Opelika Observer 09-18-19 E-edition

pelika Observer O

Vol. 11, No. 50

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019

Opelika, Alabama

Nov. 9 from 8 to 10 p.m.

“By local people, for local people.”

www.bottlingplanteventcenter.com

Harmony in 3D offers healing, City of Opelika names Ruth relaxation to patrons in the Blessing as new Auburn-Opelika community HR director

By Morgan Bryce Editor Sue Bradley and MaryAnne Miller of Harmony 3D are offering solutions for better mental and spiritual health to Auburn-Opelika area residents.

They offer patrons 30 to 45 minute or hourlong sessions in a relaxation center equipped with a BETAR system (consisting of a geodesic dome, bed-like platform with resonators and speakers on the dome and floor), essential oil diffusers and a salt lamp.

Patrons lie on the platform and listen to music of their choice while See Harmony, page A2

Ruth Blessing Special to the Opelika Observer

Photo by Morgan Bryce/Opelika Observer Sue Bradley, pictured above, stands in front of the BETAR system inside her Auburn-based business Harmony in 3D. The business serves as a relaxation center to help people deal with daily stress or improve their outlook on life.

The city of Opelika has named Ruth Blessing as the city’s new human resources director.

Blessing is replac-

ing Lisa McLeod, who will retire Feb. 1, 2020, after 35 years with the city.

“While we are extremely sad to see Lisa retire, we are excited to have Ruth See Blessing , page A3

Downtown Opelika One Voice Shelter Coalition business owner receives dedicates house last week prestigious award

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

Special to the Opelika Observer Opelika Main Street and Main Street Alabama presented the prestigious “Main Street Alabama Hero

Award” to local developer Richard Patton last Thursday.

Patton was honored for his work in transforming Opelika’s 1st Avenue in recent years, aiding the redevelop-

ment of the area.

Once an industrial street filled with empty cotton warehouses, the 700 block of 1st Avenue has recently seen See Patton, page A3

Index

OPINION.....................................A4 SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY..............A7 RELIGION..............................A13 CALENDAR..................................A14

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

By Morgan Bryce Editor For the last eight months, the Opelikabased One Voice Shelter Coalition has been work-

COMICS.....................................A16 SPORTS..................................B1 LEGALS.......................................B12 POLITICS...................................B15

ing to remodel a house in Beulah that The Bridge Church donated.

Consisting of three bedrooms, two bathrooms and bedrooms and a kitchen, the house

will be a home for three homeless ladies. Later this month, coalition representatives plan to open another shelter to house 39 people later in See Shelter, page A3

pelika O Observer.com

What’s Up? www.doughornroofing.com • 334-744-5246

A2 Sept. 18, 2019

pelika O Observer

EAMC Health Sciences Facility holds groundbreaking ceremony last week in Auburn

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer On the left is a sketching of what the new healthcare facility will look like once it is completed. Pictured from left to right at the groundbreaking ceremony last week are Auburn Research and Technology Foundation Executive Director Larry Fillmer, Bill Hardgrave, East Alabama Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Laura Grill, The Orthopedic Clinic Managing Member and orthopedic surgeron Dr. Trent Wilson, M.D., East Alabama Ambulatory Surgery Center Medical Director Justin Phillpott, M.D.; Radiologist Alan Moore, M.D., Medical Director of the Freestanding Emergency Department. The project is slated to be completed by mid-2020.

Harmony, from A1

Photo by Morgan Bryce/Opelika Observer

All patrons are required to fill out questionnaires to help Bradley and Miller best work with them. Bradley added that all provided information is confidential.

Music playlists can be created by Bradley or customized by patrons based on their personal preferences.

For more information, like and follow Harmony in 3D's Facebook page or visit their website. To schedule an appointment, call 334-246-3404 or email harmonyin3d@gmail. com.

Bradley said the center’s hours are flexible for patrons. The relaxation center is located at 1685 E. University Drive, Suite C in Auburn.

piano lessons to local residents.

Previously familiar with the BETAR technology, Bradley said she knew after her retirement from teaching that she wanted to use it to help people.

Since opening in May, Bradley said she has been holding open houses to promote her business, as well as using social media and website www.harmonyin3d.com.

She is also working to cultivate relationships with the local medical community in hopes of referrals for patients whose treatments might require something outside the field of regular medicine.

Miller, Bradley’s granddaughter, also helps with Harmony in 3D's daily operations.

receiving a massage up and down their spine from the resonators.

"After people have completed sessions, I've had them tell me that they felt like all their toxins were gone or that they just didn't want to leave. One lady had a large (project) for work, and after her session here, went home and just sat down that night and finished it," Bradley said.

Before opening Harmony in 3D in May, Bradley taught both music appreciation courses at Auburn University and Opelika's Southern Union State Community College campus and

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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.

pelika O Observer The Lee County Humane Society celebrates selection as a Winn-Dixie Community Bag Program beneficiary Special to the Opelika Observer The Lee County Humane Society has been selected as a beneficiary of the Community Bag Program for the month of September. Launched in February 2019, the reusable bag program facilitates community support with the goal to make a difference in the communities where shoppers live and work.

Store leadership at the Opelika WinnDixie store selected the humane society as the program's September beneficiary.

The Lee County Humane Society will receive a $1 donation

Blessing, from A1 join our leadership team. Ruth brings strong management, analytical thinking and planning skills to the table,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. “Since she’s been with the city, she’s proven to be a great asset.”

Blessing will transition from senior accountant to human resources director, effective immediately. In her role as senior accountant, she worked hand-in-hand with the city controller on financial planning, policy, compliance and budget preparation.

As human resource director, Blessing will be responsible for supervising staff, safety/risk management, policy and procedures, human resources processes, budgets, evaluations and reporting.

“I appreciate the Mayor and Mr. (Joey) Motley giving me this opportunity. Opelika has wonderful employees and I am very excited about the opportunity to serve each of them through

Patton, from A1 multiple new business locate there including Resting Pulse Brewery, Griff Goods, Mama Mocha’s Bodega, Sneak & Dawdle and 10,000 hz records.

“Richard Patton and his family have been an integral part of the revitalization of downtown Opelika,” said Opelika

every time the $2.50 reusable Community Bag is purchased at this location during September unless otherwise directed by the customer through the Giving Tag attached to the bag.

These donations will help the Lee County Humane Society to fulfill its mission by providing necessary care to stray and unwanted animals, offering an array of community programs as well as educating the public about responsible pet ownership.

The Lee County Humane Society is a nonprofit located in Auburn. Founded in 1974, the humane society has served the

the Human Resources Department. Lisa McLeod has been a wonderful HR director for many years and each of us will miss her greatly,” Blessing said. “It’s an honor to follow her in this role.”

Blessing has more than 17 years of consulting, process improvement, internal audit and accounting in both the public and private sectors.

She has extensive experience working with policy creation and implementation, process analysis and improvement, recruitment and retention, leadership development, financial accounting, budgeting and forecasts and federal grants.

Prior to joining the city in 2017, Blessing spent seven years in Atlanta with Ernst & Young, LLP in their Business Risk Services and Resource & Production Management divisions and seven years in Auburn with Himmelwright, Huguley & Boles, LLC. Blessing maintains a CPA certification and holds degrees in Accounting from Bob Jones University and Auburn University.

Main Street Executive Director Ken Ward.

“The work Richard has done on 1st Avenue has helped expand the reach of downtown, creating jobs for Opelika residents and new spaces for small businesses to locate.”

The Alabama Main Street Hero Award recognizes a community leader or public figure who has made an outstanding contribution to a local Main Street organization.

citizens and animals of Auburn and Opelika for several decades and envisions a future in which animals are valued, pet overpopulation is eliminated and every adoptable companion animal has a loving and responsible home.

For more information about the humane society, visit www.leecountyhumane.org. The shelter is located at 1140 Ware Drive.

To learn more about the Community Bag Program, visit seg.bags4mycause. com.

The Opelika WinnDixie store is located at 1441 Fox Run Parkway.

Shelter, from A1 the month.

The One Voice Shelter Coalition is working to assist the homeless population of Lee County.

They want to provide safe, affordable shelter for those homeless and share the love of Jesus Christ with them.

Currently, there are 79 homeless individuals on the list for housing aging for the 20s to seniors. The coalition wants to help people find solutions for those that are homeless in Lee County that need of emergency, temporary or transitional shelter.

A person applies through the Lee-Russell Council of Government to place the application.

Many of the homeless have jobs but do not make enough money to pay for housing. Often, they can be found living in their cars or on on the streets. The coalition helps them get where they can provide their own housing later.

During the ribbon cutting, Jean Causey thanked the following churches,

A3 Sept. 18, 2019

Lee County Farm-City Committee tours revamped 1st Avenue last Tuesday

By Morgan Bryce Editor Last Tuesday, members of the Lee County Farm-City Committee toured the new businesses that occupy the nearly fully restored portion of 1st Avenue between 7th and 8th streets in downtown Opelika.

The group's first stop was in the roasting room of Mama Mocha's Opelika location. There, they heard from Mama Mocha's owner Sarah Barnett Gill, Opelika Main Street Director Ken Ward and local businessman Richard Patton, who is credited for much of the progress in restoring 1st Avenue.

Patton purchased most of the historical structures in that district from Penn Montgomery, between 2006 and 2007,

with the intention of creating a viable entertainment hub for downtown Opelika. Most of the historic structures were previously used as cotton warehouses.

“The idea has always been there, but it’s been hard finding the right people. We could have filled it with lots of things, but things we didn’t feel like were beneficial for downtown,” Patton said in a 2018 interview with the Observer. “We wanted to make a space that wasn’t just being used for storage or collecting but rather a spot that would add to the quality of life for people here in Opelika.”

The group's next stops were 10,000 Hz Records, Sneak and Dawdle, Griff Goods and Resting Pulse Brewery, where they enjoyed

lunch and refreshments.

Though nothing has been confirmed, plans are in the works for a new business to fill the void left by the historic Opelika sign-making company Dorris Signs, which relocated to 409 Ermine St. this summer.

About the Lee County Farm-City Committee According to the group's Facebook page, the Lee County FarmCity Committee is "dedicated to enhancing the relationship between farm families and urban residents by providing programs and materials that promote appreciation for the agricultural community."

For more information about the group, like and follow the group's Facebook page or call the Lee County Extension Office at 334-749-3353.

groups or organizations for their donations and assistants to remodel the house: Lowe’s, A&E Metal, Point Broadband, Norbord, Ridge Road Baptist Church, Chief Blake Simpkins of the Beulah Fire Department, Phil Teague, Perry Construction, The Bridge Church, Rebuilding Lee County and the Lee-Russell Council of Governments.

For more information or to find out about volunteering with the coalition, contact Causey by email at jcausey@lrocg. com or Selena Daniel at daniel1@mindspring. com.

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

pelika O Opinion

A4 Sept. 18, 2019

I

Auburn’s Man

n honor of college football season, I want to tell you about the biggest SEC football fan I know. He lives in Monroeville, Alabama, which is your quintessential allAmerican town. Walk the square and take a trip backward on the timeline. Drive around town.

You’ll see barbecue joints, a Piggly Wiggly, a Sonic, world-famous courthouse and you might see Kenny.

Kenny is late-forties.

He lives in the upstairs bedroom of his parents’ house. A little about him: Kenny likes dogs, people, food, singing, sports and hugging anyone within a six-foot radius.

Kenny has Down syndrome. There is a touch of gray on his temples.

His face has smile-lines.

And, if Kenny were to ever donate blood, doctors would discover he bleeds orange and blue.

He is an Auburn University fanatic.

“I’m Auburn’s BIGGEST FAN!” he says.

There’s no doubt.

He gives me the dime tour of his bedroom—a shrine to the Tigers.

There are 17,000 orange ballcaps adorning

his walls. Bo Jackson autographs, Gus Malzahn posters, stuffed tigers, eagle figurines and Shug Jordan coffee mugs.

During the tour, Kenny breaks into spontaneous song: “WAR EAGLE! Fearless and true, “Fight on, you orange and blue…”

He finishes his performance by hugging me.

Kenny gives good hugs.

In the corner is an Auburn Christmas tree, weighted with orange ornaments—he keeps it up year round as well as Auburn bedspreads, throw rugs, drapes, pillows and light-switch covers.

“When we first had Kenny,” says his father.

“Doctors told us our baby had issues. Told us we’d better let him go and institutionalize him.”

Kenny’s father informed the doctor they would do no such thing.

See Dietrich, page A5

W

hen I was a kid, going to the store was a big deal. It really was. Getting an ice-cold Coca-Cola was always at the top of my list.

In Opelika, we’d walk to O.B. Ennis—now Wright’s—on the trails above the train tracks.

The store was tiny back then. It even had a little washateria on the side.

We’d get our snacks from the store and our cold drink from the machine outside and then go sit underneath the old clickety-clack wooden bridge that used to cross the tracks on Pleasant Drive. The pigeons didn’t pay us any attention. Those are good memories.

My granddaddy owned a washateria in Dadeville. I was just a little squirt, but I remember it well. The building was hot, but the Cokes were cold, and the Bugles fit perfectly on my little fingers like claws.

Back then, we spent every other weekend up there. The alternate weekends were spent at our dad’s house in Montgomery. Once he passed away in the spring of ’81, we spent

By Jody Fuller every weekend with our grandparents.

When granddaddy shut down the washateria and grandmamma retired from the hospital, we even spent the summers up there and used to go everywhere with them, and by “everywhere” I mean to church and to the old country store.

That’s about it. They didn’t go a lot of places.

They “went to town” once a week, and there was always the occasional appointment with Doc Swindall.

I can’t really recall whether or not they actually called him “Doc” or not. I may have gotten that from an overabundance of Gunsmoke or Little House on the Prairie. Nevertheless, they loved them some Doctor Swindall.

Wylie and I went just about everywhere with them, especially if they were going to the old

country store owned by the Phillips family. They were such nice people.

Before that, my Uncle Curwood had it. Mr. Eugene Phillips had the coldest “Co-Colas” in Dadeville, and there was a basketball hoop to the side of the parking lot.

Their son Donald always had his ball in hand.

If it was just one of the grandparents, Wylie and I would both ride shotgun. We were little back then. We always went, except for this one time in the summer of ’81.

Granddaddy was going to the store and asked if we wanted to go. We were playing outside, probably collecting redbugs with our skin. We were always very good at that. Now that I’m living up in these parts, I’ve reconnected with those darn redbugs, but I digress.

We didn’t go. Why we didn’t go can only be described as a God thing. Some may say coincidence, but I know better. We didn’t go. We always went. I doubled down on this purposely.

My faith was solidified on this day.

Several minutes See Fuller, page A5

Tailgating

T

ailgating. It began as such a simple pleasure.

Drive early to the game in your pick-up truck full of stuff to eat and drink and when you get there park, lower the tailgate, use it as your table and voile -tailgating.

My first experience with tailgating was as a boy with my Daddy and uncles. We would drive over to Auburn from the home place at Slapout, stopping along the way to buy barbeque sandwiches from church folks who set stands by the side of the road.

When we arrived at the stadium and parked, the men, without shame or irony, washed down church pork with beer they brought (I drank a coke). Then we’d go to the game.

A few years later,

T

By Sean Dietrich

Instead, the family built their world around the new baby. They loved him.

“Raising him was the big blessing of our life,” says Kenny’s father.

“We were never alone, that’s part of life in a small town. You’re never alone. This community raised Kenny with us.”

Kenny spent twenty years finishing school.

His teachers supported him. His peers adored him. Ask around, everybody and their mother’s cousin’s aunt loves Kenny.

After Kenny finished high school, he took a job at McDonald’s.

He worked as a custodian and greeter for twenty-three years. This is where he became famous. There aren’t many people in town who don’t know him.

That’s twenty-three years of grins, Auburn chants, broom-pushing, laughing, and spontaneous hugs.

He retired a few years ago.

“Yeah, I know Kenny,” says one local man.

“Who doesn’t? He’s a fixture in our town.

The Old Country Store

some college friends and I wandered down from our hilltop campus to Legion Field to mingle with tailgaters who packed the parking lot. Things had gotten fancy. Some had set up tents and grills and such.

Taking note of the lack of tailgating space, we roped off the parking lot at our Methodist college and sold spaces to the overflow.

The administration was not happy.

The practice was banned.

Then I was at the University of Alabama, living not far from Bryant-Denny Stadium, and my housemates and I marked off our yard and sold slots to eager tailgaters who paid us well and let us eat (and drink) with them.

Then it was the University of Georgia (by

this time my father had about decided that my goal was to attend every school in the SEC).

