03-10-2021 E-edition

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Vol. 13, No. 23

pelika Observer O

“An award-winning publication for local people, by local people.”

Opelika, Alabama

MARCH 26, 2021 11:30 A.M.

Memorials held on second anniversary of 2019 disaster

By Will Fairless Associate Editor A memorial event was held at noon on March 3 at Courthouse Square in Opelika.

Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones spoke, and family members of the 23 who lost their lives released white and blue balloons with those victims’ names on them.

“Though not standing beside us here, their spirit is with us,” Jones said. “ … It’s our responsibility as a community to remember them.”

Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland, Jones and EMA Director Rita Smith participated in a moment of silence at Smiths Station City Hall at 3:03 p.m. EST on Wednesday, the

second anniversary of the tornado disaster that hit Lee County.

“We ask that you wrap your arms around them and continue to let them know that they are loved, and we will never forget them,” Smith said in a prayer prior to the minute-long silence.

“We are thankful for our leadership in this county; we have phenomenal leadership here.”

“I just want you to think, when the sirens started going off, the phones started going off, and everybody got a little nervous, and then our world changed forever,” Copeland told the 20-something people in attendance. “I just ask you to reflect for one minute, just be thankful for where we’re at and be with

the ones that lost loved ones and the ones that are still rebuilding.

“I want to make sure to thank every single person that came from all over the United States and the world to help us rebuild and continue to move forward.

I’ve made so many new friends through this tragedy, lifelong friendships, and I thank each and every one of you that helped with that and we thank you for being here today, and let’s continue to help each other out. It’s still our responsibility two years later to help each other out.”

On the evening of March 3, Providence Baptist Church held a candlelight vigil in remembrance of those who lost their lives on the same date two years earlier.

Becoming The Beloved Community: Remembering Bloody Sunday

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver. com

Auburn University continued its discussions on “Becoming the Beloved Community” last week in commemoration of the 56th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

“Becoming the

Beloved Community Amid the Fragility of Democracy and White Supremacy” included the following panelists: Bernard LaFayette, civil rights activist and organizer of the Selma Voting Rights Movement; Bridgett King, associate professor and the master of public administration

program director at Auburn University; and Wayne Flint, professor emeritus in the department of history at Auburn University and editor-in-chief of the Online Encyclopedia of Alabama.

The discussion, held via Zoom, was hosted by Mark Wilson, director of the Carolina Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities, and Joan Harrell, founder of Becoming the Beloved Community and Auburn University lecturer and diversity coordinator.

“If we were togethSee BELOVED, page A5

Photo by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer - For more photos turn to A9.

Governor Kay Ivey extends safer-at-home order but makes changes

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver. com

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced Thursday morning that the state’s safer-athome order is still in place, along with its mask ordinance, though changes were made.

The press conference was held one day before the state’s stay-at-home order and mask mandate were set to expire.

“As of Tuesday, Alabama’s seven-day average for new COVID-19 cases was 778 per day,” Ivey said. “Ya’ll, that’s an 82% drop from the high reached on Jan. 10 and the lowest average

Photo by Hannah Lester / Opelika Observer

daily for new cases since June.”

Despite the state moving in the right direction, Ivey said she would prefer to get past Easter before lifting the order entirely.

“But let me be abundantly clear; after April 9, I will not keep the mask order in effect,”

she said.

This will also allow more Alabamians to be vaccinated before the ordinance is lifted, Ivey said.

“And even when we lift the mask order, I will continue to wear my mask when I’m See IVEY, page A3

Contents OPINION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4

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

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. . . . . A7

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

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

PUBLIC NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . B10

COMICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A14

CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B11

DAYLIGHT Saving Time MARCH 14

A2 March 10, 2021

MEND holds home dedication

Photos by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer MEND, in partnership with the Chattahoochee Fuller Center, held a home dedication last Wednesday. Carol Dean received the keys to her new home during the event.

pelika Observer

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

Publisher: Michelle Key Associate Editors: Will Fairless and Hannah Lester Marketing: Woody Ross Photojournalist: Robert Noles Associate Sports Editors: Wil Crews, Rick Lanier and D. Mark Mitchell

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

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A3 March 10, 2021

Auburn celebrates its sixth annual Tiger Giving Day

By Kayla Evans For the Opelika Observer Auburn University celebrated its sixth annual Tiger Giving Day on Feb. 24, 2021. On that day, 40 different organizations and causes were represented with 7,494 donors raising a total of $1,075,923. Every organization reached its goal.

The Auburn Family can give to unique, campus-wide organizations with some projects returning from previous years.

One of the projects, started by Dr. Nancy Merner, was to raise money to fight

against breast cancer.

The money given to the project supported the Gene Machine in Auburn.

Its goal was to raise $10,000, but with 217 donors, it was able to raise $14,909.

The Gene Machine brings research-based genetic testing to communities all across the state. It has partnered with local organizations and breast cancer support groups who help educate survivors and their families.

Team members drive a 15-passenger, bright pink shuttle bus around the state for community events, appointments and education sessions.

Because of the

pandemic, the Gene Machine is not able to travel to individuals for study enrollment or attend community events. This has forced it to change its options and modify its protocol to virtually connect with the community.

It now offers virtual study enrollments and online cancer genetics education seminars.

This will allow the team to stay connected with the community while protecting vulnerable cancer survivors from unnecessary face-to-face contact.

The donations will help with the cost of virtual enrollment kits, help the Gene Machine with the research

of what genes cause breast cancer and provide better options for women at risk.

It is working to keep more wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends from falling victim to breast cancer.

Even though Tiger Giving Day has passed, you can still donate at alumniq. auburn.edu/giving/to/ genemachine Another one of the projects, started by Dr. Scott Ketring, is the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program asking for support to bring healthy development resources to Alabama Youth.

Its goal was to raise enough money to

expand play therapy to children and youth.

With a set goal of $8,500, they had 181 donors give a total of $10,490.

Each donation will help expand MFT’s internship program to serve underprivileged youth, provide toys and materials for play therapy and support group therapy services to improve the well-being of Alabama families at I Am My Brother’s Keeper (IAMBK).

IAMBK’s mission is to provide services that enable at-risk families and disadvantaged youth to become self-supportive and thrive in their communities and schools. In

2019, the MFT program started to collaborate with the IAMBK program.

Through Tiger Giving Day, IAMBK will have the resources it needs to create a playroom that is fully functional to support play therapy. It will also help the Auburn MFT assistantship program, which allows next-generation therapists to gain experience and improve the well-being of Tuskegee’s youth. For more information on the IAMBK program, visit iambkinc.org/.

For more information about Tiger Giving Day and to look at the other programs involved, visit tigergiving.org.

Harris Doyle Homes launches new townhome community in Opelika

Contributed by Harris Doyle Harris Doyle Homes (Harris Doyle), a Berkshire Hathaway company and member of Clayton Properties Group, is excited to announce it is now selling at The Mill, a new luxury townhome community in Opelika.

Harris Doyle announced the acquisition of Dilworth Homes, a top builder and developer in Auburn, last

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around others,” Ivey said, and she encouraged others to do so as well.

Businesses will still be allowed to institute their own mask orders and have five weeks to prepare, she said.

“But at that time, it will become a matter of personal responsibility and not government mandate,” Ivey said.

Some of the other changes to the order included allowing summer camps for this summer, allowing outdoor programs at senior centers and lifting capacity limits on restaurants. “[This is a] small but important step in returning to whatever normal will soon be,” she said.

Additionally, two visitors will be allowed with patients at hospitals and senior centers.

“Hospitals and nursing

month. The Mill will be the first community the two companies have launched in a joint effort, under the Harris Doyle brand.

“The Mill is going to be a great and affordable addition to the Opelika home market," said Harris Doyle Homes Chief Development Officer Brooks Harris. “This is the first of many new communities Auburn will see from the new union of Harris Doyle

and Dilworth, and we are excited for this new venture to start.

We look forward to helping further develop and enrich the Auburn and Opelika home market for its residents.”

The Mill has a total of 62 new luxury townhomes for sale. The townhomes at The Mill start in the low $200’s, with floorplan options featuring two or three bedrooms and 1,610 square feet Harris Doyle

homes need to update their visitation policies to accommodate this change,” she said.

The state has officially vaccinated 1 million people as of yesterday said State Health Officer Scott Harris.

“We do have reason for some optimism,” Harris said.

He shared unfortunate news, too: the state had roughly 11,000 deaths in excess of the normal average.

Ivey urged patience as the state continues to vaccinate residents.

“I want to take one minute just to talk about vaccine equity,” Harris said. “ ... As you know, all across the country it is African Americans in our country that are most at risk of dying from this disease.”

Harris said the state, like many other parts of the country, is using the social-vulnerability index to address vaccine inequity and help make sure

priority groups receive the vaccine.

Alabama is striving for 150,000 shots a week, Harris said.

Ivey said that should COVID rear its ugly head again, the state wants to be prepared.

“We’re going to have a joint study on the COVID-19 process after we get out from under the mandate to look at just what we could have done better or what we did do good,” she said.

She said that she would hope the state could be prepared should it ever need a similar response.

“I’m convinced that a mask mandate has been the right thing to do, but I also respect those that object and believe this was too far in government reach,” she said.

WORKERS and EMPLOYERS: Need help with

Unemployment Claims related to COVID-19?

Contact the Alabama Department of Labor to

file claims and get more information.

LABOR.ALABAMA.GOV Funding provided by the USDOL, ETA, Federal WIOA. An Equal Opportunity Employer/Program.

Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

specializes in creating well-crafted neighborhoods and beautiful new homes with unique exterior and interior designs.

You can find The Mill located off Pepperell Parkway, close to restaurants, shopping and entertainment. Enjoy the Opelika area and easy access to Highway 280, I-85 and Tiger Town. The Mill also offers proximity to Auburn: less than 15 minutes from Auburn

developer and home builder in the Auburn and Birmingham areas. Recognized for its luxury homes with unique exterior and interior designs, Harris Doyle Homes builds and designs new homes that fit the unique lifestyles of its diverse customer base. Brooks Harris and Russ Doyle founded Harris Doyle Homes in 2008. For more information, visit harrisdoyle.com

Blue Cross and Blue Shield provides 100% coverage for COVID-19 vaccines Contributed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is providing 100% coverage for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines during the government’s phased-in vaccine distribution. Blue Cross is recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for those currently eligible. Blue Cross members on individual, Medicare and

Protect with 3! ✔ Tdap ✔ HPV ✔ MCV4 Protect your patients against vaccine preventable diseases.

As healthcare professionals, it is up to you to ensure your patients remain up to date with their vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) recommend the following vaccines for adolescents: • • • •

University, seven minutes to the Auburn Mall and only five minutes to East Alabama Medical Center.

For more information, visit harrisdoyle.com or contact The Mill’s onsite agent, Megan Corcoran at megan. corcoran@harrisdoyle. com or 334-744-2899.

About Harris Doyle Homes Harris Doyle Homes, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading residential

Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis Human papillomavirus Meningococcal disease Influenza

For more information, please visit alabamapublichealth.gov/imm

almost all employer health plans will be able to receive a FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine without having to pay any out-of-pocket expenses.

“The health and wellness of our members and communities remains our top priority,” said Tim Vines, President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. “We want to make sure our members have access to the COVID-19 vaccines without cost

being an obstacle.”

According to the CDC, the arrival of the first COVID-19 vaccines is a major development in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The current vaccines are up to 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 and provide a high level of protection against contracting the virus.

Getting vaccinated will help keep individuals, families, our communities and Alabama healthy and See INSURANCE, page A4

1 OUT OF 10 ELDERLY PERSONS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE BEING: Abused, Neglected or Exploited If you suspect this is happening to someone you know, please report it to Adult Protective Services by contacting your local DHR office or calling the

ADULT ABUSE HOTLINE at 1-800-458-7214

HELP STOP THE ABUSE

IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT

Thereʼs no excuse for

ELDER ABUSE

“This project was supported by Subgrant #18-VA-VS-050 #16-VA-VS-076 awarded by the Law Enforcement / Traffic Safety Division of ADECA and the U.S. Department of Justice.” The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice or grant-making component.”

A4 March 10, 2021

Spring Training

M

ajor League Baseball spring training started today. I sat on my porch, listening to a radio. And I was cheering. I mean genuinely cheering.

The Atlanta Braves played the Tampa Bay Rays. The national anthem was played.

The umpire used his time-ravaged voice to shout, “Play ball!” I couldn’t help but get excited because it’s been a long year. Too long.

I closed my eyes and visualized the players trotting onto the grass of LECOM Park, greeted by their fans. I could almost see the dads drinking beer, kids eating nachos and teenagers taking selfies.

In the theater of my mind the game played beautifully. I could even visualize the occasional kid leaning over the balcony to catch a foul ball — which is one of the great moments of boyhood.

I almost caught a foul-

tip once in Fulton County Stadium as a boy. I’ll never forget it. The ball came soaring into the stands, and I knew this was my moment. Time slowed down. The eyes of 52,000 were upon me. I stood beneath the ball. I waved everyone else away.

“I got it!” I shouted.

“Gimme room! I got it!”

This was going to be the biggest day of my life. I extended my Mickey Mantle model glove into the air — a mitt my father bought from a yard sale for $1.

The ball came down, down, down … “Hey!” I thought, “I’m actually going to catch it!”

But it was not to be.

The ball bounced off the webbing of my glove and landed in the lap of a kid behind me.

I heard the lucky bum scream with delight. “I caught it!”

I saw the kid leap. I heard people cheer. The crowd hoisted the kid onto their shoulders for a spontaneous ticker

By Sean Dietrich tape parade and the mayor gave him the key to the city.

I still have nightmares about that kid.

Baseball’s spell over me is something I can’t explain. After all, baseball is not real life. The game doesn’t have anything to do with my mortgage, my work or my family. And yet I treat baseball like it ranks somewhere just beneath national security.

Why do I care so much about the statistics of clean-up hitters whose performances

have no bearing on my immediate future unless, of course, it’s a pennant race?

The answer is: I don’t know. Believe me, if I knew how to free myself from loving this game, I would. Lord knows the game brings nothing but misery and heartburn to those who love it.

There is no pain like watching your team lose to the Cardinals 13-1 in the National League Division Series. It feels like a funeral, but with cheaper beer.

I ought to be more

concerned about important things during a trying era like ours.

Instead, I spend time and money keeping up with multimillion-dollar team franchises. Yes! Baseball costs actual money to follow!

It’s not cheap to be a fan these days. Used to, in olden times all you needed was a radio and a cooler. But today to watch a game you need a digital subscription, a smart TV, 12,981 account usernames and passwords, a streaming service, two major credit cards, liquid-fast internet, three forms of legal identification, the blood of a wild boar, etc.

Even so, I don’t care.

The game is still being played. And in the midst of a pandemic that has destroyed normal life for everyone, the game inflames me with joy.

Baseball is a link to our heritage. People have been playing baseball on U.S. soil since colonist farmers

in knee breeches still spoke with British accents. Early Americans used sacks of wheat for bases and iron skillet lids for home plate. In all likelihood, George Washington probably had a batting average.

My best baseball memory, however, happened last year.

Every afternoon last summer, during the throes of a pandemic, four or five neighbor children would play ball in our dirt road, pausing every inning to allow oncoming cars to pass.

They used old pillows for bases and a cooler lid for home plate.

Most often the kids would have a meager audience consisting of middle-aged parents and neighbors who all cradled koozies. We in the crowd would shout phrases like, “Good hustle!” and we’d slowclap between each batter to prove that we were male.

Sometimes the kids See DIETRICH, page A5

Has the Affordable Care Act Actually Lowered Premiums for the U.S.?

By Cody Traffanstedt It’s been eleven years since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or otherwise simply known as the Affordable Care Act, was signed into law by former President Barack Obama on March 23rd, 2010.

The Affordable Care Act set out to accomplish many goals and has seen some changes as it has aged over the years as it celebrates its eleventh birthday. Initially, one of the main goals touted by supporters of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was to increase the number of insured Americans thereby decreasing the number of Americans that have no health insurance while lowering premiums for many Americans. Most will agree that the overall goal of increasing the number of insured Americans has

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safe.

“The FDA-authorized vaccines for COVID-19 show we are headed in the right direction in defeating the virus,” said Dr. Dow Briggs, executive vice president, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. “To ensure our members and Alabamians get the most appropriate care, we encourage them to consult their doctor or pharmacy if they have

seen success seeing that the number of uninsured Americans has gone from 16% to 9.1% since the passage of the ACA (Friedan, 2020).

It is clear the number of uninsured has steadily declined. It is the method with which we have arrived at the goal of lowering the number of uninsured that is worth taking note of, and whether we have seen any actual lowering of premiums for the lower or middle-class income groups within the United States.

In order to increase the number of insured Americans, the ACA employed the use of subsidies through the Healthcare.gov marketplace. The marketplace has allowed those in a state that chose not to expand Medicaid or those in a lower income family that may not qualify for Medicaid to access federally subsi-

dized health insurance cheaper that they would otherwise be unable to access, thereby lowering premiums for those that were eligible. While evident that the premiums for lower income adults and families would be lower as a result of Medicaid expansion and federal subsidies, what have we seen in regard to the effects of the ACA on middle income adults and families?

In 2019, the average monthly premium per enrollee in the individual insurance market was $515, up from $217 in 2011 (Antos, 2020).

This dramatic increase more than likely is the result of the ACA’s banning of excluding those with preexisting conditions from purchasing health insurance.

With more frequent users of health services and more individuals with more chronic health conditions entering the

health insurance market, it’s no surprise we have seen costs increase for those that are unable to qualify for Medicaid or subsidies. Costs have increased for insurance companies and they have passed this cost along to those purchasing health insurance in the market.

While the subsidies may mask the increased premiums for those in lower income groups, those in middle income groups have seen no such masking of their increased premiums. According to a study done by Health Affairs, as a result of subsidy implementation, lower income adults have seen 17% lower out-of-pocket spending and a 30 % lower probability of catastrophic health expenditures. On the other hand, middle income adults have not seen reduced financial burden by either measure (Health Affairs, 2021). Many in the

middle-income group simply make too much or are offered insurance through their employer, thereby making them ineligible for the subsidies offered by the ACA according to the criteria set by the ACA. While it is evident that the ACA has seen some successes, one promise made over ten years ago has not fully come to fruition. Many middle-income Americans and families have not seen their premiums decrease and have actually seen their health insurance premiums rise at a rate faster than that of inflation (Blase, 2016).

