Author: Staff Reports

City and county firefighters stayed busy over the weekend, with each department responding to structure fires which destroyed two homes. Around 11:45 Saturday night, Douglas fire officials were called to a blaze at 1006 N. Pearl Ave. The residence, which was abandoned, was completely engulfed in flames and took some time to extinguish. On Saturday morning, a house fire on Yellow Brick Road in the county was a total loss, leaving an entire family without a home and in despereate need. County fire officials are asking anyone who may be able to help with clothing items or other needs to…

Investigators with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office are reporting the arrests of three people in connection with a string of burglaries which occurred during the months of June and July. On August 1, officials received information about individuals that could be involved in these burglaries and, as a result of this information, investigators arrested Carlos Refugio Diaz, Zeke Williams Buttz and Ashton Mikelle Solomon for their involvement. In a press release issued by the sheriff’s office this weeks, law enforcement officials stated crime victims around the county reported that unknown suspects had entered their residences and taken items that included…

Congregants of Faith Chapel Church on Mahogany Road say their prayers were answered last Saturday when Joseph Mark Dube turned himself in to authorities, confessing to two incidents in which the church was burglarized. Representatives with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office report on August 3, 2014, a burglary was reported at Faith Chapel. Deputies arrived at the scene, where they were met by a member of the church who stated he observed the back door open when he arrived that morning. Upon further investigation, he discovered a window at the rear of the church had been broken. It was later…

The Valdosta State University Red Hot team, the danceline for the VSU Blazers, recently competed at the National Dance Camp in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, taking home the first place overall trophy for Division I schools. The Red Hots beat out teams from the University of Kentucky and the University of Georgia, among others, and have earned a full paid bid to the upcoming national competition. Coffee County natives Hannah Hulsey is pictured here on the second row, far right, along with Lexie Curles, second row, fourth from right.

A collaborative effort on the parts of the Douglas/Coffee County Drug Unit (DCDU) and the Douglas Police Department last week resulted in the discovery of multiple bags of marijuana set to be distributed and the arrest of one Coffee County man. Authorities report that around 6:30 p.m., July 29, the DCDU was contacted by the police department to assist with a case being investigated at a residence inside the city limits. Drug agents, along with the assistance of the local police, conducted a search of the home and were able to locate 17 bags of suspected marjuana packaged for distribution.…

Don Lewis, FACHE, FHFMA, Coffee Regional Medical Center’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 1996, has announced his retirement from the medical center, effective Aug. 22, 2014. Mr. Lewis states, “This is the perfect set of circumstances and timing to allow me and Rosemary to write another chapter in life’s journey. Our CRMC family and the community have made these past 18 years extremely rewarding and we will cherish the many memories and the friends we have made during our time in Douglas. Both of our adult daughters reside in Charleston, S.C., so we are preparing for a move…

Monday morning, the Heritage Station Museum celebrated its reopening with a well-attended ribbon cutting in front of the museum, which is located at 219 West Ward Street, just a short walk from downtown Douglas. “Coffee County Historical Society members have been busy getting the museum ready for this event,” says Carol Morgan, President of the Coffee County Historical Society. “We are currently working on developing a research area and inventorying items at the museum.” The Heritage Station Museum, once an old railroad depot, originally opened in 1999. The museum features a variety of permanent exhibits commemorating local history. The Coffee…

The Douglas Lions Club recently contributed $500 to the Trojans Touchdown Club for the purpose of assisting with costs associated with feeding players during summer workouts. Coffee High Head Football Coach Robby Pruitt, flanked by Trojan seniors, is pictured here accepting a $500 check from members of the Douglas Lions Club, John Higgs and Larry Britton.

Being elderly will not get you a free pass if you’re convicted of selling drugs in Coffee County. Eighty-year-old county resident Nathan Taylor managed to avoid a felony conviction his entire life, until last week. Taylor appeared in Coffee County Superior Court to answer to one charge of manufacturing/distributing a controlled substance in regards to a 2012 incident in which he was accused of selling narcotic painkillers. Taylor pled guilty to the charge and was given a 10-year sentence to be served on probation by Judge Dwayne Gillis. He will also be made to pay court costs. “I hate to…

Want to dip, smoke, or chew? Then after Aug. 1, South Georgia State College isn’t the place to be. Per a vote back in March by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, all campuses as well as properties owned by the USG will be tobacco free. The policy will go into effect Aug. 1 at SGSC to prepare for fall semester, which begins Aug. 25. The policy applies to all locations as well as employees, students, contractors, subcontractors, and visitors. Plus, all events hosted by SGSC, or on one of its locations, will be tobacco and smoke free,…