Students from Coffee High School showcased their engineering skills and teamwork at a recent VEX Robotics Tournament, bringing home the tournament championship, robotics skills championship, and the Judges award in a highly competitive field of teams from across the state. The team won the tournament outright after being a finalist in the last tournament. Team 1253B was 7-0 in the qualifying matches and never looked back, beating Ware County soundly in the finals 53-17. A masterclass of preparation, robotic design, strategy, communication, and teamwork. Captain Jovanny Gomez led the team with Ian Farmer, Ruby Gomez,and Aldair Ramirez supporting. Along with…
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Joe was born in Douglas, Coffee County, on October 17, 1934, son of Mae and Elisha Sports. He had an older brother, Don and a younger sister, Ann. He started work at The Douglas Enterprise while still in high school and while attending South Georgia College and was associate editor when drafted into the U.S. Army in 1957. In February of that year, Joe married Dee Plymell, a medical technician at the Douglas-Coffee County Hospital. As an Army Photographer, Joe spend 18 months in Garmisch, Germany where he was joined by his wife, Dee, for a year and they were…
On the morning of January 2, 2026, the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division, along with the Patrol Division and assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, executed a search warrant at a residence within the city of Fitzgerald. The residence is located in the 600 block of North Lee Street and is within 1,000 feet of a public park where children and families frequently gather to play and spend time together. The search warrant was the result of an ongoing drug distribution investigation conducted by the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division. As a…
Got questions about Chronic Wasting Disease? Here is your chance to talk directly with deer biologists from the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division. Biologists will be on hand at four processor locations located in or around the CWD Management Area on Jan. 10-11 to answer your questions about CWD. Here is where they will be and when. Jan. 10-11, 2026 (9 am-12 noon and 4-7 pm each day): Chance to Win: Don’t forget! Hunters, if you submit a deer harvested from the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Area, or adjacent counties, for testing between Dec. 23, 2025-Jan. 11, 2026, you could win a…
The Satilla Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC), through its Round Up program, has made another generous contribution to the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) Foundation North. The $5,000 donation will be used to provide scholarships for deserving Wiregrass students. Satilla REMC has been a long-standing and valued partner of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, with total contributions exceeding $145,000 over the years. These funds have played a vital role in expanding access to education and supporting students who need financial assistance to achieve their academic and career goals. “Satilla Rural Electric is always supportive of our students, and we very much…
Mercer University recently announced the President’s List and Dean’s List for the fall 2025 semester. Inclusion on these lists requires students to meet rigorous GPA standards specific to the college or school within the University. The following students from Douglas earned a place on the lists: Cailey Martinez, senior, School of Music, President’s List; Delmis Mazariegos, senior, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dean’s List; Joana Mazariegos, junior, School of Business, Dean’s List; and Michael Strickland, freshman, School of Business, Dean’s List. Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The…
Charles Ricky Googe, age 69, of Douglas, GA, passed away peacefully at his residence on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026. He was born on April 28th, 1956, the son of the late Mr. Dolvin and Mrs. Vera Googe. His survivors include: his beloved wife of twenty years, Dawn Marie Googe of Douglas, GA; one step-son, Robert Martin of Douglas, GA; one step-daughter, Amanda Edge of Douglas, GA; one sister Karen (Richard) Crawford of Ware Shoals, SC; and four nephews, Justin Holt, Ryan Holt, Logan Crawford, and Neil Googe. He was preceded in death by his father, Dolvin Googe; mother, Vera Googe;…
Lyle Gordon age 92 passed away January 7th, 2026, peacefully surrounded by family. He was preceded in death by his parents Clifford and Marion Gordon of Petrolia, Ontario Canada and siblings Ruth, Bruce and Grant Gordon. He was also preceded in death by his daughter Lauri Tindall, Teri Lou Gordon and grandson Shane Gordon. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Carol Cross Gordon and his children: Paul and Lali Gordon of New Caney Texas, Mark and Johnna Gordon of Hendersonville NC, Bruce and Stacy Gordon of Blairsville GA, Phil Gordon of Douglas GA, Sandra Gordon of…
Vanita Landers, age 91, originally from Douglas, GA, passed away peacefully at her home in Comer, GA on January 3, 2026. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her survivors include: one daughter, Shanda Clements of Nicholls, GA; four grandchildren, Deanna Clements of Nicholls, GA, Mike (Amber) Clements of VA, Gabriel Means of Lagrange, GA and Jeremiah Means of Lagrange, GA; seven great grandchildren, James Ashley (Anna) Wilson, Aaron (Adam) Spivey, Lydia (Anthony) Davis, Ethan Clements, Joshua Clements, Carlie Clements, and Lindi Rose Clements; along with several great-great grandchildren, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by…
Georgia Lottery Corp. President and CEO Gretchen Corbin has announced that the $983 million jackpot winner from the Nov. 14 Mega Millions drawing came forward Friday, Jan. 2 to claim the largest lottery prize in Georgia history. The winner selected the cash option, which amounts to $453.6 million before taxes. Although the winner opted to remain anonymous, as permitted by Georgia law, they shared some special details, including that they are from Georgia and have family members who have benefited from the Georgia Lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship. “We are thrilled to celebrate Georgia’s record-breaking jackpot winner and their life-changing start to…