Opelika Observer 09-30-2020 E-edition by OpelikaObserver

VOL. 12, NO. 52

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

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Kounte Threadgill given 'Distinguished Citizen' award Photo courtesy of Auburn University News

Auburn has improved in coronavirus response By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

Thirteeen-year-old Kounte Threadgill put

words into actions when he saved his four siblings from a fire in his home in August. The fire ripped

through the family home on Aug. 26, with Kounte, his mother, his two little brothers, Kish and Koah, little sister,

City of Smiths Station accepting donations on behalf of those affected by Hurricane Sally

Kountees and the baby of the family, Kross, still inside. Kounte saved all of See AWARD, page A6

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver. com

A trailer behind the Smiths Station Government Center’s back parking lot is serving as a drop-off spot for donations for survivors of Hurricane Sally in Baldwin County. Donations can be made from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST Monday through See DONATIONS, page A3

See PROSECUTOR, page A3

Index OPINION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4 SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. . . . . . . .A7 RELIGION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A13 COMICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A16

See BIRX, page A3

Brandon Hughes named Alabama Prosecutor of the Year

The Victims of Crime and Leniency named Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes Alabama Prosecutor of the Year last week. “Being named the VOCAL Prosecutor of the Year for the state of Alabama is unquestionably the highest honor of my 18 years as a prosecutor," Hughes said in a press release.

Courtesy of the City of Smiths Station

Deborah Birx, who serves as the white house coronavirus response coordinator, met with Auburn University leaders Thursday to discuss how Auburn is handling the pandemic and reminded everyone to keep up the good work with masks. “When I was last here, the beginning of July, it was a very difficult time in general for Alabama and we saw nearly

95 to 100% of every county in Alabama, rural or urban that had more than 10% test positivity for COVID-19,” she said. Birx praised Auburn and the state of Alabama for the work they have done in lowering case numbers and preventing spread. “What was once almost uniformly across Alabama high test positivity, we now have less than 22 to 20% of all of the counties, from 100% to around 20% in just the last eight weeks,” she said.

SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 POLITICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B9 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B11 PUBLIC NOTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . B13

A2 September 30, 2020

Auburn Networks LLC to purchase Auburn Network Inc. Acquisition expands RadioAlabama family to 10 radio brands along with multiple digital platforms, magazine Courtesy of Auburn Networks, LLC Auburn Networks LLC reached an agreement to purchase the media assets of Auburn Network Inc. in Auburn and Opelika including Wings 94.3 (WGZZ/ WGZZ-HD), NewsTalk WANI (WANI-AM/ W242AY), ESPN 106.7 (WGZZ-HD3/ W294AR), 96.3 WLEE (WGZZ-HD2/ W242AX) and the quarterly East Alabama Living magazine. The new company is owned by Lee Perryman, whose current platforms under the RadioAlabama brand

include FOX Sports Central Alabama on 98.3 FM (WFXO/ WFXO-HD), MIX 106.5 (WFXO-HD2/ W293CQ), 105.1 WRFS (WRFS), KiX 100.3 (WYEA/ W262DI), KiX 96.3 (WSGN/W242CP), AU100 (WAUE), SylacaugaNews.com and RadioAlabama Sports. “We are excited about this opportunity to further expand in and for the benefit of the Auburn-Opelika area,” Perryman said. “These stations exemplify what radio is supposed to be in serving their communities – a persistent passion for listener

engagement and public service in multiple formats. The local mission, programming and focus will continue, and I look forward to working with the current team.” Auburn Network stations were honored in March with 2020 ABBY awards for the state’s Best Sports Show/Sports Talk Show, Best Talk Show (for the 11th time) and Best Regularly Scheduled Newscast (for the ninth time). “I appreciate being able to engage with Lee and his staff and this major investment in our continued success,” said

Steve Witten, general sales manager for Auburn Network Inc. “We are especially enthusiastic about making the most of our similarities and synergies.” WANI was named Alabama’s Radio Station of the Year in 2009 and 2016, frequently recognized for excellence. RadioAlabama’s central Alabama stations, owned by Marble City Media LLC, are home to the state’s 2017 Radio Station of the Year; Best Morning Show of 2016, 2019 and 2020; the Alabama Broadcaster’s Association’s 2014 Broadcaster of the Year; and win-

ners of other prestigious ABBY Awards in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. “Working as part of the RadioAlabama family will give us new resources,” said Zac Blackerby, station manager of NewsTalk WANI and ESPN 106.7. “This is an important time to put even more into quality radio, and we already offer an outstanding menu of news/talk, sports/talk and music stations.” WANI-AM was first licensed in Opelika as WJHO-AM in June 1940. WGZZ-FM was originally licensed to Dadeville in 1989 as

WZLM-FM and moved to the Auburn suburbs in 2004, followed by a frequency change in 2010 along with the addition of HD Radio technology and new analog FM channels beginning in 2011. The purchase also includes construction permits for a new FM channel and a new television channel in Auburn. “We will begin operating the stations under a local management and programming agreement by Oct. 1, with assignment of licenses pending Federal Communications Commission review and approval,” Perryman said.

Opelika Fire Department offers Baldwin County assistance the pay, it’s the fact that you’re helping out a fellow person,” Prather said. “Somebody that’s in need of help.” Prather said that the county could only send eight because there was concern that Hurricane Sally might still affect Lee County. “As we got going down toward, into Baldwin County, off the interstate, then we started seeing the severity of what lay ahead of us,” Prather said. “We started seeing a lot of trees down, power lines down and at that point in time, we really could see what the storm had done to the area.” The Auburn Department sent four response members to join those in the Opelika Fire Department and the group stayed in Baldwin County two days. “Mainly we were utilized in Baldwin County itself [rather than down near the beach],” Prather said. “It was just like being out in Lee County, like being out in Beauregard a couple years ago … that’s where the main part of our mission was.” The group helped clear downed trees

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

Photo courtesy of Lee County Emergency Management Agency

pelika Observer

Phone: 334.749.8003 editor@opelikaobserver.com Michelle@opelikaobserver.com

Hurricane Sally made landfall two weeks ago, changing the lives of those who lived along its destructive path. Baldwin County was one of the unfortunate areas to have been hit, and hit hard, by the hurricane. Lee County suffered its own weather incident in 2019 when tornadoes ripped through Beauregard and Smiths Station. Baldwin County was one of the surrounding areas to offer help during that time. Reminiscent of that aid, Lee County returned the favor and sent help of its own for the hurricane relief response. The Opelika Fire Department was one of the local groups to spend a few days in Baldwin County, doing what it could to return some normalcy to residents. Eight Opelika Fire Department employees left Lee County in its own hands and on Sept. 17 made the trek to Baldwin County, said Opelika Fire Chief Byron Prather. “People that work in public safety, people that volunteer in disaster situations, it’s not

and power lines, and worked with those directly affected. “We were helping open up roads so that our emergency vehicles could respond to these areas,” Prather said. “And then opening up some driveways for people who had medical problems. We had a cancer patient who was due for a chemo treatment but they couldn’t get our of their driveway because they had trees down.” There was also the matter of making house calls. “One lady had not been heard from since before the storm,” he said. “She had a threemonth-old and three or four other children with her and nobody had heard from her. So we trudged back down through the woods and her driveway was completely blocked and we made contact with her and checked on her and the family. “She didn’t want to leave at that time, she was waiting on somebody, a friend, that she could stay with. So we gave her what water we had on us and gave her our numbers in case she needed to get out. And then passed on her number and location to the Baldwin County EMA.”

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A3 September 30, 2020

Strut Your Mutt: Step Up To Save Lives Courtesy of LCHS Lee County Humane Society, along with hundreds of animal rescue groups across the country, is participating in the Best Friends Animal Society’s Strut Your Mutt Day, the virtual walk and fundraising event that saves the lives of dogs and cats in communities across the country. Best Friends® Strut Your Mutt® launched more than two decades ago in Salt Lake City and expanded to several cities across the nation in 2010, with a commitment to help Best Friends Network partners raise critical funds for their life-saving work. But Best Friends realized that this successful

BIRX

FROM A1

The White House representative said she has been visiting almost all SEC schools to meet with not only university leaders, but students. “I think what has come out of this is one SEC,” she said. “Not an SEC of constant competition but an SEC that shared information across the schools, over the summer and what we’ve learned is the reason these schools have been able to convene and have students and have students here on campus and have in-person classes has been because they spent the summer planning as one.”

DONATIONS

FROM A1

Friday only. Those interested are asked to call 334-297-8771 (Extensions 5 or 6) when they arrive and arrange to have a city staff member meet them outside to receive the donation. No donations of clothing, food or water are needed. Here is a list of suggested items: - Cans of bug spray

fundraising event did not have to be tied to a few geographical venues and added Strut Your Mutt Day in 2011 as a virtual fundraising platform that Best Friends Network partners everywhere could tailor to their needs. This year more than ever, the virtual Strut Your Mutt Day will be an important tool to help animal shelters and rescue groups raise money toward saving the lives of homeless dogs and cats. “We at LCHS are proud to be part of the Best Friends Strut Your Mutt Day celebration happening across the country,” said Sidney Hancock, the Lee County Humane Society Strut Your Mutt Day celebration

outreach and development coordinator. “We are working with Best Friends towards the goal of taking this nation to no-kill by 2025. Working together we can accomplish great things in the nation, and right here at home for our dogs and cats. We love our community and we know you do too, so help us take action for the pets and people in our town. Join us in saving lives by participating in the Lee County Humane Society Strut Your Mutt Day.” To sign up for Strut Your Mutt Day, please visit the website (strutyourmutt.org) and choose Lee County Humane Society when you register. Lee County Humane Society is a 501(c)(3)

organization, and all membership fees and donations are tax deductible. Our mission is to advance humane treatment and responsible ownership of companion animals through community education, animal sheltering and adoption and alleviation of animal suffering. Our vision is to be the leading advocate for companion animals in our community. We envision a future in which animals are valued, pet overpopulation is eliminated and every adoptable companion animal has a loving and responsible home. Follow Lee County Humane Society on Facebook.com/ LeeCountyHumaneSociety, Twitter (@ leecountyhumane) and

Instagram (@leecountyhumanesociety). About Best Friends Animal Society® Best Friends Animal Society is a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. In addition to running lifesaving programs in partnership with nearly 3,000 animal welfare groups across the country, Best Friends has lifesaving centers in New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Salt Lake City, and operates the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the nokill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed

in shelters nationwide from an estimated 17 million per year to around 733,000. That means there are still about 2,000 dogs and cats killed every day in shelters, just because they don’t have safe places to call home. We are determined to bring the country to no-kill by the year 2025. Working collaboratively with shelters, rescue groups, other organizations and you, we will end the killing and Save Them All. To check out our community lifesaving dashboard and for more information, visit bestfriends.org. Join the conversation on Facebook.com/bestfriendsanimalsociety, Twitter (@BestFriends) and Instagram (@ BestFriendsAnimalSociety).

The fight is not over, however, and when asked, Birx said she recommends Ivey extend the mask ordinance next week when the current order expires. “Because if you look at what happened within two weeks of the mask mandate, you can see the dramatic decline in cases here in Alabama,” she said. Birx also urged not only students to keep complying but parents and alumni, as well. “The students are being very compliant about the mask wearing, their physical distancing, I’m sure they’re doing a great job with their hand washing,” she said. “Just to all the parents and alumni of Auburn students, you need to do the same thing. You

need to do the same thing here and you need to do the same thing at home.” This applies to SEC football game days, too, she said. Parents who are on campus for games or visiting students across the south should wear their masks just as students are urged to. Birx was asked what Alabama can do to improve its response to the coronavirus and she said that continued mitigation is necessary. The south can be used as an example, however, to states in the north as winter approaches. Health officials are concerned that the disease will spread as people move indoors for the winter. Birx said that the south can be held as

an example - people moved indoors when it became hot. “I think it’s a really clear illustration, of one, what happened post memorial day, but what we can do as an American group of public individuals to really prevent that

spread,” she said. Birx is a proponent of having vaccine as soon as possible for Americans. The country is losing, on average, 1,000 Americans a week to the coronavirus. So if a vaccine is released a week early, that is

potentially 7,000 lives saved, she said. “So I’m pushing for a safe and effective vaccine as fast as we can because it will prevent the mortality of Americans just like every vaccine that we use today does,” Birx said.

- Cleaning Supplies - Gift cards to major retailers including Walmart, Home Depot and Lowes (among others) - Heavy-duty trash bags - Plastic tubs with lids - Rakes, mops, brooms and work gloves - Tarps The Government Center is located at 2336 Lee Road 430 in Smiths Station.

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PROSECUTOR >> FROM A1

"There is no higher calling, no greater responsibility for a prosecutor than that of victim advocate.” VOCAL additionally named Melissa Cupit, also of the Lee County District Attorney’s office, Alabama Victim Service Officer of the Year. “Being able to serve victims and

their families during the most difficult time in their life has been such an honor and a privilege,” she said. “Their worries and their concerns become my worries and my concerns. To be able, however small, to help ease their pain is my life’s passion. I have made some lifelong friendships with these families, and that is my true accolade. I am honored to re-

ceive this award not on behalf of myself, but on behalf of every crime victim and their families.” VOCAL was established in 1982 to serve as a crime victim advocacy organization. “Somewhere along the way, victim’s rights across the nation, for all practical purposes were non-existent,” the organization’s website said. “The same system that victims expected to protect them was hampered due to the aggressive efforts to ensure the rights of the offenders were protected.” The website said that the organization does not seek to remove rights from the offender but provide for the victim. “On my first day as Lee County’s District

Attorney I told the office that we were going to be a victim centered DA’s office,” Hughes said. “I wanted them to understand that the cases we prosecuted belong to the crime victims and their families and we were merely to be good stewards of those cases. No one is more effected by crime than the victim and their loved ones and it’s so important that we as prosecutors always remember that.” “The greatest validation a prosecutor can receive is when a crime victim or their family says, ‘Thank you.’ As I accept this award on their behalf, I take this opportunity to tell them ‘Thank you’ for the impact each of them has had on me.”

