//Valdosta Today: 2019 in Photos
FeaturesJanuary 4, 2020

Valdosta Today: 2019 in Photos

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By Robin Postell

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta Today’s lenses captured more than any other year in 2019. Here is a sampling:

Most recently, VFD captured this photo of a homeowner embracing her cat who was revived by first responders
Photo courtesy Valdosta Fire Dept.
Bobby Brabham, Valdosta resident, artist, drummer, singer, songwriter, playwright told his magical life story to VT earlier in 2019
Photo by Robin Postell
A Black Crow Media employee captured the Boeing Starliner as it attempted to break into orbit in December
Photo by Julie Patrick
The December runoff for the Mayoral and City Council At-Large positions were visibly tense as people gathered at the Lowndes Co. Board of Elections Office waiting for the results
Photo by Robin Postell
Lowndes Co. Board of Elections Director Deb Cox had a difficult job but ran the show like a general
Photo by Robin Postell
Mayoral Candidate J.D. Rice shown here waiting for the final count during the December runoff. Rev. Floyd Rose is pictured to the right.
Photo by Robin Postell
Composed throughout the tense night and a close runoff, Scott James Matheson remained composed and positive throughout
Photo by Robin Postell
Those gathered for the runoff were tense up until the final moments on December 5, 2019 at the Lowndes Co. Board of Elections
J.D. Rice was pleasant and stalwart throughout the Dec. runoff held at the Lowndes County Board of Elections
Photo by Robin Postell
Scott James Matheson awaiting the results of the Dec. runoff elections results
Photo by Robin Postell
Rev. Floyd Rose was present for the Dec. 5 runoff results with his wife Estella and was disappointed to hear that his vote in particular had not been counted due to a mishap regarding a change of address made six months or more prior
Photo by Robin Postell
Scott James Matheson’s supporters stayed with him at the Lowndes Co. Board of Elections until the final ballots were counted, naming him the Mayor-elect
Photo by Robin Postell
A disaster struck at Barnes Drugs downtown Valdosta in December when a regular customer was shot twice at the corner of Savannah and Toombs
Photo by Robin Postell
The Mayor’s Motorcade played out at Parkwood Development Center, which would be Mayor John Gayle’s last
Photo by Robin Postell
Mayor John Gayle said he looked forward to reminding whoever the incoming mayor would be would keep up the Mayor’s Motorcade tradition, complete with his sequined hat and necklace of colored Christmas bulbs
Photo by Robin Postell
City of Valdosta Utilities Director Darryl Muse found himself on the hot seat with a press conference following a 7.5 million gallon sewage spill, pictured here at City Hall
Photo by Robin Postell
This photo of City of Valdosta’s Utilities Director Daryl Muse was taken just before he told press gathered that “human error” had led to the 7.5 million gallon of raw sewage that spilled into the Withlacoochee River
Photo by Robin Postell
Valdosta Main Street/City of Valdosta always goes out of their way to provide exciting activities for South Georgians, as with this skating rink on a hot muggy December day
Photo by Arri Williams
Capturing those out-of-the-way moments like this photo of a man topping the SGMC outpatient wing Christmas Tree always gives a little flavor to the Valdosta day
Photo by Robin Postell
One of the many brilliant photos by MBR, mother of a Wildcat
This photo was taken the day City Manager (left) and Mayor John Gayle (right) sat down with VT to explain their side of the still-ongoing SDS lawsuit
Photo by Robin Postell
Adel teen Charlie Carter, daughter of Frank and Rhonda Carter, was blessed to find not one, but two four-leaf-clovers right around St. Patrick’s Day
Photo by Anna-Marie’ Carter
This photo was compliments of the Valdosta Fire Department after a truck full of pine straw caught on fire
Photo courtesy Valdosta Fire Department
This iconic photo by Brian Brown, of Vanishing South Georgia fame, of the Colquitt County Wasden House has mesmerized VT readers since his guest appearance with his “Vanishing” series
Photo by Brian Brown, all rights reserved
A captivating moment when county luminaries got together for the official groundbreaking of the new Lowndes High School currently under construction
Photo by Robin Postell
The groundbreaking ceremony at Lowndes High School was a bittersweet moment for those gathered, as the most iconic long-standing entry to LHS had been demolished and a new facility was in the works
Photo by Robin Postell
Lowndes School System Superintendent Wes Taylor captured here at the groundbreaking ceremony
Photo by Robin Postell
Sheriff Ashley Paulk, pictured here with J.D. Yeager, was one of hundreds who showed up to a nearly forgotten Vietnam vet, Richard Fatzinger, whose funeral went viral thanks to a few dedicated friends and the Love funeral home
Photo by Robin Postell
Richard Fatzinger’s funeral was not expected to have more than a few of those who cared for him in his final days, but the efforts of Love Funeral Home putting a notice on social media and the sharing of many thousands of the post on VT helped people near and far, mostly strangers, come together to celebrate this man’s legacy
Photo by Robin Postell
Veteran Richard Fatzinger’s funeral was attended by hundreds after word got out on social media that his family would not be in attendance
Photo by Robin Postell
Richard Fatzinger was given a full military funeral with honors
Photo by Robin Postell
Many veterans, bikers, active and non-active, came to show their respects for this almost unknown man on the day of his funeral
Photo by Robin Postell
Veteran bikers stood at attention as Fatzinger’s coffin was loaded into the hearse
