Author: Robert Preston

At the Douglas City Commission’s previous meeting, the commission tied 3-3 on two items related to the city’s alcohol ordinance. Because the votes ended in a tie, commissioners had to re-visit those items at Monday’s regular commission meeting. The first ordinance defined a pub and would allow alcohol to be served in such an establishment. A pub is smaller than a restaurant, serves a limited menu, and offers entertainment inside. Alcohol would also be served inside the pub. This item passed 4-2, with commissioners Cindy McNeill, Edwin Taylor, Kentaiwon Durham, and Olivia Pearson voting in favor. Commissioners Mike Gowen…

Last week, the Brian Kemp campaign rolled into Douglas. Kemp, a Republican who is running against Democrat Stacy Abrams for governor, is the first and thus far only major-party candidate to visit Coffee County this election season. Kemp gathered with supporters at the Douglas Municipal Airport and spent a few minutes chatting with those in attendance. Then Kemp took the opportunity to make a short stump speech that focused on putting Georgians first. “Our opponent is running like she’s the next Nathan Deal because she’s worked with Speaker Raulston and she’s worked with the governor. But make no mistake…

A one-vehicle accident late Friday took the life of a Douglas man. According to officials, the deceased, a 20-year-old male whose identity has not been released, was driving west on Highway 32 when he approached the overhead bridge. The driver failed to negotiate the curve on the bridge and left the roadway, driving down the embankment and into a pine tree. The vehicle then burst into flames. Authorities are still investigating the accident. There were no other vehicles involved and there were no passengers in the car that crashed.

The Coffee Trojans’ second road trip of the year didn’t go according to plan. Coffee suffered its first loss of the year to the Northside-Warner Robins Eagles in Warner Robins 30-20 in a battle of two top-10 teams. The Trojans are now 6-1 overall and 0-1 in region play. The Eagles scored from all over the field and on both sides of the ball. After Coffee’s opening drive ended in a punt, Northside’s Corey Munson put the Eagles on the board first with a 53-yard field goal. The Trojans answered with a 73-yard screen pass from A.J. Wilkerson to…

Wednesday afternoon on the campus of Lowndes Middle School, an era for the Coffee County athletic program came to an end. Wayne Shook, head coach of the sixth grade Coffee Middle School Trojans, coached his last football game after over 30 years as a teacher and coach in the system. Coach Shook is retiring at the end of the school year. As such, this football season is his last. The Trojans wrapped his career in style, throttling the Lowndes Middle Vikings 40-6 in a dominant performance that came within two minutes of a shutout. After the game ended,…

Monday night, the city commission voted to amend its list of capital improvement projects to include a completely new eight-lane swimming pool and pool complex, to break its list of projects into phases, and to enter into a contract with Altman and Barrett Architects to design multiple buildings on the project list. The commission needed to take action on these items because there have been a few changes since commissioners initially approved these projects over a year ago. The eight projects are Davis Property Sitework, a new utilities building, public works building, purchasing building, city hall renovation/expansion, recreation complex,…

At Monday’s regular county commission meeting, county code enforcement director Ray Parker recommended that the county deny a rezoning request despite the planning commission giving the request its stamp of approval. The request comes from Donald Wildes, Jr., who would like to rezone 5.3 acres at 1875 Sandhill Church Road from Commercial to Warehouse Lot Industrial. The county held the first reading of the request Monday. Parker stated that his staff recommended that the county deny the request based on standards of land use. He added that after the meeting, the county would advertise the request and post a…

At Monday night’s Douglas city commission meeting, Ward 2 commissioner Kentaiwon Durham addressed his arrest in the early morning hours of Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, on Shirley Avenue. Earlier Monday, Commissioner Durham had made a few statements regarding the arrest on a Facebook live video he posted on his private Facebook page. His comments Monday night, however, were the first had made in a public setting. Durham’s comments came at the end of the meeting during a time set aside for the mayor and commissioners to make any public statements they deem appropriate. The video below shows Durham’s comments.…

Today is the day the Childhood Cancer Awareness Group of Coffee County mobilizes for its signature event, a two-day fund-raiser at Central Square in Douglas. The CCAGCC assists families of those affected by childhood cancer with travel, lodging and food expenses without an application. Any additional assistance such as rent, car payments, utility bills and more is received through an application and has to be approved by the board of directors. “Life goes on after a child is diagnosed and bills don’t stop,” says the CCAGCC’s Barbara Dockery. Dockery made the following post on her Facebook page Thursday night: “There…

During the month of October, the City of Douglas will be offering several promotions for their customers. Throughout the month, activities will be designed to educate and show appreciation for Douglas customers. Customer Appreciation Month will be held the entire month of October. Customers are encouraged to register for a $100 credit on their utility account that one lucky customer will win at a drawing on Friday, October 26, 2018 at City Hall. City of Douglas customers will have the opportunity to enjoy free popcorn and water each Friday. For more information about the 311/Customer Care Center or the Customer…