Vol. 14, No. 47
Thursday Sept. 1, 2022
Opelika, Alabama
FRED ERi CK-DEAN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY
Covering Lee County, Alabama
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Opelika is Moving ... Forward OPELIKA — Last Friday the Opelika Chamber of Commerce launched its new initiative — “Forward Opelika”. Forward Opelika has three main goals for the city — to attract and align talent, to grow business and quality jobs and to create a business hub. It is this third goal that serves as the most costly of the three, at an estimated cost of $1.6 million. The first goal will be $440,000, and the second $480,000 for a total project estimate of $2.77 million. “Our mission is to
PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER
BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
strengthen the community as the champion for business,” said CEO and President of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, Ali Rauch. “If our
business community has a need, it is our responsibility to fill that gap.” Rauch welcomed Katie Britt, the Republican Party nominee for
the Alabama U.S. Senate seat, as the keynote speaker for the kickoff event. “This is one of the most vibrant communi-
ties in the state of Alabama,” Britt said. “… The work that you’ve done, and it’s not just a big idea — you’ve done the work, you’ve done
the research and you’ve put together community leaders to say, 'How do we fill the gap?' And I know that what you see may seem like a big number or a big task, but I believe in doing big things.” ATTRACT AND ALIGN TALENT: There are four areas of focus for the first goal of the Forward Opelika initiative. The first, to develop a comprehensive and regional talent plan, is new for the chamber. It will involve a steering committee, a talent plan, hiring a planning firm and creating a process to allow for future input. The second area, exeSee FORWARD, page A3
Arrests Made in 22-Year-Old Cold Case Opelika Economic
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY THE OPELIKA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Development Hires Talent Recruiter
O'CONNOR BEATY CONTRIBUTED BY THE OPELIKA POLICE DEPARTMENT
OPELIKA — The Opelika Police Department has arrested two individuals related
to an unsolved homicide from 2000. On April 23, 2000, the Opelika Police Department and rescue personnel responded to a call of an unresponsive 4-month-old child in
HUGHLEY the 400 block of Raintree Street. Jarquavious Hughley, who at the time was in the care of his mother Tomeika Hughley and her associate Bobby Beaty, was deceased upon
arrival. An autopsy was performed by the state’s medical examiner who ruled the manner of death to be homicide. At the time of the See ARRESTS, page A5
CONTRIBUTED BY CITY OF OPELIKA
OPELIKA — The city of Opelika welcomed Griffin O’Connor to the Opelika Economic Development team
on Aug. 1, 2022, to fill the newly created position of talent attraction and retention coordinator. “We are thrilled to have Griffin join See O'CONNOR, page A3
CONTENTS
OPINION ..................... A4 ENTERTAINMENT ........... A7 RELIGION ................... A14 OBITUARIES ............... A15 COMICS ....................... A16 SPORTS ........................ B1 CLASSIFIEDS .......... B10 /14 PUBLIC NOTICES ........... B10 POLITICS ..................... B11 PUZZLES ..................... B15
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