The Observer | July 11, 2024 by OpelikaObserver

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA — The Alabama Department of Transportation

(ALDOT) is seeking public comments on an upcoming bridge rehabilitation project in Opelika.

ALDOT is proposing a bridge rehabilitation project on U.S. Highway 29 over Interstate 85. The project will involve hydro demolition of the bridge deck to extend its life.

The project will require temporary detours. ALDOT will utilize U.S. Highway 431 and U.S. Highway 280 for the signed detour.

ALDOT encourages the public to submit comments online by Thursday, July 18. Project maps, including details on the detour, and comment submissions are available at www. aldotinvolved.com.

CONTRIBUTED BY CITY OF OPELIKA

OPELIKA — Daewon America Inc. announced a $46.2 million investment in Opelika. The company is planning a building expansion and new manufacturing equipment to be installed in the Opelika facility, located in the Northeast Industrial Park. This investment will create 100 new jobs.

“I believe everything in our local economy starts with a good paying job,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. “That has been my focus since you hired me as your mayor in 2004. Our community has been blessed with over 5,000 new good paying jobs since 2004. This significant additional capital investment by Daewon will result in property tax revenue to benefit

Opelika City Schools, East Alabama Health and Lee County Youth Development Center. There is no question that this has been a team effort with City Council President Eddie Smith and the Opelika City Council, Ronnie Wilson and the Opelika Industrial Development Authority and John Sweatman and his Economic Development team. They have all played an important role in our continued success.”

“Daewon America is proud to partner with the City of Opelika and the Economic Development team in expanding our operations,” said Daewon America President Chris Cho added. Opelika has been an incredibly supportive home for our United States headquarters.

Auburn Community Orchestra announces new director

CONTRIBUTED BY CITY OF AUBURN

AUBURN — The Auburn Community Orchestra has appointed Dr. Russell (Rusty) Logan as the new orchestra director and conductor for the 2024-25 season.

Logan is a native of Wetumpka and graduated from Wetumpka High School. He attended Auburn University and received a Bachelor of

Science in music education and a Master of Music in trombone performance. Following this, he attended the University of Mississippi where he obtained a doctorate in music theory.

Logan has served as director of bands at Monroe Academy (Forsyth, Georgia), Victoria High School (Victoria, Texas) and Auburn High School. He also served as an instructor of music/director

of bands at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, teaching music education and music theory classes. Logan currently serves as a part-time instructor at Auburn University where he teaches all levels of music theory and aural skills.

Logan is currently the principal trombonist and the executive board chair for the Alabama Winds Concert Band and performs with the Montgom-

ery Symphony Orchestra. He is active as a guest conductor, band adjudicator and clinician. He has served as president of the Alabama Bandmasters Association and is currently serving as executive director for the Alabama Music Educators Association.

Logan’s professional affiliations include the Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, National Band Associa-

tion, National Association for Music Education and the National Fraternity for Band Directors, Phi Beta Mu. In 2019, Logan was selected as a member of the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame. Logan is married to his wife Betsy, and their son Jeremy is assistant director of bands/director of percussion studies at Boone High School in Orlando, Florida.

McShane Announces Leadership Promotions

CONTRIBUTED BY THE MCSHANE COMPANIES

AUBURN — McShane Construction Company recently announced promotions at its Southeastern Regional Office in Auburn.

Scott Hoppa was promoted from Senior Vice President & Regional Manager to Executive Vice President of Operations and will oversee McShane’s operations nationally. Dave Meadows was promoted to Vice President & Regional Manager and will assume oversight of the Southeastern Regional Office. Additionally, Brian

DAEWON >> from A1

We are humbly grateful to the City of Opelika and its residents as we continue to strengthen our roots in our community.”

Wood was promoted to Vice President SE Operations and Brandon Yates was promoted to Vice President.

“I’m thrilled to announce the promotions of Scott, Dave, Brian, and Brandon,” said Mat Dougherty, President at McShane. “These are all hardworking and dedicated individuals who have very notable experience both within the industry and at McShane. Our company and Southeastern Regional Office are in great hands under their leadership.”

Hoppa began his career at McShane in 1991 as a co-op student. In 2005,

he established the firm’s Southeastern Regional Office and, over the past 19 years, has expanded the office to employ 60 people. As Executive Vice President of Operations, Hoppa will standardize practices across the firm and drive McShane’s operational goals. Additionally, he will manage all regional business leaders for the firm’s offices in Auburn, Chicago, Madison, Nashville, and Phoenix. Hoppa is a graduate of Marquette University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

“I’m excited to step

into this new role at McShane,” Hoppa shared. “It’s been a privilege to focus on growing and diversifying our Southeastern Regional Office, and I look forward to using my experience to serve McShane in a national capacity.”

Meadows joined McShane in 2013 to direct pre-construction activities and has been instrumental in the company’s business procurement efforts. As Vice President & Regional Manager, Meadows will oversee the day-to-day operations of McShane’s Southeast Regional Office. He will be re -

sponsible for the implementation of construction projects in the multi-family, industrial, and commercial markets and for expanding the firm’s presence in the Southeast. Meadows graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Building Science.

“It’s an honor to be entrusted with the leadership of our team in the Southeast,” Meadows stated. “Scott has set an incredible example, and I look forward to continuing the momentum that he has built.”

ABOUT MCSHANE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Established in 1984, McShane Construction is a national award-winning general contractor that provides design-build and build-to-suit construction services for the multi-family, industrial, commercial, health & fitness and institutional markets. A female-owned and led business, McShane is headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, with regional offices in Auburn, Irvine, California, Madison, Wisconsin, Nashville, Tennessee, and Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit the firm’s website at www.mcshaneconstruction.com.

Opelika City Council

President, Eddie Smith added, “In my 20 years on the Opelika City Council, the past 16 as president, we’ve had the pleasure of approving many of these abatements that mean additional good paying jobs for our citizens.”

The additions to Daewon America Inc. are expected to be completed in the summer of 2027.

“Daewon has continued to be a valued partner in Opelika since their initial announcement to come to our community in 2006,” Sweatman said. “Daewon’s total capital investment over the past 18 years, including this new expansion, is well over $164 million and the new total number of jobs created to 260. We look forward to supporting Daewon’s new expansion efforts and we are extremely thankful they decided to choose Opelika.”

Including this latest investment, Daewon America’s Opelika operations will have invested more than $164 million and created 260 jobs.

DR. RUSSELL LOGAN

SCOTT HOPPA DAVE MEADOWS

BRIAN WOOD

BRANDON YATES

EAMC among America’s best maternity hospitals

One of only three Alabama hospitals to receive five-star ribbon in Newsweek ranking

BY EAH

CONTRIBUTED

LEE COUNTY —East

Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) was recently featured on Newsweek’s 2024 list of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals. EAMC was one of only three Alabama hospitals to receive a five-star ribbon score, the highest tier awarded based on the list’s ranking criteria.

High-quality maternity care provided through pregnancy, birth and postpartum is crucial to the long-term health of newborns and their mothers. With more than 2,000 babies born each year at EAMC, East Alabama Health has made extensive investments in the facility’s Women’s and Children’s Center.

“Our region is growing quickly, and along with that is the need for exceptional maternal care, a need we strive to meet head-on,” said Laura Grill, president

and CEO of East Alabama Health. “It is our privilege to care for mothers in our community, and to help them welcome healthy, happy babies into this world.”

In 2021, a Level III NICU was opened at EAMC, allowing babies to receive intensive or specialized care from local neonatologists without having to leave town. EAMC is also designated as a Baby-Friendly hospital by the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It first received that designation in 2015, becoming only the second hospital in the state to earn the prestigious label. In addition to the hospital’s modern NICU and Baby-Friendly designation, EAMC also offers various childbirth preparation and birth navigation classes for soon-to-be mothers. Led by EAMC nurses, these classes prepare mothers for labor and delivery while helping

them become more familiar and comfortable with the process.

“¬To be recognized as a top maternity hospital by Newsweek is an amazing accomplishment for our team,” said Rosemary Cummings, executive director of Women’s and Children’s Services at EAMC. “To be one of only three hospitals in the state — and the only hospital in central Alabama to achieve this designation — is even more of a testament to our team’s focus on outstanding care for all mothers and babies.

“We are proud to care for families in our communities, and we want to be your number one choice to care for you during this exciting time in your life.”

The ranking criteria for the Best Maternity Hospitals list is based on three pillars including results from a nationwide online survey, patient experience survey

and hospital quality metrics. During the nationwide survey, hospital managers and medical professionals were asked to recommend leading maternity hospitals and rate them on a 1-10 scale. Patient survey data was taken from publicly available information about patient experience for the hospital. The hospital quality metrics score was determined by using data from The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA).

ABOUT EAST ALABAMA HEALTH East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier in Valley, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that

help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 314-bed regional referral hospital, while EAMC-Lanier provides inpatient services as well as a nursing home, an acute rehab unit, a senior behavioral health unit and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 3,800 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University. For more information, visit www.eastalabamahealth.org

EAMC-Lanier seeking designation as ‘Rural Emergency Hospital’

OPELIKA — Officials from East Alabama Health began the regulatory process last week to request that EAMC-Lanier in Valley be designated as a Rural Emergency Hospital.

Rural Emergency Hospitals are

a new Medicare provider type enacted in the Consolidated Appropriations Acts of 2021. Facilities designated as a Rural Emergency Hospital are licensed to provide emergency services and additional outpatient medical and health services.

Upon designation, expected by

the end of the year, EAMC-Lanier would continue to provide local access to emergency care, nursing home services and outpatient services including lab work, radiology, infusion services, physical therapy, cardiac rehab and procedures at its Ambulatory Surgery Center.

“Our organization is committed

to serving the needs of our community, and designation as a Rural Emergency Hospital would allow EAMC-Lanier to further meet those needs,” said Greg Nichols, executive vice president and EAMC-Lanier administrator. “This change will ensure that residents of our community have continued access

to critical health services locally.

“We are fortunate to be part of a strong health care system with East Alabama Health. Not every community has that advantage, so it is nice to know we are not alone on an island and inpatient services are available just down the road in Opelika.”

Auburn ranked as ‘hidden gem’ city for business startups

CONTRIBUTED BY MARKETBEAT.COM

AUBURN — Silicon Valley, New York and Austin are often seen as the go-to destinations for entrepreneurs aiming to launch a successful business. However, across America there are numerous smaller cities that offer unique advantages for launching a business — such as Auburn. These cities have a lower cost of living and a supportive business environment that are ideal for online and innovative startups. To uncover these under-the-radar hotspots, MarketBeat.com conducted a survey among 3,000 business executives to identify which cities they consider hidden gems for launching a startup. Among them is Auburn, which the researchers ranked No. 30 among the 100 best locations in the U.S. for aspiring entrepreneurs to start their ventures and thrive.

University, provides a robust foundation for startups with access to research resources, a steady talent pipeline and strong entrepreneurial programs,” according to a MarketBeat.com press release.

“Auburn, home to Auburn

“The Auburn Research Park and the New Venture Accelerator offer essential support through mentorship,

News from the Chambers of Commerce

networking and funding opportunities. Coupled with a high quality of life and an affordable cost of living, Auburn is an ideal environment for entrepreneurs to thrive.”

“As the startup landscape evolves, it’s essential for entrepreneurs to consider diverse locations that offer unique advantages,” said Matt Paulson, founder of MarketBeat.com. “Our survey highlights cities that not only provide cost-effective solutions but also foster supportive environments for innovation and growth. These hidden gems are proving that you don’t need to be in a traditional startup hub to achieve success.”

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce celebrated a ribbon cutting with the new Flournoy Aquatics Center at the Covington Recreation Center, located at 213 Carver Ave.

Mini Merchant applications available through July 26

The fourth annual Mini Merchant, a chance for young entrepreneurs to sell their handmade products alongside real farmers, bakers and business owners, will be held during City Market at Town Creek Park on Aug. 3 from 8 to 11 a.m. Auburn Parks and Recreation is currently accepting applications from vendors ages 14 and younger who handcraft various products such as delicious treats or unique crafts. Upon acceptance, vendors will have to provide their own tents and pay a $15 fee. Those interested in participating may apply online at the Parks & Rec website, www. auburnal.myrec.com. The deadline to apply is July 26.

Upcoming July Tax Holiday offers savings for consumers

ALABAMA —

Alabama parents can plan to take advantage of the savings associated with Alabama’s back-to-school sales tax holiday. Alabama’s 19th annual back-to-school sales tax holiday is July 19-21. This marks the eighth time the annual tax holiday will take place during the third weekend of July.

From 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 19, until midnight, Sunday, July 21, the state waives its 4% sales tax on school-related supplies and clothing. More than 300 cities and counties throughout Alabama also waive their local taxes. In some areas, the savings reach 10%. Check the 2024 participating cities and counties list to determine if your local communities are participating.

Exempt items include:

- Clothing priced at $100 or less per article;

- School supplies valued at $50 or less per item;

way to save money and support their local economies, especially those local businesses that sell the covered items exclusively, like shoe, children’s apparel, school supply, book and computer stores.

“The sales tax holiday offers parents a way to save on backto-school needs,” said Alabama Retail Association President Rick Brown. “Saving money for consumers while stimulating sales for stores is what this weekend is all about.”

“Every little bit helps with inflation, so 10% savings is pretty big,” said Brian Schroll of The Name Dropper and Storkland in Montgomery, which has a 10% sales tax rate. Brian’s mother, Shea Schroll, said the tax holiday “definitely helps” her family business. She said her customers “love to save the sales tax on backpacks, shoes and clothing.”

Reason for Everyone to Shop

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html?form=2024/03/2024Back-to-School-SalesTax-Holiday-Fact-Sheet.

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The Alabama Retail Association encourages shoppers to buy from local retailers by promoting the use of the #ShopAlabama hashtag. “Shopping with businesses that have a physical presence in your local area keeps businesses open and your neighbors employed,” said Brown. This information will be updated periodically as the sales tax holiday approaches. Look for more content on Alabama Retail’s Facebook page and @ShopAlabama on Instagram.

ABOUT ALABAMA RETAIL ASSOCIATION

- Books that cost $30 or less per book; and

- Tablets, laptops, computers and printers with a selling price of $750 or less.

Learn more at www.alabamaretail. org/resources/ salestaxholidays/back-toschool/

*Resources for consumers and retailers compiled by Alabama Retail Association.

ShopAlabama to Save Money

The sales tax holiday provides shoppers a

Although the sales tax holiday targets backto-school shoppers, any consumer can benefit from the savings offered during the weekend.

A wide range of items are exempt during the holiday, so there is a reason for everyone to shop.

Some of the widely needed items include diapers, printer ink, thumb or flash drives, printer paper and art supplies.

Full list of the taxexempt items can be found at www. revenue.alabama.gov/

The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Through sales of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and more, our 4,300 independent merchant and national company members touch almost every aspect of daily living. Since 1943, we’ve worked to promote what’s best for the retail industry in Alabama. Whether voicing the retail view when public policy is made, educating members about issues that impact them, negotiating rates for benefits and services or communicating the retail story, the Alabama Retail Association and its members are better together.

L labama Politics ee County & A

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Inside the State House

Donald Trump will be coronated by GOP at Republican convention

BY STEVE FLOWERS

OPINION —

The Republican National Convention begins next week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee was selected as the home to the GOP Convention for a reason. Wisconsin is one of the six major pivotal battleground states in the presidential race. The others are Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia and possibly Pennsylvania. In bygone years, presidential candidates campaigned in 40 or so states because 40 states were in play. Today the candidates will concentrate in these few swing states and will really focus their efforts on certain locales and precincts within these handful of states. Even the media, both right and left, discuss and reveal polling in these swing states and disregard the national horserace polling numbers because they are irrelevant. Under our electoral college system of selecting our president where the winner of each state’s popular vote gets all of those states electoral votes, there is no reason to campaign in 40 states because those back 40 are already predisposed to vote for either the

Republican or Democratic candidate. As I have often said, if Mickey Mouse were the Republican nominee he would win Alabama and Kansas. By the same token, if Donald Duck were the Democratic nominee he would carry the states of California and New York and get all of their boatload of electoral votes. You might say that the “hay is in the barn” in Kansas and the “cannabis in the halo” in California.

