Opelika Observer 03-18-2020 E-edition

pelika Observer O

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Vol. 12, No. 24

“By local people, for local people.”

Opelika, Alabama

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Local businesses working together to Creekwood mitigate economic impact of COVID-19 Resources

By Opelika Observer Staff COVID-19 is affecting things everywhere, especially local businesses. The Opelika Observer went to Facebook to ask what changes small businesses here in the area are making to ensure employee and customer safety as well as whether or not they will remain open. Many are staying open, and in the case of dining establishments, choosing to serve their customers by offering curbside pickup or delivery.

As of press time, Taylor Made Designs will host a live virtual shopping night on March 19.

The store is using Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer in an effort to be cau-

tious.

Angel’s Antique Mall is open for normal business hours. They have instructed staff to sanitize every night.

Massey Family Chiropractic will be open this weekend to provide care to overworked hospital staff. Alabama Foot Care Center will be open. They are taking proper precautions by wearing masks and gloves and using Lysol on surfaces three times a day.

O Town is encouraging their patrons to use the drive-up window.

Chuck’s Bar-B-Que of Opelika remains open. Acre, Ariccia and Piccolo, Cafe 123, La Cantina, Laredo’s, Sword and Skillet are now offering curbside

withdraws quarry plans

Special to the Opelika Observer

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer pickup. Bow & Arrow has drive-thru pickup available.

Jim Bob’s on First Avenue and Susie K’s are offering free delivery for customers within eight miles of the restaurant.

Mama Mocha’s Coffee Emporium on First Avenue remains open, but will only accept orders their door-to-go, no cash and cannot provide

access to the bathroom or cafe during this time.

Apple, Google and Samsung payments will still be accepted.

Butcher Paper BBQ will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Starting next week, it will See Impact, page A3

The City of Opelika is pleased to announce that Creekwood Resources has withdrawn their permit and application to ADEM. “I would like to express my appreciation to Jeffrey Major and CreekWood Resources for withdrawing their application.

I am deeply grateful for the overwhelming support from citizens in Opelika, Auburn, Smith Station and Lee County.

Without the support

of all involved, we may not have had this outcome,” said Mayor Gary Fuller.

In addition, the city and the Mayor would like to thank the Opelika City Council, Auburn City Council, Smith Station City Council, Lee County Commission, Opelika Utility Board, Opelika City School Board and Storybook Farm for being with us through this entire process. A special thanks to Dr. David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement See Quarry, page A3

CFEA accepting applications Butcher Paper from nonprofits for ‘2nd BBQ introduces annual Opelika Giving Day’ Special to the Opelika Observer The Community Foundation of East Alabama has announced that it is now accepting applications from nonprofits operating in Opelika for its second annual “Opelika Giving Day” scheduled for May 6. Opelika Giving Day is a 24-hour online fundraising challenge that provides an easy and exciting way for people to support their local nonprofits.

Last year, Opelika Giving Day helped raise more than $30,000 for 10 different nonprofits throughout Opelika.

The Creekline Project, which provides the

development of paths and nature trails along Opelika’s streams, roadways and points of interest, achieved its goal last year by raising more than $15,000.

“Opelika Giving Day is designed to celebrate the joy of helping others and inspire a new culture of giving within our community,” said Todd Rauch, vice president of the Community Foundation of East Alabama.

Applications are due

by March 31, after which the selected nonprofit organizations will be notified and given the guidance and direction on how to help their fundraising project See Giving Day, page A3

Opelika Utilities issues statement breakfast menu assuring customers of water quality

Photos submitted to the Opelika Observer

By Natalie Anderson Staff Reporter Butcher Paper BBQ opened its storefront restaurant at 128 Colum-

bus Parkway in Opelika in September 2018 after the success of both catering and its food trailer.

See Breakfast, page A5

Special to the Opelika Observer Opelika Utilities provides safe, clean, plentiful water to

more than 14,000 metered customers in Opelika as well as the following wholesale customers:

Index

OPINION.....................................A4 SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY..............A7 RELIGION..............................A9 CALENDAR..................................A10

COMICS....................................A12 SPORTS..................................B1 PUBLIC NOTICES............................B5 POLITICS...................................B7

pelika O O bserver.com www.cyberzone334.com

See Quality, page A3

pelika Observer O

A2 March 18, 2020

Mackenzie Kayler receives prestigious Pam Powers-Smith stepping down from Opelika Chamber of statewide scholarship earlier this month Commerce president position Special to the Opelika Observer

By Morgan Bryce Editor In a mass email sent Thursday afternoon, Opelika Chamber of Commerce President Pam Powers-Smith announced to chamber members that she is stepping down from the position to move and take care of her parents in Rome, Georgia.

“I’ve never written an official letter from the President for an email blast, and it’s unfortunate that my first one is to bring sad news,” PowersSmith wrote in the first sentence of her email.

“This is unexpected and certainly not on my timeline, but sometimes you just have to make hard decisions.”

Later in the email, Powers-Smith said the organization’s executive board will soon be releasing details on the process to find her replacement, but that the organization will continue operating normally in her absence.

“Dinah Motley, Jill Robinson, Vivian Anthony and Mackenzie Kayler will be here to keep providing the services you need, and they are professionals in everything they do,” Powers-Smith wrote.

Powers-Smith was named president of the

Powers-Smith Opelika Chamber since December 2016, replacing longtime president and former Mayor Barbara Patton. In the past, Powers-Smith worked as the director of Opelika Main Street, public relations specialist for the Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau and operated a photography business out of downtown Opelika called “FlipFlopFoto” with her husband Rob. In an interview with the Observer, PowersSmith said she is proud of the partnerships formed and lasting relationships created within the community during her time as chamber president.

“There are many communities that cannot say they have those types of working relationships, and I know that I was fortunate to not only work with all those people but have them as friends. It takes a village to make a village great,” Powers-Smith said.

Powers-Smith added that she has accepted a position with the Rome Chamber of Commerce and will begin working there once their move has been completed.

For more information and updates, like and follow the Opelika Chamber’s social media pages or visit www.opelikachamber.com.

Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is pleased to announce that Stan Witherow, President, Albertville Chamber of Commerce; Debbie Ashburn, VicePresident of Investor Relations & Membership Services, Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce; Mackenzie Kayler, Manager of Programs and Events, Opelika Chamber of Commerce; Kelly M. Brandin, Executive Administrator, Opp and Covington County Area Chamber of Commerce; and, Shellie Whitfield, Executive Director, Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce, have been awarded a State Partnership Scholarship in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama. The scholarship is awarded to first-year Institute attendees who were chosen based on qualifications set by the Chamber of Commerce Asso-

Kayler ciation of Alabama in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation program.

Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has been educating tens of thousands of association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates.

Institute’s curriculum consists of four weeklong sessions at four different university

locations throughout the country. Through a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance and membership, Institute participants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.

Each of the State Partnership recipients will attend one of See Kayler, page A5

Highlight Permanent Makeup Great Eyebrows Don't Happen by Chance They Happen by Appointment www.highlightspa.com • 334 - 744 - 1625 Subscribe to the Opelika Observer Today!

pelika Observer

Publisher: Michelle Key Editor: Morgan Bryce Marketing: Doug Horn and Woody Ross Photojournalist: Robert Noles Phone: 334.749.8003 editor@opelikaobserver.com Sports Writers: Rick Lanier and Michelle@opelikaobserver.com D. Mark Mitchell

O

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

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pelika Observer O

Kroger’s Georgia, Eastern Alabama and South Carolina stores hiring, maintaining current hours Special to the Opelika Observer Kroger’s Atlanta Division, which includes Georgia, Eastern Alabama and South Carolina, is hiring new associates to help keep stores stocked with fresh, affordable food and essentials – and urges those in industries hard hit

by COVID-19, such restaurants, hospitality and travel, to apply for open positions. Those interested may apply at jobs.kroger.com.

Additionally, Kroger stores in Georgia, eastern Alabama and South Carolina are not limiting hours at this time.

“We want to emphasize that customers should not panic.

The supply chain is strong and has not been interrupted,” said Felix Turner manager of corporate affairs for Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “Our associates, management team and suppliers are working hard to replenish shelves as quickly as possible to ensure that

the food, medicine and cleaning supplies are reaching our stores as quickly as possible and are available through our pickup, delivery and ship services. We will be there for our communities when they need us most.”

To help address the gap in funding to combat food insecurity nationwide, The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation (the "Foundation") announced a $3 million commitment last week to rapidly deploy hunger-relief resources to communities disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“We are mindful that the coronavirus pandemic may result in more of our neighbors struggling with food insecurity during this challenging time – and we want to help. That is why The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation is directing $3 million, its largest commitment to date, to rapidly deploy hunger-relief resources

to food-insecure communities across the country,” said Keith Dailey, Kroger’s group vice president of corporate affairs.

Additional Information About Kroger’s Response to COVID-19: In Our Stores: We are cleaning commonly used areas more often, including cashier stations, self-checkouts, credit card terminals, conveyor belts and food service counters, and cleaning shelves when restocking products.

We’re working with suppliers to replenish the items customers are looking for quickly.

Taking it a step further in our stores: -Continuing to provide our customers with free disinfectant wipes at our store entrances to sanitize their shopping carts or baskets.

-Following best practices for safe food handling, as always.

We’re Putting our People First: We are enacting an Emergency Leave Guidelines policy, al-

lowing paid time off: -For associates diagnosed with COVID-19. Associates placed under mandatory quarantine by their medical provider or by a public health authority because of exposure to COVID-19.

-Encouraging our associates to closely monitor their health and well-being.

-Asking our associates to stay home if they, or someone in their household, are sick.

-Providing financial support from our Helping Hands fund – a company-sponsored employee assistance fund – to associates who may be directly affected.

-Suspending business air travel for associates through April 15 and recommending virtual meetings.

Our associates are heroes doing everything they can in service of our customers and communities.

For more information and updates, visit www. kroger.com.

Forbes Magazine lists Jackson Thornton as one of the country’s top tax and accounting firms

Photo by Morgan Bryce/Opelika Observer Special to the Opelika Observer Jackson Thornton, a certified public accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Montgomery, is pleased to announce it was recently named as one of “America’s Top Recommended Tax & Accounting Firms”

by Forbes Magazine.

The firm has an office in downtown Opelika’s historic district.

Only 227 firms nationwide were select-

ed, seven of which were in Alabama.

Jackson Thornton was selected as being a top recommendation in both the tax and accounting areas.

Forbes and market research company Statista partnered to create the list, which considered 1,800 survey responses from CPAs, enrolled agents, tax lawyers, accountants and CFOs. The firms that received the most recommendations were included on the list.

“We’re honored to

have been recognized

by Forbes in this way,” said Ned Sheffield, president and managing principal of Jackson Thornton.

“It’s really gratifying to have been recommended by our peers and colleagues in both the accounting and tax areas.”

For more information, visit www. jacksonthornton.com/ opelika.

The Opelika branch, located at 100 N. 9th St., is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

About Jackson Thornton Founded in 1919, Jackson Thornton is a certified public accounting and consulting firm with more than 200 professionals and associates in six offices located in Alabama and Tennessee.

In addition to accounting services, the firm offers wealth management, strategic planning, business consulting services, technology consulting and specialized industry services.

A3 March 18, 2020

Impact, from A1 be open 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They are working on upping sanitation routines.

Both locations of Miss Deanna’s Childcare will be open.

Southern Crossing will be open Monday through Friday 10 a.m.

Giving Day, from A1 reach its goal on Opelika Giving Day. So, what can everyone do to help support Opelika Giving Day? “Whether you’re an individual, company, or organization, we invite you to participate in this special day of giving on May 6th, designed to shine a spotlight on some amazing organizations who are making a difference in the Opelika community,” Rauch said.

To fill out your application for Opelika Giving Day visit: www.opelikagivingday.org, or follow them on Facebook @ opelikagivingday.

The event will last from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on May 6.

For more information, visit www. opelikagivingday. org or email info@

Quality, from A1 Auburn Water Works, Beulah Utilities District, Loachapoka Water Authority and Smiths Water and Sewer Authority.

The Opelika Utilities water filtration, biological/chemical neutralization, transmission and distribution systems are relied on 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year to assure the residents, industries and visitors of Opelika and surrounding areas with continuity in critical community services during a pandemic event, such as the current COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus event.

Critical community services within the Opelika Utilities water service area include: East Alabama Medical Center, urgent care clinics and physician offices, dental offices, veterinary offices and fire service at 2,200plus fire hydrants.

Additionally, as the primary measure to reduce pandemic

Quarry, from A1 System of Alabama, and Dr. Jay Gogue, President of Auburn University for their support.

CreekWood Managing Member Jeffrey

to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

They are offering free deliveries in Opelika, Auburn and surrounding areas.

Major retailers like Belk and Men’s Wearhouse are two stores that have announced that they are closing. The Observer is actively working to confirm and publicize other store closures.

opelikagivingday.org.

Follow Opelika Giving Day on Facebook, and Instagram for the latest news.

About the Community Foundation of East Alabama: The Community Foundation of East Alabama was incorporated in 2007 as a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization. As a local center for philanthropy, CFEA works with individuals, families, corporations, private foundations and nonprofit organizations to help them carry out their charitable objectives and address emerging community issues. Donors to the Community Foundation also benefit from the Foundation’s combined assets which greatly reduce investment and administrative fees.

Their five-county region includes Lee, Chambers, Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa counties. spread is the removal of pathogens from your hands, thousands upon thousands of hand-washing stations throughout every home, business and public facility are actively supported through services provided by Opelika Utilities.

What You Need to Know About Opelika Utilities Water Service: -Opelika Utilities has safe water -Viruses, including COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus, cannot survive Opelika Utilities’ water treatment and disinfection process. The water arriving at your water meter is safe from these viruses and is sufficiently abundant in supply to meet all your needs during a pandemic event.

-As with all other times, water consumers should regularly sanitize faucets and fixtures within their premises to reduce the risk of contamination through contact with handles, knobs and faucets.

For more information, visit www.owwb. com.

Major submitted a letter today to City Attorney Guy Gunter explaining the reason for his withdrawal and included his communications with ADEM demonstrating this fact.

Visit www.opelikaobserver.com to see full copies of the letter.

A4 March 18, 2020

I

know there are many important world events happening right now, with new alarming headlines being written every few minutes, but I think you deserve a five-minute rest from televised anxiety.

Which is why I want to talk seriously about Ohio for a second.

Not only is Ohio the birthplace of seven U.S. presidents, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Thomas Edison, but it is also home to the world’s largest pair of drumsticks. The sticks are carved from poplar logs and have a combined weight of 1,800 pounds.

Said one Ohio man, “Dang, they’re big.”

I’ve always wanted to visit the Buckeye State, but every time I tell my Ohio friends this, they usually answer with: “Ha ha! Wait, you’re serious?”

I do understand why some Ohioans feel sort of blah about their state.

But then, everyone feels like this about their home sometimes.

Take me, for instance. I am a Floridian who lives three miles from the Gulf of Mexico. People are always wanting to crash at my place during, say, spring break. And I’m usually thinking to myself, “Why?” These friends often unveil their travel plans during nonchalant conversations by saying, “So, how’s that old guest room looking, buddy?”

And even though I don’t particularly enjoy having company in our house, I was raised to be hospitable. So I answer, “Our guest room is always open to you, as

I

t was the first house they ever owned.

1955.

They should have become home owners years before, but they didn’t.

Here is why.

In 1940, he was fresh out of Auburn and newly hired to teach vocational-agriculture in the local high school.

She was a secretary in an office at the court house.

The plan was that

I

once had a very vivid dream of myself, as a young adult, hanging out with my grandmother.

