The Observer 01-26-2023

Covering Lee County, Alabama

Alabama Vol. 15, No. 16

Her Name is Amore

BY HANNAH LESTER AND KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH EDITOR@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

Eleven years ago, the Opelika Police Department discovered the skeletal remains of a little girl — an unknown little girl. But now, just a few days shy of the anniversary of her body's discovery, she has been identified.

Opelika Baby Jane Doe's name is Amore Joveah Wiggins.

Amore was found on Jan. 28, 2012, at the Brookhaven Trailer Park at 1775 Hurst St. in Opelika. Her skull rested in the yard while the rest of her bones were back toward the woods.

Officers found a pink shirt and a bit of her hair

Eli The Barber Makes Mark On Opelika

BY DANIEL LOCKE FOR THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA —

For many people, their haircut is the foundation of their look. It is the beginning and end of their style. No one knows this better than Elijah Michel, better known as “Eli the Barber.”

Michel has a lot of experience cutting hair dating back to his high school days.

“I’ve been cutting hair since I was 16 and I moved down here from Kansas City, started my suite, and have been pretty much cutting everybody since then” Michel said.

Being in a field that has many ways of doing things, barbers and hair stylists are often viewed as artists. This is a label that

Michel is proud of.

“I like anything that is a big transformation,”

Michel said of his favorite

ELIJAH MICHEL

types of cuts to do. “When they haven’t had a haircut in months, and we do something drastically

different.”

Michel has cut the hair

during the search, which were sent to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.

But it has been a long, hard search to identify Amore since then.

“The report [from Quantico] stated that the remains were of a black female likely between 4 and 7 years of age who became affectionately known to the community as Babe Jane Doe,” said a news release from the Opelika Police Department on Jan. 19, 2023.

The autopsy revealed Amore had suffered over 15 fractures from blunt force trauma to her body before her death.

“In addition, the Medical Examiner suggested that Jane Doe may have been malnourished and

page A3

The Envy of Opelika

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS @OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

An award-winning publication created 'For local people, by local people.'

Opelika,

See ENVY, page A5

Holly Surrency, owner of Envy Salon in Opelika, which was recognized as the top beauty salon in Alabama this month by Top Rated Local.

National Vitamin Company Celebrating 10 Years in the Community

CONTRIBUTED BY PHARMATIVE, LLC

OPELIKA — Pharmavite, LLC, makers of Nature Made vitamins, is excited to celebrate 10 years of production and being a community leader in Opelika, Alabama. It invites all to come out and join in celebrating this exciting milestone.

In January 2013, Pharmavite opened a 300,000-square-foot production facility, with a focus on gummy vitamins in addition to tablets and soft gels. This opening brought the vitamin, mineral and supplement (VMS) industry to Alabama for the first time in

state history.

The opening also immediately created hundreds of jobs, with 239 immediate new employees on the day of opening. That number has since more than doubled, with 566 Alabamians and neighboring Georgians now currently employed at the facility.

Pharmavite also continues to invest in the area, with a nearly $8 million expansion in 2021.

“We are deeply proud to be a part of the community in Opelika for the last 10 years and would like to thank all of our employees for the important work they do in manufacturing vitamins for consumers across

America,” said Solanda Prather, director of Plant Operations for Pharmavite. “We look forward to many more years to come in Opelika, which has lived up to its reputation as a place of hard-working, caring and skilled people who get the job done.”

Pharmavite has also remained an active member of the Opelika

Auburn Offers Free Tax Prep Services, Spring Author Series

and Auburn communities. Employees have participated in numerous charity events over the past decade, helping with the East Alabama Food Bank, Feed the Children, Lee County Humane Society, Relay for Life, Miracle League and many more.

Pharmavite invites you to join its employees in celebrating this achievement on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. each day. Representatives from the corporate level, as well as leaders from the Opelika plant, will be on site to answer questions.

We hope to see you there, and here’s to the next 10 years!

ABOUT PHARMAVITE,

LLC

Pharmavite is a pioneer in the health and wellness industry, earning the trust of consumers, health care professionals and retailers by developing innovative vitamin and supplement solutions backed by science that adhere to strict manufacturing practices. Through its Nature Made, EQUELLE, MegaFood, Nurish by Nature Made and Uqora brands, Pharmavite is dedicated to helping people live healthier, more vital lives. Based in California, Pharmavite is a subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Visit www.Pharmavite.com and follow on LinkedIn for the latest

environment is what first piqued his interest in cutting hair for a career.

of some notable people around the community, including some recognizable members of different Auburn University athletic programs.

“T.J. Finley, probably,” Michel said on his most notable haircut. “He was the most famous athlete when I got here. It was just like cutting anyone elses hair, you just really don’t want to mess it up.”

Becoming a barber was a desirable career for Michel and one he does not take for granted. The

CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF AUBURN

CYNTHIA L. LEDBETTER

AUBURN —

The Auburn Public Library is offering some different services to the community.

TAX SERVICES

The Auburn Public Library is partnering with Impact America-Alabama to offer free tax assistance to qualifying taxpayers.

Volunteers — certified and trained through the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program — will be available by appointment to help qualifying taxpayers prepare their tax returns.

Appointments may be made for Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays from Jan. 26 through March 9. Additional dates may open as needs are assessed.

To make an appointment or determine eligibility, visit Impact America-Alabama, select “Alabama,” then “Auburn Public Library.” Taxpayers may call 888-998-2925 for assistance. View an FAQ page at sites. google.com/impactalabama.org/savefirst/ faqs?pli=1.

Appointments will take place at the Auburn Public Library and are free to the public. For more information,

email Library Events at libraryevents@auburnalabama.org.

SPRING AUTHOR SERIES

The Auburn Public Library invites the public to a series of author visits this spring.

Thursday, Feb. 9, 4 p.m. – Edith Powell Edith Powell will speak about her book, "More Than Peanuts: The Unlikely Friendship of Tom Huston and George Washington Carver," a tale of the unlikely friendship between George Washington Carver and Tom Huston, along with two other peanut company executives — Bob

See SERVICES, page A4

“I like to understand people's fashion as a whole,” Michel said. “Being in the barber shop and around the culture got me into it because it’s laid back. You can joke around or watch sports while working.”

The Opelika area is near the hearts of its residents, and Michel has no trouble seeing why.

“I like the historical aspect of it honestly,” Michel said. “The area I’m at is super old and they’re holding on to their heritage. I like that

news and information about Pharmavite and its brands.

ABOUT NATURE MADE

Nature Made is the leading national vitamin and supplement broadline brand, with 51 years of delivering high-quality products that are backed by science. Ranked as the #1 pharmacist-recommended vitamin and supplement brand, Nature Made was the first to earn the United States Pharmacopeia’s (USP) Verified Dietary Supplement mark for many of its products — independent verification that products meet stringent quality criteria for purity and potency. Visit www.NatureMade. com for the latest news.

they are very true to the values here.”

Owning a small business is something that many people dream of, and Michel was no different. His barbershop is symbolic of hard work paying off.

“I like the fact that my hard work pays off for myself, not somebody else,” Michel said. “There is more work, but it is a lot more rewarding. If you want to be your own boss, you are going to have to work as if you are an underpaid employee. It’s a lot harder than people say it is but it’s a lot more rewarding than people say it is.”

Going to visit the barber shop is something that many people look forward to because it's a place for conversation, bonding and just kicking back and relaxing.

“It should be more than a haircut, it should be a friend,” Michel said. “It shouldn’t feel like an errand, it should feel more like a therapy session.”

Michel had many good things to say about his relationship with the community and what has come of it.

“I would like to thank the community as well,” he said. “They’ve been very supportive of me and I’m very grateful for that.”

Appointments with Michel can be made at www.thesuitebyeli.com.

LIVE LEE EDITOR: Hannah Lester

MARKETING: Woody Ross

PHOTOJOURNALIST: Robert Noles

SPORTS EDITOR: Wil Crews

SPORTS WRITER: D. Mark Mitchell

PUBLISHER: Michelle Key

STAFF REPORTER: Kendyl Hollingsworth

CORRECTIONS

Eli the Barber cuts the hair of a young patron.

Auburn Residents Invited to Get Involved

CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF AUBURN / DAVID D. DORTON

AUBURN —

The city of Auburn is again offering opportunities for residents to learn more about their local government in the form of two academies — the Public Safety Academy and the Citizens’ Academy.

Both academies will give residents the opportunity to gain a better understanding of their city and build relationships. Applications will be open from Feb. 1 to 15 and are available to Auburn residents ages 19 and older. Both programs will begin in March.

More information about the academies can be found

blind in her left eye due to a fracture in her eye socket,” the release said.

The examiners believed Amore may have been killed between the summer of 2010 to 2011.

“Since that day, Baby Jane has been a part of our OPD family,” said Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey during a press conference on Jan. 19, 2023.

Over the last 10 years, several methods of discovery were utilized and the OPD did not give up the search for Amore’s identity.

Healey recognized Sgt. Alfred White and the other detectives of the OPD for their work on the case.

“Fortunately, science and DNA has developed over the years and successfully helped us identify Baby Jane’s parents,” Healey said.

OPD formed a partnership last January with Othram Labs.

“In January of 2022, DNA was further extracted in attempts to retrieve DNA suitable for genealogy testing,” the release said. “Othram Labs successfully extracted DNA from the scalp, and Astrea Labs from the hair. A comprehensive genealogical profile was built from Othram’s DNA extract, and the profile was uploaded to a DNA database.

“Once uploaded, an experienced genealogist who works closely with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) was assigned the case. Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter with Firebird Forensics Group used the genealogical profile to identify relatives and develop investigative leads.”

Kristen Mittelman, chief development officer at Othram, said a detective from OPD on the case spoke with Othram’s case manager.

“The detective said that many, many labs and people had tried to work this case, and unfortunately were not able to work with this DNA,” she said. “ … They were very difficult skeletal remains to actually create a profile from, especially the kind

below and at auburnalabama. org/academies.

PUBLIC SAFETY ACADEMY

The city’s Public Safety Academy dates back to 1995 when it focused solely on giving residents a look inside the Auburn Police Department. Since that time, the program has expanded to include all Public Safety services, including Police, Fire and Emergency Management & Communications.

The academy will include eight classes taking place from mid-March to late April. Each session will include presentations that cover a variety of topics ranging from crime scenes to fire prevention. The final session will include a graduation and

of profile that you need to do genealogy.”

However, Othram uses a technique called Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing, which is unique, Mittelman said, and what Othram does is focus solely on genome identification.

“Because this is all we do, we have run more evidence than anyone else on Earth using these types of methods, and we do it all in-house,” she said. “So every time we run a case successfully, we use it as a truth set to sort of guide us and help us figure out what we can do in other cases that have intractable evidence, which is exactly what was the case in this — with Opelika Jane Doe.”

Othram was able to construct a profile for Amore using her family tree with the markers on her profile.

“We actually turned the profile over to Barbara Rae-Venter,” Mittelman said. “She’s an extremely wellknown genealogist that actually worked on the Golden State Killer case. She volunteered her time on this case, and she worked through the genealogy fees and was able to identify not one, but both of the parents for Opelika Jane Doe. When she did, the law enforcement agent went out and collected DNA, sent the DNA back to Othram.”

All of this new information led to the sought-after results — the identification of Amore’s parents.

a presentation from the Public Safety Academy Alumni Association.

Amore’s father, Lamar Vickerstaff Jr., is an Opelika native who was stationed in Mayport, Jacksonville with the Navy at the time of his identification in December 2022.

“In December of 2022, Opelika Detectives traveled to the Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida, where Mr. Vickerstaff is currently stationed, to notify him of his daughter’s death,” the release said. “During the meeting Mr. Vickerstaff did not provide investigators with any information on the identity of Jane Doe.”

Investigators then notified and questioned Lamar’s wife, Ruth Vickerstaff — not Amore’s biological mother — who said she had no information on Amore’s identity.

Later in December, investigators determined Amore’s mother was Sherry Wiggins, who resides in Maryland.

Sherry said she gave birth to Amore in January 2006 but that Lamar and Ruth received legal and physical custody of the child in 2009, and Sherry lost visitation rights.

“Detectives reached out to the school boards and pediatric clinics in several states where Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff resided and determined that Amore was never enrolled in school nor was she reported as a missing person,” the release said.

Lamar and Ruth were arrested on Jan. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville,

A schedule is available at auburnalabama.org/academies.

Florida. Lamar was charged with felony murder and Ruth with failure to report a missing child.

“This little girl — obviously, she endured terrible neglect and abuse prior to her death, and just based on all of the anthropology reports that were done on the skeletal remains … it’s obvious that she had been harmed and that she needed her name back, and she needed justice and there was just no leads in this case,” Mittelman said. “No one had reported her missing. Even after we knew her name, she was not reported missing. Law enforcement launched an investigation that led them to realize that her father had gotten custody of her, and her mother was, I believe, still paying child support and believed her daughter was still alive. She had lost visitation and didn’t know what had happened to her, and it seems as though the father and his wife have been arrested for this crime. …

“When people share this story today, people will start to realize that it’s not always hopeless, and there is always a reason to keep going if there’s DNA and law enforcement is willing. … I also believe that her story should be told. For 10 years now — more than 10 years — she was voiceless, and she would have never gotten her name back. She wasn’t even a missing person. No one even knew this

CITIZENS’ ACADEMY

The Citizens’ Academy provides a behind-the-scenes

had happened to her, and that’s horrible, so one way to help is share these victims’ stories and let people know what’s possible.”

In helping to solve current and future cases, Othram encourages people to enter their own DNA into the database (DNASolves).

“That helps with the genealogy because if you knew you’re missing someone, that’s a good reason to enter it in there,” Mittelman said. “There would be a quick match, and we wouldn’t have to wait the month that it takes to work through the family trees to figure out who the person is. You just download your Ancestry or 23andMe profile, and you upload it to DNASolves, and it honestly takes just less than a couple minutes, and you don’t even have to take another test or anything. You just take that data and upload it to help solve the next case in your area or help identify the next victim. It’s pretty incredible.”

Othram also takes donations to help fund the research and work.

“Even $1 is helpful,” Mittelman said. “It costs about $7,500 to solve one of these cases, and often, there’s no federal funding available, so we do a lot of them … based on philanthropy and just the general public helping us crowdfund the next solve until the federal government starts to realize that this technology is powerful and needs to be fund-

look at all city departments through seven day-long sessions starting in March and ending in September. The 2023 class will participate in facility tours, hands-on activities, presentations and candid conversations with city staff, covering everything from local economic development to the quality of Auburn’s water.

A full schedule will be announced when applications become available on Feb. 1 at auburnalabama.org/academies. Graduates will walk away with the knowledge of day-to-day operations, the tools to get more involved and a stronger connection with fellow community members and city staff.

ed at the same level as traditional forensic DNA testing. ...

“It's pretty cool — the science behind it is super powerful, but what’s even more amazing is that now there’s a predictable way to solve these cases that were previously hopeless.”

For more on Amore's case and Othram’s work, visit www./dnasolves. com/articles/opelikajane-doe/.

Anyone with information on Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff should call the OPD Detective Division at 334-705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665.

The Opelika Police Mobile App also has a place for tips.

“Our hearts go out to Sherry Wiggins, who was a tremendous help in solving the case and helping bring justice to her baby girl,” Healey said.

The chief said the case remains open.

“In fact, just yesterday (Jan. 18) we executed a search warrant at a trailer near where her remains were found in conjunction with the FBI’s evidence response team, still trying to gather further information and evidence related to this case,” he said.

Healey commended Rae-Venter, the NCMEC, Othram Labs, Astrea Labs, the FBI, OPD detectives, The Jacksonville Florida's Sheriff’s Office, NCIS, The Lee County District Attorney’s Office and the Baltimore County Police Department in Maryland.

“I also want to make a special mention of the late Lee County Coroner Bill Harris, who, until his death in June of last year, continuously worked toward identifying Baby Jane,” Healey said. “I have no doubt he is celebrating with Amore today. ...

“The level of dedication to this case, I have never seen in my entire career. To see a group of men and women come together searching for a name — many of us said that we did not want to leave our time at this police department until we had her name. And now we do: Amore Wiggins.”

Booking photos for Lamar and Ruth Vickerstaff, who were arrested in Jacksonville, Florida, last week.

SEAN DIETRICH

They called her Mama. Everyone at Waffle House knew her that way. Few knew her real name. To them, she was “Mama.”

“She was everyone’s mother,” said the Waffle House cook, standing over a flat-top stove. The older woman was cooking my eggs, reminiscing about the 69-year-old waitress who died suddenly two days ago.

The Opelika Waffle House is decorated with pictures of the late waitress. Mama.

She was a white-haired woman, with a warm smile and the face of a matriarch.

“We started calling her Mama when her daughter got a job here. Her daughter would call across the dining room, ‘Hey, Mama!’ and we all thought that was hysterical. The name Mama just stuck.”

They would never call her anything else.

Mama worked for Waffle House for over two decades. There were ribbon-cut potatoes in her blood.

“She was mid-

dle-aged when she started working here,” said the cook. “She was born for this job. She brightened this whole place.”

Rebecca Ella Yarbrough lived in Opelika all her life. She grew up in Pepperell Mill Village, near the old mill. Her life revolved around the mill. Rebecca’s first job was working as a textile weaver until the mill shut down. At which point Rebecca applied at Waffle House. On her first day, something just clicked.

“Being a waitress is all about personality. It ain’t about hard work. It’s about putting up with people’s B.S. It’s about personality. Some have it. Some don’t. Mama did. She ain’t never met a stranger.”

They tell me Mama treated you like you were family, no matter

Mama

who you were.

“You coulda been a drunk, from off the street. But when you come in here, Mama treated you like the Prince of England. She loved everyone the same.”

Mama worked from "can to can’t" to support her family. She worked Thanksgiving. She worked doubles on Christmas. She took the New Year’s Eve shift. She worked birthdays, holidays, weekends. You name it. Thousands of locals visited this Waffle House just to see her. Thousands.

“We used to have lines out the door, people just waiting to see Mama. None of the other Waffle Houses had lines like we did.”

She knew everyone in this town. And everyone knew her. Mama was not just a waitress. She was a fixture in

Opelika. And that’s not an opinion.

