The Observer 01-13-2022 E-edition

Thursday Jan. 13, 2022

Vol. 14, No. 14

Opelika, Alabama

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

Tim Aja Wins Opelika's Ward 3 Council Seat PHOTO BY MICHELLE KEY / THE OBSERVER

BY THE OBSERVER STAFF Publisher's Note: These results are unofficial until Jan. 18 at which time the vote will be canvased and declared official. That meeting will take place at the Municipal Court at noon.

Tim Aja won the Ward 3 special-called election Tuesday night with 265 votes, giving him 57.9% of the total vote. He was running against three other opponents, Winford L. Ashmore, Terry Hanners and Sherri Reese.

The special election,

held on Jan. 11, was called for following the resignation of Dr. Robert Lofton, who held the seat since November 2020 after winning the August 2020 election.

Lofton stepped down in November 2021 due to his worsening ALS condition and passed away on New Years Day. Aja said he was happy with how the race turned out.

“I feel really really good. It was a good race and I'm happy, obviously, with how it turned out and I am happy that a lot of

people turned out to vote."

Aja and the other candidates spent a lot of time together while the polls were open on Tuesday.

"I am happy, honestly, to have spent the day talking with Sherri, getting to talk to Terry and there was a great crowd running for this seat," Aja said.

"Thank to everybody that came out to vote, thank you to everyone in Ward 3 and thank you for the support. Thank you to the three other great candidates that ran for this See AJA, page A2

Auburn-Opelika Tourism Awarded Tourism Organization of the Year

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

BY HAZEL SCOTT/ASU

Alumna Patricia A. Jones believes in help-

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

Patsy Jones Creates Scholarship

ing others. Because of her giving spirit, Jones has pledged $10,000 to establish The Honorable Patricia A. “Patsy” Jones See SCHOLARSHIP, page A2

CONTRIBUTED BY A-O TOURISM

Auburn-Opelika Tourism was named Tourism Organization

CONTENTS OPINION.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 OPINION

SPORTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. . . . . A7

POLITICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B9

RELIGION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A13

CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B12

COMICS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A16 COMICS

PUBLIC NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . B13

of the Year this week by the Alabama Tourism Department. State

Tourism Director Lee See TOURISM, page A2

A2 Jan. 13, 2022

MLK Day of Service Event With Keep Opelika Beautiful

SCHOLARSHIP

FROM A1

On Monday, Jan. 17, Keep Opelika Beautiful will host a MLK Day of Service.

Volunteers will be assigned areas to pick up roadside litter or participate in a beautification activity in Opelika.

Supplies such as bags, gloves and vests will be provided for all volunteers.

“This is a great opportunity for citizens to work together to make our city a more beautiful place to live” said Tipi Miller, director of Keep Opelika Beautiful.

“This event is a great time to give back to your community.”

Civic clubs, neighborhoods and businesses are encouraged to join Keep Opelika Beautiful in the fight against litter. For more information contact Keep Opelika Beautiful at tipi@ keepopelikabeautiful.com or (334) 749-4970.

>>

FROM A1

Sentell presented this prestigious award to AO Tourism President John Wild on Thursday evening at the annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

Awards are presented each year at the conference recognizing the most successful contributions to Alabama’s tourism industry: a $13.4 billion industry in Alabama, supporting an estimated 165,230 jobs in 2020.

Given the challeng-

FROM A1

position. Sherri, Terry and Winford ran great campaigns and were great competitors."

Ashmore won 1.8% percent of the vote, Hanners won 7% and Reese won 33.3%.

There were a total of 457 votes plus six provisional votes.

Aja said he has admired the way Opelika has been able to grow — to utilize large industries — but also keep the charm of the city

es of 2020, the team at Auburn-Opelika Tourism was particularly pleased to be recognized for their efforts.

“In good times and bad, we never stop striving to ensure we are a community shared value in resources, information, growth and development,” said Robyn Bridges, vice president of Auburn-Opelika Tourism. “We will be the first to celebrate and promote our community’s wealth in tourism and hospitality offerings, and we will be the first to embrace our neighbors “They did it really smart over the last decade,” he said. “…

We haven’t outgrown ourselves, it’s been done really, really well. I just want to make sure we keep doing things well.”

Aja said he has a few goals for his time in office — ensure the city continues to grow responsibly, provide financial literacy education to citizens, better utilize existing park space and more.

“I’m going to be here to work for [the citizens],” Aja said.

“I do believe that

in shared struggles and challenges.”

Auburn-Opelika Tourism was recognized for its dedication to the community during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic through social media campaigns, a restaurant meal exchange program and partnerships with local businesses including John Emerald Distillery.

Prior to the pandemic, the amount tourists spent in Auburn-Opelika had grown by double digits every year for a decade. Go to: https://tourism. alabama.gov/app/upgovernment works best when it stays out of the way and people are running their own lives for sure, but at the same time, if they have any issues, please come to me any time.

“In addition … I’m a fellow citizen as well.

I want to see this city succeed. I’ve got a daughter at Southview Primary and I want to see Opelika City Schools just keep getting better and better. I’ve got a wife that’s a realtor here.

I’ve got my business that I’m running here and I want everybody to know,

Sports Editor: Wil Crews Live Lee Editor: Hannah Lester Marketing: Woody Ross

Phone: 334.749.8003 editor@opelikaobserver.com Michelle@opelikaobserver.com

Photojournalist: Robert Noles

Publisher: Michelle Key

Rick Lanier, D. Mark Mitchell

Sports Writers:

www.opelikaobserver.com 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

CORRECTIONS The Observer will correct any errors, omissions or inaccuracies deemed to be substantive. Corrections may be requested by contacting the editor at (334) 749-8003.

loads/2021-2020-Annual-Tourism-Economic-Impact-Report-Master-Copy.pdfto to view the full 2020 Economic Impact Report for the state of Alabama.

For more information about Auburn-Opelika Tourism, visit www.aotourism. com or contact Robyn Bridges at rlbridges@ aotourism.com Auburn-Opelika Tourism is a non-profit service organization positively impacting our local economy and enhancing the quality of life in our community through tourism and travel.

seek another term in 2020 but says she still supports the community in retirement.

“I do not share my accolades to boast, but to simply demonstrate my strong, unwavering commitment to service and my community,” she said.

She holds dual degrees from ASU — a Bachelor of Science in English/ Library Science (1972) and a master’s in Education/ English (1979). She is a 1969 graduate of the then-segregated J. W. Darden High School in Opelika.

This year, Jones will attend her 1972 Golden Class Reunion at ASU. “I will be able to reconnect with classmates, friends and my sorority sisters of Beta Pi Chapter (Fall of 1970) of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc,” she said. “It means a lot to me to be able to leave this scholarship legacy.”

ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP The scholarship fund is intended to support seniors from Opelika High School in Alabama who have chosen to attend Alabama State University. Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, be active in extracurricular and community activities, be a full-time time student at ASU, demonstrate a financial need or hardship, have completed all University required documentation to be admitted, have enrolled in ASU the following Fall Semester, and write a minimum of 200 typed word essay on “The Importance of Education and What this Scholarship Means to Me.”

PHOTO BY MICHELLE KEY / THE OBSERVER

AJA >>

Scholarship in the Alabama State University Trust for Educational Excellence. The endowment will leave a lasting legacy in Jones’ name.

“I am inspired to create this scholarship because education is the key to success in all walks of life. In honor of my passion for education, Alabama State University, my hometown — the city of Opelika — and helping others, I can leave a forever legacy that benefits many students from Opelika High School,” Jones said.

The retired educator’s career spans more than a 37-year period, with 24 years of service as a classroom teacher in the Tallapoosa County Schools. Jones is also a former Alabama Education Association (AEA) UniServ director (13 years) for District 19 (Lee, Chambers and Tallapoosa counties).

Jones was the first African-American woman to be elected to the Opelika City Council to represent Opelika Ward 1, and the first African-American woman elected President Pro-Tem of the Council.

“I have served my community in many capacities, but the greatest is the encouragement and the support the citizens gave me to run for Opelika City Council in 1995. I was reelected to six full consecutive terms, totaling more than 25 years. I hold the record of being the longest-serving councilperson in the history of Opelika,” Jones said.

Jones said she did not

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

CONTRIBUTED BY KEEP OPELIKA BEAUTIFUL

TOURISM

>>

that hey, any decisions that the council makes directly affect us. So I’m going to be feeling anything and that’s how I’m going to view things is as a business owner, as a parent and just as somebody who’s going to be walking down the streets of Opelika and wants this city to be putting it’s best foot forward at all times.”

Reese offered her congratulations to Aja via a Facebook post "Congrats Tim! Thank you to all that supported me. It’s been an amazing journey."

Aja and Reese pose with their campaign signs on election day.

Subscribe to the Observer today!

Name: Address: City:

State:

ZIP:

Phone number: Email address: Payment Type (circle one): Check / Credit Card Visa or Master Card # Exp. Date:

/

Security Code:

Amount Paid:

• $34 for 1 year (inside Lee County) $45 for 1 year (outside of Lee County) •

Return to:

The Observer 223-A S. 8th St., Opelika, AL 36801

Please do not send cash through the mail.

A3 Jan 13, 2022

Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama to Be Named During Statewide Scholarship Competition High school senior girls from across Alabama will join together for the Distinguished Young Women of Alabama program to be held Jan. 21 and 22 in Montgomery.

Participants will compete for college scholarships (over $32,000) and the opportunity to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of Alabama for 2022.

Anslee Tatum, high school senior at Auburn High School, will represent Lee County as the 2022 participant in the competition. Tatum will compete in all categories and for the talent portion will sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

The young women competing will be evaluated by a panel of five

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

CONTRIBUTED BY DYW OF ALABAMA

Anslee Tatum at send-off tea with Lee County DYW Board

judges in the following categories: Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness

(15%) and Self-Expression (15%). The participant selected as the Distinguished Young

Anslee Tatum with parents Crawford and Charmoin Tatum, sister Leila Tatum

Woman of Alabama will advance to the national level at the 64th Distinguished Young Wom-

en National Finals in Mobile, Alabama, in June 2022 where she will join with 50 other represen-

tatives from across the country in competing for cash scholarships and the opportunity to represent the program as the Distinguished Young Woman of America.

Our local Lee County 2021 winner, Mary Helen Miller, won the statewide competition and will be awarding the new winner with the Alabama DYW medallion.

The upcoming Lee County DYW program will be held June 11, 2022. An informational meeting will be held on Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Auburn Area Chamber. Participants, rising senior women, interested should attend for more information.

Donations for the scholarship program can be submitted to Lee County DYW for the upcoming year.

Opelika Chamber to Host Planning Workshop CONTRIBUTED BY THE OPELIKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Planning for the New Year Workshop with Chris Morrell from M2 Designs & Consulting.

The event will be

held at Southern Union State Community College in the Southern Room on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Southern Union State Community College is located at 301 Lake Condy Road Opelika, Alabama, 36801.

This is an exciting opportunity to transform your business by undergoing a handson training session to develop your planning, problem-solving and decision-making skills to achieve your company goals for the 2022 year!

Chamber members and non-members are invited to attend, and are welcome to register for the event online here: www. opelikachamber.com/ events/details/planningfor-the-new-year-workshop-4019 by Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 5 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for chamber members and $50 for non-members.

The event is presented by Railroad Investment Group.

The Gold Sponsors are Lee Russell Council of Governments, Machen McChesney, Tiger Town TV and Troy

PLANNING FOR THE NEW YEAR WORKSHOP with Chris Morrell from M2 Designs & Consulting

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20TH

8:30AM-10:30AM AT SOUTHERN UNION COMMUNITY COLLEGE

PRESENTED BY:

Register before January 19th at opelikachamber.com!

Bank & Trust.

If you have questions or concerns, contact Mackenzie at Mackenzie@opelikachamber. com to learn more.

A4 Jan. 13, 2022

New Year

L

SEAN DIETRICH

ord have mercy.

Betty White is dead. She inherited her eternal reward on New Year’s Eve, at age 99. Less than 24 hours before the New Year.

It’s been quite a year.

She was the last Golden Girl to go. Her co-star, Estelle Getty (Sophia), died in 2008 at 84 from dementia. Bea Arthur (Dorothy) died of cancer at 86 in 2009. Rue McClanahan (Blanche) died at 76 in 2010 from a stroke. And now Betty.

Lord have mercy.

Most people, of course, will forever remember Betty as her character, Rose Nylund, the giddy Golden Girl from Saint Olaf, Minnesota. But, for some reason, I will always remember her

character from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

When I was a boy, our local channel would play Mary Tyler Moore reruns before I caught the schoolbus. I would sit before a screen and laugh whenever Betty White appeared. She cracked immodest jokes, which I somehow knew were inappropriate for freckled Baptist boys. I liked her right then.

But then, so did the rest of the nation.

She was America’s grandmother. And she was funny, as evidenced in few of Betty’s words: “Facebook just sounds like a drag. In my day, seeing pictures of peoples’ vacations was considered punishment.”

“Vodka is kind of a

hobby.”

And my personal favorite: “The older you get, the better you get. Unless you’re a banana.”

This morning, my neighbor received her current copy of “People” magazine. I saw the glossy issue poking out of the old woman’s mailbox. The cover featured a photo of Betty White with a bold headline that read: “Betty White Turns 100!”

Betty died just seventeen days shy of her 100th birthday. Talk about black irony.

We lose beautiful things every day. Every morning, it seems like something wonderful breathes its last. This year I’ve lost too many friends and too many family members.

In 2021 I attended more funerals than I cared to. I’m afraid that if this keeps up, nobody will be around to attend mine.

We’ve also lost a multitude of little folkways, tiny traditions people often forget about.

Hugs. Fewer people hug these days. And handshakes; fist-bumping just doesn’t feel right.

We’ve also lost some

of our humor. There was a time when Americans could tell jokes about stuff going on in the world and nobody got offended. Today, it’s fashionable to get offended.

Sometimes, I’m afraid we’ve lost decency toward one another, too. As we round the corner into the next year, I wonder, have we forgotten how to be nice?

A few days ago I was at the supermarket and I saw a young man butt in front of an old woman who was reaching for the last carton of pulp-free orange juice. The kid was maybe fifteen with wavy hair. He wore a 10-dollar shirt with an 80-dollar polo horse sewn on the front.

He stepped in front of the lady, confiscated the OJ, then sauntered away without glancing back.

Maybe he was looking for a puppy to kick.

The lady looked like she was about to cry.

And if I’m being honest, I was about to cry too.

Because I immediately began to wonder what’s happening to our species.

Who have we become?

But do you know what? No sooner had I started to lament

the current status of mankind than something happened.

An employee approached the old woman. The employee was also a teenager.

The young man handed the woman a carton of orange juice, and said, “We had some extra juice in the back. I thought you’d like to have it.”

And the kid didn’t stop there. After that, he handed the woman a buyone-get-one-free coupon.

THEN, he handed her ANOTHER carton of orange juice. Then — get this — the young man actually gave that old woman a hug.

So maybe hugs are making a comeback.

Either way, every time I start to feel blue about the shape of our world, every time I start to poor mouth my own kind, something always changes my mind. I don’t know how this little miracle happens, but it does.

Each time I wonder whether we’ve lost the nucleus of our collective soul, I am reintroduced to my species. And belief begins to form within me. It is a belief that this world is not falling apart, but in fact, blossoming.

I realize what I’m about to say might sound foolish, and you have every right hurl rotten tomatoes in my direction, but I truly believe that it’s not over. We’re not over. Our story is not over. I believe we are just beginning.

I sincerely believe that mankind is learning to become kinder, and learning to become gentle. Yes, I understand that civilizations are still killing each other. Yes, there are wars happening.

Yes, this world is a dang mess.

But I also believe that no matter how loudly the naysayers claim that humanity is divided; no matter how the broadcast journalists claim that Americans hate each other; no matter how many doubters point out how screwed up we are; I believe they are wrong.

I believe in hope. I believe this year is going to be better than the last.

God help me I do.

Because a wise person once said that the older you get, the better you get. Unless, of course, you’re a banana.

Happy New Year.

would take me to the village of St. Gervais in the French Alps. I would be staying there for two nights before making my way back to Paris and across the channel to London.

Stepping off the train, with the Alps in the distance, I spotted the bus I needed to catch just as it was pulling away from the bus stop. I sprinted, with my bags in my hand, and managed to flag down the driver who was kind enough to stop and let me on board. A few minutes later, a small French woman led me into the hotel I’d booked and showed me my room. It was small but lovely, and right

outside the window the Alps spread out before me. There was snow on the peaks. In July. And wildflowers bloomed from my window straight up the summit, an ocean of lavender.

Beauty beyond words.

That night, after strolling down the hillside to a local restaurant where I was served creations I wish I could duplicate and will most certainly never forget, I made my way back up the hill to my room and to sleep.

It was around midnight when the pain woke me up — a low, nagging grumble of pain. Within minutes the grumble turned

one day he let me “play” in his old Buick. (No keys of course.) The seat belt got stuck and it had to be cut with a knife to get it off me.

I remember the day well, when we drove up to Birmingham to get Papa and bring him to live with us in Auburn. He was not well after your mother’s death and you sternly but lovingly made him come home with us. That was such a beautiful thing you did Dad. And I bet that was very hard. But the time and love we got to share, those next couple of years with Papa, were wonderful.

Those are memories you made for all of us Dad. In middle school and into high school, you

drove me and my friends all over the place. I cannot even imagine what that was like, so thank you.

And may I add that Movies and Munchies and the $1 Zippy Mart are still high on my “awesome” list. Who would think that renting movies and buying candy at a convenient store would rank so high on a childhood?

We went to church on Sundays and ate often around our dinner table.

You shared house-hold chores with Mom and when things got a little wild on the weekends, we went to McDonalds or Captain D’s to eat. We had many amazing vacations and holidays were always

Without Words

WENDY HODGE

O

ccasionally there are days when I sit in front of a blank screen with only a blinking cursor and the silence of my thoughts to keep me company, struggling to find words to say that will be important, insightful, worth reading and remembering.

Sometimes I get lucky and words tumble out all by themselves.

But sometimes they get stuck somewhere deep inside and I have no way how to nudge them loose.

Today is one of those times. Deadlines loom and work schedules interfere, and all week I have been trying to think of something insightful to write. But then a friend reached out to tell me she had lost a baby. She’d been trying for so long and had so many disappointments. This time she was so sure things were going to be okay. But once again, nature had a different plan. When I told her I had no idea how to

comfort her, that words were eluding me, she said, “It’s okay. Some griefs there are just are no words for. No words at all.”

And I was taken back to a summer day in 1992. Thirty years ago — how on earth has the time flown so fast? That summer I was young and happy, returning to Europe for the second time, and carrying a delicious secret that I had only just recently shared with my family …

After having had a miscarriage the year before, I was pregnant again. This time was different, I just knew it. The morning sickness was over, and I’d entered my fourth

month full of hope and more energy than I thought possible.

