Vol. 13, No. 5
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
pelika Observer O
Opelika, Alabama
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Tuberville takes the win By Opelika Observer Staff Tommy Tuberville, former Auburn football head coach and political newcomer, defeated incumbent Sen. Doug Jones in Alabama’s 2020 senate election. Tuberville was heavily favored to win the race entering Tuesday. Tuberville won the Republican nomination for this race in July, defeating Jeff Sessions with a campaign built around the support from President Donald Trump. Platform “One of the main if not the most important issue brought up to me by people on the campaign trail is education," Tuberville said in a 2019 interview with the Observer. "It’s something I’ve done for 40 years, and I’m very concerned by what I’m seeing. The secret to freedom is education. If people receive a true education, they learn civics
TUBERVILLE and learn what this country is about—how and why we started and how we got to this point.” He also mentioned the following main points of his campaign: - advocating for Trump’s proposed measures for border security and immigration policies
- expanding trade school opportunities for Alabama students - improving rural Alabamian’s access to broadband internet services - lowering taxes and trimming the national deficit - maintaining state-
wide gun rights - protecting Alabama’s ban on abortions - repealing and replacing Obamacare and return to a free-market system to incentivize competition, lower health care costs and obtaining a higher level of care. Career After graduating from Southern Arkansas University, Tuberville accepted a coaching position with Hermitage High School, spending two years as an assistant and two years as head coach. His success helped him land an assistant coaching position at Arkansas State University from 1980 to 1984. Tuberville’s career took off at the University of Miami, where he served as a graduate assistant and later as defensive coordinator, coaching some of the greatest athletes in college football histoSee TUBERVILLE, page A6
Three generations of Eagle Scouts: Camp Steiner, ‘19, his father Thomas Steiner, ‘77 and his grandfather Edwin Beck, ‘56
Steiner becomes third generation Eagle Scout and Troop 50’s 21st Contributed by Boy Scout Troop 50 This spring, Troop 50 bestowed the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank during a ceremony honoring new Eagle Scout Thomas “Camp” Steiner. He is the son of Thomas and Joscelin Steiner of Auburn. Camp is the troop’s 21st Eagle Scout since its founding in
2012. In addition, he is a third-generation Eagle Scout: his grandfather, Edwin Beck, earned the Eagle Scout rank in 1956, and his father, Thomas, earned the rank in 1977. Camp’s ceremony was held on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Lee County Historical Society’s Pioneer Park in Loachapoka. Steiner joined Troop See EAGLE SCOUT, page A3
Walk to End Epilepsy The PPP is a nationwide project that raises awareness for individuals living with epilepsy. Jake was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2012. He is one of more than 54,000 people who have epilepsy in the state of Alabama. This Saturday, Nov. 7, at 4 p.m., there will be a Walk to End Epilepsy at the Lee County Courthouse Square. It is one of many walks being held across the country to raise awareness for epilepsy, from Los Angeles to New York City. For more informa-
By Will Fairless Associate Editor with contribution from Luanne Helms Have you spotted the Purple Pumpkin Project in front of the Opelika Police Department? Why is the pumpkin purple? That purple pumpkin was an idea conceived by the family of #OtownJake (Jake Helms and his parents) when they saw the PPP contest being held by the Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama. Jake’s project won first prize out of more than 30 submissions to the contest.
Index OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4
SPORTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. . . . A7
POLITICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B7
RELIGION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A11
PUBLIC NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . B9
COMICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A14
CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B9
tion about this walk, to join as a member of Jake’s team or to donate, go to fb.me/e/5Dy8bUoLU. One in 26 people has epilepsy. There are more than 40 different types of seizures, which happen when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects all or part of the brain. One in 10 adults will have a seizure at some point in their lifetime. Seizures can last from a few seconds See AWARENESS, page A3
A2 November 4, 2020
Auburn, Opelika host drive-through trick-or-treating
Photos conrtibuted by Hannah Lester, Robert Noles and Opelika Main Street
pelika Observer
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Phone: 334.749.8003 editor@opelikaobserver.com Michelle@opelikaobserver.com
Publisher: Michelle Key Associate Editors: Will Fairless and Hannah Lester Marketing: Woody Ross Photojournalist: Robert Noles Sports Writers: Wil Crews, Rick Lanier and D. Mark Mitchell
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A3 November 4, 2020
Creekline Trails to hold public meeting Nov. 18
Contributed By Creekline Trails of Opelika Creekline Trails of Opelika invites all residents of the city of Opelika and surrounding areas to attend a public meeting on Nov. 18, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Opelika Municipal Courtroom (300 Martin Luther King Blvd., Opelika, AL 36801). The local mask ordinance and social distancing guidelines will be adhered to for public safety. The National Park Service will develop a master plan for Creekline
EAGLE SCOUT
Trails, lending technical assistance through the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. The purpose of this public meeting is to present an overview of the master planning process and receive community input. Comment and input are welcome from all Opelika and area residents to ensure that the development and design of Creekline Trails serves all members of the community. Interested parties are encouraged to complete the Creekline Trails Planning Survey online at the following link: bit.ly/
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to a few minutes and can have many symptoms, from the more obvious (convulsions and loss of consciousness) to the less apparent (blank staring and lip picking). There is no cure for epilepsy. Here are some things one should do when in the presence of some-
one having a seizure: • Stay with the person and start timing the seizure • Keep the person safe; move or guide him/her away from harmful objects • Turn the person on his/her side if he/she is unconscious • Keep calm and reassure others who are nearby • Don’t restrain
the person having a seizure or otherwise restrict movement • Loosen tight clothing and put something soft under his/her head • Be friendly and reassuring as the seizure ends For more information on seizure first aid, visit the Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama’s website (epilepsyalabama. org).
creeklinesurvey2020. Hard copies of this survey will also be available for completion at the public meeting. Creekline Trails of Opelika is a citizen-driven effort to create a system of nature trails and multi-use paths along Opelika’s scenic streams. It is a project of Envision Opelika Foundation, Inc., inspired by Opelika’s unique watershed and designed to address numerous recreational, transportational and conservational needs. For more informatio++
MIKE
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ROGERS
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50 in September 2017 after transferring from Troop 316 in Pass Christian, Mississippi. He has served in several leadership positions including quartermaster, patrol leader, senior patrol leader and junior assistant scoutmaster before becoming an assistant scoutmaster. He earned 31 merit badges and was elected for membership in the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s national honor society. In 2019, Steiner was selected by his fellow Scouts as the recipient of the troop’s James A. Baird Jr. Honor Scout Award. For his Eagle Scout leadership service project, Steiner planned and led volunteers to build a fence enclosing Pioneer Park’s McLain Garden — a collection of culinary and medicinal herbs, some of which were used as folk medicine in the South. Family, friends and fellow Scouts and leaders logged more than 145 service hours planning and constructing the project. The new fence ties in with two arbors built by fellow Troop 50 Eagle Scout Jacob Van Horn in 2018. After completing the Eagle Scout rank requirements, which included planning and executing his service project, Steiner appeared before the Saugahatchee District’s Eagle Scout Board on
AWARENESS
REPUBLICAN FOR CONGRESS
Camp Steiner, Eagle Scout Class of 2019 and Troop 50’s 21st Eagle Scout
Sept. 17, 2019. He is among the two Troop 50 Scouts to earn the Eagle Scout rank during 2019. Steiner is a graduate of Auburn High School, where some of his activities included Film Club, Scholar’s Bowl, leading STEM nights at local elementary schools with the Technology Students Association, Spanish Club and ultimate frisbee. He began his collegiate studies this fall as a Presidential Scholar at The University of Tulsa (Oklahoma), where he is majoring in computer science, with minors in mathematics and possibly Spanish. The first Eagle Scout was awarded in 1912,
and since then more than 2.5 million Boy Scouts have completed the Eagle Scout’s performance-based rank requirements, which currently include serving in progressive leadership positions, demonstrating outdoor and scouting skill competencies, earning at least 21 merit badges and planning and executing a seminal Eagle Scout leadership service project. During 2019 alone, 61,535 Boy Scouts earned Scouting’s highest rank — beating the previous record of 58,659 set in 2012, the 100-year anniversary of the award first being presented.
THANK YOU! FOR YOUR VOTE AND YOUR SUPPORT
PAID FOR BY MIKE ROGERS FOR CONGRESS
A4 November 4, 2020
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ver the years I have had the opportunity to live in just about every region of our state and along the Florida Panhandle, which by right should also be part of Alabama. Of all the seasons we celebrate, fall seems to me the most diverse. Winter is cold and wet everywhere. Sure we occasionally get a little snow, but not enough to brag about. During cold snaps, some folks keep their faucets dripping, but most don’t. Spring is glorious all over. Summer is hot. But fall? Fall is different. I grew up in South Alabama, about 100 miles north of Mobile.
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here does one begin to find the still? You begin by finding it in just one place…” This is our ending, dear readers. As a writer, I feel like I either have a lot to say or have very few words at all. I’m either overflowing or speechless. In this way, I’m learning, learning to speak and listen at the same time. It is not my hope for you to find me in this work I do, it is my hope that you may see yourself, that these simple words will speak for many…
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his story is not mine. But I’m going to tell it anyway. And our story begins at night. Nighttime in the countryside can feel eerie to city folk. They aren’t prepared for that level of quiet. Many city dwellers have never seen so many stars at once. It makes them jumpy. Don was feeling jumpy. This was the wrong place to have his car break down. He had hours left to travel, and this was the Georgia boonies. He was about to have a panic attack here in the middle of nowhere. He tried calling a tow truck, but he had no cell reception. He slammed the phone onto the dashboard and used colorful expletives often heard in barroom brawls and major motion pictures. He was exhausted, hungry and scared. What he needed was rest. So he crawled into his backseat and curled into a ball. He had never noticed how comfortable the back-
Signs of fall Down there, native trees don’t turn — except for the sweet gum whose leaves get a little red-orange for a day or so and then they drop off. Live oak, water oak foliage hardly change color at all. So you can imagine my surprise and delight when I saw the trees on the hillsides of North Alabama. The reds and yellows up and down the slopes were in stark contrast to forests farther south. North Alabama was what our elementary school teachers had in mind when we cut out colored paper leaves to decorate autumn bulletin boards. And the leaves up there stay longer on the trees than they do closer to the coast.
