Author: Robert Preston

The possibility of a retail business moving to the property upon which the old high school and the board of education central office sits took one step closer to becoming a reality Monday night when the city commission approved a recommendation from the planning commission to rezone the property from Residential Professional to Commercial General. The tract is nearly 26 acres and is considered to be one of the most valuable pieces of property in the county. The property is being marketed for retail and there is not a specific business ready to purchase the tract. City attorney Jerome Adams…

A Monday night fire at an apartment complex in Douglas displaced nine individuals and caused extensive damage. Thankfully, authorities reported no injuries. The fire broke out in an upstairs unit at East Woods Apartments on North McDonald Avenue, nearly directly across the street from Eastside Elementary School. Authorities believe the fire began in the kitchen. Douglas firefighters responded to the blaze between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Monday. Their quick response kept the fire from spreading throughout the building. People in the other three apartments in the building were evacuated due to smoke. All told, the American Red Cross helped…

Here are the remarks made by Chamber of Commerce president Andrea Taylor at Monday’s monthly luncheon. Unfortunately, my technology cut off right as Carol Williford, Director of the Child Advocacy Center, came to the podium. She shared some great information with the audience regarding the Child Advocacy Center. Maybe we need to do a follow up with the center to further discuss what she talked about. In fact, that sounds like a great idea. At any rate, here’s is just over five minutes of Taylor’s comments. Robert Preston Jr./DouglasNow.com

Big changes are coming to the Douglas-Coffee County Humane Society. Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, the Humane Society will transition from sheltering animals at the Iron Road facility in Douglas to housing animals in a home-based fostering setting. At that time, the Humane Society will become a no-kill organization. Under the current arrangement, the City of Douglas owns the shelter on Iron Road. The local Humane Society contracts with the city’s animal control department to operate the shelter. It’s important to note that the Humane Society and animal control are not the same organization or agency. The Humane Society is transitioning…

At last Thursday’s meeting of the Douglas Rotary Club, the club presented a check for $1,500 to Camp 151 in memory of long-time Rotarian Earl Brice. Members of Mr. Brice’s family were at the meeting to accept the check. Chris Calhoun, Mr. Brice’s son-in-law, heads Camp 151, which is a Christian organization that conducts building projects for needy families in Coffee County. At the camps, which last a week, youth from Coffee and surrounding areas, repair and renovate homes throughout the community. The camps provide opportunities for youth to strengthen their relationship with Christ while showing others His love through…

It may be more frustrating to lose a game that you had a legitimate chance to win than it is to simply get blown out. The Coffee Trojans had one of those games Friday night against the Region 1-7A Tift County Blue Devils. Tift and Coffee squared off for the first time in three years at Jardine Stadium, and the Blue Devils left town with a 31-20 win. The Trojans never led at all in the game but they definitely had their chances. Turnovers and penalties stalled any progress Coffee made and kept the Trojans on their heels all night.…

At Thursday’s regular board of education meeting, the board unanimously voted to extend the contract of Dr. Morris Leis, school superintendent, for three more years. Dr. Leis came to the Coffee County School System from Wayne County, where he served as school superintendent. Prior to becoming superintendent, Dr. Leis was a teacher, coach, athletic director, and principal. He is a Douglas native and graduate of Coffee High School. “I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to continue to serve the Coffee County Board of Education has the school superintendent. I am proud of the work that our teachers,…

Voncellies Allen, a former Coffee Trojan, is now a member of the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame. GSU inducted Allen on Saturday, Sept. 17, in Statesboro. Allen played just one year of football at Coffee High. He was good enough in that one season to receive several scholarship offers. Allen decided to attend Georgia Southern University, where he lettered for four years as a defensive lineman. He started 45 games, including all 15 of the 1999 national championship season. According to release from Georgia Southern, Allen recorded 77 total tackles, 30 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, and had…

Crime Watch Daily, one of the only crime shows to air in daytime syndication, will feature a portion of its Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, broadcast to the murder of Doris Worrell, who was shot and killed on Sept. 20, 2006, inside Jon’s Sports Park in Douglas. The case remains unprosecuted. In late summer, film crews from Crime Watch Daily spent a week in Georgia, interviewing Doris Worrell’s friends and family, as well as members of the media who covered the murder and law enforcement officials. Crime Watch Daily will devote half of its hour-long show on Sept. 22 to the…

Police have filed charges and made an arrest in the shooting death of Lea Merritt of Douglas, which took place Sunday afternoon at a North College Avenue address. According to a Douglas Police Department spokesman, officers have charged Merritt’s brother, Caleb Barrett, with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Barrett stands accused of shooting Merritt in the backyard of the family residence as a result of a family dispute. Barrett has been arrested and is being held in the Coffee County Jail. The investigation into Merritt’s death is ongoing and more serious charges…