Douglas Now has received numerous inquiries over the last couple weeks in regards to Douglas Police Officer Tameka Williams and her current employment status with the department in light of her recent indictment for voter fraud. A open records request for documents pertaining to Officer Williams’s situation was sent to the City of Douglas by a private individual not associated with Douglas Now, and that person has provided us with the information provided by city officials. Based solely on the information contained in these documents, here is what we currently know: 1. Officer Williams was recently indicted by a Coffee…
Author: Staff Reports
A review of the Coffee County budget reveals that the budget is leveled out. The announcement was made at the regularly scheduled County Commission meeting on Monday. Wesley Vickers, Coffee County Administrator, stated that the budget was now level thanks, for the most part, to higher revenues coming into the county coffers. A strengthening national economy also played a large part, as well as good communications and leadership from elected officials and department heads in the Coffee County Administration. The 2016 budget is set at $15 million for general revenue and $9 million for special revenue. The budget will be…
Most people know that Dolly Parton is a country music megastar. Those same individuals may not, however, know just how influential Parton has been, not just in country music but throughout all of popular culture. Beginning this week, NBC will begin telling that story, and Douglas’s own Jennifer Nettles will play a key role in the narrative. Thursday night at 9 p.m., NBC will air “Coat of Many Colors,” the first in a series of television movies based on several of Parton’s hit songs. “Coat of Many Colors” focuses on the relationship Parton had with her mother, Avie. Nettles was…
A Douglas man is behind bars today after police say he intentionally ran over a female victim with his car. Police officials reported that officers responded to a report of aggravated assault at a residence on June Ave. late Sunday, Dec. 6, where they found the victim, identified as 24-year-old Ashlee Teel, laying in the yard. Officers also discovered a white Toyota Camry that had run into a ditch at the location. Teel and another witness stated the victim had been in the Camry with a male identified as Taurus Larenzo Young. Teel and Young had been parked at the…
Chamber of Commerce representatives, along with representatives and employees of the Coffee County Salvation Army, recently gathered at the newly-opened recycling center at 90 North Street in Douglas for a ribbon cutting ceremony, officially opening the center for business. Baling processes that will be conducted at the recycling center will make it possible for the Salvation Army to send donations that won’t make it into the family store to other parts of the world. The baling process can help process donations into over 750 pound bales and triple revenues for the Salvation Army, according to Douglas Salvation Army Director Perette…
An early morning shooting Saturday at a popular children’s recreational establishment resulted in the death of a local 19-year-old man. Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials stated that at around 1 a.m. Saturday, deputies with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to Just Jump for Kds, 3045 Highway 441 South, in reference to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Gabriel Demetrius Douglas suffering from a gunshot wound. Douglas was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Douglas will be taken to the GBI’s Medical Examiner’s Office in Savannah where an autopsy will be conducted. This…
Political antagonist, convicted conman, and perpetual victim Bobby Worthy says he’s going to file a civil suit against the City of Douglas and a local restaurant for alleged civil rights violations unless the organizations pony up an excess of $1.3 million to settle with him. Worhty claims he was illegally detained by Douglas police while they were investigating an October assault incident at the Ole Times County Buffet involving Worthy and former Democratic Georgia House of Representative candidate Larry Nesmith. He also claims staff at the restaurant made false allegations against him to authorities. Worthy was convicted of thefty by…
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported Wednesday the arrest of Jacksonville, Ga. Police Chief Charles Briley and his wife, Ashley, in connection to a theft that occurred last summer. The Brileys are accused of stealing a newspaper collection box that belonged to a community service organization and allegedly using it as a cover for a well. GBI officials have also accused the husband and wife of lying to officials during the investigation. They have each been charged with one count of theft by taking, one count of false statements and writings, and one count of violation of oath by a…
Thirty body cameras and related equipment will be purchased for the Douglas Police Dept. to replace units already in use and to upgrade the system to a more reliable unit, city officials said in a press release issued Wednesday. “We want to keep our officers and citizens safe,” says Police Chief Gary Casteloes. “The purchase of these new on-body cameras will help provide positive accountability for our officers as well as the public. Body cameras provide a helpful insight at interactions between officers and the public.” Body worn video (BWV), also known as body cameras, is a video recording system…
Telfair County Sheriff Chris Steverson reported Tuesday a jury took about an hour to convict a Florida man accused of murdering a woman and dumping her body in the Ocmulgee River two years ago. After listening to 18 days of testimony and looking at various items of evidence, the jury was returned a guilty verdict against Joshua Lamar Helton for the murder of Judy Murrow of Tampa. “I would like to commend the investigators of the Telfair Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, as well as our law enforcement counterparts in Tampa and other jurisdictions in Florida for the…