Official welcomed back from health scare with playful jab

It didn’t take long for a Macon-Bibb County commissioner to get back into the flow of business following a health scare.

Virgil Watkins returned this week to his first commission meeting since sustaining a brain aneurysm in September. His reappearance Tuesday came early in the morning when Commissioner Bert Bivins presented him to the commission — earning applause, handshakes and welcomes from those in attendance.

Watkins quickly resumed as if he’d never left, asking questions about agenda items such as a street light overhaul. When the Operations and Finance Committee meeting commenced, Commissioner Gary Bechtel made Watkins feel right at home by taking a playful jab at his colleague.

“Welcome back Commissioner Watkins, who missed a number of meetings,” Bechtel said. “They’ve moved a lot faster when you were gone, but we’re glad to have you back.”

This story was originally published October 14, 2016 at 4:38 PM with the headline "Official welcomed back from health scare with playful jab."