Donald J. Trump will be coronated by the GOP delegates at the Milwaukee confab July 1518. Republicans are hoping that by giving deference to Wisconsin, it will help the former President carry the state in November. Trump won the state narrowly against Hillary Clinton in 2016 and lost narrowly to Biden in 2020. Currently, Trump and Biden are knotted at 45/45 in Wisconsin with third party candidate Robert Kennedy getting a substantial 10%. In fact, as the convention begins, current polling has Donald Trump ahead of Joe Biden in most of the battleground states, including Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, Arizona and even Michigan.

Trump is ahead and will be favored to win the general election for three reasons. First, Joe Biden’s aged demeanor is an Achilles heel that he cannot overcome, and it will only get worse. Pivotal Independents are not comfortable that he is capable of being Commander in Chief, and young Democratic voters are not enthused to vote for someone for President of the United States that looks like their great-grandfather who

is running for president of his nursing home. Secondly, the candidacy of third-party candidate Robert Kennedy is siphoning off these young Democratic voters. The third and primary reason is that the Democratic plan and ploy to indict former President Trump on trumped up ridiculous court cases in primarily Democratic venues around the country, has incensed American Republican and Independent voters to such a degree that this mockery of the court system has made Trump a martyr.

It has definitely made the Trump Republican base mad and fired up. The Democrats overplayed their hand with this court charade. This circus abuse of the judiciary for political purposes has truly angered the Republican base. It has assured Trump the GOP nomination and it has even made the pivotal Independent voters sway towards Trump.

Alabama is a Trump state. The Alabama delegation will fervently cast 50 delegate votes for Donald J. Trump next week. Sen. “Coach” Tommy Tuberville will be the one who gets to reply to the chair of the Convention when they call the roll for the vote. Alabama will be the first to vote as they call the roll alphabetically. Tuberville will rise and shout that the great state of Alabama proudly casts all of its 50 delegate votes to the next President of the United States, President Donald J. Trump.

It is appropriate that Tuberville is chairman of the Alabama delegation. He and Trump are close.

See FLOWERS, page A9

Lee County Commissioners discuss subdivision roads

BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER HGOLDFINGER@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

LEE COUNTY — A resident of Cedar Estates Subdivision, Ashley Lucas, approached the commission to discuss the condition of the roadways in the subdivision during the Monday night Lee County Commission meeting.

“The roads in our community are in desperate need of repair from county, medical use, regular traffic and erosion,” Lucas said.

There are 40 tax-paying residents in this area, and he said it is beyond the residents’ capabilities to fix the roads.

Lucas asked the county to either grade the roads or lay asphalt. Specifically, these are gravel roads — Lee Roads 2182, 2184 and 2184.

District 4 Commissioner Tony Langley said all of these are non-county-maintained roads.

Cedar Estates was originally plated as a private subdivision and road maintenance was deemed to be the HOA’s responsibility, said County Engineer Justin Hardee. The subdivision was never codified, however, Lucas said.

Hardee said that one of the things that would have to happen before the commission could help would be that there would need to be a deeded right of way, not just an easement.

Lucas and the commission agreed that if all the residents in Cedar Estates agreed, then the right of way could be deeded to the county and the county could begin looking at working on those roads.

“If it’s okay with the [commission] then we will go ahead and work on our end to get that approved,” Lucas said.

OTHER BUSINESS

• The commission approved an educational reimbursement request for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

• The commission approved the final plat approval for Forest Ridge Subdivision.

• The commission approved a date for a work session to discuss the vacation of Lee Road 57A right-of-way.

• The commission set a work session on July 29 to discuss the county’s dirt road paving program. It will also discuss the Arrow and GFL Landfill contracts.

Auburn City Council buys three Harley police cycles

CONTRIBUTED BY CITY OF AUBURN

AUBURN — At its first regular meeting in July, the Auburn City Council authorized the purchase of three 2024 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide police motorcycles at a total cost of $83,655.66. One motorcycle will replace a damaged 2016 Honda ST1300, and two of the motorcycles will be expansion vehicles needed to support special events and traffic enforcement.

In other action, the council approved a license agreement for outdoor café improvements behind Little Italy and The Irritable Bao in downtown Auburn.

Owners of these two restaurants plan to jointly improve the outdoor dining area by covering the patio space with a pergola. The agreement grants a license to owners of these restaurant properties to allow their tenants utilization of the City’s property for outdoor dining with an initial term of 10 years, with five renewal options of one year each, for a potential lease term of 15 years.

The council approved a development agreement and tower crane agreement for the AC Hotel that is planned for North Gay Street. The development agreement addresses construction logistics related to public right of way, and both agreements are intended to protect the public using rights of way along North Gay Street and other streets by which materials and equipment will be delivered.

The council announced various traffic control signs and devices for roads and neighborhoods throughout Auburn, including a No U-Turn/No Left Turn sign to be located at the north end of the island at the intersection of East University Drive and Saugahatchee Road.

The council approved professional consulting services for the Mall and Tacoma Drive Basins Sanitary Sewer Project at a cost of $119,700.

The next regular council meeting will be held July 16 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 141 N. Ross St. in the Public Safety Building.

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LOUIS C. YOUNG , DECEASED.

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2024-346

TO: ROBIN VAUGHNBURKE, ROBSHAWN

MARKELL YOUNG, MELVIN RYAN WATTS, SCOTT PHILPOT, SABRENA JOHNS

NOTICE: On the 7th day of June, 2024, a certain writing, purporting to be the Will of LOUIS C. YOUNG also known as LOUIS CALVIN YOUNG was filed in my office for probate by DERRICK WASHINGTON and the 18th day of July, 2024, at 10 o’clock a.m. CST was appointed a day for hearing thereof at which time you can appear and contest the same, if you see proper.

Given under my hand, the 14th day of June, 2024.

BILL ENGLISH

JUDGE OF PROBATE

Robert H. Pettey, Attorney Samford & Denson, LLP

P.O. Box 2345

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

Legal Run 06/20/24, 06/27/24, 07/04/24

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

OPELIKA CITY

COUNCIL

JULY 16, 2024, 6:00 P.M.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with §23-4-2, Code of Alabama, 1975, that the City Council of the City of Opelika will conduct a Public Hearing during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Opelika Municipal Court Building, 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to receive the benefit of public input concerning a proposal to vacate a portion of the right-of-way of Speedway Road between Randall Drive and Veterans Parkway. All persons interested in the proposed vacation are invited to appear at the public hearing and express their views. Written statements or objections may be submitted to the City Clerk prior to the time of the hearing. The portion of Speedway Drive proposed to be vacated is more particularly described as follows: Commence at a point under asphalt locally accepted as the Southwest corner of Section 15, Township 19 North, Range 26 East, Auburn, Lee County, Alabama; thence North 21°46’52” East, a distance of 2070.89 feet to the point of beginning of a right-of-way vacation more fully described as follows: Thence North 00°49’50” East, a distance of 216.29 feet; thence North 00°49’50” East, a distance of 110.44 feet; thence South 89°10’10” East, a distance of 48.78 feet; thence South 00°49’55” West, a distance of 110.16 feet; thence South 00°49’55” West, a distance of 99.88 feet; thence South 00°49’55” West, a distance of 99.90 feet; thence South 00°49’55” West, a distance of 99.92 feet; thence South 00°49’55” West, a distance of 37.57 feet; thence with a curve turning to the right with an arc length of 130.20 feet, with a radius of 2662.7 feet, with a chord bearing of North 21°10’12” West, with a chord length of 130.19 feet to the point of beginning, said right-of-way vacation containing 18,949.9 square feet or 0.44 acres, more or less. Being further described according to and as shown on that certain survey or drawing dated January 29, 2024, by Arthur R. Nettles, Registered Surveyor, attached hereto and marked Exhibit “A”.

A copy of the Petition to Vacate and the proposed resolution approving the vacation will be available upon request at the office of the City Clerk, 1st Floor of City Hall, 204 South 7th Street, Opelika,

Alabama. Please contact Brian Weiss, the City’s ADA Contact Person, at 334-705-5134 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to a disability. DATED this the 20th day of June, 2024.

/s/Russell A. Jones, CMC RUSSELL A. JONES, CITY CLERK Legal Run 06/20/2024, 06/27/2024, 07/04/2024 & 07/11/2024.

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IN RE: The Estate of IN THE PROHATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, STATE OF ALAHAMA MOLLIE M. KREMINSKI a/k/a MOLLIE MARGARET KREMINSKI, deceased Case Number: 2024-340 TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to LEE VAUGHN as Executor of the Estate of MOLLIE M. KREMINSKI deceased, on the 14th day of June, 2024, by the Honorable BILL ENGLISH. 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. Bradley R. Coppedge, Attorney for the Estate of Mollie M. Kreminski Legal Run 06/27/24, 07/04/24 & 07/11/24

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT G. BROWN, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2024-345 Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 14th day of June, 2024, 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.

REBECCA THIBODEAU

KHAN Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 06/27/24, 07/04/24, 07/11/24

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PIKE COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA Plaintiff; ALLY GRABLIN vs. SCOTTIE HAMMOCK, Defendant CIVIL ACTION NO. 2021CV-288 RBK ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

The Court having considered Plaintiff’s Motion for Publication concerning the Defendant, the Court finds that the present whereabouts of the same are currently unknown to the Plaintiff: and the Plaintiff: having exercised due diligence to find said individual. has not been successful in locating said individual. The Court is satisfied that the Defendant is a necessary and proper party based upon the pleadings in this action so as to require service by some means allowed by law. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that service be perfected by publication on the Defendant in the above referenced matter. So ordered this the 8th day of May, 2024

The Honorable Rhonda Kreuziger Judge, Pike County Superior Court

Jody L. Sellers, Esq. Georgia Bar No. 633244

Attorney for Plaintiff THE SELLERS LAW FIRM LLC 306th S. 5th Street

PUBLIC NOTICES

Griffin, Georgia, 30233

770-415-9848

jsellers@thesellerslawfirm.com

Legal Run 06/27/24, 07/04/24, 07/11/24, 07/18/24

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF BOBBIE JEAN WHITE

Case No. 2024-230 Deceased

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Take Notice that on the 17th day of June 2024, Letters of Administration having been granted to April White, as Administratrix of the Estate of Bobbie Jean White, deceased, 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.

April White

Administratrix of the Estate of Bobbie Jean White Legal run 6/27/2024, 7/4/2024, 7/11/2024

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LURA ATKINS , DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Case No: 2024-244

Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 21st day of June, 2024, 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.

TERESA LAMBERT

Personal Representative

Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP

P.O. Box 2345

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

Legal Run 07/04/2024, 07/11/2024 & 07/18/2024

INVITATION TO BID

24028

Sealed bids for the construction of New 115kV Transmission Line shall be received at the Opelika City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time, July 22nd, 2024, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor.

The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code §34-8-1, et. seq. (1975) and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Bidders must be licensed by the Licensing Board for General Contractors when bids are submitted.

All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/or permits required by applicable law, rule, or regulation for the performance of the work. Contact the City of Opelika Purchasing Department for specifications at 204 S. 7th St, Opelika, AL 36801. The specifications can also be downloaded from the city’s website at www.opelika-al. gov/bids.aspx. Questions regarding these Bid/Contract

Documents may be directed to Mr. Brent Poteet, Power Services Director, City of Opelika, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama 36803. Phone: (334) 705-5572. The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika. All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted. The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika. All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted. A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid. Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities. Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Ope¬li¬ka, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: New 115kV Transmission Line LILLIE FINLEYPURCHASING-REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120

Legal Run 07/04/2024, 07/11/2024 & 07/18/2024

STATE OF ALABAMA CASE NO. 2024-365 LEE COUNTY PROBATE

COURT ESTATE OF DANESE J. CONSTAN, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

Letters Testamentary of said Danese J. Constan, deceased, having been granted to Phillip N. Constan this 28th day of June 2024, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred. Phillip N. Constan, Personal Representative Legal Run 07/04/2024, 07/11/2024, & 07/18/2024

ADVERTISEMENT OF SALE

Property described below will be sold per the The SelfService Storage Facilities Act. Sale on Friday the 26th day of July, 2024 at 1:00 PM with bidding to take place on lockerfox.com. Payment and pickup at facility. Storage Rentals of America, 3806 Pepperell Pkwy, Opelika, AL, 36801-6024 McGuire, Jessica. Vandiver, Roman. Austin, Roland. Legal Run 07/04/2024 & 07/11/2024

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

IN RE:The estate of Martha Cunningham, Deceased Case No.: 2024-323

TAKE NOTICE that Letters of Administration having been granted to Liberty Powell as Administratrix of the Estate of Martha Cunningham, deceased, on the 26th day of June, 2024. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against the said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same be barred. Liberty Powell, Administratrix of the Estate of Martha Cunningham,

Deceased Marrell J. McNeal, Attorney at Law, PC PO Box 308 Opelika, AL 36803 334-745-7033

Legal Run 07/04/24, 07/11/24, & 07/18/24

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF PHILLIP MARTIN WILLIAMS, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2024-378 Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 24th day of June, 2024, 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.

NITA ANNE WILLIAMS Administrator

Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504

Legal Run 07/04/2024, 07/11/2024, & 07/18/2024

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, STATE OF ALABAMA IN RE: The Estate of JANICE C. HENDERSON, DECEASED Case Number: 2024-368 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Sara Pitts Nicholson, Personal Representative, on the 21st day of June, 2024, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are hereby required to present same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Amber N. Crawford Hall Booth Smith, P.C. P.O. Box 2707 Columbus, GA 31902-2707 Legal Run 07/4/2024, 07/11/24 & 07/18/24

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA HUGLEY, APRIL, Plaintiff v. DUNN, DANOUS, Defendant CASE NO. DR-2023-000145.00 ORDER

The MOTION TO SERVE BY PUBLICATION OR POSTING filed by HUGLEY, APRIL, is hereby GRANTED IN PART.

The Court will allow service by publication service by publication, but only after the Plaintiff has filed a Complaint, as she was instructed to do in written order by this Court dated December 14, 2023. Each and every lawsuit must begin with the filing of a Complaint, pursuant to Rule 7(a) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure.

If no Complaint is filed within 30 days this case is to be dismissed without prejudice.

The Plaintiff can find a Complaint form to use in the office of the Circuit Clerk at the Lee County Justice Center, or online per the directions given in the Court’s last Order. DONE this 18” day of April, 2024 /s/ RUSSELL K. BUSH

CIRCUIT JUDGE Legal Run 07/04/2024, 07/11/2024, 07/18/2024, 07/25/2024

INVITATION TO BID

24024

Sealed bids for the construction of G. W. Carver Hall Roofing Project shall be received at the Opelika City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room, 204 South

Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time, July 22, 2024, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code §34-8-1, et. seq. (1975) and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Bidders must be licensed by the Licensing Board for General Contractors when bids are submitted.

Bidders are required to have a State of Alabama General Contractor’s License. All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala. Code §34-8-8(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number. Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid. All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/or permits required by applicable law, rule, or regulation for the performance of the work. Drawings and specifications are available at the City of Opelika Purchasing Department, 204 S. 7th St., Opelika, Alabama. Additionally, bid documents will be made available on the City of Opelika’s website at www.opelika-al.gov/bids. aspx. The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika. All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid. Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities. Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: G. W. Carver Hall Roofing Project. LILLIE FINLEYPURCHASING-REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal Run 07/04/2024, 07/11/2024, & 07/18/2024

NOTICE OF COURT PROCEEDING IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary Distribution In the Estate of JAMES FRANKLIN DOLER, deceased Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office by JANICE KNOWLES DOLER on JULY 3rd, 2024, pursuant to Sections 43-2-690, Code of Alabama and that 30 days after the notice of publication hereof and pursuant to law the Court shall be requested to enter an Order directing Summary Distribution of the estate of said decedent. BILL ENGLISH, PROBATE JUDGE LEGAL RUN 07/11/2024

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Smiths Station makes progress on storm shelter

BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER HGOLDFINGER@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

SMITHS STATION — Smiths Station Mayor Richard Cooley announced during the Smiths Station City Council work session this week that the city storm shelter is making progress.

