Opelika Observer 12-18-19

pelika Observer O

Vol. 12, No. 11

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019

Opelika, Alabama

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“By local people, for local people.”

Alabama celebrates 200th birthday

Photo by Mayor F. L. Bubba Copeland/Smiths Station, Alabama

Circles of Opelika held second graduation ceremony earlier last week at Southern Union

A tree of hope

Photos submitted to the Opelika Observer

Photos submitted to the Opelika Observer

Special to the Opelika Observer Circles of Opelika hosted its second gradu-

ation ceremony last Thursday in the Southern Room at Southern Union State Community College campus.

This graduation will have a level of success similar to the inaugural class. In the first See Graduates, page A3

Index

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

By Maggie Lawrence Special to the Opelika Observer Hope. It takes all forms. When a monster storm destroys

COMICS.....................................A16 SPORTS..................................B1 PUBLIC NOTICES..........................B11 POLITICS...................................B15

a community, hope can be as simple as a tree planted to show future generations the meaning of resilience.

The Hallmark Channel wanted to plant a tree of hope—

a tree for the people of Beauregard, which was devastated by deadly tornadoes on March 3. But, they needed help picking the right tree as See Tree, page A3

pelika O Observer.com

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

A2 Dec. 18, 2019

pelika O Observer

Opelika Fire Department welcomes seven babies in four months

The city of Opelika’s accounting department names Paige Mulder as new senior accountant Special to the Opelika Observer

Special to the Opelika Observer The city of Opelika and its fire department are excited to announce that they have welcomed seven new members into the Opelika family. From August to November, seven of our Opelika firefighters have become fathers to seven newborn babies, four handsome boys and three sweet girls. The city is excited to support these firefighters in this new season of their lives.

Pictured left to right: Born on Aug. 8 to Firefighter Chase McConnell Born on Aug. 13 to Firefighter Peter Martin Born on Oct. 8 to Firefighter Blake Smith Born on Oct. 26 to Firefighter Kevin Swatts Born on Nov. 20 to Firefighter Bradley Bowen Born on Nov. 27 to Firefighter John Manley In the second photo: Born on Oct. 24 to Apparatus Operator Rob Lee

The city of Opelika and its accounting department are excited to announce Paige Mulder as Opelika’s new senior accountant. The essential function of the position within the organization is to assist the Controller in managing the city’s Opelika Power Services accounting system in accordance with established procedures.

In her position, Mulder will be responsible for accounting software for OPS under Uniform System of Accounts for Utilities and GAAP, maintaining a list of fixed assets and depreciation schedules for public utilities, maintaining debt service records, assisting with daily accounting functions and performing the duties of accounting personnel in their absence.

Prior to joining the city, Mulder worked for Alabama Department of Transportation in Montgomery as a staff accountant since September

Mulder department is pleased to have Paige Mulder join our staff. We are confident that Paige’s 26 years of experience and knowledge in various fields of accounting will be a dynamic addition to our department and help her thrive in a fast-paced role,” said Cynthia Boyd, the city of Opelika’s accounting department controller.

For more information, contact Boyd at 334-705-5181.

2017.

Mulder graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and became a certified public accountant in 1999.

“I am so excited to be a part of the city of Opelika ‘family’!

Opelika is doing great things and I am proud to use my experience to help achieve the city’s goals,” Mulder said.

“The accounting

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w w w. o p e l i k a o b s e r v e r . c o m 216 S. 8th Street, Opelika, AL 36801 Copyright 2009. All right reserved. Opelika Observer is published weekly by Opelika Observer, 216 S 8th St. Opelika, AL 36801. Periodicals postage is paid at Opelika, AL. USPS #025104 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Opelika Observer, 216 S. 8th Street, Opelika, AL 36801

CORRECTIONS The Opelika Observer will correct any errors, omissions or inaccuracies deemed to be substantive. Corrections may be requested by contacting the Editor at (334) 749-8003.

pelika O Observer

A3 Dec. 18, 2019

Flu forces visitor restrictions on third floor of East Alabama Medical Center Special to the Opelika Observer

The 2019-2020 influenza season is off to a strong start with Alabama and 15 other states reporting “widespread” cases of the flu. Locally, several schools and physician offices are also sharing that cases of influenza are high and expecting that trend to continue as families and friends gather for the holidays.

In an effort to curb the spread of the flu

Tree, from A1 well as expert guidance on how to plant it.

Hallmark found Beau Brodbeck, an urban forestry specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Selecting the Right Tree Brodbeck explained that producers originally were considering planting a Christmas tree like a spruce.

“I shifted them away from the spruce, which is unsuited to Alabama, to a tree better adapted to the area and one more symbolic for its purpose,” Brodbeck said, as the tree would be a living memorial to the twenty-three people who died in the tornados and a symbol of hope for a community rebuilding.

After talking with Beauregard leaders and discussing several options, Brodbeck helped convice the group to choose an overcup oak, Quercus lyrata.

“An oak makes a wonderful choice,” Brodbeck said. “It grows from the small acorn and develops

Graduates, from A1 class, there was a 100% completion rate. While the second class did not reach that mark, Circles Director Regina Meadows said it was another dedicated group that should be filled with pride for their efforts.

“We experienced some growing pains, but we are very fortunate to have the support of the community to assist as various needs arise and has helped to fill some of the gaps to avoid our program participants from suffering any lack. The community of Opelika is truly embracing the spirit of Circles,” Meadows said.

Dr. Linda North,

among its youngest patients, East Alabama Medical Center is implementing visitor restrictions on the third floor effective Dec. 10.

The restrictions mean that children age 11 and younger will not be permitted to visit on the third floor until further notice. The third floor includes EAMC’s Childbirth Unit, OB Observation, Mother/ Baby Unit, Nursery, Level II Nursery and Pediatrics.

At this time, no other visitor restrictions are in place at EAMC or EAMC-Lanier, but that could change as the winter progresses.

As always, visitors of any age who are sick with flu-like symptoms should refrain from visiting patients of any age.

Top-5 ways to prevent the spread of the flu: - Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

into the majestic and long-living oak.

“We don’t plant trees for today—we plant them for future generations.”

Planting Time The Hallmark Channel funded the construction of three new homes in the Beauregard area and hosted a community Christmas celebration in early November. An hourlong special, “Project Christmas Joy,” featured the reveal of the new homes and the community celebration. It first aired on Dec. 10.

As part of the filming for the special, Brodbeck joined Beauregard residents to plant the oak at Providence Baptist Church.

The church served as the hub for the initial response and then recovery from the March tornadoes.

Hope for the Future Brodbeck said the tree at maturity could reach a height of more than 60 feet and grace the grounds of the church for as long as 100 years. Overcup oak, a species of white oak, gets its common name from the burlike cup that covers almost two-thirds of the nut.

Brodbeck also said the planting location gives the newly planted tree plenty of room to grow.

“It’s a tough species that can grow well in many different environments, including tough compacted soils,” Brodbeck said.

“It will probably develop a very full beautiful canopy. When planted in a sunny location like this, this species develops a lollipop shape to it.”

Finding the right tree presented a challenge.

Brodbeck worked with his industry contacts to locate one. Plantation Tree Nursery in Selma supplied the 8-foot-tall tree. Then, the city of Montgomery’s Urban Forester transported the tree to Montgomery. From there, the network had the tree trucked to Beauregard.

Southern Union’s dean of academics, is one of the organization’s partners and spoke to graduates. In turn, graduates were able to share first-hand experiences and stories from their time in the Circles program.

Meadows added that there need will be ongoing as the program continuously recruits program participants (Circle Leaders); they will continuously need allies (mentors) to work with families that are applying to be a part of the program.

Allies are middle to upper class individuals that are willing and able to commit to creating an “intentional friendship” with a family or individual in poverty that lives, works, or worships in Opelika.

There are no monetary obligations to participating in Circles, only a commitment of time.

Allies are required to participate in two training sessions prior to being paired with a program participant (Circle Leader). After being matched with a Circle leader; allies are expected to attend at least one of the weekly Thursday-night meetings hosted by Circles Opelika and be a source of support.

Circles Opelika is the only program of its kind in the Auburn-Opelika area and is modeled after a National Program, Circles USA. Circles USA is based on years of research, and in addition to working with individuals and families, it works to

- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve.

- Avoid touching your hands to your mouth, nose or eyes.

- Do not eat or drink after anyone.

- Stay home and isolated if you have the flu or flu-like symptoms.

For more information, visit www.eamc. org. The hospital is located at 2000 Pepperell Parkway.

About East Alabama Medical Center

address systemic causes contributing to poverty.

Poverty is a concern of the entire community, and it will take the entire community to address it.

For more information, contact Meadows at 334-203-1860 or via email at rmeadows@ myops.net.

East Alabama Medical Center is a 340bed regional referral hospital located in Opelika, and the organization also includes EAMC-Lanier hospital (88 beds) in Valley. Between the two hospitals and their collective service lines, there are 3,300 employees, making EAMC Lee County’s second largest employer. Among the services provided are open-heart surgery, comprehensive cancer treatment and

complete orthopaedic care. EAMC also operates non-mainstream services, including RehabWorks, HealthPlus Fitness Center, the Diabetes and Nutrition Center, the Wound Treatment Center and the Auburn University Medical Clinic.

EAMC-Lanier has a nursing home (103 beds), an inpatient acute rehabilitation unit (17 beds), a detox unit (10 beds) and offers occupational medicine.

A4

pelika O Opinion Phooey to the fog spreaders ALABAMA

Dec. 18, 2019

I

am an honorary Alabamian, even though Florida is my home state. It’s kind of a long story, but I promise, if you bear with me, this will be a complete waste of your time.

It started in a hotel lobby full of Alabama officials. It was sort of like spring break check-in at some fancy resort. Only these weren’t teenagers with suntans. These were white-haired people with sport coats and extremely low centers of gravity.

I went to the front desk and checked into my hotel room.

A guy behind me in line said, “So, you’re the keynote speaker for the Alabama Governor’s Conference?”

“Yes.” “Where in Alabama are you from?”

“I’m from Florida.”

“What? And YOU’RE our keynote speaker?”

“That’s right.”

To which he replied, “Huh!” The enormous auditorium started to fill up.

And I’m talking about a room the size of a rural school district. I kept having this feeling that I didn’t belong here. What was I doing? I’m not an Alabamian. I was starting to feel pretty dumb.

Another man shook my hand and said, “So, what part of Alabama are you from?”

“I’m not,” I said. “I’m from the Panhandle.”

He gave a confused look, then he said “Why on earth did they hire you?”

So things were off to a great start.

I took the stage. I tapped the microphone. I said, “Hello, is this thing on?” But it turned out that the sound system was screwed up. What everyone heard was: “Hellohellohellohellohellohellohellohellohel-

T

his morning, I retrieved eggs, cracked and poured them into the skillet, and stood peering out of the kitchen window. Toward the west, I took notice of a tree that I’d scarcely noticed before. The weather report predicted a cold front and rain moving eastward. The sky was embellished with tufted clouds likened to pillows, which tapered toward the horizon. The sunrise was pink and brightened to hues of melon.

I often refer to such a color as, sherbet. Blues deepened opposite the sunrise, evoking sharp contrasts in all things touched by the early light.

I stood, eating breakfast while observing the same tree. It was first crimson, then it became enhanced by exquisite rays of luminosity. From the last stage of autumn reds, sunrise exposed carmine still alive in

By Sean Dietrich

lohellohellohellohellohellohellohellohelloh…”

And that’s how the next 40 minutes went.

When I finished, nobody was aware that I had concluded my speech because my voice was still reverberating in the airplane-hangar-like room. For all I know my voice is still echoing in that auditorium to this day.

The thing is, I truly love Alabama. That’s probably why I was asked to speak. I write more columns about Alabama than I do about other topics such as my wife, my dogs, the dangers of gout, cornbread, Greenland, etc.

Because where I live, the line between Alabama and the Panhandle is blurry. There’s a good reason for this. A few hundred years ago, Florida and Alabama were once part of the same territory. Some scholars even claim that if Alabama would have waited only two more years to become a state, West Florida might have been part of it.

Thus, half of my friends are Alabamians, many of my memories take place in Alabama, I root for Alabama football, and I found my wife in Escambia County.

Furthermore, my current career—if that’s what you’d call it— would be nothing if it weren’t for the state of Alabama.

Years ago, when my first book was published, the first thing I did was order 150 copies to give away for Christmas. I

announced this to a few friends. Word spread quick. The next day my email inbox was flooded with book requests from people in Alabama.

And the funny thing is, I didn’t get a single book request from a Floridian except for my cousin who says he used my book to fix a wobbly table.

So to summarize, the people in Alabama are dear to me. In fact, to show you how deep my connection goes, in Alabama my books are sometimes used in gastroenterologist’s offices as tranquilizers for routine colonoscopies.

I am not kidding about this. Yesterday, one Alabamian wrote me to say—and this is a verbatim quote—“Monday I’m going in for my first colonoscopy. I’m not allowed to have a cell phone, but I CAN BRING A BOOK so in a way you’ll be there with me.”

You wouldn’t get this kind of love in, for instance, Idaho.

Anyway, some years later I got another chance to speak at a big Alabama conference. When I arrived at the fancy hotel, it was the same scene as before. All the important state officials were wearing khakis and giving skeptical looks when they learned that a Florida man was their keynote speaker.

I took the podium to see several hundred uninterested faces. And I almost turned around and walked off the stage.

When I finished my speech, I stepped into the hallway to get some air and to reconsider my career path.

There, I met an old man who was waiting for me. He was skinny, gray, unshaven, and his shirt was untucked. He said, “I See Dietrich, page A6

T

he fog was heavy this morning, thick and dense, as I left the house in Smith Station and headed toward 280.

I couldn’t see more than two car lengths ahead of me, so I drove slowly and carefully, my hazard lights blinking out a tiny beacon of light. The roads I’ve driven hundreds of times felt unfamiliar.

The trees seemed like craggy relics, and the buildings weren’t there at all.

The country drive I enjoy every day looked more like a post-apocalyptic movie trailer or a set for the Walking Dead.

That’s the thing about fog – it takes what we know to be true and covers it with a blanket of doubt. It tricks our eyes and our mind into erasing the known and replacing it with a blank unknown.

There are people who are like that – people who see another person’s happiness or success and try to cover it with rumors and doubt and negativity.

They are the most miserable people, in my opinion… the ones who see another person’s joy as a threat to their own. They are the pseudo-friends who will twist reality and try to change perceptions. They are the whisperers who delight in watching someone’s smile disappear. They are the ones who will hug you close only so they can get a better angle to stab you in

By Wendy Hodge

the back.

They are the fog spreaders.

I overheard a conversation the other night at a table in a restaurant (eavesdropping while I eat is one of my hobbies), and it went something like this: Lady #1 (smiling broadly): “Look, there’s your neighbor! She’s so sweet!”

Lady #2 (not a trace of a smile): “Hmmm…. I guess so.”

Lady #1: “I saw on Facebook where she got her Bachelor’s from Auburn. She got to walk at graduation yesterday, and her whole family was there. The signs they made were so sweet.”

Lady #2 : “It took her long enough.

Every single one of her kids graduated before she did. Not sure what she thinks she’ll do with a degree at this point in her life.”

Lady #1 (her smile fading to halfwattage): “She looks so good these days.

She’s lost weight and I heard she even ran in a marathon.”

Lady #2 (still no hint of a smile): “A half marathon. She’ll never get rid of those thighs. Some things are permanent.”

Lady #1 (looking suddenly uncomfortable): “Here she comes.”

Lady #2 (with a

counterfeit smile aimed at the approaching neighbor): “Hey! Long time no see!

You look amazing!!”

And just like that, with a few wellaimed words, what Lady #1 thought was a clear landscape became dark with fog.

What she thought she knew, she is no longer so sure of.

And the neighbor – the one who worked so hard to lose weight and complete her education – she has no idea that the familiar ‘friends’ are not at all what they appeared to be just a moment ago.

But she feels that undercurrent of murky whispers that are swirling around her. Believe me, she feels it.

I watched as the three of them talked for a moment. Lady #1 shifted nervously and couldn’t quite meet anyone’s eye.

Lady #2 held tight to her façade of friendliness which was not quite convincing enough. And the neighbor looked back and forth between the two, with questions in her eyes.

I feel bad for both of them, Lady #1 and the neighbor.

But it’s Lady #2 that fascinates me. Once the conversation had ended and the neighbor returned to her table, Lady #1 said her goodbyes and left Lady #2 all alone. She sat watching her neighbor from across the room glance nervously over her shoulder and See Hodge, page A6

Light that touches all things vibrant pigment. I couldn’t help but see stark resemblance, this observance of nature is quite like the human spirit.

In the right light we see things that we did not notice before.

By casting the right light upon a person, one might aspire to be more than one might’ve perceived capable. I felt compelled to stand nearer the window sill. Instead of retiring to the table, I stood observing and I watched as the light did illuminate the picture. It became all the clearer. The color did not dim. It grew more vivid. Yet, as I admired nature’s portrayal reflecting human likeness, I also considered how this scene might differ at sunset.

There’s a mystery concealed by the darkness, a suffocating cloak which starves discernment. To read the book, one must turn on a light, and open it.

By Sarah West To draw well, a pencil should be sharpened.

And to truly appreciate a thing, we should observe it in all seasons. Times in our life require us to be stewards.

Sometimes we are called to prune and discard weights that otherwise restrain our potential, and at other times we must find comfort and renewal in the environment that we have cultivated through nurturing.

This morning I questioned how well I do know my trees. Both those among the landscape and those who

have defined my life’s geography.

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

She is a preservation and conservation advocate, activist and visual artist of American Illustration with a focus on regional narrative painting. She is the founder of the Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, a center for cultural arts, Smiths

Station, Alabama’s premier fine arts destination. She is the appointed official artist to the city of Smiths Station, a Lee County syndicated columnist, the director of her art center’s Cultural Arts Outreach Initiative, which partners with local schools to make the arts accessible to all. She also serves a chief curator to the city of Smiths Station, City Hall Art Galleries. She is a founding member of the Smith Station

Historic Commission.

She is a member of the Women’s Philanthropy Board-Cary Center, Auburn University College of Human Science.

She is an elected member of the Society of Illustrators-NYC. She mentors art students of every age through weekly classes at her studio located in the heart of Smiths Station.

