The Observer | 02-29-2024

Camping World: selling fun and memories

BY ANDY LEE WHITE FOR THE OBSERVER

LEE COUNTY — Who hasn’t thought about the RV life at one time or another? Most of us have imagined selling everything and hitting the road, seeing the sights at our own pace and on our own schedule. Others just dream of an all-in-one traveling second home as they visit points of interest while still maintaining their permanent homes.

Camping World’s new store in Salem at 3141 Lee Road 179 (just off Highway 280) is located where Ashley Outdoors was before being acquired by Camping World at the end of 2023.

The Salem location, which sits on 26 acres and has more than 400 campers on the lot, opened its doors for business on Jan. 5. It currently employs about 30 people in positions including sales, receptionists, office workers, lot porters, detailers and technicians, with plans to add more staff as the company grows.

The RV retailer plans to have an official grand opening around the end of March or beginning of April, after completion of the second phase of construction. The massive U.S. flag that all Camping Worlds are known for is already flying high at the new Salem store and can be easily seen as you approach the property from either direction.

The store is open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. CST.

Manager Dan Eudis said the company aims to show its customers how easy, affordable and convenient the RV life can be.

“At Camping World, we sell fun and memories,” he said. “That’s what’s great about the RV business. When you are traveling with your family and you are camping with your family, you are never going to forget those memories.”

Eudis said his Salem location is the first of 15 new Camping World

locations to open during the first quarter of this year, bringing the total number nationwide to over 210 dealerships with plans to have 320 locations over the next five years.

Recreational vehicles (RVs) range in size from 22 feet up to 34 feet. The smallest camping experience starts with 14-foot pop up campers that can easily be towed.

At Camping World, every purchase comes with a free three-year elite membership with Good Sam. Good Sam includes services such as travel assist, free towing for your whole family and their vehicles, along with savings on 2,000 Good Sam affiliated campgrounds across the country. “There’s just so much benefit to that (Good Sam membership) that nobody else can give anybody,” said Eudis.

“Our sales associates are great. They take people around, they kind of sit down and figure out what they (customers) want to use it for and then we can kind of guide them into the camper that will fit their needs,” he said. “There are benefits to both pulling and driving your camper. Some people don’t want to pull a trailer around. They just want a motor home and they want to travel the country and drive and live in the same vehicle. We sell fun and we sell the experience more than anything. Memories.”

Eudis said Camping World offers a complete RV experience.

“When a customer comes in, they can literally leave here with their camper, all the supplies they need to go camping, finance it and have insurance when they leave that day. So, we are a one-stop shop,” he said. “Customers can add all of the options they need to their RVs including washer/dryer combos and propane stoves. Special order options are available to order.”

Camping World sells about 20 different brands from reputable manufacturers with different price points, and most of the

offered brands are built in Indiana and all are American-made, Eudis said. The Salem dealer is also one of only two Camping World locations that carries Grand Design, a more rare and sought-after brand from a newer company.

“Because we carry so many brands, we have access to getting many items quickly from other stores if we don’t have what someone is looking for in stock,” Eudis said.

When asked how Camping World selected Salem as the location for one of their dealerships, Eudis responded that the location is “kind of in-between everything.”

“It seems like they’ve (Camping World) been putting stores in places where travellers go and highways that get them there,” he explained. “We’re going to have a full-service center here. We’re going to have a full retail store coming in the next 60 days or so and a full parts department. We do have limited parts right now. This is just a huge area for campers travelling through and with all the campgrounds around.”

Camping World was founded in 1966 and is the world’s largest recreational vehicle dealer. It is a publicly traded company. Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis said the new dealership in Salem is part of the company’s growth plan.

“This acquisition continues our growth strategy by providing additional service and product excellence to our growing customer base in the Southeast,” Lemonis said. “Ashley Outdoors has been highly respected in Alabama and Georgia for many years, with their people-minded focus, which includes their associates and customers. We look at this acquisition as a unique opportunity to rapidly increase our presence in this market while continuing a strong culture of serving customers top selection and service.”

Camping

Sheriff announces new foundation

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

LEE COUNTY — The Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced today that it has established a new charitable organization, The Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation, and has launched the first fundraiser for the foundation, Cruiser Caffeine.

The Lee County Sheriff's Foundation will allow the Lee County Sheriff's Office to extend its community programs/outreach and training initiatives by allowing businesses and individuals to partner with, and make tax-deductible donations directly to, the foundation.

"In consideration of our mission of service to the community, establishing the Lee County Sheriff's Foundation provides us an additional opportunity to

engage in partnerships with organizations that work for the betterment of Lee County,” said Sheriff Jay Jones. “Whether it is promoting education and training for public safety or assisting to enhance the safety of our citizens, we are excited to engage in making our great community even better."

The Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation Board of Directors will oversee the everyday operations of the organization including fundraising and fund distribution decisions. The Board of Directors consists of: Jessica Henderson, Carlton Hunley IV, Jay Jones, Russell Jones and Carolyn Sadler.

"It’s an honor and a privilege to be a member of the Board of Directors for the Lee County Sheriff's Foundation,” said Hunley. “I

have always admired Sheriff Jones, but I know that he does not do his work alone. The staff in his office, and most of all, the law enforcement officers who get in a vehicle each day and pledge to keep our community safe are such a reflection of the Sheriff's office. I am truly humbled to join the Board for this foundation that is not only going to represent our

community well, but also will truly be a part of giving to the community."

The first program that the Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation is looking to help with is the Clear the List campaign, aimed at helping teachers within Lee County to fulfill their classroom wish lists for the 2024-25 school year.

In the summer of 2023, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received more than 150 lists from local teachers. Community members and local businesses helped to fulfill as many wishes as possible, but many remained. Through the foundation, the hope is to increase the amount teachers who are helped by this program.

“Within the Sheriff’s Office, we were looking for

ways to expand our community outreach efforts,” said Henderson. “The Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation will help us to do that by allowing us to seek out support for programs like Clear the List and R.A.D. Self-Defense classes. Teachers spend so much money out of their pockets to make their classrooms the best environment for learning that they can. The ability to reach more teachers and help with that through Clear the List is one of the things that I am most excited about. As we grow and expand, one of my long-term goals for the foundation is to be able to collaborate with other local organizations to reach their goals as part of our community outreach.”

Cruiser Caffeine

Along with the launch, the Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation announced its first fundraiser, Cruiser Caffeine, a special medium roast coffee in collaboration with Mama Mocha’s Roastery, a locally owned business in downtown Opelika. Cruiser Caffeine is a medium roast, hand-selected by Mama Mocha herself that is approachable, chocolatey and clean.

Each bag of Cruiser Caffeine coffee costs $16, of which $8 goes to the Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation and $8 goes to Mama Mocha’s. It is available for presale at lcsofoundation.org/ coffee through March 21.

For more information about the Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation or Cruiser Caffeine, visit lcso-foundation.org or email lcsofoundation@leecountysheriff.org.

World-renowned animal behaviorist brings her message about having autism to AU

BY ANITA STIEFEL ANITAS@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN — Auburn University’s College of Agriculture welcomed Dr. Temple Grandin, world-renowned academic, animal behaviorist and autism advocate to campus on Feb. 26.

A prominent author and speaker on both autism and animal behavior and a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, Grandin has a successful career consulting on both livestock handling equipment design and animal welfare. She was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016.

Her visit was part of the college’s Women in Agriculture program, which seeks to connect women in agriculture, to empower them through a program of professional networking and to encourage them to lead and mentor up-andcoming, young, female agricultural leaders. Throughout the day, she met with students in the colleges of agriculture, education and veterinary medicine. She was keynote speaker at the sold-out Women in Agricul -

ture luncheon. “What I want to talk about today is how there are different kinds of thinking,”

Grandlin said at a preluncheon media meet-andgreet. “I’m worried about my kind of mind being

screened out.”

In her books on autism, Grandin explains there are three ways in which peo -

ple see the world: visual thinking, math thinking and

SHERIFF JAY JONES

Silverton Mortgage opens Auburn office

New location will provide full mortgage services

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

AUBURN — Silver-

ton Mortgage, a leading direct residential mortgage lender, announced the opening of its new office in Auburn that will continue to grow the company’s partner lender relationships with wellknown residential home builders and serve other real estate partners in the market.

Mortgage loan originator Elizabeth Milner will head up the Auburn office, located at 1700 Miracle Road, Suite B.

The company will offer various loans, including conventional, adjustable

rate, FHA, USDA, VA and Silverton Secure, which helps future homeowners secure their mortgage before even finding a property. In addition, Silverton recently unveiled new loans where eligible homebuyers can receive 100% financing on conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans through a variety of loan programs and, in some cases, second mortgages.

“We’re excited to … help homebuyers experience a smooth, seamless home buying and financing process,” said Dan Dadoun, president of Silverton Mortgage. “In our new offices, we

will be able to provide experienced lending with top-notch local customer service that expands our reach and empowers

local homebuyers.”

ABOUT SILVERTON MORTGAGE

Founded in 1998,

City of Opelika receives $2 million grant for industrial development

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA — On Feb. 26, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that the city of Opelika would be receiving a $2 million Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy Act (SEEDS) grant which was approved by the State Industrial Development Authority. The grant will be matched by the city and will be used for an extension of North Park Drive in the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park and for a bridge across Halawakee Creek.

“SEEDS represents an important tool that will allow us to keep winning those economic development projects that trigger lasting impacts for Alabama citizens,” Ivey said.

“The awarding of the first grants under the program represents a milestone in our efforts to make sure Alabama remains competitive for game-changing growth projects.”

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller added, “We are pleased to be awarded this grant from the state. It will help Opelika further develop industry-ready sites so we can continue to bring in great paying jobs to our community. We are blessed to have the support of Governor Ivey.”

A total of $30.1 million in SEEDS funding will be awarded and matched in local funds at 29 different industrial sites encompassing nearly 8,400 acres across Alabama. The groundbreaking grant program — a key portion of the governor’s “Game Plan” package of economic development bills approved by the

Legislature last year — takes direct aim at the urgent need for quality industrial sites in Alabama at a time when other states are spending heavily to expand their site programs.

“This grant will allow Opelika to open its doors to more opportunity and economic growth. We need to be able to market this 282-acre site in our Northeast Park so that we can compete for larger projects, particularly in the Aerospace sector, and the road extension and bridge will pro-

vide the access we currently do not have,” said John Sweatman, Opelika Economic Development Director.

The Northeast Opelika Industrial Park, located adjacent to Interstate 85 and a short 75-minute drive to Atlanta’s International Airport, is a master-planned industrial development with all the needed infrastructure in place. It houses 10 industries which currently employ more than 3,000 people.

Silverton Mortgage is an acknowledged leader within the mortgage industry and is licensed in 46 states across the nation. For the last 3 years, more than 9 out of 10 borrowers have said they would recommend Silverton to their friends and family, as compiled by Experience.com® as of October 1, 2023. In addition, Silverton has repeatedly been recognized by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution® and Energage’s® Top Workplaces as one of the top places to work.

Silverton Mortgage also supports many community organiza -

GRANDIN >> from A4

tions with team time and resources including The Silverton Foundation, which provides mortgage and rent assistance to help reduce financial and emotional burdens for families with children who have been hospitalized or receive ongoing chronic or critical care treatments.

All loans are subject to credit approval.

Silverton Mortgage is authorized to originate FHA, VA, and USDA loans, but it is not an agent of, or affiliated with the U.S. Government.

verbal thinking. While neurotypical people have a blend of thinking types, people on the autism spectrum may only process information in one way.

“Visual thinkers, like me, think in pictures,” she said. “There are mathematical minds that think in patterns, like math and music, and then the word thinkers …verbal thinking has to over-generalize,” she said.

“The visual thinker — it’s a different form of problem-solving to see how mechanical things work. And too many of us are getting labeled ‘learning disabled’ and everything else. No, I can’t do higher math, but you need us.”

In 2010, HBO released an Emmy Award-winning movie about her life entitled, “Temple Grandin,” a docu-drama which depicts her experiences growing up with autism and shows how she thinks in pictures. Claire Danes won Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Emmy awards for best actress in the title role.

Grandin’s visit concluded that evening with a sold-out, private screening of “An Open Door,” a forthcoming documentary on her life and work that was directed by award-winning filmmaker John Barnhardt and is presented by Colorado State University. John Festervand was executive producer.

This documentary “sort-of picks up where the docu-drama left off,” explained Barnhardt.

“Temple’s ultimate thing is to be a problem-solver,” he said. “I think Temple’s life is in seasons: When she first got into it, it was about cattle, then it was about autism, then it was about education, now it’s about people thinking different and working together. Improving our educational system so people have that opportunity, that’s what this movie is about.”

ELIZABETH MILNER

Black-Tie Gala awards scholarships, honors physician

The Darden Foundation honors Dr. J.W. Darden, the first African American physician to practice medicine in our community. The foundation's mission is to extend Dr. Darden's legacy by promoting healthy lifestyles and providing health education with the goal of reducing health care costs and improving the health of our community. The Darden Foundation's 11th Annual Black Tie Gala was held Feb. 10. This year's Legacy Award Recipient was local physician Dr. Joel Pittard (pictured top left), former chief of medicine at East Alabama Medical Center and current chairman of the EAM Board of Directors. This year's scholarship recipients (pictured on the second row, left) are Asia White, Brianna Lemoine, Kalia Cook, LaQua'sha Wright and Madison Phillips. Pictured on the second row, right, Reginald Grady Williams, son of Rex and Natalie Williams, explains how he has benefited from the wellness programs offered at Darden House. He is pictured with Dr. Katie Wolter, co-founder of Nourish Wellness.

News vents, E

S Food ociety & News

BY ANN CIPPERLY

OPINION —

Kate and Revel Gholston lived in various places across the country before settling in Opelika, as they found it a “warm, welcoming city.” Kate is the children’s director at Opelika Library, while Revel is the director of theater productions at Opelika High School.

They are enjoying raising their family in Opelika, living near downtown where they can easily walk for dinner and enjoy activities.

When Kate and Revel moved to Opelika in 2005, they purchased a 1920-built house on Third Avenue and restored it.

The house is charming with its high ceilings, beautiful wood floors, old brick and other details. The family especially enjoys the outdoor areas. Along with the front porch, they relax on a side screened porch and a back deck overlooking the spacious grounds with ancient trees.

The Gholstons have two children. Eve, who is named after Kate’s maiden name Everett, is an eighth grader, and Atticus is a fourth grader at Northside. Eve is active in dance, bowling and the tennis team for Opelika High School.

The Everett family lived in Dallas, Texas.

Growing up, Kate’s father was in the Marines. When he was discharged, he accepted a position in marketing for the John Deere Tractor Company and was transferred often to different states. Kate was born in Iowa and

Southern Hospitality

Gholstons working on library events, high school theater

lived there for two years before her father was transferred to Ohio for seven years. After that, they lived in Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia. In her senior year of high school, her father was promoted, and they returned to Iowa.