“We’re now out of peer review on our storm shelter,” Cooley said.

The city hopes to have bids ready to go out on July 22, he said.

“We’ve already had three interested so far,” he said. “… Our next step, now at this point, is we’re waiting on the architect to get the bid packages ready.”

OTHER BUSINESS

• The council amended the authorization of a lease-purchase of a 2024 Pac-Mac KB20Trash/Grapple Truck from Ingram Equipment for the Environmental Department from a purchase to lease-purchase.

• The council updated the location of the Public Posting Location from Save-Mor Pharmacy to Renfroe’s Market.

FLOWERS >> from A7

Indeed, if Trump becomes President, our senior Sen. Tuberville will be the President’s closest ally in the Senate. They talk consistently and golf together regularly.

Our 50-member delegation is star-studded. Our senior State Senate Legend, Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia), will be a delegate to the National Convention for the ninth time. Jabo is 87. He will be joined by the youngest delegate ever elected, 22-year-old St. Clair native and lifelong resident of Chandler Mountain, young Logan Glass.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers’ weekly column appears in more than 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. steve@ steveflowers.us.

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC

HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that the City Council of the City of Opelika will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Opelika Municipal Court Building, 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama.

PURPOSE

The purpose of said Public Hearing will be to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend Ordinance Number 124-91 (entitled “Zoning Ordinance of the City of Opelika”) adopted on September 17, 1991. At said Public Hearing all who desire to be heard shall have the opportunity to speak for or in opposition to the adoption of the following ordinance:

ORDINANCE NO. ___

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA

From a C-2 District (Office/ Retail District) to a C-1 District (Downtown Commercial District), the parcels of land hereinafter described:

PARCEL I

From the intersection of the Northeasterly margin of First Avenue with the Southwesterly margin of North Seventh Street in the City of Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, run thence Northwesterly along the Southwesterly margin of North Seventh Street for 33 feet, more or less, to the center of the common wall between the building on the above described corner and the building on the within described property, the point so reached being the point of beginning of the property herein to be described and conveyed. FROM SAID POIN’I OF BEGINNING continue Northwesterly along the Southwesterly margin of said North Seventh Street for 67 feet, more or less, to the Northerly corner of Lot 2 D, Block 17 of the Grant Lands as shown on Totten’s Official Real Estate Map of the City o1 Opelika, Ala, 1930, recorded in the Lee County Probate Office in Town Plat Book 2 at Page 9 thence leaving said street, run Southwesterly parallel with First Avenue, 100 feet to the Westerly comer of said Lot 2 D; thence Southeasterly parallel with North Seventh Street, 67 feet, more or less; thence Northeasterly parallel with First Avenue, 100 feet, to North Seventh Street, and the point of beginning, a portion of the last said call running along the above described common wall.

PARCEL II

The Southeasterly 40 feet of Lot 2 E, Block 17, of the Grant Lands as shown on Totten’s Official Real Estate Map of the City of Opelika, Ala., 1930 the same being recorded in the Lee County Probate Office in Town Plat Book 2, at Page 9, and being more particularly described as follows: from the point of intersection of the Northwesterly margin of First Avenue with the Southwesterly margin of North Seventh Street in the City of Opelika, run thence Northwesterly along the Southwesterly margin of North Seventh Street 100 feet to the point of beginning of the property here in to be described and conveyed.

FROM SAID POINT OF BEGINNING continue Northwesterly along said margin of said street, 40 feet, thence Southwesterly and parallel with First Avenue, 175 feet to the rear of lot of said

Lot 2 E; thence Southeasterly parallel with North Seventh Street, 40 feet, to the Southerly corner of said Lot 2 E; thence Northeasterly 175 feet to the point of beginning.

PARCEL III

Commence at that certain point in the City of Opelika, Alabama where the Southwesterly margin of North 7th Street intersects the Northwesterly margin of First Avenue; thence run in a Southwesterly direction, along the Northwesterly margin of First Avenue, a distance of 100.0 feet to the point of beginning of the lot or parcel of land herein to be described and conveyed; from said point of beginning, thence run in a Southwesterly direction, along the Northwesterly margin of First Avenue, a distance of 45.0 feet; thence run in a Northwesterly direction, parallel with North 7th Street, for 100.0 feet; thence run in a Northeasterly direction, parallel with First Avenue, for 45.0 feet; thence run in a Southeasterly direction, parallel with North 7th Street, for 100.0 feet to the said point of beginning on the Northwest margin of First Avenue.

The above-described parcels are located at 704 1st Avenue, 104 North 7th Street and a vacant lot on North 7th Street, Opelika, Alabama. Section 2. Any ordinance or part thereof in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance be and the same are hereby repealed.

Section 3. This Ordinance shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Opelika, Lee County, Alabama. All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing and be heard. Written comments concerning the above matter may be mailed to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 390, Opelika, AL 36803 at any time prior to the public hearing and may be further submitted to the City Council at the meeting and the public hearing. Please contact Brian Weiss, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334-705-5134 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to any disability.

WITNESS my hand this the 11th day of July, 2024. /s/Russell A. Jones, MMC CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal Run 07/11/2024

ORDINANCE NO. 010-24

AN ORDINANCE ENDING POLICY OF PROVIDING FUNERAL ESCORT SERVICES

WHEREAS, the Opelika Police Department (OPD) has a long-standing tradition of providing escorts for funeral processions originating in or passing through the City of Opelika; and WHEREAS, liability and staffing concerns have prompted many cities to stop providing funeral escorts; and WHEREAS, OPD has recently completed a review of the City’s funeral procession policy; and WHEREAS, OPD has determined that funeral escorts (1) unnecessarily place police officers at risk of injury; (2) expose police officers and the City to civil liability; and (3) divert resources from needed law enforcement activities; and WHEREAS, OPD has recommended that the City discontinue its policy of providing police escorts for funeral processions. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council (the “Council”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) as follows: Section 1. That the City’s policy of providing police escorts for funeral processions originating in or passing through the City shall end on October 1, 2024, at 12:00 noon, except in connection with the funeral processions of (1) police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty; (2) members of the U.S. military killed in a combat zone; and (3) public officials and dignitaries at the direction of the Mayor. Section 2. That Section 22-5 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Opelika is hereby repealed effective as of October 1, 2024, at 12:00 Noon.

Section 3. That this Ordinance shall be published as required by law in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Opelika, Lee County, Alabama. ADOPTED AND APPROVED this the 2nd day of July, 2024.

/s/ Eddie Smith PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA

ATTEST:

/s/Russell A. Jones, MMC

CITY CLERK TRANSMITTED TO MAYOR on this the 3rd day of July, 2024.

/s/ Russell A. Jones, MMC

CITY CLERK

ACTION BY MAYOR

APPROVED this the 3rd day of July, 2024.

/s/ Gary Fuller MAYOR

ATTEST:

/s/ Russell A. Jones, MMC

CITY CLERK Legal Run 07/11/2024

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Opelika will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Opelika Municipal Court Building, 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama.

PURPOSE

BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council (the “City Council”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) as follows: Section 1. That Ordinance 124-91 entitled “Zoning Ordinance City of Opelika, Alabama”, adopted on September 17, 1991, and the Zoning Map of the City of Opelika provided for and referred to therein, as previously amended and/or modified, be and the same is hereby amended by rezoning or redistricting the parcel of land hereinafter in this section described, so as to change such parcel from one class of district to another class of district as follows, to-wit: From a R-5M District (High Density Residential District) to a C-2 District (Office/Retail District), the parcel of land hereinafter described: Commence at the Northeast corner of the Southeast quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section 12, Township 19 North, Range 26 East in Lee County, Alabama; run thence West for 59.6 feet; run thence South for 506.8 feet to a point on the Southeasterly margin of Pleasant Drive; run thence South 24 degrees 37 minutes West, along the Southeasterly margin of Pleasant Drive for 130 feet to the point of beginning of the lot to be herein described and conveyed; from said point of beginning run thence South 73 degrees 42 minutes East for 185.6 feet; run thence South l 2 degrees 53 minutes East for 113 feet; thence run North 73 degrees 42 minutes West for 255 feet to the Southeasterly margin of Pleasant Drive; run thence North 24 degrees 37 minutes East along the Southeasterly margin of Pleasant Drive; run thence North 24 degrees 37 minutes East, along the South Easterly margin of Pleasant Drive for 100 feet to the point of beginning.

The above-described property contains 22,450 square feet, more or less, and is located at 711 Pleasant Drive, Opelika, Alabama.

Section 2. Any ordinance or part thereof in conflict with provisions of this Ordinance be and the same are hereby repealed.

Section 3. This Ordinance shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Opelika, Lee County,

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

Please contact Brian Weiss, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334-705-5134 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to any disability.

WITNESS my hand this the 11th day of July, 2024.

/s/ Russell A. Jones, MMC CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal Run 07/11/2024

SEIZURE AND PROPOSED FORFEITURE NOTICE

Lee County, Alabama District Attorney commenced forfeiture against property listed below. The property was seized by Auburn Police Department (APD), Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), and Opelika Police Department (OPD) during the course of their official duties and has never been claimed.

CV-2024-900240.00: Firearms. A complete listing is available at www.leecountyda.org.

To claim a firearm, contact the recovering agency directly. Claimant must provide proof of ownership, under oath, subject to penalty of perjury. Contest to the forfeiture of the listed property may be made by filing a claim no later than 11:59PM CST 30 days after final publication of this notice, or, thereafter, a default judgement may be rendered.

Legal Run 07/11/24, 07/18/24, 07/25/24 & 08/01/24

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY STATE OF ALABAMA

In re. the marriage of: JUANITA DORIS FULGHUM RODARTE, PLAINTIFF, VS. DANIEL ROBERT RODARTE, DEFENDANT. CASE NUMBER: DR-2023-900136.00

NOTICE OF DIVORCE ACTION

Daniel Robert Rodarte, whose whereabouts are unknown, must answer Juanita Doris Fulghum Rodarte’s Verified Complaint for Divorce and other relief by September 2, 2024, or, thereafter, a judgment by default may be rendered against him in Case No. DR2024-900136.00, Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama. Done this 3rd day of July, 2024.

/s/ Mary B. Roberson CIRCUIT COURT CLERK Jacob J. (Jake) Key Attorney for Plaintiff Johnson, Caldwell & McCoy, LLC 117 North Lanier Avenue, Suite 201 Lanett, Alabama 36863 (334) 644-1171 7/11/24, 7/18/24, 7/25/24 and 8/1/24

CITY OF OPELIKA

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARINGS TO: RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA AND ALL OTHER INTERESTED CITIZENS NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Opelika, Alabama will hold a regular meeting and will be conducting public hearings on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. in the Meeting Chamber at Opelika Municipal Court located at 300 MLK Boulevard, Opelika, Alabama. A Planning Commission work session will be held at 2:45 pm before the regular meeting. The purpose of the public hearings is to receive public comment on the following: I. Some items at the meeting will have a designated public hearing (noted below). Individuals are limited to 5-minute comment period per public hearing. II. Approval of Minutes III. Update on Previous PC Cases

IV. New Business

A. Preliminary Plat – Public Hearing

1. A public hearing on a request by ASH—Evermore Homes of Al, LLC, authorized representative for SMB Land, LLC (Frank E. Plan managing member), property owners, for preliminary approval of the Knollwood subdivision consisting of 47 lots accessed from Crawford Road (Highway 169).

B. Plat (Preliminary and Final Plat) – Public Hearing

2. A public hearing on a request by Mark Strozier, authorized representative for Anand, Inc., property owners, for preliminary and final approval of the Subdivision Plat of Parcel 43 10 02 09 3 000 001.005, consisting of 3 lots accessed at 1400 Columbus Parkway.

3. A request by Harris Gray, authorized representative for Phyllis Jan Randolph, Tracy Rudd Lecroy, and Hugh Lee Richey, property owners, for preliminary and final approval of Replat for Tracy Rudd Lecroy, Phyllis Jan Randolph, and Hugh Lee Richey subdivision consisting of 5 lots accessed at 3151 Lee Road 177.

C. Conditional Use – Public Hearing

4. A public hearing on a request by Troy McVey/Utility Sign Partners, authorized representative for Telepak Networks, Inc d/b/a CSpire Fiber, property manager, for conditional use approval for a fiber cabinet installation facility R-5M zoning district accessed at 1502 Spring Drive FIBER.

5. A public hearing on a request by Larry Brookins, NorthStar Engineering Services, Inc., authorized representative for Glynn Smith, property owner, for conditional use approval for a distribution warehouse in a C-3 zoning district on Logans Drive accessed from Columbus Parkway.

6. A public hearing on a request by Arthur R. Nettles, authorized representative for Shey Knight, J&S Property Group, LLC, property owner, for conditional use approval for an office warehouse use in a C-3 zoning district accessed at 1018 Walker Gray Court.

7. A public hearing on a request by Arthur R. Nettles, authorized representative for Dave King, King Automobiles, Inc., property owner, for conditional use approval for an automobile sales lot in a C-3, GC-P zoning district accessed at Pepperell Parkway and West Thompson Circle.

8. A public hearing on a request by Arthur R. Nettles, authorized representative for Dave King, King Automobiles, Inc., property owner, for conditional use approval for a King Honda automobile paint shop and parking/display of vehicles for sale in a C-3, GC-P zoning district accessed at Dunlop Drive.

D. Rezoning - Public Hearing

9a. An agenda item related to a rezoning request is an amendment to the Future Land Use Map for 11.33 acres accessed at Sportsplex Parkway and Andrews Road from a low density residential land use category to planned unit development. If the Planning Commission votes to send a positive recommendation to the City Council to rezone the 68.95 acres and Council approves the rezoning, then approval of said amendments to the Future Land Use map will be approved.

9b. A rezoning public hearing to consider a recommendation to the City Council on a request by Blake Rice, BarrettSimpson, Inc., authorized representative for Carol Lowe Raymer, property owner, to rezone 68.95 acres accessed at Sportsplex Parkway and Andrews Road from a R-1 to a PUD zoning district.

E. Annexation and Plat (Preliminary and Final) –Public Hearing

10. An agenda item to consider a recommendation to the City Council on a request by Mike Maher, representative for David A. Filgo, property owners, to annex 128.24 acres into the City limits accessed from Lee Road 171. R-1 zoning district is requested.

11. A request by Mike Maher, representative for David A. Filgo, property owner, for preliminary and final approval of the Prestige subdivision consisting of 11 lots accessed at

Lee Road 171. F. Annexation, Rezoning, and Preliminary Plat – Public Hearing

12 An agenda item to consider a recommendation to the City Council on a request by Martha and Hunter Saunders, property owners, to annex 156 acres into the City limits accessed from Lee Road 152 (Betty’s Lane). A PUD zoning district is requested.

13. A public hearing to consider a recommendation to the City Council on a request by, Birmingham LD, LLC, authorized representative for Martha and Hunter Saunders, property owners, to zone 156 acres annexed into the City limits accessed from Lee Road 152 (Betty’s Lane) to a PUD (Planned Unit development) zoning district.

14. A public hearing on a request by Birmingham LD, LLC, authorized representative for Martha and Hunter Saunders, property owners, for preliminary approval of the Sauders Cove subdivision consisting of 499 lots accessed from Lee Road 152 (Betty’s Lane).

G. Master Plan AmendmentPublic Hearing

15. A public hearing on a request by Gateway at Opelika, LLC, property owner, for a major amendment to The Ballfields Master Plan zoned PUD at the corner of Pepperell Parkway and North 30th Street. The amendment replaces 32 townhome units with 64 apartment units. The Planning Commission will consider the request and vote.

