Opelika Observer 05-22-19 E-edition

pelika Observer O Vol. 11, No. 33

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Opelika, Alabama

“By local people, for local people.”

Local community, state mourns loss of Observer wins six awards in Officer William Buechner killed in line Alabama Press Association’s of duty; rallies around injured officers annual ‘Media Awards’ contest

By Opelika Observer Staff

Buechner

By Michelle Key Publisher On Sunday night, May 19, three Auburn police officers responded to a domestic disturbance call originating out of what appears to be the residence of 29-year-old Grady Wayne Wilkes.

The officers were met by an armed Wilkes and he opened gunfire shortly after their arrival and all three officers were struck.

Officer William Buechner suffered fatal injuries.

He had served the APD

Sistrunk

Elliott since April 24, 2006.

Officer Webb Sistrunk sustained life threatening injuries and was transported via air ambulance to Columbus Regional Medical Center where he has undergone surgery and is expected to recover.

Officer Evan Elliott sustained non-life threating injuries and was treated at EAMC and has been released.

As the call went out to the surrounding areas, law enforcement officers flooded the scene in what was a massive search

for Wilkes. The search continued throughout the night and Wilkes was eventually apprehended around 7 a.m. Monday morning.

According to Auburn Chief of Police, Paul Register, Wilkes has been charged with one count of captial murder, three counts of attempted murder and one count of domestic violence in the 2nd degree. Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes added that they will pursue the death penalty if Wilkes is

convicted.

Auburn Mayor Ron Anders expressed his condolences for Buechner’s family and his appreciation for the local law enforcement community.

“One of the foundational blocks of our great community is the fact that we live in a very safe town and that is because of the professionalism of our police force. We’re blessed. But not only because of the professionalism and the tools that they See APD, page A3

The Opelika Observer received six awards in this year’s Alabama Press Association’s Media Award Contest, with more possible at the organization’s annual summer convention June 26-29 at Perdido Beach.

According to an APA release sent Friday, 90 Alabama-based publications submitted 3,394 entries for the annual contest, which was judged by members of the Illinois Press Association.

Among the Observer’s winning submissions were articles, columns, individual photos and photo spreads, which were won by multiple staff members and contributors in the contest’s “D” division.

Following is a current

list of awards won by the Observer, classified by category: • Best Spot News Story – 3rd Place – “Commission candidate accuses local politicians of being Klansmen” by Editor Morgan Bryce • Best Business Story or Column – 2nd Place – “Where did the monkeys go? To eat ice cream at O Town of course!” by Publisher Michelle Key • Best Humorous Column – 3rd Place – “I Think I Broke the Monkey Park”

by Columnist Wendy Hodge • Best Feature Photo – 3rd Place – “Ride to Remember” by Photojournalist Robert Noles • Best News Photo – 3rd Place – “OHS Student Receives Diploma” by See Awards, page A3

8th annual ‘Puzzle Palooza’ seeks Chicken Salad Chick breaks ground to unite special needs community on new location at Tiger Town

By Morgan Bryce Editor Seamless and the Autism Society of East Alabama are hosting the eighth annual “Puzzle Palooza” event for Opelika and Lee County children with special needs June 1 from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. at Spring Villa Park.

According to Event Organizer Luanne Helms, the free event will feature sensoryfriendly activities including arts and

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Photo special to the Opelika Observer crafts stations, inflatable games like basketball and t-ball,

music from Deejay See Palooza, page A3

Index

OPINION.....................................A4 SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY..............A7 RELIGION..............................A12 CALENDAR..................................A14

By Ali Rauch For the Opelika Observer Chicken Salad Chick hosted a groundbreaking cer-

SPORTS................................B1 LEGALS.................................B6 POLITICS.......................................B7 ENTERTAINMENT......................B12

emony at their recently announced Opelika location on Tuesday, May 14th. The Tiger Town Chicken Salad Chick will be located adjacent to the new

round-a-bout (in front of Kohl's), and will feature a drive-thru and patio seating, and will serve up fan See Tiger Town, page A5

pelika O Observer.com

pelika O Observer

A2 May 22, 2019

Leadership Lee County holds graduation ceremony; raises $17,000 for Lee County Humane Society

By Michelle Key and Robert Noles The 2018-19 Class of Leadership Lee County held their graduation ceremony last week at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National.

Below is a list of this year’s graduates: Melissa Adams Gina Allen Pete Arnold Ken Busby Charria Campbell Davina Casey Lindsay Crosby Vanessa Darden Blair DeCoux Rose Fabry Brandon Faircloth Tara Harbison Shane Healey Luanne Helms Christie Hill Dwyaine Jackson Joe Janning Jake Lashley

Yvette Lowe Nancy McDonald Cora McGriff Bill McGuire Katie Murray Genia Odom Blake Otwell Matt Persons Brent Poteet Rusty Pruitt Kristy Reeder John-Michael Roehm Melanie Roehm Crystal Russell Megan Sumners Service Project: Each year, the LLC class participates in a community service project. The 201819 class chose the Lee County Humane Society.

Their goal was to assist with needed repairs at the LCHS facility. Class Treasurer Joe Janning stated that $17,000 was raised, with cash donations

totaling $9,000 and more than $8,000 in in-kind donations.

The LLC class worked on the project for more than 5 months after selecting LCHS as their project.

Utilizing the donations, the class worked in4 to 8 hour shifts to complete work on the needed repairs at the LCHS. The class replaced all the ceiling tiles, painted ceiling tile grid lines, installed new insulation, repaired the drainage area at the back entrance, repainted walls throughout the facility, cleaned kennel walls, spread pine straw around the facility and spread 30 tons of aggregate for play yards and walk paths.

The group also used some of the

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer shelter director T.J. McCullough.

After the presentation, everyone was invited to enjoy refreshments, to tour the facility and visit with the animals in the shelter.

from Auburn University they were able to purchase coyote rollers which the class installed. After all the work and repairs, the class was able to donate the remaining funds of $2,500 to

money to purchase new entrance door planters and plants, new front door and reception area rubber mats with the LCHS logo. The parking lot also received new striping. With a grant

Photo special to the Opelika Observer

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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 O Observer

A3 May 22, 2019

PetCo presents Lee County Humane Society with $50,000 check at celebration Saturday Special to the Opelika Observer A celebration and presentation of a $50,000 grant made by the Petco Foundation to the Lee County Humane Society of Auburn was held on May 19 at the Petco location at 2285 Tiger Town Parkway in Opelika.

Adoptable animals from Lee County Humane Society were present as part of Petco National Adoption weekend.

The Petco Foundation investment will help to increase availability of low cost spay and neuter services, encourage microchipping, and expand the humane society’s Trap Neuter Release program.

“This grant will open up so many opportunities for our organization to assist our community not only with reuniting lost pets, but also help reduce the pet overpopulation.

We will also be able to alleviate some of the stress owners feel over not having the means or resources to provide veterinary care for their pet,”

said Lee County Humane Society Director T.J. McCullough.

The Lee County Humane Society is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance humane treatment and responsible ownership of companion animals through community education, animal sheltering and adoption, and alleviation of animal suffering serving Auburn and Opelika. Since 1974, the Lee County Humane Society has worked to meet the needs of homeless companion animals through adoption and education programs. The Lee County Humane Society manages an open admission shelter for Auburn and Opelika that serves approximately 3,000 animals a year and boasts a live release rate of more than 90%.

About Lee County Humane Society Lee County Humane Society was developed in 1974 as the solution to the growing problem of stray animals in our community. A group of hard-

APD, from A1

have to work with but because they are courageous men and women. They are faithful servants to our community.

And last night three courageous young men, faitful servants to our communtiy went to protect us’” Anders said.

“We are thankful two of them are with us today, and that they will be with us, and we look forward to their recovery and to supporting them as they move forward. “ “To Will Buechner, we are sorry.

We thank you for giving your life on behalf of all of us to protect us all.”

“To our community today... I ask that you take time to be intentional, to say thank you to these men and women as you see them out and about every day. May God bless the families who have been impacted and may God continue to bless and protect this great community of Auburn.”

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has authorized flags to be flown at half mast until sunset May 25 in honor of Buechner.

“Officer Buechner laid down his life protecting the people of Auburn and the entire state of Alabama mourns this tremendous loss,” Ivey said in an interview with WSFA12.

working and concerned volunteers took animals into their homes to foster, love, and try to find forever homes. LCHS acquired property 1976 and the shelter found its home. Through donations and a community effort, the volunteer-run organization hired staff and began adding on to the facility; eventually moving our shelter to our current location in 1990.

Lee County Humane Society’s staff, board members, and volunteers work every day to ensure we are meeting the needs of companion animals in our community through adoption and education programs. We are fortunate to be part of community that truly cares about the welfare of its companion animals.

For more information about the Lee County Humane Society visit www. leecountyhumane.org.

About the Petco Foundation At the Petco Foundation, they believe that every animal deserves to live its best life. Since

Awards, from A1 Photojournalist Robert Noles • Best Use of Graphics/Illustration – 3rd Place – “My country, ‘tis of thee” by Publisher Michelle Key/Photojournalist Robert Noles.

Key, owner of the Observer since January 2018, said bringing home these six awards is meaningful and proof that the Observer is fulfilling its mission of providing local news for local people.

“This is a proud moment for me because I came into owning and operating the Observer with virtually no journalism experience. I believe that we have many ways to continue to grow and improve our product but this is an accomplishment worth celebrating,” Key said.

Serving as the paper’s editor since October 2018, Bryce said these awards are the result of hours of dedication and hard work, which would not have been possible without support from Key, Noles and Salesman Woody Ross, among several

1999, they have invested more than $230 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, they inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. Through the Think Adoption First program, they partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions.

So far, they have helped more than 5.5 million pets find their new loving families, and they are just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how one can get involved.

For more on the Petco Foundation, visit www. petcofoundation.org and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by using the hashtag #PetcoFamily.

others.

“Providing Opelika and Lee County residents with news they want to know about is an extremely satisfying task, and winning these awards is really icing on the cake. There are thankless elements of journalism that no one but others in our profession recognize, and this is just confirmation that we are on the right track with the work we do on a weekly basis,” Bryce said.

This marks Hodge’s first award, a moment that she said is a milestone achievement in her writing career.

“It’s such a privilege to be a writer under any circumstances; but, what an honor it is to work for the Opelika Observer and to be recognized among so many talented writers,” Hodge said.

With three awards in 2019, Noles said he enjoys his role and contributing his artwork to the paper for readers to enjoy.

“I’m honored and glad that the photos I contributed to the paper were recognized as some of the best in the state,” Noles said.

For more information or to view a full list of the APA Media Awards contest winners, visit www.alabamapress.org.

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City discusses weed abatement ordinance; urges residents to keep yards well-maintained Special to the Opelika Observer As we move into the summer months, the City Code Enforcement team is asking Opelika residents to be diligent about following the weed abatement ordinance.

“With all of the rain we’ve been having, grass and weeds can become an issue in the summer months. This can pose a safety issues obstructing vision to the travelling public, as well as a breeding ground for vermin, insects and critters such as snakes,” said City Code Enforcement Officer Jerry Bush.

Growth of grass or weeds, other than ornamental plant growth, which exceeds 12 inches in height is declared to be a public nuisance

Palooza, from A1 Marcus Smiths along with drinks and hamburgers and hotdogs provided by Backwater BBQ. Safety identification kits with fingerprints and photos will also be available for families during the event.

Volunteers from Auburn University’s Alpha Xi Delta sorority will help with the event and Lee County Sheriff’s Office representatives will bring their Lego truck for children to interact with.

Puzzle Palooza follows April’s annual “Going Blue for Autism” event in downtown Opelika, which aims to raise awareness about autism in Lee County. Helms, mother of a son with nonverbal autism,

and subject to a weed abatement by the city. Property owners are responsible for maintaining any grass or weeds growing on their property.

Right-of-ways and easements are to be maintained by the property owner as well.

In addition, any abutting or adjacent property shall be cut and maintained by the property owners.

“Please help us keep Opelika clean and beautiful,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. “We should all take pride in our community and want to keep property clear and maintained, as well as cutting grass and weeds.”

For more information or questions pertaining to the Weed Abatement Ordinance, call 334-705-5158. said these events provide a crucial outlet for both children and their parents or families. “(During the last few years) it’s really brought the entire special needs community of Lee County together. I’ve met moms with kids who have other disabilities that I didn’t think about,” Helms said. “We all have one common denominator and it’s great for us to have the chance to be around others who know what we’re going through.”

In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled for a later date in the summer.

For more information, contact Helms via email at helmslu@gmail.com or by calling 334-7070116. The park is located at 1474 Lee Road 148.

pelika O Opinion Her whole story A4

May 22, 2019

F

or a while now, Saturday has been the day my best friend and I get to spend a few hours together.

Sometimes we go to the firing range to sharpen our skills; often we try a new restaurant, sampling each other’s meals; always we laugh and talk, and the hours slip by like moments.

My favorite times are when the sky is clear, the windows are down and the music is loud, and we are right where we are supposed to be.

Recently, we discovered how much we both like yard sales and estate sales.

We’ll climb in his truck, I’ll check the online ads to find the local sales, and we’ll GPS from one stop to the next. Sometimes there is already a crowd ahead of us, and sometimes we are the only ones to show up. We’ve found some real treasures

By Wendy Hodge

on our trips! For him, there has been a gold mine of fishing lures and hand tools. For me, there has been an old Underwood typewriter and a leather pocket dictionary from the late 1800s labeled ‘For Today’s Gentleman.’ The pages are worn smooth, and someone’s fingers left barely visible indentions in its cover. Whose vest pocket did that small reside in?

There is a mixed emotion involved in going into someone else’s house, seeing all their possessions on display. There’s a voyeuristic element to browsing through personal items like a prom

dress or well-worn bath towels or high school yearbooks or monogrammed coffee mugs.

There’s also a bit of sadness, particularly at estate sales, with the realization that someone’s life has ended and the rest of us are here to pick through the remains of their life’s labor.

And, too, there’s that gnawing reminder that we, just like this person, will someday be gone. Will there be a Saturday morning that finds strangers walking through a place I’ve lived and paying a dollar for the last book I ever read?

On this particular Saturday, my best friend and I are in a house in an old, but well-kept, neighborhood in Opelika. The family who lived here for 40 years has packed up and moved north, hiring a rep-

See Hodge, page A5

Que Sera, Sera Q ue Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, will be. The future not ours to see, Que Sera, Sera by Jay Livingston and Doris Day has been a song that has been such an encouragement to me.

I know the baby boomers and the greater generation loved the late legendary entertainer Doris Day. As Baby Boomers enter their elderly years, this song is good in applying that we should not worry about the future, but we should be prepared. We should not fear aging!

A celebration of aging is such a full, rich blessing. This baby boomer is so very thankful to serve and live among friends in my community who display happiness, joy and contentment in their elderly years. I have received so much mentoring from my elderly friends in the community, my church, my family and in my experiences.

I’d like to share some truths that I have learned. I hope these insights will encourage readers.

Why does our culture look at aging as a loss of control? As we truly look at the reality of life, we are never in control. From our very first breath as a newborn coming into the world, God is in control of every breath we take and our path forward in life. Our creator promises us in Isaiah 46:4-Even to your old age and gray hairs I am HE, I am HE who will sustain you. From this big truth of what life is, I would like to de-

By Beth Pinyerd

duct some tips I have learned from others on celebrating aging.

1. Henry Ford’s quote is one for us to apply. “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”

My late 97-year-old mother use to remind on a daily basis, “Beth, age is just a number.”

How we think and feel along this journey of aging is all that truly matters. Adopt a grateful attitude for everything you have and also be grateful for everything you don’t have.

Some of the most positive elderly people I am around are those who have lost some of their vision, hearing, and ability to walk.

They have learned to cope by talking to others, attending support groups, encouraging others, and not being afraid to ask for help.

“People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.”

As we age, it is very normal for our driving abilities to change.

This is a conversation that my elderly friends have with me quite often. Even if you find you have to reduce your driving radius or give up driving altogether, this truly doesn’t mean that

you have lost or ended your independence.

My elderly friends who seek alternative methods of transportation through facilities’ supported transportation programs, community transportation programs or depending now on families and friends, express they welcome the change of pace in their lives as well as the health and social benefits.

2. “Age is an issue of mind over matter.

If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” This is a quote from Mark Twain. Stay active, keep learning, growing and find a purpose for life. I love the old saying, “A body in motion stays in motion.”

On a daily basis I see the greater generation bicycling, walking, swimming, exercising, etc. As we age, we can engage in a bucket list of games, music, art, hobbies, learning new technologies, writing, etc. Continuing to focus on a purpose such as being involved in community outreach to people in need, supporting a program whether it be political, humanitarian, mission outreach, etc. It keeps us energized, focused and reminds us that we matter no matter what our age is.

