Opelika Observer 10-28-2020 E-edition

VOL. 13, NO. 4

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

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Opelika to swear in council members on Nov. 2

Opelika High Schooler builds dodgeball arena, becomes Eagle Scout

By Will Fairless Associate Editor

ALLEN WARD 1 Contributed by the City of Opelika The Opelika City Council is calling a special organizational meeting that will be held on Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Municipal Court Building located at 300 Martin Luther King Blvd.

NORRIS WARD 2 There will be a Swearing in Ceremony and Signing of Oaths of Office with Mayor Gary Fuller, George Allen (Ward 1), Erica Baker Norris (Ward 2), Robert Lofton (Ward 3), Eddie Smith (Ward 4) and Todd Rauch

LOFTON WARD 3

(Ward 5).

In addition, the new council will elect a Council President and Council President Pro-Tem-pore.

For more information, contact Opelika City Clerk Russell Jones at 334-705-5110.

RAUCH WARD 5

Riley Stadler, a junior at Opelika High School, earned the rank of Eagle Scout last month after he presented his final service project at Morris Avenue Intermediate School.

The Eagle Scout final project is one that the scout plans for and carries out on his/her own. Stadler chose to build something that would benefit the community.

“My project was to build a gaga ball arena,” Stadler said.

“Gaga ball is Israeli dodgeball. Players hit the ball at each other

with their hands and are eliminated if the ball strikes them on or below the knee.”

Gaga ball arenas, or “pits,” are usually hexagonal or octagonal and range in diameter from 14 to 25 feet. Stadler built a wooden, octagonal arena with a diameter on the higher side of that range, and each wall stands about three feet tall.

Stadler said that gaga ball is a staple activity at Boy Scout summer camps. For those few who don’t know how to play the game, he made accommodations.

See EAGLE SCOUT, page A3

Publix pharmacist expands Opelika Chamber definition of customer service hosting viewing party downtown

By Will Fairless Associate Editor

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit America, the typical first thought might have been, “I hope I don’t get it or give it to anyone,” or, “I hope this just blows over soon.” Leane Reynolds’s, who has been working as an assistant pharmacy manager at Publix since 2019, first thought was something like, “I wonder if Mr. Chris needs any help getting his groceries—I could do that for him.”

Reynolds said that she makes small talk with most of her patients, that she knows their families, a little bit about their lives, maybe some tidbits that lie just barely deeper than the immediately apparent. Chris Ranew is one of those patients about whom Reynolds had some knowledge.

“I knew he had a lot of health problems; I would always see him on the automatic shopping carts and he always had oxygen

By Will Fairless Associate Editor The Opelika Chamber of Commerce is hosting a viewing party for the Auburn-LSU game this Saturday, Oct. 31.

A large viewing screen will be set up at the corner of Eighth Street and North Railroad (in front of John Emerald Distilling Company and Red Clay Brewing Company), which will be closed off during the game and for an hour

See PUBLIX, page A3

on either side of it.

Everyone is welcome to come out and watch the game on the screen, and the chamber encourages attendees to patronize local businesses for any shopping and dining needs.

The chamber wrote in a Facebook post, “Supporting our local economy never looked so good…. Be sure to bring your lawn chair or a blanket and an appetite to support your local restaurants, bars & shops!”

Index OPINION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4

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

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. . . . . . . .A7

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

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

PUBLIC NOTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . .B11

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

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

To nd out more and to stay up to date with developments sign up for the mailing list at protectbeulahstopthequarry@gmail.com

A2 Oсtober 28, 2020

Leslie Sanders encourages women to find their balance at Opelika Chamber’s Women in Business Council

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Council hosted Leslie Sanders as the guest speaker for its Keynote Luncheon on Oct. 20.

The Women’s Business Council was developed in 2016 and provides programs to women in business and the community like the Keynote Luncheon or the upcoming sport series: self defense class.

“The Women’s Business Council was formed to promote participation and leadership of women at all levels in the workplace, community and in government,” said President and CEO of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, Ali Rauch.

Sanders is the vice president of the Southern Division of the Alabama Power Company and was invited originally to speak in April, when the luncheon was supposed to be held.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event was rescheduled to October.

“This is the first

[post-COVID discussion] that I have had the opportunity to do, so I’m thrilled to be here,” Sanders said.

Sanders said that she has changed since the pandemic began and expected that the audience had too. So she decided she would change the topic of her discussion.

Despite the negatives of the pandemic, Sanders said she was able to learn a lot about herself and how to proceed with her goals and career.

Sanders encouraged the women in the room to stay true to their core values.

“If you look at your own core principles, and I know that sounds so basic, but when you look at that, you will determine the difference between success and achievement,” she said.

Years ago, stuck in a career that was unfulfilling, Sanders looked at her life and principles and was willing to break away — into something that would lead to her long-term success, she said. “[Steve Jobs] said the only way to be truly

that I value: patience, empathy, understanding, strategy. If I had an employee that totally focused on the family, I would wonder why they were there.

When you have employees that focus on both, those are the kind of employees that get it.”

One way to help find the balance, Sanders said, was taking time for herself.

“For me, personally, that meant devotion time. Spending time with the Lord, just talking,” she said.

She talked about her needs and desires and said she started to feel more at peace. Sanders was able to focus on her core values and find balance.

The Keynote Luncheon is held annually, and the next Women’s Business Council event is set for Nov. 5. Sgt. Pam Revels, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, will lead a self-defense seminar. The event will be followed by networking and wine at Ampersand.

For more information, visit the chamber website (www.opelikachamber.com).

Photo submitted to the Opelika Observer Leslie Sanders (middle) spoke at Women in Business Council Luncheon.

satisfied is to believe that you do great work and the only way to do great work is to love what you do,” Sanders said.

The phrase, ‘can you have it all?’ is often used to remind people to focus on one aspect of life over another, Sanders said. Choosing family over work, or work over family.

“I just want to plant this in your mind that you can have your ‘it,’” she said.

Sanders said that she believes women, and

men, can have it all.

“That really relates to some gender equality,” she said.

There can be a lot of "it"s, Sanders said: to be a great mom, to succeed in your career, to lose weight.

“A lot of my training and thought process has been, either/or,” she said. “You either travel, you don’t get home at 3:30, have cookies made. If you don’t do this, if you have to put your children in daycare, you’re not a good mom,

right?”

Sanders said that society also says that fathers who want to take an equivalent paternity leave or be stay-at-home dads are seen as lesser men.

There doesn’t have to be a choice, Sanders said, between career and family. In fact, Sanders hopes employees will have a balance.

“I believe that if I have an employee that was totally focused on work, then that employee would lack some of the qualities

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

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A3 October 28, 2020

Community invited to annual State of the City Address Contributed by The city of Auburn The community is invited to join Auburn Mayor Ron Anders as he reflects on the successes and challenges the Auburn community has shared over the last year. Anders will deliver the second annual State of the City Address virtually on Monday, Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. The event will be live streamed

city has responded.

He will review other highlights from the past year and give a glimpse into Auburn’s future.

Anders will conclude the evening by presenting the second annual Mayor's Lamplighter Awards. These awards will recognize the efforts six community members have made to make Auburn a brighter place to live, work and play.

via the city's Facebook and YouTube and will be available on-demand after the event.

The address will give residents a chance to hear about the work that goes into making Auburn a thriving and dynamic community.

Anders will reflect on the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the community and how the

Photos contributed by Cristie Stadler

EAGLE SCOUT

>>

FROM A1

“There is a rules sign posted to the arena that includes a QR code that is attached to a video of [my fellow scouts] playing the game with my voice-over of the basic rules,” he said.

The Gaga Ball arena was the final step in earning him Eagle Scout rank, the highest in the

Boy Scouts of America program. Stadler said that Boy Scouts has changed his life for the better and that this last achievement is the culmination of many years of work: “It has taught me valuable skills and has given me a better sense as to how to take care of myself and others.

To me, reaching Eagle Scout means that I have accomplished my goal that I set for myself."

Photos contributed by Cristie Stadler

PUBLIX

>>

FROM A1

with him,” she said.

“He was kind of the first person I thought of who doesn’t need to come into the store, be exposed.”

The next time he called the pharmacy about refills on his medications, Reynolds told him that he need not hesitate to give her his shopping list.

He took her up on her offer, and that was the beginning of a relationship more meaningful than the typical pharmacist-customer one.

“He said he only

goes two places: the pharmacy and the "bank," Reynolds said.

"And it got to where he didn’t even need to go to the bank anymore because I can do cash "bank," Reynolds said. "And said he just likes coming out to see me.”

She saw how much Ranew was having to pay for his medications and decided she could do more than deliver his groceries for him. She and her husband decided to pay for Ranew’s next load of groceries themselves.

“I was getting ready to ring it up, and

BE MORE. GO BUILD.

Craig, our store manager, came over with a $100 gift card,” she said. “It was almost like a God thing.”

Such a gift card was given to several employees, and another associate decided to use his for Ranew’s groceries also.

Reynolds has gone above and beyond the already high baseline level of Publix customer service. She left “May I help you take your bags to your car, ma’am?” in the dust a while ago. She regularly checks on Ranew (at least once a week) to make sure that he has all his medications and

groceries.

When Ranew’s recliner broke, his first call was to his pharmacist. Reynolds looked for a new one on Facebook and they eventually replaced the chair together. “He’s almost like a grandfather figure to me,” she said.

The Gold Coin Recognition program is one in which Publix recognizes “the exceptional examples of outstanding service” of its employees, according to the store’s website.

It goes on to say that recipients of the coin should feel like they’re being recognized

directly by Publix’s CEO because that is who has final say in every award given.

The Gold Coin has been awarded to a group of Publix employees in Florida who got a new dog for a man whose former pet was hit by a car.

It has been awarded to a Georgia Publix bakery manager who baked and decorated a birthday cake for free when she saw a woman holding back tears at the counter; the cake was decorated with doves and clouds and the name of the woman’s daughter, who would have been

celebrating her first birthday if she had not passed away shortly after being born. It has now, after a call from Ranew to Publix corporate, been awarded to an Auburn pharmacist who bought and delivered groceries (and picked out a recliner) for an elderly man during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My job is not to fill prescriptions; my job is to care for people,” Reynolds said. “It’s been really scary; a lot of our patients are elderly and there’s been a lot of uncertainty. I think I get my reward in heaven.”

A4 Oсtober 28, 2020

And things that go bump in the night

F

rom ghoulies and ghosties And long-leggedy beasties And things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!

-Traditional Scottish Prayer I love Halloween.

Loved it since I was a kid.

Those of you who grew up in the smalltown South probably had similar experiences.

In my village Halloween was given over to the children. The night was ours. We roamed the streets in small bands, moving from house to house in a relentless search for sweet things to eat. After we ransacked the neigh-

O

By Hardy Jackson over Halloween and commercialized it. In August catalogs begin to arrive, loaded with all sorts of costumes, and though many of the outfits are for the kids, adults are the main target.

It’s not just the way adults have commercialized Halloween that gets to me. Some adults

seem bound and determined to take the fun out of what’s left over for the kids.

And what is fun about Halloween?

Getting the bejezus scared out of you.

And by what?

Things that go bump in the night.

Now I do not want to get into an argument over the religious connotations of Halloween, All Hallows’ Eve, or whatever you want to call it. There are people who, for good and proper reasons, do not want their children dressing up like and pretending to be ghoulies and ghosties. Fine with me. And there are churches that put on “alternative Hallow-

eens” where kids are costumed like characters from the Bible.

I am OK with that as well.

But I can’t help remembering how much fun I had dressed as some sort of a demon, surrounded by friends dressed like other sorts of demons. Looking at those friends today, I find no evidence that the experience deranged us any more than we were deranged already.

However, if the Bible character idea catches on, you can bet that adults will take it from the kids. Soon a new catalog will arrive. In it will be a Biblical bonanza of costumes that will appeal to grownups’ natural

desire to stay on the right side of the Lord, but also appeal to their equally natural desire to treat Halloween as an opportunity to play out all sort of adult idiosyncrasies incognito.

There would be a David costume, complete with slingshot and a dead Goliath doll to drag around. Or maybe Samson, with the bloody jawbone of an ass. And for the daring, there would be Solome.

Imagine. Velcro veils.

So check your mail.

Catalog season is here.

Harvey H. (Hardy) Jackson is Professor Emeritus of History at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hhjackson43@gmail.com.

Truck drivers are unsung heroes

n Election Day, Nov. 7, 2000, Americans found themselves in a real “train wreck,” in which the next president was not known until 35 days after the polls closed. Texas governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore had a hair-curling month, as did all Americans and many foreigners.

I was in Albany, Georgia, working for a newspaper and visiting polling places for updates and quotes.

Driving on Liberty Expressway, I suddenly felt a jolt and my car spun into the breakdown lane. I was not

D

borhoods we headed downtown where we took Ivory Soap and marked up the windows of local businesses.

It was good harmless fun.

Our costumes were homemade. Ghosts (a sheet), tramps (old clothes) and some sort of ghoul (lipstick for blood) were the most popular. The big kids would scare the little kids, the boys would scare the girls (who really weren’t scared at all).

Then the next day storeowners washed their windows – the soap was already there – and everything went back to normal.

But no more.

Adults have taken

EAR SEAN: My dad is in the process of dying. He has mild dementia and he’s bitter right now, and is lashing out at all of us around him, and I don’t know how to keep it together, honestly.

I just need you to make me laugh or something. I am so totally stressed with caregiving and I don’t even know why I’m here all the time, helping him because my dad was never there for me and my mom growing up, but left us when I was four years old.

Thanks, FORTY-ANDSTRESSED DEAR FORTY: There once was an old man who lived on a big hill. He was a bitter man, and his vision was bad. His weak eyes could see vague blurry shapes and colors, but only enough to get around.

He didn’t like people. He didn’t want to be bothered. We’re

By Greg Markley hurt, but the car had a big dent on the driver’s side. The truck driver immediately admitted guilt.

“I must have just slipped that way a bit,” he said. His insurance company

quickly took care of my claim and even extended my car rental for 10 extra days until repairs were done. We tend to forget how valuable truck drivers are in Alabama’s economy and in all our individual lives. They have been a God-send during the coronavirus pandemic.

These drivers are often seen but seldom appreciated. One 18-wheeler driver, representing all others, is Truck Driver of the Year for our state; for 2020 that is Rosko Craig of Silas, Alabama.

“Rosko certainly has a positive attitude and

a proven track record over his 20-plus-year trucking career,” Gov. Kay Ivey said. “Our hats go off to Rosko and all truckers who keep Alabama moving.”

Craig, 50, drives for Birmingham, Alabama-based Montgomery Transport, LLC. He was chosen for the Nextran Truck Centers’ honor for his professionalism and his 3 million miles driven without an accident.

Craig said trucking was a childhood dream for him and said that his family is “my backbone. I couldn’t do this without them.”

Truckers them-

selves, as I learned on Election Day 2000, occasionally cause accidents. Yet, serious ones are rare considering the high volume of mileage they drive. They have a great record, as Mark Colson, president of the Alabama Truckers Association, said at the kickoff of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (Sept. 13-19, 2020) at the state Capitol.

“Sometimes America’s 3.5 million truck drivers are taken for granted,” Colson said.

“But visit any grocery store, business or medical facility in Alabama, and it

becomes obvious that truckers move America. The next time you speak with a professional truck driver, ask them how many safe miles he or she has, but don’t be surprised if the answer is in the millions.”

Say there is an accident or breakdown with police present on an interstate. Big-rigs are large and heavy; they cannot switch lanes without a wide berth and require more time than cars or light trucks. Yet, too often and despite the truck driver’s turn light being on, See MARKLEY, page A5

The Old Man on the Hill talking about a major-league jerk here.

The blurry-eyed man lived for years on his lonesome hill, in his little backwoods shack by himself.

Every morning he would hike to the nearby river to fetch drinking water for the day. This was the hardest part of his entire existence. Because this was a very, VERY steep hill.