I’d started my trip in Paris, staying in a luxurious hotel with a view of the National Opera House and not far from my favorite Parisian museum. Paris is a city of bridges, and I walked across every one that I could find, taking pictures and writing in my journal. Seeing Paris for the first time is one of those life-changing treasures, and I’m so grateful to have had that.

On the third day of the trip, I took a train from the heart of Paris to the outlying countryside where I was to meet a bus that

See HODGE, page A5

Dear Dad

ROBERTSON

O

n Monday, Jan. 10, John Wesley Nettles turned 70 years old. Nettles was born in 1952, in Birmingham Alabama, to John T. and Hazel Nettles and he is my Dad. In honor of my father and his encouragement in my writing (and life in general) I’m sharing a

letter to him.

For our true words of love and affection are too few these days. And in a world where both tongue and silence can sting, may we choose to shed light and joy on all that we hold dear in our hearts.

Dear Dad, I honestly don’t know what to think about you turning 70 years old.

Seventy seems like such an “up there” kind of number; whatever that means. But I look at you and you are so happy and healthy and have so much goodness to offer this world. In that sense, you are far from old, you are right where God needs you today.

Growing up with you as my Dad is hard to put into

words, but is it easy to put into memories.

I remember you taking me to school at Dean Road Elementary. You car-pooled with two other parents, but the day we got to ride with you was always my favorite. I remember you taking us to the Sani-Freeze in downtown Auburn.

You always ordered a Chocolate Malt and I usually ordered Mint Chocolate Chip. We would sit on the halfbroken, stubbled wall of the parking lot with Joe and Aubrey, taking in an always pleasant Auburn night sky.

I recall our many trips to Birmingham to visit your parents. Sitting at your

mothers dining room table filled with delicious food was always a treat. Your mother was always so kind and gentle and she always smelled so good. I adored her pretty red lipstick and all the pink décor in her bedroom. She was very fond of me whenever I would eat her salmon on a sandwich and I still have a vision in my head of her and Papa washing and drying dishes together in their tiny fifties model kitchen.

Papa was a man of few words, but he always found a way to make me laugh. He would make silly faces at us and when he got out his cheese curls for a snack, we became best friends. I remember

See ROBERTSON, page A5

A5 Jan 13, 2022

CONTRIBUTED BY ENDITALABAMA.ORG

Human trafficking is the fastest growing and second largest criminal activity in the world.

Alabama’s I-20, I-85, I-10 and I-65 are major corridors for human trafficking, specifically I-20 has been identified as the “superhighway for human trafficking in the United States.”

These interstates bring significant trafficking activity into Alabama.

To heighten awareness, the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force is sponsoring Alabama Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Jan. 11. The eighth annual Alabama Human

HODGE >>

FROM A4

into a storm of hurt that could not be ignored.

Pulling myself out of the bed and stumbling toward the bathroom, I saw the trail of red I’d left behind on the stark white sheets.

Curling myself into a ball on the bathroom tile, I watched as life flowed out of me. It was silent there, in that room, except for my own whispered “I’m so sorry.” I don’t know if I was talking to the child I’d never know or to myself. Either way,

ROBERTSON >>

FROM A4

well spent at 1139. You cooked often and loved often. The wonderful thing about you Dad, is that you were always there, always. I have no memories of life where you are absent.

And you were present with love and intention.

I’m sure you could have been working more or taking up a hobby or hanging out with other men, but you weren’t. You were with us. And you did it so well. You have done it all so well Dad. I’m just so very thankful

Trafficking Awareness Day aligns with the national observation.

In conjunction with the statewide awareness day, a media campaign will educate citizens about human trafficking; raise awareness about human trafficking; outline victim identifiers; and explain how to report potential human trafficking situations.

Human trafficking is a form of modernday slavery where people profit from the exploitation of others.

Victims of human trafficking can be men, women or children of all races, nationalities and socio-economic backgrounds.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS RECOGNIZE HUMAN

there was no answer.

No words.

I spent the night on that floor, blaming myself for running to catch the bus, for traveling such a long distance, for being so hopeful in the first place.

When morning light spilled into the window, I heard a tap on the hallway door. Opening it a crack, with the chain keeping me safe, I saw the same small woman who’d led me to my room the day before. She stood with a stack of fresh towels and a bottled water.

that I know you. So very thankful that I have spent a great deal of my life with you.

I have the privilege of holding so many things in my heart with you. And not just the big moments like getting married and you holding my babies for the first time, but everyday life. Everyday, you have been here for me. Thank you Dad. For being you.

I could go on and on but I’ll leave it here. A good reason for me to continue to write to you.

I love you. Happy 70th Birthday! We have so much more life to enjoy together!

TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH To garner support, mayors across the state have been asked to sign proclamations in observance of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January. Thus far, municipalities who declared January 2022 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month via proclamations were Aliceville, Brundidge, Gadsden, Grove Hill, Monroeville, Orange Beach, Tarrant, the Town of Hodges, the Town of Ohatchee, the Town of Pisgah, the Town of South Vinemont and the Town of Susan Moore. Alabaster, See HUMAN, page A6

“I thought you might need these,” she said in her broken English.

I undid the chain and her eyes took in the sight of me, in my towel with dark eyes and pale skin.

“Are you alright?” she asked.

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. There just weren’t any words.

Her arms opened, and I found myself sinking into exactly what I needed — motherly arms holding me.

I tried to explain that I’d lost a baby during the night. A couple of

Opelika Kiwanis to host “Kiwanis on Air” Jan. 20 PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

State Task Force Heightens Awareness of Human Trafficking in Alabama

The Opelika Kiwanis club will be hosting its Kiwanis On Air fundraising event on Thursday, Jan. 20 on WMZG 910-1310 am. The on-air program will run all day. (Pictured above) The guest speaker during the Jan. 6 Kiwanis meeting was Jon Cole. He discussed the changes that have swept College Football especially the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rule.

words slipped out in a whisper, sounding like they came from someone else. The woman pulled back from our embrace and put her fingers over my lips.

“Sans voix,” she said.

I had no idea what the words meant, but they were said with such tenderness that I broke apart. And we stood like that, her hugging me while I sobbed like a child in the hallway of a tiny hotel in the village of St. Gervaix in eastern France, until I could breathe again.

She gave me the fresh

Poarch. Partners in Alabama’s progress.

We share with our neighbors a common goal—the health, education and well-being of people statewide.

Poarch provides over 9,000 jobs to Alabamians, pays millions in state taxes each year, and makes charitable contributions reaching nearly $9 million annually.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indian’s creates opportunities for Alabamians.

Let’s grow Tomorrow Together.

LEARN MORE AT WINNINGFORALABAMA.COM.

towels and wiped my face and took care of me until it was time for me to travel again.

I came home with a wounded heart and her words ringing in my ears — “Sans voix.”

Without words.

Thirty years later, I am not that same girl.

I’m a mother, two times over. I’ve given hugs like I received that day, and I’ve been lucky enough to be hugged like that when I needed it myself. I’m also a different kind of writer now. I have been taught that sometimes there just are no words

for what the heart is saying. And that silence is okay. And then sometimes the words bubble up from deep within, dislodged by a memory, and still just as heartfelt.

For all the women in all the world who have loved a child and lost them in a dark and silent room before you ever got to know them, I wish I could spread my arms open and hug you and heal you. These words will have to be a poor substitute … the morning will come, and light will cover the darkness once again.

A6 Jan. 13, 2022

2022 4-H Midwinter Retreat – The 4-H Circus is Back CONTRIBUTED BY ACES

BY JUSTIN MILLER

The circus is coming to town! Alabama 4-H is proud to present The Show Must Go On, the theme for the 2022 4-H Midwinter Retreat.

After switching to a virtual option in 2021, Alabama 4-H members ages 14 through 18 are once again invited to gather for three days of fun-filled activities. The retreat is Feb. 4 through 6 at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana, Alabama. The cost to attend is $130 per person.

Registration for the event

HUMAN >>

FROM A5

Athens, Huntsville and Madison will be signing proclamations later in the month.

Several municipalities have also been designated Trafficking

is available through 4HOnline at V2.4Honline.com.

THE GREATEST COMEBACK ON EARTH Midwinter is a teen leadership conference that the 4-H state ambassadors plan each year. Colton Cook, 4-H ambassador president, said the virtual option last year was a success, but they could not be more excited to be back in person.

“In true 4-H fashion, we didn’t miss a single beat in 2021 and had Midwinter virtually,” Cook said. “It was a blast, but now we can finally have Midwinter in person Free Zones as defined by the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking. Trafficking Free Zones are an initiative focused on reducing the demand for trafficked victims via organizational training, signing a written pledge, enacting policy changes

Someone might need help who...

W

$ $ $ $ $ $

$

$$ $

$ $

$

$

$

does not have access to an ID or passport.

has a boyfriend who expects her to do things for money that she doesn’t want to do.

is not being paid what his employer agreed to pay him.

is not allowed to speak to friends and family.

has been told that law enforcement will not help and will deport undocumented immigrants.

SEE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS?

Make two calls and be sure to mention that you suspect human trafficking.

911 // DHS Tipline: 866-347-2423 Be sure to include the car tag and vehicle description.

HELP IS JUST ONE PHONE CALL OR TEXT AWAY.

If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in any activity and cannot leave whether it is commercial sex, housework, farm work, or any other activity - call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-3737-888 or text “HELP” to 233733 to access help and services. Victims of human trafficking are protected under U.S. law.

The Toll-free Hotline is: + Available 24 hours a day, 7 days week. + Operated by Polaris, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization. +Anonymous and confidential.

+Accessible in 170 languages. + Able to provide help, referral to services, training, and general information.

again. Members from every corner of the state are in for a truly wonderful experience.”

Joy Scott, an Alabama Extension 4-H specialist, said everyone is excited and looking forward to the event.

“Words cannot express how excited I am to have Midwinter back at the Alabama 4-H Center,” Scott, who also serves as adviser to the 4-H state ambassadors, said. “The

ambassadors have worked extremely hard to make this year’s Midwinter a success.”

IN THE CENTER OF THE RING Planning around a circus theme, there will be many great workshops and activities at this year’s retreat. The topics taught in the workshops will help members become better leaders in many aspects of their lives. Topics include

items such as becoming a leader, personality assessments, resumé writing and 4-H yoga.

Neely Stewart, 4-H ambassador vice president, echoes Cook’s comments, saying this Midwinter will be a year unlike any other.

“The 4-H Midwinter Retreat will be full of fun games, circus themed activities and possibly some unexpected surprises,” Stewart said. “I can’t wait to meet all the members from across the state.”

Scott said Midwinter is a great opportunity for Alabama youth to break out of their shells and

and publicly sharing the commitment to help end trafficking.

Lee County as well as Alexander City/ Dadeville, Birmingham, Camp Hill, Center Point, Cullman, Gardendale, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Northport, Opelika, Oxford, Pinson, Trussville and Vestavia Hills have been declared Trafficking Free Zones.

ALABAMA HUMAN TRAFFICKING SUMMIT Human Trafficking Awareness Month will be capped off by the eighth Annual Human Trafficking Summit sponsored by the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force (END IT ALABAMA).

The one- day event is being held on Feb. 4, at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery. To learn more about the Summit, visit www.enditalabama.

org/summit.

ABOUT THE ALABAMA HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE The Alabama Human Trafficking task force was established in 2014 by the Alabama state legislature. The task force combats all aspects of human trafficking, including sex trafficking and labor trafficking, pursues a comprehensive response to crimes of human trafficking, coordinates strategies to provide necessary services for victims of human trafficking, focuses prevention efforts to end the demand for human trafficking and creates awareness through education and community initiatives.

The task force meets quarterly; all meetings are open to the public.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING FACTS:

• Human trafficking is the fastest growing and second largest criminal activity in the world (second only to drug trafficking) (USDofHHS).

• Approximately $150 billion are generated worldwide through trafficking activities annually (ILO).

• One in three detected victims of exploitation and human trafficking are children (UNODC).

• It is estimated that 600,000 to 800,000 victims are trafficked in the U.S. every year (DOS).

• I-20, I-85, I-10 and I-65 are major corridors for human trafficking.

I-20 has been identified as the “superhighway for human trafficking in the United States”.

These interstates bring significant trafficking activity into Alabama and along the Gulf Coast

explore new and exciting opportunities.

“My favorite part of Midwinter is seeing all the youth from across Alabama interact with each other,” Scott said.

“Just seeing them smile, laugh and participate in a variety of workshops truly makes me smile and warms my heart.”

MORE INFORMATION For more information about the 2022 4-H Midwinter Retreat, people can contact Scott or the 4-H agent that serves their county. Information about other Alabama 4-H programs is available at www.Alabama4H.com. where Alabama children travel for Spring Break every year.

• At any given time, the Global Slavery Index estimates that 6,000 people are being trafficked in the state of Alabama and based on preliminary research from the University of Alabama, more than half of those trafficked are children.

• In Alabama in 2017, 57% of human trafficking victims were minors (Bringing the Exploitation of Alabama’s Minors to a Stop).

For more information about the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force or to register for the End It Alabama Summit, please visit www.enditalabama.org.

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ enditalabama or on Twitter @enditalabama.

GOREE'S FURNITURE GET IT TO GO Buy Now, Take it With You TODAY! www.goreesfurniture.com • 334-742-0607 3797 Alabama Highway 169, Opelika

E vents, Food, & SocietyNews

UPCOMING EVENTS JAN. 13: THE ROUGH & TUMBLE AT SUNDILLA JAN. 14, 15: MISS ALABAMA USA & MISS ALABAMA TEEN USA AT THE GOGUE

Enliven Meals With The Robust Flavors Of Mexican, Southwestern Cuisine PHOTO BY ANN CIPPERLY

Ann Cipperly

Southern

Hospitality

N

ow that the warm weather over the holidays is gone, the cold days of January are here bringing thoughts of hearty dishes for dinner.

Warm the family up quickly with the spicy flavors of Mexican and southwestern inspired dishes. Most of these dishes only need a salad to complete the menu.

Individual creamy flans with a decadent caramel topping for dessert will make any weekday meal feel special.

When I was growing up in Opelika, my Mom didn’t make anything resembling Mexican, except tacos, and we didn’t have those often.

While I prepared sever-

al southwestern inspired dishes over the years, it wasn’t until our daughter, Donna Woodham, moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, that we dined on authentic, fiery chili embellished dishes.

It seemed every dish in Albuquerque or Santa Fe included chili peppers, even in scrambled eggs. Our daughter would bring us bags of chocolate-coated pecans that looked so yummy until we bit into them and discovered they were almost too hot to eat.

While Donna was living in Albuquerque, we visited twice during the winter months. We were not fond of Albuquer-

que where the landscape appeared to be brown everywhere. Santa Fe was different and interesting with numerous art galleries and shops to explore.

The girls would spend the day in town browsing the art shops and having a scrumptious lunch, while the guys were on the slopes nestled high in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. I was surprised to find the second oldest church in America at Santa Fe. At the end of the day, we would meet for a delectable dinner before making the drive back to Albuquerque.

Coyote Café was our favorite restaurant in Santa Fe, offering

Author Carmen Agra Deedy Coming to Auburn Public Library CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF AUBURN

The public is invited to an evening of delightful stories with New York Times bestselling author and storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy on Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 6 a . All ages are welcome!

Carmen Agra Deedy is the author of twelve books for children, including “The Library Dragon,” “The Cheshire

DEEDY Cheese Cat,” “Martina the Beautiful Cockroach,” “The Rooster

Who Would Not Be Quiet!” and “14 Cows for America,” a New York Times Bestseller. Funny, insightful and frequently irreverent, Deedy’s narratives are culled from her childhood as a Cuban refugee in Decatur, Georgia.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information, email Library Events at libraryevents@auburnalabama.org.

Tex-Mex Tortilla Bake and Easy Layered Mexican Spread offer robust flavors for a hearty weekday meal. Both dishes can be prepared ahead. Look over recipes for Mexican, Southwestern and Tex-Mex dishes for creating delectable meals for your family.

modern southwestern cuisine. Scallops were served with mascarpone rice and Calabrian chili, while pork chops were paired with squash and cotija. Elk tenderloin was served with black garlic mashed potatoes.

Caramel crème brulee was the perfect dessert to cap a scrumptious meal.

At Donna’s spacious home in Albuquerque, we enjoyed sitting on an upper back balcony with a view of the Sandia Mountains. It was a good place to unwind

after a day touring Old Town in Albuquerque and dining at Mexican restaurants. Some of the dishes were too spicy for our southern palate.

Donna’s favorite restaurant for Mexican cuisine was Garduno’s in Old Town that we dined at several times.

The restaurant serves classic Mexican, including enchiladas, tacos with guacamole and chili con queso, burritos, chimichanga and fajitas.

We have also savored Tex-Mex cuisine on nu-

merous trips to Texas.

At home, our favorite is the Tex-Mex Tortilla Bake. Cream cheese is spread on tortillas with green chilies added.

Instead of the cream cheese, you can use shredded Monterey Jack cheese. The tortillas are nestled in a sauce with ground beef, canned tomatoes and enchilada sauce and then topped with shredded cheese, if desired.

Over the years, several local good cooks See CIPPERLY, page A10

Strike Up the Band!

Smiths Station Starting Community Band

BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM Smiths Station is starting a community band — an opportunity for students, Smiths Station alumni and community members to come together and play.

The band will meet on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. EST. “My replacement at Smiths Station,

current director of bands (and former student) Mr. Gene Butler, asked me if I would consider working with the group,” said Rusty Courson. “There has been interest in starting a community band in Smiths Station for a number of years, but when I was the director of bands, I simply didn’t have time to do it. Mr. Butler finds himself in

the same situation today, so he offered to assist me with the administrative and clerical duties if I would serve as the conductor of the group. After considerable thought on my part, I eventually agreed to do so.”

This is Smiths Station’s first community band and it will meet for the first time on Jan. 25.

See BAND, page A11

VIDEO GAMES • COMICS • POSTERS ART • ANTIQUES • COINS VINTAGE JEWELRY • TOYS POKEMON • MTG • SPORTS CARDS

221 9th St, Opelika • 334.741.0808

A8 Jan. 13, 2022

Making the Grade: MK’s Asian Kitchen

I

n last week’s column, I said that, for the first time, I would be making my Grandma Patton’s wonderful tomato sauce to put on the black-eyed peas. Well, the tomato sauce tasted pretty good, but it looked a little different than Grandma’s.

“You needed to cook and stir it for about 30 more minutes,” Mama said.

However, I had already gotten up to stir the sauce about 235 times, which really disrupted my watching of the New Year’s Day football games, another holiday tradition.

Now the meal was delicious. It included: pork tenderloin (Mike is the king of the Crockpot.), sweet potatoes, turnip greens, black-eyed peas with the tomato sauce and cornbread. However, that was a lot of trouble, and we finished the meal rather quickly. On New Year’s Day 2023, the Good Lord willing, we may be dining at Cracker Barrel, where the sweet staff cook the meal AND clean it up for you. Mama said maybe by next year, I’ll forget how hard it was, change my mind and

Instead, our sweet waitress, whose name I failed to get after the song ended, took our orders; the young woman was very helpful and patient. I am really sorry that I failed to ask for her name.

