Thursday, March 09, 2023
Covering Lee County Alabama
An award-winning publication created 'For local people, by local people.' Opelika, Alabama
Vol. 15, No. 22
Opelika Parks & Rec Receives Awards
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER
Opelika Offers Online Public Records Request
Pictured left to right are Laura Leigh Chesser, Bobby Nix and Pamela Driver of Opelika Parks and Rec with the awards they won. CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF OPELIKA
OPELIKA — This year the ARPA District 5 Merit in Recreation
award was given to Pamela Driver, Covington Recreation Center supervisor. This award is given each year to a recreation professional who has shown outstanding lead-
ership in recreation, leisure or special event programming. Driver has been working for Opelika Parks and Recreation for 10 years, and during that time she has raised the bar
of excellence while exuding love and enthusiasm for her job and the people she serves. The Alabama Recreation See HONORS, page A3
OPD K9 Bane to Get Donation of Body Armor OPELIKA — Opelika Police Department’s K9 Bane will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s Inc. K9 Bane’s vest is sponsored by Helen Pavilonis of Durham, North Carolina, and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by the Pavilonis Family.” Vested Interest in K9s Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement
and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S.-made, custom-fitted and NIJ certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s Inc. has provided nearly 5,000 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations. The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law
See BANE, page A2
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
CONTRIBTUED BY OPD
K9 Bane, pictured with his partner, Detective Jacob Taylor.
RUSSELL JONES CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF OPELIKA
OPELIKA — On March 6, 2023, the city of Opelika launched a new public records management system to improve efficiency and consistency in responding to public records requests. The NextRequest software will allow the public to submit requests directly to the city of Opelika through a public portal. “Requests and documents can be published to the public so people may be able to find what they need without submitting a request,” said Opelika City Clerk Russell Jones. “We are excited about the improved constituent service and transparency that this portal will bring to our community.” As of March 6, the public can begin making requests through the following portal: https:// cityofopelikaal.nextrequest.com/. Opelika NextRequest provides robust help resources for public requesters to learn how to use the portal and access records, which can be accessed at help.nextrequest.com/knowledge/requester-resources. Any public records requests made prior to March 6, 2023, do not need to be resubmitted. Those requests will still be processed. Questions about the new system can be directed to Jones at 334-705-5110 or rjones@opelika-al. gov.
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