Thus, at sunrise he would carry a huge bucket uphill from the river, climbing a treacherous dirt path home. Always the same. Downhill.

Uphill. Back and forth.

Year after year. It was exhausting work.

If the man would have lived in town proper all he would have had to do was turn on a faucet. But embittered people make things hard for themselves.

One morning, he was on his way to the stream when he sensed a stranger nearby. He heard the voice of a little girl and saw the

By Sean Dietrich blurriness of her shape.

“Who are you?” he grumbled. “And what’re you doing on my river?”

The girl told him that she had wandered away from home and was lost in these woods.

“Well, you’re trespassing,” he said. “I own this land. Go on home, child.”

“Please don’t send me away,” she begged.

“I don’t know how to get home. I’m lost.”

The man couldn’t help but notice how much this girl’s voice sounded like Laura from “Little House on the Prairie,” season one, episode 14.

The man waved her

off and bent to fill his bucket from the stream.

But his lower back muscles seized. He moaned in pain. He fell over and grabbed his back.

In a few moments, the girl said, “Here, let me do it for you.” And she fumbled the bucket from his hands.

Normally, the old man would have told the child to get lost.

But he was out of breath, wheezing badly and his vision was oh so blurred. He needed help.

After she fetched his water, she offered to carry the heavy bucket up the steep path, but he snarled and said,

“Are you outta your mind? It’s a long, hard walk up that hill, you’re just a child. Go home.”

But she would not take no for an answer.

So she carried his water. Or, at least, she tried. The kid was hopeless. He could hear her struggling, grunting, stumbling, tripping over rocks, falling, dropping the bucket, spilling the water and tumbling down the hillside. She had to refill her bucket twenty, thirty, forty times.

Finally, the girl finished the rigorous climb and brought the bucket to his cabin, whereupon she collapsed with a mighty thump. The child was out cold from exhaustion, and the bucket was empty.

Later that afternoon, she awoke in his cabin. The old man told her to go home.

Then he left to fetch water once again. But she followed him, once again, and said, “Please, let me help

you!”

“No thank you,” he said in a nice voice, for he was feeling bad about being such a dip-wad to someone who reminded him of Melissa Gilbert. “You are a clumsy girl, and you keep spilling my water. Go home.”

But the girl was relentless. She accompanied him downhill once more. She even held his hand, which he liked. And she insisted on fetching his water.

After she filled the bucket, she tried hauling it uphill, same as before. And he let her try. Only this time she was clumsier. She kept falling. Water kept splattering. When he attempted to help her, she wouldn’t let him.

Once again she stumbled. Once again she hit the dirt. She even cried. When they reached the cabin, she collapsed again. Pure fatigue hit her. And the bucket was empty again.

The old man felt bad See DIETRICH, page A5

A5 October 28, 2020

2021 Alabama Hemp Grower Applications Now Available Contributed by Katie Nichols, Auburn University Hemp grower applications and processor/ handler applications are available for the 2021 growing season from Oct. 13 to Nov. 30. Applications can be found on the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) website (agi.alabama. gov/).

Applications Full applications, including supporting documents, must be completed before the Nov. 30 deadline to receive approval consideration. Seasoned and new growers alike must complete annual applications.

Katelyn Kesheimer, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System entomologist and member of the hemp

action team, anticipates the number of growers in Alabama will hold steady.

“In 2018-2019 there was a huge increase in the number of growers, both in Alabama and the U.S.,” she said. “In 2019-2020 there was still an increase, but it wasn’t as drastic.”

She anticipates approximately 500 applications, which is similar to the application number for the 2020 season.

Find more information about the grower applications on the Alabama Cooperative Extension System website (www.aces.edu).

Listening Sessions Kesheimer said extension professionals are offering three in-person sessions for those who need assistance with application completion.

“The sessions will be hybrid sessions with a limited number of people allowed to attend in person,” she said. “Others will be able to join on Zoom. Registration is free, but attendees must complete registration so attendees can choose to attend in-person or on Zoom.”

A representative from ADAI will also be present to answer questions regarding grower applications.

Thursday, Nov. 5 North Alabama Hemp Roundtable – (www. aces.edu/event/north-alabama-hemp-roundtable/) 9 – 11 a.m.

Camp Meadowbrook 2344 County Road 747 Cullman, Alabama 35058 Max attendees: 30

Friday, Nov. 13 Central Alabama Hemp Roundtable – (www.aces.edu/ event/central-alabama-hemp-roundtable/) 9 – 11 a.m.

Richard Beard Building 1445 Federal Drive Montgomery, Alabama 36107 Max attendees: 30 Friday Nov. 20 South Alabama Hemp Roundtable – (www. aces.edu/event/south-alabama-hemp-roundtable/) 9 – 11 a.m.

Wiregrass Research and Extension Center 167 AL-134 Headland, Alabama 36345 Max attendees: 33 Background Check Applicants and any key participants of a

partnership seeking a hemp license are still required to submit a current background check within 60 days of application. Checks are completed through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (334-3534340). The background check application can be found online. Growers must submit these reports no later than 14 days after the Nov. 30 deadline.

Requirement Changes Kesheimer said there are several changes for the 2021 growing season, including requiring a farm number for the farm growing hemp.

Growers can obtain a farm number from the local FSA office.

Other changes slated for implementation in 2021 can be found on the ADAI website.

Hemp Grower Applications Prior to completing the application, growers should read all rules and regulations regarding hemp production and handling. ADAI does not offer assistance with completing hemp grower applications and cannot offer guidance to individuals on production aspects of hemp.

County Extension offices can provide growers with the names of personnel who can assist with hemp production questions. Growers may also visit the Alabama Industrial Hemp Program webpage for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Growers will find resources, as well as personnel contacts.

Carver’s guide to preserving carved pumpkins Contributed by

Alabama Cooperative Extension System The ghoulish sights on the front steps this Halloween season should be a glowing Jack-O-Lantern creation, not a rotting pumpkin. Knowing how to best preserve both whole and carved pumpkins are essential to ensure they are fresh throughout the fall season.

“One of the biggest parts of preserving your pumpkin is selection,” said Alabama Extension regional home grounds agent, Jack LeCroy.

In order to pick a healthy pumpkin, make sure there are no cracks or blemishes present. Also be sure to feel the pumpkin for soft spots.

MARKLEY >> FROM A4

a nearby driver does not let him in until the trucker just makes it. Was the car owner self-centered or careless, fiddling with an electronic device, or lacking common courtesy? Maybe all three!

Commercial truck driving has attracted many songwriters whose lyrics are

DIETRICH>> FROM A4

about the way he’d behaved.

The next morning, she awoke to the smell of eggs and bacon.

The girl got out of the

“Soft spots could mean the pumpkin is already starting to rot, which will quickly decrease the lifespan of your pumpkins,” LeCroy said.

Rot will be the quickest detrimental factor for a carved pumpkin. It is important to store pumpkins in a location with good air circulation and dry conditions to avoid rot as much as possible.

“When planning your fall decorations, make sure to keep plants that will require watering away from your pumpkins to avoid any type of moisture buildup,” he said.

Placing the pumpkin in a shaded area would be best for its longevity. Sunlight can start to breakdown pumpkins faster. If there is a heavy frost in the forecast,

take care to cover them or bring them indoors.

Dry, shaded, cool temperatures and good air circulation are ideal conditions to help carved pumpkins thrive in decoration displays.

Just like whole pumpkins, selecting a healthy pumpkin is the first important step for preserving a carved pumpkin. To keep pumpkins fresh as long as possible, a soak in a bleach solution should do the trick.

LeCroy and his colleague Hannah Dykes, a regional home grounds agent, shared the following tips: 1. Rinse pumpkins with soapy water before carving.

2. Mix one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water in a bucket large enough to submerge the pumpkin.

3. Submerge pump-

kins in the water, holding it under the water for two minutes. Make sure to wear gloves!

4. After soaking, let the pumpkin air dry.

These pre-carving steps should help prevent microbial growth, which can set in fairly quickly and wilt the pumpkin.

Another way to prevent this is to spray the carved pumpkin with the same bleach mixture every day.

This will keep the carved flesh hydrated while keeping microbial growth from getting out of hand.

Lastly, while Halloween excitement builds as October continues, an important step to preserve the longevity of a carved pumpkin is not carve too early. Rot is yet another problem to avoid when carving a pumpkin. If you

carve too early in the season, rot is more likely to set in over time. Carved pumpkins are more likely to deteriorate quicker than whole pumpkins. These hollowed out spaces allow places for pests to burrow in and feast on the pumpkin as well.

After carving, make sure to smear the inside and outside of the pumpkin with petroleum jelly to keep it hydrated as well. If pests present an issue to your pumpkin, mix the petroleum jelly with hairspray, acrylic finish spray and Tabasco sauce.

Here are a few additional tips to keep carved pumpkins from wilting: 1. Instead of using real candles to light pumpkins, try using battery-operated lights.

2. If the pumpkin begins to wilt, you

can salvage it by soaking it in cold water. Fully submerge the pumpkin in cold water overnight. Its skin should come out rehydrated and ready to shine again. Make sure it is thoroughly dried before displaying again.

3. As an addition to using petroleum jelly, spray the outside of the pumpkin with clear acrylic spray. This provides another layer of defense against bacteria and pests.

Making sure pumpkins are prepped and ready for display will provide the perfect spooky addition to festive fall decorations.

For additional information on preserving pumpkins, visit the Alabama Extension website, www.aces. edu.

from sentimental to depressing, and many places in between. “Six Days on the Road,” (1964), penned by Dave Dudley, has been sung by various performers.

It starts with these lyrics: “Well I pulled out of Pittsburgh/I’m rollin down the Eastern Seaboard/I’ve got my diesel wound up/ She’s running like she never did before.” Do you recognize it from

those lyrics? Check it out on the web!

“Convoy” was a huge hit I often listened to in 1975 while driving to my first job as a supermarket clerk. It was written by Chip Davis and C.W. McCall, the first singer of the tune. It starts out: “Ah, breaker onenine/This here’s the Rubber Duck/You gotta come on me/ PigPen c’mon/Ah,

yeah 10-4, PigPen/fer shure.” There was a sequel to Convoy in 1976, called “Round the World with the Rubber Duck.” C.W. McCall turns 92 years old on Nov. 15.

Some people feel part of the “magic” of truck driving is lost; most Americans live in cities and all need trucks to deliver their goods. The halcyon days of driving on “open-range roads”

are rarer. Still, we can play a role in assisting truckers by following their lead to safety when we see accidents and construction.

What happened to the truck driver who swerved into my car on Election Day 2000 in Georgia? Did he finish his career and retire happily? Did he leave the pressures of driving and get a different job? I don’t

know. But so long as he has trucker songs nearby, he is one with the Convoy and his C.B. pals. He is lucky.

Greg Markley has lived in Lee County for 20 of the past 24 years. An award-winning journalist, he has master’s degrees in education and history.

He taught political science as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama.

cabin bed just in time for breakfast. The old man was so excited to have company that he was actually in a great mood.

After breakfast he handed her a leather bound book and said,

“I wondered if you wouldn’t read to me?

My wife once loved this book, and my old eyes can’t read it anymore.”

But there was only silence. The girl didn’t answer. Finally, she said, “I would, but I

can’t read.”

“What do you mean you can’t read?”

“Well, I’m blind,” she said.

The man was moved to tears. He took her into his arms. “Blind?

Land sakes, child!

You’ve been carrying my heavy buckets, working yourself silly, suffering for my sake, and your life is harder than mine. Why would anyone in their right mind do such a selfless thing for such a fool as

I?” The girl shrugged.

“Don’t ask me,” she said. “Sean Dietrich wrote this dumb story, and I’m just as confused as you are.”

Kids. What can you do?

A6 Oсtober 28, 2020

Keep Opelika Beautiful Announces the Harvest Home Competition Contributed by Keep Opelika Beautiful Keep Opelika Beautiful (KOB) announces the first Harvest Home Competition for residents of Opelika. Front porch-

es and yards will be judged based on autumn theme, creativity, arrangement and overall presentation. Participants are encouraged to use pumpkins, mums, baskets and other

items for decoration.

Homes can nominated by submitting one photo to KOB at tipi@keepopelikabeautiful.com.

Nominations will be accepted Nov. 1-13.

All photos will be

posted on the KOB Facebook page organized by city wards.

Votes will be counted by "likes" on the photos. This will take place from Nov. 1619. There will be one winner from each city

ward. Other awards will be given will be Creativity Award and Mayor’s Choice Award. Winners will be announced on Friday, Nov. 20.

Keep Opelika Beautiful is a non-profit

with the mission to educate the citizens on the importance of a beautiful and clean environment. The organization’s focus areas are beautification, litter prevention and recycling.

Auburn Public Library announces fall program lineup for adults Contributed by the City of Auburn The Auburn Public Library is pleased to announce an assortment of virtual programming for adults this fall. All programs will be held via Zoom and are free and open to the public.

New program offerings include a book club, adulting classes, NaNoWriMo meet-ups, and more! See a list below: Reader’s Review Book Club — The Reader’s Review Book Club is a book club for adults that will meet virtually so you can attend from the comfort of your own home! It meets the third Tuesday of every month at 5 p.m. and enjoys a variety of literary offerings and conversations.

Photo contributed by the City of Auburn

• Tuesday, Nov. 17Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi • Tuesday, Dec. 15House by the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune • Tuesday, Jan. 19- The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton • Tuesday, Feb. 16- The

Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins Adulting Classes — the library is offering a variety of classes on the skills adults need to navigate the world with aplomb. Most classes are on Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

• Tuesday, Nov. 3- Meal

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Planning • Tuesday, Nov. 10Budget Basics • Tuesday, Dec. 1Emotional Self-Care During the Holidays National Novel Writing Month — During the month of November, writers all over the globe

take on the challenge of completing a 50,000word novel in one month. One thing that makes this time special for writers is the opportunity to connect with other writers working toward the same goal. Join the Auburn Public Library in a series of virtual writeins and say hello to your fellow writers!

• Sunday, Nov. 1- Kickoff Event from 2 to 4 p.m.

• Tuesday, Nov. 3Write-In at noon • Thursday, Nov. 5Write-In at noon • Tuesday, Nov. 10Write-In at noon • Thursday, Nov. 12Write-In at noon • Tuesday, Nov. 17Write-In at noon • Thursday, Nov. 19Write-In at noon • Monday, Nov. 30-

City of Opelika starts new roadwork projects Contributed by the City of Opelika The city of Opelika and the engineering department would like to notify citizens about upcoming projects and roadwork during the coming weeks.

First Avenue Streetscape Project - Beginning as early as Monday, Oct. 19, the contractor for the First Avenue Streetscape project will begin working on phase 1 of the project.

This phase will be to replace the drainage and sidewalks along North Eighth Street from North Railroad Avenue to First Av-

enue. North Eighth Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between North Railroad Avenue and First Avenue. The through traffic on First Avenue will be closed at North Eighth Street as well.

Pedestrian traffic will be maintained and protected along North Eighth Street on both sides of the road in this area, as well as First Avenue.

All traffic and deliveries to First Avenue will need to come in from North Seventh Street.

Once the work on North Eighth Street is completed, this road will be re-opened to

STAY ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE SCAMMERS They steal billions from Americans like you every year. Fight back with the AARP Fraud Watch Network. It provides resources to help you spot and avoid scams and fraud so you can protect yourself and your family. Sign up to get watchdog alerts and stay up to date on con artists’ latest tricks. Because for over sixty years AARP has been committed to safeguarding Americans’ financial futures.

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Write-In at noon USA Today Bestselling Author Jess Michaels – The Auburn Public Library is pleased to host Bestselling Historical Romance Author Jess Michaels. She is the author of more than 80 historical romance novels and will give a talk called “Write Like You Mean It: How to Write Like a Full-Time Writer, Even If You Can’t Write Full-Time.” The event will be held virtually on Zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m.

