Vol. 14, No. 28
Thursday April 21, 2022
Opelika, Alabama
FARRIS BONDURANT
Covering Lee County, Alabama
An award-winning publication created 'For local people, by local people.'
166 N Gay Street, Suite 12, Auburn, AL 36830 334-821-5050
Investments | 401K Rollovers
166 N Gay Street, Suite 12, Auburn, AL 36830 334-821-5050 Investments | 401K Rollovers
CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF AUBURN
AUBURN – Congressman Mike Rogers visited with
Auburn city officials this week following the recent approval of a $3 million federal appropriation that will fund an expansion of the Auburn Center for
Developing Industries (ACDI). Rogers requested the funding on behalf of East Alabama communities, and Congress approved it on March 15
Opelika Main Street to Launch Retail Incubator, Downtown Resource Center CONTRIBUTED BY OPELIKA MAIN STREET
OPELIKA – Opelika Main Street has begun construction on a downtown retail incubator and resource center in the former Heritage Gifts and Gourmet building. The building, located at 108 S. 8th St., was constructed in 1920 and has had many uses over the years including being home to a pet store and book shop. Over the next several months the property will undergo an over $200,000 renovation and restoration. Utilizing the demising wall concept, the front half of the property will be home to the retail incubator and the back half will include: the Opelika
Main Street office, a multipurpose meeting space and public restrooms that will be open during normal business hours and during downtown events. In addition to the retail and office space, the renovation will also include the restoration of the building’s historic ceiling along with front and back facade enhancements. “This new property will be a game changer for downtown Ope-
lika,” said Opelika Main Street Executive Director Ken Ward. “The new Downtown Resource Center will provide a quality start up space for new downtown businesses while also serving as an example for how downtown buildings can have multiple uses.” The project is set to be completed in the fall. ABOUT OPELIKA MAIN STREET: Founded in 1987, Opelika Main Street has helped assist in the growth of historic downtown Opelika through facade grants, beatification projects, small business assistance efforts and various community events. Learn more about Opelika Main Street by going to opelikamainstreet.org.
RE-ELECT
Richard LaGrand Sr. for District 5 Commissioner
on May 24
2900 WATSON ST., OPELIKA, AL, 36801
EAMC Listed Among Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals for 2022 PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
Auburn Receives $3M in Federal Funding to Expand ACDI Complex
as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. “I am proud to have fought for $3 million in funding for the Auburn
CONTRIBUTED BY EAH
OPELIKA – Newsweek released its list of The World’s Best Hospitals for 2022 and East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) was one of just three Alabama hospitals to make the list — the other two were UAB and Fayette Medical Center, which is part of the DCH system. The list is derived from the evaluation of hospitals in three key areas: recommendation from peers,
See AUBURN, page A3
patient experience and key performance indicators. Peer recommendations were taken from results of a survey of doctors and other health care professionals. Patient experience data looked at patient survey topics such as overall satisfaction, likelihood to recommend the hospital to others and satisfaction with quality of care and service. Key performance indicator data reviewed included quality of care and patient See EAMC, page A5
Opelika Power Services, AMEA Announce 2022 Scholarship Winners CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF OPELIKA
OPELIKA – Opelika Power Services and the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority (AMEA) are pleased to announce the local winners of the 2022 AMEA Scholarship. Each year, AMEA helps 40 high school seniors across the state who plan to enroll in a fouryear college/university, community college and/ or vocational school in Alabama. Each of the 40 scholarship recipients will receive a $2,500 scholarship for a total of $100,000 awarded in this year’s program. AMEA received 156 scholarship applications in the 2022 program. “I truly appreciate AMEA for supporting our local students," said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller." This scholarship will take some financial pressure off
of students and parents, and be an added incentive for these students to continue their good work. We are proud of each student for achieving academic success and wish them the best of luck." This year’s AMEA Academic Scholarship recipients from Opelika include: • Hannah Grace Blackstock, Trinity Christian School, Opelika • Georgia Lorainne Duncan, Trinity Christian School, Opelika • Kerry Louisa Nell, Trinity Christian School, Opelika • Orah Makai Preston, Opelika High School, Opelika. Since 1992, AMEA and its members have provided over $3 million in scholarships to the graduating high school seniors who receive their electric service from AMEA Members. To be eligible for the AMEA scholarships,
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Your VOTE is important. Paid for by Friends of Richard LaGrand Sr.
a student’s family must receive electric service from an AMEA Member city electric utility and the student must attend an Alabama college/university or vocational school. “We take our role as a good corporate citizen seriously,” said Fred D. Clark, Jr., AMEA president & CEO. “That’s why we, along with our members, support education initiatives, like the AMEA Scholarship Program, that contribute to making our state economically competitive. We congratulate this year’s scholarship winners.” AMEA, a joint action agency formed in 1981, is the wholesale power provider for 11 public power utilities in Alabama, which serve approximately 350,000 customers in the cities of Alexander City, Dothan, Fairhope, Foley, LaFayette, Lanett, Luverne, Opelika, Piedmont, Sylacauga and Tuskegee.
CONTENTS
OPINION ..................... A4 ENTERTAINMENT ........... A7 RELIGION ................... A14 OBITUARIES ............... A15 COMICS ....................... A16 SPORTS ........................ B1 POLITICS ...................... B9 CLASSIFIEDS ................ B10 PUBLIC NOTICES ........... B13 PUZZLES ..................... B15