Author: Staff Reports

Citizens Christian Academy has a new varsity basketball coach. According to a statement posted to CCA’s Facebook page on June 12, the school has hired Jamie Lingenfelter of Waycross to lead both the men’s and women’s varsity teams. Coach Lingenfelter was born in Coffee County. He is married to Mandy Lingenfelter, who serves Ware County High School as head women’s basketball coach. Before moving to Ware County, Mandy Lingenfelter was head women’s basketball coach at Coffee High School, where she led the Lady Trojans to a region title in the 2008-2009 season and received region Coach of the…

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer involved shooting that took place on June 4, 2019, in Atkinson County. According to a GBI press release, around 10:45 p.m. that night, a call came into the Tri-County 911 Center that an officer from the Lakeland Police Department had shot an inmate that was being transported from Lakeland to the Coffee County Jail in Douglas. According to the release, a Lakeland PD officer was transporting Roy Kyle Mathis, 48, to the Coffee County Jail when Mathis attempted to escape the transport vehicle. The incident occurred in Atkinson County on…

James Robert “Bobby” Reynolds, former mayor of Broxton for 26 years, passed away Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the home of his daughter, Tracy Lott, in Broxton. Mr. Reynolds was born March 31, 1941 to the late Joseph Edgar Reynolds and the late Jackie Highsmith Reynolds Kight. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Travis Reynolds. In addition to his duties as mayor of Broxton, Mr. Reynolds also worked as a lieutenant in the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office of 10 years. He was a member of Reedy Branch Baptist Church. Survivors include His wife…

Two city employees have been arrested and charged for allegedly abusing and intimidating other city employees, according to a press release posted on the Douglas Police Department’s Facebook page. The release states that Gregory Stephen Nugent, 55, and Britt Nickolas Leverette, 50, have both been arrested after the city manager’s office received complaints in reference to two city employees who were being verbally and physically abused. The alleged incidents took place in mid-May of this year. The allegations were serious and the Douglas Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit looked into the matter. The release states that investigators spoke with…

Logan Schultz, a 2019 graduate of Coffee High School, is headed to the U.S. Naval Academy. U.S. Congressman Rick W. Allen (R-GA-12) hosted a ceremony Thursday for three young men from Georgia’s 12th District who received and accepted an offer of appointment to one of the nation’s military service academies. Accepting an appointment obligates the appointees to commit and serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation from the academy. Schultz was one of the three who accepted an appointment. Nathan Sand (Evans, Georgia; U.S. Air Force Academy) and Nolan Barco (Grovetown, Georgia; U.S. Military Academy)…

A Douglas woman suffered a gunshot wound on Memorial Day, allegedly at the hands of her husband. According to a statement issued by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office late Thursday morning, deputies responded to a report of a shooting at 3751 Sinkhole Road. When they arrived, they discovered that a female had been shot in the right arm and stomach area. The victim was transported via Air Evac to Macon where she was treated for her injuries. She is expected to survive. Officers determined that a domestic dispute caused the shooting. Matthew Ryan Spivey was arrested and charged…

A body discovered in Clinch County on Memorial Day could be that of a South Georgia State College student who was reported missing on May 19 in Crisp County. Cameron Fontaine, a student in South Georgia State College’s entry program at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, was last seen near Cordele on Saturday, May 18, according to multiple media reports. Later the following week, Fontaine’s vehicle was found on Highway 441 near Homerville in Clinch County. Authorities discovered a body believed to be that of Fontaine about two miles from where the vehicle was found. The GBI will…

On Wednesday, May 29, 2019, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) arrested Bacon County Sheriff Mark Cothren, age 50. Sheriff Cothren was charged with one count each of elder abuse, violation of oath of office, and battery. According to a press release issued by the GBI, on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney requested the GBI to investigate allegations that Sheriff Cothren assaulted John Daniel Melton, age 75, in front of the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office. Cothren turned himself in to the Bacon County Jail without incident. The GBI investigation remains active and ongoing. …

Roses Stores, an innovative leader in discount retail focused on passing along savings to its customers, will open a new Roses Discount store in Douglas, located at 1300 South Madison Avenue – the old K-Mart building. The company has a grand opening scheduled for June 27, 2019. The new Roses store will bring 25 to 35 jobs to the area with most associates from the local community. “We are excited to bring our special mix of dependable values and unique finds to the Douglas community,” commented Bruce Efird, President and Chief Executive Officer for Roses’ parent company, Variety Stores…

A fugitive wanted in Alma, along with two of his friends, has been arrested Texas. The Alma-Bacon County Crime Suppression Unit, Alma Police Department, and the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office attempted to apprehend Litarus Demond Brinson, a wanted fugitive, at a residence on East 14th Street, recently. Brinson fled the residence and was not apprehended. The CSU secured a search warrant for the residence and found illicit narcotics, several drug related items, a stolen gun, and an undetermined amount of cash. The CSU obtained additional warrants on Brinson for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of…