Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Vol. 13, No. 24
pelika Observer O
“An award-winning publication for local people, by local people.”
Opelika, Alabama
MARCH 26, 2021 11:30 A.M.
2020: The Year A Pandemic Changed Our Community By Hannah Lester hlester@ opelikaobserver.com
A year ago, things began shutting down. A year ago, Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency. A year ago, masks became a common wardrobe staple. A year ago, no one knew how many deaths would come from this pandemic. A year ago, no one knew how businesses would be affected. A year ago, people could hug their relatives. Although for the average citizen the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t really hit until March, at East Alabama Medical Center, doctors and nurses were preparing in January. “We’d started preparing, really with a large, multidisciplinary team to start thinking about what it was going to look like,”
said Dr. Michael Roberts, chief of staff at EAMC. “I really felt like by the time we had cases, we were as ready as we could be.” Of course, no one knew exactly what the response would look like. The hospital was preparing for one or two COVID-19 cases originally, Roberts said. “There were two rooms in the ICU that we initially had dedicated as our COVID rooms because we were talking about, what if we get one COVID patient? What’s going to happen? Where’s that patient going to go?” The hospital had it’s first COVID-19 case on March 16 and by the first week of April, there were already 60 patients. The elective surgery schedule had to be adjusted, visitation was limited and there was a lot of incoming information,
Roberts added. “Once we admitted our first COVID patient, things escalated quickly, and we had to provide alternate care sites to accommodate the volume,” said Amy Rowland, director of Patient Flow & Bed Capacity and Medical Surgical Division. “This included opening a third ICU in our Perioperative area which stopped elective surgeries altogether.” The hospital had to limit visitation, and nurses had to take on an added responsibility of being there for patients who had no family to visit. “One of the most difficult parts was separation of patients and families,” Rowland said. “Having to impose visitation restrictions was heart wrenching for us as an organization and was not taken lightly.” The disease has taken
Micah Melnick named an Alabama Bright Light Contributed by The Alabama News Center Written by Karim Shamsi-Basha Social justice is one of the big motivators for Micah Melnick, executive director and founder of the BigHouse Foundation in Opelika. “So many families are doing foster care because they believe in social justice, they want the kids to have the best opportunities,” Melnick said. “They don’t care of the background. Foster care is 24/7; you have to believe in the cause.” Melnick and her staff embrace diversity, one of the hallmarks of foster care. “We have already
MELNICK been engaged when it comes to social justice,” she said. “We have families that don’t look alike, and they learn from each other and we learn from them. They do life with each other. Diversity is one of the most beautiful things we have. We are focused on our mission of meeting the needs and improving the lives of children in foster care.”
Melnick and her staff accomplish this mission through many programs. They walk alongside the children and foster families, and through adoption when that is the case. “We provide duffle bags with toiletries, socks and other necessities to new foster children and families,” Melnick said. “We support the families with a Clothes Closet, and an annual program where we make prom dresses. We throw a Backto-School Bash. We give new backpacks. We hold Christmas events. This support is different every year. One year, we had many young kids, so we offered preschool programs.” See MELNICK, page A5
“We were involved in something that nobody in our history had ever been involved in before and that’s reacting to a pandemic.” — Auburn Mayor Ron Anders
Photo by Hannah Lester / Opelika Observer
the lives of over 10,000 in Alabama. “It’s been very difficult emotionally for everybody to deal with, and I think I wasn’t prepared for that aspect,” Roberts
said. “We spent so much time preparing for the clinical challenges and the logistics, that that [emotional toll] has been a little bit of a surprise.” The cities:
As the hospital was dealing with changes, so were the surrounding cities of Auburn and Opelika. See PANDEMIC, page A6
Penn named Augmentative and Alternative Communication Provider of the Year Contributed by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) Speech Language Pathologist Dianna Havard Penn was recently named the Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama’s Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Provider of the Year for 2021. Children’s Rehabilitation Service (CRS), a program of ADRS, has been fortunate to have Dianna as a SLP since April 2017. Dianna’s district includes both the CRS Montgomery and Opelika offices as
PENN well as 14 other surrounding counties. She coordinates the Augmentative Communication Technology (ACT)
clinics for these offices and provides training for families, SLPs and See PENN, page A3
Contents OPINION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4
SPORTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. . . . . A7
POLITICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B9
RELIGION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A13
PUBLIC NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . B10
COMICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A14
CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B11
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A2 March 17, 2021
The Well to open in downtown Opelika By Hannah Lester hlester@ opelikaobserver.com
The Well is set to open soon in downtown Opelika, creating a space for women to gather, shop, grow their businesses and thrive.
women-owned businesses.” Step inside The Well, located at 824 Ave. A, in Opelika, and you’ll find 15 to 20 businesses owned by women in the community, but there is one anchor business, Kovak said,
Contributed By Ashley Kickliter / The Well
“The general idea of the place is to create a space, a very inclusive, welcoming space, for women to gather,” said Alison Kovak, who owns the building, The Well. “Our desire is for it to be a platform to incubate and launch
which is The Tea Room. "Think of it like a market, but everything is curated by women or created by women,” she said. The Tea Room is located centrally and will serve high-end teas, coffees and adaptogenic lattes.
pelika Observer
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Phone: 334.749.8003 editor@opelikaobserver.com Michelle@opelikaobserver.com
An adaptogenic latte is essentially a coffee … without the coffee. They are made like a latte without espresso, Kovak said. Instead, they have blended daptogens, e.g. a superfood. There will be food
too, but items that are good for the body. “So, we’re going to have a nice emphasis on health,” Kovak said. Outside of the Tea Room are other businesses that are See THE WELL, page A3
Publisher: Michelle Key Associate Editors: Hannah Lester Marketing: Woody Ross Photojournalist: Robert Noles Associate Sports Editor: Wil Crews Sports Writers: Rick Lanier, D. Mark Mitchell
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CORRECTIONS The Opelika Observer will correct any errors, omissions or inaccuracies deemed to be substantive. Corrections may be requested by contacting the editor at (334) 749-8003.
Key Living Solutions holds ribbon Cutting
Photo by Michelle Key / Opelika Observer Key Living Solutions, a new nonprofit in Opelika, held a ribbon cutting Friday in front of a model tiny home. Emily Key, owner of the nonprofit, said she believes that small homes can be one of the solutions for the lack of affordable housing in Lee County. “I get phone calls everyday from people looking for one-bedroom housing,” Key said. “I decided I am going to do this. I am going to build eight of these out in Beauregard and I hope to [eventually] build some in Opelika. "I built this house to inform our local city officials and the community as a whole, on the tiny house movement. Tiny homes are extremely cost effective, energy efficient, affordable for both purchasing and renting and are absolutely needed in Opelika. I have a list of 32 citizens who want this first home, and the list is growing. Every age and gender... people from every walk of life. Opelika needs these, and I will not rest until I can properly serve the needs of my community."
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A3 March 17, 2021
Tiger Giving Day supports Veterans and Together We Will Scholarships By Kayla Evans For the Opelika Observer
The Auburn Family raised money for 40 different organizations by celebrating their sixth annual day of giving on Feb. 24. Each organization met its fundraising goal with a total of 7,494 donors. The president of Auburn Student Veterans, Sgt. Justin Schwab, started the Support Scholarship for Veterans for Tiger Giving Day. With a goal of $10,000, they were able to raise $119,045 with 205 donors.
According to the Tiger Giving Day Website, “Each year, veterans leave the service in search of their follow-on assignment to change the world. Most of these men and women have earned educational benefits to lean on. However, since the post-9/11 GI Bill was signed into law in 2008, we have come to recognize that one size does not fit all. There are significant deficits, especially to those of us who may have families, reduced benefits or in some cases not qualify for any benefits at all.”
The money raised on Feb. 24 will provide support to student veterans who want to continue their education at Auburn University. Many of the veterans are older and have started families, others are right out of their four-year enlistment. “Thank you for your generous support of our project,” Schwab wrote on the Tiger Giving Day website. “Because of you, we exceeded our goal to help student-veterans with financial need close the gap of VA benefits, making their dreams of earning an Auburn
degree a reality.” Another one of the organizations was the Together We Will Scholarship started by Auburn men’s head basketball coach Bruce Pearl. With a goal of $20,000, they were able to raise $287,400 with 262 donors. “Each recipient of the Together We Will scholarship shall be selected by the General Scholarship Committee with recipient eligibility subject to review by the Office of University Scholarships. The amount of each scholarship shall be disbursed at regular
intervals during the school year in accordance with normal University policies,” according to the Tiger Giving Day website. Auburn announced Together We Will in September in collaboration with the Auburn Athletics Task Force on Inclusion and Race Relations. Their goal is to support the Auburn Family in shaping a more diverse and inclusive campus community. The recipients of the scholarships are not student-athletes, and their efforts are to achieve a diverse enrollment while enhanc-
ing affordability. “As a part of the Together We Will initiative, Auburn athletic teams have incorporated the Auburn Unity Symbol on their uniforms, equipment, warm-up gear or travel bags. The logo serves as a visual representation of people from all walks of life coming together and uniting as one,” according to the Tiger Giving Day website. For more information about Tiger Giving Day and to look at the other programs involved, visit tigergiving.org.
Contributed By Ashley Kickliter / The Well
THE WELL >>
FROM A2
getting their start at The Well. These businesses may rotate, because the hope, Kovak said, is that as they businesses grow, they will move out of The Well into their own brickand-mortar spaces. There are rooms
PENN >>
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teachers inside her district as well as through local and statewide trainings. Dianna also serves as an interdisciplinary team member in CRS feeding clinics, cleft palate clinics and various other specialty clinics. During the COVID-19 shutdown, she continued to work daily from home to schedule ACD deliveries and provide training for the families via remote means so that their communication would not be placed on hold. Dianna was quick to share the credit for her award. “I’m really shocked and surprised,” she said. “I work with such great speech therapists. I wasn’t expecting it at all. We work so well together even though we are all in different offices. I feel like any of them could have been more worthy, but this is very flattering.” The award came as no surprise to her
in the space that will accommodate “experiences,” she said. There’s a room designed for meditation and prayer — everything in the room is white, from the wallpaper to the furniture, for a calming experiencing. Looking for the exact opposite? “We created a room
called the garden,” Kovak said. “It’s like the night sky, and we’ve got stars blinking on the ceiling and growing trees coming out of the walls and it has swings in it.” There’s an art gallery, a tea room and more. One day The Well may even incorporate a healthy food market into the
concept, she said. See something you like in the building? Everything is for sale. Everything. “There’s literally nothing you put your eyes on, not the rug you walk on, not the lights hanging from the ceiling [that’s not] for sale,” Kovak said. “So if you walk in and you resonate with
something, you can take it home.” The Well is open: Monday: 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is the first in a series of articles on
the different businesses that will be located inside The Well. The Mission Statement of The Well: The Well, designed by women to create intentional moments of connection that unlock our design to encourage, uplift and embrace each other. Together we plant, we grow, and we bloom.
coworkers. Her nomination letter stated, “One would be hard pressed to find a humbler and more thoughtful SLP who is constantly placing others’ needs before her own. She is always searching for new ways to provide assistance to communicators, their families and SLPs. She is innovative and always strives to find more ways to serve her clients and community. It is an honor and a joy to work with her.” Dianna’s passion for helping school system SLPs and school staff is rooted in her vast experience within the school system. Prior to working with CRS, she served students in the Autauga County, Pell City and Huntsville City public school systems, as well as Morgan County and Madison City public schools and Muscogee County public schools in Columbus, Georgia. In her first job as a SLP, she collaborated with a team of professionals to establish the first autism program
for the Muscogee County School District. This initially involved only one classroom but rapidly expanded into a comprehensive program, enabling the system to better meet the needs of students on the autism spectrum. Dianna has also worked with Restore Therapy for more than 10 years. She has often provided augmentative communication evaluations for residents in skilled nursing facilities, travelling across the state to provide evaluations and training to staff, as well as completing the lengthy paperwork to obtain funding for these communication devices. From September 2003 to June 2006, she served as a missionary SLP with Mission to the World in Sofia, Bulgaria as the SLP consultant for Saint Sofia Cerebral Palsy Children’s Hospital. She organized and led short-term medical projects; opened and operated a resource center for parents, therapists
and teachers of children with disabilities; provided ongoing trainings in the areas of assistive technology for professionals and families. She established a special needs resource center, Community Based Resource Center for Children with Disabilities, in the capital of Bulgaria, where parents, teachers and therapists received training on evidence-based practices and current assessment and treatment strategies. Along with her church, Riverside Associated Reform Presbyterian Church, located in Prattville, she assisted in the development of a special needs ministry called Wonderfully Made. Wonderfully Made is a ministry to children with special-abilities and their families and is committed to providing community outreach and respite events throughout the year. Throughout the year, Wonderfully Made events are directed toward educating their
own congregation about the varying abilities of the human race and individual strengths which also serves to build a sense of community in the River Region. In 2016, Dianna provided a hands-on training, Wonderfully Made: Equipping the Church for Special Needs Ministry, for the members of Riverside Presbyterian Church. Participants engaged in activities that demonstrated the physical limitations of disabilities from a first-hand perspective and learned how to provide adaptations that would enable individuals to function more independently within community based activities. In 2018, Dianna and Riverside Presbyterian Church were nominated for and received the Montgomery Area Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities “Partnership of the Year Award” for their Wonderfully Made outreach program. While COVID-19
has limited their 2020 outreach, they still found a way to hold a drive-through Back-toSchool Bash in September to provide multiple activities while maintaining safety and social distancing protocol. Dianna was an ASHA ACE Recipient in 2014 and 2017. Providing assistance and knowledge through presentations to SLPs, families, school staff and community members regarding communication is her priority. About the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services Celebrating 25 years of helping Alabamians with disabilities achieve their maximum potential, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services is a state agency that promotes the healthy development of children from birth and the independence of adults through education, vocational training and assistive technologies. Find out more at www.rehab. alabama. gov.
A4 March 17, 2021
Chicken Salad
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he elderly man at the deli counter was undecided. He looked at the lineup of cold salads behind the glass divider with a serious face behind his surgical mask. It was the kind of face that deep thinkers wear. “Lemme try a sample of the chicken salad,” he said to the girl behind the counter. “It’s REALLY good,” said the cheery young woman with the mask and hairnet. “I just made it, it’s world famous chicken salad, at least that’s what my son says. Every time I make it, I just HAVE to take a few pounds home to my son, my son LOVES my world famous chicken salad, he’s the kind of boy who just loves anything with mayo, and I try to tell him, ‘If you keep eating all that mayon-
C
By Sean Dietrich things, they used to come in every week to eat and talk, but if you ask my opinion, I hate Waldorf salad because I don’t like fruit and mayonnaise to EVER touch each other, that’s gross, I don’t know why anyone with half a brain would put mayonnaise and fruit together, but you know what I always say? I say, ‘Everybody has their own tastes,’ that’s
When one seed is planted
heers to spring, dear readers! Cheers to warmer temperatures, new beginnings, dogwood blooms, azaleas and backyard cook outs. This season has always made me the most thankful to be a southerner by the simple gift of embracing our outdoor lifestyle. I believe spring to be more special this year as I clearly see the light and hope on the other side of COVID-19. Friends are getting vaccines, case numbers are dropping and folks are beginning to behave more normally. I think we are all feeling a weight beginning to lift off our very own shoulders. A sense of relief perhaps, that we can move on. With warmer temps on the farm, it is our season of planting and preparing for Summer. My children get almost anxious in the dead of winter, eager to get their little hands dirty
T
naise, you’re gonna just swell up like a big ole balloon…’” The man interrupted, “Lemme try the broccoli salad, please.” “Sure,” said Miss Sunshine, scooping another sample. “Do you know we put CURRY in our broccoli salad? I used to think curry was gross, but I was wrong, curry’s good, I eat it all the time now — the broccoli salad I mean, not the curry by itself. I don’t think anyone would do that, eat curry by itself, but you never know, people do some weird things…” The grumpy man cut her off. “That’s nice, Miss, I wanna try the Waldorf salad, now.” “Comin’ right up,” she said. “It’s funny, all the old ladies come in here and get the Waldorf salad, and I just laugh, they’re the cutest
oday, I write about an American institution that does not get the credit it is due. The Barber Shop. These days men often get their hair cut in the same places where women get their hair “styled.” Once upon a time, it was different. A boy’s first haircut, and his haircuts after that, brought him into a world of men, and men only. Seldom if ever did women venture into those dens of manhood. Waiting customers read men’s magazines. Field and Stream,
By Bradley Robertson and to be the wild, little farm kids they are. Sissy and Shep begin by begging to mow grass and crank up the weed eater. They argue back and forth over whose turn it is and which section of the never-ending yard belongs to whom. They eventually take turns, both wanting to work, and instructing the father as to when to go and buy more gas; for these children are not content when their devices run out of fuel.
Braxton, in his own creative world, has drawn up a plan for a new catch-pen for his grandfathers’ cattle. He has dimensions, supplies needed and begins to instruct the generation ahead of himself on exactly how this is all going to go down. He arranges equipment to be needed and with eagerness, he conquers each task he aims for, letting nothing stand in his way. They are like never-ending worker ants. Often carrying loads greater than themselves yet there is a fire and sheer determination in them that leaves a mother tired and in awe. I often wonder, what is seeded so deep in them, that in unison they are marked by work and force? They wake up with their own ideas and creative efforts and then they do what it takes See ROBERTSON, page A5
just what I always say…” The man was losing patience. “Miss, gimme a half-pound of the chicken salad.” “It’s world famous.” “You said that already.” “You won’t regret it.” She filled his container, and her happy chatter never ended. “Yep, this is world famous chicken salad, that’s what my son calls it.
