Author: Robert Preston

During the work session before Monday night’s city commission meeting, city manager Terrell Jacobs announced that Douglas fire chief Tim White has resigned, effective May 16 of this year. White, who came to the Douglas Fire Department from the state fire marshal’s office, is returning to that agency. He was not at Monday’s meeting. “Chief White would also like to move from this area. We wish him the best as he moves on,” said Jacobs. Jacobs added that the city is developing “a process” it will use in order to find White’s replacement. He said he would provide more information…

At Monday night’s regular city commission meeting, commissioners named local attorney Bryan Rumker as the city’s public defender. Rumker was hired on a 14-month contract – the two months remaining on Clint Lott’s contract plus a 12-month contract from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. Lott, the current public defender, is resigning effective April 30. The city will pay Rumker $23,334 for his services — $3,334 from May 1 to June 30, and $20,000 from July 1 to June 30, 2017. Rumker, who was at the meeting, answered several questions from commissioners regarding the position. In particular, Commissioner Olivia…

Early this morning, a school bus was involved in a traffic accident on 441 North near the Catfish House restaurant. Few details have been released regarding the accident. However, there was a brief statement published on the Coffee County School System’s Facebook page earlier today. All it said was that there had been an accident and EMTs were looking at three students. Since that initial update, media outlets have reported that one student was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center for further treatment. Neither authorities nor the school system have released any further information. The school bus suffered minor damage…

Friday’s Premium Peanut ribbon cutting was probably the largest ribbon cutting everh held in Coffee County. Speakers included U.S. Rep. Rick Allen and Gov. Nathan Deal. Here are everyone’s remarks from the ribbon cutting, including those of Allen and Deal. It was a long program; Congressman Allen’s comments begin at the 16:43 mark while Gov. Deal begins at 36:00. David Rodriguez/DouglasNow.com

The largest peanut shelling plant in the United States is officially open for business. Premium Peanut, located on Barrington Road west of Douglas, has actually been open for 92 days. Friday, however, the company celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting, which was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Gov. Nathan Deal and his wife, Sandra. Several hundred people gathered on the grounds of Premium Peanut for a luncheon and the ribbon cutting. Premium Peanut, which was 15 months ago was barely an idea on the minds of farmers and agri-businessmen throughout the area, began shelling peanuts in early…

Douglas city commissioners spent a little more time than usual on the subject of alcohol at Monday’s regular commission meeting. Two items related to alcohol were on the agenda, including one that could likely result in a fair amount of controversy moving forward. City manager Terrell Jacobs asked the commissioners if, at an-as yet undetermined time, offering Sunday alcohol sales could be placed on a local referendum. With little discussion, commissioners approved the request. No one discussed any details of when this measure would go before the people. Commissioners also agreed to waive the $500 per day temporary alcohol license…

Progress. It’s something I’ve been thinking about quite a bit lately. It’s also something that people throughout our community have been thinking about as well. The sad fact is that our community has stagnated in recent years from an economic standpoint. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say that we are in a depression, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find well-paying jobs in Coffee County. At one time, we enjoyed a thriving, robust economy. We were recruiting new businesses and industries, and our existing industries were booming. Then the mobile home industry tanked and took with it…

A combination medical research facility and tourist attraction is coming to Douglas. Southeast Venom Research plans to build a new 150,000 square-foot facility near Douglas on Highway 441 South. The purpose of the facility will be threefold – to study the effects of snake venom on heart disease, cancer, and other medical conditions; create anti-venin for snakebite treatment both domestically and abroad; and give a nod to the sideshow attractions of the past, including snake milking exhibitions, alligator wrestling, and wildlife education shows. The project is nearly a decade in the making and Southeast Venom Research is ready to start…

“It saddens me for a couple of reasons to have to stand before you today to address this tragic incident that occurred in our city on Monday, March 28, 2016, where a 14-year-old female juvenile [allegedly] shot 18-year-old Traveon Marquess Paulk, who died as a result of that shooting,” stated Douglas Mayor Tony Paulk Tuesday evening at a press conference in the lobby of the Douglas Police Department. Mayor Paulk and police chief Gary Casteloes addressed media and citizens at the conference. Chief Casteloes updated attendees on the investigation into the shooting death of Traveon Paulk before the mayor spoke.…

A Douglas juvenile has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after allegedly shooting Traveon Marquess Paulk, 18, Monday night on the 900 block of South Coffee Avenue. According to the Douglas Police Department, officers responded to the scene after receiving a call that an individual had been shot. They found Paulk on the ground with a gunshot wound. Officers administered emergency first aid until EMTs arrived. They transported Paulk to Coffee Regional Medical Center, where he eventually died of his injuries. During the investigation, officers found evidence pointing to a female juvenile being the shooter. She has been charged and transported…