Kate’s mother is a good cook, and her Grandmother Betty, who lived on a ranch in Dallas, also had a love of cooking. When her Grandmother Betty visited Italy, she came home with a pasta maker and made fresh pasta dishes. Kate’s mother prepared a home cooked meal every night except on Friday nights when the family would go out for dinner.

Kate attended the University of Iowa where she met Revel, whose father is from Luverne, Alabama. Revel’s father was also transferred often, and he moved from Alabama to New Orleans, Louisiana; Chicago, Illinois; and Detroit, Michigan. Revel and Kate were married in Dallas in 2004.

One Christmas while they were visiting Revel’s aunt, Colleen Alsobrook, who lives in Opelika, he met Dr. Phil Raley, who was superintendent of Opelika City Schools at the time. Dr. Raley told Revel the high school wanted to start a theater program. He applied and received the job.

While at Opelika High School, Revel has had much success with the theater program’s plays and musicals, which have been popular. The theater group won the state one-act competition and will be performing “The Quilt” in Mobile, next month. They will be representing Alabama with one other high school.

In April, the Opelika High School theater group will present “West Side Story” at the Performing Arts Center.

Kate worked at the

middle school in Opelika for 20 years and in June last year began working at the new library. She plans programs for children including story times, while Malissa Hanson works with teens. They plan activities and programs for children and youth aged kindergarten through 12th grade.

Currently, the library is featuring the exhibit “Aim High: Soaring with the Tuskegee Airmen” until April 27. It is free to the public and interactive for ages 4 to 14 years old. It provides a series of stations to promote interactive play.

About 30 programs are offered every month, such as making bird houses on national bird’s day.

“We want the library to be a great place to come and gather,” said Kate. “We want to educate and inspire children to check out books while they are here. Teens have a separate space.”

Parents can sign up to receive the monthly newsletter that lists the programs. When children are out of school, different

activities are offered.

Being a busy mother, Kate plans menus ahead. She and Revel prep meals on Sunday afternoon for the coming week. Kate will prepare a nice dinner on Sunday night that will make enough for at least one more meal.

She plans to have a salad every night. The family likes spaghetti, so they will have that a couple of nights. On Fridays, Kate is following her family’s tradition of dining out. They enjoy a meal together in downtown Opelika.

Kate and Revel enjoy different kinds of foods. He enjoys grilling, making breakfast foods and preparing his father’s recipe for Joe’s Jambalaya from when they lived in New Orleans for eight years. Revel is sharing that recipe while Kate is providing several family recipes.

While she doesn’t like to bake as much, Eve enjoys baking, especially cookies and cinnamon rolls. Eve

made a birthday cake for her brother last year.

Kate has been thinking about making jams and jellies like her grandmother. She believes many people are starting to discover lost skills.

She will be using a new children’s book called “The Book of Forgotten Skills,” at the library during spring break. She is having a “screen break” with no iPads or phones. Every day the children will be learning a different skill from the book and making things using their hands.

“We love being here,” Kate said, “and we feel so fortunate with the school system and city. Sometimes life puts you where you should be. After Revel and I moved so much growing up, we are glad to be in one place, and our kids get to have a hometown.”

GUACAMOLE ½ onion, chopped 4-6 ripe avocados

1 tomato Fresh juice from one lemon

Salt

Chop the onion, avocados and tomato and combine in a bowl. Then squeeze ½ to 1 whole lemon and add salt (I prefer coarse sea salt.)

Mash it all together and enjoy. I prefer a chunky guacamole, and you can add jalapenos, cilantro and anything else you might like. I always bring this to parties, and there is never any left over.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

My grandmother Betty lived in Dallas and would order this at the restaurant in Neiman Marcus. She later bought the cookbook and made her own version. It is delicious and filling without being heavy, and there is no dairy until the condiments.

6-8 corn tortillas,

Kate Gholston, children’s director at Opelika Library, is a busy working mother. She enjoys cooking for her family and will prepare a nice meal on Sunday nights with husband Revel and their children, Eve and Atticus, gathered around the table. Kate is pictured with Atticus, who is helping her prepare dinner.

Applications now open for Opelika’s 2024-25 Lee County Young Leaders

OPELIKA — The Opelika Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that applications for this year’s Lee County Young Leaders program are now open.

Lee County Young Leaders is a county-wide program that aims to nurture and develop positive leadership qualities in high school students by giving them the knowledge, tools, and contacts to become successful leaders in the community.

This program begins in September 2024 and will have one session per month until April 2025. Sessions will cover topics and skills like team building, education, public safety, health & human service, economic development and government. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet area leaders in business, media, government, education and service organizations, all while earning a one-hour

Leadership credit to Southern Union State Community College.

The applications will be judged anonymously based on application neatness, extracurricular activities, career choice, hobbies and leadership potential with only 34 high school juniors and seniors being selected each year.

The deadline to apply is Friday, April 12.

The Lee County Young Leaders program is a joint initiative among Lee County businesses, municipalities and Chambers of Commerce. It is sponsored by the city of Opelika, the city of Auburn, Auburn City Schools, Lee County Board of Education and Opelika City Schools.

For more information about the program visit www.opelikachamber.com/ leadership-development/ lcyl.

To apply to join the Lee County Young

Leaders Program visit www.docs.google.com/ forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9yw7JVQFuPD1fjn0_nVslFeUjG-sl_9MAozM1Dq2cDVIFug/viewform.

ABOUT THE OPELIKA

CHAMBER :

For more than 80 years, the Opelika Chamber has worked to strengthen the community as the champion of business by building bridges, cultivating community and elevating business in order to achieve excellence. Representing more than 900 businesses and over 20,000 employees in the region, the Opelika Chamber has been recognized for its operational best practices among 501(c)6 not-for-profit Chambers of Commerce. The Opelika Chamber is one of only three 5-star accredited chambers in the state of Alabama. You can learn more at www.opelikachamber.com.

APL offers Spring Break activities

AUBURN — The Auburn Public Library will host a number of local authors on select Saturdays this spring. Each event is open to the public, and books will be available for purchase and signing.

On Saturday, March 2, at 9:30 a.m., local children’s book author Negrita Smart will read from her debut book, “Grace and the Golden Rule,” at Family Story Time. Smart, a self-described small-town girl from Dadeville, Alabama, utilizes her talent for sharing knowledge and information as a new-hire trainer. She is also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a Clara J. Johns Literary Award recipient. Smart is driven to share life lessons with children through storytelling and relatable characters.

AUBURN — The Auburn Public Library (APL) invites the community to spend spring break at the library. In addition to the library’s regular programming, the following special activities are planned for the week of March 4-8:

• Monday, March 4, 10 a.m. — All are invited to an hour of cartoon shorts at Toon Time.

• Monday, March 4, 3:30 p.m. — All are invited to a movie matinee featuring “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” (PG).

• Thursday, March 7, 6 to 7:30 p.m. — #TeenTrends: Teens in grades seven to 12 are invited to make a spring tote bag.

• Friday, March 8, 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. — All are invited to performances by the APL Puppet Troupe. Stay after to create a spring craft.

All Auburn Public Library programs are free and open to the public. All supplies will be provided. For more information, email library events or call (334) 501-3296.

AUBURN — The Auburn Public Library is challenging everyone to spring into reading with the Birds & Blooms Spring Learning Challenge.

The challenge: Read or listen to at least 1,000 minutes from March 1 through April 30. Participants who complete the challenge in the Beanstack reading tracking app by April 30 will receive their choice of either an Auburn Public Library Tshirt or hoodie (while supplies last). The challenge is open to all ages. Register at auburnpl.beanstack.org or download the Beanstack Tracker app on any smartphone or tablet. Participants do not need a library card. Need help registering? Stop by the Auburn Public Library at 749 E. Thach Ave. and ask a staff member

Friends of the Library Donation Day

OPELIKA — Drop off your gently used books with the Friends of the Library from 10 a.m. to noon on March 2. Please, no textbooks, encyclopedias or magazines. Books will be accepted on the side of the library near the outdoor book drop. The Opelika Public Library is located at 1100 Glenn St. in Opelika.

OPELIKA — OPL's Pajama Story Time features calm and relaxing songs and stories perfect to set your family up for a restful night of sleep. This is a weekly event that takes place on Monday nights from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. at the libary. All ages are welcome.

For more events at the Opelika Public Library visit www.opelika.librarycalendar.

Lee County Young Leaders is a county-wide program aimed at nurturing and developing positive leadership qualities in high school students by giving them the knowledge, tools and contacts to become successful leaders in the community.

Sundilla Concert Series presents RUNA March 1

CONTRIBUTED TO THE

OBSERVER AUBURN — Cele-

brating the 15-Year Anniversary as a band and the release of its eighth album, Celtic-American Roots music “super group” RUNA returns to Sundilla on Friday, March 1.The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, located at 450 E. Thach Ave. Advance tickets are $20 and can be found at Spicer’s Music, Ross House Coffee, Foodie’s and online at www.

sundillamusic.com. Admission at the door will be $25 ($15 for students). Free coffee, tea, water and food will be available for all, and attendees are invited to bring whatever food or beverage they prefer.

RUNA continues to push the boundaries of Irish folk music into the Americana and roots music formats, interweaving the haunting melodies and exuberant tunes of Ireland and Scotland with the lush harmonies and intoxicating rhythms of jazz, bluegrass, flamenco and

fully cooked. This is so easy and makes a complete meal. Serve with a salad.

coarsely chopped

6 garlic cloves

Chopped fresh cilantro (I add about a handful, but this is your preference.)

1 cup onion puree (I just throw it in the food processor.)

2 cups fresh tomato puree (I also just throw it in the food processor.)

1 Tbsp. cumin

2 tsp. chili powder

2 bay leaves

4 Tbsp. tomato puree

2 qt. or boxed chicken stock

Salt to taste

Cayenne pepper to taste

1 pkg. chicken tenders or 3 breasts, cooked and shredded

Toppings (all optional):

Cubed avocado

Shredded cheddar

Sour cream

Heat a few

tablespoons. of olive oil over medium heat and sauté the chopped corn tortilla pieces with garlic and cilantro until soft.

Add onion puree and fresh tomato puree and bring to a boil.

Add cumin, chili powder, bay leaves, the 4 tablespoons of canned tomato puree and chicken stock.

Bring to a low boil and reduce to simmer.

Add salt and cayenne to taste and cook for 30 to 45 minutes (stir frequently).

Add in shredded chicken and simmer for a bit.

Then serve and garnish as you like. This soup tastes better the longer it sits, so it is great for leftovers. I add sliced avocado on mine.

KYLE’S CHICKEN

(the easiest dinner ever)

1 whole chicken

1 bag baby carrots

1 bag fresh small potatoes

Lawry’s seasoning salt

Lemon pepper Garlic powder

In a Dutch oven, place chicken, carrots and potatoes. Liberally cover it all with a mixture of the above 3 spices. (Be careful with the seasoning salt.)

Add a cup of water to bottom of pan and cook at 375 degrees for an hour to an hour and a half until chicken is

blues. This group is an international coalition, with members from Canada, the U.S. and Old Eire itself, each of them contributing the strains of their indigenous disciplines in a glorious, flouncing mishmash of cultures and cadences.

RUNA’s musicians are among the very best to be found in the public prosecution of Celtic and traditional stringed minstrelry. They’ve individually appeared in high-end, full-scale stage shows such as Riverdance and Celtic

350 degrees for 30 minutes. This is so easy and makes a delicious batch of brownies from scratch.

JOE’S JAMBALAYA

Revel’s family lived in New Orleans when he was in grade school and his dad still makes this recipe when there is a big gathering. It feeds a crowd.

2 pkg. chicken cutlets

1 stalk celery

1 onion, halved

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups uncooked rice

1 lb. andouille sausage, sliced (Conecuh or turkey kielbasa, if you prefer)

1-2 pats butter

1 cup chopped yellow onion

1-2 chopped green bell peppers ¼ cup fresh parsley

6 oz. tomato paste

2 bay leaves ¼ tsp. thyme

2 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper ¼ tsp. Tabasco In a large pot, boil chicken with celery and halved onion. Remove chicken and shred. In the same boiling water, add in rice and cook (about 20 to 25 minutes).

In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook sausage. Remove meat and add butter. Sautee chopped onion, bell pepper and parsley until tender. Then re-add chicken and sausage. Stir in chopped garlic cloves, tomato paste, bay leaves, thyme, salt, pepper and Tabasco. Add this mixture to the pot of cooked rice. Mix thoroughly. Then enjoy.

GRANDMOTHER BETTY’S BROWNIES

1 stick unsalted butter

4 squares Bakers unsweetened/ bittersweet chocolate

2 cups sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. good vanilla extract

1 tsp. salt

4 eggs

Melt the squares of chocolate and butter on low heat in a pan. Melt it slowly so that you don’t burn the butter. In another bowl, mix all the other ingredients together and then add the melted chocolate mixture.

Pour into a greased dish and bake at

minutes.

CHICKEN VERDE

This is an easy weeknight meal if you are in a rush. It is good served with rice and black beans.

2 pkg. chicken cutlets or chicken breasts

1 jar Herdez salsa Verde

1 small can chopped green chiles (mild or hot, depending on your taste)

¼ cup chicken broth

1-2 Tbsp. sour cream (optional)

Optional Toppings: avocado slices, cilantro, lime

In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine salsa, chicken broth, chicken and chiles. Heat to a low boil until chicken is cooked. Then shred the chicken. Let it cool slightly and add 1 to 2 Tbsp. sour cream to the sauce and stir it in. Serve over rice and with black beans. You can add avocado, cilantro or lime to it as well.

LEMON PIE

1 cup sugar

¼ cup corn starch

1/8 tsp. salt

4 egg yolks

2 cups milk

3 Tbsp. butter

1 tsp. grated lemon rind

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

½ tsp. good vanilla extract

Mix sugar, salt and cornstarch together. In another bowl, mix egg

yolk with milk. Put those ingredients together in a double boiler and cook until it is a thick consistency. Add remaining ingredients. (lemon, vanilla, etc.)

Pour into a baked pie shell of your choice and bake at 350 degrees.

GRANDMOTHER BETTY’S

BANANA NUT CAKE WITH ORANGE ICING

This is a tough cake to make, but my grandmother would make it for our visits.

If you love banana bread and citrus desserts, this is worth it.

1 cup butter, room temperature

3 cups sugar

2 tsp. baking soda

2/3 cup buttermilk

3 cups all-purpose flour

4 eggs, separated

5 ripe bananas, mashed

2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup crushed pecans ½ tsp. salt

Icing ingredients:

½ cup butter

Two 16 oz. boxes powdered sugar

Fresh orange juice

Cream the butter and sugar. Dissolve the soda in the buttermilk and add to the butter/sugar mixture in alternation with the flour. This takes a bit.