We were sitting together at a dinner table, chatting life and laughing. I do not recall any details of the conversation or the occasion. That’s how dreams are. What I do remember, is the feeling she left inside of me when I finally woke up, as if I had just been by her side. I felt as though she was right there with me. So close. But the truth was, I had not seen her in

Good

By Sean Dietrich long as you aren’t allergic to black mold or rats the size of Fiats.”

The truth is, Florida people are just like Ohio people. Sometimes we can’t see how great our state is. This is exactly why during my teenage years we boys used to leave Florida for spring vacation in search of any U.S. state where we knew someone with a sleeper-sofa.

The farther away the better, just as long as we weren’t in Florida.

That’s how it goes when you grow up on the Gulf Coast. During spring break, you want to vacation somewhere non-beachy, even if your entire trip is spent trapped in your buddy Phil’s fraternity-house basement.

So people always act confused when I tell them about the weird places I’ve visited for spring break. My list includes—this is true— Texarkana, Texas; Cullman, Alabama; Joplin, Missouri; Peoria, Illinois and Detroit.

Still, I’ve never been to Ohio. And this morning, I’m wishing I would have visited. Specifically, I’m wishing that I could have visited Cleveland this past Sunday, when 21-year-old Mendl Weinstock showed up at his sister’s wedding accompanied by a llama dressed in a tuxedo.

That’s right. Mendl

pelika Opinion O brought a llama to a wedding ceremony because of a promise he’d made to his sister long ago. He says that it all started during a road trip, when he and his sister were having a conversation about weddings.

Traditionally, guys do not talk about weddings.

In fact, most guys would rather discuss surgical sterilization procedures than matrimony. Plus, at the time, Mendl’s sister was only 17 years old and didn’t have plans to get married within the immediate future. This meant that their discussion was theoretical. To a guy, the only thing worse than wedding-talk, is hypothetical wedding-talk.

But girls love weddings. They begin obsessing about weddings when they are little. We boys would often get trapped in these girly wedding daydreams. This normally occurred when our mothers forced us to invite our cousin Lisa over to play.

Cousin Lisa was totally crazy about weddings.

Marriage was all she could think about. If you were to give Lisa some G.I. Joes and a bunch of oatmeal cookies, Lisa would find a way to get them all hitched.

So even though you were wanting to play cowboys with your pals, Cousin Lisa was always playing “house,” and coaxing all your outlaw friends to give up bank robbery and start thinking seriously about things like adjustable fixed-arm mortgages.

Thus, Mendl and his sister got into a squabble on that fateful trip. And See Dietrich, page A5

I

Snowbirds

n summer 1970, Canadian singer Anne Murray had a popular song called “Snowbird.” The first stanza focuses on the dark-eyed Junco, called a snowbird because of its abrupt appearance at feeding stations in colder weather. It belongs to the sparrow family.

Murray is now age 74 and still performs her standards such as “Danny’s song,” “You needed me. and “Could I have this dance?”

Her breakthrough Top 10 song begins: “Beneath this snowy mantle cold and clean, The unborn grass lies waiting, For its coat to turn to green, The snowbird sings the song he always sings.” These birds are very nice, but my subjects today are human Snowbirds: Northerners who come to the South to avoid winter’s rage at home.

In 2017, Alabama had 26.6 million visitors, 21% more than in 2008, which is when use of the very successful “Sweet Home Alabama” tagline began. Money spent by visitors in the state hit $14.3 billion in 2017, up 7.5% from 2016 and almost 50% more than 2008.

This is according to Business Alabama.

Spending totals were not available detailing how much of that tourist money comes from “Snowbirds” in Alabama. But I contend that plenty does!

“Alabamians make the best neighbors,

By Greg Markley and we are always proud to welcome visitors, whether they are here for a quick visit or maybe even a little longer like our friends from colder climates,” Gov. Kay Ivey emphasized.

“We are always ready to offer a warm southern welcome to folks wanting to make Alabama their new, permanent home. After all, we are ‘Sweet Home Alabama.’”

Two cartoons tell a lot about “Snowbirds” in a fun way.

The first, by John O’Brien, has people leaving a plane and handing their coats to a man in a booth.

Caption: Winter Coat Check at a Tropical Destination’s Airport.

The second, by Ed Fischer, shows people at a bus stop in a snowstorm. A woman says to another: “Oh, sure, you could move to Arizona but you wouldn’t have our wonderful change of seasons.”

Aaron Gresham, executive creative director at Birmingham’s BIG Communications, stated in a 2018 interview that the state has much to be proud of but not enough outsiders know that.

“Alabama has been cast as an underdog in the national media,

and we get a lot of attention over negative news,” he told Business Alabama. “The truth is we are not what you may think.

We are smart, innovative and hard working.”

I suggest you locate a color photo of the birds that share the nickname with humans. This is a small bird with dark hood covering his head and chest, with a greyish back and a white belly.

The term “snowbird” has been around for 97 years. It originally referred to seasonal workers who moved south for the winter.

In Texas, Snowbirds have the name “Winter Texans.” In similar places, Snowbirds have the challenge of keeping up care for their primary homes.

They may arrange for a family member or trusted neighbor to frequently check their home. In Southern host states, Snowbirds favorably impact state economies.

Orange Beach, Alabama was chosen as one of the 20 Best Places for Snowbirds in 2017, by travel website Expedia.

That’s no surprise!

The average high temperature is 61 degrees F. in November, and comfortable for many months after. Gulf Shores, AL and Orange Beach have much-heralded beaches and activities.

Our neighbors to the north, the CanadiSee Markley, page A5

A family’s history in its housing they would marry and settle down to small town life. After a few years, with two incomes, family land, and an uncle who was a carpenter, they would build a house.

Then they would raise a family, become pillars of the community, and grow old together.

But for them, and so many like them, things did not go as planned.

Dec. 7, 1941.

By Hardy Jackson

The Japanese attached Pearl Harbor.

They married anyway, and a year later he was sent overseas to defeat Hitler (which he did, but it took a

while), so they were essentially newlyweds when he returned to civilian life.

What followed was an Odyssey that was all too familiar to returning veterans.

Although he had been assured by a grateful nation that his job would be waiting for him, he could not bring himself to turn out the young man who had replaced him when he left. So he took a job

in Montgomery and moved his family (there was a baby now) into a renovated tenant house near his mother’s home in the suburbs of Slapout, Alabama. It was the best they could do.

Homebuilding had all but ceased during the war, and it would be years before construction caught up with demand.

From there they moved to Selma, where everything available

was being converted into living space.

Briefly they lived in rooms above a garage, then they moved into the first floor of in one of the city’s fine old homes. Finally, they settled into a nice twobedroom apartment in what was once the Selma Infirmary.

In 1950, they returned to the little town where they had met and where he and a friend See Jackson, page A5

A Time for Everything over 15 years, since she passed away.

That entire day, I lived as if I had just been with her. I had a jump in my step and a fullness in my heart.

The dream brought back the essence of someone I longed to know. It’s like her realness was placed back into my hands for a smidgeon of time and I delighted in it.

However, there was no reality to the matter. It was all a dream. A dream that brought me deep joy and a lasting memory. A time of

goodness placed into my hands to savor and live for.

The reality of COVID-19 didn’t hit me till Friday evening, when my family returned home from our Spring Break adventure to Colorado. Friends were cancelling parties, schools were closing and my children were full of questions on the wellbeing of our family.

I’m a very calm and quiet person under pressure and stressful situations. It’s a blessing. I don’t panic at all. My first thought is usu-

By Bradley Robertson ally, “ok, well let’s have a toast and celebrate what’s to come!”

I have always been gloriously optimistic and I tend to see and believe all good

things are to come. I almost have to force myself into “realities.”

The reality is, we are facing a sticky situation. A situation that brings health scares but can also bring about mindfulness and opportunity. It all relies on our perspective.

I was sent an article by a friend Saturday, an article written 72 years ago by C.S. Lewis. In the article, Lewis writes of the crisis behind the Atomic Bomb.

The relativity to today caught my attention.

Lewis writes: “In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already See Robertson, page A6

pelika Observer O Should you hire a professional tax-preparer?

C

ongress and the Internal Revenue Service are discussing whether to extend the traditional April 15 tax filing deadline as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of whether the deadline is formally extended, all taxpayers may automatically obtain a six-month extension and an updated Oct. 15 deadline by simply filing Form 4868. Any professional tax preparer can handle that for you.

Keep in mind the fastest method of obtaining you refund is to e-file your return with a direct deposit.

The typical turnaround time is often as little as three weeks. The IRS will continue to accept paper returns (even if prepared by hand) and send refunds via a check, but it may take months for that method to net your refund.

If you are one of the millions of taxpayers who has not yet filed your return, you should consider your options in preparing and filing your return.

Do-it-yourself tax preparation software is widely available, can be accessed online, is reasonably priced and often sufficient for less complex tax returns. Software is also typically user-friendly and will serve to help you prepare and electronically file a tax return that complies with relevant federal and state tax laws. It is often confusing for taxpayers who file multi-state returns (such as instances in which someone lives in Alabama but works in Georgia).

Professional tax preparers such as certified public

Dietrich, from A4 in the heat of the moment, Mendl made a flippant remark and told his sister he wasn’t going to attend her wedding. This really got her peeved and it was downhill from there.

They did, however, eventually reach a truce.

Mendl agreed to attend her theoretical wedding, but only if he could bring a theoretical llama as his date.

That was five years ago.

Last Sunday was the day of his sister’s wedding. True to his word,

Markley, from A4 ans, have visited the United States at a high rate during the last 10 years. Visits to include the winter rush by Snowbirds, increased 3% between 2012 and 2013. Canadians in those years actually made 5,245,000 trips to our country, dwarfing the 2,111,000 trips within Canada in December 2014.

Florida is consistently found to be Canadians’ most popular destina-

By Justin Smith accountants (CPAs) are licensed accounting professionals who typically possess at least an undergraduate degree (and often a graduate degree) in accounting, have studied for and passed the extremely rigorous CPA exam and have significant experience in the field.

Most importantly, CPAs will generally work with you year after year so they will better understand your unique tax situation and be in a great position to help you prepare for the future, rather than simply file a tax return.

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

The benefit of hiring a tax professional as opposed to using a software solution comes down to three key considerations: convenience, complexity and planning. Tax professionals can make your filing experience much more convenient by efficiently preparing your tax return, helping you understand tax planning consideration and be better prepared for future changes and addressing complicated issues that

you may be unsure of.

You should consider the following reasons why hiring a tax preparer is a great idea: - They may find deductions and credits you have overlooked, and pay for themselves with the tax benefit.

- You will save time, effort and uncertainty by hiring a professional to handle your taxes for you.

- A professional preparer can answer questions, research the tax code, and help you navigate complex issues that may impact your personal situation.

- CPAs can represent you before the IRS or state taxing authority, even if you didn’t use their services for your tax preparation originally.

- The IRS considers CPAs to be their first line of defense for compliance, and often audits professionally prepared returns less frequently.

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

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

Justin Smith is a licensed certified public accountant in Opelika, specializing in individual and small business tax and accounting. He can be contacted at 334-4009234 or Justin@JSmithCPA.net. His website is www.jsmithcpa.net.

Mendl rented a llama from a local farm for $400. The llama’s name was Shocky. Shocky was well behaved, polite, and probably smelled better than most boys who live in fraternity housing.

Mendl had a custom tuxedo made for Shocky, with a bow tie and everything. Before the ceremony, wedding guests posed for pictures with Shocky, and a good time was had by all.

Said Mendl, with a touch of pride, “My sister was shocked...”

Mendl’s sister has agreed not to seek the death penalty.

I hate that I missed such a special day in

Cleveland. And I hate that you did, too. Because you and I could all use a break from the frightening things happening in our world right now. We deserve to think about something good for a change. Like, for example, where I’m going to get a llama to accompany me to my cousin Lisa’s wedding next month. If you know of any available, let me know.

You’d be more than welcome to stay in our guest bedroom.

Sean Dietrich is a columnist, blogger and novelist known for his commentary on life in the American South.

tion for longer visits.

Also, Canada’s annual spending in California was $3.5 billion, and in Arizona it was nearing $1 billion.

We end with more on Anne Murray’s classic 1970 song “Snowbird.” The song had a nice beat, but for those who never heard it, the lyrics were a downer. In the last stanza, Murray sung “Take the snow back with you, Where it came from on that day, The one I love forever is untrue, If I could you know I would, Fly away with

you.”

Fifty years after this hit song’s debut, people are not coming here after “flying away from an untrue love.”

They are Snowbirds happily flying to the blue glistening water of the Alabama Gulf Coast for new friendships and memories.

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

Breakfast, from A1 “I’ve been wanting to do breakfast ever since I opened the trailer, but it never worked out there were just too many moving parts, so when we opened the restaurant I had the idea of doing breakfast here from the beginning, but it was just baby steps starting with lunch,” said Butcher Paper owner Mark Coxwell.

There were some adjustments made to the building, along with new equipment added in order to be able to serve breakfast.

Kayler, from A2 Institute’s four sites in 2020. Graduates of Institute receive the IOM recognition, signifying completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management.

In addition, participants can earn credit hours toward the Certi-

Jackson, from A4 went into the tractor business. There they rented a shotgun house that was built by that carpenter-uncle who had taken advantage of the housing shortage, built rentals around town, and had become successful small-time real estate agent.

That was when they began talking about a home of their own.

It did not come right away.

A combination of the Eisenhower administration agricultural policies and the growth of the timber industry in the county, put an end to the local cotton economy, so no one was buying tractors and such. The business closed, and he returned to teaching school.

Still, they wanted that home and with the help of a loan through the G.I. Bill, they finally got it.

They took plans ordered from a magazine, and on land inherited from her grandfather, they built a modest three bedroom, bath-anda-half ranch bungalow. Around it they

A5 March 18, 2020 The soft opening for breakfast was held two weeks ago. This week, breakfast will be served Wednesday through Saturday starting at 6:30 a.m. Beginning on March 23, the restaurant plans to serve breakfast on a regular basis Monday through Saturday starting at 6:30 a.m.

The breakfast menu is “simple, Southern and big,” Coxwell said.

Customers can expect “sheet panned biscuits from scratch rolled out and cut into squares so you get as much biscuit as you can possibly get.”

“It’s all homemade and we make it every day, it’s all fresh and it reminds me of Saturday

mornings when my mom would cook breakfast,” Coxwell added.

During the soft opening, some of the most popular items included biscuits and gravy, the brisket biscuit and the patty sausage. “(I) want to thank everybody, everybody has been so great and we have such a great following and our customers are the best. I’m super happy that we can open for breakfast now,” Coxwell said.

For more information, call 334-748-9008 or like and follow the restaurant’s social media pages.

fied Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Association Executive (CAE) certifications.

Nearly 1,000 individuals attend the institute annually.

Institute for Organization Management is the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. It is the premier

nonprofit professional development program for association and chamber professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

planted grass to make a lawn, and bushes – camellia, roses, elaeagnus, grancy greybeard and quince – to border the house and accent the property.

Then they did what they had wanted to do so many years before – raise a family, become pillars of the community and grow old together.

They were home.

Later he told of how he worried that they might not be able to meet their monthly mortgage note, for all the other expenses that came with home ownership pushed their budget to the limit. But they managed.

Years passed, and as their needs and circumstances changed, so did the house.

Eventually a large “family room” was added, with another half-bath. There the husband and wife, by then retired, aged gracefully watching TV – football in its season, “The Wheel” most every night -and enjoying visits from family and friends.

A loyal Democrat with a tincture of New Deal liberalism, he became a noted raconteur whose tales

of courthouse politics were legend.

