The Observer 06-08-2023 E-edition

BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce held its 82nd Annual Meeting last Friday and presented several local individuals and businesses with awards to represent the big things happening in Opelika.

The Spirit of Opelika Award is the last award handed out each year, as Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller said, it's a "coveted" award.

“This award goes to an Opelika citizen who is an

outstanding individual that has brought exceptional benefit and/or recognition to our city, county and state,” Fuller said. “More than that, they possess the ‘it’ factor, that unique quality that makes Opelika special, that puts a smile on your face, that makes you feel at home.”

This year, Becky Brown, director of public relations for Opelika City Schools, was the recipient of the Spirit of Opelika award.

“When I think about what makes the city and the schools of Opelika great, I think of Becky, said Farrell Seymore,

Opelika City Schools

superintendent. “Becky is a timeless ambassador and champion for students. She goes to great lengths to promote the wonderful happenings in our schools and bridges the gap for those outside.”

Of course, awards aren’t the only thing that happened at the annual meeting.

Ali Rauch, president and CEO of the chamber, shared about Forward Opelika and the impact it has on the community.

“When you were with us

See OPELIKA SPIRIT, page A2

Mackenzie Poole Promoted to

Chamber Vice President

CONTRIBUTED BY OPELIKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPELIKA —

The Opelika Chamber recently announced the promotion of Mackenzie Poole to vice president. She will continue to be responsible for events and leadership programming but will take on additional responsibilities as it relates to workforce development and the daily operations of the Opelika Chamber.

MACKENZIE POOLE

Poole has been with the Opelika Chamber for four years and previously served as the director of leadership and events, and programs and events manager, pri-

or to that position.

"Mackenzie is an essential part of our team, and I am grateful for her continued commitment, hard work and dedication to excellence," said Ali Rauch, president and CEO of the Opelika Chamber. “Much of what we’ve accomplished in the last three years is directly linked to Mackenzie, so this promotion is very much deserved.”

Through her tenure, Poole has doubled the programming and execution of events for the Opelika Chamber — averaging over 170 events a year. She also served as the staff lead for the Opelika Chamber’s

See POOLE, page A3

NEW — Summer Kid's Page — B14

Austin 1st Foundation To Host Inaugural 'Aces Fore Austin' Golf Tournament

CONTRIBUTED BY THE AUSTIN 1ST FOUNDATION

AUBURN —

Swing to make a difference. The inaugural Aces Fore Austin benefit golf tournament is coming to raise awareness and funds for rare disease research.

The event, hosted by Austin 1st Foundation, will take place at Robert Trent Jones Grand National on June 12 and is the organization’s first-ever golf tournament to benefit rare disease research.

Registration for the golf tournament will begin at 7 a.m. with a breakfast and welcome at 7:45 a.m. The tournament will feature a shotgun start at 8 a.m., with a four-person scramble format.

Fischer and OHS Athletic Director Jamie Williams.

See GOLF, page A2

The Observer Welcomes Summer Interns

BY ETHAN STAMPER AND OLIVIA WELCH FOR THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA —

The Observer welcomes two new interns for the summer semester.

OLIVIA WELCH

Olivia "Livi" Welch is one of two interns working with The Observer this summer. She is currently a junior studying creative writing and literature at Auburn University and will graduate in May 2025.

Welch grew up in Homewood, a small suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, and followed in her family’s footsteps to study at Auburn University. However, she has still managed to blaze her own trail as she will be the first liberal arts major in her family, deviating from a long line of accountants and nurses.

She arrived at Auburn with her major undeclared but quickly found her way to creative writing after a

GOLF >> from A1

Golfers of all skill levels are welcome to participate. Awards, giveaways and a post-tournament meal will be held immediately after play ends.

The Austin 1st Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by rare diseases through education, advocacy and research. The Aces Fore Austin golf tournament is just one of the various initiatives the foundation

lack of English courses her first semester left her feeling like something was missing, she said.

Welch said she has always had a love for reading and writing, so landing on creative writing and literature felt like the obvious choice. Besides reading and writing, some of her hobbies include basketball, painting and interior design.

She hopes to take her talents into publishing or reporting, she said, and is once again striving to forge her own path forward.

“I really want to bring a

has undertaken to support its mission.

“The Austin 1st Foundation gives back directly to communities and the 1 in 10 Americans affected by rare diseases,” said Anthony and Lindsey Terling, co-founders of the foundation.

“Rare” are any diseases, illnesses, disorders or conditions affecting 200,000 or fewer people in the United States.

Ninety-five percent of funds raised will be given directly to support the Austin 1st Foundation’s mission and two specific research projects, one

creative side to newspapers that is not as traditional,” Welch said.

Her first experience writing news articles was during her time in high school when she wrote for GirlSpring, a local Birmingham paper that provides girls ages 13 to 18 with the opportunity to write monthly articles.

Welch said she is excited that her time at The Observer will allow her the chance to write stories again, and she looks forward to applying her unique, creative abilities to the world of newspapers.

ETHAN STAMPER

As the spring fades into a hot summer of sweltering humidity, The Observer welcomes two new interns, no longer burdened with the stress of the semester. Ethan Stamper, a senior studying journalism at Auburn University, said he is excited to join the team.

Hailing from Huntsville, Alabama, Stamper has fond

memories of growing up in a budding city, he said.

“Growing up, I liked the small-town feel, but it was neat to see the whole place build up as I was there,” he said. “Now, I keep seeing Huntsville in all these articles about being one of the best cities to live in.”

Stamper said he remembered going to Monte Sano State Park nearby and looking up at the sea of mountains.

“Those are some of my best memories.”

When Stamper was considering colleges, he said he decided to follow his brother to The Plains, though his brother has since graduated.

Now, Stamper serves as a campus reporter for The Auburn Plainsman but said he didn’t always know he wanted to be a journalist.

“I actually started as a computer science major,” he said.

Stamper grew up enjoying computers and was interested in pursuing a

career in the tech industry, he said.

“After freshman year, I found out that I hated it,” Stamper recalled. “My parents said, ‘Well, you’ve always liked writing.’”

He said that a “switch flipped,” and he changed his major.

“I started writing for The Plainsman and I’ve enjoyed doing it ever since,” he said.

“… That was the first thing I told my mom — that I wanted to be an author.”

However, he “wrote off” a career in it, choosing to leave writing “in the background,” he said.

research project through Oregon Health and Science University.

The Raiden Science Foundation, the UBA5 Foundation, and the Austin 1st Foundation all aim to find effective treatments for those suffering from UBA5 Mutation and other rare diseases. More than 90% of rare diseases have no FDA-approved treatment.

Now, Stamper said he feels that it is more important to love your work than let doubt get in the way.

Though Stamper prefers writing now, his interest in technology remains the same. In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games, primarily “Destiny 2.” Recently, he has been exploring a new game, “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.”

He also enjoys riding his bike on nature trails, an activity he shares with his father, along with playing Frisbee and reading, Stamper said.

Though in the process of “figuring out” the areas of interest he would like to report on after graduating, Stamper said he has a few ideas.

“I’m interested in anything in the tech scene or [video] game-related,” he said.

Still, Stamper affirmed that he would be content “wherever [he] lands” and would find joy in the work.

all last year, we gave you a very, very small glimpse into our efforts, something we call Forward Opelika and the future home of the Opelika Chamber,” Rauch said. “Over the past 12 months, we have been working tirelessly on this initiative.”

Forward Opelika is an initiative to help businesses grow, attract people to the area to work and create new jobs, Rauch said. This includes things like a business incubator — a space to help small businesses grow and land on their feet.

“The reason this is import-

ant for the Chamber [is], to keep pace with what the city is doing, for them to have the kind of facilities that they need to do the kind of the job that is their mission to do,”

Fuller said in a video played during the meeting.

The chamber is important to the city’s growth, Fuller said.

“This is the right moment for this whole initiative and the Opelika Chamber is the right organization to lead this endeavor in collaboration with our private and public partners,” Rauch said. Rauch said that investing in this initiative is an investment in the city as a whole.

“We can only be successful if all businesses and stake-

with UAB’s Undiagnosed Diseases Program and the Raiden Science Foundation’s UBA5 Mutation

holders hold an interest in [Opelika],” she said.

$2.7 million has already been raised for Forward Opelika, Rauch said.

Part of this initiative looks like the construction at the former Opelika Public Library, which will be the chamber’s new home.

Another aspect of the annual chamber meeting is the “passing of the gavel” of the chamber board chair, which changed hands from Dr. Linda North to Dr. Jason Bryant this year. “As I mentioned before, I have truly enjoyed serving as the board chair this past year,” North said. “Between raising $2.7 million for our Forward Opelika initiative to the

record-breaking bridge campaign, our chamber also won two different awards this year: Our magazine from ACCE for excellence in communication and our CEO was recognized by the state as an outstanding emerging chamber professional with the Chamber Champion Award.

“Of course, I’d be remiss not to mention the unforgettable Snopelika this year. This year has been a truly amazing experience for me. Next year, we are blessed to be welcoming Dr. Jason Bryant.”

Bryant said it would be hard to step in after the work North did.

“What a year we’ve had,” he said. “And it’s all been well represented in today’s annual

Austin, the son of Lindsey and Anthony Terling, was diagnosed with UBA5 Mutation, an ultra-rare genetic disease that is life-limiting and causes severe physical

meeting. … It is an honor for me to stand here today to serve as your next chair of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. … I’m humbled to lead in this position and to work with such an outstanding group as we move Opelika forward.”

Many other awards were presented at the Chamber event, including:

• Keep Opelika Beautiful Shirley Flora: Tipi Miller

• Opelika Main Street: Evan Crawford and Matt Willis

• Auburn Opelika Tourism: Stacy Brown and King Braswell — Botanic

• Ambassador of the Year: Morgan Vickers

• Community Partner: Lee County Humane Society

and cognitive disabilities. At the time of the diagnosis, Austin and a couple others were considered the first diagnosis of UBA5 Mutation in North America and one of just 35 to 45 cases worldwide. Austin passed away on July 16, 2022, but through the Austin 1st Foundation, he continues to touch many lives. For more information about the Aces Fore Austin golf tournament or to donate to support the mission, visit the Austin 1st Foundation website at www.austin1stfoundation.org.

• Young Professional of the Year: Nakeda Woods

• Emerging Business of the Year: Grandma Val’s Lemonade

• Small Business of the Year: Heritage House

• Minority Business of the Year: Dani’s Cheesecake

• Large Business of the Year: Bonnie Plants

• Woman of the Year: Sherry Cook with the Lee County Youth Development Center

• Distinguished Service: Eric Canada

• The Legendary Award: Peterson and Williams Funeral Home

• Chairman’s Award: Raven Harvis

• Visionary Award: Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey

LIVI WELCH ETHAN STAMPER

OPELIKA SPIRIT >> from A1

GolfSuites Coming to Opelika

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

It’s not quite Topgolf, but Lee County is getting a technologydriven driving range and restaurant in 2024.

GolfSuites, a yearround entertainment, game improvement and fun-driven venue, announced last week the latest addition for the city of Opelika and surrounding communities.

The Opelika location will be GolfSuites’ fourth nationally, joining the existing venues in Tulsa, Baton Rouge and Lubbock.

According to its website, “the company’s goal is to connect communities by providing fun and engaging experiences through food & beverage, technology driven games, golf game improvement and live entertainment for anyone looking to have fun no matter the occasion.”

GolfSuites’ venues feature high-tech gamified golf, outdoor climate-controlled suites, handcrafted cocktail and dining menus, live entertainment and spaces for both social and

corporate functions.

“No question it will fill a need in our community,” said Opelia Mayor Gary Fuller. “Opelika is already a mecca for golf enthusiasts thanks to the RTJ Grand National Golf Course, and GolfSuites will be a welcome addition. It will offer a fun and entertaining outing for golfers, as well as non-golfers and I envision many families enjoying this facility. This will be another entity that helps make our community special.”

According to a press release by Newswire on May 1, the project is planned to commence development later this year at The Landing,

which is located right off I-85 and Gateway Drive in Opelika. The 6,400- square-foot indoor area includes a restaurant and bar, 40 hitting bays, a large outdoor covered patio with a stage, putting green and meeting rooms for catered events, parties and watching big games.

Scott McCurry, the company’s chief operating officer, said the plan is to open GolfSuites’ Opelika location in the late second quarter of 2024.

"We are pleased to become part of this growing community,” McCurry said. “GolfSuites was founded on the real passion for the game of golf; it's this authentic spirit and enthusiasm for

POOLE>> from A1

REACH Campaign

the past two years — where with the assistance of volunteers surpassed a $200,000 goal by more than $35,000 in 2021 and surpassed a $275,000 goal by more than $136,000 in 2022. During her four years at the Opelika Chamber, she has developed the Minority Business Scholarship Program, established the SNOPELIKA

Originally from Roswell, Georgia, Poole obtained a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, sport and tourism management and a master's degree in public administration from Troy University. She previously worked for the city of Troy in the Community Engagement and Special Projects Department, as well as Troy’s University’s Student Involvement Office.

ABOUT THE OPELIKA CHAMBER

the game, combined with the element of fun, food, drinks and entertainment, that fuel everything the company stands for. And we look forward to bringing it all to the community of Opelika/ Auburn."

Final approval for the project by local zoning and building departments is still pending, but GolfSuites entertainment promises to provide fun for people of all ages. Whether it’s for a date night, birthday party, corporate functions, family fun or just to grab a bite to eat and watch the game, GolfSuites is a welcome addition to the local community of funseekers.

Christmas parade and tree lighting, improved the Lee County Young Leaders application process and built the Opelika Chamber’s Public Policy Agenda

“I am honored to have the opportunity to grow and develop in this new role,” Poole said. “I am truly excited for the continued success of our team at the Opelika Chamber and look forward to advancing the efforts of our organization while also strengthening our business community. I am incredibly grateful to serve the Opelika community, and I appreciate the many people who have encouraged and supported me over the past four years.”

Chamber Recognizes Opelika Impactors

For more than 80 years, the Opelika Chamber has worked to strengthen the community as the champion of business by building bridges, cultivating community and elevating business in order to achieve excellence. Representing more than 900 businesses and over 20,000 employees in the region, the Opelika Chamber has been recognized for its operational best practices among 501(c)6 notfor-profit chambers of commerce. The Opelika Chamber is one of only three five-star accredited chambers in the state of Alabama. You can learn more at www.opelikachamber. com.

Artistic rendering of GolfSuites.

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce, during the 82nd annual meeting, recognized Opelika residents from all professions and walks of life with its annual awards. The awards range from the “Visionary Award”, to the “Woman of the Year,” to the “Minority Business of the Year,” to more.

Burger Wars Fills Up Downtown Opelika

BY LIVI WELCH FOR THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA —

Hosted by the Opelika Rotary Foundation, Burger Wars was held June 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Opelika.

Tickets sold out as hundreds of people flocked to enjoy tasty burgers and a great show. This year, there were 20 different burgers to try, and crowd members could buy $2 tasting tickets to

sample each one.

This year’s winning tailgater was HFC Auburn, followed by the Opelika Police Department and Donald Clayton in second and third place respectively.

Borland Borland PC won in the corporate division, finishing above Prewitt Pest Control and Opelika Utilities.

To round out the pro division, Bama BBQ Supply finished on top, and the Auburn Griller’s Association and

Flaps took second and third place, respectively.

The crowd favorite went to the Opelika Police Department with Opelika Utilities as the top corporate entry, and The Plains Taproom as the top pro entry.

The Opelika Fire Department set the place on fire, finishing ahead of the Auburn Fire Department for the second year in a row in the Big Bite Competition.

Opelika Police Department's burger won the Tailgater Division Crowd Favorite.

Opelika Rotary’s annual grilling competition, Burger Wars, returned to downtown Opelika Saturday, June 3.

OFD Burns Down Competition Second Year in a Row

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

Located at 1510 2nd Ave. in Opelika, Opelika Rage Room is set to open this summer.

“We are excited to offer Opelika’s first ever rage room and give the city we love a new and fun activity to experience with friends and family,” said a statement on Opelika Rage Room’s website. “One thing we really like about Opelika is that you’re seeing entertainment for adults, families and college students. Growth is happening and we think that this location will be a great one to build our next location.”

What is a rage room?

Pretty much what it sounds like.

“A Rage Room is a place where anger and stress find their ulti -

It's All the Rage in Opelika

mate release point,” the website explains. “A reinforced room designed with smashing items in mind. Just imagine everything as a kid you were told ‘not to break,’ well … we are flipping the script and totally encouraging it.”

At Opelika Rage Room, participants gear up and smash a room full of donated items with metal bats, hammers, mallets, hand sledges and more (nothing with a sharp edge). Participants can break things such as cameras, computers, file cabinets, furniture, glasses and bottles, printers, old toys and electronics, speakers, TVs, etc.

