BY MICHELLE KEYPUBLISHER OPELIKA — What began as a retirement idea for Michael Manning quickly became something much bigger.Michael and his wife, Jeanne, are the husband-and-wife team behind Manning’s Magnolia Mercantile, a new community-focused marketplace in downtown Opelika featuring local makers, artisans and small businesses.The idea, Jeanne said, came naturally from their own experience as entrepreneurs.“Both our families have always been...
City reviewing zoning regulations, infrastructure and housing growth ahead of April 2027 deadline BY MICHELLE KEYPUBLISHER OPELIKA — Opelika Planning Director Matt Mosley told the Opelika City Council during its Oct. 20 work session that the city is making significant progress reviewing development regulations and infrastructure needs as it approaches the halfway point of its temporary residential development moratorium.The 12-month moratorium,...
BY OBSERVER STAFF SMITHS STATION — Smiths Station Mayor Richard Cooley, whose dedication to public service helped shape the community from its earliest days as an incorporated city, died Saturday, Oct. 24, surrounded by his family.The city announced his death Saturday, remembering a leader who devoted more than two decades to municipal government and much of his life to serving others through education, military service and community...
BY MICHELLE KEYPUBLISHER LEE COUNTY — A stuffed animal may seem like a small gift, but for 14-year-old Jesse Lang, it represents something much bigger — comfort, belonging and a connection to people he loves.Jesse and his three siblings spent time in foster care before being adopted into the Lang family. During those years, a simple Christmas tradition helped him through some difficult timesHis foster mother, who worked as a groomer at...
BY DANIEL SCHMIDTTHE OBSERVER AUBURN — Four F-35 Lightning II fighter jets piloted by Auburn University graduates flew over Jordan-Hare Stadium on Oct. 24 in tribute to U.S. Air Force Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, a 2016 Auburn graduate who passed away in March when his KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.The flyover, performed by jets from the Alabama Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing, followed the national anthem before the Tigers...
BY MICHELLE KEYPUBLISHER ALABAMA — Whether you’re shouting “War Eagle” or “Roll Tide,” Alabama recording artist Trevon Williams hopes his newest song will give Alabamians something they can agree on.Williams, who performs under the name Trew The Star, released his new single, “My Home in Alabama,” on Oct. 9. The song celebrates the people, traditions and childhood memories that make Alabama home, regardless of where listeners live or which...
Community
BY MICHELLE KEYPUBLISHER OPELIKA — What began as a retirement idea for Michael Manning quickly became something much bigger.Michael and his wife, Jeanne, are the husband-and-wife team behind Manning’s Magnolia Mercantile, a new community-focused...
CONTRIBUTED TOTHE OBSERVER AUBURN-OPELIKA — Originally scheduled for Oct. 9, On the Tracks has been rescheduled for Friday, Nov. 6, due to inclement weather. Hosted by Opelika Main Street, the annual wine trail will return to downtown Opelika for...
BY MICHELLE KEY PUBLISHER OPELIKA — A revised ordinance that would establish new business-license requirements for residential, commercial and short-term rental properties, as well as self-storage facilities, returned to the Opelika City Council...
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