Author: Robert Preston

An intersection exists in our society, one where bad policy meets a lack of responsibility – with borderline catastrophic results. That place is the classroom, and teachers are the ones caught in the crossfire. This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, with Tuesday being designated as Teacher Appreciation Day, and the work our teachers do cannot be overstated. Throughout the history of the modern welfare state, which began with President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society speech at the University of Michigan in 1964, government has rewarded bad and irresponsible behavior. Its varied and expanding social programs have all but wiped out personal…

Monday morning, the Coffee County Board of Commissioners heard remarks from Connie Lott of the Senior Citizens Center, who announced that May is Older Americans Month. During her comments, Lott outlined a few activities going on this month at the center, including a raffle for a homemade quilt made by Senior Citizens Center members. The commission also signed a proclamation recognizing May as Older Americans Month in Coffee County. Commissioners heard the first reading of a request from Lynn Shiver to rezone 2.19 acres at 5005 Highway 32 West from R-2 to R-M (residential mix). The Planning Commission has approved…

This weekend, Tyreek Hill joined a very short list of former Coffee High football players. When the Kansas City Chiefs selected Hill in the fifth round (165th overall) of this year’s NFL Draft, he became just the fourth former Trojan to be drafted. The others are Joel Parrish (1977), Willis Crockett (1989), and Garrett Scott (2014). Of those, only Crockett played in a regular season NFL game, though Parrish did play two seasons in the Canadian Football League. Two other Trojans, Adrian Grady (2009, Indianapolis Colts) and Demario Bennett (2014, New York Jets) signed free agent contracts with their respective…

For some time now, I have been trying to find the words to intelligently discuss some of the recent goings-on in our nation and our state. From the transgender bathroom controversy to the religious liberty bill to gay marriage to even the confusion surrounding the Republican presidential primaries, there is no shortage of things to talk about. Yet I find myself almost speechless. The words simply escape me. I think it’s because these issues are so cut and dried that, in my simple mind, they don’t warrant much discussion. But here we are, thrown into a state of confusion because…

There’s not a lot that can be done to relieve the stress of finals week but give it to the Clemson football team – at least they’re trying. The Clemson football program released a video showing several football players, Coffee’s Maverick Morris among them, offering free hugs to students as a way of easing the burden of finals. In the video, players give students hugs and orange lollipops. Their plan seems to work; while some of the students look confused at first, they all leave with a smile on their faces. The 6’5”, 300-pound Morris, who is wearing an orange…

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…