Author: Robert Preston

The CCA Lady Patriots picked up a big non-region win against the always tough Pinewood Christian Academy Lady Patriots 9-5 in Bellville. CCA found themselves trailing 3-1 after two innings but launched a furious comeback that included a huge two-run home run by Mattie Lewis in the fifth and an impressive performance from the bottom half of the lineup. Pinewood was up 3-1 when the CCA bats finally woke up. CCA scored three in the fourth to go up 4-3. In the fifth, Emma Gourley led off with a walk. After a pop out, Lewis stepped to the plate and…

Coffee pitcher Maggie Brown no-hit the Glynn Academy Red Terrors Friday afternoon in Brunswick. The Lady Trojans won 2-0 with Jocelyn Fender and Karlee Thomas scoring both of Coffee’s runs. Saturday, the Lady Trojans kept the momentum going with a 9-8 win at home against the Pierce County Bears. On Friday, Coffee scored in the first when Fender led off the game with a walk and Thomas followed with an RBI double. In the fifth, Thomas singled with one out then stole second. Ella Winters singled to score Thomas. Brown threw 100 pitches, striking out 10 and walking three. Saturday…

The injunction halting development on the proposed 60-house commercial poultry farm in southern Coffee County has been extended until September 29, 2025. The next hearing, scheduled for that day, will take place at the Coffee County Courthouse.   Last week, on August 12, 2025, a hearing took place in the courtroom at the Coffee County Jail regarding the controversial poultry project. Five plaintiffs – Bruce Brooker, Rebecca Temple, Legrand Roberts, Hamp Adams, and Sims Funeral Homes, Inc., — had filed suit against the developers in hopes of halting the project. The judge assigned to the case, Judge Kelly Brooks, granted…

Seven years after a Coffee County woman disappeared on Edisto Island, South Carolina, investigators have few answers. But the search continues. On August 15, 2018, Tina Snipes, a Nicholls native, disappeared under suspicious circumstances after leaving a convenience store on Edisto Island. Not far from her home, authorities found some of her belongings. Based on what they found, investigators determined that Snipes had been killed. Lisa Lott, Snipes’s sister, stays in contact with South Carolina authorities in hopes there will finally be a break in the case. “I keep praying for answers and closure. I want justice but I’d rather…

The CCA Lady Patriots faced a brutal three games this weekend in Cordele, going 1-2 to some of the toughest competition they will face all season long. CCA defeated Camden County 10-6 on Friday then dropped two games on Saturday – one to Clinch (6-5) and the other to perennial power Westfield (5-0). Against Camden, the Lady Patriots were steady and consistent, scoring four in the first, two in the second, two in the third, and two in the fourth. The Wildcats scored once in the first then added five in the fifth. Emma Gourley and Abrah Harris had two…

The Grace Christian Academy Cougars in Bainbridge haven’t been kind to the CCA Patriots the last two years. In 2023, the Cougars defeated the Patriots by about three touchdowns. Last year, Grace defeated CCA 8-0 in Douglas. This season, the Patriots had their revenge. CCA bested Grace 44-6 on a soggy, rain-soaked night in Bainbridge. The Patriots established their dominance early and controlled the game on both sides of the ball and on special teams. Quarterback Sam Ables got CCA on the board early in the first quarter with a goal-line sneak for a touchdown. Ethan Duran made the extra…

I have heard about a pickleball group that meets regularly in town to play. I knew they gathered in the morning, and pre-Hurricane Helene, they would play at both Wheeler Park and Davis Wade Park. Since the storm, they have played at Davis Wade. I have jokingly referred to them as the pickleball illuminati — primarily because I’ve never been able to join them. I have played a little pickleball myself, although it has been a while since I took the court. I played regularly at the end of 2023. My work schedule changed in January of last year and…

The CCA Lady Patriots held their own against the 2024 GHSA Class 4A state runner-up Wayne County Lady Yellow Jackets for four innings on Friday. Then the fifth inning rolled around and that’s when the wheels came off. Wayne County left Patriot Field with an 11-5 win, dropping the Lady Patriots to 2-1 on the season. Wayne County score a run in the first and held a 1-0 lead for an inning. In the bottom of the second, CCA scored three runs to take a 3-1 advantage. An error scored two runs then a sacrifice fly plated the third run…

The Coffee County commission named a new vice chairman, road superintendent, and assistant road superintendent at Monday’s regular commission meeting, among other items of business. District 1 commissioner Oscar Paulk had been the commission’s vice chairman. His sudden passing in June left a vacancy for that position. Monday, the commission named AJ Dovers as new vice chair. Commissioners approved him unanimously. Next week, road superintendent Wendell Troupe is retiring after 53 years with the county. Commissioners named a new road superintendent effective upon Troupe’s retirement. The commission named current assistant road superintendent Buddy Jordan as Troupe’s replacement. With the assistant…