3. Keep being social by joining people and being involved in community activities. Enjoy life by laughing and having a good time. Smiling and laughter are contagious! As Jules Renard reminds us “It is not how old you are, but how you are old.”

Truly enjoy the journey of aging!

S

Teacher

he is older. Past retirement age.

She stands in the Walmart checkout lane with a full cart. In her basket: Kleenex, paper towels, notebooks, number-two pencils, Scotch tape, staples. The works.

She teaches ninth grade.

And she’s been doing this for 30 years.

That’s three decades of lesson plans, spitballs, my-Labrador-ate-myhomeworks, senior pranks and pep-rallies. She is a living saint.

“When I was young,” she says. “Had this idea I was going to be a wonderful teacher and change the world.”

Her first year of teaching nearly killed her.

Ninth-graders are their own breed of domestic skunk. The children drained her youth and drove her toward a nervous breakdown.

“Almost gave up,” she says. “I actually wrote a letter of resignation after my first year. It was that bad.”

It was that bad. But she didn’t quit.

There was a girl in her class. The girl’s mother had died. She had no father. She was living with relatives.

The girl was quiet. Sad. She didn’t try in class. She had no friends. She was a D-student, a poor reader and a lost child.

“I knew she needed me. So I told myself, ‘I’m gonna win this girl over if it’s the last thing I do.’”

By Sean Dietrich

She worked with the child after school hours.

She ordered pizza delivery while they studied. She introduced the girl to the simple pleasures of Nancy Drew, and helped her with math homework.

She listened. Sometimes all she did was listen.

“That’s when I realized, maybe I’ll never change the world, but I can be a friend. I could show her I didn’t care about her grades as much as I cared about her.”

The girl’s grades improved. In fact, that year she made A’s in every subject. Her disposition got sweeter, too.

Her life was on the upswing. She dated her first boyfriend. She joined school clubs. She played in band.

And on the last day of class, the girl was sitting outside her teacher’s classroom, crying.

The girl told her, “I don’t wanna leave your class. I don’t wanna lose you like I lost my mom.”

So, they kept meeting every day after school.

Through tenth grade.

Eleventh. Twelfth. The girl traded her Nancy Drew novels for fatter books with big words. The math problems got harder.

So did her brain muscles.

“We got her a scholarship,” said the venerable teacher. “Lemme tell ya, it was a big day when that happened. I locked myself in my room and cried.”

That was a lifetime ago.

They still talk, but not as much.

Today, the girl is a married woman, a business owner, and she has a family. Her old teacher might be up in age, but she’s still as proud as she was decades ago.

“It’s bittersweet with kids,” the teacher goes on.

“But that’s how it goes.

I’m in their lives for a season. All I can do is love them.

“They don’t realize, once I love them, it’s forever, even after they leave and forget me.”

Thus, another school year closes. And she’s been in her classroom, doing what she set out to do a long time ago.

The same thing all teachers do.

Change the world.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week.

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

The more things are the same

A

fter my father died, I went through some of his books and found it.

“Dear Mr. Congressman,” a collection of letters from constituents to their senators and representatives, written in the years after World War II. Considering the low opinion in which our current Congress is held, I thought it would make me feel better to see what the folks back home had to say to the folks they sent to Washington.

If nothing else, these letters might reveal how good things were in the good old days and give me hope for the future.

The first was to Congressman E. L. Bartlett.

“Dear Congressman Bartlett: I voted for you 3 times and I think you are wonderful. Please send me $900 at once so I can buy an ice box and repaint my car.

P. S. The 3 times I voted for you were in the election of 1946.”

Not everyone was so happy with their

By Hardy Jackson

representative.

Florida Sen. Bob Sikes got this.

“Your record since you have been in the Senate is positively disgusting. You never met me so what have you got against me personally that you vote for everything I’m against?”

I know the feeling.

However, another correspondent was willing to put the blame where it belonged.

“I heard your speech last night on the radio,” he wrote Rep. Ken Keating, “and I read it again in the newspaper this morning. Believe me, you’re no idiot! I am for ever having voted for you.”

Confess it brother.

Like today, the cost of living was weighing heavily on American minds.

“I know you are getting letters complaining that prices are too high,” a

constituent wrote Rep. Melvin Price.

“It’s not that prices are too high. It’s just that people haven’t enough money to buy anything.”

However, there was a bright side.

“Please don’t do anything about my wife’s letter complaining about the high cost of living,” one man wrote. “This is the first time in 20 years she’s found something to complain about besides me.”

There was also concern about illegal immigrants.

Sen. Harlan Bushfield got this from a writer who had just returned from Oklahoma where he saw “lots of Indians who were millionaires because of oil lands.”

“Why,” he asked, “doesn’t the government confiscate these oil wells and make these Foreigners go back where they came from?”

Which might also help reduce the deficit.

The whole question of citizenship was troubling to a man

See Jackson, page A5

pelika O Observer

A5 May 22, 2019

‘20 Under 40’ program wraps up successful year

By Kelly Daniel Opelika Observer On May 14, the Opelika Chamber of Commerce held their annual graduation ceremony for the 20 Under 40 Program, which is a community leadership course for professionals under the age of 40.

The program encourages collaboration and mentorship between young professionals and experienced community leaders, representing a variety of professions and perspectives from both the private and public sectors.

The event featured the attendance and participation of Opelika and Auburn leaders as well as a keynote speech by comedian Jody Fuller.

Mackenzie Kayler, who serves as programs and events manager for the

Tiger Town, from A1 favorites in a more convenient location for those who live and work in Opelika.

The building is currently under construction with the goal of opening Fall 2019.

Stacy Brown, Founder of Chicken Salad Chick, shared "Kevin and I used to dream about coming to Tiger Town, and we thought we'd never be big enough to make it happen.

To finally have a great location under

Hodge,

from A4 resentative to sell off their belongings. A garage full of tools has caught my best friend’s attention, so I am left to wander in search of… books, maybe?... ‘cause a girl can never have too many books.

Passing tables of Christmas wreaths and wrapping paper, I spot a box in the corner marked “Photos $1 each.” The photo on top is a studio picture, sepia toned, about a century old, of a young man in a suit and bow tie with slicked-back hair and wire-rimmed spectacles. He has the grim expression that seemed to be the standard pose when “sitting for a likeness” in the days before Kodak.

As I flip through the pile, I find more formal pictures – a baby with a stern-looking woman (the nanny, possibly?), a father in a three-piece suit and top hat with children at his feet (the babies are even wearing formal clothes!), a bridal party standing stiffly shoulder to shoulder (waiting for

Opelika Chamber of Commerce, said that more than 60 individuals attended the event, including 20 Under 40 founder Lucinda Cannon, Mayor Gary Fuller, and city council members David Canon, Tiffany Gibson-Pitts and Patsy Jones.

Kayler said that the Chamber gives “special thanks to our sponsors helping make this program possible: Max Credit Union, Baxter, Chicken Salad Chick, Opelika City Council, and the Opelika Industrial Development Authority.”

At the end of the event, the graduates elected Alex Sumrall, who works as a manager at Auburn University Federal Credit Union, as the representative of the class on the 20 Under 40 board. Carlton Hunley, who owns Lambert Transfer and Storage,

was announced as the chair of 20 Under 40 for the upcoming year.

This Year’s 20 Under 40 Class The 2018-2019 graduates developed a strong rapport with each other and went above and beyond in their efforts to help the community, as was observed by Aiesha Gentry, who is one of this year’s graduates and works as the program director at Emerge Community Solutions. “This class showed initiative in its service project but also sought out additional efforts to help the community and volunteer through helping the youth development center and tornado relief efforts,” Gentry said.

The graduation served as an opportunity for the class of 2019 to celebrate the connections made during the program and

to express their gratitude for the program and the community leaders whose support makes the program possible. “This class developed a bond, and we enjoyed each other’s company throughout the program,” said Morgan Beadles, who works as the director of The Davis Arboretum at Auburn University.

Commitment to Teaching the Next Generation of Government and Business Professionals The program’s extensive community support showcases the commitment of senior Opelika leadership, including industry experts and elected officials, to building up and shaping the next generation of innovators and visionaries in the community, as was observed by James Bush, who works as a GIS analyst for the

construction is so exciting, and to see the incredible turnout we have here today, I know it's going to be wildly successful."

Guests are encouraged to like their Facebook page at Facebook.com/ChickenSaladChickTigerTown/ to learn more about the progress, and to find out the official grand opening date. Chicken Salad Chick will be hosting a big celebration all week long, with hundreds of guests earning free chicken salad for a year on opening day. More details will be announced later

this Summer.

About Chicken Salad Chick Founded in Auburn in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart.

With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick’s robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest.

Today, the brand has 119 restaurants

in 13 states and is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations.

Chicken Salad Chick has received numerous accolades including rankings in Franchise Times’ Fast & Serious in 2019, Fast Casual.com’s top Movers and Shakers, Nation’s Restaurant News’ Next 20 in 2017 and Inc.’s list of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the U.S. in 2016.

See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information.

the bride and groom?)

– all with that same expression, as if they have forgotten how to smile.

Halfway through the box, however, is a photograph that makes me pause. It is a portrait of a young girl, maybe in her early teens, with brunette waves and a bow in her hair. Her head is tilted down, and she is looking up at the camera. Smiling. No somber expression, but a genuine smile.

It’s her eyes, though, that make me draw my hand back and gasp. Her eyes look so familiar. I’ve seen that face before. In the corner of the photo, someone has written simply “Vivian.”

Beneath it is another photo of the same girl, Vivian, with a younger girl, both wearing white dresses and holding a bouquet of flowers.

The back reads, “Vivian and Susie.” And yet another photo of the same two girls, this time several years older, and both wearing long black clothes and no hint of a smile.

The caption on the back reads, “Vivian and Susie, in memory of Sissy, November 1921.”

I leaf through the

rest of the stack, hoping for more. And there, at the bottom of the box, is one more portrait of Vivian.

This time she is sitting with a book in her hands, seemingly unaware of the photographer, completely lost in what she is reading. I turn the picture over and read, “Vivian, our little reader and writer, September 24, 1917, 14th birthday.”

We share the same birthday, more than half a century apart.

My best friend walks up behind me and leans over to see what has my attention.

“Hey,” he says, “That looks like you.”

And it does. The eyes, the shape of the chin, the hair… it’s like looking at a slightly different version of myself, in Victorian clothes and so many decades away.

“She was a reader and a writer, just like you,” he says quietly.

And then he picks up the box of photos and approaches the older lady behind a card table who is handling all the transactions.

“We’ll take the whole box,” he says.

As we drive away, he with his screwdrivers and flashlights, and me with my box

of photos, I hold the birthday photo of Vivian in my hand and wonder. What was her favorite book?

Did she write about her life or did she make up fantasy stories to entertain her younger sister? Was she happy? Did she grow up and become everything she wanted to be?

“You want to know her whole story, don’t you?” my best friend asks.

“Yes,” I answer with a sigh. “But I never will.”

“That’s okay. It’s enough that you see her now.” My best friend is a very wise person.

So as this Saturday ends, Vivian’s photo is framed and sitting next to my vintage typewriter and my gentleman’s pocket dictionary. And she will watch as I write my stories. And, yes, that is enough.

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

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

city of Opelika. “The reason this wonderful program exists is because of forward-thinking leaders at this table,” said Bush, referencing the table reserved for the community leaders who support the program. “I think it is very inspiring to see an older generation of leadership focusing on the leaders of tomorrow.”

An Applied Educational Experience On their website, the Opelika Chamber of Commerce encourages young local professionals who are passionate about Opelika to apply to the program. The 20 Under 40 web page states, “You will be encouraged to think outside the box, and you will be challenged to think of ways to make our city better and improve the quality of life.”

The program enables

Jackson,

from A4 from Louisiana who asked his senator, “How do I go about getting my Citizen Papers?” It seems he had always thought he was natural-born American, “but the family doctor told me I wasn’t natural born but a forseps case.”

Wonder how many of our legislators are caesarean deliveries? Should we check?

And like today, there was considerable concern about the time Congress was wasting.

A correspondent who signed himself “a taxpayer” wrote Sen. Harley Kilgore of hearing that Congress was filibustering.

“Do they get paid for this or do it on their own time?”

Good question.

And it seemed to one writer that all congress did was set up investigating committees.

“As a taxpayer,” he wrote, “I now demand that there should be an overall Investigating Committee invested with Authority to investigate Investigating Committees and their Investigations.”

Not everyone was upset with the investigating. Some folks wanted to get in on the action.

One lady wrote her congressman that she had heard from a friend who worked for one of the committees “that they’re having fun investigating all the National figures.”

Since she was “five feet ten and have what I think is a very nice figure” she wanted “to come to Washington and be investigated

participants to learn more about various perspectives and aspects of community development, including the benefits of living and working in Opelika and the needs of the community as a whole, as was observed

by Alex Sumrall.

Bush found the insights into the perspectives of various community leaders to be informative and inspiring. “The program puts you in the front seat of day to day operations of these leaders and organizations,” Bush said. “This transparency is a vehicle to encourage future leaders for the City of Opelika.”

The full list of this year’s 20 Under 40 Graduates, as well as information on how to apply for the program, can be found on at www. opelikachamber.com/20under-40. too.”

If you think all this talk about how to define “personhood” is new, consider this from a woman who had been hearing “about all this new-fangled stuff they are doing with artificial insemination to make women pregnant.”

Concerned, she wrote “Please you should pass a law to stop this – the old way was so nice.”

And so it was that I learned that the current opinion of Congress is nothing new.

“What requirements do you have to have to be a Congressman?” a disgruntled voter wrote. “My wife says I’m fool enough to be one.”

“Please let me know,” another wrote, “one good thing Congress did besides adjourning?”

A man of few words wrote simply “Dear sir, You Cur.” A citizen of Alabama wrote her congressman “I know I can only vote for one candidate, but how many can I vote against?”

Another wrote with a suggestion.

“I ask you as one of your constitutents and as an american citizen that you do all you can to convince your colleagues to do the same.”

However, the one that best expressed my sentiments was this: “How many members compromise the House of Representatives?”

Not many by my count.

Harvey H. (“Hardy”) Jackson is Professor Emeritus of History at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hjackson@jsu.edu.

Brooke Watson

James Bush

James Ham

Jessica Segrest

Opelika E vents, Society, & Food

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: • May 22 - Noon Tunes • May 24-26 - Opelika Songwriter’s Festival •May 31 - Callaghan at Sundilla • June 1 - Burger Wars/Touch-a-Truck • June 1 - Puzzle Palooza • June 15 - Brent Cobb at Standard Deluxe

Plan menus with plenty of good food for Memorial Day weekend Ann Cipperly’s

Southern

Hospitality

W

hile Memorial Day generally signals the beginning of summer, it was set aside as a day to honor the men and women who have given their lives serving our country. As you plan your menu and activities for the weekend with family and friends, take time to remember those who paid the price for our freedom.

In Opelika, a Memorial Day service will be held May 27 at 10 a.m. at city hall, with speaker U.S. Army Veteran Maj. Douglas Barrett. A reception

will follow at the Museum of East Alabama in downtown Opelika.

A few years ago, Don and I visited the memorials in Washington, D.C., including the National World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. At the Vietnam Memorial Wall, it was emotional for some as they found the name of their loved one. Being there was a humbling experience.

The National World War II Memorial honors the 16 million men and women who

served, with more than 400,000 losing their lives. Each year, more than 300 Honor Flights take veterans to the memorials.

While in Washington, we also toured Arlington National Cemetery. The massive number of white crosses throughout the 624-acres was striking and haunting.

Many in our family have served. We have been blessed they came home, although there were close calls.

One of Don’s brothers was in a helicopter when he reached for something on the floor

Photo by Ann Cipperly For a special entrée this weekend, try Tony’s Rib Roast with Garlic Herb Butter. If you don’t have a temperature control grill, the roast can be cooked in an oven. Be sure to check internal temperature for desired doneness and to assure not overcooking.

and as he raised up, he saw a bullet hole where he was sitting.

During World War II, my father went with his friend Robert Brown of Opelika to join the Army on the Buddy Plan. My father was turned down because of a childhood injury. Brown served and was killed.

I always thought my father would have been lost too being by his friend’s side.

I remember the sadness when Dale Hilyer

British singer Callaghan to make Sundilla debut May 31 Special to the Opelika Observer

British singer Callaghan will make her Sundilla debut on May 31.

Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Callaghan moved to the United State in summer 2010 to record and tour with Grammy nominee Shawn Mullins. In August 2018, she released her third studio album, which was recorded in Los Angeles.

