Author: Robert Preston

According to a statement released by South Georgia State College on Monday morning, the college will close one residence hall, Tiger Village I, for the upcoming spring semester and utilize Tiger Village II for all residential students. Tiger Village I was built in 2007 and can house approximately 250 students. Tiger Village II followed in 2010 and can house about 300 students. Since the construction of Tiger Village II, male students have lived in Tiger I while female students have lived in Tiger II. This spring, Tiger II will be a coed residence hall. The college’s statement doesn’t say exactly…

According to a call received by Coffee 911 on Saturday night just after the Christmas parade ended, a large fight allegedly broke out at Tiger Village I, the men’s residence hall on the South Georgia State College campus. Apparently, an SGSC police officer called and requested assistance from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office with the altercation. In the 911 call, which was posted in its entirety on the Coffee County Georgia Police Scanner Facebook page, a CCSO officer and a 911 operator can be heard discussing what was happening on campus. According to the call, a large group of people…

A Friday morning accident at the Ambrose-Broxton crossroads on Bowens Mill Road resulted in three fatalities. Mary Merritt, along with her husband, Roy, and sister, Annie Lou Pittman, were traveling east on Ga. Hwy. 268 in a Cadillac DeVille. According to authorities, the Cadillac failed to yield at a stop sign at the intersection of Hwy. 268 and Ga. Hwy. 206, and was struck by a box truck driven by Lance Seymour. Authorities say Seymour swerved and attempted to avoid the collision, but still struck the vehicle on the right side. All occupants of the Cadillac were transported to the…

Early in the first quarter, things looked good for the Coffee Trojans in their second round playoff game against the Allatoona High Buccaneers in Acworth. After the Bucs held the Trojans on their first possession, Coffee’s Demetrius Davis blocked an Allatoona punt then scooped it up and ran nine yards for a touchdown. Austin Lord’s point after was good and the Trojans held a 7-0 lead. Unfortunately, the advantage wouldn’t last very long. On Allatoona’s next possession, the Buccaneers kicked a 36-yard field goal and cut the lead to four. Then the Allatoona offense started clicking on all cylinders. The…

For just the fourth time in school history, the Coffee Trojans topped the 10-win mark after they defeated the Mundy’s Mill Tigers 14-6 in the first round of the state playoffs Friday night at Jardine Stadium. The Tigers proved to be worthy opponents, holding the Trojans to a scoreless first quarter and keeping the high-octane Coffee offense out of the end zone most of the night. “They were tough. They had lots of speed, just like we knew they did. But this was a huge win for our kids,” said Coffee head coach Robby Pruitt. The Trojans came in averaging…

Six different Trojans scored touchdowns in Coffee High’s 42-0 win over the Bradwell Institute Tigers to close out the 2014 regular season Friday night at Jardine Stadium in Douglas. The win improves the Trojans to 9-1 overall and 7-1 in region play. Coffee shut down Bradwell Institute from the opening kick and had built a 28-0 lead by the half. Over the final two quarters, the Trojans scored two more times to finish off the Tigers. On Coffee’s first possession, the Trojans drove down the field and ended the drive with a one-yard touchdown by running back Lecarvius Sears. Austin…

Republican candidates swept Coffee County elections Tuesday night, winning every single race on the ballot and most by wide margins. The first numbers that came in were from early voting; in those initial results, GOP candidates established a sizeable lead that only grew as more precincts reported. By the time the final numbers came in, most Republicans held two-to-one margins over their Democratic opponents. Locally, Dominic LaRiccia defeated Larry NeSmith 4,869 to 2,142 in the race for the state House of Representatives District 169 seat. LaRiccia also carried Jeff Davis and Bacon counties. Incumbent Katy Peters and challenger Mike Gowen…

As I write this, Election Day is less than 24 hours away. I love elections. It doesn’t matter what’s on the ballot. I have always felt that one of the greatest responsibilities we have as Americans is to cast our ballot. I know many people have grown weary and distrustful of the political process. I understand that, and I myself have grown increasingly cynical regarding how our leaders govern our country. My cynicism, however, will not keep me from voting. The way in which we choose our leaders differentiates us from most other countries in the world. We truly have…

Quarterback Tyree Paulk threw three touchdown passes and rushed for one more while kicker Austin Lord was perfect on both extra points and field goals in the Coffee Trojans’ 34-0 win over the Richmond Hill Wildcats in Richmond Hill Friday night. The win moved the Trojans to 8-1 on the season (6-1 in region play) and secures a home playoff game for at least the first round when the postseason begins. The Trojans were efficient and calculating as they methodically dismantled the Wildcats from the moment the game began. The Coffee offense scored on five of six first-half possessions while…

Robert Bledsoe (sophomore, Irwin County) came within 12 seconds of breaking the South Georgia State College school record Saturday at the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association’s cross country conference finals in Macon. Bledsoe ran the second-fastest time in school history, 27:16, en route to a fifth place overall finish and a spot on the All-Conference First Team. The SGSC men took second in the conference, had three All Conference runners, and saw four runners break 30:00 at the 8K race. The women finished fourth and one runner, Madison Smith of Ashburn, made All Conference. The Macon course, which sits on the…