Of all the words of praise heaped on the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport's new, almost-finished terminal building during a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony Thursday evening, it was the simple turn of phrase by Mayor Dorothy Hubbard that best hit the mark.

"You only get one chance to make a lasting and favorable first impression," Hubbard said.

Hubbard and other dignitaries gathered at the airport terminal Thursday to get what was, for most in attendance, a first look at the $10 million structure, which is scheduled to open for public use on July 31. The new terminal will replace the airport's aging McAfee Terminal, which has served airport customers for more than five decades and is scheduled for demolition immediately after the new terminal opens.

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