The Observer 09-22-2022

Young Sets

CONTRIBUTED BY THE OPELIKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

OPELIKA —

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce and con gratulate this year’s Lee County Young Leaders Program class.

Lee County Young Leaders is a county-wide program that aims to nur ture and develop positive leadership qualities in high school students by giving them the knowl edge, tools and contacts to become successful leaders in the community.

This program begins in September and will have one session per month until April 2023. Sessions will cover topics and

Smiths Station Fire Protection Seeks More Funding

BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH

OELIKAOBSERVER.COMKENDYLH@

SMITHS STATION —

Changes are likely on the horizon for those in the jurisdiction of the Smiths Station Fire Protection DistrictSSFPD(SSFPD).heldatown hall meeting Sept. 9 at Station 1 to discuss the need for an increased fire fee and the benefits that would bring to theAccordingcommunity.to Daniel Sexton, SSFPD deputy chief and public information officer, the current annual fire fee of $50 — paid by each owner of a habitable structure in the district — is not enough to meet rising costs and the growing needs of the fire protection district.

The fee is approved by vote, and the current fee that was established in 2012 is set to expire in 2036.

“It is not permanent funding,” Sexton said at the meeting. “It is only temporary funding. In 2036, it goes away unless there is another vote, so to keep it even at the current level would require another vote.”The annual budget for SSFPD is about $565,000, and fixed expenses alone already account for about 87% of the budget. But with

just over 14,000 households to serve within the district, SSFPD’s budget is well below that of other compa rable areas. According to the presentation, nearby Phenix City serves about 14,700 households and has a fire budget of over $6 million. Monroeville, Alabama, had the closest budget on the list at about $646,000, but with only about 2,100 house holds in its jurisdiction.

Sexton said an issue with the current fire fee is that it contains no provision to differentiate between resi dential and commercial, so large businesses are paying the same $50 a year as each single-family household.

“There is an apartment complex in our jurisdiction that has 24 units in a single building, and they pay $50 a year for that entire build

Lee HonorsSchoolCountyBoardMember

BY KENDYL KENDYLH@OPELIKAOBSESRVER.COMHOLLINGSWORTH

LEE COUNTY —

The Lee County Board of Education recognized District 7 Board Member Brian Roberson and approved the budget for fiscal year 2023, among other business, at its regular meeting Sept. 13. Roberson died Sept. 7 at age 48. He had served on the Lee County Board of Education since 2018, with his district cov See ROBERSON, page A3

Auburn Receives Grant to Improve Water Quality

BY HANNAH LESTER

OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMHLESTER@

LEE COUNTY —

The Alabama Council on Human Relations Inc. (ACHR) is providing op portunities in Lee County and beyond for families to grow and learn together.

The nonprofit orga nization is centered in Auburn and encompasses the Head Start program, Early Head Start program, Community Services Block Grant programs and Housing Counseling.

There are Head Start programs in Auburn, Ope lika and Hurtsboro; The Darden Center Complex is located in Opelika, the Frank B. King Center in Auburn and the Marian Wright Edelman Center in

Hurtsboro.

EARLY HEAD START:

The Early Head Start Program encompasses two aspects — center based education for chil dren and home visits for children and families.

THE EARLY HEAD START HOME BASE PROGRAM

The Early Head Start Home Base Program is in place to educate children, parents and families from their“Wehomes.provide child development and parent support services to preg nant women and families with children birth to 3 years old,” said Pam Heartsill, the educator of the Early Head Start Home Base program.

“The services of free, of course, and they’re provided through weekly

home visits and group socialization activities for parents and their chil dren.”Education and activi ties may include prenatal and postpartum support and information, devel opmental socializationscreenings,withother parents, finding necessary resources for parents or education and support for parents of children with special“Eachneeds.ofour home visitors carry a case load of 11 to 12 families each, and so they really have an opportunity to get to know the families on a pretty personable level,” HeartsillHeartsillsaid.has been serving the agency for 24 years and as the Early Head Start Home Base

Program educator for 22 years.She was originally in the Center-Based Edu cation program before becoming a home visitor.

“ACHR’s EHS home based program also pro vides educational services to pregnant teens and teen parents in the Lee and Russell County school systems,” said the pro gram’s website. “Through a partnership with the RIF Shared Beginnings litera cy program, teen parents and their children receive books and engage in fun activities promoting early language and literacy.”

EARLY HEAD START - CENTER BASED

“Early Head Start serves more than 80 pregnant women, infants and toddlers,” the website

Giving Children A Head Start A1 natural resourc all thanks to a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Last week, the founda tion announced the win ners of its 2022 Five Star and Urban Waters grant that “seeks to develop nationwide shipsthroughwatershedsprovingicallynaturalstewardshipcommunityoflocalresources.”Theprogramspeciffocusesonimwaterquality,andhabitatslocalpartnerandoutreach.

The city of Auburn was the sole Alabama recip ient, receiving $45,200 toward a project at the H.C. Morgan Water Pol lution Control Facility. The wastewater treatment facility is located in the Parkerson Mill Creek Watershed, and storm water from the facility flows into Parkerson Mill Creek.

In 2019, the city began planting landscape buffers to help filter the runoff water before it reaches the creek, reduc ing pollution and lower ing property maintenance costs.

The grant-funded proj ect will include expand ing the landscape buffer and building bioretention cells at four strategic points where stormwater leaves the facility. More than 3 acres of native plants will be planted, filtering storm water and providing habitat for native pollinators and birds while maintenancereducingcostsat the facility.“Parkerson Mill Creek is a valuable resource to our community,” said Watershed Kimbrow.CoordinatorProgramDusty“Implementing

this project will not only help to improve its water quality, but also provide educational opportunities to learn about the impor tance of all of our local water resources and how we can all work together to protect them for future generations.”Akeyelement of the project will be communi ty involvement. The city is partnering with Auburn University’s Water Re sources Center and Bee Lab as well as Westervelt Ecological Resources to design and install the landscaping and pro vide workshops for the

said. “ The Center Based Program serves infants and toddlers in a multiage grouping with one teacher and four children and is available to moth ers who are working or in school.”

HEAD START: Head Start is where children will head after Early Head Start. It ser vices children ages 3 to 5.

"Head Start provides educational, health, parent engagement and social services designed to prepare children ages 3 to 5 for entry into public school,” the website said.

“Together the Frankie B. King Center in Auburn, the Darden Center in Opelika and the Marian Wright Edelman Center in Hurtsburo, Alabama, serve more than 350

public about bioretention, stormwater management, water quality monitoring andLocalmore.Girl Scouts will lend a hand in planting over 2,000 longleaf pine seedlings at the site as they contribute to the Girl Scouts’ Million Tree Challenge, and other volunteer opportunities will be available for the community to pitch in.

“Each piece of this project is designed to make an immediate impact on the water quality in the Parkerson Mill watershed while improving long-term

children ages 3 to 5. Most classrooms consist of 17 or fewer children in a mixed age group.”

One educator with Darden Head Start, Yolan da Pittman, said that this is an option when other programs aren’t afford able for families.

“This program has a major impact in the com munity because it allows children to get a quality education and it doesn’t burden the family, having to pay for childcare,” she said.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH:

Head Start prepares children to be both physi cally and mentally well.

Natalie Stephens serves as registered dietician and

See HEAD START, page A6

watershed stewardship in Auburn,” said Interim Public Works Director Dan Ballard. “By engag ing the community in a purposeful way, we hope to increase awareness and understanding of watershed management and equip residents with tools and skills to make a broader impact through out the Workcommunity.”isexpected to begin this winter. For more information, contact Water Management’sResourceWatershed Division at 334-501-3060 or abama.org.webwtrswr@auburnal

SUSCC PR Team Wins Awards

CONTRIIBUTED BY SUSCC

OPELIKA — Southern Union State Community College’s Office of Public Relations won multiple awards during the annual meeting of the Alabama Commu nity College Public Relations

Multi-MediatorrelationsferenceannualpresentationAlabama.theprojectssentedPyramidmonth.(ACCSPRA)AssociationearlierthisTheACCSPRAAwardsarepretotopmarketingfromthroughouttwo-yearcollegesinTheawardscapstheACCSPRAconeachyear.SUSCC’spublicteamofDirecShondaeBrownandSpecialist

Abra Camp earned first place Pyramid Awards in the categories of: Promo tional Items, for Bison socks; Specialty Publi cations, for “SU Quick Facts”; College Promo tional Video, for “Venture Forward”; and Graphically Manipulated Photography, for “Golf National Champi on Qualifier.”

The team earned a second place Award of Achievement in the Post card category, for its Bison Bonus postcard; Promo tional Items, for Health and Wellness cap; Special ty Publications, for “Bison Bits”; Logo Design, for the Distinguished Alumni logo; Outdoor Advertising, for “Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained”; Social Media Accounts; and in Electronic Wildcard, for its

• Debt service: about $5.6 million (4%)

• Administrative: about $3.6 million (3%)

“Mean Tweets” video.

A third place Award of Merit was received in the categories of Outdoor Advertising, for “Let’s Get Technical”; Athletics, for the 2021 basketball sched ule; the Venture Forward T-shirt; and the college viewBrownbook.was also elected president of the organiza tion. For more information on Southern Union, please visit suscc.edu.

Lee Co. Commissioner Elected To Statewide Association Legislative Committee

CONTRIBUTED BY ACCA

LEE COUNTY —

Lee County Com missioner Ross Morris has been elected to serve as a member of the 2022-2023 Leg islative Committee of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA), the statewide asso ciation representing Alabama’s 67 county teelegislativegovernments.Theassociation’scommitiscomposedof a chairman and a rep resentative from each county. Morris will represent the interests of Lee County on the committee and work in concert with six steering committees to formulate ACCA’s leg islative agenda for the 2023 Regular Session of the Alabama Legis lature.“Counties are a

creation of the state, which means they can only do what the state authorizes them to do,” said ACCA Executive Director Sonny Brasfield. “For this reason, coun ties must maintain an incredibly close working relationship with the legislature, which is why serving on this committee is a tremendous honor and sionsofresponsibility.”TheAssociationCountyCommisofAlabamais

a statewide organiza tion speaking for all 67 counties with one voice. It governmentimprovedpromotescountyservices in Alabama, offers edu cational programs for county officials and their staff nizationsstategovernmenttheadviceployees,governmentsprogramsadministersmembers,insuranceforcountyandemofferslegalandrepresentsinterestsofcountybeforeandfederalorgaandagencies.

ering Smiths SuperintendentStation.Dr. James “Mac” McCoy presented Roberson’s family with a plaque commemorating his “dedicated service,” as well as a wooden name plate handmade by McCoy’s father.“Last week, we lost a very good board member to health problems, and Smiths Station and Lee County lost a great man,” McCoy said. “... We will missAshim.”ofyet, there is no re placement to fill the District 7 spot. According to Board President Larry Boswell, of District 2, the board would “have an open space for a while.”McCoy said later in the meeting that the board has 30 days to appoint someone to a vacant seat. The board said it will likely hold a special called meeting to do so before the next regular meeting, which is Oct. 11.

“The timeline is so short sometimes that it looks like maybe we’re moving too fast, but it is state law,” McCoy said.

Ken Roberts, Chief School Financial Officer for Lee County Schools, presented a breakdown of the proposed budget for fis cal year 2023 as part of the second public hearing for the budget. The first public hearing was held at 10 a.m. the day before.

The projected expen ditures total about $136.4 million. According to the presentation, the money will be used for the following purposes:•Instructional costs: about $63.7 million (47%)

• Instructional support: about $18.9 million (14%)

• Auxiliary: about $14.4 million (10%)

• Capital outlay: about $13.1 million (10%)

• Operations and mainte nance: about $13.1 million (9%)

• Other: about $4 million (3%)

Those funds come almost entirely from federal (about $21 million, or 15%), state (about $74.6 million, or 54%) and local (about $42.7 million, or 31%) sources. Only about $300,000 comes from various other sources, accounting for less than 1%.

Federal dollars support certain student popula tions and needs, such as child nutrition and spe cial education, as well as supplemental programs and broad-based enhancement initiatives like Title I and TitleStateII. dollars fund major expenditures like direct and indirect instruction. This is primarily earned based on student enrollment, ac cording to the presentation. Other funds are appropri ated for certain student groupings, such as at-risk students and English-Lan guage Learners (ELL). Programs like career tech, and necessary functions like transportation and school nurses, are also funded by the“Astate.lot of what we do is scripted by the state,” Rob erts said, given over half the revenue comes from the state.Alabama is known as an “earmark” state, he said in the presentation, meaning most of the revenue gets designated for specific pur poses with little flexibility to shift the dollars among different programs. A study done a few years ago showed 84% of the state’s revenue was handled in this way.“With that said, we have … a relatively high level of flexibility in Lee County,” Roberts added. “Again, we have $42 million in local revenue. We’re very fortunate to have that. That allows us to spend in the classroom; we have a large investment in locally fund

edAccordingteachers.” to the presen tation, the high percentage of local revenue in the bud get for Lee County Schools puts the school system in the top one-third in the state in revenue per student. The administrative cost, which accounts for about 3% of the budget, is also “very near” the state average, Roberts said.

In other business, the board approved the follow ing items:

• Policy 3.41 in the board manual for the Unsafe School Transfer Option

• Policy 5.92 for the Use of VehiclesNon-Conforming•Thefacilitycleaning bid

award to Expert Cleaning Concepts Inc. in the amount of $300 per event for each facility

• A field trip for Beaure gard High School students in Future Farmers of Amer ica (FFA) for a national convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, from Oct. 24 to 29, 2022•A

field trip for Beaure gard Elementary School fourth-graders to attend 4H Camp in Columbiana, Ala bama, from May 8 through 10, 2023

• Human resource recom mendations for resignations and retirements; employ ment; transfers, reassign ments and supplements; leaves of absence; suspen sions; terminations; and

• The expulsion of a student from Smiths Station High School per the princi pal’s recommendation.

In the Community Speak ers portion of the meeting, Tabatha Boone asked for clarification on the reason for homecoming parade re strictions on children below sixth“Wegrade.simply don’t have the bus drivers,” McCoy said.

The Lee County Board of Education typically meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the board room at 2410 Society Hill Road in Opelika.

skills like team building, education, public safety, health and human service, economic development and government. Par ticipants will also have the opportunity to meet area leaders in business, media, home.”make(orandinyear,Rauch.Presidentsaidthemingainitiativeisorganizations.educationgovernmentandservice“TheOpelikaChamberproudtoleadthisjointtohelpbuildupdiversegroupofthrivstudentsandprepareforthefuture,”OpelikaChamberandCEOAli“AttheendofthewehopetheyarealllovewithLeeCountyplantoreturnherestay)aftercollegetoittheirlong-termFollowingarethe

names of the 32 juniors and seniors selected for the program:

AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL

Cate SarahParkerMadelynEvelynElenaDelaceyHerringWilkersonKimCherryMasseyScalesAshleyForthofer

BEAUREGARD HIGH SCHOOL

Matt Martin BEULAH HIGH SCHOOL

Jenniffer Coxwell

GLENWOOD SCHOOL

Jenna Solis LEE-SCOTT ACADEMY Ethan McKinnonMayaPhillipsKimLaneEsquivel-

LOACHAPOKA HIGH SCHOOL Evelyn MiracleJordanJakeeriaTomasMeltonBallardMclennon

OPELIKA HIGH SCHOOL Allie PatrickNolenKeelyMamieAshleighPrescottPittsNicholsonRiderWilsonSeymore

SMITHS STATION HIGH SCHOOL

Addison Kees

Aniyah Coston Emily RobertTashaJennaJaNiahLudwigHoskinsNealJudkinsSanborn

TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ethan SusannaClarkWashburn

ABOUT YCYL

The Lee County Young Leaders program is a joint initiative among Lee County opment/lcyl/ber.com/leadership-develhttps://www.opelikachamaboutandAmerica,AdvancedStateofSchools,CityCitycitytheChevrolet-Buick-GMC,sponsoredbersmunicipalitiesbusinesses,andchamofcommerce.ItisbyGlynnSmithcityofOpelika,theofAuburn,OpelikaSchools,AuburnSchools,LeeCountyChristieRayHillStateFarm,GoldenFoods,HanwhaMaterialsCurtisHousePharmavite.Formoreinformationtheprogram,visit

LCYL >> FROM A1

Ross Morris selected for ACCA leadership position

Southern Union’s Shondae Brown (left) and Abra Camp (right) receive awards recognizing outstanding PR and marketing efforts at the recent ACCSPRA conference.

