Author: Staff Reports

Brannen Pruette is the new police chief of the Douglas Police Department. On Monday, May 8, 2023, the City Manager and City Commission named Pruette chief of the Douglas Police Department. The city made the announcement on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Since September 2010, Chief Pruette has served as deputy chief of the Douglas Police Department. “I am happy to announce Mr. Brannen Pruette as our new police chief,” stated City Manager Charles Davis. “Chief Pruette has served in every role of an officer from patrol to deputy chief. During his deputy chief…

“Whatever the community asks of us, we will do our best to make it happen,” says Jerome Loving, Commander of the American Legion post 515 of Coffee County. Douglas is home to two American Legion posts, one of which is post 515. On Saturday April 22, 2023, Jerome Loving along with other members of the post held a 75th anniversary event to recognize all of the hard work and dedication American Legion Post 515 has poured into our community throughout the years. According to Jerome, the American Legion was established on September 16, 1919. It was founded on…

“Whatever the community asks of us, we will do our best to make it happen,” says Jerome Loving, Commander of the American Legion post 515 of Coffee County. Douglas is home to two American Legion posts, one of which is post 515. On Saturday April 22, 2023, Jerome Loving along with other members of the post held a 75th anniversary event to recognize all of the hard work and dedication American Legion Post 515 has poured into our community throughout the years. According to Jerome, the American Legion was established on September 16, 1919. It was founded on…

Atkinson County Sheriff David Moore has announced on social media that he is investigating allegations that an Atkinson County deputy let a possible drunk driver go during a traffic stop after she allegedly exposed her breasts to him. Monday, a short video began circulating on various social media platforms in which an unnamed woman (though a name of the account does appear at the top left of the screen), who appears to be intoxicated, speaking. The video opens showing a waist down photo of what appears to be a deputy standing by a vehicle. Then someone starts the…

Atkinson County Sheriff David Moore has announced on social media that he is investigating allegations that an Atkinson County deputy let a possible drunk driver go during a traffic stop after she allegedly exposed her breasts to him. Monday, a short video began circulating on various social media platforms in which an unnamed woman (though a name of the account does appear at the top left of the screen), who appears to be intoxicated, speaking. The video opens showing a waist down photo of what appears to be a deputy standing by a vehicle. Then someone starts the…

Senior Kate Merritt (1600 meters and 3200 meters) and two relay teams — the boys 4×100 and 4×200, both comprised of Travis Adams, JaQuan Harrison, Anthony Paulk and Tyrese Woodgett — qualified for the state track meet at Sectionals last week at Union Grove High School. The state meet will take place in Columbus at Kinnett Stadium later this week. The two boys relay teams posted times of 42.58 (4×100) for fourth place overall and 1:30.03 (4×200) for third overall. Merritt ran a 5:23.43 in the 1600 meters (fourth) and 11:42.65 (third) in the 3200 meters. Merritt (…

Senior Kate Merritt (1600 meters and 3200 meters) and two relay teams — the boys 4×100 and 4×200, both comprised of Travis Adams, JaQuan Harrison, Anthony Paulk and Tyrese Woodgett — qualified for the state track meet at Sectionals last week at Union Grove High School. The state meet will take place in Columbus at Kinnett Stadium later this week. The two boys relay teams posted times of 42.58 (4×100) for fourth place overall and 1:30.03 (4×200) for third overall. Merritt ran a 5:23.43 in the 1600 meters (fourth) and 11:42.65 (third) in the 3200 meters. Merritt (…

Senior Kate Merritt (1600 meters and 3200 meters) and two relay teams — the boys 4×100 and 4×200, both comprised of Travis Adams, JaQuan Harrison, Anthony Paulk and Tyrese Woodgett — qualified for the state track meet at Sectionals last week at Union Grove High School. The state meet will take place in Columbus at Kinnett Stadium later this week. The two boys relay teams posted times of 42.58 (4×100) for fourth place overall and 1:30.03 (4×200) for third overall. Merritt ran a 5:23.43 in the 1600 meters (fourth) and 11:42.65 (third) in the 3200 meters. Merritt (…

Same store. Similar charge. Very different sentence. Thursday afternoon, a Coffee County jury convicted Ernest Knighton, 49, of armed robbery and two counts of false imprisonment for robbing the Circle K convenience store at 101 East Baker Highway on August 17, 2022. He was sentenced to 20 years for the armed robbery conviction and 10 more for each of the false imprisonment charges for a total of 40 years. Knighton and one other individual robbed the store around 3 a.m. on August 17 then fled on foot. The following morning, Knighton was arrested and charged in…

Same store. Similar charge. Very different sentence. Thursday afternoon, a Coffee County jury convicted Ernest Knighton, 49, of armed robbery and two counts of false imprisonment for robbing the Circle K convenience store at 101 East Baker Highway on August 17, 2022. He was sentenced to 20 years for the armed robbery conviction and 10 more for each of the false imprisonment charges for a total of 40 years. Knighton and one other individual robbed the store around 3 a.m. on August 17 then fled on foot. The following morning, Knighton was arrested and charged in…