Author: Submitted

The World War II Flight Training Museum, 63rd Preservation Society, the WWII Flight Training Base Committee, and the City of Douglas invite the public to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Cadet Park and Major Charles J. Loring, Jr. Memorial on Friday, November 22, 2024, 10:00 a.m., at 1 Airport Circle. The ceremony will be held on the historic 63rd Army Air Force Contract Pilot School (Primary), grounds to honor the approximately 5,000-7,000 cadets who trained at the base during World War II from 1941-1944. The new memorial in the park will be dedicated to Major Charles J. Loring, Jr., who…

The Coffee County School System has announced that it has earned Cognia Systems Accreditation. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers. “Accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides the Coffee County Schools a nationally recognized mark of quality for our school system,” shared Dr. Morris Leis, “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our willingness to enact meaningful change based on evaluation and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.” Cognia recognizes schools and…

The Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening of Hospice Care Options’ new Douglas office with an emotional and inspiring ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, November 8, 2024. A poignant event, the gathering highlighted the compassionate commitment of Hospice Care Options, a beloved organization that has served central and south Georgia since 1997. Founded by Georgia pharmacist Freddie Dwozan, Hospice Care Options has made a profound impact in Coffee County, and its establishment of a dedicated office in Douglas reflects its deepened dedication to the community. Chelsea Graham, Member Relations Director of the Chamber, welcomed attendees and shared…

South Georgia country artist RVSHVD (pronounced RA-SHAD), releases the official music video for “Drowning Man” from his debut album, It’s Rashad (out 9/20) – available now on all platforms through The Penthouse South/Sumerian Records/Virgin Music. The video, directed by Nate Rose and David Piersaul and matching the emotion-filled track and featuring an overworked and overburdened businessman searching for relief in the bottom of a bottle, premiered Thursday on CMT’s prestigious Paramount Times Square billboard. With the release, RVSHVD continues to showcase his “carefully curated” and “genre-melding sound” (Billboard) with his unique mix of country, Hip Hop, R&B, and rock that “is turning…

Officials from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) celebrated the signing of two memorandums of understanding last week, creating a smoother path for Wiregrass students to obtain Bachelor of Science degrees. ABAC President Tracy Brundage, WGTC President DeAnnia Clements, and members of their respective leadership teams met at ABAC’s Tift Hall for the ceremony. Specifically, the agreements will help Wiregrass students who have earned an Associate degree in Criminal Justice or an Associate degree in General Studies be certain that more of their courses will successfully transfer to satisfy degree requirements at ABAC. “An important…

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, at approximately 7:45 p.m., officers from the Douglas Police Department responded to reports of gunshots in an area on the city’s southeast side. The incident took place over a large area covering several blocks, including the 600 block of Roper Street, 800 block of Sears Street, 1500 block of Leader Street, and the 500-600 block of McLean Street. All individuals involved fled the scene before officers arrived. At approximately 7:47 P.M., officers were dispatched to the Coffee Regional Medical Center Emergency Room regarding an individual who had entered with multiple gunshot wounds. Upon arrival, officers…

Ameris Bank has promoted Shane Shook to market president for Douglas and Vidalia. He succeeds David Batchelor, who recently retired following a distinguished 23-year career with the company. Shook brings more than 27 years of banking experience to the position. He joined Ameris in 2001 and progressed through a variety of roles of increasing responsibility. He has served as city president for the Douglas market since 2018. “Shane Shook is an outstanding leader with a commitment to building relationships and ensuring personalized customer service,” said Ameris Bank Regional President Michael Lee. “He also is very engaged with the community, volunteering…

The South Georgia State College Hawks celebrated their fifteenth basketball season opener on campus with a 98-57 win over the junior varsity squad from Edward Waters University. The Hawks (1-0) were led by four players in double figures, including leading scorer Devon Rainey with 15 points, four assists and nine steals. Justin McCarter had 13 points and five assists, followed by Ashton Pennamon with 12 points, six assists and four steals. Grant Raven finished with 10 points and five rebounds. Defense continues to be a trademark for the Hawks as the new season begins. SGSC forced 35 turnovers, which included…

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has designated an area in downtown Douglas as a Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas Legislation (R.U.R.A.L.) Zone. A map showing the area eligible for R.U.R.A.L. Zone incentives can be found on the city’s website at cityofdouglasga.gov. This designation enables the city to implement the R.U.R.A.L. Zone incentive program, which aims to stimulate investment, create jobs, and promote economic development in the historic downtown area. Douglas’ R.U.R.A.L. Zone designation will be in effect for five years, allowing eligible businesses to start earning tax credits. The program includes three tax incentive options: the job tax credit,…

The American Pickers are excited to return to Georgia. They plan to film episodes of The History Channel hit television series throughout your area in December 2024. AMERICAN PICKERS is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on The History Channel. The hit show follows skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find historically significant or rare items, in addition to unforgettable characters and their collections. As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers are on a mission to recycle and…