For an appetizer, Mike and I chose the crab rangoon; they were warm, crispy and very tasty. Mike also ordered hot and sour soup, while I chose the egg drop soup. Both were delicious and very comforting on a cold night.

decision. We met our friends Jack, William and Thomas for my belated birthday supper.

We chose to dine at MK’s Asian Kitchen at 2490 Enterprise Dr. in Tiger Town.

When we were seated, Thomas decided to serenade me with “Happy Birthday.” While Thomas has a fine voice and is a very talented musician, I pleaded with him to stop; he did not.

Thankfully, the staff didn’t come out and bang on boxes or drums to accompany him.

For our entrees, Mike selected the cashew chicken with fried rice, and I chose the sesame chicken & shrimp with fried rice. Jack ordered two egg rolls.

Both he and Thomas ordered the orange beef and fried rice. Last, William ordered the corn nuggets as an appetizer and the teriyaki chicken and fried rice for his entrée. Everything was quite delicious, as evidenced by the silence that descended at our table when the food was served.

PHOTOS BY MIKE WALLACE

STACEY PATTON WALLACE

cook the meal again.

We’ll see.

For dessert, Mike, Mama and I enjoyed a new tradition we have started: Gigi’s Cupcakes. We indulge in this delectable dessert for our birthdays, and we celebrated my belated one that day; believe me, it was worth the wait. If you haven’t been to Gigi’s Cupcakes in Opelika, I strongly suggest you go; you will not be disappointed.

Recently, Mike and I made an easy dining

Besides our wonderful appetizers, MK’s Asian Kitchen also offers diners: beef and vegetable spring rolls, steamed or fried dumplings, Chinese donuts, chicken fingers, Bar-B-Q spareribs, fried wontons, chicken wings and lemon pepper wings.

MK’s offers a large selection of poultry, pork, beef, lamb and shrimp dishes. The restaurant also has a long list of house specialties, some of which include: sizzling

black pepper (chicken or beef), ginger duck meat, Szechuan shrimp & scallops, seafood delight and salt and pepper shrimp. Believe me, you’ll find something delicious on their menu. Jack, William and Thomas, this review was for you. Love y’all.

MK’s Asian Kitchen is closed on Tuesday.

The restaurant is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.; on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.; on Sunday from

11 a.m. until 9 p.m.

MK’s Asian Kitchen makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Pooh-sized” people NEVER lie about food. Enjoy!

Stacey Patton Wallace, who retired from teaching language arts for 30 years, is a professional diner.

Her column, “Making the Grade,” will appear each week in the Observer. Stacey may be reached at retiredlangartsteacher2020@ gmail.com

A9 Jan 13, 2022

with AAron Diehl

The Knights, New York City’s eclectic and internationally sought-after orchestral collective, returns to Opelika with an electrifying program including Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite” and George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue”, featuring acclaimed jazz pianist, Aaron Diehl.

Tuesday, January 25th, At 7:30PM

Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, 1700 Lafayette Parkway For Ticket Information, Call East Alabama Arts at 334.749.8105 or Visit eastalabamaarts.org

07 FEB 2022

28 FEB 2022

30

27

MAR 2022

APR 2022

A TRIBUTE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN: THE QUEEN OF SOUL

S Y N C O PAT E D LADIES

MNOZIL BRASS

AN AMERICAN I N PA R I S

Damien Sneed’s new multimedia production celebrates the life and career of the most successful female recording artist in history, featuring fourtime Grammy Award-winning gospel legend, Karen Clark Sheard

Take Chloe Arnold’s cross section of today’s most popular music, mix in the swing of syncopation, the thrill of improvisation, and the energy of tap, and you have a recipe for the empowerment of young women ready to take on the world.

Mnozil Brass, the Austrian band known as the Monty Python of the music world, seamlessly combines slapstick comedy with extraordinary musical ability for an over-the-top fun, virtuosic, and laugh-out-loud experience.

With gravity-defying dance, this four Tony Award-winning Broadway production, based on the Academy Award-winning film, soars with youthful optimism and the power of love. Featuring the songs of musical geniuses George and Ira Gershwin - I Got Rhythm, Liza, ‘S Wonderful, But Not for Me, and Stairway to Paradise - who could ask for anything more!

FOR TICKET INFORMATION CALL 334-749-8105 OR vISIT www.EASTALABAMAARTS.ORg

A10 Jan. 13, 2022

CIPPERLY

>>

FROM A7

have shared Mexican recipes that have become favorites at our home. One of the first cooks I interviewed who had a love of Mexican dishes was

CIPPERLY RECIPES >> EASY CREAMY BURRITO CASSEROLE

Donna Woodham 1 lb. ground beef or venison 1 onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 package taco seasoning 2 cans Mexican stewed tomatoes, drained 6 large flour tortillas 1 large can refried beans 4-6 cups shredded taco or cheddar cheese 1 can cream of mushroom soup 4 oz. sour cream Sliced jalapeños, optional Brown beef or venison. Add onions, bell pepper and taco seasoning.

Stir in stewed tomatoes. Slice tomatoes if necessary. Bite size is preferred.

Add optional jalapeños, if desired.

Mix soup and sour cream in a separate bowl.

Spread half of the sour cream mixture in the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish.

Tear up 3 tortillas and spread over sour cream mixture.

Spread half of the refried beans over the tortillas.

Put half of the meat mixture over that.

Add a layer of cheese.

Repeat the layers.

Sprinkle cheese over the top and bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

AZTEC SALAD Jeannie Johnson 1½ cups (12 oz. can) whole kernel shoe peg corn, drained 1 cup drained kidney beans ½ cup chopped onion 1/3 cup chopped green pepper 2 Tbsp. chopped pimento ¼ to ½ cup Kraft Catalina Dressing 4 ripe avocadoes, cut in half Except for avocadoes, mix other ingredients together. Chill. Spoon into avocado halves on a bed of lettuce.

PUEBLO CHICKEN AND RICE Jeannie Johnson 4 cups cooked rice 16 oz. can tomatoes, drained and chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 2 cups cooked chicken in bite-size pieces Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup sour cream 2 cans whole green chilies, seeded and cut into strips 3 cups shredded jack cheese 2 ¼ oz. can sliced ripe olives, optional

Jeannie Johnson. She doesn’t live in Opelika now, but her daughter Becky Brown does and has also shared Mexican recipes over the years.

Jeannie and husband, Lanier, lived in Opelika for many years before moving to Bir-

mingham. Jeannie and Lanier both love Mexican food and traveling to western states.

Jeannie recalls that in 1965 when she and Lanier had been married one year, her parents took them across country to California.

The first night they

stopped for dinner near the Texas border. They ordered enchiladas. “We were both hooked on Mexican food then,” recalls Jeannie. “For the next two weeks at every restaurant, we ordered Mexican food.”

Becky remembers that her mother frequently

cooked Mexican dishes when she was growing up in Opelika. She has carried on her mother’s love of Mexican food and often serves her recipes and ones she has developed when entertaining. Becky, who is the public relations coordinator for Opelika

In a large bowl, combine rice, tomatoes, onion and chicken; season with salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon half the mixture into an even layer in a greased two and a half quarts casserole dish. Cover with half of the sour cream, green chilies and cheese, then add all of the olives if using.

Repeat layer with remaining chicken mixture, sour cream and cheese.

Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until hot throughout. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serves 6 to 8.

Toppings: corn chips, salsa, shredded cheese, chopped onion, shredded lettuce, sliced black olives, chopped avocado, chopped tomato, sour cream 1 box Aztec salad shells Combine all ingredients in large pot: cover with water. Cover top and cook 6-8 hours, stirring frequently.

It will fall apart and become “mushy.”

This can be made and frozen, or refrigerated for a couple of days. Reheat in casserole dish with top on in oven or in a double boiler over hot water or it may scorch.

Don’t put it over a high flame. When ready to serve, I put a large spoonful in the bottom of an Aztec salad shell (follow heating directions on box).

Have bowls with toppings lined up, and guests can serve themselves as much or as little as they like. You may prefer to serve guacamole in place of avocado. Serves 12.

heat to high and let cook without stirring until golden brown. If sugar begins to crystallize around edges, use a wet utility brush to gently scrape the sides.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray ramekins with nonstick spray and quickly pour the sugar/water (caramel) just covering bottom. Add the custard and place ramekins in a pan. Place pan in oven and pour in water until it is halfway up the outside of ramekins.

Bake approximately 45 minutes or until the custard is set and begins to pull away from sides.

When done, remove ramekins; place on cookie sheet. Cover and place in refrigerator for at least four hours prior to serving.

Flans will keep several days in tightly sealed ramekins.

When ready to serve, run knife blade around edge to loosen custard and turn onto dessert plate. Can garnish with fresh fruit and mint.

seconds. Chill mixture.

Place chips on plate; top each with a heaping spoonful of bean mixture. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and a slice of jalapeno pepper. Microwave 60 seconds or bake until cheese melts.

Bean mixture can be stored in refrigerator several days.

TEX-MEX TORTILLA BAKE A family favorite at our house for many years.

1 lb. ground beef 1 onion, chopped 1/2 tsp. salt Two 14 1/2 oz. cans stewed tomatoes 1 can enchilada sauce 8 flour tortillas 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 can green chilies, drained 1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese or cheddar Cook beef until brown and onion is tender; season with salt and drain fat. Stir in tomatoes and enchilada sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer five minutes.

Spread cream cheese on tortillas; sprinkle green chilies on top.

Fold in half. Pour half of beef mixture into a 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with tortillas. Pour remaining sauce down center of tortillas. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

BLACK BEAN DIP Becky Brown 1 can black beans, drained 1 white onion, finely chopped 1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped Juice of ½ fresh lime ½ Tbsp. fresh cilantro, finely chopped 8 oz. jar Pace picante salsa Garlic salt to taste Mix ingredients together and serve with tortilla chips.

CHIMICHANGAS Filling: 1/2 tsp. salt 1 lb. lean ground beef 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. dried oregano 1/4 cup canned chopped chiles 1/4 cup bottled taco sauce 1/4 cup sour cream 2 Tbsp. cider vinegar Sprinkle salt in medium skillet and place over medium heat. Add beef, garlic and spices.

Cook and stir with fork until meat crumbles and loses its pink color.

Stir in remaining filling ingredients, remove from heat and cool.

Assembly: 1/2 cup margarine 6 large flour tortillas 4 oz. cheddar cheese, grated Toppings: 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup bottled picante sauce. guacamole Melt margarine in skillet. Place each tortilla in warm oleo until soft; drain and place on a flat surface. Mound a large spoonful of filling in center of tortilla and fold envelope fashion to seal filling inside.

Place tortillas seam side down in a large baking dish. Bake in 450 degree oven for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and return to oven for a few seconds. Serve with sour cream, picante sauce and guacamole.

Can prepared ahead of time.

CHALUPAS WITH ASSORTED TOPPINGS

The late Mary Samford gave ne this recipe years ago. She was a lovely and gracious lady who enjoyed entertaining.

4 lb. pork roast, minus fat, cut in chunks 3 peppers, jalapenos 1 ½ tsp. oregano 2 Tbsp. chili powder 3 cloves garlic 2 lb. pinto beans, soak overnight in water to cover 1 ½ tsp. each of salt and pepper

BETTY’S INDIVIDUAL FLANS

1 can sweetened condensed milk 5 whole eggs 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 tsp. vanilla 1 large can evaporated milk 1 cup sugar ¼ cup water Put first four ingredients in blender; mix thoroughly. Slowly add evaporated milk, mixing just until blended.

Combine sugar and water in a saucepan; stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Turn

MAKE AHEAD NACHOS Store the topping in the refrigerator until ready to place on chips and top with grated cheese. They can then be warmed in the microwave or oven.

2 Tbsp. butter ½ cup finely chopped onion 1 tsp. garlic powder 4 oz. can chopped green chilies 16 oz. can refried beans ½ tsp. chili powder ½ cup or more shredded mozzarella cheese 16 oz. bag tortilla chips 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese Sliced jalapeno peppers, optional Place butter in 2-quart casserole; microwave on high for 25 to 45 seconds. Add onion, garlic powder and green chilies to butter; cover. Microwave on high 2 minutes. Stir and continue to microwave about 2 minutes until onion is tender.

Stir in beans and chili powder; microwave high 1 to 3 minutes covered. Stir in mozzarella cheese; microwave on high 30

EASY LAYERED MEXICAN SPREAD Sally Sewell 1 can refried beans 1 cup sour cream 8 oz. picante sauce 2 chopped tomatoes Shredded cheddar cheese 2 green onions, chopped 4 ½ oz. can black olives, sliced Spread beans in a 12 by 8 baking or serving dish. Layer the remaining ingredients and top with the olives. Serve with chips.

(I sometimes substitute chunky salsa for the picante sauce and chopped tomatoes.)

MEXICAN SALAD DRESSING 1 pkg. ranch dressing mix 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup buttermilk 1 oz. chipotle in adobo sauce from a can (adjust for desired heat) Using a food processor puree chipotles; then in a mixing bowl with a wire whip, blend all ingredients together.

Chicken Enchiladas in White Sauce 8-10 flour tortillas 3 cups cooked chicken, cubed 3 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese ¼ cup butter ¼ cup flour 2 cups chicken broth 1 cup sour cream 4 oz. can green chilies Layer each tortilla with chicken and Monterey Jack cheese.

Roll tortillas and place seam side down in 9 by 13 inch greased baking dish.

Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, stirring constantly.

Mix in chicken broth to make thick sauce.

Remove from heat and stir in sour cream and green chilies, stirring until smooth. Pour over tortillas.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until hot. Can make ahead and store in refrigerator until ready to bake.

BEEF OR TURKEY ENCHILADAS Allison Drake 1 lb. ground turkey or ground beef ½ medium onion, chopped ½ large bell pepper, chopped ½ poblano pepper, chopped

City Schools, is married to Bill Brown.

Now that the holidays and Auburn football games are behind us, don’t let the winter doldrums set in. Enliven meals with the bold flavors of southwestern, Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine.

1 small can diced chili peppers 8 corn and flour tortilla blend 1 can red enchilada sauce 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese Brown meat and drain excess fat. Add in onions and peppers and cook until soft. Add in diced chili peppers.

In a 9 x 13 baking dish pour about half of enchilada sauce into pan and assemble each enchilada by scooping 1/3 cup of meat mixture and cheese into each tortilla. Place in pan seam-side down.

Continue to do this until all of the tortillas are full. Pour the remaining sauce on top and sprinkle cheese on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly hot. Good served with cilantro and sour cream and side of black beans.

GUACAMOLE

4 ripe Haas avocados 3 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 lemon) 8 dashes hot pepper sauce ½ cup small-diced red onion (1 small onion) 1 large garlic clove, minced 1 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper Cut the avocados in half, remove the pits, and scoop the flesh out of their shells into a large bowl. Add lemon juice, hot pepper sauce, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper and toss well. Using a sharp knife, slice through the avocados in the bowl until they are finely diced.. Mix well and taste for salt and pepper.

MOM’S SKILLET FIESTA WITH TORTILLAS AND TOPPINGS

Melanie Constance 1 cup uncooked rice 1 beef bouillon cube 1 lb. ground beef 1/4 cup onion, minced 1 Tbsp. chili powder 1 Tbsp. cumin 1 (16 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes 1 1/2 cups frozen corn 1 can black beans, rinsed Salt and pepper to taste Flour tortillas Toppings: salsa, sour cream, guacamole, cheese Cook rice according to package instructions, adding beef bouillon.

Brown beef in a large skillet on medium heat, add onion and cook on low until onion is tender, about 3 minutes.

Add seasonings, tomatoes, corn, beans and salt and pepper to beef mixture. Once rice is cooked, add to mixture, stirring well.

Serve mixture on flour tortillas with salsa, sour cream, guacamole and cheese.

A11 Jan 13, 2022

Uptown Columbus Opens Applications for 2022 Market Days on Broadway CONTRIBUTED BY UPTOWN COLUMBUS Market Days on Broadway is coming back to the sidewalks of Columbus, Georgia, beginning Saturday, April 2. Vendors from the region will line the 1000,

BAND >>

FROM A7

“I don’t have exact numbers, but Mr. Butler indicates that we have a great number of people from the area on our initial roster,” he said.

“We utilized social media to recruit new members, with many of those signing up being part of the Smiths Station Band as students.

However, there are also a number of other members from other areas in Lee and Russell Counties, along with the Columbus area. There are also some members of the current Smiths Station band that are playing secondary instruments.

“I don’t anticipate any issues at all.

There will be current students and alumni members, but there will also be individuals that have never been involved with the Smiths Station Band Program.

I know of individuals that have signed up that are associated with the Opelika Band, the Beauregard Band, the Beulah Band, along with

1100 and 1200 blocks providing fresh products, baked goods, jewelry and homemade items every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon.

Vendors looking to apply for a spot for the 2022 season can do so as of this past Monday,

other band programs that I’m not aware of.

The only requirement is an interest in getting together on a weekly basis to make music.”

The band will perform but not in conjunction with the high school band.

“We were initially planning on a concert in mid-March and another just prior to the end of school, but we may have to adjust that since we’re starting a little later than planned,” Courson said. “Keep in mind, we will have two hours of rehearsal time each week. The school bands generally have between five and eight hours of rehearsal time a week.”

The band will meet in the Smiths Station High School Band Room.

More information can be found on Facebook at:www. facebook.com/ smithsstationbandprog ram.

“The community band just gives people in the area an opportunity to express themselves musically,” Courson said.

Jan. 10. Applications can be found on the Uptown Columbus website, www. alwaysuptown.com.

Submissions for the new season will remain open until the first of March, or until all spots are filled.

The Market is a traditional farmers market

with vendors selling handmade, homemade, homegrown products.

Market Days provide a great opportunity for local businesses and individuals to get their names out around the community.

The $200 vendor fee covers the entire season.

FREE MAMMOGRAMS AND PAP TESTS

with FREE CANCER TREATMENT AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE WOMEN • Breast Cancer Screenings 40-64 yrs old • Cervical Cancer Screenings 21-64 yrs old

DON’T DELAY DO IT FOR YOURSELF DO IT FOR YOUR FAMILY For a referral or more information go to: www.alabama.gov/bandc scan the QR Code below, or contact the hotline: 1-877-252-3324

The Market season will run from April 2 through Nov. 26. Market Days is open and free to the public, and the perfect opportunity to browse with family, friends and even furry pals who tag along for the morning.

For more information

and to stay up to date on the latest news for Market Days on Broadway, visit Facebook www. facebook. com/ MarketDays OnBroadway.

GET CONNECTED. GET TRAINED. GET HIRED. Begin your construction career with Go Build Alabama.

GO BUILD Apply Today GoBuildAl.com

A12 Jan. 13, 2022

A13 Jan 13, 2022

The Connection That Counts

BRUCE GREEN Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ in Opelika

P

aul talks about confidence in the flesh in Philippians 3:3-4. He speaks of disciples as those who put “no confidence in the flesh” (v. 3). Then in the next verse he uses the phrase two more times as he argues he has a greater basis for “confidence on the flesh” than anyone else.