Add beaten egg yolks, bananas, vanilla, pecans and salt.

Lastly, add stiffly beaten egg whites.

Bake in four 9-inch cake pans at 350 degrees for 30 to 35

Woman. RUNA has been honored internationally, winning Top Group and Top Traditional Group at the Irish Music Awards and three Independent Music Awards in three categories: Best Live Album, Best World/Traditional Song and Best Bluegrass Song. Their strive for excellence and creativity blazes a trail for the future of folk music, earning them the reputation as one of the most innovative Irish folk groups of this generation.For more information, go to www. sundillamusic.com.

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

For the icing: Cream butter with ½ of powdered sugar. Add some orange juice (be cautious and add in a little at a time so that it is not too runny). Alternate adding in orange juice and remaining powdered sugar until you get the right consistency for icing. Then ice between the layers and the top/ sides of the cake.

“CAESAR” SALAD DRESSING

Combine the following ingredients:

½ cup olive oil

¼ cup red wine vinegar (or 1/8 a cup balsamic with 1/8 cup red wine vinegar of your choice)

2 cloves garlic, pressed

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce ¼ tsp. salt

Pepper Toss in a fresh green salad. Great with feta and parmesan cheese.

EVERETT FAMILY MARINADE FOR GRILLING CHICKEN

My Dad would make this weekly when grilling season arrived. Great on chicken and so easy.

¼ stick butter

Lemon juice

Worcestershire sauce

In a saucepan, melt butter and add lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce to taste. Brush on chicken while grilling. Makes great grilled chicken to serve over salads or with fresh summer vegetables.

I have made this soup multiple times when someone is feeling under the weather. The lemon and dill add a little something extra.

2 Tbsp. butter

1 diced onion

2-3 carrots, diced

2 ribs celery, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced 8 cups chicken stock

2 bay leaves Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

2 pkg. chicken cutlets

2 ½ cups wide egg noodles

3 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill

1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more, to taste

Melt butter in a large stockpot or Dutch oven medium heat. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Stir in chicken stock and bay leaves; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add chicken and bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until chicken is cooked through, about 30 to 40 minutes. Remove chicken and let cool before dicing into bite-size pieces, discarding bones.

Stir in chicken and pasta and cook until tender, about 6 to 7 minutes.

Remove from heat; stir in parsley, dill and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove bay leaves before serving.

BY SEAN DIETRICH

OPINION —

If you’re a boy, and you’re thinking of marrying a Southern woman like I did, you’d do well to understand how she thinks first.

Take for instance, my wife, Jamie. I’ve spent years in training beneath her tutelage. I’ve learned a few things. Not a lot, but a little.

And I’d like to share some tips to help you on your journey, my friend.

1: Even though your Southern wife appreciates you trying, you are much too simpleminded to wash dishes. In fact, you couldn’t even make ice without a recipe. Loading residential dishwashers is only to be done by card-carrying members of the Junior League — or their mothers.

2: Do your wife a favor and familiarize yourself with the federal laws of Southern female fashion. They aren’t difficult to remember. Here’s one: females shall not wear white between Labor Day and the SEC Championship. Unless it’s a leap year. In which case, women are not allowed to wear chevronprint, flip flops, corduroy or expose tattoos to members of the Rotary Club on Tuesdays.

Sean of the South

be fun. Lists written by your Southern wife will contain cryptic shorthand only intelligible to certain members of Navajo tribes. Furthermore, you’re a terrible supermarket shopper. All that cheap toilet paper you bought? Your wife could sand a boat with that stuff.

4: At night, it is permitted for a Southern woman’s bedside lamp to remain on while she catches up on Russian literature. Yes, it might seem as though you’re falling asleep with aircraft lights aimed at your wispy thin eyelids. You can always try cussing.

5: Remember the good old days? When you used to tell stories to buddies, and they’d die with laughter? That’s over now. A Southern debutante, like your wife, has legal authority to question your bull-hockey in public. Once she shuts you down, she will then prove that you don’t even know how to spell debutante.

6: You used to pick out your own clothes. Nowadays, you couldn’t dress a scarecrow worth a cuss.

7: Always remember that your honey-do list will be written on your tombstone and in your obituary. Your mother-inlaw already knows this list backward and forward. So do members of your local Junior League chapter.

8: When out for dinner, it is grounds for divorce to order a salad if your Dixie Belle orders steak, pork or chitlins. She will think you are making a passive

confront you with, “Salad? Are you trying to say I’m fat?” Similarly, never, under any circumstances, go to the gym together.

9: If you should ever eat peanut butter with a spoon, please see rule No. 1.

10: When your Southern wife asks, “Do I look fat?” any response (including involuntary twitches of your trick eyelid) will be your last. Try this: tuck a five-dollar bill into her waistband, then tell her to walk slowly around the room while you holler and whistle like a fool.

However, if your wife is like mine, she won’t even bat an eyelash for anything less than a fifty.

From Feb. 28, 2019:

Dear Superman, I awoke way too early this morning. It was still dark. This morning, I was missing my late bloodhound.

Last year around this time, she was still alive, and she would sit beside me while I fiddled with the coffee pot. But she’s not here. Pancreatitis took her.

I’ll never forget it, last year we checked her into the pet hospital, they put her in one of those cones. They locked her in a cage. They shoved needles in her.

I was able to wedge my hand through the kennel door to pet her nose. It was the last time I ever saw her.

My mother always told me, “Don’t just tell someone you love them, write it down for them, then they can remember it always.”

Too bad dogs can’t read.

of country wisdom. I think she was a little like your Mama, Clark.

She’s the one who told me: “A bumblebee is faster than a John Deere.”

And: “Never judge a family tree by the nuts falling off it.”

And: “If you ever start to think you’re somebody, try telling a house cat what to do.”

Anyway, the reason I am writing you is because yesterday afternoon I opened the mailbox to find several bills, junk mail, real estate advertisements, and one manila envelope with no return address. Inside was an Action Comics comic book.

“Great Ceasar’s Ghost!” I thought to myself.

It took me back in time. I used to subscribe to Action Comics when I was a boy. I kept my subscription until I was 27 years old.

You were my childhood obsession. This began in earnest the week after my father’s funeral. My friend brought me a stack of your comics he’d gotten at a flea market for a few bucks.

There must’ve been a hundred of them. They dated back to June, 1938. God, the smell of those wonderful books. They were the greatest. You were not just a hero to me, you were an escape from my real life.

During that hellish year of grief, I read those comics a hundred times over. I knew every picture, every wordbubble, and I could get lost in the colors.

There’s one particular drawing I remember. You were swooping from the sky to save a dog from an

You were just in the nick of time.

And that’s what gets me about you, Clark—or do you prefer Superman? How does a man who can fly, who sees through walls, who can bench press a middle school, decide to help dogs? You didn’t have to do that.

You don’t have to do a lot of things. You don’t have to dress in street clothes, or be so humble. You don’t have to act like a meek reporter, or wear eyeglasses, or work a nine-to-five job, or watch your cholesterol. You’re Superman.

You could be king of the universe, you could be rich, political, all-powerful, or you could appear on this season of The Voice and blow the competition away — literally, I mean you could use your heat vision.

But here you are, caring about dogs. What a guy.

I was 12 years old when I sent off for a subscription to Action Comics. I filled out a little postcard and sent my money via U.S. Postal Service. The cost was 9 bucks for 24 issues in the mail.

Batman didn’t do it for me. Spiderman was nothing special. But you. You were worth 9 bucks.

I can still remember one night, years before my father died, when my mother hosted a bunco tournament at our house. She’d outfitted the den with card tables and invited a hundred million church ladies over to eat finger food and play cards.

That night, my father and I stayed out of her way. We sat in his shed with a radio on his bench.

very clearly because it was a leap year, your birthday, Feb. 29. The local radio station played Superman serial shows back-to-back until midnight. When it was all said and done, my father fuzzed my hair and said, “Old Superman was something, wasn’t he? All that power, and he always helps the little guy.”

Then he hugged me and said, “You always be sure to help the little guy, you hear me?”

I wish you could’ve met him. He liked you, too.

So right now I am reading a comic book, sent to me anonymously, sipping coffee, thinking about little jewels in life that have meant a lot to me. Like the way my dog loved me. And the memories of my father.

I just wanted to say that I’m grateful for you. People might not thank you enough for all the times you’ve saved the world.

You probably don’t get many letters from adults, but my mother told me that if I loved someone, I ought to write it down. And well, I guess that’s what this is.

Happy birthday, Superman.

Sean Dietrich is a columnist, novelist and stand-up storyteller known for his commentary on life in the American South. His column appears in newspapers throughout the U.S. He has authored 15 books, he is the creator of the Sean of the South Podcast and he makes appearances at the Grand

* Story must be submitted digitally (Word document). You can write about how you met, the proposal, the wedding day, flowers, catering, music, etc. This write-up also needs to include the name of the bride and groom (how you would like it to appear in the magazine) plus

have any advice to other

day?

Comedian to visit Auburn

BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER HGOLDFINGER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN — Brian

Regan is on his way to Auburn.

The comedian is making his first stop to the Lovliest Village on The Plains Thursday night with a show at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center.

“Stand up comedy is very simple in one way,” Regan said. “It is a person behind a microphone and that person is hopefully going to make you laugh.”

Unlike other kinds of performances, all Regan will bring on stage is a microphone and a bottle of water.

Regan is generally on the road about half of the weekends each year and Alabama has brought him pretty far from home — Las Vegas. He has done shows in Alabama before — Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile.

“I’m looking forward to this Auburn show,” Regan said.

He joked that everyone who comes to the show will leave with a $100 bill.

“If I can get a roomful of people together to have a good time, it makes me feel good,” he said.

Regan said the inspiration for his shows comes from a lot of places.

“There’s an expression and that expression is, ‘comedy equals tragedy plus time’,” he said. “And what it means is, it doesn’t have to be tragedy like a death. It

just has to be something weird, or odd or uncomfortable is the tragedy. While it’s happening, it’s not all that funny. But then some time passes, and you look back on it and when you’re telling the story, it can be funny. So time is an interesting component in comedy.”

Regan creates specials for Netflix, in addition to the tours, and once that content has gone into a special, that’s often when he’ll switch up his material, he said.

Making people laugh is the accomplishment of connecting, Regan said.

“Humans like to connect with each other and when you make someone laugh, you’re agreeing on a very odd level,” he said. “I mean,

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comedy is an interesting thing. It means that you agree on something, you agree on looking at something a certain way. And it’s nice to laugh but it’s also nice to make somebody laugh.”

Regan said he’s looking forward to coming to Auburn.

“Thats one of the wonderful things I like about what I do is being able to travel around … being able to go to cities I might not have gone to other than because of having to do a show. People are nice everywhere, so it’s nice to happen upon new places and get to experience new places, even if it’s just for a day.”

Local studio encourages women through ballet

BY KADIE VICK FOR THE OBSERVER

AUBURN — The arts continue to flourish in the Auburn/Opelika area. Shelly Stansell contributes to this growth by providing adult ballet for women in the community through her studio.

“I really want to provide the women in our community an opportunity to do something that they've always wanted to do," Stansell said. "I want them to have someone in their lives that believes in them. I want to be able to affirm them, to challenge them.”

Class options include beginner and advanced/intermediate. Those interested can contact Stansell through her website ww.stansellballet.weebly.com.

“Just go to the website, and there's a form on there that you can reach out to me and I get right back to the dancers,” she said. “I always want to get to know people I want to know your story.”

Stansell has a history of more than 20 years of both teaching and performing a variety of dance styles and said she believes there is always a need for classes that support adult dancers.

“I'm trained in the Russian style of ballet and I've been teaching now for decades,” she said. “And I actually began teaching adults about the same time I started teach-

ing kids, so I have been teaching adults all along,” she said.

Adult ballet classes are designed to help dancers grow physically as well as mentally. Stansell’s lessons encourage and teach confidence and mental health.

“I actually do a lot of coaching within the class. I'm a registered nurse and a mental health coach as well,” she said. “So we talk a lot about safety with our bodies, and we talk a lot about thought processes, how we think about ourselves.”

Stansell aims to break down the walls that typically keep women out of dance, specifically ballet, by ensuring her classes are welcoming and inclusive.

“Ballet has a reputation of being fairly exclusive. The way that I have done my classes that is broken off, there's none of that in my classes. We have every different kind of person,” she said.

With her holistic and encouraging approach to adult ballet, Stansell has seen her students grow in many ways.

“I have seen the students grow in confidence,” she said. “I've seen them get stronger physically, but I've also watched them mentally and emotionally get stronger.”

For anyone interested in adult ballet, Stansell said she wants “everybody who thinks that it might be for them to give it a try.”

BRIAN REGAN

As both a registered nurse and mental health coach, Shelly Stansell brings a unique perspective to the classes at her dance studio. She designs her ballet lessons to boost confidence and strives to make them welcoming and inclusive.

BY WALTER ALBRITTON

OPINION —

The Church teaches that God provides for our spiritual nourishment and growth in grace what are called the

“ordinary means of grace” — the Word, prayer, the sacraments, the church’s discipline and care of souls. These “means,” or channels of grace, strengthen our relationship to Christ and nourish our union with others in the Body of Christ. We experience the sustaining influence of these means mainly through corporate worship. Songs are also a means of grace. Songs help us nurture, bolster and express our faith. They inspire, edify, comfort and challenge us.

Upcoming Services

ANN MARIE DELOACH HAYES

Ann Marie DeLoach

Hayes passed away on Feb. 25, 2024, in Opelika, at the age of 78.

Ann was born and raised in Walnut Grove (Etowah County) Alabama. She lived for 46 years in Arab, Alabama, before moving to the Opelika area.

She finished high school in Walnut Grove in 1964. Ann was a 1966 graduate of Snead College in Boaz, Alabama, and graduated from Florence State College (changed to Florence State University by the end of her senior year) in 1968 with a BS teaching degree in home economics.

She started her teaching

career at Vinemont High School Cullman County (changed from junior high to high school her starting year). Ann was the very first home economics teacher at Vinemont and was the annual advisor. She taught for five years before deciding to start a family. She did substitute teaching in the Arab School System for more than 20 years.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents Thomas Earl DeLoach and Altha Thompson DeLoach, one brother Thomas Henry DeLoach, and one sister Fran DeLoach Brown.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years Edward

The one song that does that superbly for me is “Until Then,” composed by Stuart Hamblen. It sums up my personal testimony — that heartaches are but stepping stones along the trail leading to our Father’s eternal Home. I get blessed every time I sing this song. My friends confirm that they too are blessed by the song’s powerful message. No matter how difficult our circumstance, Jesus is ready to give us the strength to look tragedy in the face, wipe away our tears, and sing with

S. Hayes (raised in Cullman), one son Michael Hayes and wife Monica Thrash Hayes of Trussville, one daughter Michelle Morton and husband Philip Morton of Pike Road, grandsons Hunter Morton and Mitchell Hayes and granddaughter Melissa Hayes.