Photo by Robin Postell
The hundreds in attendance was remarkable in light of the few people Fatzinger had in his small circle of friends and caretakers at the end of his life
Photo by Robin Postell
Longtime friend and caretaker Angela Edwards received Fatzinger’s folded flag the Honor Guard presented her with at the finale of his funeral
Photo by Robin Postsell
Representatives from law enforcement were present with pride to send Fatzinger off with respect and honor
Photo by Robin Postell
Valdosta City Hall was one of the stops along the tour the City of Valdosta took members of the press on to show different facets of hos SPLOST dollars would be allocated if passed in the Nov. 5 election
Photo by Robin Postell
One of the SPLOST tour stops was at the historic downtown Old Courthouse which will receive upgrades/renovations
Photo by Robin Postell
The iconic columns of the old courthouse need upkeep and SPLOST will help with that
Photo by Robin Postell
The upstairs courtrooms of the historic downtown Lowndes Co. Courthouse have history most cannot fathom
Photo by Robin Postell
One day in Remerton the whole city was enthralled with the ubiquitous presence of law enforcement, and the capture of two suspects who left their vehicle at a car wash and ran, one hiding behind Big Nick’s in a shed where he was found and arrested
Photo by Robin Postell
A candid shot of outgoing Valdosta Mayor John Gayle in an interview with Valdosta today
Photo by Robin Postell
Valdostas Fire Chief Brian Boutwell
Photo by Robin Postell
At the Arglass groundbreaking ceremony, Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp were there along with County Commissioner Chairman Bill Slaughter and Mayor John Gayle
Photo by Robin Postell
The groundbreaking ceremony of Arglass was attended by a who’s who from Valdosta and beyond, including the Governor and First Lady, county and city officials, and owners of Arglass
Photo by Robin Postell
Food Truck Thursdays downtown Valdosta turned out to be a massive summer hit
Photo by Robin Postell
Food Truck Thursdays had Big Nick busy
Food Truck Thursdays were convenient for running into local luminaries, and leaving the City Council meeting for some grub
Food Truck Thursday, Photo by Robin Postell
Food Truck Thursdays turned out to be a big family affair
Photo by Robin Postell
Blessing of the Animals was overseen by Jim Elliott and many brought their precious pets for his blessing
Photo by Robin Postell
This balloon release was for a beloved school bus driver back
Actor Sonny Shroyer was born and raised here in Valdosta, and even after having a role in the CBS iconic series, “The Dukes of Hazzard,” and his own spin-off series, “Enos,” he always maintained his home where his heart will always be. Here he is wearing the same Valdosta Wildcat jacket from his high school days
Photo by Robin Postell
This is a cast photo from Shroyer’s film, “The Longest Yard,” which was filmed at Georgia State Prison and included many of the prisoners
Sheriff Ashley Paulk gives the media a tour of a “grow house” filled with marijuana in different stages of growth on Knights Academy Road
Photo by Robin Postell
LCSO agents in the marijuana “grow house” where they were breaking down the operation
Photo by Robin Postell
This “grow house” operation dismantled by the LCSO was of notable size and sophisticated
Photo by Robin Postell
The Shop-with-a-Cop/Firefighter Programs are some of the best times of the year
Photo by Robin Postell
R.T. “Terry” Clark enjoyed Shop with a Firefighter night almost as much as the kids did
Photo by Robin Postell
The first responders look forward to going with the kids shopping for Christmas every year
Photo by Robin Postell
Valdosta Today’s Astronomer-at-Large Richard Taylor captured this Blood Moon in January 2019
Artist Ethan Abbott, working with PAAC, produced this mural representing Valdosta at the airport, pictured above with local actor Sonny Shroyer who Abbott included in the work
Photo by Robin Postell
Chairman Bill Slaughter, Mayor John Gayle and Sonny Shroyer speak at the mural dedication by Ethan Abbott/PAAC at the airport
Photo by Robin Postell
In March 2019 the Special Olympics were held at Miracle League/Freedom Park
Photo by Lauren Burgess
Brian Haugabrooke and his son Bryce were so proud to be part of last year’s Special Olympics at Miracle League/Freedom Park
Photo by Lauren Burgess
Tragedy often strikes and this was a moment captured in Adel with the Alapaha Judicial Circuit D.A. Dick Perryman (left) and GBI SAC Jason Seacrist, center, and Cook County Sheriff Doug Hanks holding a press conference pleading with the public to help find those responsible for an after-prom shooting that took one life and seriously injured another
Photo by Robin Postell
Some of the bright moments were like joining Anthony & Co. Spa and Salon in saying goodbye to Leona Bryant, who is distinguished as being the first nail tech in Valdosta
Photo by Robin Postell
Though this could go on indefinitely, I will end it with downtown Valdosta’s pride and joy, a mural supported by PAAC for public art projects
Photo by Lauren Burgess

In summation, there were literally hundreds of wonderful photographs Valdosta Today would have liked to have shared but we’ll end in on this pretty, high note, and remind ourselves that the Azalea City we call home is as beautiful as we make it.

Here’s to a stellar 2020! Thanks to all our readers, critics, partners within the community, sources, contributors and cheer squads (we do have a few).

Photos I wanted to include were the phenomenal shots from storms. Beneath the posts I would find countless shots of our southern pouting angry skies in the comment sections and I was as proud of them as anything we’ve ever done personally.

As ever,

I remain,

Your Editor,

Robin Postell

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