Author: Submitted

The City of Douglas Fire Department has received a new tool for fire education. On Wednesday, July 15, 2021, the new Inflatable Fire Education House arrived at Douglas Fire Station #1 (Gordon Street). The 3-room inflatable fire house has a kitchen, living room, and bedroom that will be used to teach children proper fire safety tasks. “We will use the Inflatable Fire House as a new, interactive way to teach kids fire safety,” says Fire Chief Casey Wright. “Children will walk with a firefighter through the house as the firefighter points out fire hazards and talks about safety. At…

A former prison guard has admitted participating in a drug trafficking operation in south Georgia that included smuggling contraband to inmates. Jessica Azaelae Burnett, a/k/a “The Madam,” 41, of Douglas, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Burnett’s guilty plea exposes her to a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison and substantial financial penalties, followed by a minimum of three years of supervised release after completion of…

The Georgia Department of Transportation has notified the City of Douglas that federal and GDOT grant funding will be provided for airport lighting replacement project. The actual funding amount will be based on preapproved design, planning and engineering costs and/or competitive bids received to accomplish the project. The City of Douglas is accepting bids for the replacement of the airfield lighting at the Douglas Municipal Airport through July 30, 2021 at 2pm. The deadline for questions concerning the bid is July 19, 2021 at 5:00 P.M.

On Friday, July 30, 2021, from 11am – 2pm, Douglas Coffee County Parks and Recreation’s volunteer coaches, participants, parents, and sponsors are invited to Parks and Recreation Appreciation Day at the CE Weir Center, located at 309 E. Bryan Street. Parks and Recreation Month is July, and our recreation department wants to say THANK YOU to all involved with parks, recreation, and special programs throughout the year. “We want to encourage everyone who participates or volunteers with our agency to come out and celebrate with us,” says Parks and Recreation Director, Stevie Young. “This appreciation day is a way…

Mr. James Edward Taylor, age 73 of Broxton, GA, passed away Thursday morning, July 15, 2021 at Miller County Hospital in Colquitt, GA. Mr. Taylor was born March 2, 1948 to the late William Junior Taylor and the late Vernell Batten Taylor. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Ricky Taylor. Mr. Taylor, a native of Coffee County, was a truck driver for Drug Transport, Inc. for many years. He attended the First Assembly of God. Survivors include: His wife: Joyce Shrouder Taylor of Broxton, GA Brothers: Rev. Jerrol Taylor of Helena, GA Gary Taylor…

Talmadge Banks, age 93, of Douglas, Georgia passed away on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 in Douglas, Georgia. Mr. Banks was born on August 13, 1927 in Coffee County, Georgia the son of the late Oscar Preston & Mittie Ann Wheeler Banks. Mr. Banks was a retired supervisor with Fleetwood Homes and was a member of College Avenue Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Chad Merritt, son-in-law, Dennis Wright and 9 brothers & sisters. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Banks of Douglas, GA; 3 daughters, Linda Wright of Douglas, GA,…

Barbara Sue Dedmond, age 87, of Douglas, Georgia passed away on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Dedmond was born on February 11, 1934 in Athens, Tennessee the daughter of the late Charles Willard and Martha Gladys Powell Knox. A member of First Presbyterian Church in Douglas, she spent most of her life as a homemaker raising her four children. In 1981, she started working with Belk in Douglas where she met and befriended many people. She retired from there after 25 years of service. She was well known in Coffee County and Douglas and…

Kenneth George Brown, age 68, of Broxton, Georgia passed away on Monday, July 19, 2021, at his residence. Brown was born on March 12, 1953, in Pearson, GA to the late G. W. Brown and Vera Youngblood Brown. Survivors include: Wife, Sharon Myers Brown of Broxton, GA, Son, Kenneth Buck (Misty) Brown of Nicholls, GA, (one late grandchild, Harper Lynn Brown), grand-puppies Georgia and Millie Brown, Brother, Buddy Brown of Pearson, GA, Sister, Janice Mobley of Pearson, GA, Sister, Charleen White of Pearson, GA, Sister, Rita Burch of Pearson, GA. He was preceded in death by: Father, G. W. Brown; Mother, Vera…

Mrs. Betty Jo King Wright, aged 77, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away Sunday July 18, 2021 peacefully at her residence. Mrs. Wright was born on January 11, 1944 in Ware County, Ga. to the late George Dewey King and the late Flossie Mae Bennett King. Mrs. Wright is survived by: Son “Rusty’ Randall Wright of Douglas, Ga.; Daughter: Rita W. (Tony) Bridges of Broxton, GA,; Three brothers, Lester (Linda) King; J. W.(Shirley) King; Sam (Joyce) King; Sister, Annette (Eddie) Gourley, seven grandchildren, Leila (Andrew) Taft, Nikki (Kevin) Davis, Johnathan Wright, Randy (Shannon) Wilson, Joseph (Miaya) Wilson, Benjamin (Cari)…

Dewey Chaney, Jr, age 77, of Waverly, Georgia passed away on Friday, July 16, 2021 at Golden Isle Hospice, Brunswick, Georgia. Mr. Chaney was born on November 25, 1944 in Coffee County, Georgia the son of the late Dewey R. Chaney, Sr and Lucinda Goff Chaney. Mr. Chaney was a self-employed plumber and a member of Darien Church of God, Darien, Georgia. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Johnnie Faye Chaney, son, Patrick Chaney and, 2 sisters, Nell C. Wooten and Mae C. Harper. Survivors include his wife, Patricia B.…