By Hardy Jackson Why? Maybe it is because every fall south Alabama counties experience one or more of what old folks in old times used to call “September Gales” (also called “September Squalls” in some quarters, but not ours). These were not the pre-winter rains that come south with cold
fronts and pound North Alabama’s poplar, hickory and maple leaves to the ground. September gales come up out of the Gulf. They begin as low-pressure areas that feed on the warm Gulf water. They pull up the moisture, then move north. Along the beaches the red flags go up as the system churns up the waves and rearranges the sand. Then the gale moves inland. Clouds roll up from the south and the wind picks up. The air turns heavy and humid. It starts to rain, warm and pleasant to walk in, if walking in the rain is your thing. One came ashore recently. It dumped 8
inches of water on Gulf Shores and 12 on Destin. Upcountry creeks flooded. Wind was minimal, but pecan trees, which had only recently turned brown after a leafy green summer, let loose their foliage. In a few days they were bare, and it looked like winter in the orchard. North Alabama got some of the effect, but mostly it was a South Alabama event. Turning trees and September gales are not the only things that define fall in Alabama’s regions. Fall arrives at different times. Another old saying among old folks was “summer’s back is broken.” It was an acknowledgement that the
growing season was over and the dying season had begun. Cotton bolls popped open, hay needed cutting and corn was ready for grinding into meal. It was time to prepare for winter. Summer’s back breaks earlier in the foothills and hollows of North Alabama. In the valleys where they farm as intensely as they do down in the Black Belt, you can detect a sense of urgency, a need to get crops harvested and into the barn or off to market. Fall can come quickly, and winter is not far behind. Many years ago I took part in a project sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute. “Barn Again” was an effort See JACKSON, page A5
The Ar t of Being Still: Part 3
By Bradley Robertson One of my favorite books from childhood and to this day is The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman. I still have the copy that was read
to me, and I just recently placed it in the hands of my good boy Shep. I went looking for our storybook of Winnie the Pooh; I instead came across The Best Nest and was filled with delight. I have often thought of my home as a nest for many reasons and I’m sure all other mothers out there can relate. But seeing Shep pick my book and read the title without hesitation brought on a whole new meaning of what a “nest” can be. The story goes like this … there is a very happy Mr. Bird, who sings a charming song
of having “the best nest.” And his dear wife, Mrs. Bird, isn’t as happy as Mr. Bird about their home. After his cheerful song, Mrs. Bird says, “It’s NOT the best nest!” Poor Mr. Bird frowns, but he says that he will go with her to find a better nest. They search high and low and nothing is quite suitable. They decide to build a new nest in a church tower. They are proud and happy and so Mr. Bird sings his cheerful song again. While he is singing, the bell in the tower begins to ring and Mrs. Bird is
startled. She becomes frightened and leaves the nest abruptly. Mr. Bird soon flies into the tower and sees that Mrs. Bird is missing. He begins to search for her. He becomes gloomy and sad and concludes that Mrs. Bird is gone forever. It begins to rain, and he cannot see where he is going, and he bumps into something. It is his old nest, in his old bird house. He goes inside and finds none other than Mrs. Bird! Mr. Bird gasps, “You! Here! I thought you hated this old nest!” Mrs. Bird smiles
and says, “I used to hate it, but a mother bird can change her mind…” There is a little more to this ending, but I’ll leave that for your own curiosity. I see everyday people searching and looking for a better nest. We want more. We want something different and new. We are looking for something to fill the next moment, the next day, the next hour. We look outside our own nest to find the next piece of life to fill our happiness. And while looking
When he awoke several hours later he was covered in a flannel blanket. She refilled his mug with more cocoa. “You sure live a long way from civilization,” Don said, sipping his Swiss Miss with freeze dried marshmallow pellets that were the same shape and flavor of extra-strength Tylenol. “Oh, I live here so I can watch my girls,” the woman said. “Your what?” “My girls.” She gestured out the window to the cows. “Wanna meet my girls?” Don saw a congregation of heifers loping up the hill toward the camper. He blinked a few times to make sure this was really happening. Because for a moment Don wondered if he were dying and this was a convincing hallucination that accompanied clinical brain death. “Sure,” he said. The lady led him outside. She had named
the cows. She stroked them and spoke to them like toddlers. Dozens surrounded the trailer, groaning in low moans, waiting their turn for affection. Once Don got over the weirdness, he petted a few of them. And he was really beginning to fall in love with this old lady’s spirit. The woman offered to give Don a lift to meet the wrecker. For the trip she insisted that he bring along some sandwiches and his mug of hot chocolate. On the ride she told him all about herself. About how she’d beaten cancer, and about how she’d lost a husband to the same disease. She told him about how difficult life can be, and about how the most beautiful parts are sometimes the worst ones. Mostly, Don just nodded and listened. Sipping. The woman dropped him at his car and offered to wait with
See ROBERTSON, page A5
Holy Cow seat of his Nissan was. It actually wasn’t bad provided you didn’t mind having seat-belt receptacles jammed into your vital organs. He awoke the next morning to lumbar muscles that were sore, and a neck that was kinked with the charley horse from hell. His stomach was rumbling like a bowling alley. He stepped out of the car, caffeine deprived, headachy, famished and disoriented. He checked his phone. Dead battery. He’d tried recharging it, but it wouldn’t work unless the car was cranked. This just kept getting better and better. Don looked in all directions, but there were no vehicles on this dirt highway. So he started walking. Before long he was covered in sweat, foot blisters and he was half lost. Finally, in the distance, salvation cometh. He saw a camper. It sat perched on a sprawl of acreage with cattle grazing near it. In the yard were cheap
By Sean Dietrich lawn ornaments, gaze balls and a satellite dish. A saintly old woman answered the door. She was slight and smelled like Virginia Slims. He explained everything to her and she reacted the way all grannies would. She covered her mouth and said, “You poor thing.” She invited him in. She doted on him. She fed him a huge sandwich, cookies and a heavenly host of other delicacies that all elderly women all learn how to prepare in Elderly Woman Cooking Class 101. The lady didn’t have
any coffee, but she did have Swiss Miss hot cocoa. She served it to Don in a decorative Christmas mug even though it was not Christmastime. The trailer was crowded with old-lady junk. And she had a lap dog named Pete who was friendly, and used a litterbox just like a cat. A TV was playing 24-hour news in the background. There were porcelain figurines everywhere. When Don finished using her phone, he was about to leave, but he could hardly keep his eyes open. He fell asleep on her sofa.
See DIETRICH, page A5
A5 November 4, 2020
Push to change Opelika zoning to accommodate tiny houses By Will Fairless Associate Editor One potential source of low-income housing in Opelika could be tiny houses if the city’s zoning code changes to allow for them. Opelika business owner Emily Key is pushing for this legislative change. She said that residents can’t currently build a tiny house in Opelika, much less a “tiny house village” (a group of tiny houses in a small area, one that might otherwise accommodate one or two larger houses), because of rules dictating the minimum size
JACKSON>>
FROM A4
to document what they called “barn culture” – how barns in a region reflect the way of life there. In Alabama it was
ROBERTSON>>
FROM A4
for a new nest, we completely miss the nest we are resting upon. We miss the joy, the simple, the smile, the listening, the understanding, the connection, the realness of ourselves and others, the here and now. Being still in our
DIETRICH>>
FROM A4
him, but Don said he’d be fine. He thanked her for her kindness, waved goodbye and watched her tail lights disappear into a cloud of pink dust. He spent the rest of the day getting his car fixed, dealing with mechanics and draining his bank account. He was about to leave for the interstate when he noticed something sitting in his console. The coffee mug. He decided to return the cup to the woman since it was the polite thing to do. He aimed his car toward the des-
Photo contributed by Emily Key Pictured is a tiny house in Detroit, Michigan. Key toured a tiny house community last month as part of her research into tiny homes.
of residential houses. Current city ordinances only allow houses that are greater than 800 square feet. “Bigger is not always better, and living tiny does not mean living less,” Key said. “For someone who just wants one bedroom and one bathroom, 800 feet is massive.” Affordable rent is an important part of Key’s plan. “My plan is specifically to create houses that are affordable for people who are on fixed income,” Key said. “They’re only making 800, 900 dollars a month from the govern-
ment, and the cheapest thing they’re going to be able to rent is 500, 600 dollars.” The tiny houses that would be available for that budget typically have between 250 and 400 square feet each, according to Key. And rent is not the only thing that costs less for a tiny house; less space means less spent on heating and cooling, cleaning and electrical bills. There are currently two classifications of tiny houses. One is a tiny house on wheels (THOW), which is usuSee TINY HOUSES, page A6
pretty much what you would expect. Up north the barns were big and often elaborate – stalls to keep animals out of the cold, lofts for storing fodder. Near the Tennessee line I saw barns made out of hewed logs and dating
back a century. When cold weather comes those folks are ready. Nothing like that down south — except in a small Baldwin County enclave that was settled by folks of German descent. They had built big barns back where
they came from, so they built them big here. Not so in the rest of lower Alabama. On my family farm all we had was a corn crib. When summer’s back broke, our cows began spending more time in
the woods, protected from September gales and later from winter frosts. We didn’t need big barns. We were different. So if you want to see how diverse deep Dixie is, travel it in the fall.
You can thank me later.
own nest really is the best. Stillness connects me with my little boy so he can learn to read; when he looks at me with his little grin in satisfaction of his ability, nothing can replace it. Stillness allows me to hold my 12-year-old daughter so she feels and knows that although she’s growing
up, she is a child who still needs my touch to find calmness in the chaos. Stillness is hugging my grown boy in the kitchen while I’m smack in the middle of dinner and laundry and homework and life. For he has learned to reach for his own stillness, and the place he finds it is in me. My best nest is my
own self. When I can stop the noise of life and rest in my own soul, God lays his hands on me and I gently hear “be still." “Do I have time for this?” I ask myself. “Do I even want to go there?” “What if’s” of anything and everything run through my mind. I choose to lean into the still no matter what
is to come. And every single time a peace that passes all understanding falls over me. Then I am able to move forward and take care of all the other items in my nest with thanksgiving. You are the best nest. Right here, right now. Your home is the best nest. All that you have to offer is good. And you can only see
this when you learn to be still. Be still in you. Be still in your family. Be still in all the ways placed at your feet. The art of being still allows us to see our own best nest. And who wants to miss that? “I love my house. I love my nest. In all the world, my nest is best!” P.D. Eastman
olate dirt highway and tried to retrace the path back to her place. He drove through hours of backroads, acres of peanut fields and miles of fescue pasture. But he found no trailer. No cows. No satellite dish. And no old woman. Don was convinced he was losing his mind. He still isn’t sure he hasn’t. Either way, he still has that mug. He still uses it, even after all these years. He describes it as a nondescript coffee cup. Hand thrown pottery. Red and white. With an angel painted on the outside.
Harvey H. (“Hardy”) Jackson is Professor Emeritus of History at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hhjackson43@gmail.com.
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A6 November 4, 2020
TUBERVILLE >>
FROM A1
ry like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ray Lewis and Warren Sapp. After a season at Texas A&M, he left to become the head coach of Ole Miss’s program. After three successful seasons and being named the AP’s SEC Coach of the Year in 1997, Tuberville accepted the coaching position at Auburn University, arguably his most notable stint in his coaching career. During his 10 seasons as the head of the Tigers, he compiled an 85–40 overall record, including coaching the 2004 team to a 13–0 record and a 16–13 Sugar Bowl victory over Virginia Tech.
Texas Tech and Cincinnati were Tuberville’s next coaching stops before he departed the college football world. Overall, he finished with 159–99 record in his career and 7–6 mark in bowl games. Family Tuberville and his wife, Suzanne, have been married since 1991, have two children named Tucker and Troy, and are active members of the Church of Christ. OTHER LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS Lee County Commission There were two open seats for the Lee County Commission. Doug Cannon took the seat for District 1, beating out opponent Lindsey
Bickerstaff. Incumbant Gary Long kept his seat for District 3, defeating his opponent Napolean Stringer. U. S. Representative for the 3rd Congressional District, Mike Rogers beat Adia Winfrey. Two races with local impact were uncontested: - Lee County Revenue Commissioner, Oline Price - Lee County Board of Education, District 1, Mark Tomlin Publisher's Note: These results have not been certified as of press time and could change. Provisional ballots will be tallied next week. Follow the Opelika Observer on Facebook or Twitter for more information as it becomes available.
TINY HOUSES >>
FROM A5
ally labeled technically as RVs. Key explained that they’re much sturdier than RVs; they’re scaled down versions of regular houses that have been made into homes and that just happen to be on wheels. They’re not recreational vehicles that are used for weekend trips. She built her first THOW in 2014 but was unable to live in it due to the city’s ordinance. The other classification of tiny houses is homes built on a foundation the same similiar to a larger house. Key foresees a new residential zone (a sixth added to Opelika’s R15) that would accom-
modate the building of tiny house villages. “The community itself would have a parking area up front, and then you would enter the property through something like a community building, which would have a larger kitchen and dining area,” Key said. The community would ideally be much more than a trailer park and much more than a group of people living in close proximity. Key explained part of her vision: “It also promotes outdoor recreation… I want to have grills available for people to cook out. And if I look out the window and see you’ve got the grill going, I might walk out there with my pack of hot dogs and throw them on the grill, then
we’re talking, and we’ll sit down at the picnic table and eat together.” Tiny house villages, or similar concepts at least, have been successfully implemented in cities around the U.S. The first step is to get tiny houses defined in the city’s legislation. Key attended the Oct. 27 planning commission meeting to start the conversation about adding a new category for homes under 400 square feet. "It’s not really about what I’m trying to do," Key said. "What we have to do right now is convince our lawmakers why tiny houses are important and why they would make Opelika a better place to live."
Opelika E vents, Society & Food
UPCOMING EVENTS
OPELIKA THEATRE COMPANY TO HOST AUDITIONS Nov. 6 - 6:30 - 8:30 p.m Nov. 7 - 10 a.m. to noon Southside Center for the Arts 1103 Glenn Street, Opelika
Remembering the history, cuisine of The Greenhouse Restaurant Ann Cipperly
Southern
Hospitality
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hen The Greenhouse Restaurant opened in January 1979, it not only brought fine cuisine to the area but saved one of Opelika’s Victorian houses, adding beauty to the corner of Second Avenue and Ninth Street. The restaurant quickly established itself as one of the best in the area, serving gourmet dishes in an elegant setting. Situated on land that was originally owned by an Indian warrior, the land changed hands five times during the 19th century before it was purchased by Walter Cullars in 1902. The house that became The
Greenhouse was built by Walter and his wife Kate around 1906. After residing there almost two decades, the Cullars sold the house to Annie Bell Burkhead. She made minor structural changes, including the removal of walls to create the large front room. Upon her the death, her daughter Eloise Burkhead Webb inherited the house. Then her son, Wendell B. Webb, inherited the house. The current Greenhouse owners, Ursula Higgins, Florence Green and Burnie Brown, purchased the house from Webb in 1978. They selected this house because they wanted
the restaurant to have a Victorian atmosphere. They restored the house, keeping structural changes to a minimum, saving the feeling of an older house. The planning stage took a year. There were many problems to overcome, such as getting a liquor license and solving structural problems with the house. The owners subcontracted and did much of the work themselves. The bar was constructed from wood removed from the upstairs. Ursula managed the food, making menus and working with a chef, while the other two owners assisted with day-to-day operations.
Photo by Ann Cipperly The Greenhouse Restaurant opened in January 1979 with owners Ursula Higgins, Florence Green and Burnie Brown offering gourmet dishes in an elegant setting. The restaurant was open for 14 years on the corner of Second Avenue and Ninth Street in Opelika.
