USA TOWN CENTER 1220 FOX RUN AVE. IN THIS ISSUE
Smiths Station brothers win ‘Big Gobbler’ contest
BUSINESS NEWS A2 | POLITICS A6 | PUBLIC NOTICES A8 | OBITUARIES A12 SPORTS B1 | EDUCATION B9 | FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT B11
— Page A4
2022 — APA DIVISION D GENERAL EXCELLENCE DESIGNATION — 2023 COVERING LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Vol. 16, No. 35 Opelika, Alabama Thursday, June 6, 2024 Your hometown newspaper created 'for local people, by local people.'
www.opelikaobserver.com
Show’s end is just the beginning for local MasterChef Junior PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES | THE OBSERVER
Lee County pre-teen Bryson McGlynn, aka Cheese Curd, beat out dozens of aspiring young cooks for the honor of competing on national television on Season 9 of FOX’s MasterChef Junior, then he out-cooked 11 other contestants to bring home the grand prize. On May 29, he was guest of honor at a community celebration hosted by WXTX FOX 54 and Glynn Smith Chevrolet, where a host of well-wishers stopped by to offer congratulations and support. The Cheese Curd sat down with The Observer to discuss his journey to the top of the culinary world and what he plans for the future.
See story and photos on page A5
Cities of Auburn, Opelika host festivities this weekend Auburn’s SummerNight Downtown Art walk is Friday CONTRIBUTED BY CITY OF AUBURN
AUBURN — The SummerNight Downtown Art Walk will be held Friday, June 7, from 6 to 10 p.m. in downtown Auburn, featuring an artist marketplace, live music, children’s activities and late-night shopping and dining. Along with musical entertainment from The Beach Boys Tribute Band “Sail On,” the SummerNight stage will feature two shows by the Auburn University Steel Drum Band performing the traditional calypso music of Trinidad and Tobago, along with pop and Latin arrangements of contemporary tunes. SummerNight is a free downtown entertainment district event and will be held rain or shine. The event is hosted by the city of Auburn’s Parks and Recreation
‘Burger Wars’ among three events in downtown Opelika on Saturday
CONTRIBUTED BY HERITAGE HOUSE
Department, Auburn Arts Association, the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association and St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church. SummerNight is made possible by the following sponsors. • Salty Sponsors: Auburn-Opelika Tourism,
Auburn Network, STAMP, Memories in Motion, I Heart Media and Graduate Hotels. • Community Sponsors: Leaf Filter, Auburn Productions LLC, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at See SUMMERNIGHT, page A2
Find Us Online
OPELIKA — Opelika will host three events downtown on Saturday, June 8, with rolling starts to maximize a day full of family friendly fun. Opelika Main Street will host Touch-A-Truck from 9 a.m. to noon, giving children the chance to honk horns, run sirens and climb on trucks, equipment and working vehicles. At 11 a.m., the 10th Annual Burger Wars kicks off, hosted by Opelika Rotary Charitable Foundation. Participants can sample burgers from three categories: Tailgaters, Corporate and Pros. Samples will run out, so arrive early. Proceeds benefit local charities, including the Food Bank of East Alabama. From noon until 4 p.m., Heritage House and Grandma Val’s Lemonade will host the third annual Midsummer Market. The event will feature food trucks and dessert vendors along 8th Street and retail & craft vendors set up on the Heritage House lawn.
O O
Free outdoor concerts every Tuesday night, 7 p.m. at Opelika Municipal Park.
June 11 - Route 66