08-05

Vol. 13, No. 42

Thursday, July 29, 2021

O GROWS FARMERS MARKET EVERY TUESDAY FROM 3 TO 6 P.M. AUBURN'S CITY MARKET EVERY SATURDAY FROM 8 TO 11 A.M.

Opelika, Alabama

pelika Observer O

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

Auburn University Offering Vaccine Incentives Opelika City

Schools to Require Masks PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES

With COVID-19 cases rising throughout the state of Alabama, the impending return of students to college campuses in the fall poses risk.

Colleges in almost every other state require COVID-19 vaccinations in some form for students returning for the 2021-22 academic school year. But, rather than force the vaccine on its student body, Auburn University is taking a different approach.

The university announced Monday that it will be offering an incentive-

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

An Auburn University student received vaccination at EAMC’s vaccination clinic in April. Auburn University is offering incentives for fully vaccinated students this fall. a vaccination incentive program for fully vaccinated students enrolled for the fall semester 2021,” reads the auburn.edu website.

“Fully vaccinated is defined as having received two doses of

based program to encourage its students to get the vaccine.

“To emphasize the importance of vaccines to a successful fall semester, Auburn University is hosting

either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.”

According to the website (www. auburn.edu/ covid-resourceSee VACCINE, page A2

CONTRIBUTED BY OPELIKA CITY SCHOOLS Effective Aug. 9, 2021, the Opelika City Schools will require that masks/ face coverings be worn while inside school buildings.

Masks will not be required for outside activities such as PE and athletics. The decision to require masks is based on guidance from local health officials and East Alabama See MASKS, page A2

BY ABBEY CRANK FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER There will be a crucial city council vote taking place on Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 7 p.m.

On July 20, the council presented a residential rental ordinance, and citizens responded with a mix of emotions. Kurt Hayley, a real estate broker in Opelika, spoke during the meeting.

Hayley questioned how the city would be prepared to handle the volume of inspections that this ordinance

would require as well as the timing considering how small businesses have already been affected by COVID. “Small businesses have been affected

by COVID-19 more than ever; the eviction moratorium still stands.

I have owners that are allowing tenants to live in their houses who have not paid rent for a year, and they are communicating that they have no rights.”

Early this week, Hayley explained to the Observer that some residents feel they are out of the loop on important information.

Since July 20, Hayley has gathered more than 100 signatures from citizens against the proposed ordinance.

“I think the citizens in Opelika want to be informed on what’s going on," he said.

"There’s a huge amount of mistrust between not only our city council— but the government and its citizens,” “There’s a lack of communication on an ordinance that’s important.”

Hayley also explained there is an ordinance less invasive that is See ORDINANCE, page A3

BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

The United Way of Lee County is preparing for the kickoff of its annual campaign — which will look a little different this year.

The United Way of Lee County works as a nonprofit to support 25 agencies in the area, including organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Lee County and Unity Wellness.

Each agency asks the United Way for funding annually, which is reviewed by an allocation committee.

“The focus areas are health education, crisis and strengthening families,” said Leigh Krehling.

Richard B Curry, director of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater

Lee County said that the last thirty years would not have been possible without the partnership with the United Way of Lee County.

See UNITED WAY page A3

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

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

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. . . . . A7

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

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

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

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

PUBLIC NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . B12

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

Opelika City Council Set United Way Of Lee County Helps to Vote on Residential Rental Ordinance Aug. 3 Local Agencies

August 3: Back to School Bash Enjoy a final concert as we bid summer farewell!

A2 July 29, 2021

Preserving Memories Saramia Arenas has always enjoyed being creative and finding ways to express that — photography, filmmaking and now bookbinding.

Arenas took a bookbinding class and said she was immediately hooked. She began making journals in the process since journaling was something she already enjoyed.

“It’s been something that’s just so therapeutic for me and just a fun thing to do,” Arenas said.

“I liked the idea of making them for myself.”

That, however, led to her making journals for her friends and eventually — the public at large.

Arenas makes her journals by pressing flowers and leaves into a design she wants. She places them on paper, which is then subjected to a tea bath. The teas, flowers and leaves are also what

VACCINE

>>

FROM A1

center/vaccineincentive/), prizes will be awarded to individuals and students organizations. When registering for the incentive program students may list up to five campus organizations of which they are a member.

Individual prizes include: upgrade to

determine the colors and textures of the journals.

“So, it’s really cool because it leaves this memory, this mark, of something that is really beautiful that gets to be preserved in a way,” she said. “So, for example, I’ve had someone ask me to make a cover from their prom bouquet or a bouquet from something that was special to them.”

Arenas likened saving flowers from special occasions to the whole process of journaling — preserving memories and thoughts.

And each journal includes a blessing on the inside, she said.

“It just says how these pages will hold victories, testimonies of bravery, of growth, of healing, all the things that journals have ended up being for me,” Arenas said.

Arenas began selling her journals at The Well in Opelika in May of this year.

The Well is a new Opelika storefront that

incorporates women-run businesses and products into one inclusive experience on Avenue A. The space opened on March 20 and includes fifteen to twenty businesses, many of which will rotate out to allow for other creators.

When Arenas began considering making her journals, she didn’t know where she would even sell them. But she had been inside The Well.

“I knew of The Well starting just from knowing [one of the owenrs] and it’s so beautiful there,” she said. “You go there and you just feel so inspired.”

She reached out, asking if she might could sell her journals in The Well.

“She was like, absolutely, bring me some, we’ll take a look at them,” Arenas said.

“Praise the Lord, she really liked those, she thought they were cool so that’s how I started there.”

She has said the journals have been popular and she needs to restock frequently. Each time she restocks, they sell out within the week.

The future? For Arenas, it might include teaching others how to make these journals.

“It’s an easy thing to learn, it’s just a little time consuming, but if you like it and you would benefit from being able to make a little extra or you’re in a place where you need an easy, transitional job, I would like to be able to employ

people to make them,” she said.

The Well is located at 824 Ave. A, Opelika

and is open Monday to Sunday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Reservations are required outside of walk-in

A-zone parking pass for the semester; upgrade to an unlimited meal plan; 25 meal swipes for Central Dining or Tiger Zone; Campus Rec Group Fitness semester pass; weekending camping package for two (includes a two-person tent, two sleeping bags with pads, one backpack, one burner stove and cook set); weekender water sports package

for two (two SUPs or kayaks, two PFD’s, two paddles); $1,000 scholarship; priority class registration; lunch for four with President Gogue; and VIP graduation parking pass and free regalia.

Student organization prizes include: free Student Center Ballroom reservation; free Student Act Ballroom reservation; custom organization Under

Armour apparel; custom organization sweatshirts/hoodies; custom organization Yeti cups; custom organization Yeti coolers; free food truck meal for organization; free spray tans for organization; catered meals; and Samford Hall Clock Tour tour.

The press release went on to say that student affairs will randomly select winners throughout the fall semester, and that winners will be contacted via email and be asked to submit a copy of their vaccine card to prove eligibility.

Furthermore, student organizations must have members of the organization present proof of vaccination to receive their prize, too.

Students who are participating in dual enrollment programs or who are also benefit-

eligible employees of Auburn University are not eligible to participate, according to the website.

Lastly, the website said, to claim prizes, students must present vaccination within seven days from the date the winning email is sent. Some individual prizes, such as the $1,000 scholarship, may affect the winning student’s financial aid award package.

Students who receive university scholarships, grants and/or federal financial aid should consult with Student Financial Services to assess the impact the prize may have on any existing financial award packages. Prizes are non-transferable and may be subject to certain date restrictions. As part of the entering the program, students are agreeing to let Auburn University publicize their prize.

pelika Observer

O

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED TO THE OPELIKA OBSERVER

BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

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

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

www.opelikaobserver.com

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

hours after 8 a.m. up to 8 p.m. The Well requests one hour notices ahead of the reservation time.

This is the 12th in a series of articles on the different businesses that are located inside The Well.

MASKS >>

FROM A1

Medical Center.

“Due to the upward trend of COVID transmission and the current local positivity rate, this decision is in the best interest of our students and staff at this time,” said Dr. Mark Neighbors, superintendent.

“It is important for everyone to follow the guidelines and do their part to help us have a safe and successful start to the school year.”

The Opelika City Schools will continue to monitor the local COVID data in hopes that the local conditions improve and the mask requirement will become optional in the near future.

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A3 July 29, 2021

Opelika Chamber of Commerce Earns 5-Star Accreditation From U.S. Chamber The Opelika Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce it has been awarded the 5-Star designation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures and positive impact on the community by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Only four chambers of commerce are accredited in the state of Alabama and only 129 hold a 5-Star Accreditation status in the nation.

“Accredited chambers are organizations that hold themselves to the highest industry standards,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, U.S.

ORDINANCE

>>

FROM A1

enacted today.

“The ordinance is that you’re allowed to put a city inspector in a car, drive around and post on what are at-risk homes," Hayley said. "There is not distinguishing between an owner and a tenant.”

Instead, inspectors can check the outside portions of houses and make sure everything is in order. If not, they can still tell residents what needs to be fixed; no registration required.

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller explained that the citizens have nothing to worry about.

“First of all, it [the ordinance] will provide us with an inventory of residential rental properties in the city,” Fuller said. “Owners of residential rental property will have to register each rental property on an annual basis.”

This decree will not affect any public or Section 8 housing; it will only operate on any rental home, apartment, trailer or residential

UNITED WAY

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FROM A1

“When you invest in United Way, it’s more than money, right?” Curry said.

“It’s STEM, its tech, its dance, its cheer, its arts, its basketball, it's gardening, it’s all these other things that are happening at the Boys and Girls Club.”

For example, one boy participating in Boys and Girls Club has started his own, successful, lemonade stand. And Curry said the Boys and Girls Club wants to help him take it to the next level as part of career readiness.

“Again, your investment in United Way is more than money,” Curry said.

“It’s mission, it’s hopes, it’s dreams, it’s the Isaacs, it’s his peers and at one point in my life, when I

Chamber vice president of Federation Relations and Institute for Organization Management. “They are recognized for their work to create and expand business opportunities in their communities.”

To achieve accreditation, a chamber must demonstrate quality programs, clear organizational policies and effective procedures by meeting set standards in the areas of governance, finance, human resources, government affairs, program development, technology, communications and facilities.

“We just celebrated our 80th anniversary as a chamber and I can’t think of a better present than to be

awarded this prestigious distinction from the U.S. Chamber,” said Opelika Chamber President and CEO Ali Rauch. “We are passionate about being a catalyst for strengthening the local economy,

cultivating leaders and representing our business and community’s best interests.”

Please contact the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, 334.745.4861 or visit the website, www.

opelikachamber.com, for more information on what the chamber does in our community and how to become a member.

About Opelika Chamber of Commerce:

property. If passed, the ordinance will begin operating in January 2022. Registration will open for rental properties beginning in October 2021.

Fuller hopes to make the yearly $5 registration fee easily available online. Along with the fee, rental properties will be periodically checked to make sure housing is up to standard.

“We’re not coming up with any new rules [for the inspections],” he said. “We’ve developed a checklist that has the same things right out of the property maintenance code.”

Some items on the checklist include: 1. Proper heating (nothing mentioned about air conditioning) 2. Hot water 3. Safe electrical conditions 4. Fire escapes (such as a window) in places like a bedroom 5. Safe floors and walls (no signs of substantial deterioration or leaks) “If we have to inspect the place, the most it can be inspected is once

every three years …

It’s a $50 fee for our inspector to come and make sure everything is good,” Fuller said.

“If … [the property meets the standards], no problem. If not, he [the inspector] gives the landlord a list of things that need to be changed or fixed. Then, our inspector will come back and make sure that those items have been done in accordance with the code.”

The ordinance, as it is written in Section 12-51 states that properties will be required to be inspected whenever a property becomes vacant.

The ordinance reads: “Thereafter, whenever a residential rental dwelling unit becomes vacant, the property shall be inspected for compliance and a new rental occupancy certificate shall be issued. No residential rental dwelling unit shall be occupied if it does not have a valid rental occupancy certificate.”

Also, Section 12-53 allows for additional inspections anytime

a complaint is made concerning the property.

Landlords will not be able to lawfully rent out properties until they pass inspection.

“Proactive inspections will protect the occupants of residential rental units and the general public,” Fuller said. “Proactive registration and inspection programs may help to reduce tenant fear of landlord retaliation …”

Residents expressed concern of rental prices rising with new fees and regulations, but the mayor urges people not to stress.

“A unit for $5 a year over three years is $15, then add a $50 fee [for an inspection every three years]. That would be $65,” Fuller said.

“You divide that over three years, and it’s less than $22 a year, $2 a month and 50 cents a week. I don’t anticipate anyone having to raise their rent because of the possibility of a $2 a month or $5 a year registration fee.”

Fuller explained the new regulation is supposed to help give

Opelika residents better living environments.

“I’ve been poor, and I’ve lived in places that I wish had been better … I think it’d be beneficial,” Fuller said. “I don’t care if somebody pays $100 rent. The floor shouldn’t be falling in.”

Although Fuller is all for the change, some citizens are filled with uncertainty.

Along with Hayley, Citizens for Opelika’s Communication Coordinator Thomas Casson spoke to residents concerned that this ordinance will cause unwanted government control, homeless spikes and steadily increasing rent.

“They have just taken the next step where they want owners to register their property, and it is just more government than what is needed,” Casson said. “They need to work with the current ordinances that are on the books, and they need to get the proper number of inspectors in the city to take care of the problems.”

Casson and many

others are worried about the economic wellbeing of Opelika residents if the law passes.

“As far as the tenant side … it could certainly increase rents,” he said. “If the city comes in and doesn’t think the property is fit for someone to live in and the owner makes improvements, the rent will go up.”

Hayley and Casson think the rental decision is bad timing for everyone.

“We’ve just gotten through COVID where there was an eviction moratorium," Casson said. "So you know, the potential is that there’s going to be more homelessness in the city.”

Hayley would like to the Opelika community to be at the ordinance’s final vote.

“We shouldn’t think that one person or group can speak for an entire community,” Hayley said. “When the vote occurs, which is Aug. 3 at 7 p.m., we need the community, whether they are for or against it.”

was growing up as a club kid, it was me. And so, I can’t speak highly enough of the relationship that Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County has always had with United Way of Lee County.”

The partnership has also allowed the Boys and Girls Club to connect with the other agencies supported by United Way, Curry said.

“The magic that happens is literally in every agency that they serve,” Curry said.

Another one of these agencies is Unity Wellness in Opelika, a center that treats and cares for those with HIV, said Lakeisha Dowdell, the prevention education counselor at Unity Wellness.

“At Unity Wellness Center, we see people

regardless of their status, regardless of their income, we are there to take care of them during their need,” she said.

Dowdell shared a story of a young woman who was told her partner was HIV positive, took a rapid test herself and found out she, too, was HIV positive.

Through the care at Unity Wellness, however, she is able to live a normal life, Dowdell said. This care included information, support, transportation and help finding a program to pay for her medication.

“This young lady is healthy, she is adhering and she’s taking her medication,” she said.

“She is in a stable home where at one point she didn’t have anywhere to call home. She has a

stable job. This young lady is now the mother of a healthy baby and the baby is HIV negative.

She is negative because her mother had access.

Her mother had access to substance abuse training.

Her mother had access to our facility. Her mother had access to healthcare.

Her mother had access to support where she didn’t have anywhere else.”

Instead of United Way’s usual campaign kickoff, this year they will host ‘Feed The Need’ on Aug. 4, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Food Bank of East Alabama.

One hundred volunteers will be there stuffing nonperishables for 20,000 local people, Krehling said.

“It’s just a way for us to fellowship with each

other that morning and get to know each other better and do something great for our community,” she said.

The campaign will begin Aug. 4 and run through Dec. 15, with different events throughout that time period, including the Boo Box Sale, ‘Lead the Way Wednesday’ and Santa on the Corner.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY THE OPELIKA CHAMBER

CONTRIBUTED BY THE OPELIKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Founded in 1941, the Opelika Chamber has been serving the Opelika business community for almost 80 years. Under the leadership of Ali Rauch, the president and CEO, a staff of four work diligently to be the recognized leader and advocate of the business community, acting as a catalyst for a thriving economic and entrepreneurial environment, collaborative community initiatives and a better quality of life for its business owners and citizens alike. We’re building economic and member vitality through partnerships, programming, education and community involvement.

A4 July 29, 2021

Lil’ Towns

SEAN DIETRICH

I

t’s late morning in Brewton, Alabama.

Sunlight peeks over the trees. A distant train whistle whines.

The scent of the nearby paper mill stinks up the air. My wife and I are driving through her little hometown, watching the brick storefronts and begonias go by. I am crazy about small towns.

But I don’t see a town today. You know what I see?

I see part of my adult life. I see the time Hurricane Ivan made

landfall here. I see the summers I went fishing on Keego Pond with my father-in-law, when he squeezed fish bladders and made them pee on me.

I see one of the first dates my wife and I had at Jalisco’s Mexican Restaurant, where I had one too many margaritas and started singing “People Will Say We’re In Love” from “Oklahoma!” right in the dining room. A few people applauded. I made five bucks in tips.

That’s what I see.

When you’re young, nobody tells you that you don’t marry a girl.

Not really. You marry her family. You marry her community. You marry her circle of friends. You marry this young woman’s life.

When I married Jamie Martin, I inadvertently married a whole township. Back then I didn’t know it was possible to marry an incorporated Alabamian community, but there you are. And this little town turned out to be her gift to me.

I didn’t come from a stable home. I didn’t have a warm and fuzzy Hallmark Channel movie childhood. But my wife pretty much did, and she shared it with me as easily as someone splitting a pizza.

So, when I visit this place, one of my favorite things to do is go to the grocery store, or the catfish joint or a beer joint and listen to

people tell stories about my wife’s childhood.

I love imagining her in pigtails, without her front teeth, with skinned knees and dirt on her face. I love knowing about the good times she had here. Maybe sometimes I even live vicariously through those happy recollections. I realize that makes me sound pathetic, but oh well.

I love the chipped sidewalks where she learned to ride a bike.

The chapel where she learned to sing “Old Rugged Cross.” The brick school where she learned the Pythagorean theorem. The house on Belleville Avenue where we had our engagement party. The graveyard where her father’s remains rest.

And of course, the church where she would drag me to service during our feckless courtship.

One of the first things I loved about Jamie was

how loud she sang in First Baptist. Jamie has always been the loudest voice in any sanctuary.

And even though she can’t sing a lick, whenever the congregation started with “Victory in Jesus", Jamie would clap loudly and bob her hips like Shania Twain.

This was not decent behavior among Baptists. In fact, it was scandalous. Our people do not believe in clapping. Neither do we acknowledge the existence of Shania.

I knew I had to have her.

And I got her. I got a woman who not only gave me her family, she gifted me an entire zip code. This little town became an immediate piece of our lives together. I realize I’m romanticizing things pretty heavily here, but again, oh well.

To give you an example of just how exceptional Brewton people are, there was an EF-2

tornado in East Brewton last month. The storm decimated parts of town.

They found single wide trailers in the treetops. It ripped apart a school, homes and entire neighborhoods.

One local woman said of the storm: “It happened so fast you didn’t have time to be scared … It was pulling us off the floor, just pulling us, you didn’t think it was going to stop.”

I heard another story about a lady who was sucked from her bedroom while sleeping.

She awoke on an empty patch of dirt where her house used to be.

I heard about a gal who was in her living room watching TV. She got up to get a drink and wham. No sooner had she left her sofa than a tree fell through her roof and chopped her couch in half.

See DIETRICH, page A5

The Craft of Music & Standard Deluxe

BRADLEY ROBERTSON

W

ould you consider yourself a musical person? Maybe not as in you necessarily play an instrument but that you

have a deep seeded love for music as it’s weaved into your daily life?

My answer is a definite Yes. I came by it naturally as my father was always playing music in his car and at night when he worked on architectural drawings. I have a vivid memory of my father playing jazz in his car; he would tap his rings on the steering wheel along to the rhythm of whatever was playing on the radio, creating his own instrument while driving through town.

I was introduced to all types of music growing

up including opera, the Beatles, hits from the ‘70s and soft rock and country from my mother.

I appreciate it all; music is something that has carried me day to day no matter what life has offered.

I saw a couple friends in downtown Auburn last week and they tossed up the idea of hearing live music at the local hot spot in Waverly, Standard Deluxe. John Paul White was to be the performing artist, whom

I had never heard of, but I thought to myself, “huh, that sure would be pleasant.”

As with all things Covid-19, live music has been almost non-existent since March 2020, unless you caught a live show on Zoom or Instagram.

And when only essential workers could be in public last year, musicians were not considered in that category.

I contested this idea personally thinking to myself, “oh but to bring joy and life to people in a state of possible misery, what could be more essential than music?”

