Author: Staff Reports

The U.S. Justice Department is accusing the state of Georgia of segregating thousands of students with behavior-based disabilities from their peers in inferior buildings that formerly served as schools for black students back in the years of legal segregation. Furthermore, the students are receiving unequal educational opportunities but instead many are getting only computer-based lessons rather than direct instruction from a certified teacher. Read the entire story from a recent ‘Washington Post’ article by clicking here.

A 48-year-old Douglas woman was jailed Friday after attempting to swallow her crack cocaine in an attempt to conceal the drugs from authorities. Officials with the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) stated detectives encountered Linda Blank on Cleveland St. near Dewey Ave. in Douglas. During a brief investigation, they discovered she was wanted on a probation violation warrant and a bench warrant for theft by shoplifting. Upon Blank’s arrest, detectives and DCDU K-9 officers discovered Blank was attempting to chew up a small quantity of crack cocaine, and officers were able to recover the contraband before she swallowed…

A Coffee County man whose body was found floating in a pond in the Oak Park community in April was determined to have died accidentally, sheriff’s officials reported Wednesday morning. Jose Mendez Diaz was the center of a missing person investigation that expanded over a two week period in the Oak Park Community and involved a large scale ground and aerial search. His body was discovered on April 6 in a small pond off Mahogany Rd. Coffee County Sheriff’s officials stated Mendez’s body was sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Lab where an autopsy was performed and a…

A recent complaint relayed to authorities through 911 led to the arrest of a Douglas woman who drug agents say was caught red-handed near a local park. Agents with the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) reported Monday that on July 21 Douglas police officers encountered two individuals sitting in a public park on S. Gaskin Ave. after Coffee 911 received a complaint of these individuals possibly selling narcotics. Following a brief investigation, 40-year-old Amy Lynn Dotter was allegedly found to be in possession of cocaine and OxyContin tablets, and she was subsequently arrested for possession of cocaine and…

Diana and James Jacobs were officially charged Friday with the murder Alexander McKay Hunter, a former resident of the Rosewood Care assisted living home in Nicholls where Mrs. Jacobs was formerly employed. Coffee County Sheriff’s Office officials stated that detectives continue to gather information and evidence involving the death of Mr. Hunter, whose body was found buried in a clandestine grave at the home on August 8, 2014. Diana Jacobs was initially arrested at the Rosewood Care facility after revealing to detectives that the body of Hunter was buried inside a shed located on the property. At that time, she…

The staff at Douglas Now was saddened this week to learn of the sudden passing of longtime community leader and advocate Joe Day. Following is Mr. Day’s obituary courtesy of Sim’s Funeral Home: Joseph Hayden “Joe” Day age 69 of Douglas, passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. Mr. Day was born on July 17, 1946, in Douglas to the late Henry Hayden Day and Annie Ree Ragsdale Day. Mr. Day was a member of First Baptist Church of Douglas and a deacon. He retired from McCrary-Daniels Insurance Agency. Survivors include his…

Fireside Pizza Shop in Douglas recently made the list of 100 Plates Locals Love in Georgia Eats magazine for its Carnivore Pizza. Georgia Eats is published by Explore Georgia, the state’s official tourism and travel organization. “Meat lovers flip for this hand-tossed dough topped with five meats and mozzarella cooked in a stone oven,” the article said of Fireside’s dish. Fireside Pizza Shop is located at 114 N. Peterson Ave. inside the Atrium building. They can be reached at (912) 501-3101. To read the full article on the state’s 100 favorie local dishes, click here.

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…