AUBURN — Alabama Rural Ministry (ARM) will be hosting a barbecue block party Aug. 27 at the ARM office ahead of its annual “No More Shacks” campaign. Those interested will be able to buy a ticket for either a barbecue or hot dog meal, which can be picked up on Aug. 26 or at the block party on Aug. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Barbecue plates are $10 and include two sides and a slice of cake, while a hot dog plate is $6 and includes chips. In addition, there will be live music and games at theWhileevent.ARM has been hosting No More Shacks annually for more than a decade, the barbecue
CONTRIBUTED BY OPELIKA UTILITIES LEE COUNTY — Water utilities across the region are reviewing pro cesses for water testing and treatment in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announce ment in June of revised guidelines on the levels of certain compounds in water supplies.Thenew EPA interim lifetime health advisories are intended to better man age risks from a group of man-made chemicals called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances). There are thousands of variations of these PFAS compounds, and the EPA announcement addressed four specifically: PFOA, PFOS, GenX Chemicals and PFBS. Only trace levels of PFAS have been found in limited samples taken from water sources in the Auburn-Opelika area and surrounding commu nities.
Opelika, AlabamaThursday Aug. 18, 2022Vol. 14, No. 45 CONTENTS An award-winning publication created 'For local people, by local people.' Covering Lee County, Alabama FRED ERi CK-DEAN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY Compassion • Integrity • Tradition 334-745-4667 On-site Crematory Coming Soon OPINION ..................... A4 ENTERTAINMENT ........... A7 RELIGION ................... A12 OBITUARIES ............... A13 COMICS ....................... A16 SPORTS ........................ B1 POLITICS ...................... B9 PUBLIC NOTICES ........... B12 CLASSIFIEDS ................ B14 PUZZLES ..................... B15 See OPELIKA, page A5 See ARM, page A2 BY HANNAH LESTER OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMHLESTER@ OPELIKA — Southern Crossing is learning how to move forward.Thebusiness owners, Mike and Valerie Smith, held a live video update last week to share with patrons and community members the future of Southern Crossing following the Maffia’sSouthernfire.Crossing will be moving into a new space in downtown Opelika in October.“Weboth first want to say a huge thank you to all of you who have shown all of your love and support,” See WATER, page A2 BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMKENDYLH@
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Area
Southern Crossing to Reopen on 8th Street
Barbecue Block Party to Benefit ‘No More Shacks’
According to the EPA, most people are exposed to PFAS through consumer products. These chemicals have been used in fire fighting foams, industrial processes and manufac turing of carpets, cleaning and cookware products, fur niture upholstery, clothing and packaging for food and other materials. Drinking water can be an addition al source of exposure in communities where these chemicals have entered water sources such as wells, rivers or Lifetimelakes.health adviso ries are contaminant levels at which no adverse health effects are expected over a lifetime of drinking water exposure. The advisories See RELOCATION, page A3 Utilities Respond to New EPA Guidelines
BY MICHELLE KEY OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMMICHELLE@ OPELIKA — Following a vote from the Opelika City Council, a new sixth grade school is com ing to Opelika. The Opelika City Council voted unan imously to approve a resolution that would appoint the Bradley Avant Boult Cummings law firm as bound counselor and Frazier Lanier as financial advisor for a bond issue to help Opelika City Schools. The bond issue will help the school system finance the new sixthgrades school on Fox RunTheParkway.resolution will also allow the city to reimburse anything that it spends, from the bond funds, on the project following the vote.OCS Superintendent Asks Opelika To Assist with Financing of New School
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NEW EPA LIFETIME HEALTH ADVISORIES
OCS
CONTRIBUTED BY USPS ALABAMA — The U.S. Postal Ser vice recently launched USPS Connect — a set of four delivery solutions that lever age ongoing evolvingtionalandequipment,improvements,networknewnewpricingenhancedoperaprecisiontomeetbusinesspackagedeliveryneeds.“USPSConnectprovidesbusinessesofallsizeswhattheyhavebeenaskingfor—an affordable way to meet consumer demand for fast delivery,” said Louis DeJoy, postmas ter general and CEO. “A pivotal point in our Delivering for America plan, it positions us to more fully leverage our network capacity to increase volume and revenue so we can continue to serve the American people with affordable, reliable mail and package delivery.”
• ADEM Data regarding PFAS testing results state wide: ter/files/programs/water/drinkingwaadem.alabama.gov/Combined2020an Auburn,mentd2022AllResultsMRL.pdfFollowingisajointstatefromareautilitiesforBeulah,Loachapoka, Opelika and Smiths Station: “Clean, safe drinking water is our top priority. Like other water utilities nationwide, we are studying the EPA lifetime health advisories and our next steps. Additional research and testing are needed to deter mine the levels of these com pounds in area water supplies, report that information to the public, and evaluate effective and feasible options to reduce any risk to our communities.”
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A2 Aug. 18, 2022 The Observer will correct any errors, omissions or inaccuracies deemed to be substantive. Corrections may be requested by contacting the editor at CORRECTIONS334-749-8003. LIVE LEE EDITOR: Hannah Lester MARKETING: Woody Ross, Rená Smith PHOTOJOURNALIST: Robert Noles SPORTS EDITOR: Wil Crews SPORTS WRITERS: Rick Lanier, D. Mark Mitchell STAFF REPORTER: Kendyl Hollingsworth 223-A S. 8th St., Opelika, AL 36801 Copyright 2009. All right reserved. The Observer is published weekly by Key Media LLC, 223-A S. 8th St., Opelika, AL 36801. Periodicals postage is paid at Opelika, AL. USPS #025104 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Observer, 223-A S. 8th St.,, Opelika, AL 36801 www.opelikaobserver.com PHONE: PUBLISHER:Michelle@opelikaobserver.comeditor@opelikaobserver.com334.749.8003MichelleKey Exp. Date: • $34 for 1 year (inside Lee County) $45 for 1 year (outside of Lee County) City:Address:Name: State: ZIP: Phone number: Email address: The Observer 223-A S. 8th St., Opelika, AL 36801 Please do not send cash through the mail. Payment Type (circle one): Check / Credit Card Visa or Master Card # Amount Paid:Security Code:/ Return to: Subscribe to the Observer today! WATER >> FROM A1 event is a new addition, according to ARM Case Manager Lawton Vallely. All proceeds from the block party will support the cause of No More Shacks.Thepurpose of the par ty — and the campaign — is to raise awareness of substandard housing and come up with solutions to end the housing.helpingovercome“Weinterimzard,poverty,”AlabamaministryvideMinistry“Alabamastruggle.Ruralexiststoprosupport,hopeandtofamiliesinstrugglingwithsaidMarkGrizwhoisservingasdirectoratARM.seektohelppeoplepovertybywithsubstandardCurrentlywe have 28 projects going on in the area.” The “Shack” has long been a staple of the cam paign, with an ARM staff member living in it for a few days during the cam paign to shine a light on what many people living in poverty have to face. “The Shack is a small structure with no elec tricity or running water,” Grizzard explained. “It is set up at Auburn Uni versity each year to raise awareness for families living in poverty. We have worked with residents with no electricity or running water.” At the block party, the Shack will be on display with ARM staff on hand to answer questions. The Shack will then be set up at the Wesley Foundation on South Gay Street in Auburn from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, according to Grizzard.“Wehope that the community will see and realize the need in our area,” Grizzard said. “Many people are living in homes that are in terri ble shape. Many families have children and elderly adults living in conditions that are horrendous.” For those who want to support the cause but don’t want a meal, there is an option to “donate” the plate they purchase. Vallely said ARM will use those donations to feed homeless people in Columbus, Georgia. To purchase a ticket or donate a meal, email info@arm-al.org, call 334-501-4276 or speak with an ARM staff mem ber. The ARM office is located at 200 N. 26th St. in Opelika.
FEDERAL FUNDING The EPA also announced an initial $1 billion in grant funding for 2022 through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that can be used to reduce PFAS in drinking water in underserved communities nationwide. It is unknown how much of that federal infrastructure funding will be available for our local and regional mitigation and treatment measures. For more information on the new PFAS advisories, the EPA has posted ques tions and answers online at www.epa.gov/sdwa/ chemicals-and-pfb.visories-pfoa-pfos-genx-drinking-water-health-questions-and-answers-ad
ACTIONS BY LEE COUNTY-AREA UTILITIES Limited testing in the Lee County region has revealed water samples with trace levels of PFAS compounds that individually range from below detection limits to 12 parts per trillion. For perspec tive, one part per trillion is equal to one drop in 500,000 barrels of water. The lower the levels, the lower the risk. Water utilities in the area are gathering information from regulatory agencies and experts in the national water industry to evaluate ways to identify and report the presence of these chemicals at the new recommended levels, as well as examine potential measures to limit exposure. The EPA acknowledges that water systems may not be able to eliminate all risks from PFAS, but the goal is to do what is possible to help reduceArearisks.utilities participating in this news release are post ing online data and informa tion specific to their water sources based on the limited testing conducted to date. Be low are the web addresses for each system’s provided data:
• Beulah Utilities District Data: www.owwb.com/beu lahResults•Loachapoka Water Authority Data: owwb.com/loachapokaRehttps://www. sults
• Auburn Water Works Board Data: tions/PFAS/management/water-operaabama.org/water-resource-www.auburnal
• Opelika Utilities www.owwb.com/newsData:
Chemical Previous EPA Health Advisories (parts per trillion) New EPA Health Advisories (parts per trillion) PFOA 70.00 - COMBINED WITH PFOS 0.004 PFOS 0.02 GENX CHEMICALS N/A PFBS N/A 2,000.00 Postal ExpandsServiceNext-DayDeliveryOptions OOUOOOHPTCNTRBTEDTTHEBSERVER See POST OFFICE, page A3PHOTOUSEDWTHPERMISSION
The USPS Connect program offers sev eral solutions to help business of all sizes meet growing consumer demand for affordable, fast local, regional and national deliveries and returns.Alabama is one of several states in the nationwide rollout to make one of the four solutions — USPS Connect Local — avail able in select locations. The rollout schedule is available on uspscon nect.com.Thefour USPS Con nect business solutions are: • USPS Connect Lo are non-enforceable and non-regulatory.Thereisnoexisting fed eral regulation for PFAS in drinking water supplies, and treated water in Lee County currently meets public health standards under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act as enforced by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). When a health advisory is issued, it is often the first step by the EPA in developing and setting regulatory limits, which can be a lengthy process. The EPA’s new interim lifetime health advisory levels for the PFAS compounds are much lower than the agency’s previous recommendations (70 parts per trillion) and so microscopic that they are below current accepted labo ratory detection levels. This means that it is possible for PFOA or PFOS to be present in drinking water at levels that exceed the lifetime health advisories, even if current testing technology shows no presence of these chemicals. **See table Although an official timeline is unknown, the EPA has stated that they could set actual regulatory limits for these compounds as early as this fall.
Opelika City Schools Superintendent Dr. Farrrell Seymore spoke to the Opelika Kiwanis Club last week. He discussed his career as an educator and the Opelika school
RESPONSE FROM THE NATION AL WATER INDUSTRY Water utilities and profes sional associations — such as the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Water Environment Federa tion (WEF) — are evaluating the national and local impacts of these advisories, and many have issued public statements in response.“EPA’sdecision to reduce these health advisory levels from 70 ppt to as low as 0.004 ppt will have a signifi cant impact on water utilities who receive these chemicals from industry and consumers and are not generators them selves,” said WEF President Jamie Eichenberger. “We encourage EPA to continue to work towards source control to prevent these contaminants from entering our waterways in the first place and are look ing forward to working with EPA to develop science-based effluent limits and drinking water standards that protect public health and the envi ronment without placing an undue burden on our utilities and ratepayers.”
• Smiths Water and Sewer Authority Data: com/smithsStationResultswww.owwb.
system. OCS Superintendent Visits Opelika Kiwanis Club
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by their carrier or dropoff at a nearby Post Office ratesnessesgivingdeliveries.increasingtionsandko,saiddevelopnesscarefully“We’velocation.listenedtoourbusicustomerstothisprogram,”JakkiKrageStrachiefcommercebusinesssoluofficer.“We’renext-dayWe’realsosmallerbusibig-businessandallbusiness es more user-friendly ways to interact with us.”Businesses inter ested in learning more may visit nect@usps.govemailNECT855-MYUSPSCONuspsconnect.com,www.call855-698-7772,uspsconconorvisit usps.com/business/ packagenatedpackagesandbutofferingsforbusiness-shipping.htm.DeliverytimesstatedUSPSConnectareexpected,notguaranteed,requireentryofatthedesigfacilitynearestdestinations or authorized pickup. Businesses should speak with a 36877.Smiths2720OfficeOpelika,500Auburn,300ing.officesrequirements.representativeUSPSaboutThefollowinglocalareparticipat•AuburnPostOfficeOpelikaRoadAL36830•OpelikaPostOfficeS.7thSt.AL36801•SmithsStationPostPantherParkwayStation,AL POST OFFICE >> FROM A2
CONTRIBUTED BY JUSTIN BERNSTEIN / MATTIO COMMUNICATIONS ALABAMA — Metrc, the most trusted and experienced provider of cannabis regulatory systems in the U.S., an nounced a new contract with the state of Alabama to support the regulation of its medical canna bis market. This marks Metrc’s 23rd government contract to date and sixth so far in Metrc’s2022.robust trackand-trace platform will help facilitate the Alabama Medical Can nabis Commission’s data collection and regulato ry oversight, enabling licensed operators to easily track all activities impacting the status of a plant or the creation of cannabis-based products, including origin, testing results, handling and chain-of-custody infor mation, through the com pany’s unique RFID tag model and software-asa-service (SaaS) system. Seamless data tracking helps operators opti mize inventory control, accurately report sales data and improve culti vation management. This information is accessi ble to state regulators, providing the ultimate transparency to ensure regulatory compliance, help combat the illicit market and safeguard the health and well-being of Alabama medical canna bis“Aspatients.Alabama works to solidify its medical cannabis program, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to spearhead the state’s first-ever track-and-trace pro gram,” said Michael Johnson, CEO at Metrc. “Our team at Metrc looks forward to working alongside the Alabama Medical Cannabis Com mission to build a strong regulatory framework that will create a mar ketplace with the stron gest foundation, where patients are guaranteed safe consumption and licensees are provided an environment to thrive.” Alabama became one of 37 states to legalize medical cannabis after the state legislature ap proved the measure and its governor signed it into law in 2021. The bill also created the Ala bama Medical Cannabis Commission to regulate medical cannabis from the cultivation of the plants, to processing and testing the products, to final sales to patients in dispensaries. The state plans to begin accepting licensing applications for businesses on Sept. 1, 2022. “We are confident that Metrc is the best partner to help Alabama institute a trustworthy statewide seed-to-sale tracking system for our medical cannabis market,” said AMCC Director John McMillan. “We are eager to work side by side with the Metrc team to establish a well-regulated supply chain to ensure the long-term safety and security of patients and providers.”Metrcnow holds exclusive government contracts in every region of the U.S., uniquenessesoftomarkets.suringtheeachregulatorytheseandOklahoma,Maryland,tractswherepresencehasWashington,includingD.C.,andaparticularlystrongintheSouth,itholdsconwithLouisiana,Mississippi,WestVirginianowAlabama.Whileareashavediverseframeworks,jurisdictionsharescommongoalofensafelegalcannabisMetrccontinuesbethefavoredpartnerregulatorsandbusiinservingtheirneedsandgoals.
Alabama Signs Cannabis Regulations Contract
Governor
CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER OPINION — Dear Mr. President, We request you lift the COVID-19 vaccine man date on international travel to the United States and allow our country to return to normal. The lifting of mask mandates and testing requirements for air travel were steps in the right direction. Now, you should end the requirement that all non-U.S. citizen travelers entering the United States be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.InOctober 2021, the White House announced a new vaccine mandate for air travelers, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) quickly extended the mandate to travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals. In April 2022, DHS doubled down and extended the require ment indefinitely even as other countries reassessed their COVID-19 travel pro tocols. Over the last several months, countries around the world dropped manda tory vaccine requirements for visitors from Australia to Israel to almost every country in Europe. In total, as of July 2022, 72 countries dropped all COVID-19 testing and Statestravelersrequirementsvaccinationfortravelers.Incomparison,alltotheUnitedovertheageof18 are still required to show proof of vaccination before entering the country or even boarding a plane. Air travelers are also required to provide contact information to airlines before boarding flights to the United States for contact tracing. The con tinued requirements, even as other countries are moving in the opposite direction, put us at a competitive disad vantage as our states work to welcome international travelers, attract foreign business prospects and host global athletic competitions. Your actions are hurting our states’ economies and unnecessarily hampering our economic growth as a nation.Inaddition, maintaining a vaccine mandate for legal travelers is health.iccountrypowertutionaltheconsistentlycountryarefortemporaryrequirementssistingreasons.countrytoOrder,andCentersrecentcontradictoryparticularlygivenyourpushtorevoketheforDiseaseControlPrevention’sTitle42whichallowsDHSexpelmigrantsfromtheforpublichealthWhyareyouinonstringentvaccineforlegaltravelersbutnotillegalimmigrantswhoattemptingtostayinourpermanently?Republicangovernorsstoodagainstimmense,unconstioversteppingofthatoccurredinourduringthepandeminthenameofpublicAsCOVID-19vacci nation rates remain high and hospitalization levels remain manageable, continuing your international travel vaccine mandate becomes indefensible.Therestof the world is moving on from the COVID-19 pandemic and returning to normal. It is time for your administration to do the Sincerely,same. Kristi Noem State of South Dakota Asa Hutchinson GovernorArkansasKim GovernorIowaGreg Gianforte StateGovernorMontanaKevin Oklahoma Governor Glenn Youn VirginiaGovernor Kay Ivey State GovernorAlabama Brian Kemp State of GovernorGeorgiaTate State of
Governor
to see you all face-to-face very soon,” Valerie said. “… Our goal is to get back and see our customers’ faces and interact with them.”Valerie said that the shop won’t be open every day of the week, but more information on days and hours will come soon. “We’re ordering back our favorite brands, our reps are wonderful, work ing diligently with us on that,” she said. Valerie said that she and Mike do hope to be back in their original space eventually.“It’sgoing to take a while, so we just didn’t want to go dormant for a year, if it takes that long, or more,” she said. “So we wanted to be able to do what we love to do, and serve the people we love and the community that we love and that has em braced us. And we’re just so grateful for all things downtown Opelika, and Opelika Fire Department and Opelika Main Street. “Just, without every body’s generosity, and kindness and compassion, we don’t know what we’d be doing now.”
