Feb. 2-6: Severe Weather Preparedness Week. This week has been declared Severe Weather Preparedness Week by Governor Nathan Deal. For more information, call (229) 671-2790 or visit http://www.lowndescounty.com/146/Emergency-Management. 

Feb. 3: Mayor Inspires Local 6^th Graders to Write. Mayor John Gayle will visit with the 6^th grade students of J. L. Newbern Elementary School on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 11 a.m., to inspire them to participate in the "If I Were Mayor, I Would." essay contest. Click here to learn the details about the contest, which is open to all 6^th graders in public, private or home schools.

Feb. 3:Valdosta City Council Meets for Work Session. The Mayor and City Council will meet for a work session on Tuesday, beginning at 5:30 p.m., which allows council members to spend an adequate amount of time discussing agenda items. The meeting is open to the general public and is held in the second-floor Council Chambers of City Hall, at 216 E. Central Avenue.

Feb. 4:Land Bank Authority Meets. Members of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Land Bank Authority will hold a meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 9 a.m., in the City Hall Annex Multi-Purpose Room. This meeting is being held to follow-up on items that were tabled at the Jan. 21 meeting. The Land Bank Authority exists to foster the public purpose of returning property which is in a non-revenue generating, non-tax producing status to effective utilization status in order to provide housing, new industry and jobs for citizens. For information, call (229) 671-3617. 

Feb. 4: Statewide Tornado Drill. As part of the Severe Weather Preparedness Week activities, a statewide tornado drill is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 9 a.m. Lowndes County Emergency Management Director Ashley Tye encourages local public and private schools, businesses, and other organizations to participate. If you have any questions about the tornado drill, evaluating a drill or any other type of assistance, please contact Ashley Tye for assistance at (229) 671-2790 or at [email protected].

Feb. 5:Valdosta City Council Meets. The Mayor and City Council will hold their regularly-scheduled City Council meeting, on Thursday, at 5:30 p.m., in the second-floor City Hall Council Chambers, located at 216 E. Central Avenue. This meeting is open to the general public. Click here to view the agenda.

Feb. 6: First Friday Features Art Walk. Combining the love of art and Historic Downtown Valdosta, the popular First Friday event on Feb. 6 will feature the first of four quarterly Art Walk events. The Art Walk event takes place from 5 - 8 p.m. As always, First Friday also features live music, dining specials, shopping and more of the fun that the community expects on the first Friday of every month, in beautiful downtown Valdosta. Visit www.valdostamainstreet.com for more information, or call (229) 259-3577.