SEAN DIETRICH

Mobile,IMorningAlabama.time.wasmeeting

someone important.

I pulled into the parking lot of Toomey’s Beads & Bulk Mardi Gras Supply on Macrae Avenue. Which is the kind of store you will not find in any city but Mobile.Toomey’s is a 70,000-square-foot ware house that represents one of the largest Mardi Gras supply inventories in the nation. Which is only fitting because Mobile is the offi cial birthplace of American MardiDon’tGras.letanyone tell you

otherwise.Mobile, Alabama’s, Mar di Gras bash is the oldest official Carnival celebration in the United States, started in 1703, shortly after the birth of Dick Clark.

But I wasn’t at Toomey’s to buy supplies for Fat Tuesday. I was here to meet Oscar.

At 11:30 a.m. Oscar arrived. The SUV pulled in. Oscar was accompanied by his handler, Andi.

Andi stepped out of her vehicle and opened the back door. Oscar was on a leash. His tail wagged. His entire backside was gyrating.

The easygoing bluetick

Oscar

hound came stepping out of the backseat. All legs.

He was your quintessen tial bluetick. White, with salt-and-pepper ticking. Velvet black ears long enough to qualify as safety hazards. A nose the size of a regulation tennis ball.

A collar around his neck was labeled BLIND DOG.

“Oscar can’t see,” said his handler. “He has no eyes.”Oscar’s face is beautiful.

Classic hound. Except there are no twinkling brown eyes looking at you. They were surgically removed because of congenital glaucoma.

This is why he walks with a unique gait. He lifts his front paws carefully. Gingerly. Every move he makes is with extreme care. He uses his nose to guide himself.Icould see him taking in his surroundings, using only his sense of smell. Muzzle aimed upward in the air. Testing each scent in the wind.“His nose is how he sees,” said Jenn Greene, his mother and rescuer. “He

can see everything with his nose.”Isquatted low. I called his name in a high-pitched voice.Iam a dog guy. My best friends have always had fleas.

Oscar followed the sound of my voice. Then he bar reled into me lovingly. Head to my chest. And he smelled me, just to get a better sense of who I was.

When he determined I was OK, Oscar plopped onto the pavement to let me conduct a thorough massage of his tummy region.

Customers coming and going from Toomey’s paused to snap photographs of him. Because it’s not every day you see a dog like Oscar.Somehow, Oscar seemed to know whenever someone was taking his photo. He would sit upright and aim his head right at the camera.

“How does he know I’m taking his picture?” asked one“Oscarpasserby.knows every thing,” Jenn said.

A few years ago, Jenn

Spectacular:

adopted Oscar from the Monroe County Animal Shelter. Oscar was 11 weeks old, and in bad shape. He had been dropped off by a breeder. He had a lot of problems.Namely, his sight was going. The surgeon tried to save his eyes to no avail. They removed Oscar’s eyes, then sewed his eyelids shut.

“It was pitiful,” Jenn said. “I remember hearing him cry in his kennel when he was recovering from surgery. His little puppy voice just howled. He didn’t understand why he had stitches in his eyes.”

Today, two red eyebrows hover on a midnight face, just above his two ocular scars. It gives his face the look of a hound who is perpetually sleeping.

“I knew I’d be taking on a dog with lots of health issues,” Jenn said. “But it’s OK, because this is my baby. He is my whole life.

“The vet gives me an automatic 50% discount be cause we live half the year in the waiting room.”

I petted him, and Oscar

shed his silken coat all over me. I wore his hair with pride. And when he pressed his cold nose against me to “see” me better, I was honored that he would care enough about me to want to see me at all.

He ran his nose along my feet, up my thigh, around my midsection, upon my hands, my arms and my neck.Isat cross-legged on the pavement as he rested his 9-pound head on my shoul der. We were soon entan gled in what could only be called a hug.

And I found myself wish ing I could be half the man Oscar is.

A woman walking into the store paused to look at Oscar. It took the woman a moment to realize that Os car was blind. The woman seemed surprised by this. She came in for a closer look.“This dog has no eyes,” the woman remarked.

“He doesn’t need eyes,” Oscar’s mother said. “He sees with with his heart.”

You’d have to be crazy to do what we do. By “we” I mean Tim and myself and Tim’s parents, Jeff and Jerri. For 364 days a year, we plan and prepare and look for ward to the Saturday after Labor Day with a couple hundred other folks, who are just as daylily crazy as we are, and flock to a tiny town in south Georgia to attend the Daylily Spectacular at Bell’s Daylily Garden.

For the four of us, it is a pilgrimage that be gins the day before. We

drive to Sycamore and check into the same hotel we’ve booked for the last few years. The men sit in the front of the truck discussing the weather and Alabama football (Tim’s fami ly are all Bama fans, bless their hearts) and the fish they’ve caught recently, while the women sit in the back seat and catch up on family events and new authors we’ve discov ered. And we laugh, all four of us, off and on the whole way. We check in and go to our rooms after deciding to meet for dinner at 5:30 p.m. After the five minutes it takes to settle in, we spend the next hour looking at the clock and wishing we’d said 5 p.m. instead.

Across the street from the hotel is an Olive Garden. We finally make our way over and sit in our usual section, already anticipating

the calamari and the seafood pasta and THE —gearedasleep,whilequickly.come.waitsayoutsidewaystoverymorningningweandforgetsnack,aneryinwhereoversdecideeachdamagesitlikeisBREADSTICKS!Thefeedingfrenzyoverinwhatfeelsmereminutes.Webackandsurveytheandsmileatother.Wealwaystotaketheleftbacktotheroomwewillstoreitthefridge,withevintentionofhavingItalianmidnightandpromptlyallaboutit.Feelingover-satisfiedslightlycomatose,callitanearlyevebecausethenextwillcomesoearly—4a.m.beexact.Wepartinthehallwayourroomsandagainhowwecan’tforthemorningtoAnditcomessoAlarmsgoofftheworldisstillandwegetallupforthedaycomfortableclothes

that will do well rain or shine, shoes that will carry us through the hours to come, can vas tote bags with the Bell’s logo on the front for holding our trea sures, and cash we’ve saved all year long with today in mind. By 5 a.m., we are at the end of a dirt road surrounded by fields and trees with the moon watching over us. We park in the almost empty lot and take our place in line. This year we are second, right behind a group we’ve seen before. They are reg ulars, and we smile at each other and say, “Good morning!” and then settle in to wait for things to begin at 8 a.m.You read that right. We’re three hours early. I told you we’re crazy.Very quickly there are other groups in line behind us. Benches

have been provided so that we can sit while we wait. They are wet with dew, but it doesn’t phase anyone. We are, after all, AT fearit’sstartedAndbakedandofshared.deningaredaylilies.tothough,territory).beburn(Bamaofother,standwonder.outask.up?”“HowsmallthroughSPECTACULAR!THEChit-chatrollsthegrouplikewavesofsound.wasyourtripsomeonewill“Istherecoffeeyet?”anotherwillThemenwillandnodateachandthey’llspeakfishingandfootballfansandAufansalikehavetocarefulinGeorgiaInevitably,talkwillturnwhatwealllove—Newvarietiesdiscussed.GartechniquesareWecomplaindeereatingthebudsofwhatasun-springitwas.don’tevengetusondryrot—whatlilygrowersmost.Wespeak

of it in hushed tones, much like Harry Potter fans discuss He Who Must Not Be Named.

This year someone asks us how many day lilies we have. I reply in a quiet tone, slightly ashamed to admit how much of an obsession this has become.

“We have about 150 plants,” I answer. Tim nods in agreement.

The man who asked the question is young, maybe 30, with small kids and a wife at home. He is well over 6 feet tall and has a Georgia Tech cap on. I silently dub him "Lanky Guy." He dips his head to hide his smile.“How many do YOU have?” I ask, thinking he’s realized we need an intervention and should not be here to buy even more flowers.

“I have about 800 right now,” he re

WENDY HODGE

See HODGE,

USPS Ready To Deliver For the Holidays

CONTRIBUTED BY USPS

ALABAMA —

The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced critical in vestments in personnel, technology and the postal network footprint that have been made before the 2022 holiday season.

Preparations for the 2022 holiday season be gan in January and build on the investments and organizational strategy improvements made ahead of the successful 2021 holiday mailing and shipping season. These proactive measures are part of “Delivering for America,” USPS’s 10year strategic cornerstoneing“Successfullyplan.deliverfortheholidaysisaofourDeliv

ering for America 10-year plan,” said Postmaster

General Louis DeJoy. “Thanks to the 655,000 women and men of the Postal Service, recent investments and opera tional precision improve ments, we are ready to be the most used delivery provider this holiday season.”

2022 PEAK HOLIDAY SEA

SON PREPARATIONS INCLUDE:

• 100,000 part-time employees converted to full-time career posi tions since January 2021 (41,000 part-time em ployees converted since January 2022). Thanks to a strong benefits package and investments in career growth opportunities for employees across the organization, USPS has converted more than 100,000 employees from part-time to full-time career positions since the beginning of 2021. About

41,000 part-time employ ees have converted into career roles since January of this year.

• Hiring additional 28,000 peak-season em ployees; aggressive hiring efforts continue. USPS is actively hiring 28,000 seasonal employees. Across the nation, USPS is hiring an additional 1,000 truck drivers, along with letter carriers and processing team mem bers. Job seekers can find and apply for thousands of open seasonal positions by visiting usps.com/ hiring.

• 60 million packag es processed each day. Thanks to investments in new package processing equipment and opera tional precision improve ments, USPS will be able to expand its processing capacity and process to

nearly 60 million packag es every day this holiday season, compared to 53 million in 2021.

• 249 new package processing machines deployed across the nation since January 2021 (137 installed this year). These new machines are strategic investments in local community postal infrastructure, enabling postal workers to sort and process packages of all sizes more quickly and reliably. By November, USPS will have installed 249 new package process ing machines across the nation since the beginning of 2021. This is part of the organization’s $40 billion investment in new technology and facilities under the Delivering for America plan.

• 8.5 million square feet added across 52 annexes

and facilities. In 2021, USPS signed multi-year leases on 52 peak-season annexes and processing facilities, which added 8.5 million square feet to the Postal Service footprint. These facilities are strate gically located throughout the country to augment space where there are shortages at existing post al facilities.

• 222,682 fleet vehicles ready to deliver for the holidays. USPS’s 222,682 fleet vehicles are ready to deliver for the holi days. To handle holiday package volume, 1,900 additional trailers have been leased for the peak season. Additionally, pre cision in our processing operation enables trucks to leave on time and mail and packages to get to their destinations in a quicker and more cost-ef

fective manner.

• New technology to expedite processing and delivery. In the last 12 months, more than 6,000 computer tablets have been deployed on our workroom floors to better equip processing and delivery supervisors with tracking and moving mail and packages expedi

tiously.AsUSPS prepares for the holiday peak season, service performance across all mail categories is strong and steady. On average, it takes just over two days for a mailpiece or package to be delivered across the postal network.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Circles Opelika Hosts Fundraising Luncheon

ing,” Sexton said. “… It’s very unfair in that situation, and it really does hurt our income.”

Volunteer firefight ers currently take on the duties of SSFPD, but with the physical and timely demands of the job, Sexton said it’s been hard to recruit new

“Wevolunteers.have,so far this year, had about 1,965 calls as of today,” he said. “The vast majority, over 50% of those calls, were answered by just three people. … That’s not sustainable. It’s going to burn those people out.”The goal is to be able to

hire nine paid full-time fire fighters to start, all working a traditional ABC shift, or 24 hours on and 48 hours off. That would put at least three firefighters on duty at any given time. Sexton said hiring a few part-time fire fighters would also help to fill any gaps during vacation or sick

“Eventually,days. we’d like to increase that in the next few years to six all every day, but we can’t do that if we don’t pay competitive wages and if we don’t offer competitive benefits,” he added.

An increase in the fire fee would also help Smiths Sta tion reinstate its ambulance service, which Sexton said is a top priority. The ambu lance service was discontin

ued earlier this year due to a lack of staff and funds.

“We want to reinstate the ambulance, and we need to reinstate that ambulance now,” Sexton said. “… We have too many people and too many emergency calls to not have … that primary ambulance.”EastAlabama Medical Center has an ambulance stationed there “most of the time,” he added, but EAMC ambulances are responsible for the entire county and are not always available in the moment they’re needed.

Sexton said hiring nine full-time firefighters and three medic/EMT crews alone would cost SSFPD al most $1.2 million, or about double the current budget.

SSFPD will also need

to replace engines, gear, equipment and Station 1, as well as rebuild Station 2 and remodel Station 5, among other things. That will cost an additional $5.2 million.

“All of that doesn’t have to be done today, but I would say all of that needs to be done in the next five years,” he added.

Sexton said a new fire fee will likely have to be approved by vote in a spe cial election, like it was in 2012. In the past, a new fire fee “was voted down every time” it was put on the bal lot for general elections.

“I think that part of that was probably people not un derstanding what they were voting on,” Sexton added, or even not voting on it at all. He said the wording also

may have caused confusion.

The new proposed plan for an increase includes a small monthly fee in addi tion to the annual $50 until it expires in 2036.

According to the pre sentation, the Lee County Commission will continue to assess and collect the yearly fee and pay pro ceeds to SSFPD. The new monthly fee, set at $16, will be offset by a credit of about $4.17 — which will add up to cover the yearly fee — until the current fire fee expires, so residential customers will end up pay ing about $11.83 per month with this new system.

Customers will be able to pay online, by mail, by phone or through an auto draft from their bank

account. Because of cash control regulations, pay ments cannot be accepted at the fire station.

For those with financial hardships, a form will be available online at www. fire.smithsstational.gov or at Station 1, located across from the flea market. The form must be completed and mailed to SSFPD. The board of directors will then review each case and “grant relief when appropriate,” according to the presenta tion.“If there are questions, we’re happy to try to ad dress those,” Sexton said.

For more information, or to watch the full town hall meeting, visit faq/.smithsstational-fpd.gov/https://www.

DISTRICT >> FROM A1

Circles of Opelika held a fundraising luncheon last Friday, Sept 16. During the event, awards were presented to the Opelika City Council — presenting sponsor, Four Seasons Federal Credit Union — premier sponsor, the Opelika Housing Authority and the PRF Institute — supporting sponsors.

HODGE >>

sponds.Timand I glance at each other. Tim raises an eyebrow at me.

“Wow,” is all I man age to say.

He’s part of what I

call the “Daylilies for Profit” population of daylily fanatics (or Ul tra Crazies, for short). These are the talented people who grow and breed and sell daylilies from their own homes.

They know more about new varieties and gardening techniques

ing assistance, visit the website: cy-services-csbg/.adult-services/emergenwww.achr.com/

than I will ever learn. Often they speak in terms that sound like a foreign language — proliferation, diurnal versus nocturnal, pho toperiodism — words likeTimmusic.andI and Tim’s parents are in the other portion of folks here,

what I call the “Daylil ies for Pleasure” group (Only Mildly Crazies). We buy them and plant them and watch them bloom every year. They multiply, as daylilies do, so we build more beds and transplant them. And then we come to Sycamore and

buy even more. It’s an expensive, time-con suming, back-breaking cycle. And we love it to death. We are often heard saying lookgorgeous!”mentsexpert-soundingverystatelike,“Isn’tthator“Ohmy,atthatone!”Thereisapause in the beginforourMildlyCraziesandglancesaroundconversationus.LankyGuyathiswatchsays,“It’stime.”Andweall,theUltraandtheOnlyCrazies,gettofeetandpreparetheSpectacularto—atlast!Tobecontinued….

certified fitness instructor for Head Start and health and mental health and disabilities coordinator for“WeACHR.make sure that they have medical home, dental home, Medicaid or insurance,” she said.

“Medicaid pays for den tists after one year, many parents don’t know that.”

There are also health screenings for children, like hearing tests. The food served is also bal anced and nutritional.

COMMUNITY SERVICES: ASSISTANCE:

The program offers assistance to community members with lighting and heating bills, in addition to all the family and child care services it offers.