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

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

pelika O Observer

A5 Dec. 18, 2019

Nominations open for Alabama State Parks Fourth Annual Eagle Awards Special to the Opelika Observer The Alabama State Parks Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will once again recognize special contributors to the parks with its prestigious Eagle Awards, to be presented Feb. 1, 2020 at Lake Guntersville State Park.

Nominations for the fourth annual Eagle Awards are open online at alapark.com/eagleawards and the awards will be presented in five categories: • elected official, community partner, park partner, volunteer

in parks (VIP) and youth. Deadline for submitting nominations is Jan. 6, 2020.

“This special recognition program means a lot to everyone in the Alabama State Parks Division,” said Parks Director Greg Lein. “Our parks could not operate, much less thrive as they are, without the help of individuals and groups that we are able to celebrate each year during an Eagle Awareness Weekend at Lake Guntersville State Park. It’s a challenge to select the Eagle Award winners each year because we have so many people who give

so much of themselves to help our parks.”

Here are brief descriptions of the Eagle Awards categories: • Elected Official: This award honors an elected official who has worked in conjunction with the parks to help fulfill its mission to preserve natural areas, operate recreational facilities and extend the public’s knowledge of the state’s natural environment.

• Community Partner: Parks succeed with the cooperation and support of community organizations such as other government organizations, chambers of commerce, tourism

organizations and local businesses – groups that understand that the success of the park means success for the community.

• Park Partner: Organizations work to provide or maintain amenities in the parks, such as hiking and biking trails, that otherwise might not exist due to the allocation of resources for other services. This award celebrates those partners who see a need and cooperate with park leadership to fill it.

• Volunteer in Parks: These VIPs work in various ways to make our parks system better. Volun-

teers may be providing physical labor or strategic planning to improve one park, or the entire system of parks.

• Youth: Our parks inspire young and old alike, but the impression left on youngsters often lives with them forever. Many turn their love of parks and of outdoors into projects to benefit some of their favorite places – often as part of a Scouting program.

This award, for students 12th grade and younger, honors the person whose contribution is extraordinary.

About Alabama’s

State Parks System The Alabama State Parks is a division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The division maintains 21 parks encompassing approximately 48,000 acres of land and water. These parks rely on visitor fees and the support of other partners like local communities to fund the majority of their operations.

Download the State Parks app at pocketranger.com. For more information about Alabama State Parks, go online to www. alapark.com.Partners PaytheWay.

Scam artists take aim as holiday shopping becomes priority for Alabamians AARP Alabama offers tips to protect holiday shoppers from falling victim Special to the Opelika Observer The holiday season is here, and that presents plenty of opportunities for scammers to spoil Alabamians’ celebrations. A few scams are specific to the holidays, but most are variations on everyday frauds, ramped up to match seasonal spikes in spending and web traffic.

A recently released AARP survey of adults 18 and older found that more than 70% of US adults plan to buy gift cards as presents. More, nearly 1-in-5 report that they have either given or received a gift card that had no funds on it (likely

compromised by a scammer). That’s because gift card fraud shifts into high gear during the holidays. Thieves can hit store gift card racks, scan the numbers off the cards, and then monitor them. As soon as the card is bought and activated, the scammers drain the funds.

Fraud reports in the first three quarters of 2019 showed $74 million has been lost in scams involving gift cards and reloadable cards, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – a huge increase from the $78 million lost in all four quarters of 2018.

Here’s another statistic that scammers are well aware

“Unfortunately, while we are in a state of joy and giving, scammers use this as an opportunity to deceive and steal people’s hard earned money.”

AARP Alabama offers these tips to protect yourself and your family from scammers’ tactics this holiday season: • avoid following links directly from emails or social media to online stores; instead, type the name of the retailer into your web browser. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it may indeed be a scam • to avoid disappointing your gift card recipient, buy cards from protected racks behind

of: 60% of consumers buy holiday gifts online, according to a Deloitte survey.

Scammers set up fake websites and run social media campaigns to drive shoppers to them.

Victims then spend money on products they will never receive as many of these spoofed sites are vehicles for harvesting credit card numbers and other personal data that fraudsters can use to commit identity theft.

“The holiday season brings good cheer and time with family and friends,” shared Evey Owen, Interim Associate State Director of Communications for AARP Alabama.

the store counter or purchase them direct from the retailer online. And always check them for evidence of tampering.

• make sure the charity seeking your donation is legitimate, and that your money will actually be used for good.

Check out the charity on charitynavigator.org or give.org before giving.

AARP’s Fraud Watch Network can help you spot and avoid scams.

Sign up for free Watchdog Alerts at aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork or call our toll-free fraud helpline at 877-908-3360 if you or a loved one suspect that you’ve been a victim.

About AARP AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age.

With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin.

To learn more, visit www.aarp. org/al or follow @ AARPAL on social media.

Year End Tax Planning Tips and Information

By Justin Smith For the Opelika Observer With 2019 nearly over, it’s time to prepare for filing your taxes. Let’s look at a number of tax tips that you should keep in mind before the year draws to a close.

First, defer bonuses or other income into 2020 if possible. The additional income may push you into a higher tax bracket and increase your tax bill. Also, the IRS adjusts tax brackets slightly upward each year to account for inflation.

If you’ve had a good year financially, pushing off any bonuses or other income will defer your tax for a year and will also give you the opportunity to keep some of that money in lower tax brackets.

Next, accelerate deductions if you plan to itemize this year. The standard deduction for 2019 is

$24,400 for married taxpayers, $18,350 for heads of household and $12,200 for single filers.

The 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) nearly doubled the standard deduction, so fewer taxpayers will itemize. However, if you plan to itemize, max out your deductions before year end.

Typical deductions will include medical expenses, charitable contributions (make sure they are legitimate organizations), state and local taxes (including property taxes and automobile ad valorem taxes, and home mortgage interest).

Make sure to obtain receipts and statements for your deductions to help ensure you take advantage of them. One major change is that athletic ticket priority (such as Tigers Unlimited) is no longer deductible at all.

A newer strategy

Smith for itemizing deductions is to bundle them in a single year.

That is, accept the standard deduction in one year, and bundle two years’ worth of deductions in the other year (to the extend possible) to maximize your tax refund.

Prepay your mortgage and charitable giving as much as possible in one year, to be followed by lower or

fewer payments in the next.

Consider contributing to a donor advised fund for charitable purposes. These are funds that allow taxpayers to make charitable contributions (and claim the tax deduction) for future distribution at their discretion. This may help to smooth your giving to recipient organizations

while still providing you a heftier tax deduction in the same year.

Additionally, retirees may wish to contribute any remaining Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from their retirement accounts directly to charity. This avoids claiming the income while simultaneously taking advantage of tax benefits for charitable deductions.

You may also increase contributions to your retirement account such as an Individual Retirement Account with a $6,000 limit (plus another $1,000 if you are over 50) or 401(k) or 403(b) through your employer with a $19,000 limit (plus another $6,000 if you are over 50) to boost your savings and reduce your taxable income.

Prepay college tuition if you’re eligible to take advantage of bwenefits such as the American Opportuni-

ty Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit).

You may also wish to sell stock investments that have realized significant losses, especially if you have capital gains that you’d like to shelter from tax.

While federal tax law limits capital losses to $3,000 per year for married filers ($1,500 for singles), they can be carried forward to future years or used to offset gains.

Alabama does not limit such losses, so that is an added benefit.

Year-end planning can be a challenge, so reach out to a tax professional with questions or concerns.

Justin Smith is a licensed certified public accountant in Opelika specializing in individual and small business tax and accounting. He can be contacted at 334-400-9234 or Justin@JSmithCPA.net.

His website is www. jsmithcpa.net.

pelika O Opinion

A6 Dec. 18, 2019

The National Park Service selects Opelika, seven other communities for outdoor recreation and conservation project support initiative Special to the Opelika Observer On Nov. 20, the National Park Service (NPS) Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) announced the selection of eight new communities and partners across the South Atlantic-Gulf Region to receive expert consultation from NPS on projects to help spur local recreation, conservation and economic development opportunities, including The Creekline Trails project in Opelika.

“Through the techni-

cal assistance program, RTCA works with local partners to create new parks, greenspace and trails, while also protecting important water resources,” said Deirdre Hewitt, RTCA Program Manager, NPS. “We do this by pairing our network of professional landscape architects and community planners with communities to achieve on-the-ground successes.”

The recipients — located in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi and South Carolina — were selected through a com-

petitive process and will receive assistance to help make their rivers, trails, greenways and open spaces vital, life-enhancing parts of their com-

munities. Following is a background on The Creekline Project: “In the city of Opelika, a grassroots campaign has begun, inspiring residents to

envision the future with increased outdoor recreation access through ‘Creekline Trails of Opelika.’ The Creekline Trails of Opelika is a greenway vision, highlighted by the unique watershed found in Opelika. The greenway is intended to immerse the community in a system of trails, greenspaces and waterways in a seamless manner that encourages active recreation by walking, biking and paddling. In this endeavor to create new spaces for recreation, a focus on the preservation of natural lands and waterways

will be a primary focus. The project goal is to assist community leaders and the city in creating a master plan for the trail system that connects natural areas in a feasible network.”

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov or like and follow their social media pages.

Local groups welcome guest speakers, Anthony Terling receives award, PACE plans award banquet

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer Opelika Rotary had Mark Grantham as a guest speaker. Mark serves as the director for Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity. He shared about their partnerships with many local civic groups and building science department at Auburn University. They have recently completed the 68th home (with Rotary as a local sponsor) in this area and will soon start on House 69. He discussed specifics about the housing program from how the local board selects applicants, to how the projects are funded and paid back to Habitat. In the photo from left to right, President Shey Knight, Mark Grantham and past President Nathan Kastner.

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer People of Action for Community Enrichment meets every second Saturday of the month at Golden Corral. PACE is a diverse-minded group of individuals who exhibit leadership qualities in the area of community service and who are dedicated to helping others. PACE supports the food bank, Auburn Daycare and several other organizations. Awards that are given out annually are presented at the January banquet.

Dietrich, from A4 was hoping I’d catch you, Sean.”

He had a warm smile, and he looked tired. We shook hands. Then he handed me a tattered book. I recognized it instantly. It was my book.

A book I once gave away at Christmas, a lifetime ago.

He told me the book had once belonged to his wife. And before she died of breast cancer, she made him promise to get it signed.

Even if he had to do it

after she died.

The night of her funeral he read my book cover to cover—my piddly, ordinary, mediocre book. Then he read it again. And again.

And a few more times.

And now he simply wanted me to sign it.

So naturally, by the time he finished his story the two of us were crying like a couple of blithering idiots. I’m pretty sure I got snot all over his shirt. Then we went to lunch and we talked for hours.

Before we parted, he hugged me. And in a drawl so thick it belonged on cornbread, he

said, “Sean, I love you.

And I hereby proclaim you an honorary Alabamian, son.”

It’s been official ever since.

I want to wish a happy 200th birthday to the state of Alabama.

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.

Hodge, from A4 Lady #1 walk quickly through the door with a confused expression on her face. And it was then, at that moment, that Lady #2 finally smiled. And it hurt my heart. She’s a fog spreader, and she’s happiest when others are shaken and off balance. There is a hole in her soul, and she fills it by hurting others.

Phooey to the fog spreaders!

But – here’s another

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer Congratulations to Kiwanis club member Anthony Terling on receiving the Communicator Award from Alabama Easter Seals.

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer Dr. David Newton spoke to the Opelika Kiwanis club last week about climate change. Pictured are Joanne Camp, Newton and Rickey Elliott.

thing about fog: It’s temporary. No matter how thick it gets, it burns away and disappears, leaving behind the truth. And so it went this morning – the skyline began to emerge, tree branches showed themselves again, and there was the world we all knew just as we’d left it. With hazard lights off, I finished my drive to Opelika, thankful to have made it through the hazy unknown.

And isn’t that the best we can hope for?

Because there will always be fog and those

who love to spread it, we have to hold tight to what we know to be true, have faith in the ones who love us, and pray there is no damage done by the dark that cannot be undone by the light.

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.

Opelika E vents, Society, & Food

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: • Dec. 20 - Martha’s Trouble Christmas at The Sound Wall • Dec. 21 - Fa-La-La Festival at Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library • Dec. 31 - New Year’s Eve Bash at The Bottling Plant Event Center • Jan. 10 - Rough and Tumble in concert at Sundilla • Jan. 15 - Dan Navarro at The Sound Wall

After difficult year, Sistrunk family thankful to be together at Christmas Ann Cipperly’s

Southern

Hospitality

A

blue and black ribbon hangs over the mailbox at the home of Ellen and Mark Sistrunk.

It has been a difficult year for the Sistrunk family. Their son Justin and his wife Laura lost their first baby, and their other son Webb was one of three Auburn policemen shot last spring. Ellen retired from work she loved, and Mark’s mother, June, left her home to move in with them. While there have been heartbreaks and changes over the year, the Sistrunks are thankful to be together at Christmas.

“This year has put a lot

have had. It has really set our focus on the Lord.”

Ellen taught at Trinity Christian School, a classical and Christian academy, for 22 years, with six years teaching music and 16 years as a history teacher in middle school and high school.

Her last day of school was May 17.

On Sunday night, May 19, Webb was shot. One of the three officers was killed, and the other two survived. Webb was in the hospital five days. He stayed with his parents for a couple of weeks afterwards to recover. While he was at his parents’

in perspective,” Ellen said.

“Between my retirement, losing our grandchild Thaddeus Hale Sistrunk, Webb being shot and my mother-in-law moving in, it has been a long year. Thanksgiving and Christmas are very special this year.

“While Mark and I were watching the Auburn-Alabama game,” Ellen added.

“It seemed so incidental after the year we have had. The Lord has gotten my attention about how merciful He is. Our entire family has grown closer to the Lord because of the losses we faced and the potential losses we could

Opelika Center for the Performing Arts to host the Siberian State Symphony Orchestra on Jan. 29

Photo by Ann Cipperly This past year has been difficult for the Sistrunk family of Opelika. Their son Webb, an Auburn policeman, was shot in May, and their son Justin and his wife Laura lost their first child. With the Sistrunks’ strong faith, Christmas will be a special time this year. Pictured are, from left, Ellen, Mark and June Sistrunk, Webb’s fiance Leslie Turner and Webb.

home in Collinwood, the neighborhood placed blue and black bows on all their mailboxes in honor of the injured policeman.

At the end of October, June, who is 89 years old, moved in with Ellen and Mark. While it is always an adjustment to leave the home you have lived in most of your life, June finds it has been easier than she expected. She has her own space downstairs and enjoys a Bible study

every day with Ellen.

Ellen grew up in western Alabama in a small town called Eutaw. She went to a small private school and graduated with the same students in her kindergarten class.

Her grandmother and mother both had a love for music and studied music in college.

While her grandmother went to a lady’s conservatory to study music in Cincinnati, Ohio her mother,

who was an only child, had a minor in music from a school at Tulane in New Orleans. The musical family enjoyed singing together.

Ellen’s grandmother did not enjoy cooking, and her mother learned to cook after she was married. One of her mother’s favorite dishes is Husband’s Delight, a recipe from a neighbor when she See Cipperly, page A11

‘Martha’s Trouble Christmas’ to be held this Friday and Saturday

Special to the Opelika Observer The Siberian State Symphony Orchestra will perform at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Direct from Krasnoyarsk, Russia, the Siberian State Symphony Orchestra is embarking on an eight-week U.S. tour that will begin this month.

Founded in 1977, the orchestra quickly won a reputation as one of the best orchestras from Russia.

The orchestra plays with the finest Russian soloists and plays

Special to the Opelika Observer

Siberian State Symphony Orchestra the country’s classics throughout Russia and the world. In 2015, Maestro Lande became its artistic di-

Rob and Jen Slocumb, better known as the folk duo “Mar-

tha’s Trouble” and owners of The Sound Wall in downtown Opelika, would like to invite you to close out 2019 with them

at the venue for “A Martha’s Trouble Christmas” on Dec. 20 and 21. Seating is See Slocumb, page A9

rector. The orchestra has numerous recordings with Naxos. Its regional mission is See Orchestra, page A9

Book your Holiday Party with us!

We offer full service off site catering, delivery or pick up options for events, and private dining events at our Opelika location.

Visit our website niffersplace.com/catering for private dining room requests and event menus, or contact cater@niffersplace.com.

Monday-Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM

A8 Dec. 18, 2019

pelika O Observer

Victorian Front Porch Tours bring crowds to Opelika’s historic Northside District

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Rebecca Rice Cell: 334-703-0801 rebecca@johnrice.info

pelika O Observer

A9 Dec. 18, 2019

Montgomery the site of Alabama200 festivities last Saturday

Slocumb, from A7

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Gov. Kay Ivey waves to the crowd gathered in downtown Montgomery for last Saturday’s Alabama200 festivities. Be sure to check the Christmas edition of the Observer for more photos from the bicentennial parade that took place in downtown Montgomery.

limited to just 50 each night, and they encourage those interested to reserve their tickets as soon as possible via www.eventbrite. com.

In 2001, Martha’s Trouble was booked to do a concert in Murphy, North Carolina and the owners of the venue asked the duo if they could mix in a few Christmas tunes into their show. As a result of that night, in the small mountain town of their first Christmas

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album “Christmas Lights” was born.

USA Today listed Christmas Lights in their Top-10 Christmas albums that year.

Each year, the Slocumbs look forward to A Martha’s Trouble Christmas, as they love performing these Christmas Songs and celebrating the Christmas season with fans.

They would like to wish each and every one of their fans a very Merry Christmas!

Orchestra, from A7 to act as educators in the Siberian region.

All concerts will be led

by Vladimir Lande, music director and conductor of the Siberian State Symphony Orchestra, as well as music Director and the conductor of Washington Soloists Chamber Orchestra and the Music Director of COSMIC Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are available for purchase by calling 334749-8105 or visiting www. eastalabamarts.org. The venue is located within Opelika High School at 1700 Lafayette Parkway.

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pelika Observer O

A10 Dec. 18, 2019

City of Smiths Station holds eighth annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Thursday

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

Photos submitted to the Opelika Observer The city of Smiths Station hosted its eighth annual “Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony” last Thursday. The celebration included performances of Christmas classics from elementary school students, train rides around the Smiths Station Government Center and a fireworks show, which was new to this year’s event. For more information or photos, like and follow the city of Smiths Station’s Facebook page or visiting www.smithsstational.gov.

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pelika O Observer Cipperly, from A7 lived in Massachusetts.