Group sizes typically range from one to six people, with one exception. Groups of one to four participants have a 30-minute time slot, while groups of five to six have 60 minutes to do their damage. The

time blocks include check in, rules, gear prep and smashing, so try to arrive 5 to 15 minutes early to maximize smash time.

The exception to the six person-maximum

rule is Opelika Rage Room’s Splatter Room, which entails 45 minutes of making a mess — rather, art — with paint. The paint, and a canvas, are supplied by Opelika Rage Room.

This activity has a minimum age of 5.

For Opelika Rage

Room’s two normal rage rooms, participants must provide a photo ID, wear closed-toe shoes and be at least 13 years

old. Walk-ins are welcome, however booking reservations online is encouraged.

Pricing ranges from $35 for one person to $210 for six people. Packages for purchasing additional breakables are available; a cosmic range (where neon fluorescent paint-coated breakables are provided and black lights are turned on) promises an experience like no other; and you can even BYOB (Bring Your Own Breakables) as long as they fall under the rules found on Opelika Rage Room’s website.

For more information, visit Opelika Rage Room on Facebook and Instagram, or the website: www. opelikarageroom. com/?fbclid=IwAR1oxfcuuDX8nG93T35ZtNzp-kJ3ZrCOr4LjcbVIKtPZzHON2uosK4yJaJk.

The Opelika Fire Department finished ahead of its Auburn counterpart for the second year in a row in the Big Bite Competition of Burger Wars.

Opelika Rage Room is set to open this summer. It's sister location, Birmingham Rage Room, opened in 2021.

MAX Credit Union Continues Expanding Talent

top of mind.”

CONTRIBUTED BY MAX CREDIT UNION

EAST ALABAMA —

MAX Credit Union, a local financial institution currently serving Central and East Alabama, is pleased to announce new additions to the team, as well as an internal promotion, to lead MAX into an era of growth while continuing to create positive member experiences.

Drew Sullivan has joined the leadership team as vice president of payments. Sullivan brings over 30 years of business development and product management experience to his new role.

He has spent his career serving and focusing on the needs of financial-related businesses on a national scale, including founding a global pay-

ment consulting firm. Through his innovative thought process, he has identified and outlined process improvement and strategic plans that contributed to the development of new and improved products and experiences for organizations, and ultimately, the end user.

“The MAX team is progressive, always keeping the current or future member at the forefront,” Sullivan said.

“I am excited to join the credit union and look forward to identifying and implementing beneficial products for our members where longterm impacts are made.”

MAX Insurance Services has added two insurance agents: Will Littleton and Lani Hudgins. Both bring experience and knowledge to the growing insurance agency, where they will put their skills to work and ensure members are

National Dog Bite Awareness Week

Continues through June 10

CONTRIBUTED BY USPS

ALABAMA —

More than 5,300 Postal Service employees were attacked by dogs while delivering the mail last year.

Aggressive dog behavior is a common safety concern USPS employees face. To keep its workers safe, the organization is providing important information on how dog owners can be good stewards for safe mail delivery as part of its annual National Dog Bite Awareness Week public service campaign.

The campaign runs Sunday, June 4, through Saturday, June 10. This year’s theme is “Even good dogs have bad days.” Spread the news of the campaign with the hashtag #dogbiteawareness.

PET OWNERS CAN HELP

SUPPORT SAFE MAIL DELIVERY

Mail carriers know all dogs can bite, even those perceived as non-aggressive. Dogs are generally protective of their turf, and dog owners have an important responsibility to control them to ensure safe mail delivery.

Most people know the approximate time their letter carrier arrives every day. Securing your dog be-

fore the carrier approaches your property will minimize any potentially dangerous interactions. When a letter carrier comes to your home, here are some precautions pet owners can take:

· Keep dogs inside the house or behind a fence.

· Move them away from the door or into another room.

· Keep your dog on a leash.

Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier as the dog may view the postal employee as a threat to the child.

INFORM YOURSELF, SEE THE MAIL BEFORE IT ARRIVES

By using Informed Delivery, a free USPS service, customers can digitally preview incoming mail and packages from a computer, tablet or mobile device. More than 52 million customers have enrolled since it was launched in 2017. Sign-up is at www.informeddelivery.usps.com.

This service can help dog owners anticipate when their carrier will arrive.

THE VICTIMS

Many attacks reported by letter carriers came from dogs whose owners regularly stated, “My dog

won’t bite.” Dog bites are entirely preventable. One bite is one too many. BEING ATTENTIVE WHILE DELIVERING

Letter carriers are trained to observe an area where they know dogs may be present. They are taught to be alert for potentially dangerous conditions and to respect a dog’s territory.

Letter carriers are trained to:

· Not startle a dog.

· Keep their eyes on any dog.

· Never assume a dog will not bite.

· Make some noise or rattle a fence to alert a dog if entering a yard.

· Never attempt to pet or feed a dog.

· Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping. If a dog attacks, carriers are also trained to stand their ground and protect their body by placing something between them and the dog, such as a mail satchel and to use dog repellent, if necessary.

Even though postal officials ask customers to control their dogs, bites still happen and may result in injuries to carriers and

adequately protected through products ranging from homeowners and auto coverage to life insurance.

Pace Josey has been promoted to vice president of marketing and growth, where his creative and imaginative thought process will be used to develop and implement campaigns geared toward growth while continuing to monitor member needs to ensure a seamless ex -

perience.

“We are excited to welcome new team members to the MAX family, as well as offering growth and advancement opportunities for current members of the team,” said MAX CEO Martin Head.

“They all bring experience, knowledge and foresight to guide MAX towards a bright future of growth and innovation, all while keeping the member experience

ABOUT MAX CREDIT

UNION

MAX Credit Union is a leading, locally owned financial institution in Alabama, with more than $2 billion in assets. Serving the communities for more than 67 years, MAX provides a full array of consumer and business financial products including checking, savings, loans, wealth management, insurance, mortgages and online and mobile banking.

MAX has 17 branch locations across its Alabama footprint, more than 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs and myMAX Service Center to assist with any financial needs by phone. With dedicated team members, MAX is committed to providing exceptional customer service and value. Learn more at www.mymax. com.

Opelika Environmental Services Begin Renovations, Upgrades at Jeter Recycling Center

CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF OPELIKA

OPELIKA —

The city of Opelika Environmental Services (OES) Department began renovations and upgrades to the Jeter Recycling Center Monday, June 5. The facility will be closed for approximately one month.

During the closure, citizens are encouraged to use the 8th Avenue Recycling Center at 600 8th Ave. in Opelika. Gates open at the 8th Avenue facility Friday at 8 a.m., and facility will continue its normal hours on Tuesday. Although the facility is typically closed at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, OES will open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with hours from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Please bring recycling and tires to the 8th Avenue facility during the renovations. This facility does not take trash or yard waste. Please dispose of these items properly.

For more information, contact OES at 334-705-5480.

costly medical expenses for dog owners. Please heed the above best practices to help stop dog bites and protect your mail carrier.

Carriers have tools to alert them to dogs on their routes. A dog alert feature on carriers’ handheld scanners can remind them of a possible dog hazard, and dog warning cards may be used during mail sorting to alert carriers to routes where a dog may interfere with delivery.

Lastly, when a carrier feels unsafe, mail service could be halted — not only for the dog owner, but for the entire neighborhood. When mail service is stopped, mail must be picked up at the Post Office. Service will not be re-

stored until the aggressive dog is properly restrained.

Please note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, dependable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 165 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan board of governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and

maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow USPS on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like USPS on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts. usps.com.

SULLIVAN LITTLETON JOSEY HUDGINS

S Food ociety & News

Located in a country setting, a wooden fence frames the pasture with miniature donkeys at the home of Judy and Dr. Jere Colley. Over the years, a variety of animals have found a home under the care of the beloved Opelika veterinarian.

On a perfect spring afternoon, Jere relaxes on a swing with Judy

as he recalls his early years in Opelika, being a father of three successful children and now enjoying eight grandchildren in his retirement.

Both Judy and Jere grew up in Troy, Alabama. Jere’s grandfather was superintendent of the Baptist Children’s Home in Troy, and they had a big herd of donkeys.

When Jere’s parents traveled, he would stay at the Children’s Home.

“I loved it,” he said. “There was always something to do when there are 350 kids. I used to spend a lot of time with the donkeys.”

Judy and Jere dated in high school and had a picture taken together with Judy sitting on a donkey.

“When Judy and I

got married, we had donkeys, and have been married 55 years, and I just have enjoyed my donkeys,” Jere said.

Judy’s father was mayor of Troy and then in the state legislature, while Jere’s father was one of two doctors in Troy with the other being his uncle.

After high school, Jere attended Auburn University on a football scholarship, playing under coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan. He was on the team with Pat Sullivan and Terry Beasley. Jere couldn’t focus on football with Judy in Troy. After three months at Auburn, they

got married. At that time, the majority of the first-string football team was married, and they all lived in Caroline Draughon Village.

While Jere attended veterinarian school, Judy taught at Carver School in Opelika. After he graduated,

St. Dun's Continues Work in Community

St. Dun's Buns of St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church is coming up on two years of its venture into baking for donations. During the last two years, the group has baked monthly for donations and has used the proceeds to support nonprofit organizations in the Lee County area. As of this writing, the group has donated to 54 different organizations. In May, the donation recipients were Lee County Youth Development Center, represented by Laura Cooper; L.E.A.P.S. (Leadership, Education, Achievement, Partnership and Service), represented by Greg Johnson; and The District Silverbackz Athletic Association, represented by coach Everett Thomas. St. Dun's Buns said it is proud to report that all three organizations involve children and youth. "We are so thankful to live in a community where adults take the time to work with and volunteer with our area children and youth," said St. Dun's Buns. Find them on Facebook with a link to the signup genius to place orders.

Touch-A-

Delivers Fun Times to Local Children

Accompanying Burger Wars in downtown Opelika on Saturday, June 3, was Opelika’s annual Touch-a-Truck event. From 9 a.m. to noon, vehicles of all types lined the South Railroad Avenue in Opelika at this family fun event. Children of all ages came and explored military vehicles, racecars, dump trucks, tractors and more. Admission was free and visitors were encouraged to adventure around, into and through the vehicles.

the Colleys moved to Columbus, Georgia, for a year for him to complete an internship.

Judy had taught school with Roslyn Stern, and they became good friends with the Sterns, who wanted them to move back to Opelika to open the animal clinic.

The Colleys were considering an offer in Arkansas, but after praying about it, they decided on Opelika, as people were so supportive, they said. A few other Opelikans were a huge influence as well: Raymond Newman, Buck Rice, his cousin Billy Hitchcock and Frank Morris were all supportive of Jere.

“There is not a better place to live than Opelika,” Jere said. “Next to marrying Judy, coming to Opelika was the best thing. People could not have been any nicer. We went around Alabama looking at vet clinics and taking pictures of surgery rooms. Then Judy drew it out on a piece of cardboard for the contractor.”

Jere opened the Opelika Animal Hospital in 1979. Judy worked there off and on over the years as a receptionist.

“I was like my dad,” he said. “People were not just clients, they were friends. I loved them.”

Cal James Sr. sold them the property where the Colleys currently live. The first three or four years, they went to the property in the afternoons after work for a picnic until the house was built in 1984.

“God built the land,” Judy said. “We just put a house on it.”

Jere said he remembers many long days at the clinic and going back at night when someone had a sick animal. Sometimes he spent the night at the clinic or took sick animals home to care for them overnight and on weekends. They had a special room in their home for animals, and their children enjoyed loving on them, they said.

Faith is important to the Colleys, they said, and they are active at First Baptist Church in Opelika. In 1991, they became missionaries in Bangladesh. Their two daughters went with them for almost two years.

“If you are the only people who speak English for 60 miles, you get close to your kids,” Jere said.

The Colleys have three children — Jere Colley Jr., Tipi Miller and Casey Stewart. Jere Jr. and his wife Sarah have two children — Ray, a senior at Truett McConnell University, and Trip, who recently graduated from high school and will attend Auburn University this fall.

Sarah works for Stitch

Therapy, while Jere Jr., an attorney, works closely with probate and juvenile court. He is currently running for Lee County probate judge.

Casey and husband Heath Stewart have three children — Savannah, 15, Jack, 13, and Saylor, 9. Heath is in management with USA Concrete, and Casey is secretary at Lee-Scott Academy.

Tipi, director of The United Way of Lee County, and Wes, who is landscape manager in facilities at Auburn University, have three children — Colt, 13, Annie Grace, 13, and Branch, 9.

Judy and Jere were also involved in foster care. They have kept a couple of 11-year-olds for a few years and babies. The girls were teenagers and helped feed the babies at night and on weekends. The Colleys stay in touch with the children.

Jere gives more credit to Judy for raising the kids as he often worked long hours. His main time with the children was doing something special with one child at a time every month.

“If someone asked me what I thought I did that was good, it was being with one child at a time because then you become their best friend,” he said. “They will tell you about their friends and teachers. That was one thing I did that made a difference. It is not taking all three, it is one on one.

“Another thing that is very important is getting to know your kids’ friends. That is big.”

Their daughters were a year apart in school, and he wanted to get to know the guys in their classes. When they were in junior high school, Jere held a Bible study at their home for guys in their classes. One year, he took nine in the Bible study to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Those guys still come to see him when they are in town.

Since retiring in September 2019, Jere is enjoying having their eight grandchildren, aged 9 to 20, living close. He takes the younger ones to school and picks them up.

“You have to be careful to remember that you have to let the parents be mom and dad, and you are the grandparent,” he said. “I didn’t realize how much fun I missed with my three kids. It was like God said I was going to get eight more for another chance.”

He and Judy enjoy attending baseball and volleyball games, as well as tennis matches.

The grandkids are enjoying the animals at their home. They ride the 17 miniature donkeys and miniature horse. There are also three peacocks, seven turkeys, chickens, a 90-pound turtle and their dog, Betty. They had so many animals

at one time that school children visited for a field trip.

Judy and Jere teach sixth grade Sunday school at First Baptist with about 50 kids, who enjoy visiting the farm for parties twice a year. Judy has been teaching Sunday school for over 30 years.

As Jere reflects on being a father, he said he feels blessed that he had a good dad. He said he feels fathers are needed in homes to teach kids right from wrong.

“I think one reason the country is in the shape it is now is because many homes don’t have fathers,” he said. “Kids are being raised by moms and grandmothers who hold down jobs 12 hours a day. You can’t expect kids coming out of school without plans who never had a daddy to know how to be one.”

Jere Jr., Tipi and Casey said they are thankful they have a wonderful father. Following are their comments about their father. Be sure to check their recipes and Judy’s for gathering family around the table to share a good meal together.

CASEY COLLEY STEWART

“Most people that know my dad know him as Dr. Colley, but those under age 15 know him as ‘Papoo.’ I’m not sure what it means or where it originated, but I know exactly what comes to mind when people hear the name: fun, childlike, Honey’s other half (my mom), sharer of gross animal and entertaining stories.

“Life with Papoo is and has never been boring. He’s always been up for an adventure and sometimes, the more dangerous the better. Whether it’s elk hunting on horseback, water skiing or crosscountry trips with no destination planned, Papoo is always game, especially if it involves spending time with his grandkids. He loves being able to be a part of every aspect of their lives as he was ours.

“Most days — when he's not in a pickleball tournament — you can find him at one of the grandkids’ tennis matches, baseball games, bike races or volleyball games. He’s always the fan cheering the loudest, eating popcorn and decked out in whatever team colors he’s representing.

“If you look up in the stands he’s hard to miss, sitting right beside Honey and surrounded by a bunch of kids that know him only as Papoo.”

TIPI COLLEY MILLER

“Those that know my dad well understand that it’s rather impossible to describe him in one article, much less a few sentences. Our childhood was anything but boring. We lived overseas for almost two years, my parents were foster parents when I was in high school,

we’ve had as many animals as most zoos, and we’ve had family competitions in most every sport.

“Our adventures have included water rafting in Nepal, riding a bus from Egypt to Israel, waiting in line for six hours to see Wimbledon and arriving in India with no hotel reservations.

“When I think of my dad, the word that comes to mind is relationships. Dad has always found little ways to make people feel important. When I played sports in high school, he would write down the game stats and tape them to my bathroom mirror. When I went to college, he would take me and my friends to eat every Wednesday night.

“When I moved to Birmingham for a job, he would mail me newspaper articles that he ripped (not cut) out of the newspaper. As I have my own kids, I see the individual relationship my dad has with each of his grandchildren.

