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Hurst & Hurst CPAs, a leader of small business support and tax services in South Georgia, is pleased to announce that Will Reaves has joined the firm as a Staff Accountant. Will comes to Hurst & Hurst from Community Bank of Fitzgerald. He brings experience in credit analysis, cash management, and several other facets of banking. Will is going to assist in coordinating accounting activities, including payroll and general ledger application. Will is scheduled to graduate from Georgia Southwestern State University in December. He will be obtaining a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accountancy. Upon graduation, Will…

Prioritizing the health and wellbeing of youth participants, the Douglas-Coffee County Parks and Recreation Department (DCCPRD) has made the decision to cancel the fall football, soccer, and cheerleading season. The continued effects of the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 safety guidelines contributed to this cautious decision to protect the health and well-being of participants, parents, officials, coaches, and staff. “Canceling the fall season was certainly a difficult decision to be made,” said Stevie Young, Director of DCCPRD. However, health and safety are our highest priorities, and this decision aligns with those priorities.” For those who have registered for football, cheerleading…

Three student-athletes from the South Georgia State College’s (SGSC) men’s basketball program have been named 2020 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholars by “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education” magazine. Russell Baker of San Antonio, Texas, Will Ferguson of Yulee, Florida, and Antonio Vendola of Fernandina Beach, Florida, were selected for the honor, which recognizes student-athletes from various National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I schools. These Hawks were chosen for their dedication to their sport and their studies, both of which are impressive achievements. Baker, Ferguson and Vendola also earned All-Academic Awards from the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic…

Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) members who grow Bermudagrass hay are encouraged to enter the 2020 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 the first week of 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…

On August 17, 2020, the Coffee County Drug Unit assisted the Georgia State Patrol with a traffic stop. The GSP stopped Bradley Barton, 26 years old of Douglas, for speeding. The trooper observed Barton throw something out of the window; he was able to collect the evidence, which was a package containing numerous bags of suspected methamphetamine. The package was turned over to the drug unit. The evidence field tested which resulted in a positive result for methamphetamine was weighed on non-certified scale and yielded a weight of 4.7grams. Barton was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent…

Following a lengthy narcotics investigation into Jonathan Alvin Pope, 36, of the 1600 block of Gilmore Street and his illegal activities, a combined team of law enforcement officers arrested him as well as Ashlee Nichole Pope, 30, of the 5700 block of Central Avenue following a traffic stop in Millwood Wednesday night. The multi-jurisdictional team participating in the investigation and arrests consisted of Ware County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Coffee County Drug Unit deputies, Brantley County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Georgia State Patrol troopers, Waycross Police Department, and a special agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and…

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College announces the Virtual Fall Guardian Bank Entrepreneurship Academy starting in October, free for current Wiregrass students and alumni. The UGA Small Business Development Center at Valdosta State University is partnering with Guardian Bank and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College to deliver six courses with 12 hours of total class time. The business topics to be discussed include: writing a business plan, money finance and accounting, marketing, human resources, and strategic planning. The courses will have knowledgeable speakers in specialized business areas, self-evaluation, and opportunities to participate in question and answer time with guest speakers. The UGA SBDC will also provide…

Genelda Davis Courson, age 93, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2020. Mrs. Courson was born on December 4, 1926 the daughter of the late Jordan Davis and Barbara Roughton Davis. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ellis Courson Sr. Mrs. Courson was a retired registered nurse working with Coffee Regional Medical Center for many years, where she was Assistant Director of Nursing. She had work for Dr. Sage Harper, Dr. T.K. Stapleton and Dr. Dan Jardine. Mrs. Courson was a member of Westwood Baptist Church. Survivors…

Mr. William Shawn Smith, 42 of Willacoochee, GA, passed away on August 14, 2020. He is the son of the late William Daniel Smith and Betty Jo Mathis. Mr. Smith is survived by his daughter, Chyanne Myers (Dusty Myers) of Nahunta, GA; step-daughter, Morgan Carter of Pearson, GA; step-sons, Aaron Dale of Pearson, GA and Nick Bennett of Pearson, GA; mother of step-children, Sharon Smith of Pearson, GA; five grandchildren; several nieces and nephews also survive. Other than his parents Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by several other family members. Visitation services will take place in…

Ms. Amanda Walker, 52 of Pearson, GA, passed away on August 12, 2020 under the care of Pruitt Hospice. She is the daughter of the late James Robert Walker and Susie Jane Watson. Ms. Walker is survived by her daughter, Jessica Hodges (Preston Hasty) of Douglas, GA; sister Suzette Oliver (Richard) of Pearson, GA; nieces Amanda Oliver of Douglas, GA, Wendy Oliver of Douglas, GA, Savannah Oliver of Homerville, GA, Felisha Highnate of Pearson, GA., and Megan Davis of Douglas, GA; grandson Shawn Rayford Hodges of Douglas, GA; great-nephew William David Touchton of Pearson, GA; great nieces Rileigh Jayde…