There, tailgaters crowded into the lawn around the history department building and we graduate students mingled and consumed because everyone belonged to the Bulldog nation.

Then, I tailgated at Jacksonville State University.

All of which is to say that I have watched the evolution of tailgating from a way to get a good parking place and a bite to eat before kickoff into a pre-game ritual that, for some, is more important than the game itself.

I blame this on Southern Living.

In its successful campaign to become the how-to manual for middle-class Southerners on the make,

By Hardy Jackson Southern Living staked out its claim to fall and football by announcing its own pre-season AllSEC team and giving the trendy advice on how to make the most of gameday festivities.

So now you can walk around the campus of your choice and see tables set with fine linen and silver, laid out with food and drink that would not be inappropriate for a Sunday brunch at the country club, being consumed by well-dressed, wellcoiffeur, well-mannered men, women and children who you can tell

give big to the alumni association and have premium tickets on the 50-yard line.

Until you come up on us – me and my tailgating buddies.

There we are. The antithesis of all Southern Living holds holy.

More like the infield at Talladega than “the Grove” at Ol Miss.

A mixture of minivans and my pick-up, backed in for unloading food from the best college town eateries – wings, fried chicken, barbecue and a mess of other stuff that can be eaten from a paper plate with one hand (the other’s for the beer).

Occasionally, one of us will whip up something fancy, but most follow the rule laid down by my lovely wife – if you can’t buy it locally and ready-to-eat you don’t need to bring it.

For us, tailgating is multi-family affair, so the food is kid-friendly (except the beer) – the vehicles also form a protective barrier that keeps the small ones in.

And because of to the foresight of the Jacksonville State University Athletic Department, our spot has electricity and cable-hookup.

That’s us – dressed not stylish but seasonal, with an emphasis on red and black.

Milling about or sprawled in uncoordinated collection of lawn chairs in front of the TV someone brought, watching another game while the Gamecocks get ready to take the field.

Then the Marching Southerners march by, with ballerinas and flag corps and cheerleadSee Jackson, page A5

The Artist’s Voice | Modern World

he studio experience, the field experience, the museum experience and the scholar’s experience- all of these inform the artist’s work and cultivate a wellrounded being, whether the person is a visual artist or otherwise.

These elements enrich and provide finer ways for articulating unique definitions for life. The more one delves into the treasure troves of past heritage, walks the battlefields and voyager’s paths and explores

the library shelves and museum galleries, any individual can skillfully master a language to communicate one’s own vision.

Finding the right medium to capture and convey one’s vision doesn’t often happen at once. Rarely is it a stroke of luck. It may take years to figure out exactly what works.

Like a musician, studying theory through application is just the beginning. An artist dedicates one’s life to steadfast course before

composing appreciable scores. Through painstaking dedication I’ve found that there is great reward for staying said course, taking the time to build relationships with varying mediums, and instruments and then establishing ways to project one’s voice.

On an early September trip to Washington D.C, I visited the National Gallery of Art. At the West Building, I revisited many beloved Flemish masterworks such as Van Dyk, Rubens, Frans Hals

By Sarah West and Rembrandt and Vermeer. While there, I also spent time with the only work by Leonardo currently on exhibit in North America. Two other special exhib-

its feature Women

by Corot and the art of painted Seafaring images. I took special note of Hudson River School paintings with a focus on images which relate to my current work in studio. At the National GalleriesEast Building, I found incomparable pleasure in several exhibits of Modernism. One such gallery displayed work

by Robert Henri and His Friends and Students. I’d longed to see paintings by Hopper and Bellows that were

there, among many of their contemporaries.

Modernism (1900 to 1950) is especially remarkable. This exhibit depicts early modern master’s works as they became acquainted with different techniques, tools and mediums in search of new ways to project their voice amid a changing world. Paintings and mixed-media art by Vollard, Chagall, Picasso and Mondrian present a refreshing See West, page A5

pelika O Observer

A5 Sept. 18, 2019

USDA to provide $150 million to help rural communities affected by natural disasters including 22 counties in Alabama Special to the Opelika Observer U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service Administrator Bruce Lammers announced last week that the USDA is making $150 million in grants available through the Community Facilities Program to help rural communities continue their recovery from the devastating effects of hurricanes, fires and other natural disasters.

Alabama State Director Chris Beeker III announced that 22 counties in Alabama are eligible for this assistance.

“The devastation Rural Alabama and Rural America has faced in the recent natural disasters is heartbreaking. These funds will help our rural communities in the recovery process,” Beeker said.

“When rural America thrives, all of America thrives. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA stands with the Nation’s rural communities in their long-term recovery following natural disasters.”

The $150 million is included in the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act that President Trump

Dietrich, from A4 Used’a walk into McDonald’s and he’d greet you and give you a big ‘War Eagle!’ Sometimes he’d be the only hug I got all day.”

Before my tour ends, Kenny digs through a shoebox. The box is filled with Auburn pins and buttons. He gives me a parting gift—a tiger-shaped lapel pin.

We hug again. And again. And one last time for good measure.

Then, I remove my hat. I ask if Kenny will sign the bill of my ballcap, which bears

Fuller, from A4 later, a car pulled into the driveway. I’m not sure who it was, but they told us granddaddy had been in accident. I don’t recall the details; I just know that he was okay, with the exception of a few minor abrasions and contusions. I do remember being at the hospital, but I don’t remember if we carried him or he was taken by ambulance.

That’s not important. He was okay. We had 10 more years left with our beloved granddaddy.

I think he ran into the back of a logging truck.

I think. They only thing that remains crystal clear in my mind was the

signed into law on June 6. The grants may be used for relief in areas affected by Hurricanes Michael and Florence, wildfires in 2018 and other natural disasters where the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided a notice declaring a Major Disaster Declaration and assigned a FEMA disaster recovery (DR) number.

View the list of designated communities as of Sept. 8. Check the FEMA website for regular updates and names of additional communities that may be added.

Alabama counties affected are Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, Dale, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Geneva, Greene, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lamar, Lee, Madison, Marion, Mobile, Morgan, St. Clair and Winston.

Grant applications will be accepted at USDA state offices on a continual basis until funds are exhausted. Grant assistance will be provided on a graduated scale; smaller communities with the lowest median household income are eligible for a higher proportion of grant funds. For application details and additional information, see page 47477 of the Sept. 10 Federal

Register at www.federalregister.gov/publicinspection/2019/09/10.

More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes.

Projects must be in eligible rural areas with a population of 20,000 or fewer.

In April 2017, President Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Sonny Perdue presented the task force’s findings to President Trump.

These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a cornerstone recommendation of the task force.

To view the report in its entirety, please view the report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agricul-

the autographs of a few baseball greats and some others I’ve met.

Kenny’s happy to oblige. He grabs a pen.

In over-sized letters he writes: K-E-N-N-Y over the name of a wellknown short stop.

“My autograph’s worth a LOT of money than his,” Kenny remarks. “I guarantee you.”

He admires his handiwork and grins. Then, he sings in a quiet voice: “War Eagle, fearless and true,” “Fight on, you orange and blue, “Go! Go! Go! “On to vict’ry, strike up the band.

“Give ’em hell, give ’em hell…”

Then, we hug. This time it’s a long hug.

Kenny whispers into my ear. “We’re friends now. You can write about me in your book or whatever.”

We shake on it.

“Don’t forget,” he says. “War eagle. Everyday.”

I won’t forget, Kenny.

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.

condition of his car. The driver’s side was okay.

The steering wheel may have been pushed in a little, but the passenger’s side was pushed in all the way through the seat. Back then, we didn’t wear seatbelts, either. In other words, if we had been with granddaddy like all the times before, you likely wouldn’t be reading this article right now. That hurts me to even fathom that. Thanks for reading, by the way.

It might sound overly dramatic to say that God spared us that day. Heck, he’s spared me through not only nearly three years in Iraq, but also decades of being stupid.

We go to town almost daily. Sometimes “town” means going to New Site to pick up a few groceries or just to get a Coke. Most

of the time, however, it means going to Dadeville and passing in front of that store. It’s closed now.

Mrs. Phillips passed away two years ago—Eugene in 1999.

Today, I saw Donald outside his house, so I stopped.

We had a good chat. Many more will follow, I’m sure.

He lives right next to the store. I hadn’t seen him in 35 years. I almost didn’t recognize him without his basketball, and he almost didn’t recognize me without my Coke. Maybe he’ll open it back up one day.

We need an old country store. I mean, who really wants to go to town?

Jody Fuller is a comic, a speaker, and a soldier.

He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www.jodyfuller.com.

ture and Rural Prosperity.

To view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic posted right.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and

Jackson, from A4 ers, whipping alumni into a frenzy and when they pass we all walk across the road and into the stadium, which is the great thing about tailgating at smaller schools like JSU.

West, from A4 view of Modern Art unlike any experienced before.

Sarah West serves the Opelika Observer as a contributing columnist, with written works of Cultural Arts relevance and prose.

She is a preservation, and conservation advocate, activist, and visual artist of American Illustration with a focus on regional narrative painting.

She is founder of the

grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports: - infrastructure improvements - business development

- housing - community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care and - high-speed internet access in rural areas.

For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

Schools like Auburn, Alabama and the other biggies stick you with a long hike from the field and your seat.

Not the Jacksonvilles of this world.

Which also means that when the game is over, you can quickly return for a post-game more of the same.

And discover that some loyal alumni of the team on TV

decided to stay with the food and watch the tube.

Which, of course they could have done without leaving home.

But they wouldn’t have gotten to tailgate.

Harvey H. (Hardy) Jackson is Professor Emeritus of History at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hjackson@ cableone.net.

Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts, Smiths Station, Alabama’s premier fine arts destination. She is the appointed Official Artist to the City of Smiths Station, a Lee County syndicated columnist, the director of her art center’s Cultural Arts Outreach Initiative which partners with local schools to make the arts accessible to all. She also serves a chief curator to the City of Smiths Station, City Hall Art Galleries. She is a founding member

of the Smith Station Historic Commission.

She is a member of the Women’s Philanthropy Board- Cary Center, Auburn University College of Human Science. She is an elected member of the Society of Illustrators- NYC. She mentors art students of every age through weekly classes at her studio located in the heart of Smiths Station, Alabama.

To learn more about her work and activism visit, www.thesarahwestgalleryoffineart. com.

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

pelika O Opinion

A6 Sept. 18, 2019

Birmingham-based ride share platform Moovmo receives approval to operate throughout Alabama Special to the Opelika Observer Moovmo, the Birmingham-based accessible ride share platform, has been granted approval by the Alabama Public Service Commission to operate throughout the state of Alabama.

At its monthly meeting on Sept. 10, the commission voted unanimously to approve the company. The commission’s approval makes Moovmo only the third ride-share platform permitted to do business in Alabama behind Uber and Lyft.

Moovmo was founded in fall 2018 as a solution to the problem of the lack of on-demand transportation options for individuals who require accessibility in transportation. In September 2018, Moovmo won the Economic De-

velopment Partnership of Alabama’s Alabama Launchpad $50,000 Concept Stage Prize.

Since that time, the company has been refining its technology and obtaining licensure and operating authorities in several states throughout the southeast.

“Moovmo is the first ride sharing platform specifically designed for everyone,” said Moovmo CEO and Founder Daryl Harris.

“We started by addressing the needs of riders with mobility related disabilities because they involve the most obvious barriers to ondemand transportation.

But ultimately we hope to build a community of drivers and riders who are willing to understand each other’s individual needs and abilities and will work to accommodate each other.”

While accessible vehicles will be a staple of the Moovmo platform, the service is open to all riders of all abilities, and drivers of any make or model vehicle so long as they meet the platform’s driver criteria and can pass the mandatory vehicle inspection.

“A specialized vehicle is only a small part of what makes transportation accessible. The larger part is the compassion of the driver and her willingness to go above and beyond to support the rider’s needs,” Harris said.

The Moovmo app hosts several innovative features to address the specific needs of its end users. These include a dialogue box where riders can specify any special assistance requirements or requests, a fully transparent ride receipt that details the

driver/company fare split and any amount paid to local and state governments in taxes as well as a living wage tip calculator so that riders have the option to tip their drivers based on what would constitute a living wage in their specific geographical location.

Moovmo is currently permitted to operate in Georgia and Kentucky but Harris said they are most excited about

receiving approval in Alabama.

“The permitting process in Alabama was the most comprehensive of all that we have been through so far; so as a small startup that has basically bootstrapped our entire operation and development, we are proud to have accomplished something that previously was limited to only multi-billion dollar corporations.

Plus, Alabama is our

home and we have received tremendous support from its citizens and the business community here,” Harris added.

Moovmo is currently conducting closed group test rides in the three states in which it is permitted to operate. The company anticipates a full launch in Alabama in early October.

For more information, visit www.moovmo. com.

Alabama Extension offers ways for job Sara Campbell joins Opelika’s Better Bodies Massage Institute candidates to improve overall skills

By Wendi A. Williams Special to the Opelika Observer With unemployment at a near 50-year low, there are more job openings than there are job seekers in today’s labor market. Now is the time to enhance your employable skills, so you can stand out from the crowded pack of candidates. While all skills are important, employers are looking more and more at a person’s soft skills.

Dorothy Brandon, an Alabama Extension workforce preparation specialist, said these skills are key for a successful work environment.

“Employability skills help an individual to be successful in the workplace,” Brandon said.

“These skills are more than just teachable skills, they include soft skills.”

Soft Skills Soft skills feature personal qualities that determine how a person behaves on a job. Today, many employers consider these skills to be more important for job success

than hard skills. People need these skills to build and to maintain relationships as effective team players, to empathize and appreciate others and to give and receive help from others.

“While hard skills are important, just remember that soft skills help you to be a well-rounded employee,” Brandon said Having effective soft skills ensures that individuals are working with and relating to their coworkers and customers in an ethical and professional manner. There are six soft skills that employers look for today. These include a positive attitude, communication, problem solving, work ethics, teamwork and time management.

Positive Attitude Individuals who look for the good in people and situations are easy to be around. A good attitude in the workplace enhances the possibility of not only obtaining a job, but getting a promotion.

Communication Employers look for individuals who can clearly express their thoughts and

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feelings when interacting with others. They also need individuals who can effectively write and actively listen to what others are saying.

Problem Solving The ability to solve problems and to think critically is crucial in a work environment. As problem solvers, individuals must be able to use their creativity to come up with solutions.

“Because this skill is so important, many employers will give individuals a problem to solve during an interview,” Brandon said.

Work Ethics Individuals with a strong work ethic are committed to their work. They often have the respect of their co-workers and supervisors for their honesty and integrity.

Teamwork This soft skill involves the ability to work with other people to achieve a common goal. Teamwork requires a willingness to cooperate with people regardless of differences.

As team players, individuals are comfortable with receiving and giving constructive feedback to team members. They understand the importance of collaboration.

Time Management Individuals with good time management skills organize and plan their tasks daily so as to increase productivity. Controlling or managing time helps individuals become more effective at meeting deadlines. It also assists individuals in being more punctual for work, meetings and other occasions.

For more information on improving your soft skills or more useful workforce development information, visit the Urban Extension page of the Alabama Extension website.

Special to the Opelika Observer Better Bodies Massage Institue announced the addition of a new licensed massage therapist earlier this week.

“We’re happy to include Sara in this wacky little family.

She gives a firm and detailed massage with lovely transitions.

Her bodywork is both therapeutic and relaxing,” said BBMI founder and director Leigh Ann Clark.

About Campbell Sara Campbell, LMT, BSN, believes in the body’s ability to heal itself and utilizes her expertise to assist in this process. She has been a licensed massage therapist for 8 years after completing the massage program of Southern Union Community College. She graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's

Campbell degree in Nursing.

She specializes in therapeutic massage and brings her experience and enthusiasm to each session.

Sara’s compassion and careful listening to her clients ensure a thoroughly relaxing and healing massage experience.

About BBMI The Better Bodies Massage Institute has been providing clinical massage therapy and instruction since 2014. BBMI graduates highly-skilled massage therapists, while also providing quality massage and bodywork to the community. The Bet-

ter Bodies Massage Institute’s licensed educators and students both massage in the same educational clinic; which helps fulfill their mission of administering affordable therapeutic massage to the community while simultaneously graduating employable, professional therapists into a high-demand career.

Clark developed a nationally recognized program that offers people the flexibility and experience required to excel as massage therapists.

The curriculum ensures the massage school program reflects a national standard of excellence, with graduates who demonstrate a mastery of core knowledge and skills. Small class sizes allow the teachers to provide one-on-one education and practical training in various massage techniques.