Reynolds State of
Stitt State of
Gov. Ivey Sends Joint Governors Letter to Biden Opposing International Travel Vaccine Mandates
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ofStateStateStateStateStateterStateGovernorMississippiChrisSununuofNewHampshireGovernorHenryMcMasStateofSouthCarolinaGovernorMarkGordonofWyomingGovernorMikeDunleavyofAlaskaGovernorBradLittleofIdahoGovernorMikeParsonofMissouriGovernorDougBurgumofNorthDakotaGovernorBillLeeStateTennessee
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State of
Valerie said. “We have really felt it. The messages, the text messages, just every body calling and checking on us in every way they can, and loving us, the prayers, the well wishes — we just cannot thank you enough. And it’s been a rollercoaster but we’re definitely all good, and we definitely see where God is leading us in all of this.” The Maffia’s fire did not cause burning in any other structure, but firefight ers had to fight the fire through Southern Cross ing, causing severe water damage. There was also smoke damage and live mold, Valerie said. Because of the damages, the business lost both use of the building and every thing within it, she added. “There’s not enough that we can say good about the Opelika Fire Department,” Valerie said. “They are the true heroes in all of this. The fact that we only lost one structure in that fire is just amazing. It’s a miracle. It’s nothing more or less. So the kind ness and compassion that the Opelika Fire Depart ment showed us that day, I will never iningwillSouthernforget.”CrossingmoveintoabuildonSouth8thStreetdowntownOpelikain October next to Zazu’s Gastropub. The building is part of Opelika Main Street’s business incubator program.“Opelika Main Street has been gracious enough to offer us a chance to be the first retail incubator space in this gorgeous new building that they are remodeling,” Valerie said. The building is located where Heritage Gifts & Gourmet used to operate. “We are really excited to welcome y’all back into downtown in an in-person store,” said Ken Ward, president of Opelika Main Street. “… [The business incubator] is a really unique project here in downtown Opelika. The property will be a retail space for retail incubators or businesses that have ex perienced losses or things like that that need a space here in our downtown.” Southern Crossing will have online sales between now and October, which will require registration, Mike said. There will also be cannotandcustomers,talkingthatandtoValerieappwebsiteaandcoming,said.“It’ssonicebeouthereknowingwe’retoourwereallywait
The truth is, I don’t know. I don’t know whether the music of my forebears will still be here in the next, say, 50 years. I don’t know if we will still have young ironworkers who strum. Or work men who write love songs and wear denim non-ironically.Rightnowwe have high-tech baby strollers that can push them selves. We have kids who can run the world using iPads. And next year, AeroMobil will make flying cars avail able for purchase. I feel like a Americasucks.”column.whispered,money.behindtonewniorWherebrontosaurus.doesHankSefitintothisbraveworld?Iremovedmywalletpaymytab.ThegirlthebartookmyShesmiledand“IreadyourLukeBryanThereishopeforyet.
Miss Wanda sold me my very first beer when I wasYes,14.Irealize 14 is way too young to consume libation. I also realize that if Wanda had done such a thing today, she would be rot ting beneath Tutwiler Prison. But those were different times. Wanda gave me an ice-cold Miller High Life in exchange for a song played on my guitar. She asked me to sing to the barroom be cause — how’s this for irony? — her mother heard me sing in church once.Isang “Hello Walls”. I tried to make my voice do like Faron Young’s voice did. Billy opened the door. The old men assumed their barstools. The place smelled like someone’s crawl space. There was a tiny plywood stage in the corner. An old guy with a ponytail was picking and singing Vern Gos din’s “Set ‘em Up Joe”. I ordered a Miller High Life, just to see if the spirit of Wanda lived“Weon.don’t carry High Life,” said the bar tender. She was young and full-faced. But in a pleasing way. My two partners ordered Bud Lights. I ordered a Budweiser. The girl called out, “I need two Bud Lights and one beer!” The other bartender was nicknamed “Tiny.” He weighed roughly 250 pounds, and his arms were the size of fire hydrants. He used to play high school ball. He could have had a full ride to a State-U, but his girlfriend was pregnant at the time. He got our drinks. The man on the stage was now playing a Jerry Jeff Walker train song. “Railroad Lady”. Pinch me. The story of Jer ry Jeff Walker is the perfect example of the articulate beauty of country music. Walker was a New York native. He was a musical kid who was interested in jazz at an early age. Of all things. He gravitat ed toward country. He was a lyrical prodigy. Waylon loved him. So did Willie. He died last year. God rest his pick. Billy turned to me and said, “So, what do you think? Is this a real country beer joint or what?”He’s referring to a column I wrote recently about visiting a bar out side Atlanta. It was sup posed to be a beer joint. It wasn’t. A tattooed youngster in a cowboy hat shouted rhymes into a mic. “Redneck rap” is what they called it. Lots of cussing. Lots of mentions of human anatomy.Theyoung people at the Atlanta bar were digging it. Luke Bryan music played overhead. They wore expensive jeans, sipped fruity craft beers. There were strobe lights. I wrote about it. The column got some feedback from some lo cal newspapers. Most ly from middle-aged people who told me I was an “old fart,” that I should “go back to the nursing home,” and anyone who doesn’t like Luke Bryan can go straight to New Jersey. One middle-aged reader from Oklahoma wrote to me and assert ed that, “Luke Bryan is the greatest genius country musical artist the world has ever did.”
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Another: “Luke Bry an has more talent in his pinky than you have in your entire [nasty word] body, you [even nastier word].” Hank wept. I abhor the modern stuff. I firmly believe in the American tradition of country music. And I believe tradition made the genre great. Not innovation.I’mnothere to criti cize any modern artists, but I stand by my words. I think country music is heading in the wrongCountrydirection.music needs three chords, four at the max. Piercingly clever lyrics. A penitent singer. A steel guitar solo. And at least one mention of a truck. If Luke Bryan can do that, so be it. But I ain’t heard it yet. The guy on stage starts playing “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”. He nails it. I’m closing my eyes. And I swear I am listening to Willie sing his bandan na“So,”off. said Billy. “Do you still believe coun try music is dying?”
SEAN DIETRICH A beer joint. In the sticks. lotly’swillname.Althoughwhomhere,”anyonewaterhole.attendedgrandfathers.oldspell.manwasmarqueePabstNoinbeat-upbuilding.cinderblockAThereweretrucksparkedadustyparkinglot.sign.OnlyasmallBlueRibbonindicatedthisaplacewhereacouldbreakadryMycompanionswereenoughtobemyIaccepttheirinvitationstotheirprivate“Wedon’twanttoknowit’ssaidoneoldmanIwillcallBilly.thatisnothis“Otherwise,peopleruinit,”saidBilcohort.Itwasadankplace.Aliketheplacewhere
P R E S E N T E D B Y Farrell Seymore ad dressed the council during the work session on Tuesday night and asked the council to consider the resolution to issue a series of general obligation school warrants for the project.“Wewill be able to fund around $12 million [of the $23 million dollar project and] we would ask your help for the remain der of that balance to sponsor a bond in issue,” Seymore said. “That will be paid solely by Opelika City Schools over the life of that debt, so the city would not incur any debt in that time.” The city issuing the warrants for the project helps OCS in part due to the city’s excellent double A credit rating, which will lower the cost of borrow ing for OCS.
REDISTRICTING The acceptance of a redistricting map for the city of Opelika has been delayed yet again. After a motion to remove the pre viously tabled item from Ward 5 Council Member Todd Rauch, the motion did not carry due to lack of a second. The proposed ordinance to accept what has been dubbed as “The Mayor’s Map” remains on the table, and if no action is taken before Sept. 13, 2022, it will go into effect by default. The council can still vote to remove the item from the table and vote to approve or disapprove the plan. An alternative plan has been put forth by the local NAACP chapter, but its map has not been placed on the agenda due to lack of a valid legal descrip tion that is required. A decision will be made at the next meeting on Sept. 6, even if that decision comes from the council taking no action at all.
- The council approved special use permits with Dish Wireless to install/ co-locate its equipment at existing wireless tele communication facilities located at 1981 Airport Road and 2002 Steel St.
Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller recognized several people during Tuesday night's meeting. Opelika Police Officer Grant Gow was awarded a second Life-Saving Award for his quick thinking and actions while responding to a call of a gunshot victim in June of this year. Being the first person to arrive on the scene, Gow found the male victim bleeding from a gunshot wound to his leg and quickly ap plied a tourniquet to stem the bleeding until emer gency medical personnel could provide further treatment. The victim sur vived and Gow is credited for saving the man’s life with his fast response. Opelika Police Officer Christopher Fisher was recognized and awarded a Meritorious Service Award. Fisher responded to a call of a suspicious person and upon arriving at the scene, found an in dividual that appeared to be asleep at the wheel of an automobile at the gas pump of a local service station. Upon waking the individual, Fisher ob served that the person has slurred speech and experi enced difficulty following directions. Fisher noticed that the automobile was equipped with an alcohol interlock device, so he requested the individual exit the vehicle to per form field sobriety tests. It was during these tests, that Fisher had to help the individual several times to prevent the person from falling. Fisher was able to determine that the person might be suffering from a medical emergen cy and requested medical assistance where it was determined that the per son needed to be trans ported to the hospital for further evaluation. It was later determined that the individual had suffered a stroke. Had Fisher mis taken the situation as the individual being impaired due to a substance, the in dividual may not received the necessary medical care needed at that time and the outcome could have been much worse.
A5 Aug. 18, 2022 GET YOUR TICKETS GNOW! ET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
roadway improvements project for an amount estimated to be approxi mately $1 million, which shall come from the Engineering Department budget.-The council approved expense reports and also a resolution to designate certain city property as surplus and authorized its disposal.-Thecouncil approved a resolution to amend the organizational charts and pay grades for multiple departments.-Thecouncil approved a resolution renewing a three-year employment contract for the director of the Opelika Environ mental Services, Terry M. White.-The council approved a quote from CDW, LLC for the purchase of Samsara IoT data services for the IT Department.
OOUOOOHPTCNTRBTEDTTHEBSERVER
- The council voted to approve an ordinance that will amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone 3.14 acres of land located at 3373 Society Hill Road from R-1 to C3, GC-P.
- The city held a public hearing and also voted to approve a weed abate ment for property located at 3307 Arnold Ave.
THURSDAY 9.15 | DOWNTOWN OPELIKA | OPELIKACHAMBER.COM
- The council voted to approve an ordinance that will amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone 40 acres of land located in the 2900 block of Society Hill Road from R1 and C-2 to C-2. - The council voted to approve an ordinance that will amend the City Code of Ordinances, Section 14-318, Revoking Busi ness Licenses - Ward 1 Council Member George Allen introduced an ordinance to amend the City Code of Ordinances, Sections 10-35 and 10-58, Solid Waste Disposal. - Rauch introduced an ordinance to amend the city of Opelika Policies and Procedures Manual
Fuller also recognized the 2022-23 Twenty Un der 40 class and the Mu Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha So rority which is celebrating its 43rd year this upcom ing weekend.
- Ward 3 Council Mem ber Tim Aja introduced an ordinance to renew a lease agreement with Envision Opelika Foun dation Inc. The lease is for the property known as "the depot" in downtown Opelika, for a term of three years and the rent is listed as $1 per year. - Upon the mayor’s rec ommendation, the council voted to appoint Mark Gatlin to the Historical Preservation Commission for a term to end on Aug. 19, 2025. - Upon the pointcouncilrecommendation,mayor’sthevotedtoreapMarkGrantham to the Historical Preserva tion Commission for a term to end on Aug. 19, 2025.
RECOGNITIONS
IN OTHER BUSINESS - The council approved a bid for forfrigeration,AiraofEquipmentfromaOpelikacustodialFacilityaServices.lightsSupplyaas-neededBurtpersonneltemporaryservicesfromEmploymentonanbasis.-ThecouncilapprovedbidfromGrescoUtilityforLEDstreetforOpelikaPower-ThecouncilapprovedbidfromAmericanServicesInc.forservicesforPowerServices.-ThecouncilapprovedbidforadieseltractorBeShearsTractor&intheamount$39,700.-ThecouncilapprovedbidfromSouthDadeConditioningandReInc.(SDAC)acity-wideADA
OPELIKA >> FROM A1
Mu Sigma Omega to Host Events for 43rd Anniversary
The Opelika police officers listed above were nominated for the Community Police Officer of the Year award. The award will be announced at the Chief's Banquet on Friday night.
The Opelika police officers listed above were nominated for the Opelika Police Officer of the Year award. The award will be announced at the Chief's Banquet on Friday night.
OFFICER WADE COOK OFFICER CHRIS FISHEROFFICER JONATHON GLOVER OFFICER CHASE HIGGINS
OFFICER OFFICERGLOVERJONATHONCOLLINPOSSSGT.JOHNATHANWHALEY OFFICER OFFICERHIGGINSCHASECOREYPOSSSGT.ALFREDWHITE
OFFICER WADE FOSTER OFFICER DETECTIVEPHILLIPSBRANDONJACOBTAYLOR
OFFICERHUNTERMONTREZKEVINQUINTANA
OFFICER OFFICEROFFICERBURDETTEKYLEKIRAMCCURDYNICKSALEMNO
OFFICERPETTAWAYBRANDONADAMSTADLER
A6 Aug. 18, 2022 SGT. ROBERT BUGG OFFICER
SGT. JAMES DANIEL OFFICER ALEX MESTRE OFFICER SANTIESTEBANGIO OFFICER CHRIS FISHER SGT.
OFFICER CALVIN NEW OFFICER KEVIN QUINTANA OFFICER GIO SANTIESTEBAN OFFICER ADAM STADLER
Opelika Police Officers Nominated for Officer of the Year Awards
CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER OPELIKA — The local members of Mu Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. will celebrate 43 years of service to the Lee County area with several events Aug. 18-21, 2022. The chapter was chartered in Opelika, Alabama, on Aug. 18, 1979, under the tenure of International President Dr. Barbara K. Phillips. Mu Sigma Omega Chapter embodies the theme of “Service to All Mankind” through a variety of projects. The chapter brings an eternal sisterhood to the Lee County area that encourages higher achievement and continues a strong legacy of service and community involvement. The public is invited to join the chapter for its AKA Fest in the Park at Opelika Sportsplex Amphitheater from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please contact any members of Mu Sigma Omega Chapter for information.