To register for any of the programs above, check out the Auburn Public Library's calendar or email libraryevents@auburnalabama.org. All programs will be held via Zoom and are free and open to the public.

aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork /aarpfraudwatchnetwork | @aarpfraudwatch

traffic and the next phase of construction will begin on First Avenue. An additional traffic control and detour plan will be sent out at this time.

Lowndes Street Improvement Project - A contractor will begin drainage and roadway improvements on Lowndes Street between Dallas Avenue and Pepperell Parkway as early as Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. Roads will be closed around the work areas and local traffic will be required to use Spring Drive and its intersecting side streets around the construction.

Industrial Blvd.

Improvement Project - The temporary road closure for Industrial Boulevard between Lake Condy Road and Consumer Avenue is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, and last until 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. During this Closure, all traffic requiring access to Industrial Boulevard will need to use the detour signage along Market Street and Consumer Avenue.

If you have questions, contact City of Opelika Engineer Scott Parker at sparker@opelika-al.gov.

Opelika E vents, Society & Food

UPCOMING EVENTS Oct. 29 - Opelika Drive-Thru Trick or Treat from 6 to 9 p.m Oct. 30 - Auburn Drive-Thru Trick or Treat from 6 to 8 p.m.

Chili and cornbread, ideal combination for hearty meals during fall months ANN CIPPERLY

Southern

Hospitality

W

hen autumn evenings turn brisk, thoughts turn to hearty, comforting meals. Chili and cornbread are a perfect combination.

Chili can be prepared with a choice of meats and beans, or it can be vegetarian or without beans. Chili is a versatile dish; it can be cooked on a stovetop or slow cooker. Complete the meal with a sedge salad with blue cheese crumbles or autumn salad with pears, pecans and apple cider dressing.

When I was growing

up in Opelika, my mom made soups but hardly ever made chili. One of the best chilies I enjoyed was on a cold night after Don and I were married and spent a Friday night after his work riding a bus to Manhattan to visit his parents.

Don was in the Marine Corps when we got married and was stationed in Philadelphia to work in the computer department for the military. We were young and didn’t have much money. My parents gave us their old car.

Since Don worked

in the city, we had an apartment near work, but it didn’t have a parking garage. The only place to park the car was across the street in a public parking lot.

We had only been there for a few days when we went to our car, and it didn’t start. After checking under the hood, Don saw that the battery had been stolen. While we were waiting to have time to get a battery, we walked by the parking lot to see that all the tires on our car were gone!

This is one reason I don’t like cities and love the

Lucy’s Neil Cooper, Auburn’s 2020 Bartender Of The Year Contributed by A-O Tourism Six of Auburn’s most talented bartenders met at The Hotel at Auburn University for the 2020 Bartender of the Year Regional Competition on Monday, Oct. 19. The event was presented by the Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association.

Area bartenders entered the local competition hoping to advance to the state final. Competitors were judged on taste, accuracy, showmanSee COOPER, page A11

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Photo by Ann Cipperly Chili and cornbread go together for a popular meal during the fall months. Create a chili bar for serving by offering assorted toppings, including sour cream, grated cheddar and chunks of avocado. Offer baked potatoes for those who would like a chili stuffed potato. Complete the menu with a salad.

country!

I don’t know if it was because it had an Alabama tag, but soon afterwards the entire car was gone! So, since we no longer had a car, we took the bus.

Philadelphia is not that far from New York City, but when you are waiting in a bus station for a bus, then it is a long

time. We did not arrive at his parents’ until after dinner. Generally, his mom made fancy meals, but since they knew we would be late, she had chili made to reheat.

I was freezing when we arrived, as it was our first year there and I was wearing Alabama clothes that were suited for a mild winter. I can

remember how wonderful that hot chili tasted, and I have liked chili ever since.

Over the years, I have been a judge for several chili contests. Some of these that started early in the morning were not as easy to judge as others.

Fortunately, there would

See CIPPERLY, page A10

Jay & Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center’s New Alabama Artists Series begins Oct. 29 Contributed by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce The Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University is debuting a new series of live stream concerts showcasing some of Alabama's most talent-

ed and renowned musicians.

GPAC LIVE: Alabama Artists Series will feature performances

by John Paul White (Thursday, Oct. 29), Elley Duhé (Thursday, Nov. 19) and Eric Essix (Thursday, Dec. 3). All three concerts will be

broadcast live from the Woltosz Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are general admission and each performance is free to view with registration. For tickets, go to: goguecentertickets. auburn.edu/Online/default.asp.

A8 OŃ tober 28, 2020

DRIVE UP 'THINK PINK' EVENT HELD SATURDAY

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer The Spencer Cancer Center hosted a drive-thru 'Think Pink' event to raise breast cancer awareness.

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Opelika Listening sessions

Join The City of Opelika to discuss issues related to

diversity and inclusion OPELIKA MUNICIPAL COURTROOM · 5 - 7 P.M. 300 Martin Luther King BLVD.

Ward 3 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 Diversity and inclusion are important to the success of any community. Your voice matters. Please plan to take part in this meaningful discussion. Moderator will ask questions to engage residents in a thoughtful and productive community conversation.

Questions, contact City of Opelika, &RPPXQLW\ 5HODWLRQV 2̇FHU Leigh Krehling, lkrehling@opelika-al.gov.

Moderated by Leadership Empowerment Strategies i

A10 Oсtober 28, 2020

Auburn to host drive thru trick or treat Friday Contributed by the city of Auburn Are you ready for a spooky Halloween parade? In order to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines, the city of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department will host a Drive Thru Trick or Treat in lieu of Downtown Trick or Treat this year. Grab your best costumes and all members of your household. The event will take place on Friday, Oct. 30 from

6-8 p.m. at the Auburn Parks and Recreation Complex.

Members of the same household are

asked to ride together. Participants must arrive in their vehicles at the Drake Avenue entrance and will then

be directed around the Auburn Parks and Recreation Complex to get treats from city of Auburn employees,

firefighters and members of the community.

Participants are encouraged to dress up in their best Halloween

costumes and decorate their vehicles in the spookiest way. The week before the event, a map and directions will be posted on the city of Auburn website, Facebook and Instagram (@CityofAuburnAl). Individuals must remain in their vehicles at all times for this FREE outside public event.

For more information regarding this event, please contact Sarah Cook at scook@ aubuarnalabama.org or 334-501-2948.

Opelika Main Street to host Drive Thru Trick or Treat Event

station.

“This unique event is a way we can bring trick or treating to our community while maintaining social

distancing,” said Opelika Main Street Executive Director Ken Ward.

“Downtown businesses will also be showcased

ahead of the busy holiday shopping season.”

The event will run from 6-9 p.m. with the entrance at Avenue E

and South 7th Street.

There is no charge to attend the event.

Event sponsors include: Point Broad-

band, Arbor Springs Health and Rehab, Stone Martin Builders and the city of Opelika Parks and Recreation Department.

About Opelika Main Street: Founded in 1987, Opelika Main Street helps assist in the revitalization of historic downtown Opelika through facade grants, beatification projects, economic development efforts, business professional development programs and various community events. Learn more about Opelika Main Street by going to www.opelikamainstreet. org or by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

When I make chili, the seasonings are generally not hot. I prefer to taste the combination of flavors. I like to keep the ingredi-

ents for chili on hand to make on a cool or rainy day. The canned items can be stored in the pantry, while the meat is frozen then

quickly thawed in the microwave.

Look over the following variety of chili and cornbread recipes with a couple of good

salads. I think you will want to clip and save all these recipes.

Chili and cornbread with an assortment of toppings are always

great to serve while watching football games.

Ann Cipperly can be reached at recipes@ cipperly.com.

Contributed by Opelika Main Street Opelika Main Street will be celebrating the Halloween season on Oct. 29 with the first-ever Downtown Opelika Drive Thru Trick or Treat event.

This event, presented

by Point Broadband, will allow families to drive through a select portion of Historic Downtown Opelika, receiving candy while in their cars.

Attendees are encouraged to decorate their cars, and all are required to stay in their cars through the entire route. Halloween music will also be played at the event by iHeart Radio over a special radio

CIPPERLY

>>

FROM A7

always be one that stood out with a perfect blend of flavors.

A11 October 28, 2020

Dear Readers and Community, First, thank you Opelika Observer, for allowing us this opportunity to reach out to the community and our sponsors to share our thoughts with them.

To say I’m bursting with gratitude and appreciation right now would be an understatement.

Five years ago I was honored and privileged to become a founder of The Opelika Theatre Company, with Libby Herring, Betty Johnston, Abby Rush and Steve Rush.

Starting a business, especially a theatre and a 501 (3) c organization, without financial support and backing is virtually impossible. With the help of a dear friend in Memphis, TN, who writes and directs short Murder Mystery plays,

she agreed to provide us with material to hold our first Murder Mystery fundraiser which was a huge success and the rest is history.

That success nudged us to Mrs. Barbara Patton, Director of Community Foundation of East Alabama and Envision.

We explained our ideas and plans to Ms. Barbara and she agreed to help us by becoming our mentor and guidance advisor.

We knew there were many who doubted the success of a community theatre in Opelika. However, we were persistent to prove them wrong.

We faced so many obstacles and challenges.

We persevered and we have overcome. Today, 5 1/2 years later we are still here. We are becoming a viable, visible,

vibrant organization in the community providing opportunities for everyone - from the very young to the very old.

We are a “safe place” for people of all walks of life. We embrace diversities, differences, disabilities, ideas and opinions.

OTC benefits the Lee County Community, and also incorporates and involves people from surrounding communities such as Russell, Chambers and Macon Counties. We also have people from GA benefiting from our theatre - especially our youth program.

Since March 17, OTC has been shut down, as well as every entertainment, performing arts venue, and theatre across this country due

to this awful Covid-19.

Broadway will not reopen until at least September 2021. Such a devastating tragedy to the entire country. Only two theatres within a 50-mile radius here have stepped out to reopen their doors, and OTC is one of those theatres. We could not attempt this endeavor without the full support of our cast members, their parents, and our staff.

With a lot of social distancing in place, hand sanitizers, masks and keeping our facility wiped down, we have managed to move forward and move on. We have faced challenges and obstacles; we’ve learned and corrected every step we have made.

We have faced the odds; we have overcome, and we're stronger than ever.

We wrapped up 6 performances of ADDAMS FAMILY to full audiences for each performance these past two weekends. We were able to do this because of YOU, our community; YOU, our sponsors; YOU, The City of Opelika; our Parents; You, our Staff; YOU, our Cast and YOU, Mayor Gary Fuller.

Without your support and belief in us, we would have shut our doors for good on March 17.

This letter is to thank ALL of YOU from the bottom of our hearts for your support, donations, sponsors’ dollars, attendance and time you have given us.

We need more people to join our ranks and audition for our shows. We

need people of diversity to come and share their talents and skills. We have auditions for GODSPELL on Nov. 6 and 7; and for Descendants, The Disney Musical , on Jan. 15. Please go to our website www. opelikatheatrecompany. com, or call 334-6634580 or 334-663-2593 for more information about what OTC has on the horizon for you and the community.

Again, thank you for supporting us these past five years. We look forward to providing quality community theatre entertainment for many years to come and for your future support.

Sincerely, Marty Moore, Executive Artistic Director Opelika Theatre Company

COOPER

ulations to: 1st Place: Neil Cooper, Lucy’s 2nd Place: Nick Ware, Lower Lounge (Montgomery) 3rd Place: Brandon Howard, The Hound

Neil will join other regional winners in Montgomery on Nov. 2, for the state competition. The winner will be crowned Alabama’s 2020 Bartender of the Year and

take home the trophy and $1,500 grand prize.

The competition was not open to the public this year due to COVID-19. The annual competition is

sponsored by Old Forester, United-Johnson Brothers of Alabama and Sculpture Hospitality. Special thanks to Auburn-Opelika Tourism for being a sponsor of the region-

al competition.

For more information contact Shea Perkins, senior director of membership, at sperkins@arhaonline. com or call 334-2441320.

>>

FROM A7

ship, crowd interaction and speed. The top three finalists received cash prizes and awards. Congrat-

A12 Oсtober 28, 2020

RECIPES CHILI BAR Select an assortment of accompaniments for the chili bar, including sour cream, grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, chopped green or red onions, sliced jalapenos, chopped avocado, diced tomatoes, corn chips, baked potatoes and cornbread. Instead of baked potatoes, rice is also good to serve with chili.

ROSITHA'S WHITE CHILI WITH BEANS AND CORN Deborah Price Williams 2 medium onions, chopped 2 garlic cloves, pressed 1 Tbsp. oil 2 cups chopped cooked chicken 3 cups chicken broth 1/4 cup (or more) cilantro 2 Tbsp. (or more) lime juice 1 tsp. cumin 1/2 tsp. oregano 1/4 tsp. pepper sauce 1/4 tsp. salt 11 oz. can shoe peg corn, drained 15 oz. can northern beans, drained 1 can butter beans, drained Sauté onions and garlic in oil in Dutch oven until tender. Add remaining ingredients and simmer.

BETTY’S HOMEMADE CHILI Betty Traylor 2 Tbsp. oil 1 small onion, chopped 2 lb. ground round 1 pkg. McCormick’s Mild Chili Mix 1 pkg. McCormick’s Hot Chili Mix 28 oz. can tomatoes with juice 1 can light kidney beans, do not drain 15. oz. can pinto beans, do not drain 15 oz. can tomato sauce Salt and pepper to taste Sauté onion in oil; add ground round and brown. Drain off liquid.

Add chili mixes and then remaining ingredients.

Simmer chili approximately 10 minutes and then put in crockpot on low. Serve with crackers and cornbread.

SOUTHERN CORNBREAD Betty Traylor 2 cups White Lily self-rising corn meal 1½ cups buttermilk, enough to make batter thin ¼ cup margarine, melted 1 egg Mix then bake in greased pan as directed on back of corn meal package.

TURKEY OR BEEF CHILI WITH SAUSAGE Allison Drake 1 lb. ground turkey or lean ground beef ½ lb. Italian sausage 1 medium yellow onion, diced 1 bell pepper, diced 1 Tbsp. flour

4 cups low sodium beef broth 1 can black beans 1 can pinto beans 1 can diced tomatoes 1 can crushed tomatoes 1 can Rotel tomatoes 1 small can tomato paste 1 packet chili seasoning 1 bay leaf Brown meat and drain excess fat. Add in onions and peppers until tender.

Add flour and stir; allow to cook for 1 to 2 minutes.

Slowly add broth and continue to stir.

Add in the remaining ingredients and simmer on low for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Enjoy with homemade cornbread or grilled cheese!

AUTUMN SALAD WITH PEARS, PECANS AND APPLE CIDER DRESSING Jenny Jenkins Dressing: 4 cups apple cider (will be cooked down) ¼ cup apple cider vinegar 2 Tbsp. grated onion 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds 1 cup extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper Salad: Two 5 oz. bags mixed salad greens 12 oz. soft goat cheese, crumbled 1½ cups pecans or walnuts ½ cup dried cranberries Fresh pear slices Boil apple cider in heavy, large saucepan until reduced to ½ cup, about 25 minutes (watch closely as it will burn quickly just before it is ready). It will be thick and syrupy.

Transfer to medium bowl and chill until cold.

Add vinegar, onion, mustard and poppy seeds. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Toss greens, cheese, pecans and fruits in bowl with enough dressing to coat. This recipe makes enough dressing for several salads and keeps well in refrigerator.

FRESH WEDGE SALAD A popular restaurant salad that is easy to prepare at home.

1 large head iceberg lettuce Blue cheese or ranch dressing Blue cheese crumbles or other favorite cheese Grape tomatoes, sliced Bacon, crispy cooked Slice lettuce into wedges. Place on salad plates or platter for serving. Top with homemade or quality purchased blue cheese or ranch dressing. Sprinkle blue cheese crumbles over dressing, if

desired.