My son likes this stuff better than my sister’s kind, she puts grapes in hers, my son just goes ‘YUK!’ My son doesn’t like grapes, or carrots come to think of it, he’s a picky eater, that’s just how he is…” While she was speaking, she wandered toward the register to ring the man up. “Hey!” the man said. “I wasn’t done ordering. I wanted some macaroni, too.” She slapped her head. “Silly me! Would you look at that? There I was, going straight to the cash register, and there you were, wanting to get macaroni. I get distracted when I’m talking to customers, I start to get all…” She started scooping macaroni. “No!” he half shouted. “Not THAT mac-
aroni salad, the MAC AND CHEESE!” “There I go again, I thought you meant this macaroni salad, but you wanted the macaroni with CHEESE, which I can totally understand because after all who doesn’t like some cheese in their life, right?” The man sighed a sigh strong enough to tip over an elephant. He rolled his eyes. He looked at his watch. He tapped his foot. He cleared his throat. This guy was a real day at the beach. Finally, she rang the man up. He handed over his cash, she handed him a bag of food. And before he left, he had some critical words to impart: “Young lady,” he said, “you need to learn See DIETRICH, page A5
Open government is key to honest government Contributed by Ken Paulson
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hen government fails, it’s the rare public official who says, “Oops. My fault.” That’s human nature, particularly for officials in the public eye who may have to run for office again. No one wants to be held directly responsible for letting the public down. Case in point is the recent catastrophe in Texas, when unexpected winter storms left 4 million homes without power, ruptured pipes and tainted the water supply for many. Texas’ energy grid essentially collapsed. While Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was quick to blame frozen wind
turbines, the cause was much more complex than that. To truly understand how things went so terribly wrong will require time, study and research. So, too, with the coronavirus vaccine distribution. In this state and others, residents are frustrated with the slow rollout of vaccines. Is it poor distribution? Politics? A flawed strategy? These are literally matters of life and death. But how do you get to the truth when public officials so rarely step up to take direct responsibility for failures? The answer is public records. And public meetings. And access to the information that taxpayers deserve. States throughout
the country have laws that guarantee access to government records and meetings. But the details vary widely and there are many statutory exceptions. New challenges to access emerge every year in virtually every state. The need to fight for government transparency is reaffirmed each year during Sunshine Week, a national awareness event overseen by the News Leaders Association and keyed to the March 16 birthday of James Madison. The fourth president of the United States drafted the Bill of Rights – including the guarantee of a free press – in 1791. That journalism connection reflects the See PAULSON, page A5
The Barber Shop Sports Illustrated, and Parts Pups, an automotive publication that contained jokes aimed at adolescent males of all ages. If you didn’t read, you could watch, for a barber with comb and scissors always put on a show. Or you could listen. In my youth, while waiting for my turn in the chair, I was often privy to opinions my elders exchanged on topics ranging from football to hunting and fishing to automotive repair to politics to whatever else happened to be on their minds.
Listening to grown men gripe about the government or debate when to plant tomatoes taught me a lot about the diversity of my community and the nature of the men who often set its tone. What they seldom spoke of were women – wives, girlfriends, either or both. Except once. The man getting his hair cut was loud and opinionated. No matter the topic being discussed, he had something to say, and he said it with the authority of the self-assured. What he lacked
Harvey H. Jackson in knowledge and logic, he made up for with volume. Among the increasingly irritated listeners was Mr. Dave, one of the town’s leading citizens. Mr. Dave, gentleman
that he was, ignored the man in the chair. When the barber finished clipping his customer, he shaved the man’s neck, as was the custom back then and, I suspect, still is in older shops with older barbers. Shaving done, the barber asked his customer if he would like some after-shave, cologne, which soothed the skin and left one smelling “like you’ve been to a barber shop.” “I don’t want any,” the man thundered. “If I came home smelling of that stuff my wife would think I had been
in a house of ill-repute.” He paid the barber, and as he walked to the door, Mr. Dave took his place. “Just a trim,” he told the barber. Then he added, “And you can put that cologne on me. My wife doesn’t know what a house of ill-repute smells like.” The once-loud-man silently slipped away. Harvey H. (“Hardy”) Jackson is Professor Emeritus of History at Jacksonville State University. He can be reached at hhjackson43@gmail.com.
A5 March 17, 2021
Ace Hardware to host fire safety event Contributed by the Opelika Chamber of Commerce Come out to University Ace Hardware, located at 2101 E University Dr in Auburn, on Saturday, March 20 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The Auburn Fire Department will be joining us for a Home and
MELNICK >>
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But the past year has been different due to COVID-19, which has affected the way the BigHouse Foundation operates but has not lessened the help it offers foster families, or the need for that help. “COVID-19 has impacted the build-
ROBERTSON >>
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to conquer the path. I often cannot even do this myself. I’m exhausted just watching them and keeping up with their trail of here and there and everywhere. I’ve learned that I am best to feed them, keep tea in the fridge and reply
PAULSON >>
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role news media play in the free flow of information, but it unfortunately can also leave the public with a sense that Sunshine Week reflects the concerns of a single industry. To the contrary, access to government information is critical to every American who
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how to stop running your mouth and serve your customers.” The girl was noticeably embarrassed. Her face lost its cheer. He yanked the bag from her hands and stormed out. Next, she was look-
Fire Safety presentation. After their presentation, they will have one of their firetrucks at the store to show children what it’s like being a firefighter. We will have free treats, a donation drive to give back to the Fire Department and a free raffle for children to enter and win a prize. We can’t wait to see you there!
Trash amnesty begins in Auburn
Contributed by the city of Auburn
Ready to clear out the clutter in and around your home this spring? Trash Amnesty 2021 will take place March 15 through April 23, allowing Auburn residents to take care of spring cleaning without paying extra fees. This will mark the 17th year the city of Auburn’s Environmental Services Depart-
ment has provided a trash amnesty period. Four years ago, the city held the first Trash Amnesty Month as an extension of the weeklong amnesty period that the Auburn City Council had long-designated to waive collection fees for oversized yard debris and other bulky yard waste that exceeds five cubic yards. Please follow these guidelines when taking advantage of Trash
Amnesty 2021: • The city will accept yard waste, appliances and bulky items for collection. Please do not include materials such as household garbage or hazardous waste. • Place debris at the curb no later than 6 a.m. on your regularly scheduled collection day. • Place items at least 3 feet from mailboxes, utility boxes, poles or other fixed objects.
• All items should be contained or bundled so they do not fall into the street or down storm drains. • Limbs and other debris should be no longer than 5 feet. • Place all items in one pile for pickup. Please note, because of the large volume of pickup expected during Trash Amnesty 2021, residents may experience a delay in their normal collection schedule.
ing-relationship side of BigHouse,” Melnick said. “We have had foster kids we’ve never seen. We are continuing Clothes Closet and baby items with masks and social distancing. One of the big results of the pandemic is not hosting Kids Night Out, but we are hopeful by May to have outdoor events.” All of those programs
require funding, and one of the big supporters of the BigHouse Foundation is the Alabama Power Foundation. “We have had a wonderful relationship with the Alabama Power Foundation for several years,” Melnick said. “They have awarded us grants and are always helpful. During the COVID-19 crisis, there
were many unknowns, but having Alabama Power Foundation along our side has been great. They helped with a grant for our Christmas event. It’s a very natural relationship and we love it.” All of this positive work with BigHouse Foundation brings Melnick fulfillment. “Doing my work with BigHouse Foundation,
I feel I have a purpose to serve these families. Their story is what matters. We have hard days, and there is brokenness, but to get to serve and love these families, it’s very encouraging and fulfilling,” Melnick said. New on the horizon is the planning and building of a new home on nine acres that the BigHouse Foundation has acquired.
It will host families and children and hold community building and fundraising activities. Also during May, they will hold the BigHouse Hussle. More than 500 families have signed up for the fitness challenge, and they have raised more than $50,000. To find out more or to donate, visit www. ourBigHouse.org.
with, “Do ya’ll need any help?” And the response is typically, “No mom, we got it.” But I begin to think back on their smallness years ago, the little years when tiny hands did tiny things. Their father always allowed them to get their hands dirty and always allowed them
to help. Little hands are perfect for placing small seeds in small holes, packing fresh dirt over fresh plants and screwing small screws in smaller spaces. I believe he always told them “yes you can”. And so the seed is “yes”. Yes, you can plant things, watch it grow and eat of its fruit.
Yes, you can dream it and do it, achieve it and enjoy it and live to tell the story. My children only know that they absolutely can do anything. I wrote this poem for my children and for you. Whatever seeds you plant this season, may they bear much fruit and may they remind us that
we too are a seed. We are one tiny effort of work that grows into a larger, sweeter story. For when they were three, they planted a seed. The seed grew a shoot that turned into a bloom. The bloom was nourished with water and sun, And one day, fell
away, with new fruit to come. After many long days of play, the children did see, A fruit stood alone and ready to eat. The children held in their hands, what good work can do, When one seed is planted and cared for by you.”
cares about the quality of his or her community, state and nation. It’s important to see government employees – including elected officials – as the people we hire through our tax dollars to do a good job for all of us. If you run a business or hire a contractor, you wouldn’t hesitate to demand a full understanding of how something went wrong. That should be exactly
our relationship with government. Getting that information, though, requires public meetings where residents can ask questions. It also means access to the documents that led to a poor decision. Words on paper can be much more forthright than the dissembling of politicians. It’s critical that we hold government accountable, for bet-
ter or worse. (It’s also important to acknowledge when government leaders are doing a good job.) How can you help? I have two suggestions. First, keep doing exactly what you’re doing at this moment. Read and support your local newspaper. Local journalists, more than anyone else, will stand up for your right to information. Facebook
will not be going toe-totoe with your mayor. Second, when you believe government isn’t doing its job, demand an explanation. Ask to see the documents. Attend public meetings. And above all, support legislative efforts to make government more transparent. It’s too easy for officials who have failed us to point fingers, blame the media and wait
for their side of the partisan fence to rally to their defense. We deserve better. We all pay taxes to support the work of government. We should get our money’s worth. Ken Paulson is the director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, a lawyer and a former editor-in-chief of USA Today.
ing over the counter at me, asking what I wanted to order. I could see how tired her eyes were, and how upset she was. But before I could order, I heard the bell on the door ring. The front door opened. It was a woman in scrubs, pushing a wheelchair with a young man in it.
The young man looked fourteen, maybe. His head was pressed against a headrest, his body unmoving, his face showing a wide smile. He had tubes coming from beneath his shirt, and an oxygen nosepiece. The girl forgot all about me. She removed her apron and
darted toward the boy. The boy howled, “Mama!” but he did not move a muscle below his neck. She kissed the young man. He kissed her. I wish you could’ve seen them. Soon, the young woman was seated at a table, feeding this boy crackers and some chicken salad. They
were lost in their own private world. “Sir?” A new cashier was behind the counter, talking to me. “Sir, can I help you?” I turned to see an employee staring. “Sorry,” I said. “I got distracted.” “It’s okay, what would you like, sir?” What would I like? Well. It’s simple, real-
ly. What I would like is for people to be nice to each other no matter how much it costs. Also, I would like it if someone would give that young woman with the beautiful personality a significant pay raise. But most of all, I would like a quart of that world famous chicken salad.
1 OUT OF 10 ELDERLY PERSONS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE BEING: Abused, Neglected or Exploited If you suspect this is happening to someone you know, please report it to Adult Protective Services by contacting your local DHR office or calling the
ADULT ABUSE HOTLINE at 1-800-458-7214
HELP STOP THE ABUSE
IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT
Thereʼs no excuse for
ELDER ABUSE
“This project was supported by Subgrant #18-VA-VS-050 #16-VA-VS-076 awarded by the Law Enforcement / Traffic Safety Division of ADECA and the U.S. Department of Justice.” The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice or grant-making component.”
Protect with 3! ✔ Tdap ✔ HPV ✔ MCV4 Protect your patients against vaccine preventable diseases.
As healthcare professionals, it is up to you to ensure your patients remain up to date with their vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) recommend the following vaccines for adolescents: • • • •
Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis Human papillomavirus Meningococcal disease Influenza
For more information, please visit alabamapublichealth.gov/imm
BE MORE. GO BUILD. Learn more at GoBuildAl.com
A6 March 17, 2021
Opelika’s Azalea and Dogwood Trail opens next week Contributed by Keep Opelika Beautiful Keep Opelika Beautiful will kick off the Azalea and Dogwood Trail on Monday, March 22. The Trail begins at corner of 2nd Avenue and 8th Street
PANDEMIC >>
FROM A1
“I actually met with Mayor Fuller and met by zoom with the Auburn City Council just laying out our reasoning for why we felt like it was important to have a mask mandate locally,” Roberts said. But before Auburn or Opelika could make that decision on their own, Ivey instituted a state-wide mask mandate. Auburn: “We were involved in something that nobody in our history had ever been involved in before and that’s reacting to a pandemic,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “So we had no file to go to, to see how the city of Auburn had dealt with this in the past. We had no one to turn to, to answer the questions and give us good advice. We were literally making up policy and response as it was happening.” The stakes were high, Anders said, each decision the council made directly affected the people of Auburn. “Here’s a thriving college community that’s very active in the spring,” he said. “A community in general that is trying to go to spring break and the world changed on a dime.” Anders said he knew it would be important for him to remain calm and collected as he spoke with residents and made decisions. People were looking to him, and they wanted answers. “The problem was those good, clear answers weren’t available because nobody had ever had to
and winds throughout the historic district and other neighborhoods of Opelika. Keep Opelika Beautiful has partnered with Lee County Master Gardeners to include the Salem-Shotwell Bridge and Caroline Dean Wildflower Garden in the answer these questions before,” Anders said. When the pandemic struck Auburn, Anders had been mayor less than two years, he said, but was expected to navigate uncharted territory. Many decisions were passed down from the state, but before they were, there was pressure on the council to close businesses, Anders said. But, the council didn’t have the authority to shut businesses down before they had done anything wrong, he said. Ivey announced a state of emergency for Alabama on March 13. Businesses were forced to close and Auburn residents stepped up to the plate to support them. “The response that our community gave to many of our restaurants as they continue to try to order food from these people, even as it was certainly take out or delivery, I really, truly believe there was committed effort from the people of Auburn to try to support as many of these restaurants as possible,” he said. The city instituted programs and adapted to the pandemic to continue caring for residents. “I’m very proud of our city for the way that we kind of changed how we function and we turned a library into an information center, our parks and rec department had a call program for shut-in, older people who were not able to get out to make sure that they were doing okay,” Anders said. “We redid trick-or-treat so that we could have a trick-or-treat event for our kids, but it didn’t look the same as it’s always
Azalea & Dogwood Trail. This will give visitors a chance to enjoy a short walk. “The Azalea and Dogwood Trail is an annual highlight for Opelika. With the limitations set for group activities, we encourage
looked, but we still provided something for them. And there’s many stories like that where our people changed the way that we normally function to try to provide something relevant to the people who needed our help.” Opelika: “I didn’t grasp the longterm ramifications of this,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. “I thought that it was just some bug that would be around for a few weeks. And of course, it didn’t take long for it to dawn on me that this was quite serious.” He said that the city moved quickly and began closing city buildings, including city hall. Fuller said it was hard to watch as places like the parks, the library, the Sportsplex, the basketball courts all closed — and people had to stay home. Too, businesses had to close to 50% occupancy limits. He said that he even
people to take advantage of walking, biking or driving through the trail. There are many beautiful flowers and homes inOpelika," said Tipi Miller, director of Keep Opelika Beautiful. For the Azalea and Dogwood Trail, visitors may
follow the green arrows signs or pick up an Azalea and Dogwood Trail directional card at the Opelika Chamber of Commerce or City Hall. Directions can also be found at the Keep Opelika Beautiful website. The Azalea and Dogwood
Photo by Hannah Lester / Opelika Observer
asked some of the big box chains, like Walmart to lower the occupancy to 20%. The mayor said he looks forward to the days when Opelika Main Street can host events in downtown again and communities can gather. “I want us to reach the herd immunity stage because I want to see a full house at Bulldog Stadium when we kick of the season in August,” Fuller said. A year later: On March 1, EAMC had only 10 COVID-19 hospitalizations and zero patients on ventilators. “We’re all very hopeful about where we are right now,” Roberts said. “You know, the vaccine distribution, locally, has been absolutely as good as it can be.” Ivey announced recently that the mask mandate will be dropped on April 9. However, the hospital has
announced it will continue to require masks inside EAMC. “The whole thing has been very polarizing, and I think it’s unfortunate that it became such a political hot-button because I think that was to the detriment of our response nation-wide,” Roberts said. The chief of staff said that he hopes people will be able to return to sporting events and concerts later this year, but “normal” may be hard to return to. “I don’t know what normal really means anymore,” Roberts said. “I think there are some things that are forever changed.” Ivey’s recent announcement allowed restaurants to return to full capacity. “The good news is, I think we’re not out of it yet, but we can sure see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Fuller said. Fuller said he believes it will be important for res-
Trail has been long-standing highlight of the spring season in Opelika for over three decades. For more information contact Keep Opelika Beautiful at (334) 7494970 or tipi@keepopelikabeautiful.com. idents in Opelika to take personal responsibility. “I don’t think we ought to depend on the government to tell us everything we can do and can’t do,” he said. “And even if they say no mask is required, if you’re in a crowded area, I recommend folks wear their masks.” Looking to the future involves vaccination. Lee County has a vaccination clinic that is working daily to provide thousands of shots. “At the end of the day, one of the things you’re going to hear from both [Fuller] and I is this vaccine clinic might be one of the greatest moments in our two cities’ history,” Anders said. “As two cities came together with our hospital, and all the support folks from the nursing programs, and Tuskegee, and Auburn and Southern Union to put together a plan of action and a pathway for people to get these vaccines.” More information about the vaccine clinic can be found on EAMC’s website (https://www.eamc. org/patient-and-guests/ covid-19-information/) and anyone interested in volunteering can sign up online (https://app. vomo.org/project/vaccination-site-volunteers.) While normal is returning, for some families, life is changed forever. “My heart feels love and prayers continually for those families who have lost people in our communities, that expected those people to be with them today but because of a pandemic they’re no longer with them,” Anders said. “People have made tremendous sacrifices through that.”
