Vicki Lewis, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coffee Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Douglas, was installed as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) at the association’s Annual Meeting of the Assembly on July 9. Lewis was elected to the role of Chair-Elect in 2025 and assumes the role of Chair following her service over the past year. Lewis has served on the GHA Board since 2019 and will lead the Board in fulfilling its mission to shape a healthier Georgia by serving as the leading advocate and supporter for all Georgia…
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Douglas Rotary Club inducted Salvation Army Assistant Director April Merritt as their newest member at the club’s July 16, 2026 meeting. Ms. Merritt was recognized by Rotarian Mark Miller for her many years of committed service to the Coffee County community through Salvation Army ministries. The Douglas Rotary Club supports the Salvation Army financially and as volunteers during the back-to-school supply drive and bell ringers during the Christmas season. Rotarians John Day and Mark Miller also serve on the Salvation Army Board of Directors. Jessie Copcutt, the new director of the Salvation Army, also attended the induction ceremony. Douglas Rotary…
Multiple defendants, including one individual in Atkinson County, have been indicted by the July term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia for firearms offenses and immigration violations. Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include: Robert Lee Jones, 22, of Richmond County, indicted for Illegal Possession of a Machinegun and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Steven Allan Darby, 39, of Richmond County, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Tavis Tallent, 26, of Richmond County, indicted for Possession…
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is proud to recognize Cohort 7 of the Wiregrass Leadership Academy as they complete the college’s six-month professional development program designed to strengthen leadership capacity among faculty and staff. Over the course of the program, participants engaged in a series of interactive, skills-based sessions focused on core leadership competencies, including effective communication, team development, conflict resolution, leading through change, and employee engagement. The cohort concluded the program on July 16, 2026, with a final session and capstone reflection highlighting key takeaways from their leadership journey. Held on the Valdosta Campus, the Leadership Academy brings together employees…
Conexon Connect, the internet service provider (ISP) formed by rural fiber broadband leader Conexon, has completed its 15th electric cooperative fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network since the company’s launch in 2021, and its ninth in Georgia, the state where its first projects launched. The multi-gigabit-speed network, built in partnership with Alma-based Satilla REMC spans 5,200 fiber miles, marking the ISP’s longest network in the state and bringing its total statewide reach to more than 240,000 homes and businesses. The Connect, powered by Satilla REMC, fiber network delivers reliable, affordable broadband access to 100 percent of the EMC’s more than 39,500 members across Appling,…
Douglas Rotary Club was honored to recognize Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Diesel Mechanic Student Josh Bennett as the student of the month for July 2026. Mr. Bennett earned his diesel mechanic certification following one year of studies at Wiregrass and will be employed by American Truck Parts upon graduation. He was joined at the recognition ceremony by his instructor, Mr. Taylor Smith, and Wiregrass Foundation Director and Rotarian Will Bostelman. Mr. Bennett hopes to continue his education at Wiregrass in the CDL Program. Douglas Rotary is a service organization seeking to advance the service ideals of Rotary International by investing time…
The GBI, working alongside local and federal law enforcement partners, executed a search warrant at the Yurezz Home Center in Baxley, on July 16, 2026, in connection with a fraud investigation spanning several states. The FBI Savannah Resident Agency is assisting with this investigation. On July 8, 2026, the Appling County Sheriff’s Office arrested Richard Altman, age 42, of Baxley, prior to the search warrant operation, on charges out of Louisiana. Altman is the co-owner of Yurezz Home Center. Due to the complexity of this fraud investigation, the GBI is working to centralize the flow of information from potential victims…
Authorities have issued a Levi’s Call (Georgia’s Amber Alert) for 13-year-old Layla Alexis Nubian Carter on behalf of the Baxley Police Department. Layla was last seen at 174 James Drive in Baxley with Giavannie Alexis Carter, traveling in a gray Jeep Renegade, GA tag #SLU9322 at 1:00 a.m. on July 16, 2026. Layla has blonde braided hair and was wearing pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. Carter has black braided hair and was wearing a gray/white tank top and black shorts and a black baseball cap with blue trim. The direction of travel is unknown. Layla is believed to be in…
A Celebration of the life of Inez Hilliard Smith Inez Smith passed away peacefully at her home on July 15, 2026, at the young age of ninety-five. Her survivors include four daughters: Vivian (Wilbert) Solomon of Douglas, GA, Wanda (Carlie) Lastinger of Pearson, Ga, Debbie Mills of Douglas, GA, and Kathy (Shelton) Crews of Broxton, GA; ten grandchildren: Stuart Solomon, Katie Solomon, Chrystal Carter, Forrest Lastinger, Daniel Lastinger, Tara Simpson, Lindy Wooten, Brody Mills, Jesse Floyd, and Dylan Floyd; nineteen great grandchildren; best friend, Debra Jump; sitter, Joy Ward; along with several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death…
The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) has announced the recipients of the 2025-26 NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards, representing achievement in the classroom by men’s college basketball teams. Receiving this year’s award was the 2025-26 South Georgia State College Men’s Basketball team. The NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards recognize programs that completed the 2025-26 academic year with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. The NABC’s academic awards are presented annually to teams and athletes from all levels of college basketball. Over 400 programs received NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards for 2025-26. “College basketball student-athletes do incredible things on…