Update 2022-12-14: Pictures: Barack Obama Blvd. @ Ricardo St. 2022-12-01.
“In Conjunction With Valdosta Block Club” has been pasted onto the Pepsi Adopt-A-Spot sign. Thanks to whoever did that.
![[Old, new, improved]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-28--pepsi-sign-obama-blvd/many.jpg)
In our previous episode, Continue reading
Tag Archives: Valdosta
Good river water quality 2022-08-25
Update 2022-09-02: Good river water quality 2022-09-01.
WWALS got good water quality results downstream on the Withlacoochee River for Thursday, and good upstream results for the Withlacoochee, Little, and Alapaha Rivers. Valdosta’s Wednesday and Monday results concur. So happy fishing, swimming, and boating this weekend.
![[Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide 2022-08-25]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-25--wq/many.jpg)
Chart, Rivers, Swim Guide 2022-08-25
No new sewage spills were reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Georgia or Florida. We did get an update on the Quitman spill of week before last; see below.
Of course, there was some heavy rainfall upstream in spots, and that could wash something into the river. But by the test results we have now, have a good time on the water. Continue reading
WWALS receives ARPA nonprofit grant via City of Valdosta 2022-08-16
WWALS thanks the City of Valdosta, especially Council Vivian Miller-Cody and Andy Gibbs, as well as the Committee led by Michael Smith, for a grant of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
![[Council, Committee]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-16--valdosta-arpa-funding/many.jpg)
Malia Thomas, Valdosta Daily Times, August 16, 2022, City awards local nonprofits ARPA funding,
VALDOSTA — More than 30 Valdosta area nonprofits agencies have been awarded their share of American Rescue Plan funds.
Continue reading
Videos: Suwannee Riverkeeper about Songwriting Contest on Scott James Radio 2022-08-18
Thanks to Scott James for half an hour of radio time Thursday, mostly about the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest. The Contest is 7-11 PM today, Saturday, August 20, 2022, at the Turner Center Art Park, 605 N. Patterson St., Valdosta GA 31601.
For entry tickets and how you can get a raffle ticket for that Vibe Yellowfin 120 kayak donated by Georgia Beer Co., see:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-20–songwriting/
![[Mayor, Plaques, Sponsors]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-18--scott-james-radio-videos/many.jpg)
Who’s going to draw the winning kayak raffle ticket? The one and only hippie, kayaking, radio Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson.
Which of the five Finalists will MC Chuck Roberts announce as winners Continue reading
Good Withlacoochee River water quality 2022-08-18
Update 2022-08-26: Good river water quality 2022-08-25.
All clear for fishing, swimming, and boating on the Little, Withlacoochee, and Alapaha Rivers this weekend, according to the latest water quality results we have.
![[Chart, Rivers, Plates]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-18--wq/many.jpg)
There hasn’t been enough rain to wash any significant contamination into the creeks and rivers, no, not even Okapilco Creek.
The only sewage spill in the past week we know of is the Valdosta one last Sunday near Sugar Creek on Meadowbrook Drive at Gornto Road. That one, like the other four Valdosta spills this summer, was probably too small and fixed too quickly to have any detectable effect on the Withlacoochee River. We still don’t know Continue reading
Judges, Headliner change, raffle kayak, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20
Hahira, Georgia, August 18, 2022 — We’re announcing our singing judges, and raffle tickets still available for the kayak Georgia Beer Co. donated. But we also have to say the pandemic is not over. A key member of one of our headliners went to Atlanta to hear a famous band and came back with COVID-19.
So our new second headliner is Dirty Bird and the Flu, from Valdosta, Georgia. “Funky-blues-soul-fusion born straight out of the South Georgia swamps and a charismatic front-man who catches comparisons of all the famous soul singers. No two shows are ever the same!”
![[Flyer]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-20--songwriting/big/Flyer-2022-SuwRK-Songwriting-Contest-0001.jpg)
Our first headliner is Sweet William Billy Ennis from Palatka, Florida, our First Prize winner last year. “His fifty years of original songs cover Continue reading
Refurbished Pepsi Adopt-A-Spot sign, Barack Obama Blvd., Valdosta, GA 2022-08-17
Update 2022-08-28: Valdosta Block Club added to Pepsi sign at Barack Obama and Ricardo 2022-08-28.
Valdosta has replaced the Adopt-A-Spot sign at the corner of Barack Obama Blvd. and Ricardo Street. The sign looks much better now.
![[Old and new sign]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-17--pepsi-adopt-a-spot-obama/many.jpg)
But it no longer mentions Valdosta Block Club. That’s the organization former City Council James Wright started to help with Adopt-A-Spot, which he also spearheaded. Valdosta Block Club was featured in his obituary. I guess that’s not important anymore. Continue reading
Personnel and trash at Valdosta City Council 2022-08-11
It wasn’t us this time.
Council Sandra Tooley brought up trash, Click ‘n’ Fix, and Valdosta’s favorite excuse for not doing much: “we’re short on staff“ and “A lot of people have a lot of things going on in their departments.” This was in the last five minutes of the August 11, 2022, Valdosta City Council meeting.
![[Council Sandra Tooley requests Executive Session about personnel and trash]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-11--vcc-valdosta/sandra-tooley.jpg)
Council Sandra Tooley requests Executive Session about personnel and trash
The Mayor said they had a request for an Executive Session, and asked for a motion. Council Tim Carroll wondered why.
Council Sandra Tooley explained, “Citizens have come to me, and they have this thing they like to say, that we do not have enough staff, that we’re short on staff, that we’re not getting things done.”
See for yourself in this excerpt of Valdosta’s own facebook live video of the meeting. Continue reading
Trash behind Family Dollar, Inner Perimeter, Valdosta, GA 2022-08-08
Bobby McKenzie wrote Monday, “I swear I’m not looking for these! I just pulled into Family Dollar by my house to get a drink….which I never do and it’s staring me in the face.
![[Trash down ditch beside Family Dollar, Inner Perimeter]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-08--trash-family-dollar-inner-perimeter-valdosta/many.jpg)
Trash down ditch beside Family Dollar, Inner Perimeter
Bobby added, “Any meeting discussing ways to fix this problem MUST HAVE City Marshalls in it!”
Seems like that would be necessary, since City Marshals are supposed to enforce Valdosta’s ordinances, which include parking lot owners are supposed to have so many garbage cans per number of parking spaces, and are not supposed to let trash off their property.
This is Family Dollar #10742, at 3820 Inner Perimeter Road, Valdosta, GA 31602. That’s next just across Barack Obama Blvd. from the old Valdosta High School. That drainage ditch appears to go towards Northway Community Church, and seems to be uphill from a row of houses on Highland Heights Lane. This trash may wash down past Newbern Middle School. Continue reading
Five Finalists, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20
Hahira, Georgia, August 11, 2022: Five finalists have been selected to play at the Finals of the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, coming from Tallahassee and Gainesville, Florida, and Lake Park, Valdosta, and Adel, Georgia.
“I’m very excited to hear everyone sing!” said organizing committee chair Angela Duncan. ”It’s going to be a great event.”
That’s 7-11 PM, Saturday, August 20, 2022, at the Turner Center Art Park in Valdosta, Georgia.
![[Songwriters Banner]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2022-08-20--songwriting/songbanner.jpg)
Kyle Chamberlain of Lake Park, GA; David Rodock of Adel, GA;
Emmett Carlisle of Gainesville, FL; Kevin Stephenson of Valdosta, GA;
Tracy Horenbein from Tallahassee, FL
Chuck Roberts will be the Master of Ceremonies. Continue reading