Opelika E vents, Society & Food
March 20 - Women's Hope 5K March 20 - Bark in the Park March 21 - Simon & Garfunkel at OPAC
Welcome spring with time outdoors, enjoying easy to prepare meals Ann Cipperly
Southern
Hospitality
W
ith Bradford Pear and Tulip trees and clusters of daffodils blooming around town, we welcome the return of spring with sunny, warmer weather. Whether you are working in the yard or able to get out more now with a vaccine, plan on serving easy recipes to enjoy time out of doors, even if it is relaxing on the patio. After so many gloomy cold days, spring beckons to plant an herb garden or clean flowerpots to get ready for new plants. Herbs will flourish in large pots and planting them in pots allows you to place them in a sunny location. Be sure
to plant plenty of parsley, basil, sage, thyme, dill, rosemary and others for enhancing the flavor of dishes. Tomato plants and other vegetables also grow in pots if you don’t have a sunny place for a garden. After enjoying time out of doors, prepare a meal that is easy and delicious. Make a list of menus for the week in order to keep ingredients on hand for days when you don’t have much time to cook. An easy recipe to assemble is Andy’s Restaurant Macaroni and Cheese. Julia Moreman shared this recipe years ago. It was served at Andy’s Restaurant, which was the most popular
restaurant in Opelika for many years. It was the setting for luncheons, rehearsal dinners and parties. The restaurant was owned by the parents of Julia’s late husband, Dick Moreman. He helped at the restaurant at one time before his sister, Mari Crim, ran the business. Julia taught at Opelika High School for two and a half years. A young Julia was my English teacher in the 11th grade. I will always be thankful to Julia for her influence and for introducing me to the beautiful poetry of Robert Frost. Dick and Julia owned and operated Golden Crown Interiors and Flowers on
Irish Bred Pub to host “Irish Spring Celebration” By Michelle Key Publisher Joining celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day and the first day of Spring on March 20, Opelika’s Irish Bred Pub is hosting an Irish Spring Celebration March 17 – 20. The restaurant plans to offer live music everyday during the event, food specials including corned beef and cabbage and drink specials such as
green beers for $2. Patrons can enjoy both
indoor dining and outdoor dining on the patio. The upstairs bar and balcony will also be open for guests. The music lineup includes: March 17 - Rachael Wilson Band March 18 - Marcus Frazier March 19 - Tyrone Moultry March 20 - Mac Cone and also on March 20 the Burnham Wood Band.
Photo by Ann Cipperly Tomato and mozzarella bruschetta is a tasty appetizer to serve while you are preparing dinner. This recipe is also good to serve for lunch or a light supper with a green salad. Use a baguette for appetizer portions and regular French bread for open faced sandwiches.
Second Avenue. Julia operated the flower shop, while Dick was the designer for the interior decorating service. They were both active in the community and at the First United Methodist Church. Dick’s mother, Cecil Moreman, with Jane Walker, was co-founder of the Lee County Youth Development Center, and Dick served on the board. Julia and Dick lived in the historic two-story house on 10th Street at the entrance
to Collinwood Street for 47 years. After Dick passed away, Julia was ready to downsize. She moved into her new home at National Village in June 2014. Cherished antiques from her former home fit nicely in the new house. Julia enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. The Macaroni and Cheese from Andy’s restaurant is still being prepared as a favorite dish for the grandchildren. Another easy dish
children will enjoy is Heather Cummings’ One-Skillet Spaghetti. Heather and her husband, Kevin, have two sons, Jake and John Conner. Heather, who is director of Children’s Ministries at Trinity United Methodist, is a former educator and school administrator. Growing up, Heather helped her mother and grandmother cook, and she enjoys cooking for her family. She tries to find See CIPPERLY, page A9
Lee County Humane Society hosts “Slumber Paw-ty” By Hannah Lester hlester@ opelikaobserver.com The Lee County Humane Society is asking people to foster pets next weekend for a “Slumber Paw-ty Extravaganza” so the shelter can clean up. “The Slumber Paw-ty Extravaganza is going to be Lee County’s largest fostering event ever,” said Photo contributed by the Humane Society
See PAW-TY, page A8
A8 March 17, 2021
Making the Grade: Zazu Gastropub By Stacey Patton Wallace I absolutely LOVE downtown Opelika. It has so many interesting shops and great restaurants at which to dine. Also, this railroad town has maintained its small-town atmosphere and charm, unlike other cities which have gone 21st century ugly with hulking, high-rise condos which try to swallow up the overwhelmed, normal-sized buildings. In addition, the free parking is plentiful for everyone; that is a real bonus. Zazu Gastropub on 8th Street in downtown Opelika is a true treasure. The interior of the building is beautifully made of brick, and hanging, decorative light fixtures add to its lovely décor. Also, Zazu wins the prize for following COVID-19 safety protocols. When you enter, the hostess takes your temperature. Furthermore, employees
wear masks, and social distancing is observed. In addition, when customers leave, an employee immediately disinfects the table. Of all the restaurants at which I’ve eaten since we’ve come out of lockdown, I feel safest at Zazu Gastropub. This is a very BIG deal to a “Pooh-sized” diabetic woman. My friend Amelia, whom I have known since kindergarten, came to have lunch (really dinner to Southerners) with me at Zazu’s. Since Amelia and I have been friends for 53 years, we are very close; she is really family to me. And you know how family can be. Sneaky. Once, when we were high school seniors, she filled out a card with my name, address, etc. and sent it in to the United States Army Recruiting Office! She, of course, didn’t tell me. A few weeks later, a woman called and asked if I were still
interested in joining the Army. In shock, I sputtered, “No!” and hung up the phone. I’m too much of a coward to serve in our military but admire those who do, such as my niece Capt. Brittney Patton, who is
Photo by Mike Wallace
my hero. Amelia finally admitted what she had done when I told her about my phone call. You have to watch Bama grads. Adam, our waiter, was really great; he
was kind, courteous and attentive. Amelia and I both selected the 8-ounce burger, which included lettuce, local tomato and onion. It was truly delicious, a brawny, beef masterpiece. All burgers are served with fries or kettle chips. You may also substitute with soup, salad or duck fries. Yes, I had to ask what were duck fries. They are cooked in duck fat; also, they had some melted Parmesan cheese, onion and chipotle aioli, which is a spice, on them. After we had finished our meal, Amelia, who is also a diabetic, asked about their list of desserts. I protested; I was TRYING to be good and not have a dessert. After hearing the choices, Amelia decided NOT to have one. However, the list of desserts weakened my resolve, and I ordered the bread pudding with caramel sauce. This diabetic downhill slide was Amelia’s fault, so I
told her that she would have to help me eat it; I didn’t have to twist her arm. Chef Gary Thorne did an amazing job. The bread pudding was so light and fluffy; the caramel sauce really enhanced the flavor of the dessert. Miss Cora, this review was for you. Miss Cora is a sweet friend at my church, Central Baptist of Opelika; she knows how to make amazing desserts, too, and loves Zazu’s. Zazu Gastropub makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Pooh-sized” people NEVER lie about food. Enjoy! Stacey Patton Wallace, who retired from teaching language arts for 30 years, is a professional diner. Her column, “Making the Grade,” will appear each week in the Observer. Stacey may be reached at retiredlangartsteacher2020@ gmail.com.
A 'moo'-ving deed: local boy and Chick-Fil-A give back By Kayla Evans For the Opelika Observer A nine-year-old boy from Opelika did something special to help the local community. Easton Wood, along with the Tiger Town Chick-fil-A, raised money to give food to Opelika’s E.L. Spencer Cancer Center and EAMC ICU patients. Wood’s idea for giving back originated from a discussion he had at school. One day, Wood’s teacher asked her students what they would do if they were given $100. After some thought, Wood said
PAW-TY >>
FROM A7
Bailey Ray, foster coordinator at LCHS. “We are hoping to get all pets currently housed in the shelter into foster homes from Friday, March 26 until at least Sunday, March 28 so our staff can focus two whole days to cleaning every inch of our shelter.” This is the first year the shelter has considered an event like this, Ray said, but the LCHS would like to make this twice-annual. “Our director approached me in February about the idea of having a “spring cleaning” style event to perform a deep cleaning of the shelter and what this would entail,” Ray said. “We figured this would require every pet to find temporary placement in a foster home over one weekend, so we brainstormed ideas on how to get our community involved which led us to the Slumber Paw-ty idea.”
that he would buy as much Chick-fil-A as he could and give meals to the cancer center. After calling the Tiger Town Chickfil-A, they were able to raise more than $100. Chick-fil-A originally got it to $300, then someone donated another $100, and by the end, they had raised enough for 110 boxes of food. Seventy-five went to the cancer center, and 35 went to the ICU. On March 8, a group of volunteers delivered meals to the cancer center, and a different group delivered the boxed meals to the ICU.
“Because of COVID, the main thing that we did was individualize everything," said Ozz Calton, caterer for Tiger Town Chick-fil-A. “Everything is
Although this is the first “Slumber Paw-ty,” animals are available for fostering on weekends already. “With our existing Weekend Warriors foster program where we allow fosters to take a pet from Friday through Sunday,” Ray said, “We knew fostering over a weekend is much more feasible for most people rather than a week or 2-week foster period.” While pets are exploring their temporary weekend homes, the shelter will be deep cleaning, Ray said. “Our goal is to scrub this entire building from top to bottom, and everywhere in between, to make it as great as possible for the pets we serve. We also have not experienced a time with zero pets in the building, so this is the best time for us to remove larger kennels to wash outside which is something we usually cannot do since pets are occupying them. We are also starting to
see an increase in stray intakes as summer draws near, so this may be the last time we see less than 100 pets in our care until October or later.” Ray said she believes fostering is a gift, not just for the human, but the pet. “By taking the pet into your home until they find a permanent placement, you are not only helping them decompress from their stay at the shelter, but you’re also giving the shelter staff valuable information about how this pet behaves in a home,” she said. Don’t worry about the supplies necessary for fostering if you don’t already have pets at home, the humane society provides what your new friend will need. “I think that fostering can be beneficial to people looking to see if they are prepared to adopt,” Ray said. “Even if you don’t adopt your first foster pet, you’re still helping them find a loving home by taking
wrapped individually and placed in a box meal. There are different ones, but the normal box meal is a sandwich, chip and cookie.”
Calton, along with the Tiger Town Chickfil-A, has been giving back to the community for about three years. Calton said he does not want food to go to waste. He said he would grab the food and go into their parking lot and look for police, firefighters and others who would like the food. He would look for anyone who was hungry or someone he could thank. “Over the years, I just saw a waste,” he said. “We would have 20 biscuits and hash browns, and we would just throw them away. It would still be good under our qualified
timeline for another 30 minutes or 40 minutes … I’m not going to waste this. There’s people in the community that would eat this and be thankful.” Overall, the Chickfil-A team has done dozens of things to help the community over the past few years. Their main goal is to help people and show the community that they care about them. “It’s a sharing thing,” Calton said. “It’s reaching out to your community, and just saying ‘you know, we’re not going to be wasteful; we’re going to be thankful’.”
them into foster care.” Anyone interested in fostering is asked to apply online first to make sure all pets will be safe (leecountyhumane. org/foster.) Interested foster parents for cats and dogs will then need to fill out the “Slumber Paw-ty” form (https://
forms.gle/zooaDhxDdqUC7CSKA.) There are two dogs up for adoption in the humane society who have been looking for homes since July, Rue (LCHS-A-4533) and Dyson (LCHS-A-5671). Looking for a kitten? Ray said that Tally
(LCHS-A-6734) is in search of a home. “Tally has FIV which is feline immunodeficiency virus, but she’s still PAWsitively adoptable,” she said. “All of these pets will be needing foster homes for our Slumber Paw-ty plus many more.”
Photo contributed by Ozz Calton
Call me for all your real estate needs! 1810 E. Glenn Ave. Suite 130 Auburn, AL 36830 Cell 334.444.8041 duffystewartrealtor@gmail.com www.BHHSPreferredAuburn.com A member of the franchise system of BHH Affliates, LLC
A9 March 17, 2021
Keep Opelika Beautiful hosts ‘Litter Lift Friday’ campaign event By Lofton Wheeles For the Opelika Observer Keep Opelika Beautiful is currently hosting its Litter Lift Friday campaign, a campaign that aims to fight against litter in Opelika. Litter Lift Friday takes place on Fridays at 9 a.m., and volunteers meet in different parts of Opelika to pick up litter. The campaign started due to a noticeable increase in litter in Opelika and due to pandemic-related issues involving litter. “We’ve noticed an increase of litter, but then I’ve also spoken with several [people], mostly retirees, who feel like they’re just stuck at home,” said Keep Ope-
lika Beautiful Executive Director Tipi Miller. “So, I just decided that let’s just combine those two issues to have a solution. “And my solution is Litter Lift Friday where I encourage anyone of any age to meet us on every Friday at 9 a.m. at various locations – it’s not a set location – and we pick up litter.” Miller believes that helping pick up litter outside is a great way to get exercise and fresh air in a time where trying to find socially distant exercise is difficult. “It’s great exercise, and it’s not strenuous, but you are walking so it is exercise,” she said. “It’s fellowship. It’s social interaction. But it’s from a distance so you’re
not stuck in a room together. You can be as far away from people as you want to, but you can still interact with them here in the fresh air. I mean how much better does that get.” The campaign also looks to help out the community by giving citizens the opportunity to give back to the city through the clean-up efforts. “It’s to help our community members at any age and any skill level,” Miller said, while discussing the goals of Litter Lift Friday. “[It’s] just to get people outside and get people active in a healthy, safe environment. That’s one part of the goal. “Another part of the
goal is to just clean up litter. Just to make Opelika more beautiful. Studies have shown that the people who pick up litter are less likely to litter. And so, we love involving volunteers of all ages, all stages, everything because if you ever spend your morning picking up litter, I promise you’ll never litter again.” Miller went on to talk about the camaraderie that is experienced through picking up litter to create a better Opelika. “I love being with these volunteers,” she said. “I have gotten to know people that I would have never met in life. Mostly because they’re maybe retired, and we
just don’t follow the same social circles because they’re retiring and I’m far from that age. So, I just enjoy our conversations. “We get out there and nobody is smarter than anybody, nobody picks up litter better than anybody, nobody’s faster than anybody. It’s just like you’re all on a level playing field and you can just get to really know people in that environment, and so that’s really my favorite part.” Miller also shared her sentiments about doing this campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It sounds crazy, but I don’t know if I could do this campaign if it weren’t for the pandemic because people
are anxious to get out of their house and do something,” she said. “I honestly wish I thought of this campaign months ago because I probably could have kept it going for a long time. I think the pandemic is a perfect situation for people to get outside and be outside in a safe environment where they feel comfortable, and so that’s definitely helped.” Materials to help pick up litter such as bags, gloves, vests and grabbers will be provided to volunteers to keep from picking up litter with their bare hands, according to Miller. For more information, you can contact Tipi Miller at tipi@keepopelikabeautiful.com.
easy meal on vacation or at home. You can also use a rotisserie chicken instead of canned. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, pork tenderloin, ground beef and ground turkey are all good to have on hand for quick meals. Keep containers of chicken stock, canned tomatoes, pasta sauces, pastas, rice, panko crumbs and balsamic vinegar in the pan-
try. Bread will freeze well. As you get busy with spring activities outdoors, look over the following recipes from several good cooks and select ones to serve your family in the coming week. These recipes go together quickly, and most only need a salad to complete a delectable meal. Ann Cipperly can be reached at recipes@ cipperly.com.
Storybook Farm will Egg Your Yard By Lofton Wheeles For the Opelika Observer Storybook Farm is currently accepting orders for its ‘Egg My Yard’ spring fundraiser to bring some “true Easter Bunny magic” to families in the Auburn-Opelika area. The fundraiser is what Storybook Farm Chief Operations Officer Sara Medley calls “the brainchild of our 2018 Auburn University student interns” and it creates an opportunity to raise money for the organization. “Egg My Yard is a specialized service that brings Easter to your front door,” she said. “Purchasers can select from a 40- or 100-egg package containing colorful plastic eggs filled with individually wrapped candies and surprises. “You can go ‘bunny wild’ and add a customizable basket," Medley said." Our bunnies consist of Auburn Univer-
sity student volunteers who will deliver baskets and hide Easter Eggs in your front yard the evening of Saturday, April 3.” Storybook Farm is looking to help families take the stress out of Easter with ‘Egg My Yard’ while playing a part in providing fun memories. “Families are busier than ever with clubs, sports, school events etc. and we are here to step in to take an item off their to-do list,” Medley said. “I love seeing everyone get festive with it. I had a family leave out a plate of carrots for us one year. And our volunteers really get into their characters as bunnies. They leave the farm with their cars stuffed to the max with Easter Eggs and a pair of bunny ears.” Medley added that Storybook Farm hopes that this fundraiser will help its mission to create better childhoods. “Storybook Farm
exists to bridge the gap between hardship and hope,” she said. “We believe every child deserves to experience the power of the human-animal bond. All of the proceeds from this fundraiser goes directly into our mission of changing childhoods.” The event corresponds with CDC guidelines surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the ‘bunnies’ will have no contact between the residents that order packages, Medley said. The ‘egging’ will take place on April 3 between 8. and 11 a.m. and the deadline to order an ‘Egg My Yard’ package is on April 1. Delivery addresses must be within Auburn and Opelika city limits. To place an order for an ‘Egg My Yard’ package, go to www. one.bidpal.net/eggmyyard2021/browse/ featured or for more information, please email Medley at sara@ hopeonhorseback.org.
CIPPERLY >>
FROM A7
recipes that everyone will enjoy, that are nutritious and can be prepared ahead or assembled quickly. The boys are involved with many activities that keep her and Kevin busy. The ingredients for Heather’s Beach Pasta are easy to have on hand for preparing an
Phone 334-476-1595 AL#18086 AL#53314
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A10 March 17, 2021
RECIPES
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ANDY’S RESTAURANT MACARONI AND CHEESE Julia Moreman 1 small box elbow macaroni ½ stick butter 1 egg ½ cup milk 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese Salt and pepper to taste Cook macaroni according to directions on box. Drain and mix with other ingredients. Bake about 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
ONE-SKILLET SPAGHETTI Heather Cummings 1 lb. ground beef 1 (4 oz.) can mushrooms, drained 1 large onion, chopped (optional) ¾ cup chopped green pepper 1 tsp. salt 1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained 1 tsp. sugar ½ cup water 1 heaping tsp. chili powder 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 (7 oz.) pkg. thin spaghetti, broken into 2 inch pieces (uncooked) In a Dutch oven cook ground beef, onion and green pepper until beef is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain. Add all remaining ingredients except cheese, blending well. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes or until spaghetti is tender, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and heat until cheese melts.
TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA BRUSCHETTA Melissa Scott Use slices of baguette for appetizer servings and slices of regular French bread for lunch or a light supper with a green salad. Easy to cut recipe in half. French bread baguette Butter, melted, and olive oil Topping: 2 tomatoes, chopped 1/4 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes 1 cup shredded mozzarella 1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Parmesan cheese 2 Tbsp. garlic, minced Salt and pepper to taste 1/3 to 1/2 cup olive oil Combine topping ingredients. Let sit for at least 20
minutes. Slice a French baguette. Brush one side of bread with butter and olive oil (equal parts). Lay slices on cookie sheet. Broil until lightly brown. Take out and flip over. Spoon cheese mixture over each piece. Broil until cheese melts and is lightly brown.
