What were the biggest stories of 2018? It probably depends on who you ask. In our case, we asked Pembroke Mayor Judy Cook, Richmond Hill Mayor Russ Carpenter and Bryan County Commission Chairman Carter Infinger to weigh in with their top five stories of the year.
Here’s what they came up with.
Cook:
1. Pembroke reaches water- well intergovernmental agreement with Bulloch and Bryan counties, potentially doubling future water capacity
2. Pembroke receives $612,000 grant from the Department of Community Affairs to acquire land and build four houses through the CHIP program.
3. Pembroke acquires the former Georgia Forestry Unit as Fire Station No. 2 bringing improved fire protection to south Pembroke.
4. Pembroke improves access to healthcare with Curtis V. Cooper mobile unit and welcomes new health related businesses: Gordon’s Pharmacy, Coastal Eye Care and CORA Physical Therapy.
5. The fire departments from Pembroke, Bryan, Effingham, Bulloch and Evans County fight downtown Johnny’s Restaurant fire together.
Carpenter:
1. Governor candidates for both parties make stop in RH.
2. Groundbreaking for New I-95 interchange.
3. Highway 144 widening begins.
4. City, county reach agreement on new library site.
5. Death of Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Murphy.
Infinger:
1. The 144 widening project being placed back on the STIP list in January, after a lot of hard work and lobbying from local leaders
. 2. Work beginning on the I-95 interchange.
3. The county and the city signing an MOU to formally accept a site and price for the new library property.
4. The Jan. 3 “snowstorm” that left up to 5 inches of snow in some areas of Bryan County (north end) and had the county’s reliable road crews and safety teams working hard to keep citizens safe and roads in good condition. They did a tremendous job, Infinger said.
5. The adoption of the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Note: In addition, Infinger added a “bonus” story the news that Pembroke will eventually be home to a new primary care clinic.
RELATED STORY: 2018: A look back at the people and events that made news in Bryan County