8th Street Block Party Photos — A8
Paddles at the Plex
IN THIS ISSUE
Now through Sept. 10
August Athletes of the Month Winners — B4 BUSINESS NEWS A3 | SOCIETY A9 | OBITUARIES A13 | COMICS A16 SPORTS B1 | POLITICS B9 | PUBLIC NOTICES B12 | PUZZLES B15
2022 — APA DIVISION D GENERAL EXCELLENCE DESIGNATION — 2023 COVERING LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Vol. 15, No. 48 Opelika, Alabama Thursday, Sept 07, 2023 Your local publication created 'for local people, by local people.'
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Freeze Warning Leads to Auburn Snow PHOTO BY LAURA SELLERS / USED WITH PERMISSION
Auburn "snow" still adorned the trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn Sunday morning following the first football win of the season by the Auburn Tigers on Saturday. For game photos turn to B6. The Tigers will be traveling to Berkley, California, this weekend to play against the California Golden Bears on Saturday, Sept. 9. Kickoff will be at 9:30 p.m. CST.
Blessing on the Corner PHOTO BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER / THE OBSERVER
The city of Auburn held its annual Blessing on the Corner last week at Toomer’s Corner. Auburn Mayor Ron Anders opened the ceremony before Hoffman Rhyne, president and dean of academics at Christ Our Redeemer Seminary prayed over the city and those in attendance. “A moment like this, it’s wonderful because it makes you slow down,” Anders said. “It makes you contemplate all the wonderful, great blessings that we already do have … We are blessed already, God has been good to us. And I hope we all think about that, and remember that as [Rhyne] leads us into a prayerful time of blessings for our future.” Each year, Auburn hosts a pastor, reverend or other individual on the corner to pray over the city. Rhyne began by reading a Psalm. “God we are truly blessed,” Rhyne prayed. “And I pray that you would guard us all, every one of us, from turning those blessings into idols. That we would keep our eyes fixed firmly upon you and our desire would be to walk in faithful obedience to you.”
Walmart to Offer $5 Gift Card to Those Overcharged Sales Tax BY MICHELLE KEY MICHELLE@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
ALABAMA — Last week a 1% sales tax reduction on groceries took effect. Walmart and Sam's Club experienced a glitch in their computer systems and consumers were inadvertently over charged when shopping at stores throughout the state.
The press release stated, "Our systems mistakenly charged both the old rate and the new rate at the time of sale." According to a press release from the company, the problem was corrected by Friday night. Customers were given refunds of the overcharged tax. See GIFT, page A4
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