Opelika Daily News » Katz Stuff

Alabama Gives Day is Thursday

Editor — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:30:41 +0000

On February 2nd, 2012, Alabamians will come together for 24 hours of giving with a collective goal to raise a record amount of money for hundreds of participating nonprofits statewide. Individuals may choose from our list of participating nonprofits to benefit from their online gift. It’s easy, it’s safe, it’s rewarding and your gift matters!

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Friends Update

Editor — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:16:53 +0000

Makita and his gal Kim, got me into NASCAR in a big way. He lives up there in the land of ice and snow and at a recent hockey game, he (Center of first picture) was approached by the squad about hanging out after the game. Lucky for him, he was able to get away and went home with the girl in the second picture. (Love ya Kim)

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Random Thoughts for Weekend

Editor — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:36:39 +0000

Just a quick post. Opelika is working steady on it’s new Fiber to the Home plan with phone, Internet and television service at least a year away. I just added Charter (yea, I know) Internet at the house. Pretty fast compared to the AT&T which I cancelled today. If you miss seeing Richard Patton (Eighth & Rail) behind the bar, he’s doing a few night shifts over at Ma Fia’s. It’s Monday, Tuesday, Friday & Saturday I believe. By the way, they are doing domestic beer at $1.50 from 4-6 PM Monday thru Thursday. Others too, so ask Richard when you see him. My diet continues slow and steady. It’s 40 pounds since October 4th. More on that later. And there’s a Winter Brewfest (Beerfest) over at the Event Center Downtown on Friday Night (Details on the event calendar). [If the photo made it to this post, that the contract crew handing those new fiber cables in front of the house on South 8th on Thursday!

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Goodnight Opelika – Eighth and Rails Final Night!

Editor — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:23:31 +0000

It was goodbye to an old friend, if you can call a Tavern an old friend, last night. Eighth and Rail is now a pleasant memory for those that called this one of their favorite watering holes. The building is officially under new ownership and that owner is looking for a tenant. Those that attended the final night, some in Black Tie, got something to take home at the end of the night. You’ll probably see a few of us sporting our Eighth and Rail Goodnight Opelika Shirt. On the back, forming a big number eight, names of bands and individuals that have played that stage over the years and the front with an old bi-wing airplane, looking a bit like a train. Some final words from owner Richard Patton brought a tear to many eyes and the countdown to a new year with a final toast for all brought the evening to a close. Well, actually, many stayed to talk and dance a bit longer. Thanks Richard for a great night, good friends, having Miller Lite for a guy on a diet and for years of good times at The Rail! Goodnight Opelika!

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Looking Ahead to 2012 – It’s Here!

Editor — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:04:51 +0000

So what’s new for 2012 here at the Opelika Daily News? First, some minor changes to this home page, nothing at radical as the Facebook Timeline, but some subtle changes to freshen the look at bit. Opelika’s South Railroad Avenue, pictured in the header banner has certainly changed a lot in the past two years, so it’s time we do. A couple of new features will become regulars and you’ve already seen several of those post. First, time to learn about the Rolex and Continental Race Series, as Opelika’s APR Racing will be in the full series of some of those races. Second, time to find that perfect App for your iPhone or iPad. Our mission is to educate you on both! And finally, some things done in the past will return with a more regular posting. So with 2012 officially here, let the posting begin! Happy new Year Everyone.

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Overwhelmed – But I Have a Plan

Editor — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:57:14 +0000

I’ve found that lately I’m just getting overwhelmed with too much information. I counted ten to fifteen newsletters I get on a daily basis via email, several magazines are delivered each week by the post office, a stack of vendor catalogs at the end of each month, not the mention various apps on the iPad2 or iPhone that seem to require my daily, if not hourly attention. My “To Do” list is out of control and things I should do seem to get missed on a more regular basis that those items getting completed. And then a new addiction has surface the past few months, my daily (if not more) desire to see the latest available Apps from the iTunes Store. Searching for an app to increase my productivity has almost brought my productivity to a stop. And between four blogs and a like number of Facebook pages, not to mention Twitter that should require regular attention, well you should get the point by now. And then there are my regular articles (up to several months ago) in the OA News, which I seem to have ideas for, just no time to put them to paper. Not to mention the TV, with hundreds of channels to choose from, I’ve settled for watching the complete season of Star Trek Voyager (on Netflix), which I seemed to miss the first time around. And the dogs could use a bath.