S ocietyFood,& News SHouthernospitality Ann Cipperly OOUOOOHPTCNTRIBTEDTTHEBSERVER vents,E See CIPPERLY, page A10 Remembering The Chicken House, Betts Grocery UPCOMING EVENTS: AUG. 20: SUMMER IN THE PARK, 10 A.M. TO 1 P.M. AUG. 20: BITTY AND BEAU'S GRAND OPENING IN AUBURN, 10 A.M. AUG. 23: AUBURN MUNICIPAL ELECTION AUG. 27: ARM'S BBQ BLOCK PARTY IN OPELIKA, 11 A.M. TO 2 P.M. “Our Mission is Yo ur He alth” 334-364-9993 |334-364-9997 7667 Alabama Hwy 51,Suite A, Opelika www.beauregarddrugs.com Mon-Fri 8am–6pm |Sat 9am–12pm |Sunday Closed BEAU REGARD DRUGS •DriveThru Only •Regular Operating Hours •Please Call Ahead on Refills to Avoid Wait WE DELIVER! Piedmont Fertilizer Co. Inc. 201 2nd Ave. • Opelika, AL SINCE 1910 Nothing better for your lawn exists T he once pop ular BettsHouseChickenandGrocery stood for many years at the site where South ern Union is currently located. The Chicken House was a favorite place in Opelika for dining out and parties, especially after Auburn football games. Mar guerite and Gus Barnes operated the restaurant adjoining the grocery owned by Kathryne and Robert A. Betts. Both businesses served as a landmark for trav elers, with the history beginning many years earlier along a dirt road without electricity or running (Tobe)Betts’constructed,andBeforewater.therestaurantgrocerystorewereRobertfather,W.A.Betts,owned a small wooden store building in 1925 at the site, which was a mile from the city limits. When the dirt road to Lafayette, then known as Highway 37, was in the process of be ing paved, the wooden store was on the right of way and had to be torn down.Two years later, Tobe Betts, who was also the sheriff, decided to replace the wooden structure and built a brick store near where the other building had stood. He hired his son-in-law, Leonard Thomas, to operate the business for him while he was busy with law enforcement duties. When the store opened, typical sup plies included fat back, streak-of-lean, octagon soap, plug tobacco, tins of snuff, overalls, candy in buckets, plows, horse feed, lard and nails, among other products. Soda water was dis pensed in bottles and chilled in an ice box. Most items such as sugar, coffee, beans, rice and meal were pur chased in bulk, weighed and sold in paper bags. Flour was sold in 24and 48-pound bags, and when the bags were empty, the material BY SAM DICHIARA FOR THE OBSERVER OPELIKA — The popularity of fast-food restaurants should serve as proof that many people dislike cooking and would prefer others take care of it. How ever, this is not always the case. Brian Likens, owner of Proper Prep Services, believes he is the exception. A Proper Meal Proper Prep Services Makes Eating Healthy More Convenient See PROPER, page A9See SUNDILLA, page A11 /OOHPTBYSAMDCHARAFORTHEOBSERVER CONTRIBUTED BY SUNDILLA ACOUSTIC CONCERT SERIES AUBURN — Sundilla will close the summer (or open the school year, de pending on your per spective) with the first visit from The Close, a trio that cannot be described without the word HARMONY, in all-caps. They’ll be tak ing the stage at Pebble Hill on Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available for $20 at Spicer’s Music, Ross House Coffee and online at sundillamu sic.com. Admission at the door will be $25. Weather permitting, Sundilla To Present ‘The Close’ Aug. 26 OBSERVERTHETOCONTRIBUTEDPHOTO
A8 Aug. 18, 2022 PATTONSTACEYWALLACE Making the Grade: The Boathouse OBSERVERTHEFOR/WALLACEMIKEBYPHOTOS NEW HOURS AT AXE MARKS THE SPOT 5 TO 9 P.M. EVERY DAY EXCEPT WEDNESDAY NO RESERVATION NEEDED ADDITIONALAVAILABLEHOURSBY RESERVATION Come Throw With Us! 223 S. 8th St., Opelika Call 912-322-1699 For Reservations As I’ve mentioned many before,timesIgrew up in Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals). My parents, two much older brothers Jim and Mike and I lived just 10 minutes from Lake Martin, the most beautiful lake in Sweet Home bandWhenAlabama.myhusMikeandIdid a little online research, we found that Lake Martin is: 1. the second most gorgeous lake in Alabama (I demand a recount.); 2. the fourth largest lake in the state; and 3. one of the top five cleanest lakes in the nation. There you go. One of my favorite lake activities is boat ing because my cares seem to evaporate as the wind flows across my face. My sisterin-law’s brother Tony, who is like a third older brother to me, lives on Lake Martin. Over the years, our family has spent many fun-filled days visiting him at his lovely home. As I’ve mentioned before, when I was in my 20s, my brother Jim tried valiantly to teach me to water ski on Lake Martin. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful. Instead of water skiing, I spent the afternoon being dragged across the lake, ingesting gallons of Day,water.LastMemorialImanagedto ride Super Mabel, a huge, multi-person float, which the boat pulled. I rode with my nephew Luke and my greatnephew Thomas. I was jarred to within an inch of my life. Throughout my short ride, I was screaming repeated ly, “Stop, Tony!” I’m proud that I rode Super Mabel, but next time, I’ll probably just stick to boating.There is another lovely lake, which borders our Lee County and Harris County in Georgia; that would be Lake Harding. Recent ly, Mike, Jack and I traveled near the lake to dine at The Boathouse at 50 Lee Road #344 in Salem. Unfortunate ly, our friend William was feeling a bit under the weather, so he was unable to join us. Nikki, our server, was an absolute delight, being so sweet, patient and helpful. She told us that The Boathouse was originally the Pepper Mill Grill (which we had eaten at with friends many years ago) and after that, the restaurant was called River Bend. That night, we were all in the mood for catfish. Mike ordered the grilled catfish fillets with French fries. I chose the fried catfish fillets with fries and a salad. Jack ordered exactly what I did. Before our food came, Jack took a picture of Mike and me with his cell phone. He said, “How do you do a wide angle?” Realiz ing how that sounded, Jack laughed and said, “No offense.” The man almost had to walk back home to arrived,WhenOpelika.ourfoodMikeandI swapped one of his grilled fillets for one of my fried. Our meals were really good. Also, let me tell you, that was some of the best grilled catfish I’ve ever tast ed. The seasoning was so delicious, I almost didn’t need the tartar sauce I love so well. For dessert, Mike and I shared a warm, delectable piece of chocolate lava cake. Oh, my two times. And to be honest, I ate most of it; I’m a chocolate freak. Jack enjoyed a piece of cheesecake with rasp berryThedrizzle.Boathouse also has some great starters, which include: fresh, stuffed jalapenos, fried green tomatoes, colossal onion rings, fried pickle chips, pow-pow shrimp, fried provolone sticks and wings. Besides our tasty entrees, the restaurant serves diners pasta dishes, seafood selections, sandwiches,steaks,shrimp & grits, chicken mozza rella Caprese, smoth ered chicken, country fried steak, hamburger steak and a chicken and shrimp dinner. The Boathouse is closed on Sunday. The restaurant is open Mon day through Thursday from 5 to 9:30 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. The Boathouse makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Re member, “Pooh-sized” people NEVER lie about food. Enjoy! Stacey Patton Wallace, who retired from teaching language arts for 30 years, is a professional diner. Her column, “Making the Grade,” will appear each week in The Observer. Stacey may be reached at gmail.comlangartsteacher2020@retired
celebrated its
Hibachi on Wheels anniversary from 11 a.m. p.m.
The company of ficially opened for business last year and has been ens, the personal touch makes the busi ness“Thereunique.are no other meal prep companies local to the lika-AuburnOpearea,” he said. “What sets us apart, unlike going into a big box store or ordering online, you’re getting a local interaction with an actual human. You get to see the kitchen we’re cooking out of, you get to see the staff that’s there, we’re talking to peo ple, we’re joking with people, we’re encour aging them. We really just try to serve our community as best we can. I was born and raised here in Ope lika, and to be able to help other people in the community really means a lot to me.”
/OOHPTSBYEMLYKEYFORTHEOBSERVER
at O Town Ice Cream. PROPER >> FROM A7 AUGUST 20, 2022 • 10 A.M. - 1 P.M. MUNICIPAL PARK FOOD, FUN & GAMES MAKE SURE YOU COME HUNGRY! WE WILL HAVE THE BURGERS AND BADGES GRILL OFF BETWEEN OUR OPELIKA FIRST RESPONDERS! ALL PROCEEDS GO TO UNITED WAY OF LEE COUNTY TRAIN RIDES: 10 A.M. - NOON DUCK RACES BEGIN AT NOON FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT @CITYOFOPELIKA ON FACEBOOK
Customers can contact Proper Prep Services through its Facebook page by commenting on the weekly menu or by sending a direct mes sage. People can also reach out directly through the compa ny’s website,
threeProperAccordingprepservices.com.propertoLikens,Prepoffersdifferentpick-
to 8
timepoundsAnotherlongermonths25pre-diabeticwasthatespeciallyworkingsaid,lookyou‘WhatwhenLikensofbook,postedsonpicture178fromweightesandmadeafood.icanfromI’vedifferentwefreshness.thewehefreshcanhavinghavetydedicatedingredientspreparedmeatballchickenon,Westthefanturkey.Southwestblackenededweek’ssincefreshlytritious,customersprovidingwithnuconvenient,mademealsthen.Onemenuincludchickenstir-fry,tilapiaandgroundOtherfeaturedfavoritesincludetacopowerbowl,CoastsalmsmotheredBBQandturkeypasta—allfromfreshbyateamtothequaliofitsmeals.“Alotofpeoplejustenjoyedsomebodythatcook,preparemealsforthem,”said.“EverythingdoisdonewithutmostattentiontoEachweek,rotateoutthreemenuitems.madeeverythingItaliantoMexfoodtoGreekWe’vedoneLaotiandish.I’veCaribbean-styleCajun-styledishaswell.”Likens’bodysoondropped240poundstopounds,hesaid.“MywifetookaofmeandmyonthebeachanditonFaceandthat’skindwhereittookoff,”said.“That’speoplesaid,theheckhavebeendoing?Youamazing.’AndI‘Eatingrightandout.’”Likenssaidheisproudoneclientwhodiagnosedasdroppedpoundsinthreeandisnopre-diabetic.clientlost40inthesamespan.AccordingtoLik
Aug. 11 with a celebration
up times: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Mon days, and Tuesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. “When I started this, it was all about helping athletes meet their fitness goals,” he said. “When we opened to the public, it was a lot of people that were just wanting to eat better, which is great. My passion is cooking and fitness. I love helping people train. This coming year, we’re opening a personal training side to Proper Prep.” When reflecting over the journey, Likens expressed dis belief.“Ifsomebody four years ago told me this would’ve been a business, I would’ve laughed,” he said. “For you to tell me it would last a year, I would’ve laughed again. It’s just been crazy, the response from the community.”
OOOOHPTBYSAMDICHIARAFRTHEBSERVER
A9 Aug. 18, 2022
Hibachi on Wheels Keeps Rollin' “I love to cook, so for the past year, I’ve literally been able to say I’m living the dream,” he said. Likens estimates that he has prepared over 40,000 meals in the span of a year. He said he expects and hopes that number will increase to 70,000 to 80,000 this coming year.“Proper Prep Ser vices is a company that basically serves healthy food at a convenience,” Likens said. “So these meals are don’twholepre-portioned,foods.Weuseanything out of cans. You just store it in your refrigera tor and when you’re ready to eat it, pop it in the microwave for 90 seconds and you’re good to go. We’ve had nothing but fivestar reviews since we opened.”Likens’ inspiration for his new venture came out of a neces sity that many can relate“Fourto.years ago, I was 240 pounds,” he said. “I’ve al ways been an athlete. Growing up, I played football and soccer and was generally a very active person. Somewhere along the way, I just kind of gave up on that, got up to 240 pounds and decided something’s got to change. I start ed working out five days a week, running two to three times a week with a buddy of mine, and he actually asked, ‘Hey, if I buy most of the food, will you start meal prep ping for us?’ And that is how it got started.” Likens and Proper Prep Services are gearing up for their second year aweweekendpeople,opening,busfromasburn-Opelikamealshigh-quality,servinghealthytotheAuarea,wellascustomersasfarasColumandMontgomery.“Withintwodaysofwehad15andbeforethewasover,had40peopleonwaitinglist,”Likens said. “It just took off higher, further, faster than I ever thought. Instead of stopping to grab fast food on the go when you’re in between appointments or on your lunch break, this is a guiltfree meal you can take with you.”
White Sauce: 3/4 stick Oleo (butter or marga rine)4Tbsp. flour Liquid from as paragusMilkMeltbutter in a saucepan; add flour and stir until smooth. Stir in liq uid from asparagus. Then add enough milk for sauce to be desired thickness.
OLD COCONUT“TIMEY”CAKE Kathryne Betts 1 cup oleo (butter or margarine), room temperature2cupssugar4eggs1tsp.baking soda 1 ½ cups butter milk3cups all-purpose flour½tsp. vanilla extractPinch of salt Cream graduallyoleo;add sugar and cream together well. Add eggs one at a time, beating afterStireach.baking soda into buttermilk. Add alternately with flour, begin ning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and salt.
Few minutes of pimento to add color½lb. Serves30degreesping.)makes(Drywithafterlittledients,LayerofcrumbsrecipecheddargratedcheeseWhiteSauce,followsButteredbreadGreasebottomcasseroledish.allingreaddingawhitesauceeach.Topbreadcrumbs.butteredtoastagoodtopBakeat350foraboutto40minutes.8.
CASSEROLEASPARAGUS
Kathryne Betts 1 can green as paragus (set aside the liquid) 1 can English peas, drained 2 eggs,hard-boiledthinlysliced
Joan Bennett, who was a friend of Mrs. Barnes, shared this recipe. Joan and her husband, Luther, enjoyed dining on fried chicken and a simple green sal ad with thousand island dressing at the Chicken House. 1 cup shrimp 1 cup crabmeat 1 cup oysters, op tional1cup chopped celery1cup English peas 1 1/2 cups cooked rice 1 1/2 cups mayon naise2Tbsp. Worcester shire sauce 2 Tbsp. chopped onionBreadcrumbs for toppingMixall ingredi ents together, except breadcrumbs. Pour into a greased cas serole. Top 325forbreadcrumbs.withBake30minutesatdegrees. BISQUEALMOND BarnesMarguerite 22 marshmallows ½ cup milk 1 tsp. almond extract½pt. freeze.crumbspan,Pourincrackercream.addmondWhenlows(crushed)whippedcream,GrahamcrackersMeltmarshmalinwarmmilk.cool,addalextract,thentowhippedPutgrahamcrumbsbottomofpan.mixtureinputmoreontopand LEMON BISQUE BarnesMarguerite 1 ¼ cups water boiled1pk. lemon Jell-O1large can Pet evaporated milk 1/3 cup sugar 3 Tbsp. lemon juiceGrated rind of 1 lemonMix andPlacecracker2together.ingredientsPourovercupsgrahamcrumbs.inrefrigeratorchill.
CASSEROLESEAFOODBARNES’MARGUERITE
REFRIGERATOR
COOKIES
Pour batter into three greased and floured cake pans. Bake at 350 de grees for about 30 minutes or until testsWhendone.layers are cool, spread filling. Coconut Filling: 3 cups sugar 1½ cups milk 2 pkg. frozen coconut¼lb.oleo (1 stick butter or mar garine)1tsp. coconut.garnishiscakeandthread.untilcoconutuntilsaucepanarCombinevanillasugandmilkinaandcooksmooth.AddandcooksyrupspinsaAddoleovanilla.Icewhilefillingstillwarm.Canwithmore
A10 Aug. 18, 2022 CIPPERLY >> FROM RECIPESCIPPERLYA7>> was used for making clothes.Customers would pay 3 cents a pound for fat back, 10 cents a pound for lard and 10 cents for a loaf of bread. A well across the highway sup plied water for custom ers and mules. Most customers ar rived in a horse and buggy until the Model “T” and “A” Ford came along. Even though there were few cars, a gasoline pump was installed in front of the store under a shed. Gas oline was hand pumped into a glass bowl on top of the pump and allowed to flow into the car by gravity. Kero sene and motor oil were dispensed from metal drums by the quart and gallon.Itwas a custom at the time for farmers to have tenants drive a mule and wagon into town on the fourth Saturday of each month for supplies. Rather than come into town, many of the farm ers on that side of town would stop at Betts for horsesbroughtsupplies.Manycustomersmulesandforshoeing at the blacksmith shop in the building adjacent to the store. Plows were sharpened as well as general repairs for farm tools.Around 1930, the cutoff on Highway 29 from Lafayette Highway to Ridge Road was devel oped and paved. All the traffic on Highway 29 from Atlanta to Mont gomery and Lafayette on Highway 37 passed by the store. It became a popular stop with travelers for informa tion and restrooms. In the early 1930s, Tobe added on to the store and opened a restaurant called Tobe’s Barbecue. The barbecue and Brunswick stew were cooked in open pits and iron kettles across the highway. Charcoal was made by burning oak and hick ory logs, and an entire hog would be cooked. For many years, Taylor Gentry was the main cook.The restaurant be came well known for its barbecue and stew, which was sold as take-out. Barbecue sandwiches and the stew both sold for 15 cents, a hotdog with chili without beans was 5 cents, as well as soda pop. Homemade pies and hamburgers among other items were also available.Atthattime, the area didn’t have electric, wa ter or gas lines. Years later, Tobe and others paid to have them in stalled.Tobe served for three terms, and he was sheriff for Phenix City when it was part of Lee County. He started under Mayor Dickson serving as deputy sher iff for Sheriff Hodge, Butler and Moon. Since the sheriff could only serve a four-year term then, he had to wait four years before run ningWhenagain.Tobe wasn’t serving as sheriff, he operated a timber farm. At one time, the Betts family resided in the old brick jail building on Avenue A and later in the house connected to the jail on Avenue B. Tobe built a house across from the store around 1930. A dairy and only two houses were located between the store and city limits, the C.P. Stowe and Raleigh Corr residences. The county poor farm for older per sons was located a short distance in back of the store. The farm offered housing and food pro vided by the county. Tobe's son, Robert A. Betts, taught in the electrical favoritelinedwhenAuburnpopular,ThediningofChickenpartiesAuburnResidentskitchener,roomgrewgressed,flakesandchickencooksschoolShetiesherschoolmanagerrite,biscuits.homemadefamousbarbecue,andBettsbybuildingbusRestauranttheBarnesstore.asfromthe1947,operatedandfrom1941.activebeforeUniversitydepartmentengineeringatAuburnfor16yearsbeingcalledtodutyinJanuaryAfterreturninghistourin1946tryingpolitics,hethestore.WhenTobediedinRobertpurchasedstockofmerchandiseLeonardThomandranthegroceryAround1950,GuswasoperatingChickenHouseonColumHighwaywhenthewasdestroyedfire.GusleasedtheBarbecueStandcontinuedtoselladdingtheirfriedchicken,gravyandGus’swife,MarguewasthecafeteriaofNorthsideandwouldhelphusbandwithparattherestaurant.wouldgooveraftertocheckontheastheydippedtheinbuttermilkthencrushedcorn-beforefrying.Astheyearsprotherestauranttoincludeasmallwithbooths.Latthediningroomandwereexpanded.inOpelika,andValleyheldattherestaurant.Formanyyears,theHousewasonethefewplacesforoutinthearea.restaurantbecameespeciallyafterfootballgamestheroadwouldbewithcars.Therestaurantwasaplacetodine for Joan and Luther Bennett. They enjoyed the fried chicken and a simple lettuce salad with thousand island dress ing. Joan became friends with Marguerite when she was the secretary at Northside school. Joan, who is now 92 years old, said she was surprised how simple the dressing was when Marguerite told her how to make it. Joan remem bers it was mayonnaise mixed with ketchup and a dash of tabasco. Gen erally, thousand island dressings also included pickle relish. At one time, a large sign was erected on top of the restaurant adver tising radios for sale at Crossley Furniture Store in Opelika. The sign contained a picture of the latest floor model radio. A speaker was placed on the radio, and music and news played through the speaker by a battery set inside the building, which was quite odd in those days. Betts Grocery’s typi cal customer was often someone who would stop for a loaf of bread, saying they had for gotten to get it at the A & P. Since Highway 29 was the main route in those days from the north, many people stopped for information over the years. One cou ple stopped for the usual information and in quired about restrooms. Betts told them to go through the side door of the grocery and through the Chicken House. The couple returned laugh ing, as they had the im pression the restrooms were outside through the chicken yard. On Friday, Dec. 13, 1974, the Betts closed the store to go shopping, and 30 minutes later a driver drove his car through the front of the store building. The shed was damaged so that it had to be demolished. The only entrance to the store was through a side door from the restaurant. The restaurant closed over the next few years, and the grocery store closed around 1978 when Robert retired. As new stores were being opened in the area, the old store and restaurant were being torn down to make way for highway construc tion. At the intersection, a traffic light was in stalled. Later, Southern Union expanded to the area near where the store and restaurant onceBettsstood.Grocery was once a landmark to trav elers, and many stopped at the little store for bread or milk on the way home from work. Friends would meet for dinner and parties at the restaurant. It was the warm, hospitable feeling that people would later remember most of the little businesses, once standing on the edge of town. Information for article from interviews with Kathryne and Robert Betts in the 1980s. Rec ipes include ones Kath ryne Betts and Mar guerite Barnes enjoyed making. The chicken recipes are from others for creating a specialty chicken dish at your home.