“When my dad practiced vet medicine, he would call every client that visited his office. This was the start to many friendships. Whether it’s teaching sixth grade Sunday School,

playing pickleball or attending numerous grandchildren activities, my dad continues to develop and value relationships.”

JERE COLLEY JR.

“Writing about my dad has been more difficult than I thought. All I keep going back to about ‘my ole man’ is that he has always been there. I guess that pretty much says it all: ‘He has always been there.’ If it were easy times and things were as perfect as I could imagine this side of heaven, he was there cheering the loudest. If it were awful times, and I felt like I was in the darkest hole, ‘He was there.’

“We have had excellent times working on donkeys or on hunting trips; we have destroyed more trucks than the demolition derby. We sank canoes on the Saugahatchee, we have been lost in Canada just trying to cross the border, we have snuck baby goats, chickens, rabbits into hotels rooms on cold nights and we have been lost in the woods for hours.

“We have ‘fished’ awful beaver ponds in the middle of the summer looking for the big fish that just has to be there. We

have had passionate disagreements over a multitude of things, yet he has always been there. The more I think about it from one daddy to my dad on this Father’s Day, about as good a compliment as I can give another man is ‘He has always been there.’

“As a dad now of two adult children, I see the most important lesson learned from my dad is to always be there. I have never really looked at him as my father figure, I have always seen him as my Dad. Even though the dictionary says they are the same, it is wrong. As a daddy, we do not always have all the answers and we know it. About all we know for sure is we love our children passionately and desire for them grow into the adults God designed them to be.

“Our greatest deep dark fear is that somehow our actions will hamper them from becoming the amazing adult God designed them to be. As our children age, they get smarter and soon realize we don’t have all the answers, but they do know with complete confidence we will always be there. Thanks, Dad.”

SEAN DIETRICH

The Alabama mountains look good today. The evening sun is cresting over the hillsides. I’m watching an Appalachian spring overtake the foothills beneath me.

Beside me is Otis. Otis is an athletic dog. He hikes faster than me. He is smarter than me. He can hike farther distances, too. Otis probably even knows how to do algebra.

I, on the other hand, am no athlete. I come out here and I hike in a style that would make athletes cringe. I hike slow. And I mean R-E-A-L-L-Y slow. I am DMV slow.

In my backpack, I carry all the nutrition anyone could need. I

have chicken salad from Chicken Salad Chick. I have a Payday. And I have two beers. One for me. One for Otis.

You will not find any gluten-free energy bars or trail mix in my bag. You will not find life-giving food that nourishes the arteries and feeds the limbic system. You will find food which contains bacon, and Budweiser.

Whenever I stop for lunch, I sit on a tall rock and dangle my legs off the edge, and I watch the world below me.

Otis never wants his beer. Which means that, once again, I am forced to drink it. The things I do for this dog.

And after a brief

Mountains

moment of repose, we are back to hiking again. We move steadily upward. My pale, shaky thighs are weak. I have unusually scrawny legs. My mother used to say I looked like a guy riding a chicken across the backyard.

But eventually, we reach the top. Whereupon I will pause to catch my breath while Otis looks at me as if to say, “You shouldn’t have drank my beer.”

And the view is arresting.

My father was a mountain lover. He was an ironworker. Local Number 10. He was a stick welder. Stick welders are real men.

My old man could climb things. Anything. Because that’s what welders do. He could scale a column, lay down a bead, then scurry back down. He moved like a monkey.

When it came to the mountains, he was obsessed with them. He worked in Colorado Springs as a young

man because he was a “boomer,” which meant he went wherever work was. He lived in a camper. He welded all day. And after work, he would walk through mountains. His backpack contained beans and weenies, and cheap beer.

He loved Pikes Peak. It was his favorite place on planet earth. Which was really saying something when you consider that there is also, for instance, Dollywood.

Pikes Peak is quite a place. It was the same mountain where, in 1893, a young woman named Katharine Lee Bates once stood and was so moved by the vista she wrote a song you’ve probably heard before:

“O beautiful, for spacious skies, “For amber waves of grain, “For purple mountains, majesty, “Above the fruited plains…” I wonder if Katharine Lee Bates drank beer. If

Everyone Is a Genius

not Einstein. Similar phrasings have floated around since at least the 1800s.

OPINION —

There is a famous quote that goes, “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by how well it can climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking it’s an idiot.”

The quote is almost always attributed to Albert Einstein. But he didn’t say it.

In fact, historians don’t know who said it, but they’re pretty sure it was

WALK >>

the Auburn Arts Association, the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association and St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church.

An artist marketplace, live music, late-night shopping and dining, as well as children’s activities, are just some of the fun features SummerNight will offer. The community is also invited to participate in the Peachy Keen Culinary Contest. Participants may enter up to three peach-themed dishes for judging and cash prizes. Entries must be turned in Friday, June 9, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Dean Road Recreation Center located at 307 S. Dean Road. Winners will be announced at 7:30 p.m. on the SummerNight

But this and at least five other famous quotes you’d probably recognize are falsely credited to Einstein. Why? I think it’s because we believe something is truer when someone smart says it. That often seems logical to us, but it isn’t. What we call intelligence is an extremely specific set of cognitive skills that lend themselves to an extremely specific way of understanding the world that is no better or worse than any other. Plato was brilliant when it came to philosophy. Newton was a mathematical genius.

But what about

someone who always seems aware of how they and others are feeling, who can intuitively understand the mindset someone else is in, and attune themselves to that? That person is socially and emotionally intelligent. What about the athlete who has a deep understanding of how his/her body manages to perform, and how the muscles tend to move and feel when she/ he swings a bat or shoots a basketball? What about the musician with an intimate understanding of how a violin responds when a bow is drawn across the strings? IQ does not test for these types of intelligence. Neither does the ACT or the

SAT. Several studies have demonstrated that IQ is an awful predictor of academic and professional success. Research consistently shows that excellence has much more to do with things like emotional intelligence, interpersonal communication and strong, supportive relationships with loved ones. So Einstein really was profoundly brilliant, but no more than you are. His type of genius is related to what our culture teaches us to idolize and prioritize over others: scientific and technological progress. Scientific discovery is great, but no greater than the types of intelligence

Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University, Kathy Powell State Farm, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Auburn University, Tailgate Guys/Pre-Events and The Chill Spot

she did, she might have written a verse like this:

“O beautiful, for spacious skies, “This altitude causes hemorrhages, “Thank God for all these purple mountains, “And for his malted beverages…”

As a young man, my father once told my mother that whenever he died, he wanted to be cremated and scattered on Pikes Peak. It was just a passing comment. A comment made casually. It was the kind of comment your brain forgets until the day your brain needs to remember it.

They cremated my father after his early death. He was given to us in a cardboard box. I was a little boy when we scattered him atop Pikes Peak. I was a grown man before I went back to visit him.

But when I did visit, I stood atop a mountain and observed the most incredible view on earth. And I could feel God. I can’t explain this, but it’s

true.

When you’re on a 14,114-foot mountain, you’re closer to heaven. Only a few feet above your head, you have 17 bajillion-zillion angels hovering around, looking at you from over the railing.

I remember staring at the sky, struggling to remain oxygenated. And I promised God that I would spend more time in the mountains from now on.

And at that exact moment, a storm kicked up in response. It was the most bizarre thing. The weather changed immediately. The mountainside was engulfed in a sudden cloud. It began to snow. The wind howled. The air pressure changed. It was like God was replying to me. I could hear Him clearly.

And the Lord saith unto me: “You need beer.”

Then again, maybe it wasn’t God’s voice. Maybe it was the voice of another old friend.

that might discover for the world how people can better understand themselves and each other — how we can learn to cooperate rather than compete and how we can achieve peace among nations for the sake of everyone’s prosperity.

We have to ask ourselves how to build a society that makes the most of what everyone brings to the table, so we can become as wise as we are smart. Many of the world’s problems today stem from the fact that we keep developing new technologies faster than we can figure out how to use them responsibly. Civilization can’t survive much longer

CARNIVAL >> from A7

great food, cheery tunes and an unforgettable start to the summer.

if technical knowhow keeps outrunning wisdom. Every one of us lives in a world less awesome than it could be because we elevate one kind of brilliance over all others, and therefore make only one kind of progress. We are hemorrhaging human potential.

At night, we look up at the sky and see all the stars and the constellations, and each glittering bulb in the whole web of lights is beautiful. And then the sun comes up. It’s a star just like all the others, except it’s closer; so it’s so bright that we can’t see the others at all. The irony is that we think we can see things better during the day.

Entry is free.

“There is something for everyone,” Nix said.

The carnival has only grown more popular in recent years: a fact Nix said he is proud of.

stage located at Toomer’s Corner.

This year, SummerNight is excited to welcome the band Eat a Peach. All from Birmingham, these four men are ready to bring a rocking good party to Auburn while paying homage to one of the greatest bands in history.

The SummerNight organizers would like to thank the following sponsors.

• Art Walk Peach Sponsors — Auburn Network, Memories in Motion, OpelikaAuburn News and STAMP

• Art Walk Community Sponsors — Auburn Bank, Auburn Flowers and Gifts, Auburn-Opelika Tourism, Auburn Productions LLC, Kate 99.9 FM, iHeartMedia, Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University, Jule Collins Smith

• Art Walk Business Partners — Auburn Chamber of Commerce, Check It Out Balloons and Flowers, East Alabama Community Ballet and Little Italy Pizzeria STREET CLOSURES

Please note, College Street from Thach to Tichenor avenues and Magnolia Avenue from Wright to Gay streets will be closed to traffic from 5:15 to 10:30 p.m. for the event. The event will be held rain or shine. For more information, please contact the SummerNight Headquarters at 334501-2963 or visit auburnsummernight. org.

Bobby Nix, the Covington area supervisor, said he is thrilled to pull the event together.

“This is our third year hosting this, and we’re just so glad that people are enjoying it,” he said.

Both children and adults alike can find plenty of ways to enjoy themselves at this event. Among a field of several inflatables, bouncy houses and slides, there are endless opportunities for children to let out their energy. Additionally, there will be food trucks serving everything from tacos to ice cream and slushies, along with various door prizes and a DJ to keep spirits high. And the best part?

“We’ve added more food trucks because we wanted to avoid long lines,” he said.

Nix said he expects 300 to 400 people will attend this year’s event, but hopes that number will be higher.

“We would love to have more than that,” he said.

The most rewarding part of this day and Nix’s job is seeing the excitement of the children, Nix said.

Covington Children’s Carnival invites all to come and celebrate the start of the summer this Saturday.

“The summer is such a special time for kids,” he said. “I like seeing [them] have a good time and feeling like we played a part in that.”

ART

from A7

Dancers perform during a previous SummerNight Downtown Art Walk in Auburn.

SAM DICHIARA

Memorial Golf Tournament Honors Lives Lost

CONTRIBUTED BY ALSYR

LEE COUNTY —

The Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches (ALSYR) Memorial Tournament will be held in honor of the eight children the Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches lost in the accident on I-65 in June 2021.

Isabella, Ben, Haley, Josiah, Nicholas, Dana, McKenzie and Tia are greatly missed by their families, friends and the ranches.

The golf tournament is sponsored by Lyn Wheatley of SafetyNet Behavioral Healthcare;

CIPPERLY RECIPES >>

GRILLED CATFISH

Judy Colley

I buy fresh whole catfish from Publix and marinated them in a zip lock bag for a few hours before we grill them.

Marinade : 1/2 stick melted butter

Juice of one lemon

1/3 cup apple cider

vinegar

Liquid smoke

Splash of cooking

wine

Sprinkling of Old Bay

Salt and pepper

Before lighting the grill, use a paper towel and apply Crisco to grill grate. Once grill is hot, lay the whole catfish on it and brush with marinade. The fish will be very delicate and tender, so try to turn only once. I use tongs and a spatula.

When it has grill marks on both sides, place on serving plate and cover tightly with aluminum foil. This brings out the best flavor and broth.

Squeeze a lemon over before serving.

ORANGE FLUFF

CONGEALED SALAD

Judy Colley

This is one of those dishes that I have to hide in the back of the refrigerator until serving time.

1 large box orange

Jell-O

1/2 cup boiling

water

1 small can crushed

pineapple

3 Tbsp. sugar

2 cups buttermilk

1/3 cup Hellman’s

mayonnaise

1/2 cup toasted and chopped pecans

1 large container

Cool Whip

Dissolve Jell-O in water. When cool, stir in remaining ingredients. Beat vigorously and pour into a dish. Refrigerate until congealed.

ANNIE’S OLD

David Dennis of Harmon, Dennis, Bradshaw Inc.; Sheriff Jay Jones of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office; and Sheriff Jeff Nelson of the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office.

This tournament will be held on June 20, 2023, at Robert Trent Jones Grand National in Opelika and benefits the Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches.

The Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches is a 501(c)(3) charity founded by the Sheriffs of Alabama in 1966. This organization provides long-term, loving homes for needy young people

FASHION TEA

CAKES

Tipi Colley Miller

My grandmother, Annie Ray, made these for church dinners at their church in Troy. The recipe was printed in their church cookbook many years ago. My daughter, Annie, has made this recipe so many times that she’s memorized it.

½ cup shortening ¾ cup sugar

1 egg

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. vinegar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 ½ cups allpurpose plain flour

Cream shortening and sugar together. Add egg and salt; then beat until creamy. Dissolve soda in vinegar and add to the mixture. Add vanilla and flour gradually to make a stiff batter. Roll batter out very thin and cut to desired cookie size. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

CHICKEN PARMESAN STROMBOLI

Tipi Colley Miller

This is a simple and good recipe for a busy school night.

4 frozen breaded chicken tenders

1 tube refrigerated pizza crust

8 slices mozzarella cheese

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

1 Tbsp. olive oil

½ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. dried

oregano

Marinara sauce, warmed

Prepare frozen chicken tenders according to package. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Unroll pizza crust onto parchment paper lined baking sheet. Layer with mozzarella cheese, chicken and Parmesan cheese within ½ inch of edge. Roll up jellyroll style, pinch seam to seal and tuck ends under.

across the state of Alabama.

Ranchers live on the ranch in a home with loving house-parents and other peers. They attend public school and enjoy extracurricular activities that interest them. The Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches currently operate four ranches located in Baldwin County, Colbert County, St. Clair County and Tallapoosa County, as well as the Administrative Office in Montgomery.

“Not a day goes by that I do not think of those precious children who are now in the

Combine olive oil and spices and brush over top. Bake until crust is dark golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before splicing. Serve with marinara sauce.

GRIDDLE PORK

RAMEN NOODLES

Jere Colley Jr.

1.5 lbs. pork

tenderloin

2 pkg. ramen

noodles

⅓ cup Bachan's Japanese Barbecue

Sauce

Chopped green onion, to garnish

Vegetable oil, for griddle

Start griddle on high with a foil pan of water (about 2 inches).

Dice up pork tenderloin to cubes less than an inch thick.

Oil up griddle and add diced pork. Open packets of ramen and discard seasoning packet. Add noodles to water. Stir frequently for 3 minutes or until soft.

Lower heat on pork to mediumhigh. Continue tossing pork as it browns. Once fully cooked, adjust burner to low heat, and add half of sauce.

Add noodles to pork (using a slotted spoon works best) and stir fry for a min or two. Mix in remaining sauce. Plate and garnish with sliced green onions. Serves four.

DEER ROLLS Casey Colley

Stewart

1 pkg. venison cube steaks

1 jar jalapenos

1 block cream

cheese

1 pkg. bacon, cut slices in half

Italian dressing

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Marinade

cube steak in Italian dressing, Worcestershire and pepper for 2 to 4

arms of our Savior,” said Michael Smith, chief executive officer for the ranches. “We hope that through this memorial tournament, their memory and legacy will forever live on in our hearts and the hearts of others,” he said.

At this tournament, there will be a morning and an afternoon tee time option. Morning tee time players will enjoy breakfast, a round of golf, Coca-Cola products, a catered lunch and an awards ceremony after tournament play.

Afternoon tee time players will enjoy a

hours or overnight. Remove slices and lay flat. Place a slice of jalapeno and a slice of cream cheese on each. Roll up tightly and wrap 1/2 slice bacon around each, securing with a toothpick. Grill for about 20 minutes. Turn frequently during grilling until done.

VENISON HAMBURGERS

Casey Colley

Stewart

1 lb. ground deer meat

1 medium chopped onion

1 pkg. dry ranch seasoning

Pinch of salt and pepper

1 egg

1/2 cup breadcrumbs Combine all ingredients and make into patties. Should make approximately 5 patties. Grill. The onions make the burgers juicier, and kids won't notice them.

STRAWBERRY PINEAPPLE COLESLAW

Tipi Colley Miller

This is one of our favorite summer dishes.

