Author: Robert Preston

“It went about as bad as you think it did,” laughs Vishal Patel, as he describes the conversation during which he told his parents, Dr. Dushyant and Amita Patel, that he was abandoning a career in medicine for acting. A Douglas native, 2005 Coffee High School honor graduate, and classically trained actor who now lives in Los Angeles, Vishal is enjoying the release of his latest film Footnotes, a rom-com set in 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.   “They were well within their right to freak out,” he continues. “And there were lots of conversations after that.…

The weather is HOT, and the City of Douglas Fire Department and Police Department want to urge citizens to practice water safety. Swimming is a popular summer activity; drowning can happen quickly and suddenly. “Any source of water is a drowning hazard, especially for young children and weak swimmers,” says Fire Chief Casey Wright. “We urge all citizens to be watchful around water, and if there is an emergency, please call 911 immediately.” Citizens should understand the risks of water activities. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more children ages 1-4 die from drowning than any other cause of…

It has been over a week since Douglas received a large amount of rainfall, leading to dry, hot conditions. As a result, the Douglas Fire Department has temporarily ceased issuing burn permits until significant rainfall occurs in the city limits of Douglas. “Scattered showers are not sufficient for rainfall, and the high temperatures, combined with recent winds, cause the top vegetation to dry out quickly, increasing the risk of fires breaking out,” says Douglas Fire Chief Casey Wright. “Citizens should exercise extreme caution when participating in outdoor activities that could cause a wildfire.” According to the Douglas Code of Ordinances,…

The 2024 primary election cycle has ended and one familiar face survived the sheriff’s race while a newcomer emerged victorious in the tax commissioner’s election. Coffee County chief deputy Fred Cole defeated challenger Daniel Paulk, himself a former law enforcement officer, 3,477 votes to 2,334. It was a rare instance of the candidate who placed first in the primary also winning the run-off. Usually, the candidate in second place has the advantage going into the run-off. However, in this case, the gap between the two candidates in the primary was too much for Paulk to overcome. Cole came within a…

After seven years at the helm of the Coffee Trojans’ baseball team, head coach Sy Jones has resigned. He has accepted the same position with the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets. The Thomas County school board approved Jones earlier this week and the TCC baseball program will formally announce him tonight. Jones met with his Coffee players this morning and told them the news. During Jones’s seven years at Coffee, he posted a 120-88 record. He had his best year this season, a 27-7 campaign that saw the Trojans advance to the second round of the state playoffs. “Today is…

Two Coffee High School golfers have been named to the 5A All-State golf teams. Hannah Powell, who just finished her freshman season with the Trojans, and Cane Carver, who completed his sophomore season, both were named among the best golfers in 5A. Hannah had a 2024 season that any senior would be proud of. To do so as a freshman is even more remarkable. Her season-best was a 73 at Lee County, good for second overall at that tournament. She turned in another second-place finish at Lowndes with a 76. Hannah fired an even-par 36 in a nine-hole tournament in…

The old man walked slowly across his driveway. He pulled his coat high upon his neck and dug his chin downward into his chest. It was a bone chillingly cold Friday morning. He opened the door to the old Peterbilt and climbed inside. He turned the key to the right and then he pressed the start button. After a brief protest, the truck roared to life. He turned on the heat, hopped down, and headed back inside for a few more minutes. “I bet the neighbors loved that,” he muttered to himself as he walked. He went into the kitchen,…

On Saturday, June 1, 2024, my older son, Montgomery Lane Preston II, will graduate from Coffee High School. He is 21 years old. Yes, you read that correctly – 21 years old and just now graduating from high school. Many of you know Montgomery. Others do not. Yes, there’s a story here. Montgomery has a disability. You don’t have to be around him very long to realize it. We’re not exactly sure what the disability is. Some say he’s autistic. And he has some autistic traits. But he has other traits that are very non-autistic. We’ve never sought a label;…

Former Coffee High Trojans head football coach Bonwell Royal, 83, passed away early Wednesday morning, May 29, 2024, after an extended illness. He drifted peacefully into eternal rest at home surrounded by family. Coach Royal is the winningest and longest tenured head football coach in Coffee High School history. His head coaching career spanned 29 seasons — 26 at Coffee and three at Manchester. He took over the Trojans in 1972 and retired following the 1993 season. He returned to Coffee in 2001 and retired again 2004. During his 26 years as a Trojan, he posted a 166-104-5 record. His…

The 2024 primary in Coffee County has been a memorable, although not necessarily a pleasant, election. The vote count was delayed several hours by a scanner issue. Then, when the votes were uploaded to the Secretary of State’s web site, three precincts — Ambrose, Bridgetown, and Nicholls — showed zero votes. The Coffee County Elections Office has maintained since Tuesday night that all votes were counted and tabulated correctly. However, many people have had their doubts. Friday morning, election officials will take an action that they believe will straighten everything out. Election supervisor Christy Nipper spoke to DouglasNow Thursday afternoon.…