Author: Submitted

Mrs. Melissa Louise Fish, age 48, of Lenox, passed away Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton. A native of Ocilla, Mrs. Fish was born, September 3, 1971, daughter of Carolyn Harper. She lived in Oregon for seven years before returning back to South Georgia. Mrs. Fish worked in sales at Global Auto Company. She enjoyed cooking, traveling and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Mrs. Fish is preceded in death by her mother, Carolyn Harper. Survivors include: Husband Jeff Fish of Lenox; son, Eric Paulk of Wallsburg, Utah; daughter, Kaitlyn Paulk…

Edwin M. “Ed” Bryce, age 63, of Douglas, passed away on Monday evening, January 27, 2020 at his son’s house in Waynesville. Mr. Bryce was born on June 1, 1956 in Macon, the son of Eveline Sewell Bryce and the late Arthur James Bryce Jr. Mr. Bryce worked for Spectrum Distribution and Walmart Distribution Center. Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Harper Bryce of Douglas; two sons, Eric Bryce of Waycross and Eric Wilcox of Waynesville; step-daughter, Mary Elizabeth Stabler (Scott) of Dallas, Texas; two grandchildren, Nathan Bryce of Waycross and Kaitlyn Bryce of Waycross; mother, Eveline Bryce…

Nicholls Elementary School has been named a 2019-2020 Reward School by the Georgia Department of Education. The distinction of Reward School represents that Nicholls Elementary was among the greatest five percent of Title I Schools and those who are Title I Targeting Assistance Schools by their increase in student achievement. Reward Schools also have to maintain the performance of their economically disadvantages students, students with disabilities and English learners to be recognized. Congratulations to Lori Bratcher, Principal of Nicholls Elementary and her staff and students as academic performance at Nicholls Elementary has continued to increase resulting in…

The South Georgia State College Hawks overcame a lackluster shooting performance and a 90-minute delay Saturday afternoon to defeat the Southern Crescent Tech Tigers 81-70 in GCAA conference play. Antonio Vendola led the Hawks (18-3, 5-2) with 13 points and five assists. Will Ferguson, Marquise Jackson, Chris Rush and Tafari Thomas each had 10 points in the win. Jackson had six assists and two steals. The Hawks took a 34-25 lead into the locker room at halftime on the back of a 60 percent field goal shooting percentage as a team. That was the only first half bright…

A total of 707 South Georgia State College students have earned a spot on the Fall 2019 Academic Honors List, according to an announcement today by Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Robert Page. 157 students earned a spot on the President’s List, 237 on the Dean’s List, and 313 on the Academic Honors List. Students enrolled in 12 or more semester hours of study with a grade point average of 4.0 are placed on the President’s List for the semester. Students with a semester average of 3.5 to 3.9 on 12 or more semester hours of study…

Mike Popplewell, the owner and president of CSRA Probation Services, has announced that the company’s director of operations, Ginny Kent, will take over as CEO. Kent began her career with CSRA Probation Services as a probation officer in 1999. She was the company’s third employee and helped oversee the opening of CSRA Probation’s second location. She became a regional manager in 2003 and took over at director of operations in 2007. “As a result of our company’s phenomenal growth, development of new technologies and new opportunities, I’m happy to announce that Ginny Kent is going to become our new CEO,”…

The City of Douglas and Transwaste are offering residential Junk Drop-Off Days, once a month, in 2020 to help citizens get rid of the excess trash. The upcoming dates for February will be Saturday, February 1 and 15, 2020 at the City Pole Yard located at 670 S. Pearl Avenue from 8:00am-noon. Other drop-off dates for 2020 are as follows: Mar. 7 and 21, Apr. 4 and 18, May 2 and 16, June 6 and 20, July 18, Aug. 1 and 15, Sept. 5 and 19, Oct. 3 and 17, Nov. 7 and 21, and Dec. 5 and 19, 2020. …

The Douglas Police Department is improving citizen engagement with officers throughout neighborhoods with informal conversations over coffee with local citizens. All citizens are invited to attend Coffee with a Cop, which will be held on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, 9am-10:30am, at Hog-N-Bones, located at 24 Ameris Drive in Douglas. “It is our hope that citizens will take the time to meet and have conversations about community issues or simply come out and get to know our officers,” says Douglas Police Chief Shane Edmisten. “We hope, by continuing to host this event in different neighborhoods throughout Douglas, we will improve public…

The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents approved a seventh bachelor’s degree for South Georgia State College (SGSC) during the Regents’ meeting Jan. 8, 2020, in Atlanta. SGSC President Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers is pleased to announce the Bachelor of Science in Public Service Leadership that responds to the SGSC strategic plan, Moving Forward, of developing new academic programs based on the needs of the workforce and community. The Bachelor of Science in Public Service Leadership will be a highly interdisciplinary, applied learning approach to the study of public and nonprofit service organizations and societal issues addressed and managed by…

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College held the Fall 2019 Commencement Exercises on Friday, December 13 at the UGA Conference Center in Tifton. The ceremony honored 383 students who were awarded their associate degree, diploma or technical certificate of credit as well as 41 GED® graduates. Among those graduating, the college awarded 69 Associate Degrees, 110 Diplomas, and 437 Technical Certificates. Some students received Technical Certificates in multiple areas. Megan Wolfe is breaking the mold for what people view careers for women should be. During her graduation speech, she shared that she was receiving her Automotive Technology diploma, but not stopping there. …