The ACA has helped many lower-income Americans lower their out-of-pocket spending, as was greatly needed, but unfortunately has done so at the expense of those Americans offered insurance through their employer or those that don’t meet the income

criteria set in place by the passage of the ACA (Healthcare.gov, 2021).

The U.S. should now look to a model of subsidies specifically targeting those that have severe, chronic conditions that require frequent use of the healthcare system rather than targeting someone specifically from an income perspective. Instead of subsidizing an otherwise extremely healthy individual, we should look to the probability of someone becoming a high user of health insurance or the healthcare system as a whole. In this way, middle income earners of the U.S. don’t have to sacrifice a higher percentage of their already modest income for a system that can be altered to help others without placing such an ever-increasing, large burden on the shoulders of middle-class America.

any questions about the vaccines.”

According to the CDC, safety continues to be a top priority when developing and authorizing a COVID-19 vaccine.

Careful testing: All vaccines go through clinical trials to test safety and effectiveness. For the COVID-19 vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established rigorous safety standards for vaccine developers to meet.

Clinical trials: No serious safety concerns were report-

ed. Trials for the COVID-19 vaccine have had fully independent safety monitoring boards, and safety data are continuously reviewed by the FDA and expert panels.

Continuous monitoring: Once a vaccine is authorized for use, monitoring by the FDA and the CDC continues, with systems in place to track problems or side effects not detected during the clinical trials.

Side effects: Some people may develop temporary symptoms

such as a fever, muscle aches, headache, fatigue or all four.

These side effects signify the vaccine is working and that the body is developing an immune response.

Contracting COVID-19 from the vaccine: The COVID-19 vaccines being developed and distributed in the United States do not contain live virus particles, so people cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. COVID-19 is contracted only by exposure to the novel coronavirus.

Even though a safe COVID-19 vaccine is available, following current preventive measures is still essential. Wear a face mask, continue social distancing and wash hands frequently.

For information on eligibility, vaccine safety and to schedule a vaccination appointment, visit ALCovidVaccine.gov.

For appointments you can also call 855-5665333.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

has insured Alabamians for 84 years. Blue Cross offers coverage plans to corporations, individuals and the senior market. For more information about Blue Cross, visit AlabamaBlue. com. Connect with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama on Facebook, check out its videos on YouTube and follow it on Twitter for more up-todate information.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

A5 March 10, 2021

News from EAMC Contributed by EAMC MORE VACCINE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE Vaccinations at the Community Vaccine Clinic continue to roll out at a pace of 1,200 or more a day, with the 50,000th dose expected early next week.

The clinic moved from EAMC’s Education Center into the old “Tuesday Morning” storefront in Auburn on Feb. 1. “Because the vaccine we are using (Pfizer) requires two doses, three weeks apart, the time slots for the first three weeks were mostly first doses,” said John Atkinson, EAMC spokesman.

“And this week marks the end of the second

doses for those patients.”

According to Atkinson, that means that time slots between March 15 – April 2 will mostly be for people to receive a first dose.

“Appointment time slots for next Monday, March 15, opened this morning,” he said. “Due to the sequencing of the shots, the number of new time slots for next Monday was relatively low this morning, but each new day will see more and more time slots open.”

With the start of this new cycle, people are reminded that they need to register at www. eastALcovidvaccine. com in order to be able to self-schedule an appointment. Also, clinic

officials ask that people remain in their vehicle until within 10 minutes of their appointment time, unless asked to come in sooner. “The clinic runs on things being consistent. When people arrive too early, the registration area can get backed up and it has a trickle effect on the rest of the clinic,” Atkinson stated.

CDC RELEASES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE Earlier today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its first set of public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people.

Among the recommendations is the go ahead

for fully vaccinated people to (1.) visit with other such people without wearing a mask, (2.) visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are considered low risk for severe complications from COVID-19, and (3.) skip quarantining or testing following a known exposure as long as they are not showing symptoms.

Likewise, the CDC offered a list of things fully vaccinated people should continue to do.

They include (1.) wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing when in public, (2.) wearing masks, practicing physical distancing and adhering to other prevention measures when visiting with un-

vaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease and (3.) wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and practicing other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households.

For the complete CDC guidance, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/ fully-vaccinated-guidance.html.

Because the science on COVID-19 vaccines continues to evolve, the recommendations are subject to being updating. Also, the

CDC considers people fully vaccinated for COVID-19 when two weeks have passed since their second Pfizer or Moderna dose, or after they have received a single-dose vaccine from Johnson and Johnson.

Based on Gov. Kay Ivey’s Vaccine Allocation Plan, the groups below became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Alabama on Feb. 8 — and the list of groups has not yet changed.

“Based on her plan, we are still in Phase 1B, with the exception that ages 65-74 were added at the same time that this phase opened,” said John Atkinson, EAMC spokesman. “UnfortuSee EAMC, page A6

Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National hosts job fairs Contributed by Auburn Marriott Opelika As the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National prepares for the busy spring and summer seasons, it will be hosting job fairs for full-time, part-time, on-call and seasonal positions. Key

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er, here in Alabama 56 years ago on March 1, we would be preparing to march, head toward the Edmund-Pettis bridge,” Harrell said before the discussion began. “So it is within that context that we prepare ourselves to reflect on that commemorative space.”

“How does the history of slavery tie into this question of what is true democracy in the United States,” Harrell asked the panelists to consider.

The Declaration of Independence was written by a man, Thomas Jefferson, who had over 600 slaves, she said.

Did the fragility of democracy begin with a man who owned slaves while also writing that “all men are created equal?” Harrell asked.

King said she doesn’t believe the concept of democracy is fragile.

“What I think is fragile, though, is a version of democracy or democratic practice that is actively inclusive and wants more partic-

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even allowed a few of us neighborhood guys to play with them. Doctors say the cartilage of my

positions that will be hired at our job fairs include, but are not limited to, housekeepers, servers, culinary employees, recreation attendants, nail technicians, hair stylists and front desk employees.

An Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National Job Fair will be held on Wednesday, March 10

from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The job fair will be in the Camellia meeting room located adjacent to the hotel lobby. The address is 3700 Robert Trent Jones Trail in Opelika.

Prospective employees must complete an online application at www.pchresortscareers. com/applynow (location Auburn/Opelika) pri-

or to attending the job fair. A full listing of job openings is on this site.

Applicants should bring two forms of identification to expedite the hiring process and are encouraged to apply early for the strongest chance of being hired.

All applicants are subject to pre-employment drug screening and background investi-

gation. We are an EEO Employer; Minority/Female/Veteran/Disabled.

Applicants should be age 16 and older. Some jobs require applicants to be 21 and older. For more information or any questions, contact the Human Resources Department at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National at (334) 737-2162. Applica-

tions must be completed in advance for immediate consideration.

Full time benefits include insurance (health, dental, vision, life), competitive wages, paid holidays, paid vacation, sick leave and 401K, travel discounts worldwide with Marriott and golf discounts at all RTJ Golf Trail locations.

ipation from a larger portion of those individuals we deem eligible,” she said.

LaFayette said that people are better off under democracies than dictatorships and that democracy works with participation from citizens.

“Now, the issue that we’re dealing with here is equal and unequal participation,” he said.

“We are affected by the democracy, because if that’s our form of government, we can’t escape it. So now, what is the issue? The issue is whether or not we are full participants in our democracy.”

African Americans have not always been given the right to participate, LaFayette said.

“As black people, we have always been considered less than full human beings,” he said.

Flint said he doesn’t believe that Jefferson’s concept, while owning slaves, was the beginning of the fragility of democracy, but a part of the process.

“If you take the viewpoint that everything in America in 2021 is better than it was in

1776, then that freezes history, rather than makes it a continuum, because history is also aspirational,” he said. “ … I think the problem is, we tend to stop ourselves somewhere on that continuum.

We stop ourselves in defense of white nationalism, maybe when emancipation occurred or maybe when Blacks got the right to vote in the 15th amendment.”

The continuum should include the past, present and future: where democracy can be and where things can get better, Flint said.

“I think democracy is only in trouble when you say, ‘We have arrived,’” he said. “‘We don’t have any problems. We have achieved the kingdom of God. We have achieved the perfect democracy.’”

Harrell asked the panelists whether it is important to prepare young professionals to fight for the right to vote.

Panelists had concrete ideas on how to support democracy and the fight for the right to vote.

Flint said it is important to have parallel

institutions; i.e., for those organizations that suppress voting, there should be one promoting voting.

LaFayette said many in the younger generations are not prepared and do not understand their government.

He recommended that young people form their own government, for educational purposes, to learn how laws are made and to learn how elections are held.

“Let’s create a youth legislature, where you would get young people from age 12 to 17 to create their own structure of a legislature, elect officials, replicating the adults who are actually voters,” he said.

King said simply that voting is too complex in the United States.

She echoed LaFayette’s sentiments that students need to be taught the basics: the importance of voting and how to vote.

Becoming the Beloved Community: “I really think that if you retreat to the one book, that more than any other is a book, common to all Americans, and you take the

four gospels and you just say, ‘What would Jesus do?’ in all of these circumstances, the result would be the beloved community,” Flint said. “As simplistic as it is, I don’t really know any proposed solution that’s wiser.”

Becoming the beloved community has challenges. The audience on the Zoom call was asked what they believe to be the greatest challenge to becoming the beloved community.

“Which of the following do you think is the greatest challenge to becoming the Beloved Community?

- The rise of white supremacist groups - Systemic racism - The widening gap between rich and poor - Politics of division” The majority voted for the rise of systemic racism as the biggest problem, with a vote of 67%. Twenty percent voted for the politics of division, 10% voted for the widening gap between rich and poor and 3% voted for the rise of white supremacist groups.

LaFayette said that while he agrees with

Flint that asking ‘What would Jesus do?’ is good advice, there needs to be a curriculum that can be taught.

“If we can give the basic foundations of this kind of thing throughout our institutions, then these young people will get a handle on it and they’ll be able to implement it in their own ways,” he said.

King said that handin-hand with that are honest conversations.

“When we talk about love, it’s a lovely word, but as far as I’m concerned, love is an action verb, which means if you care about someone, and you want equality, and you want equal access and all these things, loving someone else also means making sacrifices yourself,” King said.

“So, for me, in order for that to happen, that would mean we would all have to agree, particularly those who are in positions of privilege and power, broadly defined, that everything can’t be our way or the highway. And we have to be collectively responsible for our fellow man.”

knee will never grow back.

Anyway, one night someone hit a foul ball and someone’s 4-yearold brother was nearby shouting, “I got it!” The little white dot sailed above the child who held

his hands out and positioned himself beneath the ball.

The baseball came straight down and plunked the boy on the face. The kid fell lifeless to the ground. He was limp. A crowd of

panicked adults rushed around him, whereupon the kid leapt to his feet, teeth missing, blood leaking from his chin, smiling and shouting, “I CAUGHT IT, MOM!” And I’ll never forget when the kid’s mother

looked at me, expressionless, and said, “This is why women live longer than men.”

So I realize there are more important things going on in the world right now. And I know there are bigger issues

than baseball to worry about. But it’s been a grueling year filled with squabbling, screaming, rioting, grumbling, coughing, cussing and crying.

Gosh, it feels nice to cheer for a change.

A6 March 10, 2021

Key Living Solutions to host tiny house showcase

By Kayla Evans For the Opelika Observer

nances will not allow any house under 800 square feet, and Key is aiming for the houses she builds to be 400 square feet.

The event will be held at Bubba’s Medicine Shop located at 512 2nd Ave. in Opelika. A ribbon cutting ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce will be at 10:30 a.m.

The showcase house is only 280 square feet and will give people a realistic vision of what

On March 12, business owner Emily Key is hosting a showcase to show the Lee County community what a tiny house is like.

Key started her nonprofit, Key Living Solutions, in 2020 and has been pushing for the Opelika zoning to accommodate tiny houses. As of right now, city ordi-

a tiny house will look like.

“Instead of trying to show [pictures of] houses to explain it, I just decided to build one and show them that way,” Key said. “I’ve built a 280-square-foot home on a trailer, and I will be pulling it up to Bubba’s Medicine Shop to have a big showcase for everyone to stop by, walk in it and look at what it would be like to live in something

that small. It is an effort to show the community that tiny houses are an option for the affordable housing crisis that we have. They are a solution.”

The one-bedroom house will be an affordable place for people. Rent will be one dollar per square foot.

Key wants to create a “tiny house village” so that the residents have a community. Key bought 1.6 acres in Beauregard, just outside

Opelika city limits, to start the first tiny house village.

Key has gotten a lot of support from the people in Lee county with donations and community involvement.

“I am already seeing a lot of community involvement, both in donations and from inquisitive neighbors,” Key said. “It is moving along, and it seems like people in the community believe in it and

know that we do need affordable housing. It’s just a matter of proving that to the city.”

Multiple businesses have committed to being a part of this project. Kirkleys Floor Covering Inc., Turner Fencing, Lowe’s, Sensigreen, Sir Wash-aLot, TNT Maintenance & Painting, Inc., JBryan Builders and Baker Fence Co. will all have a hand in making affordable places for residents of Lee County.

Will I receive another round of stimulus payments?

Contributed by Justin Smith, CPA The House of Representatives and the Senate have passed competing versions of a third COVID-19 relief bill. It is expected that a reconciliation bill is likely to pass and be signed into law. Key tenants impacting individual taxpayers include $1,400 direct payments, expanded child tax credits with advance payments and extension of federal unemployment benefits.

Direct Stimulus Payments Should the new bill become law, the likelihood is that the Department of the Treasury (via the Internal Revenue Service) would distribute Economic

EAMC >>

FROM A5

nately, we are having people register under the “Frontline Critical Workers” category who do not currently fit the criteria and we are having to turn them away at the door.”

Among the work groups who most often mistakenly believe they are currently eligible are workers in hair and nail salons, individual caregivers, retail (other than grocery stores) and workers in real estate and financial institutions. “All of them have

Impact Payments of up to $1,400.00 per person (both for adults and their dependent children, currently under 17).

Full payments would be made to single taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes (AGI) up to $75,000, heads of household up to $112,500, and married taxpayers up to $150,000. The current bill would phase out payments quickly, and fully eliminate them for singles taxpayers whose AGI exceeds $80,000, heads of household exceeding $120,000 and married taxpayers exceeding $160,000.

Similarly to the first two rounds, payments could be direct deposited or mailed to you. Visit www.irs.gov for the latest information.

Expanded Child Tax Credit The current Child Tax Credit provides an annual $2,000 tax credit for dependents under 17, and $500 for dependents 17 and older.

The legislation would expand the child tax credit to $3,600 for children up to 6 years old and $3,000 for children ages 6-16. Further, the bill provides that half the credit would be paid in periodic monthly installments from July – December, with the rest claimed on your tax return. The mechanics of how this would work will, no doubt, provide significant challenges to taxpayers and preparers as they prepare 2021 returns. Additionally, new income limits would

apply for the additional amounts above $2,000 based on the same limitations mentioned above regarding the stimulus payments, so not all taxpayers would be fully eligible for the expanded credit.

Expanded Unemployment Benefits The Senate’s bill also provides an additional $300 in weekly federal unemployment benefits (typically administered through the states) through Sept. 6. Further, the first $10,200 of federal benefits would be tax-free for taxpayers with less than $150,000 in AGI. What Does It Mean For Me? It is certainly possible, and even probable, that changes will be made to

valid work reasons for wanting to be vaccinated — and we want them to be vaccinated — but we are bound by the criteria set forth by the state,” Atkinson said.

“We are also very eager to vaccinate people younger than 65 who have high-risk medical conditions. As soon as we are able to open Phase 1C, we will notify the community and update our registration portal.”

- Person age between 65 and 74 years - Person age 75 years and older - Frontline Critical Workers

- Daycare - Education sector (teachers, support staff, higher education) - Corrections officers - Food and agriculture workers* - US Postal Service** - Manufacturing - Grocery stores - Public transit*** - Judiciary (including but not limited to) circuit or district judges and district attorneys - EMS/First Responders - Healthcare workers in business settings (hospitals, doctor’s offices, etc.) *ADPH describes this group as those engaged

in the production and supply of food products.

Please note that “food service” workers are in

A L A B A M A D E PT O F C O R R E C T IO NS CLEAR AND SECURE CAREER PATH

COMPETITIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE

Alabama Department of Public Health Announces...

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Proposals must be submitted online no later than Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at ImmProposals@adph.state.al.us

For more information visit https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/immunization/call-for-proposals.html

the legislation before it is finalized. That said, taxpayers who have not yet filed their 2020 tax returns should consider delaying filing if their income will exceed the phaseout limitations mentioned above, especially if their 2019 income was within the limitation. It is likely that you would then receive the economic stimulus payments, but not be responsible for repaying them (similar to the 2020 payments) should your income for 2020 exceed the limitations once you file.

I personally believe a better approach would be to waive the Social Security/Medicare tax for 2021, which would incentivize income earners while also pro-

viding a full-year positive cash flow to taxpayers. That said, pay close attention to the legislation, determine how it may impact you, and then identify possible strategies for the use of any cash payment (e.g., debt retirement, investment, savings, etc.). As always, consider consulting with your financial or tax advisor for specific details that impact your situation.

Justin Smith is a licensed certified public accountant in Opelika, specializing in individual and small business tax and accounting. He can be contacted at 334-400-9234 or Justin@JSmithCPA.net.

His web site is www. jsmithcpa.net

Photo by Hannah Lester / Opelika Observer

Phase 1C which has not been opened yet. **Our interpretation is that other delivery services fall under “Transportation and Logistics” in Phase 1C. ***Our interpretation is that this applies to mass public transit, such as buses, and does not apply to individually operated

vehicles.

For the latest COVID-19 vaccine information from EAMC, visit www.eamc.org/ patient-and-guests/ covid-19-information/ Governor Ivey’s Vaccine Allocation Plan is available at www.alabamapublichealth.gov/ covid19vaccine/assets/ adph-covid19-vaccination-allocation-plan.pdf.

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Opelika E vents, Society & Food

March 13 - Frogbull Academy’s Outdoor Winter Mini Term March 20 - Women's Hope 5K March 20 - Bark in the Park March 21 - Simon & Garfunkel at OPAC

Ginger Stern continues in parents’ footsteps with love of community Ann Cipperly

Southern

Hospitality

S

ince moving back to her hometown in 2014, Ginger Stern has been active in the community as she follows in the footsteps of her beloved parents, the late Roslyn and Henry Stern. Ginger was also influenced by her mother’s creative talent in the kitchen.

During the pandemic, Ginger has been home more and enjoying cooking, including making dishes inspired by her family heritage.

