Author: Submitted

Miss Sandy Aundria Newman, age 62 of Douglas, GA passed away early Sunday afternoon, August 10, 2025, at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, FL, following an extended illness. Sandy was born July 3, 1963 in Columbus, GA to Sandra F. Newman and the late Kenneth D. Newman. Sandy was a bank teller for BB&T in Columbus, GA. She loved sewing and was of the Baptist Faith. Sandy is survived by her loving mother: Sandra F. Newman of Douglas, Georgia; a sister: Tammie Burlington of Rocky Mount, Virginia; a brother: Ken Newman, Jr. of Douglas, Georgia; a Special Friend and…

Mrs. Sarah Samantha Phillips Wiggins, age 89 of Douglas, GA passed away early Thursday morning, August 14, 2025 at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Mrs. Wiggins was born October 1, 1935 to the late Preston Phillips and the late Irma Grantham Phillips. Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by 4 siblings: Preston “June Bug” Phillips, Jr., Johnny Phillips, Betty Jane Wright and Mary Evelyn Phillips. Mrs. Wiggins, a native of Coffee County. After becoming a grandparent “Janmother” as she was so lovingly called, she became very involved with all her grandchildren’s school activities. She…

Ms. Hazel Nell Frazier Dent, age 72 of Broxton, Georgia passed away Friday morning, August 15, 2025, at her residence following an extended illness. Ms. Dent was born May 7, 1953 to the late Clifford Frazier and the late Gertrude Fender Frazier Wren in Berrien County. Ms. Dent was a CNA at the Landings. She enjoyed making crafts and sewing for her hobbies. She also attended Heritage Baptist Church in Broxton, Georgia. She is survived by 3 Daughters; Kathy Brantley and husband Travis of Fitzgerald, Georgia, Vicky Roberson and husband John of Broxton, Georgia and Heather Suggs of Sierra Vista,…

The Coffee Trojans cross country team competed in the Peach State Preview meet at Jeff Davis County on Saturday. The Trojans were led by Liam LeBroq who finished 5th with a time of 16:58 (PR). Dillon Yarberry finished 15th with a time of 18:31 (PR). Jakeryum Tims finished 23rd with a time of 19:06. Aaron Ramirez (59th, 20:41, PR), Max Galarza (65th, 20:56, PR), Waylon Fussell (67th, 21:03, PR) and Johnathan Perez (82nd, 21:26, PR) rounded out the top 7 for the Trojans. The Trojans scored 157 points and finished 6th out of 18 teams. Kellah Smith and Ensley Crawford…

A federal jury in Albany, Georgia, convicted a Georgia man today for his participation in a scheme to defraud the Georgia Department of Labor (GaDOL) out of millions of dollars in benefits meant to assist unemployed individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The defendant and his co-conspirators orchestrated a scheme where they used stolen identities to submit fraudulent unemployment claims in order to steal millions of dollars of funds intended for the benefit of unemployed Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Such schemes are all too common, but the Criminal Division is resolved…

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) confirmed two positive cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) along the Lanier/Berrien County line.   The DNR will hold a meeting on August 21, 2025, at Lanier County High School in Lakeland to discuss CWD and its possible effects on the deer herd in affected areas. Experts will be at the meeting and will answer questions from citizens. With the initial discovery, WRD established the CWD Management Area (CMA), which includes the county where the positive samples were found and any county touching a 5-mile radius around the location. The current CMA includes Lanier…

The GBI has arrested and charged Wayne Leo Chance, age 51, of Perkins, GA, with one count of Disorderly Conduct, four counts of Terroristic Threats, and one count of Impersonating a Police Officer. On August 8, 2025, the Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to investigate allegations of a person who had impersonated a police officer and made terroristic threats. Investigators identified Chance as the person involved in the incident. Chance allegedly confronted four people riding ATVs on a county-maintained road. At the time of the incident, Chance was driving a non-law enforcement vehicle equipped with activated construction-style warning…

By Stan Popovich Do you struggle with your anxieties and have a difficult time in getting your friends and family to be more understanding? In some cases, your loved ones can give you a hard time regarding your mental health struggles. As a result, here are six suggestions on how to discuss your anxiety issues and improve mental health awareness with your friends and relatives. 1. Talk to a counselor: The most important thing that you need to do is to talk to a counselor about dealing with your mental health problems and the people you know. Seeking professional help will go a…

A Ware County Sheriff’s Office-led investigation into a suspected drug distribution operation has concluded with the assistance of the Waycross Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies. The investigation revealed a large-scale marijuana trafficking operation that was being conducted within Ware County and Waycross. Det. Sgt. James Cox (Sheriff’s Office lead detective on the case), Det. Savannah Leslie, Det. Blake Lewis, Det. Dakota York, Det. Antony Phillips, Det. Kyle Strickland, Ware County Patrol Deputies—with assistance from the Waycross Police Department (the Waycross P.D.’s team led by Det. Lt. Joshua Prall), Georgia Department of Corrections K-9 Officers (led by Officer…

Coffee Regional Medical Center congratulates local nephrologist Thet Zaw, MD, of Nephrology Group Consultants, for his contribution to advancing medical knowledge in the field of kidney health. Dr. Zaw is the author of the abstract “Severe Hyponatremia Secondary to Hypothyroidism: A Reversible Cause,” which will be published this fall on both the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) websites. The abstract will be available to readers by October 17, 2025. This recognition highlights Dr. Zaw’s commitment to providing exceptional, evidence-based care for patients in Douglas and the surrounding region. To learn more…