The wife, a loyal Methodist without a hint of sanctimony, cared for those who needed care and it was generally believed by believers that (as a nephew put it) “if she does not have a seat waiting for her in Glory, then it’s all a lie.”

They hoped to die together, as they lived together, in that house. But once again, things did not go as planned. Still, it is easy to think that at the end, they imagined themselves there, in the house that grew old with them, the house that was home.

So it fell to the lot of the son that they raised there, to sell the empty house to family friends so they can make it theirs.

He had a home of his own, a home where his family made their memories.

And memories, unlike houses, are portable. You can carry them wherever you go.

Harvey H. (“Hardy”) Jackson is professor emeritus of history at Jacksonville State University.

He can be reached at hjackson@cableone. net.

pelika Observer O

A6 March 18, 2020

Federal government looking to ease financial burdens faced by small businesses during COVID-19 Pandemic

By John Blackwell For the Opelika Observer In the coming weeks, small businesses around the country will be affected by two forms of assistance from the Federal Government.

An act recently signed by President Trump enables the Small Business Administration to provide loans of up to 30 years at 3.75%

interest. Currently the SBA is offering these loans to California, Connecticut, Maine and Washington at the request of the governors of those states.

In order for a state to be considered for these loans, the Small Business Development Center of Alabama has created an economic injury survey for businesses affected by COVID-19. Note, this is a loan, not a grant, and this form is not an

application for a loan.

This survey will be used to submit to the Governor’s office, who will send it to the SBA with the formal request for assistance. Also, the loan program is limited to businesses adversely affected by COVID-19.

Complete the survery at www.universityofalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_0I2Db5uiL7Wrh VH?fbclid=IwAR3h

NSX1IwJlEn_yHfMmiMVhpwpyXW_ia1JhymSFdibh7Fc5YurTuV3YuWY Another form of assistance will be coming in the form of a bill to provide paid sick leave to those who are out of work due to a COVID-19 diagnosis, currently under quarantine, caregivers of someone diagnosed with COVID-19, and caregivers of kids whose schools have closed.

The proposal is for workers to apply for benefits from the Social Security Administration for ⅔ of their 2019 average monthly income. There is also a provision to mandate employers nationwide to provide sick pay to employees for the first time. The paid sick leave hours will be accrued at 1 hour per 30 hours worked. During a national emergency an additional 14 days of sick leave will be

available to employees. This amount will also be paid by employers, but a reimbursement from the federal government will be applied. The bill is currently scheduled to be voted on by the Senate today.

Publisher’s Note: The link for the survey has been added to the Opelika Observer’s website www. opelikaobserver.com.

At home with the kids?

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Remembering Beauregard and Smiths Station

“Lee County Strong: Remembering Beauregard and Smiths Station” is a special publication by the Observer. This 140-page magazine is our way of honoring those who we lost and letting those who survived know that we have not forgotten them. Proceeds from this magazine will be used to assist with the recovery efforts that are still ongoing. The magazine costs $5.99 plus tax and can be purchased at various locations around town including Bubba’s Medicine Shoppe and at the Observer office. Pick up your copy today and help us support our community. People can also order online and by completing and mailing in the order form on page B3 of the newspaper. Our office is in the back of the Collaboration Station, which is located at 216 S. 8th St. in downtown Opelika. If desired, we will offer curbside pickup.

Opelika E vents, Society, & Food

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic and CDC recommendations for organizers to postpone gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks, nearly all scheduled events for the rest of March and April have been canceled or pushed back. Follow the Observer for updates on when community events will resume in our area.

Extension Service offers tips, recipes from workshop on pressure cookers Ann Cipperly’s

Southern

Hospitality

T

he Lee County Extension Service in Opelika recently held the Pressure Perfect Meal Preparation Workshop presented by Dani Reams, the regional extension agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension, with assistance from Janet Johnson.

Vicky Yarbrough, the administrative associate II at the Lee County office, also assisted with the program.

The Instant Pot and other brands of electric pressure cookers have become popular for serving quick and easy meals.

Dani is responsible for

primary coverage of Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Talladega and Tallapoosa Counties. The workshop was developed in response to multiple inquiries regarding the use of electric pressure cookers.

While the program was originally developed with a grant from the Talladega County Volunteer Program, Reams is now offering it in other counties due to the popularity of the class.

“These appliances have been rapidly gaining popularity,” Reams said.

“They have potential to benefit our quality of life

through cost savings and for quicker production of meals with superior nutritional value compared to other options.”

The program included information on the benefits, use and maintenance of electric pressure cookers. Participants were placed in groups to prepare a dish using an appliance.

Electric pressure cookers used included Chefman, Instant Pot, Cosori and Crock Pot brand.

Vicky Yarbrough has worked at the Lee County Extension office since 2015. She previously worked with Project

Photo by Ann Cipperly Vicky Yarbrough, the administrative associate II at the Lee County Extension Office, recently assisted with the Pressure Perfect Meal Preparation Workshop presented by Dani Reams, the regional extension agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension. Vicky is sharing a sampling of recipes from the workshop and ones participants shared with the group.

Uplift at Auburn University for four years. At the extension office, she is involved with summer programs for 4-H. Vicky, who is from Woodland, moved to Opelika to be near her son, Travis Yarbrough, and his family. Travis, who teaches at Auburn Early Ed and coaches the junior high baseball team

and ninth-grade football team, and his wife, Candace, have a daughter, Hanley Grace, 3, and are expecting a son in April.

When getting one of the new electric pressure cookers, Vicky suggests reading all the instructions before using. There are different brands, and each one is a little different.

While she has been

using a pressure cooker, she learned a lot from the class that Reams taught.

While the extension conducts classes, this was the first class they offered on electric pressure cookers. Twenty people attended the class, and they enjoyed sampling the food after it was cooked.

See Cipperly, page A11

Gogue Performing Arts Center announces event cancellations Special to the Opelika Observer The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center, in accordance with Auburn University procedure, is rescheduling all performances and events scheduled through April 10, 2020, in response to the public health and safety risks posed by the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The following 2019– 20 season performances have been canceled (as of Friday, March 13): The following 2019– 20 season performances will be rescheduled (as of Friday, March 13):

-Sierra Hull March 20 at 7:30 p.m.

-Dover Quartet with Bridget Kibbey March 24 at 7:30 p.m.

-Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis March 26 at 7:30 p.m.

-Alfredo Rodríguez and Pedrito Martinez Duo April 7 at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to these performances, all related events, including pre-show artists talks, master classes, school show performances and community engagements, will also be rescheduled.

“The safety and well-

being of our patrons, visiting artists, staff, the university and community is of our utmost concern,” said Gogue Center’s Executive Director Christopher Heacox. “We sincerely regret any inconvenience and appreciate our patrons for their support and understanding.”

All tickets issued for affected 2019–20 season performances will be valid for admission on the rescheduled date. In the event a performance cannot be rescheduled, ticket balances can be applied as a credit toward the purchase of a ticket

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to a performance in the Gogue Center’s 2020–21 season.

Ticket holders may also request a refund.

Rescheduled performance dates and times will be announced to patrons as soon as they are confirmed. Patrons and the public are advised to monitor the Gogue Center’s web site and social media channels for updates.

Beginning March 13, members of our patron services team will be available to assist you with any questions or concerns via email and telephone only.

The Gogue Center box office will reopen for

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer in-person visits on April 14. For further information, please contact the box office at gpactickets@ auburn.edu or 334844-TIXS (8497).

For additional

details, updates and resources regarding the coronavirus and its impact on the university, visit Auburn’s coronavirus information page at aub.ie/ covid-19.

pelika Observer O

A8 March 18, 2020

Auburn Parks and Recreation Department hosting ‘Scale Back Alabama’ event April 6 to 10 Special to the Opelika Observer The Auburn Parks and Recreation Department is excited to host Scale Back Alabama from April 6 to 10, a statewide weight-loss content designed to encourage individuals to have fun while pursuing better health and quality of life.

Participants signed up as part of the Scale Back Alabama Team may visit designated Parks and Recreation facilities for their official team weighin and weigh-outs.

Below is a complete schedule of weigh-in/out days and times: Dean Road Recreation

Center: April 6 to 10: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Frank Brown Recreation Center: April 6 to 9 - 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; April 10 - 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about the many free fitness options for SBA participants, visit SBA’s Facebook page at www. facebook.com/scalebackleeco. For more information about Auburn Parks and Recreation fitness facilities and programs, visit www.auburnalabama.org/parks or call 334-501–2930. To learn more about the statewide campaign, visit www. scalebackalabama.com.

Editor’s note: As of

press time on Tuesday, this event had not been canceled. We will plan to inform the public

if it and other events scheduled to take place are indeed canceled or postponed.

‘Bo Bikes Bama’ returning to East Alabama on April 25 Special to the Opelika Observer Registration is now open for the ninth annual “Bo Bikes Bama” event on April 25.

When Auburn University football legend Bo Jackson first biked across Alabama in April 2012, he was on a mission to help his fellow Alabamians recover from the tornadoes that devastated their state the previous year. Now, Bo Bikes

Bama has become an annual tradition where Jackson and hundreds of others unite to ride to raise money for the Alabama Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund, providing funds to construct community storm shelters and warning sirens throughout the state as well as provide funds The ride is returning to Auburn this year. Participating riders can choose either a 60-mile or 20mile route. Both routes will take riders through

the campus of Auburn University, while the 60-mile route will carry riders through Tuskegee and neighboring Macon County.

Riders are encouraged to register via www. bobikesbama.com. The online registration fees are $65 for the 60-mile ride and $45 for the 20-mile ride. Limited day-of registration will be available to AuburnOpelika area residents.

Fees increase for day-of

registration to $100 for the 60-mile ride and $65 for the 20-mile ride.

For more information and updates, like and follow the organization’s social media pages or visit their website.

Editor’s note: As of press time on Tuesday, this event had not been canceled. We will plan to inform the public if it and other events scheduled to take place are indeed canceled or postponed.

Robertson, from A4 living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”

In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors — anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.

This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together.

If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things — praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing ten-

nis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts — not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.

Here we are friends. In a position that our ancestors have lived and died through. This isn’t new, this is life. The reality is, nothing has changed at all. Illness is real and we are indeed human, mind, body and soul.

Time has been placed into our hands. So what will you do with your time?

I want to gain back the feeling of the dream with my grandmother, except I want a real one. I will build new things with my children. I will stop and listen to them better. I will be still longer with my husband over a glass of crispy white wine. I will stoop below Sheppy’s face and look up to his childish ideas. I will read in the grass a top a quilt.

I will host a family picnic on our dock at sunset.

I will reach out to ill families in need. I will shed light to those who are struggling to see. I will wake up to see more sunrises and spend more time with the one who created them.

We are not in a dream, this is all real. May we take the real that is in front of us, this good, good life, and purpose it to one that is everlasting.

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COVID-19 SAFETY PLAN In view of the rapidly spreading COVID-19 (Corona) virus, we are taking measures to protect our elderly and immunocompromised customers.

The pharmacy will serve the community through our drive-thru/curb side and delivery service only effective immediatly.

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

We will not open our doors to allow customers inside the pharmacy but rather bring everything out to you in your vehicle or to your home by our free delivery service.

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

Opelika

A9

Family & Religion

T

here are passages of Scripture that are profoundly rich, deep and endlessly expansive. They seem to tower over other texts and have a life of their own.

They challenge, inspire and speak to us on multiple levels. That’s more than a subjective impression, Christ said as much in Matthew 22:34ff and again in 23:23. I think Genesis 22 belongs in this category. What we read there transcends the Genesis account, foreshadows the cross and speaks in ultimate terms to who God is and what it means to put our trust in Him. Who is God? This story tells us some things that are initially quite disturbing.

God is Someone who

Church Calendar COVID-19 Church News Airview Baptist Church • No church service on 3/18 First Baptist Church Of Opelika March 18, no wed night activities. 6 p.m. live online with ask Jeff Sunday March 22: decision to be made Friday March 20 First Freewill Baptist Church No changes, services as normal St Mary’s Catholic Church No changes, will post on facebook to update First United Methodist Church Of Opelika In the process of making changes Trinity United Methodist Church March 22: service streamed live via Facebook only at 10 a.m.

Wesley Memorial United Methodist All church events, small groups, pastoral visits and meetings cancelled through March 21 First Presbyterian Church All Sunday service and weekly meetings cancelled until further notice Living Way Ministries No services for two weeks • April 30 - First Baptist Church of Opelika’s Men’s and Women’s Ministries are hosting Dr. David Jeremiah at Auburn Arena on April 30, starting at 7 p.m.

Charles Billingsley will serve as the worship leader for this event.

Tickets cost $15 each and can be purchased online at www.fbcopelika.com. For more information, call 334745-5715.

March 18, 2020

On a hill far away told Abraham his son Isaac must be sacrificed.

If that wasn’t devastating enough, He also wanted Abraham to be the one to put him to death. And, He wanted it done in the region of Moriah— meaning Abraham had three torturous days to think about all of this while they traveled there.

But there’s more.

Abraham and Sarah had been childless, well past the child-bearing age when God promised them a son. Despite the obvious obstacles, Abraham believed God could and would do this (15:1-6). True to His word, Isaac was born, and God later promised Abraham his descendants would be named through him (21:12). Now years later, He commanded that Isaac’s life be taken.

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

How could God say Abraham’s descendants would be named through Isaac and yet tell Abraham to sacrifice him (Hebrews 11:17-18)?

What kind of sense does that make?

We expect this kind of talk from humans owing to our corruption, confusion or being conflicted, but not from a holy God. How was Abraham to understand this? The man who was declared righteous on the basis of

believing that God would make his descendants as numerous as the stars, is now asked to believe that God is returning he and Sarah to their barrenness.

The promise and the command, given by the same holy God, were spinning uncontrollably in seemingly irresolvable conflict and Abraham was placed in the position of having to choose one or the other.

What kind of God would ask this of a father and a friend (2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23)?

What kind of God would put someone through this—someone who had been so faithful to Him? The answer is a God (and Father) who would do the same thing Himself. It doesn’t take much imagination to see that what took place

Place your ad here! at Moriah prefigured what would happen at Golgotha. It would also involve a Father and Son, a sacrifice, a painful question, three days and God providing.

If we see this in its most narrow terms (as something solely between God and Abraham), we’re tempted to interpret it in the harshest and cruelest terms. If we look at it on a broader scale as God intended, it is something between He and Abraham that would be used to give the world a window into Who He is.

God trusted Abraham to look at it that way and that’s exactly what he did (22:8)!

