Opelika Observer - 1-30-19 E-edition

pelika O Observer

Vol. 11, No. 17

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Opelika, Alabama

“By local people, for local people.”

Rick Hagans of His Place seeking new building for downtown ministry

By Morgan Bryce Editor The search is on for a new location of the Opelika-based men’s ministry “His Place,” following more than 30 years of serving the needs of broken and homeless individuals from its location at 1415 2nd Ave.

Pastor Rick Hagans, founder of both His Place and umbrella organization Harvest Evangelism, said the ministry will continue operating His Place’s rural facility while they seek to find a new location.

“We want people to know that His Place is not closed down …

Dr. Mark Neighbors speaks at ‘Business over Breakfast’ event

we just lost this one location. We are still operating the other location of His Place at ‘The Farm,’ which currently houses 25 men as well as the Hosanna Home for women up in Lafayette,” Hagans said.

“Our goal, however, is to not lose our down-

Neighbors

By Michelle Key Publisher

See Hagans, page A12 Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Community shows love, support to local family Special to the Opelika Observer

account created Jan. 22, 168 donations totaling nearly $9,400 were raised to help the family cover expenses, shattering the original goal of $5,000.

"On behalf of the Park family, I would like to thank all of you that contributed to this cause. We have been in touch with the family and they have decided they will use the donations to go towards monthly bills and everyday expenses due to James taking a

Residents of the Auburn-Opelika area rallied behind James and Kerri Park following their daughter Elizabeth's passing Jan. 21 after a courageous battle with cancer.

James is a 20-year Marine veteran and member of the Auburn Police Department and Kerri is a stay-at-home mother to four other children.

Photo special to the Opelika Observer Through a GoFundMe

Project Uplift holds awards ceremony

By Tyler Roush For the Opelika Observer For 45-plus years, Project Uplift has provided role models to the children of Lee County.

The program, with a goal of deterring children from delinquency by providing a positive connection with volunteers, honored its senior volunteers Tuesday morning in recognition of National Mentoring Month.

Six awards were given to current volunteers and volunteer teams that have been with the program the longest.

Program coordinator Chris Nunn, who said that a majority of volunteers come as students from Auburn University, added that volunteers help children move down the right path.

“Our purpose is to help kids make good decisions, healthy decisions, that are going to be beneficial to them and their community,” Nunn said, “and to also help them feel good about who they are despite their circumstances and their environments that they grow up in.”

See Uplift, page A6

leave of absence from work to be with family," said page creator Kelsey Abernathy.

"In accordance with Go Fund Me Policy, I have decided to have the funds withdrawn and transferred to me.

I will then have them converted to a cashiers check, which will be presented to the family at the earliest possible moment. Again, I would like to thank you for your overwhelming generosity and may God bless you all."

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce held their quarterly Business over Breakfast meeting last Thursday morning. Chamber President Pam Powers-Smith introduced Antoine Harvis who led an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Brooke Kastner then introduced the guest speaker, Opelika City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Neighbors.

Neighbors has been working in the Opelika school system since 1991 when he began his career in Opelika as principal of Opelika Middle School, a position he served in for 10 years. He became superintendent in 2007.

Neighbors spoke of the humbling experience and satisfaction of working with a group of people that

are vitally important to the community. “We are very fortunate to be in a county that values what we do for children and the Lee County Youth Development Center is a part of that as that as well,” Neighbors said. “There is a lot of synergy and that is very important to the success of our community and teaching our children today.”

The Budget The budget for the current school year is about $55 million with approximately 41 percent of that coming from local sources.

The budget lists $12 million dollars in the reserve account, some of which is held in trusts, scholarship accounts and so forth, leaving approximately $10 - $11 million as cash reserves.

The average monthly oper-

See Schools, page A11

Spay-neuter program offers affordable healthcare for Lee County pet owners

By Morgan Bryce Editor Reducing the number of unwanted animals in Lee County is one of the primary goals of the “Spay Neuter Your Pet Program,” a voucher-based program that allows citizens with incomes of $30,000 or less annually access to affordable healthcare procedures for their family pet.

Launched in 2016, the program’s concept began taking shape after District 4 Lee County Commissioner Robert

Index

OPINION.....................................A4 COUNTY NEWS............................A5 SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY..............A7 SPORTS................................B1

Ham noticed an uptick of the feral animal population and influx of unwanted pets being dropped off at various places across the county.

“I talked with Dr. Buddy Bruce (of Opelika’s Animal Health Center) and he mentioned Dr. Robert Pittman in Limestone County who had faced the same problem up there. There, Pittman told us about helping start the program with $15,000 of funding from three major cities and the county itself to cover spay and neuter

CALENDAR....................................B3 LEGALS ......................................B4 RELIGION..............................B10 ENTERTAINMENT......................B12

procedures to drop the unwanted pets population numbers down,” Ham said.

Locally, Ham worked with his fellow commissioners in drawing up a similar program, which included $15,000 of funding from the cities of Auburn, Opelika and Smiths Station as well as the county to fund this venture, which the commission curates on behalf of those entities.

In order to receive a voucher qualifying them for this program, applicants must have Medicaid or proof of

a combined income of $30,000 or less. By Alabama state law, animals requiring spaying or neutering must have proof of rabies vaccination.

If approved and a voucher is received, the cost to spay or neuter is $5 for cats and $10 for dogs. Those unable to provide proof of rabies vaccination can pay an additional $12 for that procedure.

More than 700 animals were spayed or neutered in 2018, with that number expected to See SNYPP, page A6

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pelika O Observer

A2 January 30, 2019

Tax Filing Season is Open

Hagans,

from A1

Choose a preparer or software to best meet your needs

By Justin Smith For the Opelika Observer The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began accepting and processing tax returns on Monday, Jan. 28, and the deadline for filing without an extension is Monday, April 15. The fastest method of obtaining your refund in 21 days or less is to e-file your return with a direct deposit. The IRS will continue to accept paper returns (even if hand written) and send refunds in the mail, but you may be waiting months for that.

Now is the time to decided how to prepare your tax returns if you have not already done so. Will you use an online preparation software or engage a paid prepare, and what are the benefits and drawbacks of each?

Do-it-yourself tax preparation software is widely available, reasonably priced and often sufficient for less complex tax returns. Software is also typically userfriendly and will serve to help you prepare and electronically file a tax return that complies with relevant federal and state tax laws.

Professional tax preparers such as Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are accounting professionals who typically possess at least an undergraduate degree (and often a graduate degree) in

Smith accounting or a related field, have studied for and passed the extremely rigorous CPA exam and have significant experience in the field. Most importantly, CPAs will generally work with you year after year so they will better understand your unique tax situation and be in a great position to help you prepare for the future, rather than simply file a tax return.

Enrolled Agents (EAs) are also professional tax preparers who have passed the EA examination and are recognized by the IRS. EAs typically focus on tax preparation.

The benefit of hiring a tax professional as opposed to using a software solution comes down to three key considerations: convenience, complexity and planning. Tax professionals can make your filing experience much more convenient by efficiently preparing your tax return, helping you understand tax planning

continued its hot meal program for the homeless and shut-ins until early January this year.

While preparing to move, Hagans said he and staff pored through paperwork and was able to estimate that more than 3,000 men had passed through the facility.

According to Jeffrey Williams, one of those 3,000 men and a graduate from the ministry’s yearlong residential discipleship program, the program helped him steer away from his addictions and renew his relationship with his family.

“I’ve got a relationship with my family now that I never had before. Before I came into the program, I wasn’t even allowed on my mother’s property and now I go every other weekend to visit with her and my kids … being a part of this (ministry) is one of the best things that ever happened to me,” Williams said.

Reflecting on the last 30 years, Hagans said there are abundant memories being left behind, both good and bad, but remains optimistic for the future of the ministry moving forward.

“Years ago, one of my board members told me something he read somewhere that went, ‘God didn’t call you to be successful, He called you to be faithful.’ And so the truth of the matter is, to the best of our ability, we have been faithful to Him,” Hagans said.

For more information, updates or to donate, like and follow their Facebook page or visit www.harvestevangelism.org.

town presence. Our hope, our dream, our plan is to find another building in this general vicinity … because there is still a prevalent amount of homelessness that exists in our area.”

Hagans founded His Place in 1986, and moved into the building on 2nd Avenue in the late 80s. Previously a Dr. Pepper bottling plant, the facility was transformed by Hagans into a Christian community center that featured an arcade, bandstand and coffee shop geared toward youth.

Later, he said he realized that his ministry could meet a larger community need.

“We’d have people come hear the concerts, and they would stay around and we would feed them and start talking to them and they’d tell you that they were living in the woods across the street or living in a drug-filled house which was problematic for them. So, we began letting some of them stay here for the night after everybody left,” Hagans said.

This was the start of His Place serving as a homeless shelter, and by 1991, had completely morphed into the ministry that exists today.

In August 2016, an inspection by a state fire marshal revealed that the building’s fire sprinkler system was severely outdated and not up to state codes, forcing Hagans to close the entire facility except for its kitchen, which

consideration and be better prepared for future changes, and addressing complicated issues that you may be unsure of.

I often advise taxpayers that using tax software vs. hiring a professional has nothing to do with income, and everything to do with complexity. Many taxpayers find they no longer want to pursue the do-it- yourself route if they purchase a home, start a small business, invest in rental real estate, get married, have children, buy and sell stock, live in one state and work in another, and when they encounter a large tax bill after experiencing a combination of these items.

If you are ready to hire a tax professional, consider a number of important items: qualifications, reputation, fees, experience, customer services, trust, and overall fit.

Each situation and taxpayer are completely unique, so avoid “one size fits all” services, and do your homework before selecting a tax preparer or going it alone.

Justin Smith is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Opelika, specializing in individual and small business tax and accounting.

He can be contacted at 251-209-2579 or Justin@ JSmithCPA.net. His website is www.jsmithcpa.net

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

Publisher: Michelle Key Editor: Morgan Bryce Marketing: Doug Horn and Woody Ross Photojournalist: Robert Noles Sports Writer: Rick Lanier

w w w. o p e l i k a o b s e r v e r . c o m 216 S. 8th Street, Opelika, AL 36801 Copyright 2009. All right reserved. Opelika Observer is published weekly by Opelika Observer, 216 S 8th St. Opelika, AL 36801. Marketing mail postage is paid at Opelika, AL. USPS permit #205 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Opelika Observer, 216 S. 8th Street, Opelika, AL 36801

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OLLI at Auburn to host David Newton, Steve Flowers for ‘Wisdom Wednesday’s’ Jan. 30, Feb. 6 Special to the Opelika Observer The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University (OLLI at Auburn) will host its lecture series entitled “Wisdom Wednesday’s” on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 from 2:30-4 p.m. at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art which is located at 901 S. College St. in Auburn.

OLLI members, guests and friends are all invited to learn more about OLLI at Auburn course offerings, social engagements and initiatives.

On Jan. 30 David Newton will provide OLLI at Auburn with a presentation entitled “The Economic Impact of Climate Change.”

Newton, a Mississippi native, attended the University of Mississippi where he received B.B.A., B.S., M.B.A., and Ph.D. degrees. Following military service and education at the University of Mississippi, he taught at the University of Houston and came to Auburn University in 1974.

At Auburn, he served as Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Care Systems, as Director of Continuing Education, and as Assistant Dean of the School of Pharmacy. He retired in August of 1995 and continues to live in

Auburn.

Newton’s interest in government came into focus when he returned to Ole Miss in the fall of 1962, along with James Meredith, the first African-American to attend Ole Miss. The events that followed made him much more aware of social justice, of the importance of citizen action, and of fair, honest and open government. In addition, his interest in conservation and the environment began during the countless hours spent along the bayous and in the woods near the home of his youth in northwest Mississippi. In retirement, he and his late wife Raye traveled extensively, visiting all seven continents, concentrating on natural history.

Newton is a member of several national, state, and local environmental organizations, and has been a volunteer activist for all of them and in leadership positions for some. For 11 years, on behalf of the Alabama Water Watch program at Auburn, he performed monthly chemical tests of the water in Saugahatchee Creek in North Auburn. For several years, he chaired the legislative committee of Sierra Club’s Alabama Chapter. He has also organized numerous classes on the

environment for OLLI. He organized his first of several OLLI classes on climate change in spring 2008.

On Feb. 6, author Steve Flowers will discuss his book “Of Goats and Governors” with OLLI members and guests, exploring Alabama politics-past and present.

Flowers, a Troy native, was a page in the Alabama Legislature at age 12 and worked at the capitol throughout high school. At the University of Alabama, he served in the Student Senate and graduated in 1974 with a degree in political science and history. At age 30, he was elected State Representative from Pike County. He was re-elected four times and retired in 1998 with a perfect attendance record for 16 consecutive years.

His House colleagues honored him as outstanding freshman member in 1982, most ethical member in 1988, and most outstanding member in 1992.

In 2002, Flowers began writing on Alabama politics. Today, his weekly column appears in more than 60 newspapers. In addition, his weekly radio show on Alabama politics is heard statewide on Alabama Public Radio, and he is the political analyst

for the University of Alabama Radio and TV Network.

Flowers has also analyzed Alabama politics for state, national, and international television audiences on CBS, PBS, ABC and the British Broadcasting Network.

OLLI at Auburn offers academic not for credit programs for adults aged 50 years or older through program sites at Auburn University, AUM in Montgomery and the Chambers County Public Library in Valley.

Membership includes several benefits such as participation in social engagements, our lecture series, day trips, and other programming initiatives.

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

OLLI administrative offices and select classes are located at the historic Sunny Slope property which is located at 1031 S. College St. in Auburn.

For more information regarding this event or if you would like to assist the organization as a volunteer faculty member, volunteer service assistant, or sponsor, call Ileeia A. Cobb, Ph.D., OLLI Director, at 334-844-3105, email olli@auburn.edu , or visit www.olliatauburn. org.

Robert Dumas named Chairman of Auburn Bank's Board of Directors Special to the Opelika Observer Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. announced the election of Robert W. Dumas as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and its subsidiary, AuburnBank.

Dumas was appointed president and chief executive officer of the company in 2017. He has been president and chief executive officer of the bank since 2001, when he was also elected as a Company director. Dumas has

been employed by the Bank in various positions since 1984, and became a director of the Bank in 1997.

Anne May, the company’s lead outside director, praised Dumas’ leadership.

“We are confident that Bob will build off the company’s strong record of performance and continue to uphold the company’s legacy of service to the community. His institutional knowledge, focus on customers, and record of service will be essential as

he executes the company’s strategy.”

“I appreciate the confidence the board of directors has placed in me and I am honored to work with such a dedicated group of officers and employees. I am excited about the future and look forward to the company’s continued success.”

About Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. The company and the bank are headquartered in Auburn and have total assets of nearly $809 million. The bank

has operated continuously since 1907.

The bank conducts its business in East Alabama, including Lee County and surrounding areas.

The bank operates eight full-service branches in Auburn, Opelika, Valley, and Notasulga. The bank also operates a loan production office in Phenix City, Alabama.

Additional information about the Company and the Bank may be found by visiting www. auburnbank.com.

A3 January 30, 2019

Will Punxsutawney Phil find his shadow this year?

By Beth Pinyeard For the Opelika Observer With January coming to end later this week, that can mean only one thing - Groundhog’s Day is around the corner!

Groundhog's Day is celebrated every year on the second day of February. The official groundhog lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. His name is Punxsutawney Phil.

According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow (the day is bright and sunny) there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow (the day is overcast), there will be an early spring.

On Feb. 2, Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his burrow at Gobbler's Knob-in front of thousands of followers from all over the world-to predict the weather for the rest of the season.

One thing children love to do is to act like an amateur meteorologist. Have your child, as young as three years old, look outside and predict what they think the weather will be like that day. This can make for early morning conversational learning and using appropriate thinking skills as children take what they have learned to decide what clothes they need to wear that day or do I need an umbrella.

Children at home and in the classroom love to be weather helpers. They love to look outside and draw what the weather looks like. Children love to study the different shapes of clouds such as cumulus which look like cotton candy, cirrus clouds which look feathery, and stratus clouds which are black and gray. An all-time favorite children love to do is to make out shapes out of clouds.

You would be surprised at how creative your little one is!

Children love to observe and learn about different kinds of precipitation of rain, sleet, snow and hail. Children love to

do experiments with evaporation by wetting a surface like a blackboard and watch the water disappear.

They wonder where the water disappears!

This gives the parents the opportunity to talk about the water cycle in which water drops evaporate in the air and go up into clouds to make different forms of evaporation which falls back to the earth.

Outside thermometers are valuable teaching tools of how cold or hot it is in degrees.

Going back to our groundhogs, you can explain hibernation.

Ask your young child what they like to do when winter comes and weather becomes really cold? We go on with our business despite how cold it is outside but many animals choose to stay home and sleep through the entire season. We call this hibernation. Bears, groundhogs, frogs, turtles, bats, snakes, etc. all hibernate.

When talking about shadows, young children love Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem on “My Shadow.” I remember how much I loved this poem. Children love to act this out and they will want you to read it over and over! Simply turn off the lights and get a flashlight out to create hours of fun!

“My Shadow” by Robert Louis Stevenson: I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.

He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow, Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow; For he sometimes shoots up taller like an India-rubber ball, And he sometimes goes so little that there’s none of him at See Phil , page A8

A4 January 30, 2019

T

Serendipity

here is a restaurant in New York City, right in the heart of the theater district, called Don’t Tell Mama.

It is dark and atmospheric, and the gravy they serve on their mashed potatoes is good enough to make an Alabama girl lick her plate. Yes, I’ve done that … and I’m not ashamed.

There are even a few pictures to document that moment. Any time someone mentions New York to me, it is that table in the corner of this hidden gem that always comes to mind first.

The plate-licking incident was just over three years ago - a cold Friday night. And with the impeccable timing the universe has, our singing waiter approached the table just as my tongue touched the plate. “May I get you another serving, ma’am?” he asked.

“Oh, no. I’m fine, thank you.” I replied.

“Better enjoy them while you can. Tonight is the last night we offer that particular dish. It’s being retired.”

