Author: Robert Preston

Monday morning, James Jacobs, who had been charged with murdering and then concealing the body of Alexander McKay Hunter, 67, pleaded guilty to malice murder and concealing a body. James Jacobs was set to go to trial this week but entered his plea as jury selection was about to begin. James Jacobs and his wife, Diana, were originally charged with Hunter’s murder. However, the murder charge against Diana Jacobs was dropped. She eventually pleaded guilty to concealing a body and exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult earlier this year. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Hunter’s body…

When voters go to the polls this election cycle, they will cast ballots on four constitutional amendments. Likewise, voters in the city of Douglas – read that again, only voters who live inside the city limits – will cast a yes or no vote for alcohol sales on Sunday. Below you will find a brief discussion on each one. I encourage you to look these up and investigate them more closely. Amending the state constitution is no small matter and voters should carefully weigh their votes. A couple of these could have potentially far-reaching effects at all levels of government:…

Once again, it wasn’t a case of what the Coffee Trojans’ opponents – in this case, the Northside (Warner Robins) Eagles – did; rather, it was a case of what the Trojans didn’t do. The Eagles defeated the Trojans 17-14 in a nail-biter in Warner Robins. Coffee scored once in the first half and once in the second half – and missed a pair of chip-shot field goals that would have been the difference in the ball game. “Special teams is so important,” said head coach Robby Pruitt after the game. “Last week, we made those field goals. This week,…

One of the most important safety devices a home can have is a smoke detector. Studies show that most home fires occur during the night when occupants are asleep. Once a fire breaks out, people inside have just minutes to get out safely. Sometimes it takes less than five minutes for occupants to succumb to smoke fumes and other hazardous substances in the air. Early detection of a fire is key to getting out safely. And that’s where smoke detectors come in. Having a working smoke detector is the single most important fire safety warning system for homeowners. To help…

A Douglas man lost his life in a one-vehicle accident on a dirt road early Saturday morning. The cause of the accident and the circumstances surround it remain a mystery. However, what is known that Derek Wiggins of Douglas crashed the Ford car he was driving early Saturday on Sikes Road in the Huffer community. Wiggins was traveling south on Sikes Road when he apparently lost control of the car. The car crashed through a fence and struck a pine tree directly on the driver’s side front door. Wiggins died as a result of the accident. A nearby resident found…

Historically, the Coffee Trojans don’t play well during holiday weeks. If the kids don’t go to school on Friday, the team typically doesn’t play well. As has been the case for many years, a loss often results. (A notable exception is the South Effingham game two years ago; the Trojans won but a 4-6 South Effingham team put up its second-highest point total of the year against Coffee and gave the Trojans a big scare.) Given the fact that the Coffee County School System had called off school not for one day but three days – Thursday, Friday, and the…

Early voting begins Monday. As we ready ourselves for what will undoubtedly be an absurdly negative and disturbing run up to Election Day, voters in the city of Douglas will have two important decisions to make. On the ballot for voters just registered in the city are two local referendums related to Sunday alcohol sales. The first ballot question asks if Sunday sales by the drink should be permitted while the second question asks if retailers can sell beer, liquor, and wine on Sundays. The two are separate ballot items; therefore it is quite possible that one could be voted…

At last night’s city commission meeting, commissioners approved the purchase of 46 new facility signs. Sign Innovations of Charlotte, N.C., submitted the winning bid out of nine potential vendors. Its bid was $21,344. The signs will be used around the various parks and complexes throughout the city. Commissioners also voted to waive the Central Square gym B usage fees for two events – one for The Sanctuary Church of God’s trick-or-trunk event and the other for a seminar titled The Power of Family, which will be hosted by Investing in Others, an organization located in Douglas. In addition to these…

Hurricane Matthew gave the people of Douglas and Coffee County an opportunity to show kindness and generosity to a large, diverse group of people in a state of great need. As we documented in an earlier story, the entire community rallied around those people who traveled to Douglas after being displaced by Matthew. However, not everyone in town was looking out for the best interests of those in need. As early as noon Friday, I began hearing reports of one particular motel allegedly gouging potential customers, charging as much as $500 per night. Some refused to pay but others, realizing…

Romans 12:13 (NIV) reads “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” This weekend, under very trying and difficult circumstances, the people of Coffee County did that very thing. With Matthew, a major hurricane, taking an uncertain and destructive path toward land anywhere from South Florida to coastal Georgia, people were driven from their homes all along the coast. They headed west and north, most an uncertain journey with no real destination in mind. They had to get out of the way of the storm yet they didn’t know where they would end up. As they drove…