Opelika E vents, Society, & Food

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: • Sept. 21 - Auburn Oktoberfest 2019 • Sept. 24 - 2nd Annual Oysterfest at Red Clay Brewing Company • Sept. 26 - Hiss Golden Messenger at The Standard Deluxe Oct. 19 - 48th annual ‘Pioneer Day’ in Loachapoka Oct. 25 - 3rd annual Auburn-Opelika Wine Trail

Barbara Whatley wins state 44th annual Heritage Cooking Contest Ann Cipperly’s

Southern

Hospitality

W

ith her scrumptious Smoked Gouda and Bacon Dip entry, Barbara Whatley of Beauregard won first place in the state 2019 Heritage Cooking Contest held on Sept. 5 in Montgomery and sponsored by the Alabama Farmers Federation.

The Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee hosted the contest featuring dairy products as the primary ingredient. Twenty-nine contestants from across the state, who were winners in their county, entered the contest.

Barbara was named the Lee County winner in the local contest held in June at the Mt. Olive Church fellowship hall. The competition was sponsored by the Lee County Women’s Leadership Committee.

Jamie Lazenby is the president of the group.

Member Ann Whatley serves on the state Women’s Leadership Committee.

As the first-place winner, Barbara received $150. Second place went to Elizabeth Usery of Geneva County, who received $100 for her BLT Dip and Shirley

Lumsden of Cherokee was named third place winner and won $50 for her Charleston Cheese Dip recipe.

Food blogger Brooke Burks of “The Buttered Home” was the speaker for the 44th annual competition.

Burks talked about her family and her love of cooking. Along with her blog, she does a cooking demonstration in her kitchen on Monday nights on Facebook.

After the winners were announced, contestants and guests sampled the state contest entries.

Photo by Ann Cipperly Barbara Whatley of Beauregard was the state winner in the 2019 Heritage Cooking Contest, sponsored by the Alabama Farmers Federation, held Sept. 5 in Montgomery. Members of the local Lee County Women’s Leadership Committee pictured at the event are, from left, Mary Richburg, first-place winner Barbara Whatley, Ann Whatley and Jamie Lazenby.

This is not the first time Barbara has won a cooking contest, as she won several beef cooking contests when she was a member of the Lee County Cattlewomen. Barbara’s husband Gaines was a cattle farmer for many years, but he has retired.

Barbara and Gaines have two daughters and three grandchildren.

Daughter Fran How-

ard has two daughters, Terry and Taylor, while daughter Ashley Whatley has one daughter, Eden Grace Adams.

For her winning recipe, Barbara combined shredded smoked Gouda with a creamy combination of cream cheese, mayonnaise and sour cream embellished with bacon and green onions. Sliced French bread accompanied the

hot dip for a tasty appetizer or party dish.

Barbara enjoys making this tasty appetizer for family gatherings and for football games.

The recipe is quick and easy, and she likes that she can bake and serve the dip in the same dish.

While Barbara has been a member of the women’s group for See Cipperly, page A11

Books offer chance for readers to explore, learn and grow

W Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County to hold 'Day for Kids' event Sept. 21 in Tiger Town

By Morgan Bryce Editor The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County will join along with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America in hosting a “Day for Kids” Sept. 21 in the parking

lot of the Old Navy store in Tiger Town.

According to the club’s Resource Development Director Betty Burns Ryberg, this event is designed to serve as a showcase of the club’s efforts to equip children for better, brighter

futures.

"The message or purpose of this event is to show people that one day can change a child's life. The state of Alabama has an 87% graduation rate and our Boys See Kids, page A8

hat is so special about a good book?

I did not grow up a reader. My father was an avid reader and read to me often, but I simply didn’t have the discipline. I couldn’t make myself follow through with actually finishing a book.

Fast forward 20 years to today, and I’m completely obsessed with reading and have lists upon lists of what I’ve read and what I hope to read. I’m a wonderer. I love the idea of taking my mind to new places

By Bradley Robertson and exploring all that’s out there. A book can open up a space inside of us that always existed but seemed to be hiding.

Books open our

minds to the great big world around us. We work, we tend to our families, we are good at busy, but what’s beyond us, in imagination and truth, is just as amazing as what’s in front of us.

Stories can teach us and lead us. Stories can give us new perspective or new direction.

They can change our hearts or make us die laughing out loud.

I remember the first time I read a book that truly impacted me. It was post-college and I See Books, page A15

Monday-Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM

pelika O Observer

A8 Sept. 18, 2019

‘AuburnStrong 5K' on Oct. 12 to benefit families of injured, fallen Auburn Police Department officers

By Morgan Bryce Editor Area runners can support the families of the four Auburn Police Department officers who were injured or killed earlier this year through the "AuburnStrong 5K" on Oct. 12.

Area resident Chasity Prughski, whose husband is a Lee County Sheriff's Office deputy, is organizing the event, with backing from Auburn's ALL IN Crossfit and BacktheBadge Lee County and Auburn-Opelika Running and Track Association.

In February, APD officer Justin Sanders was seriously injured but survived a shooting that occurred during a traffic stop of a robbery suspect.

Fewer than three months later, APD officers William Buechner, Evan Elliott and Webb Sistrunk responded to a domestic incident on Wire Road that resulted in all three men being shot with Buechner ultimately losing his

life.

These tragedies spurred Prughski to create an event to benefit the families involved. Instead of the traditional benefit concert or GoFundMe campaign, she opted for an event that would tap into the Auburn-Opelika's substantial running community.

"With a lot of other (benefits or fundraisers), you never get to see the faces behind the support or money.

We thought that it'd be great for the families to see those faces and get a different part of the community involved as well," Prughski said.

The event will consist of a one-mile fun run and 5K. The fun run will take place within the Ogletree Village Shopping Center.

For the 5K, runners will depart from ALL IN Crossfit and travel down Ogletree Road to Old Country Road.

Once they reach the halfway point, which is equipped with a water station, they will loop back to the

race's starting point.

Prughski added that vendors representing local health and wellness resources will be on site from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. One Bike Coffee is providing coffee for the runners and she said they are in the process of finalizing food donations.

"We'd love for everyone to come out and support these families. They've been through a lot of trauma the last few months and we want them to know that everyone cares," Prughski said.

Those interested in participating sign up via www.runsignup. com. Registration for the fun run (8 to 8:25 a.m.) costs $15, $25 for the 5K (8:30 to 9:30 a.m.) and $50 for vendors. Prughski said day-of registration prices will increase from these original amounts.

For more information or updates, follow the "AuburnStrong 5K" Facebook event page. The shopping center is located 2272 Moores Mill Road.

Kids, from A7 and Girls Clubs 'Teen Program' has a 100% graduation rate," Ryberg said. "We want all of our

club youth to graduate high school and have plans, whether that is to attend a four-year college or school, tech school or have a job in place and become productive, caring members of society."

Club representatives and youth will be in

attendance at the event, along with members of the Opelika Fire and Police departments and Lee County Sheriff's Office.

There will be activities and games for children, including a fashion show with clothes provided by GaGa's Boutique. Ryberg added that several of their local corporate sponsors will be involved in the event.

"We encourage the community to come out and have a fun day and learn a little more about what we do, as well as support our corporate sponsors," Ryberg said.

For more information or updates, call 334-5021311 , follow the club's social media pages or visit www.bgleeco.org. Old Navy is located at 2263 Tiger Town Parkway.

“Our Mission is Your Health”

Beauregard Drugs We do wellness screenings for local & state employees.

Call 334-364-9993 for details p 334-364-9993 | f 334-364-9997 7667 Alabama Hwy 51, Ste. A, Opelika www.beauregarddrugs.com

Career Discovery 2019 CAREER EXPO

October 3 - 4, 2019

A fun, educational, hands-on experience!

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

Agriculture

Architecture & Construction

Communications & Information Technology

Education & Training

Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation

Manufacturing

Automotive Manufacturing

Healthcare

T

Public Service

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Energy & Utilities

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

Hosted on the Opelika campus of:

Southern Union State Community College

October 3- 4, 2019 Thank You to our Platinum Sponsors!

For more information, visit:

www.career-discovery.org

A10 Sept. 18, 2019

pelika Observer O

Auburn Fencing Club owner Rylan Delap speaks at recent Opelika Kiwanis Club meeting Photo special to the Opelika Observer Rylan Delap with the US Fencing Association spoke to the Opelika Kiwanis club this week. Since the fall of the USSR, fencing in the U.S. has improved because of bringing Russian coaches here (including his wife, Tatiana). Rylan and his wife run the Auburn Fencing Club, which is located in downtown Opelika. Rylan gets to travel the world officiating fencing events and training new officials. The sport is one of the safest and teaches discipline and respect. There are currently no varsity fencing teams in the SEC. For more information, visit auburnfencing.com. For more information about the Kiwanis Club’s programs, visit www.opelikakiwanis.org.

Pictured are Rylan, Joanne Camp and Bob Harris.

Mayor Gary Fuller signs proclamation naming Sept. 17 to 23 as ‘Constitution Week’ in the city of Opelika Photo special to the Opelika Observer Members of the Martha Wayles Jefferson Chapter NSDAR witnessing the signing by Mayor Fuller of the 2019 Proclamation of Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week. They like to inform the community of the importance of the Constitution and what is means for citizens. For more information about the group, visit marthawaylesjefferson.alabamadar.com/pages/home.

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WITH FREE GED & ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES

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pelika O Observer Cipperly, from A7 nearly 25 years, this is the first time she has received first place in the cooking contest.

She has won first for tablescapes in the past.

Recipes, Smoked Gouda and Bacon Dip Barbara Whatley, Lee County -First Place 1 can Pillsbury refrigerated French bread 8 oz. smoked Gouda cheese, shredded (about 2 cups) 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup sour cream 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper 1 cup cooked chopped bacon ¼ cup sliced green onion Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake French loaf as directed on can, cool before slicing. Spray pie plate with cooking spray.

In medium bowl, mix Gouda cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and crushed red pepper. Mix on low speed with electric mixer until well mixed. Reserve 2 tbsp. and set aside. Stir in remaining bacon and 3 tbsp. of green onion.

Transfer mixture to pie plate. Bake 20-25 minutes or until dip is heated through. Top with remaining bacon and green onions. Serve hot dip with sliced French bread.

BLT Dip Elizabeth Usery, Geneva County -Second Place 1 cup sour cream 1 cup mayonnaise 1 lb. cooked pork bacon, crumbled (retain some for garnish) 1 cup chopped seeded tomatoes (retain some for garnish) 1 Tbsp. chopped green onions for garnish (optional) Chips or crackers of your choice In a large bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, bacon and tomatoes.

Refrigerate until serving.

Garnish and serve with crackers. Prep time 10 minutes. Yields 3 cups.

Charleston Cheese Dip Shirley Lumsden, Cherokee County - Third place 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened 8 oz. sour cream 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided 1 package Hidden Valley dry ranch dressing mix 1 cup shredded chicken (can use canned chicken or rotisserie chicken) 1 ¼ cups chopped bacon, divided 1 cup mozzarella cheese, divided 1 Tbsp. green onion, chopped (optional) Mix cream cheese and sour cream together. Add the dressing mix, 1 cup cheddar cheese and ½ cup mozzarella cheese until well combined and smooth.

Fold in shredded chicken and 1 cup chopped bacon. For a warm dip, put the dip mixture in a

Over the years, she has enjoyed cooking country style dishes on their farm in the Beauregard community.

Barbara is a retired principal of Sanford Middle School in Beauregard. Since retiring, she enjoys going to a softball tournament nearly every weekend dish topped with ½ cup cheddar cheese and ½ cup mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup bacon. Bake at 350 degrees until the dip is heated thoroughly and bubbly. This dip can also be served at room temperature.

This dip may be served in a purple cabbage and garnished with radishes, cauliflower, etc. for a more decorative dish. Serve with corn chips, crackers, vegetables or whatever your heart desires.

BBQ Chicken Dip Lyndsey Rasco, Cullman County 2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened ¼ cup BBQ sauce ½ tsp. garlic powder 1 ½ cups chopped chicken 1/3 cup corn 2 green onions, sliced ½ cup shredded pepper jack cheese ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese Chopped red onion, cilantro and additional BBQ sauce for garnish First mix the cream cheese, BBQ sauce and garlic powder until smooth. Then add the chopped chicken, corn, sliced green onions, ¼ cup of the pepper jack and cheddar cheeses and mix well.

Next, transfer to an over safe dish and bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with remainder of pepper jack and cheddar cheese then return to oven and bake for another 10 minutes.

Finally remove from oven and drizzle with additional BBQ sauce.

Garnish with chopped red onion and cilantro.

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Chicken Ranch Bacon Dip Shannon Murray, Franklin County 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts 16 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar (reserve ½ cup for garnish) 1 cup chicken broth 1 oz. package ranch dressing mix equal to 2 Tbsp.

2 Tbsp. hot sauce, optional 1 package real bacon bits (for garnish) Add the chicken, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, chicken broth, ranch seasoning mix, and hot sauce to the slow cooker. Heat on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours.

Remove the chicken and place on a large cutting board.

Use two forks to finely shred it. Add it

to watch Terry, who is on the Beauregard varsity team and Taylor, who is on Sanford’s Junior High team. She also enjoys babysitting grandbaby Eden.

A different category is selected every year for the Heritage Cooking Contest, which spotlights Alabama back to the slow cooker and mix to combine. Top with additional ½ cup shredded cheddar and bacon bits.

Heat on low until ready to serve. (If you won’t be serving for a few hours, heat on warm.)

Sun Dried Tomato and Pesto Dip Polly McClure, Jefferson County 16 oz. cream cheese ½ cup basil pesto 1 1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes in oil, julienned (drain and pat oil on paper towels) 2 cups freshly shredded Parmesan cheese 16 oz. sour cream 3 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. dried basil ½ tsp. dried oregano ½ tsp. dried thyme Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 8 oz. cream cheese and pesto. Spread on bottom of small baking dish (pie pan size). Combine remaining 8 oz. cream cheese, sun dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, sour cream and dried herbs. Mix well.

Spread evenly over pesto mixture.

Bake 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Serve warm.

Fiesta Dip Jan Parker, St. Clair County 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened 1 ½ cups sour cream 1 packet taco seasoning Toppings: ½ cup sour cream 1 ½ cups shredded Mexican cheese blend ¼ cup diced tomato ½ cup iceberg lettuce, finely chopped 2 Tbsp. diced onion 2 Tbsp. sliced olives Mix cream cheese with mixer until fluffy.

Add 1 ½ cups sour cream and taco seasoning and mix to combine.

Spread into a dish (any size, I used a 1-quart round casserole dish).

Top with toppings in order listed.

Baked Cheese Sausage Dip Becky Martin, Russell County 1 (12-14”) loaf baked bread 1 lb. hot bulk pork sausage 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese 1 (8 oz.) container sour cream 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated 1 (4.5 oz.) can green chilies, chopped 1 large bag of Frito scoops Hollow out bread to make a bowl. Brown sausage and drain. Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, sausage,

commodities and agricultural products. The cooking contest is open to any Alfa member.

The Women’s Division was organized to promote agricultural products and commodities, as well as to provide an opportunity for women to participate actively in policy cheddar cheese and green chilies. Spoon mixture into bread bowl and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve warm with Frito scoops.

Bacon Cheddar Dip Dora Rider, Monroe County 4 green onions, chopped 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup sour cream 1 cup mayonnaise 4 dashes hot sauce ½ tsp. dry mustard powder ½ tsp. garlic powder 8 slices of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Serve with crackers, veggies or sour dough bread chunks.

Spinach Artichoke Dip Joan Smith, Autauga County 1 (10 oz.) package chopped spinach, thawed and drained 1 can quartered marinated artichoke hearts, drained and minced 1 container garlic and herbs soft spreadable cheese (I use Alouette brand) 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 1 (8 oz.) container sour cream Drain spinach well, pressing between layers of paper towels. Combine all ingredients. Spoon into lightly greased 8x8 inch dish and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Serve in a bread bowl with crackers or chips.

Hot Corn Dip Debbie Baker, Dale County 2 cans Mexicorn ½ cup mayonnaise 1 cup cream cheese 1-2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped 1 cup grated cheddar cheese 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese, divided ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. pepper 10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled 2 green onions, sliced Additional green onions for garnish Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease case iron skillet, casserole dish or pie plate. In a large bowl, combine corn, mayonnaise, cream cheese, jalapenos, cheddar cheese, 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Stir well until fully combined. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Add crumbled bacon and green onions.

