Coffee Regional Medical Center honors the life and legacy of Dr. Gordon Boone, a dedicated physician, respected colleague, and compassionate caregiver who devoted decades of service to the people of Coffee County and surrounding communities. Dr. Boone’s career reflected a lifelong commitment to caring for others. After earning his pharmacy degree from the University of Georgia, he returned home and operated Boone’s Pharmacy in Pearson for many years. His passion for helping others ultimately led him to pursue a career in medicine, returning to medical school before coming back to Douglas to serve patients as a physician for more than…
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Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) is making it easier than ever for students to take the next step toward a new career by offering Free Application Month throughout June. During this time, the college’s standard application fee will be waived for all new applicants. Prospective students can apply online at www.wiregrass.edu or visit any of Wiregrass’s four campuses—Valdosta, Douglas, Fitzgerald, or Sparks—for in-person assistance. Advisors in Wiregrass’s One-Stop Enrollment and Success Centers are available to guide students through the entire enrollment process—from completing the application and choosing a major to finalizing financial aid and registering for classes—providing a true one-stop…
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College student Alexis Ramirez of Hahira earned a bronze medal in Dental Assisting at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) and National Championships, placing among the nation’s top competitors in her field. Ramirez qualified for the national competition after winning a gold medal in Dental Assisting at the Georgia SkillsUSA Championships earlier this year. Representing both Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and the State of Georgia, she competed against the nation’s best and returned home with a place on the national podium. In addition to Ramirez’s bronze-medal finish, three other Wiregrass students proudly represented Georgia…
The American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) announces Dr. James Barber has been inducted as a Fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association at its 139th Annual Leadership Meeting on May 15, 2026, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Inductees are nominated by their peers within the AOA for their exceptional leadership and accomplishments in the orthopaedic specialty. Membership in The American Orthopaedic Association is an earned membership that comes at the end of a stringent peer-reviewed process. Fewer than 10% of practicing orthopaedic surgeons have achieved AOA Membership. Founded in 1887, and the first orthopaedic association in the world, The American Orthopaedic Association is…
The Coffee County Family Connection and Youth Coalition recognized City Ward 1 and City Ward 5 convenience stores and retailers for following age-restricted product sales regulations. Commissioner Taylor and Commissioner McNeill accepted the awards on behalf of the businesses in Ward 1 and Ward 5 for Outstanding Achievement in Ward Compliance for Age-Restricted Product Sales. The Coffee County Family Connection and Youth Coalition recognition ceremony honored local retailers who successfully met compliance standards and who play a vital role in preventing underage access to alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful substances. By adhering to regulations and maintaining responsible business practices, these stores…
Mercer University recently announced the President’s List and Dean’s List for the spring 2026 semester. Inclusion on these lists requires students to meet rigorous GPA standards specific to the college or school within the University. Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The University enrolls approximately 9,000 students in 12 schools and colleges – liberal arts and sciences, law, pharmacy, medicine, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing, health professions and professional advancement – on major campuses in Macon and Atlanta; medical school sites in Macon, Savannah and Columbus; and at…
Mrs. Linda Annette Carver Hutcheson, age 69, of Ambrose, Georgia, passed away Sunday morning, June 7, 2026, at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, following a recent illness. Linda was born May 12, 1957, in Ocilla, Georgia, to the late Willis Carver and the late Josephine Lott Carver. She married her soul mate, Vernon Carlyle Hutcheson, and they spent 42 years making a loving home together and raising their two sons. She found her greatest joy in being a loving wife and mother, but she also enjoyed painting and reading. She was of the Baptist faith. Along with…
By Van Yandell James 4:1-2 “From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” A policeman friend once told me the cases he dreaded most were domestic disturbances. Many times the family members involved would turn on him and he ended up being the one in danger. At times one would be armed with a deadly weapon. If the problem existed between…
Stay informed and get involved — the City of Douglas encourages citizens to attend public meetings or consider joining a volunteer board. Currently, there are two boards that need volunteers, the Library Board and the Farmer’s Market. The City of Douglas is looking for two volunteers for the Library Board. The volunteer should live in the city limits of Douglas. The 2026 Coffee County Board of Trustees meet at 5:00 pm on the second Tuesday of January, April, July, and October at the Douglas-Coffee County Library. Below is the June 2026 schedule for boards and committees. All meetings are open…
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College proudly highlights a special mother-daughter success story, celebrating Campus Director Paulette Brown and her daughter, Chrissa Davis, who graduated from the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program in Spring 2026. Their shared journey reflects the life-changing impact of technical education and the strong sense of community that defines Wiregrass. Brown, who has served Wiregrass for 17 years, began her own journey at the college as a work-study student and Perkins part-time employee before moving into a full-time role in 2015. Over the years, she has supported countless students in reaching their goals —making the moment…