2014 a year of change in metro Albany

ALBANY — Change was the big story locally in 2014, as voters and events worked together to bring about new regimes at the top of the Albany and Dougherty County governments and to send a new face to the state Capitol.

The change filtered throughout the community and region during the year as some familiar names decided to move on and some well-known businesses closed their doors. Still, even as familiar establishments folded their tents, new ones moved in to take their place.

The oft-maligned Dougherty County School System was rocked by a pair of scandals even as it named a permanent superintendent, and some familiar faces showed up as mug shots on the police blotter after a gambling raid stunned the community. Two of the region’s largest employers — Procter & Gamble and Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany — made final preparations for a green energy project that will strengthen the ties of both to the community, while another national manufacturer — Mars Chocolate — celebrated 50 years in Albany.

The ongoing saga of the Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County’s three years-and-counting effort to finally complete its purchase of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital rival Palmyra Medical Center took another couple of twists in 2014, as the Federal Trade Commission rejected an agreement that would have allowed the purchase to go through and a state arbitrator reversed the Department of Community Health, determining state Certificate of Need laws would apply to a purchase of now Phoebe North if the FTC ordered it.

Meanwhile, a well-organized group of local citizens continues its fight to keep Spectra Energy from building a natural gas pipeline that has the potential to pump a billion cubic feet of product a day through a portion of south Dougherty County.

Following are the stories that made local headlines in 2014 and were selected by The Herald’s news staff as the top stories of the year.

STRANGE DAYS

AT CITY HALL

When interim Albany Water, Gas & Light Commission General Manager Tom Berry, angered over action taken by the Albany City Commission at that body’s meeting the night before, announced at a June 26 WG&L meeting that he was stepping down from his position effective immediately, he took some parting verbal shots at city commissioners Roger Marietta, Jon Howard, Tommie Postell and Bobby Coleman. Over the next 12 days, however, a strange series of events occurred that not only saw Berry nominated to head the city government, but the commission voting 7-0 to name Berry the interim replacement for outgoing City Manager James Taylor.

Taylor, meanwhile, had been contemplating retirement for some time, but he and Berry agreed to stay on at their respective positions to push through some changes they thought were vital to the city’s future. When word surfaced, however, that Taylor had given a $20,000 performance bonus to risk management employee Veronice Wright, a furor arose in the community that eventually reached the commission level.

On vacation for the Fourth of July holiday, Taylor angrily told The Albany Herald in a phone call from his Florida retirement home that he would pay the money back if that’s what the city required, but he noted that he had done nothing wrong and had authorized the bonus payment to Wright under guidelines established by the commission.

At the city’s July 8 work session, Taylor was conspicuously absent, and Mayor Dorothy Hubbard somberly read a resignation letter written by Taylor. In the wranglings that followed, Berry, then-Public Works Director Phil Roberson and Assistant City Manager Wes Smith were nominated to serve as interim city manager in Taylor’s stead. When Berry received four votes — from Hubbard and commissioners B.J. Fletcher, Bob Langstaff and Coleman — he was suddenly the No. 1 candidate to head the group he’d called out as “dysfunctional” during his resignation from WG&L.

Postell said at a July 11 called City Commission meeting that he was satisfied with an apology Berry had issued and called on his fellow board members to work with the man who’d been nominated to serve as the city’s interim manager. The commission voted unanimously to bring Berry on, and he has led an aggressive campaign to reorganize the government, an effort that has seen consolidation of several departments and approval to offer incentive packages to eligible employees for the purpose of early retirement.

NATIONAL EXPOSURE

It was a banner year for celebrities from metro Albany, particularly country music superstar Luke Bryan and all-star San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, both from Leesburg.

Bryan claimed the top prize at the Billboard Music Awards and followed that with his first Country Music Association Award — the coveted Entertainer of the Year. That came on top of another successful year of touring and his super-performing album “Crash My Party.” He became the first artist to simultaneously hold the top two spots on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Posey accomplished a major feat of his own in October when his Giants claimed their third World Series championship in his five seasons in the big leagues.

