The Observer 02-23-2023

Covering Lee County, Alabama

1,000 Days and Counting

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN —

A small group of individuals have held a daily vigil for racial and social justice on Toomer’s Corner in Auburn since the summer of 2020.

“We are reminding ourselves that these aren’t just things we come out to when our hearts are broken, and yes that’s good to do, but these are conversations we need to have and are willing to have on a daily basis,” said Kelli Thompson, the original founder of the group.

Thompson was the initial person plopped down by the iconic street corner in an act that was at first for self-consoling in the aftermath of George

See 1,000 DAYS, page A3

Pink Zebra Aims to Make Moving Fun

BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN —

There’s a new moving company in town — with a vibrant twist.

Pink Zebra Moving Company has been operating in Auburn for less than a month, but the Birmingham-based franchise is already turning heads with its pink-striped moving trucks. According to Ron Holt, founder of the franchise, Pink Zebra aims to make moving less of a hassle for its clients and more of a fun, memorable experience.

“It’s just fun making people smile,” Holt said.

“No one thinks moving is fun, so we’ve challenged ourselves to make it a

See ZEBRA, page A2

Opelika, Alabama

Opelika Chamber Finding Its Flow in 2023

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

This year, the Opelika Chamber of Commerce wants to find its flow.

“When you are firing on all cylinders and in the groove, that’s your flow,” said Chamber President and CEO Ali Rauch. “We have got a lot to accomplish and execute, and in order to do that, each of us need to be on our game, doing what we are meant to be doing.”

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce has come a long way since Rauch took the helm less than three years ago. The chamber, like any business, has faced its fair share of ups and downs, but Rauch carries full belief in her team’s ability to continue making a positive impact in the community.

“When I look back on the last three years, it is astonishing — everything that we have accomplished,” Rauch said. “We have certainly gone through some ups and downs with transition because change is challenging to some people. I had some growing pains of like, ‘How do I navigate this new world?’ When I was sitting down three years ago to now, I did

See CHAMBER, page A3

Members of Auburn's Pink Zebra Moving team pose for a photo with zebra mascot Zeke.

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

A small group of individuals have held a daily vigil for racial and social justice on Toomer's Corner in Auburn since the summer of 2020. Pictured is group founder Kelli Thompson.

Latch-iT Self Storage Brings New Technology to Opelika

CONTRIBUTED BY RED WIDDOW COMMUNICATIONS

OPELIKA — Latch-iT Self Storage recently completed a multi-million-dollar investment in the Opelika industrial park on Marvyn Parkway to fully renovate a 57,000-squarefoot storage facility built in the late 1980s. Later this year, an additional 48,000 square feet of temperature-controlled storage units will be added to the property, making this one of the largest self-storage facilities in the Opelika area.

To make the facility safer and more secure for tenants, Latch-iT in-

stalled gated access, LED floodlights every 30 feet and more than 20 security cameras that span the property. The renovation also transformed the exterior of the facility with the addition of new standing-seam roofing and

new Janus International roll-up doors equipped with Nokē Storage Smart Entry technology. Nokē Storage Smart Entry grants tenants Bluetooth access to both the Latch-iT facility and their unit. Via smartphone app,

Local Author to Speak at Compassionate Friends

March Meeting

CONTRIBUTED BY THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS

OPELIKA —

The Compassionate Friends, a local grief support group for parents who have suffered the loss of a child, will hold its regular monthly meeting in Opelika on Thursday, March 2, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Opelika First Presbyterian Church white house on the corner of 10th Street and Third Avenue. Parking

for attendees is located on 10th Street or Third Avenue behind the white house. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Alan Griffith, retired Baptist pastor and author of the recent book, “What Not to Say to a Grieving Heart.”

Griffith, who also lost his son, will address the focus of his book and his own personal experience. His books will also be available for purchase. The meeting is open to anyone experiencing grief from the loss of a child.

The Compassionate Friends is a national, non-denominational organization with chapters across the United States.The organizational mission is to give support and understanding to parents when they have suffered the tragedy of losing a child, no matter the age of that child.

Local leaders of the group are Jerry and Lynne Schwarzauer of Opelika. They can be reached by phone at 334663-4345.

tenants can also share a digital key with family members, roommates or employees delivering packages. It also enables online payments so tenants can avoid trips to an office with checks or cash.

Floyd Hubbell, the founder and CEO of Latch-iT Self Storage, said this innovative technology provides convenience along with an additional layer of security to Latch-iT’s customers.

“With the Nokē system, there is no fear of losing a physical key or entrusting it to other people,” Hubbell said. “Your phone is your key, and you can set limitations such as time or

fun experience for our customers.”

Holt, who previously owned the long-running cleaning service Two Maids & a Mop, said he was inspired to research moving companies after his motherin-law had a bad experience with a company she hired to help her move a few things into storage just a few miles away.

“That experience made me just sort of put on my entrepreneurial hat and say, ‘Well, is this just a one-off? Did we just have a bad experience?’” Holt recalled. “So I didn’t use a ton of science here. I just went to Yelp and Yelped a bunch of moving companies. … My mother-in-law’s experience was happening all over the place.”

Holt decided to combine his perspective as a consumer with his experience as a business owner to start his own moving company — one that would provide the kind of service he wished his mother-in-law had received.

Following success in and

duration of access to the digital keys you share.”

Hubbell, a Mississippi native, spent over two decades in the tech industry in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Kansas City, Los Angeles and Seattle before entering the self-storage industry in 2005 by renovating a vacant warehouse into a storage facility. Over the next 15 years, Hubbell acquired and renovated 16 more facilities in college towns throughout the South under the brand Your Extra Closet.

Hubbell said LatchiT brings together his technology background and self-storage expertise to modernize an old-fashioned industry

around Birmingham, Holt decided to start franchising to bring Pink Zebra to other communities. Auburn is one of the first.

Husband-and-wife team William and Keely Culpepper are the local franchisees. William said he was drawn to Pink Zebra after hearing its story and seeing how passionate Holt was about the business.

“I’ve had the entrepreneurial bug for a long time, and I’ve looked at other franchise opportunities along the way … but when I saw the story of Pink Zebra, for some reason it captured my attention,” William said. “… I believed in it, and I thought, this is it.”

Holt said it’s Pink Zebra’s goal to build a meaningful relationship with clients. Beyond the extra care movers take when loading and unloading the client’s belongings, the team hopes to make them laugh and have a little fun along the way. The Pink Zebra team may even have a couple of surprises up its sleeve to make the experience extra special.

“[We want] to make people say ‘Holy cow, I can’t believe they did that’

and provide a seamless experience for customers.

“Opelika is a forward-thinking community that cultivates new technology,” Hubbell said. “In a way that no one else in the storage industry is doing, Latch-iT fits into this market by bringing new technology to make storage easier and safer.”

Latch-iT Self Storage offers both drive-up and temperature-controlled units. The facility is located south of Interstate 85 and north of the Wyndham Gates development, one block from the Amazon warehouse under construction in 2022-23. To view the location and availability, visit www. latch-it.net/.

because we want to do more than just move,” Holt said.

William said he was eager to be part of something that stands out from the rest, and with the AuburnOpelika metropolitan area growing so quickly, William recognized the constant need for moving services in the area. So far, the experience has also been fun for him and the rest of Auburn’s Pink Zebra team, he said.

“It’s just the ideal market to be in,” William added.

There are currently six Pink Zebra locations, with two close by in Montgomery and Columbus, Georgia. And while franchising has just begun for Pink Zebra, William and Holt said there are several other franchises in the works across the Southeast.

“We’re just fired up,” William said.

Auburn’s Pink Zebra Moving office is located at 1625 E. University Drive, Suite 106, close to Dirt Cheap. Lake Martin is also included in Auburn’s service area. Call 334833-1338 or visit www. pinkzebramoving.com for more information.

PUBLISHER: Michelle Key

LIVE LEE EDITOR: Hannah Lester

MARKETING: Woody Ross

PHOTOJOURNALIST: Robert Noles

SPORTS EDITOR: Wil Crews

SPORTS WRITER: D. Mark Mitchell

STAFF REPORTER: Kendyl Hollingsworth

CORRECTIONS

The renovation at the Marvyn Parkway facility included the addition of LED lights placed every 30 feet

Stone Martin Builders Recognizes Opelika Team Members

CONTRIBUTED BY SMB

OPELIKA —

Stone Martin Builders (SMB), one of the largest home builders across Alabama and the region, announced the winners from the company’s annual award ceremony that recognizes its employees’ skill and performance.

Opelika team members that were recognized included Briggs Defoor (Beyond the Call of Duty - Office), Billie Broach (Warranty Super

Floyd’s death at the hands of law enforcement.

“I sat down on the first day; it was just kind of an impulse, and needing to make sense for myself,” Thompson said. “There was always this sense of coming and going. We were all going to get fired up and then go back to our regular lives until the next big event. I just wanted to do something sustainable to stay present in between big events.”

This Saturday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m., the Toomer’s sit-in group will celebrate 1,000 days on consecutive direct action.

“Not in my wildest dreams,” Thompson said on if she ever thought the sit-in would reach 1,000 days. “I’ve said a lot along the way that it has restored my faith in community and people and loving people who are different

of the Year - Field), Blake Bryant (11 Month Warranty Super - Field), Erin Johnson (Takes the Initiative - Office), Michelle Thaxton (Customer Service - Office), John Vawter (Super of the Year - Field) and Kim Murphy (Salesperson of the Year - Sales).

The Opelika sales agent team also received the Above and BeyondSales award.

“Every year, we honor Stone Martin Builders team members whose impeccable craftman-

from us.”

The group invites the community to join local advocates who have helped hold the tradition alive for more than two and a half years. Through all kinds of weather, during downtown events and even during holidays, a faithful few have stood ready for whatever may come. Those present have become a steady image in the downtown area between the hours of 5 to 7 p.m. with folks going out of their way sometimes to honk and wave and drop off tokens of appreciation to the gathered few.

Throughout the process, the Toomer’s sit-in group has become a reliable space where hatred and negativity are given no attention, where kind, respectful discourse brings together people from all types of thoughts and opinions in the community.

“We really do have a wide range of people who

ship and care have made the home building experience top-notch for hundreds of families in our communities,” said Frank Plan, CEO of SMB. “Our exponential growth and achievements would not be possible without all of the members of our teams. I am grateful for their commitment to uplifting our company culture and exceeding expectations for our customers.”

The recipients were selected due to multi-

show up,” Thompson said. “The people there are about as diverse as you can slice it. Not only diversity in the way they look and act, but also diversity in thought.”

The Toomer’s sit-in community will host a food drive in celebration of the Feb. 25 event. Canned foods and other non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the corner for Food Bank of East Alabama. Monetary donations can be made to Auburn University College of Human Sciences Summer Sustenance Program.

For more information, contact the group on Instagram @toomerssitin, or contact Thompson at 334-663-6331.

“About every 100 days we check in with ourselves and ask, ‘Do we have another 100 days in us? Do we still see a need?’ And every 100 days it’s been ‘Yeah, there is still a need and there is still people coming,’” Thompson said.

ple factors, including the number of homes closed, survey score, teamwork and consistency.

“We are so proud of our team members who are committed to building stronger and more connected neighborhoods,” said Sarah Martin, vice president of sales of SMB. “Opelika is flourishing with opportunity and growth. With people like Briggs, Billie, Blake, Erin, Michelle, John and Kim on our team, we know fam-

CHAMBER >>

not think I would be this lucky and be in this good of a place that quickly. We have an incredible team that works here. I am grateful for [them], thankful for the community. It’s easy to sell a community like Opelika.”

Throughout Rauch’s time at the chamber, the organization has adopted a theme for each year.

In 2021, it was “Grow.” Last year, it was “Forward.”

Coinciding with that theme, the chamber last year launched its “Forward Opelika” campaign — a comprehensive, five-year, $2.77 million strategic community and economic development plan designed to attract and align talent, grow business and quality jobs and create a business hub.

All told, the chamber raised $2.5 million for its Forward Opelika campaign. Additionally, the chamber raised $370,000 for its REACH Campaign — an initiative carefully curated to provide a variety of platforms for advertising, branding and networking that will help businesses reach new heights.

“We want to make sure that the 226 businesses which invested in our REACH campaign receive a return on that, and that we are delivering what we say we will,” Rauch said.

Further adding to its accomplishments last year, the chamber welcomed 228 new members, raising the organization’s number of partners to

ilies will look forward to coming to their home every day and creating lifelong memories.”

In total, 17 employees across the Auburn, Dothan, Georgia, Huntsville, Montgomery, Opelika, Pike Road, Prattville and Wetumpka markets were recognized for work performance in sales, production and customer service.

ABOUT STONE MARTIN BUILDERS:

Based in the Auburn-Opelika area,

list when I started three years ago, but now it’s just awesome.”

This year, the chamber’s theme is “Flow.” And while it launched a number of new programs in 2022, the goal is to enact them in 2023.

“For example, last year we raised the money for Forward Opelika; this year it is time to get to work,” Rauch said. “We have a lot of new things that we have to execute this year, so my team is just really focused on doing those to the best of our ability.”

Going forward, the chamber has a number of exciting things planned for this year. It has already hosted its “All Things Marketing Summit” in January, along with launching “Try it Tuesday” — a promotion in which Rauch visits local businesses, putting herself in the shoes of those who work at, eat at or visit the organization.

“It’s so fun,” Rauch said regarding Try it Tuesday. “It’s an opportunity for our business community to teach the general public about what they do.”

Coming up, the chamber is partnering with the Opelika Workforce Council to take a group of 25 local elected officials, leaders and business professionals on an “adult field trip” to visit the Chamber of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

“They are leading the country in what they are doing in workforce [development], so we are going to go see it together,” Rauch said.

Furthermore, Rauch

Stone Martin Builders is dedicated to developing aspirational communities throughout Alabama and Georgia, including Huntsville, Athens, Prattville, Montgomery, Auburn/Opelika, Dothan and Columbus, Georgia. Since its establishment in 2006, the company has quickly grown and in 2022 was ranked as one of the 100 largest home builders in the U.S. by Builder Online. More info at www.stonemartinbuilders.com.

the State of the City, “it will be an evening cocktail type of event,” Rauch said. “We will have cocktail hour brought to you by John Emerald Distillery, and then we will go hear from Mayor Fuller, and he will share what’s happening. When he is done, we are going to turn on the music and hopefully dance the night away.”

Moreover, Rauch explained the chamber’s plan to publish a legislative agenda in 2023. This entails seeking feedback from the local business community regarding specific issues on which the state or federal government will vote in the upcoming year.

“Chambers do this all over the country,” she said. “We get a consensus among our membership. We print that, say ‘This is how we feel’ and provide it to our legislators. That either helps convince them to vote a certain way or provides confirmation that ‘I am voting for this, and the business community likes this.’”

Finally, the last of the chamber’s 2023 goals is one that is ever present each year: achieving operational excellence. The scheduled construction of a new chamber headquarters will further open the doors to what the organization can accomplish in that vein.

“A goal that we always have is achieving operational excellence,” Rauch said. “It’s one of our core pillars. We will stay focused on retaining our current members, making sure they are happy and receiving

more than 970 in total. And finally, in 2022, the chamber launched several successful, community-centered promotions like Food Truck Friday and the combining of the Christmas parade and annual Snopelika celebration.

“For the most part, people have embraced crazy ideas,” Rauch joked. “There are so many things that we have done that weren’t on my

expressed her excitement for upcoming chamber events like the First Responders BBQ, the State of the City — which will have a new spin on it — and the first ever Valor Awards in September.

“That is going to be really cool,” Rauch said of the Valor Awards. “It’s going to be a black-tie gala on Sept. 11, and we will be honoring our firefighters and police officers.”

As for the new twist to

what they need while also still growing. They’re new businesses opening every day. … We try to beat budget each year. It’s not sexy, but it’s essential in the business world, so we certainly plan on doing that.”

Keep up with all things Opelika Chamber of Commerce by visiting its Facebook page or www.opelikachamber.com/.

SEAN DIETRICH

Just before midnight. Somewhere on the Texas prairie. A 20-year-old named Mark was driving on a two-lane highway on his way home. You have to be careful when driving on an empty prairie. It’s easy to develop “prairie foot.” On a flat landscape, without landmarks, your foot tends to get heavy on the gas pedal. It’s not hard to travel upwards of 200 miles per hour by accident.

Mark saw flashing hazards ahead. A broken down truck with a horse trailer attached. He pumped his brakes and pulled over. And in the rural tradition of all who wear roper boots, he was ready to help.

“Need a hand?”

A young woman slid from beneath the truck chassis. She had grease smudges on her face. She was holding a scissor jack. And she was the most

Good

beautiful girl he’d ever seen.

Mark felt his breath get stuck in his throat. She smiled. “Sorry. No speak’a the Inglés too good.” Her truck had a flat tire. In her passenger seat was a silent elderly woman. The girl had been under the vehicle looking for the jackpoint on the old Silverado, which can be dangerous business for the uninitiated.

“Allow me,” Mark said, already on the pavement.

It turned out to be a bigger problem than he’d expected. Her spare tire was shot, worn to the canvas. There was no way she was getting home on that thing.

Mark attached the horse trailer to his own truck and told her he’d take them

home. But where did she live? Her jumbled English made it impossible to understand her directions.

So the girl drew him a map. And since there was no paper in Mark’s truck to write upon, she used a Sharpie to draw the route on Mark’s hand.

He presented her his hand, which was trembling when she wrote upon it.

It was 2 a.m. when he reached her aunt’s house. He led the horse into the barn, he helped the old woman inside, he disconnected the bumperpull trailer, and promised to return the next morning.

