2022 marked the 2nd year The Kemberly Ramer Memorial Foundation has awarded a $1,000.00 scholarship to an Opp High School senior. The essay prompt was to describe a time in your life that has shaped who you are as a person. There is no right or wrong answer but let me tell you what I am learning, kids these days are faced with tribulations that I’m not sure I could handle in my 40s. We cannot control what life throws our way, but how we react says everything about who we are. 

10 years ago Jackson Pierce and his family joined a club that no one ever wants to be a member of. Cooper Pierce was just 3 years old when he left this world and entered Heaven. Losing a loved one is painful but losing a child is unimaginable. Awarding this scholarship to someone who knows what loss is, what grief feels like, and how to carry on after is overwhelming. He says that losing his little brother taught him appreciation, compassion and  perseverance. Appreciation for being present and not taking time with someone for granted, compassion for others because you don’t know everyone’s story and perseverance because that is the only option to honor those we love.

Jackson is a very accomplished young man, graduating in the top 4% of his class. In his high school career he has not only excelled in sports but also in academia. His accolades are many, from Good Citizenship awards to serving as president and member to a number of clubs. He also holds certifications in various Microsoft programs. Jackson played both football and baseball for the Bobcats throughout high school and served as team captain in both sports. Currently he attends LBW Community College and plans to transfer to Auburn to obtain his bachelor’s degree. 

Jackson has proved to be a very resilient young man. Not only has he learned to push through but he has burst the doors wide open. We can’t wait to see what you do, Congratulations!!

*The updated scholarship application can now be found here on the website under the Kemberly Ramer Memorial Scholarship page. The scholarship is valued at $1,000 and will be awarded to one Opp High School graduating 2022 senior.

*A shirt fundraiser is going on now. All proceeds will go towards funding the scholarship. Click here to order your shirt!

*Lastly, Opp Fest 2021 will be held downtown on October 30. We will have a tent set up with scholarship applications, freebies, and a raffle going on. More info coming soon on this!

In our first year I was hopeful to receive a handful of applications. To my surprise, we received so many more. I read through them over and over and wish I could award each and every one because they are all so deserving. However, there was one application that really stuck with me. This person had the grades, they had the good remarks from teachers, they had aspirations but they also had an entire page full of acts of service. As a senior, this person had “helped” more people by actively devoting her time, extending her kindness than I had in my 40 years. She has accomplished things that I have only wanted to do. 

This student saw ugly in every form you could imagine whether it be to her directly or to ones that she loved. She saw that life just sucked sometimes but she still chose to do more by being herself; strong, kind, and an example for others. In the end, success is not measured in dollars but rather in character and humanity. This girl has it all.

It is with great pleasure I introduce you to our first recipient of The Kemberly Ramer Memorial Scholarship, Miss Mary Ann Hollinghead. 

Mary Ann has participated in the dual enrollment program and will be attending Auburn University to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Chemistry. She graduates in the top 20% of her class. When not at school or on the field during a football game, Miss Hollinghead spent her time helping with a number of community outreach programs such as Full Tummy, Shoebox Ministry, Backpack Ministry as well as working part time. Mary Ann is the student every teacher wants, the child every parent hopes to have, and the young adult that everyone should be proud of. Congratulations, Mary Ann!!

I’m proud to say that we raised just over $2,000, of which $1,000 will be awarded to a 2021 graduate of Opp High School. I am very thankful for such a success in our first year! We have laid the groundwork and it’s only up from here.

I would like to thank the following sponsors for their unquestioned and immediate response to make this possible.

JM JACKSON…J M Jackson Chevrolet Buick has been serving Covington County since 1934. Their mission is to provide the best selection in Chevrolet and Buick vehicles in a friendly and welcoming environment. With 80 years of success, they look forward to adding you to their long history of happy customers.

BENTONS SNACK BAR – Now a second generation owned business, the Dorsey’s bought from Henry D. Benton in 1990. The Snack Bar has been a staple in Opp since the 50’s (best I can tell) when it was part of Henry D. Benton’s Grocery.

Where’s the BEEF? McLeod Farms has it! They have been helping to feed America since 2011.

WOPP- Brothers Robert and Ronnie Boothe put WOPP on the air on September 19, 1980 and since then WOPP has provided Opp and the surrounding area with excellent broadcasting service. WOPP cares about our community and is actively involved in making Opp and Covington County better.

ENSCO OF ELBA has been in business since 1992. Carrie bought it in 2011 and they are now a registered female owned business serving the southern states.

And to everyone who wasn’t sure what a virtual 5k was but still chose to support the cause, a huge thank you!

I have exciting news to share!

This Friday, December 18, we will be out at the Opp Christmas Village on Camden Rd. in Opp. There will be a hot chocolate stand for everyone to enjoy while listening to Shane Owens sing Christmas carols and waiting for Santa to arrive! All proceeds will go to The Kemberly Ramer Memorial Scholarship. We will have the 5k registration forms as well as sponsorship forms available for you to fill out while you enjoy everything around you. We can’t wait to see you there! A special thank you to Ann Cauley and Hardee’s for making this happen.

For more information on the event visit The Opp Chamber of Commerce or visit them on Facebook.

The first 48 hours in any investigation is critical. This is the time span in which a person’s memory is freshest and before any potential evidence is destroyed or contaminated. Within these hours the authorities will interview those close to the victim and also seek the public’s help with any small detail that might relate to the crime. 48 hours to assess the crime scene, collect evidence, interview witnesses, get information out to the public, retrace steps, learn about the individual(s) and their habits and so much more. Forty-eight hours. In Kem’s case the police had roughly 12 hours. You have a case where no one realized she was missing for 36 hours, a police department ill-equipped to handle something of this magnitude and a crime scene contaminated in those vital hours once she was reported missing. Looking at what we know now it is not surprising that this case remains unsolved this many years later.

It is said that approximately 100,000 active missing person cases are reported each day. Of those cases a large majority are “solved”; meaning the person ran away on their own accord, the person was displaced due to mental or physical capacity or the person was never really missing at all. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in 90% of female homicide cases the assailant is someone the victim knows whether it be a family member, friend/acquaintance or a significant other. That leaves only 10% of female homicides committed by a stranger.