What exactly is he talking about? What does it mean to “put no confidence in the flesh?”

For a long time, I

understood these passages (and others like them) as having reference to some form of legalistic approach to faith — as having faith in your obedience as opposed to having the obedience that comes from faith (Romans 1:5, 16:26). Under this rubric, the Mosaic covenant is often misrepresented as requiring perfection/being legalistic and N.T. references to Judaizers are explained as those people who wanted to move Christians away from the covenant of grace (new covenant) and back into the legalistic, Mosaic covenant.

This simply isn’t true on several levels. One is that the Mosaic covenant did not represent a legalistic approach to God. After all, there was a sacrificial system built into it. How could a covenant offering forgiveness and having a Day of Atonement be understood

as legalistic? If we think having to do something (i.e., offer a sacrifice) makes it legalistic, we don’t understand grace (or legalism for that matter). Again, it’s the difference between having faith in our obedience and the obedience that comes from faith. One is legalism and the other is grace.

Returning to the nature of the Mosaic covenant, read Deuteronomy 30:11ff and see if it sounds like it is demanding perfection.

If the Mosaic covenant wasn’t legalistic, could it be perverted into such a system? Of course, it could.

Anything can be. Do we have evidence that this was done by the Pharisees or others? Not in the sense that they believed they were perfect human beings who had flawlessly kept the law or taught such. (Let’s give them some credit.). They were more elitists who

thought that their connections to Abraham through the flesh (Matthew 3:9-10), to Moses through the law (John 5:45, 9:28), and to their ancestors through their traditions (Matthew 15:2ff), made them righteous and better than everyone else.

With this in mind, the Judaizers we read about in so much of the N.T. weren’t seeking to introduce a system calling for perfection, they were trying to sell disciples of Jesus the idea that they needed connect to Abraham, Moses, and all their traditions. They wanted them to practice circumcision, follow old covenant dietary laws and observe the Jewish calendar.

In other words, connecting with Christ wasn’t enough.

That’s the heresy Paul is fighting in his letters.

When we apply this understanding to the text, it makes much more sense.

ABOUT BRUCE GREEN Paul is not saying that he had more reason to have confidence in the flesh in a legalistic sense. He means in an elitist, nationalistic sense he was more steeped in the Jewish faith and traditions than any of his opponents. But now, as part of the community of Christ, he put no confidence in fleshly connections to Abraham or a covenant that catered to the flesh (Hebrews 9:13 ESV).

Such an understanding also makes the text easy to apply to our lives as well. Is our confidence in our winning personality, educational accomplishments, bank account, church connections or other such things? They are all false foundations when it comes to standing before God. We want the righteousness “through faith in Christ” (Colossians 3:9).

That is the connection that counts.

You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: atasteofgracewithbrucegreen.com.

Hunley Group Lambert Transfer & Storage An Interstate Agent for North American Van Lines 1102 Fox Trail Opelika, AL 36803 745-5706

BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." — 1 Peter 1:15-16

DIRECTORY APOSTOLIC HOLINESS Emmanuel Temple of Deliverance Inc. 28 Sanford Ave., Opelika 334-745-0210 God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 Highland Ave., Opelika 334-749-9672 True Deliverance Holiness Church

936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700 BAPTIST Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St., Opelika 334-745-7528 Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538

Was Saul Saved on the Road to Damascus?

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506 Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 3089 Judge Brown Rd., Valley 334-710-2117 Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave., Opelika 334-749-9487

Come and Find Out.

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

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST AT CUNNINGHAM DRIVE

High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 334-524-8750

2660 CUNNINGHAM DR., OPELIKA SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 9:30 A.M. SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:30 A.M. / 5 P.M. WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 6:30 P.M.

Lakeview Baptist Church 1600 E. Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-7094 Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108 Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608

Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika 10th Street Church Of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika 334-745-5181 Church Of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy., Opelika 334-742-9721 Southside Church Of Christ 405 Carver Ave., Opelika 334-745-6015

Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800 Beulah United Methodist Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148 Connect Church 2015 West Point Pkwy., Opelika 334-707-3949 St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319 PRESBYTERIAN

COMMUNITY OUTREACH Good Sheperd Anglican Church 3015 Opelika Road, Opelika EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave., Opelika 334-745-2054 METHODIST

Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Opelika Outreach S.D.A. Church P.O. Box 386, Opelika 334-749-3151

Place your ad here!

Fresh Foods...And A Whole Lot More!

Catch ‘On the Mark’ with D. Mark Mitchell and Jeff Sasser weekday mornings from 7-9 a.m.

603 Pleasant Pleasant Drive 603 Drive Opelika, Opelika, ALAL 36801 749-1333 749-1333 Mon-Sat - 8pm Mon- Sat7am 7am-8pm Sun12pm 12pm-6pm Sun - 6pm

Email: editor@opelika observer.com Call: 334-749-8003

A14 Jan. 13, 2022

Breaking Free from the Past

WALTER ALBRITTON

M

istakes are inevitable.

We all blunder. So the big question is not how can we avoid mistakes but how can we avoid living in bondage to the past. Our attitude determines whether we are free or chained to the guilt and pain of our blunders. Bondage occurs if we believe the most important reality in our lives is what happened in the past. Freedom follows when we believe that

the most important reality of our lives is the future God is offering us.

To refuse to be defined by our past is not an easy decision. Tragedy, which is common to us all, pushes us to allow our past to define us. Misfortune strikes. God is silent. He allows us to suffer. So why believe? Our sins also trigger disbelief. We lied. We stole what did not belong to us.

We committed adultery. We got sucked into the darkness of drug and alcohol addiction. So we concluded in despair: God will never forgive us.

Thus we choose to be defined by our past.

So, if you feel chained to the past, how can you break loose from this bondage? The first

step is to remember, and believe, what the Bible says about God. Refuse to believe that God will not forgive you. Instead, believe the words of Jeremiah 31:34 – “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”.

Embrace and celebrate the words of David in Psalm 103 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”.

Paraphrase that verse for yourself: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed my transgressions from me.”.

Believe it because that is what God does when you genuinely repent of your sins.

Grab a hymnal (or

OBITUARIES RANDELL “BRETT” SMITH

Randell “Brett” Smith passed away Jan. 3, 2022 in Cusseta, He was born July 29, 1988 in Talladega, Alabama, to David and Annette Smith. Mr. Smith graduated as copresident of his senior class from Beulah High School in 2006.

He is survived by

his parents; children Audrey Katherine age 2, Ashton Max age 4 both of Wetumpka; ex-wife Caren Chase of Wetumpka; grandparents: Jerry and Patricia Spivey of Opelika; brother: Eric Lyle Smith of Auburn; aunts and uncles: Tony and Connie Coleman, Lyn and Jonathan Brown, William and

'1/a.ssle hee Va.cat:on..Whj Not Ca.II Us. www.mytravelatmidtown.com

334 749 0877 3051 Frederick Road, Suite 7, Opelika -

-

� Circle of Excellence 2008-2011

MilhonA1r 2010 & 2011 & 2012 --------(between Sam:� Club and Tiger Town)

Leann Smith; cousins: Tony, Camile, and Blake Coleman; Jaimie and Jacob Brown, Hannah and Brittany Smith.

No services will be held at this time. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is directing.

ask Alexa to play for you) and sing the songs that affirm God’s chain-breaking power. Believe these words of a verse in Charles Wesley’s hymn, “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” – “He breaks the power of canceled sin, he sets the prisoner free; his blood can make the foulest clean, his blood avails for me.”.

Believe the Lord can set you free.

John Wesley defined the Christian life as “growing in grace”.

Notice he did not say, “sitting in grace”.

The way to grow in grace is to arise and accept God’s offer.

You cannot continue to sit in bondage and experience the new life God wants to give you. You must get up and move. Say and do

what the song says, “I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day.”.

Consider that New Testament missionary named Paul. Jesus had been crucified and resurrected. He redeems Paul. Paul is growing in grace. He establishes churches and encourages fellow Christians to grow in grace. From prison he says to the Philippians: “… one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on ...”.

Paul had an ugly past, and he knew his past could chain him, so he let it go. He cut loose from his past by “forgetting what lies behind”.

I had to do that. If you have not done it,

you can do it. You cannot move forward until you believe that the most important thing about you is not your past but what God is offering you — a new beginning free from the hurt of the past. Choose it. Get in it. If you can’t jump in it, then crawl in it.

Jesus did not focus on the past. He pointed even the worst of sinners toward the future. Whatever your past, Jesus is not looking back at the mud you got stuck in; he is looking at the stars you can follow into a new life.

If you are chained to your past, ask the good Lord to help you break loose and start growing in grace so you can become the person God has destined you to be.

Vehicle Title Problem?

We have a Solution!

Unclaimed/Abandoned Vehicles, Mobile Homes & Surety Bonds

JSE:Alabama's Vehicle Title Recovery Service!

We can help with most Titled Vehicles in Alabama, including Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, RV’s & Trailers. Stop in, by phone or online!

Fre e Ph on e C onsu lt ati on Call 1-205-267-5735 w w w. J S E A L . c om

A15 Jan 13, 2022

Local Resident Overcomes Cancers, Advocates for Others LaKeisha KingMenifee has survived both breast and ovarian cancer — and now she wants to advocate and raise awareness on behalf of others.

“In December of 2016 I went for my annual gynecology appointment, I saw [my doctor] and she asked if I had any problems or anything and I told her, ‘no, one night I had a pain that sort of shot across my stomach, maybe lasted less than a minute,’” she said. “And she said ‘okay, well we’ll just do an ultrasound just to check and make sure everything is okay.’ So we did the ultrasound.

She called me back maybe a week later and told me that they saw some things on there; she wanted me to come in.”

Her doctor referred with another gynecologist and they decided KingMenifee needed a biopsy.

This returned inconclusive, however, so she was referred to Birmingham where she had another biopsy.

“That came back positive for an ovarian cancer,” she said. “It’s a rare ovarian cancer,

slow-growing, non-aggressive. The treatment was a hysterectomy. They told me I wouldn’t need chemo or radiation or anything like that.”

She decided to reach out to the Cancer Treatment Center of America who recommended she speak with another survivor of ovarian cancer.

“We had a great discussion, it gave me some hope,” she said.

King-Menifee then saw a GYN-oncologist through the Cancer Treatment Center of America and she decided to schedule her surgery through the center.

She was also told she may need chemo after all following the surgery.

“I did go through six rounds of chemo from there,” she said.

“Throughout that time, I will say, my surgery, my healing process, was amazing. I was in very little pain. I was able to move around and do things.”

As of this last December, King-Menifee has been in remission for five years from ovarian cancer.

“God is awesome,” she said.

However, her cancer

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION

BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

story didn’t end with ovarian cancer.

“In May of 2018, I woke up, I was getting ready for work … I saw a red streak on my right breast and I immediately thought inflammatory breast cancer, I’m not sure why, probably because I’m a medical professional.”

Following a mammogram, King-Menifee needed a biopsy and was referred to the breast oncologist.

After learning she had breast cancer, KingMenifee scheduled a double mastectomy.

“Went through eight rounds of chemo after that,” she said. “I tried to do the same thing I did with the first chemo, as far as getting chemo on Thursday or Friday and coming back to work Monday, but I was a little sicker than I thought I was, even though I tried to keep pushing.”

She also completed 25 radiation treatments.

Now, King-Menifee has been three years without signs of breast cancer.

“Thank God the providers, and the doctors and nurse practitioners at CTCA are very

comforting so I now go every three to four months just as a follow up because I like to stay on top of things,” she said.

Every year KingMenifee and an organization she helped found, Sisters Exemplifying Excellence, host an annual breast cancer walk.

“The breast cancer walk then turned into ‘curing the colors of cancer,’” she said. “Because every cancer has a color and we want to find a cure for every color of cancer. So every year, sometimes between September/October, we do a walk and we normally sell t-shirts at the admission for maybe like $10. So then all of those proceeds we give back out into the community.

So if we have anyone in the community that is battling cancer, having to drive back and forth to the doctor, they might need gas money, they might be out of work, then we as a group get together and decide what monetary donation we will give.”

King-Menifee takes other opportunities to educate others as well about cancer, including speaking arrangements at schools — such as

Opelika City Schools during breast cancer awareness month.

“Any way that I can give back and alert people to pay attention to their bodies,” she said. “We’re our biggest advocates. So if I know there’s a change, I need to be able to tell my doctor that there is a change or this is different, so that they can order the necessary tests. “… You have so many people and at a younger age being diagnosed with cancer. And with ovarian cancer especially, typically ovarian cancer isn’t diagnosed or found until you’re Stage Four which means it has spread outside of your ovaries to other major organs or your bones and so we just need to pay attention.”

Throughout her cancer journey, King-Menifee has said that her faith in God played a large role.

“Without God, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said. “Without God, I wouldn’t have been placed in CTCA into those hands, because those doctors believed that they could treat me and I would be healed. If it were not for God and my support system, I wouldn’t be as strong as I am today.”

EAH to Require Medical Grade Masks Provides COVID-19 Update

CONTRIBUTED BY EAH CURRENT HOSPITALIZATIONS NEAR 2Nd PEAK On Sunday, East Alabama Health matched its April 2020 peak of 54 COVID-19 hospitalizations and surpassed that total this morning with 61 patients.

This total is just shy

of the 62 COVID hospitalizations recorded in July 2020. Currently, six patients require the use of a ventilator. This compares to eight with the July 2020 peak.

In addition, our overall patient census is at level red this morning with additional patients — including COVID

patients — waiting in our Emergency Departments to be assigned a hospital bed.

WEEKEND TESTING FINDS POSITIVITY RATE IN THE 40s Over the weekend, East Alabama Health tested 341 patients at its testing site, with 147 returning a positive result for

a 43% positivity rate. Meanwhile, our three Emergency Departments reported a 44% positivity rate among the patients tested.

Additional testing days are scheduled this week as the ADPH, with help from the Lee County EMA, will conduct testing at our testing site on Tuesday

and Wednesday. Then, East Alabama Health employees will conduct testing on Saturday and Sunday. Appointments for symptomatic patients may be made by calling our Call Center at 334-5284YOU (4968).

MEDICAL GRADE MASK REMINDER Due to the Omicron variant being highly contagious and causing a sharp increase in cases and hospitalizations, East Alabama Health officials updated its mask policy over the weekend to now require medical grade masks for all staff, patients and visitors.

Everyone entering East Alabama Medical Center, EAMC-Lanier and all offices and services related to East Alabama Health must now wear a well-fitted, medical grade mask that snugly covers the nose and mouth. Masks will be available at all entrances for those who arrive with a cloth mask.

STATE UPDATE Monday, Jan. 10:

• The ADPH Dashboard indicates 6,250 new confirmed COVID-19 cases today.

• New cases are underreported due to home/self-tests • Alabama’s statewide COVID-19 test positivity is 41.1% • To find the rate for your county, click here.

• There are 1776 COVID patients hospitalized today, including 47 pediatric patients.

• Of the 47 pediatric patients, eight are in ICU and four are ventilated • 360 confirmed COVID-19 patients are in the ICU • 26% of all ICU patients are COVID-19 positive • 161 (45%) confirmed COVID-19 patients in the ICU are ventilated • 65% of hospital ventilators are available • There were 12 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Alabama reported yesterday.

• There are 21 hospitalized patients with confirmed influenza (flu).

• There are three hospitalized patients with confirmed influenza and COVID-19.

A16 Jan. 13, 2022

COMICS

“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.” ― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

S

INSIDE B1 - B8:

S

Auburn High Selected for AHSAA 2022 Kickoff Game

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: D. Mark Mitchell's column, On the Mark, will return next week.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS OPELIKA: JAN. 25 AT 4:30 P.M. LEE COUNTY: FEB. 8 AT 6 P.M. AUBURN: FEB. 8 AT 6 P.M.

Auburn’s Shelly Poe Named FWAA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner CONTRIBUTED BY THE FIFTH DOWN FWAA member Shelly Poe, Auburn’s assistant athletic director/media relations, has been named the recipient of the association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2021 season, becoming the fourth person in the sports information field to receive the honor.

The award goes to a FWAA member or someone close to the organization who has contributed greatly to either college football, the writing profession or the FWAA during his or her career.

Poe would be considered a trailblazer as a female football SID. Poe was the only female head SID at a

POE Division I football school when she was named West Virginia’s (her alma mater) in 1988 after holding an assistant’s post at the same school for three years. She also was the youngest Division I head SID at that time at 23 years of age.

“I was very fortunate to have been one of the first women to make a career in football, and I was

able to do that because a number of smart, tough, persistent women paved the way for those my age to choose the career path,” Poe said. “There were often challenges and resistance, but I quickly learned that the winners in athletics judged people based on how their talents can benefit the program.

“I worked hard to gain that trust and advocates stepped up from the most surprising quarters whenever biases made things difficult. Along the way, I’ve built so many lifelong relationships with friends who were first introduced to me as players, coaches, co-workers and media colleagues, and that is the real dividend.”

“Shelly has been a staple in the college sports information field for more than three decades,” said FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson. “It is one thing to have longevity in the field, but she has been a strong advocate for the media among her peers and those she has worked for at three FBS institutions. She also has been a tireless worker for CoSIDA.” Besides her tenure at Auburn for the past decade, Poe also was director of football communications at Ohio State from 2007 to 2012 following 20 years at West Virginia. An ex-officio member of the FWAA Board from 2013 to 2018, Poe See SHELLY POE, page B3

Opelika WBB Above .500, Sanders Scores 1,000th Point PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER

Auburn High School has been selected as one of four schools which will have the honor of competing in the 2022 AHSAA Kickoff Classic Directors & Coaches Association on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 18 and 19, at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.

The Tigers are primed to face off against the Class 7A Hoover Buccaneers, who were ousted from the 2021 playoffs in the semifinal round against eventual champion Thompson High School. Auburn was eliminated from the playoffs in the same round in 2021, losing to eventual runner-up Central Phenix City. The two teams will face off on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m.

The 2022 Hoover team will look different from years past after veteran head coach Josh Niblett resigned after the 2021 season to take on a new challenge at Gainesville High School in Georgia.

During his 14-year tenure, Niblett established one of the most dominant high school dynasties in state history with Hoover, leading the Buccaneers to a 17126 overall record, six state titles and four runner-up finishes.

Auburn’s head coach Keith Etheredge enters his second year with the Tigers, with an impressive overall head coaching record of 160-54 himself.

This year will mark his fourth appearance in the Kickoff Classic, with Auburn making its second. Hoover is 4-0 all-time in the Kickoff Classic, with Auburn High winning its only appearance as well.

The Chelsea Hornets and the Helena Huskies are the other two teams pegged for the Kickoff Classic.

That contest between the two Shelby County rivals will take place on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Cramton Bowl.

The contests will be televised over the AHSAA TV Network and live-streamed over the NFHS Network.

The AHSAA Radio Network will also broadcast both contest over its statewide radio network.

