| Friday, February 19, 2010 | Opelika, Alabama |
Vol. 2, No. 17 |
Let it Snow
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Photos by Robert Noles |
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Photo is courtesy of
Patrick Wright, PPG
Portraits |
Mr. and Miss OHS
Submited by Opelika City Schools
Congratulations to Wesley Ballew and Addison Garner who were named Mr. and Miss OHS.
Arbor Day activities Feb 27
Submitted by
Jan H. Gunter
City of Opelika
It's February – and besides being the month for celebrating “Valentine's Day and President's Day” it's also the month we celebrate “Arbor Day” in Alabama!
What is Arbor Day?
In case you don't know about it, Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care, which was founded by J. Sterling Morton in 1872, who, having moved “west” and settled in Nebraska (at the time he arrived there Nebraska was still a “territory”) noted that the area was without trees – a necessary commodity for windbreaks to keep soil in place, for fuel and building materials, and for shade from the hot sun. With his enthusiasm for trees – and his position as an editor of a popular paper at the time, he encouraged his readers to “plant trees”. When Nebraska held the first ever Arbor Day Celebration on April 10, 1874, it is estimated that more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska on that day.
While across many of our United States Arbor Day is celebrated during the last week of April, in Alabama (and other southern states) the last full week of February is set aside for Arbor Day activities.
In Opelika, Arbor Day festivities will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2010, at the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatic Center. The activities will begin at 10 a.m. and will last until noon. There will be activities for kids, Smokey the Bear will be present, a tree planting demonstration as well as recognition of those students who participated and won the Arbor Day poster contests for 2010. And, as in years past, the Opelika Tree Commission will be giving away FREE tree packets of seedlings at the end of the festivities, for folks to plant in their own yards! This year's tree packet will include: 1 dogwood, 1 river birch, 1 willow oak, and 1 red maple. The only thing we ask for those picking up the tree packets: plant the trees and care for them! The approximate times for all activities are as follows: Kids' activities 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.; Tree demonstration 10:45 a.m.; Arbor Day and “Tree City USA” 11a.m.; Recognition of poster winners 11:15 a.m.; Tree packet give away 11:30 a.m.
And this year if it rains, Opelika's Tree Commission will not have to cancel activities – they will simply be moved inside the Sportsplex itself! And you can still pick up your tree packets! We hope you will join us on Saturday, Feb. 27!
(Please note: this is a CHANGE from years past, when the celebrations were held on Courthouse Square in downtown Opelika).KOB prepares for City Cleanup
Submitted by Tipi Miller
Keep Opelika Beautiful Rallies Volunteers to Participate in the Citywide Cleanup as Part of the 2010 Great American Cleanup.
On Saturday, March 6th volunteers of Keep Opelika Beautiful will be participating in the Citywide Cleanup. This local effort, an extension of the national program, Great American Cleanup, is an opportunity for citizens to join together in the fight against litter. Dr. Bob Patton has again agreed to chair the local event. Over 300 local volunteers joined Keep Opelika Beautiful in 2009 to participate in the event.
Established by Keep America Beautiful, Inc., the nation's premier litter prevention and education organization, in partnership with state and local affiliates such as ours, the Great American Cleanup is our country's largest annual cleanup, beautification and community improvement program. Each year, millions of volunteers in over 15,000 communities across the country take part in this program.
As in years past, GLAD is a national sponsor for the event and donates trash bags to assist the volunteers. Locally, East Alabama Medical Center is helping with supplies. The Opelika Exchange Club feeds all volunteers after the morning of picking up litter. Participants of the event include all Adopt-A-Mile sponsors, Afni, Auburn Opelika Elks Club, Opelika Exchange Club, Opelika Fire Department, Opelika High School FFA, Opelika Kiwanis Club, Opelika Lions Club, Opelika Rotary Club and Wal-Mart Distribution Center. Several civic organization including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Phi Theta Kappa, Boys & Girls Club and various organizations at Opelika High School volunteer for the Cleanup. The Opelika Solid Waste Department, Opelika Mainstreet and Opelika Police Department also assist in the efforts. First Baptist Church of Opelika's My Jerusalem program will also have volunteers throughout Opelika participating in the Citywide Cleanup.
Businesses and citizens are encouraged to join Keep Opelika Beautiful in the fight against litter. For more information call Keep Opelika Beautiful at (334) 749-4970.
Officer appreciation awards given at Opelika Exchange Club
By Zach McDonald
Opelika Observer
The Opelika Exchange Club met Thurs. Feb. 11 to provide recognition to local law enforcement officers at the annual Law Officer of the Year. The directors and members of the Exchange Club, as well as a plethora of officers, met at the Lee County Fair Grounds for a home-cooked meal and award ceremonies.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office nominated Deputy Sheriff Rebecca Tate. In the early morning of Jan. 4, 2009, Tate, acting alone, affected the arrest of four armed suspects attempting to locate an individual whom they intended to kill. That morning Tate's actions prevented the loss of a life.
Just two months later, March 9, Deputy Tate performed CPR on an individual who had just been arrested and collapsed. The stricken person had no pulse and through Tate's quick action, a life was saved. Tate is assigned to the patrol division and has been with the sheriff's office for five years beginning as a reserve deputy and being appointed a full-time sworn deputy sheriff in Sept. 2006.
The Opelika Police Department's nominee for Officer of the Year was Officer James Daniel. On June 5, 2009 in the early hours, Daniel assisted a driver of an 18 wheeler on I-85 who was having a tire changed on his vehicle. Daniel observed an approaching vehicle driving recklessly. He warned the individuals in time to get out of the way, at which time, the vehicle struck the rear of the 18 wheeler where the two had been standing. The driver of the recklessly driving vehicle was arrested for DUI. Daniel received the multiple life-saver award for his actions.
Daniel was hired in Dec. 2004 and is currently assigned to the Uniform Division. He is an ASP Instructor, Traffic Homicide Investigator and a Motorcycle Officer. Daniel is also a member of the Opelika SWAT Team.
The Alabama State Trooper's Department nominated Philip E. Ray from Phenix City. Ray's duties envolve enforcing state laws, issuing citations, assisting motorist, investigating traffic accidents and closely working with area law enforcement and District Attorney Offices. Ray supervises and mentors troopers who have entered the Highway Patrol upon completion of the trooper academy.
Ray earned a Bachelor in Criminal Justice from Auburn University and in 2002 received the Highway Response Driving Award. In 2004 he received the Opelika Exchange Club Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and in 2009, the Opelika Post Trooper of the Year.