“But why?!” My voice must have risen an octave, as it always does in a case of emergency.

“All good things come to an end…” He sang the Nelly Furtado song as he whisked away our dirty dishes and returned a moment later with my second helping of the best mashed potatoes and gravy I have ever tasted.

Imagine if we’d chosen to eat there on Saturday rather than Friday! I would have never known that delicious pleasure.

It’s all about timing.

Sweet serendipity.

Following our dinner at Don’t Tell Mama, my theater-loving, teenaged children and I walked a few blocks to The Imperial Theater, our Les Miserables tickets clutched in our hands.

To say we were excited would be a ridiculous understatement. This was the highlight of our trip. Alfie Boe, who had played Jean Valjean to perfection for years

I

By Wendy Hodge

all over the world, was (and still is) one of my favorite sounds in the universe. His turn as the lead in this musical was coming to an end, and he only appeared in a couple of performances a week.

We had been told the odds of seeing him that night were slim to none, but I had hope.

We found our seats and waited for the lights to dim. I must have read the program front to back at least three times... as if Alfie Boe himself were somewhere in those words. And then an announcement was made: “There has been a change in tonight’s cast. Through a fortunate turn of events, Alfie Boe will be playing the role of Jean Valjean.”

I think I cried.

The next three hours were heavenly. Each scene, each song, each lyric were done to perfection.

In the second act, when the French revolution is at its peak, and the stage is filled with a bloody barricade behind which patriots are sleeping, the lights dimmed and the first notes of ‘Bring Him Home’ filled the theater.

Alfie Boe sat in the center of the stage, the only light in the whole place shining softly on his face. And when he sang, every soul in the room held their breath. My son squeezed my hand, and a tear ran down my daughter’s face. Musical perfection. I will never forget that singular experience.

After the last curtain call, Alfie Boe returned to the stage to bid farewell to Les Mis. We’d had the incredible fortune to see his last performance as Jean Valjean.

Divine timing. Sweet serendipity.

The truth is, that entire trip to New York was

pelika O Opinion

based entirely on fortunate timing. A year earlier, a friend of mine had shown some of my writings to his neighbor. The neighbor happened to be the editor of a newspaper in Tennessee, who offered me a bi-weekly column. By chance, that same editor had a friend who lived in New York City. And one morning, because her iPad had not charged overnight, she pulled a copy of that same Tennessee newspaper from her briefcase and read it on her way from her apartment on the East Side to her office downtown.

This friend of my Tennessee editor happened to be an editor herself… for Harper Collins. It was my column she read, and she liked it. She liked it enough to call her friend in Tennessee and ask about me. A few weeks later, my own phone rang. In a heavy New York accent, Ms. King of Harper Collins Publishing offered me a dream come true. And a few months later, I found myself signing contracts and meeting an agent in the Big Apple.

Timing of the universe? Absolutely. Serendipity? Without a doubt.

Three years and a million words later, I am preparing for another trip to New York. This time my best friend is going with me. My agent called with a surprise for us.

He managed to call in a favor and get us dinner reservations at the best seafood place in the city.

On Valentine’s Day. And the hotel he booked? They only had their finest rooms available. A balcony suite.

Sometimes the galaxy itself seems to be against you. Seemingly strong friendships fall apart.

Your grown children suffer and struggle. Your Toyota eats a Christmas tree.

And then you are handed a gift and reminded how very many gifts you have already received and continue to receive See Hodge, page A6

My Mind Is Alive

absolutely love to sit down with groups of my senior friends and learn about “The Good Old Days.”

We discuss current events, history, seasons, family, poems, etc. during our sit and chats. We laugh at many seasonal jokes as well.

As I facilitate the conversation, I glance around at some of my longtime senior friends who have a distant stare in their eyes as well as a look of confusion.

These are my precious sweet friends who have different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

How can I enrich the quality of life for my Senior friends who have dementia? As we enter February, known

By Beth Pinyerd

as a month of love and outreach, there are many opportunities for us to include our senior friends in our plans.

I quickly reflect back to the very sweet relation I had with my grandmother “Nanny,” the late Lillie Mae Jones, who was so active in her outreach of love to her family, church and community.

Nanny took time to teach me how to play the piano and sing in her home. As a child, she told me singing and music would always

lift my spirits and make me happy! Even when I have felt blue, music has been my “happy therapy.”

As a young adult, I realized my grandmother seemed to be at a distance and couldn’t remember previous conversations as she grew older.

But, the one connection I had with her was through the music she had taught me. Nanny remembered every word in the hymns we sang together. She may not have remembered my name, but she still remembered Jesus’ name.

Listen sometime to Melody Goodman’s song, sung by The Booth Brothers’ “She See Pinyerd, page A6

T

Grandma

he woman in the checkout aisle is small, white-haired. Her cart is full, mounding with Gatorade, Cheetos and ice cream sandwiches.

I love ice cream sandwiches.

She is bent at the waist, her joints are as thin as number-two pencils. She is struggling to push her cart.

I offer to unload her buggy. She thanks me and says, “Aren’t you a sweet little Boy Scout?”

A comedian, this lady.

If I am lucky enough to see old age, I will be a comedian.

She’s out of breath, leaning on her basket.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d guess her back is killing her.

“My grandkids are coming to town this week,” she says.

“Wanna make sure they have enough food.”

This explains the Mountain Dew, the Goldfish and the ice cream sandwiches.

We talk. Grandma is friendly. No. She is perfect. Dressed to the nines, hair fixed. It is nine in the morning, she is bearing pearls and ruby lipstick.

She is the American grandmother. Nineteen hundred and fifty-nine, frozen in time. The kind of woman whose lifelong occupation is to keep stomachs full while wearing match-

By Sean Dietrich

ing blouse and shoes.

When the cashier finishes scanning, the old woman thanks me.

I offer to take her groceries to the car. She tries to pay me.

No ma’am. I’d rather sell my soul to Doctor Phil for thirty pieces of silver than take your money.

I roll her cart toward the parking lot. She holds the buggy’s side.

I suggest she grab my arm. She does, and for a moment, I am ten-foot tall and Kevlar.

She has an economy Ford. The trunk is tiny. I have an idea: I ask her to let me follow her home and unload her groceries.

It’s too much. Too personal, too fast. This embarrasses her.

“No thanks,” she says. “I’ll have my grandkids unload when they get here tomorrow. My grandkids, they’re visiting me tomorrow.”

We talk more.

From what I can tell, her husband died a few years ago. She’s adjusting to life on her own, and it doesn’t suit her. There’s no reason it should.

He had pancreatic

cancer. He fought like hell for a long time.

He lost.

She doesn’t say it, but I know she eats suppers by herself, watches television alone, and probably sleeps odd hours.

She finishes our conversation by tapping her watch. “Gotta go,” she says. “Have a lot to do.”

But of course.

After all, she’s a busy woman. She probably has a milelong checklist to complete before tomorrow. And I’m glad for her.

Tomorrow, her world will light up like a Christmas tree.

Supper will be a main event. Tummies will be full. Her house will be alive with youth— kids will eat too many ice cream sandwiches.

The day will belong to her. So will the week. Granny will once again be what the Good Lord made her to be. Happy.

Tomorrow, her grandkids are coming to town.

Sean Dietrich is a columnist, and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Southern Living, the Tallahassee Democrat, Southern Magazine, Yellowhammer News, the Bitter Southerner, the Mobile Press Register and he has authored seven books.

Riding Your Thumb

H

ere’s a bit of trivia for you.

In 1937, roughly one-out-of-ten men had hitchhiked at some point in their lives.

Despite efforts by the Roosevelt administraBy Hardy Jackson tion, Depression was still on the land, and men began to calculate what looking for work were it took to get someone to standing by the road with pick me up. their thumbs out, hoping What you wore matfor the ride that would tered. take them to a job.

When in military For others, hitchhiking school, I discovered that was a matter of convefolks would pull over for nience. a guy in uniform – “give Our “farm” was about a serviceman a lift” was 12 miles west of town. for some, like my WWII During the winter when veteran father, a patriotic the pasture was brown duty. Even though my and dry, it fell to me to uniform made me look ride the school bus out more like a member of to see that the cows had a high school band than hay, sweet feed, and a soldier, drivers still such. Then I would walk stopped. Once one asked out to the highway and me what the MMI (Marhitchhike home. ion Military Institute) on Because everybody up my collar stood for, and and down the road knew I told him “Marine Milius, and we knew them, tary Intelligence.” Not I never had trouble catch- sure he believed me, but ing a ride. he did not put me out.

When I got to college After military school I it was another matter. I continued to dress neatly did not have a car and – often a coat and tie. could not expect my I learned to pick my parents to drop everyspot carefully, making thing and drive up to get sure that there was a me every time I wanted place past me where a to go home. So, I would driver could pull over. A head for the highway and location in a lower speed hitch. zone also improved your In time, other destinachances. tions beckoned and I Often it was not pos-

sible to make the whole trip with one ride, so a hitchhiker had to piece together rides to get to where they were going.

Once a trip home (Grove Hill) from Birmingham took me only as far as Monroeville. There the rides dried up and with night approaching I had no choice but to find a pay phone. Daddy drove the 30 miles to get me.

Another time I got stranded in Biloxi (a long story) and was forced to hitch home. The first ride got me far as Mobile.

There, a family from my town recognized me standing by the side of the road and stopped.

They were in a pick-up and the cab was full of parents and the kids, so they put me in the back.

About two hours later they delivered a windblown me to my Mama.

Looking back, I can say that I met some interesting people, only one of whom ever made me feel uncomfortable – not threatened, just, well, glad when we got where we were going.

You don’t see many hitchhikers today. Not sure why. Maybe because more people have cars. I’d be willing to bet that there are more twoSee Jackson, page A6

pelika O Observer

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Around Lee County

January 30, 2019

Smiths Station City Council approve new heads Auburn University to be featured in of city's parks and recreation department APT's 'Spotlight in Agriculture' series

By Morgan Bryce Editor

The Smiths Station City Council voted to name Jason Stewart and Larry Hart as the new faces of the city’s parks and recreation department during their regular meeting Tuesday night.

During the group’s work session, Mayor Bubba Copeland explained that the previously full-time position of director will be split by Stewart and Hart, with Stewart serving as the director of programs and scheduling and Hart as the manager of facilities.

“They will be working parallel, together, in these new roles. Larry will the 9-5 guy and Jason will

handle all the scheduling, planning and overseeing of parks and recreation activities. We will have a monthly meeting where we can sit down monthly and plan and figure out what needs to be done,” Copeland said.

The council also heard of membership changes on the city’s zoning board of adjustments. Shaun Ward was voted to become a regular member of the group, and Copeland noted that Alice Spengler will serve as a supernumerary member following Charles Shaw’s resignation.

In other business, the council: motioned to move the next meeting’s work session from 5:30 p.m. E.S.T.

to 5 p.m. E.S.T. approved financial statements from the environmental and general fund budgets from the month of December heard updates on the progress of the Jones Store Museum and planned veterans memorial.

The Smiths Station City Council meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, with their work sessions normally starting at 5:30 p.m. E.S.T. and regular meeting at 6 p.m. Their meetings are held within the council chambers of the Smiths Station Government Center, which is located at 2336 Lee Road 430.

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

The Lee County Voters League Secretary recorded the election results for 2019 at the Dec. 3 meeting: President - Lindsey Bickerstaff Vice President - Rev. John Pink Secretary/Treasurer - Dorothy Stringer Membership Chariman - John Harris Committee Chairman - Alberta Pink Chaplain - Carolyn Morton We thank Commissioner Harris for all his successful efforts as League President these past years increasing membership ranks, registering voters and promoting voter participation. We’re honored to have him as membership Chair for the League to continue to grow.

In closing, the Lee County Voters League ballot used on Oct 1 to determine their endorsements did not print or reflect Candidate Richard LaGrand as a Republican in any way. It has come to our attention sample ballots used on Nov. 6 incorrectly showed LaGrand as a Republican in the District 5 Commissioner race. The Voters League regrets the misprint and pray this clears all confusion.

• Voters League meetings traditionally fall on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at Bethesda Baptist Church - 201 South 4th Street, Opelika

By Jamie Anderson Special to the Opelika Observer As part of Alabama Public Television’s ongoing “Spotlight on Agriculture” documentary series, the network is producing three episodes focused on Auburn University’s forestry, wildlife and natural resources research and the industry’s importance to the state.

The episodes will air in the first three quarters of 2019, with the first episode on “Forestry” scheduled to air Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. CST. To celebrate the launch of the three-part segment of the series, Auburn’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences will host a public screening and reception for the premiere of the “Forestry” episode.

The campus-wide screening will be held at the school, located at 602 Duncan Drive, in the Conference Hall, room 1101, at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 13.

The screening is free and open to the public.

The episode trilogy will highlight the importance of forests, wildlife and natural resources to the state’s economy and quality of life.

“These programs will help Alabamians to better understand the value of our state’s abundant natural resources and the innovative research being done at Auburn to assure we manage those resources for the wellbeing and enjoyment of future generations,” said Roy Clem, executive director of Alabama Public Television.

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

Through interviews with landowners, business, government and industry representatives, the documentary series will showcase how Auburn University’s research and Extension programs serve to convey science-based information to sustainably manage those resources for the future.

During the “Forestry” episode, viewers will learn how Auburn’s research is improving timber harvesting and forestry operations, developing sustainable products from forest biomass and discovering solutions to many of today’s most critical challenges facing wildlife and natural landscapes such as drought, habitat loss, pests and invasive species.

The “Wildlife” episode, to air in the second quarter of the year, will examine Auburn’s wildlife research and partnerships with landowners, agencies and other stakeholders to aid the development of policies that will assure healthy and sustainable game and nongame wildlife populations and their habitats.

The episode will also discuss the complex relationships between land use, climate change and population growth that alter the health-related

interactions among people, animals and the environment that contribute to the presence of diseases such as rabies, Lyme disease and the West Nile and Zika viruses.

Finally, the episode on “Environment and Society,” to air in the third quarter of 2019, will discuss Auburn’s research to examine the relationships between humans and the environment as they relate to economics, policies and other organizational aspects of society.

“We are grateful to Alabama Public Television and the many organizations who participated in the series to showcase the collaborative research partnership between academia, industry and government,” said Janaki Alavalapati, dean of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences.

“This collaborative work and sharing of knowledge and resources is vital to the preservation of Alabama’s quality of life and the sustainable future of our society.”

For more information about the Alabama Public Television broadcast, visit http://aptv.org/episodes/1816735/SpotlightOn-Agriculture/ForestryManagement/.

Jerusha Adams joins Auburn's Capell and Howard law firm Special to the Opelika Observer The Auburn-based law firm Capell & Howard P.C. is pleased to welcome Jerusha T. Adams to the firm as a shareholder.

Adams graduated from Western Michigan University with

a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in 1997 and received her juris doctorate from Emory University in Atlanta. Her practice includes general litigation, appeals, employment and labor relations and health care.

Adams previously worked as an Assis-

tant United States Attorney and as Senior Litigation Counsel for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama in both the civil and criminal divisions. She has extensive federal court experience, as she is a former staff attorney for Circuit Judge

Joel F. Dubina of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, former career law clerk for Chief United States District Judge W. Keith Watkins for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, former law clerk for former

Buying or Selling?

Adams United States District

Judge Mark E. Fuller for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama and former law clerk for retired United States Magistrate Judge Vanzetta P. McPherson for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.

Adams was admitSee Adams, page A8

The Kiwanis Club of Auburn cordially invites you to a

pancake breakfast to benefit Auburn firefighters, emt’s & their families

Call:

Lisa Thrift (334) 444-8099 “I can get you where you want to be...Home” lthrift1984@gmail.com

www.thedensongroup.com

Feb. 9 from 7-11 a.m.

Auburn United Methodist Church-Epworth Center

$p5erson

137 S. Gay Street, Auburn

r pe

0 $2milies fa

pelika O Observer

A6 January 30, 2019

Uplift,

from A1 Since the program’s establishment in 1973, more than 9,300 volunteers and children have been paired together, with nearly 600 people in the program in 2016.

In its lifetime, Project Uplift has served incounty children ranging from 5 to 12 years old.

For Nunn, representing the efforts of the program’s mentors allows for the representation of the program’s success.

"It's always a wonderful privilege for us to take time out of our year to say 'Hey, we appreciate what you do for our

SNYPP,

from A1

rise this year because of a partnership with Superintendent Dr. James McCoy and the Lee County Schools system to promote the program.

Ham added that the program has also cultivated a robust relationship with the Lee County Humane Society, which

program,’” Nunn said.

Sadie Argo, a senior at Auburn University and the school’s most recent Homecoming Queen, was given the Cindy & Mike Reinke Award alongside fellow senior Sam Sturdivant as the program’s longest lasting male-female team. The pair joined the program in the summer of 2016.

Argo, separate from her time with Sturdivant, established a scholarship at Auburn University for any former child of the program who wished to attend.

While having the ability to bring a child away from circumstance, volunteers have the ability to change the lives of the children beyond the length of the program.

"Mentoring, at its core, guarantees young people that there is someone who cares about them, ensures them that they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges and makes them feel like they actually matter,” Nunn said.

As the namesake for the Tom Westmoreland University Award, given annually to a university organization or individual that has served the program with distinction, Westmoreland added that volunteers are positive influences on the community as a whole. “[The program] represents a lot of time and love that they give to the community," Westmoreland said.

has created a pipeline of animal contractors to take unwanted pets to states where animal populations are low and a pet-recovery program for pet owners whose furry loved ones have gone missing.

“We have two longterm goals for this program: first, let’s be more humane toward these animals and do the very best we can to have as few unwanted

pets in Lee County as possible. The second is to help as many of these pets who are in shelters get adopted and get that kill rate as close to zero as possible,” Ham said.

For more information about the program, contact Ham at 334-319-0691, Bruce at 334-745-0060, Dr. Gary Hunt at 334-7492025 or the Lee County Humane Society at 334821-3222.