Return he did. And when Mark arrived, he was driving the formerly broken-down truck into the driveway, newly outfitted with four all-season tires. The tires cost Mark most

of his meager savings.

Then he asked the girl on a date. Her name is Leticia.

Here’s another story for you.

I got a letter from Rachel, in North Georgia, who told me about a stray dog in her neighborhood. Rachel went online to see if anyone could figure out where the dog came from. To her surprise she located the owner.

But when Rachel arrived at the owner’s house, something felt wrong. The owner wasn’t a friendly man, and the dog seemed terrified.

The owner jokingly remarked that he wished the dog would’ve been hit by a car. The comment was supposed to be humorous, Rachel supposed, but it wasn’t.

So Rachel made a bold move. She offered to take the dog off his hands and discovered the owner was more than happy to say goodbye. He charged her a lot of money. Rachel gladly paid the sum.

The poor dog didn’t even have a name.

So Rachel brought the old boy home and bathed him in her shower. She let him sleep in her bed. She fed him half the contents of her fridge. She named him Walter.

This might not sound like the greatest story ever told, but I bet Walter has a different opinion.

Which brings me to another story.

Shortly after I wrote those last few paragraphs, just when I thought I was

See DIETRICH, page A5

A Spy Ballon and Iceberg

It’s been major national news for weeks now: On Jan. 28, a Chinese-operated high-altitude balloon was spotted in North American airspace. On Feb. 4, the U.S. Air Force shot down the balloon over U.S. territorial waters off the coast of South Carolina.

After salvaging debris from the wreckage and sending it to an FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, the American and Canadian militaries announced that the balloon carried surveillance equipment and was capable of geo-locating electronic communications. This incident strikes many Americans as a shocking new development in the steadily increasing tension between the U.S. and China. But it shouldn’t be shocking

and it isn’t new. On Feb. 9, the U.S. Department of State announced the balloon was part of a fleet of Chinese military surveillance balloons that had flown over more than 40 countries across five continents. The balloon we are hearing so much about in the news is actually the fifth to be detected over the continental U.S. since 2017.

While deeply concerning, it’s important to recognize that these balloons are only the tip of the iceberg. They are physical representations of a decades-long effort undertaken by the Chinese government to expand its international surveillance and control via digital technologies.

Among these, TikTok has been the primary object of public scrutiny

since its U.S. launch in May 2017. FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Homeland Security Committee that potential threats posed by the platform “include the possibility that the Chinese government could use it to control data collection on millions of users or control the recommendation algorithm, which could be used for influence operations if they so chose, or to control software on millions of devices, which gives it an opportunity to potentially technically compromise personal devices.”

While some have called into question how closely TikTok’s parent company — ByteDance — is tied to China’s ruling Communist Party, one thing is certain: Chinese national security laws can force foreign and domestic firms operating within the country, such as ByteDance, to turn over their data upon request.

TikTok collects a vast array of data from the devices it’s installed on. It can track the location of users, extract phone numbers and emails from contact lists, access Wi-Fi networks, monitor internet activity, track behavior on other apps, access the camera to take photos and videos, access the microphone to record sound, and accrue

a staggering amount of psychographic data.

TikTok’s recommendation algorithm is one of the keys to the app’s meteoric rise to roughly 1 billion monthly users worldwide, about 80 million of whom are Americans. While this algorithm allows the app to personalize content for each user, it does this primarily by collecting and analyzing incalculable quantities of psychographic data on users’ personalities, values, opinions, attitudes, interests and lifestyles.

And, as FBI director Wray said, the algorithm can potentially be modified to influence public discourse, with some already claiming content potentially threatening to the Chinese government has been censored.

A fleet of spy balloons couldn’t achieve that level of mass surveillance and control in their wildest dreams. Both the balloons and TikTok are serious national security threats, but they still don’t make up the whole iceberg.

Aynne Kokas, professor of media studies at the University of Virginia and director of the East Asia Center, describes TikTok as “part of a larger Chinese government effort to expand extraterritorial control over digital platforms.” She even argues that banning TikTok

is not the best solution, likening it to playing whack-a-mole as China continues to expand its digital territory.

She says, “When we look at all of these wideranging apps that are connected to Chinese firms, it’s actually almost nonsensical to ban just one when we see platforms in areas like precision agriculture, communications, gaming, all connected to Chinese firms. So what’s really important is to develop more robust data privacy regulations in the United States to protect users.”

So the problem is not just TikTok or even the fleet of spy balloons floating over five continents. The problem is the broader enterprise of technological imperialism pursued around the world by the Chinese government throughout recent decades.

When I talked with a friend recently about the potential dangers of TikTok, he remarked, “The second Cold War is already happening. Most people just don’t realize it yet.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines a “cold war” as “a state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare.”

Even before ByteDance

launched TikTok in the U.S. and the Chinese military launched its fleet of spy balloons across the globe, each of these criteria for a cold war had already been met. While both nations have denied engaging in cyberwarfare, China and the U.S. have been issuing accusations and threats over cyberattacks for years.

Many of the attacks perpetrated by Chinese hackers have been aimed at espionage, intellectual property theft, personal and commercial data theft, theft of personal and commercial financial information, compromising corporate infrastructures and theft of classified material (often pertaining to U.S. miliary operations). Some federal officials have even accused China of interfering in recent elections.

If any of these actions were isolated occurrences, then perhaps an argument could be made against our being engaged in an active cold war. But they aren’t, and we are. Chinese hackers have persisted in these attacks regularly for years in spite of repeated warnings and massive cybersecurity efforts.

If compelled to share their data with the Chinese government,

See DICHIARA, page A5

SAM DICHIARA

Registration Open for Women's Leadership Conference

CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURN UNIVERSITY

AUBURN —

Female leaders are making their mark around the world, and Auburn women are no different. Hear from Auburn women leaders at the annual Women’s Leadership Conference set for Friday, March 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Melton Student Center Ballroom. Hosted by the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, or OID, the event is designed to inspire and empower students, faculty and staff on their paths to success. Attendees learn personal and practical application skills to use on their leadership journey.

This year’s theme is “Believe and Lead.”

Auburn alumna and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in women’s basketball Ruthie Bolton will be the keynote speaker. Bolton played basketball with the Sacramento Monarchs in the Women’s National Basketball Association from 1997-2004. She played at Auburn from 1985-89 and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Bolton is one of 19 siblings and was born in Lucedale, Mississippi. She now travels the country teaching students and adults alike what it means to aim higher through her speaking engagements and

basketball camps. Bolton encourages everyone to be bold, be mighty, be your best you and continue to dream big.

Conference participants also will have the opportunity to hear from Capt. Kathleen Anderson, an assistant professor of Military Science in the Auburn Army ROTC program and Soledad Peresin, an associate professor of Forest Biomaterials at the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment and the founder and lead principal investigator of the Sustainable BioBased Materials Lab at Auburn. In addition, there will be a student panel discussion about what women leadership

means and what resources are available to Auburn women along their path to success.

This is a free event, and registration closes March 17. For more information on Auburn’s commitment to DEI, please visit OID through Instagram, the DEI landing page or by signing up for the OID newsletter that is set to return later this spring.

Pictured right, Auburn alumna and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Ruthie Bolton will be the keynote speaker at the annual Women’s Leadership Conference set for the Melton Student Center Ballroom on Friday, March 24.

BY MICHELLE KEY MICHELLE@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

LEE COUNTY —

The Lee County Humane Society (LCHS) will be hosting a charitable giving seminar on Friday, March 10, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The event will be held at the Goodwill Career Center, located at 3740 Pepperell Parkway in Opelika.

The guest speaker of the seminar is James Fogal from Prudential Advisors.

Fogal is a financial planner who focuses on

savings for retirement, living in retirement, financial strategy, saving for education and small businesses.

There are really only three things to do with money — spend it, save it or give it away. A charitable donation is a gift made to a nonprofit organization to help it accomplish its goals. Did you know that a donor in the 30% tax bracket pays 30 cents less tax for every dollar donated?

Retirement account holders reaching age 72 are required to begin taking distributions from retirement

DIETRICH

FROM A4

finished with this shoddy column, I got an email message from a woman in San Diego, California.

I have never been to San Diego. I have never met this woman. But we have something in common. She is a Sherlock Holmes freak. And I myself share the same crippling affliction.

When I was 10 years old my father introduced me to Sherlock and I became a kid forever obsessed.

In 1957, her mother

DICHIARA >> FROM A4

TikTok and other apps owned by Chinese firms represent massive boosts to the efficacy of both cyberattacks and propaganda operations.

And we have no guarantee ByteDance won’t modify, or hasn’t already modified, its recommendation algorithm to censor some videos and promote others for the purpose of influencing American politics.

gifted her a complete volume of Sherlock Holmes stories. The book was heavy, and thicker than a family Bible. The inside cover read: “Happy birthday. Love, Mom.”

Her mother died the following year.

In 1963, she got married and moved to Japan with her husband. Half their possessions went to Goodwill and storage, the other half got shipped off to the Land of the Rising Sun. The Holmes book was lost.

When she moved back to the States she searched everywhere, rummaging

The U.S. and China are engaged in a mostly invisible conflict waged with software rather than rifles. The advent of TikTok and the recent sightings of spy balloons are not harbingers of a potential war — they are just the most heavily publicized demonstrations of an ongoing cold war.

Our national security and personal privacy demand sweeping reforms on data collection rules.

A variety of bans and countermeasures have

accounts even if they are still working.

LCHS to Host Charitable Giving Seminar East Alabama Health Celebrates Recent Recognition

Donations from one's individual retirement account (IRA) or other retirement accounts — as a qualified charitable distribution instead of taking the required minimum distribution as income — can have income tax implications and may reduce one's taxable income.

Charitable giving can also help people plan ahead to give to favorite organizations once a year without budgeting a monthly amount.

The community is invited to join the LCHS for this seminar to learn more about all the benefits of charitable giving to missions they support.

It is the hope of LCHS to give the community the knowledge from Fogal on all the aspects of charitable giving.

With this free gift of knowledge, it hopes people will consider making the Lee County Humane Society an organization to which they choose to distribute their generous gifts in the future.

BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA — East Alabama Health (EAH) is getting recognized in more ways than one. The hospital’s care and awareness efforts have recently earned various distinctions and certifications that are helping to advance its services to the community.

DISTINCTION FOR CARDIAC CARE

through storage, but she found nothing. Finally, she gave up.

Fifty-eight years later, she visited a San Diego antique store by chance. And by now, you’ve already figured out where this story is going. In the store, the woman found a book with familiar handwriting inside:

“Happy birthday. Love, Mom.”

Niagara Falls.

The store priced the book at $40. The clerk asked the woman why she was weeping over a $40 book. Susan smiled and told the cashier, “I woulda

already been proposed and implemented across the U.S. But all policy decisions need to be made with the understanding that devices, platforms, apps, algorithms and data sets accessible to adversarial foreign governments can be, and have been, used as weapons of war and instruments of espionage and propaganda.

It’s vital that all of us urge our elected officials to implement major countermeasures

paid a thousand for this book.”

So I know sometimes you’re tempted to think about how horrible things are on the Highway of Human Existence. But when you feel blue, pause for a moment. Think of that antique book. Think of Walter the dog, eating a frozen burrito alongside his new human.

Think of the Texas Plains, a 20-year-old boy in boots, and a Mexican girl, drawing a roadmap on the boy’s palm. They’ve been married for four years now. Don’t tell me this world is all bad.

congruent to the severity of this threat to our country and our own personal privacy. As American citizens, we need to educate ourselves in a smart and humble way. Hubris helped sink the Titanic that was thought by many to be unsinkable.

TikTok and spy balloons are just the tip of the iceberg. And the U.S. may risk going the way of the Titanic if we fail to see the greater danger hiding underwater.

Last month, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Alabama announced that the East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) had earned designation as a Blue Distinction Center+ for cardiac care.

“Our cardiac program at East Alabama Medical Center is as strong in 2023 as it has ever been,” said Laura Grill, president and CEO of EAH, in a news release. “To be designated by Blue Cross as one of only eight Blue Distinction Center+

hospitals in Alabama is a true credit to our physicians and staff who strive hard every day to provide highquality, compassionate health care to our patients. They definitely deserve the recognition.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone dies every 34 seconds from a cardiovascular disease. Blue Distinction Centers+ like EAMC aim to provide patients with the information they need to access the best care possible. They also provide more cost-effective care — determined using BCBS medical claims — and are about 21% more cost-efficient than non-designated centers.

The designation comes as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Being a nationally designated Blue Distinction Centers+ means EAMC and the seven other designated hospitals across the See EAH, page A6

AHS Students Make Big Donation to Relay for Life

BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN — Lee County Relay for Life recently took a big step closer to this year’s fundraising goal, thanks to the efforts of a group of high school students.

Just as they have in years past, students in Auburn High School’s HOSA, or Future Health Professionals organization, have spent the last several months raising money as a team for the local Relay for Life.

On Feb. 15, they presented a $9,000 check to local Relay for Life leader Randy Causey.

“What you do is real important, and we thank you so much for doing it,” he told the students.

The donation accounts for nearly 10% of Lee County Relay for Life’s overall fundraising goal for 2023.

Laurie Osborne, Auburn High School health science teacher, has been the HOSA

sponsor since 2009. The students wanted to support a nonprofit affiliated with the American Cancer Society, so they settled on Relay for Life. That year, the Auburn High team started out with only five members and raised about $500. Last year, the team had about 30 members and raised over $10,000.

“Cancer affects all of us in some capacity,” said Caroline Greathouse, president of Auburn’s HOSA. “Everyone knows someone either indirectly or directly who has been impacted by the disease, so being able to raise money in hopes of one day finding a cure is very rewarding for us, especially since most of us HOSA members aspire to work in health care someday.”

Like many of the student members, Osborne said she got involved with the cause because of a personal connection to cancer.

“My dad had colon cancer, and my mom is a breast cancer sur -

state have demonstrated quality care and safe practices, leading to better outcomes for patients overall.

To become a designated Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care, hospitals must demonstrate expertise in percutaneous coronary interventions, coronary artery bypass graft (open heart surgery), aortic valve replacement and mitral valve replacement and repair. They are also assessed “using quality information supplied by facilities and third-party data registries, which

were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations,” according to the news release. They must also meet national criteria. Find more information and a list of the designated providers at www.bcbs.com.

DIABETES CARE CERTIFICATION

Recently, EAMC also received special certification for advanced inpatient diabetes disease-specific care. The certification comes in the form of a Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission, a U.S.-based nonprofit that accredits thousands

vivor, so that was kind of my reason for doing this,” she said.

Causey said Auburn High School’s Relay for Life team is one of the strongest in terms of fundraising.

“When I look and see these are 16-, 17- and 18-year-old kids raising this kind of money … it’s moving,” Causey said.

Even though Osborne supervises the club, she was quick to give all the credit to the stu-

of health care facilities and programs across the country. This recent distinction means EAMC has demonstrated quality care and compliance with performance standards.

“Advanced Inpatient Diabetes Disease-Specific Care Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Deborah Ryan, with Accreditation and Certification Operations of The Joint Commission, in a news release. “We commend East Alabama

dents. Osborne said the students work on and off campus throughout the year to raise money for Lee County Relay for Life, and the goal each year is to raise at least $1,000 more than the previous year.

HOSA students make baked goods, collect donated items and even host “Casual for a Cure” in which teachers and support staff can donate $100 to wear jeans on Wednesdays all year. The students

Medical Center for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for patients with diabetes.”

Amie Hardin, who oversees EAMC’s inpatient and outpatient diabetes programs, spoke highly of the diabetes teams. “We have a great collaborative multidisciplinary team, including diabetes educators, dietitians, nurses, physicians, pharmacists, social workers, educators and lab professionals who continually provide expertise with such compassion to our patients with diabetes,” she said. “This cohesive team assists in successful diabetes management, which helps lead to better outcomes in all disease processes.”

According to the news release, EAMC first became certified in 2010 and is one of only 60 hospitals in the U.S. with the certification — and remains the only one in Alabama.

Hardin said EAMC sees about 4,000 diabetes patients each year, accounting for nearly one-third of its inpatients.

“With diabetes being so prevalent in our state, we feel strongly that we need to put forth this extra effort so that team members across the organization have extensive knowledge when it comes to treating patients with diabetes,” she added.

A Joint Commission reviewer visited EAMC Feb. 10 to

Students design “Pink Out” T-shirts in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and then sell those T-shirts and other pink items at a home football game to raise money for Relay for Life. Student and faculty cancer survivors are also recognized at the Pink Out football game.

O’Donnell said HOSA also started holding a similar “Purple Out” fundraiser during spring sports.

A link for anyone to donate online remains active year round as well.

also hold fundraisers like the annual “Pink Out” and “Purple Out” that also serve to raise awareness of cancer.

The students named the longstanding “Pink Out” as one of their favorite fundraisers — despite all the planning that goes into it.

“We’ve been doing Pink Out … for the last 20-something years,” said HOSA member Brady O’Donnell. “We do that at a football game every fall.”

conduct an onsite review. The reviewer checked to see how EAMC was meeting the commission’s certification criteria, which also reflect the American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes for 2022.

“Our employees have such a commitment to excellence in diabetes care, said Nicki Ware, vice president of quality and chief nursing officer for EAMC. “It was so nice to hear an outsider come in and speak so genuinely about how she saw us carrying out our mission, and doing it, as she said, with such ‘passion, collaboration, and teamwork.’”

Visit www. jointcommission.org for more information.