A4 September 30, 2020

couple of weeks ago I went to my local seafood shop and picked up the box of oysters for a “shucking & slurping at sunset” neighborhood gathering. The visit sent me roaring down memory lane. I was a boy when I ate my first raw oyster. It came from Choctawhatchee Bay, not more than 20 miles from where I was buying a box that day. Back then the bay was at the heart of a fishing-shrimping-oystering culture that is largely gone today. I got to see it. I even got to taste it. All because my father and his brother and

A word about oysters three sisters could not get along with each other for long. Let me explain. Back in my boyhood it was customary for Jackson siblings to gather at their mother’s on various holidays. There they would enjoy each other’s company until someone dredged up an old grievance (or invented a new one), started an argument and everyone went home mad. To minimize the volatility, or at least delay the ultimate outcome, the sons and sons-inlaw would often go off on an expedition somewhere, thus reducing the possibility that there would be an altercation. When my grand-

By Hardy Jackson mother built the beach cottage (1956), it became a holiday gathering place. However, there was a drawback. The cottage was small, and crowding only increased the chance of the memory of an ancient slight boiling over into a full-

Korean Happy Birthday

oday is Thursday. The plant where I work is busy, as always. My co-workers, local and Korean alike, are going about their day as usual. Because it’s only a Thursday. It also happens to be my birthday. Don’t ask me how old I am – it’s not polite. I will tell you, though, that I’ve had a ton of birthdays by now; this is the first Sept. 24 in years where I have not been greeted at work by some combination of balloons and singing, or flowers and gifts and cards. And I like this for a change. This is what I wanted – the anonymity of a job where I keep my head down, do my work and leave promptly at 4:00 every afternoon without a backward glance. That’s not to say I don’t like the people here. As I’ve written before, my co-workers are polite and work hard. There’s no work tension, no cliques or “mean girl” behavior. Everyone is far too busy for any nonsense. We greet each other and high five occasionally, but that’s really all we have time to do. A manufacturing plant is like one big machine –

ear Summer, You were not a great season this year. In fact, you were the worst. I’m glad to see you go. I hope autumn is better. Adios. Goodbye forever. It’s been a slice. The thing is, I’ve had some great summers in my life. Some real humdingers. Summers that were pure euphoria, just the way the dog days should be. But you were not one of them. One summer, for instance, our Little League team swept the regional championships. What a sunny season that was. Yes, it’s true, we 12-year-olds were not

By Wendy Hodge always rolling. My trainer, Que Soon, goes solely by Croissant now. My nickname for her has taken hold. Today she seems a bit withdrawn. A nod is all I get in lieu of a “good morning.” The twinkle in her eye is absent. I am worried about her. But as I said, the machine rolls on, so I power up my station and get to work. The morning rolls smoothly. Working with my hands in a fastpaced routine allows my mind to focus on something else entirely. That’s another bonus to this job – I have written articles in my head, come up with new craft project ideas and made countless mental to-do lists, all while my hands do their work. Around mid-morning, I leave my station and

ask Yeo Sun, another Korean trainer, if I could please have a new pair of work gloves. Mine are covered with glue and getting a bit threadbare in a couple of spots. She looks up at me from all of her four-foot nine-inch height and says (rather gruffly), “No. No. Ah-gloves given only two weeks. Too soon!” And she hurries off to handle a new group of trainees. This surprises me. Yeo Sun is not as chatty as Croissant or the other Korean women here, but she’s never been so abrupt. I walk back to my station, with my yucky old gloves and feeling slightly less delighted with my day. I think of all my past birthdays and how they’ve changed over time. Most were wonderful, a few were not; but I am grateful I’ve had them all. At this moment, I feel a wistfulness for the old days: for a desk where I could arrange some pictures and my little bamboo plant and where flowers or See HODGE, page A5

fledged fuss. So at the coast, the male exodus became even more critical to family serenity. As a youngster, I did not fully comprehend the significance of the departure of Daddy and the others. I only knew that though I was the oldest of the grandchildren, I was left behind with the women and whatever younger cousins happened to be there. I yearned for the day when I would be invited to go along. Which gets me back to oysters. Remember. This is about oysters. It was Thanksgiving. Family members gathered at the coastal

cottage. Soon there was squabbling, and the men headed out on a road trip. At the door my father turned to 13-year-oldme and asked, “wanna go?” My mother’s expression told me that though she would rather I said “no;” she was opposed to letting me loose into the world of men. So, with no idea where we were going or what we were going to do, I piled in with them and off we went. We crossed the bay and turned left at Freeport. That is when I saw them. Strung out along the road, about 100 feet apart, were little stands that looked a lot

like Lucy’s psychiatric shop in the “Peanuts” cartoon. In each was a long table with a row of stools on one side. Our driver, an uncle, pulled over at the first and out we tumbled. “Ever eaten raw oysters?” the uncle asked me. I hadn’t. “Wanna?” “Sure,” I none-too-convincingly replied. We each took a stool. Now I had seen raw oysters before – shellless and sealed in a jar. Daddy bought them from a seafood peddler who came to our town. Mama made oyster stew. It was not one of my favorites. Across the table were

When politicians pretend to be scientists, bad things happen

y regular readers know I oppose “Fake News:” stories and comments that are easily found to be false. Look up three to five things a public figure said. If you find out 30% or more of what he or she said is inaccurate, you will know they are lying. Tweets, too, are often misleading, as an infectious disease specialist at East Alabama Medical Center wrote in an EAMC publication. Dr. Ricardo Maldonado explained that one tweet mislead the public about COVID-19 deaths. It noted startlingly that, “CDC quietly updated the COVID number to admit that only 6% of all the 153,504 deaths (at that time) recorded actually died from COVID.” My take: A probable reason for the inaccurate tweet was to downplay the seriousness of the pandemic, to benefit certain politicians. “Let’s start with

By Greg Markley this knowledge,” Maldonado wrote. “Any person who dies from an acute illness will have comorbidities listed as contributing conditions on their death certificate. For example, if someone dies from a stroke, the death certificate will list other comorbidities, which will likely be hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, etc. However, the acute illness that caused the death was still the stroke.” He added: “Any other acute illness that leads to death (myocardial infarction, bacterial pneumonia, sepsis, etc.) will frequently

have other contributing factors, but undoubtedly it was the acute illness that took the patient’s life.” Maldonado has been at EAMC since 2009 and leads the clinical response to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report showed that 94% of COVID-19 deaths had other diagnoses as contributing conditions. Thus, as Maldonado said, “The deleted tweet was false, mis-informative, only creates confusion and ends up dividing our country further during a pandemic. Not good.” Did a CDC clerk misread his or her notes and issue a tweet that was backwards in its figures, but not meant to misinform? That’s unlikely, because the Center is known worldwide for its probity and accuracy. Was someone in Washington D.C. part of this, to make voters think this virus was no big thing, with a direct role in only 6% of the pandemic’s U.S. deaths? It would

Goodbye, Summer playing a team who matched us in age, weight, or ability. Yes, it is also true that the opposing Methodist team was made up almost entirely of first-graders who still had all their baby teeth. But the point is we beat them. After the game, I remember sitting on the tailgate of my father’s truck eating an ice cream cone at a rural Dairy Queen. And it was already the greatest summer of my life. Except, as it turns out, it wasn’t. Because I would end up having many that were even better. Like the summer when

By Sean Dietrich my cousin and I took a road trip to see a Willie Nelson concert. It was shaping up to be one of the happiest summertides of all time. But it was not meant to be. We were on our

way to Atlanta, riding a crumbling two-lane highway in my cousin’s ‘82 Ford, when we happened upon a truck that was broken down. An elderly man was on his way to his daughter’s wedding shower.

Half of the man’s face was paralyzed from a recent stroke, and he was just so old. He needed help. My cousin and I looked at each other and knew we’d never make it to Atlanta. We gave the guy a lift, and even attended his daughter’s shower. We missed the concert and never saw Willie. Still, even though I was disappointed, it was an exceptional summer. It was a road trip to remember. The Coca-Colas were cold, the roasted peanuts were extra salty. And I carry the memory with me. There was another

good summer. One sweltering July day a little black dog wandered onto my porch. She was covered in twigs and burrs. Her long coat was matted. Her floppy ears were muddy. She was a cocker spaniel with no collar, only cuts and scrapes. So I took her into the bathroom. Bathed her. Clipped her tangled fur with Mama’s dressmaking scissors. Named her. Fed her. She slept at the foot of my bed for 10 years. We were tight friends. She loved to chew ice cubes. She always rode See DIETRICH, page A5

A5 September 30, 2020

JACKSON >> FROM A4

a couple of boys about my age, expertly shucking and placing the half-shell on the trays in front of us. On the trays were crackers, catsup, horse radish and Tabasco. Nothing else. Behind the boys were men who presided over washtubs full of iced down soft drinks and beer. The boys were Freeport High Future Farmers of America who intended to farm the bay, like their daddies. This was their annual fund-raiser â&#x20AC;&#x201C; carried out without health certificate, liquor license or

MARKLEY>> FROM A4

not surprise me. We are fortunate to have Maldonado at EAMC for his wise counsel. Another hero in the same field is Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Fauci has served six U.S. presidentsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;four Republicans and two Democrats. Kentuckyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s junior U.S. Sen. Rand Paul was just 21 when Fauci became director in 1984. Before entering politics, Paul was an ophthalmologist, but somehow he thinks he is an expert on immunology. Or that is how it appeared in a sharp exchange between Fauci and Paul. Paul argued at a Senate meeting that the lockdown and mitigation measures for COVID-19 did not work well and that â&#x20AC;&#x153;our death rate is essentially worse than Swedenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s,â&#x20AC;? although that country did not take bold measures to curb virus transmissions. Fauci challenged the comparison between the U.S. and Sweden and said

DIETRICH>> FROM A4

in the front seat. I buried her in the woods and couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quit crying for a year. What a summer. Oh, and there was the summer I asked my wife to marry me. I remember the exact outfit she was wearing. I remember the weather on that particular afternoon. Deathly hot. Locker-room humid. Ours wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a dramatic engagement moment like the ones you see online. Today, when guys pop the question, they bring a minimum of four photographers along with them. If the special moment isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t captured on camera looking like it was directed by Spielberg itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s considered a flop. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not how things were 20 years ago. Engagements were pretty basic. You asked her. She checked yes or no. Social media hadn't been invented yet. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even own a cellphone.

customer complaint. Raw capitalism. Daddy ordered a dozen for each of us. There comes a time in every boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life when he has to man-up or admit that he is still a child. For me, this was one of those times. Resolved to do what the men did, I watched Daddy put an oyster on a cracker, pile it with seasonings, stuff it in his mouth and chase it with beer. Then I watched an uncle pick up the shell, tilt it back, and let the unadorned oyster slide in. I started doing it Daddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way. By the end

of the evening I was one with my uncle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and with the oyster. Sadly, the Bay no longer yields its bounty. No FFA stands line the highway. So I bought a box. My son, home from college, did the shucking. It is the only marketable skill I ever taught him. His Mama was proud. Harvey H. (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hardyâ&#x20AC;?) Jackson is Professor Emeritus of History at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hhjackson43@gmail. com.

Sweden has a higher death rate than other comparable Scandinavian nations. The United States has a long history of anti-intellectualism and skepticism toward new theories of science. We need to be careful when we discount a true expert in his field, like Fauci. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t accept anyone who has a medical degree, even an eye doctor and U.S. senator, as being expert in all medical areas. At a White House press briefing on the virus, a cardiologist not especially trained in infectious disease boasted of having cures for the virus. His name: Mehmet Oz, a Turkish-American doctor and daytime TV star who promotes pseudo-science medicines. How he was at a prime-time White House briefing while some infectious disease scientists were sidelined is beyond me. Another strange choice for a briefing in front of the president of the United States during a crisis was when Mike Lindell was there to announce he was making and donat-

ing masks to health care workers. In 2005, Lindell founded the My Pillow Company in Minnesota. It is a true American success story. Yet this event should have been a simple photo op somewhere. In a crisis the focus should always be on the pandemic and not TV personalities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fake Newsâ&#x20AC;? is a monster plaguing our civic life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fake Tweets,â&#x20AC;? as Maldonado has discovered, also must be guarded against. When the Internet and social media began, many people said we would get â&#x20AC;&#x153;too much information, and not enough time (to figure it all out).â&#x20AC;? That remains true, and that is why I say caveat emptor. Greg Markley has lived in Lee County for 20 of the last 24 years. An award-winning journalist, he has masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degrees in education and history. He taught political science as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama.

After my future-wife said yes, we attended a Wednesday night church service. I played piano for the meeting that evening. But I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t focus. I saw her sitting in the back pew. And even though the building was packed, I only saw her. I forgot all about the piano keys. I was supposed to be playing, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Holy, Holy, Holy,â&#x20AC;? but I think I was playing, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Another One Bites the Dust.â&#x20AC;? That was a legendary summer. One of my hall-of-famers. So you see, dear Summer, at one time in my life I looked forward to your arrival. But that was before you hoodwinked me this year. That was before the virus hit. Before paper masks. Before 24-hour headline-news channels ruled conversations at the American supper table. Before handshakes and hugs disappeared. Before baseball got cancelled. Then uncancelled. Then re-can-

celled. Then shortened. Before people conducted entire verbal wars within tiny online comment sections. Before hand-sanitizer dispensers were placed beside every door, elevator, gas pump, and henhouse. Before human beings had been isolated. Before many fell into a deep well of mental and

a card might have been waiting for me this morning. The lunch chime rings. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have bells or alarms here; instead there are beautiful chimed tunes that play for the start of the day, for break times and lunch, and for the end of the day. I think theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lovely. On my way to the break room, I see Croissant standing by herself. Should I keep my head down? I can feel my leftovers and my longing for anonymity calling me to walk on by, but I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help myself. She looks up as I approach, and above her mask her eyes are filled with tears. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Croissant?â&#x20AC;? I say quietly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ah-Winnie,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You see I am crying?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes, I do see that. Are you okay?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I okay but not great okay.â&#x20AC;? I wait a moment, afraid to push too far. Croissant, and her Korean counterparts, are genuinely kind but they are not open and forthcoming with emotion. It feels like a risk to try to get closer to her, but I take the chance anyway. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrong?â&#x20AC;? I ask. She hesitates, but then says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I miss my home. Not been to Korea in so long time.â&#x20AC;? I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t imagine what sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feeling. All I know to say is this: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tell me what you love about your home.â&#x20AC;? And it is like a floodgate has opened. She tells me of her home in a small town where her family has lived for generations. She has a beloved grandma who sits in a rocking chair and brushes all the grandchildrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hair

while telling stories of the honor of their ancestors. The Korean word for grandma is â&#x20AC;&#x153;halmeoni.â&#x20AC;? When Croissant says it, it sounds like a sigh â&#x20AC;&#x201C; full of love and longing. Croissant misses the sounds of Korea, the sound of her own language being spoken everywhere. She misses Patbingsoo and cheese Galbi, banana milk and bungeobbang. I have no idea what these dishes are and promise myself to Google them later; but just talking about them makes Croissantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stomach growl. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And most of all I miss my husband,â&#x20AC;? she whispers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have not seen him for so long. And today is his birthday.â&#x20AC;? I hold my breath for a second or two and then tell her that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;today is my birthday too.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today?â&#x20AC;? she says, her eyes brightening a little. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes. Today. I am officially a little older today,â&#x20AC;? I say, and we both laugh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You go have happy lunch, Ah-Winnie.â&#x20AC;? And she is off, hurrying away, seemingly on a mission. While I eat, I try to imagine what it would be like to be on the opposite side of the world from where you belong with so many miles between you and the people you love. Suddenly my dingy gloves and my work station with no birthday balloons seem like precious things. I have my best friend waiting for me when I leave here today, just a few miles down the road. He is cooking my favorite dinner and will welcome me home with a hug and I will be exactly where I want to be. Eager to finish the day, I go back to my station. Perched on top of my work basket is a shiny red apple and a new pair of work

gloves. I stand there a moment, just looking at them, and then I hear singing. Croissant, Yeo Sun, several other Korean trainers and the company president, Mr. Kim, gather around my station. Have you ever heard the Happy Birthday song in Korean? It will make you smile â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to help yourself. Some of my co-workers pause to sing along, the American and Korean words tumbling over each other. When the last note fades away, the high fives begin. Finally, the group disperses and work resumes. Only Yeo Sun and Croissant stay behind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For you, Ah-Winnie,â&#x20AC;? Yeo Sun says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;New work gloves. One week early.â&#x20AC;? She reaches for my right hand and places the gloves across my palm. She pulls her mask down to smile at me. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Happy birth-ahday.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;And this is from me.â&#x20AC;? Croissant places the apple in my other hand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because you are â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;head of class.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Her eyes are clear and shining again. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank you for making heart happy on this birthday.â&#x20AC;? And they are gone, back to tend to their jobs and to their own thoughts of birthdays and husbands. So this is what 53 looks like: new gloves and an apple â&#x20AC;Ś and new friends and old ones â&#x20AC;Ś and so many reasons to hurry home every single day. Now Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gone and done it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve told you my age. So much for being polite. And so much for my newfound anonymity. I think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m good with that.

physical sadness. Before clinical depression affected one third of adults in the U.S. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just the third who admits it. Oh, Summer, I remember golden seasons before the back-to-back hurricanes began knocking down our live oaks, tearing off our rooftops, and flooding our living rooms. Before wildfires

consumed the American West. Before movie theaters closed down. Before little kids had to wear latex gloves to play on the monkey bars. Summer, you screwed up royally. You took more than you gave, you hurt good people, and you horsewhipped those I love. You were the worst season I ever

knew. And it looked like you were going to ruin this world forever. But do you know something, Summer? You didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ruin us. You tried, but you could not win. And anyway, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too late for you now. Because today is the first day of autumn. And all Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children get a fresh start. Starting right now.

HODGE >> FROM A4

1 OUT OF 10 ELDERLY PERSONS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE BEING:

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ELDER ABUSE â&#x20AC;&#x153;This project was supported by Subgrant #18-VA-VS-050 #16-VA-VS-076 awarded by the Law Enforcement / Traffic Safety Division of ADECA and the U.S. Department of Justice.â&#x20AC;? 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.â&#x20AC;?