“[People] can get assistance one time in the heating program and one time in the cooling program [lighting bills],” said Tabitha Perry, CSBG, onandgramprovidesifsummer,winterassistancesis,icineshowathemcondition,“Ifservicesassistantadministrativeandemergencycoordinator.theyhaveamedicalwecanassistandiftheyprovidepharmacyprintouttothattheytakemedonaday-to-daybawecanprovidethemtwiceintheandtwiceinthebutthat’sonlywehavethefunds.”Theprogramalsoanoutreachproforseniorcitizensrentalassistance.Formoreinformationthesewaysofreceiv

THE SUNSHINE SHOP:

The Sunshine Shop is a donation center as part of the Head Start Program.“Wetake in donations and then we give cloth ing, shoes, household items, anything that is donated to our donation shop, we will take it in, and then we offer it free to our community members that are in need and to our families,” said Sharon Smith, who manages the shop and has been with the orga nization for 14 years.

“… We have been really, really blessed with a lot of community members from the Auburn and Opelika and Smiths Station area to donate. And they love to donate because we don’t sell it.”

The location to donate to the shop is Avenue E Building 1 (behind Darden Center at 601 S. 4th St. in Opelika).

THE IMPACT:

The program as a whole wants to recruit families, many of the womenSometimessaid. program educators and visitors have the chance to see a child they worked with years later. Occasionally, children involved in the program who graduated return to enroll their own children. Sometimes it’s parents who decide to work with the program themselves later on.

“Seeing the success of the families and sometimes we don’t see

it right away, it’s some things that we don’t see until 10 or 15 years down the road, but being here so long I have been able to see some of those things,” Heartsill said. “It’s what I tell all my staff, you’re not always going to see the positives right away. It comes later and sometimes we don’t even see it.”

Smith said she once had the chance to see a former student at the grocery store.

“The joys of it are endless,” she said. “I have children that I’ve met through Head Start that they call me daily and [say] thanks and they don’t forget people who help them when they’re little. For instance, I was at Winn Dixie and the bag boy, he grew up and I didn’t see him for a long time. But he kept looking at me and then he came up and wrapped his arms around me. And he said, 'I love you Ms. Sharon.’”Pittman, who has served as an educator for 24 years, participated in Head Start herself in North Carolina.

“I knew this was where my heart was, working with families and children and my Head Start Program back in North Carolina had such an impact on my life that I decided to devote my life to Head Start and to work with families and children,” sheForsaid.more on Head Start, visit the www.achr.com/.website:

Ann Cipperly

With a love for cook ing and entertaining, Angie Dyer enjoys opening her spacious home for parties, whether it is in doors, on the sunporch, covered porch or patio with an outdoor kitchen overlooking landscaped grounds. Recently, Angie planned to en tertain her grandson, Benjamin Young, along

with other members of the Sidewalk Prophets for brunch, but it ended up being an afternoon meal.Amusician who plays most instruments by ear, Benjamin has been with the Sidewalk Prophets for about a year and a half. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State Uni versity with studies in music production and

business. After grad uating, Benjamin was part of a band playing at weddings and creat ed elaborate videos on Facebook. A member of the Sidewalk Proph ets, a Christian rock group, saw the videos and asked him to audi tion for the group, as they had lost their key board player.

For his first perfor mance with the Side

Sundilla To Present Michael McDermott Sept. 23

CONTRIBUTED BY SUNDILLA

AUBURN — Michael McDermott will make his Sundilla debut on Friday, Sept. 23. Showtime at Pebble Hill is 7:30 p.m.

Advance tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Spicer’s Music, Ross House Coffee and online at Admissionsundillamusic.com.atthedoor will be $25.

McDermott might be something of an unknown in some places, but don’t be fooled into thinking that he’s a complete unknown. Stephen King said, “Mi chael McDermott is one of the best songwriters in the world and possibly the greatest undiscovered rock ‘n’ roll talent of the last 20 years.” The Washington Post predicts “McDermott may well become one of his generation's greatest talents.”

And he’s no newcomer, not a Johnny-come-lately. In fact, McDermott’s brand of music brims with the kind of well-honed style and wisdom that can only come from a career on the road and a pedigree in the studio. Effortlessly blend ing natural folk sensibility, pop hooks and honest rock, McDermott’s music is as much for the outcast as the congregation. It’s an explo

ration of the dark corners of life’s journey, and it resonates middle-class truths through the pas sionate filter of a child that grew up on Chicago’s Irish South Side.

“I’m from Chicago, like eight miles from where John Prine grew up, so this is how we do Americana in Chicago,” he said with a laugh. “I gave Nashville a little bit of a try, but decided why would I want to be around a bunch of people like me?”

More evidence that he’s not as unknown, as some think, is his string of successes. 2016’s “Willow Springs” went to No. 1 on the European Americana chart, and the string of critically acclaimed albums goes back to his major label debut, “620 W. Surf,” in 1991.

walk Prophets, Ben jamin played with the group in North Dakota in an outdoor concert for 25,000 people. Since then, the group has played across the country.

When the group was coming to the First Baptist Church in Opelika in early Au gust, Benjamin asked his Nana Angie if she would serve the band brunch when they

arrived that morning since he knew she en joyedAngiecooking.planned to have the brunch at 9:30 a.m. She planned the

First Harvest Float, 'The Goonies' Float-In-Movie Set for Oct. 7

CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF AUBURN

AUBURN — Auburn Parks and Recreation invites the community to a new Pool.Oct.Float,event,family-friendlytheHarvestonFriday,7,atSamfordTheeventwill

begin at 5:30 p.m. and will feature a float ing pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating and a showing of "TheParticipantsGoonies."will be able to swim through the pumpkin patch to select the perfect pumpkin to decorate. Then, enjoy dinner from local food trucks and dive back into the pool for a float-inmovie.

Admission is $5 per person and includes all — food trucks not included. Those in terested in

Angie Dyer and her husband David have five children and 14 grandchildren. Angie enjoys cooking for family and friends at their lovely home with numerous outdoor areas for dining, as as having an outdoor kitchen. Angie is sharing favorite recipes for a brunch or to

See MCDERMOTT

Making the Grade: Bitty & Beau's Coffee Shop

PATTONSTACEYWALLACE

Back when I taught language arts at Long Cane Middle School in LaGrange, Georgia, I always wanted to be fair to all my students and wanted them to succeed. However, I must admit that I had a soft spot for David and Lauren (not their real names), who were excep tional education students I taught in my co-teaching class 10 years ago.

Although David and Lau ren struggled with reading and writing, they were so sweet and worked really hard with a great attitude. Therefore, they were such a joy to teach. In fact, I much preferred teaching students such as David and Lauren instead of lazy, gifted stu dents who didn’t appreciate theirTeachinggift. exceptional ed ucation children reinforced the lessons which I had al ready learned. Namely, that everyone: 1. is loved by God equally; 2. has value; 3. can learn (just at different paces); 4. has something to contrib ute; and 5. deserves a chance to make a

Therefore,contribution.whenIread

in The Observer that Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop had come to Auburn, I was excited to go there. When Mike and I traveled to Bitty & Beau’s at 100 N. Gay St. in Auburn, we liked what we read on the wall of the shop: “The Wright family founded the first coffee shop in 2016 in honor of their two chil dren, Bitty and Beau, who have Down’s syndrome. It’s changing the way people see otherBittypeople.”&Beau’s employs people with intellectual and developmental challenges. Mike and I loved the bright, joyful atmosphere of the coffee

Evelyn,shop.the shift super visor and a college student, was so kind, helpful and patient. She said that she told her parents, “You know you have it good when you miss being at work.” Also, Austin Jones, the manager of

Happy

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

LEE COUNTY —

Bitty & Beau’s, was really kind and helpful, too. He didn’t get annoyed at all my questions.Mikeand I both ordered strawberry smoothies and cinnamon rolls. They were too. delicious. for. words. I really wish we’d had this place in Auburn when I was in school, back in the Dark Ages.Besides our wonderful smoothies, Bitty & Beau’s serves customers coffees, lattes, bagels and muffins. Next time, I think I’ll try their delicious-looking blue berry muffin with a coffee; that will be really great for

fall and cooler weather.

After Mike and I finished our amazing smoothies and cinnamon rolls, I enjoyed talking with the coffee shop’s employees. When I asked Carter, who took our order, what was the favorite part of his job, he said, “I like interacting with the cus tomers.” When I asked Fritz, Carter’s coworker, the same question, Fritz said, “I get to make neat drinks.” Carter and Fritz, you both get an A+ from this retired English teacher.Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop has a motto: “More than a cup of coffee.” I quite agree. In fact, people of Lee County, if you visit Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop (and I hope you do), you will receive a cup of joy. Believe me, if you’re sad, come to this wonderful place and you’ll leave with a smile.

Mike and I felt so wel come at Bitty & Beau’s. We loved the handwritten notes on our cups. Mine said, “War Eagle, Hey!” Mike’s said, “Thank you.” The cof fee shop also has gift items such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, tumblers, aprons and more. We bought T-shirts and in our sacks were thankyou notes. Mike and I have never felt so welcome in our lives.

Run and do not walk to Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop. It has made the Loveliest Village on the Plains even lovelier.Bitty& Beau’s Coffee Shop is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Pooh-sized” people NEV ER lie about food. Enjoy!

Stacey Patton Wallace, who retired guageteachingfromlanartsfor 30 years, is a profes sional diner. Her column, “Making the Grade,” will appear each week in atmayObserver.TheStaceybereachedretiredlangartsteach

Happy Times is a farm-to-table food truck experience. While it has been in business since 2012, it took a break during COVID-19 and decided to return to serving customers from Montgomery to Columbus. Happy Times food is sourced from its family farm, Smiths Farm and Ranch.

Its menu brings a Southern cheesesteak called "The Pama" honoring the family matriarch and the state of Alabama. Happy Times serves a signature drink called "HappyHappyJuice."Times is now bringing its cuisine and food truck to Opelika. Owner Marcus DeVrae, Naszier Lewis and Luanne Helms have created a partnership to bring Happy Times to a location near you. It is taking reservations for parties, tailgates, reunions and more. The truck can often be found during Food Truck Fridays in downtown Opelika on the first and third Friday nights of every month.

The truck will be at Bubba's Medicine Shop on 2nd Avenue in Opelika on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at EAMC on Friday, Sept. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Follow Happy Times on Facebook to book the truck and to stay up to date on locations.ComeHungry. Leave Happy.

er2020@gmail.com

*Please note: Bitty &

Beau’s only accepts credit and debit cards, no cash.

Opelika Welcomes Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce and Cottonseed Studios hosted Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors in Opelika Thursday, Sept. 15. A crowd of over 2,000 locals came to see Holcomb and his band — an Americana act hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, which draws influence from Tom Petty and Bob Dylan.

menu, which became rather large due to restricted diets. She planned a variety of main dishes. Angie pre pared a coffee cake and breakfast casserole to freeze and made other dishes the day ahead.

Angie had their yard well-groomed and hung a banner on the porch that said, “Welcome Sidewalk Prophets.” She had a photo of ev eryone in the band.

On the back covered porch, she set a table with china, silver and sparkling crystal with red roses as the center piece. Her serving table was decorated and had space for all the brunch dishes.When the phone rang at 9:30, Angie thought the group was lost, but the bus had broken down. They couldn’t be there until 11 a.m. Angie thought it would be fine. At 11:30, Ang ie received another call that their trailer had a flat tire, so they would not be there until 1 p.m.At 1 p.m., Angie was ready but the group was held up in traf

CIPPERLY >> RECIPESCIPPERLYA7>>

PIMENTO CHEESE

8 oz. pkg. sharp cheddar cheese (I used Cabot’s)1/2cup mayonnaise

1 tsp. apple cider vinegar1tsp. Worcestershire Sauce1/2tsp. pepper, or more to taste

1/2 tsp. salt, or more to 1/4tastetsp. garlic powder

4 oz. jar diced pimen tos, drained and blotted with paper towels

2 Tbsp. finely minced onions (can be grated) or more if desired

Grate cheese using the largest holes a box grater or food processor. Set aside and refrig erate.Ina small size mixing bowl make the dressing for the pimento cheese. Combine mayonnaise, apple cider cheeseringmentostogetherpowder.pepper,Worcestershirevinegar,Sauce,saltandgarlicWhiskingredientstocombine.Adddraineddicepiandonions,stirtoincorporate.Addthecoldgratedtothismixture.Servewithcrackers.

CASSEROLEBREAKFAST WITH SAUSAGE AND CHEESE

1 lb. sausage

1 pkg. crescent rolls

1 cup shredded ched dar cheese

5 eggs

¼ cup milk 1 tsp. Italian season ings½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. Brownpeppersausage,

fic, so it would be 2 or 3 p.m. before they arrived. At 2 p.m., An gie and her husband, David, packed up the food, left her nice table and took the food to the First Baptist Church. At 2:45, the band ar rived, sat down and quickly ate the dishes she had prepared, then got ready to set up for theAtconcert.4inthe afternoon, Angie and David went home to rest and re turned to the church just before the concert.

“The grandchildren.upchildren,a“Allremember,”wasendingthoughtwasandsolograndsonworldsongssingerwaswas“Thehappened,”lyeverythingstartedperformanceontime,andransmoothlikenothinghadsaidAngie.lightandsoundgreat,andtheshowbeautiful.TheleadsangChristianwithwordstheshouldhear.Mygottodoaonthiskeyboard,wethoughtthatgreat.”AngieandDaviditwasagoodtotheday.“ItadayIwillalwaysshesaid.badthingscametogoodend.”TheDyershavefivewhogrewinAuburn,and14Benja

breaking it up into pieces as it cooks. Unroll crescent roll and spread on the bot tom of a 9-by-13-inch baking

onandtogethertop.SprinklesauceEvenlypan.spreadoverdough.cheeseonInabowl,whiskeggs,milkseasonings,Pourtopofcasserole.

Bake at 400 degrees for 13 to 20 minutes or until eggs are done and crust is golden.

APPLE

VINAIGRETTEAPPLESALADPECANWITHCIDER

Candied Pecans: 2 tsp. butter

1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 Tbsp. water

1 cup pecan halves

1/8 tsp. cinnamon

Dressing: 2/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar1Tbsp. white vin egar

3 Tbsp. lime juice

3 Tbsp. pineapple juice1/4 cup honey

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. black pepper

1/2 tsp. garlic pow der

Salad: 11 oz. pkg. spring mix

3 sweet, crunchy apples, cored and thinly sliced (I like Honeycrisp)

4 to 6 oz. blue or Gorgonzola cheese crumbles

2/3 cup dried cran berries

For Pecans:Candied

Heat oven to 350 degrees and line a

min’s parents, Chris and Dr. Lisa Young, live in Auburn. Lisa is a pediatrician, while Chris is a social work er. Along with Benja min, who is the oldest, they have two other children, Emily and Gabe.The Dyers’ son Mark, a visitEleanorthreeBirminghamwifemedicalMarshallhasandNorthlivesDavid.sons,JoshthreeHarvard.onlivehusband,SarahotheronPhilip,Brent,Theytanooga,thologist,Laurel,engineer,mechanicalandhiswifeaspeechpaliveinChatTennessee.havetwosons:aminister,andwhoisworkinghismaster’sdegree.AngieandDavid’sdaughter,Dr.BerryandherDr.JayBerry,inBostonandarethemedicalstaffatTheyhavesons:Griffin,andBrian.TheDyershavetwinMatthewandMatthew,whoinAsheville,Carolina,buildsrestoreshouses.Hethreesons:Alden,andMiles.David,whoisinsales,andhisMcKenzieliveinandhavechildren:Carlisle,andFields.AllofthefamilyatThanksgivings.

rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a small skillet over medium heat, add butter, brown sugar, salt and water. Stir until butter and sugar melt. Add pecans and cook, stirring very frequently, for about 3 minutes, being cau tious not to allow the mixture to scorch.

Remove from heat and add cinnamon. Stir to Spreadcombine.pecanson pre pared baking sheet and bake 5 minutes. Allow to cool completely be fore using on salad.

For Dressing: Whisk oil, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, lime juice and pineapple juice. Add honey, salt, black pep per and garlic powder. Whisk to combine.

For Salad: Add spring mix to a large bowl and top with apples, cheese, cranberries and can died pecans. Drizzle with desired amount dressing, toss and serve.

