Author: Staff Reports

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office released via their Facebook page on Wednesday disturbing surveillance footage of a May 2 incident in which a small dog was brutally beaten outside an Ambrose convenience store. Ashley Kerr Harrell was arrested for the occurrence and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. Harrell was caught on store video as he slammed the small puppy on the pavement and then stomped its head, causing the puppy’s death. He was also charged in a separate case for manufacturing marijuana. On June 26, 2014, Harrell pled guilty in Superior Court to manufacturing marijuana and aggravated cruelty to…

The City of Douglas posted to its Facebook page on Monday a YouTube video featuring various city employees dancing to the Pharrell Williams hit song, “Happy.” The City’s Facebook post stated, “We, the employees and leaders of the City of Douglas, being happy about the jobs we do and the service we provide to our citizens. Get HAPPY with us!!!” To view the video, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LkSfwzgYKQ&feature=youtu.be

The Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce, along with other local dignitaries, marked the grand opening of Douglas Vascular Center Thursday, July 10, during an open house event. Drs. William Davis and William Kaiser are pleased to be part of one of Douglas’ newest businesses. Douglas Vascular is located at 325 Shirley Avenue, and they can be contacted at (912) 384-0322.

A one-vehicle accident this morning caused extensive damage to one of Douglas’ oldest established local businesses. Holt’s Bakery, located at 101 Sellers Street, was the scene of the bizarre incident in which a small SUV managed to crash through a window at the bakery’s front entrance. Douglas police are in the process of investigating the matter.

Randa’s House BBQ & Catering owners Mable, Steve, and Sharanda Manley opened their doors to the public today with a ribbon cutting ceremony in front of a number of community leaders and organizational representatives. Randa’s is located at 303 Railroad Street in Broxton. Drop by or call at (912) 501-0857.

South Georgia State College now has a new simulation nursing lab and hosted visitors to the lab recently. The open house featured SGSC’s new high-tech, high-fidelity learning simulators – the Laerdal SimMom and the Laerdal SimJunior. The SimMom is an advanced, full-body birthing simulator with accurate anatomy and functionality to facilitate obstetric training of delivery management. Since registered nurses need the same level of confidence and experience in treating children that they have for treating adults, the SimJunior provides realistic pediatric training to build confidence and prepare health providers for the complex and diverse clinical situations that pediatric patients experience.…

Early voting continues this week at the Coffee County Elections Office and throughout the state of Georgia to decide candidates for the November general election for the offices of state school superintendent and U.S. Senator. On the Republican ballot, Jack Kingston faces opposition from David Perdue for U.S. Senate. In the superintendent race, Michael “Mike” Buck is in the runoff against Richard L. Woods. Alisha Thomas Morgan and Valerie D. Wilson are contenders for school superintendent on the Democratic ballot. Ongoing early voting is held locally at the Coffee County Elections Office, 224 W. Ashley Street in Douglas, and will…

Three Coffee County men were jailed recently, charged with an array of sex-related crimes to children as the result of investigations into separate incidents. Sheriff’s Office officials report that deputies responded to a location in the northeast section of the county in reference to someone allegedly sending nude pictures to a juvenile through Facebook. The victim’s father told investigators someone was sending nude pictures of his private parts to his daughter, along with other personal messages. John Ralph Lott, Jr. of Douglas was arrested and charged with one count of enticing a child for indecent purposes as the result of…

Douglas police officials have released surveillance camera still shots of suspects wanted in an armed robbery that occurred last week at the Flash Foods store on East Baker Highway. Police officers responded to the robbery last Saturday, June 28, and were told by the attending clerk that three black males entered the store brandishing handguns and donning apparel which masked their heads and faces. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken during the incident, and the alleged suspects fled on foot towards the area of Roundtree Park off South Gaskin Avenue. Investigators are asking anyone who may have information that…

The Satilla Regional Library Board welcomed Congressman John Barrow and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Douglas Monday, June 30, to commemorate the recent receipt of a $25,000 grant from the USDA to the library system. The USDA Community Facilities Grant will be utilized to improve tech services and Wi-Fi access at the Douglas-Coffee County Public Library. More specifically, funds will go towards installing infrastructure to boost public wireless access, purchase a wireless projector system, and replace the computers used to provide library services. Additional computers will be purchased for teaching computer skills classes, and gaps in the…