By MIKE BUHLER HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Walters State Community College men’s basketball team used hot shooting and a big edge on the boards to defeat the South Georgia State Hawks 93-84 in the first round of the NJCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. The 10th-seeded Senators improved to 31-1 on the season by blistering the nets at a 60 percent clip on Sunday (33-for-55), including a 17-for-27 performance (63 percent) after halftime, and also owned a 42-25 edge on the boards. Walters State also used a trio of big runs to take the win on…
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Officers from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Lashawanda Smith, 50, of Coffee County, on March 20, 2026, following a month-long investigation into the alleged financial exploitation and neglect of an adult. Detectives determined that Smith, acting as the primary caretaker for the adult, used a portion of the individual’s income and benefits for personal and household expenses unrelated to his care. In addition, Smith failed to provide timely medical care, missed appointments, and delayed recommended rehabilitation services. Smith was taken into custody and charged with neglect of an adult and exploitation of an adult. She was transported to the…
On March 15, 2026, detectives with the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit executed two simultaneous search warrants at residences located on Wildwood Road and Mark Mobley Road as part of an ongoing investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine. As a result of the operation, the following individuals were arrested and charged: All three were transported to the Coffee County Jail. Bowen and Witt Sr. have been released on bond. Witt Jr., however, remains incarcerated.
The Coffee County Board of Education has announced the hiring of Lee Mobley as the next Superintendent of the Coffee County School System. The announcement was made during tonight’s regular monthly board meeting by Board Chairman Jesse Jowers following a unanimous vote by the five board members. Mobley will officially take office on July 1, following the retirement of current Superintendent Dr. Morris Leis. Mr. Mobley currently serves as Assistant Superintendent of Facilities and Operations for the Coffee County School System.Lee Mobley is a Coffee County native and a dedicated educator with over 27 years of experience shaping the academic…
Mrs. Iliana Leon Graham, age 64, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away Tuesday evening, March 17, 2026, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a lengthy illness. Iliana was born December 7, 1961, in Manhattan, New York, to Tomasita Santiago Leon, and the late Manuel Leon. She made her career as a dispatcher for multiple freight companies through the years before she retired for health reasons. Along with her father, Iliana was preceded in death by one brother, Manuel Leon, Jr., and one sister, Nilsa Leon. Iliana is survived by her husband, James Graham of Broxton, Georgia; her daughter, Irene Negron-Brown and…
Mr. Alan Daniel Turner, age 64, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away suddenly on Monday evening, March 16, 2026, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. Alan was born November 16, 1961, in Pensacola, Florida, to Patricia Gail Spear Turner and the late Hansel Turner. He was a veteran of the United States Army, and a long-time maintenance employee of the City of Douglas. Alan was an avid history and geography buff. He enjoyed golfing and fishing and was by far the best caregiver to his mother. Along with his mother, Alan is survived by three siblings: Linda Gail…
If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, now is the time to review your insurance coverage. Coffee Regional Medical Center encourages Medicare Advantage members to take time to ensure they understand their coverage and confirm which healthcare providers and services are in network. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs through March 31, 2026, and gives individuals already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan the opportunity to evaluate whether their current coverage still meets their healthcare needs. This review period can help patients identify important details about their coverage, including provider networks and potential out-of-pocket costs. During…
In the heart of Georgia’s dairy country, three electrical apprentices from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College are helping keep the lights on — and the milk flowing — at BrooksCo Dairy, LLC in Quitman, Georgia, one of the region’s largest dairy producers. The three Wiregrass apprentices — Fernando Ramirez, Reagan Chastain, and Alex Munoz — are not confined to a classroom. Instead, they are gaining hands-on experience each day across BrooksCo’s expansive dairy operation, supporting critical electrical and industrial systems that keep production moving. BrooksCo Dairy manages a herd of approximately 2,200 dairy cows, producing nearly 37,500 gallons of milk every day. Along with seven…
The Region M Healthcare Coalition has announced the appointment of Andy Smith, Director of Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Preparedness at Coffee Regional Medical Center, as its new Coalition Coordinator. Smith brings more than three decades of emergency medical services experience and leadership to the role and will help coordinate emergency preparedness efforts among healthcare and public safety partners across Southeast Georgia. Healthcare coalitions bring together healthcare organizations and emergency response partners to improve preparedness and ensure a coordinated response during emergencies. The Region M Healthcare Coalition includes hospitals, public health agencies, emergency responders, and community partners who work together to strengthen the…
By Van Yandell Galatians 6: 9 reads: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Mother bought a pair of yard chairs in the 1950’s. Steel constructed with a curved one-piece leg assembly, those chairs were to be cherished for years to come. The bodies they supported in comfort and conversation for those years are too numerous to count or to even try to imagine. Sunday afternoons were special. Friends or relatives would come over (or Mom and Dad would go visiting). I was forced to go along…