After high school in Eutaw, Ellen attended Auburn University, majoring in political science and pre-law. In her senior year, Ellen did an internship at Judge Mike Nix’s office where Mark’s mother was his secretary.

Ellen and June became good friends, and she introduced Ellen to Mark, who was an Auburn policeman.

Since Ellen did not know how to cook, she watched June prepare dishes and asked ques-

Recipes Breakfast Casserole for Christmas morning Recipe from Joyce M. White 1 lb. sausage (mild or hot)* 3 slices bread, cubed 6 eggs 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. dry mustard 2 cups milk Grated cheddar cheese, divided Fry and drain sausage.

Place bread cubes in bottom of 10x13 baking dish sprayed with Pam. Sprinkle sausage over bread cubes. Blend together eggs, salt, mustard and milk.

Add part of the cheese.

Pour this over the sausage and bread cubes.

Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. It is better made the night before and refrigerated.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serves 10-12.

Can be frozen ahead of time. Thaw before cooking. *We use Capps Sausage, which can be purchased at the Capps’ store at Lee Road 100, Beauregard.

Cornbread Dressing with Chicken June Sistrunk 1 whole chicken plus 2 to 3 thighs Cornbread (I cook cornbread in two 10-inch cast iron skillets.)

2-3 onions, chopped Celery to taste, chopped 1 stick butter 8 eggs 2 cans cream of chicken soup 1 box (32 oz.) Swanson’s Chicken Broth, if needed Three 9 x 12-inch aluminum pans, optional Cover chicken and thighs with water and boil until chicken falls off bones. Remove chicken from broth; set broth aside. Debone chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces.

Let cornbread cool.

Sauté chopped onions and celery in butter until soft.

To mix cornbread and chicken, you will need a very large bowl. (I mix the mixture in a 20-inch aluminum bowl.)

Mix cut-up chicken and cornbread thoroughly.

Add sautéed onions and celery; mix thoroughly.

In a separate bowl, mix eggs and two cans cream of chicken soup. Add to mixture in large bowl.

Add broth a little at a time to cornbread mixture. You want the consistency of thin grits.

Too much liquid makes it hard to cook. If you run out of broth from

A11 Dec. 18, 2019

tions. She is sharing June’s Cornbread Dressing with Chicken and Peanut Brittle recipes.

After Ellen and Mark married, they would switch spending Christmas between her mother’s home in Eutaw and Mark’s mother in Society Hill. June would read Justin and Webb the “Night Before Christmas” before they went to bed.

“We would have Santa gifts,” says Ellen, “but the boys always knew the real reason of Christmas. I would read them the book, ‘Santa’s Favorite Story,’ about Santa telling the story of Jesus.

“When our sons were

young, Mark would get up early to see their expressions when they saw their gifts. He would play with them after they opened their toys. He has always been a wonderful father and is close to both boys.”

Mark was a policeman when their sons were young. Then, he went to work at Uniroyal for two years. He had an opportunity to buy Ledbetter Wrecker Service. After a while, Mark and business partner John Toney changed the name to Big Blue Towing. He continued to have friends who were policemen.

Justin and Laura live in Jackson, Georgia. Webb lives in Opelika and has

recovered and returned to work at the Auburn Police Department.

While Webb had to work Thanksgiving, he will probably be off for Christmas. Justin and Laura will visit over the holiday. Mark does a great deal of the cooking and will cook breakfast Christmas morning. The Breakfast Casserole is made the night before and baked Christmas morning. Mark will use Capps sausage in the casserole.

Ellen is also sharing several recipes her mother made at Christmas, including the Charlotte Russe.

“Christmas is going to be a mixed bag,” Ellen

said. “Justin and Laura lost a baby at 20 weeks last April that should be here but is not. We are thankful that Webb is alive. It is an odd emotion. I don’t know if I could describe what Christmas will be like because I won’t know until it happens. I trust the Lord because He is the one who has gotten us right here.

He has a plan and a purpose.

“Christmas will take a different meaning for me because it showed me how sovereign God is and how good He is,” she adds.

“The fact that God would take the human form and come down born as a baby and know that He was going to suffer.

“As a parent I look at my son being shot or my children going through the loss of a baby, and it is heart wrenching and terrible. I cannot imagine what God the Father must have thought when God the Son was being born, knowing He was going to have to grow up and suffer.

“I think Christmas is going to be a mixed bag of things,” Ellen states. “I am thankful without a doubt because of Webb, and hope Justin and Laura will be able to start their family again, so it will be a joyful time for them as well.”

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

cooked chicken, use Swanson’s chicken broth.

I put cornbread mixture in three greased 9 x 12-inch aluminum pans and freeze.

When ready to bake, turn oven to 375 degrees. Cook for 1 to 1½ hours until dressing is firm and springy and brown on top. Enjoy!

powder and olives. Mix until smooth and then add parsley. Let stand about 10 minutes.

Shape into a ball and roll in pecans. Wrap in foil and keep refrigerated. Can be frozen.

Serves about 30.

Alternate cheeses used: Bleu cheese and Roquefort.

Frozen strawberries, thawed Strawberry pie filling Pecans, optional Drain all cans in a colander. Put fruit in a large bowl. Cut up pears and peaches into bite-size pieces.

Add thawed strawberries to bowl. Then add strawberry pie filling. Make at least 3 hours before serving.

Store in refrigerator.

Wait 30 minutes before serving to add sliced bananas.

1 tsp. lemon extract 1 tsp. run flavored extract 1 tsp. butter flavored extract 1 tsp. vanilla extract Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 10 inch tube pan or 2 loaf pans.

In a small bowl combine flour and baking powder. Set aside.

In a measuring cup, combine milk and each flavoring.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, and beat until smooth. Beat in flour mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.

Pour into a greased tube pan and bake for 1½ - 1¾ hours or until done or in greased loaf pans bake about 1 hour or until done. Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then place on a wire rack for rest of cooling.

until smooth. Add spring onions, mixing thoroughly.

Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

Layer noodles on bottom of dish; then add meat sauce on top.

Spread cream cheese mixture over meat sauce. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top in desired amount.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Serves 8. Can be made ahead and frozen.

Charlotte Rousse Served every Christmas at Ellen’s family 1 dozen lady fingers 1 pint whipping cream 3 eggs 7/8 cup sugar 1 envelope plain gelatin 2 Tbsp. whiskey 1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup milk Separate eggs yolks from whites. Beat egg yolks thoroughly. Add sugar and beat well.

Add vanilla and whiskey slowly so the eggs don’t “cook”.

Dissolve gelatin in ¼ cup cold water. Scald the milk but do not boil. Add gelatin to the hot milk and dissolve.

Let cool and when it is lukewarm; pour slowly over the egg yolk mixture.

Take the whites and beat until stiff. Also, stiffly beat the cream.

Fold the whites and beaten cream into egg yolk mixture. Line a bowl with the lady fingers, split in half. Pour mixture over the lady fingers and place in refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

Serves 10. *Don’t consume raw eggs if you are pregnant or have health issues.

Can use pasteurized eggs.

Spicy Holiday Cheese Ball Recipe by Lil G. Webb Ellen’s Mother’s favorite 1 lb. Wisconsin cheese, grated 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, room temperature ½ onion, chopped fine 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce Dash cayenne pepper 1 tsp. chili powder 1 Tbsp. chopped parsley 1 small jar stuffed green olives, chopped 1 cup finely chopped pecans Mix both cheeses together in an electric mixer. Add onion, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, chili

Cotton Patch Spinach Ellen’s family has this every holiday.

Recipe by Lil G Webb 3 pkgs. frozen chopped spinach 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, room temperature 1-2 Tbsp. sour cream 1 Tbsp. grated onion 1-2 tsp. grated lemon rind 1 stick butter, melted, divided ¼ tsp. mace, optional Salt and pepper to taste Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing Mix Cook spinach according to package. Drain spinach in a colander and squeeze out as much juice as you can.

While warm, add cream cheese, sour cream, onion, lemon rind, half of melted butter, mace if using, salt and pepper. Mix well and place in greased large casserole dish.

Take the remaining melted butter and add to stuffing mix (enough to cover casserole) and pour over spinach mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Serves 6.

Uncle Elmer’s Peanut Brittle Made every year and given as gifts too!

From Mark’s uncle 2 cups sugar ½ cup light corn syrup ¼ cup water 2 cups dry roasted peanuts 1 tsp. baking soda 1 Tbsp. butter Cook together sugar, syrup and water in a heavy pan on low heat about 2-3 minutes. Add peanuts.

Mix soda and butter and add to syrup. Pour into a 10 x 15 pan with sides.

Let cool and break apart into pieces for serving or as a gift in a Christmas tin!

Easy Fruit Salad 2 large cans chunk pineapple 2 regular cans pears 1 small can peaches Bananas

Mrs. Billie’s Chocolate Chip Cookies A favorite cookie of the kids at Christmas.

Recipe by Sara Edde Wilson (sister-in-law) 1 cup butter or margarine, softened ½ cup vegetable shortening 1 1/3 cup sugar 1 cup packed brown sugar 4 eggs 1 Tbsp. vanilla 1 tsp. lemon juice 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1 ½ tsp. salt 1 tsp. ground cinnamon (optional) ½ cup oats 2 (12 oz.) pkgs of semi- sweet chocolate chips 2 cups chopped pecans In larger mixer bowl, beat butter shortening, sugar and brown sugar on high speed until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after adding each one. Beat in vanilla and lemon juice.

In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and oats. Gradually add to butter mixture.

Blend thoroughly. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Use a scant ¼ cup of dough for each cookie.

Drop dough on to lightly greased baking sheets. Space about 3 inches apart. For soft cookies, bake at 325 degrees for 17-19 minutes, and for crisp cookies bake at 350 degrees for 16-18 minutes.

Five Flavor Pound Cake 1 cup butter, softened ½ cup shortening 3 cups white sugar 5 eggs, beaten 3 cups all-purpose flour ½ tsp. baking powder 1 cup milk 1 tsp. coconut extract

Sandra’s Pecan Pie Sistrunk family favorite Recipe by Sandra S. Trammell ( Mark’s sister) 3 eggs ½ cup melted butter 1 cup Karo syrup 1 cup sugar 1 cup pecan halves Beat together eggs, butter, syrup and sugar until smooth. Fold in pecans. Pour into an unbaked pie crust and bake at 300 degrees until brown. (Can be baked at 350 degrees for 15 minutes to speed up baking.)

When you’re tired of turkey and ham, try these recipes.

Ellen’s Mother’s Husband Delight 1 lb. ground chuck 1 clove garlic, minced Salt and pepper to taste 1 tsp. sugar Two 8 oz. cans tomato sauce Two 8 oz. pkg. medium egg noodles 5 spring (green) onions, chopped 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 8 oz. sour cream Grated cheddar cheese for topping Brown ground beef and pour off excel fat.

Stir in garlic, salt and pepper, sugar and tomato sauce. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

Cook noodles and drain. Blend cream cheese and sour cream

Chicken and Dumplings Recipe by June Sistrunk Whole chicken ½ stick butter 1 can cream of chicken soup ½ - ¾ cup self-rising flour 1 or 2 Tbsp. of shortening (to make the flour crumbly) 1 cup of water Cook chicken until tender. Cool and debone the chicken. Add the deboned chicken back to the broth. Add butter and chicken soup to the broth.

Make dumplings by taking a fork and working the shortening into the flour, making it a crumbly consistency. Add water until doughy. Take a cutting board and sprinkle with flour. Knead the dough and roll out about ¼ inch thick.

Cut strips of dough with a knife. Bring chicken broth to a boil and put in dough strips one at a time. Stir occasionally to keep strips from sticking to one another. Don’t over stir.

After all dough is added, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes with the pot covered. Serve with warm cornbread.

Hot Chicken Salad Great for a small luncheon on a cold day.

Recipe by Lil G Webb 2 cans chunk chicken 1 cup celery, chopped 1 can cream of chicken soup Lemon juice ½ cup mayonnaise Chopped onions (to suit your taste) Potato chips, plain 1 block grated sharp cheddar, divide into half Combine everything except chips and half of cheese. Put into a greased casserole dish and top with a mixture of potato chips and remaining cheese. Bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees.

pelika O Observer

A12 Dec. 18, 2019

‘A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices…’

O

Holy Night has been a favorite holiday tune of mine for years. I listen to multiple versions every Christmas season and the words fill my soul with deeper and deeper meaning each year.

And each year, the Lord moves me and molds me with a new heart on which to see His people. I look to this every December.

I cling to His story and the great love He lavished on all of us.

This year, like all others, my eyes have been opened. I have received glimpses of greatness as well as seedlings of the small details in God’s work.

The truth is, there is weary and hurt and sorrow all around us in this Joyful season.

And we often separate ourselves from the weak, as to not damper our own light of Happiness. We prefer the comfort and safety of our own lives.

However, how can

one truly feel the Hope of the Lord of we don’t first see despair?

I visited the Lee County prison recently as part of a prison ministry in my church. Our group is made up mostly of women, and we serve the men and women being detained here locally.

We enter the building and walk through the brick chambers and concrete floors through multiple locked heavy doors, past guards, past inmates and into a room, we are allowed to use to show these people who the Lord is.

So, we show up. We deliver smiles along with a few goodies they’re allowed to take back to their cell.

Pen, envelopes and paper for writing notes. A sudoku or cross-word to pass the time. Maybe a book of their choice to read. And cards passed out by a tiny

By Bradley Robertson

white-headed lady in her old age, skimming through the collection in the hopes of sharing something sweet for a human being held inside their mistake.

I told them each Merry Christmas and made sure to shake their hands. There is something holy in human touch. It reminds us we are the same.

Warm skin, created by the Lord, with a beating heart and a soul placed in each of us.

I know nothing of any person that walks into our mission. I don’t need to. Would

it change if I saw the record for which they are being held account? Would it put fear in me and drive me to step away?

Probably. I don’t want to know. In the same way, I’d rather not the world know my mistakes and misfortune.

These men and women show up on their own accord.

They are not required to visit with us, but it is a choice. We always tell them thank you for choosing to come. There are many who do not, but for the ones who come, they are living up to

find love.

One of our group members does a bible lesson with them each session. They hear the word of the Lord and receive a prayer upon leaving. In their tattered white, ghostly uniforms and shabby hair and scars, they are given grace. In their space of weakness, they are given hope.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many…” -Mark 10:45 These words are spoken aloud in the middle of hard walls and hardened hearts.

Ransom. For many.

My eyes well in this round, cold room. Not just for the men in front of me, but for my own soul, saved, with a cost.

God sent himself.

For me. For prisoners.

For the helpless. For the homeless. For the hungry. For the poor.

For the saints and the sinners. For all.

“A thrill of Hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morning.”

We rejoice in the Hope of a baby. We celebrate the birth of the one who saves us all. Love came down, from a God who cares.

How will you share the Hope of Christ this season? I encourage to reach for the weary. Find a space that appears hopeless and feel the filling of hope.

And when Christmas day arrives, your soul will be filled and you’ll hear the angles voices.

Merry Christmas friends!

Bradley Robertson is a local mother, wife and creative.

She’s an Auburn University graduate, loves good food and getting outside with her family. Bradley enjoys feature writing, as well as southern culture and lifestyle writing.

Memorial service for Aniah Blanchard to be live-streamed Dec. 21 from Birmingham Special to the Opelika Observer The family of Aniah Blanchard has announced final plans for a memorial service

honoring her life.

A celebration of life will be held Dec. 21 at 12 p.m. at Faith Chapel, which is located at 100 Mike Moore Blvd. in Birmingham.

The memorial service is open to the public and will be streamed online via www.faithchapel. net/faithchapeltv and through the church’s

Facebook page www. facebook.com/faithchapelbham.

A private repast and graveside burial will be held for family only at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Aniah’s name to the following agencies: Texas Equusearch Mounted

Search and Recovery, Children’s Hospital of Alabam or the Greater Birmingham Humane Society in honor of her beloved dog “Bloo.”

OBITUARIES Emma Frances McKnight Powell Emma Frances McKnight Powell, 85, went to her heavenly home on December 10, 2019. Frances was born on September 4, 1934 to Andrew Jackson McKnight and Sarah Melissa Bragg McKnight in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

A celebration of her life was held at 2 p.m. Friday, December 13, 2019 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Prior to the service the family will greet friends and loved ones from 1 to 2 p.m.

After graduating from the Tennessee School for the Deaf in Knoxville, TN, Frances was a Dorm Supervisor at the Florida School for the Deaf in St. Augustine, FL. Frances went on to meet and marry the love of her life, Billy on February 25, 1978 and make their home in Opelika, AL. After moving to Opelika, Frances made her 33 year career at Craftsmaster Printers as an Office Assistant. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Opelika and an active member of the Deaf Sunday School

Class. Frances had a kind and generous spirit and was a joy to be around.

She showed kindness to others in many ways.

Frances had many loving friends and family that enjoyed spending time with her and Billy.

Mrs. Powell is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Willie Lee (Billy) Powell; sisters: Martha Helen McKnight (Robert Lee) Underwood, Nancy Louise McKnight (Carlton Glynn) Craddock; brother-in-law Wallace Powell; and sister-in-law Mary Powell Bankston.

She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters: Minnie Andrea McKnight (Ewing) Barrett, Mattie Kate McKnight (Bob) Kress, Dorothy Grace McKnight (Bob) Wallace, Betty Alexine McKnight (Rudy) White, Doris Nell McKnight (Richard) Cromer.

Family requests donations be made to The First Baptist Church of Opelika, AL or the Alabama Baptist Conference for the Deaf.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.

Patricia Ann Mustain Patricia Ann Mustain, 77, of Opelika, Alabama passed away Thursday, December 12, 2019. She was born September 27,1942, in Santa Cruz, California.

She worked for Madonna Del Sasso Catholic School in Salinas, California as a third-grade teacher.

She loved teaching and learning and after retiring, she joined the Oshner Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). She was an active member of St.

Edward Allen Rogers A memorial service for Edward Allen Rogers was held at 2 p.m. on Dec. 14 at JeffcoatTrant Funeral Home.

Mr. Rogers passed away Sunday, December 8th at EAMC. Mr. Rogers was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Edward Allen Rogers, Sr. and Bernie Jane McCormack.

Michael’s Parish and enjoyed helping others through volunteering with Saint Vincent de Paul and the Food Bank of East Alabama.

She will forever be remembered for her faith, devotion and love of family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, John Michael Mustain; her parents Walter and Esther Dever; sister, Marjorie Garbini; daughter, Amy Mustain; and son, Michael Mustain.