KNOW your status MANAGE your health LIVE your best life For more information about free HIV Testing and services, call 1-800-228-0469.

A6 September 30, 2020

MLK Nonviolence Peace March held last Saturday

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

AWARD>> FROM A1

his siblings. “Late in the evening a fire was discovered in the hallway blocking their exit,” said John C. Lankford IV, Auburn Fire Chief. “Thinking quickly, Kounte grabbed three of his younger siblings, broke his bedroom window and crawled out the window to save them. Just as he exited, he remembered his youngest sibling was still inside. Kounte reentered the house, running through the fire, finding his brother still in his crib and once again retreated to safety.” A ceremony was held to recognize Kounte inside the new Auburn Public Safety Building. “We’re very proud that this is one of the first times that we’ve brought the public and brought the media over to this building to celebrate your actions Kounte,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “I think actions such as yours deserve to be recognized and that’s what we’d like to do today,” Lankford said. “Today I’d like to present to you the City of Auburn Public Safety Distinguished Citizens Award.” Additionally, Anders read a city of Auburn proclamation declaring Sept. 25, 2020 to be Kounte Threadgill Day. “It feels amazing,” Kounte said. “… When people started calling me a hero over and over again, it made me feel really good.” The hero has had time to reflect on the experience and he said it was almost like moving in slow motion, acting on instinct. Kounte’s younger brother’s birthday is

Aug. 28, two days after the fire. “If he would have died, we couldn’t have celebrated,” Kounte said. The younger children, who now adoringly look up to their big brother, Kounte’s mother, Amber, said, were welcomed at the new public safety building. They were given plastic hats,

gloves and stickers and given the opportunity to sit in the fire truck. “They know that he saved them,” Amber said. “As soon as we came up, the six-yearold was like, ‘Bubba saved us. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Bubba.’” Kounte’s two-year-old sister can’t sleep at night

unless she sees him first, Amber said. “I’m glad that they realized that it was he who saved them,” she said. “And to be honest, he saved me too. He didn’t physically put me out of the fire but he saved me too.” Kounte explained that though the attention was slightly embarrassing,

he was proud to rescue his family. “I’m very grateful that he is getting the recognition that he deserves,” Amber said. “Because I don’t think he knows the gravity of the situation; he saved his entire family.” The teen also thanked the public for the donations that have been made since the family’s

home burned and the Auburn Fire Department for the work it does in the city. The family has a GoFundMe account where they are accepting donations (www. gofundme.com/f/threadgill-fire-relief-fund?utm_ source=customer&utm_ medium=sms&utm_ campaign=p_cf+shareflow-1).

Opelika E vents, Society, & Food

UPCOMING EVENTS OTC Presents: The Addams Family Oct. 16, 17, 23 & 24 at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 & 24 at 2 p.m.

The Sippers enjoy the outdoors, traveling in motorhome ANN CIPPERLY

Southern

Hospitality

hether it is in the mountains or by a lake, Pam and James Sipper enjoy traveling in their motorhome and have wonderful memories with grandchildren on exciting trips. COVID-19 has not slowed them down since they can be isolated at a campground. Pam has a love of cooking and enjoys cooking on trips and at home. The Sippers’ first RV was a pull-behind trailer. They were still working at the time. Pam was a schoolteacher, while James worked for Georgia Power. “The biggest advantage for us was that we could take our dogs with us when we

traveled,” Pam said. At that time, the RV was used mostly for tailgating at Auburn football games and a few summer trips with the grandchildren, Logan, Kenzie and Reagan. They enjoyed trips with the grandchildren to Moccasin Creek State Park in north Georgia, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Point Mallard in Decatur, Georgia, among others. “Camping at Styx River in south Alabama is one of our favorite memories,” Pam said. “Tubing down the river was fun for the entire family.” When Pam and James retired, they upgraded to a 38-foot motorhome to make

long trips more comfortable. Their longest venture was out west through north Texas with stops in Houston and San Antonio, then at Carlsbad, New Mexico, where they visited Sitting Bull Falls. From there, they spent several days in Williams, Arizona, on Route 66 and rode a train to the Grand Canyon. “In the beautiful state of Utah, we visited four of their five National Parks, Pam said. “We also spent 10 days close to family in Colorado and made several day trips into Wyoming. That was a memorable seven-week excursion. “Friends and family are even happier to see you visit when you

IBP celebrates 10 years By Will Fairless Associate Editor Irish Bred Pub (833 S Railroad Ave, for those very few who don’t know), celebrated its 10th anniversary in August. The Opelika staple opened in 2010 and has grown along with the city. James McBride, the general manager of Irish Bred Pub (IBP), said in a statement to the Observer, “When we opened in August

2010, we were only the corner building and the upstairs. Our current ‘Dublin Lodge’ Dining room was the Red Door June Coffee Shop.” Opelika’s downtown food selection was essentially limited to Café 123, Jimmy’s, Sid’s and Red Door June; 8th & Rail was between owners when IBP opened. “Opelika was this hidden little jewel, and that was our main focus;

connecting with the Opelika locals and figuring out how to get the folks in Auburn to drive over,” McBride said. He likened his vision for Opelika to the French Quarter in New Orleans. “The French Quarter is the destination, not the individual bars,” he said. “The more [restaurants] the better. Let’s make downtown Opelika the See IBP, page A12

Photo special to the Opelika Observer Pam Sipper has a love for cooking at home and when she and her husband James travel in their motorhome. Having the motorhome has allowed them to enjoy trips during the COVID pandemic.

bring your own place to stay. Another great trip was to the mountains of West Virginia.”

Now that the grandchildren are older and busy, the Sippers recently downsized to a

25-foot Class C motorhome.

OHTS to stage 'Clue' Courtesy of Opelika City Schools The Opelika High Theatre Society presents CLUE: On Stage beginning Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. All shows will take place at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, 1700 See OHTS, page A12

See CIPPERLY, page A10

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A9 September 30, 2020

Dream Day Foundation donates 'Dream Bags' Courtesy of the Dream Day Foundation The Dream Day Foundation partnered with Kroger in their Zero Hunger Program by donating 50 bags

of nonperishable items for selected families with school aged children in Auburn and Opelika. We are thankful for our volunteers from the community and members of St. Dunstan Episcopal

Church who graciously prepared the bags and delivered to the 50 families. These nonperishable items were placed in large brown paper bags and decorated thanks to members of the Boys

and Girls Club and Dream Day Members Jordan Sankey and Angel Jones. The purpose of the Dream Bags is to let families know that we are concerned not only about their physical needs but their

mental and spiritual needs as well. These students used their creativity to decorate each bag with beautiful artwork and words of inspiration with positive quotes, poems and motivating

words for the families. The families that received these bags showed great appreciation and thanks. The Dream Day Foundation is hoping to continue this project in the future.

Photos courtesy of the Dream Day Foundation

A10 September 30, 2020

Fall Bucket List

elcome to October, friends! It’s a fresh, new season, and with it come cooler temps, tasty eats in the kitchen and the best time of year for outdoor fun and gatherings. If I were to choose seasonal favorites, I would have to choose fall. It is the season Isaac and I married, the season we celebrate both of our birthdays and our first born, John Braxton, was born November 18. I want to cook all the pumpkin things, take a hundred evening walks on the farm and dance in my kitchen to Van Morrison singing Warm Love. Add into the mix ‘still living in pandemic life’ and we have the makings

CIPPERLY>>

FROM A7

“We're getting older, and this rig will be easier to maneuver,” said Pam. “Seems I'm supposed to drive more now. We love searching out unusual eating establishments wherever we are visiting. Our only rule is that we never eat in restaurants that we can go to when we're at home, with one exception: Waffle House. Cooking in an RV can be challenging, but sometimes nothing but a home-cooked meal will do.” Pam will freeze spaghetti sauce and a few casseroles before leaving home and store them in the motorhome freezer for a trip. Their newer motorhome has a smaller refrigerator, so she won’t be able to take as much frozen food now. They also cook on a small grill they take with them or use grills at the RV parks. State parks have places for campfires too. Along with burgers, steaks, hot dogs and s'mores, they will cook a Low Country boil and soups in Crock-Pots. For Iron Bowl weekends, they usually deep-fry a turkey. “Anyone considering getting an RV should

of simple joys we often overlooked. How much tastier is pecan pie going to be this year? And how much more beautiful is the maple tree going to be when it turns 10 shades of orange just before Thanksgiving. Oh, be still my heart, we are

just at the beginning. What are your favorite things to do in the fall? I encourage you to make a list for yourself or with your family. Keep it simple and be sure to include people you want to see and spend time with. It may be hiking or biking forgotten trails or cooking up your favorite pot of chili. The idea is that it’s yours. Your season to soak in crisp moments of time, to find simple joys and bring the warm feelings of fall into your home. I have given you a little bit of a head start with the following. Take a few of these ideas, maybe all of them, and get inspired to feel all this season has to offer. And don’t forget to share with

others; many are still physically distant, but their hearts are longing for human connection. My hope is we can all be the Warm Love of Fall. 1. Backyard ChiliDog Supper. This is so easy and practical. It gets everyone outdoors for dinner without all the fuss and to-do. I add in Fritos or Tater-tots. Maybe even a backyard game! 2. Outside Fire with Friends. Bring on the cozy and new scenery for fellowship. I can imagine red wine, kids with marshmallow sticks and catching up with neighbors. No plan or agenda, just simple and savory. 3. Family Hike: Lake Martin or Chewacla. Get out a bit and explore.

There are multiple trails in Dadeville around Lake Martin: Smith Mountain Fire Tower and Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail. And one cannot beat Chewacla State Park. Outdoor adventure in our own Alabama backyard. 4. Jackson Lake Island: Millbrook. This is the loveliest southern day trip; wild goats wandering over a luscious green island, covered in meadows and massive oak trees, drooping with moss. It is a dream. If you haven’t been, it’s a must! 5. Pot-Luck Dinner. Set up a few tables outside for your favorite people and ask everyone to bring a dish. Gather blooms and branches to decorate the tables and

keep it easy with paper plates. We must remember to gather together. We cannot give up this important piece of our southern roots and culture. 6. Pretend tailgate. Whether with kids included or adults only, enjoy the football! Order your favorite takeout or barbecue. Set up all the fun as before, just with no campus and less work (I’ll take that!) Get out the pom-poms, the drinks, the chairs and maybe even your tent. Do what you must and host the perfect at-home tailgate! 7. Bake Pumpkin Muffins. This is one of our favorites! I love baking

think seriously of how they want to use them and then look at a lot of units,” Pam said. “Our first motorhome was lovely, but upholstered furniture and carpet don't stay lovely when you take kids and dogs camping close to a river, lake, beach, waterpark, football field or mud hole. “You can plan a spot for every child to sleep, but invariably they never want to sleep there. Get a queen or king in the master bedroom because you'll probably have company. Once I packed a pop-up tent for some overflow cousins and I ended up sleeping in it with my youngest granddaughter. Seems some of the kids and a golden retriever had called dibs on my side of the bed. Be sure to pack plenty of bug spray, popsicles, patience and your sense of humor.” When they are not traveling, Pam enjoys cooking at home. She didn’t become interested in cooking until after she and James married. While her mother didn’t want anyone in the kitchen when she was cooking, Pam has good memories of meals at her grandmother’s house. She had a garden and canned vegetables. Pam was born in east Tennessee. The family

moved to North Carolina when she was in the sixth grade. She attended college in western North Carolina and then moved to Columbus, Georgia. Pam taught first grade for 18 years and second grade for 12 years. Then she worked part-time four years for the Early Intervention Program. James graduated from Auburn University and was an electrical engineer with Georgia Power for 34 years. The Sippers lived in different places in Georgia and then lived in Opelika for eight years. About five years ago they moved outside Dadeville near the Tallapoosa River. Pam still comes to Opelika for Bible study at Julia Thomas’s class at Trinity United Methodist Church. Before COVID, she enjoyed taking a special dish for brunch before the class started. Pam has canned tomatoes and green beans like her grandmother. She also made jams and jellies. The Beef Stroganoff was her mother’s recipe, and Jan’s Fruit Tea recipe is from a friend in Atlanta. The Pizza Dip is popular with their family. It is good for tailgating.

Pam assembled her Go-To Salad with cucumbers and adapted the Winter Soup recipe to suit their taste. She enjoys reading cookbooks and collecting

recipes. Pam and James enjoy planning trips and are looking forward to getting back on the road. “Cooking a late breakfast and eating outside

is my idea of the good life,” Pam sasid. “I love the smell of bacon frying in the morning!” Ann Cipperly can be reached at recipes@ cipperly.com.

By Bradley Robertson

COVID-19 SAFETY PLAN In view of the rapidly spreading COVID-19 (Corona) virus, we are taking measures to protect our elderly and immunocompromised customers. The lobby will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with curbside and drive thru services beting offered from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CALL OR TEXT US AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU NEED. WE WILL SHOP FOR YOU.

Stay well friends and thanks for shopping with us! We wouldnʼt be here without you all!

HOURS: 8 A.M. TO 6 P.M. MONDAY TO FRIDAY

See FALL, page A12

A11 September 30, 2020

RECIPES JAN’S FRUIT TEA 2 cups sugar 2 cups water 1 qt. hot water 8 small or 4 family size tea bags 2 qt. (less 1 cup) cold water 2 cups orange juice 3/4 cup lemon juice (I use Minute Maid frozen concentrate, thawed) Steep tea bags 5 minutes in 1 quart hot water. Boil sugar and 2 cups water 5 minutes to make a simple syrup. Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate. FAMILY FAVORITE PIZZA DIP 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 tsp. Italian seasoning 1 (8 oz.) pkg. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 1 small jar pizza sauce Assorted toppings such as chopped onions, ham, bacon, bell peppers, sliced black olives, mushrooms, etc. (My grandchildren are especially fond of the mini pepperoni; add whatever you like or no toppings at all.) Scoop size corn chips, wheat crackers or tortilla chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix softened cream cheese and seasoning. Spread on bottom of pie plate or 8 x 8 baking dish. Top with 1 cup mozzarella, then spread pizza sauce over cheese. Add toppings of choice. Top with remaining mozzarella and bake 15 to 20 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted. TOMATO-BASIL SQUARES 1 pkg. (10 oz.) refrigerated pizza crust 2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 1/4 cup (1 oz.) grated Parmesan cheese 2/3 cup mayonnaise 2 Tbsp. snipped fresh basil 1 garlic clove, minced 4 Roma tomatoes Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Press crust onto a baking sheet or rectangular pizza stone. Sprinkle crust with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. In a small bowl, mix remaining mozzarella, Parmesan, mayonnaise, basil and garlic. Slice tomatoes and arrange evenly over crust. Drop cheese mixture by spoonful on tomatoes. Spread evenly. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cut into squares.