2 pkgs coleslaw mix

1 jar coleslaw salad dressing

1 cup salted cashews

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup chopped pineapple

1 cup chopped sugar snap peas

1 cup chopped strawberries

1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Combine all ingredients. Toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

SMASH BURGERS WITH GROUND TURKEY

Judy Colley

Here is a recipe I cook often.

1 lb. ground

catered lunch, a round of golf, Coca-Cola products and an awards ceremony after tournament play.

First Place Gross and Net Division winning teams from both tee times will win a spot in the Tournament of Champions in 2024. Additional prizes will be awarded for second and third place winning teams. Special prizes will be awarded for Long Drive and Closest-to-the-Pin on Par 3 holes. Hole-in-One prize opportunities will also be available. The price for a four-player team is $600.

turkey 1 pkg. dried Lipton’s onion soup

1 egg

Southern flavor, charcoal

1/2 Italian breadcrumbs

Onion powder and garlic powder

Kitchen Bouquet

Browning seasoning

Butter

Good hamburger buns

Mix all burger ingredients in a large bowl. Roll into balls about the size of a golf ball and flash freeze on a cookie sheet. Transfer to zip lock bag when frozen. These thaw very quickly. When almost thawed, place on hot black iron skillet and smash down with spatula. Add thinly sliced onion to skillet and grill. Turn burger over and add a slice of cheese. Meanwhile, spread softened butter on inside of hamburger bun and grill in hot pan. Place burger in toasted bun and top with grilled onion. Then place a second burger on top and add more grilled onions. Top with toasted burger bun top.

SLOW COOKER CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Tipi Colley Miller

This is a great dish to serve when you have company. We also love it for leftovers.

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

4 Tbsp. butter

2 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

½ cup sour cream

1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup

½ tsp. salt

1 cup milk

½ tsp. dry mustard

½ tsp. black pepper

Boil macaroni for 6 minutes and drain. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Heat of medium

Sponsorship levels range from $200 for a hole sponsorship to $5,000 for the Titanium level, with increasing benefits given to the higher tiers. Silver, Gold, Platinum and Titanium sponsors receive at least one team in the event and recognition for their support. Call Pat Downing at 334-462-0432 or call the administrative office at 334-213-2071 for more information on honoring these precious young people through this charitable event. Visit www.alsyr.org for more details.

heat and stir until cheese melts. Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker and stir. Cook on low for 2 to 2 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.

EGG CUSTARD

Judy Colley

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

4 farm fresh eggs

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup self-rising flour

2 cups whole milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1/3 stick butter (no substitutions) Beat together egg, sugar and butter. Add flour and milk. stir well. Pour into round Pyrex dish and bake for 30 minutes.

BARBEQUE CHICKEN Marinate chicken pieces (we like quarters) in a mixture of Dale's Seasoning, oil and vinegar in a Ziplock bag for about 2 hours. Place chicken pieces on a hot grill and cook for about 20 minutes, turning once. Spoon barbeque sauce over chicken, turning only once.

When done, remove from heat and place on serving platter. Cover tightly with aluminum foil until ready to serve. Toast buttered Italian bread on grill and serve with chicken and sauce on the side.

BARBEQUE SAUCE

Judy Colley

1 stick butter

1 1/2 cups ketchup

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. garlic powder

1/2 cup dried minced onion

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Juice of 1 lemon

1 Tbsp. Southern Flavor Seasoning Salt and Pepper to taste

Melt butter in saucepan. Add ketchup and vinegar, stir until smooth. Mix in remaining ingredients.

June 8, 2023

HANCHEY "MICKEY" E. LOGUE JR.

Hanchey E. Logue

Jr., or “Mickey” as his family and friends knew him, died early Saturday morning, June 3, 2023, in his Auburn home. His wife, Glenda, and older son, Steve, were there with him.

Mickey was born on June 18, 1930, in Bay Minette, Alabama, to Pauline McLeod Logue and Hanchey E. Logue Sr. He often talked about the simple pleasures of growing up with his three younger brothers — John, Calvin and Lamar — in various small south Alabama towns, from Pine Apple to Greensboro to Evergreen.

After graduating from Evergreen High School, Mickey attended Auburn University. There he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. Upon completing his education, he began a career as a newspaperman, covering sports for The Montgomery Advertiser and then The Atlanta Constitution. Later he worked the general news beat for The Birmingham

News, where he covered the civil rights movement, among other things.

In 1965 he moved to Auburn where he joined the faculty of the then-fledgling Auburn University journalism department. Over his 30-year career as a professor, he was widely known as a conscientious and devoted teacher, as well as a beloved faculty advisor to The Plainsman, Auburn’s award-winning student newspaper. Many of his former students still recall his meticulous editing of their writing assignments. They also remember his earnest words of encouragement and wry sense of humor. A generation or two of distinguished journalists across the South were influenced by his teaching, and many of them owe their first post-college jobs to his recommendation. His own careful work as a researcher, writer and editor are on display in the multiple editions of "Auburn: A Pictorial History of the Town and College," which he cowrote with his colleague and longtime friend Jack

Simms. When Mickey retired from teaching, Auburn University named their journalism library after him.

The only things more important to Mickey than Auburn were his family and his faith. He married Glenda, the love of his life, in 1959, whom he met in Atlanta. They have been together ever since. He was a devoted and caring father to his two sons, Steve and Kyle. Some of their fondest childhood memories include many postAuburn-victory trips to Toomer’s Corner with their dad to hoist toilet paper into the oak trees or Sunday afternoon drives to campus to visit the eagle’s cage, often after getting an ice cream cone from Sani-Freeze.

Mickey loved dearly all the others who joined the Logue family over the years, whether by marriage, birth or adoption. That group includes Kyle’s wife, Ruth Ann; their six children, Hannah Perng, Molly Weitzel, Thomas Logue, Caroline Logue, Mary Claire Logue and Feleke Logue; two grandsons-in-law, Powell

Perng and Matthew Weitzel; and two greatgrandchildren, Amelia and Ellis Perng. Mickey was a devout Christian and longtime member of the Loachapoka United Methodist Church. During his long retirement, Mickey, always with Glenda, enjoyed following Auburn sports, working at the Food Bank and traveling around the world, usually with some combination of children and/or grandchildren.

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 10, with visitation at 10 a.m. and the service following at 11 a.m. Both will take place at the Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home located at 1500 Frederick Road. In lieu of sending flowers, please consider making a donation to the Food Bank of East Alabama 355 Industry Drive Auburn, AL 36832.

Or you can donate online at www.foodbank ofeastalabama.com.

passed away on June 3, 2023, at the age of 74, surrounded by family and loved ones.

From a young age, Virgil believed in hard work and unconditional love. He was born on Dec. 10, 1948, in Indiana, and later moved to Thomasville, Georgia. It was there that he met and married the love of his life, Rebecca. The two went on to have five children: Virgil Jr., Tracy, Sherry, Courtney and Anthony. In 1985, the family made a forever home on beautiful Lake Harding in Lee County, Alabama.

Virgil enjoyed life and truly lived every day as if it were his last. He found solace in nature and was an expert fisherman. Although he spent many days on lakes and ponds, his favorite pastime was, undoubtedly, being with his family. His family was his greatest accomplishment.

Virgil was preceded in death by his wife, Rebecca (2017); his parents, Ethel and Edward Adams; and his sisters, Sue and Rose. He is survived by his five children: Virgil

Adams Jr. (Shannon), Tracy Adams Johnson (John), Sherry Adams New (Jake Forbus), Courtney Adams White (Chris) and Anthony Adams (Casey Hornsby); his nine grandchildren, Devin (Ali), Caitlyn, Daniel, Landon, Matthew, Gunner, Fisher, Elaina and Dallas; his two greatgrandchildren, Finley and Avery; his close family members, Ricky, Donda, Dale and Kay; his brothers and sisters, Robert, Donna, Mary, Johnny and Bruce; and his sweetheart Becky Maloof (Jobie and son, Blair).

Memorial services for Virgil will be held at 2:30 p.m. EST on June 10, 2023, at Pine Grove Methodist Church, located at 7235 U.S. Highway 29 in Opelika. Pastor Mechelle Mouriski will be officiating the service.

Anyone wishing to honor Virgil’s lifelong devotion to family may send flowers to: Frederick-Dean Funeral Home 1801 Frederick Road, Opelika, AL 36801.

VIRGIL LEE ADAMS

Virgil Lee Adams

RELIGION —

Having talked about Christ in Hebrews

3:1ff as an apostle (“one who is sent with full authority to represent the sender” – Lightfoot), the Hebrews writer moves on to further develop Jesus’ priestly role.

The “therefore” with which he begins 4:14 seems to go past his previous mention in 3:1 and back to 2:9ff. His conclusion there — “Therefore, since we have such a great high

Near to the Heart of God

priest” — is rooted in what he had told them in 2:9-18, where he touched upon the atoning work of Jesus and how:

He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (v. 17-18)

You can see why he says Jesus is a great high priest. He is “merciful and faithful” and makes atonement for us (2:17). How could He not be great?

But there’s another important dimension he wants to add. He’s also great because He “has ascended to heaven” or “gone through the heavens.” (See the marginal reading. Lightfoot points out

that just as the high priest passed through the veil of curtains into the holy of holies, Jesus has passed through the heavens into the presence of God.) In either reading, the point is that Jesus is now at the right hand of God (1:3) and brings them before the Father’s throne (4:16). You can’t get any closer to God than to be at His throne, and Jesus takes them there. Clearly, He was the person they needed to follow. He had been where they were (4:15) and was now where they wanted to be. And He could help them get there. This is why the writer began by telling them, “Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess” (v. 14). In speaking of Jesus’ priesthood, he’s giving them theology, yes — but it’s theology he wants them to turn into biography. Here are four life-altering truths from the text.

1. The cross of Christ leads us to the throne of God. Just as the high priest passed through the curtain on his way into the presence of God under the old covenant, under the new covenant the disciple goes through the cross of Christ to enter God’s presence (10:19-22). The priestly cross work of Jesus enabled them to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence” (4:16).

2. At the throne of God, we see the heart of God. Who is God? When you strip away all the layers, God is pulsating love, as manifested in merciful understanding and gracious empowerment. This is our Father intimately and ultimately revealing who He is. At the heart of the throne that rules the universe, there is mercy and grace for those who come to Him through Jesus.

BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK

3. At the throne of God, disciples find the power to see it through. That’s the issue for the people to whom Hebrews is written. It was not about whether they could get started — they had already done that — but it was about whether they could finish. And the writer wanted them to know in no uncertain terms that it was at the throne of God where they would receive exactly what they need to finish the race.

4. Through Jesus, disciples are invited to live near to the heart of God. The choice is clear: We can visit the throne every now and then and live lives that reflect that, or we can live near to the heart of God and be filled with His mercy and grace.

What kind of life do you want to live?

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

CHURCH DIRECTORY

334-745-4755

ANGLICAN

The Good Shepherd Anglican Church

3015 Opelika Road, Opelika

APOSTOLIC HOLINESS

God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 Highland Ave., Opelika

334-749-9672

BAPTIST

Beulah Baptist Church

5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538

AFB - Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 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

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 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

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

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

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

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

Beulah United Methodist Church

5165 Lee Road 270, Valley

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

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

Father’s House Christian Fellowship

214 Morris, Ave., Opelika Southern Plains Cowboy Church 13099 U.S. Hwy. 280 Waverly 334-401-1014

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

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

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

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

BRUCE GREEN

Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ in Opelika

WALTER ALBRITTON

RELIGION —

Books have been a wondrous source of blessing in my life. None more than the Holy Bible. It tops my list of valuable books, for I have heard God speaking to me through the words of that book. As a lifelong Methodist, I have loved the way

Life’s Sacred Moments

John Wesley described himself as homo unius libri, a man of one book, the Bible. Of course Wesley read other books but for him the greatest of all books was the Bible.

While God speaks through the Bible, He has also chosen to speak through other books as well. One such book in which I have heard His voice is a little known volume titled “Every Moment Holy,” by Douglas McKelvey, published by Rabbit Room Press in 2019.

It is a book of liturgies, a gift from my dear friend Mike McElroy, longtime pastor of East Tallassee

Church of Christ.

I laughed at God’s sense of humor when I realized it was a book of liturgies, for I have had a lover’s quarrel with liturgies during all my 72 years as a pastor. Though I recognize the repetitive value of using liturgies in worship, I have been aware that repeating the same words over and over can become monotonous for those who are simply mouthing the words. To do so allows worship to become boring, and worship should never be boring!

I remember the first time I saw in a worship bulletin a pastor’s name followed by the

word, “Liturgist.” I immediately thought that I would never put that word after my name, and I have not. Call me anything you wish but not a liturgist! That was my attitude long ago, but once again I must laugh at God’s sense of humor; I have to admit I have created simple liturgies of my own. The marvelous word “Glory” is my primary liturgy, and close behind it is the liturgy I use a dozen times a day: “Thank you Jesus!” So the joke’s on me: I became a liturgist after all. McKelvey’s book has given me a delightful new perspective about

liturgies. We can create helpful liturgies for every moment in our lives. Moments like these can be made sacred with an appropriate liturgy: When our family dog died, when we watched a sunset together, for the anniversary of a loss, for the paying of the bills, for first waking, for a meal eaten alone, for the ritual of morning coffee and many others.

All McKelvey’s liturgies are offered to remind us that “there are no unsacred moments; there are only sacred moments and moments we have forgotten are sacred.”

Vehicle Title

Here’s the beginning of one for “the finishing of a beloved book”:

I am stirred and saddened, O Lord, in coming to this tale’s end, to bid farewell and return now from my sojourn in that storied place where longings for something more than the life I lead were wakened. If you want to read a delightful book that can be a blessing all year long, I highly recommend “Every Moment Holy,” by Douglas McKelvey. For its holy inspiration, I must say, “Thank you Jesus!”

Books For A Cause

What's Happening in Lee County

FARMER'S MARKETS

Tuesdays 3 to 6 p.m., O-Grows Farmer’s Market, 1103 Glenn St., Opelika

Thursdays 3 to 6 p.m., Auburn Univ Ag Heritage Park Market, Auburn

Saturdays 8-11 a.m., Camp Hill, Mt. Lovely Baptist Church, 21900 Sen Claude Pepper Dr., Camp Hill (Hwy 50) through Sept. 30

Saturdays 8-11 a.m., Auburn City Market, Town Creek Park, Auburn through Aug. 26)

LEE/RUSSELL COUNTY LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP

BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN — Stop by Chappy’s Deli Friday night for a book signing and a chance to help a worthy cause.

Dottie and Allan Gravely have been authors for years — with a heart to help those in need.

Allan wrote his first book in the '90s about what it means to be filled with the Spirit of God. He said the whole process took him close to a decade.

But since then, he’s written many more.

“I’ve just finished writing a book about shoe leather church, which looks at the best ways to do ministry based on 2 Peter 1:4,” he said.

His wife, Dottie, said she watched her husband through the writing process and decided to publish her own book.

“I decided to go with an autobiographical book,” she said. “I wrote the life story of my own heritage, my upbringing, raising my four children, falling in love with Allan before the four children, and so I published that book and titled it ‘Alabama and Beyond,’ Alabama being my starting point and the ‘beyond’ were the places I ventured to — three different continents in my lifetime.”

Only three months after publishing her first book, however, Dottie suffered from a brain hemorrhage.

“My neural surgeon said half the people that do that don’t survive, and I did survive and was able to publish six more books since 2015,” she said. “The second book is the story of that brain hemorrhage and time I spent at UAB and thereafter.”

Her most recent book is a study on the life of the biblical figure Peter and how his life can be

replicated.

“All these books are going to be at this benefit book signing we’re having at Chappy’s Deli this Friday night from 5 to 9,” Allan said. “Dottie’s got seven books for the benefit of an orphanage in Sucre, Bolivia.”

Dottie said she and Allan learned about the orphanage when their daughter, Sharon, invited them on a trip to Bolivia with her, her husband Luis and their team.

“I got a call from her one day; she said, ‘Momma, I need more Spanish speakers to go with the team to translate,’” Dottie said. “And it just so happened that I was a high school Spanish teacher. The date they were going down there would work with my contract. My contract ended one day in June; I went the next day to the airport.

“Down there, we found a wonderful story about a woman who had a tremendous compassion for the children on the streets in Bolivia. There’s no welfare for them, there wasn’t at that time, I don’t think there is any today. They didn’t have food stamps. They had nothing. And so when nightfall came, the temperatures really drop in Bolivia. It’s 9,000 feet up in the ... Andes mountains, and the temperatures drop. The children get cold at night and they can’t go home to a warm bed. They go to a sidewalk and they get a piece of cardboard and sleep on it.”