“We are elated to have two games of this magnitude lined up for the 2022 Kickoff Classic,” said AHSADCA Director Brandon Dean. “We are grateful to these four schools from such strong high school sports communities for committing to this year’s event. We are looking forward to seeing these teams usher in a new season of high school athletics.”

• AUBURN UNIVERSITY • COMMUNITY SPORTS • LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS • OPELIKA/AUBURN SCHOOLS • SUSSC

HARRISON TARR FOR THE OBSERVER The Opelika women’s basketball program has had a roller coaster of a season to this point. The Bulldogs are 9-9 on the season, 2-1 in area play and were recently given the opportunity to celebrate senior guard Haley Sanders’ 1000th career point as a member of the team.

First year head coach Blake Smalley took the opportunity to look back at his team’s accomplishments to this point and admitted his excitement that his team is very much in the conversation for postseason contention.

The group begins with Sanders, a standout dating back to her freshman campaign in the 2018-19

season.

“She’s been a part of a team that’s been to multiple final fours,” Smalley said.

“Obviously she had a big impact early on in her career. As a freshman she was playing varsity and that’s continued on.”

Despite being the Bulldogs’ offensive leader on a nightly basis, See SANDERS, page B2

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.com

334-749-8303 1-800-327-6519

B2 Jan. 13, 2022

Beauregard's Pooler Inks Committment PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY JOHN HILLSMAN / FOR THE OBSERVER

Class of 2022 Beauregard High School baseball player Ethan Pooler put pen to paper Friday, committing to play college ball at Emmanuel College in Georgia. His family and friends were in attendance. Pooler is a 6-foot-1 right handed pitcher and first baseman.

Southern Christian Riding Hot Streak CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER On Tuesday, Jan. 4, the Southern Christian Patriots tipped off against the Lagrange Academy Warriors in Lagrange, Georgia In the middle school game, the Patriots were behind the Warriors going into the second half of regulation. After going into a full court man-toman press in the third quarter, the Patriots had a 15-0 run on the Warriors and never looked back.

After the smoke cleared, SCA had won 40-25 over LCA. Leading Southern Christian was Parks Myers with 18 points and eight steals; also Jagger Scott and Jayden Pool had six points each.

However, the junior varsity game would be a different story for the Patriots. The boys from SCA jumped ahead of the Warriors in the first quarter 17-13, but in the second the Warriors were able to successfully trap the Patriots and flip the script. By halftime, SCA trailed 32-28. The Warriors continued to pull away in the third, but the Patriots closed the

deficit in the fourth with man-to-man pressure.

They would fight valiantly but lose 59-53 at the end. The Patriot’s Cole Johnson scored 23 points and Myers scored 20.

On Friday Jan. 7, the younger of the two middle school teams of Trinity Christian made its way to Covington Rec in Opelika to play the Patriots. After putting up a courageous 24-minute fight, the Eagles fell to the Patriots 47-19. Anderson England cleared the way for the SCA victory with a big double double, registering 13 points and 11 rebounds. Jack Eagan put up 12 points and Wyatt Myers added 10 points and four blocks. Harris Adams fought hard under the rim and grabbed nine boards.

On Saturday, SCA traveled to Montgomery to play the Evangel Christian Academy Lions. The middle school took the court first, outpacing the Lions by near double digits the entire game. The Patriots were able to force 25 total turnovers with their aggressive “Run and Jump” trapping through the first three quarters of the game. Coach Scott stepped back into 1-3-1 zone defense after outscoring the Lions by 20 in the third. The Pat’s Scott scored 11 points; England scored seven and had four steals. Parks Myers led SCA with 10 points, five assists, six steals and five deflections. The final score was Patriots 42, Lions 16. In the junior varsity contest, the undersized

Patriots faced a very tough battle in the paint.

Falling behind 12-0 in the first quarter was devastating to the boys of SCA. After making a defensive adjustment going into the second period, the Patriots fought hard and outscored the Lions, going into half time with some momentum. However, unable to match up with the much larger forwards of ECA plagued the Pats in the second half and kept them behind the eight ball all afternoon.

The Patriots of Southern Christian would go on to lose 36-22 to the Lions of Evangel. High scorers for SCA were Johnson with nine, and Jagger Scott with six. Scott also had 11 hard fought rebounds in the paint.

Southern Christian middle school record is now 8-2, but the very young JV team is currently winless at 0-11 and 0-7 in the ACSC conference. Southern Christian will travel to face non-conference opponents Wynnbrook of Columbus and Southern Prep of Camp Hill this week.

SANDERS >> FROM B1 Sanders’ head coach does not view her as a player who tries to do more than she is asked.

“I wouldn’t say her goal is to score every time she touches the ball,” Smalley said.

“She values the ball, shares the ball well.

It’s one of those things where she has the opportunity to score 1,000 points and that’s a big accomplishment for her.”

Although the offense may run predominantly through Sanders, the senior cannot win every contest on her own; the group around her is a continually developing squad who’s head coach believes in to continue improving.

“I think that’s always the case no matter who you’re coaching or what you’re coaching,” Smalley said. “An individual can only achieve so much, the team has got to work to become one in order to achieve all the goals that they set for each other.”

According to Smalley, the culture of hard work and

collective desire to improve is prominent in this year’s group of Bulldogs.

“I think everybody is locked in,” Smalley said. “But I wouldn’t say there ever really weren’t. They’re always working to try to get better, never satisfied.”

The collaborative mentality of improvement and playing for one another will likely prove imperative when the time rolls around for the red and black to make a run in the 2022 ASHAA tournament, a feat Smalley still believes to be tangible.

“Basketball is a lot different than most sports,” Smalley said.

“You can be o-fer in the win-loss column and get hot at the right time and make a run.

So I think everything we want to accomplish is still reachable.

I think everything is still right there in front of us.”

Sanders, Smalley and the rest of the Bulldogs returned to the court on Tuesday evening and improved to 3-1 in the region with a 57-16 win over Russell County.

B3 Jan. 13, 2022

SSMBB Midseason Update For the first 14 games of the 2021-22 season, the Smiths Station men’s basketball team was on a warpath.

The Panthers found themselves on the winning end of 12 games and were positioning themselves to make another deep run in this year’s installment of the AHSAA playoffs; since then, the silver and black has taken a turn in the opposite direction.

Head coach Steven Davis’ team has stumbled its way through the past five contests, losing four in dramatic onescore fashion and receiving a thorough beatdown at the hands of Charles Henderson.

“They’ve all been close,” Davis said. “No doubt about that. I think we play slow to start the game out with or we’ll make a mistake down the stretch.”

According to Davis, the trend of slow starts can be accredited to the Panthers’ inability to play their best brand of defense in the first half of contests.

“I think we close the games out pretty good

PHOTO BY JERRY BALLAS/ FOR THE OBSERVER

BY HARRISON TARR FOR THE OBSERVER

defensively,” Davis said.

“It’s like we’re serving ourselves. We just need to play in the first and second quarter defensively and I think we’ll be in better situations in the fourth.”

Playing solid defense across all four quarters will likely serve beneficial to the Panthers as the group has also struggled with preventing turnovers in late-game situations.

“Turnovers,” Davis

said. “We’ve had a couple of turnovers in the fourth quarter where we might have been up one.

We were up one then gave up a bucket.”

Between lapses in defending and poor ball management in the latter portions of contests, the silver and black has a wide range of issues it needs to clean up; Davis is hopeful that a return to Smiths Station will provide the squad with a positive environment to

do so.

“We haven’t played at home in seven games either,” Davis said. “We’re trying to get comfortable playing on the road. We won our last three home games, we’ve just been on the road our last six games.”

Despite watching the team lose five straight, there is still a silver lining for fans of Smiths Station basketball: the hometown Panthers have suffered just one

catastrophic defeat to this point.

“We don’t get in a situation we can’t overcome,” Davis said. “All of them have been close, we’ve been competitive.

We feel good about going into the area play.”

As the group embarks on its schedule of area opponents, Davis will look to his pair of standout forwards — Tre-Quan Turner and Dadrevius Weathers — to continue posting

the numbers the duo has grown accustomed to manufacturing; he also looks forward to seeing the continual progression of Trevon Taylor.

“A lot of offense is ran through both of those guys,” Davis said.

“Trevon Taylor stepped up in a lot of games.

In the last six games he probably had three 20-point games or more.

He stepped up as well.”

Between the sustained production from his backcourt and the visible improvement from the likes of Taylor and senior forward Ahmari Peabody, Davis is optimistic about the Panthers’ abilities to correct the course and make a deep run in the playoffs.

“I’d rather go 4-26 than 26-4,” Davis said.

“We’ve got to focus on the games we’ve got to win. We’re still good for a late season run. You don’t win all the games up front and not have a chance to win.”

Smiths Station will return home for an outof-region matchup with nearby foe Beauregard on Friday, Jan. 14. Tipoff between the Panthers and the Hornets is set for 6:30 p.m. CST.

Attitude Adjustment: Smiths Station Girls Basketball Wants to Prove It Belongs Winners of six out of its last 10 games, the attitude of the Smiths Station girls’ basketball team has begun a metamorphosis for the better.

“Our overall attitude of the team [has changed],” said Smiths Station girls’ basketball coach Kelvin Roberts.

“Before, they would get down on themselves, and if the game wasn’t going their way, they would panic or just give up. Whereas now they are showing way more fight.”

The Panthers currently sit at 7-9 on the season, and although the team just posted back-to-back loses to region foes Central Phenix City and Auburn, their coach is noticing positive developments on the court.

“They are beginning to trust each other on the court more,” Roberts said. “Instead of just spurts, we started to see that well ‘I don’t have to try and do it by myself’ l and trust the strategy that has been laid out for us. We can execute and

SHELLY POE>> FROM B1 is a 2006 member of the CoSIDA Hall of Fame, the 2013-14 CoSIDA president, the recipient of the 2012 CoSIDA Trailblazer Award and she was part of a CoSIDA-FWAA task force to determine media services adjustments at the beginning of the COVID

we have begun to see positive dividends and its started to click for us.

Now it’s just trying to remain consistent."

Based on the Panther’s recent history — having failed to win the area championship since 2008 — remaining consistent looks to be a lofty challenge.

Roberts said he has a number of girls who he has looked to, and will continue to look to, as players who can provide steady hands to help guide the team. “[Who the leadership comes from], it’s kind of been back and forth,” Roberts said. “Some games I’ll get more production and leadership from Khamyri Jordan.

Other games it will be Cassidy Pittman or Latasha Judkins. As of late, I’m getting more leadership and production from Jatayah Bryant.”

With only six more regular season games on the docket before postseason play begins, the Panthers will have to be strong physically and mentally to change the trends of recent history.

“We want to take the

lessons learned from the first half of the season,” Roberts said. “It was all leading toward this point and playing these important area games … getting over that mental hump. The first thing I want to do is to get them to realize that you can play this game against [whoever]. They are beatable and we are capable of doing that. We just have to get over that mental hump.”

The Panthers are averaging just over 34 points per game this season, while allowing nearly 40. Compare that to both Auburn and Central, which average over 50 points per contest and allow 38 and 41 points per game, respectively, and there is some clear ground to make up for Smiths Station.

Still, however, Roberts believes his team has what it takes to compete in the region and reach the goal of postseason play. What it will come down to, as Roberts put it, is one simple word: execution. “[The key is] being able to execute better,” Roberts said. “We will have these mental

pandemic in the summer of 2020. She has been at Auburn since 2012.

“I was blessed to work for many years for one of the finest gentlemen ever in this game, Hall of Fame coach Don Nehlen, who would do an extra interview or make time for a guest, ‘because I think it’s good for the game,’” Poe recalled. “Those words

have been a standard for me, and I hope I’ve made the game better by assisting so many talented people in telling its stories.

“My best friend, the late coach Dave Adolph, was known for asking, ‘Do you love football?’ I do love it, and I love the positive impact it’s had on so many lives, especially mine.”

The FWAA

PHOTO BY JERRY BALLAS/ FOR THE OBSERVER

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

lapses, where we turn the ball over or miss rotation on defense. It’s not that we haven’t practiced for this situation,

it’s just when we are in the game, it may be one or two people, they aren’t on their best game and it can cost us as a

team. It’s just trying to keep us consistent and mentally ready for these tough games.”

started naming a Lifetime Achievement Award winner nearly a decade ago. Art Spander of the San Francisco Examiner was the first recipient in 2013, followed by Bill Little (University of Texas) in 2014, Irv Moss (Denver Post) in 2015, OK (Buddy) Davis (Ruston Daily Leader) in 2016, Mike Finn (ACC) in 2017, Dave Plati (University

of Colorado) in 2018, Wright Waters (Football Bowl Association) and Paul Hoolahan (Sugar Bowl) in 2019 and Sid Hartman (Minneapolis Star Tribune) posthumously in 2020.Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas

of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team.

For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214870-6516 or tiger@ fwaa.com.

B4 Jan. 13, 2022

BULLDOGS TROUNCE EUFAULA AT BUZZER

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER The Opelika High School varsity boys' basketball team won its home region game against Eufaula Friday by a score of 67-66. Grady Bynum secured the win for the Bulldogs with a last second blocked shot.

The boys lost 70 -42 to Russell County Tuesday night.

EUFAULA TIGERS OVERPOWER OPELIKA

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER

The Opelika girls' varsity basketball team was defeated by Eufaula, 62-48, on Friday. The team bounced back with a 57-16 region win over Russell County on Tuesday.

B5 Jan. 13, 2022

PANTHERS MEET PHENIX CITY IN REGION SHOWDOWN

PHOTOS BY JERRY BALLAS / FOR THE OBSERVER The Smiths Station boys' and girls' varsity basketball teams played host to Central Phenxi City on Friday in the Panthers' first region game of the season. The boys narrowly defeated the Red Devils 72-65 to improve to 13-7 overall; the girls dropped the game to move to 7-8 overall. Both teams faced off against Auburn Tuesday night, with the boys winning 69-66, and the girls falling to the Tigers.

B6 Jan. 13, 2022

Gene Haas Foundation Gives SUSCC Naming Rights Gift CONTRIBUTED BY SUSCC The Gene Haas Foundation has made a $400,000 naming rights gift in support of the Advanced Manufacturing programs at Southern Union State Community College.

The perpetual naming rights award will fund recruitment and marketing activities as well as technology and equipment for the advanced manufacturing programs.

A ceremony to commemorate the naming will be held on Jan. 25 at 11:30 a.m. in the Center for Integrated Manufacturing on Southern Union’s Opelika Campus.

In 2014, the Gene Haas Foundation established a new partnership with dynamic Computer Numerical Control (CNC) training programs around the world to provide the opportunity for

qualifying schools to become Gene Haas Centers. Candidate schools are chosen based on a variety of factors including leadership within the technical education community, providing the maximum opportunities to many students and companies in their region and beyond. Southern Union is honored to be one of only 15 Advanced Manufacturing training programs to be recognized worldwide in 2021 by the Gene Haas Foundation.

The laboratory space will be known as the Gene Haas Advanced Machining Lab and will feature several pieces of Haas equipment to prepare students for high-paying manufacturing jobs. This state-of-the art facility promotes manufacturing occupations and enhancing workforce manufacturing skills to benefit

the entire East Central Alabama region.

The Advanced Manufacturing program prepares students for careers in precision manufacturing skills in areas such as maintenance, plastics, welding and electronics, among others. Courses are designed with input from their respective industries and taught by experts, so that students learn the most current techniques using the most modern technology.

Kathy Looman, director of education for the Gene Haas Foundation, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and Southern Union President Todd Shackett will offer remarks at the ceremony. Tours of the facility will be offered and speakers will be available for interviews at the conclusion of the formal program.

Miss Southern Union Set for Jan. 20 CONTRIBUTED BY SUSCC McKenzie Gay, the reigning Miss Southern Union, will crown a new Miss Southern Union on Jan. 20 in Brazeal Auditorium on Southern Union’s Wadley Campus.

The Miss Southern Union pageant is an official preliminary to the Miss Alabama/ Miss America Pageant.

Candidates for the title are judged in private interview, talent, onstage question and evening wear. In addition to each of the judged categories, contestants must select a social initiative, or topic in which they are currently involved or about which they feel strongly, such as a form of community service.

The Miss Southern Union Pageant is open to SUSCC students who are enrolled

full-time. The pageant will begin at 7 p.m. and admission is $5 at the door. For more information about the pageant or to book an

appearance by Miss Southern Union, contact Shondae Brown, pageant director, at 256-395-2211.

Refund Anticipation Loans are now available. Schedule an appointment for a free evaluation.

1 The Refund Advance is an optional tax-refund related loan provided by MetaBank®, N.A., Member FDIC (it is not the actual tax refund) at participating locations.

Program availability and loan amounts may vary based on state and software provider. The amount of the loan and applicable interest will be deducted from tax refunds and reduce the amount that is paid directly to the taxpayer. Fees for other optional products or product features may apply. Tax returns may be fi led electronically without applying for this loan. Loans off ered in amounts of $250 (where available), $500, $1,000, 25%, 50%, or 75% of your expected tax refund from $250 - $6,000. Loans in the amounts of $250, $500, and $1,000 have an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 0.00%. Loans in the amounts of 25%, 50% or 75% of your expected tax refund have an APR of 36.0% with a minimum loan of $1,250. For example, $2,500 loan representing 50% of expected refund borrowed over 29 day term, total amount payable in a single payment is $2,571.51 including interest. Availability is subject to satisfaction of identity verifi cation, eligibility criteria, and underwriting standards.

2 Certain Refund Advance Loans are available at no cost to taxpayers, however other options include a consumer fee.

RA21-BAN-014

334-744-7509 Dustin Farley-Nelms/Owner 207 N. 3rd Street, Opelika

Member of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce

B7 Jan. 13, 2022

N O S I G N - U P F E E S , C A N C E L AT I O N F E E S , CL ASS FEES OR HIDDEN C HARGES. J U S T O N E L O W M O N T H LY / Y E A R LY PAY M E N T .

There’s something for everybody, at a price for anybody.

Cal James Sr. Weight Room • Charter Foundation Adult Activity Center EAMC Cardiovascular Area • Group Fitness Room • Gymnasium with Large Stage Indoor Aquatics Center • Indoor Cycling Studio • Indoor Walking Track Outdoor Amphitheater • Outdoor Children’s Playground • Outdoor Walking Trail Personal Training • Pickleball Facility with 12 Covered, Individually Fenced Courts Splash Park • Steam Rooms • Three Meeting Rooms with AV Equipment • Tot Watch Disc Golf Course • Two Racquetball Courts • W James Samford Soccer Complex

10 01 S P O R T S P L E X P K W Y

O P E L I K A , A L 3 6 8 01

334.705.5560

W W W. O P E L I K A S P O R T S P L E X . C O M

B8 Jan. 13, 2022

“Kindness Brings Sunshine on A Winter Day”

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1.

H

appy Winter in 2022.

Winter months — with the precipitation and gray skies — can bring on some winter blues even for our youngest children. At times, we have to stretch our acts of kindness (caring and outreach) for others when we want to wrap

up in a warm blanket and “just be”. Because bitter cold can hurt.