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

Email: editor@opelika observer.com Call: 334-749-8003

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Verse of the Week God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46:1-3

Church Directory APOSTOLIC HOLINESS God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 HIghland Ave., Opelika 334-749-9672 True Deliverance Holiness Church 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700 BAPTIST Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506 Green Chapel Missionary ANGLICAN Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd 2312 Center Drive Unit D 334-758-6749 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Bridge Church 1000 Lee Road 263, Cusseta 334-742-0144 AME Mount Zion AME Church West Point Hwy 334-749-3916 St. Luke AME Church 1308 Auburn St. 334-749-1690 St. Paul AME Church 713 Powledge Ave. 334-745-6279 Thompson Chapel AME Zion 187 Columbus Pkwy 334-749-8676 BAPTIST Abundant Life Baptist Church 1220 Fox Run Ave. Suite B 706-4421464 Airview Baptist Church 2301 Airport Rd. 334-444-5148 Antioch Baptist Church 605 W. East Morton Ave 334-742-0696 Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St. 334-745-7528 Bethel Baptist Church Hwy. 29 Sasser Rd 334-745-4865 Central Baptist Church 1611 2nd Ave. 334-745-2482 Community Baptist Church 154 N. 16th St. 334-745-6552 Cornerstone Missionary Baptist 500 N. Railroad Ave. 334-742-2008 Eastview Baptist Church 1208 Spring Dr 334-749-9595 Farmville Baptist Church 3607 Alabama Hwy N. 334-887-7361 First Baptist Church of Opelika 314 S. 9th St. 334-745-6143 First Baptist Church 301 S. 8th St. 334-745-5715 First Baptist Church Impact

Baptist 390 Lee Road 106, Auburn (334) 749-4184 Lakeview Baptist Church 1600 E. Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-7094 Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108 Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608

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

CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika 10th Street Church of

METHODIST Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800 Beulah United Methodist Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755

709 Avenue E 334-741-0624 First Freewill Baptist Church 103 19th St. 334-703-3333 Friendship Missionary Baptist 432 Maple Avenue 334-742-0105 Greater Peace Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave. 334-749-9487 Heritage Baptist Church 1103 Glenn St. 334-363-8943 High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 Love Freewill Baptist Church 1113 Frederick Ave. 334-745-2905 Ridge Grove Missionary Baptist Church 1098 Lee Road 155 - 334-745-3600 Northside Baptist Church 3001 Lafayette Hwy 334-745-5340 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Uniroyal Rd 334-749-2773 Purpose Baptist Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #704-0302 St. James Baptist Church 1335 Auburn St. 334-745-3224 Union Grove Missionary Baptist 908 Huguley Rd 334-741-7770 BUDDHIST Buddha Heart Village 3170 Sandhill Rd. 334-821-7238 CATHOLIC St. Mary’s Catholic Church 1000 4th Ave. 334-749-8359 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy 334-742-9721 Southside Church of Christ 405 Carver Ave. 334-745-6015 CHURCH OF GOD Airview Church of God 3015 Old Opelika Rd 334-749-9112 Church of God 114 17th Place 334-749-6432 Tabernacle Church of God 3 Oak Court 334-745-7979 CHURCH OF NAZARENE Opelika Church of Nazarene

1500 Bruce Ave. 334-749-1302 EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave. 334-745-2054 HOLINESS Eastside Emmanuel Holiness Church 86 Lee Road 186 JEWISH Beth Shalom Congregation 134 S. Cary Dr. 334-826-1050 LATTERDAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints 510 Groce St. 334-742-9981 METHODIST First United Methodist Church of Opelika 702 Avenue A 334-745-7604 Hopewell United Methodist 1993 Lee Rd 136 334-745-0460 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 8685 AL Hwy. 51 334-749-4469 Pepperell United Methodist 200 26th St. 334-745-9334 Trinity United Methodist Church 800 Second Ave. 334-745-2632 Wesley Memorial United Methodist 2506 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-2841 PENTECOSTAL Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Hwy. 29, PO Box 1691 334-741-8675 Gateway Community Church 2715 Frederick Rd 334-745-6926 PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Opelika 900 2nd Ave. 334-745-3421 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist 1808 S. Long St. 334-749-3151 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Apostolic Holiness Church 610 Canton St. 334-749-6759 Auburn Opelika Korean Church 1800 Rocky Brook Rd 334-749-5386 Beauregard Full Gospel Revival 2089 Lee Road 42 334-745-0455 Christ Church International 1311 2nd Ave. 334-745-0832

NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148 St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319 PRESBYTERIAN Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889

Church of the Harvest 2520 Society Hill Rd 334-745-2247 East Congregation of Jehovah Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. 334-737-1488 Emmanuel Temple of Deliverance 207 S. Railroad Ave. 334-745-6430 Faith Alliance Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy 334-749-9516 Faith Christian Center 600 S. 8th St. Faith Church 3920 Marvyn Pkwy 334-707-3922 Family Life Christian Center 601 S. 7th St. 334-741-7013 Father’s House Christian Fellowship 214 Morris Ave. 334-749-1070 Fellowship Bible Church 2202 Hamilton Rd 334-749-1445 Ferguson Chapel Church 310 S. 4th St. 334-745-2913 First Assembly of God Church 510 Simmons St. 334- 749-3722 Garden of Gethsemane Fellowship 915 Old Columbus Rd #745-2686 Grace Heritage Church Opelika #559-0846 Holy Deliverance Church 831 S. Railroad 334-749-5682 Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. 334-737-1488 Living Way Ministries 1100 Old Columbus Rd 334-749-6241 Move of God Fellowship Church 1119 Old Columbus Rd 334-741-1006 Connect Church 2900 Waverly Pkwy 334-749-3916 New Life Christian Center 2051 West Point Pkwy 334-741-7373 New Life Independent Church 10 Meadowview Estates Trailer 334-741-9001 Opelika’s First Seventh Day 2011 Columbus Pkwy 334-737-3222 Power of Praise, Inc. Church 3811 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-6136 Shady Grove Christian Church West Point Hwy 334-745-7770

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Fresh Foods...And A Whole Lot More!

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

603 Pleasant Pleasant Drive 603 Drive Opelika, Opelika, ALAL 36801 749-1333 Mon- Sat7am 7am-8pm Mon-Sat - 8pm Sun12pm 12pm-6pm Sun - 6pm

Email: editor@opelika observer.com Call: 334-749-8003

pelika Observer O

A10 March 18, 2020

Community Calendar: Events around town

• April 9 - Thalama Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m.

• April 24 - Food Bank of East Alabama Ribbon Cutting • May 1 - Opelika Armory Ribbon Cutting

Ongoing: • Village Friends/Village Values is a nonprofit organization that supports seniors who prefer to stay in their own homes as they grow older. For info or to schedule a presentation to your group, call 334-209-4641. For the website, Google “village friends village values.”

• The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR chapter is appealing for sweaters, jackets, trousers, shirts and socks, women’s clothing, soft soap in individual containers, shaving supplies, disposable razors, denture cleanser, toothpaste and toothbrushes, DVDs, games, books and magazines to take to veterans at the CAVHCS in Tuskegee.

The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR Chapter regularly visits veterans living in assisted living, the homeless domiciliary and psych (trauma) ward in Tuskegee. Donations are tax deductible and will be much appreciated. Pick up is provided.

Please call Linda Shabo at 887-6659 or at 256307-1449.

Mondays: • The Lee County Voters League meets the first Mondays of the month at 6 p.m. at Bethesda Bap-

A

s we see lines at airports, school cancellations and many disruptions due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, we must look for new ways to support our local economy.

While many nationwide and in our community are forgoing usual shopping and dining patterns, we can still support our downtown small businesses while staying inside.

tist 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 826-1899 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, 749-1584.

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

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

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

crops and many more.

To view the full schedule, please visit www. aces.edu/anr/beginningfarms/webinars.php.

Please send questions during the presentations to Ann Chambliss, thameae@auburn.edu.

For questions regarding the webinar series or for providing suggestions, please email Dr. Ayanava Majumdar at bugdoctor@auburn.edu.

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

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

• The Opelika City Council meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m.

Meetings are preceded by non-voting work sessions that typically begin 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

Opelika Main Street

By Ken Ward Instead of dining in, try getting take out, many downtown restaurants are offering curbside service

TEXTILE MILLS ASBESTOS CLAIMS If you began working in a Textile Mill, Tire Plant, Paper Mill, Steel Mill or any other industrial setting before 1980: You may have a claim against the asbestos manufacturers.

Call now for your free evaluation.

1-(888)432-6020 Asbestos Claims, LLC, Jubal L. Hamil Attorney at Law ARPC 7.2.(e) “No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”

to make it easy to get your favorite dishes. You can also try delivery service, many restaurants and some retailers in our area offer this service for quick ordering while staying at home.

For the shoppers out there, remember many of your favorite downtown retailers and merchants offer gift cards and online ordering-a good way to shop local while staying at home!

the need for support on their journey as they attempt to bring order and wholeness back into their life. Attendance and participation is strictly voluntary for any and all sessions. There are no fees or charges involved.

The church is located on U.S. Highway 431 – eight miles north from Southern Union State Community College and Opelika High School.

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

• The Auburn Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol meets every Tuesday 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 Legion Auxiliary Unit 152 meets the first Thursday of every month at 11 a.m. at Niffer’s Place, 917 S. Railroad Ave. in Opelika.

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

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

The club meets on the third Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. for a luncheon at various local restaurants. Please call or email Cheri Paradice at 850-212-5364. 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 334528-1076 for more information.

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

Upcoming Events Don’t let the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak prevent you from supporting your local Opelika retailers and restaurants! For more information about staying safe, visit: https://www. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/index.html.

Ward is the executive director of Opelika Main Street, a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing and enhancing historic downtown Opelika.

• Ongoing - GRIEFSHARE, a 13-week course, is for people grieving the death of a family member or friend.

The sessions began on March 1 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church but individuals may start attending group meetings at any point during the course. Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, GRIEFSHARE meetings have been canceled until further notice.

• March 28 - 30 POSTPONED - The Friends of the Auburn Public Library will hold their ‘Big Book Sale’ at the library on March 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 29 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and March 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This sale is open to the public, and hundreds of gently used books will be available for purchase, including bestsellers, classics, fiction, nonfiction and children’s books.

pelika Observer O Cipperly, from A7 The Extension Service may offer another class.

For other programs, check their Facebook page, Lee County Extension Service, or call the office at 334-749-3353 for further information.

Following are tips from Reams on using electric pressure cookers.

• Use a calibrated thermometer to ensure that the food reaches

Recipes Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup 1 cup chicken broth 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1(15 oz.) can corn, drained 1(4 oz.) can diced green chiles 1(15 oz.) can enchilada sauce (mild, medium or hot- whatever you like) 1 (14.5 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes 1 tsp. cumin 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 (16 oz.) can refried beans 4 oz. cream cheese (optional) Salt and pepper Optional toppings: sour cream, chopped cilantro, sliced avocado, grated cheddar, tortilla or corn chips Add chicken broth, black beans, corn, green chiles, enchilada sauce, diced tomatoes, cumin and chicken into your Instant Pot. Give it a quick stir.

Cover your Instant Pot and secure the lid. Press the manual or pressure cook button and Set the timer to 10 minutes. Make sure valve is set to “sealing.” When the timer beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes end then move the valve to “venting.”

Remove the lid.

Take out the chicken and shred it on a cutting board. Add it back into the Instant Pot. Stir in the can of refried beans until the soup is creamy and smooth.

If you are adding the cream cheese, stir it in at this point. You can use the sauté setting on your Instant Pot to help melt the cream cheese quicker.

Salt and pepper the soup to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with desired toppings.

Pressure Cooker Brown Rice 1 cup long grain brown rice 1 cup water Place 1 standard glass measuring cup of brown rice and water into the pressure cooker.

Close lid and pressure cook at high pressure manual/pressure cook button for 15 minutes.

Turn off heat and allow a 5 minutes rest time and then do a quick release by turning the venting knob to the venting position. Open the lid carefully.

A11 March 18, 2020

minimum internal cooking temperatures. The thermometer should be inserted into the thickest part of the meat. It is a good idea to take temperatures in several locations. The thermometer should be properly cleaned and sanitized between uses.

• It is important to properly clean the unit after each use. Don’t forget the condensation cup! Refer to the manufacturers guidelines for cleaning the units.

• After appropriate

cleaning, vinegar can be helpful in removing odors from the silicone ring. Some people prefer to have a silicone ring for savory dishes and another silicone ring for sweet dishes.

• Inspect the lid carefully prior to each use.

Ensure that the sealing ring is in good condition and that the steam release valve is not blocked.

• When you look at a recipe for an electric pressure cooker, remember to factor in time for the pot to come up

to pressure and time to depressurize if the recipe calls for natural venting.

For food items that have a very short cook time (like green beans), this time can be more than the actual cook time.

• Although some electric pressure cookers advertise a “delay start” feature, which can be set for up to 24 hours, this function should be set for no more than 1 to-2 hours.

There are significant food safety risks associated with allowing food

to sit at room temperature for a longer period.

• The National Center for Home Food Preservation does not recommend utilizing electric pressure canners for USDA tested canning recipes. Those recipes have been developed for regular stovetop pressure canners.

Differences in pressure, temperature and heat distribution mean that the recipes may not yield a safe product when used with an electric pressure cooker. This could result in serious, and poten-

tially fatal, foodborne illness.

• It is important to ensure that your hand/ arm is not over the steam release valve when releasing pressure.

• Check user’s manual to determine the minimum amount of liquid needed in each recipe.

Following are a sampling of recipes from the workshop and ones participants shared with the group.

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

Serve: Fluff rice with a fork. If the rice is a bit wet, let it rest a bit for the moisture to escape before serving.

dente noodles, set for 8-9 minutes.

Quick release when it beeps, stir and serve.

Note: Do not double this recipe as it will not turn out properly.

Beans with Ham and Potatoes: If you want to make Instant Pot Green Beans with Ham and Potatoes, use baby potatoes.

Cut the potatoes into halves. Increase water to 1/2 cup. Use ham instead of bacon.

Other than that, cook as directed.

Select high pressure and 90 minutes cook time.

When the timer sounds, use natural pressure release (approximately 20 minutes). When the valve drops, carefully remove lid.

Remove the meat from the pressure cooker and shred with two forks. (Discard excess fat asyou shred).

If desired, use a fat separator to remove fat from the juices.

Add some of the juices from the pressure cooker to moisten the meat. Place remaining juices in a serving dish to ladle on top of rice, if desired.

Note: If you don’t have coarse salt on hand, be sure to reduce the amount of table salt you add.

paper towel to absorb the excess fat.

Sauté onions, garlic and green onions in bacon fat for 1 to 2 minutes until softened. Add in garlic and half of the green onions. Season with a pinch of kosher salt and pepper. Sauté until fragrant.

Deglaze: Pour 1/3 cup unsalted chicken stock. Scrub all the brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon (keep the brown bits as they are very flavorful).

Pressure Cook Cauliflower Potato Soup: Add 2 bay leaves, cauliflower, and 2 red potatoes in Instant Pot. Pour the remaining chicken stock in Instant Pot. Close the lid and pressure cook at high pressure for 3 minutes, then 10 minutes natural release. Open the lid carefully.

Remove bay leaves.

Blend cauliflower soup into desired consistency with an immersion hand blender. Add 1 cup heavy cream. Taste the soup and season with fish sauce, if using, and kosher salt.

Serve: Garnish with green onions, crispy bacon bits., and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy immediately.

Notes: Thinner Consistency: If you like a thinner soup consistency, add hot homemade unsalted chicken stock to adjust the thickness of the soup.

Smaller Cauliflower Florets: break the larger pieces into smaller florets, so it’ll be easier to blend.

Crispy Bacon: It’s important to place the bacon in the cold pot before turning on the heat.

Instant Pot Carrots 1 lb. baby carrots 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter 2 Tbsp. brown sugar ½ tsp. salt Ground black pepper to taste Pressure Cook Carrots: Pour 1 cup cold water, then place a stainless steel steamer basket in Instant Pot. Add 1 lb. carrots in steamer basket. Pressure Cook at high pressure for 2 minutes, then quick release.

Make Buttery Sweet Carrots: Set aside the pressure cooked carrots.

Discard the water in inner pot. Towel dry inner pot, then heat up the Instant Pot using the “sauté” button. Once the indicator says HOT, add in 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter. Add in the cooked carrots and 2 Tbsp. brown sugar and ½ tsp. salt. Sauté for roughly 2 minutes until the sugar melts and coat the carrots.

Instant Pot Spaghetti An easy 10-minute Instant Pot spaghetti recipe.