PLATINUM RECOGNITION FOR ORGAN DONATION

The efforts of staff at EAMC campuses in both Opelika and Valley have also earned them Platinum Recognition for raising awareness of organ donation.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced the honors at last year’s Stars of Hope Gala in Montgomery. The hospitals are two of 34 in Alabama to earn the distinction.

“This Platinum Recognition award exemplifies the passion for organ donation within our organization,” said Megan Harper, organ donation committee chair, in a news release.

“The hard work and dedication from our employees in educating and promoting organ donation to our patients and their families is very meaningful, and I appreciate the efforts of

“Anything that we can do to raise money and kind of give back, that’s our goal — that’s what we try to do,” O’Donnell said.

To donate online on behalf of the Auburn HOSA team, visit www.secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=relay_donate_now and search “Auburn High School - HOSA.”

everyone involved.”

Hospitals with the distinction are active in their education and promotion of organ donation in their respective communities. Participation earns the hospital points toward Platinum Recognition.

According to the news release, the two EAMC hospitals hosted and participated in several activities that earned them points. These include, but are not limited to:

• a flag-raising ceremony during National Donate Life Month (and the raising of the same flag whenever organs are procured from a patient who agreed to be an organ donor upon their death),

• displaying campaign posters in the hospital lobby to promote organ donation during National Donate Life Month,

• staff participation in National Blue/Green Day,

• creating social media posts that provided links to register to be an organ donor,

• and holding a competition between units to see how each unit or department could represent, educate, promote and champion the Donate Life Campaign using the “Bee a Donor” theme.

These distinctions are not the first for EAH, which has demonstrated success in several other areas over the course of its history. To learn more about EAH, visit www. eastalabamahealth.org.

Opelika’s EAMC campus is located at 2000 Pepperell Parkway.

Members of Auburn High School HOSA present a donation to local Relay for Life leader Randy Causey. From left to right: HOSA sponsor Laurie Osborne, Delacey Wilkerson, Brady O’Donnell, Jillian Breland, HOSA President Caroline Greathouse, Randy Causey, Tina Qin, Suyeon Shin, AHS Principal Shannon Pignato.

S Food ociety & News vents, E

Making the Grade: The Grille at Botanic

doors open for people, particularly those who are older than I am; and

3. to stop my car when I meet a funeral procession. I’m happy to say that I have witnessed this even on busy roads such as Highway 280 and Frederick Road.

Over the past seven years, I have fallen in love with all parts of our county. I don’t want to leave it except when the good Lord calls me home.

As I’ve mentioned many times before in this column, I love living here in Lee County. Although I lived in Georgia for 26 of my 60 years, in my heart, I have always been an Alabamian. I love that as a Southerner, I was taught: 1. to say “Yes or No, Ma’am/ Sir,” “Please” and “Thank you”; 2. to hold

For instance, so many things make me love Opelika:

1. my church, Central Baptist, and my wonderful church family;

2. a charming downtown with plentiful, free parking;

3. numerous and diverse restaurants;

4. Tiger Town; and 5. Christmas in a Railroad Town.

I could go on and on, but I only have so much space allotted for this column. A town as special as Opelika deserves a restaurant which is just as special.

I’m very happy to say that we have it at… The See WALLACE page A8

Parkinson Association of Alabama to Host Patient Symposium

CONTRIBUTED BY ALABAMA PRESS ASSOCIATION

BIRMINGHAM —

The Parkinson Association of Alabama (PAA) will host its annual Parkinson’s Patient Symposium on Friday, March 10, 2023, at the Pelham Civic Center located at 500 Amphitheater Road in Pelham, Alabama.

This free educational event is open to those living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), their care partners and families to bring valuable content from Parkinson’s disease experts for improving the quality of life for those affected by PD throughout Alabama.

Doors open at 8:30 a.m. with complimentary

breakfast followed by an inspiring keynote speaker, Matthew Moore, also living with Parkinson’s. Other general assemblies will include an update from the John N. Whittaker professor and chair, David G. Standaert, MD, PhD from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurology. An expert panel of Movement Disorder Specialists will also be available to answer questions.

In addition to the general assemblies always well received by past attendees, this event will offer three breakout tracks with two sessions each. Whether you are newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s, living well with PD, or a

care partner — there are special sessions dedicated to where you are on your journey for the most relevant and impactful content. Many of these sessions include panelists who are living with PD or caring for their partners with PD. Learn more about the session details, speakers and bios at www. parkinsonalabama.com/ symposium2023.

More than 20 exhibitors will be

available demonstrating new medical treatment options, therapies and movement programs.

Complimentary lunch will be provided, and all attendees will receive a free book at check-in, "A Parkinson’s Primer, An Indispensable Guide to Parkinson’s Disease for Patients and Their Families" by John M. Vine.

The event is free, but seating is limited, and registration is required. Please go to www.

parkinsonalabama.com/ symposium2023 to reserve your seat.

ABOUT THE PARKINSON ASSOCIATION OF ALABAMA

Founded in 1978, the Parkinson Association of Alabama (PAA) has been dedicated to one mission: improving the quality of life for patients, care partners and families affected by Parkinson’s disease in the state of Alabama. PAA represents everyone impacted by Parkinson’s disease

throughout the state of Alabama, regardless of their location. Governed by a board of directors, executive committee and minimal staff, the PAA’s vision is dedicated to care, community and a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

Hosting educational forums, support groups and annual fundraising events, the PAA is the go to resource for everything Parkinson’s in Alabama.

STACEY PATTON WALLACE

The husband-and-wife duo who each founded Crepe Myrtle Cafe and Chicken Salad Chick, respectively, opened The Grille at Botanic in the wake of the pandemic. It is located at 1702 Fredrick Road in Opelika.

Grille at Botanic on 1702 Frederick Road.

When Mike and I arrived at The Grille at Botanic, we were amused to see a chicken walking around outside this elegant restaurant. Boy, do I love the South.

I mentioned this poultry sighting to some other patrons who were waiting for their table. A man from West Virginia, who was visiting family, said, “The chicken is a nod to The Cock of the Walk, the previous restaurant.”

There you go.

The Grille at Botanic is locally owned by King Braswell and Stacy Brown. The restaurant, which opened on Sept. 6, 2022, is absolutely beautiful and has a warm, elegant atmosphere.

I admired the herringbone pattern of the ceiling (which I learned from watching HGTV), the brick floor in the entryway and the soft music playing in the background.

Mike and I were seated in the Orchid Room, which was decorated with that exotic flower. The fireplace made the room feel very cozy.

The restaurant also has the Evergreen Room, which was also beautiful. Kennedy Braswell, the front of house manager, said that one of the walls in that room has 1,200 live plants in it. Also, another wall was made of reclaimed bamboo from Tuskegee.

The Grille at Botanic also offers “outdoor dining reservations on the

covered porch. Diners may visit the deck overlooking Duke’s Pond, home to ducks and geese. Outdoor reservations are not guaranteed and are dependent on the weather.”

Besides providing Opelika with a beautiful place to dine, The Grille at Botanic has two other businesses on site, which I look forward to visiting next time: The Market and the Garden Shoppe. At The Market, customers may relax at a bistro table with coffee and a pastry. Also, you may shop for a custom basket for a loved one or yourself. Baskets are composed of “handcrafted items from skilled vendors across the South” and a variety of goodies.

At the Garden Shoppe, you may purchase pottery, home décor, items to help your plants thrive, and new and antique finds. In addition, “Botanic is a proud partner with artists and makers across the Southeast. You may meet the artists and see their work.” The Grille at Botanic is truly a treasure in Opelika.

The Grill at Botanic had, without a doubt, the best service that Mike and I have ever seen.

Levi, our server, was a complete delight, being so helpful, attentive and patient; he was absolutely one of the best servers that has waited on us.

Also, the young man who refilled our water glasses, as well as the manager and Kennedy, whom I’ve already mentioned, checked on us to see if we wanted anything. We were treated like celebrities

instead of retired middle school teachers. It was as though their main purpose was to make sure that we felt special and had a fabulous time; we certainly did, on both counts.

Even our menu was personalized. At the top, it said, “Thank you so much to the Wallace party for joining us for dinner. We hope you have a wonderful evening filled with delicious food, good company and great laughs. We hope you return for many more.” Count on it.

The fresh, homemade bread was incredible and was shaped like a flower. We also enjoyed the three homemade butters: rosemary thyme, roasted garlic and lavender honey, which we generously slathered on the bread.

For our appetizer, Mike and I ordered the house-made pimento cheese, which included Wickles Pickles, bacon jam and crostini. It was so delicious, I had to ask our server Levi to remove it. Embarrassing, but true.

For our entrée, Mike and I both ordered the chicken fried chicken, which included garlic mashed potatoes, white gravy and sautéed snap beans. We substituted asparagus for the beans.

Don’t you love restaurants that allow substitutions? Oh, my two times. Everything was perfectly prepared and outstanding.

I was really impressed that The Grille’s “fresh produce is harvested from local suppliers.” I do love eating homegrown foods and supporting local businesses. Besides our amazing

house-made pimento cheese, The Grille at Botanic offers diners other tempting appetizers, some of which include the charcuterie board, spicy deviled eggs, fried Brussels sprouts, crab & corn

fritters and pork belly burnt ends. The restaurant also offers a large variety of entrees, some of which include Patiana’s pasta, shrimp & grits, blackened salmon, bone-in pork chops and grilled catfish filets.

The Grille at Botanic also serves delectable desserts: buttermilk pie, bread pudding, chocolate cake, white chocolate cheesecake and soft serve ice cream. Trust me; run and do not walk to this restaurant.

The Grille at Botanic is open Sunday for brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Monday.

The Grille at Botanic makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Pooh-sized” 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 every other week in The Observer. Stacey may be reached at retiredlangartsteacher2020@ gmail.com.

Lee County Listener Recaps Recent Podcast

BY THE LEE COUNTY LISTENER

LEE COUNTY —

The Lee County Listener published its newest installment of its Black History Month Series last Monday, Feb. 19. Hosts Sam DiChiara and Garrett Martinez sat down with Ralph Foster, longtime history teacher, coach, carpenter, photographer and entrepreneur. Below is an excerpt from their conversation, edited for length and clarity.

SAM:

So, Ralph, you wore a lot of hats at Loachapoka. You were a history teacher, a basketball coach, an administrator. You did some photography, some carpentry. What was it like juggling all those different responsibilities?

RALPH:

I found it interesting. We built stadiums. The first basketball team played on dirt outside, so that meant that we had to go cut a tree down and put a backboard up. … Things have made it very easy

for me to go from one transition to another.

The Lord blessed me with a talent to build and to construct, and I could just take it and run with it. So, many of the things that needed to be done, I’d take my saws and everything down to the school and build what needed to be built.

Looking back on my life, the education side of it was probably not the highlight of my life.

SAM:

Really? What would you say was [the highlight of your life]?

RALPH:

I was a hustler. I think one of the first ventures I went into was a photographic studio. I had a studio, a record shop and a gift shop. Out of college, I spent I guess the first 10 years of my life working at the family business. And the family business was started in 1905. My grandmama and granddaddy started, had a grocery store a block down from here. …

The Auburn Univer-

sity land grant said that you could not sell liquor within seven miles of the college campus, and you can’t sell beer within one mile of the college campus. And the store down here was about a mile and a fourth from college campus. We had a great beer business. …

One of our best customers was Shug Jordan. He used to come in every Friday, and I would be standing in the window, looking to see him because —

this is 1961, ‘62 — I knew that he was going to give me a $5 tip. And he’d pick up a couple cases of Budweiser. …

Then, I went from there and opened the first black barbershop in Auburn. … I woke up one morning and I told my wife, “I’m tired of going to Tuskegee to get my hair cut. I’m going to build a barber shop.” I knew nothing about the skills of barbering, and me and a bricklayer down the street built a barber

shop. …

What I visualized was integration. I said, “Auburn is going to integrate, and the students and the ball players are going to have to have somewhere to get their hair cut. And we cut all of the early athletes’ [hair]: Charles Barkley, Willie Andrews, Henry Harris — who was the first Black athlete they had at Auburn — and James Owens, who was the first Black football player. …

Then I went from

that into the photographic business. I had a photography studio and a record shop. Then I got out of the music shop business and put a beauty shop in there. I converted the beauty shop recently into a loft apartment. …

I was still working the family business, and the principal [of Loachapoka] and I were having a drink at Christmastime, and he told me that he needed a teacher for Monday. The lady that was supposed to come called and said she wasn’t coming. I said, “Well, what was she going to teach?” He said, “Mathematics.” And I said, “Well, I could probably handle that until June.” And June ended up being 30 years. That’s how I got to Loachapoka.

Episodes of the Lee County Listener are posted weekly anywhere you get your podcast and on The Observer's Facebook page www.facebook.com/ opelika.observer.com.

Ralph Foster was recently a guest on the Lee County Listener podcast.

Momix Goes Down the Rabbit Hole with: 'Alice '

Momix — a company of dancer-illusionists under the direction of Moses Pendleton — brought its newest show, "Alice" to the Jay & Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University Feb. 16. Inspired by the classic children's tale "Alice in Wonderland," Pendleton's dancers bring to life a story full of imagery and absurd logic. The audience was taken on a journey that was magical, mysterious, fun and eccentric.

Party Like It's Mardi [Gras]

RELIGION —

Jesus summed up the Torah as being about loving God exclusively and loving your neighbor as yourself. But of course, He did more than talk about it; He modeled it in all aspects of His life so that when we look at Him, we see someone who was the epitome of loving God and

Hide or Seek

others.

To that end, Deuteronomy 22:14 is a text designed to show Israel an important element involved in loving their neighbor and living out community. Anyone taking even a casual trip through the book will quickly see that living as community is one of its chief concerns. Living in the promised land would be great for Israel, and part of what would make it that way would be them allowing their lives to be shaped by the book’s teaching in regard to their life together.

The overall aim of these verses was more than simply involvement with those around them — it

was a call for them to take initiative. It was active, not passive goodwill they were called to practice.

The difference is substantial. Involved but not initiating means that we are usually doing what someone told us needed to be done.

This is not a bad thing.

It’s the construction worker following the blueprints. But initiating means we have taken an extra step and are on the lookout for things that need to be done; we’re not waiting for someone to tell us.

It is the construction worker tweaking his plans to add a doggie door. Involvement is good, but initiative is better.

With this in mind, Israel was told — as some of the older translations have it — not to “hide” themselves (v. 1, 4) when they saw a neighbor’s ox, sheep, donkey or cloak where it was not supposed to be. They were to take it upon themselves to get it back to them. They were to live with this seeking attitude.

This would be quite beneficial to their neighbor, as these animals weren’t pets, but rather a substantial part of their economic livelihood. But of even greater importance, this attitude would cultivate the sense of community they needed to thrive and prosper. After all, having your animal(s)

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

CHURCH DIRECTORY

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 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

returned was good. Knowing you had a neighbor who had your back was even better.

All this calls us away from self-absorption and to living outside ourselves. It means we are aware and alert to what is going on around us. That is the spirit these verses push us toward. Like turtles, we’ll make no progress until we are willing to stick our neck out.

Hide or seek? The choice is ours.

Green has written a book on the model prayer called “Praying in the Reign.” It is available through 21st Century Christian.

You can find more of his writings at his website: www.a-tasteof-grace-with-brucegreen.com.

NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika

1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika

334-524-9148

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

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

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

WALTER ALBRITTON

RELIGION —

Hughes Auditorium is packed. Standing room only. The place seats 1,600. People out on the steps praying. The result of a revival that broke out last Wednesday in Asbury University, a Christian college in Wilmore, Kentucky. Six days later, as I write this, the revival continues. Hundreds of students praying, singing, dancing in the aisles, repenting, seeking

DR. ARTHUR BERTRUM "BUTCH"CARROLL III

Dr. Arthur Bertrum

“Butch” Carroll III, 74, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, at Bethany House Hospice Home in Auburn.

Butch was born Oct. 2, 1948, in Columbus, Georgia, the son of A.B. Carroll Jr. and Vivian Carroll. He had such fond memories of growing up in the small town of Hurtsboro, Alabama, going to Darlington School in Rome, Georgia, and attending Auburn University where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. He was the consummate southern gentleman throughout his life.

Upon graduation from Auburn in 1971, Butch received his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He completed a residency in pediatric dentistry at Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital.

Butch met his wife, Betty, in a calculus class at Auburn University. They married in Memphis in 1969. They were blessed with two sons in Birmingham and a third son in Montgomery after he opened his practice there

Solid Rock or Sinking Sand

forgiveness, interceding for others, finding peace with God, praising Jesus and praying for one another in dozens of prayer huddles. Amazing. Hallelujah.

Sunday night the university president, Dr. Kevin Brown, spoke these words to the huge crowd experiencing the “thick” presence of God: “So when people see us, they see one accord. For this generation, for the church, for the world, for the edification of our neighbor and for the glory of God. This is not a Hughes Auditorium thing. This is not an Asbury thing. This is a Kingdom thing!” He was saying what most of us are thinking: This revival is something God is doing — and we are amazed and thankful for it.

A friend who is experiencing the revival at Asbury emailed me,

in 1977. In 1984, they moved to Auburn and associated with Pediatric Dentistry Associates in Opelika. He was active in his profession, supporting the Drake Clinic at Auburn City Schools and served as president of the Alabama Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. After 35 years of dedication to his many patients, their families, wonderful office staff and partners, he retired in 2012.

Butch loved the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and caretaker of his family’s hunting farm in Macon County. A water lover, he was happiest pulling his pontoon boat out for a sunset cruise on Lake Martin with his family. He enjoyed music throughout his life, playing keyboards and organ in rock and roll bands. He loved ballroom dancing with Betty. He took up writing novels during his retirement. He had a tender heart, compassion, humility and a gentle spirit. He was a member of Auburn United Methodist Church for 40 years, serving on the administrative board, staff parish committee, and providing dental services on a meaningful mission trip to Panama.