V. Old Business

H. Conditional Use and Preliminary Plat – Public Hearing

16. A public hearing on a request by Hayes Eiford and Mike Maher, authorized representative for Whiteridge Opelika LLC and R&S Properties, LLC, property owners, for conditional use approval for 78 twinhome lots, three open space lots, and one lot for future development in a R-3 zoning district accessed from Waverly Place. (This agenda item was tabled at the June 25th Planning Commission meeting.)

17. A public hearing on a request by Hayes Eiford and Mike Maher, authorized representative for Whiteridge Opelika LLC and R&S Properties, LLC, property owners, for preliminary approval of the Waverly Woods subdivision consisting of 83 lots accessed from Waverly Place. (This agenda item was tabled at the June 25th Planning Commission meeting.)

I. Final Plat

18. A request by Daniel Holland, representative for Firefly Development Lee, LLC, property owner, for final approval of the Firefly Phase 1 subdivision consisting of 95 lots accessed at 3169 Columbus Parkway (This item was tabled by the applicant at the June 25th Planning Commission meeting.)

19. A request by Nick Howell, representative for 2H Properties, LLC, property owner, for preliminary and final approval of the Asheton Village subdivision consisting of 45 lots accessed at 5067 Birmingham Highway. (At the June 25th meeting, the Planning Commissoin tabled the final plat; the preliminary approval was approved.)

All interested persons are invited to attend the meeting/public hearings and be heard. Written comments concerning the above matters may be mailed to the Planning Director at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama 36801 at any time prior to the meeting/public hearings and may be further submitted to the Planning Commission at the meeting/public hearings. The Planning Commission reserves the right to modify or alter any of the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and to make its recommendations accordingly to the City Council. Please contact the Planning department at 334-705-5156 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to a disability.

Be on the lookout for Pops with Cops events this summer

Duke’s video is finalist for award

A recruitment video created by Opelika Police Department Community Relations Administrator Allison Duke and produced by Hatchee Productions has been selected as a finalist for the “Best Use of Video” award by the National Information Officers Association (NIOA). The video showcases OPD and the rewarding career opportunities offered. Watch the video at: www.youtu. be/ARq8nncLgMM?feature=shared.

Auburn Police arrest woman for allegedly shooting into vehicle

CONTRIBUTED BY APD

AUBURN — On July 6,

Auburn Police, with assistance from the Montgomery Police Department, arrested Ja’nya Simone Maddox, age 20, of Auburn on a felony warrant charging her with shooting into an unoccupied vehicle.

The arrest stems from the Auburn Police Department responding to a call of shots being fired in the 100 block of Cone Street. While at the scene, officers located a vehicle that had been struck by gunfire and developed

Maddox as a suspect.

After further investigation, Maddox was placed under arrest and transported to the Lee County Jail to be held on a $5,000 bond.

All persons arrested are considered innocent until convicted in a court of law.

Opelika man held on child porn charges

CONTRIBUTED BY LCSO

LEE COUNTY — On Dec. 22, 2023, Lee County Sheriff’s Office investigators received a cyber tip from the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce in reference to an individual in Lee County downloading child sexual abuse material.

Investigators were able to identify the individual as 46-year-old Mason Chadwick Morgan of Opelika.

On July 2, a search warrant was executed at Morgan’s residence in the 14000 Block of Alabama Highway 51, and he was subsequently charged with three counts of possession of child pornography. He was released from jail on a $30,000 bond.

Further investigation revealed Morgan’s pos-

session of additional child sexual abuse material. On July 3, Morgan was arrested and charged with eight counts of possession of child pornography. He is being held in the Lee County Detention Center on a $80,000 bond. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (334) 749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at (334) 215-STOP (7867).

Officers from the Opelika Police Department are shown connecting with community members at King’s Mobile Estates during a Pops with Cops pop-up event, hosted by Esperanza House and Auburn Community Church. Follow OPD on Facebook to see where they pop up next.

JA’NYA SIMONE MADDOX

MASON CHADWICK MORGAN

Letter to the Editor

Time to stop the insanity

OPINION —

"Free Markets" would solve this quagmire regarding "legal" medical Cannabis. The Alabama Legislature had an opportunity in the 2024 Legislative Session to resolve this dilemma and chose not to do so, while the sick, suffering and dying citizens of Alabama continue to be sick, continue to suffer and continue to die. We are very curious why Gov. Kay Ivey is refusing to speak publicly to the citizens of Alabama regarding this matter.

SB46/2021 created a "legal" Cannabis cartel and the AL Legislature dictates who can and cannot participate in the medical Cannabis Industry in Alabama. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission carries out their edicts.

It's time for the citizens of Alabama to stand up and speak out, contact your state Legislators and Gov. Kay Ivey. End this insanity.

H Marty Schelper (256) 201-6079 alabamacannabiscoalition.org

Founder/President of the Alabama Cannabis Coalition and Alabama Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition

PUBLIC NOTICES >> from A10

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF ROBERT LEE BAKER, DECEASED CASE NO 2024-282

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

TAKE NOTICE that Letters of Administration have been granted to Shirley A. Baker as Administrator for the Estate of Robert Lee Baker, deceased on July 20, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County.

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. Done this the 2nd day of July 2024. Bill English, Probate Judge Lee County, Alabama Legal 07/11/24, 07/18/24 & 07/25/24

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

In the Matter of: Rudolf Sedlacek Parker – an alleged incapacitated person NOTICE OF HEARING:

TO: Any next of kin or interested party: Lee County CHR has filed a Petition to appoint a Legal Guardian/ Conservator for the person of Rudolf Sedlacek Parker. A hearing has been set for the 5th day of August, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. central time, electronically via “ZOOM.” Please contact the Lee County Probate Court at 334-737-3670 for access to the electronic hearing should you intend to take part in the hearing of this matter. Bill English – Lee County

Gov. Kay Ivey champions Alabama manufacturers

FROM THE OFFICE OF GOV. KAY IVEY

ALABAMA — Gov. Kay Ivey praised Alabama’s robust manufacturing sector in honor of the recent ‘Made in the USA’ Day, highlighting its role in driving economic growth statewide through highquality jobs and products in demand worldwide.

Ivey emphasized Alabama’s status as a powerhouse in U.S. manufacturing, ranking in the top five states for manufacturing job concentration. The sector contributes approximately 17% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product, with an economic output exceeding $40 billion annually.

“Some of the best products found around the world are produced right here in Alabama,” Ivey said. The ‘Made in Alabama’ badge has become a globally recognized symbol of unbeatable craftsmanship and unmatched quality.”

The Ivey Administration continues to prioritize initiatives

Probate Judge Margaret A. Mayfield

Attorney for Lee County DHR Post Office Box 809 Opelika, AL 36803 334-745-0333 Legal Run 06/27/24, 07/04/24, 07/11/24

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RICHARD F. HARRINGTON, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2024-341 Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 26th day of June, 2024, 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.

RICHARD F. HARRINGTON, JR. Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal run 07/04/2024, 07/11/2024 & 07/18/2024

ADVERTISEMENT OF SALE

Property described below will be sold per the The SelfService Storage Facilities Act. Sale on Friday the 26th day of July, 2024 at 1:00 PM with bidding to take place on lockerfox.com. Payment and pickup at facility. Storage Rentals of America, 501 26th St, Opelika, AL, 36801 Lewis, Courtney. Killcreas, Zack. Farrow, Dewaynia.

Matthews, Jarvis. Legal Run 07/04/2024 & 07/11/2024

Notice of auction of abandoned vehicles. BEST 4 LESS will be auctioning off The below mentioned vehicles on FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024. This Auction will be held at 2509

LAFAYETTE PARKWAY, OPELIKA, ALABAMA, 36801 at 10:00

a.m. If you have any questions in regards to either of the vehicles please give call at 334-705-0000.

VIN#

5KXBV28274M003627

2004 EAST TE RS8.524

1N4AL21E79C103046 2009

NISSAN ALTIMA

1J4FA495X3P323447 2003

JEEP WRANGLER

Legal Run 07/11/2024 & 07/18/2024

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF JOE

M.KELLY Deceased

PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY, AL CASE NO.: 2024-015

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Roberta Kelly on the 11th day of January, 2024, 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. Roberta Kelly Legal Run 07/11/24, 07/18/24 & 07/25/24

that support and expand the manufacturing sector, including workforce development programs, investment in infrastructure and fostering a probusiness climate. These efforts have resulted in significant job creation and economic development across the state.

“Alabama’s manufacturers exemplify the best of American industry, and their contributions are vital contributors to our state’s economic resilience and national industries. ‘Made in the USA’ Day is celebrated every day here in Alabama because our state is a recognized leader when it comes to producing world-class products,” she added.

‘Made in the USA’ Day, celebrated on July 2, boosts sales of locally made products and honors the companies and individuals behind them.

With over 275,000 people employed at more than 4,000 enterprises, Alabama’s manufacturing landscape is both diverse and dynamic.

The state serves as a key automotive manufacturing hub, a leader in aerospace and a top U.S. producer

of steel and advanced materials.

Alabama is home to many renowned manufacturing brands and successful homegrown companies, as well as smaller

Last year, Alabama became the top autoexporting state for the first time.

“ Alabama’s manufacturers exemplify the best of American industry ... ”

producers turning out first-class consumer items.

“Alabama’s manufacturing sector has witnessed remarkable growth across numerous industries, benefiting communities and families statewide,” said Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“Manufacturers statewide are dedicated to excellence and innovative advancements that propel Alabama toward a more prosperous future.”

Moreover, manufactured goods represent a substantial portion of Alabama’s exports, totaling a record $27.4 billion in 2023, shipped to 190 countries.

“Alabama is a hub for manufacturing. Thanks to Governor Ivey’s leadership and the hardworking men and women of this state, we continue breaking record after record,” said Manufacture Alabama President and CEO Jon Barganier. “Not only do our manufacturing industries positively impact Alabama through their $40 billion annual economic impact, but they provide great opportunities for our people. Through these good paying jobs, more Alabamians are able to live, work and raise a family here.”

According to the National Association of Manufacturers, average annual wages in Alabama’s manufacturing sector exceed $82,000 — significantly higher than the state average.

GOV. KAY IVEY

Religion

A Taste of Grace

BY BRUCE GREEN

OPINION —

In Psalms, there is the principle I like to think of as the “I’ve been to church” principle.

Altar call

BY WALTER ALBRITTON

OPINION —

We were in our bed. My wife was crying. The excruciating pain of a herniated disc in her back was more than Dean could bear. Not knowing what else to do, I was kissing away her tears, trying to comfort her. Through my own tears, my eyes focused on the wall near our bed the framed words crocheted by my mother: “Marriage

(Yes, I know disciples are “the church,” but there is also something to the idea of “coming together as a church” — 1 Corinthians 11:18 and I’m after something like that here). You’ve “been to church” when you’ve emptied yourself before God and His people in praise, worship, prayer, fellowship and wonder (the kind of things we hear about in the psalms). It is not something that results in checking off a box — it is an experience that impacts your life. It might be something loud and obvious, but it could just as easily be something soft and subtle. It may or may not involve lifting your

week “ For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” — Matthew 7:2

Thursday, July 11, 2024

I’ve been to church

hands, but it is always about lifting your heart to the great God of the universe. When this happens, you have been to church, and the church has been to you. Listen to their testimony: I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. (22:22)

I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. (35:18)

I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your

love and your faithfulness from the great assembly. (40:9-10)

Praise God in the great congregation; praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel. (68:26)

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (84:1-2)

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. (84:4)

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. (84:10)

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (122:1)

That is where the tribes go up — the tribes of the Lord — to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel. (122:4)

Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. (111:1)

Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. (149:1)

You can go to a building and never go to church. It’s easy. You just have your mind a million miles away, allow peripheral things to distract you, or think

about where you want to eat afterwards. You never engage with the singing, the praying, the praising, or the preaching. You walk away as empty as you came because you become what you worship. You worshiped nothing so that’s what you walk away with. The people who wrote Psalms knew when they had been to church. They walked away renewed in their purpose and passion for the Lord. We can’t be the church if we haven’t been to church. Find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: a-taste-of-grace-with-brucegreen.com.

When you don’t know what to do

– May there be such a oneness between you that when one weeps the other will taste salt.” I realized I was indeed tasting the salt of my dear wife’s tears. And it was something I did many times, when I didn’t know what to do, during our 68 years of marriage. That was not an uncommon experience. Weak and flawed as we are, all of us have moments like that. Even kings are sometimes helpless. King Jehoshaphat, who ruled Judah for 25 years, had such a moment. It happened 850 years before Christ was born; you can read about it in Second Chronicles, chapter 20.

Though Jehoshaphat had an army of a million soldiers, one day he

CHURCH DIRECTORY

ANGLICAN

The Good Shepherd Anglican Church 3015 Opelika Road, Opelika

APOSTOLIC HOLINESS

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

BAPTIST Central Baptist Church 1611 2nd Ave. Opelika, AL 36801 334-745-2482

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

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

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

was advised that his army was outnumbered. Several enemy nations had banded together, and their vast army was coming to destroy Israel. Knowing he was outmanned, Jehoshaphat turned to God and called on the nation of Judah to seek God’s help. Having gathered everyone together to pray for God’s help, the king stood and prayed before the people, concluding his prayer by saying, “O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” When the king finished praying, a man named Jahaziel stood up, having been moved by the Spirit to speak.

3089 Judge Brown Road Valley 334-710-2117

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Jahaziel addressed the king and the crowd and said, “Listen, don’t be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. The battle is not yours but God’s. And he will be with you!”

After he spoke, the king and all the people bowed with their faces to the ground and began worshiping the Lord. Some of the Levites began to praise the Lord with a very loud voice! The king was so encouraged that he appointed a choir to begin singing and praising God. The choir went out before the army singing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” As the choir began to sing, the Lord began to work and soon victory was theirs!

Yes, there are times

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

The Opelika Church 2660 Cunninghan Drive Opelika

University Church of Christ 449 N. Gay St., Auburn www.auchurch.com

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

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

510 Groce St. Opelika, AL 36830 706-610-0547

EPISCOPAL- AME

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

EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church

when we don’t know what to do. But do not despair! We can study an incident like this in the life of King Jehoshaphat and find a helpful plan for those desperate days when we don’t know what to do. Here is such a plan:

1. You turn to God and start praying. The scriptures teach us there is power in prayer. For example, we read in the fourth chapter of Acts that after Peter and John had been released from jail, they met with fellow Christians and “they raised their voices together in prayer to God.” Doctor Luke says that “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

800 1st Ave., Opelika 334-745-2054

UNITED METHODIST

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

Beulah United Methodist Church 5165 Lee Road 270 Valley 334-745-4755

GLOBAL METHODIST

Christ Methodist Church of Auburn 434 E. Magnolia, Auburn Worship at Lee-Scott Academy 334-209-0074

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

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

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

Connect Church 2015 West Point Pkwy., Opelika 334-707-3949 Father’s House Christian Fellowship

Add your church to the directory for only $100 a year, or consider a display ad like the one at right for only $20 per week. Email michelle@opelikaobserver.com or call (334) 749-8003.

Yes, God does hear and answer the prayers of his people!

2. You can turn to God and thank Him for using ordinary people to give us hope.

Jahaziel was an ordinary person. The only thing he did, so far as we know, was deliver a divine message to the king. But when God needed a man to do that, Jahaziel stood up and did it. And surely today God often needs ordinary Christians who will stand up and speak words of hope from God.

Rose was an ordinary disciple, a poor woman who lived in Albania, that small European country that borders on Greece. Rose and her husband opened their home to the poor and hungry. After

See ALBRITTON, page A15

214 Morris, Ave., Opelika

Living Waters Ministry Center 3005 Lafayette Parkway, Opelika

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

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

PRESBYTERIAN

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

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

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Opelika Outreach

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

Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ in Opelika

Upcoming Services

CAROL LOUISE DEANGELO

Thursday, July 11: Graveside Service 10 a.m.

Camp Hill Memorial Gardens

NANCY LOUISE OWENS

Saturday, July 13; Service 11 a.m.