“I remember once, her husband, Steve, done took her to the Grand Canyon. While they was there, looking at the canyon, they ran into some people who said, ‘Hey, you’re that waitress from Waffle House! In Alabama!’ And I think they all got their pictures made with her. That’s just how Mama was. She knew er’body.”

She was married for 35 years. She leaves three children behind. Johnathan, Christy and Kyle. She also leaves behind five grandchildren. And eight great-grandchildren.

Eight.

“She was beautiful,” said the cook, wiping her face with her sleeve. “Mama loved folks like it was her full-time job. When they told me she died, I almost died right

along with her.”

Mama’s funeral is on Monday, [Jan. 23.] They will bury her in the Garden Hills Cemetery. They will have a motorcade procession. Vehicles will parade through Lee County before noon, headlamps blaring. Traffic will pull to the shoulder to watch Mama’s procession pass. Songs will be sung. Tears will be shed. Hearts will break.

“Everyone from Waffle House is gonna go to the funeral,” said the cook. “We employees are gonna take turns covering each other’s shift so we can all visit.

“It’ll be a huge service, I don’t think her family even knows how many people’s lives that woman touched. She belonged to more than just her family, you know. She was ours, too.

“She was our mama.”

A Conversation Worth Having

You’ve either experienced it yourself or at least heard of it:

Your family is gathered around a table for Thanksgiving dinner when your uncle says something like, “Liberals are just socialists!” And your aunt fires back, “Oh yeah?

Well conservatives hate immigrants!” A fight may then ensue in which the family

DICHIARA

members hurl insults and call each other bigots, snowflakes, deplorables, bleeding hearts and idiots. This scene occurs at some dinner tables more than others, usually depending on the amount of difference between each family member’s political, religious and cultural values. But it happens every day and it happens everywhere. There’s

Auburn Day School Imagination Station Sets Grand Opening

CONTRIBUTED BY

AUBURN DAY SCHOOL

AUBURN —

Auburn Day School, Alabama’s STEM preschool, is opening the doors of its brand new ADS Imagination Station for children and families the fourth Saturday of each month.

The first event, “Arctic Adventures,” will mark the grand opening of ADS’s new expansion Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023.

The event will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. or noon to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 per child — parents and guardians get in for free — and can be purchased at bit.ly/adsimagine.

Auburn Day School is

located at 1199 S. Donahue Drive, Suite E, in Auburn.

“It’s our pleasure to open Auburn Day School to the public each month so that children and families in our community may experience engaging, hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (S.T.E.M.) activities,” the news release reads.

To learn more about Alabama’s STEM preschool, its wide range of summer classes and camps for children ages 1 to 8, or the ADS Imagination Station, visit its website, auburndayschool.com.

“Adventures” is great for the whole family, but activities are ideally suited for children ages 1 to 8.

a saying that politics boils down to coalition-building. In every culture, at every time in history, politics is just people trying to persuade each other to buy into a certain vision of how things should be done and who should do them until a powerful enough coalition is built to enact those policies. So build a coalition of people thinking about achievable solutions to real problems instead of making enemies.

If you open Facebook or Twitter, or have a conversation at the water cooler at work, and someone says something offensive to your political views, the productive thing to do is to recruit them rather than rebuke them. If you really believe you’re right, then make your case, but also keep

SERVICES >>

FROM A2

Barry and Grady Porter. From 1924 until the end of Carver’s life, these four men sustained a professional partnership and a personal friendship built on mutual admiration, respect, trust and purpose.

Thursday, March 23, 3 p.m. – Maire Martello Stroll back in time with Maire Martello through her book, "Stepping Out with Scott and Zelda: A Tour of the Fitzgeralds’ Montgomery," a literary tour guide that introduces the places and people that touched the Fitzgeralds’ lives during their period in Montgomery. Visit Zelda’s childhood home and neighborhood, with its ornate Victorian

in mind that none of us can ever be 100% positive we are correct in our views. And constructive criticism is fine — but keep it constructive. Otherwise, you forfeit that unique opportunity to win someone over from the Dark Side and actually impact the way they think, speak and act. You can either insult someone or persuade them — you can’t do both. And insults make a dangerously divided world that much more divided, while persuasion invites someone to be respectful to others in a way that may actually work because it’s communicated respectfully to them.

America has been deeply divided as long as it’s existed, but we live in a unique moment of crisis in which we can’t even agree on the most basic facts of reality. Every day, we

mansions and charming houses with gingerbread trim. Discover where Scott, as a lieutenant during World War I, first fell in love with a young Southern belle and the city that shaped her. Explore historic Old Cloverdale’s winding tree-lined streets and enjoy the Fitzgeralds’ 1931 home, now an important literary museum. Featuring photographs and period postcards from the era, "Stepping Out with Scott and Zelda" is the perfect way to ring in the new Roaring Twenties.

Tuesday, May 2, 5:30 p.m. – Virginia Wise Wise’s fiction career began with the Amish New World series, which takes readers on a journey into the 18th-century Pennsylvania wilderness and the pioneering days of the first American

scroll through social media feeds tailored by esoteric algorithms to confirm our existing biases and sell us ever more partisan content and ever more sensationalized caricatures of the other side. The results of every search on Google and YouTube are customized to show us content that we already like and agree with so we will click on it. And if conservatives and liberals can agree on anything, it’s that [most] press is hopelessly biased. This is all a disaster for democracy. Conservatives and liberals can’t figure out how to disagree on policy while still recognizing that the other side is made up of intelligent people with legitimate concerns and perspectives. If we are ever going to swim back upstream against the current of inherently

Amish. Each carefully researched novel brings a bygone era to life and connects readers to this forgotten time by weaving familiar Amish romances into a historic frontier setting. Currently, she is writing the Bluebird Hills series for Harlequin Love Inspired. These uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope take place in a fictional Amish community set in modern-day Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The May meeting of Reader’s Review Virtual Book Club will feature the first book in Wise’s Amish New World series, “Where the Heart Takes You.” In addition to her in-person visit on May 2 at 5:30 p.m., Wise will join May’s book club virtual meeting on May 16 at 5:30 p.m.

These events are free

polarizing information technologies and empower ordinary Americans to govern themselves, then we will need to heal our national discourse and have more constructive conversations on more respectful terms. We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, have to remember how to listen to each other and how to speak in a way that will be heard.

So next Thanksgiving, when your aunt and uncle start shouting MSNBC’s and Fox’s talking points at each other, the choice is yours; Either let them berate, attack and ignore each other out of ever learning something from the other’s point of view, or do the fundamental work of a democratic society and start a conversation.

and open to the public. For more information, email libraryevents@ auburnalabama.org.

ABOUT THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Auburn Public Library was established in 1947 to serve the residents of Auburn, Alabama. Today, the Auburn Public Library inspires, enriches and delights our residents with vital and valuable resources, services and experiences. The Auburn Public Library provides residents with a collection that reflects the diverse and dynamic interests of our community, with access to public technology and information resources and with programs and activities that contribute to an engaged, literate and informed society. The Auburn Public Library is located at 749 E. Thach Ave.

SAM

Buckled Up? Opelika Gets Car Seat Safety Lesson

BY MADELINE ACOSTA FOR THE OBSERVER

LEE COUNTY

—

On Thursday, Jan. 19, Lt. Jessica Daley held a demonstration at the Lee County Sheriff's Office where she informed parents and guardians about car seat safety and how to correctly install the seats. These installations are free to the public, and parents are encouraged to sign up for an appointment.

Daley discussed the importance of proper car seat installations and how the main focus of these demonstrations is child safety.

“I’m all about keeping kids safe,” Daley said. “I’m all about everybody knowing

announced as the top-rated beauty salon in Alabama by topratedlocal.com.

Additionally, the salon — which has been in Opelika for 15 years — was announced by topratedlocal. com as the fourth best-rated business in the entire state.

“This honor, as I see it, is definitely about the clients more than anything,” said owner Holly Surrency.

“Even more than the stylists, that’s more about the clients

easy ways to be safe and teaching them how to do it when we’re not around.”

Without the proper knowledge of how to install a child’s car seat, the risk of a child becoming injured is high, and the parents risk receiving a ticket under Alabama law for improper restraint of the child.

Car seats are dependent on the child’s age, weight and height, so knowledge of the proper installation is important for a child’s safety for each stage of growth. Not every car seat is manufactured the same, so these demonstrations help inform the parents and guardians of those differences each time the child moves to the next

— the clients going on, feeling led to do a review.”

Top Rated Local has set out to recognize the local businesses that make Alabama such a great state, and calculated its rankings by aggregating the total number of verified sites the business is listed on, the total number of business reviews the business has on those review sites and the business’s average overall star rating.

Each business is then given a Rating Score, with the highest being a 100. Envy Salon has received 1,868

car seat.

“If I can teach the parents how to move the car seat when they get a new car, or when they give it to the grandparents and install it correctly, it actually gives the parents a little bit of empowerment,” Daley said. "That’s what makes it all worth it.”

On the Lee County Sheriff's Department website, there is a link for parents and guardians to provide their information and make an appointment. If a parent or guardian does not have access to the website, they can call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 334749-5651 to make an appointment by phone.

reviews across six different verified sites as of Jan. 12, with an average rating of 4.97 stars. Overall, Envy Salon earned a rating score of 99.71 and the honor of winning a Top Rated Local award for beauty salons in the state of Alabama for the fourth time.

“It’s important to us — customer service — 100%,” Surrency said. “It’s important that you enjoy the experience.”

While many people are indifferent about where they get a haircut, Surrency said she believes Envy Salon pro-

vides more to its customers than a typical walk-in salon.

“It’s not just about a haircut, you can get that anywhere,” she said. “You want them to feel important and special. I hope that even from the front desk, shampoo assistants — and not just the stylists that is with you — that the whole experience is good.”

Envy Salon operates on a commission-based business model instead of the commnonly seen booth-rental model. Surrency claims that the culture the

commission-based workplace has set is one way her salon separates itself from other salons.

“Salon experience and the culture of the salon are really important,” she said. “A commission salon is more of a family and a business where we all work together. We all have a common goal. We all think the same way, act the same way. We all get along really well, and it’s just a good environment. I think that clients can see that.”

Natalie Killmaster, employee at Envy Salon,

summed up what it’s like to work with Surrency at Envy and what the honor received by Top Rated Local means to the business.

“Awesome. If I had to sum up [working here], that would be the best way,” Killmaster said. “Holly is … and if you ask any of the girls … a mentor. Everybody is just a team and wants to help each other about every aspect. We are invested in so many areas, it’s so much fun. It’s awesome that people took a few minutes out of their time to give us a good review.”

Lee County Sheriff Department's Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, Lt. Jessica Daley.

Opelika Native Receives Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award

CONTRIBUTED BY SOUTHERN COMPANY GAS

OPELIKA —

Opelika native and Nicor Gas Director of Corporate Safety Brian Thomas was the recent recipient of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity – Alpha Upsilon Lambda Chapter’s Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award for Governmental and Military Service.

Thomas began his military service in 1988 as a member of the Alabama National Guard while attending Alabama A&M University, where he earned a degree in business administration.

During his military career he served in many roles, including Safety & Occupational Health officer,

AMEDD recruiter, Medical Battalion administrative officer, S-1, Deputy Military Personnel officer and recruiting commander.

In 2009, Thomas deployed to Afghanistan with the 135th Sustainment Command as the Human Resources Operations Branch OIC. He retired from the Alabama Army National Guard Active/ Guard Reserve (AGR) program as a major, after 26 years of service in November 2014.

In August 2014, Thomas joined Southern Company — Nicor Gas’s parent company — as a Senior Safety & Health specialist with the Georgia Power Company. He began with Southern Company Gas in

2017 as the senior Safety Compliance specialist and was later promoted to safety manager. Currently, he is the director of Corporate Safety for Nicor Gas in Naperville, Illinois. In this role, he is responsible for providing strategic leadership and directing programs to ensure compliance in the areas of occupational safety, motor vehicle safety, process safety and industrial hygiene.

Thomas currently resides between Plainfield, Illinois, and Suwanee, Georgia, with his wife of 26 years, Shirlinda Nelson Thomas. He is also the proud father of three daughters. His father still resides in Opelika.

ABOUT NICOR GAS

Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution

companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Nicor Gas serves more than 2.3 million customers

in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit nicorgas.com.

ABOUT SOUTHERN COMPANY

GAS

Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.3 million natural gas customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas. com.

BRIAN THOMAS

&

Making the Grade: The Flying Biscuit Café

Back then, it was called Family and Consumer Science, a fancy name for home ec.

Many changes have come about in education in the last few decades. One class that has fallen by the wayside is home economics, or "home ec."

When Mike and I taught at Long Cane Middle School in LaGrange, Georgia, home ec was an exploratory or elective class until about 2003.

When the class was dropped, another computer course took its place. This was a mistake, in my opinion. Over 60% of our students lived in poverty. Also, some of those students had to help take care of younger siblings when they got home from school because their parents worked the second or third shift. Therefore, our kids had to provide supper for their younger brothers and sisters. Our home ec teacher taught them how to cook meals, sew, etc.

Thankfully, when my good friend Amelia and I were seniors at Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals), home ec was still an elective, so we

signed up for it.

I soon learned two important things in home ec.: 1. I disliked cooking; in fact, the last

time I loved to cook was on my Easy Bake Oven; and 2. I was a terrible seamstress; I had not inherited Mother Mac’s

Dietrich Dazzles at Opelika Public Library

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

A large crowd gathered at the Opelika Public Library last Thursday night to see acclaimed columnist and novelist, Sean Dietrich.

Known for his commentary on living in the South, Dietrich, commonly referred to as Sean of the South, played guitar, sang and told stories as he charmed attendees for nearly two hours.

“It's my hope to make people feel good for a few minutes, make them laugh,” Dietrich said of his goal for the event. “… Sing some songs. Have

a good time. That's it, I have no purpose other than to meet my friends and shoot the breeze.”

Throughout the night, Dietrich candidly talked about his family, fishing, God, traditions, quirky regional customs, butter beans and more — all through the lens of his Southern Baptist upbringing. His act was witty, cunning and as sharp as the contour lines of his full-figured red beard. At its best, the event featured all the elements of a (clean) standup comedy act combined with a southern gospel concert.

The crowd in

(my maternal grandmother) giftedness for making clothes.

During the six weeks, we had to make an arti-

cle of clothing. Amelia reminded me that some of the male students

STACEY PATTON WALLACE

See DIETRICH, page A9

SEAN DIETRICH

Lee County's Distinguished Young Woman Ranks as Top Eight Finalist

CONTRIBUTED BY DYWLC

LEE COUNTY —

On Saturday, Jan. 21, Keely Rider, Lee County's Distinguished Young Woman, was selected as a top eight finalist in Alabama's Distinguished Young Women. Rider competed with other high school senior girls from across the state for the title of Alabama's Distinguished Young Woman. This program joined together participants to compete for college

scholarships, as well as the opportunity to represent America's Distinguished Young Woman Program of 2023. Rider was awarded a preliminary award in scholarship.

The young women competing were evaluated by a panel of five judges in the following categories: Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%) and Self-Expression (15%). Participants have been practicing and preparing all

week in Montgomery for this event. The young women were included in the Governor's Parade along with a dinner at the governor's mansion on Wednesday. They attended community civic events and luncheons in the capital city.

All workshops and events focus on the “Be Your Best Self” program, which includes: Be Healthy, Be Ambitious, Be Involved, Be Responsible and Be Studious.

The Distinguished

Young Women is a national scholarship program that inspires high school girls to develop their full, individual potential through a fun, transformative experience that culminates in a celebratory showcase of their accomplishments. Rider won and will receive $1,500 in scholarships from the state level.

Lee County will host the 2024 program on June 24, 2023. Participant registration is now available on the website.

From The Live Well Kitchen: Everyday Broccoli Salad

CONTRIBUTED BY ACES

AUBURN —

This Live Well Alabama recipe is for the vegetable lover who also has a sweet tooth. Combining broccoli, bacon, lowfat yogurt and honey, this Everyday Broccoli Salad has something for everybody! It only takes a couple of minutes to put together, and soon there’s a delicious salad for all to enjoy.

TIPS

For more tartness,

use cranberries instead of raisins. Try with your favorite nuts instead of sunflower seeds.

INGREDIENTS

6 cups broccoli, chopped

½ cup raisins

¼ cup red onion, chopped

¼ cup sunflower seeds

¼ cup bacon bits

½ cup plain low fat yogurt

¼ cup honey

DIRECTIONS

In large bowl, combine broccoli,

raisins, red onion, sunflower seeds and bacon bits.

In small bowl, combine plain yogurt and honey.

Stir yogurt and honey mixture into large bowl. Serve immediately or chill.

“Cooking at home on a regular basis is a key ingredient to overall health, and it doesn’t have to be difficult or break the bank," said Katie Funderburk, Alabama Extension's SNAPEd coordinator.

“Our recipes are inexpensive, easy to prepare and don’t require fancy kitchen equipment.”

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive.

Live Well Alabama provides numerous recipes that are simple and budget-friendly. For more information about Live Well Alabama and to find more Live Well Alabama recipes, visit www. LiveWellAlabama.com. Also, check out

more Live Well Alabama tips and recipes on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

LIVE WELL ALABAMA

Live Well Alabama is a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) initiative developed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Auburn University. This initiative reaches residents across the state with researchbased education.

ABOUT ALABAMA

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM

Alabama Extension is the primary outreach organization for the land grant mission of Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities. Its educational programs grow from these two land grant university campuses to serve the people of Alabama. Sciencebased educational programs are delivered that enable people to improve their quality of life and economic wellbeing.

Broccoli is the star ingredient in this healthy, everyday salad recipe.

KEELY RIDER

Sean of the South Visits Opelika

Noted columnist and writer Sean Deitrich, commnonly known as Sean of the South, visited Opelika Public Library Thursday, Jan. 19.

DIETRICH >>

FROM A7

attendance hung on every word Dietrich said. The punchlines were never-ending. The wisdom and worldliness shown through his tales of humble beginnings could have brought a sinner to the altar, a cynic to a rolling laugh.

has lived the life of the itinerant artist. From his native Quebec, he moved to Boston at age 12, where he learned English and picked up piano and guitar. Later, he served in Vietnam and earned a pilot’s license in Colorado before living in Alaska, Seattle and Paris.