Kathryne Betts 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room tem perature2cups brown sugar 2 eggs, beaten 3 ½ cups all-pur pose flour ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp. baking soda 1 cup nuts (pecans or walnuts), finely groundCream butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs andCombinebeat. flour, salt and baking soda. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Add nuts and blend well.Combine dough into rolls about the size of a silver dollar. It is easier to work with small rolls. Mixture can be made into four rolls. Wrap rolls in waxed paper (or plastic wrap). Place in 375sheet,Placerollsbake,Whenrefrigerator.readytothinlysliceintocookies.oncookieandbakeatdegreesfor
1 cup pre pared biscuit mix (Bisquick) 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. paprika 1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning, option al 1 cup choppedfinelypecans 1 broiler/fry er, cut in serving pieces 1/2 cup evapo rated milk 1/2 cup melted butterCombine biscuit mix, seasoning and pecans. Dip chicken pieces in evaporated milk, then coat well with dry mixture. Place in a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish. Pour melted butter over chick en, 5hours.degreeoroveneratepiece.coveringcompletelyeveryBakeinmod375-degreeforonehourinslow200ovenfor2Makes4toservings.
CHICKEN RECIPES FOR SPECIALTYYOURCREATINGOWN
While we don’t have a recipe for the chicken served at the Chicken House, here are some recipes to try for creating a special dish for your family.
1/3 cup melted butter1Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1 cup round but tery cracker crumbs (about 44 crackers) or dry breadcrumbs 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1¼ lb. chicken tendersCombine first 5 ingredients. In a separate bowl, stir cracker crumbs or breadcrumbs and Parmesan together. Dip chicken in butter mixture; then in cracker crumb mixture. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until chicken is brown and cooked. DEBBIE’S OVENFRIED CHICKENPECAN
OVEN CHICKENFRIEDSTRIPS
RECIPESCIPPERLY>>
FRIEDBUTTERMILKSOUTHERNCHICKEN 1 fryer, cut up, chicken parts or chicken tenders Salt, pepper to tasteButtermilk All-purpose flour or self-rising flour SaltOil and pepper chicken pieces. Place chicken in bowl; cover with buttermilk. Chill overnight. In a heavy skillet, heat oil. Dip chicken in flour.Fry over medium heat until golden brown and thor oughly cooked. (Oil must be hot when adding chicken or the flour will fall off.)
FRIED CHICKEN FROM RESTAURANTOPELIKAFAMOUSFORMERANOTHER Andy’s Restau rant Fried Chicken 2 chickens, fryer size2cups flour 2 Tbsp. salt 1 Tbsp. black pepper1Tbsp. white pepperWash chicken, roll in mixture of flour, salt and pepper. Let sit in bowl for 10 or 15 minutes.Preheat grease so it is hot enough for flour to stick to chicken when it is put in fat. (Deep fat fryer is better.) Cook until well browned. If using a deep fat fryer, do not turn. If not, turn once.
this will be an outdoor show. The Chill Spot will be on hand of fering tacos, sausage dogs, frozen desserts and soft drinks, and the audience is welcome to bring their own favorite food or beverage. The Close is a har mony-focused band comprised of multiple writers. Lori J Rowton, James Mckinney and Shannon Walker are a collective of intro spective lyricists who pen stellarmelodiesgenre-blendingwrappedinharmonies.The Close first grabbed the attention of audiences with their EP release, “Hello Heart”, in 2019. They absolutely shine in a live setting, where they are as dynamic as they are intimate in their connection with theirThelisteners.bandblurs the lines between Amer icana, contemporary folk, indie rock and country with a com mercial pop sensibility. The Close has been featured recently on Roots Radio, WMOT’s Finally Friday Broad cast live from Nash ville and were featured on the television series “The Southern Music Showcase”. The Close was asked by Victor Records, right before the pandemic hit, to re cord “The Close, Live from Victor Studios” at Victor recording studio. The Close will be touring for lamusic.com.tion,takeweather,theAuburnlegeHumanitiesCenterMarshalllocationcurrentlybenatlumHouse,theHill,day,Pebbleentlongdon’tcompanybethinkAugustdillaallydalloffavoriteshaveofpeopleleySundillaashave“Orbit”.lengthmuch-anticipatedtheirfull-albumrelease,“OurAugustconcertsbecomeknown‘big’shows,”saidOrganizerBaiJones.“ButsomeforgetthatmanythosebignamesthatbecomeSundilla—suchasActCongressandRanBramblett—actumadetheirSundebutsinthoseconcerts.WeTheClosewilljoiningthatselectbecauseyouhavetolistenfortogethooked.”SundillawillpresTheCloseatHillonFriAug.26.PebblealsoknownasScott-Yarbroughisanantebelcottagelocated101S.DebardeleSt.inAuburn.ItservesastheoftheCarolineDraughonfortheArts&intheColofLiberalArtsatUniversity.Ineventofinclementtheshowwillplaceindoors.Formoreinformagotowww.sundil
A11 Aug. 18, 2022 SUNDILLA >> FROM A7
115 years ago AuburnBank was founded on the principles of sound money management and putting the customer first. As we’ve opened our new home in downtown Auburn, those principles still drive everything we do. Come by and help us celebrate our most recent success, and let’s talk about helping you achieve yours. Our New Home Is Built on a JustFoundation...SolidLikeOurBank.funcarts.opelika com about 10 minutes until lightly brown. PECAN TARTS Kathryne Betts Tart Shells: 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 stick оleo (butter or margarine), room temperature3oz.pkg. cream cheese, room tem peratureMixall ingredients together. Roll dough into balls (will make 24). Place balls in mini muffin tins and press to form the tart. Filling: 1 cup brown sugar 1 egg ¾ cup chopped pecans 2 Tbsp. оleo (butter or degrees.25infillingentsMixmargarine)allingreditogether.Placeintartshellsmuffintins.Bakeminutesat350
CandidatesTylerAuburnThenalabama.org/elections/voting-locations/.www.auburonlyseatsupforelectionincludeWard1,Ward2,Ward5,Ward6andWard7.MayorRonAnders,Ward3CityCouncilMemberBethWitten,Ward4CouncilMemberAdamsandWard8CouncilMemberTommyDawsonarealluncontested.fortheotherwardsareavailablehere:www.news.auburnalabama.org/article/City%20News/4720.AbsenteeballotapplicationsaredueAug.16bymailandAug.18inperson,andtheballotsaredueAug.22.Formoreinformation:www.auburnalabama.org/elections/voter-resources/#absentee.Votingwilltakeplacefrom7a.m.to7p.m.VoterswillneedavalidphotoID.
For
Camp Hill Marketplace Come out and buy your fresh produce, honey, jams and hand-crafted items at the Camp Hill Marketplace, a state-certified farmers market Every Thursday, 8 to 11 a.m., June 2 through Oct. 20, rain or shine, at Mount Lovely Baptist Church at 21900 Senator Claude Pepper Drive Camp Hill, (AL Hwy 50). Potential ven dors contact Sharon at 256-749-5100 to apply to join.
families
public
Contact: Shiquita Fulton, M. ED/Vision Rehab Therapist for additional details at 334-705-2024, Melody Wilson, Case manager for the blind at 256-368-3258
NAMI East Alabama, the local affiliate of the National Alli ance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will meet on Aug. 23, 2022. supports dealing with mental illness mutual support, education and advocacy. There will be a time The is invited. are held at 714 E. Glenn Ave. in Auburn. community this page.
NAMI
through
Meetings
HAVE A COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT? Email the Observer at Editor@OpelikaObserver.com to get your
What's Happening in Lee County MEETING
UPCOMING EVENTS: Summer In The Park will be held Aug. 20 at Opelika's Municipal Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be the annual duck race in the creek, train rides and food.
Bitty and Beau’s will host a grand opening on Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. in downtown Auburn (100 N. Gay St.).
R.A.D WOMEN'S SELF DEFENSE CLASS The Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) System is a program of realistic self-de fense tactics and techniques for women. The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive, women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense train ing. It is available for women 13 and up. Lee County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a free R.A.D. class October 17, 18, 24, 25 at the Lee County Meeting Center. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/RADoctober
announcement on
for sharing.
Registration closes on Aug. 23 at 5 p.m., unless all spaces are reserved before that time. more information and to register, visit: bit.ly/augustsafety
Men’s Safety Class Presented by Lee County Sheriff’s Office Aug. 25, 6 to 8:30 p.m. This class is designed to help the men in our community feel empowered to keep themselves, their loved ones and others around them safe. We will be covering topics such as aware ness of surroundings, boundary setting, de-escalation and physical self-defense. It is open to boys and men age 13+.
NAMI
MUNICIPAL ELECTION - AUG. 23 Auburn’s Municipal Election will be held Aug. 23. can be here:
COFFEE & CONVERSATION WITH VFW POST 5404 VFW Post 5404, 131 E. Veterans Blvd., Auburn, next to Ray's Collision off of South College Street, will be open on Wednesdays 8 to 11 a.m. with coffee, donuts, cake and conversation about service and benefits for all vet erans and spouses to stop by.
Voting locations
O GROWS FARMERS MARKET Every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. outside the Southside Center for the Arts located at 1103 Glenn St. in Opelika. THE MARKET AT AG HERITAGE PARK Every Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. at AG Heritage Park located at 620-A S. Donahue Drive in Auburn LEE/RUSSELL COUNTY LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP will meet every month on the third Wednesday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The meeting will be held at the AIDB-Alabama Insti tute for the Deaf and Blind Opelika Regional center on 355 Dunlop Drive in Opelika. Every month there will be different topics discussed to make life more manageable living with low vision. “Alone we can do so little: together we can do so much.” –Helen Keller
A12 Aug. 18, 2022 Located in beautiful downtown Opelika 223 S. 8th St. | com/subscribe-today/www.opelikaobserver.$34SUBSCRIBEwww.opelikaobserver.com334-749-8003TODAYFORLEECOUNTY
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CONTRIBUTED BY ALFA COLUMBUS — The National Infantry Museum in Columbus will receive statewide and national exposure with a feature on Simply Southern TV. The show will pre miere locally on WLTZTV 38 in Columbus, Georgia, on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 5 p.m. and will be rebroadcast on national cable network RFD-TV the following Wednesday at 3 p.m. CST.“Anyone who has an opportunity to visit the National Infantry Muse um should,” said Simply Southern TV Reporter Melissa Bowman. “The sheer number of artifacts, monuments and exhibits is impressive, but what is truly remarkable is the powerful way the muse um captures the legacy of the U.S. Army Infantry.” Viewers also can catch the show on the follow ing channels: • WPMI-TV 15 in Mo bile on Sundays at 6 a.m.
• WAFF-TV 48 in Huntsville on Sundays at 9 a.m.•WAKA-TV 8 in Montgomery on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. • WTVY-TV 4 in Do than on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and • RFD-TV cable net work on Wednesdays at 3 p.m.Simply Southern TV is a 30-minute show that celebrates Alabama’s farmers, gardeners, makers, rural commu nities and SimplySouthernTV.net.show’saredestinations.one-of-a-kindEpisodesalsoavailableonthewebsiteatwww.
Simply Southern TV is presented by the Ala bama Farmers Fed eration, but it’s made possible through spon sorships. Those include major sponsor Alabama Farmers Cooperative; supporting sponsor Alfa Insurance; sustaining sponsors Alabama Cat fish Producers, Alabama Soybean Producers; and Alabama Wheat & Feed Grain Producers; and contributing sponsors Al abama Cooperative Ex tension System, Alabama Farm Credit, Alabama Farmers FruitFoundation,AgricultureAlabamaandVegetable Growers Association and Sweet Grown Alabama.
A13 Aug. 18, 2022 www.UrologyHealthFoundation.org PSA BLOOD TEST ONLY FACE MASKS REQUIRED Additional free screenings for men & women: MT. LOVELY MISSIONARY CHURCH 21900 Sen Claude Pepper Drive Camp Hill, AL 36850 205 601 5548 • Height • Weight • Body Mass Index (BMI) • Cholesterol • Blood sugar • Blood SponsoredpressurebyLive HealthSmart Alabama
• WBMA-TV 33/40 in Birmingham on Sundays at 6:30 a.m.
Simply Southern TV's Melissa Bowman speaks with National Infantry Museum Foundation Director of Education and Volunteer Services Christopher Lewis.PHOTOSCONTRBUTEDBYALFA
National Infantry Museum To Be Featured In National TV Show
The entrance to the National InfantryNationalMuseum.Infantry Museum Foundation Director of Education and Volunteer Services Christopher Lewis speaks with Simply Southern TV.
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334-298-4319Opelika ChurchTrinityPRESBYTERIANPresbyterian 1010 India Road, 334-745-4889Opelika SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Opelika Outreach S.D.A. Church P.O. Box 386, 334-749-3151Opelika BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK If we live, we live to the Lord: and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. — Romans 14:8 Got Questions? Come Study With Us THE CHURCH OF CHRIST AT SUNDAY2660CUNNINGHAMDRIVECUNNINGHAMDR.,OPELIKABIBLESTUDY9:30A.M.SUNDAYWORSHIP10:30A.M./5P.M.WEDNESDAYBIBLESTUDY6:30P.M. Catch ‘On the Mark’ with D. Mark Mitchell and Jeff Sasser weekday mornings from 7-9 a.m. tumcopelika.org (334) 745-2632 800 2nd Ave Opelika, Alabama 36801 8:30
CHURCH DIRECTORY APOSTOLIC HOLINESS God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 Highland Ave., 334-749-9672Opelika BethesdaBAPTIST Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St., 334-745-7528Opelika Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, 334-705-0538Valley AFBBaptistCooperativeFellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506 Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 3089 Judge Brown Rd., 334-710-2117Valley Greater ChurchMissionaryPeaceBaptist 650 Jeter Ave., 334-749-9487Opelika Green MissionaryChapelBaptist 390 Lee Road 106, (334)Auburn749-4184 High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 334-524-8750 Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., 334-745-3108Opelika Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, 334-745-4608Opelika Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika 10th Street Church Of Christ 500 N. 10th St., 334-745-5181Opelika Church Of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy., 334-742-9721Opelika Southside Church Of Christ 405 Carver Ave., 334-745-6015Opelika COMMUNITY OUTREACH Good Sheperd Anglican Church 3015 Opelika Road, Opelika EmmanuelEPISCOPAL Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave., 334-745-2054Opelika South Gay St., 334-826-8800Auburn MethodistUnitedChurch 5165 Lee Road 270, 334-745-4755Valley 1901 Waverly Pkwy., 334-524-9148Opelika Church West Point 334-707-3949Opelika St. Ellis Full Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, SundayTraditionalAMService9:30AMSchoolGathering10:30AMContemporaryService10:30AMChapelService Freed ––The book of Proverbs is full of powerful passages about our speech. A good place to begin is in 18:21 where the writer tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Framing it in such absolute terms gets our attention, but it’s more than that that the writer is after. Words can bring death or life. Our confession of Jesus at baptism leads to life (Romans 10:9-10), while a denial of Him results in death (Matthew 10:32-33). We can also think of juries and judges giving verdicts that result in life or death. All of this might be what the writer has in view, but I tend to think he’s more after the idea of how a wise, loving use of words promotes life, while a destructive use of words can bring about death. We saw an extreme example of this a few years ago when a young woman was convicted of throughasphyxiatingsecondinofdoandbeenofmanslaughterinvoluntaryinthedeathherboyfriend.Hehadcontemplatingsuicideshehadurgedhimtoit—eventothepointtellinghimtogetbackhistruckwhenhehadthoughtsabouthimselfthepoisonous fumes that had built up inside. After her conviction, her lawyers argued the verdict was unjust because it violated her right to free speech. Our speech is like a surgeon’s scalpel. When misused, it can mutilate, scar and even kill. When it is use as God intended, it brings healing and wholeness.“Thetongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). In light of this, we’re instructed to be discerning — to think before we speak. “The heart of the righteous man weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” (15:28). Sometimes this means we will choose silence over speech. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (10:19). Other times we may need to simply turn down the volume. “If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.” (27:14). But most of the time it involves recognizing that “reckless words pierce like a sword” (12:18), while “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction” (16:23). Discerning speech is freed speech. It gets us involved in the kind of conversations that bless others and bring glory to our Father. Proverbs is full of admonitions that point in this direction: "The lips of the righteous nourish many ... " (20:21), "The lips of the righteous know what is fitting ..." (10:32), "A man finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is a timely word!" (15:23), "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." (16:24), "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." (25:21), "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (15:1) We will end where we began — with the idea that our speech is important and powerful. “Through patience, a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.” (25:15). There is so much good our words can do when we allow them to be guided by God through His word. You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: with-bruce-green.coma-taste-of-grace-
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Speech: Part 2 RELIGION
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Worship with us on Sunday! The Disciple and
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A14 Aug. 18, 2022 Fresh Foods...And A Whole Lot More! Hunley Group Lambert Transfer & Storage An Interstate Agent for North American Van Lines 1102 Fox Trail Opelika, AL 745-570636803 BRUCEABOUTGREEN You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his with-bruce-green.coma-taste-of-grace-website:www. BRUCE GREEN Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ in Opelika
MethodistAuburnMETHODISTUnitedChurch 137
OBITUARIES Without a Whimper, He Crossed Over
A15 Aug. 18, 2022 WALTER ALBRITTON
MARY ELIZABETH BENES Mary E. Benes was born in Missouri on Dec. 6, 1924, and passed away at Bethany House on Aug. 10, 2022, at the age of 97. Mary graduated Ironton High School in Ironton, Missouri in 1942 and attended Nurses Training at St. Louis City Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri; she also graduated with a B. S. in Nursing from the College of Saint Francis in Joliet, Illinois, in 1979. Mary started her nursing career at St. Louis City Hospital upon graduating from nurses trainingandremained there until the early 50’s when she stopped working to raise a family. From 1960 to 1995, Mary continued her career as a nurse, nurse instructor, and supervisor with a career that includes stops at Stephens College Clinic, Colum bia, Missouri; Saint Mary’s Hospital, Clayton, Missouri; and St. John’s Mercy Hospital in Wash ington, Missouri. Mary lived for 3 years in Mem phis, Tennessee, before moving to Auburn in May of 2021 to be near her son Philip and granddaughter Victoria.Mary’s passion was reading. From the time she learned to read as a little girl until shortly before her death at 97 years old, she spent most of her leisure time curled up with a good book. She especially enjoyed Chris tian and historical novels. Mary was a committed follower of Jesus Christ and that trait was easily recognized in her kind, gentle, and friendly demeanor. She will be missed by all who knew her.She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Benes, whom she married in November of 1948; son, Steven and daughter-in-law Kathy; daughter-in-law Nancy; parents, Everett and Virgie Vickery; two brothers: Charles Vickery and Rob ertSheVickery.issurvived by her children, Mark Benes (Mary), Tulsa, Oklahoma; Philip Benes, Auburn; and Carol Buzolich (Paul), Boliva, North Carolina. She is also survived by sisters Virginia White, Ironton, Missouri; and Carol Jean Rinehart, St. Louis; and her brother James Vickery, Ironton. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and Wednesday,great-grandchildren.eightVisitationwasheldAug.17, 2022, in the Parlor at Fred erick-Dean Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. Graveside service will be held at Town Creek Ceme tery in Auburn, on Aug. 18, 2022 at 10 a.m.
