The celebration of the 2016 observance of National Community Development Week, will continue through April 1, with a variety of events during the week highlighting the city’s Community Development Block Grant program. The CDBG program is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program that provides grants to states, cities and counties to devise neighborhood approaches to improve the physical, economic and social conditions in communities. The celebration in Valdosta will kick off with Mayor John Gayle issuing a proclamation supporting the CDBG program. The proclamation will be presented to the Neighborhood Development staff at 10 a.m. in the Mayor’s office. For a complete listing of the week’s activities visit Valdosta Today.com
Valdosta’s jobless rate increased in February, according labor statistics. Valdosta’s jobless rate for February was 5.6 percent, up from 5.3 percent in January. The number of jobless persons in Valdosta is now at 3,508. However, the number of jobs in Valdosta increased by 700, to 55,500 from 54,800 in January. The labor department reports that the increase came in the service-related industries such as trade, transportation and warehousing, along with federal, state and local government. The South Georgia regional unemployment rate in February was 6.1 percent, up from 5.8 percent in January.
Another execution date has been set for a Georgia death row inmate. The execution of Kenneth Fults has been scheduled for April 12. Fults was convicted of killing Cathy Bounds, who was shot five times. Prosecutors say Fults killed Bounds after breaking into her house during a week-long crime spree. Another Georgia inmate, Joshua Bishop, is set to be executed March 31.
The Valdosta Fire Department has partnered with the Georgia Department of Labor to host a Public Safety Career Expo, on Tuesday, April 12, from 12–3 p.m., at Valdosta Fire Station No. 1. The event preps citizens who are interested in learning more about careers in the Public Safety field. Local and state public safety agencies will be featured at the Expo. Expo attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resumes, as several participating agencies will be accepting job applications. This event is open to the public and is free of charge. To learn more information, contact Administrative Battalion Chief Johnny Henry at 229-333-1837.
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a Scam Alert warning citizens about tax scams. Georgia is 12th in the nation in the number of victims of such crimes and the cost so far to Georgia victims is as much as $700 thousand dollars. Phone and email scammers have advanced their operations into the business sector causing the release of the personal information of employees. Nationally IRS officials put the amount taken by this criminal activity at $29 million dollars.
The re-call effort in Camilla continues to gain ground as a group calls for the ouster of four of their city council members ousted. Petitions have been submitted calling for the removal of Annie Willingham, Vivian Smith Bryan Campbell and Danny Palmer. The main allegation against the council members is that they have failed to provide adequate representation for their constituents. This is the second attempt at a recall; the first one failed to gain ground.
