Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022
Vol. 15, No. 3
Oct. 13, 2022
Opelika, Alabama
FRED ERi CK-DEAN Covering Lee County, Alabama
FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY Compassion • Integrity • Tradition
An award-winning publication created 'For local people, by local people.'
334-745-4667 On-site Crematory Coming Soon
Mayors Urge Alabamians To Vote Yes
Auburn Mayor Ron Anders speaks at an Alabama Big 10 Mayors press conference about Aniah's Law held on Oct. 24.
“Three years ago, Aniah Blanchard was simply going to the convenience store to get a late-night snack, and she was kidnapped and her life was taken by someone
who had no business being out of jail, much less being in Auburn.” Aniah’s Law is something Alabama mayors are pushing for to allow judges to
keep violent offenders from being granted bail. “On Nov. 8 the citizens of Alabama have their chance to do something
awarded in each of the four categories. The following businesses are to be commended for their success and consideration. The 2022 finalists from the area are: 1 TO 10 EMPLOYEES Christie Hill State Farm Insurance — Opelika 11 TO 50 EMPLOYEES Piedmont Fertilizer Company — Opelika 51 TO 100 EMPLOYEES Baumhower's Victory Grille — Auburn, and HL Mando America Corporation — Opelika.
BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
See FUTURE, page A3
Local Occupational Therapist Bettering Community One Patient at a Time
Mallory Payne (left) shares a smile during a session with her patient Mary Abery (right).
BY NOAH GRIFFITH CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA — When Opelika’s Rehab Works occupational therapist and Manager Mallory Payne dropped her daughter off for the first day of daycare, she had no idea she would run into one of her former patients.
“Cassie! Is that you?” Payne said. And without another word, the two embraced in a hug. Cassie Wyrick was 18 when her parents brought her into Rehab Works. Myrick had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car crash, resulting in seven cracks in her skull. At the
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LEE COUNTY — Kermit Farmer, in honor of his late
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — The Alabama Small Business of the Year Awards presented by The Partnership of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama (CCAA) and the Business Council of Alabama (BCA), recognizes the very best in Alabama small business. This year, 46 Alabama small businesses have been named as
finalists for “Alabama’s Small Business of the Year” awards. Presented annually by the CCAA and the BCA, the awards recognize businesses of merit based on a variety of civic endeavors, business success and community involvement. All of the award finalists will be honored at The BCA/CCAA Partnership Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, in Birmingham. Three winners (Gold, Silver and Bronze) will be
Kermit Farmer (left) poses for a photo during the CarePaths launch in September.
See VOTE, page A2
Four Local Businesses Finalists for Alabama Small Business Awards
CONTRIBUTED BY BCATODAY.ORG AND THE OPELIKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — Alabama’s mayors are asking for citizens to vote “yes” on Aniah’s Law. Aniah Blanchard was kidnapped from Auburn, Alabama, in 2019. She was 19 years old and attending Southern Union State Community College when she was murdered by her kidnapper. “The fall in Auburn is a beautiful time,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “There’s new students, there’s lots of excitement, there’s football games, there’s relationships, there’s classes and it’s been a great fall here in Auburn. But this fall should have included Aniah Blanchard as well.
PHOTO BY HANNAH LESTER / THE OBSERVER
BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
The Future of Patient Education Begins in Lee County
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time, doctors had given her a 4% chance to live, and even then, she would likely live in a vegetative state. Now, just four years later, Wyrick is the daycare teacher of Payne’s daughter, thanks in part to Payne’s dedication to her patients. “I’m able to change her See PAYNE, page A3
CONTENTS
OPINION ..................... A4 ENTERTAINMENT ........... A7 OBITUARIES ............... A14 RELIGION ................... A15 COMICS ....................... A16 SPORTS ........................ B1 POLITICS ..................... B9 PUBLIC NOTICES ........... B12 CLASSIFIEDS .......... B14 PUZZLES ..................... B15