| Friday, September 3, 2010 | Opelika, Alabama |
Vol. 2, No. 45 |
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Kiddie Camp cheers before OHS game
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Special to the Opelika Observer |
| The OHS cheerleaders sponsored a three-day Kiddie Camp and invited all of the participants to cheer before the OHS vs. Carver game. Hooray for the Bulldogs! |
Mayor discusses budget for 2011 at city council meeting
By Megan Norred
Opelika Observer
The Opelika City Council called a special work session Aug. 31, to discuss Mayor Gary Fuller's proposed 2011 city budget. This city budget will be voted on at the city council meeting, Sept. 7.
“As the economy has gotten tighter, the city has tried to work harder to watch expenses,” John Seymour said. “The biggest change we have made in last couple of years is reduction in capital outlay.”
The projections for 2011 are flat-lining revenues. General expenditures are projected to be $38 million with 42 percent as employee compensation. Worker's compensation is expected to rise.
The city has a surplus of $330,819 from this year, which was not budgeted. Debt outstanding is decreasing.
The city has two street construction projects including the Frederick Road project from Auburn city limits to Tiger Town.
President Eddie Smith said Knology will be coming to Opelika, which has slowed down the Opelika cable company as it decides how to develop with a third competitor. Knology will be at the council meeting Tuesday with a franchise agreement, to be voted on by the city council.
Another issue includes plans for Opelika High School.
“We have to do something with our high school,” Smith said. “We will look for ways to save money and put into the bucket for our high school.”
Also in the work session, Jerry Kelley discussed the tabled ordinance concerning the amendment to the zoning ordinance for the major public attraction billboard. The new definition will allow a billboard to be installed on the city right of way on Hwy. 280 for the Marriot and the Robert Trent Jones golf trail.
“I have some thinking to do about this,” Councilman Joey Motley said. “We went through a lot of trouble with the sign ordinance having people taking down church signs and enforcing it.”
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Photo submitted by Trip Garner |
| The Cross Coutry season comes 2nd place in first competetion. |
Dawgs Cross Country begins in Birmingham
By Todd Blackmon
Last weekend, the junior varsity, varsity and middle school teams competed in Birmingham to open up their 2010 season.
Cordaryl Whitehead took second overal out of 266 runners in the varsity boys race with a time of 17:22. Shakiel Parker, James Ray Thrash, Logan Pridgen and Jalen Carlisle also ran well enough for the varsity Bulldogs to finish in the top 10.
On the varsity girls side, Emma Garner finished fourth out of 194 runners with a time of 20:53. In the J.V. girls race, Kelcie Carpenter finished 27th out of 133 runners.
The OMS boys team had an exceptional race, taking second place as a team and four runners finishing in the top 25 out of 191 runners.
Kane Barrett led the way, finishing seventh with a time of 11:50, followed by Kevin Lazenby, who took ninth with a 12:08. Rohman Clarke finished 15th at 12:20 and Chazden Blackmon 23rd at 12:42. Andrew Bartlett and Davis Butz also had strong finishes to catch the OMS team to a secondplace finish.
Coaches for the 2010 season are Ben McIntosh and Jennifer Neighbors.
Opelika football team gives back
By Steve Bass
OHS Team Chaplain
On Friday, September 17 the Opelika High School football team is scheduled to be off for the day. No Friday night game typically would mean the coaching staff would be scouting future opponents (especially since we are playing Prattville the following week) and the team would be taking a much needed, but rare, mid-season rest. Instead, the entire team and coaching staff will be in the community of Opelika helping needy families. The OHS football team is partnering with The Way Ministries in Opelika for a day of giving back to the community that has supported it for so long, in the name of Jesus Christ. The team will be helping by doing yard work, painting, roofing, or whatever is needed to show our neighbors that we love them as Jesus commanded us to. The crazy thing is this was event was the idea of one of the players, and is not a publicity stunt by the school, or coaching staff. James Barks, a senior kicker, approached us with the idea that he felt God had laid upon his heart. It's almost like a Disney movie!
I felt this was news and noteworthy, because in our day it is very seldom that you see such selfless acts, especially by athletes. In a day where the news seems to always be about violence and deception, a story of inspiration could be just what someone needs to hear. Who knows, it could start a trend amongst sports teams and other school clubs to give back and love their communities. We would appreciate you considering giving us any press you can through your media outlet. Thank you for your time.
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| Pictured seated in row 1: Karene Childress Henson, Sheila Mount Glenn, Debra Gore Bjornard, Kathy Gilbert Henricks and Ruth Renfro; Row 2: Nancy Irvin Sides, Jane Mitchell Howard, Kay Johnson McClain, Jean Hampton (leader), Carol Sue Sponsler Mitchell, Bonnie Lawler Stinson and Deles Woodall; Row 3: Ann Washington Hillyer, Magoo Price Hamilton, Marsha Hampton Spain and Angie Milam. |
OHS class of 1970 has Girl Scout reunion
Special to the Opelika Observer
The Opelika High School class of 1970 had a reunion recently, and 17-20 ladies from that class had a picnic at the Opelika Girl Scout Hut:
Members of Girl Scout Troop 275 (OHS Class of 1970) recently gathered at the Opelika Girl Scout Hut for a reunion picnic. They spent time looking at scrapbooks and memorabilia, and recalling memories from their time as Girl Scouts. They enjoyed spending time at the Girl Scout Hut visiting with each other and were happy to see that the hut has not changed much in more than 40 years. They were also updated on many of the changes that have taken place locally and across the U.S. in Girl Scouts since they were girls.
For more information on volunteering or joining Girl Scouts please contact Rhonda Fields, Field Executive, at 332-2411 or rfields@girlscoutssa.org .
