Author: Submitted

Douglas native Andrew Sawyer named Southeast pecan agent By Clint Thompson CAES News The partnership between University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and the Georgia Pecan Commission yielded a new area pecan agent position for the Southeast District this year. The two entities co-funded the position that will be filled by Andrew Sawyer beginning May 1. Sawyer will work with growers and county agents in southeast Georgia, while UGA Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells continues to serve producers in southwest Georgia and statewide. “I am so excited about this partnership between the pecan industry and UGA Extension. This is a great example…

Symposium highlights undergraduate research efforts at South Georgia State College By: Dr. Frank Holiwski and Dr. Rosa Guedes A visitor to Stubbs Hall on the Douglas Campus of South Georgia State College (SGSC) during the week of April 15 could be forgiven for being overwhelmed. A striking Harlem Renaissance-inspired painting catches the eye as soon as one enters room 143, a student presents on the ecology of the Sumatra tiger in room 142 and the hallway is lined with students standing by poster presentations detailing a plethora of facts about fungi. And that’s just a snapshot in a week-long Undergraduate Research…

Cloverleaf camp orientation meeting a week away Kevin Tatum, County Extension Coordinator It’s only a few more weeks until schools will be out for summer break. That means it will be time for 4-H Summer Camp. This summer Coffee County 4-H will be taking our younger 4-H members to Cloverleaf 4-H Camp at Rock Eagle 4-H Center the week of July 1-5. 4-H members who are signed up to attend are asked to attend the camp orientation meeting on Monday, May 13, at 6 PM, in the sanctuary of the Douglas First Baptist Church. We also ask that at least…

“This City is what it is because our citizens are what they are.” – Plato Greetings, citizens of Douglas! This month, I have another long editorial. So, please put the newspaper down and go refill your coffee or get another bottled water. Whomever is praying for the City of Douglas please DO NOT STOP! IT’S WORKING! God is truly blessing our city and county. Please keep the City of Douglas and Coffee County lifted up in prayer. Our citizens are forward thinking and progressive in the construction of new ideas and concepts. The present worth of Douglas and…

SGSC’s Marisol Vargas receives Ty Cobb Educational Foundation Scholarship South Georgia State College (SGSC) sophomore Marisol Vargas has been awarded a $3,000 Ty Cobb Educational Foundation Scholarship for the 2019-2020 academic year. Vargas, from Pearson, will graduate from the SGSC nursing program this spring and will being work in SGSC’s RN-BSN program this fall. The Ty Cobb Educational Foundation, established by famous baseball player Tyrus R. Cobb, was created for the purpose of assisting capable and deserving residents of Georgia who need financial assistance in completing their college education. Cobb, a native of Royston, Georgia, was unparalleled as a baseball…

SGSC’s Victoria Baglin to intern at UNF REU Coastal and Marine Biology program Victoria Baglin, a student at South Georgia State College, will be gaining valuable experience during the summer as part of the University of North Florida (UNF) Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) Coastal and Marine Biology Flagship program. She is currently studying biology in the bachelor’s program at SGSC. Baglin, who is from Fort Pierce, Fla., is looking forward to gaining hands-on practice working with marine ecosystems. “Getting accepted into this program has been exciting news for me,” Baglin said. “I am grateful to be given this amazing…

Mrs. June Faye McEachern Spivey, age 67, of Pearson, passed away Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at her home in Pearson following an extended illness. Survivors include: Sons Cale Spivey and wife, Candace of Axson and Dale Spivey and wife, Ashley of Axson; daughter Shanlee Spivey of Pearson; former husband Harvey Spivey of Pearson; brother Billy McEachern and Loretta Hodges of Fitzgerald; sisters Martha May and husband, Allen of Perry and Marianne Royal of Ocilla; grandchildren Caleb Spivey, Collyns Spivey, Dallas Spivey, and Ally Spivey; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive. Funeral services for Mrs. Spivey will be held on Friday, May…

Mr. James Albert McKinnon, age 83, of Douglas, passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2019, at home surrounded by his family. Mr. McKinnon was born May 4, 1935, in Douglas. He was the oldest of three children of the late Jimmie McKinnon and the late Clyde Taylor McKinnon. Mr. McKinnon spent his business career beginning as manager of B. C. Moore’s & Sons before opening Economy Auto Hardware Store, later known as OTASCO, which served the community for several decades. Not one to retire for very long, he obtained his real estate appraisal license and started McKinnon Appraisal Company, which…

Colonel Robert Donald “Donnie” O’Barr, age 68, of Valdosta, passed away on Sunday April 28, 2019 at his residence. Colonel O’Barr was in the United States Army National Guard where he was part of the 48th Infantry Brigade, serving for over thirty-three years. Colonel O’Barr was born on April 1, 1951 in McRae, the son of the late Bill O’Barr and Sue Melvin O’Barr. Survivors include his wife, Lisa O’Barr of Valdosta; daughter, Brittany Hughes and husband Aaron of Valdosta; brother, Mike O’Barr of Carrollton; two sisters, Faye Lovelace of Carrollton and Billie Sue Pittman of Savannah; awaiting future…

Virginia Fay Foskey, age 77, of Douglas, passed away on Sunday April 28, 2019 at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Foskey was born on August 5, 1941 in Ashburn, the daughter of the late Raymond Lester Wood and Thelma Rutherford Newsome. Mrs. Foskey worked as a seamstress with Spectrum Industries and attended Covenant Church. She was preceded in death by step-father, F.F. Newsome; two sons, Tony Foskey and Eddie Foskey; and a sister, Carolyn Belk. Survivors include three daughters, Rhonda Kirkland (Oscar) of Douglas, Brenda Simpson of Macon, and Linda Bryant of Douglas; son, Calvin Foskey (Tina) of…