Hodge,

from A4 on a daily basis. Parents and children who love you. A job with coworkers who are like family. A Ford Escape with actual door handles that work! Words and

Pinyerd,

from A4

still Remembers Jesus’ Name.” As children or grandchildren of parents or grandparents who have dementia, listening to this song will encourage your heart. Being around young children awaken the senses of happiness and joy with my senior friends. Both generations love music!

One thing that I have closely observed with my senior friends who have dementia is that even if their eyes are closed that their minds and motions come alive when we are singing.

The activity professionals who I volunteer with put on different kinds of music to engage and entertain the residents, to calm and uplift the moods of residents, as well as manage the stress that an elderly person may have with dementia.

Alzheimer’s and dementia destroy a person’s ability to remember experiences in a person’s life, family, and friends but the memory of music seems to survive the destruction of this disease which we are constantly searching for the reasons why these diseases occur and how to cure them.

For seniors who have different forms of dementia, for caregivers there are so many different kinds of music you can play on CD’s, Karaoke, piano, or just singing acapella.

If you are a caregiver for family members

Jackson,

from A4

stories that have become your passion. And a best friend to share the whole adventure with.

We’ve made an NYC bucket list, and on that list (right near the top) is a visit to a classic dessert destination – a restaurant named….

Serendipity. I will order chocolate. And I will lick my plate.

Wendy Hodge is an Opelika native, an empty nester and lover of all things Opelika.

She previously had a column titled A Word or Ten, which was featured in the Tennessee Star Journal and is currently awaiting release of her first novel with Harper Collins Publishing Company.

who have dementia, try to remember what their favorite songs were.

You may have to ask older family members if you don’t know.

When I am planning programs as an activity volunteer on music favorites from the past, I go to my computer and type in favorite songs from the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and beyond. The websites that come up when you do this are full of favorite “hits” from the different eras. Some websites also provide audio so you can listen to a brief sample of the tune. Lyrics to different songs are provided on the different websites too.

The library is a wonderful resource of checking out CDs, DVDs and recordings of songs from the past.

The librarians in our local libraries have been so very helpful in supplying the musical resources I need for different activity programs. Local libraries will help caregivers find what they need.

In activity programs where I have reached out to seniors, when we have birthday parties or socials we put on happy music from the past that our seniors are familiar with.

These are fun play songs that bring up significant reflections of the past to your love ones who have dementia.

Happy memory songs also encourage clapping, toe tapping and other kinds of movement for those who suffer from Dementia.

This promotes physical exercise which is

needed for good health.

Traditional folk songs like “Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Built For Two),” “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” “She’ll Be Comin Round the Mountain” and others promote group unity.

This really helps those who suffer from dementia to connect with others in singing and to have a sense of security and comfort.

When a day is winding down, choosing calm, soothing music calms dementia sufferers. In an evening program I have done, we sang every verse of “Red Sails In the Sunset” by Jimmy Kennedy and Hugh Williams.

When it is raining, we sing “Pennies from Heaven” by Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke and other calm songs from the past.

Calm songs seem to reduce a lot of anxiety that dementia sufferers face in the evening.

One truth that I hear caregivers of dementia sufferers say over and over is that their “love one is still there” and that music is one way that they can connect.

Alzheimer’s and dementia may not disappear but the quality of life can be enhanced by music.

I know that this is just “the tip of the iceberg” of help that family and caregivers who are afflicted

by Alzheimer’s and dementia can receive for their loved ones.

Something so simple as music, singing, humming, whistling can open up memories and strengthen relationships.

car families than no-car families.

Maybe the highways are to blame. Hitchhiking is prohibited on the Inter-

state. On other roads folks drive faster and there seem to be fewer places to pull off to give a guy a lift.

But mostly I think it is us. Hitchhikers have been demonized, and maybe they should be.

We have been told that it is dangerous to pick-up someone you don’t know.

On the other hand, getting into a car with a stranger doesn’t seem wise either.

Maybe it is just as well that this part of the American past is, well, past.

Would I want my son to stand on the side of the road, thumb out, waiting to see who or what might stop?

No. And I wonder if my parents would.

But back then they did.

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

Best lunch in town . . . any town

Just $5.95 includes a drink

917 So. Railroad Ave. Opelika, AL 36801 334-787-5989

1151 Opelika Road Auburn, AL 36830 334-821-3118

www.niffersplace.com dine in only, Mon-Fri 11-2

Opelika E vents, Society, & Food

UPCOMING EVENTS: Feb. 1 - Heather Pierson Trio at Sundilla Feb. 2 - Darden Scholarship Black Tie Gala Feb. 2 - Tucka James at BPEC Feb. 18 - Czech National Symphony Orchestra Feb. 23 - Empty bowls

Jerry Hart treats Hope family to signature dishes on visits to Opelika Ann Cipperly’s

Southern

Hospitality

W

Corp., Aspro Corp., Parker Hannifin Corp. and Eaton Corp.

Jerry’s work took him to countries around the world, including Europe, Germany, Australia, South America, South Africa, Russia, and many others.

While it is difficult to say which places were his favorite, he especially liked London, Rome and Paris and thought New Zealand and Australia were interesting.

He enjoyed his job and didn’t want to retire. Since retiring, he is cooking more.

Jerry’s wife Vernice, Pam’s step-mother, was

Photo by Ann Cipperly Pam Hope enjoys visits from her father, Jerry Hart, who prepares his signature dishes when he drives to Opelika from Minneapolis, Minn. Pam’s father taught her to have a love for cooking and trying a variety of cuisines. When he visits, Pam and her father have a good time cooking together for their family.

OPAC to host Czech National Symphony Orchestra Feb. 18

David Jacobs-Strain, Bob Beach headed to Sundilla Feb. 28

hen Pam Hope’s father, Jerry Hart, visits, it is a special time with plenty of superb meals.

Jerry enjoys preparing his signature dishes for Pam and her husband Jim at their home on Arrowhead in Opelika. The family gathers around the dining room table to savor his braised Lamb Shanks and roasted Cornish Hens that fill the house with amazing aromas.

Jerry visits the Hopes three times a year. He drove down from his home in Minneapolis, Minn.

Jerry has seven children, 28 grandchildren and 10

great-grandchildren, with the majority of the family in Minneapolis.

When he travels to Opelika to visit Pam and Jim, he also enjoys time with grandchildren Heather Weston, Chad Hope, Heather Glaze and Justin Halley, along with five of his great grandkids.

The family chef grew up in Peoria, Ill. After high school, he graduated from Bradley University in mechanical engineering.

Over his career, he worked as an engineer and in sales, including international sales, for the Caterpillar Tractor Co., New York Air Brake Co., Sundstrand

Special to the Opelika Observer

The Czech National Symphony Orchestra will perform at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts Feb. 18 as a part of its national tour.

Led by Conductor John Mauceri and mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, the orchestra will celebrate the legacy of Leonard Bernstein with a program of "100 Years of Leonard Bernstein."

Mauceri is a longtime

Photo special to the Opelika Observer American composer, conductor and educator.

Leonard is critically acclaimed for her performances of Bernstein repertoire, joining the orchestra in a glorious marking of the world renowned American composer, conductor, and pianist's 100th birth-

day celebration.

Tickets range in price from $25-49 can be pre-ordered by East Alabama Association for the Arts box at 334-7498105 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. or by visiting www.

See Symphony, page A8

an excellent cook and had worked at a restaurant. She and Jerry cooked together, and he learned from cooking with her. They enjoyed entertaining and would have 50 - 60 people at a Christmas or New Year’s party.

After Vernice passed away, he began cooking the meals. He enjoys cooking Cornish hens, chicken and turkey. When roasting a large chicken or turkey, he will make bread stuffing.

He cooks poultry in the oven on low temperature until tender.

While he doesn’t use a thermometer because he can tell from experience when it is done, novice cooks can use a thermometer to assure the poultry is cooked to the correct internal temperature.

For the Cornish Hens recipe, he puts a quarter stick of butter in the cavity of the hens, which he has rinsed well, to enhance the drippings. For making

gravy, he combines flour and cold water in a jar, shaking it until blended.

Then, he slowly pours it into the drippings, stirring, and brings it to a boil to thicken. He prefers a thinner gravy, so he doesn’t use a lot of flour.

For side dishes with the Cornish Hens, he uses a ricer on cooked potatoes, which he feels is easier than mashing them. For a vegetable, he steams frozen Green Giant vegetables to See Recipes, page A9

Special to the Opelika Observer David JacobsStrain, along with accomplished harmonica virtuoso Bob Beach, will bring a touch of the blues to Sundilla Feb. 28.

Jacobs-Strain is a fierce slide guitar player and a song poet from Oregon.

He is known for both his virtuosity and spirit of emotional abandon; his live show moves from humorous, subversive blues, to delicate balladry and

Photo special to the Opelika Observer then swings back to swampy rock and roll. It’s a range that ties Jacobs-Strain to his own generation and to guitar-slinger troubadours like

Robert Johnson and Jackson Browne.

“I try to make art that you can dance to, but I love that See Sundilla, page A8

Monday-Tuesday 11 AM - 3 PM Wednesday-Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM

pelika O Observer

A8 January 30, 2019

Flags for Vets reaches 300th flagpole installation this month

By Morgan Bryce Editor

More than 300 flagpoles have been installed for veterans nationwide the last two years through the efforts of Flags for Vets, a local nonprofit dedicated to honoring their service and sacrifice.

Started in January 2017

by Opelika native Jamie Popwell, Flags for Vets’ concept has received solid support nationwide, with chapters planned to open soon in New Mexico and West Virginia.

Among the latest three installations was U.S. Army and WWII veteran Thomas Bamberg, the 300th flagpole recipient; U.S. Air Force (Ret.) Master Sgt. Roger Tate and Opelika native and stand-up comedian Jody Fuller.

In a Flags for Vets Facebook post Tuesday, Popwell ran through Fuller’s years of service and accomplishments: “Major (Jody) Fuller began his service as an enlisted soldier. He entered in August 1992 and spent four years enlisted as a medic working at the Army Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl,

Germany and later with the 1st of the 17th ART stationed at Fort Sill. He was discharged as an E-4 (Specialist) but re-entered the Army, reporting to Officer Candidate School in September 2002 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. assigned to the 296th Brigade Support Battalion (3rd Brigade/2nd ID). It was the first Stryker unit in the Army. He deployed the first of three times to Iraq in Samara and Mosul in 2003-04. He left active duty and joined the Alabama National Guard in 2006 and was deployed a second time to Iraq with the 1203rd Engineer Battalion from 2007-08 and again in 2010-11 with 111th Ordinance Group in Opelika. He was discharged in 2017.

“He has earned a plethora of medals and commendations throughout his career including the Meritorious Service, Defense Service and Army Commendation medals as well as numerous campaign ribbons for his support of the War on Terror.”

For more information about Flags for Vets, visit www.flagsforvets.us.

By Morgan Bryce Editor

Photos special to the Opelika Observer

Phil,

from A3 all.

He hasn’t got a notion of how children

Symphony,

from A7

eastalabamaarts.org.

Showtime is set for 7:30 p.m.

The OPAC is located at 1700 Lafayette Parkway, across from Southern Union State Community College.

About the Czech National Symphony Orchestra Celebrating its 23rd birthday in 2016, the orchestra has gained a position among both Czech and Europe’s top symphonic ensembles. Renowned for its versatility, the orchestra annually presents a broad program ranging from classical music concerts through con-

Sundilla,

from A7

darker place, where in my mind, Skip James, Nick Drake and maybe Elliot Smith blur together.

I’m fascinated by the way that rural blues inscribes movement and transience," Jacobs-Strain said.

"The music that frees a singer keeps them

ought to play, And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.

He stays so close behind me, he’s a coward you can see; I’d think shame to stick to nursie as that

shadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up, I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup; But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant

sleepy head, Had stayed at home behind me and was fast sleep in bed.

I wonder if the Groundhog will see its shadow? The children will be watching!

temporary genre, film scores, jazz or musicals. In its new era, The Czech National Symphony Orchestra is also organizing summer Prague Proms Festival which annually attracts the audience for presenting greatest international performers.

Such composers, conductors, and performers as Ennio Morricone, Lalo Schifrin, James Morrison, Pino Donnagio, Giuliano Taviani, or Steven Mercurio repeatedly come back to Prague to either record with the orchestra in its studio or perform in the beautiful Smetana Hall of Prague's Municipal House, the home concert stage of the orchestra.

Besides concerts

in auditoriums and concert halls, the orchestra has accompanied some of the most important pop artists of our time, among them Andrea Bocelli, Sting and George Michael.

Successful tours have taken place over the British Isles, France, Germany, Spain, Dubai, Japan, Korea, China, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Among the highlights of the last concert season undoubtedly belonged the collaboration with Vince Mendoza, one of the best contemporary crossover conductors, and world renowned trumpet player Randy Brecker. On the classical field, the orchestra renewed its longtime

cooperation with Andrea Bocelli. Launched in the spring 2013, a European concert tour of Rolando Villazon has been accompanied by the CNSO. The Czech National Symphony Orchestra was established in 1993 by trumpet player Jan Hasenöhrl. A spiritual father at the birth of the CNSO was the legendary conductor Zdenìk Košler. In the year 1996, the American Paul Freeman took over as Chief Conductor, and remained in this position for fantastic ten years. At the beginning of the year 2007, Maestro Libor Pešek was named the Chief Conductor and he still remains at this position today.

on the run; there’s a crossroads where a thing can be enchanting but dangerous; damaging but beautiful.”

Jacobs-Strain began playing on street corners and at farmers markets as a teenager, and bought his first steel guitar with the quarters he saved up. Before he dropped out of Stanford to play full time, he had already

Beulah Elementary will be site of annual Lee County beauty pageant Feb. 2

appeared at festivals across the country, often billed as a blues prodigy, but he had to fight to avoid being a novelty act/ “I wanted to tell new stories, it just wasn’t enough to relive the feelings in other people’s music," Jacobs-Strain said.

Jacobs-Strain has appeared at festivals from British Columbia to Australia,

including Merlefest, Telluride Blues Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Hardly Strictly, Bumbershoot and Blues to Bop in Switzerland.

He has taught at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch, and at 15 years old was on the faculty at Centrum’s Blues and Heritage workshop.

On the road, he has shared the stage with Lucinda Williams,

Beulah Elementary will be the site of the 18th annual “Miss Auburn-Opelika Area Scholarship Pageant” Feb. 2.

This pageant serves as a preliminary contest for the Miss Alabama competition. According to their website, the winner of the Miss Auburn-Opelika Area pageant “ will have opportunities to promote the Miss Auburn Opelika Area, Miss Alabama, and Miss America Organizations at appearances throughout the cities, communities and schools. She will receive an official crown and crown pin,

a cash scholarship and a prize package from a variety of local sponsors.”

According to pageant organizer Tina Jones, the amount of contestants and scholarship amounts vary each year.

Since its inception, the pageant has been held at venues across Lee County, including Opelika Middle School, Smiths Station High School and the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts.

The pageant is slated to lst from 4-7 p.m. For more information or to see a full list of rules and requirements to enter, visit www.missauburnopelikaarea.com.

The school is located at 4747 Lee Road 270.

Photos special to the Opelika Observer

Adams,

ted to the Florida State Bar in 2000, and the Alabama State Bar in 2002.

She is married to Willie J. Adams Jr., who works as a fire and aviation specialist with the National Parks Service.

About Capell & Howard Since 1947, the attorneys of Capell & Howard, P.C. have been providing clients professional expertise coupled with an abiding commitment to client service. As a

full-service provider of legal advice and representation, its attorneys have been recognized across a wide range of practice areas, including 16 attorneys in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and five attorneys in the 2018 edition of Super Lawyers. In addition to its in-state client base, the firm serves as Alabama counsel for regional, national, and international companies.

For more information, call 334-5011540 or visit www. capellhoward.com.

Their local office is located at 3120 Frederick Road.

Boz Scaggs (more than 60 shows), Etta James, The Doobie Brothers, George Thorogood, Robert Earle Keen, Todd Snider, Taj Mahal, Janis Ian, Tommy Emmanuel, Bob Weir, T-Bone Burnett and Del McCoury.

Showtime at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is set for 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets

are $15 and can be purchased at Spicer’s Music, World Cup Coffee and online at sundillamusic. com. Admission at the door will be $20.

Free coffee, tea, water and food will be available, and attendees are welcome to bring their own favorite food or beverage.The venue is located at 450 E. Thach Ave. in Auburn.

from A5

pelika O Observer Recipes,

from A7 complete the menu.

While he also enjoys making Lamb Shanks, he didn’t have a recipe, so Pam wrote down the ingredients. He also cooks the lamb on 280 degrees in the oven until very tender. He is generous with seasonings to flavor the lamb.

He uses the au jus from the lamb for a sauce. The house smells wonderful while it is baking. Pam generally does not like lamb, but she does enjoy her Dad’s lamb with all the seasonings.

Pam and Jim have relished having Jerry visit to cook elegant meals.

They sat in the dining room to savor the meals and lingered to enjoy the time. Pam shared photos of the scrumptious meals on Facebook.

When Pam was a student at Auburn University, her father and mother lived in Germany for two years. She spent two summers with them and traveled to 13 countries. “We drove everywhere,” Pam remembers. “He would do his business work, and then we would travel.

I got to experience the cuisine of all those countries. I was always trying something different.”

Pam says her father always taught her to try any dish. “The reason I enjoy cooking so much,” she says, “is with Dad traveling so much he would come back with ideas for cooking. He taught me to try everything. You may not like it, but at least you tried it.

“That was an important lesson I learned about cooking,” she adds. “To try new foods. You might like it”.

Jerry also makes a dish he calls “Breakfast Trash” with leftover steak to serve for brunch with his specialty Bloody Mary.

He says the secret to a good Bloody Mary is to coat the rim of the glass.

He dips the rim in lemon juice and then into a mixture of lemon pepper and celery salt. He garnishes the drink with a stick of celery.

When Jerry visits family, he packs lemon pepper, garlic, salt and pepper that he prefers to use in

cooking in his suitcase.

The family looks forward to his visits and family time.