Ginger’s father came to Opelika with his family when he was 5 years old, escaping Adolf Hitler and the horror of the Holocaust. Before becoming the executive director of the Opelika

Chamber of Commerce, Henry worked as a partner in a department store and in real estate.

Roslyn was the first art teacher for Opelika City Schools in 1969. Prior to joining the school system, she converted the basement at their home on Third Avenue into a studio for artists and began teaching art in their home and hosting art shows in their backyard. She was a founder of the Opelika Arts Association, now the Arts Association of East Alabama.

Ginger has fond memories growing up on Third Avenue with her brother J. She remembers her mom was an amazing cook

and entertainer. Ginger remembers her mother hosting boiled shrimp dinners. She would line tables with paper for quick cleanup and create sculptures of shrimp out of newspapers for the centerpiece.

Ginger remembers one time her Mom hosted her garden club for a luncheon and served chicken pot pies baked in flowerpots. The name tags were packages of seeds they could take home. Roslyn also had a garden and canned vegetables.

After high school, Ginger knew she wanted to work in television.

She attended Stephens See CIPPERLY, page A11

'Cure' your cravings with CharCutie

By Lofton Wheeles For the Opelika Observer Auburn City Schools teacher Laura Corder has started a side business called CharCutie.

The CharCutie business sells charcuterie boards in the Auburn-Opelika area.

Charcuterie boards usually consist of different meats, cheeses, fruits and other types of snackable food items.

Corder started the

business in January of this year, and according to her, “it blew up overnight.”

“I was so honored and humbled,” Corder said. “I was also a little frightened and scared thinking, ‘Could I do this?’ because I was getting messages constantly, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to tackle it. But after the initial shock, I got the excitement back of ‘I can do this.’”

Corder has always

had a knack for entertaining family and friends, and she said that the charcuterie boards reflect that aspect of her.

“I have always been kind of dubbed the 'entertainer,' if you will, of my family and my friends,” Corder said.

“I always want to host; I always have an open door at my house. …

I love to have family over, friends over See CHARCUTIE, page A10

Ginger Stern returned to her hometown after 30 years of working in television news and has been busy volunteering and serving in the community, as she follows in her parents’ footsteps. She also inherited her mother’s creativity in the kitchen. Ginger is enjoying cooking and baking. She is pictured with her mom’s painting on one side, and the Stern cuckoo clock on the other side.

Women’s Hope Medical Clinic to host 5K race and one mile walk

By Lofton Wheeles For the Opelika Observer Women’s Hope Medical Clinic will host its annual Run Like A Mom 5K race and one mile walk on Saturday, March 20.

“Women’s Hope has been in Auburn for 38 years and for almost 38 years, we have done a Spring fundraiser,” said Women’s Hope Communications Director Jeremy Walden. “It’s always

been to raise money for Women’s Hope and what we do here. We changed the type of event and the name a few years back because we added a 5K race to it to try to get more younger people involved.”

Women’s Hope helps young families by offering free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, prenatal clinic visits, childbirth classes and parenting classes. The goal of the Run Like a Mom event is to keep this idea a reality.

“Every quarter, we do a fundraiser, and this is our second biggest fundraiser of the year,” Walden said. “Our goal is to raise $30,000.”

The race and walk will be held virtually to allow for more participation.

“There are going to be people who don’t feel comfortable still being around other people and so they’re going to have the option [to participate virtually],” Walden said.

See HOPE, page A8

A8 March 10, 2021

Making the Grade: Kountry Kitchen of Clanton

By Stacey Patton Wallace During the last 12 months, the pandemic has affected all of us in different ways.

Back on March 13, 2020, Mike and I were teaching in our 30th and final year at Long Cane Middle School in LaGrange, Georgia. We, along with all the teachers in the Troup County School System, were told that all schools were being shut down for two weeks because of COVID-19. We were instructed to remove everything from our desks and our students’ desks because our rooms would undergo a deep cleaning during this time. The third nine weeks had ended the day before, and we had no idea that school would be permanently closed for the rest of the year; we didn’t even get to tell our kids goodbye or hug their necks. However, God has blessed Mike and me during this frightening year more times than we can count, and we are forever thankful.

Mike and I really love to travel, but of course, COVID-19 also brought any trips to a complete stop, especially for “Poohsized” adults like us who have pre-existing conditions and who will have our first vaccines on March 30.

(Thank You, Lord!)

Please understand, Mike and I love us some Lee County, Alabama. I’ve told family and friends that if you can’t go to Heaven yet, Auburn/ Opelika is the best place to wait. However, we hadn’t been on an overnight trip since September 2019 when we traveled to Orange Beach, our favorite beach in the world.

(Seeing the date in print makes it seem even longer.) Since we began getting cabin fever and became more than a little stir crazy, we decided to start taking day trips in Sweet Home Alabama.

I had purchased the book “200 Places to Go: A Celebration of Alabama’s Bicentennial,” written by Kelley Walker. The book lists Alabama’s

67 counties alphabetically, pointing out various sites to visit.

For our first trip, Mike and I chose Chilton County, known for growing peaches and pecans.

white chocolate covered pecans, pralines, divinity, buckeyes, milk chocolate and white chocolate pecan bark, pecan pies, tarts, peach cobbler and ice cream. Also, the shop

Photo by Mike Wallace

Clanton, the county seat, is a one-and-ahalf-hour drive from our home in Auburn.

As we traveled up U.S. 280 and U.S. 22, we enjoyed the beautiful, rural scenery.

When we arrived in Clanton, we visited the Heaton Pecan Farm. The family had sold the farm; however, there was an attractive shop that sold a tantalizing variety of pecan candies, including: milk chocolate and

had a lot of pretty displays with great gift ideas, reminiscent of Bubba’s Medicine Shop in Opelika.

After Mike and I selected our goodies for later, we asked some locals for recommendations for a great place to have a Southern dinner (not lunch).

Several of them directed us to the Kountry Kitchen of Clanton.

We arrived there at 1:30, apparently beating the lunch crowd, so social distancing

wasn’t a problem; there were only about two or three other people in the restaurant besides us.

Our waitress, who sounded like a good Alabama girl, was actually from Germany and had moved to Clanton in 1982; her daddy was in the military. She and the other waitresses were so friendly and funny.

There was a buffet, but we decided to order from the menu.

Entrees included chicken, steak and seafood; there was a variety of sandwich selections as well.

Mike ordered a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, and I chose fried chicken, my absolute favorite. Now, I love chicken fingers, but I’m an Alabama girl, and to me, nothing can compare to good, old-fashioned fried chicken on the bone.

Do you remember when you first heard the term, “chicken fingers?” I do; I was a teenager, and I remember thinking, “Chickens don’t have fingers; they have feet.” Ah, youth.

Mike’s sandwich

was delicious; it had very thick, succulent ham, hot off the grill.

Also, my chicken on the bone was absolutely wonderful.

Our food was cooked fresh; they didn’t just take my chicken from the buffet.

After we finished eating, we visited a store that had canned items, so we bought some fig preserves; they sure tasted great on our biscuits on Saturday morning. On the way home, Mike, an excellent photographer, took more pictures of the lovely, rustic landscape.

The Kountry Kitchen of Clanton and the Heaton Pecan Farm make the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher.

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

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

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

Scale Back Alabama extends start date to April 5 Contributed by Scale Back Alabama Scale Back Alabama, the state’s largest wellness program, is extending the 2021 start date to Monday, April 5.

Originally slated to start on Monday, March 1, the program will now kick off the following month in an effort to accommodate a bigger and better participant experience.

Anyone who lives or works in Alabama and wants to develop a healthier lifestyle is encouraged to register for

HOPE

>>

FROM A7

“Also, our event is super early in the morning, and there are people who don’t want to get up early in the morning to participate. So,

the free program.

This year, Scale Back Alabama will be an entirely virtual program.

Participants will register online and choose one to three goals to work on throughout the 10-week program. Each week, participants will receive a challenge and a health tip that will encourage them to reach their goal(s).

Weight loss is now optional, and participants will select their own wellness goals.

It is easy to register an individual participant.

Two-person teams are no

longer required: Visit scalebackalabama.com/member/ register.

To get started, participants will answer a few questions that will help them choose the best goals for them.

By April 5, participants will receive an email from Scale Back Alabama with instructions on how to access their personalized user dashboard and set wellness goals for the program.

Registration closes on April 4.

Important: Public

weigh-in sites are no longer available. Some workplaces or organizations may host private sites if they can do so safely. Weigh-ins and outs are no longer required to participate in the program.

Prizes All prizes will be on an individual basis; there will be no team prizes.

At the end of each week, participants will indicate on their user dashboard if they did or did not complete that week’s challenge.

Participants that did

complete the challenge on any given week will be entered into a drawing for that week’s prize.

Each week, participants will indicate on their user dashboard if they did or did not meet their pre-set goal(s) that week. For every week that participants meet at least one of their goals, their name will go into a prize drawing to be held at the end of the program.

All prizes will be in the form of an Amazon e-gift card.

Facts about Scale

Back Alabama: Inaugural contest started in January 2007 Now in its 15th consecutive year Cumulative number of pounds lost statewide: 1.4 million Cumulative number of participants statewide: 335,752 Scale Back Alabama is a public awareness program hosted by the Alabama Hospital Association and the Alabama Department of Public Health, with generous support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.

they can do it any time they want.

“We actually have people who participate out-of-state and so they can participate virtually.”

The race also gives participants the opportunity to have a good time

virtually while spreading awareness of the event and organization.

“It really is just for fun,” Walden said. “We try to make it, the virtual part, good for social media so people will do it on their own and [in] their own

neighborhoods, wherever they are, and take pictures or videos and post it on their social media.”

The in-person 5K race and one mile walk will take place on March 20.

The cost to register for the race and walk are $30 and

$15, respectively, and registration ends at midnight on March 16.

The race and walk might also be held in-person; however, the details regarding in-person participation are still unconfirmed.

To sign up for either event, go to runsignup. com/Race/AL/Auburn/ RunLikeaMom, and to get updates on details regarding the events, go to www. facebook.com/WomensHopeMedicalClinic.

Call me for all your real estate needs!

1810 E. Glenn Ave. Suite 130 Auburn, AL 36830 Cell 334.444.8041 duffystewartrealtor@gmail.com www.BHHSPreferredAuburn.com A member of the franchise system of BHH Affliates, LLC

A9 March 10, 2021

Opelika holds memorial event for Tornado victims

Photos by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer

A10 March 10, 2021

Upcoming events with Alabama Extension Contributed by Tara Barr 4-H Virtual Ventures: Watercolor (March 25 at 4:30): Join Lee County 4-H and spend an evening of drawing and watercolor led by the amazing Mrs. Rebecca Wall. Register by calling the Lee County Extension Office at 334-749-3353. The event costs $5, which includes watercolor paper, water color paints and brush and Sharpie.

The registration deadline is March 23. Zoom info

and supply pick up times will be emailed after registration closes.

“Get Outside with Alabama Smart Yards” Series (every Wednesday 1 to 2 p.m.): auburn.zoom. us/j/82398811386 www. facebook.com/AlabamaSmartYardsAlabamaExtension At Home Beekeeping Series (Last Tuesday of every month 6:30-7:30 p.m.): auburn.zoom. us/j/904522838 Back to Basics Gardening Series (2nd and 4th Wednesdays

10 to 11 a.m.): www. aces.edu/go/B2Bzoom www.aces.edu/?s=Back2BasicsWednesdays&q=Back2BasicsWednesdays Eco Friendly Fridays Environmental Education Series (last Friday of every month 12-1 p.m.): www.aces.edu/ go/EcoFriendlyFridays Alabama Garden Walk Series (1st and 3rd Fridays of every month 12-12:45 p.m.): www.aces.edu/go/GardenWalk Raising Trees Series (every Thursday 12-1

p.m.): www.aces.edu/ blog/topics/landscaping/ raising-trees-webinar-series/ ForestHer Webinar Series (2nd Tuesday of every month 12-1 p.m.): www.aces.edu/ blog/topics/forestry/foresther-workshops/ 2021 Natural Resources Webinar Series (Wednesdays 12-1 p.m.): www.aces.edu/ blog/topics/forestry/ natural-resources-webinar-series/ Alabama Virtual Farm Tours (biweekly from March to October

5-6 p.m.): www.facebook.com/AlabamaExtensionCommercialHorticulture Commercial Horticulture Monthly Webinar Seminars (last Monday of each month): auburn. zoom.us/j/590217859 or watch Livestream at www.facebook.com/ AlabamaExtensionCommercialHorticulture. Monthly agenda is posted on www.aces. edu/anr/beginningfarms/ webinars.php.

‘Q&A Friday!’ interactive shows (Fridays from March

to October 11:30a.m. to 12:30p.m.): www. facebook.com/AlabamaExtensionCommercialHorticulture Cottage Food Certification: go to: www.aces. edu/go/cottagefoodbusiness. You will watch 4 videos and then register.

Cost is $25.00.

Get Outside with Alabama Smart Yards Webinar Series (Every Wednesday at 1 p.m.): auburn.zoom. us/j/82398811386

Service opportunity for volunteers through the Alabama Rural Ministry Contributed by the Alabama Rural Ministry Do you want to make a difference by volunteering your time? Alabama Rural Ministry is providing

CHARCUTIE

>>

FROM A7

and we love to snack and center everything around food.”

Corder mentioned that traditions in her family were part of what inspired her to start a charcuterie business.

“My father and my mother made Christmas so special for us,” Corder said. “When we would get the tree ready to decorate each year, they would get snacks ready … It was nothing crazy fancy, but it would be meats, cheeses, crackers and relish … It was just the most the exciting night because we knew we

another opportunity for volunteers to help rebuild the community through a mission service day. Let ARM help you and others render the cost of repairing homes who need your help the

most.

Individuals and small groups are encouraged to sign up for ARM’s March 27 service day. Volunteers will meet in the parking lot of the Auburn United Meth-

odist Church (137 S. Gay St.) at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 27.

The workday will run until 4 p.m., but volunteers are welcome to work whatever hours they can.

The sign-up form

for groups or individuals is found on ARM’s website at www.arm-al. org. Procedures for COVID-19 safety are explained on this form.

If you have addi-

tional questions about this upcoming service day, then please contact ARM’s volunteer coordinator, Andrew Baird, at andrew@ arm-al.org or 334501-4276, extension 100.

were getting snacks and, again, it sounds crazy probably to some people, but it was the one of the most highlighted, anticipated nights putting up the tree and the ornaments and getting to sit around and eat snacks.

“That was [then] carried on every year of my life with my family until we moved out. And then when I got married and had children, I continued that tradition every year with my husband and my kids and even still to this day, I have a 13-, 10- and five-yearold, and it is one of their most treasured anticipations that we carry on at Christmas.”

However, it is not always easy to balance a small business, work and a family.

“It has been challenging, especially with three kids,” Corder said.

“To go from, ‘Hey, I’ve got three orders tonight for a party,’ to, ‘I’ve got a meeting after school for a conference,’ and, ‘I need you to get this kid to basketball tournaments at this time’ and ‘this kid to dance at that time,’ that part gets a little crazy.”

Corder said her favorite part of the CharCutie business is writing thank you cards for customers.

“I personally write a thank you card to every

customer that purchases something, and I know that may sound cheesy with the handwritten note, but I hope that that gives a personal touch to every customer,” she said. “The cards are such a personal touch because I really want them to know how much I appreciate them and [that] I hope they enjoy their box.

Corder finds a lot of joy in making charcuterie boards for people to enjoy, she said.

“I think it’s just the satisfaction of knowing that I made someone happy and, again, knowing that it’s about invitation to the table,” Corder said. “I’ve had

so many people say, ‘Hey. This is for an elderly neighbor that can’t get out right now because of COVID and I want to brighten their day with a little charcuterie box for them.’ “[It’s] just those special touches of knowing that I’m a part of somebody paying it forward [and] something like that just really warms my heart. [It’s also] to have people message me and go, ‘Oh my gosh. That was one of the best meat and cheese boards I’ve ever had, I cannot wait to order again.’”

Corder also talked about her appreciation for the support Char-

Cutie has received in a short time.

“I’m just humbled by the community,” she said. “I would never imagine that I would have something like this. Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine being a small-business owner with a health permit hanging next to my teaching certificate from the state of Alabama.

It’s pretty awesome and humbling above all else.”

If you want to learn more about CharCutie and its types of boards, please visit the Facebook page www. facebook.com/CharcutieAuburn.

Curtis House, extension office provide Junior Master Gardener program

By Robert Noles Photojournalist Last Saturday, The Curtis House and Alabama Extension Agency joined hands to provide a nineweek course for children in the neighborhood from ages 5 to 16 to become Junior Master Gardeners.

The classes will be divided up into groups according to age.

Sixteen children turned out to take part in the Junior Master Gardener program to learn about plants and how to grow a garden. The groups also learn about food and nutrition. Even though this was the first week of nine, newcomers for the next eight weeks are welcome according to Pala Lopes, Alabama Extension SNAP-N Educator for Lee and Russell County.

Assisting Lopes were Adrian Brown and Jeremy Gray, both from the Curtis House.

For information, visit www.thecurtishouse. org or their Facebook page. Also, donations to assist in purchasing materials for the classes and box gardens can be made through the website. The Curtis House is a 501(C3) organization.

A11 March 10, 2021

Second Saturday at Pioneer Park Contributed by The Lee County Historical Society The Second Saturday in March, March 13, at Pioneer Park in Loachapoka will have an Irish theme.

At noon, an Irish-themed lunch will be served from the Cook House and The Whistle Stop Pickers will present Celtic/Irish music from the Pavilion stage at 1 p.m. Come early and enjoy a garden walk 'n' talk with Dr. Charles Mitchell at 9 a.m. with the Heirloom Camellia Garden as a focus. At 10 a.m., a new Mountain Dulcimer class will begin. Loaner instruments are available.

Class will meet every Saturday for six weeks.

Contact Deborah McCord at 334-703-3646 if you are interested. The class is limited to 10 people. On the second Saturday of every month, volunteers

CIPPERLY

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FROM A7

College, an all-girls school in Missouri.

Then she attended the University of Alabama but did not feel comfortable at a large campus.

She returned home and went to Southern Union for a year and worked at Taylor’s Cotton.

Ginger discovered that Montevallo had its own television station and offered hands-on classes. She managed the station that did newscasts four nights a week at Montevallo.

She had a job in television two weeks after she graduated.

She went to Laredo, Texas, for a sales position, but left after six months since she did not speak Spanish.