Six years in New Orleans infused his musical sensibilities with the region's culture and rhythms. And then, a close call while piloting a seaplane proved pivotal: After two decades working as a studio musician, playing rowdy rooms with blues bands and living hard, Bonneville’s lifetime of hard-won experience coalesced into an urge to write his own music.

Bonneville has been called “a poet of the demimonde” with a style that sometimes draws comparisons to JJ Cale and Daniel Lanois. His music is blues-influenced, New

While Dietrich largely gained popularity from his editorially focused writing, his vocal chops hold a candle to your local church choir leader. Additionally, Dietrich has acting experience. He debuted on living room TV screens in an Alfa commercial in 2020.

For a man who oozes such composure and

Orleans-inspired and has earned him the apt description of “song and groove man.” His original songs are gritty narratives inspired by a lifetime of hard-won knowledge set against his steely, soulful guitar and harmonica playing, accented by stirring foot percussion. His acclaimed performance groove is the product of a unique, electric guitar style, unrivaled harmonica tone, smoky vocal and unwavering foot percussion.

Canadian born and current resident of Austin, Texas, Bonneville has performed on albums by Mary Gauthier, Gurf Morlix, Eliza Gilkyson, Ray Wylie Hubbard and other well-known Americana/ Roots artists. He shares songwriting credits with Tim O’Brien, Phil Roy and Morlix, among others. He is a winner of Canada’s coveted Juno award, and in 2012 won the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge Award.

The concert takes place on Friday, Feb. 10, at 7:30

confidence, Dietrich said his breakthrough moment on the little screen was a step outside his comfort zone.

“Doing the Alfa commercials was a definite stretch of my comfort zone, but I had a lot of fun,” Dietrich said. “It's still very difficult to see yourself on TV. I don't like it. As soon as the

p.m. at the Sundilla Concert Series at the AUUF, located at 450 E. Thach Ave. in Auburn. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, and may be purchased online at www.sundillamusic.com. Coffee, water, tea and assorted foods are provided free at all concerts. Those attending are welcome to bring their own refreshments. Children are also welcome at Sundilla concerts, and those 12 and under are often admitted free of charge. Sundilla is a member of the North American Alliance for Folk Music and Dance and is recognized as an official not-for-profit organization. More about the artist at www.raybonneville.com

LINKS TO VIDEOS OF RAY’S

LATEST SINGLE RELEASES:

- The Way It Was Before: www.youtu.be/ YER9gXjunPI

- On the Blind Side: www.youtu.be/3N3lousUijo

TICKET LINK: www.sundillamusic.com/emi-sunshineband/

commercials began airing, for instance, I went to get my haircut and the woman cutting my hair got this huge grin on her face. She said, ‘Hey! You're the guy from the Alfa commercials!’ I sort of blushed and said, ‘Yes, ma'am, that was me.’ She said, ‘Oh my gosh, I can't stand those commercials.’” Perhaps luckily for

all parties involved, there was no acting from Dietrich Thursday night. He candidly addressed the crowd as a relatable peer. It was an honest, brazen and entertaining take on life — southern life. And according to Dietrich, life in the South is good. Ultimately, events like Thursday night help him share

that good with others.

“The South is a unique culture unto itself,” Dietrich said. “It's an old culture, and it's our heritage. In an age of technology, and mass communication, sometimes I worry that regionalism in the United States is drying up. I'm just trying to keep the good parts of the South alive in story and song.”

FROM A7

Lee County Kicks Off Relay for Life 2023 Efforts

BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

With Relay for Life just four months away, Lee County volunteers kicked off planning for this year’s event with a “Souper Supper” meeting Jan. 23 at the Opelika Sportsplex.

The meeting aimed to educate participants on the cause and allow them to share ideas for this year’s relay.

“Relay For Life is

made SUITS. It took me the ENTIRE grading period to make a Kelly green wrap-around skirt. I looked like a fat blade of grass. To make matters worse, Mrs. Smith, our home economics teacher (not her real name), insisted that we model our creations in a class fashion show. I was mortified and still bear the scars 42 years later.

Also, for the first and last time in my life, I made homemade biscuits for a group project. I don’t remember how the biscuits tasted. However, they certainly weren’t the melt-in-your-mouth, float-off-the-plate biscuits that my Grandma Patton made.

Recently, I talked with Amelia about those biscuits we made so long ago. I had forgotten her experience. Amelia and the students in her group were given a biscuit recipe that included adding jelly inside the biscuit. Amelia said, “The biscuits blew up in the oven, made a big mess and were inedible.”

As veteran, retired teachers, Amelia and I now question Mrs. Smith’s decision to have high schoolers make such a biscuit. What was she thinking?

It sounded like a recipe for disaster, and it was.

about supporting those in our community fighting cancer and raising money for cancer research,” said Randy Causey, who co-chairs the event with his wife, Debra — both longtime volunteers.

The longstanding event, which serves as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, is hosted each year in thousands of communities around the world. Lee County’s 2023 Relay for Life is set for April 28 from 6 p.m. to midnight at Courthouse Square in downtown Opelika.

Since I officially retired from biscuit making at the tender age of 18, Mike and I proudly bake Pillsbury frozen biscuits. Also, we hunt restaurants that serve homemade biscuits.

Recently, Mike and I joined our friends Jack, William and Cory at The Flying Biscuit Café at 2524 Enterprise Drive in Tiger Town. The Café was packed, and since the weather had warmed up considerably, we elected to eat outside.

Kaitlyn, our server, was a real delight. She was so kind, helpful and patient. Mike ordered a biscuit and gravy, scrambled eggs and sausage patties.

Jack and I both chose the stuffed French toast breakfast, which consisted of “two thick slices of challah bread dipped in their signature batter, grilled and stuffed with sweet cream cheese and topped with raspberry sauce, honey creme anglaise, fresh strawberries and powdered sugar.” It came with two eggs, which I ordered scrambled, extra crispy bacon, creamy dreamy grits and a fluffy flying biscuit.

William selected the Best I Ever Had, which included two slices of French toast topped with raspberry sauce and honey crème anglaise. This included creamy dreamy

PHOTOS

brings Hope,” according to Randy.

BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH THE OBSERVER

This

grits and three strips of applewood bacon. Last, Cory ordered two eggs, applewood bacon and grits. Oh, my two times.

Everything was delicious. I refrained from licking my plate because my parents taught me better. Also, their famous biscuits lived up to their reputation. They were indeed light, fluffy and amazing. We will definitely be back to The Flying Biscuit

Café.

Besides our delectable brunchy dishes, The Flying Biscuit Café also serves diners many other tasty choices, some of which include Georgia peaches and cream waffle breakfast, three amigos breakfast tacos, steak and eggs, chicken and waffle, omelettes and benedicts.

The Flying Biscuit Café also has vegetarian and vegan options, as well as burgers,

“What we want to try to emphasize along with that theme is staying active and eating healthy,” Debra added.

Several tents will be set up at the event, each with a different activity to supplement the Cancer Walk. Some of those could include line dancing, games like cornhole or sports, face painting or other family-friendly activities.

“Everything we do is

See RELAY page A11

sandwiches, bowls and plates. Believe me, there’s plenty to love at this restaurant.

This is my 100th column for The Observer. Thanks so much to everyone who is kind enough to read it.

The Flying Biscuit Café is open on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Flying Biscuit Café makes the grade

with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Poohsized” people never lie about food. Enjoy!

Stacey Patton Wallace, who retired from teaching language arts for 30 years, is a professional diner. Her column, “Making the Grade,” will appear each week in The Observer. Wallace may be reached at retiredlangartsteacher2020@ gmail.com

PHOTOS BY MIKE WALLACE FOR THE OBSERVER

year’s Relay for Life theme is “Moving Lee County Relay forward because every step

Valeri White shows participants an example of a binder available to cancer patients, funded by donations to the cause.

CONTRIBUTED BY SUSCC

OPELIKA — Alyssa Hurst of Lineville, Alabama, was crowned Miss Southern Union 2023 during the college’s annual pageant held Jan. 19. Hurst will now go on to compete in the

Miss Southern Union 2023 Crowned

going to be catered to the kids, so I’m really trying to just listen to what the kids kind of like,” said Crystal Doyle-Thomas, a volunteer and team leader.

Staples like the Jail & Bail and Luminaria are also set to return. In Jail & Bail, participants can donate to put a “warrant” out to place a local celebrity behind bars for up to 30 minutes or so, but those behind bars can ask for donations to “bail them out” sooner. The Luminaria, on the other hand, uses paper bags filled with light to honor those who have battled cancer. Each bag can be dedicated to someone who has fought or is currently fighting cancer, or simply offer a message of hope and encouragement.

This year’s local fundraising goal is $100,000. According to Valeri White, the funds raised through Relay for Life will provide free informational binders to cancer patients covering everything from questions to ask your doctor, to the locations of local treatment centers, to which clinical trials are available and more. It also has space to keep all test results and bills organized.

“There are resources available, and because of what you do, things like this are able to happen at no cost,” she said at the meeting.

For the majority of volunteers, the fight against cancer is a cause near and dear to their hearts.

“Even if you’re not a survivor, you know somebody that it’s touched,” said Debra,

Miss Alabama Pageant, which will be held in Birmingham in this summer.

This year, four young women competed for the title of Miss Southern Union. Contestants were judged in private interview, talent, eveningwear and on-stage

a survivor of breast cancer. “… It’s very worthwhile.”

Doyle-Thomas said several of her relatives have had cancer, but it hit closer to home when she watched her father go through it.

“It’s kind of hit different when it’s your immediate family, like my dad … and so I’m just passionate about it,” she said.

This is Doyle-Thomas’s fourth year as a team leader. Her pastor introduced her to Relay for Life a few years ago, and as she has heard the stories of other friends and acquaintances — including fellow participant Yolanda Fears — Doyle-Thomas said she has been inspired to help in any way she can.

“I’m a server,” she said. “It gave me an opportunity to really just use my service to help others, so that’s how I wanted to do it. So, if I can do anything as far as, like, raising money, then that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to use my voice to do whatever God has me to do.”

Carol Cram and her husband Rick, residents of Columbus, Georgia, have their own personal connections to cancer as survivors. Rick was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2014, and Carol had breast cancer surgery in 2018. She continues to battle metastatic breast cancer today.

Carol said she chose to participate in Lee County’s Relay for Life because of her friendship with Debra.

“I’m just happy to be here, so we do what we can to help whoever,” she said. “We’ll be there when they

question. In addition to each of the judged categories, contestants are required to select a social impact initiative, choosing a topic in which they are currently involved or about which they feel strongly, such as a form of community service.

have the Relay doing our little walk in it. I mean, both of us being survivors, we just feel like giving back.”

For more information, or to donate to the local Relay for Life, visit www. secure.acsevents.org/ site/STR?pg=entry&fr_id=104374.

Hurst was also named the winner of the talent competition and was the recipient of the Cotney Deas Legacy Scholarship, a $1,000 cash scholarship given by Jason and Casey Cotney Deas. Brynli Mitchell of Sylacauga was named

as first runner-up. Also competing in the pageant were Caroline Brown of Roanoke and Daisy Gilmer of Opelika.

Miss Southern Union earns up to $10,000 in cash and in-kind scholarships each year. The Miss Southern Union Pageant is an

official preliminary of the Miss Alabama/Miss America Pageant. For more information, or to schedule an appearance by Miss Southern Union, contact Shondae Brown, director of the Miss Southern Union pageant, at 256-3952211.

Located in beautiful downtown Opelika 223 S. 8th St. | 334-749-8003

www.opelikaobserver.com

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$40 FOR LEE COUNTY www.opelikaobserver. com/subscribetoday/

Miss Southern Union 2022 Whitney Wright, with help from SU President Todd Shackett, crowns the new Miss Southern Union, Alyssa Hurst.

From left to right: Miss Alabama Lindsay Fincher, Caroline Brown, Brynli Mitchell, Alyssa Hurst, Daisy Gilmer, Southern Union President Todd Shackett and Whitney Wright.

RELIGION —

The witness section of Deuteronomy 19:1521 should lead us to think about truth telling as it relates to the community of Christ. After all, the text isn’t addressing honesty in general terms — its specific concern is with truth telling as it relates to the community of Israel and its judicial proceedings. The judicial system was “the last resort” (Brueggemann) for justice and conflict resolution — initiated when all else had

More on Truth Telling

failed. Therefore, truth telling was an essential part of the glue that held community together.

In Ephesians 4:25, Paul tells us, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Again, the scope of his statement is not universal, but specifically concerns the community of Christ. He’s not addressing a legal proceeding as in Deuteronomy, but he is clearly telling us that to maintain our Spirit-given unity we have (v. 3), we need to be truthful with each other.

Being truthful doesn’t mean we say whatever’s on our mind (Proverbs 12:18, 15:28, as well as what Jesus said in John 16:12). In the context, I think being truthful means that we are speaking constructive words that will build up the body as opposed to things that will

tear it down. “Truth” doesn’t simply have to do with what is factually correct (although that’s certainly the baseline), it also means what is spoken is shared from a thoughtful, loving perspective (Ephesians 4:15). It is wholesome and “helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (v. 29).

When we speak this way, we become faithful witnesses. We’re speaking the truth to be sure, but we’re also speaking it in a way that builds up the community of Christ and testifies to the kind of Lord we serve — one who came to earth to seek the good of others. Audrey Hepburn said, “People, even more than things, must be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed. Never throw out anyone."

Audrey Hunt tells us about Edward, a student in her college music class.

Throughout the semester, he sat in the back, didn’t interact with anyone and did just enough to keep from failing. She reached out to him on several occasions but with little response on his part.

Final exams were taken, and students came by Ms. Hunt’s office to get their grade. She wondered if Edward would even bother to show up, and if he did, what she would say? He didn’t show up — until she was locking her office door to leave.

He apologized for being late. Then he told her he knew he was a lousy student and a lousy person. No one could ever love him, and he had no future. Then Ms. Hunt did something she had never done before or after: She gave him an underserved grade — an A. She told him he might look like a D student, but he was an A person. Moreover, she believed in him and would

BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK

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

Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St., Opelika 334-745-7528

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

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

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 3089 Judge Brown Rd., Valley 334-710-2117

Greater Peace Missionary

CHURCH DIRECTORY

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

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

High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 334-524-8750

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

Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608

Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461

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

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

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

Southside Church Of Christ 405 Carver Ave., Opelika 334-745-6015

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

always believe in him. She told him she was there for him and would always be. Then she told him to go out and make something of himself. And he did. He took another class under her. He did so well he ended up tutoring others! Today he is married, has four children and is a dentist. In his free time, he works with troubled children.

Hunt learned later that Edward had been planning on taking his life after he got his grade for the semester. He had left a note on his pillow and had made all the arrangements, but her words changed everything. And deep down inside, that’s what Edward was looking for. Why else would he stop by to get his grade?

It's something to think about, isn’t it?

You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: www.a-taste-ofgrace-with-bruce-green.com.

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

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

St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319

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

PRESBYTERIAN 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

BRUCE GREEN

Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ in Opelika

For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. — 1 Peter 2:19

WALTER ALBRITTON

RELIGION —

Ienjoy the company of positive people who affirm that “Life is good.” Life is good and too short to spoil it with pessimism. While it’s also true that

REBECCA ELLA YARBROUGH

Rebecca Ella Yarbrough, 69, of Five Points, Alabama, ended her shift on Jan. 17, 2023. A longtime resident of Opelika, she was a wellknown waitress at Opelika’s Waffle House for the past 20 years. Her early 37 years were as a weaver for West Point Pepperell until the mill closed. But more recently, “Waffle Mama,” as she was affectionately called, loved to converse with total strangers. A zest for life, love of family, her enthusiasm and gift of conversation endeared her to every person she met. She never met a stranger; made everyone a friend. She was a true “Steel Magnolia,” always smiling, lively, dependable — yet faced adversity with an unshakable resolve. One of six Cooper Girls growing up in Pepperell Mill Village in the ‘60s, they shared a very close bonding, traveling as a group and meeting monthly for a sisters-only luncheon.

Truly a unique, lifelong bond of a very special group of women.

Married for 35 years to Steve Yarbrough of Little Texas, Alabama. Together, they have seen the mountainsto-the-sea in so many varied and memorial ways.

Gatlinburg, Panama City, Orlando and Key West were regular special destinations. She leaves her three children: Johnathan, Christy and Kyle (Tammy), as a testament to her legacy of hard work, honesty and integrity.

Rebecca was the daughter of Claud P. Cooper Jr. & Willadean Cooper. She is survived by sisters Teresa (David) Edwards, Connie (Dean) Berry, Claudia (Jeff)

Feel Trapped? Here's a Way Out

sometimes life is not good, we can still be thankful for our blessings. Despite her blindness and other problems, Helen Keller could say, “So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.”

If Helen could say that, we can say it too.

Realism demands the admission that sometimes life is bad. Terrible things happen that cause us to feel trapped. All of us feel trapped at times. Illness can trap us. Our sins can trap us. We tell a lie and it leads to another. The truth emerges

Gunter, Pamela (Greg) Coltrane and Melinda (Jessie) Sanders. She has five grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home with the Rev. Earl Ballard officiating. Burial followed in Garden Hills Cemetery. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.

WILLIAM EDWARD CLARK

William Edward Clark was born Jan. 25, 1943, in Talladega, Alabama, and later moved to Opelika. Ed passed away on Jan. 19, 2023, at East Alabama Medical Center surrounded by family and friends. Ed was a beloved member of Airview Baptist Church and an Alabama fan.

He served our community as a firefighter in Opelika and Auburn. In 1981, he joined East Alabama Medical Center and served both as a paramedic and apartment manager until his retirement in 2004. After, he worked per diem until 2008.

Ed is survived by his loving wife Barbra of 58 years; two daughters: Angela Clark Reece and Dottie (Joe) Lewis; four grandsons: Kyle (Casey) Golden, Tyler (Samantha) Lewis, Chad Golden, Gabe (Courtney) Lewis; three great-grandsons and two great-granddaughters, and awaiting the arrival of the fourth great-grandson; brother Gerald “Wayne” Clark and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

Ed was preceded in death by both parents, Henry and

and we feel trapped. Our debts trap us when we live beyond our means. A colleague becomes impossible to work with and reconciliation seems hopeless. Injury results in physical confinement and doctors offer no hope of recovery. Many traps await us on life’s journey, and each of us has a longing to be free.