She is survived by her daughter, Erica (Blaine) Foose of

Auburn, Alabama; granddaughters, Abigail and Emily Foose of Auburn, Alabama; brother Michael Dever of Eureka, Montana; sister-in-law Susan Williams of Albuquerque, New Mexico; nieces Victoria (Robert) Frey of Denver, Colorado, Kyla Dever of San Diego, California and Erin Dever of Scotts Valley, California.

The family would like to thank Synergy Homecare, her Care Giver Denese and all her wonderful friends for their care and compassion for the last 6

months, and all others who visited and kept her in their thoughts and prayers.

A Memorial Mass was held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 18, 2019, at St. Michael The Archangel, 1100 N. College St. in Auburn.

In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of Patricia Mustain may be made to Bethany House Hospice 1171 Gatewood Dr. Building 100, Auburn, Alabama 36830.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Homes and Crematory www.jeffcoattrant. com

He graduated from Auburn University with a BS in Engineering. He was employed with Goodyear in Barberton, Ohio as a chemical engineer. He later went to work for Ampex Magnetic Tape in Opelika until they went out of business.

At that time he went back to Goodyear but in Beaumont, Texas.

At retirement, he and

his wife returned to Opelika.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn Rogers, his furry baby Jack; children: Mark Rogers of Beaumont, Texas, Wendy (Joey) Hardee of Opelika, Kristi Butler of Beaumont, Texas; grandchildren: Amber (Eric) Gooden, Audrey Hardee all of Opelika, Kyliann Butler, Kassidy Butler,

Tommy Butler all of Beaumont, Texas; great grandchildren: Brayden Gooden, Carly Gooden, Ryleigh Rogers all of Opelika; and brother Clark (Nan) Rogers of New Hartford, Connecticut.

In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.

To have your loved one’s obituary published in the Opelika Observer, email us at: editor@opelikaobserver.com or call 334-749-8003

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Opelika

amily &

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A13 Dec. 18, 2019

eligion

It always works that way I

have an article in front of me from Merriam-Webster. com on “How ‘Wonderful’ Lost Its Sense of Wonder.” It discusses semantic bleaching—the process by which a word’s meaning can fade over time so that what we end up with as its popular usage is a greatly reduced version of what it originally conveyed.

Words like love, awesome, myriad, terrible, literally, genius and forever are all examples of this. Georg con der Gabelentz, the German linguist often credited for this concept, likened bleaching to a thriving, productive worker who first has his hours reduced and then is forced into retirement so that he no

longer makes the contribution he once did to the workforce. In the same way, these words that have been bleached no longer make the same contribution to language that they once did.

All of this is true because language is never a stagnant thing (unless it’s a “dead” like Latin or Sanskrit). It’s continually evolving. In the case of bleaching, big, huge words like “miraculous” that applied to Jesus stilling a storm (and a sea) are now applied to the great play your son made at his baseball game.

A fine play no doubt, but he defied no laws of nature in making it. Nonetheless, we’re lazy, we employ big words to increase the

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

stature of small things, and before you know it—the big words have lost their big meaning.

That’s where we are with wonder as well as a host of other words that at one time said something significant about God. Now they are also used to describe someone’s new shoes, a current movie or a teenager’s latest crush.

Once this happens (verbicide as C. S.

Church calendar

• Pepperell Baptist’s youth program meets on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. This is an evening of prayer, Bible Study and discussion. For more information, call 334-7453108.

• Dec. 18, 20 and 24 - First Baptist Church of Opelika will be holding a number of Christmasthemed performances and services to celebrate and welcome in the holiday season. For more information, call 334-745-5715 or visit www.fbcopelika.com.

• Dec. 19 - Auburn

United Methodist Church will hold a special advent service from noon to 1 p.m.

The church is located at 137 S. Gay St. • Dec. 24 - First United Methodist Church of Opelika will host its annual Christmas candlelight and communion services on Dec. 24, with three service times set for 3, 5 and 11 p.m.

• Dec. 24 - Grace United Methodist Church in Auburn will hold its Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m.

The church is located at 915 E. Glenn Ave.

Catch ‘On the Mark’ with D. Mark Mitchell and Jeff Sasser weekday mornings from 7-9 a.m.

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

If our hearts are right, we will want to think and speak about God in ways that accurately reflect His glory, majesty and uniqueness.

There’s a high possibility that will be challenging and a certainty it will be renewing.

As we approach the glorious truths of the Nativity, I challenge all of us to see it anew—to move out of the shallows and into the deeper water. Our bleached-out spirits will be revived as we come strive to grips with His grandeur. As He gets bigger, we’ll get better. It always works that way.

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

Verse of the Week

Events can be emailed to the Observer at editor@opelikaobserver.com.

ANGLICAN Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd 2312 Center Drive Unit D #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. #444-5148 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

Lewis called it), it’s difficult to use them effectively in reference to God. It would be like if we started using the word “ocean” for mud puddles or “hurricane” to refer to the weather every time it rained.

There would be a definite disconnect when we tried to go back and use them to speak of the Atlantic, the Pacific or the season’s latest hurricane.

All of this is worth bringing up because if God has been diminished in our language, it’s likely because He has been diminished in our lives. There is a reason the Israelites were commanded to be careful about how they referred to the Almighty One. Our words reflect our thoughts.

For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

2

Hebrews 2:2-3 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 CHURCH OF GOD Airview Church of God 3015 Old Opelika Rd #749-9112 Church of God 114 17th Place #7496432 Tabernacle Church of God 3 Oak Court #745-7979 CHURCH OF NAZARENE Opelika Church of Nazarene 1500 Bruce Ave. #749-1302 EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave. #745-2054 HOLINESS Eastside Emmanuel Holiness Church 86 Lee Road 186 Opelika, Ala. 36804 JEWISH Beth Shalom Congregation 134 S. Cary Dr. #826-1050 LATTERDAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints 510 Groce St. #742-9981 METHODIST First United Methodist Church of Opelika 702 Avenue A #745-7604 Hopewell United Methodist 1993 Lee Rd 136 #745-0460 Pierce Chapel United Methodist

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

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

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A14 Dec. 18, 2019

Community Calendar: Events around town Ongoing: • Village Friends/ Village Values is a nonprofit organization that supports seniors who prefer to stay in their own homes as they grow older. For info or to schedule a presentation to your group, call 334-209-4641.

For the website, Google “village friends village values.”

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

Pick up is provided.

Please call Linda Shabo at 887-6659 or at 256-307-1449.

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

Parkway in Opelika.

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

• The Touched

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

• The fourth Monday of each month, a community grief support group meets from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center. No reservations are necessary; everyone is welcome. For more information, call 8261899 or 502-0216.

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

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

• The Commercial Horticulture Extension Team organizes webinars to provide quick updates for producers on various topics of inter-

est. Whether you are interested in the proper way to plant fruit trees or have questions in turf management, these webinars cover a wide range of subjects. Webinars are streamed live via Panopto on the last Monday of every month starting in January and ending in November. During the presentation, participants can send questions via email. The webinars also are recorded and stored in the archive on the Beginning Farmer website. Webinar topics include: trap cropping for reducing squash insect pests, cowpea curculio updates, nutsedge control, introduction to potting mixes in ornamental container production, dealing with drought in commercial horticulture crops and many more.

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

Tuesdays: • Ballroom Dance Classes at the Opelika SportsPlex from 7 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday. Instructor is Cody Wayne Foote. For more info, call Diane at 749-6320.

• The East Alabama Old Car Club

Upcoming Events • Dec. 17 at 5 p.m.

- Kids eat for 99 cents at Niffer’s • Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.

- Brains and Brews Trivia at Red Clay Brewing •Dec. 17 at 5 p.m.

- Burger Night with half-pounder burgers and a side for $6.99 at Niffer’s • Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. - Wine Down Wednesday at The Bottling Plant Event Center • Dec. 18: Build your own burger and side starting at $5 at La Cantina • Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.

- Trivia Night at Niffer’s Southern Oak Res-

taurant inside the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National will be open for breakfast all of Christmas week. Lunch and dinner will be served out of Southern Oak Bar, but will be open all week, including Christmas Day. The hotel is located at 3700 Robert Trent Jones Trail in Opelika. Call 334-7419292 for more information.

• Dec. 20 - Martha’s Trouble Christmas at The Sound Wall • Dec. 21 - Fa-LaLa Festival at Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library

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 between 6 and 6:45 p.m.

• Every second Tuesday, a country, gospel and bluegrass music jam session is held at Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church in Beauregard. The event is free and open to the public. Those who play an instrument should bring it and plan to join in. The jam session is held from 6 to 8 p.m. 8685 Alabama 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 4590214 or 706-5189122.

• The Auburn Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol meets every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Auburn University Regional Airport.

The Civil Air Patrol is a nonprofit organization that is Congressionally chartered to be the civilian auxiliary of the Air Force and focuses on three missions: aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services. For more information visit www.auburncap.org or find the organization on Facebook.

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

Wednesdays: • The second Wednesday of each month, a Community Grief Support Group meets from 10 to 11 a.m. at the EAMC Health Resource Center.

No reservations are necessary. For more info call 826-1899 or 502-0216.

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

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

Thursdays: • American Le-

gion 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 334-7375215 or cheri.paradice@gmail.com for more information or luncheon location of the month.

• T.O.U.C.H. Cancer Support Group meets the third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at EAMC’s Health Resource Center.

This is a support group for people living with any type of cancer or their families and friends. Call 334-528-1076 for more information.

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

Chamber of Commerce announce Christmas parade float winners

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Above:1st Place Opelika First Pre-K Academy - Below: 2nd Place - Opelika Utilities Not pictured: 3rd Place - Cub Scout Pack 356

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A15 Dec. 18, 2019

Hudson Family Foundation held 10th annual ‘Shop with Santa’ event at Target earlier this month

Photos submitted by Bradley Robertson

By Bradley Robertson For the Opelika Observer On Dec. 10, The Hudson Family Foundation hosted its 10th annual “Shop with Santa” event at the Tiger Town Target location, opening its doors to kids, parents, volunteers, Hudson family and even Santa Claus for a night of smiles, laughter, fellowship and gifts.

The evening began

with Tim Hudson reading of “The Night Before Christmas.”

Santa sat close by as children nestled upon beanbags and pillows to hear the popular tale of Santa. Tim, with his calm and kind demeanor, made the children giggle with his smiles and enthusiasm as he described Santa’s cherry nose and round belly.

Next, Santa Claus visited with each child. Children of all shapes, sizes, back-

grounds and abilities got to sit upon his knee and tell their own stories of Christmas.

Hopes and dreams, grins and giggles. All the things children long for during this season.

Parents gazed at an opportunity many of us take for granted. A piece of hope placed into their hands, along with simple joy, something we all cling to in the years to come.

The greatest gift of this event is the oppor-

tunity for each child to walk around Target and pick out something special for Christmas.

A total of 150 children were given a $100 Target gift card to use.

Volunteers assisted families in picking out gifts to put under their tree, items that consisted of clothes, food, necessities and mostly toys. It was shopper’s chaos but with a multitude of smiles and helping hands.

Families finished up their shopping in the

checkout line and a wrapping station was set up by volunteers to hide all the goodies till Christmas morning.

Children received last smiles and hugs by the Hudson’s and off they went with their packages until Christmas morning.

“It’s probably our favorite night of the year,” said Kim Hudson. “There is nothing like seeing the pure joy on the kiddos’ faces and the happiness of parents who know that

we truly care and want to do what we can to bring joy and peace and love to them at Christmas.”

My curiosity led me to the poem by Christina Rossetti, Love Came Down at Christmas. She writes, “Love shall be our token.

Love shall be yours and love be mine…”

Love is meant for all. Ever so thankful for the Hudson Family and the love they shower upon our community.

Family reading activities for the holidays

By Wendi Williams Special to the Opelika Observer With a little bit of imagination, parents can develop creative ways to get their children reading this holiday.

This time of the year, children are excited about winter break, while parents are stressed about finding the perfect gifts.

Many parents forget the importance of providing opportunities that contribute to their children’s academic success.

“Here are a few things parents can do to enhance a child’s reading skills while on holiday break,” said Dorothy Brandon, an Alabama Extension family and consumer science specialist.

Card duty Give him or her the responsibility of reading each holiday card the family receives.

Use a child’s environment for reading Ask the child to identify specific letters or numbers on cars, road signs or buildings. This is game that can be played while traveling.

Ask the child to identify objects that start with or end with a specific sound.

Have the child identify objects that rhyme with words associated with the holiday season. For example, ask him or her to identify words that rhyme with joy.

Ask older children to identify a word starting with the last letter of a given word.

“These activities can help children with sounds, recognition of rhymes, letter recognition and vocabulary,” Brandon said.

Let children be the storyteller Select a story related to the holidays and read a portion of the story.

Stop at a certain point in the story and ask the child to create an ending to the story. Then, have the child read the ending of the story to the family when completed. This activity can help the child with comprehension, the use of his or her imagination and critical thinking skills.

Let children be a kitchen helper Include children when preparing holiday

meals. Ask him or her to read the recipe as you collect and mix the ingredients. Also, ask a child to help create a shopping list and to collect the items on the list. If the child cannot read, ask him or her to draw a picture of an item. They can also cut out a picture of the item from the magazine to put on the shopping list.

This activity can help the child with word association, vocabulary and comprehension.

Create a family story night Set aside specific nights or times for fam-

ily members to share their favorite story.

Some family members may want to read the story to the family, while others share what the story was about.

This activity promotes reading comprehension, listening and vocabulary skills.

More information For more information about how to get children reading during the holidays, contact Brandon at 256-3725458. Visit www.aces. edu to learn more about Alabama Extension family literacy activities.

A16 Dec. 18, 2019

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COMICS

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

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

Opelika Basketball Schedule Boys (Handley Christmas Classic) Dec. 18 v. Lanett Dec. 19 v. Handley Dec. 20 v. Harris County Girls (Chevron Lady Jag Classic) Dec. 19 v. Mountain Brook Dec. 26 and 27 (BallN Holiday Invitational) Hartselle and Spain Park

Opelika High School’s Jonathan Chandler receives 6A Assistant Coach of the Year honors

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

Opelika’s James Dawson donimates at ‘Suede Umbach Invitational’ last week

O

pelika High School’s Wrestling team participated in the “Suede Umbach Invitational” at Auburn High School last weekend. Twentythree teams from Alabama, Florida and Georgia participated in 30-year-old tournament.

The Bulldogs sent only eight wrestlers to the tournament because of conflicts with other team members.

Heavyweight James Dawson finished 5-0 to earn the championship in his division.

Dawson pinned three wrestlers and won the finals with a 3-2 score.

Julian Flavors went 5 -2 with five pins for a ninth-place finish in the heavyweight class.

Christopher Willet finished 4-4 with three pins, earning a 10thplace finish. The five other OHS studentathletes gave great effort but did not finish in the top-10.

Opelika returns to the Mainstreet Gym Thursday on Dec. 19 for a tri-match with Beauregard and Chelsea. Opelika will wrestle Chelsea at

2:30 p.m., Beauregard v. Chelsea in Round 2 followed by Opelika and Beauregard.

BASKETBALL The Opelika girls basketball team (10-3) defeated Central and Smiths Station last week, extending their win streak to seven games. The Lady Bulldogs opened the week with a 51-45 win over Central in Phenix City. Coach Devin Booth’s team was down four points heading to the fourth period, but outscored the Lady Red Devils by 10 points to pull away for the win.

Ananda Hughley led Opelika with 15 points and teammate Haley Sanders added 10 points.

The girls thumped Smiths Station 6816 last Friday in the OHS Mainstreet Gym. Kaitlyn Bryant led the scoring with 17 points and Claire Worth added 10 points. The Lady Bulldogs are 3-0 against 7A teams Smiths Station (two wins) and Central.

The OHS Lady Bulldogs will participate in the Spain Park See Sports, page B2

By Morgan Bryce Editor A season that saw Opelika High School advance to the state semifinals, win 11 games and average 32.3 points-per-game helped Assistant Coach/ Offensive Coordinator Jonathan Chandler net the Alabama Football Coaches Association’s 6A Assistant Coach of the Year Award last week.

Chandler, who has been with the Opelika program since 2013, said the award “came as a surprise” when Coach Erik Speakman informed him that he had received the recognition last week.

“I am appreciative for the nomination and recommendation by the ALFCA Board Members and committee. I am proud to represent our school and football team, but I think an

award like this truly defines what Opelika Football is all about: tradition, family and hard work,” Chandler said.

Other winners were Chad Merrill of Vestavia Hills (7A), Kevin May of Bibb County (5A), Brandon Dean of UMSWright (4A), Neal Posey of St. James (3A), Blake Jennings of Ohatchee (2A) and David Watts of Brantley (1A).

Chandler and his wife Tiffany are both originally from Opelika.

They have one daughter.

“As far as (future) coaching career plans, I definitely have personal and family oriented goals but I think it is important for me to be present and focused in the opportunity that I have now and strive to be the best version of myself that I can be. I

am hopeful that mindset carries over into my family, the students and players that I have the opportunity to be around,” Chandler said.

Chandler will formally receive the award at the ALFCA’s Coach of the Year Banqet on Jan. 25 in Montgomery.

For more information on OHS athletics, visit www.opelikathletics. com.

OHS percussionists perform with Bicentennial Band Dec. 14

Photo by Mike McGlynn/Special to the Opelika Observer From left to right: Opelika High School Marching Band students Seth Carpenter, Will Fuller, Mike McGlynn, Tae Johnson and Jadon Tolbert McGlynn was asked by the state to direct the percussion for the Alabama Bicentennial High School Honor Marching Band. “(I am) so proud to have some of our (OHS) kids involved in this special event,” McGlynn said. The band consisted of 200 students from every county in Alabama.

pelika Observer O Opelika grapples with Smiths Station last week B2

Dec. 18, 2019

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Sports from B1 Invitational on Thursday and Friday.

The Opelika boys basketball team split games last week, losing at Central and beating Smiths Station. The Bulldogs lost a close 49-43 game at Central last Tuesday night. Bran-

don Howard continued to play consistent basketball, leading the team with 11 points.

Ja Carr and Grady Bynum added eight and nine points, respectively.

Opelika defeated Smiths Station 86-70 behind 25 points from Brandon Howard and 20-points from Grady Bynum. Coach John Wadsworth will take his team to the “Hand-

ley High Christmas Tournament” Thursday and Friday.