Pam, who is from Peoria, Illinois, came to this area after high school when her boyfriend was recruited as a football player for Auburn University, She decided to attend Auburn as well.

While the relationship didn’t last, Pam’s love of the area did. After graduating from Auburn, she worked at Craftmaster Printers for 19 years and other businesses and was co-owner of Southern Crossing for several years.

While Pam also enjoys cooking, she especially likes to prepare hors d’oeuvres for causal entertaining. A favorite is the flatbread pizzas prepared with rotisserie chicken and barbecue sauce.

She relies on dishes she can prepare ahead for entertaining. “I like to cook dishes that I can prepare ahead that can be popped into the oven so I can mingle with my family and friends while they are here.” She enjoys casual, spur of the moment hospitality.

Pam will place food on the kitchen counter with a stack of wooden trays; people help themselves and sit where they like.

“We like entertaining where people can come as they are and feel comfortable. I want my home to feel inviting. I think that describes our lifestyle.” In the spring, they can open the French doors in the kitchen and dining room, and guests can relax on the patio.

“I have always found that cooking is therapy,” says Pam. “I love being in the kitchen. If I am in a bad mood, I can pull out a recipe, start cooking, and in no time I am happy.”

When Jerry leaves Opelika, he is driving to Destin to visit friends. Then he will take three days to drive to San Diego to visit his son, Jay and his family, and prepare his special dishes for them. Jerry will visit Palm Desert where they have a time share before making the long drive back home to Minnesota.

Pam, Jim, their children and grandchildren are already looking forward to Jerry’s next visit in April.

Cipperly can be contacted at recipes@cipperly. com.

Food Ratings Red Clay Brewing Company 704 N. Railroad Ave Opelika Score: 100 John Emerald Distillery 706 N. Railroad Ave Opelika Score: 100 Guthrie’s 3704 Pepperell Pkwy Opelika Score: 99 Moe’s Southwest Grill 2574 Enterprise Dr Opelika Score: 99 Pizza Hut

3611 Pepperell Pkwy Opelika Score: 99 Chickchickporkpork 3810 Pepperell Pkwy Opelika Score: 96 Domino’s Pizza 1451 Gateway Drive, Opelika Score: 96 Zazu Gastropub 301 N. 8th St. Opelika Score: 95 Asian Cuisine 3750 Pepperell Pkwy Opelika Score: 83

Jerry’s Lamb Shanks 4 lamb shanks 1 can beef broth ½-1 cup red wine 1 onion, cut in half 2 potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks 2 carrots, sliced Whole mushrooms 1 clove garlic, sliced flour Lemon juice Olive oil Garlic powder Lemon pepper Basil Oregano Italian seasoning Bay leaves Salt Pepper Preheat oven to 280 degrees.

Mix a small amount of garlic powder, salt and pepper into flour.

Dredge shanks in flour mixture until well coated.

In a deep, oven proof pan, brown shanks in a small amount of olive oil; leave in pan.

Add beef broth and red wine.

Sprinkle generously with garlic powder, lemon pepper, basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Add lemon juice, bay leaf, and mushrooms.

Cook in oven 1 hour at 280 degrees.

After 1 hour, add carrots, potatoes, sliced garlic and onion (sliced in half).

Continue cooking until meat pulls from bone, and vegetables are tender (1-2 hours longer).

Remove from oven.

Remove bay leaves and serve.

Jerry’s Cornish Game Hens Thaw and clean the hens. Remove glands in the upper, inside rib cage.

Place the hens in a deep pot, breast side up.

Rub with olive oil.

Lightly apply garlic powder.

Apply lemon pepper. Salt and pepper to your taste.

Put about a quarter stick of butter in the cavity.

Bake at 280 to 290 degrees for about two hours or until the legs pull.

Make gravy with the drippings. Cut hens in half and serve with rice potatoes.

Gravy: Combine small amount of flour and cold water in a jar, shaking it until blended. Then, slowly pour it into the drippings, stirring, and bring to a boil to thicken.

Jerry’s Wild Duck Preheat oven to 280 degrees.

Put breast side up in oven-proof pan.

Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Put ½ stick of butter in cavity, and drizzle with a bit of brandy.

Put pan in preheated oven, and roast until meat pulls from bone.

While roasting, baste with butter/brandy sauce often.

Jerry’s Breakfast Trash 2 potatoes, peeled and diced 1 onion, diced Leftover steak, cubed Garlic powder, salt, and pepper, to taste Olive oil Heat olive oil in pan. Add diced potatoes and onions, and season with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cook until potatoes are soft. Then add steak, and heat just until warm.

Jerry’s Dressing (For roasted chicken or turkey) 1 cup diced celery 1 cup diced onion 8 slices white bread, toasted, and cut into cubes ½ bag of Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing Olive oil Salt, pepper, garlic powder, sage, onion flakes Remove giblets (neck, heart, liver, gizzard) from cavity of turkey or chicken, and place in a pot of water. Season with garlic, salt, pepper and onion flakes. Simmer for 3-4 hours.

This broth will be used for dressing.

In a large mixing bowl, place celery, onion, bread and stuffing mix. Add broth, and mix by hand until it has the texture of cement, adding sage to taste.

Stuff cavity of bird, and cook until desired doneness.

Add diced giblets to dressing, if desired.

Pam’s Cranberry Pinwheels 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 8 oz. crumbled feta cheese 4- green onions, chopped 6 oz. pkg. dried cranberries Four 10-inch flour tortillas Combine cream cheese, feta and green onions, and then stir in cranberries. Spread mixture evenly over each tortilla, and then roll up tightly. Place in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least an hour. Slice into rolls and serve.

Pam’s Barbecue Chicken Flatbread 1 deli rotisserie chicken (I like mojo flavored) ½ cup fresh basil or cilantro 5 oz. pkg. flatbread pizza crusts 8 Tbsp. barbecue sauce of choice 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend Preheat oven to 425. Shred chicken (3 cups). Chop cilantro or basil. Combine with chicken.

Place flatbreads on baking sheet. Spread 4 Tbsp. barbecue sauce

A9 January 30, 2019 on each flatbread. Top with chicken mixture, then 1 cup cheese on each flatbread. Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden and crispy.

Slice and serve.

Pam’s Kahlua Brownies 1 pkg. refrigerated sugar cookie dough 2 eggs, lightly beaten 19.5 oz. pkg. milk chocolate brownie mix ½ cup cooking oil 1/3 cup Kahlua or any coffee liqueur 1 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate pieces Preheat oven to 350.

Press sugar cookie dough in bottom of 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan; set aside.

In a large bowl combine the eggs, brownie mix, cooking oil, and coffee liqueur until just combined.

Spread batter over sugar cookie dough.

Sprinkle with chocolate pieces.

Bake for 40 minutes or until edges are set.

Cool in pan on a wire rack. To serve, cut into bars. Makes 24 brownies.

Pam’s Roast Beef Rolls ½ cup finely chopped walnuts, toasted 2 pkgs. party dinner rolls 2/3 cup peach preserves ½ cup mustard/ mayo blend (Dijonnaise) ¾ lb. deli roast beef, chopped ½ lb. thinly sliced Havarti cheese (I shredded mine) Slice party rolls in half, horizontally. (Do not separate rolls.)

Spread top half of rolls with preserves, and sprinkle with walnuts. Spread bottom half of rolls with mustard/mayo blend.

Top bottom half with roast beef and cheese. Cover with top half. Cover with foil.

Can freeze at this point. To heat, let thaw overnight in refrigerator. If cooking immediately, cook at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Let sit for a few minutes before cutting into individual rolls.

Pam’s French Toast Bake 1 loaf sourdough bread 8 eggs 2 cups milk ½ cup heavy cream ¾ cup sugar 2 Tbsp. vanilla Topping: ½ cup flour ½ cup brown sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. salt ½ cup butter cold, cut into pieces Cut loaf into cubes and evenly in a greased 9 x 13 pan.

In a bowl, mix together eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar and vanilla. Pour

evenly over bread.

Cover pan with Saran wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Mix together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl.

Cut in butter with this mixture until crumbly and place in a zip lock bag and refrigerate overnight.

Take pan and topping mixture out when ready to bake. Sprinkle crumbly mixture evenly over the bread.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how soft you like it.

Cut into squares and serve with maple syrup or fresh blueberries.

Pam’s Red Velvet Truffles 1 box red velvet cake mix (plus ingredients listed on box to prepare cake) 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 16 oz. white chocolate 2 oz. semi-sweet or dark chocolate Prepare 9 x 13 inch cake according to package instructions.

Let it cool completely in pan, then crumble the cake in a large bowl.

Add softened cream cheese and knead gently with your fingers until cream cheese is fully incorporated.

Roll about 1 heaping tablespoon of the mixture into balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You will get about 35-40 balls. Set in the fridge to chill.

Melt white chocolate, remove cake balls from refrigerator, and using a fork, dip them into melted chocolate. Place one ball at a time into the melted chocolate, roll the ball to coat evenly with the chocolate, then slightly tap the fork against the side of the bowl to trim the excess chocolate.

Place the truffle on the parchment paper. Set them back in the refrigerator until chocolate is firm.

Melt dark chocolate, transfer into a small bag, cut the corner off and pipe melted chocolate on top of the truffles.

Store truffles in the refrigerator.

Pimento Cheese Bacon Bites 2 boxes Athens Phyllo shells Palmetto Cheese 3 oz. Hormel Applewood real crumbled bacon Captain Rodney’s Boucan Glaze (can buy at Southern Crossing) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake shells for 3 to 5 minutes to crisp.

Stuff shells with cheese, sprinkle with bacon bits, and then drizzle with boucan glaze.

Serve.

pelika O Observer

A10 January 30, 2019

The life, legacy and impact of Opelika's Dr. John Darden

By Ann Cipperly For the Opelika Observer As Dr. John Darden began a long day of calling on patients in the early 1900s, he traveled along dusty, dirt roads throughout Opelika and the countryside. The young doctor’s wife, Maude Jean, often rode along to keep him company and would wait in the buggy while he provided medical care to his patients.

Born in 1876 in Wilson, North Carolina, John Wesley Darden was the eldest of 13 children. At 13 years old, John decided to become a medical doctor when he was unable to find a physician for his unconscious sister.

While she survived, John never forgot the

experience and had a driving determination to become a physician.

His father was the first black undertaker in the state of North Carolina and also owned a general store that sold fresh produce and his homemade wine. The community held him in such high esteem that the first black high school was named in his honor, the Charles H. Darden High School.

The Dardens were determined to give all their children an education. When John was 13, his parents sent him to high school in Salisbury, North Carolina, where he worked his way through Livingstone College (now Shaw University), and received a medical internship in Long Island, New York.

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

Since his hometown already had black medical service, John began searching for a place where his services were needed. A college friend, who was a physician in Tuskegee, recommended the small town of Opelika.

Dr. Darden moved to Opelika in 1903 and became the first black physician in a 30-mile

radius and began working 18-hour days.

For a short time he occupied a house on South Third Street, which was also used as his office. He purchased a building on Jefferson Street (later named Avenue A in 1912) where he opened a clinic and drugstore.

One of his brothers, J.B., who had recently

received a degree in pharmacy, became his partner at the drugstore.

After moving his practice, he converted the house on Third Street to an infirmary for black people where he performed surgeries.

Darden met Maude Jean Logan when his church choir was invited to perform at her church in Montgomery.

John, with his beautiful baritone voice, was the soloist, and Maude Jean, who taught school, was the pianist.

John and Maude Jean married in 1905.

Maude would make calls with her husband in his horse and buggy.

The young doctor had purchased land on Auburn Street in 1904. He hired two

black contractors who attended their church to build the two-story house in 1906 for their home.

Along with dispensing prescriptions, the drugstore sold homemade ice cream. On Sunday afternoons, many strolled down to Dr. Darden’s drugstore for his special ice cream. Vanilla and chocolate were staples, with new flavors frequently offered, including a spicy ice cream fragrant with cinnamon and nutmeg, along with fig and strawberry flavors.

After John’s mother died, his youngest brother, 9-year-old Walter “Bud” came to Opelika to live with John and Maude. Bud grew up in Opelika See Darden, page A12

You’re Invited!

8 0

9 0

The J.W. DarDen FounDaTion, inc. requesTs The pleasure oF your company aT The

Seventh Annual Black Tie Legacy Gala saTurDay, February 2, 2019

honoring

Dr. J. Dell Crosby For additional information contact Peggy Hansen at 334-663-1833 or Jeanette Peters at 334-745-6578/jeanettepeters@bellsouth.net Tickets are $100 per person. Sponsorships are: Gold - $3,000, Silver - $2,000 and Bronze - $1,000.

pelika O Observer

CEO of Girl Scouts of South Alabama, Karlyn Edmonds, visits Opelika Rotary Club last week

Special to the Opelika Observer Opelika Rotary welcomed Karlyn Edmonds to speak recently. Edmonds is the CEO of Girl Scouts of South Alabama, which includes Lee and 29 other counties. Girl Scouting is a leadership development program for girls aged 5-17 years. Ms. Edmonds noted that the Girl Scout cookie sale is going on through the second week of March. The cookie sale is Girl Scout’s primary fund raising activity. Pictured, from left: Janie Corlee (club member) and Karlyn Edmonds.

Contact: Amy Thomas Amy.Thomas@eamc.org

334-528-6191

Located in Historic Downtown Opelika

334-745-4618

School,

from A1 ating expense is between $3.2 - $3.4 million which means that the school systems has right at three months of operating expense held in reserve.

“We don’t operate out of reserve, we try not to budget out of reserve,” Neighbors said. “We generally always have an ‘in the black’ budget but every once in a while we will have something pop up.”

Teachers of the Year “As I mentioned when I opened, you’ve got to have good people, but equally important to that is giving them an opportunity to work in good places,” Neighbors said.

“I think we are very focused.

We are here to teach children and about children growing developmentally appropriately. That is our mission.”

Two important things that Neighbors said that he looks at when considering something new to introduce to the schools are: • does it add to the academic achievement of the children which ultimately adds to their success and • does it improve the quality of life of the children?

The Teachers of the Year will be recognized at the next city council meeting on Feb. 5.

Test Scores & AP Classes Opelika High School students surpassed the state average for all three of the benchmarks (English, math and science) for the ACT. “We teach standards to children, we teach a curriculum to children. We do not teach to a test. That does not prepare children for life,” Neighbors asserted.

Opelika started offering Advanced Placement classes around 14 years ago according to Neighbors. The school system offers a wide range of AP classes including AP Art. In May 2018, 51 percent of students that sat for AP exams scored a 3 or higher compared to the state average of only 43 percent. AP exam scores of 3 or higher may earn students college credits depending on the institution’s individual policy on the program.

The number of students that are taking AP classes has increased over the years with 227 out of roughly 1350

A11 January 30, 2019 students at the high school taking the advanced classes in 2018.

Career Tech Program Neighbors spoke on the Career Tech Program and the importance on teaching the children that they can have opportunities in industries to have careers, not just jobs.

“My job is not to create a pipeline of work. My job is to provide pathways so children have choices, Neighbors said.

“You want your child to have choices, but sometimes it is hard to get them to focus.”

Opelika High School offers Career and Technical Education courses in the following programs: • Agriculture • Computer Science • Culinary • Education & Training • Health Sciences • Information Technology • Marketing & Finance • Video Production Classroom Support Classroom support is an area of great focus with OCS. When the state cut funding for the reading coaches, Opelika, with the support of local revenues, was able to keep this program in place by making them instructional coaches.

Every school has them.

These individuals work with the teachers to work with the new teachers in order to help them be successful.

They help with curriculum development, instructional planning and professional development.

A few years ago, Neighbors said that they recognized that there was need to provide more detailed math coaching to ensure that teachers were able to keep up to date on new math standards. A position was created as an elementary math coach to work with the instructional coaches every week. Neighbors stated that they are looking at the possibility of doing the same thing for the reading program and will be looking to hire someone when they find the right person. “One of the things we’re realizing is that not all the universities do a good job in teaching phonetic awareness and instructional practices for phonics for kids,” Neighbors said. “We spend a lot of energy and focus on our planning to make sure that our kids and our teachers have the best chance

to be successful.”

Upcoming Vote On Feb. 19, there will be a county-wide special election for the renewal and continuation of several district school taxes. This is not a vote to increase on the current level of tax collected but to continue the tax levies throughout Auburn, Opelika and Lee County at the current rates for an additional period of 28 successive years starting Oct. 1, 2021. A mill is one-tenth of one cent, according to the Alabama Department of Revenue Tax Rate Details Opelika • 1 mill property tax shared by all of Lee County • 4 mill property tax shared by all of Lee County • 3 mill - Opelika only • 1.5 mill for Lee County Youth Development Center Auburn • 1 mill - shared by all of Lee County • 4 mill - shared by all of Lee County • 3 mill - Auburn only • 1.5 mill for Lee County Youth Development Center Lee County • 1 mill tax - shared by all of Lee County • 4 mill tax - shared by all of Lee County • 3 mill district tax - Lee County only • 3 mill district tax - Lee County only • 5 mill district tax - Lee County only • 5 mill district tax - Lee County only • 1.5 mill for Lee County Youth Development Center Neighbors invited Laura Cooper, Executive Director of the LCYDC, to speak on the importance of these taxes to the organization. “That 1.5 mills represents about 25 percent of our budget. It was renewed in 1991 and we’re on the ballot to be renewed again,” Cooper said. “If you believe in children, if you believe in the vibrancy of our community, I believe that you will go to the polls and vote for that tax.”

In closing, Neighbors briefly touched on some of the challenges that school systems across the nation are facing with teacher shortages and mental health issues being the two biggest.

The presenting sponsor of the event was Glynn-Smith Chevrolet, Buick-GMC.

pelika O Observer

A12 January 30, 2019

Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Bennie Adkins holds book signing at grand-opening event for O-Town’s new location

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

By Morgan Bryce Editor Opelikans were in for a sweet treat during O Town’s grand opening of its new location at 700

Darden,

from A10 and worked at the soda fountain.

