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Vol. 11, No. 47
Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019
Opelika, Alabama
Turn to A7 to learn more about the Distinquished Young Women of Lee County.
“By local people, for local people.”
Photo special to the Opelika Observer
Opelika Main Street wins prestigious statewide award Special to the Opelika Observer
Opelika Main Street was awarded the Main Street Alabama Award of Excellence for Marketing at the 2019 Main Street Alabama Laboratory Conference last Thursday night in Decatur. The award recognizes outstanding efforts in overall marketing by a Main Street organization through integrated communication efforts, including traditional and digital marketing or a specific promotional campaign. Opelika Main Street was recog-
nized for a new website, organization branding and logo launched in 2018. "This award is a great testament to the progress being made in downtown Opelika,” said Opelika Main Street Executive Director Ken Ward. “Receiving this award shows that Opelika Main Street is continuing its mission of ensuring downtown is a thriving hub for business and a showplace for east Alabama.” For more information about downtown Opelika and to sign up for their weekly newsletter, visit www.opelikamainstreet.org.
Malavong
Aspire Integrative Health Clinic offers quality family, osteopathic care to Auburn-Opelika area By Morgan Bryce Editor
Executive Director Ken Ward
Dr. Viengxay Malavong and the staff at Aspire Integrative
Health Clinic in Opelika are actively seeking new patients. Malavong, dually board certified See Clinic, page A3
Valley native Jeremy ‘Expressions Design Crowder new owner Gallery’ planning to open this week of Doug Horn Roofing By Natalie Salvatore For the Opelika Observer
By Morgan Bryce Editor While the Opelikabased business Doug Horn Roofing may be under new ownership, it is staying in the family. Doug Horn, previous owner of the company, sold the business this summer for $1 to Jeremy Crowder, a Valley native who he "trusts like a son." "For the past four years since my wife (BJ) died, I haven't done any roofing. I realized after I met (Jeremy) that he had a great work ethic for a 40-yearold young man," Horn said. "I was impressed
Jeremy Crowder with his knowledge of roofing and carpentry and his desire to do the best job he could do. I have given him my and my
father's name and trust him like a son and ask (customers) to give him a See Crowder, page A3
Index
OPINION.....................................A4 SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY..............A7 RELIGION..............................A13 CALENDAR..................................A14
Opening this week in Opelika, Expressions Design Gallery plans to offer an extraordinary experience for its customers as it ties four unique crafts into one new business. Sharon Saavedra’s corner of the shop, Saavy Designs, is an interior design boutique. She offers thousands of fabrics for home décor projects, provides different selections of paint colors, helps decorate homes and even designs window treatments, such as curtains and blinds.
SPORTS..................................B1 POLITICS...................................B9 LEGALS.......................................B11 ENTERTAINMENT........................B14
Photo by Natalie Salvatore/Opelika Observer
Her husband, a military veteran, brews coffee for the store’s café, the next part of the gallery. This
Boonie Hat beverage, which is roasted on-site, See Expressions, page A3
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What’s Up? www.doughornroofing.com • 334-744-5246
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A2 Aug. 28, 2019
Opelika Chamber of Commerce holds ‘Business Over Breakfast’ AutoSport Bodyworks recognized as Chamber’s Business of the Quarter By Natalie Salvatore For the Opelika Observer Steve Murray, director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, spoke at the Opelika Chamber of Commerce’s Business over Breakfast last Thursday morning. After Pam PowersSmith, president of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, introduced the event, and Lee County Youth Development Center board member Laura Cooper led an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, Murray began discussing Alabama’s rich history ahead of the state’s 200th birthday. He thanked the residents of Opelika for their efforts to preserve Alabama’s story. “You all deserve a round of applause for making sure that our past is part of our future here,” Murray said. The director discussed how around this time back in 1819, 44 delegates met in Huntsville to write a state constitution to establish Alabama as a part of the United States of America. As people flocked into the state from Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas, Alabama was gaining both residents and attention. Several maps demonstrate how the state’s current shape required a continued process of revision. During this era of change, debates over where the state’s capital should lie broke out. Moreover, Murray said that other state governments in the South
influenced how Alabama’s own government developed. Murray mentioned that a key political issue of the economy throughout all of this was infrastructure, a problem that is still relevant today. “It’s a perpetual concern from our very beginning. This has been a point of contention about who is going to build that infrastructure and how we are going to pay for it,” Murray said. The director moved on from the history to explain how the upcoming bicentennial provides a chance for a brighter future. “This process is about reflecting on our past and understanding how we got here. It’s very much thinking about who we are as Alabamians today and what our values are,” Murray said. Several events and movements have come out of the bicentennial. Murray discussed that in 2017, to set the celebratory tone, a traveling exhibit called Making Alabama gave citizens a chance to learn more about the past. After beginning in Montgomery, it made its way to Opelika and to all 67 counties statewide. Other events include the Alabama Passport Project, Alabama Legacy Moments and the We The People exhibition for observing digital archives. “The part that I am really excited about the most is what we have been doing in the K-12 outreach during the bicentennial, which I think has the potential to have the longest lasting
impact of anything that we have done during this commemoration period,” Murray said. Murray helped launch the Alabama History Institutes, a series of professional development opportunities for educators. These history boot camps expose teachers to social studies content and show them ways to teach actively. Educators are provided with resources to incorporate social studies into school curriculums, where history is being pushed aside as the focus is directed more towards other classes, such as math. “The end result is that your children aren’t reading about history in a textbook. How much more engaging is it to read letters of a soldier in World War II back to his sweetheart, talking about what is happening on the warfront? Or, to read a journal of a girl in the early 20th century who is talking about women’s suffrage and how important it is for women to attain the right to vote in this country?” Murray said. He believes those resources, along with teachers extending their classrooms to local historic sites and museums, can help students learn and grow. The teachers have shown great reception to the movement, many saying how these workshops have been the best ones they have ever experienced. Murray said he is really pushing history in schools to develop these skills in students. “You can’t love what you don’t know. If our
young people don’t really understand their state, we can’t expect them to grow up and become dedicated members of our community,” Murray said. The 200 Alabama Bicentennial celebration is scheduled for Dec. 14, 2019 in Montgomery. The day is jam-packed with festivities, from a morning parade to an afternoon festival filled with family activities. A laser light show and concert will conclude the event as Alabamians come together to celebrate their state. For more information about the bicentennial, contact alabama200.org or visit their social media accounts. Lastly, the Small Business of the Quarter Award was presented to Autosport Bodyworks. Glynn Smith Chevrolet, Buick-GMC was the presenting sponsor of the breakfast.
Photos special to the Opelika Observer Top, AutoSport Bodyworks representatives receive the Business of the Quarter Award at the conclusion of last week’s Business over Breakfast event. Middle, Opelika Chamber of Commerce President Pam Powers-Smith with Lee Vanoy, local representative for Congressmen Mike Rogers. Bottom, Powers-Smith and current Chamber Board Chairman Carlton Hunley IV with Alabama 200 Speaker and Alabama Department of Archives and History Director Steve Murray, who spoke at Thursday’s event.
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pelika Observer
Publisher: Michelle Key Editor: Morgan Bryce Marketing: Doug Horn and Woody Ross Photojournalist: Robert Noles Phone: 334.749.8003 editor@opelikaobserver.com Sports Writers: Rick Lanier and Michelle@opelikaobserver.com D. Mark Mitchell
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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
CORRECTIONS The Opelika Observer will correct any errors, omissions or inaccuracies deemed to be substantive. Corrections may be requested by contacting the Editor at (334) 749-8003.
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Point Broadband adds ACC network to TV lineup Special to the Opelika Observer
Point Broadband announced a new carriage agreement with Disney Media Distribution to carry ESPN’s new ACC Network (ACCN). Owned and operated by ESPN in partnership with the Atlantic Coast Conference, ACC Network is a 24-7 national network dedicated to ACC sports. Fans and followers of the ACC can now access the multiplatform network on the following channels: • Ultra Channel Lineup – Channel 278 SD/78 HD Anyone wanting to switch to Point Broadband TV service or upgrade their current service to have access to the ACC Network may call 844407-6468 or visit pointbroadband.com. “We are very excited to offer the new ACC Network to our customers,” said Point Broadband Vice President of Sales and Marketing Taylor Nipper. “We know that many of our customers are ACC fans and sports fans in general. We received a lot
Expressions, from A1 has a very smooth and rich flavor. “It’s the only air-roasted coffee in town,” Saavedra said. Along with the exclusive coffee, the café also serves impressive food,
Crowder, from A1 chance." Started by Horn's father (Doug Lester Horn) more than 60 years ago, the business has a solid customer base in the AuburnOpelika area and surrounding communities. Crowder's experience in roofing can be traced back to working with his stepfather when he was 13 years old. After high school, Crowder and his stepfather relocated to the Boaz/Albertville area and operated C and H Roofing for several years. In 2002, Crowder moved back to the area to learn and hone his craft from family members who were
of positive feedback from customers who wanted this channel, and we’re thrilled we are able to provide ACC sports 24-7.” Approximately 450 live contests, including 40 regular-season football games, 150 men’s and women’s basketball games, and 200 other regular-season competitions and tournament games from across the conference’s 27 sponsored sports, will be televised annually. Additionally, the network will broadcast a complement of news and information shows and original programming. Together, the ACCN and its digital platform, ACC Network Extra (ACCNE), will feature 1,350 ACC events in its first year. ESPN has been televising ACC content since 1979 and has exclusive rights to every conferencecontrolled game across all sports and championships. All ACCN games will also be available on the ESPN app to authenticated cable subscribers. Fans interested in learning more about the ACCN can visit www.GetACCN.com.
such as paninis, breakfast in a bowl, pastries, baked goods and pizza. The café’s drive-thru will be available starting at 6 a.m. to allow students at Opelika High School and Southern Union State Community College to grab a bite to eat before morning classes. Saavedra said people are excited about such a place in this part of town. experts in framing and roofing. Prior to merging businesses and operating under the Horn name, Crowder most recently operated his own business called J&K Handyman in LaFayette. With the merger of the two businesses, Crowder said his business can do home repairs and specializes in roofing services. Crowder is fully licensed and insuranced, and can work with all insurance companies for damages from storms. Following are some of the roofing services now offered through Doug Horn Roofing, which extends to a 50mile radius outside the Auburn-Opelika area: - chimney flashings - commercial (flat), industrial and residen-
Clinic, from A1 in family and osteopathic medicine, has four years of medical experience. In addition to running Aspire, he works several days a week at the local Stopwatch Urgent Care locations. Currently, Malavong and his staff are seeing patients 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, with plans in the near future to be open on Sunday afternoons as well as other weekdays as the client base continues to grow. “For people looking for a family doctor, with me, you’re going to get someone who is going to be here for the long haul. The key with me is that I’m a family doctor who will listen and help people and their families meet their needs and reach their goals,” Malavong said. Lifelong Destiny Born in Laos, Malavong’s family emigrated to the United States as refugees shortly after the conclusion of the Vietnam War, eventually settling in Mobile. Inspired by readThe next area of the business carries the famous Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Led by Jim Bryson, the Market Street Paint Shop provides timeless, beautiful paint colors inspired after old European vintage hues. He is also carrying a product called Salt Wash that creates a beachy, weathered look on surfaces to add texture. “It looks like it’s been
tial roofing - installing ridge vents - re-roofing - and roof repairs, among other services. They are the only roofing company that is a member of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. Now assuming ownership of a company that is so deeply rooted in the community, Crowder said he plans to keep the business going for another 60 years, all the while continuing its mission to deliver quality work and customer service. "I'm humbled to have the Doug Horn name, and it means so much that he had confidence in me to keep it going," Crowder said. For more information or to get a quote, call 334-744-5246.
A3 Aug. 28, 2019
ing the stories of Dr. Jonas Salk’s invention of the polio vaccine and the accomplishments of other famous physicians and scientists, Malavong said he knew he wanted to pursue a career in the medical field when he was as young as five years old. “They (his parents) never had the heart to tell me that we were poor and couldn’t send me to college. But they didn’t discourage me from pursuing my dream,” Malavong said. Transferring from Theodore High School, Malavong enrolled at nearby Alma Bryant, where he served in a number of student organizations and was a member of the city’s Leadership Mobile program. After high school, Malavong pursued a degree in biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, finishing in 2006. From 2006 to 2010, Malavong was in medical school, practicing and studying remotely through the A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Mesa, Arizona. “Knowing what I wanted to be throughout my training, I tried to fill myself with sprayed with the ocean,” Bryson said. Before this, Bryson explained how he ran two previous stores for about four and a half years at New Leaf Galleries. His previous experiences allow him to bring his expertise and clientele to Opelika. In his shop, he offers services such as custom mixing and painting, workshops and private parties.
knowledge on everything I could to make me a well-rounded family doctor. I did a lot of psych work, which I enjoyed, working with people who may have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression or addiction issues,” Malavong said. Upon completion of medical school, Malavong entered into the residency phase of his medical training. In 2015, he finished and accepted a position with Auburn Urgent Care, where he worked until earlier this year. ‘Cradle to Grave’ In Malavong’s view of treatment and finding the root of a person’s medical problems, it “boils down to the mind, body and spirit” with a basis for problems in those respective spheres that can be traced back to food. “I think a lot of it is micronutrients that are or are not present in the food we eat. The type of foods we usually eat have calories, not the vitamins and micronutrients we need to process and produce the neurotransmitters we need to simply function,” Malavong said. Through a personalized approach with each patient, Malavong The gallery’s owner filled the last area of the shop with her collection of antiques that are now for sale after years of selecting pieces that caught her eye. Saavedra said she believes the gallery will offer the community a neat and different shopping experience. Expressions Design Gallery is a place where people will know your name.
said he is willing to work with anyone, regardless of their physical condition or weight, and guide them toward a higher level of health and overall wellness. Another way that goal can be realized is through the osteopathic treatments offered at Aspire, which Malavong explained is similar in practice but different in form to chiropractic medicine. “Like chiropractics, our focus is restoring the body back to function. A lot of the techniques we use are more counter-strain or muscle energy, which tend to be a little more gentle, especially for the population that might be a little more frail,” Malavong said. In addition to family care and osteopathic medicine, Aspire also offers typical commercial medical services including DOT medical examinations and drug screenings and a massage and spa center. For more information, call 334-2031723, like and follow the clinic’s social media pages or visit www.aspireintegrativehealthclinic.com. The clinic is located at 2202 Gateway Drive, Suite A. “People can have a latte and come and look at a marble statue, or browse fabrics, or pick out some chalk paint or look at antique lighters,” Saavedra said. Located at 1801 Market St., the shop’s hours will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 334-350-5001 or visit expressionsdesigngallery. com.
The Whistle Stop Pickers and the Lee County Historical Society of Pioneer Park in Loachapoka will host “Play Music on the Porch Day 2019” Saturday, August 31st from 10 a.m. to noon All acoustic instruments are welcome to join in the musical fun. The Whistle Stop Pickers will lead the jam session on Saturday. The public is welcome to join in or just sit and listen. Play Music on The Porch Day started out in 2013 as an idea…
"What if for one day everything stopped…and we all just listened to the music?"
Photos special to the Opelika Observer
Music goes beyond words. It can transcend the most difficult barriers. It ties us together like a thread through our hearts. Our skin is many colors but music is in our blood, our bones and our soul. For more information about Play Music on the Porch Day go to: www.playmusicontheporchday.com
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A4 Aug. 28, 2019
The Miraculous Ordinary
A
friend died yesterday. She was someone I’ve known my entire life. She was warm and funny and lovely. She was a constant in my life. And in so many others. She left this town many years ago, but she loved Opelika as much or more than I do. Her face and her voice were known to so many outside of O Town, but she belonged to us. She was an Opelika Bulldog. She was a Spirit of the South band member. She was a daughter of our city. Of course, she was so much more than that. She was a daughter. She was a wife and mother. She was a professional and a friend. For the last 24 hours, I’ve watched memorials on Facebook and read remembrances from so many who knew her. I’ve cried for her family and hoped for peace for them. And I’ve remembered…one conversation
By Wendy Hodge
that loops over and over in my head. It was more than 35 years ago, but I can still hear her voice. We were young girls in high school, with the future looming before us. My friend was one year ahead of me and was preparing for her graduation speech. We were in the girls’ locker room just outside the gym. “Because the acoustics are so good in here,” she said. I sat and listened as she practiced from note cards in front of the mirror. She talked about growing up and moving out into the world. She talked about obstacles and life lessons. She talked about family and how she would always be an Opelika girl.
And then she said this. This one line. “Always be open to the miraculous ordinary – the beautiful, everyday, extraordinary small things that make life the glorious experience it is.” And then she went out into the world and did exactly that. She listened to people’s stories and shared the miraculous ordinary in front of a camera. She did it so well that she won awards and was beloved by cities bigger than her hometown. She inspired people she never met. She is remembered by people whose names she will never know. And she visited with me this morning. I’m sure of it. Before work, I drove to the fountain in downtown Opelika. It’s where I go to write and think and sometimes to heal. This morning, as I sat in my usual spot on the brick wall under the tree,
See Hodge, page A5
The fabric of our lives “ . . . threads frail as truth and impalpable as equators yet cable-strong to bind for life them who made the cotton to the land their sweat fell on.” William Faulkner, “The Bear” s summer ends, I begin watching cotton. Watching the bolls open. Watching the machines pick it. Watching it baled – if you can call those things bales. I probably pay more attention to cotton than most folks – except for the ones who actually raise and sell it. Back when I taught at Jacksonville State University, I tried to get students to understand how that slender thread tied together people in the rural South. But I am not sure most of them understood. Why should they? Even though cotton is still one of our most profitable cash crops, fewer and fewer lives are dictated by it.
