| Friday, July 23, 2010 | Opelika, Alabama |
Vol. 2, No. 39 |
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Photo by Robert Noles |
| Crowd awaits performances by Adrift, Adam Hood, Brad Cotter and Dallas Dorsey. |
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Photo by Daniel Chesser |
| Mayor Gary Fuller visits with Boy Scout Troop 85 at Saturday’s celebration. |
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Photo by Daniel Chesser |
| Opelika’s new historic marker is unveiled. |
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Photo by Daniel Chesser |
| Older members of Troop 858 respectfully retire tattered American flags. |
Hometown celebration rocks downtown
By Daniel Chesser
Opelika Observer
Alabama's year of the Small Towns and Downtowns celebration in Opelika opened with an unveiling of a historic marker and the retirement of many American flags.
The marker reads "Opelika A Railroad Town" and gives a brief history of the city.
"It's another great day in the life of our community," said Mayor Gary Fuller "Folks tell me downtown Opelika has never looked as good as it does today."
Fuller believes there are a couple reasons for the positive progress of Opelika including the Street-Scape Program. This program was initially started by Mayor Bobby Freeman and passed down through administrations. It ensured all utilities were put underground and new sidewalks were laid.
"The way it looked 25 years ago and the way it looks today is dramatically different," Fuller said. "It looks a lot better and the good news is it will look even better a year from now."
South Railroad from 8th street to 6th Street is the next step in the process of beautifying downtown Opelika. Then onto North Railroad from 6th Street to 10th Street, according to Fuller.
Private entrepreneurs' investments in the downtown area is the main reason for the makeover.
"Money flees uncertainty," Fuller said. "So these folks have invested millions of dollars down here because they believe in Opelika's future."
Another aspect of moving forward presented at the celebration was the future installation of Fiber Optics to the Home (FTTH) for optimal broadband use in the community.
FTTH is improved technology that can cut cost of energy and create jobs. Opelika will be the only city in Alabama with the FTTH smart grid, according to the pamphlet provided.
Troop 858 was in attendance to say the pledge of allegiance and gain patriotism through the act of burning worn out flags.
"We have about 15 to 20 United States of America flags that we are going to incinerate and retire today, respectfully," said David Gregory, cub master and 41-year-member of the Boy Scouts of America.
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Photo by Daniel Chesser |
| Third-generation owner of Smith T’s Hardware, Dozier Smith T, stands behind the historic store’s counter. |
Local Business Spotlight: Smith T’s Hardware
By Benjamin Bartley
Opelika Observer
The train passes for the first time. The horn sounds once, twice, three times.
“It'll blow one more time,” says Dozier Smith T. Sure enough, it does.
Later, the train passes again. This time the horn drones for several seconds, no break in the thought-destroying blare.
“That's something I haven't learned to enjoy,” says Cecil Rodgers with a laugh and a smile.
The train is a constant, inescapable part of downtown Opelika. But just as constant is Smith T's Hardware.
Three generations of Smith Ts have owned and operated the hardware store with its unlevel wooden floors, high ceilings and industrial-size fans since 1931. The most recent Smith T is Dozier—a jovial, grey-haired man with an easy smile and affable approachability.
“I worked in (Smith T's) a few summers in high school and college and enjoyed it,” Dozier says. “It's great to interact with people.”
Dozier isn't just blowing smoke. Within a 30-minute span several different older men walk into the store. They're there to buy necessary materials but also to socialize.
“I spend 90 percent of my day talking to friends,” says Cecil, an employee for 38 years. “Everybody's always, ‘When are you going to retire, when are you going to retire?' And I always tell them I may have to get a real job if I retire. Not many people pay you to sit around and talk to your friends all day.”
That's how you feel when you enter Smith T's—like a friend among friends, doesn't matter if it's the first time you've walked through the door. You get the sense it's always been that way, since 1931 when Dozier's grandfather, Winston, started Smith T's during the Great Depression.
“We would not have been in business this long if people hadn't come and been our customers,” Dozier says. “And I hope we treat them right, I really do.”
Dozier joined his father, also a Winston, in 1996 after graduating from Auburn with a degree in accounting and a stint working in Birmingham. Winston and Dozier worked together until Winston, who started at Smith T's in 1958, passed away in 2007.
Cecil has worked with all three Smith Ts. He's proud of the work he's done selling plywood, wheels, assorted household items and all that Smith T's has to offer, but he's also proud to have worked for the Smith Ts.
“The ownership has always treated employees like they were part of the family,” he says. “They've instilled in us to we do that in our customers as well.”
And part of the Smiths T's unspoken creed of “treating the customer right” is going beyond normal assistance. Cecil says Winston, Dozier's grandfather, used to rent crutches, wheelchairs and hospital beds to those who couldn't afford necessary care. They'd take the beds and chairs to and from the patients.
The same unselfish desire to help was found in the other Winston, Dozier's father.
“When everybody else would go up on their prices during a storm, hurricane, ice storm, whatever,” Cecil says, “Dozier's father would always come out and say, ‘Give everybody wholesale prices,' rather than trying to make a profit off of other people's hardships.”
Dozier doesn't know when he'll retire (and perhaps leave the store to one of his three sons, “If they want to (take over the store), they're welcome to. We'll just let time work that out.”), but he doesn't think it'll be anytime soon.
“I've got six kids,” he says. “I'm going to work here for a long time.”
Opelika Police Department receives increased budget
By Megan Norred
Opelika Observer
Thanks to the efforts of the Opelika Police Department, the budget needs an adjustment to cover the prisoner expense. The Opelika City Council approved a resolution to increase the budget for the police department by $140,000 at the Opelika City Council meeting July 20, 2010.
“We've increased our prisoner population because we've making more arrests,” Chief Tommy Mangham said. “It could be due to the economy or due to several factors.”
Yesterday, the Opelika Department made 15 arrests and has an additional 30 warrants out. The local law enforcement agencies have been tracking the purchase of drugs used in the production of methamphetamine.
“Basically we're sending a message don't come to our city or county and purchase drugs to manufacture or sell,” Mangham said.
Also in the city council meeting, the council addressed the issue of enforcement cases of the Historic Preservation Commission. Six referral cases involved, two of which involved changes made to the building and the other four involved property owners who have neglected their property.
“They think they can do what they want to do,” Mayor Gary Fuller said.
The Historic Preservation Commission has already sent notices to the owners in response to the changes or mistreatment of the properties. The council approved a resolution to authorize the city attorney to take action in the courts.