“The presence of God is overwhelming — powerful, strong, wonderful. My heart is being melted by the love I am feeling. I am trembling right now as we are all singing “On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”! As I read his words, I started praising God. There are reports that what’s happening at Asbury is spreading to campuses in other states. How do we explain this?

It is surely God at work, releasing the power of his Holy Spirit to answer the prayers of people who are hungry for God and a relationship with His Son Jesus. People everywhere are hungry for what God alone can provide, and God is manifesting His Presence to souls seeking him. Lives are being changed by the power and presence of the

He was a lifetime member of the Auburn Alumnae Association.

Butch is survived by his wife Betty; son Graham Carroll (Misty) of Auburn; son Lee Carroll (Lauren) Atlanta, Georgia; son David (Margaret Dillon) Oxford, Mississippi; sister Sarah Whitman (Don) Lakeland, Florida; sister Susan Shiflett (Steve) Auburn; sister Joy Carroll, Auburn; brother-in-law Clifton Kirkpatrick (Diane) Columbus, Indiana. Affectionately called Paw-Paw, he leaves eight grandchildren: Vivian, Davis and Sam Carroll, Atlanta, Georgia; Gaines and Banks Carroll, Auburn; Thomas, Julia and Ann Margaret Carroll, Oxford, Mississippi.

Visitation will be held at 1 at Auburn United Methodist Church preceding the memorial service at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, officiated by the Rev. Charles Cummings.

The family would like to thank Dr. John Abrams and staff along with Hospice Compassus for their care and personal attention. In addition, a heartfelt thank you to the caregivers and special friends who offered their

Holy Spirit. The song my friend said was being sung at Asbury is one of my favorites — “My Hope I Built.” The words point where those changed by this revival experience should land when this rich time of praise and worship is concluded. They need to land on Christ the solid Rock. There alone will they find the hope needed for victorious living that is finally consummated with eternal life. By standing on Christ, they will be given a new zeal to share the good news with millions living now without Christ and blindly unaware that they are standing on sinking sand.

Would to God that the Asbury revival might be the beginning of a new Great Awakening that could turn our nation to

love and support.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be sent to:

Hospice Angels at Bethany House 1171 Gatewood Dr. Bldg. 100 Auburn, AL 36830-1829 or Alabama Wildlife Association 3050 Lanark Rd., Millbrook, AL 36054; AWF@alabamawildlife. org

PATSY MITCHAM JOHNSON

Patsy Mitcham Johnson passed peacefully in her sleep on Feb. 19, 2023. Patsy was born July 18, 1940, in Chambers County, Alabama, where she lived all of her young life. She attended Lafayette High School, where she was Homecoming Queen, and it was here she met her husband, Ashley Johnson. Patsy and Ashley were high school sweethearts, and were happily married for over 50 years.

Patsy and Ashley moved to Auburn, Alabama where they raised their family and made their home.

Patsy found a passion for real estate, and is a

Christ and away from the sinking sand of immorality, behavior that ignores the moral guidelines of the Bible. Let us merge our prayers with the Asbury prayers and pray that God will use this revival to persuade thousands to stand on the Solid Rock whose life-changing power is described so masterfully in Edward Mote’s great hymn:

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging

former president of the Lee County Board of Realtors. She was hard working, and fiercely independent. She loved Auburn and all it had to offer, and found so much joy in helping people find their home here.

Patsy was the definition of a southern woman. She was the ultimate hostess, and was as passionate about cooking and sewing, as she was about God and gardening. She devoted herself to her family and friends, and was happiest when her home was filled with those she loved.

She was also a collector of people in the best possible way. She was the “mom” to those who did not have one, and always opened her home to those who had nowhere to go. Patsy was loving and loyal, and when she brought you into her life you knew you had a friend forever.

Patsy had a loveable personality and was rarely seen without a big smile. She made everyone she greeted feel like they were her favorite person. She truly enjoyed life, and all it had to offer. Whether it was bridge club or garden club, to her annual holiday party, or simply sitting on her

grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the vale

His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found!

Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne!

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Continue to manifest your presence until we, too, with unbridled enthusiasm, wholly lean on You for the hope and help we need. Glory.

beloved back porch with friends, Patsy’s life was filled with joy.

Patsy and Ashley had a beautiful family; Terry and John Anglin, Hannah and Zack Anglin, Nick Anglin, Jo and Scott Crawford, Gina and Alan Lee, Bo, Myra and Carri Johnson.

There was a Celebration of Life service on Feb. 22, at the Town Creek gazebo. In lieu of flowers please consider sending a donation to The Bethany House 1171 Gatewood Drive, Building 100 Auburn, Alabama 36830 or at www. compassuslivingfoundation .org/give.

Myra Baxter Boyter, 99, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, in Wetumpka, Alabama. She was born to Belle and Guy Baxter on Oct. 25, 1923, in Clio, Alabama. She is survived by her children Ron (Peggy) Boyter, Jim Boyter, Barbara Corey, and Tommy (Joyce) Boyter, her grandchildren, Jennie

See OBITUARIES, page A15

MYRA BAXTER BOYTER

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 March 21, 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.

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.

OBITUARIES

Sikora, Scott (Mary Jo)

Boyter, Brett (Amanda)

Boyter, Justin Boyter, Whitney Mann, Lindsey Mann, Matthew Corey, Drew Boyter, Riley Boyter, Will Corey, Peyton Corey and her great grandchildren, Elijah Sikora, Kaden Boyter, Carson Boyter, Taylor Boyter and Rowan Corey. She is also survived by her sisters Peggy Baxter of Auburn, AL and Annie Rush of Huntsville, AL, her sister-in-law Martha Baxter of Wildwood, FL and many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters and brothers in laws, Faye (Charles) Davis, Billie Shehane

Stone, Robert O. Baxter, and Kenneth Rush and her brothers and sisters in law Jack (Margaret)

Baxter, Thomas (Rosa) Baxter, Wiley (Frances) Baxter and Rudy Baxter. Myra was a loving grandmother, mother, sister, and friend to all. She was a devoted registered nurse (RN) for over forty years until her retirement. Myra was a parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Mercy Catholic Church in Montgomery, for more than 50 years and served there in many volunteer capacities over the years including the Alter Guild and Keenagers.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at FrederickDean Funeral Home Parlor in Opelika from 10 to 11 a.m. with a celebration of life

service to follow at 11 a.m. in the Frederick Dean Funeral Home Chapel.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home is handling all the arrangments.

MARTHA ANN HALL BAUGH

Martha Ann Hall Baugh was born Oct. 4, 1941, in Mathiston, Mississippi, to loving parents, Thurman and Myrtle Hall, and was the eldest of their seven children. Following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, she was recently hospitalized at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and then, surrounded by her family, Martha entered the gates of heaven on Feb. 18, 2023.

Martha was a lifelong seeker of wisdom and knowledge and placed a high value on education and Christian service. Even as a young child, she much preferred to sit and listen at the feet of the grownups, rather than play with the other children.

After graduation from Mathiston High School in 1959, she began her college education at Clarke College in Newton, Mississippi, earning an Associate of Arts diploma in 1961. She transferred to William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to major in English, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963. During her college years, Martha was active in the choral arts programs and

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 meets every month on the third Wednesday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The meeting will be held at the AIDB-Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Opelika Regional Center on 355 Dunlop Drive in Opelika. Every month different topics are discussed to make life more manageable living with low vision. Contact Shiquita Fulton, M. ED/Vision Rehab therapist for additional details at 334-705-2024, or Melody Wilson, case manager for the blind, at 256-368-3258.

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 include planting, story time, crafts or art projects for children and hanging out with the goats.

served as a summer missionary with the Baptist Home Mission Board in Missouri, Ohio and North Carolina. While at Clarke College, she met her future husband, James Baugh. They later married in 1963 and settled in Auburn. Martha then enrolled at Auburn University and soon added an elementary teacher certification to her credentials. During her teaching career, she had the opportunity to teach English and Spanish to elementary, middle and high school students in Alabama and Mississippi. In later years, Martha attended Southern Union State’s Community College in Opelika, and achieved CNA certification and lovingly cared for many patients, including her own mother.

Martha was a loving, devoted mother to Eddie, Rachel, Stephen and Ben, and was very proud of all their accomplishments, and loved their spouses and her precious grandchildren. She was a strong Christian, spiritual advisor and sought-after prayer warrior for her family and friends as they were confident that Martha most certainly had “Jesus on the main line”.

A talented pianist and singer, Martha served as church pianist in her teens, and throughout her life, sang and accompanied her family and friends in vocal performances for worship services and community events. The blend of the Hall siblings’ voices

produced the most beautiful harmony, with many special memories created when gathered around the piano.

Martha was also a gifted seamstress, sewing for family and friends alike. For many years, Martha was an active member of the Red Hat Society and, along with several dear friends, greatly enjoyed the times spent together at dinner and social events. She attended Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, and one of the great highlights of Martha Ann’s life was a 2008 trip to Israel to visit The Holy Land. She treasured this experience the remainder of her life, sharing often the photos and memories of the trip.

Martha Ann was preceded in death by

her parents, William Thurman Hall and Myrtle Booth Hall of Mathiston, Mississippi. She is survived by her husband James E. Baugh, of Auburn, four children; Edward “Eddie” Baugh (Mary Lou) of Opelika, Rachel Baugh Streetman (Sonny) of Auburn, Stephen Baugh of Auburn, Benjamin

“Ben” Baugh (Dayla) of Hoover, Alabama and six siblings; Mary Ellen Parks (Ray) of Bartlett, Tennessee, Nelda Cole (Steve) of Collierville, Tennessee, Judy Thompson (Joe) of Eupora, Mississippi, Rudy Hall (Elaine) of Rainbow City, Alabama, Wanda Spigner (Phil) of Little Rock, Arkansas, Brenda Young (Dean) of Carrollton, MS and 11 grandchildren; Austin Baugh (Jessica),

COMICS

“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.”

― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Schools S

ON THE MARK

BY D. MARK MITCHELL

OHS Baseball Off to a Hot Start

OPELIKA —

The Opelika Bulldogs varsity baseball team defeated Providence Christian 8-1 on Saturday in its home opener thanks to five runs in the fourth inning. The offensive onslaught by the Bulldogs was led by Taylor Jones and Jake Smith, who both drove in runs.

Parker Killcreas led the team offensively with three hits, followed by two hits from Bryce Speakman, Christopher Floyd and Smith (who also added a home run in the

Opelika’s First Ever 7A State Champion: Brady Campbell Brings Home Wrestling Gold

third inning). Jones, Russell Copous and Trent Henderson added singles.

Davis Ford earned the win, surrendering zero runs on one hit over five innings, striking out five and walking one. Caleb Chisum threw two innings in relief to finish the game.

Porter Dykes was on the mound for Providence Christian. Dykes surrendered six runs on six hits over four innings, striking out four. Out of the bullpen, the Providence

See SPORTS, page B3

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA — Opelika High School senior wrestler Brady Campbell will go down in the history

books as the first person (or team) affiliated with the Bulldogs to capture a class 7A state title.

“I knew I put in the work to win, so that was my hope,” Brady said of winning state.

“It means a lot. All the support everybody has ever given me, all the hard work paid off. I’m still going to keep working.”

Claiming that he had championship expectations coming

“Icy Wen” Helps Lead Auburn

BY DANIEL LOCKE FOR THE OBSERVER

AUBURN —

Since arriving on The Plains last year, junior guard Wendell Green Jr. has wasted no time becoming a fan favorite on and off the court. From draining three-pointers from the logo to providing a clutch defensive presence, Green does a little bit of everything.

Basketball is something that runs deep for Green.

“I’ve been playing basketball mostly my whole life, as long as I can remember,” he said. “With other sports too, but, you know, it came to a point where [I needed to] pick a

BY AU ATHLETICS

sport. My dad was a coach; I was around it the most. Probably around (age) 10 or 11, I knew I wanted to take it seriously and was pretty good growing up.”

Green began his college career at Eastern Kentucky but joined the Tigers last year for his sophomore season.

“At the end of the day, it’s all basketball,” Green said on the transition. “It wasn’t too big of a challenge except learning the system and playing for a new coach. It was different at first; it took me a little while throughout the

summer to learn how he (Bruce Pearl) wanted me to play. I guess the transition has been pretty smooth so far, especially last year playing with great players like that, but there was still a lot of learning curves. I think I’m still learning as we keep playing.”

Green made the transition from coming off the bench last year to being the starting point guard this year. The increased role is not something that Green takes lightly.

“Just trying to do whatever it takes to win,” Green said. “That’s the main

into the meet, Brady, wrestling at 145 pounds, was crowned state champion Saturday, Feb. 18, in Huntsville.

It’s not that Opelika has never had a state

See CHAMPION, page B5

goal: winning and trying to get a high seed in the [NCAA] tournament and SEC tournament. I know I got to score, I got to pass it out, so just doing whatever it takes to win for that certain game.”

Pearl has developed a reputation as one of the best coaches in college basketball, and Green said getting to play for such a high-caliber coach means a lot to him.

“It’s great — you know he’s a high-energy coach,” Green said. “He lets me play with freedom and he

See GREEN, page B3

Wendell Green Jr. is a junior point guard for Auburn averaging 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists on 36.1% shooting for the Tigers this season.

Senior Opelika High School wrestler Brady Campbell became the first 7A state champion in school history Saturday, Feb. 18. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

OHS Softball Seniors Lead Team Into 7A

Opelika Girls Soccer Dives into 7A Action

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

The Opelika varsity softball team began its 2023 season in dramatic fashion.

The Lady Bulldogs defeated Beauregard, 5-4, after a walk-off single by senior McKay Yountz drove in the winning run in the final inning.

“I think everybody pretty much walked away happy,” said head coach Jessica Thornton. “We got our first-game jitters out and still came away with the win. So, what more could you ask for?”

Opelika followed up its season-opening win with two more victories — against Benjamin Russell and Dadeville — and a loss against Holtville in a tournament last weekend.

Thornton, in her second year at the helm of the OHS softball program, leads the Lady Bulldogs into their first season in the Alabama High School Sports Association’s (AHSAA) highest classification: 7A.

The move to 7A presents a challenge for the Lady Bulldogs — who were crowned regular season and postseason area champions in class 6A last season. However, Opelika’s senior-laden

roster is going to be up for the challenge, according to Thornton.

“We are pretty senior heavy; they are all pretty much starters,” she said.

‘So, we are excited about the experience that we have on the field. I think the best part is that all six seniors lead in their own way.”

Opelika has six seniors on its roster in 2023, while two freshmen and a bunch of sophomores and juniors round of the squad. No one player has been singled out more than Yountz, however, as she has played in large role in the success of Opelika softball over the previous four years.

“McKay has been an integral part throughout her four years,” Thornton said. “She provides some stability in the fact that you know she is going to show up and show out every day to the best of her ability. She is not afraid to walk away and say that wasn’t her best day, but know that she gave it her all.”

Regarding Thornton, the head coach claims to have learned to not “sweat the small stuff as much,” after her experience leading the Lady Bulldogs last season.

According to her, every team walks a fine line between having fun and

getting the job done.

“[I am going] to really try and focus on letting the girls have some fun while also holding a standard,” she said. “I mean I think it is just the ability to stay focused while also being able to have fun is a very fine line that everybody has to learn. We are still working on that but it has definitely come a long way since last year.”

According to Thornton, it is still too early in the season to accurately identify this version of Opelika softball’s strengths and weaknesses.

“We are still trying to figure out what our identity is and what we need to focus a little bit more on,” she said. “I’m excited to highlight some of those things.”

To this point in the season, Thornton is keeping the team’s goals and ambitions close to her chest. However, the head coach did say she believes Opelika softball can accomplish great things in 2023.

“The sky is the limit for us this year,” Thornton said. “We set some specific goals but I would like to keep those in house. We know what we want and we are going to do everything we can to get it.”

Glenwood Baseball Confident Behind Deep Senior Class

BY DANIEL LOCKE FOR THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA —

The Opelika Bulldogs girls soccer team already has a few games under its belt in the 2023 campaign. The team is off to a solid start despite moving into a new classification, 7A, mainly due to depth and experience.

Being in a new classification makes for some schedule changes, including the addition of some tough opponents, but the Bulldogs are ready to embrace the challenge.

“In 7A we’ve got some bigger opponents,” said head coach Jaclyn Button. “Our area games are going to be big for us — Auburn, Central, Smiths Station. We’re also going to compete against Prattville; we’re looking to go down to Dothan and Enterprise, which will be some bigger schools for us; even an overnight trip to St. Paul’s and Alma Bryant as well, so we’re really trying to be competitive in those bigger school areas as well.”

The move to 7A will

require the Bulldogs to face some reputable schools, but Opelika has been able to ease into the transition with its first games of the year coming against teams they are familiar with.

“So far, [the early schedule is] nothing too crazy,” Button said. “The first few games, we’ve seen opponents that we’ve played in years past so, nothing too challenging so far.”

Opelika has a roster that includes a good number of players from each class. This allows the team to have a solid combination of veteran leadership and young talent that will continue to strengthen the program for years to come. Striker Amiya Brown, midfielders Kaitlyn Spoon and Ashley Hilyer, and defender Morgan Watts are poised to play big roles in 2023, according to Button.