F. DEAN GAUNTT F. Dean Gauntt was born on June 12, 1929, to the late John and Lillian Munroe. She had a life time in sales and the last was real estate sales. She was a longtime member of Providence Baptist Church.Shewas preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Hiram A. Gauntt and her son Perry Alden Pattillo.Sheis survived by daughters Karol Pattillo Morgan, Victoria Fos ter (Freddie), and Reba Ahnemiller (Donald); sons Andy Pattillo (Pamela), and Steve Pattillo (Patri cia); eight grandchildren; 14 onick-Deaninchildren.andgreat-grandchildren,twogreat-great-grandVisitationwasheldtheParloratFrederFuneralHomeWednesday,Aug.17, at 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. A graveside service followed at Garden Hills Cemetery with Dr. Rusty Sowell officiating.
RELIGION — In his Letter to the PaulPhilippians,addresses his friends as “all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi.” Later he addresses them as “my dear friends.” Then, at least eight times, he addresses them with the beautiful word “broth ers,” or sometimes, “my brothers.”Recognizing that Paul was no doubt referring to women disciples as well as men, the latest New Internation al Version (NIV) has translated the Greek word, “adelphoi” not as “brothers” but as “brothers and sisters.” Though changing the masculine word for brother to include females may be an example of blessederlysylvaniathebecauseismen.edlowersfriendsthePaulcorrectness,politicalitislikelywouldapproveofdecisionsincehiswhowerefolofJesusincludwomenaswellasThatGreekwordfamousinAmericaitisincludedinnameofthePenncityofbrothlove,Philadelphia.Mylifehasbeenbeyondmea sure by my “adelphoi,” my brothers and sisters in Christ. When I became a pastor in the early fifties, Methodist pastors were all males as far as I knew. Older pastors welcomed me into the “brotherhood” of pastors. In seminary, my professors often addressed us as “young gentlemen.” That has changed radically during my 72 years as a pastor. So many women have answered God’s call to serve as pastors that today more than 50% of seminary students are females. While I love dearly my sisters in Christ, the role models who have influenced my life have been men, my brothers in Christ; indeed, my dear brothers in Christ. With the passing of the years, the number of my dear brothers has diminished. In recent years I have bid fare well to my dear broth ers Roy Sublette, Jon Couey, Doug Newton and more recently, Jim Dannelly, a beloved friend who, without a whimper, crossed over to the other side. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul in vites his brothers and sisters to follow his example as a Christian and to “keep their eyes on” others who are worthy role models. You may recall his words: 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consid er myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forget ting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on to ward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heaven ward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think dif ferently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have al ready attained. 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do (3:12-17). As wise pastors ma ture in the faith and be come more effective in pastoral ministry, they follow Paul’s advice: They keep their eyes on their role models who may be older or fellow pastors whose example they seek to follow. Brother Si Mathison was my first, and most influential, role model since he was my father in the faith. There were several others, but along the way, my friend and fellow pastor Jim Dannelly became a role model for me. Jim was three months younger than me. I had known him as a fellow pastor, but our friendship began 54 years ago when he followed me to serve on the conference staff in Andalusia. He and Bobbie and their three children moved into the parsonage where we had lived for five years on Meadowbrook Drive. Over the years we often joked about the day Bobbie found some crayon markings on a hallway wall. When she inquired who had done this dastardly deed, their son Steve said, “Mama, it was the Albritton boys who did it!”Across the years, our friendship and respect for each oth er deepened. As we served together in many conference responsibili ties, I realized that God had given me a good friend whose integrity was above reproach. We shared a passion for evangelism and missions. We enjoyed talking together and sharing our common desire to motivate peo ple to find true life in Christ. We found great joy in participating in the Christian Ashram movement spearheaded by E. Stanley Jones. Jim was as authentic a disciple of Jesus as I have ever known. In my retirement years, Jim and Bobbie, Dean and I, worked together to strengthen the ministry of Wesley Heirs, a fellowship of retired Methodist pas tors and spouses, which was quite strong for many years but weak ened greatly by the Coronavirus pandemic. For two years Jim and I served as co-pres idents of Wesley Heirs, feeling that it met a real need by celebrating the life and ministry of those brothers and their spouses who had departed this life and entered into the Church Triumphant. In our spring and fall meetings of Wesley Heirs, we always formed a small choir to sing a special in the worship service on the second day of our meetings at Blue Lake. Jim and I enjoyed singing so we sang in the Wesley Heirs Choir. I always made it a point to sit beside Jim. Though “Mama sang bass,” Jim and I did also. I sat beside him because he could sing the right tune better than I could. In the last few years, Jim’s health deteriorat ed greatly. Jim loved the homeplace he had developed on Highway 231 near Troy. I ate several meals there while visiting Jim and Bobbie. I grieved for him as Jim’s eyesight grew downEddieJimperipheraltowerehowInstead,himworse,progressivelybutIneverheardgrovelinself-pity.hespokeoftheeyespecialiststeachinghimhowseesomewhatwithvision.Aweekorsobeforedied,myfriend,DavisdrovemetoseeJim.He was very weak, lying on his back, almost totally blind but not complaining. I had prayed for the Lord to guide me in what to say, and he guided me to sing some of our favorite songs. I knew Jim would sing along with me, and he did. We sang “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “There is a Balm in Gilead,” “Jesus Loves Me,” “O How I Love Jesus,” “Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Kno,” and other songs — for about 20 minutes. Then I held his hand and prayed a simple prayer. As I parted, I said, “Jim, I will see you again.” He replied strongly, “Yes!” When I heard that Jim’s soul had departed the shell that had been his body, I paused and praised God for my dear brother who had, without a whimper, crossed over to the oth er side, to join the great crowd of those John called “the victorious,” who joyfully await our arrival there. Take a moment and give thanks to God for the role models who have shaped and influ enced your life. Then ask God for the grace to continue living as a worthy role model for those who esteem your example, those who are “keeping their eyes” on you. Finally, please pray for me, that when the day of my departure comes, I may, without a whimper, cross over to the other side.
CAROL BISHOP LISENBY Carol Bishop Lisenby, 69, of Auburn, passed away Aug. 12, 2022, at Bethany House after a brief illness. Mrs. Lisenby was born Dec. 27, 1952, to Homer and Ellie Bishop. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Aug. 15, 2022, at Five Points Baptist Church with Rev. Donald Kirk officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.Mrs.Lisenby was a big Auburn fan. She also loved traveling and ful filled a lifelong dream of going to Australia a few yearsMrs.back.Lisenby is sur vived by her husband Bill Lisenby; daughter Samantha Still (Justin); grandchildren: Brayden Still, Braysen Still; brothers: Jimmy Bishop (Tina), Marvin Bishop (Marty); along with several nieces; cousins; and two special friends: Ginger Smith and Donna Stephens. She is preceded in death by her parents and daughter Tanya Kirby.Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.
A16 Aug. 18, 2022 COMICS “Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.” ― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
Excellence. Innovation. Compassion. East Alabama's "Go-To" Center For Orthopaedic Care Auburn 1800 Lakeside Circle, Auburn Opelika 18 Medical Arts Center 121 North 20th Street, Opelika www.theorthoclinic.com334-749-83031-800-327-6519 ON THE MARK D. MARK MITCHELL S S INSIDE B1 - B8: • AUBURN CITY SCHOOLS • AUBURN UNIVERSITY • COMMUNITY SPORTS • LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS • OPELIKA CITY SCHOOLS • SUSCC SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS OPELIKA: AUG. 23 AT 4:30 P.M. LEE COUNTY: SEPT. 13 AT 6:30 P.M. AUBURN: SEPT. 13 AT 6:30 P.M. See PANTHERS, page B5 See SPORTS, page B2 Southern Christian Continuing Mission in Year 3 BY WIL OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMSPORTSCREWS@CREWS OPELIKA — The ChristianJasonderdogsSelf-proclaimedSportsAlabamaarethree,throughfollowersbetterpreparesSouthernmitmenthomeschoolprogramsoneEastbuildareChristianSouthernPatriotscontinuingtotheirrootsinAlabamaasofthepremierfor8-manfootball.ThroughacomtoChrist,ChristianyouthtobeathletesandoftheLordsport.EnteringyearthePatriotscompetingintheChristianLeague.unbyheadcoachScott,Southernislookingto continue to improve itself in 2022. “We are very grate ful and glad to be a part of a great con ference,” Scott said at Media Days last week. “The standard here is high. We started three years ago probably way too late in the sea son to start football. We’ve had a pretty good2022run.”will be Scott’s first year as head coach of the Patriots, having previously had experience as an offen sive line coach at other programs. The skipper thinks his team will make strides on the field this season due to new access and a com mitment to the weight room.“These guys have been working ex tremely hard this offseason,” Scott said. “I think the biggest impact on our team this year is going to be the weight room. We See SOUTHERN, page B2 OHS OPENSFOOTBALLSEASONATCALLAWAY
BY WIL OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMSPORTSCREWS@CREWS SMITHS STATION — The Smiths Station High School Panthers have a new leader in one of their packs. Armon Ingersoll was recently announced as the head coach of the varsity Panther boys’ basketball team. He takes over from coach Steven Davis, who took a job with the Lee County School System thisDavissummer.helmed the Panthers for 11 seasons, from 2012 to 2022, reaching a pinnacle last season as Smiths Station won its very first basket ball 7A area title — and progressed to the quar terfinals of the 7A state tournament. Prior to his stint at Smiths Station, Davis coached Lanett for four successful seasons from“Being2008-11.able to win the area last year, what that does is allows us to have a target on our back,” Ingersoll said. “Now, as defending champi ons, we have to go out there and defend like champions. Teams each night are going to bring their A-game to Smiths Station. We are being hunted, which is a good thing. Our players must know that, understand that and live with that mindset. Really, that is a challenge that I want our guys to take on to elevate their game. You have to raise your game to another level.” Last season was Ingersoll’s first year on Davis’s staff. Prior to that he spent 11 seasons learning under the tute lage of former Central Phenix City coach and Alabama Sports Hall of Famer Bobby Wright. “It means a lot,” Ingersoll said about the opportunity to be head coach. “I’ve been wait ing for this opportunity as an assistant for 13 years. I didn’t take those
OPELIKA — The half,uleustypehopeheck,andareCedartown.OHS,said.competitivetiontheycontestClinic”.byMedia910AM“FOXplayingWigginsHomeingafterheadhisStadiumOHS,line.andseparatedtwomeetingThisFridaytoHogansville,footballBulldogsHighOpelikaSchoolvarsityteamtravelstoGeorgia,playCallawaynightat7p.m.willbethefourthbetweentheschools,whichareby40milestheGeorgiastateCallawaydefeated30-21,atBulldoglastseason.PeteWigginsstarts18thseasonastheoftheCavaliersstartinghiscoachcareeratHighlandinAlabama.talkedaboutOpelikaduringSportstheGameHighSchoolDayspresentedtheOrthopaedic“ThisisourfourthagainstOpelika;haverichtradiandithasbeenseries,”he“WestartwithplayTroupandAllthreeeither4AinGeorgia7AinAlabama...weare2A.Myisplayingtheseofteamswillmakeabetterteam.“Ilookatourschedanddivideitinnon-regiongames and region games. You can experiment during non-region game and work on plays for region opponents. As for the summer, I am pleased with the off-season workouts, the kids were awesome and stayed focus through every activity including, ‘7 v. 7’ competitions. This year’s team has 16 (se niors), way less than last year’s senior class. It was the biggest senior class in my 17 seasons. These guys are stepping in and beginning to grasp the senior role. They must lead our guys as we approach games. Callaway fans expect to win because over the years we were blessed to win a state title and be in contention every year.”Opelika coach Erik Speakman discussed his football team during an interview on “On the Mark” radio show on FOX Sports the Game. “Obviously, if you follow Bulldog foot ball, defense is always steady,” Speakman said. He went on to say that the main returners are seniors Jake Smith, Tae Gay, Brenton Williams, Mickel Heard and Trey Coleman.“These older guys
CHRISTIANSOUTHERNBYCONTRIBUTEDPHOTOOBSERVERTHETOCONTRIBUTEDPHOTO
Southern Christian head coach at ACSA Media Days.
Panthers Introduce New Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach
LOACHAPOKA ––Loachapoka junior football standout J.C. Hart committed to Auburn University Friday, Aug. 12. “First, I want to give all the glory to God for giving the ability to play the game I love at the next level,” Hart said at Loachapoka High School, just 12 miles from JordanHare Stadium. “I want to thank my parents and family for being my biggest supporters on and off the field. I want to give a special thanks to my mom for doing all she could to make it all happen. Thank you to all the coaches and team mates who supported me and guided me through the process. With that said, for the next three to four years I will be con tinuing my academic and athletic career at Auburn University. War MississippitheHartEagle.”choseTigersoverState, UCF and Vanderbilt. Hart, a three-star cornerback in the 247 Composite rankings, is the No. 887 player, No. 85 cornerback and No. 33 player in the state of Alabama. Hart is the first Loachapoka play er to commit to the Tigers since Montavis Pitts in Loachapoka’sAlong2002.with close geographical rela tion to Auburn, and the relationship he built with Auburn secondary coach Zac Etheridge, Hart had another reason for choosing the Tigers. The late Jeff Klein, a former Auburn play er and Loachapoka coach, passed away this April 2022 at age 43. Klein was a big reason Hart attend ed camps at Auburn which eventually led to him being offered. “He really wanted me to come here,” Hart said of Klein. “He’s a major prod uct in all of this, too. ‘Cause I know he re ally wanted me to go to Auburn. He even told me like, if I get an Auburn offer, go.”
BY WIL OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMSPORTSCREWS@CREWS OPELIKA — Out Tha Mudd Boxing LLC is open as Opelika’s newest box ingLocatedgym. at 1051 South Fox Run Parkway Unit 3, Owner Rod Welch is excited about the potential to grow his business in the area.While he didn’t start boxing until later in life, Welch is a USA Boxing referee and judge, a silver-certi fied coach with USA Boxing — of which there are only 32 in the nation — and a Golden Gloves winner. The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States.Welch said he wants his customers to know they are getting quality instruction when attend ing his gym. “Out Tha Mudd boxing is a 100% boxing gym,” he said. ”But, we do ev erything. Whether you want to be a competitor or just stay in shape, we are going to get you to your goals.” In addition to pro viding regular boxing classes, Out Tha Mudd Boxing operates on a gym-like membership structure — what Welch calls subscriptions — to offer a complete fitness routine to its customers. “That’s the best way to learn boxing,” Welch said of the subscriptions. “You have the whole month, three-to-four days a week to train. And you also are getting fitness [training] with the boxing as well. That’s the best way to do it whether you want to compete, learn self-defense or just stay in Welchshape.”said he ultimate ly felt the need to open the gym in Opelika be cause of his desire to help youth.“Ithink it keeps a lot of kids out of trouble,” he said. “That’s our main goal.”Welch believes boxing can provide “a way out” for youth who haven’t experienced much of the world outside of their hometown.“Ithelps people realize that the world is bigger than one city, one small area,” he said. “When I take guys to compete or to go see a fight, it lets them see the world from a better Outsideview.”ofthe chance to become an elite box ing competitor, Out Tha Mudd can provide the average person with nu merous health benefits. “It helps with every body else too, dealing with stress, depression, anxiety — it helps clear your mind,” Welch said. Welch said he and his staff are looking forward to the opportunity to serve the community, and even hope to host some fights in the near future to help generate the boxing buzz. The grand opening for Out Tha Mudd Boxing was held on Monday, Aug. 15. The gym is open every day from 7:30 to 11 a.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit its Facebook page, Out Tha Mudd Boxing LLC.
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SOUTHERN >> FROM B1 will be starters and lead the OMS;thathugeisthoughTheyoungandseniors,ary,haveSpeakmandefense,”said.“WeayoungsecondPerry,andtwoAndreSmileyJenkins.Severalguyswillplay.depthisfine,althejuniorclasssmall.Wehaveasophomoreclassplayedwellinattheseguyswill help“Theus.”o-line will be led by seniors Sewell and Frazier. Jalen Thomas was injured during the summer but will return soon. At running back, Calvin Huguley and Caden Cooper will move between receiver and running back. Roman Gagliano returns at quarterback, after starting the last half of the season. We are playing some kids at multiple positions –– wide receiver and running back –– including Tolbert, Williams, Miller and Bryce Speakman. On special teams, twins Jackson and Parker Kilcrease will rotate at the snapper position. Roman Gagliano will punt; Jonny Cesena, Will Carroll and Dalton Gam are all ro tating as kicker but are still battling for start ingCallawayspots.” is a good opener for OHS. Fans can purchase tickets online at gofan.co or listen to Opelika Football on WKKR 97.7 Kicker FM, online at kickerfm.com or on the iHeartRadio app. Van Riggs and crew will host the pre-game, which begins at 6:30 p.m. with kickoff set for 7 p.m. OHS FLAG FOOTBALL OHS will start its second girls’ flag football season Sept. 7 at Russell Second-yearCounty.coach
Out Tha Mudd Boxing Opens in Opelika
The soAuburn’sondaryLovefour-starstandout.staffthehisnumbersinata175-pound6-foot-2-inch,Hartran4.3740-yarddashAuburn’scampJune.Impressivelikethat,andover-4.0GPA,ledAuburnfootballtoofferthe‘PokaHartjoinsTerranceastheonlyseccommitsin2023classfar.