When the restaurant first opened, the menus were written in calligraphy and displayed on wicker fans. The lunch menu included chicken crepes, Ursula’s famous chicken salad, spinach salad with an Oriental dressing, gumbo and a scrumptious dessert of meringue shells filled with coffee ice cream and topped with chocolate sauce and toasted almonds. Muffins were always popular. Dinner featured upscale fare with prime
rib, steaks and seafood for an elegant meal. In 1983, the front porch was enclosed and a canopy installed, which enhanced the appearance while still preserving the flavor of an older house. Flower beds on the side of the house were filled with old fashioned blooms, while two trees flanking the canopy were lovely at night covered in tiny white lights. The restaurant had four rooms for serving: the porch, the elegant
large front room, the garden room with light, airy ambience and the governor’s room, which was mainly used for private parties. In 1983, the restaurant began serving Sunday brunch. The owners said they decided to offer brunch since it was becoming popular across the country. Many of their customers had requested that they open on Sunday. Along with classic egg dishes, such as eggs See CIPPERLY, page A8
Auburn Area Community Theatre Seeking Diverse Community Performers Contributed by Auburn Area Community Theatre For the upcoming event, a “Holiday Walk in the Woods” at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, Auburn Area Community Theatre (AACT) is looking for reliable performers for a diverse representation of the local Auburn area community to present a variety of songs, instrumental pieces or spoken word performances that are holiday, unity or culturally themed. The
event will take place on Dec. 18 and 19 and will entertain walking smallgroup tours through
the piney winter woods with lights and decorations along the trail. Performance pieces
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should be family-friendly and highlight the diverse traditions and culture of our community, including Christmas favorites. Each performer will repeat one song/ performance piece lasting three to five minutes, nine to ten times, over a two-hour period. To create a varied, high quality and appropriate performance experience for audiences, AACT will select performers through an application process. Performers are limited to ages 16 and up, unless in a family or
organizational grouping with an adult leader, due to safety protocol. Solo and duet performers are highly encouraged, with a maximum allowance of four people in a performing group. Please visit www. auburnact.org for more information, including the application. Submissions should be turned in no later than Nov. 15; selections will be made by Nov. 22. Auburn Area Community Theatre is a non-profit organization that
exists to serve the Auburn/Opelika Community. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for education and participation in the world of theatre and present a quality, entertaining and thought-provoking theatre experience. AACT is actively soliciting new members who have an interest in helping the growth of community theatre. AACT members and the community-at-large are encouraged to participate. For more information please visit www.auburnact.org.
A8 November 4, 2020
CIPPERLY
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FROM A7
benedict and omelets, they offered rib eye steaks, London broil steak, ham in pastry, seafood au gratin, crab crepes, chicken supreme and cheese blintzes. They also served soups and salads with muffins and cheese biscuits. Special desserts for brunch featured “swan cream puffs on a chocolate lake,” chocolate mousse, lemon and strawberry tarts and mocha torte, among others. When the restaurant celebrated its 10th anniversary, Ursula began opening the porch at 4 p.m. for after-business get-togethers with friends before dinner or for a light meal. The lighter fare included French onion soup, chicken salad plate with fresh fruits, barbecue shrimp, burgers and other dishes. Bob Richardson played the piano most of the time, and Ursula’s daughter Kate, who was in the music department at Auburn University, also played the piano. At this time, Ursula hired Stephanie Weaver, former pastry chef at the Windows on the World restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center in New York. Stephanie had also worked at two other famous restaurants. In addition to the
regular dessert menu, Stephanie provided a pastry cart laden with her specialty desserts. She also baked the bread and created appetizers with puff pastry, as well as new salads. Ursula felt change was important. “If you don’t keep coming up with new ideas,” she said. “You lose your customer base. You have to change.” She changed the menu to be half seafood. After being open for 13 years, Ursula adapted the menu to suit popular trends, but some of her creations remained on the menu. Those remaining included seafood gumbo, chicken salad, fresh
seafood dishes, muffins and meringue desserts. The restaurant received awards annually from Holiday Travel and was one of only two restaurants in the state to receive this award. Ursula continued to oversee the kitchen and change the menu weekly for lunch and dinner. She was also busy with the restaurant catering special events. She remembers they only closed once on Saturday night to the public for a wedding reception. The restaurant could seat over a hundred. While Ursula enjoyed the restaurant business, in 1991 a recession
hit the Opelika-Auburn area. Diversified Products and Master Lock closed, and then soon afterward Ampex followed. Employees of those businesses frequently dined at the restaurant with vendors and customers. When business began to go down, they decided to close the restaurant after 14 years. Many people in Opelika were saddened to see the elegant restaurant close. Ursula built a kitchen on the back of her house in Auburn and began catering full time. Several years later, she took over The Café at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art in Auburn. Ursula ran the Café and all of the catering at the museum. She served the same popular chicken salad recipe that had been served at The Greenhouse with the addition of sweet pickle. Although the menu changed weekly, the chicken salad was always on the menu. When Ursula was 79 years old, she sold her catering business to Jenni Sneed, but she did not retire from cooking. She renovated her kitchen to include a large island and returned to her first love of teaching cooking classes. She has been teaching classes for the OLLI program at Auburn University and giving private lessons,
as well as entertaining frequently. Now, at 86 years of age, she is waiting for COVID-19 to end so she can continue her cooking classes. While Ursula is well known for her expertise in good cooking, she did not become interested in cooking until her late 20s when she was living in New York. Ursula was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and lived in numerous places around the country. Since her parents traveled so much, they lived in hotels and apartments for six months at a time and mostly dined out. Ursula had no interest in learning how to cook. She spent her high school, college and graduate school years in Virginia. When Ursula was living in Manhattan, she became interested in entertaining and began cooking. Later, she became interested in baking as well and worked for a year to perfect French bread and rolls. After she married and was living in Athens, Georgia, she purchased a special flour in 25 lb. bags at a small gourmet shop. When the shop changed owners and no longer offered the flour, it put her out of the French roll business. While in Athens, she began catering with a friend and was teaching cooking classes. When
Ursula and her husband moved to Chicago, she continued cooking classes and catered for friends. They moved to Auburn in 1976. Ursula became the hostess at First Baptist Church of Auburn, where she prepared Wednesday night supper for 200 to 300 people. She had never prepared casseroles, so she was serving entrees such as chicken cacciatore and seafood dishes. She received good feedback and became part of a group of 10 that decided to open a restaurant. Ursula was in the process of opening The Greenhouse restaurant when she and her husband divorced. “At The Greenhouse you could get a dinner entrée for $12 and people thought that was expensive,” Ursula said. "We played classical music in the background. Now when I go out to eat and think back to The Greenhouse, I remember that you could sit at a table and actually hear each other talk. Nothing else really came along that replaced it.” If you missed the delicious dishes served at The Greenhouse, look over the selection of Ursula’s recipes served at the beloved restaurant. The house is currently a business owned by the Alsobrook family. Ann Cipperly can be reached at recipes@ cipperly.com.
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A9 November 4, 2020
K N A TH S
F O R R O L L I N ’ W IT H U S THIS YEAR
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A10 November 4, 2020
RECIPES THE GREENHOUSE RESTAURANT’S FAMOUS CHICKEN SALAD Ursula now bakes chicken tenders rather than boiling chicken breasts for making this famous salad. 2 ½ lb. chicken tenders 1/4 cup chopped green onions 1 cup diced celery 1 tsp. tarragon 1½ tsp. salt 1 cup Hellman's mayonnaise Bake chicken tenders in a 350 oven for about 20 minutes or until done. Cool and then chop. Add remaining ingredients. Makes about 3 lb. salad. Serve on lettuce with fresh fruits. SOUTHWESTERN GRILLED CHICKEN WITH SALSA Chicken breasts, boneless, skinless Oil Southwestern Seasoning, recipe follows Salsa, recipe follows Toasted pine nuts, optional Chopped green onions, optional Place desired number of chicken breasts between two sheets of foil and pound to even thickness. Dip chicken in oil and then in seasoning mixture. Grill over outdoor or stovetop grill until done. Garnish with a scoop of salsa and top with pine nuts and chopped green onions. Southwestern Seasonings mix: ¾ cup salt 2 Tbsp. chili powder 2½ Tbsp. cumin 1½ Tbsp. dried orange peel 1½ Tbsp. black pepper 1 Tbsp. paprika 2 Tbsp. onion powder 2 Tbsp. garlic powder 3 Tbsp. Chinese five spice Mix all ingredients together in a blender. Store in airtight container. Fresh Salsa: 4 fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded and
diced into ½-inch pieces 1 red onion, chopped 2 (or less to taste) jalapeno chilies, chopped ½ cup cilantro, chopped ½ tsp. salt 4 Tbsp. fresh lime juice 1 Tbsp. olive oil Combine all ingredients except olive oil. Let ingredients sit one hour and then drain. Add olive oil and serve.
Juice of ½ lime 1 Tbsp. honey 1 tsp. prepared mustard Combine ingredients; blend well.
NUTTY GINGERBREAD MUFFINS ½ cup oil ½ cup sugar ½ cup molasses 2 eggs Combine in mixer and beat well. ½ cup buttermilk 1 tsp. baking soda Dissolve and add alternately with flour and spices and nuts to molasses mixture. 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. ginger ½ tsp. nutmeg ½ tsp. cinnamon ½ cup chopped nuts Combine ingredients and add alternately with buttermilk to molasses mixture. Fill paper lined muffin cuts 2/3 full. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until done.
Blue Cheese Potatoes Au Gratin 3 oz. blue cheese ¼ cup sour cream ¼ cup whipping cream 6 baking potatoes (about 3 lbs.), peeled and thinly sliced 3 cups milk, divided Salt and pepper to taste Butter a 3-quart flat baking dish. Overlap a third of the potatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a food processor, puree blue cheese, sour cream and whipping cream. Pour half of mixture over potatoes. Layer another third of the potatoes, sprinkle salt and pepper over potatoes and cover with remaining blue cheese mixture. Cover with remaining third of potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Pour 2 ½ cups of milk over all. Bake one hour at 350 degrees on center rack of oven. Pour remaining ½ cup over all and continue baking until top is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let sit 15 minutes before serving.
