The GBI is investigating a bomb threat against an Atkinson County school received on Friday, August 21, 2026. The Atkinson County School Chief of Police requested the GBI to investigate the threat. Preliminary information indicates that Kendall Alfonzo Stevens, age 37, originally from Savannah, made the threat. Stevens is currently incarcerated in Telfair State Prison serving a life without parole sentence. The investigation indicates that Stevens made the threat to disrupt school operations. Stevens is serving a life sentence for killing Corey Vance, 26, of Savannah, on New Year’s Day of 2021. He also shot two other people that day,…
Author: Staff Reports
Just after midnight on August 14, 2026, a Douglas police officer stopped a 2010 Cadillac SRX for allegedly making an improper turn on McNeil Drive. The officer ultimately found suspected methamphetamine in the vehicle during the stop and arrested the driver, Morelle Kent Walker, 39, of Douglas, on illegal drug charges. During the stop, Walker gave the officer consent to search the Cadillac. In a book bag in the trunk of the car, the officer found 10 individually wrapped bags of suspected marijuana, according to an incident report. The officer found a bag of suspected MDMA pills in another pocket…
Monday was a tough one in Columbus for the CCA Lady Patriots. The Class 4A St. Anne-Pacelli Vikings defeated the Lady Patriots 8-1 courtesy of a dominating performance in the circle by Lindsay Bagley, who limited the CCA offense to three hits while striking out 14. The Lady Patriots’ lone run came in the fourth inning when Klair Mercer singled to center, scoring Madi Rucker, who was pinch running for Shanley Meeks. Mercer, Allie Veal, and Maci Rucker were the only Lady Patriots to get a hit. Maci Rucker also walked. Meeks and Peighton Harper both pitched for CCA. Meeks…
On August 13, 2026, David Lee Slay, 68, of Douglas, was arrested and jailed for allegedly selling marijuana from his apartment at Century Apartments in Douglas. According to a report from the sheriff’s office, officers went to Slay’s apartment after receiving numerous complaints about him possibly selling drugs. The complaints had come in over a period of several weeks. According to the report, in 2020, Slay, a convicted felon, had been sentenced to serve seven years on probation for possessing a felony amount of marijuana and a firearm. Officers were watching the home and saw a woman go inside. She…
All schools in Atkinson County have been dismissed for the day after the school system received a bomb threat Friday morning. According to a statement released by the school system, administration and personnel “are following established safety protocols and working closely with law enforcement as all necessary safety measures are taken.” The statement continued: “The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We appreciate the patience, cooperation, and understanding of our families and community. We will share additional information and updates as they become available.” The system’s statement added that all students and staff are safe. The…
The CCA Lady Patriots improved to 7-2 on the season with a 6-0 win over the Crisp Academy Wildcats Tuesday in Douglas. Two familiar names topped the stat sheet. Emma Gourley once again paced CCA offensively while freshman pitcher Shanley Meeks threw a one-hit complete game shutout. CCA jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Mattie Lewis doubled, scoring Brilynn Waldron for the first run of the game. Klair Mercer followed and reached on an error, which allowed Lewis to score from second. From there, the Lady Patriots scored a run in the third, two in…
A 22-year-old Broxton woman was arrested and charged with aggravated assault for allegedly wounding the father of her child in the chest with a knife. The initial call came in as a stabbing. When Douglas police officers arrived, they learned that the alleged assailant, Jamilla Dyous, 22, of Broxton, hadn’t been trying to stab the victim but was only attempting to slice him, per the incident report. On August 9, 2026, at around 8:20 a.m., police officers were dispatched to an East Leon Street address in reference to a stabbing. When officers arrived on scene, they spoke to the victim,…
Coffee High School’s Jaleigha Williams is one of the best in the nation. At the end of last school year, Williams competed in the Healthcare Issues Exam at the HOSA State Leadership Conference in Atlanta at the end of last school year. She placed well and earned a berth in the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Indianapolis in June. She continued her run of excellence on an international stage, placing in the top 10 percent of HOSA students in the world. This is an amazing accomplishment and once again brings Coffee High School and the Coffee County community international acclaim.…
A man who lived in Coffee County near Nicholls was arrested in Alma after he allegedly assaulted a female then left the premises and went to Bacon County. A report from the sheriff’s office states that an officer responded to a Honey Suckle Road address to conduct a welfare check. When he arrived, he spoke to the complainant who told the officer that Jimmy Wendell Whitley, 54, of Nicholls, had assaulted her. The report says that she described what happened. She “had many marks on her body,” according to the report. Her neck was red and she had injuries on…
The Judicial Nominating Commission has submitted recommendations to fill vacancy within the Waycross Judicial Circuit. The vacancy within the Waycross Judicial Circuit was created by the resignation of the Honorable Dwayne H. Gillis. Governor Kemp will fill the vacancies from among the lists. The Governor’s Office will contact candidates to schedule interviews. The following names were submitted to Governor Brian Kemp: Marilyn P. Bennett – District Attorney, Waycross Judicial Circuit William J. (Sam) Edgar – solo practitioner, William J. Edgar, P.C.; Judge, State Court of Bacon County