Maude’s sister Fannie married Dr. John Clark under an arbor in their garden. Clark opened his dental office upstairs at the Darden clinic. Darden also served as a conscription doctor and treated inmates at Lee County Jail.

While his main practice was in Opelika, he also provided medi-

2nd Ave. Saturday.

Lasting from noon - 8 p.m., the event featured entertainment and activities geared for children, release of two new ice cream flavors, as well as a

book signing by Opelika resident and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins on the release of his book “A Tiger Among Us.” Owned by Chris and

Angela George, Jeff Jerkins and Craig Davis, O Town’s relocation from downtown was announced last summer. The last few months have been spent readying the building for

opening, and the shop retains its Opelika-centric aesthetic with rotating artwork from students within the Opelika City School system. They will also serve Italian ice products

through their partnership with Scoops Real Italian Ice. For more information, follow the business’s social media accounts or call 334-737-5700.

cal assistance to rural areas and Auburn. At times he consulted with Dr. Jim Bruce on some cases.

Maude cultivated a flower garden, gave piano lessons and taught Sunday school at the Thompson Chapel AME Zion Church.

She became the director of Christian education, while John was on the board of trustees for many years.

She enjoyed entertaining and having guests in their home on Auburn Street. Guests would stop by for a

cup of tea and cookies.

She was civic minded and taught young girls lessons on etiquette and manners.

The Dardens were active in both religious and social life. Prominent visitors to their home included Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver and A. G. Gaston.

As Darden became older, he began treating patients in his home. In 1944 he moved a large part of his practice to the house. Some changes were made on the house to accommodate patient visits. A section of the porch was enclosed to serve as a waiting room, and a

room inside was converted into an examining area.

He practiced for two years at his house until his death Jan. 10, 1949.

When the new black high school opened in Opelika in 1951, it was named in his honor.

The school merged with Opelika High School in 1971.

Although the Dardens did not have children, Maude Jean said later in life that teaching Sunday school for 60 years had given her hundreds of children. She continued living in the house until her death in 1976.

The house was rented for a couple of

years and then became vacant. In 1980 Darden heirs sold the house, which was later foreclosed. It stood vacant for many years.

As the house deteriorated, it was scheduled for demolition. In 1999, the J.W. Darden High School Alumni Association was organized and formed the Darden Foundation in 2001. The foundation purchased the property with donations from former Darden High School students.

After being restored, the house was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

The Darden home continues to be the site of healthcare today.

The J.W. Darden Wellness Center, located in the former Darden homestead, offers health screening and education every Wednesday from 9 a.m. - noon. A collaborative effort of the J.W. Darden Foundation, Inc., the EAMC Faith Community Nurse Program, and the Auburn University School of Nursing, the center offers expert health information free of charge.

Many things have changed since John and Maude traveled the streets in a horse and buggy. Darden’s hospital and drugstore have

been torn down and replaced with a parking lot.

However, the Dardens’ legacy and influence have continued with those who sat in Sunday school classes, were treated by a dedicated doctor and passed on stories of a couple who gave their life to improve the lives of others.

The J.W. Foundation will hold the 7th annual “Black Tie Legacy” Gala Feb. 2 at the Auburn-Opelika Marriott at Grand National.

Proceeds from the gala provide scholarships and funding for the upkeep of Darden’s historical home at 1323 Auburn St. The work of Dr. J. Dell Crosby from Auburn’s Mercy Medical Clinic to provide uninsured citizens with access to affordable healthcare will be recognized during the event. For tickets, contact Peggy Hansen at 334-663-1833 or Jeanette Peters at 334745-6578.

Sources: “Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine” by Norma Jean and Carole Darden, whose father, Bud Darden, moved from Opelika and became a physician in Newark, N.J.; The Heritage of Lee County, Alabama, the J.W. Darden Foundation and others.

& Flea Mall

CoCaCola sign look for a new find each week!

334-745-3221 • angelsantiqueandfleamall.com 900 columbus Pkwy, oPelika 36801 oPen everyday 10-7 • sun 1-5

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

OPELIKA BASKETBALL SCHEDULE •Jan 31 - Opelika v. Auburn (H) Junior Varsity - 4:30 p.m.

Varisty Girls - 6 p.m.

Varsity Boys - 7:30 p.m.

• Feb. 4 - Area Tournament Russell Co. v. Benjamin Russell • Feb 6 - Opelika v. Winner

Opelika School Board recognizes 2018-19 'OCS Teachers of the Year'

By Beth Pinyerd Classroom Observer

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

OHS boys/girls basketball capture area titles

T

he Opelika Lady Bulldogs (21-5) thumped Russell County 81-27 and Benjamin Russell 64-43 to win their 7th consecutive area championship and finish with a perfect 4-0 record.

Opelika started the week with an 81-27 victory over Russell County in Seale. Coach Devin Booth has been thrilled with multiple players scoring double digits.

Four players scored more than 10 points each.

Haley Sanders scored a game-high 21 points, Kaitlyn Bryant 16 points, Caire Worth 14 points and Quala Walton added 11 points.

The girls finished last week with a 64-43 win over Benjamin Russell in Alexander City. Booth has been thrilled with having multiple players score in double figures each game. Four players scored 10 or more: Bryant scored 13, Sanders scored 11 and Ananda Huguley and Claire Worth scored 10 points each.

The Opelika boys basketball team (13-9) earned its second-straight area championship after road wins over Benjamin Russell 60-48 and Russell County 45-41.

Taye Fields scored 22

points to lead Opelika over Benjamin Russell last week. Trey Boone scored 11 points while Jared Willis and Brandon Howard added eight points each. The Dawgs travelled to Seale for the second game of the week.

Fields scored a gamehigh 15 points to finish with 37 points in two games.

Against the Wildcats, Brandon Howard scored 12 points and Willis scored 10 points.

The Bulldogs finished 4-0 in the area, capturing their second-consecutive area championship under Coach John Wadsworth.

The two Opelika basketball teams finish the regular season Thursday night against Auburn in the Sports Arena on the OHS campus. The junior varsity game begins at 4:30 p.m. followed by the varsity girls at 6 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m.

Opelika will host the girls and boys area tournament Feb. 4 and 6.

The opening night will feature Russell County v.

Benjamin Russell in girls and boys. The girls start at 6 p.m. followed by the boys at 7:30 p.m.

The two winners will See Sports, page B2

The Opelika City School board recognized the OCS Teachers of the Year during their meeting last Tuesday.

According to school administrators and OCS Superintendent Dr. Mark Neighbors, these teachers were selected because they “take teaching seriously, work with the children all the time, resourceful, seek help on how to make (the education experience) better for their students ... and

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

(are) very respected by students and staff.”

Following are the

Application deadlines nearing for statewide repayable scholarship fund Special to the Opelika Observer Application deadlines are nearing for The Stonewall Jackson Memorial Fund Repayable Scholarship Program.

Established in 1955 by an act of the Alabama Legislature. The fund is used to award several repayable scholarships each year. The scholarship functions as a repayable no-interest loan which must be repaid after graduation from college. One year after graduation, recipients will be contacted to repay the scholarship amount under a scheduled repayment system set up by the individual.

Scholarships • 1st Place Essay $3,000 • 2nd Place Essay -

$2,000 • 3rd Place Essay $1,000 To apply, students must be a graduating, high school senior and must submit the following information no later than April 1, 2019: • A cover page • A completed application form • An original essay of at least 1500-2500 words (an annotated bibliography of sources is required but will not to be counted in the 1500-2500 words) on some aspect of the life of Stonewall Jackson.

Submissions must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2019.

For more information or to download the application visit www. archives.alabama.gov/ stonewall/stonewall.

OCS 2018-19 Teachers of the Year: •Carver Primary-

Patrice McAllister See OCS, page B3

Opelika track and field teams enter season with 'championship mindset'

By Tyler Roush For the Opelika Observer It has been a while since Jimmy Johnson dealt with anything less than a championship mindset on the track.

With his start at Opelika High School in 2010, the track and field head coach remembers not being able to send any of the men’s team to invitational meets.

Four years later, the men finished one point behind the No. 1 spot before going on a streak of three outdoor and two indoor titles.

Now, with the men and women finishing fourth and 11th in the 2018 state championship, respectively,

Johnson can’t explain how his team got back to winning.

“I don’t really know what happened,” he said. “A light went off on the boy’s side.”

As a self-described “player’s coach,” Johnson noted the team’s willingness to work and respond to coaching. With “hell day” on Mondays, Johnson recognizes his athletes acting both prepared and excited to get started.

The work ethic provided by his students is complemented by the team’s recent successes in championship meets.

“I put them under pressure every day at practice,” Johnson said. “When they get See Track, page B2

pelika O Observer

B2 January 30, 2019

Cynthia Malinick named director of Jules Collins Smith Art Museum Special to the Opelika Observer A new director and chief curator for Auburn University’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art will begin in the role starting Feb. 11.

Cynthia B. Malinick brings more than 25 years of experience and leadership to Auburn, including serving as an executive manager of museums and cultural organizations across the arts, nonprofit and higher education sectors. She comes to the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art from the Girl Scouts of the USA, where she has most recently served as the vice president for cultural assets.

Malinick joins the museum at an important time as the university prepares to launch its creative arts district with the opening of the Gogue Performing Arts Center later this

Sports,

from B1 return Feb. 6 to play Opelika for the area tournament title. The Opelika girls will start at 6 p.m., followed by the Opelika boys at 7:30 p.m. The

year. With an emphasis on centering innovation, creativity, programmatic excellence and increasing operational sustainability, Malinick’s extensive portfolio will advance the museum’s role as a cultural resource for the community and beyond.

“With her commitment to education and innovation, I am confident Cindi will enhance the contributions of the Jule Collins Smith Museum to Auburn’s arts district,” said Christopher Heacox, executive director of the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center.

“Her knowledge and experiences perfectly align with the museum, and I look forward to supporting her leadership.”

At the Girl Scouts, Malinick oversaw the organization’s cultural resources and managed its curatorial collection, including fine and decorative arts, furnishings, tex-

winner of the tournament will host a sub-regional game, with the loser traveling in the sub-regional round.

WRESTLING The Opelika junior varsity wrestling team recently participated in the “Cat’s Classic” in Prattville. Twenty Bulldog grapplers took part

Malinick tiles and jewelry. Under her leadership, the Girl Scouts launched multiple facility upgrades and elevated its engagement experiences to include the implementation of the Girls Scouts’ first openaccess online resource designed to showcase its digitized collections.

Prior to her tenure at the Girl Scouts, Malinick spent more than 10 years at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, including serving as the deputy and chief of staff in the Historic Sites Department. In this role, Malinick oversaw locations and museums across the U.S. that in the event, earning six medals. The following wrestlers earned medals: Trace Gaither - 103 pounds (fourth place); Nijah Durham - 112 pounds (champion); T’harra Brunson - 125 pounds (3rd place); Logan Sheridan - 130 pounds (third place); Tre’mir Rodgers - 130

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

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

Eddie Smith CITY PRESIDENT

certificates of deposit and numerous electronic products and services.

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

ICK RD.

FREDER

Tiger Town

Lowe’s

R.

D AY TEW GA

Kroger

Our New Location

Visit us here: www.auburnbank.com MEMBER FDIC

I-85

1851 Frederick Road Opelika

Equal Housing Lender

334-275-9600

included specialized collections and promoted on-the-ground conservation, exhibition design and public programming work, and leveraged prominent collections that included pieces from the Tang dynasty, architects Philip Johnson and Frank Lloyd Wright and artist Frank Stella.

“I am thrilled to join the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, especially at a time when cultural institutions across the nation are increasing their relevance and responding to a fast-changing world that yearns for places of reflection, honesty and inspiration,” Malinick said. “Collaborating with the new Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center holds tremendous potential to strengthen Auburn’s commitment to the arts and to fostering community while encouraging creativity.”

Malinick holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree in history from the University of San Diego. Among her many accolades, Malinick has received the Excellence in Exhibition Award from the American Alliance of Museums in addition to grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

As director and chief curator, Malinick will oversee the Jule Collins Smith Museum’s 40,000 square-foot modernist building, including six galleries, an auditorium, museum shop and café.

As part of the university’s southern gateway cultural arts district, the museum offers a wide-ranging collection of works by artists including John Audubon, Elizabeth Catlett,

Walker Evans, Diego Rivera, Kara Walker and Andy Warhol; Alabamians Roger Brown, Betty Grisham and John Augustus Walker; and Auburn alumni Jean Woodham and William Baggett. The museum also holds several art brutworks by southern artists such as Thornton Dial, Mary Proctor, Jimmy Lee Sudduth and Mose Tolliver. The original core of the collection — 36 modernist paintings purchased by the university in 1946 from the U.S. Department of State’s “Advancing American Art” collection demonstrating America’s artistic freedom — includes works by Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence and Georgia O’Keeffe.

For more information, call 334-844-1484 or visit www.jcsm.auburn.edu.

The museum is located at 901 S. College St.

pounds (fourth place) and Ari Brogdon - 145 pounds (fourth place)..

FOOTBALL AWARDS The Opelika football banquet was held last week in the Bulldog Café.

First-year Coach Erik Speakman continued the tradition, awarding those voted Captain, GPA awards and the “Mike Spain Character Award.”

The Mike Spain Character Award went to Londarious Baldwin, Top GPA on the team-Hunter Ryder, Patrick Royal, Cade Blackmon and

Jaylen Holloway. Team Captians; Cade Blackmon, Brantan Barnett, Cam Tolbert and Tyrell Davis.

OPELIKA DIXIE YOUTH OFFERS CLINIC REGISTRATION The Opelika Dixie Youth Baseball organization has started taking registrations for the upcoming season. Anyone interested in playing baseball between the ages of 7-12 years old, can go online to www. opelikadixieyouth.com to register. The deadline to

register is March 1. The group will hold a 1-day of in-person registration, Feb. 16 from 9-11 a.m. at the Opelika Sportsplex.

The Opelika baseball team will hold a free camp for registered first time players ages 9 and under on Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. - noon at the Bulldog Park on the Opelika Campus. Evaluations will be held March 4.

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

rated from his coaching debut, Johnson and the other track coaches remember not being able to compete in meets.

Last season, Opelika hosted its first home meet in a decade, Johnson said. This season, Opelika will host two — once on March 2 and another on April 20.

With a rebuilt track and program, Johnson is focused on maintaining consistency and keeping a bigger picture in mind.

“I think that we, now, we want to consistently be one of the top teams in the nation, top teams in the state,” he said.

“That’s the goal, that’s always the mindset.

That’s always on the kids’ minds. They want to be on top.”

Opelika started the 2019 season at the Martin Luther King Indoor Invitational, with the men’s and women’s varsity finishing fifth and 42nd, respectively.

Junior Jaylen Stinson placed first in the 60 meter, 400 meter and long jump events. Jaylen’s younger brother, Jarell, finished seventh in the 60-meter dash and 26th in the 800-meter dash.

Johnson, who went to high school with their parents and played football with their father, had high praise for Jaylen going into the season.

“Jaylen is like the alpha male, he’s kind of like the leader,” Johnson said. “The guy can do anything, and I’m not playing.”

Johnson remembers Jaylen impressing coaches with his first attempt throwing javelin, and then remembering each coach questioning what four events to put the underclassman in.

“Everybody wanted him like ‘Hey, he needs to do this. He has a chance to win,’” Johnson said. “Anything that he picks up, anything he wants to do, he can do it.”

With a closer relationship with his athletes, including his connection to the Stinson parents, Johnson knows now how his team is able to be successful.

Going into the 2019 season, Johnson reflects on moving forward with a team consisting of impressive younger talent.

“I think my relationship with the athletes is really what makes us so successful,” Johnson said. “I’m one of the coaches that they can come talk to me about anything. If they have problems, they come talk to me. I feel like if I’m able to relate with them and able to talk to them, and then ask them or need them to do something hard, they’re willing to do it.”

“That’s who I am.”

Track,

from B1 under pressure at the state meets, the sectional meets, they compete.

They compete like they want to win state.

“The boys’ attitude — they’re winners. They don’t believe in losing.

They go to a track meet and they don’t think they’re going to lose.

They just go out and practice like that.”

One day during practice, Johnson remembers a female athlete making the statement of second place representing the competition’s first loser. He remembers agreeing, and forgetting what it was like to not be close to second best.

Now, Johnson laughs, and remembers Will Ferrell in the movie Talladega Nights saying that if you weren’t first, you’re last.

“You’re the first one that lost, and that’s how I think about it,” Johnson said. “You may take a trophy home or whatever, but you’re still second best.”

Johnson, a graduate of Opelika and the National Federation of State High School Association’s 2016-17 South Sectional Coach of the Year, remembers what it was like to lose.

Nearly a decade sepa-

pelika O Observer

B3 January 30, 2019

Community Calendar: Events around town

• Feb 1 State of the City Luncheon with Mayor Gary Fuller • Feb. 5 Ribbon Cutting at TherapySouth at 10 a.m.

• Feb. 12 Ribbon Cutting at Big Blue Crawfish & Cajun Market at 10 a.m.

• Feb. 12 River Bank & Trust Business After Hours from 5 - 7 p.m.

Ongoing: • Village Friends/ Village Values is a nonprofit organization that supports seniors who prefer to stay in their own homes as they grow older. For info or to schedule a presentation to your group, call 334-2094641. For the website, Google “village friends village values.”

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

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

• The Opelika Community Band practices

OCS,

from B1 •Southview PrimaryHannah Owens •Morris Avenue Intermediate -Teresa Swann •Northside Intermediate-Melissa Cook •West Forest Intermediate-Kori Skinner •Opelika High School-Hannah Holladay •OCS Elementary Teacher of the Year - Rachel Tate of Jeter

from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Auburn High School band room.

Everyone is welcome, amateurs and professionals alike.

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

• The Touched

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

• The fourth Monday of each month a Community Grief Support Group meets from 5:30–6:30 p.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center. No reservations are necessary; everyone is welcome. For more information call 8261899 or 502-0216.

• T.O.P.S (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), a weight loss support group, meets every Monday night from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Covington Recreation Center, 213 Carver Ave., Opelika. For more info contact Mary Johnson, 7491584.