1 Tbsp. olive oil ¼ cup diced onions 1 tsp. garlic 1 lb. ground beef or spicy sausage 24 oz. jar spaghetti sauce of choice 2 cups water or beef broth (pour into empty spaghetti sauce jar and shape to get remainder of sauce) 8 oz. spaghetti noodles, broken into thirds 1 tsp. salt or to taste Put Instant Pot on sauté. Add olive oil, onions and garlic; cook until onions are softened.

Add ground beef and cook until pink is gone; drain oil, if desired.

Add spaghetti sauce and water.

Sprinkle broken noodles o they don’t lump together and push noodles into the liquid until they are covered. Do not stir.

Secure lid, close.

Close steam valve and set for 10 minutes. If you want al

Pressure Cooker Green Beans with Bacon You can also use frozen green beans for this recipe. You do not need to defrost the beans, nor do you need to increase the cooking time.

1 cup onion, diced 5 slices bacon, diced 6 cups green beans, cut in half 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. ground black pepper 1/4 cup water You could either put all the ingredients in the pressure cooker in the order listed (see following note), or you could follow the steps below.

Turn your Instant Pot or pressure cooker on sauté and follow the steps in this order.

Cut up the bacon and put it in the hot pressure cooker.

Start dicing the onion and put it in as you cut it.

Stir the bacon and onions and start cutting up the green beans.

Add the beans, water, salt and pepper to the pot.

Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes and release all pressure immediately.

Taste and add salt and pepper as needed before serving.

Notes: I don’t usually sauté the bacon. I put in all the ingredients, and just set the pot for 4 minutes.

Think of this as a faster version of boiled pork for seasoning.

These beans are falling apart tender, and full of flavor. If you like them crunchier, cook for 2 minutes under pressure. If you like them even softer, allow the pressure cooker to release pressure naturally for 10 minutes, and then release any remaining pressure-or just let it release pressure naturally all the way for even more well-cooked green beans.

You can also cut up small pieces of ham instead of bacon.

Instant Pot Green

Five Ingredient Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli and Rice 1 ½ cups chicken broth 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. pepper 1 pkg. (20 oz.) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch pieces 1 pkg. (about 4 cups) fresh broccoli florets 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese Spray 6-quart Instant Pot insert with cooking spray. Mix broth, rice, salt and pepper in insert.

Stir in chicken and broccoli. Secure lid; set pressure valve to “sealing.” Select “manual;” cook on high pressure 10 minutes.

Select “cancel.” Set pressure value to venting to quick-release pressure.

Stir in cheese. Broccoli will break down when stirring.

Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Kalua Pork 4 lbs. pork shoulder (pork butt) roast, cut into two pieces 1 to 2 Tbsp. oil 1/2 cup water 1 Tbsp. hickory liquid smoke 2 tsp. coarse kosher salt or coarse Hawaiian salt (see following note) Cooked rice, for serving Select “sauté” to preheat the pot. When hot, add the oil and brown each half of the roast separately.

Brown each half of the pork roast on both sides, about 3 minutes per side.

Remove to a platter when browned.

Turn the pressure cooker off, and add water and liquid smoke to the cooking pot. Stir to remove any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

Add the browned pork and any accumulated juices. Sprinkle the salt over the top of the pork roasts.

Lock the lid in place.

Instant Pot Cauliflower Potato Soup 1 head cauliflower, broken into florets 2 small red potatoes, cut into chunks 4 cups unsalted chicken stock, divided 6 cloves garlic, minced 6 slices bacon , chopped 1 medium onion , diced 1 cup heavy cream 2 bay leaves 2 stalks green onions, chopped 2 Tbsp. fish sauce (optional) Garnish Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional) Crisp Bacon: Place chopped bacon in your Instant Pot, then turn heat to medium (press “sauté” button). Stir occasionally, then allow the bacon bits to crisp (-4 mins).

Remove bacon bits from Instant Pot, then place them on a

Food Ratings Honey Baked Ham 1451 Gateway Drive Opelika Score: 100

Joe’s Grocery 2104 West Point Parkway Opelika Score: 97

La-Z-Bee 4184 Lee Road 146 Auburn Score: 99

Which Wich Superior Sandwiches 2105 Interstate Drive Opelika Score: 96

American Legion Post 18 710 West Point Parkway Opelika Score: 99

La Guatemalteca 2701 Frderick Road Opelika Score: 95

A12 March 18, 2020

pelika Observer O

COMICS

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

Opelika Schools ports &S Inside • opelika schools • lee county schools • community sports

In the state of emergency declared by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey last week, all K-12 schools statewide will close by the end of day on March 18 and remain closed until April 6.

SUSCC to suspend on-campus instruction after spring break

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

COVID-19 pandemic brings unexpected end to spring sports

I

have never witnessed what we are experiencing with the COVID-19 Corona irus. News continues to change hourly because information is coming in so rapidly. President Donald Trump declared a “National State of Emergency” Friday at a 2 p.m. news conference.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey followed, declaring a “State of Emergency” for Alabama. State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey announced the closing of all K-12 schools beginning the end of day on March 18. The closings will continue through April 6.

Alabama High School Athletic Association Director Steve Savarese sent each member school a memo relating to the virus. Savarese followed Dr. Mackey’s wishes, stopping all sporting events March 18. The AHSAA will continue to monitor and evaluate health conditions and determine the status of spring sports championship play.

OHS athletics played games/matches last week, including Saturday.

SOCCER The girls and boys

soccer teams won two games apiece last week.

The Lady Bulldogs defeated Russell County (10-0) and Central (6-0).

Opelika shutout Russell County 100. Amiya Brown and Abby Noon scored three goals apiece, Erica Mathews scored two goals, Eleanor Wilson and Ana Garcia scored one goal apiece. Abby Noon recorded two assits, Eleanor Wilson and Erica Mathews added one apiece.

The Lady Bulldogs beat Central 6-0 behind three goals from Brown.

Kaitlyn Goodman, Scarlet Posadas and Wilson scored one goal each. Noon recorded two assists, and Brown, Mathews and Ashley Hilyer added one assist apiece.

Emily Lux and Phoebe Darcey played great defense at the keeper position.

Opelika’s boys team defeated Russell County (2-1) and Central (5-2) last week.

The Bulldogs slipped by area opponent Russell County 2-1 behind a Caleb Rujana goal in overtime. Landon Faison See Sports, page B6

Special to the Opelika Observer In the interest of the health and safety of its students, Southern Union State Community College will extend spring break for students through March 17. Students are asked to refrain from returning to campus after spring break. Classes will resume via an alternative instruction method on March 18

and continue through at least April 3.

Faculty and staff will continue normal operations, although departments should utilize “social distancing” as appropriate.

Students will be instructed by college officials on how they should continue their academic coursework.

In addition, all student and campus activities are can-

celled beginning Wednesday, March 18 through April 3. Per the Alabama Community College Conference, all athletic events are suspended through April 3. The college Residence Hall on the Wadley campus will be closed during this time.

Students should check their student email frequently as communication will be through that chan-

nel. Updates will also be posted on an information page: www. suscc.edu/healthupdate.cms.

Opelika Middle School’s softball team finishes with 4-5 mark

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer Special to the Opelika Observer The OMS Lady Bulldogs finished with a 4-5 regular season record. The Lady Bulldogs have

grown throughout the season, coming up short in some very close competitive games as of late.

The Lady Bulldogs look to cap off the season with a good

showing in the Smith Station tournament on March 14. The OMS softball team consists of pitchers Katelyn Foley, Katie Harrelson, and Jade Jones.

Jameah Thomas is the catcher. Paige Bales, Jordyn Cobb, Jayda Freeman, Stella George, Jaycie Segrest, and See RIF, page B6

B2 March 18, 2020

pelika Observer O

Two Opelika High School student-athletes sign scholarships last week

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer Congratulations to OHS senior Tykell Jones for signing a soccer scholarship to Andrew College last week. Pictured front row, left to right: Tanishya Jones (sister), Tykell and Tanita Jones (mother). Pictured back row, left to right: Dr. Farrell Seymore -OHS principal, Derek Hovell -OHS head soccer coach, Alexander Jones (father), Taylor Jones - Andrew College head soccer coach and Mike Pugh - OHS athletic director.

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Congratulations to OHS Senior Andrew Parr for signing a baseball scholarship with Andrew College. Pictured front row left to right: Benjamin Parr (father), Andrew and Nanette Parr (mother). Pictured back row left to right: Coach Jamie Ferguson, Zach Blatt - OHS head baseball coach, Coach Mantre Battle, Coach Levale Speigner and Mike Pugh - OHS athletic director.

Opelika edges past Theodore 3-1 in final game of shortened season

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Opelika defeated Theodore 3-1 on Saturday at West Ridge Park, improving their record to 11-6 on the season. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all spring sports seasons have been canceled for the remainder of the school year. The Bulldogs’ record shows vast improvement for secondyear Coach Zach Blatt, whose 2019 squad finished with an 8-25 record.

334-528-6191

www.eamcfoundation.org

Contact: Amy Thomas Amy.Thomas@eamc.org

pelika Observer O

B3 March 18, 2020

Auburn University to transition to remote instruction March 16 to April 10 Special to the Opelika Observer Auburn University will transition from on-campus instruction to remote delivery beginning Monday, March 16 and continue through April 10 in response to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

University officials ask that students refrain from returning to campus after spring break. University officials will subsequently determine if students will return to campus for the remaining weeks of the spring semester. Auburn

faculty will contact students on steps they should take to continue their academic coursework.

The university will continue normal operations, although departments and units should utilize remote work and “social distancing” as appropriate.

“The Auburn Family faces many unknowns about this virus,” said Auburn University President Jay Gogue. “We are taking these unprecedented steps based on our utmost concern for the health and well-being of Auburn students, faculty and

staff. In the meantime, we continue working with public health and emergency preparedness officials to make decisions in the best interest of the campus community and to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Other university actions: All university events, including sporting events, are canceled through April 10, ensuring appropriate “social distancing” and helping prevent the potential spread of the virus.

All university domestic and international travel is

suspended through April 10.

Dining facilities, libraries and residence halls will be closed through April 10. University officials will make arrangements for international students and others who are unable to return home. Students who have specific questions should contact the Division of Student Affairs.

Decisions have not yet been made on spring commencement, summer study abroad programs or other events and activities beyond April 10.

The university medi-

cal clinic remains open.

Those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should immediately call the Auburn Medical Clinic at 334-844-9825 before visiting the clinic.

University officials will make arrangements for students who do not have access to the technology needed for remote instruction.

Students who live on campus and believe it necessary to return to campus to collect personal items should first contact the Office of University Housing at housing@auburn.edu.

Auburn officials urge the following safety precautions: - Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds - Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve - Don’t touch your face, especially your eyes, mouth and nose - Disinfect commonly touched surfaces, including mobile devices Daily updates will be posted on ocm.auburn. edu/news/coronavirus/.

Auburn University at Montgomery will issue a separate announcement regarding its operations.

Packing your child’s parachute to places they’ll go

M

arch winds invite children and their families to fly! With children, I have always loved to have a kite-flying field trip.

Sometimes, there may be wind to carry kites, but on other occasions, it may be the child running with the kite to enhance it to fly! Looking at helium balloons, hot air balloons or bubbles excites children, often causing them to point up and look at where these “wind-catching” items are going.

Their imaginations are also very colorful when they tell you what their kite sees or where their balloon may land.

This is such a good family language arts project. One of my first graders interestingly wrote that her kite went to heaven and saw streets of gold, lights and rainbows! She drew a picture to go with what she imagined her kite

to see. As a parent and teacher, packing a child’s learning and emotional parachute in their early, critical years will guide them to safe landings in life. Here are some helpful tips and reflections I would like to share with families with young children.

Don’t we all love the toddlers and twos! During these years, a child grows up so quickly physically, mentally, emotionally and socially.

Their little personalities begin to emerge with their likes and dislikes of activities they like to do, foods they enjoy to eat, toys they like to play with and programs they enjoy. Even though this age group can be a challenge at times, just remember there are so many changes for a child and this is the time their independence as a person begins to blossom.

How can we as parents and teachers encourage

this independence? This is where we need to provide opportunities for our toddlers and twos to be independent in carrying their backpacks, lunchboxes and belongings into the preschool classroom and to allow them to bring their belongings back home. I used to think that being a good mother meant I had to do everything for my only child but a lot of wisdom from older mentoring mothers guided me to encourage independence in my young child by giving him simple jobs that he could do. This truly showed him love in making him begin to be independent. I was beginning to pack his parachute to be independent.

While teaching a toddler class recently, I started to clean up my classroom by stacking our little chairs. By the time I turned around to continue stacking chairs, this toddler class was like the “Shoemaker and the Elves” they had already stacked all the chairs! One little fellow even grabbed my cell phone and put it in my hand to be sure I didn’t forget it.

I had observed that their teachers provided many training opportunities during the day to be independent by being very clear in their instructions as well as giving them choices.

I love the enthusiasm

that children ages 3 through 6 have for learning!

They love to explore, hear stories, play intently in centers and begin to understand that having friends is fun! With exploration, it is important to teach children this age to be safe.

With safety comes limitations and simple rules for your child to understand. For example, “if you touch the stove it will burn you.”

Setting up a schedule or routine for your preschooler is very good in guiding them toward independence. They know what to expect next and they can do it.

The morning routine of getting up in the morning, going to the bathroom, washing hands and face, brushing teeth, eating breakfast is a routine that becomes internal which young children know what to expect, which gives them security.

An evening routine for a preschooler could include dinner, bath, brush teeth, a low-key, night-time activity such as reading a bedtime story.

Make a conscious effort to assign responsibilities to your preschoolers such as putting away their toys, feeding family pets, setting the table or picking up paper off the floor.

Children love to have jobs.

In the early childhood classroom, we have job charts and children will remember and look forward to doing a special job that has been assigned to them.

Affirm your child by spending time with them in communicating with them on what is going to happen each day. This shows a child that you respect them as a person.

The young years of a child’s life pass by so quickly! Savor each moment of joy with your children!

Oh the places you’ll go as you spend time with a young child and look at the world through their eyes. The gift of time and trying these few general simple guidelines I hope will benefit you and your

child to fly high in life!

Pinyerd has taught young children in the early childhood classroom for 34 years as well as outreaching to the elderly in intergenerational settings. She has taught and outreached in the schools in Opelika and Baldwin County.

The Classroom Observer is here to serve the community in sharing the wonderful teaching programs in our local public schools, private schools, and homeschools. The column is provided to enrich the education of our children, youth, and families. Classroom Observer welcomes educational news, school news, pictures and events by e-mailing her at donnapinyerd@charter.net.

pelika Observer O

B4 March 18, 2020

Opelika City Schools to offer free lunches to 18 and younger Special to the Opelika Observer Opelika City Schools are committed to ensuring that students are fed a nutritious meal when schools are closed because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Carver Primary School and Opelika High

School will be serving meals Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning March 23. The meals will be provided for free to anyone 18 years old or younger regardless of which school they attend. No paperwork is required.

Children must be present in order to receive

LCERA hosted Sheriff Jay Jones for February meeting Special to the Opelika Observer Lee County Education Retirees Association held their monthly meeting in February at Saugahatchee Country Club in Opelika. Sheriff Jay Jones presented important information on dealing with ‘Identity theft and cyber sacms.” His advice was to “be careful in giving our personal information, change your passwords often (write them down in a safe place each time you change them.)” The organziation reported 13,873 community volunteer hours for this term.

Pictured: Jones and District 5 director Jean Madden.

the meal.

Please note that the schools will be set up for pick up service only. No meals will be consumed on site.

Directional signs will be posted at Carver Primary and Opelika High School.