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his morning, I ordered a glass of water in accompaniment to my usual coffee and croissant. Upon the first sip, I was a child again, playing along the creek beds, excavating found objects and washing them in clear water from the nearby spring. My glass of water this morning tasted like dirt smells. Concerned as I was, I placed a call, then researched a bit, to learn of the algae bloom in the local aquifer of Saugahatchee Lake. I’ve called Lee County home for most of my life, and I’ve only just now learned of this, although I recall at times in past years I have wondered. To my comfort and peace of mind, I learned the water, however less refreshing to one’s palette, is safe to drink. I also learned this natural occurrence is quite common. Expectations are
By Hardy Jackson
Now my folks didn’t grow cotton. But through luck, or perhaps the lack of it, I got to know cotton better than a kid of my circumstances normally did. And in the process, I got to know more than I should have about our cotton culture, even as I witnessed its decline. Before my Daddy went into politics, he was a school teacher and teacher pay being what it was, it was necessary for Daddy to work through the summer to keep food on the family table. So, he got a job with the government measuring cotton. The program had its roots back during the
R
ecently, I went to the gas station to get a newspaper, coffee and lottery ticket. My bloodhound, Thelma Lou—poster child for moderate hyperactivity disorder— usually goes with me. The way our morning routine usually works is simple: I buy a newspaper, maybe some powdered donuts; she steals my donuts and eats my newspaper. But on this morning, when I walked into the gas station, something was wrong. Before I even got to the donuts, I could tell the air was tense. The scene was this: The cashier behind the counter was frazzled. She obviously did not know how to use the computerized cash register. A customer at the
Great Depression when, in an effort to control the market and raise prices, the Roosevelt Administration set up an allotment system, under which farmers were told how much acreage they could plant. And to make sure they planted what they were supposed to plant, folks were sent out to measure the field. The whole thing is too complicated to go into here, but sufficient to say the program favored the large landowner over the small, so when the Democrats were voted out, the Republicans came in, tinkered with the rules and kept the system going. My little piney woods county didn’t have many large farms, so folks trying to make a living with cotton were always in a heap o’ hurt. But every spring, some of them just had to put the seeds in See Jackson, page A5
I
NICE
By Sean Dietrich
counter was aggravated with her. There were five customers in line. They were all displaying universal gestures of annoyance. Clearing throats. Folding arms. Tapping feet. The woman in front of me glanced at her watch. One man sighed hard enough to knock over a circus tent. “Not-niceness.” That’s what we’re dealing with here. And it’s running rampant in today’s world. The customers were growing not-nicer by the minute. Finally, a man slammed his change on
By Sarah West restored when the seasons change. I’ve returned to a previous study of poetry. Distractions in the summer months prompted pause. Now a call to return restores one’s course; and I read “Salt” by Frances Phillips. Sensory experiences are conveyed by the poet in the moments following the mournful farewell of a pony. The straw, dust and
See Dietrich, page A5
A smile and a wink
t’s wonderous what a smile can do! I can still remember and put to heart the song that Louis Armstrong sang “When You’re Smiling, the Whole World Smiles with You.” Smiles do not cost a thing, but their benefit cannot be measured. Recently when I was a little weary and entering into an early childhood classroom, a toddler who was not even talking yet elevated my mood and won my heart with a smile and a wink. This little fellow’s smile was so contagious that it encouraged me to smile all day long. We have every reason to smile and have joy because God has given us life. Babies begin to socially smile at six to eight weeks. We are attracted to people who smile. It’s a light that links us together! I know when I am experiencing stress, a smile from someone can ease my stress and help me look at my situation
By Beth Pinyerd
in a totally different light. In tense situations, there are many benefits we can glean from smiles. It takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown. Medical professionals tell us in overall health, smiling does help in our immune system to function better by giving it a boost and lower blood pressure. Smiling triggers certain neurotransmitters to be released which helps us to feel good all over. We can be having a bad day, but smiling or seeing someone else smile is a strong emotion which triggers joy, happiness and a sense of sharing contentment. A simple smile is outreach to another person and gives them hope!
Restorative Thought spider’s web, with lines that follow, “I watch the window where a great snail of dusk leaves a silvery trail across the ledge. Inside the hot house, a ripe tomato smell.” Memory transports me yet again through time, and I walk amid the orchids and other tropical floral in the hot houses. Mammoth greening leaves canopy overhead, mosses and bromeliads, ferns and cacti plants; window panes cloud with steam upon which summer rain begins to bead. The balmy air and dusty hues of spruce, the fallen petals lace the rose garden beds; I take it in and pen notations in thought as I walk along the paths, and pause to reflect beside the pond. Wafts of late summer air thicken in the midday sun. A picnic along the water’s edge, meditations reflect the passing clouds
the counter. Another man mumbled a cuss word before storming out. One woman shook her head and said, “Learn how to do your JOB, sweetie.” When I got to the cashier, she was too overwhelmed to say anything. Who can blame her? It’s not every day five customers behave like walking-talking jack mules. She was a woman who looked older than she was. Her hair was blonde. She had tattoos on her arms and on her hands. “People can certainly be mean,” I remarked. “Yeah,” she said. Then, she sort of broke down. She placed her head in her hands. “I just CAN’T figure out this computer,” she
while flocks of geese choose to rest here on their flight from the north. A glass of water, lines from a poet’s page and memories become scores that play. Sarah West serves the Opelika Observer as a contributing columnist, with written works of Cultural Arts relevance and prose. She is a preservation and conservation advocate, activist and visual artist of American Illustration with a focus on Regional
Narrative Painting. She is the founder of the Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts, Smiths Station, Alabama’s premier fine arts destination. She is the appointed Official Artist to the City of Smiths Station, a Lee County syndicated columnist and the director of her art center’s Cultural Arts Outreach Initiative which partners with local schools to make the arts accessible to all. She also serves as a
I love to look at family, church and school photo albums of gatherings which show smiles of happiness and joy! I reflect back on that time and why we are all smiling. It may have been a funny joke, a moment shared of family or friend happiness or just being together in that one moment. Even though a loved one or friend is no longer with us, smiles are still shown in the picture, which cannot be taken from my heart of that moment of joy in remembrance of that special time. A picture paints a thousand words of the smiles we witness captured in time. This promotes such gratitude to God for life’s moments like this. Smiling truly helps us to stay positive, confident and truly more desirable to be around. A little smile shared spreads a light, a radiance which in our world today is a moment we all need to capture!
chief curator to the City of Smiths Station, City Hall Art Galleries. She is a founding member of the Smith Station Historic Commission. She is an elected member of the Society of Illustrators- NYC. She mentors art students of every age through weekly classes at her studio located in the heart of Smiths Station, Alabama. To learn more about her work and activism visit, www.thesarahwestgalleryoffineart. com.
YOUR DESTINATION for CONTINUED FINE ARTS EDUCATION STUDIO CLASSES | DRAWING, PAINTING & MORE for ALL AGES www.thesarahwestgalleryoffineart.com
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A5 Aug. 28, 2019
Flags for Vets, Relentless Whitetails partner to create hunting opportunities for local disabled veterans By Morgan Bryce Editor
Through a recent partnership formed between Jamie Popwell of Flags for Vets and Ricky Spratlin of Relentless Whitetails in the Tuskegee area, disabled veterans who have a passion for the outdoors will be able to hunt from two handicap-accessible shooting blinds this fall. Construction on the projects is slated for completion in the next few weeks and open to veterans in late September to early October for hog season. By deer season, Spratlin will have the preserve well-stocked with whitetails. According to Popwell, he and Spratlin met last year. After hearing of Spratlin's idea for the blinds, he said he agreed to help make the idea a reality.
With assistance from the staff at the Tiger Town Home Depot location, Popwell was able to secure a grant that covered the majority of the more than $17,000 in materials needed to complete the project. "We feel like this idea is just a way to give back. I told Ricky that there's always (veterans) out there who are sitting and looking outside their window, saying to themselves, I wish could do this or that," Popwell said. "This is going to be an oppor-
tunity for them to feel more normal and that they can go hunting again and enjoy the thrill of dropping a white-tailed deer." Later in the fall,
Popwell will be releasing application forms which veterans can use to sign up and participate. With the construction costs covered,
Popwell added that he is searching for corporate sponsors, particularly for donations of ammunition or firearms that can be later gifted to veterans after a success-
ful hunt. For more information, call Popwell at 817-757-0691, like and follow the nonprofit's social media pages or visit www. flagsforvets.us.
Photos special to the Opelika Observer
Dietrich, from A4 said. “I ain’t stupid, I know how to do stuff, but this thing’s acting weird.” So, I made conversation. This is what my mother taught me to do during uncomfortable situations. My mother believed in talking so much that others didn’t have to. And I learned a little about this cashier. She’s from Ohio. She moved to Florida to be close to
Jackson, from A4 the ground, so there was still enough cotton being grown to measure, and Daddy hired on. Then he enlisted (coerced is a better word) me to help him. So, it followed that for a few summers, Daddy and I went out at dawn and came back at dusk, five days a week, going from cotton field to cotton field in a WWII surplus Jeep, measuring. Now, of course, I would have rather been playing baseball with my friends. But I got to know cotton, got to know cotton farmers and got to know my Daddy. Looking back, those were the best summers of my life. And of all the farms we measured, one stands out above the rest. I recall the day. We pulled up at a small house, sitting on rock pillars, with a tiny
her sister after her father died from brain cancer. It was hell on earth, being her father’s caregiver. It was even worse after he died. She had no family left in her hometown. So, she crammed her children into a car and left for Florida. She had nothing but car problems along the way. She broke down twice and burnt up her savings getting into this state. She applied for jobs and finally landed at this one. She also has other jobs. She works on a painting crew. She cleans
porch, slightly at an angle, flowers potted in coffee cans and a single rocking chair. The yard was swept clean. Dogs and chickens co-existed peacefully. Daddy knocked on the porch post. An elderly man came out. Tall, lean, gray stubble of a beard, overalls and brogans -- no socks. Daddy told him why we were there. He invited us around back to his patch. He was justly proud. The cotton was tall. The middles were clean as a new ground. If there was ever cotton that could realize the farmers dreamed-of a “bail-an-acre” this was it. Only there wasn’t even an acre. His allotment, the grand total granted him by the federal government, was 2/10th of an acre. We measured it quickly. And as we turned to leave, I wondered aloud why he bothered with so little. He smiled and told
pools. Her oldest child has a mild form of autism. She and her boys live in a house with her sister’s family. Eight people live under one roof, altogether. Eight. There is a lot going on underneath that face of hers. And even though she doesn’t say it outright, I know she still misses her father. She feels like a burden on her sister. I also know she is running low on sleep, and I know that—thanks to the miracles of technology—today she feels like
me, gently, “I’ve got to have something for my mule to do.” And he motioned over to the animal – neat, solid and graying, like the man. Looking back, I understand what he meant. Four elements made up the culture of rural Alabama – man, field, crop and animal. A balanced equation. The farmer could not conceive of one without the others. Which is why they all seemed to disappear together – victims of progress and government planning. Today, a couple of piles of stone show where the house once stood. The patch is grown up in pines. The farmer is gone. No neighbors recall his name. The mule is gone too. They don’t remember its name either. It was Betty. Harvey H. (Hardy) Jackson is Professor Emeritus of History at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hjackson@cableone.net.
a complete moron. I left my cash on the counter and exited with powdered donuts, coffee and a newspaper. But I’ve been thinking about her ever since. I suppose I wish I could rewind that morning and start it over for her. I wish I could paint her day bright gold, and tell her everything is going to be okay—even when it doesn’t seem like it. But I can’t do that. All I can do is write a few hundred words and hope she sees them. And if, by chance, one of those
Hodge, from A4 I wasn’t alone. Sprawled in the grass was a mutt of a dog, a mixed breed of hound and who knows, with his faced buried in the roots of a tree. He snorted and dug and occasionally looked up at me with dew on his whiskers and mud around his eyes. But I was not important to him. There was definitely something under that tree. After a few minutes of this, I couldn’t resist. Dogs, I am convinced, are born with a magnet deep in their furry bodies that draws me to them. It is impossible not to pet a dog. He raised his head as I approached and watched as I squatted down next to him. Before I could reach out to touch his soft (and very unclean) head, he leaned into my hand and rubbed his face on my fingers. “I see you’ve met Regular,” a voice said. I looked up to see a man in coveralls and work boots standing beside me. “Regular?” I asked. “Yep. That’s his name,” was his answer. “Interesting name,” I replied. “Well, he’s an interesting
annoyed customers reads this, I’d like to say one more thing: I hope you have a perfect life, friend. I hope you have everything you need to be happy. Big things, small things, family and friends. Because one day, you’re going to have a bad day. One day, you’re going to feel like you might not make it. You’ll feel lost in your own life; you’ll feel sad; and overwhelmed; and unsure; and incompetent; and worried; and weak; and tired; and afraid; and overlooked and foolish.
dog. He’s about as ordinary as a dog can be. And that’s what makes him so interesting.” As if to remind me that my primary job was to continue rubbing his ears, Regular leaned harder against me and barked a pleasant little bark. “Yep, he’s just a no-count little mutt,” the gentleman continued. “But he’s about as perfect as a dog can be.” “I understand. He’s the miraculous ordinary,” I said quietly. “Exactly,” Regular’s owner said and smiled at me. “You got it exactly right.” “My friend taught me about the miraculous ordinary. She died yesterday.” I wasn’t even sure why I was telling him this, but I couldn’t help myself. “Well, that’s a sad thing. I’m very sorry.” Regular had rolled over on his back by this time, and his owner rubbed him gently. “Would you like to walk Regular around the fountain? He just loves looking at the water.” He smiled at me as I took Regular’s leash and attached it to his collar. With only a slight tug, Regular was up and running. He leaped up on to the side of the fountain and gazed at his reflection in the water. And then, I swear,
When that day comes, I sincerely hope that someone is nice to you. Wherever you are. Whoever you are. However important you might be... Be nice. Sean Dietrich is a columnist, and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Southern Living, the Tallahassee Democrat, Southern Magazine, Yellowhammer News, the Bitter Southerner, the Mobile Press Register and he has authored seven books. he looked at me and smiled. He tilted his head, looked me right in the eye, and grinned. Just an ordinary dog on an ordinary morning, living his best happy life and sharing it with me. It was a slice of the Miraculous Ordinary. My friend was right. Life is an endless parade of everyday stories that are profound and precious. Other people’s stories, and our own…. the witnessing of seemingly average, unimportant moments that are, in fact, priceless. That’s what our lives are made up of, after all, isn’t it? One second after another of trivial moments and routine actions that may look like nothing special when you’re living them. But when we step back and look with our heart wide open, we see the masterpiece they have combined to create. I’m so glad I knew my friend. I’m so grateful I got to hear her tell other people’s stories with such compassion. She was a precious part of the tapestry of my life, a bright thread that wove its way through the years. Oh, how she will be missed. Wendy Hodge is an Opelika native, an empty nester and lover of all things Opelika.
pelika O Opinion Lindy White’s Tanology relocates to Thach Avenue; finds support from Searcy Kelly’s MedAesthetics A6
Aug. 28, 2019
By Bradley Robertson For the Opelika Observer In the little nook of the world that is East Alabama, people can find the pleasures of that small town, community feel but enjoy the reach and sustainable business of city life. Everywhere one looks, they can see supportive efforts from one small business to the next, lifting up each other in our endeavors, to reach the goal of serving their community well. Two outstanding businesswomen, Searcy Kelly and Lindy White, operate their businessines in a small white brick building off Thach Avenue in Auburn. Both women have their own unique model to serve their customers and yet they are joining forces to better influence each other and their clients. Kelly of Auburn MedAesthetics has been serving Auburn at 305 E. Thach, Suite N. for nearly three years. Along with her mother, Dr. Nancy Haring, they specialize in helping women care for their skin. Their services include facials, chemical peels, waxing, Botox and fillers by Juvederm. Kelly has been an aesthetician for more than 13 years. She has worked in doctors’ offices, spas and large
private practice settings. She believes the small, intimate atmosphere she serves in today is ideal for her clients and best suits their needs. To Kelly’s pleasant surprise, another young entrepreneur moved into the same Thach Avenue building this summer, White of Tanology in Auburn. “I was thrilled when Lindy moved in,” Kelly said. “Someone with similar values and clientele. It made perfect sense to me that the Lord was doing something cool on Thach Avenue.” White has been tanning women all over the Auburn-Opelika area and beyond for 10 years. Her specialty is an all-natural spray tan that is healthy for the skin and gives women of all ages a natural look. Moving onto Thach was not in the original plan for White and her business. She was set to move into a larger, local office, but when plans fell through, she soon discovered the open space next to Kelly. “I had been a client of Searcy and Dr. Haring for a while and had always loved their location. God shut the door on my original plan and opened the door on Thach,” White said. Kelly and White have the opportunity to each run their own,
individual business but are able to offer more opportunity to their clients by having their spaces side by side. The partnership is one that will benefit both women as they serve similar clientele. Kelly and White both hold strong beliefs too in serving women and boosting their confidence. “I like to say ‘a spray tan is confidence applied directly to the body.’ Personally, I feel better with a spray tan and my clients tell me they feel the same way. They feel like their makeup looks better and they feel more confident in shorts or a swimsuit,” White said. When asked about her mission within the community, Kelly’s answer was similar, “What we do is take care of people’s skin, which in return makes them feel more confident. Many women feel better with a tan. But we all know it is not healthy for our skin coming from the sun. So now I am able to offer people the best tan there is around!” Both women have demographics that easily cross paths from one business owner to another. White can take an appointment for a tan and easily send them to Kelly for their facial services. “We serve high school girls that maybe want a wax and a tan, we serve college girls
Photo by Bradley Robertson/Opelika Observer Kelly and White kicked-off their new season of working in tandem with customers during an event last week offering discounts and monthly subscriptions for services. that want to begin taking care of their skin. And of course,
we serve moms and grandmothers that want to have a tan look but also are very much wanting to take care of their face as well.” Kelly sees their smaller, intimate space and easy communcation as an asset as well. “We have a non-intimidating atmosphere. It’s comfortable. You don’t have to wait in a waiting room for either one of us. We serve women who may want to show up and tan in their pajamas or want to try Botox without seeing someone they know. We are easily reached through text message and we can coordinate clients with one another.” Kelly said. White agreed that the personal touch they offer is key to their clients and giving them the best experience in town. “For the services we offer, generally, you come in, not in your best clothing, no make-up on and you get your services and leave straight to your car with out having to walk through a waiting room. It’s a very personal one-on-one setting.” A smaller scale space also gives Kelly and White the opportunity to offer very
competitive pricing. Another bonus to their Thach location is the close proximity to Auburn University. “We are walking distance to literally thousands of college students,” White said. Kelly and White are eager to serve women and allow them to feel their best in their own skin. “Many of us work hard by eating and exercising to feel our best but it doesn’t always show in the mirror,” Kelly said. “I want people to walk by their reflection and feel good about what they see, with or without make-up.” “I have a passion for serving women and helping them feel confident. I’m especially driven to mentor college girls and (build) relationships over time that I know will last forever,” White added. Kelly and White kicked off their new season together by holding an event last Tuesday at their location on Thach, offering discount services and monthly subscriptions. Both businesses may be found on Instagram or be reached by texting Kelly at 251-753-4133 and White at 816-7693159.
