CONTRIBUTED BY
AUBURN — Auburn Public Safety will host National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6, marking the 41st anniversary of this nationwide event.
National Night Out, created by the nonprofit National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to foster safer, more caring places to live, according to its website. “National Night Out enhances the rela -
tionship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.”
Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August or, in some locations, on the first Tuesday in October (Opelika’s National Night Out is scheduled for Oct. 1). Auburn’s National Night Out
will be held at 1623 East Glenn Ave. (the field behind Duck Samford Stadium from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The FREE fun-filled evening will have something for all ages, including:
• Meet and greet with local first responders
• Games and activities for kids
• Live entertainment
• Free food and refreshments
• Giveaways Organizations and businesses are invited to set up booths at the event. For more information, email Sidney at shancock@auburnalabama.org.
CONTRIBUTED BY UWLC
OPELIKA — The United Way of Lee County (UWLC) invites the community to join its annual Campaign Kickoff event on Friday, Aug. 2.
For the fourth year, the United Way is partnering with Feed the Need, a nonprofit hunger relief organization, and the Food Bank of East Alabama, which will serve as the event’s location host. Check-in starts at 8 a.m., with the event running from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
This year, volunteers will help fill 30,000 bags of shelf-stable meals to be distributed to those in need by the Food Bank of
East Alabama. This marks a significant increase from last year’s 25,000 meals.
“The United Way Campaign Kickoff is a great example of how we can all work together to meet the needs of our community,” said Tipi Miller, executive director of the United Way of Lee County. “Our hope is that every volunteer will see the difference they can make by partnering with United Way.” Campaign Kickoff signifies the start of UWLC’s fivemonth-long fundraising season, supporting a total of 23 local partner agencies and in-house programs. This year’s goal is to raise $925,000.
The event is sponsored by Opelika Economic Development, the city of Auburn Industrial Development Board, the E.L. Spender Jr. Foundation and AuburnBank. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, email Miller at director@unitedwayofleecounty.com.
UWLC is a nonprofit organization in Opelika whose mission is to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another by generating and applying the necessary resources to meet the needs of the community. The United Way looks to
improve and strengthen the community by focusing on and funding organizations and programs working in four key impact areas
BY JERRY UNDERWOOD, MADE IN ALABAMA
LEE COUNTY — Communities across Alabama have an opportunity to apply for a second round of SEEDS funding.
Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) grants are designed to help communities develop industrial sites capable of competing for high-impact economic development projects — and the jobs that come with them.
The SEEDS Act has already been a success, with the first round of funding steering $30 million into critically needed site development activities across the state. On Feb. 26, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that the city of Opelika would receive a $2 million to be matched by the city and will be used for an extension of North Park Drive in the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park and for a bridge across Halawakee Creek. That grant “will allow Opelika to open its doors to more opportunity and economic growth,” said John Sweatman, Opelika Economic Development director. “We need to be able to market this 282-acre site in our Northeast Park so that we can compete for larger projects, partic -
ularly in the Aerospace sector, and the road extension and bridge will provide the access we currently do not have.”
The second round of funding, potentially totaling $30 million, is available for communities that meet all the program’s criteria and are selected to receive grants from the State Industrial Development Authority (SIDA).
The application portal for SEEDS site assessment and site development grants is open now through Sept. 30.
The portal is located on the website of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), which is administering the program: www. edpa.org.
SIDA will evaluate the applications and announce results early next year.
Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, urged community leaders and economic development officials across the state to consider taking advantage of SEEDS grant possibilities.
“Though the first round of SEEDS grants was announced just a few months ago, the program has already enhanced our competitiveness on the economic development playing
field,” McNair said. “In fact, the new industrial sites created through SEEDS funding are allowing us to compete for more than a dozen corporate growth projects involving a combined $13.5 billion in new capital investment and 5,000 jobs.”
The groundbreaking SEEDS program — a key portion of the Gov. Kay Ivey’s “Game Plan” package of economic development bills approved by the Legislature last year —takes direct aim at the urgent need for quality industrial sites in Alabama at a time when other states are spending heavily to expand their site programs.
The $30 million in first-round SEEDS funding is being matched with $38.4 million in local funds at 29 different Alabama industrial sites encompassing nearly 8,400 acres.
A large chunk of that funding is heading to sites in Alabama’s rural counties.
“Alabama has a need for more quality sites,” EDPA President Greg Barker said. “Alabama has a proven record of economic development success when we are able to offer prepared sites for targeted businesses.”
which are the building blocks for a good life: education, health, crisis and families and communities.
CONTRIBUTED BY LRCG
LEE COUNTY —
The Lee-Russell Council of Governments has been selected as a provider for transportation services for Alabama Department of Human Resources and Alabama Department of Transportation’s Section 5307 (urban) and 5311 (rural) transportation program for Lee and Russell Counties in Alabama.
This program seeks to improve the self-sufficiency of individuals with low income who need transportation in order to gain and/or maintain employment by connecting those individuals with reliable, safe, and affordable transportation options. Agencies that have low-income clients participate in this program.
Qualified transportation providers are wanted to work with Lee-Russell Council of Governments to provide these services. As a minimum, qualified vendors must be authorized/licensed to conduct business throughout Lee County; show proof of insurance on vehicles that will be used for transportation; and show proof that all drivers have valid licenses.
Interested vendors may contact Barbara Graddy, no later than Friday, Sept. 15, at 1 p.m. central time at bgraddy@lrcog.com or (334) 528-9220 for a complete list of required qualifications, a copy of the vendor contract, and to set up an appointment.
CONTRIBUTED BY EXIT REALTY
AUBURN — EXIT
Realty Anchor South announced that Kelly Merritt has joined its growing team of dedicated real estate sales professionals.
EXIT Realty Anchor
South, located at 1922 Professional Circle Suite #202 in Auburn, is a member of EXIT Realty South Central’s rapidly expanding network of independently owned and operated brokerages across the region.
ABOUT EXIT REALTY EXIT Realty is a full service, forward-thinking, real estate franchisor with offices across North America. A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is applied to its charitable fund, and to date, $7 million has been allocated to charity. For more information, visit www.exitrealty.com.
CONTRIBUTED BY DHR
ALABAMA — The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) announces the final round of grants supporting child care providers through a temporary federal grant program.
Starting July 15, DHR began accepting applications for Child Care Stability Grants, meant to reinforce the child care industry in Alabama. The final day to apply is Aug. 12.
Award amounts will be determined based on the total number of children served by the facility or home, the number of qualifying applicants and the availability of funds.
DHR wants to ensure all the remaining grant funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act are utilized before Sept. 30.
“These grants have helped increase access to child care for many Alabama families and have improved opportunities for Alabama’s child care providers,” said Alabama
DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner. ¬“We know that high-quality and accessible child care is an integral foundation block of Alabama’s workforce system. It is vital that we find unique and novel ways to support and grow the list of high-quality caregivers and providers across our state if we are to build and maintain a strong workforce throughout Alabama.”
Grant funds are used for necessary expenditures such as employee pay, facility maintenance, purchases of classroom materials, cleaning supplies and meals. Funds can also be used to offer tuition relief to families.
To qualify, providers must be licensed and operating in good standing with DHR at the time they apply and receive a grant. They must also remain in operation for at least one year after a grant is awarded. Applications and other important information is available at dhr.alabama. gov/child-care.
CONTRIBUTED BY BISNAR CHASE
ALABAMA — In a move aimed at bolstering worker protections nationwide, the U.S. Department of Labor has unveiled a significant update to overtime pay regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
This update comes amidst concerns that the previous salary threshold of $684 per week ($35,568 annually) has not kept pace with inflation, leaving many salaried workers vulnerable to long hours without additional compensation.
Effective July 1, the new threshold rose to $844 per week ($43,888 annually), with a further increase to $1,128 per week ($58,656 annually) starting Jan. 1, 2025. These adjustments, phased in over the next few years, are designed to align more closely with current wage trends and economic realities.
A recent analysis by personal injury law firm Bisnar Chase sheds light on the impact of these changes. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
they identified that a whopping 17 million workers will now become eligible for overtime pay under the updated thresholds. In Alabama, 242,528 extra workers should now be paid for working overtime.
The final rule is projected to redirect approximately $1.5 billion annually from employers to workers through increased pay. Despite this significant financial impact on affected workers, the adjustment represents a manageable fraction of total wages in the U.S. economy, minimizing adverse effects on employers.
Moreover, automatic updates every three years will sustain the rule’s effectiveness by adjusting thresholds to reflect economic shifts over time. This proactive approach aims to uphold robust overtime protections, ensuring they remain relevant and beneficial to an expanding workforce.
“These updates are crucial in ensuring fair compensation and protecting millions of workers,” emphasizes Brian Chase, a partner at
Bisnar Chase. “Expanding overtime protections through the Department of Labor’s updated rule not only safeguards workers’ time and compensation but also promotes fair labor practices
across industries. The revisions are seen as a pivotal step towards achieving a balance between economic demands and worker rights, fostering sustainable business practices nationwide.”
CONTRIBUTED BY NATIONAL RETAIL
FEDERATION
UNITED STATES — As of early July, more than half (55%) of backto-school and college shoppers have already begun buying items for the upcoming school year, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
“The back-to-school and college season is an important time for retailers and consumers,” NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen said. “Families and students are eager to get a jumpstart on their shopping for the start of the school year. Retailers have anticipated this early demand and are well-positioned to offer a variety of products at competitive prices.”
While shopping is well underway, the majority (86%) of consumers still have at least half of their purchases left to complete. The top reasons consumers still have shopping to do are because they are waiting for the best deals (45%) or they don’t know what is needed yet (45%).
As retailers kick off summer deals from Circle Week to Deal Days to Black Friday in July, consumers are taking note. Similar to last year, 85% of back-to-class shoppers say they will take advantage of Prime Day and other retailer sales in July to buy classroom staples and other school necessities.
Families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $875 on clothing, shoes, school supplies and electronics. This is approximately $15 less than last year’s record of $890 but is the second-highest amount in the survey’s history. Total back-toschool spending is expected to reach $38.8 billion, also the second-highest figure on record, after last year’s high of $41.5 billion.
“Last year’s watermark was partially driven by record investments in electronics, with 69% of back-toschool shoppers planning to purchase a laptop, tablet or other electronic device for their student,” said Prosper Executive Vice President of Strategy Phil Rist. “These are typically items students can use for several years, which may be why we are seeing
slightly less interest in electronics this year.”
K-12 shoppers are budgeting $309 on average for electronics ($13.7 billion total), $253 for clothing and accessories ($11.2 billion total), $142 for school supplies ($6.3 billion total) and $170 for shoes ($7.6 billion total).
Similar to past years, the most popular destinations for back-toschool shopping are online (57%), department stores (50%), discount stores (47%), clothing stores (42%) and electronics stores (23%).
College students and their families are expected to spend an average of $1,365 on items for the upcoming school year, in line with last year’s record of $1,367. Total back-to-college spending is expected to reach $86.6 billion, the second-highest figure in the history of the survey. Last year, total spending was forecast to hit a record $94 billion.
The top five categories for college spending include $360 on average for electronics ($22.8 billion total), $192 for dorm or apartment furnishings ($12.2 billion total), $171 on clothing and accessories ($10.9 billion total),
$150 on food ($9.5 billion total) and $112 on shoes ($7.1 billion total).
Similar to past years, the top shopping destinations for back-tocollege students and their parents are online (50%), followed by department stores (35%), discount stores (31%), college bookstores, office supply stores and clothing stores (tied at 26%).
Since 2003, NRF has conducted a comprehensive survey on back-toclass shopping trends. This year’s research included 7,533 consumers and was fielded July 1-8 with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1 percentage points.
As the leading authority and voice for the retail industry, NRF provides data on consumer behavior and spending for key periods such as holidays throughout the year.
ABOUT NRF
The National Retail Federation passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail
is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3 trillion to annual GDP and supporting more than one in four U.S. jobs — 55 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com
ABOUT PROSPER INSIGHTS & ANALYTICS
Prosper Insights & Analytics is a global leader in consumer intent data serving the financial services, marketing technology, and retail industries. We provide global authoritative market information on U.S. and China consumers via curated insights and analytics. By integrating a variety of data including economic, behavioral and attitudinal data, Prosper helps companies accurately predict consumers’ future behavior to help identify market behaviors, optimize marketing efforts, and improve the effectiveness of demand generation campaigns. Learn more at https://prosperinsights.com.
BY ANITA STIEFEL EDITOR@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
LEE COUNTY — This weekend, the state of Alabama will hold its 19th annual back-to-school sales tax holiday. In addition to waiver of state sales taxes on certain school supplies and clothing items, Lee County and the municipalities of Auburn and Opelika will also waive local sales taxes on these items.
The event begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 19, and will end at midnight on Sunday, July 21. Retailers are required to participate and may not charge tax on items that are legally tax exempt during the sales tax holiday.
Clothing items of $100 or less which are suitable for general use are included, such as shirts, pants, jeans, dresses, jackets, coats, raincoats, pajamas, gym suits, caps, hats, hosiery, neckties, gloves, scarves, belts, shoes, sneakers, sandals, boots, underwear and diapers. Non-eligible items include protective equipment, band instruments, sports and recreational equipment, cosmetics, handbags, hair notions, watches and jewelry. Computers, software and supplies in a single purchase with a sales price of $750 or less are tax-exempt, including printer supplies and handheld electronic schedulers that are not cellular phones. Non-eligible items include furniture, any systems
or peripherals designed primarily for recreational use and video games of a non-educational nature.
School supplies and art supplies with a sales price of $50 or less are tax-exempt, including book bags, lunch boxes, calculators, paper, notebooks, binders, folders, paper, writing instruments, crayons and markers, pencil sharpeners and boxes, glue and paste sticks, rulers, tape, scissors, etc.
Book purchases (non-commercial) with a sales price of $30 or less per book are exempt, however magazines, newspapers, periodicals and nonbound documents are not tax-exempt.
For more information, visit the Alabama Department of Revenue website at www.revenue.alabama.gov.
CONTRIBUTED BY FAMILY FEATURES
LEE COUNTY — Updating your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system to cool your home in a smart and sustainable way involves several steps that not only improve energy efficiency but also reduce environmental impact.
Consider these tips from the heating and cooling experts at Carrier to help make your cooling system more eco-friendly:
1. Conduct regular maintenance. Keep your HVAC system running efficiently with regular maintenance. This includes cleaning or replacing air filters every 1-3 months, checking refrigerant
levels, cleaning outside condenser coils and ensuring the system’s components are in good, working condition and the airflow is not blocked.
