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Reidsville Airport Authority holds groundbreaking event
Photo courtesy of Paul Evans’ Front row l-r: Glenda Cowart, Chamber member; Holly Nielsen, Reidsville Airport Authority (RAA) Member; Jeff Griffith, GDOT Airport Manager; Angie Duckworth, Vice President, Renasant Bank; Vickie Nail, Mayor of Reidsville; Ed
Front row l-r: Glenda Cowart, Chamber member; Holly Nielsen, Reidsville Airport Authority (RAA) Member; Jeff Griffith, GDOT Airport Manager; Angie Duckworth, Vice President, Renasant Bank; Vickie Nail, Mayor of Reidsville; Ed Nelson, RAA member ; Lindsay Bennett, Reidsville City Council; Wil Smith, Chairman of the Reidsville Airport Authority; Lynn Thompson, GDOT Airport Project Manager; Wayne Dasher, Tattnall County Industrial Development Authority Chairman; Jackie Trim, Chairman of the Tattnall County Commissioners; Luke Burkhalter; Bill Kicklighter, Tattnall County Commissioner; Billy Conley, Tattnall County Commissioner; and Sheriff Kyle Sapp. Back row, l-r: Tara Finnerty, Associate Probate Judge; Dylan Bradley, RAA member; John Mock, Tattnall County Magistrate Judge; Gloria Dubberly, Tattnall County Probate Judge; Houston Hodges; John Cheney; Frank Murphy, County Manager; Richard Smith, Reidsville Airport Authority Member; Jerry Burkhalter, Owner of United Grounds Maintenance; Norm Seibert; Michael Carter; Wayne Tatum, Tattnall County Commissioner; Bobby Kennedy, Tattnall County Commissiioner; and Trey NeeSmith, Reidsville Chief of Police. - photo by Paul Evans

The Reidsville Airport Authority (RAA) held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new terminal on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, beginning at 1:30 p.m.  An estimated 60 to 70 local citizens were in attendance. Wil Smith, Chairman of the Reidsville Airport Authority, served as emcee of the event. Members of the Reidsville Airport Authority, including Jeanette Deloach (Secretary-Treasurer), Richard Smith, Ronnie McCall, Gene Long, Ed Nelson, and Dylan Bradley, were in attendance. RAA members Chuck Sullenger, Holly Nielson, and Steve Bishcoff were unable to attend. 

Smith recognized the efforts of the Reidsville Mayor and City Council, the Tattnall County Commissioners, and the Tattnall County Development Authority for their efforts to help bring about improvements at the airport, including the new fuel system and the terminal.  The fuel system is completed, and the work on the terminal is in progress.

County Commission Chairman Jackie Trim and Reidsville Mayor Vickie Nail spoke briefly and praised the progress at the airport and the potential for a positive impact on the local economy.

Lindsay Bennett, a member of the Reidsville City Council, presented Debra Lundell, sister of David Hodges, and Heath Smith, son of Bobby Smith, with beautiful plaques commemorating their service to the Reidsville Airport Authority.  David and Bobby were pilots and very active in the operations and continuing development at the Reidsville Airport.  Bobby was the owner-operator of East Coast Aviation, which was a training school for pilots and served potential pilots throughout the Southeast area.  David ran a volunteer school for middle and high school students to study aeronautics, and the school was in the process of building an airplane literally from the ground up.  Both were killed in a tragic airplane crash in June 2023.  The plaques will be displayed prominently in the new terminal.

RAA Chairman Wil Smith closed the ceremony by thanking everyone for coming out.  Additionally, he issued something of a pre-invitation for everyone to return in a few months for the ribboncutting when the terminal is completed. 

“I think you are going to like what you see,” he said. “We think it will serve Tattnall County well.”