Thursday, Feb. 09, 2023
Covering Lee County, Alabama
An award-winning publication created 'For local people, by local people.' Vol. 15, No. 18
Opelika, Alabama
AEDs Save Lives
LEE COUNTY — Automated External Defibrillators, more commonly referred to as AEDs, provide a necessary resource to people, families, organizations and communities. While the average response time for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the United States is about eight to 10 minutes, AEDs are a crucial health resource that can help save lives in the immediate aftermath of a medical emergency. An AED is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It's a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY CAREPOINT RESOURCES LLC
BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
CarePoint Resources LLC offers CPR and first-aid certification training to the community. the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help
the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. According to the American Heart Associ-
ation, an average of over 350,000 Americans per year suffer cardiac arrest
CONTRIBUTED BY ALABAMA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
ALABAMA — Hospital margins in Alabama have dropped 79% since the start of the pandemic, despite receiving financial assistance directly from the federal government and federal funds distributed through the state. Currently, 50% of Alabama’s hospitals are operating in the red. These jarring statistics came from a report released today by Kaufman Hall, a nationally known healthcare and higher education consulting firm, prepared at the request of the Alabama Hospital Association. “Last year was the worst year financially for hospitals nationwide, but the situation in Alabama is much worse,” said Erik Swanson, senior vice president of data and analytics at Kaufman Hall and the lead on the national and Alabama reports. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, Alabama’s hospitals have lost $1.5 billion — money they couldn’t afford to lose. The report clearly shows that Alabama’s hospitals are in serious financial difficulty, which creates a huge threat to the ability of Alabamians to have access to health care.”
See AEDS, page A3
Opelika Parks and Recreation Wins Big PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
CONTRIBUTED BY OPELIKA PARKS AND REC
OPELIKA — Opelika Parks and Recreation took home two awards at the Jan. 31 Alabama Recreation and Parks Association’s (ARPA) conference in Orange Beach. Opelika Parks and Recreation was named the 2022 Agency of the Year. This award recognizes exemplary agencies in the state that have made contributions to parks and recreation programs on the local, state, regional or national level. Opelika’s Champions Academy received the award for See AWARDS, page A4
Pandemic Had 'Tremendous Impact' on Hospitals
Bobby Nix (left) and Pam Driver (right) of Opelika Parks and Recreation are part of the team that won two awards at the annual Alabama Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) conference in Orange Beach, Alabama, last week.
See IMPACT, page A3
Opelika Chamber Encourages Vote for School Tax Renewal CONTRIBUTED BY THE OPELIKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
OPELIKA — The Opelika Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors recently voted to act as the advocate and leading communicator to encourage a positive voter turnout to support the 11-mil tax renewal that contributes more than $7.1 million in local revenue to Opelika City Schools. Local revenues account for more than 40% of the Opelika City Schools 2023 operating fund. “A strong education system is so integral
to a strong business community,” said Ali Rauch, CEO of the Opelika Chamber. “For this reason, our board of directors voted unanimously to encourage the Opelika community to show up to the polls on Feb. 28 and vote ‘for’ this tax renewal.” Originally voted on in 1948, this tax renewal started as a five-mil tax, but as the quality of the community and the value of homes rose in this region, so did the value of the tax. In 2000, the five-mil tax transitioned to an 11-mil tax. See SCHOOL TAX, page A2
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