2. Seal and insulate. Improve your home’s insulation to maintain a consistent temperature. Seal windows, doors and any gaps or cracks to prevent cool air from escaping. This can significantly reduce the workload on your HVAC system.
3. Ventilate Properly. Ensure proper ventilation in your home, especially in areas like the kitchen and bathroom, to remove excess heat and humidity, which can reduce the need for air conditioning.
4. Use ceiling fans. Ceiling
fans can help circulate cool air throughout your home, allowing you to set the thermostat at a higher temperature without sacrificing comfort, thus saving energy.
5. Add window treatments. Use blinds, shades or curtains to block out sunlight and reduce heat gain during the hottest parts of the day. This simple step can make a big difference in how much your air conditioner needs to work.
6. Install a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat can be programmed based on your preferences and adjust temperatures automatically. These devices can be controlled remotely through smartphones and help reduce
BY JUSTIN MILLER, ACES
AUBURN — Halloween
season starts in July, at least according to gardening standards. For those wanting to grow their own pumpkins for spooky jack-o-lanterns or festive fall centerpieces, early to mid-July is the time to get those pumpkin seeds in the ground.
GETTING STARTED
Bethany ORear, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System home grounds, gardens and home pests regional agent, said the cultivar a gardener decides to plant depends on the intended use for the pumpkins.
“There are certain pumpkin cultivars that are better suited for uses such as carving or making pies,” ORear said. “There are also many novelty cultivars that are great to decorate with, such as Cinderella and warty pumpkins. In addition to traditional orange pumpkins, there are some cultivars that produce some pretty unique colors, including green, yellow, tan, red, white and even blue.”
When buying seeds, look for the days to harvest listed on the package. The following are some common pumpkin cultivars:
• Miniature: Baby Boo, Bumpkin, Jack-Be-Little, Munchkin and WeeeeOne
• Small: Baby Moon, Darling, Iron Man, Little Giant and Small Sugar
• Medium Autumn Gold, Goosebumps II, Hijinks, Orange Bulldog and Rouge Vif DEtampes
• Large: Cinderella, Fairytale, Gold Medal, Magician and Sorcerer
Other pumpkin cultivars can be found in the Extension Brief, “Managing a Pumpkin Crop,” available at www.aces.edu. Individuals interested in planting pumpkins can also contact the home grounds regional Extension agent in their area for information on a specific cultivar.
PLANTING AND MANAGING
Pumpkins are like any other vegetable crop. They need to be planted in an area that has well-drained soil. This is especially important for pumpkins, because the fruit makes direct contact with the ground. If the soil is constantly wet, the pumpkins will rot on the vine.
ORear said to try planting pumpkins on a raised soil area. In this case, gravity will help drain the water drain away from the plants. They also need to be planted in a spot that receives approximately six to eight hours of sunlight each day.
“Keep in mind that pumpkins are vining crops, so they are going to take up
a lot of room,” ORear said. “You dont necessarily have to have a giant garden plot, but just be mindful to choose a spot that gives the pumpkins room to grow.”
Pumpkins are in the Cucurbitaceae family, along with vegetables like cucumbers and squash. As a cucurbit, one of the biggest management issues related to pumpkins is fungal diseases. These can include downey mildew, powdery mildew, fusarium wilt and phytophthora.
“It is not impossible to grow pumpkins in an
organic situation, but these fungal diseases make it very challenging,” ORear said.
“Cultural practices, such as crop rotation, are very helpful in disease management. Also, it is very important to scout for symptoms, using fungicides when needed.”
A cultural practice is a change made in the growing environment. This includes things like changing planting dates, rotating crops, mowing and irrigating.
Contact the home grounds regional agent in the county Extension office for control recommendations.
“That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” — Walt Whitman
“That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”
Ponder it.
What a beautiful promise that is! That a grand story is taking place all around us, even in the most mundane moments of life, yet still, this story has a place for each voice to find its place in the greater chorus. This line, captured by popular imagination, may feel unstoppable. It may also seem unbearable.
Imagine it: how are we to speak our verse if we cannot begin to find our place in the grand story that is supposedly going on all around us? Other people tell stories, and we are asked to believe what is told, not to speak our own verse into this greater story. There are many large voices, and ours feels small.
But not in a small town, not in a place where life still moves slow enough for you to know the name of the barista or the checkout clerk. In the local, we are reminded that place, the physical space in which we find ourselves matters, and that here, where our feet are, our voice, our verse, is needed most.
We’ve been able to see that at the O Grows Garden over the past couple of months. If O Grows is a story, it is a story of a great many verses. Early in the summer, a group of Opelika High School Philanthropy 101 students donated money and their time to staining posts and furniture around the garden. The girls and their parents of girl scout troop 7743 ran around joyfully on a hot Saturday afternoon to name many of the common plants found in the garden. Sara Cook of Native Blooms gave of her time, knowledge, and plants to help start a second herb garden in our front beds to be enjoyed by the community. Each and every foot that has stepped on the grounds not only continues the story of O Grows, but intertwines their own story with ours.
We’ve heard it said: “Work is love made visible.” As we have worked to continue to bring life to our space at 1103 Glenn St, it is not only our love, but the love of our community that makes O Grows work. And it’s not just here. People are contributing verses and working with love across Opelika; it’s one of the things that brings us the most joy about being here and nowhere else.
As we head into the fall, we cannot wait to have the community at the garden on Saturday mornings. We have worked hard this summer to have it be a space to gather, rest, and meet. We have plans in the works, we have more stories we want to tell, and more hands we want to involve. As the story of Opelika continues to unfold, we want to contribute our verse, and we want to do that with all y’all. We can’t wait to see y’all Saturdays in August.
Garrett Martinez, Farmers Market Manager Sean Forbes, O Grows Director
The harvesting timelines for pumpkins and winter squashes are different than other vegetables. For example, summer squashes are harvested while they are still immature. However, it is important to wait to harvest pumpkins and winter squashes until they are fully matured.
“After harvesting, it is recommended that the pumpkins go through a process called curing, which extends the lives of the pumpkins,” ORear
said. “This process can also help heal wounds, ripen immature fruit and enhance color.”
To cure a pumpkin, store them at 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit in a place that has 75 to 80% relative humidity for 10 to 20 days. More information on harvesting and curing is available in the Alabama Extension publication, “Harvesting, Curing and Post Harvest Care of Pumpkins and Winter Squash,” available at www.aces.edu.
100th Birthday
If your ad was here, you'd be reading it right now.
BY STEVE FLOWERS
As the Republican National Convention unfolds this week, you will see all the GOP stars on stage and featured all week, especially on Fox News. You will probably not see one of the former potential rising political show horses featured or interviewed.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem may be there but will be shunned and snubbed by the GOP faithful and media. She has been relegated to the political graveyard, now and forever. She is now a comedic laughingstock and punchline in political circles.
Six months ago, the spectacularly attractive South Dakotan was actually being considered to be Donald Trump’s running mate. Indeed, our Senior Sen. Tommy “Coach” Tuberville, who has become one of Trump’s closest allies and confidantes, recently shared with me that while he and Trump were golfing at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year, Trump referred to Noem often and inferred that she was being considered as his running mate.
Noem was aspiring to be on the national stage. She was the keynote speaker at the Alabama GOP Winter Dinner in recent years.
About a year ago, she began running ads on Fox News promoting South Dakota, which primarily featured her in jeans and a hard hat. Ostensibly, these ads were to attract business to the small, obscure, sparsely populated,
western state. They were really designed to promote her as the governor of South Dakota and to help build her name identification with an eye towards national politics.
As is the case with aspiring governors and senators, who begin being touted as potential presidential aspirants, they come out with a book. Noem was relatively unknown except in small Republican circles. However, her book made her nationally and even internationally known.
For you see, this western girl told the whole world that she took her pet dog out to a gravel pit and shot it dead and left it there just because she did not like it anymore. She more than likely did not write the book, a ghost writer did. However, she had to have read the book, and approved it, and given the writer that gruesome aspect of her life. A chapter was devoted to it.
My first thought was, is this for real? Then, what kind of aspiring political person would tell the world this in not only an interview, but in her own book? Her so-called biography. What kind of stupid political adviser would allow that to go into a book? What kind of publisher would allow that passage and think that the book would be bought and make any money?
Bless her heart, Noem was set to promote the book, and the book was leaked, and the passage posted prior to her appearances. The greeting was so savage and brutal from all news sources, even Fox, that within a day of total ridicule and abject obvious hatred toward her, she and her advisers tucked their tails and hightailed it back to South Dakota. She will probably never be heard from again.
If Noem ever goes anywhere to a political or
social event, the rest of her life she will be met with a laugh or sneer as a joke. She will forever be known as the woman dog killer. She will be the brunt of jokes for life. She is through, politically, and to think she did it to herself. She not only shot her dog, she also shot herself in the foot with the same bullet. In fact, she did not shoot herself in the foot, she shot herself in the head, politically. Noem committed political suicide.
I have been scratching my head for the last three months since Noem’s unbelievable revelation, trying to think of another example of overt political suicide in my lifetime. I cannot remember anything similar.
About this same time, it occurred to me that every older, white Republican I came in touch with had a dog that they loved and adored. Sen. Richard Shelby has a new dog named Tallulah. Gov. Kay Ivey has a beloved dog named Missy. My older brother, Scott, just lost his 13-year-old collie Jessie and is still in mourning.
The same week as Noem’s horror story, ironically, I’m watching Fox News and her South Dakota ad is sandwiched between an ad for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and gourmet dog food, which older Republicans are obviously buying for their dogs. They are probably not buying Noem’s book that tells of her adventures of killing her dog in a gravel pit.
In political circles, she will be forever known as “Krazy Kristi” Noem.
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.
BY MICHELLE KEY MICHELLE@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA — Opelika’s City Council approved a special appropriation of nearly $1.3 million to Opelika City Schools for sports arena improvement during Tuesday night’s meeting. The improvements include new seating, floor, scoreboard and lights.
The Opelika City Council and Mayor Gary Fuller issued a proclamation for “BAPS Day” during the meeting. BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (“BAPS”) is a worldwide Hindu denomination dedicated to fostering faith, inspiring service, and promoting better living. Aug. 4, 2024 is to be recognized as “BAPS Day.”
The council also recognized Mike Buckalew as the July Character Council Citizen of Excellent Character.
IN OTHER BUSINESS:
- The council approved a request for a downtown street closure for a Cars and Coffee event to be held at Courthouse Square July 20.
- The council approved a downtown street closure request from Whistle Stop for a Food Truck event to be held July 26.
- The council approved a downtown street closure request from Red Clay Brewing for a Food Truck event to be held Aug. 1.
- The council approved a bid from Statewide Contracting LLC for the Frederick Road Asphalt Rejuvenation Project for an amount of $143,080.
- The council approved expense reports from various departments and also approved a resolution to designate city personal property surplus and authorize its disposal.
- The council approved a resolution to accept a grant in the amount of from The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for the Opelika Fire Department (OFD) purchase lifesaving equipment, including Holmatro Spreader, Cutter, Ram, Ram Extension, Cross Ram Support Set and Accessories, in the approximate amount of $41,723.20;
- The council approved a resolution to appoint Robert T. Treese III to serve as Assistant Municipal Prosecutor.
- The council approved a resolution for a change order request for a previously approved purchase of a John Deere 7200A Mower for the public works department. The change order will add just under $350 to the original order.
CONTRIBUTED BY OBSERVER STAFF
AUBURN — At its regularly scheduled meeting on July 16, the Auburn City Council approved a resolution appointing three individuals to the Planning Commission, as nominated by Mayor Ron Anders. Oscar Moseley, Jennifer Stevens and Walker Davis will serve six-year terms beginning Aug. 1 and ending July 31, 2030.
“We had 11 applicants, we asked eight of our citizens to go through an interview process,” said Anders. “I am humbled that the quality of the people who have unique experiences… would want to serve our community in this form and fashion. There are easier ways to serve your community than through the Planning Commission— it’s a lot of work. Their meetings can be, sometimes, intense. They are making very crucial decisions that lead our community to its present and into our future.”
Anders thanked everyone who applied and encouraged them to continue to look for other opportunities to serve on city boards.
City Manager Megan Crouch announced a vacancy on the Greenspace Advisory Board. The
term begins Aug. 8 and ends Aug. 7, 2028.
- The council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Alabama Office Supply in the amount of just under $89,245 to purchase furniture, fixtures and equipment for the Lake Wilmore Community Center.
- The council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Auburn AV in the amount of $102,962 to install an AV System for the Lake Wilmore Community Center.
- The council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with Foresite Group LLC for design services for the Beehive Road Widening Project from Choctafaula Bridge to Biltmore Lane in the amount of $72,300. The project is part of the joint project with Lee County for the resurfacing of Beehive Road from Cox Road to Wire Road and is funded by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The services include roadway construction drawings, surveying, conceptual plans, grading/drainage/erosion control design and technical specifications.
- The council approved a resolution autho-
AUBURN COUNCIL, page A9
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 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 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. 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.
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
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
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 FINLEYPURCHASINGREVENUE 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
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. DR-2024-900136.00, 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
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 Run 07/11/24, 07/18/24 & 07/25/24
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
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
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- The council approved a one year contract extension with East Alabama Paving Co. for city wide paving for an amount of $800,000.
- The council approved a one year contract extension with Ozark Striping for city wide striping for an amount of $200,000.
- The council approved a one year contract extension with Robinson Paving Co. for general roadway improvements for an amount of $500,000.
- The council approved a resolution to vacate of a portion of the right-of-way of Speedway Drive following a public hearing.
- The council approved a resolution to authorize the waiver of all building and construction permit fees for Habitat for Humanity.
-The council approved a resolution to set a public hearing on Sept. 3 pertaining to the adoption of the 2021 Edition of the International Building Code.
-The council approved a resolution to set a public hearing on Sept. 3 pertaining to the adoption of the 2021 Edition of the International Fire Code.
-The council approved a resolution to set a public hearing on Sept. 3 pertaining to the adoption of the 2021 Edition of the International Fuel Gas Code.
-The council approved a resolution to set a public hearing on Sept. 3 pertaining to the adoption of the 2024 Edition of the International Mechanical Code.
-The council approved a resolution to set a public hearing on Sept. 3 pertaining to the adoption of the 2021 Edition of the International Plumbing Code.
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-The council approved a resolution to set a public hearing on Sept. 3 pertaining to the adoption of the 2021 Edition of the International Property Maintenance Code.
-The council approved a resolution to set a public hearing on Sept. 3 pertaining to the adoption of the 2021 Edition of the International Residential Code.
