Community

UPDATED: Tornado Watch issued for Lee County until 6 a.m.

| October 13

The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch for several eastern Alabama counties, including Lee County, valid until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Farmer in the Dell Pumpkin Patch sells its pumpkins by the pound and sells decorative gourds.

Local pumpkin patches offer more than just picking

By Kailey Miller | Community Reporter | October 13

As the weather turns cooler and fall begins to show in the leaves, local pumpkin patches reopen and become focal points for the autumnal experience. Auburn has numerous places nearby for spending an afternoon pumpkin picking and getting in the fall mood. Some of these places are Jack-O-Lantern Lane, Lazenby Farm and Farmer in the Dell Pumpkin Patch. They each offer experiences besides pumpkin picking.

Paranormal investigators offer tours of legends of Auburn

By Rachel King | Community Writer | October 10

Downtown Auburn was once a stage for the Civil War. Thousands of lives were lost, and the resulting legends have become widely known, modern day ghost stories. John Poe and Brandon Stoker are paranormal investigators. Stoker said his interest in paranormal activity began as a child.

Native to Alabama, the evening bat named Nita Nightwing will be at the event.

Creepy Wonderful Critters showcase bats at Preserve and Nature Center

By Rachel Davis | Community Writer | October 10

Creepy Wonderful Critters is an event sponsored by Auburn University's Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve and Nature Center on Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. The event is devoted to educating children and adults about often-feared animals that are beneficial to the ecosystem. This year, the creature of focus is the bat.

Arrest made in weekend hit-and-run after Auburn vs. LSU game

By Ashtyne Cole | Community Editor | October 9

Man turns himself in after hitting three teenagers with his truck early Sunday morning.

The idea of On The Tracks is for people to enjoy the local food and wine options Opelika has to offer. (Contributed by Pam Powers-Smith)

Food and wine event takes over the tracks downtown

By Kailey Miller | Community Reporter | October 9

Opelika Main Street is having their 18th biannual On The Tracks food and wine event Oct. 10. Opelika Main Street holds this event to raise funds and promote the local businesses in the Auburn and Opelika area. The streets will come alive with music, wine tastings and restaurants serving their best dishes.

City Council approves easements for a planned restaurant at the Heart of Auburn

October 7

A 4,290 square-foot restaurant will be coming to the Heart of Auburn shopping center on South Gay Street, but with no drive-thru.

OPINION: Breaking down the Auburn routine

By Nickolaus Hines | Community Reporter | October 6

Standing in the shadows of the haunted Spring Villa Mansion on Tuesday night, eight gun shots went off somewhere in the woods. I don't believe in ghosts, and I'm always skeptical about paranormal activity. But as the padlock to the mansion door unlocked with a click, chills went up my back. The gun shots made me look over my shoulder, but the allegedly haunted house made the hair on my back stand up.

Islamic Center builds mosque and relationships

By Grayson Temple | Intrigue Writer | October 5

Walking into the Auburn Islamic Center on a Sunday afternoon, people can find children scurrying around the lobby, bare feet and men preparing to pray.

Lt. Jonathan Ley a holds practice pad while officer Antonio Fannin demonstrates technique.

Parks and Recreation fights back with RAD classes

By Rachel King | Community Writer | October 5

Sexual assault crimes are a harsh reality. The Auburn Police Division (APD), in conjunction with Auburn Parks and Recreation, is aiming to defeat the statistics and empower women.

Wine specials have become a regular event at many downtown businesses.

Wine night trend spills over into Auburn businesses

By Kailey Miller | Community Reporter | October 3

A fancier type of alcohol is spreading around Auburn with growing popularity as more restaurants and bars are having a night specially designated for cheaper prices on their wine. The Hound Bar and Restaurant, Bourbon Street Bar and Moe's Original BBQ are a few places participating in this trend.

Increase of patrol lowers crime rate throughout town

By Nickolaus Hines | Community Reporter | October 3

Theft on Auburn University's campus has decreased by 8 percent, according to Capt. Lorenza Dorsey of the Auburn Police Division.

Jeff Pokorney unlocks the door to Spring Villa Mansion, site of a local legend involving the haunting of multiple ghosts.

Spring Villa Mansion continues local haunting legends

By Nickolaus Hines | Community Reporter | October 3

Jeff Pokorney thumbed through his set of keys to unlock the thick padlock keeping the doors to Spring Villa Mansion closed to the public. The front of the house facing the street doesn't have electricity, but the dim streetlight from the back gives just enough light to see through the windows of the allegedly haunted house.

The tailgate is free and open to the public. It will be located in the Gay Street parking lot from 12-3 p.m.

Southern Living and Cobblestone Bread Co. partner up to tailgate

By Kailey Miller | Community Reporter | October 2

Southern Living is coming to Auburn to set up a tailgate for their Southern Living Tailgate Tour. The tour involves the Southern Living test kitchen and the Cobblestone Bread Co. food truck working together to visit three different SEC college towns: Auburn; Columbia, South Carolina; and Athens, Georgia.

VIDEO: This Week on The Plains 10.2.2014

By Kris Sims | Multimedia Editor | October 2

A few stories highlighted from this week's Auburn Plainsman Newspaper.

Jurors hear testimony on evidence in Desmonte Leonard trial

October 1

Hours of testimony about the chain of custody on evidence in the Desmonte Leonard murder trial were given on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Detective Jude Hackett with the Auburn Police Division testified about the evidence collected from the June 9 crime scene at University Heights, now known as Tiger Lodge, apartment complex.

Attorney General candidate Hubbard speaks to College Democrats

By Brian Stultz | Campus Writer | October 1

Representative Joe Hubbard, who is running for Attorney General, spoke to the Auburn University College Democrats on Wednesday night, stating that it is time for a change in Montgomery.

Sundilla's listening room can hold 150 comfortably and 192 for a concert.

Sundilla Concert Series rocks the world through radio broadcast

By Rachel Davis | Community Writer | October 1

On Thach Avenue, an old, wooden church is tucked on the top of the hill. It was built in 1866 by freed slaves and named the Ebeneezer Baptist Church. The building was sold to a group of Unitarians, and is now the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Church.

Attacks on both sides: Professors give their takes on ISIS

By Derek Herscovici | Campus Reporter | October 1

On the wing of decapitation videos and presidential calls for military action, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS has regularly headlined world news.

Former football player testifies in University Heights trial

By Kailey Miller | Community Reporter | October 1

Former Auburn University football players Eric Mack and DeAngelo Benton were called to the witness stand yesterday for the Desmonte Leonard murder trial. Leonard is on trial for the capital murder of former Auburn football players Ladarious Phillips, Ed Christian, and DeMario Pitts.