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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a four-part series looking back at the year 2024 in Chambers County.

April 8

Blinded by the Light: Springwood School hosts eclipse watch party

“It looks like the Cheshire cat,” said Springwood seventh grader Gemma Clevenger, looking up at the partial eclipse on Monday with her classmates. The entire Springwood School student body gathered on the field at 2:30 p.m. ET for an eclipse watch party. Kids chattered excitedly while enjoying Moon Pies and Capri-Suns.

April 10

West Point moves forward on reopening of West 9th Street crossing

The railroad crossing at West 9th Street in West Point will soon be open to regular traffic again. The city council voted to have it reopened at Mayor Steve Tramell’s request during the city council meeting on Monday night. The West 9th Street and US-29 intersection had been closed since a sinkhole appeared at the crossing in August 2023.

April 11

LaFayette looks to design a city flag

LaFayette may soon be getting a city flag. At Monday’s council meeting LaFayette Fire and EMS Chief Jim Doody proposed the creation of a flag that could represent the city of LaFayette and eventually be flown outside of the new city hall.

April 18

Lanett expands airport

LANETT — The City of Lanett is moving ahead with plans for improvements at Lanett Regional Airport. At its Monday meeting, the council unanimously approved resolutions seeking funding for a terminal area site development plan and a professional services contract to acquire land for a new entrance road to the airport.

April 27

Dolly Parton library

The Circle of Care launched its partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. As the final event to highlight Child Abuse Prevention Month, the center hosted a kick-off event at their offices.

May 2

Valley Pharmacy celebrates 50 years

A local institution celebrated a big milestone on Wednesday. The Valley Pharmacy and its longtime owner and pharmacist, John Minter, RPH, have been in the community for 50 years. On Wednesday, community members, customers and staff congregated to celebrate Minter.

May 2

Gaming bill fate uncertain – later fails

The Alabama Gaming bill, which was tweaked by the Senate and passed in the House, has stalled in the Senate. During the summer, the Senate put HB 151 to a vote that came to 20-15, just one vote short of the two-thirds majority vote.

May 8

Local pharmacies struggle against major chains

Kirsten Hood, a local pharmacist, discussed the struggle with the current PBM system, which she said, makes it increasingly difficult for locally-owned small-town pharmacies to compete with the major chain stores like CVS, Walmart, Kroger and Walgreens.

May 16

Five Troup High Students involved in a car crash

At approximately 12:39 pm today, five Troup High students were in a car heading east on Whitfield Road toward Hogansville Road. The car pulled out, crossing across Hogansville Road into the path of a Troup County School System maintenance truck heading north on Hogansville Road. The truck struck the car. Two passengers were ejected and injured, while one was airlifted to a hospital in Atlanta. One of the passengers, Mary Joy Moosman, would later pass away from her injuries.

May 17

Hike Bike Run donations reach $104 and counting

VALLEY — The 2024 Hike/Bike/Run fundraiser for Valley Haven School has exceeded its $100,000 goal. The fundraising total was around $104,000.

May 22

Georgia Primary election sees new and old faces get seats

Results came in late during the Georgia’s primary election. Erin Hackley was reelected Troup County Coroner, James Woodruff as Sheriff, Jackie Taylor as Clerk of the Superior Court. With so many races in the primary, results came in late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. Some of the new faces were elected to the school board, including Tripp Foster for District 6 which encompasses West Point.

May 31

Chick-fil-A announced

The city of Valley will be welcoming a new Chick-fil-A location according to a press release from the Chambers County Development Authority (CCDA). The restaurant will be located at the intersection of US Highway 29 and 33rd Street.

June 1

KIA begins EV9 assembly

The 2025 Kia EV9 is the first electric vehicle assembled in the state of Georgia and joins the award-winning Telluride, Sorento, and Sportage SUVs currently assembled at Kia’s West Point facility.

June 7

The VTN announces new office location

The Valley Times-News announced its official move into its new office at the Merritt Building in Valley on Monday, June 10. The building, located at 4002 20th Ave Suite E, Valley, AL, is on 20th Avenue just past exit 79. Once there, the newspaper’s office can be found at the last suite of the building facing 20th Ave.

June 18

ESL for ALL: Southern Union offers English as a Second Language class in LaFayette

The city of LaFayette will be welcoming a free-to-all satellite English as a Second Language (ESL) course from Southern Union State Community College this summer.

June 18

Troup Softball rallies around Arnold during her road to recovery

The Troup High softball sisterhood is one such family. The bonds and tethers that bind the Troup softball program so closely together were shattered last month when one of their own, Hadilee Arnold, was involved in a tragic car accident that left her in stable but critical condition. As Arnold continues to make small and large strides in what will be a long recovery, her softball family is there for her every step of the way.

June 19

Scott beats Davis in runoff for District 3 Commission

Rex Scott beat incumbent Lewis Davis in a runoff election for the District 3 Commission seat, won the seat outright in June. Scott will represent West Point. Brian Jack beat Mike Dugan for the U.S. Congressional Republican nomination, later winning the seat against Maura Keller. 

June 21

Joyride for Mary Joy

The “Jeeping for Joy ride for Mary Joy” took place yesterday, which saw over 100 cars, motorcycles, and jeeps escorted from Troup High School, through the county and ended at Johnny’s. The ride was in celebration of Troup High senior Mary Joy Moosman’s eighteenth birthday, after her abrupt passing due to a car accident on May 16. Proceeds from the event went to the Mary Joy Moosman Foundation, which funds scholarships for THS students.