Meanwhile, Cole Swindell of Bronwood was seeing his career starting to move to a new level and he and Albany’s Dallas Davidson, who is fast becoming a country songwriting legend, were both up for CMA awards. Phillip Phillips, also of Leesburg, had a successful touring season in 2014 and wrapped up the year by getting engaged.

Meanwhile, another Albany celebrity, Paula Deen, saw her career rebounding with the formation of her new venture, the Paula Deen Network, an online subscription network. She also launched a new eatery at Dollywood, a $20 million operation.

GAMBLING RAID

On June 3, armed with a search warrant that gave them the right to conduct a raid on a “suspected gambling house” at 2650 N. Jefferson St., Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents crashed a “private party” and arrested 14 suspects on illegal gambling charges. Among those arrested were former Albany Mayor Willie Adams and well-known businessman Bob Brooks.

GBI agents seized two firearms and more than $20,000 in cash during the raid, and arrested 14 men from the Southwest Georgia area, including — along with Adams and Brooks — Santy Solis, Page Elliott Keen, Jerome Hubbard, Donald Bell, Charlie Carswell, William Connell, Anthony Forsyth, James Howell, Todd Kegler, Travis Kierce, Alvin Whelchel and Harry Wimbourn. The arrested people were released on $500 bond, and disposition of their cases is still pending.

SCHOOL CONTROVERSIES

Westover High School, which typically sets the academic pace for other high schools in the Dougherty County public school system, found itself and its principal, William Chunn, at the center of a pair of controversies during 2014. Chunn was charged with, and disciplined for, not following proper procedure in changing some 120 ninth-grade students’ grades, and he had to dish out discipline to the school’s head basketball coach and seven of the team’s players for a bullying incident that took place at a Florida State University-hosted basketball camp.

Chunn admitted to changing the grades of ninth-graders in first-year teacher Kevin Martin’s World History classes after “more than 80 percent” of Martin’s students received failing grades over a nine-weeks grading period. One of the impacted students was given a “0” grade before Chunn changed all students’ averages to at least 70. In an investigation that followed, Chunn was docked five days pay for failing to include records of the grade changes in impacted students’ individual files.

Martin was also suspended for five days without pay, and Westover assistant principal Brian Collier received a letter of reprimand. But the most severe punishment went to teacher/coach Kevin Fretwell, who revealed the grade changes to The Albany Herald. The Herald did not name its source during an investigation into the matter, but when Fretwell admitted he’d forwarded private student records to the newspaper, he was reassigned duty at the school system’s alternative school for the remainder of the 2013-14 school year. Fretwell’s contract was not renewed for the 2014-15 year.

Chunn found himself dishing out punishment in June when a school system police department investigation revealed claims of bullying by Westover basketball players on a trip to basketball camp at Florida State University did take place on the bus ride to and from the camp and at a hotel where the players were staying during the camp. Manswell Peterson, the father of a 16-year-old player who claimed he was bullied, insisted on an investigation into the matter and has since sued the DCSS for $6 million and Westover head basketball coach Dallis Smith for $2 million.

When investigation results were revealed, Chunn suspended Smith for three games, removed one player from the team and handed down five-game suspensions for the other six players involved.

BYE-BYE, BODINE

When the public recovered from the shock of long-time Dougherty County Commission Chairman Jeff Sinyard’s January announcement that he would step down from the commission at the end of the year, it set into motion the electing of a replacement. Gloria Gaines, who’d served on the commission for five years as a representative of District 5, relinquished her seat to challenge for the chairmanship, and she drew opposition from political newcomer Chris Cohilas, a former assistant district attorney who’d been in private law practice for three years.

Cohilas built a strong coalition communitywide and eventually held off Gaines by 111 votes in the May 20 Democratic primary. With no GOP opponent, he claimed his place on a commission that will see considerable change from January 2014.