'Hart' of a Tiger
Running back and linebacker Josiah Frick (left), and quarterback Noah Freeman (right).
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SPORTS >> FROM B1
were gifted equipment by East Alabama Medical Center about a year ago. And then we were gift ed a place to work out. God has provided for us. And that has been the story of Southern Christian.”Scottand his wife de cided to start Southern Christian three years ago based on the clear need in the community for a sports program for himselfSmithsthewheretoplay.andto“Mynecessity,”startedstudent-athletes.homeschooled“ThewaywegotwaspurelyScottsaid.boyswerecomingthefootballseasonnothavingaplacetoSeveralguyscameme.TherewasnoforthemtoplayinAuburn-OpelikaandStationarea.”Scotthastakenitupontodedicatetime and effort to the Patriots' program. The dividends are beginning to pay off, he“Isaid.think this is my pur pose in life,” Scott said of Southern Christian. “My experience has been that private schools don’t value the homeschool ers like we do. We are finally starting to see a little bit of rollover. Guys who have played are now coaching. Our philosophy at Southern Christian is, if God can give me a coach and enough players to play a sport, we will make sure it gets done.” In terms of onthe-field product, the Patriots will have to replace their entire starting offensive and defensive line in 2022. Additionally, there are holes at quarterback and punter.“We lost eight se niors,” Scott said. “But we are getting those homeschoolers into our program. We train them up basically from the ground floor up. It can be very tough but well worthJuniorit.”Josiah Frick and sophomore Noah Freeman are players Scott is counting on to replace some of the lost production.“Lastyear I built my football IQ a lot and learned to be a leader,” Freeman said. Like many in 8-man football, Frick and Freeman will line up in multiple positions to fill whatever needs the team has.“Versatility just comes with the sport, especial ly 8-man football,” said Frick, who is slated to play linebacker and run ning back. “Since I start ed I was always playing different positions.” In total, Southern Christian boasts seven or eight upperclassmen, Scott said. The youth and lack of pedigree only add to the motivation and op portunity that Southern Christian has going into this“Myyear.guys are young,” Scott said. “We are very heavy in our ninth and 10th graders. We are glad to take on the team that is kind of the underdog, and we have some excellent athletes.”Southern Christian will take the field on the road against Lighthouse on Aug. 26 and look to con tinue the progress it has made over the past three years.“There is a lot of ho meschool people in the Lee/Russell county area,” Scott said. “It’s taken us this long to get our name out there. Getting the word out there that we exist for homeschoolers and small private schools that don’t have any sports … that is amazing to see.”
Jaclyn Button starts her second season as the Lady Bulldogs’ head coach. Last year’s team was one win away from quali fying for the champi onship game, played prior to the AHSAA 7A State Championship.FootballOpelikahas28 girls on the roster, more than last year, which allowed Button to have a junior varsity and varsity schedule. Five area schools will play for the second year and will be joined by firstyear teams Notasulga, Valley and LaFayette. The Lady Bulldog schedule will be listed weekly in my column. D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 9101319, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.
BY WIL OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMSPORTSCREWS@CREWS
Valley Native, Southern Union Student Among Recipients Panthers Prepare for Season Opener MORRIS one matchup home versus LaGrange Aug. the Smiths Station varsity football team hosted Northside High School's varsity team for a scrimmage. Panthers, day
on Thursday,
at
coverage: https://opelikaobserver.com/smiths-station-ready-for-new-opportunities/
CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER ALABAMA — B.A.S.S. and Shimano have partnered to award the inaugural Helen Sevier Pioneer Scholarships to Elizabeth Eastman of Fairhope, Alabama, and Dixie Morris of Valley, Alabama. These scholarships not only honor Sevier’s leadership and long-term vision for the growth of sportfishing, but also recognize the efforts of young female anglers as they pursue fishing at the collegiate level.“Shimano is thrilled to support Elizabeth and Dixie in their future ambition as anglers,” said Sarah Harper Burke, senior marketing man ager, Shimano North America Fishing. “They are exemplary young women who are claim ing their space within the fish ing industry. We applaud their drive and encourage their pursuit of taking their fishing to the next Eastman,level.”who is entering her senior year at Fairhope High School, grew up fishing in the biodiverse Mobile-Tensaw Delta with her dad and sister. She plans to attend Louisiana State University, where she will compete on the fishing team while pursuing a degree in Fisheries and Aquaculture. In addition to a top-15 finish at the 2022 Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation High School State Championship and serving as treasurer for her fishing team, Eastman is also active in dance, archery team, art club, marine life club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America and was named a National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) academic archer. “Winning this scholarship connects me to some amazing women,” Eastman said. “It gives me a sense of support that will help me push through any barrier I may encounter. It also creates a sense of obliga tion to carry on the legacy that Helen Sevier started.” Morris is a freshman on the Southern Union Community College Bison Fishing Team with plans to complete a pre-veterinary bachelor’s degree at Auburn University before veterinary school and a master’s degree. Morris had the initial idea to start her high school’s fishing team, the Valley Bass Team, and earned Top Angler (along with her teammate) three times while also helping to grow the team. Morris lives on the Chattahoochee River, with West Point Lake and Lake Harding providing other rich “home waters” for family fishing excursions. In addition to fishing, Morris is active in 4-H, Future Farmers of America and National Honor Society, an award winner in the SkillsUSA program and earned a Bronze Award from Girl“WinningScouts. the Helen Sevier Pioneer Scholarship has meant so much to me,” Morris said. “I was already looking forward to fishing on the Southern Union fishing team, but now I am even more excited because this helps to show women and young girls that they can achieve great things in a male-dominated sport. This has really encour aged me to step out and try for more scholarships and things that seemed unachievable. “I want to thank B.A.S.S. and Shimano for choosing me for this award. I also want to thank Helen Sevier for mak ing the pathway for the entire sportfishing industry.” Sevier, the second full-time member of B.A.S.S. hired by founder Ray Scott in 1970, was a pioneer at all levels of the organization. During her 31-year career at B.A.S.S., Sevier oversaw a boom in membership, as well as the ex pansion of Bassmaster’s me dia operation to include seven magazines and two television shows. Sevier was also instru mental in recruiting young people to the sport through the innovative CastingKids program. In 2004, Sevier was inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, and her induction into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame came in 2018. Both Eastman and Morris earned a $2,500 scholarship. About Shimano Leading the fishing industry in innovation and quality for over 100 years, Shimano’s manufacturing capabilities allow for anglers worldwide to enjoy their time on the wa ter to the fullest. We designed the entire lineup of Shimano products to elevate angler experiences with features that continuously evolve to push the boundaries of modern fishing tackle while raising the bar for the whole fishing industry. About B.A.S.S. B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the 515,000-member orga nization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster. com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, con servation and youth fishing. The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most pres tigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Mossy Oak Fishing, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.
First Helen Sevier Pioneer Scholarships Awarded To Alabama Anglers
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To prepare for its week
For more information on the 2022
Aug. 18, 2022 B3
check out our media
BY WIL OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMSPORTSCREWS@CREWS
It’s still an open competition. But, Finley took snaps with the first team to begin Saturday’s scrimmage and promptly led a 14-play drive, which was ended on a detailsFinley.quickly,”picksdefense.scoop-and-score95-yardbythe"Conceptually,hethingsupveryHarsinsaidof“Listenstotheandallthenuanc es on plays. If there's a coaching point, not just for him but for anybody, he'll remember that coaching point and be able to echo it whenever it comesOtherup."quarterbacks Robby Ashford and Zac Calzada also performed well according to Harsin. The issue thus far with Calzada — who threw a touchdown in Saturday’s scrimmage — has been consistency; that aspect may improve as he gets more familiar with the system after transferring from Texas A&M and missing all of spring practice. Ashford has impressed due to the increased level of ath leticism he holds over Finley and Calzada. As of now, each player has their own clear strengths: Finley has the most prior experience with Harsin; Calzada looks like the most well-rounded; and Ashford would be the choice given Harsin and his staff want to opt for a mobile option at quar terback. Still, however, a decision on who starts opening day appears to be somewhat far into the future."No decisions right now are going to be made," Harsin said. 2. WIDE RECEIVERS ARE STEPPING UP After the scrimmage, Harsin spoke about the play of the wide receiver room, noting the impact freshman Camden Brown has had, and how others are stepping up. "I think that whole group with Coach (Ike) Hilliard has made a lot of progress,” Harsin said. “That's a group that runs all the time. There have been very few issues out of that group. They're working, they've got to get better, and we ask them to do a lot of things ... but overall they know what to do. I think they practice Friday’scaughtinchBrown,hard."a6-foot-3-truefreshman,atouchdowninscrimmageas he continued his impres sive fall camp. Outside of super-senior Shedrick Jackson, Brown provides the Tigers with a bigbody pass catcher –– the likes of which Auburn hasn’t seen since Seth Williams in 2020. Brown is an early favorite as one of the youngsters who could break into the “starter” category. "Camden's a young guy who's catching our eye right now," Harsin said. Jackson and junior receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson are two other who Harsin singled out See AUBURN, page B7
Auburn coach Bryan Harsin talks to his team after the first scrimmage of training camp. Auburn junior quarterback T.J. Finley (1) throws a pass. Auburn fifth-year senior tight end John Samuel Shenker (25) was the team's third leading receiver last season.
What We Learned From Auburn’s First Fall Football Scrimmage
AUBURN ––Auburn held its first scrimmage of fall camp Saturday night at JordanHare Stadium. As pre season work continues to ramp up, the scrimmage provided the first in-ac tion look at the 2022 Tigers under coach Bryan Harsin.Here is what we learned. 1. T.J. FINLEY IS IN POLE POSITION TO WIN THE QB BATTLE
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Oregon transfer and Auburn redshirt freshman quarterback Robby Ashford (9) Texas A&M transfer and Auburn sophomore quarterback Zac Calzada throws a pass.
Bulldogs Battle Within
“I think we are going to continue the same style of play,” Ingersoll said. “We are want to be scrappy.”Ingersoll said he will still push this year’s team to reach its physi cal peak, but wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the halfcourt offense that proves to be a strength for the 2022“Oursquad.guys are going to have to play smarter basketball,” he said. “Sometimes we may have to play a half-courttype game as opposed to last year where we got our guys out in space be cause they had the abili ty to create. We can car ry over a little, but much of that is lost. The group that is coming in is a talented group that can take on that challenge of playing a similar style. If we have to play more of a half-court game, we can do that as well.”
Reflecting on the post season run to the Elite Eight of last year’s state tournament, Ingersoll understands the new found pressure of expec tations that the program is facing. Still, however, he has high hopes for 2022.“The standard is high,” Ingersoll said. “We want to meet that standard and exceed that standard and keep this thing going.”
“I want to give a big shout-out to coach Davis,” Ingersoll said. “Knowing the job he has done in past years to get the program to where it is now, we want to build and add to year’sImprovingthat.”onlaststandardwill be no easy feat for Ingersoll and his players. The Panthers lost six seniors from last season’s team, leaving the team with less athleticism and experience for the 2022 campaign.“That’sa lot of athlet icism that has left from last year,” Ingersoll said. “But this year I think we can still do some good things.”Despite the new-look roster, in terms of play style, Ingersoll said that he will continue in the vein of Davis’s teams, keeping the motto “Grit Station” as the team’s core pillar.
The Opelika High School varsity football team Friday held an intra-squad scrimmage in part of final preparations for the team's opening game on the road against Callaway (Georgia) Aug. 19. For more cover age of the Bulldogs, read D. Mark Mitchell's column on B1 or our coverage of Opelika at media days in July: www.opelikaobserver.com/experienced-opelika-prepares-for-challenge-of-7a/.
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Aug. 18, 2022 B5 years for granted. I kind of soaked up everything like a Now,sponge.”Ingersoll is the man tasked with taking over the heavy moniker Davis leaves behind. According to the new skipper, he expects the Panthers to build off their previous success — and push past it.
Wednesday, September 14
recipients hail from 52 different counties and will attend 21 different institutions.“It’simportant for young people to get a good education,” said Jimmy Parnell, Alfa Insurance presi dent. “These students represent the future of our state, and I’m glad we can support them through these scholarships.”Scholarships are awarded based on ac ademics, participation in school and commu nity activities, honors, work experience and future goals. The pro gram is administered through Scholarshipry,America.ScholarshipThroughoutitshistotheAlfaFoundationProgram has awarded $850,000 to students studying at Alabama technical schools, colleges and universities.Toviewphotos of all recipients, AlfaInsurance.bumorAlfaInsurance.comvisitgotothephotoalatFacebook.com/
· Seth Roarke of Auburn is a fresh man at entrepreneurship.UniversitySamfordstudying
BYCONTRIBTUEDALFA LEE COUNTY ––Five local col lege students were among a group of 100 who earned a $1,000 ScholarshiptivethroughscholarshipthecompetiAlfaFoundationProgram.
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THE RECIPIENTS Emily Coshatt of Auburn is a sophomore at Auburn University studying administration.business Riley Curtis of Smiths Station is a freshman at Auburn University study ing disorders.communication Kaycie Mashburn of Salem is a senior at Troy University study ing nursing.
Note: We did not re ceive a photo of Seth Roarke for publication.
Emily Coshatt of Auburn received a $1,000 scholarship from the Alfa Foundation. Coshatt is a sophomore at Auburn University studying business administration. Over nine years, the Alfa Founda tion Scholarship Program has awarded $850,000 in scholarships to Alabama college students. Riley Curtis of Smiths Station received a $1,000 scholarship from the Alfa Foundation. Curtis is a freshman at Auburn University studying communi cation disorders. Over nine years, the Alfa Founda tion Scholarship Program has awarded $850,000 in scholarships to Alabama college students.
Seth Walker of Auburn is a sophomore at Auburn University studying Thefees,usedengineering.chemicalTheawardmaybetowardtuition,booksorsupplies.100scholarship
Kaycie Mashburn of Salem received a $1,000 scholarship from the Alfa Foundation. Mashburn is a senior at Troy University studying nursing. Over nine years, the Alfa Foundation Scholarship Program has awarded $850,000 in scholarships to Alabama college students. Seth Walker of Auburn received a $1,000 schol arship from the Alfa Foundation. Walker is a sophomore at Auburn University studying chemical engineering. Over nine years, the Alfa Foundation Scholarship Program has awarded $850,000 in scholarships to Alabama college students.
Lee County Students Earn Alfa Foundation Scholarships
3. CLARITY ON WHO STEPS UP ALONGSIDE OWEN PAPPOE AT LINEBACKER
4. THE RUNNING BACK ROOM IS STACKED Tank Bigsby is a dawg. Auburn fans know that in their heart of hearts. The breakout just needs to come this year. Pretty much everyone in the country agrees it will –– and if not, they ad mit it needs to happen for Auburn to succeed in 2022. But, maybe the pressure is not all on him. Sophomore Jarquez Hunter finished his freshman season with 593 yards with a per-car ry-average of 6.7 yards. Hunter himself has noted how he expects to contributed more in 2022, saying last weekend, “The biggest adjustment is that now I am going to play a lot more this year, so I have got to really just get stuff down pat.”
5. OFFENSIVE IS STILL WORKING TO IMPROVE According to Harsin Saturday, the offensive line’s performance in the scrimmage was “solid.”
The Tigers had mul tiple significant pro ducers at the linebacker position move on from the program after 2021. Mainstays in the middle of the defense, Zakoby McClain and Chandler Wooten, are gone, and so steps in North Carolina transfer Eugene Asante and junior Cam Riley. After missing spring practice, Asante has come on strong this fall. Riley, a former fourstar, has grown from his freshman backers,”pressedalsoRobert230imposing209-pound6-foot-4-inch,sizetoan6-foot-5-inch,pounds.FreshmanWoodyardhasturnedheads.“I’vebeenreallyimwithourlineHarsinsaid.
6. INJURY FREE (AS OF NOW) Auburn had a number of potential contributors absent from its spring program. The Tigers also had a number of key con tributors from last year’s team miss significant time in the 2021 season. In total, seven returning starters, the No. 1 junior college player in the country and a potential quarterback contender have all missed signifi cant time since spring. That, in turn, has made things difficult when it came to assessing the roster. Injuries no more, however. Harsin said Saturday the team is healthy in terms of not having any significant injuries.“We’ve got a few little nicks, hammys and just kinda bumps and bruises right now, but nothing from the surgeries that’s going to keep anybody out at this point,” Harsin said.Kicker Daniel Carlson made all four field goals attempted in the scrim mage, signaling progress from the ACL injury he sustained toward the end of last season, and Pappoe took live reps af ter dealing with lingering lower body issues last season and through the spring."Owen looked like Owen," Harsin said. "He made some plays." The Tigers are set to hold their second fall training camp scrimmage this Friday. It will likely present some new an swers –– and questions –– for a team that is shrouded in uncertainty entering this season. The Tigers have just over two weeks remaining before opening the season at home against Mercer on Sept. 3. Things will only ramp up further from here.“Into the second scrim mage is where you’ll be cutting the team into the two-deep and the scouts,” Harsin said. “So, it’s going to happen fairly quickly, and like I told our guys, this stuff goes quick and you need to be ready. So, every rep you get, every practice, matters.”
Aug. 18, 2022 B7 SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
Trinity's Tribe Returns to Classroomthe
Another running back who impressed Harsin at Saturday’s scrimmage was four-star true fresh man Damari Alston. He scored twice in the scrimmage and Harsin had a lot of praise for the newcomer."Theone thing about having tailbacks, you don't want to over-coach them," Harsin said of Alston. "He's just got a good feel for it, he knows where to go. I think he's just got a good feel for when the play opens up to hit it. He doesn't lose many yards; he's got a good change of direc tion when he has to. He showed a good burst tonight."