To feel trapped, sometimes by circumstances not of our own making, is a dreadful feeling that can bring us to our knees. But that may be the very place we need to be — on our

knees, finally ready to let the good Lord help us escape. How does He do that? The answer may be a prayer — the right kind of prayer. There have been “trapped” moments in my life when I needed to pray a prayer like this one written by Catherine Marshall in her book, "Adventures in Prayer":

“Lord, I have been defeated by circumstances. I have felt like an animal trapped in a corner with nowhere to flee. Where are YOU in all this, Lord? The night is dark. I cannot feel your presence. Help me to know that the darkness is

OBITUARIES

Gladys Clark; four brothers, Harold, Herbert, Clarence and Huey; and two sisters, Billie and Joyce.

He will always be remembered, loved and cherished by all those who knew him. Funeral services were Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home with Gary Walker and Larry Felkin officiating. Burial followed in Waverly Cemetery.

HELEN ROBERTA BROTHERS

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, Helen Roberta Brothers, loving mother, grandmother and friend, passed away at age 86. She was born to James and Helen Evans on Oct. 24, 1936, in Hartford, Connecticut. Six months and one bitter winter later, the family gained their senses, packed their bags and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where Roberta was raised and lived until 2003, when she moved to Alabama.

Roberta loved life, the Lord and being “Nana.” She loved fashion, ballet, the Atlanta Braves, the Auburn Tigers, gardening and a good mani/pedi. She was an entrepreneur at heart, starting several artisanal businesses like Miss Roberta’s School of Dance and DK’s Desserts. She taught tap, ballet and jazz to Buckhead-area children, instilling a love of dance and the arts through meticulously choreographed recitals with historically depicted costumes. She always went above and beyond, pulling out all the stops, especially with her most tasty adventure. She started a bakery with her

daughter Dena and a single brownie recipe. They ended up in a 10,000-square-foot commercial commissary where dozens of homemade desserts were baked with love and sold to restaurants, caterers and chocolate lovers.

Roberta was best known for her contagious enthusiasm and charismatic personality. You never knew what was coming next, but it was sure to be a fabulously wild ride. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Brothers. She is survived by her daughters, Lynn (Wade) Alexander and Dena Hope Little; her son, Wade McKinney; her grandchildren, Kristen (Mike) Pain, Wade Alexander, Elizabeth (Kevin) Combs, Maggie Little, Emma Little, Ashley McKinney and Cassidy McKinney; her great-grandchildren Mickey Pain, Alex Pain, Natalie Pain and Ace Alexander; and stepgreat-grandchild Ally Davis. The graveside service was held Monday, Jan. 23, at Town Creek Cemetery in Auburn at 1 p.m. The family is choosing to honor Roberta with donations to Storybook Farm or your favorite charity in lieu of flowers.

JUDITH "JUDY" ANN PERKINS

Judith “Judy” Ann Perkins was born on Aug. 17, 1940, in Opelika, and passed peacefully into her heavenly home at the age of 82 on Jan. 18, 2023. She was surrounded by family who loved her immensely.

Judy was born to William Henry Perry and Mary Jimmerson Perry in Opelika. As a young woman, Judy attended school at Beulah

really ‘shade of your hand, outstretched caressingly;’ that the ‘hemming in’ is your doing. Perhaps there was no other way you could get my full attention, no other way I would allow you to demonstrate what you can do in my life. I see now that the emptier my cup is, the more space there is to receive your love and supply. Lord, I hand to you my situation, asking you to fill it from your bountiful reservoirs in your own time and your own way. How I thank you, Father in heaven, that your riches are available to me, not on the basis of my

High School and pursued her passions by going to Beauty School. She fell in love with Harold Dean Perkins and began her life with him shortly after. While Judy held various jobs to assist in providing for her family over the years, her focus was being a homemaker, a mother and a support for her husband, who was serving our country in the military. Judy was a faithful and loyal wife who upheld her family through the various moves that come along with the serviceconnected lifestyle. Judy, Harold and their children adventured across the country from Texas, to California, to Alaska.

Judy and her family returned to Opelika later in life, where she enjoyed all her regular spots. She was no stranger to “the beauty shop,” where she delighted in a fresh cut and color. If she was not found in the chair getting a trim and a blow out, she was indulging in getting her nails pampered and long… but like REALLY long. She was always up to date with the latest trends with her hair, nails and makeup.

Judy frequented The White House as well (the restaurant, not the presidential home) for her favorite fried catfish.

Judy loved good southern cooking and even brought a new member into our family through these delicacies. She met Bob Sellars by bringing him a homemade pie to welcome him to the neighborhood, and the rest is history. They shared many years together filled with their own adventures of travelling around the country and enjoying the Smokey Mountains and Myrtle Beach.

deserving, but of Jesus and his worthiness. Therefore, in the strength of his name I pray. Amen.” Keep that prayer handy. If not today, there will come a day when you need to pray it so the Lord can set you free. When I feel trapped, it helps to remember that the Lord is in the business of setting prisoners free. And he has the power to set me free when I accept his terms. Then, in spite of pain, grief or heartache, I can shout and sing in the darkness that because God loves me, life really is good! Thank you Jesus!

Judy was an irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind, spirited person. She could make any room burst into laughter and keep a party going. She was everything one would think of when you hear “life of the party,” even to the various family pets. No matter where Judy went, the furry family members were sure to follow for her handed-down table scraps and “goodies.” Judy loved family events and spending time with those she cherished most.

Most importantly, Judy was a child of God. She was strong in faith and loved to share The Word with those around her. She expressed her love for God through worship with praise and song. Judy had a beautiful singing voice that touched many people.

“But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’”— 1 Corinthians 2:9

Judy’s memory lives on with her children: Julie (John), Hal (Jennifer) and Jason, as well as her grandchildren: Stephanie (Thomas), Kristen (James), Sarah (Tanner), Josh, Kierstin, Kaity (Daniel), India and Olivia (Kylee). She was blessed with 15 great-grandchildren: Abby, Caleb, Ethan, JD, Tucker, Mackayla, Preston, John Christopher, Blakely, Abel, Mitzi, Ezra, Zeplin, Harmony and Lyla. Her legacy also includes numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Judy is preceded in death by her husband (Harold) and her siblings (Jane, Jim Joe, Carol and Bill).

A visitation with family

See OBITUARIES, page A14

Local Organizations Granted $1.4 Million for Child Abuse, Neglect Prevention

CONTRIBUTED BY CHILD CARE

RESOURCE CENTER INC.

LEE COUNTY —

The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention are joining local and state leaders at Child Care Resource Center in Opelika on Jan. 30 at 11 a.m. to present a check in the amount of about $1.4 million to local grantee organizations in Alabama’s Third Congressional District.

“The Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention looks forward

each year to participating in our annual district check presentations,” said said Sallye Longshore, director of the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention.

“These events provide opportunities to highlight the outstanding work of our agency’s funded programs in each of the state’s seven congressional districts. These community-based entities implement evidence-based programs to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect in Alabama.”

The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, also known as the Children’s Trust Fund, provides annual funding to communitybased programs across the state that are dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. This year, the agency awarded a total of 175 grants statewide to a range of prevention efforts, including parent education, home visiting, fatherhood, mentoring, respite care and community awareness programs.

This check presentation includes 23 grants to local organizations working throughout Alabama’s Third Congressional District. The organizations funded include: Family Services Center of Calhoun County Inc., Chambers County Council for Neglected and Dependent Children and Youth Inc., Lee County Youth Development Center, Child Care Resource Center Inc./Employers' Child Care Alliance, Evelyn Moon Crisis Shelter, Coosa Valley Youth Services, East

Alabama Mental Health, Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement Inc., The Children's Advocacy Center of Cherokee County, TEARS Inc., Teens Empowerment Awareness with Resolutions Inc., I Am My Brother's Keeper, Ostara Initiative, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham and East Central Alabama United Cerebral Palsy Inc..

According to the 2021 Alabama Kids Count Data Book, there were 48,077 reports of child

What's Happening in Lee County

2023 CITY MARKET VENDOR APPLICATIONS OPEN

Are you a local grower or artisan wanting to share your products with those in the community? Apply to be a vendor at Auburn Parks and Recreation's 2023 City Market. City Market vendor applications opened Nov. 14. City Market will be held Saturdays from May 20 through Aug. 26 at Town Creek Park from 8 to 11 a.m., with vendor setup beginning at 7 a.m.

Farmers, growers and artists who are interested in participating in the City Market must fill out an online application or apply in person at the Harris Center (425 Perry St.).

For more information, including a link to vendor applications and the City Market handbook, please visit www.auburnalabama.org/citymarket or contact Sarah Cook, market coordinator, at scook@auburnalabama.org.

NAMI MEETING

NAMI East Alabama, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will meet Jan. 17, 2023 at 7 p.m.

NAMI supports families dealing with mental illness through mutual support, education and advocacy. There will be a time for sharing. The public is invited. Meetings are held at 714 E. Glenn Ave. in Auburn.

O GROWS — SATURDAYS AT THE GARDEN

Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon outside the Southside Center for the Arts, located at 1103 Glenn St. in Opelika. Activities will include planting, storytime, crafts or art projects for children and hanging out with the goats.

OBITUARIES >>

FROM A13

and friends was held at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home on Friday, Jan. 20, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. A graveside service immediately followed the visitation at Shady Grove Cemetery.

JOSEPH STANLEY JACKSON

Joseph Stanley Jackson, a resident of Opelika since 1972, died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham. Joe, the youngest of eight children, was born Aug. 8, 1945, in East Tallasee, Alabama, to Ernest Leon Jackson and Easel Webster Jackson.

He grew up in Notasulga, Alabama, where he attended Macon County High School. He was a member of the 1961-62 and 1962-63 State Championship football teams and also played basketball. He graduated from Macon Academy in Tuskegee, Alabama, and was a member of the first football team.

Joe worked for the Opelika Police Department from 1972 to 1981 where he attained the rank of sergeant. He was named Opelika Police Officer of the Year in 1981, was instrumental in starting the Opelika Police Youth Camp and also participated in the Toys for Tots program. He later served as license and tax examiner with the city of Opelika for several years. He was a barber by trade and owned and operated Joe’s Barber Shop in Opelika for many years. He continued barbering at his home after his retirement, where he served many of his lifelong customers and friends.

Joe was a member of the Alabama National Guard and retired after 20 years of service. Joe was also a coach with the Opelika Parks and Recreation football program for many years. Many of his former players still called him “Coach” whenever they met him around town.

Joe was a member of the First Baptist Church of Opelika, where he served in the Joy Department working with the mentally disabled

adults for over 20 years. He was also a member of Berry Dudley’s Sunday School Class.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Easel Jackson; brothers, John, Sammy, Paul and Leon Jackson; sisters, Sarah Jackson, Ophelia Griffin and Elizabeth Bedford.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lana Taylor Jackson; his daughter, Lori Jackson Paisley of Nashville, Tennessee; and his son, Bradley (Anna) Jackson, of Opelika. He is also survived by six grandchildren who were his pride and joy: Jackson Paisley of Atlanta, Georgia; James Paisley (and fiancée Michaela Threet) of Nashville; Kenley, Emma, Mikayla and Madyson Jackson of Opelika, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A private family interment was held prior to a memorial service at First Baptist Church Opelika on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Cade Farris officiating. The family held a receiving of friends after the service.

abuse and neglect in the state. The data also included 11,603 victims that year.

ABOUT THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION

The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect, a state agency founded in 1983, secures resources to fund evidence-based community programs committed to the prevention of child maltreatment. The agency advocates for children and the strengthening of families.

NEW PARKING KIOSKS IN DOWNTOWN AUBURN

Four new parking kiosks have been installed throughout downtown Auburn, including one on Tichenor Avenue, one on East Magnolia Avenue and two on North College Street. These parking kiosks became functional Jan. 10.

Parking along Tichenor Avenue and on Gay Street adjacent to Hamilton's is now $1 per hour, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking will be limited to two hours, like other on-street parking spaces throughout downtown.

Find more information about downtown parking at auburnalabama.org/downtown-parking

LEE/RUSSELL COUNTY LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP

The group will meet 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 there will be different topics 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.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks for donations to be made to First Baptist Church Opelika Joy Department.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home handled all arrangements.

RICHARD L. SHACKELFORD

Richard L. Shackelford was born in Kingsport, Tennessee, on Feb. 4, 1947, the oldest of three sons of Richard James and Gladys Marie Shackelford. After graduating from Church Hill High School in 1967, he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, where he earned the National Defense Service Medal. After his honorable discharge he enrolled in East Tennessee State University and transferred to Mobile Christian where he earned an associate degree while working for Northwest Airlines, a career lasting 35 years. After his retirement he pursued commercial real estate in Tampa, Florida.

The love of his life was Sandra Shackelford, whom

he met in Mobile. He was a loving and thoughtful husband who lived to serve. His service extended to FUMC Opelika as a trustee and formerly on the Board of Stewards in Mobile at St. Paul’s Episcopal and in Tampa at St. John’s Episcopal.

He was the kind of loving father of Lisa, Brian and Heather. Mere words cannot express the thoughtful, caring and optimistic approach to life Richard possessed. He saw good in everybody and joyfully made homemade birthday cards for family humorously branded ‘Cards on the Cheap.’ We all looked forward to getting these. He loved to cook for family, play golf with friends and go fishing with grandchildren. He loved the adventure of travel and the outdoors and also being in fellowship with others.

No matter where he was or who he was with he always wore a smile and had an infectious laugh. His good spirit went with him everywhere. The loss of Richard Shackelford is the

loss of the example for which all should strive. It is an understatement to say he will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his wife Sandra Lenoir Shackelford and two brothers Chuck Shackelford, James Arthur Shackelford (Ginger); three children Lisa Shackelford Gangloff (Jimmy), Brian Shackelford (Stacy), Heather Shackelford Cannon (Race); grandchildren Cody Gangloff, Brandon Gangloff, Callie Shackelford, Cole Shackelford, Cooper Shackelford, Caroline Cannon, Holt Cannon, Pierce Cannon and Eli Cannon; great-grandchildren Kaedance Gangloff, Audreana Gangloff, and Emmerson Gangloff; and many nieces and nephews and aunts and uncles.

A visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday Jan. 26, at First United Methodist Church, Opelika with a memorial service to follow in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. He will be buried at his wife’s family cemetery in Purvis, Mississippi, in a private ceremony on Jan. 27.

Schools S

ON THE MARK

BY D. MARK MITCHELL

OHS Pick Up Area Wins

OPELIKA —

Opelika's varsity girls basetball team (812, A1-3) split a pair of games last week, beating LaFayette (56-21) and losing to area foe Smiths Station (53-47).

The Lady Bulldogs traveled to Wadley to play LaFayette at Southern Union State Community College on Martin Luther King Day. OHS outscored the Lady LaFayette Bulldogs, 56-21. KK Dowdell and Naomi Whack led Opelika on offense, scoring 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Last Friday night, Opelika lost a close game to area rival Smiths Station, 53-47. The loss dropped OHS to 1-3 in the area and eliminated it from winning the regular season area title and hosting the postseason area tournament.

The OHS varsity boys basketball team (8-8, A1-3) defeated the LaFayette Bulldogs last Monday, 65-55, on Martin Luther King Day. Opelika's Mekhiron Brock led the Bulldogs with 22 points. The following players scored significant points: DJ Harris (11 points), Isaiah Knight (nine points) Roman Gagliano (nine points).

Local Youth Program Prepares Next Generation

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OELIKAOBSERVER.COM

LEE COUNTY —

The Lee County Young Leaders program is preparing local students to be figureheads of the next generation.

“[The program] is really preparing our youth for future challenges,” said Mackenzie Poole, director of leadership and events with the Opelika Chamber of Commerce and overseer of the Lee County Young Leaders program.

year, is designed to nurture and develop positive leadership qualities in local high school students. Participants are exposed to a variety of viewpoints that illustrate the political, educational and social factors at work in Lee County in an effort to develop the knowledge, tools and contacts necessary to be an impactful leader.

According to its website, Lee County Young Leaders’ overarching vision is to ensure youth are prepared as leaders to meet future challenges that arise in our city, county or state.

The Dogs won their second game of the week, beating the SSHS Panthers 74-32 at the Main Street Gym. This was Opelika's first area win against two losses.

Opelika’s junior varsity basketball team beat Smiths Station 4829 last Friday at OHS.

Opelika travels to face Auburn High School Jan. 27, starting at 4:30 p.m. with the junior varsity.

SPRING SPORTS

OHS spring sports are practicing for their opening games, meets and matches.

Soccer is the first sport to play. The boys and girls soccer teams host Alabama Christian Thursday, Feb. 2, at the W. James Samford Soccer Complex.

OHS basketball travels to Seale on Friday, Feb. 3.

AHSAA APPLAUDS

AUBURN-OPELIKA SPORTS

COUNCIL FOR SUCCESSFUL

SUPER 7

The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) hosted the AuburnOpelika Sports Council and members of AuburnOpelika Tourism in Montgomery recently to discuss Super 7.

Lee County Young Leaders, which is in its 10th

To actualize

See LEADERS, page B2

Lee-Scott Basketball Looks to Follow Up Football State Championship

BY DANIEL LOCKE FOR THE OBSERVER

AUBURN —

Fresh off a 75-45 victory over Valiant Cross Academy, the Lee-Scott Academy Warriors are 23-1 overall and 9-0 in their region on the 2022-23 campaign.

Lee-Scott is under the leadership of head coach William Johnson, who is in his seventh season with the Warriors and brings over 20 years of coaching experience to the table.

Last season was a solid one for Lee-Scott Academy, as the Warriors finished with an 18-7 record and a first-place finish in their region. The Warriors have been playing at a different level this year, however, only having one game in the loss column with one contest remaining in the regular season as of Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Johnson said leadership sets this team apart from last year.

