Author: Jerry A. Hudson

A Coffee County man remains hospitalized today after suffering a gunshot wound late Friday following an altercation at a residence in the Wheeler Park area of Douglas. Just after 11:30 p.m. Friday, officers with the Douglas Police Department responded to the 200 block of North Wheeler Avenue in reference to reported gun shots. Officers observed several people outside of a residence at 201 North Wheeler Avenue, where they discovered 31-year-old Wade Bryan Strickland had been shot. Strickland was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center for treatment. Authorities learned that Strickland and 31-year-old Caleb Riggs, a resident of 201 North Wheeler…

A former Coffee County jail officer accused of sexual misconduct with an inmate will not be serving any prison time after being allowed to plead to a lesser charge earlier this week. James Avery Dixon was arrested in August 2015 and charged with three counts of sexual assault by a person with supervisory or disciplinary authority and one count of violation of oath by a public officer. Officials with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation stated at that time that the arrest occurred after Coffee County Sheriff Doyle Wooten contacted the GBI’s Douglas office to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct by…

The Coffee County Board of Commissioners approved a motion Monday that will provide 42 body cameras to the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, along with several additional dashboard cameras and upgrades to existing ones. The total cost for the equipment and upgrades will be just under $145 thousand, $22 thousand of which will be spent out of the sheriff’s office budget. The remainder will come from SPLOST and DOT funds, according to County Administrator Wesley Vickers. Along with the body cameras, 19 patrol vehicles will be equiped with either new or upgraded systems.

A group of about 20 local 4-H parents and volunteers appeared Monday before the Coffee County Commission to petition help in financing the employment of current County Agent Alyse Hall. The grant that supports Hall’s position is set to expire this August, and supporters say she is an invaluable asset to the 4-H program and local community. Supporters emphasized that two positions within the 4-H office, which were formerly supported by the county government, were lost in 2009 and have not been replaced since. They are asking the county to subsidize Hall in the amount of $15 thousand for Sept.…

A shooting that occurred Thursday in Alma is believed to be related to a incident that occurred in February in which at least one man was shot and two individuals are still on the run from the law. Alma police reported that officers responded to 213 E. 6th St. in reference to a shooting late Thursday night. Officials discovered a vehicle had been shot several times, but stated no evidence of injuries was immediately apparent. On Monday, Feb. 29, Alma police and the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a ‘shots fired’ call in the area of E. 14th St.…

A shootout that took place earlier this month in the Oak Park community has been determined to be a result of a year-long spat between two individuals, authorities reported Monday. The incident took place around 5:30 p.m. Feb. 15 and resulted in one person, now identified as Edgardo Garcia, being shot in the leg. Garcia was treated at Coffee Regional Medical Center for his injuries and released the same day. Officials state Garcia and another man, Terrell Townsend, had gotten into the shootout over a money dispute that had been going on for over a year. The two men exchanged…

Beverly Johns was sworn in by Superior Court Judge Dwayne Gillis Friday to replace Coffee County Probate Judge Sylvia Stone, who recently announced her retirement. Johns took her oath of office in the presence of several family members and friends. She will officially assume her new role Tuesday, March 1.

The Citizens Christian Academy Lady Patriots basketball team is headed to the Final Four state playoffs after easily handing a defeat to the defending Class AA state champions tonight in Douglas, 54-35. The 2015-2016 Region 2-AA champion Lady Patriots knocked the wind out of sails of Valdosta’s Georgia Christian School in front of a packed hometown crowd. The Lady Pats will travel to Mercer University in Macon Friday, March 4 for the Final Four, with tipoff scheduled at 4 p.m. against Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School out of Athens. CCA was dealt was tough loss against Monsignor Donovan last year…

An investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in regards to alleged criminal misconduct on the part of City Commissioner Olivia Pearson may not have been nearly as thorough as city officials led the public to believe in a press release they issued earlier this week. Documents obtained by Douglas Now through an open records request also seem to show a some frustration by the district attorney’s office due to the GBI’s handling of the matter. Pearson has come under public scrutiny lately after it was learned she involved herself personally during a felony traffic stop conducted by the…

Douglas city officials issued a press release Thursday afternoon in defense of Commissioner Olivia Pearson in regards to her questionable interfernce with a recent traffic stop conducted by Douglas police. Despite incident reports filed by Douglas police who stated Pearson’s actions endangered the lives of officers and citizens, officials say she did no wrong and will not face any criminal charges. A complete detail of the incident, along with video footage, can be viewed on DouglasNow.com by clicking here. The press release issued by the city on Thursday states, “Initially, City of Douglas officials reviewed the details of this incident…