You are probably wondering about the title. As it turns out, we’ve got a new news director heading our way. She’s currently an executive producer at WCAU in Philadelphia. Her name is Anne Holmes, and she’ll join us May 29.

Welcome to west Georgia/east Alabama!

I’m having some serious Las Vegas withdrawals. It’s been another Friday night without my favorite show. Yeah, I’ve got all the DVDs, but it’s not the same as new episodes.

Tonight was possibly the last story for a while on Cusseta, Alabama. I’ve been covering that little community faithfully since September, and today it was reinstated as a city. We try not to get involved emotionally with a story, but I’ve gotten to know quite a few people there. I was beaming inside with happiness for them this afternoon.

Here’s my version of it from our site at WTVM.com:

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Cusseta Reinstated As City; Council, Mayor Appointed

History was made in Chambers County Monday afternoon. Cusseta, Alabama, was reinstated as a city for the first time since the Civil War. With the stroke of his pen, Chambers County Probate Judge John Crowder made it official.

“Cusseta, Alabama, re-exists,” said Crowder.

Cusseta was first incorporated in 1853, but was forgotten after the Civil War until last September.

“I’m glad to see it all come about, and we can all move forward and know which direction we’re going to go in now,” said Bug Weldon, a Cusseta resident.

It was not an easy road as petitions were filed to keep it from being reinstated. Chambers County finally agreed to it Monday only if Cusseta de-annexed 400 acres of land for an industrial park.

“The corporate limits of Cusseta would have been set, and there would not have been any avenue for the Chambers County commission to come back and have this property available for future industrial prospects,” said Skip McCoy, attorney for Chambers County.

Once Judge Crowder signed the order, the new town council took its oath.

“I feel very honored by this. I hope I can do a good job. I will do the best that I can to help Cusseta,” said Robert Gay, a new council member.

Gay, along with Ann Alsobrook, Perry Vajda, Stanley Newton and George Waller make up the council. Attorney Kent Lauderdale has worked tirelessly for this moment, and his reward is being appointed mayor.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet, but I’m sure it will by the time I get home. That’s the question I wasn’t prepared for because I really wasn’t expecting to be mayor. It hasn’t sunk in,” Lauderdale said.

However, he said this process was a drop in the bucket compared to what’s around the corner.

“Our first year is probably going to be our toughest year. All of us have to learn, including myself, how to operate a city the way it’s supposed to be operated so this doesn’t happen again,” said Lauderdale.

Cusseta will hold its first council meeting next Monday night. The biggest order of business is to de-annex the 400 acres of land for the industrial park site.

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All I can say is “Wow!” I wasn’t there (hey, I’ll have free sideline passes all season long), but I can’t believe an A-Day game filled Bryant-Denny Stadium to capacity.

University of Alabama officials expected maybe 60,000 fans for Nick Saban’s first spring game. Holy cow… they had to turn people away because every last one of the 92,138 seats were filled.

Roll Tide, baby! This season is going to be fun. If for no other reason, it’s because we finally have hope again!

What a day. It’s one you hope to never see, but it happened in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Please say a prayer for the families and loved ones involved in today’s massacre.