Opelika E vents, Society, & Food
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: •Aug. 31 - Opelika SportsPlex’s 10th anniversary celebration • Sept. 5 - The April Verch Band at Sundilla • Sept. 6 - Penny and Sparrow John Emerald Distillery • Sept. 7 - Johnny Ray Century Bike Ride to benefit the Davis Phinney Foundation
Serve a refreshing ice cream dessert on Labor Day Ann Cipperly’s
Southern
Hospitality
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abor Day generally signals the end of summer, as children have returned to school and the football season begins. Whether you are spending Labor Day weekend at home, the lake or beach, relax with easy meals and a refreshing ice cream dessert. This year has been devastating for many in our area who have lost loved ones in accidents or tornadoes. For some it has meant rebuilding their home as well as their life. The losses have reminded all of us that
life is fragile, and how important it is for us to express love and cherish our families. This weekend, plan to spend time relaxing with your family and telling stories about happy memories. Turn the television off and put away cell phones to focus on doing things together. Our children have moved away for work, so when they visit or we visit them, the time is so special for us. We want every moment to count. We linger over meals and reaffirm memories of good times.
One of our granddaughters loves to hear family stories. I will Photo by Ann Cipperly start telling a story and Relax over Labor Day weekend with family and friends preparing easy meals. For a refreshing before I can finish, she treat, make homemade ice cream or a dessert with ice cream. Margo Herndon’s mother’s recipe will say, “What hapfor Easy Peach Crunch is topped with vanilla ice cream for a delicious dessert on Labor Day. pened next?” We will had, ice cream is the or burgers and serve laugh over funny things ahead and frozen, with perfect dessert. with a big salad embelsome in the refrigerathat have happened. Homemade ice cream lished with lots of fresh I try to keep stories of tor ready to serve the is a special treat. I have vegetables. their great-grandparents day they arrive. While fond memories as a Before the meal, set I enjoy cooking for and other family memchild sitting under the out a tray of cheeses them, I want to spend bers alive. My parents shade of a towering with fruit and crackers every minute possible loved their grandchilChinaberry tree watchfor snacking. Nothing is with them and not in the dren and great-granding my father make ice easier for an appetizer. kitchen. children. I don’t want cream. He would fill For dessert, serve To spend more time the children to forget the the sides around the ice refreshing ice cream, an with your family this stories about them. cream container with ice cream dessert or an weekend, have several When the children crushed ice and rock easy fruit dessert topped dishes prepared ahead. and grandchildren visit, salt. We would sit and with the icy treat. With For some meals, simI have as many meals the hot weather we have ply grill chicken breasts as possible prepared See Cipperly, page A11
Distinguished Young Women continues legacy of promoting the success of local students By Kelly Daniel For the Opelika Observer On Aug. 3, Distinguished Young Women of Lee County wrapped up this year’s program, naming rising senior Kaitlyn Goodman of Opelika High School as the first-place winner. This year’s program continues the Lee County chapter’s longstanding tradition of promoting academic success and friendship among young women in
Photo special to the Opelika Observer
local high schools. Distinguished Young Women (DYW) states on its website that the organization, which was founded in 1958 in Mobile, is the
oldest and largest scholarship program for female high school students in the United States. State See DYW, page A10
April Verch Band to make Sundilla concert debut Sept. 5 Special to the Opelika Observer The April Verch Band, known for giving audiences "a foot-stompin' good time" according to organizers, will make their Sundilla debut on Sept. 5. Verch began her fulltime touring career in 2000 and has performed around the world, including festival, theatre and performing arts center appearances in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Ger-
The April Verch Band many, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and United Arab Emirates.
The Ottawa Valley native has garnered praise from music’s heavy See Sundilla, page A16
Monday-Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM
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pelika O Observer
Museum of East Alabama turned 30 last week
Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer A 30-year anniversary celebration for the Museum of East Alabama was held last Tuesday. The event featured food, music, refreshments and a talk from museum operators who expressed their gratitude to the community for its support and shared their favorite memories from the last 30 years. According to the museum’s website, the museum exists “to provide an environment for public benefit for the interpretation, exhibiting and housing of historical items and memorabilia.”
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Standard Deluxe in Waverly to host ‘Dirt Road Century’ bike race Oct. 19 Special to the Opelika Observer The Standard Deluxe Dirt Road Century is returning to Waverly on Oct. 19. The dirtroad race will begin and end at the eclectic Standard Deluxe music venue. The race boasts three different routes: a 30, 60 and 100-mile option. Each route will be equipped with aid stations offering food, water and support and gear vehicles. However, participants are encouraged to bring enough supplies to sustain themselves in between stations. The 60 and 100mile race routes are competitive, awarding a first, second and third-place prize for the top-three females and males in each
route. The coveted prize is a handcrafted, mustache-themed mug courtesy of the Opelika craft shop Birdsongs. In keeping with the grassroots spirit of the event, non-competitive riders also have the opportunity to win fun prizes based on categories such as human wheelbarrow races and a mustache contest. “This ensures everyone has the chance to win even if they aren’t the fastest on the bike,” said event spokesperson Mike Bowen. All participants can enjoy a free meal (and a cold beer) following the race, as well as live music and games at the Standard Deluxe. The event is family-friendly. "We started this
race as a fun grassroots way to increase cycling awareness in the area, highlight the beautiful roads and landscape Alabama has to offer and, most importantly, provide a laid back, fun atmosphere for people to hang out and enjoy good food, music and comradery,” said Scott Dirksen, another event spokesperson. “Even with the increase in demand for the event, we will never compromise the grassroots dirt road bike experience for all levels of cyclists and spectators." Registration for the race sold out in a record four weeks earlier this summer. Interested cyclists can still register for the waitlist for each route. Those interested in
Photo special to the Opelika Observer attending the event without competing are also encouraged to sign up for the volunteer list. For more informa-
tion about the Standard Deluxe Dirt Road Century, contact Bowen at michael.john. bowen@gmail.com or Mark Gomez at mark.
gomez2013@gmail. com. Those interested can also visit www. terrafirmacycling. com/standard-deluxedirt-road-century-1.
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DYW, from A7 and local programs work with the national organization and recruit participants from high schools. Distinguished Young Women and the Lee County Program The Lee County chapter is led by Chairman Dr. Jennifer Stone, who works as a mathematics lecturer at Auburn University, a small board of directors and a committed team of volunteers who aim to provide a positive experience to any young woman who wishes to participate and who meets the qualifications of being in her junior year of high school and attending a school in Lee County. Many former participants and winners go on to volunteer and otherwise support the organization for years to follow, as Dr. Stone
explained. “We also have some whose daughters have participated and just really enjoyed the program,” Stone said. One such volunteer is Lauren Beesley, a photographer and small business owner who resides in Lee County and who won first place in the local program in Lexington, South Carolina in 2010. “As a very introverted and academic person, the local experience taught me a lot about stepping out of my comfort zone and owning my achievements and talents and opinions,” Beesley stated in an email conversation with The Opelika Observer. “I have continued being involved with DYW in the Lee County area because it is so important for young women to be encouraged and recognized for developing their talents and academics and personal beliefs.” Benefits of
Participating Anyone who chooses to be a part of DYW can participate in the program’s workshops, which provide training in public speaking, interview skills and fitness workshops, as well as the opportunity to make connections with many other young women in the area. By being a part of the program, participants can qualify for scholarships awarded by universities, as DYW points out on their website. With no entrance or participation fees, the program aims to facilitate the success of everyone who participates. “We want everyone, no matter who wins, to come out of the program with a good experience and to feel like they’ve grown as a person,”Stone said. When asked in her interview with what she considers the most beneficial aspects of the DYW program, Stone brought up the interview workshop.
“The interview workshop is very beneficial, because it’s not necessarily just geared toward this interview,” Stone said. “[The workshop prepares participants for] any of the things that they would be interviewing for in college, such as SGA, Ambassadors, leadership roles and other college extracurriculars.” Another benefit is the social component of a program that brings together achievement-oriented young people from many backgrounds and with a variety of interests. Stone was pleased to have such a broad representation of schools participate in 2019, in large part because of the opportunity to form a positive social community among participants. Beesley also shared the benefits of the social aspect. “It connects these girls who are willing to get out of their comfort zone with other young women who
are similarly minded and motivated, which can lead to some great friendships and continued encouragement from positive influences long after the program is over.” Goals for the Future The local chapter aims to continue to grow with Lee County and increase its ability to serve local young women. Stone said that she hopes the program will raise more scholarship funds from individuals and businesses in upcoming years. Another objective is to recruit more volunteers to assist in serving local communities and to decrease the workload demanded of each board member and volunteer. The Competition After the workshops and practice, the actual competition begins. DYW scores participants in four areas: academic achievement represents 25%, the interview component makes up 25%, the talent competition is 20% of the total score, while selfexpression and fitness are 15% each. After the local competition, the winners move on to state and national competitions. As local winners advance to the state and national levels, the scholarship awards increase in value. At the state level in Alabama, participants compete to win $42,500, while in the national competition, more than $3 million are available. Overall, the program helps young women access $1 billion each year in scholarship funds. Reasons for the Name Change The Junior Miss program changed its name to Distinguished Young Women 10 years ago to clarify that the program is a scholarship program and not a beauty pageant, as Stone explained. The
DYW website states, “Distinguished Young Women, formerly America’s Junior Miss, was founded in 1958 as a way to reward the accomplishments of high school senior girls seeking to pursue higher education.” Even so, as Stone mentioned, the organization found that confusion persisted due to the fact that several beauty pageants have started over the years with names that are similar to “Junior Miss.” Several of its defining characteristics, such as being completely free of charge to participate, the emphasis on scholarly achievement and interview performance, as well as the opportunity to participate in life skills workshops, set the organization apart from beauty pageants. History of Distinguished Young Women Distinguished Young Women (DYW), previously known as America’s Junior Miss, is a nationwide scholarship organization that was founded in Mobile in 1958. The DYW website explains that the program started out as a local campaign to recruit qualified high school seniors to help with the city’s annual Azalearama event that awarded scholarships to the participants. However, the founders quickly realized due to the enormous outpouring of applications that there was an unmet need for scholarship programs dedicated to young women, after which the Junior Miss Program was created. The program is dedicated to the empowerment of young women who participate at the local, state and national levels, as is explained on the organization’s website.
pelika O Observer Cipperly, from A7 watch as he turned the handle until it became difficult to turn. We could hardly wait to dig into the icy goodness on a hot summer afternoon.
Recipes, Mama’s Easy Peach Crunch with Vanilla Ice Cream Margo Herndon 4 to 5 peaches 1 cup Bisquick 1 cup or less sugar 1 egg, beaten 1 stick butter, melted Cut up peaches and put in bottom of casserole dish. Mix Bisquick, sugar and egg until crumbly and spread over the top of peaches. Then, pour melted butter over top. Bake at 350 degrees until brown and crispy. Serve with ice cream. Note: Can substitute canned cherries or apples for peaches. Ice Cream Angel Food Cake Rose Ann Denson Kids like this, and it looks festive. 10-inch angel food cake 1 pint chocolate ice cream 1 pint vanilla ice cream 1 pint strawberry ice cream Whipped Cream Frosting ¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted (optional) Wrap cake in plastic wrap; freeze 30 minutes. Let ice cream stand at room temperature 20 minutes to soften. Slice cake horizontally into 4 equal layers using a serrated knife. Place bottom layer on serving plate; spread top of layer with chocolate ice cream, leaving a ½ inch border. Top with second layer; repeat layers with vanilla ice cream, cake layer and strawberry ice cream, topping with cake layer. Wrap cake in plastic wrap and freeze at least 8 hours or overnight. Spread whipped cream frosting on top and sides of cake. Garnish top evenly with almonds, if desired. Whipped Cream Frosting Beat 2 cups whipping cream on high with an electric mixer until cream is foamy. Gradually add 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla extract, beating until stiff peaks form. Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Mende Hunter 5 cups half and half, divided 2 1/2 cups sugar 4 large eggs
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Now, making ice cream is a much easier process of freezing the container, adding the ice cream mixture and plugging it up. In a fairly short time, the ice cream is ready. You don’t have to make your own ice cream to have a scrumptious dessert. An ice
cream pie can be assembled using store bought ice cream. Let the children help. You can make it days ahead and have it ready to pull out of the freezer when ready to serve. Rose Ann Denson’s Ice Cream Angel Food Cake makes an attractive dessert. Make it ahead
and pull it out of the freezer to surprise your family for a delightful dessert. An ice cream bar is always popular and easy to assemble. Place two or three tubs of ice cream on the counter with an assortment of toppings, such as chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, chopped
nuts, chopped strawberries, chocolate chips, crumbled cookies and sprinkles. Let everyone create their own sundae. If you have fresh peaches on hand, make Margo Herndon’s mother’s recipe for Easy Peach Crunch and top with vanilla ice cream. Bisquick is used for the
batter to save time. Look over the following recipes for a delectable dessert to serve. Whatever you serve on Labor Day, be sure to save time for showing appreciation and love to your family. Ann Cipperly can be reached at recipes@cipperly.com
3 pkgs. cream cheese, softened 2 1/2 tsp. lemon juice 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract 2 pints fresh blueberries In a large saucepan combine 3 cups of half and half, sugar and eggs. Cook and stir over medium heat just until boiling. In a large mixing bowl beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth; gradually beat in hot mixture. Cover and chill thoroughly. Stir in remaining half and half, lemon juice, vanilla extract and blueberries. Freeze in a 4 or 5 quart ice cream freezer according to manufacturer’s directions. Place in freezer for four hours to let flavors blend.
heavy cream. Process until smooth. Chill mixture in the refrigerator until it reaches 40 degrees. Transfer mixture to an ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer’s instructions. Place in an airtight container and freeze 3 to 6 hours before serving.
from freezer and top with another 1/2 pint ice cream; spread evenly over caramel. Spread 1/2 cup fudge sauce over ice cream. Freeze pie until solid, 30 minutes to 2 hours. Remove frozen pie and top with final 1/2 pint of ice cream. Drizzle remaining 2 Tbsp. each caramel and fudge sauce over pie. Freeze pie until solid, 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. In a medium bowl, whip the heavy cream and confectioners’ sugar until firm peaks form. Transfer whipped cream to a plastic bag and snip off a 1/4-inch tip with scissors. Pipe whipped cream around edge of pie. Freeze until ready to serve. Serve with additional whipped cream, if desired.
cream, softened ½ cup whipped cream 2 Tbsp. crème de cacao, optional Dissolve coffee in boiling water (can be done in microwave in glass cup); stir into softened ice cream along with 2/3 cup of brickle. Pile into pie crust. Whip cream and as it begins to get stiff, pour in crème de cacao. Spread on top of ice cream filling. Top with remaining brickle. Freeze until ready to serve. Serves 8.
ice cream, softened 1 cup coarsely chopped cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, divided (about 10 cookies) 6-oz. ready-made chocolate crumb pie crust 2 Tbsp. chocolate syrup or sauce Place pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool. Stir together ice cream, 3/4 cup cookie chunks, and 1/3 cup pecans; spoon into pie crust. Freeze 10 minutes. Press remaining cookie chunks and pecans evenly on top. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze 8 hours. Drizzle individual slices evenly with chocolate syrup.
Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream Emily Mullins Two 14 oz. cans sweetened condensed milk 14 1/2 oz. can evaporated milk 1 cup whipping cream 2 tsp. vanilla Milk Combine condensed milk, evaporated milk, whipping cream and vanilla in an ice cream canister. Add enough milk to reach the fill line inside the canister. Freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. Chocolate Ice Cream To make chocolate ice cream, substitute chocolate milk for milk.