From there, she worked the camera for WETN, Eternal Word Television Network, which was Mother Angelica’s station in Irondale, Alabama.

When Ginger and

and re-enactors gather at Pioneer Park to demonstrate their arts and crafts.

Blacksmiths are usually working at the forge, spinners and weavers are upstairs in the Trade Center, and someone is always cooking up a period meal in the Cook House or outdoors over an open fire. The Trade Center Museum and other museums are open to the public from 9 a.m. until mid-afternoon. Pioneer Park and Second Saturdays are hosted by the Lee County Historical Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, presentation and education about local history. All visitors are urged to wear masks and a keep social distance. Most activities will be outdoors, weather permitting. More information can be found at www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org/. her family went to Charleston, South Carolina, to visit family for Thanksgiving, she took her resume and applied to three of the four television stations.

Two of them offered her positions.

Ginger went to work at the local CBS station that was number one in Charleston. When Hurricane Hugo hit, she remembers it was a hectic time to be in television. She went from camera operator to newscast director.

After ten years, Ginger worked in Atlanta for three months before going to the Charlotte CBS affiliate for three years. She then became a newscast director at the NBC station WCNC in Charlotte.

She began cooking more while in Charlotte since it has such a good variety of restaurants and food festivals. Visiting these sparked her interest.

While living in Charlotte, Ginger was

The Whistle Stop Pickers will be presenting Celtic/Irish music on their dulcimers at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 13, at Pioneer Park in Loachapoka.

diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. She received treatment at the Novant HEALTH Care Center in Charlotte. She is a cancer survivor.

The following year, she came home in July and learned her father was not doing well. She decided to retire and was in the process of moving back when her father passed away.

Ginger had lived away for 30 years. Once she moved back, she immediately became involved in the community, serving on the board at the Museum of East Alabama, the Opelika Historic Preservation Society, Opelika Chamber of Commerce, Achievement Center, State Easter Seals, Women’s Philanthropy Board and is involved in Kiwanis as a past board member.

When she is not volunteering, Ginger enjoys cooking and baking, including homemade breads and buns.

One of her neighbors at

Lake Martin cooked a Boston butt, and Ginger took freshly baked buns for sliders, which were scrumptious.

The Pistachio Pound Cake is one of her favorite desserts. She prepared the cake last year to treat herself on her birthday. Her neighbors have benefited from her baking breads, cookies and cakes.

Ginger also got the travel bug from her parents. She visited Israel last year and relished Lamb Za’atar she tried at a restaurant. While everyone else was in gift shops, Ginger explored the grocery stores for seasonings to recreate the lamb dish and others.

She found the recipe for the lamb flatbread online in The New York Times.

Since returning to Opelika, Ginger and J. worked together to benefit the community in their parents’ memory.

While there have been many projects, the two

largest are the Community Park and Art Haus.

In September 2017, the Henry and Roslyn Stern Community Park opened with walking trails, a Little Free Library, a pavilion for picnicking, fenced-in dog park, a water feature, native plants and the caboose from the old train depot. The park also features a clock tower that lights up at night.

J. had the idea to create a model of the caboose to house books for the library. “It is registered with the Little Free Library,” Ginger said. “If you take a book, you leave a book.

If you are in the park with your kids, you can grab a book to read while they play.”

Once it was completed, the Sterns donated the Community Park to the сity of Opelika.

The city installed picnic tables and will maintain the park.

After the park was completed, they noticed that a church and

fellowship hall across the street were for sale.

They realized the location was ideal for their project to build the Art Haus, with the “Art” to honor their mother and the “Haus” for their father’s German heritage.

In addition to being across from the dog park, it is two blocks from where they grew up on Third Avenue.

It houses a working studio space and gallery exhibits for artists to create and display their work, and it provides many educational opportunities as well. The courtyard with a fireplace is the site for events and parties.

“We don’t have kids, so we wanted to leave a little Stern imprint on Opelika,” Ginger said.

“It is our way of honoring Mom and Dad, so a little piece of them will always be around.”

In the process, Ginger is leaving her own imprint in the community she loves.

A12 March 10, 2021

RECIPES

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NOODLE KUGEL 1/2 lb. wide kosher for Passover egg noodles 1/2 stick butter, melted 1 lb. cottage cheese 2 cups sour cream 1/2 cup sugar 6 eggs 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 cup raisins (optional) Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Boil noodles in salted water for about four minutes.

Strain noodles from water.

In a large mixing bowl, combine noodles with remaining ingredients and pour into a greased, approximately 9-by13-inch baking dish.

Bake until custard is set and top is golden brown, about 30 to 45 minutes.

EASY MATZO BALL SOUP 2 chicken breasts plus enough water to cook 1 pkg. Matzo Ball Mix (either Publix of Kroger have this) 2 eggs 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil 1 envelope Lipton’s Oodles of Noodles plus 4 cups of water per pkg. instructions 32 oz. chicken stock Bright water to a boil and add chicken breast. When it is cooked, shred the meat with forks and reserve on a plate.

Next, prepare matzo balls by mixing eggs and vegetable oil together, then add matzo meal. Once it is all mixed together, put it in the refrigerator to rest for 15 minutes.

While matzo balls rest, in a large stock pot make the Oodles of Noodles per instructions (4 cups of water per pkg. plus 32 oz. of extra chicken stock.

Bring to boil over medium-high heat.

Add cooked chicken meat.

Remove matzo ball mix from refrigerator. Form into balls just under the size of pingpong balls; they will expand when they cook. The trick is to keep your hand wet/moist so the matzo won’t stick.

Drop matzo balls into broth, cover, and lower heat and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes.

PISTACHIO POUND CAKE Cake: 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup honey 3 large eggs 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup whole milk 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 tsp. almond extract 2/3 cup ground pistachios Glaze: 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 Tbsp. honey 1 Tbsp. heavy cream 1/4 cup crushed pistachios Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 9-by5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang on the two long sides of pan. Butter pan and parchment.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar, and honey on medium-high until light and fluffy, about four minutes, stopping and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Add flour and milk to creamed egg mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Beat on medium-high for about 20 seconds between additions, stopping and scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.

Add vanilla and almond extracts and pistachios; beat on low just until combined.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until cake is cracked on top and a toothpick inserted in the center of cake comes out clean. Peek at cake after around 45 minutes, and if it is beginning to brown quite a lot, cover the cake with aluminum foil to prevent top from becoming too brown.

Let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes, then either grab the parchment overhang and carefully unmold loaf or invert loaf onto a wire rack. Remove parchment and slide it under the wire rack. Let the loaf cool completely.

While cake cooks, make the glaze by combining confectioners’ sugar, butter, honey, and cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.

If you prefer a simple, runny glaze, heat just until the mixture is combined. If you prefer a sticky,

candylike glaze, cook, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to bubble. Continue to cook, still stirring, for 1 minute.

Remove glaze from heat.

Slowly spoon warm glaze over cake, allowing it to soak in between spoonfuls. Some of the glaze will inevitably run down the sides of the cake. Sprinkle crushed pistachios over the cake and let it cool for 1 hour before slicing and serving.

EASY BRISKET 1 whole beef brisket (5 to 8 lbs.), trimmed of all fat 24 oz. chili sauce 1 pkg. onion soup mix 1 can ginger beer Place trimmed brisket into a large baking pan.

Mix chili sauce with onion soup mix and ginger beer.

Pour sauce over meat, cover pan with foil.

Cover pan either with a lid or with foil. Roast at 325 degrees for 4 hours, basting every hour. After 4 hours, pull the meat from oven and uncover to let cool a bit. Turn oven down to 225.

After meat has cooled enough to handle, place it on a cutting board fat side up,. Holding a long slicing knife horizontally, slice off the layer of fat and discard. Cut the brisket into quarter-inch thick slices across the grain. The grain on a brisket is very apparent and easy to read. You want to cut across the grain.

Return these slices to the sauce in the pan, making sure they are submerged in liquid. Return pan to oven (now set at 225) for 2 more hours, uncovered.

Leaving it uncovered allows the sauce to thicken into what can be almost as amazing as the meat.

INSTANT POT LENTILS WITH CHICKEN AND SWEET POTATO 2 cups dry lentils 1-2 boneless chicken breasts 2 uncooked sweet potatoes, cubed (approx. 2-3 cups) 2 cups medium salsa Verde 3½ cups chicken broth ½ cup onion, chopped 3 green onions, chopped ½ cup cilantro, chopped 3-4 large garlic cloves, crushed

½ tsp. salt Combine all ingredients in an Instant Pot. Secure lid and set on poultry or beans setting and set timer to 22 minutes.

When timer goes off, you can either leave it alone and let the pressure slowly release or if you need it quickly, you can do a quick release.

Open the lid and remove chicken, shred it using two forks and place back in the pot.

Stir well until everything is evenly combined.

Serve over rice or as a filling for burritos. Can also serve with cheese and sour cream.

GOAT CHEESE QUINOA AND BROCCOLI CASSEROLE IN THE INSTANT POT 2 shallots, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 cup uncooked quinoa 1 cup vegetable stock 2 cups broccoli florets, finely chopped 1 cup spinach, chopped ¼ cup goat cheese, crumbled ¼ cup water Salt and pepper to taste Chili flakes to taste Using the sauté function in the Instant Pot, add some cooking oil of choice. Once hot, add shallots and sauté until translucent, about three minutes.

Add garlic and sauté until fragrant. Turn off the sauté function.

To the pot, add in uncooked quinoa and vegetable stock. Pop on lid, seal and turn pressure cooker to high for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, do a quick release.

Open the lid and pop in broccoli, spinach, goat cheese and water.

Give it a quick stir, and then pop the lid back on and cook on high pressure for one minute.

After one minute, quick release, remove lid and season to taste.

Serve hot as a side or allow to cool, It makes a great quinoa salad.

BROWNFIELD HOUSE WASSAIL BOWL 1 gallon apple cider or apple juice 1 cup packed brown sugar 6 oz. can frozen lemonade 6 oz. can frozen orange juice 1 Tbsp. whole

cloves 1 Tbsp. whole allspice Cinnamon sticks, optional John Emerald Gene’s Spiced Rum Mix cider, sugar, undiluted lemonade, undiluted orange juice and pour into a large pot. Tie cloves, allspice in cheese cloth; add to cider mixture, simmer, covered for about 15 minutes.

Serve hot in punch cups with a cinnamon stick in each cup and a splash of John Emerald Gene’s spiced rum.

LAMB FLATBREAD WITH ZA’ATAR For the dough: 2 tsp. dry active yeast 1 tsp. sugar 1 cup lukewarm water 3 cups “00” flour or all-purpose flour 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 tsp. kosher salt For Toping: Extra-virgin olive oil 1 large onion, diced (about 1 1/2 cups) Kosher salt 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 lb. ground lamb, preferably shoulder meat ½ tsp. black pepper ½ tsp. ground cloves ½ tsp. allspice powder ¼ tsp. cayenne powder ½ tsp. ground cumin ½ tsp. ground coriander ½ tsp. ground cinnamon 1 tsp. sumac powder 1 Tbsp. pomegranate molasses 3 Tbsp. za’atar, combined with 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 8 oz. mild feta or halloumi ¼ cup pine nuts (optional) Parsley leaves, for garnish Mint leaves, for garnish Cilantro leaves, for garnish Make the dough: In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, dissolve yeast and sugar in water. Stir in one cup flour to form a thin batter.

Leave to rest until mixture is bubbly, about 20 minutes.

Add remaining flour, olive oil and salt. Mix until dough comes together, then knead until smooth, about five minutes. The dough should be soft and a bit sticky. Dust lightly with flour as necessary.

Return dough to bowl, cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. (Alternatively, put dough in a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate overnight.)

Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Put 3 Tbsp. olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add onions, season generously with salt and stir to coat. Cook, stirring, until softened and nicely browned,five to seven minutes.

Stir in garlic and cook for one minute more.

Add lamb to skillet and mash into onions with a large spoon until crumbled. Sprinkle with salt, then stir in pepper, clove, allspice, cayenne, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, sumac, and pomegranate molasses. Turn heat to low and stir to combine. Cook for five minutes until meat is just cooked through.

Transfer mixture to a rimmed baking sheet and spread out to cool.

(You will have a bit more lamb filling than you need — it’s good on buttered toast for a cook’s treat.)

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Punch down dough and divide into eight 2 1/2-oz. pieces.

Knead each piece into a ball. Cover with a damp towel and let dough rest 20 to 30 minutes, then roll thinly or stretch each piece into a 6-inch round. Make the dough as thin as possible.

Arrange four rolled-out dough rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush each with a generous amount of za’atar-oil mixture over dough (all the way to the edges or you’ll get a puffed up “lip”).

Make a layer of thinly sliced or crumbled feta, then sprinkle 1/4 cup of cooled lamb mixture over the entire surface.

Sprinkle on a few pine nuts, if using.

Press topping down with the palm of your hand.

Bake four flatbreads at a time, on the upper rack of the oven, for five to eight minutes or until puffed and lightly browned. The dough should still be soft and pliable, not crisp.

Serve hot or at room temperature, garnished with parsley, mint and cilantro leaves, whole or roughly chopped.

For Ginger’s Ciabatta Bread and Homemade Pretzels recipes, email recipes@cipperly.com.

A13 March 10, 2021

B

eatrice Harrison was an accomplished British cellist of the last century whose peak performing years were in the period between the two world wars.

One summer evening in 1924, she was practicing in her garden when she stopped and restarted several times.

The reason? There was a nightingale that began singing along with her — echoing parts of what she had just played. She paused to fully hear its response.

She returned the next evening, and the same thing happened.

It happened the night after that as well. After a while, she decided that more people needed to hear this, and she reached out to a fledging organization known as

Church Calendar • Church of Christ at Cunningham - meeting at their building at 9:30 a.m. for Bible class, 10:30 a.m. for worship, 5 p.m. for evening worship and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

• St. Marys Catholic Church/ St. Michael’s Church SMCC is having Daily Mass on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 a.m. and on weekends they are distributing holy Communion on Sundays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. A Mass is also held on Sundays at 12:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Church over in Auburn. For more information people can call the office at 334-749-8359 or go to the parish website: stmarysopelika.org.

• Union Grove Baptist Church In-person gathering with social distancing. Masks are available.

Sunday worship is at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Wednesday worship is at 6:30 p.m.

Services are streamed live on Facebook — the page is UGBChurch • First Baptist Church Opelika The following are held in-per­son and online on Sundays.

8:30 a.m. Tra­ditional Worship and Message at The Worship Center 9:45 a.m. Sunday School Hour 11 a.m. Contemporary Service at The 3:16 Center 6 p.m. Evening Worship and Message at The Worship Center 6:30 p.m. Church on Chadwick at Chadwick Lane in Auburn To watch services online, go to fb­copelika.­com/­media

The Music of Heaven the BBC. They weren’t completely sold on her proposal initially, but eventually she was able to persuade them to do a radio broadcast from her garden.

The engineers came out and conducted a test run, and everything went well. The broadcast was set up for the next evening. They interrupted their regular programming but for quite some time, it was only Beatrice playing.

Perhaps the production crew made the nightingale anxious. Finally, with fifteen minutes left in the broadcast, it began to sing. The response to the broadcast was overwhelming! They repeated it the following month and every spring for the next dozen years.

Harrison received some 50,000 letters during this

By Bruce Green Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ in Opelika

time.

It’s a fine thing to think about humans and animals interacting in this way. It suggests an overarching harmony among God’s creation that is in keeping with the early chapters of Genesis when Adam named the animals and Noah later gathered them into his ark. These things happened before “the fear and dread” came upon wildlife (Genesis 9:2). Maybe

when the curse is lifted from creation as Paul speaks about in Romans 8, man and animals will revert to what we read about there. If so, the scene that played out with Beatrice Harrison and the nightingale is a foretaste of what is to come.

It also made me think about Jesus praying to God in John 17. It’s a prayer of enormous depth and beauty. Jesus prays about His Father being glorified (v. 1), the work He’s completed in revealing God to the disciples (v. 4, 6-8), for His disciples being protected from the evil one, sanctified in the truth and sent into the world (v. 15-18), the unity of future believers (v. 20-21) and even our final destiny with Him in heaven (v. 24). What

ABOUT BRUCE GREEN

is there to say about such a prayer? Only this: when Jesus prayed, heaven must have sung in response.

Many of us, myself included, have a long way to go in our prayer lives — and we recognize it! But we’re pleased beyond words that we see in Jesus both what God desires us to be and we want to be. We’re so proud of Him and the heroic choices He made at every turn in His life.

Philippians 2:5-11 says that’s why God made Him Lord. We gladly serve Him as our sovereign because He is what we rejoice in and want to be ourselves.

Bruce has written a book on the model pray called Praying in the Reign. It is available through 21st Century Christian.

