Author: Robert Preston

The election is less than a week away. Candidates are doubling down and pulling out all the proverbial stops in their quests to find political glory. Last week, a few headliners from the GOP races visited the area one more time to energize their base. Brian Kemp, candidate for governor, and lieutenant governor hopeful Geoff Duncan gathered at Harper Hill Plantation with supporters to discuss key issues and the importance of getting out to vote. The event, titled Pig, Pickin’, and Politickin’, was hosted by State Sen. Tyler Harper. In addition to the candidates, a number of state…

Thursday afternoon, a Coffee County jury found Jasmine Williams guilty on counts of malice murder and felony murder in the fatal shooting of Greg Swinson, 25. The shooting took place in September of 2017. Attorneys selected the jury Monday and testimony began Tuesday. The jury began deliberations Wednesday afternoon and reached a verdict Thursday afternoon. Sentencing will take place Friday morning. At 3 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, Swinson was shot in the head in a home on the 300 block of East Walker Street. Swinson initially survived the shooting and was transported to Savannah Memorial Hospital for…

The trial of Jasmine Williams, who was charged with murder in the September 2017 fatal shooting of Greg Swinson, 25, will begin Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018 at the Coffee County Courthouse. Attorneys selected the jury today and both sides are set to start tomorrow. At 3 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, Swinson was shot in the head in his home on the 300 block of East Walker Street. Swinson initially survived the shooting and was transported to Savannah Memorial Hospital for further treatment. However, he died a short time later. Williams, his girlfriend at the time, was…

Rae Curruth, the former Carolina Panthers wide receiver who was convicted of conspiring to kill Cherica Adams, has been released from prison. He served an 18-year sentence after a friend of his – whom he hired – killed Adams, the mother of his unborn son. The child, Chancellor Lee Adams, survived but is severely impaired. Carruth, a first-round draft pick in 1997, hired Van Brett Watkins Sr., a friend, to kill Adams. The shooting took place on Nov. 16, 1999, during Carruth’s third season with the Panthers. Carruth and Adams had been to eat dinner and see a movie.…

The Coffee Trojans picked up their first region win of the season Friday night with a 41-14 victory over the Houston County Bears at Jardine Stadium. The Trojans are now 7-2 on the season and 1-2 in region play with one game remaining – a rematch with defending state champion Lee County. Running back Antonio Dawson led the way offensively for Coffee; he rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns, including scores for 54 and 32 yards, respectively. Josiah Killebrew, Jabez Turner, and AJ Wilkerson also scored for the Trojans. Travaris Jackson intercepted a Houston County pass, the Bears’…

Monday morning, Coffee County commissioners spent the first few minutes of their regularly scheduled meeting discussing early voting for the upcoming election. Early voting began Monday and continues all week. Voters can cast their ballots at the elections office in the old 911 building on Ashley Street. Early voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It started this week and continues all next week. In addition, the polls will be open on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Through Thursday, 1,691 voters had cast ballots. The commission also approved its standard intergovernmental…

After a game ends, players always head to the showers. But last night, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill got a shower of another kind during the Chiefs’ 43-40 loss to the New England Patriots in Foxboro, Mass., when a Patriots’ fan doused him with beer following an important touchdown with 3:03 left in the game. The undefeated Chiefs trailed the Patriots by 15 at halftime but came roaring back in the second half. Hill scored three touchdowns during the comeback, none more important than the 75-yard catch from quarterback Patrick Mahomes with 3:03 remaining that made the…

The Coffee Trojans lost their second region game in as many weeks Friday night as they fell to the Valdosta Wildcats 37-22 in Valdosta. The Trojans jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on a long touchdown pass from A.J. Wilkerson to K.J. Davis. However, the Wildcats rallied and dominated the rest of the first half and went into halftime with a 23-7 lead. Valdosta opened the second half with another touchdown to go up 30-7. Coffee woke up a bit and scored twice in the second half, and made a two-point conversion after the final touchdown, to…

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…