PORK TENDERLOIN WITH BALSAMIC REDUCTION Dr. Cathy Donald 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 Tbsp. minced shallots 1 garlic clove, minced 1 cup balsamic vinegar 1½ tsp. sugar 1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary (or ½ tsp. dried) 1 tsp. Dijon mustard Cooking spray 1 lb. pork tenderloin, sliced ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp. black pepper Heat oil in saucepan over medium-high heat; add shallots and garlic. Sauté 2 minutes. Add vinegar and next 3 ingredients; cook until reduced to ½ cup. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; coat pan with cooking spray. Season pork with salt and pepper. Place pork in pan; cook 2 minutes on each side. Add balsamic reduction, turning pork to coat. Continue to cook until desired doneness.
PARMESAN CHICKEN Vondalyn Hall This recipe can be prepared several hours ahead and then cooked at the last minute. It is great served plain, or over angel hair pasta topped with a marinara sauce. 1 clove garlic, minced 1 stick margarine or butter 1 cup crushed crackers 1 cup crushed corn flakes 1 cup Parmesan cheese 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley 1/8 tsp. black pepper 2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut in pieces (approximately 3x 3 inches) Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine melted butter in a bowl with minced garlic. In another bowl combine cracker crumbs, crushed
corn flakes, Parmesan cheese, parsley and black pepper. Dip chicken pieces in garlic butter, then in breadcrumb mixture to coat. Place coated chicken pieces in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Drizzle with remaining garlic butter and top with any remaining breadcrumbs. Bake uncovered at 450 degrees for 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
PORK CHOP ONE-DISH MEAL Nadine Knowles’ Don’t Forget the Parsley This one-dish recipe is nice because if you are cooking for only two, there is no problem with leftovers. You simply cook two pork chops and less rice. I call it my easy meal, and it is. 8 nice size pork chops 1 cup rice, salted to taste 8 slices tomatoes 8 slices onion 8 bell pepper rings Salt and pepper Partly cook the rice; drain. In a heavy pan with a small amount of cooking oil, brown pork chops. Do not overcook at this point. Salt and pepper to taste. Place chops in baking pan. On each chop, put a large tablespoon of rice; on this a slice of tomato, then and onion slice and pepper ring. Cover pan. Bake 45 minutes at 350. With this I serve corn sticks, green salad and dessert.
CHICKEN NUGGETS AND SWEET POTATO FRIES Jamie Bell Chicken breasts Panko crumbs, seasoned 2 sweet potatoes Salt, pepper or your favorite seasoning Ranch dressing for dipping Wash and dry sweet potatoes. Cut into fry size strips. Coat with seasoning and place evenly on parchment covered cookie sheet (they will stick to your pan!) Cook at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes, turning over half way. Keep your eyes on the fries or they will burn. Wash and cut chicken into nugget size pieces. Place crumbs into
a bowl and add chicken; toss to coat. Cook in 375 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until cooked all the way through.
SMOKED SALMON FETTUCCINE Sally Ann Doyle 4 oz. dry fettuccine 2 Tbsp. butter 1 cup onion, sliced lengthwise 1 or 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 oz. mushrooms, sliced 4 oz. smoked salmon slices Pinch of salt ½ tsp. black pepper ½ cup white wine 1 cup whipping cream ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese Cook pasta. In deep skilled melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, until tender and translucent. Stir in mushrooms, salt and pepper; sauté until mushrooms are soft. Pour in white wine, cream and salmon. Simmer sauce until thick and creamy, stirring frequently as it reduces. Toss warm pasta with sauce and then fold in grated cheese. You may refrigerate leftovers (if there are any!) Makes 2 servings.
THE BOYS’ FAVORITE BACON WRAPPED PORK CHOPS Laurel Dudley 8 pork chops 8 slices of bacon 1 cup soy sauce 1 medium onion, grated 2 Tbsp. vinegar 1 tsp. sugar ½ tsp. cayenne 2 cloves garlic, minced Wrap each chop with one slice bacon, securing with a toothpick. Place chops in casserole dish in a single layer. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over chops. Cover with foil and bake at 325 degrees for 1 to 1 1/2 hours hours. Turn once after 40 minutes.
CHICKEN WITH HONEY SOY SAUCE Dish is easy to assemble, and the sauce is tasty. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs 1/2 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup catsup 1/4 cup honey 2 cloves garlic,
chopped Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sauce ingredients. Place chicken in a shallow baking pan. Pour sauce over chicken. Bake for 1 hour. To prepare ahead, pour sauce over chicken, over and refrigerate until ready to bake.
EASY CHEESEBURGER PIE Angie Shuman 1 lb. lean ground beef Sliced green onions 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ½ cup Bisquick mix 1 cup milk 2 eggs Salt and pepper to taste Heat oven to 400 degrees. Brown ground beef and onion in skillet. Spread in 9-inch pie plate. Sprinkle with cheese. In a small bowl, stir remaining ingredients with fork until blended. Pour into pie plate. Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
TACO CASSEROLE Hattie Lett 1 lb. ground beef or venison 1 clove garlic, minced 1 onion, chopped Salt and pepper to taste 16 oz. can refried fat free refried beans 4 oz. can sliced black olives, drained 4 oz. can diced green chilies, not drained 16 oz. jar taco sauce 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese Brown meat with chopped onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Coat 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Layer refried beans and then cooked meat in dish. Next, layer green chilies, half of sliced olives, taco sauce and cheese. Garnish with remaining olives. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.
EASY MEXICAN STACK-UP Starla Haynes Good for a crowd. This is easy to double or triple. Brown 1 lb.
ground chuck with a pkg. of taco seasonings but instead of adding water with the seasonings, add a can of diced tomatoes. Place the cooked beef in a dish, and place the following items in separate dishes for everyone to build their own “stack.” Rice Small Fritos Shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, grated cheese Chopped pecans and coconut The last two toppings of chopped pecans and coconut are a surprise but add a unique taste to the dish.
LIME CHICKEN TACOS Heather Cummings 1 ½ lb. boneless chicken breast, cubed Olive oil 1/8 cup red wine vinegar ½ lime, squeezed ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp. pepper 2 green onions, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp. dried oregano 10 – 6-inch flour tortillas Shredded lettuce 1 tomato, diced ¼ cup Monterey Jack cheese ½ cup salsa Sauté chicken in olive oil. Add vinegar, lime, salt, pepper, green onion, garlic and oregano. Simmer 10 minutes. Place in warm tortillas and top with tomatoes, lettuce, Monterey jack cheese and salsa.
MARY ANN’S SHRIMP AND RICE 10 oz. can Campbell’s cream of shrimp soup ¼ cup mayonnaise 1 Tbsp. butter or oil ½ small onion, grated ¼ cup celery, chopped ½ cup milk or more if needed 1 to 2 lbs. cooked shrimp 1 ½ Tbsp. fresh parsley 1 ½ cups cooked rice or more Salt and pepper to taste 1 tsp. nutmeg Paprika, optional Sliced almonds to garnish, optional Combine soup and mayonnaise. Sauté onion and celery in butter; add to mixture. Add milk and seasonings. Stir in cooked shrimp and rice. Top with paprika and almonds if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until heated through. Can assemble a day ahead. Serves 6.
A11 March 17, 2021
P
The Power of Silence
ilate is clearly a conflicted man when Jesus is brought to him. He understands that the Jewish leaders have an agenda in wanting to see Jesus crucified (see Matthew 27:18). On the other hand, he has a responsibility to maintain the Pax Romana (Roman peace) established by Augustus and maintained by his successor Tiberius. Whatever transpires, he wants to stay on Rome’s good side. In the middle of this is Jesus. It seems to me that as Pilate interacts with Jesus, two things become increasingly clear: he has never met anyone who is anything like Him, and he has a growing reluctance to have anything to do with allowing Jesus to be crucified. In 19:1ff, Pilate has Jesus flogged. The soldiers clothe Him in a purple robe and put the crown of thorns on His head. Pilate brings Him out before the crowd, seemingly in hopes that they will be
Church Calendar • Church of Christ at Cunningham - meeting at their building at 9:30 a.m. for Bible class, 10:30 a.m. for worship, 5 p.m. for evening worship and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. • St. Marys Catholic Church/ St. Michael’s Church SMCC is having Daily Mass on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 a.m. and on weekends they are distributing holy Communion on Sundays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. A Mass is also held on Sundays at 12:30 p.m. at St. Michael's Church over in Auburn. For more information people can call the office at 334-749-8359 or go to the parish website: stmarysopelika.org. • Union Grove Baptist Church In-person gathering with social distancing. Masks are available. Sunday worship is at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday worship is at 6:30 p.m. Services are streamed live on Facebook — the page is UGBChurch • First Baptist Church Opelika The following are held in-person and online on Sundays. 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship and Message at The Worship Center 9:45 a.m. Sunday School Hour 11 a.m. Contemporary Service at The 3:16 Center 6 p.m. Evening Worship and Message at The Worship Center 6:30 p.m. Church on Chadwick at Chadwick Lane in Auburn To watch services online, go to fbcopelika.com/media
appeased by this mistreatment. They’re not. The Jewish leaders call out for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate repeats that he has found no basis for a such a charge. The leaders respond by saying that Jesus has committed a capital offense according to By Bruce Green their law by claiming to be the Teaching Minister at 10th Son of God. Street Church of Christ When Pilate hears this, John in Opelika tells us “he was even more afraid.” You can feel his growing uneasiness around Jesus. before him. Christ had said, “Whoever is Jesus is absolutely no help not with Me is against Me” as John tells us He “gave him (Matthew 12:30), and Pilate is no answer” (v. 9). Most of us like most unbelievers—he’s have heard of Christ’s seven not comfortable being against statements from the cross, Jesus. He would much prefer but before that there was this to find some type of middle moment when He chose not to ground—but there is none. He then asks Jesus, “Where do You speak. It was temporary, to be sure, as He resumed speaking come from?” (v. 9). He had started off his interview by ask- shortly after that. Nevertheless, He adopted this strategy ing Christ if He was the King more than once when He was of the Jews (18:33), but they are way past that now. Pilate is “tried” before the Jewish and probing to find out exactly what Roman leaders (see Matthew 26:63, 27:14). This should give manner of person is standing
us pause to reflect upon the possibility that sometimes the most powerful thing to say is . . . nothing at all. That’s a truth that doesn’t get much traction in our culture. We have been inculcated with the idea that we should speak, even if for no other reason than because we can. Or, we sometimes say something because we feel like we must—to not speak is somehow seen as being powerless or a sign of weakness (Try telling that to Jesus!). “I have the right to express my opinion!” That’s true. It’s also true that there is a vast difference between opinions and informed opinions. Proverbs tells us, “Fools find no pleasure in understanding, but delight in airing their own opinions” (18:2). Sadly, we’ve all come across too much on social media that fits in this category. Still, none of this was true for Jesus. His silence wasn’t because He couldn’t have said something meaningful—it was
because the most meaningful response was none at all! There is a time to speak but also “a time to be silent” (Ecclesiastes 3:7). We are to be “quick to listen, and slow to speak” (James 1:19). I leave us with this challenge: if you haven’t done this in a while, try it. The next time you really don’t have anything to say—don’t say anything (I promise it will be all right!). The next time you really don’t have an informed opinion to offer, be content just to listen (and maybe ask a few thoughtful questions). The next time you’re in a discussion with someone who is really not listening to you, save your words until they are ready to hear what you have to say. Remember the example of Jesus—there is power in silence! You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: atasteofgracewithbrucegreen. com.
ABOUT BRUCE GREEN You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: atasteofgracewithbrucegreen.com.
Hunley Group Lambert Transfer & Storage An Interstate Agent for North American Van Lines 1102 Fox Trail Opelika, AL 36803 745-5706
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. — Psalm 37:4 APOSTOLIC HOLINESS God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 Highland Ave., Opelika 334-749-9672 True Deliverance Holiness Church 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700 BAPTIST Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538 Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506
ANGLICAN Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd 2312 Center Drive Unit D 334-758-6749 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Bridge Church 1000 Lee Road 263, Cusseta 334-742-0144 AME Mount Zion AME Church West Point Hwy 334-749-3916 St. Luke AME Church 1308 Auburn St. 334-749-1690 St. Paul AME Church 713 Powledge Ave. 334-745-6279 Thompson Chapel AME Zion 187 Columbus Pkwy 334-749-8676 BAPTIST Abundant Life Baptist Church 1220 Fox Run Ave. Suite B 706-4421464 Airview Baptist Church 2301 Airport Rd. 334-444-5148 Antioch Baptist Church 605 W. East Morton Ave 334-742-0696 Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St. 334-745-7528 Bethel Baptist Church Hwy. 29 Sasser Rd 334-745-4865 Central Baptist Church 1611 2nd Ave. 334-745-2482 Community Baptist Church 154 N. 16th St. 334-745-6552 Cornerstone Missionary Baptist 500 N. Railroad Ave. 334-742-2008 Eastview Baptist Church 1208 Spring Dr 334-749-9595 Farmville Baptist Church 3607 Alabama Hwy N. 334-887-7361 First Baptist Church of Opelika 314 S. 9th St. 334-745-6143
Church Directory
Green Chapel Missionary Baptist 390 Lee Road 106, Auburn (334) 749-4184 Lakeview Baptist Church 1600 E. Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-7094 Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108 Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608 Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at
First Baptist Church 301 S. 8th St. 334-745-5715 First Baptist Church Impact 709 Avenue E 334-741-0624 First Freewill Baptist Church 103 19th St. 334-703-3333 Friendship Missionary Baptist 432 Maple Avenue 334-742-0105 Greater Peace Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave. 334-749-9487 Heritage Baptist Church 1103 Glenn St. 334-363-8943 High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 Love Freewill Baptist Church 1113 Frederick Ave. 334-745-2905 Ridge Grove Missionary Baptist Church 1098 Lee Road 155 - 334-745-3600 Northside Baptist Church 3001 Lafayette Hwy 334-745-5340 Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Uniroyal Rd 334-749-2773 Purpose Baptist Church 3211 Waverly Pkwy #704-0302 St. James Baptist Church 1335 Auburn St. 334-745-3224 Union Grove Missionary Baptist 908 Huguley Rd 334-741-7770 BUDDHIST Buddha Heart Village 3170 Sandhill Rd. 334-821-7238 CATHOLIC St. Mary’s Catholic Church 1000 4th Ave. 334-749-8359 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy 334-742-9721 Southside Church of Christ 405 Carver Ave. 334-745-6015 CHURCH OF GOD
Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika 10th Street Church of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika 334-745-5181 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Changing Hearts of Destiny Ministry 936 N. Donahue Dr., Auburn 334-502-4700 METHODIST Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800 Beulah United Methodist
Airview Church of God 3015 Old Opelika Rd 334-749-9112 Church of God 114 17th Place 334-749-6432 Tabernacle Church of God 3 Oak Court 334-745-7979 CHURCH OF NAZARENE Opelika Church of Nazarene 1500 Bruce Ave. 334-749-1302 EPISCOPAL Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave. 334-745-2054 HOLINESS Eastside Emmanuel Holiness Church 86 Lee Road 186 JEWISH Beth Shalom Congregation 134 S. Cary Dr. 334-826-1050 LATTERDAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints 510 Groce St. 334-742-9981 METHODIST First United Methodist Church of Opelika 702 Avenue A 334-745-7604 Hopewell United Methodist 1993 Lee Rd 136 334-745-0460 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 8685 AL Hwy. 51 334-749-4469 Pepperell United Methodist 200 26th St. 334-745-9334 Trinity United Methodist Church 800 Second Ave. 334-745-2632 Wesley Memorial United Methodist 2506 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-2841 PENTECOSTAL Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Hwy. 29, PO Box 1691 334-7418675 Gateway Community Church 2715 Frederick Rd 334-745-6926 PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Opelika 900 2nd Ave. 334-745-3421
Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148 St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319 PRESBYTERIAN Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Outreach Seventh-Day Adventist 1808 S. Long St. 334-749-3151 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Apostolic Holiness Church 610 Canton St. 334-749-6759 Auburn Opelika Korean Church 1800 Rocky Brook Rd 334-7495386 Beauregard Full Gospel Revival 2089 Lee Road 42 334-745-0455 Christ Church International 1311 2nd Ave. 334-745-0832 Fellowship Bible Church 2202 Hamilton Rd 334-749-1445 Ferguson Chapel Church 310 S. 4th St. 334-745-2913 First Assembly of God Church 510 Simmons St. 334- 749-3722 Garden of Gethsemane Fellowship 915 Old Columbus Rd #745-2686 Grace Heritage Church Opelika #559-0846 Holy Deliverance Church 831 S. Railroad 334-749-5682 Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1250 McCoy St. 334-737-1488 Living Way Ministries 1100 Old Columbus Rd 334-749-6241 Move of God Fellowship Church 1119 Old Columbus Rd 334-7411006 Connect Church 2900 Waverly Pkwy 334-749-3916 New Life Christian Center 2051 West Point Pkwy 334-741-7373 New Life Independent Church 10 Meadowview Estates Trailer 334-741-9001 Opelika’s First Seventh Day 2011 Columbus Pkwy 334-737-3222 Power of Praise, Inc. Church 3811 Marvyn Pkwy 334-745-6136 Shady Grove Christian Church West Point Hwy 334-745-7770
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A12 March 17, 2021
Cornerstone Church Hosting WinShape Camps By Hannah Lester hlester@ opelikaobserver.com Warmer weather is here, which means it’s time to begin thinking about summer camp. Cornerstone Church in Auburn, 2123 Hamilton Road, is hosting WinShape Camps for
Communities June 28July 2. “WinShape creates next-level camps that turn summers into meaningful experiences for campers and families,” the WinShape website said. “Camp is the place where friendships take root, personal
growth is front and center, and faith runs through all you do. Camp is the place for life-changing, memory-making and adventure-taking awesomeness.” The camp will be a daycamp and one of only four in Alabama this summer. Registration is open
for children who have completed K5 through eighth grade. “Campers completing grades K5-8 cultivate their God-given skills and talents in a mix of indoor and outdoor moments, physical activity and creative play, with epic adventures at camp
all day and sleeping soundly back at home at night,” the camp website said. “At the end of the week, we serve up a day of fun for the whole family — complete with a yummy lunch from Chick-fil-A.” Drop-off will take place starting June 28 at 7:45 a.m. and pick-
up at 4:55 p.m. For more information, call WinShape (844-WSCAMPS) or email Cornerstone Church (jill@cornerstonebuzz. org). To register a child for camp visit the camp website https:// camps.winshape.org.
