Author: Staff Reports

In response to the unprecedented damages caused by Hurricane Helene, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) has officially launched the HEARTS Georgia (Housing Emergency Assistance and Recovery Through Sheltering) program to support survivors of Hurricane Helene. This state-run, first-of-its-kind program provides temporary shelter to survivors whose primary residences were majorly damaged, destroyed, or deemed uninhabitable. The HEARTS Georgia program provides non-congregate sheltering in hotels or motels for eligible survivors in the 61 counties federally declared for FEMA’s Public Assistance and Individual Assistance programs. This program will help survivors transition into long-term housing solutions, supplementing the immediate efforts…

Two Douglas teens were charged with aggravated assault and other charges after they allegedly fired a shot at another person following an argument on Mitchell Street According to an incident report from the Douglas Police Department, on December 9, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m., E911 received a call of shots fired at a Mitchell Street address. According to the 911 call, someone in a black Dodge Challenger had fired a shot at a male subject. Several units responded and spotted a black Challenger nearby. Officers stopped the car, which was occupied by Messiah Jamal Denning, 18, and Donivan Turner, 17,…

Wheeler Park remains closed due to damage sustained from Hurricane Helene. However, people are still visiting the park and allowing children to play on the equipment. The equipment is not safe and city officials are asking people to stay out of the park until repairs are completed. Wheeler Park has been closed since September 27, 2024. The caution tape that was around the equipment has been removed by someone not affiliated with the city or recreation department officials. New caution tape will be around the equipment as soon as possible. Please do not remove the tape; it is there for…

Tuesday morning, deputies from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office apprehended Gabe Carelock, 46, near Pridgen after he allegedly led officers on a chase in a vehicle through a field then on foot through a swamp. A K-9 tracking unit from Ware State Prison eventually caught up to Carelock and he was taken into custody without further incident. Officers had been looking for Carelock, who had several active warrants both in Coffee County and out of county, for a while. Carelock is no stranger to the inside of the Coffee County Jail and he knew deputies were on his trail. He…

A 22-year-old Fitzgerald woman has been charged with aggravated assault after she allegedly attempted to run over the father of her child in the Walmart parking lot in Douglas. According to an incident report from the Douglas Police Department, on November 17, 2024, just after 8 p.m., the male victim and a female were walking through the parking lot at Walmart when a white Nissan Sonic allegedly driven by Tanea Webb, 22, of Fitzgerald, attempted to run over the victim. Webb and the victim have a child together, the report states. Walmart provided security footage of the parking lot which,…

Mark the calendar for a fantastic opportunity to beautify the city! On Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 9am to 11:30am, the Keep Douglas Beautiful Board and volunteers will offer the Clear Your Clutter Pick-Up event in an effort to declutter and enhance citizens home surroundings. “If you’re within the city limits and have large, unwanted items cluttering your space, this is your chance,” says Christian Mikell, KDB Executive Director. “Don’t miss out on this free service to help those who may not have the ability to bring items to the monthly Junk Drop Off location.” Anyone living in the city…

The net cast by Chris Johnson, Johnson Funeral & Cremation Services, and the associated criminal investigations continues to grow. Friday morning, a 52-year-old Douglas man was arrested in Fitzgerald on three charges – two counts of insurance fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit a felony – related to the Johnson case. But it’s not what you think. Prior to the investigation that officers launched on October 26, 2024, the one with which everyone is familiar, there was another ongoing criminal investigation into the operations of the funeral home. Authorities had evidence indicating that Johnson may have forged a…

The All Region teams for Region 2-5A have been announced. The Coffee Trojans had several players named to the teams, including defensive player of the year Chris Reed and co-athlete of the year Tyrese Woodgett. Lee County’s Weston Bryan was named player of the year. Bryan, a 6’4”, 225-pound quarterback headed to Georgia Southern, completed 161 passes for 2,357 yards and 29 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Bryan also ran for 1,241 yards and 30 touchdowns. Here are the All Region teams: Player of the year: QB Weston Bryan, Lee County, Sr. Offensive player of the year: RB Ousmane Kromah, Sr. Defensive…

Chris Johnson, owner of Johnson Funeral & Cremation Services, was in acourtroom Wednesday – this time in Magistrate Court for adispossessory case and a separate civil claim from a local businessfor alleged unpaid advertising.The dispossessory case dealt with rent Johnson allegedly owed his new landlord. Johnson had planned to move the funeral home from its location at 2760 US Highway 441 South to the building at 202 North Madison Avenue in downtown Douglas. Johnson had been renting the building for several months prior to his October arrest but was behind on the rent. He was also behind on the rent…

On November 16, 2024, deputies from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary in progress call on Highway 158 West. When they arrived, the found Darren Armstrong, 29, inside the home hiding, according to a report from the sheriff’s office. The report states that when officers arrived, the complainant stated that she had seen an individual, later identified as Armstrong, enter the home through a window. Deputies entered the house and announced their presence. As they searched the house, they found Armstrong hiding inside one of the rooms. A bag and a set of keys were on a…