Author: Staff Reports

Alma police are looking for a man they say fought and pulled a knife on a local business owner after being caught rummaging through a vehicle. The suspect fled the location in a white Chevrolet Trailblazer. Minutes before this incident, officers discovered the suspect had attempted to break into another vehicle at another business in town and was captured on video tape. Through the assistance of the Glynn County Police Department, law enforcement has identified the suspect as Joshua Carlton Brock (28) formerly of Rome, GA, Warner Robbins, GA, Brantley County, GA, and Glynn County, GA. The Alma Police…

It seems local price gougers weren’t the only ones taking advantage of Hurricane Matthew last week. Coffee County Sheriff’s officials released the following statement Thursday, indicating at least nine people arrested over the hurricane weekend on charges ranging from burglary to outstanding criminal warrants: The weekend of October 7-9 was a busy weekend for the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office. The evacuees from Hurricane Matthew received our undivided attention, and the employees of the sheriff’s office worked around the clock providing directions to travelers, evacuation route guidance, and conducting routine visits to all the shelters that housed the displaced victims, both…

Douglas officials reported today the city was recently notified by the Georgia Department of Transportation that, beginning October 17, 2016, East Coast Asphalt will be closing Iron Rd. to through traffic from Douglas Bypass to Mingledorf Dr. Iron Rd. will remained closed for approximately six weeks. The road closure is required to construct the new bridge crossing the railroad and Iron Road. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” city officials stated in a press release. “Thank you for your help and cooperation in this matter.”

A man wanted on a active probation warrant was arrested and jailed recently following a traffic stop that also resulted in the arrest of a passenger on a minor drug charge. Sheriff’s officials stated Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit detectives and deputies conducted a traffic stop on 20-year-old Tevin Townsend after he allegedly failed to maintain his lane of traffic and left the roadway. Officers detected the odor of marijuana coming from within the vehicle, obtained verbal consent to search it, and subsequently discovered a quantity of marijuana in the right front pocket of the rear passenger, identified as 19-year-old Scott…

Roger and Steve Thompson ushered in the grand opening of their new business, The Meat Place, this week with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The Meat Place is located at 910 Van Street Hwy. in Nicholls, and they can be reached at 912-345-6328. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

The Douglas Visitor Information Center (Ashley-Slater House) will offer everyone a chance to kickoff Halloween with two ghost tours as an October promotion. The tours are scheduled for Tuesday, October 18, at 6:30 and 7:15 p.m. at the historic Ashley-Slater House located at 211 S. Gaskin Avenue. The 7:15 p.m. tour is already full. Tickets are $5 per person and must MUST be purchased in advance. The 6:30 p.m. tour is limited to 30 people. Participants will experience a candle lit, night-time tour based on the history of the house, and light refreshments will be served. Each person will…

Douglas Mayor Tony Paulk and the city commission adopted a new pole banner policy for the downtown area at the most recent commission meeting this past Monday. City representatives stated in a press release issued Wednesday, “The City of Douglas wants to continue its support and cooperation, and expand the services provided, by offering the possible display of banners in the downtown area promoting community events and awareness initiatives, and secondarily to identify the respective sponsors.” The new policy is effective immediately. Within the downtown commercial historic district, the city has approximately 60 decorative lamp posts where banners can be …

Douglas’s newest hotel and business, Fairfield Inn & Suites, celebrated its grand opening this week with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Located at 1815 S. Peterson Ave., Fairfield can be reached by calling 912-720-2000. Learn more here.

Two people were arrested on cocaine and methamphetamine charges following a recent traffic stop initiated by local authorities. Coffee County sheriff’s officials reported Monday an individual identified as Chesley Harrell was stopped for not wearing a seat belt. Harrell gave consent to search the vehicle, and officers discovered an undisclosed amount of crack cocaine and methamphetamine. Harrell was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and a passenger, identified as Melissa Carpenter, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine. Chesley Harrell

County Childhood Cancer Awareness Group of Coffee County (CCAGCC) President Barbara Dockery recently announced the awarding of a $1,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Coffee County’s Community Grant to benefit CCAGCC’s travel expense project for the Coffee County area. The mission of CCAGCC is to provide financial assistance, emotional and spiritual support and information for the families of children with cancer. “Children diagnosed with childhood cancer and their families are required to make frequent trips to out of town hospitals and doctors for treatment. These funds will be used to supplement CCAGCC’s program for assisting families with that travel…