Commander speaks time at Robins; Commissioners hear positive report from library system

PERRY — Col. Johari Hemphill has spent over a year as Commander of the 78th Air Base Wing on Robins Air Force Base. In Tuesday’s Houston County Commissioner’s meeting, he had a chance to recount his time so far at Robins. 

Hemphill has been in the Air Force for 27 years and has been all over the world. He has two kids, ages 26 and 19.  

“We do it for [our kids] and make sure we are building a foundation for them to be great in their own lives,” he said at the meeting. 

In the Air Force, Hemphill worked for the State Department, Defense Logistics Agency and for the Peruvian Air Force for two and a half years. 

Hemphill said Robins has three missions that define them: mission readiness, culture and community partnerships. 

He said those partnerships are give, give relationships that are not transactional. 

“We’re a family and Middle Georgia is incredible,” he said. 

Hemphill said he hopes Houston County can continue being a voice and an advocate for Robins Air Force Base.  

Commissioners also heard from Judith Malone, Director of the Houston County Public Library System. She gave updates on how the library fared this past year. 

Malone said at the meeting that the library system reached their goal of breaking over 3,000 participants in the summer reading program. In Fiscal Year 26 Malone said the library system held over 700 programs and a total of over 26,000 readers participated. 

There has also been an increase in library card holders. Malone said it was over 1,000 with also 18,000 more visitors in FY26. 

Going forward, Malone said the library system is looking to get more adult related programs such as yoga, mahjong and book clubs. 

“We’re excited about the future and we are happy to have your continued support,” Malone said.