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

If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. — John 14:23 APOSTOLIC HOLINESS 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 Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506

ANGLICAN Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd 2312 Center Drive Unit D 334-758-6749 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Bridge Church 1000 Lee Road 263, Cusseta 334-742-0144 AME Mount Zion AME Church West Point Hwy 334-749-3916 St. Luke AME Church 1308 Auburn St. 334-749-1690 St. Paul AME Church 713 Powledge Ave. 334-745-6279 Thompson Chapel AME Zion 187 Columbus Pkwy 334-749-8676 BAPTIST Abundant Life Baptist Church 1220 Fox Run Ave. Suite B 706-4421464 Airview Baptist Church 2301 Airport Rd. 334-444-5148 Antioch Baptist Church 605 W. East Morton Ave 334-742-0696 Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St. 334-745-7528 Bethel Baptist Church Hwy. 29 Sasser Rd 334-745-4865 Central Baptist Church 1611 2nd Ave. 334-745-2482 Community Baptist Church 154 N. 16th St. 334-745-6552 Cornerstone Missionary Baptist 500 N. Railroad Ave. 334-742-2008 Eastview Baptist Church 1208 Spring Dr 334-749-9595 Farmville Baptist Church 3607 Alabama Hwy N. 334-887-7361 First Baptist Church of Opelika 314 S. 9th St. 334-745-6143

Church Directory

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

First Baptist Church 301 S. 8th St. 334-745-5715 First Baptist Church Impact 709 Avenue E 334-741-0624 First Freewill Baptist Church 103 19th St. 334-703-3333 Friendship Missionary Baptist 432 Maple Avenue 334-742-0105 Greater Peace Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave. 334-749-9487 Heritage Baptist Church 1103 Glenn St. 334-363-8943 High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 Love Freewill Baptist Church 1113 Frederick Ave. 334-745-2905 Ridge Grove Missionary Baptist Church 1098 Lee Road 155 - 334-745-3600 Northside Baptist Church 3001 Lafayette Hwy 334-745-5340 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Uniroyal Rd 334-749-2773 Purpose Baptist Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #704-0302 St. James Baptist Church 1335 Auburn St. 334-745-3224 Union Grove Missionary Baptist 908 Huguley Rd 334-741-7770 BUDDHIST Buddha Heart Village 3170 Sandhill Rd. 334-821-7238 CATHOLIC St. Mary’s Catholic Church 1000 4th Ave. 334-749-8359 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy 334-742-9721 Southside Church of Christ 405 Carver Ave. 334-745-6015 CHURCH OF GOD

Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika 10th Street Church of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika 334-745-5181 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Changing Hearts of Destiny Ministry 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700 METHODIST Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800 Beulah United Methodist

Airview Church of God 3015 Old Opelika Rd 334-749-9112 Church of God 114 17th Place 334-749-6432 Tabernacle Church of God 3 Oak Court 334-745-7979 CHURCH OF NAZARENE Opelika Church of Nazarene 1500 Bruce Ave. 334-749-1302 EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave. 334-745-2054 HOLINESS Eastside Emmanuel Holiness Church 86 Lee Road 186 JEWISH Beth Shalom Congregation 134 S. Cary Dr. 334-826-1050 LATTERDAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints 510 Groce St. 334-742-9981 METHODIST First United Methodist Church of Opelika 702 Avenue A 334-745-7604 Hopewell United Methodist 1993 Lee Rd 136 334-745-0460 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 8685 AL Hwy. 51 334-749-4469 Pepperell United Methodist 200 26th St. 334-745-9334 Trinity United Methodist Church 800 Second Ave. 334-745-2632 Wesley Memorial United Methodist 2506 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-2841 PENTECOSTAL Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Hwy. 29, PO Box 1691 334-7418675 Gateway Community Church 2715 Frederick Rd 334-745-6926 PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Opelika 900 2nd Ave. 334-745-3421

Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148 St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319 PRESBYTERIAN Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist 1808 S. Long St. 334-749-3151 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Apostolic Holiness Church 610 Canton St. 334-749-6759 Auburn Opelika Korean Church 1800 Rocky Brook Rd 334-7495386 Beauregard Full Gospel Revival 2089 Lee Road 42 334-745-0455 Christ Church International 1311 2nd Ave. 334-745-0832 Fellowship Bible Church 2202 Hamilton Rd 334-749-1445 Ferguson Chapel Church 310 S. 4th St. 334-745-2913 First Assembly of God Church 510 Simmons St. 334- 749-3722 Garden of Gethsemane Fellowship 915 Old Columbus Rd #745-2686 Grace Heritage Church Opelika #559-0846 Holy Deliverance Church 831 S. Railroad 334-749-5682 Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. 334-737-1488 Living Way Ministries 1100 Old Columbus Rd 334-749-6241 Move of God Fellowship Church 1119 Old Columbus Rd 334-7411006 Connect Church 2900 Waverly Pkwy 334-749-3916 New Life Christian Center 2051 West Point Pkwy 334-741-7373 New Life Independent Church 10 Meadowview Estates Trailer 334-741-9001 Opelika’s First Seventh Day 2011 Columbus Pkwy 334-737-3222 Power of Praise, Inc. Church 3811 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-6136 Shady Grove Christian Church West Point Hwy 334-745-7770

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A14 March 10, 2021

OBITUARIES Jean Smith Jean Smith, 76, of Opelika passed away March 5, 2021 at East Alabama Medical Center.

Visitation was held on March 8, 2021 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. A graveside service was held at 1 p.m. on March 9, 2021 at Garden Hills Cemetery.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her husband Jessie Smith; children: Gary (Traci) Smith of Georgia, Cindy (Jeff) Noland of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Karen Baker of Opelika, Renay (Scott) Dillard of Salem, Alabama, and Bobby (Tiffany) Smith of Opelika; along with 26 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild; sister, Sherlene Garrett of Camp Hill, Alabama.

Pallbearers will be: William Armstrong, Jason Armstrong, L. Gary Smith, L. William Armstrong, Jr., David Pritchard, Jeff Noland, Garrett Smith, and Jessie Gann.

Walter LeRoy Bowman Walter LeRoy Bowman, 83, of Opelika, passed away March 4 at his residence. He was born Jan. 17, 1938 to Walter R. “Buzz” and Inez Bowman.

A graveside service was held at 10 a.m., on March 9 at Garden Hills Cemetery.

Mr. Bowman had a love for animals, and was considered a gourmet chef by anyone that was lucky enough to share a meal at his table. Mr. Bowman served in the U.S. Army in Europe in the 1950’s, he also served in the Pacific, Korea, and Okinawa. In 1961 and mid 1962 Mr. Bowman served as an advisor at the Army Reserve in Opelika. He was in maintenance shop repairs at Davis-Dyar, and a professional truck driver.

Mr. Bowman is preceded in death by his wife Margie Bowman.

Mr. Bowman is survived by many close friends here in the Opelika/Auburn

community, along with his adopted family Bennie Gayle Patton, Sharon Patton and Claudia Patton; one step brother, Gary Bowman and family; two Aunts: Mrs. Charles Black and family of Toledo, Illinois; Mrs. Betty Bowman and family of Toledo, Illinois; one Uncle Lowell Freeman of Mattoon, Illinois and a host of coffee drinking friends and acquaintances at Hardees on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.

Lawrence Keith Ferguson It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of our loved one, Lawrence Keith Ferguson, who the Lord took to be with him this day, March 6, 2021.

He was a loving husband, and good considerate person who always entertained a good joke. He enjoyed his life as a truck driver, and he accepted Christ into his life in recent years and was baptized in a small country church but moved his letter to Providence Baptist Church in Lee County, Alabama where he attended Sunday School and Church.

When Covid hit he enjoyed the Live Streaming Service and looked forward to hearing the sermon from his pastor Dr. Rusty Sowell each week.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Billie Annette Ratcliff, and Larry Kenneth Ferguson.

He is survived by his wife, Constance Faith (Ivey) Ferguson; brother, Robbie Smith; sister, Lacrecia Ferguson; cousins, Kerri Talley, Jo Keebler, Janein Keebler; motherin-law, (Mom) Ella Ivey; nephew, Gabe Ivey; in laws, Heywood and Shirley Jerkins, John and Sandra Spivey, Gillis and June Spivey, Harrell and Jane Ivey, Reverend Wayne and Jean Ivey, Judy Ivey, Lester and June Ivey and other nieces and nephews.

Visitation will

talking on the phone with family, and numerous Sunday School friends, who kept each other informed about the latest events in their lives and letting each other know for whom to pray.

She came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ at Southside Baptist Church, shortly after moving to Opelika. She has been a faithful member and supporter of First Baptist Church for many years, and attended regularly until her health began to decline.

May was preceded May Alice Amanda in death by her Oestreich Phipps parents, all her siblings and her husband of 42 years, May Alice Paul.

Amanda Oestreich She is survived Phipps passed away by her seven peacefully at her children, Betty home on March 3, Perry of Huntsville, 2021 in Opelika.

Alabama, Peggy May was born in Stratford, Wisconsin Griffin (Ed) of Pelham, Alabama, on May 5, 1924, to Paul Phipps (Peggy) Henry and Amanda of Lawrenceville, Oestreich. She was Georgia, Dr. the youngest of their seven children Lawrence Phipps and was born in the (Karen) of Gulf beautiful farmhouse Shores, Alabama, Nancy Murphy her father built.

She graduated from of Opelika; Evanston Township Lillian Spivey of Opelika, Charles High School in Phipps (DeeDee) Evanston, Illinois. of Opelika; As a telephone operator in Chicago, grandchildren, Kim Abbott (Darrin), she requested to Rob Selby (Susan), be transferred to Lyn Pierce (Ben); Washington D.C. Dr. Melody to be a telephone Messick (James); operator there Valerie Williams, during World Dr. Catherine War II. While in Perkins, Carol Lyn Washington, she Lathram (John), met her future Rich Perkins; husband, Paul D Mandi Murphy, Phipps, who was Kelly Walls, Erica stationed nearby.

Leach (Matt), Katie They were married Dawson (Clay); in Rossville, Heather Ivancic Georgia, then were (Brian), Lauren stationed at various Finklestein (Tyler); locations until Paul’s Army service Elizabeth Holland (Shannon); Marissa ended.

Phipps (Clay), After Paul Ethan Phipps; and a graduated from nephew she helped the University of raise, Kenneth Tennessee, May Jones of Jackson, and Paul moved Mississippi. She is their growing also survived by 24 family to Opelika so Paul could attend great-grandchildren, seven great-greatAuburn University. grandchildren, and May served as numerous nephews a Safety Patrol and nieces who Officer for Opelika were dearly loved City Schools. She by their Aunt May. worked tirelessly Visitation was as a stay-at-home held on March 6 mom, to take care from 10 to 11 a.m. of her husband and at Frederick-Dean seven children.

Funeral Home in Later in life, she Opelika. went to nursing A Memorial school, then worked was held at the as an orthopaedic gravesite at 11:30 nurse at East a.m. at Garden Alabama Medical Hills Cemetery in Center until her Opelika. retirement. There, The Memorial was she was fondly be officiated by her known as “Mrs. son, Dr. Lawrence May”. She spent her retirement years H. Phipps, pastor be held in Parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home on March 12, 2021 from noon until 12:50 p.m.

A funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home with Reverend Wayne Ivey officiating.

Interment will follow at Providence Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to Providence Baptist Church or leave their condolences on a memorial page.

of First Baptist Church, Gulf Shores, Alabama.

In Lieu of flowers, Mrs. Phipps requested donations be made to Opelika’s First Baptist Church, Children’s Ministry.

Stephen Louis Benson Mr. Benson was born Aug. 13, 1948 in Auburn, Alabama in the Drake Infirmary on Magnolia Avenue on the Auburn University campus.

He was an Auburn resident his entire life and attended the first 12 years of his education at the Samford Ave School which is presently known as the Samford Avenue Middle School.

Steve was a track star in the 440-yard run in high school and was coached by the late Mel Rosen on the AU track team. He graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Business Administration/ Economics in 1973 and then worked at AU for several years with the dawning age of computers in Parker Hale.

Later he worked at several companies in Atlanta, Georgia and San Antonio Texas. Following his father’s death, Steve and his mother cared for each other.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Carl Benson, his mother, Martha and sister, Catherine. He is survived by several cousins including Michael and Elizabeth.

Steve was a gracious, friendly and honest man who later in life enjoyed sitting on a bench in downtown Auburn, drinking coffee with lots of cream and sugar and visiting with friends. He would want to say thank you to his wonderful caretakers at EAMC and Arbor Springs and friends at his safe haven, Ease House.

A graveside service was held at Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery on Samford Avenue, Auburn at 10 a.m. on March 9 with Monsignor Michael Farmer officiating.

Charles Windham Pierce Charles W. Pierce, 84, of Opelika was called home to be with our Lord on March 7, 2021 after a brief battle with Covid-19. He was a proud Air Force Veteran, a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church for over 50 years, worked for Mitchell’s T.V. for many years and was well known in the community. He loved his Opelika Bulldogs and Auburn Tigers.

Charles was preceded in death by his mother Clemmie Zera Pierce, father Asa Franklin Pierce, loving wife of 46 years Willie Ann Parker Pierce; brothers, James M. Pierce, Joseph R. Pierce (Ida), Frank Pierce (Bobby Nell); sisters, Frances Hoffman (Paul) and Julia Clark (Tommy), and grand-daughter Brooke Pierce.

Survivors include daughters, Dana Spraggins (Audie), Sharon Pierce (Vince Messimer); sons, Chuck Pierce (Dayla Williams); James Pierce (Daffny); grandchildren, Laura Strong, Colton Pierce, Cade Pierce (Rachel), William Wiltsie, Kyle Wiltsie, Kaylee Tadlock (Cory), and Jacob Pierce, along with many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be held on March 11, 2021 at 1 p.m. at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Opelika, Alabama, with the Reverend Stacy Lee officiating.

Interment will follow at Garden Hills Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service on March 11 from 11 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to: Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church 2506 Marvyn Parkway Opelika, Alabama 36804.

A15 March 10, 2021

Keep Opelika Beautiful holds Clean Up Weekend Photos by Robert Noles Keep Opelika Beautiful organized a “Clean Up Weekend” last Saturday and Sunday during which several groups picked up litter from and otherwise beautified multiple locations around town.

Master Gardeners cleaned around Shotwell Bridge and the Caroline Dean Wild Flower Trail; the Keep Opelika Beautiful board painted the concrete animals at Monkey Park and pressure washed the cement bridge there; Opelika Elks Lodge #1834 and Boy Scout Troop 218 cleaned up Veterans Parkway; Creekline Trails of Opelika and Keep Opelika Beautiful partnered for a creek cleanup at Waverly Parkway and 280; Girl Scouts cleaned up Shady Park.

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A16 March 10, 2021

COMICS

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

S

S

By D. Mark Mitchell

OHS Boys' and Girls' Soccer earn area wins

T

he Opelika High School Girls and Boys soccer teams won area games against Eufaula on the road last week. The Lady Bulldogs won their second area game of the season 11-1 over Eufaula. Amiya Brown pulled a hat trick; Erica Mathew added two goals; Ana Garcia, Karla Guerra, Cindy Hernandez, Ashley Phatsadavong and Scarlet Posadas scored one goal apiece.

Assisting were: Eleanor Wilson (3), Scarlet Posadas (2), Aimee Alcantara, Brown, Mathew and Abby Noon.

The OHS Boys soccer team beat Eufaula 3-1 last week in a key area contest. George Meyers and Said Rujana scored goals along with a penalty kick by Landon Faison. Luke Roberts had two assists on the night.

Both teams played and hosted Valley on Tuesday night. (The results were not available at press time) OHS plays Russell County Thursday.

TENNIS The Bulldog Netters swept Eufaula and

Central last week in tennis..

The girls beat Central 8-1, with wins

by McTier, Beardon, Yountz, Trotter and Long.

Doubles winners were: McTier/Beardon, Yountz/Gagliano and Tufts/Daffin.

Opelika finished the week with a win over Eufaula, 8-1. Winning matches were: Laney McTier, Laura T Daffin, Allison Beardon, Vera Smith T, Luci Long and Emma Howell.

Doubles winners: Daffin/Beardon, McTier/Long and Emma Hankins/Howell.

The OHS boys swept Central (8-1) and Benjamin Russell (8-1) last week as well.

In the 8-1 win over Eufaula, the Bulldogs earned wins from Mullins, Hudson, Caldwell, Fuller, Walters and Charles Gagliano.

Opelika then went 3-0 in doubles behind wins from Hudson/Caldwell, Fuller/R. Gagliano and Mullins/O'Quinn.

The boys beat Central 8-1 behind single wins from Andrew Hudson, Max CaldSee SPORTS , page B5

INSIDE • OPELIKA SCHOOLS • LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS • COMMUNITY SPORTS

Opelika: March 25 at 4:30 p.m. at 300 Simmons St. Lee County: April 13 at 6 p.m. at 2410 Society Hill Road

Beauregard's Carter moving on after 7 seasons

By Wil Crews sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com

On the Mark

School Board meetings

Beauregard High School Athletic Director and head football coach Rob Carter has reportedly been hired to be the head football coach at Sylacauga High School, according to the Observer’s D. Mark Mitchell.

Carter leaves Beauregard after seven seasons (20142020), posting a 51-27 record. He finished 29-13 in Region games and 9-3 in the playoffs. The pinnacle of Carter’s time with Beauregard was undoubtedly the 2016 season, in which his Hornets achieved the program’s first

ever 13-win season on their way to winning the AHSAA 5A State Championship.

Since then, the program has been in steady decline, losing in the third round of the 2017 playoffs, the second round of the 2018

playoffs and missing the playoffs in each of the past two years. This year, the Hornets finished 4-6, having been outscored 155-300 while going 2-4 in the area.

Carter replaces former coach Andrew Zow, who resigned in

January after one season at the helm for the Aggies.

The Observer reached out to Beauregard High School for more information but did not receive a quote.

This is a developing story.

Photo by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer

Photo by Olympic medalist and Opelika Swim Team coach Tyler McGill Max Stern, a third-grader at Wrights Mill Elementary School in Auburn, broke the SE Championship record that had stood since 2004 in the 50m breaststroke last weekend.

B2 March 10, 2021

Panthers' three wins come at high cost

By JD McCarthy for the Opelika Observer

In a grueling six-day stretch, the Smiths Station boys’ soccer team came away with three wins in three days and is now focused on its looming matchup with Auburn High.

“We’re better than we were, but we are not where we need to be, by any means,” head coach Jeff Carrero said of his team’s play.

After suffering a 4-1 loss to Northside last Monday, the Panthers responded with wins against Central-Phenix City, Saint James and Guntersville to improve to 5-2-2 on the season.

Ahead of the Thursday matchup with area rival Central, Carrero was worried with how his team would handle the Red Devils.

“It was great; I was definitely worried. I knew they were big and were fast and that has been the recipe for disaster for us.”

Despite being banged up, his team put those worries to bed with a dominant 6-1 victory to pick up its first area game of the season.

To counter the Red Devils’ athleticism, his team focused on “playing the whole field, playing the ball out wide as we can.”

Smiths took an early 1-0 lead thanks to the first of three goals from Tyler Suggs. After Central tied the game up, Brandon Downey “drilled a beautiful shot” into the corner of the goal to wake the team up. Smiths took a 3-1 lead into the second half and was able to play some freshmen to rest injured players at the end of the game.

“We’re just taking a better shot selection and just finishing better,” Carrero said. “We were trying to score so hard we were making it hard.”

After starting the season slow, the offense has started to come awake, but now needs to become more consistent.

“I’m looking for us to be consistent, work the ball to the outside, move it in and out, change the point of attack,” Carrero said. “Then when we get down there, make the nice easy finish, just direct it into the goal, not slaughter it.”

One of the keys of

No. 17 Tyler Suggs scored a hat trick for Smiths Station against Central on March 4.

Photo by Josh Fisher / For the Opelika Observer the offense has been the play of Suggs, who recently received his first scholarship offer from Andrews College in Cuthbert, Georgia.

“He’s worked hard for it; he’s deserving,” Carrero stated. “He’s worked hard with his grades and worked hard at soccer.”

The offense started slow against Saint James and Guntersville but came alive in the second halves to earn both wins.

The Panthers' nor-

mally stout defense made a couple of errors against Saint James, and they entered the half down 0-2. However, the Panthers defense returned to form in the second half and scored four unanswered goals to pick up the win.