A memorial service will be at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home in the Chapel on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Mark Grizzard officiating. Visitation will immediately follow the service in the chapel.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Alzheimer's Association (Alz. org).

ROBERTA SELMAN YOUNG

Roberta Selman Young, 97, passed away peacefully on Feb. 18 at Summer Village - Magnolia Place in Auburn.

A funeral was held Feb. 26 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika, with Tom McClendon leading the service.

Born in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, in 1926, Hazel Roberta Selman attended and graduated junior college there. She married Frank Young, also from Hazelhurst,

gusto, “Until then my heart will go on singing, until then with joy I’ll carry on — until the day God calls us home!”

Get ready for a blessing as you read these words:

My heart can sing when I pause to remember

A heartache here is but a stepping stone

Along a trail that’s winding always upward, This troubled world is not my final home.

But until then my heart will go on singing, Until then with joy I’ll carry

on

Until the day my eyes behold the city

Until the day God calls me home.

The things of earth will dim and lose their value

If we recall they’re borrowed for awhile;

And things of earth that cause the heart to tremble, Remembered there will only bring a smile.

This weary world with all its toil and struggle May take its toil of misery and strife;

OBITUARIES

in December 1945 prior to his enlistment in the Navy Air Corps. They were married for 62 years until his death in 2007. They had two sons, Frank Chester Young and Philip Kent Young. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother, which she felt was her greatest calling in life.

In 1971, they moved to Auburn, where Frank served as a football coach for the Auburn University for 18 years. Roberta was an active member in both the football and church communities. Her strong faith led her for many years to be an active member of Farmville Baptist Church, and for a time she sang in the choir. She volunteered at the Achievement Center in Opelika alongside her son, Philip, and was also a former member of the Pilot Club.

She is survived by her son, Frank, of Denver; granddaughters, Heather Rose Young of Brooklyn, New York, and Helen Roberta Young of Prunedale, California; and two great grandchildren, Sofia Carmona Young and Lucas Carmona Young. A warm and nurturing soul, she will be missed by her family and surviving friends.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in Roberta Young’s name to: Rainbow Omega, P.O. Box 740, Eastaboga, AL 362600740.

JERRY RUSSELL GARRETT

Born on Sept. 4, 1940, Jerry Russell Garrett of Auburn died peacefully in his home on Feb. 21, 2024. The son of Jerry Hicks Garrett and Mary Agnes Pitchford, Jerry was a personable and successful district sales manager for a major glass company whose career took him to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Tennessee and Florida. In his spare time, he enjoyed traveling, sailing and golfing. He also enjoyed watching Auburn University and Ohio State University sports and spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by Jerry Hicks Garrett, Mary Pitchford Garrett and Molly Rendle of Toledo, Ohio. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Bonnie Jean Garrett, daughter Debra Garrett Deery (Todd), brother Terry Wayman Garrett (Pat) of Denton, Texas, and granddaughter Harper Deery Kelley (Andy) of

The soul of man is like a waiting falcon; When it’s released, it’s destined for the skies. My heart cries, yes!

When the pain of heartaches tempts me to complain and give up, I recall that I can refuse to do that. There is a better way. I can sing – and go on singing, praising Jesus for my blessings and, with joy, continue to follow where He leads me. Yes, I must contend

Guntersville.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Village Friends in Auburn by visiting their website at www.vfv-v. clubexpress.com or by making your check payable to Village Friends (indicate that it is intended to be a donation and send to P.O. Box 314, Auburn, AL 36831-0314).

THOMAS HARREE SMITH

Thomas Harree Smith, was born in 1940 in Society Hill to parents Wilson Harree Smith and Bertie Johnson Smith. He was the oldest of his siblings. He graduated from Beauregard High School and completed a few years of college. After high school, he worked on helping build I-85. He later joined the Air Force in 1962, where he served four years between Texas and Alaska.

His son, Thomas Jr (Tommy), was born during his years at Uniroyal Goodrich, where he worked for many years before going to the Census Bureau. He was married to the love of his life, the late Sandra Ann Smith. They opened and ran Beauregard Corner

See

BY BRUCE GREEN

Street

Minister

OPINION —

Paul has more to say about the disciples’ walk in Ephesians 5.

3. We are to “walk in the way of love” (v. 2). Love has a way (1 Corinthians 13:1-8) and despite what popular culture tells us, it has very little to do with our feelings. If you look Paul’s list of what love is (patient, kind, it does not envy, boast or is proud), these are not emotions we’re called to possess—they have to do

The walk of life, part three

with what we think (our attitude) and what we do (our actions). And most of them don’t come naturally to us — they tend to be hard work. That’s why we hear people say things like, “I need to work on my patience.”

But we must understand that true love has very little to do with our feelings because if we don’t, we’re going to make the mistake of trying to feel our way into acting better instead of acting our way into feeling better. The emotional/ feeling aspect of love is a wonderful thing that God created. We just need to recognize it was never meant to drive our lives. It complements our attitudes and actions — it is not a replacement for them. That’s why John tells us, “Let us not love in words or speech” (expressive of an emotion only approach), “but with actions and in

truth” (1 John 3:18).

As we walk in the way of love, we are following “God’s example” or even stronger, we are “imitators of God” (ESV). In the verse before that, Paul has told us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you,” (4:32). Once again, Paul is linking our walk with the attitude and behavior we display toward each other. Through our unity we show ourselves and the watching world what God is like — He is kind, compassionate, and forgiving.

4. We are to “walk as children of light” (v. 8). There was a lot of darkness in Paul’s world (see 4:1719), and I suppose it’s no different in our world today. We can curse that darkness (and there is a time and a place for that), but that is no substitute for

us walking as light. Putting this together with what we are told in v. 2, and we can think of it as walking in the light of love.

We need to do this, and the world needs us to do this. It doesn’t need the watered-down version of love that wants to ignore darkness or rationalize it away by telling us, “You do you.” Speech like that is neither true love nor love being truthful.

Paul says, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6).

This is not just how we are to think or act, it’s what we are to be — “walk . . . as light.” Light is who we are. And we shouldn’t underestimate what God can do with our light!

Next week: The walk of life, part four. Find more at a-taste-ofgrace-with-bruce-green. com.

ALBRITTON >> from A12

with misery and strife, but my loving Father can turn my mourning into gladness and dancing. He can create springs of living water in the desert of my hardships. I may be lonely, but I am not alone. He is with me. I can turn to Jesus and receive the strength to honor Him as long as I have breath.

Hamblen’s song reminds me that I have valued too highly “the things of earth.”

The older I get, the less value “things” have for me. The “toys” of men have lost their allurement. I understand better what Saint Paul meant when he wrote to the Corinthians, “So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen, for the things which are visible are temporal {just brief and fleeting}, but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable” (2 Corinthians 4:18, Amplified Bible). As the time of my departure draws near, that verse gets my attention far more than when I was a young man longing to acquire all the “things” I thought I

needed.

If we allow it, life’s heartaches will drain us of our joy, causing us to wallow in despair and disillusionment. Misery will fill the vacuum left when joy is lost. But that does not have to happen. Faith in the goodness of God can help us see our troubles as stepping stones on our journey to heaven. If our connection to Jesus is strong, we can stop complaining and begin singing that because “this troubled world is not my final home, my heart will go on singing!” Satan will flee from our presence when he hears us singing that, no matter what we must face, “until then with joy we’ll go on singing!”

To keep your faith strong and healthy, choose a song that can be a means of grace for you, a song that expresses your core beliefs and stirs your soul with the joy of being a child of God. When the next heartache appears, unexpectedly as they always do, you will be prepared to respond by singing, “With joy, the joy of Jesus, my heart will go on singing — until God calls me home!”

Glory!

Bible verse of the week: As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. — James 2:26

CHURCH DIRECTORY

ANGLICAN

The Good Shepherd Anglican Church 3015 Opelika Road, Opelika

APOSTOLIC HOLINESS

God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 Highland Ave., Opelika 334-749-9672

BAPTIST

Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538

AFB - Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 E. Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 3089 Judge Brown Road Valley 334-710-2117

Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave., Opelika 334-749-9487

Green Chapel Missionary Baptist 390 Lee Road 106, Auburn (334) 749-4184

Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108

Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika

334-745-4608

Shady Grove Baptist Church 2194 Lee Road 177, Opelika 334-476-1531

Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika

334-749-0461

CHURCH OF CHRIST 10th Street Church Of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika 334-745-5181

The Opelika Church 2660 Cunninghan Dr., Opelika

Church Of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy., Opelika 334-742-9721

Southside Church Of Christ

405 Carver Ave., Opelika 334-745-6015

CHURCH OF GOD Lakeside Church of God 3295 Lee Rd 54, Opelika 334-749-6432

EPISCOPAL- AME

Saint Luke AME Church 1308 Auburn St., Opelika 334-749-1690

EPISCOPAL

Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave., Opelika 334-745-2054

METHODIST

Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800

Beulah United Methodist Church 5165 Lee Road 270,

Valley 334-745-4755

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Bridge Church of AL 315 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-363-0552

Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148

Connect Church 2015 West Point Pkwy., Opelika 334-707-3949

Father’s House Christian Fellowship 214 Morris, Ave., Opelika

Living Waters Ministry Center 3005 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika

Southern Plains Cowboy

Church 13099 U.S. Hwy. 280 Waverly 334-401-1014

PENTECOSTAL Gateway Pentecostal Sanctuary 1221 Commerce Drive, Auburn 334-745-6926

PRESBYTERIAN Providence Presbyterian Church 1103 Glenn St., Opelika 256-405-8697

Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST

Opelika Outreach S.D.A. Church P.O. Box 386, Opelika 334-749-3151

Teaching

at 10th

Church of Christ in Opelika

SOFIA PHILHARMONIC @ OPAC

The Sofia Philharmonic, the National Orchestra of Bulgaria, will be in concert on Monday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, located at 1700 Lafayette Parkway in Opelika. Tickets range in price from $20 to $59 and are available at www.eastalabamaarts.org/ tickets.

SECOND SATURDAY AT PIONEER PARK

On the second Saturday of every month, a group of history re-enactors gather at the Lee County Historical Society Museum in period attire to demonstrate their arts and crafts.

On March 9 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., see blacksmiths working at the forge, spinners and weavers in the textile room and gardeners in the gardens. There will be crafts and seasonal activities, and someone is always cooking up a meal in the fireplace or outdoors. The Whistle Stop Pickers dulcimer group meets at the Museum at 1 p.m.

AU STUDENT VETERANS GOLF TOURNEY

Registration is now open for the 7th Annual Auburn Veterans Golf Classic, set for Monday, March 18, at the Auburn University Club, located at 1650 Yarbrough Farms Blvd. The event begins with arrival starting at 10 a.m. and registration at 11 a.m. There will be lunch and a program at noon, followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Awards will be distributed at 5:30 p.m. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Auburn Student Veteran’s Association (ASVA). Registration is open at www.aub.ie/vetclassic. If you or your company is interested in being a sponsor of the Auburn Veterans Golf Classic, contact Pippin at czp0036@ auburn.edu.

POETRY SERIES @ PEBBLE HILL

JAMES “DON” McSPADDEN

Market and Fireworks stand, where they quickly became a staple within the community. They spent the rest of their lives running their business, which was built on the joys of putting smiles on familiar faces within their small hometown, where Mr. Smith became known as “the Firecracker Man.”

In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death and by his brother, Harry Smith (Marylou).

He is survived by his brothers and sisters, Preston Smith (Maria), Charles Smith (Pat), Donald Smith (D. Martha), Jenny Kay (Paul Nichols), James Ray (Beth) and Brenda Williams; his sons, Tommy, Rot C Long (Noni) and Mike King; his daughters, Tammy Hall (Jon), Denise Long, Cindy Best (Darren) and Lisa Lira (Rich); his precious granddaughters, grandsons and great grandchildren. He had a number of nieces and nephews he also adored dearly.

A funeral service was held Feb. 27 at FrederickDean Funeral Home, with internment at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery.

James “Don” Donald McSpadden of Auburn, a devoted husband, father and grandfather, was called from his earthly home to be with his Lord and Savior on Feb. 22, 2024, at the age of 76.

He was born on May 12, 1947, in Dothan to James Thomas McSpadden and Laverne Godwin. He graduated from Auburn University and spent most of his career as an Engineer and a Plant Manager and obtained his Real Estate License after retirement. He was affectionately known as “Daddy Don” to those closest to him.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Glenda Baker McSpadden, and his brother, Larry McSpadden.

He is survived by his daughters, Kim Petrina and Angie Caldwell (Keith), both of Auburn, and Leigh Ann Tripp of Florida; his grandchildren, Heather Ayers (Tobin), Katie Lawler, Brandon Bonds, Kelsey Puckhaber (Johnny) and Blake Tripp; several great-grandchildren; his sisters, Brenda Ogletree of Statesboro, Georgia, and Yvonne Martin of Cohutta, Georgia; and his brother,

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

The Third Thursday Poetry Series will be hosted at Pebble Hill, 101 S. Debardeleben St. in Auburn, on Thursday, March 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The readings will be by Gregory Pardlo and Laura Spence-Ash.

BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNY

Auburn Parks & Recreation will host the 23rd Annual Breakfast with the Bunny for children ages 3 and under and their adult chaperones on Saturday, March 23, from 8 to 11 a.m. at Kiesel Park. Tickets are $10 per person which includes a buffet-style breakfast from Another Broken Egg, an Easter egg hunt beginning at 9:30 a.m., and balloon animals, face painting, a petting zoo, inflatables, a train and pictures with the Easter Bunny. For more information or to register visit auburnalabama.org/easter-egg-hunt.

HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY

The city of Auburn's annual spring household hazardous waste collection day will be held on Saturday, March 23, at the new Environmental Services and Public Works Complex, located at 4277 Wire Road. Auburn residents may bring up to 20 pounds of material per household for disposal at no charge (bring a recent water bill to prove residency). Acceptable items include household chemicals, pesticides, paints, batteries, automobile fluids and more. Computers and electronics will be accepted for recycling, and there will be a shredder on site to safely and securely get rid of old paper documents. Participants are asked to register ahead of time online. For a list of accepted items, a link to register and more information, visit auburnalabama. org/hhw.

123 ANDRES @ GOUGE CENTER

123 Andres, the Latin Grammy-winning duo for kids, will

Gregg McSpadden of Cleveland, Tennessee.

A graveside service was held Feb. 27 at Town Creek Cemetery in Auburn, with Jeffcoat Trant Funeral Home of Opelika handling arrangements.

CAROL EDWARDS DAVIS

Carol Edwards Davis, age 90, of Auburn, passed on Feb. 27, 2024, at Bethany House. A graveside service will honor her life at Town Creek Cemetery on Feb. 29, at 1 a.m.