This woman, whose name is Ana, started a home for these children called Shalom. Its full name is Shalom Es Mi Casa.

Ana herself had, at one point, fallen on hard times, and knew what it was like to have no one to turn to, Dottie said.

“At her lowest point, someone invited her to a

NAMI MEETING

Christian meeting,” she said. “She became a Christian. She heard about this Bible College and she got to finish there.”

The city of Sucre offered Ana a piece of land to build an orphanage, with a time frame of two years within which to complete the project.

She accepted the offer, not sure how the funds would arrive. Simultaneously, a friend invited her on a vacation to Maryland.

“Of course, she took her pictures with her of these children that she was trying to help,” Dottie said. “… And she began to show the women around Oakland, Maryland, these children and they caught her vision. Before it was over, 25 churches from all denominations says ‘We’ll back you.’”

Now, years later, the results speak for themselves.

“Some of her kids have graduated, some have returned to be house parents for her, some have gone into the government,” Dottie said.

Ana provides not only shelter, but food, clothes, education, uniforms and an introduction to her savior, Jesus Christ.

Dottie said when she wrote her first book she promised God that she would donate a portion of the proceeds to Shalom.

Now, Dottie and plan to donate all the profits of Friday’s book signing and sales to Shalom.

The signing will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. at Chappy’s Deli on Glenn Avenue in Auburn.

NAMI East Alabama, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will meet June 20, 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.

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.

PEPPERELL BAPTIST VBS

Pepperell Baptist is having "Ready, Set, Move" Vacation Bible School June 12 through 15, 9 a.m. to noon. Parents can register their children on the Pepperell Website at www.pbcopelika.org. The Vacation Bible School will cover "Follow Jesus Here, There and Everywhere!"

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.

BEAUREGARD LUNCHEON FOR OLDER ADULTS, CAREGIVERS

On Wednesday, June 28, at noon, please join us for lunch as a speaker from the Area Agency on Aging shares the ways that the senior adults in our community can be supported and helped. This kickoff for “Heart of Beauregard” — a series of community resource events — will be held at Watoola Methodist Church, 1370 Lee Rd 38, in Opelika. Charlotte Bledsoe, with the Aging and Disability Resource Center for Lee County, will explain how to access meal deliveries for the homebound, assistance with Rx payment, the senior centers in our area, homemaker programs, Alabama Cares, home cleaning aids, the Medicaid Waiver program and helps with patients staying in their own homes.

Local authors Alan and Dottie Gravely are hosting a book sale and signing at Chappie’s Deli Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. The proceeds will benefit an orphanage in Sucre, Bolivia. Pictured is one of the children saved by the orphanage with his own family.

S S

Thursday, June 8, 2023

The Almighty Victory Opelika High’s Massey Wins 7A ‘Making a Difference’ Award

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER OPELIKA

––

For Opelika High School coach Adam Massey, it all comes back to a singular verse he lives by.

“My life verse is Colossians 3:23, which is, ‘In everything you do, do it wholeheartedly, as for the Lord and not for men,’” Massey quoted.

From aiding in the National Guard with Hurricane Katrina cleanup, to fighting in the Army in Vietnam, to teaching history and coaching tennis and football, it’s all a way to serve and make a difference for Massey.

OPINION —

Just win, baby! That was the motto of Oakland Raider owner Al Davis, made famous back in the ‘80s in the NFL. The Raiders were known for “winning at all costs,” often resorting to bending the rules and/or playing dirty. But despite this reality, fans seemed to embrace the mentality and cheer with even more veracity.

Let’s be real, we are all born with a desire to compete and want to win or be the best at what we do. A couple questions that need to be asked are, “Do you want to win at all costs?” and “Are you willing to compromise your integrity and values for that almighty victory?”

As a former high school basketball coach, I was often faced with this dilemma. I recall my very first year inheriting a group of very talented young men who were extremely undisciplined. At

our school, I was told that winning basketball games is what the community cared about; academic excellence was a secondary goal. Winning was a priority. These kids were used to misbehaving in school and the community, not doing homework, skipping class, missing practice, etc., and still being allowed to play in the game that night — because you see, winning was everything. As the new coach, I had to decide how important that almighty victory was to me. It didn’t take me long to decide. We were going to do things the right way, and I did not care if we lost every game along the way. I told my players, “I would rather lose with great kids, than to win with sorry ones.”

You see, I felt good about myself. I did not need the pats on the back and the compliments that always

See SPORTS, page B2

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: D. Mark Mitchell's column will return in a few weeks. We hope to have some guest columnists while Mitchell takes some much needed time off.

So, although the call from the AHSAA caught him off guard, it is no surprise that Massey will be presented the 7A Making a Difference Award at the yearly banquet next month.

“When you get into education, you’re there to serve,” Massey said. “Any type of leadership position you’re in, you’re there as a servant

leader, so to me this kind of award, man, it’s what we’re called to be in this line of work. You have a chance to be a blessing to kids that you have a chance to impact.”

At age 43, Massey has been in Opelika since he and his wife moved to the city in 2003. His wife has taught elementary school in Opelika for 21 years, and he has been around just as long with the exception of two years serving in Vietnam in

2004-05.

Starting at Opelika Middle School, Massey coached a variety of sports at that level, including football, wrestling, golf and track. In 2010, he made the jump to the high school and coached linebackers until current head coach Eric Speakman promoted him to defensive coordinator — his current position along with being the head coach of the tennis team.

Massey is dedicated on the

field, and is much the same off it. He stays involved in the lives of those around him by teaching ninth grade history, leading FCA with the students and a Bible study among the Opelika coaches, holding a Deacon position at First Baptist Church in Opelika, and loving his wife and two daughters, who are also lifers at Opelika.

“[When the AHSAA

See MASSEY, page B2

Tigers Can’t Escape the Den, Season Ends

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER AUBURN

—

After blazing through

three games and scoring 51 runs in last year’s Auburn regional, the Auburn University baseball team couldn’t find any

juice in their bat in a season-ending regional loss last weekend.

The Tigers joined Oklahoma State as the

only top 16 seeds to go two-and-done in this year’s regional round — Auburn’s first time

See BASEBALL, page B8

Opelika tennis and football coach Adam Massey was awarded the AHSAA 7A Making a Difference Award.

PHOTO BY JERRY BALLAS FOR THE OBSERVER

The home dugout at Plainsman Park in Auburn as the Tigers were eliminated from the regional last weekend.

LARRY DICHIARA

PHOTO BY NOAH GRIFFITH / FOR THE OBSERVER

MAX4Kids Foundation Announces 2023 Scholarship Winners

Glynn Smith Chevrolet GMC Gives Back

CONTRIBUTED BY MAX CREDIT UNION

ALABAMA —

The MAX4Kids Foundation recently announced that 10 high school seniors have been selected to receive $5,000 scholarships.

“The MAX4Kids Foundation is honored to award 10 worthy recipients with this scholarship to further their education,” said MAX4Kids President Tony Graydon. “We know that the increased cost of higher education can be a factor for many families, and these scholarships can help by reducing concerns that they may have.”

The high school seniors from Autauga, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lee and Montgomery counties were selected from over 60 applicants representing 33 different schools.

The recipients include:

- Elena Adams, Edgewood Academy

- Bryce Brown,

MASSEY >>

FROM B1

notified me about the award], they asked for a resumé, and I told him I didn’t have one because we’ve never looked at leaving,” Massey said.

“Opelika has been incredible to my family. It’s always felt like a tight-knit community, and we’ve had some incredible leaders here.”

According to Massey, seeing the devastation in Vietnam and after hurricane Katrina in 2005 prepared him to serve at the local level.

2019, Massey and his wife heard about one of his wife’s former students who had their home destroyed in a house fire. The Masseys said they saw this, too, as an opportunity to serve, and they welcomed the student into their home.

“For guys like coach Massey, (their work is) a calling to them,” said Opelika Athletic Director Jamie Williams. “This isn’t a job; this isn’t a profession. It’s who they are and what God has called them to do. And that’s another reason

Booker T. Washington Magnet High School

- Campbell Hughes, Hooper Academy

- Mia Johnson, Booker T. Washington Magnet High School

- Micaiah June, Luverne High School

- Arthur Kelly, Robert E. Lee High School

- Isabella Navidad, The Montgomery Academy

- Ronald Reese Jr., Opelika High School

- Alana Wilkinson, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School

- Becca Worrell, Wetumpka High School.

The accomplishments of these high school seniors were recognized by the MAX4Kids Foundation at the reception held in their honor at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, a MAX Community Giving partner.

Scholarship applications for 2024 high school graduates will be available at mymax.com/MAX4Kids in September 2023.

why he handles situations the way he does — there’s a higher purpose. If you ask him, he doesn’t coach football or tennis, he coaches young people.”

Massey’s journey is motivated by his faith as a follower of Christ, he said, but it is also about following in his family’s footsteps. As his deep south Alabama accent would tell you, Massey reigns from Leroy, Alabama, where he grew up watching his father coach and become the principal. Now, one of his brothers is the head coach at Leroy.

Coaching runs in the Massey family, but so does serving in the military. He joined two of his brothers in the National Guard right out of high school, where his father also served before his coaching days. His brothers also served alongside him in Vietnam.

Football, military and faith all live in his lineage, and it’s all taught him the value of service.

“Personally, I think it’s about trying to honor the lives of the people that have

Students can download the application, which includes the submission requirements, along with important deadlines.

MORE INFORMATION

The MAX4Kids Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was created in 2001 by MAX associates to give back to the communities in which MAX Credit Union serves.

Throughout the year, MAX holds various fundraisers that include the MAX4Kids Annual Charity Golf Tournament and Clay Shoot, blue jean days and other events to raise money. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $595,000 through the MAX4Kids Scholarship program to high school seniors for their scholastic achievements. In total, the MAX4Kids Foundation has donated over $1.5 million to children’s charities and scholarships

poured into me,” Massey explained. “It all starts with, man, I was blessed to see my dad coach and teach and be an incredible mentor to the kids and younger coaches below him. My Uncle Ronnie was the same, so for those two guys they showed me how it should be done as a godly man. And from there, my wife and kids have come alongside and loved on these kids.”

For Massey, the Making a Difference Award is simply a recognition of him answering his calling, he said. He said his impact is just the result of him living wholeheartedly for the Lord, as it says in Colossians 3:23.

His dedication to his job and to the city of Opelika isn’t going unnoticed. He has garnered the respect of his fellow coaches as well as his players. That was made clear when running backs coach Ben Landers nominated Massey for the award.

“It’s humbling, you know, to be nominated,” Massey said. “I had no clue about it. It’s just what the good Lord has put me here to do.”

Local Sorority Chapter Endows Scholarships

SPORTS >>

FROM B1

come with victories. My ego and self-esteem did not need that almighty victory to make me feel good. What was most important to me was doing the right thing by these kids. I tried to help them understand that wearing that jersey and representing your parents, community and school was a privilege.

Getting that message across took time, and we experienced many losses as I benched our star players for misbehavior and a host of other reasons. But by mid-season, I had them dressing in coats and ties on game day; we jelled as a team, entered the state tournament with the worst record of any team, but persevered to eventually win the state championship. We won the state championship the very next year as well.

Later in my educational journey, I became

the superintendent in a nearby school district and would annually gather all my coaches together and give them “the talk.” I would always begin the lecture with, “How important is that almighty victory to you?”

I wanted them to know that I would never look at their win-loss record. I encouraged them to conduct themselves with class and expect the same from their players. I encouraged them to create positive experiences for all their players. Start a different five every game so their parents can hear their child’s name called out over the loudspeaker and be proud. Play every kid in every game, even if it means eking out the win or losing by a few. We often forget what youth and high school sports should be about.

And unfortunately, some coaches succumb to the pressure to win at all costs and will resort to cheating or compromising his or her integrity.

It should not matter

whether we are talking about youth, junior high, high school or collegiate sports, coaches need to set the standard, hold the players to that same high standard and let the chips fall where they may. Win, lose or draw, we must never let the need for that almighty victory compromise our actions and keep us from doing the right thing for those kids that we have been entrusted with. You will be admired as a coach, and your players will most definitely be better off for it.

Larry DiChiara holds a bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree from Auburn University. He spent time as the head basketball coach and principal at Loachapoka High School, was superintendent of Phenix City Schools from 2004 to 2013 and was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. He is currently the president of SOY Education Associates Inc.

Glynn Smith Chevrolet GMC recently donated $500 to Loachapoka's track team. Pictured left to right are Peter Chenier, Richard LaGrand (Lee County commissioner), Gerry Potter (Glynn Smith), Mitchell Chenier Jr. (coach) and Mitchell J. Chenier.

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER

in Central and East Alabama.

Opelika High School's Ronald Reese Jr. (pictured far right) was one of the 10 recipients of the MAX4Kids Foundation's $5,000 scholarships.

The Beta Xi Chapter of Alabama Alpha Delta Kappa recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Ginny Cox of Beauregard High School. Cox will be attending Auburn University in the fall Left is Nancy Weatherman, Scholarship Committee member, with Ginny. Not pictured is Abby Dixon, who also received a $1,000 scholarship. Dixon is an Opelika High School graduate who will be transferring from Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC) to Auburn University this fall.

2023 Junior Boys World Series Coming to Opelika

CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURNOPELIKA TOURISM

OPELIKA —

The 2023 Junior Boys World Series is coming to Opelika’s West Ridge Park July 21 through 26. Teams will arrive on Friday and participate in a pre-tournament event and opening ceremony. The event will include recognition of the competing teams and coaches. Eleven state champions, along

with a host team, will vie for the championship. The tournament championship game is scheduled to be played Tuesday, July 25, at 6 p.m.

“We are thrilled to welcome the 2023 Junior Boys World Series to our area,” said Robyn Bridges, president and CEO of Auburn-Opelika Tourism. “We know the players, families and fans are going to enjoy the warmth of our family atmosphere

and genuine spirit of hospitality.”

The Junior Boys World Series event is produced by DB Baseball Inc., a youth baseball program for boys ages 13 to 14 playing on a medium-sized diamond to meet the physical development of growing youth. The main purpose of the program is to provide a recreation outlet for as many boys as possible, with emphasis on local league play rather than

OHS Announces Inception of Bowling Team

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA — Opelika Athletics announced via Twitter last week that Opelika High School (OHS) will be adding a bowling team.

Bowling is a winter sport, coinciding with basketball, wrestling and indoor track. It will be a varsity sport which will be open to grades seven through 12.

Bowling is sanctioned by the AHSAA, and all eligibility requirements will be observed.

OHS bowling will compete in the 6A/7A classification in Region 3, which includes Auburn, Benjamin Russell, Central, Pike Road, Prattville, Sidney Lanier and Stanhope Elmore. “This will be a competitive team that includes in-season and off-season commitments,” the release

said. “The goal is to have both a boys and a girls team.”

Announcements regarding sign-up information will be made when school resumes, and a parent/player meeting will soon follow that. For now, those interested in signing up for the Opelika High School bowling team, please email Athletic Director Jamie Williams at jamie.williams@opelikaschools. org.

tournament play, according to its website.

The 2023 Junior Boys World Series event is sponsored by the city of Opelika’s Parks and Recreation Department, as well as Auburn-Opelika Tourism. DB Baseball Inc. has a strong tradition of providing service to young people through the game of baseball.

“Opelika, Alabama, is a wonderful location for our World Series,” said J. Sandy Jones,

commissioner and CEO of DBB. “The city of Opelika and AO Tourism have created a strong partnership. We look forward to working with AO Tourism’s Anthony Terling, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller, city officials and the great community.”

For more information about the 2023 Junior Boys World Series, contact Anthony Terling at anthony@ aotourism.com.

ABOUT AUBURN-OPELIKA

TOURISM

Auburn-Opelika

Tourism is a nonprofit service organization that positively impacts the local economy and enhances the quality of life in the community through tourism and travel. AO Tourism is a one-stop shop for information on lodging, restaurants, attractions, retailers and more. For more information about all things Auburn-Opelika, visit www.aotourism.com.

High School Media Days Set for July 25, 26

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

The annual get-toknow East Alabama’s high school football teams event, High School Media Days, is set for July 25 and 26 at the Bottling Plant Event Center in Opelika.

According to iHeartMedia Auburn Vice President of

Programming Van Riggs, more than 20 area schools are planning to attend the event. Each school will bring its head coach, along with several of its top players, to be interviewed by local media regarding the upcoming football season.

Alabama High School Athletic Association (ASHAA) Executive

Director Alvin Briggs and Alabama Independent School Association Executive Director Roddie Beck are slated to make appearances as well. The schedule for High School Media Days is still being finalized, but the event will run on both days from 8 a.m. to noon. The two-day event is sponsored by the Orthopaedic Clinic.