ORIENTAL SALAD Fresh spinach Romaine lettuce Mandarin orange sections, drained Fresh bean sprouts Sliced fresh mushrooms Green onions, chopped Tear washed and dried spinach and romaine lettuce into pieces. Mix with remaining ingredients. Pour on salad dressing to taste and garnish with salted sunflower seeds, if desired. Dressings: ½ cup oil ½ tsp. minced garlic 2 Tbsp. white vinegar 1½ Tbsp. soy sauce
GRILLED FISH WITH MANGO-CHILI SALSA Firm flesh fish such as grouper or amberjack Marinade: 1 cup pineapple juice 1 cup orange juice ½ cup lime juice 3 Tbsp. soy sauce 2 Tbsp. Chinese 5 spice ¼ cup red wine 2 jalapeno chilies seeded and diced 1 Tbsp. fresh cilantro 3 Tbsp. crackled black pepper 1 Tbsp. dried basil ¼ cup olive oil Mango-Chili Salsa: 4 mangos, peeled and diced
BOOK SIGNING Nov. 14 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Marias Jewelers 231 S. 8th Street, Opelika
Limericks, Lies and Lunacy presented by Author Cody W. Foote
1 cup fresh mint leaves, blanched in boiling water 1 minute, drained, cool, squeezed dry and finely chopped ¼ cup fresh lime juice 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 medium red onion, diced 2 fresh green jalapeno chili, seeded and minced ¼ cup peanut oil 2 Tbsp. water Mix marinade ingredients together. Marinate fish for 30 minutes to overnight. Grill on gas or charcoal grill over medium coals until golden brown. Serve with Mango Chili Salsa. To make salsa, mix mangoes, mint leaves, lime juice, salt and pepper in bowl. Mix onion, chilies, peanut oil and water. Cook covered over very low heat until onion is transparent, about 10 minutes. Do not brown. Cool and add mangoes. Let marinade one hour before serving. CRAB CREPES ALMANDINE 1 lb. crab meat 2 Tbsp. lemon juice Spring lemon juice on crab; set aside/ ½ lb. mushrooms 1 bunch green onions, chopped 4 Tbsp. butter Sauté mushrooms and onions in butter. Set aside while making white sauce. 2 cups white sauce (your own recipe or recipe below)* Heat white sauce and add: 2 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (stir until melted) 1 cup whipping cream, whipped Fold whipped cream into white sauce. 1 Tbsp. brandy Cayenne pepper to taste Fold in brandy and pepper into sauce; set aside. Crepes Parmesan cheese
Toasted almonds Combine crab, mushrooms and onions and half of the sauce. Salt and pepper to taste. Fill crepes with crab mixture. Place seam side down in greased baking dish. Top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top. Heat in 350 degree oven until warm, about 15 to 20 minutes. Top with toasted almonds. *White Sauce: In a saucepan, melt 4 Tbsp. butter and stir in 4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, ½ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper. Cook, stirring until well blended. Gradually stir in 2 cups milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Bring to boil and stir minute. THE GREENHOUSE’S STRAWBERRY CAKE 1 cup butter, room temperature 2 cups sugar 4 egg yolks 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1 tsp. salt 2 ½ tsp. baking powder 1 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla ½ tsp. almond extract 4 egg whites Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, salt and baking powder. Add to mixture alternately with milk, vanilla and almond extract, beginning and ending with flour. Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold into the cake mixture. Pour mixture into two buttered and floured 9-inch or 10-inch cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until cake tests done. Remove from pans. Cover and cool layers overnight. Split the two layers in half to make four layers. Cream Filling:
1 and a half qts. whipping cream ½ half cup confectioner’s sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 2 pints strawberries, reserve 8 for decorations on cake Beat cream, sugar and vanilla until stiff. Slice strawberries . Layer whipped cream and strawberries between layers. Frost cake with whipped cream, making a pretty border on top and around bottom. Fan out the 8 reserved sliced strawberries and place around top of cake. Store cake in refrigerator until ready to serve. CREAMY SAUSAGE SOUP 2 lbs. hot pork sausage, crumbled 1 yellow onion, chopped 4 celery ribs, chopped 4 Tbsp. olive oil 2 qts. chicken broth 4 baking potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes 1 qt. whipping cream Salt and pepper to taste Chopped green onions for garnish Sauté sausage until brown; drain. Sauté oil and celery in olive oil until transparent. Add chicken broth and potatoes to onion mixture. Simmer until potatoes are fork tender. Mash potatoes coarsely. Add drained sausage and whipping cream. Simmer for 10 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with green onions. CRANBERRY MUFFINS 2 cups Bisquick 1/3 cup sugar 1 egg ¾ cup milk 2 Tbsp. oil or melted butter 1 small can whole cranberry sauce Combine Bisquick, sugar, egg, milk and oil. Mix until all is dampened. Break up cranberry sauce and fold into mixture. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
A11 November 4, 2020
I
Alive but not Liberated
t’s possible to be alive without being liberated. Under the old covenant, someone who had committed manslaughter could flee to one of the six cities of refuge in Israel to avoid vengeance being taken on them by a relative of the victim’s family. Once there, their case would be tried by an assembly to confirm that the killing had indeed been accidental. Once this determination was made, they would be granted asylum to live in the city. If they left the city, vengeance could be taken on them. It was only after the death of the reigning high priest that the person would be able to leave the city and resume a
Church Calendar
• Church of Christ at Cunningham - meeting at their building at 9:30 a.m. for Bible class, 10:30 a.m. for worship, 5 p.m. for evening worship and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. • St. Marys Catholic Church/ St. Michael’s Church SMCC is having Daily Mass on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 a.m. and on weekends they are distributing holy Communion on Sundays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. A Mass is also held on Sundays at 12:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Church over in Auburn. For more information people can call the office at 334-749-8359 or go to the parish website: stmarysopelika.org. • Union Grove Baptist Church In-person gathering with social distancing. Masks are available. Sunday worship is at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday worship is at 6:30 p.m. Services are streamed live on Facebook — the page is UGBChurch • First Baptist Church Opelika The following are held in-person and online on Sundays. 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship and Message at The Worship Center 9:45 a.m. Sunday School Hour 11 a.m. Contemporary Service at The 3:16 Center 6 p.m. Evening Worship and Message at The Worship Center 6:30 p.m. Church on Chadwick at Chadwick Lane in Auburn To watch services online, go to fbcopelika.com/media
normal life. Until such a time, they had life but not liberation. It can be that way with those of us who belong to Jesus Christ — who is our refuge (Hebrews 6:18). Through Him we escape the penalty of death. Through Him we have life. Yet despite the fact that Jesus, our High Priest, has died making our liberation possible (Hebrews 9:11-15), sometimes we are guilty of taking the life we receive and simply hanging around the city — content that we’ve checked the “God box” and everything is good. We take the magnificent treasure of God’s love and stuff it deep down into our pockets or purses, or upload it
By Bruce Green Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ in Opelika to our clouds, and then go about our normal lives. There’s no maliciousness in any of this, but there’s also no burning passion for the One who died and lives for us. Nor is there any overwhelming desire to share His marvelous love with others. The pilot light is on, but there’s no flame. We have life, but not liberation. We’re not all that
different than those who show up at airports these days and get on a flight (some of them lasting as long as seven hours). When they deplane, they’re at exactly the same place they started. They’re paying between $500 to $2,500 for a flight to nowhere. They’re still in the city. But there are those who leave the city and allow God to take them wherever His hands and heart need them to be. They don’t do this because they’re great; they do it because God is great. And it is this recognition that enables them to find liberation by losing themselves in His love. It is what drives them to do more than just live — they live for Him. It’s
what fueled Paul to say, “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not at all be ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20). Father, We’ve fled to Jesus for refuge and You’ve blessed us with life. Help us to move outside the city and be used by You to bless the world as You purposed from the very beginning. Fill us with Your Spirit and send us where we’re needed. Through Christ we pray. Amen. You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: atasteofgracewithbrucegreen.com.
ABOUT BRUCE GREEN 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 APOSTOLIC HOLINESS God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 HIghland Ave., Opelika 334-749-9672 True Deliverance Holiness Church 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700 BAPTIST Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506
ANGLICAN Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd 2312 Center Drive Unit D 334-758-6749 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Bridge Church 1000 Lee Road 263, Cusseta 334-742-0144 AME Mount Zion AME Church West Point Hwy 334-749-3916 St. Luke AME Church 1308 Auburn St. 334-749-1690 St. Paul AME Church 713 Powledge Ave. 334-745-6279 Thompson Chapel AME Zion 187 Columbus Pkwy 334-749-8676 BAPTIST Abundant Life Baptist Church 1220 Fox Run Ave. Suite B 706-4421464 Airview Baptist Church 2301 Airport Rd. 334-444-5148 Antioch Baptist Church 605 W. East Morton Ave 334-742-0696 Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St. 334-745-7528 Bethel Baptist Church Hwy. 29 Sasser Rd 334-745-4865 Central Baptist Church 1611 2nd Ave. 334-745-2482 Community Baptist Church 154 N. 16th St. 334-745-6552 Cornerstone Missionary Baptist 500 N. Railroad Ave. 334-742-2008 Eastview Baptist Church 1208 Spring Dr 334-749-9595 Farmville Baptist Church 3607 Alabama Hwy N. 334-887-7361 First Baptist Church of Opelika 314 S. 9th St. 334-745-6143
Church Directory
Green Chapel Missionary Baptist 390 Lee Road 106, Auburn (334) 749-4184 Lakeview Baptist Church 1600 E. Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-7094 Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108 Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608 Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at
First Baptist Church 301 S. 8th St. 334-745-5715 First Baptist Church Impact 709 Avenue E 334-741-0624 First Freewill Baptist Church 103 19th St. 334-703-3333 Friendship Missionary Baptist 432 Maple Avenue 334-742-0105 Greater Peace Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave. 334-749-9487 Heritage Baptist Church 1103 Glenn St. 334-363-8943 High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 Love Freewill Baptist Church 1113 Frederick Ave. 334-745-2905 Ridge Grove Missionary Baptist Church 1098 Lee Road 155 - 334-745-3600 Northside Baptist Church 3001 Lafayette Hwy 334-745-5340 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Uniroyal Rd 334-749-2773 Purpose Baptist Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #704-0302 St. James Baptist Church 1335 Auburn St. 334-745-3224 Union Grove Missionary Baptist 908 Huguley Rd 334-741-7770 BUDDHIST Buddha Heart Village 3170 Sandhill Rd. 334-821-7238 CATHOLIC St. Mary’s Catholic Church 1000 4th Ave. 334-749-8359 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy 334-742-9721 Southside Church of Christ 405 Carver Ave. 334-745-6015 CHURCH OF GOD
Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika 10th Street Church of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika 334-745-5181 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Changing Hearts of Destiny Ministry 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700 METHODIST Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800 Beulah United Methodist
Airview Church of God 3015 Old Opelika Rd 334-749-9112 Church of God 114 17th Place 334-749-6432 Tabernacle Church of God 3 Oak Court 334-745-7979 CHURCH OF NAZARENE Opelika Church of Nazarene 1500 Bruce Ave. 334-749-1302 EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave. 334-745-2054 HOLINESS Eastside Emmanuel Holiness Church 86 Lee Road 186 JEWISH Beth Shalom Congregation 134 S. Cary Dr. 334-826-1050 LATTERDAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints 510 Groce St. 334-742-9981 METHODIST First United Methodist Church of Opelika 702 Avenue A 334-745-7604 Hopewell United Methodist 1993 Lee Rd 136 334-745-0460 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 8685 AL Hwy. 51 334-749-4469 Pepperell United Methodist 200 26th St. 334-745-9334 Trinity United Methodist Church 800 Second Ave. 334-745-2632 Wesley Memorial United Methodist 2506 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-2841 PENTECOSTAL Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Hwy. 29, PO Box 1691 334-7418675 Gateway Community Church 2715 Frederick Rd 334-745-6926 PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Opelika 900 2nd Ave. 334-745-3421
Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148 St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319 PRESBYTERIAN Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist 1808 S. Long St. 334-749-3151 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Apostolic Holiness Church 610 Canton St. 334-749-6759 Auburn Opelika Korean Church 1800 Rocky Brook Rd 334-7495386 Beauregard Full Gospel Revival 2089 Lee Road 42 334-745-0455 Christ Church International 1311 2nd Ave. 334-745-0832 Fellowship Bible Church 2202 Hamilton Rd 334-749-1445 Ferguson Chapel Church 310 S. 4th St. 334-745-2913 First Assembly of God Church 510 Simmons St. 334- 749-3722 Garden of Gethsemane Fellowship 915 Old Columbus Rd #745-2686 Grace Heritage Church Opelika #559-0846 Holy Deliverance Church 831 S. Railroad 334-749-5682 Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. 334-737-1488 Living Way Ministries 1100 Old Columbus Rd 334-749-6241 Move of God Fellowship Church 1119 Old Columbus Rd 334-7411006 Connect Church 2900 Waverly Pkwy 334-749-3916 New Life Christian Center 2051 West Point Pkwy 334-741-7373 New Life Independent Church 10 Meadowview Estates Trailer 334-741-9001 Opelika’s First Seventh Day 2011 Columbus Pkwy 334-737-3222 Power of Praise, Inc. Church 3811 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-6136 Shady Grove Christian Church West Point Hwy 334-745-7770
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A12 November 4, 2020
Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System holds a 'Beam Signing Ceremony' Contributed by the VA CAVHCS will host a Beam Signing Ceremony to commemorate the new Columbus Community Based Outpatient Clinic under construction on 6900 River Road at 10 a.m. on Nov. 4, 2020. The ceremony will be held in the parking lot located at 1310 13th Ave. in Columbus. The new Community Based Outpatient Clinic will be a 55,000 sq. ft. replacement for the current clinic located at 13th Street. The clinic will be located at the corner of River Road
and Mobley Road at 6900 River Road in Columbus. Construction started on June 17, 2020 and currently, nearly all of the site has been cleared. The stateof-the-art, $6.3 million project is expected to be completed in late 2022. The new clinic location provides the most significant number of enrolled veterans the closest geographic access to services. This clinic will be in addition to the Fort Benning VA Clinic, which will continue to operate after the new clinic opens.
Available Services will include: Primary Care Women’s Health Mental Health Audiology Dental Optometry Physical and Occupational Therapy Prosthetics Radiology Beneficiary Travel Podiatry The Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System is committed to providing high quality care to veterans, and this new clinic is an important step in serving the continually expanding Columbus, Georgia enrollment area.
OBITUARIES Tyler Keith Folds Tyler Keith Folds, 20, of Opelika passed away at UAB on Oct. 30, surrounded by his family and loved ones. Although only 20 at the time of his death, Tyler affected so many people in his lifetime. Those who knew Tyler, even just a little, lost a shining light in their lives. Tyler was the beloved son of Amy (Robert) McCormick and Brian (Mary) Folds. Tyler loved the outdoors, but his heart was into always working to make his truck look and sound better. He enjoyed spending time with his girlfriend Keely and her family. He spent a lot of time hanging out with his truck meet buddies. Most of all, Tyler loved
his family and loved life. Tyler is survived by his parents, Amy (Robert) McCormick and Brian (Mary) Folds; siblings: the best brother to his twin sister Britney and older sisters Amber and Ashley, great big brother to Dalten; Kayla Barnes, Brooke McClain, Adrienne Long, Ashley McCormick; grandparents: Ricky (Trish) Folds, Eddie Martin, Linda Niles; nephews: Tyler was adored by his three-year-old nephew Rhett; Carson, Ledger, Camden, Tucker, Mason, Owen, Evan, and baby Langston due March 2021; uncles: Scott Martin, Billy Barrios, Jason Folds; several aunts and cousins; so many friends; and a precious girlfriend Keely, who adored him.
