The Douglas-Coffee County Veterans Park Committee, American Legion Post 515, VFW 5976, and the City of Douglas invite the community to attend a special ceremony dedicating a memorial to Douglas resident John Strickland Gibson, known as the “Man Who Saved the G.I. Bill.” The ceremony will take place at the Douglas Municipal Airport Terminal on June 10, 2026, at 9 a.m. The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, widely known as the G.I. Bill, was designed to help World War II veterans including minorities and women return to civilian life by providing support for education, housing, and unemployment benefits. It also…
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Dr. Gordon Boone, age 79, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Lakeside Senior Living in Douglas, Ga. following an extended illness. Survivors include two sons, Mitchell Boone and wife Lindsay of Douglas, Georgia and Brad Boone of Jacksonville, Georgia; daughter, Arlena Dobbins and husband Kent of Jacksonville, Florida; four grandchildren: Braydon Boone, Landon Smith, Lindsey Dobbins, and Lauren Gaul and husband Chris. Dr. Boone was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Ruth Weathers Boone, wife, Luzy Deen Boone, 4 brothers, JD, Charlie, Bobby and Sydney Boone, and 2 sisters, Madge Haskins and Lelia Boone.…
Mrs. Ingeburg Schlaffer Holton, age 85, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away Tuesday morning, June 2, 2026, peacefully at her home following an extended illness. Mrs. Holton was born September 26, 1940, in Mainz, Germany, to the late Herman Unversagt and the late Magdalena Schlaffer. She was a homemaker and a proud United States military wife and mother as well as a doting grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed home decorating and was an excellent cook who will long be remembered for preparing her wonderful German food. She was of the Catholic faith. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death…
Ms. Cowanna Diane Music, age 58, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away Monday evening, June 1, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, following a recent illness. Cowanna was born September 26, 1967, in McRae, Georgia, to Mary Diane Cothern Gillis of Jacksonville, Georgia and the late Frank White, Jr. She was a loving daughter, sister, mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family, but especially her grandchildren. She also found great joy and satisfaction eating Moon Pies and drinking a cold Pepsi Cola. She was of the Baptist faith. Along with her father, Cowanna was also…
Mrs. Kathy Batten Stone, age 64, a lifelong resident of Douglas, Georgia, passed away Monday afternoon, June 1, 2026, at Coffee Regional Medical Center, following a sudden illness. Kathy was born December 22, 1961, in Douglas, Georgia, to the late Herbert Batten and the late Doris Ricketson Batten. She was a graduate of Coffee County High School, and she continued her education obtaining an associate’s degree in business. She married the love of her life, Stanley Nelson Stone, and together they raised two beautiful daughters, Reagan and Whitney. Kathy loved the Lord and was an active member of Douglas First…
A Hazlehurst accountant has tallied a half-million-dollar Georgia Lottery win. Azucena Hernandez, 56, played the $500,000 Ca$h Blowout scratch-off game and won one of the game’s $500,000 top prizes. The lucky ticket was purchased at Mr. T’s, located at 1400 Bowens Mill Road SE in Douglas. The mother of two stopped by the store and decided to purchase a ticket. “I won $100 and bought two more tickets,” Hernandez said. One of those tickets yielded her $500,000 prize. “I was in shock,” she said. “I’m very excited.” Hernandez claimed her winnings on May 8 and plans to invest the prize.
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of Derrick Shawn Porter, 30, of Douglas, who has been charged with 16 counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of child molestation following an extensive investigation into allegations involving child sexual abuse material. On May 22, 2026, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office received credible information indicating the possible presence of child sexual abuse material on an electronic device. The case was immediately assigned to investigators with the Criminal Investigation Division, who launched an aggressive and comprehensive investigation into the allegations. Through digital forensic analysis, investigative follow-up, and the execution…
Earlier than originally announced in April, CSX contractors performing railroad maintenance have closed several railroad crossings in Douglas and Coffee County. The following railroad crossings are closed this week beginning today, June 3, 2026, or will be closed in the next few days in Douglas and Coffee County: S. Pearl Avenue S. Gaskin Avenue S. McDonald Avenue Vickers Crossing Golden Pond Road A private crossing The estimated closure time is two to five days, based on the best information currently available from CSX contractors. Please note that these dates are highly subject to change with or without notice due to…
By Van Yandell Proverbs 16:3 “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” During my teaching years, three months in the summer were mine to seek other employment. Mostly my summers were spent laying concrete blocks or working framing construction. I did play nine holes of golf in 1983 and went fishing for about ten minutes in ’79. Those were the most boring experiences of my life. Several of those summers were spent in Brevard County, Florida, working with a contractor I had known for many years. We framed houses in Titusville, Port St. John and Merritt…
In an exciting development for the City of Alma and the local community, executive producers from ONE Compelling Picture (OCP), in collaboration with the Faith & Film Coalition Collaborative (FFCC), recently met with city officials to finalize plans for filming the upcoming feature film “Taksil.” As part of the collaborative agreement, Alma’s downtown district will serve as a key filming location for this suspense-filled production. “Taksil” is an action thriller that follows elite arson investigator Draco, who is murdered while probing a series of warehouse fires linked to a corrupt redevelopment scheme. His pregnant widow, Assistant District Attorney Victoria, uncovers…