TUTT’S TACO CHILI Tutt Barrett The chili is good served plain with Spoon Bread or offered with assorted toppings such as grated cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions and corn chips.

1 1/2 lb. ground beef chuck Two 10 oz. cans diced tomatoes with chilies, not drained 16 oz. can chili beans, not drained 16 oz. can dark red kidney beans 15.25 oz. can Southwestern corn with peppers, drained 15.8 oz can white hominy, drained 10 oz. can mild enchilada sauce 1 oz. packet taco seasoning mix Preheat large nonstick skillet on medium high 2 to 3 minutes. Place beef in pan and brown 5 to 7 minutes, stirring to crumble meat until no pink remains.

Drain fat. Stir in taco seasoning mix.

Combine remaining ingredients in slow cooker; stir in meat. Cover and cook on high 3 to 4 hours or low 6 to 8 hours.

Spoon Bread Tutt Barrett 1 box Jiffy mix 1 stick butter, melted 2 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup sour cream 1 large can creamed corn 1 small can whole kernel corn, drained 1/2 tsp. salt Grease baking pan.

Mix ingredients and bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.

TEXAS STEAK CHILI Amy Aston This is a Texas style chili without beans. If your family likes beans, or if you want to feed a larger crowd, add your favorite beans.

1 lb. sirloin steak, cut into 1/2 inch cubes 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper 1/2 cup chopped orange bell pepper 1 small chopped jalapeño 2 Tbsp. canola oil 1 pkg. McCormick chili mix 2 cans diced tomatoes 1 qt. container beef broth Pinch of cayenne pepper to taste, optional Pinch of white pepper to taste, optional In a large skillet cook steak, onion and peppers in canola oil over medium heat until meat is brown.

Cook in a slow cooker for 6 to 8 hours or simmer for a couple hours on the stove.

If it's too acidic, add a pinch of sugar and simmer for another 10 minutes.

Top with shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream for a hearty meal. Makes about 6 servings.

CHILI James Gilbert Popular at home and the Auburn Fire Station 1 lb. ground beef 80/20 1 pkg. chili seasoning, any brand 1 can navy beans, drained 1 can kidney beans, drained 2 cans petite diced tomatoes Salt and pepper Brown hamburger meat and drain. Add all other ingredients, and salt and pepper to taste. Add as much water as you want the consistency. For thicker chili add less water and more for a soupy mixture.

Simmer on medium heat 30 minutes to an hour. The longer it cooks, the more the flavors will blend and the better it will taste.

Can simmer in a crock-pot for a few hours.

CHICKEN CHILI STEW Phoebe Branch Delicious served with a slice of Cheesy Pimento Cornbread!

6 Tbsp. canola oil 4 green onions, chopped 1/2 cup each red and green peppers 1 Tbsp. minced garlic 1 rotisserie chicken, torn into pieces 2 cans (14.5 oz.) petite diced tomatoes 2 cans (16 oz.) white cannelloni beans, rinsed and drained 1 (16 oz.) jar prepared salsa 1 can Rotel 2 Tbsp. chili powder Toppings: pepper jack or cheddar cheese, sliced black olives, sour cream and fresh chopped cilantro.

In a large Dutch oven, heat oil medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic and peppers. Cook 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in next 6 ingredients.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 30 to 40 minutes.

Spoon into bowls and add desired toppings. Makes 8 generous servings.

CHEESY PIMIENTO CORNBREAD Phoebe Branch 1/4 cup butter 1 1/4 cups stone ground yellow cornmeal 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. black pepper 4 oz. extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1 1/4 cups buttermilk 2 eggs 1 (4 oz.) jar diced pimientos, well drained Place butter in a 9-inch cast-iron skillet. Place skillet in the oven and begin to preheat to 425 degrees. Remove the skillet after about 4 minutes or when

butter is melted.

Combine cornmeal and the next 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk together buttermilk, eggs and pimientos. Add to the dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Pour the batter over the melted butter in the hot skillet.

Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 8-10 servings.

CORNBREAD MUFFINS Mary Hodson Canola oil 2 cups Martha White buttermilk self-rising cornmeal ¾ cup buttermilk ½ cup water ¼ cup canola oil Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Use cast iron muffin tins.

Pour small amount of canola oil in each cup. Heat pans until smoking.

While heating pans, combine 2 cups Martha White buttermilk self-rising cornmeal with 3/4 buttermilk and ½ cup water. Mix well.

Add ¼ cup canola oil and mix well.

Batter should be about the consistency of cake batter. If not, add more water to thin.

Pour mixture into hot, smoking pans about ¾ full. You should hear the pan sizzle if it’s hot enough. Cook for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 12 muffins.

PICKY EATERS CHILI Deborah Maxine Danford 1 lb. ground beef or venison 2 cans tomato sauce 2 cans light kidney beans, drained 2 cans crushed tomatoes 1 large can tomato paste Chili powder to taste Brown meat and drain. Pour all cans in pot and add meat. Add chili powder to your taste. Simmer for about 30 to 45 minutes and serve.

EASY WHITE CHICKEN CHILI 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2-3 cloves garlic, minced 2 small cans diced green chilies 3 cans white northern beans, drained and rinsed 2 to 3 cups chicken broth 2 Tbsp. cumin or to taste 2 to 3 cups chopped cooked chicken Salt to taste Sauté onion in olive oil; add garlic.

Add beans, green chilies, cumin, broth and chicken. Cook on low for an hour or place in crockpot on low. Mash some of the beans for a thick mixture.

Good topped with sour cream and grated Monterey Jack

cheese. Recipe is easy to double.

SONIA’S SLOW COOKER CHILI 3 lbs. ground beef 1 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 pkg. chili mix 2 cans crushed tomatoes 2 cans chili beans Salt and pepper to taste Brown meat with onion and garlic. Place in crock-pot with remaining ingredients. Cook on low 4 to 5 hours.

CHILI WITHOUT BEANS 1 lb. ground beef 1 large onion, chopped 1 or 2 gloves garlic, minced Salt and pepper to taste 1 to 3 Tbsp. chili powder, depending on taste 1 Tbsp. vinegar 8 oz. can tomato sauce Water Brown ground beef with onion, garlic, salt and pepper; drain off fat. Add chili powder, vinegar and tomato sauce. Add enough water for the amount of thickness desired.

Simmer 1 hour.

EASY BLACK BEAN CHILI 3 cans black beans 1 large sweet onion, chopped 1 lb. ground beef 4 tsp. chili powder or to taste 1 tsp. ground cumin 1/2 tsp. pepper 1/4 tsp. salt 14 oz. can chicken broth Two (14.5 oz.) cans Rotel tomatoes Rinse and drain 2 cans black beans. Do not drain third can.

Sauté chopped onion and ground beef. Stir in chili powder and next 3 ingredients: sauté 1 minute. Stir in all beans, broth and Rotel. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes.

Serve with desired toppings.

VEGETARIAN CHILI 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil 2 cups chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped yellow bell pepper 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 1/2 Tbsp. chili powder 1 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. dried oregano 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper 2 (16 oz.) cans stewed tomatoes, not drained 2 (15 oz.) cans black beans, drained and rinsed 1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell peppers and garlic; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add sugar and remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.

A13 October 28, 2020

B

efore there was an internet with an Amazon Wish List and other wish list sites, there was the Sears-Roebuck catalog.

For people growing up in my time, this functioned as our wish list. (In fact, I think the Christmas catalog was called The Wish Book.)

My father was an engineer—a man given to practicality. Every year around Thanksgiving he would tell us we had $25 to spend for Christmas, point to the catalog and tell us to knock ourselves out. What may have been lacking in charm and mystique at our house during the season was at least partially compensated by certainty in regard to what we would be receiving.

I remember poring over the catalog’s pages and forming attachments to various items.

I would begin listing what I wanted and inevitably end up with a total that was about ten

Church Calendar • Central Baptist Church Children’s Ministry Harvest Supper and Treats Drive Thru Festival Oct. 29 at Central Baptist Church located at 1611 2nd Ave. in Opelika Beginning at 5 p.m.

A sack supper with a bag of treats will be provided for each participant in the vehicle.

Please enter from 16th Place to drive around Church to exit on 2nd Ave. Mask will be worn by the staff in order to keep our community safe.

• 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 inperson 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

Prayer and Humility times more than my budget.

I would then painstakingly whittle down the list until the items and the amount were in harmony.

Then I would wait in anticipation.

Despite the fact that I had picked exactly what I wanted, my present rarely matched my expectations. After the newness wore off, whatever it was became just one more thing and disappeared into the closet or under the bed. But I was a child, and how often do children really know what they want? They just think they do.

Mark tells us that James and John asked Jesus for something, while Matthew tells us it was their mother.

It could be that these things happened relatively close together yet separately, or maybe they put their mother up to asking for them. Whatever the case, the request was that James and John be given

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

the places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom. Christ told them in no uncertain terms they didn’t know what they were asking for. God told Israel the same kind of thing when they told Him they wanted a king. The truth is, adults don’t always know what they really want.

They just think they do.

In Numbers 32, two tribes of Israel (later joined by half the tribe of Manasseh) asked Moses to let them settle in land outside of Canaan (i.e.,

the east side of the Jordan River). There’s no doubt that it was good land, but it certainly wasn’t as good as what God had in mind for them.

Additionally, they would be separated from the rest of the tribes by the Jordan.

Nevertheless, God gave them what they asked for just as He later gave Israel a king.

He also allowed them to send spies into the land of Canaan when they requested that (Deuteronomy 1), and that didn’t work out very well for them. Even though people don’t know what they are asking for, God will sometimes grant their request.

Our Father isn’t playing games with us, He’s trying to teach us to think more deeply about what we ask for rather than treating Him like the Sears catalog or an Amazon Wish List (James 4:2-3). And while this is a great place to start, it’s not where we want to finish. While being

ABOUT BRUCE GREEN more reflective is helpful, the simple truth is there will still be occasions when “We do not know what we ought to pray for” (Romans 8:26).

We need to thank God for the intercession of the Spirit and buffer our prayers with the confession of our limitations, acknowledgement that God knows best, and the request for “Your will be done.”

We pray “Your will be done” because as we grow in faith, we come to realize that prayer isn’t about getting our will approved in heaven as much as it is getting God’s will accomplished on Earth.

That’s the way our Lord understood prayer (Matthew 26), and we want to follow in His steps.

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

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."

— 1 Corinthians 10:26

Church Directory 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

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

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

METHODIST Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800 Beulah United Methodist

PRESBYTERIAN Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889

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

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

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

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

A14 Oсtober 28, 2020

OBITUARIES Nancy Lowe Hildreth 1941 – 2020 Nancy Lowe Hildreth of Columbus, Georgia was born to the late Collie and Seaborn Lowe in LaFayette, Alabama on Dec. 11, 1941 and passed away on Oct. 20, 2020 at St. Francis Hospital. She was 78 years old.

She was a member of Hopewell Primitive Baptist Church, and was a loving wife and

mother.

Nancy was preceded in death by her sister, Vivian Stephens; brother, Charles Lowe.

She was survived by her husband of 58 and a half years, William “Alin” Hildreth; son, William “Paul” Hildreth (Eva); granddaughter, Chloe Hildreth; sisters, Alice Sasser, Ethel Conway, Reba Smith (Kenneth), Grace Lowe, Sheila Potts (Chris), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members.

A graveside service

was held at 10 a.m. on Oct. 23, 2020 at Penton Church of God Cemetery with Elder Asa Mosley officiating.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to: Hopewell Primitive Baptist Church 321 Samford Ave. Opelika, AL. 36801

Robert Lee Campbell Robert Lee Campbell, 80, of Beaure-

gard, Alabama passed away Oct. 22, 2020.

Graveside service was on Oct. 25, 2020 at 2 p.m. at Garden Hill Cemetery. The family received friends for viewing, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.

Mr. Campbell was born on Feb. 14, 1940 in Gadsden, Alabama to R.L. and Ruth Campbell.

He graduated from Emma Sansom High School in 1958, after which he moved to Opelika, Alabama, and retired from

Uniroyal Tire after 33 years of service.

He is survived by his two sons Kerry (Rhonda) Campbell and Shane (Tara) Campbell; special friend Teresa Myhand; siblings Joe Campbell, Jan (Jimmy) Perkins, Randy (Susan) Campbell; grandchildren Reid, Chandler, Lofton, Tanner, Langley, Lunden; great-granddaughter Blakely; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded

in death by his parents and his loving wife of 42 years, Virginia Whatley Campbell.

Mr. Campbell was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

He dedicated much time supporting his grandchildren and traveling with the Opelika Recycled TeenAgers. Robert will be dearly missed by his family, the hearts he touched, and the Beauregard community.

A15 October 28, 2020

Letter to the Community

Log a Load for 2020 was originally planned for May 2 at the Oak’s, due to the pandemic surrounding our lives we chose to cancel the event. I want to thank everyone for their generosity that is extended each

year to provide a huge donation that is 100% donated to the CHIPS center for the Alabama Children’s Hospital of Birmingham. The Log A Load of 2019 brought $52,103.06 and once again the Piedmont District

took away the win for the largest amount at a wonderful one day event. Children’s of Alabama and I have figured out a way to do an online event so we can once again raise money for a wonderful establishment, Children’s of

Alabama in Birmingham CHIPS center.

The letter provided and online link will allow you to make a generous donation and also receive a shirt of your choice.

The shirt will be mailed to the address you provide online or

in the mail in form.

We will continue to update you on any planned events for 2021.

Order online at www.give.childrensal.org/LAL2020 or mail forms to: Children’s of Ala-

bama Field Office/Carmen Maddox P.O. Box 978 Dothan, Al 36302 Thank you from my heart - Mandy Cain, Director of Piedmont District Log a Load in Alabama.

Dear friends of the Piedmont Log A Load for Kids region, We had great hopes to host our annual LALFK events in person, but due to the uncertainty of the spread of COVID-19, we have decided to officially postpone in-person events to 2021. Mandy Cain and her committee have been working hard to make the best of our circumstances and to continue to show support for Children’s of Alabama and the Children’s Hospital Intervention and Preventative Services (CHIPS) Center. Log A Load for Kids has been supporting Children’s of Alabama since 1992 through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and has committed funds to the CHIPS center since 1995. These funds are crucial in helping to promote the hope and healing for those affected by child abuse and neglect.

This year we would like to ask for your support in the form of an mail-in giving campaign that will still directly benefit CHIPS. By mailing in the bottom portion of this letter, you will be able to purchase a t-shirt in support of the fund, or simply make a one-time donation of your choosing.

We are grateful for your continued support because the reality is KIDS CAN’T WAIT… for treatment, for a curve to flatten or for a cure.

They need you more than ever!! We hope to see everyone gathering together again in 2021!

Thank you for your commitment to help us care for local kids in your community and beyond!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Piedmont LALFK Fundraiser

Name:

Email:

Full Mailing Address: Shirts are $20 for short sleeve coral or charcoal and $25 for long sleeve sapphire. Please select your color and choose from sizes Adult Small-Adult 3XL. Multiple shirts may be ordered, just please be sure to specify under each color selection. Deadline to order is Nov. 23rd Please make checks to "Children's of Alabama" and include order form and check in enclosed envelope.

Coral: Charcoal: Sapphire: One Time Donation: Questions: please email Carmen Maddox: carmen.maddox@childrensal.org

A16 Oсtober 28, 2020

COMICS

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

S

S

Big Plays Bounce Beulah

By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com

On the Mark

By D. Mark Mitchell

Opelika beats Park Crossing, finish with perfect Region Record

T

he OHS Bulldog Football Team (7-2, R-7-0) beat Park Crossing (4-5, R-34) 35-7 last Friday at Bulldog Stadium.

Opelika is open this week and will prepare for a home playoff game on Friday, Nov. 6 against Helena or Wetumpka.

The Dawgs scored 21 first half points and 14 in the second half.