And so I found myself sitting in a lawn chair last Friday, under a soft night sky, amphitheater style, next to my fantastic friend listening to John Paul White, who come to find out had won four Grammy awards.

White was striking and attractive, a Johnnie Depp appearance but slightly softer and in southern gentleman attire. He held his guitar with ease and grace, and his voice weaved straight to my soul in words and rhyme. His folk tune carried the crowd in sheer See ROBERTSON, page A5

WHAT I SAID

WENDY HODGE

“B

y my next birthday, I will be a certified chimney sweep.” I can honestly say that’s not a sentence I ever thought I would utter. But yesterday my best friend’s dad asked me how my new job is going, and that was my answer.

Through an unexpected and deliciously serendipitous twist in life’s road, I am a chimney sweep in training (among other titles).

I like saying it just to hear how unexpected it sounds.

As a writer, I hone words like a blacksmith forms a sword. I love

the sound and she feeling of words that aren’t used every day. I love words that make people laugh, and I love words that make my best friend look at me like I’m speaking German … Obscure words that haven’t been heard in a century or two.

Words are my hobby, a livelihood and a real joy. But I don’t always wield them as expertly as I would like. My mouth often fires faster than my brain, and the right words elude me. I once jumped into the swimming pool of my apartment complex (back in my college days) with all my clothes on late one summer night. Just at that moment, a friend from high school passed by. She lived in the same complex, and she was taking a walk with her boyfriend. She spotted me and brought him over to introduce him. Like a poised, intelligent, college student, I greeted him

with: “It’s so weird meeting you with all my clothes on.”

She moved out of the complex shortly thereafter.

There are even times when I heard myself uttering sounds that aren’t even words.

Last summer, on a trip to Six Flags, I spotted an old friend. He was headed towards me in a crowd of people. As we passed each other, we made eye contact and I made this profound proclamation: “AAAAHHHHH!!!!”

I’d meant to say “War Eagle” or “Hey!!” but had instead made the international cry for help. He looked startled, dropped his eyes and shrugged his shoulders at his companion as if he had no idea who on earth I was.

But of all the words I’ve ever spoken, there are a few that haunt me.

On a September Monday night, stand-

ing in a Neurological Intensive Care Unit in a Richmond hospital, I spoke words that I can’t remember. But I will never forget the answers to the questions I must have asked. It was an intern I spoke to — a young, weary-looking man, and he said, “It’s not good.” He wore a white coat with the Richmond teaching hospital logo above the name embroidered in loopy script. Dr. Small.

It felt as if my brain were liquid ... trying to focus on one thought was like pinning down a bubble in a swimming pool. I simply couldn’t hold on to the words I was hearing.

“Your sister’s accident was serious.”

My eyes settled on the stubble on his chin.

It was sparse, and I had the fleeting thought that Dr. Small wasn’t even old enough to grow a proper beard. How on earth could he save someone’s life?

His hand on my arm

grounded me a bit. He waited until I lifted my eyes to meet his before saying, in a gentle voice, “You asked what her chances are. I can’t give you a percentage.

I just don’t work that way. But what I can tell you is that IF she survives, IF she wakes up, she will never be the person she was.

Your sister is gone. Her body just hasn’t caught up with her yet.”

My family huddled around her bed. None of them heard my conversation with Dr. Small. And I wasn’t strong enough to repeat it to them ... not to my sister’s husband who was consumed with helplessness, not to my parents who were frozen with fear and certainly not to my sister’s sons, who only wanted to know why their mom wouldn’t wake up and take them home.

I heard myself, over the next six days, repeating platitudes.

Empty words of com-

fort filled the silent air of the waiting room … assurances we all gave each other, like tossing a life saver out into the sea. For six days, we lived a half-life under the glow of fluorescent lights, measuring time in intervals: morning visiting hours, convincing each other to pretend to eat lunch, afternoon visiting hours, half-hearted supper, last visiting hours, tossing and turning and pretending to sleep. And in between each of these events, we paced endless miles up and down hallways, stopping to gaze out the window at the view of the ambulance bay blow, wiping tears and choking back the truth.

Finally, at the end of the sixth day, when the night was black and the clock was stuck at 1 a.m., I walked the block and a half from the Family House provided by the hospital for peoSee HODGE, page A5

A5 July 29, 2021

Firehouse Subs to Hold Ninth Annual H2O For Heroes Event CONTRIBUTED BY FIREHOUSE SUBS

DIETRICH >>

FROM A4

But here’s what I’m getting at: If you had visited this area after that horrific tornado, you wouldn’t have seen many people complaining and griping. Do you know what you saw?

You saw helpers.

You saw volunteers with chainsaws, clearing damage, free of charge. You saw neighbors on front porches having cookouts, laughing, inviting the hungry kids in the neighborhood to join them.

You saw impromp-

HODGE >>

FROM A4

ple like us who were stranded in a nightmare far from home. The streets were empty. I should have been trying to sleep, but the words in my head would not let me. It was time to talk and say the truth.

Though the lobby, up in the elevator, down a long corridor, through the double doors and into the Neurological Intensive Care Unit I went, like a grim soldier on a march to the front line — head

responders across the U.S. and Canada.

The need to return to the annual H2O For Heroes is even greater this year after a tumultuous 2020 was quickly followed by more seasonal challenges.

In June 2021, many parts of the Western U.S. experienced unprecedented temperatures, resulting in an increased risk of wildfires and heatrelated illnesses.

“As we come into wildfire season, it’s more important than ever to support our firefighting communities, especially our wildland firefighters,” said Firehouse Subs Franchisee Chris Morris, who has more than a decade of experience as a firefighter in Idaho.

“Many people might not know, but wildland firefighters can work in 16-day cycles out in the heat under very grueling conditions.

It’s really important to me and my fellow restaurant owners to be tu church services among the ruins. You saw families in lawn chairs, perched in leveled front yards, making the best of hell.

And although a veritable disaster had befallen Escambia County, somehow it didn’t feel like a disaster here. In some places it felt more like a tailgate party.

That’s the kind of stock my wife comes from. That’s the kind of woman who was just off-kilter enough to love me. That’s South Alabama. And anyway, that’s what I see when I come to Brewton. down, eyes full of dread.

My sister lay on a bed that rotated so very slowly from side to side in an effort to reduce the swelling in her heart and brain. Her hair had been partially shaved, and bandages covered one eye. Tubes were everywhere, keeping her breathing — keeping her with us.

Dr. Small was there.

He didn’t look when I entered the room, but he knew why I was there. He pulled over a chair and left me alone with her. I reached out

able to help them and our local communities stay hydrated during this time, and we’re honored to partner with our guests to make that happen.”

As a brand founded by two former firefighters nearly 27 years ago and true to its mission, Firehouse Subs hosts the one-day drive to offer lifesaving support and relief to first responders and vulnerable citizens who have an imperative need for protection against extreme heat-related situations. H2O For Heroes began in 2012 by Phoenixarea franchisees Jerry and Windy Griffin as a local initiative to encourage bottled water donations at a time when wildfires and drastic heat depleted the supplies of several of their local first responder organizations; in 2016, Firehouse Subs expanded the program into a nationwide effort that our guests and communities have

ROBERTSON >>

FROM A4

goodness and summer luster.

I did not know how much I needed this music of John Paul White until complete joy spilled over me.

And I witnessed the same feeling come over the 250 or so attendees listening next to me that very night.

White mentioned at the beginning of his act that this was his first show back since the start of the pandemic. His sweet words of gratitude and appreciate struck me as for a second I slipped into his shoes,

to hold her hand. Have you ever held the hand of someone you love who can’t respond to you? No matter how tightly you squeeze, there is no movement of recognition, no warmth. But you can’t let go because that’s all that’s left to us — this clinging to each other.

“It’s me,” I whispered. “Just me.”

The almost-silent whoosh of the machinery surrounding us was the only answer.

The words crowded my head — all the things I need to say:

wondering what it must have felt like for him to be standing on this lone southern stage.

Music is essential. It is essential to heart and soul, community and compassion. When else in the world do people of different strokes of life come together to sit still and just be in the presence of now? To feel things deep inside that the stranger sitting next to them has no clue of, and he too is feeling his very own secret things, both in quiet ponder of here.

Music is true art. And only a select few people roaming our world choose to take up the

“Please be okay. We need you. Your boys need you. Please don’t go.”

But what I said was instead was this: “We will take care of your boys. It’s okay to go.

It’s okay to rest.”

I wish I could say there was a sign that she’d heard me — a flickering of an eyelid or the faint movement of a finger. But there was nothing. And yet, just as surely as I know my own name, I know she heard me.

“I love you,” I whispered and kissed

Auburn-Opelika Habitat For Humanity Home No. 70 PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY A-O HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Firehouse Subs® invites guests nationwide to join its effort to hydrate local heroes and communities with the ninth annual H2O For Heroes® bottled water collection drive.

On Saturday, Aug. 7, Firehouse Subs restaurants will offer one medium sub* to each guest who brings in at least one unopened, 24-pack of any brand of bottled water*. The water benefits local fire and police departments, emergency victims, senior and community centers and more, to aid those in need of water during the hot summer months when dehydration and other heat-related illnesses are most threatening.

The ninth annual event returns after being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, Firehouse Subs’ family of local restaurant owners listened to the needs of their communities and focused on providing heartfelt service where it was most needed.

As a result, hundreds of Firehouse Subs franchisees partnered with Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to donate more than 100,000 meals to healthcare workers and first

come to love.

Since expanding in 2016, Firehouse Subs, its franchisees and guests have donated more than 4 million bottles of water to public safety departments, emergency victims and senior and community centers.

Nearly half of those bottles were collected in 2019 alone, and the brand looks forward to continuing that renewed support during 2021’s difficult summer weather. A partner of Firehouse Subs, Coca-Cola will be donating 5,000 cases of DASANI® water to first responders and community organizations in support of this year’s H2O For Heroes.

Firehouse Subs serves its signature hot subs in 46 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and non-traditional locations. To participate in the H2O For Heroes collection drive efforts, visit www.firehousesubs. com or download the Firehouse Subs app to find your nearest location. *Limit one medium sub per person, per case of unopened 24pack bottled water (of any brand) *Excludes Firehouse Subs restaurants in Canada, Puerto Rico, airports and college campuses.

Wells Fargo Sponsors

Thank you Wells Fargo for supporting Habitat by being a sponsor on home #70. Last Saturday, they presented Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity (AOHFH) with a $6,000 check to sponsor Habitat homes. Pictured (L-R): Karen Turner, AOHFH Board President, John Jones, AOHFH Vice President, Audrey Marshall, AOHFH Secretary, and Craig Busby, Wells Fargo Lee County District Manager.

Wells Fargo has always been a vibrant partner in the community. They have also been a consistent sponsor on the last few Habitat homes, and we appreciate that Habitat is an organization that they consistently choose to give back to. Thank you Wells Fargo for supporting us as we continue to improve our community.

act in honor, to serve all of humanity. And what more is it a privilege for people like you and me to see it, to listen to it, to take it in and interpret the things of life which we cannot do on our own accord.

Music has met me head on in all spaces of my life, and I’m betting the same is true for many of you.

If you are feeling safe and confident in this still pending Covid crisis, consider visiting the music scene in Waverly at Standard Deluxe. Scott Peek, owner, has been serving up life in music for 30 years now, and his cultural work continues,

bringing people together for the purpose of creating harmony.

The musings of John Paul White are in my soul to stay, for that is what music does, carrying us through today, no matter what is to come.

You may visit www. standarddeluxe.com or here is the lineup of music for the next few weeks. Maybe I’ll see you there.

7/30 – Parker Millsap & Fish Fry by Wiltons Catering 8/07 – Pony Bradshaw 8/28 – Futurebirds 10/16 – Fall 280 Boogie 10/30 – The Pine Hill Haints

those fingers. Then I sat next to her until just before the sun came up.

Before everyone could arrive, I made my way to the roof of the building. I couldn’t imagine having the strength to speak to anyone else for a while.

It was on that rooftop that Dr. Small came and found me. We didn’t speak. I just followed him back down to that endless corridor and those silent beds.

I knew she was gone before anyone spoke.

There is a language of grief that doesn’t

require words, just guttural sounds, moans that you can’t replicate willingly. The heart speaks that language, not the tongue. In the midst of that grief, I squatted down in front of my nephew and felt his little boy arms wrap around my neck.

“I miss her,” he said.

“I miss her too,” I whispered back. “But you’re going to be okay. We’re going to take care of you.”

And those words were a promise I’ve never regretted for a moment.

A6 July 29, 2021

EAMC Goes Back to Red Visitation Level CONTRIBUTED BY EAST ALABAMA HEALTH

VISITATION CHANGED TO RED LEVEL STARTING MONDAY With the sudden uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations, along with Lee and Chambers counties having “high” community transmission rates, EAMC and EAMC-Lanier changed to the “Red Level” visitation restrictions beginning Monday, July 26. That will mean reducing to one visitor in some situations, and no visitors in other situations.

“We feel this is the most prudent move to make at this time to limit further transmission of COVID-19,” stated John Atkinson, East Alabama Health spokesman. “Other hospitals in the state are also making this difficult decision right now. It’s not something we desire to do as we know it can create somewhat of a hardship for families, but it’s for the safety of our patients, our staff and ultimately for the community as we near the start of a new school year.”

Two key areas where visitors will not be allowed starting Monday,

July 26 are Outpatient Surgery and Outpatient Tests and Procedures.

Family members will be asked to drop patients off at the appropriate location and then will be contacted when the patient is ready to be picked up. “This is the same process we had during earlier peaks of the pandemic,” Atkinson said. “While some family members chose to wait in their cars in the parking lot then, we strongly encourage them during these warm months to return home or to find a local store or restaurant where they can wait in cooler temperatures.”

A chart showing what the “Red Level” visitation restrictions mean in various areas of the hospital is attached. To view all three levels and other related information, follow this link to our website: https:// www.eamc.org/assets/ documents/patientsguests/visitation-levels-updated-7-2021.pdf TESTING SITE TO RE-OPEN The number of residents seeking COVID-19 testing is ramping up and East Alabama Health is responding by re-opening its testing site. Hospital official hope to have

it open by the middle of next week and more information will be provided at that time.

“This will allow us to assist residents while also more closely tracking positivity rates in the community,” said Atkinson. “Plus, we will be able to more quickly identify patients who could benefit from an infusion of monoclonal antibodies. These infusions have proven to greatly impact patients and have prevented 224 hospitalizations in our community so far. Only about seven percent of patients who have received these infusions have gone on to require hospitalization at EAMC.” VACCINATION LOCATIONS COVID-19 vaccine is plentiful in the community and same-day appointments are available in many locations. The attached Excel spreadsheet lists some locations in east Alabama where the COVID-19 vaccine can be received. This ADPH link lists locations statewide. www.alpublichealth. maps.arcgis.com/ apps/MapSeries/ index.html? appid=d84846411471404 c83313bfe7ab2a367.

Visit Boonie Hat and try the new line of Artisan Pops.

Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

116 S. 8th Street, Opelika

334-363-0390

www.booniehatcoffee.com

Lakiesha Young Hicks Receives Hair Loss Certification

L

akiesha completed a hair loss certification class.

She is certified as a hair loss specialist which allows her to work with Dermatologists and Oncologists. She was encouraged to participate with “Look Good, Feel Better” through the American Cancer Society to assist women suffering from hair loss, as they undergo chemotherapy. She was trained to service men, women, and children by learning to measure and fit a client for a hair loss system and/or unit.

If you or someone you know is suffering from hair loss issues please call to schedule a complimentary consultation at the Hair Loss Center of Alabama located inside of Bei Capelli by Castellani Salon in Opelika, AL 334-5944522 or info@hlcalabama.com.

Opelika E vents, Society & Food

UPCOMING EVENTS: July 29: Boys & Girls Club Gala July 30: Cheers on the Corner in Auburn July 31: Cauldron Crawl in Downtown Opelika

Plan a Low Country Boil for Offering Easy, Casual Hospitality PHOTO BY ANN CIPPERLY

Ann Cipperly

Southern

Hospitality

L

ow country or lowcountry boil is an easy way to offer hospitality during summer and fall months following football games. You don’t need fancy dishes as the boil is generally spread out on paper across the table, or it can be served on large platters. While a low country boil can be made in a small batch in a stock pot on the stove top, it can be assembled in a large pot over a propane stand outdoors for serving a crowd. It is fun to hold the casual, one-pot meal outdoors and for keeping clean up easy.

A low country boil

is sometimes called Frogmore Stew, after a town on St. Helena Island on the South Carolina coast, which is believed to be where it originated. Frogmore is located near Beaufort and Hilton Head, and the boil is sometimes called Beaufort Stew.

The name Frogmore Stew was given to the dish in the 1960s by one of the owners of the Gay Fish Company on St. Helena Island.

Its popularity spread after a photo of the stew was featured on the cover of Gourmet magazine in the 1980s.

Low country boil is a one-pot meal with

new potatoes, smoked sausage, corn on the cob and shrimp and sometimes crab as well. The potatoes are added to the pot first, then the sausage and corn with the seafood added last as it requires less cooking time. Different brands of seasonings for shrimp and crab boil are easily found at grocery stores. Some use Old Bay for a richly seasoned boil.

Our son-in-law, Tony, who cooked in a restaurant years ago, makes a flavorful, classic low country boil and adds crab legs along with the shrimp.

He has a large out-

A low country boil is an easy way to provide hospitality for a large group or can be prepared in a small stove top batch for a special family meal. The one-pot meal generally includes new potatoes, corn on the cob, sausage, shrimp and/or crab.

door pot on a propane stand that he also uses for boiling peanuts.

It is always a delicious treat when Tony makes his low country boil. Cocktail sauce and melted butter are served for dipping the seafood.

We have enjoyed traveling throughout the low country (some call it lowcountry), including Charleston, Bluffton, Palmetto Bluff, Beaufort,

Aiken and others in South Carolina as well as Savannah, Georgia, savoring specialty “boils” and other regional seafood dishes. Flounder, crab cakes and shrimp and grits are also popular on restaurant menus, and in Bluffton their oysters are considered some of the best.

Charleston in the low country offers an array of sites to explore throughout the year

with some of American’s most beautiful residences. The port city traces its origins to 1670 with stunning architecture among ancient live oaks. With a heart of endurance, the city has survived the Civil War, a major earthquake in 1886 and Hurricane Hugo. The city has been called Little London and, with many churches, See CIPPERLY, page A10

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES /OPELIKA OBSERVER

Rick Bragg Shares Memories, Former Auburn Standout Laughter With Auburn Ace Atkins Talks New Book

BY HANNAH LESTER LESTER@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

The Women’s Philanthropy Board of Auburn University hosted southern author Rick Bragg last week on a stage set with rocking chairs, goats, a picnic basket, a tire swing and a background of fireflies.

The scene was set as a perfect summer background. A scene from one of Bragg’s memories perhaps, or just a common denominator for warm nights in the south.

The inaugural Summer Nights event was held at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center and was the first in-person event for the WPB since before the beginning of COVID-19.

“As we gather today to hear from a wonderful storyteller, I hope you are transported to places familiar and comforting,” said Susan Hubbard, dean

of the College of Human Sciences. “Rick’s tales have a way of reminding us of what we have in common and help us to celebrate the little things that tie our lives together."

Bragg said he was honored to be invited to Auburn, despite having never attended Auburn himself.

“I have been disappointing women from Auburn for 43 years,” he said. “I have been set free in my life by 47 good women. Twenty % of them were from Auburn. This tonight will be the only time in my life that I will look upon women with an Auburn connection without scorn, anger or bitter disappointment. So, thank you for that opportunity.”

Bragg works as a professor of writing at the University of Alabama and took the opportunity to share with the Auburn audience members how much they are disliked in

Tuscaloosa.

“Man, they really don’t like ya’ll over there,” he said, which, despite the rivalry, garnered a laugh from the audience. “I’m serious. I have no affiliation, but I can be bought … I went to a party, as I like to sum up most of houses in this world as houses and rich folks’ houses. This was rich folks’ houses. And everybody in there, if they were in Texas, they would all have been wearing big hats. And everybody in there had a storied history.

And man, they were letting y’all have it. I mean, they were letting y’all have it.

And I hope you appreciate me because I stood up for ya’ll. I didn’t have to. I didn’t have to.

“But I said to this one old man, who was very well placed. You would know him if I gave you his name.

But I won’t, because they might kill me. I said, ‘You See BRAGG page A11

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM If you recognize the name Ace Atkins, it may be from his two-sack performance against No. 4 ranked Florida as a member of the 1993 undefeated Auburn Tigers football team.

Or it may be from his esteemed writing career that followed.

The image of Atkins sacking future Heisman trophy winner, Gator quarterback Danny Wuerffel, is engrained in the minds of thousands of die-hard Auburn fans.

The images portrayed in his writing, however, are engrained in the imaginations of perhaps even more.

So, how does one go from collegiate cult hero to established, award-winning

novelist?

Seventeen years after graduating from Auburn with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, Atkins, now a New York Times Best Selling author, sat down at John Emerald Distillery in Opelika for “Cocktails & Conversations,” to explain his journey – and his new book, “The Heathens”.

Voice of the Auburn Tigers Andy Burcham moderated the event, making for some probing topics and fun banter.

Upon leaving Auburn, Atkins found himself a young reporter working the crime beat for The Tampa Tribune in the late 1990s.

“When I saw my byline in the paper, there was no going back,” he said. “It [that experience] gave me a lot of confidence.

It gave me a lot of knowledge.”

Near the turn of the century, Atkins fortuitously got out of the newspaper business to wholeheartedly follow his aspirations of becoming a writer.

“It’s one thing to become a writer, but it’s another to actually stay a writer,” he said.

“I was going to do this thing, whatever it took.”

Eventually, Atkins found his footing in the world of book-writing and published his first book “Crossroads Blues,” in 1998.

“I didn’t realize how tough it was to become a published novelist,” he said. “But the kind of storytelling I wanted to do always brought me back to the South.”

Now, “The Heathens,” is the eleventh novel in a See ATKINS, page A8

A8 July 29, 2021

Making the Grade: Highway 80 Barn Restaurant

Recently, someone from the Highway 80 Barn Restaurant requested that I come out, eat and write a review on them. It made me feel good to be asked, and I felt even better after my meal.

About a week ago, Mike and I met our friends Jack, William and Thomas at the Highway 80 Barn Restaurant, which is located at 25250 U.S. Hwy. 80 in Opelika.

As usual, we were about 10 minutes late.

I’d like to say that my husband made us late, but God doesn’t want me to lie.

Unfortunately, punctuality is not one of my strengths. However, for some reason, being on time is really important to Mike, and my lack of punctuality really gets on his nerves.

When we married in 2005 and taught in LaGrange, Georgia, Mike told me that he HAD

ATKINS >>

FROM A7

Publishers Weekly called the book, “Exceptional,” and a “rambunctious road novel … Evoking Edward Anderson's 1937 country noir Thieves like Us, with a touch of Bonnie and Clyde.”

They describe Atkins’ writing as “hard-edged yet tenderhearted.”

A lot has happened since Colson first graced the fine print. Atkins was named the caretaker of author Robert B. Parker’s iconic Spenser series following Parker’s passing, and has since written nine novels in continuation of the set.

“Where do you go from here?” Burcham asked.

“There’s a limitless amount of stories I could do with Quinn,” Atkins replied.

For the time being,

Atkins lives in Mississippi with his wife and kids, frequently visiting his office to write or the local book store in search of inspiration.

He admitted he sometimes feels the pressure to produce another best-seller.

“It’s like a football season; it’s like being a coach,” Atkins said.

“You may have a good year, everything might be great, but it’s always, ‘what’s next?’”

Well, Atkins is “on a roll,” as Burhcam put it, and if his track record is anything to learn from, the anticipation of “what’s next,” for Atkins, will be well worth the wait.

More information about Atkins and his novels at www. aceatkins.com/.

was amazing!”

I was tempted to tackle him in order to have some of that parfait; however, I didn’t because even though I’m “Pooh sized,” I’m very weak. I admitted this to Jack; he laughed and said he’d have fought me for it. After my next appointment with my diabetic doctor, I may have to have that delicious dessert.

The Highway 80 Barn Restaurant offers a variety of appetizers besides the two tasty ones we enjoyed.

Diners may also choose from: fried dill pickles, corn nuggets, fried jalapeno chips, fried oysters, onion rings, chicken wings and gator bites.

In addition, the restaurant offers salads,

sandwiches and burgers. Besides the ones previously mentioned, entrees, which come with two sides, include: hamburger steak, country fried steak, shepherd’s pie, ribeye, ribeye and shrimp, chicken tenders, pork chops, catfish, fillet of fish, frog legs, gator, clam strips, shrimp-ngrits (Barn style) and fried oysters. Veggie plates are also available.

Besides that amazing pecan pie parfait dessert, diners may choose from: pecan pie, root beer float, brownie sundae, strawberry shortcake parfait, gooey butter cake and ice cream.

Run and do not walk to Highway 80 Barn Restaurant, which

is owned by Deletha Davis. The restaurant is open on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; closed on Monday- Wednesday.

The Highway 80 Barn Restaurant makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Pooh-sized” people NEVER lie about food.

Enjoy!

Stacey Patton Wallace, who retired from teaching language arts for 30 years, is a professional diner. Her column, “Making the Grade,” will appear each week in the Observer. Stacey may be reached at retiredlangartsteacher2020.com

Chick-Fil-A Reopens in Downtown Auburn PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY THE AUBURN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

series that follows Sheriff Quinn Colson, a former army ranger in rural northeast Mississippi’s Tibbehah County. The book places Colson and his former deputy on opposite sides of a case for the first time after a woman is found dead and three teen delinquent teens go on the run.

“He’s [Colson] is a major part of these books,” Atkins said.

“He’s kind of the glue that holds these stories together. But when I create to write a series, I wanted a world that was always evolving and changing. I wanted a town that very true to the Deep South. I wanted a character that was very true to the Deep South.”

setting; it felt so homey and comfortable. Old albums were hanging on the walls, along with cute signs. My favorites were: “$5 charge for whining” and “Grandchildren fill a place in your heart you didn’t know was even empty.”

Underneath the sign, six grandchildren’s names and birth dates were listed.

Misty, our waitress, was top notch: kind, helpful and patient.

Mike ordered the popcorn shrimp with French fries and coleslaw. I chose on-thebone fried chicken (I may grow feathers and lay an egg any day now). For my sides, I picked collard greens and mac ‘n cheese.

Jack ordered an open-face meatloaf sandwich, which was on Texas toast and was topped with potatoes and gravy; his sides were coleslaw and collard greens. William chose the patty melt, a six-ounce burger with grilled onions and cheese, and French fries. Thomas ordered meatloaf with gravy, collard greens and mac ‘n cheese. Everything was really delicious.

For dessert, Jack chose a luscious-looking pecan pie parfait.

(Again, I love alliteration.) After his first bite, Jack said, “That

PHOTOS BY MIKE WALLACE

STACEY PATTON WALLACE

to be at school by 7:30 a.m. (eastern time).

He was the teacher assigned to meet each school bus; he had to keep up with which ones were on time, late, etc., and report it to the front office. He told me that if I wasn’t ready on time, he would have to leave without me. A few times, he did just that.

Now, I didn’t want to get my sweet husband in trouble at work, so I tried to stop being tardy. I’m happy to say that I have improved a good bit since 2005.

Mike even said, “Now we’re only 10 minutes late instead of 20.”

Therefore, when we arrived at the Highway 80 Barn Restaurant, our friends were already there eating appetizers. They had ordered cheese sticks and deep fried grit sticks and were kind enough to share.

Now, I’ve often eaten cheese sticks, but I had never heard of frying grits. But again, this is Alabama, and everything tastes better fried. Oh, my two times. They were amazing! Also, we dipped them in syrup, which made them even better. Needless to say, no appetizers were left standing.

I really loved the restaurant’s rustic

The Auburn Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Chick-fil-A which reopened in downtown Auburn at 326 W. Magnolia Ave. across from campus with a drive-thru in the parking garage just behind the restaurant.

A9 July 29, 2021

Grilling Out for ASCCA

BY EMERY LAY FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER Rain or shine, Aug. 14 will be a day for grilling, eating and judging. The Elks Lodge will soon be hosting its first-ever Battle of the Burger. The event will be located in Auburn on 1944 Opelika Road at the Auburn-Opelika Lodge #1834, home to Robert Trent Jones (RTJ) Grand National golf course.

“We are more than just a bar,” said John Findley, exalted ruler at the Auburn Elks Lodge location. “We are a civic, charitable organization. We took on Camp ASCCA as an Elks state major project several years ago.

Different lodges will do different things; We’re

gonna do this Battle of the Burger and that will raise some money that we will forward to Camp ASCCA, just to help them with whatever they wanna do.”

The cookoff will begin at 10:30 a.m. At 1:00 p.m., a select panel of secret judges will taste-test the burgers to see who has the best technique and recipe in town. The event will conclude shortly after, around 1:30 p.m., once the winner has been announced. In addition, the Tiki Hut will be open during the entirety of the event to serve cold drinks and sodas for purchase.

“We are inviting local businesses, citizens and Elks Lodges from around the state to participate,” Findley

said. He emphasized that anyone from the public is welcome.

The winner of the battle will receive award prizes, and there will be a trophy for the runner-up. The public can also purchase a ticket for $1, taste ¼ of a burger and leave their purchased ticket with the respective grill master.

Additional tickets can be purchased to create an entire meal. At the end of the event, the team with the most tickets garnered will win the honorable “Crowd Favorite” award in the form of a trophy.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Alabama Elks State Major Project, Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults (ASCCA).

ASCCA, which is open

year-round, provides camps for children and young adults with disabilities throughout the state of Alabama.

The website reads, “Beginning in 1976, Camp ASCCA has been a nationally recognized leader in therapeutic recreation and is known throughout the world for its superior quality services. Providing camping experiences for children and adults with disabilities, Camp ASCCA is open yearround. Within its barrier-free environment, Camp ASCCA offers 230 wooded acres on the shores of beautiful Lake Martin in Alabama.”

The Elks Lodge of Auburn is just one of 22 in the state. Currently, it supports 85 scouts — a boy scout troupe,

a cub scout pack and a girl scout troupe. The lodge has also provided medical equipment to Mercy Medical, kitchen equipment to Christian Care Ministries and a Christmas party in 2020 for the children of Big House.

After receiving a grant from the Elks National Foundation, the lodge has been able to pour into the veterans at Tuskegee, providing them a banquet with goodies, music and speeches from the mayors of both Auburn and Opelika. It was able to continue this tradition in a socially-distanced manner during COVID-19. On their 4th of July Barbecue, the lodge also raised money to go toward the $5,000 scholarships it hands out

each year to the students of Southern Union.

With the funds gathered from the Battle of the Burger event, the Elks Lodge of Auburn hopes that it will be able to further benefit and provide for those with disabilities through its support of ASCCA. To register for the Battle of the Burger, contact John Pruitt (334-750-6003, OPD9403@gmail. com) or Julie Stanley (334-524-0574, stanley4202@yahoo.com).

Registration is $25 and closes on Aug. 2. Each ticket will reserve a 15 by 15-foot spot for the contestant to compete on; Teams must bring their own “fixins”.

“Come on out and vote for the best burger!” Findley said.

The Collegiate Hotel Creates Auburn University Fund for the Bees CONTRIBUTED

BY THE COLLEGIATE

to celebrate the fund’s creation and the third anniversary of the Collegiate Hotel’s opening was held Friday, July 23 from 7 to 10 p.m. The event was free to the public, 21 years and older.

There was be honey tastings from local vendors, Opelika distillery John Emerald onsite with craft cocktails featuring honey and of course, lots of purple AU-BEES Margaritas.

The Collegiate Hotel is a boutique hotel that opened in downtown Auburn in 2018. Auburn alumni Brian and Kim Wirth transformed the former Wittel Women’s dormitory into a unique property boasting 40 luxury rooms and a rooftop bar with amazing views of Auburn’s famous Samford Hall. Learn more at www.staycoho. com.

The Auburn University Bee Lab is housed in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Also known as the “AU-Bees” Lab — named after Auburn’s mascot “Aubie” — its mission is to understand and promote bees through research, instruction and outreach with activities that benefit the local community while educating the public on the vital work of pollinators.

The AU-Bees Lab hosts visitors including students, local stakeholders and international guests who can see the lab’s honeybee hives, observation hive, drone petting zoo, bee hotels and native pollinator specimens.

The lab’s research program aims to promote the health of insect pollinators in Alabama and beyond by executing specific activities that fall under several stakeholder-identified priority areas.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED TO THE OPELIKA OBSERVER

Things have been buzzing at the Collegiate Hotel with more than $10,000 raised from the sale of its “AU-BEES” honey-based margaritas to create the Bee Excellent Fund at Auburn University’s College of Agriculture.

Auburn University Alumni and Collegiate Hotel Owners, Brian and Kim Wirth, are announcing the creation of the fund to support the work of the AU-Bees Lab and have committed to donate $1 to the lab for every AU-BEES margarita sold at the hotel.

“It’s unconventional, but we love finding unique ways to connect with the community and the university," Kim said.

“Two years ago, we met the AU-Bees Lab team and loved their energy and work ethic and thought why don’t we use our passion for hospitality to support their passion for bees.”

The simple idea to create a honey-based cocktail for a cause resonated with Collegiate Hotel customers and the AU-BEES Margarita was an overnight success becoming the number one selling cocktail within a few months. This success has led the Wirths to donate a minimum of $10,000 a year to The Brian E. and Kimberly A. Wirth Family Annual Fund for Excellence in the College of Agriculture.

“We are exceptionally grateful for this incredible investment from our friends at the Collegiate Hotel, just down the street from us on Ag Hill,” said Paul Patterson, dean of the College of Agriculture. “By supporting the AU-Bees Lab, the Bee Excellent fund will be instrumental in both the education of our

students and the health of our community for years to come.”

Geoffrey Williams, assistant professor and graduate program officer, said, “We have graduate students doing research in the AU-Bees Lab, we have undergraduate students doing research through their Undergraduate Research Fellowships and we also hire undergrad research technicians who work in our lab, so we have a number of opportunities for students, and everyone in the lab is really working together on projects helping us promote Auburn’s mission of teaching, research and extension.”

“In one word, it is amazing,” Williams said of the fund. “I really, really appreciate it. The existence of this fund solidifies how the AU-Bees Lab is really a microcosm of Auburn overall in that our lab connects with the community and exists to be an asset to the public. The fact that we’re connected to the Collegiate Hotel in this way really solidifies that.

It seems like an unconventional partnership, but it is meaningful for us.”

At the discretion of the dean, annual gifts may be used to support the strategic initiatives of the Auburn Bees Lab Program. This includes but is not limited to program research, faculty and student travel to conferences, student employment and equipment to advance apiculture, etc.

“We can’t give away our recipe, but bees are attracted to bright colors, so we crafted the cocktail with a special tea that transforms to a beautiful purple when brewed.

This and our hibiscus salt “pollen” rim, seem to be equally successful in attracting customers,” Kim added.

A community event

A10 July 29, 2021

CIPPERLY

>>

FROM A7

The Holy City.

We enjoyed strolling along the Battery to observe antebellum architecture adorned with window boxes overflowing with cascading flora in a city often described as a “living museum”. Side gardens can be viewed through wrought iron gates as Palmetto fronds whisper of another time when Charleston stood as one of the wealthiest and most gracious cities in a young nation.

After touring magnificent gardens and

CIPPERLY RECIPES >> TONY’S LOW COUNTRY BOIL This recipe is for a crowd. It can be cut in half or a fourth for cooking in a big pot on a stove top. Tony uses a 15 gallon pot with strainer basket.

3 packs (boxes) Zatarain’s seasoning 1 large yellow or Spanish onion, not sweet (peeled but not sliced or cut) 3 lemons Combine seasoning, whole peeled onion and lemons with 12 gallons of water. Bring to boil.

Remove onion and lemons.

Add: 3-5 lb. small red potatoes 18 nibblers (corn on the cob) 3 lb. Conecuh Cajun sausage (sliced into 2 inch pieces) Boil until potatoes are al den-te.

Add: 3 lb. snow crab legs Boil for approximately 10 minutes Add: 3 lb. shrimp (peeled and deveined) Return to boil. Turn off. Let sit for five minutes.

Pull drain basket and serve with cocktail sauce and melted butter for the seafood.

WENDY MOYNIHAN’S LOW COUNTRY BOIL Julia Thomas 5 lb. fresh shrimp (still in shell – heads off) 1 pkg. small corn on the cob (frozen – mini cobs) 5 lb. red potatoes (cut as needed to uniform size) 6 Vidalia onions (cut in ¼’s) 6 lemons (cut in ¼’s) 3 lbs. Hillshire farms smoked sausage (cut into 2” pieces) 16 oz. cheap beer Seafood Seasoning (Old Bay) This boil is made in a large crab pot with a strainer outdoors over a propane burner.

Fill pot halfway with water, beer, onions, lemons and 1 cup of seasoning and bring to a boil. When boiling, add potatoes and sausage; cover and cook until

homes, we were ready to try one of the city’s scrumptious culinary choices. Peninsula Grill has been highly rated over the years.

Our two shared entrees were lobster and crab cake duo selected from a small plates menu and a sampling of seafood with red fish, crab cake and oysters.

We also shared dark chocolate bread pudding, a traditional bread pudding with raisins combined with chocolate, accompanied with chocolate bourbon sauce. The restaurant’s most popular dessert is

a 12-layer coconut cake with pound cake layers soaked in sugar syrup, spread with coconut filling, covered with cream cheese frosting and coated with toasted coconut on the sides (Google Peninsula Grill Coconut Cake for the recipe).

Charleston has many wonderful restaurants. Other favorites are 82 Queen for she crab soup, Charleston Grill for seafood and Hyman’s Seafood for flounder.

Nestled amid lagoons and ancient, moss-draped live oaks with a storied

past of wealth and loss, Palmetto Bluff is bordered by maritime forest and framed by 32 miles of riverfront in the heart of the low country.

On a sunny afternoon, Gullah hymns filled the air from the porch at the chapel in Palmetto Bluff. Across the street, we were waiting for a table at Buffalo’s restaurant and enjoyed the time listening to the music.

The restaurant is part of Montage Resort and serves fish dishes, sandwiches and salads for lunch. At breakfast, the restaurant offers a biscuit bar with

sausages, bacon and other accompaniments.

Another afternoon we visited Old Town Bluffton. Downtown Bluffton has good restaurants, including farm fresh dishes made from local, seasonal ingredients.

For touring the historic district in Old Town Bluffton, I was talked into taking a bike taxi. This is pretty much what you would expect with a seat on back of a bicycle. It would have been better if there had been a bike path, rather than being in the street with cars.

I can’t recommend

trying a bike taxi, as I am sticking with leisurely strolling the historic district in the future. Electric bike riding is also on my list of things not to do again.

While traveling to sample regional dishes across the south is not easy right now, we can savor a taste of the low country at home and share it with family and friends. When making a low country boil for a large group, ask a few friends to go in together on the ingredients.

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

potatoes are almost tender.

Add corn and cook until corn is heated (approximately 5 minutes). Add shrimp and cook, stirring a few times, until the water comes back to boiling (or the shrimp turn pink and are no longer translucent). Do not overcook.

Pull strainer from pot and dump entire contents onto a table covered in newspapers. Sprinkle more seafood seasoning as desired. Serve with cocktail sauce. Serves 15 to 20.

Note: I always have empty bowls for the shrimp peelings and extra lemon slices to use on hands to take away the fish smell.

gar. Bring to boil.

Add sausage and new potatoes. Return to boil and cook about 15 minutes.

Add sweet corn and onions; cook for about 10 minutes until potatoes and corn are about done.

Add shrimp. Bring back to slow boil; cook about 3 to 5 minutes, stirring until all shrimp are pink.

Cut heat and let pot sit for about 5 minutes. Drain and pour onto covered pans and serve buffet style.

Or Drain and serve on table covered with newspapers. Everyone stands around and “digs” in for casual dining.

Serving Options: Pour up pot before addition of shrimp and keep warm in covered pans.

Add shrimp to broth and slow boil, stirring for 3 to 5 minutes.

Then pour cooked shrimp into separate pan.

This keeps shrimp separated from boil for those who have shrimp allergies.

divided Juice of 1 lemon 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley or capers Wash fillets in cold water; pat dry. Salt and pepper. Dredge fillets in flour.

Place oil and 2 Tbsp. butter in flat, heavy-bottomed skillet and heat on medium-high until butter melts. Keeping heat on medium-high, cook fish on one side about 3 minutes (more or less depending on thickness of fillets) until browned and crispy. Turn fish and cook on second side about 3 minutes or until browned and crispy. Turn only once.

When fillets are done, remove to serving platter.

Lower heat; add 1 Tbsp. additional butter to skillet. When melted, add lemon juice and parsley or capers and allow to sizzle a minute. Pour over fillets. Serves at once.

Serves 4.

½ pkg. Nabisco Chocolate Wafers ½ cup butter, melted 1 gallon coffee ice cream 1 ½ cups fudge sauce Whipped cream Slivered almonds Crush wafers and add butter. Mix well.

Press into 9-inch pie plate. Cover with soften coffee ice cream.

Place in freezer until firm. Top with cold fudge sauce. (It helps to place fudge sauce in freezer for a while to make spreading easier.} Store Mud Pie in freezer approximately 10 hours.

Serve on chilled plate with chilled fork.

Top with whipped cream and slivered almonds.

¼ cup finely chopped celery ¼ cup finely chopped onion 12 saltine crackers (crumbled) 1 pound crab meat 3 Tbsp. seafood seasoning (old bay style) ¼ cup milk Melt butter in pan and cook celery and onion until clear. Stir in crackers, crabmeat, milk and seasonings. Place in crab shells and bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

Can also be made into crab cakes and fried.

LOW COUNTRY SHRIMP BOIL Recipe is from the Mitchell family.

This recipe was a specialty of the late Pete Mitchell. When the Mitchells were in Savannah, Pete did a shrimp boil monthly for their church. When the fellowship hall was built, Pete and another person who helped him prepared shrimp boil for as many as 160.

Shrimp –1/2 lb. per person (shell on, head off, deveined) 31/49 or 21/25 count Smoked sausage – 1/3 lb. per person cut into 2-inch pieces (Hillshire or Kielbasa or Conecuh) Corn - 1½ ears per person Salt-1/2 cup to 1 cup per pot to taste Zatarain Shrimp Boil in bags, 3 bags per pot 1 lemon, halved, squeezed and tossed into pot Vinegar, 1/3 cup per pot Onions, 2 large, quartered Vidalia onions per pot Pot Sizes for Cooking Shrimp 40-quart pot with strainer basket – 5 to 10 lbs. shrimp 60-quart pot with strainer basket-10 lbs. shrimp 80-quart pot with strainer basket- 15 lbs. shrimp Fill pot half full with water. Bring to boil; add salt, lemon, Zatarain Shrimp Boil bags, lemon and vine-

WENDY’S SAVANNAH RED RICE Julia Thomas ¼ lb. bacon ½ cup chopped onions 2 cups raw rice 2 cups canned red tomatoes (do not drain) ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. pepper 1/8 tsp. Tabasco Fry bacon until crisp; remove and place on paper towels to drain. Cook onions in pan with the bacon fat until tender. Add remaining ingredients.

Cook over low heat 10 minutes. Place in 1 quart tightly covered casserole and bake at 350 degrees for one hour, stirring with a fork a few times. Add water if necessary.

Serves 6.

PAN-FRIED FLOUNDER 4 skinless, boneless flounder fillets or other fish Salt and pepper to taste Flour for dredging fish 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil 3 Tbsp. butter,

AUNT SUSIE'S BANANA PUDDING Mary Ann Swanson 4 heaping Tbs. plain flour 1 3/4 cups sugar Pinch of salt 3 cups milk 4 eggs, separated 1 tsp. vanilla Combine sugar, flour, and salt in heavy saucepan or double boiler; slowly add milk. Heat on medium heat until thicken. Beat egg yolks (reserve whites) and gradually add to hot mixture. Adding a little of the hot mixture to eggs will help to blend better before adding remaining mixture. Cook for an additional 5 minutes on low. If mixture is too thick, add more milk. Remove from heat; add vanilla.

1 box vanilla wafers Bananas Layer 1 box vanilla wafers alternating with sliced bananas and pudding mixture.

Beat egg whites until stiff, adding approximately 4-5 Tbs. sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees just until meringue is brown.

CHART HOUSE MUD PIE Barbara Mitchell

JENNIFER ELFERDINK’S SHRIMP CASSEROLE Carolyn Moore 4 cups chicken broth 1 cup stone ground white grits 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 2 Tbsp. butter 1 small onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 1 pound fresh shrimp, peeled and cooked 1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies (Rotel), drained ¼ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. pepper Cook grits in the chicken broth. Stir in 3/4 cup cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add green onions, bell pepper, and garlic; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Stir together green onion mixture, grits mixture, shrimp and next 3 ingredients. Pour into a lightly greased 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle top with remaining 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 to 45 minutes.

DEVILED CRAB OR CRAB CAKES Julia Thomas 4 Tbsp. butter

HOMEMADE ICE CREAM Barbara Mitchell 2 cups sugar 2 Tbsp. vanilla ½ pint whipping cream 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 can evaporated milk ¼ tsp. salt 3 cups peaches or strawberries or fruit of choice Milk Pour 1 cup sugar over fruit and let sit a few minutes.

Mix remaining 1 cup sugar, condensed milk and evaporated milk in mixer; add vanilla, salt and fruit.

Pour in freezer container; add whipping cream (do not whip).

Add milk to the line on the freezer and stir well.

Freeze. Can mix ahead and store in refrigerator until ready to freeze.

POUND CAKE Barbara Mitchell Serve with strawberries 1 cup Crisco or 2 sticks butter, room temperature 1 3/4 cups sugar 5 eggs 2 cups Swan cake flour or plain flour 5 Tbsp. pineapple or orange juice ¼ tsp. almond extract Mix Crisco or butter with sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Alternate juice and flour into the mix. Add almond extract. Pour batter into greased loaf pan. Bake one hour at 325 degrees.

A11 July 29, 2021

From the Live Well Alabama Kitchen – Fruit Water Recipes CONTRIBUTED BY KATIE S. ETHERIDGE Most people do not drink enough water, and one can dehydrate fast in the hot Alabama sun. That is why this Food Friday, Live Well Alabama is serving up seven delicious fruit flavored water recipes to turn water from drab to fab.

“Water is a key player in keeping your body working well at every level,” said Katie Funderburk, Alabama Extension nutrition specialist and registered

dietitian. “Adult men should aim to drink approximately 12.5 cups per day, and adult women should try for nine cups a day. Our fruit infused waters are great for adding subtle sweetness without excess sugar. Eat the fruit afterwards to get the most out of this tasty treat.”

Ingredients Blackberry Mint Recipe · 40 blackberries, smashed · 40 mint leaves, torn in half Blueberry Orange

Basil Recipe · Three oranges, quartered · 30 to 45 blueberries, squeezed · Nine basil leaves, torn in half Citrus Recipe · Oranges, sliced · Grapefruit, sliced · Lemons, sliced Pineapple Orange Recipe · ¼ pineapple, sliced · ½ orange, with peel Raspberry Lime Recipe · Four limes, without rind · 40 raspberries, smashed

Strawberry Kiwi Recipe · Two kiwi, sliced · Five strawberries, sliced Watermelon Rosemary Recipe · ¼ seedless watermelon · Two sprigs rosemary Pro Tips: Freeze mixture in ice trays for homemade popsicles. Mix with sparkling water instead for that added pizazz.

Use a reusable bottle to support sustainable living.

Directions: For each recipe, mix

Become a Lee County Master Gardener CONTRIBUTED BY LEE COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS Would you like to learn about Alabama landscapes and gardens?

Volunteer in your community?

Then you are a great candidate for the Master Gardener Intern Training.

You do not have to be a garden expert, just come with a desire to learn and grow!

As part of the Master Gardener intern class, you will receive horticultural training specific to Central Alabama’s soils and climate, training ma-

terials and best of all, you will make great new friends, and have an opportunity to give back to your community through volunteering.

2021 Fall Session: Aug. 12 (online Registration available now) www.aces.edu/blog/ topics/lawn-garden/alabama-extension-master-gardeners-volunteer-program Classes: Aug. 12 to Nov. 18 Thursdays 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Virtual and In-person Application Deadline: Aug. 6, 2021. The course fee is $100. *You will be contacted for a class orientation

prior to the start date.

The 14-week Master Gardener training course is held at the Lee County Extension Office, Opelika.

Classes are taught by professors and specialists from Auburn University, Extension agents and veteran Master Gardeners.

Contact the Lee County Extension Office 334-749-3363 or Dani Carroll, Regional Extension Agent, at 256-458-6043 or danicarroll@aces.edu.

Have you ever wanted to volunteer with Alabama Extension Master Gardeners?

The Alabama Extension Master Gardener

Volunteer Program is an educational volunteer-recruitment program offered through the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Volunteers work with Extension to bring the latest horticultural information to their communities - and have a lot of fun while doing it! Registration is open for fall 2021.

If you have any questions about the program, please give Dani Carroll a call at the Lee County Extension Office – 334-749-3353 www.aces.edu/blog/ topics/lawn-garden/alabama-extension-master-gardeners-volunteer-program.

the ingredients with a gallon of water and stir.

Serve over ice.

Want to learn more?

Step by step instructions for the Fruit Flavored Water recipes, as well as an instructional video, are available at LiveWellAlabama.com.

About Live Well Alabama: Live Well Alabama is a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) initiative developed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Auburn University. This initia-

tive reaches residents across the state with research-based education.

“Live Well Alabama recipes are all about trying fruits and veggies in tasty, easy and budget-friendly ways.”

Funderburk said. “Our recipes are easy to prepare, and they don’t require any fancy kitchen equipment.”

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Live Well Alabama provides numerous recipes that are simple and budget friendly.

BRAGG >>

writing with, I hope, love, but with grit, because you can’t live in the deep south and not know what the rough edges of this old life are like,” he said.

The writer said that he didn’t want to disappoint his gathered audience because they were making a difference in young people’s lives and deserved a nice night.

Bragg shared stories of his brother, writing in the press box at Jordan-Hare, plane rides with workingclass men and some of his favorite childhood recipes — such as ham and pinto beans.

Before leaving the stage for the night, and moving into a portion of the evening dedicated for book signings, Bragg took the opportunity to do something he had told the audience he wanted to do. He pushed the tire swing on stage. And of course, like the rest of the evening, the room filled with laughter.

FROM A7

know, I think you’re being a little rough on Auburn. I myself,’ and I mentioned my dating history, ‘I have been set free by several wonderful people from Auburn.’ And without missing a beat, he just kind of cocked his head and said, ‘Well son, that’s how you learn.’ So, you’re on your own now. I’ve done all I can do.”

Bragg, a journalist and Pulitzer-prize winning novelist, tells stories with his words. In particular, stories of the South.

His memories — his recollections — of his life, and of his family.

“I remember tomato sandwiches wrapped in twice-used aluminum foil,” he said. “And if you say that you don’t know what that looks like then you are obviously putting on airs.”

Bragg has written a total of 17 books.

“All of them have been

July 29 - Live Music at La Cantina July 29 - 7:30 p.m. - Trivia with Caroline in The Jailhouse, Harry Potter at Rock 'N Roll Pinball July 30 - Cameron Dubois at Resting Pulse Brewing Company July 30 - Open Mic in the Jailhouse at Rock 'N Roll Pinball July 30 - 7 p.m. - Adventures in Forgotten Realms Draft at Gear Gaming Opelika July 30 - Live Music at La Cantina July 31 - Kasey Kaschak at Resting Pulse Brewing Company July 31 - 8 p.m. - Kamikaze Zombie, Septarian and Dead Reckoning perform in the Jailhouse at Rock 'N Roll Pinball

A12 July 29, 2021

OPELIKA

NIGHT OUT 2021

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CITY OF OPELIKA & CONCERNED CITIZENS OF OPELIKA

AUGUST 3, 2021 • 5:30-8:30 PM C O U R T H O U S E S Q UA R E PUBLIC SAFETY • CRIME PREVENTION • HEALTH • EDUCATION • YOUTH PROGRAMS

LIVE MUSIC, FREE FOOD, GAMES, GIVEAWAYS & MORE!

Traffic Stop Safety, Fire Safety, SIDNE Simulator Course, Disaster Preparedness, First Aid and more!

RESOURCES Alabama Council on Human Relations AlaCare Auburn Regional Autism Network Back the Badge Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lee County Child Care Resource Center Christian Womens Job Corps Christie Hill & Eric McDade State Farm Circles of Opelika Diabetes & Nutrition Center of EAMC Domestic Violence Intervention Center Envision Opelika Family Guidance Center of Alabama Girls S.T.E.P.S Inc. Greater Peace Baptist Church League of Women Voters Lee County CASA Lee County District Attorney

Lee County Humane Society Lee County Remembrance Project Lee County Youth Development Center Lee Russell Council of Governments Moms Demand Action/Be Smart for Kids NAACP Opelika Housing Authority Project Uplift Rape Counselors of East Alabama REACH Organization Target Southern Union Adult Education The Curtis House The Front Porch Unity Health & Wellness Center Veterans Affairs Village Friends

S PLUPerformances

by Opelika Dawg Pound Cheer and the Opelika Theater Company Live Music by David Jones Opelika Parks & Rec Inflatables Destination Divas Cake Walk One Accord Social Club Ring Toss Morning Star #734 Root Beer Floats Opelika Public Library Face Painting CRAM THE CRUISER FOOD DRIVE at #OpelikaNightOut Bring non perishable food items for the Food Bank of East Alabama

Community Partners

opelika-al.gov

A13 July 29, 2021

Unchained reflected on his situation, he took heart in the realization that though he was chained, the word of God was not.

Where could Paul BRUCE GREEN have come up with Teaching Minister at 10th such an idea?

Street Church of Christ He certainly in Opelika would have found it throughout the Scripaul spoke of ture. In Genesis 1, “my gospel, it’s the creative word for which I that was spoken eight am suffering even times and everything to the point of being that is comes into chained like a crimibeing. The Hebrew nal” (2 Timothy 2:8writer tells us that 9). Like his Lord, he Christ now sustains bore the shame and “all things by His stigma of an innocent powerful word” man in being treated (1:3). Powerful inlike a criminal. As deed! he sat in his cold, And the truth is, we dark, damp cell and have no real concept

P

of just how powerful God’s word is in this area. Our brightest minds are constantly rewriting their books that explain to us how they think the universe works (read what they have to say about dark matter and dark energy or gravity theory and black holes). The best realize that for every answer they find, a dozen more questions are raised.

The word of God brought it all into being and sustains it.

(That doesn’t sound like anything that’s chained up, does it?)

Paul would have also been familiar with King Jehoiakim.

ABOUT BRUCE GREEN

He chose not to serve God and when he came into possession of some words from Jeremiah –– he cut them up and threw them in the fire –– as though that would somehow mitigate what God had said through the prophet. If you read his story, you won’t be surprised to find out that shortly after this, Jehoiakim ends up in chains while the word God gave Jeremiah is fulfilled.

Despite the efforts of a king, the word of God couldn’t be chained.

The French philosopher Voltaire took his shot at the Bible

during his lifetime through his voluminous writings. Not long after his death, the very printing presses he had employed to spew his unbelief began printing copies of the Scripture. Furthermore, 58 years after his death, Voltaire’s house was being used to store Bibles and Christian literature (Dr. Daniel Merritt).

Other groups and people down through the centuries have tried to diminish or destroy God’s word.

They’re all gone, but God’s word remains.

You can try to put a chain on it, but you will not succeed!

CHURCH CALENDAR

Bible Verse of the Week

CHURCH OF CHRIST The church at Cunningham Drive are 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.

"I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." — John 17:26

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.

CHURCH DIRECTORY

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

APOSTOLIC HOLINESS Emmanuel Temple of Deliverance Inc. 28 Sanford Ave., Opelika 334-745-0210 God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 Highland Ave., Opelika 334-749-9672 True Deliverance Holiness Church 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700 BAPTIST Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St., Opelika 334-745-7528 Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506 Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 3089 Judge Brown Rd., Valley

334-710-2117 Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave., Opelika 334-749-9487 Green Chapel Missionary Baptist 390 Lee Road 106, Auburn (334) 749-4184 High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 334-524-8750 Lakeview Baptist Church 1600 E. Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-7094 Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108 Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608 Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika

10th Street Church Of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika 334-745-5181 Church Of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy., Opelika 334-742-9721 Southside Church Of Christ 405 Carver Ave., Opelika 334-745-6015 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Changing Hearts of Destiny Ministry 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700

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

334-745-4755 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148 Connect Church 2015 West Point Pkwy., Opelika 334-707-3949 St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319

EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave., Opelika 334-745-2054

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

METHODIST Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800 Beulah United Methodist Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Opelika Outreach S.D.A. Church P.O. Box 386, Opelika 334-749-3151

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OPELIKA The following are held in-person and online on Sundays: Traditional Service in The Worship Center at 8:30 and 11 a.m.

Contemporary Service in The 3:16 Center at 9:45 a.m.

Evening Service in The Worship Center at 6 p.m.

Watch services online at fbcopelika.com.

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

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

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

A14 July 29, 2021

Drinking the Joy of Deathless Springs

WALTER ALBRITTON

A

s family and friends gathered with me last Saturday to celebrate my wife’s life, it occurred to me that there can be no Christian celebration without music.

With Corine Free at the keyboard, my soul was dancing as song after song was used to give thanks for Dean’s life of service to her Lord Jesus. I closed my eyes and I am pretty sure I saw Dean dancing in a beautiful white robe.

The celebration began with Corine playing Bach’s inspiring “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

The audience did not know why this enduring piece was requested.

Years ago, when our

first son David was suffering and dying with leukemia, Dean and I played that song night after night on a 33 1/3 record. The English text, attributed to Robert Bridges, contains these awesome words: Through the way where hope is guiding, Hark, what peaceful music rings; Where the flock, in Thee confiding, Drink of joy from deathless springs.

Thus, last Saturday, I was drinking the joy of God’s deathless springs as we sang the praises of the life Christ had enabled Dean to live. When the Christ we loved and served together died upon the Cross and rose from the dead, He conquered death and hell. The result of that mighty deed was God’s gift of eternal life to all who embrace the living Christ as Lord of life.

That glorious truth is one of the deathless springs flowing from the love of our God. In his original cho-

rale containing “Jesu,” Bach had drawn upon an earlier hymn composed by Martin Jahn in 1661, the text of which contains these awe-inspiring words: Well for me that I have Jesus, O how tightly I hold him That he might refresh my heart, When I’m sick and sad.

Jesus I have, who loves me And gives himself to me, Ah, therefore I will not leave Jesus, Even if I feel my heart is breaking.

Now you know why that hymn was so dear to Dean and me. In our sickness and sadness, we were holding tightly to Jesus as he gave himself to us, determined never to leave him even when our hearts were breaking. And in the grief imposed on me by the death of Dean’s body, that same Jesus continues to refresh my heart and give me hope.

I will go to him one

day, as Dean did, but I will never, ever leave him!

When the Saint James Sanctuary Choir was singing the chorus of “Power in the Blood,” I was thanking Jesus for all that Dean was able to do for Him because her life was pulsating with “the wonder-working power in the blood of the Lamb.” I know it was real. I saw it happening. It was the power of Christ that made possible Dean’s life of service to others.

Little wonder that she often cried, “O Christ, I cannot do without Thee, I cannot stand alone; I have no strength, no goodness nor wisdom of my own!” But because of His power, she had all she needed!

As Vaughn Stafford was singing “Sweet Beulah Land,” I thought of the many times he had sung that song as we stood beside the bed of friends who were suffering, dying or mourning. Dean has crossed that river and knows now the joy

of that eternal home, Sweet Beulah Land. For me, as the song says, “there’s just a few more days to labor and then I will take my heavenly flight.” And sweet Beulah Land, where “no sad goodbyes will there be spoken,” will be all the sweeter because I will be reunited with Dean.

The hymn, “Because He Lives,” was chosen to sing for one reason. I wanted my family and friends, all of whom struggle as I do with suffering and death, to affirm once again that because Christ lives, we can face tomorrow without fear, knowing that “He holds the future, and life is worth the living because He lives.” Truly, that says it all!

As we left the Worship Center, Corine was playing “When We All Get to Heaven,” a song of victory and rejoicing.

The song invites those of us who are still here to “be true and faithful, trusting, serving every day; just one glimpse of Him in glory will the

toils of life repay.” O Yes! When, by faith, we get to heaven, and see Jesus, it will indeed be “a day of rejoicing as we sing and shout the victory!”

How wonderful that both here, and there, music will help us celebrate the love of God as we drink forever the joy of deathless springs!

Glory!

Is all the above the fanciful imagination of an old sentimental preacher? No, dear reader, it is not that. It is instead a trustworthy picture of spiritual reality, based on the living Word of God, the God who created the heavens and the earth, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has the power to “keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.” And as Jude said, Amen!

other family members. And his best friend/Brother in Law, Freddie Baker.

Visitation was held Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in the Parlor at FrederickDean Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Heart Association.

37 years. They lived in Montgomery for nearly 19 years before moving back to Auburn in 2003, where he had a successful career as the chief technology officer for a local manufacturer.

Ken was an active member of the University Church of Christ and enjoyed lifting his beautiful voice to the Lord and leading the congregation in song. He held positions in the communities he lived in as the President of the Optimus Club, President of the Ham Radio Club of Montgomery, and a member of Mensa. He will be remembered most for his love for God and his family as well as his kindness, generosity and enormous sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife Susan, sons Spencer (Katelyn), and Matthew, his father Ken Smith, brothers Brad Smith (Kim), Sam Smith (Carol), and William Smith. He was preceded in death by his mother, Judy, and grandparents.

OBITUARIES BOBBIE JEAN KERBY Bobbie Jean Kerby, 85 of Opelika, passed away July 24, 2021. Visitation was held on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.

Mrs. Kerby, who died Saturday, July 24, 2021, at Bethany House, was born Feb. 22, 1936, in Slocomb, Alabama. She was a lifelong member of the Eastern Star and also a part of the Retired State Teachers Association.

She was survived by her husband Melvin Kerby; children: Sonny Kerby (Carol), Sandra Smith (Stan), Cyndi Merijanian (John), Vicki Mangiafico (Candace); grandchildren: Jillian M. Manning, Jacob Kerby (Ginger), Luke Kerby (Sarah), Nicholas W. Merijanian, Molly Anne Hunsinger (Matthew), Jack K. Merijanian (Julia), Daniel P. Smith, Benjamin K. Smith (Kelly); greatgrandchildren: Adam Mangiafico, Savannah Manning, McKenzie

Kerby, Harrison Kerby, Sidney Kerby, Blake Kerby, Colt Hunsinger, Olivia Hunsinger, Kevin Wilkinson, Isabella Sanchez; sister-in-law Glenda Miller; numerous nieces and nephews.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is directed.

–––––––

DAVID REID WALL David Reid Wall, 47 of Beauregard, passed away Saturday, July 24, 2021 at East Alabama Medical Center. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.

David was a 1992 graduate of Opelika High School. At the age of 16 David went to work at Young’s Plant Farm in Auburn, where he found his love and passion of flowers for 25 years.

David is preceded in death by his grandmother; Irene Riddle, grandfather; Joseph Reid Wall; grandmother, Clancy Irene

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Green; grandmother, Helen Spears; mother-in-law, Ann McLendon.

David is survived by his three sons: Dylan Wall, Ben Wall, and Sacker Rivers all of Beauregard; daughter, Kimberly Wall of Beauregard; mother, Linda Allen (Ricky) of Valley; father, Fred Wall of Opelika; brother, Glenn Wall (Shae) of Birmingham; nephew, Samuel Wall of Birmingham; niece, Maggie Wall of Birmingham, and beloved father-in-law Ray McLendon of Beauregard.

Also, his beloved loyal companion dog “Wyatt”.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.

–––––––

ELMER BUTLER Elmer Butler of Salem, Alabama was born in Dublin, Georgia on Aug. 25, 1951 to the late Maldolin Elmer Butler and Beneta Perry Butler, he

passed away at his home on July 24, 2021. He was 69 years old.

He was a Georgia native and loved the Atlanta Braves but “his home was in Alabama”. He managed A&P Grocery Store for 25 years and then Premium Beverage for another 25 years until retiring in 2013 to tend his donkeys, cows and chickens that he loved dearly. And to spend more time pursuing his other lifelong passions of hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Dolly Baker Butler, and his three children: Jennifer Wild (“Jc”), Bonnie Grizzard (Billy), Karl Butler (Amanda).

He is also survived by his brother, Eddie Butler; his sister, Beneta Haywood (Al); eight grandchildren: Carlton and Madison, Chip, Chase, Chad and Emma Ruth and Katy and Layton; two great grandchildren, Melinee and Carson, and numerous nieces and nephews and

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Kenneth DeWayne Smith Sullivanne, 58, passed away July 21, 2021 after a lengthy illness. His funeral was held at the Frederick-Dean Funeral Home in Opelika on Sunday, July 25.

Mr. Sullivanne was born on Feb. 2, 1963 to Judy and Ken Smith of Ozark, Alabama. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Justice and Public Safety (with a Paralegal certificate) from Auburn University in 1985.

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A15 July 29, 2021

Curtis House Hosts Women's Wellness Event

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER

The Curtis House enjoyed a Wellness Day last weekend. In partnership with Run 4 All Women, Opelika Diabetes and Nutrition Center and Better Bodies Massage, the event ran from 8 to 10 a.m. and was full of fitness, meditation, free therapeutic massages, food, fun and fellowship.

EAST ALABAMA HEALTH WELCOMES

Victoria Benes, D.O. PEDIATRICS

Victoria Benes, D.O. recently joined the team at Pediatric Associates of Auburn. Dr. Benes is a graduate of Auburn University and received her medical degree from A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Mo. Dr. Benes chose to work in pediatrics because she enjoys helping children grow and develop into productive, intelligent, and compassionate members of their communities.

Her medical interests include pediatric primary care, educating children and families about healthy living, and medical student education. In her spare time, Dr. Benes enjoys traveling, gardening, and British historical dramas.

EAST ALABAMA HEALTH WELCOMES

Luke Ellenburg, M.D. UROLOGY

Luke Ellenburg, M.D. recently joined the team at Urology Associates of East Alabama. Dr. Ellenburg earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he also completed his residency in urology.

Dr. Ellenburg received the UAB Urology Award for highest in-service exam score from 2019 to 2021. He is also a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society.

Dr. Ellenburg’s medical interests include robotic surgery, urologic malignancies, and stone disease.

Dr. Ellenburg and his wife, Barbara Jane, have two children, Beverly Jane and James. In his spare time, Dr. Ellenburg enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.

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A16 July 29, 2021

COMICS

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

S D. MARK MITCHELL

Briggs Gives AHSAA Update

E

arlier this week, FOX Sports the Game 910-1310 and the Orthopaedic Clinic held the 4th annual High School Media Day at the Bottling Plant Event Center. The excitement was amazing from those in attendance, from the media, coaches and players.

The feeling was completely opposite to a year ago, when most were worried about if there would be a football season or any sports at all. As you know, the Alabama High School Athletic Association AHSAA) and Alabama Independent School Association decided to move forward with the season.

AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs opened Media Days with a positive talk about the upcoming season. Briggs discussed many topics, including the challenges everyone went through last fall with COVID-19.

He commended players, parents, coaches and administrators for following the COVID-19 guidelines and working together so we could play sports.

Briggs turned his attention to Montgomery last week for the annual "All-Star Week". That particular time is considered a "dead week" for member schools, meaning student-athletes participating in sports can only work with weights and conditioning without

using a football.

The executive director took a vast array of questions from those in attendance at media days.

Rather than listing each question and answer, I will give you a summary.

The AHSAA Super 7 State Football Championship will be held at Birmingham's Protective Stadium for the first time in 2021. Briggs thanked the cities of Opelika, Auburn and Tuscaloosa for hosting the football championship since 2015.

The new 12-year Super 7 contract includes BryantDenny Stadium, Protective Stadium and Jordan-Hare.

The three will host 4-S7 championship in a 12-year span. (Opelika-Auburn will NOT host a S7 the same season Auburn hosts Alabama.) Expanding to three sites makes it a better opportunity for the student-athletes to get a taste of playing in a college stadium.

Girls’ flag football is the newest sport offered by the AHSAA. Briggs said it has received nothing but positive comments since the association announced the addition of the sport.

Over 60 teams, including Opelika High and Auburn High, are playing girls’ flag football. The teams will be in one class with teams still working out schedules. After eight See SPORTS, page B5

Lee County: Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

INSIDE • OPELIKA SCHOOLS • LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS • COMMUNITY SPORTS

Auburn: Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Opelika: Aug. 24 at 4:30 p.m.

Meet Smiths Station’s New Girls’ Basketball Coach: Kelvin Roberts

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM Kelvin Roberts is getting his first opportunity as a girls’ basketball head coach at Smiths Station High School.

“It kind of felt like one of those things that was meant to be,” Roberts said. “It just kind of felt like [Smiths Station] was where I was supposed to be. I’ve been basically preparing for this type of situation for the last couple of years and everything just fell into place.”

Announced as the Panthers’ new varsity girls’ head coach last week, Roberts is ready for a new challenge.

“This is my first girls’ coaching job,” he said.

Roberts’ basketball pedigree dates back to his own high school days; he won a state championship in 2001 with the Sidney Lanier Po-

ets in Montgomery.

“We had a really good team,” Roberts said. “I began to learn and watch my coach and see how he was doing things, why he was doing things. And I developed a fondness toward coaching. It never left me from that point.”

From there, his journey to becoming a coach was anything but straightforward.

When Roberts graduated high school, he enrolled in Stillman College in Tuscaloosa. He then transferred to Miles College, where he graduated before enlisting in the military.

Following that, he spent time in Missouri, Arizona and Texas before making his way back to the southeast. Soon after, Roberts got his teaching certification.

He got his first teaching opportunity at Hardaway High School. There, he approached the basketball coach at the time, Alvin Da-

vis (now the golf coach at Smiths Station), offering his service and expressing his

Bobby Wright (who retired this year after 45 years and over 500 wins with the Red PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

ON THE MARK

S

School Board Meetings

ROBERTS

interest in joining the coaching ranks.

Roberts was hired at Central Freshman Academy as a history teacher in 2017 and was given the opportunity to coach the seventh grade team, with the added bonus of assisting Central Phenix City’s varsity coach

Devils).

“I wanted to see how he does things.,” Roberts said.

“You win 500 games you must know what you are doing.”

Roberts was then hired at Russell County High See BASKETBALL, page B4

High School Football Media Days Take Place in Opelika

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM Representatives from 20 area high school football teams arrived at the Bottling Plant Event Center in Opelika on Tuesday and Wednesday to participate in the fourth annual High School Football Media Days, presented by The Orthopaedic Clinic.

AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs opened the event with a press conference.

“We are excited to be here and excited to be forging ahead for all our member schools,”

BRIGGS Briggs said in his opening statement.

“We are ready to go full force. Ready to get on with the sports season.”

The 2021-22 sports

year will be Briggs’ first as executive director. The pandemic made for a challenging 2020-21, but Briggs is excited about the things planned throughout

the AHSAA in his first year at the helm.

“We will continue to take the AHSAA to a different level,” Briggs said. “Continue to give our member schools the chance to have events of a lifetime.”

Despite the rising statewide COVID-19 numbers, Briggs said he was not anticipating making drastic changes to fall plans or reverting back to stricter health and safety guidelines.

“We’re going to continue to do what the recommendation of governor and state health director See MEDIA DAYS, page B4

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B2 July 29, 2021

‘Go Hard, Do Right, Expect to Win’

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Beauregard Ushers in New Era with Jones

Glenwood Motivated by Championship Expectations

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM A culture change is happening within Beauregard High School’s football program. First-year Hornets head coach Justin Jones is committed to it.

“We’re going to be good sooner or later,” Jones said on Tuesday at Media Days. “We look at this as a climb. We want to try to demand that we make ourselves better daily. We live by a blueprint that says go hard, do right, expect to win … and it has to be in that order. If you’re not going hard and you’re not

trying to do right daily, then how in the world can you expect to win.”

Jones was hired in midApril of this year after spending last season as Prattville High School’s defensive coordinator.

Since then, he said that Beauregard has seen an abundant turnout of new faces who want to be a part of the program’s fresh start.

The Hornet football program has seen sharp decline since its state championship days in 2016, missing the playoffs each of the previous two years.

Jones has a repertoire of

turning programs around, however. Before Jones arrived at New Brockton High School (his most recent head coaching gig before Beauregard) in 2014, the Gamecocks had missed the playoffs two out of five years, and failed to make it past the first round in the other three. New Brockton reached the playoffs all five years under Jones, making it as far as the second round in 2016. Prior to that, he had similar results at Cordova High School.

“You know you pick up things from each place,” See BEAUREGARD, page B5

Youthful Beulah Looks to Build on Productive Summer

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER

Left to right – #2 CJ Reese, senior (WR); head coach Justin Jones.

Left to Right – #6 Tariq Maple, senior (DB); #7 AJ Harris, junior (DB/WR); #1 Ron Beauchamp, senior (WR/LB/DB); #50 Will Graham, senior (OL/DL); head coach Jason Gibson.

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM Losing in the AISA Class AAA state championship game the previous two years, the Glenwood Gators football team has unfinished business.

“Last year was an unbelievable ride that just didn’t finish how we wanted it to,” said Glenwood head coach Jason Gibson. “The team prior to that set the standard; We have got to get over the hump this year.”

Coming into the 2021-22 season, the Gators have to replace three all-state players: quarterback Jackson Griner, running back Kye Robichaux and middle linebacker BJ Snellgrove. The team has been working hard this offseason to make up for the loss in production.

“They have worked their butts off since January,” Gibson said.

“Probably one of the best offseason weight rooms I’ve had since we’ve been there. It’s exciting and its pressure.

But I don’t mind putting the pressure on them – they can handle it.”

While Gibson and his coaching staff have raised their expectations, the players themselves have taken an onus and collectively decided to put in more work.

“The state championship [loss] is a taste in my mouth that I want get rid of,” said junior wide receiver and 5-star prospect AJ Harris. “I believe that working is how you get to where See GLENWOOD, page B6

Lee-Scott Football Prepares for Tough 2021 Schedule

BY MADDIE JOINER FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER With just four seniors, the Beulah Bobcats are gearing up for the 2021 schedule with hopes to improve on last year’s 1-9 record.

Preparing to field a team of just 40 players, and about 30 of them being underclassmen, head coach Matthew Johnson said they are going to rely on some freshmen this fall.

The 2021 season will be Johnson’s third at the helm and he is relying heavily on his young core to step up.

“We’re young, but we’re excited,”

Johnson said at High School Media Days Tuesday.

The young Bobcat squad has used the full offseason to their advantage, something they did not have last year due to COVID-19.

“It’s huge to give these young guys some reps,” Johnson said. “Bouncing back from the summer we had last year to that sense of normalcy and player development has been very crucial for us.”

Junior quarterback Noah Higdon said the summer has been very good compared to last year and it’s helped him and their inexperienced team grow.

“We are about a month ahead of where we were last year,” Higdon said.

“We got a whole bunch of skilled guys; they are young, really talented and can make a lot of good plays for us.”

The Bobcats have a challenging schedule ahead of them this year, and, as coach Johnson puts it, “There’s no cupcakes”, but he said his hard-working team can be the key to navigating that schedule.

Johnson is relying on his leaders, three of which attended media days: senior TJ Washington, junior Jaxon Hancock See BEULAH, page B5

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER

Left to right: #65 Jaxton Hancock, junior (OL/DL); #10 Noah Higdon, junior (QB); #17 TJ Washington, senior (RB/LB); head coach Matthew Johnson.

Left to right: #72 Jackson Earnhart, senior (OL/DL); head coach Buster Daniel; #9 Tate McKelvey, senior. (QB, DB); #50 Kade Wagoner, senior (DE,OG,long snapper).

BY MADDIE JOINER FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER Following an upsetting 2020 season, Lee-Scott head coach Buster Daniel is looking to find success against a tough stretch of teams in the Warriors’ 2021 schedule. Lee-Scott posted a 2-7 record last year, and are aiming to improve that come August.

At High School Football Media Days on Tuesday, Daniel said he and the team have been trying to forget last year and use the offseason to prepare for the fall.

This is the first full offseason Daniel is getting with the

Warriors, as he was hired last May while football operations were shut down due to COVID-19. The team has been hard at work this summer as they try to improve.

“They’re eager to learn,” Daniel said.

“They were not satisfied with the season they had last year.

They wanna see that turned around.

That’s why they went to work like they did.”

Daniel said finally having a full offseason has been very beneficial to the team, and added they have worked on a whole new offense this summer.

Lee-Scott will be a

very young team this year, having just seven seniors.

“Most of our guys who played last year were underclassmen, so we’re young in age, but we have some experience,” Daniel said.

As the Warriors gear up for the 2021 season, Daniel said he believes his team has the toughest schedule in the AISA. The young Warriors start their season with a test against the 2020 AA state champions, Chambers Academy.

“Very good football team loaded with athletes, very wellcoached,” Daniel said of the Rebels.

See LEE-SCOTT, page B6

B3 July 29, 2021

Dawg Pound Host Tournament Showcasing Local Talent

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER

The Opelika Dawg Pound hosted its first ever tournament last weekend at Moore Stadium in Opelika. The showcase featured a number of 6U, 8U, 9U, 10U and 12U youth football teams competing throughout the day.

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B4 July 29, 2021

Harsin, Nix, Pappoe Take on SEC Media Days PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY TODD VAN EMST / AU ATHLETICS

Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin (left), starting quarterback Bo Nix (middle) and junior linebacker Owen Pappoe (right) represented the Tigers at Media Days in Hoover, Alabama, on Thursday, July 22.

BY MADDIE JOINER FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER Football is right around the corner and preparation is in full swing. With that preparation comes big things: SEC Media Days.

First-year Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin, along with quarterback Bo Nix and linebacker Owen Pappoe, represented the Tigers last week at Media Days which took place at the Hyatt Regency BirminghamWynfrey Hotel in Hoover.

The change that has been associated with the Harsin era for Auburn continued as he took two juniors to the event, when Auburn has usually taken seniors. Previous attendees have included seniors Derrick Brown, Marlon Davidson and Prince Tega Wanogho

BASKETBALL >> FROM B1 School in 2019. The head coach there, Ronnie Battle, has been a mentor for Roberts.

“He’s been mentoring me, grooming me, giving me every opportunity to see how things are as head coach,” Roberts said. “At the same time, I would also take time to work with the girls if I had the opportunity. Now I’m getting the chance to translate that stuff to my own team at Smiths Station.”

Roberts said he wants to have an “ever-evolving” coaching style with his basketball team.

“The game changes; and

in 2019.

Harsin took the podium Thursday afternoon and started by saying how nice it was to finally be there and mentioned the abundance of well wishes he received before taking on his first SEC Media Days.

“I’ve been in some pretty big games and I’m not sure I’ve had this many people text me, call me, see me on the street and wish me good luck before some event, so credit to you all and happy to be here,” Harsin said.

Harsin, who was hired in December after coaching seven seasons at Boise State, is happy to be a part of the SEC, saying, “It does mean more and so I’m honored to be at Auburn University.

I’m proud to be here in the SEC and to be a part of this conference and to represent our

program.”

Harsin said his decision on having Nix and Pappoe represent Auburn was because he identified the two as leaders since he was hired.

“They’ve been leading and doing a tremendous job this summer,” he said. “Both guys are hard workers, and they deserve the opportunity to be here to represent their team.”

Harsin said the team is finishing up their final days of workouts and will have a few days off before fall camp begins Aug. 5.

The team will have a meeting then and will take the field the next day for practice.

The Tigers will have a 25-practice fall camp before taking the field in September.

Harsin expressed his excitement for his first season at Auburn,

we have to change with the times,” Roberts said. “I like to be very aggressive and very fast paced. It’s going to take time of course, but I believe that just being in the gym, breaking things down to the fundamentals, all of that will translate in the fall.”

Despite this being his first official coaching experience with a girls’ team, Roberts is confident in his ability to translate his coaching knowledge on a universal level.

“There will be challenges in any aspect,” he said. “I believe that we can win at Smiths Station. All of that is going to come down to changing the culture and the mindset of this program.”

Since the announcement

of his hiring, Roberts said he has felt the love of the Smiths Station community.

“The community support has been amazing; they have been extremely welcoming,” he said. “Almost to the point that it is still a bit of a shock to me. It’s a very warm and welcoming feeling.”

Roberts views this opportunity at Smiths Station as a clean slate and he is eager to start building the program from the ground up.

“I want to give everybody a fresh start,” he said. “I’ve coached boys in the past, so of course this is a new start for me. But whether its boys or girls, the game is still basketball. We’re going to start from the bare minimums, and build from there.”

saying, “I’m excited about Tiger Walk. I want to walk from South Donahue all the way down to JordanHare Stadium and I want to see all those people yelling ‘War Eagle’. I want to be in that stadium with 90,000 people going crazy.”

Nix took the stage after Harsin and his opening question addressed the Auburn offense, especially receivers. Nix said offensive experience is the key to the season and added the new players are working hard to learn the offense.

The junior quarterback has started the past two years for the Tigers but could have pressure this year as LSU transfer quarterback T.J. Finley also has SEC experience.

Even with the possible threat, Nix said the

MEDIA DAYS

>>

FROM B1 are,” Briggs said. “If our schools do what they have done in the past, this past school year, I think we can continue to be safe.”

Furthermore, Briggs said regulations such as sideline extensions and longer timeouts will not be in play this season.

“We’re still in the process of going back to normal,” Briggs added. “It’s always a challenge going into a year, the unknown, where you are and where you want to be … but it’s all in the hands of our memberships and the school personnel.”

Briggs addressed the

pressure is an honor.

“I think pressure is a privilege,” Nix said.

“All the added pressure is just more of an honor to be at Auburn playing quarterback.”

Nix said that this first summer under coach Harsin has been “very smooth” and said Harsin is, ”huge with the small details and the discipline that goes into running a football program.”

Nix added that the team has learned new schemes for offense, defense and special teams, as well as doing tough workouts that include running the stadium (which Nix and Pappoe did before traveling to Media Days).

Pappoe spoke last and said the transition has been smooth for the defense and that the defense this year is, “going to be able to play fast and show a lot addition of girls’ flag football as an officially-sanctioned AHSAA sport.

“Flag has been really accepted,” Briggs said.

“We’ve had about 60 schools that are interested. They are in the process in getting schedules and doing those things to start playing this fall.”

Lastly, Briggs talked about former Opelika girls’ basketball coach Devin Booth, who left the coaching ranks to join AHSAA in June.

“Coach Booth will be half time with the Coaches Association, half time with the AHSAA,” Briggs said. “She just brings a wealth of talent

of range.”

The junior linebacker was the defensive representative for the Tigers and said change was something they are focusing on this year.

“Big thing that we’re talking about, we just had a team meeting not too long ago, was just bringing change to Auburn. You know, blocking out the noise.

We know everyone is counting us out.”

Pappoe also mentioned trying to break the cycle of losing at LSU and hopes they can come out on top this year.

“We’re just gonna be locked in,” Pappoe said.

Nix and Pappoe will take the field for the first (official) time under new coach Harsin at Jordan-Hare on Sept.

4 for a matchup against Akron. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CST. and knowledge. That’s the kind of leadership we want at the Alabama High School Athletic Association.”

The fall high school football season is fast approaching. The Observer has plans to cover as many local teams as possible. This week’s edition will feature stories on Media Days appearances from Lee-Scott, Beauregard, Beulah and Glenwood (on page B2). Due to print time constraints, coverage of Smiths Station and Opelika High School (who took the podium on Wednesday), will be covered in next week’s edition of the Observer.

B5 July 29, 2021

Opelika Hosts Junior Disc Golf Championships

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER

The 2021 Inaugural Alabama Junior Disc Golf Championship took place at the Opelika SportsPlex on Saturday, July 24. The free, open to the public event featured competition all day and was part of an initiative to grow the game within local youth.

BEAUREGARD >> FROM B2 Jones said. “And for us, I think you have to that foundation in place. The coaches, the custodians, the principals, the administration, everybody has to be on board with what the blueprint is, because everybody has a hand in the success and how quickly that comes to pass.”

Looking at this season, Jones said Beauregard boast a 80-plus man roster, however, the team is relatively young team with only nine seniors.

One of those seniors, senior wide receiver CJ

Reese, accompanied Jones on Media Days and talked about how his new coach is installing the right mentality in the program.

“It’s been really amazing for someone to come in here and push us every day and fully believe we can stick to the blueprint,” he said.

“The only way to go is up, so as long as we stick to the blueprint, we will do better.”

Jones said he expects big things from Reese in 2021 – both on the field and off.

“He represents the culture change that’s been going on,” Jones said.

HAPPY B-DAY

“His daily inspiration of his teammates and his buy-in has been second to none. We look forward to him having a big year for us, getting the ball in his hands and him having a big impact in that way.”

Jones said he expects to meet some difficulties early in the season, but that the energy he’s seen from the players in preparation will eventually carry over onto the field.

“You can feel it every day – the excitement we have,” he said. “We have a good nucleus in place; We have a system in place. It’s our job as a

SPORTS

>>

FROM B1 weeks of play, there will be a tournament with the final two teams playing a championship game on the Wednesday of Super 7, along with the unified game and the 7A State Championship Game.

Finally, Briggs praised the hiring of former Opelika staff to lay that foundation that’s going to get us back to the success that the community deserves, and these kids deserve as well. We want to honor our football family, our family that our last name represents and we want to honor the Beauregard family as well.”

Beauregard Hornet Schedule: 8/20 - Valley 8/27 - Booker T Wash 9/3 - @ Talladega 9/10 - Holtville 9/17 - @ Central Clay 9/24 - Russell 10/1 - Tallassee 10/8 - @Sylacauga 10/15 - Elmore 10/29 - @Holt

coach Devin Booth as a member of the executive staff. He bragged on Booth's character, leadership skills and coaching ability. Booth will work with the AHSADCA and the AHSAA, helping with softball, volleyball and play a huge part with basketball.

AISA Director Roddie Beck made an appearance on Wednesday for media

days. I will go over comments next week along with Opelika High.

D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director of iHeart Media, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports The Game 910-1310, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of Super 7 and the Dixie Boys Baseball state director.

BEULAH

Beulah Football Schedule: Aug. 20 – @ Loachapoka Aug. 27 – @ Cleburne County Sept. 3 – @ Pike County Sept. 10 – @ Trinity Sept. 17 – Montgomery Catholic Oct. 1 – Childersburg Oct. 8 – @ Reeltown Oct. 15 – @ Goshen Oct. 22 – Dadeville Oct. 29 – LaFayette

>>

FROM B2 and Higdon.

“I’ve been telling them about really adding value to the team, working hard and being good people,” Johnson said.

“That’s the big three things I tell them every day. Take care of those things and we’re going to go somewhere.”

Johnson and his Beulah Bobcats will begin their season Friday, Aug. 20 against Loachapoka at 7 p.m. CST.

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B6 July 29, 2021

Your Child Can Have a Front Row Seat at the 2021 Summer Olympics over the world.

Even though the cauldron was lit to begin the summer games last Friday, July 23 in Tokyo, Japan, there are so many lessons your child can learn from this time that the world comes together called the Olympics.

Explain to your child that a torch was run through many countries as a “relay pass the torch” kind of activity.

Show your child a globe and the countries this torch has gone through.

You and your child can do a “pretend torch” car“There is a time for everything, and a season for ry with a flashlight as a every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1. family activity.

The Olympic games provide social ideas to celebrate hard work, and lessons to learn. The chool starts back different sports, unity Olympic games teach us soon but over these and teamwork. This is about people participating next few weeks, a time that the world fairly in sports, playing families can share inspiand working together ration and togetherness as comes together in one “big friendship” with in peace and friendship we see life lessons being which brings the world displayed in the hard work respect for each other in closer to your child’s unand practice it takes to be sportsmanship! This is an Olympic athlete. We sit an opportunity to show derstanding and makes on the edge of our seats as the whole world to your it a better and beautiful young children on a globe world. we watch athletes display what years of practice and or map. Show pictures Express to your child endurance have produced. of people all over the that people from counYoung children may ask world. Children love to tries get together to play sing the song “God has “What are the Olympic games and celebrate care, Competition and Games.” got the whole world in friendship and unity in His Hands.” To view the Simply explain that this different sports every Olympics is a wonderful is a time every four years four years. Use a math visual for children to see that people from all over lesson in explaining and people come together all the world come together pointing out the years

Olympics fall. Children can learn about shapes as your family makes an Olympic flag. The flag has interlocking rings of blue, yellow, black, green, red on a white background. The Olympic flag colors represent all colors which are found in nations all around the world. As you go back to the globe, tell your children the rings represent the five major land areas of the world. We see the interlocking rings show the unity and friendships of nations around the world. At opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics we can witness the world come together as the world celebrates patriotism for each county. Children will absolutely love drawing and coloring their Olympic flags! In fact, children love to march. Why not have a family Olympic parade in your home or outside? Put on music about the world, such as “We Are The World” by the late Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie as well as “It’s A Small World” by the late Robert B. Sherman.

Mention to children that the games originated in Greece. Visit the Olympic games website and point

out some neat pictures about the Olympic games and their origin.

Ask your children what sports interest them the most. It could be swimming, diving, cycling, gymnastics, track and field events, canoeing, beach volleyball or table tennis. Try to find out the schedule of the sports your children are interested in. Children love to cheer the athletes on to a win. Your older children will enjoy viewing the background stories of the athletes that are shown.

These stories truly encourage children to pursue their dreams and that it is possible with hard work and persistence to fulfill these dreams.

After your child views the summer Olympics, they will want to do it too. Think of some creative and safe ways to do “pretend Olympic Games”. Children love to do running races. Races can vary with hopping and skipping. They love the race of putting the ball between the knees race where they hop to the finish line. Too, children love water play whether it be in a pool, baby pools or sprinklers. The summer Olympics can be celebrated by music and dancing.

As a craft, children can make Olympic Medals with simple paper circles and ribbons. Let them decorate their ribbons with crayons, markers or stickers. Explain to the children that the athletes they see on television at the Olympic Games win medals for their country and for themselves.

Point out to your children individual wins as well as team wins. Explain to them that the different countries’ national anthems are sung after they win as the country’s flag is raised. In your family or community games, let the children know that they are all winners as they see and learn about friendship all over the world. This provides a good time for your family to talk about good sportsmanship as they witness this in the Olympics. Ask the children how they witnessed good teamwork.

Over the next few weeks really enjoy the Olympic games. With your children, it’s not who wins but how they play the game. Who knows, you might have a future Olympic Star in your family.

Beth Pinyerd Classroom Observer

GLENWOOD >>

S

FROM B2 you want to be. And it’s just a blessing to have teammates who buy into that as well. Everybody wants to get back there, and this time, finish it.”

Harris was electric for the Gators last season as a receiver, defensive back and return man. His lockdown defense and one-touch scoring ability has made him one of the most coveted players in his class. Despite his recruiting frenzy, Harris is focused on one thing this fall: winning.

“You have to compartmentalize things

LEE-SCOTT >> FROM B2 “It’s going to be a great test for us at the beginning of the year.”

Lee-Scott is on bye the following week, but then awaits the 2020 AAA

as far as understanding it’s time for recruitment or it’s time to lock in with the team and get ready to go win the state championship,” Harris said. “Especially with the talent that we have, the standard is to win this year.”

While his skills are apparent on the field, Gibson lauds how Harris carries himself off it, too.

“I think everybody in the country pretty much knows who AJ is — he’s a special kid,” Gibson said. “What I love about AJ — with all the accolades he’s receiving and all the offers he’s getting — is when we are in the

weight room, he’s over there in the corner with the ninth grader, and he’s got a 5-star prospect in his face cheering him on.

And that’s why he is who he is.”

The type of team-player mentality that Harris possesses has trickled throughout the whole team. And it’s one of the reason’s the Gators are confident coming into this season.

“As a team, we are very proud to go to state, but it’s kind of an expectation now,” said senior safety Tariq Maple. “So, we just plan on getting back, working harder and getting it done this time.”

Receiver, linebacker and defensive back Ron Beauchamp also understands how important it is to work hard and set an example.

“We got younger folks looking up to us at Glenwood, we got to lead by example,” he said.

“It’s really just second nature now.”

Senior offensive lineman Will Graham is another team leader who has witnessed the increased buy-in from the group.

“Everyone as a collective unit started doing more and more,” he said.

Many on this Glenwood team have

been together for three, four, even five years now.

Despite the lofty goals and expectations, the team’s chemistry and commitment has fostered an element of trust between Gibson, his staff and the players.

“It’s a fine line between being that authoritative figure where you’re riding over them all the time and demanding all the time,” Gibson said.

“The class that we have now, these guys that are sitting here have been with us so long, they know exactly what we want.”

Gibson is proud of how hard his team is working

— how much they want to finish the job and win state. Ultimately, it gives him confidence going into the season.

“I just can’t tell you enough how hard these guys work … they’re talking, eating and breathing football 24/7,” he said. “We’re going to be pretty good.”

Glenwood Gators Schedule: 8/20 – @ Bessemer 8/27 – Escambia 9/3 – @ Lee-Scott 9/10 – Valiant 9/17 – @ Springwood 10/1 – @ Monroe 10/7 – @ Hooper 10/22 – Pike 10/29 – Autauga

state runner-up, Glenwood. After that, the Warriors have a matchup against the AAA state champs, Pike Liberal Arts.

“We’re looking forward to this year because our guys have really stepped up,” Daniel said. “They worked their back

ends off in the weight room all year. I’m truly looking for a good year out of these young men.”

While the overall team goal is to make it to the playoffs, some players have goals they want to reach off the field.

Senior offensive and

defensive lineman Jackson Earnhart said his goal is to grow closer as a team and become a family.

“Football is family,” he said. “It’s more than just throwing on pads.”

Lee-Scott will kick off the 2021 season Thursday, Aug. 19

with an away matchup against Chambers Academy at 7 p.m.

CST. Lee-Scott Schedule: Aug. 19 – @ Chambers Academy Sept. 3 – Glenwood Sept. 10 – Pike Liberal Arts Sept. 17 – Macon

East Academy (Homecoming) Sept. 24 – @ Springwood Oct. 1 – @ Bessemer Academy Oct. 8 – @ Valiant Cross Academy Oct. 15 – Hooper Academy Oct 29. – @ Morgan Academy

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1-(888)432-6020 Asbestos Claims, LLC, Jubal L. Hamil Attorney at Law ARPC 7.2.(e) “No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”

B7 July 29, 2021

Auburn-Opelika Elks Lodge #1834 Scholarships Given Through SU Foundation CONTRIBUTED

BY SUSCC The Southern Union State Community Foundation is pleased to announce that Ashley Williams of Roanoke and Meagan Cotney of Daviston have been named the 2021 recipients of

the Auburn/Opelika Elks Lodge #1834 Scholarship.

The scholarship aims to provide educational opportunities to bolster economic and community vitality and to provide more skilled workers for the East Alabama area. The recipient of

the scholarship must have completed two semesters at SUSCC with a minimum of a 2.5 GPA. Preference is given to Veterans and Legacy Elks.

“The Southern Union Foundation is honored to partner with an organization such as Auburn/Opelika

Elks Lodge #1834,” said Shondae Brown, Southern Union’s director of public relation.

“They have provided so much opportunity and goodwill to the community through the years. We are so glad to be able to join with them in recognizing these students through

this scholarship.”

The Southern Union Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that was established to support and foster the educational and service programs and activities of SUSCC. The f oundation increases educational access for

students through financial support and enables the college to initiate innovative projects to enhance the quality of education.

For more information about this scholarship or giving opportunities, please contact Brown at 256-395-2211, ext. 5145 or sbrown@suscc.edu.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY ELKS LODGE 1834

Pictured with Exalted Ruler John Findley are scholarship recipients Meagan Cotney and Ashley Williams.

CONTRIBUTED BY EVELYN CAUSEY The MidSouth Chapter of the ITPA is proud to award

the 2021 Billy D. Young Memorial Scholarship to Laura Tyson Daffin.

The Mid-South Chapter of the ITPA

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

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

-

� Circle of Excellence 2008-2011

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

is a group dedicated to giving back to the communities we serve and supporting our employees and their children through scholarships, charitable giving and disaster relief. The scholarship was established in Mr. Billy D. Young’s memory to support fellow telecommunications workers that are employees of member companies of the Telecommunications Association of the Southeast (TELSE) or the ITPA MidSouth Chapter in educating their children. This scholarship is made available through the MidSouth Chapter and is supported by the individual Pioneer Clubs in the chapter.

Daffin was the recipient of a $5,000

scholarship. During her senior year, she maintained a 4.018 GPA while staying heavily involved in clubs, the community and her church.

She plans to attend Auburn University in the fall and pursue a career as a physical therapist. She is the daughter of Heather and Tyson Daffin of Opelika.

Consideration for the scholarship included academic information, community involvement, sports, clubs, employment and other extracurricular activities. Additionally, each student submitted a 1,000 word essay. Daffin excelled both inside and outside the classroom during her high school career and was much deserved of the award.

Students Receive MLK Scholarships PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY DREAM DAY FOUNDATION

Group Dedicated to Giving Back Awards Scholarship

Pictured are the recipients of the 2021 Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Scholarships sponsored by the Dream Day Foundation. High school students from Lee County who meet the criteria and wish to pursue higher education are encouraged to apply for this annual scholarship. The Dream Day Foundation is proud to have awarded more scholarships than ever before. Four scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each, and four scholarships in the amount of $500 each were awarded this year.

Pictured on the front row left to right are: Ariel Wilson, Carmen Nunn, Taylor Davis and Benet Harris.

On the back row left to right are: Taylor Smith, Kendarius Spencer, Braylon Prince and Nathaniel Davis.

B8 July 29, 2021

J.W. Darden Foundation Awards Scholarships The J.W. Darden Foundation was honored to present the J.W. Darden Scholarship Awards to three graduate students in healthcare departments during a ceremony in the J.W. Darden House in Opelika on Tuesday, July 20.

The three recipients, Sandra (Sandi) Perry, Rachel Friend and Chris Martin, were each invited to the house along with their family and loved ones to honor and celebrate their accomplishments.

The J.W. Darden Foundation committee reviews the applications and makes the official decision on who receives these awards. Generally, three students are awarded these scholarships each year.

These scholarships are awarded in honor of Dr. J.W. Darden, the first AfricanAmerican physician in the city of Opelika during the early 20th century.

When deciding who receives the scholarship awards, the committee looks for postgraduate healthcare students who don’t necessarily have to be local, but are willing to provide their professional healthcare services in rural Alabama, much the same as Dr. Darden.

When applying, the students were asked to answer a few questions and write an essay, expressing how they plan to serve southeastern Alabama in the healthcare field.

The committee saw the chosen recipients as catalysts for improvement and innovation within the healthcare field in the future for rural areas.

One of the three recipients is Sandi Perry, from Clanton, Alabama, a third-year student in Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn University.

Perry completed one year of her undergraduate degree at Jeff State in Birmingham, and is committed to serving community-based care.

“The people that nominated her described her as empathetic and one who definitely goes the extra mile for her patients’ needs,” said Foundation Committee Member, Kathy Jo Ellison.

Another third-year postgraduate student in the Harrison School of Pharmacy, Rachel Friend, is from Deatsville, Alabama, and completed her undergraduate degree at Auburn University.

Friend has been in

school since 2016 and has earned herself a 4.0 GPA. She volunteers in the service committee at Auburn University, serves a part in providing immunization clinics and is a member of Equal Access Auburn.

“She seeks to serve those in rural Alabama with advocacy and quality patient care,” Ellison said.

Friend said she was inspired by her grandmother to participate in the healthcare field in rural areas.

"She was giving care and saw some care in rural Alabama that wasn’t as good for her grandmother as it needed to be and it encouraged her to go make a difference,” Ellison said, regarding Friend’s inspiration.

The third recipient, Chris Martin, is an assistant clinical professor at the Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing at William Carey University in Mississippi.

Martin earned his undergraduate degree from Auburn University in 2012, his M.S. from Samford University and plans to graduate next year with his Ph.D. at William Carey University.

“He believes in the words of Jesus that says, ‘to whom much is given, much is required’, and he is living that out,” Ellison said. “He is committed to preparing leaders to meet the diversities of our workforce as we move forward, and we know we need that in healthcare.”

The ceremony consisted of J.W. Darden Foundation board members, scholarship recipients and their families and Associate Dean for Academic Programs at the Harrison School of Pharmacy, Paul Jungnickel.

“We’re just so grateful and thankful that we are able to perpetuate our legacy by giving scholarships for people in postgraduate studies in the medical field,” said Foundation President, George Allen.

Due to the effects of COVID-19, the foundation closed the house for safety orders and is in the process of reopening and expanding.

“Even though we couldn’t do the gala this year, we’re super excited to get together at this time and honor the legacy of Dr. Darden,” Ellison said.

The foundation will soon reopen their wellness center every Wednesday for people to receive healthcare services such as health screenings and

blood pressure tests.

Allen and the foundation committee are passionate about sharing Dr. Darden’s legacy and providing and expanding healthcare services in rural and southeastern Alabama.

“Knowing what he had done for Opelika, we started this foundation and purchased this house, renovated it and just had a passion for Opelika and trying to perpetuate the legacy of J.W. Darden,” Allen said.

The foundation hosts multiple fundraisers every year and plans on hosting its annual Black Tie Gala again in 2022.

For more information or to volunteer help to the foundation, contact 334-663-3164.

Pictured left to right: Perry, Friend and Martin.

PHOTOS BY ABBEY CRANK / FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER

BY KINLEY BESHERS FOR THE OPELIKA OBSERVER

Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics

B9

July 29, 2021

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Inside the Statehouse Citizens Request Funds Governor Kay Ivey Second Governor from From County Through Wilcox County American Rescue Plan

K

STEVE FLOWERS

ay Ivey is doing a good job as governor. She is a strong and decisive leader, who has done more than steady the ship of state. She is getting things done. She is making her mark as a good governor.

She did a good day’s work when she got Jo Bonner to be her chief of staff.

They make quite a team. This duo from Wilcox County were cut out to be leaders.

Ivey is only the second governor to hail from Wilcox County. Benjamin M. Miller was the first. The Black Belt region of Alabama has spawned an inordinate number of governors and legislative giants.

The Bonner family has deep roots of leadership in Wilcox County. Bonner served in Congress with distinction for over a decade. His sister, Judy, was president of the University of Alabama.

His father was Probate Judge of Wilcox County. He was related to the late, great State Senator, Roland Cooper, who was referred to as the “Wiley Fox from Wilcox.” Bonner’s grandfather practiced law with Gov. Benjamin Miller, and they were related by marriage.

Benjamin M. Miller was probably one of the most conservative men to ever be governor of Alabama. Miller served as governor during the worst years of the Great Depression (1931-1935). He was a large, bespectacled, dignified man who had a long legal career before and after his term as governor.