Spencer Cancer Center In Memory of Glenn Murphy EAMC Foundation 2000 Pepperell Parkway Opelika, Alabama 36801 www.eamcfoundation 8686. thankyou4caring.org/ spencer-cancer-center
Pat Gibson, Heather (Tommy) High, Kathy Spates, and April (Chris) Baker. Thank you for all of your love throughout the years and for sharing in Nancy’s most cherished moments. Nancy worked at Auburn University, Diversified Products and Interport before retiring. She always felt that her greatest achievement was being a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Nancy was the sweetest, most caringperson. She happily spent her life in service to her family and friends. Those closest to her would tell you that placing others first and making those around her shine was always what made her happy. She had a knack for remembering important events in everyone’s life and would call to wish them well or senda card on those days to join in the celebration. Visitation was held Sunday, March 14, 2021 in the Parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home from 1 to 1:50 p.m. Graveside service was held Sunday, March 14, 2021 in Garden Hills Cemetery at 2 p.m. with Reverend Thad Endioctt officiating.
OBITUARIES Donna Long Donna Long, 69 of Opelika, lost her battle with Pancreatic cancer on March 9 at the Bethany House. She graduated from Beauregard High School and was retired from Ampex Corp. after 30 plus years of work. She loved Auburn Football, spending time with her family and friends and she loved all animals. Especially her two Australian Shepherds Casey and Mollie which now she can be reunited with. Donna was preceded in death by her husband Gary Long; father Dozier Norton; mother Jean Norton and sister Barbara Jenkins. Survivors include her son Jeff Arant of Opelika; sisters Becky Harper (Harold) of Opelika, Debbie Neese of Opelika, Beth Bell (Mike) of Opelika and Kristi Norton of Opelika, seven nieces and nephews; 13 great nieces and nephews; and two great-great nephews. She is also survived by three very special people who have been there for her and her family during her battle with cancer: her bonus sister of 30 plus years Tawana Trawick (Darrell) and two very special friends Mary Jackson
and Deanna Hall. A visitation was held on March 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home followed by a graveside service at Garden Hills Cemetery with Michael Rodgers officiating. Roger Glenn Murphy Roger Glenn Murphy, 50, of Opelika, passed away on March 14, 2021 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born in Anniston, Alabama, he grew up surrounded by love with his sister Rhonda and brother Clint. During his pre-college years, working side by side with his father and brother in construction, Glenn developed a long list of practical life skills. He graduated from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, earning a B.S. degree in Chemistry. After college, Glenn joined The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta as a chemist in the Flavor Development Group in 1992. He continued to work in various high-profile jobs including the Formula Management Group, where
he reviewed and approved formulas for a wide variety of products from all over the globe. He provided technical expertise and leadership for several computer projects to house The Company’s most closely guarded secrets. Glenn went on disability from The Coca-Cola Company in 2013. He reconnected with the love of his life, Robin Barbaree in 2003. They were married in New York City on Dec. 5, 2013. Glenn and Robin loved to travel together, with Yellowstone National Park and Paris as favorite destinations. Glenn Murphy lived an amazing life. He retained an incredible thirst for knowledge in nearly every discipline, including biology, chemistry, art, music, cooking, international cultures and so many others. Well-read and keenly intelligent, Glenn could have a knowledgeable conversation with nearly anyone on nearly any subject. Always excited to learn, Glenn pursued expertise in a wide variety of hobbies. He was an excellent baker, with specialty cakes and cheesecakes as signature desserts. Glenn was a master landscape designer
and builder, focusing on hardscaping, koi ponds and plant selection. An accomplished photographer, he published a picture book of the gargoyles of Notre Dame in Paris. Glenn enjoyed world travel, with joy in Germany, Ireland, France and Italy. Since moving to Opelika, he taught multiple sewing classes at the Opelika Sewing Center, including making beautiful quilts which he shared with friends and family members. Glenn was preceded in death by his mother, Anne Gibson Murphy, and his father-in-law, Timothy C. Barbaree, Sr. He is survived by his husband, Robin Barbaree, of Opelika; his father, Robert Earl Murphy (Diane); his brother, Clint; his sister Rhonda Setser (Neil); mother-in-law, Lana Jones Barbaree; brothers-in-law Timothy Barbaree, Jr., Rhett Barbaree (Amy) and Taylor Barbaree, along with many beloved nieces, nephews and friends. A celebration of the life of Glenn Murphy will be held on a later date. In lieu of flowers, and in remembrance of Glenn Murphy, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to Spencer Cancer Center.
Nancy Brantley Nancy Brantley of Opelika, Alabama passed away quietly with her son, Jason, and her daughter-inlaw, Kristin Brantley, by her side on March 8, 2021 at 11:52 in the morning. She was 71 years old. Nancy was born to Robert and Lois Kendrick on March 25, 1949 and was raised in Opelika. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jack, of 50 years. Nancy is survived by her son, Jason (Kristin) and her grandchildren, Josh of Birmingham, and Jake, Addie and Peyton of Huntsville. She is also survived by Jack’s family, Mary (Tony) Eder, Richard Brantley, Lisa (David) Tomlinson, Scott Chamblee, Toni Ashley and many nieces and nephews, as well as, her loving and cherished friends,
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A13 March 17, 2021
Vaccine eligibility expanded Contributed by EAMC As announced by Alabama State Health Officer Scott Harris last week, vaccine eligibility is being expanded effective March 22. The COVID-19 vaccine will be available to anyone age 55 and older, anyone over age 16 with high-risk medical conditions, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and additional categories of essential workers listed under Phase 1C of the state’s vaccine plan. “This is very welcomed news,” said John Atkinson, EAMC spokesman. “We’re especially pleased that the people with high-risk medical conditions are being added as they are the ones most vulnerable of the remaining populations.” Atkinson said that people who fall into the expanded coverage can go ahead and register at www. eastALcovidvaccine. com in preparation for self-scheduling an appointment. “In fact, as of 4 p.m. today, there were still time
slots available for next Thursday and Friday (March 18 and 19) and the people newly added can sign up for one of those time slots until they run out,” he said. As a reminder, time slots are only added Monday – Friday, and most become available around 8 a.m. each day. If a day is not showing any time slots, that means there are none available. “OTHER” IMPORTANT DETAIL With the addition of so many different groups, EAMC has decided to simply add a listing of “OTHER” to the groups eligible. “Anyone whose group was added today can select the “OTHER” category on the registration page,” Atkinson said. “We may end up adding each new group, but just adding “OTHER” was the fastest way for us to allow people to register right away.” Vaccine registration link: www. eastalcovidvaccine. com/login ADPH Vaccine home page:www. alabamapublichealth. gov/covid19vaccine/ index.html.
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A14 March 17, 2021
COMICS
“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.” ― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
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School Board meetings
INSIDE • OPELIKA SCHOOLS • LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS • COMMUNITY SPORTS
Opelika: March 25 at 4:30 p.m. at 300 Simmons St. Lee County: April 13 at 6 p.m. at 2410 Society Hill Road
Opelika Dawg Pound ready to persevere through 2021 By Wil Crews sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com
On the Mark By D. Mark Mitchell
OHS Soccer has perfect week
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pelika’s girls and boys soccer team’s swept Valley and Russell County last week at the W. James Samford Soccer Complex. Coach Jaclyn Button’s Lady Bulldog soccer team (5-1-2 , S 4-0) opened the week with a 10-0 shutout over the Rams. Amiya Brown continued to lead the offense, scoring three goals and recording two assists. Ashley Hilyer and Scarlet Pasada scored two goals apiece; Ana Garcia, Erica Mathews and Morgan Watts scored goals. Mathews (2), Hilyer and Phoebe Darcey added assists. Next, the Lady Bulldogs beat Russell County 11-1 to end the week. Offensive leaders were Brown, who scored four goals and added an assist, and Mathews, who scored three goals and recorded two assists. The following players also scored goals: Hilyer, Abby Noon, Liseth Vera, Watts and Eleanor Wilson. Darcey played great defensively as goalie as well, allowing one goal in two games. While the OHS girls enjoyed much success, the OHS boys were not to be outdone, beating
Valley, 7-1, in the first game of the week. Said Rujana led the team with two goals and two assists. The following scored single goals, Ethan Newman, George Meyers, Dexter Graham, Kason Short and Gamston Hudson. The following Dogs recorded assists: Nathan Faison, Graham, Luke Roberts and Harold Torres. In the next game, Opelika (6-2-1, S-1-1) blanked Russell County 7-0, to finish the week with two wins. Rujana led the on offense with two goals. Meyers scored a goal and added two assists. Faison, Michael Vail-Delgado, Landon Faison and Newman scored a goal apiece. Austin Roberts picked up two assists. SOFTBALL OHS softball head coach Randy Belyue was hired in 2019, however this is his first season on the field due to COVID-19. The Lady Bulldogs (3-12) finished the week with a 1-6 record. The Lady Bulldogs beat Marbury 5-0 for their only win last week. McKay Yountz pitched five innings, allowing no runs on one hit. Offensively, Sani Stringer and Raelee Fenn reSee SPORTS , page B5
The Opelika Dawg Pound is gearing up for a new season. With the final session of tryouts wrapping up on Sunday, rosters are taking shape. “We are all ready to go,” said Founder of the Dawg Pound Anthony Bryant. “We were so happy to get back on the field the other day.” Bryant is taking a step back from coaching this year to focus more on his non-profit, the Knee High Foundation, which supports the Opelika Dawg Pound. However, his coaching staff is eager to get the ball rolling. Coaching the 12U team this year is Trey
Photo by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer Hughley, aka Big Dawg. Coaching the 10U team is Terez Thomas, aka Pooh Bear. The 8U coach is Dontavis Willis, aka Raw Dilly.
And the 6U team is coached by Christian Torbert, aka Bugg. “The turnout had been tremendous,” Bryant said. “Our
six-year-old and our eight-year-old teams are going to be pretty strong; this 10U team is See DAWG , page B5
‘The Value of Swimming’
Opelika Swim Team approaching a busy summer By Wil Crews sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com
Since Olympic gold medalist Tyler McGill took over as coach of the Opelika Swim Team in September of 2018, the sport’s popularity in the area has boomed. “The city saw the value of swimming when they hosted the state championship in 2016,” McGill, an Auburn University graduate said. “And so they wanted to invest more in swimming. So, there’s always been a team, it’s just been,
Photo courtesy of the OST Facebook page ‘how can we improve what we are already doing, how can we better support the program and how can we improve swimming in
the area?’” Before McGill started with the OST, there wasn’t a clear avenue for people who were taking swim lessons
to join the swim team. Through creating and organizing the Opelika swim school, what McGill is “probably most proud of,” the OST has seen improvement in that area. “One of the things the city wanted me to look at, and I was eager to do, was work on a developing a curriculum that would take people from being either totally afraid of the water or maybe a little experience in the water, and guide them through learning to swim, teaching them to See SWIMMING , page B5
B2 March 17, 2021
SUSCC supports non-traditional students Contributed by Mackenzie Reese
In early January, Southern Union President Todd Schackett sat down for lunch with Khanh and Thang Le. The siblings from Vietnam were interested in getting their GED and entering Southern Union. As they ate, Schackett asked them about what they wanted in life and what their dreams were. He slowly began to craft a plan of attack to help the siblings achieve it. After lunch, he took them on a tour of Southern Union’s buildings showing Khanh and Thang glimpses of a future that became more obtainable with each second they spent talking about it. Khanh and Thang Le are two of 19 students currently enrolled in Southern Union’s Mentorship Program. The program, offered through the college’s adult education department, is an educational support system geared towards non-traditional students receiving guidance through college difficulties.
The program’s goal is to foster students’ mindsets and help them learn that no matter where they start, they can go as far as they can dream; a GED is not terminal. Instead, it’s the beginning of an educational pathway that opens the doors to opportunity. The mentorship’s framework is structured over two years. A student will be provided a mentor to help guide them through getting their GED, transfer into a general college and build connections in their chosen field. Each mentor’s goal is to identify the roadblocks that could potentially stop their mentees from wanting to continue their education. It will also create a system that allows students to meet successful workers in the field they wish to pursue. Currently, there are 19 mentees and mentors in the program as it works on transferring students into the Academic, Health Sciences and Technical Pathways at Southern Union. All the mentors are currently staff at Southern Union. The community college
expects more students to join, hoping that eventually, each mentor will have up to three to four mentees. Troy Kelly, one of the founders of the program, hopes that eventually the students in the program can work together and become a cohort where they can go to each other and their mentor for support. Tyler Nelson came up with the idea in early February, inspired by his non-traditional college path and understanding that poverty directly correlates with a lack of education. Nelson dropped out of school in the tenth grade to work in the cotton mills. Quickly realizing this is not the path he wanted to continue, he went to Southern Union, where he entered the Circle of Care and joined their support system. They helped him receive his GED and lead him to the army, where his brothers gave him the ambition to keep going. Later, he graduated with his Bachelors in English Education at Auburn University, continued to achieve his Masters as an
Lee County School Board discusses COVID plans By Michelle Key Publisher
During last week’s March 9 school board meeting, the Lee County School Board discussed COVID-19 plans and the mask mandate. In response to numerous phones called to the board regarding Gov. Kay Ivey’s announcement that the statewide mask mandate would end on April 9, Superintendent James McCoy said, “I reminded them [the callers], and I remind you that we have a “Road to Recovery” packet of information that the
board approved back in August. Everything that has to do with COVID and how we were going to move back into the classrooms, into the schools and with our masks.” McCoy said that he wanted to urge and encourage the students, the teachers and staff to continue to wear their masks. “I do not want to be the mask police,” McCoy said. “But I think we have all seen what can wearing a mask can do, and we will continue to encourage that as well.” In other business, the board, - discussed the
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund II. According to McCoy, Lee County will be receiving $9.8 million from the fund following the completion of the grant application. - approved overnight field trips for Smiths Station baseball, cheer and softball teams and the band. - approved the January 2021 financial reports The board meets on the second Tuesday of every month at the Central Office at 2410 Society Hill Road at 6 p.m.
President Todd Shackett is pictured with his mentees, Khanh and Thang Le. Photo contributed to the Opelika Observer Educational Specialist and is currently completing his Doctorate. He claims that the younger generations of his family now look at him for inspiration. “If me being a mentor helped my family, imagine what it can do on a bigger scale,” said Nelson. The mentor stories build a connection with their mentees, making what seemed to be an unattainable
goal become more reachable. Kendall Yates, coordinator of the Therapeutic Message Program at Southern Union, believes that there is a connection between non-traditional students and first-generation college students. The mentorship allows them to be guided through financial aid and form professional relationships that would not have
been there before. Yates is currently working with a mentee going into the Child Development Path. Her mentee has allowed her to build connections of her own and learn about other Southern Union programs. “This is awesome,” she said when asked about her thoughts on the program, “education is the only thing no one can take away See STUDENTS , page B6
Tuition Freeze, Full Campus Operations Planned For Alabama Community Colleges This Fall Contributed by the Alabama Community College System
At the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, Chancellor Baker announced tuition will not increase for the 2021-2022 academic year. In addition, as a result of the declining number of reported COVID-19 cases and an increase in the number of students, faculty and staff taking advantage of access to the COVID-19 vaccine, the ACCS anticipates all community college campuses in the state
will resume normal, on-campus operations for the Fall 2021 semester. “This year has been difficult for many Alabamians and access to education and skills training shouldn’t be something that makes it harder. By freezing tuition and ensuring online, in-person and hybrid classes are available at Alabama’s 24 community colleges, we’re doing our part to expand opportunities for coursework and training to help Alabamians build a better future,” Baker said. “From the beginning of the pandemic,
our number one priority has been the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, and it will continue to be our primary focus as we work to safely reopen our campuses across the state.” The freeze on tuition is one of many efforts Alabama’s community colleges have rolled out this year to expand access to higher education, including a statewide Community Scholarship program featuring a tuition discount for buy-oneget-one free classes at ACCS colleges for the See CAMPUS, page B6
B3 March 17, 2021
Rainbows, four-leaf clovers, roly-polies, snails and tadpoles
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1.