CRAB SNACKS 1 stick butter or margarine, softened 1 jar cheese spread 1 1/2 Tbsp. mayonnaise 1/2 tsp. garlic salt 1/2 tsp. seasoned salt 1/2 lb. crab meat 6 English muffins Combine first 6 ingredients. Cut muffins in half and spread with cheese mixture. Place on sheet pan and freeze. After frozen, you can store in a freezer bag. When ready to use, take out amount needed, cut while still frozen into 8 wedges, and broil until cheese melts and muffins are slightly brown. Watch carefully. HASH BROWN QUICHE 3 cups frozen loose-pack shredded hash browns, thawed 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted 1 cup diced fully cooked ham 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar or Swiss cheese 1/4 cup diced green pepper and/ or other chopped vegetables you prefer (I always use onion and sometimes mushrooms.) 2 eggs 1/2 cup milk 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Press hash browns between paper towels to remove excess moisture. Press into the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 9-inch pie plate. Drizzle with melted butter and bake at 425 for 25 minutes. Combine ham, cheese and green pepper. Spoon over crust. In a small bowl, beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over all. Reduce heat to 350; bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Allow to stand 10 minutes before cutting. TOMATO GRITS 2 cups water 1 1/4 cups milk 1 tsp. salt 1 cup quick cooking grits 1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp. butter 1/3 cup chopped green onions 4 oz. processed cheese, cubed (Velveeta) 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided 1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes and green chilies (Ro-

Tel) (Be careful if you do not like a little spice. The original Ro-Tel still has a bit of a kick. You might prefer the mild.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan, bring water and milk to a boil. Add the salt, then slowly add the grits, and return to a boil, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Reduce heat, cover, and cook for 3 minutes. While stirring, add 1/2 cup butter and stir until melted. Cover and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until thick and creamy. Remove from heat and set aside. Using a skillet, sauté the onions in remaining Tbsp. of butter for 1 minute. Add the processed cheese, garlic powder, 1 1/2 cups cheddar and onions to grits. Stir until cheese melts. Add tomatoes and mix well. Pour the grits into a greased 8 x 11 inch casserole dish and bake for 40 minutes. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese over the casserole for the last 5 minutes of baking time. Note: I have assembled this the night before and baked the next morning, but you might want to let it begin to come to room temperature before baking. QUICK AND EASY WINTER SOUP This is especially good with shredded cheese, chopped onions or both on top (sometimes I just lay a slice of Velveeta on top). It's great with corn bread! 1 lb. ground beef 1/2 medium onion, chopped 1 can stewed tomatoes 1 can tomato sauce Dash or 2 of Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce, if desired 1 can chili beans 1 can whole kernel corn Brown ground beef and onion. Drain, if needed. Add stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, and hot sauce. Simmer about 30 minutes. Add beans and corn and heat through. MOM'S BEEF STROGANOFF 3 Tbsp. flour 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1 clove garlic 1/4 cup butter 1 lb. round steak, cut in 1 inch squares 1 medium green pepper 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 can cream of chicken soup plus 1 can water or more 1 large can pimientos 1 can chopped mushrooms

2 Tbsp. vinegar 1 small carton whipping cream 1 can cashews Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Sauté garlic and butter in skillet. Spoon out garlic. Toss meat with flour mixture, then brown in butter. Add onions and peppers to meat, browning slowly. Add soup and water. Cook on low heat in covered pot all day, checking and adding more water if needed. Just before serving add pimientos, mushrooms and vinegar and heat through. Add cream and nuts last. Serve with rice or noodles. PENNY'S CHEESECAKE SQUARES 2 pkg. crescent rolls Two 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 cup sugar 2 tsp. vanilla Topping: 1 stick butter or margarine 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 cup sugar Gently press 1 pkg. of crescent rolls on the bottom of a 13 x 9 inch pan, pinching seams together. Mix cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and vanilla and spread over rolls. Cover with second package of rolls. Melt butter. Add cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar mixing well. Pour over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely and cut into squares. MEATLOAF WITH MUSTARD AND BROWN SUGAR GLAZE 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef 1 cup butter cracker crumbs 1 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1 large egg, beaten 1 medium onion, chopped 1 or 2 cloves minced garlic 1/2 cup tomato sauce 3/4 cup ketchup 2 Tbsp. firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup water 2 Tbsp. mustard 2 Tbsp. vinegar Preheat oven to 325. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, crumbs, salt, pepper, egg, onion, garlic and tomato sauce. Mix lightly. Shape into loaf and place in a baking dish. In a small bowl, combine ketchup, brown sugar, water, mustard, and vinegar. Brush the loaf

with this mixture. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting occasionally with sauce. MY GO-TO SALAD 1 English cucumber 4 Roma tomatoes 1/2 sweet onion (or to taste) 1/4 green pepper 1 Tbsp. sugar or less Coarse ground pepper Bottled Italian dressing (Kraft Zesty Italian works well.) Into a medium-size bowl, slice cucumber and tomatoes. Thinly slice onion and green pepper. Gently toss all the vegetables together. Sprinkle a tablespoon or less sugar on top. Add pepper to taste and pour in enough of your favorite Italian dressing to lightly coat the vegetables. (You can add more later if you need to.) Gently toss again and refrigerate until ready to serve.

PORK CHOP CASSEROLE 8 pork chops Salt and pepper Flour Oil 4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced 2 medium onions, thinly sliced 1/2 cup milk Season pork chops with salt and pepper, dust with flour and brown in a small amount of fat or oil. In a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, arrange a layer of potatoes, then a layer of onions, salt and pepper to taste, then layer the chops on top. Pour over the milk. (The milk mixes with the juices and makes a gravy.) Cover dish with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour depending on how if chops are thick or thin. TENNESSEE ONION SOUP 2 Tbsp. butter 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil 6 cups sliced onions, about 4 large onions 1/3 cup Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey 1/4 tsp. dried thyme, or more to taste 6 cups beef broth Salt and pepper to taste 6 slices toasted French bread 1 1/2 cups shredded smoked cheddar cheese (regular cheddar, Gruyere or Swiss would also work.) In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, combine butter and oil. When hot, add onions

and cook, stirring frequently, until they are a rich brown color, about 30 minutes. Stir in whiskey, thyme and broth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes more. Preheat broiler. Ladle soup into oven-proof bowls. Top with a slice of French bread and a sprinkle of cheese. Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve at once. TOMATO ASPIC RING This recipe is from the Frances Virginia Tea Room, which was a favorite in downtown Atlanta from the 1920s until it closed in 1962. 3 envelopes plain gelatin 1/2 cup cold water 3 cups boiling tomato juice 1/2 cup catsup 1/4 cup lemon juice 2 Tbsp. grated onions 1 Tbsp. prepared horseradish 3/4 tsp. salt Soak gelatin in cold water. Add gelatin mixture to boiling tomato juice. Add remaining ingredients. Stir well. Pour into molds. Chill. Tea Room Notes: Small ring molds were used for this aspic. It was often served on top of chicken, shrimp, or tuna salads. It is quite colorful and tasty. ORANGE CREAM DESSERT 1 1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs 6 Tbsp. melted butter Pinch of salt 1 (3 oz.) box orange Jell-O 3/4 cup boiling water 3/4 cup cold water 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 8 oz. Cool Whip, divided Mix vanilla wafer crumbs with pinch of salt and melted butter. Press into bottom of baking dish and put into freezer for 15 minutes. In a medium bowl, mix Jell-O with boiling water until dissolved, then stir in cold water and set aside. In a mixer, whip cream cheese on medium for 1 minute. Add Jell-O and mix until combined. Mix in 1 cup Cool Whip. Spread on crust and refrigerate for 1 hour. Top with remaining Cool Whip after 1 hour. DILLY DIP 1 cup good mayonnaise 1 cup sour cream 1 1/2 Tbsp. minced onion 1 1/2 Tbsp. dried dill 1 Tbsp. Beau Monde seasoning (Spice Island brand sold at Kroger) Mix all ingredients and refrigerate. Good with veggie dippers.

A12 September 30, 2020

OBITUARIES Jessie R. Haynie, Jr. Roy McTier III A memorial service for Roy McTier III, 54, of Opelika was held on Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church with Reverend Earl Ballard officiating, visitation was from 1 to 3 p.m. prior to the service. Roy, who died Sept. 20 at home, was born Oct. 27, 1965 in Columbus, Georgia. Roy will be fondly remembered by many for his gift of conversation and his ability to make anyone laugh. He was a loving son, brother and father. He loved his children who remember his times as coach of their basketball and baseball teams and Sunday School teacher. He is preceded in death by his father, Roy McTier, Jr. and his grandparents, Joe and Clarice Kilgore of Cuthbert, Georgia and Rev. Roy and Julia McTier of Louisville, Georgia. He is survived by his mother, Alice McTier of Opelika, son, Roth McTier of Auburn, daughter Rachel McTier of Suwanee, Georgia and stepdaughter Kelly (Ben) Clayton of Owensboro, Kentucky, brother, Woody (Amy) McTier of Opelika, half-sisters Sylvia Sherrill (Robin) Mercer of Grand Junction, North Carolina and Marci Ann (Scott) Skinner of Franklin, North

OHTS

FROM A7

Bulldog Parkway in Opelika. Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for adults. Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock and Mustard as they race to find

Carolina, nieces and nephews Laney McTier of Opelika, Valerie Purcell of Jacksonville, Florida, Avery Mercer based in Iraq, Holly Skinner in South Korea and Corey (Julie) Skinner of Jacksonville and many McTier and Kilgore cousins. The family would like to thank Opelika Fire and Rescue, Opelika Police Department and Bill Harris for their kindness. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed. Betty McMahan Funeral services for Betty McMahan Cummings were held at 11 a.m. on Sept. 28, 2020. Visitation was held before the service. Burial was at Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery. Betty was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, and was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a major in English and Library Science. She worked as a school Liberian in Virginia and Maryland. She enjoyed needlework and completed many fine pieces of needlepoint and embroidery and received many accolades for her work. She was a charter member of the local chapter of Embroiders Guild of America. She was also a member of the Triskaidek Camping Chapter and the East Alabama Amateur Radio Club. the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, Clue is a madcap comedy that will keep you guessing until the final twist. Show dates are Oct. 4 at 3 p.m., Oct. 7, 8, and 9 at 7 p.m. and

During the 1960’s the Cummings family had a tour of duty on Okinawa with DoD where she learned to prepare Chinese meals and as a by-product of those cooking lessons, she hosted many “wok-luck” dinners with her many friends. After retirement, she and husband Hal enjoyed extensive travels in their RV. She was a member of First Methodist Church of Opelika and the Poe-Cumbie Sunday School class. She is survived by her husband of 69 years Hal, son Mike (Sharon) and daughter Jan (Richard), one grandson Michael Jr., and three great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations be made to First United Methodist Church of Opelika’s General Fund. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.

Eloise D. Sanders-Moore Mrs. Eloise Sanders-Moore age 87, of Opelika went home to be with the Lord on Sept. 23, 2020. Born March 29, 1933 in Rockford, Alabama. Mrs. Sanders was the daughter of the late James (Bill) Depoister and the late Ida Belle Brewer Depoister and was the last survivor of six children. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Leon Sanders; Oct. 11 at 3 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door and on the GoFan.co app. Reminder: masks are required and social distancing will be implemented. For questions or ticket information, email ohts@opelikaschools. org.

IBP

FROM A7

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destination and we will all have a piece of the pie.” By the winter of 2010 (aided, at least according to McBride, by the electricity that one Cam Newton brough to Lee County that fall), IBP had started to make a name for itself and was doing a lot of business. Soon enough, as downtown Opelika was adding more restaurants, IBP expanded by doing the opposite. The pub put Red Door June out of business (according

granddaughter, Brandy Carmichael of Valley; brothers, Clarence and James Depoister of Opelika; sisters, Ollie (Jimmy) Ellison of Clanton, Alabama, Lurlene (Billy) Mask of Alexander City, Alabama, and Nalra Mae (Roy) Hiller of Waverly. Mrs. Sanders is survived by her husband, Thomas Moore of Opelika; children, Deborah Carmichael, Danny (Marcia) Sanders of Valley, David (Jeannene) Sanders of Lanett, and Cindy (Donald) Word of Beauregard; step-children, Donald Moore and Bobby Moore of Opelika, Phillip Moore, of Troy, and Jessica Moore of Beauregard; grandchildren, Jay Carmichael of Valley, Scott Sanders of Ardmore, Alabama, Amy (Sanders) Fox of Gainesville, Florida, Leanna Sanders (Donald) Plotner of Opelika, Meagan Sanders and Kelli (John) McDonald, both of Lanett, Chris Hill, Bailey (John) Murray, Leona (Jared) Fulford and Seth Word all of Beauregard; 9 step-grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren, and 5 step-great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild. Visitation was held in the parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home Sept. 25, 2020 from 10 to 11:50 a.m. Funeral services were held in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home Sept. 25, 2020 at Noon with brother David Floyd and Chaplain Dean

FALL

FROM A10

and having homemade treats for my kids in the morning or after school. Pumpkin muffins are a favorite for anyone, old or young. And I’m giving all my fine readers a bonus … my recipe! Happy fall from me to to McBride), took up its lease and knocked down the wall to acquire 60 more seats, two more restrooms and an additional dish room. McBride said that in 2020, IBP is trying to stay on top of trend in food, drink and entertainment. “Its really about being consistent with our food and service . . . really keeping it simple,” he said. “People get hungry, they come to our restaurant for food, we cook them food, they give us money, hopefully we have done a great job and they return.”

Knapp officiating. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Osanippa Baptist Church where she was a member (1343 County Road 187 Lanett, Alabama 36863).

Phillip Hughley A graveside service for Phillip Hughley, 73, of Opelika, will be at 11 a.m. Sept. 30, 2020, at Evergreen Cemetery which is located at1409 Monroe Ave. in Opelika. Brother Willie Whack will officiate. Mr. Hughley, who passed away on Sept. 24, 2020, at his home in Opelika, was born Sept. 1, 1947 in Lee County, Alabama. Public viewing for Mr. Hughley will be on Sept. 29, 2020, from 4 to 6 p.m. Survivors include: devoted wife of 53 years, Dorothy Hughley of Opelika; two children, Tywanna Hughley of Warner Robins, Georgia and Phillip “Trey” (Monica) Hughley III of Opelika; two grandchildren, Destinee “Tia” Robinson and Cayden Jacory Hughley both of Opelika; one sister, Rosie (Harvey) Torbert of Opelika; three brothers-inlaw, Charlie (Anita) Burton of Opelika, Eddie James (Ethel) Burton of Columbus, Georgia and Reverend Robert (Diane) Burton of Jonesboro, Georgia; four sistersin-law, Catherine Jones of Dumfries,

Virginia, Mary (Carey) Green-Drayton of Staunton, Virginia, Myrtis (James) Daniel of Sewickley, Pennsylvania and Carolyn McCurdy of Opelika; his extended family, Deacue Fields and family and Teasha Avery and family; a host of special nieces, special nephews, special cousins and friends.

John Harris A graveside service for John Harris, 90, of Opelika, was held on Sept. 28, 2020, at Evergreen Cemetery which is located at1409 Monroe Ave. in Opelika. Reverend Robert Cadenhead officiated. Mr. Harris, who passed away on Sept. 23, 2020 at the East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, was born March 2, 1930 in Lee County, Alabama. Public viewing for Mr. Harris was on Sept. 27, 2020, from 3 to 5 p.m. (CST) Survivors include: three children, Jacqueline (Ephesians) Strickland of Opelika, Selina Dillard of Phenix City, Alabama and John Andrew Harris (Miriam Herring) of Opelika, step-daughter, Ida (Marshall) Carter of Opelika; one sister, Mittie Louise Ingram of Auburn; daughter-in-law, Willie Ella Harris of Tuskegee, Alabama; twenty grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

PUMPKIN MUFFINS 2.5 cups sugar 1 cup oil 3 eggs 1 can pumpkin

Mix all well together in mixer. Add in 3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon each: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda. Add 1/2 teaspoon each salt and baking powder. Mix all together well. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes for standard muffin size.

In the future, McBride wants IBP to continue its partnerships with special needs organizations and expand some community projects it has already started. In 2019, the Exceptional Foundation of East Alabama started working with IBP. The foundation would bring in five to seven individuals a couple of days a week to help with opening the restaurant. That program had to be postponed because of the coronavirus, but McBride wants to get back to it by January.

Of their community projects, McBride said that IBP already hosts some art shows, but he is pushing to schedule more upstairs at the restaurant. These would each have 10 to 20 local artists setting up booths with their works for sale. “Moreover, I would like to see us pair up with some community groups and organization,” McBride said. “The City and the people of Opelika has welcomed the IBP from day number one…without them we would have tanked years ago.”

all of you! If you have some favorite fall things you enjoy, I’d love to hear from you too. Feel free to email me at Bradley.jean11@gmail.com.