-The council approved a resolution to set a public hearing on Sept. 3 pertaining to the adoption of the 2020 Edition of the NFPA 70, National Electric Code.
-The council approved a resolution to set a public hearing on Sept. 3 pertaining to the adoption of the 2021 Edition of the NFPA 101, Life Safety Code.
- The council approved an ordinance to amend the City Code of Ordinances: Section 2-147 - Procurement and Awarding of Contracts.
- The council held a public hearing and later introduced an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance & Map to rezone 37.91 acres located on 1st Avenue, from VR-1 and C-2 to a planned unit development (PUD) for its first reading. The PUD will add a proposed 309 residential units which include 83 single-family homes, 84 townhomes and 142 multi-family/apartment units. Overall, the development will have a density of 8.95 units per acre.
Following the introduction of the ordinance a motion was made to suspend the rules and vote on the ordinance immediately. That motion carried and the council then voted to approved the ordinance.
- The council held a public hearing and later introduced an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance & Map to rezone 1.59 acres of land lo-
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cated at 1504 Speedway Drive from C-2, GC-P to C-3, GC-P for its first reading.
- The council introduced an ordinance to authorize the conversion to electronic records, use of electronic signatures, and adoption of an electronic records management policy for its first Reading.
- The council introduced an ordinance to authorize the conveyance of approximately 14 acres of real property to the Opelika City Schools Board of Education for its first reading. Opelika Middle School and the track behind the school are located on the property.
During the public comments section, several Opelika residents addressed the council.
Sherry Cook, a member of the Ambassadors of Change (AOC) program, spoke to council and discussed a Facebook post that was published on Sunday, July 14 by one of the council members.
The post reads in part “The Ambassadors of Change group is established to cause division in the Opelika Community. They have received $1.8 million dollars since March 2021 from the City of Opelika.”
The post then includes suggestions for ways $1.8 million could be utilized in the community and asks “where is the $1.8 million dollars?”
“Do you know this group does not have to provide an accounting of how they utilize the money? Did you know this group “informs” the police? Did you know this group and their leadership have put me and my family’s life in danger?
“Ambassadors of Change are are good for the Opelika Police Department to help them solve crimes but in my opinion, they should not be marketed to the public. It is misleading,” the post ends.
Cook asserted that the accusations made are false and asked the council to hold the council member that made the post accountable.
“As a working taxpayer and an advocate of this community, I am challenging the city, and the council to act immediately to impose some type of sanction, to hold her accountable for the claims that she has made against the very people who are currently doing her job,” Cook said.
Dr. Chenavis Evans delivered remarks on Critical Insights and the programs the company has helped implement with the Opelika Police Department and offered full transparency of the accounting for funds it has received from the city of Opelika.
Erica Norris also addressed the council as a citizen of Opelika.
“I do have questions even as a citizen about Critical Insights,” Norris said. “One million eight hundred sixty-four thousand ninety three dollars and sixty four cents. The initial amount to the council that you all voted on with the exception of Council Member Norris was one million three hundred plus thousand. At that time I questioned the validity of that amount. There was no bidding for the one million three hundred plus thousand dollars. There was no competition for $1.3 million dollars. So I questioned that.”
Norris also said that she also questioned the second contract with Critical Insights that was approved by the council the following year.
For the full recording of the city council meeting including all the public comments visit www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Mu1Ava7JdkU.
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AUBURN COUNCIL >> from A7
rizing the city manager to execute a professional services contract with Machen McChesney to perform an independent audit of the city’s annual financial statements, which is required by Section 11-43A27 of the Code of Alabama. The contract includes the required financial and legal compliance audit of the city’s federal grants. The proposed audit fee is $109,000.
- The council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Trojan Technologies in the amount of just under $39,097 to replace four hydraulic cylinders associated with Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection banks 2A and 2B at the H.C. Morgan Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) as outlined in a memorandum provided to the council. These cylinders need to be replaced in order to maintain effective operation of the UV disinfection system. Trojan Technologies is the manufacturer of the UV system and the sole source provider of these cylinders.
- The council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a three-year contract renewal with Tyler Technologies for maintenance of the city’s financial management software. The city’s portion of the annual software maintenance cost is $81,668 and will automatically renew for up to two additional one-year terms, with a 5% increase over the previous year’s fees.
- The council discussed a request for annexation of approximately 4.45 acres located at 315 Lee Road
025 (Hillandale Drive) (Case AX-2024-018) which is located outside the optimal boundary. The Planning Commission denied a motion to approve a recommendation for the annexation request for this property by a vote of 3 to 5 at its July 11 meeting. The council postponed consideration until Sept. 17, at which time three other applications for annexation will be considered.
- The council approved an ordinance for the annexation of approximately 2.06 acres located at 350 East Farmville Road (Lee Road 72) (Case AX-2024015). The request is consistent with the provisions of Resolution 12-111 which outlines the city’s annexation policy.
- The council approved an ordinance to annex 3.89 acres at 4099 Lee Road 146 (Moores Mill Road) into the city limits (Case AX-2024-019). The subject property is located on Moores Mill Road west of its intersection with Society Hill Road in a section that is currently owned and maintained by Lee County.
- The council approved a conditional use request (CU-2024029) by Beehive Distribution Center LLC for a commercial support use (warehouse and distribution center) to be located at 3010 Beehive Road (Lee Road 10) in the Industrial (I) zoning district.
- The council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with the lowest responsible bidder, Vortex Services LLC, in the amount of nearly $1.6 million for the Auburn Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project (Willow Creek and Auburn University Sewer Basins) with an additional authorization up to 10% of the contract amount ($157,402) as contingency to be used for unforeseen conditions. The purpose of the project is to redirect excess stormwater.
STORAGE TREASURES
AUCTION
Extra Space Storage (Life Storage) will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 3951 Pepperell Pkwy Opelika AL 36801 Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 10:00AM Unit C30 Unit D47
The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.
Legal Run 07/18/2024
STORAGE TREASURES
AUCTION
Extra Space Storage (Life Storage) will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: (1231 Gatewood Dr. Auburn Al ) Thursday, 7-25-2024 at 10:00AM Unit 439
The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property. .Legal Run 07/18/2024
STORAGE TREASURES
AUCTION
Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its affiliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 2020 S. College St. Auburn, AL 36832 Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 10:00AM Unit B183 Unit C402
The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.. Legal Run 07/18/2024
Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1412 Opelika Rd Auburn, AL 36830 - Thursday, July 25, 2024 @ 10:00 AM Unit E79
The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must
be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property..
Legal Run 07/18/2024
STORAGE TREASURES AUCTION
Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its affiliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated:
Extraspace Storage 2357 E Glenn Ave Auburn, Al 36830 07/25/2024 at 10:00am Unit 3008
The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property..
Legal Run 07/18/2024
SYNOPSIS OF ZONING NOTICE
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, to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map of the City of Opelika by rezoning or redistricting the parcel of land hereinafter described so as to change such parcel from one class of district to another class of district, as follows: 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.
energy consumption by cooling your home only when necessary.
7. Upgrade to a Variable-Speed Compressor. Traditional compressors operate at full power or not at all. However, a variable-speed compressor can adjust its output to match your cooling needs precisely, resulting in better efficiency, energy savings and improved indoor comfort.
you’re replacing your roof, consider cool roofing materials that reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than standard roofing materials, reducing the heat that enters your home.
9. Upgrade to an Energy-Efficient HVAC System. If your HVAC system is outdated, consider replacing it with a more energy-efficient model. Look for systems with an Energy Star or high SEER2 (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating, which indicates
better energy efficiency. The higher the SEER2 rating, the more efficient the unit. Financial incentives for installing a higher-efficiency system are available through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. You can also shop for rebates from manufacturers and utility companies.
potential refrigerant can help reduce your home’s negative impact on the environment. By implementing these strategies, you can improve or update your HVAC system to cool your home more sustainably. Not only do these steps help the environment, they can also lead to lower energy bills and improved indoor comfort. Always consult with an HVAC professional to determine the best and most efficient options for your home and needs. HVAC >> from A4
8. Update Roofing. If
Public Notice of this public hearing with insertion of the proposed ordinance was first published on July 11, 2024, in the Opelika Observer. This notice is given pursuant to Sections 11-52-78 and 11-52-85, Code of Alabama (1975). At said public hearing, all who desire to be heard shall have the opportunity to speak for or in opposition to said ordinance.
Written comments concerning the above matter may be mailed to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 390, Opelika, AL 36803 at any time prior to the public hearing and may be further submitted to the City Council at the meeting and the public hearing.
Please contact Brian Weiss, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334-705-5134 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to any disability.
THIS NOTICE is given under my hand this the 18th day of July, 2024.
/s/ Russell A. Jones, MMC CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal Run 07/18/2024
SYNOPSIS OF ZONING NOTICE
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, to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map of the City of Opelika by rezoning or redistricting the parcels of land hereinafter described so as to change such parcels from one class of district to another class of district, as follows: 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.
Public Notice of this public hearing with insertion of the proposed ordinance was first published on July 11, 2024, in the Opelika Observer. This notice is given pursuant to Sections 11-52-78 and 11-52-85, Code of Alabama (1975).
At said public hearing, all who desire to be heard shall have the opportunity to speak for or in opposition to said ordinance.
Written comments concerning the above matter may be mailed to the City Clerk at P.O. Box 390, Opelika, AL 36803 at any time prior to the public hearing and may be further submitted to the City Council at the meeting and the public hearing.
Please contact Brian Weiss, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334-705-5134 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to any disability.
THIS NOTICE is given under my hand this the 18th day of July, 2024.
10. Look for a Carbon-Free HVAC System. Heat pumps, ductless and VRF (variable refrigerant flow) systems that run on electricity and use low global-warming
/s/ Russell A. Jones, MMC CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal Run 07/18/2024
IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATIER OF THE ADOPTION PETITION OF JAMES FRANKLIN CLEMENS and LINDA NEWBILL CLEMENS CASE NO.: 2024-072
PUBLICATION NOTICE TO: Emily Beth Clemens, address unknown. Please take notice that a petition for adoption was filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama by James Franklin Clemens and Linda Newbill Clemens on February l, 2024, for the adoption of C.A.P. born on January 19, 2017 in Montgomery, Alabama to Emily Beth Clemens and Thomas Lewis Pouncey.
A hearing has been set in the Probate Court, Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, AL 36801.
Should you intend to contest this adoption you must file a written response with the attorney for the petitioner, Hon. Saylee McDonald, I 00 South Bolton Avenue, Sylacauga, AL 35150 and with the Clerk of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, as soon as possible but no later than thirty (30} days from the last day this notice is published. Dated on this the 25th day of June, 2024.
HON. BILL ENGLISH
JUDGE OF PROBATE
LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA
Legal run 07/18/24, 07/25/24, 08/01/24 & 08/08/24
STORAGE TREASURES AUCTION
Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1242 N Dean Rd, Auburn, AL 36830 Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 10:00AM Unit 503 The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.
Legal Run 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 ROBERT LEE MOORE, deceased Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office by BARBARA S. MOORE on June 12th, 2024, pursuant to Section 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 07/18/2024
IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF:
CATHERINE VIRGINIA CLARK, An Adult in need of a Temporary Guardian. Case No.: 2022- 615 NOTICE OF HEARING Notice is hereby given that William Owen Clark and Leslie Clark have filed a petition for final settlement of the Conservatorship of Catherine Virginia Clark, an incapacitated adult, now deceased, and a hearing has been set on said petition for September 4, 2024 at I 0:00 a.m. electronically via “ZOOM” virtual meeting website. Please dress appropriately for this hearing, just as if you were appearing in person before the Court. Participants will need access to a telephone, webcam, laptop or cellular telephone to access this hearing. Please contact the Lee County Probate Court at 334-737-3670 for access to said hearing. Done this the I 01h day of July 2024.
BILL ENGLISH Judge of Probate Lee County, Alabama Legal Run 07/18/24, 07/25/24 & 08/01/24
IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary Distribution In the Estate of DELILLA R. NORMAN, Deceased Case No. 2024-438 Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the Lee County Probate Office by William Earl Richard on July 16, 2024 pursuant to Section 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 07/18/2024
NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION OF ABANDONED VEHICLES In accordance with Alabama Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act, Alabama Code Sections 32-13-1 through 32-13-8 notice is hereby given to the owners, lienholders, and other interested parties. The following motor vehicles will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder at 9:00 am , August 23, 2024 at Opelika Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram , 801 Columbus Highway, Opelika, Alabama. Seller reserves the right to reject any bid and the right to bid.
2008 Chrysler Town & Country VIN# 2A8HR54P98R783214
BY DAVID BELL FOR THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — Just outside the front entrance of the T. K. Davis Justice Center in Opelika stands a war memorial that many people may not know exists. It contains the names of every Lee County resident who lost their life while serving in the armed forces during World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Known as “The Lee County Four War Memorial,” it serves as a lasting tribute to 154 brave service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of American freedom.
The memorial also contains a four-tiered granite edifice with inscriptions on each tier honoring those who fought and died in the four wars represented. Flags from each branch of the U.S. military round out the memorial’s display.
The Lee County Four War Memorial came to fruition through the efforts of a local committee comprised of private citizens and government officials. They included Kit Conner of Auburn, who designed the memorial, former county official Robert Dupriest, who facilitated the construction, former U.S. Congressman Glen Browder, former State Senator Ted Little, former County Commission Chairman and Probate Judge Hal Smith, Floyd Likins, Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Hunter, and Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas Harlan Baker. But it was the committee’s chairman, Auburn resident and Vietnam War veteran Ron Rainer, who almost single-handedly raised nearly $16,000 to help cover the cost of construction.
Partnering sponsorships were also provided by the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 95 of Auburn/Opelika and the Lee County Sunrise Rotary Club.
On Feb. 12, 1990, Rainer appeared before the Lee County Board of Commissioners to ask for their approval and support of the memorial, stating that the Lee County Justice Center had been suggested as a possible site. Commissioners unanimously approved the project.
Seven months later, on a sunny Saturday morning, Sept. 22, 1990, the official dedication ceremony was attended by an estimated 500 people, who witnessed a parachute jump by members of the 101st Airborne and a flyover of five F-16s from Moody Air Force Base.
Special guest for the event was Tommy Clack, the “National Disabled Veteran of the Year.” Clack lost both his legs and a right arm while serving in Vietnam.
Another highlight of the ceremony was a presentation of the Purple Heart by U.S. Congressman Glen Browder to local resident O. A. Hunter, a 96-year-old World War I veteran who was gassed while serving in France.
Among the attendees was Opelika resident Steve Penland, who was only nine months old when his father, Army Sergeant First Class Raymond Dempsey Penland, was killed in action while fighting in Korea on Dec. 16, 1950.