Born Sept. 22, 1933, in Cartersville, Georgia, Carol was the daughter of the late Arthur and Gladys Watkins Edwards. Mrs. Davis was a resident of Auburn, Alabama for 60 years. She and her family were devout members of the Auburn United Methodist Church, where she was a faithful member of the choir for 50 years, taught Sunday-School and served with multiple ministries.

Mrs. Davis was active in the Auburn community. She was a long-time member of the Auburn Women’s Club and worked with the Tidy Tigers and the Auburn Beautification Council. She taught an aerobics class through the Auburn University Continuing Education Program during

the 1970’s. An accomplished artist who dedicated many years to painting in oils, her work brought joy to countless friends who cherished her artistic talent.

Carol is reunited in the heavens with her beloved husband of many years, James Ernest Davis Sr., who passed in 2003. Left to cherish her memory are her children: James Ernest Davis Jr. (Dusty) and wife Mary Lou of Birmingham, Alabama; Christopher Edward Davis and wife Penney of Hood River, Oregon; Valarie Davis McCalman and husband Patrick of Andalusia, Alabama. Her legacy also lives on through her six grandchildren:

Cole Timmons Davis and wife Camille of Durango, Colorado; Hannah Davis McNaughton and husband Caleb of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Chase Buck Davis of Birmingham, Alabama; Christopher Aaron Davis of Hood River, Oregon; Patrick Steven McCalman, II (Cal) of Atlanta, Georgia; Jack Davis McCalman of Auburn, Alabama; and one greatgranddaughter, Renee James Davis of Durango, Colorado. She is further survived by her sister-in-law, Marsha Davis Arrington

bring their high energy, interactive concert to the Jay and Susie Gouge Performing Arts Center, located at 910 S. College St. in Auburn, on Sunday, March 24. Tickets are $10 and are available at the website goguecenter.evenue.net.

SUNDILLA PRESENTS RUTH WYAND

The Sundilla Concert Series will feature a performance by Ruth Wyand on Thursday, March 28, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, located at 450 E. Thach Ave. in Auburn. Free coffee, tea, water and food will be available, and the audience is welcome to bring their own favorite food and beverage. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 with student ID and free for children under age 12. Tickets are on sale at www.sundillamusic.com.

AUBURN EASTER EGG HUNT

The city of Auburn’s 44th Annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place at the lower fields at Duck Samford Baseball Park on Saturday, March 30. Ages 0-3 will hunt at 10:30 a.m. on Field 10; ages 4-6 will hunt at 10:45 a.m. on Field 9; ages 7-8 will hunt at 11 a.m. on Field 7 and ages 9-10 will hunt at 11:15 a.m. on Field 5. There will be face painting, balloon animals, inflatables and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Admission is $5 per child for Auburn residents and $10 per child for non-residents. Pre-registration is required (walk-ups not admitted) at auburnalabama.org/easter-egghunt.

JONATHAN DELY JAZZ @ OPAC

Jonathan Dely with his All-Star Jazz Band will be in concert on Wednesday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, located at 1700 Lafayette Parkway in Opelika. Tickets range in price from $20 to $59 and are available at www.eastalabamaarts.org/tickets.

of Cartersville, Georgia, and niece, Susan Arrington Brown, and nephew, John Davis Arrington, both of Atlanta, Georgia. Carol's life was also enriched by her dear friend and companion, James Burleson.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial contributions to the EAGLES Foundation at theeaglesfoundation.org.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

IRENE CARTHON OBITUARY

She loved her time spent with friends in the KIT club doing activities and going on trips. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and greatgreat-grandmother. She loved attending family functions. She was lovingly referred to as “Grandmommy” or “Cinnamon” by her grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandkids. She enjoyed attending church, traveling, reading, playing Bingo and going out to eat. Irene was preceded in death by her parents, Glatis and Vander, her husband, Leonard “Steamboat” Carthon and her siblings, JB, Idella, Joseph, Charles and Shirley. She is survived by her son Leonard F. Carthon, a daughter Kay Fortin (Frenchy), granddaughters Terri Edwards (Jimmy), and Tanya Longfellow (Chuck); five great-grandchildren, Jonathan Miller, Josh Miller (Julie), Amber Hester (Zack), Kane Garner and Ginny Cox; seven greatgreat-grandchildren, Jessica, Chance, Jalen, Jordan (Miracle), Jacob, JR and Waylon; one great-greatgreat-granddaughter Mary Austin; and niece Jan Greer and nephew Charles Starnes (Melinda).

LEE/RUSSELL COUNTY LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP

The group meets every month on the third Wednesday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The meeting will be held at the AIDB-Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Opelika Regional Center on 355 Dunlop Drive in Opelika. Every month different topics are discussed to make life more manageable living with low vision.

Contact Shiquita Fulton, M.ED/Vision Rehab therapist for additional details at (334)705-2024, or Melody Wilson, case manager for the blind, at (256) 368-3258.

COFFEE & CONVERSATION WITH VFW POST 5404

VFW Post 5404, 131 E. Veterans Blvd., Auburn, next to Ray's Collision off of South College Street, will be open on Wednesdays, 8 to 11 a.m. with coffee, donuts, cake and conversation about service and benefits for all veterans and spouses to stop by.

AUBURN/OPELIKA MOPS IS NOW 'MomCO'

MOPS International changed its name from MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers to MomCo to include moms of children of all ages. Auburn Opelika MomCo will meet at Pepperell Baptist Church, 2702 2nd Ave. in Opelika at the following dates/ times: Feb. 8, 5:30-7 p.m.; March 7, 9-11 a.m.; March 21, 5:30-7 p.m.; April 4, 9-11 a.m.; April 18, 5:30-7 p.m. Contact Rachel Elrod at (706) 244-5620 or Pastor Zac Gardner or Pastor Josh Elliott at (334) 745-3108 for further information.

NAMI MEETING

NAMI East Alabama, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. NAMI supports families dealing with mental illness through mutual support, education and advocacy. Board and Officer elections will be held. There will be a time for sharing. The public is invited. Meetings are held at 714 E. Glenn Ave. in Auburn.

On the Mark

Spring sports are rolling

BY D. MARK MITCHELL OPINION —

Opelika's varsity soccer team fell to Prattville

6-1 last week. Head coach Derek Hovell said, "Mental mistakes plagued us throughout majority of the game. Our young team is still looking to find an identity and will get better." Hovell is a proven coach and will continue to help the team improve. He has the perfect demeanor to guide young and seasoned soccer players.

The highlight of the night came in the second half, when David Cruz netted a free kick from 28 yards out to give OHS a boost.

GOLF

The Opelika boys golf team defeated Central by a score of 200-228 on the Lake Course at RTJ Grand National last week. Low scores were Nolen Wilson 49, Evan Henderson 50, Carter Neese 51 and Bennett Young 51.

The Opelika girls golf team defeated Central 179-181 on The Lake Course at RTJ Grand National. Low scores

for the day were: Karly Phatsadavong 54 and Paige Bailes 61 and Kaylin Ward 64.

TENNIS

The Opelika High boys and girls tennis teams played Columbus, Trinity and St. James tennis teams last week.

Columbus (girls): No.

2 Mary Cara Montel won 6-3, No. 6 Emma Brown won 8-1 and doubles team Adney Massey and Addison Kemp won 8-6.

Columbus (boys): No.

5 Caden Blair won 9-7 and doubles team No.

2 Connor Mullins and Devam Patel won 8-4.

OHS boys beat St. James 6-3. Winning matches: No. 3 Davem Patel won 8-5, No. 4 Caden Blair won 8-2, No. 5 Anderson Melnick won 8-4 and Jake Caldwell won 8-6. Doubles team winners: Mullins/Patell won 8-4 and Blair/ Campbell won 8-6.

OHS girls won two doubles matches: Smith T/Brown won 8-4 and Massey/Kemp won 8-6.

Trinity: Opelika's No. 3 Dru Gagiano won 8-5, No. 4 Avery Massey won 8-3 and No. 2 doubles Massey/Kemp won 8-2.

See ON THE MARK, page B7

‘No one does it alone’

Glenwood girls unite to cement championship legacy

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

SMITHS STATION —

The 2023-24 Glenwood girl’s basketball team was as star-studded as they come, but no part was bigger than the whole as the Gators rushed to hoist their third state championship trophy in the last four years. Just a few weeks after notching his 14th state championship as a coach at Glenwood — his seventh as a basketball coach — Dusty Perdue was inducted into the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 24. The 20-plusyear coach led a Gator team with five seniors, including several who have been key contributors on three state championship teams in the last four

years.

Anna Grace Griggs and Olivia Slocumb both started on all three of the program’s state championship teams dating back to their freshman year, and Takayla Davis helped the Gators win two titles in three seasons at Glenwood. Along with multiple rings, that trio ended their high school careers as AISA AllStars.

“Anna Grace and Olivia will go down as two of the most decorated basketball players in our program,” Perdue said. “[Takayla] is the best rebounder we’ve ever had up to now.”

Griggs and Davis each accumulated over 1,000 points at Glenwood, and Davis added 1,000 rebounds as well. While those

two led on the stat sheet, Perdue said none of it would be possible without Slocumb, who fell just short of 1,000 career points.

“What Olivia doesn’t get in points or rebounds or stats, she gets in leadership,” Perdue said. “Olivia Slocumb is the glue that held everything together.”

Those three led the way in what Perdue called the Gators’ redemption year, but it was the entire “welloiled machine” that helped them reach their full potential.

After losing to Clarke Prep in last year’s state title game, Glenwood went 28-5 this season with a chip on its shoulder down the stretch. The Gators finished the season on an 18-game win streak dating back to

Dec. 20 — including wins over Morgan Academy, Springwood and Lee-Scott in the postseason. They went undefeated in region play and did not lose to an in-state opponent all year.

Fueled by their unsatisfactory play to end last season as the runners up, Glenwood stormed into the title game and capped off their winning streak by defeating rival LeeScott for the fifth time of the season, 45-36. Davis took command by dropping 21 points and 15 rebounds, earning an AISA 3A Postseason AllTournament selection alongside Griggs and freshman Halle Palmore.

The fire that the team ended the season with was lit during See GLENWOOD, page B6

Under coach Dusty Perdue, the Glenwood girls basketball team won its third state championship in four years.

AHS girls looking to finish the job in AHSAA 'final four'

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

AUBURN –– The Auburn High girls basketball team is headed to the Final Four for the fourth time in the last six years, but head coach Courtney Pritchett and his girls aren’t satisfied leaving it at that.

Despite those runs and five years of dominance from senior Syriah Daniels, the Auburn girl’s program still has no state championships to show for it. The school sent the team off to Birmingham’s Legacy Arena this week in hopes that they return on Saturday, March 2, with a trophy.

“We’ve been getting [to the Final Four,] and I think it’s time that we turn the corner,” Pritchett said. “I’m appreciative of getting to this point, but it’s going to be really big for our program to get to the next level.”

Auburn began its playoff run by defeating Opelika and Central at home to win the area tournament. The Tigers went on to defeat Daphne and Foley to capture the regional tournament victory. They edged out a 62-57 win over

Daphne before clinching a trip to the Final Four with a 53-51 win over Foley. Daniels took home tournament MVP, but clutch shooting from juniors Brooke Hallman and Daley Alsobrook landed them on the All-Region Team as well. In the Elite Eight win, Hallman drained several clutch 3-pointers while leading the team with 18 points in addition

LSA second-graders learn about American leaders for Presidents Day

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

AUBURN — As part of a Presidents Day themed research project, second graders at Lee-Scott Academy recreated the likeness of different United States presidents they've been studying. Students created different American leaders out of two liter bottles and presented them to their classmates. Through this, they worked on their public speaking and presentation skills. These projects are now being displayed in the LSA Media Center.

to 17 from Daniels.

The Tigers pride themselves on dispersing their offensive production, and they got key contributions from several underclassmen in addition to their star scorers in two of their closest victories of the season in the regionals.

“We get what we get out of Syriah — she’s going to be a solid performer every time out — but it’s huge

to get really big games out of Brooke and Daley. We’re going to need contributions from all of our starters,” Pritchett said. “We also had a great game from (freshman) Avari Bowley, who finished with four or five blocks. That kind of defensive stand really helped us turn the corner.”

Pritchett knows that the win over Foley won’t be

the last hard-fought one, and it can’t be the last time the team gets contributions from a variety of players if Auburn is going to play for its first state championship on Saturday. The coach said his goal is to have all five starters score eight points or more. It will take that kind of complete team effort to combat Hoover (27-7), who knocked off top-seed-

ed Bob Jones in the Elite

Eight. Auburn will face Hoover at 9 a.m. CST on Thursday with an opportunity for Daniels to put an exclamation point on her high school career.

This is Daniels’ fifth and final run with Auburn High before she goes to play for coach Johnnie Harris at Auburn University, and going out on top would complete a winning legacy she has helped build at Auburn High.

“I know that’s been her goal — to win a state championship. She’s ready to make that happen,” Pritchett said. “It’ll be great for her as well as the other (two seniors) who have been in the program. Jonah (Woods) has been in the program and Alethia (Coppenger) is a new senior. I can feel all of their excitement about wanting to have that win and represent for the city of Auburn.”

After Auburn’s Final Four matchup with Hoover on Thursday, the winner will await the outcome of Hewitt-Trussville versus Prattville. The winners will meet in Birmingham’s Legacy Arena on Saturday, March 2, at 4 p.m. CST.

Beulah boys, girls golf teams swinging their way to victory

The Auburn High School girls varsity basketball team is headed to the Final Four for the fourth time in six years. This time the girls are hoping to return home with the championship trophy.

Beulah High School's golf team is currentlly 2-1 on the season. Pictured, from left, are coach Davis Lamb, Dalton Lewis, Daniel Darnell, Cam Herndon, Wyatt Lindsey, Christian Warner, Matthew Roberts and Phoebe Sexton.

Auburn High School hosted Columbus in a non-conference varsity baseball game on Feb. 20. The Blue Devils fell to the Tigers by a score of 4-8.

The Lee Scott Warriors baseball team fell 0-3 to Calvary Christian Monday, Feb. 26, while the girls softball team came out on top 8-5.

Beauregard tops Beulah 4-2 in varsity baseball

On Tuesday, Feb 20, the Beauregard varsity boys baseball team won the game against Beulah High School by a score of 4-2.

PHOTOS

Aubie immortalized in bronze

Statue of beloved mascot unveiled on AU campus

BY RACHEL PRIEST, AU NEWS

— Fresh

AUBURN

off his 11th Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) national championship, Auburn’s beloved mascot Aubie was honored on Feb. 24 with the unveiling of a bronze figure depicting his likeness in front of the Harold D. Melton Student Center.

