Author: Staff Reports

A man accused of masturbating in an Alma convenience store is on the loose, presumably somewhere in Bacon County. Thursday evening, Aug. 31, the Alma Police Department received a complaint of a male, later identified as Reginald Barton of Alma, entering a local convenience store, exposing himself to a female clerk, and then masturbating while watching the clerk. Barton fled the store before law enforcement arrived; the incident was captured on the store’s closed-circuit monitoring system. Alma police are currently seeking Barton for public indecency. On Friday, Sept. 1, the APD responded to a burglary on Mullis Drive. The complainant…

The Waycross Judicial Circuit has a new assistant district attorney. District Attorney George Barnhill has announced that Regan Taylor Cason has been hired in this capacity. Superior Court Judge Kelly Brooks swore Cason in earlier this week in Waycross. Cason is the daughter of Philip and Robin Vickery and Scott and Denise Taylor of Valdosta. Cason has been happily married to her husband, Gabriel Cason, for one year. In her spare time, she is an accomplished ballet dancer for more than 11 years, is involved with Animal Rights and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and is a member of the Young Republicans.…

Monday morning, Coffee Correctional Facility will take applications and hold interviews at the Georgia Department of Labor office in Douglas from 9 a.m. until noon. Pay at the facility starts out at $12.50 per hour with the potential to earn $3,500 in bonuses, allowing for up to 70 hours per pay period in overtime. Also, the facility offers health, dental, vision, 401(k), and paid time off. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver’s license, and a good criminal history. Hiring won’t end after Monday; the hiring process is ongoing…

Officers from the Douglas Police Department are investigating a shooting that took place in the city early Friday afternoon. According to a press release from the City of Douglas, officers responded to a call in regards to a shooting that occurred on South McDonald Road. The victim was identified as Ricardio Cortez Mitchell, an African American male age 28. As a result of his injuries, Mitchell was life-flighted to a hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. Due to the investigation by Douglas Police, no further information can be released at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident should call the Douglas…

Tiana Foster, a native of Atlanta and a Valdosta State University graduate, has joined the DouglasNow.com staff. She is a tremendous journalism talent and possesses a passion for digital marketing, social media, and writing. Tiana has spent the last four years under the watchful eye of Dr. Pat Miller, who also taught DouglasNow.com’s Robert Preston Jr. many years ago. DouglasNow.com is excited to have Tiana on staff and we look forward to the perspective and skillset she brings to our publication. Below is a little about Tiana in her own words: My name is Tiana Foster, 22 of Atlanta, GA.…

Stacy Medders, 26, of Coffee County, who has been wanted since March for trafficking approximately four pounds of methamphetamine, has been arrested and now calls the Coffee County Jail home. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI) informed the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU), along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeast Regional Drug Enforcement Office (SRDEO), in early March that they had intercepted information and evidence indicating several pounds of methamphetamine were being shipped to Coffee County from the west coast. The three entities met and initiated a joint investigation into the methamphetamine trafficking allegation. Between March 9…

According to stories posted in numerous media outlets, Sears Holdings announced Friday that it would close 35 more Kmart locations and eight Sears stores. The Douglas Kmart is one of those that will close. Store closure sales are expected to begin very soon. The department-store chain’s troubles have included several rounds of store closures this year, now totaling more than 300, stated the USA Today story. “We have fought hard for many years to return unprofitable stores to a competitive position and to preserve jobs and, as a result, we had to absorb corresponding losses in the process,” Sears CEO Eddie…

Two suspects believed to be responsible for a string of burglaries in Coffee County that began late last year were arrested Friday after sheriff’s authorities executed a search warrant at a local residence and uncovered a mountain of stolen merchandise. As a result, deputies arrested Claudin Pubien Jr., 26, and Sierra Hodges, 25, both of Douglas, on a variety of charges. These burglaries, which began around the Christmas season of 2016, generally occurred in the same manner with the offenders kicking in doors at random Coffee County homes and targeting items such as firearms, electronics, and jewelry. After a lengthy…

Recently, the Douglas Police Department responded to a domestic incident at Douglas Fire Chief Larry Wilson’s home. According to a statement released by Chief Wilson, officers were there because he and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument, which Wilson stated “escalated into an altercation.” Officers investigated but filed no charges. Friday, Chief Wilson released a statement offering an explanation and an apology. City Manager Terrell Jacobs also commented. The full statement is included below: “Recently, while off duty, an incident took place involving, myself, Larry Wilson, and my girlfriend. Following a gathering at my home, I was involved in…

First Academy students, both elementary and middle have exceeded national benchmarks on their standardized assessments. The Iowa Assessments were administered to students in grades 2ndthrough 6thgrades. The results from the Iowa Assessment tests taken every spring are impressive, in all subject areas. Pam Lewis and Kimberly Lott, curriculum directors at First Academy announced that “most of our students score 10-25 percent higher than the national average, in all subject areas.” They included, “These test scores are only one indication of our student’s successes at First Academy. It is evident that God, a rigorous curriculum, and strong teachers are within our…