Much Ado About Something


Valley Scenes


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by Marquette McRae McKnight


Guests gather in the Powerhouse Lawn on Thursday prior to the opening of the Whitewater course for a party honoring patrons of the River Restoration project. For a community, it doesn’t get better


than May 25, 2013. Sound like a bunch of hype? Well, as


they say, “It aint braggin’ if it’s a fact.” And May 25 was—factually—the day Whitewa- ter, Columbus, opened. It’s been a privilege in this town to be


part of some spectacular occasions in this region: dozens and dozens of fun grand openings, wonderfully glitzy events and some seriously fancy parties, soirees and galas. But I’ve yet to talk with anyone who wasn’t filled with enthusiasm and positive reactions to what this region has engen- dered with the opening of the River Resto- ration project. (OK, OK, I know there are some naysayers out there, but thankfully, they’re not talking to me, and I wouldn’t be listening anyway!) Te weather was unusually cool


for


Memorial Day weekend. Te festivities actually started on Tursday night before the official opening, as a couple of hun- dred early Whitewater supporters gath- ered on the Powerhouse Lawn—what used to be the forebay between the Eagle and Phenix Mill and the river—the first-


AUGUST 2013


ever party to be held in that venue. Te sky was the soſt blue, the kind you some- times see when the sun is setting. Te Chattahoochee River was roaring at high flow; the kayakers were happily playing in the waves below, the band was playing music that evoked great memories, and the party-goers were just flat out having a good time, and the visionaries behind this project were getting … Um, well, maybe giddy isn’t the right


word, but that’s what it looked like as John Turner, Richard Bishop, Mat Swiſt and dozens of other leaders in this project beheld what they had set out to accom- plish—and all the good things that were happening as a result of this River Restora- tion. Leaders and supporters like uber vol- unteer Ed Kinner who was there with wife Marguerite, Bill and Sue Marie Turner, Marc and Marlene Olivié, Newt and Phyl- lis Aaron, Brad and Sallie Turner, Phenix City Mayor Eddie Lowe, John and Sally Martin, Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlin- son and husband Trip, Shaun and Cassie Culligan, David Lewis, Rebecca Har- ris, Robert Watkins, Worth Williams,


Columbus and the Valley


Lane and Chandler Riley, Kelly Rob- erts, Marie Moshell, Joe Smith, Jennifer Lowman, Bob and Stacy Poydasheff, Debbie and Mike Buckner, Katie Bishop with mom Dorris Bishop, Joe Appleton, Richard and Clara Smith, Troy Woods, Stephen Sumner, Ed Sprouse, Billy and Judye Turner, Paul Meadows, Ryan and Sarah Clements, Betsy Covington, and some very special guests, Whitewater Express owner Dan Gilbert with wife Julie and son Daniel Gilbert. Aſter that magical prelude, it was all


hands on deck getting ready for the grand opening. It was another picture-perfect day. Te


rising sun brought a subtle


warmth to a chilly morning—not a drop of the usual summer weekend humidity! Te river was flowing while John Turner, Rich- ard Bishop, Mat Swiſt and mayors Teresa Tomlinson and Eddie Lowe eloquently articulated thoughts about


the culmi-


nation of the project and the economic impact it has already had and will bring, to our community—but more importantly, the way this project has created a bond between our two communities like noth-


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