Author: Staff Reports
Veteran patrol deputy Sgt. Lance Ragans was recently honored with being named as the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office’s officer of the year. Ragans began his career with the organization in April of 2001. He attended and completed the police academy and returned to work as a road deputy until February 2003, when he spent approximately six months in the criminal investigations division. Ragans later decided he wanted to return to road patrol duty and was promoted to his present position as a sergeant in March 2007. Sheriff’s officals stated Lance is probably one of the friendliest and most people-oriented deputies…
In the early 1940’s, the nation was about to enter into what would be one of the biggest wars in history, World War II, and men and women across America began preparing. Men began training to fight, sail, and fly for our country, and even our own airport here in Douglas became a training ground for a select group of men. About ten thousand men used the airport as a headquarters for training, living in the barracks and learning how to fly in Stearman biplanes. The experiences and memories forged during this training would stay with the cadets for life,…
Civil rights activist Bobby Worthy was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,500 today in Ware County State Court after being convicted of theft by deception. Ware County Clerk of Court Melba Fiveash stated Worthy must pay restitution to the victim in the case within 90 days, and he was also charged $500 in fines. Worthy will serve the full length of his probation. Fiveash could not provide full details surrounding the criminal case against Worthy, but stated the conviction stemmed from an incident where the victim paid him $1,500 for the…
Despite a financial aid mishap that resulted in several staff rearrangements within the financial aid department and 40 students not being able to attend fall classes, South Georgia State College (SGSC) representatives stated today the school has realized a one percent increase in enrollment compared to one year ago. The total headcount for fall 2015, they said, is 2,636 students. A press release issued Tuesday by Walda Kight, Vice President for External Affairs, stated, “Positive factors that contributed to the increase include a 12.66 percent growth in new students, a 19.66 percent increase in Move On When Ready (MOWR) students…
A shootout in Broxton around 6:30 last night has left one person injured and officers searching for the suspect. Broxton police responded to gunshot wound call early Monday evening. When they arrived, they found Cornelius Frederick with a gunshot wound in his leg. Frederick had been taken from the scene of the shooting to his home. Officers went to the scene of the shooting, which took place near Broxton’s famous – or infamous – Tree of Knowledge, located on Highway 441 on the north end of town. The suspect in the shooting is William Champ of Fitzgerald, who had been…
A 39-year-old man was killed Thursday night after allegedly fleeing from Nicholls police when authorities attempted to stop him for running a stop sign. Nicholls police attemted to stop Julian Walter Thomas after for failing to yield to a stop sign on N. Liberty Rd. around 10 p.m. Officials say Thomas led officers on a short chase before overturning his truck several times after he failed to navigate a sharp curve. The Georgia State Patrol continues to investigate the incident.
A man who shot and wounded a Douglas police officer in July of last year after robbing a local store a gunpoint was sentenced to life in prison Thursday in Coffee County Superior Court. Christopher Barnett pled guily on Oct. 19 to robbery and the subsequent shooting of Officer Larry Carter on July 10, 2014. At the hearing before Judge Kelly Brooks, DPD Sergeant Robert Sprinkle testified that Barnett admitted to brandishing a pistol at Flash Foods and running away with a few hundred dollars in cash. Officer Carter testified that he initiated the stop on the vehicle Barnett…
There is no denying the rate of cancer is climbing in recent years. When someone is diagnosed with cancer, it can be a life-shattering moment, not only for the patient but for their loved ones as well. The rise in cancer diagnosis has also caused a greater need for support for these families and communities affected. Here in Douglas, there is a group that is going above and beyond to help those affected by one particular type of cancer. Back in 2007, two members of the Alpha Theta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi in Douglas were diagnosed with breast cancer,…
A 19-year-old man already serving a probation sentence was jailed again Friday on drug distribution charges following a traffic stop conducted by the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU). Officials reported that DCDU K-9 officers stopped a vehicle on S. Gaskin Ave. at E. Baker Hwy. in Douglas for a traffic violation. As they approached the vehicle, they noticed the passenger appeared to have something in his mouth, and officers were able to recover seven bags of marijuana he allegedly attempted to swallow. A search of the vehicle revealed more marijuana, Xanax tablets, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia.…