CHEESE GRITS

4 ½ cups water 1 cup stoneground grits1tsp. salt

¾ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

¼ cup grated Parme san cheese 3 Tbsp. butter ½ tsp. freshly ground pepper

½ tsp. Tabasco, or to Bringtaste 4 ½ cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Whisk in the grits and salt, reduce heat to low, and cook at a gently simmer for 35 to 40 minutes or until the

When the entire fam ily is there, some of them stay at a building behind the house that David built with a sign saying, “Angie’s Inn By Reservations Only.” It has bedrooms, baths and a sitting area, as well as a covered porch overlooking the wood lands. A post has the name of each of their children and the miles to their homes.

Some members of the family have followed Angie in having a love for cooking. Sarah enjoys cooking, and Lisa’s two sons, Benja min and Gabe, are good cooks.Angie’s mother was a southern cook who prepared meals without measuring ingredients and didn’t use recipes. “When I got a little older,” Angie said, “I would ask Mother how much sugar and bak ing powder to add, but she would always say just a little bit. I can’t tell you how much. I became interested in cooking helping my mom, but I can’t cook like that. I would look up a recipe to help her cook.”Angie enjoyed cook ing for her five chil dren and always tried

grits are thick, stirring occasionally. Stir more often as the grits thicken.Remove the pan from the heat, add the cheddar, Parmesan, butter, pepper and Tabasco, and stir until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Keep warm over very low heat until ready to serve.

COFFEEBREAKFASTCAKE

This is my late sis ter Mary Ann’s reci pe. Her husband was in a coffee club, and every time there was a birthday, my sister would send this cake to the meeting.

1 box yellow cake mix4¾eggscup oil

½ cup sour cream ½ cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp. cinnamon Glaze: Mix powdered sug ar with a little milk and pour over the top of baked coffee cake.

To make the coffee cake, beat eggs and oil. Add cake mix and sour cream. Beat well on medium for about 2 minutes.Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Coat Bundt pan with Pam nonstick cooking spray. Pour one-third of batter in pan and cover with half of the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.Pouranother third of the batter over brown sugar and cinnamon. Then cover the top with the remaining brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.

to serve an attractive meal. “Although the food was not always fancy,” she said, “I would have linen nap kins and a nice cen terpiece with flowers, candles or fruit on the table. To this day, I always think presenta tion makes food look better.”Angie enjoys enter taining and has hosted weddings on their love ly, landscaped grounds behind their home. Be fore COVID, they were in two bridge dinner groups. At times, Angie will prepare fancy dish es, while David enjoys grilling at the outdoor kitchen. Except for the winter months, they dine on the porches. Angie and David met while they were stu dents at the University of Tennessee. Angie majored in home eco nomics with studies in foods and textiles. Af ter graduating and get ting married, they lived in Atlanta for two years while David worked on his doctorate and Angie taught school. When he graduated, David accepted a position as a professor of mechan ical engineering at Au burnSoonUniversity.afterwards, he

Pour last third of batter into pan and spread evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Check middle of cake with a toothpick for doneness.Turnpan upside down for about five minutes. Remove cake from pan. Pour glaze over top.

BROILED SALMON FILETS

Pat salmon filets dry and season with spices on all sides.

Heat butter and oil, then add garlic, water, soy sauce, sriracha, honey and lemon juice.When hot, add salmon filets (skin side down if your filets have skin) and cook 3 minutes.

While salmon cooks, use a spoon to baste the filets.

Broil for 5 to 6 min utes, until salmon is sticky sweet, slightly charred, and cooked to desired doneness.

ASPARAGUSSTEAMED SAUCEHOLLANDAISEWITH

Asparagus: Bunch of asparagus

Salt and pepper to tasteCut stems off aspar agus. Drop in boiling water and cook for 4 minutes. Remove from pan. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour Hollandaise Sauce over top.

Hollandaise Sauce: 1 cup unsalted but ter 6 large egg yolks 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice1Tbsp. Dijon mus

received a sabbatical for further studies, and they lived for a year in London, England. While there, they vis ited other countries, which was the begin ning of their love of travel. A few years later, he received a grant to visit universi ties around the world, and Angie traveled with him. They began collecting antiques, oil paintings and other col lectibles.Overthe years, Angie has been active in vari ous organizations. She has served as president of the Campus Club and has been involved in the Woman’s Club of Auburn, Newcomers Club, a book club, Bi ble studies and bridge groups, among others. When the girls were growing up, she would take them to nursing homes to deliver flow ers and sing. She still enjoys visiting nursing

homes.Angie is sharing the brunch recipes she pre pared for the Sidewalk Prophets and a few oth ers. Clip and save the recipes for a brunch, lunch or to serve for any meal this fall when you need tried-and-true delicious dishes.

tard¼ tsp. paprika, plus more for garnish 1 tsp. salt Melt butter in a small skillet over medi um-low. Keep butter hot over lowest heat (do not let it brown). Process egg yolks, lemon juice, mustard, paprika, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt in a blender on me dium just to combine, about 5 seconds. With blender run ning on medium speed, slowly pour hot, melted butter through center opening in blender lid. Process until mixture is smooth and thick, about 1 minute.

CINNAMON BAKED APPLES

Serve with a scoop ice cream for an easy dessert.

5 to 6 large apples 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1/4 cup light brown sugar1Tbsp. granulated sugar2tsp. cinnamon 2 tsp. cornstarch 2 Tbsp. unsalted but terCan add maraschino cherries for color. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Peel, core and thinly slice 5 to 6 apples, and transfer them to a 9-by13-inch baking dish.

Add 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, ¼ cup light brown sugar, 1 Tbsp. granulat ed sugar, 2 tsp. cinna mon, 2 tsp. cornstarch and mix butter.toptogether.everythingSpreadevenlyandwithsliced2tbspCoverwithfoiland

bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 to 15

Uptown Columbus Presents Fall Friday Night Concerts

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

COLUMBUS —

Uptown Colum bus Friday Night Concerts presented by Georgia Power are back and kicked off last Friday night, Sept. 16, featuring a local favorite, The Rea sons Why ThroughoutBand.the series, attendees will experi ence a variety of genres and entertainment. From touring tribute bands to local musicians, the Uptown stage will offer a great variety of tunes.

MCDERMOTT

“Yeah, that was the gamechanger,” McDer mott mused. “Critics were calling me the next

Dylan, next Springsteen. I got into Rolling Stone, the New York Times, CNN — all that. And as soon as it came, it was gone. It’s a funny feeling to be 23 or 24 and washed up,

you know? It kind of sent meWashedsideways.”up? No, just finally in the right place at the right time. For more information, go to www.sundillamusic.com.

Concerts will be held every Friday night from 7 to 10 p.m. on the 1000 block of Broadway but will finish up in the 1200 block on Oct. 14.

minutes.When done, take it out of the oven and let sit on the counter for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes: Make sure you stir them at least a couple times while baking to mix all the sauce ingre dients together. At first, when the butter is melt ed, it might look like the sauce is greasy and the fats are separating. After you bake it longer and stir a few times, everything will bind together, and the sauce will caramelize.

SQUASH CASSEROLE WITH CHEDDAR

4 yellow squash, thin ly ½slicedonion, thinly sliced into rings

4 Tbsp. butter

2 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 cup milk

¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 tsp. seasoned salt

On Oct. 7, the show will switch to Woodruff Park and begin at 6 p.m. The concerts are fami ly-friendly and free to the public, so make sure to bring the children and

in a medium-sized pot over medium heat.

Cook stirring oc casionally, until the glaze becomes thick.

You will know it is thick enough when it can coat the back of a spoon, and the glaze will slowly come off the

Whip,Chillture9-inchafreshandJell-OAddspoon.Strawberrytotheglazestirtocombine.Placedrainedwholestrawberriesintobakeddeep-dishpieshell.Pourcookedmixoverberries.2hoursatleast.TopwithCoolifdesired.

TOMATOSOUTHERNPIE WITH TWO CHEESES

Homemade piecrust or roll crust from re frigerator section at grocery store

spread the word with friends that every Friday night, Uptown is the place to Nearbybe.restau rants will offer food and beverages for sale. Free parking is available in nearby public decks. Lawn chairs are welcome. Outside coolers are prohibited and pets are discouraged due to loud noises and crowds. To stay up to date on all things Uptown, sponsor ship opportunities and fall events, visit lowalwaysuptown.com,www.folonFacebookorcall at 706-596-0111.

Place tomatoes in a single layer on paper towels; sprinkle with 1 tsp. salt. Let stand 10 minutes.Sautéonion and 1/4 tsp. each salt and pep per in hot oil in a skil let over medium heat a few minutes or until onion is tender.

Pat tomatoes dry with a paper towel. Layer tomatoes, onion and herbs in prepared crust, seasoning each layer with pepper (1 tsp. total). Stir togeth er cheeses and mayon naise; spread over pie.

Bake for 30 min utes or until lightly browned.

½ tsp.

CrushedpepperRitz crackers for topping, optional

Place squash and onion in boiling water. Boil for about three minutes or until fork test for tenderness. Pour through a colander to drain.Melt butter and add cornstarch, salt and pepper. Gradually add milk, stirring until thick. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add squash.Pour into a greased casserole dish. Top with Ritz cracker crumbs, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Serves 6.

STRAWBERRY PIE

1 cup water

1 cup granulated sugar

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

6 Tbsp. strawberry Jell-O1lb.

cleaned,strawberriessteamremoved,andleftwhole9-inchdeep-dishpiecrust,bakedBlendsugar,cornstarchandwatertogether

Filling: 2 1/4 lb. heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced 1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided 1 sweet onion, chopped11/4tsp. ground pepper, divided

1 Tbsp. canola oil

1/2 cup assorted chopped fresh herbs (such as chives, basil and Gruyère1/2parsley)cupgratedcheese1/2cupgrated cheesemigiano-ReggianoPar1/4cupmayonnaise

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Roll piecrust to 1/8 thickness. Press dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Trim dough 1 inch larger than diameter of pie plate; fold alongdoughoverhangingunderitselfrimofpieplate.

Chill 30 minutes or untilLinefirm.piecrust with aluminum foil; fill with pie weights or dried beans. (This will keep the crust from bubbling up.) Place on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Re move weights and foil. Bake 5 minutes longer or until browned. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven tem perature to 350 de grees. Prepare Filling:

115 years ago AuburnBank was founded on the principles of sound money management and putting the customer first. As we’ve opened our new home in downtown Auburn, those principles still drive everything we do. Come by and help us celebrate our most recent success, and let’s talk about helping you achieve yours.

What's Happening in Lee County

AUBURN/OPELIKA MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS (MOPS) UNITE FOR A NEW YEAR!

MOPS International encourages and equips moms of young children to realize their potential as mothers, women and leaders in relationship with Jesus, and in partnership with the local church. Preschool mothers learn to take time out for motherhood during MOPS meetings around a theme and discussion. MOPS helps moms share their experiences and learn more about children’s unique needs from infants to kindergarten.

NAMI MEETING

NAMI East Alabama, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will meet on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. NAMI supports families dealing with mental illness through mutual support, education and advocacy. There will be a time for sharing. The public is invited. Meetings are held at 714 E. Glenn Ave. in Auburn.

CAMP HILL MARKETPLACE

Come out and buy your fresh produce, honey, jams and hand-crafted items at the Camp Hill Marketplace, a state-certified farmers market ev ery Thursday, 8 to 11 a.m., June 2 through Oct. 20, rain or shine, at Mount Lovely Baptist Church at 21900 Senator Claude Pepper Drive, Camp Hill (AL Hwy 50). Potential vendors contact Sharon at 256-749-5100 to apply to join.

O GROWS — SATURDAYS AT THE GARDEN

Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon outside the Southside Center for the Arts, located at 1103 Glenn St. in Opelika. Ac tivities will include planting, storytime, crafts or art projects for children and hanging out with the goats.

During MOPS’ meetings, a Moppets program is available for children. This program is taught and facilitated by volunteer childcare teach ers. This program allows little ones to work on lessons, activities, arts, crafts, and play. While the mothers are making friends, their children areAuburn/Opelikatoo. MOPS meets twice a month on the first and third Thursday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at Pepperell Baptist Church at 2702 2nd Ave. in Opelika. MOPS’ autumn schedule is Sept. 15; Oct. 6, 20; Nov. 3, 17 and Dec. 1 and 15.

The MOPS theme this year is "coming together as friends." You can contact Coordinators Rachel Elrod at 706-244-5620 and Kaela Sexton at 719-351-8093, or you can email auburnopelikamops@gmail.com.

LEE/RUSSELL COUNTY LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP

The group will meet every month on the third Wednesday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The meeting will be held at the AIDB-Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Opelika Regional center on 355 Dunlop Drive in Opelika. Every month there will be different topics discussed to make life more manageable living with low vision.

Contact Shiquita Fulton, M. ED/Vision Rehab Therapist for addi tional details at 334-705-2024, or Melody Wilson, case manager for the blind, at 256-368-3258.

COFFEE & CONVERSATION WITH VFW POST 5404

VFW Post 5404, 131 E. Veterans Blvd., Auburn, next to Ray's Col lision off of South College Street, will be open on Wednesdays 8 to 11 a.m. with coffee, donuts, cake and conversation about service and benefits for all veterans and spouses to stop by.

WALTER ALBRITTON

RELIGION — 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This

inheritance is kept in heaven for you… (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Your doctor is not smiling as he shares the results of recent tests. You hear the devastating words “inoperable” and “terminal.” You ask the inevitable question: “How much time do I have left?” His answer is understandably vague. “With treatment, a year or so; without treatment, six months to a year.” Numbed by this shattering news, you agree to give the doctor your answer in a week or so.

Immediately you have a different attitude toward “little things.” Getting the car tires rotated or painting

A Living Hope

the deck or going to a ball game — such concerns are now on the back burner. Your mind is filled with bigger questions. Should I agree to the chemotherapy treatment? What must I do to prepare for the end of my life? Am I ready to meet Jesus? Will I be able to handle the suffering that I am facing? If God really loves me, why is He letting this happen to me?

As you wrestle with these heartrending questions, you should know that your terminal illness is not a surprise to your heavenly Father. Knowing this would happen, your Father has provided help for you in this

time of testing. You will find help in His Word, the Holy Bible. There you can read an abundance of scriptures that will strengthen your faith and give you hope. For example, the Apostle Peter wrote about “a living hope” to Christians who were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus.

As you read what Peter said, you will realize that your heavenly Father has not left you alone. He comes to you in His Son, who is able to “birth” in your soul a living hope, a hope that is grounded in the past, centered in the future and available in the present.

This living hope’s

OBITUARIES

GEORGE H. CUMMINGS

Funeral services for George H. Cummings, known to his friends as Hal, were held on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Jeff coat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika. A private burial will be held at Fort Mitch ell National Cemetery.

Hal was born and raised in Asheville, North Car olina, and was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a veteran of WWII, having served in the U.S. Navy 1945-46.

After retiring from the Department of Defense with 30 years of service, he and his wife, Betty, enjoyed extensive travel in their RV and visited all of the lower 48 states.

He was a member of several ham radio/RV-re lated clubs as well as the East Alabama Amateur Radio Club with whom he participated in public service projects during periods of natural disasters (e.g. Hurricane Katrina) and assisted in providing emergency communica tions for the Red Cross and other agencies.

He was a member of First Methodist Church of Opelika and the Poe-Cumbie Sunday School Class.

He is survived by his son, Mike; daughter, Jan; one grandchild; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by

his wife, Betty, of 69 years.

BERRY CARL DUDLEY

Berry Carl Dudley, 85, a long-time resident of Opelika, passed away at his home on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Mr. Dudley was the second son of the late Berry Clifton Dudley and Bertha Lane Dudley. He was born in Lee County, on Feb. 9, 1937, and lived in Crawford, Alabama, with his brother and three younger sisters for most of his childhood years. He grew up alongside his first cousin, the late Johnny Dudley, and Wesley Capps, where they remained life long friends. He graduated from Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama, in 1954. Mr. Dudley served in the Army and National Guard. Soon after high school, he joined his older brother, the late John Rob ert Dudley, in the lumber business. They began with a portable saw mill and decided to make Salem, Alabama, the site of their permanent mill in 1961. Today, Dudley Lumber Company continues as a family business at the same location, and in 2001, they acquired East Alabama Lumber Company in La fayette, Alabama.

After marrying Carolyn Prince in 1960, they made their home in Crawford, until they moved to Ope lika in 1966. Mr. Dudley devoted much of his time

to First Baptist Church Opelika. He was a trustee, deacon and he was most proud of being a teacher. Whether it was Sunday School or Master Life, he led a class for more than 60 years, while in Craw ford and Opelika. He was especially devoted to the men in his Sunday School class that he taught for more than 20 years, and it has since been named the Berry Dudley Class.

