By Greg Markley Several years ago, an emeritus university professor read a Waffle House window sign that the diner no longer allowed smoking. The retiree went elsewhere. A while back, two doctors took a smoke break just outside their hospital. Playing by the rules,...

By Bruce Green Thanksgiving is a unique holiday. For starters, it is an American holiday as opposed to one celebrated internationally (like New Year’s Day, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, etc.) Although it has some roots in England in the practice of the Puritans, it was...

By Jan H. Gunter For the Opelika Observer As we enter the holiday season of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, the word “gratitude” is one of those quintessential edicts which comes to mind when talking about what makes these seasons so meaningful. But, as we...

Special to the Opelika Observer By Steve Marshall Kamille McKinney. Aniah Blanchard. Sloan Harmon. During the last six weeks, the people of Alabama have been confronted with a frightening reality that very few of our politicians have been willing to acknowledge: our...