Tensions between citizens and police are high these days and unfortunately headlines reporting violence and bloodshed between the groups are all too common. One local man is working to combat the growing unrest and wants to remind everyone that police are people, too. Billy Ray Fields of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and Ocilla Police Department organized an event to bring police and citizens together at Roundtree Park on Sunday. While Billy Fields worked the grill, Spongebob Squarepants and Mickey Mouse entertained the kids and some played basketball and football in the park. The Coffee County Fire Department provided water…
Author: Staff Reports
A 49-year-old Douglas woman was arrested and jailed earlier this week on domestic violence charges after two witnesses claimed she hurled a bag of rice at the victim, striking her in the face. Douglas police responded to a residence on N. Madison Ave. last Sunday around 9:30 a.m. in reference to a disorderly person. A report filed by the responding officer says,”Upon my arrival, I spoke to the complainant who stated his wife was acting crazy and hit another female who lives at the residence in the face with a bag of rice.” The officer added the alleged victim in…
Qualifying for the upcoming Douglas city elections ended Friday and local residents can start expecting to see some familiar faces as campaigns get underway. Former Douglas Mayor Tony Paulk is looking to regain his former position and will be the sole opposition to current mayor, James Dennis. Johnnie Lee Roper, another familiar face among municpal voters, will be looking to fill a seat on the city commission in Ward 1. Roper, along with Cheryl Denise Cunningham, has qualified to run against incumbent Richard Lee Hutchinson. In Ward 2, sitting commissioner Mary Swain will face opposition from Kentaiwon Durham. Current Ward…
Michael Merritt was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease and renal failure. He has been to many doctor appointments and endured several hospitalizations during the past six months. Michael’s health began deteriorating rapidly over the last month. On Tuesday, August 25, Michael had bloodwork in Tifton, and he had a follow-up appointment on August 27, where the doctor sent him immediately to Emory due to the results and the build-up of fluid in his body. Once arriving at Emory, Michael had various tests performed and learned that afternoon that he had been added to the list as a candidate for a…
A father and son duo was exonerated by a Coffee County jury this week on charges stemming from an incident that occurred in January 2013. Maurice “Tully” Bland and his son, Bryan , were both acquitted of criminal trespass after authorities alleged they had unlawfully remained on the property of an off-duty law enforcement officer after being told to leave. Here’s the backstory: The Blands reside just outside of Broxton and across the highway from their accuser, Norman Dockery. On Jan. 4, 2013, the Blands were getting dogs ready to go on a hunting trip when two of them escaped…
A converted school bus carrying farm workers lost control and overturned on Harvey Vickers Road going towards U.S. Highway 441 this afternoon. Several of the workers that were transported from the scene by three separate ambulances and were being treated for injuries at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Authorities on the scene said the injuries appeared to be minor. Life Flight, however, was on standby as a precaution. Shortly after the accident, Coffee Regional Medical Center released a statement of its own. The release stated that 12 individuals were injured in the accident. However, that number was later updated to 27…
A 62-year-old Nicholls man took home an instant $1 million prize last week courtesy of the Georgia Lottery. Laddie Hollis played the instant game Cash King, which he purchased from The Food Mart at 500 Van Streat Hwy. in Coffee County. Hollis claimed his prize Thursday at the Georgia Lottery district office in Tifton. Hollis is a logging truck driver by trade. He and his wife, Janice, have two children and seven grandchildren. According to the Georgia Lottery’s website, the organization uses funds for specific education programs throughout the state, including tuition grants, scholarships or loans to undergraduate college students…
Davis Hall on the South Georgia State College campus will be getting a much anticipated face-lift starting next week. The building was built in 1907 and is listed in the National Register of Historical Places. It served as a home for presidents of the college before the president’s house was built, and representatives of families that lived in the building or grew up close to it were in attendance of the Davis Hall renovation ceremony and groundbreaking on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Many alumni of South Georgia State College were in attendance as well, including Mayor James Dennis who reminisced about…
The Coffee County Board of Education recognized students whose artworks decorate this year’s Coffee County School System calendar and awarded them certificates for their artwork at the regular monthly Board of Education meeting on Thursday night. Over 20 years ago the board began posting student art on the calendars and now, every year one student from each school in the Coffee County School System has artwork selected for the calendar. The original artwork also hangs in the Board of Education office for the entire year to be appreciated year-long. Sonny Lyons, owner of Lyon Management Company of Douglas, has been…
A death in 2014 in Nicholls that was originally ruled as suicide has been reviewed, and the manner of death has been changed as a result of a coroner’s inquest. The family of Matthew Roberts, who was found dead in Nicholls in his empty house on Sept. 26, 2014, was not satisfied with the conclusion that he had committed suicide. A coroner’s inquest that had originally been scheduled months earlier but had to be rescheduled took place on Thursday at the Magistrate Court in the Law Enforcement Center in Douglas. Key witnesses and investigators gave testimony and detailed steps of…