Author: Staff Reports

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…

In response to Hurricane Matthew’s anticipated landfall and current tracking of the storm, City of Douglas officials are urging residents to prepare for this incoming storm and the influx of evacuees as soon as possible. Evacuees will have effects on our local shelters, gas supply, traffic, and health care agencies. In all, thousands of people have been ordered or urged to leave their homes in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. “Douglas and Coffee County are expected to receive several hundred evacuees as soon as today, and we need to support them and make sure they are safe as well as…

Covered Wagon Country Buffet & Catering will open its doors tomorrow, Oct. 6, at South Pointe Plaza, Suite E, located on U.S. 441 S. in Douglas. Restaurant hours are Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A Coffee County man currently serving a probation sentence was arrested recently on numerous drug-related charges after authorities conducted a search of his residence. Coffee County sheriff’s officials reported the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit and the Douglas State Probation Office conducted a 4th Amendment waiver search at the home of Joe Willie Weathers at 1789 206 Conn., Douglas, Ga. During the search, authorities say Weathers was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, Alprazolam-1mg tablets, and Alprazolam-.5mg tablets. Weathers was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and two counts of possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance.

An absconded sex offender wanted in West Virginia was captured in Coffee County earlier this week after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Douglas city streets. Just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, a Coffee County Deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on W. Ward St. and McDonald Ave. The driver of the vehicle sped away and a pursuit ensued. After striking a tree in the area of S. Coweta and Ethel St., the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Local and state law enforcement agencies established a perimeter around the area, and the suspect was found…