There was further discussion about the possibility of a land bank authority being established for Coffee County during the work session for the regular county commission meeting Monday morning. Douglas City Commissioner Dennis Josey presented the prospect of developing a land bank authority to assist with community clean up at a meeting a few weeks ago, and the county commission has been working on its establishment. It is still in planning stages and may or may not culminate into a land bank authority for Coffee County, but if it did the board for the authority would be made up of…
Author: Staff Reports
Two local men are entering the presidential race for 2016 and are currently listed in the presidential candidate registry. Barry Shannon-Reasoner, owner of Empire Games in Douglas and a military veteran, is running for President of the United States and his business partner and friend Henry Walsh is his running mate for Vice President. The two men began the journey to the White House after they were discussing the problems they see in the U.S. government. Henry ultimately turned to Barry and told him to “do something about it” instead of simply complaining. He suggested Barry run for president and…
Sometimes a person just knows when they’ve had enough and decides to do the noble thing. Last Saturday, Sept. 19, Cpl. Margarito Perez with the Douglas Police Department was on duty patrolling in the parking lot of Wal-Mart when he was approached by a 52-year-old male. The individual stated to Perez that he was planning on stealing something from the store, but saw the police and decided to just go ahead and turn himself in. The man went on to inform Perez that he was wanted by authorities in Pearson, and a quick check of the man’s identity revealed he…
A 20-year-old Douglas man was arrested and charged last week on multiple counts of drug distribution and possession after he attempted to flee from officers who were executing a search warrant. Officials with the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) stated they served a search warrant last Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 6289 Hwy. 221 N. between Douglas and West Green. As detectives arrived on scene, the target of the investigation, identified as Skylar Ray Merson, fled the property on foot into a nearby wooded area, but was was apprehended after a brief foot chase. Detectives discovered 25 grams of ‘Molly’…
A Coffee County man is dead and two others injured following a boating accident that occurred Thursday afternoon in Wayne County. Officials state that 75-year-old Clarence H. Knight of Broxton was killed when two boats collided and Knight was thrown into the water. An autopsy will be performed on Knight at the GBI crime lab to determine the exact cause of death. Also injured during the accident were 76-year-old Jack Brantley and 76-year-old Jesse Brantley, both of Coffee County. They were transported from the scene to Wayne Memorial Hospital in Jesup, but the extent of their injuries is not known…
A 28-year-old former Douglas resident was tragically shot and killed early earlier this week in Orlando, Fl., and local police are searching for answers. Casey Leah King was found shot several times just after 12:30 a.m. at a residence in Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood. Emergency responders treated King at the scene, and she was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries. Authorities believe Casey was not the intended victim of the crime and are still searching for suspects. They are asking anyone with information regarding her death to contact the local crimeline at 1 (800) 423-TIPS…
Over 100 thousand gallons of wastewater was spilled through the City of Douglas’ collection system earlier this week, making the incident the third time this year the municipality has experienced such an occurrence. City officials stated the system incurred a major spill of 102 thousand gallons directly south of 300 Richey Ln. in Douglas on Sept. 14. They added the spill was reported to the proper authorities at around nine o’clock that morning, and repairs were completed by 12:30 a.m., Sept. 15. In a press release issued Thursday, officials stated the spill was caused by a split 8-inch force main…
A Waycross couple was murdered inside their home early Thursday morning following a report of a robbery. Waycross police responded to a residence in the 900 block of Glenmore Ave. around 1:30 a.m., where they discovered the man and woman had been shot. Two children, each reportedly under the age of 14, were present at the home during the shooting, but were not harmed. They are believed to be the children of the deceased female, who shared the residence with her live-in boyfriend. The children were placed in the care of family. Waycross police have not yet released the names…
Five people were killed Wednesday in a plane crash that occurred during the early morning hours just east of Alma. Authorities stated the small engine aircraft took off around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and its wreckage was found around 4:30 p.m. in the Johnson Lake area of Bacon County. The Bacon County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. UPDATE: The five victims have been identified as Waylon Dan Boatright (38), Angela Brooke Wade (20), Drayden Ashley Sears (24), Logan Tomberlin (23), and Ethan Tyree Hampton (23).
Three American Red Cross workers were among six people injured Tuesday afternoon in a vehicle accident on U.S. 441 S. in Douglas. According to officials, the Red Cross van was traveling north on the highway in the area of Pinecrst Dr. when a red pickup that was traveling south turned in front of them. Both vehicles overturned during the accident, which caused another collision with a third vehicle. Six people were injured in the crash and taken to Coffee Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Georgia State Patrol officials stated the Red Cross workers were traveling to Hazlehurst to…