The Tigers brought back six players with starting experience from last season, in addition to adding some talented pieces for the future of the program. Harsin and his staff proved last year they are not afraid to mix things up on the o-line and rotate in new faces for those not performing up to par. So, the search for “the five best players,” continues, according to offensive line coach Will Friend."Wehad a few plays that we got penetrated on,” Harsin said. “There wasn't a lot of negative plays from that stand point. I think we've got to do a better job of getting some push. But there were some good run lanes that they created. I just think our d-line is doing a good job, and I think that we've got some guys on the d-line that can play. So I think especially with that first group, that's a challenge for the o-line."
AUBURN >> FROM B4 OBSERVERTHEFOR/NOLESROBERTBYPHOTOS
The students at Trinity Christian School returned for their first day of the 2022 school year Aug. 10. Trinity serves students K-12. For more information: www.tcsopelika.org/
for having good camps. Alongside playmakers like Tar’Varish Dawson and Landen King — who have flashed brilliance in seasons past — the qual ity of Auburn's receiver room looks like one of the earliest pleasant sur prises to arise this fall.
Garrett Dixon of Lee County was named one of four finalists in the Young Farmers Discussion Meet after competitive rounds held Aug. 6. The Final Four will compete in December in Montgomery at the Alabama Farmers Federation annual meeting. The winner will receive a new four-wheeler, sponsored by First South Farm Credit, and will represent Alabama during the American Farm Bureau Federation national com petition in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in January 2023.
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embrace.encouraged,atingentlewhelmed.whenyourthreeObserverClassroomwantstosharewordstoputinpockettorememberwemightfeeloverIhopethesereminderswillhelptheclassroomaswellashome.TheyaretostayendureandThethreeE’s!
Local Seamstress Brings Home Ribbon From State Women'sContestLeadership
Dixon Named Finalist in State Young FarmersMeetDiscussion
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Jackie Henderson of Lee County won third place in the Lap Blanket Contest (adult division) during the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Expo in Birmingham on Aug. 6.
Deuteronomy 28:6 states, “You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.” They always remembered our names, and they took the time to genuinely make a difference in our lives. Our community is so blessed to have outstand ing educators who are pas sionate about teaching and love to work with students. Whether early childhood, elementary, middle school or high school, these teachers have a mission of believing the best, hoping for the best and encourag ing their students. Early in the school year, they begin to assess the needs of their class of children. They reach out to the parents of their students because they know it is a team effort in working and teaching young lives. As teachers and parents embark on this second week of school, we begin to assess our class of chil dren with the signal SOS: S - Do the children in my class feel secure and safe?O- Are the children open to learning? S - As a child’s teacher, am I being sensitive to a child’s learning needs as well as emotional needs? Secure and Safe As children adjust to their new home away from home, the classroom, parents can help facilitate bonding and security for their children with their teachers. Think of it as a team effort to provide a wonderful learning ex perience for your child. Take time to talk to your child about their school day. Keep a positive focus as they talk to you about their friends, what they learn and what they do. As a parent, you can discern if your child doesn’t seem settled in school yet. Here at the beginning of the year, contact your child’s teacher immediately if you sense that your child is anxious or doesn’t feel good about school. Teachers will spend extra time and give attention to your child by giving him or her a special classroom job so they feel special and connected with the classroom.Iloveto see parents leave notes in lunch boxes of my students. Giving your child a little token of encouragement to put in their backpacks or pockets (let the teacher know what you are doing by writing a note or speaking to them) enables your child to feel connected to you as they are in the classroom. As a teacher, something I recommend to cut down on a child’s anxiety about school is to have your child giggle and laugh about jokes as they go to school. Children love to do “knock-knock” jokes. Open to Learning This requires optimism and encouragement from adults. I love to observe parents as they encour age their children to do the best they can with subjects. It’s fun and chal lenging to break down hard subjects into parts a child can do well. Having success in small steps encourages the child to know they can do it. For instance, memorizing a week’s spelling word list truly encourages the joy of learning. Also, in being open to learning, we need to encourage children not to fear rejection or failure. Giving children hope by praising them when they have worked so hard on their assignments builds their confidence. Sensitive This is where teachers and parents focus on the individual child and their needs for learning in order to succeed. Children love to be needed and to help. They want to feel signif icant. Significance builds confidence in the learning process of children. Also,
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Dixon was one of 23 contestants in the meet, which simulates a committee meeting where participants discuss solutions to agricultural is sues. The Young Farmers contest, for ages 18-35, was held during the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Expo in Birmingham. From left are Federation President Jimmy Parnell and Dixon.
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T hese past two weeks, as the new school year has begun early in the morning, I love seeing the excitement of children get ting on the school bus with friends. The time that we wait behind the school bus allows us to reflect on our own school days and pray for the children boarding the bus. I know we all can re member those special teachers who made an eternal difference in our lives for the better. Their classrooms always welcomed students to a “home of academic, social and emotional learning.”
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Newly renovated CoLab held a ribbon cutting last month with the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. CoLab offers private office space & co-working in the heart of Downtown Opelika. If you have not seen their recent renovations, you need to stop by! The new offices are beautiful and incredibly spacious. They currently offer more than 60 private office spaces that are fully furnished and ready for you to customize. They also have multiple, high-tech conference rooms for their members to utilize as well as commercial real estate opportunities. CoLab is located at 216 S 8th St. in Opelika. To contact them directly, please call them at 334-748-9700 or email them at info@colabopelika.com. Special thanks to Opelika City Councilmember, Tim Aja for Ward 3, City Clerk, Russell Jones, Owner of CoLab, Deke Hilyer, CoLab staff, board members, ambassadors and ev eryone else who came out to celebrate this business in Opelika. Shout out to Cakeitecture Bakery for the delicious cookies.
Encourage As parents and teachers, we need to let children talk and express themselves as the year begins. This depends on the age of the child. Something import ant for children is for their teachers and parents to make sure they are under stood and heard. As teach ers and parents, we have to be active listeners. Endure Your children may face difficult subjects this year; encourage your child to endure the challeng es of a difficult subject. My difficult subject has always been math. My math teacher met with me when she saw a big wall of discouragement rising on my face daily. Her encouragement has stuck with me with the quote, “When the going gets tough, the tough get go ing.” She backed her words with action by working with me in small steps of understanding until I understood. It was a like a ladder of learning and en couragement. Her teaching and encouragement have helped me as a teacher all these years in helping young students when they feel discouraged with a difficult subject. Embrace To embrace means to hold. Embracing our chil dren means embracing everything about them, their good points and their imperfections. In embrac ing children during the learning process, we have to look at the process and effort that they have put into trying to learn and accomplish an assignment. We embrace the effort they have put forth rather than the outcome. I hope these few general pointers help children, par ents and teachers in this new school year. Beth Pinyerd, Classroom Observer
BETH PINYERD Prayers and Reflections Behind The School Bus
CoLab Holds CuttingRibbon
OPINION — The longer I continue to write about Alabama poli tics, the more I realize that Alabama really is a “Big Front Porch” — a saying made famous by our legendary Alabama story teller, Kathryn Tucker Wyndham. I have been involved in the world of Alabama politics for 60 years. I have been writing this column for over 18 years, and that is longer than I served in the legislature. I am sometimes asked whether I preferred being in the Alabama political arena or writ ing about it. The answer is easy. Writing is better. It is more fun to be able to throw stones than to have stones thrown at you. I am also asked at social or political events around the state, "What are some of your favorite political memories?" Indeed, I have been blessed to have met and known some of Alabama’s best-known political and literary figures.Ibegan paging in the Alabama Legislature at 12 years old and met Gov. George Wallace when he was in his first term as gov ernor. Ironically, 20 years later, I was elected to the legislature and Wallace was again governor for his fourth and final term. My legislative district included Pike, Barbour and Dale сounties so I represented Wallace in his home county of Barbour. Wallace loved the fact that I was now his repre sentative. He would have me visit with him often in the governor’s office, and he would tell me polit ical stories and maxims. He told me a lot of inside stories about the Civil Rights era, as well as pre-Civil Rights, some of which I have shared with you and some I will share later. One of my favorite friends in Alabama politics was the late Sen. Howell Heflin. Heflin was a very straight-laced gentleman. His daddy was a Methodist minister. He was truly a great man and one of the wittiest and best storytell ers I ever knew. He was a real Alabama hero and legend. He was a decorated World War II veteran, one of Alabama’s best lawyers, chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and our U.S. sena tor for 18 years. Most people who knew him well in Alabama and Washington simply referred to him as “Judge.” I wrote a glowing column about “Judge.” He appreciated the col umn. It really was like a eulogy. He liked to call me “Tree,” a nickname I acquired in college. After the column came out, he started getting calls from all over the state. He called to thank me. I told him, “Judge, I’m in about 60 papers and about 30 to 40 of the papers send me copies of the pa per, and why don’t I gather those up and bring them to you and read what title they gave to your column?” He said, “Would you do that, Tree?” I said, “Yes, I would enjoy a visit.”
2195 FIRST AVENUE • OPELIKA See FLOWERS, page B10
Forward
See
AUBURN — Auburn has a new lounge on the way — The157Session.E.Magnolia Ave. will soon serve as an entertainment lounge following a conditional use approval vote from the Auburn City Council TuesdayAlthoughnight.no one spoke during the public hearing, Ward 3 Council Member Beth Witten expressed support for the project.“Ithink it’s a great potential addition to the downtown,” she said. “I look forward to vis iting once it’s open, if it passes.” OTHER BUSINESS: - The council ap proved a concurrence for Winkelmann Flowform Technology, LPat 229 Teague Court in the Auburn Industrial Park. - The council approved the city of Auburn FY2023 Transportation Plan.-The council approved a contract with the Alabama Department of Transportation for a pre liminary engineering and construction agreement for message signs on I-85 for $182,500. - The council ap proved a contract with the Alabama League of Municipalities for mem bership renewal for over $16,400.-Thecouncil approved Lounge To Come Community Leaders Launch Opelika Campaign AUBURN, page B10 CONTRIBUTED BY THE OPELIKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPELIKA — Private and public sector lionlauncharealeaderscommunityintheOpelikawillofficiallya$2.77milinitiativeAug.26 to improve business Opelikaplementedwhichlocally.Theinitiative,willbeimbytheChamber of Commerce, aims to address three specif ic challenges facing businesses in Opelika: attracting and aligning talent, grow ing businesses and quality jobs and creat ing a business hub. “The strength of our public/private partner ships is crucial to our continued growth,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. “Forward See FORWARD, page B11
L labama Politics ee County & A STEVE FLOWERS
Inside the Statehouse Legendary Alabamians
He had retired from the Senate and was back home in Tuscumbia. I drove to Tuscumbia for the day. Got there for breakfast and stayed all day. We perused the papers I had brought him, and I headed home. Ole Judge died a few weeks later and I traveled back up to the Shoals for his funeral. I was proud when the preacher used some excerpts from my column for Judge’s eulogy. There was a throng of people at Judge’s funeral, including quite a few famous and powerful mem bers of the U.S. Senate. I do not think that the Florence airport had ever seen that many private jets. I had already had my goodbye with Judge and the line was very long to greet “Mrs. Mikie,” Judge’s wife, and his son Tom. Judge’s wife was from a prominent North Alabama family, the Carmichaels, thus he had coined her nickname BY HANNAH LESTER OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMHLESTER@
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CONTRIBUTED BY ALGOP OPINION Members—of the Alabama Republican Party passed a resolution condemning the Biden Administration for the F.B.I. raid on Mar-a-Lago. Calling it "un precedented overreach", the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee voted overwhelmingly to stand in soli darity with President Donald J. Trump. The resolution, which was present ed at the Party's summer meeting in Montgomery Saturday, received 89% of the vote from the committee members. It reads in part: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Alabama Republican Party stands against the weaponizing of any government agency for political purposes, and is appalled by the unprecedented overreach by the US Department of Justice and FBI; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Republican Party of Alabama stands in Solidarity with Donald Trump, and condemns the Biden administration for these outrageous actions. "As our resolution states, this is just one more example ALGOP , page B11
an IT GIS Fellowship Renewal with Auburn University for $15,000.
GREG MARKLEY
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AUBURN >> FROM B9
FLOWERS >> FROM B9 “Mikie.” As I was leaving, I heard some one shout my name, “Tree, wait.” It was Tom, the only child of Judge and Mikie. Tom is a lawyer and a fra ternity brother of mine from the University of Alabama. He said, “I want to tell you some thing. When we went into Daddy’s bedroom the other morning and found him passed away, beside his bed was a large desk, and on the desk were all the papers you brought him the other day. He had read them just be fore he went to bed.” It made me feel very good. It is one of the most rewarding mem ories of my column writing days. I will continue with more stories next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at ers.us.www.steveflow
LCDC To ElectionsDiscuss
Aug. 18, 2022 B10
CONTRIBUTED BY LCDC AUBURN — The Lee Reduction Act and to make plans for the 2022 midterm elec tions. All residents in Lee County are encouraged to join our celebration and learn more about: • our congressional, state and local candidates • when and how to reg ister to vote • deadlines to apply for and return an absentee ballot•using social media to promote candidates for office and • text and phone-bank ing for candidates. The LCDC will also provide opportunities to donate directly to candi dates’ campaigns, to pick up campaign materials (including yard signs, buttons and stickers) for Democratic candidates and to sign up for up coming phone-bank and door-knocking events. Bring a favorite snack or non-alcoholic bever age to share or just bring yourself. All are welcome.
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, at 6 p.m. WHERE: Auburn Chamber of Commerce, 714 E Glenn Ave., Auburn, 36830 WHO: all Lee County residents looking for change in Montgomery and Washington DC For more information about the Lee County Democratic Party, please visit www.lcdcalabama. org/.
Why Are Best or Worst State Ratings Like a Box of Chocolate?
recent6Thursday,willDemocraticCountyClub(LCDC)hostagatheringonAug.25atp.m.tocelebratethepassageofthe Inflation
- The council ap proved a contract to execute task order no. 33 with Barge Design Solutions for sewer modeling support for up to $32,000. - The council ap proved a contract with CSL Services, Inc for the FY Renewal of Wastewater Flow Monitoring for $73,500.-Thecouncil ap proved a contract for the purchase of 27 parking kiosks with T2-Systems for over YarbroughnorthwestforDevelopment,mentsandwayapproved$250,700.-Thecouncilright-of-anddrainageutilityeaseforDilworthInc.propertyonthecornerofFarms Boulevard and Richland Road for the Spyglass project, Phase 2. - The council ap proved sidewalk and utility easements for S&P Housing Group, LLC for property at 422 White St. - The council ap proved an annexation for 6.51 acres for William D. Crow II & J. Dawn Dozier Crow for property at 2190 Richland Road. - The council did not take a vote to re zone 0.21 acres from Development District to Medium Density Residential District at 305 Harper Circle for Michael and Kimberly West after District 5 Council Member Steven Dixon denied unanimous consent. - The council ap proved a vacation of a portion of Miracle road for the Woodward Oaks Phases 5,6 and 7 project for Clayton Properties Group, Inc.
OPINION — For years, people have moved to Florida for the sunshine and warm weather. Many others have moved to Texas for its plentiful jobs and huge ness. Yet Florida, in a 2022 Money Inc magazine rating, was listed as the 15th worst state to live in. And Texas emerged as the 18th worst state to live in. What is going on here? Was Forrest Gump in the 1994 movie correct in de claring, “Life is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you are going to get”? The people relocating to Florida (the third most populous state) are going to a state that received a “Worst” rating mainly due to its poverty that has hit 13.6%. That is 0.5% above the U.S.Theaverage.othercontribu tor to the Sunshine State’s 15th-place rating is that just 30.4% of Florida residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher. But as crusty Sgt. Walters said in “A Soldier’s Story” about college: “Not gettin’ is no excuse for not havin’.” Florida is a good way for young people to get a job, such as at Disney World or on a cruise ship. Those lacking degrees might well have one later. Plus, the state has plenty of universities and colleges. Most of those undergrads will get a degree in Florida. So criticizing the state by including students in the midst of earning a degree as part of the “No College Degree” statistics is inac curate. Hurry up and call Gov. Ron DeSantis and tell him Money Inc maga zine is “fake news, or fake surveys.”Texasgained the 18th negative spot this year for two reasons. First, it does not, as of July 2022, provide adequate protection against discrimination in public accommodations. There are federal laws that Texas (the second most populous state) must heed, but apparently not for motels and the like. Is it plain prejudice against blacks or Hispanics or members of the LGBTQ+ community?Itcouldbe, regrettably, but it’s understandable if one knows Texas. The Lone Star State values business es, so it does not tell an innkeeper who is allowed to stay overnight in their motel. Texas, like Alaska, still has aspects of the American frontier, where people don’t like to be told what they can do. Gov. Greg Abbott would wholeheart edlyTheagree.second reason for Texas’s negative score is changes to voting rights. Several were quickly passed by Republicans after the 2020 election. That’s bad news if they are unnecessar ily restrictive and hurt one race or ethnicity or class of people more than others. Anyone who meets age, residency and other stan dard qualifications should head on down to the polls, pronto, on election days. “Quality of life refers to how an individual feels about their current station in life,” notes thebalance.com, a personal finance website. “It includes their perception of their overall well-being, as well as goals, expecta tions and concerns. Multiple factors play into someone’s quality of life, such as their levels of job satisfaction, wealth, income and leisure time.”CNBC released its 2022 America’s Top States for Business study in July, and it has always paid attention to quality of life. What do four of the top five states listed by CNBC share? Answer: They are all cold-weather states. People must take their queue from quotes like the one above. Still, other quality of life issues — healthcare and in clusiveness — are present in the top states, says CNBC. Minnesota, No. 5, boasts of the acclaimed Mayo Clinic in Rochester. But the state has a high rate of health care providers per capita and a commendably low rate of premature death. Yet childcare continues to be a weakness. North Dakota, No. 4, has made constructive changes to cur tail drug abuse, and its air quality is a strength. Hawaii, No. 3, is the only of the top five states that is known for consis tently warm weather and sunshine. It has good health care and low crime, some thing most states are crav ing. Although it is in the top half of the states for access to childcare, the Aloha state is the most expensive for childcare.“Maine (No. 2) isn’t just a safe state — it’s getting safer,” writes Scott Cohn of CNBC. “The Maine Department of Public Safety reports that overall crime decreased for the ninth consecutive year in 2020, based on recent statis tics. Violent crime dropped nearly 5% and property crime fell more than 6%.” Worth mentioning, as well, is that voting rights are a key strength in Maine. Vermont, No. 1, has strength in voting rights (mail-ins, a voting period of 45 days, etc.). Other strengths are in childcare, healthcare, air quality and low crime. Despite living in Rhode Island until age 25, I did not visit Vermont until 2018. I stayed in Bennington surrounded by stunning scenery. Not even a billboard that would block the views. Greg Markley moved to Lee County in 1996. He has master’s degrees in education and history. He taught politics as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama. An award-winning writer in the Army and civilian life, he has contributed to the Observer since 2011. He is a member of the na tional Education Writers Association (focus-Higher Education). gm.markley@ charter.net.
