An investigation into suspected illegal activity at a local motel resulted in the arrest of one person and the discovery of cocaine and other drugs last week. Coffee County sheriff’s officials stated the Douglas-Coffee Drug unit was performing surveillance in the area of 907 N. Peterson Ave. (Douglas Inn) due reports of suspicious activity centering on a room at the location. Detectives obtained permission to enter the room and found an individual identified as Shemeka Jackson sitting on the bed, allegedly in the process of rolling a marijuana cigarette and sprinkling suspected methamphetamine on the marijuana. Authorities state detectives spke…
Author: Staff Reports
At a special called meeting of the Coffee County Board of Education Tuesday morning, the board voted to sell the 23-plus acres at 1311 South Peterson Avenue – the old high school and walking track – to the Jones Company for $3.6 million. The BOE sold the property in two tracts – 10.69 acres for $1,603,500 and a 13-acre tract for $2,035,500. The board did not sell the property upon which the school system’s central office sits. The old high school and track will be demolished and in their place will be a $29 million retail complex that is expected…
2016 Doulgas Mayor Pro Tem Olivia Pearson, who remains under indictment on various allegations of elections fraud, was replaced by another commissioner facing his own legal battles earlier this week. Long time Ward 6 Commissioner Bob Moore was selected to serve as the Mayor Pro Tem for 2017 by the mayor and city commissioners during their regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 9. Moore has served as a Douglas commissioner for nine terms. “We are proud to elect Commissioner Bob Moore as the Mayor Pro Tem,” Mayor Tony Paulk stated in a press release issued Friday. “I look forward to working…
The youth of Reedy Branch Baptist Church originally began a recent missions project with a goal of raising $3,000 to provide one water well to a Zambian community. This past Sunday, the group presented a $12 thousand check to Love Africa Mission, which will provide four wells to the economically-deprived region. According to Kell Phelps, youth leader at Reedy Branch, each well costs approximately $3,000 and, thanks to generous people who supported this project through t-shirt purchases and other fund raising efforts, this should allow for four brand new wells in areas that currently have very little water, if any.…
Mr. Jacel Wilber Butler, age 76, of Douglas passed away early Monday morning, January 9, 2017 at Coffee Regional Medical Center, following a short illness. Mr. Butler was born September 27, 1940 to the late Jim Merrill Butler and the late Clara Laverne Kent Butler. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Wayne Russell Butler. In 2015, he retired from Elixir Industries after 29 years of service, where he was the manager of the Aluminum Extrusion Division. Survivors include: His Wife: Virginia Butler of Douglas, GA; 1 Son: Michael (Rhonda) Butler of Douglas, GA; 1…
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation provided the following statment Monday in regards to the shooting of a motorist by a Turner County sheriff’s deputy that occurred in Cook County Sunday afternoon: “On Sunday, January 8, 2017 the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Region Four Office was requested by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an officer involved use of force incident. Preliminary information from law enforcement agencies indicated that at approximately 5:00 p.m., Ashburn Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle south-bound on I-75 in Turner County. The driver, identified as Erin Sean Hogue, 26 of Jacksonville, FL, refused to…
“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)… There are just some kind of men who – who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” – To Kill a Mockingbird Why is the Bible so often described as the ultimate authority and foundation of Christianity? Isn’t the ultimate authority of the faith actually Jesus, God in human form, the One who fully embodies the Almighty, saves us from sin…
Residents and businesses on the north end of Douglas will be without power for several hours Friday, following a morning traffic accident. City officials reported around 10 a.m. that due to the accident, which involved a utility pole on the corner of N. Madison and N. Street, electrical service on the north end of town will be out for approximately 2 to 3 hours. “Customers in this area should make proper arrangements until power is restored,” city representatives stated in a press release. “Linemen are working to restore power as promptly as possible for the convenience of our customers, (and)…
A 58-year-old man was taken into custody earlier this week following an investigation in which authorities say he traveled from Hazlehurst to Telfair County for the purpose of meeting a child for sex. Telfair Sheriff Chris Steverson stated deputies assigned to the GBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force were working in an undercover capacity several weeks ago when contact was established with an individual online who appeared to be actively seeking sexual contact with a child. Posing as an underage female, investigators made arrangements to meet the suspect at a secluded location and awaited his arrival. As the…
Three Coffee County men were jailed Tuesday on numerous drug and firearms charges following a multi-agency residential search. The Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit, along with authorities from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas Police Department, and the state probation office executed a search warrant at 906 N. June Ave, which authorities say resulted in the discovery of quantities of marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, illicit prescription medications, a firearm, ammunition, and drug related packaging materials. 28-year-old Alfonzo Jerrod Brewton of Douglas, 39-year-old Larry Webb of Broxton, and 20-year-old Ferlonzo Lamar Newton of Douglas were arrested at the location. Brewton has been charged with…