A Valdosta project to upgrade an area of the city will begin two years ahead of schedule. Residents and motorists along Troup Street may face some inconvenience, but the sewer piping, sidewalks, bike lanes paving and other improvements are sure to make it all worthwhile. City officials say that there are even more improvements to come. The SPLOST funded improvements should take eight to nine months to complete.
Congratulations go out to Kemma Paulk of Coffee County. The High School student who is a member of the cheerleading squad will graduate in May and she was named this year’s Prom Queen. Kemma Paulk has accomplished much in her life in spite of having Down syndrome.
Another domestic violence altercation has led to the death of an Albany man, and a woman has been jailed. The police report states that 39 year old Charles Porter died after he was transported to the hospital suffering from a severe stabbing. 34 year old Kamesha Jackson was charged with aggravated assault, however, with Porter’s death the charges are expected to be upgraded to murder.
Residents of the Camilla area continue to mourn the death of Willie Mae Wallace who was killed by her husband Fredrick Murray age 49. Ms. Wallace was packing a bag and preparing to leave their residence when she was killed. The incident led to a six hour standoff with law enforcement but Murray finally surrendered to Troopers with the Georgia State Patrol and has been charged with murder. Wallace was buried over the weekend.
General Motors is recalling more than a million Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks worldwide because the seat belts may not hold the driver in a crash. The company says it covers certain 2014 and 2015 model 1500 pickups. A cable that connects the belts to the trucks can bend when the driver is seated. Over time it can wear and separate, and if that happens, the belts could come loose. The company has told dealers not to sell about 3,000 new 2014 and 2015 trucks until the cables are repaired. The Silverado is GM’s top-selling vehicle, while the Sierra ranks No. 3.
The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center at Valdosta State University will host Start Smart: Expertise for New Businesses April 21-May 26 in the Health Sciences and Business Administration Building Room 2204. The event is sponsored by Guardian Bank, and it is designed specifically for small business owners who have been in business for a minimum of three years or those who are in the beginning stages of the business process. Participants will take part in a series of five sessions, each led by a panel of experienced UGA SBDC consultants from VSU and area organizations. The initial session begins at 9 a.m. April 21st; for more information on the full schedule contact Cindy Corgan at (229) 245-3738.
The information is also listed at Valdostatoday.com. StartSmart sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, April 21; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 28; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 12; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 19; and 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, May 26. Registration is $195 per person. Seating is limited to 20 participants and early registration is encouraged. Visit http://www.georgiasbdc.org/startsmart/ to register and receive the discount.
The Office of Career Opportunities at Valdosta State University will conclude its Spring Employer in Residence Series Tuesday, April 19. Students, alumni and faculty are being invited to attend. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Margie Blanton, human resource officer at WB&T Bankshares Inc., will speak about the career opportunities available to students and alumni in the banking industry. The Employer in Residence Series provides participants with direct employer insight, including individualized career development advice, interview and resume critiques, and job opportunities from expert career advisors.
Prosecutors say that while 49-year-old George H. Bell worked for the Georgia Department of Transportation he accepted cash bribe payments from owners of an unnamed dirt hauling company in 2014. The cleanup cost of the north Georgia site as the result of environmental damage caused by the dumping is estimated at $2.5 million. Prosecutors say Bell who had worked for the DOT for nearly 15 years was paid $15,000 by that company to dump dirt at various DOT sites. His sentencing date is June 29th.