Farmville Baptist Church

NANCY LOUISE OWENS

Nancy Louise Owens, 85, beloved mother, grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born on April 1, 1939, in Waverly, the daughter of Lonnie and Elizabeth Smith.

She will be remembered for her love of fishing, gardening and cooking.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Allen O’Neal Owens, after 66 years of marriage, and three brothers, Alfred Smith (Shirley), Woodson Smith (Barbara Jean) and Bruce Smith (Martha). Nancy is survived by her son, Rocky Owens (Karen); daughter, Caron Gibson (Randall); sister Shirley Lackey; Hunter, her dog of 17 years; four grandchildren, Natalie Johnson (Chris), Haylie Gibson, Travis Gibson (Lauren) and Tommy Gibson (Tiffany); along with several nieces, nephews, and brothers/ sisters in-law. She was blessed by four greatgrandchildren: Owen, Julie, Kason and Oliver.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 13, at 11 a.m. at Farmville Baptist Church, located at 3607 Alabama Highway 147 North in Auburn, with a fellowship gathering after the service.

Virginia’s Florist in Opelika will be handling all flowers. Frederick-Dean Funeral Home assisted with arrangements. In lieu of

flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Bethany House in Auburn for the wonderful care they provided during her final days.

CAROL LOUISE DEANGELO

Carol Louise DeAngelo was born April 17, 1943, and died June 29, 2024. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, July 11, at 10 a.m. at Camp Hill Memorial Gardens, with Brother Willie L. Ford officiating. FrederickDean Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the family or charity of choice.

EDWARD RYAN

Edward Ryan, known as Tabb to his childhood friends, died early in the morning of July 6, 2024, at University Hospital in Birmingham. He was 65 years old.

Edward was born in Greenville to William Halsell Ryan Jr., a

OBITUARIES

pharmacist and Navy officer during WWII, and Olga Lee Ryan, a loving wife and mother. He attended W.O. Palmer Elementary School and Greenville Junior High School and graduated from high school at Brandon Hall School in Sandy Springs, Georgia, in May 1977.

After completing a year of studies at Marion Military Institute, Edward chose a career in law enforcement, spending three years as a policeman in Greenville and two years as a member of the Auburn University police department. He followed these years of law enforcement experience by becoming an Alabama State Trooper in Lee County and served with distinction in this role for 25 years before retiring.

Edward is survived by his wife Katrina, their son Tabb, step-daughter Katie (Taylor) Mitchell, step-son Hunter Herbert, brothers Will and Allen and sister Lee.

Visitation was held July 10 at First Baptist Church of Opelika, followed by a graveside service at Magnolia Cemetery in Greenville. Jeffcoat Trant Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

Rather than sending flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alabama State Trooper Association.

MARY ANN DORSEY

Mary Ann Turner Dorsey, age 94, passed away peacefully on July 3, 2024, at Arbor Springs Health and Rehabilitation Center in Opelika after a brief illness.

She was born in Opelika on Feb. 7, 1930, to James Webb Turner and Mattie Lou Thames Turner, and was the youngest of three children. She was a 1948 graduate of Clift High School (now Opelika High School) and a 1952 graduate of Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) with a B.A. degree in Education. While at API, she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta social sorority. She taught English at Jordan High School in Columbus, Georgia, from 1952 to 1954 before marrying Walter Cullars Dorsey on Oct. 30, 1954. Upon her marriage, she moved back to Opelika to become a homemaker, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother for her family.

Mrs. Dorsey served for many years as a Sunday School teacher to three-year-olds at First Baptist Church Opelika and was a member of the Ledbetter Sunday School class. She was a charter member of the Opelika Arts Association, a charter member of the Phalo Study Club and was a troop leader for Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Brownies. She enjoyed playing the piano and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as their Mum.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Walter Cullars Dorsey of Opelika; two children, Walter Cullars Dorsey Jr. (Amy) and Lou Thames Dorsey Hamlet (Dennis) of Opelika;

four grandchildren, Mary Turner Barron Pigg (Tyler) of Texas, Dorsey Kate Barron of Opelika, John Thornton Barron (Alysa) of Opelika and Cole Richardson Dorsey (Amberli) of Dothan; three great-grandchildren, John Ellis Pigg, Caroline Louise Pigg and Charlotte Jane Barron; and one brother, Edward Thames Turner of Rainbow City, Alabama. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, James Webb Turner Jr.

A funeral service was held July 6 in the chapel of Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home with Rev. Cade Farris officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully requests a memorial gift to the BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose through the Auburn University Foundation.

STEPHEN “STEVE” COLLEY

Stephen “Steve” Colley was born on March 14, 1956, and died July 2, 2024 in Opelika. He graduated Opelika High School and made a career at Thompson Carriers.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Hazel Colley, and his father, Homer Colley, as well as his godson, Christopher McMillion. He is survived by his daughter, Heather Colley (Mother: Sharon Colley); his brother, Mike (Angie) Colley; his nephew, Scott (Jessica) Colley; and his greatnephew, Cooper.

He was loved and will be missed by many, including his immediate family, friends and extended relatives.

A graveside service was held July 6 at Garden Hill Cemetery. Frederick-Dean Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

SETH COOPER RAY

Seth Cooper Ray was born on Nov. 30, 1997, in Opelika. He left behind a loving family on July 4, 2024, at the age of 26. He graduated from Beauregard High School and was beginning his career in gas pipelining. He was a Specialist in the Army National Guard as an Airborne 91 Bravo wheeled vehicle mechanic, Echo Company, 20th Special Forces group. Seth is survived by his loving parents, Steven and Jennifer Ray; brother, Spencer Ray (Aapana); sister, Presley Vincent (Raley); nieces and nephews, Grayson, Elliot, Emerson, Lynley and Ayla; and grandparents, Pansy Newman, Floyd Dubose, Aranell Ray Corley (Billy Corley). He was preceded in death by his grandaddies, Frank Ray and Gene Newman. Seth was loved and he will be missed by many, including close and distant family and friends. Seth was a free spirit. He was adventurous, brave, loud, fun and unpredictable. He was also dependable and tough as could be with a tender heart. He overcame obstacles and fears. At the age of 18 he loaded up and moved to Oregon where he made lifelong friends. He loved the mountains, rivers and anything in nature. He always looked up to his siblings and wanted a family of his own. He made friends everywhere he went. He was a great friend, and even more loving son, brother and uncle.

A service was held for Seth at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home on July 8.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

To have your church’s VBS program listed, email information to: editor@opelikaobserver.com

Upcoming VBS

CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH

Every day is an adventure at Breaker Rock Beach, from the morning waves crashing against the shore to evenings filled with bonfires and s’mores! At Breaker Rock Beach, kids will learn to recognize the difference between what the world says is true and what God says is true.

Come to Vacation Bible School at Central Baptist Church at 1611 2nd Avenue in Opelika on July 13-14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All children ages 3 years through sixth grade are welcome. Parents may register their children online at: myvbs. org/cbcopelika.

UNION GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

Union Grove Baptist Church would like to invite you to “Breaker Rock Beach” Vacation Bible School. Race along the sand with your brightly colored kite, join friends to make the most amazing sandcastle, or gaze in wonder at the mysteries found in a glimmering tide pool.

The dates for Vacation Bible School are July 17 & 18 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for classes from Pre-K to 6th grade. We also have an Adult Class. There will be a nursery for the parents who attend the Adult Class.

Family Night will be July 19 starting at 5:30 p.m., where the children will perform their VBS songs, followed by finger foods & refreshments in the Family Life Center.

Register for VBS by calling the church office 334-749-0461, stop by the church (4009 Lee Road 391 Opelika) or go online to www.myvbs.org/ugbcopelika.

If you have any questions, call the church office or email ugbcopsecretary@ gmail.com.

136 E. Magnolia Ave. Auburn, AL 36830 (334) 887-5657

The Rev. Thomas Joyner, Rector

Once again, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church is honored to host another much needed and informative session geared toward those who have a friend or loved one suffering from dementia. One of the sad realities of dealing with dementia are the issues involving behaviors. At best, life becomes difficult but there is no end to just how difficult it can become. This program will focus on how to effectively deal with difficult behaviors to make caregiving less stressful and more pleasant. Jay Jones is the Senior Educator with Right to Home, an in-home care agency in Auburn/Opelika and a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

Please join us on Wednesday, July 24 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Dunstans for this important and informative session. If you have any questions, Jones can be contacted at (334) 517-1045

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.

ALBRITTON >> from A13

Rose’s husband died, the family plunged into poverty. But Rose still found a way to give food to the hungry and destitute.

One of Rose’s daughters was greatly influenced by her mother’s example of sacrificial love. This daughter, Agnes, grew up to become an advocate for the poor, devoting her life to caring for the sick and dying. Agnes was none other than Mother Teresa, whose ordinary mother inspired her to serve Jesus. You can be one of those ordinary disciples God can use to help people who don’t know what to do. So, look for times when you can stand up like Jahaziel did, or serve Jesus like Rose did.

3. You can turn to

God and begin singing and praising him!

God often works miracles when his people begin singing and praising him during hard times. Look for example at Paul & Silas (Acts 16). They had been stripped and beaten, severely flogged and thrown in prison. Their feet were fastened in stocks. But “about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,” when suddenly “a violent earthquake” shook the prison doors open, and Paul and Silas were soon free to go.

When I am troubled, I don’t pray for an earthquake, but I have found it helpful to start singing. These three songs God often uses to set me free from distress: “Jesus is all the world to me,” “There is a balm in Gilead” and “I Must Tell Jesus.”

4. You can turn to God and fix your eyes

upon Jesus. We have a great advantage over King Jehoshaphat. We can turn our eyes upon Jesus “and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace”! Jesus alone can give us victory over sin and trouble.

King Jehoshaphat had the choir go before the army singing: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” We can add Jesus and sing: “Give thanks to the Lord Jesus, for His love endures forever.”

Open your heart and invite Jesus to live there, rule there, and help you in all circumstances to say, when you don’t know what to do, my eyes are fixed on you Jesus, for you alone can help me face the distressing circumstances of my life.

BUILT ON SERVICE

Greg Pettey, Tina Cook, Eddie Smith and Wanda McCaghren represent more than 100 years of banking experience. Working in the two Opelika branches of AuburnBank, they share the kind of financial expertise that our customers have come to expect since our founding in 1907.

With strong ties to Opelika, all four give back to their community by volunteering and serving organizations that serve everyone— especially those in need. Opelika City President Eddie Smith says, “There is no greater calling than being in the position to help people.” We wholeheartedly agree.

On the Mark Recreation

High School Media Days set for July 23-24

BY D. MARK MITCHELL

OPINION —

High School Media Days will be hosted by iHeartMedia’s local radio station, FOX Sports the Game 910-1310, on July 23-24. The two-day event is sponsored by The Orthopaedic Clinic and hosted at the Bottling Plant Event Center. Twenty-four local high school football head coaches and a few players from their teams will take center stage in front of 40+ media representatives from TV, print, digital and sports sites from around Alabama.

High School Media Days will air live on iHeartRadio’s FOX Sports the Game 910AM1310AM, the iHeartRadio app, foxsportsthegame.com and on WOTM TV (Channel 80 on Charter Spectrum). Fans can hear a preview of their favorite local football team and other local teams over a two day period. Coverage begins each morning at 6 a.m. with a special edition of “On the Mark” on location prior to coverage of Media Days. During the two-hour preview show each morning, you will hear new AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon; former coach, superintendent and head of AHSAA Dan Washburn; AISA Athletic Director Roddie Beck. The staff at iHeartRadio Auburn-Opelika station works with The Observer to provide the best coverage for our listeners and readers. The Observer staff will provide summaries of the 24 schools after media days

concludes. Here is the schedule for High School Media Days:

Tuesday, July 23

• 8-8:15 a.m.: AHSAA Director Heath Harmon

• 8:15-8:30 a.m.: Valley High School (Adam Hunter)

• 8:35-8:50 a.m.: Reeltown High School (Matt Johnson)

• 8:55-9:10 a.m.: LaFayette High School (Juan Williams)

• 9:15-9:30 a.m.: Spring wood School (Joey Burch)

• 9:35-9:50 a.m.: Loachapo ka High School (Brandon Hall)

• 9:55-10:10 a.m.: Booker T. Washington High School (Deandre Austin)

• 10:15-10:30 a.m.: Russell County High School (Dillon Griggs)

• 10:35-10:50 a.m.: Beu lah High School (Matthew Johnson)

• 10:55-11:10 a.m.: Be auregard High School (Justin Jones)

• 11:15-11:30 a.m.: Handley High School (Larry Strain)

• 11:35-11:50 a.m.: Elmore County High School (Kyle Caldwell)

• 11:55 a.m.-12:05 p.m.: Auburn High School (Keith Etheredge)

Wednesday, July 24

• 8-8:15 a.m.: AISA Director Roddie Beck

• 8:15-8:30 a.m.: Chambers Academy (Jason Allen)

• 8:35-8:50 a.m.: Southern Prep (Roland Bell)

• 8:55-9:10 a.m.: Lee-Scott Academy (Buster Daniel)

• 9:15-9:30 a.m.: Notasulga High School (Anthony Jones) See ON THE MARK, page B2

Community basketball social scheduled for Aug. 1

CONTRIBUTED BY OPD

OPELIKA — The Opelika Police Department (OPD) is excited to host a free community basketball social — the annual Together Opelika Game On event — on Thursday, Aug. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon at Coving-

Kansas City Royals induct Bo Jackson into Hall of Fame Game on!

Thursday, August 1, 2024 213 Carver Avenue, Opelika 8:00am12:00pm

Covington Rec Center opelikapd org

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Entering atop a Corvette and taking a slow lap around the stadium where the legend he first fashioned at Auburn further grew, Bo Jackson received a standing ovation Saturday from Kansas City Royals fans, many wearing No. 16 jerseys.

Fellow Hall of Famer George Brett helped induct AU legend Bo Jackson into Kansas City royalty.

Little ones to compete at SportsPlex Tri for Kids

Ages 6-15 will swim, bike and run in mini triathlon, ages 2-5 to participate in ‘Small Fry Tri’

“When I see people wearing my jersey in this day and age it means one thing to me,” Jackson said. “That I did something right, and people still respect me for doing those right things when I was younger.”

In a pregame ceremony at Kauffman Stadium, National Baseball Hall of Famer member George Brett officially welcomed his former teammate into Royals’ royalty.

“I never saw anyone quite like Bo, and I doubt I ever will again,” said

Brett, minutes before catching Jackson’s ceremonial first pitch. “He is the greatest athlete I have ever seen. He is, and remains, a cultural icon, and today it is my honor and privilege to welcome my friend Bo Jackson into the Royals Hall of Fame.”

Kansas City drafted Jackson in the fourth round in 1986, six months after he won the 1985 Heisman Trophy, concluding his Auburn football career as the program’s all-time leading rusher, a record Bo still holds four decades later.

To the astonishment of many, Jackson spurned the NFL’s Tampa Bay

Bucs, which had drafted him No. 1 overall six weeks earlier, and signed instead with the Royals, debuting in the majors on Sept. 2, 1986, after only 53 minor league games.

“The first day I walked in the clubhouse, from having confidence within myself – this isn’t from an arrogant standpoint; this is from the fight within me – I knew somebody was going to lose their job,” Jackson said. “I’m always striving to be the best even though a lot of times I wasn’t. I’m not going to let the guy on the other side of the field outdo me.”

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA — The annual SportsPlex Tri for Kids triathlon benefitting Nourish Alabama will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3, at 7:30 a.m. at the Opelika Sportsplex, located at 1001 Andrews Road.

Participants will compete based on their age as of Dec. 31, 2023.

Five-year-olds may participate in the Kids Tri or the Small Fry Tri, provided they complete a paper registration by July 22. Training wheels and flotation devices are prohibited.

KIDS TRI

All participants will wear tri tags, and the race krewe will provide timing for the event. Awards will be given to the top three finishers, male and female, in each age group. Each participant will receive a t-shirt and medal.