Mexican Sundae Ice Cream Pie Julia Thomas 26 Oreo cookies ½ stick margarine 1 can Hershey’s chocolate syrup ½ gallon vanilla ice cream 1 cup Spanish peanuts 12 oz. Cool Whip Crush 24 Oreos in a plastic bag. Melt margarine; mix with crushed Oreos. Press in 9x13 inch pan. Cover with ½ can Hershey’s chocolate syrup. Slice ice cream into 1½-inch slices. Arrange slices over crust. Sprinkle peanuts over top. Cover with remaining syrup. Spread Cool Whip on syrup and sprinkle two crushed Oreos over top. Freeze. Serve in 2-inch squares.
Banana Ice Cream Emily Mullins 6 (about 2 1/4 lb.) ripe bananas 1 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice 3/4 cup light corn syrup 1 vanilla bean, scraped (or 1 tsp. vanilla) 1 1/2 cups heavy cream Place bananas in freezer and freeze overnight. Remove bananas and allow to thaw 45 minutes to an hour. Peel bananas and place in a food processor with lemon juice. Process for 10 to15 seconds. Add corn syrup and vanilla bean seeds; turn processor on, and slowly pour in
Hot Fudge Sauce 2 squares unsweetened chocolate 1 cup sugar 1 small can evaporated milk 2 Tbsp. butter 1/2 tsp. vanilla Melt chocolate in top of double boiler; add sugar and gradually stir in evaporated milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly and boil for 1 minute. Add butter and vanilla.
Ice Cream Sundae Pie 2 pints vanilla ice cream, softened 9-inch graham cracker crust 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. caramel sauce 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. fudge sauce 3/4 cup heavy cream 2 Tbsp. confectioners’ sugar Use a large spoon to scoop 1 pint ice cream into thin, flat scoops, and then spread on bottom of crust. Smooth with back of spoon. Spread 1/2 cup caramel sauce over ice cream. Freeze pie until solid, 30 minutes to 2 hours. Remove frozen pie
Havlin’s Super Easy Summer Dessert Frances Blackburn 12 ice cream sandwiches 1 jar caramel sauce 1 medium container Cool Whip 2 Heath candy bars, crushed 2 Tbsp. chocolate sauce Place ice cream sandwiches with sides touching in a 12 by 8-inch rectangular dish. Pour caramel sauce over all and spread to cover sandwiches completely. Spread Cool Whip over caramel sauce and press crushed Heath bar pieces slightly into whipped topping. Drizzle chocolate sauce over top. Cover with lid or plastic wrap. Freeze several hours before serving. Slice into desired serving pieces with sharp knife. Refreeze unused portion. Keeps well in freezer. Serves 12 to 16. Toffee Ice Cream Pie This recipe was given to me years ago by Mary Samford. It makes an easy special dessert. Take it out of the freezer a few minutes before serving. 9-inch graham cracker pie crust 2 Tbsp. instant coffee 1 Tbsp. boiling water 1 pkg. Heath brickle or 6 crumbed Heath bars, divided 1 quart vanilla ice
Peach Ice Cream Pie with Coconut Crust Can also use filling in a graham cracker crust. 3 Tbsp. butter 1 can (3 ½ oz.) flaked coconut 2 cups chopped fresh peaches 1 to 1½ -quarts vanilla ice cream, softened Chopped pecans or walnuts, optional Melt butter in a 9-inch pie plate in a 350 degree oven. Mix in coconut and press onto bottom and sides of pie plate. Bake for about 12 minutes or until coconut is lightly brown. Chill. Add peaches to ice cream and pile into chilled crust. Sprinkle a few nuts over top, if desired. Freeze until ready to serve. Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie 9-inch graham cracker pie crust 4 Tbsp. peanut butter 4 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 pint vanilla ice cream Crushed peanuts Melt peanut butter and brown sugar in saucepan. Add ice cream and stir until mixture is well blended. Pour into pie crust and top with crushed peanuts. Freeze until ready to serve. Mocha-Pecan Ice Cream Pie 1/2 cup chopped pecans Vegetable cooking spray 1 tsp. sugar 1 pint coffee ice cream, softened 1 pint chocolate
Food Ratings No. 1 Restaurant 1451 Fox Run Pkwy Opelika Score: 100 Subway 2319 Lee Road 427 Phenix City Score: 100 Pizza Hut 2319 Lee Road 427 Phenix City Score: 99 Publix Deli 2900 E. University Drive Auburn Score: 99 Hornet Quick Stop 7717 Alabama Highway 51 Opelika Score: 97 Jim Bob’s Chicken Fingers 2070 Frederick Road Opelika Score: 97 McDonald’s 2900 Pepperell Pkwy Opelika Score: 91
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Upcoming gospel concert to benefit foster children By Natalie Salvatore For the Opelika Observer Using their passions for gospel music and foster children, Joseph Halsey and his father, who is turning 60 at the end of the month, discovered a way to celebrate his birthday. Instead of wanting his special day to be about himself, his father sought to find a way to make his birthday about foster kids. Combining this with inspiration from his all-time favorite southern gospel music group, he and his son started work on producing a fundrais-
er concert for the entire community. All proceeds from the Sept. 13 gospel concert will benefit The Big House Foundation of Opelika, an organization that supports foster children in Lee County and surrounding areas. After becoming certified foster parents, Halsey and his wife decided to foster two children. His whole family is supportive on their decision, as they all feel a special connection to this cause. “We felt like this was a good way we could do something to give back and try to help The
Big House Foundation. There are never enough resources to take care of everything that needs to be taken care of, so we are trying to do some-
thing to help a lot of kids,” Halsey said. Gold City, a heavilyawarded, all-male quartet gospel group, is scheduled to perform at
the concert. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the show beginning an hour later. “I hope that people will be able to come and enjoy some really won-
derful, top-notch music and praise the worship,” Halsey said. Tickets are $25, with the option to purchase one’s seat upon arrival. Debit and credit cards will be accepted. The event, featuring a full concession stand, will be held in the Southern Room of Southern Union State Community College’s Business and Technology Center, located at 301 Lake Condy Road in Opelika. For more information on the approaching event, call Halsey at 256473-1891. For tickets, contact halseyproductions316@gmail.com.
OBITUARIES Capt. Jack F. Saint, U.S. Army (Ret.) Capt. Jack F. Saint, U.S. Army (Ret.) passed away at his home on August 27, 2019. He was predeceased by his wife, Paula D. Saint and survived by two daughters, Sophia S. Benson (Stephen) of Auburn, and Cheryl Sepulveda of Opelika as well as his sister, Ramona Massey of Lawton, Oklahoma. Charles Leslie Maddox Charles Leslie Maddox went to be with the Lord on Friday, August 23, 2019. He was born in Columbiana, Alabama on September 20, 1928, and was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma, and parents Marjorie and Leslie Maddox, and 5 sisters. Upon graduation from high school in 1946 he began a 2 year enlistment in the U. S. Navy and was involved in 2 “ goodwill tours “ into Northern Europe and the Mediterranean area. Upon discharge, he enrolled in Auburn University pursuing a degree in Agricultural Science. After a brief interruption with
Jack, lovingly known as Andada, will also be missed by four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Mr. Saint was born in Hatton, Alabama and graduated from Hazelwood High School in 1960. In 1963, after briefly attending Auburn University, Mr. Saint put his education on hold to enlist in the U.S. Army serving multiple tours in Vietnam. He was in the
the Post Office (18 months), he completed his degree in March, 1953. He worked for a time with Ralston Purina Company before accepting a job as Assistant County Agent with the Extension Division of Auburn University in Lee County, Al. During 1959 – 1960, he was granted a study leave to obtain his Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics. He was selected for membership in Gamma Sigma Delta, Omicron Delta Epsilon, and Epsilon Sigma Pi. He was also a member of the Theta Chi social fraternity during his undergraduate studies. His professional career, in addition to time as Assis-
Raiders Gunship Platoon of the UTT Armed Helicopter Company, 1st Calvary Airborne Division. Piloting both Huey and Cobra aircrafts, Mr. Saint first flew reconnaissance then combat missions. He was honored to have received the Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as, the Air Medal with Valor 39 times, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Cross of Gallantry with Palm,
tant County Agent, involved serving as a specialist in Agricultural Economics on the Extension Staff at Auburn University, Auburn, Al. The last ten years of his career was in administration as Head of Extension Agricultural Economics, and then, Associate Director of Extension. The latter position involved coordination of state wide programs in agriculture, home economics, rural development, and 4-H youth development. He retired from Auburn University in October, 1984. Mr. Maddox is survived by his 4 children: Clynda (Duane) Cowart, Dereida ( J. R. ) Bishop, Chuck
Army Commendation Medal with Bars, Presidential Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal. Mr. Saint was designated as the helicopter pilot for Hubert Humphrey during the Vice President’s visit to Vietnam. Subsequent to the
(Debra) Maddox, and Chip Maddox, 5 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren, 5 sisters, and 1 brother. Visitation was held at Jeffcoat – Trant Funeral Home on Aug. 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. A graveside service at Garden Hills Cemetery was conducted on Aug. 26 at 10 a. m. and a celebration of life followed at 11 a. m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Opelika, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Trinity United Methodist Church where Mr. Maddox was a member since 1954. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.
war, Mr. Saint returned to Auburn University earning a degree in Aviation Management in 1971. He continued his service in the Army ending his military career with his final assignment as an ROTC Instructor at Auburn University. He retired in 1977. Following his military retirement, Mr. Saint graduated from Jones School of Law and practiced law for
Betty Joyce Johnson Betty J Johnson of Montgomery, Al passed away peacefully in her sleep July 17, 2019 at Capitol Hill HC. Born in Opelika Al, June 8, 1934. She was preceded in death by parents, Robert and Lois Holladay, brothers Wane and Clyde Holladay, son Kenneth Gregory JohnJohn T. “Jr.” Huff John T. "Jr." Huff of Opelika was born to the late John T. and Eula Huff on January 3, 1930 and passed on August 22, 2019. He was 89 years old. He was an avid bird hunter and loved building anything with wood. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Betty Ann Huff; son, Darrell Huff (Betsy); grandchild, Casey Huff; sister, Eula Will Mayberry. Visitation will be held
Help protect your patients against vaccinepreventable diseases. Send out recall/reminder cards Assess the vaccination status of school-age patients utilizing ImmPRINT’s Vaccine Forecaster or Not-Up-To-Date Report Provide a strong recommendation for vaccinations
VACCINATE Schedule the follow-up appointment Adolescent students not up-to-date on required and ACIP recommended vaccine may be offered those during a school-based vaccine clinic or by a pharmacist
For more information on current vaccine recommendations and scheduling, please scan the QR code for the Back to School flyer or visit www.alabamapublichealth.gov/immunization.
several years before retiring to Lake Martin. There he became a proud and very active member of Pace’s Point Fire Dept as both a fire fighter and EMT. Visitation will commence at l p.m. on Friday, August 30, 2019, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home, immediately followed by funeral services at 2 p.m. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is directing
son. She is survived by daughter Sandra Horne, Orlando Fl, brothers Joe and Harold Holladay, sisters Wanda Burks, Brenda Swiney, Marsha Zimmerman, five grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, special niece Tracey Stephenson, Montgomery Al. She will be remembered and missed by all her family and friends. in the Parlor at FrederickDean Funeral Home Saturday, August 24, 2019 from 12:00 until 12:50 p.m. A funeral service was held in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home on Aug. 24, 2019 at 1 p.m. with Kevin Johnson officiating. A private family burial followed. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Lee County Humane Society or Charity of your choice. Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.
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eligion
Swollen nets and shattered hearts
T Hunley Group Lambert Transfer & Storage An Interstate Agent for North American Van Lines 1102 Fox Trail Opelika, AL 36803 745-5706
hey had been fishing all night and had nothing to show for it. That meant nothing to take to the market and no wages for their long night of work. That’s the way it is with fishing sometimes, every fisherman knows that. He was a little disappointed and more than a little bit tired. They were washing their nets when the Teacher arrived. Almost immediately a group of people gathered around Him and He began teaching. Soon there was such a crowd that people were having difficulty hearing and seeing Him. He stepped into Peter’s boat and asked him to pull out from the shore a bit. Peter didn’t mind. He was
By Bruce Green Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ in Opelika
tired but this was Jesus—no one ever spoke like He did. He put out into the water a bit and Jesus sat down in the boat and began to teach. Everyone, including Peter, listened to Him. Put out into the deep water, and let the nets down for a catch. Peter blinked at the words. Did he hear Jesus correctly? Did He just ask them to go out into the deep water and let down their nets? “Master,
we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” The words came off his lips automatically—almost unconsciously. As much as he admired Jesus, he wasn’t sure He was right about this. After all, He was a carpenter and they were the fishermen. They had poured everything into the night’s work and come up empty. Did He really have that kind of power and authority to know more than they did? But this was Jesus. He wasn’t just another teacher or even another prophet. They had seen Him do some amazing things. Despite his considerable doubts Peter said, “But because You say so,
Church calendar
• Pepperell Baptist’s youth program meets on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. This is an evening of prayer, Bible Study and discussion. For more information, contact youth and children’s pastor Ryno Jones if you need more information at 334-7453108. • Aug. 30 - The church of Christ at Cunningham Drive will hold their quarterly gospel singing at 7 p.m. The building is located at 2660 Cunningham Drive in Opelika. The community is invited to come out and sing.
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
• Aug. 31 - The Mom Tribe: “I Am Enough” Brunch - Join Trinity UMC for brunch and walk away knowing that you are worthy, more beautiful and you are enough and have always been enough. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Trinity Church, Student Center. Purchase your tickets today at www.themomtribe.eventbrite.com. Tickets will include food, childcare for one and a takaway gift.
Fresh Foods...And A Whole Lot More!
603 Pleasant Pleasant Drive 603 Drive Opelika, AL Opelika, AL 36801 749-1333 Mon- Sat7am 7am-8pm Mon-Sat - 8pm Sun 12pm-6pm Sun 12pm - 6pm
to go away. In fact, not only did He remain with Peter—He called him to be His disciple and apostle. “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people” (Luke 5:10). What kind of Lord calls people like Peter into His service? The kind who isn’t concerned with yesterday or last year but with “from now on.” When Christ calls us into deep water, will we hear Him as the Teacher we all like or will we submit to His authority and do what is difficult? “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him” (v. 11). You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: atasteofgracewithbrucegreen. com.
Verse of the Week “But look, God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he lend a hand to the wicked. He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”
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
I will let down the nets.” And they did. And the most incredible thing happened— their nets were soon filled to capacity with fish! They had to call another boat over to help them out. Peter was stung. He really hadn’t thought that Jesus knew what he was talking about, but now he could see that He clearly did. Peter, like many others, had embraced Jesus’ teaching, but he had resisted His authority when it called on him to do something difficult—to go out into deep water. He fell down before Him and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Then the second amazing thing happened. Jesus didn’t honor Peter’s request
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 #749-6432 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
Job 8:20-21 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
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Community Calendar: Events around town
• Aug. 29 - Women’s Business Council Sports Series: with Firing Pin Shooting Sports • Sept 6 - 8:30 a.m. - Pinnacle Cardiovascular Associates Ground Breaking • Sept. 11 - 10 a.m. - Expressions Design Gallery - Ribbon Cutting • Sept. 16 - Marketing Calendar Workshop Ongoing: • Village Friends/Village Values is a nonprofit organization that supports seniors who prefer to stay in their own homes as they grow older. For info or to schedule a presentation to your group, call 334-209-4641. For the website, Google “village friends village values.” • The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR chapter is appealing for sweaters, jackets, trousers, shirts and socks, women’s clothing, soft soap in individual containers, shaving supplies, disposable razors, denture cleanser, toothpaste and toothbrushes, DVDs, games, books and magazines to take to veterans at the CAVHCS in Tuskegee. The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR Chapter regularly visits veterans living in assisted living, the homeless domiciliary and psych (trauma) ward in Tuskegee. Donations are tax deductible and will be much appreciated. Pick up is provided. Please call Linda Shabo at 887-6659 or at 256307-1449. Mondays: • The Lee County Voters League meets the first Mondays of the month at 6 p.m. at Bethesda Baptist Church located at 201
S. 4th St. Opelika • The John Powell American Legion Post 18 and Auxiliary meets the third Monday at 7 p.m. at 910 West Point Parkway in Opelika. • The Opelika Community Band practices from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Auburn High School band room. Everyone is welcome, amateurs and professionals alike. • Smiths Station Military Chapter of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) meets weekly at Mike & Ed’s at 5 p.m. For more information, call 297-5581 or visit www. nonukesforiran.org. • The Touched by Suicide Support Group meets the first Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the East Alabama Medical Center Health Resource Center, 2027 Pepperell Parkway. For more information, contact Deborah Owen, EAMC’s director of Psychiatric Services at 334-5284197 or deborahowen@ eamc.org. • The fourth Monday of each month, a community grief support group meets from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center. No reservations are necessary; everyone is welcome. For more information,
call 826-1899 or 5020216. • T.O.P.S (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), a weight loss support group, meets every Monday night from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Covington Recreation Center, 213 Carver Ave., Opelika. For more info contact Mary Johnson, 749-1584. • The Lee County Commission meets the second and last Mondays of each month at the courthouse beginning at 5 p.m. • The Commercial Horticulture Extension Team organizes webinars to provide quick updates for producers on various topics of interest. Whether you are interested in the proper way to plant fruit trees or have questions in turf management, these webinars cover a wide range of subjects. Webinars are streamed live via Panopto on the last Monday of every month starting in January and ending in November. During the presentation, participants can send questions via email. The webinars also are recorded and stored in the archive on the Beginning Farmer website. Webinar topics include: trap cropping for reducing squash insect pests, cowpea curculio updates, nutsedge control,
introduction to potting mixes in ornamental container production, dealing with drought in commercial horticulture crops and many more. To view the full schedule, please visit www. aces.edu/anr/beginningfarms/webinars.php. Please send questions during the presentations to Ann Chambliss, thameae@auburn.edu. For questions regarding the webinar series or for providing suggestions, please email Dr. Ayanava Majumdar at bugdoctor@auburn.edu. Tuesdays: • Ballroom Dance Classes at the Opelika Sportsplex from 7 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday. Instructor is Cody Wayne Foote. For more info, call Diane at 749-6320. • The East Alabama Old Car Club meets every first Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Monarch Estates Clubhouse, located at 1550 East University Drive, Auburn. A program of interest to the old car enthusiast is presented. Car ownership is not required. • The Opelika City Council meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. Meetings are preceded by non-voting work sessions that typically begin about 6:30 to 6:45 p.m. • Every second Tuesday, a country, gospel and bluegrass music jam session is held at Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church in Beauregard. The event is free and open to the public. Those who play an instrument should bring it and plan to join in. The jam session is held from 6 to 8 p.m. 8685 AL Highway 51. • A Grief Support Group meets at Oak Bowery United Methodist Church Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. for
anyone dealing with the pain of loss and feeling the need for support on their journey as they attempt to bring order and wholeness back into their life. Attendance and participation is strictly voluntary for any and all sessions. There are no fees or charges involved. The church is located on U.S. Highway 431 – eight miles north from Southern Union State Community College and Opelika High School. For more information, contact Bill Parker at 459-0214 or 706-518-9122. • The Auburn Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol meets every Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Auburn University Regional Airport. The Civil Air Patrol is a nonprofit organization that is Congressionally chartered to be the civilian auxiliary of the Air Force and focuses on three missions: aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services. For more information visit www.auburncap.org or find the organization on Facebook. • East Alabama Gem & Mineral Society meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at 5:45 p.m. Meetings are held at the Covington Rec. Center, located at 213 Carver Ave. in Opelika. Wednesdays: • The second Wednesday of each month, a Community Grief Support Group meets from 10 to 11 a.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center. No reservations are necessary. For more info call 826-1899 or 502-0216. • The John Powell American Legion Post 18 and Auxiliary hosts
Bingo every Wednesday night at 6 p.m. • Every Wednesday is Wine Down Wednesday at the Bottling Plant Event Center from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays: • American Legion Auxiliary Unit 152 meets the first Thursday of every month at 11 a.m. at Niffer’s Place, 917 S. Railroad Ave. in Opelika. • The Teal Magnolias Gynecological Cancer Support Group meets the second Thursday of every third month at 6 p.m. at EAMC Health Resource Center, 2027 Pepperell Parkway. For more information on the Teal Magnolias, email tealmagnoliasAL@yahoo.com or find them on Facebook. • Opelika-Auburn Newcomers’ Club provides a variety of programs for the betterment of the Auburn/ Opelika community to assist women transitioning into the area or to help women adjust to recent lifestyle changes. The club meets on the third Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. for a luncheon at various local restaurants. Please call or email Cheri Paradice at 334737-5215 or cheri. paradice@gmail.com for more information or luncheon location of the month. • T.O.U.C.H. Cancer Support Group meets the third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at EAMC’s Health Resource Center. This is a support group for people living with any type of cancer or their families and friends. Call 334-528-1076 for more information.
