Author: Submitted

The Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) men’s basketball coaches have released their preseason ranking for the 2021-2022 season, and the South Georgia State College (SGSC) Hawks landed in the top position. Last season, the Hawks (23-4, 13-3) captured the GCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship to earn an automatic bid to the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. SGSC upset No. 12 Salt Lake Community College 93-89 (OT) in the first round and lost to No. 5 South Plains College 91-80 in the Sweet 16. Returning for the 2021-2022 season will be Zae Wiggins, a…

Seven defendants face federal charges including drug trafficking and illegal possession firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences. Jeffrey Brian Voorhees of Douglas is one defendant awaiting sentencing following a guilty plea as a part of Operation Sandy Bottom earlier this year. The indicted cases are being investigated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI, in an ongoing…

Pedestrians may more safely cross State Route (SR) 31/Peterson Avenue in Douglas with installation of a new midblock crosswalk and upgrades at a second location. A Georgia Department of Transportation contractor built a new crosswalk on North Peterson Avenue at Sellers Street and upgraded an existing crosswalk in the 200 block of South Peterson Avenue. Both have warning signs, stop bars and rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs). A pedestrian activates the beacons by pushing a button on the pole. The amber flashing lights improve a driver’s visibility of pedestrians, especially in low light. Most pedestrian fatalities in Georgia happen during…

Students from Coffee High School’s Public Service and Education Academy had a visit from local filmmaker, Sidney Bryant Sr., as he shared his knowledge about writing movies. Other academies joined in on the exciting conference on September 22 and together had over 65 students present in the Performing Arts Center. Mr. Bryce Carver wanted to invite a guest speaker to talk to his Advanced Composition class, which is a class designated to teach students how to write. Class lessons have covered topics about characterization and narrative plot structure. Mr. Carver wanted to bring in someone who knew a lot…

Kevin Tatum, County Extension Coordinator We want to thank our 4-H members who took part in the Adopt-A-Highway service project on Monday, September 20. They were: Broxton: Adelynn O’Steen; CMS: Shubh Sadarangani and Braleigh Smith; Junior Club: Keegan Harper and May Belle Davis; Pre-Club Members: Alyia Hall, Jessa Hall, and Kayden Tumblin. Senior Club: Kilee Davis, Glenn O’Steen, Alexandra Rivero, Ishika Sadarangani, and Elissa Vaquerano. Adults: Alyse Hall, Steve Hall, Jean O’Steen, Chalanda Woods, and Patti Wright. The next workday is scheduled for Monday, December 9, at 4 PM at the 4-H office. Please mark your calendar to come and take part in this service project. We…

Nena Stone, the 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year for Coffee County Schools was recently recognized during a reception that was held in her honor on the campus of Westside Elementary. Several of Mrs. Stone’s colleagues from the Westside faculty, spoke about her and why she is such a successful teacher. Serving as the district Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Stone received numerous gifts from business partners throughout the community. Many thanks to A Lighter Side, Ameris Bank, Becky’s Gifts and Antiques, Burger King, Chick-fil-a, Classy 5 Boutique and Blue Door Décor, Coffee Regional Medical Center, Colony Bank,…

For the past six years, Coffee County School System has recognized new teachers with one to three years of teaching experience through their New Teacher Incentive Award. Nominated by his or her administrators, academic coaches or mentors, a teacher is selected from each level; elementary, middle and high school for their outstanding instructional skills, exceptional interaction with students, colleagues, parents and others, a proven record of helping students succeed and any other information that distinguishes the nominee as going above and beyond. Throughout the past several years, as the pool of teacher applicants has grown smaller, the system…

In 2018, college student Marc Hughes started his journey as an apprentice through Wiregrass’s Registered Apprenticeship Program. Marc’s apprenticeship as an Internet Working Technician at Ace Technologies in Hahira included a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction in Computer Information Systems and Electrical Maintenance. “I would 115% recommend the apprenticeship program to other students,” shared Marc. “It helps open doors that you didn’t even know were doors in the first place. It has set me up with the right skills/knowledge for the jobs I do every single day. Hands down the best school/career decision I’ve ever made.” …

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College held the college’s first in-person ceremony since the pandemic. The combined Spring and Summer 2021 Commencement Exercises were held on Thursday, July 15. The ceremony honored 1,047 students who were awarded their associate degree, diploma, or technical certificate of credit, and 97 students who were High School Equivalency graduates. Among those graduating, the college awarded 154 associate degrees, 197 diplomas, and 1,139 technical certificates. Some students received technical certificates in multiple areas. Wiregrass is proud to announce the Spring and Summer 2021 graduates for technical certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees from Atkinson and Coffee counties:…

On Sunday, October 10, 2021, shortly before 2:30 p.m., Damien Ferguson was taken into custody during the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Alamo, GA without incident by the State of Georgia SWAT Team and U.S. Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force. Ferguson has been arrested and charged with Murder for the shooting death of Officer Dylan Harrison and Aggravated Stalking related to a previous domestic incident. He is currently being held at the Laurens County Jail. On Friday night, Officer Dylan Harrison was on duty when he made contact with a man for a…