“We’ve got a young group, a good mix of everyone,” Button said. “I’ve got seven seniors that are returning. I’ve got great leadership out of a lot of those in that

group. One of my center forwards, striker Amiya Brown, she’s always scoring goals and capitalizing for us. Kaitlyn Spoon and Ashley Hilyer kind of play throughout the midfield — just good playmakers for us. Morgan Watts was one of my center defenders who did tear her ACL, but she’ll come back by the end of March, so hopefully she can rehab and get back on the field with us. Some younger ones, definitely a couple new freshmen who are going to plug in for us — Bailey Ward and Kam McDaniel — are going to be great.”

The ability to adjust is crucial to the success of high school athletic teams. With injuries and new faces, the Bulldogs will have their fair share of adjustments to make this season.

“With new people and a couple of my starters who have been injured, we’re really trying to fill in some of these new positions and how we can work together,” Button said. “I think last year we had again some

See SOCCER, page B3

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

Pictured is the 2022 Opelika varsity softball team after winning the area postseason tournament in head coach Jessica Thornton's first season with the Bulldogs.

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES THE OBSERVER

Team members of the Opelika varsity girls soccer team celebrate in their opening match against Eufaula Feb. 7.

SMITHS STATION —

The 2023 Glenwood baseball team has a chance to go down as one of the best teams in

school history, according to 20-year head coach Tim Fanning. Glenwood has 10 players committed to go play at the next level, including eight seniors. And then there’s Auburn

University commits, junior Brandon McCraine and sophomore Mason McCraine, who lead the pitching rotation.

The Glenwood

The 2023 varsity Glenwood Gators baseball team.

PHOTO BY GENE REEDER PHOTOGRAPHY

See GLENWOOD, page B5

Auburn High School Baseball set for 2023 Campaign

AHS Soccer Hungry to Top 2022 Season

AHS head coach Bill Ferguson (left) was all over the field at practice on Friday, Feb. 17.

BY DANIEL LOCKE FOR THE OBSERVER

AUBURN — Coming off a season in which the Tigers went 30-8 (4-2 in 7A region 4), expectations are high for Auburn High School baseball in 2023. Having been at the helm of the Tigers' baseball program since 1992, head coach Matt Cimo said he is excited for another chance at a state title.

Opening day was this past Saturday and the

Tigers opened the new year up with a 12-11 win over Providence Christian. They followed that up with a 10-6 win over Columbus on Monday.

Cimo commented on how exciting it is to lead a team into a new season.

“We’ve been preparing for a long time, since last May,” Cimo said. “It’s exciting for the kids, the parents and the community.”

Coming off a big season makes for some

high expectations for the Tigers, but Cimo is confident that his team is up to the challenge.

“We just take one day at a time and try to get better each and every day,” Cimo said.

“Hopefully we have some luck and things fall our way and we have another good year.”

Caleb Maxwell, Cooper Hardee and Brenden Bryant are three seniors who make up the

See AHS BASEBALL, page B5

Can AI Chatbots Measure One’s Personality?

CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURN UNIVERSITY

AUBURN —

A new study on Artificial Intelligence, or AI, led by Psychological Sciences Professor

Jinyan Fan finds that an AI chatbot can infer personality traits as good as or better than traditional self-report personality measures. In “How well can an AI chatbot infer personality? Examining psychometric properties of machine inferred personality scores,” published in the “Journal of Applied Psychology,” Fan and researchers from four other universities used an AI firm’s cognitive AI chatbot to

GREEN>> FROM B1

trusts me. We’re going to go out there and try to make a winning play or make a play for the team. He trusts me after all our history the past year and a half, two years. So it’s just fun, it’s free out there.”

The SEC has turned into one of the toughest divisions in college basketball over the past few seasons. Each game presents a challenge, and there is not a lot of time to rest or dwell on a bad performance.

infer personality and examine psychometric properties — reliability and validity — of

Green talked about how he stays locked in throughout the grind of the season.

“Just taking it one game at a time,” he said.

“If you lose, don’t worry about that loss too much.

Don’t beat yourself up on that loss too much.

Just try and get to the next game because you can’t let one loss lead to two or three, or one good win lead to you being cocky and then you lose the next game. So you just got to take it game by game and take every opponent as serious as the next.”

Like just about every

machine-inferred personality scores.

See AI, page B8

athlete, Green looks up to some of the best in his sport.

“My team has always been the Detroit Pistons,” Green said. “Growing up in Detroit, it’s one of my main teams. I watched a lot of Isaiah Thomas from the Pistons, just a lot of tapes. … Lebron James is probably my favorite player of all time.”

Green is a big part of this Auburn team both on and off the court. Time will tell how he continues to impact the games he plays in, as well as the community that he has so quickly become a part of.

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

AUBURN —

Last spring, the Auburn High boys and girls soccer teams won 16 and 15 games, respectively, to finish with winning percentages over 75% each. However, both teams lost in the state’s quarterfinal round, leaving potential unmet and stomachs growling as the 2023 season gets rolling.

The girls, after pitching 11 shutouts and going 15-22 in 2022, met a Fairhope team in the playoffs who came and caught Auburn by surprise with a 1-0 win to end the Tigers’ season.

Similarly, the Auburn boys came into the roundof-eight on a five-game win streak and had not allowed multiple goals in a month since it beat Opelika 3-2; but

SOCCER >> FROM B2

great leadership, a big junior class last year that are seniors now. I think it’s great on one hand to have those girls who have played for four or five years all the way up as seniors now, but this

SPORTS >>

FROM B1

Christian reliever threw two innings in relief.

The OHS varsity baseball team opened the 2023 season with a 4-0 win over the Hornets at Beauregard's baseball field last Thursday.

Two Bulldog pitchers, Killcreas and Copous, combined to pitch a no-hitter against Beauregard.

Copous earned the win for Opelika, pitching four innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits and striking out six Hornet batters.

Nathan Pooler, on the hill for Beauregard, lasted three innings, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out three and walking one. Stanridge and Craft entered the game in relief for Beauregard, throwing three- and two-thirds innings and one-third of an inning,

it ran into a hot Davidson squad, who overwhelmed Auburn, 7-3.

Both teams know they were capable of more, and that is fueling the fire as the 2023 season gets underway. So far this season, the boys are 3-1-1 including a revenge win over Davidson, and the girls are 3-2 headed into a Tuesday night matchup with Columbus, Georgia.

“I think both teams are really coming together, and we’ve seen a lot of minds set on really getting better,” said head coach Bill Ferguson. “They’re realizing that just because we have a good season during the meat of it doesn’t mean we are guaranteed a spot to play (for the State Championship) in Huntsville. So, I think there’s a lot of hunger there.”

Both teams have a good mix of youth and

is definitely a younger, newer team with a lot of people in new positions. We’re just trying to figure out how we can capitalize on everybody’s strength and really grow.”

This season will be a pivotal one, not only for the Opelika girls soccer

respectively.

Killcreas started the game for the Bulldogs. The pitcher lasted three innings, allowing zero hits and zero runs while striking out four batters.

Opelika tallied nine hits. Killcreas and "Tommy" Taylor Fields collected two hits apiece to lead OHS. Five Dogs recorded hits: Jones, Speakman, Smith, Henderson and Ford.

The Bulldogs did not commit an error, and Smith made 10-defensive outs.

Beauregard didn't commit an error in the field, and Pooler recorded four defensive putouts in the field, the most on the team.

SOCCER

The Opelika Lady Bulldog soccer team lost to Pike Road, 2-7, last week. Amiya Brown scored both goals for OHS with assists from Gabi Ramirez and Aimee Alcantara.

The OHS varsity boys

veteran players, according to Ferguson, but both have significant losses on the back end.

The boys are missing six of their starters on the back end from last season, and they have a freshman at goalie. Helping to fill that void is senior Cade Edwards, who is returning to the Tigers from playing with the MLS’s “Next” program along with junior Soohyuk “Soo” Choi and sophomore Matthew Bolding.

“Last year, [Auburn] was lacking defensive support, and I think this year we got two really good players who have stepped up [in Choi and Bolding],” Edwards said. “I think they’ll play a crucial role on the back line this year…

See AHS SOCCER, page B5

team, but for all spring sports as the Bulldogs get used to a new classification.

The Bulldogs face Central Phenix City in a road area matchup Thursday, Feb. 23, and then travel to face Prattville Monday, Feb. 27.

improved to 3-0 with a 3-2 win over Pike Road last week. Down 2-1, the Bulldogs scored two goals with eight minutes left in the game. Nathan Faison scored two goals, including the game winner with two minutes left in the game. Dexter Graham scored the first Opelika goal. Luke Roberts and Graham recorded assists for the Dogs.

JV TIES AHS

The OHS junior varsity soccer team tied rival Auburn High School, 1-1, last week. Davis Cruz scored the game-tying goal on a corner kick with four minutes remaining.

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.

A member of the 2022 Auburn High School varsity baseball team slides into home plate.

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER

PHOTO BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

Jinyan Fan is a professor of Psychological Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University.

OHS Baseball Comes Out Swinging

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER

Pictures from Opelika High School baseball's first two games versus Beauregard and Providence Christian. The Bulldogs are off to a 3-0 start this season, with a road matchup against Northside High School scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 23.

Lee-Scott Names Head Varsity Volleyball Coach

CONTRIBUTED BY LSA

AUBURN — Lee-Scott Academy announced Monday that it has named former junior varsity coach Jordan McManus as its next head varsity volleyball coach.

In addition to serving as an assistant on the varsity squad, McManus was the head coach for Lee-Scott’s junior varsity volleyball team.

Upon a successful first year in coaching, the Warriors’ junior varsity volleyball team that saw a 17-3 season record and a second-place finish at the AISA Junior Varsity State Tournament, she is now poised to take over

CHAMPION >>

champion wrestler before, but what makes this accomplishment such a unique feat is that 2022-23 is the first year that Opelika has competed (in all sports) in the 7A (highest) division of Alabama high school sports.

Brady defeated Vestavia Hills’s Andrew Sullivan by way of pin to capture the championship. Before that, he defeated Jacob Handy of Grissom High School in the quarterfinals and Broc Metcalf of Hoover in the semifinals. When the referee raised Brady’s arm in a sign of victory, the teenager immediately looked to those who had come to support him.

“I looked up at the stands where the whole Opelika crew was standing, up at my mom — I pointed up at them,” Brady said. “And then as soon as I ran off the mat I hugged my Dad, hugged coach Brown and my teammates were there too.”

Brady said he has been wrestling for over a decade, but he still needs influences like head wrestling coach Tucker Brown to help guide him along

AHS BASEBALL >>

FROM B3

starting rotation for the Tigers.

“Hopefully they can carry a lot of the load for us,” Cimo said. “We’re going to have to mix and match with all the younger kids and see what else we have.”

The bullpen is not set in stone yet as two of the previously mentioned starters could also toss some relief innings if needed.

“Cooper (Hardee) could be a closer at the end, Brenden (Bryant) could be,” Cimo said. “We get about five weeks to figure that out.”

Auburn will have a

the helm at the varsity level.

After graduating from Liberty University in 2021 with a degree in Christian Leadership and Church Ministry, McManus spent time as an athletics relationship liaison for the For Others Collective, a nonprofit started by Chris Tomlin, which provides innovative solutions to prevent vulnerable children from being placed into the foster care system.

In this role and others since, she has worked in positions that have caused her to be flexible and make decisions quickly in changing environments. In addition to coaching the Warriors’

the way.

“Wrestling with coach Brown, he always be getting on to me,” Brady said. “But it’s also about the good stuff too. So, he keeps us disciplined and hard working.”

One other OHS wrestler joined Brady in advancing to the final day of competition at the state meet. Brady’s practice partner, junior Brayden Wilson, placed fifth overall in the 132-pound category. Brayden is relatively new to the sport, but still had high hopes entering the meet.

“Not really,” Brayden said on if he was happy with his performance. “It was alright but I was expecting better. Always going into it you want to win.”

According to Brady, Brayden and he “are real tight.” And Brayden attributes some of his success to he and Brady’s competitive friendship.

“It makes you better that’s for sure,” Brady said about practicing against a now state champion. “This is my first year doing it and I have seen huge improvements.”

Ultimately, when looking back on his championship-winning weekend and his wrestling journey overall, Brady picked what he

talented and experienced group in the infield. This group includes Jackson Mills, Seth Payne, Reed Woods, Peyton Ethridge, Jace Norton, Thomas Aaron and Henry Allen.

The Tigers outfield presents a combination of experience and talent with some newcomers. The group includes Walton Williams, Braden Fox, Cade Belyeu, Ean Nation, Michael Daniel and Connor Crosby.

The Tigers also have three solid options at catcher. These include Tanner Waldrop, Silas Mason and Ryne Sinclair.

Last year the Tigers finished second in their area and trying to win it this year will be a focus for

volleyball team, McManus will teach Upper School Bible class.

“Coach Jordan brings both excitement and energy to her coaching and is always working to make her players reach their potential,” said Lee-Scott Academy Head of School Dr. Stan Cox. “I believe she will help elevate our team to another level and make us a championship contender. She has a great work ethic both on and off the court, which will enable our student-athletes to see the kind of hard work it takes to become a topnotch volleyball player.”

Jordan is married to Mark McManus and they

thought separates him from others.

“I think it’s my mental toughness,” he said. “Just being to go the extra mile and past my limit.”

Similarly, Brayden stressed the importance of keeping your head in wrestling matches.

“In wrestling, mental toughness is a big thing,” he said.

Brown, in his first year with OHS, has seen both wrestlers’ mental toughness first hand. He said he was not surprised by the success both enjoyed and applauded both athletes’ leadership, and commitment.

“Brady and Brayden are used a lot of times in practice as examples,” he said. “You got a bunch of kids that want to goof off and honestly at the end of the day sometimes don’t understand what it takes to win as a group and individually. When you get a couple guys that know how to do it … these guys stay focused the whole time, they drill the most and they work the hardest.

“It shows in how they worked and developed. It came to fruition … they worked hard and knew what it took … so they ended up being the ones on the podium at the end of the tournament.

the team.

“It always comes down to the area,” Cimo said. “It should be fun, it comes down to April when we play Central, Smiths and Opelika so it should be exciting.”

With a tough schedule and high expectations, Cimo is aiming to keep his team focused on what they can control.

“Just get better every day,” Cimo said. “Hopefully we can do little things better every day and have a positive season.

“It should be a fun season,” Cimo said.

“We appreciate all the support we get from the community because it’s awesome.”

have been married since January 2022. They both worship at Auburn Community Church.

“We are happy to bring Jordan McManus to lead our volleyball program,” said Warriors Athletic Director William Johnson. “Coach Jordan brings a championship mentality and work ethic to Lee-Scott that will elevate our volleyball program to another level. There is no doubt that she will help our student-athletes reach their potential both on and off the court with her leadership. We are excited to welcome coach Jordan McManus to the Lee-Scott Warriors Family.”

GLENWOOD >> FROM

basketball team, which included five baseball players, just won state less than two weeks ago. Now, they are 2-0 in baseball and looking to pave the way to another state championship.

“It may be as deep of a team as I’ve ever coached,” Fanning said. “The kids are just super committed, and they work extremely hard. We have 12 seniors and just about every one of them are going to college to play baseball. It’s just a really fun group, as a coach, to be around. You really can’t coach them too hard. They get after it.”

Behind a gold mine of a starting rotation and a deep lineup, the Gators bolstered through their regular-season schedule last season with a 28-3 record and looked nearly unstoppable. But one of their losses was to Pike Liberal Arts, and the Patriots were all that stood in the way of a state championship for the Gators in 2022. They took the first two in a best-ofthree playoff series with Glenwood to advance to the championship.

This season, though, Pike is out of the Gators’ championship path.

“Well, [Pike] is not in our league this year, which sucks. They left and joined the AHSA,” Fanning said. “It stinks because they had eight senior starters last year and pretty much our whole team is back, and we don’t get to play them.”

Without having to go through Pike, Glenwood now narrows its sight on area rival Lee-Scott, who is in its first season under head coach Tim Hudson. Glenwood won the only matchup with the Warriors last season, 14-7, but its rival is now under a former MLB All-Star and last year’s pitching coach at Auburn University.

“[Lee-Scott] is gonna be extremely well-coached. They have a lot of great athletes,” Fanning said. “So, it’s gonna be a big challenge to win our region. We have to beat them to do that.”

Another challenge early on for the Gators is easing four starting pitchers into the baseball routine again after just finishing their basketball season. Brandon and Mason McCraine, senior Lukas Holman and sophomore Tyler Sykes are going to be getting their arms ready to start games for the next month or so, Fanning said.

The good news is that isn’t a burden the Gators can’t overcome. Pitchers Jackson Kennon, Jacob Page and Trent House are all experienced and ready to carry the load until those guys are in starting shape.

And to close games, Glenwood might get even stronger.

“Jaxon Milam was our closer last year, and he was unhittable,” Fanning said.

The depth doesn’t stop on the mound. Glenwood has the privilege of utilizing several two-way

players. While the basketball players are loosening up their arms, they won’t stop contributing on offense. Holman will hold it down in left field, and the McCraine brothers will continue to be a dangerous presence in the lineup.

“(Brandon and Mason McCraine) signed to Auburn as pitchers, but they’re both really good hitters, too. They’ll be a big piece of us offensively as well,” Fanning said.

Along with those twoway players are seniors Lane Griggs (third base), Pierce Edwards (catcher), Milam (shortop/pitcher) and Aaron Burton (center field), who are all committed to play college baseball.

In 2023, Fanning will try to lead his team to their fourth state title this decade and their first since 2017. An 11-2 win over Bessemer and 11-3 defeat of Brookstone is a good start, but the veteran head coach knows winning it all won’t be a cake walk.

