VALDOSTA — Historically, 2006 will be benchmarked as the year that Valdosta became a metropolitan city.

The official Metropolitan Statistical Area designation may have come several years ago, but this is the first year that the sweeping changes the status has brought to the community have become evident to all.

Construction projects and the changing landscape of the county, progressive voting on the alcohol referendum, changes coming to Moody Air Force Base in the wake of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) recommendations, mass annexations, and a strong regional university celebrating its centennial are all evidence of a strong, balanced and growing economy.

Wild Adventures gave a scare earlier this year with its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, as the park contributes to the bottom line of the community’s coffers tremendously through sales tax, hotel/motel rooms, retail, restaurant and gas sales, but all indications are that the park will emerge stronger than before this spring.

In government, community leaders demonstrated progressive thinking in many areas, but were less successful when forced to work together. Contentiousness over the issues involved in House Bill 489 negotiations may be seen as a lack of cooperation between the city and county governments, but can also be seen as a sign that both the city and county are strong and healthy, and are experiencing the growing pains seen in other areas of the state, notably Atlanta’s sprawling suburbs, as natural turf issues arise.

2006 saw highlights and low lights, but overall, the community came through the year newer, larger and more progressive than at any time in its history.

Following are the Top Ten Stories of 2006, selected by the editorial staff of The Valdosta Daily Times.



1. BRAC changes Moody’s mission

Jubilation that the community would not see Moody Air Force Base on the closure list again turned to anticipation as the Base Realignment and Closure commission voted to not only keep the base open but also to expand and change its mission.

Moody officially exchanged its 347th Rescue Wing flag for the 23rd Wing’s flag, in a move called “a fusion of combat and expertise” by Brig. Gen. Blair Hansen, vice commander of the 9th Air Force at Shaw AFB, S.C.

The changes include losing the pilot training function, which had been consolidated at Moody less than five years ago, and which will again be disseminated to a handful of other bases. Gone also will be the jobs the civilian aircraft maintainers held. The base will become the new home of the 23rd Fighter Group and the A-10 Flying Tigers, with a net gain of nearly 2,000 personnel.

The changes in personnel will impact the housing market and the school systems, while the unprecedented number of construction projects on the base and the change in mission will impact Moody’s size and its strategic importance in the Air Force family.



2. Alcohol

referendum passes

On Dec. 3, 2006, the first glass of alcohol was sold at a Valdosta restaurant on a Sunday.

The Sunday alcohol sales referendum was soundly defeated in the mid-90’s, and elected officials repeatedly turned down requests to add it on the ballot again — until this year. The City Council voted to allow the referendum, followed by the county commission, and voters supported it on election day.

Considered both an economic issue to help the area attract more national, bottom-line conscious restaurant chains, as well as a sign that “blue” laws are out of line with the more progressive mindset of the community, the Sunday alcohol sales passage



3. Island annexation

In an unprecedented move, the City of Valdosta annexed more than 90 “islands” of unincorporated area into the city limits on August 1.

The islands were created years ago as businesses and residences were allowed to come into the city to access city services. A law in the early 1990s prohibits the creation of any future islands, but left it up to cities to deal with those already in existence.

More than a dozen of the islands were single residences, others were vacant lots, and at least one business was split, half in the city and half in the county.

Despite a lawsuit which delayed the annexation for more than a year, a judge’s ruling in the city’s favor and a go-ahead from the Justice Department allowed the city to become a cohesive whole, with clear boundaries and jurisdiction lines for emergency services.



4. Retail explosion

The Colonial Mall expansion was the beginning of a retail explosion in Valdosta this year. PetSmart, Old Navy, Office Depot and Ross Dress for Less were the anchor stores in the expansion, which also included Talbots and Jos. A. Bank. In the same area, Kohl’s soon followed, and several additional stores and restaurants are slated to open in early 2007.

At the same time, downtown Valdosta saw a renewed interest. Restaurants 306 North, Luna Ristorante, the Sportsman Club, and the Bleu Cafe have given diners a greatly expanded variety of choices downtown for lunch and dinner, and new shops, including the French-style City Market, have added more retail opportunities as well.

