Author: Staff Reports

A Douglas man was shot and killed Sunday morning and police are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer. On Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, shortly after 10 a.m., Douglas police officers responded to the area of Ethel Street and Fales Avenue in reference to gunshots being fired. Prior to arriving on scene, 911 informed officers that an individual inside the Sunoco gas station on East Ward Street that had been shot. Officers arrived and found 31-year-old Terrance Daniel Gibson inside the location unresponsive. Officers began life saving efforts until EMS arrived. Mr.…

Valdosta State freshman linebacker and former Coffee Trojan Jameon Gaskin has been named Gulf South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year, according to a press release posted on VSU’s web site. Gaskin, a standout running back and linebacker as a Trojan, quickly emerged as one of the GSC’s best linebackers – of any age. Gaskin is the first Blazer to be named Defensive Freshman of the Year since the award began in 2008. Gaskin has played in all 10 games with nine starts this season. He ranks third on the team in tackles with 55, while recording 25 solo stops. He…

Samuel Reed, 80, who had been missing since 7 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, has been found. The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office reports that Mr. Reed was found in Florida and is being reunited with his family. Mr. Reed is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and contacted his family Monday. He said he was in Jacksonville, Florida. The sheriff’s office issued a press release Tuesday morning asking for information regarding Mr. Reed’s whereabouts. Tuesday afternoon, he was found.

Monday morning, a motorist hit a deer that was crossing Madison Avenue near McDonald’s. The injured deer ended up in front of Goody’s, where it was humanely euthanized. The deer, a small spike, suffered fractures in all four of his legs. Three Douglas police officers stayed on the scene until Dr. Daniel Wills, a veterinarian with Lindsey and Wills, arrived to put the deer down. Officer Joe Stewart sat on the ground with the deer while Officers Jared Vickers (facing camera) and Miguel Lopes (back to the camera) assisted. The deer’s injuries were untreatable and the only option…

Used with permission from WGXA Fox24/ABC 16 in Macon The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has made an arrest in the case of missing woman Sabrina Long, who disappeared from her Macon home in April 1992. And the person arrested is from Coffee County. The GBI says that its Perry Office has arrested 46-year-old Melinda McSwain, of Broxton, and charged her with kidnapping. Long was reportedly last seen at her home on August 14, 1991, and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office initially investigated her disappearance. The GBI was asked to help deputies in April 1992 and the…

The South Georgia State College Hawks cross country team finished a whirlwind season Wednesday afternoon at the International Horse Park in Conyers with a third-place finish. The season, which only lasted about seven weeks and comprised just two meets, came and went in a flash. The small but dedicated group of six runners – two sophomores and four freshmen – got off to a late start then had the season cut short by scheduling difficulties, Hurricane Michael, and injuries. In spite of the challenges, the runners stayed focused on their goals and improved steadily throughout the season. Sophomore…

Early estimates of agricultural losses caused by Hurricane Michael are starting to come in from the University of Georgia and Georgia Forestry Commission, and the numbers are staggering, according to a press release issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. “Georgia has long led in the production of several renowned commodities and now we have the dubious distinction of also leading in the devastation and incredible loss of these prominent crops,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black. “These are generational losses that are unprecedented, and it will take unprecedented ideas and actions to help our farm families and…

Hurricane Michael has caused another major problem – a wastewater spill into Indian Creek in Douglas. According to a press release issued by the City of Douglas, the City of Douglas Wastewater Treatment Plant has reported a major spill of wastewater that occurred upstream of Indian Creek. The spill began on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, at 12:30 a.m. and lasted until approximately 5 a.m. The spill occurred at the lift station near Richey Lane. The cause of the spill was a downed power line due to winds from Hurricane Michael. The spill totaled approximately 26,000 gallons. As a…

The countdown to Hurricane Michael’s arrival has begun. And things are getting serious. The City of Douglas released a statement about 3:30 p.m. with the following update: Weather conditions for all of Coffee County are expected to worsen throughout the day. Winds are predicted to reach near hurricane strength during the night with tropical storm winds force winds (40- 60 mph) starting between 6 and 9 p.m. tonight and then nearing hurricane strength during the overnight hours with gust possible in excess of 70 mph. The duration of tropical storm force winds could last for 12 to 15…

This story originally appeared on the front page of the Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, edition of the Waycross Journal-Herald. It is reprinted here with permission. A Pembroke man wanted for armed robbery was killed and a Douglas woman was seriously injured Sunday when their car crashed on U.S. 1 near Fort Mudge in Ware County as it was being pursued by lawmen from Charlton County, said Ware County Sheriff Randy Royal. A few miles into Ware County on U.S. 1 South, Georgia State Patrol Waycross post commander Sgt. Chad Woods deployed stop sticks to try to slow down…