Stir until combined.

Spread the mixture

A11 Sept. 18, 2019 making.

The group meets about every other month. They donate to the BigHouse Foundation, the Battered Women’s Shelter and the Veteran’s Association, among others.

Following are the winning recipes and a sampling of other

entries from around the state. You will want to clip and keep these recipes, especially the Smoked Gouda and Bacon Dip, on hand for making delectable party dishes during the football season.

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

in the prepared dish/ skillet and top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Turn on broiler and bake for 1 to 2 minutes more until golden brown on top.

Serve the dip warm from the oven with crackers or tortilla chips.

onion and jalapeno relish.

Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.

Buffalo Chicken Dip Lark Edgar, Elmore County 1 cup shredded chicken 8 oz. cream cheese 1 cup ranch dressing ½ cup hot sauce 1 ½ cups shredded cheese Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine everything except ½ cup of shredded cheese. Mix well. With a spatula, spread the mixture evenly into an oven safe dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheese over the top of the mixture before placing the dish in the oven.

Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted on top. Serve hot with tortilla chips or baguette bread slices.

Million Dollar Dip Charlene Roney, Houston County 5 green onions, chopped 1 (8 oz.) package cheddar cheese, shredded 1 ½ cups mayonnaise ½ cup chopped bacon ½ cup roasted peanuts, chopped fine Add green onions, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, bacon and peanuts in a small bowl. Mix until combined and chill for at least 2 hours. Serve with your favorite crackers.

Zesty Bacon-Corn Dip Kasey Gross, Etowah County 1 ½ cups shoepeg corn, cooked/charred 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese 1 ½ cups sour cream 1 ½ cups Mexican blend shredded cheddar cheese 4 slices cooked-crisp bacon, crumbled 2 Tbsp. Wickles jalapeno relish ½ tsp. garlic salt ¼ tsp. onion powder Pinch of cayenne pepper to taste Dash of salt and pepper to taste Mix all ingredients with mixer. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes or serve cold.

Garnish with green

Beer Cheese Dip Lee Freeland, Mobile County 16 oz. cream cheese ½ cup sour cream 1 2/3 cups shredded mozzarella ¾ cup IPA beer ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese 2 Tbsp. cornstarch 1 tsp. garlic powder ½ tsp. smoked paprika ½ tsp. chili powder ½ tsp. salt 8 slices crumbled bacon Crackers or baguette slices Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an oven-safe dish with cooking spray.

Add cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, beer, cheddar, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and salt into a blender. Process on high until smooth.

Stir in the majority of the bacon (reserve about 2 tbsp. for topping). Pour dip into prepared dish and sprinkle reserved bacon on top. Bake 15-20 minutes.

Serve with crackers or baguette slices.

Food Ratings Momma Goldberg’s Deli 2701 Frederick Road Opelika Score: 98 La Cantina 870 N. Railroad Ave. Opelika Score: 98 Newk’s Eatery 339 S. College St. Auburn Score: 98 Niffer’s Place 1151 Opelika Road Auburn Score: 98 Irish Bred Pub 833 S. Railroad Ave. Opelika Score: 97 Marco’s Pizza 5408 Summerville Road Phenix City Score: 97 Village Wok Chinese Restaurant 1100 S. College St. Auburn Score: 97 Willie’s Wings and Stuff 422 S. Gay St. Auburn Score: 97 Subway 600 Webster Road Auburn Score: 97

pelika O Observer

A12 Sept. 18, 2019

Vines Funeral Home celebrates being added to the National Register of Historic Places Special to the Opelika Observer Vines Funeral Home of LaFayette invites the community to celebrate the unveiling of their National Register of Historic Places marker on Sept. 26 at 10 a.m.

The event will take place at 211 B St. SW in LaFayette.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of historic buildings, districts, sites, structures and objects worthy of preservation

in the United States and is maintained by the National Park Service.

Places listed in the registry must be significant to American history, architecture, art, archeology, engineering or culture and must go through a process that involves the State Historic Preservation Society (The Alabama Historical Commission for sites in Alabama) and the National Park Service.

The community is invited to attend this free event celebrating the

1922. Helping wounded civilians and American soldiers by serving as an ambulance driver during World War II, he landed on Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion, was on the front lines at the Battle of the Bulge and served with General George Patton’s Third Army. He received the American Defense Service Medal, the European-AfricanMiddle Eastern Service Medal with three bronze stars, the Good Conduct Medal AR 600-68 and

historical importance of Vines Funeral Home, which was founded by Julius Vines in 1952.

This celebration will feature speakers, music, the unveiling of the marker and food by Bailey’s BBQ & Catering. A live stream will be available at www.vinesfuneralhome.com/stream and a live link will be on their Facebook page ‘vinesfuneralhome’ for those unable to attend the celebration.

Julius Summers Vines was born March 19,

the World War II Victory Medal.

After the war, he attended and graduated from Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee and founded Vines Funeral Home, including ambulance service, with his wife, LeMerle Vines, in 1952.

In the days of segregation, undertaking was one of the few professions open to African Americans, allowing morticians to join doctors and lawyers at the

top of the socioeconomic ladder.

Julius exemplified the entrepreneurial spirit of black funeral home directors of the period, playing a leadership role in the community; holding the respect of blacks and whites alike and making a significant difference in the lives of many people in Chambers, Lee, Randolph and Tallapoosa counties in Alabama and in the surrounding communities of Alabama and Georgia until his death in 2012.

OBITUARIES Raymond Franklin Newman A funeral service for Raymond Franklin Newman of Opelika who died Friday, Sept. 13, 2019 at home was held Sept. 17, 2019 at 11a.m. at the chapel of Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home followed by a private graveside service.

Reverend Mike Newman officiated. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at 10 a.m. in the parlor at the funeral home.

Raymond was born in Powledge, Alabama (out in the country) at home on September 6, 1919. He was preceded in death by his loving and faithful wife of 76 years, Ellen T. Newman, his parents, Austin C. and Tommie F. Newman, two brothers, Clayton and Buck, and grandson Raymond III. Raymond is survived by his sons, Ray, Jr., Mike (Mary Barnes), and John (Tinka), five grandchildren, Michael Jr. (Caitlin), Charles (NaCole), John Jr., Austin (Whitney), and Jean Bostick and eleven great grandJohn Clarence Evans Lifelong residence of Opelika, John Clarence Evans, Known as "Clarence" by friends and family, passed away on Sept. 11, 2019.

Clarence at a very young age joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp), then entered the United States Navy in 1939. He serviced in the Pacific during World War II, mainly aboard the heavy cruiser, USS Portland, one of the highest decorated ships of the War. He and his ship participated in every major engagement in the Pacific Theater. He left the Navy in 1951, and then went to work

Gene Hurt Torbert

children. He is also survived by a sister, Mable Belk of Smiths Station, Alabama.

Raymond was a devoted husband, father, and father-in-law who loved life and the challenges that went with it. His goal was to live to be 100. He achieved his goal plus one week.

Raymond was a faithful member of First Baptist Church Opelika and was very supportive as long as he could attend. Raymond had an untold number of friends. Everyone seemed to know Raymond.

Raymond was a farmer and loved the land. He got a lot of pleasure growing things and sharing them especially peaches. He took a lot of pride growing quality peaches and personally delivering them to friends.

Raymond was full of life, rising early for work and many times coming in late. His motto was “Whatever it takes to get the job done.” His dealings with people earned him the reputation, “He was fair.”

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.

in the local cotton mills until his retirement. He was an avid outdoorsmen, especially hunting and fishing. He grew up wonderful gardens , sharing the bounty of his labor with friends and family. He never met a stranger, and was quick to help anyone in need.

Clarence was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Faye KitchensEvans in 2015. His only daughter, Cherie Elaine Fretwell, died in 2018.

He is survived by his son, John Evans, Jr.; grandchildren, Melanie Cox (Ryan), Matthew Fretwell, Wyndi Wilkes, Dana Evans (Amy), Debra Kennedy (Michael), and Tyler Evans;

Gene Hurt Torbert died peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at her home in Opelika. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Clement Clay “Bo” Torbert, Jr. Gene is survived by her three children, Dixie Alton (Mitch), Shealy Cook (Penn), and Clay Torbert (Cindy) as well as her five grandchildren, Rebecca Cook Davis (William), Elizabeth Cook, Clay Cook (Blair), Bo Torbert IV, James Torbert, and two great-grandchildren, Penton Davis and Celia Davis.

Gene was born on April 4, 1929, in Tuskegee, Alabama to Thelma Olivia Breedlove and Eugene Dixon Hurt. She grew up on Payne Street in Auburn, Alabama. Gene graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s

great grandchildren, Zachary Cox, Evan Cox, Brandon Brown, Hunter Myers, Rhiannon Hall, Hayden Hall, Natalie Evans, Ethan Evans, Emma Evans, Will Kennedy, and Lucas Kennedy; sisters, Betty Hobbs, Florence O'Neal, Barbara Martin (Dallas), Lee Dobbs, and Rita Littrell.

Visitation was held Sept. 14, 2019 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home.

A funeral service was held in the chapel at on Sept. 14, 2019 at 11 a.m.

Interment followed at Garden Hills Cemetery.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.

degree in elementary education in 1950. Gene and Bo were married on May 2, 1952, at the First Presbyterian Church of Auburn.

They settled permanently in Opelika, where Gene became an active member of the First United Methodist Church, serving on various committees and boards. In addition to her church, Gene served her state and community as a board member on numerous civic organizations, including the Alabama Tourism Board, Opelika Historical Commission, Opelika Arts Association, Tuskegee Cemetery Board, Auburn University Women’s Philanthropy Board, Keep Opelika Beautiful, and the Fort Morgan Commission. She was a member and lifelong supporter of Kappa Delta.

Gene was a member of The National Society of the Colo-

Billie Meigs Mrs. Billie Meigs, 83 of Opelika, passed away Sept.

12, 2019 at EAMC. Mrs. Billie was born on March 8, 1936 in Opelika. She was the oldest of four children born to a cotton farmer.

The family later moved to Macon County and settled later in Tallassee, Alabama.

She graduated from Tallassee high school in 1954 and enlisted in USAF served Riverside, California and honorably discharged on Sept. 31, 1956. She moved back to Alabama and worked at Ampex while attending school at Opelika Trade School for computer programming. Her first job was teaching the course she just graduated from. She

later worked at numerous jobs as computer programmer at Tuskegee Institute, Lee County Courthouse, EAMC, Burnham Moving Company and Columbus Foundry as an Analyst and Consultant in various capacities. She completed her bachelor’s degree in computer science at Troy University December 1991 and very proud of her accomplishment She was preceded in death by her husband, T.W. Meigs; parents Henry Jerome and Eleanor Ledbetter Wisener; and sister, Sarah Wisener Thrift.

Survivors include her son, Tom Hilyer, daughter, Dell Hilyer Corley, son-in-law, Robert Corley, grandsons, T.J. Hilyer, Cody Jenkins,

1 OUT OF 10

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

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ELDERLY PERSONS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE BEING:

Abused, Neglected or Exploited If you suspect this is happening to someone you know, please report it to Adult Protective Services by contacting your local DHR office or calling the

ADULT ABUSE HOTLINE at 1-800-458-7214

HELP STOP THE ABUSE

IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT

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

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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.”

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.

CALL THIS NEWSPAPER’S AD DEPARTMENT TO PLACE YOUR AD

334-749-8003 Or call 1-800-264-7043

nial Dames of America. She participated in the Sojourners Literary Club in Montgomery and was proud to serve on the first advisory board for the Jule Collins Smith Museum.

A memorial service was held on Sept. 11, 2019, at 1 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Opelika.

The family received visitors in the fellowship hall prior to the service.

The family would like to express its gratitude to Rebecca Love, Deborah Dowdell, Kristy Waters, Sheresa Patrick, and the late Pinkie Eason.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimers Association, the First United Methodist Church, 702 Avenue A, Opelika, Alabama 36801, or the charity of your choice.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.

Brandon Corley, Jason Corley,; brother, Jessie Wisener; sister, Dolores Wisener; aunt, Margie McWhorter, and numerous nephews, nieces, and Wisener Ledbetter, and Starr Cousins.

She also leaves cherished memories of her Epworth UMC family, bible study groups and Homemakers Club of Salem. A special thank you to her care giver, Cassandra Chesson.

A funeral service was held 2 p.m. Sept. 14, 2019 at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel with visitation one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Epworth United Methodist Building Fund, PO Box 430 – Phenix City, AL 36867

Opelika

F R Death Row Discipleship amily &

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

n 2 Corinthians 1:811, Paul speaks to the Corinthians about an extreme crisis he and his companions faced while in the province of Asia. While we might be tempted to think of the riot in Ephesus (Acts 19), Murray Harris reminds us that Paul was in the habit of referring to the city by name (1 Corinthians 15:32, 16:8) and probably wouldn’t have spoken of it as “Asia.”

Furthermore, he points out that all of that was old news to the Corinthians anyway and what Paul was referring to was something they didn’t know about and he wanted them to be aware of. We’re left then to our imaginations in regard to the exact nature of the “troubles,” “great pressure” and “deadly peril” they experienced.

That would be okay with Paul because he’s much more interested in us understanding the danger the crisis represented to them than the exact details of what it was. The threat was such that Paul said it was “far beyond our ability to endure,” “we despaired of life itself” and they were sure they “had received the sentence of death” (v. 8-9). That is strong stuff when you consider that Paul dealt with bigger problems before breakfast than most of us will see in our lifetime (Acts 9:22-30, 13:49-52, 14:1-7,19-20).

Whatever this incident was, it shook Paul to his foundation and he was convinced his life was over.

The good news is that it wasn’t. He lived to tell about it. The better news is that Paul wants us to see what he

eligion

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

learned from his crisis.

He learned not to rely on himself “but on God, who raises the dead,” (v. 9). It led him to a discipleship where he found life through death.

He learned to live on death row in the sense that each day he turned his life over to God and His purposes. But Paul’s death row didn’t bring doom and gloom—it caused him to find his hope in God (v. 10).

It is a real challenge to live at this level. Most of us have experienced some type of crisis when

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 334-745-3108.

• First Baptist Church of Opelika’s Women’s Ministry is holding a special evening of praise and worship Sept. 26. The event will include a dessert fellowship from 6:30 to 7 p.m. followed by the service from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Rosephanye Powell will lead the service. Tickets cost $5 for this event. For more information, call 334-745-5715 or visit www. fbcopelika.com.

• The David Phelps Family Band will perform at First Baptist Church Opelika Oct. 12, beginning at 7 p.m.

Tickets range in cost from $25 to $50 and can be purchased online at www.ticketbud.com. The church is located at 301 S. 8th St.

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

• Sept. 23 - Pepperell Baptist is offering Precepts Bible Study, “ Isaiah Comfort My People” on Monday nights in September starting Sept.

23, October and November from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Pepperell Baptist Library. This program is studying God’s Word through easy to do workbook, discussion and video teaching. You will be equipped, strengthened and readied for the days ahead as you gain a deeper understanding for yourself of what it means that God is your Lord, your Holy One, Your King! A light snack is served as we embark on studying God’s Word together. Troy and Sherry Barron are the facilitators for this study. For more information, call Pepperell Baptist at (334) 7453108 or e-mail: office@pcbopelika. org.

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

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we shifted into a mode of greater dependency on God. We suddenly saw how trivial so many things were and how God and His kingdom were what really mattered. We became more sensitive to the people around us— we had greater patience and heightened compassion. We had a new normal. But once the crisis passed, so usually did our new perspective.

Our determination to live differently melted like ice cubes in a tanning booth.

Paul was determined to practice a death row discipleship where He trusted in God who “has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again” (v. 10). This theme runs throughout 2 Corinthians and reaches a climax in chapter twelve where Paul will write:

A13 Sept. 18, 2019

Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) This is what maturity in faith looks like. It is not necessarily being old in years, gray in hair and wrinkled in skin. Growing old doesn’t mean we automatically grow up.

Maturing in our faith is ultimately about letting God into all of our life— no more and no less. To do this is to know joy, peace and the power of God. Bruce has written an entry level book on Revelation called The Thrill of Hope. It is available through Amazon.

Verse of the Week

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.”

