Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023
Covering Lee County, Alabama
An award-winning publication created 'For local people, by local people.' Vol. 15, No. 15
Opelika, Alabama
Dream Day Foundation Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. PHOTO BY HANNAH LESTER / THE OBSERVER
Lee County Commissioner John Andrew Harris Passes Away
The Dream Day Foundation held the annual MLK Jr. Program at the Opelika Center for Performing Arts Monday, Jan. 16. BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA — The Dream Day Foundation held its 24th annual
MLK Day Celebration on Monday as students of many ages performed
skits, songs, dances and more to educate and
JOHN ANDREW HARRIS BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
See DREAM, page A5
A Conversation With a Filmmaker PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
BY MADELINE ACOSTA FOR THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA — Theo Moore II is both the founder and CEO of Hiztorical Vision Productions, a nonprofit organization where Moore creates documentaries revolving around African American history in Alabama to educate and inspire people — as well as give a voice to the voiceless. Growing up in Anniston, Alabama, Moore lived in a single-parent household along with his mother and his two sisters. The environment that Moore lived in made him look forward to going to school every day. “That was my breath of fresh air,” Moore
Theo Moore, local filmmaker and CEO of Hiztorical Vision Production, received the firstever $1,500 David Brower Grant for Alabama filmmakers.
said. “You had teachers that were very positive when speaking to you,
and I tried to hold onto that as much as possible.”
Along with his love for education, Moore See MOORE, page A3
LEE COUNTY — District 5 Lee County Commissioner John Andrew Harris passed away over the weekend. Harris began his political career in Opelika in 1986 by serving on the Opelika City Council, a position he held until 1994. After this, he served on the Lee County Commission for over two decades. Following a brief hiatus, Harris returned to the commission this past fall, elected to District 5 in November. Outside of politics, Harris also owned a grocery store in Opelika for 15 years. Before this last term on the commission, Harris was serving as the chairman of political action for the NAACP of Alabama. “I do more than just a commissioner,” Harris said when he started his campaign last spring. “I go out and talk to the community, ride the roads, try to bond and form a relationship with them. We need to do more than that. I’m an innovative commissioner.” During his lifetime, Harris received numerous distinguished commendations and awards spanning across his political career, including but not limited to: the Barack Obama Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award (2018, Dream Organization) and the Champion of Change Political Action Award (2019). Harris’ funeral will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 2 p.m. at St. Luke AME Church in Opelika. It will be open to the community. Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 20, at 4 p.m. at Harris Funeral Home.
CONTENTS
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OPINION ................. A4 ENTERTAINMENT ...... A7 RELIGION .............. A12 OBITUARIES ........... A13 COMICS .................. A16
SPORTS ................... B1 POLITICS ................. B9 PUBLIC NOTICES ..... B10 CLASSIFIEDS .......... B14 PUZZLES ................ B15