FRESHMAN BASKETBALL Opelika’s freshman basketball team beat Auburn 49-44 last week at Auburn.

Carr scored 15 points, and Alijiah Hicks and Isiah Knight scored nine and eight points, respectively.

TIDBITS Opelika’s Offensive

Coordinator Jonathan Chandler was named the 6A Assistant Coach of the Year by the Alabama Coaches Association. Chandler is in his seventh year as a teacher/coach and his third as the offensive coordinator. The OHS offense averaged 32 points per game and saw quarterback Brody Davis throw for 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns. Chan-

dler will receive his award January 25 at the ALFCA Coach of Year banquet in Montgomery. Congratulations, Jonathan!

PURDUE SIGNEE Jaylen Stinson is expected to sign with Purdue this week during the early signing period, Dec. 18 through 20. Congratulations Jaylen and Mr. and Mrs. Brian Stin-

son!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I look forward to seeing my grandsons John-Mark and Gaines Jackson, and of course my daughters Mallory and Madison.

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

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B3 Dec. 18, 2019

Around the world with your child at Christmas

Beth Pinyerd

O

ne corner of learning that young children really enjoy and want to learn more about is how other children in different cultures celebrate Christmas and the holiday season. Around the world, children celebrate Christmas and the holidays in many different ways.

Keep in mind there is a world of activities and Internet sites focused on the cultures, traditions, and spirit of Christmas.

Check them out!

The Classroom Observer would like to share a few that she teaches her students to get you started. Buckle up your seatbelts as we travel to Mexico, China, Norway, France and Sri Lanka. We will also dip down into Greece, Africa, Czechoslovakia, Australia, the Netherlands and Sweden. You can go around the world at Christmas just from your warm and cozy homes in Lee County.

Our first stop is Mexico, where one of the Christmas traditions is to make a pinata, fill it with candies and toys, blindfold each other, hit

it with a stick and the children scramble to get their favorite candies.

Here is a simple way to make a pinata at home.

Start with a large brown paper grocery bag. Decorate the bag with paint, streamers, yarn and colored paper.

Fill the bag with candy, nuts, fruit, popcorn and small toys. Tie a cord or fasten a strong rubber band around the opening of the bag. Hang the pinata from a hook or put it on the end of a broomstick. Blindfold a person at a time, turn them around once or twice, let them hit the pinata with a wooden spoon or stick. Children, stand back and have fun!

Stop number two is China. Children in China celebrate the Chinese New Year with lots of fireworks-bright colored fountains, gold and silver sparklers and sky rockets! The way to say Merry Christmas in Chinese is “Kung Hei Shing Taan” phonetically (goong-hoh-shengtahn).

The beautiful country of Norway is our third stop where grud is the favorite dessert the Nor-

wegian children enjoy.

A nut is hidden in one of the dishes of pudding, and whoever finds the nut wins a candy pig!

This Norwegian tradition is easy to adopt in your home. Here is the recipe for grud: 1. Combine two quarts milk and one cup of regular rice in top of a double boiler. Cook slowly over low heat until it thickens.

2. Add a pinch of salt and gently stir.

3. Cover, cool.

4. Fold into rice mixture: one cup sugar, two tablespoons vanilla, and two cups whipped cream.

5. Spoon into individual dishes, cover and chill. Don’t forget to hide a nut in one of the dishes. Merry Christmas in Norwegian is “God Jul” - phonetically (good yool).

To celebrate the Christmas season in France, straw shoes are put on the fireplace to await special surprises for the next morning.

When French children awaken on Christmas morning, the straw shoes will be filled with toys, candy and nuts.

The French say Merry Christmas “Joyeaux Noel”-phonetically (Zwah-Yuh-noh-Ehl).

Talking about shoes at Christmas, the children from Holland put out their wooden shoes on Dec. 6 and excitedly await the gifts from Sinterklass. We learned a lot at stop number 4.

At stop number 5, we land in Sri Lanka where the children are making bright-colored chains to joyfully decorate for the

holiday season. These are the old-fashion circle chains that children love to make and hook together. Merry Christmas in Sri Lanka is “Kirusmas Vazphuphal,” phonetically is (Krooz-ma FAR-toodal).

As we fly over the country of Greece. we notice in the homes evergreen trees decorated with tinsel and a star placed on top. Gift are exchanged on Jan. 1, St. Basil’s Day. The people from Greece greet one another by saying “Hronis polla,” or “many happy years.”

In Africa, as we look at the Congo, the families gather together to prepare for the annual Christmas pageant.

Caroling up and down the roadways seem to be an annual Christmas tradition.

My late husband loved to travel. One of the places he lived and visited for four years as a Peace Corp school teacher was Swaziland in Africa. He reminded me that Christmas in this part of Africa is in the summer, the very heat of the summer.

Christmas in South Africa is a summer holiday as well.

South Africa reminds me of Lee County in the spring because of the many beautiful flowers, many beautiful varieties of cultivated and wild flowers to celebrate the Christmas season. On the west coast of Africa, in Liberia, oil palms are decorated for the Christmas trees and they are decorated with bells to ring in the Christmas season.

As we make a fiveminute stop in Czechoslovakia, we learn of a tradition shared by not only Czechoslovakia but Poland, which involves cutting a branch from a cherry tree putting it in water inside to bloom.

If the bloom opens in time for Christmas it is considered good luck and also a sign that winter will be short and spring is on its way. This reminds us of the Christmas cactus with that much awaited bloom on Christmas day and too with the hopes of winter ending and spring a-coming reminds me of our American holiday “Groundhog’s Day.” In Australia, we think of “Christmas Down Under,” which parallels to so many of the same traditions, glitter and decorations that we celebrate in America.

One must remember that Christmas in Australia falls during the summer holidays.

Australia is so big with many different cultures represented. It’s like Christmas Around the World can be celebrated in one country.

The Australians enjoy celebrating culturally diverse traditions of the Christmas season.

When we think of the Netherlands, we not only think of windmills and dikes to hold back water and tulips, but also wooden shoes.

Sinterklaas is the Dutch Santa Claus or St. Nicholas. Dutch children are excitedly told to prepare as Sinterklaas sails from Spain on Dec. 5. They fill their wooden shoes with hay and sugar for

the horse and awake to find gifts of candy and nuts in their wooden shoes.

Children everywhere would love to celebrate Christmas in Sweden because it lasts a whole month starting Dec. 13.

The feast of Saint Lucia, a fourth-century Sicilian saint, is honored and loved by the Swedish people. On the feast day, the oldest daughter of the family dresses in a white dress with a red sash and wears an evergreen wreath with seven lighted candles on her head. She joyfully carries and serves buns and coffee to each family member in the home.

We can say Merry Christmas in many different languages.

Children love to do this in greeting each other. The Russian word for Merry Christmas is “S Rozhdestvom Khristovym”(z’rohdesht-vohm Kris-toovim), African in Swahili is “Sikukuu ya Kuzaliwa Kristo” (see-koo-koo yah koo-zah-lee-wah kree-stow) and Brazil is almost like Mexico, but slightly different with the phrase “Feliz Natal.” Of course. other ways to wish everyone a season of happiness is “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays.”

Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish children and Happy Kwanzaa to our African children who celebrate this holiday season. Of course, the Classroom Observer has only skimmed the surface of different cultures and holiday celebrations!

See Pinyerd, page B4

A Christmas present: Test taking tips for smart but nervous students

I

f someone told me as a graduate student at Auburn University years ago that the library would have a Panera, I’d say “That’s crazy.”

It was as unlikely as Toomer’s Drugstore reverting to an actual pharmacy. Below are test-taking tips that have worked great for me. I developed them over my academic career and work to improve grades better than a ton of Frappuccinos.

On multiple choice questions, I find no middle-of-the-road beliefs about how easy or tough they are. The brightest students get most of them, while others dread them because they are unpredictable, as compared to Short Answers or even easier True or False. In MC’s, don’t forget to read all the answers. Don’t just find an answer that seems best, choose it, and move on.

“There is no elevator to success.

You have to take the stairs.” This was the philosophy of

Zig Ziglar, a famous salesman and public speaker. He meant: take things step-by step. In testing, definitely go over everything twice. I notice that once the first test-taker leaves, most others get done within 10 minutes. Why? You have the whole class time. Why leave before double-checking your answers?

Plenty of students lose points because they forget to see the NEGATIVE. Some 1/3 of the questions on exams require you to choose the negative, i.e. “all of these except” or “which are not.” Generous professors underline or capitalize NOT or NEVER. But not every student is lucky to get such helpful teachers.

On short answers, there are three approaches to prevent hurting your score.

Students tend to be reckless in wanting to fly by these questions. Although the whole idea is “short” answers, give them within reason. An example is the ques-

tion: “Who created the National Parks system?”

The student may answer “Roosevelt” but if they do not state which President Roosevelt, they lose.

A better answer is “Teddy Roosevelt” instead of “FDR” who wasn’t president until 1933.

Note when each answer is worth 2 or 3 points. Some professors make Short Answers worth just 1 point. This is acceptable as the student only loses a point. But I prefer 2 or 3 points because you can judge a student’s knowledge better. For instance, “Which president got impeached by the House?” The student answers “Johnson” and gets an easy 1 point. But he would receive full-credit (2 points) for “Andrew Johnson” not LBJ, who was never impeached.

In Snowden (2016), a CIA aptitude tester declares: “Our average test time is 4 hours. If you take more than 8 hours you will fail.” (Later)

By Greg Markley “Sir, I am done. (Tester) “In 49 minutes.”

(Snowden)” No, in 38 minutes.” Edward Snowden, under criminal charges for stealing American secrets, is brilliant with computers. But not everyone can fly thru complex exams like Snowden.

The lesson for you is: Don’t waste TOO MUCH time on responses.

Write more only when it will gain points. Add a phrase or sentence if needed to complete your short answer. Sometimes a word or phrase will not suffice, not even for a “Short Answer.”

Overall, plan ahead how you use the exam time, and check your watch every 10-12

minutes. If an essay question is worth 40% of the grade, and there are 10 True or False questions worth 1 point each—don’t spend any more than 10-12 minutes on true or false.

In true and false questions, it is essential to carefully read each statement.

If even one part of a statement is false, the entire statement is false. Remember that, and you will have fewer headaches during and after the exam. Most questions have a combination of who, what, when, where or how facts. If even one of those five facts is wrong, the question is definitely false.

This tip is not infallible, but is highly accurate: qualifiers signify the likely answer in T/F questions.

Words like never, all, and always usually indicate a false statement. Conversely, words like sometimes, generally, and often tend to indicate it is a true statement. This is only a guide to T/F; it’s not perfect. Last

true and false tip-- A “reason” statement tends to be False when offered as the “reason” or “cause.”

But this is not an entrenched rule. When in doubt, it pays to go with the averages, however.

Finally, remember that most of us stumble sometimes. This could be by memory lapses, lack of study, personal problems, etc. In 1963, I flunked out of 1 st grade, and it was a difficult time for a 7-year old. Yet I passed 1 st grade in 1964 as a top student.

I now have bachelors and two masters.

Don’t impede your progress by weak study habits. Yet, if you screw up on an exam, put it in perspective. Life is not a sprint, it is a long run, if we are lucky. So be patient.

Greg Markley has lived in Lee County for 18 of the last 23 years. An awardwinning journalist, he has masters degrees in education and history. He has taught as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama.

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B4 Dec. 18, 2019

Pinyerd, from B3 That is your homework as you enrich your child with knowledge, celebration and fun during this season of the year. Time given

to increase your child’s learning is the best seasonal gift that any parent can give their child. I hope with the weeks left before Christmas that you will enjoy learning the different traditions of celebrating Christmas in other countries.

Of course, we can

travel the whole world over, but isn’t it nice to come back home where a Christmas in Lee County is the envy of all!

Pinyerd has taught young children in the early childhood classroom for 34 years as well as outreaching to the elderly in intergen-

erational settings. She has taught and outreached in the schools in Opelika and Baldwin County. She holds a master’s degree in early childhood education as well as a bachelor’s degree in family and child development both from Auburn University. Her

husband is the late Carl Pinyerd and she has one son, Gus Pinyerd who has taught her so much about learning. Classroom Observer is here to serve the community in sharing the wonderful teaching programs in our local public schools, private schools,

and homeschools. The column is provided to enrich the education of our children, youth, and families. Classroom Observer welcomes educational news, school news, pictures, and events by e-mailing her at donnapinyerd@ charter.net.

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B5 Dec. 18, 2019

Attorney General Steve Marshall announces Alabama 2019 Safe Schools winners Special to the Opelika Observer Attorney General Steve Marshall announced winners of the 2019 Safe Schools Initiative Awards last week.

This year, the program was expanded to include three awards for highest excellence in school safety as well as certificates of special recognition for schools building a culture for school

safety. These new categories are in addition to the traditional safe school awards for each public school district and for a private school.

“The safety of our schoolchildren is a vital matter foremost in all of our minds and hearts, and this year we have enhanced the Safe Schools Initiative Awards to encourage and honor more of those who have implemented

strong programs to protect our students, teachers and other staff,” said Attorney General Marshall.

“These schools have developed innovative programs and taken practical, effective steps to combat the threat of violence that has become a terrible part of our modern society. Their dedication and resolve to provide a safe haven for learning is an inspiration to us all.”

On Nov. 26, a

panel of independent judges reviewed submissions from a total of 124 schools from throughout Alabama.

For the Attorney General’s 2019 Safe Schools Award of Excellence, one public school with the top overall score was selected from the North, Central and South regions of Alabama.

Marshall will visit each school to present the award in person.

For the Attorney General’s 2019 Safe Schools Award, one public school with the top score was selected for each of the eight state public school districts and one private school statewide.

The local district winners were: • District 2: Loachapoka High School - Loachapoka • Private school: Lee-Scott Academy - Auburn.

Marshall will visit

these schools to present the awards in person.

The following schools will receive the Attorney General’s 2019 Certificate of Building a Culture for School Safety: • Creekside Elementary School Auburn • Opelika High School - Opelika • Opelika Middle School - Opelika • Wrights Mill Road Elementary School - Auburn.

Chad Morris named offensive coordinator at Auburn Report from AuburnTigers.com

Photo from AuburnTigers.com

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Chad Morris was named as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Auburn last week.

A 28-year coaching veteran, Morris has spent the last 10 years as one of the top offensive minds in college football helping three programs finish in the top-10 in the FBS in scoring average.

A Dallas, Texas native, Morris served as head coach at Arkansas (2018-19) and SMU (2015-17) after four record-breaking seasons as offensive coordinator at Clemson (2011-14). A legendary high school coach in the state of Texas for 16 years from 1994 to 2009, Morris broke into the college game as associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Tulsa in 2010.

“I’m super excited to have Chad Morris join our staff at Auburn. He’s a tremendous offensive mind who has had success with several top-ranked offenses during his time in the college ranks," Malzahn said at a press conference. "I’ve known Chad for almost 20 years and he is a tireless worker and a perfectionist.

He is a great addition to our program and I look forward to him helping Auburn win championships.”

In three seasons at SMU (2015-17), Morris used his Texas recruiting roots and offensive prowess to take the Mustangs from a 1-11 campaign in 2013 before he took over to the program’s first bowl bid five years with a 7-5 mark in 2017.

Morris’ offensive scheme increased the team’s scoring output from 128th the year before his arrival into the nation’s eighthhighest scoring offense (40.1) in 2017.

The 2017 Mustangs were one of just two FBS teams that featured a 3,000-yard passer, 1000-yard rusher and multiple

1,000-yard receivers.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Malzahn’s staff at Auburn. I’ve known Gus since the early 2000s and consider him a dear friend and someone that helped me get into the profession at the college level," Morris said. "I’ve admired the success he’s had at each of his stops and look forward to adding to the success that he, his staff and the players have built. We are excited about joining the Auburn family.”

Morris’ impact during his four years at Clemson as offensive coordinator helped result in a 4111 record, the 2011 ACC Championship and four bowl berths, including two BCS Orange Bowl appearances. Under Morris’ offense, the Tigers set 127 offensive records (89 individual/38 team) and posted the top- three scoring seasons in school history, as well as four of the top- five passing seasons at Clemson.

The Clemson offense in its second season under Morris with ACC Player of the Year Tajh Boyd at quarterback set school records for total yards per game (512.7) and points per game (41.0), ranking sixth in the nation in scoring and ninth in the nation in total offense. The 2013 squad backed up those numbers with 508.5 yards and 40.2 points per game, both top-10 nationally.

Morris’ record-setting offense in 2012 and 2013 marked the first time in ACC history that an active member of the conference had averaged more than 40 points per game in back-toback seasons. Clemson was also one of just two FBS schools with a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver every year from 2011 to 2013.

For his work, Morris was named AFCA National Assistant Coach of the Year and one of five

finalists for National Offensive Coordinator of the Year by 247Sports.com in 2013, and the National Offensive Coordinator of the Year by Rivals.com in 2011.

From the 2012 NFL Draft to 2015 NFL Draft, Morris saw seven of his offensive players drafted, including four wide receivers, tied for the most from any school during that span. Included in the quartet of wide receivers drafted were first round picks DeAndre Hopkins (Houston Texans) and Sammy Watkins (Los Angeles Rams).

Morris also recruited 2015 All-Americans Deshaun Watson and Shaq Lawson, who both went on to be first-round NFL draft picks.

Morris’ collegiate debut came as the associate head coach/ offensive coordinator at Tulsa in 2010.

In his one season as offensive coordinator, working specifically with the quarterbacks, Morris helped the Golden Hurricane average 41.4 points per game, sixth nationally, and finish with a 10-3 record. Tulsa scored 50 or more points in four games and finished as one of five FBS teams with more than 30 rushing and 30 passing touchdowns.

Morris became a legend in the state of Texas during his 16 years as a head coach at the high school level, posting a 16938 record overall and winning back-toback undefeated state championships in his final two seasons at Lake Travis High School. Morris led six of his teams to the Texas State Championship game, highlighted by three titles, and he earned Coach of the Year honors 11 times.

Morris earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in statistics from Texas A&M University in 1992.

