Habersham County celebrates completion of Recent Airport Projects

Habersham County officials, special guests, and members of the local flying community paused Tuesday, July 9, to celebrate the completion of the recent runway overlay, ramp expansion, and runway object free area (ROFA) projects. The projects have been years in the making and poise the airport for future growth and increased use by both field-based and transient aircraft. “It would be impossible to introduce every person who played a part in this monumental task, going back to the very beginnings of this airport,” said Habersham County Manager Alicia Vaughn. “Some of those who were instrumental in the early days of this facility are here today, while some already have passed on.” Two men who pulled a measuring tape to lay out the original airport were present and cut the ribbon on Tuesday, Dean Swanson and former state Sen. John C. Foster. Also present were Don Higgins, one of the airport’s early pilots and former longtime mayor of Cornelia, and Jackie Sherwood, whose late husband Charles Sherwood was a fixture at the airport. Also recognized Tuesday were current members of the Habersham County Airport Commission, including Chairman D. Higgins, Lawrence Bridges, Chris Limbach, and Justin Schapansky. Airport Commission member Andy Anderson was unable to attend. Damon Carr and Danny Doyle from the Georgia Department of Transportation joined Habersham County Commissioners Bruce Palmer and Jimmy Tench and former longtime Airport Commission Chairman Ken Schubring in the audience. Cornelia City Manager Donald Anderson, Cornelia Ward 1 Commissioner Mark Reed, and Cornelia Ward 4 Commissioner Tony Cook also joined the celebration. Helicopters from the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Division and Air Methods’ Air Life Georgia 2 (which is based at the airport) framed the ribbon-cutting event. Event expenses were underwritten by Lead Edge Design Group and Bob & Ted’s Trophy Shop in Clarkesville.