Author: Robert Preston

The last two years, the second round of the playoffs has been the Coffee Trojans’ Achilles heel. After posting 9-1 regular season records both seasons, the Trojans won their first round game only to lose in the next round. Each year, they ended the season with 10-2 marks. In 2016, Coffee, playing in a new classification and region, posted a 5-5 regular season record with only one region win. In spite having a more road to the playoffs, the Trojans stand at 7-5 and are headed to the quarterfinals – territory they’ve only been in three previous times in the…

Tuesday night’s gathering of the Childhood Cancer Awareness Group of Coffee County at the courthouse was equal parts a celebration of life and a somber remembrance service. The group hosted its third annual Christmas tree lighting service at 6:30; however, the purpose of the event was much more than to simply light a tree. Shep Johnson, pastor of First Baptist Church, addressed the crowd first and referenced the story found in Mark 2 and Luke 5 of the paralytic whose friends lowered him through a roof to see Jesus for healing. Using this story as an illustration, Pastor Johnson admonished…

Get in the holiday spirit this weekend with the Community Thanksgiving Spectacular in downtown Douglas. The first-ever event is the vision of Mayor Tony Paulk, and he would like to invite everyone to the Martin Centre at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19. The spectacular will feature music, inspirational messages, and lots of fellowship. Around dark, the event will move around the corner to Atkinson Plaza, where the brand new community Christmas tree will be formally lighted. There is a cost to attend the event — $10 at the door or bring a new, unopened gift of a similar amount.…

When the Coffee Trojans fell behind 17-7 to the Heritage High Patriots in Conyers last night in the first round of the state playoffs, my first thought was, the we-don’t-play-well-when-we’re-out-of-school curse has reared its ugly head again. The Trojans missed a field goal and fumbled a punt, both of which helped the Patriots build a decent lead with just over six minutes to go in the second quarter. Coffee was struggling and didn’t seem to have it together. Then something clicked. Down by 10, the Trojan offense woke up. Coffee took advantage of a mishandled snap on a Heritage punt…

A couple of things are certain. Death. Taxes. And a one-term sheriff in Coffee County getting re-elected. Tuesday night, voters decided to give Sheriff Doyle Wooten, who is finishing his first four years as the county’s highest constitutional officer, another term in office. Voters in the city of Douglas also approved both local Sunday alcohol sales referendums (albeit by slim margins). Likewise, Brandon Musgrove is the new coroner and incumbent tax commissioner Shanda Henderson won her seat rather handily. Sheriff Wooten (D) faced stiff competition from challenger Rex Harper (R), who despite his relative youth has over two decades of…

The Coffee Trojans will live to fight another day despite losing 31-20 tonight to the Lee County Trojans – Coffee’s third consecutive loss. The defeat leaves Coffee with a 5-5 overall record (1-3 in region play) for the 2016 season. Coming into the final game of the regular season, Coffee could have finished anywhere from second in the region to dead last, depending on what happened against Lee County in Douglas and up in Warner Robins between Valdosta High and Houston County. To get the second seed, Coffee needed to beat Lee and hold that particular set of Trojans to…

The Coffee Trojans dropped to 5-4 on the season and 1-2 in the region after suffering a 15-10 defeat at the claws of the Valdosta High Wildcats last night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta. The game featured a father-son showdown for the first time in their careers; Tucker Pruitt, son of Coffee High head coach Robby Pruitt, is Valdosta’s offensive coordinator. And right now, the younger Pruitt holds the advantage. As good as Valdosta’s offense is, however, it was the ‘Cats’ defense that ruled the day. Valdosta held the Trojans scoreless in the first half and allowed -1 yard rushing.…

Thursday night, school board member Judi Worrell (District 3) stormed out of the pre-meeting work session over a personnel matter and refused to return for the general meeting. The board was already short-handed with Bryan Preston and Jesse Jowers absent from the meeting; the board needed Worrell’s presence to have a quorum. When she left, only two members remained – chairman Adam Lott and Ronnie Johnson. Lott attempted to persuade Worrell to return to the meeting but she refused. With only two representatives present, the board of education could take no action on any agenda items. The board met briefly…

Wednesday morning, students at Coffee High School witnessed in shocking detail the potential consequences of drinking and driving. In observance of Red Ribbon Week, which is a week set aside each October to warn kids of all ages of the dangers of alcohol and drugs, Coffee County Family Connection, in conjunction with the CHS Drama Club, FBLA, the sheriff’s office, Coffee County Fire Department, Coffee County Air-Evac, EMS, and Sims Funeral Home, set up a wreck scene outside the CHS gym. The realistic scene featured two cars that had just had a head-on collision with accident victims both inside and…

Saturday afternoon, my family and I visited the Douglas Municipal Airport while the open house was in full swing for the 63rd AAF Flight Training Detachment reunion. This year was the final year of the reunion; the flight training school’s cadets (is that even the right word to use in this context?) are now of an age that makes travel nearly impossible for them. The base was in operation during World War II. From 1941-1944, as many as 10,000 cadets received flight training at the school. Classes were nine weeks long, and during this time, cadets received primary flight training…