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

• The Commercial

Primary •OCS Secondary Teacher of the Year Kathryn Gholston of Opelika Middle School.

The teachers of the year were presented gifts of silver platters and character coins.

Teachers’ families were in attendance and introduced as this outstanding accomplishment was honored.

Neighbors also recognized the service of the school board members who are dedicated civic servants, spending or

Horticulture Extension Teamorganizes webinars to provide quick updates for producers on various topics of interest. Whether you are interested in the proper way to plant fruit trees or have questions in turf management, these webinars cover a wide range of subjects. Webinars are streamed live via Panopto on the last Monday of every month starting in January and ending in November. During the presentation, participants can send questions via email. The webinars also are recorded and stored in the archive on the Beginning Farmer website.

Webinar topics include: trap cropping for reducing squash insect pests, cowpea curculio updates, nutsedge control, introduction to potting mixes in ornamental container production, dealing with drought in commercial horticulture crops, and many more.

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

Tuesdays: • Ballroom Dance Classes at the Opelika Sportsplex from 7-8 p.m. every Tuesday.

Instructor is Cody Wayne Foote. For more info call Diane at 749-6320.

volunteering their time in with students and being engaged in the community.

In other business, the board: - approved personnel recommendations - approved of an increase in the state per-mile travel reimbursement rate for use of personal cars.

- approved a revision to the N-3 Federal funds policy - approved a bid for a new wood floor for the existing Opelika High

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

• The Opelika City Council meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. Meetings are preceded by non-voting work sessions that typically begin about 6:30-6:45 p.m.

• Every second Tuesday, a country, gospel and bluegrass music jam session is held at Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church in Beauregard. The event is free and open to the public. Those who play an instrument should bring it and plan to join in. The jam session is held from 6–8 p.m. 8685 AL Highway 51.

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

Attendance and participation is strictly voluntary for any and all sessions. There are no fees or charges involved. The church is located on U.S. Highway 431 – eight miles north from Southern Union State Community College and Opelika High School.

For more information contact Bill Parker at 459-0214 or 706-5189122.

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

School Gymnasium - approved the removal and replacement of the existing sound system for the Opelika High School Gymnasium approved specific out-of-state field trip requests heard regular reports on finances, child nutrition, Opelika High School club guidelines and K5 Reading Coach positions.

The next school board meeting is scheduled on Feb. 26.

auburncap.org or find the organization on Facebook.

• East Alabama Gem & Mineral Society meet the 4th Tuesday of every month at 5:45 p.m. Meetings are held at the Covington Rec. Center located at 213 Carver Ave. in Opelika.

Wednesdays: • The second Wednesday of each month a Community Grief Support Group meets from 10-11 a.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center. No reservations are necessary. For more info call 8261899 or 502-0216.

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

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

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

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

•• Opelika-Auburn Newcomers’ Club provides a variety of programs for the betterment of the Auburn/Opelika community to assist women transitioning into the area or to help women adjust to recent lifestyle changes.

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

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

• T.O.U.C.H. Cancer Support Group meets the third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at EAMC’s Health Resource Center. This is a support group for people living with any type of cancer or their families and friends. Call 334-528-1076 for more information.

• Feb. 1 - The Martha Wayles Jefferson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Group will meet Feb. 9 at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce. Local author Frank Harrelson will discuss his latest book, “Twisted Fate,” a historical novel about the Huguenots in 16th and 17th century France, a Protestant group that suffered severe persecution for their religious beliefs. The book is now available at most major book retailers or Amazon.

For more information, call Jean Pinkard at 619-200-0692.

• Feb 4 - Lee County Voters League will meet at 6 p.m. at Bethesda Baptist Church located at 201 South 4th Street, Opelika. This month’s meeting will address priorities for 2019 and the clearing of old business in order to devote all of the next meeting to Sect. of State John Merrill’s visit on Mar 4.

• Feb. 17 - The Auburn District Baptist Women’s Auxiliary will hold its annual Black History Month program Feb. 17. The title of this year’s program is “The Life and Legacy of President Barack Obama.”

Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information, call 334-610-5832.

The venue is located at 305 Palmer Ave. Email editor@opelikaobserver.com to place your community events.

ASBESTOS LITIGATION If you began working in a

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

Call now for your free evaluation.

1-888-432-6020

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

pelika O Observer

B4 January 30, 2019

LEGALS IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF: THELMA L. ROBINSON, An incapacitated person.

Case No.: 2013-B-20 NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that Benjamin H. Parr, Conservator of Thelma L. Robinson, an incapacitated person, has filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, his accounts, vouchers and statements for a Final Settlement of the Conservatorship of Thelma L. Robinson.

A hearing has been set for the 5th day of February, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., Central Time, in the Court Room of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama.

Done this the 9th day of January, 2019.

Bill English, Judge of Probate Legal Run 01/16/19, 01/23/19, & 01/30/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA; IN THE MATTER OF THELMA ROBINSON, Deceased; Case No.: 2019-A-008; NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Benjamin H. Parr on the 8th day of January, 2019 by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. /s/ Benjamin H. Parr OF COUNSEL Legal Run 01/16/19, 01/23/19, & 01/30/19

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1412 Opelika Rd Auburn, AL 36830 February 11, 2019 at 2:00pm CST Marilyn Smith Unit #205 536 Shelton Mill Rd. Auburn, AL 36830 Boxes, bags, totes, assorted toys and games, unopened items Kammrie Dowdell Unit #280 P.O Box 2802 Auburn, AL 36830 Boxes, bags, totes, household furniture, dressers, tables, chairs, clothing Sanquanetta Tarbert Unit #O178 745 Clark Ave. Auburn, AL 36832 Beds and boxes Betty Ohara Unit #S339 515 Fox Run Pkwy Opelika, AL 36801 Boxes and small items Teresa Ray Unit #R321 900 Old Mill Rd A17 Auburn, AL 36830 Boxes, bags, small furniture, lamps Stephon Ball Unit #250 1325 Kurt Cir Auburn, AL 36830 Dresser, couch, tables, boxes, small furniture Anthony Williams Unit #B22 734 s 8th street RICHMOND,IN,47374 Boxes, microwave, misc items Ricardo Wilkerson Unit #246 321 1st Ave NW Lafayette,AL,36862 Furniture and boxes Krissy Birdsong Unit #E75 1281 Samantha Ct Auburn,AL,36830 table, beds, boxes Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Legal Run 1/23/19 & 1/30/19

INVITATION TO BID BID# 19009 Sealed bids for the construction of the City-Wide Intersection ADA Improvements Project shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to

attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor.

No bid will be accepted from anyone except a qualified Contractor licensed by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors.

Principal items of work include but are not limited to: removal of existing sidewalk, ramps, storm inlets, and curb sections; preparation of sub-base; installation and finishing of new ADA compliant ramps and sidewalk; installation of storm inlet units and tops; and restoration of adjacent right of way. All work shall meet ADA requirements. Work will be prioritized into four zones and a “Notice to Proceed” will be issued for each zone based on schedule and budget constraints. The final zone is not guaranteed to be ordered under the Contract. Work shall begin within 10 days of each “Notice to Proceed”. The completion time for each zone is 90 days from the commencement of work. The total contract length shall not exceed 540 calendar days.

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

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

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid. Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right 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, 368030390.

Attn: City-Wide Intersection ADA Improvements Project 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 01/23/19 & 1/30/19

INVITATION TO BID BID# 19007 Sealed bids for the construction of the City-Wide Roadway Improvements Project shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend.

Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor.

No bid will be accepted from anyone except a qualified Contractor licensed by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors.

Principal items of work include but are not limited to: asphalt and concrete removal, excavation, roadbed processing, installation of curb and gutter, installation of sidewalk, installation of storm drainage inlets, and erosion and sediment control. The Opelika Engineering Department will make every effort to have work located, prioritized, scheduled, and grouped in order to optimize the mobilization of the contractor. Work shall begin within 10 days of each “Notice to Proceed”.

The total contract length shall not exceed 360 calendar days.

Drawings and Specifications may be examined at the Office of the City Engineer located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama. Phone number: 334-

705-5450 Bid documents may be obtained from the Office of the City Engineer at no charge as an electronic file if the bidder supplies a storage drive or as an email attachment or electronic drop box.

The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika.

All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid. Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right 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, PurchasingRevenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 368030390.

Attn: City-Wide Roadway Improvements Project 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 Notice 01/23/19 & 01/30/19

INVITATION TO BID BID# 19006 Sealed bids for the construction of the City-Wide Striping Project shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered.

At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. No bid will be accepted from anyone except a qualified Contractor licensed by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors.

Principal items of work include but are not limited to: placement of thermoplastic striping, thermoplastic markings, thermoplastic legends, and pavement markers. The Opelika Engineering Department will make every effort to have work located, prioritized, scheduled, and grouped in order to optimize the mobilization of the contractor. Work shall begin within 10 days of each “Notice to Proceed”. The total contract length shall not exceed 360 calendar days.

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

The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika.

All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid. Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right 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, PurchasingRevenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 368030390.

Attn: City-Wide Striping Project 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 01/23/19 & 01/30/19

INVITATION TO BID BID# 19008 Sealed bids for the construction of the City-Wide Asphalt Paving Project shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered.

At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. No bid will be accepted from anyone except a qualified Contractor licensed by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors.

Principal items of work include but are not limited to: asphalt removal by milling, asphalt patching, asphalt leveling, asphalt surface, tack, and temporary striping. The Opelika Engineering Department will make every effort to have work located, prioritized, scheduled, and grouped in order to optimize the mobilization of the contractor. Work shall begin within 10 days of each “Notice to Proceed”. The total contract length shall not exceed 360 calendar days.

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

The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika.

All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid. Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right 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, PurchasingRevenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 368030390.

Attn: City-Wide Asphalt Paving Project 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 01/23/19 & 01/30/19

NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE SALE To be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, at 10 a.m. at Best 4 Less at 2509 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801.

1HGC3147YA024010 - 2000 HONDA ACCORD LEGAL RUN 01/23/19 & 1/30/19

NOTICE TO CREDITORS PROBATE COURT, LEE COUNTY - CASE NO: 2018C-097 Estate of Wesley Vance, deceased NOTICE TO CREDITOR Take Notice that LETTERS TESTMENTARY of Wesley Vance, deceased, having been granted to Royce Virginia Wangle on the 4th day of December 2018, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Notice is hereby given that all person having claims against said estate are hereby required

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

Royce Virginia Wangle LEGAL RUN 01/23/19, 01/30/19 & 02/06/19

NOTICE TO CREDITORS PROBATE COURT, LEE COUNTY - CASE NO: 2018B-167 Estate of Kathleen Mary Foley McClure, deceased NOTICE TO CREDITOR Take Notice that LETTERS TESTMENTARY of Kathleen Mary Foley McClure deceased having been granted to Kenneth Eugene McClure of the 5th day of November, 2018, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

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

Kenneth Eugene McClure LEGAL RUN 01/23/19, 01/30/19 & 02/06/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DIANN WEAVER CRUICKSHANK, DECEASED, IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 16th day of January, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

BRANDI S. RAINS Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 LEGAL RUN 01/23/19, 01/30/19 & 02/06/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JACK DENNIS CLANTON , DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 15 th day of January, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

RUDENE B. CLANTON Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 01/23/19, 01/30/19 & 02/06/

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT TO BE PUBLISHED

BY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE OF BILLY AUTT HALL, SR., DECEASED PROBATE COURT CASE NO. 2019-A-039 Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been grated to the undersigned on the 18th day of January 2019, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given

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

Ben Hathcock, Personal Representative LEGAL RUN - 1/30/19, 02/06/19 & 02/13/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RAMDAS PANDURANG KAMATH, Deceased CASE NO. 2019-A-030 In the Matter of the Estate of RAMDAS PANDURANG KAMATH, Deceased Letters Administration as Personal Representative of the Estate of RAMDAS PANDURANG KAMATH, deceased, having been granted to the undersigned on January 17th, 2019, by the Honorable BILL ENGLISH, Judge of Probate of said County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law, or the same will be barred.

PREMALATHA R. KAMATH Personal Represative LEGAL RUN 1/30/19, 02/06/19 & 02/13/19

NOTICE OF COURT PROCEEDING CASE NO. 2019-A-040 IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary Distribution In the Estate of WARREN ANTHONY WEEKLEY, deceased Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office by Ashley Helen Thornton on January 25, 2019, pursuant to Section 43-2-690, Code of Alabama and that 30 days after the notice of publication hereof and pursuant to law the Court shall be requested to enter an Order directing Summary of Distribution of the estate of said decedent.

BILL ENGLISH, PROBATE JUDGE Legal Run 01/30/2019

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY STATE OF ALABAMA CASE NO.: 2019-A-015 RE: ESTATE OF WILLIAM SPURGEON WARR, DECEASED NOTICE TO CREDITORS TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to GLORIA GILLIS WARR, as Executor of the Last Will and Testament of WILLIAM SPURGEON WARR, DECEASED, on the 10th day of January, 2019, by the Honorable John William English, Jr. NOTICE IS HERBY GIVEN that all persons having cliams against the said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. This the 10th day of January, 2019.

GLORIA GILLIS WARR s/GLORIA GILLIS WARR CO-EXECUTORS OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF WILLIAM SPURGEON WARR, DECEASED Legal Run 01/30/19, 02/06/19 & 02/13/19

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pelika O Observer

B5 January 30, 2019

Guiding young children to make friends

Beth Pinyerd The Classroom Observer

I

n teaching children on the treasure of making friends, I teach them a little song of truth that I learned as a child in the Girl Scouts: "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver, and the other is gold.”

When children begin to discover the joy of friendship their world opens up to new relationships and socialization skills. Of course, a lot of this depends on the age of your child.

When your children are real young and are having difficulty making friends with other children, you as a parent can role play with your child as you engage in activities and play with them. Being patient and letting them do a "pretend meal" for you or even playing dolls or teddy bears with them teaches them how to interact with other children.

Listen closely to your child on children they may like to play with at school or preschool. To jumpstart your child’s social interaction and learning how to play with others, check with parents of one to two

other children and invite them over to play.

When inviting friends over, it is wise to plan activities such as going to the park, playing games outside or inside, viewing a favorite video and enjoying a favorite snack together.

With young children, they are so happy with just the simple things. The main issue you are focusing on as their parent is having them learn how to get along.

With very young children, it is necessary for parents to quietly oversee the play of their friends, especially if it is their first time to play. As a parent, you don't want to dominate or control their play but you mainly want to facilitate their play. Children depend on routine and familiar activities.

Try to do this in planning activities when a child comes over. Children perform and play well together when they know the routine and guidelines. I know in an early childhood classroom, children depend and adhere to a schedule.

Many of us as parents

have to be a playmate ourselves in modeling how friends get along. Teachers and early childcare workers, do this with young children all the time. This allows us to oversee to see where struggles might be and then we can guide and help our children.

Children consider their pets to be their friends.

They play for hours with their furry friends such as dogs, cats, hamsters, etc.

For example, taking care of goldfish by feeding them as well as cleaning out their bowls helps to instill a sense of care and responsibility. Guiding children on how to take care of pets develops a sense of responsibility which is necessary in friendships.

With young children, remember play is their work even in friendships. One important truth to teach young children is that they

are very special and so are the friends they have.

A treasured friendship for all of us young or old is like a rainbow promise. Isn't it nice to be unconditionally loved by a friend? It's better than a pot of gold!

Beth Pinyerd has taught young children in the Early Childhood Classroom for 34 years as well as outreaching to the elderly in intergenerational settings. She has taught and outreached in the schools in the Opelika Community and Baldwin County Community. She holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Child Development both from Auburn University. Her husband is the late Carl Pinyerd and she has one son, Gus Pinyerd who has taught her so much about learning. Classroom Observer is here to serve the community

in sharing the wonderful teaching programs in our local public schools, private schools, and homeschools.

The column is provided to enrich the education of our

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

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B6 January 30, 2019

pelika O Observer

'Breakfast for Books' Feb. 2 to benefit work of Alabama Kiwanis, Jean Dean RIF

By Morgan Bryce Editor Eat a delicious breakfast for a good cause during the AuburnOpelika Emblem Club’s annual “Breakfast for Books” event Feb. 2 from 7-11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church to benefit the work of Jean Dean RIF and the Alabama Kiwanis Club.

Located at 1105 Fitzpatrick Ave., Jean Dean RIF is a signature service project and extension of the state Kiwanis Club, dedicated to providing “quality, age-appropriate books into the hands and homes of at-risk young children before they start kindergarten.”

“A person who has no books in their home really has no hope of learning to read … it’s an important addition to a child’s life so that they can take advantage of a public education, then do well in school and

Opelika wrestling holds 'Pin Cancer Night' Thursday

do well in life,” said Executive Director Cathy Gafford in a previous interview with the Observer.

The breakfast menu includes their beloved pancakes, sausage and an individual’s choice of coffee, juice or milk to drink.

The event will also feature a bake sale and meet and greet with local author Maggie Cooper who is promoting her latest book, “Bumper.”

Tickets are $5 each, and can be purchased by calling 334750-9974 or emailing jeandeanrif@gmail.com. There will be tickets available on-site the day of the event. Delivery options are available for those who order 10 plates or more and carryouts are welcome.

For more information, like and follow their Facebook page or visit www.jeandeanrif.org.

The church is located at 900 2nd Ave.

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

By D. Mark Mitchell For the Opelika Observer Opelika Wrestling Bulldogs Coach Jim Davis held “Pin Cancer Night” last week with Smiths Station and Enterprise at the OHS Mainstreet gym. The

focus was not only on wrestling but helping find a cure for cancer. The team raised $202 for the EAMC Cancer Foundation.

The Bulldogs opened with a 45-36 win over Enterprise. Zeak Jones, Cole Lazzari, Timmy

Tolbert, Trint Vaughns, Bevin Williams, Cam Reese, Ari Brogden and Tre’mir Rodgers won their respective matches.

