Seventy-one inmates at Coffee Correctional Facility received their General Education Development certificates at an awards ceremony last Friday. Twenty more students were awarded their certificates for completion of the K-9 Dog Program. CCF’s K-9 Dog Program is part of the Canine Performance Sciences Program at Auburn University. The dogs take up to a year to train and are then placed with private security firms or government agencies to sniff out narcotics or bombs. Dr. Jennifer Irvin gave the graduation address. Dr. Irvin is the Georgia Department of Corrections Southeast Regional Principal. Her address focused on the struggle one must face…
Author: Staff Reports
Recently, the Douglas Police Department responded to a domestic incident at Douglas Fire Chief Larry Wilson’s home. According to a statement released by Chief Wilson, officers were there because he and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument, which Wilson stated “escalated into an altercation.” Officers investigated but filed no charges. Friday, Chief Wilson released a statement offering an explanation and an apology. City Manager Terrell Jacobs also commented. The full statement is included below: “Recently, while off duty, an incident took place involving, myself, Larry Wilson, and my girlfriend. Following a gathering at my home, I was involved in…
On Thursday June 22, 2017 at a special meeting of the Douglas City Commission, Mr. Edwin Taylor was sworn in at Douglas City Hall as the newest commissioner. Commissioner Taylor fills the unexpired term of the late Ward 1 Commissioner Johnnie Lee Roper. Taylor received 86 percent of the vote in last week’s special election. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by members of the community and Commissioner Taylor’s family. The oath of office was administered by City Clerk Wynetta Bolder. Commissioner Taylor’s wife Bobbie Jean Taylor held the Bible upon which Commissioner Taylor placed his right hand while repeating the…
On Thursday June 22, 2017 at a special meeting of the Douglas City Commission, Mr. Edwin Taylor was sworn in at Douglas City Hall as the newest commissioner. Commissioner Taylor fills the unexpired term of the late Ward 1 Commissioner Johnnie Lee Roper. Taylor received 86 percent of the vote in last week’s special election. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by members of the community and Commissioner Taylor’s family. The oath of office was administered by City Clerk Wynetta Bolder. Commissioner Taylor’s wife Bobbie Jean Taylor held the Bible upon which Commissioner Taylor placed his right hand while repeating the…
At the regular June 19, 2017 Coffee County Board of Commissioners meeting it was announced that there would be a joint City/County CommissionersBoard of Education meeting on June 29, 2017 at the County EOC building at 6:30 p.m. During the regular meeting the board also heard from Mr. Stephen Pitts, the local director for CSRA probation services. CSRA is a private company and provides its services to misdemeanor probationers. CSRA has a contract with the county to provide these services and that contract expires on July 1, 2017. A renewal contract of the same terms and conditions was approved by…
Country music singer Ryan Daniel will be performing on Tuesday, June 27 at 7 p.m. at the South Georgia Youth Park Wiregrass Arena in Nicholls. The concert will be the culmination of Camp Bethany, a camp for young people ages five to 17, June 26 and 27. This camp is for any child that’s been affected by grief. The purpose of the camp is to let children know that there are people out there who can help them. The nature of grief counselling requires that those affected be able to trust their caregivers. This camp is seen as an excellent…
First Academy students, both elementary and middle have exceeded national benchmarks on their standardized assessments. The Iowa Assessments were administered to students in grades 2ndthrough 6thgrades. The results from the Iowa Assessment tests taken every spring are impressive, in all subject areas. Pam Lewis and Kimberly Lott, curriculum directors at First Academy announced that “most of our students score 10-25 percent higher than the national average, in all subject areas.” They included, “These test scores are only one indication of our student’s successes at First Academy. It is evident that God, a rigorous curriculum, and strong teachers are within our…
The Hope Outreach Center located in the Oak Park area of Douglas is a non-profit organization that provides services and guidance to the children and families of the community. The center is located in a troubled neighborhood that has the highest rate of criminal activity. According to the center’s mission statement, their main purpose is to give spiritual and moral guidance to young people. Anthony B. Harris, 25 of Savannah, is the epitome of what this program represents. Harris received his bachelor’s of social work from Savannah State University in 2014 and decided that he wanted a change in environment.…
The president of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Dr. G.P. “Bud” Peterson was in Douglas on Tuesday June 20, 2017. He was here on the second stop on the 2017 Georgia Tour. This is the ninth Georgia Tour undertaken by Dr. Peterson. He began the Georgia Tech tradition when he became president in 2009. This year the Georgia Tour will cover 970 miles across South Georgia. DouglasNow spoke with Dr. Peterson and G. Wayne Clough, PhD, Georgia Tech President Emeritus and Douglas native, at the Douglas Atrium Event Center. Dr. Clough was not only born in Douglas, but his father…
Monday, Bo Dukes, the second suspect arrested in the killing of Irwin County High teacher and former beauty queen Tara Grinstead, was accused of burning her body. The Irwin County Grand Jury indicted Dukes on charges of concealing a death, tampering with evidence, and hindering the apprehension of a criminal. According to the indictment, which was published by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, among other media outlets, states that “did unlawfully and knowingly destroy physical evidence by burning the body of Tara Faye Grinstead, a human being, at a location off Bowens Mill Highway.” Ryan Duke was initially arrested and charged in…