“Leadership has improved,” he said. “Talent is talent, but leadership can take you to a whole different

level. Everybody has to be very attuned to their role and what they can give for the team. We are trying to be the best team we can possibly be.”

On the court, the Warriors are led by 6-foot4-inch senior Joseph Horne, who can score, rebound and play defense.

“We’ve had a lot of contributing scorers and have been pretty consistent as a team,” Johnson said. “Joseph Horne is our most consistent player in terms of numbers.”

The 2022-23 season has been an excellent academic year for Lee-Scott athletics, as the Warriors football team went 13-0, finished first in its region and brought home the AISA 3A State Championship. A lot of teams may feel pressured to succeed based on the accomplishments of other teams at their school, but the Lee-Scott basketball team feels no different.

“It’s good to feed off momentum, but there is no pressure for us to succeed based on what they do,” Johnson said. “We just want to do everything the right

way and compete at a really high level.”

The Warriors have had a smooth ride to the finish line as their one remaining game against rival Glenwood (6-2

in the region) will not affect the AISA 3A Region One standings. They will host the

See LEE-SCOTT, page B7

The 2022-23 Lee County Young Leader class toured the new Rane Center at Auburn University Jan. 11.

Lee-Scott senior Joseph Horne goes up for a layup against Glenwood Jan. 12.

AHS Girls 'Peaking at Right Time'

AHS Boys Look to Lock Up Area Title

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

AUBURN —

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

AUBURN — Auburn High School girls basketball head coach Courtney Pritchett said growth and learning to play at a varsity speed was what he was looking for down the stretch from his young team.

Aided by 28 points from Auburn University commit Syriah Daniels, Auburn showed just how much its they’ve grown in a 65-57 win over Central on Friday night, a team it lost to by 27 the first time. At 10-4 and 3-1 in area play, Auburn surpassed Central for the first place spot in the region with three games remaining on the schedule.

“I think we’re at a good point as far as us peaking,” Pritchett said after the win over Central. “The girls are getting better. We’re doing things the right way. We’re playing as a team, and it showed tonight.”

Led by Daniels, 6-foot junior who transferred in from Macon, Georgia, the guard play is the strength of the team. Daniels’ toughness in the paint combatted with outside shooting from sophomore Brooke Hallman and senior

Catherine Pearson, and skilled court vision and lockdown defense by sophomore point guard Kaleah Toles is a daunting back court for any team to deal with.

While the guards spread the floor out and demand speed from opponents, the part that Pritchett thinks his team is still learning to do at a varsity level is being more active on defense.

“I would like to see us be a better man defensive team,” Pritchett said. “That’s probably our biggest struggle right now. We’re working on our toughness a little bit and challenging some kids to be better in some positions.”

So far this season, Auburn has not lost a game when it has held its opponent under 50 points. The Tigers surrendered 72 in a loss to Central, 56 to CMHS, 60 to Oxford and 67 to Hardaway. However, it holds its opponents to an average of 38.7 points a game, just over twice as much as Daniels, the team’s leading scorer, averages at 19.1 points a game.

In fact, Daniels leads Auburn in all major statistical categories except for assists, which Hallman leads with 2.9 a game. Dan -

and their teams, for hosting another outstanding Super 7.”

iels’ 2.6 steals and one block each game makes it a tough task to reach the 50 mark on the Tigers.

Daniels also converts her defense into offense very efficiently. When she does miss (she shoots 55% from the field), she knows how to pick up the foul, where she converts at a 59% rate. With all that Daniels throws at her opponents, it opens things up for the rest of her team from the outside. This spread of the floor makes Auburn a tough team to game-plan for.

Auburn is currently on a four-game win streak with away games at Smiths Station and Loachapoka sandwiched around a home meeting with Opelika left on the schedule. Those are all three teams that Auburn has previously beaten, with Loachapoka putting up the best fight in a 47-42 game.

Heading toward the finish line, Auburn is in good position to win the region title and play host to open the playoffs.

“We’re a young team just trying to build; we’re renovating, ready to grow,” Pritchett said. “We’re getting over the hump and starting to show peaks of being a great team.”

OPELIKA DIXIE YOUTH

BASEBALL

Executive Director

Alvin Briggs told AO Tourism President Robyn Bridges, assistants Anthony Terling and Brooke Kastner, along with AO Sports Council Chairman Mayor Ron Anders and myself as co-chairman that the Super 7 was a success.

"The 2022 Super 7 at Jordan-Hare Stadium was a huge success,” Briggs said. “On behalf of our members' schools, the AHSAA and myself, we want to say thanks to city of Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller, Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Auburn University Athletics, including Jeremy Roberts

This was the seventh Super6/7 hosted at Jordan-Hare Stadium since 2010.

The Super 7 will be held in Tuscaloosa's Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2023, Birmingham in 2024, Tuscaloosa in 2025 and back to Jordan-Hare in 2026.

The 2022 Super 7 was the second most attended football championship since 2012.

The cities of Auburn and Opelika join together to host the AJHSAA Super 7, which brought in over 60,000 fans over a three-day period. We could not host the Super 7 without our over 400 volunteers that help make it a success.

Anyone interested in playing baseball between the ages of 6 and 12 can register to play in the Opelika Dixie Youth League. Online registration is open at www.opelikadixieyouth.com.

For more information, check the Opelika Dixie youth website and Facebook page

D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 9101319, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.

When the Auburn High School boys followed Ja’Keith Carr’s showout performance to an overtime win over Central on Friday night, it placed the Tigers in a favorable position to win the area title.

Sitting at 20-2 and 4-0 region play, Auburn is riding high on six consecutive wins, but there is still

this vision, the program participants attend 10 leadership-focused sessions, including an orientation and graduation, over the course of a school year. It is during these sessions that the students meet area leaders in business, media, government, education and service organizations. In addition, the students also receive a one-hour Leadership credit to Southern Union State Community College.

“We try to tie the leadership lesson to who they are talking to, what they are learning,” Poole said. “So kind of big, overarching themes. And they have leadership lessons to find for each day.”

This year, 34 students from nine different Lee County high schools are enrolled in the program.

“This current class is the largest we have ever had,” Poole said. “They are a great group. We have long days, but we have fun.”

While the program was initially for juniors in high school, the COVID-19 pandemic set things back and resulted in a mixed group of juniors and seniors for 2022-23.

“We skipped a year but had selected the junior class to participate,” Poole said. “So, last year’s class, instead of just saying ‘hey, sorry you missed out,’ we did a full year of seniors. This year … instead of going back to juniors to where we are still missing someone … is a mixture.”

Students are selected for the Lee County Young Leaders program through an anonymous application process that is judged on application neatness, extracurricular activities, career choice and hobbies and leadership potential.

“It’s a different committee every year,” Poole said of the selection committee.

To participate in the Lee

work to be done as its final four opponents are Smiths Station, Opelika, Loachapoka and Tallassee. All those games, except for Opelika, are on the road.

“We have been very successful this year,” said head coach Chris Brandt. “There’s not many teams in Auburn High history that’s had this record at this time of year ... it’s been very few. It’s more about keeping our focus and hunger

County Young Leaders program, students must meet the following criteria:

- Reside in Lee County, Alabama

- Attend a city or county regionally accredited high school, private or home school in Lee County

- Must be willing and able to attend all the sessions

- Be an 11th grade or 12th grade student during the period of the class program

- Must be up to date on core classes

- Maintain a 3.0 gradepoint average and

- Provide own transportation to session.

This month, the group completed session six of the program: Economic Development Day. On Jan. 11, the students had the privilege of touring the new Rane Center at Auburn University, the Delta Airlines Aviation Building at Auburn University, Aptar Technologies in Auburn and the Center for Integrated Technologies at Southern Union State Community College, as well as enjoying lunch at the new Hey Day Market.

“One thing that was really touched on in the economic development session was that I think our students take for granted the great area that we live in,” Poole said. “I think it’s an amazing opportunity for them to see we live in a great area. And showing them that before they take these next steps gives them an understanding that this is a great community and [hopefully] will make them want to come back and give back.”

According to its website, Lee County Young Leaders’ goals are:

- To select a diverse class of highly motivated participants who represent the diversity of racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups in Lee County, Alabama.

- To explore the diverse facets of Lee County’s government, business, economic development, health care,

and not be complacent to what we’ve accomplished so far.”

The Tigers are a team on a roll. As showcased against Central, the team is known for wearing down opponents with great depth, rotating between 12 and 16 players a game. Brandt says he has no locked-in starting five. Outside of Carr, the team’s leading scorer, the other four

See AHS BOYS, page B7

criminal justice and other aspects of community life - To instill and nurture a sense of social responsibility in our youth - To provide opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to meet and develop mutual understanding, respect and trust - To offer participants opportunities for volunteer community involvement and service and - To encourage our youth to find satisfying job opportunities so he/she will come home to Lee County to live, learn, work, worship, play and raise his/her family.

The ultimate goal, however, is that graduates of the Lee County Young Leaders program will possess a unique understanding and appreciation of the inner workings of their community and will return home as excellent future candidates to serve on local boards, committees and task forces.

“Yeah we understand you may not want to work in this specific industry, but these are all top-notch world-class facilities that you by living here have the opportunity,” Poole said. “You are a leader and you have conversations with people, so we want them to share that knowledge that they are taking with them.”

The students in the Lee County Young Leaders program have completed six sessions to date: Introductions & Orientation Day, Team Building Day, Education Day, Public Safety Day, Health & Human Services Day and most recently, Economic Development Day. Judicial Day, State Government Day and Local Government Day are scheduled to be completed before graduation April 25.

For more information regarding the Lee County Young Leaders Program, visit: www.opelikachamber. com/leadership-development/ lcyl/#:~:text=Program%20 Vision%3A%20Ensuring%20 our%20youth,in%20our%20 high%20school%20students.

PHOTO BY NOAH GRIFFITH / FOR THE OBSERVER

Auburn High’s Jordan Franklin (No. 4) celebrates after a key turnover on defense in overtime in a win over Central.

Auburn High varsity girls Syriah Daniels (No. 3, left), Daley Alsobrook (No. 15, center) and Kristianna Ware (No. 2, right) celebrate a play against Central on Jan. 20.

LEADERS >> FROM B1

Tigers Claim Supremacy Over Bulldogs

The Auburn High School varsity boys and girls basketball teams travlled across town to face rival Opelika Jan. 13. The girls defeated the Lady Bulldogs 68-26. The boys team defeated Opelika, 76-59.

Hughley Takes Over as President of Opelika Dawg Pound

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA —

It all started when Trey Hughley's longtime high school friend and former Dawg Pound President Anthony Bryant called him and invited Hughley and his son to come play for the Opelika Dawg Pound when his son was 8 years old.

Now, his son is in seventh grade and plays middle school football, but Hughley has only gotten more involved with the Dawg Pound.

Hughley has been the 10u coach, 12u coach, athletic director and vice president of the Dawg Pound, and now he is taking over as the president in his fifth year with the youth football league. After Bryant decided to step down to focus on furthering his education and running the Knee High Foundation, he didn’t hesitate to ask Hughley to take over.

“I’m very excited [for the future of the Dawg Pound]," Bryant said. "I wouldn’t have turned it over to anybody else but Trey —

Trey’s a great leader. He’s a great person overall, so I’m excited about how the Dawg Pound is going forward in its sixth year.”

Hughley said he loves working with the kids and seeing how playing with the Dawg Pound propels them onto the next level. You might find him talking to his former players after a Thursday night Opelika Middle School game, and if he can’t make it to a game, he texts parents asking for videos of his kids playing.

Hughley said his ultimate goal is to get the kids ready when they go to play at the next level. The Dawg Pound helps prepare kids for school ball by introducing them to travel ball. Consisting of ages 4-13, the league has one team of 25 players that goes to play teams in Phenix City, Russell County and teams in Georgia.

“When you play against teams like Phenix City or Valley (in middle school), they’re gonna be more experienced because they’ve been doing travel ball,” Hughley said. “Our kids are so stuck on doing rec ball, so once they get to junior high,

they’re behind. I’m trying to bridge that gap from being with the rec league going to junior high.”

Hughley’s staff consists of Pete Vann as vice president, Cilvette Johnson as secretary, Arkeith Dowdell as athletic director, Dorothy Hughley as treasurer, Candy Ivey as head team mom and Tookie James as cheer coordinator. Hughley chose his staff based on performances

PHOTO BY NOAH GRIFFITH / FOR THE OBSERVER

with the organization last year, except for his mom, Dorothy.

Vann was promoted from being a coach for the 4- and 5-year-old teams who play flag football. Hughley was impressed with his dedication and willingness to help with tasks that he wasn’t directly responsible for, so Hughley said it was an “easy choice” to promote Vann to vice president.

“I think I put together a good staff. I got all the pieces together, so 2023 — we ready to roll,” Hughley said with a smile.

Growing up playing football in Opelika, Hughley is familiar with the community and what values are important to pass on to the kids. With his slogan “Get outside,” Hughley said he values sports as a means of development for kids. He thinks kids are too involved with technology instead of being physically active like he was as a kid.

Playing from rec league football to the college level at Miles College, he also knows the game well. He loves the game for the way it teaches children to be successful in any area of life they go into because it shows kids how to work together for one united purpose: a victory.

Those life lessons are why he said he loves working with children's athletics. Hughley is familiar with the community and wants to help families prosper as opposed to solely focusing on the athletes.

“I’m trying to help the

Lady Panthers Down Dawgs

parents instill the same values that they’re trying to instill in their kids,” Hughley said. “If you got A’s and B’s required of your kid, that’s what I require on this field. I believe in ‘yes sir,' 'thank you,' 'no sir.’ People just look at you a whole different way (when you say those things).”

But Hughley’s vision runs deeper than just football. He recognizes that a lot of his players play basketball, too. A firm believer in playing multiple sports, he said his hope is to make the Dawg Pound a year-round ordeal with the addition of basketball in the coming year.

The Dawg Pound started as a means for his son to play football, but it has turned out to be a platform for Hughley to impact his community. But the impact goes both ways.

“It just amazes me how the Dawg Pound has shaped so many kids’ lives,” Hughley said. “That’s the one thing that brought me back and will keep me with the Dawg Pound — just seeing how many lives it can shape. That’s the thank you that I want: Go on and be better.”

TREY HUGHLEY

PHOTOS BY MATT AUSTIN FOR THE OBSERVER

The varsity Opelika girls basketball team Jan. 20 lost a home game to the Smiths Station Panthers by a score of 53-47. The Lady Bulldogs' record now sits at 8-12, 1-3 in the area according to Maxpreps.com.

A Battle for Middle School Bragging Rights

PHOTOS BY MATT AUSTIN FOR THE OBSERVER

Loachapoka High School hosted the Lee County Tournament for middle school teams in the area last week. Loachapoka, Sanford and Smiths Station all participated. The Loachapoka girls team and Sanford boys team were crowned champions.

Sanford Middle Wins Lee County Tournament

PHOTO BY MATT AUSTIN / FOR THE OBSERVER

The Sanford Middle School boys basketball team won the Lee County Tournament in Locahapoka last week. Players Kanye Billingsley, Jordan Jackson and J.J. Jones were named All-Tournament players.

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

The Opelika City Schools Board of Education recognized its 2022-23 Teachers of the Year at its Tuesday night meeting.

“Congratulations to all of our participants,” said Opelika City Schools Superintendent Farrell Seymore. “Teachers are the lifeblood of our schools and we appreciate all you do in making the difference that you do.”

The following teachers were recognized for their outstanding contributions

OCS Recognizes Teachers of the Year

to the school system:

- Madeline Langley (Carver)

- Katie Burns (Southview)

- Vivian Mozeikas (Northside)

- Madison Zimmer (Morris Avenue)

- Bethany Barnes (West Forrest)

- Emily Sanders (Opelika Middle School)

- Ecameron Dowdell (Jeter) and

- Brenda Howell (Opelika High School).

Additionally, Dowdell was recognized separately as Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Howell as Secondary Teacher of the Year.

“She is such a wonderful teacher,” said Jeter Primary School Principal David Carpenter on

Dowdell. “She has served on our instructional leadership team; she has served in multiple roles

that we need at our school desperately and we just appreciate her efforts. She is always looking to

grow professionally; she has a very pleasant smile, which is a big part in any work environment; but most importantly she is committed to students.”

“I would just like to thank Opelika City Schools and Jeter Primary for everything they do for me, and especially Mr. Carpenter for his leadership,” Dowdell said. “It is truly an honor and blessing to be your teacher of the year for Jeter and the elementary schools.”

“She is our engineering teacher and has grown that program tremendously,” Opelika High School

See TEACHERS, page B7

Opelika Middle School Teachers Attend Intensive JFR Holocaust Seminar

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA —

Last week, two teachers from Opelika Middle School — eighth-grade English teacher Kate Gholston and sixth-grade history teacher Tricia Skelton — accompanied teachers from across nine states on a three-day program that trains educators on teaching about the Holocaust.

The intensive, academic seminar took place in New Jersey from Jan. 14 to 16 and is put on by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous (JFR).

JFR selected 22 teachers to attend the seminar, including the two Opelika educators who have, for years, been involved with the organization.

Skelton said the Holocaust is a crucial topic for students to understand, and JFR has helped to make this difficult conversation easier to explain to children.

“When I moved up to sixth grade from teaching elementary school, I was blown away at what the kids were asking,” said Skelton, a 28-year-old teacher. “I wasn’t as well prepared (to teach about the Holocaust) as I knew I should be. Just being involved with JFR has been amazing as far as building my knowledge and background on the Holocaust to bring back to the kids.”

The program consisted of preliminary readings, followed by lectures from 13 highly trained scholars in German history and the Holocaust.

Gholston and Skelton both said being involved with JFR has prepared them as teachers, as well as made them better and more empathetic people. Following days that often get filled with paperwork, lesson plans and grading papers, the teachers said they returned from the seminar “revitalized.”

“I just feel like it reminds me what’s

important,” Skelton said.

“You want to have kids that can eventually go out into the world and be successful and critical thinkers — just be empathetic and caring for their fellow man. Just having that personal connection with history, I think, draws them in.”

Nearly 78 years after the Holocaust came to an end, Gholston and Skelton are still using the tragic event to help students build

character and learn the importance of history and adapting from the past.