Mr. Dudley is survived by his love and wife of 62 years, Carolyn, his four children Angelyn Dudley Lewis (Ken), Donna Dud ley Mattson (Jerry), Berry Carl Dudley, Jr. (Shan non), and Clifton Prince Dudley (Laurel). His 12 grandchildren: Elizabeth Lewis Ford (Bradshaw), Mary Kendrick Lewis Evers (Bennett), Caroline Lewis Schmidt (Taylor), Elise Dudley Shepherd (Josh), Berry Carl Dud ley, III (Anna), Katherine Dudley, Margaret Mattson, Cliff, Jack, Walker, Ava and Newell Dudley. His 10 great-grandchildren: Liza, Kate and Mary Ann Ford, Virginia and Annie Evers, Susanna and Henry Schmidt, Cannon and Lillian Shepherd and Ford Dudley. In addition, he is survived by his three sis ters Miriam Dudley Webb, Ruth Dudley Gullatte and Diane Dudley Hathaway (Duaine), sister-in-law Martha Jo Dudley and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give special thanks to Mr. Dudley’s loving and tire less caregivers Joyce Coad, Lanikka Reed, Zaneta Carter and Janice Busby.

A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. on Sept. 16 at First Baptist Church Opelika. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Opelika Future Opportuni ties Fund. Jeffcoat- Trant Funeral Home directed the arrangements.

JOHN WALTER DAWKINS

John Walter Dawkins of Opelika, Alabama, was born to the late Will and Ola Dawkins in Crenshaw County, Alabama, on Feb. 5, 1926, and passed away on Sept. 8, 2022. He was 96 years old. He was a member of New Hope Assembly of God Church. He served in the United States Army during WWII. He worked at West Point Pepperell and retired from there. John and his wife, Winnie, had a very close and loving relationship un til the day she died; there is great comfort in know ing that they are together again.Heis preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Winnie Pearl Kidd Dawkins; parents, Ola and Will Dawkins; sisters, Olene McCarthy, Lucille Williamson, Wanda King, Bernice Railey and Kather ineThomas.

connection to the past is “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” His resurrection is no myth. He was dead. God raised him from the dead. He is alive now and forevermore. This is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Your hope’s future is secure because of the salvation God has promised. Because He lives, you too shall live.

In this present time — while suffering is your lot — your living hope provides you with strength, faith and fortitude. Strength to live fully all the days God gives you. Faith to believe that God can use anything that happens to you for

your good and His glory. And fortitude to face with courage whatever you must face.The living hope of which Peter writes is so essential that, without it, the toys of this world will become, at the last, like sand in your hands. Buoyed by this hope within, your faith can inspire others to seek out the source of your hope, your Lord Jesus Christ. By turning to Jesus, your family and friends can share your joyous hope that beyond this vale of tears, a life of joy and peace, free of suffering, awaits us in the Father’s House.

He is survived by his two daughters, Pat sy Dawkins DeLoach (Randall) and Charlotte Dawkins Knowles (Andy). Grandchildren, Heather R. Bonner (Rob), Amanda W. Tarvin (Scott), Amy W. Sloop (Steven) and Matt P. Williford

pice.bama,inLakewoodexpressmembers.cousinsnumerousmondaConnellysonJohnelynGreat-grandchildren,(JoBeth).MadTarvin,ColeTarvin,HudsonTarvin,JackTarvin,CoralynSloop,DawkinsSloop;specialnephew,RayRhodes;aswellasnieces,nephews,andotherfamilyThefamilywouldliketotheirgratitudetoAssistedLivingSmithsStation,AlaandColumbusHosAgravesideservice

was held Sept. 10, 2022, in Garden Hills Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. Rusty Sowell officiating. Frederick-Dean Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

AMBER DIANNE YOUNG BRYANT

Amber Dianne Young Bryant, of Beulah, Alabama, was born on Dec. 27, 1980, to the late Johnny Curtis Young and Punky Wood. She was a wonderful mother to her three sons, Kendall Young, Hunt er Bryant and Zachary Bryant, a devoted daughter to her mother, Punky, a

loving wife to her husband, Nicholas, as well as a loving sister to her brother, Nic Young and sister, WhitneyAmberYoung.hadthe biggest heart, she would literally give you the shirt off her back. She was loving and kind. Although time heals, life for us will never be the same. Amber was a Beulah High School graduate. She was a cheerleader, member of the Beulah Marching Band and she was active on student council and FHA. She attended Ope lika Church of God most of her Amberlife.was preceded in death by her grandparents, Kenneth Wood, Robert W. Young and Alma Young; her uncle Michael Wood and her father, Johnny Curtis Young.

She is survived by her sons, Kendall Young, Hunter Bryant and Zachary Bryant; husband, Nicholas Bryant; her mother, Punky Wood; brother, Nic Young; sister, Whitney Young; her mother-and father-in-law, Earl and Cynthia Bryant; brother-in-law, Adam Bryant; several wonderful aunts and uncles; a host of special cousins and an abundance of friends. A funeral was held in the chapel at Frederick-Dean on Sept. 11, with Brother Kevin Acre and the Rev. Vance McCollum offici ating. Burial followed in Shady Grove Community Cemetery.

name. You might recognize it as the name of someone Paul writes about in his brief letter to Philemon.Thestoryof Philemon is as captivating as it is controversial. Paul is in prison and Onesimus is with him.

He has recently become a follower of Jesus Christ.

He is the runaway slave of Philemon — the disciple Paul is writing.It’sadelicate situation for Paul. He would like Onesimus to continue to take care of his needs, but not without Philemon's agreement to the arrangement. Philemon is a “dear friend and fellow worker” (v. 1). Paul speaks of Philemon’s “partnership with us in the faith” (v. 6).

Beyond these matters, there's the huge, multifaceted and troublesome issue of slavery to deal with. Paul’s general policy was to encourage transformative Christian behavior among

AnglicanTheANGLICANGoodShepherdChurch

3015 Opelika Road, Opelika

APOSTOLIC HOLINESS God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 Highland Ave., Opelika 334-749-9672

BethesdaBAPTIST Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St., Opelika 334-745-7528

Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley

Useful

masters and slaves (see Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:22-4:1, 1 Timothy 6:12 and TitusBut2:9).Idon’t think it’s difficult to see that the situation with Philemon is different. As opposed to writing to churches in mass and in effect, setting a policy across the Empire, in Philemon he’s dealing with an individual situation where he knows all of the particulars. That is why, contrary to his general instruction to the churches, he not only asks for Onesimus to be allowed to continue to minister to him in prison (v. 12-14), but that Onesimus’ status be changed and he be recognized “no longer as a slave” (v. 16).

It’s clear to me from these texts that Paul was taking a less-than-ideal situation and seeking to make it work for everyone. (It seems to me, this is the kind of thing we need more of, not less

of). Everybody and his brother tell us as soon as “X” happens, their world will be perfect and they will be able to function Consequently,spectacularly.theyspend all their time praying for “X” to happen and are little good for anything else. But the wise and seasoned among us seem to always be able to figure out a way to serve and glorify God, no matter what their circumstances might be. This is all that Paul is doing; he’s showing Philemon and Onesimus how they can be useful in the kingdom of God in the situation they are in. Of course, the theological ramifications of Paul asking for Onesimus’ release from slavery are staggering, so it's embarrassingly easy to lose sight of the practical dimension that Paul was actually pursuing. That is that Onesimus, who formerly was “useless” to Philemon (v. 11), was now “useful” to

both Paul and Philemon (see v. 13).

It’s a play on words (“Onesimus” means “useful”), but it’s more than that — it’s a profound theological statement for all disciples of Jesus. Onesimus was formerly “useless.” He was a rebellious slave who had run away from his master. Now he was a follower of Jesus and “useful” to Paul and Onesimus.It’sgreat to walk away from Philemon radiant with insight as to how Paul approached the issue of slavery on an individual basis. But we don’t need to do so at the expense of the theme of usefulness that runs through the letter. For all of us have been rescued from the slavery of sin that we might be useful in the kingdom of God!

You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: with-bruce-green.coma-taste-of-grace— 1 Peter 3:8

CHURCH DIRECTORY

334-705-0538

AFBBaptistCooperativeFellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 3089 Judge Brown Rd., Valley 334-710-2117

Greater ChurchMissionaryPeaceBaptist

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

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

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

AuburnMETHODISTUnited

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

Beulah MethodistUnitedChurch 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755

ChurchNON-DENOMINATIONALAtOpelika 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

ChurchTrinityPRESBYTERIANPresbyterian 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889

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

BRUCE GREEN

Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ in Opelika

COMICS

“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.”

― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

AUBURN: OCT. 11 AT 6:30 P.M.

LEE COUNTY: OCT. 11 AT 6 P.M.

Warriors Run Away From Glenwood

BY DUSTIN DUNCAN FOR THE OBSERVER

D. MARK MITCHELL

AUBURN — Buster Daniel and the Lee-Scott Warriors passed another test Friday night, defeating Glenwood for the second year in a row, 35-16.

OPELIKA: OCT. 25 AT 4:30 P.M. in

OPELIKA — Prattville kicked a 12-yard field goal in overtime Friday night to give Opelika its first loss of the sea son, jumpedThe24-21.Bulldogsouttoan early 14-0 lead on a 39-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Roman Gagliano to senior Caden Cooper, and a 15-yard run by Ja'Kori Thornton. Kicker Will Carroll added both PAT's.Prattville came right back with two scores prior to halftime, re turning the second kickoff 93 yards and throwing a siongoalkicked1-yardandconvertOpelikaPATCarrollBryceGaglianoanscoredinthe87-yard21-1414-14.pass-and-run30-yardtomakeTheLionstookaleadafteranTDpassinthirdquarter.Latethegame,OpelikaitsthirdTDon8-yardpassfromtoreceiverSpeakman.madehisthirdtotiethegame.Inovertime,couldnotafourthdownonefromtheline.Prattvillea12-yardfieldontheirpossestowinthegame.

Game stats:

Opelika (4-1, R31) gained 246 total yards, 126 rushing yards and 120 pass ing yards. Prattville gained 221 total yards, 188 yards pass ing and 33 rushing.

Individual stats: Gagliano threw for 126 yards, Thornton rushed for 77 yards and Cooper recorded 49 receiving yards.

The Dogs return home to play unde feated Theodore (5-0) in a non-region game Friday night at 7 p.m. Theodore dropped to Class 6A this year after playing in Class 7A since 2014, and has never played Opelika.Theodore head coach Eric Collier is in his 10th season, with a 63-40 over all record theastest29-21.49-0beatRobertsdaleoverson0)2021.seasonsback-to-backincluding10-winin2020andTheBobcats(5-openedtheseawitha32-3winBaker,beat34-0,BaldwinCountyandSpanishFortThiswillbeagoodforbothteamstheyprepareforplayoffs.Kickoff

Lee-Scott running back George Meyers rushed 83 yards on 15 carries and scored twice to lead the Warriors to an AISA AAA victory to remain

againstFridaywouldDanielLee-Scottundefeated.headcoachknewhisteambeinforafightnightfacingoffoneoftheprogram’sbiggestrivals.“Wehavetoplayallfourquarterstonight,”Danielsaid.“Youcan’tplaytwoquartersagainstateamlikethatandexpecttowin.”

BY WIL OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMSPORTSCREWS@CREWS

LEE COUNTY — Week five of high school football in Alabama did not dis appoint.

com.sourcespiledofteamsbreakdownbye.contests.StationGlenwoodtheupsnavigatedandBeauregard,Auburn,Lee-ScottLoachapokaeachdifficultmatchtoremainperfecton2022season.Opelika,andSmithsallfellinexcitingBeulahwasonThefollowingisaofhowareafaredinweekfivethe2022season.Allstatswerecomfirsthand,byschoolorbyMaxpreps.

AUBURNAHSAA 58 | LEE 7

The varsity Auburn High football team moved to 5-0 Friday night with a

While Lee-Scott did get the win convincingly, Glenwood was able to punch the ball into the endzone more than once against a Warrior defense that hadn’t allowed a

touchdown all season.

After losing starting running back JT Banks on the first play of the game, Glenwood head coach Ryan Nelson was forced to lean more heavily on

junior quarterback Dallas Crow to move the ball through the air and with hisCrowlegs. responded by

58-7 road win over region opponent Lee (0-4, R03). The Tigers totaled 316

yards, with 265 coming on the ground. Senior running back Da’Vaioun

Williams contributed the

Loachapoka junior JC Hart scores a touchdown against Notasulga on Friday, Sept. 16, in the Battle of Highway 14.

OBSERVERTHEFORJOHNSONRJBYPHOTO

A crowd cheers on Lee-Scott during its game last Friday night.

BY WIL

OPELIKA —

The Opelika City Schools (OCS) Board approved a $37.3 mil lion fiscal year 2023 budget at its Sept. 15 meeting.OCSChief Financial Officer Chris Harrison presented the budget and explained that ex pected revenue for the system in the next fis cal year was estimated

LEE-SCOTT

carrying the ball 13 times for 88 yards and a touch down. Through the air, Crow completed 9-of-20 passes for 181 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.“Whenyou lose your starting running back, you have to find other ways to move the football,” Nelson said. “We just took what they gave us. It just wasn’t enough.”Thescoring started late in the first quarter after each defense looked stiff. A 23-yard run by Lee-Scott quarterback Ryan Dearing set up a 5-yard score by Meyers with 1:47 left in the

at $99.1 million, while projected expendi tures were estimated at $101.38 million, re sulting in a combined total equity balance of $34.6 million.

The GeneralbudgetedFundfor the system is $20,116,988, compared $18,340,278to in 2022.

The projected ending fund balance in the General Fund is $27.6 million, resulting in a 6.68-monthFurthermore,reserve.

firstGlenwoodquarter. responded immediately with a 63-yard connection from Crow to senior running back Aaron Burton to tie the game at seven.The Gators were poised to pull ahead after getting the ball back quickly, but Crow was intercepted by Quinn Denson near midfield. Five plays later, Dearing hit run ning back Andrew Hahn for a 37-yard touchdown, putting Lee-Scott up 14-7. Glenwood would add a field goal to send the rivalry game to the half with Lee-Scott up 14-10.

Early in the second half, Dearing would injure his foot on a quarterback keeper and be replaced by backup Pelzer Reaves. The next play after Dearing’s injury saw Hahn

local revenue for the General Fund, the second largest source of estimated reve nue, is projected to increase by $1.1 mil lion (4.8%) from last year. State revenue, the largest projected source of revenue for the General Fund, is estimated to increase by $24.3 million (8%). Expenditures in the General Fund were estmated at $46.9 mil lion, compared to the FY2022 projections

burst through the Glenwood defense for 56 yards, leading to a 9-yard touchdown run by running back Jonathan Meyers. Leading 21-10, LeeScott never looked back.

Dearing would come back into the game on the next possession, but he reinjured his foot and Daniel decided it was best to keep him on the sideline.“Wethink he’s going to be fine,” Daniel said. “We kept him out more for caution thanDanielanything.”praised Reaves for coming into an important game and executing properly.

“We practice with him ev ery day, too,” he said. “He’s always ready to take it over and run with it.”

Just like earlier in the third quarter, Lee-Scott had a big

of $57.1 million. The decrease in expendi tures is attributed to the transfer of funds from the General Fund FY2022 budget to the Capital Projects Fund to finance the con struction of the new sixth grade Fox Run school. The greatest portion of general fund support.vicesforaboutexpenditures,76%,willbeinstructionalserandinstructionalThereare636total

play the following snap after Dearing left the game. This time, Meyers tight-roped the sideline and drove toward the pylon for his second score of the night, putting Lee-Scott upCrow28-10.would lead his of fense down the field through a mix of passes and runs, eventually scoring on a 17-yard run. The Gators' comeback attempt would officially end when Miles Zachry would intercept Crow on a long pass to the redLee-Scottzone. wide receiver

Jake White put the exclama tion point on the night, tak ing the direct snap 71 yards for a touchdown with 20 sec onds left in the game. White would finish the night with 107 yards on seven carries,

budgeted personnel units within the sys tem, with Program,theschoolschooleralwhichSpecialareallyed,491.91totalthosecomprisingteachers364.5ofunits.Ofthosepersonnelunits,arestate-fund107.77arefederfundedand42.32locallyfunded.RevenueintheRevenueFund,includesfedreserves,publicfunding,afterprogramsandChildNutritionareexpected

and one catch for 13 yards.

