Author: Submitted

Bobby Jenks, age 80, passed away on Sunday May 12, 2019 at his residence. Mr. Jenks was born on May 4, 1939 in Ambrose, the son of the late Oather Jenks and Ruby Reed Jenks. He worked as a heavy equipment operator for the Coffee County Road Department and was a member of New Hope Baptist Church. Mr. Jenks was preceded in death by two brothers, J.C. Jenks and Larry Jenks; and a brother-in-law, Ronald Taylor. Survivors include his wife, Mary Jenks of Douglas; daughter, Tammy Medina and husband Antonio of Nicholls; son, Trent Lott of Douglas; grandson, Zachary Wilkins;…

When JoAnne Lewis stepped to the podium at the South Georgia State College Douglas Campus commencement ceremony, she not only gazed upon smiling faces of students anxiously awaiting their diplomas, but she also saw a bright and promising future for the community and region she loves so much. These soon-to-be graduates represented a record number of 370 having their degrees conferred from this academic year, including 58 receiving bachelor degrees and 11 dual enrolled students graduating from college and high school within days of each other. Lewis grew up just outside of Douglas in West Green, and spent much…

Rodney McElveen, formerly the Assistant Director for the Henry County Library system, has been named the new director of the Satilla Regional Library System. Rodney obtained his Master of Science, Library and Information Science from Florida State University. He has over 19 years of library experience consisting of public, community college, and university libraries, with 10 of those years in professional public library experience. He brings energy, enthusiasm, and a desire to see Satilla Regional Library grow in order to better serve the citizens of Coffee and Atkinson counties well into the future. Rodney states, “My leadership style…

By Kevin Tatum, County Extension Coordinator Parents, wouldn’t you like for your Cloverleaf 4-H members to have fun with other 4‑H members during their summer break? If so, you need to get them signed up for the Cloverleaf Summer Activities. We have four fun-filled days planned to educate and entertain 4-H members this summer. It all starts with a tour of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Folkston on Monday, June 3. We will take a boat ride out into the prairie to get a close look a mother nature in all her splendor. On Friday, June 7, we…

Tourism in Douglas? Absolutely! Tourists come to Georgia for a variety of reasons, whether it is looking to escape to the mountains, to beaches, or to enjoy small town life. On May 6, 2019, according to Georgia Tourism, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the state’s tourism industry generated a record-breaking $66.2 billion in business sales impact in 2018, up 4.7 percent, according to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics. Nationally, hundreds of cities, states and travel-related businesses are celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) the week of May 5-11, 2019. The annual celebration unites communities across the country…

TGSC’s Mollie Rowell receives award from Optima Chemical Mollie Rowell, a junior biology major from South Georgia State College, recently received a chemistry award from Optima Chemical. The purpose of the award was to recognize and encourage outstanding students in their pursuit of careers in chemistry, engineering, and related sciences. Optima Chemical was host to the 2019 Southwest Georgia Chapter of the American Chemical Society’s 12th Annual Award Banquet as a way to support and recognize chemistry students in rural Georgia. “I found they champion small town science careers,” said Rowell. “They have established an outlet to allow chemists an…

Raymond “Butch” Yarbrough, 75, of Albany, died Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at Lee County Health and Rehab.His funeral service will be Saturday 11 AM at Sherwood Baptist Church with interment at 2:30 in Hillcrest Cemetery in Sylvester. Rev. Tom Pollock and Rev. Darrell Joiner will officiate. A native of Douglas, Mr. Yarbrough worked for Brooks Auto Parts for 49 years and retired as the manager. He was affectionately known as “Mr. NAPA” by his many customers. He was a member of Sherwood Baptist Church and loved to work in the yard and do woodworking. He was preceded in death by…

According to a press release issued by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, an inmate who walked off a work detail in northwest Georgia earlier this week has ties to Coffee County and authorities believe he may be in the area. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the successful capture of Tommy Shane Morton, Jr. Morton is described as a 47-year-old white male, approximately 5’10”, with blue eyes and brown hair. He escaped custody from Carroll County. Anyone with information on Morton’s whereabouts is asked to call the Southeast…

Optima Chemical Honors Outstanding Chemistry Students Optima Chemical and the American Chemical Society (ACS) recently recognized outstanding chemistry undergraduate students from 6 universities and colleges in our region. The awards luncheon was held at the Douglas Golf & Country Club on Saturday, April 27, 2019. Student award winners, accompanied by parents and nominating Professors, were in attendance with several representatives from Optima. The purpose of the award is to recognize and encourage outstanding students in their pursuit of careers in chemistry, engineering and related sciences. ACS is the world’s largest scientific association, with a membership of more than 160,000 chemists,…

Doris Marie Hutchinson, age 86, of Douglas, passed away on Monday May 6, 2019 at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Hutchinson was born on February 3, 1933 in Greenville, North Carolina, the daughter of the late Heber Jesse Hudson, Sr. and Sadie Marie Potter Hudson. Mrs. Hutchinson was a homemaker and a very loving mother and an active member of First Baptist Church, Douglas. She was preceded in death by four brothers, James Albert Hudson, Heber Jesse Hudson, Jr., William Earl Hudson and Harvey A. Hudson. Survivors include her husband of sixty-seven years, Glyn A. Hutchinson of Douglas, GA; two…