Ocmulgee National Monument Re-Opens; Employees Ready to Get Back to Work

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Middle Georgia federal employees joined thousands across the country going back to work Thursday, after the 16 day partial government shutdown ended.

Employees at the Ocmulgee National Monument began their day in meetings.

For Tom Sebastian…it was right back to business.

He’s a park guide at the Ocmulgee National Monument and was stuck at home, furloughed, during the shutdown.

“I’m glad to be back to work, I’ve missed being here. It’s one of those jobs one really enjoys. Being laid off like I was, you know, not fun, although I did get a chance to catch up on some projects around the house,” Sebastian said.

Sebastian is one of thousands across the country that woke up energized and ready to be back at work.

Congress approved legislation Wednesday night to re-open the government, allowing federal workers to return to their jobs.

“I called the division chiefs this morning and said ‘Please call your people and get them to work as soon as possible and basically everybody was here by 9 o’clock this morning,” Ocmulgee National Monument Superintendent Jim David said

He says the park’s closure has been rough, and even though entry into the park is free, he thinks a significant amount of money was lost.

“Our association, our bookstore I’m sure lost a fair amount of money, because we had school groups booked in here for basically every day that we have been shutdown,” David said.

David says he and his employees are getting back into the swing of things, with meetings, and scheduling visitors to come to the park.

The Ocmulgee National Monument is back open at its regularly scheduled hours everyday from 9 a.m until 5 p.m