“I remember the day of the ceremony very well,” said Penland. “I had an old camcorder with me and I filmed the entire event. It was a
very emotional day for everyone.”
Penland’s father is buried in Korea, along with other United Nations service members who fought and died together. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his leadership and valor.
“I don’t have the luxury of going to my dad’s grave site any time I want,” said Penland. “But I can come to this memorial, see his name, and know that he will never be forgotten.”
“This September will mark 34 years since the memorial was dedicated,” Penland added. “It would be nice, maybe next year for the 35th anniversary, to have a joint Auburn-Opelika Memorial Day service on that site. I can’t think of any place more fitting.”
Earlier this summer, Deputy Cameron Hunt along with Opelika Police Department’s Sgt. Dan Metivier placed third at Sniper Week 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida. In this competition hosted by Snipercraft, sniper/observer teams compete in a series of challenges designed to test the teams’ judgment, teamwork, tactics and shooting skills under induced stress to evaluate their overall sniping skills. This is the only event of its kind in the nation, and there is a limit of 60 teams allowed to enter.
AUBURN — Today, most of us could navigate practically anywhere by entering an address into our phone.
But what if you don’t have an address? And what if you’re looking for someone who isn’t quite sure where they are? And what if they’re in danger?
In fall 2022, the city of Auburn’s Emergency Communications team — tasked with getting police, fire and ambulance services to Auburn residents in an emergency — had to answer these questions in real time.
All 696 acres of Chewacla State Park has one address: 124 Shell Toomer Parkway in Auburn. When Communications Supervisor Trent Mitchell received a medical rescue call from someone hiking the park’s nearly 30 miles of trails, he had to be creative to get emergency responders more information than the location of the park entrance.
The caller reported they were “at the waterfall,” and the park rangers station said the caller was at the overlook.
The 911 caller plotting system showed the caller on a trail in a different area of the park.
While the plotting system
will sometimes show a large area in which the caller might be, this time, Trent said they got lucky — a tight circle pinpointed the caller’s location. Instead of using traditional coordinates to let the Auburn Fire Department know where the caller was, Trent used what3words, a system designed to identify any location within about 10 feet by putting a grid over the world and attaching three unique words to each box on the grid. Users can easily identify any location using the words in place of traditional latitude/ longitude coordinates.
It took 17 minutes for emergency personnel to get to the caller, who was found near the overflow pipe that runs from the quarry into the state park (not at either of the park’s two waterfalls). They then began the challenging task of getting the caller out of the park, and the caller was life-flighted to a nearby hospital to receive treatment.
Auburn Fire and Emergency Communications met after the incident to review what went well and what could be improved. While communications received high praise for their work during the call, Trent saw gaps in the process. He regularly worked with the
city’s GIS team to get new homes and other missing locations plotted on the city’s mapping system, and he wondered if they could do the same at Chewacla.
GIS had discussed a project to add sub addresses to golf courses throughout Auburn to provide more specific location points within the courses, but the project had been just an idea for some time. When Trent approached with a need at the state park, Deputy Chief Information Officer Christopher Graff saw “an opportunity to dig into the project.”
Christopher brought key stakeholders together, including representatives from Auburn Public Safety, Chewacla State Park and Central Alabama Mountain Pedalers (CAMP), a volunteer group that helped construct and frequently uses the trails at the park.
“This was an opportunity to work together so we didn’t end up with something that left out pieces of the puzzle,” Christopher said.
The group started by gathering around an aerial image of the park and identifying key points. They talked through cabin and campground numbers along with street and loop names to ensure they had consistent, agreed upon identifiers for each one. They took note of the locations from which most people call park rangers either for help or with an injury, such as jumps for mountain biking along the trails.
After the meeting, GIS Technician Jennifer McKibben walked many of the trails to get a better understanding of the topography and to scope out potential map point placements. GIS then got to work adding those points to the City’s existing mapping system and updating an old CAMP trail map to account for additions, trail name changes and trails that are no longer maintained.
Along with the mapping piece of the project, local Eagle Scout Nathan King from Troup 12 in Auburn was already working with the park and CAMP to update trail signage. Communications Administrator Charlsie Little
collaborated with Nathan and the park to determine what should go on the signs and where they should be placed. They decided to include multiple identifiers on each sign, including its what3words designation and a three-character combination they developed to identify where the sign was located within a grid map of the park. Twenty-two new signs were placed along the trails.
Another critical component of the project was determining the quickest route to reach someone within the park. While the main park entrance may be the fastest way to reach someone at the lake, it may be better to use an emergency access entrance in adjacent neighborhoods to reach someone on an isolated trail.
In the end, the team’s efforts resulted in more than 120 new sub-address points within Chewacla State Park. Now, rather than communications spending time trying to figure out the best way to describe a caller’s location, there are over 120 points to which they can quickly direct emergency responders. Auburn Fire has also incorporated the new map points and the updated trail map into its pre fire planning.
“During that training, they’re learning those points of interest, those addresses, those trails and how to access all of them,” Christopher said.
“All of this data allows them to stay ahead of the curve.”
The project is already paying off. This April, a caller reporting a medical emergency used one of the new signs to convey their location. Auburn Fire was able to reach the caller in 10 minutes — seven minutes faster than a 2021 medical call in the same area. The team has plans to help improve response times by expanding the project to other areas of town, including City parks, golf courses, the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center and Jordan-Hare Stadium. By doing so, first responders will not only be able to locate 911 callers faster, but Public Safety will also be able to use call data to identify problem areas within a park or facility that could be mitigated. Explore the newly added points at Chewacla State Park by viewing the COA Map at auburnalabama.org/maps. Find a location’s what3words designation via the what3words app or by visiting what3words.com.
BY BRUCE GREEN
OPINION —
The psalmist supplies us with several reasons for praising God in Psalm
BY WALTER ALBRITTON
OPINION —
I have an idea that one day God grew weary of the scornful attitude some of his sophisticated children had toward his children who were trapped in the evil web of alcoholism.
So He decided to use one of his alcoholics to reveal the gospel that his sober children were too busy to share with others. The one God chose was
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. — Jeremiah 7:3
Thursday, July 18, 2024
103. At the start of his list is “forget not all of His benefits” (v. 2). In v. 3-8 he enumerates some of those. Applicationally speaking, this is a part of the psalm where there is plenty of room for us to personalize the psalm by thinking about the “benefits” we’ve experienced from our Father’s hand.
But the psalmist doesn’t stop here, and neither should we. He goes deeper by answering the question, “Why do we have all of these blessings?”
We don’t have them because of who we are, we have them because of Who God is. Beginning in v. 9 we are told He
is “compassionate, and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” This is the psalmist in church, singing his song! This is our song too. It is not a song about how great we are, it is a song about how great God is! That’s the only one worth singing.
This description of God occurs half a dozen times in the Old Testament. It is used by Moses (Exodus 34:6), Nehemiah (9:17), Joel (2:13), Jonah (4:2), and the psalmist (86:15, 103:8), to make sure that God’s people never forget who their God is. Remembering this about our Father will help us to integrate Him into every part of our lives.
There were some photos that came out about a decade ago that showed a crow riding on the back of an eagle! Initially, it was quite a sensation, but then other pictures surfaced showing other crows and even blackbirds riding on the backs of eagles. Biologists explained that since eagles are predatory, when they come near the nest of smaller birds like crows and blackbirds, those birds respond like a dog protecting his territory. And sometimes they even landed on top of the eagle. There was another curiosity. In all these pictures, the eagles never seemed to be bothered by
the passengers they had acquired. The biologist offered the explanation that all the eagles had to do was start soaring upward and their passengers would drop off and leave them alone. The smaller birds would do this because they knew eagle was leaving their territory and was no longer a threat. We can learn from the eagles that soaring upward in praise is a good way to rid ourselves of the problems that have hopped on us and we are carrying around.
We can do this because, “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all” (v. 19). I know it doesn’t
only 29 when he died, his heart weakened by alcohol and prescription drug abuse. He died in the back seat of a car near Oak Hill, West Virginia, on his way to a concert in Canton, Ohio. God, however, had shown his love for addicts by inspiring this country music legend to compose one the popular song, “I Saw the Light.”
Read again the lyrics and notice how Hank Williams weaved the good news of Jesus into this country gospel song: I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin I wouldn’t let my dear Savior in Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
Praise the Lord, I saw the light I saw the light, I saw
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
the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m do happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
Just like a blind man, I wandered along Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
I was a fool to wander and stray
For straight is the gate and narrow the way
Now I have traded the wrong for the right
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
Those final seven words have been uttered by many whose sight was restored by Jesus.
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
The Pharisee Saul was one of the first. Blind and helpless, his sight was restored when Ananias said to him, “My brother, Jesus sent me to pray for you so that you may see again.”
When Saul, who became the Apostle Paul, described that moment later, I imagine he said, “Praise the Lord, I saw the light!”
Centuries later that slave ship captain, John Newton, would say pretty much the same thing when he wrote in his song, “Amazing Grace,” “I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.”
Cured of his blindness, Newton exchanged the slave trade business for Kingdom business. Once he “saw the light,” he
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
became a hymnwriter and a beloved pastor. His congregation at Olney, England, added a gallery to the church to seat the people who flocked to hear Newton preach.
A hundred years ago Helen Lemmel wrote a touching song reminding “weary, troubled souls in darkness” to “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” E. Stanley Jones offered a delightful suggestion, that we change “strangely dim” into “strangely new.”
Good idea/ All things do become new when Jesus takes over.
A modern songwriter, Bob Cull, composed a stirring chorus that
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.
always look that way, but it’s the truth. It didn’t look like God was ruling when Pharaoh and his army were about to catch up to the Israelites at the Red Sea, but He was. It didn’t look like God was ruling when Daniel and his three friends marched into captivity, but He was. And it didn’t look like God was ruling when Joseph and Nicodemus placed the body of Jesus in the tomb, but He was. We can praise God because no matter what it looks like, He is ruling over all! Find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: a-taste-of-grace-with-brucegreen.com.
expresses the desire for the Lord to heal our blindness so that we may see Jesus: Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus To reach out and touch him, and say that we love him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen. Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.
Whether Jesus comes like “a stranger in the night” or like the Savior in whose wonderful face we see the glory of God, we shall always be blind until He opens our eyes! When He does,we shall feel compelled to “go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell.”
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
LINDA GREGORY SANDERS
Services Friday, July 19, 10:30 a.m.
Ephesus Baptist Church, Villa Rica, Georgia
GERALD (JERRY) COUGHLIN
Friday, July 19, Visitation 10 a.m., Funeral 11 a.m.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home, Opelika
MALCOLM FREDERICK MCGINNESS
Saturday, July 20, Memorial Service 3 p.m.
Sweet Home Methodist Church
CESAR BARRIOS GABRIEL
Saturday, July 20, Viewing, 4 to 8 p.m.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home
MALCOLM FREDERICK MCGINNESS
Malcolm Frederick McGinness was born on April 7, 1942, in Skidmore, Missouri, to Lane and Wilma McGinness. He passed away on July 13, 2024, at the age of 82.
Malcolm was a veteran of the United States Army having served during the Berlin Crisis in Germany. He also played in the Army marching band. He then attended Berklee College of Music and later earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri.
Malcolm was a licensed professional engineer and served as a member of the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration and Refrigeration Engineers Technicians Association.
Malcolm was a member of the design and installation team that installed the first spiral freezer used in freezing McDonald’s sausage patties.
Malcolm had a passion for education and lectured Thermodynamics at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
He was an active Dream Team member at Church of the Highlands and enjoyed sharing his faith with his family and friends.
Malcolm was a musician who studied the trumpet
and the trombone. He had a love for jazz and played in local jazz bands for many decades. Malcolm enjoyed attending sporting events and spending time with family. He celebrated life daily adding joy and laughter to any occasion.
Malcolm is preceded in death by his parents, brother Logan, and daughter Lisa Marie.
Malcolm is survived by his beloved wife Janet McGinness; brother Francis McGinness; son Kelly West; daughter Lisa West; son Matthew (Brittney) McGinness; and daughter Holly (Adam) Pailet; grandchildren Ashley, Racheal, Rebecca, Joshua, Jacob, Jadon, Benjamin, Ezra, Asher and Mollie; and great-grandchildren Zachary, Evan, Alijah, Fynn, Penelope and Theodore.
A memorial service to be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 3 p.m. CST at Sweet Home Methodist Church located at 1175 County Road 105 in LaFayette, Alabama. Flowers or donations may be sent to 2410 Furlong Trail, Auburn, AL 36830.
CESAR BARRIOS GABRIEL Cesar was born in Guatemala and he died at Piedmont Regional Hospital of Columbus. He is survived
by his sister Veatriz and other family members. He will be missed by many friends and family, especially his best friend Gustavo Ramos Ramirez of Opelika. Cesar was a hard worker and loved to listen to music and hang with his friends.
A viewing will be held for Cesar in the Chapel at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home on Saturday, July 20 from at 4 to 8 p.m.
LINDA GREGORY SANDERS
Linda Gregory Sanders, affectionately known as “May May,” passed away on July 9, 2024, in Auburn at the age of 77 after a valiant 5-month battle with glioblastoma. Born on July 8, 1947, in Havana, Florida, she was a devoted wife, mother, sister and grandmother who cherished her family deeply.
Linda graduated from Havana High School in 1965 and continued her education at Emory at Oxford. She dedicated many years as a teacher’s aide and loving homemaker, nurturing not only her own children but also the many students she encountered.
She was a devoted member of Ephesus Baptist Church in Villa Rica, Georgia. She cherished the many friendships she made as a member of the Heaven Bound Life Group. Linda found great joy in reading, walking, planting flowers and spending time outdoors. Her back porch was her happy place, where she spent many hours bird watching and reading books.
Linda is survived by her loving children, Joe Sanders (Kristi), Amy Odom (Cary), Julie White (John); grandchildren, Shelby (Scotty) Easter, Marlee Odom (fiancé Ethan Fisher), Laney and Aubrey Odom, Tyler, Jake, Luke and Megan White, and Madelyn and Cooper Taylor; greatgranddaughter, Corinne
“Coco” Easter; and sisters, Jane Worley and Martha O’Brien. Linda was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Tom Sanders, and her parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth Gregory.
Services will be held at Ephesus Baptist Church (8445 Ephesus Church Road, Villa Rica, GA 30180) on Friday, July 19, with friends and family gathering at 10:30 a.m. followed by the service at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ephesus Baptist Church College & Youth ministries.
Frederick Dean Funeral home of Opelika assisted the family with arrangements.