A13 September 30, 2020

The gratitude of holiness – part 2

he gratitude the writer asks for in Hebrews 12:28 is to be expressed in the form of reverence and awe (“let us be thankful and so worship God with reverence and awe”). The “and so” suggests he’s interested in gratitude not just for itself but as a means to the worshipful spirit he wants them to possess. This relationship between thankfulness and worship/praise is expressed frequently in the psalms (Psalm 95:2, 100—esp. v. 4), and it’s why praise is often spoken of as giving thanks (7:17,35:18, etc.). For the Hebrew writer then, if we’re not reverent, we’re not grateful. To be overly casual with God is not, as some suppose, a mark of great spirituality—it’s indica-

Church Calendar • AIRVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH HOMECOMING 2301 Airport Road, Opelika Celebrating 69 years... Sept. 13, 2020 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon and Lunch will follow Pastor: Dr Gary Walker – Praise and Worship: Doug Long • Church of Christ at Cunningham - meeting at their building at 9:30 a.m. for Bible class, 10:30 a.m. for worship, 5 p.m. for evening worship and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. • St. Marys Catholic Church/ St. Michael’s Church SMCC is having Daily Mass on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 a.m. and on weekends they are distributing holy Communion on Sundays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. A Mass is also held on Sundays at 12:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Church over in Auburn. For more information people can call the office at 334-749-8359 or go to the parish website: stmarysopelika.org. • Union Grove Baptist Church In-person gathering with social distancing. Masks are available. Sunday worship is at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday worship is at 6:30 p.m. Services are streamed live on Facebook– the page is UGBChurch • First Baptist Church Opelika The following are held in-person and online on Sundays. 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship and Message at The Worship Center 9:45 a.m. Sunday School Hour 11 a.m. Contemporary Service at The 3:16 Center 6 p.m. Evening Worship and Message at The Worship Center 6:30 p.m. Church on Chadwick at Chadwick Lane in Auburn To watch services online, go to fbcopelika.com/media

tive of a lack of appreciation for who God is and what He’s done for us. A simple test of reverence is to ask ourselves the question, “Is God living in my world or am I living in His?” The first is the default setting of the world, while the latter is the default setting of the kingdom. This is our Father’s world! Recognizing it is our Father’s world is an act of bare faith that opens the eyes of our heart to see what is unseen. Humanity is not something that was swimming in the sea, started swinging in a tree and now it’s me. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” The universe is not a vast, bleak abyss that is the result of enormous amounts of time and chance, but something

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

that proclaims God’s power and majesty. We might be tempted to think that the worship the writer speaks of has to do with the kind of activities we do in church buildings, but this isn’t the case. Although the chapter ends here, the discussion doesn’t. The instructions to love one another (13:1), show hospitality to strangers

(v. 2) and remember those in prison (v. 3) are all brought up under the umbrella of worshiping God with reverence and awe. But he doesn’t stop there! He goes on to speak of honoring our marriage vows (v. 4), keeping ourselves free from the love of money and being content with what we have (v. 5). He discusses other things before adding, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” The mention of sacrifices makes it clear that the discussion of worshiping God is still ongoing. All of this should open our eyes to a couple of things. Worship is about revering God rather than

the acts designed to bring praise to Him. We would do well to recognize the difference. A child’s off-key singing of Jesus Loves the Little Children is more pleasing to our Father than a professional concert experience in an assembly that is more concerned about style than substance. The other truth is that living with reverence to God is a 24/7 activity. It is not only related to how we treat God, but how we treat others. Understood in this light, it takes worship of God out of the building and into every phase of life. It is what gratitude looks like. You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: atasteofgracewithbrucegreen.com.

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

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

"... I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

— Jeremiah 9:24

Church Directory APOSTOLIC HOLINESS God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 HIghland Ave., Opelika 334-749-9672 True Deliverance Holiness Church 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700 BAPTIST Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506

ANGLICAN Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd 2312 Center Drive Unit D 334-758-6749 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Bridge Church 1000 Lee Road 263, Cusseta 334-742-0144 AME Mount Zion AME Church West Point Hwy 334-749-3916 St. Luke AME Church 1308 Auburn St. 334-749-1690 St. Paul AME Church 713 Powledge Ave. 334-745-6279 Thompson Chapel AME Zion 187 Columbus Pkwy 334-749-8676 BAPTIST Abundant Life Baptist Church 1220 Fox Run Ave. Suite B 706-4421464 Airview Baptist Church 2301 Airport Rd. 334-444-5148 Antioch Baptist Church 605 W. East Morton Ave 334-742-0696 Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St. 334-745-7528 Bethel Baptist Church Hwy. 29 Sasser Rd 334-745-4865 Central Baptist Church 1611 2nd Ave. 334-745-2482 Community Baptist Church 154 N. 16th St. 334-745-6552 Cornerstone Missionary Baptist 500 N. Railroad Ave. 334-742-2008 Eastview Baptist Church 1208 Spring Dr 334-749-9595 Farmville Baptist Church 3607 Alabama Hwy N. 334-887-7361 First Baptist Church of Opelika 314 S. 9th St. 334-745-6143

Green Chapel Missionary Baptist 390 Lee Road 106, Auburn (334) 749-4184 Lakeview Baptist Church 1600 E. Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-7094 Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108 Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608 Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at

First Baptist Church 301 S. 8th St. 334-745-5715 First Baptist Church Impact 709 Avenue E 334-741-0624 First Freewill Baptist Church 103 19th St. 334-703-3333 Friendship Missionary Baptist 432 Maple Avenue 334-742-0105 Greater Peace Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave. 334-749-9487 Heritage Baptist Church 1103 Glenn St. 334-363-8943 High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 Love Freewill Baptist Church 1113 Frederick Ave. 334-745-2905 Ridge Grove Missionary Baptist Church 1098 Lee Road 155 - 334-745-3600 Northside Baptist Church 3001 Lafayette Hwy 334-745-5340 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Uniroyal Rd 334-749-2773 Purpose Baptist Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #704-0302 St. James Baptist Church 1335 Auburn St. 334-745-3224 Union Grove Missionary Baptist 908 Huguley Rd 334-741-7770 BUDDHIST Buddha Heart Village 3170 Sandhill Rd. 334-821-7238 CATHOLIC St. Mary’s Catholic Church 1000 4th Ave. 334-749-8359 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy 334-742-9721 Southside Church of Christ 405 Carver Ave. 334-745-6015 CHURCH OF GOD

Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika 10th Street Church of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika 334-745-5181 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Changing Hearts of Destiny Ministry 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700

Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148 St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319

METHODIST Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800 Beulah United Methodist

PRESBYTERIAN Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889

Airview Church of God 3015 Old Opelika Rd 334-749-9112 Church of God 114 17th Place 334-749-6432 Tabernacle Church of God 3 Oak Court 334-745-7979 CHURCH OF NAZARENE Opelika Church of Nazarene 1500 Bruce Ave. 334-749-1302 EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave. 334-745-2054 HOLINESS Eastside Emmanuel Holiness Church 86 Lee Road 186 JEWISH Beth Shalom Congregation 134 S. Cary Dr. 334-826-1050 LATTERDAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints 510 Groce St. 334-742-9981 METHODIST First United Methodist Church of Opelika 702 Avenue A 334-745-7604 Hopewell United Methodist 1993 Lee Rd 136 334-745-0460 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 8685 AL Hwy. 51 334-749-4469 Pepperell United Methodist 200 26th St. 334-745-9334 Trinity United Methodist Church 800 Second Ave. 334-745-2632 Wesley Memorial United Methodist 2506 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-2841 PENTECOSTAL Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Hwy. 29, PO Box 1691 334-7418675 Gateway Community Church 2715 Frederick Rd 334-745-6926 PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Opelika 900 2nd Ave. 334-745-3421

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist 1808 S. Long St. 334-749-3151 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Apostolic Holiness Church 610 Canton St. 334-749-6759 Auburn Opelika Korean Church 1800 Rocky Brook Rd 334-7495386 Beauregard Full Gospel Revival 2089 Lee Road 42 334-745-0455 Christ Church International 1311 2nd Ave. 334-745-0832 Fellowship Bible Church 2202 Hamilton Rd 334-749-1445 Ferguson Chapel Church 310 S. 4th St. 334-745-2913 First Assembly of God Church 510 Simmons St. 334- 749-3722 Garden of Gethsemane Fellowship 915 Old Columbus Rd #745-2686 Grace Heritage Church Opelika #559-0846 Holy Deliverance Church 831 S. Railroad 334-749-5682 Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. 334-737-1488 Living Way Ministries 1100 Old Columbus Rd 334-749-6241 Move of God Fellowship Church 1119 Old Columbus Rd 334-7411006 Connect Church 2900 Waverly Pkwy 334-749-3916 New Life Christian Center 2051 West Point Pkwy 334-741-7373 New Life Independent Church 10 Meadowview Estates Trailer 334-741-9001 Opelika’s First Seventh Day 2011 Columbus Pkwy 334-737-3222 Power of Praise, Inc. Church 3811 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-6136 Shady Grove Christian Church West Point Hwy 334-745-7770

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A14 September 30, 2020

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A15

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A16 September 30, 2020

COMICS

“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.” ― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

S On the Mark By D. Mark Mitchell

Central extends win streak over Opelika to five games after 21-19 win

he Central Red Devils (4-2) defeated Opelika (32) 21-19 last Friday night at Bulldog Stadium. CHS extended its win streak over OHS to five games and lead the alltime series 46-32. The game was scoreless after one quarter, with Central taking a 7-0 lead at intermission. Terry Miles, one of two Red Devil quarterbacks, threw a 23-yard pass to Zion Morris for a touchdown with 0:45 remaining in the second quarter. Opelika scored their first points of the game with 7:15 in the third quarter. Baker Rowrton made a 27-yard field goal, making the score 7-3. The Red Devils scored back-to-back touchdowns on long runs by Joseph McKay. Less than 20 seconds after the field goal, McKay sprinted 90 yards to increase the lead. His second TD was a 60-yard run with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter. The Bulldogs answered with 2 minutes left in the third quarter. QB Malik Finley threw a 10-yard pass to Shawn Jones, who ran the remaining 66

yards for a TD closing the deficit to 21-10 heading to the final quarter. OHS bowed its neck and battled the fourth quarter. Down 11 points, Baker Rowton nailed a 34-yard field goal with 7:29 left. The Bulldogs scored a TD after Eric Watts ran 87 yards to the end zone, closing the score to 21-19. Opelika’s two-point conversion was interrupted by a stiff Red Devil defensive front that gained enough penetration to stop the conversion. Central senior running back Joseph McKay finished with a whopping 245 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Eric Watts gained 170 yards, 85 of those yards coming on the last score in the fourth quarter. Despite Opelika losing its second game of the season, their region record remains 3-0 with Russell County coming to Bulldog Stadium Friday night for Homecoming. See SPORTS , page B4

Oct. 13 - Lee County School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Inside • opelika schools • lee county schools • community sports

Oct. 27 - Opelika City Schools will meet on at 4 p.m.

Local schools address concerns on virtual learning, extracurricular activities By Michelle Key With contribution from D. Mark Mitchell

COVID-19 surprised the United States in the spring and changed everything. Millions of school children were affected when schools in Alabama and across the nation closed their doors and went to virtual learning for the remainder of the 2019-20

school year. As days went by, it was obvious COVID-19 was not going anywhere soon. The Alabama Department of Education, led by State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey, began to develop a ‘Road map to re-opening schools’ for the 2020-21 school year. The plan consisted of three different models:

- Traditional learning: students attend classes in school on-campus. - Blended learning: students transition between traditional and remote learning and back again based on needs and preference and - Remote learning: students attend classes remotely using a variety of virtual and paper

resources. Teachers have regular check-in times and can provide virtual instructions. Virtual learning is not new to Alabama schools; the Act no. 2015-89 passed in 2015 and became state law in the 2016-17 school year. Act No. 2015-89 states: “a student enrolled in a virtual school program See SCHOOL, page B5

Hornets Shut Out the Warriors 23-0 Rick Lanier Opelika Observer

The Beauregard Hornets used a well-balanced offensive game plan (28 pass plays/30 run plays) combined with a stellar defensive effort and timely adjustments by the coaching staff to

notch another victory, this time over the 6A Russell County Warriors in a non-conference road game Friday night. The fact that the Warriors were playing their first game of the season hampered Beauregard’s preparation. Head Coach Rob

Carter spoke about the difficulties of getting prepared for this week’s game: “We don’t really have anything from this season we can look at, so we have to just look at what coach Mark Rose has done in the past.” The strategy worked well as Beauregard

seemed to have the answers all night. After trading possessions with the Warriors in the first quarter, Beauregard found its rhythm on offense and got things rolling. With a little more than six minutes to go in the See HORNETS, page B5

Smiths Station earn first win of the season By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com

The Smiths Station Panthers overcame a plague of penalties and untimely turnovers to beat the Benjamin Russell Wildcats 24-14 in their first away game of the season. It was Homecoming

for the Wildcats, but Smiths Station were the ones who looked at home to begin the game. It was a refreshing start as the Panthers have repeatedly fallen behind early in games this season. This was not the case Friday however, as both the Panther offense and

defense began the game strong. After forcing a punt on Benjamin Russell’s opening drive, senior Panther quarterback Corey Minton got the Smiths offense running early. Four first downs later and the Smiths offense faced a third and long from the 25-yard line.

On the next play, the dual-threat Minton scrambled outside, broke multiple tackles and scampered into the endzone. An eight-minute opening drive gave Smiths their first lead of the season (or since the gardendale game See SMITHS, page B4

B2 September 30, 2020

'OPELIKA CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL' HELD LAST WEEKEND

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.

Jarrell Stinson Junior Defensive Back One interception, multiple tackles

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE OPELIKA WAY.

GO DAWGS! #myOpelika â&#x20AC;¢ #beOpelika www.opelika-al.gov 2018 observer

For more photos turn to B5.

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Beauregardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Football Player of the Week

SENIOR DL #48 ETHAN SMITH

Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impressive play was instrumental in Beauregardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shut-out performance.

#19 QB Corey Minton 4/5 passing for 34 yards, 125 rushing yards for three TDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sponsored by Goreeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Furniture Express

3797 AL Highway 169, Opelika 334-742-0607

B3 September 30, 2020

Music and Kind Acts put a Smile in Motion

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

his coming Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, we have a reason to smile. Let’s take time to enjoy and celebrate this day. It is World Smile Day The smiley face symbol that we see as a yellow circle with black dots for eyes and a simple curve for a smile is a gentle reminder to smile. Too, even when our mask might hide our mouth’s smile, we can always smile with our eyes, which sends a sparkle to all around for whom we love and care. The origin of the smiley face symbol is attributed to Harvey Ball, a graphic artist and ad man from Worcester, Massachusetts. His work was respected in 1999 when World Smile Day became an official holiday. The theme of Smile Day is simply to smile and do acts of kindness worldwide.

During this time of the Pandemic in our community, people have truly gone out of their way to help each other. This just naturally puts a smile on our faces. Last week I was so encouraged when a young man saw me struggling to put my grocery cart back in the cart lot. I was far from the lot, but the young man came out of his way to put my cart back where it belonged. Being a recipient of this simple, kind, action encouraged me so much with a great big smile of true gratitude. Smiles do not cost a thing, but the benefits a smile pays out for you and others cannot be measured. During this season of uncertain times we can experience stress. A smile, even from our eyes, can ease stress and help us to be encouraged and give us hope. It takes fewer

muscles to smile than to frown. Medical professionals tell us in overall health that smiling does help our immune system to function better by giving it a boost as well as lowering our blood pressure and taking away stress. Smiling can trigger certain neurotransmitters to be released, which helps us to feel good all over. Too, socially and emotionally, a smile from someone else can encourage us. This is a free gift that you can give to someone else. Music can bring a smile and heartfelt joy. Young children simply delight in music and song. As parents and teachers of young children we see how music can bring smiles, joy and happiness into the family as well as the classroom. Even little babies and infants are very aware and sensitive to the rhythm, intonation and tempo of music. It’s such a joy to hear early childhood teachers rock and sing to the little babies. It’s even more special for mothers to sing to their babies. An infant quickly recognizes his/her mother’s singing voice. Young children love to repeat familiar tunes. When teaching toddlers, I learned quickly that they are great imitators. Toddlers love to do songs that involve motions with their hands and feet. Preschool children ages two, three, four and even five enjoy music just for music. They are

not concerned about pitch or key. This age group loves to clap, dance, skip and do the motions with the songs. They simply love to sing and hum when they are playing and doing their little jobs. Playing music in your home or car is thoroughly enjoyed by young child. There are so many ways for parents to share the gift of music with their children. Singing directions are done in the early childhood classroom as children move through the transitions from subjects, centers, snacks and cleanup. Singing directions with young children to clean their rooms or help with household chores will make the tasks more colorful and fun. Wake up your child with a song on your heart. This will bring a smile for both of you as well as planting a song in your heart as well. World Smile Day can become each day as we think beyond ourselves in doing something good and kind for someone else. Young children are great imitators of models of kindness. In sharing some acts of kindness with the preschoolers who I am so very blessed to help teach, I have asked their opinions on how to do something kind that brings on a smile. Here are a few suggestions from our “Sit and Chats” that I would like to share from the hearts of young children.

