Author: Staff Reports

The curfew announced by the City of Douglas a few hours ago has been expanded to include the county and Ambrose, Broxton, and Nicholls. The curfew will begin at 8 p.m. Sunday and last until 9:30 a.m. Monday. According to county EMA director Steve Carver, the curfew may be extended if weather or conditions warrant an extension. Public safety, utility workers, emergency vehicles will be exempt but they must be prepared to show identification. The same goes for people headed to work. If you are traveling to and from work and are stopped by an officer, be prepared to give…

As Hurricane Irma tracks north, Coffee County has now been issued a voluntary evacuation for people living in mobile homes and in low-lying areas. While there is still some uncertainty regarding exactly what Irma is going to do as she makes her way north, one thing is for certain: Local conditions are going to deteriorate and those living in mobile homes or flood-prone areas are going to be at great risk. Several shelters are open in Douglas. County emergency officials are urging people not to wait until the storm arrives to seek shelter. By that time, it will be too…

Hurricane Irma has the Southeast nervously awaiting its arrival. While the massive storm should be weakened significantly by the time it reaches South Georgia, Irma will cause a few problems as she makes her way through. Coffee County and City of Douglas officials, along with local community partners, are actively monitoring and preparing for Hurricane Irma. The current track still puts Irma off the Georgia coast sometime Sunday into Monday, but this may change as the storm gets closer to north Florida and south Georgia. Local officials will be closely monitoring the progression of this storm and will pass information…

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…