They needed another strong second half performance on Saturday to earn the 3-1 victory.

They were tied 1-1 at half before Suggs scored his second goal to give them a 2-1 lead

before they added on another goal.

“This was our fourth game in six days, and it showed physically but not mentally,” Carrero said. “These games were good but came with a high cost.”

In fact, the Panthers, who already have a small roster, are so injured they won’t be able to play their game against Dothan on Wednesday.

“We know that Central and Auburn are our

emphasis, and we are not going to do anything to risk those,” Carrero said.

Smiths Station and Auburn have both won their lone area games and know both of their matchups will go a long way in determining who wins the area.

“Our new focus is Auburn High,” Carrero said. "With Auburn High in 10 days, we have to heal up and be at 100% to be able to compete at their level.”

Lee-Scott eying return to state championship game

By JD McCarthy for the Opelika Observer

The Lee-Scott Warriors came into the season thinking they may be entering a rebuilding year but are now looking to make it to the state championship.

“Going into the season it was finish in the top two (of the area) and make the Final Four and now it’s legitimately make the state championship game,” Head Coach Missy Martin said.

Coming into the year Martin knew she would have “a new roster” coming

off of a long break but new leaders have emerged, and the expectations have raised.

“They have turned it on, they are playing as a team, the team chemistry is fantastic, they are a good group of kids and I am excited,” she said.

The new roster has just two seniors after the Warriors graduated 11 players last season but has quickly come together under the leadership of Seth Roarke, Jackson Curry and Brandon “Oak” Wiersma.

Along with the leadership, the strong play of Roarks,

Wiersma and Austin Duff in the midfield has propelled the Warriors to a 6-2 record.

The offensive attack for the Warriors has been shouldered

by Duff and Austin Marlin who have combined for 15 of the team’s 30 goals.

Duff, who plays the striker for the team, is a transfer from Auburn who joined the team in December and has wasted no time showing any Martin and her staff were excited to have him join the team. Leading the team with eight goals and has scored in

five of their games including a four-goal performance against Fort Dale.

“We were super excited to have him.

He has brought speed up to the top and he is fantastic,” Martin said. “He’s just a good finisher, he puts pressure on the back line.”

He has so much speed the coach of Heritage told Martin he changed his defense because he did not think he had anyone who could keep up with him, even though Duff did not score.

Marlin, who is just a sophomore, has

matched him nearly goal for goal, scoring seven of his own from his midfield position. “His technical skills and speed are very, very good,” Martin said. “He can pull the trigger pretty quickly and yeah, he’s scored a lot of goals.”

One of the keys of the team’s success has been their commitment to retaining possession. Martin and her staff have prioritized quick, shorter passes over longer, f lashier passes.

“It’s really tempting to send long balls, it looks easy,” Martin

said. The problem?

They only retain possession on them 10% of the time, which is why they are instead emphasizing Quick, 15-to-20yard passes with “limited touches.”

“We’ve really looked and focused on retaining possession through the midfield,” she explained.

“We’re asking the boys to keep their touch limit to two to three touches then find a 15 to 20-yard pass, regardless of direction.” How often do they retain possession on these? About See LEE-SCOTT, page B4

B3 March 10, 2021

Life lessons learned from nature

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

Y

ay! Spring is bursting and young children welcome the sunshine and being able to play outside. God gives us beautiful nature lessons for children and families to explore.

Children love to observe in order to fulfill their curiosity.

Spring break is here for Auburn this week and Opelika next week, so families have time to explore right outside their front doors. Too, we as a community are so blessed to have beautiful, breathtaking spring flowers to celebrate the arrival of the new season as we leave winter behind.

A lesson that young children quickly pick up on is what Jesus teaches us in Luke 12:27 (KJV): “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they

toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” This teaches young children and adults not to worry about little things such as what we will eat or wear. God takes care of us!

One science project my class enjoyed each and every year was ordering butterfly kits, which we used to observe the stages of the life cycle of the butterfly: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Inside the chrysalis, so many things are happening that by naked eye we cannot see, but God sees all.

This past year, with losses we all have experienced with friends and families, I can personally identify and empathize when we have to enter God’s chrysalis

or cocoon of healing.

God will meet you in the cocoon to love you (2 Corinthians 1:3); to carry you because God sees the trouble of the afflicted (Psalm 10:14a); and you can “pour out your heart to Him” (Psalm 62:8) as you talk about your hurts to our Heavenly Father. It takes time for a caterpillar to change into a beautiful butterfly. Just like the change inside the chrysalis takes time and is gradual, so is healing of the heart and spirit after loss of a loved one. This healing gives way to a beautiful butterfly of hope.

Another insect that provides so many valuable life lessons is the ant. We do have to practice common sense safety interacting with ants. Young children need to understand that they are only to observe the ant colonies.

Purchasing inexpensive magnifying glasses at the dollar store is a real plus. Too, putting out small crumbs of sandwich meat invites the ants to work hard in getting the food to their colony. Point out to your young child that ants are insects with six legs and three body segments. Show them that the large ant is the queen ant. Talk about how the tunnels the ants are making are like rooms in their homes.

Compare the different jobs the ants are doing to jobs or responsibilities your child can do in

your family.

The character traits that young children learn from observing ants are spelled out in the Bible in Proverbs 6:6-8.

Ants work so hard.

Children like to be on a schedule and routine as they engage in projects and activities that they enjoy. Ants are self-starters and so are children.

Ants work busily, and they cooperate with each other. What a wonderful lesson to point out in teaching your children to get along with others.

Ants work so very hard in the summer as they prepare for the winter. Ants provide our children a lesson on how to plan ahead in getting chores done.

During spring break, your child will love looking for doodlebugs.

Young children from toddlers on up absolutely love bending down to look for doodlebugs.

This activity teaches us a lesson of patience.

When I take my class of little folks out to the playground, we look for little clearly defined circles where we know doodlebugs reside. They are called doodlebugs because this little animal makes a track that zigzags in every direction as it crawls across the dry sand looking for a place to dig its pit.

The children and I carefully slip down a long piece of pine straw into the hole, keep it down in

the hole for a few minutes and gently pull the pine straw up. It’s like going fishing. At the end of the piece of pine straw you will be pleasantly surprised to see a little doodlebug curled up at the end. After taking a few minutes to observe, gently lower the doodlebug back down into its hole on the piece of pine straw. This is so fascinating to little ones and even to us grownups. This is a wonderful family science activity.

Continuing on with bugs, I am personally a big fan of ladybugs.

I have used pictures of ladybugs to decorate my spring bulletin boards. Here are a few fascinating facts about ladybugs: There are 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs worldwide; 400 are in North America.

Female ladybugs will lay more than 1,000 eggs during their lives.

Ladybugs beat their wings 85 times a second when they fly.

Ladybugs chew from side to side, not up and down like we do.

Ladybugs protect themselves by making a chemical that smells and tastes terrible so that birds and other animals that might prey on them stay away.

My late husband and I loved to plant gardens up at a local nursing home we lived near.

The residents in skilled care were able to enjoy the summer activities of tending a courtyard

garden with many different vegetables. The residents could tend to the garden in their wheelchairs and walkers. One special gift my husband ordered for the residents were containers of ladybugs to eat the aphids off the vegetables. The day we were supposed to do a Ladybug Flying Celebration for the residents, my husband suddenly passed away from cardiac arrest.

On the evening of the day he passed away our precious church youth group did the Ladybug Celebration party as the youth and residents came together to honor my husband’s triumphant entrance into heaven.

My husband’s wishes would have been to go right ahead and do this celebration. His favorite verse, which he quoted all the time, was 1 Corinthians 2:9: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

During this season of spring, we can teach our young children that God gives us such a beautiful world. Too, He gives us the gifts of seasons as He provides His world of nature to teach our children that they are truly loved. Happy Spring Holidays, everyone!

Beth Pinyerd, Classroom Observer

Beulah Softball finishes second in Valley Tournament

By JD McCarthy for the Opelika Observer

When Stan Pepper made Beulah’s softball schedule, he knew their record likely would not reflect how good his team is. This may sound like classic coach speak, but in this case, it doesn’t ring hollow.

Of the Lady Bobcats first 15 games only three have come against

other 3A teams and eight have come against 6 or 7A programs. So, while their 5-10 record may not look great, the 2-1 record against other 3A opponents is what you should pay attention to.

“It shows them that when we play teams that are in 3A we are going to have success and that’s all that’s important, playing 3A

teams and beating 3A teams, being competitive in 3A,” Pepper said. “Stepping up and playing 5A, 6A or 7A teams helps us prepare for that.”

The Lady Bobcats showed that on Thursday when they travelled to Notasulga and dispatched Reeltown 11-1 behind a dominant performance from Brandy Phillips to

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pick up their first region win of the season.

Phillips did it all for the Lady Bobcats, allowing just one unearned run in six innings and struck out 12 batters to just three hits.

Her stellar work wasn’t limited to the circle either, as she went 3-for-4 with a home run, one RBI and two runs.

Phillips wasn’t the only Lady Bobcat to have

a big game offensively, as Abrianna Green had a home run and two triples.

The two area foes faced off again Saturday in the Valley Tournament and Beulah once again cruised to a victory, winning 10-3.

Phillips once again asserted her dominance, pitching four innings in relief and allowing one unearned run and

striking out four. She also went 3-of-4 at the plate with a home run and three RBI. Anna Grey and Katie Morris each had three hits as Morris belted her second home run of the season.

This was the first weekend Pepper was able to rely on Phillips in the circle as she was See BEULAH, page B4

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B4 March 10, 2021

Akingbola selected to SEC Community Service Team Courtesy of Cody Voga / AU Athletics

Auburn center Babatunde “Stretch” Akingbola has been named to the Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Community Service Team, the league office announced last Thursday.

The Ogun, Nigeria native has used his infectious outgoing personality to be a great teammate and ambassador for Auburn University.

In just his second year on campus, Akingbola has been involved in a variety of community service projects.

He has been a mentor for students at nearby Drake Middle School and has read to children in the surrounding area at Cary Woods Elementary and Ogletree Elementary.

Akingbola has also participated in an encouragement zoom with Our House - an after-school ministry that provides a Christ-centered, home environment in which children can grow spiritually, academically and socially.

He also visited with and provided encouragement to children with serious illnesses at Children’s Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham.

Akingbola has also assisted with the SAAC annual food and toiletry drives.

On the court, Akingbola has played in every game this season and is averaging 1.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting 48% from the floor. The sophomore is third on the team with 25 blocks and 35 offensive rebounds.

Akingbola rises for a dunk in pre-game workouts. Photo courtesy of AU Athletics

Auburn announces women’s basketball coaching change Contributed by Kirk Sampson / AU Athletics

Coach Williams-Flournoy coaches her team from the sideline against Arkansas on Feb. 25. Photo by Shanna Lockwood / AU Athletics

Auburn Director of Athletics Allen Greene announced a leadership change for the Auburn women’s basketball program last Thursday as Terri WilliamsFlournoy will no longer lead the program.

In nine years, WilliamsFlournoy compiled a 140138 record including a 48-96 mark in Southeastern Conference play. WilliamsFlournoy led Auburn to NCAA Tournament appearances three times in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

“This year was full of unexpected challenges. Coach Flo, her staff and our student-athletes should be commended for their attitude and effort in the face of disruption and adversity,” Greene said.

“Our women’s basketball program under Coach Flo’s leadership consistently represented Auburn with class on

and off the court, and we are grateful for her nine years of dedicated service to our student-athletes and the Auburn Family. We wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have served Auburn University and the women’s basketball program for the past nine seasons,” Williams-Flournoy said.

“It was a great honor and privilege and an experience I will cherish. I will forever be appreciative of our staff and student-athletes during our tenure and the way each represented Auburn with class and dignity. As a change in leadership was determined, I would like to thank President Gogue and Allen Greene for their trust in my leadership over my time here. Auburn will always hold a special place in my heart.”

A national search for her replacement will begin immediately.

Sharife Cooper voted to SEC All-Freshman Team Contributed by Cody Voga / AU Athletics

Auburn point guard Sharife Cooper was selected to the Southeastern Conference AllFreshman Team through voting by the Southeastern Conference coaches, the league office announced Tuesday.

Cooper is the 17th Tiger freshman to be named to the annual team and the third under head coach Bruce Pearl, joining Isaac Okoro (2020) and Mustapha Heron (2017).

In 12 games, the Powder Springs, Georgia, native averaged a team-best 20.2 points and 8.1 assists per game in addition to his 4.3 rebounds per tilt.

Cooper scored or assisted on 471 of Auburn’s 996 points (47.2%) when he was in the

lineup.

Cooper was one of three freshmen in the nation with five games of 25 or more points at the conclusion of the regular season. He tied with Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham for second with five behind only LSU’s Cameron Thomas, who had 14.

His 97 assists in just 12 games vaulted him to third in the SEC. While he ranks ninth in total assists among freshmen nationally, his 8.1 assists per game was third-best among all players in the entire country.

Cooper had three points-assists double-doubles on the season and has three of the four such occurrences by an Auburn freshman since the assist became an official NCAA statistic prior to the 198384 season.

Cooper after a shot against the Georgia Bulldogs on Feb. 2. Photo by Todd Van Emst / AU Athletics

B5 March 10, 2021

Beulah rocks Reeltown 11-1

Photos by Josh Fisher / For the Opelika Observer

SPORTS >>

FROM B1

well, Will Fuller, Jake Walters and C. Glagliano. Doubles winners: Hudson/Caldwell, Fuller/R Gagliano and Mullins/O'Quinn.

BASEBALL The Opelika High Baseball team played five games last week, winning two and losing three.

The Bulldogs lost the two-game series with Auburn, losing 10-0 at Bulldog Park and 7-2 at AHS. OHS then participated in a tournament in Troy over the weekend. Opelika beat Ariton 8-5 and lost to Prattville (4-3) and

BEULAH>>

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limited by elbow tendonitis last weekend.

“She pitched well this weekend,” Pepper said.

“We managed that situation well and that’s not going to go away any time soon.”

Her return gives the Lady Bobcats two pitchers in Phillips and Morris who can shut down an opponent.

“They are both pitching really well and as long as they are doing that we will be in every game,” Pepper said of the duo.

Following the win Beulah was once again faced a larger school, falling 5-3 to Smiths Station.

Morris was in the

Pike Road (1-4).

In the close affair with Prattville, the Lions scored two runs in the first and fifth innings, securing the 4-3 win. Brantley Davis pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out three. Julian Duke and Brooks Bryan led at the plate with two hits apiece.

In the game against Pike Road, Opelika’s opponents scored two runs in the first and fifth innings off of four hits. Jackson Harris pitched 3 and 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and two runs.

Paul Goodman pitched the remainder of the game, yielding two runs on three hits. Ju-

lian Duke continued to lead OHS on offense, recording three hits in three plate appearances.

The Dogs beat Ariton, 8-5, behind eight hits. Brooks Bryan, KyDylian Ligon and JT McArdle led the offense with two hits apiece. Jacob Smith and Bryce Speakman added singles. Jonathan Chase earned the win, pitching one inning of shutout baseball, which included one strikeout.

OMS SOFTBALL The Opelika Middle School steam finished second in the Lake Martin Tournament. The Lady Softball team beat Dadeville and Alex

City twice prior to losing the Championship game to Prattville. Offensively, Kennedy Soltau and Jade Jones recorded seven hits apiece over the three games.

Jancyn Thompson, Stella George and Cilyn Morgan added four hits each along with Jasmine Smith and Katie Harrelson, who added three hits each. Katie Harrelson struck out 13 batters, and Jade Jones added six strikeouts in the circle.

OMS then swept a doubleheader against Dadeville, 11-4 and 12-3. OMS recorded 23 total hits in the two games, including five hits from Kennedy

circle for Beulah and took the loss after allowing five runs, three earned, in four innings.

“Katie pitched really well too, she just had a little bit stiffer competition vs Smiths Station,” Pepper said.

The Lady Bobcats rebounded with an 8-0 victory over Valley. Phillips threw another gem, allowing just one hit in six innings of work and striking out eight batters.

Her good play once again carried over to the plate where she went 2-4 with a home run, double and a RBI. With the win Beulah advanced to the championship game for a rematch with Smiths Station.

With the championship on the line, Smiths Station struck the first

blow, scoring four runs in the bottom of the third.

Beulah responded with four runs of their own to tie it up at four. However, the tie did not hold as Smiths Station scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a commanding 7-4 lead.

“I’d have liked to been 4-0, but you’re not going to win them all,” Pepper said.

While Phillips leads the team in essentially every offensive category, Kassidy Kirby and Green have emerged as key contributors in a lineup that looks to come out aggressive to open games.

“We feel like if we can get a run or two early with our pitching then we are going to have a chance to win, so we try to get real aggressive in the early innings and let

the pitching take over,” Pepper said of his team’s offence.

The weekend was a good performance for the Lady Bobcats, but they are now focused on their matchups with Opelika and Dadeville this week as they continue to get better every day.

Pepper expects the game with Dadeville, another region opponent to be a good test for his girls as they look to knock Beulah off their perch atop the area rankings.

“Were comfortable right now where we are” Pepper said. “We are getting better offensively and defensively but we don’t want to be peeking now, but we want to be working towards our peek in May.”

Soltau, four hits from Emily Birmingham and three hits from Stella George, Jones and Jancyn Thompson. Jones and Harrelson earned the wins in the circle. The two combined to strike out 15 batters.

Most recently, Tallassee beat OMS 11-5 in a tough night for the Lady Bulldogs.

The offense left seven runners on base despite Emily Birmingham's two hits.

OPELIKA DIXIE BOYS BASEBALL REGISTRATION FOR 13-14-15 YEAR OLDS Anyone ages 13 through 15 can register to play Dixie Boys baseball begin-

LEE-SCOTT >>

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85% of the time.

Of the 11 players they lost, one was the goalkeeper, and Martin was left with two sophomores who each had only played one and a half games worth of game experience.

However, Jacob Baker and Brendan Moore have both put in the work and have allowed just 12 goals in the eight games.

“They put in the extra time, Martin said. “They are both doing a fantastic job. Finding a new goalkeeper was a big get.”

It hasn’t just

ning March 29 at the Opelika Sportsplex.

Registration continues through April 16. The cost to play is $45.00 for Opelika residents and $50 for non-Opelika residents. Registration fee covers your jersey and cap. All players will be placed on a team. For more info, email D. Mark Mitchell at foxonthemark@yahoo.com or call 334-787-1514 D. Mark Mitchell is the Sports Director at IHeartMedia, host of "On The Mark" on Fox Sports the Game 910-1310, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director. been sophomores and juniors stepping up either, as a trio of freshmen have emerged as contributors.

