The Hornet's Nest OPINION — On Nov. 23, Mike and I will have lived in Lee County for nine years. These years have flown by, and we have fallen in love with our home county. In fact, if I listed everyone and everything that I loved about our home,...

The reopening of Country's Barbecue OPINION — In September of 1983, I transferred from Alexander City State Junior College to Auburn University for my junior year. Even though I was only 38.8 miles (My sweet husband Mike Googled it.) from my home...

At home with Chef Jim OPINION — As I have mentioned numerous times in this column, I love to eat, but I really dislike cooking.My attitude about cooking is: What if I spent hours cooking a meal and then dropped dead at the end of that day? I would...

Yaki Bowl OPINION — As Mike and I have entered our fifth year of retirement, how we look at the week has certainly changed. For example, when we taught at Long Cane Middle School in LaGrange, Georgia, Mondays were tough because we were coming off...

Hey Days Way back in 1983-1985, when dinosaurs roamed the planet, I was a Juco transfer at Auburn University. During this time, Auburn certainly didn’t have the number of restaurants that exist today.In my junior and senior years at the Loveliest...

Melt Auburn OPINION — Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Boy, my husband Mike and I pulled a doozy a few weeks ago.We traveled to Willow Point Country Club in my hometown of Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals). There,...

On the road to Dadeville OPINION — When I was growing up in Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals), there was a big rivalry between our city and Dadeville; our cities were and still are, separated by the Tallapoosa River Bridge.Unfortunately,...

Alabama Fried Chicken & Fish OPINION — Last month, Mike and I went on our dream vacation: We spent two weeks in Scotland, the land of our ancestors. Mike is a Wallace (you can’t be more Scottish than that) and my sweet Mama was a McEachern; we...

Bunkers OPINION — Way back when I was 18-20 years old, I was mildly addicted to video games such as Galaga (my personal favorite), Ms. Pac Man and Dig Dug.I used to go to my bank’s drive through, where I would cash a three-to-five-dollar check....

Tiger on the Green OPINION — Do you enjoy playing golf? Now, that probably sounds like a strange introductory question for a restaurant review column; however, it will make sense in a few paragraphs.My husband Mike and I admire the physical...

OPINION — Back when I was growing up in Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals), there was no special, elegant restaurant at which to dine. We mainly had fast food establishments, and my friends and I frequented Hardee’s, Pizza Hut and Sonic.In...

BY STACEY WALLACE OPINION — If you are like most people, you have a number of restaurants where you regularly dine. Since Mike and I moved to Auburn in November 2015, we have enjoyed a variety of great restaurants.One restaurant in Opelika, The...

BY STACEY WALLACE OPINION — What do you remember about the food served in your high school lunchroom? Was the food good, or did it include mystery meat and surprise casserole?Back in 1978-1981, my good friends Amelia, Leigh Ann and I attended...

OPINION — Back in 1990, when I was a first year English teacher in LaGrange, Georgia, money was tight, to say the least. After paying my rent, car payment, utilities, groceries, gas, etc., my wallet echoed.My sweet parents helped me out a lot, and...

OPINION — Early August 2019. My husband Mike and I got up at about 4:15 a.m. central time, and we had a little spring in our steps despite the incredibly early hour. Why? Because it was the first pre-planning day of our 30th year of teaching, our...

OPINION — “If it tastes good, spit it out!” said the humorous, older lady at Kroger in LaGrange, Georgia, many years ago. Unfortunately, she was giving me good advice. At the time, I was looking at a food item which was unhealthy for diabetics such...

BY STACEY WALLACE OPINION — As I have probably mentioned before in this column (It’s hard to remember because, unbelievably, I have written for The Observer for almost three years), my sweet Daddy LOVED to eat Chinese food once a week. Therefore,...

BY STACEY WALLACEPHOTOS BY MIKE WALLACE OPINION — As I have mentioned many times in this column, I dislike and distrust most technology. However, even I have to admit that some technology has made life much easier for me. For example, back when I...

BY STACEY WALLACE | PHOTO BY MIKE WALLACE by STACEYPATTON WALLACE Last month, on Sunday, Nov. 5, our good friend Jack had a very bad day. He stepped wrong and fell in his backyard, breaking both the tibia and fibula bones in his ankle. Even so,...