Letter to the Editor
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From: City Manager, Keri Orvin
When I think about what it means for a city to turn 150 years old, I struggle to put it into words. Our Sesquicentennial, say that 5 times fast! Haha. It is humbling to imagine what our founders and the original citizens of 1875 would think if they could see Baxley today. Some would surely be proud of how far we’ve come, and others might be shocked at the pace of change, but all would recognize that our community has remained anchored by resilience, hard work, and heart.
I am deeply grateful for the generations of families who built this town and continue to invest in its future. I am equally grateful for those who chose Baxley as their new home, whether for a fresh start or a new job, and who have become woven into the fabric of who we are. Our story has always been one of people, those who stayed, those who returned, and those who arrived and made Baxley their own.
Last year, when we realized 2025 marked our city’s 150th anniversary, the Baxley Mayor and City Council wanted to create something meaningful, something that honored our history while celebrating our future, and they funded this celebration. Without that, the event planning could not have started. We settled on a downtown festival that blended nostalgia with forward-looking pride. A committee formed and immediately began working nonstop. The original committee included John Thomas Kimbrel, Wayne Mullis, Ann Singer, Lee Lewis, Reid Lovett, Bryan Shipes, Chanda Teston, Jaide Stallings, and Matt Carter, with various city council members, former employees, and others attending meetings or offering input along the way. I am profoundly grateful to every single person who contributed along the way.
As many know, the day before the festival, during setup, a mobile home mover caught a power line and pulled down the utilities serving the festival grounds, including the meter base, breaker box, and infrastructure in between. In an instant, live lines and poles lay across U.S. Highway 1. The intersection of U.S. 1 and U.S. 341 was in chaos. We thank God not one person was injured; that alone is a blessing. Given the scale of the damage and the timing, we feared the entire event was in jeopardy. Our first performer was scheduled to take the stage just 18 hours later.
I immediately contacted Joey Barrett with Georgia Power, knowing we had only a slim chance of restoring service in time. What happened next was the definition of community stepping up when it mattered. Within minutes, the Fire Department, Bass electric and GDOT was on the scene to help determine what was needed to get us going again.
Darrick Tillman, who had already been onsite earlier in the week helping us prepare festival lighting, arrived shortly after 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning to reinstall lighting torn down during the incident. Corey Bass and the entire Bass Electric team worked with near-superhuman speed to install a new meter base, breaker box and other accessories. When I asked Darrick whether someone could come connect the power before the first performer, he reassured me that he and his crew would not leave until everything was fully connected and running. And they did exactly that.
Without Georgia Power and Bass Electric stepping in during the early morning hours of festival day, the stage entertainment and concert, central pieces of the celebration, could not have happened.
Several others deserve tremendous recognition.
Pineland Bank, a pillar of downtown for generations, completed a remarkable renovation of their pavilion leading up to the event. They worked tirelessly to make it a beautiful gathering place, provided Wi-Fi, TVs for the UGA game, and storage space, all of which greatly enhanced the experience for visitors.
WorkWell Office Spaces generously offered a private space for the Swingin’ Medallions to stage and eat before taking the stage. I am truly grateful for Natalie and Jordan’s partnership and investment in our community.
Shaun White provided necessary lighting to brighten darker areas of the festival. Trey Wiggins stepped in at the last minute to provide cold storage when we needed it most. Mi Sombrero, despite losing much of their parking to the event footprint, offered both indoor and outdoor service and were phenomenal partners throughout. Appling County brought over bleachers to provide some seating for the concert.
The Chamber of Commerce, Board of Tourism, Appling County and Heritage Center staffed a booth filled with community items, giveaways, and information, which was a valuable addition. On Friday, countless businesses and individuals wore their Baxley 150 shirts, creating a wave of shared excitement. Additionally, they were on site from the early hours of Saturday morning, until the event was closed at 10 p.m. that night and those partnerships are so special.
Our entertainers, Ash Smith, Casey Robinson, Rachel Arnold, and the Sweetwater Band, brought live music starting at 11:00 a.m., creating an atmosphere enjoyed by festival-goers and curious red-light traffic alike. The buzz downtown lasted all day long.
Our Public Works Department prepared tirelessly for weeks and I cannot say enough about the city employees who take on more and more every year to make our home better. They decorated for Christmas earlier than ever, moved equipment, completed projects, and juggled festival needs alongside their normal duties. Their pride in the community showed in every detail.
Children enjoyed the face painting and balloon artists, and many residents were deeply moved by the banners displaying photos from decades past. People of all ages stopped to reminisce, reconnect, and reflect on our shared story.
We hosted more than 50 vendors, all of whom were cooperative, patient, and positive despite tight space constraints. Our downtown businesses welcomed the crowds with their businesses open late, a partnership critical to the DDA’s vision of revitalizing and strengthening our commercial core.
The Photo Scavenger Hunt, held throughout the week, drew incredible participation. I extend special thanks to Ann Singer for helping locate historic photos and craft meaningful clues.
Just before the Swingin Medallions took the stage, Mayor Tim Varnadore offered remarks and led the crowd in a joint “Happy Birthday Baxley”, and as the confetti cannons popped and the crowd cheered, it seemed like time stopped for just a moment.
As you can tell, no one person or entity is responsible for making this event a success. It takes a collective effort of people that are willing to step forward and contribute time and effort to every detail and I am so very thankful that so many came together for our 150th Anniversary Celebration.
Our City Council members, many of whom have been involved with the city for decades—were proud to welcome the community into the heart of our shared home. I saw people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life enjoying themselves, and the sense of unity was powerful.
Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank the people of Baxley. Everything we do, from planning to setup to cleanup, is done with the hope that the community will come, participate, and enjoy. And you did. All day long. The steady flow of families, friends, and neighbors laughing, listening, exploring, and celebrating made every hour of preparation worth it.
My hope is that every person who lives in Baxley, or simply visits, feels woven into the fabric of who we are. This community belongs to all of us.
As we continue celebrating Baxley’s 150th anniversary, we invite everyone to stop by City Hall to purchase the remaining commemorative items while supplies last. Also, keep an eye out for a special community project coming soon to honor both Baxley and the United States. And please be sure to follow the Downtown Development Authority of Baxley Facebook page for updates on future events and activities.
With heartfelt gratitude, I want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who has shaped this community since its founding in 1875. Here’s to our next 150 years, may they be filled with prosperity, unity, and the same unwavering spirit that built Baxley in the first place.
—Keri Orvin, City Manager