Contractor Harry James qualified and ran unopposed in a special election called to fill Gaines’ vacant seat, taking office on June 2. Jack Stone, the former car dealer who had the longest tenure in local government with 28 years of continuous service, was beaten by political newcomer Anthony Jones in the May 20 District 6 Democratic primary. In the only race that was decided during the Nov. 4 general election, Republican incumbent Ewell Lyle held off the challenge of Democrat Pat Garner to maintain the District 4 seat for a second term.

Meanwhile, Dougherty School Board member Darrel Ealum outpolled state Rep. Carol Fullerton to claim the House District 153 seat in a July 22 Democratic runoff. Fullerton, who was seeking a fourth term in office, had spent a large part of the four months leading up to the election recuperating from a serious automobile accident, and she threatened to challenge Ealum’s runoff victory for what she called “questionable tactics” in soliciting absentee ballots, though that did not come about.

PHOEBE NORTH

When the Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County approved Phoebe Health System’s $195 million purchase of rival Palmyra Medical Center, which was owned at the time by Hospital Corporation of America, in 2011, most assumed the purchase was something of a done deal. But in September, in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of lower courts’ rulings that the deal was exempt from federal antitrust review, the Federal Trade Commission rejected a proposed settlement that it had previously agreed to and sent the whole issue back to administrative court.

When Hospital Authority officials announced the purchase agreement with HCA, concern over a “health care monopoly” prompted the FTC to challenge the purchase under federal antitrust concerns. Phoebe and Authority lawyers argued successfully up through the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the deal was exempt from federal antitrust oversight.

In February 2013, after Palmyra had been renamed Phoebe North and was under Phoebe management, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that the lower courts had erred and sent the case back for further review. FTC officials, citing Georgia’s Certificate of Need laws, decided in August 2013 to propose an agreement that would end its challenge and allow the Hospital Authority to maintain ownership of the former Palmyra and have it operated by Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

The FTC never finalized its proposal. After the Department of Community Health determined last spring, at the request of an out-of-state medical group, that an ordered sale of Phoebe North would not be subject Georgia’s CON laws, the FTC withdrew its proposed settlement that Phoebe and the Hospital Authority had accepted. But a state administrative hearing officer in October reversed the DCH, ruling that prior review and appeal would be required under state CON laws if a sale of Phoebe North were ordered. The case is expected to be taken up by the FTC in an administrative court as early as next month.

BUSINESS MOVEMENT

With Southwest Georgia finally shaking off the aftershocks of the crippling recession, economic development momentum finally started in 2014. Fortune 500 contractor United Research Services Corp., which services Marine Corps Logistics base-Albany, announced in August that it would expand its manpower at the base by 250 employees. That bit of good news seemed to spark a late-year surge of retail growth.

The new Walmart Neighborhood Market concept debuted in Albany Dec. 2, adding 100 more service jobs in the community. Other new establishments coming into the community included a pair of Dunkin’ Donuts, a Hardees, a McDonald’s, the Albany Fish Company, and a pair of updated establishments opened by the Stewbo’s Group: Local Jerry’s and the Shackleford House.

Long-sought downtown redevelopment stalled over financial concerns, but RED moved into the coveted slot at the corner of Front Street and West Broad Avenue shortly after Riverfront Bar-be-Que consolidated its operations at its Lee County location, and the thriving Our Daily Bread restaurant expanded by moving into the Cafe 230 location re-opened two months earlier by restaurateur B.J. Fletcher. Fletcher, a City Commission member, plans to open her Open Roads healthy eating concept in the former Texas Star building on Dawson Road in the next few days.

Dozens of senior citizens lost what amounted to most of their life savings when the Seasons Christian Care/Lamad Ministries retirement village they’d invested in under the leadership of William and Eric Eidenire was forced into bankruptcy, but a long-time Albany corporate giant — Mars Chocolate — offered a measure of good news when it celebrated its 50th anniversary in the city.