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

Philippians 3:12 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 8685 AL Hwy. 51 #749-4469 Pepperell United Methodist 200 26th St. #745-9334 Trinity United Methodist Church 800 Second Ave. #745-2632 Wesley Memorial United Methodist 2506 Marvyn Pkwy #745-2841 PENTECOSTAL Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Hwy. 29, PO Box 1691 #741-8675 Gateway Community Church 2715 Frederick Rd #745-6926 PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Opelika 900 2nd Ave. #745-3421 Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Rd #745-4889 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist 1808 S. Long St. #749-3151 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Apostolic Holiness Church 610 Canton St. #749-6759 Auburn Opelika Korean Church 1800 Rocky Brook Rd #749-5386 Beauregard Full Gospel Revival 2089 Lee Road 42 #745-0455 Christ Church International 1311 2nd Ave. #745-0832 Church of the Harvest 2520 Society Hill Rd #745-2247 Church at Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy #705-0505 East Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. #737-1488 Emmanuel Temple of Deliverance 207 S. Railroad Ave. #745-6430 Faith Alliance Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #749-9516 Faith Christian Center 600 S. 8th St. Faith Church 3920 Marvyn Pkwy #707-3922

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

pelika Observer O

A14 Sept. 18, 2019

Community Calendar: Events around town

• Sept 24 - 2:30 p.m. Kabuki Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar • Sept 24 - 4:30 p.m. - Gogue Performing Arts Center - Ribbon Cutting • Sept 26 - 5 p.m. - River Bank & Trust Business After Hours • Sept 27 - 2:30 p.m. State Farm - Kali Bryan Chadick Ribbon Cutting

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 334-2094641. For the website, Google “village friends village values.”

• The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR chapter is appealing for sweaters, jackets, trousers, shirts and socks, women’s clothing, soft soap in individual containers, shaving supplies, disposable razors, denture cleanser, toothpaste and toothbrushes, DVDs, games, books and magazines to take to veterans at the CAVHCS in Tuskegee. The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR Chapter regularly visits veterans living in assisted living, the homeless domiciliary and psych (trauma) ward in Tuskegee. Donations are tax deductible and will be much appreciated. Pick up is provided. Please call Linda Shabo at 8876659 or at 256-3071449.

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.

• 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 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 8261899 or 502-0216.

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

Covington Recreation Center, 213 Carver Ave., Opelika. For more info contact Mary Johnson, 7491584.

• 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

Upcoming Events • Sept. 17 - Eighth & Rail presents The Jane Drake Band starting at 7:30 p.m.

Lineup includes: - Jane Drake Vocals - Eric Buchanan Drums - Coleman Woodson III Piano/LHBass - Sam Williams Sax/Flute/Vocals - Tiffany BradleyLibations - Mike Patterson Sushi/Cheesecakes • Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.

- Brains and Brews Trivia at Red Clay Brewing Company • Sept. 18 - 5 p.m.

- Burger Night with half-pounder burgers and a side for $6.99 at Niffers • Sept. 18 - 5 p.m.-

Wine Down Wednesday at The Bottling Plant Event Center • Sept. 18 - 5 p.m.

- Chad Jernigan Live on the Patio at La Cantina • Sept. 18 - 6 p.m.Paints and Pints at Red Clay Brewing • Sept. 18 - 8 p.m.Opelika Songwriters Night at John Emerald Distilling Company • Sept. 19 - 6:30 p.m.

- Make a Wood Sign at Spirited Art • Sept. 19 - 7 p.m. Trivia Night at Niffers • Sept. 19 - 7 p.m.

- Live Music at John Emerald Distilling Company • Sept. 20 - 5 p.m. Matt Holdren Live on the Patio at La Cantina • Sept. 20 - 7 p.m.

- The Sound Wall Supper Club at The Sound Wall • Sept. 21 - at 5 p.m.

- Michael Meglesh Live on the Patio at La Cantina • Sept. 23 - 5 p.m. Dollar Beer Night at Niffers • Sept. 24 - Eighth & Rail presents The Jane Drake Band starting at 7:30 p.m.

• Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.

- Brains and Brews Trivia at Red Clay Brewing Company • Oct. 7 - The Lee County Voters League’s next meeting will be on Oct. 7. Topics to be discussed to include how proceed as the next cycle unfolds for the November 2020 general election.

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 nonvoting work sessions that typically begin between 6 and 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 706-5189122.

• 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 8261899 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.

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

pelika Observer O

A15 Sept. 18, 2019

Three Opelika Fire Department members climb RSA Tower in Montgomery five times last week to honor lives of first responders lost during 9/11 Photo special to the Opelika Observer Opelika Fire Department Firemedic Brian Anyadike, Chief Byron Prather and Firemedic Michael Patterson climbed the RSA Tower five times to commemorate the the FDNY firefighters who selflessly gave their lives so that others might live on 9/11.

Books, from A7

gram clearly helps us to see that.

Here are the nine Enneagram types: 1-The Perfectionist 2-The Helper 3-The Performer 4-The Romantic 5-The Investigator 6-The Loyalist 7-The Enthusiast 8-The Challenger 9-The Peacemaker This book is a quick and fun read and will awaken you to how marvelously God created you. We are all wired differently, and so we all work, behave and move about our life differently. The Enneagram is a reminder that difference is necessary.

We all bring something beautiful and marvelous to the table, but it’s not all the same. Our strengths evoke life and joy with in us and our weaknesses can separate us from the

good we have to offer.

The Enneagram defines them all, so that we can see ourselves more clearly.

After spending months learning about myself, I began using the Enneagram to better relate to my husband. I have always wondered how two people so very different can fall into place and appear so united.

The Enneagram had my answer. Isaac is intense, loud and bold, to say the least.

I am more calm, rational and meek. When he and I join all our positive forces, we are unstoppable. We are focused and all the goodness we have inside is seen for miles. However, when we stumble, the Enneagram shows us how to return to our greatness. The Enneagram trains our hearts

and minds to see others through new goggles.

Goggles that reveal the best in all of us.

I encourage you to take your own Enneagram journey. A journey of you! A journey of self and all the amazing things God equipped you for in this life. He made us each unique for a reason, now grab this Enneagram book and find it!

Do you have book recommendations for me? I’d love to hear them. Feel free to email me at bradley@ georgesjournal.co.

Bradley Robertson is a local mother, wife and creative. She’s an Auburn University graduate, loves good food and getting outside with her family. Bradley enjoys feature writing, as well as Southern culture and lifestyle writing.

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that all human race is loved by God. All. It has opened my heart to want to spend time with those I may think have fallen short, for I have fallen short too. How will I learn about his vastness if I’m not in it seeing his vastness? Jesus didn’t talk about helping the poor, he was with the poor.

I left this book humbled in tears. Compassion is the center of our heavenly father, and Boyle gives a real-life encounter of that love. #3 - The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile I first began my Enneagram journey more than a year ago.

Prompted by friends, I was hesitant to begin, but afterwards, wished I had picked it up a long time ago. The Enneagram is a mystery but one of the most life changing books you’ll ever read.

So, what is the Enneagram? Author Ian Cron says, “The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system. It helps people understand who they are and what makes them tick.”

In my words, it’s a tool to find the deepest parts of ourselves.

Who were we born as?

What in our childhood shaped us into adults?

It reveals our trueness and helps us to find the trueness in others. The Enneagram is a spiritual roadmap back to ourselves, for when we know who we are, God can be more clearly revealed through us.

There are nine types of people in the Enneagram. When I first discovered my ‘type’ I literally felt my stomach turn. I thought to myself, “How did this book know so much about me?” It stated things clearly I had always known of myself, but had never talked about or mentioned to a soul. It was bizarre and awakening. I thought, “This is me!” It shared every positive feature of myself as well as any and all difficulties and tragedies. The wording is very simple and positive, stating either we are “healthy” or “unhealthy,” never referring to a trait as being “bad.” We are absolutely all “wonderfully made,” and the Ennea-

D AY TEW GA

picked up a copy of Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” This is storytelling at its finest, a beautiful, descriptive tale of an old fisherman determined to keep his catch. It sounds so simple, but it left me with a lifetime of determination, grit and adventure.

I currently prefer non-fiction and I usually have more than one read going at one time.

I’m offering three easy reads for readers and non-readers alike.

My picks spark interest as well as open our minds to others around us. Enjoy! #1 - Love Does by Bob Goff “Love Does” is juicy and fun! It’s made up of 31 short stories, telling the life of the author Bob Goff.

Love Does is whimsical and wild. Goff lives life with more zest, excitement and joy than anyone I’ve ever met.

He is funny, authentic and a great story teller.

Goff doesn’t believe love is just a thought or feeling, he believes Love Does.

Goff’s thrill for the little things will light up a fire inside you to do the same. Goff also isn’t scared of the big. He just goes for it and does the next best thing.

Goff shares the simple-yet-vast picture of Jesus, his complete love for all through action.

Goff writes, “Jesus said that unless you know him like a child, you’ll really never know him at all. Kids don’t care about facts, and they certainly don’t study each other.

They’re just with each other, they do stuff together. That’s what Jesus had in mind.”

Goff will take you on his adventures around the world, meeting all sorts of people, to inspire you to live very fully in any space. Goff tells stories of thrill and stories of loss. All his stories paint for us a sweet perspective on the doing of love.

He will force you to lose all seriousness and embrace any opportunity.

Want to learn to be secretly incredible?

Read Love Does.

Want each day you live to be an adventure?

Love Does.

You will finish this book giddy and ready to do love! #2 - Tattoos on the Heart, The Power of Boundless Compassion, by Gregory Boyle This book has rocked my heart. I have never read anything like it.

As soon as I finished this book, I started it right back over. Twice!

I read it three times in a row. It was that compelling.

The book is about the author, Greg Boyle, also known as “G.” Boyle tells of the time he spent in Los Angeles in the late 80s and 90s serving as a priest in a poor part of LA saturated with gang violence; most of its members being young and Latino.

Boyle retells the true stories of the lives of some these people. He tells of all the pain, injustice and horror that go on in these communities, but he also tells, very clearly, the story of a compassionate God. Boyle writes the story of a young man named Scrappy. Scrappy had once pulled a gun on Boyle, once walked out of one of his funerals and had been in prison for 10 years. After being released, he visits Boyle in his office.

Boyle writes, “where we stand in all our mistakes and imperfections is holy ground.

It is where God has chosen to be intimate with us and not in any way but this. Scrappy’s moment of truth was not in recognizing what a disappointment he’s been all these years. It came in realizing that God had been beholding him and smiling for all this time, unable to look anywhere else.”

Boyle talks about the “expansiveness” of God’s heart. It is so vast we cannot even wrap our minds around it. Culturally, we believe some of us are more worthy or honorable of God’s smiling face than others. However, we are all worthy and honorable. No conditions, no restrictions, just vast, real love.

Boyle writes, “behold the one beholding you and smiling…”

I recommend this book to everyone. I hope my children read it one day, and know

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A16 Sept. 18, 2019

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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

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

Upcoming high school games for Sept. 20, all beginning at 7 p.m. C.S.T.: - Beauregard v. Charles Henderson - Beulah v. Southside-Selma - Opelika @ Central - Smiths Station v. Robert E. Lee

Mary Stewart named Auburn University’s homecoming queen at halftime of Saturday’s game Photo by Robert Noles/ Opelika Observer Selma native Mary Stewart named as Auburn University’s Miss Homecoming during Saturday’s game against Kent State. Her platform was based on Special Deliveries of Lee County. Others in the court were Caroline Mathews of Athens, Maggie Hightower of Birmingham, Sophie Brint of Birmingham and Alison Beverly of Pelham.

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

Opelika slips by Wetumpka 33-32

O

pelika (4-0 overall, 2-0 in region play) defeated Wetumpka 33-32 in a thriller last Friday night at Bulldog Stadium. The win leaves the Bulldogs in great position to win another region title and host a first-round playoff game.

The Bulldogs scored the first touchdown with 10:54 left in the first quarter after Brody Davis threw a 45-yard pass to Marien Warner, with Baker Rowton added the extra-point try.

Wetumpka answered with a score on a two-

yard run by Terrance Thomas with 4:41 left in first quarter but failed to add the two-point conversion, trailing 7-6.

Erik Watts scored the first of his two scores on a five-yard run.

Rowton added the PAT making the score, 14-6 Opelika. The Indians answered with quarterback Brandon Bowman threw a 30-yard TD pass to Jaleel Johnson with seven minutes left in the first half, converting the extra-point try on this score to trail 14-13.

See Sports, page B5

Beulah rebounds with 60-6 win over Prattville Christian last Friday night

By Morgan Bryce Editor Any memories of Beulah's tough road-trip loss to Montgomery Academy on Sept. 6 were eradicated last Friday night as the Bobcats demolished the Prattville Christian Academy Panthers 60-6.

After stringing togeth-

er back-to-back scoring drives in the first quarter, Beulah's defense recovered a fumble at the Panther's own 29-yard line, setting their offense up with prime field position.

From there, Chris Person added a touchdown, and the Bobcats would race to a 28-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, never looking back.

Leading 47-6 at halftime, Beulah and Prattville Christian's coaching staffs agreed to a running clock in the second half and eight-minute quarters. Sophomore running back T.J. "Stanley" Washington capped the night's scoring with a 10-yard TD run in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.

The Panthers failed to slow down Beulah's balanced offensive attack. Sondrekius Cooper rushed four times for 126 yards and a TD, but was not to be outdone by senior running back Chris Person, who rushed nine times for 90 yards and three scores.

After inconsistent See Beulah, page B5

Enterprise slips by Beauregard stumbles again; Smiths Station 27-24, loses to Rehobeth 33-21 Panthers fall to 2-2

By Rick Lanier Opelika Observer

By Morgan Bryce Editor Smiths Station dropped a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to region opponent Enterprise last Friday night at Panther Stadium.

Following a Wildcat's three-and-out on

their opening drive, Smiths Station's offense came out firing on all cylinders. A couple of chunk-yardage runs by senior running back L.C. Harris set up the Panthers in the prime scoring position.

After a Derrick Jefferson run to the 1-yard

line, junior quarterback Corey Minton sneaked in to give Smiths Station an early 6-0 advantage. Kicker Taylor Walker's extrapoint try bounced off the right goalpost and the Panthers clung to a six-point lead.

See Smiths, page B5

During his postgame interview with WQSI 95.9 FM, Beauregard Coach Rob Carter stated “the offense didn’t get a rhythm going in the first quarter.” It is a recurring theme so far, on both sides of the ball, and a trait

of a young and inexperienced team. As the baptismal by fire continues, the Hornets desperately need to find more consistency in hopes of turning around their sluggish 0-4 start to the season.

Against the Rebels, the Hornet offense demonstrated glimpses of what it could be and what they are trying to

achieve. Down 13-0 in the first quarter, Hornet’s wide receiver Jaion Goodson picked the Hornet’s offense up with a “big-league” catch from quarterback Casen Blackmon to convert their initial first down. On the next play, Blackmon again connected with Goodson, this time for

See Beauregard, page B5

pelika Observer O

B2 Sept. 18, 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.

Senior running back Ashton Moss was selected as the Beauregard Player of the Week. He rushed for the Hornet’s first touchdown in Friday’s 33-21 road loss to Rehobeth.

Senior wide receiver Marien Warner was selected as the Opelika Player of the Week. In Friday’s 33-32 win over Wetumpka, he hauled in seven receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

IT’S THE OPELIKA WAY.

GO DAWGS!

of the

Week Congratulations from

Lee Co. Revenue Commissioner Oline Price

#myOpelika • #beOpelika www.opelika-al.gov 2018 observer

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

Beulah Player of the Week

Junior quarterback Kaleb Abney was selected as the Beulah Player of the Week. He finished 8-of-9 passing for 225 yards and two touchdowns in the Bobcats’ 60-6 win over Prattville Christian last Friday night.

Senior linebacker Zane Faulk was selected as the Smiths Station Player of the Week. In Friday’s 27-24 loss to Enterprise, he recorded five solo tackles (four assists), a sack, two quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery and pass break-up and three tackles for a loss.

pelika O Observer

B3 Sept. 18, 2019

Jump into the fall and welcome fun, teachable moments with your child; Our children deserve the best of us

Beth Pinyerd

L

ee County and Opelika will be welcoming fall on Sept. 23!

Children absolutely love the coolness and beautiful colors of fall. As leaves begin to turn colors, squirrels bustle around for acorns and cooler air begins to creep in to lower temperatures, this season of change offers many teachable moments for young children and their families.

Notice how the sunflowers seem to celebrate this season with their bright yellow petals and truly the landscapes - even close-by rivers, lakes, streams and ponds begin to reflect a change, but you have to take the time to observe those changes.

It doesn’t take a lot of money or going far to observe changes to teach your young child life lessons and do family projects with what the fall has to offer.

Young children can take a nature walk just around the house.

