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By Charlie Davis Douglas City Manager I hope this article finds you well and safe during this trying time of COVID. I wanted to take a moment to explain the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that was recently signed into law. Hopefully after you read this, you will have a better insight into ARPA. What is ARPA? On March 11, President Biden signed into law the legislative pandemic relief bill called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. ARPA is a $1.9 trillion economic relief stimulus package. This legislative bill allows for aid to American states, counties, cities,…

Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members who grow Bermudagrass hay are encouraged to enter the 2021 GFB Quality Hay Contest. Hay entered in the contest will be tested at a University of Georgia lab using the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Test, which provides an analysis of the nutritional value of the hay. Winners will be determined by the RFQ analysis. The deadline to enter is Oct. 31. Winners will be announced in December. Prizes will be presented to the top five producers. The first-place winner will receive the free use of a Vermeer 604R baler for one year, courtesy of…

Tabora Temple, Wiregrass Tech’s Military and Veteran Services Director, was among those featured across the nation as one of the 2021 Veteran Champions of the Year in Higher Education in the August issue of G.I. Jobs Magazine. Temple served in the Air Force from 1989-2013 and was recognized for her passion for helping student veterans excel at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. Angela Hobby, who is the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Temple’s boss, nominated her and had this to say, “I am thrilled that Ms. Temple was selected for this honor. From the day she joined Wiregrass, she has…

One person was arrested and jailed on theft charges following a recent report of a stolen minibike and other items. A male subject reported the theft of several tools and a minibike on Aug. 6. Several days later, Coffee County Sheriff’s Office detectives conducted a traffic stop on an individual operating a minibike in the Oak Park community. The operator was identified as Ryan Rish, and the minibike was positively identified as the one previously reported stolen. Rish was arrested and taken to the Coffee County Jail and has been charged with felony theft by receiving stolen property…

One man faces multiple firearms and drug-related charges following the execution of a search warrant at a local residence last week. The Coffee County Drug Unit executed the warrant on July 29 at a home on Roper Street in Douglas. As a result of the search, officers uncovered a quantity of suspected crack cocaine, digital scales, and two firearms; one of which had been reported stolen. As a result, Kareem Blank was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm…

The Coffee County Drug Unit announces the following recent arrests: Aug. 4 – A Coffee County K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop on a motorcycle at Hwy. 221 and Daisy Ave. for failure to use a turn signal and a brake light violation. The operator of the motorcycle, identified as Benny Maurice Bolen, was found to be in possession of a firearm and methamphetamine. Bolen was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession of drug related objects.…

Henry Donald Metts, 68, passed away Sunday, August 15, 2021 at his residence surrounded by his family and under the care of GHC Hospice. He was born July 20, 1953 in Jacksonville, Florida to John Henry and Virginia Vickers Metts and lived in this area for over 40 years. Donald was retired from civil service at Ft. Stewart and was a real estate investor. He loved to fish, garden and was a loving father and grandfather. Donald is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by: Children, Stella Darlene Jones of Jacksonville, FL Henry Derek…

Kevin D. Tatum, County Extension Coordinator, Coffee County Each year, Georgia 4-H offers a training for target sports coaches. The training is set to be two days, Friday and Saturday, with some online training to be done ahead of time. Trainings are offered for rifle, pistol, archery, and shotgun disciplines. This is a required training for any adult who would like to serve as a coach with any of the 4-H target sports programs. In order for an adult to attend the training, they must be a Certified 4-H Volunteer Leader. To become a Certified Volunteer, a person…

It is essential that the community listen and consider the healthcare advice of our local physicians. Coffee Regional Medical Center (CRMC) has increased outreach efforts to educate the community on the importance of the COVID-19 vaccination. With a community vaccination rate of 26% in early August, President, and CEO, Vicki Lewis, made a plea to local business and industry leaders to assist with community education. “We are seeing a third surge in COVID positive cases,” Mrs. Lewis said. “We need you, as business leaders, to help us create a vaccination surge.” Lewis offered to personally come to area industry and…

Sean McConnell graduated from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College in 2018 with his Associate of Science in Nursing Degree, and he started his first job at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton that October. On the surface, Sean is a Registered Nurse with less than 3 years of experience, but if you dig a little deeper, you will find in this short time in the profession has risen him to heights in which most nurses never dare dream. The first year and a half of working at Tift Regional in the emergency room helped give him a great start in his new profession. Eighteen…