Tyler is preceded in death by his grandmother Susan Folds and several great grandparents. Tyler is now lighting up heaven with that big beautiful smile of his. Visitation will be held 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 4 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. A celebration of Tyler’s life will be 11 a.m. on Nov.5 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home with burial following in Garden Hills Cemetery. The family will receive guests following the service at the home of Tyler’s mom Amy McCormick.
Dorothy Betts Bryant Smyth Dorothy Betts Bryant Smyth, affectionately
known as "DotDot" by her family and many friends, passed away on Oct. 26 at her home. Visitation was held on Oct. 30 from 10 until 11 a.m., at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home with graveside services following at Shady Grove Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. Reverend Bill Holmes officiated. Mrs. Smyth was preceded in death by her husband Oliver Smyth, her parents William A. and Blanche M. Betts, her son Homer O'Neal Bryant, Jr. (Buster), sisters Eloise Guy and Mildred B. Smith and brother Frank Betts. She is survived by her daughters Judy Davis (Mike) and Vicki Waller (Lee); grandchildren and great grandchildren Pat Norrell (Kim) and their children Bryant and Karstyn; Heather
1 OUT OF 10
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IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT
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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.”
Baggs (Joshua) and their children River and Virginia; Haley Delvizis (Chris) and their children Ell a, Ava and Everett and Chris Waller. Dot ventured into Real Estate in the early 1980's as an agent with J.S. White & Associates and partnered to purchase the agency at age 60 which became First Realty. She retired after 23 successful years. She was a special and loving mother to Judy, Buster and Vicki. Her family and many friends could count on her to get us thru any problems as she was a great listener and problem solver. Her generosity with her loved ones came from her heart as she loved us all dearly. She has longed for the day she could see
her family that has gone before her and to see the wondrous Kingdom of Heaven with her Lord & Savior. She will be greatly missed and remembered lovingly. Donations can be made to a favorite charity. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.
Brenda Gail Young 1957-2020 Brenda Gail Young of Opelika was born in Lee County, Alabama on Aug. 12, 1957 and passed away at East Alabama Medical Center on Oct. 27, 2020. She was 63 years old. A memorial service was held in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home on Oct. 30, 2020 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Darrell Shelton officiating.
A13 November 4, 2020
Letter to the Editor
D
ec. 30, 2020 is not far away, and amid this most challenging year, the date itself represents another challenge — it is the last day your community is allowed by the state of Alabama to have spent its fair share of apportioned federal COVID CARES funds to fight the pandemic. After that date, these funds return to the state of Alabama. Since the clock is ticking with so many people across the Black Belt unaware that their communities have a right to these funds, BBCF has been working overtime — literally phoning every municipality and county across 16 counties of the Black Belt, including the one you are in while reading this letter in your newspaper. An extra challenge exists in how this funding was organized. A community or county can only access its funds on a reimbursable basis. That means your
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
TANISHA STEPHENS Name:
community must have enough funds in hand to start the work to make itself safer before it can collect its reimbursable funds from the state. So many communities in the Black Belt are in difficult financial circumstances, with very little financial liquidity, and for them, seeing money on the table they cannot effectively utilize has been nothing but extra
salt onto pandemic wounds. Please urge your leaders to contact BBCF’s CARES@ BlackBeltFound. org email or apply immediately through us at www. blackbeltfound.org. We have created interest free/no fees recoverable grants to help any community without enough cash on hand to begin their work for a safer community by accessing the state funds now available.
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
Order online at www.give.childrensal.org/LAL2020 or mail forms to: Children’s of Alabama Field Office/Carmen Maddox P.O. Box 978 Dothan, Al 36302
BancorpSouth Announces Pink Card Donation to the East Alabama Medical Center Foundation Contributed by Bancorp South Bank BancorpSouth Bank (NYSE: BXS) announced that the East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) Foundation is the recipient of a $2,500 donation from BancorpSouth’s Pink Card debit card program. BancorpSouth’s Pink Card program is designed to support breast cancer awareness by donating a portion of purchase transactions from activated Pink Cards to local organizations that support breast cancer research. Each year, the bank selects nonprofit breast cancer centers (or breast cancer support centers) across its footprint. Organizations must meet certain nomination requirements to receive the donation “As we recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month, BancorpSouth is proud to support the East Alabama Medical Center Foundation,” said David Turner, BancorpSouth president - North-Central Alabama Division. “We chose to donate to the EAMC Foundation because we know they will apply the funds directly to the programs
and services that the hospital provides for their patients.” The EAMC Foundation’s mission is to provide high-quality, compassionate health care for the underserved population. It is committed to providing every woman with breast cancer screening, regardless of her ability to pay. Its free mammogram program is funded through community donations to the EAMC Foundation. The program benefits women in its communities with limited or no health insurance coverage, women who most likely would not receive this potentially life-saving screening test. About BancorpSouth Bank BancorpSouth Bank (NYSE: BXS) is head-
quartered in Tupelo, Mississippi, with approximately $24 billion in assets. BancorpSouth operates approximately 310 full-service branch locations as well as additional mortgage, insurance and loan production offices in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas, including an insurance location in Illinois. BancorpSouth is committed to a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion in both its workplace and communities. To learn more, visit our Community Commitment page at www. bancorpsouth.com; “Like” us on Facebook; follow us on Twitter@ MyBXS; or connect with us through LinkedIn.
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A14 November 4, 2020
COMICS
“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.” ― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
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Inside • opelika schools • lee county schools • community sports
Area Teams Prepare for Playoffs By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com
On the Mark By D. Mark Mitchell
Opelika hosts Wetumpka in 1st round playoff game
T
he OHS Football team (7–2) will host Wetumpka (5–5, 1 loss due to forfeit) Friday night at Bulldog Stadium, in the first round of the AHSAA 6A playoffs. The Bulldogs hold a 5–1 record against the Indians, including a 33–32 win in 2019. The two teams played no common opponents and were off last week. The following is a breakdown of Wetumpka’s football schedule and results: WHS opened the season with a 10–40 loss to Prattville, then had a win over Tallassee 35–14, beat Helena 28–22, lost to Hillcrest Tuscaloosa 30–35, beat Benjamin Russell 51–37, lost a forfeit game to Greenville due to COVID-19 precautions, lost to Pelham 34–18, beat Chilton County 42-7, beat Calera 49–28 and lost the last game of the regular season to rival Stanhope Elmore 13–23. OHS and WHS played three teams with 7 or more wins. Opelika played Auburn (8-1), Eufaula (8-2) and Jeff Davis (7-3). Wetumpka played Prattville (7-3), Hillcrest Tuscaloosa (82) and Pelham (8-2).
Wetumpka scored 276 points and allowed 241 points in nine games. The Bulldogs scored 227 while allowing only 106 points. Based on these numbers, it is obvious Opelika’s defense will be the difference in the game. The Dawgs will not give up many points Friday, although the Indians score an average of 27 points per game. Opelika is the better team and will win, advancing to the second round of the playoffs. OHS and WHS are paired in the bracket with McGill-Toolen at Hillcrest. Depending on the outcome of that game, if Opelika wins, they will play at McGill-Toolen Catholic or host Hillcrest. The Alabama High School Athletic Association will allow 33% of stadium capacity to watch in person. Fans can try to purchase tickets at www.gofan. co. You can listen to the game on WKKR 97.7 Kicker fm, and online at www.kickerfm.com. Fans can watch the game live on the NFHS Network (nfhsnetwork. com). However, the playoff games are not See SPORTS , page B3
Nov. 10 - Lee County School Board Meeting at 6 p.m. at 2410 Society Hill Road
Think back to August. Did you expect a full high school football season to happen? Well, regardless of your optimism levels, it did. Despite the challenges faced because of COVID-19 (cancellations, forfeits, missing players and coaches,
etc.), area football teams have completed their 2020 football schedules. In a season unlike any other before, 12 teams near the Lee County area have qualified for the AHSAA or AISA state playoffs. Six of those teams earned the right to host a playoff game and six others hit the road as underdogs.
The playoffs begin this Friday, Nov. 6. The AISA will play three rounds of games, with the championship being held on Nov. 20. The ASHAA playoffs Super 7 Football Championships will be held on Dec. 3 through Dec. 5 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The following is a list of the playoff games
featuring area teams, a brief recap of their season and preview of their round one matchup. (Stats were collected from maxpreps.com and ahsfhs.org. Area teams are underlined.) AHSAA Class 7A No. 4 Baker (5–3) at No. 1 Auburn High (9– 1): Auburn Head Coach See PLAYOFFS, page B3
Beulah Falls in Season Finale By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com
The Beulah Bobcats found some success in the passing game but failed to rally from an early deficit in their final regular season game
of the season against the LaFayette Bulldogs on Friday. The Bobcats trailed by three scores early and despite connecting on multiple chunk plays in the second half, Beulah fell to the
LaFayette, 46-20. Beulah senior quarterback Caleb Abney closed out his high school career with 152 passing yards and two touchdowns — on just five completions. He and the rest of the team
found relative success running the ball too. Abney added 71 yards and a touchdown and junior running back Stanley Washington ran for 82 yards on 27 See BEULAH, page B2
Smiths Station Win: a Proper Senior Sendoff By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com
A playmaking defense and dedication to the run game helped the Smiths Station Panthers close out their season with a narrow 27–20 win against the Stanhope Elmore Mustangs. All year, the Panthers have fallen behind early in games. And although they always battled for the full 60 minutes, the early deficits were often too much to overcome. The game on Friday night started in similar fashion, but five Stanhope turnovers left the Mustangs vulnerable and the Smiths offense punished their carelessness. Stanhope’s Antonio Trone opened the
night’s scoring with a four-yard rushing touchdown with just over five minutes left in the first quarter. It looked like an all-too-familiar start to a Panther game, but, this time, Smiths would respond quickly to prevent the game from getting out of hand. Jordan Jones — who is committed to Georgia State as a linebacker — switched to offense on the next drive to add some much needed power to the Smiths rushing attack. Jones finished the Panther’s first drive with a short rushing touchdown. Both teams missed their PAT’s, and the game was deadlocked at 6–6. Going forward, Smiths and Stanhope
would trade interceptions, but the Mustangs were the next to score on a deep touchdown pass halfway through the second quarter. A few moments later, Smiths’ Devyn Pearman got in on the Panther’s rushing bombardment. The wide receiver broke a 50-plus-yard run down the Mustangs sideline before being taken down at the oneyard line. Quarterback Corey Minton then did what he has done so often this season. On the next play, Minton burrowed behind his offensive line on a quarterback sneak, found pay-dirt and tied the game at 13. With under a minute left in the half, Smiths were gifted one more
possession after a quick Stanhope possession and punt. The Panthers began in field goal range at the Stanhope 33-yard line. After one first down, the Smiths offense stalled at the 21-yard line. On the ensuing third down, Minton dropped back and found a Panther wide receiver for an emphatic, momentum-swinging score just before the halftime break. Smiths led 19–13 after a failed two-point conversion and the two teams went into the locker room with a feeling that it was anyone’s ballgame. The second half would make it clear that Smiths was the better team.The defense beSee SMITHS , page B2
B2 November 4, 2020
Glenwood Season Review By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver. com
The Glenwood Gators were scheduled to play the Autauga Academy Generals for their final regular season game of the season on this past Friday. However, the game was cancelled due to the lingering effects and damage caused by Tropical Storm Zeta. Still, Glenwood deserve someone to tell the story of their season
BEULAH>>
FROM B1
carries. The Beulah offense played effectively overall, but were still outgained 356 to 305 in total yards. LaFayette was committed to the run all night, passing the ball only four times, and gaining 232 of their yards on the ground. The first quarter saw
SMITHS>>
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gan the third quarter by forcing and recovering a fumble on Stanhope’s side of the field. The offense capitalized with another short rushing score from Jones. This time, the Panther’s twopoint try was successful
– their perfect season. Back in August, Glenwood Head Coach Jason Gibson was preparing for his fifth season in charge of the program. The Gators were coming off of a 49–22 loss in last season’s AISA Class 3A Championship Game. It was the closest the program had come to winning it all under Gibson. The Gators came into 2020 loaded with talent. All-State players
Kye Robichaux (running back) and B.J. Snellgrove (linebacker) came back in their senior seasons to try to lead Glenwood on another push for glory. Little did they know, 11 weeks later, the Gators would be 9–0 and sit atop the AISA Class 3A rankings. All told, Glenwood outscored their opponents 346–94 throughout the season. On five separate occasions the offense gashed an
opposing defense for over 40 points. The defense held four teams to single digits – one shutout – and only allowed two teams to score more than 20 points. The season averages came out to 43.3 points per game on offense and 11.8 points per game allowed on defense. This team was truly dominant. Robichaux, quarterback Jackson Griner, wide receiver Radonda Beauchamp – who often
took wildcat snaps – and wide receiver/ show-stopping return man A.J. Harris led the way for Glenwood on offense all season. Snellgrove did his thing anchoring the middle of the defense and senior defensive back Jay Sinclair preyed on the passes of undisciplined quarterbacks time and time again. Of course there are many others who contributed to Glenwood’s regular season success, but
there are just too many too name. For now, Glenwood are preparing for their first round playoff game against the Clarke Prep Gators in the AISA State Championship Playoffs. Clarke Prep went 4–6 on the season and 2–3 in their region. Glenwood only need three more wins to finish the season unblemished… and with a championship in their hands.
LaFayette jump out to a 28–7 lead. Beulah then fumbled on the first possession of the second quarter and LaFayette turned the giveaway into seven points on a seven-yard touchdown run. That’s where the score remained going into halftime; 35–7 LaFayette. Beulah finally got their offense rolling on the opening drive of the second half. The
Bobcats converted two fourth downs on the drive and found the end zone on an eight-yard rushing touchdown. The PAT was good, but Beulah still trailed 34–13. LaFayette would respond with the next two scores of the game: a two yard rushing touchdown and a picksix. The Bobcats would score once more with six minutes left in the
game on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Abney. To add insult to injury, the PAT was no good. Other than Abney and Washington, the standouts for Beulah on offense were junior tight end Javuntae Paige (two catches, 90 yards and a touchdown) and freshman quarterback Noah Higdon (two catches, 50 yards and a touchdown). On defense, four players
— senior linebackers Owen Kelley and J.D Toungett, senior defensive lineman Austin Billingsley and Higdon — were tied for teamhigh in tackles with four. The loss bookends Beulah’s 2020 record at 1–7 overall (1–5 in region). It has undoubtedly been a frustrating and strange season for the Bobcats who missed their first three games
due to COVID-19related forfeits. Their best game of the season came two weeks ago in a 42–13 win over Goshen (who finished last in the 3A Region 4 standings). This week’s loss was not the way any senior wants to end their playing career. But for the 10 soon-to-be-graduating Beulah players, you can at least say this … It has been one heck of a year.
and the 27–13 lead was enough to see out the game. The rest of Stanhope’s possession would go: turnover on downs, punt, turnover on downs, touchdown, fumble. The Mustangs made it 27–20 with just over a minute left in the game but the Panther offense would take a knee on the last
possession to run out the clock. The Smiths defense was opportunistic all game and the five forced turnovers were enough to subdue the Mustangs. On offense, Minton finished with 40 yards passing and one touchdown through the air; Jones carried
the ball just four times but plunged into the end zone for two powerful touchdown runs; and Cianna Williams caught the 21-yard, end-of-half touchdown with his only catch of the game. According to the ahsfhs.org website, Smiths averaged 16.2 points
per game and allowed 25.5 points per game for the 2020 season. The team would want to see those numbers flipped but the panthers ultimately improved on their 2–8 record from 2019. The win rounds out this season’s record 4–6. It was a challeng-
ing season for Smiths to say the least. The Panthers failed to qualify for a 6A playoff spot, but it’s always good to end on a high note — the seniors went out with a win. That’s about all you could ask for in this crazy, COVID-crippled season. Until next year.
Smiths Station Player of the Week
JUNIOR TE JAVUNTAE PAIGE, WHO HAD TWO CATCHES FOR 90 YARDS AND A TD
Junior LB/RB Jordan Jones, who scored two rushing touchdowns en route to the victory
B3 November 4, 2020
OCS Board approves first out-of-state field trip since COVID–19 started By Will Fairless Associate Editor
The Opelika City School Board approved the first out-ofstate school trip since the COVID-19 pandemic started during its regularly scheduled
SPORTS >>
FROM B1
free. Fans will need to set up an account and pay a small fee to watch the game. The Orthopedic Clinic paid the fee for the regular season to allow fans to watch those games for free. Since playoff games are under AHSAA, the fee must be paid on an individual basis. AHSAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW The AHSAA Football playoffs begin this week for Class 1A through Class 7A football teams.
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Adam Winegarden is in his sixth season and has the Tigers entering the playoffs with only one loss for the third time in four years. The Tigers lost in the semi-finals of the playoffs last season to Central Phenix City. This year, Auburn averaged 29.8 points per game and allowed an average of 13.1. For the underdogs Baker, second year Head Coach D.D Cowen has his team averaging 27.6 points per game and allowing only 9.6 per contest. No. 3 Fairhope (8–2) at No. 2 CentralPhenix City (6–4): After long time Head Coach Jamey DuBose left the program after last season, Central brought in former Pinson Valley Head Coach, Patrick Nix. Central struggled to find their identity for most of the season and it showed in their overall record. However, the Red Devils went 5–1 in region play and averaged 35.0 points per game while holding their opponents to an average of 23.1 per contest. Fairhope enter the matchup with the better overall record and the Pirates scored an average of 29.0 points per game while allowing only 16.9. This is a rematch of the first round of the 2019 playoffs where Central defeated Fairhope 45–7. ASHAA Class 6A No. 4 Wetumpka (5– 5) at No. 1 Opelika (7– 2): Opelika Head Coach Erik Speakman has his team as the No. 1 seed for the second season in a row. The Bulldogs have scored an average of 25.2 points per game and given up only 11.8. Wetumpka scraped into the playoffs averaging 27.6 points per game but allowing 24.1 points per game to their opponents. If history means anything, this will be
board meeting on Oct. 27. The field trip is for Opelika High School students to go to the Cook Around the World Culinary Competition in Orlando from April 23–26.
J Kevin Royal, the board’s chairman, said of that second item on the agenda, “I love the optimism of item number two. I’m hoping, I’m rooting for item number two in a big way. Out-of-state field trip request for next
spring; I sure hope that can happen.” In other business, the board: Approved personnel recommendations Heard a presentation of the school incident report by Kenneth Burton, assistant
superintendent of administration Heard the monthly financial report for August 2020 Heard the monthly child nutrition report for August 2020 The Opelika City School board usually
meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. The November and December board meetings have been combined into one, to be held Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. in OCS’s central office (300 Simmons St.).
Teams in all seven classifications are trying to advance to the Super 7 Football Championship, Dec. 3–5 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. All seven State Champions from 2019 made the playoffs, including three teams in different classes. Lanett (2A) Fyffe (3A) and UMS Wright (5A) jumped up one class from 2019. The remaining champions are Thompson (7A), Oxford (6A), Central Clay (5A) and Piedmont (3A). The AHSAA TV
Network will televise the 7A game between Hewitt-Trussville at James Clemons in Madison next Friday. WOTM can be found on channel 80 if you have Charter Spectrum cable. Twelve teams enter the playoffs undefeated. The 10-0 teams are, Fyffe, Brantley, Linden, Montgomery Academy, American Christian, Madison Academy, St Paul’s Episcopal, Pike Road, Thompson and Demopolis. Teams 9-0 Are Ramsey and Guntersville. A side note:
Colbert County reached the playoffs for a record 43rd year. Local teams earning playoff games include 7A Auburn hosting Baker and 7A Central hosting Fairhope, 6A Opelika host Wetumpka, 3A Dadeville at TR Miller, 2A LaFayette at Leroy, JU Blacksher at Lanett, 1A Notasulga host Florala and Lochapoka at McKenzie. AISA Schools making the playoffs include Lee Scott at Bessemer and Chambers host Autauga Academy
ORTHOPAEDIC CLINIC HIGH SCHOOL WRAP-UP SHOW SATURDAY ON FOX SPORTS THE GAME Listen to the results from Friday’s playoff games, Saturday morning at 8 a.m., on the Orthopaedic Clinic High School Recap Show airing on Fox Sports the Game 910-1310. The one hour show, hosted by Jeff Sasser, Terry Rosenthal and me (D.Mark Mitchell), will go over all local teams, state wide scores and
reveal second round pairings. CROSS COUNTRY SECTION Good Luck to the OHS Cross Country Team’s as they participate in the Sectional Meet in Auburn Nov. 5. Individuals and teams can advance to the State Meet. I will recap the meet in next week’s column. D. Mark Mitchell is sports director for iHeart Media, Alabama Dixie Boys State Director and vice president of the A-O Sports Council.
a close game. The last matchup between these two teams was a highly contested regular season game in 2019 that Opelika won 33–32. ASHAA Class 3A No. 4 Dadeville (6–3) at No. 1 T.R. Miller (8–2): In his first season as head coach of Dadeville, Roger McDonald has the Tigers in the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Dadeville averaged 20.1 points per game this season while allowing 14.4 points per game to their opponents. T.R. Miller Head Coach Brent Hubbert is in his second year and led his team to the playoff semi-finals last season. T.R Miller averaged 32.1 points per game this season and allowed only 10.4 per contest to the opposition. The last time these two schools faced off was in 2002; T.R. Miller won 35–0. ASHAA Class 2A No. 4 J.U. Blacksher (3–6) at No. 1 Lanett (8–2): Lanett went 14–0 last season and won the Class 1A Championship. They jumped up to Class 2A for this season. Head Coach Clifford Story is in his 12th season at the school and despite the class change, led his team to an impressive 8–2 overall record. The Panthers averaged 36.5 points per game on offense but it’s the defense’s 6.3 points per game allowed that really stands out. Their opponent, the typically formidable J.U. Blacksher, are having a down year in Head Coach Wesley Sims’s 11th season. The Blacksher Bulldogs averaged only 15.9 points per game and held opponents to 28.8 per contest. Lanett and J.U. Blacksher have net met in a game. No. 4 LaFayette (5–4) at No. 1 Leroy (8–1): First year LaFayette Head Coach Juan Williams
has his team on a fivegame win streak as they enter the playoffs. LaFayette averaged 19.7 points per game this season and gave up an average of 16.9. In his eighth year at Leroy, Head Coach Jason Massey has the Bears atop the Class 2A Region 1 standings for the second year running. The Bears averaged 22.4 points per game and allowed 14.8 points per game to opposing teams. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools. ASHAA Class 1A No. 3 Florala (8–2) at No. 2 Notasulga (7–1): This is the best year for Notasulga and sixth year Head Coach Anthony Jones since the Blue Devils went 9-3 in his first season in 2015. Notasulga were the No. 2 seed in last year’s playoffs when they were bounced in the second round. This year’s team is improved and averaging 20.8 points per game while holding opponents to a measly 5.5. Their only loss was an overtime thriller against Maplesville (8–2). For Florala, first-year Head Coach Chris Littleton started the season 7–0 before dropping two games and earning a forfeit win to close out the season. The matchups should to be an interesting battle of offense versus defense as Florala averaged 42.3 points per game. This is
the best regular season for the Wildcats since the 2007 season. This is the first-ever meeting of the two schools. No. 3 Loachapoka (5–5) at No. 2 McKenzie (7–2): A matchup of two head coaches in their first seasons with their respective schools. Loachapoka Head Coach Rico Newton has the Indians in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Loachapoka only averaged 12.6 points per game this season but relied on their defense which allowed 15.4 points per game to the opposition. The McKenzie Tigers went from worst to first (technically second in the region) this season after after finishing 1–9 in both 2018 and 2019. The Tigers averaged 32.1 points per game in the regular season while allowing only 21.1. The last time these two schools met was in 1999; It’s probably safe to say that no players on either team were even alive; Loachapoka won 43–8. AISA Class AAA No. 4 Clarke Prep (4–6) at No. 1 Glenwood (8–0): After losing to Bessemer Academy in last year’s championship game, the Glenwood Gators of Phenix City are the No. 1 seed in 2020 after finishing with a perfect regular season record. Glenwood boast a dominant rushing attack that
helped lead them to a 43.3 points per game average, while the defense only allowed an average of 11.8 points per game to their opponents. Glenwood have made the playoffs in all five seasons that Jason Gibson had been head coach. Glenwood’s opponent, Clarke Prep, averaged 19.1 points per game on the season and allowed 26.5 points per game to their opponents. Danny Powell is in his second year as head coach at Clarke Prep; they lost in the first round to the 2019 playoffs to Autauga Academy last season. No. 4 Lee-Scott (2– 6) at No. 1 Bessemer Academy (7–2): James Daniel’s first season as head coach of Lee-Scott Academy could have gone better. However, he still managed to get the Warriors into the playoffs. The Warriors averaged 16.8 points per game and allowed 38.8 points per game to their opponents — making them big underdogs on Friday. Bessemer Academy are the defending champions and averaged 36.3 points per game while giving up only 20.6 points per game this season. Bessemer beat LeeScott 43–6 earlier this year. AISA Class AA No. 4 Autauga Academy (2–6) at No. 1 Chambers Academy (9–1): Josh Allen is in his 16th year as head
coach of the Chambers Academy Rebels. Last season, the Rebels lost to Southern Academy in the State Championship Game. Chambers Academy averaged 44.7 points per game and allowed only 12.0. Their opponents, the Autauga Academy Generals, went 9–2 last season and won the AISA Class AA Championship but have struggled through this COVID-defined season. They come into the playoffs averaging 23.4 points per game and allowing 26.8 per contest. Chambers County are 2–7–0 all time against Autauga Academy. No 4. Springwood (4–6) at No. 1 Escambia Academy (8–1): The Springwood Wildcats are led by third-year Head Coach John Gartman. After failing to reach the playoff in his first season, Gartman led the Wildcats to a first-round exit last season and will be looking to improve on that mark this time around. Springwood averaged 21.0 points per game and allowed 32.9 to opposing teams. Their opponent, the favorited Escambia, lost to Autauga Academy in the AISA Class AA Championship last season. The Wildcats averaged 32.2 points per game this season while allowing 12.7 points per game. Springwood are 0–2 all-time against Escambia Academy.
B4 November 4, 2020
Evan Crawford named director of baseball for Next Move Contributed by Network Catering to Athletes and Entertainers
After a successful career of pitching wins for the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox, retired MLB player Evan Crawford now serves as the director of baseball for Next Move. Based in Washington, D.C., but with an international presence throughout the United States and Canada, Next Move provides athletes, high profile executives and entertainers with a single resource for buying,
selling, renting and investing in real estate. Founded by Keller Williams Realtor Jordan Stuart in 2018, the firm has licensed realtors in more than 80 U.S. and Canadian markets, collaborating to manage acquisitions and sales as a collective known as “The Next Move Network”. The network’s realtors gross, on average, a combined $1 billion dollars in sales volume each calendar year. CEO Jordan Stuart said he sought Crawford out directly because of his strong ties throughout the current
and retired baseball community at the Major League, Minor League and collegiate levels. “Evan is an excellent fit for our brand and to service our client base,” Stuart said. “We value culture and real estate experience first, and Evan checks both those boxes as one of the premier personalities in the real estate industry. We feel fortunate to have Evan onboard.” When asked why Next Move was an attractive opportunity, Crawford responded, “I decided to join Next
Move because I see true value for the athletes — having a trusted and well-trained network of agents that understand the lifestyles and availability of the athlete. These attributes certainly minimize the client’s chance of being taken advantage of in a luxury market with a less experienced agent. “Due to the nature of a traveling business, many athletes are at the mercy of the agent’s experience, and trustworthiness and this network minimize that risk. They can find com-
fort for themselves and their families that they are being taken care of by experts that have a genuine interest in their real estate needs.” There is no substitute for personal experience in a niche industry. Crawford recounted his frustration of finding a home prior to retirement from pro baseball. “For me as a player, finding a place to live for the season or in the offseason always proved to be a logistical nightmare,” he said. “Having a team, you can trust to have
your best interest in mind, gives you the ability to focus on your job of winning games.” Crawford runs the C/W Group in Auburn, Alabama, a real estate team within eXp Realty, and works closely with people in his community on reaching their homestead dreams. While representing clients in their search for a place to call home, Crawford enjoys getting to know his clients personally to find them a home that is the perfect fit for them.
Offense and defense make strides; Tigers tear up LSU
By Wil Crews sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com
The Auburn defense had its first dominant game of the season, and Bo Nix and company looked near flawless behind a surging offensive line in the Tigers’ 48-11 win over LSU on Halloween. “Yeah, you know I think we played our best game,” Auburn Head Coach Gus Malzahn said in his postgame press conference. “They’re defending champs. They played really well the last two weeks, and to dismantle them like we did, I think it says a lot about our overall team.” The dismantling that Malzahn is referencing was spurred from Kevin Steele’s defensive unit. The Tigers from the Plains recorded four sacks, two interceptions and one defensive touchdown on a scoop-and-score fumble recovery. Additionally, the offensive line kept the prominent LSU defensive line from getting to Nix and paved the way for 206 rushing yards and 506 yards in total. It was the Tigers’ fourth straight game with over 200 rushing yards. “I’m real proud of our offensive line for running the football 200-plus yards against a national champion,” Malzahn said. Saturday’s 506 yards were the most Auburn has gained all season and a signal of the most complete offensive performance that fans have seen under first year offensive coordinator Chad Morris. “Chad and his staff has done a great job just staying to it,” Malzahn said. A 99-yard touchdown drive to end the half and a 75-yarder to open the third quarter effectively sealed the win for the Tigers. Nix played his best game of the season – maybe of his career – throwing for 300 yards and three touchdowns and adding 81 yards and touchdown on the ground. He found his favorite target Seth Williams four times for 71 yards, freshman receiver Ze’vian Capers for
his first career touchdown and freshman tight end J.J. Pegues for a season-high three receptions for 29 yards. Tank Bigsby had a pedestrian day by his standards, but the true freshman ballistic-baller scored two rushing touchdowns for the second straight week. The Auburn offensive line lost Brandon Council – their most versatile blocker – for the season last week, but Keiondre Jones performed admirably in his stead. “To give up zero sacks says a lot about our offensive line,” Malzahn said. “They really answered the bell today.” On the other side of the ball, an Auburn defensive line that has been desperately searching for individual playmakers was led on Saturday by sophomore Derick Hall. The buck defensive end recorded his first two sacks of the season and flashed the golden combination of speed and power that been exemplified by so many pass rushers under Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele’s leadership. Auburn dominated third down – something the defense has struggled with all season – holding LSU to a 5-17 conversion mark, and the Tigers smothered LSU at the line of scrimmage all game, reflected by the nine different players who recorded at least 0.5 tackles for loss. For an LSU team that had run for 265 and 180 yards in their last two respective games, Auburn shut down the Tigers, holding them to just 32 yards on the ground. “I told our guys… We need to stop the run, make them one dimensional, get after the rookie quarterback and take some shots,” Malzahn said. “Really, that was the game plan in a nutshell.” While the defensive line came at LSU with the brutality of a classic cult slasher film, the secondary quietly solidified their claim as the best unit on the young defense. LSU freshman quarterback T.J. Finley was
intercepted twice, and the Auburn defensive backs held preseason Third-Team All-SEC wide receiver Terrance Marshall to four catches for 28 yards (well below his 6.75 catches for 128 yards per game average coming into the game). Safety Christian Tutt opportunistically scooped up an LSU fumble forced by Hall and ran through man on his way into the end zone. Big Kat Byrant went another game without sacking the quarterback, but he did make an athletic interception on a ballooning tipped ball after defensive tackle Dequan Newkirk broke up Finley’s pass at the line of scrimmage. Nehemiah Pritchett got the other interception – the first of his career – and to no one’s surprise, Zakoby McClain and Owen Pappoe were once again Auburn’s No. 1 and No. 2 tacklers. Heck, even kicker Anders Carlson got in on the dominant defensive display, making a touchdown-saving diving tackle on an LSU kick return. Finally, the best moment of the entire day had to be when Nix was finally able to connect with the fastest man in college football and Auburn’s No. 2 wide receiver Anthony Schwartz on a 91-yard touchdown pass. The connection between Nix and his No. 1 option Seth Williams has never really been in question but the exploitation of the LSU secondary at the hands of Schwartz was a cathartic moment that Auburn fans have been expecting – and waiting for – for too long. Whew. If that sounded like a roll call it’s because a bunch of Auburn players made even more good plays. After struggling in the first half of the season, both sides of the ball seem to be clicking at the right time. We’ve seen this team grow and face adversity,” Malzahn said. “Here at Auburn, sometimes you face more adversity than at other places. We did that. We overcame it.” Now, Auburn is
Photo contributed by AU Athletics/Todd Van Emst doing that thing again – getting hot in the middle of the season and potentially shaping into a real SEC contender. Was it because LSU effectively conceded the game after pulling
a freshman quarterback who already had two turnovers? Or was it because the Tigers found the missing links to this jigsaw puzzle of a season? Fans will have to
wait at least two weeks to find out. The Tigers will ride the high of victory into a bye week before they travel to face the 1-4 Mississippi State Bulldogs on Nov. 14.
B5 November 4, 2020
Downtown Opelika viewing party for Auburn rout
Photos contributed by Opelika Main Street Opelika Main Street and the Opelika Chamber of Commerce partnered to bring a big screen to downtown Opelika last weekend. The Auburn-LSU football game was streamed to the screen so that people could come out and watch the game. More Game Day viewing events are being planned for November.
Auburn dominates LSU 48-11
Photos contributed by AU Athletics
B6 November 4, 2020
Tour de Fright path haunts cyclists
Photos by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer
Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics
B7
November 4, 2020
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
O
Alabama is truly a Republican State
ur 2020 Election was yesterday. The Presidential race was the center of all interest. You know the results; unfortunately, my column for today had to go to press before voting began. As you are absorbing the results, allow me to remind you that we do not elect our president by popular vote but by an Electoral College system whereby the electoral winner of each state, even if by one vote, gets all the electoral votes of that state. Electoral votes are reflective of a state’s population. They are determined by the number of congressional seats plus the state’s two senators constituting their electoral votes. For example, Alabama currently has seven congressional seats and two senators for nine electoral votes. California has 53 congressional seats and two senators, which gives them 55 electoral votes. My guess, a pretty safe assumption, is that Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, carried Alabama handily and captured our nine electoral votes. We have been a Republican state in presidential politics for the past 56 years, ever since the Goldwater Southern Republican landslide of 1964. Six out of seven of our Congressional seats are held by Republicans. It is a pretty safe bet that all of our Congress people were reelected yesterday. The two Republican seats in Districts 1 and 2 were held by the GOP, and these two seats will be taken over by two new Republicans. More than likely, the Republican candidate, Tommy Tuberville, won the race for our junior U.S. Senate seat for a six-year term. This has been a Republican seat since Jeff Sessions first won it in 1996. Our other seat has been Republican since 1994 when Sen. Richard Shelby, our senior U.S. Senator, changed to the GOP. All of our statewide constitutional offices are held by Republicans. Winning the Republican nomination in Alabama is tantamount to election especially in a presidential election year. We are a very red, reliably
Jones Earns Highest Designation as Emeritus Certified Municipal Official
STEVE FLOWERS Republican state. Even both chambers of our legislature are over 70% Republican. For close to 90 years (1877-1964) Alabama was a totally Democratic state. In the latter part of the last century, folks ran as Democrats not so much out of philosophy but because of tradition. Everybody just ran in the Democratic Primary. It was one grand election. It changed presidentially and congressionally in 1964 in the Southern Goldwater landslide. Alabamians started voting Republican for national offices that year and have not looked back. The proof is in the pudding. If indeed Donald Trump carried Alabama yesterday, we have voted for the Republican nominee for President 16 out of 17 times since 1964. Presidential candidates ignore us during campaigns because it is a foregone conclusion that we will vote Republican. The GOP captured the Governor’s office in 1986. It has been that way for over 30 years now with one exception. The last Democratic bastion, the Legislature, was toppled in 2010 and further entrenched in 2014 and 2018. Folks, when we change, we change. We do not do things halfway. Fiftyfive years ago every statewide official was a Democrat. Our entire congressional delegation was Democratic, and our Legislature was close to See FLOWERS, page B8
Photo contributed by Councilwoman Patsy Jones Councilwoman Patsy Jones received her pin and award as an Emeritus Certified Municipal Official by The Honorable Leigh Dollar, President of the Alabama League of Municipalities on Oct. 29, 2020. Contributed by Alabama League of Municipalities Councilwoman Patricia A. “Patsy” Jones of Opelika has earned the professional designation of Emeritus Certified Municipal Official. In order to achieve this high honor, a municipal official must first complete 40 credit hours of training conducted or endorsed by the Alabama League of Municipalities to receive the designation of Certified Municipal Official (CMO). The individual must then complete an
additional 40 hours of training to receive the designation of Advanced Certified Municipal Official. Those who have both their CMO and Advanced CMO designations have the opportunity to obtain the Certified Municipal Official Emeritus designation. The CMO Emeritus is awarded to those who complete a minimum of 120 credit hours of Continuing CMO Education plus 15 points. Jones is a member of the sixth graduating class of Certified Municipal Emeriti and was recognized for her
accomplishments during graduation ceremonies held in Montgomery, Alabama, on Oct. 29, 2020. She is the first elected official from the city of Opelika to complete all three designations. Currently, only 24 elected municipal officials have completed the requirements for the CMO Emeritus designation. The training program for elected municipal officials was created in 1994 by the Alabama League of Municipalities, under the direction of its Executive See JONES, page B8
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B8 November 4, 2020
I
October surprises: Hunter Biden laptop and Dick Cheney’s DUIs
n October 2000, Sen. John Ashcroft of Missouri, a Republican, was fighting for reelection against Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan. Just weeks before the election, Carnahan and two others were killed in a plane crash. It was too late to remove Mel Carnahan’s name from the ballot, but it was agreed that his widow Jean would be appointed to the Senate seat and serve until a special election. Governor Carnahan won 51%–48%, becoming the first posthumous senator-elect. John Ashcroft took the embarrassing defeat with grace. He said, “the will of the people has been expressed with compassion,” and that he “hope[s] the outcome” comforts Mrs. Carnahan. A Reason.com article said Ashcroft “did not challenge the results, though he had various procedural tacks he could have taken.” I evaluate the term “October Surprise” to mean two things, in
political science jargon. First is to reference a dramatic development in a campaign in the fall that is unrelated to opposition research. Carnahan’s untimely death is one; a natural or terrorist-related disaster is another. It relates to the upcoming elections because the candidates’ reactions and leadership under the crisis might determine his or her success. Second is what is more commonly tagged as an “October Surprise,” although a September surprise could have an impact too; both are just weeks from general elections that may have the surprises as an undercurrent. These surprises are crafted by campaign strategists who see advantage in last-minute news stories, the more scandalous and outrageous the better. I learned back in 1982 that one must be careful when a juicy-looking story beckons you. As a young journalist at Fort Bliss, TX, I was hanging around a table tennis table when a player said,
FLOWERS>>
same in politics. Unfortunately, we may be in for a protracted result in our presidential contest. As you read this, we may not know the outcome. We may have a scenario similar to the Florida Bush/Gore debacle in 2000. We may have a problem as severe as 2000, especially in swing states like Florida. However, it may very will be in Pennsylvania due to mail-in voting. See you next week. Steve 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.
