Author: Bradley Bennett

At the May 20 county commission meeting, County Administrator Wesley Vickers introduced the manager of TransWaste Disposal out of Warner Robins, Winn Bearden. Mr. Bearden addressed the concerns of the commissioners regarding solid waste pickup issues. Mr. Bearden said that Trans Waste — which contracts with the county and the City of Douglas for trash pickup — has been a “victim” of the good economy. Low unemployment has made finding qualified drivers very difficult. Mr. Bearden went on to say that his operation in Coffee County now had a full complement of drivers. He expects this to lower complaints because…

Forty-five Coffee High School (CHS) seniors walked through the halls in their caps and gowns at Ambrose Elementary School on Wednesday, May 22. Some of the graduates had completed their secondary education at Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy. But nearly all these young people had one thing in common: They were returning to their elementary school alma mater. These CHS seniors had been here before. And their return was a celebration. Heather Day, the AES nurse, told DouglasNow that this was an opportunity for the graduating seniors to show the elementary school students what is possible. Ms. Day had…

Thursday afternoon, a Wilcox County jury convicted Bo Dukes on four counts related to the murder of Ocilla schoolteacher Tara Grinstead. The jury deliberated less than an hour before returning a guilty verdict for lying to a GBI investigator (two counts), hindering the apprehension of a criminal, and concealing the death of another person. “This case is like a fire.” With those words attorney John Fox began his closing argument for Bo Dukes in an Abbeville courtroom. Mr. Fox noted how the case had consumed Ms. Grinstead’s family and many others in the community. He also reminded them…

Bo Dukes’s trial began today in Wilcox County. He stands charged with two counts of making false statements, hindering the apprehension of a criminal, and concealing the death of another in the death of Tara Grinstead. Ryan Duke, who has been charged with Grinstead’s murder, will go on trial in Ocilla beginning April 1. District Attorney Bradford Rigby is prosecuting Mr. Dukes and his defense is led by John P. Fox of Macon. Chief Superior Court Judge of the Cordele Circuit Robert Chasteen is presiding in the case and court was called to order in Abbeville at 9:24 AM.…

At Monday’s county commission work session and general meeting, commissioners discussed a new subdivision near Carver Baptist Church and purchasing four new vehicles for the sheriff’s office, among other items of business. After addressing minor changes to the county employee health plan and the need for new janitor services at the FSA building on East Ward Street, the board reviewed a resolution to submit the 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application. The application will be seeking federal government funds to be used for street paving and drainage improvements in the Jacobs Circle area. It is necessary per state…

The work session of the City of Douglas Mayor and Commission began at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 25. Commissioner Mike Gowen was absent due to illness. Commissioner Olivia Pearson was also absent though she did come in before the meeting ended. The sometimes-contentious meeting covered several important items of business, including a heated discussion between Michael Clark, the Mayor and Commission, and several city employees. After removing a change to city ordinance from consideration so that the change might be revised, the Mayor and Commission discussed conflict of interest requirements for the 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)…

Monday night’s city commission meeting has come and gone, and the city is no closer to having a police chief than it was several weeks ago. The city has interviewed five applicants for the job. At last night’s meeting, Commissioners were supposed to select the top two candidates from the first round of interviews and conduct a second round with them. Then the Mayor and Commission would select a permanent chief of police. Former deputy chief Brannen Pruette is currently the interim chief. Ward 5 Commissioner Cindy McNeill suggested that the Commission hear from the top two candidates recommended…

At Monday morning’s regular county commission work session, Commander Alfalene Walker and Project Officer Jerome Loving of American Legion Post 515 announced an upcoming exhibit honoring Douglas’s own John S. Gibson. Gibson was a U.S. Representative who was instrumental in securing passage of the G.I. Bill in Congress in 1944. In a dramatic turn of events, people all over the state of Georgia mobilized to help the Congressman get from his home in Douglas to Washington D.C. in order to vote for the imperiled legislation. The District 12 American Legion family and the Satilla Regional Library are bringing the John…

Anyone present in Coffee County over the last few days may have been startled by the sight and sounds of an incredibly rare vintage aircraft. Anyone that has been exposed to the plane is instantly aware that it is a most special artifact of a different time. The plane’s unique pedigree and singular provenance make it truly an object of wonder. It is the prototype of an experimental World War II fighter that was used as a bomber escort, and it’s called the XP-82. It utilizes two Rolls Royce Merlin engines, and the propellers are counter-rotating. The propeller of the…

Kicking off Tuesday’s regular work session and meeting of the Mayor and Douglas City Commission, the Commission took up consideration of whether to approve appointment of Ms. Jennifer Chilton to a two-year term on the Air Base Preservation and Economic Development Committee. Ms. Chilton is currently the Visitor Center Manager for the Douglas-Coffee Co. Chamber of Commerce. Community Development Director Georgia Henderson presented the proposal and recommended that Ms. Chilton be appointed. This proposal was placed on the consent agenda. Next the Commission considered whether to approve moving forward with a request for proposal (RFP) for sale of the…