Tigers Tamed in Home Regional

The No. 13 national seed in all of NCAA baseball, the Auburn Tigers baseball team hosted a regional last weekend, June 2 through 5. The Tigers dropped the opening game against Penn, 6-3, and the elimination game to Southern Miss, 7-2.

Auburn to Face Baylor in Marquee Non-Conference Matchup at Sanford Pentagon

CONTRIBUTED BY AU ATHLETICS

AUBURN — Auburn will face Baylor in a neutral, non-conference matchup to officially tip-off the 2023-24 men’s college basketball season on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This marks the second consecutive year Baylor will compete at the Sanford Pentagon, while it will be the first time Auburn plays on Heritage Court.

“Auburn and Baylor are powerhouse college basketball programs, and this matchup will be an incredible start to the 202324 college season at the Sanford Pentagon,” said Jesse Smith, vice president of Sanford Sports. “It does not matter where in the country these teams are from — fans in South

Dakota love basketball, and they will help make this game a memorable one for the athletes and coaches.”

Auburn, a member of the SEC, is coming off a 21-13 season which saw the Tigers advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Forward Johni Broome, an All-SEC Second Team selection, is the team’s top returning scorer (14.2 ppg), rebounder (8.4 rpg) and shot blocker (2.4 bpg).

Three-time SEC Coach of the Year Bruce Pearl returns for his 10th season at Auburn. He has guided the Tigers to over 170 wins in nine seasons, the program’s first ever No. 1 ranking in both national polls and a memorable run to the NCAA Final Four in 2019. This will be the first trip for Auburn to the

Leadership Lee County Caps Year with Shelter Project

BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN —

Another class of Leadership Lee County has come and gone, but the impact of the group’s endof-year project will be felt long after.

The 2022-23 class’s 29 members, representing a wide range of professions, worked from March to May to revamp several rooms at the Domestic Violence Intervention Center (DVIC) in Lee County.

“DVIC would like to give a huge shout out to Leadership Lee County!” the organization posted on social media. Thank you for all you have done for the Domestic Violence victims in your area.”

One young professional, MAK Media Founder Christina Kluttz, recently reflected on the experience and how it has shaped her as a citizen of Lee County.

“It was really, really cool to be a part of, in terms of details of what we're able to accomplish,” she said.

According to Kluttz, each class of Leadership Lee County is required to complete a service project. Class members pitch different ideas until they settle on one, then make plans to raise the necessary funds, gather needed materials and put in the

See PROJECT, page B6

state of South Dakota.

“What a great opportunity to play a perennial Top 10 program with a great coach like Scott Drew,” Pearl said. “Our guys came to Auburn and the SEC to play against the very best. We will get to see right away where we are as a team.

A marquee matchup like this, playing a guaranteed Quad 1 opponent, will help us build our potential tournament resume and get us prepared for league play.”

Baylor, a member of the Big 12, finished last season with an overall record of 23-11, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bears played a memorable game at the Sanford Pentagon in 2022, defeating Gonzaga, 64-63, in front of a sold-out crowd. Head coach Scott Drew

enters his 21st season at Baylor. The school’s all-time winningest head coach led the team to the national championship in 2022.

“Complete Sports Management and Sanford are the best in the business,” Drew said. “We always enjoy working with them and thoroughly enjoyed our experience at the Pentagon last year. Our game sold out with Gonzaga in six minutes, and the crowd was amazing. We can’t wait to be back there in November.”

This year’s contest will mark the eighth all-time meeting between Auburn and Baylor. The Bears lead 5-2 in the all-time series, having won 84-72 in both teams’ last meeting as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Jan. 30, 2021, in Waco, Texas.

Auburn versus Baylor is

the third NCAA Division I men’s basketball game announced for this season at the Sanford Pentagon. Nebraska will take on Oregon State on Nov. 18, and Oregon will face Syracuse on Dec. 17.

“Bringing national champions and Final Four contenders to the Pentagon is the set standard, and we’re proud to be part of it,” said Lea Miller-Tooley, CEO of Complete Sports Management.

Since opening in 2013, the Sanford Pentagon has hosted more than 80 Division I men’s and women’s college basketball games.

Last December, the Pentagon hosted a rematch of the 2021 men’s national championship game between No. 6 Baylor and No. 14 Gonzaga. Two weeks later, defending women’s national champions and No. 1-ranked

South Carolina defeated South Dakota State on Heritage Court.

ABOUT SANFORD SPORTS

Sanford Sports is the modern athletics arm of Sanford Health, the premier rural health system in the United States. Rooted in science and health care, Sanford Sports offers a combination of programs, services, events, facilities and partnerships intended to make active lifestyles accessible and rewarding for people of all ages and abilities.

Based on the 500-acre Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sanford Sports has been changing the way athletes play for 25 years. With operations in four states, more than a million athletes use Sanford Sports facilities each year. Visit sanfordsports.com for more information.

Jalen Hurts Named Pro Athlete of the Year by ASWA

CONTRIBUTED BY ASWA/ CHRISTOPHER WALSH

ALABAMA —

It's ironic that the breakout year for Jalen Hurts in the National Football League happened during a season in which he was known for finishing second.

In addition to leading his team to the Super Bowl, the 24-year-old was the runner-up for the NFL MVP award.

But how many other former athletes from the state would have wanted to have that kind of season? All of them, which is why Hurts was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association's Pro Athlete of the Year on Monday.

He was undoubtedly the most important player to his team among pro athletes who were either from Alabama or played collegiately in the

state.

Just ask his head coach, Nick Sirianni. When the Philadelphia Eagles dispatched the New York Giants in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs, 38-7, he compared having a healthy Hurts to Michael Jordan in one crucial way: “He's your leader. He's your guy.”

The Eagles were 15-2 with Hurts at quarterback including the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and 0-2 without him.

Although Hurts finished his collegiate career at Oklahoma and placed second for the 2019 Heisman Trophy, he won 26 games as a starting quarterback and a national championship ring with the Crimson Tide, plus completed his undergraduate degree at Alabama.

Despite being part of the legendary quarterback room that included Mac Jones and Tua Tagovailoa, who are both

NFL starters as well, Hurts accumulated the following accolades at Alabama:

• 2016 SEC Offensive Player of the Year

• 2016 All-SEC

• First freshman quarterback to start under Nick Saban

• Finished fourth all-time at Alabama in winning percentage at 92.9% (26-2)

• Owned the all-time record for rushing touchdowns by an Alabama quarterback with 23 through his 42 career games

• Ranked second in career rushing by a quarterback with 1,976 yards and finished second in program history touchdown responsibility with 71

• Accumulated 7,617 yards of total offense, third in Alabama history. Totaled 48 career touchdown passes, third most all-time

The game that may have foreshadowed his future NFL success was

the one he's probably known best for, the 2018 SEC Championship. When Tagovailoa wasn’t able to continue due to ankle injuries, Saban had to call on Hurts with Alabama down 28-21 and roughly 11 minutes to go.

Eleven months after he had been pulled from the national title game — against the same team, and in the same location, Atlanta — Hurts threw for a touchdown and ran for another, to lead the No. 1 Crimson Tide to a 3528 comeback victory over No. 4 Georgia.

"I've probably never been more proud of a player than Jalen," Saban said at the time.

He later, looking back on the season, commented: “I've always said how much respect I have for both the guys. How you handle things when you're in a difficult situation I think speaks volumes of who you are.”

June 8, 2023

Opelika Pickleball Facility Hosting USA Pickleball Regional

CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF OPELIKA

OPELIKA —

The Opelika Pickleball Facility and the Opelika Pickleball Club are hosting the 2023 USA Pickleball

Atlantic South Diamond Regional June 6 through 11. A total of 725 players representing more than 20 states will participate in this tournament with hopes of qualifying for the 2023 USA Pickle -

ball National Amateur Championship later this year

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Daily: 7:30 a.m.

Opening Ceremony. Play begins at 8 a.m. - June 6: 60+ Men’s Doubles and 60+

Women’s Singles - June 7: - 60+

Mixed Doubles - June 8: - 60+ Women’s Doubles and 60+

Men’s Singles - June 9: - Under 60 Men’s Doubles &

Alia Brown competes during the Paddles at the Plex event in April of this year.

hours of volunteer work to complete the project in time.

Kluttz said there were six nonprofits that members pitched in November 2022, but the group ultimately voted on the local DVIC. The Leadership Lee County Board approved the idea in January 2023.

According to statistics posted by DVIC, 85% of women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. In addition, about 20% of all violent crime in Alabama is domestic violence. Domestic violence hotlines receive more than 19,000 calls every day.

The local DVIC services a total of six Alabama counties: Lee, Chambers, Russell, Tallapoosa, Macon and Randolph counties.

“They're essentially … an organization that supports victims of domestic violence by, one, getting them out of immediate danger — so giving them a place to land, to get away from whatever situation they're in — not only them as individuals, but their families,” Kluttz explained. “But then, to the make sure that they equip them with an opportunity to make a better life for themselves.

“So, whether it's helping them find a job or helping them with

transportation needs, or providing them with food or whatever it may be, they facilitate that as well.”

The class started with a tour of the facility, then decided how best to focus its efforts.

“If we're going to be effective and actually create a legacy and impact for DVIC to feel for a while, we needed to really focus in our efforts on a couple of particular things,” Kluttz said.

Based on what they observed during the tour, the class members decided to focus on upgrading the bedrooms and bathrooms at the DVIC. Kluttz said they created a campaign around their service

project called “Making a Shelter a Home.”

The class members raised funds from January to March. Then, from March to the first week of May, they took turns volunteering in small groups to get the job done.

“What we noticed [was] the bedrooms felt very institutional, so they were just very bare bones — only because they didn't have the resources required to put money and time into it,” she said. “And what we were finding when we toured were a lot of shelter guests … spent a lot of their private time in their rooms because the common areas are common, so anybody [living there] can just come and go. … If you want any type of privacy, you're going to be in the rooms, so it's so important for those rooms to feel inspiring — to be … like a breath of fresh air.”

Kluttz said the bathrooms had similar issues, mainly a lack of organization and minor maintenance issues, such as a toilet paper roll holder that needed repair.

The class formed a design team and gave each room a different theme. The design team then put together design boards for each

Under 60 Women’s Singles - June 10: - Under 60

Mixed Doubles - June 11: - Under 60 Women’s Doubles & Under 60 Men’s Singles

Alia Brown, a 17-year-old pickleball player from Alpharetta, Georgia, will be playing in this tournament.

Brown is No. 1 in 4.5

Women’s Singles Skill/ Ages 19+, No. 4 in Junior Women’s Single and No. 14 in Junior

of those rooms, choosing bedding, furniture, décor and other special touches to fit the theme. They also painted some walls to brighten up the spaces. For example, one room was beachthemed; it featured one blue wall, light-colored bedding and wall décor that showcased whales, seahorses, jellyfish and sea turtles.

The class upgraded the rooms in other ways as well: new carpet, blinds, blackout curtains, lamps and overhead lights with fans.

“We also decided that sound machines were really important,” Kluttz said. “… A lot of them came with kids or babies, so [the machines helped with] naptime. We were trying to be cognizant of what they were actually experiencing, so we provided them with blackout curtains if they … have a night shift, or if they have kids that are trying to nap in the middle of the day.”

After all was said and done, Leadership Lee County had enough funds leftover to help sponsor the DVIC’s second annual Love Shouldn’t Hurt gala on May 11.

“Hopefully that money goes toward whatever their next big effort is in upgrading,” Kluttz

Women’s Doubles.

This is the second time the city of Opelika has welcomed the Atlantic South Diamond Regional. Last year’s tournament generated an estimated $420,000 in economic impact.

The Opelika Pickleball Facility is located at the Opelika SportsPlex, 1001 Andrews Road, in Opelika.There are no admission or parking fees to attend.

said.

Overall, Kluttz said her experiences in Leadership Lee County opened her eyes to various issues and how different organizations and civic departments work together to make the community a better place.

“When you get a bunch of leaders that care about their community together, it's incredible what can be accomplished,” she said. “… This community is so special, and it helped me realize that as an individual in this community, we can effect really positive change if we continue to collaborate and work together, and also … educate ourselves on what organizations and initiatives are already in motion in the community that we can be a part of.

“… I went into [Leadership Lee County] just feeling like it was a good opportunity to build community with my peers, and then what I got from it 12 months later is so much more than what I originally anticipated with going in. Now, I feel so excited about encouraging other people to be a part of it because I hope they would have the same experience as me.”

Dixe Boys Heat Up the Diamond

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER

Four Opelika Dixie Boys Baseball teams, the Royals, Braves, A's and Rangers, began their postseason tournament last weekend, May 30 and June 1.

Welcome, summer 2023!

Lee County has always provided the best summers for both the young and old. With school being out, summer provides time families can spend with each other that are rich in memories.

Summer welcomes us to be outside in the evening to enjoy the extra light. Spread a quilt or blanket outside on the grass late in the day to enjoy evenings of stargazing. I know when

Using Our Senses in the Good Ole Summertime

dread the heat of summer at times, I pray and ask God to help me have a more positive attitude that I can share with young students. I have written down some sensory enrichment ideas over the years that I would like to share with families. I hope these suggestions bring you joy as we embark on summer.

2. Smell: I am sure we have all caught a whiff of the sweet fragrances of magnolia, honeysuckle or gardenias that signal the arrival of summer. Smelling a summer rain, ocean breeze, freshly mown lawn, barbecue on the grill or even suntan lotion can flood us with many fond memories of summers past.

and rock salt around the canister, and taking turns with family members and friends to turn the crank as the ice cream hardens. Lee County offers some spectacular summer sights that bring back these memories, such as watching tall cornstalks waving in the hot breeze under an evening sun.

I am walking my little dog, Cookie, in the evening, she and I love to look up at the sky to see the moon, planets and a sea of stars.

“The man in the moon,” the constellation Orion, the Big Dipper and Venus, the bright evening star ... all present on many summer evenings. This past Saturday, June 3, we celebrated the anniversary of the first United States space walk done by Ed White in 1965.

Even though I truly

1. Sights: Taking time just to “watch” the summer can fill your day. This past month, I have loved watching baby birds on the rafters above my patio. I observe the different foods that the parent birds are bringing to their babies. I have also loved observing these baby birds slowly but surely take flight. There are plenty more ways to fill your day with summer enjoyment: observing the glow of fireflies in the evening, watching hummingbirds drink nectar from a flower or feeder or following the flight of butterflies as they dart here and there. In Opelika and Lee County, we have so many beautiful sunsets to enjoy as well.

3. Taste: This past Mother’s Day when I was at the Tulip Festival in Holland, Michigan, a great little treat I savored was fresh-squeezed lemonade. Opelika and Lee County summers also bring us fresh tastes of watermelon, strawberries, peaches, blueberries and other delicious fruits. Several of us remember shucking corn, shelling peas and butterbeans, canning and freezing vegetables and even preparing jams and jellies. Some of us still do these things on occasion. We can also remember making homemade ice cream: folding fruits into a delicious custard, pouring it into a churn with a canister, putting ice chunks

4. Sound: I love walking with my little dog in the evening and hearing frogs croaking in the marsh near my home. Crickets and cicadas also add to the wonderful summer evening symphony in nature. Early in the morning, we are met by birds chirping excitedly. Summer also brings more chances for families to laugh and play together outside, providing opportunities to create joyful memories. Play is a child’s work, and it is truly welcome during the summer months.

5. Touch and feel: I can remember from my childhood in Lee County that we did not have air conditioners, but we had attic, table and floor fans to keep us cool. I can

still remember as a child opening up our windows, turning on the fans and watching the curtains float as the cool air was blown into our home. Our clothes would dry quickly on the clothesline and smell so fresh after soaking up the summer sun. In church, we kept cool by fanning ourselves with cardboard fans. Spring-fed pools were a real treat to swim in and cool off. Even though our lips may have turned purple and our teeth chattered, as children we enjoyed our summer swims. Touching a flower with early morning dew or walking barefoot through the cool grass reminds us to appreciate the touch and feel of summer.

Lee County offers so very much in summer sensory enjoyment just around our homes. As families, point out what you enjoy about summer with sight, sound, smell, taste and touch during these summer days.

Observer Beth Pinyerd

doing so since 2002 in the Tuscaloosa Regional. Instead, the No. 2-seed Southern Miss Golden Eagles will travel to face Tennessee in the super

regionals. With five runs between an 11-inning, 6-3 loss to Penn and a 7-2 loss to Southern Miss, Auburn couldn’t find the explosive bats that got it to the postseason as the No. 13 national seed. While 26

runners reached base, 21 of them were stranded. The Tigers only had three run-scoring hits, as two of their runs versus Penn came via bases-loaded walks.