Playing piano and guitar, Callaghan offers a stunning voice which

earns frequent comparisons with artists like Sarah McLachlan and Emmy Lou Harris. Her songwriting chronicles the stories, experiences and emotions which are part of everyone’s lives.

A long-time fan of Mullins’ music, she contacted the Atlanta singer-songwriter online. After being impressed by her sound and voice, he agreed to produce her debut album.

Life in Full Colour was tracked in and around Atlanta and re-

Callaghan leased in summer 2012 to a great reaction. The Huffington Post called the album “joyful listening” and Mullins described Callaghan as "a voice the whole world

needs to hear.”

Since then, Callaghan's been constantly on the road building her audience and headlining shows across the country.

Reviewing Callaghan live No Depression says “her extraordinary voice truly sets the music apart...nothing short of stunning.” This summer her live shows have included a date opening for James Taylor and Paul Simon in London’s Hyde Park.

Callaghan’s secSee Callaghan, page A9

of Opelika was killed in Vietnam, and recall the concern when my aunt’s brother-in-law, Col. David Hamilton, was missing in action in Vietnam. After many years, Hamilton’s body was found and buried at Arlington.

Don served in the Marine Corps, and we currently have four family members who serve or are married to someone who serves.

Two of those are expecting to go to South

Korea.

On a trip to Washington, D.C., we stayed at the RitzCarlton at Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia. From the window in our room, we had a clear view of the Pentagon. We could only imagine how those felt who were looking out the windows on 9/11 after the plane flew into the Pentagon.

While we are lookSee Cipperly, page A9

Lutzie 43 Foundation hosted annual golf invitational May 9 Special to the Opelika Observer Mike Lutzenkirchen and board members of the Lutzie 43 Foundation hosted the foundation’s annual golf invitational as a fundraising event and fellowship opportunity. The board also met for its annual meeting to discuss the direction of the foundation for the next year.

On May 9, teams

competed in an 18hole scramble style golf tournament.

Each team played one hole with celebrity guests Emma Talley and Paul Johnson.

Gus Malzahn, Allen Greene, Tim Hudson and other celebrity guests enjoyed rounds of golf on Pursell Farms’ FarmLinks course.

“It means a lot to me and my family to have both friends See Lutzie, page A9

Monday-Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM

A8 May 22, 2019

pelika Observer O

O Grows Farmer Market open Tuesdays during the summer from 3 to 6 p.m.

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer An abundance of fresh fruit and produce was available on opening day of the O Grows Farmer’s Market was last Tuesday. From now until late August, area farmers and growers will sell their produce from 3 to 6 p.m. in the grassy lot across the street from the Southside Center for the Performing Arts, which is located at 1103 Glenn St. For more information, like and follow the O Grows Facebook page.

& Flea Mall

VINTAGE PINBALL MACHINE

334-528-6191

www.eamcfoundation.org

Contact: Amy Thomas Amy.Thomas@eamc.org

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pelika O Observer Lutzie,

from A7

and strangers here to support the Lutzie 43 Foundation and Philip’s legacy,” said Mike Lutzenkirchen, Philip’s father and foundation’s executive director. “To see the support and the fellowship that happens at this event is something special. I know Philip was with us today and is proud of the work we are doing.”

After golf, guests gathered for a dinner presentation, which

Cipperly,

from A7

ing forward to a long weekend to be with family, we will be aware of the reason for Memorial Day. Formerly known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day originated during the Civil War to commemorate the soldiers who died. The name changed to “Memorial Day” in 1882.

The day of remembering lost soldiers was observed more after World War II. While May 30 became an of-

coach, traditions, best practices and their opinions on the upcoming year.

“It means the world to me to be here,” said Auburn head football coach Gus Malzahn.

“Philip was a joy to coach. He’s actually the first player I recruited when I got to Auburn as a coordinator, and he was always so happy and positive. He never had a bad day.”

This year’s event raised more than $100,000 in support of the Lutzie 43 Foundation and the foundation’s 43 Key Seconds

included presentations from the foundation’s scholarship recipients and a fireside chat with celebrity guests. This year, the Lutzie 43 Foundation awarded 11 $4,300 Prepared for Life (PFL) Scholarships. One scholarship recipient, Morgan Sisk of Auburn University, attended the dinner and gave a presentation about what the scholarship meant to her.

The fireside chat included Rece Davis, Gus Malzahn and Paul Johnson. They spoke about what it is like to be a head football ficial holiday in 1967, it was moved to the last Monday in May in 1968 to become a three-day weekend.

Look over the following recipes from local cooks and assemble menus for the weekend to have plenty of good food to serve. As you relax and enjoy time with family and friends, take time to reflect and honor those who fought and gave it all for our country to continue to have freedom.

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

See Recipes, page A11

A9 May 22, 2019

Safe Driving Initiative.

The 43 Key Seconds initiative aims to create the first nationallyrecognized symbol for distracted and impaired driving awareness and prevention.

“I have a 17-year-old and she’s a pretty safe driver, but all it takes is one second of lack of concentration and awareness of what’s going on for there to be a catastrophe. Philip’s story is a prime example of that,” said former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson.

The Lutzie 43 Foundation is grateful for

Sundilla,

from A7

ond studio album, A History of Now, was recorded in Nashville and earned praise on both sides of the pond. In the United Kingdom, BBC Radio put three singles into rotation and in the United States, Daytrotter and Sirius XM's Coffee House station both featured her live in-session.

The latest chapter of Callaghan's journey in the United States has taken her to Los

Angeles to collaborate with producers Starr Parodi and Jeff Eden Fair who work at the pinnacle of the movie soundtrack industry and Anthony Resta who has previously produced albums for Blondie, Duran Duran and Elton John.

Together they have produced Callaghan’s latest album simply called ‘Callaghan.’

The new tracks and location have continued to evolve Callaghan’s sound; taking her music in a more pop direction, while retaining the honest emotions of the singer songwriter

another successful golf invitational and is looking forward to next year’s event.

About the Foundation: The Lutzie 43 Foundation aims to encourage and empower young people to be positive ambassadors for safe driving through character development, mentorship and realworld application. The Lutzie 43 Foundation was established in loving memory of former Auburn football player Philip Lutzenkirchen, shortly after he lost his life in a car accident in

2014. In his memory, the foundation’s 43 Key Seconds safe driving initiate aims to create the first nationallyrecognized symbol for distracted and impaired driving awareness and prevention. The foundation’s motto for youth is to “Live like Lutz, Love like Lutz, and Learn from Lutz,” reflecting its desire to help others live out the many positive character attributes that Philip displayed while learning from the circumstances that led to his death.

For more information, visit lutzie43.org.

and all delivered with Callaghan's soaring, beautiful voice.

Showtime at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is set for 7:30 p.m.. Advance tickets are $15 and are available at Spicer’s Music, World Cup Coffee and online at sundillamusic.com. Admission at

the door will be $20.

Free coffee, tea, water and food will be available, and attendees are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage they prefer.

For more information, go to www. sundillamusic.com.

The venue is located at 450 E. Thach Ave. in Auburn.

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Opelika Charitable Giving Facts As the economy improves and confidence grows, charitable giving is making a comeback. Now could be a good time to evaluate giving and consider new ways to support the causes that you care about.

REASONS FOR GIVING A desire to be philanthropic, to create a legacy, sense of moral duty Tax minimization, asset management, estate planning Serving Retirees • families • small business Owners • Nonprofits • Individuals

Financial planning for today, for tomorrow, for life.

208 South 8th Street Opelika, AL 36801 www.investopelika.com Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Railroad Investment group is not a registered broker dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Inc., member FDIC/SIPC.

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Call us today to discuss your charitable giving strategy Raymond James financial advisors do not render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professionals.

Located in Historic Downtown Opelika

334-745-4618

pelika O Observer Recipes,

from A9 Peach Fizz Jenny Clary This is a refreshing summertime drink.

1 pint fresh chopped peaches, sweetened 1½ cups cold pineapple juice 1 Tbsp. lemon or lime juice 2 cups ice cubes 1 cup cold ginger ale Place fresh peaches in a blender; add pineapple juice and lime juice.

Blend until peaches are broken up. Add ice and blend to a thick icy consistency. Add ginger ale and blend.

Makes 6 cups.

Caramelized Vidalia Onion Spread 2 Tbsp. butter or margarine 3 large Vidalia onions, chopped 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese 2 cups mayonnaise 1 garlic clove, minced Tortilla chips or crackers Melt butter in skillet over medium-high heat.

Add onion; sauté about 10 minutes or until caramelized or golden brown.

Stir together cheese, mayonnaise and garlic; add onions. Spoon into a greased baking dish.

Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Let sit about 10 minutes before serving with chips or crackers.

Simple Grilled Vegetables Emma Jane Hunt This simple side is a great way to round out any meal and take advantage of the summer’s best produce.

1 eggplant 2 zucchini 2 yellow squash Extra virgin olive oil 4-6 leaves of fresh basil, cut into thin ribbons Cut all vegetables length-wise into thin slices, about ¼ inch thick.

On a well-oiled grill (a grill pan also works great), cook vegetables for 2-4 minutes per side.

Adjust cooking time for how crisp or soft you like vegetables.

Place cooked vegetables on a plate and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with basil.

Daddy’s BBQ Boston Butt Tony Johnson 2-3 lbs. Boston Butt 3 tsp. brown sugar 1 tsp. garlic salt 1 Tbsp. smoked chili powder 3 tsp. apple cider vinegar 3 tsp. butter Rinse off Boston Butt, then pat dry with paper towels. Place meat on large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Sprinkle dry ingredients evenly, pull up sides of foil, add vinegar and butter to bottom of meat. Roll up and seal edges of foil tightly.

Lay another large sheet of foil to double wrap

meat; seal tightly.

Place in 9 by 13inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 4 to 5 hours.

Remove from oven and let sit for 30 minutes. Open foil and remove meat to large bowl; pull apart with forks.

Serve on buns with your favorite barbecue sauce.

Tony’s Rib Roast with Garlic Herb Butter 1 cup butter, softened 7 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped 2 Tbsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped 2 Tbsp. salt 1 Tbsp. pepper 5-7 pound boneless ribeye roast, trimmed Mix together the butter, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper in a bowl until evenly combined.

Rub the herb butter all over the rib roast.

Oven Method: Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Place rib roast on a roasting pan with a rack.

Bake for 5 minutes per pound of meat. A 5-pound roast would bake for 25 minutes, and a 7-pound roast would bake for 35 minutes.

Turn off the heat and let the rib roast sit in the oven for 2 hours, making sure you do not open the oven door or else the residual heat will escape.

Once the 2 hours are up, remove the roast from the pan. Let roast rest for about 15 minutes before carving.

Use pan drippings to make gravy, if desired.

Grill Method: In a grill with controlled temperature (Green Egg or Kamado-Joe) set the temperature for 275 degrees. Cook a 7 to 8 lb. roast for about 4 hours, checking internal temperature of roast after 3 to 3 and a half hours. For medium rare, temperature should be 130-135 degrees F. Rule of thumb is to remove roast at 120-125 degrees F. and allow to rest about 20 minutes loosely covered with foil. This allows the meat to rise a few degrees.

Creamy Grape Salad Gayle Harper Always popular for gatherings.

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened 1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream 1/3 cup sugar 2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 lb. seedless green grapes 2 lb. seedless red grapes 3 Tbsp. brown sugar 3 Tbsp. chopped pecans In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla until blended.

Add grapes and toss to coat. Transfer to a

serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Sprinkle with brown sugar and pecans just before serving.

Green Beans with Vinaigrette Kelli Duncan 2 lb. green beans, stem ends trimmed 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp. white-wine vinegar 1 tsp. Dijon mustard 1 tsp. coarse salt 1/4 tsp. ground pepper Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a large pot fitted with a steamer basket. Fill a large bowl with ice water; set aside.

Place green beans, stem ends trimmed, in basket. Cover; steam until crisp-tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Plunge beans in ice water. When cool, drain; pat dry with paper towels. Transfer to a large bowl.

In a small bowl or jar, whisk or shake extra-virgin olive oil, white-wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, coarse salt and ground pepper until thickened and combined. Pour over beans; toss to coat.

To make ahead (up to one day), steam beans and make the dressing; refrigerate separately, covered. Up to one hour before serving, toss beans with dressing, and keep at room temperature. Serves 8.

Baked or Grilled Marinated Ham Slices Katy Melton 6-10 ham slices, cut ½ inch thick 1 cup ginger ale 1 cup orange juice ½ cup brown sugar ½ tsp. ground cloves 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil 1 Tbsp. wine vinegar 2 tsp. dry mustard 3/4 tsp. ground ginger Combine all ingredients. Pour over ham slices, cover and marinate overnight.

Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or on the grill for about 5 minutes on each side, basting with marinade.

Lime Frosted Angel Food Cake Pat Fox 1 angel food cake 1 can sweetened condensed milk, chilled ½ cup lime juice 2 tsp. lime zest 1 small container Cool Whip 1 pkg. flaked coconut, optional Beat sweetened condensed milk; add lime juice and zest; continue beating. Fold in Cool Whip. Slice angel food cake in half. Spread frosting between layers and cover the cake.

Sprinkle with coconut, if desired.

Hearty Baked Beans Ann Gore ½ lb. ground beef 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped 1 medium onion,

chopped ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp. pepper Brown above ingredients in a small amount of olive oil and drain well.

3-4 slices bacon, chopped and cooked until crisp in about 1 tsp. olive oil (do not drain).

Add to deep skillet or Dutch oven: Browned ground beef mixture 1 large can pork & beans ½ cup Heinz catsup 2 Tbsp. yellow mustard 1/3 cup dark brown sugar Taste and add additional catsup and/or brown sugar if desired and cook over low heat for about 30 minutes.

If desired, you can bake in oven for about 30 minutes rather than on stove top.

Mama’s Famous Chocolate Pound Cake with Fudge Icing Jennifer Roach ½ lb. butter, softened ½ cup Crisco 3 cups sugar 6 eggs 3 cups Swans Down cake flour ½ tsp. baking powder 4 tsp. cocoa 1 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla Cream butter and Crisco. Add sugar and eggs. Sift dry ingredients. Add alternately with milk. Add vanilla.

Bake in greased Bundt (or pound cake) pan at 325 for about 1 hour and 20 minutes until it tests done.

Fudge Icing 2 cups sugar ½ cup milk ¼ tsp. salt ¼ cup white Karo syrup 2 heaping serving spoons cocoa (enough to make it dark) 1 stick butter 1 tsp. vanilla Mix all except vanilla in boiler over low heat until butter is melted.

Stirring constantly, let it come to boil for two minutes. Remove boiler from heat and beat until lukewarm and “thicklike.” Add vanilla and beat until thick enough to spread.

Spread icing onto cake. It is especially important to allow a lot of the icing to flow over into the hole in the center of the cake. That’s what makes it famous.

Cheesy Garlic Bread Gayle Harper 1½ cups mayonnaise 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup thinly sliced green onions with tops 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 loaf French bread (about 20 inches), halved lengthwise 1/3 cup minced fresh parsley, optional Paprika, optional Mix mayonnaise, cheese, onions and garlic; spread on bread halves. If desired, sprinkle with parsley and paprika. Wrap each half in foil. Refriger-

A11 May 22, 2019 ate for 1-2 hours or freeze.

Unwrap and place on a baking sheet.

Bake at 400 for 8-10 minutes (20-25 minutes, if frozen) or until puffed but not brown. Cut into slices.

Squash Soufflé Casserole Tony Johnson 2 cups squash, sliced 1 small onion, chopped 2 eggs, beaten ½ cup mayonnaise 1½ cups sharp Cheddar cheese, grated Salt and pepper to taste ½ cup margarine 1½ cups saltine crackers, crushed Cook squash with chopped onion; drain.

Add remaining ingredients except margarine and crackers.

Beat squash mixture with electric mixer until only slightly lumpy.

Pour into 2-quart baking dish.

Brown cracker crumbs in margarine in skillet until lightly brown. Sprinkle crumbs on top of squash. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Center should be firm.

Can be done ahead and refrigerated, then baked before serving.

Banana Pudding Kelli Duncan 2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies 6 to 8 bananas, sliced 2 cups milk 1 (5-oz.) box instant French vanilla pudding 1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 1 (12-oz.) container Cool Whip or equal amount sweetened whipped cream Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.

In a bowl, combine milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer.

Using another bowl, combine cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth.

Fold whipped topping into cream cheese mixture. Add cream cheese mixture to pudding mixture and stir until well blended.

Pour mixture over cookies and bananas and cover with remaining cookies.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Chocolate Chip Cake Katy Leonard 4 eggs 1 cup sour cream 2/3 cup vegetable oil 1 box Duncan Hines Butter Recipe Golden cake mix

3.9 oz. pkg. chocolate instant pudding 6 oz. (about half of a package) milk chocolate chips Powdered sugar Mix eggs, sour cream and oil; add all other ingredients except chocolate chips. Beat until well blended; fold in chocolate chips by hand. Bake in a greased and floured Bundt cake pan at 350 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes. Let cake cool completely; lightly sift powdered sugar over top and sides of cake.