He and his wife, Paula, have two children, daughter Mackenzie and son Chandler.

pelika Observer O

B6 Dec. 18, 2019

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pelika Observer O

B7 Dec. 18, 2019

‘Supper with Santa’ brings joy to families of children with special-needs on Dec. 7

Photos by Nikki East Adams/Special to the Opelika Observer

B8 Dec. 18, 2019

pelika Observer O

Opelika Middle, High schools host choral concert last Tuesday

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer The Opelika Middle and High School Chorus groups held their annual “Choral Winter Concert� last Tuesday night at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts. The concert featured an evening full of performances of Christmas classics, including Away in a Manger, Carol of the Bells, Grown-Up Christmas List, Joy to the World and Silent Night.

pelika O Observer

B9 Dec. 18, 2019

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B10 Dec. 18, 2019

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Opelika High School’s varsity boys, girls basketball teams sweep Smiths Station Dec. 13

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

pelika O Observer

B11 Dec. 18, 2019

PUBLIC NOTICES IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF LEE CASE NO. 2017-C-071 IN RE:The Matter of JIMMIE LOU BAKER NOTICE OF PARTIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that a Petition to Approve Partial Settlement of the Conservatorship Estate of JIMMIE LOU BAKER has been filed by the Conservator, Belinda Pink. A hearing has been set for the 6th day of January 202 at 1:00 o.m. Cental Time in the Probate Court, Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama. Should you intend to contest this partial settlement, you must appear on the date of the hearing as set above.

Bill English Judge of Probate Legal Run 12/04, 12/11 & 12/18/19

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF DONNA S. TANKERSLEY COURT OF PROBATE Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 27th day of November, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Witness my hand, and dated this the 27th day of November, 2019.

DAVID PATRICK TANKERSLEY Legal Run 12/04, 12/11 & 12/18/19

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF FRANCIS DRAKE HARPER COURT OF PROBATE Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 27th day of November, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Witness my hand, and dated this the 27th day of November, 2019.

TYRA HARPER WOODS Legal Run 12/04, 12/11 & 12/18/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: The Estate of John William McFarland, Sr., Deceased Case No. 2019-C-075 NOTICE TO CREDITOR TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to John William McFarland Jr., as Executor of the The Estate of John William McFarland, Sr., Deceased on the 20th day of November, 2019, by the Honorable Bill English.

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

JOHN WILLIAM McFARLAND, JR., Executor of the The Estate of John William McFarland, Sr., Deceased Legal Run 12/04, 12/11 & 12/18/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF J. MILES THOMAS, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA TO: JOSEPH MILES THOMAS, JR. OR THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF JOSEPH MILES THOMAS, JR., IF DECEASED NOTICE: On the 26th day of November, 2019, a certain writing, purporting to be the Will of J. MILES THOMAS was filed in my office for Probate by KENNETH J. THOMAS and the 6th day of January, 2020, at 11:00 o’clock a.m. was appointed a day for hearing thereof at which time you can appear and contest thesame, if you see proper.

Given under my hand, the 26th day of November, 2019.

Bill English JUDGE OF PROBATE Legal Run 12/04, 12/11 & 12/18/2019

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF RUTH THOMAS SUTTON A/K/A MARGIE THOMAS DUTTON COURT OF PROBATE Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undresigned on the 4th day of December, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Witness my hand, and dated this the 4th day of December, 2019.

JACKIE YOUNG COFIELD Legal Run 12/11, 12/18 & 12/25

SYNOPSIS OF ZONING NOTICE The City Council of the City of Opelika will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 204 S. 7th Street, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map of the City of Opelika by rezoning or redistricting the parcel of land hereinafter described so as to change such parcel from one class of district to another class of district, as follows: From a R-3 District (Low Density Residential District) to I-1 District (Institutional District), the parcel of land hereinafter described: Commence at the Southwest corner of Lot 1 Lake Condy Subdivision, according to and as shown by map or plat of said subdivision of record in Town Plat Book 8, at Page 40, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, thence run South 4° 24’ West for 374.6 feet to the point of beginning of the tract or parcel of land herein to be described and conveyed; thence run North 4° 24’ West for 375.6 feet to the Southwest corner of said Lot 1 of said Lake Condy Subdivision; thence run South 64° 47’ East for 683.6 feet to the Southeast corner of Lot 6 of the said Lake Condy Subdivision, then run South 3° 51’ West for 63.5 feet; thence run South 89° 15’ West for 630 feet, more or less, to said point of beginning; and containing 3.2 acres more or less.

The above-described property contains 3.2 acres more or less and is located on the westerly right-of-way of Dickson Street, Opelika, Alabama. Public Notice of this public hearing with insertion of the proposed ordinance was first published on December 11, 2019 in the Opelika Observer. This notice is given pursuant to Section 11-52-78 Code of Alabama (1975).

All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing and be heard. Written comments concerning the above matter may be mailed to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 390, Opelika, AL 36803 at any time prior to the public hearing and may be further submitted to the City Council at the meeting and the public hearing.

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

THIS NOTICE is given under my hand this the 18th day of December, 2019. /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal Run 12/18/19

SYNOPSIS OF ZONING NOTICE (CANNON GATE PUD) The City Council of the City of Opelika will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 204

S. 7th Street, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend the Development Plan for Cannon Gate PUD. The applicant, Cannon Gate Homeowners Association, Inc., has heretofore submitted to the City Council a proposed amended Development Plan for Cannon Gate PUD. The current Development Plan provides for approximately 20.1 acres of common area. The proposed amended Development Plan will convert 6.4 acres of common space located in the southeast quadrant of the development to private ownership.

Public Notice of this public hearing with insertion of the proposed ordinance was first published on December 11, 2019, in the Opelika Observer. This notice is given pursuant to Section 11-52-78 Code of Alabama (1975).

All interested persons are invited to attend the Public Hearing and be heard. Written comments concerning the above matter may be mailed to the City Clerk at City Hall, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, AL 36803 at any time prior to the Public Hearing and may be further submitted to the City Council at the meeting and Public Hearing.

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

THIS NOTICE is given under my hand this the 18th day of December, 2019. /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal Run 12/18/19

CITY OF OPELIKA SYNOPSIS OF ZONING NOTICE ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS (AMENDMENTS TO SIGN REGULATIONS) The City Council of the City of Opelika (the “City Council”) will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 204 S. 7 th Street, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend Section IX, “Sign Regulations”, of Ordinance Number 124-91 (entitled “Zoning Ordinance of the City of Opelika”) adopted on September 17, 1991, as amended, in the following respects: 1. Amends Section 9.5(15) of the Zoning Ordinance regarding Flagpoles and Flags.

Allows illumination of the United States Flag. Provides Maximum height and maximum size requirements for in-ground flagpoles.

2. Amends Section 9.5(18) of the Zoning Ordinance regarding freestanding signs.

Revises maximum height and area requirements of freestanding signs. Revises maximum height and area requirements for freestanding signs in group developments.

Provides standards for interstate signs on non-residential development sites. Adds a new subsection 9.5(18)(e) establishing standards for subdivision identification markers.

3. Amends Section 9.5(19) of the Zoning Ordinance regarding wall signs. Establishes new standards for wall signs.

4. Amends Section 9.10(7) of the Zoning Ordinance regarding sign permit applications.

Revises content of application form.

6. Amends Section 9.10(9) of the Zoning Ordinance regarding design requirements.

Clarifies and updates design requirements and standards.

7. Amends Section 9.12(2) of the Zoning Ordinance regarding luminance/brightness levels.

Revises outdoor lighting standards. Provides the sign’s brightness level will be measured in foot-candles instead of nits.

8. Amends Schedule A to Section 9.12(3) of the Zoning Ordinance entitled “Reduction of Non-Digital Billboards through conversion to, or replacement by Digital Billboards”. Provides a second alternative for minimum trades of existing billboards or legal non-conforming off-site commercial signs constructed prior to the adoption of the current sign regulations. Allows the trade of signs smaller than 225 square feet if the total of

all faces exceeds 900 square feet.

Revises standards for the conversion of non-conforming non-digital billboards to new digital billboards.

Public notice of this public hearing with insertion of the proposed ordinance was first published on December 11, 2019, in the Opelika Observer. This notice was given pursuant to §11-52-78, Code of Alabama, 1975.

The City Council reserves the right to modify or alter any of the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance.

All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing and be heard. Written comments concerning the above matter may be mailed to the City Clerk at City Hall, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama 36801 at any time prior to the public hearing and may be further submitted to the City Council at the meeting and public hearing.

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

THIS NOTICE is given under my hand this the 18th day of December, 2019. /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal Run 12/18/19

ORDINANCE NO. 028-19 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA, BY ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 4.5 ENTITLED “ART AND CULTURE” ALLOWING FOR THE CREATION OF ART MURALS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY; REGULATING ART MURALS ON PRIVATE BUILDINGS; PROVIDING FOR PERMIT PROCESS; PROVIDING FOR AN APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS; PROVIDING FOR VIOLATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT PROCESS; PROHIBITING GRAFFITI; PROHIBITING THE POSESSION OF GRAFFITI IMPLEMENTS NEAR SCHOOLS BY MINORS; PROHIBITING THE POSSESSION OF GRAFFITI IMPLEMENTS IN PUBLIC PLACES; PROVIDING GRAFFITI ABATEMENT PROCEDURES; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, art murals have purposes distinct from signs and confer different benefits; and WHEREAS, such purposes include improved aesthetics, avenues for original artistic expression, public access to original works of art, community participation in the creation of original works of art and community-building through the presence of and identification with original works of art; and WHEREAS, murals can increase community identity and foster a sense of place if they are located in a manner visible to pedestrians; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish guidelines for the placement of murals on private buildings.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council (the “Council”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) as follows: Section 1. Amendment. That the Code of Ordinances (the “Code”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama, is hereby amended by adding a new chapter to be numbered Chapter 4.5, which chapter shall read as follows: Chapter 4.5 ARTS AND CULTURE Article 1. Mural Regulations Sec. 4.5-1 PURPOSE The purpose of this chapter is to allow for murals on a content-neutral basis while maintaining specific standards with regard to the location, size, quantity and installation.

Sec. 4.5-2 FINDINGS The City of Opelika hereby finds that: A. Murals comprise a unique medium of expression which serves the public interest.

B. Murals have purposes distinct from signs and confer different benefits. Such purposes and benefits include: improved aesthetics; avenues for original artistic expression; public access to original works of art; community

participation in the creation of original works of art; community building through the presence of and identification with original works of art; and a reduction in the incidence of graffiti and other crime.

C. Murals can increase community identity and foster a sense of place and enclosure if they are located at heights and scales visible to pedestrians.

Sec. 4.5-3 DEFINITIONS The following words, terms and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: “ADULT CONTENT” shall mean any drawing, picture, pictorial representation or image that depicts or describes sexual conduct, breast nudity or genital nudity in a way that is patently offensive applying contemporary community standards. As used in this section, the following words, terms and phrases shall have the meanings respectively assessed to them in §13A-12-200.1 of the Code of Alabama: breast nudity, genital nudity and sexual conduct.

“ALTERATION” shall mean any change to a permitted mural, including but not limited to any change to the image(s), materials, colors or size of the mural.

“Alteration” does not include maintenance or repair of a permitted mural.

“HISTORIC DISTRICT” shall mean a historic district locally designated by the City Council of the City of Opelika.

“MURAL” shall mean a work of visual art which is tiled or painted directly upon, or affixed directly to a fence, wall or an exterior wall of a building and exceeds the maximum size of wall sign allowed in a sign district.

Visual art that is intended to communicate an informational message is not considered a mural and is regulated under the sign code.

“PERMITTED MURAL” shall mean a mural for which a permit has been issued by the City of Opelika pursuant to this chapter.

“PLANNING DIRECTOR” shall mean The Opelika Planning Director or his or her designee. For the ease of reference in this chapter, the Planning Director shall be referred to by the term “Director.”

Sec. 4.5-4 PROHIBITED MURALS Murals that include any of the following are prohibited and are nuisances. A mural shall not depict, include or contain any of the following components and shall not be placed on certain property or within specified zoning districts as provided in this Section 4.5-4. Murals, mural types and mural placements and installations listed below are prohibited within the City limits: 1. Electrical or mechanical components; or 2. Changing images or moving parts.

3. Adult content or content that is obscene as defined in §13A-12-200.1 of the Code of Alabama 4. Material harmful to minors.

5. Gang symbols or an unreasonable act, utterance, gesture or display that creates a clear and present danger of a breach of peace or imminent threat of violence.

6. Any contemporary commercial message except commercial messages may be allowed underthe requirements of Section 4.5-.7(D) Historic Design Criteria.

7. Any licensed, copyrighted, or trademarked characters or likenesses unless the applicant has permission from the holder or owner of the license, copyright or trademark.

8. Murals on sites developed as single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes, mobile homes or multi-family buildings with five or less dwelling units.

9. Murals within the following zoning districts: R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-4M, R-5, R-5M and I-1 as described in the Zoning Ordinance. Murals shall only be permitted within the following zoning districts: C-1, C-2, C-3, M-1, M-2, and commercial and manufacturing areas within Planned Unit Developments. Murals outside these authorized zoning districts shall be in violation of this chapter.

10. Mechanically produced

or computer-generated print or images, including but not limited to digitally printed vinyl.

Sec. 4.5-5 EXEMPT MURALS A. A mural that is not visible from the public right-of-way and not visible from public property is allowed without a mural permit.

B. A mural or public work of art may be allowed in a vacant storefront or window without permit provided it does not contain any elements listed in Section 4.5-4.

C. Temporary writings, drawings, figures or marks of paint that are easily removable chalk or water-soluble markings on public or private structures shall be exempt from these regulations.

Sec. 4.5-6 MURAL PERMIT APPLICATION A. The Director or designee shall be responsible for the approval of all mural permits.

The Director or designee may approve, approve with modifications or deny a permit application upon a finding that the application does not meet the application criteria set forth in Section 4.5-7.

B. An application for a mural permit must contain the following information: 1. Proof of ownership of the property where the mural will be located either through the Revenue Commissioner’s website information or other relevant act of transfer documentation or written confirmation from the legal owners of the property that the applicant has their permission to erect the mural.

2. A site plan drawn to scale that shows the location of existing structures and where the mural is to be installed, location of property lines, abutting right-of-way, names of streets, information of other murals on abutting properties and north arrow.

3. A map (e.g. tax map or aerial map) that shows the existing land use on-site and the surrounding land uses within three-hundred feet (300’) of the site.

4. A color image of the proposed mural with dimensions drawn to scale.

5. A building elevation depicted to scale showing the proposed building area where the mural is to be installed.

Information detailing the existing building materials and architectural features, as well as proposed mural materials, construction size, and depth.

6. Information regarding the expected life span of the mural and maintenance plan for the life of the mural.

The maintenance plan shall specify the frequency of maintenance and provisions to address fading and vandalism (i.e. durable exterior paints, cleanable surfaces, and/or other measures that will discourage vandalism or facilitate easier and cheaper repair of the mural if needed).

7. A short narrative describing the primary artist(s) qualifications.

Sec. 4.5-7 MURAL DESIGN CRITERIA All murals permitted under this section shall follow the design guidelines within this section.

A. The Mural is compatible with the aesthetic appearance of adjacent buildings and the surrounding community character. In evaluating this criterion, the following are examples of factors that can be used to measure compatibility and community character.

1. The mural is harmonious with or integrates aspects of special architectural and design features of surrounding buildings or the larger neighborhood.

2. The mural may reflect the diversity of the world.

3. The mural may reflect historic, cultural, or natural heritage.

4. The mural respects the original character of the building and surrounding buildings B. The mural will enhance the building appearance and overall visual attractiveness of the City.

The overall objective is for viewers of all ages to experience a sensation of engagement, humor, wonder or delight, or all of these emotions.

In evaluating this criterion, the following are examples of factors that can be used to measure appearance and attractiveness.

1. The mural will not adversely dominate the build-

See Notices, page B11

pelika Observer O

B12 Dec. 18, 2019

Notices, from B11 ing or surrounding area.

2. The mural will not create traffic or safety hazards.

3. The mural is harmonious with the scale, color, details, materials, and proportion of the building.

C. General Design Criteria – All murals shall comply with the following general design criteria.

1. The mural shall not be allowed on the primary facade of a building except those described in Section 4.55(B).

2. The mural shall not extend more than 6 inches from the plane of the wall upon which it is tiled or painted or to which it is affixed, unless approved by the Director.

3. The mural shall not extend beyond the wall height of the building.

4. Only one mural permit may be obtained per wall.

Where a wall is divided by a recessed or projecting architectural feature such as vertical or horizontal trim, bands or pilasters; each section may be considered a separate wall allowing a distinct mural on that wall.

5. The mural face must be predominantly pictorial with text limited to no more than 15% of mural face.

6. Murals may have up to 5% of the area or two square feet, whichever is less, dedicated to the artists name and/ or sponsor.

D. Historic Design Criteria – This section is specific to those murals located within a locally designated historic district.

1. Any mural in a locally designated historic district shall either be located on a site pre-designated by the Opelika Historic Preservation Commission or shall require approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness from the HPC. 2. Murals shall not be painted on unpainted brick without approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Opelika Historic Preservation Commission.

3. Murals that are not directly painted on the building wall may be attached to unpainted brick provided that the method of attachment has been demonstrated that it will not damage the building material. a. Bolts or similar attachments to brick walls shall occur in the mortar between bricks and not directly to the brick.

4. Murals shall not be applied on or obscure architectural features such as: windows, doors, pilasters, cornices, window, door or other building trim, feature bands, and other recessed or projecting features.

5. Any lighting for murals in the historic district shall comply with lighting standards for the district.

6. Murals in historic districts may replicate painted historic signs that previously existed on the proposed site. Such historic mural shall only be permitted if historic documentation is provided to support the existences of the mural.

Sec. 4.5-8 MURAL PERMIT CRITERIA No person may commence mural installation on a site without first obtaining a mural permit. Murals without a mural permit are considered graffiti and are regulated by Article II of Chapter 4.5. Use of murals does not affect the amount or type of signage otherwise allowed by the sign regulations of the Zoning Ordinance. For approval, a mural permit application must meet the following criteria.

A. The mural shall comply with the design standards found in Section 4.5-7.

B. Devices that illuminate a mural shall be placed and shielded so that the direct light rays reflecting from such devices or from the mural itself shall not be cast into the eyes of any passing motorist.

C. Murals shall be installed for durability and maintained for the life of the mural or until the mural is removed.

Murals shall consist of materials that have proven performance for withstanding the humid climate.

D. The Mural shall use materials, coatings, or other protective techniques that will be resistive to vandalism and graffiti.

E. The creator/artist is under contract or other obligation to complete the Mural.

F. The Mural is an original work of art.

G. The mural shall be created directly by or under the

direction of a qualified artist.