1. Compliment and say something nice to family and friends. As young children would say, “make another person feel happy and smile.” Recently I was reading a story to a class. I was wearing an old faded shirt of fall colors that was just comfortable. Without even prompting or probing, the K4’s spontaneously complimented my old shirt. I had been personally having a hard day and this compliment truly elevated this teacher’s mood and won my heart as I continued to read a book with a big smile. 2. Share with others. I love to see young children share their toys in center time. As children mature, they want to share and give. 3. Give something nature-made to a person. As childhood classes head outside for recess, especially in the Fall, year after year I have seen smiles and eager little eyes preparing things—in this case a gift to the teacher. I just love to see my little guys and gals go run, bend over in the grass and pick me a little wild flower and come running to me to put it in my hand. This always brings a smile and loved feeling to teachers and parents. Too, I have been given other fall items like colored leaves, pine straw, acorns and yes, I have been given a shed cicada shell from the hands of young children to wear proudly as a gift.

4. Holding the door for someone else is a suggestion from my preschoolers. This definitely brings on a smile. 5. Say thank you when someone does something nice for us. 6. Pick up trash, clean up and do classroom and home chores without being asked to do it. This brings a heartfelt smile. 7. Draw pictures and send cards to our elderly friends truly brings a smile to our senior friends. I thank young moms for taking extra time with their children by having them draw happy pictures and mailing them to me, their teacher. Refrigerators become a display of pictures and love art hung by magnets to reflect love and time spent in making a simple gift to bring a smile. 8. Tell someone you are sorry if you have done something wrong. Young children are so free in giving hugs to each other in asking for forgiveness. 9. With preschoolers, I am receiving a lot of hugs around the waist right now during this pandemic, as well as elbow hugs. 10. Last but not least is to tell a person you love them. This truly brings a life-giving smile! 1 Corinthians 13:13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Classroom Observer, Beth Pinyerd

Bo Nix and Seth Williams surge in second half, propel Auburn to week one win By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com

The Auburn Tigers started slowly on Saturday, but a second half explosion from Bo Nix and Seth Williams led the No. 8 Tigers to a 29-13 win over the No. 23 Kentucky Wildcats. The sophomore quarterback and junior receiver were catalysts for the Tiger offense as the two connected for four completions, 72 yards and two touchdowns in the second half.

“I’m just excited for our team. It gave us a good measuring stick of where we’re at,” said Auburn Head Coach Gus Malzahn. The first half was a sluggish battle to see which team could shake off the rust the fastest. Kentucky got on the scoreboard first with a 35-yard run from Kavosiey Smoke that capped off an 11-play, 93-yard drive. The reputable Wildcat offensive line bossed around an inexperienced Auburn

defense that was without preseason first team All-SEC defensive end Big Kat Bryant after he picked up an injury knock in warm-ups. Nix’s leadership role in the offense for the Tigers is unquestioned, but questions surrounding their crowded backfield room, offensive line and the revamped defense remained. It was Shaun Shivers who got the start at running back, but D.J. Williams See AUBURN, page B4

Photo courtesy of AU Athletics

B4 September 30, 2020

AUBURN>> FROM B3 got in the mix and scored Auburn’s first touchdown of 2020 on a one-yard run. Still, concerns about the new offensive line - which consisted of four new starters - were justified as Auburn struggled to run the ball and the best first half offensive highlights consisted of two Bo Nix pooch punts. The Tiger defense was slow to start as well. Kentucky outgained the Tigers 243 yards to 143 in the first half. Furthermore, the Wildcats went 8-10 on third down conversions and dominated the time of possession (21:09 to 8:51). The Wildcat offensive line created semi-truck-sized holes for the backs to run through and provided enough time for senior quarterback Terry Wilson to scramble and make things happen with his legs. The Tigers went into the break up 8-7 after a 100-yard pick six by Auburn defensive back Roger McCreary was called back. “Of course, it went for six and was called back, but still, just the momentum and not giving up any points to still have the lead at halftime was huge,” Malzahn said. Although they led on the scoreboard, the Tigers had been generally outplayed on both sides of the ball. Auburn came out of the locker rooms and

looked like a completely different team for the second half. Nix stopped punting and started throwing dimes. Seth Williams reminded people why he’s the best wide receiver in the SEC. The pair connected on two touchdowns that were straight out of Auburn fans’ dreams. The first was a Mahomes-like pass from Nix as he scrambled right and zipped a side-armed throw over Kentucky defenders to find a leaping Williams in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard Auburn touchdown. Auburn led 15-7. The second Nix-toWilliams connection came with 10:21 left

in the fourth quarter. Williams turned a simple fade route into a SportsCenter top-10 play when he Mossed the Kentucky defensive back, secured possession, held the ball high in the air with one hand and left the defender dumbfounded, wondering why he ever challenged the Tiger wideout in the first place. “I thought Seth Williams made two bigtime plays right there to help us,” Malzahn said. Nix decided to share the love and found senior Eli Stove on an out-and-up double move for a 21-yard touchdown: the final score of the game. Terry Wilson threw

an eight-yard touchdown pass to Akeem Hayes but Kentucky failed the two-point attempt and the final score was Auburn 29 Kentucky 13. Nix and Williams were the story of the second half, but so was the Tiger defense. They shut down the Wildcats, holding them to 25 yards rushing (compared to 120 in the first half), 2-of-9 on third downs (8-of-10 in the first half) and only 15 minutes of possession (21 in the first half). The Tigers also blew up a Wildcat fake punt on fourth down that led to the Stove touchdown, and Jamien Sherwood forced and recovered a

fumble from Wilson. “Our defense did a really good job of stopping them between the tackles. That was something that we really focused on, and our guys did a super job of that,” Malzahn added. Nix finished 16-27 with 233 yards and three touchdowns; and two punts for 77 yards (both downed inside the 20). Williams finished with six receptions for 112 yards and his two highlight reel touchdowns. There are still valid concerns about the offensive line and the young Auburn defense. But the offense and defense complemented each other for the entire second half.

“The defense getting three turnovers was huge, we didn’t turn the ball over offensively,” Malzahn said. After the weekend’s games ended, Auburn finished with the best red-zone defense in the country. It’s just one week, but the Tigers looked to find more answers than questions in their first game. Most importantly, Nix looked like an elite quarterback and his connection with Williams was telepathic. The Tigers open as a seven-point underdog in their matchup against Georgia next week in Athens – a place where Auburn has not won Since 2005.

Russell’s fifth drive (after the muffed punt recovery) that they hit pay dirt, scoring on a time) at 7-0 with 1:56 left in the first quarter. five-yard touchdown pass to tie the game The first-half mo7-7 with 2:42 left in mentum then came the second quarter. screeching to a halt. Smiths’ Minton was Penalties (13 for dropping back to pass 125 yards in total) as he got drilled by a killed drives and the Wildcat defender on Panthers fumbled the the next drive. The ball three times (one ball popped out of the muffed punt), repeatQB’s hands and took edly giving Benjamin an unfortunate bounce, Russell good field rolling like a bowling position – a free lifeline for an offense that ball to the other side of the field where was struggling. Still, Benjamin Russell the Smiths defense matched the Wildcats’ would recover. The play flipped field poheavy formations and sition by 40 yards and effectively limited the Wildcats soon capthe Benjamin Russell italized to make it 14-7 rushing attack. It Benjamin Russell just wasn’t until Benjamin

before the half. Smiths’ play would turn for the better in the second half. The Panthers methodically drove down the field opening with the ball to start the third quarter and capped off the long drive with a QB sneak touchdown by Minton. It looked too easy, but the Panthers tied the game at 14-14 with 6:51 left in the third quarter. The offense continued to roll as the next drive would provide the most electric play of the game. Minton decided to scramble again on a shotgun snap. The Panther QB broke at least five tackles on his way to a 54-yard

touchdown run. The Panthers took the lead once again, 21-14, with 2:41 left in the third quarter. From there, Smiths limited their own self-afflicting plays and held on to the ball, chewing up clock with long drives on the way to the victory. The Smiths’ offense beat Benjamin Russell at their own game – power running – and the Panther defense continued to make the Wildcats one dimensional by shutting down the passing game. A ten-play drive in the fourth quarter led to a Smiths’ field goal and the Panthers made it

a two-score lead with 5:45 left in the game. The Wildcats failed to threaten the rest of the way and Smiths Station emerged victorious 24-14 for their first win of the season. It was the Panthers’ first win in program history against Benjamin Russell. Smiths lost the turnover battle 3-1 but had a clear advantage in almost every other aspect of the game. Smiths finished with 306 yards on 46 plays compared to 198 yards on 65 plays from Benjamin Russell. Minton and the offense had undeniably their most efficient game of the year. Minton had

125 yards rushing and three touchdowns and his backfield partner Jhameir Gore added to the rushing onslaught with 120 yards of his own. The Panther defense was put in bad situations after the offense’s turnovers, especially in the first half, but repelled the Wildcat offense over and over – holding them scoreless in the second half. Smiths Station (2-3) play their next game on Friday, Oct. 2 at home against Jefferson Davis (0-5) in a regional showdown. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST at Panther Stadium.

and allow athletes to work out in the high school weight room. Rose was not on the sideline last week and did not coach the team. Based on information I have gathered, Rose will not return as head coach and AD after the 2020-21 school year. Coaches Britton and Hall appear to be in control of day-to-day activities. OHS leads the series 15-0, outscoring the Warriors 641 points to 60 points. Needless to say, the Bulldogs are too strong for this Warrior football

team. They have only practiced for two weeks. Opelika has a football program that works year-round. Homecoming should be nice. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium. You can watch the live stream online at NFHSnetwork.com. Set up an account, search “Opelika High” and click the “Opelika Production” to watch free. The Orthopaedic Clinic paid the yearly fee so every fan can watch free. The game can be heard on 97.7

Kicker FM and online at kickerfm.com beginning at 6:30 p.m.

COUNTRY Opelika High Cross Country Teams hosted the “Opelika Invitational” last weekend at the Sportsplex. The OHS boys finished sixth while the girls placed fourth. OHS Girls Individual places: Breckin Gould won the Invitational running with a time of 19:13.77. Paola Torres finished 16th, Margaret Bice 33rd, Violett Alcorn 39th, Susan Gaston 45th, Cruz Tylicki 45th and Abigail Noon 48th.

OHS Boys: Chas Brewer was 13th, clocking in at 17:52.55. Winston Tufts was 31st, Evan Goodman 61st, Peyton Weston 61st, William McCullogh 65th, Jake Walters 70th, Zalen Shaw 80th, Trey White 81st, Jack Quinn 106th, Amari Bynum 116th. D. Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State Director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.

SMITHS>>

FROM B1

SPORTS >> FROM B1 RUSSELL COUNTY VS OPELIKA Russell County football team played their first game of the season last Friday, losing to Beauregard 23-0. RCHS head football coach and athletic director Mark Rose said he thinks no school should be playing football because of COVID-19. In his second season at Russell County, he refused to talk with the media

FRESHMAN FOOTBALL Opelika’s Freshman football team lost 29-21 last week to Eufaula on the road. The Dawgs found themselves down 296 before scoring two touchdowns and converting on a 2-point play. The team remains winless after three games but keeps working to get better during the week. CROSS

B5 September 30, 2020

Cross Country racers compete in Opelika last weekend

SCHOOL>> FROM B1

participate in extra-curricular activities including athletics.”

offered by his or her local school system shall be treated as if he or she is attending his or her local school in the attendance zone in which they reside for purposes of participating in extracurricular activities and shall be subject to the same requirements, including Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) rules, imposed on a traditional public school student enrolled in the traditional public school.” The AHSAA abides by the act and allows virtual students to participate in athletics including football, band and other sports. How are local schools handling sports and extracurricular activities? Auburn City Schools – In a statement released to the Observer, it was stated that “All students, regardless of the option selected, traditional or remote learning, are eligible for participation in after-school events. As referenced in the Auburn City Schools’ Return to Learning plan, remote learning students may

Lee County Schools – Lee County Superintendent James McCoy confirmed that Lee County Schools are allowing remote or virtual learning students to participate in sports, including marching band. Opelika City Schools According to Opelika Superintendent Dr. Mark Neighbors, OCS does not currently allow students choosing virtual learning to participate in any extracurricular activities and offered the following explanation. “When considering the issue of whether a student who opted to participate in our virtual program since the onset of COVID and the State of Emergency issued by the Governor may participate in extracurricular activities, our focus has been on the safety of our students, their families, our faculty and staff and by extension, our community,” Neighbors said. “Those parents who have elected to keep their children at

home since the onset of COVID presumably have done so because of their concerns for possible health problems, either for the student in question or a member of his/her family. To allow students who were concerned about the health risk of attending in-person school to participate in extracurricular activities seems inconsistent. That is, the same health risk, and possibly a higher risk,

exists in extracurricular activities that exists in the in-person classroom and school setting. After many discussions, particularly with medical professionals, we felt that it was too risky for the children who chose to stay at home for health reasons to be exposed to the same health risk by participating in extracurricular activities. Therefore, the decision was made to only allow traditional

in-person students to participate in extracurricular activities during the pandemic.” Neighbors went on to explain that the decision was not one that was made lightly. “We do not take this decision lightly. In considering this issue, we have considered the Alabama Virtual Education Law which was passed prior to the pandemic as well as the AHSAA guidance. We

have not disregarded that law or the guidance; however, we are operating in unique uncharted times and we have made what we believe to be the best decision we can for the students of our schools, their families, our faculty and staff and by extension, the community at large. We will always err on the side of guarding public health and protecting human life,” he concluded.

HORNETS>>

senior quarterback #15 Gavin Prickett (17-28, 1/1) the ball back with enough time to connect with senior wide receiver #1 Keyshon Tolefree for a 33-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds remaining in the quarter. After another good kick by Santa Anna, the Hornets headed to the locker room up 14-0 at the half. Senior defensive lineman #48 Ethan Smith made play after play all night to anchor a very stingy Hornet

defense. “Our defense did a great job,” Carter said, “we bent a little bit and gave them some bad field position but they continued to work hard and made some great plays and tackles. I’m just proud of them for being able to make those stands when they did get close.” In fact, Smith’s and the rest of the Hornets’ defensive efforts were so dominant that Russell County was limited to just 81 yards rushing, zero yards passing and

a paltry average of only 1.8 yards per play for the entire game. After a scoreless third quarter, the Hornets struck again at the 8:39 mark in the fourth as senior running back #23 Trent Jones took the handoff, broke free and scampered 59 yards for another touchdown to make the score 210. For good measure, Beauregard’s special teams logged another two points with a safety as the Warriors attempted to punt the ball away,

effectively putting the game out of reach with five minutes remaining. After the game, Coach Carter had high praises for his senior quarterback, “Gavin has gotten better each week,” Carter said. “He did a great job of studying what we needed to have, or what they were going to give us and it was on the money.” Carter also praised the overall effort. “We didn’t prepare for anything they were going to do,” he stated, “They

did a great job, the kids and my assistant coaches, being able to adjust during the game. It feels great to get a win right here.” The Hornets (3-3 overall, 1-2 region) are on the road again as they take on the Tallassee Tigers (1-4 overall, 1-1 region) Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST. Tallassee High School is located at 502 Barnett Blvd, Tallassee, AL 36078.