GERALD (JERRY) COUGHLIN
Gerald Joseph (Jerry) Coughlin, 91 of Opelika, passed away July 6, 2024, at his home following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born Nov. 14, 1932, in Montgomery, Minnesota.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Michael Coughlin and Agnes Catherine Weiers; his son, Gregory Alan Coughlin; and brother Donnie Coughlin. He is survived by his loving wife, Jane Federer Coughlin; children, Dan (Wendi) Coughlin of Santa Cruz, California, Jeanie Coughlin of Minneapolis, Kari (Larry) Heber of Canton, Georgia, and Tracie (Brian) Elrod of Auburn; brothers, Robert, Jim and Roger; and six grandchildren whom he adored, Madison Elrod (Jake) Sandlin, Savannah Elrod, Lawrence Heber, Elizabeth Heber, Antonia Coughlin and Robert Coughlin.
Jerry was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Korea from 1953-54 in the 3rd Infantry Division, Scout Dog Platoon, patrolling the DMZ with his scout dog “Big King.” He then served in Japan from 1954-55 in the 519th Military Police
Accident Investigations in Tokyo. After the military, he attended the University of Minnesota, then enjoyed a career in the manufacturing industry, beginning as an accountant and successfully retiring as president and CEO of a group of manufacturing companies.
Jerry was a gentleman with an even gentler spirit, a pondering and thoughtful mind and an unwavering faith in Our Lord and Savior. As an Irishman, he was quick to listen and slow to speak but a storyteller at heart with a dry sense of humor. He would share many fond and witty memories of life with children, grandchildren and the 40 years he and Jane shared together. Along with being a loving husband, son, brother, father and “Pops,” he was a man with many passions. Throughout his life and particularly in retirement, he and Jane shared hobbies of golf, exploring new places through travel, and photography. His love of golf was rewarded with two holein-ones, which were often reminisced. He had a curious mind and was an avid reader of historical nonfiction and poetry. He enjoyed creating poems inspired by his own experiences and the people he loved.
Visitation will be held Saturday, Aug. 3, at 10 a.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home, with a funeral service following at 11 a.m., Father Micheal Farmer officiating.
BARBARA LEE KRIEL
Barbara was born in Joliet, Illinois, and raised in Wilmington. She was a well-loved and adventurous young woman, being voted high school homecoming queen and earning the title as the youngest female licensed pilot in the state of Illinois. She settled in Opelika in 1984 with her two children and lived and served in that community. There she
established a legacy of love, support, caring that will be remembered for generations. She extended her love to animals in need, adopting countless dogs and cats over the years. She was sharpminded and opinionated and was not afraid to share her beliefs. Yet she was kind and loving at the same time. She was a registered nurse for 40-plus years. She said her favorite unit was obstetrics because it was so full of joy. She also was a kind and caring special education teacher who gave a silver dollar to every one of her students at their high school graduation. After retirement, she continued to contribute to our community. She volunteered her time to the Lee County Adult Literacy Coalition and ran into her students when she was out and about. She was a driver for the elderly, taking folks to their hair appointments and shopping. She joked that she was the old-people Uber driver. For as long as we can remember she packed shoe boxes at Christmastime for Lee County inmates. Her life was full of love and giving to others.
Barbara leaves behind two children, Shelaine (Mac) and Brian (Amanda); eight grandchildren, Christopher, Alexanndria, Victoria, Brandon, Grace, Harrison, Andrew and Virginia; three great grandchildren, Jeremiah, Drue and Erin; her brother Mike; nephews Mikey and Jon and niece Michelle. She was preceded in death by father and mother, John and Miriam Gall and brother, John. A memorial service was held July 13 at Foundry Opelika church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Foundry Opelika church or Woof Avenue Rescue,1027 Opelika Road, Auburn, AL 36830.
BENJAMIN DAVID SWINEY
Benjamin David Swiney was born Aug. 12, 1942, and passed away July 8, 2024.
A visitation was held on July 11 at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home.
BARBARA D. WILSON
Barbara D. Wilson passed away at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika on July 13, 2024, after a long illness.
She was a wife and mother, and she loved her family and adored all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Barbara was born in Andalusia and graduated from Andalusia High School. She lived all over the country to include Kentucky, Georgia, Oklahoma, Indiana and Maryland.
She was a beloved elementary school teacher and taught for many years in the Auburn public school system. Barbara was also involved in numerous volunteer activities and was an active member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization and loved her PEO sisters.
Her husband, Stanley Wilson, and parents, Dee Sapp and Robert Duggan, preceded her in death. She is survived by her sons, Mike Wilson (Robbi Watnik) and Dan Wilson (Lisa); grandchildren Blake Wilson (Samantha), Sofia Watnik, Allison Wilson and Ian Wilson; and greatgrandchildren Nora Stolte, Ian Stolte and Tristan Wilson.
The family thanks her many caregivers and friends who made her life more comfortable in her last years.
A funeral was held at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika at July 17.
MARGARET WYLENE FREEMAN
Margaret Wylene Hamilton Freeman, 92, passed peacefully from this life on July 8, 2024. She was born Jan. 25, 1932, attended Opelika High School and graduated from Louisiana State University at Alexandria School of Nursing in 1979 as a registered nurse. She worked many years at Pinecrest Development School until her retirement in 1995.
She was a member of Hopewell United Methodist Church of Opelika and an associate member of Good News United Methodist of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
Margaret married Kelly Freeman on July 23, 1949, and together they raised three children. During their marriage, they lived in Opelika, Columbus,
Birmingham, Sterling, Virginia, and Pineville, Louisiana, before retiring in Destin, where they resided happily for 26 years.
Margaret and Kelly were lifelong Auburn Tigers fans and enjoyed many years of tailgating during home football games and attending bowl games. They loved traveling and took many trips both domestic and abroad. They particularly loved exploring the country in their motor home, trips which they frequently shared with friends and family, especially their grandchildren. Margaret also enjoyed reading, good movies, mission trips and family gatherings.
Margaret was a wonderful wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and beloved friend who loved unconditionally. She enjoyed spending time with her family, entertaining friends, serving God and others.
In addition to her husband of 72 years, Margaret was preceded in death by her father, L.B. Hamilton; grandmother, Frances Hamilton; father- and mother-in law, Lonnie and Bernice Freeman; sister, Geraldine Edmundson; brothers-in-law Wayne Freeman, Dennis Freeman and Earnest Paschal; sistersin-law, Lillian Paschal and Shirley Downs; daughterin-law, Beverly Freeman; and grandson, William Eric Freeman.
Those left to cherish her memory include sons, Kelly Keith Freeman Jr. of Toney and Richard Freeman (Sherry) of Pineville, Louisiana; daughter, Vicki Allen (Kent) of Pineville; grandchildren, Kelly Keith Freeman III (Pam), Pamela O’Keefe (Brian), Jay Freeman (Margarita), Tracey DuBois (Doug), Kerriann Goucher, Jeremy Freeman, Ross Freeman (Katie), Kelli Haase, Christopher Allen and Sean Allen; 19 greatgrandchildren and numerous great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brother-in-law, William Freeman, and sisters-inlaw ,Sharon Freeman and Carolyn Howard. Funeral services were held on July 13 at Hopewell United Methodist Church. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
The family would like to extend special thanks to all the dedicated nurses, aides and staff members at Brookdale, Alexandria Memory Care and Compassionate Care Hospice, especially to Allison, her hospice nurse for two and a half years, for the love and care Margaret received during her residency.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial
donations to Hopewell United Methodist Church of Opelika; Red Bird Mission, Alzheimer’s Association or the organization or charity of your choice.
PHILLIP EUGENE TRAYLOR
Phillip Eugene Traylor passed away July 11 following a courageous sixmonth battle with pancreatic cancer.
Just nine months ago he lost his father, Gene Traylor, who had always been a guiding presence in his life. In 2014 he lost his precious mother-inlaw, Helen Pattillo. Phillip is survived by Maria, his wife of 32 years, and their three sons, Brent (Kaitlyn), Justin (Michaela) and Noah; three adored grandchildren, Scarlett, Colton and Eilah Traylor mother, Betty Traylor; sister, Tommie Jo (Tim) Griswold; father-inlaw, Al Pattillo (Sue); and brother-in-law, Rusty Pattillo (Pam). In addition, Phillip leaves behind much-loved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Others who were very important to him include life-long friends, church friends from Opelika First Baptist, current and former coworkers and special friends who shared his passion for pickleball. Phillip was a talented athlete who loved watching and playing sports. He lettered in basketball and baseball at Opelika High School, where he graduated in 1979. He attended Chattahooche Valley Community College on a baseball scholarship. He was also an avid hunter. Last October he brought down a 10-point deer with a bow and arrow which was included in the Pope and Young State and National Record Book. Phillip worked for 23 years at Uniroyal. When the plant closed, he attended Southern Union State Community College and earned an associate degree in heating and air conditioning, which eventually led to his job at Woodruff Property Management. He enjoyed his work the camaraderie of his coworkers there.
Ever the workaholic, Phillip stayed busy even in his spare time. He worked diligently to maintain hunting land. He turned downed hardwood into firewood. He designed and constructed, with his sons’ help, a covered deck in his backyard, complete with a stone fireplace he built himself. Near the deck is a large flower bed Phillip planted in an old fishing boat as an Easter surprise for Maria. Despite undergoing chemo and managing his illness, Phillp planted a vegetable garden. When he was no longer able to work in the garden, he helped
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. Dunstan’s 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.
string the green beans he had planted and watched grow.
As Phillip’s life was coming to a close, a veritable parade of friends and relatives came to visit. He took great comfort from their prayers, love and affection. The family is extremely grateful for the many acts
of kindness they have been shown. Phillip’s life was cut short, but his was a life welllived. The world is a better place because he was in it.
A memorial service for Mr. Traylor was held July 16 at First Baptist Church of Opelika, followed by a graveside service at Garden Hill Cemetery, led by Rev. Cade Farris. Pall Bearers included Kenny Harbison, Kerry Harbison, Kelvin Harbison, Casey Slaton, Keith Mitchell, Stewart Mullins, Don Pritchett and Eddie Walker. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
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.
Thursday, July 18, 2024
BY D. MARK MITCHELL
OPINION —
Most schools in Alabama start within the first two weeks of August. Lee County Schools’ first day for students is Aug. 6, Lee-Scott Academy’s first day is Aug. 7 and Opelika and Auburn City Schools’ first day for students will be Aug. 8.
Students participating in fall sports, band, cheer and other activities will begin preparing on a regular basis by Aug. 1, some next week. Temperatures are in the 90s and possibly near 100 heat index next week, making it very important for all to hydrate everyday, all day, instead of just the day of the activities. The following is listed in the AHSAA website under “Sports Medicine and Safety”:
“How do I know how much fluid to drink during exercise?”
Fluid needs for athletes are specific to the athletes themselves due to the variability in sweat rates among people. The best way to know how much fluid to drink during exercise is to calculate your sweat rate to know how much fluid you are losing during activity. After sweat rate is calculated you can calculate how much you need to drink.
To get the most accurate
sweat rate, the following steps should be followed:
Before the workout, ensure the athlete is hydrated (light colored urine). Being dehydrated will affect normal sweat rate.
Take a nude body weight before the workout.
Exercise for one hour (type and intensity of exercise should be similar to the conditions in which knowledge of sweat rate is needed).
During the one hour workout refrain from drinking fluids as this will affect sweat rate. If water is consumed, weigh the water before and after the workout to determine the difference.
After the workout take another nude body weight and calculate the difference between pre and post exercise. If water is consumed during exercise subtract the water weight from the post exercise weight.
Every 2.2 pounds a person loses equates to 1 liter of fluid loss (sweat loss). For example, if someone loses 5 pounds in 1 hour their sweat rate is 5/2.2 = 2.27 liters/hour.
A person’s sweat rate is the amount of fluid they should aim to replace during exercise. For heavy sweaters it is not uncommon to be unable to drink everything they lose during the workout. Full
See ON THE MARK, page B3
CONTRIBUTED BY OPELIKA CITY SCHOOLS
OPELIKA — Randy Gillon has been named the new head boys track coach at Opelika High School.
“We are incredibly excited about hiring Coach Gillon to lead our boys track team,” said OHS Principal Kelli Fischer. “His immense knowledge of the sport and experience in college athletics will allow him to build upon the strong foundation of Opelika track & field. We look forward to watching this team thrive under his leadership.”
During his career, Gillon coached a pair of Olympians, 12 All-Americans, 15 NCAA championship qualifiers, 50 NCAA first round qualifiers and 20 school record holders.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the Opelika community, the students and student-athletes of Opelika High School,” said Gillon. “God is truly amazing as this wasn’t something I was looking for. However, after much prayer, consulting my wife and trusted friends, I knew this was a step I was to take. I’m grateful to Superintendent Dr. Farrell Seymore, Principal Kelli Fischer and Athletic Director Jamie Williams for this opportunity and for finding me suitable to lead this next era of the Opelika Bulldog boys track & field program.”
Gillon served as the assistant track and field coach for Auburn University 2019-2022. Prior to that he was assistant head track and field coach at University of Illinois 2014-2018 and assistant track and field coach at Michigan State University 2006-2014. He received a
CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURN CITY SCHOOLS
AUBURN — Auburn Network has announced that Jacob Goins will take over the play-by-play broadcasting duties for Auburn High School football, boys & girls basketball and baseball game broadcasts beginning this Fall!
Goins, host of ESPN 106.7’s On the Line show, served as the Voice of the Lee-Scott Academy Warriors the past two years and was named Best Sportscaster in the state for his play-by-play efforts as Voice of the Warriors last year. Goins takes over for Scott Bagwell, who had served as Auburn High’s
play-by-play Voice of the Tigers for all sports since 2017 before retiring from the role.
Returning to the booth for the 2024 Auburn High football season from last year’s broadcast team are color announcer and former All-SEC Safety Rob Pate and Jack Hudon, who will once again handle a myriad of responsibilities, including producer, halftime host, and on-field interviews. Hudon will also continue to serve as the play-by-play voice for Auburn High Softball.
Auburn High School football game broadcasts air on Classic Hits Wings 94.3. The 2024 season will kick off on Thursday, Aug. 22, when the Tigers
CONTRIBUTED BY AU ATHLETICS
AUBURN — In the last few weeks, three former Auburn University baseball players have been called up to “the show.”
The trio of Ryan Bliss, Bailey Horn and Daniel Robert will play Major League Baseball. Bliss was called up to the Seattle Mariners on May 27, Horn was called up to the Boston Red Sox on June 28 and Robert was called up to the Texas Rangers last week.