“I think they have a chance to be, you know, one of the best teams in school history, but… there’s no way to say that. That’s on them to perform,” Fanning said. “The expectation is the same every year. When you play, you know, 50 games in the regular season just about, there’s a lot that goes into that. A lot of ups and downs and a lot of failure. It’s how the leadership shows up and how they react to those situations during the year.”

Hopefully, we can get a State Championship out of this year. We have a pretty strong team.”

Led by senior backs Hannah Arnoll, Ellie Hammer and Caroline Hennessey, the girls team is feeling even more confident than last season, when they allowed just 11 goals in 21 games. Even though goalkeeper Aubrey Sarkowski graduated, Arnoll feels like the team will only continue to improve.

“I think last year we were, kind of, focused too much on the bigger picture, and we didn’t take it game by game,” Arnoll

explained. “I think we already had that mindset that we were going to State. This season, we just have the mentality, like, no game is a big game. Every single game is just like the other, and we’re just going to take it game by game and see how it goes.”

Ferguson knows his teams possess the skill necessary to win it all. For him, it simply comes down to mentality. The coach doesn’t want outside expectations to determine what Auburn is capable of.

While the boys team won its first 7A State Championship in 2018, the girls team is yet to win a ring. He’s looking to change that this season, but his goals for his team go

beyond a championship.

“One of our goals is, yes, to win a state championship – I think you’re kidding yourself if you don’t have your eye on playing for a state championship, but we want to be the best we can be,” Ferguson said. “If the state championship is that, that could also be a limitation. We can play better than what it takes to win state, I think. We just want to come out here and get better every day.”

After facing Columbus High on Tuesday, Feb. 21, Auburn has 10 games left on the schedule, including five region games: a pair of matches with region foes Opelika and Smiths Station along with a home rematch with Central.

JORDAN MCMANUS

B2

AHS SOCCER >> FROM B3

Richard Greene Rejoins Auburn University Athletics Staff

40th Alabama State Games Set for June 9 Through 11

AUBURN —

Richard Greene has returned to Auburn athletics in the role of senior associate athletics director for administration, Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen announced earlier this week.

Greene, who served as Auburn’s assistant athletics director for compliance from September 2019 through August 2022, will serve as the football sport administrator and will work with the football program in the areas of administration, legislative affairs and compliance. Greene will also serve as Auburn football’s liaison to campus services.

“Richard is an outstanding addition to our executive team who brings a wealth of experience with him,” Cohen said. “Richard is a thoughtful, creative and hard-working leader. His institutional and confer-

ence knowledge is an invaluable asset to Auburn as we navigate the future of college athletics.”

Greene comes back to Auburn after serving as senior director of compliance and academics for the American Athletic Conference since September 2022. At the AAC, he provided rules and interpretive guidance to the member schools and helped plan the conference’s annual academic symposium.

“First, I would like to thank John Cohen, Rich McGlynn and Hugh Freeze for giving me the opportunity to return to Auburn University and make a difference in the lives of these young athletes, coaches and staff,” Greene said. “I would also like to give a special thanks to the people of the American Athletic Conference, especially Ellen Ferris, Karl Hicks and Michael Aresco, for their mentoring and support during this transition.”

During his previous tenure at Auburn, Greene provided NCAA rules and interpretive guidance to the intercollegiate athletics program. He helped navigate complex eligibility situations involving international student-athletes and also served as the department’s point person during the inception of name, image and likeness legislation.

From 2014 to 2019, Greene worked at the University of Hawaii at Manoa as compliance coordinator and later director of compliance. He served compliance internships with the NCAA (2013-14) and Ohio State (2012-13).

A native of Dallas, Texas, he earned a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and political science from Southern California, a master’s degree in sport and exercise management from Ohio State and a law degree from Texas. Greene is a licensed attorney in the states of Alabama and Texas.

CONTRIBUTED BY ASF FOUNDATION

ALABAMA —

It is with great excitement that the leadership and staff of the Alabama State Games announce the return to Birmingham and Jefferson County June 9 to 11 for a weekend filled with memory-making moments, medals and a celebration four decades in the making.

The 2023 Alabama State Games marks the 40th anniversary of the annual multi-sport athletic event that kicked off in 1983 with four events and more than 600 participants.

"We are thrilled to once again welcome the Alabama State Games and celebrate its dynamic athletes of all ages and abilities," said Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. "Birmingham is known regionally,

nationally and internationally for hosting exceptional sporting events. The Games’ presence will not only have an economic impact but also be another feather in the cap of special events to come to our city. We look forward to cheering them on."

The 40th Anniversary Opening Ceremony kicks off June 9 at 7 p.m. inside UAB’s Bartow Arena and is free to the public. This year’s Opening Ceremony is being conceptualized and choreographed by the students and staff at Troy University’s John M. Long Hall School of Music. The Alabama State Games Opening Ceremony will be televised live to a statewide audience on the Alabama State Games Television Network. Events featuring different sports and a mix of athletes of all ages and abilities start June 10.

The events — featuring a mixture of new and familiar — will be hosted at venues in and around the city of Birmingham and Jefferson County.

“We look forward to hosting the Alabama State Games along with the city of Birmingham, and welcoming athletes from all over Alabama to Jefferson County,” said Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens.

As part of the 40th Anniversary Celebration, the ASF Foundation is awarding a record number of scholarships — 17 in total — for $20,000. The Alabama State Games, through partnerships and events like State Farm Athlete Leadership Summit rewarding academics, the Student Ambassador Program and URKeys2Drv programs, have awarded

Team Bison: Collins Family Shares Mutual Bond with Southern Union Athletics

Series by just three outs.

In June of 1994, Ricky was again picked in the Amateur Draft, this time by the Oakland A’s, and was named that year’s Alabama Male Junior College Athlete of the Year, the top award given across all sports.

hitting skills before going on to play independent ball in Michigan.

Unfortunately, a year and a half later Ricky threw out his arm, which ended his plans for a professional baseball career, but not his passion for the sport.

CONTRIBUTED BY SUSCC

KATIE JACKSON

OPELIKA

—

Being part of a sports team is often likened to being part of a family, but for four Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC) athletes, being a Bison is truly a family affair.

Those four are Ricky,

Christy, Thomas and Savannah Collins, two generations of Collinses from Newnan, Georgia, that have found personal and professional success through Southern Union’s athletic program.

Their family story began in 1993 when Ricky, an All-American highschool baseball player, arrived at SUSCC’s

Wadley campus from his hometown of Stockbridge, Georgia. A standout pitcher and hitter, Ricky had already been chosen by the Texas Rangers in the 1993 Amateur Draft, but he and two of his fellow high-school baseball team members wanted a chance to develop further before going pro. So, when SUSCC offered them all

scholarships, the trio jumped at the chance to play for the Bison’s thenhead baseball coach, Joe “Jabo” Jordan.

During Ricky’s first year at SU, he and his Bison teammates were state junior college league champions, missing a chance to go to the National Junior College Athletic Association (JUCO) World

That same year, Ricky also met another Bison athlete, Christy Byrd of Newnan, Georgia, a former gymnast and by then an All-American cheerleader who had arrived at SUSCC on scholarship to become part of the Bison cheer squad. Christy’s first impression of Ricky, whom she met as he helped her roommate, a friend of his from Stockbridge, move into the dorm, was less than stellar thanks to a goofy wardrobe incident. However, Christy and Ricky soon became a couple and continued dating even after Ricky left SUSCC in 1995 to play for Auburn University’s baseball program and Christy joined the Jacksonville State University cheer squad in 1996.

After a year at Auburn, Ricky joined Christy at JSU where he further honed his pitching and

The two married in 1998 and settled in Newnan to pursue their careers, she as an educator and he as a builder and now project manager, and soon their family had doubled in size with the birth of Thomas and, 14 months later, Savannah.

Thomas apparently inherited his father’s baseball talents; according to Christy, at the age of six months he was already flexing his hitting prowess by knocking balloons across a room. “I remember calling Ricky and saying, ‘He’s hitting lefty!’” (Ricky himself was a lefty.) By the time he was two, Thomas was hitting and fielding balls on a field.

Like his father, Thomas was interested in pursuing a professional baseball career but also wanted to take some time after high school to further develop

,

See GAMES, page B7

The Collins Family has a deep love for Bison Athletics. The multi-generational SU athletes are shown at a Bison baseball game.

Harris Funeral Home Announces 2022 Memorial Scholarship Winners

CONTRIBUTED BY HARRIS

FUNERAL HOME

OPELIKA —

As Harris Funeral Home celebrates 31 years of providing personal and professional funeral service during a family’s time of need, it continues to salute and assist outstanding students.

The Harris Funeral

Home Memorial Scholarship commenced 22 years ago when Jeffery Harris realized that giving back to the community is as important as serving during the time of hurt and healing.

“Do what you can, where you are, with what you have” is the philosophy that has made the Harris Funeral Home

Memorial Scholarship an annual event.

This scholarship program recognizes high school seniors in area schools.

It is based upon their academic and scholastic achievement, work experience, community service and personal goals that they express in an essay response.

The Harris Funeral

Home Memorial Scholarship is intended to help students reach their educational goals.

The Harris Funeral Home Scholarship Committee, in which Cornelia Johnson serves as scholarship coordinator, made final selections. Other members of the committee are Teresa Smith of Dothan, Alabama, Kamilah John-

Charles E. Battle Scholarship Established Through Southern Union Foundation

a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that was established to support and foster the educational and service programs and activities of SUSCC. The foundation increases educational access for students through financial support and enables the college to initiate innovative projects to enhance the quality of education.

son and Harriet Billups of Auburn. To date, a total of more than $64,500 has been awarded to different area students.

Harris Funeral Home also donates to various churches and civic organizations to help community associations reach their goals.

This year’s five schol-

GAMES >>

FROM B6

$335,610 in scholarships since 1983. Participants of all ages are eligible for the drawing. The only requirement is that you must register to participate in the 40th Alabama State Games and then attend the Opening Ceremony. Every athlete that attends the Opening Ceremony will receive a free 40th Anniversary Alabama State Games T-shirt.

arship recipients are:

• Zion Jeane' HuntAuburn High School,

• Lexi Nicole RaifordBeauregard High School,

• Ti'Nivea Kentara Williams - Beulah High School,

• Briana LaShun Jones - Loachapoka High School and

• Lauren Nicole Landry - Opelika High School.

2023 EVENTS

The 2023 Alabama State Games will feature a mixture of new and familiar sporting events. American Saddlebred (Equestrian), racquetball, ultimate frisbee, Esports and chess will debut during the 2023 Alabama State Games. A medley of more familiar, gold-medal mainstays are also slated for 2023:

- Archery

- Baton Twirling

CONTRIBUTED BY SUSCC

OPELIKA —

The Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC)

Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Charles E. Battle Scholarship.

Established by his family, the award honors the memory of the late Charlie Battle, who served as transportation director at Southern Union. Battle was born and raised in Randolph County, Alabama, and devoted 46 years of service to

SUSCC. He was loved by many, including his family, friends and co-workers.

“During his time at SUSCC, he encouraged many students to pursue their goals through all walks of life,” said Battle’s daughter, Wendy. “The Charles E. Battle Scholarship will be our way to carry out his legacy.”

This scholarship will be awarded to one recipient from the Randolph County area that plans to enroll for classes at SUSCC. This is a one-time,

non-renewable award of $500 for the fall semester.

“We are so honored to be the avenue through which this scholarship honoring Mr. Charlie is made possible,” said Shondae Brown, Southern Union’s director of public relations. “He was an icon on our campus, one who made a real impact on students’ lives. It is only fitting that this scholarship continues that tradition.”

The Southern Union Foundation is

Anyone interested in helping sustain the scholarship can make a contribution to the scholarship fund in Battle’s memory. Donations should be sent to Southern Union Foundation, PO Box 1000, Wadley, Alabama, 36276. Please earmark donations for the Charles E. Battle Scholarship.

Scholarship applications can be found by visiting the Foundation page on the SUSCC website, www. suscc.edu. For more information on this scholarship, or giving opportunities, please contact Brown at 256395-2211, ext. 5145 or sbrown@suscc.edu.

“There are thousands of young people in households throughout the state who have not had the opportunity to experience the excitement, the challenges — to learn the values that competitive sports can instill in a person,” said Ron Creel, founder of the ASF Foundation and the Alabama State Games. “Our potential — like the athletes that compete — is limited only by our imagination. The Alabama State Games, even with its tremendous growth and positive influence on amateur sports, we have only begun to realize our full potential and impact. It is becoming clear that the future of the Alabama State Games is more far-reaching than any one of us could dare to dream.”

ALABAMA STATE GAMES

- Bowling - Baseball - Chess - Disc Golf

- Diving - ESports

- Equestrian

- Flag Football

- Gymnastics

- Judo

- Miracle League

- Ninja Challenge

- Pickleball

- Racquetball

- Soccer

- Shooting Sports

- Swimming

- Table Tennis

- Taekwondo - Tennis - Track & Field

- Ultimate Frisbee

- Volleyball

- Wrestling Announcements will follow throughout the coming days as events and host sites are finalized. Registration for the 40th Alabama State Games goes live on March 1 at www. alagames.com.

Wendy Battle makes the initial donation to the SU Foundation for the establishment of the Charles E. Battle Scholarship. Receiving the donation is Shondae Brown.

ZION HUNT AUBURN

LEXI RAIFORD BEAUREGARD

TI'NIVEA WILLIAMS BEULAH

BRIANA JONES LOACHAPOKA LAUREN LANDRY OPELIKA

Ican remember like it was yesterday, but it was 36 years ago. When my son was a young toddler, I took a year off from teaching to take care of him. My husband and family supported me with a day at Mother’s Day Out at Opelika First Baptist so I could get family errands done and so I could have some time to be with friends or just rest. The day off that I was looking forward to soon became a day of guilt when I heard my young son screaming and crying

when I left him in the care of wonderful loving preschool teachers. I would linger, just to be sure he was ok. However, lingering and not leaving, made it worse on my son, his teachers and me. The seasoned and loving teachers realized that my son and I were having a classic case of separation anxiety. They took it upon themselves to help me learn to separate from my toddler in a healthy way, which benefited all of us especially my son. I would like to share some thoughts

Helping Children with Separation Anxiety

that might help other parents who may be having the problem of separation anxiety from their child.

It is normal for children at different ages and developmental stages to have some anxiety and fear. For example, when infants cry when mom or dad leaves, it may simply be due to normal, healthy bonding from infant to parents. Those of us who work with young children see this stop within three to four minutes after a parent leaves.

When it comes to teaching children around seven or eight months to 24 months old, it is normal to see expressions of fear because they sense that the parents will leave and not return. Many times, parents return to pickup their child and are met with tears. The reason for this is that the child is reminded how they felt when their parents left. When this happens as a teacher - I explain that their children really had a good time.

Most of the time, these little ones are laughing, engaging in learning and activities. So, moms and dads, please don’t worry that your young child has had a bad time - 99% of the time, they are reflecting upon the separation feeling that came when you initially left them.

Parents, feel free to ask your child’s teacher about your child’s day. When younger children move around the room by crawling or walking away from their parent’s side, the space or distance may make them become fearful or anxious despite the positive step of progress. Be patient and have hope because there is light at the end of the tunnel. These unpredictable reactions separation usually decrease between 2 and 3 years of age. As a teacher, I love to watch as the morning separations become easier. It is great to wave goodbye to a parent with a smiling child who has moved past this stage of development.

One suggestion that I have — and one I have seen many parents do when their child experiences this anxiety — is to ease out slowly until the child adjusts. For some, it is better for the parent to become a participant in the class along with your child for a few moments and then slowly exit. The teacher of the class will deeply appreciate your understanding of this. Sometimes, immediate separation is the answer. It all depends on the personality and nature of each child. Parents know their child better than anybody.

Take into account that tiredness, illness, or divorce, death or other major changes in a family, can contribute to the anxiety a child feels when they are away from their parents. If a child is attending a new daycare center or preschool, or has a new caregiver, this also can contribute to separation anxiety.

Many parents begin to have nights out by asking a family

member – such as a grandparent - to take care of the child.

Other options include hiring a babysitter or working with another young family by taking turns in giving each other a night out. I see that happening in our Auburn-Opelika MOPS group of moms and families.

When it comes to teaching young children in Sunday School, one thing that seems to connect a child to that feeling of closeness is to let the young child to bring an item from home such as a blanket or favorite stuffed animal to hold close to. With this strategy parents need to be sensitive to the needs of the teacher and the class and not bring an item or toy that may be disruptive.

Families I hope these few suggestions encourage you to have patience and hope as you and your children go through this stage of development.

Beth Pinyerd

What did this study find? Why is it important?

The overall conclusion is an AI chatbot can infer personality pretty well based on a series of evidence. For instance, to verify or to validate a psychological assessment, we look closely at the nature of psychometric properties of machine scores. All that evidence suggests yes, the machine score seems to demonstrate reasonably good reliability and validity, based on well-established criteria in psychometrics.

The big takeaway is the traditional assessment has some downsides. For instance, it’s easy to fake. If you’re applying for jobs and your potential employer asks you to complete

BISONS >> FROM B6

his skills and strength. He had several offers from four-year schools under consideration, but his parents knew Southern Union would be a great place for Thomas to further develop his skills, so they gently nudged him toward their alma mater.

“We’ve always thought highly of Wadley and Southern Union,” Ricky said.

Both he and Christy appreciated that it provided them with a small, tight-knit community where they were able to excel while also being held accountable by their coaches, professors and even local residents.

“It was good for us,” said Christy, “but we

a personality test as part of the application process, because your motivation to get a job offer is very high, you try to put the best foot forward. If you do, that damages the validity of traditional assessment. The AI approach is not easy to fake because it’s less transparent than the traditional approach. You don’t know which features are important, so it’s very difficult for lay people to figure that out.