Ages 6-8 will swim 50 yards, bike 1.5 miles and run 500 yards. Ages 9-11 will swim 100 yards, bike 3 miles and run 1

mile. Ages 12-15 will swim 150 yards, bike 6 miles and run 2 miles.

Note: No assistance will be given while swimming; kids may hang on lane dividers but must advance unassisted. No training wheels or flotation devices allowed.

Advance registration by July 26 is $40 per child. Registration beginning July 27 until Friday, Aug. 2 is $45 per child. There is a discount of $5 per child when signing up three or more children.

No same day registration. Pre-registration is required.

SMALL FRY TRI

The Small Fry Tri will begin at 10 a.m. in the grass near the SportsPlex amphitheater. Groups of approximately 20 children will race together every 5-10 minutes until everyone has finished. The children will bike, run and splash through the Splash Park.

ABOUT THE SPORTSPLEX TRI FOR KIDS

The event began in 2012 as a dream of Nicole Carter, Sarah Herren and Kimberly Myers and since then has raised thousands of dollars for nonprofit organizations. The fundraiser was awarded the Innovative Program and Special Event of the Year award in 2013 by the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association.

The Small Fry Tri is NOT competitive. Every child receives a medal and a t-shirt. EVERY child is a winner. Online registration is available until Friday, Aug. 2, for $20 per child, with a discount of $5 per child when signing-up three or more children. Register online or by mail-in only (no dropoffs). Paper registration deadline is July 19. No registrations will be taken the day of the event. Participation is limited to 125 children. For more information, visit www. sportsplextriforkids.com/ race-info.

Freeman inks Track & Field Scholarship

D. MARK >> from B1

• 9:35-9:50 a.m.: Lanett High School (R.J. McDonald)

• 9:55-10:10 a.m.: Glenwood School (Ryan Nelson)

• 10:15-10:30 a.m.: Benjamin Russell High School (Smitty Grider)

• 10:35-10:50 a.m.: Dadeville High School (Chad McKelvey)

• 10:55-11:10 a.m.: Smiths Station High School

(Bryant Garrison)

• 11:15-11:30 a.m.: Tallassee High School (Lawrence O’Neal)

• 11:35-11:50 a.m.: Horseshoe Bend High School (Jeremy Phillips)

• 11:55 a.m.-12:05 p.m.: Opelika High School (Bryan Moore)

OPELIKA ATHLETICS

Opelika High Athletic Department is preparing for fall sports as July arrives and August looms. Student-athletes will be practicing for football,

volleyball, cheerleading, cross county and band in extreme heat. It is important to keep hydrated and wear light and loose clothes to help with temperatures

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

Pictured

Opelika High School graduate Jaxson Freeman has signed a track and field scholarship to Spring Hill College in Mobile.

AU to host tryouts for national wheelchair handball team

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

LEE COUNTY USA Team Handball is excited to announce the inaugural tryouts for the U.S. National Team, to be hosted at Auburn University July 5-7.

“We are thrilled to host the tryouts in Auburn, a community known for its strong support of adaptive athletics,” said Martin Branick, CEO of USA Team Handball. “Our coaching staff, led by Dr. Ford Dyke, Olympian Reita Clanton and Camden Bentley, is eager to see the talent and dedication of athletes from across the country.”

MEET THE COACHES

• Dr. Ford Dyke, Head Coach: An Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Mindfulness@Auburn in the School of Kinesiology at Auburn University, Dr. Dyke brings extensive experience from his academic career and his 7-year tenure as an athlete on the USA Team Handball Men’s National Team.

• Reita Clanton, OLY, Assistant Coach: A distinguished Olympian with a career that includes competing in two World Championships and the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. Clanton’s expertise and passion for handball are invaluable to the team.

• Dr. Sarah Gascon, Assis-

tant Coach and Head of Delegation: Dr. Sarah Gascon has over two decades of international competition experience and has captained the USA Women’s National Team Handball Team for a decade. She holds a Doctorate in Kinesiology from Auburn University and NCAA records in volleyball.

• Camden Bentley, Head Athletic Trainer and Strength & Conditioning Coach: With a solid background in athletic training and experience with the U.S. Wheelchair Basketball Men’s National Team, Bentley’s expertise will greatly benefit the athletes.

TRYOUT DETAILS

• Eligibility: Athletes with prior wheelchair sports experience are encouraged to participate. Detailed information regarding the tryout schedule, registration process, and eligibility criteria is available at USATeamHandball.org.

• Registration: Interested athletes should fill out the Wheelchair Handball Athlete Intake Form.

The selected athletes will have the opportunity to join the U.S. Wheelchair National Team and compete in the 3rd IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championship in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 16-21. This prestigious event offers a chance for athletes to showcase their skills on

an international platform and represent Team USA.

Dyke emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “We are excited for the opportunity to grow wheelchair handball in the United States. This endeavor goes beyond building a team; it’s about opening the door for adapted athletes to play a dynamic sport and compete on the world stage.”

For more information about Auburn-Opelika Tourism, contact Anthony Terling at anthony@ aotourism.com or call (334) 391.2527.

For more information about USA Team Handball, contact Ford Dyke at fbd0001@auburn.edu.

ABOUT A-O TOURISM Auburn-Opelika Tourism is a non-profit service organization driving economic impact and improving the quality of life in our community through tourism and travel. For more information visit www.AOTourism.com. ABOUT USA TEAM HANDBALL WHEELCHAIR NATIONAL TEAM USA Team Handball is the national governing body for team handball in the United States, overseeing the disciplines of team handball and promoting the sport at all levels. For more information, visit www.USATeamHandball.org.

Former Auburn gymnast Suni Lee will return to Summer Olympics

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.

Defending Olympic gold medalist and Auburn Tiger Sunisa Lee punched her ticket to the Paris Olympic Games after finishing second in the allaround at the USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials Sunday night at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

“I never thought I would be here and it’s really just now hitting me,” Lee said.

“I’m so happy and so glad that I never gave up after all that I’ve been through. I can’t believe that I’m here and it’s just insane.”

Lee competed for the Tigers for two seasons, winning an NCAA title on beam and a SEC title on bars in 2022 and finishing as a 10-time All-American.

“After all the adversity that Suni has been

through, it’s just so exciting and relieving to see her achieve her dream of going back to the Olympics,”

Auburn head coach Jeff Graba said. “It’s been a wild ride these last three years and we can’t wait to root for her at another Olympic games!

Lee finished second in the all-around with an 111.675 behind Simone Biles. Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezley Rivera were also named to the national team.

Lee led off the night on bars, scoring a 14.675 with a beautiful routine. That score pushed her two-day total to 29.275 to win the event.

After a struggle on beam in the second rotation, Lee rebounded with a stunning floor routine and scored a 13.85 in the third to hold on to third in

AU Football Family Four-Packs with parking on sale now

Mini-packs and limited number of season tickets also available

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

AUBURN — Football season is almost here and Family Four-Packs are on sale now. Starting at $60, get four upper-level tickets and one parking pass for the game of your choice. Limited availability remains for each game.

Don’t need parking? Check out mini packs for four and three games: With the 4-Game Mini Pack, fans receive tickets for both Alabama A&M and University of Lousiana-Monroe and can select two games from California, Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M. With the 3-Game Mini Pack, select two games from Cal, Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M and choice of either Alabama A&M or ULM. A limited quantity of season tickets are also available starting at $495. For more information or to order, visit the website auburntigers.evenue.net.

AU trio

the all-around after three rotations.

Lee capped the night

a half a point, solidi-

Aubie’s Kids Club memberships on sale

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

AUBURN — 2024-

25 memberships for Aubie’s Kids Club are on sale now. Presented by Chappy’s, Aubie’s Kids Club offers two membership options (shipping included):

Official Package:

$45: T-shirt, lanyard and credential, Butch Thompson trading card, welcome card, poly mailer, and access to games and official member-exclusive events.

Premium Package:

$65: Membership box, lunch box, mini pennant, t-shirt, lanyard and cre -

dential, Butch Thompson trading card, welcome card, access to games, and official and premium member-exclusive events.

compete at Arnold Palmer Cup

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

LAHINCH, Ireland – Auburn golf’s Anna Davis, Jackson Koivun and Brendan Valdes represented the United States at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup, played July 5-7 at Lahinch Golf Club in Lahinch, Ireland. Auburn and Arizona State tied for the most players represented in the field with three.

Davis, currently the 18th ranked amateur player in the world, became the fourth Auburn women’s golfer to receive the prestigious invitation to participate in the event when she was added to Team USA in June. She has also represented the United States in international competition in the World Amateur, the Junior Ryder Cup, the Pan American Games and the Junior Solheim Cup.

Koivun received the nod to represent the United States in the Palmer Cup after a breakout freshman season in

which he swept the three national player of the year awards — The Haskins, The Hogan and the Nicklaus, as well as the national freshman of the year award, The Mickelson. This season, the PING First Team All-American became the first man in program history to finish the year with a sub-70 stroke average at 69.48. Koivun also smashed the Auburn single-season records for top-10 finishes (12), rounds below par (28) and birdies made (176). In 13 starts, he finished outside the top six just once. After capturing the SEC individual title by six shots, Koivun was voted the SEC Freshman and Player of the Year, becoming the third man in conference history to earn both at the same time.

Valdes was a crucial piece in both Auburn’s SEC and NCAA Championship runs in 2023 and 2024. Voted a PING First-Team All-American, he carded nine top-10 finishes, 24 rounds below par, 165 birdies and one win. Valdes was responsible for one of the

Tigers’ championship-clinching points in the NCAA final as he defeated Florida State’s Frederik Kjettrup 4&3.

This will mark the first Arnold Palmer Cup appearance for both Koivun and Valdes. The Auburn men now have seven all-time representatives in the event under head coach Nick Clinard.

The Arnold Palmer Cup was co-founded by Arnold Palmer and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and began at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida, in 1997. The Palmer Cup has been played at some of the world’s greatest courses, including The Old Course at St. Andrews, The Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Baltusrol, The Honors Course and Cherry Hills. Beginning with the 2018 matches at Evian Resort Golf Club, the Palmer Cup is the only major tournament that features men and women playing side-by-side as partners.

Check-in at different Auburn Athletics events to receive points and earn prizes only available through the coolest club on The Plains, Aubie’s Kids Club. For more information, visit the website aubiekidsclub.com.

with a 14.1 on vault to best her score from day one by over

fying her spot

Sunisa Lee, former member of Auburn University’s gymnastics team, will compete in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

LET FREEDOM RING

ACROSS THE NATION

Sara Kate Speakman wins DYW of Lee County

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

LEE COUNTY — The Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) of Lee County for the Class of 2025 was named on June 29, at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts. In total, the program awarded $10,500 in college scholarships. Additionally, Hood College, the University of West Alabama and Northwestern State University of Louisiana provided additional college-granted scholarships to participants.

Sara Kate Speakman of Lee-Scott Academy was named the new DYW of Lee County and received $4,650 in program scholarships. She will compete in January 2025 for the title of Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama.

Riley Yates of Auburn High School was named the first alternate and received $2,850 in scholarships, and Hannah Hines of Auburn High School was named the second alternate and received $1,600 in scholarships.

The DYW of Lee County program awarded three scholarships in each program category: scholastics, interview, talent, fitness, and self-expression. Two scholarships were awarded to participants for superior community service records, and two scholarships were awarded for writing an essay on striving to be your best self. The participants selected one participant who

best represents the ideals of the DYW program to receive the Spirit Award. The full list of award recipients is below:

• Scholastics Awards: Harper Olsen, Sara Kate Speakman, and Margie Grace Wilder

• Interview Awards: Hannah Hines, Sara Kate Speakman, and Margie Grace Wilder

• Talent Awards: Stella George, Sara Kate Speakman, and Riley Yates

• Fitness Awards: Kyndall Brundidge, Sara Kate Speakman, and Riley Yates

• Self-Expression Awards: Hannah Hines, Sara Kate Speakman, and Riley Yates

• Be Your Best Self Essay Awards: Hallie Herring and Sara Kate Speakman

• Community Service Awards: Hannah Hines and Riley Yates

• Spirit Award Winner: Sara Kate Speakman

ABOUT DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMEN

The Distinguished Young Women Program, originally called America’s Junior Miss, was founded in 1958 in Mobile, Alabama, to provide higher education scholarships for young women.

Auburn University nursing student named Miss Alabama 2024

BY ANITA STIEFEL EDITOR@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

ALABAMA — Abbie Stockard, a nursing student at Auburn University, was named Miss Alabama at the statewide competition held recently at Samford University in Birmingham.

Competing as Miss Hoover, the 21-year-old won over 39 other women vying for the crown. At the annual pageant, contestants aged 18 to 28 are judged in the categories of personal press-conference style interview (30%), talent (20%), health & fitness (20%), evening gown (20%) and onstage interview (10%)

Stockard, a member of Auburn’s Tiger Paws dance team, won first place in the talent competition with a contemporary dance performed to the song “You Say” by Lauren Daigle. She also placed first in the evening gown competition. In addition to

scholarships she received for winning these two preliminaries, the title of Miss Alabama comes with a $15,000 scholarship.

During her yearlong reign as Miss Alabama, Stockard will promote her community service initiative (Be the Change: Find a Cure — Cystic Fibrosis). She will make public appearances across the state, addressing community groups and completing charity work.

Stockard will represent Alabama at the Miss America pageant in January 2025.

Following graduation from Auburn, the Birmingham native plans to continue her education and earn a doctorate in nurse anesthesia, with specialization in pediatrics.

ABOUT MISS ALABAMA

For almost 100 years, this notfor-profit organization has awarded college scholarships to outstanding

young women of our state.

The program at the state level benefits all its participants with monetary college assistance and creates a foundation of self-confidence that lasts a lifetime. Candidates for the title develop interview skills, build self-esteem and learn commitment from a process of self-evaluation that prepares them for future challenges and pursuits.

ABOUT MISS AMERICA

In the summer of 1921, on the boardwalk of Atlantic City, an American icon was born. For the past 100 years, Miss America has been one of the country’s most recognizable household names, and the young women involved have made a significant difference in people’s lives through charitable and community service endeavors, using the national platform to educate millions of Americans on issues facing the nation.

ABBIE STOCKARD, MISS AMERICA 2024

Cate Herring, right, 2024 Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) of Lee County, congratulates Sara Kate Speakman, left, 2025 DYW of Lee County.

Thursday, July 11, 2024

First major recording completed at AU’s new recording studio

CONTRIBUTED BY AU NEWS

AUBURN — Jere -

my Somolesky, Auburn University’s Ike and Rhonda Scott Endowed Professor of Piano, has a new album of solo piano music, released on June 21 by Centaur Records and distributed internationally by Naxos Records.

“Marjan Mozetich: The Complete Piano Music” features music by the world-renowned Canadian

composer, Marjan Mozetich. The album is the first professional recording of Mozetich’s piano works in their entirety, and the first major recording project to be produced in the Department of Music’s new, state-of-the-art recording studio. He collaborated with Recording Engineer Trammell Starks to produce the album.

“I was ecstatic to be able to use our phenomenal new recording facilities here at Auburn to

produce this album — to have this project come to fruition using our own resources with the help of our incredible faculty, makes this album extra special,” Samolesky said.

“I [first] discovered the music of Mozetich as an undergraduate student and was attracted to its deep emotional qualities that seem to communicate with a vast audience of listeners, from young to old, professional musicians to non-musicians,”

he said. “When I reached out to Mozetich about this recording project, he was thrilled with the idea and played an important role in navigating the interpretation of his works. His input was vital in further exploring the essence of each of his compositions.”

“Marjan Mozetich: The Complete Piano Music” is Samolesky’s fourth commercial release and second solo album. It is available on all streaming platforms.

Community Foundation awards $41K+ in scholarships

CONTRIBUTED BY THE COMMUNITY

FOUNDATION OF EAST ALABAMA

EAST ALABAMA — This year the Community Foundation of East Alabama distributed $41,200 in scholarships to 27 students.