Bliss, Horn and Robert are the 59th, 60th and 61st players in Auburn program history to make it to the MLB.
Bliss, originally from LaGrange, played at Auburn 2019-2021. He was the 42nd overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft, selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He
spent four years in the minor leagues for the Diamondbacks and Mariners organizations before being called up. Horn, originally from Texas, pitched at AU in 2019 and 2020 and was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB draft. He also played with the Chicago Cubs before being traded to the Red Sox organization, where he was pitching for its Triple-A Worcester team when called up.
Robert played at Auburn 2014-17. The Birmingham native was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 21st round of the 2017 draft and has spent the entirety of his five minor league seasons with the organization, pitching for the Triple-A Round Rock Express for parts of the last three seasons.
BY ANITA STIEFEL EDITOR@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
WORLDWIDE — The Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics
(officially, the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad) is set for Friday, July 26, in Paris, France. In Alabama, the Opening Ceremony will be aired on live television on NBC and its streaming channel Peacock starting at 11 a.m. NBC, its cable networks and Peacock will provide coverage of the Games each day through the Closing Ceremony, which will air at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11. At least nine hours of programming is expected to be aired daily, and the best time to watch live competitions will be in the mornings and afternoons, as Paris is seven hours ahead of U.S. Central Standard Time. Each evening, NBC will air a three-hour recap of the day’s highlights.
Athletes from more than 200 countries around the world will compete in 34 Olympic sports, including a new competition that will debut in Paris — breaking. Popular with youth all over the world, this new urban sport combines art, dance and music as well as strength and athleticism.
Paris will also see an expansion in sport climbing. At the Tokyo Games, a single climbing event was added, combining
three disciplines: speed climbing, bouldering and lead climbing. At Paris 2024, the program will be expanded to include two separate events — speed climbing and a separate lead and boulder event.
In creating new sports programming, the aim of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was to select sports which 1) Reflect the modern world, 2) are dynamic with the promise of exceptional performances to excite spectators and 3) bring something different to the program. New sports, such as skateboarding and short board surfing, which debuted at the 2020 Tokyo Games, are fully gender-balanced and aimed at inspiring creativity and participation of new audiences, especially among young people, according to a press packet from Paris 2024.
Two athletes with local ties will be competing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Auburn University’s Makanakishe Charamba, a junior majoring in accounting who helped AU’s track team to an NCAA national relay championship in May, will compete in the men’s 200-meter sprint on the Olympic team from Zimbabwe, his home country. Also, Sunisa Lee, who competed with the AU gymnastics team for two seasons, will defend her 2020 Olympic gold medal.
replacement of fluid losses may not be able to occur until after exercise.
If it is not possible to exercise for a full hour, the following equation can be used to calculate sweat rate: [(pre exercise bodyweight – post exercise bodyweight) + fluid intake – urine volume]/exercise time in hours
The Alabama High School Athletic Association Medical Advisory Committee has put together a guide called “Sports Medicine and Safety.” You can find this and many more medical advisories at www.ahsaa.com/Schools/ Sports-Medicine-Safety.
After your sweat rate is calculated you will know your fluid needs during exercise. The goal is to minimize fluid losses (try to keep body mass losses <2%). For people with high sweat rates (> 2 Liters per hour) it will be difficult to replace all fluids during exercise because the stomach only absorbs ~1.2 Liters per hour. By minimizing fluid losses during exercise you will end exercise more hydrated, thus helping to maximize performance.
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. ON THE MARK >> from B1
LOCHACHAPOKA ALBERT WEEDEN AHSAA ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF YEAR Loachapoka High School Principal and Athletic Director Albert Weeden won Alabama High School High Athletic Association Athletic Director of the Year for the 2023-24 school year. Weeden lettered in basketball at Troy Univerisity, went into education and coaching after earning his degree. Over time, he moved into administration, becoming Athletic Director and Principal at Loachapoka High School where made students excel in academics, arts and
athletics. Athletic facilities have improved since Weeden arrived, including a new gym, baseball field, football and track along with improvements to the school.
Albert Weeden goes out of his way to promote student athletics and Loachapoka, airing all events online on the NFHS Network.
Loachapoka plans to open the new stadium in the season opener on Aug. 23 against rival Notasulga.
Former Hall of Fame head football coach/athletic director Jerome Tate and others will be honored prior to the game.
Congratulations Albert Weeden, well deserved!
FOX SPORTS the GAME HIGH
SCHOOL MEDIA DAYS JULY 2324, presented by ORTHOPAEDIC CLINIC
FOX Sports the Game High School Media Days presented by Orthopaedic Clinic will be July 23 and 24 at the Bottling Plant
Event Center. Twenty four high school football teams will be highlighted over the two days in front of media representing print, digital, radio and television from Montgomery, Birmingham, Auburn, Opelika, Columbus, Phenix City, Valley, Lanett and other areas in Alabama and West Georgia.
You can listen to High School Media Days on iheartradio’s FOX Sports the Game 910-1310, online at foxsportsthegame.
com, iheartradio app and WOTM-TV (channel 80 on Charter Spectrum) beginnig at 8 a.m. each day, you can listen to “On the Mark” each morning prior to Media Days at 6 a.m.
BY EMILY WRIGHT FOR THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — At its regularly scheduled meeting on July 9, the Lee County Schools Board of Education approved a new three-year contract of employment for superintendent Dr. MikeHoward, since he took on the position in December 2023, which was midway through the school year.
“I’m very grateful to each of the board members and their vote of confidence in me,” said Howard. “These past seven months have been incredible, and I’m looking forward to our continued successes as we continue to raise the bar in our Lee County Schools.”
The board approved a revision of the Lee County Special Education Plan for
Children with Disabilities.
The board accepted a low bid of $1,166,360 from Associated Mechanical Contractors Inc. for new gymnasium HVAC systems at Sanford Middle School, Wacoochee Elementary School, Smiths Station Junior High School and South Smiths Station Elementary School. It also awarded contracts for cafeteria equipment and supplies, including a low bid of $726,796 from Mobile Fixture for serving line improvements. It accepted the produce bid from Regional Produce for the amount of $246,615, and the bread bid from Flowers Bakery.
The board approved the Alabama Association of School Boards 2024-2025 annual membership dues of $16,000.
The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for Aug. 13 at 6 p.m.
BY ANITA STIEFEL EDITOR@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
AUBURN — The Board of Education for Auburn City Schools met in regular session on July 9, where members approved the final closeout of toilet renovations and miscellaneous new exterior canopies, sidewalks and drives at East Samford School.
The board approved minutes from a special session on May 24 and a regular session on June 11, heard a financial report and approved several personnel actions.
The board approved the 2024-2030 Strategic Plan and Board Policy, as well as discussed the naming of the baseball field at Auburn High School.
The board announced the 2024 New
BY EMILY WRIGHT FOR THE OBSERVER
CONTRIBUTED BY STATEPOINT
LEE COUNTY — A new school year brings with it fresh opportunity, excitement and, sometimes, anxiety for parents and students. Medical experts say that addressing health-related issues can help make for a stress-free back-to-school season.
“Opening the lines of communication with your child and their physician to talk about nutrition, physical activity, and the steps you can take together to have a healthy and rewarding school year can help ease some of those back-to-school jitters you may be feeling,” says Bruce A. Scott, MD, president of the American Medical Association (AMA).
For a healthy and successful school year, follow these doctor-approved tips from the AMA:
1) Annual physicals. Visit your child’s physician every year. Annual physicals are critical to ensuring children are growing and developing properly.
2) Talk to your child’s pediatrician about vaccines. For the U.S. population in 2019, childhood vaccines prevented more than 24 million illnesses. Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. Routine childhood immunization is highly effective at preventing disease over a lifetime, reducing the incidence of all targeted
diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, polio and varicella (chicken pox). And if your child turns 11 or 12 this year, it’s time to get the HPV vaccine, which protects against the HPV virus – a virus linked to six types of cancer.
3) Be conscientious about what your child eats at school. Healthy students are better learners. School meals should include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. If you pack your child’s lunch and snacks, try to pack at least two-thirds of their meal with plant-based foods. Strive to include lean protein, or plant-based protein, and avoid processed meats and sugary drinks like soda and juice.
4) Be smart about sunscreen. From gym class and school sports to recess and waiting for the school bus, kids of all ages spend a good portion of their day outside. It’s important to take steps to protect your child from damaging UV rays. Look for a broad spectrum sunscreen
of at least SPF 30 and apply it before sending your kids to school. And as you’re shopping for back-to-school apparel, look for UV protective clothes.
5) Exercise is key. Children need at least 60 minutes of exErcise daily, so check their schedule to make sure they’re getting enough physical activity. Strive to build time for bike riding or walking as a family into the end of each day.
6) Talk to your children about e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. Make your children aware of the dangers of tobacco products and talk to them about how to resist peer pressure. From 2022 to 2023, the number of middle schoolaged children using tobacco products overall increased by nearly 50%, with e-cigarettes being the most commonly used product.
With a focus on good health, wellness and nutrition, you can help prepare your child for a healthy and happy school year and a lifetime of good health.
OPELIKA —The Opelika City Schools Board of Education called a special meeting on July 9 in order to expedite construction of two projects: repairs to the men’s restroom at Bulldog Stadium and to the lighting control panel in the auditorium at Opelika Middle School.
Teachers Welcome Breakfast will be held Aug. 1, and Institute Day for faculty and staff will be held Aug. 7.
The board will hold a work session for the fiscal year 2025 budget on Aug. 27, followed by two public hearings set for Sept. 3 at 8:30 a.m. and at 5 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Education is set for Aug. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Auburn Junior High School multimedia room.
UPDATE: The ACS Board of Education met for a brief special session on July 10 to accept the resignation of a middle school music teacher. Per board policy, no further information regarding personnel matters is available.
Each of these projects was declared as an “emergency” so that construction could begin as soon as possible and hopefully be completed in time for the start of the 2024-2025 school year, according to Board Chairman Kevin Royal. The men’s restroom in OHS stadium was dam-
aged in an electrical
in January. The board accepted a low bid of $143,250 from Moore’s Construction LLC for repairs. The board also discussed a malfunction with the lighting control panel in the middle school’s auditorium and awarded a low bid of $249,950 to Electrical Technicians Inc. for repairs.
I
can remember my son cherished his days out of school for summer when he was young. Being the child of a teacher, sometimes our summer vacation was cut short as I prepared to go back to the classroom. He would gently remind me, “Mom, summer is not done yet!”
I was the child of a teacher, and I can remember my mom heading back into the classroom to prepare for the new school year. Our family usually went on our summer vacation after July 4th, and I can remember we kids would
beg our parents to stay an extra day at the beach so we could enjoy every moment of summer before going back to school. They always honored our summertime wishes.
James 1:17 — Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above.
The perfect gifts from God’s hand are summer rains, which we see, feel and smell, and rainbows afterward. Even though we are in the middle of July, summer is not done yet.
We can have many more trips to the park. We can enjoy the moon and stars and fireflies as we stay out after dark. We can enjoy
swimming, fishing, camping, biking, hiking, jumping in mud puddles after a afternoon rain, picnics, cooking out, baseball games, enjoying being outside with our neighbors, as well as sharing vegetables and fruits from our gardens, etc.
Summer is a time a parent can truly observe and get to know our children better. We are not on the treadmill of school and activity schedules. Summer provides a more laid-back time for our children.
As parents, you can begin to recognize your children’s natural talents and gifts at a young age. We never quit learning how to teach children how to learn. Over the many years I have taught, I deeply appreciate the mentoring I still receive from seasoned educators and child specialists who understand the importance of teaching the whole child. I would like to share ways to look at your child and encourage them in their growth and development.
1. Language. Children love to express themselves with words and storytelling, puppets and role playing. I encourage all my students to
express themselves through creative writing stories or poems with pictures. With younger students, don’t get hung up on the correct spelling or grammar. Correct spelling and grammar rules can be picked up later, but at an early age, the main focus is to encourage children to express themselves.
2. Some children have the natural inclination toward reasoning, counting, quick math computation and quick logical reasoning of problems and systems. Of course, a teacher realizes that “practice makes perfect,” but some children are more prone to analyze things.
3. Music. I love to hear my little students hum as they do their work. Children who are attracted to and fascinated by sounds and musical instruments usually have a natural tendency to perform music.
4. Physical activity. At recess, as a teacher, I love to see my students run and play freely. As I have said in previous columns, play is a child’s work. Some children seem to be prone to participate and truly enjoy organized sports.
5. Art. These are children
in my classroom that are attuned to visual detail in everything they see and are able to draw what they see on paper. Many times these little artists are very good at illustrating stories they read. These children are attracted to painting, drawing on paper or making Kleenex sculptures. Children light up when they are praised for their art.
Another way for your children to enjoy summer is to prepare healthy treats to snack on. Coming inside to grasp anything cold out of the refrigerator to cool the forehead and to quench the thirst is truly enjoyed more when your children help make and prepare it. Snack art is a favorite way for children to artistically express themselves and eat healthy nutritious foods. Start out by gathering fruits and vegetables. Cut them in a variety of shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, chunks and melon balls.
The cement to any food art project is peanut butter, cream cheese, cheese spread, yogurt, jam, pizza sauce, ranch dressing, etc., and seeds, nuts, grapes, raisins, olives and frozen peas or beans provide decorations for your projects. I love to make food people: Start with a pear half as the face, raisins as the eyes, nuts placed to make a mouth and a grape as the nose, then add a lettuce leaf for a dress for a girl or pants for a boy, melon triangle for a shirt, shredded cheese for the hair, cucumber ears and
celery or carrot arms and legs.
Another favorite is ants on a log, which is simply peanut butter spread on a banana and sprinkling raisins as the ants. This will entice your young children to eat healthy snacks.
For toddlers who are teething during this summer, providing cold treats help their hurting gums to feel better. Biting into a cold strawberry, orange slices, frozen juice drinks can be a pacifier as well as nutritious. Another way to get children to eat a nutritious lunch is to get creative with sandwich making. Cut a plate full of sandwiches into jig-saw puzzle shapes or cut them into circles, squares, triangles then use the foods mentioned earlier to decorate.
During the summer we all love ice cream sundaes. Start out with your children’s favorite ice creams, then let them choose their favorite toppings such as chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, nuts, cherries, sprinkles, whipped cream, fruits, etc. Allow your children to decorate their ice cream in creative ways.
I hope these few fun-filled ideas are useful to you as we continue to celebrate the season because… summer is not done yet!
Ecclesiates 3:11 — There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.
Beth Pinyerd has taught many years and holds a master's degree in early childhood education.