As crude oil and retail gas prices plunged, metro Albany motorists were enjoying some of the greatest benefits of three straight months of daily price declines. At $1.974 on New Year’s Eve, Albany dropped below $2 per gallon for its average price on the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report — the only Georgia metro area blow the $2 mark. Gas was selling below $1.90 at several Albany stations.

POWERING UP

With a formal announcement pending, officials with Albany Green Energy — a partnership between Procter & Gamble, Albany and Constellation New Energy — are moving equipment and manpower on-site, preparing for the start this year of a $230 million biomass energy plant on the P&G campus that will provide green, steam energy for the home products manufacturer and the Albany Marine base.

Over a 21-month period, construction of the biomass energy plant will bring up to 575 jobs into the community. Once completed, the plant will supply 25-35 full-time jobs and bring in an additional $8 million in tax revenue over the next 23 years. More importantly, officials note, the agreement between the county, P&G, Albany Green Energy and a proposed agreement with the Marine base will further tie two of the region’s largest employers to the community.

MCLB-Albany will use energy from the plant to become the Department of Defense’s first net-zero energy installation, a status that may be of great help to MCLB’s viability should a new round of U.S. military base closing come up.

COMINGS & GOINGS

The presidents of Albany’s three institutions of higher learning — Art Dunning at Albany State University , Paul Jones at Darton State College and Anthony Parker at Albany Technical College — and Dougherty School System Superintendent Butch Mosely formed a coalition seeking to improve economic development in the community through collaborative educational efforts. Mosely also had the “interim” tag removed from his title in April when the 72-year-old was named permanent superintendent of the school system.

Meanwhile, ASU saw its head football and basketball coaches depart within a few weeks of each other, as well as one of the historically black university’s academic vice presidents.

Mike White, the winningest football coach in Albany State’s storied athletic history, left his alma mater to take the head coaching position at Benedict College after 18 years at ASU. Chris Cameron had previously announced he was stepping down from the head basketball coach’s position after 13 years with the school. Former ASU and NFL standout Dan Land was named interim coach of the football team, while Michael Moore replaced Cameron on the ASU basketball team. ASU Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities Leroy Bynum, who was as well-known in the community for his singing talent, announced he was leaving the university for a position at the College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y.

Elsewhere, Ted Clem announced in February his resignation as head of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission for a position with the Alabama Department of Commerce. His vice president, Albany native Justin Strickland, replaced him. Strickland announced earlier this week that another home-grown talent, Reedi Hawkins, would become the EDC’s director of marketing.

Michelle Davis stepped down from her position as chief professional officer with the local Boys and Girls Club in 2014, while Sherwood Christian Academy Athletic Director Eddie Dixon announced last month he was leaving that position and was replaced by Otis Covington.

Another departure that shocked many sports fans was the dissolution of the Albany Panthers arena football team. Owners of the two-time league champions failed to meet agreed-upon financial requirements with the city of Albany over use of the Albany Civic Center.

PIPELINE PROTESTS

When local landowners received notices that a Houston energy company planned to come onto their property to determine the best pathway for a $3.5 billion pipeline that would come through Southwest Georgia on its way from central Alabama to central Florida, a growing number of them balked.

Over the course of the year, a number of public meetings was held as local landowners fought to keep Spectra Energy from building the so-called Sabal Trail Pipeline on their property. The proposed 460-mile project would have the capacity to pump 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day from a receiving station in Alabama to central Florida, where it would be used to meet the energy needs of northeast Florida.

Citing environmental, health, endangered species, property rights, and air and noise pollution concerns, a group — headed by local activist Dinorah Hall — challenged the proposal, drawing support from both the Albany and Dougherty County commissions in its efforts to keep the pipeline out of the county. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is expected to rule on the matter later this year.

Terry Lewis, Brad McEwen, Jennifer Parks, Mary Braswell, Jim West, Danny Carter and Jim Hendricks contributed to this report.