Stacked Salad Katy Melton Lettuce Le Sueur green peas Bacon bits Fresh mushrooms, sliced Mayonnaise Grated Swiss cheese Green or red onions, diced Celery, sliced Day before serving: In a bowl large enough for number of people you are serving, place a layer (about 1-1 ½ inch thick) of lettuce that has been washed and torn into bite size pieces.

Over this spread a layer of mayonnaise, sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper, layer of mushrooms, then celery, then onions, peas, bacon bits and cheese. Repeat at least twice or up to as many layers as needed.

Finish with mayonnaise and garnish with bacon curls, parsley, mushrooms or any other garnish.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Food Ratings Jersey Mike’s Subs 2336 Tigertown Parkway Opelika Score: 100 Subway 2388 Lee Road 430 Smiths Station Score: 100 Marble Slab Creamery 2340 Tigertown Parkway Opelika Score: 99 Subway 2101 Frederick Road Opelika Score: 99 Dairy Queen 2019 Pepperell Parkway Opelika Score: 99 Chipotle 2125 Interstate Drive Opelika Score: 98 Jack’s 1645 S. College St. Auburn Score: 98 Shrimp Basket 1651 S. College St. Auburn Score: 98

Opelika

A12

Family & Religion

May 22, 2019

Why did God create man?

G

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

od created man to bless him— fully, richly and deeply! In the creation account, we hear words like blessed, fruitful, fill, subdue, rule over and I give all made in reference to him (Genesis 1:28-29).

The highest expression of his favor lies in the fact that he is made to be an image-bearer of the Trinity (v. 27). Man may choose something less for himself, but it is his choice, not God’s!

God placed him in a world that was “good” (seven times in Genesis 1) to exercise dominion over creation in a way that reflected God’s faithful love. He didn’t create ghettos or gulags.

There were no oncology wards, palliative care units or pediatric diseases. There were no

carcinogens, pollutants or hazardous wastes.

There were no oppressive rulers, corrupt governments or systemic evils. Everything was as pure and fresh as a newborn baby.

Genesis 3-11 is one long record that tells us what happened. In a few words, sin broke out in paradise (McGuiggan).

It didn’t happen in a labor camp, a slum, or a sweatshop—it started in a perfect place. And then it happened again and again and again.

Adam and Eve defied God, Cain killed Abel, the world of Noah’s time engaged in wholesale rebellion as did the people of Babel. It is all different chapters of the same story: man turning his back on his Creator and going his own way.

It was so bad that God

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

was sorry He had made humans because this was not what He made them to be. He purposed to restart the human race with Noah and his family (6:6-8). But even with that, it wasn’t long until man was right back in rebellion.

Just when it looks like impenetrable gloom and doom for humanity, God blesses a man named Abraham.

He promises to make of him a nation, give him a land and “all

Church calendar

• Pepperell Baptist’s youth program meets on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. This is an evening of prayer, Bible Study, and discussion. For more information, contact youth and children’s pastor Ryno Jones if you need more information at 334-745-3108.

• Registration for Farmville Baptist Church’s First Steps Preschool program for fall 2019 is now open to the public. For more information or to register, call 334-887-7361 or visit them at 3607 Alabama Highway 147 N. in Auburn.

•Tenth Street Church of Christ will be holding their Vacation Bible School June 2 to 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. This year’s theme is Marooned

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

ANGLICAN Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd 1311 Second Ave. #758-6749 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Bridge Church 1000 Lee Road 263, Cusseta #742-0144 AME Mount Zion AME Church West Point Hwy #749-3916 St. Luke AME Church 1308 Auburn St. #749-1690 St. Paul AME Church 713 Powledge Ave. #745-6279 Thompson Chapel AME Zion 187 Columbus Pkwy #749-8676 BAPTIST Abundant Life Baptist Church 1220 Fox Run Ave. Suite B #7064421464 Airview Baptist Church 2301 Airport Rd. #745-6670 Antioch Baptist Church 605 W. East Morton Ave #742-0696 Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St. #745-7528 Bethel Baptist Church Hwy. 29 Sasser Rd #745-4865 Central Baptist Church 1611 2nd Ave. #745-2482 Community Baptist Church 154 N. 16th St. #745-6552 Cornerstone Missionary Baptist 500 N. Railroad Ave. #742-2008 Eastview Baptist Church 1208 Spring Dr #749-9595 Farmville Baptist Church 3607 Alabama Hwy N. #887-7361 First Baptist Church of Opelika

- Steady Faith in Shifting Sands. Children from ages 4 to sixth grade are welcome to attend. For more information, call 334-745-5181. The church is located at 500 N. 10th St. •First Baptist Church of Opelika will hold their Vacation Bible School June 10 to 13. This year’s theme is “In the Wild: Amazing Encounters with Jesus” which is taken from John 20:31. Children from ages 4 to sixth grade are welcome to attend. For more information, call 334-745-5715. The church is located at 301 S. 8th St. Events can be emailed to the Observer at editor@opelikaobserver.com.

314 S. 9th St. #745-6143 First Baptist Church 301 S. 8th St. #745-5715 First Baptist Church Impact 709 Avenue E #741-0624 First Freewill Baptist Church 103 19th St. #703-3333 Friendship Missionary Baptist 432 Maple Avenue #742-0105 Greater Peace Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave. #749-9487 Heritage Baptist Church 1103 Glenn St. #363-8943 High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 Liberty Baptist Church 2701 West Point Pkwy #749-9632 Love Freewill Baptist Church 1113 Frederick Ave. #745-2905 Ridge Grove Missionary Baptist Church 1098 Lee Road 155 #334-745-3600 Northside Baptist Church 3001 Lafayette Hwy #745-5340 Pepperell Baptist Church 2702 2nd Ave. #745-3108 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Uniroyal Rd #749-2773 Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Rd 166 #745-0807 Purpose Baptist Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #704-0302 St. James Baptist Church 1335 Auburn St. #745-3224 Union Grove Missionary Baptist 908 Huguley Rd #741-7770 BUDDHIST Buddha Heart Village 3170 Sandhill Rd. #821-7238

Fresh Foods...And A Whole Lot More!

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

people on earth will be blessed through you” (12:3). Who said that to Abraham? It was our Father. The One whom all creation had sinned against and rejected. Though man had been unfaithful to God, God remained faithful and committed to His purpose to bless man for He can do no less (2 Timothy 2:13).

Throughout Genesis we find God stating His intent to bless the whole world through the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (22:16-18, 26:35, 28:14-15).

In his gospel, John will show Jesus picking up this very theme.

When He says He has come that we “may have life and have it to the full” (10:10), He’s doing more than contrasting Himself with

the spiritual predators of that time—He’s letting us know that God’s creation purposes to bless humanity are being fulfilled in Him. Later He says, “Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (17:3). And John will conclude his gospel by telling us the he wrote what he did “that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (20:30-31).

If we want to know the heart of God, it makes sense to begin where the biblical witness does.

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

Verse of the Week “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness..”

Colossians 2:6-7

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

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

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

pelika O Observer Fellowship of Faith Christian Center to host Bishop Paul, Debra B. Morton Special to the Opelika Observer Pastor Alzata Florence and the Fellowship of Faith Christian center will host Bishop Paul and Debra B. Morton May 25 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Debra is an acclaimed author and CEO and is promoting her new book "Beyond the Storm." Paul is a well-known recording artist, known best for his song "Open the Floodgates of Heaven."

There will be a breakfast preceding Debra's talk, followed by a book signing for her latest release.

For more information or

Bishop Paul Morton to purchase tickets, which are $25 each, call Pastor Alzata Florence at 334-7033043. The center is located at 601 S. 7th St.

A13 May 22, 2019

Letter to the editor: Local cemeteries not being kept up Have you had a reason to go to any of the local cemeteries? Lost a friend or loved one lately? Maybe you should take a tour of these historic sites and see how they look and what shape the grounds are kept.

There are only 3 or 4 employees to maintain 3 cemeteries. They don’t have proper equipment and when something breaks down it isn’t replaced. They don’t even own a push mower at Rosemary where there are slab markers and a lot of markers to cut around. All they have are weed eaters and summer hasn’t even started yet.

I have 4 lots, 3 in Garden

Hills and 1 in Rosemary.

There was a time you could work on your own lots, but the City of Opelika stopped that and now I have reached an age I am not longer able.

This week when I went to Rosemary to take Mother’s Day flowers, weeds were whacked off that were knee high and clumps of grass clippings were scattered on my lot in uneven mounds.

Some lots were not cut and still had high grass.

What is the problem and where is the tax money and budget for cemeteries to be kept up? It is common knowledge that someone left a substantial amount of money to the city to keep up

Rosemary since it is a historical site, but it certainly doesn’t appear it is being used in the manner he allocated. What has happened and where is the money?

Is this the respect we show to our relatives or friends and the round they are buried on?

A further ride down to our sister city and their cemeteries look very well kept and even have flower paved entrances. Maybe we need to get some pointers from them in how they manage to keep theirs so well maintained.

Sincerely, Evelyn Edge Opelika

OBITUARIES Ralph W. Leininger, Jr. Ralph W. Leininger, Jr. of Opelika was born to the late Ralph W. and Dorothy H. Leininger on April 20, 1942 and passed away at his home on May 14, 2019.

He was 77 years old.

He is survived by his children, Lisa Robertson, Michael Leininger, and Kelly Leininger; grandchildren, Steven Bowens, Demi Robertson, Breanna Leininger, and Jonathan Leininger; great grandchild, Maxwell Bowens; siblings, Dot Anderson, Rick Leininger, Gloria Scudamore.

Ralph’s wishes were to be cremated and the family received friends in the Parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home Friday, May 17, 2019 from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. CDT. Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.

Arthur “Art” Davis Flynn Arthur "Art" Davis Flynn of Opelika was born to the late Gertrude Irma Flynn and Matthew Davis Flynn in Sulligent, Alabama on September 8, 1930 and passed away on May 16, 2019. He was 88 years old.

He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. He proudly served as a Captain in the United States Navy and later was a Medical Ento-

Lynn Waldrep Mrs. Lynn Waldrep, 52, of Opelika born June 25, 1966, passed away May 16, 2019 at East Alabama Medical Center. A funeral service was held at 2 p.m, May 18, 2019 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory, Reverend Henry Dawson officiated, and visitation was May 17, 2019 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Mrs. Waldrep is survived by her husband Robert Waldrep; daughters: Mandy (Jeremy) Prince, Samantha (Ben) Rosario; grandchildren: Aubrie, Jacob, William and Sarah; mother: Martha Bentley; brother: Wayne Bentley; sister: Patricia Bailey.

She was a native of Lee County and a member of Grace Baptist Church.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed. mologist for the CDC in Savannah and then Atlanta, Georgia. He has three book in the Library of Congress as well numerous U.S. Patents.

He was preceded in death by his son, Arthur David Flynn; sonin-law, C.J. Singler.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Virgie Ann Flynn ; daughter, Cynthia Flynn Singler; grandson, Cory Davis Singler; brothers, Billy Flynn, Larry Flynn, as well as numerous, nieces,

Clara Johnson Funeral service for Clara Johnson, 86, of Salem, AL, was at 12:00 noon (CST), Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at Nazareth Missionary Baptist Church, 4454 Lee Road 166, Opelika, AL 36804 with interment in the church cemetery, Reverend S. Dewayne Drakeford officiated.

Mrs. Johnson, who passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Southeast Health Care Center in Dothan, Alabama, was born April 9, 1933 in Lee County, Alabama.

Public viewing was be Monday, May 20, 2019, from 1:00 p.m.

– 7:00 p.m. Order of Eastern Star had their burial rites ceremony from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Mrs. Johnson will lie in repose at the church one hour nephews, cousins, and other family members.

Visitation was held Sunday, May 19, 2019 in the Parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m.

A funeral service was held at Trinity United Methodist Church Monday, May 20, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Earl Ballard officiating.

Interment followed at Garden Hills Cemetery.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.

prior to the service.

Survivors include: one daughter, Barbara Johnson of Salem, AL; three grandchildren, Calvin Taurez (Danielle) Fears of Toledo, OH, Kashaka Williams of Camp Hill, AL and Melanie White of Opelika, AL; seven great grandchildren, Jarren Fears, Shyranez Fears both of Baton Rouge, LA, Jordan Harper, Jade White both of Opelika, AL, Raquan Williams, Timothy Williams and Keyora Cochran all of Camp Hill, AL; one sister, Margret Jones of Phenix City, AL; three sisters-in-law, Margie Fears, Mavis Melton and Armetta Johnson all of Opelika, AL; two god-sons, Kaleb Florence and Chris (Rita) Harman both of Opelika, AL; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Ray Lockhart Funeral service for Ray Lockhart, 65, of Opelika, AL, was at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 18, 2019, at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 605 W.E. Morton Avenue, Opelika, AL 36801 with interment in Mount Travelers Baptist Church Cemetery, Reverend Jerry Dowdell officiated.

Mr. Lockhart, who passed away Friday, May 10, 2019 at his home in Opelika, AL, was born January 16, 1954 in Lee County, Alabama.

Public viewing was Friday, May 17, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Mr. Lockhart lay in repose at the church one hour prior to the service.

Survivors include: one daughter, Tasha Thomas of Auburn, AL; four grandchildren, Sandrika Thomas, Jaquavis Thomas, India Jennings and Christasha

Dr. Laura Ann Forest (LA) Dr. Laura Ann Forest (LA) of Opelika Alabama passed unexpectedly on May 7, 2019.

Born in Brunswick Maine in 1961. She spent her time traveling the world and creating a better life for others.

Her final career as the Registrar for Auburn University made her life whole as she mentored students, lead her staff to success and humbly accepted the title of Auburn’s favorite teacher named by her students.

She was a life force of sup-

Jennings all of Auburn, AL; two great grandchildren, Aliyah Tolbert and Jarvis Thomas both of Auburn, AL; four sisters, Annie Jean Gunn, Eva Palmer, Annie Florence Gunn all of Opelika, AL and Diane Ambus of Auburn, AL; two brothers, Otis (Barbara) Lockhart of Opelika, AL and Robert Lewis (Nancy) Lockhart of Salem, AL; four aunts, Lois Jean Pennyamon of Camp Hill, AL, Ruby Nell Lewis, Carrie Dale Maddox both of Opelika, AL and Lela Mae Lewis of Atlanta, GA; one uncle, Richard Lewis (Mattie) Maddox of Opelika, AL; a devoted niece, Teresa Hogan; devoted nephew, Gregory (LaTeshia) Cannon; special great-great niece, Kaylei Cummings; devoted cousin, James Thomas; devoted friend, Chris Howard; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

port for her family, friends and all of her students. LA left a little bit of sparkle where ever she went.

LA’s wish was to celebrate her life with a party, not a funeral. This will be announced at a later date.

In her words: Always give a child a reason to smile, pet a dog whenever you can, and ‘flip’ your attitude when you feel adversity bringing you down.

Donations can be made to Macon County Humane Society, 1155 County Rd, 37, Notasulga Alabama 36866 in honor of LA and her love of dogs.

pelika Observer O

A14 May 22, 2019

Community Calendar: Events around town

• May 23 - Business After Hours - Prestige Properties Auburn Opelika Lifestyle Group 5 to 7 p.m.

• June 3 - Ribbon Cutting and Business after Hours • July 10 - 78th Annual Meeting 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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

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

The Martha Wayles Jefferson DAR Chapter regularly visits veterans living in assisted living, the homeless domiciliary and psych (trauma) ward in Tuskegee. Donations are tax deductible and will be much appreciated. Pick up is provided. Please call Linda Shabo at 887-6659 or at 256-307-1449.

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

• The Opelika Community Band practices

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

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

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

• The fourth Monday of each month a Community Grief Support Group meets from 5:30 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 night 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.

Upcoming Events • May 22 - Noon Tumes at Courthouse Square from noon to 1 p.m.

• May 22 - AuburnOpelika Chapter of Citizen’s Climate Education Group will meet to discuss strategies on how to address solutions to the climate crisis and how to get more citizens involved in supporting those solutio-ns. The group is a non-partisan grassroots organization focused on national policies to address climate change, and we welcome everyone’s participation. By building upon shared values rather than partisan divides and by empowering citizens searching for solutions to climate change caused by global warming, we work towards the adoption of fair, effective, and sustainable individual, community and government solutions. The meeting will be at 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hubert and Grace

Harris Center located at 425 Perry St. in Auburn.

