R.W. Griffin Feed, Seed & Fertilizer, Inc., one of the Southeast’s largest privately owned and diversified agribusinesses, celebrated the grand opening of its new corporate headquarters today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted in partnership with the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce. The new headquarters is located in the newly renovated historic Coca-Cola Bottling Building in downtown Douglas and serves as the central home for the company’s leadership and administrative teams supporting operations across Georgia. The investment reflects both the company’s continued growth and its long-standing commitment to Georgia agriculture and the Douglas community. The ceremony featured remarks from Ben Floyd,…
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The High School Services team at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College recently hosted area high school counselors and CTAE (Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education) directors on the college’s Valdosta Campus. The purpose of the event was to bring educational leaders together for a day focused on collaboration, connection, and student success. The conference highlighted the strong partnerships between Wiregrass and local school systems, showcasing the many pathways available to students through dual enrollment and career-focused education. Attendees received updates on new programs and initiatives, participated in guided program tours, and engaged directly with faculty, deans, and college leadership. Wiregrass President DeAnnia…
Vella Faye Smith, age 85, of West Green, Georgia passed away on Monday, December 15, 2025, at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Ms. Smith was born on April 24, 1940, in Douglas, GA to the late Clera Courson and the late Lila Mae Peterson Courson. Survivors include: two daughters, Lisa Robinson of Temecula, CA and Darlene (Neal) Davis of West Green, GA; one son, Glen (Linda) Smith; one brother, David Courson of Douglas, GA; seven grandchildren: Nicky Tarawneh, Michael Robinson, Alex Robinson, Johnny (Kayla) Smith, Hailey (Michael) Raulerson, Courtney (Craig) Thomas, and Kristen (Logan ) Miller; seven great-grandchildren: Liam Smith, Ian…
Story courtesy of The Hope Initiative A few blocks from Sims Park in Douglas, hope is rising for the Davis family. Just months ago, this was a place of heartbreak—their home sliced in half by Hurricane Helene, trees through the middle, rubble where memories once lived. Volunteers gathered in the wreckage, praying over the Davis family, believing God was not finished with this story. Today, that prayer is being answered. Amish and Mennonite Disaster Service volunteer teams are on site, and what once felt impossible now looks like a home. The walls have risen. Trusses are set. The roof is…
At the City Commission meeting on Thursday, December 11, 2025, Daniel Gaddis, Planning & Program Director at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), formally presented the City of Douglas with its fourth consecutive PlanFirst designation. “The City of Douglas is one of only 14 communities in the state to achieve the PlanFirst designation for 2026-2028.,” said Daniel Gaddis, Planning Outreach Coordinator for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. “Douglas is recognized as a model PlanFirst community in the state of Georgia.” Douglas’s participation in the PlanFirst program will span from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028. As part of the designation, the city will receive statewide…
Evelyn Wiggins Banks, age 92, passed away peacefully at her home following an extended illness on December 14, 2025. She was surrounded by her loving family. Born in Coffee County on September 6, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Homer Wiggins and Latishia Wiggins Spivey. Being the only girl, she learned to cook at a very young age, and was known as one of the best cooks around Douglas. If you’ve ever had the pleasure to sit at her table or enjoy anything she made with love, you would agree. The heart of Evelyn’s world was her family…
By Michael Dockery When I think about what makes South Georgia special, it always comes back to three things — faith, family, and community. Those are the values that shaped me growing up here, and they’re the same values that keep our communities strong today. Faith gives us direction when the road ahead isn’t always clear. Family reminds us what we’re fighting for. And community — the neighbors who show up, who lend a hand, who stand together when times get tough — that’s what keeps South Georgia moving forward. As I’ve traveled across South Georgia, I’ve heard from so…
Representatives from local government, nonprofits, businesses, and community groups participated in a collaborative workshop on December 11, 2025, to develop a comprehensive and unified Disaster Recovery Plan for Coffee County and the cities of Ambrose, Broxton, Douglas, and Nicholls. The workshop was hosted on the campus of South Georgia State College. The goal is to have a plan that ensures a coordinated and effective response for future emergencies. The event was hosted by FEMA and private firms Cadmus–Jacobs. “It’s important to bring together stakeholders, representing the whole community, to focus on shared responsibilities and integrated strategies for preparedness, response,…
Three Patriots were named to the GIAA Region 2 All-Region team following a stellar second varsity season for CCA. Junior Tyson Crosby and freshmen Dalton Rogers and Clay Philips earned postseason recognition for their outstanding performances. Rogers was also honored as a GIAA All-State selection. Tyson Crosby led the Patriots in receiving with 423 yards and 6 touchdowns, while also adding 6 rushing touchdowns on the season. Clay Philips anchored the defense, leading the team with 15.5 sacks and averaging 8 tackles per game. Dalton Rogers had a breakout season, rushing for 1,159 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Patriots finished…
Students from Coffee High School showcased their engineering skills and teamwork at a recent VEX Robotics Tournament, bringing home two championship trophies in a highly competitive field of teams from across the state. The team earned top honors in Sportsmanship and were tournament finalists, edged out by a team from Newton County who is ranked high in the world. These awards recognize excellence in robot design, programming, strategy, and collaboration. “Our students put in countless hours of design, testing, and teamwork,” said Jerry Hill, VEX Robotics coach at Coffee High. “Winning two trophies is a testament to their dedication and…