VALLEY — The Chambers Village Shopping Center in Valley has a new owner. RCG-Valley LLC has plans to invest a minimum of $500,000 in improvements to a shopping area that includes Marvin’s, Dollar General, Timeless Antiques, Farmer’s Furniture, and a Sears Hometown Store, along with other businesses. If they come through with such upgrades, the City of Valley will provide them a 50 percent abatement on all new taxes.

“Once they spend $500,000 in improvements, it should get the shopping center back in good shape,” said Mayor Leonard Riley. “The previous owner had done very little on improvements in the last ten years.”

The council awarded a contract in the amount of $39,830 to low bidder Matthew & Jody’s Tree Service to remove a total of 50 dead or dying trees in the city. The contract calls for the trees, stumps and their chips to be removed and for the site to be cleaned up. Baseline was awarded the contract to cut the timber on the recently purchased Burney property. They agreed to have the work done by the end of the current calendar year.

Police Chief Tommy Weldon reported to the council that new video systems for patrol cars and body cameras for officers have arrived.

“Eight patrol cars will be equipped,” he said. “They should be operational in a day or so.”

Weldon invited the public to participate in prescription drug take back program that will be taking place this coming Saturday. Drop boxes are located at Valley Police Department, CVS Pharmacy in Lanett and at the Chambers County Courthouse in LaFayette. It will be taking place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. EDT and will be part of the DEA National TakeBack Day. The theme is “Don’t Be the Dealer.” For further information, go to DEATakeBack.com.

Valley Parks and Recreation Director Laurie Blount reminded everyone to come out to this year’s Fall Festival, which will be taking place at the Sportsplex (weather permitting) from 6 to 8 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Oct. 31st.

“We still need for local businesses, church groups and civic clubs to be there to give out candy,” she said. This is a safe alternative to traditional trick or treating.

Blount said that VPR basketball registration will be taking place between Nov. 1 and Dec. 3 and that a Fall Garden Day will be taking place at the farmers’ market on Friday, Nov. 16. This will be an ideal time to get fresh, garden-picked vegetables for Thanksgiving.

Blount invited everyone to this year’s Veterans Day program at Veterans Memorial Park. Weather permitting, it will get underway at 11 a.m. EDT on Monday, November 12th. This year’s observance will mark the centennial of the first Veterans Day. The armistice of Nov. 11, 1918 ended World War I.

Council Member Cassie Carlisle said that things had gone well on the recent River View Day.

“It was awesome!” she said. “There were lots of tents set up, and everyone had a good time. Rev. Frederick did a great job of organizing it. The food and fellowship were great.”

Council Member Jimmy Gilson said that the recent State Masters Games in Valley had gone really well. Gilson participated in the golfing event and finished third in singles and first in doubles.

Mayor Riley announced that the city would be partnering with the Fairfax Junior Variety Club in making some improvements at the city park, located in Langdale across Fob James Drive from city hall.

“We will be doing it over the next three to five years,” he said. “We will be removing some trees on the playground and some playground equipment that used to be at McDonald’s will be going in.”