Print subscribers If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one. Non-subscribers Optimist Club announces essay winners Posted Submitted Although the Optimist Club of Perdido Bay has had to adjust some of its events in the past year, they participated in two yearly events hosted by Optimist International, the Essay and Oratorical contests. This year’s winners of the Essay Contest are Elberta Middle School students Hartley Gunderson, Gold; Riley Anne Pugh, Silver and Avery Pickle, Bronze. Hartley went on to the District competition. This year’s theme was “Reaching Your Dreams by Choosing Optimism.”