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CMS receives $MART grant The Coffee Middle School Media Center was recently chosen as a recipient of the $MART (Supplemental Media and Resource Technology) Grant and presented a check for $1,500 by Matt Parker from the Satilla REMC Foundation and Satilla REMC. The $MART Grant is made possible thanks to the Smart Change Program in which Cooperative Members volunteer to “round up” their power bills to the nearest whole dollar. The change goes directly to the Satilla REMC Foundation dedicated to providing educational opportunities for students in Satilla’s service area including Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Coffee, Jeff Davis, Pierce, Ware, and…

SGSC’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapter named Top Distinguished Chapter for the Georgia Region The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honor society chapters of South Georgia State College (SGSC) received numerous awards at the Georgia Region Spring Conference, which took place on March 8 and 9 on the Douglas Campus. The conference served as a time of fellowship and learning about the numerous PTK programs and opportunities for its members. In addition, chapters were recognized for their achievements and accomplishments during the previous year. The conference kicked off Friday with a welcome by Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers, SGSC president. Next, the night’s activities continued with…

Hambrick speaks to GWCFC students about online safety By Angelina McDuffie, GWCFC Journalism student Recently, George Washington Carver Freshman Campus (GWCFC) welcomed a guest speaker to talk about the dangers of the internet and online safety. In the digitally advanced world of today, online dangers are a real threat and could potentially pour over into someone’s real life interactions. Catfishing, giving out your location, and sending explicit photos of one’s self or another are all topics reached in this presentation. Jesse Hambrick, a Master Sergeant in the Sheriff’s Community Outreach Program and Education (SCOPE), visited GWCFC and gave a gymnasium…

The City of Douglas observed National Gas Utility Workers’ Day on Monday, March 18, 2019. This is the fourth year in which Gas Utility Workers’ Day has been officially celebrated across the country. This day of recognition is a time when communities such as ours give recognition to the employees who provide one of their most valuable assets—their natural gas utility. This annual nationwide event is intended to build public awareness about the hard work performed by the employees of natural gas utilities. The official Gas Utility Workers’ Day is March 18 because that is the date of the New…

Johnny’s New York Style Pizza celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting with a multitude of family and friends on Friday, March 15. Owners John and Brook Deems shared with the group their gratitude and appreciation for the overwhelming support for their family’s business. John’s shared that his dream for the restaurant for years had been the beautiful historic creamery building in downtown Douglas. His dream became a reality when David Varnedore began renovations of what is now one of the major highlights of our downtown area. Also thanking everyone for their unwavering support and encouragement, Brook shared how grateful…

A Coffee County inmate, 51-year-old Jesse Walter Burkhalter, faces additional charges after jail officials discovered a quantity of methamphetamine on his person after being processed into the jail. Jail officials discovered the drug while conducting a routine search of the offender’s cell on March 16. Following an investigation by the Coffee County Drug Unit, Burkhalter was charged with possession of methamphetamine, crossing jail guard lines with drugs, and obstruction of law enforcement. Burkhalter was initially incarcerated on March 13 on a charge of terroristic threats and acts. Two Coffee County inmates were treated at Coffee Regional Medical…

SGSC Theatre Productions to showcase original drama on April 30 SGSC Theatre Productions is thrilled to announce its upcoming show entitled Journey. Journey is an original piece that is a collective creation which follows the compelling story of a little boy named Travis from a young age to adulthood. Journey takes a look at the realities of American history as Travis witnesses a heinous and untimely death of a stranger. This occurrence challenges young Travis to seek a different path in life. Please take this journey on a realistic portrayal of American history, which will remind its audience that humans can choose their…

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month By Dr. Sudkhara Jonnalagadda Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the U.S. and the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States, but it doesn’t have to be. It affects both men and women in all racial and ethnic groups and is most common in people age 50 and older. Colorectal cancer is a cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common. According to cancer.org, there are over 100,000 new cases of colon cancer each…

Sarah Louise McKinnon, age 91, of Douglas, Georgia passed away on Thursday March 14, 2019 at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Mrs. McKinnon was born on May 3, 1927 in Coffee County, Georgia the daughter of the late John Pridgen and Bessie Kight Pridgen. Mrs. McKinnon was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church, Douglas, GA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Lloyd McKinnon and two sisters, Waunelle McCallum and Lorene Brigmond. Survivors include two sisters, Mildred Pridgen Dockery of Broxton, GA and Martha Jean Meeks of West Green, GA; brother, J. M. Pridgen of…

Andrew Blake Hayward, age 24, of Denton, Georgia passed away on Saturday March 16, 2019 at Jeff Davis Hospital, Hazlehurst, Georgia. Mr. Hayward was born on September 26, 1994 in Coffee County, Georgia the son of Lisa Deanne Hayward. Survivors include mother, Lisa Hayward of Denton, GA; grandparents, JoAnn Sheffield of Douglas, GA and Roy Hayward of Hazlehurst, GA; grandmother, Pauline Smith of Douglas, GA; step-brother, Austin Smith of Douglas, GA; step-sister, Jody Smith of Douglas, GA; several aunts, uncles and cousins; two nephews and one niece. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorialization is by cremation.…