WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — While we celebrate Independence Day, 13WMAZ is also celebrating the booming growth in Warner Robins and the rest of the county.
It's no secret that Houston County has been growing for some time, but unless you're a census expert, you might not know just how sharp the growth curve is.
'EXPLOSIVE GROWTH ROCKS HOUSTON COUNTY'
Here's a stat that'll grab your attention: Since 2000 Houston County's population has grown more than 40%. But what might be even more telling is the growth that happened before that.
Manicured lawns, streets that seem to stretch forever, and brand new neighborhoods are popping up all over Houston County, and the construction crews that build them are as busy as ever.
"I'll be honest with you, it's probably the hottest it's been in years," says Jim Taylor of Warner Robins Building Supply.
Taylor does business development for a company with a long track record of construction in Houston County.
"Warner Robins Building Supply was started in 1947, so we're in our 72nd year," Taylor said.
Taylor says the county's growth dates back nearly as far as the company.
"I believe it's been decades," Taylor said. "As long as I can remember -- I moved here in '73 -- but Houston County has always had positive numbers."
United States Census Data confirms it.
From 1940 to 2010 the county grew from just over 10,000 people to an estimated more than 150,000. Every 10 years the county's population has spiked. The average percent growth between censuses is more than 45%.
For comparison, over the same 70-year span, Bibb County averaged just under 10%, and the vast majority of that growth happened before 1970.
Ed Barker remembers Houston County before all that happened.
"This was nothing but a farming community," Barker said.
He came to the county in 1941 and by 1964, he led the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce. Now April Bragg is in charge.
"I can tell she's got her act together," Barker said.
A lot has changed in the years between them, but as for what keeps people coming, Bragg says some of Houston County's biggest draws have stayed the same: Robins Air Force Base, a strong school system, and a growing business community.
"We have small town values, but the resources of a much larger, growing metropolis," Bragg said.
As for what comes next for the county, Bragg said that's anyone's guess. She doesn't think the growth is slowing down anytime soon.
One trend that is evident, Jim Taylor says more and more construction is moving to the southern part of the county, especially in places like Bonaire and Kathleen.
That's exactly where Houston County Schools Superintendent Mark Scott says they have plans to make more room for students.
POPULATION GROWTH IMPACTS HOUSTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
More people moving into Houston County often means more families will settle into the schools. Kaynetha Walker moved to Houston County from New York with her family in 2017.
"This is my daughter now as of a year ago, this is my husband and I, and this is my little nugget Christopher," she said.
As a mother and an elementary school teacher, she said education was a major factor on deciding where to live.
"It was primarily based off of the school system and kind of choosing that perfect trifecta of schools between elementary, middle schools, and high schools, and it kind of lead us to Kathleen," Walker said.
She and thousands of others had the same idea.
Houston County Schools Superintendent Mark Scott keeps a close eye on their student population growth.
"Over 10 years we've grown about 3,500 students," Scott said.
The Houston County School System enrolled 29,770 students in during the 2018-2019 school year.
Scott says they're seeing the most growth in Bonaire and Kathleen, making Bonaire Elementary and Middle the county's largest elementary and middle schools.
"We are in the stages of building a new elementary that would serve primary age students which would be Pre-K through 2nd grade in the Bonaire area," he said.
Voters approved ESPLOST funds for the new elementary school and to add to Veterans High School, which now holds 1,650 students.
"We are planning in the next couple of years to do a 750-student addition at Veterans High School. That should put us in really good shape for a long time," Scott said.
Scott says they also have a tentative plans for a new middle school which could open in 2023.
If the new middle school gets approved, Scott says they would discuss attendance rezoning plans, but they have not yet picked a location.
WARNER ROBINS KNOWN FOR SUPPORTIVE ACRONYM
There's no doubt Warner Robins brims with spirit, but the city goes a step further. They've coined a phrase to show their support to troops on the base and around the country.
"I got to be honest when we moved here 14 years ago, and I saw all the shrubs up on Watson, I was like, 'EDIMGIAFAD?' What does that even mean?" said Chesanne Thompson.
"And then a friend of mine said, 'Every Day in Middle Georgia is Armed Forces Appreciation Day?' and I said, 'Oh, yeah, because of the base, right?' and she was like, 'Not just because of the base, but because of everybody who serves in the military,'" Thompson said.
All over town you'll see the acronym. In 2015 the county commission put it front and center on the patriotic water tower. But this dates back a lot further -- all the way to 1968.
"Wherever they go in the USA they would see this acronym, and we would be sincere for our thanks for their service," said Doctor Dan Callahan, who came up with the slogan.
It began as 'Every Day in Middle Georgia is Armed Forces Appreciation Day,' and then it evolved to say 'Every Day in the USA is Armed Forces Appreciated Day.'
PHOTOS: Warner Robins Independence Day Concert 2019
When Doctor Callahan passed in 2016, his words lived on, and in 2005 the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce began handing out the Community Leadership Award in remembrance of him.
