The Observer

Click here to check out the 2026 All-Area Baseball Teams: https://opelikaobserver.com/2026/06/09/2026-all-area-baseball-team/?mc_cid=20d19ad5be&mc_eid=fa7f87282b

The 24th annual Star Spangled Spectacular Symphonic Pops Concert featuring country music legend Lee Greenwood, the Star Spangled Community Chorus and a full symphony orchestra will be held in Auburn on Sunday, June 28.

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Announcement: We have lots of the Graduation editions of the newspaper in the office left over. Please feel free to stop by our office at 223 S 8th St. in Opelika if you would like some copies!

From basement startup to thriving agency: Here Molly Girl turns 10 - The Observer BY KADIE TAYLORTHE OBSERVER OPELIKA — Here Molly Girl, an Opelika-based full-service marketing firm, celebrated 10 years of business in May, serving companies and businesses in Lee County and beyond.Owner Katy Doss said after graduating from college, she worked at marketing firms in Birmingham and...

Auburn bookstore brings creativity, community to junk journaling night - The Observer BY AMANDA MACHAMERFOR THE OBSERVER AUBURN — Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers, in collaboration with Sticker and Stamp, held their monthly junk journaling night on May 28 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The event aimed to bring creative minds together for a night of connection and stress-free journal decoration.Junk...

Winners of the Big Bite Challenge five years in a row. Opelika Fire Department!! Congratulations OFD! Photo by Robert Noles

County Commission continues to hear complaints about trash service - The Observer BY MICHELLE KEYPUBLISHER LEE COUNTY — Road projects and infrastructure improvements were among the items approved by the Lee County Commission during its May 26 meeting. Commissioners approved an intergovernmental funding agreement for work on Lee Road 242, accepted roads in Haley Woods Phase 5 in...

Sad ending to the search for Auburn student James "Weston" Higginbotham.

From his mother: Our family is heartbroken to share that Weston was found deceased by a volunteer search-and-rescue group in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto. The grief we feel is impossible to put into words.

We are forever grateful for the time we had with our sweet, precious Weston, but cannot begin to understand what life without him will be like.

We are deeply grateful to the countless people across the United States, Japan, and around the world who shared Weston’s story, prayed for our family, offered encouragement, and helped in the search efforts. The outpouring of kindness and support has carried us through the darkest days of our lives.

We shared our story here and in the media in the hope of finding Weston. We now ask for privacy as we begin to navigate this unimaginable loss.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. We will need them now more than ever.

We will always love you, Weston.

Opelika Chamber celebrates 85th annual meeting in style - The Observer BY DANIEL SCHMIDTTHE OBSERVER OPELIKA — Every spring, Opelika’s business community takes inventory of itself, counting up the businesses that opened, tallying the jobs it created and celebrating the people who made it happen.On Friday, May 29, that celebration came with a new backdrop: Opelika H...

Auburn approves $1.52 million drainage project - The Observer BY DANIEL SCHMIDTTHE OBSERVER AUBURN — A substantial drainage infrastructure project expected to disrupt nearby residents will move forward after the Auburn City Council on Tuesday approved a $1.52 million construction contract.The project, to be performed by JLD Enterprises, includes demolition, ...