Author: Staff Reports

A convicted felon who, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections, last spent time in Coffee Correctional Facility is wanted in connection with the Oct. 9 killing of Alamo Police Department officer Dylan Harrison. According to a press release issued by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Damien Anthony Ferguson, 43, of Alamo, allegedly shot and killed Officer Harrison outside the Alamo Police Department around 1 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Ferguson, who also goes by Luke Ferguson, is described as a black male, 43 years old, 5’10” and 215 pounds. A $17,500 reward is offered for any information…

Local songwriter and rapper Skud Newbie released his new single, “Communication,” today. The single tells the story of Skud’s experience releasing musing and dealing with the people who showed support in the past. From industry names to girls, people of all kinds were showing interest in Skud, though not always with the best of intentions. He believes communication and honesty are the best ways to build relationships, and that’s why Skud’s return starts with “Communication.” Now 22 years old, Skud began his career in an alternative rock band. Though he has made the move to hip hop full…

It’s difficult to overstate the importance of the Pope family of Atkinson County to Atkinson, Coffee, and surrounding counties. Theirs is a family that has made significant contributions within the economic, social, and spiritual communities of this area. Monday, September 27, 2021, the patriarch of the Pope family, Clifford, passed away at his home surrounded by his family at 81 years of age. During the night on May 29, 1940, DW Pope and Annie Lee Harrell Pope welcomed their first-born child into the world and named him Clifford William Pope. DW sent word to his father the next morning…

Officers from the Douglas Police Department are investigating a shooting that took place Sunday night. On September 5, 2021 Douglas Police Department officers responded to a shooting at an E. Jackson St. location. Upon arrival, the victim advised officers he had been shot by is step-brother, Kenvtavious Williams, 25. Several victims corroborated the victim’s story at the scene. The victim was transported to CRMC for his injury and is now recovering. Investigators with the Criminal Investigations Unit have secured arrest warrants for Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm During Certain Crimes for Mr. Williams. If you know…

Joyce Reeves Milsap, 80, wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Ronnie Milsap, passed away on Monday, Sept, 2, 2021. Joyce was born in Gainesville, Georgia. While a student in college, her parents, Lewis and Pauline Reeves, moved to Douglas. Lewis worked in the poultry business locally while Pauline owned and operated The Grasshopper Shoppe in Douglas. A vivacious blond, Joyce was a head-turner; she stood out from the time she was a young girl with a personality as big as her heart. But it was at a dinner given by her cousin that Joyce Reeves met…

Both the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Douglas Police Department have released statements regarding the arrest of Pernell Harris, which took place on Aug. 25, 2021. Video of the arrest has been posted on social media and show an altercation between Harris and law enforcement officers. The GBI is investigating use of force in the incident. Here are the statements from both the sheriff’s office and the police department: The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office is aware of an incident involving the CCSO and an individual identified as Pernell Harris, which occurred on Aug. 25, 2021, at approximately 6…

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an incident that took place last week between Pernell Harris and several Coffee County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Harris was hospitalized as a result of this incident. Neither the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office nor the GBI have released a statement regarding the incident although at least two disturbing videos have been circulating on social media for several days. Monday morning, DouglasNow.com submitted an open records request to the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office seeking an incident report and body camera footage from the deputies involved. The county has three days to respond to the…

James Russell Spell of Broxton has been arrested by Monroe County deputies for allegedly stealing three Polaris Rangers and trailers from Interceptor Public Safety in Forsyth. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources owned the Rangers and trailers and Interceptor was outfitting the vehicles for the DNR, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Video footage from Interceptor showed a white four-door pickup get the Rangers and trailers on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22. A police officer from Byron later said had seen the truck pulling one of the trailers with the Ranger in Warner Robins. Monroe County officers obtained…

Dr. Roy Chapman Mathews, 44, a Douglas native, graduate of Coffee High School, and principal of Bainbridge High School, passed away Wednesday, August 11, 2021, following a brief illness. Dr. Matthews was born March 10, 1977 in Douglas, GA, the son of Roy Chapman Mathews, Sr. and Betty Coffee Mathews. He was a graduate of Coffee County High School, Valdosta State University, Albany State University, and Nova Southeastern University. Roy moved to Bainbridge to teach social studies and coach a little ball and a few wrestlers in the early 2000s. Little did he know how his story would unfold. He…

Former Florida State University head football coach Bobby Bowden, who began his head coaching career at then-South Georgia College in 1955, has died from pancreatic cancer. He was 91. South Georgia State College released a statement this morning regarding Coach Bowden’s passing: “Our deepest condolences to the family, friends and players of Coach Bobby Bowden. Coach Bowden started his head coaching career at SGC in Douglas, Ga., from 1955 – 1958 and has returned to campus annually to spend time with his former team. He will be missed!” Coach Bowden had successfully battled cancer three times in the…