When I flew to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to be with my son over Christmas, I had an early touch of winter cold to hit my neck and shoulder. In the airport, without uttering a complaint, but from compassionate

observations, I had fellow younger passengers grab my luggage from the carousel. Another kindness action, this time provided by a four-year-old and sixyear-old of a family my son and I visited for Christmas, came after these two young children made a kindness observation when I kept rubbing my shoulder and arm. These two children — with no prompting or probing — came and rubbed my sore arm. These simple acts of kindness melted this teacher’s heart on Christmas Day. Upon reflections of kindness, I wanted to re-share an experience of kindness blossoming forth on a winter day that still remains in my heart. It was winter of 1986. I was a second grade teacher at Carver Primary in the Opelika City School System. On Jan. 2, 1986, my husband and I became the proud parents of a baby boy, Gus. When I returned to my classroom

family in February as a mother of a newborn, I had gained a few more responsibilities in getting to school.

My husband had to get to his job earlier. My first winter challenge would be to scrape the ice off the windows of my car before dropping off my baby to the sitter. When I hurried down the steps to embark on this winter task, the windshield had been cleaned and scraped. I was touched with a warmth of hope and kindness — but who had gotten up so early to do this? The next morning in the darkness of the winter morning, I peeked out my window and saw an elderly gentleman scraping off the ice. It was my neighbor who understood the need of this young couple. That afternoon when I got home, I went to thank him. Each morning of that winter, this gentleman helped me to scrape the ice off my car windows, as well as helping my son and myself to get in the car so I could get to school on time. His humble act of early morning kindness is one that stills warms my heart.

Young children are sensitive to extending random acts of kindness to others. When acts of kindness are modeled in front of them, they quickly

catch on.

Guiding young children to hold the door open for others is such a delightful responsibility for young children. A big grin stretches across their face when they are properly thanked.

I love to hear a young child wish me a good day with no prompting or probing. Too, for we parents, grandparents and teachers to receive a child-made card of happiness is a child’s way of expressing happiness straight from their hands and hearts.

A delightful winter story I love to read to young students is “The Mitten”, which is a Ukranian folktale retold by Jan Brett.

It’s about a young boy named Nicki. He loses his mitten in the snow and the mitten becomes a host and home to a lot of different forest animals — big and small — to keep warm.

Of course, the animals have to be considerate of each other as they snuggle into the mitten to keep warm. I use this book as a winter theme for friendship and kindness with my young students. There is always room in our hearts and our actions to be kind to others.

Plan kindness projects with your children during these winter months. This can be done by you and your

child in doing a simple winter craft of cutting out snowf lakes for January with you both planning together a Winter kindness project. Too, why not do hearts of kindness projects for February?

Examples are preparing and taking warm meals to a family who have been sick or in need is a wonderful lesson for your children to feel and model kindness. It may be helping another family by running errands or doing chores; walking a neighbor’s pet when they are sick or away; helping an elderly person by taking out the trash. These acts of kindness not only help the recipients of your help but it also helps you and your child. As we ref lect back on times that we have helped others, it brings happiness to our whole being. Practicing acts of kindness for others melts away any kind of winter blues.

Too, aren’t we so thankful to God who has been so kind to create a world for us to enjoy during these winter months. We just have to look around and see His hand and His heart. No two snowf lakes are alike.

Each one is unique and different just like each child.

Classroom Observer Beth Pinyerd

Lee County Chapter Alabama State University Alumni Association Reflects on 2021 CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

The Lee County Chapter Alabama State University Alumni Association is accepting applications for Membership 2022. For membership information please contact: Dwight E. Howard, president, or Bernice R. Howard, secretary by phone at 334-7457293, or by email at dwighteh1@aol.com.

Call me for all your real estate needs!

1810 E. Glenn Ave. Suite 130 Auburn, AL 36830 Cell 334.444.8041

ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2021: • Awarded one scholarship to a student attending Alabama State University • Membership was doubled from the previous year • Updated/revised the constitution/bylaws • Monthly meetings were held on Zoom during the pandemic year • Held a special recognition/appreciation program on Zoom for Lee County students

attending ASU. • Increased fundraising, and made financial contributions to Alabama State University students.

• Invited special guests to meetings and implemented a theme: Meet and Greet the Lee County Chapter ASU Alumni Hornet Nest Membership.

The next meeting on Zoom is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST / 7 p.m. EST. on Jan. 20.

ANGEL'S ANTIQUE

& Flea Mall Angel's has wood furniture for every room in your house.

duffystewartrealtor@gmail.com www.BHHSPreferredAuburn.com A member of the franchise system of BHH Affliates, LLC

334-745-3221 • www.angelsmall.info 900 Columbus Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801

L ee County & A labama Politics

B9

Nov. 24, 2021

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022

U.S. Senate Race is our 2022 Election Year Premier Contest

STEVE FLOWERS

T

his year’s midterm congressional elections will be the political story of the year in American politics. The U.S. House of Representatives will be in play big time. Whichever party has the majority has all the power.

Currently the Democrats have a very small majority. Polling and history reveal that Republicans are poised to pick up a large number of seats and gain back a majority in the House and will more than likely gain a slim majority in the U.S. Senate where there is currently an even 50 to 50 split, with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris having the tie breaking vote that gives the teetering majority to the Democrats.

History has portended without deviation to a clear historical political fact that the party that wins the White House and concurrently House seats loses those seats in the next midterm elections. It is usually a significant pickup, especially when there is a Democratic president.

Early polling indicates this will happen this year. President Joe Biden’s approval ratings are abysmal, which will spill over into the swing House districts throughout the country. The first revealing salvo occurred in November in the Democratic State of Virginia when voters elected a Republican governor, lt. governor, attorney general and the majority of Virginia House delegates.

A Republican takeover of the U.S. House will affect Alabama favorably because our House delegation is made up of six Republicans and one lone Democrat.

The marquee event for this year, politically, in Alabama will be for the open seat of retiring Senior Senator Richard Shelby. The race has been ongoing for almost a year and will be decided in a few short months from now. The election is May 24. The runoff will be June 21. The winner of that runoff will be our next U.S. Senator.

The favorites to capture the seat are either Katie Britt or Mo Brooks.

Recent reliable polling reveals a close dead even contest between Brooks and Britt.

Brooks is the current congressman from the 5th Congressional District, which encompasses Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley. There is probably not a congressional district in the entire country that has benefited more from federal spending than the Huntsville Redstone Arsenal. Brooks has not been helpful in this attraction of federal dollars to his district. The heavy lifting towards Huntsville’s growth has fallen onto the shoulders of Sen. Richard Shelby. Brooks has been an obstacle to Huntsville’s federally funded prosperity. Brooks is seen in Washington as a right-wing gadfly nut that is more interested in finding a Fox News camera than helping his district or state. His claim to fame is that he is currently the endorsed candidate of former President Donald Trump.

Britt is the mainstream, rational, conservative candidate. She is the choice of the pro-business, pro-growth Republican establishment in the state.

She is the former CEO of the business council in the state. She has received the endorsement of most business groups as well as the coveted Alabama Farmers Federation. The business community sees her as a stable, reliable and youthful successor to Shelby.

Britt and Brooks will both be well funded. Britt has outdistanced Brooks in fundraising. However, Brooks will be bolstered by the right-wing Washington conglomerate Club for Growth and may be able to match Britt dollar for dollar. It will be an expensive race.

The wildcard in the contest is the entry of one Mike Durant. He announced his entry about two months ago and immediately began a bombardment of excellent television and radio ads. Durant is a decorated war hero and POW, who came to Huntsville from New Hampshire and built his own successful business from scratch. He has a real story that if told well, will sell. In fact, it already has begun to sell. The hidden fact in the recent polling, which shows Britt and Brooks knotted at about 30% each, reveals that Durant is polling at 15 percent after only one month in the race.

Durant is the wildcard in this race.

Britt’s polling numbers are good.

Lee County NAACP Question City’s Use of Redistricting Consultant CONTRIBUTED BY KENDRA MAJORS, ALABAMA VALUES

Auburn community members on Tuesday called on the Auburn City Council to consider the submitted alternative map proposal from the Lee County NAACP that creates two majority-minority districts and is better aligned with the city’s growing minority population and expressed concern over the background of a consultant working with the city on redistricting.

The city council postponed a vote on a new redistricting map that was to be considered at the Jan. 4 meeting at the request of City Manager Megan McGowen Crouch, whose staff is working to analyze the map submitted by the NAACP. Auburn has experienced growth of 43% since

the 2010 Census with the minority population now constituting more than a third of the city’s population.

To fairly represent Auburn’s growing minority population, the city should create at least two majority-minority wards out of the city’s eight wards.

The NAACP has created a map concept that creates two majority-minority districts and the group brought forth that information to the city council on Dec. 7. Under the concept map created by the NAACP, one of the majority-minority districts would have 53.2% minority population and 50.8% minority population.

Crouch told the council the proposed map that has been developed by the city meets all federal and state requirements. The map created by the city only

has one majority-minority district.

The Lee County NAACP has said it was willing to collaborate with the city if the council is unwilling to accept and pass their map in order to create a fair map for all Auburn residents.

Crouch told the city council Tuesday night that she and her staff are still analyzing the map presented by the NAACP. She was unsure when that analysis would be completed but was working to get that completed by the Jan. 18 meeting, if possible.

Auburn resident and lead organizer for Hometown Organizing Project Warren Tidwell spoke at the meeting Tuesday questioning the city’s choice of using redistricting consultant See RESIDENTS, page B11

Lee County Commission Meeting Rescheduled to Jan. 18 Monday night's scheduled meeting for the Lee County Commission was postponed due to multiple commissioners being

exposed to COVID-19, preventing them from attending the regularly scheduled meeting.

The meeting was

postponed until Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 5 p.m. It is being held on Tuesday night because Monday is a federal holiday.

See FLOWERS, page B11

NOW OPEN

Indoor shooting range is open to the public

2195 FIRST AVENUE • OPELIKA

B10 Jan. 13, 2022

Barely Read By Students, The Poor, Neglected Syllabus Deserves Better

I

GREG MARKLEY

t was the first day of class at a public university, and the professor duly handed out copies of the syllabus, informally called the “roadmap” for the course. We were told to glance over it. This was to see how we felt about the course: Would it be hard work or easy pickings?

I saw something quite interesting, and told my friend sitting next to me.

He laughed and said, “Well, at universities you see this happen once and while.

Professors are so busy with research and outreach that they accidentally do this.”

What happened? The professor used last

winter’s syllabus, for a spring class. She simply forgot to update it. I said, snarky: “Talk about Christmas in April! This may be part of that ugly War on Christmas that TV promotes.”

“Teaching in a pandemic, I’m trying to do creative things and, you know, make it interesting,” said Kenyon Wilson of the University of TennesseeChattanooga in December. “The syllabus is really a dry document. I mean, it’s not supposed to be exciting to read, but I thought if my students are going through and reading, I might as well reward them.”

The music professor told the NYT that he put directions to a locker and its combination where a $50 cash prize was free to take. None of the 70+ students saw the note, because they did not carefully read the three-page syllabus.

More stunning was that the note was in the syllabus for an entire semester, and yet

no one saw the note.

On Facebook, Wilson said: “Today I retrieved the unclaimed treasure.” (I wonder — did the upset students “unfriend” him?)

Just as professors sometimes accidentally hand out old syllabi, students take it for granted that the teacher will brief them on upcoming events. But there is more in a syllabus than most students recognize. That includes guidance for disabled students, how you can makeup an exam, how to exit the classroom during a fire, how to be civil to everyone, and more.

Students can easily determine a professor’s political leanings by the books and especially the journal articles or magazine essays he has in a syllabus. If he has two or three articles by public intellectual Noah Chomsky, on politics or criminal justice, that course isn’t the type to be taught at conservative

Hillsdale College.

As an undergrad in the late 1970s, one of my minors was English linguistics.

Back then, Chomsky was known primarily as a linguist, not an agitator. Today, even at age 93, he sounds like the radical he is when speaking outside his specialty.

For a different view, students should read some of Chomsky’s political work; but to have his non-linguistic screeds dominate your classes without an ideological balance is inappropriate.

So it is good to get a short biography of the writers listed in the syllabus to understand where their sentiments lie. For example, a leading conservative intellectual is economist Thomas Sowell.

He began as a Marxist working for the federal government. The story of his growth into a capitalist is fascinating. Sowell is age 91. He and Chomsky are still working, in their 90s.

“At the very least, the syllabus sends a

symbolic message to the students regarding your personality as a teacher and the amount of investment you have made in the course,” according to Ken Matejka and Lance B. Kurke in College Teaching (“Designing a Great Syllabus”).

Allison Boye, in “How Do I Create an Effective Syllabus,” notes that a statement on incivility should be standard in syllabi. This details the kind of behavior you expect, what you consider disruptive and the consequences for disruptive behavior. Will you tolerate texting or cell phones in your classroom?

What about sleeping, talking out of turn and so forth?

Most syllabi now have a diversity, equity and inclusion paragraph. Many universities and colleges have it clearly stated that diversity in outlook and political philosophy is prized.

Look in your syllabi for indications of tolerance for divergent

Hanwha Solutions, the “green energy” division of Hanwha, has acquired Cimarron Composites of Huntsville and as a result, is building a new manufacturing facility right here in Opelika, AL! Hanwha Cimarron designs, manufactures, and tests composite pressure vessels for a variety of aerospace and industrial uses – including rockets (for NASA and SpaceX).

Here in Opelika we’ll build all types of fuel tanks for hydrogen powered cars/trucks, in-ground storage tanks for hydrogen re-fueling stations, and other uses.

We need good people to be a part of the team! Come join us as we get ready for an exciting new adventure! We’re currently hiring for multiple production roles on all three shifts through the Alabama Industrial Development Training group, or AIDT, as follows: Composite Technician – $18.00 + entry level, more for experienced machine operators Logistics Oper (Forklift) – $18.00 + entry level, more for experienced operators Quality Technician - $18.00 + entry level, more for those with quality experience

views. That is a good sign: it’s thus likely that you and your classmates can get a fair hearing.

Teaching requires much work by a professor or instructor.

They can make errors with their syllabi.

But students themselves make mistakes.

And they often find out too late. At UTChattanooga, 70+ students for months had a chance to get a crisp $50 bill just for peeking at their syllabus.

Maybe they learned their lesson, maybe not.

(Later this month, U.S. Senate candidates Katie Britt and Mike Durant will be profiled.)

Greg Markley first moved to Lee County in 1996. He has Masters’ in education and history. He taught politics as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama. An award-winning writer in the Army and civilian life, he has contributed to the Observer for 12 years. gm.markley@charter.net

B11 Jan. 13, 2022

Micah Messer Files Qualification Paperwork, Officially Placed on Ballot for May District 38 Primary

CONTRIBUTED BY MICAH MESSER Conservative State House candidate and former Alabama Army National Guard officer Micah Messer last week filed qualification paperwork with the Alabama GOP office in Birmingham to be placed on the May 24 Republican Primary ballot.

Messer submitted his qualification paperwork and required fees to the Alabama GOP. “It is an honor to submit my qualification paperwork with the Alabama GOP office," Messer said. "The people of District 38 are ready for a true

RESIDENTS >> FROM B9 Dorman Walker.

Tidwell said he was speaking as a tax-paying citizen. Tidwell questioned the use of Walker citing emails between Walker and known redistricting consultant Thomas Hofeller, whom he said once called redistricting “the only legalized form of vote-stealing left in the United States today.”

Hofeller’s daughter leaked these emails and her father’s files to the press after his death.

“In Alabama, just like in every other state where Thomas Hofeller provided assistance, many districts were later declared unconstitutional by a federal court. Why? Racial gerrymandering. The attorney hired to defend those maps in court by the state of Alabama? Dorman Walker,” he said.

Walker was also the redistricting attorney for the Alabama Legislature this redistricting cycle. well.

During the state redistricting hearing, Walker was asked about the creation of a non-partisan committee on redistricting. He replied, “There are different schools of thought about whether redistricting should be partisan or non-partisan.

There is a healthy school that says it’s an inherently partisan activity, although, perhaps you could have too much partisanship. That was an issue dealt with recently by

Republican candidate, not a Republican in name only.”

Messer has been a resident of District 38 for over five years, a former National Guard officer and former police officer. Messer has been married to his wife, Jessica, for more than five years.

Messer started his campaign in May of 2021 with the blessing of his friends and family.

“Running for office is not something you do lightly or jump into without deep thought and prayer," Messer said. "Being a representative should be done with the idea of serving the people of

the Supreme Court. The reapportionment committee has both Republicans and Democrats on it.

Typically states in which there is a non-partisan redistricting do that by a redistricting committee, but there again, the members’ committee is appointed by politicians.

I will leave it to you as to whether or not you can really get politics out of redistricting. I’m doubtful myself. If you want to pursue that as a goal, that’s fine.”

When further pressed being asked, “In the earlier hearing you vaguely touched on the fact that redistricting in Alabama is not really non-partisan.

How does that work to guarantee fair districts and fair representation given that one party overwhelmingly controls the Alabama Legislature currently?” He replied, “I’m not going to answer that question. Fairness is in the eyes of the beholder and I think that’s where I’ll leave it.”

Additionally, during the public hearings, Alabamians questioned Walker on the schedule of the hearings without a reasonable explanation until he instructed the online moderator to dismiss any additional questions about the hearing schedule.

Tidwell said he was not implying political shenanigans were occurring in Auburn, but was worried that using Walker as the consultant was turning a non-partisan process into a

the district you represent, not how it might better your own life or pocketbook. I decided to run because the people of District 38 deserve better representation.

We need fewer taxes, better education and more freedom.

If we continue down the road we have been traveling, we will end up somewhere we don’t want to be. The people of Alabama and District 38 have had enough in the status quo; they are ready for change.”

More information about Messer’s campaign can be found at messer2022.com or on social media.

partisan process.

Auburn resident Bill Lee also spoke to the council on the issue of the consultant.

“I don’t know if you all are appalled as I am over the comments Mr. Tidwell made just a moment ago about hiring this particular consultant,” he said. “It is just terribly disturbing to me. I looked on the website for the city today and I could not find the listing for the city attorney. I don’t know if the council hires the city attorney if the staff hires the city attorney. I don’t know who has the power to replace the city attorney. I don’t know who made the decision to bring in this consultant. I don’t know if you as a council approved this particular hire. I don’t see a copy of his contract online as to what his job is. I would certainly implore you to consider replacing this person because this is not a look that looks good for the city of Auburn. I do not think that we as citizens of Auburn want to be associated with this type of approach to redistricting and if it takes firing this guy and firing the city attorney, then so be it.”

Crouch said the city did not retain Walker but rather the city’s attorney did and said Walker did not create the proposed map coming from the city but rather she and her staff did.