But all is not lost. I’ve got several plans to bring my crazy life into compliance with a perfect order. I’ll share those with you here in coming days and weeks.

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I Don’t Think We’re in Kansas Anymore…

Editor — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:55:27 +0000

The last of the staff of the Opelika Daily News rolled back into town early last night after a three day trip to Kansas City to see what was up with Farm Broadcasting. Okay, so there is no staff and it was just me. An interesting three days in which I met “Tall Paul” doorman at the Weston for 31 years and former player on the Harlem Globetrotters. He must remember every Farm Broadcaster that’s been coming to convention for years because he greeted them by first names as we arrived on the shuttle on Wednesday. Also “Guns N Roses” were in town for a concert on Saturday Night and the Roadies for the show (about 60 of them) were also at the Weston. Shared more than a few drinks with them, albeit too late. Thanks to Sarge and his friend for a good time. Then there was the very pretty dancer from Los Angeles who offered to “Hang Out” later for a “Donation”. She sent me a text with the offer. Please don’t ask how she got my number, but that thing happens a lot to me when I travel. It’s funny how a girl from LA had a local number. Can you say “Vice Squad?” Also made it over to the Nations only World War One Museum on Veterans Day for my daily walk. American’s don’t build beautiful old monuments like that anymore. Oh, I also did some real work business too. I’ll share some of that in a later post.

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Opelika’s Official Veteran’s Day Activities Planned

Editor — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:15:04 +0000

The Friday morning festivities (November 11th) will start with the city’s traditional Veterans Day Breakfast, held at the Elks Lodge, located at 1944 Opelika Road, beginning at 8 a.m. You do not need tickets. The breakfast is free to all veterans and their families! We have a very special guest speaker at the breakfast this year: Captain Jody Fuller, of Opelika’s 111th Ordnance Group, which came home from a year’s deployment in Iraq this past January, 2011. This was Captain Fuller’s third deployment to Iraq. When he is not serving his country with the 111th, Jody is a professional comic and inspirational speaker known as “The Stuttering Comic”.

After the annual Veterans Day Breakfast, the city will host its annual Veterans Day Services at the Opelika City Hall, around the Veterans Memorial Monument. These activities begin at 11 a.m. and will feature Mr. Albert Killian as the keynote speaker for the event. The city will also present an official “Proclamation of Thank You” for the service of veterans of the Korean War, carrying on the tradition of issuing official “thank you” proclamations for veterans of each conflict / war.

Mr. Killian is a retired Lt. Colonel who served in the Alabama National Guard and Active Duty for 42 years. He was born in Salem, Lee County and he graduated from Northside Grammar School and Clift High School in Opelika, and from the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University). He spent his professional career as a coach, teacher, administrator in the public school system of Alabama, and has held staff positions at Auburn University.

Mr. Killian is the former President of the Museum of East Alabama and, in fact, has a wing of that facility named in his honor. He and his lovely wife have four children and are active members of the First Baptist Church of Opelika.

In case of rain, the services at the Veterans Memorial Monument will be moved inside Opelika’s City Hall into the City Council Chambers.

Every year, for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the City of Opelika uses the same theme when honoring our area Veterans: Freedom isn’t Free! We use this recurring theme to remind our community that the freedoms we enjoy in America came at a price in the past, and continue to come at a price today! It is our hope that when folks hear these words, “Freedom isn’t Free” they remember the sacrifice made by our brave service men and women across this great land of ours, and pause to give thanks for that service! The Friday morning festivities (November 11th) will start with the city’s traditional Veterans Day Breakfast, held at the Elks Lodge, located at 1944 Opelika Road, beginning at 8 a.m. You do not need tickets. The breakfast is free to all veterans and their families! We have a very special guest speaker at the breakfast this year: Captain Jody Fuller, of Opelika’s 111th Ordnance Group, which came home from a year’s deployment in Iraq this past January, 2011. This was Captain Fuller’s third deployment to Iraq. When he is not serving his country with the 111th, Jody is a professional comic and inspirational speaker known as “The Stuttering Comic”.

In case of rain, the services at the Veterans Memorial Monument will be moved inside Opelika’s City Hall into the City Council Chambers.

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