The individual opening which created the most public interest was the reopening of the Wooden Nickel Pub. The new owners rebuilt and renovated the concept, recreating the food and the atmosphere of the longtime staple on the Valdosta dining scene.

In addition, numerous new subdivisions, hotels, and businesses made this an unprecedented year for new construction in Lowndes County.



5. Wild Adventures

declares bankruptcy

The three hurricanes which devastated Florida in 2004 caused millions in damages to the newly renovated Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, purchased earlier that year by the Adventure Parks Group LLC.

Chief Executive Officer Kent Buescher, unable to reach agreements on the payment of damages and other issues, stated that the group had no options left, other than the Chapter 11 filing.

Expansion projects on both parks are continuing despite the filing, which the company is expected to emerge from in the spring of 2007.

Wild Adventures plays an integral role in the expanding economy of Lowndes County, creating hundreds of jobs, generating tax revenue and serving as the cornerstone of the tourism industry in the region. The community’s continued support of the park will help ensure the future of this vital aspect of the local economy.



6. I-75 woes

Construction delays led to a virtual halt on the expansion project on Interstate 75, affecting the local tourism economy and area businesses. The project was supposed to be complete nearly two years ago, but issues arose between the Georgia Department of Transportation and Douglas Asphalt Company.

Despite being engaged in a battle with the Douglas Asphalt and its bonding company to finish the project in Valdosta, the GDOT awarded yet another contract to Douglas Asphalt in Turner County. Angry readers have called The Times offices persistently to complain about the lack of progress on the project, and The Times editorial board has added it to its list of objectives for 2007.

The misstep over the reconstruction of the bridge and redesign of Exit 29 at Hahira also fueled an outcry from angry citizens. The project would have resulted in a loss of homes and more than half of the city’s commercial properties. DOT officials have since redesigned the plans for the exit, which have met with approval from Hahira citizens and city officials.



7. Education SPLOST

The overwhelming passage in September of the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or E-SPLOST, heralds a new era for both the Valdosta and Lowndes County school systems.

Renewed every five years, the one-cent sales tax will raise more than $160 million and allow both systems to construct new schools and replace existing ones.

The third high school will finally be constructed, along with a third middle school and another elementary school for the already overburdened county system, and the replacement of three city elementary schools, as well as funds for computers, textbooks, buses and repairs, all made possible by voters.



8. House Bill 489

negotiations

House Bill 489, the service delivery strategy bill, had more than 50 components that had to be renegotiated between Lowndes County and all five municipalities. Emergency services, animal control, jail expenses, etc., were negotiated easily and quickly, but discussions became bogged down over several key issues — parks and recreation, funding of the Industrial, Airport and Conference Center Authorities, future water/sewer expansion areas and road maintenance.

Negotiations have failed to produce an agreement, with both sides proposing and counter proposing, and will likely result in court ordered mediation.



9. Jail expansion opens

After years of struggling to maintain jail operations in a facility built decades ago for half of the amount of prisoners currently housed, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office saw some relief with the opening of the first phase of the new jail.

Severely outdated laundry and kitchen facilities have been replaced, along with a state-of-the-art prisoner intake and processing area, a new medical area, new visitation rooms and administrative offices will make the jailers’ jobs much safer.

Made possible by SPLOST dollars, Lowndes County has already contracted out the second phase of the jail expansion, which will include a new prisoner housing area in addition to new courtrooms.



10. VSU celebrates Centennial

Valdosta State University celebrated the beginning of a rich cultural and educational heritage in August at the kickoff of its Centennial Celebrations, taking place over several years.

Numerous dignitaries and state politicians attended the “Birthday Bash” to honor the university and its contributions to the region’s economy. Since its birth as a women’s college in 1906, VSU has evolved into a regional university with nearly 11,000 students, and projections of a steady growth over the next decade to 20,000 students.

In addition to being an educational powerhouse in the state, VSU is also the cultural hub of the community, housing the symphony, Peach State Summer Theatre, and numerous art exhibitions. The university is also home to the annual Governor’s Honors Program and excellent athletic programs, which have produced national championships in tennis and football.

The university is preparing to embark on an aggressive building campaign in the next five years to stay ahead of the school’s growth, in addition to the expansion of degree programs and partnerships.