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t. Patrick’s Day is here, you see, We’ll pick some shamrocks, one, two, three. As an early childhood teacher, I absolutely love St. Patrick’s Day, which is today. In addition to reminding myself to wear green to avoid those little fingers giving their teacher a kidding pinch, I remember that Saint Patrick’s Day is full of very interesting history. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on March 17. In Ireland, the Irish honor St. Patrick with both a holy day and a national holiday. The Irish cherish their beautiful green countryside and remind
themselves of the beauty of their country by wearing green. Although it began in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in countries around the world with parades and other festive traditions. Key symbols that stimulate a lot of early childhood fun and curiosity are rainbows, four-leaf clovers, shamrocks and leprechauns. Young children are so fascinated by the rainbow, a symbol of hope. They even try to catch a rainbow in a variety of ways. Rainbows are caused by the sun’s shining rays through drops of water during or after a rain. An experiment
I have done over and over in the classroom (and that parents can do at home) is to put a clear glass full of water on a windowsill. Place a white sheet of paper on the floor in front of the window. Presto! A rainbow will be captured and reflected on the paper depending on how bright the sun is that day. Another simple experiment that young children enjoy is using a water hose. The sun must be shining. Have your little one hold the hose where you can make a fine mist and find the rainbow. So many other neat lessons are found on the web with preschool lesson plan activities. I know each of you recalls the desire to frantically find the rare gem of a four-leaf clover. Many a young child sits in the middle of a clover leaf bed to find that special fourleaf clover to make a wish on. I allow my young students to take out magnifying glasses and nature bags so that if they cannot find that one special four-leaf clover, they can gather other nature items to share back in the classroom or at home. Families, if weather permits, this week is a good time to take a
spring nature walk. Another delightful way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is to make Shamrock Ice Cream sandwiches. Just make some green sugar cookie dough (or buy refrigerator rolls and mix in green food coloring), roll out the dough and cut out shamrock shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake as you would cookies. Take some green ice cream (vanilla with green food coloring, mint chip, green sherbet, or whatever your child’s favorite is), let it soften, then spread on the flat sides of the cookies, join the cookies together, wrap each sandwich in foil and freeze for two hours. These are yummy treats for your child to enjoy. I know my young students really enjoy this treat as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Also, pick up green gum for your little ones to enjoy for a brief treat as well as green lollipops, green jellybeans, etc. On your nature walk during spring, our little snail friends usually greet us on the sidewalk or the edge of the sidewalk. Take time to bend down and observe this unique little fellow. Here are a few snail facts that are very interesting:
Three Glenwood Gators sign with college teams By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com
Glenwood students Jackson Griner, Al Moore and Payton Corbett signed to advance their athletic careers in college last Wednesday. Payton Corbett signed with Huntingdon College to play basketball. Corbett was a leader for Glenwood in 2020-21, as the Lady Gators secured the
AISA Class AAA State Championship with a 40-27 win over Clarke Prep on Feb. 17. Corbett and company helped Glenwood, who started and ended their season ranked No. 1 in the polls, capture its first title since 2017, finishing with a 22-1 record. Football players Al Moore (defensive tackle) and Jackson Griner (quarterback) signed with Lagrange College and Austin Peay
University, respectively. Moore and Griner helped lead Glenwood to a 11-1 record, beginning the season with 11 straight wins, their biggest margin of victory being a 49-0 victory over Monroe Academy on Oct. 2. Glenwood posted a dynamic offense and vaunted defense throughout the stretch and finished the year averaging 41.5 points per game while allowing just 14.4. Unfortunately
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Snails’ bodies produce a thick slime that protects them from getting hurt. Because of the suction created by the slime, snails can actually crawl upside down. Snails usually are more active at night. Some snails can live to be 15 years old. As we already can observe, snails don’t see well. They strongly depend on the senses of touch and smell. Don’t we all just love those roly-polies! All little folks are so fascinated how a roly-poly can roll its body into a ball resembling a small pill. Our roly-poly friends are crustaceans that are, surprisingly, related to crayfish and shrimp. Again, we need to respect the lives of these little creatures when handling. A spring science field trip can be grabbing a clean bucket and going to nearby ponds or streams to gather tadpoles. Caring for tadpoles at school and at home and watching them turn into frogs (metamorphosis) is a fascinating and rewarding experience for young and old alike. In setting up the temporary home for the tadpoles, I have found it better to put them in a container that is shorter
and wider as opposed to a container that is tall and narrow. It is just easier to take care of them and observe them. Be sure the water is really clean. When you know that you are going to get tadpoles, be sure to get your water ready before you bring them home. It is like setting up an aquarium for fish. Tadpoles breathe with gills, which is why it is important to have clean water. When keeping tadpoles in my classroom and at home, I have usually fed them clean little lettuce pieces. Feed them small quantities frequently. One wonderful spring family excursion, especially after a spring rain, is to go walking and listen to the little frogs called “peepers.” Even if you are in the car, so many times you can see little white forms jumping up after a shower. Usually, it is a little peeper. I hope these few suggestions help you and your child truly enjoy spring! Remember the young child you’re entertaining is like the rainbow: a hope and a promise. Let’s go find that four-leaf clover! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Beth Pinyerd, Classroom Observer
Alabama Department of Public Health Announces...
for the Gators, their last game against Pike Liberal Arts in the AISA Class AAA State Championship Game was a 38-21 loss. The Observer wants to give its congratulations to the three Gators for finishing their fantastic high school athletic careers and for continuing their athletics journey in college. For pictures of Corbett, Moore and Griner, turn to page B8.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 31ST For coronavirus vaccine activities to support broad-based distribution access and vaccine coverage for high risk and underserved populations including racial and ethnic minority populations and rural communities.
TARGET POPULATIONS: AFRICAN AMERICANS, HISPANICS AND TRIBAL NATIONS Each proposal must be submitted in Times New Roman or Arial font, 12 font size, 1.5 paragraph spacing and include: ✔ Cover Sheet ✔ Scope of Work and Activities ✔ Rationale ✔ Program Evaluation and Measurement Plan ✔ Budget
Proposals must be submitted online no later than Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at ImmProposals@adph.state.al.us
For more information visit https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/immunization/call-for-proposals.html
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B4 March 17, 2021
Smiths Station eyeing showdown with Auburn By JD McCarthy for the Opelika Observer
The Smiths Station Lady Panters know that for them to accomplish their goal of reaching the Final Four, they will likely have to go through Auburn. The two will have their first matchup of the season Friday and the Panthers are ready for the chance to prove themselves against their area rival. “Auburn is of course the game we have been looking for all season,” said head coach Dennis Jones. “Auburn is always a tough matchup and we like to have a little bit of confidence going into that game.” The Panthers should have plenty of confidence as they are 7-1-2 and have won three straight games. However, Jones knows his team will have to play well to keep up with undefeated Auburn. “In order to beat Auburn, we're not going to be able to let them set up and pass the ball and shoot the ball, we have to be all over them.” The Panthers have been led by their defense all season, but they recently made some changes and Jones is excited to see how those work against Auburn. “In the Dothan game we were pressing a lot, really hustling a lot and getting after the girls on the Dothan team and not giving them a chance to
settle the ball, receive the ball, time to play it,” Jones said. “So, we worked on that and it really worked in our favor, Dothan really couldn’t maintain possession during the game because we were all over them. I’m kinda hoping we can carry that over into these two games to see how it works to carry it into the Auburn game.” The Panthers won a “nail biter” Tuesday against Trinity Presbyterian, prevailing 3-2 in a back-and-forth affair. “We did not play our best game of the year,” Jones said. “Trinity was able to tie the game twice after we went ahead twice. But instead of hanging our heads, we continued to play strong until we converted our third goal. We did the same last night, kept fighting until the end. There is no quit in this team.” The Panthers hosted Beauregard on Tuesday for Senior Night but results were unavailable at press time. The defense has been the strength of the team all year and Jones admitted it prevents him from being worried about any offensive struggles. “They are pretty good, that’s what we do, we lean on them a lot,” Jones said. “I don’t have to worry about scoring a lot of goals in games because I know that
my defense is really not going to allow too many goals.” The group has plenty of experience and is led by center backs Sarah Bruce and Alana Tapia. “Those two girls really hold it down for us in the back,” Jones said. “Sarah is kind of the bruiser; kind of the punisher I guess you could say. She takes on all comers and Alana is the speedy one, she is there to back Sarah up and if anyone can get past her she normally covers her back and has enough speed to help Sarah out a lot.” The experience of the defenders has proved helpful as Savannah Harlan, who is just an eighth grader, continues to get more experience in goal. “It’s scary to be honest with you,” Jones said of having such a young goalie. “It’s real scary, she just doesn’t have the experience that the other girls have had. She’s very aggressive, she’s smart, she knows what to do, she’s athletic. She can get the job done, she’s also in that gelling process right now.” The stellar defense from the Panthers has allowed the offense to progress and Jones has liked what he has seen in their recent win over Central-Phenix City and Dothan. “We did a little bit more scoring,” Jones said. “We got a couple
Photos by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer
more players involved in the scoring and they are starting to gel. I think from here on out I’m really looking at more players contributing on the offensive side of the ball and hopefully scoring more goals.” Jones credited the extra offense to three girls who have played well all year in Morgan Ritter, Kylie Pritchett and Emma Tapia. “Morgan Ritter, she is really playing lights out,” Jones said. “She is
the distributor and kind of a playmaker; she is really doing well. Kylie Pritchett has really stepped up, she scored two goals for us in the Dothan game. Emma Tapia, I mean, she is always phenomenal, she plays lights out every game. We like the ball to go through her and the ball to touch her foot every time.” The increased offense paired with their lockdown defense will be crucial for the Panthers
to reach the programs first ever Final Four, which Jones believes his team is certainly capable of. “I think we are, I think there’s only about two or three teams in the southern part of the state that can keep us from making the Final Four, but we will see.” The Panthers will get to test themselves against one of those teams for the first time on Friday when they play Auburn.
Hornets going through rough patch By JD McCarthy For the Opelika Observer The Beauregard Varsity softball team fell to 8-9 on the season after going 1-4 in its last five games. The Lady Hornets fell to BrewBaker Tech 3-2 in their first area game of the season. Despite the loss, Madison “Mac” McDonald had a strong game, allowing one earned run on four hits over seven innings,
SPORTS >>
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corded two hits apiece, while teammates, Nylen Thomas, Yountz, Ava Parker and Daysia Jones added hits. OHS lost to Beulah 14-1, Marbury, 8-3, Eufaula 4-2, Elmore County 9-0, Montgomery Catholic 11-3 and Brewbaker Tech 8-0. BASEBALL The Opelika Bulldog Varsity baseball team (4-11) lost five games last week including four in the East Alabama Classic. OHS lost to Smiths Station 11-5, Spanish Fort 11-5, Faith Academy 10-1, Saraland 8-5 and Sparkman 16-4. The following play-
striking out four batters. She was also 3-of-3 at the plate with a double, triple and 2 RBI. Cat Henson, who is leading the team with a .500 batting average, .622 on base percentage and .767 slugging percentage, went 1-for-2 with a walk. In the game, an away trip to Benjamin Russell on Tuesday, Beauregard suffered another close loss. After falling behind 5-0 in the second inning, the Lady Hornets scored five
unanswered runs to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning. They were unable to hold onto the tie as Benjamin Russel walked it off in the bottom of the seventh. The Lady Hornets were led by Katie Wilkerson who was 2-of-4 with a home run, double and two runs. Henson has two runs scored and Carolina Willis was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Beauregard followed
that up with a 10-3 loss to Smiths Station 10-3 on Wednesday, but rebounded with a dominant 16-1 win over Russell County on Thursday. The Lady Hornets then travelled to Pike Road on Monday and fell to their area rival 14-3. The Hornets have a good chance to bounce back in another area test at home on Thursday against the 5-6 (according to maxpreps) Tallassee Tigers.
ers recorded one hit apiece against SSHS: Harrison Long, Brooks Bryan, Paul Goodman, Kydylan Ligon, Jacob Smith, Julian Duke and Xander Grilliot. Smith led OHS with three hits against Spanish Fort and pitched 4 2/3 innings allowing one earned run. Brooks Bryan had three hits against Saraland and Smith added two hits. Smith also recorded three hits against Sparkman. OMS SOFTBALL The OMS Lady Bulldog softball team finished the season with a 9-3-1 record and tournament record of 6-3. OMS split with Smiths Station, winning 3-1 and losing 4-2. Jade
Jones led the offense with three hits; Stella George added two hits; Jasmine Smith, Kennedy Soltau and Emily Birminham recorded hits. OMS beat Russell County 18-1, and then won 3-2, in Alex City. Opelika Middle School recorded 15 hits on the night. Jones led with five hits, followed by Katie Harrelson’s two hits. Soltau, George, Thompson, Foley and Holley had hits. Floyd Magnet Middle school ended the winning streak with a 6-3 win. OMS will complete the season on March 27 in the Smiths Station Invitational. TENNIS The OHS girls tennis
team improved their sectional record to 2-1 after the 9-0 win over Valley last week. Single winners included, Laney McTier, Laura Tyson Daffin, Allison Beardon, Vera Smith T, Luci Long and Emma Hankins. Doubles winners were Daffin/ Beardon, McTier/Long and Hankins/ Leighanna Howell. The OHS boys, did not play a match due to VHS not having a boys team. The Bulldog boys are 1-1 in the section. DIXIE BOYS BASEBALL (13-14-15 YEAR OLDS) Registration for Dixie Boys baseball, ages 13– 15, begins March 22 at the Opelika Sportsplex. Anyone ages 13, 14 or
15 is eligible to register and will be placed on a team. Cost is $45 for those living in the city of Opelika and $50 for others. Games are played at West Ridge Park. Opelika is hosting the State Tournament on July 9 at West Ridge, which gives Opelika All-Stars a spot in the 13U and 14U State Tournament. For more info, contact D. Mark Mitchell at foxonthemark@yahoo. com or 334-787-1514. CALEB ROSS JOINS TROY UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL STAFF Current Prattville head football coach and former Opelika and McGill-Toolen head coach
Caleb Ross has taken a position on the Troy University football staff. Ross will be the High School liaison coach for the Trojans which includes coaching duties. Ross won a state championship in 2015 and posted an overall record of 74-31 in eight years of high school ball. Congratulations Caleb, Amy, Rebecca Claire and Jack. D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at IHeartMedia, host of “On The Mark” on Fox Sports the Game 910-1310, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state coordinator.
B5 March 17, 2021
Despite inconsistent bats, Glenwood is picking up consistent wins By Wil Crews sportscrews@ opelikaobserver.com
The Glenwood Gators Varsity Boys baseball team is on an eight game win streak, with the overall record now at 16-3. “It’s still a work in progress,” said Glenwood coach Tim Fanning. “We’re just trying to get more consistent. But the one good thing is we have found a way to win games.” Glenwood suffered its last loss on Feb. 26, a 9-2 shellacking at the hands of Troup County, out of LaGrange, Georgia. Since then, the Gators have outscored their opponents 70 to 19, thanks in part to stellar pitching and three senior leaders, Trevor Horne, Kody Bence and Colton Dempsey. “Those three have definitely carried us so far,” Fanning said. “Not only are they seniors, but they are leading us offensively in just about every statistical category. They had a good week. It’s pretty fun to coach them for sure.” Fanning said he has been pleased by his
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going to be really special this year.” The Dawg Pound also added two females to its squad this season, making three girls in total, which is a first in the area according to Bryant. After going through a season of challenges last year, Bryant said he and his coaches are prepared for whatever comes at them this time around. “The biggest thing we
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swim and teaching them skills that ultimately led them to wanting to join swim team,” McGill said. “And through that program continue to build and develop younger swimmers for the future.” As of fall 2020, the OST had 115 swimmers from ages four to 18 on its roster. “Our goal is to have 200 or 250-plus swimmers,” McGill said. “It’s been a lot of fun growing – its chaotic, but it’s definitely worth the fun.” McGill said he knows that without the swim school and the instructors and teachers who invest their time to teach the kids, none of the growth would be possible. “I’ve got a great staff,” McGill said. “Justin Perkins
teams run production during the winning stretch, however, he is looking for more consistency out of his boys at the plate. “We haven’t been consistent as far as scratching runs and manufacturing runs,” Fanning said. “But we have found a way to have big innings in a lot of our games. It drives a coach crazy sometimes – but we are winning.” Part of Glenwood’s struggles can be chalked up to the pandemic, as Fanning said anywhere up to eight players were absent from a number of games due to contact tracing from COVID-19. The injury bug has also caught Glenwood recently. Regardless, the Gators have been hitting their stride. “A lot of our sophomores have stepped up,” Fanning said. “They did a great job.” The hot run began on Wednesday, March 3, with a narrow 3-2 victory over Lee-Scott in Auburn. Horne, who is undefeated on the season with a sub 0.65 ERA, was the winning pitcher
that day, with the save going to Bence. On offense, Garrison McClary went 2-for-3, Colton Dempsey went 1-for-3 with a double and one RBI and Horne rounded out a nice day going 2-for-4 at the plate. The Gators were next in action over the March 5-7 weekend in the Alabama/Georgia Border Wars Championship, and the bats began to pick up. Glenwood earned 7-0, 7-5 and 6-4 wins over Bethlehem Christian, Berrien County and Evangel, respectively. Against Bethlehem, Tyler Wadkins was awarded the win after a spectacular performance on the mound. A flurry of hitters led the way for the Gators. Horne was his typical formidable self at the plate, going 1-for2 with a home run and two RBI. Ty Smith went 2-for-2 with a double and two runs. Bence went 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI. And lastly, Dempsey went 1-for-3 with a double and three RBI. The Gators then defeated Berrien on the same day behind the arm of
Devin Denny, who got the win on the mound. Bence, who on the year is hitting .479 with an on-base percentage of .630, continued slugging like it was nobody’s business, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Cam Carpenter also went 2-for-3 as he helped Glenwood outlasts their opponent. Glenwood then defeated Evangel 6-4. Bence threw the entire game from the mound and gave up only four hits, two earned runs and 11 strikeouts. His partner in crime, Horne, went 3-for-4 and missed out on hitting for the cycle by just a home run. Ty Smith followed with a 2-for-4 night, including a double, and Jake Smith went a perfect 2-for-2 on the night. “It’s always been a great tournament,” Fanning said of Border Wars. “And this is probably the best weather we’ve had for it in three or four years. So, it was definitely a great three days.” The following game for the Gators was a dominant 16-0 win over
area foe Springwood. Ty Smith led the way, going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored. Dempsey had a gamehigh three RBI, finishing 1-for-2 with a double, and Lukas Holman went 1-for-2 with two RBI. Jackson Kennon picked up the win on the mound. “He’s really stepped up on the mound,” Fanning said of Kennon. The next day, Glenwood defeated Marion County, 13-2, behind a strong outing from winning pitcher Jacob Page. Dempsey continued to swing the bat well, going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Holman went 1-for2 with a double and two runs and Wadkins went 1-for-3 with a double and one RBI of his own to round out the offensive notables. “He’s [Wadkins] another sophomore who deserves some praise,” said Fanning. This past weekend, Glenwood played and won three games. “It was not a good defensive weekend, but our hitting covered it up,”
Fanning said. “We really need to focus defensively because our guys on the mound have been so good.” On Friday night, the Gators travelled to Warner Robins, Georgia to play Westfield. Unfortunately, the game was suspended when Glenwood led 2-1 in the third inning when the lights went out due to a fire on a power pole. Before they shut it down, Bence and Horne still let their impact be known with a double and one RBI between them. Saturday was better for Glenwood, as the only fire that was around was the preverbal ones coming off of the Gators’ bats. In two games, Glenwood put up 23 runs, as it beat Cook County High School 7-5, and Pike County High School 16-5. Against Cook, Dempsey took home the win after pitching six innings, giving up only two hits, zero earned runs and striking out nine batters. Bence went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two
learned from last year was just to persevere,” Bryant said. “This year we have a better outlook because we know how to handle the situation better, know how to travel with it, know how to keep the kids safe.” In that spirit, the Dawg Pound is already making big plans for this spring and beyond. To start, cheerleading tryouts for girls age five to 12 are fast upcoming on March 27. The tryouts are being held at 11 a.m. at Bandy Park. All girls need to
attend are tennis shoes, masks and a water source, according to the Dawg Pound’s flyer on Facebook. Parents can contact Alyssa Foreman (334-750-4319) for more information or visit the Facebook page ‘Opelika DawgPound Cheer.’ After that, a kickoff cookout event for players and family with food from chef Jeremy Vines, owner of Obsidian Dining & Catering, is planned. Then, for the first time ever, the Dawg Pound will be participating in 7 v 7 football,
with the 10U, 12U and 13U groups travelling to Atlanta on April 3. In accordance with the Knee High Foundation, the Dawg Pound just had its first Krispy Kreme donut fundraiser last weekend, and has also planned community service projects for May. Furthermore, the Dawg Pound recently got permission from the Opelika Parks and Rec department to host their first ever tournament, ‘The DawgPound Summer
Bowl,’ for players age five to 12, hopefully in July. Additionally, an offensive lineman camp, STUD University, with NFL alum Michael Moon-Thompson is in the works too. You can keep up with all the Dawg Pound events by visiting their Facebook page ‘Opelika Dawg Pound.’ Ultimately, Bryant knows none of this would be possible without the community’s support. His goal of having 50 sponsors for the Dawg Pound this season has nearly been
reached already. “The community support has been great,” Bryant said. “If you could just continue to support, it’s all for a good reason. If we can do anything for any other people that need help or non-profits that needs help, just reach out to us and we will be more than willing to look at the situation and help if we can.” To learn more about The Knee High Foundation and the Opelika Dawg Pound, visit www.thekneehighfoundation.org/.
