Georgia Power to host golf tournament

VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Valdosta Citizens of Georgia Power chapter will host its Fourth Annual Golf Tournament Sept. 27.

The tournament will benefit Lowndes County Relay for Life and Southside Recreation Center, according to organizers. The event will take place at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club.

Citizens of Georgia Power is a 501-C4 statewide service organization and consists of Georgia Power employees. There are more than 40 chapters across the state. The organization’s top objective is aiding communities through service projects and fundraisers for charities.

For more details, contact Indira Stephens, 229-241-2250, or Tina Daniel, 229-241-2279.

Elderly man dies in Camilla house fire

CAMILLA, Ga. — Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens said fire investigators wouldn’t be able to determine the exact cause of Tuesday’s fire in a home located at 3834 Drewery Road in Camilla that killed an elderly man. Roy Williams, 82, who was confined to a hospital bed, died in the fire that broke out about 2:45 p.m., Hudgens said. Investigators from his office worked the fire scene with the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. Due to the extensive damage to the structure caused by the fire, the exact origin and cause remain undetermined, Hudgens said. An autopsy performed Wednesday morning by the GBI determined that Williams died from smoke inhalation, the commissioner said. Mitchell County Fire Chief Jamie Sullivan told our news partners at WALB that when crews arrived they tried to get Williams out of the house but were unable to.

Veterans Service offices to close for annual training

DALTON, Ga. — Offices of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service will be closed July 23-27. The closure affects all veterans field service offices whose employees will spend the week participating in annual training. “This training is necessary to ensure our employees maintain certification and stay updated on the latest changes to regulations governing veterans benefits,” said George Canavaggio, assistant commissioner for field operations and appeals. All offices will reopen on Monday, July 30. Contact information for field service offices is listed at veterans.georgia.gov/field-offices; veterans may also call 404-656-2300 for directory assistance. In case of an emergency, veterans are advised to call the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs directly at 800-827-1000.

Rabies alert issued near Branford

BRANFORD, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health – Suwannee County issued a rabies alert Thursday morning for the southern part of the county.

The rabies alert comes in response to a confirmed case of rabies in a skunk.

The alert is for 60 days.

The center of the alert is 252nd Street to the north, U.S. Highway 129 to the west, State Road 247 to the south and 77th road to the east.

All residents and visitors in Suwannee County should be aware that rabies are present in the wild animal population and domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated, according to DOH-Suwannee.

The health department asks the public to maintain a heightened awareness to rabies being active in the county, including those areas not named in an alert.

Animals with rabies can infect other animals not vaccinated. According to DOH-Suwannee, wildlife contact should be avoided, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes.

Rabies are a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm-blooded animals, including humans. The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies-specific immune globulin and rabies immunization.

Southern Georgia Area Agency on Aging to hold public hearings

TIFTON, Ga. — The Southern Georgia Regional Commission’s Area Agency on Aging will host an Area Plan Public Hearing to collect the community’s input about aging services and how best to meet the needs of Southern Georgia’s elderly population.  The meeting is set for 10 a.m. — noon, Aug. 2 at the Leroy Rogers Senior Center. This local Area Plan Public Hearing will be held in conjunction with a Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services State Plan on Aging Public Hearing.  Therefore, attendees will have the unique opportunity to provide input to state staff tasked with designing a strategic plan as well as to local aging staff tasked with preparation of a plan specific to Southern Georgia. The public is encouraged to attend.  Online registration is appreciated, but is not required at https://aysps.wufoo.com/forms/living-long-safely-and-well-in-georgia/. For more information, contact Betty Bryant at bbryant@sgrc.us.