Author: Staff Reports

City of Douglas officials met with owners and managers of local hotels on Thursday, December 1, to discuss tourism related initiatives, concerns, and other issues, according to a press release issued Monday. Officials did not detail any specifics regarding the issues discussed. Out of the 11 hotels in Douglas, city officials stated, representatives from nine hotels were present for the meeting. In attendance representing the City of Douglas was City Manager Terrell Jacobs, Public Information Director Georgia Henderson, City Commissioners Johnnie Lee Roper and Commissioner Cindy McNeill. “We see the meeting as a success in opening the doors of…

Two convicted felons from Florida were recently jailed in Coffee County after authorities discovered a quantity of marijuana, cocaine, and a firearm during a road check on a local county road. Coffee sheriff’s authorities stated the Georgia State Patrol, Douglas-Coffee H.E.A.T. Unit, and the sheriff’s office were conducting the check just prior to midnight, Dec. 2, on McKinnon Rd. at Osbon Mills Rd. south of Douglas. A black Toyota Camry stopped at the check, and authorities allegedly detected the odor of marijuana coming from within the vehicle. The driver and passenger were identified as 21-year-old Brandi Nicole Fletcher and 23-year-old…

The City of Douglas has been notified that, due to construction work with the Hwy. 135 bypass, a portion of road from Hwy 135 to Old Bell Lake Road (close to Barn Yard BBQ) will be closed on Monday, December 5 to through traffic. Motorists should expect traffic delays and allow for extra driving time to destinations. “We ask that you excuse our progress, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” city officials stated.

A convicted Georgia felon faces drugs and weapon charges following a traffic stop earlier this week in Nicholls. Coffee County sheriff’s officials state the Nicholls Police Department conducted the stop Wednesday on a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro for failure to maintain lane. While the officer was writing out the citation, authorities say, a K-9 deputy and detective from the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit arrived, conducted a free air scan of the outer vehicle, and received a positive odor response to the passenger side door. A subsequent search of the car yielded an undicsclosed quantity of methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription Lorcet tablets,…

A Nicholls man faces 10 years to life in prison after being charged with the possession of approximately nine ounces of methamphetamine in an incident earlier this week. Coffee County sheriff’s authorities stated agents with the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) were investigating the delivery of a contraband substance to a hotel located in 1000 block of North Peterson Ave. on Wednesday when they received an additional tip of suspected drug trafficking that was occurring on the south side of the county and within the City of Nicholls. Agents began a surveillance of the expected delivery area and, around…

A 30-year-old man is behind bars at the Coffee County Jail following an investigation which determined the suspect influenced the winnings of the Georgia Lottery by tampering with scratch off tickets. Sheriff’s investigators began looking into a complaint initiated by the manager of the store, who believed the employee was stealing lottery tickets in late September. Following a month-long investigation, which included interviews of the clerk and observations of video, detectives determined the clerk was scratching certain information on the tickets and then using the lottery machine and this information to determine if it was a winning ticket. If the…

A former Fitzgerald physician, Dr. Edd Colbert Jones, III, was taken into custody Tuesday after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and dispense controlled substances including Oxycodone, Alprazolam and Diazepam, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Dr. Jones was indicted on April 12, 2016 after being arrested a year earlier. In entering his plea, Dr. Jones admitted that he was a licensed physician operating a general practice in Fitzgerald, Georgia. He and co-conspirator Shannon Benedict devised a scheme whereby Ms. Benedict would receive prescriptions in her name and the names of others. The pills received…

City of Douglas Utilities notified residents Tuesday that Ricketson Construction will have a planned water outage on Wednesday, November 2, from approximately 5 to 9 p.m. to lower an 8” water line that is in conflict with the installation of a 36” storm drain pipe that will cross Old Axson Rd. City representatives urge residents to make necessary arrangements to be prepared to be without water during this time period. “We apologize for any inconveniences that this may cause our customers,” officials stated. The map pictured above highlights the location that will be affected by the outage. …

A 51-year-old Alma woman faces multiple felony assault and weapons charges after allegedly threatening her boyfriend with a rifle and temporarily blockading herself inside a residence when officers arrived. Alma police received a call to a residence on E. 7th St. just after midnight Sunday regarding a woman threatening to shoot her boyfriend. As officers from APD and the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene, they discovered Karen Story (51) of Alma had pointed a small caliber rifle at her boyfriend, threatening to shoot him. Story locked herself inside of the residence, authorities said, and refused to allow officers…

The Douglas Fire Department will install smoke detectors beginning October 31, 2016 through November 7, 2016 in high risk areas of Douglas. The smoke detectors will be installed in areas that are at high risk for fire damage, officials stated. According to a press released issued earlier this week, the Douglas Fire Department received a 2016 Chesney Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial Grant Award to help with the cost of providing and installing the smoke detectors. This free public service is being provided to help encourage fire safety and prevention of the loss of life and property, city representatives said. “We are…