Obituaries | Week of Jan. 20, 2025

Obituaries | Week of Jan. 20, 2025

KARL RICHARD WESTFALL JR.Karl Richard Westfall Jr. was born April 7, 1957, and passed away Jan. 8, 2025.Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home in the Parlor. A service will be Saturday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at...
Remembering John Pruitt Sr.

Remembering John Pruitt Sr.

BY LOGAN HURSTON FOR THE OBSERVER OPELIKA — Former Opelika Police Department Lt. John Pruitt Sr. passed away on Jan. 13. As one of the first African American police officers in Opelika, he played a crucial part in the desegregation of OPD in the late 1950s. He also...
Stokes murder trial set for Feb. 3

Stokes murder trial set for Feb. 3

BY MICHAELA YIELDING FOR THE OBSERVER LEE COUNTY — Two men accused of murder in October 2023 are set to go to trial on Feb. 3 following a Jan. 15 plea hearing at which both pled not guilty.Francis Harland Hamblin, 42, and Matthew James Dillon, 41, will face a criminal...
Colley, Copelan sworn in as new judges

Colley, Copelan sworn in as new judges

Retiring District Judges Russell Bush and Bill English administered the Oaths of Office for two new county judges on Jan. 17.Pictured below right , Jere Colley was sworn in as Lee County Probate Judge while his wife Sarah looks on.Pictured below left, Samantha Copelan...
Auburn, Opelika Chamber News

Auburn, Opelika Chamber News

Auburn Chamber sets Feb. 27 Annual Meeting CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Auburn Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27, at 4 p.m. at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University.The Annual Meeting...