The defense scored the first touchdown when Trevon Moore picked up a Thunderbird fumble and returned it four yards for a score with 2:50 left in the first quarter.

JD Tolbert ran 12 yards for the second touchdown with 9:20 left in the second quarter.

Quarterback Malik Finley threw a 9-yard pass to Grady Bynum with 5 minutes left in the half. Baker Rowton made all three PAT’s.

Park Crossing’s DeMarcus Harris returned an interception 26 yards for their only score of the night. The PAT was good, making it 21-7 at halftime.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, but OHS added two

touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Tolbert scored his second touchdown on a 9-yard run with 11:16 left on the clock. Malik Finley threw his second touchdown pass to Grady Bynum, a 23-yarder to end the scoring. Rowton added both extra points, Making the score 35-7.

The Bulldogs outgained PC in total yards, 248 to 92. The Thunderbirds did not score on offense and only picked up three first downs.

Despite OHS playing tough defense, it’s worth mentioning PCHS played with its thirdstring quarterback. The starter suffered a season-ending injury early in the year. The second quarterback tragically died in an ATV accident after week 3.

Individual stats: Malik Finley completed 13 of 27 passes for 156 yards.

JD Tolbert rushed for 68 yards on six attempts.

Eric Watts caught a pass for 53 yards.

Grady Bynum caught two passes for 41 yards and two touchdowns.

The entire defensive See SPORTS , page B5

Inside • opelika schools • lee county schools • community sports

Nov. 10 - Lee County School Board Meeting at 6 p.m. at 2410 Society Hill Road

Looking to get their second win of the season in as many weeks, the Beulah Bobcats (16) traveled to face the Dadeville Tigers (6-3) on Friday but were undone by big plays and bounced from Tiger Stadium with a 41-0 defeat.

It was a tough night all around for Beulah as the Bobcats struggled to get anything going on off ense while the Tigers took a 20-0 lead before their off ense even took the fi eld.

Beulah was forced to punt on the fi rst possession of the game and that’s when the Tigers began their

big play bombardment. Dadeville’s Philstavious Dowdell returned the punt 55 yards for the score.

Things quickly soured for the Bobcats, as their next two offensive possessions ended in two Dadeville pick sixes.

The Tigers put pressure on Beulah quarterback Kaleb Abney all night and limited

him and the Bobcat offense to just 30 yards of passing. Abney did find some success running the ball, finishing with 15 carries for 40 yards.

After falling into a three-score deficit, the Beulah defense finally had their opportunity to make their mark on the game. However, the See BEULAH, page B3

Hornets Fall in Season Finale

By Rick Lanier Opelika Observer

Thursday night’s 28-0 loss to St. AnnPacelli (Columbus, GA) closed the book on the high school

careers of 12 graduating seniors who played their final high school football game and with a puff of the cheeks brought an end to another Hornet football season, one

like we have never witnessed before.

A month from now, no one will likely remember the wins and losses of football in 2020. Instead, they will remember

the leadership and guidance displayed by the Governor of our great state, the Alabama High School Athletics Association, See HORNETS, page B3

Smiths Station lose to Dothan in last-minute thriller

By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com

On senior night in Dothan the Smiths Station Panthers (3-6) took a late fourth quarter lead but ultimately fell in heartbreaking fashion to the Dothan Wolves (2-6), 35-31.

Trailing for most of the game, the Panthers finally took the lead on an emphatic 20-yard touchdown pass from Corey Minton to Devyn Pearman with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter.

Smiths had a 31-28 lead as Dothan took the field for a potential game-winning drive.

Plagued by penalties all night, the Wolves’ ensuing possession started with an unsportsmanlike penalty

that backed the offense up deep. Still, in an unfavorable outcome for the Panthers, Dothan quarterback Bauer Sharp found Jayden Folmar for a 50-yard bomb that the wide receiver brought in at the Smiths’s 20-yard line.

The two would connect one more time, this one to win the game. Sharp hit Folmar for a 10-yard touchdown on a fade route to the back of the endzone to regain the lead for Dothan. With 35 seconds left in the game, the Panthers were behind again.

Smiths had one final drive and moved the ball to near midfield, but the game ended on a non-threatening incomplete pass that was far from the end zone.

The Wolves led for most of the night and carried a 21-17 lead into half time. After Smiths fumbled in their own territory in the third quarter, Dothan capitalized on their mistake with a wide receiver pass for a touchdown that completely caught the Panther defense off guard. The Wolves had a 28-17 lead and looked to take control of the game on their next offensive possession. However, turnovers plagued both teams on the night and Dothan fumbled the ball, turning it over to Smiths at midfield. A few plays later, Minton scored from 19 yards out to make it a fourpoint game once again, 28-24.

The teams remained deadlocked until the fabled last minutes. In its entirety, the game would have been an offensive shootout had it not been for turnovers and penalties. Dothan scored on all but one drive and the Panthers only failed to register points on two of their possessions.

For Smiths, the scores of the night came from a Jhameir Gore 4-yard rushing touchdown, a 21yard screen pass from Minton to Ahmari Peabody, a field goal from Joshua Childs, a 19-yard rushing touchdown by Minton and a 20-yard pass to Pearman.

See SMITHS , page B4

B2 October 28, 2020

PLAYER OF THE WEEK The City of Opelika is proud to sponsor the Opelika High School Player of the Week.

Senior MLB/DE B.J. Snellgrove with a team-high 15 tackles and multiple big hits

We applaud you for your HARD WORK and DEDICATION ŽŶ ĂŶĚ Žī ƚŚĞ ĨŽŽƚďĂůů ĮĞůĚ͘

Grady Bynum, who caught two passes for 41 yards and two touchdowns

IT’S THE OPELIKA WAY.

GO DAWGS! #myOpelika • #beOpelika www.opelika-al.gov 2018 observer

Beauregard’s Football Player of the Week

SENIOR QB GAVIN PRITCKETT (13-23, 77 YARDS AND 1 INT) AND SENIOR RB TRENT JONES (12 CARRIES FOR 60 YARDS) FRESHMAN WR/DB THET MORRIS WHO HAD 2 CATCHES FOR 25 YARDS AND A TEAM-HIGH 4 TACKLES ON DEFENSE.

Sponsored by Goree’s Furniture Express

3797 AL Highway 169, Opelika 334-742-0607

B3 October 28, 2020

As Time Passes I Still Remember You

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

A

s I was dusting my bookshelf, I came upon a clock that I have cherished for 25 years. A gold plaque sits at the bottom of the clock, which says “As time Passes I still Remember You!” It came from the hands of one of my first graders, who had the kindest heart. This little boy, when we would go to recess, would pull a little chair up by me and would ask me to pray for his family, friends and world events. This child was truly beyond his years. Even though as a busy teacher I was very concerned about other students playing on the playground at recess, I knew this was a God assignment that

BEULAH >> FROM B1 Tigers had more big plays in store.

After Beulah were denied on their only red zone trip of the night, Dadeville closed out the half on offense with a 96-yard drive. A 50-yard passing touchdown gave the Tigers a 34-0 lead at the break.

Coming out of the half, Dadeville would receive the ball and Beulah were hopeful to put up more of a fight in the last two quarters. However, the Tigers had other plans and the final big play of Dadeville’s night came on the ensuing kickoff.

Dowdell returned the second half kickoff 80 yards for his second special teams score of the night to give Dadeville the 41-0 lead which they would see out from there.

would take time. Time spent with a child spells LOVE. I am so thankful for the teachers who took extra time with me.

October is “National Clock Month.” As teachers, we teach telling time with paper plate clocks, big wooden clocks, little wooden clocks, watches, etc.

Reference to “Father time” personifies time as a sweet, elderly gentleman dressed in a long robe with a beard, holding a scythe in one hand and an hourglass in the other hand. Too, we are gently reminded that with Daylight Saving Time, on Sunday, Nov. 1, our clocks are to be turned back one hour.

During this year of 2020 – of the pandemic The win clinched the first playoff berth for Dadeville since 2015. Beulah’s side of things was bleak and there were few bright spots. T.J Washington had 16 carries for 40 yards and two of Abney’s passes found Thet Morris for 25 yards. Morris also led the defense with four tackles on the night.

Speaking of defense, they did their best to keep things close – at least on the stat sheet.

The Bobcats held the Tigers to 184 yards of total offense, but that still far outgained Beulah’s 98 total yards.

Beulah finishes what has been a difficult regular season next week in a non-region away game against LaFayette (4-4). The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

CST at 214 1st Ave SE, LaFayette, Alabama 36862.

– time has taken on a very new meaning. We have seen the value of true focused-in time spent with our children.

Yes, many families have had to re-juggle work schedules and activity schedules to take care of their children at home as they go to school virtually with their teachers. As a teacher, I can reflect on the many class days that I have been so caught up with lesson planning, setting up language, math, science, social studies, art, music and grading papers that when I come upon day’s end, I reflect back: did I truly spend time with each student for that day or was I focused more on the “to dos”?

The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 6:7 how we should teach our children. “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.” God provides time needed for us to teach our children.

Children grow up so quickly. By the time parents and grandparents turn around, our children are grown.

I think parents and grandparents agree that we wish we could turn back the clock hands

to spend more time with our children. This is why as a teacher of young children, I lovingly suggest spending as much precious time interacting with infants, toddlers, two’s and preschoolers. “Take time out for parenthood.”

The importance of spending time with your children creates so many benefits that helps them in life.

1. Spending one-onone time with children strengthens a trusted bond between you and them for a lifetime.

Time spent with a young child or children is something they will always remember. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or plan so many activities in their lives to keep them happy. Talking and listening to young children, singing with young children or walking and taking a simple autumn nature hunt with young children builds bonds of happiness. Too, a simple hug from Mom or Dad can crown your young child with joy, happiness and security.

If you have more than one child, set a day in a week where it is that you and that child can spend time together.

Maybe just you and that child sharing a lunch together, a dessert together, a walk together, sharing a story together,

etc. The same can be done with your older children with activities appropriate for their age.

2. Spending time with your child says to them that they are so important to you as their parent or grandparent. This builds their self-esteem; it affirms that they are special and unique. As parents and grandparents this is special time that we can embrace how God made a child with their uniqueness, individualism, talents and gifts. “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

-Psalm 139:14.

3. Spending time with your children offers an opportunity to get to know how your children feel. We remember the song “Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You” from Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s musical, “The King and I”. It is so important for children to be able to express themselves emotionally to their parents. This takes spending time with young and older children. Listen to them and let them share from their hearts and perspective. We have to keep in mind as parents that our children may view the world and other people in a different way. Time spent with

them offers life opportunities to talk and even role play between parents and child’s difficult situations. Too, positive situations can be shared of what makes them happy and brings them JOY. 4. Spending time with your children can be a time that you and your child can set goals and guidelines for getting chores done, doing projects and spending family time. Stopping and spending time with your child in explaining what they need to do, such as cleaning up their rooms, taps into listening and cognitive skills and teaches about them about following through with parent instructions.

5. Other ways that time can be spent with our children is in doing homework together, reading favorite books together, cooking favorite family dishes together, enjoying outside family activities together and many others.

From my heart to yours, I hope this simple article has pointed out that time is truly a gift for you and your children. Cherish each day and the relationship that you have with your children and in their hearts forever and ever; they will remember you.

Classroom Observer, Beth Pinyerd

HORNETS>>

in flux. As a result, this season proved so abnormal and so different that it deserves an asterisk beside it in the books of Alabama high school football history denoting the sheer magnitude of the first, and hopefully last, season of the COVID-19 era.

To be clear, Beauregard’s 2020 campaign was going to be challenging, COVID or no COVID. Like 2019’s, this year’s group of young Hornets lacked depth at key positions, and more so than last year, the coaching staff was relegated to playing the majority of this year’s senior class on both sides of the ball to offset that experience gap. Did it affect this year’s outcome? Absolutely, on many levels, but the good news is that the trial by fire for these

underclassmen should pay hefty dividends in the 2021 season.

A review of CBSSports.com MAXPREPS website shows that Beauregard finished sixth in the Alabama 5A Region 4 standings with a 3-7 overall record, split as follows: 2-4 in region, 1-3 out of region, 3-2 away and 0-5 at home.

It also shows that the Hornets scored a total of 166 points, for a 16.6 point average per game, while giving up a total of 336 points for a 33.6 point average per game.

And finally, Beauregard enjoyed its best success in the fourth quarter, scoring 79 total points (7.9 avg.), and struggled the most in the third quarter, only managing 20 total points (2.0 avg.).

A recap of the Hornets’ season, from

a simple numbers or statistical viewpoint, without a doubt falls short of the tangible expectations of the team and coaching staff. However, if COVID has taught us only one thing, it is to be appreciative of what you have, and if you start with the fact that we even had a season, and then consider the intangibles such as youth development and experiences gained, it helps to put things in perspective.

Will anything ever return to the way it was prior to COVID? No one knows for sure, but there is hope: for the possibilities of more sports, less sickness, more activities, less death and the continued progress in ridding our world of the effects of this current pandemic.

Until next season.

FROM B1 the Alabama Football Coaches Association, school superintendents, principals, teachers and the parents whose dedication made possible a season at all.

Yes things would be different, certainly for those high schools that chose to participate in fall sports. There were different practice rules and regulations, different player/coach interactions, different pre-game, in-game and post-game protocols and norms, and they were not just different for the players and coaches, but for the bands, concessioners and spectators alike.

Recall that this past March we faced far more questions than we had answers for— the entire world was

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.

B4 October 28, 2020

Glenwood glide past Pike

By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver. com

On Friday, the Glenwood Gators defeated the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots 26-7 behind a once again stifling defense and the offensive prowess of quarterback Jackson Griner and running back Kye Robichaux.

The win keeps Glenwood (8-0) perfect and secures them the AISA Class 3A Region 1 title.

Glenwood have regularly dominated opponents this season but Friday night was a more highly contested football game. Glenwood led 13-7 after the first two quarters but two crucial second-half Pike turnovers allowed the Gators to maintain their lead.

The Gators jumped on the Patriots early with 5-yard rushing touchdown out of the wildcat formation by Radonda Beauchamp. Their second early score was an electric 65-yard touchdown run by A.J. Harris on a speed sweep that completely unlocked the Patriot defense. Pike blocked the second PAT to keep the score at 13-0.

It was then that he Patriots put together their best drive of the night. A 67-yard march down the field was capped off with a nine-yard touchdown pass from quarterback

Mayes White to Kam Baker.

From there the Patriots would regularly threaten, but it was clear Glenwood were the superior team.

The opening drive of the second half saw Glenwood march 80 yards down the field and was capped by a fiveyard touchdown. Faced with a third and twelve from the Pike 25-yard line, Griner found his receiver at the five-yard line to keep the drive alive and position the Gators in prime scoring territory. This time it was Robichaux who took a wildcat snap and ran straight through the middle of the defense for the score. The Gators lined up to go for two but failed, making the score 19-7.

The Patriots threatened to score on the next possession and moved the ball the Glenwood 22-yard line.

The Gator defense stood tall. Pike’s quarterback took the snap, stood in the pocket for what seemed like an eternity, and eventually tried to force a pass between two Glenwood defenders that was intercepted.

Jay Sinclair was the Glenwood defender who was smothering the Patriot receiver as he intercepted the pass to give Glenwood their second turnover of the game.

Glenwood would get their final score two drives later and put the

game to bed. After pinning Pike back on their own three-yard line, the Gators allowed two first downs before stifling the Patriots offense, forcing an incomplete pass on fourth and nine near midfield. With less than two minutes left on the play clock, Robichaux took the direct snap again, ran off the right side of line, pummeled two wimpy Pike tacklers and capped the Glenwood scoring with his third rushing touchdown of the night. This time, the PAT was good; final score 26-7, Glenwood.

Although it wasn’t a high scoring game, the Glenwood offense still flexed their offensive prowess throughout the night. Griner finished with 100 yards rushing and added one interception on defense (he plays both sides of the ball); Robichaux had his sixth straight game with three or more rushing touchdowns and finished with 122 yards on the ground; B.J. Snellgrove led the way on defense for Glenwood with multiple big hits throughout the night and a team-high 15 tackles.