“These scholarships were made possible through the generosity of our donors,” said Barbara Patton, president of the Community Foundation. “The investment in the education of our young people will impact each student’s future and ours. A committee of dedicated volunteer leaders

were involved in making the selection of the awardees. Every selection was difficult because there were so many outstanding students and only one to award within each scholarship. We are grateful to the donors and the leaders that are committed to this process.”

JEREMY SOMOLESKY

Pictures of the scholarship recipients are posted below and on Page B8.

Not pictured are Molly Conway —National Village Ladies Club Scholarship, Dimir Garrett — Wayne Murphy Memorial Scholarship and Nathaniel King — Lee Macon Workforce Scholarship winners.

LEE-MACON WORKFORCE SCHOLARSHIP: DEVON SCHERBERT

LEE-MACON WORKFORCE SCHOLARSHIP: QUENTIN LEE

WAYNE MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP: HEAVYN LOCKHART

NATIONAL VILLAGE LADIES CLUB SCHOLARSHIP: VIOLETT ALCORN

CIVITAN CLUB SCHOLARSHIP: ALLIE PRESCOTT

NANCY PARKER SCHOLARSHIP: VIOLETT ALCORN

JOHNNY ADRIAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: THOMAS AARON

LEE-MACON WORKFORCE SCHOLARSHIP: NOAH MCDONALD

KELLEIGH MEREDITH SCHOLARSHIP: SARA BUSH

BARBER VALLELY SCHOLARHIP: ALLIE PRESCOTT

JOE BECKWITH SCHOLARSHIP: KILLEAN BLACKMON

TOM WOODWARD MEMORIAL VISUAL ARTS SCHOLARSHIP: ISABELLA TRENTACOSTI

BILL AND PEGGY LAZENBY SCHOLARHIP: BRINSON HARRIS AND VIOLETT ALCORN

LEE-MACON WORKFORCE SCHOLARSHIP: LUKAS SCHLUETER

LEE-MACON WORKFORCE SCHOLARSHIP: COLLIN JACKSON

LEE-MACON WORKFORCE SCHOLARSHIP: AIDAN SULLIVAN

OPINION —

Put on your seatbelt in your imaginary airplane as we fly to the beautiful capital seat of France, Paris, where the 2024 Summer Olympics are being held from Friday, July 26, to Sunday, Aug. 11.

The torch was lit on April 16 in Olympia, Greece, where the games originated. This is a time that we can explain to children that the torch was run through many countries as a “relay pass the

torch” kind of activity until the Olympic torch bearer runs to light the Olympic cauldron to start the games during the opening ceremonies. Show your child a globe and the countries this torch has gone through. You and your children can do “pretend torch” carries with a flashlight. Be sure to tune in on Sunday, Aug. 11, when the torch is extinguished. Some of the sports in the competition are archery, beach volleyball, cycling, diving, equestrian, flag football, gymnastics,

A front row seat for the Summer Olympics

handball, judo, karate, lacrosse, swimming, running, tennis, volleyball and water polo, just to name a few.

The Olympic Games provide social ideas and lessons to learn. The Olympic Games teach us about people participating fairly in sports, playing and working together in peace and friendship. This helps your child understand these things make for a better and more beautiful world.

The Olympics bring the world to our front door. Parents, this is a wonderful opportunity to teach your children about the uniqueness of other cultures. This can be witnessed in the opening and closing ceremonies of parades with countries’ flags, dress, skin tones, etc. It provides geography lessons as you show your children maps and globes where the different countries are located. What a life gift you give to your children when you instill cultural appreciation of different

ways of life. Imagine the friendships of different social networks your child can truly appreciate. Express to your child that people from many countries get together to play games and celebrate care, friendship and unity in different sports every four years. Use a math lesson in explaining and pointing out the years the Olympics fall. Also, math lessons can be incorporated as your child keeps up with the medal count of wins for each country, pointing out scores of each Olympian as they strive to win the gold, silver and bronze medals.

You and your children can make an Olympic flag to point out shapes, which are five interlocking colored rings on a white background. The five interlocking rings on the Olympic flag represent the five inhabited continents of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. The rings’

connection embodies a unified world through the goals of Olympism.

The Olympics provide a time for children to express their excitement about their team winning. Children love to sing and dance to music. Along with the Olympic theme, “It’s a Small World After All” by Richard Sherman and “The More We Get Together” by Irving King are good singalong songs to celebrate the Olympics. Children get very excited and love to be the leaders in singing and making the motions. Too, patriotic pride can be expressed when our National Anthem is played in a United States gold win.

After your child views the summer Olympics, they can do swimming motions with freestyle, breaststroke, back stroke or, if you have a pool, your family can have relays. Simply tossing a beach ball or balloons back and forth for family fun pulls them in for pretend Olympics. I love to blow bubbles with preschoolers during the summer, watching as they chase the rainbow bubbles around. Having tricycle or bicycle family fun races embraces the cycling Olympic sport. Also, to demonstrate the running races in the Olympics, children can run, skip and hop

with other friends or family members. You can encourage your children by making small Olympic medals or just giving out stickers as your child participates in the pretend games. Over the next few weeks, with our children having a front row seat to the 2024 Summer Olympics, we can point out that teamwork is important. It takes trusting each other, encouraging each other and relying on each others’ strengths. We need to point out to our children that even though we strive to win, that winning isn’t everything. We can show them that we can learn from our losses, as well. We learn to keep on trying after our failures and disappointments, and we learn to demonstrate good sportsmanship. Point out the hugs and handshakes that competitors demonstrate during the games. With the Olympic games this summer you and your child will learn many lessons. Who knows — you just might have a future Olympic Star in your family. Let the games begin!

Beth Pinyerd has taught many years and holds a master's degree in early childhood education.

BETH PINYERD

Food &E ntertainment Community Calendar — B14

BY STACEY PATTON WALLACE

OPINION —

Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Boy, my husband Mike and I pulled a doozy a few weeks ago.

We traveled to Willow Point Country Club in my hometown of Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals). There, we were going to meet Coach Hugh Freeze and Coach Bruce Pearl from Auburn University, my alma mater, and have our picture made with them. Then we would join other Auburn alumni and fans for a buffet supper and afterward listen to our coaches speak.

Alas, the first event didn’t happen. The ticket on my phone said that I was a sponsor and that only sponsors would have their pictures made with the coaches.

This was confusing because I didn’t know how I could be a sponsor, so I went up to a young lady from the Lake Martin Auburn Club (the group who arranged the event) to ask about it. When I asked the young lady about it, she said, “I am SO sorry; this is all my fault. I accidentally sent the wrong email to you and some other people.”

In other words, Mike and I would not be taking a picture with Coach Freeze and Coach Pearl, the main reason we bought tickets for this event.

Remembering our Christian upbringing, we said it was all right, and the very apologetic woman thanked us for being understanding.

However, we were WARM. We went to the

Making the Grade

buffet table to get our supper, then we searched for a table. It was one million degrees outside, so we weren’t eating out there with the hardier Auburn alumni and fans.

People were standing to eat inside because there weren’t enough tables. I refused to stand and eat because I drip.

Then, we saw a room to our right. Three attractive ladies were eating at one end of a formal, long wooden table.

We opened the door and asked if we could join them, and they said that would be fine.

One lady, Jill, introduced us to her daughter and niece. (I’m sorry that I forgot their names — my shock at what happened next drove their names from my brain.)

The ladies were very sweet, and we enjoyed chatting with them. However, suddenly, the door to our room opened, and in walked Coach Hugh Freeze with a plate in his hand. Mike and I were stunned, our hearts falling to our shoes. We had unknowingly crashed the Freeze table. We stammered our apologies for intruding.

I said, “Mrs. Freeze, you didn’t tell us you were Jill Freeze.” She smiled and said, “Call me Jill. It’s all right.” Mike also apologized to Coach Freeze, who was just as kind as his wife regarding our unknowing intrusion.

I later thought that someone from the country club should have put a sign that said, “Private party; do not enter.”

We chatted briefly with Coach Freeze. He had to be somewhere in a few minutes.

I whispered to Mike, “Should we ask for Coach Freeze to take a picture with us?”

My husband, who is much more tactful than I am, whispered back, “No, he’s in a hurry.” Coach Hugh Freeze, this review is for you,

Melt Auburn

your wife Jill and your daughter and niece.

Thanks for making Mike and me feel welcome instead of tossing us out.

War Eagle!

I think that God felt sorry for us for not getting that picture with the coaches, so He let us meet Coach Freeze. Also, I believe that God has a great sense of humor. But I digress. On to my review.

Recently, Mike, who is my tech support and trusty photographer, was searching the internet for new

restaurants in Lee County. He found Melt Auburn, which is at 1800 Samford Trace Court, Suite 240. When we entered Melt, Lindsey and Kohle greeted us warmly and happily answered all my questions. They get an A+ from this retired English teacher because they were perfect at their positions.

I really liked the play area near the door for children. Also, the restaurant has front and back patios which allow dogs. These patios are both

covered and have fans and televisions. Melt is ready for Auburn football to kick off.

Melt is an upbeat, lively place. Mike and I loved the kids’ lunchboxes on each table that housed silverware and napkins.

Ours was Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat. The table next to us had E.T.

Melt, which also has locations in the Birmingham suburbs of Mountain Brook and Hoover as well as in Huntsville, opened in Auburn on May 16.

The local franchise is owned by a mother and daughter duo, Laura Kowalczyk and Laura (Lou) Huddleston. Ms. Huddleston was so welcoming. She said that Melt will eventually open for Sunday brunch.

Currently, the restaurant serves lunch and dinner. Janey, our server, was amazing; she was very friendly, helpful and patient.

As a starter, we ordered the honey baked goat

PHOTOS BY MIKE WALLACE / FOR THE OBSERVER

Melt Auburn is located at 1800 Samford Trace Court, Suite 240 in Auburn and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. See MELT, page B13

Gouge Center announces season, series tickets now on sale

CONTRIBUTED BY GOUGE CENTER

AUBURN — The Gouge Performing Arts Center at Auburn University has announced that 2024–25 season and series subscriptions are available now.

For more information on 2024–25 performances and season subscriptions, contact the Gogue Center box office by telephone at 334.844.TIXS (8497) or via email at gpactickets@auburn.edu. Subscriptions can be purchased online at goguecentertickets.auburn.edu or in person at the Gogue Center box office, located at 910 South College Street in Auburn, Alabama, Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

FULL SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS

With a 2024–25 season subscription, reserve a seat to almost every performance included in the regularly scheduled season lineup. (Note: Chamber Music Series performances are not included with a full season subscription and must be purchased separately through a series subscription or individually.)

Season subscriptions offer the highest discount, with a savings of up to 20% off single ticket prices.

Due to a limited number of non-renewable, full-season subscriptions, patrons are asked to contact the Gogue Center

box office directly by telephone at 334.844.TIXS (8497), via email at gpactickets@auburn.edu, or in person at the Gogue Center box office, located at 910 South College St. in Auburn. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SERIES SUBSCRIPTIONS

Series subscriptions allow patrons to receive access to all performances included within one of three genre-specific series. With a series subscription, save 10% off single ticket prices for all Broadway performances and 15% off single tickets prices for all other series.

• Broadway Series

A 2024–25 Broadway Series subscription includes one ticket to each performance listed below, all beginning at 7 p.m. in Woltosz Theatre.

Saturday, Oct. 26: Dear Evan Hansen

Wednesday, Dec. 4: Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations

Wednesday, Feb. 5: Pretty Woman: The Musical

Wednesday, March 26: Mamma Mia!

Tuesday, April 29: Hadestown

For additional seating options available on alternate performance nights, contact the Gogue Center box office.

• Celebrity Series A 2024–25 Celebrity Series subscription includes one ticket to each performance listed below, all beginning at 7 p.m. in Woltosz Theatre.

Tuesday, Sept. 17: Herbie Hancock

Thursday, Sept. 26: The Piano Guys

Wednesday, Oct. 30: Straight No Chaser

Thursday, Dec. 12: Kathy Mattea

Saturday, March 22: Anoushka Shankar

• Concert Series

A 2024–25 Concert Series subscription includes one ticket to each performance listed below.

Wednesday, Oct. 16: Alabama Symphony Orchestra — The Wizard of Oz

Friday, Nov. 8: Roseanne Cash

Thursday, Nov. 14: Black Violin

Tuesday, Dec. 10: VOCES8, A Choral Ensemble

Friday, Feb. 14: Voctave

Single tickets for all 2024–25 season performances will be available to the general public beginning Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Springer Theatre presents Finding Nemo Jr. in July

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

COLUMBUS, Ga. —

The Springer Opera House will present Finding Nemo Jr. July 19-21 and 26-28.

Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his son, Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his

fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean.

With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves. Finding Nemo brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage with music, family, friendship and adventure, with music

and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, based on the book adapted by Lindsay Anderson.

Friday night performances are set for 7 p.m. on July 19 & 26, with 11 a.m. performances on Saturdays, July 20 & 27, and 2:30 p.m. performances on Sundays, July 21 & 28. For ticket information, visit www.springeroperahouse. org.

Auburn Public Library offers numerous programs in July

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

AUBURN — The Auburn Public Library will offer a number of events for the community to enjoy during July, with entertaining programs for all ages, ranging from infant to adults. Recurring programs include:

• Summer Serendipity: Tuesdays at 2 p.m. — A variety of interactive, fun performers

• Summer Crafternoons: Wednesdays at 2 p.m. — Cool off inside while making a fun arts and crafts project. Supplies will be provided.

• Hometown Heroes: Thursdays at 2 p.m. — Visit with Auburn’s hometown heroes, explore various careers and have hands-on fun learning more about what they do to make Auburn the best place to live, work and play. Guests include Auburn Police, Auburn Fire, Auburn Public Works, Auburn Environmental Services and more!

• Puppetry Workshop: Fridays at 10:30 a.m. — Rising grades K-3 will learn basic puppetry and performance skills. Space is limited. Registration required.

• Art Adventurers: Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. — Rising grades 4-6 will explore art history and techniques, focusing on a different period each week, and create a masterpiece to take home. Registration required.

• Beginner’s Chess for Teens: Thursdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. — Rising grades 7-12 will learn chess rules and strategies and practice gameplay alongside other chess enthusiasts.

Other programs include:

• Chapter Chats Book Club: July 16, 5:30 p.m. — “The Ones Who Don’t Say I Love You: Stories” by Carlos Ruffin

• So You’ve Written a Book… Now What? — Learn insights and tips from author Bob McGough on how to get your book published on Saturday, July 20, at 2 p.m.

The Auburn Public Library is located 749 E. Thach Ave. APL is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday: from 1 to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.auburnalabama.org/library.

APL hosts K9 trainees

This pup may look like he’s picking out his favorite book, but he’s actually a K9 officer from the Phenix City Police Department in training at the Auburn Public Library. Global K9 brings dogs to the library to aid them in their training when learning to sniff narcotics and/or explosives. Remember, our K9 friends are working while at the library, so watch from a distance.

Opelika Public Library

BY SEAN DIETRICH

OPINION —

It was a weekend. A lot of people were there.

And by “a lot,” I mean folks were standing two or three deep.

It’s one of the most popular sites in D.C. Maybe the hottest spot in the whole town period. The tourist magazines don’t tell you this, but it’s true.

You can keep your trolley tours. Each year, about 5 million people visit 5 Henry Bacon Drive NW to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Otherwise known as The Wall. They come in throngs. You see all kinds. Average suburban Midwesterners, Northern tourists and people

Sean of the South

with Florida tags, all doing vicious battle over precious parking spots.

People crawl out of trucks, SUVs, and rust-covered economy cars. Old men in battleship hats. Harley guys with military patches. School buses full of kids.

The first thing you’ll be greeted with are signs telling you to download the Wall tour mobile app. Which you’ll want to do. Because, chances are, if you’re here, you’re looking for a name on this Wall.

Last time I visited was six months ago. I was in town for work. I toured in relative silence, reading the names of the fallen.

There, I met a guy who was praying at the wall. He was tall. Skin like mocha. Wearing a white clergyman’s collar. He was crossing himself.