For more information, visit www.opelikaschools.org.

Large internet providers working to provide access to students Special to the Opelika Observer

Opelika City Schools rank in Alabama Top School Districts

Alabama’s cable providers are rolling out no-cost and low-cost options for high-speed internet access to the state’s students and low-income populations hit hardest by closures and other impacts from COVID-19 pandemic precautions.

Alabamians rely on dependable broadband internet access, and increasingly so in the coming weeks as colleges convert to online instruction and more workers are being asked to telecommute. To help those least equipped with the technology to cope with this crisis, cable providers like Charter Spectrum and Comcast are providing an array of these services at reduced cost, no cost for 60 days, and in some cases automatically in-

creasing upload and download speeds for all customers going forward.

“Alabama’s cable providers are also coordinating with our local governmental and nonprofit organizations across the state to make sure we have the highest awareness of these broadband options among those most affected

by COVID-19 preparations,” said Michelle Roth, Executive Director of the Alabama Cable and Broadband Association. “Please check with your local cable provider if you are unclear on options for student and low-income access during this critical time in Alabama.” She then outlined specific efforts by Charter Spectrum, Comcast (Xfinity) and CTV Beam.

For residents in Charter Spectrum service areas: Charter will of-

fer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll, call 1-844-4888395.

Installation fees will be waived for new student households.

Charter will partner with school districts to ensure local communities are aware of these tools to help students learn remotely.

For eligible lowincome households without school-aged children, Charter continues to offer Spectrum Internet Assist, a low-cost broadband program delivering speeds of 30 Mbps.

Charter will open its Wi-Fi hotspots across its Alabama service area for public use.

We would like to thank the following businesses for sponsoring one or more of our newspaper boxes and racks around Lee County

• Better Bodies Massage Institute • CyberZone • Interim HomeCare Special to the Opelika Observer Although Alabama lags behind other states in terms of test score performance, there are a number of public school districts in the Heart of Dixie where this is far from the case.

Opelika - #28 Methodology The following

variables contributed to the ranking: number of students (K12), graduation rate, school funding per student, student-toteacher ratio, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Math test, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Reading and Language test. Data

from a total of 10,247 public school districts were used to compute a score for each school district. The following states were omitted due to lack of sufficient data: Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah and Virginia.

Note that high schools in some states have their own independent districts.

• Opelika Theatre Company • Three Keys Properties, LLC To have your company’s logo placed on a box email us at editor@opelikaobserver.com

pelika Observer O

B5 March 18, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICES IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO. 2020-071 ALABAMA POWER COMPANY, a corporation, Plaintiff, v.

DEBORAH TUCKER, an individual; GLORIA PATTERSON, an individual; GRANT WIGGINS, an individual; JERI BROWN, an individual; WENDELL WIGGINS, an individual; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF KATIE MAE TUCKER, if any; ALPHONSO ELLIOTT, an individual; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF MARY ECHOLS; SHIRLEY STRICKLAND, an individual; MICHAEL STRICKLAND, an individual; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF GEORGE STRICKLAND; and OLINE PRICE, as Revenue Commissioner, Defendants.

LEGAL NOTICE TO DEFENDANTS BY PUBLICATION TO: (1) Defendant Unknown Heirs of Katie Mae Tucker (2) Defendant Unknown Heirs of Mary Echols (3) Defendant Unknown Heirs of George Strickland You are hereby notified that Alabama Power Company, a corporation, has filed its written complaint in this Court seeking to condemn and to acquire the lands, rights, and interests therein described for ways and rights-of-way upon which to erect towers, poles, wire lines, and other appliances necessary and convenient in connection therewith for the manufacture, supply, and sale to the public of electric power on, across, under, over, and adjacent to strips of land according to the final location survey of the said ways and rights-of-way heretofore made by the plaintiff, and also right of ingress and egress, said strips of land and the lands of which the same are a part being situated in Lee County, Alabama, and being described as follows: Parcel 19 A strip of land, varying in width, lying within the Southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter (SW ¼ of the NW ¼) of Section 25, Township 19 North, Range 25 East, Lee County, Alabama, such strip being more particularly described as follows: To reach the point of beginning of said strip, commence at the Northwest corner of Section 25, Township 19 North, Range 25 East, marked by a found 8”x 8” concrete monument; thence run S43°33’20”E, a distance of 2017.83 feet to a set 5/8” rebar with yellow APCO cap; thence runs S64°26’30”W, a distance of 305.43 feet to a set 5/8”reber with yellow APCo cap; thence runs S66°06’21”W, a distance of 845.29 feet to a set 5/8”rebar with yellow APCo cap; thence runs S67°22’22”W, a distance of 4.82 feet to a point (the Southeast corner of Defendants’ property lies 1.2 feet left (southeast) from such point), such point being the Point of Beginning of a survey line used to describe said strip of right-of-way herein described; therefrom said strip is varying in width and lies 15 feet right (northwest) of said survey line and which lies up to, and coincident with the northwesterly right-ofway edge of Martin Luther King Drive, Alabama State Highway No. 14 to the left (southeast) of said survey line, and the continuations thereof, which begins at such point of beginning and continues running S67°22’22”W, a distance of 110.13 feet to a point (the Southwest corner of Defendants’ property lies 4.6 feet left (southeast) from such point), such point being the point of ending of the strip of right-of-way herein described.

All bearings based on Alabama State Plane East Zone Grid North.

The Parcel 19 Defendants have, may have, or claim to have an interest in, the abovedescribed land.

APC Property ID # 72242529 Parcel 23 A strip of land, varying in width, lying within the Southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter (SW ¼ of the NW ¼) of Section 25, Township 19 North, Range 25 East, Lee County, Alabama,

such strip being more particularly described as follows: To reach the point of beginning of said strip, commence at the Northwest corner of Section 25, Township 19 North, Range 25 East, marked by a found 8”x 8” concrete monument; thence run S43°33’20”E, a distance of 2017.83 feet to a set 5/8” rebar with yellow APCO cap; thence runs S64°26’30”W, a distance of 305.43 feet to a set 5/8”reber with yellow APCo cap; thence runs S66°06’21”W, a distance of distance of 588.03 feet to a point (the Southeast corner of Defendants’ property lies 0.4 feet right (northwest) from such point), such point being the Point of Beginning of a survey line used to describe said strip of right-of-way herein described; therefrom said strip is varying in width and lies 15 feet right (northwest) of said survey line (Less and Except any portion of said strip which lies southeast of the northwesterly right-of-way edge of Martin Luther King Drive, Alabama State Highway No. 14), and the continuations thereof, which begins at such point of beginning and continues running S66°06’21”W, a distance of 64.06 feet to a point on the northwesterly edge of said Martin Luther King Drive; therefrom, said strip is varying in width and lies 15 feet right (northwest) of said survey line and which lies up to, and coincident with the northwesterly right-of-way edge of said Martin Luther King Drive to the left (southeast) of said survey line, and the continuations thereof; thence continue S66°06’21”W, a distance of 50.21 feet to a point (the Southwest corner of Defendants’ property lies 0.3 feet left (southeast) from such point), such point being the point of ending of the strip of right-of-way herein described.

All bearings based on Alabama State Plane East Zone Grid North.

The Parcel 23 Defendants have, may have, or claim to have an interest in, the abovedescribed land.

APC Property ID # 72242532 Parcel 25 A strip of land, varying in width, lying within the Southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter (SW ¼ of the NW ¼) of Section 25, Township 19 North, Range 25 East, Lee County, Alabama, such strip being more particularly described as follows: To reach the point of beginning of said strip, commence at the Northwest corner of Section 25, Township 19 North, Range 25 East, marked by a found 8”x 8” concrete monument; thence run S43°33’20”E, a distance of 2017.83 feet to a set 5/8” rebar with yellow APCO cap; thence runs S64°26’30”W, a distance of 305.43 feet to a set 5/8” rebar with yellow APCO cap; thence runs S66°06’21”W, a distance of 434.95 feet to a point on the centerline of Jordan Street, such point being the Point of Beginning of a survey line used to describe said strip of right-of-way herein described; therefrom said strip is varying in width and lies 15 feet right (northwest) of said survey line (Less and Except any portion of said strip which lies northeast of the southwesterly right-of-way edge of said Jordan Street or which lies southeast of the northwesterly right-of-way edge of Martin Luther King Drive, Alabama State Highway No. 14), and the continuations thereof, which begins at such point of beginning and continues running S66°06’21”W, a distance of 18.64 feet to a point (the Southeast corner of Defendant’s property lies 1.4 feet right (northwest) from such point); thence continue running S66°06’21”W, a distance of 59 feet, more or less, to a point (the Southwest corner of Defendants’ property lies 1 foot, more or less, right (northwest) from such point), such point being the point of ending of the strip of right-ofway herein described.

All bearings based on Alabama State Plane East Zone Grid North.

The Parcel 25 Defendants have, may have, or claim to have an interest in, the abovedescribed land.

APC Property ID # 72242534 The hearing on said complaint has been set by this

Court for the 1st day of April 2020 at 11:00 o’clock A.M. You may respond by answer but you are not required to do so unless you challenge the right to condemn or question or dispute the area to be acquired or to remain. Notice of said complaint and of the day so appointed for the hearing thereof is hereby given you.

Witness my hand this 20th day of February 2020 .

Bill English Judge of the Lee County Probate Court Legal Run 03/04/2020, 03/11/2020, 03/18/2020 & 03/25/2020

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF CHRISTINE LOCKHART, DECEASED PROBATE COURT 2016-1-248 LEE COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been grated to Theresa L. Milner on the 18th day of September, 2019, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Theresa L. Milner Legal Run 03/04/20, 03/11/2020 & 03/18/2020

Opelika Utilities is accepting bids for the vehicle specifications listed below on March 31, 2020 - The bid opening will be at 1:00 p.m. on March 31, 2020 V8 FFV Engine 6-Speed Automatic Transmission 3.73 Electronic Axle Pickup Box Delete-Requires 164” Wheelbase (does not include spare tire) Heavy Service Pkg (HD Service Frt Springs, Rear Stabilizer Bar & Rear Auxiliary Springs) Power Group – Power Windows, Door Locks & Mirrors Spare Tire & Wheel (for Box Delete option only) Upfitter Switches ( 6 Toggle Switches ) 200 Amp. Alternator Cab Steps – Black Molded 110V/400W outlet Cruise Control, AM/FM/ MP3/Clock Radio, Bluetooth capable Electric trailer break package Rear view camera package Exterior Color: White Interior: 40/20/40 Vinyl Seats- Medium Earth Gray Please Remit Bids to: Opelika Utilities 4055 Water Street Opelika, Alabama 36801 Attn: Andrew Alsobrook Legal Run 03/11/2020, 03/18/2020 & 03/25/2020

Lee County Commission Lee County, Alabama Request for Bids Design/Build Communications Tower Replacement The Lee County Commission (County) is requesting sealed bids for the replacement of a primary communications tower on a location known as Salem Hill.

Please submit a design/build bid to: Lee County Commission RE: Salem Hill Communications Tower Replacement Lee County Courthouse 215 South 9 th Street Opelika, Alabama 36801 No later than 4:00 PM CST on Thursday April 9, 2020.

Make sure the sealed envelope is addressed as shown above.

All bids shall be valid for a minimum of thirty (30) days and state so in the submitted bid.

The Lee County Commission “County” is receiving design/ build bids for the replacement of one of the County’s main communications tower.

The tower is located off Lee Road 252 on a location know as Salem Hill. The existing structure is approximately 387 feet. The existing tower is a guyed structure. Lee County’s public safety repeater requires a structure of approximately 340 feet.

The tower design is to accommodate space for potential leasing opportunities to other public/private entities without inferring with the public safety frequencies.

The tower is constructed to meet all applicable regulatory requirements, including but not limited to, FCC and FAA regulations

See County Website Current Bids at www.leeco.us for Additional Requirements or contact Wendy Swann (334) 7373674 Legal Run 03/18 & 03/25/2020

INVITATION TO BID BID# 20018 Sealed bids for the construction of the City-Wide Asphalt Paving Project shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. No bid will be accepted from anyone except a qualified Contractor licensed by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors.

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

Drawings and Specifications may be examined at the Office of the City Engineer located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama. Phone number: 334-705-5450 Bid documents may be obtained from the Office of the City Engineer at no charge as an electronic file if the bidder supplies a storage drive or as an email attachment or electronic drop box.

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

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid. Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities.

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: LillieFinley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 368030390.

Attn: City-Wide Asphalt Paving Project LILLIE FINLEY- PURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal Run 03/18/20, 03/25/20 & 04/01/2020

INVITATION TO BID BID# 20019 Sealed bids for the construction of the General Roadway Improvements shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. No bid will be accepted from anyone except a qualified Contractor licensed by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors.

Principal items of work include but are not limited to asphalt and concrete removal, excavation, roadbed processing, installation of curb and gutter, installation of side-

walk, installation of storm drainage inlets, and erosion and sediment control. The Opelika Engineering Department will make every effort to have work located, prioritized, schedule, and grouped in order to optimize the mobilization of the contractor.

Work shall begin within 10 days of each “Notice to Proceed”.

The total contract length shall not exceed 360 calendar days.

Drawings and Specifications may be examined at the Office of the City Engineer located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama. Phone number: 334-705-5450 Bid documents may be obtained from the Office of the City Engineer at no charge as an electronic file if the bidder supplies a storage drive or as an email attachment or electronic drop box.

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

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid. Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities.

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 368030390.

Attn: General Roadway Improvements LILLIE FINLEY- PURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal Run 03/18/20, 03/25/20 & 04/01/2020

INVITATION TO BID 20017 Sealed bids for the construction of the VACUUM EXCAVATION AND UTILITY DAYLIGHTING SERVICES shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Monday, April 13, 2020, and then publicly opened and read aloud. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. The successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code §34-8-1, et. seq. (1975) and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

Bidders must be licensed by the Licensing Board for General Contractors when bids are submitted. A State of Alabama General Contractor License is required with the Municipal Utility classification.

All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala. Code §34-8-8(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number.

Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid.

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

Bid documents may be obtained from the Office of the City Public Works Director located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama at no charge.

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

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

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

full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities.

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 368030390. Attn: Vacuum Excavation and Utility Daylighting Services LILLIE FINLEY- PURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal March 18, 2020

NOTICE OF COURT PROCEEDINGS CASE NO. 2020-110 IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary Distribution In the Estate of JONATHAN EDMOND ALLEN, Deceased Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office by Lirio Monzon Maglabe on March 12, 2020 pursuant to Seciton 43-2-690, Code of Alabama and that 30 days after the notice of publication hereof and pursuant to law the Court shall be requested to enter an Order directing Summary Distribution of the estate of said decedent.

BILL ENGLISH, PROBATE JUDGE Legal Run 03/18/2020

STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF LEE TO: John Randall Tigner, Ella Peral Harper Barker, Mary Harper, Patricia Harper, Michael Harper, Donna Harper, Gloria Harper Reid, Belinda Lee Harper, Elvira Harper, Margaret Harris Lord, Cynthia Harris, Robert Edwards, whose wehreabouts are unknown, and any known or unknown heirs of The Estate of Odessa Harper Taylor, Deceased.

You will please take notice that on the 27th day of February, 2020, a certain paper in writing, purported to be the Last Will and Testament of Odessa Harper Taylor was filed in my office for Probate

by Charles Edward Harper and that the 27th day of May, 2020 @ 10:00 a.m., CDT, was appointed the day and time for the hearing thereof, at which time you can appear and contest the same, if you see propert.

Given under my hand, this the 3rd day of March, 2020.