Next Friday, Glenwood looks to finish a perfect season as they travel to face the Autauga Academy Generals (3-5). The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST at 497 Golson Road, Prattville, Alabama 36067.

Southern Christian fall in high scoring thriller

By Will Washburn

On Friday, the Southern Christian Patriots had their offense rolling but fell to the Twiggs Academy Trojans (Jeffersonville, Georgia) in a back and forth highly contested game, 50-36. The final two-score deficit does not tell how this game actually played out.

The teams went back and forth for most of the game, trading touchdowns. However, compared to the Trojans, the Patriots struggled more on offense. While both teams found success

SMITHS>> FROM B1 Minton led the way for Smiths’s offense all night, finding most of his success on the ground on his way to 92 rushing yards and one touchdown behind the hole-opening Panther line. He added 79 passing yards and three

passing the ball, the Patriots were outrushed 279 yards to 34.

Southern Christian exploded in the second quarter with 22 points and took a two-point lead into the half.

However, the Patriots were outscored 30-14 in the second half as the rushing attack of the Trojans proved too much to overcome.

The Patriot’s junior quarterback Daniel Adams had a great game with 167 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Jackson Washburn had a very good night with 65

receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Brothers Josiah and Silas Frick both had another to-be-expected productive night.

Josiah had one touchdown reception and led the team with eight tackles, while Silas had seven tackles and a sack. The Patriots also had their first kickoff return for a touchdown which came from junior defensive back Camden Chism.

The Patriots will next play on Nov. 6 at 7:00 p.m. CST for their last game of the season against Harvester at Moore Stadium in Opelika.

touchdowns through the air, with two throws finding his favorite target Peabody for 52 yards. Gore finished with 9 carries for 33 yards a touchdown.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for Smiths. The Panthers played well in all three facets of the game and only needed one more stop late in

the fourth to seal the victory.

Smiths have another away game next Friday against Stanhope Elmore (3-5), who beat the Wetumpka Indians 23-13 in a defensive battle last week. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST at 4300 Main St, Millbrook, Alabama 36054.

Auburn escapes Oxford What it means for the Tigers going forward

Photo contributed by Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver. com

Tank Bigsby ran wild with an increased workload, Bo Nix didn’t turn the ball over and 300-pound tight end J.J. Pegues laid one of the hardest blocks of the year, but Auburn still trailed Ole Miss by one with less than three minutes left in the game on Saturday.

The end of the fourth quarter Saturday looked all too familiar to Auburn fans. Just last week the ball was in the hands of Nix with one final chance to tie the game on a late fourth quarter drive. The Tigers

moved the ball down the field but collapsed in the red zone with Nix scrambling for his life on successive plays as Auburn lost to South Carolina 30-22.

Thankfully — and luckily for Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn — the game in Oxford ended differently. After Nix hit the speedy Anthony Schwartz on a 11-yard pass for a first down, the ball was at the Auburn 42-yard line.

Still at least 20 yards from Anders Carlson’s field goal range, and with 1:21 left on the game clock, Auburn fans probably felt more than wary of their chances. That’s just

how it has been this season. But Auburn’s Seth Williams — who at game’s end was 10th all-time in program history for catches and receiving yards — had more exciting plans for the Auburn faithful. Anyone reading this knows Nix hit Williams near the sideline, where he made a difficult catch look all too easy and raced down the sideline for a 58-yard touchdown.

Auburn would attempt and make the two-point try for the final points of the game.

“Like I’ve said, a lot of times, it’s how you win, and this See AU FOOTBALL , page B5

B5 October 28, 2020

Auburn remains unbeaten after draw with Kentucky Contributed by AU Athletics

No. 14 Auburn and Kentucky battled for 110 minutes in a game that ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw at the Auburn Soccer Complex Saturday night.

Kentucky scored the equalizer on an own goal with 24 seconds remaining in regulation before the Tigers (2-02) and Wildcats (0-3-3) played the two overtime periods scoreless.

“Full credit to Kentucky,” Head Coach Karen Hoppa said.

“They defended outstanding being a man down for so long. They really did a great job staying with the game and getting the goal at the end to tie it up.

“For our team, we’re disappointed with the result,” Hoppa added.

“We need to learn from this game. We’ve got a young group. We’re going to get better and make some adjustments and look to improve from this game before we play again.”

AU FOOTBALL >> FROM B4 was a true team win today,” Malzahn said in his post-game press conference.

Malzahn is right.

Overall, it was one of, if not the best performance of the year for the Tigers. Having struggled with injuries to key players all season, Auburn came into Oxford near complete health — despite the immeasurable loss of senior linebacker K.J. Britt. The health and continuity of the team really showed throughout the game as Auburn simply had more playmakers on the field than an injury — and COVID —depleted Ole Miss team. The win moves Auburn to 3-2 but was not without controversy.

For the second time this year, Auburn caught a break from the officials.

No one knows why they didn’t review it, but Shaun Shivers definitely muffed a kickoff and the Tigers were sparred a should-have-been safety.

But regardless of luck — something that fittingly and somehow repeatedly seems to offset the madness that comes with following Auburn football — the Tigers played well enough to position themselves to win the game … and they did. Auburn executed a game plan that Auburn fans had been

Photos by Shanna Lockwood/Auburn Athletics.

Senior defender Sarah Houchin accounted for Auburn’s scoring in the contest, one-timing a deflected ball off a corner kick into the back of the net for her first goal of the season. Anna Haddock served up the corner kick and earned the assist.

Kentucky scored the aforementioned equalizer in the final minute as the ball deflected off an Auburn defender inside the right post. It was the first goal Auburn conceded in 324:14 dating back to the penalty

kick against Mississippi State in the season opener.

Houchin, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Week, made a key sliding block on a Kentucky attack in the final minutes of double overtime to keep the match tied.

Auburn nearly won it on a pair of chances in the final 30 seconds, one coming on a near header off a corner kick

by Maddie Simpson before Kori Locksley found herself in front of frame with six seconds

clamoring about seeing for weeks: run the ball.

“All week we talked about playing hardnosed Auburn football, running the football,” Malzahn said.

The offensive line continued their week-toweek uptrend and Tank Bigsby continued to take the college football world by storm. Bigbsy finished the day with 24 carries (8 more than his previous season-high) for 129 yards and two touchdowns. For the first time in weeks, Seth Williams looked 100% and his rapport with Nix appeared revitalized.

“Bo and Seth, they’ve got a special bond,” Malzahn said.

Bigsby was incredible and looks like the best back Auburn has fielded since Tre Mason.

The only evidence one would need of that is his nation-leading 8.4 tackles broken per 25 rush attempts. He’s the third Auburn freshman running back EVER (Bo Jackson and Michael Dyer) with three 100-yard rushing performances against SEC teams. Even if the Gus Bus is low on gas, the Tank is loaded and rolling. So, enough on him.

Possibly a more meaningful contribution was the return of running back Shaun Shivers, who manifested his nickname “worm” by wiggling

in and out of holes, establishing a one-two punch with Bigsby and finishing with 10 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown. As far as receiving goes, the Tigers are getting more people involved each week as freshman wide outs Kobe Hudson and Ze’vian Capers found themselves on the stat sheet against the Rebels.

The main threats of Williams, Schwartz and Stove are the highlight makers on the outside, but Auburn’s offensive coordinator Chad Morris is finding ways to get more guys involved. Pegues didn’t carry the ball or catch a pass but the nation’s worst kept secret in terms of unique weapons still found a way onto social media with a cracking highlight run block. Always a positive.

The offensive line played their best game of the year, paving Ford F-150 dually-sized holes for the running backs to run through and limiting the Ole Miss defense to two sacks.

Auburn did lose the versatile JUCO offensive lineman Brandon Council for the year, but there is decent depth along the line. Still, it’s another question mark on an offense that is just beginning to find answers.

Auburn led on the box score in terms of

left but her strong right-footed shot sailed just over the crossbar.

The Tigers recorded a season-high 24 shots in the contest. Hailey Whitaker led the way with five while Haddock and Locksley added four shots apiece.

Dani Kaufman made her first start in an Auburn uniform in goal and recorded three saves, including a diving attempt to her right to hold Kentucky in check in the final stages of the first half.

Eighteen Auburn players saw action in the double overtime contest, including 12 who played 60 or more minutes.

Auburn begins a stretch of four games in 11 days with a tough road matchup at No. 7 Arkansas (4-1-0) Friday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. CT.

total yards, turnovers, time of possession and first downs. Although Auburn was by no means dominant, all five Tiger scoring drives were executed on 79-plus-yard drives.

Was it because Ole Miss has the worst defense in the SEC or was it a sign of better things to come for the Tigers?

We shall see.

On defense, linebacker Owen Pappoe led the team in tackles (14) for the first time this year and freshman defensive lineman Coby Wooden got the start at defensive tackle, recording his third straight game with a tackle for loss. The pass rush for Auburn is still lacking, but Big Kat Bryant looked more active Saturday than any time before this season. His time is coming.

The best performance from anyone on Kevin

SPORTS>> FROM B1 unit played well, led

by Anthony Martin’s three solo tackles and eight assists.

Opelika punted only four times in the game.

AHSAA 6A PLAYOFFS OHS will host a first round playoff game Nov. 6 at Bulldog Stadium. The Dawgs will play either Helena or Wetumpka.

Helena host UMSWright Friday night.

If the Huskies win, they will travel to Opelika for the playoff game. If UMS-Wright wins, Wetumpka will travel to Bulldog Stadium.

A reminder to fans, the playoffs are controlled by the Alabama High School Athletic Association not local schools.

Steele’s unit has to go to Roger McCreary.

Auburn’s No. 1 corner struggled last week against South Carolina’s Shi Smith but held Ole Miss’s Elijah Moore — the SEC’s leader in receiving yards coming into the game — to five receptions for 16 yards.

The secondary is shaping up to be Auburn’s best unit as safeties Smoke Monday (one sack), Jamien Sherwood and Chrisitan Tutt were the second, third and fourth leading tacklers against the Rebels.

Last thing. Bo Nix did not throw a single interception and posted his highest completion percentage of the year (76.7).

That seems to be the key for this young and developing Auburn team. Play bend-don’tbreak defense, win the turnover battle and

Attendance will be 33% capacity of the home stadium.

The AHSAA will send a link to every school in the playoffs Saturday, Oct. 31.

The players, cheerleaders and band parents will receive a copy of the link and a code to purchase playoff tickets online at gofan.co. Parents must buy tickets before midnight Monday.

Remaining tickets will be available Tuesday morning online at www. gofan.co. No restrictions apply to those buying tickets. No stadium has reserved seating for playoffs and fans must follow COVID-19 guidelines. Masks are required and social distancing must be practiced.

run to set up the pass.

Auburn may be lucky, but they are improving on all fronts.

“The big thing from my standpoint is each group picking each other up and responding when they had to,” Malzahn said.

Next week, the Tigers welcome LSU (2-2) into Jordan-Hare Stadium on Halloween. It will mark the first unranked meeting between the two schools since 1999.

The Tigers have a running back on a SECdefense killing spree, a spooky fast wide receiver and supernatural 300-pound tight end who can play any offensive position. Will it be enough to scare off the defending national champions? Hard to say. But LSU head coach Ed Orgeron puts it best for this game: “Go Tigahs.”

B6 October 28, 2020

Bulldogs Bury the Thunderbirds

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

B7 October 28, 2020

Opelika Dawg Pound ends season

Senior QB Corey Minton who had 92 rushing yards for 1 TD and 79 passing yards for 3 TD’s.

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Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

B8 October 28, 2020

Beauregard finishes season at 3 - 7

Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics

B9

October 28, 2020

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Election Next Week

W

ell, folks, it is finally here. The presidential race is next Tuesday.

However, a good many Americans have already voted. True early voting is available in a half dozen states and every American can vote by absentee ballot; a good many have taken advantage of that right.

A record number of Alabamians have voted absentee. However, the election for president will be decided next week when most voters go to the polls.

This will be a memorable and historic election year. This 2020 pandemic year is, I hope, only a once-in-a-century event. 2020 is a pivotal presidential year. Never before in my lifetime have I seen our country more divided politically into extremely partisan corners. We are really two nations, and we are split almost 50-50. This is understandable because the country is truly divided philosophically.

Back in the day our own George Wallace would run around the country running for president as a third-party candidate in a Don Quixote mission espousing the rhetoric that there is not a dime’s worth of difference between the national Republican and Democratic parties.

Nobody could say that, even in demagogic form, today.

Folks, there is a world of difference today. The Republican Party is very conservative, and the Democratic Party is extremely liberal. This divide between the two parties is enhanced and perpetuated by the media, especially the television networks. If you are a conservative Republican, you watch Fox News. If you are a liberal Democrat, you watch CNN. It is like seeing the nation’s politics and dogma through two different prisms.

The two parties should and could more aptly change their names.

Republicans should be labeled the Conservative Party and the Democrats the Liberal Party. CNN, and to a large degree ABC, NBC and CBS, should take down any pretense of being impartial and simply have their broadcast from the Democratic National Headquarters. Conversely FOX News should broadcast from the Republican National Headquarters.

Auburn Council appoints Megan McGowen Crouch

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

STEVE FLOWERS MSNBC should be broadcast from Moscow.

We in Alabama are definitely in the conservative Republican tribe, as are most of the other southern and midwestern and rural states.

The left coast of California and the eastern urban coast of New York are the bastions of liberalism and the Democratic party.

We do not elect our president by direct popular vote whereby the person who gets the most votes nationwide wins the presidency. Under our Electoral College system, the person who gets 50% plus one vote gets all of that state’s electoral votes.

The number of electoral votes is determined by the number of congressional seats plus two senators. For example, California has 53 seats in Congress plus two Senators, for 55 electoral votes. We in Alabama have seven congressional seats plus two senators, which gives us nine electoral votes. Therefore, it does not take a math genius to tell that the liberal Democratic states like California have more votes than rural, conservative states like Alabama.

President Donald Trump, who has been a proven conservative Republican, has been behind the eight-ball having to fight through the coronavirus disaster. It is not his fault that the Chinese sent this pandemic to the world and the United States, but voters will want to blame someone, and he is the one in the White House and the one on the ballot.

In mid-September

Auburn City Council awarded Megan McGowen Crouch the position of city manager, replacing Jim Buston, who will retire at the end of the year.

Current City Manager Jim Buston announced on Oct. 1 that he will retire from the position after 25 years with the city of Auburn.

The council officially voted on Crouch’s appointment during its Tuesday night meeting after having discussed the vote during a council work session on Oct. 16.

Auburn Mayor Ron

Anders said, during that meeting on the 16th, that he believes Crouch is right for the position.

Crouch has served Auburn in a number of positions. She started as an intern, moved into the planning staff, then economic development, then became deputy economic development director, then executive director of economic services and finally assistant city manager.

Although most of the council members spoke highly of Crouch, some were concerned that the position had not been made open for applications from other internal or external

candidates.

“I don’t want anyone to take this personal, but were there other candidates that actually applied for this position internally or are we just, as a council, and as the mayor, are you just appointing [Crouch], due to the qualifications,” said Ward 1 Council Member Connie FitchTaylor at the meeting on the 16th.

The application was not made public, Anders said. Buston said he did not have any other employees approach him with interest about the position.

See AUBURN, page B10

See FLOWERS, page B12

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B10 October 28, 2020

October named Colonial Heritage Month

Mayor Gary Fuller proclaimed on Oct. 21 that this month is Colonial Heritage Month in Opelika. According to the official proclamation, Fuller is encouraging “all citizens to observe this month as a means of reinforcing the priceless legacy that we inherit with our citizenship, to preserve our rich culture and heritage with deep respect for the principles upon which our country was founded….”