The 6-foot-2 inch figure shows Aubie holding an Auburn flag, a nod to his commitment as a spirit leader and his gameday tradition of leading the team onto Pat Dye Field.

Artist Alison Brown Caswell consulted on the design and was commissioned to cast the figure.

The Oregon-based sculptor is known for creating bronze sculptures of mascots for the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, the University of Southern California and Boise State University, as well as the Bucee’s beaver mascot and NBA star and ESPN analyst Bill Walton.

“Aubie is one of the most universally loved Auburn traditions, and he belongs in a permanent location on campus. He is an important part of our student experience, and we are thrilled that his new home is outside the Melton Student Center,” said Bobby Woodard, senior vice president for Student Affairs.

AU President Christopher B. Roberts, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering Senior Director of Development Margaret Arnold, former Student Government Association (SGA) President Jake Haston and Aubie Program representative Logan McKenna were also present for the event.

The figure unveiling — which preceded Aubie’s 45th birthday on Feb. 28 — is the culmination of an idea that had been discussed for nearly a decade.

“After Aubie secured his 10th UCA national championship in 2021, we started conversations again about bringing the project to reality,” said Peyton Alsobrook, director of development for Student Affairs.

In April, the Auburn University Board of Trustees (BOT) accepted a plan from Woodard aimed at enhancing the student experience. Part of his proposal included a partnership with SGA and the Aubie Program for a permanent, fully donor-funded figure of the mascot to live outside the Student Center.

Haston said the Aubie Program and Student Affairs brought possible plans for the figure to his attention following his election as SGA president. When Haston discussed the plans with student leaders, he saw “their overwhelming excitement about the idea” and advocated for the plan to the BOT.

Philanthropic support

from Auburn alumni, friends and fans was vital to bringing the figure to life on campus — from the initial brainstorm through the final unveiling.

“The love the Auburn Family has for the university and Aubie is simply unmatched,” Alsobrook said. “Several Aubie Program alumni and former leaders became key advocates for the project, providing both major philanthropic support, as well as their expertise and leadership in making this project a reality. It’s because of their generosity — along with the generous support from alumni and friends over this past year — that we were able to solidify Aubie’s legacy as a beloved Auburn tradition.”

More than 180 individual donors across the university’s 12 colleges made gifts to fund the figure.

Long before his days as an elite mascot and goodwill ambassador for Auburn, Aubie’s existence began as a cartoon character created by Birmingham Post-Herald artist Phil Neel, debuting on the Auburn football program in October 1959. He made his first live appearance on Feb. 28, 1979, at the SEC Basketball Tournament, and has since been a symbol

of Auburn’s unwavering school spirit.

Whether you’ve watched Aubie’s antics during sporting events or posed for a photo with him around campus, Auburn fans have a favorite story featuring the mischievous and fun-loving tiger. Ally Mills Dorrough, a College of Liberal Arts alumna, said her favorite memory was when her children first met Aubie at an Auburn baseball game in 2022.

“They couldn't run any faster and or smile any bigger,” Dorrough said. “It was like they met Santa, but better!”

Aubie, who makes more than 1,000 appearances a year, has won a record 11 mascot national championships — more than any other mascot in the United States. Aubie was named the 2014 Capital One Mascot of the Year and was among the first three college mascots inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006.

“I can’t wait to see students embrace this new campus landmark,” Haston said. “I hope the figure serves as a joyful gathering place for those visiting campus for the first time, students meeting before a big game and alumni reminiscing on their experiences on campus.”

GLENWOOD >> FROM B1

team outings right before Christmas break. Once the team bought into finishing the season cohesively, they began to feed off of each other.

That cohesion led to moments like the one at the start of the second half during the state championship game.

“We were up by only about four or five going to halftime, and we told the team we needed a big possession coming out of halftime,” Perdue said.

Right off the bat, junior Clara Crisco hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to put Glenwood up by “nine or 10” heading to the fourth quarter. That clutch energy set her teammates up to slam the door.

After some turnovers and miscues by Glenwood, Lee-Scott found its way back into the game. However, sophomore Emersyn White came in and swung momentum back in Glenwood’s favor with an impressive bucket from the top of the key sandwiched between a pair of timely assists, feeding Davis and allowing her to seal the deal on the championship campaign.

The Gators had all the talent they needed from the start, but the team’s legacy goes far beyond the court. They cemented themselves as champions and set the tone for the program in years to come by coming together as a unit.

The Hall-of-Fame coach knows all too well that no one becomes great by doing it alone, and he preaches that to his teams. This year’s girls state championship team is another example of that he can attest to.

“I told the whole school at our assembly this morning, ‘Find somebody that was on this girls basketball team to figure out how to become a better teammate,’” Perdue said. “Because they were all good teammates. They all cheered for each other on and off the court, and when you find that formula, you have a pretty good team. I was very fortunate to be able to coach them.”

Pictured in the top photo, Aubie poses with three-year-old Davis DeFoor, son of Mary Martha and Briggs DeFoor of Auburn.

Pictured in the bottom photo, Aubie poses after the unveiling of his bronze figure with AU President Dr. Christopher Roberts, former SGA President Jake Hason, head Friend of Aubie Logan McKenna, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Bobby R. Woodard and Associate Vice President for Philanthrophy Margaret Arnold.

Return to Georgia revives AU MBB in win at UGA

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

AUBURN –– No. 11

Auburn University men’s basketball (21-6, 10-4) came back to life after its bye week, downing Georgia in Athens.

Auburn rose three spots in this week’s AP Poll following its 13th win by 20 or more this season. Auburn will remain tied with South Carolina for third place in the SEC behind Tennessee and Alabama, who are tied for first in a league where the top six teams are all within two games of each other.

"Just a great win," said head coach Bruce Pearl.

"On the road against a good team and our rival.

Beating Georgia matters.

Beating Alabama matters. It matters to our fans. It matters to our players. It matters in recruiting. And we beat a good team."

Following is a recap of Auburn’s game with the Bulldogs. It was its only game of the week after an open midweek.

Saturday, Feb. 24:

Auburn 97 – Georgia 76

After an injury to Jaylin Williams against Kentucky, Chad Baker-Mazara and Chaney Johnson both got their first starts in an Auburn jersey, and they took advantage of it. Baker-Mazara dropped a career-high 25 points, and Johnson notched a season-best 16 as Auburn got back in the win column.

ON THE MARK >>

FROM B1

SOFTBALL

The Lady Bulldog softball team played five games last week, winning two. OHS beat Maplesville 8-7 behind 11 hits. Johnson led with three hits, followed by two hits apiece from Harrelson and Smith. Soltau, Jones, Birmingham and Morgan added one hit each. Three players pitched a total of five innings: Foley, Harrelson and Jones.

Opelika scored 17 runs off 14 hits in a 17-0 rout of JAG last week.

The Lady Dogs were led by three hits from Birmingham and two hits each from Johnson and Harrelson. Smith, Thompson, Jones, Harper, Morgan and Bordeaux added singles. Jones earned the win in the circle, pitching four innings without allowing a run or a hit.

OHS lost to St. James by a score of 0-10, to Brewbaker Tech 1-9 and to Gulf Shores 1-6.

BASEBALL

Opelika’s varsity baseball team won four out of five games last week, improving to 7-1 overall. Head coach Zach Blatt has his team playing solid baseball through eight games.

The Dogs started the week off with a 10-1 win over Harris County in Georgia. Brody Jones earned the win, pitching five innings, allowing

"To be honest, I just realized the guy in front of me couldn't guard me," Baker-Mazara said. "I told coach (Pearl), 'Let's take advantage of that.' He believed in me today, put the ball in my hands, and thankfully I got to execute."

Johnson — a junior transfer from the University of Alabama-Huntsville — stepped into Williams’ role and shined, further proving the surplus of talent on the Tiger bench.

"When Jaylin Williams went down, Chaney Johnson was next man up," Pearl said. "But you saw his skill. You saw his athleticism. You saw him do it inside and out. You saw him do it defensively. You saw him do it on the boards. He did not look like anybody's backup four. Just a tremendous step-up by Chaney."

The state of Georgia has been good to Auburn this season. It has splashed a season-high 14 3-pointers a team both times it has visited the Peach State this season. Auburn scored 104 points in Atlanta versus Indiana in December, and Auburn made its most threes in SEC play versus Georgia. Neither would have been possible without five 3-pointers from Aden Holloway.

Along with Baker-Mazara's and Johnson’s first starts, a reemerging Holloway made his first start since Jan. 27 versus Mississippi State and

four runs while striking out five batters. Clayton and Johnson pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings. Three Dogs belted two hits each: Jones, Jackson Kilcrease and Chris Floyd, and Hudson, Clayton and Cherry added hits.

Opelika beat Homewood two out of three games last weekend.

Game 1: The Dogs beat Homewood 5-1. Chris Floyd pitched six innings without allowing an earned run for the win, and Russell Copous pitched the last innings to preserve the win. Davis Ford led at the plate with two hits, while Johnston, J. Kilcrease, Floyd, Rowell and Johnson added hits.

Game 2: Homewood beat the Dogs 10-0 in the second game of the triple-header. The Dogs managed on three hits, from Kilcrease, Floyd and Clayton.

Game 3: Homewood won 12-2. OHS mercy ruled Homewood to win the third game of the series 12-2. Jackson Kilcrease earned the win, pitching four and 2/3 innings. He allowed two hits and two earned runs, while striking out seven batters.

LOCAL AREA ROUND-UP

Lee-Scott Academy’s baseball team is off to a 6-2 start under first year head coach Jarod Cook. The Warriors beat St. Anne Pacelli 6-4, Edgewood 9-1, Lakeside 4-0, Lowndes Academy

matched his season-best five long balls in a game for all 15 of his points. Along with increased scoring, he recorded three assists with just one turnover.

Holloway and Johnson both notched their first double-digit scoring games in league play, but they were just two of four scorers in double figures in the starting lineup, with Baker being a third. After a slow start, Johni Broome helped Auburn pull away with his 25th double-digit scoring performance this season.

Tallying his 11th double-double this season, Johni Broome went off in the second half, helping Auburn fend off Georgia’s run to bring it within five after the break. Despite going to halftime with three fouls, he played a full game and put up 16 points with 13 rebounds.

Once the Bulldogs threatened, the Tigers ran away with it for good.

Auburn led 45-34 at halftime, but Georgia stormed out of the break to make it 62-59 with 10:30 remaining in the game. At that point, Broome scored seven straight points for Auburn before a three from K.D. Johnson elevated its lead to nine.

Holloway took the game over from there with two consecutive 3-point makes. With two minutes left, his third long ball of the second half put Auburn up by 17 following a 20-9 scoring run several minutes earlier.

3-2, Edgewood 8-3 and Bessemer Academy 12-2. The three losses were to Calvary Christian (Ga.) 8-9 and 0-3.

Several players have recorded multiple hits in games, including Garrett West (two games), Ty Jones, J.D. Tillman Burns (two games), Sam Jackson (three games), Allen Owen, Pelzer Reeves, Haiden "Shooter" Harper and Brayden Butler.

The following pitchers earned wins for LSA on the mound:

Ethan Hardee earned three wins. Against Edgewood he pitched four and 2/3 innings and allowed one run on one hit. Against St. Anne Pacelli, he pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win. Against Bessemer Academy, he pitched three innings and allowed two runs on two hits to earn the win.

Garrett West pitched five innings without giving up a run or hit while striking out 10 batters. Jake Cummings pitched four and 2/3 innings, allowing no earned runs while striking out nine batters. Jack MacKay pitched four innings and allowed two runs while striking out six batters.

D Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 910-1319, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.

Continuing the show from beyond the arc, 6-foot-11 center Dylan Cardwell sunk his first 3-pointer since his freshman year, the final game of the 2020-21 season, with 1:17 remaining to slam the door on the Bulldogs.

Auburn improved to 93-95 all-time versus Georgia, and it will have the opportunity to record a season sweep of the Bulldogs when they come to Neville Arena for the last game of the season on March 9.

Before that, Auburn will have a grand opportunity to advance in a tight SEC race with a trip to No. 4 Tennessee (21-6, 11-3) on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. CST.

Auburn’s

BY BETH PINYERD

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

OPINION —

Before we stroll into March, “Leap Day” is celebrated on Thursday, Feb. 29. The year 2024 is a leap year, when we add an additional day to the calendar. The regular year has 365 days, but a leap year has 366 days. A leap year balances out the calendar year with the astronomical year. The earth’s orbit around the sun takes a few more hours longer than 365 days. In a leap year, an extra day recognizes the extra time in the earth’s orbit around the sun. “Leap Day” is celebrated every four years, when we add Feb. 29. Happy birthday to leap year folks!

As I look at my teacher’s calendar, we celebrate a lot of special days in March. In fact, on March

1 we celebrate “Share A Smile Day,” so parents and grandparents, get those phone cameras ready to take pictures of your little ones smiling their biggest. Have you ever noticed that we can be in a blue mood, then someone smiles at us, and it truly improves our moods. Sharing a smile may help other folks more than you know, so share that smile today. I love playing making a game of sharing the biggest smile in the early childhood classroom. This really brings sunshine in the classroom on a rainy day. This can be tried with families, too. It will bring in laughter as you look at your children with big smiles and sometimes snaggle teeth.

Peace Corps commemorates its anniversary on March 1. On this day in 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the agency. The goal of

Classroom Observer

Leaping into Spring

Peace Corps is bringing together skilled, committed volunteers to serve families and citizens in host communities.

Before we met and married, my late husband, Carl Pinyerd, served in Peace Corps in the 1970s after he graduated from Auburn. He served in Swaziland, Africa. He lived and worked side-by-side with community members to build a medical center. He taught chemistry and math in local high schools. Carl built relationships in the community by exchanging knowledge to help many generations. I was so blessed as a young wife to literally have the world come to my front door by meeting Carl’s Swaziland students and friends as they attended Auburn, Tuskegee and other American universities to study agriculture.

March 1 is also “Peanut Butter Lover’s Day.” This day is set aside to celebrate the simple spread. Some may like it on bananas, with jelly on sandwiches, straight from the jar, etc. So, we peanut butter enthusiasts can come together on March 1 and celebrate this simple staple.

On March 2, we celebrate Dr. Seuss’ Birthday with “Read Across America Day.” As teachers and parents of children, this day calls on us to celebrate

reading. I love to see children listen to books being read to them. In our classrooms, we have books spread out on shelves, in learning centers, on desks, etc. In our homes, we can put books everywhere, too. Children love to read and look at books in cars when running errands or taking trips. Our local libraries are outstanding in offering a variety of books on different subjects. Joining the local libraries and getting a library card — what a wonderful gift to your families.

As we leap into March, I would like to review some special days about this month. First of all, even though “April Showers Bring May Flowers,” March is recognized as “National Umbrella Day.”