In the AI approach, you just go through a virtual interview. So, we have some confidence it’s more difficult to fake than traditional assessment. It’s a two-way communication back and forth, the chatbot asks you a few questions and may even make small talk and show certain levels of active listening. It

wanted Thomas to make his own decision.”

However, when Thomas got an unexpected “random” text from Southern Union’s then-coach, Aaron Everett, to come for a visit, he and his father drove over.

Thomas, who was recovering at the time from injuries, didn’t try out for the team that day but the conversation with Everette was enough to help him make up his mind.

“We got about halfway home when Thomas said, ‘This [SUSCC] is where I’d like to go,’” Ricky recalled.

“I didn’t get any pressure from my parents,” Thomas said. “I just knew it was the best choice for me and it just happened to be the best choice for everyone else in my family.”

feels more like talking to somebody naturally through two-way communication, so it’s a better experience.

What are the real-world implications of these findings?

I can only speculate that a little bit because I’m in the field of human resource management. I study psychology, how to apply knowledge of psychology to the workplace. One such area is human resource management or talent assessment. You can select people based on their machine scores instead of having them going through the traditional assessment. Or, you can have a group of current employees chat with the AI chatbot, figure out their personality scores, which areas they need to improve on, and you can then send them to

In 2020, Thomas arrived in Wadley on an academic scholarship ready to begin his college experience. He, too, appreciated Wadley’s smalltown atmosphere and home-away-from-home vibe, which allowed him to concentrate on classes and on things there were important for his athletic aspiration — “playing baseball, lifting weights and eating food,” he said. “Everything I needed was right there for me.”

In 2022, Thomas transferred to Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia, where he is majoring in sports management with an eye toward a career in baseball. Whether that career is as a player, coach on another role, Thomas is sure of one thing: “I want

different training programs. That’s one major area of application.

Another application is in marketing. If the chatbot can chat with a client for a few minutes, maybe the algorithm can infer that specific client’s personality and then the chatbot can have a better way of dealing with clients’ needs, and that will make the marketing effort more efficient. These are just a couple of examples.

How will this change future research on personality?

I think you will see more and more research focusing on this machine learning-based approach to personality assessment. In other words, my prediction is over time, AI-based person assessment will dominate the traditional assessment, particularly if we

to stay around the game,” he said.

Savannah, too, was a natural athlete who started playing softball while very young before switching to volleyball in middle school.

“She told us she was hanging her cleats up because ‘my dad doesn’t know that much about volleyball so he can’t coach me,’” Ricky said.

In 2022, as Savannah began looking for colleges, SUSCC wasn’t on her list nor was she sure she even wanted to play college-level volleyball. But she sent out her volleyball highlight videos to several schools including SUSCC and ended up coming to Wadley for tryouts. When Bison volleyball head coach Ametrice Jackson called to offer her

can further establish the psychometric property of the machine scores. In other words, if machine scores can replace self-reported personality scores, then suddenly, the major implication is we don’t need traditional assessment anymore. That’s a dangerous idea. It’s not here yet but moving forward, that could be a real possibility.

What does this study implicate about the future of AI?

It’s just another application of AI in a different field. You can see AI is being applied to many, many different fields, even biology, sports games, et cetera. And now it comes to human resource management. I would predict you will see more and more AI in our daily life, and it will replace some of

a scholarship Savannah was thrilled.

“I always liked Southern Union when I would come watch my brother play,” Savannah, who is majoring in nursing, said. “When I went to the tryouts, I realized it was a great team and a great environment. I also knew it would let me start small before going onto a bigger school.”

And she was right. The experience of playing volleyball and being part of a close community has been wonderful, and one she happily recommends to others.

Of course, none of that is a surprise to Ricky and Christy, who truly think of their SUSCC family as “family.”

“When you’re here, your teammates really

the traditional working methods or working people, but also it will create new opportunities for people who specialize in data science and things like that. So, I can see that coming.

About Jinyan Fan Jinyan Fan is a professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University. His research expertise includes artificial intelligence, newcomer orientation and socialization, cross-cultural adjustment and training, personnel selection and adult social self-efficacy. Fan’s work has appeared in the “Journal of Applied Psychology,” “Journal of Management,” “Journal of Organizational Behavior,” and more.

become your brothers and sisters,” Ricky said.

“We are proud that our children chose to go to SU,” Christy said, and especially that they chose it for themselves. And they, too, often recommend it to others.

“We tell people all the time that they will not find better facilities anywhere, even at a lot of Division 1 schools,” Ricky said. “We all should be proud of everything here.”

Now is a great time to experience that sense of Bison family firsthand by attending home games at the SUSCC Baseball Complex for their 2023 season, which opened in mid-February. Schedules for all Southern Union athletic events can be found at www.suscc.edu.

Classroom Observer

BETH PINYERD

L labama Politics ee County & A

Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023

Inside the Statehouse

Three Great Alabama Preachers

homes.

“She's My Hero ...”

STEVE FLOWERS

OPINION —

Many of you may be surprised to know that politicians and preachers are often friends while on earth. They actually run in the same circles in their communities as well as around the state. It has been my pleasure to have known a good many Godly ministers.

During my lifetime here in our beloved state of Alabama, there have been some outstanding ministers, but three men stand out as legendary and will go down in the annals of Alabama history as the three greatest preachers of this generation. All three were Alabama born and bred. They had to have been born and chosen for their calling. Just to be in their presence makes you feel special. They are truly men of God. They are also true southern gentlemen with a keen sense of humility. These three ministers are Methodist Minister John Ed Mathison, Methodist Minister Karl Stegall, and Baptist Minister Buddy Gray.

I will begin with the youngest first. Buddy Gray has been the pastor of the mega Baptist Church in Hoover – Hunter Street Baptist Church – for nearly 36 years. Gray built this mountain of a church in the heart of Hoover and is beloved by his throng of congregates. He exudes love and humility.

Gray grew up in Prattville. He knew at 16 that God was calling him to

the ministry. He started preaching at rural churches and along the way he served as youth pastor at Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham in the 1970’s. Hunter Street was in a dying section with an attendance of 120. Soon after they called Gray to be their minister, he had the foresight to see that his church needed to be in Hoover, the fastest growing suburban area of Jefferson County.

Today, 36 years later, his vision is a sprawling landmark campus with a congregation of 4,500 active members. It is one of the largest and most prosperous churches in Alabama. Leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention refer to Hunter Street Baptist Church as one of the greatest churches in America.

During his career,Gray has served at the state and national level of the Baptist Convention including two one-year reigns as president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention. He and his wife Tricia have been a true team in the evangelical building of this great church.

Dr. John Ed Mathison of Montgomery has rightfully been referred to as one of the greatest preachers in the history of the State of Alabama. He was born a Methodist minister. His father was a legendary Methodist minister, and his brother is a legend in his own right as a Methodist minister.

Mathison served 36 years as senior minister of Frazer Methodist Church in Montgomery. Under his leadership, Frazer grew from 400 members to 9,000 and had the largest Sunday School attendance for any Methodist church in America. At the time of his retirement in June 2008, Frazer had eight Sunday morning worship services and its services were televised nationwide reaching about 40 million

Mathison has been a sterling athlete over his lifetime. He was an all-state high school basketball player and an outstanding basketball player at Huntington College. He was consistently ranked No. 1 in his age division in tennis in Alabama and is in the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame. He continues to write. I am proud to say that for the last decade his column and mine have been adjacent to each other in the Montgomery Independent.

Dr. Karl Stegall is a legend within the Alabama Methodist Church hierarchy. He is one of the best known and most loved Methodist ministers to serve in Alabama over the past 50 years. Stegall served with distinction at four separate Methodist churches in Alabama. He culminated his ministerial career as pastor of the First Methodist Church of Montgomery. He served as senior minister of this great traditional Methodist church in Cloverdale for 24 years.

Stegall remains extremely involved in Montgomery civic affairs. He is an erudite gentleman with impeccable class and manners. He has the most melodious Black Belt southern accent. He is an avid sports fan and a great Alabama historian. He has a myriad of talents and uses them all. He has been a confidante and minister to a great many Alabama governors and Montgomery business leaders.

These three gentlemen are without a doubt three of the greatest ministers in Alabama of this century. I am proud to call them friends.

See you next week.

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

BY MICHELLE KEY MICHELLE@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

The Opelika City Council and Mayor Gary Fuller recognized

Oniece Starks, Thomasine Smith and Brandon Littles (not in attendance at the meeting) for their efforts in assisting an individual that was lying on the railroad

tracks in what was perceived to be a suicide attempt on Dec. 9, 2022. While Smith was in communication with the 911 call center, Starks and Littles attempted to

See OPELIKA, page B11

Auburn Considers Board Vacancies

BY MICHELLE KEY MICHELLE@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN —

During the regularly scheduled meeting of the Auburn City Council on Feb. 21, two board vacancies were announced as being open for nominees. There are two vacancies to the East Alabama Mental Health Board with terms that begin April 1, 2023, and will end March 31, 2029. Appointments will be announced on March 21, 2023.

There is one vacancy for

the Auburn City Schools Board of Education with a term that begins June 1, 2023, and will end May 31, 2028. The appointment for this board will be announced on April 18, 2023.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

• The council approved a request from Auburn Calzones, LLC d/b/a Eddie’s Calzones for a restaurant retail liquor ABC License. The business is located at 130 N. College St.

• The council approved a request from Buc‐ee’s Auburn, LLC d/b/a Buc‐ee’s for a retail beer (off premises

only) and a retail table wine (off premises only) ABC licenses. Buc-ee’s will be located at 2500 Buc-ee’s Blvd.

• The council voted to approve a resolution authorizing temporary street closures and invocation of the entertainment district for several community events to be held during 2023. Events are as follows:

- Downtown Family Supper on Thursday, May 18, 2023,

- SummerNight Downtown Art Walk on Friday, June 9, See AUBURN, page B10

334-705-8858

Pictured left to right are Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey, Sgt. David Priest, Oniece Starks, Thomasine Smith and Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller.

Top Secret Documents, Delays, Biden, Pence, a Hidden M16 — Part 2

fore class. He could not make class that night because one of his soldiers lost his night vision goggles (expensive and meant to be secured).

I said, “Thanks for telling me,” and he returned to the field. Two days later, he reported that they found the googles. That’s good, but this Armor NCO always seemed to have an emergency — only on exam days.

GREG MARKLEY

world.

OPINION —

In a perfect world, OpSec (operational security) would work in every time and place. It is a common term in the military, and more and more among businesses. It facilitates risk management through procedural processes. This encourages managers to view operations from the vantage point of an adversary to protect sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands. Sounds good, but as noted above, this is not a perfect

This is part two of two on politicians finding themselves in security lapses. Even when they must have had some understanding of keeping top secret documents at secure government buildings, they left some in their homes or at their private offices. Today we focus on President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence.

When I was teaching U.S. History II at Fort Benning in 2012, a tank commander, staff sergeant caught me be-

“The discovery of these documents was made by President Biden’s attorneys,” said Richard Sauber, the president’s special counsel. “The documents were not the subject of any previous request or inquiry by the National Archives.”

The initial discovery yielded fewer than a dozen classified documents, according to CNN, in early January.

Robert Hur, special counselor appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, was a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney in Maryland. Jack Smith, who served in the Obama administration, is investigating Trump’s classified documents cases. That sounds good, each president having a member of the opposition on his tail. If Hur and Smith do their jobs prop-

erly and fairly, praise them.

“If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself,” wrote George Orwell (1903-1950). He authored “Animal Farm” and the dystopian novel “1984.” Both remain part of the canon for many high schools and colleges. Orwell argued against too much security in government, but classified documents being misplaced would also upset him.

As for Biden, having been chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1987 to 1995 and having served as ranking minority member for 18 years, he should be as wise about returning “hot” documents as anyone in D.C. Also, he served as chairman or ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for years. That body regularly deals with classified documents.

Biden had a fraught entry into the presidency because of Trump’s crude obstructions. Yet Biden must already know how to delegate and oversee projects like removal of top-secret items. If he or his staff had secured all their classified documents, Trump alone would be making headlines on this issue.

In 1993, I was coming back from Croatia as an “augmentee” to the U.S. Army public affairs section there. “Augmentees” are grafted onto a company or detachment due to a need for one or more persons in a special job vacancy. I linked up with the public affairs officer in Heidelberg, but the flight to Berlin where I lived was cancelled.

“I will take you to a hotel and pick you up in the morning,” said the Army ranger, a major.

I said, “OK, but what about this M16 rifle (unloaded)?”

“Just lock it here in this supply cabinet — no one will know,” he said.

I feared the small lock might be opened early the next day, by someone seeking a notepad instead of a rifle.

Not returning an M16 to a safe armory is unwise and illegal. Fortunately, we picked up the sub-machine gun without fanfare at about 7 a.m. The lesson is that document security and weapon security both must be upheld. (I handed the M16 to an armorer in Berlin, and never again made a security lapse — that I know of.)

Unleash American Energy

CONTRIBUTED BY THE OFFICE OF TOMMY TUBERVILLE

OPINION —

This winter, prices for the main energy sources used to heat homes have continued to skyrocket. Families are forced to pay 45% more for heating oil, 25% more for natural gas and 11% more for electricity. It is projected that these price increases will only get worse as temperatures drop. This leaves some families with an unthinkable choice. More than 40% of the households in Alabama had to reduce or skip necessities such as food or medicine to keep their lights on. I don’t want Alabamians to be forced to choose between feeding their families or keeping their houses warm, but unfortunately this is the new reality brought on by the Biden administration’s war on American energy.

For the past two years, Biden has slashed our energy production, emptied our petroleum reserves and increased

2023, - Cheers on the Corner on Friday, July 21, 2023,

- Auburn University Student Government Association Homecoming Parade on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023,

- AHS Homecoming Parade and ROAR on the Corner date still to be determined, - Downtown Trick or Treat organized by the Auburn Parks and Recreation, - Department on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023,

- Annual Active Auburn Jingle Jog organized by the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023,

- Christmas Parade organized by the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association

SEN. TOMMY TUBERVILLE

our reliance on foreign energy sources under the guise of a so-called “climate crisis.”

On his first day in office, he canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, costing American jobs and telegraphing to the world that American energy independence is no longer a priority. Biden’s cancellations didn’t end there, as he then

on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 and - Krewe de Tigris 2024 Mardi Gras parade on Feb. 10, 2024.

The following events were also approved as part of the Entertainment District for consumption of alcohol as “special community events” as provided in Section 3-58(c) of the Auburn City Code pertaining to alcohol consumption in the Entertainment District:

- First Fridays to be held on the first Friday of each month in 2023,

- Sip and Shop to be held on Thursday, March 30, 2023,

- Downtown Family Supper to be held on Thursday, May 18, 2023,

- SummerNight Downtown Art Walk to be held on Friday, June 9, 2023,

- Cheers on the Corner to

delayed permits required to bring additional production online from offshore federal oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition to cutting domestic production, the Biden administration began aggressively draining our strategic petroleum reserve for political gain, bringing it to its lowest

be held on Friday, July 21, 2023,

- Auburn University Student Government Association Homecoming Parade to be held on a date approved by the city manager,

- Come Home to the Corner to be held Friday evenings prior to Auburn University football home games during the 2023 football season, Holiday Market to be held on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, and Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 and

- 2024 Krewe de Tigris Mardi Gras parade to be held on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024.

• The council approved a contract with GT Distributors Inc. for the purchase of 80 Protech Plate Harnesses and 160 Protech Rifle Plates for an amount of just under $38,000.

• The council approved a contract with Noble for the

level since 1984 by releasing up to a million barrels per day — the largest release in history. If that wasn’t enough, President Joe Biden willingly handed over nearly a million barrels of oil from our emergency stockpile to China. However, China was likely able to secure much more than a million barrels from America’s inventory as sales from the strategic petroleum reserve are unrestricted. Now, the reserves have about 372 million barrels — almost half of their 726.6-million-barrel storage capacity.

The strategic petroleum reserve was established to serve as a reliable source of energy in the event of a catastrophe, not to give our enemies like China a leg up. Depleting the strategic reserve is a dangerous short-term fix to a long-term problem. The real solution is to work with American oil and gas producers to increase domestic energy production.

Instead of undermining the domestic energy industry and emboldening foreign

purchase of 25 Pitagone F‐18 mobile HVM barriers for an amount of slightly over $58,000.

The council approved a request from Michael and Paula Arasin for the acceptance of public right‐of‐way and drainage and utility easement for property located at 2032 Bonny Glen Road.

The council approved ordinances to establish and set stop signs in Farmville Lakes Subdivision, Phase 7 and Glenwood Farms Subdivision, Phase 1.

This will enable the city to install:

- One stop sign on Monticello Drive at Farmville Lakes Drive.

- One stop sign on Farmville Lakes Court at Farmville Lakes Drive.

- One stop sign on Glen-

Pence has also been found lacking. At his home in Carmel, Indiana, and with his consent, the FBI dove in.

“Department of Justice completed a thorough and unrestricted search of five hours and removed one document with classified markings and six additional pages without such markings,” said Pence advisor Devin O’Malley.

Pence is respected mostly by religious conservatives and Republican businesspeople. His run for president will be impacted, although he is a hero for counting all 2020 electoral votes honestly. He now has a security breach. We will see what develops with the trio of Trump, Biden and Pence. We learned, though, that OpSec is a trainwreck right now for the United States.

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 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.

adversaries, we should unleash American energy to restore our energy independence and provide relief for Alabamians and families across the country.

