Author: Staff Reports

A fatal shooting took place on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, at the George Washington Carver Shopping Center. According to a post on the Douglas Police Department’s Facebook page, Antravious Z. Johnson, 22, of Douglas, was shot and killed at the above location. Police are actively investigating the incident but thus far have not made any arrests. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Investigator Brittany O’Steen at bosteen@cityofdouglas.com, message the police department on Facebook, or call the TIPS line at 912-260-3600.

A fatal shooting took place on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, at the George Washington Carver Shopping Center. According to a post on the Douglas Police Department’s Facebook page, Antravious Z. Johnson, 22, of Douglas, was shot and killed at the above location. Police are actively investigating the incident but thus far have not made any arrests. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Investigator Brittany O’Steen at bosteen@cityofdouglas.com, message the police department on Facebook, or call the TIPS line at 912-260-3600.

The Douglas Dairy Queen, a historic landmark in Douglas and one of the most recognizable businesses in Coffee County, is under new ownership. Restauranteur Sonny Lyon and his family have purchased the Dairy Queen from the Adams family, who have owned and operated the restaurant for nearly 60 years. Lyon Management released the following statement regarding the sale: “Sonny Lyon and family would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Adams family for allowing us the opportunity to continue the legacy of the Douglas Dairy Queen. The Adams family have built this iconic brand to be…

Operation Sandy Bottom defendants continued to roll into federal court last week at the United States District Court of the Southern District of Georgia in Waycross. The following defendants made their initial appearance in front of a federal magistrate judge for formal arraignments on their charges pertaining to their suspected criminal roles in this investigation. Some defendants were incarcerated at the time the investigation began and allegedly played a significant role as they served time. Others found themselves in custody on unrelated charges after their alleged conspiracy conduct and others were arrested during the investigation from incidents stemming from…

James Sirmans, a 1991 graduate of Coffee County Schools and former principal of the Coffee County School System for 11 years (serving as principal of both Coffee Middle and Coffee County Alternative School) has been named the new Executive Director of Human Resource and CTAE for the Ben Hill County School System in Fitzgerald for the 2021-2022 school year. Mr. Sirmans left the Coffee County School System in 2015 and became employed with the federal government at Fort Stewart serving as Assistant Director of Job Challenge Academy (College and Career Academy) for At-Risk Students. He was employed in 2016…

South Georgia State College was the recipient of a 2020 Community Partner of the Year award during the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce’s 94th Annual Event and Awards Program virtually on Thursday evening, February 4, 2021. The event celebrated the community by recognizing deserving individuals and businesses who consistently give of their time and talent, For the Love of Coffee. SGSC president Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers accepted the award on behalf of the College and expressed her gratitude for being a member and partner of the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber. “We are especially thankful during this challenging year for our partnership,” she…

Vicki Lewis, Coffee Regional Medical Center President and CEO, received the Jackie Wilson Women in Leadership Award at the 94th Annual Chamber of Commerce Event and Awards Program last Thursday night. Additionally, CRMC was named 2021 Industry Partner of the Year. As has become the norm for in-person gatherings, the event, dubbed “For the Love of Coffee,” was held virtually on Thursday evening, February 4. This annual celebration of our community recognizes deserving individuals and businesses who consistently give their time and talent, For the Love of Coffee. Each year, at the annual event, the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber…

The Region 1-5A All Region team has been released and the region Athlete of the Year, Maurice Turner, headlines the Coffee Trojans’ list of 14 First Team and 12 Honorable Mention selections. Here are Coffee’s First Team players: Cameron High, junior — DL Zyshon Reed, senior – DL Arlis Sutton, senior – DE Anthony Gaskins, junior – LB Brandon High, junior – LB Jake Lindsey, sophomore – S Brian Colbert, senior – CB Parker Mullis, senior – OL Dane Rish, sophomore – OL Luke Waldron, senior – TE Noah Saylor, senior – K Carter Byrd, junior – Long…

Last week’s federal drug trafficking operation in Coffee and surrounding counties, dubbed Operation Sandy Bottom, resulted in the arrests of 28 suspected drug traffickers. It has been called the Southern District’s most successful illegal drug investigation. Among those arrested were some of the alleged biggest suppliers of a variety of illegal drugs in the area. Four individuals, the photos of whom can be seen above, remain at large: Marquis Jacques, Leo Lee Vonza Pender, Antion Dewayne Byrd, and James Lamar McGinty. One suspect, Gloria Jean Vickers, is hospitalized with COVID-19 in a Middle Georgia facility. She will be taken into…

Lucille Teston Jowers, age 85, of Douglas, Georgia passed away on Sunday, January 10, 2021 at Vista Park. Mrs. Jowers was born on December 7, 1935 in Coffee County, Georgia the daughter of the late Clinton and Ida Mae Perry Teston Sr. Mrs. Jowers retired after 26 years with Concerted Services as a Life Skills Technician and attended Southview Church of God. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two children, Joe Jowers and Darlene Jowers. Survivors include daughter, Gail Jowers of Douglas, GA; son, Steve Jowers of Douglas, GA; five grandchildren, Justin Justice (Susan)…