Smiths Station defeated Opelika 57-21 in the final dual. Jones, Lazzari, Williams and Reese won matches for the Bulldogs.

Wrestling Bulldogs finish second in ‘Hornet Slam’ last week

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

By D. Mark Mitchell For the Opelika Observer The Opelika grapplers finished second in the 5th annual “‘Hornet Slam” at Beauregard High School last weekend. Reese won the heavyweight class,

Bevin Williams won the 220-pound class, Trint Vaughns won the 195-pound class and Cam Williams won the 132-pound class. Timmy Tolbert, Cole Lazzari, Zeak Jones and Ari Brogden finished second.

Note :Senior wrestler James Dawson did not participate last week. The junior is undefeated in Alabama heading into the final stretch of the season.

Look for Dawson and others on the Opelika team to make the state meet.

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Inside the Statehouse Local group to honor legacy of President Obama Feb. 17

A

s the new quadrennium crests in Alabama government, everybody looks toward a new beginning. There is a new fresh four years ahead for the newly elected leaders. They are overwhelmingly Republican. The governor is Republican and all of the accompanying constitutional officeholders are members of the GOP. More importantly, the State Legislature, both the House and the Senate are Republicans. In fact, over two-thirds of each chamber are Republican. It is a supermajority.

The cards are lining up for these leaders to leave a legacy.

That legacy could and should be to rebuild Alabama’s roads and bridges. The optimum word is infrastructure.

Folks know that it is time. Alabamians see the needs everyday as they drive to work.

By Steve Flowers The staunchest and most conservative people I know throughout the state tell me, adamantly, that they are flat ready to pay more in gasoline tax to fix their roads.

The hue and cry arises from rural folks whose roads are impassable from large potholes.

Birmingham’s roads are deplorable. Suburban commuters who have to travel Highway 280 in Jefferson and Shelby counties are exasperated.

Indeed, commuters in the state from all of our largest metro areas

are acutely aware of the horrendous log jams they experience every day.

The country folks have figured out that it would be cheaper to pay more for gasoline than it is to pay for having their frontends aligned and tires balanced every few weeks from hitting holes in their roads. A good many of the rural bridges in the state have been condemned and are hazardous for heavy trucks and school buses to travel.

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has an unprecedented number of unmet repairs and expansions.

A spokesman for ALDOT says there are $10 billion of identified capacity projects and needs.

Some big-ticket items on the ALDOT list include a new Interstate 10 and bridge and Bayway widen-

See Flowers , page B8

By Morgan Bryce Editor The Auburn District Baptist Women’s Auxiliary will hold its annual Black History Month program Feb. 17, beginning at 3 p.m.

This year’s program is titled “The Life and Legacy of President Barack Obama.” Different speakers will share knowledge and stories from Obama’s early years

Congressman Rogers provides statement on concealed carry legislation Special to the Opelika Observer Congressman Mike Rogers made the following statement today after cosponsoring the H.R 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2019. This bill would allow individuals

Governor Ivey names Rear Admiral W. Kent Davis as commissioner of ADVA Special to the Opelika Observer Gov. Kay Ivey announced last week the selection of retired Rear Admiral W. Kent Davis as commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.

Davis was voted upon by the State Board of Veterans Affairs on Jan. 4 and Governor Ivey officially offered him the position last Thursday.

Davis is an active duty veteran of both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy and has experience with all the military services, having served more than 30 years in uniform with more than 11 years of active duty. He is one of only a few people who has served both as a field grade officer in the Army and a senior officer in the Navy.

“After serving his country in multiple branches of the military over the course of his distinguished career, Adm. Davis has proven himself as an excellent selection to serve as the next commissioner of the Alabama Department

Davis of Veterans Affairs,” Ivey said. “I commend the hard work of the State Board of Veterans Affairs Search Committee for recommending our next VA leader.

I know that Adm. Davis will take his broad spectrum of experience and apply it well to help the honorable men and women of Alabama who have so proudly served in uniform.”

Davis earned a bachelor of science in business administration from Louisiana State University in 1985 and a Juris Doctorate degree from Georgia State

University in 1998.

His work experience includes: Supply Corps Officer for the U.S. Navy; Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Navy Reserve; Judge Advocate for the U.S. Army; Labor & Employment Law attorney; Attorney-Advisor within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Director of Public Affairs, U.S. Detention Operations in Afghanistan; Senior Legal Counsel at FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston; Deputy Superintendent at

as well as discuss his accomplishments as the 44th president of the United States. Previous program topics have included Civil Rights figure Rosa Parks and World War II’s heroic

Tuskegee Airmen.

According to auxiliary member Valestine Penn, all members of the community are invited to attend the event, which will also be attended by a number of local dignitaries including Opelika Ward 2 Councilwoman Tiffany Gibson-Pitts.

The event is free. For more information, contact Joyce Upshaw at 334-6105832. The venue is located at 305 Palmer Ave.

FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness; Vice Chief of Information, Navy Office of Information, The Pentagon; City Manager for the City of Anniston and most recently as Chief Communication Officer/Director of Communication & Outreach for Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery.

“I look forward to continuing to serve my country as the commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. As a veteran myself, I understand the importance of providing help to the hundreds of thousands of Alabamians who have served in uniform,” Davis said.

“It is an honor to have been chosen for this new post. I appreciate the confidence in me shown

by Governor Ivey and the State Board of Veterans Affairs.

I will work hard each day to ensure the veterans of Alabama are treated with the utmost respect and granted the care they so greatly deserve.”

who meet the qualifications to carry or have in their possession a concealed handgun in another state that allows individuals to carry concealed firearms.

“This is simply a common-sense piece of legislation. In most instances, law-abiding folks own a

handgun for their personal safety and security. This legislation would allow those qualified individuals to be able to protect themselves as they cross state lines. As a gunowner and a champion for Second See Rogers, page B14

Deadline to apply for 2018 Safe Schools Initiate Awards of Excellence is Feb. 25 Special to the Opelika Observer Attorney Gen. Steve Marshall is reminding public and private schools throughout Alabama that nominations are being accepted for the 2018 Safe Schools Initiate Awards of Excellence. The deadline for schools to submit applications is February 25.

This spring, the Attorney General’s Office will honor private school winners from north, central and south Alabama, in addition to the winners from each of the state’s eight public school board districts.

“These awards offer a valuable opportunity to honor schools that are succeeding with outstanding safety plans, to recognize procedures that work well and to encourage implementation of these methods throughout Alabama to keep our children safer,”

Marshall Marshall said.

Marshall plans to visit winning schools this spring to personally present the award in honor of each school’s accomplishment.

For more information, visit the Attorney General's website at https:// ago.alabama.gov/ Documents/2018SSI-NominationForm.pdf. Please note that nominations are requested to be sent in a digital PDF, if possible, to ssi@ ago.state.al.us. The nominations will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges.

pelika Observer O

B8 January 30, 2019

Point Broadband’s General Manager Bruce Schoonover visits Lee County Commission

By Michelle Key Publisher

During Monday night’s Lee County Commission meeting Point Broadband General Manager Bruce Schoonover was recognized by Commissioner Robert Ham. Schoonover discussed the transition from OPSOne to Point

Flowers,

from B7

ing project in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, the completion of the Birmingham northern beltline, the Montgomery Outer Loop, and additional lanes along the interstate in Huntsville.

Speaking of Huntsville, they are poised to be one of the fastest growing areas of the entire nation over the next decade. It is imperative that their infrastructure needs are met to keep pace with their expansion. Toyota-Mazda is set to build their largest plant in the Huntsville-

Broadband and the impact on county broadband services. “We are fanatics about customer service and we will continue to fucus on customer service,” Schoonover said. “Right now our fixed wireless side serves some parts of the county.

We have facilities located on three water towers in

Madison metro area.

They were assured that roads would be built to accommodate their location and expansion.

Alabama, like most states, relies on gasoline taxes to pay for their roads and bridges. It has been 26 years since our gas tax was raised. The last time that Alabama had an increase in our fuel tax was 1992. That state increase was just ahead of the last federal gas tax increase enacted

by Congress.

President Donald Trump pledged while running and again after his election in 2016 to advance a massive infrastructure program, the largest in U.S. history.

He signaled support for

the county. We currently have 88 customers that receive high-speed internet service. We are trying to expand that right now.” He also stated that he looked forward to discussing plans as they continue to develop and to work with the county commissioners. “This is a See LCC , page B14 increasing the federal gasoline tax to pay for this American infrastructure initiative.

This rebuilding of America infrastructure is one of the bipartisan issues that both Democrats and Republicans are espousing.

It is a certainty that states will have to come up with matching dollars to get the federal money.

Indeed, 28 states have raised or reformed their taxes since 2013 in anticipation of a federal tax increase which they will have to match.

This is the one issue in which both parties in Washington can come to an agreement. We in Alabama are not ahead of the curve, but we are

Libertarian Party files suit against Alabama claiming discrimination against minor parties Special to the Opelika Observer Citing State of Alabama Election Code, the Libertarian Party of Alabama (LPA)has filed suit in the U.S. District Court, Alabama Middle District, alleging the State of Alabama discriminates against “minor parties” and independent candidates, poised to maybe come to grips with this issue.

A gasoline tax increase to fund infrastructure needs will be the paramount issue of 2019. My guess is that it will happen this year. Gov. Kay Ivey, shortly after taking office, said she “supported an increase in the state gasoline tax to fix state roadways.”

House Speaker, Mac McCutchen, of Huntsville, has trumpeted the need for a road program for years. Most of his Republican colleagues in the House ran for reelection without having to take a vow that they would not raise any new revenue or taxes.

The stars are aligned for Alabama to act. The

by charging them for the state-wide voter registration list or a portion thereof.

Alabama law provides that major political parties – Republican and Democrat - be given the state-wide voter registration list free of charge, while charging minor parties and independent candidates one cent per name.

One cent per name, you say? That doesn’t sound unfair.

One cent per name multiplied by the number of registered voters in Alabama equates to approximately $34,000.

Add the 2.5% additional charge if paid for by credit or debit card for an additional $850.

time is now. The timing is good. We will probably never have the Chairman of the United States Senate Appropriations Committee as our Senior Senator ever again. Senator Richard Shelby will make sure that we get our fair share of the federal money.

However, we must have the basic revenue to

draw down the federal funds.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in more than 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www. steveflowers.us.

See Lawsuit, page B14

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pelika O Observer

Pride on the Plains holds successful fundraiser Jan. 17 at Ampersand Wine Bar Special to the Opelika Observer Pride on The Plains, a local 501(c)3 focused on advocacy and awareness for the LGBTQ+ community, partnered with Ampersand Wine Bar on Jan. 17 for a fundraiser benefiting the organization.

The event featured several local drag-entertainers, who performed for attendees to raise money and support for the nonprofit organization. There were more than 100 guests in attendance. In addition,

Pride on The Plains hosted a concurrent silent auction featuring donations from Shop Ambiguous, Dillard’s Auburn, Martha Rocha and She’s Against the Grain. Overall, the event raised more than $700 for the group.

“We are so grateful to the downtown Opelika community for embracing Pride on The Plains over this past year,” said Pride on The Plains President Chad Peacock.

“Our organization always seeks to bring our community together, and we felt like we

were able to do that in a new space this past week.”

In addition to raising funds and awareness during last week’s “Wine n’ Drag” event, the event had special meaning to Chad Chapman and Thomas Jackson. Chapman, 37, and Thomas, 29, both members of the military met in Richmond, Virginia in 2017. They were married by Pride on The Plains Board Member Chris Landry at Ampersand Wine Bar during the fundraiser.

“As a result of their

military commitments, Thomas and Chad expect to be apart for some time in the near future, so it was important to them that they be married before then.

They wanted something low key and the ‘Wine n’ Drag’ event provided the opportunity for them to be surrounded by the community. Not many folks can say that one of their witnesses was a drag queen but I think Thomas and Chad had a memorable wedding,” Landry said.

For more information, call Tyler Pierce at 334-740-7940.

B9 January 30, 2019

Alabama Arise's Robyn Hayden responds to end of partial government shutdown Special to the Opelika Observer The White House on Friday announced a shortterm agreement to end the 35-day partial shutdown of the federal government.

Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden issued the following statement in response: “The pain from this unnecessary shutdown has grown by the day. Fortunately, this deal will reopen the federal government without causing further damage to struggling people. We thank all the everyday Alabamians who demanded an end to this harmful shutdown.

“Our country can’t af-

ford to end up back in this shameful situation a few weeks from now. And we can’t afford to leave millions of Americans at greater risk for hunger, homelessness and hardship.

Lawmakers must reach a long-term funding deal that protects SNAP, WIC and other vital nutrition assistance and rental assistance programs. And they should do it without seeking other policies that would hurt people who struggle to make ends meet.”

Alabama Arise is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of congregations, organizations and individuals promoting public policies to improve the lives of lowincome Alabamians.

Congress, Alabama Legislature should enact law that requires technology carriers to update call-block technology for consumers Special to the Opelika Observer "Sarah, can you get me Floyd at the barbershop?"

Such a request was typical of phone service in the 1950s and prior, not only for The Andy Griffith Show's mythical Town of Mayberry, but in communities throughout America.

That was when operators used to manually connect callers with wires and a switchboard.

Now technology allows phone service over the internet, and cell phones have, in many cases, become the device of choice for consumers.

The evolution of telephone technology has benefitted society, but unfortunately, it has given rise to the unscrupulous who misuse digital technology to invade the privacy of telephone customers.

As a result, the Federal

Trade Commission established the National Do Not Call list in 2003, and most states, including Alabama, merged their own Do Not Call lists into the national list.

The Do Not Call list continually changes with new registrants added daily. Its effectiveness relies upon telemarketers frequently updating their lists. The Do Not Call list may limit some telemarketer calls, but it is not the solution most hoped it would be.

Initially, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) handed down fines to telemarketers when they identified abusers through caller ID information. These fines encouraged companies to comply. However, we now have an ever-increasing number of unwanted telemarketing calls, and it is apparent that many

Cavanaugh are blatantly ignoring the National Do Not Call list.

The violators often employ a technology called spoofing. This is the common name ascribed to the practice of electronically replacing a caller's true identification and number with a name and number of the caller's choosing.

Unscrupulous telemarketers have seized upon spoofing technology to mask their identity and to deceive unsuspecting consumers. Spoofing makes

it extremely difficult for regulators and enforcement entities to identify abusive telemarketers and fine them.

Call blocking appears to be the path the FCC and state attorneys general are pursuing for limiting telemarketing calls.

In November 2017, the FCC released an order authorizing telecommunication carriers to adopt advanced call blocking technology for combating unwanted telemarketing calls. The FCC order makes adoption of advanced call blocking technology voluntary for telecommunications providers.

Hopefully, Congress and the Alabama Legislature will consider legislation that ensures all telephone carriers adopt advanced call blocking technology for their customers. Federal and

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or state legislation should also include a component to educate consumers on the call blocking technology available from their telecommunications provider.

Another issue that should be addressed is the limited collaboration between federal authorities, state authorities and the private sector for targeting abusive telemarketing practices. Future action at the federal level would ideally prioritize collaboration and cooperation between federal and state regulators, law enforcement and telecommunications providers to collectively identify and penalize unscrupulous telemarketers.

The FCC should also revisit the Do Not Call list. The list, as it now

exists, is ineffective.

The FCC needs to either strengthen the Do Not Call list compliance or develop an entirely new approach to solve the problem.

My pledge as President of your Alabama Public Service Commission is that I will exhaust every effort in pursuit of such measures at the state and federal levels.

This editorial was written by Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh who currently serves as President of the Alabama Public Service Commission.

The positions setforth in this document are those of Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh and are not intended to reflect the official position of the Alabama Public Service Commission.

1 OUT OF 10

ELDERLY PERSONS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE BEING:

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

ADULT ABUSE HOTLINE at 1-800-458-7214

HELP STOP THE ABUSE

IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT

Thereʼs no excuse for

ELDER ABUSE

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

Opelika

B10

Family & Religion

January 30, 2019

PLACE YOUR AD HERE ONLY $15

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

How to eat an elephant

D

o you remember the riddle, “How do you eat an elephant?” In case you don’t, the answer is, “One bite at a time.” Now I’ve never heard of anyone actually eating elephant, but that’s not really the point of the riddle—it’s aimed at helping us see that the way to tackle any big, daunting project is by breaking it down into smaller parts. Our oldest daughter had a teacher in elementary school who put it this way, “Yard by yard, life is hard; inch by inch, life’s a cinch.”

That’s a great lesson to learn at any age, but it’s also one that we can easily overlook as adults.

We’re used to getting things done—quickly.

Push a button, manipulate a keyboard, touch the screen and the world is ours (or at least it seems that way). We can communicate with almost anyone, order things that will be sent to our doorstep, choose endless

him”; and all entertainpeoples on ment options, earth “will and much, mourn bemuch more. cause of However, him.” So there is no shall it be! app for paBy Bruce Green Amen. (1:7) tience. When Teaching Minister at Since John something 10th Street Church of has just told comes along Christ in Opelika the seven that can’t first century be handled immediately, it can seem churches he is writing overwhelming. It doesn’t (1:4), that “the time is near” (v. 3), and the revehave to be if we rememlation he is sharing “must ber to break it down into soon take place” (v. bites.

1)—we’re immediately That’s exactly how thrown into a quandary. to approach the book of Revelation—one bite at a How can the things John time. It can be an intimi- is speaking of take place “soon” if they involve the dating, overwhelming book for anyone trying to return of Jesus? These time statements and the swallow it whole. But if coming of Jesus seem it is approached incremutually exclusive. How mentally, a few verses at can they both be true? a time, it becomes much When we hear the more manageable. Let word “coming,” we think me illustrate this with a of the return of Jesus at “bite” from the book. the end of time (Acts 1:9At the beginning of 11; Hebrews 9:27-28).

Revelation, we read: But the word is actually “Look, he is coming often used in Scripture with the clouds,” and when the final return of “every eye will see him, Jesus isn’t in view. Take even those who pierced

Church calendar

• Christian comedian Tim Hawkins will perform at First Baptist Church of Opelika Feb. 7. Besides comedy, Hawkins is known for his songwriting and singing abilities. For more information or ticketing options, visit www.timhawkins.brushfire. com.