Point out nature items they can put in a bag such as fall leaves in many colors, nuts, acorns, pine cones and other items. In helping your young child to glue their found items, you can teach your child to classify, like these are leaves versus these are seeds, sort from largest to smallest or sort like colors together of leaves and sort into categories of different shapes.

One thing young children like to do is to help mom and dad rake up leaves in the yard. Mountains of leaves and straw offer many teachable moments as well as playing moments. Let their little imaginations express themselves as well as maintaining a safe environment.

As you drive, walk or hike with your little ones, point out the birds, ducks and geese gathering in flight as they migrate to other places. You can see this happening on a daily basis in Lee County and other areas. Talk about migration and how it means that the birds are moving to a warmer environment in preparation for the winter.

One project I have loved to do for my students as well as my own child is to throw bread morsels to the birds. As the birds fly in for a meal, point out the different colors of birds, the different kinds of birds and how they feed. Young children will be fascinated by the different birds flying in.

Point out to your children how the bushy tail squirrels rush about to gather acorns and nuts.

Sit back, relax and observe the different places the squirrels climb and rush to. Your child can use his or her counting skills as they observe the number of acorns and nuts the squirrels collect.

They also exercise their memory skills by recalling with you where the squirrel has been. You can draw a simple little map and have your young child point out the routes the squirrel has traveled by their observations.

When we think of fall, we think of apples used in all different kinds of way, apple sauce, apple butter or apple pie.

Because I usually have apples all over my bulletin boards, I love to cut a big juicy red apple horizontally and show them the star in the middle.

Your child will be fascinated by this as they scrape out the apple seeds to plant and then eat the apple to the core.

As you plant apple seeds, include pumpkin seeds as well.

Point out differences in the seeds as you plant them. Roast-

ing apple slices with a little butter, sugar and cinnamon makes for a sweet smelling and delicious, healthy snack where the senses of smell and taste are emphasized.

Point out to your child that fall is a time of harvest of bringing in crops from the fields. As you ride along county roads, you can point out bales of cotton, hay and grain. You can pretend harvest at home by tying up little piles of pine straw, nuts, fruits, etc.

Check in with local farmers to see if they would allow you to come out on a family field trip. These family field trips are so much fun during the fall.

One thing that is so unique about Lee County are the many fall carnivals and fairs where children and families can come and enjoy games, foods and wholesome entertainment! Advertisements are usually posted everywhere for these fairs.

Another fun, simple excursion is to take a blanket and enjoy fall picnics in the seasonable weather as you talk about what fall means to your children. The skies usually appear to be a rich blue and the sunsets are beautiful during the fall.

A lesson to be presented here is where does the sun go after it goes down.

Parents, grasp those teachable moments that nature and seasonal change has to offer. You will be making wonderful memories for your children.

Children deserve the best of us This early childhood article focuses on our young children ages infants, toddlers, twos, threes, fours and fives as this teacher looks through the eyes of a young child.

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We give gifts to our children on birthdays and holidays. But, there are special gifts that are not materialistic, but fully tangible. These are the gifts that require time and a realization for our small children that they are special!

Those gifts are joy, love and peace.

What is joy in the heart of a young child? Joy is an inward happiness which comes when a child senses a bonding and security with their caregivers and parents. Reaching out to your child on a daily basis is such a blessing and an appreciated gift to young children.

In our world today, we spend too much time on the run. It is more important to spend free time with our children rather than trying to schedule too many structured activities. Free play is so important for young children, it is their work where they express themselves and it truly brings them joy. Play is developmentally essential.

An optimistic spirit is contagious and it brings joy. Life is not going to be a bowl of cherries, but it is how we handle the circumstances of life that counts. Teaching children early in life how to live life no matter how rough the rough gets going is a valuable lesson not only for a child, but an adult.

Have you noticed that young children love to be around happy people? Even an infant will smile and giggle around happy people who extend their attention to them.

Love is extended to a young child when

Your unconditional love toward your child is planted into their hearts when you accept them for how they are made and who they are. - Beth Pinyerd we truly realize each child is very unique!

Your unconditional love toward your child is planted into their hearts when you accept them for how they are made and who they are. This is accomplished by praising and encouraging your child.

Meeting the strengths of your child’s gifts, talents and enabling them to be all they can be takes spending time with your young child. Hugs and verbal praise are so important for a young child to feel and hear when they have done a good job and really tried. Developmental challenges, such as weaning from the bottle, potty training or walking deserve a lot of consistent and verbal praise. Love is in the little things!

Peace for your child is them being confident, comfortable and secure in their hearts and minds in who they are. When children are at peace, they learn better and interact better with family and friends.

Pinyerd has taught BANK-OWNED PROPERTY

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 masters degree in early childhood education as well as a bachelors 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. The 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.

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Dedication • n. a state of being totally committed to something.

pelika Observer O

B4 Sept. 18, 2019

The Oaks School exceeding expectations in early years of football program

By Morgan Bryce Editor In its first season of fielding a varsity football program, The Oaks School is off to an impressive 2-3 start.

They also have a junior varsity squad which began playing football last year.

Following is a recap from both school's contests last week.

Middle School

Oaks Middle School lost 48-8 against Community Christian School from Stockbridge, Georgia.

Quarterback J.D. Dallas finished 1-of-6 passing for 17 yards, connecting once with Jedd Scott for 17 yards and the team's only touchdown of the night.

Jaden McKee led The Oaks with 111 yards on 15 carries, with Dallas adding 33 yards on 10

carries.

The Oaks suffered some tough injuries right after the half with both starting running backs and their third-string running departing the game and not returning.

Jagger and Carter Scott led the Oaks defense with five tackles each. Landon Childree adding four tackles to the effort.

Oaks Middle School plays Griffin Christian

School next Thursday in Griffin.

Varsity The Oaks varsity squad defeated Victory Baptist Christian School from Loganville, Georgia 46-12 last Thursday night to improve to 2-3 on the season.

Josiah Frick led all rushers with 53 yards on nine carries. Daniel Adams had 43 yards on three carries, Jaxxon Scott had 68 yards on

seven carries and one TD, also added three two-point conversions.

Scott also had 173 yards in the air, finishing 6-of-8 through the air.

Daniel Adams had 66 yards and one TD on two catches, while Lane Starling had 61 yards and one TD on two catches.

Defensively, Lane Starling led the way with a 60-yard interception return for a TD. Jacob Brown and Zane

McWhorter had four tackles each while Luke Christian and Cameron Williams had six tackles each. Jackson Senn and Silas Frick notched three tackles each. Adams also had an interception.

The Oaks will play on the road at Covington Christian School in Conyers, Georgia next Friday.

The Oaks play all their home games at Moore Stadium in Opelika.

Alabama Community College System launches ‘Clean Home Alabama Initiative’ Special to the Opelika Observer

By signing an official proclamation on Monday, Gov. Kay Ivey launched the Alabama Community College System’s (ACCS) Clean Home Alabama initiative.

Alabama’s community colleges are partnering with residents and community organizations in every county of the state for this college-led effort to help beautify the state’s natural landscapes, growing infrastructure, and expanding communities. In 2019, Clean Home Alabama will take place November 1-11.

Community college students, faculty and staff will serve alongside residents and members of several community organizations on Clean Home Alabama days for a

number of beautification and litter pickup projects in Alabama’s counties. Several community organizations have already committed to projects.

One partner, Alabama People Against a Littered State (ALPALS), donated 150 trash bags to each community college and is assisting colleges and groups with the process for obtaining official road markers in their honor for the ALPALS Adopt A Mile, AdoptAn-Area and AdoptA-Stream programs.

Clean Home Alabama was established

by Alabama Community College System Chancellor Jimmy H. Baker, with the mission of continuing to serve communities both inside and outside of campus walls.

“Community is so much a part of what

our colleges do each day that it’s even in our name,” Baker said. “Alabama’s community colleges are located within every region of the state, which means we are perfectly positioned to organize and execute an effort of this magnitude to help maintain ‘Alabama the Beautiful’ during our state’s bicentennial year.”

Projects for Clean Home Alabama can range from picking up litter along a roadway or helping to beautify entrances and exits into local parks, cities or facilities.

Snead State Community College sophomore Teryn Hill is among the first students at a community college to create a project for Clean Home Alabama Days. Hill and other student ambassadors on the Snead State

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

campus in Boaz will create two “Pop-up Parks” on the campus by using recycled and repurposed materials.

Residents and groups interested in partnering on Clean Home Alabama can sign-up for more information at www. accs.edu/CleanHomeAL. About the ACCS With 24 community

NOW OPEN

colleges in more than 130 locations, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) is Alabama’s gateway to first-class, affordable education and technical training to compete in a constantly evolving workforce. More than 168,000 Alabamians benefit from the various certification, credential, dual en-

rollment and degree programs ACCS offers alongside leading industry partners. The System includes the Alabama Technology Network, which provides extensive training and service offerings directly to business and industry.

ACCS is governed by the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees.

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pelika Observer O

B5 Sept. 18, 2019

4-H announces 2019–2020 State Ambassadors

By Brittney Kimber Special to the Opelika Observer

Twenty-five Alabama 4-H members were recently selected as the 2019–2020 State 4-H Ambassadors. These individuals will represent the organization statewide while collaborating with Alabama Cooperative Extension System faculty to plan and facilitate 4-H events throughout the club year.

Alabama Extension 4-H specialist Joy Scott serves as one of the advisors of the state 4-H ambassadors. She

Beulah, from B1 starts in his first season, quarterback Kaleb turned in a masterful performance, completing 8-of9 passes for 225 yards and two TDs. Defensively, the Bobcats were led by linebacker Owen Kelley's six tackles. Okhari Moore finished with five tackles and Billy Wayne Sykes added an additional four.

No special teams stats

Smiths, from B1 On the next drive, Smiths Station linebacker Zane Faulk recovered Enterprise quarterback Jackson Darlington's fumble at the Wildcat 26yard line. Set up close to the red zone, the Panther offense failed to deliver, settling for a Walker fieldgoal attempt that would be blocked at the line of scrimmage.

The Panther defense would rise to the occasion again, with fellow Smiths

Sports, from B1 Brody Davis connected on a 24-yard TD pass to Omar Holloway for a touchdown.

Rowton added his third PAT, giving the Bulldogs a 21-13 lead.

Watts opened the second half with a 69-yard run for a touchdown with 22 seconds left in the third quarter.

Opelika’s extra-point try was no good and led 27-13.

The Indians stormed back, with Thomas scoring two TDs on runs of 70 and six yards in the third quarter. The score was 27-26 heading the fourth quarter.

That momentum continued for Wetumpka.

The Indians took the lead with fewer than nine minutes in the game. Tyquan Rawls sprinted 82 yards for a score, but the pointafter try was no good, leaving Wetumpka with a five-point lead, 32-27.

Opelika sealed the

said that she is looking forward to seeing the outstanding leadership and citizenship skills this year’s ambassadors will bring.

“The 4-H ambassadors have an outstanding impact in the local, regional and state 4-H program,” Scott said.

“Each State Ambassador brings a special talent and leadership component to the program.”

Serving as a state 4-H ambassador provides additional skills development in leadership, public presentation, citizenship, community service, public relations

and also team building.

State Ambassadors The following 4-H members from Lee County will serve as the 2019–2020 state 4-H ambassadors: • Ethan Rankins, Lee County • Neely Stewart, Lee County.

As part of their duties, the new team will plan and implementing the 4-H Midwinter Teen Leadership Retreat, represent 4-H at local and state events, promote the program to potential members and volunteers and demonstrate the impact 4-H has on the lives of young people

were available from this game.

With a win in their region, Beulah improves to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in region play.

They will host Southside-Selma this Friday for another crucial region battle. The Panthers enter this contest 1-2 and are coming off a 63-16 home loss to Pike Road.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium, which is located behind Beulah High School at 4848 Lee Road 270 in Valley.

Beauregard, from B1 29 more yards and the Hornets were in business. Running back Ashton Moss capped the drive with a seven yard run as Beauregard tightened the score 13-7. With the score 20-7, Blackmon again hit Goodson for seven yards and a touchdown. Blackmon had a great

and the community.

“We’re so proud of all of our youth ambassadors,” said Molly Gregg, assistant director of Alabama 4-H. “They are the voice of Alabama’s young people across the state.”

To qualify as an ambassador, youth must: - be enrolled members in 4HOnline and at least 14 years old - be a high school sophomore, junior or senior - complete at least one full club year as an active 4-H member - demonstrate leadership in a variety of youth development

night as he added a touchdown pass to wide receiver Keyshon Tolefree later in the game. However two untimely penalties nullifying Hornet touchdowns, and a dropped pass in the end zone, all but stymied the Hornets scoring.

On the defensive side, Beauregard’s unit has shown that they are very capable of playing in the trenches, bowing their necks and

activities - demonstrate commitment to community service and volunteerism - have experience in planning and delivering events and activities - demonstrate the ability to work as a team member and individually with both young people and adults and - have a diverse knowledge of Alabama 4-H programs and events.

About Alabama 4-H For more than 100 years, Alabama 4-H has been helping young people develop into resourceful citizens and

making the plays.

The Hornets defensive backfield has speed allowing them to rally to the ball in numbers. However the same inconsistencies associated with the offense plague the defense as well.

Over the past four games, the Hornets have proven to be susceptible to giving up the chunk plays in their run defense.

The Rebels executed a balanced offense but it was run-

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 about 4-H leadership opportunities, visit www.alabama4h.com. ning back Treshaun Turner who enjoyed much success breaking off long runs and cashing them in for touchdowns.

“The kids are still fighting” said Carter, “we are going to sharpen things up and eliminate some of those mental miscues” he went on to say.

The Hornets host the Trojans of Charles Henderson on Sept 20, for a 7 p.m. C.S.T. kickoff.

Station linebacker Michael Mellage scooping up an Enterprise fumble and taking it 12 yards for a touchdown near the end of the first quarter.

It did not take long for Enterprise to counter.

Utilizing its shotgunbased, inverted wishbone package, freshman running back Mykel Johnson ran through the heart of the Panther defense and delivered the Wildcats' first score of the night only two minutes into the second quarter. Kicker Hunter Perry booted the extra point to trim the lead to seven.

Smiths Station's offense would not come close to another score in the second quarter, which saw them be outscored 21-0

by Enterprise. The Wildcats added scores from Darlington and fullback Cole Killingsworth.

Trailing by seven entering the second half, Smiths Station showed the fight they had left.

On a simple read-pass option play, Minton opted to hand the ball off to Harris, who exploded off the hip of his right tackle for a 67-yard run that set them up deep inside Wildcats territory. Enterprise's

defense, however, snuffed that momentum, and the Panthers had to settle for a 21-yard goal from Walker, trailing 21-17.

Perry's golden leg booted two more field goals late in the third quarter and midway through the fourth to give his team a 27-17 lead.

Under four minutes to go, Smiths Station was desperately looking for a way to get back into the game.

On a second-down throw along the left sideline, Minton threw an on-target pass to Ahmari Peabody. Enterprise cor-

nerback Romaine McFarland interfered, giving the Panthers a pass onto their side of the 50-yard line.

The next play saw Minton throw a dart to McFarland off a screen play, and he outsprinted Enterprise defenders to give his team new life.

Walker's ensuing extrapoint try was good.

Now trailing by three points with a little more than two minutes remaining, Smiths Station attempted an onside kick which they nearly recovered.

From there, Enterprise was able to milk the

clock and escape Panther Stadium with a win.

This marks back-toback region losses for Smiths Station, a team looking to improve on its 6-4 mark from last year. The Panthers' next opponent is region foe Robert E. Lee (Montgomery), who upset Auburn 19-14 last Friday at Duck Samford Stadium.

With a 2-2 overall record, 0-2 in region play, the Panthers will welcome the Generals to Panther Stadium in a must-win game next Friday night. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. E.S.T.

win with a 13-play, 80yard scoring drive with 2:55 left in the game.

Davis connected with Warner for the gamewinning, five-yard TD pass. Opelika’s defense held Wetumpka on four consectuvie downs to seal the 33-32 win.

The two teams combined for 65 points and a more than 1,000 yards of offense. Opelika was led by Watts’ 243 yards on 28 carries and two TDs and Davis’s 20-of-32 passing for 236 yards and three TDs. OPELIKA AT CENTRAL The Bulldogs travel to Phenix City Friday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff at GarrettHarrison Stadium on Wayne Trawick Field to play Central. The Red Devils, Class 7A’s defending champions, are 3-1 overall. Central lost their opener 17-14 to Hoover in the AHSAA Kickoff Classic in Montgomery. Central is currently in the middle of a three-game win streak, beating

Cedar Grove (Georgia) 24-20, Smiths Station 44-0 and Prattville 4520 last Friday.

