Author: Robert Preston

Victoria Layne Paulk, 25, of Douglas, was arrested, jailed, and later released after she allegedly left the scene of a traffic accident in the Hardee’s parking lot. The incident occurred just before 3 p.m. on July 6, 2024. According to an incident report from the Douglas Police Department, witnesses stated that Paulk, driving a 2019 Honda Pilot, backed into a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu, causing damage to the Malibu, then went inside Hardee’s. When witnesses told the victim that her car had been hit, the report says that Paulk left the property. An officer identified the suspect as Paulk and went…

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College will be hosting a Sign-Up Commercial Truck Driving Day on the Coffee Campus on Thursday, July 25. Classes will begin on August 12. This event will help applicants to complete the steps for applying for the program. A representative from the college’s One-Stop will assist applicants in registering for class, completing CDL Clearing House, Financial Aid application, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) application, and DOT physical information. CDL applicants will also have their application fee waived on this day on the Coffee Campus when they apply. The event will be held on the Coffee Campus…

A 32-year-old Douglas man led county drug officers on a short chase in Douglas that ended on the south end of town. A child was a passenger in the vehicle and suffered a cut on the leg during the chase. The child was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center for treatment. The chase began when a Coffee County Sheriff’s Office drug unit detective attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Baker Highway. The suspect, Billy Clarence Toombs Jr., 32, allegedly led officers on a chase that eventually ended at the intersection of Pine Street and South Gaskin Avenue. During the…

The image is a powerful one – former president Donald Trump, standing beneath an American flag, his fist held high in a demonstration of abject defiance, blood on his right cheek and ear, the result of a wound inflicted by an assassin’s bullet. Though shielded by Secret Service agents, Trump’s head is exposed, held high with a scowl that signals strength, resolve, and confrontation. Trump’s reaction and posture in the wake of an assassination attempt Saturday afternoon during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, stand in stark contrast to the image President Joe Biden portrays – that of a failing, frail…

Black Dodge Challenger one, Suzuki Hayabusa zero. On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, Jeff Davis County deputies were informed of an Appling County deputy involved in a high speed chase with two sport bikes passing the county line into Jeff Davis County. Jeff Davis deputies responded to Baxley Highway to assist. Deputies were able to intercept one of the suspects riding an orange Suzuki Hayabusa with a male driver and a female passenger that had been speeding in excess of 120 mph. Appling County units were able to stop the other suspect in Graham without incident and he was taken into…

Most of Monday’s county commission meeting involved approving the usual routine July 1 business — board appointments, various resolutions, lease agreements, and the like — but there was oneinteresting agenda item that may be of interest to citizens who live near the location. At the end of the meeting, commissioners entertained the first readings of four rezoning requests. All four will have the second readings and public hearings at the August meeting. One of the fourinvolves a fairly large tract of land with the address listed as 450 Chaney Road. CT Realty Investment Group has submitted a request to rezone…

“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…