October named Alpha Delta Kappa Month Contributed by Kay Spriggs

M

embers of the Beta Xi chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa met with Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller to declare

October as Alpha Delta Kappa Month. Alpha Delta Kappa is an International Honorary Organization for Women Educators dedicated to educational excellence, altruism and world understanding.

Beta Xi members

with Mayor Fuller are (L-R) Chapter PresidentElect Jerry Barber, Immediate Past Chapter President Pat May, Chapter President Pam Fourtenbary, Mayor Fuller, State President Kay Spriggs and Chapter Treasurer Claire Plott.

AUBURN>> FROM B9 Ward 2 Council Member Kelley Griswold said, during the meeting on the 16th, that employees approaching Buston is not the same thing as making the application public and available.

“We have not put this out as an opening anywhere except to the city council,” Buston said.

Ward 6 Council Member Bob Parsons said, during the meeting on the 16th, that he was concerned that there was no outside search, nor were other candidates considered and that the process was defined in her favor.

Fitch-Taylor said that, she too, believes Crouch would do well in the position, but believed an outside search would have been democratic.

“She may be the most qualified candidate in our minds, because we’ve dealt with her on that level, I just feel like, even with everything being said, there should still have been an opportunity for other people to at least apply,” she said.

Others were in favor of appointing Crouch without an outside search because Crouch fits the position or because it would not be fair to other candidates.

“I believe, with my whole heart, that the very best candidate that we could ever look for is right here among us,” Anders said. “And to go through a process, to me, is not in the best interest of our community because the best person who’s got the best set of experiences, the best set of personal qualities, the best set of professional qualities is right here.”

Ward 3 Council Member Beth Whitten said she believes that an outside search would not be fair to other candidates, considering they would likely not receive the position.

“Is it fair to request candidates to go through a process knowing that they were not going to be selected,” she said. “I don’t consider that to be fair.”

Ultimately, the council voted to not make the application widely available and moved forward with Crouch as the candidate.

The council voted Tuesday, and though there

were those against the process, none voted to oppose Crouch’s appointment.

Academic Detached Dwelling Units: The council also discussed academic detached dwelling units (ADDUs) Tuesday night, which are a form of student housing.

There were two items related to student housing that came before the council, both of which were initially considered one ordinance.

Firstly, the Planning Commission recommended the council reduce the bed density in the UN-W Zone from 255 to 170 beds.

Secondly, the Planning Commission recommended the city vote to ban ADDUs in the Neighborhood Redevelopment District (NRD) and in the Medium Density Residential District (MDRD).

Whitten asked the council to split the ordinance into two parts. One part would consider the bed density in the UN-W zone, and the other would consider the ADDUs in the NRD and MDRD districts.

“They’re two very separate issues,” Whitten said. “One is addressing density in a certain section of town in a very different development district. And then the other question is addressing academic detached dwelling units in two separate zones.”

This vote to split the ordinance was approved.

The first of the two ordinances, to consider lowering the bed density, was tabled for the Nov. 3 council meeting.

The second ordinance was presented to ban ADDUs in the NRD and MDRD zones. Ward 8 Council Member Tommy Dawson asked to amend the ordinance to allow MDRD Zone ADDUs to remain conditional, although banning ADDUs in the NRD zone.

There were council members opposed to both postponing the first half of the ordinance and amending the second half of the ordinance.

“I want to remind everybody that this, the content that we’re deliberating on tonight is a direct result of a mayoral task force, the student-housing task force, that was given to

a group of people from our citizenry, from our council, from our staff, to come up with recommendations to the planning department,” said Ward 6 Council Member Bob Parsons. “Which they did, they spent countless hours on doing so and I appreciate the work that they’ve done. And here we are, it seems to me, actively dismantling the very work that they’ve done. And that doesn’t bode well for other task forces that are in the pipeline.”

Griswold said he did not understand why the ordinance would be amended to allow MDRD ADDUs to remain conditional if the planning commission and task force recommended they be banned.

Dawson said that he proposed the amended version because he has heard from a lot of citizens who are against banning ADDUs in the MDRD zone.

“I’ve gotten a lot of correspondence back from the citizenry definitely opposing them in NRD, and I’ve gotten a lot of favorable correspondences for wanting to have them in the MDRD,” he said.

Two community members spoke up at the meeting, one for ADDUs and one against them.

Nicholas Hayes said that community members are tired of discussing the issue and would like for it be settled.

“Since [ADDUs] become conditional … we have not had a single ADDU built in the NRD area or the MDRD area,” he said. “Yet, we are now being hit with a proposal to ban the ADDUs in these two particular areas. And it’s just a further taking from the private sector.”

Elizabeth Hill spoke from the other viewpoint and said she is a resident of the area.

“This is an opportunity of creating a neighborhood that can look different,” she said. “For me, I think what the ADDUs, I’m not against them in particular or against student housing, I think what I wish to preserve in my neighborhood is diversity.”

Ultimately the council voted in favor of the amended ordinance, which allows ADDUS to remain conditional in the MDRD zone and bans them in the NRD zone.

B11 October 28, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICES IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF EDWARD CHARLES ARNDT, DECEDENT NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR Letters Testamentary of said Edward Charles Arndt, deceased, having been granted to Cat hrine A. Jordan, this 2nd day of October, 2020, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is he re by 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.

Cathrine A. Jordan, Executor Cathrine A. Jordan 57 Forsyth St NW, 11 F Atlanta, GA 30303 678-644-6050 LEGAL RUN 10/14/2020, 10/21/2020 & 10/28/2020 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CALVIN STRINGER, DECEASED CASE NO.: 2020-398 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINSTRATION over the Estate of Calvin Stringer, having been granted to Charles E. Stringer on the 7th day of October, 2020, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Chareles E. Stringer Legal Run 10/14/2020, 10/21/2020 & 10/28/2020 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: HELEN E. STANLEY, Deceased, Case No.: 2020- 401 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Randall Stan ley, Personal Representative on the 8th day of October, 2020,

by Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Comi 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.

Randall Stanley Legal Run 10/14/2020, 10/21/2020 & 10/28/2020 -------------CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, AL FAMILY COURT DIVISION: JUVENILE IN THE MATTER OF: K.T.M. (05/16/2019) R.P.M. (05/13/2020) – minor children JU-2020-019.02: JU-2020134.02 NOTICE TO: Any unknown father(s) of the minor children listed above. Custody of the minor child K.T.M was vested with Lee County DHR on 02/19/2020 and custody of R.P.M. was vested with Lee County DHR on 05/18/2020. Any unknown father(s) must answer the Petition to Terminate Parental Rights filed in the Family Court of Lee Co., AL by Lee Co DHR, within fourteen (14) days from the last date of publication of this notice, or a final judgment may be rendered in the Family Court

of Lee Co., AL terminating your parental rights and possibly result in place said children for adoption.

Mary Roberson, CIRCUIT CLERK Lee County Justice Center 2311 Gateway Dr. Opelika, AL 36801 Hon. Margaret A. Mayfield Attorney for Lee County DHR P.O. Box 809 Opelika, AL 36801 (334) 745-0333 Legal Run 10/7/20, 10/14/20, 10/21/20 & 10/28/20 -------------INVITATION TO BID #21001 Sealed bids for the construction of the Influent Sewer Rerouting for Eastside WWTP shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Council Chamber, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 pm local time on November 9, 2020, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor.

The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code §348-1, et.seq. (1975) and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

Bidders must be licensed by the Licensing Board for General Contractors when bids are submitted.

Work to be done: The work to be completed for the Influent Sewer Rerouting for Eastside WWTP is described briefly as follows: Improvements will include the addition of ±790 L.F. of 18” PVC Gravity Sewer to redirect flow to an existing WWTF Influent Pump Station. Miscellaneous piping improvements will be required to tie into the existing gravity sewer system and the existing Pump Station well.

Bidders are required to have a State of Alabama General Contractor’s License with a specialty of “Highways and Streets, Clearing and Grubbing, Earthwork, Erosion, Site Work, Grading or Municipal and Utility.”

All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala. Code §34-8-8(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number. Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid envelope.

All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/or permits required by applicable law, rule, or regulation for the performance of the work.

Copies of Bidding Documents may be obtained from ESG Engineering contact Margaret Hildebrand at mhildebrand@ esgengineering.com to procure Bidding Documents and to be added to the Bidder’s List (required to bid on project). Digital documents will be provided at no charge and hard copies will be provided upon non-reimbursable payment of $200.00.

The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika. All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted.

A Bid Bond in the amount

of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid.

Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities.

Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Opelika, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: Influent Sewer Rerouting for Eastside WWTP LILLIE FINLEY- PURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 OPELIKA, ALABAMA (36803-0390) Legal Run 10/14/20, 10/21/20 & 10/28/20 -------------NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF DAVID WHITE A/KlA DAVID H. WHITE, Deceased PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to John F. Hitchcock on the 2nd day of October, 2020, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be baned.

John Hitchcock Legal Run 10/14/20, 10/21/20 & 10/28/20 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA In the Matter of the Estate of CHARLOTTE ANNE WARD, Deceased NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR AND NOTICE TO FILE CLAIMS Letters Testamentary on the Estate of CHARLOTTE ANNE WARD, deceased, having been granted to the undersigned on the 28th day of July, 2020 by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of said County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law, or the same will be barred.

VIKKI HENDRICKS, Executor Legal Run 10/14/20, 10/21/20, & 10/28/20 -------------STORAGE TREASURES AUCTION ONE FACILITY – MULTIPLE UNITS Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1412 Opelika Rd, Auburn, AL 36830 Thursday, November 12, 2020 at 10:00AM Ashley Chapman Unit D66 201 wire rd Auburn, AL 36830 pallets, decorations, wooden structures Gloria Ann Williams Unit

D69 1095 Princeton Place Auburn, AL 36830 Storing Boxes, crafts Danielle Jolly Unit E78 701 Baker Blvd Tuscumbia, AL 35674 3 bedroom home Jamelia Owens Unit G97 1420 Carolyn Ct Auburn, AL 36830 queenbed and boxes Rashaun Hoskey Unit G98 429 Dale Rd Eufala, AL 36027 Furniture boxes Essence Epperson Unit S343 12101 Weathervane Ln Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 1 bedroom boxes, bags, small furniture The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction.

Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Legal Notice 10/21/20 & 10/28/20 -------------Notice of Bid Bids for Beulah Sports Complex Landscape Maintenance Beulah, (Lee County), Alabama In general, the work consists of maintaining entire athletic complex, mowing, edging, trimming, blowing, herbicide application, trash removal, pruning, sod management.

Sealed bids must be received in the Lee County Commission Office - Second Floor in the County Courthouse at 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, Alabama 36801 by 2:00 PM CST on November 5, 2020.

Bid documents are available at www.leeco.us under “Current Bids” or contact: Ryan Norris Parks and Recreation Manager Lee County Commission 334-737-3606 rnorris@leeco.us Legal Run 10/21/2020 & 10/28/2020 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA INRE: The Estate of Nancy Ann Nash, Deceased Case Number: 20 2 0 - 281 NOTICE TO CREDITORS TAKE NOTICE that Letters of Administration have been granted to Terry Taylor as Administrator of the Estate of Nancy Ann Nash deceased on the 14th day of October, 2020 by the Honorable Bill English.Judge of Probate.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against the said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Personal Representative of the Estate of Nancy Ann Nash Legal Run 10/21/20, 10/28/20 & 11/04/2020 -------------STATE OF ALABAMA IN THE PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY DOCKET NO. 2020-397 RE: ESTATE OF SHERMAN M. POTTS, DECEASED: NOTICE OF PUBLICATION Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 8th day of October, 2020, by the 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. /s/ Rosalyn B.Potts Rosalyn B. Potts Legal Run 10/21/20, 10/28/20 & 11/04/2020 -------------IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ANNE G. GRADY, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2020-383 Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 5th day of October, 2020, 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.

JAMES D. GRADY Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 10/28/20, 11/04/20, 11/11/20 -------------IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARGARETTE. JACKSON, DECEASED IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO: 2020-415 IN RE ESTATE OF MARGARETE. JACKSON Letters Testamentary of said deceased have been granted to Kelly J. Durkin, as Personal Representative, on the 19TH day of October , 2020 by the Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Nick Y. Shimoda Shimoda & Storey, LLP Attorney for the Estate Legal Run 10/28/20, 11/04/20 & 11/11/20 -------------ORDINANCE NO. 026-20 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 2-161(a) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council (the “Council”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama (the “City”) as follows: Section 1. Amendment.

That Section 2-161(a) of the Code of Ordinances

(the “Code”) of the City of Opelika, Alabama, is hereby amended to read as follows: (a) Regular Meetings Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. In the event any regular meeting shall fall on an official City holiday, such meeting shall be held on the following Tuesday.

All meetings shall convene at 7:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Municipal Court Building, 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Opelika, Alabama. All meetings, regular and special, shall be open to the public.

Section 2. Effective Date.

This ordinance shall become effective and enforced immediately upon its passage and publication as required by law. Section 2-161(a), as amended herein, shall be codified in the Code of Ordinances of the City of Opelika, Alabama.

Section 3. 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 20th day of October, 2020. /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 21st day of October, 2020. /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK ACTION BY MAYOR APPROVED this the 21st day of October, 2020. /s/ Gary Fuller MAYOR ATTEST: /s/ Russell A. Jones CITY CLERK Legal Run 10/28/2020 -------------NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF WALTER JACOBS MEADORS, JR. DECEASED PROBATE COURT LEE COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of said deceased having been granted to Edward Drexil Meadors on the 14th day of October, 2020, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Edward Drexel Meadors Legal Run 10/21/2020, 10/28/2020 & 11/04/2020

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“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.”

B12 October 28, 2020

No Curbside Voting in Alabama Contributed by the Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the U.S. Supreme Court granted the state of Alabama’s emergency request for a stay of a federal district court’s order that had purported to create curbside voting in Alabama. The High Court’s decision Wednesday is its second in three months to protect the security of Alabama’s elections.

“We are pleased that the Supreme Court has again acted quickly to grant the state’s emergency stay request to clarify that Alabama’s laws will govern

Alabama’s upcoming election,” Marshall said. “While our election laws are easily complied with, even during this pandemic, they ensure that Alabama voters can have confidence that they are voting in a fair election. The Supreme Court’s decision is a victory for Alabama’s election integrity and thus for Alabama voters.”

Alabama offers two methods of voting—in-person and absentee. And for this election, the state has made absentee voting available to all Alabama voters. But the Alabama Legislature has never authorized curbside voting. Thus, the Secretary of State has for years taken

the position that such voting is unlawful. Even so, in June, the district court entered a preliminary injunction that prohibited the Secretary of State from halting curbside voting that otherwise complied with state law. The state asked the Supreme Court to stay the injunction so state law could again take effect, and on July 2, the Supreme Court granted that relief. Then, following a trial this September, the district court again entered a nearly identical injunction.

Thus, on Oct. 15, the state again sought relief from the Supreme Court, and last week, the Supreme Court

again granted it.

“As we argued in our stay request to the Supreme Court, Alabama has taken extraordinary measures to ensure that all voters can vote safely, while also ensuring that this election is conducted fairly, efficiently and free from fraud,” Marshall said. “But Alabama law does not and has never provided for curbside voting. The district court’s decision to create it for the state was contrary to state and federal law.

“Just as important, when states decide to authorize curbside voting, they typically do so through legislation and with months or

years of careful planning.

They don’t throw it together in a matter of weeks in the middle of a pandemic. That is a recipe for chaos that could end up making it harder, not easier, for people to vote. In addition to the specter of voters’ cars backed up further than a Chick-fil-A drive-thru, there was the risk that would come from voters handing over open ballots to poll workers without being able to see whether a poll worker would actually deposit the ballot after taking it inside the polling place. Fortunately, with the Supreme Court’s action tonight, those risks have been averted.”

