Thursday, Feb 16, 2023
Covering Lee County, Alabama
An award-winning publication created 'For local people, by local people.' Vol. 15, No. 19
Opelika, Alabama
Putting Out Fires
Oak Bowery Fire Department Tackles Burden of Limited Budget, Resources
LEE COUNTY — On Saturday, Feb. 4, I drove to Louise Cardoza’s farm out in Chambers County. Cardoza is a volunteer at the Oak Bowery Volunteer Fire Depart-
ment (OBVFD), which is about a mile down the road from her house. We sat down with volunteers Robert Griffith and Gene Quick, had some breakfast and coffee, and the four of us discussed the fire department and its history.
PHOTO BY AU ATHLETICS / USED WITH PERMISSION
PHOTO BY MADELINE ACOSTA / FOR THE OBSERVER
Michael Floyd, vice president of The Jungle student section at Auburn University.
Members of the Oak Bowery Volunteer Fire Department. BY MADELINE ACOSTA FOR THE OBSERVER
Man of Many Firsts
The department first opened its doors in the ‘80s with about 20 volunteers and Steve Tucker as the original fire chief. “He was the one that got the original grant money to get the two engines,” Griffith said. “And the engines were used, so
they weren’t new.” A lack of resources is something all too common at the Oak Bowery Volunteer Fire Department. The equipment being used and outdated can only go so far, and
AUBURN — Michael Floyd is man of many firsts. Floyd is a first-generation college student, one of the first to get the Jungle to its full potential and is the city of Auburn’s first student Lamplighter Award winner.
See OBVFD, page A5
See FLOYD, page A4
BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
Walters' Gas & Grill Gets National Attention United Way Partners With 2-1-1 to Meet Community Needs PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION
BY ANN CIPPERLY FOR THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA — Last Thursday night, Walters’ Gas and Grill in Opelika was featured on the national television show “Restaurant: Impossible” after it was revamped last October by show host Robert Irvine and his team. Penny and Robert Walters, who were owners at the time, told their story in the 90-minute program. Local residents were invited to attend the filming. Penny told Irvine about her journey in the restaurant business. When she and Robert married, they each had two children from previous marriages. Penny had a love and passion for cooking and preparing large meals for the family, as
See WALTERS', page A3
Robert and Penny Walters (left), with Chef Robert Irvine (right) from Food Network's show "Restaurant Impossible."
BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
LEE COUNTY — National 2-1-1 Day was recognized Saturday, Feb. 11, but the service remains in full swing the other 364 days of the year. “2-1-1 is a great program for our community because it is available 24/7, and it’s a one-stop shop with all resources in one place,” explained Courtney Dobbs, 2-1-1 impact community support coordinator. United Way of Lee County partners with the local 2-1-1 agency, which serves Lee, Russell and
Chambers counties. It is affiliated with 2-1-1 Connects Alabama. According to 211connectsalabama.org, the purpose of 2-1-1 is to connect those in need with resources in their communities that can help meet those needs. “We work in tandem with 2-1-1 to meet the most pressing needs of our community,” said Kerissa Justice, marketing specialist for the United Way of Lee County. “2-1-1 is the most comprehensive source of information about local resources and services in the country. Each local 2-1-1 database is full of resources See UNITED WAY, page A2
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OPINION ................. A4 ENTERTAINMENT ...... A7 RELIGION .............. A13 OBITUARIES ........... A14 COMICS .................. A16
SPORTS ................... B1 POLITICS ................. B9 PUBLIC NOTICES ..... B12 CLASSIFIEDS .......... B14 PUZZLES ................ B15
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