Dalton Police Department to host third Citizens Police Academy in Spanish

DALTON, Ga. — The Dalton Police Department is taking applications for its third annual Spanish language Citizens Police Academy which will be held later this summer. The program mirrors the agency’s main Citizens Police Academy which has been held annually for nearly two decades and will give participants an up-close and behind-the-scenes view of everything the police department does in the community. The class will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Mack Gaston Community Center on Tuesday nights, Aug. 21 and 28 and Sept. 4, 11, 18 and 25. The courses will be led by Spanish-speaking officers and staff from the police department. The department has held a condensed version of the course for Spanish speakers the past two years. Those sessions were met with an enthusiastic response, so this summer the department will be hosting a seven-week course. The program is part of the police department’s strategic plan to improve communication and cooperation with the community. People interested in participating can apply online at daltonpd.com/cpa_espanol.

Live Oak man celebrates birthday with lottery win

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Live Oak man celebrated his 51st birthday last week by winning $2 million in a Florida Lottery scratch-off game.

Koslo Ford claimed one of eight $2 million top prizes from the Monopoly Jackpot Scratch-off game on July 23 at the Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee. Ford turned 51 on July 22.

Ford purchased his winning ticket from Live Oak Liquors, 6830 Suwannee Plaza Lane. Live Oak Liquors will receive a $4,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

The Monopoly Jackpot game launched July 2 and has eight of the $2 million top prizes. Total the game offers more than $176 million in prizes.

The Florida Lottery generated more than $871 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund in FY 2017-18 from scratch-offs.

First Friday ‘Sip and Stroll’ brings summer to a close

THOMASVILLE, Ga. — Kick off the school year in Downtown Thomasville this Friday night, August 3, from 6-10 p.m. for the “Back to School Bash” First Friday Sip and Stroll.  With school beginning again soon, summer vacation will be merely a collection of memories shared with friends before class as kids get back into the rhythm of school life. From 6-8 p.m., a few of Thomasville’s most talented young performers (Stingonometry, Mars and MC Klay) will fill the streets with music as you walk amongst the many shops and restaurants that make Downtown Thomasville the Main Street jewel of South Georgia. Adults can purchase a beer or wine from one of 15 local vendors then “sip and stroll” with our approved disposable cups within the designated area. Keep an eye out for the blue recycling bins around the amphitheater supplied by Keep Thomas County Beautiful as an eco-friendly option for disposing your cups.

Come to The Ritz Amphitheater early to catch a sneak peek of the OBCDA (Off Broad Street Centre for the Dance Arts) and FIRM Dance Company’s upcoming performance of “This Is Me.” Join these talented young dancers at 7:30 p.m. before Crooked Shooz take the stage at 8 p.m. Tallahassee’s Crooked Shooz — led by front man and musical veteran Mark Blair of Honolulu — perform R&B, soul, rock, blues and jazz, and are sure to get the crowd moving as the sun sets over Thomasville.  A few local Downtown vendors will be setting up at the amphitheater during the concert as well.  First Friday Sip and Stroll events are free and open to the public. Smaller acts perform Downtown from 6-8 p.m. The OBCDA FIRM Dance Company performs at The Ritz Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. followed by Crooked Shooz headlining on the main stage from 8-10 p.m. For more information, visit www.thomasvillega.com or call the Thomasville Visitors Center at 229-228-7977.

Valdosta gas prices stay steady

VALDOSTA, Ga. — The price of gasoline in Lowndes County held steady last week even as prices climbed statewide and nationally. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Valdosta Sunday was $2.67, unchanged from the previous Sunday, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report. That put Valdosta in a tie with Dalton for the seventh most expensive gasoline out of 17 Georgia markets monitored by the auto club. The lowest price on record in the city Sunday was $2.54 per gallon at several locations, according to the price tracking website gasbuddy.com. Nationally, the average price of gasoline Sunday was $2.86 per gallon, up two cents in seven days, while the Georgia average of $2.72 per gallon was also up two cents in the same period, according to AAA. In Friday market action, benchmark U.S. crude lost 92 cents, or 1.3 percent, to settle at $68.69 per barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 25 cents to close at $74.29.