BY ANN CIPPERLY
One of the highlights of a trip to the beach is enjoying fresh seafood. In the past several years, more local grocery stores and butcher shops are carrying a good selection of seafood. Whether it is shrimp, crab, snapper, grouper or salmon, seafood is easy to prepare for special summer meals. It is a popular choice at our home, as it brings back memories of carefree days at the beach against a backdrop of glorious sunsets.
Along with seafood in grocery stores, butcher shops, which are normally known for beef, are also offering seafood. Staff at
butcher shops also help with selections, seasonings and cooking.
While Vintage 2298 Butcher Shop in Auburn is brimming with steaks, lamb, chicken, pork and venison, they also have a wide selection of fresh seafood. Chef Randall Baldwin orders fresh Gulf seafood from Greg Abrams’ Seafood in Panama City, Florida. Fresh seafood is delivered to the butcher shop three days a week.
The fresh seafood can vary depending on what is caught that day. Chef Randall is called to place his order for delivery after the boats arrive back at shore. The same seafood in the butcher shop is also offered on the menu at the Vintage 2298 restaurant adjoining the market.
Generally, the market has fresh snapper, shrimp and other fish, such as black grouper, trigger fish, among others. The market also has claw and lump crab meat. Nathan Brumbaugh is the butcher. On Tuesdays, Nathan cooks shrimp and offers it along with the fresh shrimp. While there, browse other items for your meal.
These can include breads, containers of West Indies crab salad from the restaurant, cheese, charcuterie items, gluten free pastas, crackers, grits, jams and other food items.
After Chef Randall and his wife Laura opened their Vintage 2298 restaurant, they added the butcher shop on the side of the building, offering the same meats and seafood served at the restaurant.
The Baldwins opened Vintage 2298 after Chef Randall had a successful career in Birmingham working at Bottega, Chez Fon Fon and as kitchen manager at Highlands Bar and Grill. He left Frank Stitt’s restaurant when he was offered the position as executive chef at Dyron’s Lowcountry in Mountain Brook. He worked there for 12 years.
The couple had visited Auburn and thought it was a perfect fit for their dream of owning a restaurant. Vintage 2298 Butcher Shop and the restaurant are located at 2298 East University Drive, Auburn. The market is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
After having a store in Montgomery for over 25
years, the Pepper Tree Steaks and Wines opened a second location in Auburn last year. While they are known for their steaks, they also have seafood on weekends at the butcher shop. At the butcher shop, you can select meats for the chefs to cook. A light menu is available daily, and there are tables for enjoying the prepared food.
Along with the butcher section, the store has entrees in frozen and refrigerator sections as
well as other items such as chicken salad, pimento cheese, rolls, desserts and other items.
Along with food items, there are table and kitchen wares.
Pepper Tree Steaks and Wines shop is located at 2459 East Glenn Ave. in Auburn.
Another butcher shop that also offers seafood is My Local Butcher in Opelika owned by Tony Cleaves. While he has a selection of pre-cut pack-
aged meats and custom cuts, he offers shrimp from Destin.
My Local Butcher is located at 1413 Fredick Road, Opelika. Following are guidelines for purchasing and storing seafood.
• Fish should have a fresh or mild odor, not smell fishy, ammonia-like or sour.
• Eyes of a whole fish should be clear and shiny.
CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, the fast-casual+ restaurant brand that serves Mexican favorites with a splash of Baja, has reopened in Auburn under new ownership.
The 4,975-square-foot establishment, located at 1678 S. College St., is now operated by an affiliate of Flippin’ Hospitality Group 2 LLC, led by partners John Merkin and Jose Rodriguez. Both Merkin and Rodriguez are seasoned veterans in the restaurant and hospitality industries, each boasting 40 years of experience. In addition to the Fuzzy’s Auburn location, the duo also owns 19 IHOP restaurants throughout Alabama and Georgia.
To celebrate the reopening, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop hosted an
official grand opening event on July 17. To further celebrate the reopening, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop plans to host another special event at the end of summer once the school year begins.
“We’re thrilled to bring Fuzzy’s Taco Shop back to Auburn with our new franchisee partner,” said Paul Damico, president of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.
“This reopening represents our commitment to serving communities across the country, and we’re excited to once again offer our innovative menu and unique dining experiences to our friends in Auburn and know John, Jose and his team will serve as a vibrant part of this community.”
“We were drawn to Fuzzy’s Taco Shop because of the fun environment it offers,” said Merkin. “One of the biggest
things you’ll notice when you step into a Fuzzy’s is the fact that the restaurant team is having as much fun as the guests. The vibes are infectious.
“We also love the fact that
Fuzzy’s is a fast-casual+ concept that offers a full-service bar. It’s not something you see in many concepts, and our Auburn location has a big, beautiful bar that opens up
CONTRIBUTED BY WALK-ON’S SPORTS BISTREAUX
OPELIKA — Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux is elevating its fry game with the launch of exclusive French Fry creations. Now through Aug. 14, Walk-On’s is featuring limited-time fry offers inspired by fan-favorite dishes.
Perfect to share with family and friends, Walk-On’s is excited to offer four fry feasts:
NEW Buffalo Chicken Waffle Cheese Fries: Spicy, tangy, and totally irresistible. Crispy waffle fries layered with Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, topped with buffalo sauce-drenched fried chicken tenders, pickled jalapeños, and a drizzle of ranch. This dish is sure to be a hit with fans of Walk-On’s popular buffalo chicken items.
NEW Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Waffle Fries: A crispy waffle fry base, piled high with sizzling burger crumbles, melted Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, savory bacon bits, and a blend of diced red onion, pickle, and tomato. Finished with a drizzle of our signature ketchup aioli, this dish is packed with flavor and will leave you craving more.
NEW Pulled Pork Waffle Cheese Fries: A savory addition to our signature Waffle Cheese Fries, these fries come loaded with jack and cheddar cheese, bacon, banana peppers, and topped with Sweet Baby Ray’s pulled pork. Perfect for BBQ fans everywhere.
SIGNATURE Waffle Cheese Fries: The waffle fry’s versatility shines in this menu staple, which comes topped
pepper, medium to smaller cubes
Fish that has been previously frozen may not have bright eyes and firm flesh.
• Fresh fillets should have firm flesh and should spring back when pressed.
• Check to be sure fillets don’t have discoloration or drying around the edges.
• If fish is going to be used within two days of purchase, store it in the coldest part of the refrigerator at 40 degrees or below. If fish is fresh, pack it on ice in plastic bags and cover with ice in a pan.
• Frozen seafood can last for months in the freezer.
• Was hands for at least 20 seconds with soap after handling raw food. Check out local grocery stores and butcher shops for your favorite seafood, and select a recipe or two from good local cooks for treating your family to a delectable meal this coming week.
GULF COAST CRAB CAKES
Recipe of former caterer
Martha Hicks
Salad:
• Mixed baby field greens
3 cups grape tomatoes, quartered
1 bunch green onions more to taste, chopped
• 3 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives
• 1/2 orange bell
Grape tomatoes, green onions, fresh chives and orange bell pepper for garnish
Combine above 4 ingredients with the vinaigrette below.
Vinaigrette:
1/4 cup red wine
vinegar
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. crushed oregano
1/4 tsp. Dijon mustard
½ cup olive oil
Combine the first four above ingredients. Slowly whisk in olive oil.
Crab Cakes:
1 lb. jumbo lump
Gulf crab meat, picked over for shells
• 1 to 2 eggs
1/2 scant cup finely ground breadcrumbs
• Green onions
• Cajun seasoning to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste
If it isn’t moist enough, add a little mayonnaise.
Gently combine above ingredients. Make a small crab cake and sauté to check seasoning. Add additional seasonings if needed. Lightly form into cake patties and chill 30 minutes.
Sauté crab cakes in canola oil until nicely browned on both sides.
Presentation: Arrange on a platter or for individual
with Jack and Cheddar cheeses, bacon and banana peppers, making them a crowd pleaser.
A true ‘knife and fork’ experience, each of these fry innovations is built upon a foundation of Walk-On’s signature waffle fries. A top-selling item since the Bistreaux first opened 20 years ago, Culinary Chef John Hagen praises the waffle fries for their size and shape, making them the perfect vessel for delivering delectable bites loaded with flavor.
“As we dreamed up new menu items we wanted to showcase both creativity and the versatility of our signature waffle fries,” said Hagen. “We taste-tested our way through multiple combinations adding some of our most popular menu items and landed on savory waffle fry dishes that satis-
servings, place bed of greens in the center of a salad plate. Place crab cake on greens. Surround with tomato mixture and garnish with a lemon wedge. May also put a little less than a tablespoon of remoulade sauce beside each crab cake.
EASY REMOULADE SAUCE
Easy Rémoulade Sauce
Good with crab cakes, shrimp and other seafood.
1 cup mayonnaise
3 green onions, sliced
• 2 Tbsp. Creole mustard
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley or 2 tsp. dried
Combine ingredients and stir until well blended.
BUTTERNUT GROUPER Cathy Dozier
This is for the fish lovers in your family. This will become a tradition. It was adapted from a restaurant and makes an attractive presentation.
• 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs, finely ground
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 ¼ sticks butter, room temperature
Four 6 oz. grouper fillets
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in a small pan. Combine breadcrumbs and pecans in a medium bowl. Slowly add
fy our loyal fans looking for shareable and satisfying starter options.”
“We’re always looking for ways to surprise and delight our guests, and that’s going to be by offering the best and most indulgent fries in the country,” said Chris Dawson, Walk-On’s CEO. “These French Fry creations embody our brand’s fun and innovative spirit, and we can’t wait for our guests to try them.”
ABOUT WALK-ON’S SPORTS BISTREAUX
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, celebrated as the #1 Sports Bar in America by ESPN, brings together the love of food, sports and community. Concepted on the back of a napkin by LSU walk-on basketball players Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux opened its doors in 2003 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The menu boasts scratch-made dishes, paired with a wide selection of unique cocktails and beers. With nearly 80 restaurants in the U.S., Walk-On’s is accelerating its nationwide expansion – ranked #1 by Entrepreneur for Top New Franchise and consistently ranking in Top 500 lists by Restaurant Business, Entrepreneur, Franchise Times and Nation’s Restaurant News. WalkOn’s success and growth are a testament to its passionate franchise partners, including renowned athletes in co-owner Drew Brees and franchisees Dak Prescott, Derrick Brooks and football coach Dabo Swinney. To learn more, visit walkons.com.
butter, enough to make breadcrumbs and pecans stick together. Place fish, fleshy side up, on a baking sheet lined with foil and coat the top of fish with the pecan mixture, about ½ inch thick. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked through. Cooking time will depend on thickness of fish fillets.
BAKED GROUPER WITH WILD MUSHROOMS
Scott Girard
4 Tbsp. plus 4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
½ lb. each chanterelle, Portobello and oyster mushrooms, each in ¼-inch
slices
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 Tbsp. thyme leaves
• 4 (5-oz.) pieces grouper fillet
• Salt and pepper
• 1½ cups dry white wine
• ¼ cup Italian parsley, finely chopped 1 tsp. dried thyme
• 2 cups baby spinach, chopped Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a 12 to 14-inch ovenproof sauté pan, heat 4 Tbsp. oil until smoking. Add mushrooms and garlic and sauté 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and thyme, and continue to cook 5 minutes. Remove mixture to a bowl and set aside. Season fish well with
salt and pepper. Heat remaining oil in the same pan and add fish. Sauté until deep golden brown on the first side. Carefully turn fish, add wine, and return mushroom mixture to pan. Put pan in oven and cook for 4 minutes, until fish is cooked through.
Remove from the oven, sprinkle with parsley and serve. Makes four servings.
EASY SKILLET FRESH FISH Janine Simmons
• Any fresh fish such as red snapper, grouper
• Salt and pepper Cayenne pepper
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. butter
Season fish with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. In a black iron skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil; when hot add butter.
Cook 4 minutes; turn over and continue cooking about 4 minutes or until fully cooked. For grouper, do the same but cook 8 minutes longer in the oven.
GROUPER STRIPS WITH DILL TARTAR SAUCE
• Vegetable oil, for frying
1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 1 1/2 tsp. dried dill
1 tsp. salt
• 1/3 tsp. ground mustard
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 4 grouper fillets, cut
into 2-inch strips
• Tartar sauce
In a large Dutch oven, pour oil to a depth of 3 inches; heat the oil to 350F.
In a shallow dish, combine flour, cornstarch, dill, salt and mustard. In a separate shallow dish, pour in buttermilk. Dredge grouper strips in the flour mixture. Dip in buttermilk, and dredge in flour mixture again to coat. Fry grouper strips in batches, until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes or until fully cooked. Drain on some paper towels. Serve immediately with Dill Tartar Sauce.
Dill Tartar Sauce: 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup grated onion
• 1/2 cup dill relish
1/2 tsp. dried dill
• Squeeze lemon juice
• Salt and ground pepper
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, onions, relish and dill. Season with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cover and chill.
DON’S BAKED SALMON FILLETS WITH BROWN SUGAR GLAZE
4 (6-oz.) skin-on or skinless salmon fillets
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. minced garlic or 1 tsp. garlic powder, optional
2 tsp. light brown sugar
• 2 tsp. kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
See RECIPES, page B13
BY SEAN DIETRICH
It’s a perfect summer evening. The world is moving slow. It’s hot. The sounds of the world are music. Crickets. Insects. Frogs galore. And the magnificent sound of my redneck neighbor, Jerry, four-wheeling his pickup truck through the mud on the property behind mine, shouting “THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ‘BOUT, SON!” out his window.
I am eating strawberries because summer is coming to an end and I don’t want to forget it. The strawberries were good this year. So were the tomatoes. I ate a lot of tomatoes this summer. People gave them to us wherever we traveled.
>> from B12
•
• 1 tsp. sweet paprika
½ tsp. black pepper
Half lemon, for serving
Heat oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Pat salmon dry with paper towels and place on sheet pan. Brush fillets all over with olive oil. In a small bowl, combine garlic, brown sugar, salt, paprika and pepper. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the fillets, pressing gently to coat the tops and sides. Bake salmon until it flakes easily and is just cooked in the center, 12 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. Squeeze lemon over the fish and serve. Makes four servings.
GRILLED MARINATED SHIRMP
• ½ cup oil
been on our radar for years as a prime location for a restaurant. When we discovered this Fuzzy’s Taco Shop site, we knew it had the perfect potential, needing just a fresh start. With our experienced operations team ready to bring our vision to life, we are excited to revive Fuzzy’s and share our passion for the Auburn community.”
