Vol. 15, No. 6
Oct. 13, 2022
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022
Opelika, Alabama
FRED ERi CK-DEAN Covering Lee County, Alabama
An award-winning publication created 'For local people, by local people.'
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A Grand Ole Time
OPELIKA —
It’s not every day you get to play on country music’s biggest stage. But for Adam Hood, that dream became a reality last month when
he made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the show’s renowned Nashville venue. “It was a lot of fun,” Hood said of his de-
but performance. “… I pretty much walked off the stage kind of saying, ‘OK, when can we come back?’” See HOOD, page A3
BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
AUBURN — The city of Auburn
held its annual Veterans Day ceremony to honor veterans and lay a wreath at the Veterans Memorial See VETERANS, page A2
Opelika Chamber of Commerce Awards Grants PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller Earns Prestigious CMO Emeritus Designation
PHOTO BY HANNAH LESTER / THE OBSERVER
PHOTO BY JESSICA MILLS / USED WITH PERMISSION
For more photos from both Auburn's and Opelika's Veterans Day events, turn to A6.
Opelika native Adam Hood performs onstage during his Grand Ole Opry debut.
BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
Honoring Our Veterans
CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF OPELIKA
OPELIKA — Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller has earned the prestigious professional designation of Certified Municipal Official (CMO) Emeritus, a highly regarded honor awarded to officials who have excelled beyond the requirements of the Basic and Advanced CMO programs. Fuller was recognized for his accomplishments during graduation ceremonies held in Orange Beach, Alabama, on Nov. 8. To achieve this third level of the Alabama League of Municipalities’ CMO training program, a municipal official must earn the designation of CMO by See FULLER, page A3
Representatives from local small businesses accept grants from the Opelika Chamber of Commerce.
CONTRIBUTED BY THE OPELIKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
OPELIKA MAYOR GARY FULLER
OPELIKA — The Opelika Chamber of Commerce hosted a reception and press conference to announce and honor this year’s Small Business Grant recipients on Nov. 7, 2022.
Eight local small businesses received grants at this year’s recipient press conference. “Our partnership with the city of Opelika and the Economic Development Department are what makes these grants possible,” said Opelika Chamber CEO and Pres-
ident Ali Rauch. “I want to thank and applaud them for investing in small businesses in our community, to make such a big impact.” The Small Business Grant recipients were as follows: • Allison Johnson See GRANTS, page A2
CONTENTS
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OPINION ................. A4 ENTERTAINMENT ...... A7 RELIGION .............. A13 OBITUARIES ........... A14 COMICS .................. A16
SPORTS ................... B1 POLITICS ................. B9 PUBLIC NOTICES ..... B12 CLASSIFIEDS .......... B14 PUZZLES ................ B15