Author: Robert Preston

Mayor Tony Paulk has announced his re-election bid for the office of mayor. He released a short statement that included a photo with his platform on his personal Facebook page a week ago. Mayor Paulk is completing his second term as mayor – but his first since 2008. Paulk was elected mayor in 2004 and served one term. After eight years out of the spotlight, Paulk challenged incumbent James Dennis four years ago and won with 53 percent of the vote. Thus far, Mayor Paulk is the only candidate to publicly enter the race. The election takes place…

Thursday afternoon, police officers discovered a body in a wooded area behind the Walmart Supercenter in Douglas, just a short distance off South Gaskin Avenue. According to police chief Shane Edmisten, the body was that of an unidentified white male. He had been deceased for several days but there were no signs of a crime. Tuesday morning, Chief Edmisten reported that the body has yet to be identified. The GBI is still awaiting the results of fingerprint analysis. Chief Edmisten also stated that thus far, the cause of death appears to be suicide.

An accident involving a passenger vehicle and a tractor on U.S. Highway 82 between Pearson and Axson claimed the life of a Coffee County woman and seriously injured two other passengers in the vehicle Tuesday morning. According to authorities, the accident occurred in the westbound lane of U.S. Highway 82 when the passenger vehicle collided with a tractor. The location of the accident was near the Charles Road/U.S. Highway 82 intersection. Tammy Paulk, 51, of Coffee County lost her life in the accident. Paulk’s daughter, Ashley Spivey, and Spivey’s two daughters were also in the vehicle. They were transported…

Qualifying for the District 5 county commission race closed at noon Friday with four candidates entering the race: Ted O’Steen, Howard Holt, Hal McCallum, and Jenny McIver. Three of the candidates – O’Steen, Holt, and McCallum – all made announcements on either their personal Facebook pages or Facebook pages they set up for their campaigns. DouglasNow.com was unable to find any such announcement from McIver. According to officials at the county elections office, she submitted her paperwork and paid the $127.17 qualifying fee Friday morning. Advance voting will take place from Tuesday, May 28, 2019 to Friday, June…

A third candidate has entered the District 5 county commission race. Hal McCallum has announced via his personal Facebook page his intention to seek the office. Ted O’Steen and Howard Holt have already announced their plans to run as well. Qualifying ends today at noon and at least two other potential candidates have expressed interest in running. The seat became vacant after the death of Commissioner Charles “Scooter Bill” Deen on April 25, 2019, following an extended illness. Here is McCallum’s announcement: “I’m announcing my candidacy for Coffee County Commissioner race, District 5. “I’m humbled as…

Two candidates have announced plans to seek the District 5 county commission seat following the recent death of Commissioner Charles “Scooter Bill” Deen: Howard Holt and Ted O’Steen. Both candidates have set up Facebook pages for their respective campaigns. Here is the statement made by Holt on his page: “Hi, my name is Howard Holt and I am running for the District 5 Coffee County Commissioner’s seat. I am a lifelong resident of Coffee County. I am the youngest son of Cecil and Lucille Holt. I am also the owner and operator of Holt’s Bakery in Douglas and…

The District 5 county commission vacancy left by the passing of Charles “Scooter Bill” Deen will be filled with a special election, which will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Qualifying will begin on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 9 a.m. and remain open until Friday, May 17, 2019 at noon. The qualifying fee is $127.17. Advance voting will take place from Tuesday, May 28, 2019 to Friday, June 14, 2019 at 5 p.m. at the elections office on 224 West Ashley Street in Douglas. Polls will be open on election…

A men’s slowpitch softball tournament in Waycross turned violent Saturday afternoon when players from two teams fought not once, not twice, but three different times. Saturday afternoon, WYG from Brunswick and Iceman Trucking from Baxley were playing at the Trembling Earth complex in Waycross in a men’s World Sports League (WSL) E class softball tournament. At one point during the game, two players exchanged words near second base. According to witnesses, there was a close play at second and one player who had been thrown out said something to a defensive player as he was walking off the field.…

The U.S. Marshals have been busy in Douglas lately. After apprehending a fugitive at Baymeadows last week, the U.S. Marshal Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force returned to town Tuesday and nabbed Richard Morris Bennett, Jr., who was wanted by the Douglas Police Department on a variety of charges, including rape and aggravated assault. According to a post by the Douglas Police Department on its Facebook page, officers responded to a home invasion on Otto Circle. They determined that Bennett, who was armed at the time, had committed the crime. Police officers obtained warrants for Bennett for the following…

A week ago, U.S. Marshals apprehended a fugitive wanted in Connecticut at a family member’s residence in Baymeadows. On Wednesday, April 24, 2019, marshals from the U.S. Marshal Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force tracked Edward Staffieri, a white male of a New Haven, Connecticut, address to a home on Ashby Drive in Baymeadows. Officers from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the operation. According to Stewart Cottingham, supervisor inspector with the task force, Staffieri had absconded from a halfway house in Connecticut and traveled to Douglas. When marshals entered the home, Staffieri hid in the attic…