“The staff drew the districts based on data, and data only based on

Debbie Hamby Wood Qualifies for Rebuplican Primary, Seeks Second Term

CONTRIBUTED BY REP. DEBBIE WOOD District 38 Representative

FLOWERS >> FROM B9 They show her trending upward. She is also the only candidate with a grassroots organization. She has campaigned in every county in the state, while Brooks’ handlers have worked to keep him off the campaign trail in fear that

the federal law that I have repeatedly informed the council that we have followed,” she said. “So, the only role Mr. Walker has played is being on retainer with the city attorney, which we retain consultants every day of the week. His role has been to tell us whether the districts meet the law and that is why I moved forward and proposed the districts.”

City Council members asked if they would see any changes to the maps that Auburn’s staff would make after reviewing and analyzing the NAACP map.

Crouch said she had not finished the analysis to be able to speak on that.

Elizabeth Hill of the Lee County NAACP asked that Crouch share the city’s analysis with the organization once it was completed so they could be prepared for the Jan. 18 meeting in case they needed to bring their consultants to answer any questions the council could potentially have regarding their submitted map.

City Councilor Connie Fitch Taylor asked Crouch to answer Hill’s question as well.

“I have answered these questions in emails to the Lee County NAACP,” Crouch said. “The answer is I don’t know what format or when we’re going to provide that information to the council because that evaluation is not complete.

I know it will be before the 18th. What I do know is I work for a nine-member

Debby Hamby Wood qualified Tuesday for the May 24 Republican primary. She is he will go off script and implode which he has tendency to do.

It would not surprise me that if Durant can sustain his ads for four months, which will be a heavy lift of his personal assets, that when the votes are counted on May 24, you may have a Britt vs.

Durant runoff on June

body and you’ll be the first to know.”

Auburn resident Kathy Molnar said she was asking that the city council consider the NAACP map and the ability for every citizen to have their needs, concerns and ideas heard and addressed.

“Please seriously consider the differences in representation and to bring in the strengths and all the qualities in the new diverse people that are creating a much different and I think positive Auburn. So we can all say this is our Auburn and our home,” she said.

Auburn resident Linda Lee encouraged the Auburn City Council to not forget that they are discussing people, not just data when creating new maps.

“I’ve heard comments like ‘I represent everybody in my district, it doesn’t matter what color they are,’” she said. “I believe that. I know you try to do that in good faith. I guess as a person who looks at human nature, I know that it is very hard sometimes for a minority person to come to a majority-white person and be able to talk about an issue. It’s much easier to go to someone like Ms. Taylor. I don’t know but I wonder if maybe Ms. Taylor gets comments from other districts and that’s no fault of your own. It’s human nature to do that and many of these folks do have common issues. There are common issues in our community

seeking re-election to her second term in the Alabama House.

Wood said in a statement: “It’s been my honor and privilege to serve the people of Lee and Chambers Counties these last three years. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish and looking forward to doing even more to make our District a better place for our families, our children and our grandchildren.”

Wood is a small businesswoman from Valley, Alabama. She and Bobby, her husband of 30+ years, have two children and three grandchildren.

For more information: www.

ElectDebbieWood.com

21. It will be fun race to watch.

See you 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 www.steveflowers.us.

that we are not addressing.

One of them is affordable housing. Let’s just remember these common issues. Let’s remember how intimidating it may be to speak with a council person who does not look like you.”

Taylor said she does get a lot of comments from minority residents in other wards. She said when she does, she contacts the city manager and directs the residents to their councilor.

“For some people, it’s just hard to communicate with other people outside to make them understand what their real needs are,” she said. “I have some concerns being the only minority on this council.

Sometimes it’s intimidating to me for some of the things that are brought to me from other people in other wards. I hope that everyone sits to my left understands how important it is to have more diversity on this council.

People need to have someone they can relate to in all walks of life.”

It is expected the council will be informed of the analysis of the NAACP map at the Jan. 18 meeting.

Alabama Values is a state-based 501(C)(3) communications hub seeking to amplify the efforts of grassroots civic organizations advocating to build power and break down barriers to civic participation for communities across the state.

B12 Jan. 13, 2022

Attorney Gen. Steve Marshall Welcomes FCC Order Speeding Up Barriers to Illegal Robocalls CONTRIBUTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Attorney General Steve Marshall welcomed the Federal Communications Commission’s recent decision to speed up full implementation of caller ID authentication technology as mandated by law to help block deceptive robocalls.

“Our hatred of robocalls is one thing that unites all Americans, and when some of these operators cross the line by using spoofed caller IDs and phony phone numbers to deceive consumers, they are breaking the law,” Marshall said.

“Although a federal statute was signed into law by President Trump in 2019 to address the bulk of illegal

robocalls, many scam callers have taken advantage of delays in the law’s implementation to avoid detection. In response, last August all 51 attorneys general urged the FCC to speed up the law’s compliance deadline so that illegal robocallers would have no more loopholes to exploit American consumers. I welcome the FCC’s decision to begin enforcement of the law

a year early.”

Under the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED Act), all phone companies are required to implement technology on their networks to prevent robocallers from masking their real identity and location.

Large phone companies were ordered to implement the

technology by June 2021, but smaller phone companies were originally given an extension until June 2023. Not surprisingly, illegal operators deliberately shifted their tactics to target Americans through smaller size phone networks. After the urging of state attorneys general, including Marshall, the FCC has now shortened the deadline for

small phone companies to comply with the TRACED Act to June 30, 2022.

The public is urged to report illegal robocalls to the Federal Trade Commission by visiting www.FTC.gov or by calling 1-877-FTCHELP, and to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office by visiting www.AlabamaAG. gov or by calling 1-800-392-5658.

Letter to the Editor:

I

A Response to Steve Flowers

am writing in response to the column that ran in this paper by Steve Flowers.

In it, he pontificates about the governor’s race and shares his perspective on Governor Kay Ivey and Lindy Blanchard, but he gets it wrong. Mr. Flowers should begin by spelling Mrs. Blanchard’s name correctly. He was a friend of her father’s for many years so getting the name wrong, given the family friendship, is particularly odd.

To paraphrase the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, while Mr. Flowers is entitled to his own opinion, he is not entitled to his own facts.

Especially when his “facts” are misleading to voters in a critical election.

This family friendship also begs the question, “why would he write such a misleading piece, and whose bidding was he doing?” You don’t have to look far to see where the

truth and his statements collide.

His column stated as fact that Governor Kay Ivey “is one of the most popular incumbent governors in the country. She has done a good job as governor and will be tough to beat.”

Steve seems to have bought into the Ivey campaign rhetoric and not so much fact.

There is plenty of polling that puts her in run-off range.

In a matchup of possible candidates, Ivey now has only 41.5%, well below the threshold to win without a runoff.

Incumbents below 50% are considered vulnerable.

The independent poll I reference was conducted by Montgomery-based Cygnal August 17-18 among 600 likely Republican primary voters. It has a margin of error of +/- 4.0%.

“Undecided” comprised 34% of the sample and, having had the opportunity to select the incumbent, they didn’t.

The “undecideds” are generally considered to be prospects to support a challenger.

Governor Ivey is liked, no doubt. But that’s also her problem. Look no further than her 3 biggest failures -and they are big: Over 70% of the electorate rejected her power grab related to the board of education, a board she criticized to no end but that she herself chairs. She strong-armed the legislature to pass a gas tax immediately after campaigning against tax increases, Finally, her long-overdue solution to the prison crisis - a multi-billion dollar boondoggle was defeated by a grassroots group of activists who organized against her on Facebook.

Please know that before she served our nation as an ambassador appointed by President Donald Trump, Lindy spent years as a pro-life advocate fighting

ALASCAN CLASSIFIEDS SERVICES ADVERTISE STATEWIDE or by Region in over 100 Newspapers, reaching over 1 million readers each week! Run your ad in our Classified Network for just $210 per week! Make one call to this newspaper (participating AlaSCAN newspaper) or call 1-800264-7043 to find out how easy it is to advertise statewide!

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available.

Call: 833-449-1307.

BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 888-283-4780 LONG DISTANCE MOVING: Call today for a FREE QUOTE from America’s Most Trusted Interstate Movers. Let us take the stress out of moving! Speak to a Relocation Specialist, call 844-925-3534 EDUCATION

ATTENTION ACTIVE Duty & Military Veterans! Begin a new career and earn your Degree at CTI! Online Computer & Medical training available for Veterans & Families! To learn more, call 866475-1014 (M-F 8am-6pm ET).

HEALTH/BEAUTY ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds.

FREE information kit. Call 844-322-9935.

ATTENTION: VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices!

50 Pill Special - $99 + FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed.

CALL NOW: 866-505-0828.

FOR SALE DirecTV Satellite TV Service Starting at $59.99/month! Free Installation! 160+ channels available. Call Now to Get the Most Sports & Entertainment on TV! 844-594-7108 NEED NEW Flooring? Call Empire Today to schedule a Free in-home estimate on Carpeting and Flooring. Call Today!

1-888-381-0916.

UPDATE YOUR HOME with Beautiful New Blinds & Shades.

FREE in-home estimates make it convenient to shop from home.

Professional installation. Top quality - Made in the USA. Call for free consultation: 844-8099165. Ask about our specials!

ELIMINATE ROACHES GUARANTEED! Buy Harris Roach Tablets.

Odorless, Long Lasting. Available: Publix, Hardware Stores, Home Centers.

AUTOMOTIVE SUPPORT THE BLIND! Donate a car to the American Council of the Blind. FAST FREE PICKUP. 24 hour response. Running or not. maximum tax deduction and no emission test required! Call 24/7: 844-601-1342.

VEHICLE TITLE Problems?

We have a solution! Call Jason Steward Enterprises, We’re Alabama’s #1 Vehicle Title Problem Experts! Free telephone consultation. North AL 1-256850-0527, Central AL 1-205-2675735, South AL 1-251-342-8538.

for changes to our nation’s adoption process. A process she knows incredibly well as an adoptive mother.

Her philanthropy is unmatched by anyone in this race -- she wasn’t just a diplomat. She was a successful U.S. Ambassador who helped Alabama businesses build relationships and get work abroad, who strengthened America’s image and who worked with the Trump Administration on important issues that impacted global energy independence from Russia.

Mr. Flowers says, “her only hope for the governor’s race is that she can wish for Trump to endorse her. Although this would probably not be enough. As a lame duck, who has been out of the White House for over a year and whose popularity is waning.”

Really? I don’t know where Steve gets this. There are two significant inaccuracies. First,

President Trump has a 96% approval rate in AL among the GOP in a recent survey. Also, Lindy has made it clear the endorsement she’s looking for now is that of the voters.

Finally, he points to her money. Yes, Lindy has made an investment in her race. I, for one, find it refreshing to see someone put their money where their mouth is to take on the establishment. If it were just up to the lobbyist crowd and their money, our state’s line of succession for elected offices would be set long before qualifying comes around and the voters would be outside of the equation. (Has anyone seen Luther Strange lately?)

It’s not Lindy’s money that will put her over the top, though. It’s her principles, her work ethic and her commitment to always having an open door for the people of Alabama.

Her support of the

second amendment and constitutional carry, a low tax burden for Alabamians, her support of parents’ right to choose the best school for their child, her commitment to mental health and substance abuse funding, and closing our border are just some of the reasons I believe Lindy Blanchard will be Alabama’s next Governor. Her business sense, her heart, and her compassion were all left out of the column and these will be the secret to her success.

Apryl Marie Fogel is a Senior Advisor for the Lindy Blanchard for Governor campaign. She and her family live in Birmingham, AL. You can find more information about Lindy Blanchard for Governor on Facebook, Twitter and the campaign website.

Apryl Marie Fogel Senior Advisor Lindy Blanchard for Governor

Solutions for Financial Problems Gary A. Hudgins Attorney at Law For your FREE REPORT on Stopping Garnishments, Foreclosures, Lawsuits Creditor Calls and Evictions, email Hudginslaw @gmail.com or call for an appointment.

334-714-0806 Opelika, Alabama

Are you stressed out because of creditor calls, late payments, threats of garnishment or lawuits? Maybe we can help.

We are a debt relief agency helping good people recover from financial distress with Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief for more than 40 years.

No representtation is made that the quality of legal services to be provided is greater than the quality legal services provided by other lawyers. We are a Debt Relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.

B13 Jan. 13, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Opelika will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Opelika Municipal Court Building, 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama.

PURPOSE The purpose of said Public Hearing will be to consider the adoption of an ordinance to pre-zone certain real property located on the east side of Sellers Drive within the unincorporated area of Lee County, Alabama to a R/E District (Retail/ Entertainment District). At said Public Hearing all who desire to be heard shall have the opportunity to speak for or in opposition to the adoption of the following ordinance: ORDINANCE NO.__________ ORDINANCE TO PREZONE PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF SELLERS DRIVE WHEREAS, Opelika Investment Properties, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, as the owner of certain real property located on the east side of Sellers Drive (2800/2900 blocks of Sellers Drive) within the unincorporated area of Lee County, Alabama, has requested that said property be pre-zoned to a R/E District (Retail/ Entertainment District) prior to annexing into the City of Opelika; and WHEREAS, said real property is located on the east side of Sellers Drive and is more particularly described as follows: Parcels 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 & 16 of Prescott Subdivision, as recorded in Plat Book 14, Page 147, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, containing, in aggregate, 12.636 acres, more or less; and being Parcel B on that certain plat of survey prepared by James D. Miller dated June 13, 2005, entitled “Boundary Survey for Segars Properties, LLC”.

The above-described property contains 12.6 acres, more or less, and is located in the 2800/2900 blocks of Sellers Drive ; and WHEREAS, at the regular meeting of the Planning Commission on December 21, 2021, the Commission did recommend to the City Council that said property be zoned to R/E; and WHEREAS, due notice of said proposed pre-zoning has been provided to the public as required by law through publication; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Opelika after due consideration, and upon consideration of the recommendation of the Planning Commission, finds and determines that the application for pre-zoning of the above described real property is proper and in the best interest of the citizens of the City of Opelika, Alabama.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Opelika, Alabama as follows: Section 1. Zoning. That the above-described real property is hereby pre-zoned to a R/E District (Retail/ Entertainment District).

Upon annexation of said property, the property shall be assigned the R/E district and the zoning ordinance and zoning map shall be amended to reflect said zoning. Should the annexation not occur prior to the expiration of this pre-zoning as set forth in Section 4, this pre-zoning shall have no effect and the property shall remain in the unincorporated area of Lee County, Alabama.

Section 2. Repealer.

All other City ordinances or parts thereof in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance, in so far as they conflict, are hereby repealed.

Section 3. Severability. The provisions of this Ordinance

are severable. If any provision, section, sentence or part thereof shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not effect or impair the remainder of said Ordinance, it being the legislative intent to ordain and enact each provision, section, paragraph, sentence or part thereof separately and independently of each other.

Section 4. Effective Date and Expiration Date. This Ordinance and, in particular the pre-zoning shall take effect after the date of its approval by the City Council of the City of Opelika and publication as required by law. Pursuant to the Code of Alabama (1975), §11-52-85, the zoning of the property shall become effective upon the date the territory is annexed into the corporate limits. If any portion of the territory is not annexed into the corporate limits within 180 days of the initiation of annexation proceedings as provided by law, then this pre-zoning shall be null and void. Should the pre-zoning become null and void, the applicant may reapply for pre-zoning at any time as long as an annexation petition is pending.

Section 5. Publication.

This ordinance shall be published as provided by law in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Opelika, Alabama.

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

Please contact Brian Weiss, the City’s Interim ADA Coordinator, at 334705-5134 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to any disability.

WITNESS my hand this the 13th day of January, 2022. /s/ Russell A. Jones

CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal run 01/13/2022 ------------ORDINANCE NO. 002-22 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING FIRST AMENDMENT TO OPTION AND LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF OPELIKA AND LEVEL-UP TOWERS, LLC, WHEREAS, the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) and Level-Up Towers, LLC (“Level-Up”) entered into an Option and Lease Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated December 20, 2020, pursuant to which, the City leases to Level-Up Towers a tract of land containing approximately 2500 square feet in Floral Park; and WHEREAS, the City and Level-Up desire to amend the Agreement to modify the rent and option term; and WHEREAS, a proposed First Amendment to Option and Lease Agreement by and between the City and Level-Up has been prepared and submitted to the City Council for approval, and the City Council has determined that it is now in the best interest of the City and its citizens to approve said Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “Council”) as the governing body of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) as follows: 1. That the proposed First Amendment to Option and Lease Agreement to be entered into between the City and Level-Up Towers, LLC, a copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk, be and the same is approved, authorized, ratified, and confirmed in the form substantially submitted to the City Council.

2. That the Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver said Agreement in the name and

on behalf of the City.

3. That the officers of the City and any person or persons designated and authorized by any officers of the City to act in the name and on behalf of the City, or any one or more of them, are authorized to do or cause to be done or performed in the name and on behalf of the City such other acts and to execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered in the name and on behalf of the City such other notices, certificates, assurances or other instruments or other communications under the seal of the City or otherwise, as they or any of them deem necessary or advisable or appropriate in order to carry into effect the intent of the provisions of this Ordinance and the Agreement.

4. That this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and publication as required by law.

5. That the City Clerk of the City of Opelika is hereby authorized and directed to cause this ordinance to be published one (1) time in a newspaper published in and of general circulation in the City of Opelika, Alabama.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED this the 4th day of January, 2022. /s/ Eddie Smith PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA ATTEST: /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK TRANSMITTED TO MAYOR this the 5th day of January, 2022. /s/ Russell A. Jones

CITY CLERK ACTION BY MAYOR APPROVED this the 5th day of January, 2022. /s/ Gary Fuller MAYOR ATTEST: /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK Legal run 01/13/2022 ------------ORDINANCE NO. 001-22 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council (the “City Council”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) as follows: Section 1. That Ordinance 124-91 entitled “Zoning Ordinance City of Opelika, Alabama”, adopted on September 17, 1991, and the Zoning Map of the City of Opelika provided for and referred to therein, as previously amended and/or modified, be and the same is hereby amended by rezoning or redistricting the parcel of land hereinafter in this section described, so as to change such parcel from one class of district to another class of district as follows, to-wit: From a C-2, GC-P District (Office/Retail, Gateway Corridor-Primary Overlay District) to a C-3, GC-P District (General Commercial, Gateway Corridor-Primary Overlay District), the parcel of land hereinafter described: Lot 1A as shown on the “Harley-Davidson Subdivision” plat recorded in Plat Book 26, at Page 6 on November 12, 2004, at the Lee County Courthouse.

The above-described property contains 3.3 acres and is located in the 1200 block of South Fox Run Parkway, Opelika, Alabama.

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

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

ADOPTED AND APPROVED this the 4th day of January, 2022. /s/ Eddie Smith PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA ATTEST: /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK

TRANSMITTED TO MAYOR on this the 5th day of January, 2022. /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK ACTION BY MAYOR APPROVED this the 5th day of January, 2022. /s/ Gary Fuller MAYOR ATTEST: Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK Legal run 01/13/2022 ------------INVITATION TO BID 22004 Sealed bids for the construction of the SOUTHSIDE CENTER FOR THE ARTS shall be received at the Opelika City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Thursday, February 3, 2022, and then publicly opened and read aloud.

All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code §34-8-1, et.seq. (1975) and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Bidders must be licensed by the Licensing Board for General Contractors when bids are submitted.

A Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. Central Time, Opelika City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room, at, 204 South 7th Street, Opelika, AL 36801.

All General Contractors bidding this project shall be required to visit the site and examine all existing conditions prior to submitting their proposal. All Bidders shall have general liability and workman’s compensation insurance.

The project shall be bid excluding taxes. Bids must be submitted on proposal forms furnished by the Architect or copies thereof.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technical errors if, in the Owners judgment, the best interests of the Owner will thereby be promoted.

A certified check or Bid Bond payable to the City of Opelika, Alabama in an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid, but in no event more than $10,000.00 must accompany the bidder’s sealed proposal - refer also to Instructions to Bidders.

Performance and statutory labor and material payment bonds will be required at the signing of the Contract.

The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities.

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 Architect. All bidders shall show such evidence by clearly displaying current license number on the outside of sealed envelope in which the proposal is delivered.

Electronic images of the documents may be viewed on-line and printed by General Contractors, SubContractors and Suppliers by obtaining documents through the www.mckeeassoc.com web site, by contacting the Architect at mckeeplans@ gmail.com for log-in information and password.

Please provide company name, address, phone #, fax #, email address and GC License #. This is the only web site endorsed by the Architect. The Architect is unable to

monitor, confirm and maintain websites that are beyond his control.

Addendums shall be posted on the above web site. The Architect retains ownership and copyrights of the documents. If bidders require printed sets the following shall apply: Submit to the Architect a deposit of $150.00 per set. The deposit shall be refunded less shipping charges for each set returned in reusable condition within ten days after bid opening.

All RFI’s and RFA’s regarding the bid documents shall be sent and addressed through emails found on the RFI and RFA forms in the project manual. NOTE: Only the RFI AND RFA FORMS IN THE PROJECT MANUAL WILL BE ACCEPTED. The Architect will not accept inquires via telephone or fax.

Completion Time: See scope of work in Project Manual.

Supervision: Contractor to provide Superintendent(s) to ensure proper supervision for all work.

Architect: McKee & Associates Architects, Inc., 631 South Hull Street, Montgomery, AL 36104, Phone: 334-834-9933 The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika. All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

As a condition for award, the business entity and its subcontractors shall not knowingly employ or hire an unauthorized alien within the State of Alabama. The awarded business entity must provide documentation of enrollment in the E-Verify program. The business must participate in the E-Verify program for the length of the contract.

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama 36803-0390. Attn: SOUTHSIDE CENTER FOR THE ARTS LILLIE FINLEYPURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET 36801 (Delivery) POST OFFICE BOX 390 36803-0390 (Mail) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal Run 01/13/2022 & 01/20/2022 ------------CITY OF OPELIKA SYNOPSIS OF ZONING NOTICE The City Council of the City of Opelika will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Opelika Municipal Court Building, 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map of the City of Opelika by rezoning or redistricting the parcel of land hereinafter described so as to change such parcel

from one class of district to another class of district, as follows: From a R-3 District (Low-Density Residential District) to a Planned Unit Development (PUD), the parcel of land hereinafter described: Lot 1, 2, and 3 as shown on the ‘San Marco Subdivision, First Addition’ plat recorded in plat book 12, page 134 on November 13, 1986 at the Lee County, Alabama Courthouse The above-described property, containing approximately 17.9 acres, is located along Crawford Road (Highway 169).

The Development Plan (Master Plan) provides for a residential development consisting of approximately 47 single-family home lots and two (2) parcels that are reserved for stormwater detention/open space.

Public Notice of this public hearing with insertion of the proposed ordinance was first published on January 6, 2022, in The Opelika Observer. This notice is given pursuant to Sections 11-52-77 and 11-52-78 Code of Alabama (1975). The City Council reserves the right to modify or alter any of the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance.

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

Please contact Brian Weiss, the City’s Interim ADA Coordinator, at 334705-5134 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to any disability.

THIS NOTICE is given under my hand this the 13th day of January, 2022. /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal run 01/13/2022 ------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO. 2021-655 EARNEST W. PATE a/k/a ERNEST W. PATE NOTICE OF COURT PROCEEDING Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary Distribution In the Estate of EARNEST W. PATE a/k/a ERNEST W. PATE, deceased Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY PROBATE Office by Douglas A. Pate on December 9, 2021, pursuant to Section 43-2-690, Code of Alabama and that 30 data after the Notice of publication hereof and pursuant to law the Court shall be requested to enter an Order directing Summary Distribution of the Estate of said decedent.

BILL ENGLISH, PROBATE JUDGE Legal Run 01/13/2022

See NOTICES, page B14

The Lee County Cooperative Extension System and the Saugahatchee Beekeepers Association will be conducting their 15th Annual Beginner Beekeeper Course, beginning on January 11, 2022 and continuing for the next seven Tuesdays. All sessions will run 6 to 7:45 p.m. at the Lee County Extension, 600 S. 7th St., Opelika, and will end around 8 p.m. The cost will be $60, which is a family household fee.

Registration will be on the first meeting night. Please notify the Extension System office at 334-749-3353 or the main instructor at damonwallace.beeman@gmail.com.

This course is designed for individuals with no beekeeping experience but may want to get started in the excellent hobby.

B14 Jan. 13, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICES >> FROM B14 NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain Mortgage (the “Mortgage”) dated June 7, 2017 executed by Donna Maria Sullivan, a single woman (the “Mortgagor”) in favor of Joseph and Teri Zaccaro, said Mortgage being recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama in Book 4310, at Page 487; and WHEREAS, Joseph and Teri Zaccaro, as mortgagees and holders of the Mortgage, by reason of such default having declared all of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage due and payable, and such default continuing, notice is hereby given that, acting under the power of sale contained in the Mortgage, holders will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Lee County Courthouse located at 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama 36801 on Thursday, January 20th, 2022 between the hours of 11:00 am and 4:00 pm, the following described property, commonly known as 1204 Staley Ave, Opelika, situated in Lee County, Alabama, to wit: A certain Lot or parcel of land described as follows: Begin at a point formed by the intersection of the West margin of Simmons Street and the North margin of Staley Street and run West along the North margin of said Staley Street 100 feet to the point of beginning.

From said point of beginning run thence North and parallel with Simmons Street, 70 feet; thence West and parallel with Staley Street, 96 feet; thence South 70 feet to the North line of Staley Street; thence East along the North line of Staley Street, 96 feet to the point of beginning; being the West 96 feet of Lot #1, Block 208, Totten’s Official Real Estate Map of Opelika; together with all improvements thereon and all appurtenances thereunto appertaining. Reference: Deed Book 2168, Page 60. Parcel ID Number: 43-09-01-12-4-002040.000.

THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “ASIS”, “WHERE IS” BASIS AND WITH ALL FAULTS. THIS PROPERTY WILL ALSO BE SOLD SUBJECT TO ANY EASEMENTS, LEASES, ENCUMBRANCES, RESERVATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS REFLECTED IN THE MORTGAGE AND ALL MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF CHAMBERS COUNTY, ALABAMA. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO. Payment terms are cash or cashier’s check (United States Dollars in immediately available funds) made payable to Mortgagee on the date of the public sale.

Mortgagees reserve the right to bid for and purchase the aforementioned property and to credit their bid against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage.

The public sale is subject to postponement or cancellation; contact Benjamin H. Parr at (334) 749-6999 prior to attendance.

This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage as well as the expenses of collection and foreclosure.

Joseph and Teri Zaccaro Mortgagees ATTORNEY FOR MORTGAGEES: Benjamin H. Parr, Esq. Benjamin H. Parr, P.C. 830 Avenue A, Suite A Opelika, Alabama 36801 (334) 749-6999 LEGAL RUN 12/30/21, 01/06/22, & 01/13/22 ------------FORM OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR COMPLETION LEGAL NOTICE In accordance with Chapter I, Title 39, Code of Alabama, I 975, notice is hereby given that SteelFab Inc., Contractor, has completed the Contract

for (Construction) of Opelika Public Library at 1100 Glenn Street, Opelika, Alabama for the State of Alabama and the County of Lee, City of Opelika Owner(s), and have made request for final settlement of said Contract. All persons having any claim for labor, materials, or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify SteelFab Inc. (Architect) SteelFab Inc. (Contractor) 5448 Spalding Drive, Bldg 200 Norcross GA 30092 (Business Address) NOTE:This notice must be run once a week for four successive weeks for projects exceeding $50,000.00, for projects of less than $50,000.00, run one time only. Proof of publication is required.

Legal Run 12/30/2021, 01/06/2022, 01/13/2022 & 01/20/2022¬------------IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION PETITION OF TERRY MICHAEL LEE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO.: 2021-475 PUBLICATION NOTICE TO: MARK ANTHONY PELLEGRIN JR. Please take notice that a petition for adoption was filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama by Terry Michael Lee on August 20, 202 l, for the adoption of A.LP. born on August 18, 2008, in Augusta, Georgia to Laura Elizabeth Pellegrin and Mark Anthony Pellegrin Jr. A hearing has been set for the 26th day of January 2022 at I o'clock pm Central time in the Probate Court, Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, AL 36801.

Should you intend to contest this adoption you must file a written response with the attorney for the petitioner, Hon. Lindsey L. Davis, 13251 Old Highway 280, Suite 141, Birmingham, AL 35242 and with the Clerk of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, as soon as possible but no later than thirty (30) days from the last day this notice is published or appear on the date of the hearing as set above to contest said Petition.

Dated on this the 26th day of October 2021.

BILL ENGLISH HON. BILL ENGLISH JUDGE OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Legal run 12/30/21, 01/6/2022, 1/13/2022 & 1/20/2022 ------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA The Estate of William Edward Kelly, deceased Letters of Administration of said deceased was granted to Hon. Margaret A. Mayfield on the 29th day of December, 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Probate Judge of Lee County.

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

Margaret A. Mayfield Administratix Margaret A. Mayfield Attorney for the Estate P.O. Box 809 Opelika, AL 36803 (334) 745-0333 Legal Run 1/6/22, 1/13/22 & 1/20/22 ------------NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF JOHN HENRY MORGAN, DECEASED PROBATE COURT, LEE COUNTY CASE NO. 2021-719 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENT ARY of the Estate of JOHN HENRY MORGAN are hereby granted to Bonita Morgan Johnson on the 20th day of December, 2021, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

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

Bonita Morgan Johnson Legal Run 01/06/2022, 01/13/2022 & 01/20/2022 ------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE

ESTATE OF J TEMPLE BLACK, deceased CASE NO. 2019-B-024 In the Matter of the Estate of J TEMPLE BLACK, deceased Letters Testamentary as Personal Representative of the Estate of J TEMPLE BLACK, deceased, having been granted to the undersigned on June 4, 2019 by the Honorable BILL ENGLISH, Judge of Probate of said 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.

KATRIN SEXTON Personal Representative Legal Run 1/6/2022, 1/13/2022 & 1/20/202 ------------CITY OF OPELIKA NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARINGS TO: RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA AND ALL OTHER INTERESTED CITIZENS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Opelika, Alabama will hold a regular meeting and will be conducting public hearings on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. in the Meeting Chamber at Opelika Municipal Court located at 300 MLK Boulevard, Opelika, Alabama. A Planning Commission work session will be held at 2:45 pm before the regular meeting. The purpose of the public hearings is to receive public comment on the following: A. Elect Officers to Planning Commission (Chairman, Vice Chairman) B. Approval of Minutes C. Update on Previous PC Cases D. Rezoning, Preliminary and Final Plat, and Vacation Rightof-Way – Public Hearing 1. A public hearing to consider a recommendation to the City Council on a request

by Jim Daws, authorized representative for Marsh Real Estate Investments, LLC, property owner, to rezone 7.8 acres accessed from South 10th Street and Avenue C from a M-1, GC-S and C-2, GC-S to C-1 (downtown) zoning district.

2. A public hearing on a request by Jim Daws, authorized representative for Marsh Real Estate Investments, LLC, property owner, for preliminary and final plat approval of the Subdivsion Survey for Sierra Development Group subdivision consisting of one lot (combining 7 lots into one lot) accessed from South 10th Street and Avenue C. 3. A petition from the Jim Daws, authorized representative for Marsh Real Estate Investments, LLC, property owner and adjacent property owner to the subject vacation of right of way is requesting City Council to vacate a 15 foot wide undeveloped public alley that is accessed from 411 South 10th Street and the railroad rightof-way next to Clanton Street.

The Planning Commission provides a recommendation to City Council.

E. Conditional Use – Public Hearing 4. A public hearing on a request by Jeff Black, property owner, for conditional use approval for a heating & air conditioning service and sales office accessed at 1071 Walker Grey Court.

F. Text Amendments 5. A public hearing to consider a recommendation to the City Council on proposed text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance: Section 7.3 A. District Regulations, Section 7.3 C. Use Categories (matrix table), Section 7.7 “Downtown Residential Living” All interested persons are invited to attend the meeting/ public hearings and be heard.

Written comments concerning the above matters may be mailed to the Planning Director at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama 36801 at any time prior to the meeting/public hearings and may be further submitted to the Planning Commission at the meeting/ public hearings.

The Planning Commission reserves the right to modify or alter any of the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and to make its recommendations accordingly to the City Council.

Please contact the Planning department at 334-705-5156 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to

a disability.

PLANNING DIRECTOR Legal Run 01/13/2022 ------------INVITATION TO BID 22005 Sealed bids for the construction of the 5th Avenue and North 7th Street Drainage Replacement Project shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Monday, February 7, 2022, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend.

Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor.

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

Bidders are required to have a State of Alabama General Contractor’s License with a specialty of “Highways and Streets, Clearing and Grubbing, Earthwork, Erosion, Site Work, Grading or Municipal and Utility”. All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala. Code §34-8-8(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number. Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid.

All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/or permits required by applicable law, rule or regulation for the performance of the work. Drawings and Specifications may be examined at the Office of the City Engineer located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama, and phone number: 334-7055450. Bid documents may be obtained from the Office of the City Engineer at no charge as an electronic file if the bidder supplies a storage drive or as an email attachment or electronic drop box.

The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika. All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid.

Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities.

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: 5th Avenue and North 7th Street Drainage Replacement Project LILLIE FINLEYPURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal Run 01/13/2022 & 01/20/2022 ------------INVITATION TO BID Bid #22002 Sealed bids for the construction of the City of Opelika Environmental Services Complex shall be received at the 2nd Floor Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Monday, February 7, 2022, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend.

Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor.

The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of

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

There will be a Mandatory PreBid Conference on Monday, January 31, 2022 at 2PM CST at 204 S. 7th St., 2nd floor conference Room, Opelika, Alabama 36801. Any potential bidders must attend this mandatory pre-bid conference meeting.

Bidders are required to have a State of Alabama General Contractor’s License. All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala. Code §34-8-8(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number.

Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid.

All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/or permits required by applicable law, rule, or regulation for the performance of the work.

Options for obtaining Bid Documents are as follows: Hardcopy: Contact Auburn Reprographics, 660 North Dean Road, Auburn, AL 36830; (334) 501-8235; Attn: Greg Sellers; (E-mail greg@auburnrepro.com) to obtain bid documents.

Hardcopy sets are nonrefundable. Bidders may view bidding document on the Auburn Reprographics digital plan room without charge. All bidding General Contractors must register with John Randall Wilson, Architect and Auburn Reprographics to receive updated bidding information including but not limited to potential Addenda, RFI’s and Changes to Bid Date.

Electronic (CD): Make check payable to Auburn Reprographics & Supply in the amount of $25. This amount is non-refundable. Shipping arrangements shall be made by the Contractor.

The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika.

All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid- refer also to Instructions to Bidders.

Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities.

As a condition for award, the business entity and its subcontractors shall not knowingly employ or hire an unauthorized alien within the State of Alabama. The awarded business entity must provide documentation of enrollment in the E-Verify program. The business must participate in the E-Verify program for the length of the contract.

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama 36803-0390.

Attn: Environmental Services Complex LILLIE FINLEYPURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET 36801 (Delivery) POST OFFICE BOX 390 36803-0390 (Mail) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal Run 1/13/22 & 1/20/22 ------------NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA To: George Allen Ward 1 Erica Baker Norris Ward 2 Todd Rauch Ward 5 Pursuant to §11-46-55, Code of Alabama, 1975, the undersigned as President of the City Council of the City of Opelika, Alabama, hereby calls a special meeting of the City Council to be held at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on the 18th Day of January, 2022 in the Courtroom of the Municipal Court Building located at 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard,

Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, for the purpose of canvassing the returns of the January 11, 2022, special election for Council place 3 and declaring the results of the election. The record of the results of the special election shall be recorded in the minutes and proceedings of the Council and when so recorded will be conclusively evidenced of the matters therein stated and the validity of the election unless contested as required by law. At said special meeting, the City Council shall also consider the adoption of a Resolution Canvassing Results of January 11 Special Election.

The special meeting is open to the attendance of the public.

Dated this the 11th day of January, 2022. /s/ Eddie Smith C. E. “Eddie” Smith, Jr. President of City Council, Ward 4 Opelika, Alabama Legal Run 01/13/2022 ------------INVITATION TO BID 22006 Sealed bids for the construction of the Archery Range at Spring Villa shall be received at the 2nd Floor Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Monday February 14, 2022, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend.

Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor.

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

Bidders are required to have a State of Alabama General Contractor’s License. All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala. Code §34-8-8(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number.

Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid.

All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/or permits required by applicable law, rule, or regulation for the performance of the work.

The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika.

All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

Bid documents may be obtained from the city’s website at https://www. opelika-al.gov/Bids or from the Purchasing Department at 204 S.7th St, Opelika, Alabama 36801 at no charge.

A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid.

Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities.

As a condition for award, the business entity and its subcontractors shall not knowingly employ or hire an unauthorized alien within the State of Alabama. The awarded business entity must provide documentation of enrollment in the E-Verify program. The business must participate in the E-Verify program for the length of the contract.

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Ope¬li¬ka, Alabama 368030390. Attn: Archery Range at Spring Villa LILLIE FINLEYPURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal Run 01/13/22 & 01/20/2022

B15 Jan. 13, 2022

Like Crossword Puzzles? Sudoku?

Play Online at www.opelikaobserver.com/puzzles/

B16 Jan. 13, 2022

Hunley Group Lambert Transfer and Storage An Interstate Agent for North American Van Lines 1102 Fox Trail Opelika, Alabama 36801 334-745-5706

WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTOR Plumbing & Heating Supplies Pipes - Valves - Fittings 334.625.3384 800.625.3384 1975 MALL BLVD. STE. 106, AUBURN, ALABAMA

Located in Historic Downtown Opelika

334-745-4618

“Our Mission is Your Health”

BEAUREGARD DRUGS

WE DELIVER!

• Drive Thru Only • Regular Operating Hours • Please Call Ahead on Refills to Avoid Wait

Piedmont Fertilizer Co. Inc. 201 2nd Ave. • Opelika, AL SINCE 1910

Nothing better for your lawn exists

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

THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE ANSWERS: