Coffee County School Board Chairman Adam Lott and Vice Chairman Jessie Jowers took their newly appointed seats at the regular school board meeting on Thursday. Chairman Adam Lott replaced Judi Worrell who had served as chairman for the 2015 year. Superintendent Dr. Morris Leis and the members of the School Board and visitors applauded Worrell for her dedication and hard work for the year of 2015. School Board Member Ronnie Johnson also spoke briefly about his stance on the position of School Board Chairman. “I didn’t want to be chairman, or vice chairman. I just want to be part of…
Author: Staff Reports
Representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Georgia Department of Health spoke at the Rotary Club luncheon on Thursday January 21. Dr. Jean O’Connor, Director of Chronic Disease Prevention Department at the Georgia Department of Public Health, and Dr. Wayne Giles, Director of Chronic Disease Prevention with the CDC, both spoke on health issues Coffee County is facing. The Coffee County School Board, Coffee Regional Medical Center and other community members have come together to form a collaborative that is working together on a Better Health, Lower Cost initiative in our area. CRMC representative Vicki Lewis explains that the…
At Tuesday’s county commission meeting, commissioners approved a text amendment changing the protocol for subdivision development, allowing for public transportation into and out of gated communities, among other changes. Another amendment permitting private cemeteries to be built on county property was also approved. This amends a law prohibiting the establishment of private cemeteries, for humans or pets, but with several stipulations, including that there must be at least an acre of land to accommodate the cemetery, and it must be fenced off and at a safe distance from any roads or bodies of water. The commission approved Commissioner Oscar Paulk’s…
In the spring of 1995, a family sought answers for their 16-year-old daughter’s illness. Little did they know the answers would point to a rare and dangerous disease, and that they would be embarking on the life-long journey of organ donation. At a time when most girls are worrying about picking out colleges, getting ready for formal dances, and having fun with friends, Ginny Neugent-Carver was facing a life or death situation. “The last two months of my 10th grade year I didn’t go to school,” Ginny said. Her complications from a mystery illness had progressed to a near-death situation.…
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the murder of a 20-year-old Fitzgerald man who was recently awarded over $400 thousand from the Georgia lottery. Craigory Burch, Jr. was killed early Thursday morning, the victim of gunshot wounds, at a residence on Stubbs Ave. in Fitzgerald during what authorities say was a home invasion/robbery. Burch won a total of $434,272 in November in the Fantasy 5 jackpot. Officials say there are currently no suspects in the murder. Anyone with information that could assist in this case is encouraged to contact the Ben Hill…
Two men caught lingering around a Nicholls convenience store Tuesday were arrested after officers discovered they were carrying cocaine and prescription painkillers. Around 4 p.m. Tuesday, a Nicholls Police Department officer got out with two male subjects at the Food Mart Store located on Van Street Hwy. The individuals, who were described by authorities as “acting suspicious,” were asked for identification, and officers inquired if they were carrying drugs or weapons. One male, identified as 52-year-old Jeffery Nathaniel Canady Nicholls, allegedly had in his pocket a small piece of suspected crack cocaine and small bag of marijuana. The other male,…
A Douglas man was jailed last Friday after authorities allegedly spotted him driving a vehicle that was reported stolen earlier that day. Coffee County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Jonathan Vaughn Rd. on Jan. 15 in reference to a stolen 2010 GMC Sierra K1500. A report was made of the incident, and the vehicle was observed in the Oak Park area later in the day by the reporting officer. A traffic stop was performed, and the driver pulled into the parking lot of the Dollar General store off U.S. Hwy. 221 in Oak Park. The individual driving…
Coffee County Sheriff’s officials reported Sunday the following recent drug-related arrests: On January 15, at approximately 3:10 p.m., detectives from the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit, the Coffee Co. Sheriff’s Office ,and K-9 deputies conducted a search at 64 White Oak Street, located in the Oak Park community. Upon the search, officers located methamphetamine and marijuana, along with a set of scales. Jimmy Lee Hester Jr. (31) was arrested and will be charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Patricia Hester (54) was also charged with possession of methamphetamine. Also on Jan. 16, deputies…
An early morning traffic stop on Sunday landed two people in jail on multiple charges, along with the discovery of cocaine and other illegal drugs. Officials with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office reported that an officer from the Douglas Police Dept. conducted a traffic stop for violation of headlight requirements on U.S. Hwy. 441 South at T & M Food Mart shortly after 12:30 a.m. Sunday. The two occupants in the vehicle were identified as 40-year-old Antonio Pedraza Lopez of Douglas and 28-year-old Farrah Stone, also of Douglas. During a search of the car, officials stated officers discovered Stone was…
The Douglas Police Department is attempting to identify the individuals shown in these photos in reference to an ongoing case and is asking the community’s assistance in identifying and locating them. Anyone with information that could help is asked to contact the Douglas Police Dept. at (912) 384-2222 or the Tips Line at (912) 260-3600. Information can also be shared on the Department’s Facebook page. Police did not provide any details regarding the case.