"He bequeathed the copyrights to 'Every Day in the USA is Armed Forces Appreciation Day' to Happy Hour. It allows us to have ownership of the logo and the acronym, and to use it on products we chose to sell as merchandise to sell and raise funds," said Associate Director for Happy Hour Mike Brashear.
Happy Hour is a nickname for the Houston County Association for the Exceptional Citizens, a charity where Doctor Callahan was heavily involved.
McCall's Sandwich Shop has been in business for 30 years and this sits on the side of their building. Owner Ken McCall says the mural and the words welcome airmen to town.
"It's heartwarming to me to see people come and have their picture made in front of it," said McCall.
It's a string of words, a mere phrase that speaks volumes to those in uniform.
"I grew up as a military brat and lived in nine different states, and Warner Robins tops them all for military support," said Lieutenant Colonel Tasha Folds.
The acronym is not the only thing that has endured through the years. One burger restaurant has had the menu down pat for nearly three decades.
BURGER RESTAURANT STANDS THE TEST OF TIME
A staple of Independence Day is really good food, and Mike's Hot Dogs and Hamburgers has served the International City in three different locations.
"After 10 years, Walmart moved, so I moved, and I found this location in 2000 on Russell [Parkway] and everything else is history," said owner, Mike Wellon.
With the help of his wife Rita, Wellon serves up mammoth-sized burgers and hot dogs covered in coleslaw and chili, while building relationships along the way.
"29 years, you see people grow up in this town. Actually people that have been eating with me for years and years will bring their children in, and then they grow up and start bringing their children in," Wellon said.
Matthew Collins of We Care Heating and Air has been coming to Mike's since he was a child and now bring his own family.
"When you bring them in here, you just feel welcome. It feels like a community-type place and it's a big part of our community. It's a staple," Collins said.
While watching people grow, Wellon has seen the city grow with them.
"I'm not going to lie, it gets harder and harder every year," Wellon said. "You've got more competition, but we have endured."
Wellon said that's because of his commitment to good customer service, a fun atmosphere full of cartoon characters, monster movies, and superheroes, and really good burgers and hot dogs.
He said he's not worried about standing the test of time.
"If I come here everyday and do what I've got to do and be good to my customers, that's all I've got to do. That's all I do, and I don't have to worry about anything else," Wellon said.
All through Wellon's restaurant are models of Godzilla, King Kong, and superheroes. He says that's because he never quite grew up and thinks that's a big part of his success.
Mike's is located at 823 Russell Parkway and is open every day but Sunday.
WARNER ROBINS GIRLS SOFTBALL
One thing Houston County knows about is sports.
Ten years ago, the Warner Robins Little League Softball Team made history by winning the World Series title in Portland, Oregon.
That win placed Warner Robins Little League in an exclusive club --- The only city to boast both a baseball and softball World Championship team.
Several young ladies from that 2009 team are reliving their one shining moment.
"I remember the beginning of the season, all of us being super excited to go to Oregon before we even knew we were actually going or that was our goal... and then for us to actually follow through with it was pretty cool," said Kelly Warner.
Ten years ago this summer, a dozen pre-teen girls, three coaches, and an army of support set out on a mission for a Little League World Softball title or bust.
"Everything was so new and just the community support, and then the more we won, the bigger the community support got, and it's just something we'll never forget," said Avery Lamb.
A group of determined young ladies playing the game they loved the most and they were pretty good at it, winning 17 out of 18 contests during their All-Star Run, creating an unbreakable bond.
"We were just such a close team, and we always wanted to do everything together. Nothing that we wanted to do was separate. So the thing I remember most is our team being a family," Ashley Killebrew said.
The girls say that family atmosphere followed them on and off the diamond. Some of the moments that have remained near and dear to them actually happened outside of balls and strikes.
"The fun times in the dugout, fun time in the batting cages, and all the memories that we made not even playing, it's just other memories, the laughs and memories with my friends," said Carson Carriker.
Those memories created life lessons that helped these young ladies continue to champion beyond the sport.
"At the time I didn't really appreciate when someone got a good hit even a single and how the whole dugout smiled. Now I can really cherish that, because I'm about to be a teacher, so if one of my students gets a problem right it's like the same kind of feeling when my teammates get a good hit or catch a good ball, something really nice," Killebrew said.
It's a feeling they say won't go away, because the community still has pride in the Little League girls who put the International City back on the map not once, but twice.
"You win it the first time, and you're like it's a once in a lifetime thing, and then you win it a second time, and you're like, 'wow how many people can honestly say that.' I'm 21 now and I still have people come up to me and say, 'you're the one that won the Little League World Series team,' and you don't think it's something that big, and you're still getting recognized by it 10 years later, so you realize how big it was," Lamb said.
These days the young ladies say they stay in touch mostly through social media, but will come together later this summer to celebrate Carriker on her wedding day in August.