B.M. Miller epitomized the governors of that era. From 1901 through 1946, Alabama’s governors were wealthy men.

They were rich Birmingham corporate lawyers or businessmen, or Black Belt planter lawyers like Miller. Some would say that the Big Mules of Birmingham and the Black Belt planters would meet in a board room in Birmingham at either a big bank or U.S. Steel’s offices and get together and decide who they were going to back for governor. They would select someone at that meeting and pool their money and pay for their man’s race. Many times, the man selected was

so wealthy that he could self-finance his own race. In some cases, they would buy off some rabble rouser who wanted to run against their anointed candidate.

They would pay him to get out of the race. It would actually save them money to practice this theory. They were wise, smart, prudent businessmen.

Two of the Bourbon Governors of this era, Braxton Bragg Comer (1907-1911), and Charles Henderson (1915-1919), were concurrently also the richest men in the state while they were governor.

Comer owned most of the textile mills in the state and Henderson owned a good many corporations, banks and a utility.

Most of these governors as well as Miller were anti-Ku Klux Klanners.

Miller’s opposition to the Klan, like that of other wealthy white supremacists, had very little to do with racial liberalism, but more to do with maintaining political power. This planter-industrialist coalition of which Miller belonged rejected the Klan because it represented a threat to their power over poorer whites who were members of the Klan.

These Bourbon planter-industrialists governors were vehemently anti-union, as might be expected.

B.M. Miller was also similar to wealthy men of that era. They were very frugal even miserly as some would say, and they felt the state government should be frugal like them. Miller would actually campaign on his personal frugality as a virtue. He was not embarrassed at all when it became known that he still used oil lamps to save money instead of electricity on his Wilcox County plantation.

Governor Miller’s parsimony became one of the hallmark aspects of his administration. His inaugural parade featured only two automobiles in order to conserve gasoline, and he brought his favorite cow to the Capitol from Wilcox County to provide the governor’s mansion with milk and butter.

Since he was governor during the Great Depression, he accordingly cut state government spending dramatically. Miller eliminated hundreds of state jobs, as well as the use of state automobiles. Governor Miller was indeed a very conservative, Bourbon, Black Belt governor.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature.

Steve may be reached at www. stevef lowers.us.

BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM Citizen requests continue as Lee County decides how to spend $32 million from the American Rescue Plan.

Rev. Joshua Lewis asked the Lee County Commission Monday night to consider spending the funding in underserved and Black communities.

Additionally, he asked for his community to have a seat at the table when it comes to the allocation discussions.

Lewis cited Executive Order 13985, which was enacted by President Joe Biden on Jan. 20 as means to utilize the funds. The order states that “the Federal Government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.”

Lewis spoke on behalf of the East Alabama Economic Roundtable.

“We are a group of leaders from the faith-based community, the business sector and non-profit arena and our mission is to ensure the optimal implementation of the rescue plan’s funds with equity in mind,” he said.

Some communities were hit harder by the pandemic than others, Lewis

NOW OPEN

said, including the disabled, black and brown communities.

“As research from the National Equity Analyst Federal Reserve and others have shown, eliminating racial inequities will strengthen local economies,” he said.

Lewis encouraged the commission to consider equity-focused services as an outlet for the money.

“We are asking that you, explicitly, commission, name racial equity as a goal when allocating the ARP funds and work with us to identify specific targets to produce results at scale,” he said. “In this process, we also ask that you would, because we think this is necessary, engage historically underserved communities.”

He then asked the commission what the timeline was for allocation and asked for a commitment from the commission to allow them a seat at the table for the discussion, but English said the commission wanted to receive all information from agencies in the community before making commitments.

However, one commissioner voiced support: “I’m for equity,” said District 5 Commissioner Richard LaGrand.

This is not Lewis’ first time to approach the commission and he informed them that he would be back.

Lewis was not the only citizen who approached the commission Monday to inquire about the ARP

funding.

Melissa McConnell asked about the possibility of broadband internet in her area of Beauregard, Lee Road 39.

“We’re having a hard time getting internet access out in that area,” she said.

“I wasn’t really big on it, but when the pandemic hit and our kids went virtual it was really, really hard to get good internet access. Not only for me, but I talked to other people in the community, teachers, everybody was having issues with internet.

I’ve been doing everything I can to get broadband brought down our road.”

She asked that some of the ARP money be used to provide broadband in Beauregard.

“I’m here today to shine some light on that because that is a now issue in the community,” she said.

NOAA All Hazards Radios: The commission approved a request to purchase NOAA All Hazards Radios for District 1 after District 1 Commissioner Cannon identified a need in the county. “[Commissioner Cannon] had citizens that reached out to him regarding a lapse in coverage for notifications of weather-related notifications that do not have broadband internet so we can’t load an app on their phone because they don’t have See LCC, page B10

Indoor shooting range is open to the public

2195 FIRST AVENUE • OPELIKA

B10 July 29, 2021

Tracie West to Seek Second Term on State Board of Education

CONTRIBUTED BY SCOTT STONE Alabama State Board of Education member Tracie West announced last Thursday that she will run for a second term on the state board of education. A Republican, West was elected in 2018 after

serving for almost 10 years on the Auburn City Schools Board of Education.

“When I ran in 2018, I pledged to push for a master plan for our state school board,” West said. “Now, for the first time, our state board of education has a five-year master plan designed by citizens from across Alabama. We finally have a blueprint for how we will improve our education system and increase student achievement. I will continue to fight for our schools and aggressively advocate for our students.

Before COVID hit, we were really starting to make good progress for our schools. Right now, we’ve got to make sure that our schools stay open and that we help students catch up.

“In addition to the pandemic recovery, there are many other emerging issues. I am strongly against the teaching of Critical Race Theory in our K-12 classrooms.

Critical Race Theory is not part of our state curriculum and I intend to keep it that way. I’m not going to let the federal government use grants

or other education funding to pressure our state into teaching critical race theory or any other liberal attempt to promote socialism or ideologies that don’t reflect our Alabama values.”

Tracie West is a native of Lee County. She graduated from Auburn University in 1991.

A year later, Tracie met and married her husband, Lt. Colonel Paul West (U.S. Army Retired).

In 1997, Tracie began operating PakMail, a retail shopping business which she grew to two locations before

selling the company in 2018. Tracie is also a licensed Realtor. The couple has three daughters: Lydia, Marion and Kathryn. They attend Church of the Highlands, Auburn campus.

Tracie has invested her time in the community by serving in leadership positions with the Lee County Salvation Army Board, the Lee County Youth Development Center Board, the Auburn Chamber of Commerce Board, the Auburn Rotary Club and the

Auburn Commercial Development Authority. Tracie was named the Auburn Chamber of Commerce 2001 Small Business Person of the Year and received the “Spirit of Auburn” award in 2008, for her outstanding service to her community.

District 2 of the Alabama State Board of Education covers all or parts of Barbour, Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Coosa, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Randolph, Russell and Tallapoosa counties.

Not Only a World Crisis Human Trafficking Happens in Lee County, Too

GREG MARKLEY In the classic 1942

movie Casablanca, the protagonist Rick (Humphrey Bogart) owns a café in the Moroccan city, in December 1941. He says to a fellow café owner: “I don’t buy and sell human beings.” A black marketer who also sells exit visas, Signor Ferrari (Sydney Greenstreet) responds: “That’s too bad, that’s Casablanca’s leading commodity.”

Human trafficking is not a “leading commodity” in Alabama as it is in many other states.

In 2021 statistics, it has a rate per 100,000 of 1.66 cases. But beware: Vicious people do “buy and sell human beings” here. New Hampshire has the lowest number of cases at 15; its rate is 1.09 cases per 100,000.

The highest rate is in Nevada, at 7.50 cases (per 10K), according

to World Population Review.

Referred to as “modern day slavery,” human trafficking is when traffickers use force, fraud or coercion to control victims for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or labor services. Sex trafficking has been found in brothels, fake massage businesses, strip clubs and street prostitution.

Labor trafficking has

been found in domestic work, large farms and factories.

“In Alabama, interstate highways, including I-20 and I-65, are prime locations for human trafficking when traffickers move their victims from state to state,” noted Steve Marshall, Alabama’s attorney general since 2017. “Many times, traffickers place their victims at truck stops

OPD Host "Knowledge is Power" Community Event

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / OPELIKA OBSERVER Children and citizens of Opelika joined the Opelika Police Department at Covington Park last weekend for the Knowledge is Power: Navigating Traffic Stops and the Court Process event. It would not have been possible without the support of the Opelika Housing Authority, Opelika Municipal Court, Opelika Fire Department and the Gentlemen with a Purpose. This event was a part of the Better Together initiative.

and outside convenience stores with high traffic.”

Brian Askew, 40, of Auburn, was found guilty by a jury on June 22 of first-degree human trafficking for causing a 13-yearold girl to be repeatedly raped by men on his property, the Lee County District Attorney’s Office said.

The girl was a runaway See HUMAN, page B14

LCC >> FROM B9 internet,” said EMA Director Rita Smith.

“And they don’t have an outdoor warning siren in this particular area that we’ve identified.”

The county will purchase 75 radios at a cost not to exceed $2,500, Smith said, though she said she thinks that is a high estimate.

However, the money is not in the EMA budget. County Administrator Roger Rendleman said the funding could come from contingency funds.

The county will program the radios and teach citizens how to use them.

Other Business: - The commission established a trust fund for other post-employee benefits.

- The commission approved the county engineer as the county license inspector.

- The commission approved a motor vehicle software contract.

- The commission approved motor vehicle mail fees.

- The commission established the 2022 budget work sessions.

- The commission approved an ABC License application for Happy Hour Cigar Wine Spirits.

B11 July 29, 2021

B12 July 29, 2021

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LOCAL CLASSIFIEDS DIRECTOR OF MODERNIZATION & DEVELOPMENT KIND OF WORK: This is administrative work in directing & managing activities of modernization, construction, rehabilitation and maintenance projects & initiatives for the Opelika Housing Authority.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all tasks, which may be found in positions of this class.)

Manages and directs all phases of construction, renovation, revitalization, rehabilitation, modernization and work order initiatives; Plans, budgets, schedules, and coordinates projects and work order initiatives; Prepares materials and equipment specifications; Prepares specifications to acquire architectural, engineering, and related professional services; Prepares specifications for contract work; Ability to perform the procurement requirements and functions for services needed; Supervises work of contractors;

Supervises the inspection of substandard housing and prepares reports for scope of work and cost estimates for repair; Performs related work as required.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE WORK: Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of multi and single family housing design, development and building construction methods, practices and materials; Comprehensive knowledge of principles and practices of construction, maintenance, and project management; thorough knowledge of labor and materials costs related to construction and repair; thorough knowledge of building codes, ordinances, regulations and standards governing construction and maintenance of residential housing; thorough knowledge of federal and state public bid laws and Section 3 requirements; working knowledge of public housing development, modernization and maintenance programs desirable; thorough knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of administration

and management; ability to plan, manage and direct multiple projects and initiatives; ability to plan and supervise the work of professional and technical subordinates; ability to prepare comprehensive and accurate reports and records; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional and technical personnel, contractors, government and public officials, other employees and the general public.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Attainment of a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university in business or public administration, civil engineering or a related field and a minimum of five years’ progressively responsible managerial and administrative experience in the housing development, construction, rehabilitation or maintenance industry; or a combination of education and experience equivalent to these requirements.

HELP WANTED Opelika Housing Development, Inc. is

HOUSING AUTHORITY of the CITY OF OPELIKA 1706 TOOMER STREET P.O. Box 786 OPELIKA, ALABAMA 36803-0786 (334) 745-4171

JOB OPENING NOTICE DATE: May 12, 2021 1)

CLASSIFICATION:

Staff or Senior Accountant

2)

SALARY:

Depending on Qualifications

3)

RESPONSIBILITIES:

See Attached or go to www.opelikaha.org for job description and application

4)

PERSONS INTERESTED:

Submit resume and application with qualifications in writing to: opelikaha@opelikaha.org or via mail: Human Resources Opelika Housing Authority P.O. Box 786 Opelika, Alabama 36803-0786

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL POSITION IS FILLED (Please No Telephone Calls)

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY EMPLOYEE OR APPLICANT FOR EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION OR HANDICAP.

currently seeking highly motivated, experienced, and trustworthy candidates to fill the Full-time position of Maintenance Technician for properties in the Opelika, AL. . area. Duties will include, but not be limited to: Promptly handle unit and facility work orders Complete repairs in a consistent and correct manner Provide excellent customer service Work well with other team members Willing to clean grounds as needed Be well organized to

coordinate and perform unit and site inspections Able to complete makeready of units proficiently Ideal candidates should have at least 3 years of experience in apartment maintenance (or similar skills).

Candidates should have an understanding of and repair capabilities in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, painting, appliance repair, and/or other tasks related to maintaining the communities in excellent condition. HVAC Certification not required, but preferred. This position will offer competitive pay

and benefit package.

Education: High school or equivalent (Required) License or certification: Driver’s License (Required) HVAC Certification (Not required, but preferred) To apply please visit our office, located at 1706 Toomer Street, Opelika, AL 36801 or complete an application on-line at http://www.opelikaha.org/ Default.asp?ID=123&pg=Employment+Opportunities

PUBLIC NOTICES IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION PETITION OF DAVID ROGERS SCUDDER and HANNAH RODGERS SCUDDER CASE NO.: 2021-356 PUBLICATION NOTICE TO: Unknown Father, address unknown Please take notice that a petition for adoption was filed in the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama by David Rogers Scudder and Hannah Rodgers Scudder on June 23, 2021, for the adoption of N.R.A.E. born on March 25, 2021 in Opelika, Alabama to Angel Echols.

A hearing has been set for the 4th day of October, 2021 at 10 0'clock am Central time in the Probate Court, Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th Street, Opelika, AL 36801. Should you

intend to contest this adoption you must file a written response with the attorney for the petitioner, Hon. Ross Kinder, 1400 2 1 st Way South, Birmingham, AL 35205 and with the Clerk of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, as soon as possible but no later than thirty (30) days from the last day this notice is published, or appear on the date of the hearing as set above to contest said Petition.

Dated on this the 24th day of June HON. BILL ENGLISH JUDGE OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Legal Run 7/8/21, 7/15/21, 7/22/21, & 7/29/21 ––––––– IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

ARMETTA JOHNSON, Plaintiff, V. CV-2021-900182.00 A Parcel of Land Lying in Lee County, Alabama, to wit:Lots 4 through 9, inclusive, in Block A of the Realty Investment Corporation, as shown on the Plat of Survey opf the said Realty Investment Corporation, which appears of record in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, in Plat Book 1 at Page 24., and MARY L. ROSS, THURDELL DRAKE, ZOLA LITTLETON, WILLIAM COOPER, and Unknown heirs or assigns of Arthur Cooper and Ida Mae Cooper, Defendants.

NOTICE OF ACTION To: All Defendants herein, whose whereabouts are unknown and which cannot be ascertained after the exercise of

reasonable diligence.

You are hereby notified that on the 2nd day of June 2021, a Bill to Quiet Title was filed in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama, regarding the following described real property: Lots 4 through 9, inclusive, in Block A of the Realty Investment Corporation, as shown on the Plat of Survey of the said Realty Investment Corporation, which appears of record in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, in Plat Book 1 at Page 24.

All persons having an interest in said lands or any portion thereof, claiming any title thereto or any encumbrance or lien thereon, are hereby directed to plead, answer, or otherwise respond to the Complaint on or before the expiration of 30 days after the last publication of this notice,

or thereafter suffer judgment by default to be rendered against them it being intended that this notice shall be used to perfect service against all parties who cannot be personally served with a copy of the Complaint.

Done this the 1st day of July, 2021.

Mary Roberson Circuit Court Clerk, Lee County Benjamin H. Parr 830 Avenue A, Suite A Opelika, Alabama 36801 Telephone Number: 334749-6999 Fax: 334-203-1875 ben@benparrlaw.com Legal Run 07/08/21, 07/15/21, 07/22/21 & 07/29/21 ––––––– IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF: CURTIS LEVERNE SCOTT, Deceased.

CASENO.: 20 21 - 259 PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES NOTICE TO FILE CLAIMS Letters of Testamentary of the estate of Curtis Leverne Scott, deceased, having been granted to Marsha Baxley Scott, Personal Representative on the 7TH day of July, 2021 by the Judge of Probate of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate, are hereby required to present the same within six months after the grant of letters or within five months from the date of the first publication of this not ice, which is the later to occur, or the same will be barred.

Witness my hand this the 7th day of July, 2021.

BILL ENGLISH, JUDGE OF PROBATE Legal Run 07/15/21, 07/22/21 & 07/29/21

See PUBLIC NOTICES, page B13

B13 July 29, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES ––––––– IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ALICE PAXSON WILLIAMS, DECEASED. Case No: 2021-384 IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY ALABAMA Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 9th day of July, 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

ROBERT CLAYTON WILLIAMS, Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 07/15/21, 07/22/21 & 07/29/21 ––––––– IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA STATE OF ALABAMA CASE NO. 2017-C-071 COUNTY OF LEE IN RE: The Matter of JIMMIE LOU BAKER ORDER SETTING HEARING Notice is hereby given that a Petition to Approve Partial Settlement of thexConservatorship Estate of JIMMIE LOU BAKER has been filed by the Conservator, BelindaxPink. A hearing has been set for the 18th day of August, 2021 at 10xa.m. Central Time in the Probate Court, Lee County Courthouse, 215 South 9th Street,xOpelika, Alabama. Should you intend to contest this partial settlement, you must appear on thexdate of the hearing as set above.

Bill English Judge of Probate Legal Run 07/15/21, 07/22/2021 & 07/29/21 ––––––– IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO. : CV-2021900166.00 MARSH REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS, LLC, Plaintiff, v.

A Parcel of Land Lying in Lee County, Alabama More Particularly Described in Deed Book 2355 at Page 400 and Unknown Persons, Defendants.

NOTICE OF ACTION To: All Defendants herein, whose whereabouts are unknown and which cannot be ascertained after the exercise of reasonable diligence.

You are hereby notified that on the 18th day of May 2021, a Bill to Quiet Title was filed in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama, regarding the following described real property: Lot No. 2 in Block A of the Byrd Lands according to and as shown by Totten’s Real Estate Map of Opelika, Alabama 1930, and more particularly described as follows: Commence at the intersection of the Northeasterly margin of Fourth Street with the Northwesterly margin of Avenue A, in the City of Opelika, Alabama, and run thence in a Northeasterly direction, along the Northwesterly

margin of Avenue A, 100 feet to the point of Beginning of the lot here to be described and conveyed; from said Point of Beginning run thence in a Northwesterly direction parallel to Fourth Street, 200 feet; thence in a Northeasterly direction, parallel to Avenue A , 85 feet; thence in a Southeasterly direction, parallel to Fourth Street, 200 feet to the Northwesterly margin of Avenue A; thence in a Southwesterly direction, along the Northwesterly margin of Avenue A, 85 feet to the said Point of Beginning; together with all improvements thereon and all appurtenances thereunto appertaining.

Said property is further described as being the identical property conveyed by Mrs. Esther S. Blanton, et als to Roy W. Odom and Eva D. Odom by deed dated September 24, 1949 of record in Deed book 322 on Page 68 in the Office of Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama.

All persons having an interest in said lands or any portion thereof, claiming any title thereto or any encumbrance or lien thereon, are hereby directed to plead, answer, or otherwise respond to the Complaint on or before the expiration of 30 days after the last publication of this notice, or thereafter suffer judgment by default to be rendered against them it being intended that this notice shall be used to perfect service against all parties who cannot be personally served with a copy of the Complaint.

Done this the 6th day of July 2021.

Mary Roberson Circuit Court Clerk, Lee County Benjamin H. Parr 830 Avenue A, Suite A Opelika, Alabama 36801 Telephone Number: 334-749-6999 Fax: 334-203-1875 ben@benparrlaw.com Legal Run 07/15/21, 07/22/21, 07/29/21 & 08/05/21 ––––––– NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF CLAUDIA W. EVANS, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE, LEE COUNTY Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 15th day o f July, 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby giben 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 15th day of July, 2021.

FORSON EVAN, JR. Legal Run 07/22/21, 07/29/21 & 08/05/21 ––––––– NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL August 17, 2021 7:00 P.M. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance

with §23-4-2, Code of Alabama, 1975, that the City Council of the City of Opelika will conduct a Public Hearing during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Municipal Court Building, 300 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, to receive the benefit of public input concerning a proposal to vacate a portion of an unnamed street lying between Lots 5, 6 and 8A of a subdivision plat entitled “Revision of Lots 3,4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 & 18, a re-subdivision of Lots 4 and 7 of Fox Run Industrial Park, First Revision First Addition”, according to and as shown on plat of said subdivision of record in Plat Book 20 at Page 89 in the Office of the Judge of Probate, Lee County, Alabama. All persons interested in the proposed vacation are invited to appear at the public hearing and express their views.