“Matthew Rolader had a hat trick against Autauga,” Martin said. “Ethan Kim, Landon DeGraffenried and Johnathan Meyers have stepped in as freshman and have really had to contribute at any position I’ve asked them to play.”

While the Warriors may be relying on some young players, they are playing beyond their years and are hoping to win the last two AISA stats champions after winning in 2019.

B6 March 10, 2021

OHS Tennis players take on Central

Photos by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer

Pickleball players flood Opelika for 'Paddles at the Plex'

Photos by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics

B7

March 10, 2021

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Inside the Statehouse

Birmingham’s Political Inside Man

H

istorically, political power in the state has rested in the rural counties. Birmingham has been the home of the “Big Mules,” where the money that fueled the gubernatorial campaigns came from, but very few Birmingham politicians have ascended to governor or U.S. senator. Counties like Barbour and Cullman have been where governors are bred, not imperial Jefferson.

Indeed, the small-town boys that ran for governor would demagogue and make fun of and run against the “Big Mules” of the Magic City, especially the village of Mountain Brook.

Therefore, the legendary king makers in the state were the probate judges in the rural counties throughout the Heart of Dixie.

The giants of Alabama political lore, Big Jim Folsom, and George Wallace won their races in the rural counties. They would run against the “got rocks,” “Big Mules” and silk-stocking Mountain Brook and Over the Mountain elite, so it was not surprising that Wallace nor Big Jim ever carried Jefferson County.

Business, not politics, prevailed in Jefferson County. Therefore, Birmingham did not yield as many inside political men as might be expected of the major city of the state. However, there has been one go to political kingmaker in Birmingham in my generation. Joe Fuller has been the go-to man to see in the Magic City, especially in Republican primaries.

Fuller was proudly born and raised in Birmingham and knows the city like the back of his hand. Fuller has been a successful, independent insurance agent his entire career, and has led the Alabama Independent Insurance Agents Association for decades.

He began his civic political involvement in his 20’s through the legendary Birmingham Jaycees. He, like a good many of Birmingham’s civic and political leaders, cut their teeth in the Birmingham Jaycees.

This group were the original founders of Birmingham’s Legion Field. The Birmingham Jaycees were the training ground for the leaders of the city.

Some of Fuller’s contemporaries in the 1960s and early ‘70s were Fox DeFuniak, J. Mason Davis, David Wheeler, Julian Smith, George McMillan and George Siebels.

The Birmingham Jaycees became the springboard for Siebels to be elected mayor of Birmingham in 1965. Fuller was instrumental in helping to orchestrate Siebel’s victo-

City honors Brandon Taylor for heroism

By Michelle Key Publisher

During last week’s city council meeting,

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and the council honored Opelika resident, Brandon Taylor for his heroic actions

STEVE FLOWERS ry. Thus, began Fuller’s reign as the kingmaker of Birmingham politics.

Fuller would start candidates off in his stately home on top of a hill in the historic Redmont neighborhood in Birmingham. He would have a gathering of 20 to 30 at an elegant meal, which he primarily prepared.

His first major horse he bet on was McMillan. He helped McMillan get elected to the legislature and then helped mastermind McMillan’s historical upset of State Senator George Lewis Bailes. He then helped manage his successful run for Lt. Governor and then saw him almost beat George Wallace for governor in 1982.

It has been my honor and privilege to have known Fuller for almost 40 years and have had the opportunity to be invited to his great political gatherings over those years. I have watched him as he helped launch the career of Birmingham Congressman Spencer Bachus, who served in the legislature before serving in Congress 20 years.

Fuller was extremely close to legendary State Representative John Hawkins. He has been a loyal supporter of iconic state sen. John Waggoner over all of his almost five decades in the state legislature.

Fuller has been and was one of early supporters of my great friend and legislative colleague, Mike Hill. Hill served three decades in the House from Shelby County and is now the State Banking Commissioner.

Fuller has been close to another longtime veteran state legislator, Jim Carnes. Carnes has been at almost all of Fuller’s political dinner parties as he helped launch the political careers of legislators Paul DeMarco, David Wheeler and Dan Roberts. Fuller was instrumental in the election of State

during the recent Pinehurst Apartment fire.

Taylor helped Meredith Smith and her children escape the flames by assisting they as them jumped from a second story window.

“Great job, Brandon, that’s the kind of people we like in our community, coming to assist our friends and neighbors, [you’re] doing a great job,” Opelika’s Interim Fire Chief James Morgan said.

Taylor was awarded a certificate of bravSee OPELIKA, page B9

Response to citizens

By Hannah Lester hlester@ opelikaobserver.com

The Auburn City Council discussed how the council responds to citizens during its committee of the whole meeting on March 2.

“Our stated procedures for a regular council meeting, they end with the, after ordinances and resolutions and other business, then we have

citizens open forum, then we have an immediate adjournment after that,” Griswold said.

Griswold said part of his concerns stemmed from response from constituents.

“A constituent approached me and said that leaves the impression that we don’t really care about what the public has had to say to us during that period of time or that we really don’t want

to provide them an answer,” he said.

Auburn Mayor Ron Anders said that anyone on the council can respond if they so choose and that the city manager can follow up with the citizens too.

Sometimes the council and staff are not ready to answer questions the night of council, Anders said.

Griswold said that See CITIZENS, page B9

See FLOWERS, page B9

NOW OPEN

Indoor shooting range is open to the public

2195 FIRST AVENUE • OPELIKA

B8 March 10, 2021

Character in Action awards given by Judge Mike Fellows Contributed by the office of Judge Fellows

Character in Action is a program sponsored by the Family Court of Lee County that recognizes children from Lee County who, by their own actions, make a positive contribution that is above and beyond normal expectations to their home, school or community.

Receiving awards from Judge Mike Fellows are: Thompson Farnell, Natalia Bello, Nandini Reddy and Kounte Hampton Threadgill Jr. Thompson Farnell (parents: Tommy and Whitney Farnell), Auburn Early Education Center, nominated by Kelly Pugh: Thompson makes a point every day to help students in need in his classroom.

He looks out for his friends and makes sure

they feel safe and loved.

Thompson is one of a kind and loves unconditionally no matter what.

Natalia Bello (parents: Maribel Infante and Rene Bello), Cary Woods Elementary, nominated by Maegan Keel: on Dec. 17, 2020, Ms. Maegan Keel walked down the hall with Natalia Bello.

Another teacher was sitting on the floor outside her classroom with a student. The student was new to Cary Woods and does not speak English. Something had obviously upset the student, but she was unable to communicate with the teacher what was troubling her.

Ms. Keel looked down at Natalia and asked her if she thought she could translate. Natalia, who is normally very quiet and reserved, nodded in agreement. Natalia translated between the

student and the teacher. She was kind and patient with the other student and helpful and courteous with the teacher. Natalia spent several minutes in the hallway helping the teacher understand this student’s needs.

Without Natalia’s brave and compassionate actions, the student would not have been able to receive the help she needed. Ms. Keel was so proud of her for doing something that is ordinarily hard for her.

Natalia was a hero in the hallway that day!

Nandini Reddy (parents: Kamala Bommareddy and Bouyella Reddy), Auburn High school, nominated by Beth Antoine: Nandini is a co-president of the student diversity council at Auburn High School.

She works every day on behalf of all students,

Pictured above from left to right are Kounte Hampton Threadgill Jr., Thompson Farnell, Nandini Reddy, Natalia Bello and Fellows.

especially those who have experienced bullying, bias, marginalization or all three. She is a friend to all and gives everyone a voice, which is why she is such a respected and appreciated leader.

Kounte Hampton

Threadgill Jr. (parents: Amber and Kounte Threadgill), Auburn Junior High, nominated by Liz Kenemer: Kounte displayed quick thinking and extraordinary bravery in rescuing his four younger siblings from a house

fire on Aug. 26, 2020.

Such incredible character and action exemplify what the Character in Action recognition is all about. Auburn Junior High School is extremely proud of Kounte and proudly nominates him.

Commission approves EMA expansion bid

By Hannah Lester hlester@ opelikaobserver.com

The Lee County Commission met Monday night and approved a bid for the expansion of the of the Lee County Emergency Management Agency.

The commission approved a bid with Whatley Construction, LLC for $1,971,629 for the addition of a second floor for the EMA Operations Center.

“We’re very excited; our entire team is very excited,” said EMA Director Rita Smith.

“It’s long overdue; we’ve outgrown it leaps and bounds.”

The second floor will include administrative

offices, an operations room and restrooms.

“It’s just going to be another blessing, another blessing for our agency to look when you see our building in the future and see that the professional that we already are, you see the building that matches it,” Smith said. “Super happy that our commission voted for that and super happy that Mr. Rendleman had the vision for it.”

ADECA CDBG-CV Resolution: The county passed a resolution allowing the county to apply for funds through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Community

Development Block Grant Program.

The program will provide funds for COVID-19 recovery efforts in Lee County if approved.

Governmental Relations/Safety Coordinator Wendy Swann recently approached the commission with potential projects for the county if awarded the funding, including aid for the Alabama Rural Ministry and the East Alabama Food Bank.

The county worked with the city of Smiths Station and the LeeRussell Council of Governments to determine where the money should be used.

“These projects

include rental and utility assistance administered through an agreement with Alabama Rural Ministries, additional funding support for the East Alabama Food Bank and the possibility of a mobile vaccination clinic,” said a memorandum from Swann to the commission before the Feb. 8 meeting.

There is $500,000 that has been approved through the grant.

Ten percent would be used administratively through ARM or the Lee-Russell Council of Governments, Swann said on Feb. 8.

The funding would only be applied to residents in unincorporated Lee County, Swann

said, not Auburn or Opelika.

The funding was already allocated to the county, said the county’s e-packet for March 8, but the application must still be submitted.

Other Business: The commission approved an appraisal budget adjustment request to hire a chief appraiser.

The commission approved a speed limit reduction for Sedona Ridge Subdivision.

The commission approved a final plot approval for Mill Creek Landings.

The commission approved a fixed asset threshold amount for county assets,

increased to $3,000.

The commission approved seven positions to be added to the Lee County Commission’s Classified Personnel System including, Sheriff Office Training Officer, Deputy Sheriff - K9 Officer, Benefits and Personnel Coordinator, Corrections Work Release Officer, Corrections Booking Officer. Purchasing Fiscal Agent and Procurement and Payables Specialist.

For more information on the positions and their pay grade assignments, see the county’s e-packet on the county website.

Opelika considers requiring registration of rental properties

By Michelle Key Publisher

A proposed ordinance to adopt a registration and inspection program for residential rental properties in Opelika was the main topic during last week’s city council work session. The proposed ordinance would require owners of residential rental property to register the properties with the city and allow inspections of said properties to ensure that all residential rental properties are in compliance with the International Property Maintenance Code.

According to the document, “The City of Opelika now seeks to adopt regulations of the type approved by the Attorney General to provide for the safety and preserve the health of persons residing in rental

housing.”

The Purpose The purpose of this article is to ensure that rental housing in the City is maintained in a good, safe and sanitary condition and does not create a nuisance or blighted condition to its surroundings; to protect the character and stability of residential areas; to identify the existence of substandard residential rental properties; to correct and prevent housing conditions that adversely affect the safety, general welfare and health of the residents; to preserve the value of land and structures throughout the City of Opelika; to provide certain minimum housing standards necessary to the health and safety of residents; and to enhance the quality of life of residents of the City living in residential rental units.

With respect to rental disputes, it is not the intent of the City of Opelika to intrude upon contractual relationships between tenant and landlord. The City of Opelika does not intend to intervene as an advocate for either party, nor to be receptive to complaints between tenants and landlords which are not specifically and clearly relevant to the provisions of this article.

In the absence of such relevancy with regard to rental disputes, it is intended that the contracting parties exercise such legal remedies as are available to them without the intervention of the city of Opelika.

Scope This ordinance would apply to all residential rental dwelling units located within the City of Opelika and would including the parking lots,

driveways, landscaping, accessory structures, fences, walls, interior and exterior common areas of said properties. It would not apply to - hotels, , motels, inns, tourist homes - accommodations in hospitals, state licensed group homes, any facilities occupied exclusively by members of a religious order; licensed nursing homes, licensed extended medical care facilities; licensed assisted living facilities, asylums or on-campus housing accommodations owned, operated or managed by an institution of higher education - Owner or manager occupied rental units - Rental units that are owned, operated or managed by a governmental agency other than the city or which are exempt from municipal regulation

pursuant to state or federal law or regulations, but only so long as such government ownership, operations or management or exemption from municipal regulation continues in effect - Public Housing Units owned or administered by the Housing Authority of the city of Opelika - Section 8 rental units whose vouchers are administered by the Housing Authority of the city of Opelika - Owner occupied condominium and townhouse units - Emergency or temporary shelter or transitional housing accommodations and = Units unavailable for rent.

Registration and Inspections If adopted, the ordinance would not go in affect until Jan. 1 2022 and

rental real estate owners would be required to register their rental properties with the city prior to that date. After Jan. 1, 2022, it would become “unlawful for any owner, as defined herein, to lease or operate a residential rental property without registering it with the city and complying with the provisions of this article.

All existing residential rental units must be registered with the City on or before January 1, 2022, but not before October 1, 2021. The registration of residential rental properties required herein shall expire on the 31st day of December of each year thereafter.”

Applications for registration would be handled by the building inspection department and would cost $5 per property.

Registered properties See OPELIKA, page B11

B9 March 10, 2021

Amidst a pandemic, searching for happy medium in minimum wage debate

A

n oft-misunderstood aspect of any federal minimum wage debate is how vulnerable small businesses are. Bereft of the resources of corporations, “Mom and Pop” stores have little wiggle room when combating new laws, government fiat or fickle consumer tastes. This is likely why a local restaurant owner was clearly upset when I darkened his store’s entrance late last year.

He greeted me and asked where I had been for the past few years. I said trips to Columbus or Montgomery for doctors or work; I ate there when visiting. Also, I tried new restaurants in Lee County. Often, patrons return to an eatery they left, after finding the new establishment is overrated. A boon for a small business is its reputation, and a bane is increased costs, such as a higher minimum wage.

Recently a ruling was made declaring that any efforts to boost the federal minimum wage cannot be properly part of President Biden’s

$1.9 trillion COVID relief package. Lifting the minimum wage to $15 was preferred to be part of the COVID bill, because that legislation is highly likely to be enacted. A Senate official determined that with a reconciliation bill, which could pass with a simple majority of 51 votes, not 60 as under a filibuster, that minimum wage changes could not legally be attached.

Who was this person, with the power to sever legislation from being part of a big-ticket, wide-ranging bill? Was it Sen. Chuck Schumer, the most powerful solon? No way. Or was it Sen. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the prestigious Senate Budget Committee? Nada. Then who was this mysterious person who has so much say over legislation on such things as minimum wage and Sanders’ $15-per-hour dream?

She is Elizabeth MacDonough. Who the heck is she? She’s not a Fox and Friends talking head, nor is she regularly quoted in The New

York Times. But since 2012, she has been the Senate parliamentarian, the ultimate arbiter on Senate rules, protocols and precedents.

MacDonough is the first woman to serve in this critical role, which is non-partisan. The position was created in the 1930s.

Named after the long-serving Senate Robert Byrd, Democrat of West Virginia, sponsor of the rule in the mid-1980s, the Byrd Rule says a bill passed under reconciliation can’t include a measure with a meaningful fiscal impact that is “merely incidental” to the rest of the bill. MacDonough stated that the minimum wage hike is definitely incidental to the COVID-19 relief package.

“While serving its 100 members on a day-to-day basis, I still represent the Senate,” MacDonough said in a 2018 commencement speech at Vermont Law School. “No matter who’s in my office asking for assistance,

Judge Ben Hand participates in national trial competition

Contributed by the city of Opelika

Every year, law schools from around the nation compete in mock trial competitions. Municipal Court Judge Ben Hand has once again participated at the request of the

CITIZENS >>

FROM B7

the council should let the citizens know, then, that they do not have an answer at that time, rather than no response at all.

Ward 1 Council Member Connie Fitch Taylor said she agrees with Griswold. She’s been on the other side of the podium in the past, she said, and it

FLOWERS >>

FROM B7

Senator Steve Windom as Lt. Governor. Fuller’s house was Windom’s first stop.

competition in his and the city of Opelika’s effort to be involved in helping to produce better members of society and to give back to society in every way possible.

Judge Hand has judged several thousand cases through his 30

years of legal work and is always looking for ways to give back to the community and to the great state of Alabama, and being asked to Judge in these National completions taking place here in Alabama is just one way he has found to be involved.

with the highest per hour minimum pay being $14.00 in California, followed by Washington at $13.69. From 2018 to 2019, seven states increased their minimum wage levels through automatic adjustments and increases. Another 16 states and the District of Columbia changes came by referendum or legislative action, noted the Economic Policy Institute.

“The person earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25 isn’t going out to eat at restaurants,” Nick Hanauer, a billionaire enterpreneuer, argues.

“They’re not taking piano lessons. They’re not going to the gym or the yoga studio. They’re not sending mom flowers on Mother’s day. What good is this person in the economy? If you raise it to $15 an hour, they’re doing all of those things.”

However, small businessmen have good reason to oppose $15-perhour pay. Why? Because some employees would get an increase per hour

of more than 100% but others might be laid off to compensate. This applies to the buffet owner nearby who snapped at me for straying from his lunch counter for a year or two. He doth depend on regulars too much.

I still go to my old favorite restaurant, despite getting a harsh look if I have been gone too long. With a minimum wage hike, some employees will be happy; others, even long-timers, may be sent packing as a consequence of others’ raises. I hope a compromise of $10 or $10.50 per hour happens.

Junior employees would get more money without hemorrhaging the small business by its expense.

Greg Markley first moved to Lee County in 1996. He has master’s degrees in education and history. He taught politics as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama.

An award-winning writer in the Army and civilian life, he has contributed to the Observer for eight years. He can be reached at gm.markley@charter.net

ery from Fuller and the council. “His quick reaction and selfless actions saved the lives of a mother and her two children,” Fuller read from the certificate. “Thank you Brandon for being a great neighbor and citizen of Opelika.”

