Author: Staff Reports

At the moment, the Coffee County School System has no plans to cancel school as a result of the coronavirus. Friday afternoon, Dr. Morris Leis, school superintendent, released the following statement: “As we stated yesterday, we are continuously planning at the local level to properly prepare to reduce the impact of COVID-19. We have been in close communication with our local Department of Public Health, Coffee Regional Medical Center and other agencies and governmental bodies. School system administrators met this afternoon with city and county government officials and local healthcare professionals to review the latest data from the Centers for…

Crystal Lynn Garren, a convicted sex offender who has been charged with failing to register an address change, failed to show up this week in Superior Court and the sheriff’s office needs the public’s help in locating her. Garren was convicted in Cook County for enticing a child for indecent purposes in February of 2003. She was required to register as a sex offender as part of her sentence. Garren has been living in Coffee County since 2016. In February of 2018, Garren was charged for failing to register address change after leaving the address she was registered at and…

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Coffee Regional Medical Center has altered its visitor policy. Earlier today, CRMC released the following statement: “Coffee Regional Medical Center continues to monitor the global COVID-19 outbreak closely. At this time, there are no known cases locally. However, our goal is to ensure a safe place for our patients and our caregivers. In doing so, we wish to follow guidelines put forward by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which in part recommend avoiding crowded gatherings. Effective immediately, CRMC has implemented patient visitor restrictions to ensure the safest possible environment for…

Onterio “Mucho Gotti” Wilson, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the Dec. 15, 2019, shooting that resulted in the death of Jabyo Lamar Bell, 30, of Waycross, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection with Bell’s death. He was charged with voluntary manslaughter on Feb. 26, 2020. On Dec. 19, Wilson had been arrested and charged with tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with the shooting. He has been in the Coffee County Jail since Dec. 19. On the afternoon of December 15, 2019, the Douglas Police Department was called in…

According to the Douglas Police Department, the bicyclist suffered minor injuries and the driver of the vehicle was unhurt. However, the police department posted on its Facebook page that “we will be enforcing traffic laws on bicyclists all over town in an effort to curb this dangerous trend of recent accidents.” Last week, a bicyclist was struck and killed by a vehicle at the intersection of Bowens Mill Road and South Gaskin Avenue. Bicycles are considered vehicles in Georgia and must obey the same traffic laws as motorized vehicles. Bicyclists must travel with traffic, obey traffic signals, and operate their…

The City of Douglas Wastewater Treatment Plant has experienced its second wastewater spill of the week. This time, an estimated 16,500 gallons of wastewater escaped into a local creek. The City of Douglas released the following statement Thursday afternoon: “The City of Douglas Wastewater Treatment Plant has reported that a spill of wastewater has occurred into an unnamed tributary of the Seventeen Mile River. The spill date was from 3/5/2020 at 1:30 p.m. until 3/5/2020 2:30 p.m. The spill occurred at Waldroup Ave., Douglas, GA 31533. “Approximately 16,500 gallons were reported to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). As a…

Yesterday, Gov. Brian Kemp announced that coronavirus has arrived in Georgia. Two individuals, both who live in the same house, have been diagnosed in Fulton County. One of the individuals recently visited Italy. With the virus getting closer and closer to South Georgia, both Coffee Regional Medical Center and the Coffee County School System have released statements regarding the virus. Here is CRMC’s statement: “As your healthcare provider, Coffee Regional Medical Center conducts ongoing reviews assessing and reviewing protocols involving infectious disease containment and control. In response to the potential for the spread of coronavirus within the United…

Elizabeth “Liz” Johnson of Statesboro has qualified to run for Georgia’s 12th Congressional District on the Democratic ticket. The active community volunteer said she is running because everyone deserves the freedom, security, and opportunity to pursue the American Dream. “I am running for families like my own,” Johnson said, “hard-working men and women who want to support their families, own a home, access affordable, quality healthcare and education, and enjoy a secure retirement.” Since announcing her candidacy last October, Johnson has travelled throughout the 12th District, speaking with constituents about critical issues like raising the minimum wage,…

A fairly major – and potentially disruptive – road project will begin Monday in Douglas, weather permitting. If all goes well, the project will wrap on April 18. The Georgia Department of Transportation has notified the City of Douglas that a contractor will be removing asphalt at the intersection of State Route (SR) 206 and SR 32 and replacing it with concrete. Concrete holds up well against the braking and idling of large trucks, which creates ruts in asphalt. There are no restrictions on when the contractor is permitted to work. The scheduled completion date is April 18,…

Liz Holton has announced her intention to seek the office of probate judge of Coffee County. Holton has over 12 years of legal experience with a large majority of it in probate work. “I am dedicated to helping people, especially those without a voice, and I feel like the office of probate judge is the perfect opportunity to do that. I’ve prayed and asked God to show me what He wants me to do next in my life and He has led me here. I feel like change is needed in different places and I know I can be…