(aquatics coordinator for Opelika Parks and Recreation), he does a fabulous job of helping organize the swim lesson program with me and working with our instructors through that. I love my staff, and I certainly could not do it by myself.” The typical OST competitive season goes year-round. From September to about the end of February, McGill said swimmers are racing once a month if not more. However, things were obviously different over the past 12 months. A worldwide pandemic makes no exceptions for a pool of chlorine water. “There were a lot of people looking forward to learning how to swim last spring,” McGill said. “But to close things down was absolutely a necessity for the safety and benefit of many people.”
Thankfully, McGill, his staff and the city quickly came up with an extensive plan to get back to swimming – safely. “Just like everybody in this area, there has been moments where we’ve had to take a step and pause for a day or two and just say ‘okay things are building again let’s take the time away,’” McGill said. “But we have been fortunate that we have pretty much been in the water since May outside of a few days here or there. I know our kids and our families are happy that they got to be in the water and have activities this summer.” Despite maintaining their typical practice schedule (Monday – Friday from 3:30 to 8 p.m.) as best as possible, McGill said the OST did not have the 15 to 20 competitions they would have normally had last season.
However, McGill still saw the benefit of the structure that OST gives many of the swimmers, even if it was only 30 to 45 minutes a day. “I think that benefits a lot of the youth in terms of them staying healthy by just being able to engage with their friends and see people,” McGill added. “We are obviously happy that we have been able to do that, and we continue to be safe and operate in a way that allows us to keep swimming.” Looking forward, McGill said “highlighting the summer would be awesome for us.” With the 2021 (postponed 2020) Tokyo Summer Olympics approaching, the OST wants to ride the wave of popularity that comes with that into more popularity locally here in Opelika. “Olympic years are really big for swimming,” McGill, a
butterflier by trade said. “Obviously the kids here and the community here aren’t going to be in Tokyo. We don’t have any swimmers from this area who are going to be at the Olympics and swimming. But I think watching the Olympics and participating in an Olympic sport and being able to watch and see what you see on TV and be able to connect to it differently because you’re in that sport is a lot of fun.” The impending summer also means the OST is preparing for the Alabama Parks and Rec Association State Championships in July. McGill said the OST uses that to feed into its fall program. Furthermore, McGill and his staff eagerly look forward to hosting events each year in Opelika themselves, and are anticipating hosting
more meets in the future. “Those are growing and getting bigger,” McGill added. “Teams are coming back each year so that’s exciting. I know that does a lot for the city when we can have teams from Birmingham, Columbus and Montgomery spend the day or weekend here.” Overall, McGill is “very thankful and very fortunate to have this position.” He and his staff have one simple, but clear objective for the future of the OST. “Really we are at the point where all eyes are on this summer and were starting to plan for that,” McGill said. “[I’m] just hoping we can continue to build and grow.” To learn more or keep up with the OST, visit their Facebook page ‘Opelika Swim Team,’ or go to Opelikaswim. com.
See GLENWOOD , page B6
B6 March 17, 2021
Beulah softball’s hard
AHS Alum inducted
work shows ‘dividends’
School Hall of Fame
By JD McCarthy For the Opelika Observer
A young roster and a stretch of tough opponents caused the Beulah softball team to get off to a slow start in the 2021 season. However, the Lady Bobcats have grown up quickly and have won five straight games to improve to 1010 on the season. “It’s really great because we’re winning as a team,” said head coach Stan Pepper. “Each game it has been a different person stepping up. I’m really proud of the girls, they are always stepping up and playing well. I can’t say enough about our girls, they just work really hard and it's starting to pay dividends for us.” After finishing second in the Valley Tournament the Bobcats continued their good work winning all four of their games last week, three of which were by double digit runs. They started the week off with a dominant 14-1 win over Opelika on Tuesday. The Lady Bobcats made sure the game was quickly out of reach, scoring five runs in the first and four more in the second inning. Kassidy Kirby continued her power surge, going 3-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI to lead the charge. Abrianna Green also hit a home run.
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spring semester. ACCS colleges also deployed 10,500 laptops to students to help ensure access to course materials was not an obstacle to course completion. The 24 colleges in the Alabama Community College System adhere to stringent health and safety protocols at all
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from you, and it’s important that students can have the tools to get it.” Joseph Halsey, another mentor in the program, had similar thoughts saying, “it’s always been important to me to be able to help students succeed.” He believes the program
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runs scored, leading the way for the Gator hitters. Not to be outdone, Holman went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Bence got the save. Against Pike, Horne
into Alabama High
“That was a huge win for us,” Pepper said. “Whenever you can beat a team like Opelika it makes you feel good.” The Lady Bobcats then travelled to Dadeville on Thursday for their second region game of the season and a much different game took place. Beulah needed two runs in the seventh inning to pull off the 3-1 victory and improve to 2-0 in the region. “They played a really good game, and we were probably not as well prepared as we should have been and that’s my fault,” Pepper said. This game was all about Katie Morris and Savanna Clements. Morris was lights out from the circle, allowing just one run over seven innings and striking out 13 batters. Her great work ensured the game was tied headed into the seventh inning when Clements scored the game winning run on a single from Kirby. Clements’s good work wasn’t done either, as she made several great plays in centerfield to preserve the 3-1 lead. “She’s the reason we won against Dadeville,” Pepper said of Clements. “She just took it upon herself to make sure we weren’t going to lose in the seventh inning, I’m really proud of her.” The Lady Bobcats then faced off with Russell County on Saturday and
made sure to “handle them like they were supposed to,” winning the first game 16-1 and the second 11-0. They opened the day with a nine run first inning and never cooled off, scoring a run in every inning they batted across both games. The first game was about Brandy Phillips who went 3-for-3 with two triples, five RBI and scored three runs. Green also had a big game from the leadoff spot, reaching base three times with a double and recording two RBI and three runs of her own. Phillips, Kirby, Green, Clements and Kyleigh Morgan each drove in runs during the first inning onslaught. In game two Clements and Green once again shined from the top of the lineup. Green went 2-for-3 with a double and scored two runs while Clements went 2-for-2
with a double, an RBI and scored three runs. Green also made her debut in the circle and did not disappoint, striking out five batters in three perfect innings of relief work. Kirby started the game and allowed two hits over two innings with two strikeouts. The Lady Bobcats continued their good work on Monday, beating Eufaula 2-1. The Lady Bobcats faced Smiths Station on Tuesday, but results were unavailable at time of press. The biggest games of the week are on Thursday and Friday when they play Reeltown and Dadeville, respectively. Both games are region games and will give Beulah a chance to improve on their 2-0 area record. “We want to be better every day when we leave the field than we get on it,” Pepper said.
college campuses and follow and execute all local, state and federal guidance related to social distancing protocols. While contingency plans are in place should there be a need to modify plans for full operation, class and training delivery methods will continue to keep student success and the safety of students, faculty, staff
and visiting community members a priority at each college. For specific opening plans for each college, please contact your local college directly. Alabama Community College System fast facts: • Tuition at ACCS colleges is $133 per credit hour, which is less than half the cost of tuition at the state’s four-year
colleges and universities • 87% of Alabama’s community college students receive financial aid • 95% of Alabama’s community college students are from Alabama • ACCS colleges served more than 159,000 students last year • Alabama’s community colleges offer 330 degree and certificate
programs About ACCS With 24 community colleges in more than 130 locations, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) is Alabama’s gateway to first-class, affordable education and technical training to compete in a constantly evolving workforce. More than 159,000 Alabamians benefit from the various
certification, credential, dual enrollment and degree programs ACCS offers alongside leading industry partners. The System includes the Alabama Technology Network, which provides extensive training and service offerings directly to business and industry. ACCS is governed by the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees.
is important because students will be able to learn through the experience of others, saying that “sometimes it’s a lot less money and pain to get help when you need it.” The program is very flexible in time commitment. Mentees can meet with their mentors as little as 30 minutes a month. It is up to the student to decide how much help they
want. The program is also adaptable regarding mentors. “We can transfer a mentee to a different mentor if it’s not working out for them,” said Kelly. All the mentors have positive things to say about the mentees. “They are highly motivated and want to succeed,” Kelly said. Khan and Thang Le, the two siblings who sat down with Shackett
at the beginning of January, are now about to take their GED and meet workers in their dream professions. While the youngest age a mentee can be to join the program is 17, most are a lot older and have outside pressures on them that motivate them to be their best. These mentees are people like the Le siblings who want to make a difference
in their lives and the world, but need a little help getting there. Khan, who aspires to be a nurse, states, “the [mentorship] program is helping me pursue my dreams and is the first step I need to take to achieve them.” This is only the beginning of Southern Union’s mentorship program. Shackett hopes that one day all Southern Union
students will have the opportunity to have a mentor. “I want to do this with every student,” Schackett said. “Knowledge is meant to be shared,” Yates said regarding the program. By having Mentees and mentors, the Southern Union community can grow, and the people inside it can reach new potentials due to their combined knowledge.
got the win after pitching six innings, giving up only three hits, zero earned runs and striking out eight batters. Dempsey had one of the best games ever recorded – I imagine – going 2-for-4 with two grand slams and a whopping
nine RBI. “Dempsey’s stats are ridiculous,” Fanning said. “He’s hitting .400, he’s got seven doubles, four home runs and 31 RBIs.” From there, Glenwood cruised to victory. Bence went
3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI; Horne went 2-for-3. Most recently, Glenwood played Hardaway High School on Monday night and won 8-1. Hunter Deason was the winning pitcher and Denny earned a
save in three innings of relief. At the plate, the Gators were led by Carpenter who finished a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Jake Smith was 3-for-4 with two RBI and Dempsey, productive as usual, went 2-for-4 with a
double and one RBI. The Gators record now sits at 17-3 (undefeated in the area) with a double header at Southern Prep on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time.
By Wil Crews sportscrews@opelikaobserver.com
Photo by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer
Twelve major contributors to Alabama prep athletics were selected for induction into the 30th class of the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame on March 15, including Auburn High and Auburn University alum, Toney Pugh. Pugh, 61, graduated from Auburn High School in 1976 and Auburn University in 1982. He served as an assistant football and head wrestling coach at Auburn High and Hewitt-Trussville High. His team at Hewitt won two state championships, had 10 straight playoff appearances and made one Class 6A trip to the state finals at Legion field. He was also the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Hewitt. From there, Pugh began to really build his legacy, starting football programs from the ground up at Clay-Chalkville in 1996, and Oak Mountain in Shelby County in 1999. Pugh then pivoted back to head wrestling coach – while also serving as the football team’s offensive line coach – when he moved to Spain Park in 2004. He finished out his coaching career at Hoover and Lassiter (Georgia), before becoming the Executive Director
of the Birmingham Athletic Partnership in 2010, a role that he has remained in since. While Pugh has served in his role with BAP, he has provided support and professional development for the coaches and teams for all the schools in the Birmingham City School System. Additionally, Pugh found time to become one of AHSAA’s most outstanding wrestling officials in the process. He has worked the AHSAA State Wrestling Championship as an official for the last decade. Other accomplishments by Pugh include: coaching in the NorthSouth All-Star football game in 1999, serving as defensive coordinator in the Atlantic-Mississippi Game in 2000, serving on the AHSAA Football Coaches Committee and on the Directors of the Alabama Football Coaches Association. Other inductees include: administrator Luke Hallmark; football coaches Carrol Cox, Steve Mask and Fred Yancey; basketball coaches Tommy Lewis and Yvonne Simmons; track coaches Aaron Goode and Keith Wilemon; wrestling coach Joseph Dasaro; soccer coach Rick Grammar; and coach/ administrator Samuel ‘Hamp’ Lyon, who was chose in the old timer category.
B7 March 17, 2021
Beulah slides into a win over Opelika
Photos by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer Beulah girls softball defeated Opelika varsity girls 14 to 1 last week.
Opelika JV softball defeats Beulah 4 to 3
Photos by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer
B8 March 17, 2021
Glenwood holds Athletic Signing Day
Payton Corbett
Al Moore
Jackson Griner Photos from the Glenwood School website
Bulldogs fall in East Alabama Classic Tournament
Photos by Robert Noles / Opelika Observer The East Alabama Classic is an annual baseball tournament that occurs in the Auburn, Opelika and Phenix City area. Auburn, Opelika, Smiths Station, Central Phenix City, Tuscaloosa County, Spain Park, Sparkman, Baker, Fairhope, Saraland, Spanish Fort, Russell County, Faith Academy, Helena and Gulf Shores attended this year.
Opelika, L ee County & A labama Politics
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March 17, 2021
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Inside the Statehouse Gambling and Budgets Priority for Legislature
T
he legislature is at the midway point of the 2021 Regular Legislative Session. They have used 15 days of their allotted 30-day legislative session. The Senate has been consumed with attempting to pass a constitutional amendment to allow Alabamians the right to vote on whether to have a state lottery along with some casino and sports betting. The legislature in and of itself cannot authorize this expansion of gambling in the state. Their only authority is to vote to place it on the ballot in order to give you the opportunity to allow the state to reap the financial windfall now only afforded the Indian Gambling Syndicate. There was a critical vote in the state Senate last week on the issue. With it being a constitutional amendment, it required 21 votes. The vote was 19 to 13 in favor, but it lacked the constitutional muster by two votes. Therefore, the measure could be resurrected. However, if it is this close in the Senate, it probably does not have the votes for passage in the House of Representatives. Polls indicate that it would be approved by a vote of the people, probably with a 70 to 30 plurality, and with a majority of Republicans voting in favor. If it is that popular with the people, you probably are asking why in the world would senators not vote to allow you to vote on it. The devil is in the details. The majority of the casinos would go to the Creek Indian Gambling Syndicate. Some of the 24 Republican Senators balked at that almost total monopoly. Sen. Del Marsh was not the right sponsor or front man for the constitutional amendment. He is not totally trusted, especially by the 10 Democrats he has consistently run over and ignored for years while he was President Pro Tem of the Senate. Marsh is also perceived as a pawn of the Indian Gambling Syndicate. He is no longer Pro Tem, so nobody is scared of him. A setting sun sets off very little heat. He is not running for re-election for his Anniston based district because he could not be reelected. In his last race in 2018, he spent close to $480,000 to his unknown opponent’s $15,000 and only garnered 52% of the vote. That does not portend well for reelection. Gov. Kay Ivey needs to come out openly and strongly for the measure and make it her issue and her legacy. It may need to be done in a special session later this year. Even then, it will be a tough sell to get through the Senate and then the House. Alabama is the Heart of the Bible Belt. If Alabama is the Bible Belt, then the area of Alabama, north of Birmingham and all the way to the Tennessee line is
Closure, detour on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard in Opelika Contributed by the city of Opelika
Starting on Wednesday, March 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will be closed for the installation of a water line for the
Geneva Street project. The closure will be in place from March 17 – 19. Detour signs will have traffic going north on 10th Street to Avenue C, west on Avenue C to Clanton
Street, then south on Clanton Street back to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. For more information, please contact Scott Parker, City Engineer at sparker@ opelika-al.gov.
STEVE FLOWERS the buckle. There are not any casinos in North Alabama, only churches, and most of the churchgoers are church of Christ or Baptist. They did not allow the sale of alcohol in most of these counties until a few years ago. Every state senator in that area is a Republican and all of them voted no, including Gudger of Cullman, Givhan of Huntsville, Butler of Huntsville, Stutts of Florence and Scofield of Sand Mountain. You can probably bet your bottom dollar that the preachers encouraged their parishioners to contact their senators on Sunday before the vote last Tuesday. You may see the legislature address a simple lottery. It may not be a glamorous event in the legislative process, however, the beginning of the most important and imperative accomplishment occurred last week when the General Fund Budget passed the Alabama House of Representatives. The House approved a $2.4 billion dollar budget shepherded by the Ways and Means Chairman Steve Clouse (R-Ozark). The budget includes a 2% raise for state employees. This raise would amount to an $867 per year raise for a state worker making the median salary $43,346. The budget includes an increase in funding for the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. Other agencies seeing increases in the budget are the Department of Mental Health at 6.7%, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency will see 7.9% increase, mostly for upgrading the state’s driver license system. Overall, the budget is 3.3% higher than last years, which is amazing after a year of COVID-19. It now moves on to the Senate, which more than likely will concur with few changes. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His column appears in more than 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers. us.
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 brings back federal incentives The new law settles the argument about whether Alabama can afford expansion Contributed by the Cover Alabama Coalition
The new COVID-19 recovery stimulus legislation, known as the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Thursday. This law brings back federally financed incentives for states to expand Medicaid, but with a new angle this time. If Alabama expands Medicaid, the state would
NOW OPEN
receive a five-percentage-point increase in federal funding for its traditional Medicaid coverage ‒ a larger population than the expansion group ‒ for two years. This federal boost could mean an additional $940 million for Alabama Medicaid over a span of two years, early estimates show. The additional federal dollars from this increase would exceed the full state cost of Medicaid expansion for a number
of years. Advocates for Medicaid expansion say this is a unique opportunity for the state to expand coverage. Some 300,000 Alabamians are in the health coverage gap. That means they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid under Alabama’s stringent income limit but too little to qualify for subsidized marketplace plans under the Affordable Care Act. See AMERICAN, page B13
Indoor shooting range is open to the public
2195 FIRST AVENUE • OPELIKA
B10 March 17, 2021
Describe the typical minimum wage worker. It may not be who you think.