FROM B1 second quarter, RB Trent Jones scored from four yards out to cap off an impressive 70-yard drive putting the Hornets on the board first. The point after try by senior Kicker #30 Cason Santa Anna was good, and the Hornets led 7-0. Then, late in the second quarter, Beauregard’s defense made a key stop to give

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

B6 September 30, 2020

OHS lose nail-biter to Central

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

B7 September 30, 2020

OHS seniors honored at Carver game

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer OHS honored the 2021 seniors during the Opelika v. Carver game on Sept. 18. To view all the senior photos visit (OpelikaObserver.com).

B8 September 30, 2020

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics

September 30, 2020

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Inside the Statehouse Alabama’s budget year begins this week; COVID-19 has played havoc.

he new fiscal year begins this week for Alabama government. We have two budgets: a General Fund and an Education Budget. Both budgets have seen devastation to their revenues due to the coronavirus. The Education Budget was drastically changed from what was originally expected at the beginning of the calendar year in January. The Education Budget receives the revenues generated from our sales and income taxes in the state. Therefore, the downturn in the economy is especially heartbreaking for educators, teachers, schools and universities. The Education Budget was poised in January to be by far the largest and most robust in state history. There was money for a 6% increase over the $7.1 billion 2020 Education Budget. However, that was eliminated, and the budget is level funded. Altogether, the coronavirus pandemic has left a half-billion-dollar cut to Alabama’s state budgets for the upcoming year. The pandemic debacle has decimated other states much more than Alabama. Indeed, our legislative budget committees have done such a good job as stewards of our tax spending and of budgeting that, unlike other states that are deficit spending and headed toward bankruptcy, there is a slight increase in our two budgets. In fact, all surveys nationally rank Alabama in the top five of the 50 states when it comes to how well states are handling and are able to absorb the staggering blow to states’ budgets. Our state budget chairmen, Reps. Bill Poole of Tuscaloosa and Steve Clouse of Ozark and Sens. Arthur Orr of Decatur and Greg Albritton of Escambia, have done a yeoman’s job of keeping Alabama afloat by passing conservative budgets and implementing rainy day funds. The Education Budget will be about $7.2 billion. The General

Legislative Reception addresses current issues By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

STEVE FLOWERS Fund will be about $2.2 billion. The difference in what was expected in January is about $500 million. However, Alabama’s share of the Federal Stimulus money is said to be $1.8 billion. This is like manna from Heaven. The General Fund budget still includes increases for the Alabama Medicaid Agency. The Department of Public Health also got an increase to cover a larger share of the costs for The Children’s Health Insurance program. The Department of Mental Health got an increase to setup three regional crisis centers for folks with mental illness caused by the epidemic. The Department of Corrections will get about a $20 million increase, but it may not be enough to satisfy the feds. Within the Education Budget, the Legislature was able to fund a bond issue for school and capital projects. All-in-all, it could be a lot worse. Again, Alabama is in better shape than other states. One of the best things the crafters of our 1901 Constitution did was to make it unconstitutional to have a deficit budget. We have a constitutional mandate that we cannot spend more than we take in. We cannot print money in Alabama like the Federal Government does. The See FLOWERS, page B11

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce connected business owners with their Alabama Representatives last week. Alabama State House Representative Joe Lovvorn, Alabama State House Representative Jeremy Gray and Alabama State House Representative Debbie Wood all attended a Legislation Reception hosted by the Opelika Chamber of Commerce at Red Clay Brewery. The event, sponsored by Arbor Springs Health and Rehab Center and Lee Russell Council of Governments, was meant to give residents and business owners in Opelika a chance to meet their representatives, chat and ask questions. Each representative was given a few minutes to speak formally about their current projects and then chat one-on-one to answer questions. Jeremy Gray Gray, District 83, told the audience, who were seated or standing in the outdoor patio space behind Red Clay

hlester@opelikaobserver.com

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Joe Lovvorn Lovvorn, District 79, said he can relate to the business owners and understand their issues. “One thing in 2020 that I hated to have to do but was honored to be a part of was how to reopen and organize our businesses in Alabama when we can,” he said. “Because the first thing we said to ourselves was every business is essential to somebody.” The representative said they are doing

what they can to open businesses, but understood the reality of the coronavirus, having had it, having seen it as a politician, parent, business owner and as a first responder, he said. Debbie Wood Wood, District 38, said that she feels that she and other representatives are more accessible now than ever before due to the coronavirus. “The governor sent us home, and when the governor sent us home, we had time to actually spend with people within our district who need us,” she said. One of Wood’s priorities has been helping residents deal with the unemployment process due to the virus. “I have a phone message today from a gentleman that had not received his unemployment for seven weeks,” she said. “And his message to me was: ‘I haven’t received unemployment and I have no food.’ So when you get messages like that and you’re in Montgomery, a lot of times, there’s not a whole lot you can do. But when you’re here, and you’re within your district there’s a whole lot of things you See RECEPTION page B13

Lee Co. EMA approved for storm shelter inspections By Hannah Lester

“Our Mission is Your Health”

Brewery, that he has been working lately on ensuring seniors in the community are taken care of. The representative was also recently nominated for the Alabama Innovation Commission. “One thing we’re trying to do is, we’re just trying to get information from each area, whether you think we need incubators, accelerated programs, apprenticeships or mentors or we need champion big businesses, or whatever you may need, let me know,” Gray said. Other recent priorities Gray has focused on have been unemployment or working with citizens on a regular basis, he said.

Lee County Commissioners approved a plan that will allow the Lee County Emergency Management Agency to move forward with individual storm shelters. The storm shelters were first introduced after the Lee County tornadoes in 2011 and

the county applied for a grant. The shelters were approved the following year. “After the Beauregard and Smiths Station tornadoes in 2019, the previous director applied for mitigation funds for individual safe rooms and storm shelters,” Smith said. There are 115 applicants for storm

shelters. Smith informed the commissioners at the last meeting that the Alabama Board of Architects and Engineers now requires a special inspection of the shelters after installation. She asked the commission to waive the inspection, which it declined to do. The commissioners See STORM, page B15

B10 September 30, 2020

Todd Rauch encourages voters to make their voices heard in Oct. 6 runoff election Courtesy of Todd Rauch

Todd Rauch, candidate for Opelika City Council in Ward 5, is encouraging voters to mark their calendars and make it a point to head to the polls to vote in the upcoming election, with just a few days to go until the municipal runoff election. “With recent elections taking place in both July & August, and then coming soon in October & November, it’s easy for citizens to get voter fatigue and choose to

skip the polls,” Rauch, said. “This election is incredibly important for the voters in Ward 5, and I look forward to seeing them out at the Opelika Sportsplex on October 6.” Rauch has knocked on thousands of doors within Ward 5, connecting with voters, listening to their concerns and taking notes throughout the election. “My hard work to earn your support and work for our ward won’t stop on election night,” Rauch said. “I want to represent you

and your interests in our ward & our city. From day one, I’ve shown a commitment to our friends & neighbors, and that commitment is about the future of Opelika. I need your vote on Tuesday, October 6.” The municipal election on August 25 recorded a record-breaking turnout in Ward 5, with 1,786 in person voters at the Opelika Sportsplex and another 58 absentee ballots recorded. Todd Rauch earned 42.6% with 761 votes for a

first-place finish, while the 10-year incumbent finished with just over 400 votes. The crowded field triggered a runoff. According to the Code of Alabama (Section 11-46-55), “If no candidate receives a majority of all the votes cast in an election to which there were more than two candidates, then the municipal governing body shall order a runoff election to be held on the sixth Tuesday next thereafter following the regular election, at which election the two candidates

having received the most and the second most votes, respectively, shall be candidates, and the person receiving the highest number of votes for that office in the runoff election shall be declared elected.” “Our City is too great, with so much to offer, and our citizens work too hard for your voice to be overlooked,” Rauch said. “Together, on October 6, we can come together and elect me, Todd Rauch, to Opelika City Council in Ward 5.

Elect a name you Know, Elect a name you Know, Vote forVote Jamie Lowe! for Jamie Lowe!

Come and make sure your voice is heard.” About Todd Rauch Rauch has lived in Opelika with his wife Ali for 11 years. He enlisted in the Army at 17 as a Military Police Officer. He was wounded in Iraq in 2003, eventually needing 12 surgeries to recover. Rauch went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Auburn University, and later worked as an intelligence specialist See RAUCH page B13

AUGUST 25, 2020 GUSTOCTOBER 25, 2020 06, 2020

Supporting and Supporting upporting and Promoting and Promoting • Safety, • Education Promoting• Safety • Economic Development • Education fety, • Education in Ward 1

• Economic omic Development Development in Ward 1in Ward 1

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Jamie Lowe, 2106 S. Long St. 27, Opelika, AL 36801

Paid for by the Committee Jamie Lowe, 2106 S. Long 27, S. Opelika, Paid for to by Elect the Committee to Elect Jamie Lowe,St.2106 Long St.AL 27,36801 Opelika, AL 36801

B11 September 30, 2020

Lee County employees receive certificate in county government

Courtesy of ACCA

The Association granted the certificates at the organization’s 92nd Annual Convention. Kendall and Martecia received their certificates at the Aug. 31 Lee County Commission meeting. “We’re so proud of Kendall, Martecia, and the county employees across Alabama who have demonstrated

The Association of County Commissioners of Alabama presented Lee County employee Kendall Andrews with a certificate in County Engineering Administration. The group also awarded Lee County employee Martecia Rogers a certificate for completing the Basic Level Training Program.

their commitment to becoming better public servants by participating in this education program,” said ACCA Executive Director Sonny Brasfield. “This is a proven program that requires participants to do more than simply show up for class. It involves a tremendous amount of dedication to making local Martecia Rogers (right) with Lee County Administrator Roger Rendleman (left)

Kendall Andrews (right) with Lee County Engineer Justin Hardee (left)

government services better for our state’s residents.” To receive a Certificate in County Engineering Administration, county employees approved to participate in the program must complete 60 hours of course work. The Basic-Level Training Program consists of four classes designed to provide county personnel with a solid

overview of county government, and while the courses are required for personnel participating in one of the certification programs, the classes are available to employees throughout county government. The Association of County Commissions of Alabama is a statewide organization speaking for all 67 counties with ONE voice. It promotes

improved county government services in Alabama, offers educational programs for county officials and their staff members, administers insurance programs for county governments and employees, offers legal advice and represents the interests of county government before state and federal organizations and agencies.

Smiths Station Place 3 runoff to be held in October By Will Fairless Associate Editor

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Steve Lansdon will particiapte in The Smiths Station City Council Place 3 runoff election. Kamarcus Adkins, the second candidate, could not be reached for comment. The runoff election will be held on Oct. 6. Lansdon has lived in Smiths Station since 1965, when he was 10 years old. He has been married to Susan Lansdon for 47 years; they have four children and seven grandchildren. He is a graduate of Troy University, worked for Southeastern Freight Lines as a Regional Fleet Service Manager for 37 years and is now working at Penske Truck Rental in Columbus. “I want to make SS a better place to live by giving our children and grandchildren opportunities for their future,” Lansdon wrote in an email to the Observer. “By bringing diversified companies (jobs &revenue) to the city this would help us finish our sewage system. My goal is to prepare the city for future grow for our children.” He added that he and volunteers are calling as many citizens as possible in preparation for the runoff election, and they are knocking on more doors than they did for the initial election. According to a release from the City of Smiths Station, Adkins graduated from Russell County High School and attended Southern Union State Community College. He has more than two decades of experience in food service at the managerial level. He has previously volunteered with several local, state and national political campaigns.

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Courtesy of the City of Opelika he City of Opelika is working to make the intersection of Sportsplex Parkway and West Point Parkway near I-85 safer for travelers. City leadership is aware that there have been a number of crashes and many near-misses at this location.

The city has recently installed a caution light and is waiting on Alabama Power to provide power. In addition, the city is in the process of installing rumble strips in both stop lanes approaching West Point Parkway. Opelika Police Department will have an increased presence near this intersection.

“We’d like people to approach this area with caution. We know it is dangerous and we are working to remedy the situation. We are currently working with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to receive approval to install either a traffic signal or roundabout. This process

will take a few months. We’re concerned about safety today and ask people to slow down and drive safely,” said Mayor Gary Fuller. Attached is an aerial view of the intersection. If you have questions or concerns, contact Scott Parker, City Engineer, at 334-705-5450.

FLOWERS>>

This money was sent to the states to pay for expenses incurred from the coronavirus epidemic. That is a lot of money, and it did not take lawmakers and the governor’s office long to start salivating and feuding over the use of the pandemic relief manna from Heaven

from the good old debtor Uncle Sam. Indeed, the fight over the windfall money caused quite a brouhaha between Gov. Kay Ivey and the Legislature. It is a natural spat because it is a gray constitutional interpretation of power between the Legislative Branch,

which is given the power to appropriate money, and the Executive Branch, which administers state government. The Cares Act of 2020, which appropriated a total of $105 billion, of which Alabama received $1.8 billion, is different from the federal

FROM B9 amount of red ink that the federal government is stacking up is staggering. The federal government with the printing of new money sent over $1.8 billion to the state in the 2020 Cares Act bailout.

bailout funds during the Great Recession. The relief money for this year cannot be used to aid in current or long-term expenses. It can only be used for expenses directly related to the coronavirus. We are in the waning days of the census count. If you have not been counted, be sure

you are. 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.

B12 September 30, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICES IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA FAMILY COURT DIVISION: DOMESTIC RELATIONS IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF: ANDREW BELL vs. THOMASINA BELL, Defendant. Civil Action Number DR2017-900408 NOTICE OF DIVORCE ACTION THOMASINA BELL, Defendant, whose whereabouts is unknown, must answer ANDREW BELL’S complaint for divorce and other relief by October 30, 2020, or thereafter, a judgment by default may be rendered against her in Case No. DR-2017- 900408, Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama. Done the 4th day of September, 2020. Mary Roberson, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lee County. /s/ Margaret Y. Brown Margaret Y. Brown 214 North College Street Auburn, Alabama 36830 (334) 821-6944 Attorney for Plaintiff Legal Run 09/09/20, 09/16/20, 09/23/20 & 09/30/20 --------------INVITATION TO BID 20036 Sealed bids for the construction of the Bypass Pump Installation – Uniroyal Lift Station shall be received at the Opelika City Hall in the old Council Chamber, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2 pm local time on October 26, 2020, 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 §348-1, 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(b) requires

all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number. Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid envelope. No proposal will be accepted from anyone except a qualified Contractor licensed by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors. State of Alabama License Number must be written on the outside of the envelope. All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/or permits required by applicable law, rule or regulation for the performance of the work. Copies of Bidding Documents may be obtained from ESG Engineering - contact Margaret Hildebrand at mhildebrand@esgengineering.com to procure Bidding Documents and to be added to the Bidder’s List (required to bid on project). Digital documents will be provided at no charge and hard copies will be provided upon non-reimbursable payment of $200. The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika. All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted. A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid. Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities. Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: Bypass Pump Installation – Uniroyal Lift Station 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 Legal Run 09/16/20, 09/23/20 & 09/30/20 --------------NOTICE OF CIVIL LAWSUIT IN UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA TO: SLOCUMB LAW FIRM, LLC AND MICHAEL W. SLOCUMB This is to notify you that