In other business, the council: l held a public hearing and subsequently approved a hunting permit submitted by Dr. Gary Hunt. Adjacent property owners were mailed certified letters by the planning department. l approved a request from Opelika Main Street for a Downtown Arts Festival with Opelika Theater Company to be held on April 3. l approved a request from Envision for the Annual Unity Stampede

5K/Walk to be held on May 22. l approved a request for a refund of occupational license fees paid in error. l approved the emergency purchase of a non-clog submersible pump for the public works department. l approved the purchase of a Global Knowledge Polaris Discovery training subscription from Global Knowledge. l approved the purchase of one 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and two 2021 Chevrolet Tahoes. l voted to authorize higher entry-level salary for Opelika Fire Chief. l voted to designate Mayor Fuller as the voting delegate at the 2021 ALM Annual Convention. l approved a special appropriation to En-

vision Opelika in the amount of $1,000 for the Annual Unity Stampede Walk/Run. l voted to approve a resolution requesting special funding for the Anderson Road Rail Crossing from the Railway-Highway Crossings (Section 130) Program. l voted to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone 14.3 Acres located at Enterprise Drive and Center Hills Drive. l voted 3-2 to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone 38.4 Acres located at Fox Run Ave and Douglas Street.

The Opelika City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday nights of every month.

Meetings are held in the Municipal Court room, which is located at 300 Martin Luther King Blvd.

By Greg Markley I represent the Senate with its traditions of unfettered debate, protection of minority rights and equal power among the states,” MacDonough told the graduating class.

She added: “That Senate is my charge.”

In 2021, the federal minimum wage is $7.25; most states and many cities have higher minimum wages, which means that almost 90% of U.S. minimum wage workers earn more than the federally required minimum of $7.25.

Alabama is one of only 21 states that maintain the federal minimum of $7.25.

Twenty-nine states have a higher minimum,

OPELIKA >>

FROM B7

feels awkward waiting on an answer.

“I totally agree with Kelley; that is our responsibility to be responsive,” Anders said.

“And I would also say that this is much friendlier in person than it is on Zoom.”

Anders said there could be something more procedural in place before the March 16 meeting.

“Whatever it is we

need to do to get more confidence back into the public is fine with me,” Griswold said.

Other Business: The council authorized street closings and parking lot closings for community events in 2021.

The council approved a contract with the Alabama Department of Transportation for a traffic signal at the intersection of South

College Street and Shell Toomer Parkway.

The council approved a contract with Ryan Public Safety Systems for the renewal of a customer support fee for the 911 Call Handling System.

The council approved a contract with the Alabama Historical Commission or a certified local government grant for training for the Auburn Historic Preserva-

tion Commission.

The council accepted a warranty deed and approved compensation of $3,500 for the estate of late medal-of-honor recipient Bennie Adkins. This was part of the project for the resurfacing, widening, drainage and installation of traffic signals on College Street, Samford Avenue, Gay Street and Reese Avenue.

Anders asked the

council members to each respond to an email he sent about trying to return to in-person council meetings soon.

“It would be my preference, as soon as we can get into our new building, in our new chambers, that we try to meet there,” he said.

There is no set date in place for returning in person, but the council may do so soon.

Fuller was one of the founders of the renowned Mid-Alabama Republican Club, which meets monthly in Vestavia. It is a sought-after invitation to speak for all aspiring

statewide Republican candidates, as are his dinner parties.

The first place that Jeff Sessions came to when he first began his political career as attorney general of Alabama

was Fuller’s home. Fuller supported Sessions during his entire 20-year career in the U. S. Senate. Sessions will never forget it.

A good many of Alabama’s political leaders

have found their way to the home of “ole” Joe Fuller atop Red Mountain over the last 40 to 50 years.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading po-

litical 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.

B10 March 10, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT COURT OF PROBATE, LEE COUNTY ESTATE OF EVEYYN F. HOCKERSMITH, DECEASED Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned of the 18th day of February, 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be batted.

Witness our hands, and dated this the 18th day of February 2021.

MARY A. HOCKERSMITH MOORE Legal Run 02/24/21, 03/03/21 & 03/10/21 -------------NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT COURT OF PROBATE ESTATE OF MAVIS MCHARGUE THOMAS Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on 8th day of February 2021, by BILL ENGLISH, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Witness my hand, and dated this the 8th day of February 2021.

CAMERON M. MCHARGUE Legal Run 02/24/2021, 03/03/2021 & 03/10/21 -------------THE STATE OF ALABAMA IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE WILL OF HAZEL M. JOHNSON, DECEASED NOTICE TO FILE CLAIMS Letters Testamentary on the Estate of Hazel M. Johnson, deceased, having been granted to William W. Johnson on the 19TH day of February 2021, by the Hon. BILL ENGLISH, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

William W. Johnson Legal Run 02/24/2021, 03/03/2021 & 03/10/21 -------------IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ANNIE RUTH EVANS, DECEASED CASE NO: 2021-100 IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 23rd day of February, 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

TONDA EDWARDS Administrator D. Carter Weeks Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 368032345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 03/03/21, 03/10/21 & 03/17/21 -------------IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CARL HOPSON, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2021-101

TO: CARLOS OSCAR HOPSON NOTICE: On the 23rd day of February, 2021, a certain writing, purporting to be the Will of CARL HOPSON was filed in my office for Probate by TRENTON GARRETT HOPSON and the 8th day of April, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., was appointed a day for hearing thereof at which time you can appear and contest the same, if you see proper.

Given under my hand, the 23rd day of February, 2021.

Bill English JUDGE OF PROBATE Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 368032345 Legal Run 03/03/21, 03/10/21 & 03/17/21 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF STEVEN RUSSELL THRIFT, DECEASED. Case No.:2021-066 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that Letters Testamentary of the Estate of STEVEN RUSSELL THRIFT, deceased, having been granted to VICKIE LYNN THRIFT on the 11th day of February 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are hereby required to present such claims within the time allowed by law, or the same will be forever barred.

VICKIE LYNN THRIFT

Legal Run 03/03/2021, 03/10/2021 & 03/17/2021 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: The Estate Of Blake Lynwood Ware, Deceased.

Case No.: 2021-086 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION TO BE PUBLISHED Letters of Administration on said deceased having been granted to Christy Dean, Administrator on this the 19th day of February, 2021, by the Honorable Bill English , Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

BY: James E. Hall, Attorney for Administrator.

Legal 03/03/2021, 03/10/2021, 03/17/2021 -------------NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF ELMER L. POTTS, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY Letters of Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 3rd day of March, 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate of Lee County notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Witness our hands, and dated this the 3rd day of March, 2021 SALLY LANKFORD Legal Run 03/10/21, 03/17/21 & 03/24/2021 -------------ORDINANCE NO. 006-21 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBSECTIONS (a) (1), (a)(3) AND (a) (8) OF SECTION 16-188 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA BY CHANGING THE SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMIT TO 25 MPH AND MODIFYING THE TIMES OF REDUCED SPEEDS

BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council (the “Council”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) as follows:

Section 1.

Amendment. That subsections (a)(1), (a)(3) and (a)(8) of Section 16-188 of the Code of Ordinances (the “Code”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama, are hereby amended to read as follows:

Sec. 16-188 School Speed Zones (a) School Speed Zones— Designated.

OPELIKA HIGH SCHOOL Lafayette Parkway from approximately 350 feet north of Samford Avenue to approximately 830 feet north of Lake Condy Road. 25 mph speed limit during the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and 2:55 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.

(3) MORRIS AVENUE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL Morris Avenue from Lafayette Parkway to approximately 1100 feet from Lafayette Parkway and Lafayette Parkway from approximately 880 feet north of Morris Avenue to 300 feet south of Morris Avenue. 25 mph speed limit during the hours of 7:20 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. 3:20 p.m.

(8) SOUTHVIEW PRIMARY SCHOOL Marvyn Parkway from approximately 115 feet north of Hall Avenue to approximately 150 feet south of Gateway Drive and Gateway Drive from Marvyn Parkway to approximately 1150 feet from Marvyn Parkway. 25 mph speed limit during the hours of 7:15 a.m. 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Except as expressly modified or amended herein, all other subsections and provisions of Section 16-188 shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 2.

Severability Clause.

If any section, sentence or phrase of this ordinance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, said holding shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance.

Section 3.

Repealer Clause. All former ordinances or parts thereof conflicting or inconsistent with this ordinance are repealed.

Section 4.

Effective Date. This ordinance shall become effective and enforced immediately upon its passage and publication as required by law.

Section 5.

Publication. The City Clerk of the City of Opelika, Alabama is hereby authorized and directed to cause this Ordinance to be published one (1) time in a newspaper

of general circulation published in the City of Opelika, Lee County, Alabama.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED this the 2nd day of March, 2021. /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 3rd day of March, 2021. /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK ACTION BY MAYOR APPROVED this the 3rd day of March, 2021. /s/ Gary Fuller MAYOR ATTEST: /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK Legal Run 03/10/2021 -------------NOTICE OF COURT PROCEEDING CASE NO. ELIZABETH SHAW OWENS IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary Distribution In the Estate of ELIZABETH SHAW OWENS, deceased Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office by Angela O. Wade, on March 3, 2021 pursuant to Section 43-2-690, Code of Alabama and that 30 days after the notice of publication hereof and pursuant to law the Court shall be requested to enter an Order directing Summary Distribution of the estate of said decedent.

BILL ENGLISH, PROBATE JUDGE Legal Run 03/10/2021 -------------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, March 23, 2021 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 public hearing on a request by Blake Rice, authorized representative for 280 Land Company, LLC, property owner, for preliminary plat approval of the Hidden Lakes West subdivision consisting of 118 lots accessed from Hidden Lakes Drive.

A public hearing on a request by Brandon Hays, authorized representative for Whiteridge Opelika, LLC, property owner, for preliminary plat approval of the McDonald Downs subdivision consisting of 19 lots accessed from McDonald Drive.

A public hearing on a request by Robert Rolander, authorized representative for Tiger Town Developers, LLC, property owner, for preliminary plat approval of The Chimneys First Addition subdivision plat consisting of 45 lots accessed from 999 Westpoint Parkway.

4a. A public hearing on a request by TJ Johnson PE, authorized representative for Holland Homes, LLC, property owners, for a minor master plan revision: Replacing 32 twin lots with 22 single family home lots in Phase 2 and replacing 22 single family homes with 32 twin homes in Phase 4 of The Fox Run Village PUD Master Plan accessed from Fox Run Parkway and Village Drive.

4b. A public hearing on a request by Thomas Johnson PE, authorized representative for Holland Homes, LLC, property owner, for preliminary plat approval of Foxrun Phase 1B subdivision plat consisting of 26 lots accessed from Village Drive and Foxtail Lane.

5a. An agenda item related to a rezoning request concerns an amendment to the Future Land Use Map for approximately 17.9 acres accessed at 5067 Birmingham Highway from low density residential to medium density residential land use category. If the Planning Commission votes to send a positive recommendation to the City Council to rezone the property and Council approves the rezoning, then approval of said amendments to the Future Land Use map will be approved.

5b. A public hearing to consider a recommendation to the City Council on a request by Nick Howell, authorized representative for 2H Properties, LLC, property owner, to rezone approximately 17.9 acres at 5067 Birmingham Highway from a R-1 zoning district to a R-3 zoning district.

5c. A public hearing on a request by Nick Howell, authorized representative for 2H Properties, LLC, property owner, for preliminary plat approval of the Shelton Village subdivision plat consisting of 52 lots accessed at 5067 See PUBLIC NOTICES, page B11

B11 March 10, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES Birmingham Highway.

A public hearing on a request by James L. McCrory, authorized representatives for Frank McLeod, property owner, for preliminary and final plat approval of Quail Hollow First Addition Second Revision subdivision plat consisting of 3 lots accessed from Pheasant Avenue & Grouse Avenue.

A public hearing on a request by Allan Campfield, property owner, for preliminary and final plat approval of the Creekside Village Phase One subdivision plat consisting of 47 lots accessed from Lee Road 266 and Lee Road 270.

A public hearing on a request by Steve Miller, property owner, for preliminary and final plat approval of McKemie Corners 1st Addition subdivision plat consisting of 8 lots accessed from Lee Road 266 and Lee Road 268.

A public hearing on a request by Brent Miller, authorized representatives for Saucier Investments, LLC, property owner, for preliminary and final plat approval of Pride of Pepperell redivision of Lot 5 subdivision plat consisting of 8 lots accessed from 2500 26th Street & 2nd Avenue.

A public hearing on a request by Robert Thorington, authorized representative for Saucier Investments, LLC, property owner, for conditional use approval to wholesale/ retail products made from laser engraved machine accessed at

2500 26th Street & 2nd Avenue.

A public hearing on a request by Brett Basquin, authorized representative for Bush Properties, Inc., property owner, for conditional use approval for an Express tunnel car wash business accessed at 2015 Gateway Drive.

A public hearing on a request by Brandon Bolt, authorized representative for Karen Heiman and Alejanadro Cano Alvardo, property owners, for conditional use approval for an automobile maintenance business (tire store) located at 2004 Gateway Drive.

A public hearing on a request by Mike and Brad Bowden, authorized representative for Mike Bowden & Tall Oaks, LLC, property owners, for conditional use approval for an addition to Tree Top apartments & renovations located at 2908 Birmingham Highway.

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 Kevin Rice, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334705-5132 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to a disability.

PLANNING DIRECTOR Legal Run 03/10/2021 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE:THE ESTATE OF THOMAS PRESTON, DECEASED. TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Barbara Menifield, as Executrix of the Estate of Thomas Preston, deceased, on the 3rd day of March, 2021, by the Honorable Bill English.

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

Barbara Menifield, Executrix Of the Estate of Thomas Preston, Deceased Marrell J. McNeal,

Attorney at Law, PC PO Box 308 Opelika, AL 36803 334-745-7033 Legal Run 03/10/21, 03/17/21 & 03/24/21 -------------STATE OF ALABAMA LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT CASE NO. 2021-093 ESTATE OF VERLIE W. BENCE, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said Verlie W. Bence, deceased, having been granted to Melania B. Harrison, this 2nd day of March 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 the law or the same will be barred.

Melania B. Harrison, Personal Representative Jeffery A. Hilyer 334-745-2564 Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, Alabama 36803-0030.

Legal Run 03/03/21, 03/10/21 & 03/17/21 -------------IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DAVID WAYNE

HARE, DECEASE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2021-075 Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 17th day of February, 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

JOHN EDWARD HARE, JR. Administrator Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 368032345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 03/03/2021, 03/10/2021 & 03/17/2021 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF HAZEL R. KLASE, DECEASED.

TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Norman Neal Klase, Jr., as Executor of the Estate of Hazel R. Klase, deceased, on the 25th day of

February, 2021, by the Honorable Bill English.

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

Norman Neal Klase, Jr., Executor Of the Estate of Hazel R. Klase, Deceased Marrell J. McNeal, Attorney at Law, PC PO Box 308 Opelika, AL 36803 334-745-7033 Legal Run 03/03/2021, 03/10/2021 & 03/17/2021 -------------Public Notice for Estate of Barbara Singleton IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO: _20-21008 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BARBARA SINGLETON Letters Administration of the estate of _ Barbara Singleton __ having been duly granted to Keith A. Singleton_ on the _9th__ day of __February_ 2021 by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is given that all persons having claims against the estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Gerald C. Brooks, Esq. Attorney for Keith A. Singleton, Administrator Legal Run 03/03/21, 03/10/21 & 03/17/21

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FROM B8

would then be required to submit to periodic inspections by the city, including any units “which are or become vacant after January 1, 2022, must be inspected for compliance with the Property Maintenance Code and a rental occupancy certificate issued if the unit is in substantial compliance, prior to occupancy by a new tenant.” Simply put, this means the city would inspect the property in between every tenant, and a landlord would not be able to allow a new tenant to occupy the vacant unit until the inspection is completed and a rental occupancy certificate is issued.

The ordinance reads, “After completion of an inspection, if the

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residential rental dwelling unit is not in compliance with the Property Maintenance Code and this article, the owner or his/her agent shall be furnished with a written list of specific violations that shall be corrected and setting a time within which such violations shall be corrected. All violations and deficiencies shall be corrected with all City required permits, approvals and inspections and re-inspections within the time specified in the notice before a rental occupancy certificate is issued. A provisional rental occupancy certificate may be issued if the residential rental dwelling unit is substantially but not entirely in compliance with the Property Maintenance Code and there are no imminent life, health or safety

threatening violations.”

Inspection fees will be imposed with the first inspection costing $50 and follow-up inspections at $25. Fines would also be imposed upon landlords that rent out units that do not have a certificate of rental occupancy.

Certificates of occupancy may be suspended or revoked by the building official should property be deemed to be in unsafe or dangerous conditions.

Landlords will be notified and given a (currently unspecified) amount of time to correct the problems. Failure to correct problems within the time allowed could result in the certificate of rental occupancy being revoked.

Exemptions There would be some exemptions to the inspection requirements. Newly constructed residential

rental dwelling units would be exempt for a period of seven years from the date the certificate of occupancy is issued by the building official.

However, an inspection could be required should a tenant file a complaint with the city regarding the conditions of the property.

During the meeting, City Attorney Guy Gunter stated that the proposed changes would apply to nearly 3,500 rental properties in Opelika.

The Next Step The council decided during the work session not to place this proposed ordinance on the agenda for the March 2 meeting.

“What we would like to do I think is to get the ordinance and the handout online,” Council President Eddie Smith

said. “I have spoken with many of you [property owners] today, and you have voiced some concerns, and we want to know about them.”

Smith encouraged interested parties to markup the ordinance with items that one may have questions or concerns about. “We want to be able to take them [concerns] into account as part of this ordinance and if we have missed out on something in the preparation of this, we would like you to markup the ordinance and send it back.”

Questions and concerns can be sent to Smith, Gunter or City Clerk Russell Jones as well as to Mayor Fuller or any of the council members.

“We will take all of the comments and the markups and address them,” Smith said. “Please take

the time to read it and send us your comments because we don’t have all the answers, and in fact, we don’t know all the questions.”

Smith stressed that the council is moving slowly with adopting this ordinance. “We are moving cautiously with this, because we want this to be a thing that is good for the entire city.

We do have some time and we are going to take that time and get it right,” Smith said.

The proposed ordinance and a power point presentation are online on the city’s website www. opelika-al.gov.

The link for the power point can be found at www.opelika-al. gov/DocumentCenter/ View/3093/rental-registration-and-inspection-022621.

B12 March 10, 2021

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B13 March 10, 2021

First Avenue streetscape moves closer to completion

Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer The planned streetscape for what is often referred to as First Avenue's warehouse district is inching toward completion with paving starting last week.

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B14 March 10, 2021

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This week’s puzzle answers: