Author: Robert Preston

Francis Lott, one of the chief architects of Douglas-Coffee County’s unprecedented economic boom that began in the late 1970s and continues to this day, has passed away after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. He was 87 years old. It is difficult to put into words the impact Lott has made on this community. There hasn’t been a more prominent figure in Coffee County since the end of World War II than Francis Lott. Rural communities, particularly those in the Deep South, have always faced challenges, some of them seemingly insurmountable. Lott, along with a dedicated team…

Wednesday, February 7, 2024, nine Coffee Trojan football players from the undefeated state championship team signed letters of intent to play college football at a ceremony in the Coffee High School Performing Arts Center. The nine players who signed are running back Fred Brown (Fort Valley State University), defensive back Tyriq Edwards (Cumberland University), lineman Jerzabeon Grant (Georgia Military College), defensive end Larenzo Harvey (Fort Valley State University), receiver Pat McCall (Cumberland University), defensive end Elgie Paulk (Highland Community College), center Gabe Rewis (Methodist University), defensive back Jaquavious Simpkins (Thomas University), and lineman Glentavious Turner (Thomas University). “December 13, 2023,…

Wednesday, January 31, 2024, the Coffee Trojans’ baseball team revealed the Riccardo Ingram Hitting Facility to the Douglas-Coffee County community. The result of nearly two years of fundraising, planning, and construction, The Ricc, as it has already become affectionately known, will serve the student-athletes of the Trojan baseball program for years to come. The previous menagerie of batting cages was adequate but far from ideal. It consisted of a series of cages housed under a metal roof. It was a fine facility — as long as the weather was good. If the weather didn’t cooperate — and many times, particularly…

When firefighters arrived, the 128-year-old church was engulfed in flames. The firemen went to work but there was no stopping the fury of the blaze. The eerie red glow from the fire could be seen for miles. The block exterior remained but the roof and interior of the church were completely destroyed. Monday morning, portions of the building were still smoldering. Firefighters were on the scene Monday still putting out hotspots. An investigator from the state fire marshal’s office was also at the church investigating the fire. County fire chief Steve Carver stated that while he did not…

Citizens worried about election security in Coffee County since the well-publicized breaches that occurred in January of 2021 can put their minds at ease. Security measures at the Coffee County elections office caught suspicious activity during the November 7, 2023, municipal election and prevented an improperly cast ballot from being counted. In the process, election officials may have also uncovered at least one felony during the incident. And one of the central figures in the potentially illegal incident is former city commissioner Olivia Pearson, who, in the wake of the 2021 breaches, has been very outspoken in the…

It’s official. Longhorn Steakhouse is coming to Douglas. And it’s opening in October. City, county, and school board officials approved the various intergovernmental agreements Thursday night at the quarterly joint meeting between the three governing boards. The restaurant will be located on the site of the current board of education’s central office, which fronts South Peterson Avenue between Chik-fil-A and Tidal Wave Car Wash. Things are going to move in a hurry. School system personnel are already moving their offices out of the building. Some will go to the old SunTrust Bank building a few blocks…

Thursday, January 25, 2024, friends, family, and co-workers said goodbye to 911 operator Jake Jewell, 38, of Douglas. Jewell passed away suddenly in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 20, 2024, following a brief illness. Jake was a friend, confidant, brother, and protector to his co-workers and the officers, EMTs, and firefighters he dispatched. He was much more than a voice on the other end of the phone or radio. He was a comforting presence who safeguarded both first responders and victims from his vantage point behind the microphone. He often dealt with officers when they were…

January 17, 2024 | Written by Robert Preston I wanted the Miami Dolphins to go all the way this season. I really did. And for a while, it looked like they had a real shot. Then the wheels came off. And they did so in spectacular fashion. I make no bones about it – I’m a Dolphins fan because of Tyreek Hill. I’m not a Miami lifer. I adopted the Dolphins when they signed Hill. However, once that happened, I was all in. I bought into the pre-season hype. I watched Hill and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa work almost flawlessly together…

At the January 8, 2024, city commission meeting, Commissioner Mike Gowen was named mayor pro-tem for the year and the commission heard from David Daniel of Journey North Development regarding a new housing development slated for the city, among other items of business. In January of each year, the commission approves a new mayor pro-tem for the calendar year. The commission votes on the mayor pro-tem via secret ballot. The mayor pro-tem stands in for the mayor in the event that the mayor cannot attend meetings, events, or sign documents. This year, the commission named Ward 4 Commissioner…

Douglas is taking another big step in becoming a regional retail destination. Next week, a new Publix is opening at the Douglas Square Shopping Center, giving the outlet another major retailer and further transforming the economic and quality of life landscape for the Douglas-Coffee County community. Publix is opening at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. There will be no ribbon cutting or grand opening; at 7 a.m. Wednesday, the doors will simply open for business. Tuesday night, Publix will hold an invitation-only event at the store with Publix management and associates. Publix arrives in…