A qualified artist is required to meet at least one of the following criteria: 1. An art educator or artist with education/training in large format public art installations.

2. An individual or group individuals with documented experience with large format public art installations.

H. If a mural installation includes any changes to a building that would otherwise require Design Review as described in Section 4.57D those changes must be approved through the Design Review process simultaneous with approval of the Mural Permit. Murals may not otherwise result in the site property or structure becoming out of compliance with other land use code provisions, prior land use approvals, or prior conditions of approval governing the building or property on which the mural is to be located.

In applying the above criteria, the Director shall make his or her decision in accordance with applicable constitutional requirements.

Sec. 4.5-9 PERMIT FEES Upon approval of an application for a mural permit, a one-time fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be paid.

Sec. 4.5-10 STRUCTURAL REVIEW Murals with any element that weighs more than 7 pounds per square foot or in total weigh more than 400 pounds require structural review.

Sec. 4.5-11 SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION A. The Director may suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of Chapter 4.5. The Director will inform the permit holder of the suspension or revocation in writing. Permits may be suspended or revoked upon a finding that: 1. The permit was issued on the basis of incorrect information supplied by the applicant; or 2. The permit is issued in violation of any provisions of Chapter 4.5.

Sec. 4.5-12 INSPECTIONS AND EXPIRATION OF PERMIT A. Inspections: The Director will conduct inspection of murals for which a permit has been issued. The permit holder must notify the Director when the work is ready for inspection.

The inspection shall verify that the mural is in conformance with the application and in conformance with the provisions of this Chapter.

Structural inspections shall be completed in conjunction with any required building or structural permits and shall verify the applicable requirements from the applicable codes. The inspector shall take at least one photo to be kept on file to document the site, mural size, mural location and mural image consistency.

The Director may conduct inspections whenever it is necessary to enforce any provision of the City Code, to determine compliance with the City Code, or whenever the Director has reasonable cause to believe there exists any violation of the City Code.

B. Expiration of Permit: If inspection approval has not been obtained by the applicant within twelve (12) months of issuance of a mural permit, the permit is void, and no further work on the mural may be done at the premises until a new permit has been secured and a new fee paid.

C. Extensions of Permit: The Director may extend a permit for one period of twelve (12) months upon finding the following criteria have been met.

1. The request for an extension is made in writing prior to expiration of the original approval.

2. There are special or unusual circumstances that exist which warrant an extension.

3. No material changes of surrounding land uses or zoning has occurred. The Director may deny the request for an extension of the mural permit if new land use regulations have been adopted that affect the applicant’s proposal.

Sec. 4.5-13 MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF A PERMITTED MURAL A. Maintenance. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner or the responsible party to ensure that the mural is maintained in good condition, free from graffiti, and free from chipped, peeled, torn or faded paint or materials. Failure to properly maintain the mural, including removal of graffiti, will subject the mural to abatement

or removal by the Department of Public Works.

B. Damage and Restoration.

In the event that a mural is damaged, vandalized, removed, altered or destroyed, including graffiti abatement, the property owner or the responsible party, in consultation with the mural artist, shall be responsible for restoring the mural to the original condition, at the property owner’s expense, within thirty (30) days from the date a notice is sent to the property owner or the responsible party, remove the mural in its entirety in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.5-32.

Sec. 4.5-14 ALTERATIONS TO A PERMITTED MURAL Alterations of the mural must be approved by obtaining a new permit through the process described in Section 4.5-6 of this Chapter.

Sec. 4.5-15 REMOVAL OF A PERMITTED MURAL Prior to removal of a mural the property owner must notify the Planning Department at least 30 days prior to its removal with a letter stating the intent to remove the mural. Any associated materials that were used to affix or secure the mural to the wall must be removed at the time of the removal of the mural or incorporated into a new mural application. This includes, but is not limited to mounting hardware or brackets, caulk or grout, and adhesives or glues.

Sec. 4.5-16 ENFORCEMENT A. Violations and Penalties: It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision of, or fail to comply with, any requirement of this article. Any person that has violated, or continues to violate, any provision of this article shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not greater than $500.00 and/ or imprisonment for a period of time not to exceed six (6) months for each violation.

Each act of violation and/or day upon which any violations shall occur or continue to occur shall constitute a separate offense.

B. Abatement Proceedings: Any unapproved mural is considered graffiti. The City may institute abatement and cost recovery proceedings for the removal of the graffiti as described in Section 4.5-32 of the City Code.

C. Injunctive Relief and Civil Remedies.

1 If a person has violated or continues to violate the provisions of this article, the City may petition the appropriate court for a preliminary and/or permanent injunction restraining the person from activities which would create violations of this article or compelling the person to perform corrective action and/or remediation of any violation.

2 The City may also initiate civil proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction seeking monetary damages for any damages caused by an unauthorized mural or resulting from any violation of this article, including costs incurred for corrective action and remediation, and may seek other equitable relief to enforce compliance with the provisions of this article or force compliance with any lawful orders of the Director.

3 Damages sought by the City shall include any and all costs of such action including attorney’s fees, trial expenses, court costs and damages to any public properties.

D. Responsibility for enforcement: The regulations of this article may be enforced by the Director pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

Sec. 4.5-17 APPEALS All denials, suspensions, revocations, rulings, decisions or interpretations of the Director shall be final and binding upon all parties thereto unless properly appealed to the City Council.

Any person receiving a notice of an adverse decision, including a notice of permit application denial, notice of permit revocation or notice of violation, and wishing to appeal the same shall file a written notice in the Office of the City Clerk within ten (10) days from the date of the notice. The hearing on the appeal to the City Council shall be held within thirty (30) days from the date of the filing of the notice of appeal.

The decision of the City Council shall be final.

ARTICLE II GRAFFITI Sec. 4.5-26 PURPOSE AND INTENT The City Council (the “Council”) is enacting this article to help prevent the spread of graffiti vandalism and to establish a program for the removal of graffiti from public and private property. The

Council is authorized to enact this article pursuant to its police powers.

The Council finds that graffiti is a public nuisance and destructive of the rights and values of property owners as well as the entire community.

Unless the City acts to remove graffiti from public and private property, the graffiti tends to remain. Other properties then become the target of graffiti, and entire neighborhoods are affected and become less desirable places in which to be, all to the detriment of the City.

The Council intends, through the adoption of this article, to provide additional enforcement tools to protect public and private property from acts of graffiti vandalism and defacement. The Council does not intend for this article to conflict with any existing anti-graffiti state laws.

Sec. 4.5-27 DEFINITIONS For the purposes of this article, the following words shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: a. Aerosol paint container shall mean any aerosol container that is adapted or made for the purpose of applying spay paint or other substances capable of defacing property. b. Broad-tipped marker shall mean any felt tip indelible marker or similar implement with a flat or angled writing surface that, at its broadest width, is greater than one-fourth (1/4 th ) of an inch, containing ink or other pigmented liquid that is not water soluble. c. Etching equipment shall mean any tool, device or substance that can be used to make permanent marks on any natural or man-made surface. d. Graffiti shall mean any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, painting or other defacement that is written, marked, etched, scratched, sprayed, drawn, painted or engraved on or otherwise affixed to any surface of public or private property by any graffiti implement, to the extent that the graffiti was not authorized in advance by the owner or occupant of the property, or, despite advance authorization, is otherwise deemed a public nuisance by the Council. Any unapproved mural is considered graffiti.

For the purpose of this article, graffiti shall include drawings, writings, markings or inscriptions regardless of the content or the nature of materials used in the commission of the act. However, it shall not be construed to prohibit temporary, easily removable chalk or other water soluble markings on public or private sidewalks, streets or other paved surfaces which are used in connection with traditional children’s activities, such as drawings, or bases for stickball, kickball, handball, hopscotch or similar activities, nor shall it be construed to prohibit temporary, easily removable chalk or public purpose or activity. e. Graffiti implement shall mean an aerosol paint container, a broad-tipped marker, gum label, paint stick or graffiti stick, etching equipment, brush or any other device capable of scarring or leaving a visible mark on any natural or man-made surface. f. Paint stick or graffiti stick shall mean any device containing a solid form of paint, chalk, wax, epoxy or other similar substance capable of being applied to a surface by pressure and leaving a mark of at least one-eighth (1/8 th ) of an inch in width. g. Person shall mean any individual, partnership, cooperative association, private corporation, personal representative, receiver, trustee, assignee or any other legal entity.

Sec. 4.5-28 PROHIBITED ACTS A. Defacement. It shall be unlawful for any person to apply graffiti to any natural or man-made surface on any City owned property or, without the permission of the owner or occupant, on any non-City-owned property.

B. Possession of Graffiti Implements.

1. By Minors at or Near School Facilities. It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of nineteen (19) years to possess any graffiti implement while on any school property, grounds, facilities, buildings or structures, or in areas immediately adjacent to those specific locations upon public property, or upon private property without the prior written consent of the owner or occu-

pant of such private property.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to the possession of broad-tipped markers by a minor attending or traveling to or from a school at which the minor is enrolled if the minor is participating in a class at the school that formally requires the possession of broad-tipped markers.

The burden of proof in any prosecution for violation of this section shall be upon the minor student to establish the need to possess a broadtipped marker.

2. In Designated Public Places. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess any graffiti implement while in or upon any public facility, park, playground, swimming pool, recreational facility, or other public building or structure owned or operated by the City or while in or within fifty (50) feet of an underpass, bridge abutment, storm drain or similar types of infrastructure unless otherwise authorized by the City.

Sec. 4.5-29 PENALTIES A. Fines and Imprisonment.

Any person violating this article shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) for the first offense; and five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each subsequent offense, or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed sixty (60) days, or by both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

B. Restitution. In addition to any punishment specified in this section, the court shall order any violator to make restitution to the victim for damages or loss caused directly or indirectly by the violator’s offense in the amount or manner determined by the court. In the case of a minor, the parents or legal guardian shall be ordered jointly and severely liable with the minor to make the restitution.

C. Community Service. In lieu of, or as part of, the penalties specified in this section, a minor or adult may be required to perform community service at the discretion of the court.

Sec. 4.5-30 GRAFFITI AS NUISANCE A. The existence of graffiti on public or private property in violation of this Ordinance is expressly declared to be a public nuisance and, therefore, is subject to the removal and abatement provisions specified in this Ordinance.

B. It is the duty of both the owner of the property to which the graffiti has been applied and any person who may be in possession or who has the right to possess such property to at all times keep the property clear of graffiti.

Sec. 4.5-31 REMOVAL OF GRAFFITI BY PERPETRATOR Any person applying graffiti on public or private property shall have the duty to remove the graffiti within twentyfour (24) hours after notice by the City or private owner of the property involved.

Such removal shall be done in a manner prescribed by the Chief of Police, the Director of Public Works, the Planning Director or any additional City department head, as authorized by the Mayor.

Any person applying graffiti shall be responsible for the removal or for the payment of the removal. Failure of any person to remove graffiti or pay for the removal shall constitute an additional violation of this article.

Where graffiti is applied by an unemancipated minor, the parents or legal guardian shall also be responsible for such removal or for the payment for the removal.

Sec. 4.5-32 REMOVAL OF GRAFFITI BY PROPERTY OWNER OR CITY If graffiti is not removed by the perpetrator according to Section 4.5-31, graffiti shall be removed pursuant to the following provisions: a. Property Owner Responsibility. It is unlawful for any person who is the owner or who has primary responsibility for control of property or for repair or maintenance of property in the City to permit property that is defaced with graffiti to remain defaced for a period of thirty (30) days after service by first class mail of notice of the defacement. The notice shall contain the following information: 1. The street address and legal description of the property sufficient for identification of the property; 2. A statement that the property is a potential graffiti nuisance property with a concise description of the conditions leading to the finding; 3. A statement that the graffiti must be removed within thirty (30) days after receipt

of the notice and that if the graffiti is not abated within that time, the City will declare the property to be a public nuisance, subject to the abatement procedures in City Code Section 4.532(a); and 4. An information sheet identifying any graffiti removal assistance programs available through the City and private graffiti removal contractors. b. Exceptions to Property Owner Responsibility. The removal requirements of subsection (a) above shall not apply if the property owner or responsible party can demonstrate that the property owner or responsible party lacks the financial ability to remove the defacing graffiti. c. Right of City to Remove.

1. Use of Public Funds.

Whenever the City becomes aware or is notified and determines that graffiti is located on publicly or privately owned property viewable from a public or quasi-public place, the City shall be authorized to use public funds for the removal of the graffiti, or for the painting or repairing of the graffiti, but shall not authorize or undertake to provide for the painting or repair of any more extensive an area than that where the graffiti is located, unless the Mayor, or the designee of the Mayor, determines in writing that a more extensive area is required to be repainted or repaired in order to avoid an aesthetic disfigurement to the neighborhood or community, unless the property owner or responsible party agrees to pay for the costs of repainting or repairing the more extensive area.

2. Right of Entry on Private Property. Prior to entering upon private property or property owned by a public entity other than the City for the purpose of graffiti removal, the City shall attempt to secure the consent of the property owner or responsible party and a release of the City from liability for property damage or personal injury. If the property owner or responsible party fails to remove the offending graffiti within the time specified by this Ordinance, or if the City has requested consent to remove or paint over the offending graffiti and the property owner or responsible party has refused consent for entry on terms acceptable to the City and consistent with the terms of this section, the City shall commence abatement and cost recovery provisions specified below. d. Abatement and Cost Recovery Proceedings 1. Notice of Due Process Hearing. The City Administrator or the designee of the City Administrator serving as the Hearing Officer, shall provide the property owner of record and the party responsible for the maintenance of the property, if a person different than the owner, not less than fortyeight (48) hours notice of the City’s intent to hold a due process hearing at which the property owner or responsible party shall be entitled to present evidence and argue that the property does not constitute a public nuisance.

Notice shall be served in the same manner as a summons in a civil action in accordance with Rule 4 of the Civil Rules of Procedure. If the owner of record cannot be found after a diligent search, the notice may be served by posting a copy thereof in a conspicuous place upon the property for a period of ten (10) days and publication thereof in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Opelika.

2. Determination of Hearing Officer. The determination of the Hearing Officer after the due process hearing shall be final and not appealable. If, after the due process hearing, regardless of the attendance of the property owner or the responsible party or their respective agents, the Hearing Officer determines that the property contains graffiti viewable from a public or quasi-public place, the Hearing Officer shall give written notice in an eradication order that, unless the graffiti is removed within ten (10) days, the City shall enter upon the property, cause the removal, painting over (in such color as shall meet with the approval of the Hearing Officer), or such other eradication thereof as the Hearing Officer determines appropriate, and shall provide the property owner and the responsible party thereafter with an accounting of the costs of the eradication effort on a full cost recovery basis.

See Notices, page B13

pelika O Observer Notices, from B12 3. Eradication Effort.

Not sooner than the time specified in the order of the Hearing Officer, the Director of Public Works or his designee, shall implement the eradication order and shall provide an accounting to the property owner and the responsible party of the costs thereof.

4. Cost Hearing. The property owner or responsible party may request a cost hearing before the Hearing Officer on the eradication accounting, and appropriate due process must be extended to the property owner or responsible party. If following the cost hearing or, if no hearing is requested, after the implementation of the eradication order, the Hearing Officer determines that all or a portion of the costs are appropriately chargeable to the eradication effort, the total amount set forth in the eradication accounting, or an amount thereof determined as appropriate by the Hearing Officer, shall be due and payable by the property owner or responsible party within thirty (30) days. Any amount of eradication charges assessed by the Hearing Officer that are less than the total amount set forth in the eradication accounting shall be explained by written letter from the Hearing Officer to the City Council.

5. Lien. As to such property, where the responsible party is the property owner, if all or any portion of the assessed eradication charges remain unpaid for thirty (30) days, the portion thereof that remains unpaid shall constitute a lien on the property that was the subject of the eradication effort. The Director of Public Works shall present a lien resolution to the City Council, and upon passage and adoption thereof, shall cause a certified copy of the Lien to be recorded with the Purchasing/Revenue Officer.

Sec. 4.5-33 SEVERABILITY Severability is intended throughout and within the provisions of this article.

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, then that decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.

Section 2. Full Force and Effect. With the exception of the amendment made herein, all other sections and portions the Code shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 3. Severability Clause. If any section, sentence or phrase of this ordinance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, said holding shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance.

Section 4. Repealer Clause.

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

Section 5. Effective Date.

This ordinance shall become effective and enforced immediately upon its passage and publication as required by law. Chapter 4.5, as added herein, shall be codified in the Code of Ordinances of the City of Opelika, Alabama.

Section 6. Publication. The

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

ADOPTED AND APPROVED this the 17th day of December, 2019. /s/ Eddie Smith PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA ATTEST: /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK TRANSMITTED TO MAYOR on this the 18th day of December, 2019. /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK ACTION BY MAYOR APPROVED this the 18 th day of December, 2019. /s/ Gary Fuller MAYOR ATTEST: /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK

ORDINANCE NO. 029-19 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING DIVISION 6 OF ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF CITY CLERK/ TREASURER AND DEFINE THE POWERS, DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY CLERK/ TREASURER BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council (the “Council”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) as follows: Section 1. Amendment of Division 6 of Article II of Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances.

That Division 6 of Article II of Chapter 2 the Code of Ordinances of the City of Opelika, Alabama, entitled “City Clerk/Treasurer” is hereby amended to read as follows: Division 6. City clerk/treasurer.

Section 2-125.6 Establish.

The nonclassified position of city clerk/treasurer is hereby established, and said offices of clerk and treasurer shall be consolidated in accordance with the provisions of §11-43-3, Code of Alabama (1975). The office of city clerk/treasurer shall be filled by the city council at its first regular meeting or as soon thereafter as shall be practicable and such appointee shall hold office until the next general election, and until his successor is elected and qualified. It is the intent of the council that said appointment shall be filled at the complete discretion of the council without posting, notice or compliance with any other selection procedures of the city.

Section 2-125.7 Compensation.

The salary, compensation and emoluments of the city clerk/treasurer shall be fixed by resolution of the city council and shall not be diminished during the term of office for which he shall have been selected or appointed. The city clerk/ treasurer shall not receive for his own use any other fees or other compensation for his services as such officer.

Section 2-125.8 Removal.

Any person appointed to the office of city clerk/treasurer may be removed after a hearing, by a two-thirds vote of all of those elected to the council for incompetency, malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance of office and for conduct detrimental to the good order or discipline of the city, including habitual neglect of duty.

