Citizens Police Academy Begins Sept. 17. There are only seven vacant spots in the Citizens Police Academy-the nine-week course designed to educate citizens about the services provided by the VPD. To register for the course on a first-come, first served basis, citizens should contact Officer Vernotis Williams at (229) 292-7785. The academy is scheduled on nine consecutive Thursday evenings, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., beginning on Sept. 17. Citizens must be at least 18 years of age and complete an application, background check and release of liability form.

Traffic Reduced on Gornto Road for Force Main Installation. Installation of the force main under a portion of Gornto Road, adjacent to the YMCA, is ahead of schedule and could be completed as early as Tuesday-three days ahead of schedule. Until then, traffic on Gornto Road will be reduced to one lane between the railroad tracks and the main entrance of the YMCA daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the road will reopen at the end of each duty day. Motorists are urged to take an alternate route during the construction or allow additional travel time to account for the expected traffic delays. Click here for more information.

Smoke Testing Continues. Smoke testing of the city's sanitary sewer collection system will continue this week. Click here to see areas where crews are expected to complete work this week and to get additional information.

LED Roadway Lighting Installation Continues.  Georgia Power will continue replacing street light fixtures located on city streets-some of more than 3,600 Valdosta street light fixtures that will be replaced over the next four months. Click here to access more information or call Georgia Power Account Manager Robby Hastings at (888) 660-5890.

Traveling Photo Displayed at Valdosta Daily Times. The winning photos in the 2015 Valdosta People's Choice Photo Contest are part of a traveling photo display. This week the photos are on display at Grassroots Coffee in beautiful Downtown Valdosta through August 28.

This Week on Metro Valdosta 17. Click here to watch the most recent City Focus, Show #2015-16, which includes the following stories brought to you by Media Coordinator Marcus McConico: Valdosta Fire Department collects cans for burn survivors, VPD gets new body cameras, Smoke Testing continues in the city, Walking trails available throughout city, 9/11 remembrance event; Red Cross Disaster Relief interview with Terri Jenkins, Ruth K. Council street renaming, Bicycle safety; LED Roadway Lighting and more. Citizens can also view City Focus on demand from the city's YouTube channel, at Metro 17 Valdosta, or tune in to City Focus six times a day on Mediacom Channel 17 at 4 a.m., 7 a.m., noon, 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.

For Information on these stories and more, contact Public Information Officer Sementha Mathews at (229) 259-3548 or at [email protected].