Sen. Doug Jones Applauds Signing of Historic Veterans Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Bill Contributed by Doug Jones’s Press Office

U.S. Alabama Sen. Doug Jones today applauded the signing of bipartisan legislation he cosponsored, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, into law. The legislation will bolster the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) mental health workforce and increase rural veterans’ access to care.

“Too many veterans — in Alabama and across the country — lack access to affordable, compassionate and effective mental health care,” said Jones,

FLOWERS>> FROM B9 Trump’s reelection numbers and chances were dismal. However, in late September the much-discussed October surprise occurred. The death of liberal U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg gave the conservative president the

a member of the Armed Services Committee.

“Through increased access to local and innovative treatment options, this new law will help veterans get the life-saving mental health services they may need.”

It is estimated that more than 20 veterans die by suicide every day, according to the VA. Of those, 14 have received no treatment or care from the VA. The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, which was introduced

by Senators Jerry Moran of Kansas and Jon Tester of Montana, will improve outreach

to veterans and their mental health care options in six key ways: · Bolstering the VA’s mental health workforce to serve more veterans by offering scholarships to mental health professionals to work at Vet Centers, and placing at least one Suicide Prevention Coordinator in every VA hospital. · Improving rural veterans’ access to mental health care by increasing the number of locations at which veterans can access VA telehealth services. · Implementing a pilot program to provide veterans access to complementary and integrative health programs through animal therapy,

agritherapy, sports and recreation therapy, art therapy and post-traumatic growth. · Establishing a grant program that requires the VA to better collaborate with community organizations across the country already serving veterans. This collaboration will result in earlier identification of veterans who are at risk of suicide and will provide the ability to intervene with preventative services. · Studying the impact of living at high altitude on veterans’ suicide risk and diagnostic biomarker research to identify depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and

other conditions. · Holding the VA accountable for its mental health care and suicide prevention efforts by examining how the department manages its suicide prevention resources.

This law honors the legacy of Commander John Scott Hannon, a member of the Navy SEALs who served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years. Hannon received treatment for his invisible wounds of war while helping other veterans find their own paths to recovery. Hannon died by suicide on Feb. 25, 2018.

From his position on the Senate Armed Services Committee,

Jones has been a vocal advocate on behalf of all who serve or have served in our nation’s armed forces. Jones has also secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for Alabama’s military installations and service members, and he led a successful fight to repeal a decades-old law that hurt surviving military spouses, called the “widow’s tax,” last year.

He also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent veteran suicide by designating one week per year as “Buddy Check Week” to organize outreach events and educate veterans on how to conduct peer wellness checks.

opportunity to appoint a conservative to the Supreme Court. Trump is blessed to have a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate.

This opportunity for President Trump to place a third conservative Justice to the nine-member Tribunal could be a game changer. This will energize evangelical

voters throughout the country as well as devout, mainstream, Catholic voters in the crucial battleground states like Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona. The election will be decided in these six key battleground states.

The hay is in the barn in most other states.

California will vote Democratic and we in Alabama will vote overwhelmingly Republican.

President Trump will carry Alabama in a landslide. This third conservative appointment to the Supreme Court is like manna from Heaven and icing on the cake for Trump in the Heart of Dixie.

The Trump train will provide some long and heavy coattails, which will prove disastrous for our anomaly: liberal, national Democratic senator Doug Jones. The crescendo Republican wave in Alabama will drown Democrat Jones into a watery grave. It has not helped Jones’s cause that during his short tenure he

has voted right down the line with the left-wing Democratic leadership.

We will see next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers.

He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www. steveflowers.us.

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must submit a completed Employment Application with qualifications to ravery@opelikaha.org or to Human Resources, Opelika Housing Authority, 1706 Toomer Street, Opelika, AL or mail to P.O. Box 786, Opelika, AL 36803-0786. Applications accepted until the position is filled.

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LOCAL CLASSIFIEDS ADS HELP WANTED HCV Specialist The Opelika Housing Authority (OHA) has a full-time opening for Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Specialist. Successful candidate would process new applications for the HCV program, when open. Conduct annual re-examinations in

accordance with established procedures. Enter information in computer and process new admissions or recertification, including verifying income and other data in accordance with established procedures and regulations. Maintain electronic files and records. Receive information from residents,

verify, and make interim adjustments based on the information. Schedule appointments for annual re-examinations, generate appointment letters and conduct interviews.

Take appropriate action based on information received.

Associate Degree in business or related field plus 2 years of work

experience that involved dealing with the public and using a computer, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in Housing Choice Voucher Program or HUD housing, preferred.

For further details, job description can be found at www.opelikaha.org.

Interested applicants

Yard Sale: Saturday, October 31, 7 to 11 a.m.

1202 India Road, Opelika.

4 x 6 x 2 storage shed, X-large dog house, linens (queen), towels, blankets, office accessories, books, Christmas, jewelry and more. Cancelled if rain.

B13 October 28, 2020

Opelika Chamber Hosting Self-Defense Class Contributed by the Opelika Chamber of Commerce

With luck, you will never be attacked, but if you are, what do you do?

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce is hosting a self-defense class on Nov. 5 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatics Center.

Led by Sergeant Pam Revels of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, attendees will have the opportunity to network and learn

some of the basic moves and skills of self-defense.

Revels has conducted the Rape-AggressionDefense (RAD) course for more than 14 years and has customized a hybrid class using elements taught in the RAD sessions, along with general personal safety practices that are important in everyday life. She has been recognized on numerous occasions as among the leaders in instructing personal safety courses for our community.

“The Sports Series that the Women’s Business Council has started is quickly growing to be our most popular series of events,” said Ali Rauch, President & CEO of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve spent time shooting, playing golf & pickleball, and now, we’re going to learn how to protect ourselves.

“At the Opelika Chamber, our vision involves supporting economic growth while sustaining a better quality of

life for our community members. This session helps us achieve that, as we are equipping our members to stay safe and smart while traveling, to be more aware of their surroundings, and to grow more confident in their abilities should the need ever arise. We hope to have a full class, ready to learn.”

Following the class, join the chamber for networking and cocktails from 5 to 6 p.m. at Ampersand in

Downtown Opelika.

Attendees are encouraged to dress in athletic wear for this event. The ticket price of $20 includes one drink ticket at the social. Space is limited due to supplies.

Register at www.opelikachamber.com by Nov. 4 at noon.

About the Opelika Chamber of Commerce Founded in 1941, the Opelika Chamber has been serving the Opelika business community for over 75 years. Under

the leadership of Ali Rauch, the president and CEO, a staff of four works diligently to be the prominent, focal business organization supporting economic growth while sustaining a better quality of life for the community through multiple partnerships.

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce promotes and fosters economic and business success, maximizes member investment, while enhancing the community.

Opelika City Council bids farewell to four councilmembers

By Michelle Key Publisher

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and City Council President Eddie Smith said farewell to the remaining four city council members last week during the Oct. 20 council meeting.

Ward 1 Council Member and President Pro-tem Patricia ‘Patsy’ Jones retired after more than 25 years of service.

Fuller and Jones’s sorority sisters, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, joined in honoring Jones for her service. Pamela Norris, president of the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha praised Jones for her strength and resilience.

“Patsy, the strength, poise and resilience you have always displayed throughout your time of service is nothing short of remarkable,” she said.

“I think we can all agree that the uncertainty of life in which we all find ourselves currently living reinforces the need to show love to those that you care about whenever

the opportunity presents itself … and we are here tonight to do just that.”

The meeting also marked the end of council service for Ward 2 Council Member Tiffany Gibson-Pitts, Ward 3 Council Member Dozier Smith T and Ward 5 Council Member David Canon. The four newly elected officials will be sworn in on Nov. 2 in a specially called meeting.

In other business, the council approved several annual appropriations for fiscal year 2021. Totaling $243,500, the following appropriations were included: - American Red Cross for $10,000 - Art Haus for $5,000 - Arts Association of East Alabama for $30,000 - Christian Care Ministries for $3,000 - Domestic Violence Intervention Center for $4,500 - East Alabama Services for the Elderly for $7,500 - Employer’s Child Care Alliance for $6,000 - Envision Opelika Foundation, Inc. for $20,000

- J.W. Darden Foundation, Inc. for $5,000 - Keep Opelika Beautiful, Inc. for $38,000 - Lee County Youth Development Center, Inc. for $35,000 - Museum of East Alabama for $30,500 - One Voice Shelter Coalition for $10,000 - Opelika Downtown Redevelopment Authority for $6,000 - Opelika Main Street, Inc. for $25,000 - Storybook Farm for $6,000 - The ARC of the Chattahoochee Valley, Inc. for $2,000 The council also voted on several resolutions and ordinances during the meeting; the council - approved a request by Opelika Main Street for downtown football viewing events - approved a request by Opelika Main Street for a drive thru trick-or-treat event in downtown on Oct. 29 - approved application from Gas Express LLC DBA Circle K for a retail

beer and wine off-premise alcohol license - approved an application from Rock N Roll Pinball LLC Dba Rock N Roll Pinball, for a retail beer and wine onpremise and off -premise alcohol license - held a public hearing and voted to amend the Zoning Ordinance and Map to rezone four acres of land located at 1201 South Fox Run Parkway - held public hearings on and subsequently approved the following weed abatement assessments: - Williamson Ave. - 411 S 4th St. - 504 S 4th St. - 1733 1st Ave. - approved the purchase of GameTime Playground equipment - approved the purchase of 28 Samsara GPS and Vehicle Camera Systems - approved the purchase of Motorola APX6000 Radios - Sole Source - PD - approved the purchase of one 2020 Caterpillar 420 - approved the purchase of Meraki Cameras and Equipment

- approved thepurchase of Scott Safety Air Pack upgrades - approved a consulting agreement with Human Resources Management, Inc. - approved an agreement with Mark Foster Company for promotional testing and assessment services for the OFD - approved the fi rst change order for the 1st Ave Street Scape project - approved a contract with Sain Associates, Inc. for the retiming of existing traffic signals in Opelika - authorized an agreement with GovtPortal for the municipal court to charge credit card payment processing fees - approved a propos-al for Andrews Road Bridge replacement design - approved a proposal for Thomason Extension Phase I engineering services - approved a proposal for the Veterans Parkway Extension Phase I design - approved a settlement agreement with Weyerhaeuser Co.

- approved a temporary closure of Willow Run on Oct. 24 - voted to approve an ordinance to amend Section 2-161(A) of the Code of Ordinances in order to update the address where city council meetings are conducted.

The council also approved several special appropriations from the Ward 5 Reserve Fund for outgoing Councilman David Canon. The following appropriations were approved: - Arts Association of East Alabama for $2,000 - Envision Opelika for $2,000 - Envision Opelika’s First Class Pre-K for $2,000 -Museum of East Alabama for $2,000 - Opelika Main Street for $2,000 The Opelika City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday nights of every month. Meetings are held in the courtroom of the Municipal Court building, located at 300 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Opelika.

Voting leads to long lines and highest ever absentee voting in Lee County

By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com

Lee County has already seen over 11,000 absentee votes cast before election day, Probate Judge Bill English said during the Monday night Lee County Commission meeting.

The previous record for absentee votes has been left far in the dust. Lee County had roughly 3,100 absentee votes in the 2016 election.

“We once again held onsite absentee voting on this past Saturday here in the courthouse,” English said. “The first one in Smiths, we had 75 to 80 people. The second one in Auburn we had about 160.

This past Saturday we had about 275.”

The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is Thursday, Oct. 29, he said.

“We have about 125,000 registered voters,” English said.

“We have appointed 400 poll workers to work this election, that’s the largest number we’ve ever appointed. Training for them will start on Wednesday,

go through Thursday. Please go vote.”

Near 10% of voters have voted absentee so far.

“A lot of voters this year are treating it as early voting, not as absentee voting,” English said. “We’re accommodating everybody as best we can, we’ve had some complaints; we understand the lines. We’ve got as many people and as many computers on it as we can.

We’ve been getting reorders of ballots frequently. Nobody’s been turned away to my knowledge, nobody’s not gotten a ballot to my knowledge.”

Firearm Ban: The Lee County Commission voted to grant Probate Judge Bill English and County Administrator Roger Rendlemen permission to ban firearms in county buildings during the Monday night meeting.

Firearms are already banned in county buildings but there have been people asking for permission to bring firearms, however.

“Given recent events, we

have had a couple of requests for permission to be granted expressly [to carry firearms inside county buildings],” English said. “I’m going to suggest that rather than bringing each and every one of those to the commission for a vote, if you would grant Mr. Rendleman and myself the authority to issue those, kind of like how we have similar authority on the coronavirus procedures and so forth.

Obviously anybody that we deny we would bring before the commission on an appeal of our decision and ya’ll would make the ultimately decision if somebody is not satisfied with our determination.”

Firearms are banned inside police or sheriff buildings, highway patrol stations, prisons, jails, halfway houses, or other detention facilities or athletic events.

They are banned: “inside a courthouse, courthouse annex, a building in which a district attorney’s office is located, or a building in which a county commission or city council is

currently having a regularly scheduled or specially called meeting,” according to county documents.

Now English or Rendleman can grant or deny permission to bring a firearm inside the buildings if asked.

Additionally, English said that signs will be posted to remind citizens of the rules as outlined in Section 13A-11-61.2 of the criminal code.

ATRIP-II Program The county approved an Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program Application Monday night.

“With the passage of the Rebuild Alabama Act of 2019, the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP-II) was created to fund projects of local interest on the state-maintained highway system,” county documents read. “For fiscal year 2021, the overall program is funded at an amount of $30,000,000 with the maximum funding to any project

capped at $2,000,000.”

The Highway Department asked the commission to apply for funding under ATRIP-II. Each project will be overseen

by ALDOT and the projects must be related to state-maintained highways and roadways.

County roads can not be included in the ATRIP-II funds.

“Lee County is committed to improving the safety of its roadways for the traveling public and with the understanding that the ATRIP-II program is focused on improving the state-maintained highway system with an emphasis on public safety, Lee County seeks funding through the ATRIP-II program to improve safety,” said a letter from Probate Judge Bill English to Chief Engineer for ALDOT, Edward Austin.

Awarded funds would be put toward work on the intersection of County Road 249 and Highway 280 to include acceleration and deceleration lanes.

The county hopes to received almost $750,000 to complete the project.

B14 October 28, 2020

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B15 October 28, 2020

YOUR VOTE MATTERS

Photos by Michelle Key/Opelika Observer State Rep. Jeremy Gray partnered with the Lee County Voters League and Youth Organization on Saturday to host an event aimed toward encouraging citizens to get out and vote. Volunteers assisted absentee voters by handing out absentee voting applications and making copies of their identification.

CHOOSE

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B16 October 28, 2020

Letter to the Editor

H

ere are some solid reasons for re-electing U.S. Senator Doug Jones on Tuesday, November 3.

For 2019, Govtrack.us reported “Jones cosponsored 324 bills and resolutions introduced by other Members of Congress. Cosponsorship shows a willingness to work with others to advance policy goals.”

On June 9, 2020, the U.S.

Chamber of Commerce announced U.S. Senator Doug Jones was awarded both its Jefferson– Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship and the Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award.

Senator Jones is one of only two senators to have earned both honors this year. These honors recognize members of Congress who demonstrate bipartisan leadership and constructive governing.

During his brief time in the U.S.

Senate, Doug Jones has consistently reached across the aisle to work with both Republicans and Democrats.

In just three years, he’s had 21 bipartisan bills signed into law by the president. Some of the successes address: insurance coverage for coronavirus treatments and vaccines, rural health care, health of senior citizens, nursing services in underserved areas, job growth in rural communities, tax relief for Gold Star families, federal resources for

certain farmers, taxes for military widows, taxpayer identity protection, clarification of commercial real estate loans, rural waste water systems, addiction and drug abuse.

Doug Jones has the training, experience, and record that proves he is about helping all of the people of Alabama. Let’s vote again for U.S. Senator Doug Jones, a proven public servant for all of One Alabama.

David Newton Auburn, AL

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