FROM B7
100% Democratic. Today, we are arguably the most Republican state in America from top-to-bottom. Most parts of the country vote on pocketbook issues. However, it would appear that Alabama and the deep south voters are driven by social and religious issues. When you consider that Alabama may very well be one of the most religious and socially conservative states in America, that makes for a perfect recipe for Alabama to continue as a Republican state for years to come. The more things change the more they stay the
“I have been in international competitions, I am that good!” I said, “Really? That might make a good sports story for our newspaper.” Double-checking, I said, “Give me a little more information, buddy.” He replied: “I played with a couple of Germans at an Air Force base.” Uh, oh. That’s not an International Competition, that’s just ping-pong pickup games. It’s like claiming you beat Dustin Johnson in a golf match, but it was only in miniature golf. That table tennis story is how most October surprises are; they don’t hold up when you ask second and third questions. This takes us to the controversy involving Hunter Biden, the former vice president’s wayward son. He and his father are being investigated by the Senate Homeland Security Committee because there were rumored meetings between the former VP with Ukrainian energy company executives that might have involved
JONES>>
FROM B7
Committee, to complete the cycle of training for municipal officials and employees. Until that time, no formal training had been offered for elected officials. The Executive Committee instituted a series of one-day continuing education programs designed for mayors and council-members who voluntarily wish to receive formal training in municipal government. Because of her attendance at statewide and regional educational conferences,
By Greg Markley financial misdeeds. The New York Post released to senators emails that allegedly said former VP Biden himself traded money in exchange for firing a nosy prosecutor. But why did Sen. Ted Cruz say, “No one cares about Hunter Biden”? Why did GOP consultant Karl Rove argue that the economy matters more than the Biden story? “This is major corruption,” President Trump said. “This has to be known about before the election.” “Even if you do believe there is something to Trump’s allegations, which rely on plenty of innuendo,” wrote Aaron Blake in The Washington Post, “they Councilwoman Patricia A. “Patsy” Jones has received formal classroom training in subjects such as council meeting procedures, parliamentary procedure, the Open Meetings Act, public records, ordinance drafting, conf licts of interest, the State Ethics Law, duties of the mayor and council, tort liability, the competitive bid law, zoning and planning, annexation, municipal regulatory powers, municipal revenues and expenditures, personnel actions and leadership development. “Alabama’s municipalities are the foundation of
haven’t really connected (Joe) Biden to anything objectionable that his son Hunter Biden might have done, and the vastness and lack of specificity in Trump’s allegations make it only more difficult to launch a quickly executed and focused investigation.” President Trump, win or lose, will be president until Jan. 20, 2021. Let’s see if he pursues the Hunter/Joe Biden story in the months or years he has left as president. If the subject never comes up, we will know it was a typical “October surprise” that did not gain votes from Undecideds. Yet, October surprises can be used effectively to energize one’s electoral base, so they do have some utility. Fewer than six weeks from the 2000 presidential election, both Republican candidates were shown to have Driving Under the Influence records from decades past. As I said above, last-minute leaks of negative information as part of an October surprise seldom work. our state’s economy,” said ALM Executive Director Greg Cochran. “Vibrant communities depend on knowledgeable, engaged leadership-which is exactly what the CMO program encourages through training on the finer points of municipal government. Earning the Certified Municipal Official designation further showcases the commitment of community leaders to better informed, more effective officials.” The Alabama League of Municipalities was organized in 1935 and has since served as the recognized
Most people understood it was long ago and the George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney of 2000 were not the same individuals who shamed themselves as young adults. Bush pleaded guilty to Operating Under the Influence, paid a $150 fine and had his privileges briefly revoked in Maine. Cheney had two DWI convictions in Wyoming and was hit with a 30-day driver’s license suspension. As noted above, U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft, a decent man, handled his election loss to a dead man adroitly and compassionately. In 2001, Ashcroft became U.S. Attorney General in the George W. Bush administration. His challenger in the Missouri Senate race had no comment, as dead elected men tell no tales. Greg Markley has lived in Lee County for 20 of the past 24 years. An award-winning journalist, he has Masters’ in education and history. He taught political science as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama. voice of the cities and towns in Alabama. Through the years, the organization has steadily grown and now serves more than 440 municipalities. This voluntary membership program brings officials of cities and towns together in fellowship of public service — which strengthens and guides local government in a progressive, responsible fashion. The primary purpose of the League is to promote understanding of municipal government and administration in Alabama and thereby advance the welfare of the people of this state.
B9 November 4, 2020
PUBLIC NOTICES 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
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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IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HELEN P. EASTERDAY, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2020-431 Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 28th 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. NORMAN E. EASTERDAY Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 Legal Run 11/04/20, 11/11/20 & 11/18/20
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 --------------
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APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF EVELN MARIE HARRIS, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 28th day of October, 2020, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. Witness our hands, and dated this the 28th day of October, 2020. KIMBERLY HARRIS HODGE Legal Run 11/04/2020, 11/11/2020, 11/18/2020 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RICHARD PAUL HOWELL, DECEASED CASENO.: 2020-426 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Brenda P. Howell, on 27TH day of October, 2020, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is hereby given to 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. BRENDA P. HOWELL 6868 Lee Rd. 252 Opelika, AL 36804 Legal Run 11/4/20, 11/11/20, 11/18/20
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NOTICE OF
NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that the regular November 2020 meeting of the board of directors of The Utilities Board’ of the City of Opelika will be held on November 19, 2020 beginning at 3:00 PM, in the board room of the Administrative Building located in the W. Warner Williams Water Resource Park, 4055 Water Street, Opelika, Alabama. The meeting agenda will be posted as specified in State law. This is further to advise that the regular scheduled meeting of the Board for November 23, 2020 has been cancelled./ DATED this the 26th day of October, 2020. HERBERT SLAUGHTER SECRETARY OF THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA Legal Run 11/04/2020 -------------NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the regular December 2020 meeting of the board of directors of The Utilities Board of the City of Opelika will be held on December 21, 2020 beginning at 3:00 PM, in the board room of the Administrative Building located in the W. Warner Williams Water Resource Park, 4055 Water Street, Opelika, Alabama. The meeting agenda will be posted as specified in State law. This is further to advise that the regular scheduled meeting of the Board for December 28, 2020 has been cancelled. DATED this the 26th day of October, 2020. HERBERT SLAUGHTER SECRETARY OF THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA,
ALABAMA Legal Run 11/04/2020 -------------IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA REESE JEFFERY ARNEZ, ECHOLS ANN LAVONIA DESHAWN, TENNEY MIKE, Plaintiffs, V. FREMAN STEPHEN, SPRATLIN LAURA, GARGUS TAMMY, Defendants Case no.: CV-2020900405.00 ORDER TO SERVE BY PUBLICATION The Plaintiff having made a Motion for Service by Publication supported by the Affidavit of JEFFERY REESE, ANN ECHOLS, AND MIKE TENNEY, stating that the names and addresses, who might claim any right, title or interest in the property described in the complaint are unknown and after due diligent inquiry are still unknown and it appearing that the Plaintiff has filed a Complaint seeking equitable remedy for title to land in Lee County, Alabama. It is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that whom might have a claim to said lands, answer the Complaint of the Plaintiff by the 25th day of December, 2020, or thereafter a judgment by default may be rendered against the said Defendant. It is further ORDERED that this Order and notice be published once a week for four successive weeks in the Opelika Observer, a newspaper of general circulation in Lee County. Done this the 29th day of October, 2020. /s/ HON. JACOB A. WALKER III – CIRCUIT JUDGE Legal Run 11/4/2020, 11/11/2020, 11/18/2020 & 11/25/2020
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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 ex-
perience. Experience in Housing Choice Voucher Program or HUD housing, preferred. For further details, job description can be found at www.opelikaha.org. Interested applicants 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 368030786. Applications accepted until the position is filled. (Please No Telephone Calls).
B10 November 4, 2020
Like crossword puzzles? Sudoku? Play online at www.opelikaobserver.com/puzzles/
B11 November 4, 2020
New council members and mayors sworn in By Hannah Lester hlester@opelikaobserver.com
Members of the new councils for both Opelika and Smiths Station were sworn in Monday night. Opelika: Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller, four new council members and one returning council member were sworn in Monday during a special-called meeting in the Opelika City Council Chambers. “At the start of your new terms of office, both the mayor and council members are required by law to take an oath,” said Opelika City Attorney Guy Gunter. “The oath is not a mere formality. The oath is public pledge that the official understand the requirements of the office and will work to meet or exceed those requirements.” Gunter reminded council members that their new terms in office will not be solo efforts but that the council will need to rely on citizens, staff and one another. “None of you were elected to run the city,”
he said. “Instead, you were elected to run the city as a group of people. Each of you were elected by the citizens to fulfill a defined role. The mayor as the chief executive officer, council members are a part of the legislative body. To be successful, council members must cooperate with each other and the mayor and the council must together work to move Opelika forward.” Retired Probate Judge Hal Smith swore in Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller, who is beginning his fifth term, and he has said, his last, in office. “I’ve been trying to decide who had the most energy, President Trump or Mayor Fuller,” Smith said. “I’ve decided it’s a real close tie. They’re everywhere. It’s my honor to again administer to the oath of office to you mayor.” The Opelika City Council has four new members in office: George Allen, Ward 1; Erica Baker Norris, Ward 2; Robert Lofton, Ward 3 and Todd Rauch, Ward 5. Assistant General
Counsel for the Alabama League of Municipalities Tenee R.J. Frazier administered the oath of office for Norris. Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes administered the oath of office for Rauch. “First of all, congratulations to you and Ali,” Hughes said. “Heck of a job y’all did.” Gunter administered the oath of office for Allen and Lofton, along with the returning council member, Eddie Smith, Ward 4. “I am honored to be in your presence at this very unique time,” Gunter said. “This ceremony is a very important milestone for each of our elected officials. The city’s history to this point, all 166 years, has been a long and winding road. Together, you as our elected officials begin a four-year journey toward our collective vision.” Rauch nominated Smith for re-election as the city council president during the meeting. The council voted to approve.
“I am humbled by the election and I want like to thank my fellow council members, colleagues for your potent support,” Smith said. Following his election, Allen nominated Norris to serve as president pro tem, and the council voted to approve. “I want to congratulate the new council members and thank you for your service to our community,” Fuller said. Smiths Station: Lee County Probate Judge Bill English swore in the new
Smiths Station City Council members and Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland in the new outdoor pavilion, The Junction in Smiths Station. Copeland, along with Council Members George Stringer, Place 1; Morris Jackson, Place 2 and Richard Cooley, Place 4 were all re-elected to their offices. Place 3 Council Member Steve Lansdon and Place 5 Council Member Victorian Green are both new to the Smiths Station City Council.
The swearing in took place before the official city council meeting. “It’s an honor and a privilege to serve the city of Smiths Station as her mayor for the next four years,” Copeland said on Facebook. “This is my second term and I promise to work harder this term then my previous. I am also extremely excited to be working with two new council members Victoria Currier Green and Steve Lansdon the future looks very bright for our city. Onward and upward.”
Photo contributed by City of Smiths Station Mayor F. L. ‘Bubba’ Copeland, accompanied by his wife, Angela, is sworn in by Probate Judge Bill English.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer Mayor Gary Fuller, accompanied by his wife, Laura, is sworn in by retired Probate Judge Hal Smith .
VETERANS DAY VIRTUAL SERVICE November 9, 2020 6 p.m. (online) YouTube Channel (@OpelikaCityGov)
“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause,” - Abraham Lincoln
B12 November 4, 2020
Lee County has record breaking voter turnout Photo by Robert Noles/Opelika Observer A record number of people showed up to exercise their right to vote in the presidential election. Prior to Nov. 3, Lee County had received some 12,000 absentee ballots, nearly five times the number of absentee ballots submitted during the 2016 presidential election. Nearly all Lee County precincts saw higher than average turnout with lines forming as early as 90 minutes prior to the polls opening at 7 a.m. The photo to the left was taken mid-morning at the Opelika Sportsplex where the line of voters looped around the parking lot and traffic circle near the entrance of the facility.
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