The goundhog’s Feb. 2 prediction of an early spring may be right on target. Springtime in Lee County is always so pleasant with mild temperature, beautiful foliage, flowers and gentle winds. I love kite flying

Education briefs

on windy days. Making and flying kites is such a wonderful fun family activity. Our community has beautiful places and parks to go fly kites. I love the lakes and streams in our area, where families can catch winds off the water.

As a community we love our newspaper, “The Observer.” It does such a wonderful job of covering local news. March 4 through 8 is “Newspaper in Education Week.” Our newspapers are such valuable tools in teaching children about our community and world. Show your children the pictures in the newspapers and what is happening all around them. With your older children have them look and share current events from the newspaper. This is such a good way to teach some reading and comprehension skills.

“National Nutrition Month” is also recognized in March. Take time with your child to explain what healthy foods are versus

those foods that are not good nutrition. Children understand this early. This is the month that, as a teacher, I bring out fruit and vegetable trays to guide them on what is good nutrition. This also can be done as families at mealtime.

Since 1943, March has been proclaimed as “National Red Cross Month." What a valuable and wonderful agency that takes care of us after a crisis hits an area. This is a good time to explain to your young child what the Red Cross does to provide needed items and take care of us after bad weather or other times when we need help. Let’s enjoy the blue skies, the bright sunshine, gentle winds and wonderful temperatures as we leap into March and Spring.

Beth Pinyerd has taught many years in the early childhood classroom. She has a master’s degree in early childhood education.

MEDFORD, MA— Michelle Sun of Auburn was named to the dean's list at Tufts University for the Fall 2023 semester. Dean's list honors at Tufts University re-quire a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater. Sun is a member of the Class of 2024.

CONWAY, SC — Aaron Diggs of Auburn was among more than 500 students graduat-ing from Coastal Carolina University during its Fall 2023 commencement ceremonies held on Dec. 15.

Junior Grade Russel Woodham, a native of Lanett, Alabama, attached to the “Pukin Dogs” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143, poses for a photo in

L labama Politics ee County & A

Inside the State House

Primary is next week

BY STEVE FLOWERS

OPINION —

This coming Tuesday, March 5, is Primary Election Day in Alabama. Your vote next week is probably as important this Tuesday as it will be in the November general election because winning the Republican nomination for a statewide position in Alabama is tantamount to election.

We have an early primary election this year because we are part of the Super Tuesday GOP Presidential Primary caravan.

We do not have any close or interesting Alabama statewide races this year. The four Supreme Court seats up for election are held by popular incumbents, who are unopposed. The only contested Supreme Court race is for Chief Justice. Current Associate Justice Sarah Stewart is favored to win this race. She is imminently more qualified than her opposition. She has been on the Supreme Court for a decade, and prior to that was a Circuit Court judge in Mobile for 16 years.

There is an open seat on the Court of Criminal Appeals. Two assistant attorneys general, Thomas Govan and Rich Anderson, are running. Govan received most of the business and conservative groups’

endorsements and has worked the state diligently.

Republican Civil Court of Appeals Judge Chad Hanson is up for reelection next week. He is doing a good job.

Popular conservative Twinkle Cavanaugh, president of the Public Service Commission, is up for reelection this year. She will win overwhelmingly, as she should. She is the glue that keeps the PSC running smoothly.

One of the best races on the ballot next week will be for the newly drawn second congressional district. This new seat was drawn by the federal courts to create a second majority minority district. When the federal courts drew the new lines, they strived to make sure that the new district would favor a Democrat. The proof in the pudding was an index attached to the plan presented by the Special Master selected by the Court, which revealed that in 16 of the last 17 general elections, a Democrat would have won this seat had it been on the ballot.

The new second district includes all of Montgomery and extends through the Black Belt and gathers most of the Black voters in Mobile. There are 12 Democratic candidates vying for this seat. Therefore, there will more than likely be a runoff for the Democratic nomination on April 16. There is no telling who will be in the runoff. Few, if any of the candidates, live in the district.

There are seven Republicans vying for the GOP nomination in the new second district. There will more than likely be a runoff in this race, also. The three favorites

to get one of the two runoff posts are former Montgomery State Sen. Dick Brewbaker, current Escambia County State Sen. Greg Albritton and Montgomery attorney and Monroe County native Caroleene Dobson.

By virtue of redrawing the second district, the federal courts have made the revised first district one of the most conservative and Republican in the nation. They combined the Wiregrass with the upscale, growing, suburban enclaves of Baldwin and Mobile Counties. Two incumbent Republican Congressmen, Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) and Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), were placed into the same district and are pitted against each other.

Jerry Carl should be favored because two thirds of the voters in the new first district are in his cur-rent Baldwin County district. Baldwin County is one of the most populous counties in the state. It has 246,000 people and comprises one-third of the population of the new first district. Half the votes cast in next Tuesday’s Republican primary will be cast by Baldwin County residents. Thus, Baldwin County is the battleground for this congressional election.

Almost every voter in Baldwin County is a Republican and very conservative. Barry Moore, who hails from the Wiregrass, faced an uphill battle when attempting to convince Baldwin County voters that he was more conservative than their own Jerry Carl. However, despite Carl’s perceived advantage over Moore, current polling reveals

•

street closings and the invocation of the entertainment district for downtown community events that will occur throughout the upcoming year.

• Approved a tax abatement for Leehwa America Inc. in connection to the acquisition of new equipment needed for the expansion of the company’s existing location in the Auburn Technology Park South. Leehwa America Inc. anticipates hiring 24 new employees over the next two years with a capital investment of about $5.37 million. No education, hospital and children’s home taxes are abated.

• Accepted maintenance of approximately 4.92 miles of streets previously maintained by Lee County. The Code of Alabama requires that the city of Auburn assume the maintenance of streets from Lee County when property is annexed on both sides of a street.

The Auburn City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at 141 N. Ross St.

The next meeting is set for Tuesday, March 5.

Agendas are published on the Friday prior to the next meeting at www.auburnalabama.org/agenda.

Democratic Candidates Forum

Pictured left to right are Sonny Stringer, Kris Patton and Larry Patterson.

Lee County... Let’s elect the only candidate who has prosecuted:

23 murder and attempted murder cases, securing life sentences for some of Lee County’s most violent offenders.

Sexual assault cases committed against children, putting dangerous predators behind bars.

More than 75 jury trials and hundreds of bench trials in District Court, gaining thousands of hours of courtroom experience.

Hundreds of probation revocations, putting repeat offenders back in prison.

Violent crime committed by illegal immigrants.

Clay is a strong defender of our 2nd Amendment rights, and he is the Conservative Republican that Lee County needs to keep our community safe.

BY GREG MARKLEY

OPINION —

Until age 11, I had never been on a college campus.

On TV, actors spoke of college on “Leave It To Beaver” and “My Three Sons.” That deficiency changed in 1967 when on a trip to New Hampshire. My father drove to Dartmouth College, an Ivy League school. We were there for 30 minutes but I enjoyed the vibe, especially people running to classes with hands full of books and research.

Dad delivered a letter to a young man from his father. (This personal delivery is rare today; then it was a nice gesture.) From 1975 as a freshman to today I

the party’s local candidates who will appear on the March 5 Primary Election ballot.

Auburn attorney Kris Patton is seeking countywide election to the Lee County District Judge seat currently held by the Honorable Russell Bush. Judge Bush has announced his retirement at the end of this year.

Larry Patterson is seeking re-election to the Lee County School Board, District 6, while Sonny Stringer is seeking to maintain his seat on the School Board for District 7.

Richard LaGrand, Lee County Commissioner District 5, was invited to participate in the forum but did not attend.

Each of the candidates was allowed to give an opening statement followed by questions from the audience.

Patton emphasized her versatile experience as an attorney in handling cases affecting individuals and

To be or not to be in college? Part one

have closely followed news and controversies in higher education. For colleges and universities, a song Bob Dylan wrote three years before I visited Dartmouth is a good fit. It is called “The Times They Are A-Changing.”

In the Wall Street Journal recently, an interesting article titled “Why Americans Have Lost Faith in the Value of College: Three generations of ‘College for all’ has left most families looking for alternatives.’” The author, Douglas Belkin, often writes on U.S. higher education.

“For three generations, the national aspiration to ‘college for all’ shaped America’s economy and culture,” Belkin said. “Most high-school graduates took it for granted that they would earn a college degree. That consensus is now collapsing in the face of massive student debt, underemployed degree-holders and political intolerance on campus.”

Many students after hearing that humanities degrees will not easily

land them a job, sped over to fields like computer science, big data and engineering schools. The schools were slow in responding. History and English departments had quiet hallways as many students sought degrees elsewhere that would pay well.

Research shows that students spend only half as much time studying and attending classes as students did in 1961. Yet, many students in 2024 receive “As”; in fact, three times as much. When I was an undergraduate in the late 1970s, there was an informal formula for success, not scientific, but a good guide.

It was something like this: If you almost always spend an hour or less on a school subject, then you will fail the next exam. Conversely, if you spend say four hours routinely studying for a course, you will get an “A” you really earned. But, courses have different workloads. Some students over-study, affecting their health.

More from Douglas

Belkin: “Through a combination of state budget cuts, administrative bloat and runaway spending on campus amenities, the real cost of a four-year college degree climbed 180% between 1980 and 2020. The high cost increased pressure on universities to treat students as consumers purchasing a credential, instead of scholars receiving an education.”

Students who are not inclined to attend or stay at college should find an alternative. Caution: That might be a well-paying job that is demanding and dirty, or a mid-level pay schedule position that is comfortable and has good managers. Today’s economy is becoming more specialized, so having a high school degree is not enough in many jobs and careers.

Last August, a LinkedIn study determined that between 2019 and 2022 that there was a 36 percent increase in job postings that didn’t require degree requirements. But the actual number of jobs taken up by candidates who lacked a degree was

families.

“If I’m elected, I want to provide those who come through District Court with alternatives to help alleviate the problems that brought them to court in the first place,” said Patton. “Connecting people with available resources is crucial to ensuring their future success.”

Patton has also proposed moving some cases now being heard in Family Court to District Court in order to lessen the current backlog.

Lee County School Board members Larry Patterson and Sonny Stringer were both originally elected to the Board in 1988, becoming the first two African-Americans to serve in those positions.

“Over the years, we’ve developed a very diverse curriculum that offers quality programs for both collegebound and career technical students,” said Patterson. “Lee County is one of the most progressive county school systems in the state.”

“I’ve always had a passion

much smaller. In 1996, Neil Patel, a former contributor to Forbes, wrote an article called “My Biggest Regret in Life: Going to College,” which was widely circulated.

“I had a mistaken notion that I would learn more critical thinking skills in college,” Patel wrote. “Man, was I disappointed. Instead, the college consisted of classes where I was told to obey the rules, follow the instructions, memorize this information, and regurgitate it on a test. Do that, and you’ll be fine.”

He emphasized that for some students, such as physicians and lawyers, it is essential for them to go to college. But for entrepreneurs like him, college was not the path he needed. His fundamental reason for regretting being in college was that critical thinking, not rote thinking, is what future entrepreneurs need.

He argues that fundamentally, entrepreneurs “do not” follow instructions. “Instead they take risks, devise creative solutions, think outside the box, and

for kids,” Patterson added. “I’m proud to attend annual conferences and tell my peers that I’m from Lee County.”

Stringer pointed out that much has changed in the more than 30 years of his tenure.

“When I first came to the school board, we had an annual budget of $18 million. Today, it’s well over $100 million,” said Stringer. “One of my top priorities is, and always has been, school safety; making our campuses as safe as possible.”

Both Patterson and Stringer expressed a desire to maintain an environment where students and teachers can succeed by supplying them with the resources necessary for achievement.

Patterson and Stringer, along with Richard LaGrand, are all running unopposed in the Primary Election, and will face no challenge in the Nov. 5 General Election.

Patton is the only Democratic candidate in the Primary Election for District Judge but will face the winner of the Republican Primary in the General Election.

choose what rules to break. In other words, they think critically. What college didn’t teach me, I had to learn on my own.”

When I first saw a college campus on a short visit to Dartmouth in 1967, most Americans viewed higher education as an admirable goal for many people. Today, after tuition rose so high, the benefit of telling a recruiter “I have a college degree’ is no longer obvious. It used to be an eagerly awaited development in one’s life, like buying your first car or going on your first unchaperoned date. I will continue with this subject in part two next week.

Greg Markley moved to Lee County in 1996. He has a master’s in education from AUM and a master’s in history from AU. He taught politics as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama.

An award-winning writer in the Army and civilian life, he has contributed to the Observer since 2011. gm.markley@charter.net.

FLOWERS >> FROM B9

this is a close race. The winner of the Carl vs. Moore race next Tuesday wins it all, because there are no Democratic candidates in this super-Republican district.

Should Moore prevail, he owes his soul to the right wing, anti-Trump, “Daddy Warbucks” Club for Growth PAC. It is expected that this PAC is playing big for Moore like they did four years ago when they elected him to the old second district.

Our two most popular and powerful Republican U.S. congressmen, Robert Aderholt and Gary Palmer, are up for reelection this Tuesday. They both have token opposition. To lose either of these congressmen would be devastating for Alabama.

If you want your vote to count in this 2024 Presidential Election year, then you need to go to the polls next Tuesday, March 5.

See you next week.

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

RICHARD LAGRAND

Club News

NAMI visits Kiwanis

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County offers free waste disposal

BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER HGOLDFINGER @OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

LEE COUNTY — Did you know, Lee County began offering free trash disposal days in the county last month

John McDonald, Environmental Services director, told the commission Monday night that the free disposal days have been popular so far.

“The first one went very well,” he said.“We set up five different locations throughout the county and collected over 51 tons.”

Recycling was also pulled from one location and there was about five tons worth.

The free disposal day will be repeated on April 6 from 8 to noon with five locations, McDonald said.

Two locations the department is considering are the Beauregard Elementary School and the Beulah Elementary School.

McDonald said that almost half of the 51 tons came from the most popular site,

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which was the Highway 280 site. It was overcrowded at times, however, McDonald said. So the department hopes to relieve some of that congestion, he said. “I just want to say thank you,” said District 2 Commissioner Ross Morris. “Thank you for what you do, what you mean to Lee County, what your department does. It’s not unnoticed and you’re very much appreciated.”

OTHER BUSINESS:

- The county approved the continuation to county-wide sales tax for education.

- The county approved the FY2024-25 annual levy of alcoholic beverage fees.

- The commission approved the transfer of a lounge retail liquor license for 169 Bar and Grill LLC.

- The commission approved the transfer of a retail beer and retail table win license for

Express Foodmart.

- Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones added an item to the agenda. The commission approved an appropriation request for an improvement and upgrade to the Sheriff’s Office Communication System.

- The commission rejected a bit for FY2024 Crack Sealing.

- The commission approved the final plat approval for Hunter’s Point Subdivision.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, March 11 at 5 p.m.