Catholic, I was guessing. Maybe Episcopalian?

He was placing little pink flowers against the wall.

“Lot of people forget about the chaplains in the

Chaplains on the Wall

Vietnam War,” he said. “I come here to honor the chaplains. There are 58,000 engraved names on this wall. Sixteen are chaplains.”

He crossed himself then used his phone to locate the next name.

Meir Engel was the name.

A Jewish chaplain who died at age 50.

“He must’ve been like a grandpa over there,” said my new friend, searching for the name. “Fifty years old, dealing with teenage soldiers. They were babies.”

The youngest serviceman to be killed in Vietnam was 15 years old. Chaplains were like surrogate parents to high-school-age soldiers, far from home.

We finally found the name. My friend read a brief biography about Engel. Chaplain Engel was born in Israel, he immigrated to the United States. He left behind two sons.

My friend placed a pink flower at the wall and prayed.

“Military chaplains are

overlooked veterans,” said the priest. “We honor the frontline heroes, officers and even rear-echelon guys. But we forget about the holy Joes.”

There were a lot of them in Vietnam.

There was Phillip Nichols. Army. A guitar playing chaplain. Assembly of God. Guys loved him. You didn’t get too many opportunities to sing “Amazing Grace” out in the bush, but Phillip made sure you did. He was killed by a booby trap while traveling between units.

William Barragy. Roman Catholic priest. He was meeting with the 101st Airborne Division. Offering comfort. Distributing the Eucharist. He was killed when the CH-47 he was riding in crashed. He was from Waterloo, Iowa.

Michael Quealy. Army. His superiors advised him not to go, but he did. He had to go. He was a priest, and that’s what you did.

Quealy flew into a hot zone near Saigon. He

2024 Summer Guest Chef Series continues

AUBURN — 1856

Culinary Residence will host the second event in its Summer Guest Chef Series lineup, featuring Chef Leo Maurelli, managing partner in culinary operations at Ithaka Hospitality Partners, July 15-20. Maurelli is better known to most as the creative talent behind Ariccia Cucina Italiana in Auburn. Born

MELT >> from B11

cheese, which, besides goat cheese, consisted of strawberries, toasted pecans and drizzled honey. It was served with sourdough and was SO delicious. I was really proud of myself because I ate only two half pieces of the bread.

Mike ordered the classic grilled cheese, which included cheddar, Monterey jack and American cheeses on Texas toast. He chose beer-battered fries for his side.

I selected the chicken bacon ranch, which included grilled chicken, bacon Monterey jack and cheddar cheeses, lettuce, tomato, drizzled with Miss Fancy’s Ranch on Texas toast. I also chose

in the Republic of Panama, Maurelli has lived in the South since age 11 and brings more than 30 years of culinary expertise to his role. His tenure at 1856 – Culinary Residence will allow him to flex his creative muscles to create menus highlighting both his personal heritage and culinary background. The series will conclude July 22-27 with a menu paying tribute to outgoing Chef in Residence Ford Fry’s

the beer-battered fries.

Chef John Ford brought us our food. He was very welcoming and hoped we would enjoy our meals.

Oh, my two times! We definitely enjoyed our meals. Trust me, run and do not walk to Melt. Mike and I will see you there.

Besides our tasty honey baked goat cheese, Melt also serves diners other great starters, some of which include mac ‘n egg rolls, food truck nachos, bacon ranch dip, fried pickles and Matilda bites.

The restaurant also serves a variety of salads.

Besides our delicious sandwiches, Melt also serves chicken pesto, Reuben, buffalo chicken, Ragin Cajun and the Cuban, among others.

And when my sugar average is much lower than

beloved old-school Atlanta steakhouse, Marcel. From its decadent fry bread to Caesar salad “a la minute” and expertly-cooked steaks, this is the perfect opportunity to experience Marcel without traveling to Atlanta.

1856 — Culinary Residence is located at 205 S. College St. in Auburn. Reservations are being accepted for lunch (a la carte menu) and for dinner ($125 for a tasting menu) at www. exploretock.com/1856.

it is now, I want to order their deep-fried Oreos. Every Southerner knows that anything fried is going to be delicious.

Melt Auburn is closed on Sunday and Monday. The restaurant is open on Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Melt Auburn makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher.

Remember, “Poohsized” people NEVER lie about food. Enjoy!

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

probably knew he was going to die. He was comforting bloodied soldiers, administering last rites to dying men when he was killed by incoming fire.

And lest we forget Chaplain James Johnson. Army. The only Black chaplain on the list. A special guy.

There were chaplains in Vietnam who accompanied their men, unarmed, on daily combat operations. Who did all this against the recommendations of his superiors because they took orders from a Higher Power.

You would have found them in the fields alongside soldiers every day, listening to young men vent, letting teenage soldiers cry into their chests. Praying with them.

Chaplains followed dying boys onto battlefields, weaponless. Went into hospitals with them, tramped through rice paddies, boarded ships and waded through kneedeep mud alongside them. Some performed baptisms in the yellow water of the Mekong River.

Other chaplains on the Wall I haven’t named are: Don Bartley, Robert Brett, Merle Brown, Vincent Cappodanno, William Feaster, William Garrity Jr., Ambrosio Grandea, Roger Heinz, Aloysius McGonigal, Morton Singer and Charles Watters.

As our tour came to a close, the priest placed the last of his flowers against the wall. “These were good men,” he said.

“It’s a tragedy,” I said. The priest looked at me. “Tragedy? What do you mean?”

“All these good chaplains, dying like they did.” He smiled. “Oh, these men aren’t dead, brother. Nobody on this wall is.

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

Author to discuss award-winning book July 15

Cornerstone of the Confederacy explains famed 1861 ‘Cornerstone Speech’

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA — Author

Keith Hébert, the Draughon Professor of Southern History at Auburn University, will speak on his book, Cornerstone of the Confederacy: Alexander Stephens and the Speech that Defined the Lost Cause, on Monday, July 15, at 3 p.m. at the Museum of East Alabama. The program is open to the public and free of charge.

In 2023, Cornerstone of the Confederacy won the Georgia Historical Society’s Bell Book Award in recognition of that year’s best work on the history of Georgia.

Hébert received a Ph.D. in history from Auburn University and is the author of several books. He is a Georgia native who currently lives in Prattville.

The Bell Book Award,

established in 1992, is the highest publication award given by the Georgia Historical Society. It recognizes the best book on Georgia history published in the previous year. The award is named in honor of Malcolm Bell Jr. and Muriel Barrow Bell in recognition of their contributions to the recording of Georgia’s history.

In Cornerstone of the Confederacy, Hébert examines how Alexander Stephens originally constructed, and then reinterpreted his well-known Cornerstone Speech. Born in early 1812 in Crawfordville, Georgia, Alexander Stephens grew up in an antebellum South that would one day inform the themes of his famous Cornerstone Speech.

While Stephens made many speeches throughout his lifetime, the Cornerstone

O GROWS FARMERS MARKET

The O Grows Summer Farmers Market is open every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Opelika’s Courthouse Square. O Grows accepts SNAP, EBT and SFMNP.

AUBURN CITY MARKET

City Market, Auburn Parks and Recreation’s weekly farmer’s market, is open each Saturday morning through Aug. 24 from 8 to 11 a.m. at Town Creek Park. The entire family is invited to enjoy live music, fun activities for the kids and an array of fresh, local and handcrafted items to browse and purchase. Parking is available at Town Creek Park and in the gravel lot across the street from the park. City Market vendors will start selling their products at 8 a.m. sharp. For more information, visit auburnalabama.org/citymarket or email citymarket@auburnalabama.org.

CAMP HILL FARMERS MARKET

The Camp Hill Marketplace Farmers Market is held each Saturday through Sept. 28 from 8 to 11 a.m. at Mt. Lovely Church Grounds, 21900 Sen. Claude Pepper Drive. Senior benefit cards are welcome. Vendors contact market manager Joanne Finley at (334) 332-5970.

SUMMER SERENDIPITY @ SPICER’S MUSIC

Join hometown musicians at Summer Serendipity, hosted by Spicer’s Music at the Opelika Public Library on Tuesday, July 16, at 2 p.m. This interactive musical adventure is free and open to the public. Contact the library if you need adaptive assistance to make this program more accessible. For more information, email libraryevents@auburnalabama. org or call (334) 501-3296.

SUMMER SWING CONCERT ON JULY 16

Every Tuesday evening, Opelika Parks & Rec hosts a free outdoor concert at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Park in Opelika, featuring a wide variety of musical entertainment. The July 16 concert will feature The James Brown Trio, a Southern Gospel group that will have your toes tapping and heart stirring to songs from the past as well as current tunes that are soon to be classics. The Opelika High School Band Boosters offer hamburgers and hotdogs for a nominal fee from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., ideal for a family picnic. The Rocky Brook Rocket will give complimentary rides from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Bring the whole family, a quilt or lawn chair and relax on the banks of Rocky Brook Creek for an evening of musical fun, fellowship and relaxation. For more information call (334) 705-5560 or email LChesser@opelika-al.gov.

EXTREME POWERSPORTS BIKE NIGHT

Speech is the discourse for which he is best remembered. Stephens delivered it on March 21, 1861, one month after his appointment as vice president of the Confederacy, asserting that slavery and white supremacy comprised the cornerstone of the Confederate States of America.

Following the war and the defeat of the Confederacy, Stephens claimed that his assertions in the Cornerstone Speech had been misrepresented and his meaning misunderstood. He sought to breathe new and different life into an oration that may have otherwise been forgotten.

Stephens intentionally ambiguous rhetoric throughout the postwar years obscured his true antebellum position on slavery and its centrality to the Confederate Nation

and lent itself to early constructions of Lost Cause mythology. Hébert illustrates

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Extreme PowerSports will host Bike Night at Hey Day Market on Thursday, July 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., with proceeds supporting Storybook Farms. Adrenaline-seekers will enjoy the display of power sports, and there will be free gelato from Saint Bernardo’s Gelato Cart, demos from the Mini Grom and Slingshot clubs and a ticketed raffle.

JEFF BLACK @ JULY 18 SUNDILLA

Singer-songwriter extraordinaire Jeff Black returns to Sundilla on Thursday, July 18. Showtime at Pebble Hill is 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $20 and can be found at Spicer’s Music, Ross House Coffee, Foodie’s and online at sundillamusic.com. Admission at the door will be $25; students $15. Free coffee, tea, water and food will be available, and attendees are invited to bring their own favorite beverage or food. If the weather cooperates the concert will take place outdoors.

SUMMER SWING CONCERT ON JULY 23

Every Tuesday evening, Opelika Parks & Rec hosts a free outdoor concert at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Park in Opelika, featuring a wide variety of musical entertainment. The July 23 concert will feature Fedoras, an acoustic duo that plays folk, pop and bluegrass tunes the whole family will enjoy. The Opelika High School Band Boosters offer hamburgers and hotdogs for a nominal fee from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., ideal for a family picnic. The Rocky Brook Rocket will give complimentary rides from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Bring the whole family, a quilt or lawn chair and relax on the banks of Rocky Brook Creek for an evening of musical fun, fellowship and relaxation. For more information call (334) 705-5560 or email LChesser@opelika-al.gov.

CHEERS ON THE CORNER

The Auburn Downtown Merchants Association will host the 8th annual Cheers on the Corner event on Friday, July 26, in downtown Auburn. At this event for ages 21 and up, attendees will receive a souvenir wine glass to enjoy the tastes of downtown at more than 20 stops, each of which will provide a savory bite paired with a refreshing beverage sample. New this year will be a Best Small Bite and Best Sips contest, where participants get to vote for their favorites. Tickets go on sale on July 8 and will cost $45 in advance and are expected to sell out. If available, tickets will cost $50 the day of the event.

SUMMER SWING CONCERT FINALE JULY 30

Opelika Parks & Rec will host the final free outdoor concert of the season at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Park in Opelika on Tuesday, July 30, featuring a Back to School Bash. The

Opelika High School Band Boosters offer hamburgers and hotdogs for a nominal fee from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., ideal for a family picnic. The Rocky Brook Rocket will give complimentary rides from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Bring the whole family, a quilt or lawn chair and relax on the banks of Rocky Brook Creek for an evening of musical fun, fellowship and relaxation. For more information call (334) 705-5560 or email LChesser@opelika-al.gov.

AUBURN OKTOBERFEST

Auburn’s Oktoberfest: The South’s Favorite Craft Beer Festival will return on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 3 to 7 p.m.at Ag Heritage Park, located at 620 S. Donahue Drive. The event will feature live music from Kidd Blue and The War Damn Polka Band, tastings from more than 70 breweries, wineries and homebrewers, educational tents from Auburn University’s AU BREW and a HOP presentation by Auburn’s Horticulture Department. Activities will include naming of Mr. & Mrs. Oktoberfest, stein hoisting contest, weiner dog races, barrel racing, a Chicken Dance competition and more. There will be food trucks, along with several large TV’s highlighting the day’s football games. Tickets are on sale now at Eventbrite.com.

ATTENTION ORCHID LOVERS

The East Alabama Orchid Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Opelika Public Library in Meeting Room 2, located at the rear of the library next to the train mural. Anyone interested in growing orchids is encouraged to attend the meetings. There are orchid growers of all levels and abilities who meet to learn and discuss growing orchids from the members. At each meeting, members will bring their blooming plants to share with the group. For more information about the meetings, contact David Stanbury at: stanbdm@auburn.edu.

ZUMBA CLASSES

Zumba classes are held on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Frank Brown Recreational Center in Auburn. Cost is $5 drop in, $25 for five classes and $40 for 10 classes. Register at auburnal.myrec.com.

ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI

The Lee County Alumni of Alabama State University is holding a membership drive. Increased membership will allow the group to offer more scholarships and support financial and other vital needs for student success at ASU, as well as will foster a sense of pride, visibility and connection to the community. For more information, contact President Dwight E. Howard at (334) 745-7293.

the complexity of Stephens’s legacy across eight chronological chapters.

The Museum of East Alabama is located at 121 S. 9th Street in downtown Opelika.

DR. KEITH HEBERT

Club News from around Lee County Rotary Club of Auburn

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

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

AUBURN/OPELIKA MOPS IS NOW 'MomCO'

MOPS International changed its name from MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers to MomCo to include moms of children of all ages. Auburn Opelika MomCo meets at Pepperell Baptist Church, 2702 2nd Ave. in Opelika. Contact Rachel Elrod at (706) 244-5620 or Pastor Zac Gardner or Pastor Josh Elliott at (334) 745-3108 for further information.

LEE/RUSSELL COUNTY LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP

The group meets every month on the third Wednesday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The meeting will be held at the AIDB-Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Opelika Regional Center on 355 Dunlop Drive in Opelika. Every month different topics are discussed to make life more manageable living with low vision. Contact Shiquita Fulton, M.ED/Vision Rehab therapist for additional details at 334-705-2024, or Melody Wilson, case manager for the blind, at 256-3683258.

NAMI JULY MEETING SET FOR JULY 16

NAMI East Alabama, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, 714 East Glenn Ave. in Auburn. Mrs. Brownyn Ramsey, ADC, LPC-S, Clinical Director of East Alabama Mental Health Center will talk to the group about what services are available at the Center and what happens when someone accesses these services. NAMI supports families dealing with mental illness through mutual support, education, and advocacy. After the program there will be a time for sharing. The public is invited.

The new President of the Rotary Club of Auburn Troy Godwin, was installed by the outgoing president, Griffin McNeill during the June 27 meeting.

2024-25 incoming officers and directors of the Auburn Rotary Club are, seated left to right: Todd Phelan, treasurer; Troy Godwin, president; Brenda Hellums, president-elect; Danny Speigner, secretary. Standing left to right: Debbie Shaw, director; Griffin McNeill, past president; Bill Hutto, director; Chip Kuykendall, director & Arlene Godwin, director. Not pictured is Karen Hood Hopkins, director.

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority stopped by the Opelika City Council meeting to thank us for our donation. They turned $1,000 into $2,500 of products to help young women of our community.