At a special called meeting earlier this week, the Coffee County Board of Education voted to roll back the millage rate to 16.161. The BOE discussed the millage rollback at the July 23 meeting and decided to table the matter until August. Tensions were high as board members debated whether or not to approve the rollback and the implications that would result from either approving it or disapproving it. Board member Adam Lott spoke up against the rollback claiming that the dwindling funds for education in the area would benefit by leaving the millage rate at its current rate. The…
Author: Staff Reports
According to a report today in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Georgia public health investigators have determined Planned Parenthood Southeast and four other abortion providers in the state are properly disposing of fetal tissues after abortions. Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, Commissioner of the Department Public Health, told Gov. Nathan Deal in a letter that her agency had completed the inquiry that he ordered last month after videotapes surfaced of national Planned Parenthood officials talking about harvesting fetal remains. Read the full story from the Atlanta-Journal Constitution by clicking here.
A convicted child molester residing in Douglas is listing his residential address as a room at the local Days Inn motel, according to information provided by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday. Michael Antwon Spearman was convicted of child molestation in Forsyth County in 2004. He has been registered as a sex offender in Coffee County since 2014 and had a previously-listed address on Brunswick Ave. in Nicholls. Under Georgia law, all sex offenders are required to register with the local sheriff’s office annually and must provide any personal change of information such as place of employment, address, phone numbers,…
This week marked the worldwide Breastfeeding Week, and many people in Douglas may have noticed the new baby blue and light pink banners hanging on downtown light posts on behalf of the Breastfeeding Coalition. It is all part of a growing effort to normalize and lighten the stigma surrounding breastfeeding in public, not only in Douglas and Coffee County but throughout the United States. In Douglas alone, a community outreach initiative has secured 129 businesses and offices as “Breastfeeding-Friendly” premises, as indicated by stickers or signs that can be seen displayed at the businesses or offices. Breastfeeding is as natural…
A 31-year-old Douglas woman already incarcerated in the Coffee County Jail has been charged in connection with the theft of $3,500 cash from a local store after authorities caught her on camera committing the act prior to her incarceration. Coffee County Sheriff’s officials stated on July 22, a deputy responded to Bethel Grocery on the Willacoochee Hwy. in reference to a theft. The victim advised the deputy that someone had taken a box containing approximately $3500 in cash from the ATM machine located inside the store. A report was made, and the case was turned over to the office’s criminal…
A woman currently serving on probation was arrested last night on numerous drug charges after sheriff’s authorities responded to the report of a fight. Deputies responded to a residence on Clyde Kirkland Rd., where they made contact with 44-year-old Verdie Lynn Gaskins of Douglas, who they determined was currently serving a probation sentence. Authorities stated a search of Gaskins yielded a quantity of methamphetamine, syringes filled with methamphetamine, two different strengths of Lorcet and Xanax prescription tablets, bags commonly used for packaging illegal drugs, and scales. Detectives also seized over $1,300 in cash. Gaskins was arrested at the…
Christians from throughout Coffee County crossed denominational and racial lines Monday night to join together in a candlelight vigil to offer prayers for the local community and nation. Hundreds of citizens gathered at the Coffee County Courthouse in what became one of the largest public declarations of unity in the area in recent history. “We’ve reached the point where we’re tired of taking a back seat,” local citizen and father of three Robert Moore told reporters from WALB-TV. “We want to be out front because this is where Christians are suppose to be.” The following pictures of last night’s event…
Officials with the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) stated Monday night a former pharmacist with Harvey’s grocery store was arrested as part of a joint investigation. Dana Amber Daughtry, 46 of Claxton, has been charged for fraudulently obtaining controlled substances. Last week, agents with Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency (GDNA) discovered Daughtry had forged prescriptions for controlled substances and filled them for herself at Harvey’s Pharmacy in Douglas, authorities said. Officials stated Daughtry has been terminated from employment with the pharmacy and turned herself in to law enforcement today.
A quarter pound of marijuana and over six dozen narcotic pain pills were discovered over the weekend in the possession of one motorist while authorities were conducting a road check. Officials stated that on Saturday, the Georgia State Patrol encountered an individual identified as 23-year-old Mark Andrew Spivey, II of Douglas during a road check on the west side of Coffee County. As troopers approached the vehicle, they allegedly detected an overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from within the vehicle. A search of the vehicle, they stated, revealed two packages of marijuana, with a total weight of ¼ pound,…
Two victims shot to death Sunday night at a horse training facility in Willacoochee have been identified by authorities as Rudolpho Figueroa-Garcia of Douglas and Rafael Alleman of Willacoochee. In a strange twist of events, officials stated they believe Alleman first shot and killed Rudolpho Figueroa-Garcia during an argument. Alleman was then shot by another man, 26-year-old Mauricio Figueroa-Garcia, and subsequently died. Mauricio Figueroa-Garcia is currently incarcerated at the Atkinson County Jail and has been charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Authorities state he is also a wanted fugitive from…