"We pride ourselves on getting timely hits the

past month or so,” said senior third baseman Bryson Ware. "The past few games, for whatever reason, it hasn't been falling our way.”

Leading the team with 63 RBI, 24 homers and a 1.169 OPS, Ware struggled to find any answers to get the team going at the plate. He struck out three times in the regional while going 1-for-7 with three walks.

Still, Ware reached base as much as any Auburn player in the pair of games. Cole Foster and Cooper McMurray also reached four times, while Foster and freshman Ike Irish were the only Tigers with hits in both contests.

Auburn was a big hit away from winning game one and posing a threat in game two.

Each of Auburn’s 13 hits were singles, including nine in game two versus Southern Miss. Penn also gave Auburn eight free bases, and Auburn walked four more times against the Golden Eagles. However, the Tigers struck out 22 times and only stole one base while stranding 21 runners.

Auburn began to turn

the tides with three hits and two runs in the sixth inning of game two, but it was too little too late as the Golden Eagles stranded runners on the corners with a groundout.

"I really felt like we were one or two swings away," said head coach Butch Thompson after the loss to Southern Miss. "I didn't think our approach started getting better until the sixth inning today."

Its opponents could not relate. While Auburn struggled to push across runs, Southern Miss homered four times, and Penn used two RBI doubles and a two-run bomb to advance in the winner’s bracket.

The Auburn pitching staff wasn’t exactly lights out, either. It allowed 13 runs on 20 hits in 20 innings. The Tigers conceded six or more runs in each of its final four games — all resulting in losses.

While the end of the season was when Auburn was playing its best ball, it didn’t carry over into the postseason as it has in prior years. The early exit broke its streak of three consecutive

regional sweeps in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

“I just felt like [in] the last three regionals, we were in such a good spot and they played such good baseball,” Thompson said. “I did not get this team to the point of ready to compete for being able to be there in the last day of it.”

Despite a strong ending to the regular season, the early exit means Auburn will potentially part ways with six seniors, including five-year center fielder Kason Howell; catcher Nate LaRue; Ware, who broke Auburn’s single-season home run record with 24 in 2023; and outfielder Bobby Pierce. While it ended in disappointing fashion, the Tigers went out in front of soldout Auburn crowd of 129,948, setting back-toback attendance records.

"Being able to play in front of these fans is something I'll hang my hat on for years to come," Ware said. "I'm really happy that I was a part of that and could contribute. It's a really cool memory that I'll cherish for a really long time."

Classroom

BETH PINYERD

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES THE OBSERVER

The Auburn baseball pitching staff holds a mound visit in the home regional opener June 2 against Penn.

L labama Politics ee County & A

Thursday, June 8, 2023

Inside the Statehouse

Dr. Wayne Flynt’s, 'Afternoons with Harper Lee'

proud of his 43 car tag, as he often told Lee’s accomplished sister, Alice.

Sweet News for Alabama

Fourth Grader Creates State Cookie

STEVE FLOWERS

OPINION —

Renowned Alabama historian Dr. Wayne Flynt has chronicled and penned a marvelous book appropriately titled “Afternoons with Harper Lee.” This gem is published by New South Books with editing by Randall Williams. It is receiving worldwide acclaim. If you are a fan of Harper Lee and her novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” it is a great read.

Nelle Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama, in 1926 and died in Monroeville 90 years later in 2016. It was fitting that Flynt would give her eulogy. Her book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” is one of the five most bought and read books in the history of the world. It is second only to the Bible in most countries. In secular Great Britain, it surpasses the Bible and is No. 1.

Flynt is probably the most significant and accomplished historian on Alabama history in my lifetime. He taught history to over 60,000 undergraduate and graduate students at Auburn University for over 28 years. He was beloved, and he loves Auburn. He is very

Flynt taught history at Samford University for 12 years before beginning his 28 years at Auburn University. During his illustrious career of 40 years, he authored 14 books, all centered on southern politics, history and culture. He is very proud of his heritage of being the son of a sharecropper and growing up in the Appalachian culture of rural Calhoun County.

It is so poetic that the most renowned southern Alabama historian of this century would write the most revealing and detailed history of Alabama’s — and arguably the world’s — most famous author of the past century. He tells Lee’s story explicitly and with authenticity.

Flynt and his beloved wife, Dorothy “Dartie,” of 60 years, became Lee’s best friends in the twilight of her life. The Flynt and his wife journeyed from Auburn to Monroeville and spent 64 afternoons over 12 years visiting and chronicling Lee’s life story as she lived in a modest retirement home in Monroeville — even though the royalties from the book were over $1 million a year.

The book is part memoir and part biography. It truly tells the intimate story of the legendary author. It encompasses her life and intertwines it with Alabama history. It is like we Alabamians like to say: “They

were sitting on a big front porch swapping life stories.” Flynt and Lee were both southern storytellers. They were often joined by Lee’s two sisters, Alice and Louise.

Alice was 10 years older than Lee and was famous in her own right. She was one of the first female lawyers in Alabama. She was one of Monroeville’s most prominent lawyers for close to 80 years. She practiced law until she was over 100 years old, and was a leader in the Alabama Methodist Church.

Louise introduced the Flynts to Lee. They met at a History and Heritage Festival in Eufaula in 1983.

Lee was the classic recluse. She was very private and very secretive; she liked to drink and curse and speak her mind. She never married and never really dated. She wore frumpy, dowdy, non-stylish clothing and disdained being around people and speaking in public.

She lived most of her life in her modest apartment in New York City. She lived there mostly from ages 23 to 81 — 58 years — with only brief journeys home to Monroeville by train, as she did not fly. New York City gave her the anonymity she desired.

The book tells of her celebrity and meeting other famous people who desired to meet her, including presidents Lyndon Johnson, George Bush and

Gov. Kay Ivey made it official last week: The Yellowhammer Cookie is Alabama’s official state cookie. Montgomery fourth-grader and recipe creator Mary Claire Cook brought a batch of the cookies to Ivey in her office. As the governor reviewed the legislation, she taste-tested the cookie for herself, gave it the stamp of approval and put her signature on the bill to officially name the Yellowhammer Cookie the official state cookie.

“Sweet Home Alabama just got a little sweeter,” Ivey said.

Too Many Billboards in Auburn?

The Auburn City Council during a meeting.

BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN —

A citizen approached the Auburn City Council Tuesday night with a request — reduce the number of billboards.

more billboards have been constructed along North Donahue,” said Robert Grantham, HOA Committee board member for Camden Ridge.

“This construction in that area has drawn a lot of attention, not just in Ward 3, but throughout our city. A petition that I created, signed and have

supported has been seen more than 11,000 times; it’s been shared over 338 times and just a few minutes ago, it’s been [signed more than] 907, locally and getting more support daily.

“This petition is concentrated not on just one section or area of Auburn, See FLOWERS, page B11

“As many of you may or may not know,

See AUBURN, page B10

CVS, IHOP and Absorbing the Proud Background of Employers

Shakespeare wrote poetry,” said Martin Luther King Jr. in one of his most famous quotes. “He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and Earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street-sweeper who did his job well.’”

study the corporation’s city, would find the good news that this case resulted in an acquittal for them.

— a Swiss chalet — is rarely seen.

OPINION —

In 2023, many people have accepted a job offer, especially for a part-time position. But a lot of them resort to complaining about the job. They call it “demeaning” and claim they only do it because they needed a job. They would feel better about their work if they knew the history of their company.

They should appreciate that they are cogs in a large machine — minor cogs, usually — but part of a worldwide team that makes products that please consumers. Capitalism works. For instance, I asked employees of

CVS Health in northern states what the acronym stands for. Most did not know it stood for Consumer Value Store.

Headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, it is the largest pharmacy chain in the United States; it had more than 9,600 stores as of 2016 and the most total prescription revenue. Knowing the history of your employer makes you more content as you grasp your role in a very successful enterprise.

“If a man is a street-sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or

An interesting criminal case for me was that of former Rhode Island State Sen. John Celona, a friend of mine during the 1976 election. Two years earlier, he won election to the North Providence City Council at age 24. After several years in the state senate, he was charged with crimes including bribery, conspiracy and fraud by federal prosecutors. He spent two and a half years in jail for mail fraud. The corruption investigation was called Operation Dollar Bill.

However, former CVS executives John Kramer and Carlos Ortiz were acquitted after a 2008 charge of bribery, conspiracy and fraud by a federal grand jury for allegedly paying Celona to act as a “consultant” for the company. The lesson here is that CVS employees, if they

“After serving two and a half years in prison, I have racked up $178,000 in fines for failing to file campaign finance reports,” Celona said years afterward. “What this has done to my family is terrible. We declared bankruptcy. I lost my house. I lost my marriage.”

Last week, I drove by Celona’s family’s lawn mower store, where he talked politics with me regularly from 1976 to 1978. He ended up a prisoner of his own ambitions — another tragedy.

In the early 2000s, the International House of Pancakes officially became the acronym IHOP. Reliable sources say that was tied to the Iraq War, which was not at all popular with Europeans. Or it connected with the company’s ideas of making the stores accessible: with the simple IHOP replacing the grandfatherly International House of Pancakes. The IHOP in Auburn has been gone a long time, and the original façade on the stores

IHOP used this acronym for decades; International House of Pancakes was stuffy and ineffective. Using the full name made people expect a selection of fancy European-style pancakes. The term IHOP is sappy and sounds too much like something a rabbit would say. Still, if new employees at the IHOPs still standing study the company history, they might become prouder. The company plans to launch a chain of fast-casual breakfast restaurants called Flip’d.

The company has 1,841 locations in the Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador and Guatemala) and other restaurants in the Middle East and in the South Asian Subcontinent, including 161 owned by area licensees and 1,680 that are franchised.

Courtesy is a lodestar of any business and what brings people back to your store. But they need enhancement in many stores by the workers learning more about their new job. Having a likable name

Ogletree Village Lane, Suite 107.

or acronym is certainly an asset. The wrong one will hurt your bottom dollar. I am reminded of WHINSEC, an atrocious name for any agency or store. It succeeds the terrific name School of the Americas. WHINSEC is a mouthful, set up by a committee. It stands for Western Hemisphere Institute of Security and Cooperation. The change was in response to those November protesters who for decades claimed that the SOS was full of torturers. There was modest solid evidence of that. In any case, knowing the background of the area where you work is helpful in keeping a positive attitude and good productivity. As IHOP says, “Come Hungry, Leave Happy.” Greg Markley first moved to Lee County in 1996. He has master’s degrees in education and history. 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 for 12 years. gm.markley@charter.net

Our

Just

115 years ago AuburnBank was founded on the principles of sound money management and putting the customer first. As we’ve opened our new home in downtown Auburn, those principles still drive everything we do. Come by and help us celebrate our most recent success, and let’s talk about helping you achieve yours.

[nor] is it concentrated on one individual group, it's more focused city-wide because there’s a concern that all these billboards and whatnot are going to be taking over our city.

“I’m here this evening to ask this council to support annexation of Lee County islands by working with the Lee County Commission to have them review their building codes and ensure when a land owner seeks annexation, they annex 100% of the property to eliminate county islands like the ones we’ve seen on North Donahue.”

Ward 3 Council

Member Beth Witten thanked Grantham for the effort he’s put into this.

“I do know that we have two members of the Lee County Commission and their engineer in the audience tonight because they’re also equally interested and we’re continuing to have further conversations, which I know you’ll be a part of" she said. "I just want to say thank you for your efforts and we’re still working through to find solutions.”

OTHER BUSINESS:

- The council announced two board vacancies on the Auburn Downtown Redevelopment Authority board.

- The council announced one vacancy on the Indian Pines Recreation Authority board.

- The council approved a restaurant retail liquor ABC license for Amsterdam Cafe doing business as Amsterdam Cafe Moores Mill at 2301

- The council approved a restaurant retail liquor ABC license for Amsterdam Cafe doing business as Amsterdam Cafe Northside at 1850 Shug Jordan Parkway, Suite 100.

- The council approved a restaurant retail liquor ABC license for Jack Brown’s Auburn LLC doing business as Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint at 160 N. College St.

- The council approved a retail table wine ABC license for One Bike LLC doing business as One Bike Coffee at 1100 S. College St., Unit 106.

- The council gave a commendation to the Auburn High School girls tennis team for winning the 2023 AHSAA State Championship.

- The council approved a concurrence with the Industrial Development Board for Donghee Alabama LLC at 2351 Riley St. in the Auburn Technology Park West.

- The council approved the Tiger Transit signage agreement with Auburn University.

- The council approved a contract with Azteca Systems Inc. for the Cityworks software enterprise license agreement renewal for over $129,300.

- The council approved a contract with Image Trend Inc. for the purchase of a “Rescue SaaS” software module for the fire department for over $9,600.

- The council approved a contract with Matthew and Jody’s Tree Service for the removal and pruning of trees on the right

of way and removal of 11 trees at Dinius Park for $18,000.

- The council accepted a public sewer easement for Donghee America Inc. for property at 2550 Innovation Drive.

- The council accepted a public greenway easement and a public drainage and utility easement for McWhorter Properties - Society Hill Estates LLC for property on Society Hill Road, south of Moores Mill Road.

- The council accepted a public sanitary sewer, drainage and utility easement for TPG Homes for property located at Wire Road and Cox Road.

- The council approved an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission.

- The council approved a tax abatement for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Inc. at 511 W. Veterans Blvd.

- The council approved a tax abatement for Donghee Alabama LLC at 2550 Innovation Drive in the Auburn Technology Park West.

- The council approved a contract with Business Interiors Inc. to purchase furniture for the new Environmental Services and Public Works Complex for over $325,300.

- The council approved a contract with Structural Restoration Solutions Inc. doing business as Everclear Enterprises Inc. for the Gay Street parking deck maintenance and repair project for over $394,900.

GREG MARKLEY

New Home Is Built on a Solid Foundation...

Like Our Bank.

AUBURN >> FROM B9

Letter to the Editor:

OPINION —

As beautiful as Lee County is, why does the county not have ordinances in place to not allow personal property or private property to become an eyesore with the collection of inoperable vehicles, scrap metal or garbage collection and/or other debris to be collected and stored on many properties throughout the county? This is an eyesore and a health/

environmental issue.

This county has seen so much growth within the past 15 years of many businesses and manufacturing companies that now call Lee County home.

If the county commissioners want to continue to attract these types of businesses and manufacturing companies — as well as a qualified work force to fill the employment opportunities and increase the county tax base

— why not create and pass county legislation (ordinances)? I know the city of Auburn/ Opelika has many such ordinances in place to keep personal property or private property free of the aforementioned collection of inoperable vehicles, scrap metal or garbage collection and/ or other debris from being collected and becoming an eyesore and a health/environmental issue.

Perkins

Bill

Campaign Finance Report Shows Strong Start in Race for District Judge

CONTRIBUTED BY

CLAY THOMAS FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

LEE COUNTY —

Last week, Clay Thomas, the Lee County chief assistant district attorney, announced that he, as a first-time candidate, has raised more than $30,000 year to date,

with over $22,000 cash on hand.

“Since we began raising money in March, we have seen a significant surge in enthusiasm and grassroots support for the campaign,” Thomas said. “It is clear folks from all corners of Lee County want a judge that will work tirelessly

to protect our constitutional freedoms and defend Alabama’s values on the bench. I am humbled by the faith and generosity people have shown in me and my campaign.”

You can learn more about Thomas and his campaign at www. electclaythomas.org.

City of Opelika Supports Juneteenth Celebration

BY MICHELLE KEY MICHELLE@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and the Opelika City Council issued a proclamation during the Tuesday night city council meeting designating the week of June 15 through 19 as Juneteenth Celebration Week.

A celebration will be held June 16 at Courthouse Square in downtown Opelika starting at 6 p.m. The council approved a request for street closures at Courthouse Square in downtown for this event as well as a special appropriation of $250 from each council member's discretionary funds, totaling an amount of $1,250, to GEMS Empowered for the Juneteenth Celebration.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

- The council approved a request for a restaurant retail liquor and retail beer on premise alcohol license for Los Tres Amigos LLC, doing business as Los Amigos.

- The council held public hearings and later voted to approve weed

FLOWERS >>

FROM B9

Barack Obama. She especially liked Lady

abatement assessments for 105 Vaughan Ave. and 915 York Ave.

- The council held a public hearing on an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone nearly 15 acres of land located near Gateway Drive and Interstate 85 from C-2 to a planned unit development (PUD) to be known as The Landing Entertainment District. According to the application, the proposed development plan would include a coffee shop, a Texas Roadhouse Restaurant, retail outlets, restaurants, quick service restaurants with drive-thrus, hotels and an outdoor recreational facility. More details on the project can be found in the June 6 agenda packet uploaded to the city’s website. The council later introduced this proposed ordinance for its first reading. This item is scheduled to be voted on during the next council meeting on June 20.

- The council approved a bid from Open Trench Excavation for the installation of conduit systems for Opelika Power Services.

Bird Johnson, who also had Alabama roots. She adored Gregory Peck, who was the star of the movie “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

- The council approved a bid from Directional Boring for the installation of conduit systems for Opelika Power Services.

- The council approved expense reports from various departments.

- The council approved the designation of city personal property as surplus and authorized the disposal of said property.

- The council approved a resolution for the emergency purchase in the amount of nearly $23,500 to replace a damaged traffic signal at the intersection of Pepperell Parkway and 30th Street.

- The council approved the purchase of SysAid Software utilizing the Omnia Contract No. 2018011-01 for the IT Department in an amount just over $15,000.

- The council approved the purchase of Fuelmaster hardware and software utilizing the Sourcewell Contract No. 092920-SYS for the IT Department for the amount of $35,000.

- The council approved the purchase of furniture

He won an Oscar and every award imaginable for his role as Atticus Finch in the movie. Only after a stroke in 2007 at 81 did Lee

from for the new fire sation using the State of Alabama contracts No. MA220000002789, MA220000002803, MA220000002896, MA220000002845 for the Opelika Fire Department. The purchase is not to exceed $37,634.80.

- The council approved the purchase of a 2023 Ford F150 Responder Supercrew 4x4 pickup in the amount of nearly $49,000 utilizing State of Alabama contract No. T191L for the police department.

- The council approved a quote from CDW Government to purchase Rubrik software and support for the

return home to Monroeville.

Flynt is also an accomplished ordained Baptist preacher. He is a true kind-hearted

IT Department. The annual contract amount for this software and support is just over $16,000.

- The council approved a quote from CivicPlus Inc. for annual recurring services for ultimate department headers, encryption, hosting and security, SSL management, website media center storage and redesign. The annual charge for this service is $25,377.78 for the first year with a 5% increase each additional year thereafter.

- The council approved a special appropriation in the amount of $10,000 to AO Tourism for hosting the AJGA Golf Tournament at the

gentleman, who speaks kindly of everyone in his book. He and Dartie grew to love the foul-tempered eccentric, cynical, opinionated, irascible, uninhibited, very private and reclusive author. He discerns and captures her true humility. She really felt and often said, modestly, “But all I did was write a book.”

Grand National golf course July 3 through 6.

- The council voted to amend Section 16188 of the City Code of Ordinances to update school zone speed limits on Fox Run Parkway and Waverly Parkway. The speed limit in the school zone on Fox Run Parkway will be 25 miles per hour during the hours of 7:30 to 8 a.m. and 3:05 to 3:35 p.m. The speed limit in the school zone for Auburn Classical Academy will be 20 miles per hour during the hours of 7:30 to 8 a.m. and 2:30 to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

- The council introduced for its first reading an ordinance to amend Section 4-78 of the City Code of Ordinances to update language relating to large animals running at large.

- The council voted to reappoint Bill Parker Jr. to the Indian Pines Public Park Authority for a new term that will expire on June 7, 2027. The next meeting of the Opelika City Council will be held on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at 6 p.m.

She wrote a pretty good one, and so did Flynt. 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. Flowers may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.

Architectural rendering of the proposed development known as The Landing. A public hearing on the proposed ordinance to rezone property associated with the project was held during Tuesday night's city council meeting.

June 8, 2023

Local Clubs Host Distinquished Guests

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF TERRY JAMES HENDERSON, DECEASED

CASE NO.: 2023-116

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT TO BE PUBLISHED BY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 13th day of March, 2023 by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

TIFFANY

HENDERSON HYDE, Personal Representative Legal Run 05/25/2023, 06/01/2023 & 06/08/2023

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF W. T. TABLE, DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Case No: 2023-138

Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 11th day of May, 2023, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

MYKESHIA MILES

Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP

P.O. Box 2345

Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504

Legal Run 05/25/2023, 06/01/2023 & 06/08/2023

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

IN THE ESTATE OF: RENA DRYER WILLIAMS, deceased.

Letters Testamentary of said deceased was granted to Larry Stephen Harrison on the 12th day of May 2023, by the Hon. Bill English, Probate Judge of Lee

County. Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate that they are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Larry Stephen HarrisonExecutor Margaret A. Mayfield

Attomey for the Estate P.O. Box 809, Opelika, AL 36803 (334) 745-0333

Legal Run 05/25/2023, 06/01/2023 & 06/08/2023

STATE OF ALABAMA LEE COUNTY

PROBATE COURT CASE NO. 2023-258

ESTATE OF RANDY LEE BRANCH, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR

Letters of Administration of the Estate of Randy Lee Branch, deceased having been granted to Kurt Branch this 16th day of May 2023, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred.

Kurt Branch, Personal

Representative

Jeffery A. Hilyer

Attorney at Law

P.O. Box 30 Opelika, AL 36803-0030 334-745-2564

Legal Run 05/25/2023, 06/01/2023 & 06/08/2023

IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION PETITION OF MIGUEL ANGEL DE LEON RAMIREZ IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO.: 2022-715

PUBLICATION

NOTICE TO: Santos Garcia Hernandez, Address Unknown

Please take notice that a Petition for Adoption was filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama by Miguel Angel De Leon Ramirez, on December 30, 2022, for the adoption of J.L.G.G. born on November 6, 2007, in Opelika, Alabama to Johana Godinez Sales and Santos Garcia

PUBLIC NOTICES

Hernandez. A hearing has been set in the Lee County Probate Court, Opelika, Alabama. Should you intend to contest this adoption you must file a written response with the attorney for the petitioner, Hon. Ben Hand, 114 North 8th Street, Opelika AL 36801 and with the Clerk of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, P.O. Box 2266, Opelika, AL 36803 as soon as possible but no later than thirty (30) days from the last day this notice is published.

Dated on this the t 7•h day of May 2023.

HON. BILL ENGLISH JUDGE OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Legal Run 05/25/2023, 06/01/23, 06/08/23 & 06/15/2023

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE; THE ESTATE OF CHARLES JEROME TINSLEY, DECEASED

TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to LaQuita Jordan Baker. as Executrix of the Estate of Charles Jerome Tinsley. deceased, on the 23rd day of March. 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.

LaQuita Jordan Baker. Executrix Of the Estate of Charles Jerome Tinsley. Deceased Marrell J. McNeal. Attorney at Law. PC PO Box 308 Opelika. AL 36803 334-745-7033 Legal Run 05/25/2023, 06/01/2023 & 06/08/2023

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF NICHOLAS D. DAVIS, DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO.: 2023-274

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Carolyn Paine Davis, on the

17thday of May, 2023, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Carolyn Paine Davis, Executor Legal Run 05/25/2023, 06/01/2023 & 06/08/2023

IN THE JUVENILE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE EMANICPATION OF NAOMI T. SMITH CASE NO. JU-2023-171.01

NOTICE OF EMANCIPATION

ACTION TAKE NOTICE that a PETITION FOR EMANCIPATION FROM DISABILITIES OF NONAGE has been filed by N.T.S., born 09/29/2004, child of Amanda Smith and Guy Smith in the Juvenile Court of Lee County, Alabama, in Case No. JU-2023 –171.01. Any interested person is hereby put on notice of same. DONE this 19th day of May 2023. CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Jennifer M. Chambliss Samford & Denson, LLP

P. 0. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 368032345 Attorney for the Petitioner Legal Run 05/25/23, 06/01/23 & 06/08/2023

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ANNIE FLORENCE PARADISE RAY, DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO: 2023-277 Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 19th day of May, 2023, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same

will be barred.

RENEA RAY NETTLES and JERRY FLOYD

Co-Personal Representatives

D. Carter Weeks Samford & Denson, LLP

P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 05/25/2023, 06/01/2023 & 06/08/2023

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM RUSSELL MOORE Case No. 2023-140

Deceased. NOLICE OF HEARING

TO: Kathryn Parker –6359 Bells Ferry Rd, Lot 640, Acworth, GA 30102 Martha McDuffie –600 54th Avenue East, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35404 AND ANY OTHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN heirs of WILLIAM RUSSELL MOORE, Deceased.

Notice is hereby given that a Petition to Probate the Last Will and Testament of the Estate of WILLIAM RUSSELL MOORE, deceased has been filed in the Lee County Probate Office. A Hearing has been set for the 6th day of July, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Central time, electronically via "ZOOM". Please contact the Lee Count Probate Court at 334-737-3670 for access to the electronic hearing should you intend to take part in the hearing of the Petition to Probate the Last Will and Testament of the Estate of WILLIAM RUSSELL MOORE, deceased.

Judge of Probate, Lee County, Alabama Legal Run 05/25/2023, 06/01/2023 & 06/08/2023

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF REBECCA N. BUFORD CASE NO: 2023-252

NOTICE TO CREDITORS TAKE NOTICE that Letters of Administration having been granted to TYLER BUFORD, as Administrator of the Estate of REBECCA N. BUFORD deceased, on the 16TH day of May, 2023, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons

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

TYLER BUFORD Administrator of the Estate Legal Run 05/25/2023, 06/01/2023 & 06/08/2023

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF HELEN K. DOUGHERTY, DECEASED PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY CASE NO. 2023-278

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of the Estate of HELEN K. DOUGHERTY are hereby granted to Mary Katleen D. Cosgriff on the 18th day of May 2023, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Mary Katleen D. Cosgriff Legal Run 05/25/2023, 06/01/2023 & 06/08/2023

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF JERRY L. SHAW, SR., DECEASED CASE NO. 2023-289

NOTICE TO FILE

CLAIMS

TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary, having been granted to William Lawrence Shaw, as Executor of the Estate of Jerry L. Shaw, Jr., deceased, on the 24th day of May, 2023, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama.

NOTICE IS HEREBY

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

William Lawrence Shaw Executor of the Estate of Jerry L. Shaw, Sr., deceased Legal Run 06/01/2023, 06/08/2023 & 06/15/2023

Opelika Kiwanis this week hosted Auburn University Baseball Chaplain Scott Shepherd as its guest speaker. Shepherd talked about his role as chaplain and his work as a local team leader with Athletes in Action.

Auburn Rotary last week hosted Auburn University's director of engineering research operations, Christian Brodbeck, as its guest speaker. Brodbeck also serves as the advisor to the AU student chapter "Engineers Without Borders." His presentation focused on the work this group of students is doing globally to provide clean water to many communties in great need. Pictured from left are Judd Langham, club president; Brodbeck; and Dick Brinker, program host.

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PUBLIC NOTICES >>

FROM B12

STATE OF ALABAMA

LEE COUNTY

PROBATE COURT

CASE NO. 2023-154

ESTATE OF WILLIAM TRUMAN COLLIER, DECEASED

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR

Letters of Administration of the Estate of William Truman Collier, deceased having been granted to Mary D. Collier this 26th day of May 2023, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred.

Mary D. Collier, Personal

Representative

Jeffery A. Hilyer

Attorney at Law

334-745-2564

P.O. Box 30 Opelika, AL 36803-0030

Legal Run 06/01/2023, 06/08/2023 and 06/15/2023

Notice of Public

Auction Mini Mall

Storage-Opelika

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Properties of Opelika, pursuant to the "Self Service Storage Act" (1981Alabama Acts, Number 81-769, page 1321, and Section 1),

Here-by Give Notice of Sale under said act to wit:

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Date: June 21, 2023, Time: 10:00am

The payment methods we accept for this are cash, debit, Visa, Mastercard and Amex. All sales are final: The bidder must place a $100 cash deposit, make payment, and clear out the unit within 48 hours from the time the auction closes. Once the unit has been inspected, the $100 cash deposit will be returned to the bidder. We currently have 1 unit: Unit-# K02 Regina Walker: Tubs, clothes, shoes, Hoverboard, carpet cleaner, bag chair- 6790 US Hwy 29 N, Opelika, AL 334--429-7420 Legal Run 06/08/2023

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEECOUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: The Estate of DANNY WARD ROBINSON

Deceased

Case No.2023-242

NOTICE TO CREDITORS TAKE NOTICE that Letters of Administration having been granted to CLAYTON ROBINSON, as Administrator of the Estate of DANNY WARD ROBINSON, deceased, on the 25th day of May 2023, by the Honorable BILL ENGLISH, Judge of Probate. NOTICE IS HEREBY

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

HON. BILL ENGLISH JUDGE OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY,

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ALABAMA

CLAYTON ROBINSON

CLAYTON ROBINSON

Administrator of the Estate of DANNY WARD ROBINSON, deceased Legal Run 06/08/2023, 06/15/2023 & 06/22/2023

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA JUVENILE DIVISION

A.S. a minor child (DOB: 09/20/2022), Case No. JU 2022-429.02

NOTICE OF PETITION & SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

NOTICE TO: Floriselda

Salez, mother of A.S. Legal and physical custody of A.S. was vested with the Lee County Department of Human Resources in September, 2022. Floriselda Salez must answer the Petition to Terminate her Parental Rights filed with the Family Court of Lee County, Alabama within fourteen (14) days from the last date of Publication of this notice with the Clerk of Court located at 2311 Gateway Drive, Opelika, AL 36801 or thereafter, a final judgment may be rendered in case JU-2022-429.02, terminating her parental rights and placing the child for adoption.

MARY ROBERSON

CIRCUIT CLERK

Hon. Harold S. Patrick (PAT031) Attorney for Lee County DHR 2108-D Gateway Drive Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 741-0809 Legal Run 6/8/23, 6/15/23, 6/22/23 & 6/29/23

IN THE CIRCUIT

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COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA JUVENILE DIVISION

A.S. a minor child

(DOB: 09/20/2022), Case No. JU 2022-429.02

NOTICE OF PETITION & SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

NOTICE TO: Any alleged, unknown father of A.S. born to Floriselda Salez. Legal and physical custody of A.S. was vested with the Lee County Department of Human Resources in September, 2022. Any alleged or unknown father must answer the Petition to Terminate his Parental Rights filed with the Family Court of Lee County, Alabama within fourteen (14) days from the last date of Publication of this notice with the Clerk of Court located at 2311 Gateway Drive, Opelika, AL 36801 or thereafter, a final judgment may be rendered in in case JU-2022-429.02, terminating his parental rights and placing the child for adoption. Mary Roberson, CIRCUIT CLERK Hon. Harold S. Patrick (PAT031) Attorney for Lee County DHR 2108-D Gateway Drive Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 741-0809 Legal Run 6/8/23, 6/15/23, 6/22/23 & 6/29/23

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF PAMELA JORDAN GRYSKI, DECEASED CASE NO.: 2023-300

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been

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granted to Mike Murphy on the 31st day of May, 2023, 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 36803-023 l Legal Run 6/8/23, 6/15/23 & 6/22/23

IN RE THE ESTATE OF MARVIN G. WALDRUP, a/k/a MARVIN G. WALDRUP, JR.

Deceased IN THE PROBATE COURT OF' LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO. 2023-246 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 1st day of June, 2023, by Hon. Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

MARVIN G WALDRUP

Administrator Legal Run 6/8/23, 6/15/23 & 6/22/23

FORM OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR COMPLETION LEGAL NOTICE

HELP WANTED

MECHANICAL ENGINEER, CHEROKEE FABRICATION

Mechanical Engineers

- Design and detail manufactured items, machining, weld, and assembly prints, using Solidworks 3D CAD software, to support manufacturability, cost effectiveness and safety. Lead engineering projects with minimal oversight and direction. Perform Finite Element Analysis (FEA), failure and DFMEA analysis. Requires: Master’s in Mechanical Engineering with 2 years of Engineer experience or a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering with 5 years of Mechanical Engineer experience. Must include 2 years of experience designing Cotton Ginning equipment. Mail resume to Engineering Manager, Cherokee Fabrication, 13244 HWY 280 East, Salem, AL 36874

– FOR BID #22026

In accordance with Chapter I, Title 39, Code of Alabama, 1975, notice is hereby given that Robinson Paving Company, Inc., Contractor, has completed the Contract for The South Long Street Drainage and Sidewalk Upgrades, AL for the City of Opelika, owner, and have made request for final settlement of said Contract. All persons having any claim for labor, materials or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify Jeffrey Robinson, 5425 Schatulga Rd., Columbus, GA 31907, in writing. Legal Run 06/8/23, 6/15/23, 6/22/23 & 6/29/23

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF DWIGHT FULLER, DECEASED PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY, AL

CASE NO.: 2023-185

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

TAKE NOTICE that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Altumura Rosencrantz on the 31st day of May, 2023, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. Altumura Rosencrantz Legal Run 6/8/23, 6/15/23 & 6/22/23