I
n the 1970s, regarding wages and benefits, the youngest of three brothers (me) ended up with a nice supermarket job as his first job. When I worked eight hours, I had a ½ hour lunch plus two 15-minute breaks. I enjoyed my job as a bagger and cashier; I stayed there four years. I made about $1 over minimum wage, in 1972. The Burger Chef where my brother Larry worked for a whisper more than the minimum wage folded a few months after a new burger place from California moved next door. Its name: McDonald’s. Larry then worked at a convenience store. At least he had a job: if someone stayed at the market, Almacs, within 15-20 years he or she would be out of work. The union-induced benefits that I loved undermined Almacs’ bottom-line. The above is a cautionary tale in two ways. One is that you never know when a new competitor waving Big Macs at customers will
run you out of business (Larry found out). And, you may find a job with great benefits disappears because those benefits hurt the company’s competitiveness (Almacs employees learned this). All businesses are well aware of their bottom line; thus, minimum wage increases and too-generous benefits are not praised by store owners. In 2021, federal minimum wage is $7.25; Alabama is one of only 21 states that maintain the federal minimum of $7.25. Gina Maiola, press secretary to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, explained that the governor is focusing on job training and workforce development to help people get better paying jobs. She noted that this approach benefits both employer and employee. “By forcing employers to pay more than they can afford through a minimum wage hike, it will either eliminate the number of employees, or the employers relocate,” she said. “The governor would agree the free market
is a good regulator. Employers balance the bottom line to recruit qualified employees. Many Alabama jobs pay more than minimum wage, because we don’t have enough highskilled workers, and they need to incentivize individuals to work in their organization.” A recent study from the Center for Economic and Policy Research found that whereas more than a quarter of all low-wage workers were teenagers in 1979, in 2014 about one in 10 are teens. In addition, 37% of employees who get low wages, defined as less than $10.10 per hour (but almost $3 an hour more than federal minimum wage), are between 35 and 64 years old. About 55% of minimum wage earners are women and among tipped workers – guaranteed just $2.13 an hour – there is a wide gulf, with women at 73 percent. According to MoneyWatch, the gender balance of lowwage recipients shifted from women since 1979.
By Greg Markley Men make up 45% of low-wage workers, with many women earning minimum wage or less. The U.S. Department of Labor keeps statistics on federal minimum wage rates under the Fair Labor Standards Act, from 1938-2009. A sample of years during that 71 year period shows the minimum wage increased gradually, not dramatically. Under the 1938 Act, the minimum hourly wage was $0.25; within 18 years, it quadrupled to $1.00 (1956); and 18 years later (in 1974) the minimum was $2.00. The next samples are from Jan. 1, 1979, the wage was $2.90 for all covered, nonexempt
workers; by 1990 it went to $3.80; and the most recent increase came over three years, $5.85 in 2007, to $6.55 in 2008, and finally to $7.25 in 2009. Those new federal minimum wages applied to all covered, nonexempt workers, as usual. Many job-seekers are strapped. They have family commitments or high bills for education or medical debts. They truly have little flexibility when they seek a job. I hope they are later able to get back on their financial feet and can pursue a career field of choice. They are like the teacher being interviewed by a principal who asked: “Do you believe in evolution or creationism?” The job seeker said, knowing he sorely needed the job, “I can teach it either way!” For my second job, I did a bit of “politicking” (how appropriate for a Political Science major.) My friend was a security guard at the state’s premier newspaper. I waited four months for a copy boy job to open. The job
paid $6 when the federal minimum wage was $2.90 (in 1978). I really took the job for the benefits. I had access to “newspaper clip files,” a Godsend when researching and writing college class papers. There was no internet then to look things up and libraries were closed at night. I met many journalists and saw firsthand the pressures and joys of the job. As I wrote last week, I hope a compromise of $10 or $10.50 per hour is reached. Lower-paid employees would get more cash but small businesses would not be hurt as much as they would under a $15 an hour scenario. Greg Markley first moved to Lee County in 1996. He has Masters’ in education and history. He taught politics as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama. An award-winning writer in the Army and civilian life, he has contributed to the Observer for eight years. gm.markley@charter.net
B11 March 17, 2021
Congressman Mike Rogers issues statement on H.R. bills Contributed by office of Mike Rogers
Congressman Mike Rogers made the following statement last week after the House voted to pass H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446, both bills that could weaken our Second Amendment rights. “As a proud gun owner, these two bills
disgust me. I stand in strong opposition to them as they are just more attempts by the left to treat our Second Amendment as a second-class right,” Rogers said. H.R. 8 promises to include a so-called “universal” background check, but as has been proven time and time again,
universal background checks won’t stop a criminal from obtaining a firearm. The universal background checks could lead to a federal gun registry, forcing law-abiding citizens to register their guns with the federal government and could make handing a firearm to another individual a crime.
H.R. 1446 would allow Washington bureaucrats to indefinitely delay firearm purchases curbing the rights of millions of law-abiding citizens to protect and defend their families. It would eliminate the “three-day proceed to sale” that prevents the government from delaying firearm purchases. In its place would
be an ability for the government to drag out their red tape approval process. “I am not surprised that Speaker Pelosi and her radical Democrat colleagues continue to attack our Second Amendment rights. This is a continued pattern of their disregard for our Constitution. I will continue to stand
up and fight for the Second Amendment,” Rogers added. Rogers serves as Ranking Member on the House Armed Services Committee. As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, Rogers is the only member of the Alabama House Delegation with an A+ rating with the NRA.
PUBLIC NOTICES IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ANNIE RUTH EVANS, DECEASED CASE NO: 2021-100 IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 23rd day of February, 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. TONDA EDWARDS Administrator D. Carter Weeks Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 368032345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 03/03/21, 03/10/21 & 03/17/21 -------------IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CARL HOPSON, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2021-101 TO: CARLOS OSCAR HOPSON NOTICE: On the 23rd day of February, 2021, a certain writing, purporting to be the Will of CARL HOPSON was filed in my office for Probate by TRENTON GARRETT HOPSON and the 8th day of April, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., was appointed a day for hearing thereof at which time you can appear and contest the same, if you see proper. Given under my hand, the 23rd day of February, 2021. Bill English JUDGE OF PROBATE Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 368032345 Legal Run 03/03/21, 03/10/21 & 03/17/21 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF STEVEN RUSSELL THRIFT, DECEASED. Case No.:2021-066 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that Letters Testamentary of the Estate of STEVEN RUSSELL THRIFT, deceased, having been granted to VICKIE LYNN THRIFT on the 11th day of February 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee
County, Alabama. Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are hereby required to present such claims within the time allowed by law, or the same will be forever barred. VICKIE LYNN THRIFT Legal Run 03/03/2021, 03/10/2021 & 03/17/2021 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: The Estate Of Blake Lynwood Ware, Deceased. Case No.: 2021-086 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION TO BE PUBLISHED Letters of Administration on said deceased having been granted to Christy Dean, Administrator on this the 19th day of February, 2021, by the Honorable Bill English , Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. BY: James E. Hall, Attorney for Administrator. Legal 03/03/2021, 03/10/2021, 03/17/2021 -------------NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF ELMER L. POTTS, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY Letters of Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 3rd day of March, 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate of Lee County notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. Witness our hands, and dated this the 3rd day of March, 2021 SALLY LANKFORD Legal Run 03/10/21, 03/17/21 & 03/24/2021 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE:THE ESTATE OF THOMAS PRESTON, DECEASED. TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to
Barbara Menifield, as Executrix of the Estate of Thomas Preston, deceased, on the 3rd day of March, 2021, 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. Barbara Menifield, Executrix Of the Estate of Thomas Preston, Deceased Marrell J. McNeal, Attorney at Law, PC PO Box 308 Opelika, AL 36803 334-745-7033 Legal Run 03/10/21, 03/17/21 & 03/24/21 -------------STATE OF ALABAMA LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT CASE NO. 2021-093 ESTATE OF VERLIE W. BENCE, DECEASED NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said Verlie W. Bence, deceased, having been granted to Melania B. Harrison, this 2nd day of March 2021, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred. Melania B. Harrison, Personal Representative Jeffery A. Hilyer 334-745-2564 Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, Alabama 36803-0030. Legal Run 03/03/21, 03/10/21 & 03/17/21 -------------IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DAVID WAYNE HARE, DECEASE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2021-075 Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 17th day of February, 2021, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred. JOHN EDWARD HARE, JR.
Administrator Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 368032345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 03/03/2021, 03/10/2021 & 03/17/2021 -------------IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE ESTATE OF HAZEL R. KLASE, DECEASED. TAKE NOTICE that Letters Testamentary having been granted to Norman Neal Klase, Jr., as Executor of the Estate of Hazel R. Klase, deceased, on the 25th day of February, 2021, 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. Norman Neal Klase, Jr., Executor Of the Estate of Hazel R. Klase, Deceased Marrell J. McNeal, Attorney at Law, PC PO Box 308 Opelika, AL 36803 334-745-7033 Legal Run 03/03/2021, 03/10/2021 & 03/17/2021 -------------Public Notice for Estate of Barbara Singleton IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO: _20-21008 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF BARBARA SINGLETON Letters Administration of the estate of _ Barbara Singleton __ having been duly granted to Keith A. Singleton_ on the _9th__ day of __February_ 2021 by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is 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 will be barred. Gerald C. Brooks, Esq. Attorney for Keith A. Singleton, Administrator Legal Run 03/03/21, 03/10/21 & 03/17/21 --------------STATE OF ALABAMA CASE NO. 2021-126 LEE COUNTY PROBATE COURT ESTATE OF W. J. CASH, DECEASED
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said W. J. Cash, deceased, having been granted to Robert Kevin Cash, this 5th day of March 2021, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by the law or the same will be barred. Robert Kevin Cash, Personal Representative Jeffery A. Hilyer 334-745-2564 Attorney at Law P.O. Box 30 Opelika, Alabama 36803-0030. Legal run 3/17/21, 3/24/21 & 3/31/21 -------------INVITATION TO BID 21011 Sealed bids for the construction of the Andrews Rd. @ Unnamed Creek Precast Bridge Construction shall be received at the Opelika City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room, 204 South Seventh Street, Opelika, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., local time on Tuesday March 30, 2021, and then publicly opened and read aloud. All interested parties are invited to attend. Only bids from competent general contractors will be considered. At the time of contract award, the successful bidder must be a properly licensed general contractor. The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State law governing “General Contractors” as set forth in the Ala. Code §34-8-1, et.seq. (1975) and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Bidders must be licensed by the Licensing Board for General Contractors when bids are submitted. Bidders are required to have a State of Alabama General Contractor’s License with a specialty of “Highways and Streets, Clearing and Grubbing, Earthwork, Erosion, Site Work, Grading or Municipal and Utility”. All bidders must submit with their proposal, contractor’s license number and a copy of the license. State law Ala. Code §34-8-
8(b) requires all bids to be rejected which do not contain the contractor’s current license number. Evidence of this license shall be documented on the outside of the sealed bid. All bidders shall possess all other licenses and/ or permits required by applicable law, rule or regulation for the performance of the work. Drawings and Specifications may be examined at the Office of the City Engineer located at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika, Alabama, and phone number: 334-705-5450. Bid documents may be obtained from the Office of the City Engineer at no charge as an electronic file if the bidder supplies a storage drive or as an email attachment or electronic drop box. The bidder’s proposal must be submitted on the complete original proposal furnished to him/her by the City of Opelika. All information in the proposal must be completed by the bidder for the proposal to be accepted. A Bid Bond in the amount of five (5) percent of the bid amount made payable to the City of Opelika must accompany each bid. Performance and Payment Bonds for the full contract sum will be required of the successful bidder. The right is reserved by the Owner to reject all Bids and to waive irregularities. Envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked, addressed as follows, and delivered to: Lillie Finley, Purchasing-Revenue Manager, City of Opelika, 204 South 7th Street, P.O. Box 390, Ope¬li¬ka, Alabama, 36803-0390. Attn: Andrews Rd. @ Unnamed Creek Precast Bridge Construction LILLIE FINLEYPURCHASING REVENUE MANAGER CITY OF OPELIKA 204 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET (36801) POST OFFICE BOX 390 (36803-0390) OPELIKA, ALABAMA PH: (334) 705-5120 Legal Run 03/17/2021 --------------- NOTICE OF DOMESTIC RELATIONS ACTION NAPIER CANDICE whose whereabouts is unknown, must answer NAPIER MICHAEL Petition for Contempt by May 8th, 2021 or thereafter, a Judgment by default may be rendered against her in Case No: DR-2015-900172.02, in the Circuit Court of Russell County, Alabama. Done this the 16th day of March, 2021. JODY SELLERS CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT PUBLICATION DATES: March 17th, 24th, 31st - April, 8th 2021 LAST DAY TO ANSWER: May 8th, 2021
B12 March 17, 2021
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B13 March 17, 2021
Alabama House Democratic Caucus applauds the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
Contributed by the Alabama House Democratic Caucus
Alabama House Democrats enthusiastically support the historic economic relief and stimulus package, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed by President Biden last week. The $1.9 trillion package not only includes
AMERICAN >>
FROM B9
This includes more than 5,000 veterans and 8,000 of their family members. Tens of thousands more Alabamians are struggling to pay for coverage they can’t truly afford. Medicaid expansion has proved to be politically popular. Nearly 70% of Alabamians support expanding Medicaid, including 64% of Republicans, a recent Cover Alabama poll administered by Cygnal found. These numbers increased when respondents were asked if they would support expanding Medicaid using federal funding. The Cover Alabama Coalition calls on Gov. Kay Ivey and the Legislature to act quickly to expand Medicaid and make Ala-
$1,400 individual relief payments and additional financial support for families with children, but it also funds a variety of other initiatives to accelerate vaccine production and distribution. The legislation is predicted to rapidly bolster economic growth and to cut child poverty in America by half. Alabama House
Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Madison) remarked, “The American Rescue Plan will have an immediate and significant impact on struggling Alabamians and their families. Measures like extending and increasing unemployment benefits and expediting financial assistance to small
businesses will help Alabama as it continues to deal with the consequences of COVID-19.” During President Biden’s address to the nation last night, as he explained the many benefits and details of the plan to America, he said, “And there’s nothing, nothing -- from the bottom of my
heart, I believe this – there’s nothing we can’t do when we do it together.” Rep. Daniels agreed, saying, “That’s why the House Democratic Caucus Agenda, 'Working Together. Achieving Results' is so important right now for the people of Alabama. Our number one priority is com-
batting COVID-19 and ensuring that Alabamians have access to the affordable health care that they need and deserve. As President Biden stated, it’s not time to let our guard down, it’s time for each of us to do our part. The American Rescue Plan is an example of what we can achieve when we work together.”
bama stronger and healthier. More than 40 Cover Alabama partners released statements in support of Medicaid expansion. This law is a much-needed step toward closing the health coverage gap in Alabama. The American Rescue Plan Act would provide Alabama with financial incentives to expand Medicaid coverage at last. We have no time to waste. Tens of thousands of people have died in the South ‒ my home ‒ because they couldn’t afford to get the health care they needed. Medicaid expansion is the single biggest step Alabama can take to weather and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and move our state forward. Congress did their job. Now it is time for Governor Ivey and our state lawmakers
to do theirs and immediately expand Medicaid in Alabama.” ‒ Jane Adams, Campaign Director, Alabama Arise and the Cover
Alabama Coalition About Cover Alabama: The Cover Alabama Coalition is a nonpartisan alliance of more than 100 ad-
vocacy groups, businesses, community organizations, consumer groups, health care providers and religious congregations advocating
for Alabama to provide quality, affordable health coverage to its citizens and implement a sustainable health care system.
About Ag Day
March 23, 2021 is National Ag Day, a time when producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless others across America gather to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by American agriculture. As the world population soars, there is even greater demand for the food, fiber and renewable resources produced in the United States. The National Ag Day program believes that every American should:
u understand how food, fiber and renewable resource products are produced.
v value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.
w appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.
x acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food, fiber and renewable resource industries. Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear on a daily basis, and is increasingly contributing to fuel and other bio-products. Each year, members of the agricultural industry gather together to promote American agriculture. This effort helps educate millions of consumers.
& Flea Mall
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By far, the most effective part of this program is the role you play in helping spread the word. A few generations ago, most Americans were directly involved in—or had relatives or friends involved in—agricultural-related endeavors. Today, that is no longer the case. That is why it is so important that we join together at the community level...our voices, in concert, become a shout that carries our message a great deal further than any one of us can do alone! We are pleased that you have joined this effort to promote American agriculture.
Food Brings Everyone to the Table
Americans need to understand the value of agriculture in their daily lives. Here are just some of the key reasons why it’s important to recognize—and celebrate— Ag Day each year: Increased knowledge of agriculture and nutrition allows individuals to make informed personal choices about diet and health. Informed citizens will be able to participate in establishing the policies that will support a competitive agricultural industry in this country and abroad. Employment opportunities exist across the board in agriculture. Career choices include: • farm production • agribusiness management and marketing • agricultural research and engineering • food science • processing and retailing • banking • education • landscape architecture • urban planning • energy • and other fields. Beginning in kindergarten and continuing through 12th grade, all students should receive some systematic instruction about agriculture. Agriculture is too important a topic to be taught only to the small percentage of students considering careers in agriculture and pursuing vocational agricultural studies. Agricultural literacy includes an understanding of agriculture’s history and current economic, social and environmental significance to all Americans. This understanding includes some knowledge of food, fiber and renewable resource production, processing and domestic and international marketing.
Download more helpful tools at www.agday.org! You’ll find: u
Agriculture Council of America 11020 King Street, Suite 205 Overland Park, Kansas 66210 (913) 491-1895 www.agday.org
Located in Historic Downtown Opelika
334-745-4618
Why Celebrate Ag Day?
u
u
Talking points about the importance of agriculture Ag Day logos Press release (to download and modify for your event)
u
Social media
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B14 March 17, 2021
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This week’s puzzle answers: