Author: Staff Reports

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…

According to a story posted on WALB.com, a Coffee County man drowned in the Alapaha River Wednesday afternoon. The story states that Derrick Colson, 40, of Nicholls, fell out of a boat while fishing and drowned. Colson was fishing around the bridge on Highway 319 at the Irwin and Tift county line when the accident happened. Irwin County authorities are investigating the incident. The WALB report states that authorities suspect no foul play.

Thomas University sophomore Sheala Brown earned Sun Conference Pitcher of the Week honors for her tournament-bid clinching win over Warner University on April 24, the league announced Monday. Brown, from Douglas, Ga., struck out 10 and did not allow a runner past second base in the 6-0 victory over the Royals. Brown allowed just three hits in the game. It was her seventh win of the season, and fifth 7.0 inning complete game victory. With the win, Brown lowered her Sun Conference ERA to 1.17. Brown and the Night Hawks next play May 2 at the 2019 Sun Conference Softball Championship Tournament held at PFX Athletics – Legends…

A Coffee County native remains missing in South Carolina under suspicious circumstances, even though authorities have discovered new evidence in the case. Tina Diana Snipes, formerly of Coffee County, was last seen at the Horizon EZ Shop, a convenience store, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15. The store is located at 2410 Highway 174 in Edisto Island, S.C. According to a story published on www.live5news.com, authorities believe that someone gave Snipes a ride to her home from the convenience store. Officers discovered some of her belongings within walking distance of her house on Aug. 15. Snipes still has family in Coffee…