Author: Submitted

Michael Dennis Zanders, age 61, of Ambrose, GA, passed away on Sunday, August 10th, 2025. He was born on June 3rd, 1964 the son of the late James Zanders and Imogene Nipper Zanders. His survivors include two daughters, Lacy (Jason) Cauley of Ambrose, GA and Ursyla (Jay) Brooker of Douglas, GA; five grandchildren, Kagan Jump, Olivia Jump, Bailey Jump, Erica Cauley, and Saylor Cauley; one great-grandson, Kaysun Baker; one brother, Junior (Sue) Zanders of Ambrose, GA; six sisters, Jeanie Faulkner of Douglas, GA, Diane Thomas of Hazlehurst, GA, Lisa (Van) Hughes of Live Oak, FL, Cathy McKinnon of Douglas, GA,…

At the City Commission meeting on Monday, August 11, 2025, Mayor Tony Paulk had the honor of swearing in the members of the 2025-2026 Douglas Mayor’s Youth Council. This year, the Mayor welcomed one of the largest councils, comprised of 17 enthusiastic students from Douglas and Coffee County. During the ceremony, Mayor Paulk encouraged parents and citizens to support the youth, highlighting the crucial role that adults play in shaping young individuals into outstanding citizens who truly represent the community. Established in 2017, the mission of the Douglas Mayor’s Youth Council is to broaden the scope of youth leadership in Douglas, through…

Last month, Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced criminal charges against four defendants in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicare and other government programs. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. “The charges announced yesterday reinforce the combined missions of the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and our law enforcement partners, to aggressively, and relentlessly, pursue those perpetrators who attempt to victimize our nation’s citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. “Our office, along with our…

Peggy Ann Meeks, age 66, of Douglas, GA, passed away on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at Memorial Health in Savannah, GA following an extended illness. Ms. Meeks was born on May 1, 1959, in Coffee County, GA, to the late Kenneth and Lillie Joyce Walls. Survivors include one daughter, Tammy (Michael) Stewart of Douglas, GA; one son, Johnnie (Kristy) Meeks of Douglas, GA; two grandchildren, Nicholas Meeks and Caden Lee Boykin; one step grandson, Michael Wright; two sisters, Kathy (Carl) Singletary of Pearson, GA and Lorrine Walls of Orlando, FL; two brothers, Edward Walls of Douglas, GA and Stevie Walls…

Ada Jo Wilhelm (Petty), 87, of Jacksonville FL passed Monday August 4, 2025 ather home.Ada Jo was a graduate of Coffee County High School in 1956.  She waspredeceased by her mother, Robbie Chaney Pridgen and the father who raisedher, Stanley Pridgen, her brother Eugene Petty and younger sister, MollieBurkett.  She is survived by her daughter Robbie Smith, son-in-law and sonDean, sister Louise Griffin, and many nieces and nephews.

46-year-old Benjamin Lee Hodge was cited for DUI while riding a bicycle on July 29, 2025, at approximately 2:15 a.m. According to an incident report from the Douglas Police Department, Hodge was riding a bike when he was stopped at the intersection of East College Park Drive and MLK Drive. The report says that the officer stopped Hodge because he didn’t have a front light on his bike. When speaking with Hodge, the report says that he appeared to be intoxicated. The officer administered a field sobriety test – to which Hodge consented, according to the report. He did not…

Coffee Regional Medical Center (CRMC) has donated a fully operational ambulance to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program, further strengthening a long-standing partnership between the two institutions. The donation of the 2019 Ford F-350 Type I ambulance follows CRMC EMS’s recent replacement of several units in its fleet. After discussions with Wiregrass EMS leadership confirmed a need for a training vehicle, CRMC leadership and the hospital board unanimously supported donating the vehicle as an in-kind contribution to support hands-on education and local workforce development. “This ambulance was used by our EMS team to serve the people of…

Kaylee Kent, age 19, of Douglas, GA, passed away on Friday, August 8, 2025 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah, GA following an extended illness. Ms. Kent was born on July 29, 2006, in Douglas, GA, to Vera Kent and Wendell Kent. Survivors include: mother, Vera Kent of Douglas, GA; father, Wendell Kent of Douglas, GA; six uncles, Howard (Connie) Kent, Dennis (Sandra) Kent, Terry Kent, Bobby Kent, Arnold (Sherry) Kent, and Wayne (Carolyn) Kent; one aunt, Mavis Renfro; and several cousins. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Sims…

Jeff Davis County High School’s Brooklyn Parlor has made a name for herself on the national and global stage this summer. In the FFA Proficiency in Equine Entrepreneurship, Brooklyn earned a spot in the top four in the nation. She also placed seventh in the world at the 2025 NBHA Youth world Show, where she competed against 2,200 horses from all over the world. Brooklyn has another round of interviews with the National Board. She will also walk the stage at the National FFA Convention in October in Indianapolis, for the final result. Brooklyn is representing her community and her…

Alma Diaz of Axson recently graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geosciences. Her education, however, is far from over. According to a post on VSU’s Facebook page, Alma has been awarded a fully funded Ph.D. scholarship to the University of Oregon, which covers over $200,000 in expenses over the next four years. She was named her college’s Outstanding Student of the Year and is an exceptional example of academic excellence and research achievement. She served as an NSF-sponsored LSAMP Scholar, earned a VSU Summer Research Grant, and completed a prestigious research internship at the…