By Morgan Bryce
Editor
Keep Opelika Beautiful volunteers selected Ward 4 residents Jason and Luanne Helms as the quarterly winners of the organization’s “Beautification Award” last Tuesday.
KOB Director Tipi Miller said judging criteria are based on a yard’s “trimmed shrubs, beautiful flowers and manicured lawn.”
“The purpose of the award is to recognize the hard work of our citizens,” Miller said. “Often times, KOB sees a domino effect. When one house has a nicely landscaped yard, the homeowners around want to improve their yard (too).”
Miller added that KOB staff and volunteers will judge all Beautification Award recipients at the end of the year to determine the “Yard of the Year” winner, who will later be recognized by Mayor Gary Fuller and Opelika City Council at a later city council meeting.
Luanne said she and Jason were happy to receive the award, and added that they see it as an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.
“Planting a seed or a bulb is having faith in tomorrow … ‘Grow in Faith.’ Flowers always make people happy and we want to bring a little glimpse of beauty to anyone’s day who rides by our home,” Luanne said. “Our garden is a labor of love to give back to our community with beauty.”