Author: Staff Reports

By Megan Bennett Douglas Mayor James Dennis thanked Debbie Fussell, owner of Blue Door Décor, for being part of the “economic engine here in Douglas” at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the business Tuesday morning. Coffee County Chamber of Commerce members Sherry Davis, Stanley Lott, and Donny Bradshaw spoke at the ceremony, all praising the success the store has seen and the hard effort of Fussell and her fellow employees and partners. Blue Door Decor is located at 312 North Madison Avenue directly across the street from the First United Methodist Church and has been open for nine months. In…

By Megan Bennett The Coffee County Sherriff’s Department will be getting eight new Dodge Chargers, thanks to approval by the county commission at Monday’s regular commission meeting. The Chargers will be purchased from Coffee Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership and should be running in the next 30 to 60 days. The commission also approved a bid for repair on railroad crossings on Chaney and Michell roads in Douglas. Burke Paving will be performing the work. The date for the special election runoff for House District 155 was announced for Aug. 11, and the early voting period for the runoff will…

Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) detectives made two arrests last week following a residential search that yielded methamphetamine, marijuana, and controlled substance prescription medications Xanax and lorazepam. Authorities stated Ronald Allen Lott, Jr. was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a scheduled controlled substance, and misdemeanor possession of marijuana following a July 9 search at 199 Ron’s Lane. Also arrested during the incident was 31-year-old Amanda Jacobs of Waycross, who was charged with possession of a controlled substance. Drug unit detectives also reported these additional recent arrests: July 14 – Coffee County Sheriff’s Office deputies and DCDU HEAT Unit officers…

Coffee County Sheriff’s authorities stated Friday afternoon that jail personnel reacted appropriately after an inmate recently became ill and subsequently died while in their custody at the hospital. Officials stated former inmate Brandi Nicole Griffin was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Atkinson County on July 8. Three days later, while Griffin was a custody at the Coffee County Jail, employees were made aware that she was in need of medical care. Jail staff responded immediately, authorities stated, and provided medical intervention. Emergency medical services was contacted through 911, and Ms. Griffin was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center, where…

By Megan Bennett Former NFL star Bennie Blades paid a visit to the Coffee County Boys and Girls club Thursday as a celebration of the club’s first full year of operation and also to kick off a new flag football program for the club. Blades played defensive back in the NFL for 10 years, playing for the Detroit Lions from 1988 to 1996, and for the Seattle Seahawks in 1997. He delivered a powerful message about helping the youth of today reach their full potential and providing guidance and wisdom for children whenever possible. He credited programs such as the…

Bob Preston, State Court Judge of Coffee County, has announced that he will seek re-election for a fourth term. Judge Preston was elected state court judge in 2004, 2008, and again in 2012. Judge Preston graduated from Mercer Law School in 1966 and joined his father, the late M.L. Preston, in the private practice of law in Douglas. He has been married to the former Norma Rogers since 1969. They have three children and five grandchildren. “I am seeking your support and vote, and if re-elected in 2016, I will continue to serve you, the people of Coffee County, in…

By Megan Bennett State Representative candidates Horace Hudgins (R), former mayor of Ocilla, and Clay Pirkle (R) from Sycamore, are set to participate in a runoff election on Aug. 11 after neither candidate gained more than 50 percent of the vote at the special election held on Tuesday July 14. Scott Lowell Downing (R), and Sherry Miley (R) also ran for the District 155 seat. Ben Hill, Coffee, Irwin, Tift and Turner county voters turned out for the special election held to fill the seat left vacant by former State Rep. Jay Roberts (R). Roberts resigned from his seat in the…

By Megan Bennett Dozens of citizens filed into the Central Square Gym today to give blood at a blood drive organized to honor the late Malik Sparkman, who at age 18 passed away on May 17 after a heroic struggle with kidney cancer. Through his upbeat and positive attitude in the face of insurmountable odds, Malik was able to bring Coffee County together in a way that had never before been seen. Because of this Sgt. Tim Allmond of the Douglas Police Department, working with community relations coordinator Vince Fitzgerald, decided to organize this year’s blood drive in memory of…

A truck carrying a trailer full of clothing items was struck by a train Monday afternoon in Douglas. According to officials, the vehicle became stuck on the train tracks at Lupo Lane around 3 p.m. today when the collision occurred. Witnesses stated that the landing gear on the trailer hung on the railroad crossing. The drive exited the truck safely and was not in the vehicle when the collision occurred. Reportedly, it was the second time in a week that this particular truck had been stuck on railroad tracks. Authorities stated no one was injured as a result of the…

Beginning August 3, the City of Douglas will implement a $2 fee for each credit/debit card transaction used in person or over the phone and will increase the processing fee from $20 to $30 for new utility service, transfer of service, and service re-connections. The processing fee associated with new utility service, transfer of utility service, and re-connect utility services has been in effect for a long time, according to a press release issued by the City of Douglas on Monday. They stated the last time the fee was increased was in 2004, when the charge went from $15 to…