They said the JFR programs change in topic each year, highlighting the different impacts the Holocaust had across the globe. This year’s seminar focused on Ukraine and the economic impact of the Holocaust. While this is information the teachers say might not have a huge impact on what they teach in their classrooms, it will

make a difference in the Opelika City school system as a whole, Gholston explained.

“This is a school very big on sharing and working together, so I can take it to my English department, and we can also share it with high school teachers,” Gholston said. “They get into more detail in ninth and 11th grades. So, it’s just a matter of taking what we’re given and paying it forward.”

According to Gholston, JFR taught them that when teaching middle schoolers about the Holocaust, the goal is to foster a personal connection between the students and the stories of people in the Holocaust.

The teachers said they don’t want to show detailed images or stories, but they want to help the students understand that the victims of the Holocaust were people just like them.

Preventing the “shock factor” from

overshadowing human interest is key, they said, and they do that by utilizing rescuer stories on the JFR website, the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and a book called “Salvaged Pages” by Alexandria Zapruder — which consists of diary entries from the Holocaust — to bring to life the emotion and reality of the situation.

Along with the information helping teachers teach tough subjects, Gholston and Skelton said the program provides them with a morale boost that motivates them to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.

“The JFR are remarkable in providing resources and scholars that we can learn from,” Skelton said. “It’s nice to be appreciated and valued, not only for your profession, but for your ability to think critically. They value what we do, and that’s probably the biggest takeaway that the JFR has given me.”

The Lutzie 43 Foundation Opens 2023 ‘Prepared For Life Scholarship’ Application

CONTRIBUTED BY THE LUTZIE 43 FOUNDATION

AUBURN —

The Lutzie 43 Foundation has opened applications for the 2023 Prepared For Life (PFL) Scholarship.

The application will remain open until Friday, March 17, 2023. The PFL Scholarship program utilizes character development and a safe driving curriculum. These programs equip students with lessons and tools to be positive ambassadors for safe driving and leave a lasting legacy.

The Lutzie 43 Foundation has awarded over 78 scholarships totaling more than $325,000 since 2017, with 12 PFL Scholarships distributed in 2022. This year, the foundation hopes to reach more students through the 2023 scholarship application and award a new class of recipients.

“Each year, I am impressed with the applications students submit,” said Brittany Spillman, Lutzie 43 Foundation Curriculum and

Scholarship Committee chair, board member and director of Community and College Programming for the Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies in the College of Human Sciences at Auburn University. “The students that apply are not only impressive with their education and resumes, but their passion for continuing Philip’s legacy and impacting others through their actions. It’s moving to see that they have chosen the Lutzie 43 Foundation’s 43 Key Seconds safe driving initiative as a method to influence their communities positively.”

This scholarship program prepares recipients to be ambassadors for safe driving among their peers, family and friends. The PFL Scholarship officially stands for Prepared For Life Scholarship, but to close family and friends, PFL stands for Philip Francis Lutzenkirchen.

Lutzenkirchen attended Lassiter High School in Marietta, Georgia, and continued his education

and football career at Auburn University.

Lutzenkirchen passed away in 2014 as a passenger in a distracted and impaired driving accident. The foundation began shortly after and is on a mission to end distracted and impaired driving through the 43 Key Seconds safe driving initiative.

To be eligible to apply, students must meet the following criteria.

- be high school juniors or seniors, or current undergraduate or graduate students, enrolled or planning to enroll in a fulltime accredited program at a two-year or four-year college, university or

vocational-technical school located in the United States;

- have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) at the time of application;

- sign the Lutzie 43 Foundation’s Safe Driving Pledge;

- complete the Lutzie 43 Foundation’s Safeguarding Your Legacy Curriculum;

- plan to continue their education in the fall semester immediately following the distribution of the 2023 PFL Scholarship;

- and applicants that are enrolling in post-secondary university or college must enroll in at least 12 hours per semester. Applicants currently enrolled in

post-secondary university or college must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours per semester. Graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of six hours per semester.

Applicants who meet these requirements are invited to complete the PFL Scholarship application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Recipients of the PFL Scholarship will receive a $4,300 scholarship that will be distributed throughout their undergraduate or postgraduate education.

The link to the PFL Scholarship application can be found here:

www.lutzie43.org/ scholarship-application/

ABOUT THE LUTZIE 43 FOUNDATION

The Lutzie 43 Foundation aims to encourage and empower people to be positive ambassadors for safe driving through character development, mentorship and real-world application.

The Lutzie 43 Foundation was established in loving memory of former Auburn football player Philip Lutzenkirchen, shortly after he lost his life in a car accident in 2014. In his memory, the foundation’s 43 Key Seconds safe driving initiative aims to create the first nationally-recognized symbol for distracted, impaired and unsafe driving awareness and prevention. The foundation’s motto for all is to “Live like Lutz, Love like Lutz, and Learn from Lutz,” reflecting its desire to help others live out the many positive character attributes that Lutzenkirchen displayed while learning from the circumstances that led to his death. For more information, visit lutzie43.org.

Kate Gholston (far left) and Tricia Skelton (third from left) join scholars from across the country at the 2023 JFR program in New Jersey.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

Opelika City Schools recognized its Teachers of the Year at its Tuesday night board of education meeting.

Pictured (L-R): Madison Zimmer - Morris Avenue Intermediate School, Bethany Barnes - West Forest Intermediate School, Vivian Mozeikas - Northside Intermediate School, Brenda Howell - Opelika High School - 2022-23 OCS Secondary Teacher of the Year, Ecameron Dowdell - Jeter Primary School - 2022-23 OCS Elementary Teacher of the Year, Emily Sanders - Opelika Middle School, Madeline Langley - Carver Primary School and Katie BurnsSouthview Primary School.

Jason Campbell Takes Over Mic from Stan White

CONTRIBUTED BY AU ATHLETICS

AUBURN —

Former Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell, who led the Tigers to an undefeated and historic season as a senior in 2004, will take over as Auburn Sports Network’s football radio analyst for the 2023 season, replacing fellow former Tiger quarterback Stan White, who served in that capacity for 22 years from 2001-22. White announced his retirement from the Auburn radio booth at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

Campbell becomes just the third football radio analyst over the last 43 years for Auburn, joining White (2001-22) and former Auburn signal caller Charlie Trotman (1980-2000).

The Taylorsville, Mississippi, native made 40 career starts at Auburn, second only to White’s 45, and is the school all-time wins leader with 31. He was a National Football League first round pick in 2005 to Washington and had a 10-year professional career with five organizations.

Campbell joined the Auburn Sports Network

LEE-SCOTT >>

FROM B1

Gators Thursday, Jan. 26, at home to close out the regular season. The AISA 3A Region 2 Tournament then begins on Feb. 1.

The Warriors have continued to improve over the past couple of seasons, and it does not go unnoticed by their coach, who said

TEACHERS >> FROM B1

Principal Kelly Fischer said of Howell. “She will be up at the school later than everybody with our robotics team. She truly pours every ounce of her being into those students. She makes a huge difference in our students' lives and has overcome a lot of adversity over the years and we just see her continue to pour into our students and are really thankful.”

Each teacher who was recognized received

AHS BOYS >>

positions are decided by matchups.

Each of his players offers a unique skillset: sophomore Tabari Allen crashes the board and fights for second-chance points, junior Jordan Franklin can defend anybody on the court and junior Dashawn “Dash” Thomas is one of the team’s best ballhandlers, playing to the team’s strength of ball

radio crew in 2016 serving as a pregame and halftime show analyst. Campbell worked several A-Day spring games as the radio analyst joining former Auburn Voice of the Tigers Rod Bramblett and current Auburn voice Andy Burcham.

“I would like to thank God for this amazing opportunity to continue doing something I enjoy and love,” Campbell said.

“I appreciate the Auburn Sports Network team and Stan for their immediate confidence in me as I move into the analyst role. I know I have incredibly big shoes to fill. It has been a privilege watching and learning from Stan during our time in the booth together. Auburn Family, I look forward to sharing great memories with you alongside the Voice of the Tigers, Andy Burcham, this fall.”

White played at Auburn from 1990-93 and holds eight school records, including career passing yards (8,016), starts (45), pass attempts (1,231) and completions (659). A team captain his senior season in 1993, White led the Tigers to a perfect 11-0 season. A native of Birmingham, Alabama,

he enjoys every minute of their success.

“I’m really proud of this team and how they are growing as a team,” Johnson said. “They are doing everything they can to get better each day and achieve the ultimate goal of winning a championship.”

Can the Lee-Scott Academy Basketball team achieve the same

a silver platter plaque from an administrative member from the school they work at. IN OTHER BUSINESS THE COUNCIL:

⁃ approved minutes from the December meeting.

⁃ approved personnel recommendations

⁃ approved consideration for out-of-state field trips

⁃ approved the consideration of a new hybrid meeting policy to account for illness

⁃ approved consideration of an increase in the state’s per mile travel reimbursement rate

security.

Brandt excitedly remarked that he can substitute players every three and a half minutes or so. This gives everyone a chance to contribute as well as allow key players to rest up so they can play their best in the fourth quarter. This strategy unites a team that knows each other well.

“You’re not going to see anybody have huge numbers for me because our strength is we try to wear teams

White played for three years with the New York Giants.

“I’m very pleased and excited that Jason will be carrying the torch into the future as the analyst for the Auburn Sports Network,” White said. “I had the honor of being that analyst for the past 22 years. I also had the pleasure of calling games that Jason was at the helm quarterbacking and leading his team to an undefeated season in 2004. Since 2016, as a member of our network crew, I’ve gotten to know Jason as a friend and colleague. I have zero doubt that he will do an outstanding job.”

During White’s 22 years in the Auburn radio booth, he called games with the late Jim Fyffe, Bramblett and Andy Burcham. White called over 250 Auburn games during his tenure including two national championship games, four SEC championship games and numerous memorable moments such as The Prayer In Jordan-Hare and the Kick Six games.

Campbell will make his official debut as Auburn football radio analyst on April 8 for the Tigers’ A-Day Spring game.

result as their football team? Only time will tell. The Warriors have been doing everything possible to prepare themselves for the postseason and put themselves in the best position possible to achieve the goal of winning a championship in 2023.

Auburn Names Deputy Athletics Director for External Affairs

for use of personal cars

⁃ approved a consideration for a new calendar for Opelika City Schools for the year 2023-24

⁃ approved consideration for the superintendent to enter into an agreement with Leanfrog Consulting Services for strategic planning.

The Opelika City Schools Board of Education meets regularly on the third Tuesday of each month at 600 Simmons St. in Opelika. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28.

down,” Brandt elaborated. “I think the biggest thing about this being such a tight-knit group is they’ve all been playing together since elementary school.”

The team has played in four overtime games this season and won all of them. The season consists of a 3-0 start before a loss to BRHS, then an 11-win stretch before its only other loss to Newnan, Georgia, and now a sixgame win streak with four area wins and

CONTRIBUTED BY AU ATHLETICS

AUBURN — Rhett Hobart has been named deputy athletics director for external affairs at Auburn, Athletics Director John Cohen announced last Thursday.

Hobart, who previously served as executive senior associate athletic director for external affairs at Mississippi State, will have oversight of all external aspects of Auburn Athletics, including ticketing, marketing, fan engagement, communications, War Eagle Productions and Auburn Sports Properties, among other duties.

“Auburn attracts not only the best student-athletes and the best coaches in the world, but Auburn also attracts the best support staff,” Cohen said. “That is Auburn being Auburn, and that is Rhett Hobart. Rhett has incredible vision and will help create unique experiences for our student-athletes, fans, coaches and staff.”

At Mississippi State, Hobart was responsible for the Bulldogs’ External Affairs team, which comprised Broadcast & Live Events, Communications & Creative and Fan Experience & Sales. The Greenville, Mississippi, native and Mississippi State graduate returned to Starkville in May 2022 after spending time at

revenge on BRHS and a win over Woodland, Georgia.

Displaying its resiliency, Auburn completed a season sweep over Central in two games where the Tigers didn’t lead until the fourth quarter. The team’s cohesiveness plays to its advantage late in games.

“I think the biggest reason why we’re successful is because they trust each other, and I think that’s because they spend a lot of time together,” Brandt

Wake Forest, where he served as associate athletic director of Fan Experience & Brand Development.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Auburn Family and have the opportunity to experience the Auburn Spirit firsthand," Hobart said. "The possibilities on the Plains are endless. We will work earnestly to harness tradition, creativity and innovation to build and foster the Auburn brand while creating preeminent in-venue and digital experiences for the Auburn Family and our teams to enjoy."

During his time with the Demon Deacons, Hobart led a team which implemented new and engaging marketing and creative strategies, which led to record crowds and engagement in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Those efforts included the launch of a new brand campaign and a reimagining of the football gameday experience, which led to the highest net promoter score in the ACC — a 24-point increase on the prior season.

Additionally, the implementation of a new football student tailgate experience drove the largest-ever student attendance, including the first, second, fourth and fifth largest student crowds of all time. The new student experience was recognized by Inside Higher Ed as a "Model of Inclusivity" and received national acclaim by the Na -

said.

While Auburn has plenty of flexibility in its lineup, it has one constant it can turn to, and it did just that down the stretch against Central. Carr, senior four-year starter between two years at Opelika and now Auburn, leads the team with averages of 17.6 points per game, four assists per game and 2.1 steals per game. Along with his electric play, he is a vocal leader the team can turn to in tight contests.

tional Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators.

Prior to his time with the Demon Deacons, Hobart spent eight years at Mississippi State in a variety of roles within the marketing department.

Hobart served as the Bulldogs assistant athletic director for Marketing & Branding for the last three years of that stint, where he managed all aspects of their marketing and fan experience, game production, branding, athletic licensing and spirit groups.

Hobart and the Mississippi State marketing staff received national recognition for the redevelopment of their gameday experience at multiple venues, where they worked to invest in the idea of maximizing the car-to-car experience for fans. Twice during his tenure, MSU Marketing took home the nation’s top prize in collegiate athletics marketing, being named the NACMA Marketing Team of the Year in both 2016 and 2017, becoming the first school to ever win the title in back-toback years. The team received honorable mention recognition in 2014, 2018 and 2019, and was a finalist for the award in 2015.

Hobart earned his Bachelor of Arts in communication from Mississippi State in 2012, and his Master of Business Administration in 2014.

With 20 points and clutch free-throw shooting to maintain Auburn’s lead over the Red Devils in overtime, Carr helped his team stay undefeated in area play. Now, he will be asked to lead Auburn in three more away games, including area games at Smith Station and a rematch with Opelika at home.

“This team believes, and as long as they believe, big things are going to happen,” Brandt said after the win over Central.

RHETT HOBART

During the winter season with young children, it seems like colds, flu and viruses run rampant. It is just that time of year when it is cold outside and more activity is done inside rather than outside. The old saying, “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise,” is so in keeping young children well.

I can remember growing up in the 1950s and 1960s — after getting home from school we were instructed to immediately wash our hands, bathe and brush our teeth

Health Tips From The Teacher’s Corner

the passage of germs. Use lukewarm water and soap to wash hands and fingernails for at least 20 seconds. Next, rinse your hands, and dry them thoroughly. Train your young child to wash their hands after going to the bathroom and right before meals and snacks.

I have to remind young children to thoroughly dry their hands so that during our winter cold weather their hands do not get chapped.

to ward off germs that could have been passed around at school. In today’s world, children just do not go straight home from school; they have after-school activities.

I hope these very simple, common-sense tips will gently remind and help parents with young children to keep them healthy. I have gleaned these suggestions from health specialists’ resources, curriculum and years of experience in the early childhood classroom.

Hand-washing is so important in reducing

Make sure the nutritional needs of your child are met. Eating healthy meals helps your child better fight colds. Eating vegetables, fruits and well-balanced meals can be modeled by parents by eating the right foods in front of their children.

As parents and early childhood teachers, we know firsthand the abundant amount of energy that young children have. I absolutely love to look through young children’s eyes because they do not want to miss a thing. When young children finally slow down and drift off to sleep, it is so very good for them physically, mentally and emotionally. Getting enough sleep allows the body to

rest and relax, prevents illnesses and refuels our bodies for the next day.

How much sleep is needed for children at different ages? The Alabama Cooperative Extension System outlines this in “Back to School — The 411 on Quality Sleep.” As we know, young children need more sleep than adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following hours for different ages:

• Infants (under 1 year)

- 12 to 16 hours, including naps.

• Toddlers (ages 1 to 2)

- 11 to 14 hours, including naps

• Preschool (ages 3 to 5) - 10 to 13 hours, including naps

• School-age (ages 6 to 12) - 9 to 12 hours each night

1. Prepare your infant for bedtime by rocking, playing soft music, singing, hugging and keeping events low-key right before bedtime.

2. Follow the same schedule or routine so your child knows bedtime is on its way. They adjust to this.

3. Develop a “going to bed” nightly tradition to

set the sleep mood, like lining up their toys, reading a good bedtime story or singing or playing soft music.

4. When you slip out of the room, if your baby cries, you can reassure them by softly talking to them.

5. Make sure noise disturbances are kept at a minimum from family and friends.

6. Check the room temperature and make sure it is not too cold or hot.

7. Check on needed diaper changes or other physical needs during the night.

8. Toddlers, when they begin to teethe, may not feel well so they may have more night awakenings.

9. Toddlers are more aware of their surroundings and might be afraid of the dark or being alone. Putting a soft night light in your child’s room will help this problem.

10. Some young children require a pacifier in order to feel secure and be able to sleep at night. Place your child’s pacifier close to them at night. Also, put that nightly cup or glass of water nearby.

11. As an early childhood teacher, I have

noticed that some toddlers might be resistant to an afternoon nap. Just encourage them to rest and do quiet activities. When the weather is pretty during these winter months, encourage your child to play outside and get plenty of fresh air. I know in our preschools, when the weather is not too cold or rainy, we take our class of children outside to play. It is good for their health. Properly dress your child so they don't get too hot or too cold. Young children love free play. Being able to run, skip and explore encourages not only muscle development but language development, and good social development.

When your child is sick, help them get well. Schools and child care centers have policies on when your child may return to school after they have been sick. Follow these policies closely so other students and teachers don’t get sick.

