Author: Robert Preston

Earlier today, a body was discovered in the woods in the Green Acres community. Authorities responded and immediately launched an investigation. According to Sheriff Doyle Wooten, the area is where deputies have been searching for Shawn Brooker, a Coffee County resident who has been missing for several weeks. Sheriff Wooten, however, wouldn’t say whether or not the body found Monday was Brooker. “The body of the deceased male has been sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab for an autopsy to determine a positive identity,” stated Sheriff Wooten in a press release. Brooker has been missing since Jan.…

The individual who was killed Tuesday morning in a collision with a train in Coffee County has been identified as Alana Lyons, 17, of Atkinson County. Law enforcement has not released any details of the accident. However, Lyons was killed when a train struck the car she was driving at the Wendell Sears Road railroad tracks. Wendell Sears Road is a heavily traveled two-lane road that connects Highway 32 East and Highway 158 East. Lyons was a junior at Atkinson County High School and a joint enrollment student at South Georgia State College’s Douglas campus. Tuesday afternoon, the Atkinson County…

Douglas City Commissioner Olivia Pearson was supposed to finally go to trial this week on felony voter fraud charges. The trial, however, has been continued yet again. The earliest possible date for her to go to court now moves to March. Pearson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Pearson faces two counts of improper assistance in casting a ballot and two counts of false swearing after being indicted by a Coffee County grand jury last year. She was jailed on May 31, 2016, but was quickly released on a preset bond. The charges stem from her alleged role in…

Brandon Levi Williams is set to face trial this week for the February 2016 murder of Kavozia Walker. After the killing, Williams fled the state and was eventually arrested in Hollywood, Florida, in April of 2016. Officers from the Douglas Police Department responded to 120 McNeal Drive in Douglas on Feb. 19, 2016 to investigate the shooting death of Kavozia Walker, who suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the neck. The subsequent investigation found the individual responsible for the death was then-30-year-old Brandon Levi Williams. Investigators from the Douglas Police Department obtained warrants for the arrest of Williams on charges…

Adam Smith, who holds the position of Chair of Job Development, presented an award of special recognition to a leader in the community. This year’s award went to Douglas National Bank’s Stuart Smith. Adam explained that the recognition comes from a valiant effort to “make jobs happen in Coffee County.” Stuart could not attend the event this year. Former Chamber of Commerce Chairman Michael Lott accepted the award on Stuart’s behalf. – Stephens Preston contributed to this report

Gabby Munoz is the Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassador of the Year. She received the award at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet Thursday night. Munoz thanked the Chamber of Commerce as well as the ambassador program as she “strongly believes in the vision of the Chamber.” Munoz added, “Be proud of where you live and where you come from.” The Chamber thanked Gabby for her continued support and attendance to many ribbon cuttings and events in the past years. – Stephens Preston contributed to this report

Elixir Extrusions is the Industry of the Year, named as such by the Chamber of Commerce at Thursday night’s annual Chamber banquet. Elixir Extrusions came to Douglas over 30 years ago and recently expanded, purchasing an existing 72,000 square foot building in the Southwest Industrial Park. Initially with just a handful of employees, Elixir Extrusions now employs over 200. Elixir Extrusions continues to supply the metal framework for the Elixir Door & Metals plant on Pope Drive. They also continue to produce aluminum extrusions for the Club Car Precedent golf vehicles, utility and four wheel-drive vehicles, medical equipment, the food…

Bobby’s Treat Shop received the Small Business of the Year award at Thursday’s annual Chamber of Commerce banquet. Bobby’s began in Pearson when Bobby Guthrie and his wife, Karen, opened a small food business in 1967. In 1970, the Guthries moved Bobby’s Treat Shop to Douglas in the exact location where it stands today. The Guthries’ journey has not been without struggles but they have always kept a positive attitude and gracefully persevered. In 2016, they underwent a major rebuild to ensure that Bobby’s Treat Shop will continue on for another 50 years. Through all the changes, ups and down,…

At Thursday night’s annual Chamber of Commerce banquet, the Chamber named Dr. Tracy McClelland the Gene Chambers Entrepreneur of the Year. Dr. McCelland, a registered nurse, owns and operates Ycarte, a learning and tutoring center for future nurses. She opened Ycarte in 2006. Dr. McCelland has persevered through many obstacles during her career. Initially, she was rejected from nursing school and she had to take the NCLEX several times before passing. She believes those stumbling blocks only made her stronger both personally and professionally. In addition to her nursing degree, Dr. McClelland ultimately obtained a master’s in nursing education and…

The Coffee County School System recently pressed charges against a local male citizen for criminally trespassing inside the former high school facility on South Peterson Avenue. The school district’s video captured the intruder inside the district’s former technology department tampering with equipment. Law enforcement is continuing to investigate the matter and additional charges are expected to be brought. The individual has been banned by the school system from being on any school property in the future, and additionally a restraining order has been issued to the intruder through the Douglas Police Department. “Safety is a priority within our school district…