BILL ENGLISH, Judge of Probate Legal Run 03/11/2020, 03/18/2020 & 03/25/2020.

CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, AL FAMILY COURT DIVISION: JUVENILE IN THE MATTER OF: L.LP. A minor child JU-2019266.02 NOTICE TO: Any unknown father of L.L.P. born 7/25/2019 to Luciana Celeste Parker at EAMC in Opelika, AL. Custody of the minor child L.L.P. was vested with Lee County DHR on 7/26/2019. Any unknown father must answer the Petition to Terminate Parental Rights filed in the Family Court of Lee County, AL by Lee County DHR, within fourteen (14) days from the last date of publication of this notice, or a final judgment may be rendered in Juvenile Case Number JU-2019 -266.02 in the Family Court of Lee County, AL terminating all parental rights to the minor child.

Mary Roberson, CIRCUIT CLERK Lee County Justice Center 2311 Gateway Dr. Opelika, AL 36801 Hon. Margaret A. Mayfield Attorney for Lee County DHR P.O. Box 809 Opelika, AL 36803 (334) 745-0333 Legal 03/11, 03/18, 03/25 & 04/01/2020

B6 March 18, 2020

pelika Observer O

‘OHS Bulldog Gold Classic Golf Tournament’ held last week to raise money for Opelika athletics

Photos and report provided by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Sponsors, coaches and 72 golfers gathered at the Auburn University Club last Wednesday to raise money for Opelika High School’s golf and tennis programs.

Started 22 years ago, the event helps raise money for teams to pay fees and cover equipment and travel costs. OHS Golf Coach Jonathan Chandler said he wanted “to thank the sponsors and players, (as well as) the school administration for allowing them to have it during the week and helping make this a successful event.”

It’s easy to love the rain when you’re prepared for the storm.

In Alabama, we love the rain. But a thunderstorm is a different story, especially if the power goes out. Good thing Alabama Power develops and uses the latest technology to prevent outages and restore power faster than ever. Our team works 24/7 to get your lights back on, and we keep you informed of our progress.

If you’ve got an outage, report it at AlabamaPower.com/reliable, or call 1-800-888-APCO (2726).

Sports, from B1 scored the first goal for the Bulldogs.

OHS defeated Central 5-2 behind three goals from Charlie Garcia.

Tykell Jones and Rujana scored a goal and added an assist each. Said Rujana and Landon Faison added assists.

TENNIS OHS boys (4-3) and girls (3-5) tennis teams beat Smiths Station last week.

The following boys won matches for their team: Dawson Rush 8-6, Ben Estes 8-1, Connor Mullins 8-3, Andrew Hudson 8-1 and Jack Whatley 8-3. Double winners were Estes/ Whatley and Parker/ Rush.

The following girls won matches for their

team: Hope Bearden 8-0, Laney McTier 8-5, Vera Smith T 8-6 and Allison Beardon 8-1. Doubles winners were Bearden/ Kathlene Trotter 8-6 and Hope Bearden/ Smith T 8-3.

BASEBALL Opelika High baseball team went 3-1 in the East Alabama Classic last weekend. The Bulldogs beat Daphne 5-2, Theodore 3-1, Faith Academy 6-5 and lost 10-6 to Saraland.

Daphne Andrew Parr pitched a complete game, allowing two earned runs while striking out 10 batters to earn the win.

Brooks Bryan led at the plate with two hits while Brayden Thomas, Latrelle Gullate, Jackson Harris and Paul Goodman recorded hits.

Saraland Saraland beat OHS 10-6 behind 14 hits. Of-

fensively the Bulldogs recorded 12 hits, three from Bryan, two each from Gullatte, Parr and Kory McCoy. Theodore OHS beat THS 3-1 in a defensive game.

Jackson Harris recorded the win on the mound, pitching 5 1/3 innings, striking out five while allowing one earned run.

Faith Academy Opelika scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to beat Faith Academy 6-5. McCoy drove in three runs with two outs in the sixth to win the game. Hunter Weston earned the win, pitching a scoreless seventh inning.

The Bulldogs collected three hits for the game.

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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all infielders. The outfielders are Kiley Brooks, Aleah McKenzie, Maddeline Waldrop, and Jamiah Williams.

The Lady Bulldogs finished 2nd in the 1st Annual Tuskegee Softball Tournament with a win over Tuskegee 8-2 and an 8-4 loss to Floyd.

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

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Inside the Statehouse

U.S. Senate race decided in March 31 runoff

W

e have a great race for the U.S. Senate shaping up for March 31. When the votes from the first primary were counted, Jeff Sessions and Tommy Tuberville were in a virtual tie at 32% and 33%, respectively.

Mobile-Baldwin Congressman Bradley Byrne garnered 25% of the vote which is significant and Judge Roy Moore’s 7% is nothing to sneeze at. Tuberville and Sessions will be fighting to convince Byrne and Moore voters to come to their aid. However, the most important quotient of Sessions’ and Tuberville’s missions will be to get their voters back to the polls.

Turn out is the key to a political victory. They only count the votes of

By Steve Flowers those folks who go to the polls and vote. The most important ingredient to amassing your voters back to the polls is money. Campaign money is the mother’s milk of politics. The two runoff contenders are not overflowing with campaign cash. Sessions has about $1 million to spend and Tuberville has even less.

There is no question that President Donald

Trump is very popular among Republican primary voters in the Heart of Dixie. It was apparent by just a cursory observation of the ads that all three of the frontrunners, Sessions, Tuberville and Byrne, were determined to say they loved Trump the most, and their negative ads insinuated that one of the others was not going to cozy up to Trump. The loser in the Trump best friend campaign was Jeff Sessions. Trump’s vitriolic tweets toward Sessions, during his three years as Attorney General, were easy ammunition.

This seat was held

by Jeff Sessions for 20 years. Therefore, when he entered the fray late, most pundits expected See Flowers, page B9

Secretary Merrill issues update on March 31 runoff election Special to the Opelika Observer On Friday, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Officer Dr. Scott Harris confirmed the first Coronavirus (COVID-19) case in the state of Alabama.

Secretary of State John H. Merrill is confident in the ability of the ADPH to monitor the potential spread of the virus and to treat the case(s) accordingly.

The Office of the Secretary of State has been in close communication with the local election officials in all 67 of Alabama’s counties to discuss Election

Day preparation and encourage preventative measures to maintain the health and safety of voters.

As of today, administration of the election will continue as planned, however there is discussion of postponing.

Any person in our state is able to apply for an absentee ballot through contacting their local Absentee Election Manager. Absentee applications can be downloaded on our website AlabamaVotes. gov.

Voters who are concerned about contracting or spreading an illness or have an

infirmity may vote by absentee. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Thursday, March 26, and the last day to postmark or return an absentee ballot by hand is Monday, March 30.

Voters must submit an accompanying copy of their valid photo identification. For the full list of valid forms of photo identification, please visit their website.

Upon successful application, voters will receive an absentee ballot in the mail.

For more information or to voice any questions or concerns, call 334-242-7223.

Alabama Senate approves $5 million to fight Coronavirus Special to the Opelika Observer On Thursday, the Alabama Senate approved a $5 million supplemental appropriation to the budget to combat the spread of COVID-19, commonly referred to as Coronavirus, in Alabama.

These funds will help supplement the federal funding which totals $8.1 million to this date. The money is for health care professionals to use as they see fit to stop the spread

of the disease in Alabama including helping set up local centers for testing, covering expenses related to telehealth and covering the costs for the uninsured for testing and treatment.

Currently there [are 39 positive cases of ] Coronavirus in Alabama, [and] after meeting with professionals in the healthcare industry and public health officials, legislative leadership determined it was important to work to get the situation under control should [as additional] tests

in Alabama come back positive for the disease.

Both Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh (R-Anniston) and Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed (R-Jasper) emphasized that if someone is not feeling well, they should contact their physician to administer next steps and determine if further testing is necessary.

“I want to thank Governor Ivey and her team for taking this issue head on.

See Funding, page B9

Smiths Station receives grant to help fund addition to museum complex

By Morgan Bryce Editor Thanks to a grant provided by the Alabama Historic Commission, a new lavatory is being constructed behind the City of Smiths Station’s Historic Jones Store Museum to accommodate facility guests and visitors, according to Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland.

This structure is part of Copeland’s push to turn the Smiths Station Government Center into a venue for hosting events.

“The (lavatory) will have a toilet and urinal, sink and hand dryer.

It will be open when City Hall opens and closes when City Hall closes and Saturdays when the (museum) is open,” Copeland said.

“This, along with other future developments in the works, is all part of our plan to make this complex a place people

NOW OPEN

Photo by Morgan Bryce/Editor want to come visit and hang out.”

Later in the meeting, the council authorized Copeland to enter into a real estate contract to help improve access in and out of the Smiths Station Sports Complex.

Unable to delve into specifics because of ongoing negotiations, Copeland said this purchase will alleviate major traffic issues park visitors face during the week.

“I’ve heard from some

of the parents whose kids play in sports leagues that play on Tuesday and Thursday nights that it’s taking them a half hour or more to leave the park. This land purchase will create another path for people to take when coming to or leaving,” Copeland said.

Place 4 Council Member Richard Cooley informed the council before their dismissal See Smiths, page B9

Indoor shooting range is open to the public

2195 FIRST AVENUE • OPELIKA

pelika Observer O CDC awarding $8.1 million to the state of Alabama to help with COVID-19 response B8

March 18, 2020

responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, and we are deeply grateful for their work," said The Department of HHS Secretary Alex Health and Human Azar. "CDC is distribServices (HHS) is uting this new funding announcing another extremely rapidly, as upcoming action by the Centers for Disease called for by Congress.

President (Donald) Control and PrevenTrump and his entire tion (CDC) to provide administration will resources to state and continue working to local jurisdictions in ensure state and local support of our nation's jurisdictions have the response to the coroHUGE 2-DAY PUBLIC AUCTION resources they need to navirus disease 2019 Huge Contractors Equipment & Truck Auction keep Americans safe (COVID-19), with the th Wednesday, March 25 & and healthy." state of Alabama exth Thursday, March 26 • 9 am "Our state, local, pected to receive $8.1 1042 Holland Ave • Philadelphia, Mississippi 39350 tribal and territorial million in funding.

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response. The action we are taking today will continue to support their efforts to increase public health capacity where it's needed most," said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. "These funds will allow public health

leaders to implement critical steps necessary to contain and mitigate spread of the virus in communities across the country."

On March 6, the President signed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supple-

mental Appropriations Act, 2020. The supplemental contains $8.3 billion governmentwide, with resources directed for grants or cooperative agreements to states, localities, territories and tribes to accelerate planning and operational readiness for COVID-19 preparedness and response, as well as develop tools and strategies, provide technical assistance and program support, as well as ensure ongoing communication and coordination among public health agencies and partners throughout the response.

The CDC has contacted state health officers to move forward with awarding more than $560 million to states, localities, territories and tribes.

CDC will use existing networks to reach out to state and local jurisdictions to access this initial funding.

To view the list of CDC funding actions to jurisdictions, visit www.hhs.gov/about/ news/2020/03/11/cdcfunding-information.

For more information, visit the CDC's website: www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/ index.

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pelika O Observer

B9 March 18, 2020

Alabama Forestry Association endorses Jeff Sessions for United States Senate Special to the Opelika Observer The Alabama Forestry Association announced its endorsement of Republican Jeff Sessions for United States Senate last week.

“We are proud to endorse Senator Jeff Sessions in the United States Senate race. He served the people of Alabama in this seat for 20 years. He effectively represented the people of Alabama’s interest and values then and we feel confident that he will do the same again,” said AFA Executive Vice President Chris

Flowers, from B7 him to waltz to victory even though there were some thoroughbreds in the race.

With the likes of Tuberville, Byrne and Moore, it was doubtful that he could win without a runoff. Polling indicated 10 days out that Tuberville had caught him and that they would wind up in a dead heat.

Conventional wisdom suggests that with Sessions being the quasi incumbent and Tuberville being the anti-Washington establishment outsider that Tuberville is favored to win. Tuberville was given an early boost from Trump when the tweeting president sent out a negative tweet towards Sessions, the day after the March 3 primary. The next day,

Funding, from B7 One of the biggest problems we have seen from this disease is simply a lack of preparation,” Marsh said. “It is important for everybody to know that Alabama has a solid plan to combat Coronavirus. I cannot stress enough that if someone feels as though they need to be tested for Coronavirus they should contact their doctor to work

Isaacson.

“I am proud to be endorsed by the Alabama Forestry Association.

They have been stalwart partners in the fight to protect and defend Alabama’s conservative values. This is a time of great peril for Alabama and the nation, and we must have a Senator representing us who knows every inch of this state and who can vigorously defend Alabama’s interests,” Sessions said in a statement.

The Alabama Forestry Association has been proud to stand with Senator Sessions in conservative battles through the

years. During the last 25 years, the association has endorsed Senator Sessions for every political office that he has sought.

Sessions held this seat from 1997 to 2017 when he accepted an appointment from President Trump to be the 84th United States Attorney General. Prior to serving as a U.S. Senator, Sessions served as a United States attorney for the Southern District of Alabama from 1981 to 1993. He was elected Alabama’s attorney general in 1994, before his election to Congress in 1996.

Trump bombshelled Sessions again and endorsed the coach.

The non-politician, pro-Trump campaign of Coach Tuberville has been effective. He ran well in rural Alabama where he campaigned hard one-on-one and having the Alabama Farmers Federation Association (ALFA) endorsement helped him immensely.

Tuberville’s vulnerability is his lack of knowledge of the issues and the fact that he was a Florida resident up until the time he decided to run for the Senate in Alabama.

Sessions’ vulnerability is obviously Trump’s displeasure with him as U.S. Attorney General for not bending the law.

Therefore, my advice to each of the campaigns is this – for Tuberville, I would firmly say I could choose to live anywhere in the country. I chose to

live in Alabama. In Sessions’ case, I would tell a story that might resonate with Alabama voters similar to the following: We had a very popular president in the 1930s and 1940s named Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR was beloved all over the country, especially throughout the South. He was idolized in Georgia where he lived a good bit of the time at Warm Springs.

FDR was attempting a bold move to add six seats to the U.S. Supreme Court in order to keep the older conservative jurists from blocking some of his New Deal programs.

History calls it the FDR Court Packing Plan.

The veteran Georgia Sen. Walter George opposed FDR’s court packing legislation.

Senator George was up for reelection. There was a monumental event in the Peach State where

every dignitary was there.

President Roosevelt came to the event and with Senator George on the stage, FDR lambasted and ridiculed him, and asked Georgia voters to vote him out of office.

When it got time for Senator George to speak, the old veteran Georgian quietly and humbly said, “Mr. President we appreciate you being here.

We in Georgia love and respect you. You’re the greatest president this country has ever had, but Mr. President, the people of Georgia will elect their senator.” He quietly sat down and was reelected two weeks later.

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.

through the next steps.”

“Over the past several days legislative leadership has held a series of meetings with the Governor and her Coronavirus Task Force, as well as with health care professionals who are on the front lines of combating this pandemic,” Reed said. “It is important to know that we have test kits and tests are being administered and we have excellent health care professionals who are prepared to act. One important thing to note is that we are

setting up the ability to contact doctors with telehealth so that next steps can be decided over the phone or video chat to limit the potential of exposure to this illness,” Reed said.

“In response to the pandemic that has been going around the nation and the world, this supplementary spending bill is a way for the State of Alabama to be proactive and show our citizens that we are serious about fighting the spread of the coronavirus,” said Alabama Senate Minority

Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro). “Although we have not had a positive test [at the time this was said] in the state, we understand that this highly contagious virus could be potentially deadly for those with compromised immune systems. Therefore, we are moving forward in setting up crisis centers to protect our citizens.”