• Aug. 30 at 9 p.m. Friday Birthday Bash at Irish Bred Pub • Aug. 31 at 5:30 p.m. - Dine and Donate at La Cantina • Aug. 31 at 8:30 p.m. - Mark True at Eight and Rail • Aug. 31 at 9 p.m. -
Back to School Bash featuring Shuga Cain at Irish Bred Pub • Sept. 3 Kids eat for 99 cents at Niffers On the Tracks • Sept. 3 - Eighth & Rail presents The Jane Drake Band starting at 7:30 p.m.
Email editor@opelikaobserver.com to place your community events.
Upcoming Events • The Lee County Voters League will not meet in September because the first Monday is Labor Day. The next meeting will be on Oct. 7. Topics to be discussed to include how proceed as the next cycle unfolds for the Nov. 2020
general election. • Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. Michael Megelsh at La Cantina • Aug. 28 Half Pound Burgers and side item for only $6.99 at Niffers On the Tracks • Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. - David Ellis at The Bot-
Help protect your patients against vaccinepreventable diseases. Send out recall/reminder cards Assess the vaccination status of school-age patients utilizing ImmPRINT’s Vaccine Forecaster or Not-Up-To-Date Report Provide a strong recommendation for vaccinations
VACCINATE Schedule the follow-up appointment Adolescent students not up-to-date on required and ACIP recommended vaccine may be offered those during a school-based vaccine clinic or by a pharmacist
For more information on current vaccine recommendations and scheduling, please scan the QR code for the Back to School flyer or visit www.alabamapublichealth.gov/immunization.
tling Plant Events Center • Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. Mermaid Moods at Red Clay Brewing Company • Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. Songwriters Night at The Sound Wall • Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. Trivia Night at Niffers On the Tracks
• Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. Wood sign making class with The Painted Pallet at Spirited Art studio • Aug. 30 at 8:30 p.m. Kudzu Voodoo at Eight and Rail • Aug. 30 at 9 p.m. - The Mix Tape at the Corner Bar
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Miss Alabama USA, Miss Alabama Teen USA to be crowned in Auburn this October; tickets on sale now Special to the Opelika Observer The Miss Alabama USA and Miss Alabama Teen USA pageants will crown this year’s winners in Auburn this fall. The long-running tradition will be held on Oct.4 and 5 at Auburn University’s new Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center. Contestants from all over the state of Alabama will compete in interview, evening gown and swimsuit/active wear competitions. These contestants will be vying for thousands of dollars in scholarships, prizes and the ability to travel the state promoting the pageant and its charitable alliances. The Miss Alabama Teen USA pageant will feature contestants between the ages of 14-18; the Miss Alabama USA pageant will feature contestants between the ages of 18-27. The preliminary competition will be held on Friday evening, followed by the final competition on Saturday evening.
women empowerment and celebrating our differences,” Hutchinson said. “It’s important to be 100 percent authentically yourself.” The October event is an official state preliminary to the Miss USA And Miss Teen USA pageants, sponsored by the Miss Universe Organization. The winners of the Miss Alabama USA and Miss Alabama Teen USA pageants will go on to represent Alabama and compete for the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA titles in 2020. In the past, the panel of judges for the pageants have included celebrities like Austen Kroll, star of Bravo TV’s “Southern Charm;” Dr. Bill Dorfman from ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” and Cammy Miller, owner of popular clothing store Show Me Your MuMu. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Gogue Performing Arts Center’s box office or online at goguecentertickets. auburn.edu/Online/. For more information about the Miss Alabama USA or
Kelly Hutchinson Kelly Hutchinson, an Auburn University senior, will be competing as Miss Auburn-Opelika. Hutchinson previously won the title of Miss Georgia’s
I have a voice AND the freedom to express it.
Outstanding Teen in 2013 and competed in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant the same year. “Pageants are all about
Miss Alabama Teen USA pageants, contact communications director Britteny Miles at 803-648-6220 or britteny@rpmproductions. com. About the Miss Universe Organization The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) uses its global grassroots reach to empower women to be self-confident and strive to be their personal best. MUO believes that every woman should be “Confidently Beautiful.” The Miss Universe, Miss USA And Miss Teen USA pageants provide an international platform through dedicated partnerships with charities, sponsors and brands around the world. During their reign, the titleholders are given the tools to personally and professionally enrich others by providing humanitarian efforts to affect positive change, all while developing their personal career goals. For more information and to learn more about The Miss Universe Organization’s official causes around the world, visit: www.missuniverse.com.
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A16 Aug. 28, 2019
A cow college no more
A
uburn University has, at long last, become a full, complete and comprehensive University. The final brick, as Coach Dye said, of bringing the Alabama game to Auburn, was laid Saturday night with the grand opening of the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center. It is hard to describe the transformative power this place of beauty and grandeur will have on Auburn University, the city of Auburn, East Alabama and the entire state. More importantly, it is gratifying to think about the influence the Gogue Center will have on Auburn students, whose lives will be transformed through their exposure and interaction with world class theater, music and other forms of art.
Sundilla, from A7 hitters, including No Depression, NPR, Rolling Stone and No Depression and for her fresh and feisty approach to deep North Americana. Verch’s signature sound blends together regional
It will complement and enhance their learning experience, helping them better understand themselves, the world around them and their place in that world. It will help them to feel, to understand, to realize and to know there is more to life than football, textbooks and a computer. In my working life, athletics was my business, but the arts, theater and music in particular, made me whole. Whole. Finding that wholeness makes life complete and worth living. It enhances the experience of being. My journey to wholeness began at the old YHut, now the University Chapel on South College Street with "The Devil and Daniel Webster” and "The Fantasticks.” I saw both plays many times, always mesmerized by
the productions and the feelings and reactions within my heart and soul. It was my first experience with live theater. It was not to be my last. My awakening began in earnest when Auburn played Miami in the Kickoff Classic at the Meadowlands in 1984. After a media dinner in the city, I saw my first Broadway show, "42nd Street.” I was introduced to a new way of storytelling and a grandeur of experience I had never known before. The experience was transformative. From that point on, I wanted to see, I had to see, as many Broadway shows as I could. Many entertained me, others touched me, and some, like Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera, changed my life. Before last Saturday night, one would have
to go to New York or Atlanta to find that kind of talent, that kind of performance, that kind of experience. No more. Now, the transformative powers of theater and other forms of world class art have come to Auburn. We can grow, we can learn and we can feel power and emotion bigger and far greater than we could have ever imagined. No matter our age, we can find our inner selves. Art, music and theatre in particular, does that to people. And we can experience that transformative power right here at home, in Auburn, at Auburn. So don’t call us a “Cow College” anymore. While we are proud of our Land-Grant heritage of agriculture and engi-
Canadian, American oldtime, bluegrass, country and Americana, resulting in a well-rounded tourde-force of traditional sounds. On stage is where her diverse repertoire comes to life, with a presence that is versatile, robust and masterfully executed. Her delicate voice, energetic footwork and
stunning playing have brought her to stages across the globe, wowing audiences with her jawdropping performance. Verch’s ability to preserve the authentic folk traditions of the past and reintroduce them into the musical landscape of the present is a testament to her masterful musicianship and widespread
appeal. Verch won’t be the one to brag about her championship titles, nominations and awards, or the fact that she was one of six fiddlers who represented the Canadian fiddle tradition to the world at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver as part of a segment called “Fiddle
Photo by Michelle Key/Opelika Observer The Auburn University Marching Band serenaded John and Rosemary Brown following the Grand Opening Fete at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center Saturday night. The Browns were an integral part of bringing the performing arts center to Auburn. Also pictured are Eddie and Elizabeth Bailey.
neering, we are more. So much, much more. Now we are whole. Can I hear a “War
Eagle!”
Nation." She prefers to talk about how passionate she is in sharing her music; in small gatherings in remote communities in Iqaluit, to large prestigious concert halls like Mozartsal in Vienna. Showtime at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 450 E. Thach Ave. will be 7:30 p.m. Advance
tickets are $15 and are available for purchase at Spicer’s Music, Ross House Coffee and online at www.sundillamusic. com. Day-of tickets will cost $20. Free coffee, tea, water and food will be available, and the audience is invited to bring their own favorite food or beverage.
C. David Housel Backbooth at Chappy’s
Opelika Schools & Sports
See B8 for more photos from Beauregard’s and Opelika’s halftime shows last Friday night
Inside • opelika schools • lee county schools • community sports
Emotional Hornets drop home opener; lose to Benjamin Russell 31-0 By Rick Lanier Opelika Observer
On the Mark By D. Mark Mitchell
Opelika Bulldogs open season with win over Callaway
T
he Opelika High School Bulldog football team (1-0) defeated Callaway of LaGrange 10-7 last Thursday night at Bulldog Stadium. Opelika scored with 9:16 left in the first quarter after recovering a Callaway fumble at the Cavalier 30yard line. Four plays later, Nate Evans ran three yards for a touchdown. Baker Rowan added the PAT to give Opelika a 7-0 lead. Callaway turned the ball over four times while Opelika played turnover free. Both teams were assessed multiple false start penalties, delay of game and other mistakes that should improve over time. The game would remain
7-0 until the 6:42 mark in the third quarter. Senior kicker Marshall Meyers made a 28-yard field goal, extending the lead to 10-0. Callaway scored their only points with 53 seconds left in the game. Auburn commit and Cavalier running back Tank Bigsby scored a TD on a two-yard run to cut the Bulldog lead to three. Opelika quarterback Brody Davis finished 11of-22 passing for 87 yards, Nate Evans rushed 12 times for 62 yards, Jamius Mitchell caught three passes for 35 yards while Holloway and Warner combined for 37 yards. Defensively, Jalen Stinson finished with 10 solo tackles, See Sports, page B5
“Time will not take away the pain, but it will soften its sharp edges like the ocean polishes glass.” There has been a lot of “polishing” in Beauregard during the last 173 days. Before the opening kickoff, the stadium bowed their heads for an emotional tribute to those who perished on March 3, a See Beauregard, page B4
Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer
The Observer welcomes college intern Natalie Salvatore By Natalie Salvatore For the Opelika Observer Hello! My name is Natalie Salvatore. I am a senior majoring in journalism at Auburn University. Along with my sister, I am a first-generation Auburn student. We hope to have
started an Auburn tradition! Some of my favorite courses I have taken include studying media law and different writing styles. Outside of school, I love to spend time with my family and friends, to travel and to listen to music. I believe this internship will pro-
vide a great opportunity to gain experience in a professional setting. I can combine this experience with knowledge from my coursework as I progress in my college career. I am eager about the future and feel very grateful to be the next Opelika Observer intern!
Salvatore
Beulah claws Loachapoka Smiths Station grounds and 14-6 to start 2019 season pounds Russell County, wins 34-6 By Morgan Bryce Editor The Matthew Johnson era at Beulah High School started off in a sloppy but winning fashion Friday night as the Bobcats edged the Loachapoka Indians 14-6. Junior Loachapoka receiver Rayshaun Butts took the opening kickoff 70 yards for a score,
resulting in a hushed silence over much of Bobcat Stadium. Kicker John Gutierrez shanked the ensuing extra-point try, leaving the Indians with a 6-0 lead. Like he did throughout the game, Beulah running back Chris Person shouldered the workload on the Bobcats' opening drive. Running with pace and rhythm down the field, Person picked
up all of his team's first downs until the red zone. Back-to-back sneaks by quarterback Kaleb Abney helped the Bobcats tie the Indians, with kicker/center Jaden Buffington adding the extra point to help give them a 7-6 lead, a lead they would never relinquish. Following an exchange of three-andSee Beulah, page B5
By Morgan Bryce Editor Despite lengthy weather delays and sloppy field conditions, Smiths Station emerged victorious in a road trip to Seale for their season opener, defeating Russell County 34-6. The first quarter lasted nearly 90 minutes because of hard rains
and frequent lightning strikes nearby. Weather conditions, paired with a turnover and seven committed penalties, limited the Panthers' potency on offense, but not for long. Smiths Station raced to a 20-0 lead at the end of the first half, as the offense found its groove. The Panthers added two more scores in the second half,
maintaining the shutout until the final five minutes of the game, when the Warriors managed to get on the board. Junior quarterback Corey Minton turned in a strong performance, completing 11-of-17 passes for 93 yards. Smiths Station's running backs, led by bruiser L.C. Harris, pounded the Warriors See Smiths, page B4
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B2 Aug. 28, 2019
Beauregard Player of the Week
PLAYER OF THE WEEK The City of Opelika is proud to sponsor the Opelika High School Player of the Week. We applaud you for your HARD WORK and DEDICATION on and off the football field. Sophomore defensive lineman Eston Harris was selected as the Beauregard High School Player of the Week. In Friday’s 31-0 home-opening loss to 6A Benjamin Russell, Harris displayed a tremendous amount of effort and energy to slow down the potent Wildcat offense.
Defensive lineman Miles Magee and strong safety Kory McCoy were selected as the co-Opelika High School Players of the Week. In Thursday's 10-7 victory over Callaway of LaGrange, the duo helped lead an active Bulldog defense that helped force four turnovers.
IT’S THE OPELIKA WAY.
GO DAWGS! #myOpelika • #beOpelika www.opelika-al.gov 2018 observer
Beulah Player of the Week
Linebacker and running back Stanley Washington was selected as the Beulah High School Player of the Week. In Friday’s 14-6 win over Loachapoka, Washington wreaked havor in the Indians’ offensive backfield and notched sever crucial tackles in key moments for the Bobcats to preserve a victory.
of the
Week Congratulations from
Lee Co. Revenue Commissioner Oline Price Opelika 215 S. 9th St. Opelika 334-737-3655
Smiths Station 2366 LR 430 Ste. 140 Smiths Station 334-664-0296
Auburn 1266 Mall Pkwy Auburn 334-737-7298
Junior quarterback Corey Minton was the Smiths Station High School Player of the Week. In Friday's 34-6 road win against Russell County, Minton finished 11of-15 passing for 93 yards and a touchdown and added 63 yards on the ground and two more scores.
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B3 Aug. 28, 2019
Safety lessons and Labor Day
Beth Pinyerd
L
abor Day is next Monday (Sept. 2!) As a child, I remember that we didn't start the school year until after Labor Day because of our school’s lack of an air conditioning system. As a child, I really looked forward to Labor Day but I didn't know why we celebrated it. This is a perfect time to emphasize to your children what community helpers do as we approach this day off for many of us and emphasize to them to make our workers feel special as we celebrate their achievements. Take time to explain to your child the differ-
ent jobs our community helpers do. Talk to them about the jobs of the police officers, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, teachers, utility workers, mail carriers and bakers, among many others. As a teacher and children's director, my mindset is "someone's trash is a teacher's treasure.” I love to do crafts with these treasures. Children love making unusual hands on crafts. Such crafts as an occupations collage require no expense but just pictures from magazines, glue and a piece of paper. Look in your closets for old shoeboxes to make entire towns, fire trucks, police cars, etc.
Children get so excited and cherish their own crafts. The first week in September is Safety Week. There are key lessons that all young children need to know. They are learning about calling 911 when there is an emergency, buckle up for safety in the car, not to wander off, not to talk to strangers, poison prevention, bicycle safety and water safety. Parents, it is so very important for children to be taught how to dial 911. The safety reasons for teaching them include fire, accidents, and sudden illnesses that may strike a parent or caregiver. Present this safety lesson to your child in a calm, nonthreatening manner. As a teacher, I use a toy telephone to teach children to learn how to dial 911. Children enjoy playing with old cell phones or home phones too. I love to sit back and hear "pretend conversations" that children have on toy or old phones in the nursery. With children who are three years old or older, they can practice writing 911 as well as using their pointing finger to trace the number. Go over the situations that warrant
calling 911. Put a sticker on your phone with 911 so your little one will remember the number to dial. We used to have a song "buckle up for safety, buckle up" to remind young children to put on their safety belts. The best way to teach this lesson is to have your child simply to practice buckling and unbuckling the seatbelt in the car. In teaching your child not to talk to strangers, I have used the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Books can be checked out of the library and too many of we adults have memorized this story to share. Be sure to instruct your child with people they don't know not to ever get in the car or go with strangers. In teaching my students, I instruct them not to accept candies or go away from the sight of their parents. Develop a security system with your child. With poison prevention, the best home policy is to put them up out of your young child's reach. Tell them not to touch or drink anything with a skull or an “X” on it which means poisonous materials. As a teacher, I deeply
appreciate to know when your child is allergic to certain foods or conditions. It is the parent's responsibility to let a teacher or director know about allergies so the information can be noted on a card. There are children who are allergic to certain cleaning products, dust and mold. Let the caregiver know this right away. This is all a part of safety. When your child is riding a bicycle (with or without) training wheels or skateboarding, be sure they are wearing a helmet. A local police officer would welcome the opportunity to explain this to your child like they do in a classroom. Have a fire escape plan in your home as well. "Stop, drop and roll" is what local firefighters teach our children when they come to the classroom or we go on field trips. Visit the local fire department to find out the best way to explain to your child how to survive in this emergency. With water safety, again the best safety procedure is to tell your twos, threes and fours to stay clear of the water unless they are with their parents or caregivers. Try to have your child
take swimming lessons. The very best ways to save your child's life is under the instruction of a certified Red Cross provider. Have a safe and funfilled Labor Day weekend! Pinyerd has taught young children in the early childhood classroom for 34 years, as well as outreaching to the elderly in intergenerational settings. She has taught and outreached in the schools in Opelika and Baldwin County. She holds a master’s degree in early childhood education as well as a bachelor’s degree in family and child development both from Auburn University. Her husband is the late Carl Pinyerd, and she has one son, Gus Pinyerd, who has taught her so much about learning. Classroom Observer is here to serve the community in sharing the wonderful teaching programs in our local public schools, private schools and homeschools. The column is provided to enrich the education of our children, youth and families. Classroom Observer welcomes educational news, school news, pictures and events by e-mailing her at donnapinyerd@charter.net
A liberal education doesn’t mean pushing ‘Liberalism’ in class By Greg Markley For the Opelika Observer
I
t’s amazing how people think a “liberal” education means learning through an ideological prism. Some may even think that at the first class, the new teacher will introduce himself— “Hello, I am a Bernie Sanders clone and you can expect me to spread socialist ideas in class.” That is NOT what the term liberal education means. With a liberal education, you get a smorgasbord of ideas and experiences, not force-fed partisan dogma. You will get the “Burn,” not the “Bern.” The Association of American Colleges and Universities defines liberal education as “a philosophy of education that empowers individu-
als with broad knowledge and transferable skills, and a stronger sense of values, ethics and civic engagement ... characterized by challenging encounters with important issues and more a way of studying than a specific course or field of study.” For months, whenever I bumped into him at Fort Benning, Georgia, I tried to convince a young security guard that he should go to college. He tried it once, but did not care for the survey courses like history and English. “I just want to be a carpenter or a welder, and why do I need these other classes,” he said with discouragement. I explained that a liberal education can be eyeopening and broadening. I heard he was back in college part-time. I hope he succeeds!
Thomas Ehrlich and Ernestine Fu, in a 2015 Forbes article, wrote that among the questions a liberal education helps answer are: “What kind of person do I want to be? What kind of world do I want? What am I prepared to contribute to that world?” They add: “Wisdom in handling these issues is most frequently gained through study in the humanities – especially philosophy, literature and history – where struggles with such core concerns are often center-stage.” Not only liberal professors give their own personal opinions in class. Conservative professors occasionally go off the track and so do libertarians. Some teachers tell students up-front what their ideology is so at least they know early.
In graduate seminars, students readily accept pontificating because they have four years of college behind them and can distinguish between a fact and an opinion. When I first had a professor at Auburn University for a graduate class, I looked at his resume and saw the words “Berkeley, Berkeley, Berkeley.” Yes, he earned his bachelors, masters and doctorate from UCBerkeley. That university is known for its liberal if not radical tint, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite this, he never in-class promoted the ideology of UC-Berkeley. He’s retired now, but is a good man and a fine example of how to teach without preaching. Gradually, professors at some of the nation’s leading colleges and
universities realized something must be done, because the viewpoints of people outside the liberal universe were being discounted and delegitimized. So in 2015, Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at uber-liberal New York University, decided to do something big. Along with a psychologist and a lawyer with similar academic interests, Haidt established the Heterodox Academy. Heterodox means “not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs.” It’s a good title for an organization that promotes intellectual diversity in higher education. This group now has more than 2,500 professors, administrators and graduate students as members. (Full disclosure: I myself have been
a member of HxA, as it is nicknamed, since 2018.) A Pew Research Center poll in 2017 indicated that a significant majority of Republicans and conservativeleaning independents believe this about today’s colleges and universities: that they have a negative impact on America. With such a poor result, academic institutions are devalued to a point that will hurt public funding and support. Small “l” liberal education itself is not the problem. It’s Liberalism gone amuck on campuses that bears much of the blame. Greg Markley is a longtime Lee County journalist. He has masters degrees in education and history and has served as an adjunct instructor at Fort Benning and in Montgomery.
Nearly 100 attend ‘Lil’ Dawgs Cheer Camp’ last Friday
Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Opelika City Schools’ annual “Lil’ Dawgs Cheer Camp” was held last week at the high school’s Mainstreet Gym.
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B4 Aug. 28, 2019
Longtime Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County Executive Director Wanda Lewis retires Birmingham-area native Richard Curry accepts position, to start next month By Morgan Bryce Editor Friday will mark the end of Wanda Lewis's tenure as the executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County, a role she has had for the last 22 years. During the last three years, Lewis said she had procastinated retirement because "it was always on (her) mind to start planning for things for next year," but managed to follow through with her intentions to step away from her job earlier this summer. She added that she believes the organization has a bright future ahead with new Executive Director Richard Curry, who brings nearly 10 years of experience with Boys and Girls Clubs in the Birmingham area. "We've got a strong staff and team here, and Richard's wealth of experience coming in makes me feel really good about things. I believe it is in good hands with him moving forward," Lewis said. 'Education was what I always supposed to do' Born and raised in Auburn, Lewis grew up in the city school system and was a member of the high school's first fullyintegrated senior class in 1971. Morris, her husband for the last 47 years, was one of the first African Americans to attend Auburn High School. After high school,
Beauregard, from B1 horrific day that saw a deadly EF-3 tornado claim the lives of 23 people. The playing field and team helmets newly garnished with a blue and gold 23, chants of “Beauregard Strong” echoing through the stands– the sounds of more polishing taking place. The 6A Wildcats of Benjamin Russell High School were in town to help kick-
Lewis briefly attended Auburn University, at first majoring in education and later switching to accounting before dropping out of school to focus on both her family and her career. Lewis's next three jobs, as a bookkeeper for Auburn Day Care Centers, parenting coordinator for Opelika City Schools and parent educator for Auburn City Schools' "Even Start" program, helped prepare her for her future role. Through decades of observing the AuburnOpelika area, Lewis said she noticed that children, particularly in the African American community, were in dire need of more exposure to the arts. She, along with her sister Johnetta, helped create a summer program in the ‘90s to meet that need. "I wanted to provide something to my children and others in the community during the summer that would enhance their academic work and develop other skills. We had people come and teach dance, creative writing and lots of other classes," Lewis said. The program resonated with the community, quickly outgrowing its original meeting place and seeing an increase in attendance each year of its existence. In 1997, following a finale for that summer program, Lewis was approached by representatives from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County
Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Pictured above are new Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County Executive Director Richard Curry and the retiring Wanda Lewis, who is stepping away after 22 years of heading the organization. to gauge her interest in accepting the open directorship position. Mostly unfamiliar with the Boys and Girls Club's mission, Lewis researched it and took a tour of the organization's two facilities in the AuburnOpelika area, coming away knowing that this was going to be her next career. "What I saw was an opportunity. We were seeing so many kids in this short time during the summer and I was happy with my job (at Auburn City Schools), but I thought I could perhaps reach way more children in this role and make a larger impact," Lewis said. She was the fourth director in seven years for the organization, which was dealing with systemic issues and mismanagement at its two units. Through the work of Lewis and the team she later assembled,
off the 2019 football season and serve as the measuring stick to gauge the Hornet’s progresses and help identify the weaknesses that require further attention. The takeaway – Coach Rob Carter is excited about this year’s Hornet team. “We were outsized and over matched in some areas, but we were still in the ballgame until late,” Carter said in a postgame interview. Ironically, with 1:54 left in the first quarter, the game was temporarily suspended (for
the club managed to expand its programs, see consistent growth in membership and serve more than 6,000 children during her 22-year tenure. "It's funny to look back and think that I was going to be in education, even though I didn't like the classroom experience I had as an education major in college. Even though I didn't always deal directly with students, I was always working behind the scenes to enhance their education," Lewis said. "There's a lot of ways to touch the lives of kids, and if I managed to play just a small part in helping some of them grow and reach their full potential, then it's been a good journey for me." Earlier this month, Lewis's journey was recognized nationally with her induction into the Boys and
more than an hour) for lightning from an approaching storm in the area. At the end of the first half, the Hornet’s defensive unit had managed to keep the game within reach by only giving up 16 points to the potent Wildcat offense. The second half produced some flashes of speed and accuracy on the offensive side, but key missed assignments here and some inconsistencies there prevented the Hornets from sustaining momentum and scoring points. “We made some mental
Girls Clubs of America's Hall of Fame. Retirement and future plans Lewis is currently enrolled in the University of Alabama's New College LifeTrack program, majoring in leadership studies and plans to earn her first degree within the next two years. She and Morris plan to take time to visit family and travel, as well as volunteer her time with several local organizations and help Curry plan the organization's 30th anniversary celebration next year. Together, the Lewis's have two children: Courtney, owner and operator of Edible Arrangements and Danielle, who is a lawyer in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Following a dream In a letter dated July 25, Curry was extended an offer to accept a
mistakes, we had too many penalties, but we’ll get that fixed. Our team fought hard tonight, they showed grit, got after them. Benjamin Russell is a good 6A quality team, we’ll learn and grow from tonight, in the end they were just a little too much for us.” Carter added. There’s a little more polishing to be done. Beauregard is on the road this week as they travel to Eufala on Aug. 30, for a 7 p.m. C.S.T. kickoff.
position with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County. "The hardest part of teaching young people to follow their dreams is the day you have to follow your own advice," Curry wrote in a Facebook post. "My forever home and heart is in Birmingham and the Crimson Tide will ALWAYS be my team of choice, but my next stop is the Auburn-Opelika (area)." Curry is a Pell City High School graduate and was the chief operating officer of the A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club before coming to Lee County. He said he is beyond honored to continue Lewis’s work in this new role. “I take a moment to pause and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Mrs. Wanda Lewis during her time at BGCLEECO. Wanda has always been a friend and mentor to me - her “can do” professionalism and commitment to the members, their families and the communities within Greater Lee County is exceptional and personally inspiring,” Curry said in a statement, “I am humbled to follow in her footsteps as the next servant leader of this great organization.” For more information about the Lee County clubs and the services or programs they offer, call 334745-2582 or visit www.bgcleeco.org.
Smiths, from B1 for a combined 179 yards on 35 carries. With the win, the Panthers improve to 1-0 to start the young season. Smiths Station returns to Panther Stadium this Friday to face
5A Valley, who dropped a tight 25-21 contest to rival Lanett last week. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. C.S.T. Russell County, 0-1 overall, will travel to Ozark to play Carroll High School next Friday, who is after defeating B.T. Washington 47-20.
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B5 Aug. 28, 2019
4-H Foundation awards $35,000 in scholarships Special to the Opelika Observer The Alabama 4-H Foundation recently awarded 35 scholarships to 4-H high school seniors. Scholarships for $1,000 were presented at a recognition and awards program following 4-H Competitive Events Day at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana. The scholarships can be used for any postsecondary education during the 2019–2020 academic year. “The Alabama 4-H Foundation is committed to seeing young people succeed, and there is no better way to display this kind of commitment than
through scholarship support,” said Alabama 4-H Foundation Development Officer Seth Tuttle. “We’re honored to have awarded 35 scholarships to 4-H’ers from all across our great state. It is our goal to help these young people continue on their life journey and represent the values of Alabama 4-H.” Applications were accepted online through March 1. As part of the application process, students were required to submit a resume, a letter of recommendation and also their 4-H story titled “How Alabama 4-H Has Changed My Life.” Scholarship Recipients The following 4-H
Observer looking to run, promote more local education, new initiatives through ‘Classroom Observer’
members were awarded the Alabama 4-H Foundation Scholarship: - Morgan Anderson, Mobile County - Hannah Boykin, Clarke County - Fernandus Brown, Jefferson County - Anna Choat, Lauderdale County - Timothy Cleveland, Etowah County - Rebecca Dean, Lee County - Brandon Dix, Russell County - Logan Edmonds, Marshall County - Sara Beth Graves, Jefferson County - Christina Green, Coffee County - Gabriel Hamm, Henry County - Chloe Harrell, Coosa County
- Bronson House, Calhoun County - Brooklyn House, Calhoun County - Abraham Humphrey, Marion County - Tabitha Jarvis, DeKalb County - Taylor Keel, Houston County - Erin Key, Lauderdale County - William Lee, Covington County - Raegan Lindsey, Cullman County - Dalton Maddox, Elmore County - Jordan Melson, Morgan County - Justin Mitchell, Lauderdale County - Zully Montero, Dallas County - Jamie Moore, Marengo County - Aidan Paul, Shelby County
- Leah Ray, Tuscaloosa County - Madison Richter, Limestone County - John Rogers, Cherokee County - Jayden Siggers, Tallapoosa County - Keatrice Streeter, Bullock County - Destiny Walker, Winston County - Baylee Wiggins, Mobile County - Laura Grace Wilson, Clark County - Will Yates, Marengo County. “These young people represent the best of Alabama and 4-H,” said Alabama 4-H Assistant Director Molly Gregg. “They are positive forces for their communities and our world.” About Alabama 4-H
For more than 100 years, Alabama 4-H has been helping young people develop into resourceful citizens and responsible leaders. Alabama 4-H is part of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and uses regional Extension agents as well as community volunteers, corporate partners, alumni and parents to deliver youth development programs in all 67 counties. Today, Alabama 4-H engages with more than 178,000 youth. It seeks to empower them with the skills to lead their communities and also grow into future leaders. For more information, visit www.alabama4h.com.
Sports, from B1
Adam Winegarden, in his sixth year, is 36-16 overall, including back-to-back 10-win seasons and a twoyear win streak over the Bulldogs. This should be a good old-fashioned, low-scoring defensive game. Both teams play good defense and have some inexperience on offense including both quarterbacks. Opelika has a huge advantage playing in Bulldog Stadium and has some explosive players that can change a game. I think Jalen will make some big plays, the OHS defense will be stingy and a solid kicking game will equal a Bulldog win. GAME DETAILS/ HIGH SCHOOL RADIO COVERAGE Opelika fans can purchase tickets at Bubba’s Medicine Shop from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through noon on Friday and Victory Designs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through noon Friday. Auburn fans must purchase
tickets online at www. gofan.co and search “Auburn High vs Opelika.” All remaining tickets will be on sale at the ticket window beginning at 5 p.m., costing $8 per ticket. Fans can listen to the Opelika v. Auburn football game on 97.7 Kicker FM and online at kickerfm. com. Van Riggs begins the broadcast at 6:30 p.m. Following the game, stay tuned for the Encore Rehab High Scoreboard Show until midnight on WKKR. On Saturday mornings at 8 a.m., listen to the “Orthopaedic Clinic High School Recap Show” on FOX Sports the Game 910 AM or 1310 AM and online at www.foxsportsthegame. com. Listen for your favorite high school football coach on Wednesdays 6 to 9 p.m. on 97.7 Kicker FM and FOX Sports the Game 910 AM and 1310 AM for the “Rice Realty High School Coaches Show,” live from Moe’s Bar BQ in
Auburn. Listen to the “On the Mark” radio show on weekdays 6 to 9 a.m. on “FOX Sports the Game 910AM-1310AM” and online at www.foxsportsthegame.com. Guests include coaches Doug Barfield, Pat Dye, Larry Gore, Dan Washburn and Joe Wilson, local high school coaches as well as city council recaps from four local mayors. VOLLEYBALL The Opelika volleyball team lost their opening match 3-0 at Auburn last week. The Lady Bulldogs played at Smiths Station last night. The results were not completed at press time. Their home opener is Sept. 5 v. Handley at 4:30 p.m. D. Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State Director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.
young season, Beulah will have another opportunity to enjoy the confines of Bobcat Stadium this Friday night as they take on
Ellwood Christian, whom they defeated 36-0 in a rain-shortened contest last season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. C.S.T.
Loachapoka, currently 0-1, will host Pike Road at Loachapoka Stadium next Friday at 7 p.m. C.S.T.
Schools, educators and teachers - as you embark on a brand new 2019-20 school year, don’t forget to share classroom programs, school programs and field trips with the community through the Opelika Observer by emailing the Classroom Observer at donnapinyerd@charter.net or editior@opelikaobserver.net. Call or text classroom happenings to Beth Pinyerd at 251-895-3228 or the Observer office at 334-749-8003. We are the teachers’ friend, so attach us as a part of your lesson plans. Have a good school year!
Miles McGhee added nine while Taylor Love, Kory McCoy and Trevon Moore recorded six tackles apiece. Jalen punted five times for a 40-yard average OPELIKA HOSTS AUBURN Auburn and Opelika will play a football game for the 93rd time Friday night at 7 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium. Opelika leads the series 46-43-3, but lost 22-15 at Duck Sanford last season. The Tigers (1-0) enter Bulldog Stadium after beating Wilcox Central 480. The game was shortened because of a running clock in the second half after Auburn led 42-0 at halftime. I am not sure one can judge much from the Tiger’s win because Wilcox is struggling in football. Auburn High Coach
Beulah, from B1
defense of Coach (Stan) Peppers played great. He had a great gameplan tonight." Improving to 1-0 on the
By Beth Pinyerd For the Opelika Observer
outs, Loachapoka opted for a fake punt inside its own 30-yard line later in the first quarter. After a powerful 13-yard rush by Person, Abney powered his way in on another sneak for his second touchdown and Beulah's final score of the night to make it 14-6. Further scoring in the game was marred by a slew of mistakes, including 30 combined penalties, botched snaps and handoffs, disqualification of Loachapoka defensive tackle Kengsley Bailey for unsportsmanlike conduct and a number of heat-related cramps and overthrown passes. Both team's defenses, however, contributed to the lowscoring affair. Despite a number of players contributing on both sides of the ball, Loachapoka's defense tackled well in space and maintained containment on the outside. Beulah's defense stood tall thrice in the fourth quarter to hang on to a victory. Loachapoka's best chance came after quarterback/safety Aaron
Frazier intercepted a wobbly pass thrown by Abney and returned it inside the Bobcats' 20-yard line. On fourth-and-4, Frazier began backpedaling, desperately scrambling to avoid Beulah defenders and give his receivers the precious time they needed to run their routes and get open. Bobcat sophomore Stanley Washington had other plans, however, catching up with the quarterback and slamming him to the ground for an 11-yard sack and turnover on downs. After the Bobcat defense denied another scoring bid by Loachapoka with fewer than three minutes to spare in the fourth, the Beulah offense was able to run out the clock and escape with a victory. While the win may have subverted Johnson's expectations, he said he was proud of his coaching staff and players alike and sees the potential to improve and learn from their mistakes. "It's not how I expected it. We had too many penalties, and we didn't keep our composure at times, which boils down to a poor job of coaching, which we'll fix," Johnson said. "Our guys played hard and that
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B6 Aug. 28, 2019
8th Annual Building Hope Banquet in Lee County held Aug. 20 Special to the Opelika Observer
trians: empowering women. CWJC of Lee County’s Executive Director Neeley Caldwell gave an overview of the ministry which has completed 24 sessions, graduating 145 women and impacting the lives of more than 200 children in the community. Caldwell described each session’s 10 weeks of courses provided to women, free of charge. Participants desiring a serious life change submit an application, complete an interview process, and once accepted, begin an intense five days a week, nine-week schedule of classes such as leadership, communications, budgeting, family relations, computer skills, life skills, health and wholeness and Bible study. During week 10, participants are placed in a four-day internship with a local business to apply newly acquired job skills. On the final day of the 10th week, participants graduate from the CWJC in a pinning ceremony where they speak individually on how CWJC has changed their lives. Caldwell recounted stories of success of
On Aug. 20, men and women from across Lee County gathered at Auburn United Methodist Church (AUMC) in the Epworth Center to help build hope in the lives of women of Lee County. The Christian Women’s Job Corps® (CWJC) of Lee County held their eighth annual Building Hope Fundraising Banquet to build support for the local ministry dedicated to helping women in need in Lee County achieve selfsufficiency. The welcome was given by CWJC board member Dr. Denny Marple, followed by the invocation given by Dr. Cory Smith of AUMC. Music was provided by Tom Gassaway as dinner was served by Auburn University women’s six-time national champion equestrian team. Guests were treated to a video of the championship season of Auburn’s equestrians. Following dinner, CWJC made a special presentation to equestrian team Coach Greg Williams. Williams noted the shared commitment of CWJC and the Auburn eques-
past participants who have gained skills, confidence, self-esteem and employment in Lee County after their participation in CWJC and shared a video of graduates and where they are now employed. Caldwell challenged the Lee County community to “hold the rope” for these women as they work to overcome obstacles in their quest for success. “These ladies need a positive environment where they are encouraged to go down into the pit (go back to earn their GED, take college classes, interview for a job, leave a negative relationship, Photo special to the Opelika Observer make better choices, From left to right: Auburn Athletic Director Allen Greene, CWJC Lee learn to forgive),” County Executive Director Neeley Caldwell and CWJC Board Chair Dr. Caldwell said. “Hold- Denny Marple. ing the Rope” may struggle taught me pinning ceremony on with how CWJC include prayer, inabout strength, resilNov. 15. Applications impacts family, struction, mentoring, ience and the power are now being acgenerations of chilfinancial support or women have in a cepted and interviews dren, neighbors and spreading the word. family. My mother’s are being scheduled. the community. He Dr. Beverly Marefforts made me the Volunteer opportuthanked the ministry shall introduced the nities are needed in of CWJC for investkeynote speaker Allen man I am today.” Greene admitted that ing in the Lee County areas of meal prepaGreene, athletic direche is interested in see- community. ration and service, tor for Auburn UniDr. Addie Swinney, instruction and assistversity. Greene shared ing Auburn University build champions. ing instruction and CWJC Board Memthe story of growing “It’s more than administrative tasks. ber, gave the appeal up in a poor, single awards and rings,” For more information for continued support parent home, where on being a participant of CWJC Lee County he watched his mother he said. “It’s about or volunteering in the with finances, time struggle to hold a job. servant leadership, upcoming fall sesand prayer. making AU men and “I saw my mother sion, contact neeley@ The next session of women better memrepeat the cycle of cwjclc.com or334CWJC of Lee County bers of the commutry, climb and fail 524-5529 and 334will begin Sept. 9 nity.” over and over again,” 821-0591. and conclude with a Greene identified Greene said. “Her
Opelika’s 7th grade football team hosts jamboree v. Auburn, Benjamin Russell
Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer
Opelika Middle School Football Schedule 2019 ___Date
Opponent
Time___
August 24th
Jamboree (Opelika)
August 29th
@ Calloway
4:00
Smiths Station
4:30
@ Valley
4:30
Central
4:30
th
September 5
th
September 12
th
September 19
th
September 25 rd
October 3
th
October 10
th or
October 17
th
24
Mr. Keith York, Principal Dr. Mark Neighbors, Superintendent Craig Montel, OMS Athletic Director Updated: August 5th, 2019
9:00 a.m.
@ Long Cane
4:30
Gardner Newman
4:00
Auburn
4:30
TBD (AWAY) Championship
20 019 FO OOTB BALL SSCHEDULEE
4:30
Craig Montel 7th Grade Football Head Coach Dustin Ferguson 8th Grade Football Head Coach Erik Speakman Varsity Football Head Coach
(All games are at 7:00 cst)
Augustt 22nd
Callaw way
Hom me
Augustt 30th
Aubu urn
Hom me
Septem mber 6th
Selmaa
Awaay
Septem mber 13thh
Wetu umpka
Hom me
Septem mber 20thh
Centrral – PC
Awaay
Septem mber 27thh
Open n
Octobe er 4th
Benjaamin Russsell
Hom me
Octobe er 11th
Calera (HC)
Hom me
Octobe er 18th
Stanh hope Elmore
Awaay
Octobe er 25th
Vigorr (Senior N Night)
Hom me
Novem mber 1st
Open n
pelika Observer O
B7 Aug. 28, 2019
STRIKE UP THE BANDS
Opelika and Beauregard’s High School Marching Bands perform during half-time of last week’s football games
Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer
Opelika defense proves to be key factor in Thursday’s 10-7 season-opening win over Callaway of LaGrange
Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer
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B8 Aug. 28, 2019
Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Pictured above are glimpses from Friday’s contest between Beauregard and Benjamin Russell, which saw the Wildcats of Alexander City shutout the Hornets 31-0. Left, Richard Brown Sr. receives a plaque for his years of service to the school. In May, the Observer was first to announce Brown Sr.’s retirement from the school after 48 years there, including 40 as principal. Earlier this summer, the school announced the hiring of his son Richard Brown Jr. to continue in his father’s footsteps as principal of Beauregard High School.
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Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019
The summer of 1969 City Council issues a memorial resolution
Inside the Statehouse to honor Nancy Parker-Boyd last Tuesday
A
s we say goodbye to the summer of 2019, allow me to reminisce with you and indeed commemorate more than likely a summer exactly 50 years ago that was undoubtedly the most momentous summer in American history – the summer of 1969. It is amazing what all occurred in America during the last six weeks of the summer of 1969. Richard Nixon was in his first year as president. He had escalated the never-ending Vietnam War and he had heightened the Tet offensive. The war was finally heading in our direction. A July assault on North Vietnam caused heavy casualties to the Viet Cong. Ho Chi Minh would die in Hanoi on Sept. 2.
By Steve Flowers The war, which had raged for five to six years, had caused major upheavals and discord and protests at virtually every college campus in the country. It had spearheaded and somewhat created the hippie culture among a vast throng of young people throughout America. In the summer of 1969, every hippie in America gathered in rural New York at an event called Woodstock. Woodstock was a music festival that
attracted more than 500,000 people. Movies and songs have been developed during the last 50 years simply entitled Woodstock. The music festival was held from Aug. 15 to 18. It probably would be accurate to say that a good many hallucinatory drugs were partaken by the patrons during the four-day lovefest. An unbelievable lineup of musical talent sang and played at Woodstock during the four days of love, drugs and music. Many of them were virtually unknown at that time. The list of musical icons included Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Santana, The Grateful Dead, Credence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Sly and the See Flowers, page B12
Photo by Michelle Key/Opelika Observer Pictured above is Mayor Gary Fuller presenting a memorial resolution to Councilwoman President Pro-Tem Patsy Jones in honor of Nancy Parker-Boyd. Jones delivered the plaque to Parker-Boyd’s family last week in New Orleans. By Michelle Key Publisher Mayor Gary Fuller and the Opelika City Council issued a memorial resolution in honor of Nancy Parker-Boyd who died in a plane crash on Aug. 16.
“Nancy will be remembered for her outstanding professionalism, her unwavering journalistic integrity and her committment to public service. She is mourned by the Opelika community and her family and
friends,” said Fuller. Councilwoman and President-Pro-Tem Patsy Jones accepted the plaque with the resolution and delivered it to Parker-Boyd’s family in See Council, page B13
District Attorney Brandon Hughes speaks to commission on work done by the Lee County Alternative Sentencing Board By Michelle Key Publisher District Attorney Brandon Hughes addressed the Lee County Commission on the work the Lee County Alternative Sentencing Board is doing in the community. The organization has requested a $30,000 appropriation increase to be included in the upcoming budget for 2020. According to Hughes, the drug and veteran court programs have seen more than 130 offenders graduate from the programs with only
Photo by Michelle Key/Opelika Observer a 2% recidivism rate. He also stated that the participants have completed more than 20,000 hours of community service. “These are folks that
are having a tough time. They are committing crimes because they are drug addicts or because they have some issues See LCC, page B16
B10 Aug. 28, 2019
pelika O Observer
Community organizations share recent activities
Photos special to the Opelika Observer District Governor Skip Dothrow made a stop in Opelika earlier this month to talk with Happy Hour Rotary and Opelika Rotary clubs. Left, Serra Bilgilli, Dothrow and Dixie Broadwater.
Opelika Theatre Company Beulah Fire and Rescue holds dinner speaks to Opelika Kiwanis for members of ‘Explorer’ program Club about future plans for the group
Photos special to the Opelika Observer Earlier this month, Beulah’s Fire and Rescue Department held a dinner for members of its Explorers program provided by The Bridge Church. Following the meal, speakers from King Honda and SunSouth spoke to children about the hiring and job interview process, part of the Explorer program’s goal to prepare children for the next phase of their life.
Opelika Charitable Giving Facts Photo special to the Opelika Observer Opelika Theatre Company Executive Director Marty Moore and Director of Hospitality Betty Johnston spoke to the Opelika Kiwanis Club last Thursday. They shared the history of Opelika Theatre Company and discussed upcoming events and future plans. Pictured above are: Moore, Joanne Camp and Johnston.
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Elliott & Associates Insurance Agency Opelika - (334)745-0888 elliottinsuranceagents.com
pelika O Observer
B11 Aug. 28, 2019
LEGALS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HORACE GREELY JAMES, 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 6th day of August, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. INGRID CARMEN JAMES Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 08/14/19, 08/21/19 & 08/28/19
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARVIN DALTON HENDERSON, DECEASED, IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA NOTICE TO FILE CLAIMS TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to DONNA ELAINE HENDERSON, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Marvin Dalton Henderson, deceased, on the 5th day of August, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of Probate 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. PREPARED BY: Matthew W. White Adams White & Oliver, LLP 205 S. 9th Street P.O. Box 2069 Opelika, AL 36803-2069 (334) 745-6466 Legal Run 08/14/19, 08/21/19 & 08/28/19
Whatley Construction LLC Post Office Box 137 Opelika, Alabama 368030137 (334) 745-2583 Fax (334) 749-3504 FORM OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR COMPLETION LEGAL NOTICE In accordance with Chapter I, Title 39, Code of Alabama, 1975, notice is
hereby given that Whatley Construction LLC, Contractor, has completed the Contract for Construction of the Renovations at Student Center- Suite 2334, Chick-fil-A Dining Venue for the State of Alabama and Auburn University, owners, and have made request for final settlement of said Contract. All persons having any claim for labor, materials or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify Hill Foley Rossi and Associates, LLC. Vicky Jones Office Manager Whatley Construction LLC Post Office Box 137 Opelika, Alabama 36803-0137 Note: This notice must be run once a week for four successive weeks for projects exceeding $50,000.00. Legal Run 08/14/19, 08/21/19, 08/28/19 & 09/04/19
THE STATE OF ALABAMA IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE #: 2019-B-123 In the Matter of: The Estate of Donnie Clayton Barber, deceased ORDER FIXING DAY FOR HEARING ON PROBATE OF WILL In the matter of the Application of Charles Barber to Admit the Last Will and Testament of Donnie Clayton Barber to Probate: This day came Charles Barber and filed his petition in writing and under oath, praying for an order of this Court admitting to probate an instrument purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Donnie Clayton Barber, deceased. It is Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed by the Court that the 29th day of August, 2019, 10:00 o’clock a.m., be, and the same hereby is fixed by the Court as the day and time for the hearing on the said petition. Witness my hand this the 25th day of July 2019. Hon. Bill English, Judge of Probate Legal Run 08/07/19, 08/14/19 & 08/21/19
NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE SALE To be held on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, at 10 a.m. at Best 4 Less at 2509 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801. 3FAHP07Z87R174434 2007 FORD FUSION 3A4GY5F92AT168599
- 2010 CHRYLSER PT CRUISER 1G3AG54N6P6361890 - 1993 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS CIERRA 4T1BF22K0YU112783 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY Legal Run 08/14/19 & 08/21/19
IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA BILL ENGLISH JUDGE OF PROBATE Case No. 2019-B-094 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: Fred Douglas Jones, Deceased NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to Benjamin H. Parr, Personal Representative on the 8th day of August, 2019, by Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. Benjamin H. Parr Legal Run 08/14/19, 08/21/19 & 08/28/19
NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE SALE To be held on Thursday, September 19, 2019, at 10 a.m. at Best 4 Less at 2509 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801. 1FAFP40493F419309 2003 FORD MUSTANG 3GNDA13D16S578328 2006 CHEVROLET HHR Legal Run 08/21/19 & 08/28/19
Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: Extra Space Storage 1242 N. Dean Rd. Auburn Al 36830 September 09 th 2019 at 1:30 P.M. Felicia Chislom Unit 45 425 Webster Rd Lot 734 Auburn, AL, 36832 Computer monitors, TV, bags, clothes, shoes, totes. Jalea Tommie Unit 270 4315 Golf Club Drive APT 3503 Auburn, AL, 36830 Bags, clothes, totes, toys Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the win-
ning bidder takes possession of the personal property. Legal Run 08/21/19 & 08/28/19
Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: Extra Space Storage 1412 Opelika Road. Auburn AL, 36830 on 09/09/2019 at 2:00 p.m. Jordan Taylor Unit# N162 202 1/2 N 2nd St Opelika, AL, 36801 couch,dresser,boxes,end table Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property. Legal Run 08/21/19 & 08/28/19
NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF ETTORE P. PASSARETTI, Deceased PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY - CASE NO. 2019-B-106 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of the Estate of ETTORE P. PASSARETTI deceased having been granted to Steven Edward Passaretti, on the 8th day of August, 2019, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. Steven Edward Passaretti Legal Run 08/21/19, 08/28/19 & 09/04/19
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF CHILTON COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO.: DR-17900185 ASHLEY LEE HOLT PLAINTIFF VS. TRAVIS LEE HOLT DEFENDANT NOTICE OF DIVORCE ACTION Travis Lee Holt, the Defendant(s) in this divorce action and whose whereabouts are unknown, must answer
NOW OPEN
Plaintiff, Ashley Lee Holt’s Complaint for Divorce by 30 days after the last date of publication of this notice or, thereafter, a judgment by default may be rendered against him in Case No. DR-2017900185 in the Circuit Court of Chilton County, Alabama, for the relief sought by Plaintiff. DONE, this the 21st day of August, 2019. s/ Glenn McGriff Glenn McGriff Circuit Clerk, Chilton County, Alabama Plaintiff’s Attorney: Angie Avery Mayfield PO Box 2158 Clanton, AL 35046 (205) 287-0282 angie@angiemayfieldlaw. com Legal Run 08/28/19, 09/04/19, 09/11/19 & 09/18/19
Abandon Vehicle Auction Whitt’s Auto Service 461 Opelika Rd Auburn Al 36830 Monday October 21 2019 At 8:30 AM 2005 Nissan Pathfinder White 5N1AR18U05C735876 1999 Chevrolet Malibu Navy Blue 1G1NE52M0X6259480 2000 Dodge Dakota Blue 1B7GG2AN7YS624720 Legal Run 8/28/19 & 09/04/19
IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA - CASE NO. 2019-B-128 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JESSE SAMUEL JONES, Deceased. In the Matter of the Estate of JESSE SAMUEL JONES Deceased Letters Testamentary as Personal Representative of the Estate of JESSE SAMUEL JONES, deceased, having been granted to the undersigned on the 25th day of July, 2019, by the Honorable BILL ENGLISH, Judge of Probate of said County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law, or the same will be barred. MARK WILSON JONES Personal Representative Legal Run 08/28/19, 09/04/19 & 09/11/19
IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA BILL ENGLISH IA JUDGE OF PROBATE
IN RE: The Estate of WILEY WILLIAMS, Deceased Case No. 2019-B-179 TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Margaret Williams Cope and Kathryn Williams Barrett, as Co-Executrices of the Estate of Wiley Williams, deceased, on the 23rd day of August, 2019, by the Honorable Bill English. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against the said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. /s/Margaret Williams Cope MARGARET WILLIAMS COPE /s/ Kathryn Williams Barrett KATHRYN WILLIAMS BARRETT Co-Executrices of the Estate of Wiley Williams, deceased. Legal Run 08/28/19, 09/04/19 & 09/11/19
IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF JERRY E. MEARS, * DECEASED. * NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION TO: Any unknown heirs of Jerry E. Mears, deceased, Pamela Leigh Mears, address unknown (adult daughter of Jerry E. Mears, deceased), Jessica Lane Mears, address uncertain (adult daughter of Jerry E. Mears, deceased) and Matthew Hayes Mears, address unknown (adult son of Jerry E. Mears, deceased). Please take notice that a Petition to Probate the Will of Jerry E. Mears, in the above styled matter has been filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama by Petitioner Billy Edward Mears and that on the 2nd day of October, 2019, at 1:00 P.M. (Central time) has been set for a hearing on the same in said Court located at 215 South 9TH Street, Opelika, Alabama. Please be advised that if you intend to contest this Petition to Probate the Will of Jerry E Mears that you must file a written response within thirty (30) days hereof with the clerk of said Probate Court and with counsel for said Petitioner, and/or you must appear the hearing scheduled in this manner Done this the 27th day of August, 2019. Hon. Bill English Judge of Probate Lee County, Alabama Legal Run 8/28/19, 09/04/19, 09/11/19, 09/18/19
Indoor shooting range is open to the public
2195 FIRST AVENUE • OPELIKA
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B12 Aug. 28, 2019
Attorney General Steve Marshall announces agreement with 51 attorneys general, 12 phone companies to combat illegal robocalls nationwide Special to the Opelika Observer Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that 12 phone companies are adopting a set of principles to fight illegal robocalls as a result of the work of a bipartisan public and private coalition of 51 attorneys general and the phone companies. This agreement to implement practices based on these principles is an important step forward to protect consumers, as well as to assist attorneys general in investigating and prosecuting bad actors. “Abusive and illegal robocalls are among the most common and annoying problems
Steve Marshall experienced by consumers, and finding ways to combat them has presented particular challenges,” Marshall said. “I am encouraged
that this partnership of attorneys general and phone companies has resulted in meaningful progress to help provide some relief to custom-
ers of these companies. We are committed to continue the sustained and comprehensive work that will be necessary to bring about significant reforms.” The principles address the robocall problem in two main ways: prevention and enforcement. Phone companies will work to prevent illegal robocalls by: • implementing callblocking technology at the network level at no cost to customers. • making available to customers additional, free, easy-to-use call blocking and labeling tools. • implementing technology to authenticate that callers are coming
from a valid source. • monitoring their networks for robocall traffic. Phone companies will assist attorneys general in anti-robocall enforcement by: • knowing who their customers are so bad actors can be identified and investigated. • investigating and taking action against suspicious callers – including notifying law enforcement and state attorneys general. • working with law enforcement, including state attorneys general, to trace the origins of illegal robocalls. • requiring telephone companies with which they contract to cooperate in traceback identi-
fication. Going forward, phone companies will stay in close communication with the coalition of attorneys general to continue to optimize robocall protections as technology and scammer techniques change. The coalition of attorneys general, led by North Carolina, New Hampshire and Indiana, includes attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The coalition of phone companies includes AT&T, Bandwidth, CenturyLink, Charter, Comcast, Consolidated, Frontier, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon and Windstream.
Sen. Doug Jones ranks among most bipartisan senators according to newly released report Special to the Opelika Observer Quorum Analytics has released a new report ranking Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) among the most bipartisan members of the United States Senate. The report analyzed the bipartisan actions taken by Members of Congress so far in the 116th Congress. Of the bills Senator Jones
has cosponsored this year, 47% are led by a Republican. “Bipartisanship means more than simply reaching across the political aisle; it means finding common ground. I have always believed that in Alabama, and in America, we have far more in common than we have that divides us. As a United States Senator, I’ve taken that approach to a
Doug Jones number of important issues that impact our people every day
– issues like health care, education, jobs - ensuring that we
have the strongest possible national defense, and so many others. That is reflected in the strong bipartisan record my team and I have built in the Senate. If we can set aside the divisive partisan politics, we can work together and actually get things done,” Jones said. Jones has also led a number of bipartisan proposals that have
been signed into law, including his Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act, Rural Health Liaison Act, Fair Access for Farmers and Ranchers Act and the Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Act. So far this year, more than half of the bills Senator Jones has introduced have earned Republican cosponsors.
ALGOP emerges stronger, united following 2019 summer meeting in Auburn last Saturday Special to the Opelika Observer More than 400 Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee members, Republican-elected officials and candidates gathered at the Hotel at Auburn University on Aug. 24 for the party's bi-annual meeting. The body focused its work on several resolutions and prepared for
Flowers, from B9 Family Stone, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker, Sha Na Na, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and Blood, Sweat and Tears. If that ain’t a lineup, you don’t know the history of American culture during the last 50 years. Woodstock was an iconic event. Woodstock was a cultural storm. However, occurring at the same time, was a real storm which hit the gulf
the upcoming 2020 Alabama Republican Primary. ALGOP Chairman Terry Lathan issued the following comment at the conclusion of the meeting: "I am so proud of our members. While we truly are the 'big tent' party, with a variety of ideas on how to accomplish our goals, our membership worked respectfully together in
order to make our party stronger. We surpassed our goals in a solid unifying meeting to Keep America Great and win back the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Doug Jones who repeatedly ignores the majority of Alabamians.” The ALGOP State Executive Committee passed the following two resolutions regarding the the 2020
Republican Primary: The 2020 Presidential Preference Primary Resolution, establishing qualifying procedures, dates and fees for candidates wanting to run in the Alabama Republican Presidential Primary on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, as well as the process to elect Republican National Convention delegates and alternates. The 2020 Primary
Resolution, establishing qualifying procedures, dates and fees for all other elected positions on the 2020 Alabama Republican Primary ballot. In accordance with both resolutions and Alabama law, qualifying for the 2020 Republican Primary will open on Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m. and end on Nov. 8 at 5 p.m. The Committee
passed an additional seven resolutions. These resolutions can be read here. On Aug. 23, prior to the meeting, members and supporters gathered for a dinner and fundraiser featuring an informative and unifying keynote address by Chris Carr, Political Director for Donald J. Trump for President and the Republican National Committee.
coast. Hurricane Camille hit the Mississippi and Louisiana coast as a major Category 5 devastating and deadly hurricane. It was the second most intense tropical storm on record to strike the United States. As it raged toward the coastal borders it intensified to a major category 5. It made landfall in Pass Christian and Waveland, Mississippi early on Aug. 18, 1969. Camille caused tremendous damage. It flattened nearly everything along the coast of Mississippi and Louisiana. Camille killed 259 people and
caused $1.44 billion in damages. That would amount to $10 billion in damages in today’s dollars. It happened exactly 50 years ago. Camille is considered one of the most impactful and devastating hurricanes in U.S. history, only surpassed by one known as the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. The most momentous event of the summer of 1969 was the Apollo landing on the moon by American astronauts on July 20, 1969. This event was quite celebrated by our national media commemorating
the 50th Anniversary of this summer. The lunar landing on the moon was watched live on television by a good many Americans with great pride. Most people remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when America put a man on the moon. Most Americans are familiar with the words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Those were the words spoken by Astronaut Neal Armstrong when he took man’s first step on the moon in the summer of 1969.
Not to be outdone, the summer of ’69 was the motherlode of some of Hollywood’s greatest movies. Get this folks, being released and shown that summer was “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, “Easy Rider,” with Jack Nicholson, “Midnight Cowboy” and “True Grit,” starring John Wayne. He won the Academy Award as Best Actor of 1969 for his performance. “Hello Dolly,” took Broadway by storm. On Aug. 9, the sensa-
tional murder of actress Sharon Tate at the hands of Charles Manson occurred in Beverly Hills, California. The summer of 1969 was truly one for the record books. It was 50 years ago, can you believe it? 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.
pelika O Observer Council, from B9 New Orleans last week. Also during the meeting, the new 20-Under-40 class was introduced to the council. Fuller introduced each individual present and congratulated them on being selected as part of the 20-Under-40 program. In other business, the council: • approved a request from Lee Co. Life Chain to use the right-of-way near Gateway Drive and Frederick Road on Oct. 6 to form a form a human chain standing 5 to 10 feet apart holding signs that say “Abortion Kills Children”, “Adop-
Aug. 28, 2019
Clinic. • approved a resolution to authorize a new job classification/job description for building service worker for the Opelika police department • approved a resolution to reclassify a part-time code compliance officer to a full-time position within the revenue department • approved a resolution to reclassify part-time administration clerk to full-time administrative assistant within the human resource department • approved a resolution to authorize new job classification or job description for the IT network administrator and to eliminate a job classification of IT associate within the
chassis for $56,282 for Opelika Power Services • approved expense reports from various departments • approved an agreement for professional grant writing services with L.P. Campbell Company for an annual fee of $18,000 • approved the naming of the new connectorvstreet between Corporate Park Drive and Frederick Road as Loyalty Loop • approved an agreement with ESG named Amendment No. 6 to amend ESG’s staffing plan by adding one new staff member to the grounds division • approved an agreement authorizing ESG employees to use the Opelika CareHere
tion: A Loving Option” or “Jesus Heals and Forgives” • approved a request from Opelika Main Street for closure of South Railroad Avenue between 8th Street and 9th Street, 8th Street between South Railroad and Avenue A and 9th Street between S. Railroad and Avenue A for the On The Tracks event on Oct. 18 • approved a request for the 2019 Jean Dean Run to Read to be held at Westridge Park on Oct. 20 • approved a bid from Perfect Fit Image Apparel, Inc. for uniform purchases for Opelika Power Services • approved a bid to purchase a 2019 Ford F-350 extended cab and
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information technology department • approved a resolution to authorize a new job classification or job description for a youth specialist at the library. The Opelika City Council meets on the first and the third Tuesdays of every month at 7 p.m. Meetings are currently held in the council chambers at City Hall but will be relocating to a new meeting room in the new municpal court facility located on S. 10th Street later this year. Council work sessions take place before the council meetings and the times of the work sessions are posted online. Both the worksessions and council meetings are open to the public.
Citizens are invited to voice their opinions at each council meeting. The only rule is that those interested in speaking must give their name and address, and are limited to five minutes or less. There is a called meeting of the council on Aug. 28 at 5:30 p.m. The council will be considering and acting on the Annual Transportation Plan for fiscal year 2020. This plan is required by the Rebuild Alabama Act (ACT2019-2) to show the use of projected funds. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the council will be Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. City Hall is located at 204 S. 7th St. in downtown Opelika.
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Job Opening Assistant Property Manager Provide assistance and clerical support to property manager in the day-to-day operation of assigned property. Collect and record rent and other charges, and assist with evictions. Receive requests for repairs, generate and close work orders. Assist and encourage residents to become self-sufficient by referring to programs directed toward selfsufficiency. Make interim adjustments based on information from residents. Assist in conducting annual re-examinations to verify continued program eligibility, and with various types of inspections. Attend staff meetings and training Minimum Qualifications
• Associate Degree in business or social services field plus two years of experience in dealing with the public and accounting for money, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. • Experience handling and accounting for money and involving public contact preferred. Other:Valid Driving License Ability to be insured under the Authority’s vehicle policy Please visit our website to apply: www.opelikaha.org For more info and to submit resume and application with qualifications in writing to: ravery@opelikaha.org or via mail: Human Resources Opelika Housing Authority P.O. Box 786 Opelika, Alabama 368030786
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“This project was supported by Subgrant #16-VA-VS-076 awarded by the Law Enforcement / Traffic Safety Division of ADECA and the U.S. Department of Justice.” The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice or grant-making component.”
pelika Observer O
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Like crossword puzzles? Sudoku? Play online at www.opelikaobserver.com/puzzles/
This week’s Scramblers Answers: 1.Ironed 2. Battle 3. Right 4. Stardom - Solution:Brain
Even Exchange Answers 1. Wilma, Willa 2. Dancer, Danger 3. Board, Beard 4. Ascent, Assent 5. Creek, Creed
6. Singer, Sinner 7. Brave, Crave 8. Short, Shirt 9. Model, Motel 10. Burner, Burger
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COMICS
“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.” ― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
pelika Observer O
B16 Aug. 28, 2019
LCC, from B9 related to their service to our country and the traditional criminal justice system is just not the place where they need to go to get the help they need otherwise they will keep coming back over and over again,” Hughes said. “So these courts exists to take care of the folks that need taken care of and in a way that if they do what the drug court or the veteran court asks them to do that we don’t see them again and they become productive members of our society which is what we all want.” Other groups also ad-
dressed the commission regarding appropriations in the 2020 budget including: - Domestic Violence Intervention Center - Lee County Historical Society - Opelika Main Street - Valley Haven School In other business, the commission: • approved the minutes of the Aug. 12, 2019 commission meeting • voted to approve and ratify claims • held the first reading of various board appointments: - George Ervin - Lee County Youth Development Board - Bill Scott, III - East Alabama Health Care Authority Board - Roberta Greene Horseshoe Bend Region-
al Library Board - Randy Price - Public Building Authority Board • held the second reading for three openings on Lee County Department of Human Resources Board and voted to approve the following individuals to this board: - Vicki Hudson - Gina Ivey and - Bill White • voted to approve a resolution refunding the 2010 Warrant Issue as presented by County Administrator Roger Rendleman - The resolution authorizes Frazier Lanier to market the warrants and authorizes Judge Bill English to sign a purchase contract with Frazier Lanier, provided that the final pricing does not produce
more than $5.5 million in warrants and the true interest cost does not exceed 3% • heard a presentation from Smiths Station Fire & Rescue’s Deputy Chief and Public Information Officer Daniel Sextion and Austin Bayles from ETS regarding the successful work that they are doing in the Smiths Station community and their continued relationship with East Alabama EMS • held a discussion and then approved a request from EAMC Emergency Medical Services regarding their contract for FY2020 EAMC is requesting an increase of $26,000 in the operations section of their service agreement with the county as well
as an a $30,000 increase in the capital subsidy provided by Lee County. This will bring the total combined annual subsidy request to $375,476 • voted to approve a job description changes for Compactor Operator I & Compactor Operator II • voted to hold two work sessions in September to develop the 2020 budget - the meetings will be held on Sept. 9 and 30 following the scheduled commission meetings. The county administrator is waiting on the soon-to-be completed Classification and Pay Plan in order to finalize the 2020 budget. As a result of the delay in receiving this information, it is anticipated that the commission
will be presented with a resolution to accept and approve the current 2019 budget as the new budget in order to meet the Oct. 1 deadline for budget approval. Following the receipt of the classification and pay plan documents, Rendleman stated that budget amendments would then be presented to the commission for their approval to effectively create the new 2020 budget. The commission meets on the second and last Monday nights of every month at 5 p.m. in the commission chambers on the 2nd floor of the courthouse annex. The next scheduled meeting will be on Sept. 9. The meetings are a matter of public record and are open to the public.
This week’s puzzle answers:
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