• May 24-26 - Opelika Songwriters Festival - see page A15 for the full schedule.

• May 28 - Summer Swing at Municipal Part at 7 p.m.

• May 29 - Noon Tumes at Courthouse Square from noon to 1 p.m.

• June 1 - Burger Wars/ Touch-a-Truck.

Touch-a-Truck is freeand visitors to Burger Wars can purchase tasting tickets for $2 each to sample burgers and give back to the East Alabama Food Banks’s Backpack Program for food-insecure children.

• June 1 - Puzzle Palooza at Spring Villa Park from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m.

• June 4 - Summer Swing at Municipal Part at 7 p.m.

• June 15 - Brent Cobb at Standard Deluxe.

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

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

Meetings are preceded by non-voting work sessions that typically begin about 6:30 to 6:45 p.m.

• Every second Tuesday, a country, gospel and bluegrass music jam session is held at Pierce Chapel United Methodist Church in Beauregard.

The event is free and open to the public. Those who play an instrument should bring it and plan to join in. The jam session is held from 6 to 8 p.m. 8685 AL Highway 51.

• A Grief Support Group meets at Oak Bowery United Methodist Church Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. for anyone dealing with the pain of loss and feeling the need for support on their journey as they attempt to bring order and wholeness back into their life. Attendance and participation is strictly voluntary for any and all sessions. There are no fees or charges involved. The church is located on U.S. Highway 431 – eight miles north from Southern Union State Community College and Opelika High School.

For more information contact Bill Parker at 4590214 or 706-518-9122.

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

services. For more information visit www.auburncap.org or find the organization on Facebook.

• East Alabama Gem & Mineral Society meet the 4th Tuesday of every month at 5:45 p.m.

Meetings are held at the Covington Rec. Center located at 213 Carver Ave. in Opelika.

Wednesdays: • The second Wednesday of each month a Community Grief Support Group meets from 10 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 night at 6 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

• T.O.U.C.H. Cancer

Support Group meets the third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at EAMC’s Health Resource Center. This is a support group for people living with any type of cancer or their families and friends.

Call 334-528-1076 for more information.

•After School Art Classes for Children & Youth Weekly Studio Classes featuring Drawing, Painting & More.. *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today- 334-480-2008 •Afternoon Art Classes for Adults featuring Studio Drawing, Painting & More.. *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided Thursdays at 3 p.m.

Eastern Standard Time The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today- 334-480-2008 • Evening Art Classes for Adults Fundamental Drawing Studio - Every Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today- 334-480-2008 • Portrait Drawing Studio - portrait drawing classes for beginners, Every Wednesday 2 p.m.

EST *all fine art supplies are provided The Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts - Enroll Today- 334-480-2008 • Senior Studio Art Classes Every Wednesday 11 a.m. EST *beginners are welcome *all fine art supplies are always provided - Enroll Today- 334-480-2008 Email editor@opelikaobserver.com to place your community events.

pelika Observer O

A15 May 22, 2019

Opelika Songwriter’s Festival releases schedule of events

By Morgan Bryce Editor Downtown Opelika will be filled with the sounds of live music May 24 to 26 during the inaugural “Opelika Songwriter’s Festival,” a collaborative effort between Rob and Jen Slocumb of The Sound Wall and The Arts Association of East Alabama.

Forty songwriters are scheduled to participate in 70 scheduled performances at various downtown Opelika establishments and restaurants, part of a fun weekend that will help showcase the town the Slocumbs have come to call home.

"We expect the Opelika Songwriters Festival to be a destination event for fans of singer-songwriters … we can't wait to showcase this amazing array of talent and to shine a light on our wonderful hometown of Opelika," the Slocumbs said in a press release about the event.

There will be an abundance of local, national and international talent.

Among the most notable performers are Grammy Award-winner Dan Navarro, female folk trio Harpeth Rising and Lee County’s own in B.B. Palmer.

Three ticketing options are available through www.freshtix.com: Single Day Festival Pass for $55 plus tax, Two Day Festival Pass for $90 and Three Day VIP Festival Pass for $120.

Following is a full schedule for the event, which is subject to change until each day of the event: Friday, May 24: • Greg Greenway | Dave Potts at 6 p.m.- John Emerald Distillery • Mitch Emmons at 6:15 p.m. - Ma Fia’s • Ryanhood at 6:30 p.m.

Resting Pulse Brewery • Rock Killough | Rick Edwards at 6:45 p.m. Sneak & Dawdle • Mutt Cooper | B.B.

Palmer | Scott Singer at 7 p.m. - Irish Bred Pub • Wyatt Edmondson at 7:15 p.m.

John Emerald Distillery • Pam Bedwell at 7:15 p.m.- Ma Fia’s • David Jacobs-Strain with Bob Beach at 7:45 p.m. - Resting Pulse Brewery • Katie Martin | Kipyn Martin | Jenna McClelland at 8 p.m. - Sneak & Dawdle • Korby Lenker | Tony Lucca at 8:15 p.m. - Irish Bred Pub • Ted McVay & Rusty Taylor at 8:15 p.m. - Ma Fia’s • Pat Wictor | Noah Zacharin at 8:30 p.m. John Emerald Distillery • Kim Richey | Grayson Capps at 9 p.m. - Resting Pulse Brewery • Adam Hood | Jack Barksdale at 9:15 p.m. Sneak & Dawdle • Chris Rosser | Cliff Eberhardt | Louise Mosrie at 9:30 p.m. - Irish Bred Pub • Chuck McDowell at 9:45 p.m. - John Emerald

Distillery • Harpeth Rising at 10:15 p.m. - Resting Pulse Brewery • Dan Navarro at 10:30 p.m. - Sneak & Dawdle • Jeff Black | Kate Campbell at 10:45 p.m. - Irish Bred Pub • Wilder Adkins | Jacob Blount | Daniel Lee Webster at 11 p.m. - John Emerald Distillery Saturday, May 25: Songwriters Workshop with Cliff Eberhardt and Dan Navarro from 11 a.m. to noon at The Sound Wall. Tickets are separate and cost $40 each on www.soundbrite. com.

Lunch Round with Chris Rosser | Kim Richey | Jeff Black 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. - Irish Bred Pub Songwriters Workshop with Cliff Eberhardt and Dan Navarro from 3 to 4 p.m. at The Sound Wall.

Tickets are separate and cost $40 each on www. soundbrite.com.

• Rick Edwards at 6 p.m.

- Ma Fia’s • Martha’s Trouble | Chris Rosser at 6:15 p.m. Resting Pulse Brewery • Mutt Cooper | Rock Killough | Louise Mosrie at 6:30 p.m. - John Emerald Distillery • Wilder Adkins | Wyatt Edmondson | Pat Wictor at 6:30 p.m. - Irish Bred Pub • Chuck McDowell | Daniel Lee Webster | Noah Zacharin at 6:30 p.m. Sneak & Dawdle • Dave Potts at 7 p.m. Ma Fia’s • Dan Navarro | Jeff Black | Cliff Eberhardt at 7:30 p.m. - Resting Pulse Brewery • Jordana Greenberg | Kipyn Martin at 7:45 p.m.

- John Emerald Distillery • Kim Richey | Adam Hood at 7:45 p.m. - Irish Bred Pub • David Jacobs-Strain with Bob Beach at 7:45 p.m. - Sneak & Dawdle • Sam Pointer at 8 p.m. Ma Fia’s • Kate Campbell at 8:45 p.m. - Resting Pulse

Brewery • Korby Lenker at 9 p.m.

- John Emerald Distillery • Ryanhood at 9 p.m. Irish Bred Pub • Tony Lucca at 9 p.m.

Sneak & Dawdle • SHAWN MULLINS at 10 p.m. - Resting Pulse Brewery • Jack Barksdale | Tony Brook | Jenna McClelland at 11:30 p.m. - Irish Bred Pub • Jacob Blount | BB Palmer | Scott Singer at 11:30 p.m. - Sneak & Dawdle • Pam Bedwell | Mitch Emmons | Ted McVay at 11:30 p.m. - John Emerald Distillery Sunday, May 26: VIP Brunch + In The Round Concert with Shawn Mullins | Kate Campbell | Dan Navarro from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Resting Pulse Brewery For more information, like and follow “Opelika Songwriters Festival’s” social media pages or visit www.opelikasongwritersfestival.com.

An Annual Affair Memorial Day Weekend May 24 - 26, 2019 Downtown Opelika, Alabama

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

Turn to B4 for photos from Opelika’s spring scrimmage Friday.

Matthew Johnson selected as next head coach of Beulah Bobcats football program

By Morgan Bryce Editor

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

Fulfillment is the main word on the mind of new Beulah Coach Matthew Johnson, who was confirmed as the next leader of the Bobcats football program during last Tuesday’s Lee County School Board meeting.

A teacher and coach at Beulah since 2011, Johnson said his ascension from assistant to receiver’s coach to being offensive coordinator the last two seasons and now

head coach has been a success story made possible by his school administration, family, fellow coaches and faith.

“I’ve worked so hard and it’s just a relief that all of it has paid off,” Johnson said.

Johnson is a Springwood School graduate and holds bachelors and masters degrees from Auburn University. He has worked with the football program under its last three coaches Craig Hall, Jarrod Wooten and most recently

culture and mindset changed, which was revealed during last season’s 8-3 campaign, the school’s most wins in a season since 1995 and its first playoff appearance since 2008.

In the week after Flournoy announced that he was departing, Johnson said he expressed his interest in the coaching vacancy to Beulah Athletic Director Richard Brown Jr. After a “solid”

Opelika High School’s spring athletics season comes to a close Friday following football team’s scrimmage v. Valley Opelika City School students participate in Alabama’s bicentennial programs T he Opelika City Schools’ 201819 school year will officially conclude Friday night at 7 p.m. with graduation ceremonies inside Bulldog Stadium.

Spring football was the last sporting event planned for Opelika’s athletics program. The Bulldogs hosted Valley in a spring game (practice game ) last Friday at Bulldog Stadium.

The two schools upand-coming ninth grade teams scrimmaged prior to the varsity.

Valley and Opelika agreed to play the first and second quarter with “ones and “two’s” before freely substituting the second half.

Opelika scored 28 points in the first half while holding the Rams scoreless.

When the night was over, both football coaches saw their players respond in a game setting.

Opelika finished the spring practices with approximately 105 players headed into the

summer workouts.

Coach Erik Speakman will give his team a few weeks off before summer workouts begin. The Bulldogs open the season against Callaway High School Aug. 22 at Bulldog Stadium.

SOFTBALL New OHS softball coach Randy Belyeu is preparing for his new job. The Opelika graduate has his summer and fall schedule prepared. Coach Belyeu is a perfect fit to follow Tina Deese. The relationship between the two coaches is impressive.

Coach Deese phoned Belyeu prior to turning in her retirement papers. She wanted to make sure he knew so he could make a decision to pursue.

Coach Belyeu will be able to hire one or two assistant coaches in addition to coaches Gagliano and Kyser.

SOCCER The Opelika boys

See Sports, page B5

Johnson

Cody Flournoy, who accepted the athletic director and head coaching position at 5A Jackson High School in April.

Under Flournoy’s leadership, Beulah’s

See Beulah, page B4

Photo special to the Opelika Observer Students from Carver and West Forest elementary schools participated in Alabama 200 programs earlier this month. Pictured above is one of those groups of students on the steps of the Lee County Courthouse.

OHS 2019 Killgore Scholarship winners announced last week Special to the Opelika Observer Congratulations to seniors Adam Cason, Jacob Walker and Caroline Hawkins on being named the 2019 Killgore Scholarship Winners for Opelika High School. Pictured with them are OHS Principal Dr. Farrell Seymore and Tipi Miller of the OCS Board of Education member following the Killgore Scholarship reception.

B2 May 22, 2019

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Eighth-grade teams from Opelika and Valley face each other in spring game last Friday

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Opelika’s Myla Gagliano, Micah Christian ink collegiate scholarships last Thursday

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Opelika High School student-athletes Myla Gagliano and Micah Christian signed collegiate scholarships last week. Gagliano will continue playing softball at Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City and Christian will further his baseball career at Dothan’s Wallace Community College.

Members of the Auburn-Opelika Pickeball Club bring home gold from recent U.S. Open Pickleball Tournament Special to the Opelika Observer Members of the Auburn-Opelika Pickeball Club recently participated in the fourth U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida earlier this month.

The event featured 2,000-plus players who played in more than 4,000 matches.

Prize money totaling $50,000 was given to winning players and teams. For more information about the tournament, visit www.usopenpickleball.info. Full tournament results can be viewed at www.pickleballtournaments.com.

Far left: Casey Soule and Christol Guthrie won the Gold Medal Women’s Doubles 50+ match.

Left: Grady Sparks won gold in both the men’s 80+ Singles and Doubles matches.

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B3 May 22, 2019

Alabama’s Finest | Farm to Table

I

retrieve an item from the shelf, pour over the label, searching for provenance. In the market, I make choice selections discerning where my food comes from.

Food from far-off places evokes curiosity and exotic charm. Yet, food is worth further examination, compelling one to question the import, the label.

At the local farmstand, I choose freshpicked blueberries.

Dark Prussian blue gems, with deepening blush of magenta still visible, the sweet and tart breaks open and twirls a flavorful dance. The farmer’s price asks too little. He reaches for change. I insist that he keep it.

Anything of quality harvested or hewn by hand is worth more.

These I will pair with pancakes laced with ricotta and lemon curd, and topped with a

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

By Sarah West fresh lightly sweetened whipped cream. At home, I collect greens from my garden to spin into a crust-less quiche made with gruyere and cheddar cheese. Local eggs will add brilliant yellows and enriched accent to mid morning weekend feasts.

A leisure drive into the sunset. Chasing streaks of lavender and melon westward

as foggy mist emerges from forest shadows skirting fields and pastures. Red clay, black soil and Alabama blue sky fades into night. At Acre, the first course brought to our table reflects the southern sea and sky. Upon slate glistens a salt formation, elevating the oyster to new heights.

Sourced local to Alabama, Murder Point

Oyster Company has supplied Chef Compton with the evening’s shining star. Elegantly constructed, this artworthy composition inspires the painter to pick up the brush. A medley of delectable flavors present blood orange mignonette with sunburst trout roe, peach blossoms, cucumber and fennel. An informative bouquet which raises the bar.

This delightful expe-

rience is followed by the charcuterie board, exhibiting the house’s best of cured salami, pickled grapes, peanut brittle, pecan mustard, asher blue and stone hollow goat cheeses and the list goes on.

For the main course, pan roasted king salmon with sweet corn bisque, garnished with okra, heirloom tomatoes and jalapeños.

And for the table a 2016 Willamette Val-

ley Pinot Noir. A final dish curated by the Chef du Cuisine, the desert flight including bread pudding topped with vanilla ice cream and crumbled prosciutto, a blonde tarte and the ever decadent peanut butter pie with meringue, truly to die for.

The farm-to-table establishment calms in the late evening as dinSee West, page B4

Safety for a Good Old Summertime

Beth Pinyerd The Classroom Observer

W

e are coming to the end of a good school year! Even though summer’s official entrance is not until June 21, one can feel the seasonal summer heat, smell the honeysuckle flowers, listen to the katydids at night and listen to the dry wind rustling through the leaves on a summer evening as everything becomes a slight cooler. As a child, I knew summertime had arrived when my mom and dad turned on the attic fan, a young child’s heaven on a hot summer night after an evening bath or shower.

Air conditioning had not arrived during the time

I was growing up. The breeze on a summer night was our natural air conditioning. We all experience that “kick back, carefree” mood especially among our children because we are not having to stay on a schedule or having to go to school. In the column today I’d like to share some summer safety tips as we embark on summer fun!

We want to have fun in the sun during the summer but we need to use safety precautions in protecting our children. Here are a few summer safety tips as you take care of your little ones during the summer: 1. Be sure to apply the appropriate sunscreen to

your child. Each child requires a different scale of protection according to the color of their skin and their age. When moms leave young children in my care, I request sunscreen which the parents or I apply 20 to 30 minutes ahead of outside fun time. When your child is swimming or running through the sprinkler be sure to reapply the sunscreen at intervals when they get in and out of the water. Take time to evenly apply as well as well covering spots that may burn.

2. When children are running and playing outside in the heat it is so important for them to be dressed appropriately with light colored and light weight clothing. Clothing should allow the child to be cool. During these summer months “sweating” is characteristic of a summer day! Children love to run and play different games and activities.

When your little one gets really wet with sweat, be sure to change them into dry clothes.

3. In preventing heat stress in children be sure he/she is very well-hy-

drated. Encourage your child to drink as much water, juices, and different flavored drinks as possible. We do not want our children to become dehydrated.

4. Have your child or children play quiet inside games, rest, read, look at appropriate programs on television, video, or DVD during the heat of the day.