Written statements or objections may be submitted to the City Clerk prior to the time of the hearing.

The portion of said unnamed street proposed to be vacated is more particularly described as follows: LOTS 8A AND 9A, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT OF REVISION OF LOTS 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 & 18 A RESUBDIVISION OF LOTS 4 & 7 FOXRUN INDUSTRIAL PARK, FIRST ADDITION, AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN PLAT BOOK 20, PAGE 89. BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGIN AT A 1/2" REBAR (CAPPED "15722") FOUND AT THE SW CORNER OF LOT 8A OF SAID PLAT, SAID REBAR ALSO LYING ON THE EAST RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF AN UNNAMED ROAD (60 FEET INWIDTH RIGHT OF WAY); THENCE RUN NORTHERLY AND NORTHEASTERLY ALONG SAID RIGHT OF WAY LINE THE FOLLOWING THREE (3) COURSES: 1.)

N00°05'40"W, A DISTANCE OF 205.58 FEET TO A 1/2" REBAR (CAPPED "15722") FOUND; 2.) ALONG A CURVE TO THE RIGHT (RADIUS= 150.00 FEET) A CHORD BEARING AND DISTANCE OF N28°34'21"E, 143.76 FEET TO A 1/2" REBAR (CAPPED "15722") FOUND; 3.) N57°12'47"E, A DISTANCE OF 160.39 FEET TO A 6" x 6" CONCRETE MONUMENT FOUND AT THE INTERSECTION OF SAID EAST RIGHT OF WAY LINE AND THE SOUTHWESTERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF FOX RUN PARKWAY (U.S. HIGHWAY 431) (ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROJECT NO. OLB-041-000-001) (RIGHT OF WAY WIDTH VARIES); THENCE RUN SOUTHEASTERLY ALONG SAID

WESTERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE THE FOLLOWING THREE (3) COURSES: 1.) S32°49'21"E, A DISTANCE OF 171.84 FEET TO A 6" x 6" CONCRETE MONUMENT FOUND AT A RIGHT OF WAY FLARE; 2.)

S44°08'51"E, ALONG SAID FLARE, A DISTANCE OF 101.65 FEET TO A 6" x 6" CONCRETE MONUMENT FOUND; 3.)

S32°48'55"E, A DISTANCE OF 388.00 FEET TO A 1/2" REBAR FOUND AT THE INTERSECTION OF SAID WESTERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE AND THE NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF GREATER PEACE DRIVE (60 FEET IN-WIDTH RIGHT OF WAY); THENCE RUN S57°12'45"W, ALONG SAID NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE, A DISTANCE OF 262.95 FEET TO A 1/2" REBAR FOUND; THENCE RUN SOUTHWESTER ALONG SAID RIGHT OF WAY LINE AND A CURVE TO THE RIGHT (RADIUS= 270.00 FEET) A CHORD BEARING AND DISTANCE OF S62°25'37"W, A DISTANCE OF 47.92 FEET TO A 1/2" REBAR (CAPPED "11282") FOUND; THENCE LEAVING SAID RIGHT OF WAY LINE RUN N31°32'31"W, A DISTANCE OF 339.52 FEET TO A 1/2" REBAR FOUND; THENCE RUN S89°58'51"W, A DISTANCE OF 136.31 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PARCEL OF LAND LIES IN THE SW 1/4 OF THE SE 1/4 OF SECTION 5, T19N, R27E, LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA, AND CONTAINS 4.79 ACRES, MORE OR LESS. A copy of the Petition to Vacate and the proposed resolution approving the vacation will be available upon request at the office of the City Clerk, 1st Floor of City Hall, 204 South 7th Street, Opelika, Alabama.

Please contact Kevin Rice, the City’s ADA Coordinator, at 334705-2083 at least two (2) working days prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations due to a disability.

DATED this the 22nd day of July, 2021. /s/ Russell A. Jones RUSSELL A. JONES, CITY CLERK Legal Run 07/22/21, 07/29/21, 08/05/21 & 08/12/21 ––––––– IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No.: CV-2021900126 JOHN L. BELFANCE, II and TINA L. BELFANCE, Plaintiffs, v.

Parcels of Real Property described as: Lee County, Alabama Tax Parcels 43-12-08-28-0-000002.031 and 43-12-08-28-0-000002.044, said parcels being legally described according to the

Legal Descriptions included herein, And Jewel V. Meeks, and/ or the unknown heirs Of Jewel V. Meeks, And David L. Allmond, and/or the unknown heirs Of David L. Allmond, And Fictitious Defendants A, B, C, D, E, F & G, Being Persons, Individuals, Firms, Associations, Partnerships, Corporations or other Entities, Whose names are otherwise unknown to the Plaintiff, but who claim interest in and to the above-captioned parcel of land, and whose correct names and legal identities will be added

by Amendment when ascertained, Defendants.

NOTICE OF ACTION

To: All Defendants herein, whose whereabouts are unknown and which cannot be ascertained after the exercise of reasonable diligence.

You are hereby notified that on the 21st day of April, 2021, a Complaint to Quiet Title was filed in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama, and the following are the names of all parties to the action: John L. Belfance, II and Tina L. Belfance, as Plaintiffs; Jewell V. Meeks and/or the heirs of Jewell V. Meeks, and David L. Allmond and/or the heirs of David L. Allmond, and A Parcel of Real Property, described below, as Defendants; and unknown persons or entities who cannot be ascertained after the exercise of due diligence, and which are believed to have claimed some right, title, interest or claim in and to the property described as follows: PARCEL ONE: That certain lot, tract or parcel of land containing 16.439 acres located in Section 28, Township 19 North, Range 29 East, Lee County Alabama, more particularly described as follows: Commence at an iron pin marking the Southeast corner of said Section 28 and run North 01 degree 05 minutes West along the East line of said Section 28 a distance of 2298.4 feet to iron pin found located on North right of way line of Lee Road 250 (f/k/a BleeckerRiverview Road); thence run along the northerly margin of said Lee Road 250 as follows, to-wit: South 65 degrees 05 minutes West 209.6 feet to a concrete right of way monument (P.C.138+18.3); thence South 63 degrees 28 minutes West 40.2 feet to a concrete right of way monument (P.C. 138+40.6); thence South 61 degrees 22 minutes West 483.6 feet to a point; thence South 57 degrees 15 minutes West 409.8 feet to a point; thence South 53 degrees 45 minutes West 455.5 feet to the intersection of the East right of way line of Lee Road 435 and the North right of way line of Lee Road

2 50; thence continue southwesterly along the North right-of-way line of Lee Road 250 a distance of 60 feet, more or less, to its intersection with the West right of way line of Lee Road 435; thence leaving the right of way line of Lee Road 250 run North 21 degrees 15 minutes West along the West right-of-way line of Lee Road 435 a distance of 3796.3 feet to the iron pin marking the POINT OF BEGINNING; thence run South 68 degrees 45 minutes West 1960.0 feet to an iron pin located on an old abandoned road; thence run North 43 degrees 00 minutes West along said abandoned road 870.0 feet to an iron pin; thence run North 00 degrees 16 minutes East 257.7 feet to an iron pin on the Southeast margin of the former Chattahoochee Valley Railroad; thence run North 42 degrees 50 minutes East along said railroad margin 176.0 feet to a point located at the centerline of Wacoochee Creek; thence run along the centerline of Wacoochee Creek as follows, towit: South 35 degrees 19 minutes East 209.2 feet to a point; thence South 19 degrees 45 minutes East 531.0 feet to a point; thence South 45 degrees 15 minutes East 364.0 feet to a point; thence North 26 degrees 45 minutes East 506.0 feet to a point; thence North 83 degrees 13 minutes East 231.0 feet to a point; thence North 59 degrees 21 minutes East 102.0 feet to a point; thence North 78 degrees 49 minutes East 266.2 feet to a point; thence leaving the centerline of Wacoochee Creek run North 15 degrees 37 minutes West 59.7 feet to an iron pin; thence run South 68 degrees 45 minutes West 888.0 feet to an iron pin located on the West right of way line of Lee Road 435; thence run South 21 degrees 15 minutes East along said right-of-way line 250.0 feet to the iron pin marking the POINT OF BEGINNING. SAVE AND EXCEPT THEREFROM: That portion of the above described property containing 3.09 acres, more or less, being more particularly described as follows; Commence at the intersection of the North right of way line of Lee Road 250 and the West right of way line of Lee Road 435 and run North 21 degrees 15 minutes West 3796.30 feet to an iron pin; thence run South 68 degrees 45 minutes 19 seconds West 285.59 feet to the iron pin marking the Point of Beginning; thence run South 68 degrees 45 minutes 19 seconds West 597.41 feet to an iron pin; thence run North 21 degrees 15 minutes West 224.92 feet to an iron pin; thence run North 68 degrees 45 minutes East 597.41feet to an iron pin; thence run South 21 degrees 15 minutes East 224.97 feet to the iron pin marking the Point of Beginning.

Together with a perpetual, non-exclusive easement for ingress, egress and utilities running along the northernmost boundary of the above-described property to the West right-of-way line of Lee Road 435 as same is described in that certain deed dated December 11, 2001 recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County,

B14 July 29, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES Alabama in Deed Book 2215, Page 896. The description of this, save and except portion together with the easement for ingress, egress and utilities, is based on a survey prepared by Jack B. Shay, R.L.S., dated November 12, 2001.

Subject to easements and restrictions of record.

PARCEL TWO:

That certain lot, tract or parcel of land containing 3.09 acres located in Section 28, Township 19 North, Range 29 East, Lee County Alabama, more particularly described as follows: Commence at the intersection of the North right of way line of Lee Road 250 and the West right of way line of Lee Road 435 and run North 21 degrees 15 minutes West 3796.30 feet to an iron pin; thence run South 68 degrees 45 minutes 19 seconds West 285.59 feet to the iron pin marking the Point of Beginning; thence run South 68 degrees 45 minutes 19 seconds West 597.41 feet to an iron pin; thence run North 21 degrees 15 minutes West 224.92 feet to an iron pin; thence run North 68 degrees 45 minutes East 597.41feet to an iron pin; thence run South 21 degrees 15 minutes East 224.97 feet to the iron pin marking the Point of Beginning. Together with a perpetual, nonexclusive easement for ingress, egress and utilities running along the northernmost boundary of the above-described property to the West right-of-way line of Lee Road 435 as same is described in that certain deed dated December 11, 2001 recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama in Deed Book 2215, Page 896. The description of this, save and except portion together with the easement for ingress, egress and utilities, is based on a survey prepared by Jack B. Shay, R.L.S., dated November 12, 2001.

All persons having an

HUMAN >> FROM B10 from the county’s Youth Development Center.

Askew is scheduled for sentencing this month; his sentence could be life or life without possibility of parole. Five others implicated will be tried later, an AP story said.

So, if you see a person who is disoriented or

interest in said lands or any portion thereof, claiming any title thereto or any encumbrance or lien thereon, are hereby directed to plead, answer, or otherwise respond to the Complaint on or before the expiration of 30 days after the last publication of this notice, or thereafter suffer judgment by default to be rendered against them, it being intended that this notice shall be used to perfect service against all parties who cannot be personally served with a copy of the Complaint.

Done this the 12th day of July, 2021. /s/ Mary Roberson Mary Roberson Circuit Court Clerk, Lee County J. Brandon Rice Of Counsel, Davis, Bingham, Hudson & Buckner, P.C. 324 East Magnolia Avenue Auburn, AL 36830 Legal Run 07/22/21, 07/29/21, 08/05/21 & 08/12/21 ––––––– CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE CO., AL FAMILY-JUNVENILE COURT IN THE MATTER OF: J.M.B & J.A.B.-minor children NOTICE TO: any unknown fathers of J.M.B. born 9/7/2005 & J.A.B. born 10/21/04 to Andrea Lynn Bearden at Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, Clayton Co., GA. Custody of the minor children was vested with Lee County DHR on 2/16/2019.

Any unknown fathers must answer the Petition to Terminate Parental Rights filed in the Family Court of Lee County, AL by Lee County DHR, within fourteen (14) days from the last date of publication of this notice, or a final judgment may be rendered in Cases JU-2018-504.02/505.02 in the Family Court of Lee Co., AL terminating all parental rights to the minor child.

Mary Roberson, CIRCUIT CLERK Lee County Justice Center 2311 Gateway Dr.

confused or shows signs of mental abuse: call the police or sheriffs’ office.

If you stumble across someone who is scared or timid, even afraid to make eye contact: quickly report it. If you notice day or night that an individual lives in a small space with several others but lacks personal possessions or control of their driver’s license or passport: just do it,

Opelika, AL 36801

Hon. Margaret A. Mayfield Attorney for Lee County DHR P.O. Box 809 Opelika, AL 36803 (334) 745-0333 Legal Run 07/15/21, 07/22/21, 07/29/21 & 08/05/21 ________ IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MURIEL NELLA BLACK a.k.a. MURIEL N. BLACK, Deceased CASE NO. 2021-327 PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of the Estate of MURIEL NELLA BLACK A.K.A MURIEL N. BLACK, deceased having been granted to ALEXANDER MCDONALD BLACK, on the 18th day of June, 2021_, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama.

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

Alexander McDonald Legal Run 07/15/21, 07/22/21, & 07/29/21 ________ DOCUMENT 00105 INVITATION TO BID 21020 Sealed bids for the construction of the Bridge Replacement on (CR-63) North Uniroyal Road over Halawakee Creek shall be received at the Opelika City Hall Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Thursday August 26, 2021, and then publicly opened and read aloud.

All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will

contact law enforcement agencies.

“Human trafficking is a real and present problem in Lee County, and there is more work to be done,” said Lee County DA Pro Tem Jessica Ventiere. “However, today we are thankful the victim has a fresh start, and we pray for her continued healing.”

Askew’s was the first

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be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code §34-8-1, et.seq. (1975) and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Bidders must be licensed by the Licensing Board for General Contractors when bids are submitted.

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

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

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

Drawings and Specifications may be examined at the Office of the City Engineer located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama, and phone number: 334-7055450. Bid documents may be obtained from the office of CDG Engineers & Associates, 778 North Dean Road, Suite 200-A, Auburn, AL 3830, (334) 466-9431 at no charge as an electronic file if the bidder supplies a storage drive or as an email attachment or electronic drop box.

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

human trafficking case tried in Lee County.

Ford Boswell is senior advisor for communications and marketing at Alabama Trucking Association.

He emphasized that in 2019, Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law a bill sponsored by the association requiring all new students studying to obtain a commercial drivers’ license (CDL) to complete trafficking awareness training. This applies to whether attending a CDL trade school or a training program.

Upon receiving a CDL, they learn the “red f lags” of human trafficking.

Hear CB radio talk about a “commercial company” or see flashing lights that may signal a buyers’ location? Check it out! Signs of branding or tattooing of a trafficker’s name on a victim’s neck? Look into it! Find a van or RV that seems outof-place or a vehicle dropping someone off and picking them

accepted.

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

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

Each Bidder, and each Subcontractor, is required to complete and submit Document 00450 – Affidavit of Immigration Compliance along with their E-Verify Program Memorandum of Understanding at the time of the Bid. No Contract will be awarded to any Bidder who does not submit the required Immigration Compliance documents.

Contractor will be required to provide two (2) Owner’s Protective Liability Policies. Named Insured shall be as follows: 1. City of Opelika 2. CDG Engineers & Associates, Inc. See Section 00700 General Conditions for full details Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, PurchasingRevenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Ope¬li¬ka, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: Bridge Replacement on (CR-63) North Uniroyal Road over Halawakee Creek

JR., DECEASED ESTATE NO.:2021-319 ORDER SETTING HEARING ON PETITION TO PROBATE A WILL AND APPOINT A GUARDIAN AD LITEM A Petition to probate the will of the Estate of WALLACE E. KILGO, JR., deceased was filed in the Lee County Probate Office by Alfred Doug Davidson on May 28, 2021. It is hereby : ORDERED by this Court that a hearing be set on this matter on the 8th day of September, 2021 at 9 o'clock a.m. central standard time.

It is further ORDERED by this Court that notice of this hearing be mailed or served on the following: Hon. Zachary D. Alsobrook 114 N 9TH Street Opelika, AL 36801 Julie Kilgo 2019 Lee Road 241 Salem, AL 36874 DONE this 1 6th day of July, 2021.

BILL ENGLISH PROBATE JUDGE Legal Run 07/29/2021, 08/05/2021 & 08/12/2021 ------------NOTICE OF COURT PROCEEDING CASE NO. 2021-370 IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Notice of the filing of Petition for Summary Distribution

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF WALLACE E. KILGO,

In the Estate of ROBERT ANDREW ADKINS, JR., deceased Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office

by Victoria T. Adkins on June 29, 2021 pursuant to Section 43-2-690, Code of Alabama and that 30 days after the notice of publication hereof and pursuant to law the Court shall be requested to enter an Order Directing Summary Distribution of the estate of said decedent.

PROBATE JUDGE BILL ENGLISH Legal Ru 07/29/2021

up after 15 or 20 minutes? Call the police!

ATA’s Boswell advises “no hesitation”; the faster a trafficking case is opened, the faster justice can be done.

“The trucking industry has stepped up,” Boswell said.

“Professional truck drivers are the eyes and ears of America’s roadways, serving a vital role in ending modern-day slavery. Through our work and support for Truckers against Trafficking, our industry is an effective and powerful ally and an asset to law enforcement.” He reported that truck drivers have identified 1,296 human trafficking victims and made nearly 2,700 calls to the national hotline.

From dawn to dusk, Alabama truckers traverse interstates and local roads in all 67 counties. Sometimes they see a potential human trafficking situation. Many with “100-mile” coffee cups beside them, call the police to report a

possible crime. That is their modus operandi no matter if in what they refer to by slang as Bean-Town (Boston, Massachusetts); ChooChoo (Chattanooga, Tennessee); or B-Town (Birmingham, Alabama).

Truckers shine as “trained spotters.”

But the best way to curtail trafficking does not come only from public officials or truck drivers. Ivey and Marshall would agree. Winning the fight against human trafficking must come from us all. (See something suspicious? Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.)

Greg Markley first moved to Lee County in 1996. He has Masters’ in education and history. He taught politics as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama. An award-winning writer in the Army and civilian life, he has contributed to the Observer for 11 years. gm.markley@charter. net .

LILLIE FINLEYPURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal Run 07/29/2021 -------------

B15 July 29, 2021

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B16 July 29, 2021

Lee County Commission Watch This page space is purchased in response to "streamlining" the Lee County Commission Agenda to impede citizen input from being viewed and placed into the official record.

One of the more effective enablers of snubbing citizens’ input championed 'streamlining' the Lee County Commission Agenda passed by fellow commissioners with customary ‘unanonymity’ as the chair has been known to assert when all vote in lockstep. Once again public interest rhetoric (streamlining) offered little change to benefit citizens but was passed in another successful effort by commissioners to block input from those who pay them.

The most noteworthy change was to place the "citizen comment" agenda item before a Commission meeting is called to order.

This is important to understand. The change essentially ensures citizen input is NOT seen by those watching the audio/video feed.

More importantly, this ends records of commissioners being put on notice of

wrongdoings while commissioners are officially called to order/in session. With no actual 'streamlining' in the proposed change, one wonders what is in fact private interest motives for the agenda format change after so many years of allowing comment on record.

As the Gospel of John teaches, be wary of those who evoke caring about the poor to cloak their avarice.

Public Comment was given by two citizens Monday night.

• Peter Byrd discussed a claim of fraud at EAMC. “Taxpayers may not be aware of it, but we taxpayers all pay a special hospital tax that is added to our property tax but not specifically identified in the taxpayer love letters. This tax generates about ten million dollars a year and is transferred to EAMC. This special hospital tax cannot be discontinued until the bonds and debts are paid off …

Months ago I asked the commission to encourage EAMC to comply with HIPPA law and allow me to access my medical records. EAMC has not allowed me to see my records yet.

The commission could choose not to approve another bond until EAMC complies with HIPPA law. “ … I stand again to ask the commission to encourage EAMC to post these prices because to date it has not posted the prices. Rumor has it that EAMC is preparing to ask the commission to approve yet another bond issue. I’m hoping that no commissioner will approve a new bond without stipulating that the hospital complies with HIPPA law and public health service laws. Do not vote yes to an entity that has been found guilty of fraud and lack of price transparency.”

• Melissa McConnell asked about the possibility of broadband internet in her area of Beauregard, Lee Road 39 as part of the American Rescue Plan funding for Lee County.

“We’re having a hard time getting internet access out in that area,” she said.

“I wasn’t really big on it, but when the pandemic hit and our kids went virtual it was really, really hard to get good internet access.”

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