Daniel said beating Glenwood is big for LeeScott as a school and football program, but there is more work to do.

“We have to take it one game at a time,” he said.

“We can’t worry about being undefeated — we just have to keep playing Lee-Scott football.”Nelson is looking forward to getting Glenwood back to practice and a bye week to potentially nurse a few injuries.“We’ve been hurt by the injury bug,” he said. “That’s the third starter we’ve lost in the past three weeks. But I’m not going to make any excus es. They played a great game and they beat us. We have to go back to the drawing board

to decrease by $1.1 million (15.5%), largely due to the projected reduction of federal reimbursements.pandemicTheboardsettled on the budget after two previous budget hear ings on Sept. 13 and Sept. 15. The budget begins Oct. 1, 2022, and runs through Sept. 30,Prior2023.the approval of the 2023 budget,

and get Nelsonbetter.”saidhis team won’t get caught up in the drama of a rivalry game between Lee-Scott and Glenwood. He said his team is focusing on getting“Ourbetter.ultimate goal is to win the last one,” he said. “We go into a bye week next and we’ll be better at a lot of things, and we’ll be ready for the second half of the season.”Glenwood does have a bye week before heading to Montgomery to play Valiant Cross Academy on Sept. 30. Lee-Scott heads to Macon East Montgomery Academy — who is also undefeat ed and coming off a bye — on Sept. 30.

SR.

JR.

SR.

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Lee-Scott Earns Statement Win Over Glenwood

The varsity Lee-Scott Academy Warriors defeated the varsity Glenwood Gators Friday, Sept. 16, by a score of 35-16. For more information about the game, read "Warriors Run Away From Glenwood" page B1.

The varsity Opelika Lady Bulldog flag football team played two games Thursday, Sept. won its first game against Eufaula overtime, The Bulldogs then defeated Booker Washington, D. Mark Mitchell's column

OBSERVERNOLES/THEROBERTBYPHOTOS

Smiths Falls in Homecoming Game Shootout

is set for 7 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets online at gofan.co or at Bubba's Medicine Shop and Victory Design until 12 p.m. Friday.

The Bulldog Stadium ticket office opens at 7 p.m. You can listen to the game on WKKR 97.7 Kicker FM, online at kickerfm.com or you can watch the live stream of the game at NFHSnetwork.com

FRESHMAN TEAM

Opelika's freshman team lost a tough game at Prattville, 6-14. Bennett Young caught a 12-yard pass from Luis Merly for the only

Bulldog TD. OHS FLAG FOOTBALL

The OHS Flag foot ball team last week beat Eufaula and Booker T. Washington, and lost to Central Phenix

OpelikaCity.beat Eufaula 20-14 in an overtime thriller Thursday, Sept.

15. Quarterback Cherdi Daniels threw for two touchdowns in regu lation and ran for the game-winning score in overtime. Ashley Hilyer and Z Fanning made several big plays to help win the game.

The gairls beat Booker T. Washington 11-0 in the second game of the week.

OHS scored 11 defen sive points against the Golden Eagles from

a safety, pick-six by Fanning and a twopoint conversion from Hilyer. The Bulldog defense held BTWHS out of the end zone to preserve the shutout, 11-0Centralwin. gave OHS its first loss of the season, defeating the Bulldogs 7-6. Daniels caught a 30-yard TD pass for Opelika’s only score of the game. The Lady Red Devils intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown, mak ing the extra point to lead 7-6. Neither team scored in the second half. Central dominat ed time of possession in the second half by using ball control offense.

CROSS COUNTRY

Opelika's Cross Country Team ran in the Oak Mountain High School XC Meet last Saturday at Oak HeardmountMountain'sPark. The following are results of Opelika's girls and boys team.

5000 METER RUN - GRILS 21:57.97 - Paola

Torres - 16th - Girls A 23:05.63 - Margaret Bice - 28th - Girls A 23:49.87 - Violett

Alcorn - 35th - Girls A 24:30.30 - Joanne Smith T - 44thGirls26:51.00A - Susan

Gaston - 63rd - Girls A 28:15.75 - Ellie Kendrick - 73rdGirls31:47.70A - Kaitlyn Brown - 83rd - Girls A

31:48.23 - Frida Cruz

Valdez - 84th - Girls A 32:05.72 - Kiley

Brooks - 85th - Girls A 32:05.84 - Carlie

Moates - 86th - Girls A 5000 METER RUN - BOYS 17:57.95 - Brantley

Turnham - 16thBoys18:32.28A - Chas

Brewer - 31st - Boys A 19:32.87 - Michael Hart - 52nd - Boys A 19:37.64 - Zalen

Shaw - 54thBoys20:09.89A - Zane Sexton - 58th - Boys A 20:30.55 - Trey White - 68th - Boys A 21:30.11 - Amari Bynum - 87th - Boys A 22:14.61 - Burch Harris - 100thBoys23:10.43A - Ben Bell - 116th - Boys A 23:17.52 - Alexander Burgess - 118thBoys23:29.56A - Tripp Campbell - 124thBoys25:16.92A - Benjamin Owens - 138thBoys30:25.27A - Daylan Sanders - 109thBoys35:03.93B - Ja'veon Sanders - 119thBoys B D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 9101310, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.

The varsity Smiths Station Panthers lost a high-scoring affair to the Dothan Wolves last Friday, falling by a score of 57-43. For more information about the game, read "Area Football Roundup: Week 5" page B1.

Auburn Embarrassed by Penn State

What it means for the program going forward

BY WIL

OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMSPORTSCREWS@CREWS

AUBURN —

The Auburn Tigers were trounced, 41-12, inside of Jordan-Hare Stadium last Saturday.Thevisiting Penn State Nittany Lions entered hos tile SEC country to com plete the sweep of a homeand-home series with the Tigers (Auburn lost at Penn State, 20-28, last season).

The score line of Saturday’s game was ugly, and the product on the field was no better. Things are going backwards on the Plains — quickly — and the stats back it up.

FOR REFERENCE

Auburn’s four turnovers were the most it has had against a Power 5 opponent since its 3-9 season in 2012. Auburn now has the second worst turnover difference in the FBS (-8), and the only

worse team is New Mexico State, which has played four games to Auburn’s three. Additionally, the Tigers are one of four teams in all of the FBS to yet force a single takeaway.Furthermore, according to PFF, quarterback T.J. Finley was pressured on 15 of his 28 dropbacks against Penn State, and quarterback Robby Ashford (who has split time with Finley early this season) was pressured on 12 of his 27 dropbacks. In total, that’s a 61.8% pres sure rate against Auburn’s quarterbacks. Moreover, Auburn running backs were held to 3.3 yards per carry, and the Nittany Lions av eraged 6.3 yards per carry with their backs. It’s clear the Tigers are not getting enough from their most ex perienced position groups: the offensive and defensive line.It’s not just the sin gle-game performance that

is so worrisome for fans of the orange-and-blue, how ever. The Tigers, under head coach Bryan Harsin, have committed a turnover in 13 of 16 games, including five multi-turnover games.

Put simply, you cannot preach about having a tough, disciplined, grind-itout team and then commit massive amounts of mis takes and fail to show up in the margins game after game.Going forward, there is a greater sense of uncertainty

at Auburn’s quarterback po sition, and even more doubt surrounding the man in charge of the Tigers. Harsin is clearly feeling the pres sure, as evident in his press conference Monday.

When asked about the rushing performance against Penn State — star running back Tank Bigsby received just nine carries — Harsin responded by critiquing his critics, saying “You guys don't sit in the meetings and look at the game plan and what they're

trying to do.”

When asked plainly about what the Tigers aren’t getting done on the field on gamedays, Harsin deflected and touted his team’s prepa ration in practice.

“All the prep and all the things that we've been doing, I think there's some really good things that we've done,” Harsin said. “We're still just not there yet to raise that standard where we need to be, and we need to put in the work each and every day until Saturday so that we don't have the mistakes that weLastly,make.”when asked if Saturday’s game against Missouri is a “must-win,” Harsin said, “Anytime you ask me that from this point on, yes. It is a must-win. That is why we do what we do. I don’t think there’s a game I’ve ever told anybody, ‘Hey guys, we lose this one, we’ll be all right. We’ll be on to the next one.’”

Two things can be true: Harsin inherited a mess of a situation and has never had the true backing from higher-ups at the school; and Harsin is in way over his head at the moment.

Harsin hasn’t shown the charisma and ambition it takes to recruit well in the SEC, and his poor in-game adaptability and stern coaching style has left the fan base with little faith in the scheme and coaching staff.But give credit where credit is due: Harsin seems to have now aligned the Auburn fan base, boosters, media and students for the first time in a long time. The unfortunate truth is, how ever, that everyone is united against him. It may already be too far gone, but the head ball coach and the Tigers can begin to try and turn the season around this Saturday against Missouri in what is a must-win matchup.

Smiths Station High Names Shana Johnson Athletic Director

BY WIL OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMSPORTSCREWS@CREWS

SMITHS STATION —

Smiths Station High School last Wednesday announced Shana Johnson as the new athletic director for its sportsJohnsonprograms.began her career at Notasulga High School, coaching basket ball and softball teams to area and state cham pionship games. She was named the 2001 Softball Coach of the Year by the News,Auburn/Opelikathe2003and

2004 Associated Press and BasketballAuburn/OpelikaCoachof the Year and was named the head coach for the AHSAA Girls Basketball South All-Star team two times in her career. She was also the athletic director for Notasulga High School from 2003 to Johnson2005. has worked at Smiths Station High School for the last 17 years and has extensive, successful experience in athletic administration and coaching. She has been an integral part of Smiths Station athletics.

Johnson has taught physical education and previously served as the head coach for tennis, basketball, softball and volleyball. She has held the titles of administra tive assistant, assistant athletic director and women’s athletic director during her tenure with the Panthers. She was named the 2019-2020 Smiths Station High School Teacher of the

Year.“[I am] excited to lead and develop our students in our athletic programs in developing positive values of sportsmanship,

teamwork and competi tion,” Johnson grandchildren.adultinleadershipdegreeandtiondegreeearnedHighfromcommunitymizesaidAdditionally,said.Johnsonsheplanstomaxistudent,facultyandengagement.JohnsongraduatedCharlesHendersonSchoolin1994;herbachelor’sinphysicaleducaatAuburnin2000;earnedamaster’sofeducationfromAuburn2008.Shehastwochildrenandthree

Opelika’s Speakman Named All-Star Football Game Coach

BY WIL OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMSPORTSCREWS@CREWS

OPELIKA —

According to a press release from the Alabama High School Athletic squad.willcoachPickenstheFootballNorth-SouthcoachhascoachSchool(AHSAA),AssociationOpelikaHighvarsityfootballErikSpeakmanbeenselectedtointhe64thannualAll-StarGame.SpeakmanwillheadSouthsquad,whileCountyheadMichaelWilliamsleadtheNorthThegameis

ROUNDUP

most on offense, taking 10 carries for 112 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Tyler Flakes turned four carries into 106 yards and one TD. Auburn returns home this Friday for a home, non-region matchup against 5A Ramsay High School (4-1, 3-0).

SMITHS STATION 43 | DOTHAN 57

A 99-yard goal-line interception returned for a touchdown settled

scheduled for Friday, Dec. 16 at Mobile’s Hancock Whitney Stadium.Speakman and Williams were an nounced last week as the

a shootout in Smiths Station’s homecoming game Friday, as the Dothan Wolves (4-1, R3-1) defeated the regional foe Panthers, 57-43. Smiths Station (1-4, R1-3) totaled 482 yards in the contest, with 269 coming through the air and 213 coming on the ground. Dothan sim ilarly racked up the yard age, totaling 489, with 107 through the air and 382 on the ground. The Wolves won the turnover battle 3-2. Senior QB Jackson Greer led the Panthers’

coaches by Brandon Dean, director of Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches ers(AHSADCA).AssociationTheplayandassistantcoaches

offense, finishing 22of-53 passing for 263 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Smiths Station goes on the road Friday, Sept. 23, for a non-region match up against 6A Benjamin Russell (3-1, R1-1).

BEAUREGARD 26 | CHARLES HENDERSON 24

The varsity Beauregard football team moved to 5-0 with a narrow, 26-24 away victory over Charles Henderson (3-1, R2-0) last Friday night. Senior quar terback AJ Wallace once

for the two, 37-member squads will be an nounced later this fall.

“Both coaches are highly regarded among their peers,” Dean said. “Both bring high ener gy to the North-South Classic.”Speakman is cur rently in his fifth sea son as head coach at Opelika High School after spending seven years as defensive co ordinator for the OHS program. The Bulldogs (5-1) moved up to Class 7A for the first time in school history this sea son and have continued the success Opelika

again led the Beauregard passing attack, finishing 7-of-11 for 95 yards and one TD. Junior running back Jacori Tarver was his backfield partner, totaling 109 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 car ries. Senior Qua Barnes joined in on the rushing onslaught, carrying the ball 15 times for 62 yards. The Hornets will get a much-deserved bye week now before returning home Friday, Sept. 30, for a home, region matchup against Sylacauga (0-5,

has had in the Class 6A ranks. Speakman has compiled a 41-15 record through his time at OHS, and currently sits at second place in Region 2 heading into week six of the 2022 season, behind undefeat ed (5-0) Auburn High School. Opelika domi nated Class 6A, Region 3 during Speakman’s tenure, compiling a 261 region record from 2018-21. The only loss was a 30-28 setback to Wetumpka in 2018. Since that loss, Opelika had won 25 straight region games before losing to Prattville last

R0-2).

LOACHAPOKA 50 | NOTASULGA 14

The varsity Loachapoka (5-0, R4-0) football team won its first game against Notasulga (0-4, R0-3) in eight years Friday night, emerging victorious in “The Battle for Highway 14” by a score of 50-14. Senior running back Jamaroun Satterwhite led the offense, carrying the ball 21 times for 182 yards and two touch downs.

Friday.Speakman’s teams have reached the state playoffs each year, compiling a 9-4 slate in Class 6A. His 2019 team reached the AHSAA Class 6A tirerecognitioncoaches,playersitgame,”coachorcoach.GameinSpeakmansemifinals.alsocoachedthe2018North-Southasanassistant“Thisisagreathonbeingselectedheadoftheall-starhesaid.“Ithinksaysalotaboutyourandassistantthough.Itisfortheenprogram.”

for 145 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Auburn commit J.C. Hart caught two of those touch down passes. Hart and Satterwhite both added interceptions to their stat lines as ‘Poka dominated both sides of the ball. Through five games, the Loachapoka defense is allowing just 7.2 points per contest. Loachapoka has a bye this week, but will return to the field in an away region matchup against Calhoun (1-3, R0-3).

'Poka Dominates Battle of Highway 14

SPEAKMAN

The varsity Loachapoka football team welcomed its closest rival, Notasulga, Friday night, Sept. 16. Loachapoka proceeded to win "The Battle of Highway 14" for the first time in eight tries, 50-14. For more infor mation about the game, read "Area Football Roundup: Week 5" page B1.

Back on Cross Country Returns to

CONTRIBUTED BY SUSCC

OPELIKA — After a hiatus of over a decade, the cross-country program at Southern Union State CollegeCommunity(SUSCC) is once again up and running.Bothmen’s and women’s cross coun try teams returned to competition on Friday, Sept. 16, at the Falcon Classic in Montevallo.

This summer SUSCC announced that cross country would be add ed back to the college’s athletic programs, which includes volley ball, men’s and wom en’s basketball, soft ball, baseball, men’s and women’s golf and

BUDGET

Tiffany Yelder, assis tant superintendent of administration, pre sented the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan to the board.

