Author: Staff Reports

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…

Southern District U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine joined the Department of Justice in announcing more than $70 million in grant funding to bolster school security, educate and train students and faculty, and support law enforcement officers and first responders who arrive on the scene of a school violence incident, including $468,537 for a partnership of Coffee County agencies including the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas Police Department, Wiregrass Technical College Police Department, the Coffee County School System, and two private schools. According to Dr. Morris Leis, school superintendent, the grant will focus on upgrading the system’s communication network between the system…

The Coffee County School System has been named 2018 Charter System of the Year. The announcement came on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at the Charter System Foundation awards luncheon in Athens. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle hosted the 4th Annual Charter System Foundation Awards Luncheon, in the Classic City, highlighting the numerous achievements of Georgia Charter Systems. Coffee County Schools was also awarded a $10,000 grant by the Georgia Association of Realtors to further enhance their reforms. Dr. Morris Leis, Superintendent of Coffee County Schools, accepted the award and shared his appreciation to the students of Coffee County, teachers and staff,…

A portion of South Gaskin Avenue, which closed in late August due to the removal of an old culvert, has been open now for several days. The closure was part of the Georgia Department of Transportation project to widen and reconstruct perimeter road (U.S. 221/SR 135). A contractor installed a new culvert in June 2017. Removal of the old culvert was delayed to minimize the amount of time a detour would be required. The culvert accommodates the stream that runs under Gaskin Avenue and the widening of perimeter road. The $32.7 million Georgia DOT project is about 64 percent…

A female subject who has allegedly broken a law of some kind is quite possibly headed to Coffee County. WALB is reporting that a woman named Aushalina Leggett has fled Jenkins County and could be traveling to Coffee County. No other details have been given. A photo of Leggett is included with this story. If you have any information regarding Leggett’s whereabouts, contact the Millen Police Department at (478)-982-2750 or the Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office at (478)-982-4211.