A golf cart wreck nearly took his life. Now he intends to help others with brain injuries. BY DANIEL SCHMIDTTHE OBSERVER AUBURN — Nearly a year after a golf course accident left 20-year-old Collin Long with a fractured skull and a brain injury doctors expected would change his life forever, his family is turning the anniversary into a celebration rather than a reminder of tragedy.On July 20, the Auburn University Club golf course will host a...
BY DANIEL SCHMIDTTHE OBSERVER OPELIKA — Despite humid weather and heavy cloud cover, hundreds packed downtown Opelika to celebrate Juneteenth, the holiday marking when the last enslaved Black Americans in Texas learned they were free on June 19, 1865, with a vibrant celebration.For Henrietta Snipes, one of the celebration’s longtime organizers, the work behind Friday’s event began long before the first vendor arrived, and planning for next year...
BY KADIE TAYLORTHE OBSERVER EAST ALABAMA — The Philanthropy 2026 Luncheon was hosted at the Nonprofit Center of East Alabama on June 18. Sponsored by the Samford Cannon Foundation, Philanthropy 101 is a three-week summer program for rising seniors at Opelika High School. Through classroom learning and hands-on experiences, students are able to see firsthand the growing needs in their community while developing the understanding, desire and...
BY THE OBSERVER STAFF OPELIKA — An Opelika family’s story of escape, acceptance and new beginnings is reaching a new audience this month through a professional production of “We’ll Meet Again: A New American Musical.”The musical is inspired by the life of Heinz “Henry” Stern, who was 5 years old when he and his Jewish family escaped Nazi Germany in 1937 and immigrated to the United States.The Stern family eventually settled in Opelika, where...
Buster Daniel led the Warriors to a 47-19 record and AISA title in six seasons CONTRIBUTED BY LEE-SCOTT ACADEMY AUBURN — Lee-Scott Academy head football coach Buster Daniel has stepped down from his role in order to take a position with the Alabama High School Athletic Association. Daniel was an integral part of Lee-Scott Academy’s athletic growth and success over the past six years, leading the football program to back-to-back AISA State...
BY ANN CIPPERLYFOR THE OBSERVER OPELIKA — Surrounded by more than 5,000 artifacts, Kylie Hogue, the new executive director of the Museum of East Alabama in Opelika, is planning programs, fun activities and events for the community to become more involved in the museum. Hogue said she is organizing ways for history to come alive in events such as A Night at the Museum and lunch lectures on the unique stories of five counties featured throughout...
Community
BY DANIEL SCHMIDTTHE OBSERVER OPELIKA — Despite humid weather and heavy cloud cover, hundreds packed downtown Opelika to celebrate Juneteenth, the holiday marking when the last enslaved Black Americans in Texas learned they were free on June 19,...
BY KADIE TAYLORTHE OBSERVER OPELIKA —Local officials and community members gathered at Southern Union State Community College on Thursday, June 18, to celebrate America 250, highlighting history, contributions and the courage of the founding...
BY THE OBSERVER STAFF OPELIKA — An Opelika family’s story of escape, acceptance and new beginnings is reaching a new audience this month through a professional production of “We’ll Meet Again: A New American Musical.”The musical is inspired by the...
Want to Advertise with us?
