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2022 — APA DIVISION D GENERAL EXCELLENCE DESIGNATION — 2023 COVERING LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Vol. 16, No. 02 Opelika, Alabama Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 Your local publication created 'for local people, by local people.'
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Downtown to be Bustling On Friday The Observer
See FRIDAY, page A2
Boonie Hat Coffee, now Market Street Coffee Shop, was a stop on the wine trail during the 2022 event.
Murder Suspects Denied Bond
HAMBLIN
DILLON BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER HGOLDFINGER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA — Following their arrests last week, Matt Dillon and Francis Hamblin have been detained without bond at the Lee County Justice Center. Dillon and Hamblin
Hires Managing Editor
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA — Downtown Opelika will offer a trifecta of entertainment Friday evening, Oct. 20, as Opelika Main Street's "On the Tracks" wine trail event coincides with the Opelika Chamber of Commerce's Food Truck Friday and Red Clay Brewing's 9th Annual Fall Bash. Live music will fill the streets, and, in addition to brick and mortar restaurants downtown, a number of food trucks will be parked along North Railroad Avenue and First Avenue, serving up food and treats beginning at 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. The annual "On the
PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER
BY ANITA STIEFEL ANITAS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
are suspects in the disappearance and possible murder of victim Reggie Stokes. The hearing was not a preliminary, but a hearing to determine if the two defendants would receive bond under Aniah’s Law. Luke Farmer, representing the state, had to
prove that certain conditions had to be met — that the public would be in danger or the defendants are at flight risk if let out on bail. Hamblin’s attorney. Lindsay Erwin, said that as of now, without identification of the body, without more concrete evidence, it would not be
right to deny Hamblin bail. “Everything is circumstantial,” she said. Judge Steven Speakman said he would be denying bond. “I do find the state carried its burden,” Speakman said. The preliminary trial for both men is set for Nov. 15.
ANITA STIEFEL BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER HGOLDFINGER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA — The Observer has welcomed Anita Stiefel as its new managing editor. “Before moving to Auburn in September, I most recently worked as managing editor of The Times-Journal newspaper in Fort Payne, Alabama,” Stiefel said. “My brother and I have always had the dream of retiring in Auburn, and when an opportunity arose, the whole family decided to move here.” Stiefel is not new to the area — she is an Auburn alumna, having graduated with both her bachelor’s and master’s in communication. She also completed her doctoral studies at the University of Southern Mississippi.
“I set out to be an orthodontist but fell into journalism while in the work-study program as an undergraduate,” Stiefel said. “I was assigned to The Auburn Alumnews, where I was mentored by the late, great Kaye Lovvorn and learned I have a penchant for writing so I changed my major to public relations and minored in journalism. “My first job after college was in the University Relations department, where I worked as assistant editor of the AU News Bureau for five years before being named public relations director at North Georgia College (now the University of North Georgia).” Stiefel hasn’t always covered the news, she also See STIEFEL, page A3
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