I hope these simple suggestions help your children stay well during this winter season.

Beth Pinyerd Classroom Observer

Opelika Silences Smiths Station

BETH PINYERD

PHOTOS BY MATT AUSTIN FOR THE OBSERVER

The varstiy Opelika boys basketball team defeated Smiths Station 74-32 Jan. 20. The Bulldogs' record now sits at 8-8, 1-2 in the area according to Maxpreps.com.

L labama Politics ee County & A

Inside the Statehouse Legislature Organizes for Quadrennium

Ledbetter hails from Rainsville in DeKalb County. He is a former mayor of Rainsville.

Local State Senator Receives Key Assignments

STEVE FLOWERS

OPINION —

The legislature had its every -four-years organizational session earlier this month. It is exactly what the title states: It is organizing for the next quadrennium of lawmaking. It officially chose its leadership and adopted the rules for the two chambers.

The 105-member House of Representatives and 35-member state Senate are elected for four-year terms, the same as the governor and other constitutional offices. However, unlike the governor who was sworn in on Monday, Jan. 16, which is as set out in the state constitution, the legislature takes office the day after they are elected in November.

The state House of Representatives will have 77 Republicans and 28 Democrats. That is a veto-proof, bulldozer-shoving, anythingyou-want supermajority. The Democrats have very little say with those overwhelming numbers.

Two days after they were elected in November, the 77-member Republican majority met in a private caucus meeting in Montgomery and selected their leadership. Therefore, the vote for speaker of the House two weeks ago was simply a formality. The House has chosen Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter to be the speaker of the House.

He has only been in the House of Representatives for eight years, having been first elected in 2014. He was chosen to be the majority leader in the House in his freshman year. He was close to the former Speaker Mac McCutcheon, and he served on both the powerful agenda-setting Rules Committee, as well as the Ways and Means Education Budget Writing Committee.

Rep. Chris Pringle of Mobile has been chosen to be speaker pro tem of the House, which is the second highest position within the body. He has served previously for 16 years in the House from the Port City. He succeeds fellow Mobilian Victor Gaston in this post.

There are two young stalwarts who will be serving in Republican Party positions within the House. Rep. Scott Stadthagen of Decatur will be the new House Majority leader. Rep. Wes Kitchens of Arab will serve as the Republican Leadership Caucus vice chair. Rep. Debbie Wood from Valley will serve as the Republican Caucus secretary/treasurer. The three most powerful posts in the House are the chairmanships of the two money committees and the agenda-setting Rules Committee.

Rep. Danny Garrett of Trussville in Jefferson County will continue to chair the Ways and Means Education Budget Committee. Rep. Rex Reynolds of Huntsville will be the General Fund Ways and Means chairman. Reynolds replaces longtime Ways and Means Chairman Steve Clouse of Ozark. Rep. Joe Lovvorn of Auburn

will be the new Rules Committee chairman. Rep. Jim Hill of St. Clair will chair Judiciary. He is a former circuit judge and a veteran of the House. All of these house leadership positions are held by Republicans. To the victor goes the spoils.

The Democrats have a veteran and sterling team heading their caucus leadership in the House. Anthony Daniels of Huntsville will be the Democratic Minority leader. Barbara Drummond of Mobile will be the Caucus chair. Mary Moore of Birmingham will be the vice chair, and Kelvin Lawrence of Hayneville will be secretary/treasurer of the Democratic Caucus.

The 35-member Alabama State Senate returns almost intact with its continuity and quality leadership. It will dominate and provide a stable state of ship to help lead the state. Republicans control this upper chamber to the same degree that the GOP members do in the House. Republicans outnumber Democrats 28 to seven in the Senate.

State Sen. Jabo Waggoner of Jefferson County begins his 50th year in the legislature. This is a state record. He is definitely destined for the state history books. Jabo will continue to chair the powerful Rules Committee.

Greg Reed of Walker County will be pro tem of the Senate again. The Majority leader will again be Clay Scofield of Marshall County. The two money committee chairmen will continue to be in charge of how the state revenues are spent. Sen. Arthur Orr of Decatur will chair

ALABAMA — State Sen. Randy Price of District 13 will chair the Tourism Committee in the Alabama State Senate. Pro Tem Sen. Greg Reed also selected Price to serve on the following committees: Agriculture, Banking & Insurance, Confirmation, Education Policy, Finance & Taxation, Transportation & Energy, State Parks, Energy Council, Joint Transportation and Reapportionment.

“It is an honor to be selected to serve on these committees, including chairing the Tourism Committee in the Alabama State Senate,” Price said. “Each of these committees have a direct impact not just in

my district but the entire state. I will continue to bring common-sense leadership that the people can count on and trust.

I am looking forward to the upcoming session in March; it’s time to get down to business, passing legislation that will bring real

solutions to our state.”

The Tourism Committee is vital to Alabama’s economy and ensures that the state receives the maximum benefits from visitors each year. From beaches, parks, campgrounds

Smiths Station City Council Honors Student, Discusses Finances in January Meetings

BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM SMITHS STATION

—

As the new year moves forward, Smiths Station City Council approved new business related to projects and city employees, set a sales tax holiday and

CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER WILSON FOR RANDY PRICE

JaNiah Hoskins, left, watches as Smiths Station Mayor Bubba Copeland signs the proclamation for her winning essay.

Recalling the Day When Lee Greenwood Brought ‘USA’ to Panama

Once, another soldier and I were traveling through Panama City and were stopped by police. They asked what we had in the back of the Army truck; we said, “work supplies.” Lucky for us, the man did not do a search. He would have found a thousand “illegal Yankee” newspapers. As the only Englishlanguage paper, we were termed enemies of the state. Panamanians were harassed or tortured if found with even one or two of our newspapers. What could happen to us?

song by Lee Greenwood called ‘God Bless the USA.’” I loved the tune — it was inspirational and patriotic. It was a touchstone of the Gulf War (1990 to 1991) and after 9/11 (2001). (Many people mistakenly call it “I’m Proud to be an American.”)

still today.” True heroes.

OPINION —

Last week, legendary country and traditional singers Crystal Gayle and Lee Greenwood brought their musical artistry to the Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University. It was quite likely one of the best performances at the 3-anda-half-year-old facility. It reminded me of June 1989 when Greenwood toured American military

IN THE PROBATE

COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ROY R. SCOTT, Deceased

Case No.: 2022-593

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Rebecca Scott, Personal Representative on the 29th day of December, 2022, by Honorable Bill English, Judge of 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.

Rebecca Scott

Legal Run 1/12/23, 1/19/23 & 1/26/23

--------------NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT PUBLISHED BY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIE VESTER WOODSON, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

CASE NO. 2022-604

Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Mavis Melissa Woodson, Personal Representative on the 7th day of November 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of 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.

Bill English, Judge of Probate Legal Run 1/12/2023, 1/19/2023, 1/26/2023 & 02/02/2023

--------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CECIL DAY , DECEASED

Case No. 2022-544

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Take notice the LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of said deceased having been granted to June Barnes on the 13rh day of December, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. Done this 13th_day of December, 2022.

JUNE BARNES

Legal Run 1/12/23, 1/19/23 & 1/26/23

PROBATE

sites in Panama. I had been stationed there since August 1988 as assistant editor of The Tropic Times, the U.S. military newspaper. We did not have a “hot war” on our hands, but the prelude was tense. There were regular clashes with the Panamanian Defense Forces under the control of the country’s de facto leader, Gen. Manual Noriega.=== Greenwood’s USO tour was a much-needed salve.

COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE:The estate of Bobby Jack Jones, Deceased. Case No. 2023-007

TAKE NOTICE that Letters Administration having been granted to Bobby Everitt Jones as Administrator of the Estate of Bobby Jack Jones, deceased, on the 5th day of January 2023.

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 be barred.

Bobby Everitt Jones, Administrator of the Estate of Bobby Jack Jones, Deceased Marrell J. McNeal, Attorney at Law, PC PO Box 308 Opelika, AL 36803 334-745-7033

Legal Run 01/12/23, 01/19/2023 & 01/26/2023

ESTATE OF BETTY V. HOPSON DECEASED PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY CASE NO. 2022-713

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of the Estate of BETTY V. HOPSON are hereby granted to Michael Hopson on the 30th day of December, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

MICHAEL HOPSON

Legal Run 01/12/23, 01/19/23 & 01/26/23

--------------IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BILLY MACK NOLEN, Deceased Case No.: 2022-709

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Christi Nolen Ingrum, Personal Representative on the 12th day of January, 2023, by Honorable Bill English, Judge of 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.

Christi Nolen Ingrum Legal Run 1/19/23, 1/26/23 & 2/2/23 ---------------

IN THE MATTER OF

Now age 80, Greenwood was born near Los Angeles, California. He began to write his own songs and sing professionally by 1962. He has charted seven No. 1s; among the top songs, two of my favorites are “I.O.U.” and “Hearts Aren’t Made to Break (They’re Made to Love).”

In August 1984, the military band of Fort McPherson, Georgia, had a performance and the main singer said, “Next we present a new

A memory of my first hearing “God Bless the USA” was at that performance at Fort McPherson. I talked to six veterans in wheelchairs; one asked me if I could push them closer to the stage, uphill. A friend and I each pushed three of these heroes. People saw us doing this, but no one volunteered to help. That is unusual for soldiers and their dependents. But we managed.

I was thrown by these lyrics of “USA”: “And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today, ‘cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.” I looked at the veterans in wheelchairs and felt for sure that these men, if not disabled, would “gladly stand up and defend her

PUBLIC NOTICES

THE ESTATE OF MINNIE WILDER, DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2022-589

Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 10th day of January, 2023, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

FRED WESTERN EDDIE MILLER

Co-Personal Representatives

Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 1/19/2023, 1/26/2023 & 2/2/2023

In accordance with Chapter 1, Title 39, Code of Alabama, 1975, notice is hereby given that Phoenix Fabricators and Erectors, LLC has completed its work on the System Strengthening & Operational Improvements Project / 500,000 Gallon & 300,000 Gallon Elevated Water Storage Tanks / GMC Project No. CMGM-170126(1) for the Beulah Utilities District. Any person(s) having a claim against the project should notify Josh Pierce, P.E., Goodwyn Mills Cawood, LLC, 2660 East Chase Lane, Suite 200, Montgomery, AL 36117. All claims should be filed within 30 days of the first publication of this notice.

Legal Run 1/19/23, 1/26/23, 2/2/23 & 2/9/23

--------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, STATE OF ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ANTOINETTA MICHELLE WIMBERLY HENDERSON, DECEASED LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION for the estate of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned Personal Representative JADA

AALIYAH HENDERSON on December 22, 2022, 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 the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

JADA AALIYAH

HENDERSON Legal Run 1/19/23, 1/26/23 &

In 1989, as Greenwood prepared for his show, I requested an interview. Three hours before his performance, it was approved. The caveat: Talk for only 30 minutes and wear your Class A uniform. A recruit, Matthew Broderick, said in “Biloxi Blues” about the South: “This is not just hot, it’s Africa hot.” Most dress uniforms were rarely worn in the tropics. I substituted a friend’s jacket; it was two sizes too big, but I met Greenwood on time.

Two of my questions were the most intriguing. The first was if Greenwood sang “God Bless the USA” while performing in foreign countries. He said, “Before I sing that song, I tell them I am playing ‘USA’ for the Americans, just as they play their country’s patriotic songs when there is a mixed audience. I like to do the same.” USO audiences understand and clap.

The second fascinating answer came when Greenwood compared

himself to USO legend Bob Hope. “I am the age (46 years) when Bob Hope became the spokesman.” Greenwood aspired to be a longtime USO entertainer. With the high number of appearances he makes to charitable groups, Greenwood does not have time for the extensive USO role Hope had.

Greenwood’s plans for leadership of the USO’s roster of performers has been dented; it is now run by “Mister Las Vegas.” Wayne Newton has chaired the USO Celebrity Circle since 2000. The circle consists of celebrity entertainers who participate in USO celebrity entertainment tours, help with celebrity recruitment and increase overall awareness of USO.

After my talk with Greenwood, I saw at his show how soldiers and family members reacted. In Panama, the cloud of imminent war was present even when I arrived in August 1988. Despite those concerns, I

See MARKLEY, page B12

2/2/23

---------------

INVITATION TO BID

23010

Sealed bids for the construction of the Crawlspace Encapsulation and Ventilation Installation at Southside Performing Arts Center shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Monday, February 13, 2023, and then publicly opened and read aloud. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. The successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code §348-1, 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. All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala. Code §34-8-8(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number. Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid. All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/or permits required by applicable law, rule or regulation for the performance of the work.

Bid documents may be obtained from the office of the city Inspection Department Director located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama. Documents may also be obtained from the City of Purchasing Department located at 204 S 7th St., Opelika, Alabama, Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M., or downloaded from the City’s website at https://www.opelika-al.gov/ Bids.aspx. The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him by the City of Opelika. All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

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

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and

delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: Crawlspace Encapsulation and Ventilation Installation at Southside Performing Arts Center LILLIE FINLEYPURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120

Legal Run 01/19/23, & 01/26/23

---------------

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 23011

Sealed proposals will be received, opened, and read aloud in public session for furnishing all labor and materials and performing all work required by the City of Opelika for DISASTER DEBRIS REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL, for the City of Opelika until 2:00 p.m., local time, Monday, February 27, 2023, at Opelika City Hall Conference Room 2nd floor at 204 S. 7th St, Opelika, Alabama. Qualified contractors are invited to proposal. The bidder expressly acknowledges, to and for the benefit of the CITY, that this Agreement may be funded with federal monies and, therefore bidder expressly warrants and agrees that it shall at times comply with all applicable federal, state, local and municipal laws and regulations. For more information about the Federal regulations visit the website http://gpoaccess.gov/ index.htm.

Emergency Debris Removal

The City of Opelika is soliciting proposals to provide Disaster Debris Removal and Disposal Services following an event within the city limits and some rights-of-way that may be outside the corporate limits of Opelika, Alabama.

Plans, Specifications, Request for Proposal, addenda, and other related documents may be obtained from the City of Purchasing Department located at 204 S 7th St., Opelika, Alabama, Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M., or downloaded from the City’s website at www.opelika-al.gov/bids. aspx. Questions or comments pertaining to this proposal must be sent to the Public Works Director, Mike Hilyer before 4:00 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2023.

Guarantee will be required with each proposal as follows:

At least five (5) percent of the amount of proposal in the form of a certified check or Bid Bond payable to the City of Opelika, Alabama. Contractor may be required to provide the following bonds: Payment and Performance, Labor and Material Bond. The right is reserved, as the interest of the Owner may require, to reject any and all proposals and to waive any informality in proposals received. Envelopes containing proposals must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Ope¬li¬ka, Alabama, 36803. Attn.: Emergency Debris Removal

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 proposals are submitted. 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 proposals to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number. Evidence of this license must be documented on the outside of the envelope of the sealed proposal.

LILLIE FINLEY PURCHASING-REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA LEGAL RUN 01/26/2023, 02/02/23 & 02/09/2023

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF SUSIE MAE MELTON, Deceased PROBATE COURT, LEE COUNTY, AL CASE NO.: 2022-409

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Annastacia M. McMullen on the 17th day of annuary, 2023, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

ANNASTACIA M. McMULLEN Legal Run 1/26/23, 02/02/23 & 02/09/23

See PUBLIC NOTICES, page B14

GREG MARKLEY

Enlightenment Leads to Action in the Fight to End Human Trafficking

CONTRIBUTED BY MARK COLSON / ALABAMA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION

OPINION —

Human trafficking is an ugly and despicable crime affecting millions of people across the world.

The Department of Homeland Security says human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women and children are trafficked worldwide and across the U.S., including right here in Alabama.

The trucking industry I represent is just one of many partners actively involved in the fight to end human trafficking. With January designated as Human Trafficking Awareness Month,

CONTRIBUTED BY ALABAMA

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

TAX POLICY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DIVISION

ALABAMA —

Tax Season 2023 has begun and the filing deadline for individual income tax returns is April 18. The Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR) offers these tips and suggestions to help you file your return safely and get your refund as quickly as possible:

FILING

File Electronically

Taxpayers who file their returns electronically and have their returns directly deposited into their bank accounts receive their refunds quicker than those who file paper returns. Faster and more accurate processing. File from your home PC. Eliminate the need to mail paper returns.

Qualified taxpayers can file electronically for free. Electronic payment options are a convenient,

raising awareness and sharing information on how everyone can get involved to help combat these horrible practices is priority number one.

For years, the trucking industry has prioritized this, and thousands of professional drivers have been trained to be frontline defenders in the fight against human trafficking. We’re well equipped to provide valuable assistance in the ongoing efforts to eliminate this horrific crime. Truck drivers are on the same roads, parking at the same rest areas and fueling up at the same truck stops that human traffickers often use to sell their victims.

Recognizing the value and urgency of involving the trucking industry in the fight against this crime, Truckers Against Trafficking

(TAT) was formed in 2009 to recruit trucking companies across the nation to train their drivers to watch for, and, more importantly, report suspicious activities to law enforcement.

TAT offers extensive training and many highly effective and valuable tools to help professional truck drivers identify victims and come to their aid. Since its inception, TAT has trained and registered more than 1.5 million professional truck drivers. In Alabama, there are 31,687 TAT-trained professionals. In 2019, TAT and the Alabama Trucking Association partnered with Gov. Kay Ivey and a bipartisan group of legislators to pass legislation that includes TAT training as part of the Commercial Driver’s License

curriculum for all new Alabama CDL holders.

Trained drivers across the country are now calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) to report what they see. Polaris Project, which runs the hotline, has reported that calls from truck drivers rose significantly once Truckers Against Trafficking began. The NHTH statistics show that in the last five years, over 41% of the cases that have been reported by truck drivers have involved victims who are minors.

In Alabama alone since 2007, 679 human trafficking cases and 1,571 victims were identified through the NHTH.

View statistics for human trafficking in Alabama here: https:// humantraffickinghotline.

org/en/statistics/alabama

In one recent case, a professional truck driver reported suspicious activity at a rest stop that resulted in the recovery of seven minors. Additionally, 31 offenders were arrested, and a 13- state child sex trafficking ring was broken. Alabama’s trucking industry is proud to be a strong and reliable partner for Truckers Against Trafficking and its mission. We have donated time, money and resources that have made an impact. But now is not the time to rest on our laurels; there is always more work.