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A complete rundown of the ALGOP 2022 Summer Dinner and Meeting activities to follow. ALGOP >> FROM B10
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Public Library. Campaign co-chairs Race Cannon of the AlabamapresidentwillboardCEO,betheinJohnsonFoundationSamford-CannonandKrizayofBaxterwillbeattendance.RepresentingOpelikaChamberwillAliRauch,presidentandandDr.LindaNorth,chair.ThekeynotespeakerbeKatieBritt,formerandCEOoftheBusinessCouncil.“ForwardOpelikapresentsahistoricopportunityfortheChamberofCommerceandour
The Value of Education Throughout—the years, I always told my sons and the players I coached that this country owes them only one thing — an opportunity. The opportunity to try, fail and get back up again. However, it is up to them what they choose to do with that opportunity. As students, parents, teachers and faculty in Alabama prepare to start another school year, I am reminded of the opportu nity that an education af fords us. classroomsAlabama’swillsoon be filled with young students who have the potential to grow up and make big contributions to ourButcountry.itisthe teachers, coaches, administra tors, faculty and parents who know how to best prepare our students for the next steps — not the federal government. The ones who arrive before the bell rings and stay late in the evenings. And over the past two years, these individuals have adapted to bring consistency to Alabama’s students during the most unconventional times of a global pandemic. Our students’ educa tional success begins at the local level. That is why I helped intro duce the Head Start Improvement Act to take the federal government out of education and empower our parents, teachers, community leaders and state officials to improve educational outcomes everywhere. I also helped introduce the Raising Expectations with Child Opportunity Vouchers for Education (RECOVER) Act which would allow states and local school districts to use their unspent federal COVID relief money from the American Rescue Plan to issue scholarships directly to low-income parents. These scholarships could then be used to help their children recover from learning loss due to the pandemic.Additionally, it’s important for students to have access to non traditional career pathways that provide them with opportuni ties to learn a trade or a skill and contribute to Alabama’s workforce. Our community colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are doing a wonderful job leading the way in rapid development,workforceandmyof fice has proudly support ed their efforts to obtain grants that enable them to provide more opportu nities for their students. Sports is another cru cial part of education that teaches students discipline and teamwork. Whether students ever play at the collegiate or professional level, partic ipating in sports provides valuable life lessons that are also beneficial outside of sports. Unfortunately, a new proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Education is threatening to ruin the level playing field created for female athletes through Title IX. I’ve proudly been lead ing the charge against this proposed rule, and urge others to make their thoughts known during the public comment pe riod, which is open until Sept. 12. I will continue to be an advocate for our students’ best educa tional interests so that they continue to have available and intiontunityadvantagehardschoolateachersouropportunities.accessibleBestwishestoallofstudents,parents,andfacultyforsafeandsuccessfulyearahead.Workandcontinuetotakeoftheopportoearnaneducainthebestcountrytheworld.
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CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER OPINION
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O pelika and I have a shared mission — to ensure a suc cessful future city. With this dynamic effort, will expand economic prosperity those who have chosen to make Opelika home families, ceremony to launch the initiative will take place Aug. 26 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Opelika community,” said Amory Scott, campaign co-chair. “It’s inspiring to see local business leaders from all industry sectors come to gether to implement this ambitious initiative. It is time for each of us to step up and make significant new investments that will strengthen our access to tal ent for employers, provide resources for small busi nesses and entrepreneurs and build a business hub that will support our cham ber and businesses.” gov Chairman John Wahl.
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Aug. 18, 2022 B11 YOUR HEALTH YOURYOURSTATUSBEST LIFE For more information on HIV/AIDS such as testing, treatment, and services, visit alabamapublichealth.gov/hiv/testing.html For information on PrEP, visit alabamapublichealth.gov/hiv/prep.html Integrated HIV Programs for Health Departments to Support Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States 6 NU62PS924613-01-0 CFDA-93.940 Notice of Funding Opportunity - PS20 2010
FORWARD >> FROM B9 of the federal
Veterans’ Affairs and HELP Committees. Lab offers fully furnished private offices, co working spaces, mail services, and more, all within the heart of Downtown Opelika Our all inclusive and contract free prices allow you to focus on the important things, without worrying about any overhead costs CoLab is perfect for graphic designers, software developers, real estate agents, work from home individuals, and small teams Learn more about us and book a tour to find your best fit by visiting us on the web, or social media pages Private Furnished Offices, Co Working & Mail Services COLABOPELIKA COM | (334)748 9700 |@COLABOPELIKA TUBERVILLE
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tiondaysbeforespondanswer,arecumbranceanyportionterestAll43-lS-05-22-0-000-064.000.personshavinganininsaidlandsoranythereof,claimingtitletheretooranyenorlienthereon,herebydirectedtoplead,orotherwiseretotheComplaintonortheexpirationof30afterthelastpublicaofthisnotice,orthere after suffer judgment by de fault to be rendered against them it being intended that this notice shall be used to perfect service against all parties who cannot be per sonally served with a copy of the Complaint. Done this the 29th Day of July, CircuitMary2022RobersonCourtClerk, Lee BenjaminCounty H. Parr 830 Avenue A, Suite A Opelika, Alabama 36801 Telephone Number: 334749-6999 08/25/2208/11/22,Legalben@benparrlaw.comFax:334-203-1875Run08/04/22,08/18/22& IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: The Estate of Virginia B. Nelms, CaseDeceasedNo.2022-300 TAKE NOTICE that Letters Administration having been granted to Angela NelmsGriffin as Administratrix of the Estate of Virginia B. Nelms, deceased, on the 28th day of July, 2022.
A major project of Lions Clubs all over the world is collecting used eyeglasses and recycling them to provide others with needed sight improvement through the program. Recently, Opelika Lions Club members Lisa Ledbetter-Bell, David Bell, Jim Allen and Gayron Davis sorted through 2,523 pairs of good, used eyeglasses donated by citizens of Opelika to be cleaned, prescription-gauged and forwarded for distribution. Please find a Lions recycle bin near you at Walmart, Thomas Pharmacy, Eye Mart Express, Opelika SportsPlex, Opelika Public Library and Whatley Eyecare to make future donations. Recycling helps every one, especially those in need of vision help.
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. Angela Nelms-Griffin, Administratrix of the Estate of Virginia B. Nelms, LegalDeceasedRun 08/04/2022, 08/11/2022 & 08/18/2022 --------------IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARY SUSAN CASEALABAMAPROBATEDECEASEDHOSEMANN,COURT,NO.2022-365
Aug. 18, 2022 B12 IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF WILLIAM DAKOTA AKINS IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, petitionPleaseB.M.R.tentialAdamsTO:PUBLICATIONCASEALABAMANO.:2022-375NO11ICEJonathanMichaeloranyotherpounknownfatheroftakenoticethataforadoptionwas filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama by William Dakota Akins on June 29, 2022, for, the adop tion of B.M.R., born on May 28, 2015, in Valley, Alabama to Chasity Nicole Redden. A hearing has been set in the Lee County Probate Court, Opelika, Alabama. Should you intend to contest this adop tion you must file a written response with the attorney for the petitioner, Hon. Mark H. Carlton, 9 Lafayette Street North, Lafayette, AL 36862 and with the Clerk of Probatethe Court of Lee County, Alabama, as soon as possible but not later than thirty (30) days from the last day this notice is published. Dated on this the 21" day of July BILL2022.ENGLISH, JUDGE OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Legal Run 08/04/2022,07/28/2022,08/11/2022 & ---------------08/18/2022 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA ESSIE LEE TORBERT, Plaintiff, ACV-2022-900081v.ParcelofLand Lying in Lee County, Alabama, Willie B. Thomas, J.J. UnknownArthurPowledge,Ware,andHeinof Willie B. Thomas, J.J. Powledge and/or Arthur Ware, NOTICEDefendants.OF ACTION To: All Defendants herein, whose whereabouts are un known and which cannot be ascertained after the exer cise of reasonable diligence. You are hereby notified that on the 2nd day of March 2022, a Bill to Quiet Title was filed in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama, regarding the following described real Parcelproperty:One: Lot 5 in Block 6, as shown by Plat of a Survey of "Subdivision for Palmer Property" made by T.B. Chambers, Surveyor, said Plat being recoded at Page 11 of Plat Book 2 in the Office of the Probate Judge of Lee County, Alabama. Also known as Lee County Tax Parcel43-10-03-08-2-001-parcel101.000Two:LotEBlock 7 of Totten's Map, as shown by that certain plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 2 at Page 9, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama. Also known as Lee County Tu parcel 43-10-03-07- 1-001-063.000 Parcel Three: COM NW CORNE 4 SW 4 TH S 120'S E 1355'S TO ELY R/W UNNAMED RD SLY 315 ALG SD R/W ELY 420'8 to POB; S 210'8 E 65'S TO BRANCH NELY 240' ALG BRANCH W 1S7'S TO POB IN SEC 22 T18N R27E. Also known as Lee County Tax parcel
Opelika Lions Club Collects Eyeglasses for Those in Need
PUBLIC NOTICES See PUBLIC NOTICES, page B14
NOTICE TO CREDITORS TAKE NOTICE that Letters of Administration hav ing been granted to Julia Hosemann Kennedy, as Administrator, of the Estate of Mary Susan Hosemann, deceased, on the 7th day of July, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Probate Judge, Lee NOTICECounty.IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. Julia Hosemann Kennedy, Administrator Estate of Mary Susan Hosemann Lenae S. Simpson, Attorney for Administrator Murchison & Simpson. LLC 2106 Gateway Drive, Suite Opelika.D Alabama 36801 (334) 737-5665 Legal Run 08/04/2022, 08/11/2022 & 08/18/2022 334-745-4618
OBSERVERTHETOCONTRIBUTEDPHOTOS
The Opelika Lions Club recently welcomed two new members, Lisa and David Bell. Recent newlyweds, the Bells plan to make Opelika their home. David was previously a member of the West Point Lions Club. They were introduced by Lion James Morgan Jr., top right.
Aug. 18, 2022 B13
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Joseph Majdalani on the 3rd day of August, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, NoticeAlabama.ishereby 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. Joseph Majdalani Legal Run 08/11/22, 08/18/22 & ---------------08/25/22
Issuing Office on Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from the Issuing Office as described below. Copies of the Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Issuing Office, during the hours indicated above, upon payment of a de posit of $20.00 for a one time administrative fee for digital access/file sharing and/or $125.00 for each printed set. Said cost represents the cost of printing, reproduction, handling, and distribution, therefore no refund will be granted. Checks for Bidding Documents shall be payable to “GMC.” Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsi ble for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, includ ing Addenda if any, obtained from sources other than the Issuing Office. Bid security shall be fur nished in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. The Owner reserves the right to waive any informalities, or to reject any or all bids, and to award the contract to the best and most responsible bidder. All bidders shall submit, upon request, a list of projects ofyears,completed""successfullyinthelast2havingthesamescopeworkandapproximate construction cost as specified in this project. All bidders must comply with require ments of the Contractor's Licensing Law of the State of Alabama and be certified for the type of work on which the proposal is submitted. Each bidder must deposit with his bid, security in the amount, form and subject to the conditions provided in the Instructions to Bidders. All Bidders bidding in amounts exceeding that established by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors must be licensed under the provisions of Title 34, Chapter 8, Code of Alabama, 1975, and must show evidence of license before bidding or bid will not be received or considered by the Engineer; the Bidder shall show such evidence by clearly displaying the license number on the outside of the envelope in which the Proposal is delivered. No bidder may withdraw his bid within 60 days after the opening thereof. Owner: Smith Water & Sewer Authority By: Mr. Joe Walden Title: Chairman Legal Run 08/25/22, 09/01/22 & 09/08/22
InDistributiontheEstate of GRACE BRANHAM MCLEOUD, deceased Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office by Gary earl Watson on August 16, 2022, 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 LegalJUDGENotice 08/18/2022 --------------ROADTHESEWERHWY.ALABAMASMITHSSEWERSMITHSFORADVERTISEMENTBIDSWATER&AUTHORITYSTATION,280SANITARYIMP.TOSERVESUMMERVILLEAREA
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NOTICE OF COUNTY,COURTINPROCEEDINGCOURTTHEPROBATEOFLEEALABAMA
NOTICE APPOINTMENTOF OF LettersEXECUTORTestamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned Shirley Marie Maddox on the 20th day of July, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred. Shirley Marie Maddox, DonaldExecutorR. Cleveland Attorney at Law P. O. Box 527 West Point, Georgia 31833 Legal Run 08/25/2022,08/18/2022,09/01/2022
Asbestos Claims, LLC, Jubal L. Hamil Attorney at Law ARPC 7.2.(e) “No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Edna Joyce Leeth, Personal Representative on the 5th day of August, 2022, by Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be Ednabarred.Joyce Leeth Legal Run 08/18/22, 08/25/22 & 09/01/22 Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Guardian/ Conservator of Joe Louis Thomas, Sr. has been filed. A hearing has beset for the 19th day of September 2022 at 1:00 p.m. central time, electronically via “ZOOM”. Please contact the Lee County Probate Court at 334-737-3670 for access to the electronic hearing should you intend to take part in the hearing of the Petition for Guardian/Conservator of Joe Louis Thomas, Sr. Legal Run 08/25/202208/18/2022,&09/01/2022
TEXTILE MILLS ASBESTOS CLAIMS NOTICESPUBLIC >> FROM B12
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RUTH M. DECEASED.HINKLEY, IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, CaseALABAMANo:2022-466LettersTestamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 10th day of August, 2022, 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 DIANEbarred. L. BUETTNER and CAROLE SamfordD.Co-ExecutrixesSWENDROWSKIJ.CarterWeeks&Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 Legal Run 08/18/22, 08/25/22 & ---------------09/01/22
Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary
NOTICE TO FILE CLAIMS TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Frances Wall Davidson, as 08/18/2022Legal334-745-6466Opelika,Box205PhillipPersonalDAVIDSONFRANCESwillallowedentareingGIVENNOTICELeeEnglish,2022,OnJr.,ofRepresentativePersonaloftheEstateWilliamMaxDavidson,deceased,the2nddayofAugust,bytheHon.BillJudgeofProbateofCounty,Alabama.ISHEREBYthatallpersonshavclaimsagainstsaidEstateherebyrequiredtopresthesamewithinthetimebylaw,orthesamebebarred.WALLRepresentativePREPAREDBY:E.Adams,Jr.S.9thStreet,P.0.2069AL36803-2069Run08/11/2022,&08/25/2022
NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF LIJUN XUAN, Deceased CASE NO.: 2022-303
If you began working in a Textile Mill, Tire Plant, Paper Mill, Steel Mill or any other industrial setting before 1980: You may have a claim against the asbestos manufacturers.
IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF KENNETH E. LEETH, CASEDECEASEDNO.:2022-459
COUNTY, ALABAMA Notice of the filing of Petition for deceasedRYANInDistributionSummarytheEstateofJAMESPRESTWOOD,
NOTICE OF COURTINPROCEEDINGCOURTTHEPROBATEOFLEE
Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office by Paula Anderson Prestwood on July 13, 2022, pursuant to Section 43-2690, 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 BILLdecedent.ENGLISH, PROBATE LegalJUDGENotice 08/18/2022
IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, STATE OF CASEMADDOX,RICHARDOFINALABAMATHEMATTERTHEESTATEOFWAYNEDeceasedNO.2022-429
--------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, AL Adoption of: L.J.R.M.M. TO:(03/18/2020)TheUnknown father of L.J.R.M.M. Unknown father- Take notice, that a Petition for the Adoption of the child, L.J.R.M.M. minor male child, born 03/18/20 to Carnesia Mitchell in Montgomery, AL, at Jackson Hospital has been filed in this Court by Paul and Nila Brumett. Your failure to file an answer to this petition could result in said Petition being granted. You must re spond in writing within (30) days of the last publication of this notice with counsel for said Petitioners, whose name and address are shown below, and with the Probate Court of the said Lee County, AL in order to contest said BILLpetition.ENGLISH, Probate Judge Margaret Ann Mayfield Attorney for Petitioners P.O. Box 809 Opelika, Alabama 36803 (334) 745-0333 Legal Run 08/18/22, 08/25/22, 09/01/22 & ---------------09/08/22
Sealed bids for the Hwy. 280 Sanitary Sewer Imp. to Serve the Summerville Road Area CMGM220020 will be received by the Smiths Water & Sewer Authority, Attn: Mr. Andy Morris, GM, lo cated at 2848 Lee Road 243, Smiths Station, AL 36877, until Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 11:00 EDT local time at which time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read. The Project includes the fol lowing Work: Approx. 1,000 LF of 8" Gravity Sanitary Sewer, 3,500 LF of 6" Sewer Force Main, Sanitary Sewer Lift Station and related Informationappurtenances.for the Project can be found at the following designated website: www. gmcnetwork.com The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is Goodwyn Mills Cawood LLC, 11 N. Water St., Suite 15250, Mobile, AL BiddingBidderswork.com.Ashley.Morris@gmcnet36602,ProspectivemayexaminetheDocumentsatthe
Call now for your free 1-(888)432-6020evaluation.
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