5. Have your child stay out of direct heat, try to find shade.

6. During late afternoon or evening hours make sure your child is properly sprayed with insect repellant. Follow the appropriate instructions of how to apply on the repellant.

7. When you are doing summer mowing be sure your child stays at a safe distance from the lawn mower in that a mower could kick up a rock or stick.

8. In taking your child to playgrounds and parks during the summer, be sure that the sliding boards, swings, and other equipment is not too hot for your child to play on.

Assess the general safety of the park before allowing your child to play.

9. Parents please remember to put helmets on your child when they are riding their bicycles.

Go over safety rules your child needs to follow in riding their bicycles.

Properly supervise them.

10. I’d like to relate an experience this Classroom Observer mom had with her son. When my child was walking along the bay shore, a catfish barb punctured his big toe. It took surgery to remove it. Parents be sure your children walk in safe areas along the bay, lakes, ponds, and ocean shores.

Too, this can be just in or yards. So many times sharp shells, barnacles, trash, sand spurs, glass, in the grass can badly cut the toes and feet of your child. It might be better to leave the shoes on until you can assess the safety of the area.

11. Try to always have a first aid kit with you to pack basic supplies you will need before going swimming, playing, picnicking and having plain old summer fun outdoors.

I hope these guidelines will gently remind you of summer safety tips so you and your child can

fully enjoy the seasonal favorites of summer!

Happy summer practicing safety!

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. She holds a master’s degree in early childhood education as well as a bachelor’s degree in family and child development both from Auburn University. Her husband is the late Carl Pinyerd and she has one son, Gus Pinyerd who has taught her so much about learning. Classroom Observer is here to serve the community in sharing the wonderful teaching programs in our local public schools, private schools, and homeschools. The column is provided to enrich the education of our children, youth, and families.

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

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B4 May 22, 2019

Opelika’s varsity squad scrimmages v. Valley Friday

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Opelika concluded spring training with a scrimmage Friday against nearby Valley High School. Both teams used their first and second-team players in the first half, which saw the Bulldogs score 28 points and hold the Rams scoreless. Opelika’s players will enjoy several weeks to enjoy summer break before offseason workouts and fall pracices begin. The Bulldogs will open the season at home v. Callaway High School of Hogansville, Georgia in a non-region game.

Statement on the 65th Anniversary AM-1230 makes switch to SB Nation Radio May 7 of Brown v. Board of Education Special to the Opelika Observer Special to the Opelika Observer In recognition of the 65th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the American Federation for Children, the nation's voice for educational choice, released the following statement: Statement from Ann Duplessis, Board Member of the American Federation for Children: "While we celebrate the significance of this decision for our country and our communities,

we must also acknowledge the inequities that continue to exist in public education.

“Brown v. Board declared that separate educational facilities for white and African American students were inherently unequal. 65 years later, millions of children and their families are seeking an alternative to a system that too often deliv-

Johnson, from B1 interview, Johnson said he was informed last week that he was the school’s choice for the position pending a school board vote.

Despite losing a large core of accomplished, talented seniors like Caden Dowdell, Isaiah Glidewell and Quindarius Page, Johnson said there are plenty of players returning who boast an experience and desire to build upon the winning foundation that has been laid at Beulah.

He added that he believes his familiarity with the program will ensure a smooth transition for the team as they gear

ers a lower quality of education to children of color.

“We must embrace the spirit of Brown v.

Board and move with greater urgency towards a reality where families are liberated from a system when it does not work for their children.

Children have no time to wait. And America has no justifiable reason to make them.”

up for the 2019 season.

“The expectations of winning and standards (of excellence) have been set. They know what to do and how to do it,” Johnson said. “They’re going to follow our mission of being a fast and physical team. We’re going to play with a really good effort and be highly, highly motivated.”

Most of the staff remains intact. No promotions or changes have been announced, but key contributors from the Flournoy regime including Defensive Coordinator Stan Pepper and top Assistant Coach Shane Carden remain with the Beulah program.

“We’re all on the same page and it’s good to work with a group of people who mesh so well together,” Johnson said.

Tiger Communications is proud to announce that effective on May 7, AM-1230 WAUD, will make the switch over to SB Nation Radio. This is one of the many exciting changes in line for the longest running sports station in Auburn.

SB Nation offers a new, refreshing sports outlook with an actual variety for all listeners. “The people of Lee County asked for a variety. They’re tired of the same old screaming sports hosts that flip flop from

West,

from B3

ers, all too satisfied, consider the time.

It has grown late, the restaurant is aglow with ambient light. Another day has come and gone.

The chefs and the farmers continue collaborations here setting standards where food’s provenance, the harvester’s hands, the line cooks, wait staff and chefs all have an integral role to play in this continuously sensational production.

-Art is Life

one national brand to another. Stale gimmicks and national networks that only give you what they deem as newsworthy have run their course.

The "supposed" major sports networks only use their radio outlets to promote what’s on their TV schedule.

There is something very hollow about that approach,” said WAUD Program Director Bill Bailey.

“SB Nation Radio offers shows on all of the major sports but also has a great new shows for car enthusiasts, outdoors and fishing shows like BassMaster Radio,

Expressed - Sarah West Author’s Note: Compliments, Credits and Kind Regards to Chef David Bancroft, Chef Jeffrey Compton and the team at ACRE who strive and succeed at serving Alabama’s very best in farm to table cuisine.

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

She is a preservation, and conservation advocate, activist, and visual artist of American

Illustration with a focus on Regional Narrative Painting.

She is founder of the Sarah West Gallery of Fine Art, A Center for Cultural Arts, Smiths Station, Alabama’s premier fine arts destination.

She is the appointed Official Artist to the City of Smiths Station, a Lee County syndicated columnist, the director of her art center’s Cultural Arts Outreach Initiative which partners with local schools to make the arts accessible to all. She also serves a chief curator to the City of Smiths Station, City Hall

wrestling programs, a couple of golf shows and a show that focuses on talking about the latest craze, E-Sports.”.

AM-1230, WAUD will remain as the area’s official station for the Atlanta Braves in Lee County and offer a local show in the morning and regional programming like Southern Sports Today with Chuck Oliver during the mid-day.

All of this plus the fact that Tiger Communications is the area’s local outlet for Auburn Athletics makes this a truly exciting time on the plains for sports enthusiasts of all ages.

Art Galleries. She is a founding member of the Smith Station Historic Commission. She is a member of the Women’s Philanthropy Board- Cary Center, Auburn University College of Human Science. She is an elected member of the Society of Illustrators- NYC. She mentors art students of every age through weekly classes at her studio located in the heart of Smiths Station, Alabama. To learn more about her work and activism visit, www.thesarahwestgalleryoffineart.com.

pelika O Observer

B5 May 22, 2019

Troy University Rebecca Wilson receives Harvard Prize Book Award recognizes Special to the Opelika Observer

Opelika High School junior Rebecca Wilson was recently presented with the Harvard Prize Book Award by OHS Principal Dr. Farrell Seymore.

The Harvard Prize Book program was established by Harvard alumni in 1910 as a part of an effort to attract the attention of talented young students to the opportunities at the College. In the program’s first years, a Prize Book was awarded at only a handful of schools in the New England area. Today, nearly 2,000 Prize

local students for selection to student government, societies

Books sponsored by local Harvard alumni, are awarded in schools all over the world.

According to the guidelines, "The Prize Book is awarded to an outstanding student in the next-to graduation class who displays excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with achievement in other fields. The winners of this award, through their intelligence and variety of achievement, exemplify Harvard’s commitment to excellence."

Pictured: Rebecca Wilson and OHS Principal Dr. Farrell Seymore.

Special to the Opelika Observer

Local teacher names as Alabama’s Alternate Teacher of the Year Special to the Opelika Observer

Auburn High School teacher Jacque Middleton was named Alabama’s Alternate Teacher of the Year during a recent ceremony.

By the age of 11, Middleton had lived in three different cities and had already attended four different schools. She always found real comfort in her schoolwork, and no one in her family was surprised when she decided to pursue a career in teaching K-12 science and STEM classes.

She now teaches engineering courses at

Middleton Auburn High School and sponsors local science olympiads, engineering fairs and other innovative academic events. She promotes student success through technology. Having grown up in many different regions of the United States, she has gained a unique prospective

on teaching. She has seen the true value of exposing students to engaging learning experiences.

Alabama’s Teacher of the Year spends the majority of the school year serving as a spokesperson for education and the teaching profession, as well as presenting workshops to various groups statewide. Additionally, Alabama’s representative is a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year Award.

State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey said it is an honor to join in the recognition of these exemplary educa-

tors. “Teachers of the Year are highly skilled and dedicated professionals who work hard to ensure the future prosperity of our great nation.

These educators have shown Alabama’s students, parents, and local communities a wonderful example of educational excellence and commitment,” Mackey said.

Weeden Elementary teacher Ana Carolina Behel was named the 2019-2020 Alabama Teacher of the Year during the ceremony and will serve as the official spokesperson and representative for teachers in Alabama for the next year.

Jacksonville State University announces Wendy M. Morgan of Opelika as graduate Special to the Opelika Observer Wendy M. Morgan of Opelika has graduated with a respiratory therapy degree from Jacksonville State University. She was among the 774 students honored at commencement on May 3.

For the first time, new university provost Dr.

Christie Shelton served as mistress of ceremonies.

Emily Manasco, who was among the first to receive a bachelor's in respiratory therapy from JSU this spring, served as the student commencement speaker. FedEx executive and JSU alumna Cheryl L. Bevelle-Orange (BS, Computer & Information Systems and Marketing,

1990) provided the keynote address. The bell ringer was Reyna Ramirez, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing.

About Jacksonville State University: Founded in 1883 as a state teachers college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percent-

age of accredited programs.

Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, JSU offers more than 150 courses of study, including 40-plus online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate level.

To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800231-JAX1 or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.

Auburn High Student Donghan Park named 2019 U.S. Presidential Scholar Special to the Opelika Observer

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today announced the selection of Donghan Park of Auburn, who attends Auburn High School as a 2019 U.S. Presidential Scholar.

Park is one of 161 outstanding American high school seniors who have demonstrated out-

standing academic achievement, artistic excellence, technical expertise, leadership, citizenship, service, and contribution to school and community. The U.S. Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington D.C., from June 23-25.

"I want to congratulate this year's class of Presidential Scholars on their achieve-

ment both inside of the classroom and out,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “Their hard work and commitment to excellence, no matter what challenge they are tackling, will serve them well throughout their lifelong learning journeys. I have no doubt that many of tomorrow's leaders are among this year's class of scholars.”

Park

Wesley Modling will serve as a Student Government Association Senator at Troy University during the 2019-20 academic year at the Troy Campus.

Modling, an Opelika native, was elected during the spring 2019 semester.

Troy University's Student Government Association represents the Troy student body within the university administration and the community. SGA advocates the interests of Troy students and works to better the student experience through community events and opportunities.

National Society of Leadership and Success Troy University is proud to recognize the inductees of the National Society of Leadership and Success.

This is the charter group of members into the TROY chapter of the NSLS. The NSLS is the nation’s largest leadership honor society. Students are selected by their college for membership based on either academic standing or leadership potential. Candidacy is a nationally recognized achievement of honorable distinction.

Local residents who were inducted include: • Georgia White of Opelika.

M.I.S.S. Elite

Sports,

from B1

and girls soccer program continue to improve.

The boys advanced to regionals while the girls advanced to the Final 8.

The boys finished 11-6-4 overall and finished tied for first in the area with 3-1 record.

Coach Derek Hovell guided the team to wins over four ranked teams. The defense improved along with

Modling Society Ariana Curtis, from Opelika, joined the M.I.S.S. Elite Society for the 2018-2019 academic year.

The M.I.S.S. Elite Society is dedicated to Motivating and Instilling Sophisticated Students into an Elite Society. Their goal is to motivate female students into being more civic-minded citizens and to empower women to hold themselves to a higher standard.

About Troy University Troy University is a public, historic, international university with 22,500 students and 154,000 alumni.

Students choose Troy for its quality academic programs, reasonable costs and availability of financial aid, outstanding faculty, and flexible in-class and online class offerings.

Students on the Troy campus enjoy a traditional college experience, while adult students are the centers of attention at campuses in Dothan, Montgomery and Phenix City as well as at locations around the world and online. the offense. Opelika won by an average score of 2-to-1 during the season. Jordy Chavez scored a teamhigh 11 goals while Marshall Meyers led with five assists.

In next week’s column, I will recap the Lady Bulldog Soccer team’s season and name the 2019 Dixie Youth All-Star rosters.

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

pelika O Observer

B6 May 22, 2019

LEGALS STATE OF ALABAMA IN THE PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY- CASE NO. 2019-A-218 - RE: ESTATE OF ELIZABETH B. ANDRESS, DECEASED: NOTICE OF PUBLICATION Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 3rd day of May, 2019, by the Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Leigh McCulloh Andress, Executor Claud E. (Skip) McCoy, Jr.,Esq. Attorney for Executor Johnson, Caldwell & McCoy, LLC 117 North Lanier Avenue, Suite 201 Lanett, Alabama 36863 (334) 644-1171 Legal Run 5/15, 5/22 & 5/29/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA - CASE NO. 2019A-181 - IN RE: The Estate of Felicia Renee Woodall, Deceased: March 3, 2019 NOTICE TO CREDITORS TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to AMY ASKEW SANDERSON, as Administratix of the Estate of Felicia Renee Woodall, deceased, on the 30th day of April, 2019, by the Honorable Bill English.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against the said

Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

AMY ASKEW SANDERSON Administratix of the Estate of Felicia Renee Woodall, deceased Legal Run 5/15, 5/22 & 5/29/2019

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA - CASE NO. 2019A-222 - IN RE: The Estate of Julia Claire Gullage, Deceased NOTICE TO CREDITORS TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Lisa G. Gunter, as Executirx of the Estate of Julia Claire Gullage, deceased, on the 6th day of May, 2019, by the Honorable Bill English.

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

LISA G. GUNTER Executrix of the Estate of Julia Claire Gullage, deceased Legal Run 5/15, 5/22 & 5/29/2019

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF HORRIS CARSON JACKSON COURT OF PROBATE Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 1st day of May 2019, by the Hon. Bill English,

Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barried.

Witness myhand, and dated this the 1st day of May 2019.

CARSON BUDDY JACKSON Legal Notice Run 05/08, 05/15 & 05/22/2019

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF MARTHA ANN T. BAKER, DECEASED TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Compass Bank, as Executor of the Estate of MARTHA ANN T. BAKER, deceased, on the 29th day of April, 2019, by the Honroable BILL ENGLISH. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against the Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Compass Bank

By Ray Black Investment Services Head of Estate Settlement Petitioner Houston Plaza 2200 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 1800 Houston, TX 77056 Legal Notice Run 05/08, 05/15 & 05/22/2019

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

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DIFFERENCE Follow these tips to lower your power bill.

Use cold water to wash clothes.

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Fix or replace faulty electrical cords and plugs.

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BRANDON SINNIGER, DECEASED CASE NO.: 2017-B-197 NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that Benjamin H. Parr, Conservator of the Estate of BRANDON SINNIGER has filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, a Petition for a Final Settlement of the Estate of BRANDON SINNIGER. A hearing has been set for the 6th day of June, 2019 at 9 o’clock a.m. central time in the Court Room of the Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama.

Done this the 30th day of April, 2019.

Judge of Probate Legal Run 5/8, 5/15 & 5/22/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF GARY EDWARD MCCONNELL, DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 2nd day of May, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

CYNTHIA P. MCCONNELL Administrator N. Riley Murphy Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Notice Run 05/08, 05/15 & 05/22/2019

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF SUSIE MAE OLIVER COURT OF PROBATE Letters Testamenetary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 3rd day of May, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Witness my hand, and dated this the 3rd day of May, 2019.

QUINTON SMITH Legal Notice Run 05/08, 05/15 & 05/22/2019

Notice to General Contractors Bids for Beauregard Park Opelika, Alabama The Beauregard Athletic Park Development will be located at 0 Lee Road 400, Opelika, AL 36804. The new park development will include three (3) new natural turf baseball/softball fields, one (1) new natural turf rectangle multi-purpose field, a concrete plaza and sidewalks, associated sports field lighting, landscaping and site furnishings. Site work generally includes clearing and grubbing of approximately 21 acres, mass grading of the site, site utilities, paving landscaping and irrigation for the sports fields.

There will be a Pre-Bid Conference on June 4, 2019 at 2PM CST. Meet adjacent the proposed site at the Beauregard Elementary School parking lot, 300 Lee Rd 431, Opelika, AL 36804. All bidders should attend and inspect existing conditions.

Consideration of existing conditions is crucial in submitting a responsible bid.