Thanks to the work of countless advocates, there now exists the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force established by the legislature, and the AntiHuman Trafficking

Alliance established by Attorney General Steve Marshall. Many are on the frontline combating human trafficking, including law enforcement professionals and victims’ advocates, such as social workers, educators, the Family Sunshine Center, The Samaritan Women Institute for Shelter Care and the WellHouse, to name a few. They all deserve our thanks and active support.

On Jan. 26 and 27 in Montgomery, many of these stakeholders will convene at the Alabama Human Trafficking Summit. These efforts showcase the commitment to ending this terrible crime.

If you ever witness any suspicious activity

2023 Tax Season is Underway in Alabama

safe, and secure option for paying your taxes. For more information on electronic filing options, visit https://www. revenue.alabama.gov/ individual-corporate/individual-income-tax-electronic-filing-options/. File For Free Taxpayers can file state returns for free using My Alabama Taxes. Filing returns on My Alabama Taxes requires taxpayers to create an account. Sign up at www.myalabamataxes.alabama.gov.

Forms – 2022

Individual Income Tax forms and instructions can be found at https://www. revenue.alabama.gov/ forms/?jsf=jet-data-table:form-table&meta=form-year:2022&tax=form-categories:154.

SECURITY File Early

As soon as a taxpayers receive their W-2s, 1099s and other documents, they should file as soon as possible. Filing early can help ALDOR get refunds approved earlier, plus it

enables taxpayers to get ahead of ID thieves.

Safety First ALDOR plays an important role in preventing state revenue and taxpayer money from ending up in the wrong hands. Fraud detection reviews, accuracy checks, and matching against employer W2s does require a little extra time, but it helps ensure that taxpayers get their money rather than fraudsters.

Employers — File

Those W-2s Employers must file employee W-2 information with ALDOR by Jan. 31. Employers who file late may face penalties and will slow the processing of their employees' tax returns.

Let’s Keep In Touch

After returns are filed, ALDOR may send letters asking for more information. If a taxpayer receives a letter from ALDOR, they should respond quickly so the department can review their information and get their refund to

them as soon as possible. remember – ALDOR will never contact taxpayers initially by phone, text or email, only by letters sent through the mail.

Beware Of Scams – Do Not Give Anyone Your Personal Information Without Confirming They Are The Proper Authorities Fraud Detection. To detect and combat tax identity theft, ALDOR uses a variety of methods to validate identities and tax returns. To help protect personally identifiable information and keep dollars from going to criminals, ALDOR may send:

An Identity Confirmation letter that asks the taxpayer to take a short online quiz or provide copies of documents to verify their identity (www.revenue.alabama. gov/individual-corporate/ alabama-taxpayer-identity-protection-program/).

A return verification letter that asks the taxpayer to verify online whether they or their representative

filed the tax return

ALDOR received.

Accuracy Checks.

ALDOR stops and reviews about 3 to 5 percent of individual income tax returns each year to resolve mathematical errors or request missing information. To be sure that tax returns correctly reflect information and intent, ALDOR may send:

A Request for Information letter that asks for missing or additional information to support data reported on the tax return.

A Tax Computation

Change letter that provides an explanation of changes that were made to the tax return.

REFUNDS

How Long Will It Take?

The date a return is filed and how the return is filed largely determines when the refund can be issued. For example, electronically filed returns are received and processed significantly faster than returns that are mailed to ALDOR. Also, if an error-free return is mailed in January or February, the taxpayer can expect to receive their refund sooner than if the return is filed in March or April. Generally, about 30 percent of income tax

See OP-ED, page B13

returns are filed between April 1 and April 30. Returns filed this close to the deadline may require as many as 90 days to process.

First-time filers

It will take additional time for new filers to be validated and entered into ALDOR’s system. Until that time, the Refund Status website won't recognize these taxpayers and will report their returns as "not entered in system." It will take approximately 10-12 weeks to process a first-time filer’s return.

E?filers: Generally, e?filers can expect their refund about 8?10 weeks after the date they receive their filing acknowledgement from the state.

Paper filers: The return will take about 8?12 weeks to process. ALDOR personnel must manually enter information from paper returns into the database.

If the taxpayer received a letter from ALDOR asking for more information or to verify identity, the refund will be delayed until the requested information is received and reviewed by the department.

Where’s Your Refund?

ALDOR will begin

See TAXES, page B13

334-705-8858

Opelika Buys 100-Foot Aerial Ladder Truck

CONTRIBUTED BY OFD

WRITTEN BY ALAN M. PETRILLO

FOR FIRE APPARATUS & EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT MAGAZINE

OPELIKA —

Sutphen Corp. has delivered a SL 100 aerial ladder quint to Opelika

Fire Department that will replace a 25-year old rearmount aerial platform, which will be held in reserve.

Shane Boyd, Opelika’s chief, says the department went with a midmount straight stick quint for reasons of maneuverability.

“The truck has a very good center of gravity and its ease of movement is very good too,” Boyd said. “With this truck, we went to a staff of four, where we are using the vehicle for structure fires, high rescue and also high angle rope rescue.”

Boyd added that a low travel height was important to the department because their coverage area has a number of low bridges.

“We wanted to be able to take this truck anywhere in our district,” he said. “And lots of compartmentation for our equipment was important

for both fire and rescue operations.”

Boyd noted that he involved the department’s firefighters and officers on the truck committee “because they are the ones who were going to be using the truck every day.”

He added that the truck carries Holmatro battery powered rescue tools — a spreader, cutter, rams and pedal cutter — in a Lazy Susan style roll-out tray in a back compartment instead of the hosed hydraulic tools on the

department’s prior truck.

Jerry Harley, sales manager for Williams Fire Apparatus, who sold the SL 100 to Opelika, says the truck is built on a Sutphen Monarch heavy duty custom chassis with 10-inch double Domex frame rails, a 62-inch extended cab and a 10-inch raised roof. He noted the four door cab can seat five firefighters, four of them in SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) seats, and also holds an EMS (emergency

medical services) cabinet.

The SL 100 has a 23,000-pound front axle and suspension, a 48,000-pound rear axle and suspension, a 242-inch wheelbase, a 44-foot-2inch overall length, and a 10-foot-2-inch overall height. The rig is powered by a 500-horsepower (hp) Cummins X 12 diesel engine, and an Allison 4500 EVS Gen5 automatic transmission, with a Delco-Remy 430-amp alternator.

Harley said the truck’s

Village Creed Founder Visits Kiwanis Club

The Opelika Kiwanis Club this week hosted Kermit Farmer, chief ethos officer at Village Creed. Farmer came and spoke to the club about his team and Village Creed, which creates "paths" to help organizations' and companies' workflow to make things easier and more efficient. For more information, visit Village Creed's Facebook page.

body is Huckbolted 304

stainless steel with Amdor roll up compartment doors over 265 cubic feet of compartment space. Besides the 100-foot aerial ladder, ground ladders include a threesection 35-foot extension ladder, two two-section 28-foot extension ladders, a 16-foot roof ladder, a 14-foot roof ladder and a 10-foot folding attic ladder.

Boyd pointed out that the quint has a Hale QMax 2,000-gallon per minute

PRICE >>

FROM B9

and festivals, 28.2 million travelers spent more than $19.6 billion in the state in 2021 supporting 227,334 jobs in Alabama. (tourism. alabama.gov)

Price’s background played a key role in his committee assignments. He and his family continue to work on their sixthgeneration family farm. Price is also a small businessman and said he

FLOWERS >>

FROM B9

Finance and Taxation/ Education. Sen. Greg Albritton of Escambia will chair Finance and Taxation/General Fund. These two men will be very powerful. Popular

state Sen. Will Barfoot of Pike Road will chair Judiciary in the Senate. Sen. Clyde Chambliss of Prattville has become a stalwart leader in the Senate. He will be Majority whip. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth presides over the Senate. The Regular Session

begins in early March. See you next week.

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

MARKLEY >>

FROM B10

enjoyed the country with its tropical beauty and enchanting international flair. For a few days, our fears were reduced by Greenwood and his ultra-patriotic song.

God bless the USA, and Greenwood, too.

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

(gpm) single stage pump, a 400-gallon water tank, a Task Force Tips Typhoon electric monitor with a 1,500-gpm nozzle, two 1-3/4-inch cross lays and one 2-1/2-inch cross lay above the pump module, a 1-3/4-inch hose line in the front bumper, two 2-1/2-inch discharges on the left side and one 4-inch and one 2-1/2-inch discharge on the right side. The hose bed carries 800 feet of 5-inch LDH (large

See FIRE TRUCK, page B13

believes the government should run just like a business. He strives for accountability and doing more with less. He and his wife have two sons, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Price will continue to fight for our conservative values and do what is best for our great state.

Price represents Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Lee and Randolph counties. He is serving his second term in the Alabama Senate.

award-winning writer in the Army and civilian life, he has contributed to The Observer since 2011. He writes on politics, education and books. gm.markley@charter.net

The Opelika quint has a Hale QMax 2,000-gpm single stage pump and a 400-gallon water tank.

OHS Band Directors Recieve Funds from Opelika Lions Club

heard the results of its annual audit during its January 2023 meetings.

At the Jan. 24 meeting, Eric Tydings of audit agency Robinson, Grimes & Company, P.C., presented a “good, clean opinion” for the city’s fiscal year 2022 finances.

According to Tydings, the city had an $800,000 increase in cash compared to the previous year. Operating expenses came out to about $2.8 million compared to the previous year’s $1.7 million, which he attributed in part to the city’s contracts with Fort Benning.

“What we do is we rely heavily on you guys to make sure that the council continues to monitor the numbers and hold the Accounting

TAXES >>

Department accountable to make sure you’re spending as you should,” Tydings told the council.

City Clerk Morgan Bryce presented the general fund budget report for December 2022. The city’s total gross income was about $450,000, and total expenses were about $186,000. The net income was about $264,000. The environmental fund budget for the previous quarter saw a net income of about $17,000.

Smiths Station will also join dozens of communities across the state in observing the Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday from Feb. 24 through 26.

At the Jan. 24 meeting, the council approved an amendment to Section VII of the Solid Waste Ordinance, which concerns exemptions.

Previously, exemption claims were only accepted between July 1 and Aug. 31. The amendment to the ordinance allows applicants to make claims for exemption outside that timeframe.

“[With the amendment] we’re able to make decisions — if we need to — mid-year for, maybe, annexations,” said Smiths Station Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland.

“It provides a mechanism for someone to claim or ask for an exemption after Aug. 31, and then it provides a mechanism for them to follow to get to that end result,” added City Attorney Allen Martin.

The council approved business related to various city projects as well. One item was a cost-sharing agreement with Smiths Water and Sewer Authority Inc. for the Sanitary Sewer Expansion Project,

which entails sewer expansion from Lee Road 243 to Highway 280, according to Bryce. It is also tied to commercial development and will provide sewer access to residents on Lee Road 243 (Railroad Avenue) and Summerville Road.

The council also approved a contract with D&J Enterprises Inc. in the amount of $222,720 for the Cummings Road (Lee Road 294) Improvements Project.

In addition, the council approved an extension of a special use permit for modifications of a wireless telecommunications facility on Mullin Road.

The council also honored Smiths Station High School student JaNiah Hoskins for her winning racial justice essay for the Lee County Remembrance Project, titled “The More Things Change, the More They Stay the

Same: Alabama’s Voter Suppression History.”

The Lee County Board of Education also recognized Hoskins at its Jan. 10 meeting.

The Remembrance Project was established to honor the lives of African Americans who were mistreated as far back as the 18th century, Copeland explained. He presented Hoskins with a city coin the day she won the award and issued a proclamation in her honor at the Jan. 24 meeting.

“She had competition [at other schools]

… and Smiths Station stood out,” said Place 2 Council Member Morris Jackson, who was present when Hoskins received her first place award at the county courthouse.

“She represented Smiths Station well.”

Hoskins said she was glad she won the competition and glad to be

making a change.

In other business, the council appointed Fran Remington to the vacancy on the Environmental Committee and approved a contract for Parks and Recreation Department Assistant Larry Hart in the amount of about $1,000 per month to perform additional duties.

Copeland said Smiths Station also enjoyed a successful MLK CityWide Cleanup Day Jan. 21, with about 70 volunteers turning out to help pick up trash along the city’s roads.

Smiths Station City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. Eastern Time at the city government building, located at 2336 Panther Parkway (Lee Road 430). A public work session is held 30 minutes prior.

releasing income tax refunds on March 1. This will allow time to properly vet and process the returns of early filers, confirm the accuracy of legitimate returns, and filter out fraudulent returns.

FIRE TRUCK >>

FROM B12

FROM B11 diameter hose).

Additional equipment on the quint includes a FRC inView 360HD camera system with a built in DVR FRC ACT twostation intercom system, a SmartPower 6-kW generator, a Fire Tech

OP-ED >>

FROM B11

potentially related to human trafficking, call the human trafficking hotline at 888-373-7888. And if you are interested in learning more about TAT training for you and your organization, please contact Truckers Against Trafficking at truckersagainsttrafficking.org.

Every motorist (every citizen, for that matter) should take the training and learn how

The best way to track the progress of refunds is My Alabama Taxes (www. myalabamataxes.alabama. gov). It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Those taxpayers who don’t have internet access can track their refund progress by calling our 24-hour refund hotline

three-piece LED brow light with ICC lights, a Whelen Freedom IV light bar, FRC Spectra 120-volt LED Tele Scene lighting, FRC Spectra 900 12-volt LED scene lighting, two FRC Spectra 120-volt LED scene lights and Fire Tech LED ladder lighting.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: This article was

to identify the signs of human trafficking and, more importantly, have the tools to report something that doesn’t look right.

Once we have been enlightened about this crisis, ignorance is no longer an option. Action or inaction are the only two remaining options, and thank God truckers are people of action!

Mark Colson is the president and CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association. He may be reached at mcolson@alabamatrucking.org.

at 1-855-894-7391 or our daytime refund status line at 334-309-2612.

For more information about Individual Income Tax, visit www. revenue.alabama.gov/ individual-corporate/.

originally published in Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Magazine and can be found at www. rigspot.com/apparatuscomponents/2023/01/ opelika-al-firedepartment-gets-sutphensl-100-aerial-ladderquint./

COUNCIL >> FROM B9

Pictured are Opelika Lion Club President Gayron Davis, Opelika High School Band Director Will Waggoner, Concession Chairman Glenn Stokes and Assistant Band Director Mike McGlynn. The group from the OHS Band were recent guests of the club. They were presented with checks for a percentage of the Opelika High School football concessions for the past season after outlining future band plans and projects for the coming year.

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PUBLIC NOTICES >>

FROM B10

STATE OF ALABAMA

LEE COUNTY PROBATE

COURT CASE NO. 2023-016

ESTATE OF CALVIN J.

TURNER, JR., DECEASED

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

Letters Testamentary of said

Calvin J. Turner, Jr., deceased, having been granted to Brian Turner this 19th day of January 2023, 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. Brian Turner, Personal Representative Legal Run 1/26/2023, 2/2/2023, 2/9/2023

---------------

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property under The Self Service Storage Act. The undersigned will sell at public sale by competitive bidding on Thursday the 16th day of February, 2023 at 10:00 AM on Lockerfox.com. Said property is iStorage, 501 North 26th St, Opelika, AL, 36801 Guirovich, Wayne 2104 Misc boxes misc items . Aaliyah Bentley 2056 Totes, Boxes Household items. LaTraysa Carlisle 3035 Boxes, Misc items, bags, furniture, bags, suitcase . Purchases must be paid for at the time of purchase by cash only. All purchased items are sold as is, where is, and must be removed within 48 hours of the sale. Sale is subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between owner and obligated party LEGAL RUN 01/26/2023

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY ALABAMA

CASE NO. 2022-684

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IN RE: THE ESTATE OF BETTY FAY NORRIS, DECEASED

TAKE NOTICE that Letters

Testamentary having been granted to: REGINA FAY HATTAWAY as Executrix of the Estate of Betty Fay Norris, deceased on the 13th day of December, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English.

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.

REGINA FAY HATTAWAY, EXECUTRIX

Legal Run 01/26/2023, 02/02/2023, 02/9/2023

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARCUS DUNCAN MOREMAN, DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Case No: 2023-021 Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 19th day of January, 2023, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

MARK A. COWHICK

Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 01/26/2023, 02/02/2023 & 02/09/2023

---------------

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF WILLIE VESTER WOODSON, DECEASED PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY CASE NO. 2022-604

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of the Estate of WILLIE VESTER WOODSON are hereby granted to Mavis Melissa Woodson on the 7th day of November, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is hereby given that all

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persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Mavis Melissa Woodson Legal Run 1/26/2023, 2/2/2023 & 2/9/2023

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

IN RE: The Estate of SANDRA F. OLIVER, DECEASED

Case No. 2023-026

NOTICE OF HEARING

TO: KATHY 0. HEATH, 2435 Lee Road 375, Valley, AL 36854 AND ANY UNKNOWN heirs of SANDRA F.

OLIVER, deceased

Notice is hereby given that a Petition to Probate the Last Will and Testament of the Estate of SANDRA F. OLIVER, deceased has been filed in the Lee County Probate Office. A hearing has been set for the 16th day of March, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. central time, electronically via "ZOOM". Please contact the Lee County Probate Court at 334-737-3670 for access to the electronic hearing should you intend to take part in the hearing of the Petition to Probate the Last Will and Testament of the Estate of SANDRA F. OLIVER, deceased.

Bill English Judge of Probate Legal Run 01/26/2023, 02/02/2023 & 02/09/2023

NOTICE OF AUCTION OF ABANDONED VEHICLES. BEST 4 LESS will be auctioning off The below mentioned vehicles on FEBRUARY 27, 2023. This Auction will be held at 2509 LAFAYETTE PARKWAY, OPELIKA, ALABAMA, 36801 at 10:00 a.m. If you have any questions in regards to either of the vehicles please give call at 334-705-0000. 3VWSE69M04M048682

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