• First Baptist Church will host the “Aspire Opelika Women’s Conference” Feb. 16 from 6-9 p.m. The event will feature an evening of music, worship and laughter. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 480-812-1100 or visit www. aspirewomensevents.com.

• Pepperell Baptist kicks off a new year continuing to

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fresh Foods...And A Whole Lot More!

603 Pleasant Pleasant Drive 603 Drive Opelika, Opelika, ALAL 36801 749-1333 Mon- Sat7am 7am-8pm Mon-Sat - 8pm Sun12pm 12pm-6pm Sun - 6pm

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

a look at John 14:18, 23 and see if the “coming” there doesn’t sound more like God and Jesus dwelling in the believer through the Holy Spirit rather than the appearing of Christ at the end of time. Then take a look at Matthew 24:30 (which is remarkably similar to the language of Revelation 1:7). A “coming” is spoken of which took place in Jesus’ generation (v. 34). It obviously isn’t His return at the end of time—it’s His coming in judgment upon Jerusalem in AD 70.

I think “coming” is used in a similar way in Revelation 1:7. I believe it refers to Jesus’ judgment upon Domitian and the Roman Empire because of their oppression of His people (6:9-11). This syncs with what we’re told at the end of the book where the time statements and the coming of Jesus are joined together by Christ as He says, “Look, I am coming soon!” (22:12),

and “Yes, I am coming soon” (22:20).

This also syncs with Old Testament usage. In Isaiah 19:1 God is said to be riding on a swift cloud and “coming to Egypt.”

Micah says the same kind of thing in regard to judgment coming upon Jerusalem and Samaria (1:1-3). There’s more of this kind of thing in Isaiah 26:20-21; 66:15; and Daniel 7:13-14.

All of these Scriptures tell us something fairly simple and basic, yet of great importance: “coming” is often used in a way that is not referring to the final return of Jesus. It has to do with the Lord blessing (as in John 14) or judging a group of people (Matthew 24:30).

If this is a new truth to you, chew on it a while and see if isn’t helpful to your understanding.

Bruce has written an entry level book on Revelation called The Thrill of Hope. It is available through Amazon.

Verse of the Week “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 8685 AL Hwy. 51 #749-4469 Pepperell United Methodist 200 26th St. #745-9334 Trinity United Methodist Church 800 Second Ave. #745-2632 Wesley Memorial United Methodist 2506 Marvyn Pkwy #745-2841 PENTECOSTAL Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Hwy. 29, PO Box 1691 #741-8675 Gateway Community Church 2715 Frederick Rd #745-6926 PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Opelika 900 2nd Ave. #745-3421 Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Rd #745-4889 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist 1808 S. Long St. #749-3151 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Apostolic Holiness Church 610 Canton St. #749-6759 Auburn Opelika Korean Church 1800 Rocky Brook Rd #749-5386 Beauregard Full Gospel Revival 2089 Lee Road 42 #745-0455 Christ Church International 1311 2nd Ave. #745-0832 Church of the Harvest 2520 Society Hill Rd #745-2247 Church at Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy #705-0505 East Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. #737-1488 Emmanuel Temple of Deliverance 207 S. Railroad Ave. #745-6430 Faith Alliance Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #749-9516 Faith Christian Center 600 S. 8th St. Faith Church 3920 Marvyn Pkwy #707-3922

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

pelika O Observer

B11 January 30, 2019

OBITUARIES Carrie Paschal Brooks Carrie Paschal Brooks went to be at her true home, on Thursday, January 24, 2019. She would have been 105 years old on April 26, 2019.

Mrs. Brooks was preceded in death by Joe Paschal, J. W. Brooks; Liz Paschal, daughter; and Michael H. Edwards, grandson.

She is survived by Robert (Robbie) Paschal, son; Lisa Dees Paschal, daughter-inPhronia Vaught Dykes Phronia Vaught Dykes of Seale, Alabama was born to the late Glenn and Nell Bush Vaught in Georgia on February 26, 1954 and passed away at her home on January 19, 2019. She was 64 years old.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Merrill B. Dykes; brothers, Russell Vaught, and Charles Sadlo.

She is survived by her children, Patrick Dykes (Terri), Bennie Dykes (Vicky), Roy Dykes (Kim); grandchildren, and great grandchildren;

law; great grandchildren, Haley McGee, Candice Paschal, Morgan Paschal, and Leslie Paschal, Carrie Edwards, Ann Edwards, and Gerald Edwards; great-great grandchildren, Zachary Ladd, Lucy-Mae Bailey, and Charlotte Bailey.

Carrie’s life was primarily characterized by a relationship with a Father God that provided peace and security through the work of His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, and the ever-present gift of their Spirit and sister, Dessie Brookins (Edward); brother, Gregg Vaught (Dottie); niece, Amanda Vaught; nephews, Glenn Vaught, Boo Brookins, and Dylan Brookins.

Visitation was held in the Parlor at FrederickDean Funeral Home Thursday, January 24, 2019 from 3:00 until 4:00 CDT p.m.

Funeral services were held Thursday, January 24, 2019 in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home at 4:00 p.m. CDT. No graveside service was held.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.

Charlotte McCurdy Curry Charlotte McCurdy Curry, loving wife, mother of three children, and grandmother to eight grandchildren, passed away January 18, 2019 at 70 years of age.

Born in Fort Payne, Alabama, October 16, 1948, Charlotte was the daughter of Annie Jo Blevins Couch and the late Willie Gene McCurdy. Charlotte was a graduate of Auburn High School in Auburn, Alabama. She retired from Auburn University where she worked many years in the School of Education.

Charlotte is survived and loved deeply by her husband, Thomas Lamar Curry III, sons, Stephen Lamar Curry (Jennifer) of Auburn, Michael Lanier Murphy of Marion, and daughter Crystal Dianne Curry of Marion. Charlotte treasured each of her grandchildren dearly, Stephen Andrew Curry, Thomas Lamar Curry IV, Jackson Caleb Curry, Mary Emma Claire Curry, and Ethan Finn Curry, all

Billy Gene Holder Billy Gene Holder passed away on Jan. 25, 2019, at his home in Loachapoka, Alabama at the age of 85, surrounded by his family.

Born to Judson Eugene and Era Lowe Holder on Oct. 14, 1933, in Georgiana, Bill grew up in Butler County, Alabama.

He served his country in the U.S. Army during the late 1950s. Eventually, he found his way to Auburn, Alabama, where he joined the Auburn Police Department in 1960.

After attending the Police Academy, he served his community as a dedicated police officer for about 27

the fellowship of His people. She served her family and others faithfully. Her career as a nurse was exemplary of her concern for people. The life she had with her family in Pepperell Village, with Pepperell Baptist Church, and other families of faith, was also illustrative of dedication to the care for others.

As her earthly life extended beyond fourscore, Carrie became stronger in the conviction of truth according to the Bible, and of her eternal Jonnie Ruth Powell Mrs. Jonnie Ruth Powell, 85, passed on to her eternal home and was divinely restored Monday, January 21, 2019.

Mrs. Powell is survived by her beloved husband of 65 years, James Wallace Powell; two children: Kathy Farquhar (Andy) and Wes Powell (Marlene); three grandchildren: Jamie Farquhar (Andrea), Charlie Farquhar (Jenna), and Robbie Farquhar (Sherry Leigh); one greatgrandchild, Andrew

of Auburn; Madison Faith Murphy of Marion, Britian Skyler Murphy of Opelika, and Preston Manuel Curry of Marion. Charlotte is also survived by sisters Marla Dianne Birchfield (Kim) of Opelika and Marsha Lynn Townsend (Steve) of Pisgah; brother James Michael Light (Lisa) of Oxford; aunt Reba Lee Blevins Turner of Fort Payne, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Charlotte was preceded in death by a brother Billy Preston McCurdy and her step-father L. D. Light. A memorial service celebrating Charlotte’s life was held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 25th, 2019 at JeffcoatTrant Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Mike Wright officiating. Visitation was held one hour prior. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either the Autism Society of America or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.

years. He worked his way up through the ranks, the last five years in which he proudly served as Chief of Police for the City of Auburn. He has lived in Loachapoka for 50 years, where he has enjoyed farming and raising cattle.

He truly loved to be outdoors and was an expert hunter and fisherman. Bill had an impact on everyone he met and he had no enemies.

He was preceded in death by his first wife of 28 years, Patricia Ann Holladay Holder.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Carolyn Pound Holder; his three children: Jerry (Carol) Holder, Jenny

destiny. In spite of physical infirmities and difficulties that would depress and defeat many, Carrie maintained a determined commitment to her faithful Father who continuously reminded her of His protection and future destination.

Carrie always expressed gratitude for those who served her and gave thanks for every physical provision given to her. On many occasions, she would let others know she appreciated the care Farquhar; brotherin-law, Billy Powell (Francis); her sister-inlaw, Mary Bankston; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Powell started working for the law firm of Walker & Hill in 1953; the same year she wed her high school sweetheart, Mr. Powell. After many years of service at Walker & Hill, she went to work for the Lee County Circuit Clerk’s Office. From there she moved into the position of judicial assistant for Judge Richard Lane. She

Marshall “Mark” Harland Foster, Jr. Marshall “Mark” Harland Foster, Jr. of Opelika, Alabama was born on May 15, 1965 and passed away on January18, 2019. He was 53 years old.

He was preceded in death by his father, Marshall Harland Foster, Sr. The only boy and youngest of four siblings, Mark was a bright star in the family. He had soft eyes and a loving heart, he exuded kindness to everybody he touched. Even in the face of adversity, when he lost a leg in a motorcycle accident decades ago, Mark never let his suffering hide his smile.

He is survived by

(David) Albright, and Ricky Holder; his nine grandchildren: Rachel Holder, Mimi (Gavin) Ross, Caroline Holder, Rusty (Katie) Albright, Jessica (Tim) Dumas, Ben (Lori) Albright, Jacob Albright, Erin Holder, and Lynn Holder; his six great-grandchildren: Lily, Jenna, and Micah Dumas, Ezra and Easton Albright, and Ruby Ross; along with several siblings, many nephews and nieces, as well as other family and friends that knew and loved him.

The funeral service for Billy Holder was held at 2 p.m. Jan. 28, 2019 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Visitation was

she received from the Arbor Springs staff.

This Spirit of thankfulness was a prominent characteristic of her life.

Visitation was held January 28, 2019 from 12:00 noon until 12:50 p.m. in the Parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home.

Funeral service was held in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home January 28, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. with Reverend Tom Tippett officiating.

Interment followed at Garden Hills Cemetery. retired in 2006 and enjoyed many exciting adventures and vacations with her husband afterwards. Not only was Mrs. Powell a member of the Pilot Club, but she was also a long time, and heavily involved, member of the First Baptist Church of Opelika.

She even remained an active member of her women’s Sunday school class until physically unable to attend their meetings.

Mrs. Powell was a true and loyal friend, loved her family deeply, and will be greatly missed

his Mother, Jeanette Foster of Opelika; sisters, Lorie Guy (Allen), Kim Ward, and Sharon (Tucker) Tommy all of Opelika, and Debbie Griffin (Terry) who lives in Huntsville, Alabama, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members.

Visitation was held on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at Pepperell Baptist Church from 1:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m.

Funeral services were held at Pepperell Baptist Church Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Mike Newman officiating.

Interment followed at Rosemere Cemetery.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.

held two hours before the service. Reverend Thad Blount and Chief Barney Harding officiated and burial followed the service at Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers included: Michael Gavin Ross, Luke Eden, Jerry Shiparski, Rusty Albright, Ben Albright, Jacob Albright, and Tim Dumas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the local Hospice care: Compassus, 665 Opelika Rd., Suite 200, Auburn, AL. 36830, or to a local church or charity of your choice.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.

Family and friends have become accustomed to Carrie always being with us.

Our lives will not be the same without her.

We will greatly miss her. She will be waiting for her resurrected body when Jesus of Nazareth returns to rule the world in righteousness and truth.

“Her children rise up and bless her . . . Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praise.”

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed. by many.

Funeral services for Mrs. Powell were held Friday, January 25, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

CST, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Visitation was held the evening prior, Thursday, January 24, 2019 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., CST. Dr. Mike King officiated.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Baptist Church of Opelika at 301 South 8th Street, Opelika, Al. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.

Lee Roy Peeples Lee Roy Peeples of Valley, Alabama was born to the late Clayton and Odessa Peeples on November 14, 1938 and passed away at home on January 24, 2019. He was 80 years old.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Forrest Moore, II (Amanda); sister, Faye Long He is survived by his wife, Cora Folsom Peeples; children, Tracie Moore (Forrest), Cindy Peeples; grandchildren, Zachary Moore (Haley), James Jenkins, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Forrest, III, Virginia, Kately, Magnolia, and Laurel; brother, Clayton Peeples, Jr. (Sheri), and sister, Ellen Terrell.

Memorial services were held Monday, January 28, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home with Reverend Eddie Smith officiating.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.

REAL

LIFE

EDUCATION

www.accs.edu

B12 January 30, 2019

pelika Observer O

Last week’s answers:

1-23 Scramblers Answers: 1. Spurn, 2. Glare, 3. Shine, 4. Point Solution: RUNNING

pelika Observer O

B13 January 30, 2019

COMICS

“Sometimes crying or laughing are the only options left, and laughing feels better right now.” ― Veronica Roth, Divergent

pelika Observer O

B14 January 30, 2019

LCC,

from B8 great business plan -to have something on the water towers - we are looking to partner with the cities to be able to bring high-speed internet to them,” he said.

In other business, the commission: • approved the Minutes from the Jan. 14 meeting • voted to ratify and approve claims, invoices for payment • heard the first reading of the vacancy on Horseshoe Bend Regional Library Board • voted to set a speed zone for the approximate 5-mile dirt portion of Lee Road 66 that will serve as a detour route for the life of the upcoming Sougahatchee Creek bridge project. The speed limit within the zone will be 25 mph.

• approved a request from Commissioner Robert Ham to rename a por-

Rogers,

from B7

tion of Lee Road 270 in honor of Coach Weldon Parkman. The designated section which run in front of Beulah High School will be named “Coach Weldon Parkman Drive” • received a report from Lee County Engineer Justin Hardee regarding the county’s application for the High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) Program. The Lee County Highway Department applied for funding in July 2018. The application included seven sites where bridges on rural roads currently do not have approach guardrails that meet current safety requirements. The county received notice that the application for all seven sites was approved. The total construction cost estimate is $87,673.78 .

Federal funds will cover $78,906.40 with the remaining 10 percent being covered by the county.

• approved a request from the Lee County Board of Education for the county’s assistance

in improving the baseball fields near the Smiths Station Junior High School. They have asked if the county could haul material that has been donated to the fields and dumped. The BOE will then handle the placement and spreading of the material. The request is expected to take two dump trucks and half a day.

• voted to approve a bid from 5th Avenue Cleaners on Bid #5 for dry cleaning services for the Lee County Sheriff’s office. The bid amount was for an estimated $2,810 per month.

The Lee County Commission meets on the 2nd and last Monday nights of every month at 5 p.m. in the Lee County Courthouse which is located at 215 S. 9th Street in Opelika. Minutes from the meetings can be found online at www. leeco.us/government/ county_commission.

The next meeting will be Feb. 11.

Amendment rights, I am pleased to support this legislation,” Rogers said.

Rogers serves as Ranking Member of the House

Committee on Homeland Security and is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Lawsuit,

from B8

Unlike the Republican and Democratic Parties, most minor parties do not charge a fee for candidates wishing to run under their label; whereas the duopoly expects candidates to “qualify” for their primaries by contributing up to $6,000, dependent on the office. Most minor parties require candidates to make application, be nominated, and then selected by delegates to the minor party’s state convention, thereby eliminating the tax burden created by a primary and any subsequent run-off elections.

Since minor party candidates and independents must collect signatures by petition equal to 3 percent (currently 51,588 valid signatures for state-wide office) of the most recent vote for Governor, access to the voter registration list is crucial in order to confirm the validity of the signatures on the petitions.

If a candidate is able to achieve 20 percent of

the votes cast in a statewide race, the minor party is then declared to have ballot access and does not have to gather signatures for the next election cycle. However, if the candidate/party does not break the 20 percent threshold in the next election, the minor party loses its ballot access and then must start gathering petition signatures again.

Denied the ability to check petition signatures against the voter registration list because of the exorbitant cost associated with obtaining the list, minor parties and independents are placed at a distinct disadvantage. To quote the complaint, “…there is anything but a ‘uniform charge;’ for the major political parties get it for free, while minor political parties have to pay an exorbitant fee for it. In effect, those who can least afford it, have to pay the most.”

The complaint goes further in stating that Alabama law unconstitutionally discriminates between major and minor political parties in an effort to create obstacles that make it more difficult for minor

parties, like the LPA, to grow, garner support, and obtain votes so that its members and followers hold public elective office. It also calls out violations of individuals’ rights protected under the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Recent court cases in Georgia and Michigan have seen ballot access barriers ruled unconstitutional, as the barriers irreparably injure the parties.

The Libertarian Party of Alabama (LPA), a recognized affiliate of the national Libertarian Party, has been working to keep government from trampling the rights of individuals in our state since the early 1970s.For more information about the LPA, go to www.lpalabama. org.

The Libertarian Party (LP) has active affiliates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 800 LP candidates were on the ballot nation-wide for the 2018 election cycle.

For more information about the LP, go to www.lp.org.

7th annual ‘Polar Plunge’ raises funds for Lee County Special Olympics Funds still being collected, group expects total to exceed $14,000

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Nearly 80 people took the plunge Saturday morning. It is expected that the fundraiser will bring in more than $14,000 for the Lee County Special Olympics, including $2,200 raised by the Auburn High School soccer team. Winners of this year’s costume contest were: Greg Hayes – Bag on head (First Place), Amanda Miller and Scott Camren – ICEE (Second Place) and April Pesce-Famer - Pirate (Third Place).