A collision between a 2002 Suzuki Quadrunner four-wheeler and a 2017 Ram pickup claimed the life of a West Green woman Thursday evening around 7 p.m. According to an accident report from the Georgia State Patrol, the four-wheeler, operated by Sharon Tharp, 61, of West Green, was traveling east on Joe Ellis Road. The four-wheeler did not stop at the stop at the sign at Joe Ellis Road and Highway 221. As it crossed Highway 221, it traveled into the path of the Ram pickup, driven by Norman Sandiford, 56, of Lumber City. The Ram hit the four-wheeler and, as…
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Farmers, business professionals, clergy, and community members gathered for a time of breakfast, fellowship, prayer, and recognition Friday morning at the C.E. Weir Center for the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Blessing of the Crops event. A valued tradition in Coffee County, the Blessing of the Crops provides an opportunity for the community to gather in gratitude and seek blessings for a safe and productive farming season. The morning began with breakfast, followed by a program focused on faith and the importance of agriculture to the local economy and way of life. Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper delivered…
This morning, the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division, along with the department’s Uniform Division and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, executed a search warrant at 309 West Orange Street in Fitzgerald. Case Agent Gary Rogers, Investigator James Skinner, and Investigator Grayson Watson, the three Drug Investigators assigned to the agency’s Special Operations Division, spearheaded the investigation. The case began in January after investigators received information that Kerrion Smith, a teacher and football coach at Veterans High School, was allegedly transporting pounds of marijuana into Ben Hill County for distribution throughout the county and from the residence…
Leona Valerie McDonald Paulk, 89, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, passed away surrounded by love at her daughter’s residence after an extended illness. She was formerly of Coffee County. Graveside services will be held 3 PM, Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Purvis Cemetery in Coffee County, Georgia, with the Rev. Glen Fussell officiating. The family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service. Mrs. Paulk was born on December 21, 1936, in Coffee County, Georgia, to the late James Herbert and Ozell Williams Cliett. A woman of deep and abiding faith, she was a devoted member of Lax Holiness Baptist…
Deputies, detectives, jail personnel, and civilian staff of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office gathered this week for an agency-wide breakfast and annual address from Sheriff Fred Cole, marking both a reflection on the past year and a renewed commitment to the year ahead. In his remarks, Sheriff Cole praised the agency’s performance throughout 2025, calling it a year defined by tireless service, measurable progress, and an unwavering focus on public safety. He also addressed the reality that not every employee who began the year remained with the office. “Accountability is the number one priority for this agency,” Sheriff Cole said,…
By Michael Dockery Over the last year, I’ve had hundreds of conversations across our district. On porches. In driveways. At ballfields. At church. At small businesses. And I’ve noticed something. People aren’t angry as much as they’re tired. Tired of feeling like politics is noise. Tired of headlines that don’t change their daily lives. Tired of watching decisions get made somewhere else while they deal with rising costs here at home. Most families I talk to aren’t asking for dramatic change. They’re asking for steady direction. They want to know that someone is thinking long-term about our communities — not…
Waverly Larkey, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many, passed away at home on February 24, 2026, following a brief illness. He was 73. Waverly was born in Douglas, Georgia, on July 28, 1952, to the late Roscoe C. Larkey and Hazel Reames Larkey of Jacksonville, Georgia. He lived in Macon until he was 12 years old with his father, mother and brother, Bill Larkey. Thereafter, the family moved back to the farm, living near his grandparents, the late James Franklin Larkey and Ethel Jones Larkey. The Larkey farm had originally been purchased by Waverly’s great-great Grandfather in…
On Saturday, February 21, 2026, deputies with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Grove Mobile Home Park in Douglas in reference to individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. Upon arrival, deputies located two adult female subjects at the residence with apparent gunshot injuries. The injured parties were identified as Stephanie Ann Nicole Castillo, 35, of Douglas, and Elisabet Gaspar, 27, of Douglas. Emergency Medical Services rendered aid at the scene. During the preliminary investigation, deputies determined the shooting had actually occurred at a separate residence near Tyler Road. In addition to additional deputies responding to the primary location, members…
By Representative James Burchett (176th District) With some strong tailwinds coming out of Washington – including a great visit to Georgia by President Trump last week – we’re feeling more optimistic than ever about the direction of our country, and we are doing our part to keep Georgia the number one state for business and for families. Here is a quick look at what we accomplished last week, and what we’re tackling next. The Amended FY 2026 Budget The House and Senate have both passed differing versions of the budget for the balance of Fiscal Year 2026. As a part…
Students from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College proudly represented the college at the 2026 Georgia SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, returning home with an impressive collection of gold, silver, and bronze medals across multiple competitive categories. While competing against top technical college students from across the state, Wiregrass students demonstrated excellence in skilled trades, health sciences, design, telecommunications, and emerging technologies. These Wiregrass students who won gold will represent Wiregrass Georgia Tech at the SkillsUSA National Championships: Alexis Ramirez (Lowndes County) – Dental Assisting Makhya Powell (Lowndes County) – Job Skills Demonstration A Benjamin Cook (Irwin County) – Telecommunications Cabling Hannah Wisenbaker (Lowndes County) – T-Shirt…