Author: Staff Reports

A set of muddy footprints left at a crime scene has led to the arrest of a Douglas man and the solving of numerous burglary and theft cases in Coffee and Appling Counties. Authorities with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office recently responded to a burglary at Ready Truck Lines off Jackie’s Lane, where they were informed that someone had broken into the business through a window and taken an undisclosed amount of money and a bank bag. Officials say that due to large amounts of recent rainfall in the area, detectives were able to follow a set of footprints that…

Students and faculty of Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fl. on Monday remembered former Douglas resident Courtney Hayes, along with three other former students and two staff members who died in the Haiti earthquake five years ago. Fourteen people from Lynn University were in Haiti that day, when over 100,000 perople were killed, as part of a service trip called “Journey of Hope.” The school held a special ceremony at Remembrance Plaza and held a moment of silence at 4:53 p.m., the same time the earthquake hit. Lynn University has a special “In Remembtrance” section on the school’s website, which…

Three lawyers practicing in the Waycross Judicial Circuit have been named by the Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission as candidates for Superior Court Judge, a new seat that was created last year with the passage of House Bill 742 by the Georgia General Assembly. Those named by the commission are J. Kelly Brooks – partner, Adams and Brooks, Attorneys at Law; Judge, State Court of Charlton County; William J. (Sam) Edgar – sole practitioner, William J. Edgar, P.C., (Bacon County) and Andrew C. Spivey – sole practitioner, Andrew C. Spivey, PC (Ware County). The Waycross Judicial Circuit is comprised of Bacon,…

The South Georgia State College swim team welcomes two other swim teams from around the state to Douglas today for the last swim meet of the year before the region championships.. This is also the first meet of the semester, and will begin at the Douglas campus Wellness Center, where the pool is located, at 11 a.m. After a very successful fall semester, the Hawks are poised and ready to strike. The South Georgia duals meet will feature the Hawks, as well as teams from Brenau University and Thomas University. This is the last home meet of the 2014-2015 season,…

Russ Underwood, CEO of Liberty Tax Service, welcomed the community to his new office Wednesday during a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce. Liberty Tax Service is located at 829A S. Peterson Ave. Call them at (912) 389-0948.

A Douglas woman spent her New Year’s Day behind bars after authorities say she struck a 45-year-old man during a domestic altercation. Douglas police responded to 708 S. Manilla Ave. just after 6 p.m. last Thursday in reference to a domestic disturbance in progress. Following a brief investigation, it was determined that the offender, 37-year-old Miashante N. Donaldson, had hit the victim in the face while the two were arguing. Donadlson was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of simple battery under the Family Violence Act.

Police say a 27-year-old Douglas man was hospitalized last week following a shooting that occurred off Cecil Way. Authorities were dispatched to the area of 606 Cecil Way last Monday just before 1 p.m. in reference to shots being fired in the area and an unknown person walking around with a firearm. While en route to the call, officers received another call saying that someone had just entered Coffee Regional Medical Center with a gunshot wound. Douglas police met with the victim, Brad Nikita Vickers, at the hospital. No arrest has been made in regards to the incident and police…

Dr. Julian Anderson Williams, a long-time educator whose lengthy and distinguished career with the Coffee County School System included serving as acting superintendent, has passed away. He died at his home in Douglas on December 29, 2014. Julian was born in Douglas on June 13, 1940 to J.D. and Mattie Anderson Williams. He grew up in Jacksonville, Georgia, the oldest grandson of Mary and Walter Anderson and Effie and Dave Williams. Julian attended Telfair County and Coffee County Schools, and Gordon Military Academy. He received his BA degree from Valdosta State College, an MA from Georgia Southern College, and an…

Former Waycross Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Michael Boggs won’t be sitting on the federal bench, following President Barack Obama’s announcement to senators he won’t renominate Boggs to be a federal judge in Georgia. Officials with the White House confirmed early Wednesday that Boggs will not be renominated. He was originally nominated in December 2013, but never received a confirmation vote. “It is with regret that we announce that the President will not re-nominate Judge Michael Boggs to the United States District Court for a third time,” said Georgia Sens. Johnny Isakson (R) and Saxby Chambliss (R) in a joint…

A 58-year-old Douglas man found himself in behind bars over the weekend after telling authorities he had been attending Christmas parties when they stopped him for weaving over the roadway. Officers stopped Johnny Lee Fuller around 3:30 p.m. Saturday after receiving a report of a vehicle driving erratically in the area of Ga. Hwy. 32 W. Authorities spotted the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop for failure to maintain lane in front of Coffee Regional Medical Center. Officials say Fuller appeared extremely intoxicated, moving and speaking abnormally. He was arrested at the scene for failure to maintain lane and driving…