All Questions are due by 4PM CST on June 11, 2019 to Foresite Group at GSbids@fg-inc.net or by phone

at 770-368-1399.

Sealed bids must be received in the Lee County Commission Office in the County Courthouse at 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama 36801 by 2:00 PM CST on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

Bid documents will be available for review in the Lee County Commission Office or can be obtained from Auburn Reprographics starting Monday, May 20, 2019.

(Bidders have the option to purchase a CD in pdf format to read or print the drawings and specifications. Adobe Acrobat reader software is required to read and print electronic bid documents).

Bid Documents may be viewed online by going to: www.auburnrepro.com and selecting Digital Plan Room.

Options for obtaining Bid Documents are as follows: Electronic (CD): Make check payable to Auburn Reprographics & Supply in the amount of $25. This amount is non-refundable. Shipping arrangements shall be by the Contractor.

Hardcopy: Contact Auburn Reprographics, 660 North Dean Road, Auburn, AL 36830; (334) 501-8235; Attn: Greg Sellers; (E-mail greg@auburnrepro.com) to obtain bid documents.

Hardcopy sets are nonrefundable.

A Bid Bond of 5% of the bid up to $10,000. in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama will be required with submission of the bid.

A Performance Bond of 100% and Payment Bond of 50% will be required from the successful bidder in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama.

As a condition for award, the business entity and its subcontractors shall not knowingly employ or hire an unauthorized alien within the State of Alabama. The awarded business entity must provide documentation of enrollment in the E-Verify program. The business must participate in the E-Verify program for the length of the contract.

Lee County Commission: Roger H Rendleman County Administrator Consultant Project Manager: Anthony Pappas, Landscape Architect (770) 368 -1399 Legal Run 5/22/2019 & 5/29/19

INVITATION TO BID 19020 Sealed bids for the construction of the Removal of Dead, Dying, or Dangerous Trees and Stumps with Tree Pruning 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, June 11, 2019, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. No bid will be accepted from anyone except a qualified Contractor licensed by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors.

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, Ope lika, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: Removal of Dead, Dying, or Dangerous Trees and Stumps with Tree Pruning LILLIE FINLEY- PURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 7055120 Legal Run 5/22/2019, 5/29/19 and 06/05/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA, CASE NO. 2019-A-224 IN RE: The Estate of Shirley A. Scoggins, Deceased NOTICE TO CREDITORS TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to, Melissa Karen Gatlin, as Executrix of the Estate of Shirley A. Scoggins, deceased, on the 7th day of May, 2019, by the Honorable Bill English.

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

MELISSA KAREN GATLIN Executrix of the Estate of Shirley A. Scoggins, deceased Legal Run 5/22, 5/29 and 06/05/19

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: The Estate of Elizabeth Ann Harper, Deceased NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION TO BE PUBLISHED Letters of Administration on said deceased having been granted to ALEXIS HARPER, Administrator on this the 8th day of May, 2019, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. BY: James E. Hall, Attorney for Administrator.

Legal Run 5/22, 5/29 & 6/5/19

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY F. WATSON , DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 14th day of May, 2019, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

MICHAEL P. WATSON Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 5/22/2019, 5/29/19 and 06/05/19

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Inside the Statehouse Smiths Station City Council Road rage and deer hunting votes to renew ad valorem tax bills await senate action

M

ore than 20 years ago when I was a legislator, the state trooper assigned to my county asked if he could come visit with me. “Of course,” I said. When he came, he had a somber look on his face. I thought maybe he had a serious personal problem or had lost a loved one.

He began, “This may not sound like a major highway problem, but one of the things that causes a good many accidents and incidents on our roads is people driving slow in the left lane and not moving over.” I never pursued legislation to this effect. However, he made me aware of the need to remedy this problem.

Well, finally, a legislator has taken up this legislation. Rep. Phillip Pettus, a Republican from Lauderdale County, who retired as a captain in the Alabama State Troopers

By Steve Flowers after a 25-year career, has passed legislation to remedy this problem. He calls his bill “The Anti-Road Rage Act.” The bill would prohibit drivers from staying in the left most lane on interstates for more than a mile and a half without passing another vehicle. Pettus explained, “People get ill when they come up behind people driving slow in the left lane and they are wanting to get by. Interstates were set up for the movement of traffic.

This will make interstate traffic move better if the said road rage causes more wrecks

than accident records would indicate, like when angry drivers cut in front of another vehicle and cause that vehicle to run off the road.” The House has passed the bill on a 61-24 vote. It awaits action in the Senate.

It has been 20 years since I was in the Legislature, and during the entire time I was there, we had a perennial issue that would surface every year; whether or not to let deer hunters hunt deer with dogs. Today the issue has evolved into whether or not to allow hunters to use bait to attract deer.

This bill has become an annual debate in the Legislature. Both sides are ardent and take their deer hunting seriously. Well, it looks like the baiters have finally won. Rep. Danny Crawford (RLimestone) has passed legislation that gives See Flowers, page B12

By Morgan Bryce Editor

The Smiths Station City Council voted to renew its ad valorem tax during last week’s city council meeting, part of Mayor Bubba Copeland’s continued efforts to better and improve the city’s overall infrastructure and aesthetic.

Smiths Station implemented its first-ever ad valorem tax as a city last year, and it must be renewed on an annual basis. From reports provided by Chief Financial Of-

Photo special to the Opelika Observer ficer Shelby Branton, more than See SSCC, page B13

Northside Elementary School students visit State Rep. Debbie Wood last week

Photo special to the Opelika Observer Fourth grade students from Northside Elementary School recently toured the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Rep. Debbie Wood from House District 38 met with students and talked with them about her service in the Alabama Legislature.

Including APAEP in our Prison Crisis Debate

M

y last column for the Opelika Observer offered kudos to State Sen. Cam Ward for blocking legislation to undo anti-corruption legislation which helped discipline Mike Hubbard type felonies. Ward has been the most informed and reasonable in the Alabama Senate, Rep. Chris England

has been the rising star on this issue in the House. Hope my ‘rookie’ Representative (Jeremy Gray) will consider following this fellow House member instead of those he appears to be seeking as mentors. Incentives/wealth transfers for BCA, et al architects, contractors, input owners, etc. to build the ‘super

By John Sophocleus

prisons’ are obvious.

Those in play want to make the prison situation as bad as it takes to facilitate redistributions to politically

connected recipients of tax dollars. The anguish and danger they bring to correction officers and prisoners doesn’t matter to them. The biting observation of England is simple, under the current proposal, the ‘super prison’ solution will not impact the capacity result triggering the crisis with the Department of Justice

(DOJ).

I propose the Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project [APAEP] as an integral part of a sincere solution to show a good faith effort to get out of this mess.

Smaller prison facilities will be left idle, negatively impacting many of the local surrounding areas - especially in more remote

parts of our state. This is what economists call ‘creative destruction.’ Super facilities can be designed to address our worst criminals who belong behind bars with no indication(s) of being worthy to return to society. Those who do show promise to return as productive responsible citiSee Sophocleus, page B10

pelika O Observer

B8 May 22, 2019

Alabama voter survey finds overwhelming bipartisan support for caregiving assistance Special to the Opelika Observer A new survey of Alabama registered voters ages 40-plus finds that the vast majority (82.3%) of current caregivers said they will provide future caregiving or assistance on an unpaid basis to an adult loved one. It also found that 8-in-10 voters (82%) think it is very important to have more community resources and training for family caregivers.

The survey of 1,000 registered voters ages 40plus conducted by AARP Alabama in February and March, also found that current working caregivers are feeling stressed (70.4%), with the primary cause of their unease being balancing work and family (61.1%).

Flowers,

from B7

hunters the option of hunting over bait. The bill passed overwhelmingly in both chambers.

The deer hunting issue has been around forever. During the 1950s and 60s there was a legendary legislative

AARP is fighting to support America’s 40 million family caregivers who help make it possible for older Americans to live independently at home—where they want to be. One measure being considered in the Alabama State House will bring needed support to Alabama’s 761,000 caregivers.

The bipartisan Alabama Family Caregivers Act (Senate Bill 376), sponsored by Senators Vivian Figures and Steve Livingston, has already been enacted in 38 states.

This commonsense legislation based on three proven practices supporting the family caregiver works to prevent hospital readmissions and helps reduce caregiver stress.

Voters show overwhelming bipartisan sup-

port for all three proven practices of the Family Caregivers Act: - 95% favor requiring hospitals to record the name of a patient’s family caregiver in the medical record upon admission, - 92% believe hospitals need to keep a family

sage named Rankin Fite of Marion County.

Ole Rankin had been in the Legislature a long time. He was actually Speaker of the House well into the 70s when the first Ethic Laws were passed. Rankin was one of only six House members to vote against the Ethics Law. After the vote, the media asked the former

Speaker why he voted against the Ethics Law. He wryly replied, “It wasn’t tough enough.”

He further pontificated this advice, “I voted for every tax, voting for taxes won’t beat you.”

“I just voted against the Ethics Bill, voting against ethics won’t beat you. The issues you need to avoid are

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caregiver informed of major decisions, like transferring or discharging the patient - and 85% feel hospitals should be required to explain and demonstrate any medical or nursing tasks family caregivers will need to perform after

the patient returns home.

“More than half (58%) of current and former caregivers are taking care of parents, meaning that many have to balance the demands of work, their own children and other needs. That is why there is such strong support for this simple measure that will make their labor of love less stressful and demanding,” AARP Alabama State Director Candi Williams explained.

Alabama’s family caregivers spend 708,000,000 hours each year caring for loved ones – a contribution of about $7.7 billion annually in unpaid care.

They carry out tasks like managing finances, providing transportation, helping with bathing and dressing, cooking meals and more.

According to the survey, some family caregivers even take on complicated medical (58%) and managing medications (81%).

Once only done by doctors and nurses in hospitals, these tasks are now performed by family caregivers at home, most with little to no training.

“Family caregivers take on tasks that are exhausting, overwhelming, and stressful,” Williams said.

“And the Alabama Family Caregivers Act is a no-cost, commonsense step to make these big responsibilities a little bit easier while, also, saving taxpayers money by lowering hospital readmissions.”

A copy of the 2019 survey can be found on states.aarp.org/alcaregivers.

voting on daylight savings time or hunting deer with dogs.”

Gov. Kay Ivey has done a good job with her judicial appointments throughout the state. In 2017, she appointed Circuit Judge Brad Mendheim of Dothan to the Supreme Court to fill a vacancy.

Mendheim is a very well qualified jurist to sit on the state’s highest judicial tribunal.

Mendheim is extremely well liked and respected in his native Houston County.

In the 2018 elections, Mendheim lost a close election to Judge Sarah Stewart of Mobile.

Gov. Ivey wisely reappointed Mendheim to the court in the place of Justice Tom Parker who was elected Chief Justice.

Former Chief Justice Lynn Stuart, who Tom Parker replaced, has taken a seat on the State Ethics Commission. Judge Stuart was a Baldwin County Judge for 12 years prior to being elected to the Supreme Court in 2000. She served 18 years on the Supreme Court. Her term on the Ethics Commission is for four years, through August of 2023.

Gov. Ivey has set the special election dates

for the seat of Dimitri Polizos in Montgomery. Polizos, a popular restaurateur in the Capital City, died in March.

The first primary is June 11 with a runoff on Aug. 27. It is a Republican seat, which has drawn a crowded field of candidates.

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.

Across from Lowe’s, another convenient location to serve our customers

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

Eddie Smith CITY PRESIDENT

certificates of deposit and numerous electronic products and services.

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

ICK RD.

FREDER

Tiger Town

D AY TEW GA

Kroger

Our New Location Lowe’s

R.

Visit us here: www.auburnbank.com MEMBER FDIC

I-85

1851 Frederick Road Opelika

Equal Housing Lender

334-275-9600

Elliott & Associates Insurance Agency Opelika - (334)745-0888 elliottinsuranceagents.com

pelika O Observer

B9 May 22, 2019

Beauregard residents Pete and Michelle Vann have played key role in tornado recovery, relief efforts

By Morgan Bryce Editor On the afternoon of March 3, Beauregard residents Pete and Michelle Vann were on their way home from a family get-together in Hurtsboro, Pete’s hometown.

Cruising down Highway 51, Pete recalled seeing a line of traffic stopped. Soon, he pulled over and looked out the passenger window, witnessing a fresh trail of devastation that led to straight to his childhood home on Lee Road 38.

“We didn’t see any real damage coming down (Highway) 51 until a certain point. Then we saw that power lines were down near a substation, and from

there you could just see the damage and how widespread the devastation was,” Pete said.

Turning their Jeep around, the Vanns sped down Highway 51, then turned onto Lee Road 39 until it intersected with Lee Road 38. Again, there was little damage visible on the early stretch of that road.

After checking on the safety of some relatives who safely weathered the storm, the couple began the arduous part of their journey.

“Power lines were down, we went in ditches and over trees and power poles. We had to play ‘Frogger’ essentially,” Michelle remembered.

Minutes later, the couple pulled into the

Photo by Morgan Bryce/Opelika Observer yard of Pete’s childhood home. With his mother recently moving out of the house, Pete was readying to sell the home the following week. All that was left, however, was a heaping pile of rubble.

Next, they talked with a neighbor who had

Beauregard Volunteer Fire Department honored by Opelika Kiwanis Club last week; presented with Kiwanis Character Award for service following March 3 tornadoes Special to the Opelika Observer The Opelika Kiwanis Club honored the Beauregard Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) during their annual meeting on May 14.

Opelika Kiwanis Club Member Bob Harris, along with Lee County Sheriff Jay M. Jones, Probate Judge Bill English and commissioners Robert Ham and Richard LaGrand Sr. attended the meeting and presented the clubs newly established

Character Award to the group.

During the devastating tornado, the Beauregard Volunteer Fire Department, Beauregard Community along with Lee County and Alabama as a whole came to the aide of everyone affected by the storm. As the Beauregard community grows, the BVFD strives to serve and protect everyone. It is important that the BVFD can continue to advance with the community.

During the meeting, Chief Mike Holden pre-

sented his report for the past year. Below are some facts reported Statistics: - May 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019 - 875 calls - 4,871.5 hours spent responding to calls - 794 training hours - 24 members With the purchase of property for two new fire stations and for a storm shelter to be included when station one is moved, steps are under way to better serve the community.

survived being thrown several yards by the storm and was managing to walk with a gashed head and broken back and neck bones.

Shortly after, Michelle’s mother called and told her a second tornado was on its way.

“Michelle’s mother

called and she told that a second was closing in and that we had to find shelter. I was like, ‘where do you want me to take cover? There’s nothing left,’” Pete said.

“The weather completely changed after she called,” Michelle

said. “The wind stopped blowing and it grew eerily calm.

That’s when we knew it was time to get out of there.”

During their attempt to leave, the Vanns saw two men named Jordan and Steven who seemed badly injured. Persuading them to “jump in the jeep,” the group drove off as the second, smaller twister sped to where they once were.

Pete drove through the myriad of obstacles while Michelle sat in the back seat keeping Jordan awake, who appeared to be suffering from concussion-like symptoms. Shortly after turning onto Lee Road 39 again, the Vanns met local firefighters on the road, who told them See Vann, page B13

East Alabama Youth for Christ representatives speak at recent Opelika Lions Club meeting

Special to the Opelika Observer Kevin Flannagan, left, Executive Director of East Alabama Youth for Christ, and Drew Crowson, right, campus life director for the organization, were recent guests of the Opelika Lions Club. Campus Life ministry combines healthy relationships with creative programs to help young people make good choices, establish a solid foundation for life, develop as lifelong followers of Jesus Christ and positively impact their schools. Currently, EAYFC has clubs in Auburn, Opelika, Loachapoka, Valley, Notasulga, Beulah and Springwood Schools, as well as Auburn Junior High School. Introduction was made by Lion Jim Allen, center.

Tulip Garden Club holds final meeting of 2018-19 year Special to the Opelika Observer Pictured left to right: Deputy Chief John McCracken, Opelika Kiwanis Club Member Bob Harris, Assistant Chief Melton Dennison, Commissioner Robert Ham, Probate Judge Bill English, Chief Mike Holden, Sheriff Jay M. Jones and Commissioner Richard LaGrand Sr.

Special to Opelika Observer Pictured back left to right: Mary Sinnett, Ashley Rusk, Lynn York, John Parker, Brooklyn, Rubio, Bryce Morris. Pictured middle left to right: Sammy Hutchinson, AP Pulsifer, Susanne Polk, Capt. David Warfield, Boyd French, Chief Mike Holden. Pictured front left to right: Deputy Chief John McCracken, Destry Harrison, Wes Jones, Asst. Chief Melton Dennison, John Polk, Lt. Ben Harmon and Capt. Terry Knowles.