Civil Action No. 3:18-cv00145, entitled Eugene Scalia, Secretary of Labor, United States Department of Labor v. Slocumb Law Firm, LLC and Michael W. Slocumb is currently pending in United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. Claims against the Defendants include the allegations that Defendants violated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 201, et. seq., by failing to compensate employees working over 40 hours in a workweek at a rate of at least one and one-half times the employees’ regular rate and for failing to comply with the recordkeeping requirements of said Act. The Complaint seeks back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages for each affected employee for a period of two years prior to the filing of the lawsuit until final judgment of this matter, and further seeks injunctive relief against future violations of said Act. You are hereby notified that you are required to answer the claims against you within thirty (30) days of the last publication of this notice. The last date of publication of this notice will be October XX, 2020. Failing to answer or plead in response could result in the entry of a default judgment against Defendants for the relief sought. Jeremy K. Fisher JEREMY K. FISHER Senior Trial Attorney United States Department of Labor 61 Forsyth St. SW, Room 7T10 Atlanta, GA 30303 Legal Run 09/23/20, 09/30/20, 10/07/20 & 10/14/20 --------------IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARY JANE HUMPHRIES, Deceased PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO. 2020-356 Letters testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 17th day of September, 2020, by the Honorable 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 the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. M. Clayton Humphries, Jr., Executor Legal Run 09/23/20, 09/30/20 & 10/07/20 --------------Victoria Rodgers, whose whereabouts is unknown,

must answer David Toxey, Jr.’s Petition for Modification of Custody and other relief by October 16, 2020, or thereafter, a judgment by default may be rendered against her in Case No. DR-2009-476.02, Circuit Court of Lee County. Done this 13th day of September, 2020 MARY B. ROBERSON, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lee County Shane Neese 501 Geneva Street Opelika, AL 36801 Attorney for David Toxey Jr. Legal Notice 09/23/20, 09/30/20, 10/07/20 & 10/14/20 -------------LEGAL NOTICE In accordance with Chapter 1, Title 39, Code of Alabama, 1975, notice is hereby given that Sports Turf Company DBA Sports Track Company, Inc. Contractor, has complete the Contract for Project 19-14 Beulah Park construction at 11099 Lee Road 379, Valley, AL 36854, County of Lee, For Lee County, Owner(s), and have made request for final settlement of said Contract. All persons having any claim for labor, materials, or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify Sports Turf Company, Inc. 1487 Black Dirt Road Whitesburg, GA 30185 Legal Run 09/23/20, 09/30/20, 10/07/20 & 10/14/20 ________ IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF: THE ESTATE OF RICKEY EARL CARROLL, deceased. Case No.: 2020-360 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Terry Carroll on the 17th day of September, 2020 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. TERRY CARROLL Bill English, Probate Judge Legal 09/23/20, 09/30/20 & 10/07/20 ________ IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF SCOTT MICHAEL PERRY, Deceased. CASE NO. 2020-013 NOTICE TO FILE CLAIMS

TAKE NOTICE that Letters of Administration, having been granted to Amy L. Perry, as Administratrix of the Estate of Scott Michael Perry, deceased, on the 10th day of September, 2020, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against the said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. Amy L. Perry Administratrix Legal Run 09/16/20, 09/23/20 & 09/30/20 ________ STATE OF ALABAMA LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT CASE NO. 2020-317 ESTATE OF WILLIAM ARCHIE REACH, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR Letters of Administration of the Estate of William Archie Reach, deceased having been granted to Dana Renee Reach this 11th day of September 2020, by the Honorable 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 the law or the same will be barred. Dana Renee Reach, Personal Representative Jeffery A. Hilyer 334-745-2564 Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, AL 36803-0030 ________ IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA In the Matter of: Edward Franklin, an alleged incapacitated person TO: Tommy Lee Franklin, Betty Jean Franklin and any interested party: Lee County DHR has filed a Petition to appoint a Legal Guardian for the person of Edward Franklin. It is ordered that the Wednesday the 14th day of October, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. be appointed a day on which to hear such petition, at the Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th St. Opelika, AL at which time all persons interested can appear and contest the said petition if they deem it proper. Done this the 14th day of September, 2020. Bill English Probate Judge Margaret A. Mayfield Attorney for Lee County DHR Post Office Box 809

Opelika, AL 36803 (334) 745-0333 Legal Run 09/16/20, 09/23/20 & 09/30/20 _____ SYNOPSIS OF ZONING NOTICE The City Council of the City of Opelika will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Opelika Municipal Court Building, 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map of the City of Opelika by rezoning or redistricting the parcel of land hereinafter described so as to change such parcel from one class of district to another class of district, as follows: From a C-2, GC-P District (Office/Retail, Gateway Corridor-Primary Overlay District) to a C-3, GC-P District (General Commercial, Gateway Corridor-Primary Overlay District), the parcel of land hereinafter described: Parcel-1B, Harley-Davidson Subdivision, according to and as shown by map or plat of said subdivision of record in Plat Book 26 at Page 6 in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama. The above-described property contains 4.0 acres, more or less, and is located at 1201 Fox Run Parkway (formerly the Harley-Davidson Dealership), Opelika, Alabama. Public Notice of this public hearing with insertion of the proposed ordinance was first published on September 23, 2020, in the Opelika Observer. This notice is given pursuant to Section 11-52-78 Code of Alabama (1975). All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing and be heard. Written comments concerning the above matter may be mailed to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 390, Opelika, AL 36803 at any time prior to the public hearing and may be further submitted to the City Council at the meeting and the public hearing. Please contact Kevin Rice, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334-705-2083 two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to any disability. THIS NOTICE is given under my hand this the 24th day of September, 2020. /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal Run 09/30/2020 _____

PUBLIC NOTICES, See page B13

LOCAL CLASSIFIEDS ADS HELP WANTED HCV Specialist The Opelika Housing Authority (OHA) has a full-time opening for Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Specialist. Successful candidate would process new applications for the HCV program, when open. Conduct annual re-ex-

aminations in accordance with established procedures. Enter information in computer and process new admissions or recertification, including verifying income and other data in accordance with established procedures and regulations. Maintain electronic files and records. Receive information from

residents, verify, and make interim adjustments based on the information. Schedule appointments for annual re-examinations, generate appointment letters and conduct interviews. Take appropriate action based on information received. Associate Degree in business or related field plus 2 years

of work experience that involved dealing with the public and using a computer, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in Housing Choice Voucher Program or HUD housing, preferred. For further details, job description can be found at www.opelikaha.org. Inter-

ested applicants must submit a completed Employment Application with qualifications to ravery@opelikaha. org or to Human Resources, Opelika Housing Authority, 1706 Toomer Street, Opelika, AL or mail to P.O. Box 786, Opelika, AL 36803-0786. Applications accepted until the position is filled. (Please

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B13 September 30, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICES FROM B12 IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA In the Matter of: Edward Bernnick, an alleged incapacitated person TO: Any interested party: Lee County DHR has filed a Petition to appoint a Legal Guardian for the person of Edward Brennick. It is ordered that the 27 day of October, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. be appointed a day on which to hear such petition, at the Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th St. Opelika, AL at which time all persons interested can appear and contest the said petition if they deem it proper. Done this the 22 day of September, 2020. Bill English Probate Judge Margaret A. Mayfield Attorney for Lee County DHR Post Office Box 809 Opelika, AL 36803 (334) 745-0333 Legal Run 09/30, 10/07 & 10/14/2020 _____ NOTICE OF COURT PROCEEDING CASE NO. DANNY LAWRENCE NEESE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary Distribution In the Estate of DANNY LAWRENCE NEESE, deceased Notice is here by given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office by Rita R. Novotny on September 24, 2020 purs uant to Section 432-690, Code of Alabama and that 30 days after the notice of publication hereof and pursuant to law the Cout1 shall be requested to enter an Order directing Summary Distribution of the estate of said decedent. BILL ENGLISH, PROBATE JUDGE Legal Run 09/30/2020 _____ NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF JOHN NGUYEN, Deceased PROBATE COURT, LEE COUNTY CASE NO. 2020-355 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENT ARY of the Estate of JOHN NGUYEN are hereby granted to Toan Nguyen, on the 18th day of September, 2020, 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. TOAN NGUYEN Legal Run 09/30, 10/07 & 10/14/2020 _____ IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY ALABAMA In the Matter of the Estate of CHARLOTTE ANNE WARD, Deceased NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR AND NOTICE TO FILE CLAIMS Letters Testamentary of the Estate of CHARLOTTE ANNE WARD, deceased, having been granted to the undersigned on the 28th day of July, 2020 by the Honoroable Bill English, Judge of the Probate of said County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate, are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law, or the same will be barred. VIKKI HENDRICKS, Executor Legal Run 09/30/20, 10/07/20 & 10/14/2020

Lee County Voters League to hold virtual meeting on Oct. 5 Courtesy of the Lee Co. Voters League

The Lee County Voters League and Youth Organization will hold their ‘First Monday’ monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Oct. 5. The October meeting will address plans for the Nov. 3 general election under the current, difficult circumstances. Zoom meetings have been established for use until in person/corporal meetings may resume again after the Covid-19 threat has passed. Those wanting to participate are asked to log into zoom starting at 5:40 p.m. to ‘queue in’ so meetings can promptly begin at 6. p.m. Meeting ID: 848 3205 1053 Passcode: 861033 For those who prefer to participate via phone, the contact number is 1+312-626-6799. For more information visit (lcvotersleague.com).

RECEPTION>> FROM B9 can do.” She, like Lovvorn, said she’s been able to work with businesses during this tough time. One of Wood’s major projects has been ‘Exton’s Law,’ which will allow individuals to be placed on the donor list when they might not have been able to before. Secondly, and more recently, she asked for a bill that will not allow businesses to keep a patron’s money if

they do not have change due to the change shortage. Randy Price State Senator Randy Price, District 13, was supposed to attend the event but was warned by his doctor not to attend large gatherings as he recovers from the coronavirus. He did provide a letter that Opelika Chamber President Ali Rauch read. “It is a privilege to serve as a senator to District 13 which includes a portion of Opelika, as well as four

other counties,” Price said in his letter. “As you know the 2020 legislative session was showing great promise until it was abruptly shortened due to COVID-19 quarantine. So let’s address the 2021 session.” His letter said that the session will look at the Rebuild Alabama Plan, such as the expansion of Exit 62. “Lee County is growing and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to serve you,” Price said.

RAUCH>> FROM B10 for the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. He is currently the Vice President of the Community Foundation of East Alabama. Rauch is incredibly active in the Opelika community, where he serves on the Board of Directors for the Opelika Kiwanis

Club, a Board Member & Programming Chairman for Opelika’s Top 20 Under 40 Leadership Program and a Board Member & Secretary for the Museum of East Alabama. Rauch is a graduate of Opelika’s Top 20 Under 40 Leadership Program, Leadership Lee County, Opelika Citizens Police Academy (CPA) and Lee County’s Community Emergency Response

Team (CERT). Rauch also serves as a representative for the City of Opelika on the Metropolitan Planning Organization – Citizens Advisory Committee (MPO-CAC) with the Lee-Russell Council of Governments. For more information, visit www. ToddRauch4Opelika. com, www.facebook.com/ ToddRauch4Opelika, or call 334.610.1750.

B14 September 30, 2020

Like crossword puzzles? Sudoku? Play online at www.opelikaobserver.com/puzzles/

B15 September 30, 2020

Opelika holds third town hall meeting By Will Fairless Associate Editor

The city of Opelika held the final town hall meeting in its series of three, this third titled “Improving Community Relations.” It was held in the municipal courtroom on Thursday, Sept. 24 in front of in-person attendees and an audience tuning in to the city’s Youtube channel. The six-person panel that discussed this meeting’s topic of community relations comprised the following: Mayor Gary Fuller; Leigh Krehling, Community Relations Officer; Taylor McAllister,

STORM>> FROM B9 were concerned that this could place liability on the county, however, based on a section that Probate Judge Bill English pointed out. The commissioners asked Smith to work with County engineer Justin Hardee to determine if it would be cheaper to have the board do the inspection or find an outside party. Barrett-Simpson, Inc.

Re-Elect Re-Elect

Community Relations Coordinator; Laura Leigh Chesser, PR Coordinator for Parks & Recreation; Rosanna McGinnis, Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library; Captain Shane Healey, OPD. The Opelika City communications department started in 2016 with one employee, Krehling. Originally, it published a newsletter, among very few other things. Four years later, the department has doubled in size (Krehling recently hired McAllister) and is putting out more robust content via enhanced channels, such as new and larger social media

accounts. “Our goal is to push out timely, accurate information, and be the gap kind of between the public and the government,” Krehling said. “We are here to try to help build relationships and build trust. We feel pressure on a daily basis to do that.” Instead of blindly putting out a lot of information, Krehling thinks the communications department should tailor what it puts out to the people’s needs. The best way for individuals to hear about the specific kinds of information they want is to go to the city’s

website and navigate the “notify me” page (opelika-al.gov/list.aspx). On this page, one can sign up for either email or text notifications in a wide range of categories, including: activity/event cancelations, road closure alerts, weather alerts, bid postings and alerts for changes to the calendars of any of the city departments. According to a survey conducted by the city, most Opelikians get their information from the city’s social media (as opposed to from the newsletter or website). The city’s Facebook page is used the most and features several

posts each day, including links to news stories and press releases. It’s Twitter page provides severe wreck and traffic updates and links to updates on the website. The Instagram is the newest medium for the city and is used for weekly pictures, graphics, updates and announcements. The Youtube channel is barely older than the Instagram (both were created this year) and contains live and recorded videos of meetings and events. There is overlap and redundancy among the city’s media, so any one of them provides plenty of city information.

Mayor Fuller pointed out that citizens of Opelika, in upholding their end of communication, should contact the city’s departments directly. He alluded to a Facebook post complaining about a downed tree in an Opelika street. “It was a whole big rigmarole,” Fuller said. “If he’d have picked up the phone and called my office, we’d have had it taken care of quickly.” The city’s communications office is located at City Hall (204 S 7th St.). Krehling can be reached at lkrehling@ opelika-al.gov and McAllister at tmcallister@opelika-al.gov.

was chosen as a private party to complete the inspections and this decision was communicated to commissioners on Monday. “They’ve agreed to provide the verification services as outlined in the requirements so that the citizens will be able to receive the maximum reimbursement for the shelters that they must pay for upfront,” Hardee said. Two weeks prior Smith had informed the commissioners that the

cost of hiring an outside party would cost the county $46,000. “After several discussions with state EMA, they have agreed to reimburse the shelter grants that are not approved yet, that are in the FEMA queue,” she said Monday. The county will be responsible for $19,200, Smith said. The county may also receive some other reimbursements. Federal Election Absentee Lawsuit: Probate Judge Bill

English gave an update on the federal court case that involved Lee County concerning absentee elections. A couple months back, Lee County learned it had been named, along with the absentee election manager, as defendants in a federal court case. The absentee election manager stepped down from the position at that time. Since, English has been in court for the case. “Lee County as a

defendant settled in the federal election litigation on the last day of trial,” he said. “We got a very favorable settlement. It will not be an order entered by the judge. It was a settlement agreement; it will remain confidential.” There will be three Saturdays in October to allow for absentee voting. The Smiths Station office will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 10, the Auburn satellite office will be open from 9 a.m. to 1

p.m. on Oct. 17 and on Oct. 24 the Lee County Courthouse will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in October, the courthouse will close at 6:00 p.m. instead of 4:30 p.m., as well. “That’s frankly probably a good thing, probably needs to be done anyway,” English said. “We have just broken the record for the most absentees in a presidential general election and we’re a month out.”

DAVID

CANON CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL Ward Ward 55

VOTE OCTOBER 6TH

Paid for by Friends of David Canon, 405 Winterburn Av, Opelika, Alabama 36801

As I look back on the lessons that I learned over several weeks of knocking on doors, phone calls, fb messages, emails and texts as I campaigned for the Opelika City Council Ward 5 seat the most important of these lessons is the need for steadfast, invested and available leadership in our ward. That is why I will be voting for David Canon for re-election in the run off on October 6th, 2020. When I decided to run for the Ward 5 seat last year I sat down with David and spoke with him about how I felt... my words were, “David I am not running against you, I am running for the seat”. I felt like it was time for me to put some issues out in front of the city of Opelika and its council government. Issues like smarter zoning, community policing, conservative budgeting, and transparency and I feel as though I was successful in this endeavor. I also feel that David Canon has proven over the years to be steadfastly behind these issues also. David is a lifetime resident of Opelika and I believe he exemplifies what the city of Opelika is all about, a city that remembers it’s past and is building for it’s future. I will vote for David with the future of the City of Opelika in mind as I do so. David’s experience as a councilman and Planning Commission member is invaluable and it was going to be that experience that I had planned to tap into if I had been elected. David has been an integral part of the growth of our city as is evident by the accomplishments that have taken place in this city over the past ten years and will continue to work hard for ward 5 and the rest of the city. In closing, I hope and pray that you will join me in re-electing David Canon as the Ward 5 representative for the Opelika City Council. Sincerely,

Charles E.Adams

B16 September 30, 2020

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