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Last weeks speaker during the Opelika Kiwanis Club meeting was Dennis Shannon. He currently serves as the president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI.) He came and spoke on mental health issues and the work NAMI isdoing in East Alabama. NAMI meetings open to the public on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce building. The speaker for the March 7 meeting will be David Donovan. He will be speaking on the Maxwell AFB F-35 project.

Letter to the Editor: Courthouse grounds need attention

OPINION —

It would be interesting to know who is or who is not in charge of the grounds at the Lee County Courthouse. This building is one

Legal Notice

In the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama Civil Action No.

43-CV-2023-900428.00, Brown Lumber & Building Supply, Inc., Plaintiff vs. Ridge Crest Homes, LLC, Brady Construction, LLC, and William David Brady, Defendants.

Notice of Publication to: Ridge Crest Homes, LLC, Brady Construction, LLC, and William David Brady ("Defendants;;) are provided notice of the complaint filed against them by Brown Lumber & Building Supply, Inc. (''Brown Lumber") in the above styled action. The complaint included counts for breach of contract, account stated, lien enforcement, and quantum meruit/unjust enrichment associated with nonpayment for materials supplied to Defendants by Brown Lumber. Defendants and the public are provided notice of the lien tis pendens recorded on November 13, 2023 in the probate court of Lee County, Alabama at Deed Book/Pg: 9/283-284, related to the property located at 2127 Cobblestone Drive, Opelika, AL 36804 in Lee County, AL which is more particularly described as Lots Numbered 86, 87, 90, 91, 94, 95, 98, 99, 102, and 103, of The Cottages at Fieldstone Subdivision, Phase II·A-Townhomes, according to and as shown by map or plat of said subdivision of record in Town Plat Book 28, at Page 43, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama (the "Property"). 'The deed for that property is recorded at Deed Book 2682, Page 489. On September 7, 2023, Brown Lumber recorded a mechanic's lien on the Property at Deed Book/Pg: 12/668-669. The complaint seeks enforcement of a monetary judgment against the Property. This notice is being furnished pursuant to Ala. Code§§ 35-4-131, 6-6-564, and 6-6-561, which are incorporated by reference into this notice as if fully stated herein. A valid judgment may be entered against the Defendants that Brown Lumber will seek to enforce against the Property.

Date January 31, 2024

Mary B. Roberson

Lee County Circuit Clerk 2311 Gateway Drive Opelika, AL 36801 Legal Run 02/8/24, 02/15/24, 02/22/24 & 02/29/2024

STATE OF ALABAMA

COUNTY OF LEE

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE

DEFAULT having been made in the terms of that certain mortgage executed by Great Sky Properties, LLC to AuburnBank, which said mortgage is dated July 15, 2022, and recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, in Mortgage Book 4891, at Page 177, et seq and the said default continuing, and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the following-described real property will be sold at public outcry for cash, to the highest bidder, in front of the Courthouse door of the

if the most beautiful public buildings in the United States and every Lee County resident should be proud of it! But here it sits — dead plants, under-fertilized and under-watered

Lee County Courthouse in Opelika, Alabama, during the legal hours of sale on March 11, 2024, to-wit:

Lot 13, Block G, University Estates Plat Two Subdivision, according to and as shown by that certain map or plat thereof of record in Town Plat Book 7, at Page 191, in the office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama. This conveyance and the warranties hereinafter contained are made subject to any and all easements, covenants, and right-of-way of record in said county affecting said described property. Said sale is to be made for the purpose of paying the mortgage debt and cost of foreclosure.

AUBURNBANK BY:/s/ Blake Oliver Blake L. Oliver, Attorney for AuburnBank Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345

Opelika, AL 36803-2345

Legal Run 02/15/24, 02/22/24 & 02/29/24.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

REID VIOLA, Plaintiff ,vs. AP ARCEL OF LAND, PRUITTE MARGARET, MATHIAS KELVIN, UNKNOWN HEIRS ET AL, Defendant Civil Action No.: CV-2022-900189

Take notice that I, Mary Roberson, Circuit Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama, on the 11th day of March, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. CST at the entrance of the T.K. Davis Justice Center located at 2311 Gateway Drive, Opelika, AL 36801 will offer for sale for division the following described real property: From the southwest comer of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 33, Township 19, Range 25, Lee County, Alabama, run north along the west line of said Section 33 for 571.5 feet to the point of beginning of the property to be here described and conveyed; from said point of beginning run north along said western section line 295 feet; thence east 295 feet; thence south 295 feet; thence west 295 feet to the point of beginning containing 2 acres, more or less, and being a part of the property conveyed to the said Josh Mathews, Jr., deceased, by warranty deed from William Baggett and wife, Miriah Baggett, date December 4, 1913, recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, in Deed Book 108, at Page 45. Said property will be sold to the highest bidder for cash at public sale. The purpose of said sale is for distribution of the proceeds among the joint owners of said property. This the 6th day of February, 2024. Mary Roberson, CIRCUIT CLERK, Lee County Alabama Kevin W.R. Bufford Attorney for Plaintiffs Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345, Opelika, AL 36803-2345

(334) 745-3504

Legal Run 02/15/24, 02/22/24 & 02/29/24

plants and flower beds full of weeds! It is a disgrace! I know, for a fact, that the city of Opelika spends thousands of dollars on landscaping and maintenance every year. But look

what’s sitting in the middle of all of this. In Fairhope, which is known for its beautiful landscapes and flowers takes the trustee city prisoners out at night to maintain the landscapes.

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

ESTATE OF LILLIAN C.

OVERTON, DECEASED LEE COUNTY PROBATE

COURT

Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 2nd day of February, 2024, 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 our hands, and dated this the 2nd day of February, 2024.

KATHY O. HADAWAY

Legal Run 02/15/2024, 02/22/2024, & 02/29/2024

IN THE PROBATE

COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAM IN RE: The Estate of HAZEL I. CHILDS, Deceased

CASE NO.: 2024-076

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to JANET LEA CHILDS MURPHY, as Personal Representative of the Estate of HAZEL K. CHILDS, deceased, on the 7th day of February, 2024, by Bill English, Lee County Probate Judge.

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.

JANET LEA CHILDS

MURPHY

Personal Representative of the Estate of HAZEL I. CHILDS Legal Run 02/22/2024, 02/29/2024 & 03/07/2024

IN THE PROBATE

COURT OF LEE COUNTY, STATE OF ALABAMA

IN THE MATTER

OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM L. FRAZIER, Deceased

CASE NO,: 2024- 077

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR

Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned

Paula P. Frazier, on the 5th day of February 2024, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Paula P. Frazier, Executor Donald R. Cleveland Attorney at Law P O Box 527 West Point, Georgia 31833 Legal Run 02/22/24, 02/29/24 & 03/07/24

IN THE MATTER

OF THE ESTATE OF DENNIS J. CAMPBELL, DECEASED.

IN THE PROBATE

COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Case No: 2023-632

Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 13th day of February, 2024, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of

This is one if the major boosts to their economy. The county commissioners who represent us should be ashamed if this, as we all should be. Someone needs to do something

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.

SHARON H. CAMPBELL, Personal Representative

Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 02/22/24, 02/29/22 & 03/7/24

STATE OF ALABAMA

LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT

CASE NO. 2024-102

ESTATE OF JOHN TERRELL HUFF, JR., DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

Letters Testamentary of said John Terrell Huff, Jr., deceased, having been granted to Patricia McGahee Huff this 16th day of February 2024, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred.

Patricia McGahee Huff, Personal Representative

Legal Run 02/22/24, 02/29/22 & 03/7/24

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF JANET A. WRISLEY, DECEASED.

Case No. 2023-533

TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Sandra Dee Wrisley, as Executrix of the Estate of Janet A. Wrisley, deceased, on the 13th day of February, 2024, by the Honorable 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 be barred.

Sandra Dee Wrisley, Executrix of the Estate of Janet A. Wrisley, Deceased Marrell J. McNeal, Attorney at Law, PC PO Box 308 Opelika, AL 36803 334-745-7033

Legal Run 02/22/24, 02/29/24 & 03/07/24

NOTICE OF

APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF FUSAKO

WHITE, DECEASED

LEE COUNTY PROBATE

COURT

Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned Paula P. Frazier, on the 20th day of February 2024, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Witness our hands, and dated this the 20th day of February 2024.

JULIA HILL

Legal Run 02/22/2024, 02/29/24 & 03/07/24

INVITATION TO BID

24016

Sealed bids for the construction of Roof Replacements at the Eastside & Westside

Wastewater Treatment Facilities shall be received at the Opelika City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 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. The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code §34-8-1, et. seq. (1975) and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Bidders must be licensed by the Licensing Board for General Contractors when bids are submitted.

A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held at the Eastside

Wastewater Treatment Facility (3010 Columbus Parkway, Opelika, Alabama) at 10:00 a.m., CST on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, and at the Westside

Wastewater Treatment Facility (1017 Grand National Parkway, Opelika, Alabama) at 11:00 a.m.,

CST on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, for the purpose of reviewing the project and answering Bidder’s questions. Attendance at the Pre-Bid Conference is mandatory for all Bidders intending to submit a Proposal. Bidders are required to have a State of Alabama General Contractor’s License. All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala. Code §34-8-8(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number.

Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid. All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/or permits required by applicable law, rule, or regulation for the performance of the work.

Drawings and specifications will be distributed via email at no charge to contractors upon the completion of the mandatory pre-bid meeting. Additionally, bid documents will be made available on the City of Opelika’s website at www.opelika-al.gov/ bids.aspx following the mandatory pre-bid meeting. 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,

to make this a shining example for Lee County and Alabama. If you think this is exaggerated just ride by and look.

Sue Sellers Opelika

addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Ope¬li¬ka, Alabama, 36803-0390.

Attn: Roof Replacements at the Eastside & Westside Wastewater Treatment Facilities

LILLIE FINLEYPURCHASINGREVENUE MANAGER

CITY OF OPELIKA

204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120

Legal Run 02/29/24, 03/07/24 & 03/14/24

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

The following occupants at Bent Creek Storage, 2357 E Glenn Ave., Auburn AL 36830, are in default of rent. CONTENTS WILL BE SOLD AT AUCTION on StorageAuctions.com on 03/07/202.

Tanika Welch Unit 3143, appears to contain Mattress, dresser/ armoire, table, decor, plastic containers, plastic bag, misc. Boxes, clothing, and misc. items

Legal Run 02/29/2024

PUBLICATION NOTICE FOR HEARING ON PROBATE OF WILL

STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF LEE

ION THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

To: Mr. Preston T. Holman, whose whereabouts are otherwise unknown, and any known or unknown heirs of the Estate of Helen Beatrice Grantham, deceased. You will please take notice that on the 23rd day of February, 2024, a certain paper in writing purported to be the Last Will and Testament of Helen Beatrice Grantham was filed in my office for Probate by Linda Ann Holman and that they 5th day of April, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CDT was appointed the day and time for the hearing thereof, at which time you can appear and contest the same, if you see proper. Given under my hand, this the 23rd day of February, 2024.

BILL ENGLISH, Judge of Probate Legal Run 02/29/2024, 03/07/2024 & 03/14/2024

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE

COUNTY, ALABAMA

ESTATE OF KEVIN

MICHAEL LEWIS, DECEASED CASE NO.: 2024-036

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Brenda L. Lewis on the 14th day of February, 2024, by Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. 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.

Brenda L. Lewis Legal Run 02/22/2024, 02/29/2024 & 03/07/2024

Suspects lead Auburn, Opelika police on I-85 chase

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

AUBURN — On Feb.

21, the Auburn Police Department received multiple auto burglary reports that occurred near the 2300 block of Wire Road between 6 and 7 p.m.

Auburn patrol and detective units mobilized to search for the suspect vehicle based on a description provided by a witness. They located the suspect vehicle near the 1700 block of South College Street. Police observed a subject who appeared to

be concealing his identity exit a nearby business and enter the suspect vehicle. Auburn Police units pursued the suspect vehicle as

it exited a parking lot onto South College Street at a high rate of speed.

The pursuit continued as the suspect vehicle

OPD seeks assistance to identify theft suspect

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA — On Feb.

9, the Opelika Police Department began investigating a report of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle, theft of property and fraudulent use of a credit card which occurred in the 2500 Block of Pepperell Parkway.

At approximately 8 p.m., the victim received a notification that their card was used at Zales in Auburn. The suspect, a black male approximately 6-foot-5 to 6-foot-7, is seen on surveillance footage wearing a red T-shirt, black pants, red shoes and a thick gold cross necklace.

If you have any information on this incident or the identity of the suspect, please contact the Opelika Police Department Detective Division at (334) 705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665. Tips can be submitted through the Opelika Police Mobile App. You may wish to remain anonymous.

Tips can also be forwarded through Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at (334) 215-STOP(7867), toll-free at 1-833-AL1-STOP, or via the Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/215stop or the website: www.215STOP. com.

turned on the northbound entrance on I-85. Opelika Police Department units joined to assist in the pursuit as the suspect vehicle entered Opelika on I-85. The suspect vehicle continued to travel at a high rate of speed until it crashed, striking one uninvolved vehicle near exit 62. No one was injured as a result of the crash.

The suspects exited the disabled vehicle, and officers continued the pursuit on foot until both were detained.

Auburn Police arrested

Damien Dean Waller, age 30, and Cedric Antonio Paige Jr., age 24, both of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Waller was arrested on warrants charging him with three counts of unlawfully breaking and entering into a vehicle, two counts of trafficking in stolen identities, four counts of fraudulent use of a debit/credit card, two counts of theft of property third degree, possession of burglary tools, felony attempting to elude and theft of property fourth degree.

Paige Jr. was arrested on warrants charging him with three counts of unlawfully breaking and entering into a vehicle, two counts of trafficking in stolen identities, five counts of fraudulent use of a debit/credit card, two counts of theft of property third degree, possession of burglary tools and theft of property fourth degree. Waller and Paige Jr. were transported to the Lee County Jail. Waller is being held on $87,000 bond. Paige Jr. was held on $83,500 bond.

Public's help needed to find runaway

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA —

The Opelika Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a runaway juvenile. On Dec. 19, 2023, 13-year-old Jhimy Domingo Domingo left his residence in the 3400 Block of King Avenue. He was possibly heading in the direction of Florida or Tennessee.

Jhimy is a Hispanic male, approximately 4-foot-6, with brown hair and brown eyes. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Jhimy Domingo Domingo, please contact the Opelika Police Department at (334) 705-5200 or the

Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665. Tips can be submitted through the Opelika Police Mobile App. You may wish to remain anonymous. Tips can also be forwarded through Central

Alabama Crime Stoppers at (334) 215-STOP(7867), toll-free at 1-833-AL1STOP, or via the Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/215stop or the website: www.215STOP. com.

ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW

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DAMIEN DEAN WALLER CEDRIC ANTONIO PAIGE JR.

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