The plan is required to be submitted year ly to the Alabama State Department of Education.Shortlyafter her hiring in May of this year, Yelder met with

cheer.The teams will be under the direction of Markita James-Smith. Smith came to SUSCC after a career at Smiths Station High School. A member of the 2006 National Championship Track and Field Team at Auburn University, she went on to compete professionally for three years.Smith said she is ex cited to be at the helm of the SUSCC pro gram. She explained that the main trait she looks for in a team member is the ability to work hard and try new“Mythings.best friend talk ed me into trying out for the track team in high school, which led

community mem bers and business es, school

includedthetemprojectsfindings.boardsentationtheaFarrellSuperintendentmaintenanceofficials,staffandDr.Seymoretodoneedsassessmentforsystem.HerpretotheschoolreflectedherAccordingtoYelder,thatthesysshouldfocusoninnewfive-yearplanbutwerenot

limited to: the new sixth grade fortoofSchool;andWestsystemsreplacementschool;ofHVACatSouthview,Forrest,NorthsideOpelikaMiddletherenovationallschoolcampusescreateanentrypointvisitorsthatwillimprovesafety;paintingandcarpetreplacementforOpelikaMiddleSchoolandSouthviewPrimary;theupdatingofphone,intercom

and bell systems dis trictwide; roof replace ment for the board of fice, Opelika Learning Center, Carver, Opelika Middle and Opelika High School; the in stallation of turf at OHS’s baseball field; the replacement of turf at OHS’s football field; replacement of the jumbotron and addition of railing to Bulldog Stadium.“We’ve made

to a full scholarship to Auburn University,” Smith said. “I always tell my team members to just try something. You never know where it might take you; you don’t have to at the top of the class to start out. Working hard will get you where you need to Trackgo.” and field is gaining popularity as a competitive sport, and Smith sees the program at SUSCC gaining mo mentum as well.

“I am passionate about what I do,” she said. “If the students will meet me halfway and train hard, we will beTeamsuccessful.”members are Brian Patton, Gage Pinson, Jared Floyd,

every effort to focus on school improvement projects that lend to creating a safe and wel coming environment for everyone,” Yelder said.The board approved the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan, and The Observer will report further on its details as projects develop.

IN OTHER BUSINESS: - The board approved

Claude Warren, Kyrian Moss, Anslee Sawyer and Managers Christopher Jackson and Malari Glass.

The team has three additional races scheduled, includ ing the InvitationalHuntingdononOct. 1 in Montgomery; the Berry Invitational in Rome, Georgia, on Oct. 15; and the visitonFlorida.Nov.ChampionshipsAthleticNationalIf28ChampionshipsConferenceCommunityAlabamaCollegeRegionalonOct.inOxford,Alabama.theyqualify,theJuniorCollegeAssociationison12inTallahassee,FormoreinformationSUSCCAthletics,www.suscc.edu.

out-of-state field trips for FFA and FBLA.

- The board ap proved recommendations.personnel-Theboardheard the 2021-22 student inci dent report.

The Opelika City Schools Board typically meets at 300 Simmons St. in Opelika on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The next meet ing is scheduled for Oct. 25.

Markita James-Smith leads the SUSCC cross country teams, which began competing this week.

labama Politics ee County & A

Inside the Statehouse Board of Education

and suited to be state school board members.

Opelika Considers Medical Cannabis Dispensing in City

BY WIL CREWS AND MICHELLE KEY

STEVE FLOWERS

S chool somemembersboardareofthe most selfless public servants in Alabama. This accolade goes to the Alabama State Board of Education, and more specifical ly local school board members. These mem bers are tasked with a very important mission but receive very lit tle compensation for their time and efforts. They are indeed public servants.TheAlabama State Board of Education is a nine-member body that sets public edu cation policy for K-12 schools. The governor is an ex-officio mem ber of the board, and the remaining eight members are elected to four-year terms from single-member districts of approximately equal population. There is no limit to the number of terms a school board member may serve. The seats are parti san-driven. Currently, our state school board has six arecurrentsurprisinged,rathermembersDemocraticmembersRepublicanandtwomembers.Giventhefactthatareelected,thanappointitissomewhatthatoureightmemberssowell-qualified

Dr. Wayne Reynolds, who represents District 8, best exemplifies this statement. He has a doctorate in education and has spent over four decades as an educa tion administrator. He is retired and brings his experience and wisdom to the table. In his early years, Reynolds was a decorated Vietnam War veteran. He and his wife Carol reside in the education.tinguishedandUniversityateSheDemocraticfour-yearre-electedDemocratRichardsonidentsuperintendent.principal,classroomcation,stellarEducation.ClairviceManningthetotermSheRepublicanDistrictjustthisfour-yearre-electedRepublicanarea.Limestone/MadisonReynoldsisaandwastohissecondtermearlieryear.MarieManninghasbeenelectedto6,whichisadistrict.willbeginherfirstinJanuary.Priorherrecentelectiontostateschoolboard,servedaspresidentoftheSt.CountyBoardofDuringhercareerineduManningwasateacher,viceprincipalandDr.YvetteRichardsonrepresentsDistrict4andisaresofMontgomery.isaandwastoanotherterminthePrimary.hasadoctordegreefromtheofAlabamahashadadiscareerinTracieWestisaRepublicanmemberoftheboardfromDistrict2.Shewasre-electedtoasecondfour-yeartermintheRepublicanPrimary.ShehailsfromAuburnand,aswouldbeexpectedfromthis

area, is well-qualified and versed in educa tion knowledge and policy. Prior to being elected to the state school board, West served as a member of the Auburn City Schools Board of Education, including serving as president of thatThereboard.are four mem bers up for re-elec tion in 2024: Jackie Ziegler, Stephanie Bell, Tonya Chestnut and Belinda McRae, provided all four de cide to seek another term.Ziegler, of Mobile, is a Republican board member and rep resents District 1. She was first elected in 2016 and is an experienced and suc cessful educator. She is a graduate of the University of South Alabama. She was a classroom teacher, then longtime prin cipal in the Mobile County Public School System. She is mar ried to State Auditor JimBell,Ziegler.who represents District 3, is by far the most veteran member of the board, having first been elected in 1994 and re-elected to eight consecutive terms. At the end of her current term, she will have served more than 30 years. She is a stellar member, an asset to the board and hopefully will run again. Bell is a lifelong resident of Montgomery, as is her husband.Chestnut, a native of Selma, is a Democrat and represents District 5. She has a doc torate in education

See B10

OPELIKA —

The Opelika City Council Tuesday night introduced for first reading an ordinance pertaining to the oper ation of medical can nabis dispensing sites within the corporate limits of the city.

The ordinance was drafted in light of the Alabama Legislature Act. No. 21-450 legal izing and creating a regulatory framework for medical cannabis. The act requires the Medical ofviateconditionstreatabilitymedicalthaticalposedOpelika.concernshealth,thusdispensaryCommissionCannabistoregulateoperations,addressinganysafetyorwelfareforthecityofAccordingtoproordinance,“medresearchindicatesadministrationofcannabisthetosuccessfullyvariousmedicalandallethesymptomsvariousmedical

conditions.”Furthermore, the ordinance

“Establishingreads:aprogramprovidingfortheadministrationofcannabisderivativesformedicaluseinthisstatewillnotonlybenefitpatientswiththesedebilitatingsymptoms,butalsoprovideopportunitiesforpatientswiththesedebilitatingconditionstofunctionandhaveabetterqualityoflifeandprovideemploymentandbusinessopportunitiesforfarmersandotherresidentsofthisstateandrevenuetostateandlocalgovernments.”Accordingtotheordinance,anybusinesslicenseorsalestaxrevenuegeneratedbymedicalcannabisdispensariesshallbedepositedtothegeneralfund,andwillbeeffectiveimmediatelyuponpublicationasrequiredbylaw.TheordinancewillbevotedonduringtheOct.4citycouncilmeeting.Withalimited

number of dispensing licenses being consid ered by the state, there is no guarantee that one will be in Opelika, even if Opelika approves the ordinance to allow for one.

PROCLAMATIONS

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller issued Month.SyndromeOctoberAwarenessingLiteracyEducation24claringcouncilTuesdayproclamationsthreeduringnight’scitymeeting,deSept.18throughasNationalAdultandFamilyWeek,declarSept.30asNICUDayand2022asDownAwareness

OTHER BUSINESS:

- The council award ed a bid of $930,477.80 to CDW Government, Inc. for mobile com puting solutions for Opelika Fire and Police Departments.-Thecouncil resolved to dispose of municipal personal property.

- The council ap proved the emergency purchase of gasoline

See B11

Well Red Two, Self Pour Lounge to Locate in Downtown Auburn

BY HANNAH LESTER OPELIKAOBSERVER.COMHLESTER@

AUBURN — Two new business es are on the way to Auburn.Oneis a compli mentary shop to a well-known coffee shop in town, Well Red.Well Red Two, as it

is listed in the city’s planning packet, will be located on N. Donahue Drive, south of Shug Jordan Parkway and north of Ruth Way following a positive vote from the Auburn City Council Tuesday commissionaskedownerRichardnight.Tomasello,ofWellRed,theplanningand

council to consider a road service use for the business (which would include a drive-thru for the cof fee CommissiondidmouslyCommissionTheshop).Planningunaniapproved,asthecouncil.Planning

See AUBURN COUNCIL,

OPINION —

Covering Prince Charles' 1994 Visit

ceremony.”Alleyeswere on King Charles III on Sept. 19, at his mother’s funeral.

OPINION —

The Sept. 8 death of the amazing and remarkable Queen Eliz abeth II of Great Britain led instantly to Prince Charles becoming King Charles III. That re minded me of Charles’ visit to Berlin in 1994 for the close-out of the British military pres ence. His was one of the many trips to Germa ny’s capital I dealt with as editor of the Berlin Observer.

With heads of state, ambassadors, allied gen erals and more. I want ed to give each of my reporters a major story to add to their resumes.

When Prince Charles’ visit was posted, that became harder. Reporter No. 1 said: “I would cover Prince of Purple Rain fame but not this unfaithful idiot!” Re porter No. 2 said: “Why did they send lowlife Charles?” Reporter No. 3 said: “I don’t really want to see him, or the

The forthcoming pres sure will be intense as he balances the sadness of the Queen’s death while asserting his own authority. It is estimated that 2,000 people at tended the funeral, with Charles engaging with world leaders as well as the Royal Family. Millions of people tuned in on TV, watching his everyStatestep.funerals are rare. That is good because they are extremely cost ly in direct costs, lost labor and production. The most recent U.S. state funeral (for former President George H.W. Bush in 2018) cost at least $500 million in direct costs and $40 million in other costs.

In the United Kingdom, the last state funeral (for Sir Winston Churchill in 1965) cost over 2.5 millionPrincepounds.Charles and Diana moved apart be cause the couple was incompatible in many ways, partly caused by a

12-plus-year age differ ence. After the separa tion in December 1992, Charles admitted an af fair with Camilla Parker Bowles, his mistress. In spring 1994, he traveled to Berlin to case the colors of British forces. That’s why the reaction among my three Army journalists was visceral to the idea of writing a story about him.

Charles and Diana were divorced on Aug. 28, 1996, after being formally advised by Elizabeth in December 1995 to end the mar riage. Diana, 36, was killed in a car crash in Paris on Aug. 17 the next year. With the Queen fading fast, there was not much coverage of the 25 years since her crash. I recall a dai ly paper’s error in its 1997 coverage of the much-admired princess. In 1997, I was assis tant news editor at the daily paper in Opelika. The paper had only a lead-in photo of Diana and a brief note that she died. The main story was on page 8 or 9. There were good and

bad reasons for major international stories, such as this regarding the Princess, to be rele gated to way inside. The good aspect was that the daily almost always had ALL local stories, or at least Alabama stories, on the front page. So I think that is why Di ana’s tragedy was well inside the paper. The bad thing was that the paper should have adjusted for the major global event. As reporters, we would each write two or three local stories per day targeted for Page One. After the mixup with Diana’s demise, we were allowed one or two state, national or inter national stories on each day’s front page. The AP provided enough Diana stories that week to have an eight-page Special Section the fol lowing Sunday that was very popular with our readers.Diana famously said: “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”

She referred to Bowles, whom Charles married

in 2005. In 2022, I hope the new King can say: “There are three of us in this marriage, so it is a bit crowded. That in cludes me, Camilla and the spirit of my mother, which can make me a king as good as she was a queen.”Whoknows? Perhaps someday soon, Charles will visit the U.S. May be one of my former Army journalists will attend an event for the king. With 50 years of learning about his new influential role, comes his perch with a great resume. Godspeed to him. God Save the King.

Greg Markley moved to Lee County in 1996. He has master's degrees in education and histo ry. He taught politics as an adjunct in Geor gia and Alabama. An award-winning writer in the Army and civilian life, he has contributed to the Observer since 2011. He is a member of the national Education Writers Association (fo cus-Higher net.gm.markley@charter.Education).

Lions, Clubs Hold Weekly Meetings

FLOWERS >> FROM B9 and is the former dean of Alabama State CollegeUniversityofVisual and Performing Arts.

McRae, of Hamilton, is the Republican board member for District 7. She is in her first term. McRae taught English and art for 25 years in the Marion County school sys tem and served on the Marion County Board of Education before being elected to the State School Board.Choosing the state superintendent is probably the most important task of the Alabama State School Board, and the board made an excellent choice when they selected Dr. Eric Mackey as Alabama State Superintendent of Education.

Mackey is a former school superinten dent and

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspa pers. He served 16 years in the state leg islature. Steve may be reached at www. steveflowers.us.

GREG MARKLEY

The Opelika Kiwanis Club speaker last week was Yarbi Cound (pictured centered). She is from the Lee County Department of Human Resources and spoke on Adult Protection Services in Lee County. The speaker for Sept. 29 is Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones.

Opelika High School football coach Eric Speakman, right, was the guest speaker for a recent Opelika Lions Club meeting. He discussed the Bulldogs’ performance thus far this season and detailed expectations for the rest of the season. Speakman was introduced by Lion James Morgan Jr., left.

Business Network has started a on the Plains earlier this year. This meets at the Saugahatchee Country Club.

LCDC to Host Community Meeting with Candidates

CONTRIBUTED BY LCDC

LEE COUNTY —

The Lee County Dem ocratic Club (LCDC) will host a gathering at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. to meet some of the candi dates who will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

All residents in Lee County are encouraged to join the celebration and learn more about:

• U.S. Senate Candi date Dr. Will Boyd, • U.S. House of Repre sentatives, 3rd Congres sional District Candidate

Lin Veasey, • District 27 Alabama

Senate Candidate Sherri Reese and • District 82 Alabama House of Representa tives Candidate Pebblin Warren.Eachcandidate will have an opportunity to speak and answer ques tions from the audience.

There will be time for socializing and individ ual conversations with the candidates before and after the meeting.

The LCDC will also provide opportunities to donate directly to candi dates’ campaigns, to pick

up campaign materials (including yard signs, buttons and stickers) and to sign up for up coming phone-bank and door-knocking events.

Bring a favorite snack or non-alcoholic bev erage to share, or just bring yourself. All are welcome.TheAuburn Chamber of Commerce is located at 714 E. Glenn Ave. in Auburn.Formore information about the Lee Coun ty Democratic Party, please visit lcdcalabama.org/.https://www.

Lee County GOP to Host Grand Opening of Headquarters

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

LEE COUNTY —

The Lee County GOP will host the grand opening of the 2022 Lee County Tuesday.HeadquartersRepublicanonSept.27,

2022, from 5 to 7 p.m. The GOP headquar ters is convenient ly located between Auburn and Opelika at 1452 Opelika Road, Suite F in RefreshmentsAuburn.will be served and Republican candidates for local and state offices will

be in attendance. The public is invited to attend and take advan tage of this opportu nity to meet and visit with the candidates. For more informa tion, please visit the Facebook page, Lee County RepublicanAlabamaParty.

COUNCILOPELIKA

and diesel fuel from K&B Oil Supply.

- The council ap proved the purchase of furniture for economic development in the amount of $61,904.

- The council ap proved the purchase of two 2022 Ford F-150 Super Crew Pickup Trucks in the amount of $72,006.-Thecouncil ap pointed Robert T. Treese III to serve as assistant resolved$16,830.2023,2022,forAdvertisingiHeartprovedamountsurancetotoMcLennanmentbilityprovedPlace37thjudgeelectionprosecutormerprosecutormunicipalduetoforassistantmunicipalJeffTickal’sascircuitcourtoftheAlabamaJudicialCircuit1.-ThecouncilapageneralliainsuranceagreewithMarsh&Agencyandissuepurchaseorderrenewthecity’sinportfoliointheof$612,241.-ThecouncilapaproposalfromMediaforRadioServicestheperiodofOct.1,throughSept.30,intheamountof-Thecouncilaweed

abatement at 308 Brannon Ave. in the amount of $222.41.

- The council re solved a weed abate ment at 2102 Long St. in the amount of $106.39.-Thecouncil ap proved an eligible-use policy related to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds.

