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Jimmy Kennedy, age 77, of Douglas, GA, passed away peacefully at Dodge County Hospital on Wednesday, March 12th, 2025. He was born on May 26th, 1947, the son of James T. and Jennie Touchton Kennedy. His survivors include: one son; Trey (Shana) Kennedy of Douglas, GA, one daughter; Heather (Stephen) Settle of St Augustine, FL, seven grandchildren; Savannah Renee McKinney, Ian Browning, Conner Kennedy, Kristen (Drew) Settle Schnepf, Keagan Settle, Brayden Settle, and Camden Settle, three great-grandchildren; Gabrielle Schnepf, Charlie Schnepf, Thomas Schnepf, mother of his children; Kathee Maine Kennedy, one brother; Howard Kennedy, niece; Suzanne Kennedy Huff, along with…

Egdal Gonzalez-Vazquez, age 40, of Nicholls, GA, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, March 11th, 2025, at his residence. He was born on December 22nd, 1984, the son of Anselmo Gonzalez and Olivia Gonzalez. His survivors include: his beloved wife; Perla J. Gonzalez of Nicholls, GA, two sons; Justin Gonzalez, and Oliver Gonzalez, one daughter; Layla Gonzalez, three brothers; Jamie Gonzalez of Mexico, Avelardo Gonzalez of Mexico, and Renato Gonzalez of Mexico, one sister; Sinthia Gonzalez, father; Anselmo Gonzalez, and mother; Olivia Gonzalez, along with several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 13th, 2025, at Sims…

Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented damage to Coffee County. Besides the obvious visible damage done to homes and property, people are realizing there are more issues than what they may have originally thought. With so much damage, it is likely that property could suffer a loss in value due to the storm. To assist property owners with reporting damage that may have a negative effect on their values, the Coffee County Tax Assessor’s Office has a module on the qPublic website specifically so people can report property damage before property assessments go out. If individuals will go to www.coffeecounty-ga.gov, they can follow…

Jeff Davis County officers made three arrests in two different incidents in recent weeks. On February 25, 2025 at approximately 12:24 pm, the Jeff Davis drug investigator initiated a traffic stop on the Lumber City Highway.  During the traffic stop, he detected the odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle. The officer found more than 300 ecstasy tablets, quantities of marijuana, suspected psychedelic mushrooms, digital scales, and packaging materials.  A field test was conducted on the tablets and the results were positive for methamphetamine. Dennis Broody Jr. was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a…

The South Georgia State College Hawks outscored the Andrew College Fighting Tigers 23-6 in the first seven minutes of the second half and cruised into the GCAA semifinals with a 97-60 win Tuesday night in Waycross. Four SGSC players scored in double figures, led by Devon Rainey with 17 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. Chandler Thomas finished with 14 points and six rebounds, followed by Justin McCarter with 13 points and seven rebounds. Ashton Pennamon had 12 points, four rebounds, and a total of 14 assists for the game. As a team, SGSC shot 60.3 percent from the field…

Mrs. Patricia Ann Fender Kirkland, 84, of Pearson, GA., passed away peacefully on March 5, 2025, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, GA., after a brief illness. Patricia, who was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, will always be remembered for her unwavering kindness and generosity. Born on March 16, 1940, in Willacoochee, GA., Patricia grew up the daughter of Aubrey and Clara Fender, and sister to Florence, Marjorie, Faye, Aubrey Lee, Bo and Betty Ann. On June 14, 1958, she married Randolph Jefferson (Jeff) Kirkland. Over the next several years, Patricia and Jeff welcomed their three…

At just 14 years old, Cowen Wayne Rice is showing that dedication and generosity have no age limit. He is a passionate supporter of Coffee Regional Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Scholarship. Over the past four years, he has raised an impressive $8,292 for the annual Heart 2 Heart Event, giving back to a cause that holds special meaning for him. Born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), Cowen underwent a life-changing procedure nine years ago. Since then, he has been determined to give back, using his experience to fuel his passion for helping others. A student at Coffee Middle School,…

A 27-year-old from Waycross was arrested on fraud charges after she allegedly stole several items from Walmart valued at nearly $900. The suspect, Mandy Toler, 27, of Waycross, was charged with two counts of refund fraud and transported to the Coffee County Jail then released on bond. According to the report from the Douglas Police Department, around 3 p.m. on March 2, 2025, two Walmart asset protection employees reported that Toler had walked out of the store with a Shark STK vacuum cleaner ($299) and an FG ice maker ($84) without paying. The employees also stated that on February 21,…

Coffee Regional Medical Center recently hosted a workplace safety panel discussion, bringing together local law enforcement and hospital security experts to discuss the importance of maintaining a safe environment for patients, visitors, and staff. The panel featured Sheriff Fred Cole of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Captain Leon Whitley of the Douglas Police Department, and Lex Tucker, representing Coffee Regional Medical Center Security. Caregivers had the opportunity to engage in an open discussion with the panelists, addressing key safety concerns and reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to a secure and supportive workplace. “We are grateful to Sheriff Cole and Captain Whitley…

The Coffee High Trojans traveled to Tift County High School to participate in the Anthony Bateman Invitational on March 8. Junior Ensley Crawford finished the day with two first place finishes and personal records in the 1600 meter run (5:30.88) and the 3200 meter run (12:21.57). The Trojan 4X100 meter relay team of Tyrese Woodgett, KJ DeBruce, Sedric McRae and Travis Adams finished in first place with a time of 43.17 seconds. Senior Travis Adams ran 22.34 seconds in the 200 meter dash for a second place finish and a new personal record. His time was recognized a Bronze…