Author: Bradley Bennett

At the regular Coffee County Board of Education meeting Thursday night, newly elected District 1 board member Tonya Wilkerson took her seat for her first meeting since voters elected her in July. She replaced Leola Johnson, who had been appointed after Ronnie Johnson passed away. During the work session the Board took up discussion of finances. The financial report was presented by Mr. Tom Owens of Raymond James. The total expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2018 were given as over $25,000,000. The acceptance of the financial report as presented was placed on the consent agenda. Next…

At Monday morning’s county commission meeting, the commission approved a contract with CSRA Probation Services, Inc. CSRA is headquartered in Evans, Georgia, and contracts with municipalities throughout the state to monitor probationers and accountability court attendees, as well as provide other similar services. In the pre-meeting work session, County Attorney Tony Rowell said that the proposed contract was the best way to insure resolution of an ongoing issue between the County and CSRA, one that is awaiting final resolution. The Board moved that the proposed contract be accepted. Next the Board approved a quitclaim deed between the County and…

Only four members of the Douglas City Commission were at Monday’s regular meeting – Mayor Tony Paulk, Mayor Pro Tem Bob Moore, Edwin Taylor (Ward 1), and Commissioner Pearson (Ward 3). Mike Gowen (Ward 4), Cindy McNeill (Ward 5), and Kentaiwon Durham (Ward 2) were each absent due to individual family concerns. The four who were present made a quorum and the meeting proceeded as scheduled. In the pre-meeting work session the board heard from Building Inspector Randall Parker. Mr. Parker sought approval on behalf of Coffee Regional Medical Center to host the 5K run and 1.5 mile walk. The…

On Wednesday September 20, 2017 local officials from Broxton, Nicholls, Douglas, and Coffee County gathered with FEMA public assistance specialist Craig Ceschi and GEMA grant specialist Zack Saunders. Mr. Ceschi and Mr. Saunders heard reports from the local officials regarding damages from Hurricane Irma. The purpose of the visit was to allow the state and federal emergency associations to come up with a damage assessment. Mr. Saunders told those assembled that there were three basic types of assessments to be done: debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent work. Local officials were informed that the federal government would only reimburse…

At the September 18, 2017 pre-meeting work session of the Coffee County Board of Commissioners the board heard reports from local officials regarding Hurricane Irma. The first report was from Coffee Count Fire and Rescue Chief Steve Carver. Chief Carver opened with praise for the outstanding support from the community. He went on to say that he felt Coffee County was blessed in the outcome of the crisis. He personally felt that God had surely had a hand in the fact that throughout the county there were no fatalities or injuries. Chief Carver was first to laud the efforts of…

A one-cent transportation sales tax was the big topic of conversation at Monday’s joint meeting between the city, county, board of education, and Coffee Regional Medical Center board of directors. Representatives from those groups, plus a few others, were present. And while the meeting was open to officials from Ambrose, Broxton, and Nicholls, there was no one from those communities present in their official capacity. CRMC hosted the quarterly dinner on this occasion. It is hosted by different groups on a rotating basis. After a meal from the hospital cafeteria, representatives of each body gave a short presentation. City Manager…

On the evening of September 14, 2017, the City of Douglas began the demolition of a building on the 100 block of South Madison Avenue. An excavator tore down the facade of the two-story edifice and it crashed onto the eastern sidewalk. In the weeks leading up to the demolition the city sent numerous press releases to the media and made announcements at municipal meetings. On August 14, 2017, Sid Cottingham, the building’s previous owner, deeded the building and the land to the city. Cottingham had owned the property since 1985 and it was deeded as a gift. Cottingham received…

Anna Braswell’s parents, Dr. Randy and Claire Braswell, moved their family to Douglas when Anna was seven. “That summer, my mom took us to audition for Missoula Children’s Theatre, because it was free and there were four of us and we needed to get out of the house in the summer,” she recalls. That’s when she began her love affair with the arts. A normally shy kid, young Anna pushed her way to the front and forgot her shyness. She’s been performing ever since. She was in the band, show choir, and the drama club in high school. She performed…

At the regular August 21 meeting of the Coffee County Board of Commissioners Robert Hurst of Hurst and Hurst CPA made a presentation and reported that the county received a “clean opinion” regarding its recent audit. The clean opinion means that Coffee County was found to have followed all accounting rules appropriately and the reports made are an accurate representation of its financial condition. At the pre-meeting work session, the board reviewed an order to change the contract for construction on Dewberry Road. East Coast Asphalt is in charge of the Dewberry Road project. They have discovered unsuitable substrate beneath…

U.S. Rep. Rick Allen was in Douglas August 15 and 16. His stop was part of a district work period, a time in which members of the U.S. Congress can connect with their constituents. Congressman Allen is visiting all 19 counties in his district. He had lunch in Macon on the 15th, then came to Douglas and that evening visited the office of local orthopedist James W. Barber, MD. His stop at Dr. Barber’s office was announced at the regular August 14 meeting of the Douglas Mayor and City Commission. Congressman Allen arrived at Premium Peanut on the morning of…