Publisher’s Note: At the time this was submitted to us, there were no cases. We now know that there are 39 cases in Alabama.

Located in Historic Downtown Opelika

334-745-4618

Sessions

Smiths, from B7 about a planned POW/ MIA Remembrance Ceremony scheduled to take place at the March 24 meeting in observance of “National Vietnam War Veterans Day” on March 29.

“We want to honor those who have died and those that are still listed as MIA. I, along with the two other veterans on our council (Morris Jackson and Dick Key) to help me conduct the ceremony,” Cooley said. “We invite any area veterans to attend also.”

In other business, the council: - approved minutes

from the Feb. 25 meeting and - heard from Human Resources Director Brenda Dockery on proposed changes to the city’s health insurance coverage for employees.

The Smiths Station City regularly meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month with a work session starting at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time followed by the regular meeting at 6 p.m. Their meetings are held within the council chambers of the Smiths Station Government Center, which is located at 2336 Lee Road 430. For more information, call 334-297-8771 or visit www.smithsstational.gov.

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“This project was supported by Subgrant #16-VA-VS-076 awarded by the Law Enforcement / Traffic Safety Division of ADECA and the U.S. Department of Justice.” The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice or grant-making component.”

pelika Observer O

B10 March 18, 2020

Opelika Rotary Club hears Youth for Christ’s executive director from Pilots for Christ reps visited Opelika Lions Club last week

Special to the Opelika Observer The Opelika Rotary Club was pleased to host Rosalyn and Johnny Sales from Pilots For Christ on March 10. They learned that in 2019 there were more than 500 flights provided for families seeking medical treatments all over the U.S., and that there are several families in the Opelika-Auburn area that have sought their services. Pilots For Christ is based in Monroeville and has been in existence since 1994. Pilots for Christ is a nonprofit organization that aims to glorify God by promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ through flying missions of mercy during a family’s most critical time of need. PFC provides this service free of charge. Pilots must meet stringent professional aviation guidelines and uphold high Christian principles and values. Anyone wishing to learn more about Pilots For Christ should visit their website www.pilotsforchrist.net, their Facebook page or by calling 251-575-9425.

Special to the Opelika Observer Tabitha Vasilas, Executive Director of East Alabama Youth for Christ, was a recent guest of the Opelika Lions Club. YFC reaches young people through local programs such as Campus Life, Juvenile Justice Ministries and Kroger Community Rewards. She was introduced by Lion Jim Allen.

Alabama House approves Rep. Jeremy Gray’s yoga bill

By Morgan Bryce Editor Opelika native and District 83 Rep. Jeremy Gray scored a major legislative victory last week, as the Alabama House of Representatives voted 84-17 to approve a bill that would lift prohibition on yoga being taught at state public schools.

The bill will move on to the Senate for their approval.

An outspoken health advocate, Gray's bill that received significant bipartisan support reverses a longtime ban placed on yoga instruction in 1993 by the Alabama State Board of Education, labeling the practice as "Hindu philosophy" and a "method

of religious training."

Gray, who has taught yoga for years, said that it helps with "with stress, anxiety, depression, things of that nature."

According to language found in the bill, enabling yoga instruction will be a decision made by local boards of education. The instruction would be concen-

trated on exercises, poses and stretches and instructors as well as students are to refrain "chanting, mantras, mudras, use of mandalas and namaste greetings."

The Observer will be providing updates on this legislation. Follow Gray's Facebook page for more information and updates.

Gray

pelika O Observer

B11 March 18, 2020

ALGOP Chairman encourages all Alabamians to participate in the Census Special to the Opelika Observer Alabama Republican Party Chairman Terry Lathan issued the following statement today in support of census participation: "It's time to be counted. The 2020 Census is underway and it's crucial to our state for everyone to take

part. Starting today, invitations to fill out the online census questionnaire are being mailed out to every household.

The Alabama Republican Party encourages all Alabamians to check their mailboxes and complete it as soon as possible.

"Some important census facts – The census was established by our

Founding Fathers in Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution. It is sent to every household in the U.S. every 10 years.

Up to $13 billion in federal funding for Alabama is at stake.

This is money used to improve our state's future: schools, roads, job opportunities, etc.

We need an accurate census count to ensure

these programs are able to continue.

The census will also determine the number of congressional seats Alabama has. Unlike U.S. Senate seats – which always remain at two per state – congressional districts are reconfigured every 10 years based upon population growth and loss in each state. We need

Senators plus U.S. Representatives).

The census contains only 10 simple questions and takes just six minutes of your time to complete.

"We strongly encourage Alabamians to participate in this year's census and ask them to encourage their families and friends to do the same."

to make sure Alabama continues to have sufficient representation in Washington.

This in turn will impact the number of electors we send to the Electoral College starting with the 2024 Presidential election.

The number of electors in each state is equal to the size of its congressional delegation (U.S.

Report from Washington: ‘Delusional Democrats’ - where does it stop?

By Mike Rogers Special to the Opelika Observer Democrats embrace of radical socialism is almost complete.

The combination of socialism and Trump Derangement Syndrome has caused many Democrats to completely go off the rails.

Case in point is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-New York) behavior on the steps of the Supreme Court building as the

high court takes up a major abortion case.

The Supreme Court is currently considering a Louisiana anti-abortion law. In January, I joined over 200 of my colleagues from both the House and Senate requesting the Supreme Court uphold Louisiana’s pro-life law from an abortion group’s legal challenge for this very case.

As most of you may have seen recently on the news, on the steps of the Supreme Court, Senator Schumer

said, “I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”

I find a sitting lawmaker in the upper chamber threatening conservative judges just because they believe differently, to be a move that is not only dangerous, but beyond disappointing.

And it doesn’t stop

there. Just recently, Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York found a disturbing note on her car while shopping with her husband.

The note read, “‘Rot in Hell Fascist Pig.” After posting the note of social media, former DNC Chair and presidential candidate Howard Dean responded to Congresswoman Stefanik by implying the note was her own fault for supporting President Trump.

the Rogers’ Roundup by visiting my 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.

The radical left that controls the Democratic party will pitch a temper tantrum any time they don’t get their way.

I am stunned by their behavior and disappointed that these low standards are becoming the normal. They are completely unhinged, and it is getting dangerous. Democrats need to accept and come to grips with the fact that Donald Trump is our president.

Please sign up for my e-Newsletter and

Spotlight on SB172: What is 5G and What Does it Mean for Your Health?

Special to the Opelika Observer 5G is the latest advancement of wireless technology, promoting faster speeds by way of small cell innovation.

Smaller cells should mean less exposure to radiation, right?

Wrong.

Small cell technology requires more towers and more cells placed throughout your community at locations like street corners, traffic lights or car antennas. Most people already know about how damaging EMF (electromagnetic fields) exposure can be to our health. In fact, EMF-associated radiation has been shown to trigger oxidative stress, which in turn is known to promote many acute and chronic diseases including anxiety, depression, fertility issues and DNA damage. Furthermore, even WHO currently classifies EMFs associated with radiofrequency radiation as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

With estimated speeds 10 to 20 times faster than current networks, 5G promises to allow more devices to connect by utilizing higher frequencies, known as “millimeter waves.” TheTruthAboutCancer.com explains how millimeter waves used by smaller cells equals more radiation exposure: “These waves have a much shorter range, and so telecom companies will need to build hundreds of thousands of towers to transmit them.”

Lawsuits and op-

position to the forced widespread installation of 5G is worldwide.

The FCC has failed to update EMF exposure limits since the 1980s and telecommunications industry executives have testified that they have no scientific evidence that 5G is biologically or environmentally safe. In fact, FCC and FDA executives have testified before the United States Senate that there is currently “no industrybacked safety studies” on 5G technology.

Researchers, scientists and medical professionals have been warning legislators for years about allowing big tech companies to lobby for mass 5G rollout with zero guarantees that the new wireless technology is safe. Dr. Sharon Goldberg, an internal medicine physician and professor, testified in 2018 regarding 5G health dangers, specifically involving electromagnetic radiation.

“Wireless radiation has biological effects.

Period. In humans, we have clear evidence of cancer now: there is no question. We have evidence of DNA damage, cardiomyopathy, which is the precursor of congestive heart failure, neuropsychiatric effects…5G is an untested application of a technology that we know is harmful; we know it from the science,” Goldberg said.

“In academics, this is called ‘human subjects research.’”

More than 250 scientists and medical doctors have published research about the harmful health ef-

fects of exposure to EMFs and RFR (radio frequency radiation).

They issued what is known as the 5G Appeal which calls for immediate prohibition of this technology.

Physicians for Safe Technology describes common adverse health symptoms associated with close proximity to cell towers as: headaches, insomnia, dizziness, irritability, fatigue, heart palpitations, nausea, loss of appetite, feeling of discomfort, loss of libido, poor concentration, memory loss and neuropsychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety.

Even our first responders are fighting back against 5G technology. Dave Gilotte, the fire captain/union president at Los Angeles County Fire Fighters is a 25-year veteran firefighter, who gave his testimony at the Los Angeles California Board of Supervisors meeting in 2016 advocating that proximity to cell towers increases negative health effects.

His testimony described how firefighters began experiencing mental fog, anxiety, insomnia and behavioral changes as a result of their proximity to cell towers. In California,

fire departments are now exempt from the forced placement of towers on their stations because of the strong opposition they have due to health concerns from the radiation.

EMF radiation is a form of energy that can alter and impact the environment, impacting your cells and possibly even having negative health effects. Autistic children may be even more susceptible to the dangers of Wi-Fi radiation than other children.

Dr. Martha Herbert, well known to the autism community, has published a peerreviewed study called, “Autism and EMF? The plausibility of a pathophysiological link, Part I and Part II.” She states: “Various vital but vulnerable mechanisms...may be disrupted by [these] environmental agents, [and] various genes associated with autism... With dramatic increases in reported Autism Spectrum Conditions that are coincident in time with the deployment of wireless technologies, we need an aggressive investigation of potential ASC - EMF/RFR links.”

In fact, all children absorb higher concen-

trations of radiation than adults because of their immature blood/ brain barrier. Microwave radiation from wireless devices has also been declared a possible human carcinogen and we know children are at greater risk than adults when exposed to any carcinogen. Last year, California parents lobbied to shut down a Sprint cell tower located on school property after multiple students received new cancer diagnoses.

Because the average latency time between first exposure and diagnosis of a tumor can be decades, tumors induced in children may not be diagnosed until well into adulthood.

In Alabama, big tech giant AT&T is actively lobbying for state legislature that installs widespread small cell wireless technology on the basis of expanding high-speed internet access. But do we really want our legislators to allow tech giants to experiment on Alabama’s population with faster devices at the expense of our health? Proponents of SB172 claim that implementing this new untested technology will create jobs and bring in revenue to the state. But there is no way to measure the economic impact that

new cancer diagnoses, autism diagnoses, loss in fertility, increased ADHD, anxiety, depression, and insomnia diagnoses that Alabamians will suffer from as a result of our increased radiation exposure from these small cells.

A petition started on change.org has received more than 250 signatures and calls for legislators to oppose SB172 until clear evidence of 5G safety is available. Alabama Outreach Director Helen Underwood has contacted Alabama’s Chief Health Officer Scott Harris about the public health threat small cell technology poses.

“We depend on Alabama’s Department of Health to intervene when a clear and present danger to public health exists and we hope that our Public Health Officials will take an aggressive approach to guarantee that Alabamians have access to safe technology,” Underwood said.

This bill has passed the Senate and is headed to the House of Representatives.

Publisher’s Note: This is an editorial submitted to the Observer and is the opinion of the author.

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B12 March 18, 2020

pelika O Observer

Like crossword puzzles? Sudoku?

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pelika Observer O

B13 March 11, 2020

Opelika’s Azalea and Dogwood Trail now open Special to the Opelika Observer Keep Opelika Beautiful kicked off the Azalea and Dogwood Trail on March 17. The trail begins at the corner of 2nd Avenue and 8th Street and winds

throughout the historic district and other neighborhoods of Opelika.

Keep Opelika Beautiful has partnered with Lee County Master Gardeners to include the Salem-Shotwell Bridge and Caroline Dean Wildflower Garden on

the trail. This will give visitors a chance to enjoy a short walk.

“The Azalea and Dogwood Trail is an annual highlight for Opelika. With the limitations set for group activities, we encourage people to take advan-

tage of walking, biking or driving through the trail. There are many beautiful flowers and homes in Opelika” said KOB Director Tipi Miller.

For the trail, visitors may follow the green arrows signs or pick up

an Azalea and Dogwood Trail directional card at the Opelika Chamber of Commerce or City Hall. Directions can also be found at the Keep Opelika Beautiful website, www.keepopelikabeautiful.com.

The trail has been a

long-standing highlight of the spring season in Opelika for more than three decades.

For more information, contact Keep Opelika Beautiful at 334-7494970 or send email to tipi@keepopelikabeautiful.com.

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

pelika O Observer

B14 March 18, 2020

CBDG to hold public hearing on April 6 Public Notice

2020-2024 Consolidated Plan 2020 Action Plan Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 Action Plan The City of Opelika wants your input on the proposed funding/strategic plan for the 2020-2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Consolidated Plan and PY2020 Action Plan. The City of Opelika is proposing to use CDBG funds to provide emergency utility assistance, housing rehabilitation, home purchase assistance, façade improvements, fund nonprofit agencies that provide services to low-income citizens, and to improve

public facilities in neighborhoods. The programs primary beneficiaries are low to moderate income households. The goals of the program are to: 1) provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing, 2) provide a suitable living environment, and 3) expand economic opportunities.

A public hearing will be held on Monday, April 6, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. at Cooper Memorial Library located at 200 S. 6th Street and a second meeting on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 5:00 at the Covington Recreation Center at 213 Carver Avenue. The public hearing will focus on gathering input about housing and community development needs that will benefit low and moderate in-

come citizens of Opelika.

If unable to attend public hearing, you may participate by completing our Community Survey online at www.SurveyMonkey. com/r/Opelika_YourCityYourVoice2020 .

Input from public service providers and residents are an essential part of the City’s ongoing effort to involve the community in long-range planning and investment decisions related to CDBG programs. Comments may be mailed to: Community Development Office 700 Fox Trail Opelika, AL 36801.

Notice of funding availability and application The City of Opelika anticipates for PY2020

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an estimated $271,786 in CDBG Federal funds.

Applications for funding are available at the Public Works Facility or by contacting the Community Development office.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 28, 2020.

For more information about the hearing, please contact Lisa Thrift, Community Development Administrator at (334) 705-5155 or via email at lthrift@opelika-al.gov .

All requests for ADA accommodations are considered and should be forwarded to Kevin Rice, at 334-705-2083.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

See the Value in All People #DDawareness2020

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Lee County Strong is a magazine being published by the Opelika Observer. This special publication is dedicated to honoring the victims and survivors of the March 3, 2019 tornadoes that claimed 23 lives.

Copeis are now available at our office which is located at 216 S. 8th Street in downtown Opelika or you may complete and return this order form by mailing it to: 216 S. 8th Street, Opelika, AL 36801.

Online ordering is also available on the Observerʼs website, www.opelikaobserver.com Proceeds from this publication will be used to help the recovery efforts in Beauregard and Smiths Station.

Name:__________________________________ Address:_________________________________ ______________________________________ _____Pickup in office - $6.53 (includes tax) _____Mail delivery - $10 (includes tax, shipping & handling) _____Check ______Credit Card ______Exp. _____CCV CC #________________________________

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