The newly reopened Fuzzy’s Taco Shop will offer its signature delicious Baja fare, including their famous queso, made-in-house guacamole and fire-roasted salsa. Additionally, Auburn guests can now enjoy the new Primo Baja menu category, launched in early 2024, which embraces the essence of Baja cuisine. The Primo Baja category features items that encapsulate the vibrant and fresh spirit of the Mexican peninsula.
At the heart of the new menu is the authentic Baja Fish Taco, a delectable creation featuring
And we traveled a lot, doing shows in various places.
A middle-aged couple in Palatka, Florida, attended one of my shows and gave me real homegrown tomatoes that were the size of footballs.
In Birmingham, an elderly man gave me a trash bag full of Purple Cherokee heirlooms.
In North Georgia, someone gave me a cardboard box full of Better Boys that his mother grew. I carried that box on a road trip across the Southeast, the Midwest, and into Texas. I took these tomatoes to every state we visited until they were gone. Also, this summer I got a tan. Which is kind of a big deal for me. I haven’t had a tan since I was nineteen and someone rubbed pigmented lotion on my arms and legs for a beach wedding. My skin turned the color of a seasick carrot. I do not tan well. I am a redhead. I have two shades. Winter Pale, and Red Lobster. This summer, baseball has been exquisite. I have
¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 lbs. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Combine all ingredients except shrimp; blend well. Add shrimp. Chill 2 to 3 hours.
Thread shrimp onto skewers. Grill 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until shrimp turn pink. Can thread shrimp onto woody end of rosemary branches. If using wooden skewers, soak in water for a few minutes.
SHRIMP SALAD
Havlin Wise
4 oz. pasta shells of choice, boiled and drained
• 1 lb. boiled shrimp, peeled and deveined
½ cup celery, finely chopped
4 Tbsp. mayonnaise
• ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
• ½ - 1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper to taste
• ¼ cup green onions,
beer-battered and fried cod served on a soft corn tortilla complemented by fresh ingredients including shredded cabbage, house-made cilantro-lime crema and pickled red onions, all made in-house.
The Primo Baja menu also includes the popular Quesabirria Tacos, Birria Bowl and the Margarita Shrimp Taco, alongside the fan favorite California Heat Taco.
Guests can also enjoy a variety of dishes such as OG tacos, breakfast tacos, burritos, bowls, nachos, quesadillas, salads, traditional sides and drinks. The drive-thru will feature a modified menu, with the full menu available inside the restaurant for dine-in or to-go orders.
The restaurant offers a full bar serving margaritas, cocktails and beer. The Auburn location will feature four frozen margarita machines with flavors like lime, strawberry, Blue Fuzz and Fuzzy Driver, along with the signature drink, Fuzzy’s famous Beerita, an 18-ounce house margarita with choice of
watched the Atlanta Braves play in all sorts of unlikely places while traveling.
I saw them on a TV in a New York City hotel after spending the day translating Northern accents. And in Washington D.C., where my wife and I took a taxi to see them play downtown. In Phoenix, Arizona, I watched them play in a rundown bar, sitting beside a stranger.
Baseball is a simple game, and very slow. And I need it because it makes me feel like I am back home.
I never thought I’d miss home when I started travelling. In fact, long ago I couldn’t wait to get away. Not because I didn’t like my hometown. But because bulldozers messed it up.
I remember when home was nothing but woods, water, and mosquitoes. But things changed. Real estate developers moved to town. They built an Olive Garden. An Outback Steakhouse.
Soon the whole world was overtaken by yuppies in Land Rovers who drove like bats out of hell and got mad if their Mocha Frappuc-
finely chopped
• 1 tsp. black pepper
In a large bowl, mix all ingredients and salt to taste. Chill for about 1 hour prior to serving.
MANELLI’S BARBECUE SHRIMP
Dr. Ellen Royal
2 lb. jumbo shrimp with heads left on
• Wash shrimp and place in a drainer for 1 hour. Line a 2-inch deep pan with shrimp. In a boiler combine:
• 1 lb. butter
½ cup olive oil
• Juice of 2 lemons
1 Tbsp. paprika
• 2 Tbsp. freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. basil ½ tsp. rosemary
• 4 tsp. garlic, finely chopped or pressed
Bring all ingredients to a boil; pour over shrimp. Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes.
Serve with salad and plenty of French
dunked bottled beer or seltzer.
Fans can stay updated on upcoming events and promotions by following Fuzzy’s Taco Shop on Facebook and Instagram.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is open daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. (open until midnight on Friday & Saturday).
ABOUT FUZZY’S TACO SHOP
Founded in 2003 in Fort Worth, Texas, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop® offers tacos that are more than just food; they’re an experience.
cino Pumpkin Spice Lattes were made with two-percent instead of skim.
Shopping malls went up. They tore down the fishing rodeo docks where I got my first kiss. Now the tourists come from all over the world just to zipline between our high rise condos.
But even so, I love my home.
This dirt will be under my fingernails forever. For better or worse. I am part of the Choctawhatchee Bay. And I still know where to find the quiet places in the woods, where the wild strawberries and blackberries grow. The yuppies will never find them. They’d never get past all the sand spurs.
That’s what these strawberries remind me of. One bite and all my summers come back to me.
Like the summer when I asked Lynette Gold to a local dance, and she said no. I was hurt. Crushed, actually. I never wanted to show my face again.
Then, Marie Warren asked me to the same dance. I couldn’t believe it. I thought
bread to sop the sauce. Serves 4-5, but sauce is adequate for 6 servings. Just increase the amount of shrimp. Delicious but messy.
EASY BROILED SNAPPER
• 2 lbs. snapper fillets, skinned
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise
3 Tbsp. green onion, chopped 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. liquid hot pepper sauce
Cut fillets into serving sizes. Place fish on a well-greased broiler pan, approximately 13x10 inches. Baste fish with lemon juice and let stand for 10 minutes. Broil approximately 4 inches from heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Turn fish carefully and continue to broil 4 to 5 minutes longer until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
From classic flavors to innovative combinations, the Baja-style tacos are the heart of the menu complemented by refreshing beverages all at a chill price. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop franchise operations consist of 127 restaurants across 18 states. Restaurants are franchised by affiliates of California-based Dine Brands Global Inc. (NYSE: DIN). For more information, visit fuzzystacoshop.com.
ABOUT DINE BRANDS GLOBAL INC.
it was weird for a girl to ask a boy to a dance. But Marie assured me this was okay. She said it was sort of a Sadie-Hawkins-style transaction, completely legal according to the bylaws of teenage-hood.
So I went with her. She taught me how to two-step with a bunch of other Methodists. Her mother drove us home. And before we parted ways, Marie asked me if I wanted to kiss her cheek.
I said, “No, that’s okay.”
Because I knew she was only being polite.
Then she got forceful.
“I’m telling you to kiss my cheek,” she said. “Do it now.” I did. She smiled. And we both knew nothing would ever become of us. Because I was not interested in her and she was not interested in me. But being nice costs nothing. And it pays dividends for a hundred thousand years to come.
That’s what Marie was. She was nice.
I didn’t go home that night. I was too riled up. A kiss will do that to a boy. So
Combine Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise, green onion, salt and liquid hot pepper sauce. Spread sauce evenly over fish and broil 2 to 3 minutes longer or until lightly browned.
PAN-FRIED FISH WITH PICATA SAUCE
• 4 skinless flounder fillets or other white fish
• Salt and pepper Flour, for dredging fish
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 3 Tbsp. butter, divided
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 small bottle capers Sprinkle fillets with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour. Place oil and 2 Tbsp. butter in skillet; heat on med-high until butter melts. Add fish; cook on one side 3 minutes more or less, until deep brown and crispy. Turn fish and cook another 3 minutes.
Remove fish to serving platter. Turn
Based in Pasadena, California, Dine Brands Global Inc. (NYSE: DIN), through its subsidiaries and franchisees, supports and operates restaurants under the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar®, IHOP and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop brands. Tthese three
I wandered into the woods. I sat for a while. I picked a few blackberries from a ditch. I don’t know what I was thinking. Probably the same thing I am thinking right now. Tonight I am thinking that summer doesn’t last for more than a few minutes. I’m thinking about these crickets. These frogs. The beautiful sounds of evening. The bay. And how sweetness is its own reward. And… Hark. I am interrupted by the sound of my redneck neighbor, Jerry, riding his truck through the mud like a rented mule. Screaming obscenities. Well. At least Jerry isn’t a yuppie. I think I’ll go offer him some strawberries.
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.
off heat. Into hot skillet, whisk in remaining 1 Tbsp. butter. Add lemon juice. Pour in capers, liquid and all. Whisk. Pour thin sauce over fish fillets.
BEAUFORT FRIED SHRIMP
• 2 lbs. shrimp
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. black pepper
• 2 tsp. paprika
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 Tbsp. hot sauce
• Oil Peel and devein shrimp, leaving tails on. Mix all the dry ingredients in one bowl and all the wet in another. Place the shrimp in the dry ingredients first, then in the egg wash and back into the flour a second time. Fry at 350 degrees for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Be sure the oil is hot and don’t over crowd the fryer. Serve with cocktail sauce.
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JULY 18 — JEFF BLACK RETURNS TO SUNDILLA
Folk music singer-songwriter Jeff Black returns to the Sundilla music series on Thursday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Pebble Hill, located at 101 S. Debardeleben St. in Auburn. 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 ava ilable, and attendees are invited to bring their own favorite beverage or food. If the weather cooperates the concert will take place outdoors.
JULY 18 — BIKE NIGHT
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. Adrenalineseekers 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.
JULY 19 — SUMMER MOVIE NIGHT
Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers will host a free Summer Movie Night on Friday, July 19, at 6 p.m., featuring the film “How to Train Your Dragon,” rated PG, runtime 1 hour, 33 minutes. Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers is located at 149 E. Magnolia Ave. in Auburn.
JULY 19 — FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY
The Opelika Chamber of Commerce presents Food Truck Friday on J uly 19 in historic downtown Opelika. The event begins at 5 p.m.
JULY 20 — BACK TO SCHOOL BASH
Opelika’s third annual Back to School Bash is set for Saturday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to noon at Covington Rec Center in Opelika. The Back to School Bash is a community event aimed at preparing students for the upcoming school year. Parents and students are invited to come secure essential school supplies, generously provided by more than 40 businesses and organizations.
JULY 20 — WRITERS WORKSHOP AT APL
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. at the Auburn Public Library, located 749 E. Thach Ave.
JULY 20 — MOVIE UNDER THE STARS AT OPL
The Opelika Public Library will host a Movie Under the Stars on Saturday, July 20, at 7 p.m. The featured movie will be “The Goonies,” rated PG, runtime 1 hour, 54 minutes. The Opelika Public Library is located at 1100 Glenn St.
JULY 23 — SUMMER SWING CONCERT
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 L Chesser@opelikaal.gov.
JULY 24 — COWBOY BRUCE BRANNEN AT OPL
Cowboy Bruce Brannen will bring his wild west show to the Opelika Public Library on Wednesday, July 24, for two performances, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Through stories, poems and exciting demonstrations of the “almost” extinct cowboy arts, Cowboy Bruce brings to life the early years of the American West. The free program is appropriate for all ages.
JULY 26 — 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 thi s 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.
JULY 27 — 2ND ANNUAL TEEN SUMMIT
The Dream Day Foundation will host the 2nd Annual Teen Summit a t Opelika High School on Saturday, July 27, starting at 9 a.m. Students from middle school to college are invited to this event filled with fun activities, interactive workshops and inspiring speakers. Connect with other teens in the community and learn valuable skills to help navigate through the teenage years. The event is free. Pre-register to receive a free T-shirt: www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-teen-summit-tickets939114415497?aff=ebdssbtopbannercarousel.
JULY 27 — TASTE OF LEE COUNTY, COMEDY ROAST
Community Comedy Roast of Auburn Mayor Ron Anders on Saturday, July 27, at 6 p.m. at 650 Jeter Ave. in Opelika. For ticket information, call (334) 749-9487.
JULY 30 — SUMMER SWING CONCERT FINALE
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.
AUG. 1 — GAME ON BASKETBALL
The Opelika Police Department will present the Together Opelika GAME ON basketball event on Thursday, Aug. 1, from 8 a.m. to noon at Covington Rec Center, located at 213 Carver Ave. This is a free event for kids ages 5-18. Registration is free and includes a T-shirt and lunch. Visit opelikapd.org for more information.
AUG. 3 — SPORTSPLEX TRI FOR KIDS
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. 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. The non-competiti ve Small Fry Tri will begin at 10 a.m., with ages 2-5 running through the splash pad. Advance registration for the Kids Tri by July 26 is $40 per child; registration beginning July 27 until Friday, Aug. 2, is $45 per child. Online registration for the Small Fry Tri is available until Friday, Aug. 2, for $20 per child. For both eve nts, there is a $5 per child discount for registration of three or more children. Pre-registration is required for both events — no same-day signups accepted. For more inform ation, visit www. sportsplextriforkids.com/race-info.
AUG. 6 — NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN AUBURN
Auburn Public Safety will host National Night Out on Aug. 6, marking the 41st anniversary of this nationwide event, which is an opportunity for residents to come together and foster a true sense of community. The FREE fun-fil led evening will have something for all ages, including a meet and greet with local first responders, games and activities for kids, live entertainment, free food and refreshments and giveaways. Auburn’s National Night Out will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 1623 East Glenn Ave. (the field behind Duck Samford Stadium).
AUG. 8-18 — BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
The Auburn Area Community Theatre will present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical Aug. 8-18 at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center in Auburn. Tickets are available now at www.auburnact.org.
AUG 16 — SUMMER SOUNDS: THE 70s BAND
The Auburn Chamber of Commerce will host The 70s Band at the Summer Sounds Concert Series on Friday, Aug. 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Au burn Legion Memorial Park. Food and beverages will be available for purchas e. No outside alcohol permitted.
SEPT. 19 — BLUES ON THE PLAINS GALA
The Lee County Democratic Party will host its annual gala, Blues On The Plains, on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. at Fig & Ivy, located at 2290 Moores Mill Road in Auburn. The Lee County Democratic Party is committed to fostering a healthier democracy and creating a future filled with hope and progress, and this cocktail event will feature keynote presentations from speakers, interactive networking and show-stopping live music. Tickets start at $65 and are available at https://secure. actblue.com/donate/bluesontheplains.
OCT. 19 — 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.
ONGOING — 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 SFMN P.
ONGOING — AUBURN CITY MARKET
Greater Peace Baptist Church will present the 11th annual Taste of Lee County and
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. 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.
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.