- The council ap proved Internal Control Policies and Procedures for ARPA funds.

- The council ap proved a property man agement policy related to the expenditure of ARPA funds.

- The council ap proved a policy for property management related to the expendi ture of ARPA funds.

- The council ap proved a policy for allowable costs and cost principles for expendi ture of ARPA funds.

- The council ap proved a nondiscrimi nation policy consistent with uniform guidance related to ARPA funds.

- The council ap proved a record reten tion policy for docu ments created or main tained pursuant to the ARPA and Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery (CSLFR) funds.-The council ap proved a conflict of interest policy appli cable to contracts and subawards of the city supported by federal financial assistance.

- The council ap proved a request from First Baptist of Opelika for a fireworks display and skydivers exhibi tion on Oct. 30.

- The council ap proved the purchase of a HD rotary cutter for

public works for the amount of $20,066.88

- The council amend ed the City Code of Ordinances Section 14302(3) increasing busi ness license issuance fee from $12 to $14.

- The council voted to amend the city’s Zoning Ordinance & Map for the developmentapprovedplanfor a 154-acre area located on the north side of SportsPlex Parkway, to be used for a planned unit (PUD)developmentconsisting of approximately 241 sin gle-family home lots, open space area, amen ity areas and on-site detention.-Thecouncil amend ed the city’s Zoning Ordinance & Map for the approved develop ment plan for a 2.6-acre parcel of land located in the 3250 block of Robert Trent Jones Trail, to be used for ap proximately seven sin gle-family home lots.

- The council re appointed Brent Poteet to the Board of Adjustments & Appeals for a term ending Oct. 1, -2026.The council re appointed Raymond Williams to the Board of Adjustments & Appeals for a term end ing Oct. 1, 2026.

- The council reap pointed Kenneth Burton to the Lee County Youth Blvd.MartinbuildingtheinoffirstCouncilendingCenterDevelopmentBoardforatermOct.1,2026.TheOpelikaCitymeetsontheandthirdTuesdayeachmonthat7p.m.thecourtroomofmunicipalcourtlocatedat300LutherKing

DAR Commemorates Constitution Week

Daughters of the American Revolution celebrate Constitution Week annually during the week of Sept. 17 through 23 to commemorate its history and im portance and bring attention to how it still serves today. Members of the Light Horse Harry Lee Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution met with Auburn Mayor Ron Anders for his an nual proclamation signing. Pictured left to right are Susan Stanley, Laura Murray, Mayor Anders, Shannon Walden and Jennifer Delmore. To learn more about the Auburn chapter, email ed schafer_2004@yahoo.com or call (334) 332-1801.

OBSERVERTHETOCONTRIBUTEDPHOTOS

to reactivate the card.”

OTHER BUSINESS:

- The council ap proved a Class I alco hol beverage license from HFW, LLC d/b/a Session at 257 E. Magnolia Ave.

- The council ap proved a Special Events Retail alcohol beverage license for Ithaka ServicesforDavisproved2025.1,AgreementandforBoardwithprovedforTechnologyLibraryServicePublictractapprovedmoreCenterYarbroughLLCwithprovedTimes.erlicenseprovedCollegeUniversityTheBeverage,PartnersHospitalityAuburnLLCd/b/aHotelatAuburnat182S.St.-ThecouncilapabusinesspenaltywaivrequestforGood-ThecouncilapacontractABetterCourt,toresurfacetheTennishardcourtforthan$73,000.-ThecouncilaconwithAlabamaLibrarytoacceptaServicesandActGrantmorethan$18,700.-ThecouncilapacontracttheAuburnCityofEducationaSchoolResourceCanineOfficerfromAug.2022toJuly31,-ThecouncilapacontractwithArchitects,Inc.aProfessionalAgreement

Additional Services Nos. 2 and 3 for the Lake Wilmore Project for more than $819,800.-Thecouncil ap proved a contract with Donohoo Chevrolet, LLC for the purchase of ten 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV vehicles for the police depart ment for more than $341,000.-Thecouncil ap proved a contract with General $201,300servicesforHumanewithprovedformembershipRegionaltheproved$15,000.trackingnarcoticsforGlobalprovedGaySt.,bothmentsandening,forNo.Company,MayerforImprovementsforEastContractorsMaintenanceofAlabama,Inc.theLightingProject$630,000andwithElectricSupplyInc.ProjectSTPOA-4116(250)resurfacing,widtrafficsignalsdrainageimproveforover$77,900onS.CollegeSamfordAve.andSt.-ThecouncilapacontractwithK9Solutionsthepurchaseforadetection/caninefor-ThecouncilapacontractwithHorseshoeBendLibraryforrenewalover$45,800.-ThecouncilapacontracttheLeeCountySociety,IncanimalshelteringformorethanforFY2023.

- The council ap proved a contract with NAPA Auto Parts of Auburn, AL for the purchase of a Coats Model CHD9551 heavy du ty tire changer for the andremovals,Treewithproved$79,150.hybridInterceptortwoforStiversproved$198,000.BuildingPhaseTrainingforServicesforLitchfieldwithproved$25,000.AgreementSoftwareProjilitywithprovedthanDepartmentParkspickupchaseFleettheprovedforServicesEnvironmentalDepartmentmorethan$40,100.-ThecouncilapacontractwithNationalAutoforthepurofthreeF-150trucksforthe&Recreationformore$125,800.-ThecouncilapacontractProjility,Inc.forExpertCareSupportfor-ThecouncilapacontractSeaySeay&ArchitectsaP.C.ProfessionalAgreementthePublicSafetyCenter-2ClassroomProjectfor-ThecouncilapacontractwithFordLincolnthepurchaseof2023FordPoliceUtilityvehiclesfor-ThecouncilapacontractTimberProServicefortreepruningstumpgrinding

in Auburn parks for $21,500.-Thecouncil ap proved with Timmons Group the Permit Portal and Cityworks PLL Support Contract for $24,800. - The council ap proved documents.notThepreliminarycourtcationofreceive(J&J).McKessonparticipatethatLitigationthetanceprovedthroughforDevelopmenttoboardapprovedImprovementstheHoldings,forconstructionprovedProject.QuaildevelopmentofJamestheIncforgreenwaydrainage,rights-of-way,utilityandeasementsBarrett-Simpson,forpropertyonnorthsideofMrs.Road,westtheOldSamfordintheChasePhase1-ThecouncilapatemporaryeasementPSMAlabamaLLCforHamiltonRoadProject.-ThecouncilthreeappointmentstheIndustrialBoardOct.10,2022Oct.9,2028.-ThecouncilaptheaccepoffundsfromAlabamaOpioidsettlementAuburnchosetoinagainstandJansenAuburnwillabout0.619%thesuitiftheallomodelwiththelinesupwiththemodel.finalamountwasdisclosedincity-Thecouncilvoted

to annex 7.9 acres for Matt Cobb on behalf of AU Alliance, LLC for property on the north side of Beehive Road and west of the Auburn Technology Park West for Sonic Tools. The council then voted to rezone 9 acres from Rural to Industrial in the same area. The council then voted to approve a commercial sup port use

Avenue.forofthorizerightAuthoritytheprovedGlennforofTimconditionaluseproved1764TownhomesforZhangonuseformanceunittion,toatDistributionToolsbehalfAuEngineering,fordistribution(warehousefacility)MattCobb,CobbPLLConAlliance,LLC’sfortheSonicWarehouseFacilitythesamelocation.-Thecouncilvotedapprovearesoludubbingamulti-developmentperresidentialforBrettBasquinbehalfofLee&NannaLiutheMiracleRoadMUDandMiracleRoad.-ThecouncilaparoadserviceforaTacoBelluseforMinoronbehalfBeckBradham,Inc.propertyat1521E.Ave.-ThecouncilapavacationforAuburnHousingtovacateaofwayandautheexecutionaquitclaimdeedpropertyatCrosby

LONG888-283-4780Author’sRewards!theinternationally.andAUTHOR!BECOME833-449-1307.Discountsinstalls.warrantyforpricesONEUPDATESBATHtiseoutcallAla-SCANnewspaperweek!NetworkyourreadersreachinginSTATEWIDEADVERTISEorbyregionover100Newspapers,over1millioneachweek!RunadinourClassifiedforjust$210perMakeonecalltothis(participatingnewspaper)or1-800-264-7043tofindhoweasyitistoadverstatewide!&SHOWERinaslittleasDAY!Affordable-Nopayments18months!Lifetime&professionalSenior&Militaryavailable.Call:APUBLISHEDWeedit,printdistributeyourworkWedowork…YoureaptheCallforaFREESubmissionKit:DISTANCE

MOVING: Call today for a FREE QUOTE from America's Most Trusted Interstate Movers. Let us take the stress out of mov ing! Speak to a Relocation Specialist, call 844-925-3534

EDUCATION

ATTENTION ACTIVE Duty & Military Veterans! Begin a new career and earn your Degree at CTI! Online Computer & Medical train ing available for Veterans & Families! To learn more, call 866-475-1014 (M-F 8am6pm ET).

HEALTH/BEAUTY

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. FREE informa tion kit. Call 866-505-0828.guaranteed.+prices!alternativeCIALISATTENTION:844-322-9935.VIAGRAandUSERS!Acheapertohighdrugstore50PillSpecial-$99FREEShipping!100%CALLNOW:

ALASCAN CLASSIFIEDS

VEHICLE TITLE Problems? We have a solution! Call Jason Steward Enterprises, We’re Alabama’s #1 Vehicle Title Problem Experts! Free telephone consultation. North AL 1-256-850-0527, Central AL 1-205-267-5735, South AL 1-251-342-8538.

FOR SALE

DirecTV Satellite TV Service Starting at $59.99/ month! Free Installation! 160+ channels available. Call Now to Get the Most Sports & Entertainment on TV!

NEED844-594-7108NEWFlooring? Call Empire Today to schedule a Free in-home estimate on Carpeting and Flooring. Call Today!

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ELIMINATE

comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended war ranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and condi tions. 1-877-323-5516

AUTOMOTIVE SUPPORT THE BLIND! Donate a car to the American Council of the Blind. FAST FREE PICKUP. 24-hour

response. Running or not. maximum tax deduction and no emission test required! Call 24/7: 844-601-1342.

AUTO INSURANCE from $29 month Free 2-minute Quote! We Compare all Insurance providers offers for you! Lowest Rates! Call Now 866-450-0943

LOCAL CLASSIFIEDS

NOW HIRING

Do you have a passion for animals? Want to make a difference in the community? We are looking for individ uals to join our animal care team! We have multiple part time positions* available: Morning Shifts (7am-1pm)*: 1 position available for 1Sunday-Wednesdaypositionavailable for days*TheseThursday-Saturdaycanbealternatingorasetscheduleifyou

Afternoonprefer.* Shifts (12pm26pm)*:positions available for 2Sunday-Wednesdaypositionsavailable for benefits.)positionspositionshourStartingprefer.*days*TheseThursday-Saturdaycanbealternatingorasetscheduleifyoupayis$10.50perandwedohavefulltimeaswell!(FulltimedocomewithhealthIfinterested,please

send your resumes to Nosume@leecountyhumane.org.rephonecallsplease! WANTED

Blind individual seeking assistance with transpor tation on a limited basis in the Auburn-Opelika area. Contact Terry Corona at 256-493-9393 for more information.

NOTICE OF

deceasedCAROLEEInALABAMAOFPROBABTEPROCEEDINGCOURTINTHECOURTLEECOUNTY,theEstateofSOMMERS,

Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Summary Distribution has been filed in the LEE COUNTY Probate Office by Robert W. Sommers on September 14, 2022, 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 BILLdescendent.ENGLISH PROBATE JUDGE

Legal Run 09/22/2022

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: The estate of Katherine Irene Welborn, Deceased.

Case No. 343

TAKE NOTICE that Letters Administration having been granted to Melissa Easterwood as Administratrix of the Estate of Katherine Irene Welborn, deceased, on the 17th day of June, NOTICE2022.IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons having claims against the said Estate are hereby re quired to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same be barred.

Melissa AdministratrixEasterwood,ofthe Estate of Katherine Irene Welborn, MarrellDeceasedJ. McNeal, Attorney at Law, PC PO Box Opelika,308AL 09/29/22Legal334-745-703336803Run09/22/22,&10/6/22

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF ROBERT O. BAXTER, DECEASED.

TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary hav ing been granted to Peggy Diane Baxter Cibulsky, as Executrix of the Estate of Robert O. Baxter, de ceased, on the 13th day of September, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English.

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

Peggy Diane Baxter Cibulsky, Executrix Of the Estate of Robert O. Baxter, MarrellDeceasedJ. McNeal, Attorney at Law, PC PO Box 308

Opelika, AL 09/29/22Legal334-745-703336803Run09/22/22,&10/06/22

CHM, DISSOLUTIONNOTICELLCOF

PUBLIC NOTICES by law the same will be Normanbarred. T. Pilgreen Legal Run 09/08/22, 09/15/22 & 09/22/22 ADMINISTRATIONOF WITH THE WILL ANNEXED of said de ceased having been grant ed to the undersigned on the 8th day of September, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Probate Judge of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are here by required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be Benjaminbarred. H. 09/22/22LegalAdministratorParr,Run09/15/22,&09/29/22

Notice is hereby given that CHM, LLC (an Alabama limited liability company) was dissolved on September 15, 2022, with said Articles of Dissolution filed in the Office of the Alabama Secretary of State. Persons with claims against CHM, LLC are requested to pres ent such claims to CHM, LLC, c/o Derek W. Hilyer, 813 South Railroad Avenue, Opelika, Alabama 36801. Included in such claim should be any and all doc umentation to determine the amount of and the va lidity of the claim. A claim against CHM, LLC will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce the claim is com menced within two years after the publication of this notice pursuant to 1975 Code of Alabama Section Legal10A-1-9.22.Run09/22/2022

CASE NO. 2022-531 STATE OF ALABAMA LEE COUNTY PROBATE ESTATECOURT OF JOHN HENRY REPRESENTATIVEOFAPPOINTMENTNOTICEDECEASEDASKEW,OFPERSONAL

Letters Testamentary of said John Henry Askew, de ceased, having been grant ed to Carol White Askew this 14th day of September 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons hav ing claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred.

Carol White Askew, Personal Representative Legal Run 09/29/202209/22/2022,&10/06/2022

NOTICE NO.COUNTYPROBATEDECEASEDDARRELLJULIUSESTATECREDITORSTOOFDARRELLMCCOYA/K/J.MCCOY,COURTLEECASE2022-517

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that DARRELLJULIUStheTESTAMENTARYLETTERSofEstateofDARRELLMCCOYA/KIAJ.MCCO

Y are hereby granted to Tammy Henderson f/k/a Tammy Lorraine Watson on the 6th day of September, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are here by required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be Tammybarred. Henderson f/k/a Tammy Lorraine Watson Legal Run 09/29/202209/22/2022,&10/06/2022

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

NOTICE OF AUCTION OF VEHICLEABANDONED

Notice of Auction of Abandoned Motor Vehicle is hereby given to Owner, Secured Party or Lienholder, on the follow ing 2015vehicle:Dodge Ram 1500 &LegalAlabama13040Place:28,SaleTagTagColor:White#:1C6RR6FT6FS523433VINNo.:4451AJ2State:AlabamaDate/Time:October2022at10a.m.(CST)Wayne’sMarineUS280W.,Waverly,36879RunDate09/22/202209/29/2022

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LILA JO KENT

CaseCOUNTY,COURTINDECEASEDEDWARDS,THEPROBATEOFLEEALABAMANo:2022-540

Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 15th day of September, 2022, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all per sons having claims against said estate are hereby re quired to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

JAMIE LEE EDWARDS 09/29/2022LegalOpelika,P.O.SamfordRobertPersonalCONDONRepresentativeH.Pettey&Denson,LLPBox2345AL36803-2345Run09/22/2022,&10/06/2022

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JOYCE FORD GIVHAN, CaseCOUNTY,COURTINDECEASEDTHEPROBATEOFLEEALABAMANo:2022-536

Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 14th day of September, 2022, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all per sons having claims against said estate are hereby re quired to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

JOYCE 09/29/2022Legal(334)Opelika,P.O.SamfordRobertPersonalBEDSOLEGIVHANRepresentativeH.Pettey&Denson,LLPBox2345AL36803-2345745-3504Run09/22/2022,&10/06/2022