Submitted photoLangdale Place was named Leading Business of the Week.

Willis honored as city employee

VALDOSTA – Valdosta Mayor John Gayle and Valdosta Fire Department Chief Freddie Broome honored Lt. Dereck Willis as the November 2017 Employee of the Month at the Nov. 9 Valdosta City Council meeting. 

Willis received a framed certificate and a check for $200, and his name appears on a plaque displayed in City Hall, according to city officials.

Willis has been employed with the VFD for nearly 21 years serving as the arson investigator and fire inspector in the fire prevention division. He is responsible for conducting code enforcements, planning reviews and investigating fires. He is also one who always looks out for the needs of others, according to a city press release.

In preparation for Hurricane Irma, the VFD made the administration area of Station No. 1 accessible to firefighters’ family members as a place of comfort during the storm. 

Willis took the initiative to stock the break room with refreshments. While performing his duties during the storm, Willis took the initiative to pick up food for the firefighters who were on the scene working at various emergency incidents, according to the press release. 

“He looked out for the needs of other first responders, making sure they were all fed and hydrated during the response period,” according to the city.

Willis also saw a Facebook post by a resident who requested help in replacing a bike for one of her students who depended on that bike to get to and from school. Since the bike was beyond repair, the student walked five miles to and from school every night and worked during the day to support his family, according to the press release. 

Willis contacted a local business who donates bikes to students and was able to receive, not just one bike but two bikes for the student and one other.

“Lt. Willis is always looking for ways to help citizens in our community, while also maintaining an active home life,” Broome said. “His love for others and willingness to go to all extents to help others is an inspiration to others and a testament to our fire department family.” 

Langdale Place named leading business 

VALDOSTA – The Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors honored Langdale Place as the Leading Business of the Week.

Langdale Place is an independent living facility that gives its residents, whom are active and want to live independent lifestyles, a chance at independency through a homelike atmosphere, according to the chamber. 

“The ambiance provided at Langdale Place is inviting while also providing residents with a sense of security,” according to a chamber press release.

The goal for the team at Langdale Place is to keep their residents from having to go to nursing facilities that will give them less activity and independency. 

“I absolutely love my residents,” Langdale Place Executive Director Jan Brice said. “We are here for them but they give back to me in so many ways.

“I also have the best staff one could possibly wish for and we all work very hard to make Langdale Place a positive working environment,” Brice said. 

According to Brice, the facility has also recently undergone a complete renovation of furnishings around the building.

For more information about Langdale Place or to set up a tour of the facility, call (229) 247-4300 or visit 2720 Windemere Drive.

The Leading Business of the Week program is designed to recognize members who have partnered with the Chamber for at least five years. The 2016 Leading Business of the Week program is proudly sponsored by Ashley’s Business Solutions. For more information, visit www.ValdostaChamber.com/Leading-Business-of-the-Week.