Section 2-125.9 Separation

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of offices.

The offices of city clerk and treasurer shall remain consolidated until they are separated by vote of a successor council. The council, with the consent of the mayor and a two-thirds vote of the majority, may divide the offices of clerk and treasurer as provided in §11-43-3, Code of Alabama (1975). Any such action shall be done at the beginning of a new council to assure that the term of the officeholder is not diminished.

Section 2-125.10 Official custodian of records. (a) As the lawfully designated custodian of certain city documents and records, the city clerk’s office shall maintain a permanent filing system of (1) each resolution and ordinance adopted by the city council; (2) certain contracts, agreements and franchises entered into by the city; (3) deeds to all property acquired or sold by the city; (4) appointment files and expiration notices for city boards and agencies; and (5) reports, plans or studies adopted by the city council. (b) The city clerk’s office shall prepare official minutes of all meetings of the city council as required by law; provide the public with access to all public records in his possession; and assist individuals and groups seeking information about the city and its departments.

Section 2-125.11 Powers and duties of city clerk/treasurer The city clerk/treasurer shall have the following power and duties: (1) Attend all regular and special meetings of the city council and attend certain meetings of all committees, boards and commissions of the city to the extent required by law or the council.

(2) Prepare and maintain the minutes of all meetings of the city council.

(3) Maintain custody of the seal of the city and impress the seal upon all papers and documents where the seal of the city must appear.

(4) Attest the execution of city documents.

(5) Publish notice of public hearings, special meetings of the city council, elections and other official actions as required by state law and city ordinance.

(6) Maintain copies of all city ordinances and resolutions for public use.

(7) Receive and file all communications and petitions directed to the city council or to the city generally and indicate thereon the action of the city council taken upon matters in such communications and petitions.

(8) Inform persons appointed by the mayor or city council to offices in municipal government of their position and the time at which they assume the duties of their office as required by the Mayor or the Council.

(9) Submit claims, requisitions and demands against the city to the city council at its next regular meeting for approval, unless already provided for by ordinance or resolution.

(10) Provide information or assistance to the public on request by answering questions, researching records and directing them to appropriate persons and transmitting messages to city staff or officials.

(11) Prepare certain resolutions, contracts, agreements and notices at the direction of the city council.

(12) Publish certain legal notices and advertisements as required by law.

(13) Mail notices to property

owners of public improvements made by the city council.

(14) Ensure city ordinances, resolutions and minutes of the city council are signed and recorded, if necessary.

(15) Monitor the execution of city agreements, contracts and other legal documents.

(16) Coordinate, manage and supervise the conduct of municipal elections; receive and file election statements as required by law; direct and supervise election personnel and ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations.

(17) Serve as absentee ballot manager in the conduct of all municipal elections.

(18) Under the supervision of the president of the city council, prepare agendas of all city council meetings and work session meetings.

(19) Manage the investment of city funds in accordance with state laws and city policies and provide current status, activity and performance reports to the council and mayor as requested.

(20) Maintain a record of pledged collateral by official depositories to comply with state law.

(21) Coordinate the information flow between the city council, the mayor and city staff.

(22) Compose correspondence, reports, memos, letters, notices, resolutions and ordinances on behalf of the city council.

(23) Conduct necessary research and provide support materials to aid the city council and mayor in making informed decisions.

(24) Carry out assignments and directives of the city council.

(25) Act as liaison between the city council and city staff.

(26) Co-sign city checks and drafts as required by the city council and mayor.

(27) Collaborate with mayor, city council and city staff to formulate long range plans and goals of the city.

(28) Perform such other duties as may be required of city clerks and city treasurers by law.

(29) Perform such other duties as may be required by the city council.

Section 2-125.12 Supervision.

The city clerk/treasurer shall report directly to and work under the general supervision of the President of the City Council. The President of the City Council shall evaluate, at least annually, the performance of the city clerk/ treasurer. Said evaluation and review shall be conducted in accordance with the established rules and regulations of the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual. The President of the City Council shall provide the city clerk/ treasurer with an adequate opportunity to discuss his evaluation with the President of the City Council. The President of the City Council shall provide copies of the annual evaluation to the city council.

Section 2-125.13 Office Hours.

The hours that the office of the City clerk/treasurer will be open for business shall be between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday except for City-authorized holidays and those days the City clerk/treasurer is on approved leave. The employee’s duties may involve expenditures of time in excess of the regularly established workday or in excess of a forty (40) hour work week and may also include time outside of normal office hours.

Section 2-125.14 Residency

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B13 Dec. 18, 2019 requirement.

The City clerk/treasurer shall be a resident of the City of Opelika, and shall not cease to be a resident during his or her employment by the City. The City Council may remove the appointee for failure to establish and maintain residency in the City during his or her incumbency.

Section 2. Amendment of Section 2-17. That Section 2.17 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Opelika is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 2-17 Absence of clerk/ treasurer; assumption of powers and duties by city administrator.

Whenever the clerk/treasurer of the City of Opelika shall be absent from his office or shall be unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the city administrator shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as acting clerk/treasurer during such time.

Section 3. Severability Clause. If any section, subsection, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of valid jurisdiction, said holding shall not affect the remaining portion of this Ordinance.

Section 4. Repealer Clause.

All former ordinances or parts thereof conflicting with this Ordinance or the code sections hereby adopted are repealed to the extent they are in conflict. All remaining portions of said Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 5. Effective Date.

This Ordinance shall become effective on March 1, 2020, except that the residency requirements of Section 2-125.14 shall not apply to the incumbent city clerk/treasurer.

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

Section 7. Codification. Codification of this Ordinance in the Code of Ordinances of the City of Opelika is hereby authorized and directed.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED this the 17th day of December, 2019. /s/ Eddie Smith PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA ATTEST: /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK TRANSMITTED TO MAYOR on this the 18th day of December, 2019. /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK ACTION BY MAYOR APPROVED this the 18th day of December, 2019. /s/ Gary Fuller MAYOR ATTEST: /s/ R. G. Shuman CITY CLERK Legal Run 12/18/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LEONARD HAYWARD JERNIGAN, DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 8th day of June, 2017, 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.

AUDIE HUFF JERNIGAN Administrator Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 12/11/19, 12/18/19 & 12/25/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARTHA J. MAXWELL, Deceased Case No. 2019-C-027 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR AND NOTICE TO FILE CLAIMS Letters of Administration on the Estate of MARTHA J. MAXWELL, deceased having been granted to the undersigned, LARRY H. MAXWELL, on the 14th day of November, 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. /s/ LARRY H. MAXWELL Larry H. Maxwell, Adminsitrator Legal Run 12/11/19, 12/18/19 & 12/25/19

STATE OF ALABAMA CASE NO. 2019-C-105 LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT ESTATE OF PETE B. TURNHAM, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said Pete B. Turnham, deceased, having been granted to Timothy N. Turnham, this 10th day of December, 2019, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred.

Timothy N. Turnham, Personal Representative Jeffery A. Hilyer 334-745-2564 Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, Alabama 368030030.

Legal Run 12/18/19, 12/25/19 & 01/01/2020

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: Extra Space Storage, 1412 Opelika Road, Auburn AL 36830 on 1/08/2020 at 2:00 p.m.

Brianne Laureen Atkinson Unit# B25 420 N Dean Rd Apt 106 Auburn, AL,36830 Boxes,totes,couches, furniture,clothing Brian Thompson Unit# 207 128 Springfield Lane Madison, AL,35758 3 king beds tables boxes furniture Quinton Foster Unit# F85 539 Boykin St. Auburn, AL,36832 Household Items 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 12/18 & 12/25/2019

pelika Observer O

B14 Dec. 18, 2019

Like crossword puzzles? Sudoku?

Play online at www.opelikaobserver.com/puzzles/

This week’s Scramblers Answers: 1. Search 2. Invest 3. Tangle 4. Chore - Today’s Word: VACATION

Even Exchange Answers 1. Bench, Beach 2. Scroll, Stroll 3. Hurdle, Curdle 4. Daily, Doily 5. Flake, Flare

6. Attach, Attack 7. Twice, Twine 8. Hatter, Halter 9. Moose, Mouse 10. Crest, Crust

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

Inside the Statehouse Smiths Station City Council approves two Pete Turnham epitomized the greatest generation reappointments to city’s planning commission

F

amous former television news anchor Tom Brokaw wrote an iconic book titled “The Greatest Generation.” The 1998 book chronicles the unique character of a generation of Americans. Brokaw attempted to capture the unselfish contribution of our World War II Americans who built our marvelous country.

As Brokaw says, “They will have their place in the ledgers of history, but no block of marble or elaborate edifice can equal their lives of sacrifice and achievement, duty and honor as monuments to their time.”

Pete Turnham of Auburn passed away on Sept. 30, 2019.

Mr. Pete epitomized the best of the greatest generation. He was three months shy of 100 when he transitioned to be with his Maker and his beloved wife, Kay, who preceded him in death in 2016. While on earth, he lived every day to the fullest. He truly made a difference during the century he was here.

Mr. Pete represented Auburn and Lee County in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1958 to 1998. This is the longest tenure in state history, and it is because of this longevity and tenure in the Legislature that Mr. Pete became known as the “Dean of the House.”

Like many of the greatest generation,

By Steve Flowers Pete served in World War II. He shipped off to Europe during the war earning distinction in battle as a Bronze Star Medal and Valor award winner under the command of the famed Gen. George Patton in the Third Army. His assignment at the end of the war was as a company commander of troops guarding the priceless art stolen and stored by the Nazis at Neuschwanstein Castle. This story was the subject of a famous movie titled, “The Monuments Men.” You might say that George Clooney played the part of Pete.

Pete came home, raised his family and built a legacy in his beloved Auburn.

Like many ambitious men of the greatest generation, He became successful in business. However, Mr. Pete is best known for his 40 years of service in the Alabama Legislature. Most of that time he was on the Ways and Means Committee, which appropriates the state education dollars.

He made sure that

Auburn University got their fair share of these dollars. He retired as the Dean of the House in 1998.

It was one of the greatest privileges and experiences of my life to sit beside Mr. Pete in the Legislature for 16 years.

We became best friends for life. When I arrived as a freshman, a 30-year-old legislator in 1982, Pete had already been a representative for 24 years. He had known me as a youngster when I spent my summers paging in the House.

When I arrived, Pete took me under his wing and told me I was going to sit by him. Therefore, I immediately left the other freshmen on the back row and went to a prime seat near the front of the chamber next to the Dean of the House.

You get to know someone in more than 16 years. Pete Turnham was the consummate gentleman. I never heard him say a harsh word about anyone or use any profanity.

He loved his wife, Kay, his children, his Baptist church in Auburn and Auburn University. He also loved his vegetable garden. True to his agricultural roots, he grew his own produce in his six acres behind his house.

Pete’s favorite place was in his vegetable garden where for 65 years he personally attended the planting See Flowers, page B16

By Morgan Bryce Editor Members of the Smiths Station City Council voted unanimously to reappoint William Spear and Richard Terry to the city’s planning commission last Tuesday night.

Spear’s new term will expire Dec. 31, 2023, while Terry’s will expire a year later on Dec. 31, 2024.

“Both of these (men) have been great (commission) members and play vital roles,” said Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Cope-

Photo by Morgan Bryce/Opelika Observer

land.

The council also approved a resolution to enumerate next year’s holidays and dedicated days off for city employees. According to City Clerk Scott Johnston, the city of Smiths Sta-

tion’s calendar will mirror Lee County’s schedule, which rents a space within the Smiths Station Government Center.

Before adjourning the meeting, CopeSee Council, page B16

Alabama Republican Party blocks ballot access for Thomas Sick of DC Casson Special to the Opelika Observer On Dec. 8, the Alabama Republican party decided to deny ballot access to Thomas Sick of DC Casson, seemingly ending his primary challenge to current 3rd District House Rep. Mike Rogers.

Casson, who appeared in front of a party committee prior to the decision, said his responses to the group’s complaints against him were ignored.

“The challenge letter stated things about my previous political activities that just

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer

weren’t true and that seemed to be the only factor they could cite to justify squashing a fellow citizen,” Casson said.

“The idea that I have ever been anything other than a true believer in conservatism is ridiculous.

The party has chosen to welcome former Democrat politicians into their ranks through the years, from Richard Shelby to Bobby Bright, so what do they have to fear from a lifelong See Casson, page B16

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pelika O Observer

B16 Dec. 18, 2019

Report from Washington: the season of giving across East Alabama

By Congressman Mike Rogers Special to the Opelika Observer Each Christmas season, I like to highlight a few of the kind things folks across East Alabama are doing for others.

Below is a small sample of ways our fellow Alabamians have cared for each other over the past year.

At Central-Clay County at Central High School, teacher Amanda

East gathered the school supplies that were going to be disposed of from the locker clean out.

Those items are now set up to donate to students who need them.

In Lee County, The Hallmark Channel came to Beauregard to help present new homes to the 15 families who lost everything when the EF-4 tornado devastated the area.

Hallmark will also serve residents a holiday meal at Providence Baptist Church with Santa

and toys for the little ones too.

In Calhoun County, Dara Murphy of Rosa Lee Boutique organized a White Bag Project for individuals to grab a white bag and fill it up for a child in need.

They are also taking clothing and furniture to 20 families.

In Lee, Macon and Tallapoosa Counties, Rep. Pebblin Warren assists 400 seniors with gift baskets.

In Randolph County, the Roanoke Police

makes me proud to be from East Alabama. It is truly heartwarming to see our brothers and sisters across the Third District taking time to take care for someone who needs it most.

May we carry this attitude of service to others all year long.

Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas. Remember the reason for the season.

Sign up for the e-Newsletter and the Rogers’ Roundup by

Department is holding its annual toy drive to ensure local children get a Christmas gift.

In Chambers County, the Christian Service Center collects food and toys to donate to families.

In Montgomery County, Woodland United Methodist Church/Town of Pike Road distribute food. Pike Road and Central Alabama Health Care Systems also distribute hygiene items for local veterans.

Reading these stories

visiting the recently launched new custom website at:www.mikerogers.house.gov.

To stay up to date, follow any or all of my social platforms as well.

You can like my Facebook page at facebook.com/CongressmanMikeDRogers, follow me on Twitter and Instagram using the handle @RepMikeRogersAL and subscribe to my YouTube page by visiting youtube.com/MikeRogersAL03.

United States and China Meeting to reactivate Lee reach Phase One Trade County’s NAACP chapter scheduled for Jan. 6 Agreement last week Special to the Opelika Observer The United States and China have reached an historic and enforceable agreement on a Phase One trade deal that requires structural reforms and other changes to China’s economic and trade regime in the areas of intellectual property, technology transfer, agriculture, financial services and currency and foreign exchange. The Phase One agreement also includes a commitment by China that it will make substantial additional purchases of U.S. goods and services in the coming years.

Importantly, the agreement establishes a strong dispute resolution system that ensures prompt and effective implementation

Flowers, from B15 and harvesting. He had quite a green thumb. His garden was famous and he shared the bounty with friends and neighbors.

Like many great men of that generation, he genuinely loved and cared about people and helping his fellow man. He helped and cared for his folks in Lee County on a daily basis, es-

and enforcement. The United States has agreed to modify its Section 301 tariff actions in a significant way.

“President Trump has focused on concluding a Phase One agreement that achieves meaningful, fully-enforceable structural changes and begins rebalancing the U.S.China trade relationship.

This unprecedented agreement accomplishes those very significant goals and would not have been possible without the President’s strong leadership,” said United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. “(Last Sunday’s) announcement of a Phase One agreement with China is another significant step forward in advancing President Trump’s economic pecially assisting students at Auburn University.

I closely watched Pete helping aspiring students and his constituents.

He helped a lot of folks in Lee County and he did it without fanfare, whether it was giving someone down on their luck vegetables from his garden or getting their road fixed.

Everything he did was with humility, helpfulness, peacemaking efforts and a positive attitude.

Pete Turnham was

agenda. Thanks to the President’s leadership, this landmark agreement marks critical progress toward a more balanced trade relationship and a more level playing field for American workers and companies,” said Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin.

The United States first imposed tariffs on imports from China based on the findings of the Section 301 investigation on China’s acts, policies and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation.

The United States will be maintaining 25% tariffs on approximately $250 billion of Chinese imports, along with 7.5% tariffs on approximately $120 billion of Chinese imports.

a true Christian gentleman.

Pete Turnham served under nine different governors and nine different House Speakers. He was the only legislator to serve during all the Wallace administrations.

Passing away at nearly 100 years old during the year of Alabama’s Bicentennial, Mr. Pete lived half of Alabama’s history and participated in making much of it.

Pete Turnham was one of the greatest of

Special to the Opelika Observer

All interested citizens are called upon to attend a meeting to reactivate the Lee County Chapter of the NAACP on Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. at Bethesda Baptist Church, which is located at 201 South 4th St. in Opelika.

Current NAACP

Council, from B15 land reminded the public about the city’s Christmas tree-lighting ceremony, which was held last Thursday evening.

The council’s next

the Greatest Generation.

Next week, we will commemorate the other Alabama political legends who passed away this year.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist.

His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers. us.

members are encouraged to attend and applications will be available for those who wish to (re)join in determining the reinstatement committee to serve for approximately three months before electing long term officers.

The current contacts are as follows: • Lead facilitator - Billy U. Allen:

678-458-9688 or bundray54@gmail.com • Local coordinator - Oscar Penn: 334663-5498 • Liaison to NAACP - John Andrew Harris: 334-734-3302 The NAACP’s goal is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.

and final meeting of 2019 will be held on Dec. 23 because of the Christmas holiday.

The Smith Station City Council regularly meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month with a work session starting at 5:30 p.m. E.S.T.

followed by their 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 334-2978771 or visit www. smithsstational.gov.

Casson, from B15 Republican like me? It makes you wonder,” Casson said. “The fact that the committee chose to protect an ineffective incumbent in this way shows they have forgotten the founding principles that made our country great.”

Adding to the rebuke, Casson has been informed that he will not be refunded the $3,480 filing fee he pledged in order for his name to

This week’s puzzle answers:

appear on the ballot.

“It is a sad day for a party that should believe in smaller and more efficient government, rule of law and term limits,” Casson said.

Casson pledged not to give in to the pressure party officials have chosen to exert on him.

“Sick of DC is not a party, but it is a mindset,” Casson said.

“The Republican party can only gain from the constitutional principles I’m talking about.

I will not give up and that is a promise.”