Special to the Opelika Observer Tulip Garden Club observed the final meeting for the 2018-2019 year with a cookout at the home of Debbie Stinson. Shown left to right are hostess Debbie Stinson, incoming vice president, Leslie Sumrall and president Pat May.

pelika O Observer

B10 May 22, 2019

Sen. Doug Jones introduces legislation last week: Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act and Assistance for Farmers Harmed by Tariffs on Exports Act Special to the Opelika Observer U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and other bipartisan senators introduced legislation last week providing tax relief for survivor benefits received by children who have lost a parent as a result of their service in the military.

A provision in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act significantly raised the taxes on these survivor benefits to rates as high as 37%. The bipartisan Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act would reverse this provision in the tax bill.

Gold Star families who received a surprise tax hike on their children’s benefits in their 2018 tax bills are facing this “Kiddie Tax” because they are also subject to what’s called the “Widow’s Tax.” Senator Jones recently introduced legislation to repeal the “Widow’s Tax,” a law

that prevents as many as 65,000 surviving military spouses nationwide from receiving their full survivor benefits from both the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA). As a direct result of the Widow’s Tax, Gold Star parents often put their DoD benefits in their children’s names in order to collect the full survivor benefits they are due and have also paid for in the form of annuities for a voluntary DoD life insurance program.

“Gold Star families have given more to our country than most of us could ever imagine.

While we can never repay their immense sacrifices, we do make a solemn commitment to care for them. Unfortunately, thousands of these widows and widowers are currently denied the full benefits they’re due, which forces many to resort to putting some

Sophocleus,

from B7

zens are negatively impacted by exposure to the worst in our prison populations.

Victimized by ‘one size fits all’/feel good type sentencing mandates, individuals without access, connections and wealth to avoid imprisonment who screen with an aptitude to complete a degree can be disaggregated to these smaller existing facilities requiring less staff and oversight.

APAEP was not formed on a particular day in the past. It was and continues to be an evolving program fueled by a dedicated group of artists, researchers, scholars and writers who’ve witnessed knowledge and creative development can change someone’s life. I’m not in any way a spokesperson, but in full disclosure I am an APAEP instructor. As I bring my 30 years to a close at Auburn University, I would consider being part of a pilot program where I’m a corrections officer and instructor with outstanding student prisoners as the APAEP assigned me to teach economics last summer. This could help with officer/prisoner ratios.

Ward clearly understands the benefit/return to programs of this sort in the long-run via reduced recidivism and department of corrections expenditures.

From all I’ve observed, Department of Corrections (DOC) Commissioner Jefferson Dunn understands APAEP could be an integral part of responding to our prison crisis. I pray the commissioner and legislators will reach out to Kyes Stevens to shepherd our State to a more effective response. Stevens is founder and director of APAEP at Auburn University, a program serving 10 Alabama prisons through pre-college and college classes. Through this program, the first bachelor

of these benefits in their children’s names. To significantly raise taxes on those children’s benefits is unconscionable, and I am proud to join with my colleague Senator Cassidy to propose legislation to correct this egregious mistake. It is a first step toward honoring our commitment and making these families whole financially,” Senator Jones said, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Assistance for Farmers Harmed by Tariffs on Exports Act Jones also introduced legislation last week that would offer financial and technical support to help farmers and producers recover losses caused by the President’s ongoing trade war with China. The Assistance for Farmers Harmed by Tariffs on Exports Act will offer Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to those hurt by

of science degree for the Alabama prison system was launched in 2016. Stevens has received awards for her role as an influential woman in Alabama and has been invited to participate in numerous White House discussions about the role of higher education in criminal justice reform. I know it is unusual to say Alabama was ahead of the curve on this one and was giving consultation and input to other states smart enough to see this result.

The harsh reality is many of the well-connected in our state do not want some of these individuals imprisoned in the economy competing with them and those they want to shield from competitors. So those who would be in school and getting education are not being served by the ETF and putting more pressure on the general fund to be a holding place for some prisoners who really do not belong behind bars and could be talented productive participants in our state’s economy.

There’s no doubt public servants espousing feelgood campaign promises to be “tough on crime” now find themselves struggling to pay for a criminal justice system which (to achieve the purpose of stifling competition) emphasizes a strategy of mass incarceration. Alabama’s criminal justice system has skewed toward this model for decades. Over reliance on mass incarceration proffered this expensive system, oft counterproductive, serving as a ‘training ground’ for hardening criminals instead of a public safety asset (to separate dangerous individuals from society) to establish a well-defined course toward redirecting and rehabilitating those worthy of a second chance. The prisoners who CAN be successful, if allowed, are less likely to return to incarceration and increase the burden on taxpayers.

The pro-mass incarceration bent to block those

China’s retaliatory tariffs.

TAA was created in 1962 to provide direct financial and technical assistance to workers impacted by changes in global trade. In 2002, the TAA program was expanded to include assistance to growers, producers, and fishermen if they experienced hardship as a result of changing commodity markets from increased imports.

Unfortunately, the current TAA program provides no help to farmers whose exports are hurt by changing policies and retaliatory tariffs triggered by our own government’s actions.

“These tariffs are taxes and they’re hurting our farmers especially,” Senator Jones said. “Not only are they trying to get back on their feet after natural disasters like Hurricane Michael, but they are facing a double-whammy from the President’s trade

who could be productive competitors takes a disproportionate toll on communities of colour, the undereducated, lower incomes unable to defend themselves and those suffering from mental illness/addiction. Government distortions to promote our modern ‘opium wars’ is fodder for another column, but nonetheless devastating.

“Tough-on-crime” public interest rhetoric has indeed been politically effective, such campaign promises and resulting policies have very real consequences on individuals, families, communities, and taxpayers long after a sentence is served. Alabama reportedly has the third highest (Carson & Anderson, 2016) imprisonment rate per capita in the nation. Our prisons have been as high as 195% capacity in 2014 according to 2015 Council of State Governments Justice Center data.

I’ve long campaigned against Alabama’s bent for mass incarceration resulting from habitual minor offender laws, mandatory minimum sentencing, and targeted drug laws. Reserving the extreme and costly punishment of incarcerating individuals who endanger society is just and economically sound. Our state prisons and county jails are filled with non-violent offenders, most of whom would more likely benefit from alternate corrections.

Mass incarceration is not always the most apropos response, but nonetheless an extremely expensive solution that’s driving the overcrowding and staffing challenges exacerbating recently documented inhumane conditions prompting DOJ intervention. Alabama prisons seem constantly in federal courts for Constitutional violations indicating a ‘petri dish’ for corruption and abuse.

A history of unnecessarily harsh treatment has plagued Alabama’s prison system. In 1875 the State generated revenue from leasing out prisoners to

war with China. I agree we need to punish bad actors like China that take advantage of the United States, particularly when it comes to issues like steel pricing and intellectual property theft, but this trade war has so far only hurt hard-working Americans. I’m hopeful that my legislation will help lessen the pain these tariffs have caused our farmers, while at the same time I’ll continue to urge an end to this pointless trade war.”

Senator Jones has been a vocal advocate on behalf of the American farmers, workers, and consumers who have been hurt by the new taxes resulting from the President’s trade war. He has taken a number of actions over the past year to mitigate the negative effects of imposed and threatened tariffs, including: - introducing bipartisan

work dangerous jobs.

Blackmon’s 2008 work found 45% of inmates in this convict-lease system died in a single year. Alabama became the last State to abolish this practice in 1928. In 1972, following a class action lawsuit brought by inmates, a federal judge found 8th and 14th Amendment violations in Alabama’s prisons due to inadequate medical care and treatment of inmates. Twenty years later the State was sued in another class action lawsuit on behalf of inmates with mental illness - finally settled eight years later, when Alabama finally agreed to major reforms.

We were the first State to revive chain gangs in 1995.

A lawsuit following the death of a prisoner in 1996 led to an agreement in federal court to stop the practice. The list goes on to the Supreme Court ruling Alabama’s use of hitching posts unconstitutional to DoJ declaring conditions at Alabama’s Tutwiler Prison for Women to be unconstitutional a few years ago, citing allegations of prison guards sexually harassing and abusing female inmates for decades.

According to Alabama’s DOC (2016) only 39% of inmates have a high school degree or equivalent - support of substantive GED education is important and good vantage point to identify top students as candidates for APAEP. Even after sentences are met, former inmates often face huge barriers as they try to rebuild their lives.

The majority of those in prison will be released and re-enter local communities. Stevens sees the current system insufficient to provide proper transition and support for successful reintegration; 60-75% of recently incarcerated individuals were unemployed a year after their release according to a National Institute of Justice 2013 report. When a criminal record effectively denies access to employment and

legislation to help family farms reorganize after falling on hard times as bankruptcy rates among American farmers near record highs; - partnering with Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) to urge the President to announce the second round of agricultural tariffs trade assistance; - leading a bipartisan effort to get answers from the Commerce Department about whether imports of autos and auto parts threaten national security; - introducing a bipartisan bill to reform and strengthen the national security tariff process in response to threatened national security tariffs on autos and auto parts; and - leading a letter with Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) to the Commerce Department to urge the administration to reconsider its threatened 25% auto tariffs.

community reintegration, former inmates are more likely to return to crime for survival, getting trapped in a revolving prison door.

As explained above, the economic result is a depleted labor pool of some bright, productive individuals that many do not want to compete with, further aiding and abetting continued crime cycles. State and local taxpayer burdens increase due to high rates of recidivism along with community support services required to remedy the collateral damages of mass incarceration. Over reliance on prison is clearly straining our entire criminal justice system. The ‘baked-in’ crisis is much more difficult to address today since Alabama did not follow pathbreakers like Stevens. Other States which had the good sense to put more into APAEP type programs enjoyed the long-run benefit instead of locking into more mass incarceration. I understand this is one of many improvements to consider with more GED classes along with community and specialty courts for minor crimes/first offenders, restorative justice, parole reforms Ward is proposing, better targeted/ streamlined probation process, supervised re-entry, and workrelease programs to name a few. APAEP may have outgrown Auburn University, requires more support or can be incorporated into the DOC’s statewide GED program. I understand it will apply to a small group of prisoners with the aptitude and eligibility to be in an undergrad program of this sort, but this is where the highest benefit (especially to long-run taxpayers) appears to be.

Sophocleus is an economist who worked 10 years at Ford Motor Company to completely retire from after 30 years teaching this year; he’s also an Alabama Gazette monthly columnist since 2009 where this full May column is printed and online.

pelika O Observer Congressman Rogers introduces legislation in support of Israel

By Mike Rogers Special to the Opelika Observer Recently in the halls of Congress, it’s become a much-too-common practice for some Democrats to spew hatred and anti-Semitism.

From Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez to Rep. Rashida Tlaib to Rep. Illhan Omar, their words cut deeply. Their spreading of anti-Semitism is harmful to all Americans.

On the world stage, we have also seen the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement gaining traction and trying to hurt Israel. The BDS movement is a cover for some of the

world’s worst anti-Semites.

The movement is ultimately devoted to the destruction of the state of Israel.

I am a strong supporter of Israel. Not only is Israel fundamental to my Christian faith, it is one of our greatest allies.

This week, to show my support, I, along with my Republican colleagues, signed a Discharge Petition to bring legislation to the House Floor for a vote.

If the Discharge Petition gets 218 signatures, H.R. 336, the Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 can be brought to the House floor for a vote. The legislation reaffirms the United States’ commitment

to Israel and against the BDS movement.

Months ago, the Senate passed similar anti-BDS legislation with some Democrat support. Meanwhile in the House of Representatives, the legislation has been collecting dust on Nancy Pelosi’s desk because of some of the Members of her party who have been outspoken critics of Israel.

There is no place in Congress or America for this type of hatred. It is vile and repugnant. It must be condemned.

I have been very disappointed in the Democrat leadership for not condemning this type of behavior and for not standing

up for Israel. I hope we can bring this vote to the floor and show the world that we are standing up for and standing with Israel.

As always, I want to hear from you on this or any issue.

Please sign up for my e-Newsletter and the Rogers’ Roundup by visiting www.mikerogers.house. gov.

To stay up to date, you can also like me on Facebook at facebook. com/CongressmanMikeDRogers, follow me on Twitter and Instagram using the handle RepMikeRogersAL and subscribe to my YouTube page at youtube.com/MikeRogersAL03.

B11 May 22, 2019

Rep. Mike Rogers issues statement on border security, immigration “A White House plan to boost border security and reform our immigration system is a welcome step,” Rep. Mike Rogers said. “The administration isn’t able to go it alone – Congress must carry out its Constitutional duty to legislate to address the serious challenges at our southwest border. I am hopeful this proposal will open negotiations. We must address the growing humanitarian and national security crisis.”

Special to the Opelika Observer Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, released the statement above last week following the release of the Trump administration’s plan to strengthen border security and reform legal immigration.

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met. Assist in the formulation of plans and programs, evaluation of existing programs, and establishment of organizational goals.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in management, business administration, public administration, or related field, years of progressively responsible experience in public housing, HCVP, Property Management or an equivalent combination of education and experience; Valid Driving License; ability to be insured under the Authority’s vehicle policy; ability to travel as needed Please visit our website to apply:www.opelikaha.org

For more info and to submit resume and application with qualifications in writing to: ravery@ opelikaha.org or via mail: Human Resources Opelika Housing Authority P.O. Box 786 Opelika, Alabama 36803-0786

Volunteers Needed Alacare Hospice is seeking volunteers to help provide neighborly love & support to patients in their final days. All training provided free of charge. Do you have the gift of time? Please call Katie Spotswood 334-7419918”

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pelika Observer O

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pelika O Observer Vann,

B13 May 22, 2019

Smiths,

from B9

from B7

to take the two injured men to receive medical treatment The Vanns dropped the two men off at the volunteer fire department located across the street from Sanford Middle School, where they were quickly transported by ambulance to East Alabama Medical Center for treatment.

Next on the Vann’s minds were going back and helping with search-and-rescue efforts. They returned to Lee Road 38 and worked until 10 or 11 p.m. when law enforcement called off their search. Both Pete and Michelle helped find several of the 23 confirmed storm fatalities.

Owners and operators of their wrestling and boxing gym, the Vanns opened up their business for volunteers and others assisting to stay during the early days and weeks of recovery efforts.

The couple have been heavily involved in the ongoing cleanup efforts and Michelle has created a Facebook group for people to share photos they have

Photo special to the Opelika Observer recovered, with the hope of returning it to its rightful owner. They both said there is much work left to be done in the recovery process.

Their heroic actions on March 3 were recognized by WTVM and their selection of the couple as their “Hometown Heroes of the Week.”

As a direct result of the storm, the Vanns said they were able to meet “some amazing people and volunteers” from all over the country, including states like Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin as well as make some lasting friendships.

The “Beauregard Strong” mentality displayed by the commu-

nity in the immediate aftermath and following weeks since the storms comes as no surprise to the Vanns. For them, Beauregard is the place where they fell in love, started a family and decided to spread their roots.

“We might have our differences or bickerings, but when it’s all said and done, we’re just one big family.

There’s not a lot of big money or a centralized municipal government to rely on, all we have is each other,” Pete said. “We’re a very proud community, and if someone needs help, I can guarantee you that someone will be there, willing and ready to do what they can.”

$160,000 has been collected this fiscal year, a huge first step towards progress according to Copeland.

“These monies are a huge help for us … it helped us purchase our first city vehicle and helped cover the cost of our city-wide trash pick-up system among other things.

With this, the sky is the limit,” Copeland said. “One can only imagine how far we’d be along if this had been enacted years ago.

Now, we’ll be able

to make that dream a reality.”

Copeland also recognized Smiths Station resident Kenneth Kelly by proclamation, honoring him for his nearly 40 years of military service.

“I really don’t like accolades much but I’m appreciative of the recognition of my service. I didn’t work hard because of the pay or recognition, but because it was the right thing to do,” Kelly said.

In other business, the council: - approved a resolution for the “Back to School State Sales Tax Holiday” from 12:01 a.m. July 19 to midnight July

21 (Friday through Sunday) - heard updates from Copeland on storm recovery and the planned opening of the historic Jones Store Museum later this year.

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

E.S.T. and regular meeting at 6 p.m.

They meet within the council chambers of the Smiths Station Government Center, which is located at 2336 Lee Road 430.

For more information, call 334-2978771 or visit www. smithsstational.gov.

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Memorial Day 2019

City of Opelika Memorial Day Services Services Monday, May 27, 2019 10 a.m.

City Hall • 204 South 7th Street Special Guest Major Douglas Barrett U.S. Army Veteran Reception 11 a.m.

Museum of East Alabama 121 South 9th Street

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B14 May 22, 2019

pelika Observer O

COMICS

A good laugh heals a lot of hurts. — Madeleine L’Engle