tells us that we need to raise up our children to be contenders for the faith, and by God’s grace, we plan to keep doing that for another 40 years.”

For more information, visit www. tcsopelika.org or call 334-745-2464. The school is located at 1010 India Road.

Turn to B14 for photos of a typical schoolday at Trinity Christian.

AHSAA’s 7A Region 2, the Panthers will face a tough draw from their region, which includes powerhouses like Auburn, Robert E. Lee, and archrival Central of Phenix City.

Despite what many would deem a challenging schedule, Glisson said he and his staff are focused on building a program with players who seek to grow daily and become better young men on and off the gridiron.

“I hear a lot of people talk about changing cultures, but as coaches, our job is to lead them and show them what they have to do to be successful. It’s not going to be easy and there will be some bumps in the road,” Glisson said.

“I tell them to block out any negativity on the outside and worry about what’s being said and done right here, right now.”

Lee County,

from B1

repair personnel had been out to the schools to determine the extent of the damage and that work was already being done to rectify the situation as soon as possible. "It's probably going to take at least a week to get replacement units or replacement parts for those units," Fuller said.

The board also heard from Ken Roberts, Chief School Financial Officer, regarding the financial report for June 2018.

Roberts reported that at the end of June which represents 75 percent of the fiscal year, the school system has received 76.5 percent of the anticipated revenue while keeping expenditures below budget, coming in at 72.7 percent. "This is certainly significant. This shows cost restraint and attempts to hold down expenses late in

Auburn University’s STEM program receives prestigious awards Special to the Opelika Observer Auburn University’s STEM Summer Bridge Program recently received the 2018 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.

The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Auburn, along with 77 other recipients, will be featured in the September 2018 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

“The STEM Summer Bridge Program is an excellent example of how the

College of Sciences and Mathematics creates an environment reflective of diverse cultures and backgrounds with opportunities for all students to excel,” said College of Sciences and Mathematics Dean Nicholas Giordano.

Facilitated by the Office of Inclusion, Equity and Diversity in Auburn’s College of Sciences and Mathematics, the program provides opportunities for incoming freshmen to enhance their science and math skills; develop and improve critical thinking and analytical thinking skills; engage in professional development and career awareness activities; and network with faculty, staff and students. It also helps students increase cultural competencies and challenge their personal biases.

Since the program’s inception in 1997, 500 students

have participated. Most of those students who have completed the program have gone on to medical, pharmacy and graduate schools.

“This program provides students with hands-on experiences to explore different STEM-based careers, thrive in a collaborative environment, attend off-campus learning trips and ultimately become Dr. Overtoun Jenda scholars with support throughout their education at Auburn University,” said Kimberly X. Mulligan, director of the college’s Office of Inclusion, Equity and Diversity.

Auburn’s STEM Summer Bridge Program was selected for the Inspiring Programs in STEM Award based on its mission of inspiring and encouraging a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through

mentoring, teaching, research and successful programs and initiatives.

“We know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for underrepresented students,” said Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in STEM. We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.”

For more information about the 2018 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award and INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, visit insightintodiversity.com.

Below is Smiths Station’s schedule, which is split evenly with five home and five road contests: Aug. 24 - v. Russell County Aug. 31 - @ Valley High School Sept. 7 - v. Central High School (Phenix City) Sept. 14 - @ Enterprise High School Sept. 22 - @ Robert E. Lee High School Sept. 28 - v. Stanhope Elmore Oct. 5 - v. Jefferson Davis High School Oct. 12 - @ Auburn High School Oct. 26 v. Prattville High School Nov. 2 - @ Eufaula High School.

For more information or updates, visit www.lee.k12.al.us/ SSH. Panther Stadium is located behind the Smiths Station Government Center on Lee Road 298.

the year," Roberts said.

In the reporting of local revenue, Roberts explained that local revenues are trending upwards. Sales tax in the district were up 4.4 percent from the anticipated budgeted amounts based on the prior years numbers.

In other business the board: • approved several in-state and out-ofstate field trips for Smiths Station High School • approved an outof-state field trip for the Loachapoka High School Band to attend that Panama City Beach Music Festival in Panama City, Florida in May 2019.

Lee County School Board meetings are open to the public and are held the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at the central office located at 410 Society Hill Road in Opelika.

Copies of the school board meeting agendas can be accessed by the public through the district's website: ww.lee. k12.al.us.

Photos, from B1

of Sibling Love.”

Peyton and Nolan Smith and Colin Scrimpshire and their father Cody Scrimpshire were awarded the “Best Parent Reaction” photo.

Their grandfather, John Sweatman submitted their photo. Their family received tickets to the Auburn Area Community Theatre’s production of “Silent Sky.” Savannah Woodley and her sister Summer received a Jefferson’s gift card for their photo for the “Not Quite Feeling It” display of first day tears.

For more back-toschool photos that were submitted by our readers, please visit our website: www.opelikaobserver. com.

B12 August 22, 2018

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Last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s answers:

8-15 SCRAMBLER ANSWERS: 1), Bulge 2) Salient 3), Floret 4), Modest Solution: Frostbite

pelika O Observer

B13 August 22, 2018

COMICS

When people are laughing, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re generally not killing each other. ~Alan Alda

B14 August 22, 2018

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Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Pictured are highlights of a typical day at Opelikaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trinity Christian School, which has been in existence for more than 40 years. The school has a student body of 230 and 33 faculty and staff.

MUNICIPAL COURT APPEARANCES NOW HELD AT THE SOUTHSIDE FOR PERFORMING ARTS BUILDING Southside Center for the Arts: 1103 Glenn Street, Opelika

POLICE REPORTS AND WALK-IN COMPLAINTS HAVE MOVED TO THE CITY ANNEX BUILDING City Annex Building: 608 Avenue A, Opelika

During construction, please note that there will be NO PUBLIC ENTRANCE to the police department. There will be one rear entrance for police operations only. The public will need to visit either the City Annex building for police reports or walk-in complaints; or they will need to report to Southside Center for the Arts for court appearance.

In addition, the sidewalks on 10th Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard will be closed during construction.

Anticipated completion of this project is approximately 18 months.

For more information, please contact the Opelika Police Department at 334-705-5200, or Municipal Court at 334-705-5190.