I supported the Keystone XL pipeline as a common-sense approach to bolster American energy independence. The pipeline stood to transport more than 800,000 barrels of crude oil per day, which would drastically reduce our reliance on foreign adversaries such as Russia, Iran and Venezuela. The Keystone XL pipeline would have also strengthened our economic security, providing up to 59,000 jobs and injecting an estimated $9.6 billion into the economy. I also called for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to quickly end their de facto ban on new drilling that rapidly diminished the share of royalties from the oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico shared with Alabama via the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA).

In order for domestic

wood Court at Glenwood Terrace.

- One stop sign on Glenwood Terrace at Society Hill Road (Lee Road 54).

• A public hearing was held in regards to rezoning of approximately 34.7 acres from rural (R) to limited development district (LDD). The property is located at 801 Ogletree Road. The applicant for this rezoning ordinance request was East Mag. Investments LLC. The council voted to approve this ordinance.

• A public hearing was held in regards to rezoning of approximately 34.7 acres to apply the Planned Development District (PDD) to property located at 801 Ogletree Road. The council voted to approve this ordinance.

• A public hearing was

producers to be successful, we must roll back radical regulations and restrictions that stifle the production and transmission of oil and gas. These producers are the backbone of the world’s largest economy, but they have come under attack by politicized federal agencies like the Department of Interior (DOI) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To restore energy independence and end the crusade on fossil fuels, we must ease regulatory burdens on companies, rescind the moratorium on gas leases and bar restrictions that reduce American energy security.

Climate fearmongers are disconnected from reality. Unaware or untroubled with the problems facing everyday Americans, green activists continue to pursue actions and implement regulations in response to a crisis yet to materialize. Alabamians are tired of paying for these games. It is time to unleash American energy to lower costs, create jobs and strengthen our national security.

held in regards to an ordinance to amend the Planned Development District (PDD) on 236.54 acres zoned as Development District Housing (DDH) of approximately 4.19 acres from rural (R) to DDH. The property is located on Miracle Road/Lee Road 83 between West Farmville Road and North Donahue Drive. The council voted to approve this ordinance.

• The council voted to postpone the vote on a resolution for commercial recreational use of property located at 2601 East University Drive.

• The council voted to approve an existing interlocal agreement with Lee County for subdivision review and approval process in the city of Auburn's planning jurisdiction.

Lee County Convictions Upheld in Appeals Court

CONTRIBUTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

LEE COUNTY —

Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the convictions of Charles Daniel Waltman, age 40, of Opelika, for attempted murder, second-degree kidnapping and domestic violence strangulation.

Waltman was convicted in the Lee County Circuit Court on March 21, 2021. The evidence at trial showed that on the night of Feb. 9, 2021, Waltman arrived at his former girlfriend’s home and, at some point, began taking drugs and asking his victim about her relationships with other men. Ultimately, as she pleaded for her life, Waltman attacked her while threatening to kill her. Soon, the victim lost consciousness due to the beating she received from Waltman. In the following hours, Waltman attempted to strangle the victim while telling her repeatedly that she was going to die. The victim convinced Waltman to leave her home, but Waltman insisted that the victim accompany him and threatened

OPELIKA

>> FROM

to kill her if she called law enforcement. When Waltman stopped at a local restaurant, the victim was able to escape inside the restaurant where she was later rescued by police officers responding to the incident.

Lee County District Attorney Jessica Ventiere’s office successfully prosecuted this case and obtained a guilty verdict. Waltman was sentenced to a total of 65 years for his attempted murder, second-degree kidnapping and domestic violence strangulation convictions. Waltman sought to have his convictions reversed on appeal. The Criminal Appeals Division handled the case during the appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm Waltman’s convictions. The court did so in a decision issued Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. Marshall commended Assistant Attorney General John J. Davis for his successful work on this case and thanks Ventiere and her staff for their assistance in defending the attempted murder, second-degree kidnapping and domestic violence strangulation convictions.

pull the person from the tracks. The person told them to stop, but Starks refused to leave the person. The train was in sight and quickly approaching, and the individual finally decided to move on his own.

The Opelika Police Department commended Starks, Smith and Littles for their bravery and selflessness in helping a fellow citizen during a crisis situation; without their assistance, the outcome could have been tragic.

Opelika Sgt. David Priest spoke about the event, praising the trio and how Starks stayed trying to move the individual.

“She became a voice of reason during this crisis,” Priest said. “I think that is really something because I have armor and training and it is not normal for a citizen to do that. She’s my hero for 2022.”

“This is what ‘Together Opelika’ is about,” said Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey. “This is what makes Opelika different from anywhere else — having folks like this step up, no matter whether it is their job or not, and help someone that needs help.”

SAR Club Gets Special Visit

IN OTHER BUSINESS

• The city of Opelika was recognized as being a Tree City USA for 35 years during the meeting.

• The council approved a request for a special retail alcohol license from 3AZ Sports LLC doing business as Tigertown Sports.

• The council approved a request for a restaurant retail liquor and retail beer on premise alcohol license from Alvarez Gallegos LLC doing business as Viva La Vida Mexican Cuisine.

• The council approved a request for a temporary street closure from Opelika Main Street for the Johnny Ray Century Bike Ride to be held on May 6, 2023.

• The council approved a request for the Pride on the Plains parade to be held on June 2, 2023.

• The council held a public hearing pertaining to the demolition of a structure located at Public 622 S. 4th St. The council later voted to approve a resolution to demolish the structure.

• The council approved a bid for a cybersecurity assessment, planning and audit RFP for the IT department.

• The council approved expense reports.

• The council approved a resolution to designate city owned personal property as surplus and to authorize its disposal.

• The council approved a resolution for an agreement for right of way (ROW) appraisal services for roadway improvement projects for the engineering department for a total cost not to exceed $38,700.

• The council approved a resolution to extend the solid waste disposal services contract with GFL Everglades Holdings LLC.

• The council approved an interlocal agreement with Lee County for planning Jurisdiction for the planning department.

• The council approved the transfer of funds in the amount of $1,388,889 to Indian Pines Recreation Authority per its previously approved agreement. These funds were the city of Opelika's portion of the sale proceeds.

• The council approved a resolution to designate Opeika Mayor Gary Fuller as the city's voting delegate at the 2023 ALM Annual Convention.

• The council approved a special appropriation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of

Greater Lee County for the amount of $7,500 as a sponsor of the Great Futures Gala 2023.

• The council approved a special appropriation to Opelika High School Theatre Society for the amount of $2,000.

• The council approved a special appropriation to Southern Union State Community College Foundation for the amount of $5,000.

• The council approved the purchase of 624 Toter 96-gallon EVR II Universal/Nestable Carts utilizing the Sourcewell Contract No. 041521-TOT for the environmental services department for nearly $34,500.

• The council approved an ordinance to amend Chapter 27 of the City Code of Ordinances: Tree or Plant Protection and Management.

• The council approved an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance and Map to rezone 8.1 acres of land located in the 2900 block of Anderson Road, from R-3 to a planned unit development (PUD).

OHS Chorale Performs for Opelika Kiwanis Club

Last week the Opelika High School Choral Group performed for the Opelika Kiwanis Club. They sang songs, including "Love Is An Open Door," which is part of their "Frozen" musical that they will perform from April 21 through April 28 at the Opelika Performing Center for the Arts.

Julian Singer, executive director of Historic Westville (a living history museum located near Columbus, Georgia), was the guest speaker at the February 2023 Richard Henry Lee Chapter Meeting of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Pictured left to right are Singer, Chapter President Robert Harris and Chapter Secretary Walker Jackson.

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION IN THE FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, UTAH COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH, FOURTH DISTRICT COURT 137 NORTH FREEDOM BOULEVARD, PROVO, UTAH 84601, CASE NUMBER 234400194 JUDGE BRADY, PETITION FOR DIVORCE: Garenton Flowers. THE STATE OF UTAH TO GARENTON FLOWERS: You are hereby informed that you have thirty (30) days to file a response in this proceeding if you wish to contest the Petition for Divorce. Failure to file a response within thirty (30) days of this notice will result in a judgment by default entering against you and the divorce being finalized without your involvement. Any response to this notice and the divorce proceeding must be filed with the Fourth Judicial District Court, Provo, Utah County, Utah at the address listed above, and a copy shall be mailed to Petitioner’s attorney, John S. Larsen, at 75 South 300 W., Provo, Utah 84601. Legal Run 02/09/23, 02/16/23, 02/23/2023 & 03/02/23

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

STATE OF ALABAMA IN THE PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY

DOCKET NO. 2023-046

RE: ESTATE OF PATRICIA WATERS JACOBS, DECEASED:

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 3rd day of February, 2023, by the Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

/s/ Jacob J. Key Jacob J. Key, Administrator Legal Run 02/09/2023, 02/16/2023 & 02/23/2023

--------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CASIMIRA D. VOELKEL, DECEASED

CASE NO.: 2023-050

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Take Notice that Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to John Paul Voelkel on the 6th day of February. 2021, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County. Alabama.

Notice is hereby given to

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.

J. TUTT BARRETT

P.O. Box 231 Opelika, AL 36803-0231

Legal Run 02/09/2023, 02/16/2023 & 02/23/2023

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HENRY CARSON JACKSON, JR. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

CASE NUMBER 2023-060

Letters Testamentary on the Estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 10th day of February, 2023 by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate of said county in said State, notice is hereby given that all persons having c]aims against said estate are required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Laurel Jackson Buckalew, Executor of the Estate of Henry Carson Jackson, Jr.,

Deceased

Name and Address of

Attorney: Catherine H. Richardson, Esq. Michael P. Dalton, Esq. Capell & Howard, P.C. Post Office Box 2069 Montgomery, Alabama 36102-2069

Legal Run 02/16/2023, 02/23/2023, 03/05/2023

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TO: OMAR BROOKS

A Petition for StepParent Adoption and to Terminate Parental Rights of the two minor twin children, O.P.M and A.M.M., born to Shadonna Marks having been filed by Dorian and Kimberly Brooks, hereby serves notice of the following: Pursuant to O.C.G.A. §19-8-10(c)(1), When notice is given pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section, it shall advise such living parent that shall not be a party to the adoption and shall have no obligation to file an answer, but shall have the right to appear in the pending adoption proceeding and show cause why such parent’s rights to the children who is the subject of the proceeding should not be terminated by that adoption.

Let all interested persons show cause before me, if any they can, by filing responsive pleadings within sixty (60) days of the last day of the publication for this notice with the Troup County Clerk of Superior Court, State of Georgia and to serve upon the Petitioner’s attorney, Lonnie J. Haralson, IV P.O. Box 3597, LaGrange, Georgia 30241 said responsive. Legal Run 02/23/2023, 03/02/2023, 03/09/2023 & 03/16/2023

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PUBLIC NOTICES

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA FAMILY COURT DIVISION: DOMESTIC RELATIONS

PATRICK D. SLATTERY, Maternal Grandfather, vs. GUY T. SMITH AND AMANDA Q. SMITH, Natural Parents DR-2022-900274.00

NOTICE OF CUSTODY ACTION

AMANDA Q. SMITH, whose whereabouts are unknown, must answer PATRICK D. SLATTERY'S petition for custody and other relief by April 10, 2023, or, thereafter, a judgment by default may he rendered against her in Case No. DR-2022-900274.00, in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama.

DONE This the 6th day of Feb. 2022.

MARY B. ROBERSON, CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Jem1ifer M. Chambliss Samford & Denson, LLP

P. 0. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345

Attorney for the Plaintiff Legal Run 02/16/2023, 02/23/2023, 03/02/2023 & 03/09/2023

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TAKE NOTICE that JRBC Holdings, LLC (“JRBC”) has filed with the Lee County Commission a petition to vacate all of Lee Road 196. Said petition states that Lee Road 196 runs entirely through and ends within the property owned on all sides by JRBC. A public hearing on JRBC’s petition is set at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Lee County Commission at 5:00 P.M. on Monday, April 24, 2023, at the Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Commission may take final action on JRBC’s petition. Any citizen claiming to be affected by the proposed vacation may submit a written objection to the Lee County Commission or may request an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing.

Blake L. Oliver, Samford & Denson, LLP, P.O. Box 2345, Opelika, AL 36803-2345, 745-3504

Legal Run 02/23/2023, 03/02/2023, 03/09/2023 & 03/16/2023

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STORAGE TREASURES AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated:

1242 N Dean Rd, Auburn, AL 36830

Thursday, March 2 , 2023 at 10:00AM

Unit 146 Unit 398

storagetreasures.com.

Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Legal Run 02/23/2023

-------------CITY OF OPELIKA SYNOPSIS OF ZONING NOTICE

The City Council of the City of Opelika will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Opelika Municipal Court Building, 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to consider the adoption of an ordinance to pre-zone the property located on the south side of Columbus Parkway (U.S. Highway 280) in the 3200 block of Columbus Parkway within the unincorporated area of Lee County to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) prior to annexing into the City of Opelika. The real property is located on the south side of Columbus Parkway and is more particularly described so as follows:

Commencing and beginning at a found 4”x4” concrete monument 0.40’ Southwest of a 1” crimp top iron pin, said concrete monument accepted at the Southwest corner of Section 14, Township 19, Range 27 East, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, said point being the Southwest corner and the Point of Beginning of the parcel described herein: from this POINT OF BEGINNING, thence North 01°07'22" West, a distance of 119.43 feet to a 1” crimp top iron pin; thence North 00°44'26" West, a distance of 199.62 feet to a 1” crimp top iron pin; thence North 00°48'54" West, a distance of 304.19 feet to a 1” crimp top iron pin; thence North 00°18'09" West, a distance of 294.77 feet to a 1” crimp top iron pin; thence North 00°33'53" West, a distance of 104.09 feet to a 1” crimp top iron pin; thence North 00°18'21" West, a distance of 191.44 feet to a 1” crimp top iron pin; thence North 00°24'22" West, a distance of 401.28 feet to a 1” crimp top iron pin; thence North 00°23'32" West, a distance of 989.11 feet to a 1” crimp top iron pin 37.1 feet East of another 1” crimp top iron pin; thence North 01°45'04" East, a distance of 1534.43 feet to a set ½” rebar by Precision Surveying (CA788) 6” from a fence corner in the South right of way of US Highway 280; thence along said right of way South 83°01'03" East, a distance of 643.83 feet to a 4”x4” disturbed concrete monument; thence along said right of way along a curve concave to the south having a

radius of 2824.80 feet and a chord which bears South 72°17'12" East 1102.83 feet for an arc distance of 1109.95 feet to a set ½” rebar (CA788); thence continue along US Highway 280

South 61°31'03" East, a distance of 416.27 feet to a 1 ½” crimp top iron pin; thence leaving US Highway 280 South 00°28'12" East, a distance of 2546.01 feet to a set ½” rebar (CA788); thence South 88°03'58" East, a distance of 723.36 feet to a painted rock accepted as the property corner; thence South 01°35'00" East, a distance of 1073.94 feet to a 1 ½” crimp top iron pin at a fence corner; thence North 87°37'08" West, a distance of 2855.88 feet to the Point of Beginning. Said parcel lies within Section 14, Township 19, Range 27 East, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama and contains 209.71 ACRES, more or less.

The above-described property contains 209.71 acres, more or less, and is located in the 3200 Block of Columbus Parkway (U.S. Highway 280).

The Development Plan (Master Plan) provides for a residential development consisting of approximately 599 residential lots. Should the annexation not occur, the pre-zoning shall have no effect, and the property shall remain in the unincorporated area of Lee County, Alabama.

Public Notice of this public hearing with insertion of the proposed ordinance was first published on February 16, 2023, in the Opelika Observer. This notice is given pursuant to Sections 11-5277 and 11-52-78 Code of Alabama (1975).

All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing and be heard and shall have the opportunity to speak for or in opposition to the proposed ordinance.

Written comments concerning the above matter may be mailed to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 390, Opelika, AL 36803 at any time prior to the public hearing and may be further submitted to the City Council at the meeting and the public hearing.

Please contact Brian Weiss, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334705-5134 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to any disability. THIS NOTICE is given under my hand this the 23rd day of February, 2023.

/s/ Russell A. Jones, CMC CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal Run 02/23/2023

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IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE:THE ESTATE OF FANNIE H. JAMES, DECEASED.

Case No. 2023-040

TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to David T. Linthicum, as Executor of the Estate of Fannie H. James, deceased, on the 31st day of January, 2023, by the Honorable Bill English. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against the Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same be barred.

David T. Linthicum, Executrix Of the Estate of Fannie H. James, Deceased Marrell J. McNeal, Attorney at Law, PC PO Box 308 Opelika, AL 36803 334-745-7033 Legal Run 02/23/2023, 03/02/2023 & 03/09/2023

NOTICE OF COURT PROCEEDING IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary Distribution

In the Estate of DANNY HOLLOWAY, deceased

Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate office by CEFFIA RENEA HOLLOWAY on January 5, 2023, pursuant to Section43-2-690,Code of Alabama and that 30 days after the notice of publication hereof and pursuant to law the Court shall be requested to enter an Order directing Summary Distribution of the estate of said decedent.

BILL ENGLISH, PROBATE JUDGE Legal Run 02/23/2023

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

In the Matter of Slade Jackson – an alleged incapacitated person NOTICE OF HEARING: TO: Any relative or interested party: Lee County OHR has filed a Petition to appoint a Legal Guardian for the person of Slade Jackson. A hearing has been set for the 30th day of March, 2023, at 1:00 p.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 this matter.

BILL ENGLISH - Lee County Probate Judge Margaret A. Mayfield

Attorney for Lee County DHR Post Office Box 809 Opelika, AL 36803 (334) 745-0333 Legal Run 02/23/2023, 03/02/2023, & 03/09/2023

Feb. 23, 2023

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