Thursday, March 02, 2023
Covering Lee County, Alabama
An award-winning publication created 'For local people, by local people.' Opelika, Alabama
Vol. 15, No. 21
Opelika Native Sticks it with 'Hairspray'
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
PHOTO BY JEREMY DANIEL / USED WITH PERMISSION
GSF Earns Second Chairman’s Challenge Award
Opelika Native Addison Garner (center) performs "Baltimore Crabs" as Velma Von Tussle in the Broadway production of "Hairspray."
BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA — Addison Garner is an Opelika native who has a deep-rooted love for musical theater. “If you ask my parents,
I probably came out the womb singing and dancing,” she said. Earlier this week, Garner returned to her hometown area to perform in the Tony Award-winning musical “Hairspray.” The production was showcased at the Gogue Performing Arts
Center in Auburn. On the tour, Garner plays Velma Von Tussle, the snobby former pageant queen who can be classified as the villain of the show. Set in 1962 Baltimore, “Hairspray” depicts the story of teenager Tracy Turnblad and her pursuit
to dance on “The Corny Collins Show.” Velma produces “The Corny Collins Show” and is a domineering parent who pushes her own dreams onto her daughter. “She clings onto her See GARNER, page A3
Auburn Family Shares Story for Rare Disease Day PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION
CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — Rare Disease Day is an annual awareness day dedicated to elevating public understanding of rare diseases and calling attention to the special challenges people face — and it is as important in Auburn as anywhere across the globe. Anthony and Lindsey Terling are residents of Auburn and have raised their two sons in the city since birth. Their oldest son, Austin, was born with an ultra-rare disorder, and through a 501(c)(3) public charity they co-founded in his honor — Austin 1st Foundation Inc. — they have been raising
See RARE, page A2
Auburn Mayor Ron Anders (center) presented a proclamation to the Terling family for Rare Disease Day.
Opelika named as GSF’s Top-Performing Global Facility of 2022; earns highest company honor for second consecutive year. CONTRIBUTED BY GOLDEN STATE FOODS
OPELIKA — Last week, Golden State Foods (GSF) celebrated the 2022 Chairman’s Challenge Award winner, GSF’s Opelika Protein Products manufacturing facility — a repeat winner and only the second facility in GSF history to win the company’s highest honor for two consecutive years. A highly anticipated annual tradition for 23 years, the prestigious award recognizes the Opelika team’s exemplary performance in the areas of people, quality, growth, financial results and Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG). “Congratulations and sincere thanks to all of our phenomenal Opelika associates on their tremendous success in earning the Chairman’s Challenge honors for two years in a row — a remarkable accomplishment that has only happened one other time in this award’s more than two decades in existence,” said Mark Wetterau, chairman and CEO of Golden State Foods. “Our extraordinary Protein Products team joins a highly exceptional circle of multi-year Chairman’s Challenge achievers.” Highlighting the award-winning facility’s numerous achievements throughout 2022, GSF Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Brian Dick announced the Chairman’s Challenge Award at GSF’s Global Leadership Conference in Las Vegas. During the company’s annual awards ceremony, GSF Board Member Conrad Wetterau joined Dick in congratulating the 2022 Chairman’s Challenge winner on the award, which resulted from Opelika’s many accomplishments See GSF, page A3
CONTENTS
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ENTERTAINMENT ...... A7 OPINION ................. A8 RELIGION .............. A13 OBITUARIES ........... A14 COMICS .................. A16
SPORTS ................... B1 POLITICS ................. B9 PUBLIC NOTICES ..... B12 CLASSIFIEDS .......... B14 PUZZLES ................ B15