Central and Opelika have played 76 games, with the Red Devils leading the series 44-32 overall, including three in a row, four out of the last five and have outscored Opelika 74-19 in the last two games.

The Red Devils are coached by Jamey Dubose, who is 57-10 overall in six years and 128-39 overall. Central has several players that have committed to D1 and D2, the team has size and speed. This is the best football team Opelika will play this season.

The Bulldogs must play a perfect game in order to have a chance to win in the fourth quarter. The two teams have speed but the edge goes to Central.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Phenix City.

Fans can purchase tickets online at gofan.co or buy at the ticket office at Garrett-Harrison Stadium.

Fans can listen to the game on 97.7 Kicker FM, online at kickerfm. com or watching the stream online at nfhs. com.

PRAYER STOPPED AT BULLDOG STADIUM Last week, Opelika City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark D. Neighbors released a statement saying OCS will stop praying over the PA system prior to kickoff of Opelika High School football games.

OCS received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation based in Madison, Wisconsin. The letter stated a parent with a child in the OCS system felt alienated because of the explicitly Christian nature of the prayer.

“We recognize that the United States of America is a nation of laws and we will abide by the current law,” Neighbors said in his statement.

There was no mention of fighting for the right to pray. A moment of silence will

replace the prayer.

The OHS student body prayed Friday’s moment of silence.

Several area pastors and Mayor Gary Fuller are discussing a way to show support for those who support praying prior to Opelika football games. In the future, the group may lead a prayer from the stands.

OHS FRESHMAN STILL UNBEATEN The OHS freshman football team (2-0) beat Eufaula 14-8 Monday night at Bulldog Stadium.

Eufaula opened the game with a offensive drive inside the 18-yard line before the Bulldogs held the Tigers four consecutive plays to end the scoring threat.

Opelika drove 63 yards before turning the ball over on downs inside the 22-yard line.

After a sack, Qualik Harry intercepted a pass, giving Opelika the ball back deep in Eufaula territory.

Kaden Cooper scored his first of two TDs on

a three-yard run and George Meyers kicked the PAT, giving the Opelika freshman a 7-0 lead.

Cooper scored his second touchdown in the third quarter on a 31-yard run.

Meyers added his second PAT to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead.

Eufaula’s only score came in the fourth quarter after an intercepting an Opelika pass.

The freshman Tigers drove 58-yards for a TD and converted the two- point try to make it 14-8.

Eufaula’s tried an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff but Opelika was able maintain possession and run out the clock.

The Freshman Bulldogs improved to 2-0 amd will travel to LaGrange Monday for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff.

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

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B6 Sept. 18, 2019

Opelika City School Board approve FY2020 budget, 2020-2021 school calendar at last week's meeting

By Morgan Bryce Editor Members of the Opelika City School Board approved two major agenda items during their regular monthly meeting last Thursday at the Board of Education facility.

After four hours of budget hearings last week, the board heard a final overview and remarks on the FY2020 budget from OCS's Chief Finance Officer Chris Harrison and Superintendent Dr. Mark Neighbors. Harrison explained that the differences between the last two years of budgets was minimal.

Following are some factoids from this year's budget, according to paperwork provided by the board: - Projected FY2020 total revenues and other fund sources are projected to be $59.7 million with total expenditures totaling $58.1 million, resulting in a combined total

equity ending balance of $17.8 million - Of the school system's 585.50 total personnel units, 320 of those are teachers.

431.77 of the total personnel units are state funded, 86.46 are federally funded and 67.27 are locally funded - Projected ending fund balances are expected to be $13.8 million, yielding in a 3.67 month reserve in the school system's general fund, more than three times than what is required by the Alabama State Legislature - Because of the 4% teacher's salary increase signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey earlier this year, salaries and benefits are projected to increase $1.1 million (3.3%) from FY2019. Personnel costs account for 81.8% of OCS's general fund budget.

Board members also approved the calendar for the 2020-2021 school year, which is applicable to all Ope-

lika City Schools.

Notable dates from this calendar include the students' first day back on Aug. 5, 2020, Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks on Nov. 25 to 27 and Dec. 21 through Jan. 1, 2021 and students' last day on May 20, 2021.

In other business, the board: - approved the hiring and resignations of six personnel within the OCS system - approved an outof-state field trip for the 7th and 8th grade Opelika Middle School band to attend the Music USA Festival from May 1 to 3 in Orlando, Florida.

Opelika City School Board meetings are normally held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m., unless otherwise posted by the school system. Their meetings are held at the Board of Education facility located at 300 Simmons St. For more information, call 334745-9700.

Lee County School Board approve budget for FY2020 during meeting last week

By Michelle Key Publisher The Lee County School Board held their final public hearing on the fiscal year 2020 budget during last Tuesday night’s meeting. Following the public hearing, board members voted to approve the proposed budget as presented by Chief School Financial Officer Ken Roberts.

Highlights of the newly approved budget are as follows: Revenues - federal revenue of $8.7 million represents 8% of the overall budget - local revenue of $34.17 million represents 33% which is higher than the average for other school districts - state revenues come in at a budgeted $62.4 million, or 59% - other revenues of nearly $230,000 fall under 1% Expenditures - Instructional ex-

penses are budgeted at $56.3 million which is 52% of the budgeted expenses - Instructional support is budgeted as $14.6 million or 13%.

This combined total of 65% of the overall budgeted expenditures going to classroom expenses falls above the state average - the remaining 35% is split between: auxiliary - 12% operations and maintenance - 8.8% debt service - 5% capital outlay - 4% administrative - 3% other - 3% Pupil and teacher expenses The system average expenditure per pupil is $8,347 and the system has budgeted for a total of 42.34 teacher units including special education units.

In other business, the board: - held the first reading of policy 5.27 which is titled Supervision of Low Risk Juvenile Sex Offenders

- approved out-ofstate field trips for the following: - Beauregard High School cheerleaders - Beauregard High School Track team - Beauregard Elementary fourth-graders - 4-H camp - West Smiths Station Elementary fifth-graders - Springer Opera House - Smiths Station Junior High School football - Smiths Station High School for community based vocational training at Paws Humane - Smiths Station High School Ag students and - Smiths Station High School girl’s basketball team - approved the July 2019 financial report and cash reconciliation and - approved several human resource recommendations.

The board meets on the second Tuesday of every month.

pelika Observer O

B7 Sept. 18, 2019

OLLI ‘Brown Bag Lunch & Learn’ to host Alabama food author Emily Blejwas Sept. 25 Special to the Opelika Observer Emily Blejwas, author of “The Story of Alabama in Fourteen Foods,” is the featured speaker at OLLI’s Alabama Bicentennial Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture Series on Sept. 25.

Each chapter in Blejwas’ book uses a different food to tell the story of a particular culture, movement, or point in time in Alabama history. The geographically and culturally diverse book tells the story of Alabama from multiple perspectives.

She includes lesser-known stories about the Mobile banana docks, food activist Georgia Gilmore and north Alabama chicken stew sales. The author’s presentation will include examples of such stories, as well as thoughts about the “story finding” and writing process.

Blejwas is director of the Gulf States Health Policy Center in Bayou La Batre and has also worked in community development and victim advocacy. She holds degrees from Auburn University and Kenyon

Emily Blejwas College.

Blejwas lives in Mobile with her husband and four children.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Au-

burn University (OLLI at Auburn) hosts its Alabama Bicentennial Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture Series at the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the

Arts & Humanities commonly known as Pebble Hill which is located at 101 S. Debardeleben St. in Auburn.

Bring your own lunch and we will provide beverages. Lunch begins at 11:45 a.m. and the program runs from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.

The series is made possible by a grant from the Alabama Bicentennial Commission and is open to the public at no charge.

OLLI at Auburn is a program of the Office of the Vice President for

University Outreach at Auburn University. OLLI administrative offices and select classes are located at the historic Sunny Slope property located at 1031 S. College St. For more information regarding this event or to learn about becoming a volunteer faculty member, volunteer service assistant, or sponsor, please contact Shawnee McKee, OLLI Administrative Support, at 334-844-3146, email olli@ auburn.edu or visit their website www.olliatauburn. org.

B8 Sept. 18, 2019

pelika Observer O

Opelika survives tight contest v. Wetumpka Friday, remains undefeated

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

pelika O Observer

B9 Sept. 18, 2019

Opelika varsity defeats Sylacauga 3-1 in match last week, improves to 4-5 overall

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Opelika High School’s junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams hosted Sylacauga last week. No results were available for the junior varsity’s contest against the Aggies because it was listed as a “preseason game.” The varsity Lady Bulldogs defeated Sylacauga 3-1 to improve to 4-5 overall on the season. They played on the road at Beauregard on Tuesday night (no results were available by press time) and will travel to Benjamin Russell on Wednesday night. Their next home match will be on Sept. 25 against Smiths Station.

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B10 Sept. 18, 2019

pelika Observer O

Auburn knocks out Kent State 55-16 in Homecoming game Photos by Robert Noles Auburn’s inconsistent running game ended it woes against Kent State last Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium, with the Tigers compiling 467 yards and six touchdowns in a 55-16 victory over the Golden Flashes. JaTarvious Whitlow was the leading rusher with 135 yards on 17 carries and two TDs. Shaun Shivers and Joey Gatewood also rushed for 102 yards each, the first time a trio of Auburn rushers has topped the 100-yard mark. “It’s really important when we’re running the football and playing with pace,” Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said. “That’s when we are at our best. It opens things up. It was a really good night. I think more than anything, it was just a commitment to run the football.

We were very committed to doing that tonight and I think that helped also.” Auburn (30) will travel to Texas A&M (2-1) on Saturday for both team’s first SEC contest of the year.

The game will be broadcasted on CBS beginning at 2:30 p.m. C.S.T. (Jeff Shearer, senior writer for AuburnTigers.com, contributed this report.)

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pelika O Observer

Two Lee-Scott Academy seniors recognized as National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists

B11 Sept. 18, 2019

Lee-Scott Academy announces homecoming court last week

Special to the Opelika Observer Lee-Scott Academy seniors Mary Kathryn Lamb and Jack Terry have been recognized for their outstanding achievement on the PSAT exam and have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.

Over 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2017 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of the program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing fewer than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Lamb To become a finalist, the semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed scholarship application in which they provide information about the semifinalist's academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic

Terry record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn SAT scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on a qualifying test.

From approximately 16,000 semifinalists, approximately 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level, and in February, they will be notified of this designation.

Photo special to the Opelika Observer Members of the 2019 Lee-Scott Academy homecoming court are, front row from left, seniors Carla Ingram, Olivia Zellner and Mary Kathryn Lamb; second row, 11th-grader Mary Claire Futch, 11th-grader Ellie Sprayberry, ninth-grader Lauren Daugherty, eighth-grader Mary-Carol Burdette, seventh-grader Laken Smith and ninth grader Reagan Simmons. The homecoming court was selected by a vote of the student body, and the homecoming queen will be announced at halftime of the Lee-Scott Warriors v.

Pike Liberal Arts football game Sept. 27, which will kick off at 7 p.m. at Jud Scott Field. Homecoming activities this week include dress-up days, class flat day, junior and senior girls in the annual powder puff football game, the homecoming assembly and the annual “black light pep rally."

pelika O Observer

B12 Sept. 18, 2019

LEGALS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF CHILTON COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO.: DR-17-900185 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 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-2017-900185 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

THE STATE OF ALABAMA, COUNTY OF LEE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA In the Matter of: The Estate of Donnie Clayton Barber, Deceased Case #: 2019-B-123 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF TESTIMENTARY of said deceased having been granted to Charles Barber on the 29th day of August , 2019 by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

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

CHARLES BARBER Legal Run 09/04/19, 09/11/19 & 09/18/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ANNIE MERLE BAZEMORE, 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 27th 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.

CAROL B. WHITE Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 09/04/19, 09/11/19 & 09/18/19

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF CAROLYN HOLLAND SOSEBEE, DECEASED PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY - CASE NO. 2019-B-168 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of the Estate of CAROLYN HOLLAND SOSEBEE deceased having been granted to Melanie Dynese Hill, on the 19th 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.

Melanie Dynese Hill Legal Run 09/04/19, 09/11/19 & 09/18/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: The Estate of JEWELL R. GOREE, Deceased Case No. 2019-B-178 TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Danny R. Goree, as Executor of the Estate of Jewell R. Goree, deceased, on the 29th 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/ Danny R. Goree DANNY R. GOREE Executor of the Estate of Jewell R. Goree, deceased.

Legal Run 09/04/19, 09/11/19 & 09/18/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMAM ESTATE NO. 2019-B-047 IN RE: ESTATE OF Phillip C. Kelley, Jr., DECEASED PETITION TO PROBATE WILL NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of PHILLIP C. KELLEY, JR., deceased, having been granted to the SHERRY D. THARPE OLIVER, on the 27th 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 the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. s/Raymond L. Jackson. Jr./ Raymond L. Jackson Jr. Attorney for SHERRY D. THARPE OLIVER - Executor of the Estate of Phillip C. Kelley, Jr., Deceased Legal Run 09/04/19, 09/11/19 & 09/18/19

INVITATION TO BID #19037 Sealed bids for the construction of the Society Hill Road/Gateway Drive Roundabout Conversion shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Tuesday September 24, 2019, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend.

Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code $34-8-1, et.seq. (1975) and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Bidders must be licensed by the Licensing Board for General Contractors when bids are submitted.

Bidders are required to have a State of Alabama General Contractor’s License with a specialty of “Highways and Streets, Clearing and Grubbing, Earthwork, Erosion, Site Work, Grading or Municipal and Utility”. All

bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala, Code $34-8-8(6) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number. Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid.

All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/or permits required by applicable law, rule or regulation for the performance of the work.

Drawings and Specifications may be examined at the Office of the City Engineer located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama, and phone number: 334705-5450. Bid documents may be obtained from the Office of the City Engineer at no charge as an electronic file if the bidder supplies a storage drive or as an email attachment or electronic drop box.

The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika. All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid.

Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right iş reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities.

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: Society Hill Road/Gateway Drive Roundabout Conversion LILLIE FINLEY- PURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Contract Specifications: Notice to Contractors Legal Run 09/11/19 & 09/18/19

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF MARTHA H. SHARPE COURT OF PROBATE Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 4th day of September, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. Wiiness my hand, and dated this the 4th day of September, 2019. LISA R. WORTHINGTON Legal Run 09/11/19, 09/18/19 & 09/25/19

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF AMBER LESTER, Plaintiff, vs. JOHN LESTER, Defendant.

CASE NO.: DR-201039.07 To: John Lester IN THE FAMILY COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA; FAMILY DIVISION DR-2010-39.07 IN RE: AMBER MANDERSON a/k/a AMBER

LESTER NOTICE OF PETITION FILED AND SERVICE BY PUBLICATION Notice to: John Lester JOHN LESTER must answer the Petition for Rule Nisi in the Family Court of Lee County, Alabama, on May 10, 2019, by the Honorable Zachary D. Alsobrook for the Petitioner Amber Manderson within fourteen (14) days from the last date of Publication of this notice or a final judgment may be rendered in Case Number DR-201039.07 in the Family Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Answer must be filed at: Lee County Justice Center, 2311 Gateway Drive, Opelika, Alabama 36801.

ATTORNEY: Honorable Zachary D. Alsobrook 114 North 9th Street Opelika, AL 36801 (334)737-3718 Legal Run 09/18/19, 09/25/19, 10/02/19 & 10/09/19

to the POINT OF BEGINNING. Containing 1.061 acres, more or less.

Being further described according to and as shown by that certain survey or drawing prepared by Seth R. Walker, Registered Surveyor, attached hereto and marked Exhibit “A”.

A copy of the Petition to Vacate and the proposed resolution approving the vacation will be available upon request at the office of the City Clerk, 2nd Floor of City Hall, 204 South 7th Street, Opelika, Alabama.

Please contact Kevin Rice, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334-705-2083 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to a disability.

DATED this the 18th day of September, 2019. /s/ R. G. Shuman ROBERT G. SHUMAN, CITY CLERK Legal Run 09/18/19, 09/25/19, 10/02/19 & 10/09/19

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL October 16, 2019 7:00 P.M. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with §23-4-2, Code of Alabama, 1975, that the City Council of the City of Opelika will conduct a Public Hearing during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Opelika City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 204 S. 7th Street, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to r ceive the benefit of public input concerning a proposal to vacate a portion of the northerly right-ofway of Waverly Parkway.

All persons interested in the proposed vacation are invited to appear at the public hearing and express their views. Written statements or objections may be submitted to the City Clerk prior to the time of the hearing.

The portion of the right-ofway of Waverly Parkway proposed to be vacated is more particularly described as follows: A parcel of land lying in Section 9, Township 19 North, Range 26 East, Lee County, Alabama, and being more particularly described as follows: Commencing at the intersection of the East and the Northerly right-of-way of Waverly Parkway following a curve concave to the North having a radius of 7655.26 (chord bears South 83°39’22” West 86.88 feet); thence Southwesterly along said curve an arc distance of 86.88 feet to a found ½ inch rebar with cap (WALKER) and the POINT OF BEGINNING of parcel herein described; thence continuing along said right-of-way the following courses: South 83°18’35” West 119.46 feet to the beginning of a curve concave to the Southeast having a radius of 1536.40 feet (chord bears South 73°45’09” West 430.96 feet); thence Southwesterly along said curve an arc distance of 432.39’ to a point; thence leaving said right-of-way North 24°18’35” West 185.64 feet to a point located in the centerline of Pepperell Branch; thence leaving said centerline following a curve concave to the North having a radius of 791.35 feet (chord bears South 86°09’10” East 284.56 feet); thence Easterly along said curve an arc distance of 286.12 feet to a point; thence North 83°54’22” East 321.43 feet to a found ½ inch rebar with cap (WALKER); thence South 06°04’17” East 50.00 feet

PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA TO: KHALIL CRAWFORD AND ANY UNKNOWN FATHERS OF K.G.M. Address Unknown Please take notice that a Petition for Adoption was filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama

by Jacob and Lauren Allen on August 19, 2019 for the Adoption of K.G.M. born on November 24, 2016 being a minor child and being born to Clela McNaughton.

A hearing has been set for the 19 th day of November, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. o’clock central time in the Probate Court, Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika. Alabama.

Should you intend to contest this adoption, you must file a written response within thirty (30) days of the date of the last publication herein, with the Clerk of said Probate Court, or appear on the date of the hearing as set above to contest said Petition.

Done this 30th day August, 2019. /s/Bill English Probate Judge Legal Notice run 09/18/19, 09/25/19, 10/02/19 & 10/09/19

PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA TO: CLELA MCNAUGHTON Address Unknown Please take notice that a Petition for Adoption was filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama

by Jacob and Lauren Allen on August 19, 2019 for the Adoption of K.G.M. born on November 24, 2016 being a minor child and being born to Clela McNaughton.

A hearing has been set for the 19 th day of November, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. o’c lock central time in the Probate Court, Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika. Alabama.

Should you intend to contest this adoption, you must file a written response within thirty (30) days of the date of the last publication herein, with the Clerk of said Probate Court, or appear on the date of the hearing as set above to contest said Petition.

Done this 30th day August, 2019. /s/Bill English Probate Judge Legal Notice run 09/18/19, 09/25/19, 10/02/19 & 10/09/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

IN RE: The estate of LARRY MICHAEL LANGLEY, Deceased , Case No. 2019-B-119 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Stacy Langley, Personal Representative, on the 21st day of Aug., 2019, by the Honorable Bill English, Probate Judge of Lee 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. /s/ Brandy C. Easlick Brandy C. Easlick Attorney for the Estate 4307 20 th Avenue Valley, Alabama 36854 Legal Notice run 09/18/19, 09/25/19 & 10/02/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LOIS W. STEWART, 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 11th day of September, 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.

JOHN MICHAEL STEWART Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Notice run 09/18/19, 09/25/19 & 10/02/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL WAYNE HOLMES, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 13th day of September, 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.

JAMES BRUCE HOLMES, Administrator N. Riley Murphy Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Notice run 09/18/19, 09/25/19 & 10/02/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF: THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM S. BEARD, deceased. Case No.: 2018C-117 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to John Beard on the 16th day of September, 2019 by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

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

JOHN BEARD Legal Notice run 09/18/19, 09/25/19 & 10/02/19

pelika O Observer Opelika’s Parks and Recreation Department’s cheerleading, football seasons underway B13

Sept. 18, 2019

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

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pelika Observer O

B14 Sept. 18, 2019

Like crossword puzzles? Sudoku?

Play online at www.opelikaobserver.com/puzzles/

This week’s Scramblers Answers: 1.Power 2. Rumble 3. Manage 4. Outside - Solution:Married

Even Exchange Answers 1. Daisy, Daily 2. Scram, Scrap 3. Ledger, Lodger 4. Spice, Spire 5. Flock, Frock

6. Austin, Austen 7. Power, Mower 8. Rivera, Rivers 9. Smear, Swear 10. Oblong, Oolong

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019

Inside the Statehouse Leadership Lee County inducts

Class of 2020 into program Alabama unemployment rates at remarkably low record-breaking numbers

D

uring the late summer, it was revealed that Alabama’s economy set records for the number of people employed along with the lowest unemployment rate in decades. Figures released in August had the state with a recordbreaking 3.3% unemployment percentage.

The numbers indicate a continued upward trend with 57,000 more people employed than at the same time a year ago.

“The effort we are making to bring jobs and employers to Alabama is working. We are consistently improving our workforce and preparing Alabama for the future,” said Gov. Kay Ivey.

The entire U.S. economy is on a continued upswing that began with the Trump Administration.

However, Alabama’s job growth rate has outpaced the national rate for six of the first seven months of 2019.

Ivey can rightly claim credit for these outstanding figures. She and her Chief of Staff and right arm Jo Bonner have made job growth and economic development their primary focus.

It has paid off and there are a lot of other fish on the line that Ivey and Bonner are about to reel in during the next year. Four sectors are setting the pace for the current employment increase.

They are Transportation, Equipment Manufacturing, Motor Vehicle Manufacturing, Leisure and Hospitality,

By Steve Flowers and Computer Systems Design.

The counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby, Marshall, Elmore and Baldwin.

Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox, Greene and Perry.

All summer long, there was a furor over a toll road in Baldwin and Mobile Counties. The debate raged over a plan by the state to build a toll road for the Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project. Not surprisingly a poll indicated that 77% of registered voters living in Mobile and Baldwin Counties did not support the toll plan for the Interstate 10 passageway plan.

This is not a jaw dropping fact, who wants to pay $6 toll fee each way each day to work.

The folks who commute from burgeoning Baldwin County to work in Mobile need a road/ bridge.

However, the state cannot afford to build the very expensive new road without a toll.

The Baldwin Countians thought maybe people outside of the coastal area would have sympathy for them and take up their cause.

Good luck with that

thinking. The rest of the state could care less.

It is a local problem.

The good folks in Sand Mountain are concerned about their own roads and bridges. They do not want the people in Baldwin-Mobile taking their road money.

Thus the old adage, “All politics is local.”

Even though all politics is local, we do have a national Presidential election upcoming. It is here.

The race is on. Our presidential preference primary is March 3, 2020. We will not only vote for president that day, there are a good many other races that will be interesting.

The first and second congressional districts are open seats. Rep. Martha Roby is not running for reelection in the second, and Rep. Bradley Byrne is leaving his safe seat in the first to run for the U.S. Senate.

They are both Republican seats.

In addition to the presidential and congressional seats, the marquee event in the state will be the race for the U.S. Senate. This is the Republican Senate seat held by Jeff Sessions for 20 years.

An anomaly Democrat, Doug Jones, is currently temporarily in the seat. The winner of the Republican Primary in March and runoff in April will ultimately recapture the seat for the GOP. The leading contenders are Bradley Byrne, Secretary of State John Merrill, Former Chief See Flowers, page B16

Located in Historic Downtown Opelika

334-745-4618

Photo special to the Opelika Observer The Leadership Lee County program recently announced the inductees for the 2019-20 class. Pictured are: Laken Baker – Alabama Power Company, Payton Beck – Auburn Chamber of Commerce, Michelle Clayton – East Alabama Medical Center, Charlotte Conaway – True Coders, Tyler Cooper – Machen McChesney, Elyse Corbitt, Katie Crow – Gullage & Tickal, LLP, Valerie Gray – East Alabama Medical Center, Calandra Harris – Lee County Youth Development Center, Tammie Hill – Auburn University Office of Alumni Affairs, Tommy Johnson – Lee County Environmental Affairs, Regina Meadows – Circles of Opelika, Stephen Pierce – Bow & Arrow, Blake Prestridge – Wilson Investment Group, Lakeshia Pulliam – The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, Joanna Reaves – Renasant Bank Mortgage, Amanda Richter – Auburn Technical Assistance Center at Auburn University, Eric Sewell – Southern Union State Community College, Odalys Silvera – Esperanza House, Inc., Belinda Smith – Lee County Commission, Jeff Snyder – Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Rachel SoloRio – Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts, Auburn University, Liz Springer – Auburn City Schools, Jennifer Terry – East Alabama Medical Center, Mikel Thompson – City of Auburn, Kelly Wilson – Edward Jones Investments and Andy Zutter – City of Auburn.

Smiths Station City Council approves liquor license application for Pizza D'Action during last Tuesday's meeting

By Morgan Bryce Editor The Smiths Station City Council approved an ABC liquor license for the downtown eatery Pizza D'Action during last Tuesday's bimonthly meeting.

Before the vote was taken, City Clerk Scott Johnston explained to the city council and Mayor F.L. "Bubba" Copeland that Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones and his team took several trips to downtown Smiths Station to meet and interview pastors and small business owners in close proximity to the

restaurant before declaring their approval for this development.

Minutes later, the council voted unanimously in approval of the license.

"This is a big step because this is the first establishment in our city that sells hard liquor," Copeland said.

The council approved a base salary change effective Nov. 2, 2020 following the city's municipal elections next August.

Before dismissing the meeting, Copeland updated the council on city business and events, including the nearing completion of

a new baseball field at the Smiths Station Sports Complex and the homecoming parade taking place this Friday in downtown Smiths Station.

In other business, the council: - approved contracts for several contracted city workers - approved minutes from the Aug. 27 meeting.

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

E.S.T. and regular meeting at 6 p.m. Their See Council, page B16

pelika O Observer

B16 Sept. 18, 2019

Navigating the ‘color line’ at AU and ‘Bama will take a while longer

By Greg Markley For the Opelika Observer

I

n 1895, W.E.B. Dubois became the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He was a revered public figure in the 20th century for his academic work and social activism. In 1903, Dubois said the new century must face “the problem of the color line” distancing whites from blacks.

Dubois was half-right: issues involving race in the United States continue on 116 years after his prediction for the 20th century.

Recently, both Auburn University and the University of Alabama made news because of an individual who either attended or worked there.

Auburn is mentioned because one of these incidents happened there in the mid-1960s. But that

person looking foolish by witness accounts is none other than our governor, Kay Ivey.

In an audio from 1967, Ivey’s then-fiance Ben LaRavia said Ivey was wearing blackface and coveralls at a sorority event. This audio was found during Auburn’s digitizing of content for the library. Auburn University issued a statement: “There was a time at Auburn, and in this nation generally, when racial caricature was tolerated. It was wrong then and it is wrong today.”

The release included pledges of compliance with federal and state laws.

Meanwhile, at Alabama, there were a lot of crimson red faces as Jamie Riley, the university’s dean of students, resigned. Officials were unhappy with Riley’s tweets published in a newspaper. An article in Breitbart showed screen-

shots of Riley’s tweets on racism, the U.S. flag and police. “The flag represents a systemic history of racism for my people,” Riley tweeted last September.

“Police are a part of that system. Is it that hard to see the correlation?”

Officials at Alabama were speechless compared to Auburn, which was not itself garrulous in its statement.

“Dr. Jamie Riley has resigned his position at the University of Alabama by mutual agreement,” the Alabama release read: “Neither the university or Dr. Riley will have any further comments.” Riley’s tweets were criticized by conservatives, such as Laura Ingraham of Fox News.

I feel both Governor Ivey’s situation and Dr. Riley’ case can be handled by understanding historical empathy.

This is broadly defined as “the process of understanding people in the past by contextualizing their actions”—to help them engage with history and process their own roles in the world.

For example, some students make President Harry Truman out to be a madman; after all he approved the nuclear bombs that killed hundreds of thousands. But Truman had to decide based on the primitive communications of his time. It was also thought the attacks would save millions of American lives. One does not have to agree with Truman’s choice, but to understand it. Otherwise, the research is likely to be weak, ineffective and unbalanced.

My college friend from Barbados and I went to a Macy’s department store in New York in 1978 while visiting the city.

Adrian, who is black,

looked at the mannequins and said: “Look at the dummies: They are all white!” If certain people heard him implying that “white people are dumb” in 2019 they might not have laughed, but booed.

(Now there are black, white and brown mannequins, so all of us must be “dummies.”)

My point: Ivey’s case shows that in college she acted like too many students did then, and she will pay an image consequence whether she stays governor or not.

But for me, she should stay because there is scant evidence she thinks the same way about race as she did 50-plus years ago. If Ivey does makes a clearly racist statement as governor, I will recommend then that she retire.

Riley’s case shows he has attitudes on race he might not show at work. But we would not know that unless

we violated his privacy through social media, as Breitbart did. He should be reinstated, as we still have the First Amendment that covers unpopular opinion such as his.

If Riley says anything in public that is racist or very inappropriate for a dean, the university’s leaders should fire him.

This is the season when Auburn University and University of Alabama should be concentrating on the scrimmage line, of course. But the “color line,” as Dubois said, must eventually be eliminated. We don’t need to persecute each other as we adapt to change. Being a “dummy” ain’t fun.

Greg Markley has lived in Lee County for18 of the past 23 years. An award-winning journalist, he has a masters degree in education and history. He has taught as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama.

Attorney General Steve Marshall announces inaugural membership in the new American Consumer Financial Innovation Network Special to the Opelika Observer Attorney General Steve Marshall announced last week that the Alabama Attorney General’s Office has become an inaugural member of the American Consumer Financial Innovation Network (ACFIN).

ACFIN, a new initiative of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), is designed to “facilitate innovation that benefits consumers through greater competition, consumer access, or financial inclusion in markets for consumer financial products and

Flowers, from B15 Justice Roy Moore, and journeyman football coach Tommy Tuberville.

President Donald J. Trump is extremely popular among Alabama Republican voters, and indeed, among

services.”

The inaugural members of ACFIN include the attorneys general of Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah.

The overall goal of ACFIN is to promote regulatory certainty for innovators, to the benefit of consumers.

Specifically, members of ACFIN will seek to accomplish the following objectives: 1. Establish coordination between members to benefit consumers by facilitating innovation that enhances competition, consumer access, or financial all Republican voters nationwide, especially Southerners. Even Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) is running for reelection for his Kentucky Senate seat and is tying himself to Trump. He is running a campaign labeled the “TrumpMcConnell 2020” ticket.

He is claiming to be the

Marshall inclusion.

2. Minimize unnecessary regulatory burdens and bolster regulatory certainty for innovative con-

President’s wingman in Washington to his blue grass constituency.

Even though the federal race for President, U.S. Senate and U.S. House will headline the 2020 ballot in the Heart of Dixie, let me remind you again, that all politics are local.

You cannot get any more local than county commissioner. Most of

sumer financial products and services.

3. Keep pace with the evolution of technology in markets for consumer financial

the county commission seats in the state are up for election as well as State School Board seats in Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7.

Ivey’s proposal to not elect these School Board seats but to appoint them will be on the March 3 ballot.

Statewide, there are two judicial seats on the State Supreme Court on the ballot, as well as

products and services in order to help ensure those markets are free from fraud, discrimination, and deceptive practices.

“We live in a time of tremendous technological change,” Marshall said. “We, as regulators, cannot afford to fall behind.

The combination of countless state and federal laws and regulations governing consumer financial products and services—with many of these laws and regulations overlapping— combined with a lack of state and federal coordination, is a burden to innovation in the United States.

Through state and

two seats on Alabama’s Court of Criminal Appeals as well as PSC president.

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.

This week’s puzzle answers:

federal coordination, we can alleviate that burden and benefit consumers.”

“Here in Alabama, we are especially fortunate to have the Alabama Securities Commission, which will be a critical partner for us in this initiative,” Marshall added.

To accomplish ACFIN’s objectives, members will seek to cooperate with each other through the coordination of innovation-related policies, procedures, and activities, and the sharing of information related to innovation in markets for consumer financial products and services.

Council, from B15 meetings are held within the council chambers of the Smiths Station Government Center, which is located at 2336 Lee Road 430. For more information, call 334-297-8771 or visit www.smithsstational. gov.